True Self meme

[twistingkage]

THE 'TRUE SELF' MEME
(inspired by Persona 4)



"In Jungian psychology, the shadow or "shadow aspect" is a part of the unconscious mind consisting of repressed weaknesses, shortcomings, and instincts."

Everyone has another side to them that they keep hidden away, feelings they bottle up to save face or avoid conflict. But what if those feelings take a life of their own...?

Perhaps it's your best friend, a close family member, a hated enemy, or maybe it's just a complete stranger. No matter who it is, they are different now, possessing creepy yellow eyes, a distorted voice, and a disconcerting aura. Take care in what you say to them, though, because there are three little words that will set them off into an unstoppable rage...

How to:
Step 1: Post as your character with their name and canon
Step 2: Others respond stumbling onto your character
Step 3: WHOOPS. Character A has been replaced by their Shadow or Other Self!
Step 4: Play out the encounter! Will you start an epic boss fight? Have a pleasant chat? Or maybe just flat out ignore them? Run wild!

Comments

[penaltykicktothehead]

[Well then, look who's back? Charlie-- Charlotte? Someone else? No, it's definitely her, albeit quite a bit more feminine looking than usual. Dolled up like a 'real girl' as opposed to her usual tomboyish appearance, and even her body seems a little different, somehow.

Whatever the differences, it's still Charlie... just a side of her no one's used to seeing.]

[markedviolin]

[Oh, Marie definitely noticed something odd to start with, which is why when she makes her way over, she does so cautiously. Was she nervous? Sure, but she quickly masks it with an easy smile as she sidles up once she's close enough.

Maybe start off with a comment on how she's dressed...? Sure, let's go with that.] Charlie! You look awfully nice today!

[evokedorpheus]

[That's... Minato, isn't it? It sure looks like him, at least.

But there's something... off. Can't be the golden eyes or the nearly black aura around him, of course not. But there's something about the way he's standing that doesn't seem right. Something that just reeks of "I'm clearly superior to all of you and there's nothing you can do about it". His sleepy-stoic expression is twisted into a sneer, as if he were annoyed at the world and everything in it...]

[pickpocketangel]

[It appears that in this case, the Shadow has decided to take the more traditional route--that is, retreating into a dungeon and waiting to be stumbled upon. So sorry about that.

The dungeon itself appears to be a temple, albeit in ruins. Ivy creeps up the walls, appearing as if it's seizing every stone and crumbling the rocks. Littered about are statues--are they Martel? Spiritua? Colette? It's difficult to tell: they seem to be a combination of all three.

It's a long trek to get to where the Shadow herself hides, and it seems to wind all the way through the labyrinthine temple, from top to bottom. The torches on the wall burn brighter and brighter as one approaches her hiding place, with the lighting very brightest at a pair of double doors fashioned from rotting wood. As one steps into the small, circular chamber, a chandelier at the top lights itself with blue flames, as do torches that are held only a few feet apart on the walls. The Shadow is sitting on an altar with her back to the door, her normally pristinely white outfit exchanged for one of blacks and grays. If she noticed your arrival, she's certainly not showing it...]

[[And some music to set the mood.]]

[todayweascend]

[That sure is Silver over there.

Though... the way he's standing and the overall body language says otherwise. Not to mention his face... Silver never makes an expression like that, and his eyes aren't that eerie, empty yellow...]

[tonightwefeast]

[The hell man

Dude no where's that prideful assholery we know you for]

Well well, looks like someone's finally learned his place!

[todayweascend]

[Not here, dearest brother.

He glances up at Gold for a moment before averting his eyes. His fingers lace together in front of him. He's not sure he wants to say anything but... well, there's no telling what Gold would do if he stayed silent, right? When he speaks, his voice his barely above a whisper and it's... distorted into something darker and more sinister than "Silver"'s submissive and fearful body language would imply.]

D-do you like this better, brother...? If I were to just give up?

[tonightwefeast]

[No. No he doesn't. It's wrong it's wrong it's wrong it's wrong--]

Heh! 'Bout time! Maybe I won't have to kill you after all, I hate fighting right after dinner.

[This does not mean he won't enjoy it!]

[todayweascend]

I'm glad... I hate fighting, too... I always did.

[His head is still bowed, but he finally glances up at Gold.] I never wanted to fight, brother... but Mother always pushed for it...

[Okay, if nothing else seems to be throwing Gold off, maybe it's the tears that threaten to spill that might do it?

... Because yeah, those are kind of a thing right now. Something's definitely up. You know, aside from the obvious.]

[tonightwefeast]

...Stop that, that's creepy.

[Silver crying? Does not compute. It...it's just weird, his eyes aren't supposed to do that.

Everything about this is creepy.]

[todayweascend]

Stop what, brother? Being honest for once?

[tonightwefeast]

Stop like...crying and shit, the hell is wrong with you?

No brother of mine, half or illegitimate or what the fuck ever, should be this weak.

[todayweascend]

Everyone cries, brother. The other me just never got to do so at the time when it was deemed appropriate.

