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

That's a good point. In some respects, that might be the kind of thing to psych somebody out enough to get that upper hand.

[It could work. Nobody ever said that eating what is essentially yourself would work, but it sure did.]

You could say that mine is out to lunch. I'll recommend that you use whatever is necessary to make them leave. What have you tried so far? It's not easy.

Out to lunch. [He's not sure what to make of that, but he's too anxious about his own problems to overanalyze.] Mostly just locking it in my closet and flying away. But...it flies, too.

Being awfully helpful, isn't he? [Balthazar's shadow speaks up mildly.] You're not worried about ulterior motives?

[It makes everything a whole lot easier when Dick is not questioned. He eyes that shadow with an amused eye. Given what these things are supposed to represent and that he knows this guy is an angel, this is no surprise to him.]

He's a bit paranoid. I can see why you don't want that one around. Did you try personally getting rid of it the not so acceptable way? I don't think anybody would miss it.

[The angel glances at his own shadow and raises an eyebrow. Possibly he should be listening to it, but right now he's more worried about its motives than Dick's. It's a sign of how desperate he is that he chooses to ignore it completely.]

No, I suppose not, but that would involve more or less watching myself die, and I'm not comfortable with that. Plus, there's always a chance harming it could affect me.

What did I say earlier? Coward. [The shadow sniffs disdainfully.]

Hmmm, you have a point there.

[Not matter what extremes that Dick achieved to get rid of his shadow, it is best to just try and blend in sometimes with mock understanding. If that shadow is something of the inner workings of the original then there is a lot of paranoia there. There had to be a reason for that. He does like to pry.]

Sounds like you've been burned one too many times before though watching yourself die could be traumatizing in some way. You might be better off just dealing with it. Ever hear about facing your own fears? This could be a test.

Well, I've already watched myself die in the first person. I'm not interested in watching it again, in the third person. [It's a terse answer, because he doesn't want to go into the details.]

Besides...whether I like it or not, it's...an angel, like me. Sorry, I didn't mention that yet, did I?

You never did mention that. I'd be interested in hearing more about being an angel, but now isn't really the best time.

[His friend on the other side of the mirror gave Dick a little information.]

Dying would be a little redundant in your case then. Maybe if somebody got rid of it while you're not looking then that would be more acceptable.

[Hmm. As anxious as he is to get rid of his Shadow, Balthazar can't help but notice the lack of surprise in his conversational companion, now. That's a bit suspicious. Or is it? In Wonderland, there are bound to be people who are blase about everything from angels to aliens.]

I like the sound of that, I think, only I'm not sure how that would happen. Are you offering?

[The Shadow is silent for the moment, as if waiting to see how this might play out.]

[Once they get to talking about it, Dick can come up with any reason he wants to for knowing what angels are. This is assuming that he is not outed for what he actually is and that it will matter at all or not.]

I can get rid of it.

[His attention turned to that shadow on the other side of the video.]

For good.

The same way you did your own? [He's visibly uncertain, and his Shadow looks less and less comfortable with the conversation.]

You'll regret it. You'll never shake the guilt.

The exact same way I got rid of mine. Don't listen to that one. He's just trying to get to you.

[Dick turns back to Balthazar.]

You don't want that guy following you around. He's not even you. All he does is sit around insulting you and trying to upset you.

[There's a long pause while Balthazar considers, and his Shadow looks equally uncertain, silent while its fate hangs in the balance. At length, the original sets his jaw and gives a slight nod.]

What do you need me to do?

[There it is. Dick nods with his calm smile on his face. No harm in helping somebody out with a little extermination.]

Just sit tight and get comfortable. I'll come to you. Where are you?

Edited 2013-07-04 03:03 (UTC)

[Possibly the Shadow isn't speaking now because it knows Balthazar's own instincts are screaming at him that this isn't a good idea.

Still, since when is Balthazar known for good ideas?]

I'm on the fifth floor. Toward the west corner of the building.

[He continues to smile as he nods and the feed cuts off. Dick is counting on that instinct to remain quiet until the deed is done. He follows the directions without trouble. The room number wasn't mentioned. As he walks, he treats the device like a phone.]

