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

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

[ Shhh no he doesn't!!!! He will deny it until he dies or his Shadow shows up whichever comes first. He doesn't like it, but he has to help you guys, so he might as well. ]

And if they die nobody learns anything, right. So what now? There's no way all of us, even every Persona user here, can cover everyone.

... And there's no way everyone'll read the Network in time. What the heck happens if we lose our Personas, anyway? Is that like... the reverse of how you guys got yours?

[Yep, you's an idiot. But out of respect, he doesn't say it. Instead, he sighs and nods to himself (NOT THAT KIND OF HIMSELF) on his end.]

Right. Personally, I'm hoping that those who did read this in time can help at least hold the Shadows they do come across until help can arrive. Luckily the fog's only settling in the first 'block' for now.

... I'd rather not think about it, but if that does happen we'll have to face what it would mean. ['Pretty much, Arisato.']

If you and the rest of Strega ever need extra help, don't hesitate to ask alright? We may not be on good terms, but it's better to stick together than fight between ourselves. Especially during Jason months.

[ He scoffs-- ]

We can handle it. I'd rather not see more idiots get hurt, especially since some of these people need it anyway. ... It's going to be hard to see through this stuff, though. The Dark Hour was weird, but it was never visibility-restricting. How do you guys even manage?

[ And then he couldn't handle it at all like a champ. ]

[Way to go, idiot. Ignoring the tsun LIKE A BOSS...]

My team has special glasses that our friend made. He's currently working on pairs for the others.

[He sends the room number over privately. ...Wait, he's on the third floor now and able to see the keys perfectly fine??? He wasn't wearing glasses in the feed......]

[ Tsun what tsun. ... But he's thankful for your help, Yu. Even if the only acknowledgement he gets is a quick "thanks" that's said quietly. ]

... I'm not gonna get attacked, am I? Again, I mean. I mean, considering... you know. The SEES Arisato.

[ Yes yes it's easier to not use his name okay. ]

Last I checked I didn't have glowing, menacing eyes, but... you know.

[the one i'm talking to rn, duh. There's a sound that resembles a 'you're welcome' in there, too.]

I doubt it. Told him about doubles his first day here, considering who I room with.

[It's okay, bro. He gets that especially when girl!him was around.]

He may not look it, but he has intel skills, so he'd be able to tell between real and Shadow. [Especially since he's, you know... a tame shadow. Did we forget to mention that? ...Oops?]

[ ... That's good, then. He'll probably stop by in a bit to get them, then? ]

... Not like I have room to judge someone based on how I look at them, or anything. We have a dog that can use a Persona. He's really tiny, but you really don't want to piss him off.

[ SHRUG. ]

[Probably a good plan.]

... Somehow that isn't the strangest thing I've heard, even this week.

[Though pretty damn cool, not gonna lie.]

[ He loves Koro-chan. ;w; ]

... Koromaru is special. He's a lot like Hachiko, actually. You know that story? He fought off a Shadow all on his own. We found him one day and Chidori helped heal him, so we made him a special Evoker... his Persona is Cerberus. Fire and Mudo based, mostly. He uses a knife, holds it in his mouth.

...I don't think there's anyone from Shibuya who doesn't know that story.

[That's the first time he's mentioned being from Tokyo...wasn't it. Well, then.]

He sounds like a pretty cool little guy. [Be amazed; it's coming from a cat lover.] We had a fox from the local shrine following us, offering magical leafs to renew our stamina. Never did figure out how it understood us...

Probably the same way Koromaru did. Animals are smarter than people tend to give them credit for.

Heh, probably. I'm just more curious about the leafs. [And how it managed to be OK with going in the TV world... it wasn't exactly nice to most others, after all.]

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

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[voice] should we just assume he got glasses or...

[voice] si /already answered on plurk

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