IC INTRO - JUNE '18

[phantasmods]

After the fight with the siren has settled, those characters with phones hooked to the KEystone network will get a text -

Okay, everyone, you had better come back in. There's a storm brewing just off the coast.

Even given Up's usual professionalism, it seems rather... subdued?

----

For once, there are no androids at all to greet you upon your return, or arrival, as the case may be. A shelter has been set up for the boats on the shoreline of Glitterstone, however. By the time you tromp up the lighthouse stairs to the level of the Station itself, the sky is beginning to grey with the promised storm.

There's not the typical feast outside, but there is a fairly extensive taco bar set up in the common room, left unattended as well. The room sign-up sheet and boxes of freebies are also there, complete with the Braille versions, and a note at the bottom of both room sheets reads "If all rooms are full, space has been made in the meeting rooms on the top floor. We'll have additional rooms available as soon as possible."

It does appear that someone has updated the murder counter while you were away, however, for the turning of the week. It now reads 15 weeks without murder.

Other than that, you're free to explore, including in the newly finished sections of the Annex (should you be willing to brave the storm to get between buildings). However, wherever you go, the androids are almost conspicuously absent - even in the medical bay and Down's workstation in the command center.

The meeting room they have for their own private use is securely closed and locked.

Comments

[makejapangreat]

[The tongue comes as a surprise, and his eyes widen as he turns and stares at Morgana in sheer alarm. He... doesn't know much about animals, but... licking was generally a sign of affection, wasn't it...?

Healing... from that pain, huh? His brow furrows as his gaze falls.]

I... I don't know that I will heal.

[He clasps his hands together.] It never occurred to me how atrocious my acts were until my Change of Heart. And now... [A wavering breath.] I'm so repulsed I can barely stand myself.

It does hurt. [He gives a swallow.] But I've dug my grave and now I have to lie in it. It is only what I deserve.

[A wry smile.] Perhaps I'm simply not meant to be a healer.

[meowna]

[He's a little small to eat Shido, so yeah, it's probably affection. At least, it's probably more affectionate than the headbutt to his arm, which teeters between reassuring and exasperated; if he were properly human sized, odds are he might have just literally shoved the man over.]

I don't remember giving you permission to lie in an open grave, mister! You will heal, because that's what humans do. That's what they're made for--they're supposed to learn and grow and change, and strive to always be more than what they are.

And that--that's why you're going to make a fine healer, too, once you start learning. Because seeing that kind of pain is repulsive to you now. Because knowing people are hurting hurts you. A real healer can't bear to see someone they care about in pain--they'll do anything they have to, to help carry that burden until they can take it away. That kind of empathy, that's what makes a healer fit to do what they do.

[He Mad?? Just a little? If nothing else, he..... is surprisingly passionate and emotional about this topic. He has very deep-seated convictions on basic human nature, and even he doesn't fully understand why.]

[makejapangreat]

[He looks over at the headbutt, then startles when Morgana starts lecturing him. It's... not like he hasn't gotten one of his impassioned speeches before, but somehow, they always end up blowing him away?

How is it that one Cognitive Being in the shape of a cat can have... such a strong impact on him?

He takes in a shaky breath and blinks hard for a moment. It's with some reluctance and a bit of determination, because... even if his guilt still pulls and tears at his mind? He does want to be better. For the people he wronged, for the people around him, for the people who support him...

And for that... he has to stop selfishly convicting himself. He gives Morgana a nod.]

Alright... how do I start healing?

[meowna]

Well..... it's different for everyone. You'll have to feel your way through it and figure out what's right for you, in the end. But to start.....

[Something uplifting, or at least grounding. Something to give him a buoy to hang onto, so he doesn't drown in the sea of his own regrets and self-recriminations.]

To start, let's think about your values now. Those are why you're reacting so strongly to who you used to be, and what you're going to be acting on going forward. Forget about what you used to be like for a little while. What's important to you?

[makejapangreat]

[He draws in a breath and looks down for a moment, contemplating.]

Akechi is, without a doubt. [His gaze softens.] But other people have become important to me, as well.

[........ah, but he's talking about values, not people, right? He coughs lightly into his hand.]

Well... being a good father, for one. And since coming here... I've protected and helped people where I could. Overall, I want to be useful and productive.

[meowna]

[Morgana smiles a little to himself. Akechi is the first thing his mind leaps to now, huh? And then to other people he's making friends with. So in the end, Shido is driven by the people around him, not grand ideals or abstract concepts. He wants to be able to do things to personally make their lives better. A pretty noble goal in its own right!]

So you want to be able to help to the people you love and build strong relationships with them. That's a great start! We can build on that.

So..... it's obvious you'll keep busy. And there are obviously things you can do that would be helpful to anyone here, but that would probably get vague pretty quickly. Why don't you start by thinking about the people you care about already? Do you know what would be useful to them?

[One step at a time, here. He's winging the hell out of this, but starting small and focusing on things with an obvious target and immediate payoff is probably a safe bet?]

[makejapangreat]

Well, I... I'm not entirely sure. To be honest, I've already been trying to help them where I can, but...