I'm in the vicinity. These hallways sure are long.

[There's a sound on the other end of the connection that's almost like a mild scuffle, but if that's the case, it's the original Balthazar that's won. He appears in the hall a moment later, popping out from an unremarkable door like a prairie dog from a burrow.]

Space folds strangely here, I think. Hello. [He waves and beckons his new acquaintance closer.]

[There he is! Dick puts on his best smile and answers the beckon by approaching. There is a lot he can do here if he wanted to. He is a lot more interested in eating that shadow.]

Hey there. Looks like you've been struggling to keep that thing in check. Good on you for coming out on top.

[He waits a beat.]

I'm Dick. We've never officially met before.

He's not much of a fighter. Even less than I am, I think. [Now that he's seeing this new acquaintance up close, though, he feels slightly uncomfortable about where this is going. Can't quite put his finger on it. Is it the situation or is it the person?

But it doesn't do to be rude. He offers a handshake.] I'm Balthazar.

[There's a beat, and his lips twitch slightly.] I...suppose it would be rude to make jokes about your name when you've come up here to help me.

Nice to meet you.

[Dick will waste no time in shaking hands with the angel. As soon as he makes content, he becomes privy to a wealth of information. Quite the life story among other things. Useful, but not yet. All Balthazar gets to see is his unwavering smile and a short laugh.]

It won't be anything I have not heard before, so knock yourself out. I have a pretty thick skin. Tell you what though: I'll take care of your problem then we'll see what you have cooked up for me. It'll be a riot.

[To Balthazar, the handshake reveals nothing. An archangel might know a Leviathan at a glance. Balthazar is only an ofan, a second-lieutenant, and he's in over his head.

That's never stopped him before, though.] No, no, I'll restrain myself. I'm a bit off my game today, anyway. But I am a fan of puns. The dirtier, the better.

[He opens his door, and beckons Dick after him, innocent of any danger. The Shadow is nowhere to be seen, but there are thumps coming from inside the closet, and a sigil sketched in chalk on the door.] That won't hold him long, unfortunately.

I'll look forward to the inevitable jab at my name then. Don't disappoint me.

[There is genuine amusement in Dick's face as well as in his voice. With a name like his, it's pretty much expected. He follows Balthazar into the room and raises an eyebrow at the sounds coming from the closet.]

He won't be trapped forever. Besides, being a little feisty will make this more interesting.

[He cracks his knuckles..]

Let me in there then close the door behind me. I'll take care of it.

Oh, damn, now I feel like I have to think of a really good one. [He smiles, but it fades quickly. Charming as is the facade he presents, Dick is obviously a predator. One that's confident enough to take on an angel.

That's unsettling, but he's come too far now to stop.]

...right. Try not to stain the carpet? [It's a weak joke, but he grips the doorknob gamely, turns it and holds the door open just long enough for his guest to enter.]

[All Dick will do here is smile as he steps past the angel and into the closet. He will wait for the door to be closed behind him before he shows his true face. Before he does, he cracks his neck and chuckles.]

I'm starving.

[What else does he need to say here? Anything else will be a waste of time. Whatever this shadow of an angel has in store for him, it will not work. That is the beauty of being what he is. He reaches forward to grasp the shoulders of the others and opens his mouth...wide. He will not leave a drop of anything on the carpet as per Balthazar's request.]

I know what you are. He doesn't know, but I do. [In the dark of the closet, the yellow eyes of the Shadow are faintly luminous. Which only serves to give away his location in the back corner. His sword is drawn, but it's a futile last stand. He stabs wildly as he gets grabbed, and whether he makes contact or not, the end is inevitable.]

BALTHA-- [A yell of reproach and horror gets cut off by the Leviathan's teeth.

Well. At least it was quick, right?

Outside, the real angel cringes and retreats several steps, rattled.]

[It really does not take long to finish off this shadow of an angel. Dick always liked having that advantage over God's later creations. Somehow he managed not to spill but a few drops. He wipes his mouth with a napkin he happens to have in his pocket.

He knocks on the door. Before he says anything out loud, he thinks fondly over what the late angelic shadow blurted out. He never got to say much of anything, did he? What a shame.]

All taken care of.

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