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

[burninglight]

And would that defense not be an active result of the distortion itself?

Sometimes, people living in darkness refuse help because they're too far gone to think of what the alternative of a life like that might even be.

I agree that some people can be so unthinkably terrible that they deserve whatever they might have coming. But oftentimes, what one deserves and the hand they are dealt aren't the same.

[foolishjustice]

[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.

[burninglight]

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.

[foolishjustice]

[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.

[burninglight]

So don't forgive him.

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

[foolishjustice]

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

[burninglight]

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

[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.

[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.

[foolishjustice]

I know I can't dictate people's feelings. But doesn't a victim have the right to say he doesn't want to see the person responsible for his suffering treated with sympathy?

[burninglight]

Yes. But you can't expect that decision to be made just at that. You're a victim of all he's done, and I respect that. But I can not simply turn away from someone seeking repentance no matter the reason. Even if repentance should be unreachable for them.

Masayoshi Shido is not the only person that has had their heart altered. I know better than most what comes with having one's distortions lifted.

[foolishjustice]

['It seems appealing, when I think about it.' Haaaah...]

Then I at least ask you not speak of him around me.

[burninglight]

That's a fair expectation to have. I can do that.