The other me... he wears a convincing mask, doesn't he? Strong on the outside, and yet... on the inside, fragile as glass...

[tonightwefeast]

The hell? "Other" you? Shit man don't tell me they cloned you first...

[You are making no sense. Solution? You must be a clone. A defective one.]

[todayweascend]

... Clone? He wishes. I'm the ugly truth at its finest.

... You do a lot of heavy reading, right? How much do you know about Jungian psychology?

[tonightwefeast]

[That's a bit better.] Heavier books're better for hitting people with than for reading.

[Yes he likes encyclopedias and other big books, no he's not into reading.]

[todayweascend]

Looks like I've got some explaining to do, then...

A psychologist once theorized that a person's psyche includes a mask--or rather "Persona"--that they use to face everyday life... and then a part of them that they're either unaware of... or reject completely. That's called a Shadow.

You follow so far?

[silverkicks]

[I see you've made it through the cyberpunk dungeon made of trap doors and puzzles. Like lots of puzzles. It takes sudoku to open the last door. And oh look, the final boss room sure looks a whole lot like... an incinerator.

In the very middle is Santa, dressed a little differently than usual. Like way differently. Aside from the dark aura and yellow eyes, something is definitely wrong with him... maybe that he's way too quiet.]

[eightdancingpetals]

[God this place has given her so many awful vibes and she hates it. Hates it so much.

She's not even entirely certain why she's doing this to save Santa of all people. No, she knows exactly why. Despite everything that had happened, he was one of their own and she wasn't about to leave him behind.

She takes a few steps forward before finally calling out.] Santa.

[silverkicks]

[Santa looks up rather listlessly, not seeming very interested in her. Then his gaze sharpens.]

Hazuki Kashiwabara. [He smirks.] You're the last person I'd expect to be going after me. But I guess someone had to do it. Wouldn't wanna smudge that record of saving everyone so far or something, right?

[eightdancingpetals]

[She grits her teeth at the use of her real name.]

Despite what you and your sister did, you're still one of us. I wouldn't condemn you like this. [Which is her way of saying she cares. Or something.]

[silverkicks]

You mean you don't want this on your conscience, that you let someone die when you could've saved him. Because you don't want to be like my sister and I. Not because you'd care about someone who's locked you up and threatened you with death. You're not that twisted yet, right?

[eightdancingpetals]

My reasons are my own business. Don't talk like you've got any place to call someone twisted.

[silverkicks]

I've got every right to call someone twisted. Everyone is twisted, everyone in the whole group. Hell, I'm pretty sure Junpei's the only one with his shit together. [Smirk.] I'm not the most twisted person in our group.. but I'm the one who's done the least to change. I'm the only who's screwed up way more than anyone else just because I was following orders. You might as well just leave me here, if you're just following obligation too.

[eightdancingpetals]

I'm not leaving you here. You're coming with me whether you want to or not. You're as contrary as your other self, aren't you, Aoi Kurashiki?

[silverkicks]

[...]

Santa. And I'm not, it's damn simple. I'm not getting anything out of this whole gig. I don't get anything out of coming with you, and I'm really sick of that. Just more of my sister acting like it's Junpei saving her life all the time. Like I didn't spend nine damn years getting it all set up so he could. I'm not leaving because I'd rather just not be near them anymore. Either of them.

...Except not. [He pauses.] I want Akane to like me still. Because I'm just goddamn pathetic like that. Pathetic and hopeless.

[eightdancingpetals]

You can't stay in here forever. [Her tone is neutral.] You're acting like a petulant child.

[silverkicks]

Maybe it's about time I got to be a child! I don't remember what it's like to be a child, you know that? Because I've been taking care of my little sister the whole time and making sure she stays alive and I don't even know if she realizes how much I've sacrificed for her! I can stay in here as long as I want, until I have a damn good reason to leave!

[eightdancingpetals]

... Santa... [Oh you poor thing.

Get over here so Lotus can hug you. Or something.]

[silverkicks]

[NOPE he's stepping away.]

Go away or I'll turn the incinerator on. This thing's real, you know. You burn in here, you don't come back out.

[eightdancingpetals]

I should've realized I wouldn't be coming out of here without a fight, given who I'm dealing with... [S I G H]

[silverkicks]

I don't want a fight, I want you to leave. [This is him pressing himself against the back wall and glaring.]

[eightdancingpetals]

[Her face is one of concern.] Which puts us at an impasse. I don't want to leave without you!

[silverkicks]

There's no impasse if you do what I tell you!

[eightdancingpetals]

I can't leave you here!

I'm not here out of obligation. Guess what? Maybe I do care despite it all! Do I approve of what you did? Hell no. I'd have to be insane to do so. But I understand why it was done. [Softly:] God knows I'd have done the same thing if Ennea or Nona's lives were counting on it.

Santa, you're just as much of a victim here.

[silverkicks]

Stop lying! You don't have a clue what's happened to me, you don't understand it so it doesn't matter if you care! [GLARE.] Ennea and Nona went missing without you even noticing, was that you caring too?