tvk | Unit 2 - Video and Voice : Hotel

Unit 2 - Video and Voice : Hotel

[[ooc : Italics is the shadow, normal writing is Gaignun himself.]]

[Surprisingly, its at the hotel that the video clicks on. He had only been meaning to make a call to check up on his brothers when his finger had slipped to the 'video-all' button when he was startled by his shadow suddenly materializing out of who knows where. The phone is forgotten and you're treated to a nice view of the ceiling for this discussion.]

There you are, you're a difficult person for even yourself to track down.

I was wondering when you were going to show up, though I don't know why you bothered. I don't really have the time to talk with you, or really anything to discuss.

Father.

There is really nothing about Dmitri Yuriev that needs to be discussed. Now if you'll excuse me I have things to d---

It's embarrassing you know! Here we are, a genetically engineered bio-weapon and we couldn't even oust one squishy scientist's mental intrusion. Or maybe...

Maybe what...? [Gaignun's voice is low and guarded, like he has a feeling he knows what the shadow is trying to imply.]

Poor 666 and 667, they tried so hard to help you, and nearly broke their hearts in the process. We tried too, didn't we? Not hard enough that's for sure. Father was always good at manipulating us to get what he wanted.

Hey! Don't call them that! They have names! [Totally avoiding the point and hoping to distract the shadow, which unfortunately doesn't work]

DON'T AVOID THE ISSUE 669!

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Friend is one way to put it. He's been following me like this since the night after he showed up. *Oh so much anger at his Shadow. But that's not the reason he's here and he's trying to ignore the thing.*

But I'm more worried about you. I'm sure you've seen some of the posts by now.

Right, like trying to drop the subject will make me go away any more than just pretending to ignore me did.

I have no intention of letting this go hostile.

Not like there is any choice in the matter.

Allen, I'm fine. Besides, it looks like you have your hands full.

Don't worry about me, mine can't actually do anything but talk right now.

Like that isn't enough. You know the things I'm saying are true.

...To be honest, I think the best thing for me would be a distraction from it.

Allen Ridgeley, are you trying to use me as an escape tactic? [Allen, you've actually amused him. Seriously, you've just made his night better with that.]

Of course not!

You totally are. Just own up to being opportunistic, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Ugh, ignore him. Just because I happen to be enjoying having something to pay attention to other than dealing with this guy doesn't mean I'd pounce on any sort of opportunity.

Allen, let me give you some advice while I have a moment. There are times where you have to take the first opportunity that comes along. Not always of course, but you're smart enough to figure out the difference.

Thank you! You'd think between Dad and a bunch of older brothers-

Quit talking about that! *He tries to shove the Shadow out of the screen, but his hand passes right through.*

Why? Afraid Gaignun will worry that you secretly take after your insensitive father?

[To be fair, Gaignun is also using Allen as a distraction, which the Shadow is rapidly realizing.]

Allen calm down, getting mad in this case is going to get you nowhere.

Not like he can judge you on fathers anyw---

Will you be still! I'm trying to talk here!

I just want this thing to shut up and go away. I swear they're trying to antagonize us.

Oh, sure, because trying to get you to own up to yourselves is trying to antagonize.

*Watch the Shadow roll its glowing, translucent eyes!*

....He has a point you know. From what I've seen it's not that they desire to cause us harm, it just ends up that way because we do not want to deal with what they have to say.

But what they have to say is...

Uncomfortably true?

A lot of the time exactly what we don't want to hear.

Because it's true and you don't want it to be. The denial couldn't be more obvious if you tried.

Only you can decide if what he says is true, or merely what you feel to be true. But if it's something that you don't want to hear, then maybe you should listen. It may be important.

*The Shadow looks smug at Gaignun's words and crosses its arms.*

Finally, someone with the rare talent of common sense. I knew there was a reason I liked you. And in case you're going to pretend you don't know where he's coming from, I'll spell it out. Why would you care what I'm saying to only you if it didn't matter?

I-it's not like that! How else would I react when someone starts accusing me of things like this?

Allen, you're a good man, and while there is many things in this universe that you should be afraid of, yourself is not one of them.

[His shadow looks like it's about to speak but it's quickly shushed.]

I'm not afraid! It's just-no, it's stupid. You have enough problems of your own, you don't need to hear mine.

Oh, there you go again. You complain about the day to day stuff, but when it comes to the important things you just keep your mouth shut. You are afraid, that people will judge you for how you grew up.

Allen. [His voice takes a note of firmness] These shadows are not nothing. Every time someone tries to run from them something bad happens. Take a deep breath and think about what is being said.

But half of the things it's saying are things that I've put behind me. And the other half...if I acted like it seems to think I should, I'd drive everybody off.

[Ok so this was progress, Allen had at least stopped out right denying what the shadow said.]

That doesn't matter. They still apply. As for your second concern, it's not like you have to act like that all the time. From what I know of you, you tend to think of everything in the extreme. All or nothing. It just simply isn't like that.

...Maybe it is right, and I am scared of how people will look at me if they know about my family. They're all so self absorbed, and never cared about anything other than the family business. I don't want people to think I'm like that.

And if I stay in the background and don't make unnecessary comments, I won't give the impression that I think I'm better than them.

Family is a complicated issue, but you shouldn't be judged solely on them. You've proven time and again that you are thoughtful and capable. I know chaos rather liked you, and he's good at seeing through things like that.

It's ok to put yourself out there once in a while, sometimes you will need to.

Thanks. I just wish I could trust everyone to be that understanding.

And to not freak out when they find out you can do this, right?

*The Shadow waves its hand through Allen's body and he jumps.*

Don't do that!

[To his credit, Gaignun only blinks once, and then laughs softly.]

Now that's not something I suspected of you.

*See this facepalm, Gaignun? There's a groan to go along with it as he switches the call to private.*

It's not something I like to advertise. Up until now, only my family knew.

I can understand that, and it's ok not to want people to know. [He knows what it's like to have to pretend to be normal when you're not.] But you know, and you have to accept it for what it is.

It's just part of you.

It's not something I asked for. And it's not even all that useful, just another reminder of why I'm not on speaking terms with my family and something else to worry about people finding out about.

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