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

[makejapangreat]

[Immediately:] Absolutely not.

Perhaps for the other children, but not my son. I hardly intend to force myself constantly into his life, but I will not disappear from it. [He's actually getting rather passionate as he talks.] I have already done that once in my life, and that is perhaps the biggest reason why he has suffered so much for all of his life.

[He lets out a breath.]

I might have considered something like that before, but... of his own free will, he continues to approach me. The way he has reacted to my attempts at consoling...

[Quietly:]

I do not believe those are the actions of a boy who wants to be left alone, no matter how much he hates me and how much that wound still festers.

[founderinglight]

[It's good to see, as Heart so accurately put it, that the man still has some fire left in him.]

I suppose that is fair enough. But - I see how he behaves, how he thinks of you, and it worries me. He is on the far side of the border of obsession, and an obsession of hatred is far worse than one of love.

Both as someone who considers him a friend, and as someone who raised my own children, I am concerned about him simply sinking down into a spiral of that.

[He closes his eyes and sighs.]

I do know well enough what it's like to be desperate for someone's attention in that way, and so I will say this - if you simply allow him to have whatever he asks of you, it will do neither of you any good. It is too late to have any kind of traditional parent-child relationship with him, but as a person engaging with another person, you must set a boundary somewhere.

[He smiles faintly.]

Even if that is a bit hypocritical of me to say at this exact moment. To say it is one thing and to act on it yet another, after all.

[makejapangreat]

[A deep sigh.] You're probably right.

[About needing boundaries. Shido felt so indebted to Akechi that he was willing to give him anything he desired. But there does need to be some kind of cut-off point— for Akechi's sake more than anything.]

The last thing I want is for him to spiral further into darkness because of me. No more.

[founderinglight]

[A nod.]

I can't tell you where that boundary should be for you. That's something you have to decide for yourself.

...For me it was "every member of Ardyn's family gets one punch, no weapons allowed," if that should help.

[makejapangreat]

[A startled bark of a laugh at that.]

Two of them already got their hit in on me.

[But that doesn't feel like remotely enough for the pain he's caused them... That's the problem, isn't it? There isn't a "too far" for him...]

[founderinglight]

Yes, so I noticed.

[Those matching bruises sure were a thing there.]

Just remember that physical suffering doesn't really make things all that much better. For anyone.

[makejapangreat]

Doesn't it? I wonder. [His voice suddenly takes on a much more solemn note.] He seemed more than thrilled to finally be able to exercise power over me. The only reason I'm still here is because his friends intervened.

[founderinglight]

And when you're dead, that ability to exercise power is also over.

[You don't survive politics without knowing something of the dark side of people.]

Regardless... Physical injury doesn't earn you redemption, only the exasperation of the medical team. At least make some effort to avoid it?

[makejapangreat]

[Rather begrudgingly:] I suppose.

[founderinglight]

...Figuring out who you're going to be can be the work of years or a lifetime. Some of us are still trying. So don't feel alone.

[makejapangreat]

[A small bark of a laugh of disbelief, and a shake of his head.]

I think it's about time to stop focusing so much on what I want and start taking action, anyway.

Though... I am rather woefully lacking in transferable skills.

[founderinglight]

Never too late to learn new things. Humans only stop learning when they're dead.

[The smile is warm, in spite of the morbid comment..]

[makejapangreat]

Indeed...

The question then is where a powerless human can make himself useful. Out on the field... I would more likely become a liability.

[founderinglight]

There's nothing preventing you from learning a bit of magic yourself. This world doesn't have the sort of bloodline limitations on such that I'm used to.

[makejapangreat]

Magic can be— taught? Even to those who come from a world without magic? [... since, technically it's the other world connected to theirs that has magic...]

[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.

[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.