three sparks ⚡ text/video - later filter for SMT and Friends

[pitiedthefool]

[The feed flickers later on in the morning in midst of the creeping fog settling within the lower levels (for now) of the tower before a clear voice speaks through. Despite the growing difficulty to see through it, he seems to have no trouble?]

Everyone, stay calm and listen. If my hunch is right, this fog is different from the kind that lingers outside this tower and if that's the case, there are some things you should know about it. You see... this fog is similar to the fog in a world I know.

For those who can't read well, I'll read it aloud... but the basics will be here in text.

[He pauses before speaking again, having only stopped to compose himself.]

How to Survive Your Shadow Self and Basic Information

What's with all this fog? First of all, this fog is originally from a world made of unconscious thought. This fog also tends to obscure not just sight, but make it harder to think straight if you haven't accepted the part of you that you hide from yourself. Where I am from, that usually causes every being with a heart and ego or ability to feel emotion and to think for their own to spawn a creature from this. We call them a Shadow self.

What is a Shadow self? A Shadow is the suppressed parts of ourselves we try to hide from ourselves and others for one reason or another, but greatly amplified. This doesn't exactly mean that they're all negative, though. It could be loneliness, a fear of something, emptiness, or maybe even a strong desire we never or rarely disclose. Sometimes it can even be a monster of who we fear we are.

What do they look like? Shadow selves look almost identical to the real person... at first. After all, they are a part of us. The only differences are normally eye color (they usually have menacing, glowing yellow irises), and sometimes different clothing. However, that changes once they are denied by the original self.

Why shouldn't we deny them? What happens if we do? The first thing you should know about Shadows is that they always want to take the originals' place. When they're denied, they go berserk and transform into a monstrous form before attacking who they come from. This is extremely dangerous because, if they are not stopped, they will kill the original.

So how do we stop them? The only way to stop them before they go berserk is for the original to hear them out and let them say their piece before accepting or at least acknowledging them. If they have already gone berserk though, they need to be beaten down and tamed the hard way so the original can face them. The only time they will stop is when they are accepted or outright rejected. The latter is not advisable because it causes more pain to the individual.

What happens to us when it goes berserk? Most tend to faint because when they go berserk, the Shadow self usually drains power from the person they originate from. Though I have no idea if it will be the same way, here.

What if we can't accept it? There are always others who will help you. Even if it's a weakness too painful or if you're ashamed of it, there are people who will accept and help you through it.

Comments

Private;

[thousandcurses]

Yes, Narukami?

[Oh, she caught that. But she's not going to give him face-to-face. Not yet.]

Private;

[pitiedthefool]

[..............................He sees what you did there, Izanami. Needless to say it takes a moment to respond because he could have sworn he heard someone in his head swear. Sadly, he is not sure if it was him or someone else.]

Where are you.

[Why yes, he is doing his best to follow his own advice and keep himself calm. Even though he's rather upset because he remembers... and talking about things from back home no one else needs to know on these? Probably not a good idea.]

I don't trust the network settings any more than any of us have lain a finger on the admins.

video

[hundred_power]

Shadow selves...

[Sounds like an evil twin. Nothing Kotetsu couldn't face. At least he thinks so.]

We can't allow these shadows to hurt people. Not everyone in the tower can defend themselves.

video

[pitiedthefool]

[That's pretty much it, though they aren't always 'evil' per say... just whiny if you're lucky.]

I know. That's why most of my friends will be doing what they can. [He sounds pretty confident in that fact.] If you can fight, help who you can. There aren't enough of those like me who've already faced their other selves to protect the entire tower.

[Private to Yu]

[miseris_socios]

I have no idea. That'd be something that maybe the others would know more about... but I wouldn't ask them. They don't like to talk about...

[Well. Yeah.]

► Persona Filter;

[pitiedthefool]

I kind of figured, but thought I'd ask in general just to be safe.

['...They still hate me for the incident after the pods, huh.' He wouldn't be too surprised if that was the case.]

video

[nemophila]

Interesting. It sounds like your Shadows work vastly differently than the ones we're familiar with.

