halfnhalf | 004 - Action/Voice

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[Although Teddy didn't go on the draft, he knew plenty of friends who did. Once he was certain they were all accounted for, though some had gone through some heavy losses, he felt like he could relax a little. And with relaxation, it dawned on him that he hadn't really practiced his shifting ability in a while. Sure, there was his Hulkling form, but he knew that one. Knew it inside and out. What about others?

This is why he sits by the edge of the fountain, homework and pencil in hand, though he doesn't work so much as watch people over the top of the page. He's inconspicuous about it, as this is a hobby he's developed for some time now.

And when he's sure he's not in anyone's range of vision, he transforms, shifting into the form of the person he's got his eyes on. That's when he stops watching them and looks down at the body he's impersonating, just to study the shape, occasionally glancing up to make sure he has everything right. Even when the person's left, he still stays in that form for a few long moments before he shifts back, writing his answers in his homework once he's satisfied with the shape he's in.

Observe, learn, shift, hold. This is what he's learned over the years, though it's been a while since he's done this for selfless reasons. Just for practice, nothing more.]

[Voice]

[It's sunset and he's still outside, though he appears to be walking back home. There's just one thing on his mind, something that occurred to him while shifting.]

Anyone up for playing b-ball sometime? It's been way too long since I actually got to play against someone. Holograms just don't really cut it, you know?

[He would suggest football, but, well. When you've got the ability to possibly break someone in half with a good tackle, that probably isn't the best sport to go for.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She had seen the dark haired boy around town before. Knew enough to recognize him as Teddy's Billy. But she had never actually bothered talking to him. Never really felt any need to get to know the other boy. She had her friendship with Teddy. A friendship that was starting to mean more and more to her as time went by. Maybe, someday, she'd introduce herself to the other boy.

But today wasn't that day.

So she kept walking upon seeing Billy, not turning around until she hears someone shout her name. She turns around sharply at that and blinks in confusion when she sees Teddy where the other boy had been only moments ago.]

Teddy? [She's a hunter. Her observation skills are more than honed. And yet, she somehow managed to miss seeing him. Her nose wrinkles.] Where did you come from?

Uh... my place, a while ago. I've actually been here the whole time?

[The tone is more awkward than anything; oi, maybe he should've stayed as Billy until Katniss went into the library. Speaking of that though, Teddy straightens his back and jerks his thumb towards the place.]

I thought I saw you heading towards the library. Mind if I come with you?

[She shakes her head. Of course she doesn't mind. She never minds Teddy's company. He's one of the few people here she can really relax around. Be herself and be certain that he won't judge her for past actions. Decisions that weren't necessarily in her control.

He's had to make those hard kind of decisions, too.]

I don't. [But there's a but in there. And she turns back again to look at the fountain where she was almost certain she saw the other boy not too long ago.] Were you out here with Billy?

Haha... sort of.

[He crosses his arms over his stomach and leans in, as if to keep what they say a secret between them both.]

I was him for a few minutes. Have you heard of shapeshifters? I have that ability... I'm just not all that public about it.

[It's caused him trouble in the past. It causes him trouble now, sometimes. He never hides it, but he never goes around telling people, either. Who knows if his past would just repeat itself otherwise...]

[Her expression was entirely blank. They had talked about abilities before. His agility jumping off the roof had been one of the things that impressed her the first time they had met. But she hadn't known that his abilities extended further.

Or, really, what shapeshifting even was. The name implied enough. Shifting. Changing shape? But that sounded like an impossibility to her. Unless... Unless it was magic?

Was that even something magic could do?]

[He keeps his eyes on the ground at first, then looks up at her, and at her blank expression, and -

Ah, right. She doesn't know what a shapeshifter is.

With a low sigh, more to prepare himself than anything, he shifts. And once he's done with that sigh, it's not Teddy sitting before Katniss, but Billy once again.]

Something like this. It's been something I could do since I was born, but I didn't actually know about it until five or six years ago.

I used to... not do very good things with it.

[For a moment, she's not certain if she could - should - trust her eyes. Did that really just happen? She had been talking to Teddy. And now? It was still him, wasn't it?

Her fingers brushed his cheek gently, questioningly. She hadn't even blinked and he had completely changed his shape. Quickly, her hand retreated to her lap and she shook her head. Trying to comprehend this. It was unlike anything she had yet experienced here.]

Is it magic?

[Teddy doesn't flinch away from the touch, at least; he sits like he's used to it, like he trusts her with that. Once she pulls her hand away, he glances at her, then leans over to rest his cheek against his hand, supported by the elbow on his knee.]

You could call it that, sure. It's just in my blood. I'm not calling on magic or anything; it's as easy as clenching a fist, to me.

[He looks down at his hand, curled into a loose fist.]

I know it's not normal. I used to hate it because of that.

[Had he not said that it wasn't normal, she never would have guessed. Because while it might not have been normal in Panem, she had learned that there was a lot here that wasn't like her home. Magic, abilities. Even the goodness found in most people here.

She offered a reassuring smile. Because, at the very least, she had grown used to discovering all these differences. Once the initial surprise wore off, she surprised herself with her ability to cope.]

It must be useful sometimes. When you don't want people to find you.

... Mmm.

[He can't admit it to her. How just a couple years ago, that was exactly what he used his power for. Not just to impersonate his heroes and gain the attention he desperately needed, but to hide his true form, the form he was never sure of and practically hated, the form that he thought no one wanted. Because who could ever like Teddy Altman when they could have anyone they ever wanted?

It was a dark time for him. And while finding a good use for his power, friends who enjoyed him for the true self he didn't enjoy, someone who loved him for who he was - while all of that was good, he still has one foot in that dark spot. Sometimes he falls back on it. Sometimes he wants to hide again.

It's too personal, and it's not something he wants to discuss. So he shifts back, becoming himself once more (because people like him for him now, he doesn't have to think he's a pathetic screw-up anymore) and trying to smile.]

So we were heading for the library...?

[She smiled when he shifted back and found herself laughing just a little in amazement. She might not ever get used to seeing this. She's not certain that she wants to. It's amazing, really, to see these abilities people here possess. And amazing in the good way, in the way that makes it okay to be trapped here in Luceti.],/small>

We were. [As she stood, she turned to look at him for a moment. Her lips pressed together thoughtfully before she added in,] Thank you for sharing that.

[She doubted that it was easy.]

004 - Action/Voice

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