asgardeventide | oo2 || Video

Entry tags:

oo2 || Video

Alright, I think I've got this shadow thing worked out.

[Isaac mutters into the video, as he absentmindedly flexes his fingers, casting shadow puppets on the wall. After a few moments, the shadow of his hand peels from where it sits, becoming a separate entity entirely.

He flexes his fingers, and the tangible shadow of his hand flexes as well- except the dark 'fingers' begin to file down to sharp, pointed claws. Useful, even if the shadow is trembling, as if he's still having difficulty keeping it whole.]

Now I wanna see what it can do to someone else. [And Isaac grins back toward the camera, dropping his hand and letting the shadow dissipate into nothing.] Anyone wanna go at it? Powers on powers. No holding back.

I'll be at the arena in fifteen.

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[Isaac clenches his jaw in frustration as his shadows snap back, unable to keep their hold as they're severed. They pool around him again, roiling, quivering slightly as if unable to decide on which form to take next.]

How long have you been doing this?

Since I arrived. That was the end of summer or beginning of autumn. But it seems that my normal abilities offered an advantage in figuring out how to use this. There are also levels of power, which are granted by the gods the longer one stays in Asgard.

[her shadow just stands there, waiting for him to act, its fingers flexing idly]

I heard about that. Do you know when you move up?

[He takes a deep breath, before trying again. His shadow rolls up like a wave, becoming something entirely different- it looks like a spider, still connected to Isaac with a shadowy umbilical cord of sorts, and it's about the size of a large dog. The edges slough off and rejoin it, the form itself isn't very stable, but he's trying again, and pushes the creature forward to leap at Sophie's person.]

There's no notification, really. Things just suddenly get easier. In the beginning, I couldn't make anything terribly complex with the shadows. Then suddenly one day I went from making animal silhouettes to actual animals.

[sophie's shadow doesn't dodge, it just swipes its clawed hand at the spider. its other hand remains the same, although it comes up as though intending to grapple with the spider.

behind the fight, sophie is watching intently, curious. this is an experiment for her as much as for him, since she hasn't ever pitted her shadows against anything but inanimate objects]

[The spider's legs crash together and combine, overbalancing it and sending it toppling to the floor. Isaac frowns and pulls it back- too complex for him to master, really. Best stick to people and shapes.]

Makes sense. How long did it take for that to happen?

I don't mark time here very carefully. Perhaps a month? Maybe a bit longer. But it isn't the same for everyone.

[once the spider falls over, sophie's shadow goes back to standing casually, waiting for issac to regroup]

Seems a little unfair.

[But he sighs, and moves to wipe the sweat from his brow. That was- surprisingly difficult.]

Let's take a break for a minute.

Why? Do what the gods want, and earn favor. Seems like god-logic to me.

[as soon as he suggests a break, her shadow dissipates. she's looking more or less the same as she was when they started]

All right.

Do you, then? Do what they want you to?

[she shrugs]

I want to go home. There needs to be a home to go to, and that won't come siding against them. The war will come regardless, and winning is preferable to me. So it suits my purposes.

If you believe them about all of our worlds being connected, I guess.

It's not a risk I'm willing to take. They're frightened, and they don't appreciate needing our help. If there was a way to do things without us, I think they would.

I guess so.

[He sighs.]

I just don't like it. This isn't my fight.

It's everyone's fight. If Asgard falls, our worlds fall as well.

Doesn't mean I feel like it's personal.

[Isaac glances off toward the wall.]

If everyone's fighting, it's not like I can make a difference. One person isn't gonna do shit.

Your life, the lives of everyone you know, your whole world, those things aren't personal?

[she shifts to set her chin on her knee, arms draped loosely around her shin]

I disagree.

I don't know.

[He reaches over to pick up a pebble on the floor, skipping it absently across the concrete away from them.]

It's hard to explain. Not that I really had a lot to fight for back home, anyway. Nobody gives a damn about me, why should I care about any of them?

Because if we lose, you won't exist.

[her fingers knot and unknot against her shin, and she weaves shadow through them instead of twisting until their joints pop]

I heard you tell Connor that I'm 'nice'. Tell me, what do you think my life was like?

[He shrugs.]

I don't have anything worth staying around for.

[But he's confused at her question, tilting his head a little.]

...dunno. You said you had knights and no technology and stuff, right? So probably way boring.

You have yourself.

[she shakes her head. when she speaks, her tone is matter-of-fact]

Everyone seems to think that. But no, Asgard is far more boring.

I have six siblings, and most of them have tried to kill me at one point or another. My twin would like little better than to see me dead. But I want to go home, because I want my abilities back. I want to be myself. It's a battle I fought once, and I'll fight it as many times as I have to.

Why wouldn't you?

[Isaac watches her as she speaks, not quite sure of what he could say. It's not really that he's suicidal or anything- far from it- he just doesn't believe in fighting losing battles. Doesn't have anyone to care about, doesn't have anyone who really cares about him. And it's hard to explain, harder still because he doesn't like thinking about it and can't fathom it himself, but- if Sophie's life is so shitty and she's still trying to live it, then why can't he?]

I'm not- I don't know, resigning myself to death or anything, I just... [He bites his lip.] I've never really had a great future. I'm- trapped between a rock and a hard place, and I'm probably going to die before I get my driver's license anyway. Fighting back only does so much good, I mean, there comes a point where you're just doomed.

[Isaac is... uncomfortable talking about this, really, and he moves to stand up, restless, unhappy.]

Call me a coward or whatever for giving up, but sometimes, there's just no bright light at the end of the tunnel.

I know. My future is likely to only be more of my past. But I can't just let them win.

No, Issac, I wouldn't call you a coward. It's your life to do with what you would, including nothing. It's my personal preference to go down fighting, not the only thing to do.

[He shrugs with a slight laugh.]

Hey, I like fighting as much as the next guy. I just- I don't know, sorry. This whole 'world ending' bullshit, it's just... not for me, I guess.

Ah.

[she chews her lip thoughtfully, eyes unfocusing as her thoughts turn inward]

I'm not sure I've ever considered things that way.

Look, I get it.

[He shrugs.]

World coming to an end, it's everyone's big problem, but- yeah, I dunno. That's just not how I see it.

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