entranceway | 002 | Video/Action

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002 | Video/Action | Open

[Balthazar pops up in the feed looking drawn and stressed-out, his voice terse and sharp.] I have a question. Has anyone out there with peculiar weaknesses tried them on their own Shadow? Out of curiosity. Living with them indefinitely seems a bit--

[The voice of his Shadow comes from offscreen, but close.] Draw your sword. Let's try it. I won't even fight back.

[Flinch. The angel's eyes lock on the screen as he attempts to ignore the antics of his duplicate self in the background.] --seems a bit of a tall order, when they're so utterly determined to needle us.

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you're a coward. Well, never mind. At least you know I won't stab you in the back, either.

[His jaw twitches, and he goes on through gritted teeth.] Mostly, I'm curious whether spells and sigils can trap them effectively, but mine seems determined to stay close and disrupt my concentration.

Haha! Get it? Because stab--

[The sound cuts off abruptly, and a hand covers the video screen while Balthazar waits for replies.]

((OOC note: Still studying for my test, so replies will be very slow, but I will get to tags when I can.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If it's any consolation, Balthazar, Susan looks rather bedraggled, herself. The room behind her is clearly her own, all refined furnishings and tasteful decor, but the lot of it is covered in a gaudy maelstrom of tacky clothing. In the middle of the din, her own shadow was currently complaining about the placement of her furniture.]

I've not, but only because I'd rather not be stuck in closer proximity to her.

[Susan took a deep breath and ignored the comment from behind her. It was hard to make out, but it was something high and whined and to the effect of 'Another imaginary friend, pathetic'. Her expression flattened and she continued.]

I suspect the closet might be able to hold them, seeing as it's the same Source, but gagging her and shoving her into it is a whole separate matter.

[Susan. He likes Susan, thus far, because she seems calm and reliable and neither in awe of his angelic nature nor disturbed by it. He's quick to cut the sound back on to answer.] Yes, well, I was hoping to confine him in a circle and then go somewhere else.

Because running away solves everything. [Balthazar's shadow is in the background now, visible over his shoulder, leaning against the wall and watching the screen with curious, yellow eyes.]

Presumably they have the same strength and skill levels we do. It might be hard for one person to take on their own. I don't know...

Confining him to a circle? Like a binding? [Susan thought it over and inclined her head. If they had the same strengths and weaknesses, and Balthazar could be confined to a circle, however that worked, then it was quite possible.]

It's worth a try, honestly. [Susan's double laughed, loud and mean, for several seconds. When she contributed, it was, unsurprisingly, unkind to everyone involved:]

Oh, please, and what would you know? Trapped many angels have you? And him? He sketches on sidewalks. If Nobody else has managed to rid themselves of their others, why should a silly school teacher and a retired mythic mailman manage it? Hm?

[There was a beat of silence and Susan just stared into the book as she resisted the very, very strong temptation to attack her duplicate. When she spoke it was with the light, polite lilt of restrained violence.]

I you would like help, I happily offer my assistance.

Exactly. If were got lucky, it would separate me from him. I don't know that it would do you any good, but I'd be willing to try something else after. [Balthazar seems perfectly content to ignore Susan's double being harsh, but his Shadow seems to have other ideas.]

Retired mythic mailman? Sweetheart, you don't know much about angels. We're monsters designed to kill on command, and nothing else.

[There's an awkward pause, because Balthazar himself has to concede the truth of this. He's said similar things before, in fact, although usually with more tact. The overlap in philosophy between himself and his Shadow is uncomfortable. He's not sure what to say, floundering for a moment, but finally he manages:]

I would very much appreciate the assistance.

Video.

no_nonsense - 2013-06-21 08:58 (UTC) - Expand

Video.

tryingitall - 2013-06-25 06:42 (UTC) - Expand

[Since Dick recently met the mirror of Balthazar, he may as well actually speak to the real deal. He really doesn't think that this particular angel knows him. It doesn't really matter. This is all entertaining for him.]

It doesn't sound like your shadow is agreeing with you.

[Balthazar is blissfully unaware as to who Dick is, what he might want, or why he's contacted him privately. He's also desperate enough for a distraction he's not going to start out by asking.] No, not really. Actually, I'm surprised he's not trying to get away from me. We seem to hate each other.

Hate is a strong word. Contempt, sure. Hate requires too much energy.

[And that is good for Dick to be unrecognized. It makes the least suspecting thing a whole lot easier.]

Well, the shadow is technically you. If you have a weakness then it seems feasible to me that you could use that.

[Telling somebody he did just that with his own and in detail would kind of out himself, so he will keep that to himself. He is really finding this whole event kind of exciting.]

Isn't talking about it in the open counterproductive though?

Well...I wasn't going to advertise my own weaknesses over the network, although I suppose I can't rely on the other bastard not to. [He gives his own shadow a baleful glance, which the creature doesn't seem to care about in the least. Returning his attention to the screen, he notes that there's no shadow of the stranger visible at the moment.]

Where's yours? Did you find a way to deal with it?