savetheearth | ❧ 003 ❧ Video from laptop camera

[The video starts with a rather empty wall of an apartment with a light source directed at it and a piece of furniture in the corner of the frame. A few seconds pass without anything going on, except for a black streak of fur chasing after a ball toy. Off-screen, Xander's voice is heard and he sounds rather calm for the most part.]

I noticed that a lot of people were sharing what they got from the lights.

[He walks in to frame and is seen wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and jeans, but he's not facing the camera. He's intentionally keeping his back to the recording to lower the chances of people identifying him. He makes his way over to the wall.]

...You could say I was reluctant to share, but, I was busy learning how to control it better.

[With that said, he brings a hand up to it and starts to merge with his own shadow against the wall. It takes a few moments before he's a silhouette against the wall, but he's facing the camera now -- not like it was very noticeable.]

I can also take the form of someone else's shadow and not just my own. I don't have anyone else here to demonstrate that, so, you'll have to take my word for it.

[He starts to move up to the ceiling, disappearing from the frame. A few moments later, a bit of a thump is heard from behind the camera and the video ends.]

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[Anthony is very intently piqued by the voice - and Xander avoiding showing himself in full aside, he's got some suggestion of an appearance to place to that and the name.

On the tail of some of the other responses, he responds visually out of a sense of courtesy - video for video, and if he recalls the man doesn't have no idea of what to expect. His words come out as just a little extra-tentative and restrained in their voice, all the same, but that's not with only one reason.]

-- It - would be useful - for -- ...subtlety, wouldn't it - ? [Those last three words a little rushed and low; he's well-aware that's cheap choice in words but "spying" and all terms closely-related-enough sound unfortunate, although it's

[He wasn't expecting that. Luckily, he had switched back to the laptop for responses.]

It would, but I'm not exactly eager to be a spy.

[Text response. The others've received responses in text as well and so he know that doesn't necessarily mean anything. A discomfited gnawing detracts from cohering his next thought to words all the same...]

-- Excuse me, erm - is it -- better - if... I - switch - to -- something else...?

[Check and then proceed.]

Edited 2013-10-05 03:46 (UTC)

I don't mind how you respond, even if the visual is a little startling at first.

If er -- ...you say - so. [Bit awkwardly-strained - takes the "the visual is a little startling" as enough of a sign that that was really an improper choice uninvited - glance down, mouth guiltily quirks, he puts pen to paper.]

If you may have to, then it is still an option... I think that I would prefer being capable of "spying" (safely) to having to avoid things!

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It's been a bit of a rough week for me.

I still don't like the idea of doing it.

Please don't be... I understand. [That he's fumbling around boundaries again and if Xander has had a rough week - he would say so but it feels best to be laconic in this case.]

Is it best to think of it as a self-defensive ability for the time being, perhaps? Although I cannot guess what limitations it has, it looks like it may be a good one...

[It didn't help he just experienced another echo. He was suddenly and morbidly curious about Anthony's condition, but he pushed that thought aside.]

Yeah. I take it you've had a bad week as well?

I can see it as a means to escape, but at the same time, I don't know if it's possible if I can be harmed while in that form. As for self-defense, I know a few things, but I'm a bit rusty. Then again, I'm able to create a flame by snapping my fingers.

[Although, using that ability would burn his fingertips.]

I have been fine! [It hasn't been a good week, needless to say, but it's been a bit easier than the week after the twenty-first, and even if it hadn't that'd be all the more reason to keep it apart from Xander's business.

His curiosity quite suddenly catches and flares in a flicker at that last sentence. He's assuming the shadows were the ability he'd mentioned he had been considering sharing - delays on asking with a mental turning because he's had a tendency to push his luck; inquisitiveness gets free once again still...]

When did you receive that ability, if I can ask?

That's good to hear.

[There's a pause, as if he was trying to recall the date to the situation he received it from. He wasn't going to mention anything about bumping in to Savarna at the towers or the fact he has an idea of what he's becoming.]

I think it was the 25th.

[The nosing proceeds, and he's aware it is writing on anyway with little inclination to worry for the second.]

Are these the only two abilities that you know that you've gained?

Yes.

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