Here kitty kitty...

[foolishjustice]

Who: Goro Akechi and Masayoshi Shido
What: Working to overcome a phobia
When: Late afternoon a couple days after the return from Silveragle Manor, and probably ongoing.
Where: The field outside the station
Warnings: PTSD, probably panic attacks and possibly flashbacks to traumatic death.

[With the weather cooling off, going out during the day is a bit less miserable...but the days are also shorter. The end result is that it's about dusk when Goro steps out into the field between the station and the sakura grove, having already messaged Shido. She's left behind most of her jewelry, as usual, and is wearing her boots rather than sandals.

She's also clearly nervous, fidgeting with some of her remaining bracelets. She'd handled herself well enough when Shido had fought as a lion in the Palace, but it had still taken every ounce of self-control she had not to bolt. And even more than the fact that she's going to be working more on her phobia...this is going to be the first time her father has seen her as a girl. How will he react? Especially since...she looks even more like her mother with the slight changes to facial structure.]

Comments

[makejapangreat]

[Back to this... it's strange, how routine something like this has become. It's... nice, in a way, because he often spends time with his son after each session, helping him unwind from a tense situation. And sometimes, he even so much as offers him comfort. He'd much rather Goro never had been traumatized in such a brutal way, but...

At least, it's helped bring them closer together. For that much, he's thankful.

When he sees Goro at first... he falters. His breath catches, and his chest is tight.

He knows it must be his son. It has to be his son. It couldn't be. . .]

[foolishjustice]

[She offers a tense smile, letting go of her bracelets to wave.]

I've...been working on my shapeshifting. I can change my appearance pretty much however I want, now.

[makejapangreat]

[The voice is sweet and light, nothing like Kishi's rougher, slightly lower and sharper voice, and that's enough to snap him back to reality. He draws in breath, then gives a smile that's just a tad forced.]

I see. Looks like you've been having great success with it.

[foolishjustice]

Things like this seem to come pretty easily to me. I can still change back to what I was in the Fissure, too. In fact, I probably will for this...that form comes with the ability to see in the dark.

[makejapangreat]

I see... that is quite helpful. I suppose we don't have much need for the lamps, then.

[He gives a nod.]

Are you ready?

[foolishjustice]

[The black crow wings spread out from her back, shedding a few small feathers in the process. Then she takes a deep breath to steel her nerves, and nods.]

As much as I will be.

[makejapangreat]

[He turns, and walks to his designated location before turning into a lion and lying on the ground. He supposes he ought to... make an extra effort not to let his thoughts take a turn for the darker, as they usually seem to do. Morgana isn't here to smack the sense back into him, after all. Instead, he quietly contemplates what he should try to learn to cook next...]

[foolishjustice]

[Prepared or not, she can't quite help tensing this time. Her wings flutter nervously...but it's not nearly enough to send her running. After a moment to calm her nerves, she takes a few cautious steps forward, only to balk. Her wings flutter again, but for the moment, it doesn't seem any worse than the initial start. She certainly isn't giving any ground.]

[makejapangreat]

[Hm... he really should start perfecting his omurice technique, shouldn't he? And perhaps some other breakfast foods, as well. He knows his son enjoys pancakes... and would probably also appreciate it if Shido learned to make things that wasn't seafood.]

[foolishjustice]

[The balk, it seems, is momentary. She shakes her head lightly, clearing her head. She managed while Shido was fighting in this form, so this should be easy, right? It wasn't easy, she'll admit to that, but she did manage, and that's so much more than she ever could have expected at the start of this.

She's snapped out of her thoughts by a light breeze, starting again when her attention refocuses on the lion. But again, she doesn't go anywhere, hands clenching as she fights against the nervous hesitation. This time, it's a loosing battle, and she scoots back as the fear surges. By the time she gets herself back under control, she's back where she started...]

[makejapangreat]

[He can hear Goro struggling, but he supposes that's natural; it's been awhile since they've done this sort of thing, after all. But he has to admit he still much prefers this to going to the Fissures. It seems no matter how much he tries, he always feels out of his depth...]

[foolishjustice]

[Once she gets her head clear, she gives her wings a stubborn flap and pushes forward again, even past where she was before. She pauses for only a brief moment there, before pushing forward again. At a little bit more than twice the distance she covered before, she hesitates. Her wings fluff nervously for a moment, but then she takes a breath and exhales heavily before she edges forward even more.

It's a mistake. As she gets closer, the fear wells up again, until her courage falters and she scrambles more than halfway back to where she started. There, she digs in her feet as panic tries to overwhelm her, terrifying memories of helplessness and agony pushing at the back of her mind. She's stronger than the fear, able to force it down, but it's mentally exhausting. She tries to speak up to call a time out, only to realize there's no air in her lungs. Instead, she holds up a hand, hoping Shido will get what she means.]

[makejapangreat]

[The scrambling noises are definitely enough to get his attention, and he looks over to see Goro on the edge of panic again. Obediently, he reverts to his human form and sits up, gently calling over.]

There's no need to push yourself. Take it easy, son.

[foolishjustice]

[She nods, taking a breath so she can speak.]

I guess I moved a bit too quickly. It's definitely feeling easier, so...I got a little overly ambitious.

[makejapangreat]

I think that's a good sign. Perhaps soon you'll be able to come quite close to me.

[foolishjustice]

Maybe. I was even able to calm myself back down when I panicked, this time. Though...I think I need to give myself a little while to let my nerves settle completely.

[makejapangreat]

[In that case, Shido will get up and come over. When he's close enough, he sits down again, the bubble of warm air enveloping Goro.]

If I may, Goro... do you wish you were a woman?

[There's no judgment in his voice. Confusion, perhaps...]

[foolishjustice]

I...honestly, I haven't really noticed a preference either way. This form is new, and it fits some of my favorite clothes better, but...it doesn't feel any more or less 'right' than my natural one.

[She sits down herself, wings fluttering for balance.]

I know, it's a little strange. Marasia-san says she can't even keep a masculine form, because it contrasts so much with her personal identity.

[makejapangreat]

Well, one thing's for certain... you do keep surprising me. But perhaps at this point, I shouldn't be surprised anymore.

[foolishjustice]

I surprise myself sometimes. I think...somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what was really underneath all of the masks I wore. The first time I remember actually doing what I felt like in the past few years was...when I went into Sae-san's Palace as a Phantom Thief.

[makejapangreat]

Mmm... I feel similarly, actually. For awhile after my Change of Heart... I realized that I had absolutely no clue who I was. [A light scoff.] Besides a terrible father and a tyrant, anyway.

[foolishjustice]

I guess it's easy to get so wrapped up in who you think you need to be to succeed, that you forget who you actually are.

[makejapangreat]

Well... I'd been a crooked man so long I often question if there was any significant amount of good in me.

[He waves his hand dismissively.]

But that's for me to worry over. What have you been up to?

[foolishjustice]

Taking a break, mostly. We went into another Palace in the week before this last Fissure, so I was really worn out by the time we got home. Not as much as I was after the forest, but it's nice to be able to rest.

I've also been looking at the date...you know Halloween is in a few weeks?

[makejapangreat]

[... ah. Halloween. There's a distinct pause when that word leaves Akechi's mouth, and Shido tenses just slightly. At their proximity, it might be just enough for Akechi to notice.]

I suppose it is, isn't it? Time certainly does fly by...