[He lets out a bit of a shaky sigh.]

[meowna]

Helping where you can is a good start! And if you're not sure what people really need, maybe you'd be better off focusing on learning more about them, first?

[Just gonna scratch at his ear thoughtfully with a hind leg.]

Which means that the first step might be strengthening your bonds and getting to know people on a deeper, more intimate level.

[makejapangreat]

[He gives a little breath of disbelief.]

I'm not sure... how much that I can. Maybe for... some people.. [His brow furrows.] But others...

[... there's still a rift between him and them. Akira and Akechi in particular. His whole past lingered like the stench of death, long after the corpse had been removed.

He still sees the effects of it every time he talks to them, and while he feels like he's gotten attached to them both in some way... it's very much an obstacle. An obstacle Shido isn't sure he should try overcoming in the first place.]

[meowna]

You don't have to focus on everyone at once, you know. Try starting out slow and working on becoming better friends with someone you feel comfortable with--maybe someone you met here at the station, who won't have a lot of obstacles for you to overcome. Once you get the hang of it, maybe you'll feel better equipped to tackle the more complicated, challenging bonds you have.

[Yeah, they both know exactly who they're talking about, even if they're leaving it vague. Morgana isn't 100% sure how those relationships are doing, so he won't try to push on them too hard--but he will encourage Shido not to give up on them! He just..... may need to grind some EXP gain a few levels do a practice run or two to build up the confidence he needs, to know that he'll be welcome in anyone's lives, let alone Akira's and Akechi's.]

[makejapangreat]

[He considers Morgana's words quietly, then gives a very hesitant nod. He thinks with those two, there will always be some level of apprehension, of the feeling of walking on eggshells, but... even Akira had opened up to him a bit. Heh, not that it really counted, considering he was as high as a kite, at the time.]

It's worth a try. Thank you, Morgana.

[meowna]

Of course it is!

[Because it's just a good idea, and because it's his idea, and he clearly always gives good advice. Right?]

You're welcome. We'll see how you do and go from there, yeah?

[makejapangreat]

Indeed. [There might be... something just a tiny bit playful to his tone?] Perhaps I should start with you? After all, for all we've talked, there's honestly very little I know about you.

[meowna]

You want to know about me, huh?

[Morgana laughs, puffing his fluffy little chest out self-importantly.]

No surprise there! I mean, I want to know about me, too. With the kind of unique and fascinating life I've led, I'm sure I'm full of stories about heroic and daring adventures to keep you on the edge of your seat!

.....Those will have to wait for some other time, though. For now..... well, what are you curious about?

[makejapangreat]

[A blink? He certainly wasn't expecting that.]

What exactly do you mean?

[meowna]

I'm not really a cat. Somehow, the cognitive world's distortions turned me into what I am now--and interfered with my memories, too. It's been a few years since that happened, and none of my searching since has turned up any clues--but Akira and the others promised to help me look, so we've been exploring Mementos trying to find something.

I'm pretty sure there's no way to get those back while we're still in a whole other world like this, though, and Strange said there wasn't anything he could do about the distortion, either..... So as long as we're here, I decided to come at it from a different angle that wouldn't be possible at home! I'm working on learning how to shapeshift. Pretty cool, huh?

[Why yes, he is purposely brightening things up to make sure Shido doesn't worry. Look at how proactive and creative he's being handling this! Look at all the friends he has supporting him! Won't shapeshifting be awesome once he masters it?]

[makejapangreat]

[The cognitive world permanently altered his form? In all of the research Shido's read through, he's never heard of anything remotely like that. A change of appearance as far as an outfit goes, certainly, but such a dramatic shift that lasts outside of the world?

He frowns softly in thought, gaze flicking downward for a moment, before he looks back up to Morgana. Hmmm... he still has questions, but if Morgana doesn't remember, he probably won't have any answers.

Instead, he gives a small, amused smile.]

Oh? And what are you trying to shapeshift into?

[meowna]

[Proud headtoss! Morgana, you're overcompensating again.]

A human, obviously! I may not remember what kind of dashing heroics I've done, but I can at least look the part again! A temporary solution is good enough until I can get to the bottom of this.

[makejapangreat]

A human Morgana... that would be an interesting sight to see. And how's that coming along?

[meowna]

Well..... I haven't managed much yet..... But that's bound to change any day now!

[Dramatic paw point!]

So you'd better look forward to it! I'll be expecting you to be there for my grand debut, you know!

[makejapangreat]

[???]

Is it that important that I be there?

[meowna]

Well, obviously! You've got to see it when I'm victorious!

[Partly because he's preemptively proud of himself and this monumental achievement that's sure to come soon, partly because he's a godawful massive show off, and partly because they're bros now, geez! C'mon, Shidbro Shido, get with the program.]

[makejapangreat]

[... well, the smile that forms on Shido's face is... rather pleased and warm? And just a touch amused, as well.]

Very well. Tell me when you've finally got it mastered, and I'll come as quickly as I can.

[meowna]

You got it!

[How is it that you've accepted life advice from a dumb excitable kid, Shido?]