001; Video

[doomhoops]

[ Alex is hanging out in Gefion Park, idly tearing at a blade of grass in his hands while he seems a little distant, distracted, half trying to figure out what the hell is the advantage to a horse with eight legs instead of four, and half reflecting. ]

You ever have something that, for a long time, caused you nothing but problems, and screwed up your life at every turn - but then, once it's gone, nothing feels right anymore?

[ Granted in the last month or so, he'd come to embrace his mutation as a core part of himself he'd never part with, but Alex kept thinking of his time in solitary, staring up at the cement ceiling and wishing his power would just fizzle away. Maybe it wouldn't bring the others he'd hurt back to life, but it'd at least stop the incidents - the deaths. He wonders, if he'd been brought from his jail time instead of after Charles found him, if he'd be relieved. It's weird that he'd lost his mutation just when he finally started to get it under control, finally started to actually live with it. Freaking figures.

He blinks for a moment, clears his throat, and moves on from it. There was an actual point he was going to make. ]

Is anyone offering any kinda training for whatever new crap we get here? Doesn't seem that complicated, but I'd rather know what I'm doing than just start trying to bench press couches 'til I find one I can't lift. [ Because if Alex knows anything about new powers it's that control is the first thing you should have. And if it wasn't indicative enough, Strength is the ability he's dealing with here. And also he can totally help you do some interior redecorating if you need some furniture moved.

There's the awkward pause of a person not used to addressing large groups of people having a deer in the headlights moment before Alex clears his throat, remembering there's an important thing he should probably add in. ]

Um. I'm Alex. By the way.

Hi.

[ ...and bye. feed cut. ]

Comments

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[truesight]

I know exactly what you mean. [ never thought she'd miss her prophetic nightmares. eeesh. ] There isn't an official training school or anything, but people here have been cool about helping me figure out my ability. Try asking around your new house, maybe.

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[doomhoops]

Yeah. Feels like you've got an arm missing or something. [ For better or worse, and regardless of if he was proud of it or not, his power was as much a part of him as anything else. ] Seems like a good idea. I'll do that, thanks.

[ and out of curiousity - ] What power did you end up with?

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[truesight]

I still haven't really gotten used to it. Whenever I try to tap into it it's like- like thinking there's an extra step at the top of a dark staircase. A pitfall. It's weird.

[ huff! ]

I can pull anything that I draw off of the page. --Not living things, not yet, but I'm working on it.

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[doomhoops]

It wasn't something that was just always around for you? [ Alex felt it gone the second he openned his eyes in Asgard. there wasn't that energy thrumming around under his skin. a pause and he glances back out over the park ] So even if it sucked most of the time, would you still want it back?

[ Eyebrows raise in an 'oh cool' kind of expression. It's always seemed sort of awesome to Alex what different powers people end up with ]

Damn. Not a bad one to have. Can it only be the size of the page?

[video]

[shinybaldhead]

You in Thor?

[ That's what Gunn is assuming from the remark about bench pressing couches, at least. He'll regard the rest of what Alex is saying in a moment, if he does at all; he wants to suss him out first. ]

[video]

[doomhoops]

[ That'd probably clear things up, wouldn't it. He gives a short nod and a quick answer, not rude but not overtly friendly either. ]

Yeah. 107. You?

[video]

[shinybaldhead]

108. Right across the hall. Name's Gunn. Nice to meet you, Alex.

[ And he seems to mean it. ]

[justonetouch]

[Well, she can certainly relate to the first part. Her mutant abilities had caused her nothing but problems. Nothing like putting your first boyfriend in a coma, or being used to power a machine that would harm humanity.

The second part though?

Almost musing.] Different sure, but- not exactly like things aren't right.

[doomhoops]

[ they'll have to talk about how shitty powers made their lives sometime, there'd be a lot to talk about. He tilts his head a little, considering what she'd said. ]

If you had the chance to get it back, would you? [ Alex knows he would, in a second, but there is that thought. Like things would just be easier without. Too late for that now, but you have to wonder. ]

[justonetouch]

[A good question, and one she doesn't answer right away.

This place does have its upsides, but it also has just the opposite. They are held here against their will, and some of the events that happen here... Even if here she can touch without harming.]

Ah don't think we belong here. [Which still isn't exactly an answer.]

[voice]

[unnaturallygreen]

I had something like that, yes. It's a little disconcerting, when you've had something your entire life, and one day you wake up and it's gone. [A snap of her fingers to emphasize her point.] Poof, just like that.

And as for any kind of training, well, I can't say I've had any luck with that yet.

[voice]

[doomhoops]

Yeah, that exactly. [ And he knew it, even before the maid had told him. He could feel that part of him gone ] I dunno, it's weird. Feels like I'm not really me anymore.

Great. [ Annoyed exhale, but not meant towards her ] You'd think, if they wanted us to fight their war for 'em, they'd get someone out here to help us figure out how.

[voice]

[unnaturallygreen]

You wouldn't be the first one. It's--It's not something you get used to easily.

[dryly:] Funny how that apparently doesn't seem to occur to them.

[video]

[not_a_troll]

Well, dearest Alex, I think it is safe to say your situation is familiar to me.

[Loki nods slowly.]

But do try to see it as some freedom you have gained instead of something you have lost. Even though there is a certain comfort in knowing that there is a certain something that provides you with problems, there is even more comfort in not having those problems anymore.

It is a win-win situation.

Regarding training. If I am correct there are some experienced swordsmasters and mages here. Perhaps you can inquire with them? Make new friends?

[video]

[doomhoops]

[ There's a judgemental eyebrow raised right at 'dearest Alex', because wow who are you and that is way more friendly than he's comfy with anyone under the age of 60 to be. ]

Just Alex. [ said with a 'dude no' expression there. anyway, he thinks on it for a moment, giving a shrug ]

Wasn't all bad. Just caused a lot of problems. [ he says now. a couple months ago that wouldn't be the story ] I guess it's good not to worry, but point is, it was mine. Not every day you just lose a chunk of yourself.

[ New friends, right. He's... super good at that. ] Yeah, I'll look around. Thanks.

[video]

[not_a_troll]

My apologies, Just Alex.

['Dude no' expression acknowledged and ignored.]

I see, I see. Is it some sort of urge you cannot suppress? For example, you have an urge to be mischievous for most of your days, and you cannot help yourself being mischievous, you see? It is part of your nature. All you need to do is to embrace it.

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[asthehero]

[A pause. That's. A very, very good question, sir.]

Depends. Are you talking a physical something, or something brought on by something else?

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[doomhoops]

[ there's a moment that he thinks it over and shrugs ]

Was thinking physical, but doesn't have to be.

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[asthehero]

[There's a shrug right back.]

Either way the answer's a big fat yes. Might be more common than you think. It's weird to adjust without it because you spend so long adjusting to it. It gets even worse when you try to add in the whole "hey guess what here's your new power" thing.

But if strength training's your biggest problem here? Maybe they thought they were being generous.

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[digophelia]

That would depend on what you mean, Alex.

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[doomhoops]

About what part?

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[digophelia]

On whatever caused you so many problems. It may not be what everyone else has experienced or has.

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[leidenschaft]

Do you even know how to bench press a couch?

[do you even lift alex]

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[doomhoops]

the same way you bench press anything else

[ u gtfo ]

[leidenschaft]

I don't remember if you even had proper form. Did you keep up training? After we left?