towerofanimus | I am a Shadow...the True Self.

Entry tags:

[ou] cross blanchard

I am a Shadow...the True Self.

Characters: Cross Blanchard, his shadow and those who seek the truth (aka anyone)
Setting: September 7th, Meadow fight
Format: Action preferred but will match
Summary: Cross finally runs into his shadow and boy is he surprised and in denial.
Warnings: Feelings and lots of denial. Also monster fight where magic is pretty much not that effective. Also, Shadow Cross's skill list.

[The shadow has managed to get to the meadow, but guess who he found there? That's right, his original. So the original Cross is going to stand there both in shock and utter disbelief. Why was a look alike of him standing there? He would have thought it was his brother if it weren't for the fact they this thing had the same arm as him. But no, he couldn't have a shadow. That was only if he wasn't honest with himself. He was always honest.]

W-what the-?

I hate being ignored. I hate it when no one wants to talk with me or see's how normal I really am.

H-huh?

I'm disgusted by it. I fucking hate how normal I am. No one can see me unless I'm special, no one will listen to me. That's why I wanted to be a hero. So I could get some goddamn, fucking attention. And why do I want that attention? Well it's because dear old daddy doesn't ant to even look at me. I have to be special like big brudder~ if I want to even get a glance. What's more Crown doesn't even apperciate what he's got. He just acts all dead and dreary and such a pain. I really hate him too. But heroes don't act like that so I just pretend I love him.

But that's not-!

[It interrupts him like any Shadow.]

Actually, I think what I really hate is everybody else. Everyone's amazing and magical and so powerful. And what do I have to say for it? Nothing. I'm normal and all I do is try and look cool and awesome when I'm really not. That's also why I want people to pay attention to me. Because, if you're fucking normal, you're alone. No matter what.

[Cross is just at a loss for words right now as the Shadow goes on.
>Stand and watch?
>Talk Cross through it?
>Other?]

(Ooc: Thread jumping is encouraged, so to give the battle and the conversation a sense of flow and time. )

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[This has gone on far long enough. Chasing Cross' shadow through the tower and hearing all these painful words...it needed to stop, because a lot of it wasn't true.

He was relieved to find the real one unharmed when he finally caught up to the double. Hopefully he wouldn't need to fight it -- the one kid's drawing posted on the network warned that it could happen -- but he would save his power for that moment, should it occur.]

There you are! Be careful, Cross.

[Cross continues to stay still as he stares at his shadow. But when a voice is heard, the boy turns around. His eyes widen in fear and horror to see one of the few people he didn't want here. No, Wild Tiger couldn't see this! Not this horrible lie! This thing that was saying stuff that he knew was a giant lie. So the boy takes a step away as Kotetsu draws closer.]

NO! GO AWAY! DON'T LOOK!

[The shadow just smirks.]

Ooooh?~ Afraid to show others what you're really like? You've always been like that. You put on a happy face so that people don't go fretting over you, but really you enjoy that attention. You want them to worry. You feed off of it. That's why you choose to be alone in your misery, that way people will come running to you to pour their fucking affection on you.

[Cross is shaking his wildly.]

N-no! That's not-!

[Kotetsu frowns. There was a chance they could get through this by talking it out, so they would try that before anything else. Not that he was the best with words, but he would give it a good shot.]

Cross, you're stronger than this! I know you are. Besides, there's nothing wrong with being plain and normal! Sure, you can't shoot lasers from your eyes, or fly, or freeze criminals in a block of ice, but that doesn't matter!

[...Well, it could have been worse.]

But this is-!

[Before the original can even take it in, the shadow is already talking over Kotetsu.]

So...you're going to go deny me again? Figures. That's all you're ever good at. You deny the reality of the world, people and even yourself. You pretend everyone is capable of being nice and good but you know better than that. You just pretend to act like there's a thing called redemption for the bad guys because, hey, 'a hero always forgives others!~' What bull crap!

That's the real reason you wanted to be a hero. You wanted to put yourself on a pillar above the rest of humanity. You wanted to be seen as someone who could forgive anything, but you can't. You hate that you can't be a hero because, you're like every other terrible person in this world.

Also that speech about how you loved everyone in the world? Puuh-leaaaaaaaaaase. Even you knew that was a lie.

S-STOP IT!

Why? This is me. This is who we really are.

[Okay, he's lost. Cross is glaring up at his shadow. Everything is silent. Quiet. It's not the calm sort either. No, the tension is so thick that someone could choke on it. A look of hatred and denial flaring in the young boy's eyes.

Sound becomes prevalent again as the boy has just charged at his shadow. It's only a few seconds between but he's already sitting on top of it. Loud cracks of metal hitting skin is heard as Cross is just punching away at the shadow's face with his mechanical arm. It's a physical and emotional denial of everything and the only way to make it seem like it wasn't right was to punch it.]

SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!

YOU'RE.NOT.ME!

[And soon the boy is thrown off his shadow as an explosive dark aura radiates from the shadow. Cross lands a few feet behind Kotetsu, as Shadow Cross stands. His grin is wild as he begins to let out a laugh that's chilling and disturbing. All the warmth is just sucked out of the room from that high cackle.]

THAT'S RIGHT! I AM ME NOW!

[And soon the aura of darkness consumes it. When the cloud of darkness disperses a very tall, snow pale figure, with horrifically starved torso appears. It doesn't help its look much though when it's body seems to be tightly wound in black chains. It's arms seem to be broken in several places, one being organic with pumping green veins, while the other is made of metal and gears, but green blood oozing out from the parts. It's fingers are long and claw like.

Blinders are placed on both sides of it's face, almost mimicking Cross's visor as a tall black crown rests on its head. However, the creature seems to have just hollow smooth skin where the eyes would be. Dancing around him is paper people that a kindergartener would make.]

I am a Shadow...the True Self!

I hate how everyone ignores me! You'll pay attention if it's the last thing you do! And if you try and stop me, I'll rip you all to shreds!

[This must be the berserking form. That means he's got to beat it into submission so it's attentive to Cross and can be spoken to. And he's only got five minutes to do so or they're both dead. He rushes to Cross and moves him someplace safer.]

Hang in there Cross. True heroes help their comrades on the battlefield.

[~~You don't know how many times Kotetsu has been princess-carried due to him flubbing things up.~~]

You can take any shape you want, but I'm still not letting you hurt you...him...the other...I'm not letting you hurt anyone!

[Kotetsu has never used his power in front of Cross before, so if he's still conscious, he'll see that Kotetsu is glowing with a beautiful blue light, and that his muscles are growing slightly.]

You want my attention? You've got it!

[With that, he charges forward, punching the shadow in the face. Fight first, talk later. He likes this strategy!]

[Cross is effectively passed out. Having all your energy sucked out by your evil shadow twin does that.

~~Does Kotetsu feel good now that he got to princess carry someone?~~

The shadow just lets out a high pitch scream as Kotetsu talks to him. He can't hurt anyone? Pfft, fuck that noise. He wants attention of if murdering does that he's cool with it.]

SHUT UP AND JUST WATCH ME!

[And the punch does send it reeling backwards but soon it releases a Heaven's blade down on Kotetsu.]

[Even with his power activated, that's painful. This guy's on par with Jake Martinez in the power category...and he didn't fare so well with him the first time through. Where's Barnaby when you need him?

But even that might be bad. Barnaby's not very personable, and Kotetsu believes this is more than just knocking a villain out cold.]

Ch...you are serious. But you won't get what you want in this form!

[Kotetsu's goes in to slug him again once he's back on his feet.]

(ooc: Since it seems like you're the only one to fight this shadow, it'll be signifcantly weaker than what I put down.)

[Yup, definitely slugged as the creature goes reeling backwards. It lets out another agonizing scream as it shoots it's chains at Kotetsu.]

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET WHAT I WANT!

[Kotetsu grits his teeth. If Shadow Cross wants to try and hold him down, he'll just have to throw the guy around.]

All...you'll get...is negative...attention!

I don't care! I've been alone for so long! As long as someone is looking at me I don't care!

[But it screeches when it gets tossed around like a rag doll.]

No one cared back home! Why would they?! That's why I try and act like a big hero! So someone does care! That's it! I'm not noble!

[No one cared back home. Kotetsu can kind of relate. The nice thing about being here, away from people in Sternbild, is that nobody knows that his popularity just isn't what it used to be. But that's not why he sticks with it.]

That's the WRONG reason to be a hero!

[Kotetsu slaps the shadow across the face, and it's a hundred-powered slap too.]

[And it goes flying, hitting the wall. As it rises again it and tries for a tempest slash on Kotetsu.]

There is no other reason! But, if I can't get the love I deserve by being heroic, I'll do it by crushing everyone else!

[The kid's still hitting hard. Kotetsu can hear the fabric of his clothes tear and his skin sliced up as he's attacked. But he's running out of time, and he needs to get this shadow into a weakened, more docile state so Cross can talk.

They both have a lot to learn.]

I think you need some time out to think this over!

[Time to shove this thing into the wall.]

[And shoved against the wall. But it will now try and lash out with those long clawed hands.]

Shut up! I'm just being me!

Edited 2012-09-18 21:11 (UTC)

[It's clear now that Shadow Cross is only going to listen to himself, and right now Cross is knocked out. Kotetsu resorts to his specialty; breaking things and giving criminals the beatdown. He can do more damage without thinking about how to talk the shadow down.]

Then I'll be me as well!

[So he was trying to defeat him? No, he wouldn't let this happen! He would be him! No matter what. So he begins unleashing tempest slashes again on Kotetsu.]

