mister10below | [Video]

Entry tags:

[Video]

[The video kicks in, showing a young blond man who’s looking mildly amused.]

All right, guys, while it is pretty awesome that you’ve somehow pulled off getting me here without me knowing, this particular prank is really not funny. I’m disappointed in you, I know you guys can do much better. So just give me the kill code for this program now, and maybe you won’t have to fear retaliation. Maybe.

[There’s silence for a brief moment, as Bobby gives in and admits that, no, this isn’t the kind of thing his friends would pull. Not so soon after Alcatraz. Another prank, sure, but not one like this. His smile fades a bit, and when he speaks again, he sounds more subdued.]

If the world’s been unmade, does that mean all the people on it were, too? Cause, uh, I’ve seen people being unmade, and it didn’t look fun. Or reversible. How are you putting it right? Will everything that was unmade be back, even if it’s been a little while? And if you’re making our homes new, are they going to be the same as they were before, or can we request a few changes?

[He’s not really serious about that last part. Nice as it would be, he’s not the one who should be deciding things like that. No one should, really. This whole thing makes him nervous. He’s seen what can happen when people have that kind of power.]

Ro? Kitty? Logan, Pete?

[There are too many names that should be on that list that aren’t, but now’s not the time to think about that.]

Anyone else here?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He leans against the desk next to her, listening to her story closely, giving her his full attention. When he speaks after she's done, his voice is genuine, filled with understanding, but no trace of pity.]

I'm sorry. That must have been horrible, all of that on top of not knowing what the hell was going on.

[Bobby gives a soft, small smile.]

If I didn't know you weren't from my world, I'd swear you were a mutant. Some of the people I know had manifestations like that. Suddenly having uncontrollable powers that no one else understands, well. It's not easy, as you obviously know.

[He looks at the necklace curiously when she explains its significance.]

Keeps the bogeymen away? Huh. Maybe it wards off evil spirits, or something. There's a lot of amulets and stuff in my world that's supposed to do that. But maybe with your powers, it's actually real.

[And he's been incredibly successful in taking this conversation to nice, depressing places, hasn't he? When she doesn't laugh at his comment about not controlling his powers during nightmares, he figures that hit home for her. Perhaps she has nightmares she'd rather not think of, or difficulty controlling her own powers during sleep. In any case, he files that away, and steers the conversation elsewhere.]

My nights tend to be spent more towards sneaking ice cream in the kitchen, now, though. Which sadly might be coming to an end. But hey! If there's milk and stuff, I can make my own.

[Chloe doesn't look at Bobby yet. Her mind is in the past, remembering what it had been like. She smiles ironically, a bit of a breathy laugh escaping her at his words. He was right, though.] That was only the beginning.

[Now she looks at him, most of the horror gone from her gaze and a genuine smile on her lips as she listens with interest.] Definitely not easy. You learn to roll with the punches, though. Makes you stronger. Despite everything, I'm glad it turned out this way. I'm proud to be who I am today. [She tilts her head questioningly at Bobby, as if asking if he was too, but Chloe thinks she already knows the answer to that.] You'd be a half-demon in my world. I only know two different kinds of half-demons, mind you, but if there are fire demons then why not ice, too? [She smiles.]

I don't know what it really is, or how it works. I just know I'm safer with it one. Supposedly it... lessens my 'glow,' so pesky poltergeists and evil spirits don't come flocking to me. [She grins ruefully at Bobby, but there is honesty intertwined with the humored sparkle to her gaze.]

...You seriously know how to make ice cream? [This from the girl who can barely fry an egg without it burning.]

[It's always only the beginning. Had been for him, too, and for every mutant he'd known.]

That's good. That's the most important thing, you know, being proud of who you are. Someone I know used to say that it means you can look back on everything you've done, own up to both your mistakes and the things you did right, and have learned from them both.

[It's a lesson he's still trying to learn, though he does a good job convincing himself he has learned it, most times. He nods at her comment about the necklace, smiling back.]

Yeah, I'd definitely call that safer. Flocking is bad.

[He beams at her, pleased to move the conversation to ice cream.]

You bet! All you need is milk or cream, sugar, and vanilla. Well, or instant pudding mix, but that seems like it'd be harder to come by in a place like this.

[Smiles softly.]

Strong and wise words, from whoever that someone was.

[She chuckles at that.]

Flocking is definitely bad.

[Shakes her head in near-disbelief.]

Really. Well, I doubt you will find instant pudding mix here. The other things, though... those should be manageable. Bet you wouldn't even need a freezer.

He was. I learned a lot from him.

[He can't keep the smallest hint of grief from his voice, though his smile doesn't slip. It's too soon for it not to be there. But it's gone with his next words.]

Wicked! We'll have ice cream before you know it, then. And I definitely don't need a freezer. Don't even need ice.

[Chloe catches that. Learned. She's been around long enough to know when someone's gone. Hello. Necromancer here.]

I'm sorry.

[She reaches toward Bobby's arm, giving it a squeeze in understanding, and a look that showed how much she understand. She would listen, if he ever wanted to talk, but she also knew not to pry. She pulls her hand away. Then she's smiling, ducking her head and chuckling at his enthusiasm.]

So if I ever find a warm can of coke around here, you can magically cool it for me in seconds?

[He doesn't say anything in reply, but he covers her hand briefly with his, squeezing lightly, and the look he gives her is grateful. Then he moves his hand away, laughing at her other comment.]

Less than seconds. That might as well have been my job description back in school. No one ever had to suffer through warm soda while I was around.

Job description? You had a job while you were still in school?

...Did you ever mind your power being used in such a way?

