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

[founderinglight]

You would have to ask the androids for more details, but yes. I've been largely working within the scope of my own abilities, but I've definitely picked up a few new tricks here.

[makejapangreat]

I... see.

[That's a startling thought, that he himself could wield magic. There seems to be something that briefly flickers in that expression of his, perhaps some sort of... curiosity?]

Which one do you think would be the best to go to for that sort of guidance?

[founderinglight]

Charm - red scarf - is their magic expert, so probably start there, unless you specifically want to learn healing.

[notjustahacker]

[ There's a few moments of silence that follows his explanation as she lets it all sink in. It was way too elaborate to be some kind of story, after all. Beings called Noise existed that fed on people's negative emotions and grew in number, but only people with certain tools or the dead could see them. Someone was running some freaky game to souls of the dead regarding a chance to live again, and now some individual was spreading noise to different worlds that would result in serious and irreparable damage if not taken care of.

So then someone else took it upon themselves to conduct their own reaper's game to train new composers and ended up not doing it the right way. Setting up a game filled with murder and weird trials once a week? The thought sent a small shiver down her spine before she realized it, but it was at the last statement that had Futaba stopping short in her thought process.

People were killed by some kind of golem if they were found guilty? Then that meant.. ]

...Since you're a Composer now, that means... that they found out it was you and you were killed, right?

[ This is just completely sinking in now, her eyes wide and completely affixed on him by this point. ]

[foolishjustice]

That's right. Kurama noticed I smelled of smoke from disposing of evidence, so...I confessed to everything, to him and all of our fellow captives. There were fifteen of us, in all.

[He runs a hand through his hair with a heavy sigh.]

He and Akira tried to stop the execution, but it only got them rendered unconscious. Though, I can't say I don't find it a relief that they didn't have to see the moment I died. It was...roughly a week and a half, before I became a Composer, during which I haunted the mall we were trapped in as an ordinary ghost, invisible and insubstantial to the living. I can still reclaim those qualities, but I much prefer passing for living.

[One hand reaches into the box of fudge cookies and he takes one out, but only ends up nibbling at it distractedly.]

[makejapangreat]

Of course I am.

[makejapangreat]

[He states it so bluntly that Shido can't help but wince at the words. He killed him, he killed his own son.

It tears through him all over again. Because of his carelessness, because of his callousness, because of everything, he killed the only son he ever knew.]

I did, I... I had no concept of the value of a human life. Not even my own son's.

Right now I am a pathetic and broken man with an ugly heart. But if nothing else... I want to make up to you all those lost and painful years. But perhaps there is some merit to what the others are saying. I don't want to make things worse for you anymore than I already am.

[foolishjustice]

[He'd expected this to be satisfying, but...it's just pathetic. The apology felt good, but this...it's just going over what he already knows. What they both already know.]

...If you really want to make it up to me...start with working to counter those years I spent fending for myself. Those years she spent working herself to the bone for the child whose mere existence ruined her life.

All this time, I've wanted you to feel the despair she felt because you inflicted a child on her. Even with the truth about her death, I still want you to know how it feels to push yourself to exhaustion just to get by in the world.

You know what, have another

[letsplayer]

[ So she's also got the wall of text pet shaming sign at the ready, and she has one more thing she wants to ask this man: ]

So like.

Have you ever thought about... wearing condoms?

I mean in general.

[ Look. One illegitimate kid she can chalk up to a misfire. Two suggests some sort of pattern, and... he suggested there were others, and that's rather worrying.

IT'S A VERY OBVIOUS QUESTION THAT NEEDS ASKING. ]

[makejapangreat]

Then that's where I'll start. ...thank you.

[founderinglight]

No thanks required. If you want to show your gratitude, do it by making sure you get enough rest.

[burninglight]

...Then what is it you're aiming for?

[press_start]

Then please, do your best to become someone who can hold their head high.

It's the least you should do for Goro-san.

[makejapangreat]

[Because you inflicted a child on her. Those are the words that cut the deepest. That Akechi sees himself as an infliction.]