[Kotetu's top is more or less scraps of fabric by now. The way the pull and fall on his body is becoming a hinderance, so he tears what remains off and throws it to the ground while coming up close to the shadow for another attack. He's nearing a minute left of his power, but he's got to keep trying.]

[ ~~Get your cameras girls, Kotetsu's putting on a gun show.~~

The shadow flounders backwards at the attack but soon begins unleashing a series of swipes at Kotetsu. But it's become significantly weaker now. One good hit and it's down.]

[~~Your source for fan service at Animoose~~]

Heroes fight for justice!

[Punch.]

To right wrongs!

[Punch.]

And to protect people!

[PUNCH. Kotetsu pants heavily, emotions fueling his frustrations as his power begins to fade.]

Especially those...that they care about.

Edited 2012-09-19 01:55 (UTC)

[With every punch it takes it lets out a scream and tries to get at Kotetsu but it's just too much. With the final punch, it explodes in a cloud of darkness. Dropping a now human like Cross looking shadow on the ground.

A little further a way Cross begins stirring.]

[Kotetsu wipes his brow with the back of his hand as he catches his breath, but turns to face Cross when he hears him move behind him. The shadow had better not try anything funny right now, but he's pretty sure Cross has the inner strength to work this out.]

The three of us need to talk. It's the only way.

[He offers them both a hand.]

[He's not even sure what to do here. Cross just wants to get up and run. This thing...everything it had said was terrible and someone heard it. Or many people did. Who knows. But it was bad.

He can't even look Kotetsu in the eye. But at the hand offered to him, he swallows. His mouth dry, he takes the hand and pulls himself to his feet.

Turning to face the shadow he grips his chest. He had to face it...even if just because Kotetsu fought that thing on his own to keep Cross and everyone else safe.]

I...I knew it wasn't lying. I didn't become a hero in the first place to want to save people...I was just lonely.

[He takes a stepforward towards the shadow.]

Dad never paid attention to me and I didn't have many friends. Crown got most of the attention. He got the magic and me? I was just there. Crown cared though...I knew he did. But I was so jealous of him. He could do all this great stuff. So, I guess I just pushed myself away from my feelings and pretended like everything was okay.

[He takes a breath, his legs are shaking.]

At the beginning, I just wanted to be a hero so dad would look at me and people would want to be with me. But, it changed. I just wanted to help people after awhile.

[He looks to his shadow.]

I ignored you so I wouldn't feel bad about myself. About what I felt about my brother and what I did and what I am. But...you're me and I'm you.

[And with that the shadow nods and vanishes. No persona for Cross. Not being special is the story of his life.

But now that it's gone, the boy is just going to try and leave without a word. Head hung.]

[Not so fast. There is now a hand on your shoulder, Cross.]

[Oh great, he's going to get yelled at. He's just giving Kotetsu a sideways glance, obviously expecting the worse now for what that thing said.]

[You'd think that, but Kotetsu starts rambling on with a story.]

My partner Barnaby, he's always getting all of the attention. I have to get dragged around while he gets prettied up for interviews, and photoshoots, and all that publicity stuff. Kids these days want a young, attractive superhero to look up to, not a rusty old veteran like me.

[That's Kotetsu-speak for 'hey, people like my partner better than me, just like your brother gets favored more.']

Huh?

[This just totally throws the kid for a loop as he looks at Wild Tiger. He wasn't getting angry?]

You're not...angry?

[What is this? What is his life?]

[He curls a goofy grin.]

I knew that shadow wasn't telling the whole truth, but you filled in the missing pieces. You know the values of being a hero, but it can be easy to get discouraged.

[Especially in a situation like Cross'.]

Back home, not everyone likes NEXT. Those people call us monsters and are afraid of us. When I was around your age, I hated my powers. I wanted to be normal. But then one day, I was held hostage during a bank robbery while my idol, Mr. Legend, arrived to deal with the criminals. I got scared and accidentally used my power, knocking out my captor in the process, hehe...

[Ah, nostalgia. He loves telling this story.]

Mr. Legend told me not to be ashamed of what I was, and that I could use my power to help people. I decided to become a hero after that.

[He looks down at the boy.]

So you shouldn't be ashamed of what you are, even if people make you feel that way. Someday you'll do something great. That's what people remember most: the actions you take.

[Well, all Cross can do right now is forget his problems for a moment as he hears Kotetsu. He didn't know what it was like to be hated, that was something completely different than just being ignored.]

I'm sorry...

[But he did smile just a little when the man said he became a hero for it. But then Kotetsu's words go straight to his feelings. No one's said something like that before to him. He'll just start to cover his face. If Kotetsu has a good enough perception he can probably see that he's crying behind his hands.]

Thanks...

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I am a Shadow...the True Self.

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