phonetasmal | Calling the Old Man Out

[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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

you shouldn't have to do it again. weird...cut off feelings or whatever. he shouldnt get to be back in your life if you don't want him there and people shouldn't try to tell you your feelings are wrong when they dont know and they weren't there.

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.

I dislike when people attempt to make decisions about something without understanding it entirely, disregarding the words of those who actually do.

[As you guys may have noticed from certain passive aggressive comments about certain people wanting to take down certain signs.]

...He's still my brother. That weighs differently, heavier, than any amount of harm done a stranger.

There's no point in explaining in detail, as I imagine you'll see soon enough.

[Ardyn maybe struck a nerve, since Goro's reply takes a little while longer than the others.]

It's true, it is difficult to consider alternatives, especially when one has dedicated so much to something that involves living in that darkness.

But to my knowledge, nothing put him there. He chose, of his own free will, to contribute to that corrupt world.

[ HE MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OVER THINGS BUT... yeah. That WAS a very satisfying moment. ]

[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.

Sunk cost fallacy. Too far in to turn back, so one might as well keep going and see how it pans out.

People are painfully flawed like that. Such is the drawback of being blessed with free will itself, that it allows one to make terrible decisions.

Sounds like a plan. I'll see you shortly!

[And it won't take him long to get there, at least.]

And I'm his son. He can't even claim to have been unaware. He couldn't even deny when I asked if the reason he framed my mother's death as a suicide was out of hope that his little scandal would follow suit.

I won't. I no longer have any need to hide my true feelings toward him.

[ He... takes a moment to respond. ]

You're right that it isn't fair.

A lot of things in life aren't fair, but really...? This isn't the worst thing I've ever been through.

I think that, in the end, clinging to the hate and all the other negative feelings is letting the past Shido win.

I am not seeking to justify what he did. Do not misunderstand.

Nor do I ask you to stop hating him.

But I will not deny kindness to the repentant. It is possible to offer understanding without forgiveness.

[It takes Goro a little longer to get down there, since he has responses to deal with...but really, that just makes him more in need of clearing his head. At least the rain has cooled things down a bit, even if it means the grass is still wet.]

Ah, it must have rained while I was asleep...do you think we should go down to the beach, so we don't slip on wet grass?

[ This look is of Pure Disappointment... and some resentment. ]

Words don't prove anything.

Do something other than sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself.

You're taking the easy road, which is the last thing you deserve.

So.

How many?

How many people did you kill because a child dare inconvenience you?

[Another critical hit, another delay.]

That doesn't make his decisions forgivable. I can't think of a situation where he wouldn't have realized how terrible his choice was, aside from simply having so much of a sense of self-importance that he was incapable of seeing worth in other people's lives.

Even so, I will do what I can to make it up to you. [He just... has to figure out how first.]

I hardly see what there is to understand. He was a cruel and petty man, driven purely by his own arrogance, and now he's been forced to realize how his actions look without his sense of self-importance. Everything he feels as a result is just part of what he deserves.

[And the look that faces the camera - Izunia has mastered the trick, it seems, of making eye contact with video quite well for someone his age - is one of at least equal authority. Though it's not a haughty look, it is some degree commanding, a fellow politician in his element.]

Whether it will ever be enough is not what matters. What matters is whether you try anyway.

'Evil' is in the actions that you take, and the motivations behind them. It is no inherent quality. Just like good, it is a decision you make.

So the question becomes, what have you decided to do?

[A deep breath.] I don't know what gave you that impression, but I assure you, the last thing I intend to do is nothing.

[It's not defensive, it's determined. He could never be satisfied by taking the easy road. That much was never in his nature, distortions or not.]

So don't forgive him.

But don't deny anyone else the right to give him a chance, should they decide to.

All I want from you is to suffer like she did.

[How many? The words echo in his mind. He scrambles for memories. And yet he cannot be sure.]

As selfish as I am, I never kept count.

[Even if it's cooled down a bit, Robin's pretty glad he left his coat in the library...]

Yeah, probably. I'm not really in the mood for faceplanting into wet grass...

Page 3 of 18

Calling the Old Man Out

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video: Masayoshi Shido

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Probablecaws

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text -> action

TW: more suicide reference

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video; purrusu

Un: konawa talimo (video)

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video; elevencrows

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