oo2 || Video

[freezerburned]

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.

[[ooc: feel free to just tag in with an offline if you want!]]

Comments

[hollowchild]

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

[freezerburned]

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.

[hollowchild]

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.

[freezerburned]

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?

[hollowchild]

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?

[freezerburned]

[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.

[hollowchild]

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?

[freezerburned]

[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.

[hollowchild]

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.

[freezerburned]

[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.

[hollowchild]

Ah.

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

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

[freezerburned]

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.

[hollowchild]

How do you see it?

[she's genuinely curious]

[freezerburned]

I dunno. I guess I've explained it as good as I can.

[He sighs.]

-sorry. I guess I'm in kind of a bad mood.

[hollowchild]

[she shrugs]

It happens. I know this place makes me a bit stir-crazy.

[freezerburned]

Among other things.

[There's a pause, and he sighs.]

I just hate people. You know?

[hollowchild]

It's true. I've found that keeping busy helps a bit. During the day, at least.

Yes and no. The people I've met here have been kinder than others I've known. But it's hard, actually being around other people all the time.

[freezerburned]

[Isaac laughs, sort of wryly and leans back against the wall, rubbing at the back of his neck.]

I know how that feels. People are- they're decent here, I guess. I'm not really used to it.

[hollowchild]

[she nods]

Mm, I can empathize. This is the first city I've ever been in. It's still strange, having friends. But not in a bad way. Sometimes difficult to believe, though.

[freezerburned]

You're used to being all by yourself, huh?

[He looks at her, something akin to sympathy in his eyes.]

I'm more like- surrounded by people, but still- I don't know. Not attached.

[hollowchild]

Often enough. Sometimes I would visit my brothers.

[she tilts her head]

Is that by choice?

[freezerburned]

I dunno. Not really.

[Sort of. Isaac rubs at the back of his neck, before moving to sit down next to her.]

I had a brother, once.

[hollowchild]

Ah. Once?

[she doesn't turn her body, but she does prop her chin on her hand to look at him]

[freezerburned]

He died. Joined the military and never came home.

[Isaac shrugs.]

It happened a long time ago, though, when I was- I guess ten or eleven. Everyone said he was a real jerk.

[hollowchild]

[the story isn't an unfamiliar one--children die in sophie's world, and so do knights and soldiers.]

You don't remember him?