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

[foolishjustice]

He deserves to suffer for what he's done, not to have people try to soften the impact of his new conscience.

[dragonmouth]

I'll leave you to deal with him as you see fit.

Just remember to update that sign in the commons when you're finished.

[She totally went there.]

[burninglight]

Sounds like he's already suffering. And I don't recall saying I'd do anything of the sort.

[photoshooter]

okay.

if anything changes and that's not enough, like if you really need to not be in the same space as him, don't be afraid to speak up, okay? I'm sure we can work something out.

[founderinglight]

And if I may be blunt, you are the person he has hurt, and only a teenager besides.

I am a man who has lived with my guilt and regret for longer than your entire society has likely existed.

I do not expect you to understand why I have the perspective I do on this matter, but it will not change. So long as he seeks to follow the path he's been set upon, the better person that he has a chance to become, I will not disregard it.

A person who sees only the weight of the past cannot move forward into the future. And I will not have it said that I did not extend the opportunity to move forward when I seek it for myself.

[foolishjustice]

Akira and Futaba-chan have, unfortunately, already made it clear that they won't tolerate me killing him. I assure you, he otherwise wouldn't have even made it to the station.

[dragonmouth]

Astounding.

[Just. This face.]

Tell me you at least had the decency to do it with your own hands.

[photoshooter]

Then if that's your choice, I support you, man.

You don't have to be strong. if it gets too much, say something and someone will be there for you, it's not a bad thing. people aren't made to walk alone.

video: Kana

[cyclicalconcept]

[Kana is quiet for a moment before she speaks.]

This may come as a surprise, but...I'm well aware myself of everything you did to your son, to many people. I was aware even before anything was said here.

...

May I ask you? When you woke up the very first time with a changed heart. How did you feel? What did you feel?

Video

[rhododendronhoney]

[Shido might hear the faint sound of someone sharpening a knife as Cori glares at the camera.]

...oh. That's what you meant.

...that's way more harm than you can ever repay in this lifetime.

[Some more knife sharpening sounds, kupo]

...you're banned from getting any more of my snacks.

Video

[rhododendronhoney]

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

text; private; luciferskylight

[burninglight]

It's Ardyn.

We should talk.

[foolishjustice]

I don't ask that you take part in making his life worse, I simply don't want to see people helping him with the pain he already feels.

[burninglight]

And that's not your choice to make.

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.

Kana

[cyclicalconcept]

...Goro-chan...

[makejapangreat]

Of course I will try anyway.

[What has he decided to do... It's why he was trying to figure out who he was now. Then what he should do would follow, right?

But he doesn't know. He's as lost as ever. Yet time keeps moving on. He cannot do nothing.]

I've not yet decided. [The utter honesty is... frustrating, and it shows on his face a bit. He doesn't feel in control of himself...] There is little I can do here to right the wrongs I've made elsewhere. [. . .] But it is my duty to repent, so my actions will be guided by that.

[foolishjustice]

And why don't I have a say in how the person who killed my mother and ruined my life is treated?

[burninglight]

Free will.

It is your right to speak of his cruelties and of how they affect you and those you love.

It is not your right to dictate what others do or how they feel as a result.

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.]

[foolishjustice]

What? It seems perfectly logical to me.

[rhododendronhoney]

Sounds quite right. [A pause] He doesn't have any allergies, right? Wouldn't want to accidentally kill him and lose his services.

[cyclicalconcept]

I'm not sure that will actually help if he wants to change his life around, though...

[founderinglight]

[Izunia would say the reverse. That who you are is determined by your actions and your desires.

But even so, his face softens, just a bit.]

Let's change the question, then.

If we removed the concept of repentance from the table, what would you do?