Please, feel free to let me know if you need any other assistance. I'll be glad to help.

video

[pitiedthefool]

Guess some things change in a decade.

...There aren't enough of us in my team to protect everyone here, even including the members who aren't in the tower. The fog's only lingering within the first block right now, but if it spreads further...

['I don't know how effective everyone else will be.' Ugh, Izanami is really starting to anger him right now.]

We may need everyone's help, depending on who gets affected.

video

[xroyal_bratx]

...I don't like this. I don't like it at all.

[ She's not sure if it's the same thing as the one she experienced in Facility, but either way Ishtar did not like it one bit. She was not going to openly say anything, because there was little information on the matter. she never saw this fog before...so that was new. She had things she would rather not have another her openly expressing her weaknesses. ]

video

[pitiedthefool]

I've only met two who have, really.

[That was definitely a modified version, scientists trying to replicate what a god created... Not a bad rendition, but certainly not the same.]

Should be safe if you stay in the upper floors until it's over.

fuq da system i'm bringing in da [Action]

[evokingfool]

[Minato's sitting next to Yu, watching his roommate put up the post.]

...This will be troublesome.

[IN A LOT OF WAYS.]

we 2 cool 2 tlk on da system liek dat [Action]

[pitiedthefool]

[Yu nods, sparing a sigh as he barely restrains himself from placing a hand to his forehead. Not really in pain, but frustration. 'No kidding.']

...We'll manage somehow.

[Now if Izanami would stop using bitchmode and just talk to him so he could figure things out... Why are all gods trolls?]

[Video]

[imperialeclipse]

[There's someone at the other end of the video who looks confused.]

What a time for me to arrive in. I was wondering why it was harder to see when I had the oatmeal this morning. They said they saved us from our world, but from what I'm reading it sounds more like going from the frying pan right into the fire.

[Video]

[pitiedthefool]

[Whoa suddenly a- wait, 'arrive'?]

It isn't always like this, but basically. [...] You wouldn't happen to know someone by Naoya Toudou, would you?

[ voice ]

[immortalia]

...

...

...

[ It'll take her a while to respond, especially since she knows how much she's suppressed certain things in her long life span. ]

Affirmative. Information has been downloaded for future use. How easily can they be defeated if they mutate?

[ voice ]

[pitiedthefool]

...Honestly, it depends on the person and their own skills. Some are easier, others are extremely difficult.

Video | Some time later

[imperialsun]

..that sounds completely different than my experience with my Shadow.

► Persona Filter | Video

[pitiedthefool]

Ergh, I figured as much after speaking with Kurosu-san. Maybe we should have discussed the run ins with our Shadows in the last meeting...

[A pause.] Hey, Toudou-san... you happen to go inside the fog earlier?

[private] ✉ [text]

[innheritance]

Can Persona really do that?
If so, the number of Persona users here is pretty abnormal, isn't it?
We're going to be in a lot of trouble if we can't fight back.
Should I risk checking?

► Persona Filter;

[pitiedthefool]

[Hey, Yukiko.]

I hope not, but after what I've seen while most of us have been here I wouldn't be surprised either way.
Just slightly. Makes me wonder why they brought so many of us here in the first place.
Don't. I'm just worried with how this place likes to tears us down, it could cause something to happen to our resolve.
We may be fighting for a while with how many people are here.
Will you be alright?
Even with most of us in the tower, we may be spread thin with how many floors there are.

[Even with all the people here, he's most worried about his team... especially since she and Teddie just recently arrived.]

Oh look what I'm using. Also private filter yaddeyadda something like that

[busstopsign]

Don't be careless.

[Be careful and all of that.]

► Persona Filter; stylin' and subtext, aw yeah

[pitiedthefool]

I won't. Watch out for black hands coming from the floor, just in case.

[Thousand Curses hurts like hell... little too literally.]

[fifth_kazekage]

[This is… very disturbing news.

Already used to suppressing most parts of his true self, Gaara does it again right now and only shows a stoic expression.]

The information is appreciated.

