Calling the Old Man Out

[foolishjustice]

[Goro has barely been seen since getting back from the Fissure, only leaving his room briefly to eat a couple times a day, coffee in hand and looking half asleep. Now, though, he seems to finally be properly awake...at approximately 8PM.]

Good...erm, evening, I suppose. I’m sorry I’ve been so absent lately, that Fissure must have taken more out of me than I thought.

But, now that I’m recovered, there’s something important I need to tell everyone. The last batch of new arrivals included a man named Masayoshi Shido. He’s my father, and a truly despicable man, who has had numerous people killed for his own convenience or benefit. He even had my mother killed to cover up the scandal of my birth.

[Here he holds up a phone, showing a picture of Shido...with what looks like avocado and cheese smeared on his face and a shrimp up his nose, wearing the most tiredly Done expression as he reaches for the offending crustacean.]

I injured him in the forest in retaliation for the things he’s done to me, one of my boyfriends, and countless others, but don’t mistake him for someone who deserves your pity. He’s physically not much of a threat, but he is a skilled schemer and manipulator, and-

[ Which is the moment that the video will shake, and a very brief flash of a familiar face (spoiler: Akira’s) can be seen. Off-screen, he’s gently pressing a kiss to Goro’s cheek, whispering that he loves him. Don’t mind the view of a ceiling for a moment, guys - it’s a nice ceiling, at least?

… He’ll properly make it up to Goro, later, if he can? For now, though, he gently brushes the fingers of one hand through his boyfriend’s hair. Akira’s face can properly be seen, after he takes a quiet breath. He looks… well, how most would remember? Only with a bit more of a tiredness to it, maybe.

Though, that’s not taking away from how serious he looks as he speaks. ]

... and, while Goro is right about all of that, there is one more detail I feel should be taken into account. Shido isn’t a good person, but he’s well-aware of that now. He’s done unforgivable things, but his eyes were opened to all of it after his ass was kicked.

[ JUST SAYING… ]

Anyway, nobody has to worry about him. Besides, he knows if he tried anything, he’d have to answer to all of us from his world, and then some.

[ JUST SAYING... ]

[This is the point where Goro takes his tablet back, looking a bit huffy.]

It’s true, he isn’t likely to be a threat now. But he absolutely doesn’t deserve anyone’s kindness or sympathy.

Comments

video; danslalune

[riderofcharlemagne]

I KNEW I wanted to punch him!

[There's just a frustrated noise from Astolfo's end, as the video becomes a blur. Presumably, he dropped it whilst throwing his arms up in anguish.]

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

He does just have that sort of face, doesn't he?

purrusu

[beguiledcard]

[ YEAH... ABOUT THAT. ]

It did feel kind of nice.

private to both of these idiots; text; elevencrows as always

[founderinglight]

I wondered, after some of what he said. Should I take this as confirmation of seeing the after-effects of a Palace dealt with?

Private - Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

One example, yes. I'm from before his Palace, but he's definitely behaving as if he's had a change of heart.

TEXT; quicksilver80

[photoshooter]

oh
oh shit i'm sorry id idn't know

i'm really really really sorry.





is there anything i can do to help you guys?

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

I'm not mad if you showed him kindness without realizing.

He hasn't done anything to actively harm us since arriving, so you don't need to worry about that.

purrusu

[beguiledcard]

Thank you... and I'll be fine.

He didn't hurt me nearly as much as he's hurt others.

[letsplayer]

...I seriously cannot believe I offered Yoshi a joint.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

Well, it probably would have been better than his normal intoxicant of choice. Come to think of it, I probably should have mentioned the alcoholism.

text; sharpwings

[matchmakes]

[... Hm. Noted and filed.]

Are you going to be alright?

... Both of you.

[Goro and Akira, he means.]

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

I can't say I'm not angry over his presence, but I'll manage. At least now, I don't have to pretend to be tolerant of him.

purrusu

[beguiledcard]

Thanks, but I'll be fine.

I took my anger out on him, already. I think he's beating himself up enough for the both of us.

text; luciferskylight

[burninglight]

I'm sorry to hear that, Goro; truthfully, I am. You shouldn't have had to suffer through any of that, least of all from your own blood.

But I have to take into account Akira's assessment of the situation as well. In my experience, whether kindness or sympathy are deserved is irrelevant to whether or not they can or will be granted.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

The reasons he's no longer a threat should also be considered. He didn't choose to open his eyes to the depravity of his actions, his ability to self-justify was forcibly removed.

Un: konawa talimo (video)

[dragonmouth]

Understood.