... then I will work myself to the bone. But Akechi... your mother did love you.

[He's done enough damage here. He won't be responding after this.]

[makejapangreat]

To give him exactly what he's always wanted.

Power over me.

[makejapangreat]

I think that's the opposite of the way he would rather me be.

[makejapangreat]

If you have to ask, the answer is obvious.

[yeah, go ahead, call him out for being the most inconsiderate bastard there ever was...]

[letsplayer]

[And in this moment, Marla decides that she's probably not gonna do too much to torment Yoshi apart from some dumb pranks and pet shaming signs. Because his self-loathing and also, well]

...one of the robots is a doctor.

Get yourself tested, dude.

[She sighs deeply and gives him the most judgmental lineface ever.]

I can't believe I'm giving this talk to a guy the same age as my dad.

[notjustahacker]

[ With him saying that, it made a lot of things click in her mind. Mostly going back to what Kurama had told her the one time and it made so much sense now. Though there was a lot to process and she had to let it all run through her head a couple times.

Akira and Kurama had tried to stop Akechi's execution but it failed and then he was trapped in that mall as a ghost before becoming a composer. That was certainly something else, especially when she considered that he had actually told a bunch of other people his secrets when he was revealed as the killer. Her expression turned a bit sad at this, bowing her head and closing her eyes as a soft sigh left her lips.

He really had a rough time. More than she'd first thought. ]

That's probably why you dress all different too. I... I'm sorry you all had to go through all of that.

[ A moment lingers in the air before something else occurs to her and with reluctant hesitation, Futaba looked over to Akechi once more. ]

While I'm at it... please tell me. Tell me what I actually am to you, Akechi. You treat me differently than the others and what my mom's shadow said back then has made me wonder. No lying or getting out of this, either.

[foolishjustice]

Not all of my experiences there were negative...I made a number of friends, who still care about me despite knowing the truth. I've been trying to move away from tailoring my appearance to present a mature image.

[He falls silent at her question, staring intently at his nibbled cookie. What she...is to him. The question hurts...or rather, his thoughts of how she might respond hurt. Will she be upset? Disgusted? Ashamed? And how much of it would be because of him?]

...Before I answer that, I want to make sure you're certain you want to know the answer. I doubt it's something you'll like, and it's not something you'll be able to just put aside and forget about.

[notjustahacker]

That's great! I mean, that you made friends and you're making progress there, but still. It sounds like what you went through wasn't all that great but you're here now so that's something, right?

[ She was trying to see things in a bit of a positive light but not to the point where it was unrealistic. Though when he showed that kind of reaction, and answered like that? It was a little worrying but she'd made up her mind. No going back. ]

I dont want anymore lies and secrets. I can't keep hiding from things my whole life, so why do it now? Even if it's bad, I want you to tell me.

[foolishjustice]

[He glances at her out of the corner of her eye, then takes a deep breath. If she's asking...he's not sure he even could come up with a convincing lie, right now.]

You're...my half-sister. The reason Shido went to extra effort to ruin your life is because you're his illegitimate daughter, and your very existence threatened him.

[beguiledcard]

[ A thoughtful hum. ]

I wouldn't say it doesn't matter... Personally, I believe it should matter as much as you want it to, on some level.

[ So, with that!!! ]

At the very least, I'd love to learn more about your world, sometime.

[beguiledcard]

[ He has to take another moment, himself. This is why he trusts you, Prompto... This here. ALSO THIS IS GIVING HIM A LOT OF FEELINGS, SO HAVE A BRIEF MOMENT OF MUSH, FELLOW SAP. ]

That means a lot... Really.

And I'll do the same for you, for as long as I'm able to. Thank you for being my friend, Prompto.

[beguiledcard]

[ HEH... ]

I'll be honest... I've felt surprised, on occasion, that we have something left. But, every time I think on it, it reminds me that there's still some beauty in humanity. The flaws and the darkness help the good and the light stand out more.

[ That's totally snatched from a video game, but who's gonna prove it! ]

And vice versa.