[Then Chloe pauses, wincing and scrunching her face up slightly.] We were supposed to be talking about the Keep, and here I am asking you all these personal questions.

[He chuckles a bit.]

Not really, unless you count being everyone's cooler a job. I was just joking. And no, I didn't mind. I offered it first, so who was I to complain when people took me up on it? Well. Maybe complain a little. But I like using my powers, so.

[Her scrunched up face gets a smile.]

I'm sure I probably started it. I'm good at derailing conversations. But, yes! The Keep.

[Grins.] Very kind of you, offering yourself up as cooler. [Then her smile slips a bit. Likes using his powers. Chloe wasn't so sure about that, herself. She was fine with who she was, sure, but calling spirits back into their dead corpses? The hell they gave her after. No one should have to experience that, and Chloe still wondered if an apology was enough.] It shows. [She smiles. She is happy for him, and tries not to let her insecurities show in that smile.]

The Keep. Well, I already mentioned trolls... [He gets a truer grin here.]

That's me, one man ice machine.

[When her smile fades slightly after he mentions liking his powers, he figures he knows why. It's something he's seen a lot, after all. There'd been a lot of mutants he'd known who hadn't like their powers, been scared of them or hated them or thought they were useless.

Like Rogue. That second smile of Chloe's is similar to one he's seen Rogue give him, and to one he knows he's given himself. It makes him say something, when otherwise he might've just moved on.]

They're a part of me. Whatever problems they may have caused in my life, I can't get rid of them. I wouldn't get rid of them. They've helped make me who I am today, and I know I can do good with them, if I use them in the right way.

[He hadn't always felt like that. He still doesn't, on some of his worse days, but those are the days he ignores. Then he smiles a bit, both at her comment, and at hearing himself.]

Sorry. I'll shut up now. And you have. Are trolls a very important aspect here, then? Should I start trying to become fluent in troll?

[Pausing at his words, Chloe gives Bobby half a grin and reaches forward, clasping his forearm once again to show she understood what he was getting at.] I-I'd never want to get rid of my power. They're a part of me, and I know that. I-I've come to appreciate it, most days. [Her grin widened at that.] I'm not looking for a pity party here. Being a necromancer...well, it's easy to use those powers without questioning morals, and that's not me. I guess I'm still trying to get that part down.

[Then she snorts a laugh at that, shaking her head in the negative.] Trolls are about as important as anyone else, here. I think...I think anyone who speaks different languages is able to have translations via their journal. You won't need to learn troll--or any other language used in the keep, as far as I know.

As for people I've encountered so far, most people come from their own worlds. I-I guess it's kind of rare for people to encounter someone they know, but quite a few people here know at least one other person. Not...not everybody, though. There are shifters, warriors, aliens, pirates, um... a bird man I met after I first arrived here... and I've only met about a handful of people. Some are human, or look human. I guess we all have our secrets. Some people like to hide theirs a little more guardedly than others. The nice thing is that most of us are more than happy to work together about seeking answers about this place, and sharing information.

Don't worry, no pity here. There's a lot of powers like that where I come from. Having powers is awesome, but it's also complicated. It's too bad you're not from my world, I think you'd love my school.

[He smiles a bit at her.]

For what it's worth, I think you can do it.

[He listens curiously as she explains about the Keep, feeling the slightest bit disappointed when she says it's rare for someone to encounter people they know. The part about hiding secrets gives him pause as well, but he moves on quickly. He's just gotten used to not hiding at all, he's not going to go back.]

Aliens? Wicked. Okay, as unsettling as this all is, getting to meet people from other worlds is still kind of awesome. It's like a science fiction movie.

[Chloe grins.] If it's a school where people are all like us, I think I'd like it, too. So would the others.

[Oddly touched, for all she just met him.] Thank you. ...I think so, too.

[Aaand, cue Chloe shaking her head and laughing once more.] You are definitely a lot like Simon. [She grins up at him.] He's a friend of mine. A sorcerer. [Since he seemed so interested in abilities. Like Simon.]

It--It is a bit like a science fiction movie. Sometimes I wonder if I'm about to wake up. I wonder if I've dreamed all this. I've been through some crazy things, though, and I don't want to sit idly by thinking I'm about to wake up when I haven't so far.

Now. The things you need to be aware about. This place has a magic of it's own. I don't know what it is, but everyone here says their abilities are weaker here. It's more draining on them, especially if they use those abilities over lengthy periods of time. Most weapons here are not as deadly, which can be good or bad. I--I don't know how much infighting there is, but there are things here that attack us. Things in the forest and--and th-things in the tunnels beneath the Keep.

[He grins back.]

That's exactly what it is. And you'd all be welcome.

[He smiles again when she thanks him, warm and genuine, but says nothing. And then chuckles to hear he reminds her of someone. His tone is teasing when he speaks.]

I'm sure he's just awesome, then, if he's like me.

[Also, a sorcerer? Totally cool.]

Yeah. I've seen too much to be surprised at much of anything, really.

Things in the forest and things in the creepy underground tunnels? Great. So much for this being a nice, safe place to stay while our universes are getting rebuilt.

[Grins.] Well, if I ever find myself in your world I'll look you up.

[Chuckles.] The most awesome.

[A light snort.] I know the feeling.

Yeah, if you buy in to all of that. I've been trapped in a place and fed lies before. I'm not about to sit here and accept things are what this Lord says they are until I have proof.

You better.

[He smiles teasingly, then frowns slightly at her last comment.]

There's really nothing about this that isn't suspicious. Even if most of it is true, one person should never have that much power.

[A soft snort.] Agreed. And if someone does have that kind of power, how are we to know they won't abuse it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Video]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]

[Commentlog]