this can only go well

[misheard]

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 Character A has been replaced by their Shadow or Other Self!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

Komaeda Nagito | Dangan Ronpa 2 (Canon or Empatheias available)

[eyeswideopen]

[Threads will contain major spoilers for Dangan Ronpa 2, Dangan Ronpa: Ultra Despair Girls, as well as decapitation, mutilation, murder, gore, delusions, mental illness, torture, and suicide.]

empatheias i guess

[hopedout]

[ This was the only way to save everyone. He had to be the one to go in and take responsibility. Not that anyone else would want to see Komaeda again, in the first place. But when he sees the familiar head of hair, he pauses, hand raised slightly as he gapes, green eyes widening as he clears his throat. ]

Ko... maeda? [ That is him, isn't it? ]

[eyeswideopen]

[The dim light catches on the tip of the spear held loosely, running over the dragons carved into where the blade meets the wood of the shaft. Komaeda laughs, the distorted sound rebounding off the walls.]

Who else would I be? [He plants the butt of the weapon against the ground with his gaze fixed on Hinata's.]

Of course it would be you to come. It always is. When it's something for the sake of others you rush right in. Like a moth to a flame.

Yet when it deals with your own problems, you're the biggest coward. It would be laughable if it didn't hurt so much.

[hopedout]

Why does it matter? I came because of you, after all. We need to get out of here.

[ He doesn't care if he is a coward. He knows that he is. It's only obvious, isn't it? ]

CW: self destructive talk, suicidal talk, DR2 spoilers

[eyeswideopen]

'What does it matter'. 'I don't want to talk about this'. [He throws his free hand up and the shadows surge up like the ripple of the waves. His unnaturally glowing eyes narrow as he laughs again.

Spider thin cracks spread out around his feet.]

Of course even if you see something you don't like or confuses you, you avoid saying anything about it. I do so hate to repeat myself but honestly, I already said how it feels.

It would be easier on you. On everyone if I died just like I'd intended to. One less Ultimate Despair Remnant, one less trouble. As I told Sanae. A good man would have murdered himself long ago once he learned what he was. Instead of living on.

The pure being that she is...of course she disagreed with me. I owe that conversation to you in fact! You questioning those who were friends with me forced me to answer a lot of people who needed to just know the truth.

[hopedout]

...

[ He's soon silenced by Komaeda's - no, by this man's words - as he looks him over. But enough is enough when he starts to talk about himself like that, and anger sets in. ]

No, that's wrong!! It won't be easy on me. And not on everyone else. Like you just said, you have friends there, won't you? If you died, what would they think? They'd be upset, right?! [ He swallows hard, hand closed up into a tight fist. ]

Now tell me where he is. Where's the real Komaeda?

[eyeswideopen]

[The world around them seems to breathe as the walls crack and splinter like glass. Shadows grow thicker as the distant cry of sea birds and crashing waves echo back as if from a distant shore. Komaeda holds his breath for a second and in a voice as cold as how he'd addressed Hinata when he told him what he was he says,]

Say that again. I don't think I heard you right.

[hopedout]

I said. Where is he. The other Komaeda?

[ He doesn't mind repeating himself; after all, what he's asking is for the truth and only that. ]

[eyeswideopen]

Fool. [Shadows swallow Komaeda and spread out over the area around them. The walls crumble and crack, falling away into an open starry sky. Roots burst out of the ground to wind around the edge of the circle. Thick fog hides all but, the massive trunk of the tree where a massive draconic serpent awaits. It lets go of its own tail, black blood dripping down over the bark.

The bark cracks and withers as it roars.]

[hopedout]

[ He's called a fool and soon enough the shadows encompass the entire area, to the point where he can barely tell which is which. His own shadow? Or someone else's entirely? He shakes his head and walks through the thick of the fog before he sees the serpent. ]

So... this is what you are?

[eyeswideopen]

[The eyes of the giant serpent ignite as it draws back, black fire building in its mouth. Just before the blast is released, someone grabs Hinata and yanks him behind the giant tree roots. The air is scorching hot even from their safe space.

Komaeda sighs, the spear the shadow had once held in his hands.] Of course I arrive too late to warn you. Now we have to calm that shadow down.

Please tell me you enraged it quickly. It makes me feel ill to think what it might have admitted.

