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 Character A has been replaced by their Shadow or Other Self!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

[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?