phonetasmal | UN: Probablecaws

[Some people might have noticed Goro's had his hair tied up with a black ribbon since his birthday. The more observant might have also noticed a topaz stud in his right ear since that same date. Now both things are clearly visible when he appears on screen, with an expression as though he's mulling something over.]

A lot of us have been here for several months now, and some of us have been in other unfamiliar worlds for longer...that sort of thing can have an impact, and change your outlook in ways you could never expect. It's changed my entire future...no, given me one, when the path I was on before would have destroyed me.

So, I've been wondering. Has anyone else here changed in ways that they expect to influence what they do with their lives when they go back home? And, if so...have any of those people had to put real thought into what it is they want to do, because their previous long-term plans aren't...something they can do anymore, for whatever reason?

If you don't want to share, that's perfectly alright. This is just a bit of...academic curiosity, really.

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[He smiles at Akira listing himself, though it fades when he adds Shido to the end.]

...By the way. I made a promise on my birthday. When I left the party, I told Shido that from now on, I'm not going to let my resentment for him keep ruling my actions. I'm going to do my best to handle my emotions in ways that don't involve lashing out at him, and to be less hypocritical about the idea of someone making up for past crimes.

[ His expression softens considerably as he listens to these words. ]

Goro...

[ Slowly, a smile that should make it clear how impressed he is forms. He leans to brush a kiss over his boyfriend's lips. ]

I'm so proud of you. [ a nod ] That's a huge step. I'll do everything I can to help you along the way.

[ There's a pause as he glances to the side for a moment. ]

He's... really trying hard, huh?

Edited 2018-06-27 06:31 (UTC)

...I've been ignoring it more than I should, but he is.

[He pauses, then closes his eyes.]

On the Trivesta, he...helped me out of a difficult situation. I did appreciate it, but...he acted more familiar than I cared for, so I lashed out at him. I don't want to be the kind of person who does things like that.

[ ... Oh.

Shido's limp, the way he acted when Akira summoned his Persona... The way he simply defaulted to calling it an accident, and not giving a single detail regarding said "accident."

It takes a moment, but it all adds up. After a moment, he releases a tense breath. ]

That explains a few things...

[ He won't specify how jumpy Shido was, because he doesn't want to pile on any guilt. Instead, he rests a hand against the side of Goro's and kisses his forehead. He lets a soft smile rest on his lips as he finishes with: ]

But what matters the most is that you're choosing to go down a different path.

[Shido's limp, which was gone by the time he got back to the station. Sure, there are other people around with healing, but...]

Did you...run into him on the beach?

[ He's quiet for a moment, and then he nods. ]

Yeah... I'm the one who healed him.

[He hesitates, then brushes his fingers through his bangs.]

That was...after I'd already cast Mediarama on him. I didn't mean to cause serious injury, but some of the stairs were rusted through and he fell much further than I'd planned. His tail got stabbed through on a piece of broken metal, and...

[He leans against Akira with a quiet chuckle.]

It's strange. A month ago, I would've just left him there to bleed to death. Maybe even mocked him first. But I actually felt...bad about what I'd done. I didn't even hesitate to lift him off the spike and close the wound. I...don't want to kill him anymore.

[ He can't stop the way his body cringes at the mental image. ]

I don't find it strange, at all...

[ With a soft exhale, he lets his forehead rest against the side of Goro's head for a moment, eyes closed. ]

You realize that what you did was wrong, and you don't intend to do anything like that ever again. That's what's important here. There's no set way to make up for anything like that, but... I know, in the end, you'll continue to do what's right.

Edited 2018-06-28 09:11 (UTC)

...I didn't feel anything like that when I tried to kill him in Amesta Forest. I even enjoyed thinking that he was suffering because of what I'd done to him...feeling guilt over hurting him goes against everything I've wanted for the past twelve years. That's the strange part, that it's...so different from how I felt just last month.

Maybe... we can just think of this as you having had a natural change of heart.

[ Granted... Persona users can't have Palaces, right...?

... Right? ]

[That gets a quiet snort out of him.]

I have known for a while that the only reason I don't have a Palace is because I don't have a Shadow to rule it. Remember back after you had your school trip, when I pointed out that people were suggesting me as the Thieves' next target?

[ He blinks. ]

Ah... yeah, I do remember that. [ a beat ] Did you check for one, then?

...I did. I knew I was acting on warped emotions, but I couldn't logic my way out of them. When the Nav didn't find anything, I wondered if maybe it couldn't be used to enter one's own Palace, so I tried to hint to you that there was something to find. I didn't realize the actual reason until I learned that Personas are Shadows.

[ He's quiet for a short while after that, one of his arms gently wrapping around the older teen and pulling him closer. ]

And, in the end, that proves how strong you are.

UN: Probablecaws

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