[hopedout]

You're... welcome?

[ Translation: he did enrage it rather quickly. ] Does that mean we have to fight it, Komaeda?

[eyeswideopen]

Yes. Then I have to talk with it. [He puts a hand to his chest as he looks briefly ill. Ugh. The heat cuts off and he darts out of their hiding space both to take the beast by surprise and to avoid the inevitable questions.

He'd rather not hear what it had said. To further stave that off he tosses Hinata a sheathed sword without looking away from the beast.]

Though I suppose I should be flattered the monster it became is one of the more major symbols of the ancient world. Jörmungandr of all things!

[The draconic serpent lashes out and he barely dodges the fangs that leave a puddle of black blood at the center of the arena.]

Empatheias. Bring it.

[clumsyjesus]

[Of course she'd go and save him. Komaeda's her friend and he had helped regain her humanity. Even if she weren't, Colette is Colette and would always help people in danger.

But something's wrong here.]

......Huh?

......Nagito?

[Something is different about him. Very different. In a very bad way.]

[eyeswideopen]

[The shadows are thick around him, forming black chains and dragons with eyes the same sickly yellow as his own eyes.]

Surprised to see me? Ah, that's not it at all. You noticed there's something wrong. You're so quick to see that kind of thing.

[He laughs and shakes his head slowly from side to side.] Even the unworthy! You notice them all.

[clumsyjesus]

[Those shadows and those eyes.....what's going on? Why are they there? Why is her friend like this?

It is her friend, right?

She steps forward, her expression filled with horror and uncertainty.]

What's happened to you?

[She's not going to run away, though. Whether or not this is her friend, she will bring him back safely.]

[eyeswideopen]

You're a smart girl, I'm fully confident you can figure it out. [He spreads his hands out, with another breathy laugh.]

You even knew something was wrong back at Thras challenge. Even though I told you nothing at all. That's an admirable trait you know.

Too bad that doesn't extend to your own needs.

[clumsyjesus]

[A chill runs down Colette's spine. This is not like Komaeda at all. However, she gets the feeling that it's him but....something's happened. Intuition.

Has a monster taken him over? Is that what the shadows represent? Colette isn't sure but she composes herself and speaks calmly and gently.]

C'mon. You and I have to leave this place. Everyone's waiting for us. Besides, it's dangerous here.

[eyeswideopen]

There you go again.

[He takes a step forward and the ground shifts underfoot, rolling in unnatural ways.]

Come now, you have to say what you suspect. I can see it in your face. It's not this place that's dangerous, is it? [It's him.]

[clumsyjesus]

I....

[He's right. She's not going to get anywhere like this. She has to say it out now. She has her weapons and magic with her and she'll use them if that's what it takes to save Komaeda.]

Fine! I don't know what you've done to my friend but I'm taking him back with me. Let him go! [Something has taken him over. She's sure of it. Or this is someone else who has done something to Komaeda. Either way, she will save him.]

[eyeswideopen]

[The ground shakes as he leans forward with a wild feral smile on his face. Cracks run down the walls and sea water starts to flow out to cover the floor.] Ah? What do you mean? Are you saying I'm not the real one?

[A low rumble rolls through like a slumbering dragon is waking up.]

[clumsyjesus]

[Ok, this isn't good. Both of them could be in potential danger. She shakes her head.]

No, that's not it. Nagito's there, or at least I believe he is. But he wouldn't behave like this.

So stop making him say those things and let him go!

[eyeswideopen]

Do you really know me at all. I wonder. [He laughs, the sense of something other subsiding as he steps slowly back until there's a good six feet between them.]

I've worried about you. Like me you suffer misfortune and like me you ignore your own pain. How much self worth do you have? Is it as dismal as mine still is deep down?

Are you as reckless with your own well being short of death, that I have become. I do so wonder.

[clumsyjesus]

[Colette didn't take into account the part about ignoring his pain in the earlier comments but now it's put her off-guard.] ....Huh?

Wh-what do you mean? What does that have to do with anything?

[eyeswideopen]

[He holds his hands up, a small smile on his face. Whatever he's thinking it isn't visible on his face.] I wonder.

What does that have to do with two formerly dying people. One ruled by the course his luck took and ahaha, secretly resenting his own talent.

What ruled your life? What dominated your thoughts because it told you what fate you were chained to?