[And now he’s off to go tame his Shadow self… or at least, try.]

[pitiedthefool]

[They both do, really... though he's usually a lot more open.]

...Any time.

[Good luck with that. If he needs help, just dial 1-800-PRO-TAGS.]

[Private]

[detecting]

I haven't heard of that happening, but it could be possible.

... Please be careful, senpai.

[Private]

[pitiedthefool]

[He nods faintly, giving his friend a weary smile.]

I will. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask alright?

['I'll be here, all around the tower...']

[voice]

[fractus_animus]

[ Blah blah blah he doesn't think this affects him. HE IS AN IDIOT Nor does he want to talk to you. His voice is nothing but unpleasantness, like dealing with a chore you don't want to do. ]

Our Personas ARE half-shadows, though. I suppose it's possible, since they're technically the same thing. I couldn't tell you what'd cause it, though. I'm probably the only one out of us that're here that'd be assed to answer, since Chidori's has been busy trying to kill her.

Anyway, it shouldn't affect anyone already with a Persona, so I guess we'd better be helping people or something. But if I'm not wrong, isn't this... good for people?

[voice]

[pitiedthefool]

[Dude, you have a heart and an ego. It affects everyone, you dumb ass. Still, he keeps his tone neutral and doesn't say a thing about the last time they spoke.

Though if this were a video feed, the concern for Chidori would have been much more prevalent.]

While it may be... I'm more worried about those who die unable to face their repressed selves. It could make those problems even worse if they don't.

[beknightedheroine]

Um. What happens if we just avoid them? They'll only go after the person they're a copy of, right?

_{[Because if so she is just going to be playing the keep-the-heck-away game until this blows over--]}

[pitiedthefool]

Hm... I'd say it depends on who they are. Shadows usually try to emotionally hurt those close to them, too... at least the ones I've seen.

[GOOD THE HELL LUCK, MAGIC STAB ALL THE THINGS SIS...]

[darkmagicalgirl]

... something tells me it won't be as easy to overcome them as you're making it sound...

[pitiedthefool]

...It isn't. It really isn't, because facing yourself is probably the hardest thing anyone could ever do.

[voice]

[sawthelockdown]

[Asako took a few minutes to read this over.

...
...

Crap.]

Thanks for the information, though this really bites.

[voice]

[pitiedthefool]

[Yeah... that about sums up his feelings on this, too.]

It does. Though, I guess it could be worse.

[There could be an ultra-nightmare fuelish boss fight at the end.]

video

[hero_of_smiles]

Shadows...are our hidden parts?

[Cross is going to try and think what that means. But considering he doesn't want to, he'll just smile.]

Well, I should be okay than. I don't hide anything about myself.

[Lies. All lies.]

video

[pitiedthefool]

... I hope your right. [For your own sake.]

Persona Private

[100percentteddiefur]

[Teddie's already dressed up in his bear suit.
>Want to put him into something less ridiculous? Golden options are great.]

Yeah, the place reeks of shadows. It doesn't look good, Sensei. But we'll be there to help everyone!

Maybe I should offer to make glasses for everyone else...

► Persona Filter;

[pitiedthefool]

[Good Teddie. ;;
> There is the school pageant outfit and Teddie the Red Nosed Shadow. PICK ONE...]

Considering this likely means that Izanami had a hand in this, it might be a good idea. Minato-san and I were about to ask you that, actually.

[private filter]

[doublechecks]

...Has the source of this fog been traced?

[An inconvenience, but nonetheless, it'd be bad if all his insecurities is aired all throughout the tower.]

[private filter]

[pitiedthefool]

We're working on it.

[See that red ring around his eyes? Yeah... he knows who it is. The "source" is making it difficult for her to be found.]

[video]

[attheclocktower]

[Xion's a little thankful she's been keeping a closer eye on the network lately, when she sees this.]

So... is everyone going to see their... their Shadow?

It feels like things keep happening.

[video]

[pitiedthefool]

... I hope not. [But it's possible, judging by his expression.]

Yeah. It does, doesn't it?