[The small girl on the other end probably isn't someone Goro knows, but she wears an expression that suggests she knows this shit all too well as she blinks wearily.]

I have to say, the look does rather suit him.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

It does. I actually told him the same thing when I took the picture.

video: Masayoshi Shido

[makejapangreat]

Indeed, everything the both of them has said is true. I'm a perpetrator of countless crimes, among them, murder, terrorism, corruption, coercion, bribery... the list goes on.

And indeed, I did kill his mother. I even had it set up to look as a suicide while manipulating the police to ensure the trail did not lead back to me. I used this tactic on other mothers, as well. Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the ways I've wrong my son.

[His voice is even, his expression neutral. Even as broken down and pathetic as he is, his practiced charisma and speaking ability seem to stand strong. A voice that demands respect, though his words encourage shame.]

As for my eyes being opened to what I have done, I had something enacted on me called a "Change of Heart". In other words, it was involuntarily done, and now I am but a shell of my former self. Do not be fooled; I am merely a wicked and cruel man given a conscience.

That said, because of that Change of Heart, I do not intend to cause anyone problems here more than what I already am by my mere presence. It may seem a hollow reassurance from someone of such evil, so take it as you will.

... And Akechi, though I know no words or actions will ever be enough, I truly am sorry.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

[Here's a look only a handful of people have seen on Goro's face before: a cold, merciless, even cruel expression, and an even tone to match.]

You're right, nothing will ever be enough. It wouldn't, even if you hadn't decided to drag me down with you as soon as you found out about my power.

Video

[rhododendronhoney]

Oh? Is that what he's like? I think we've found a taste-tester for everyone's culinary mishaps.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

Hm, that does sound like a good idea. It is largely his fault I never had anyone to teach me how to cook, so really he owes it to me to help with my attempts at learning now.

text; Jetshard

[dubiouslychthonic]

o)+ I aPPreciate the notice of what sounds Like a Long-standing feud, and I sPecificaLLy decLine the imPLicit invitation to take sides.

o)+ ExcePt insofar as I wiLL be extremeLy nonPLussed by any further injuries resuLting from said feud. I reserve the right to dramaticaLLy roLL my ganderbuLbs in the case of further bLoodshed.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

I won't be killing him, though I can't promise I'd do anything to save him from existing danger. You needn't worry about that.

[If only because people who are very important to him have insisted he not.]

username: Captain Undyne

[seafoamgreen]

[With a tone of baffled disgust:]

Fucking humans.

[Yeah, hi, guess who's from a species where love and compassion are literal biological necessities and is kind of disturbed at the blatant reminder that, while humans can and frequently do feel those things, they don't actively require them to not fucking die.]

[Shido has probably committed more crime in his average pre-Change-of-Heart month than her entire society has in the last couple thousand years. It's a bit of a culture shock.]

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

As a former human, I should probably take offense...but I really can't argue, for the most part. Not from personal experience, anyway.

text | gamerchiaki

[press_start]

You sound like you're still suffering from what he's done, Goro-san. It mustn't be very fun being expected to be the better person even though you're still hurting.

Would you like to play DDR with me sometime? Or anything else if you prefer.

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

I think I would like that, actually. It's one of my favorite games. Thank you.

IN PERSON

[byanyother_name]

[Gods, this exploded. What a mess. Kurama has seen more than enough of what's going on to decide that his place right now is with his boyfriends. He practically bolts through the station until he reaches their suite.

It only takes a second to unlock the door and...he keeps his balance as the black and white cat bolts out right between his ankles. Hi Morgana, bye Morgana.]

Akira... Goro...

[foolishjustice]

[Goro's sitting on the bed, looking...a little strained. But when Kurama walks in, he manages a wave.]

Kurama...I take it you've seen the network?

Private to Akechi | Video

[notjustahacker]

[ There's so much in her head right now it's a bit much to process so she's going to speak directly to him. She'd been curious and looked into one of the private conversations after looking through everything else. The look on her face is a frown mixed with something unreadable. ]

Hey. You and me. We're going to talk now and you're not going to weasel out of it, got it?

[ It does sound demanding but the look on her face just looks almost hurt. Answers. The things he hasn't been telling her... she wants to hear the whole story now. ]

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

Ah...

[By this point, he looks...tired, more than anything. He runs his hands through his hair with a sigh and nods.]

Do you want to talk in person?

Video

[stormkingofshepherds]

...what a failure of a parent. [That's not something Nathaniel has seen much. His voice is cold.] He's the type to use mercenaries, then?

Probablecaws

[foolishjustice]

He even had Yakuza connections. People tended to refer to his Yakuza hitman as the Cleaner.