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

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.

[photoshooter]

yeah but.

are you really going to be okay staying in the same place as him?

[foolishjustice]

I've been in his vicinity before. I spent two and a half years even pretending to tolerate his existence. I should be able to manage, now that I don't have to hide my contempt.

[photoshooter]

[...]

just because you can doesnt mean you should have to. when he did that to your mom.....

how did you even manage to last all those years??

[foolishjustice]

Primarily by isolating my emotions from my behavior, and reminding myself that it was for the sake of getting to a position where I could punish him for what he'd done.

[So, absolutely healthy, right?]

[photoshooter]

...that doesn't sound so great, dude.

[foolishjustice]

I can't say it was pleasant, no. But it got me through.

[photoshooter]

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.

[foolishjustice]

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

[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.

[foolishjustice]

If worst comes to worst, I can find somewhere to camp for a while. I can cover a lot of distance, even without a vehicle.

[photoshooter]

If you need a tent i might be able to get you one to borrow.

purrusu

[beguiledcard]

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

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

[photoshooter]

That still doesn't make it okay that he hurt YOU, dude! ( ≧Д≦)

private to prompto, goro, and kurama

[beguiledcard]

You're right, it's not.

But I did get to basically punch him right in a wound, and I made it clear to him that this is his one and only chance.

He has to sit in guilt over everything he's done. I think the fact that he does regret everything says something.

[photoshooter]

i

think that says something for him. and for making things right, or whatever.

but i don't really care about that. I barely know him and i don't know everything he did either or how different he is now. what I'm worried about is you guys having to deal with him all the time while he's here.

if you want to, that should be your choice. but you should also be safe from having to if you don't. this isn't fair, it shouldn't be on you to defend him or defend how you feel about him.

[beguiledcard]

[ 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.

[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.

[beguiledcard]

[ Even now, after all he's been through, it's still difficult, at times, to remember that it doesn't make him weak to lean on others. There's nothing wrong with it, and he'd never judge another person for needing to. He'd... like it every time someone leaned on him, because that's the kind of thing that makes him feel important. Needed.

... So, why does he keep forgetting to let other people feel that?

There's another lengthy pause before he responds. ]

Sometimes it's easy to forget that.

[ ... another lengthy pause... ]

My father used to tell me that relying on others is a sign of weakness. He told me that, unless I can support myself, I will never be good enough to support a wife. In his opinion, I was nothing compared to his friends' children.

So, even telling you, Goro, and Kurama all of this is hell.

But I promised to be more honest. And, not only do I trust my boyfriends... I trust you as well.

[photoshooter]

[Oh. Prompto has to take a moment to let that knot of flustered, pained, and ultimately empathetic emotion go down a bit.]

Well hey dude if you ever need a break from constant open honesty you can take that too! it's hard and don't let anyone tell you it's not.

i can't imagine anyone not being proud of you for making the effort tho.

Whatever you need, i'll do my best to have your back. That's what friends are for.

[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.