[text/action]

[bashfulshifter]

[It's roughly mid-afternoon when Rick is revived--the first floor dorms will be alerted to his presence as he bursts out of 1-16 and runs to the bathrooms, then dry-heaves for an alarming amount of time.]

[He's not taken his death well. To be fair, it's not just dying that's troubling him. The administrators have removed the monster from his mind, but they didn't remove the memories of when it possessed him; he might not recall the exact words he used, or the motivations he had, but the pained expressions of those he targeted remain, and they are agonizing. If only Enoch had killed him for good! If only he never had to look at them again!]

[Of course the Tower won't go easy on him there. Dragging his feet, disheveled and shuddering with occasional sobs, Rick staggers to a terminal while the words are still fresh in his head and bashes out a quick notice: ]

This is Patrick Dawn. Some of you might have met me over the past few days...I need to let you know that the person you met wasn't me.

I'm a shapeshifter--I can take the forms of other creatures if I find them...in a certain condition. I had an idea to try and bond with a monster this way, and...well, it worked...but I couldn't control it. The monsters aren't what they appear to be. I'm not quite sure what they are, exactly...Please, if you have abilities similar to mine, don't follow my lead. For the amount of pain and suffering I've put everyone through, it's not worth it.

For the people that I encountered...I can't even begin to express how sorry I am. I would ask for your forgiveness, but this whole thing was my fault--I don't deserve your sympathies. If there's any possible way for me to make up for the horrible things I've said and done, I will be more than willing to follow through...but I also understand if that's an impossible request. I would take everything back if I could, but...I can't, so...I need to learn to live with my mistakes.

I know it's not enough...I'm so sorry.

[Rick immediately abandons the terminal after he posts to go hide in his room. He'll reply to people, but only after a few hours of collecting his thoughts again.]

Comments

[Text]

[alephbet]

Aside from 'don't do that again', I'm not sure what I could ask.

-Aleph Sinclair

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

...Congratulations, by the way.

[Yeah, he took a minute to catch up on the network backlogs...what of it?]

[text]

[alephbet]

Thank you. I'm very glad you didn't come.

[Video]

[brbtalkingtogod]

[Lucifel is looking more than irritated as he faces the screen.]

Why, congrats for finding out how stupid a thing it was you did. I'm dealing with an emotionally broken scribe since then and trying to figure out how I can fix the mess you made.

[And he won't start with how he was feeling when he had seen Rick during that time.]

Have a nice day.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

[Lucifel...oh no, he's talking about Enoch. Though not relevant to the text following, Rick actually curses at the terminal and has to leave for another half-hour before he can bring himself to reply.]

You're right, and I am so, so sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with the consequences of my mistakes. Enoch shouldn't have to deal with them, either...I would offer to help console him myself, but I'm probably the last person in the Tower he wants to see right now. If there's anything I can do for him--or for you--please, let me know.

[Also, Rick's not sure he'll be able to keep his own composure this early after Enoch, you know, sliced open his chest and killed him. Fond memories.]

[text]

[brbtalkingtogod]

["Oh no" doesn't even sum up how angry he feels inside.]

For your information, him being emotionally "broken" is still an understatement. I'll spell it to you in big capital letters: at the time being Enoch is an emotional W-R-E-C-K. A wreck!

Get yourself together before you decide to speak to him again. And not without me.

[Despite that Lucifel as an archangel should be one of the first to say "you are forgiven", as things are at the moment he won't be able to until Enoch is doing at least somewhat better. As Enoch's support HE is the one who has to put the shattered pieces together again without god or anyone else - aside from Raphael - around.]

[Text]

[no_longer_a_king]

I thought something had been off about you that day.

I am not angry at you. So do not worry about that.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

I'm thankful that you aren't...it'd be wrong of me not to worry about the horrible things I said, though. I'm very sorry.

[text]

[no_longer_a_king]

You were not in control of yourself. It was not you who said those things, but whatever was controlling you.

[ video ]

[immortalia]

[ Hey, Rick. Know Sertoria's gentle eyes? Yes? Well, they're not very gentle now. ]

...As someone who acted selfishly here in the tower, I am displeased to hear that the tower thinks they can interfere again.

[ She sighs and stares at the camera for a few moments. ]

I do not appreciate my past being dredged up yet again, but perhaps you will learn from this as I have.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

I can't begin to imagine what pain I put you through, but...you're right. The least I can do is try to learn from my mistakes. I know it's hardly enough to make up for your suffering...I'm very sorry. I only just got to know you and...I went and made an idiot of myself. It's inexcusable.

[ video ]

[immortalia]

The pain you put me through was minuscule compared to what I have felt before, although I will say that calling me a robot was hurtful. But, that has happened before and you are not the first to address me as such.

[ It takes her a few moments before shaking her head. ]

I would be a hypocrite to not forgive you, though.

[Text]

[lightofhumanity]

..I am glad that you are alright now. I am not sure what the others will want of you, but it is good that you are apologizing to everyone. As for what you said to me..promise that you shall not tell another soul in the Tower and follow up on that promise. I do not want just anyone knowing what we conversed about.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

Thankfully for both of us, I hardly remember the context of the things I said...but yes, you have my word--if that means anything. I'm so sorry for putting you in this position.

[Text]

[lightofhumanity]

You might not remember the context in which you said, but if you still remember what you said, it could be found out very easily. However, if you can hold up to that promise, I shall be glad.

It is not wholly your fault. You did not anticipate this happening, though the consequences still have to be dealt with.

[video]

[myblueskies]

So you didn't mean what you said?

I didn't think you did! I knew you were probably a nice person really. It's okay sir sometimes we do bad things when we don't want to especially here!

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

That doesn't excuse me from apologizing for the things I've done...so for that, I'm sorry.

...But from what I remember, you actually held yourself together remarkably well. If it means anything coming from me...a lot of people would be jealous of your positive will. You should be proud of yourself for standing up to me as well as you did. I'm just sorry I had to put you in that position to begin with.

text; private

[notachickenhawk]

Seriously? Did the instincts just take you out of control or... what?

[It takes a bit to type out. Fingers are difficult.]

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

...Yes, but not in the same way as it's happened before. It was like...as soon as I bonded with it, the monster took over my mind instead of becoming a part of it. I guess it was more of a possession rather than a bonding...if that makes any sense.

[Video]

[papillonmagique]

You. [That word is snarled out by the very unhappy looking woman on the screen; she's too furious to bother typing. It doesn't help that the rest of her words come out in a growl.]

I should give you back ten-fold what you did to Sertoria. I honestly do not care that you were not in control, it was a completely stupid move on your part and you hurt one of my friends so horribly that she- [Zoe stops and takes a breath, her voice now taking on a sarcastically sweet yet cold tone.]

Maybe next time try to think of how badly bonding with a monster could go.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

[...Well, so much for making amends with Sertoria. Every one of Zoe's accusations sting, and it takes Rick some time before he can bring himself to reply to her.]

You're very right. It was an extremely ill-planned idea and...I was very misguided in thinking it would end well for anyone. I can't make up for what I did to Sertoria, and I certainly can't make up for the trouble I caused you in having to fix my mistakes. I'm very sorry.

[Previous experience with angry people in this post has told him that his apologies and excuses will not appease her. He braces for the worst.]

[Text]

[technologic]

I guess I shouldn't be too mad if my husband forgives you, but if you ever hurt him like that again, it won't end well for you.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

I understand...I'll do everything I can to make sure nothing like this happens again. I apologize for any trouble I might have caused you.

text;

[blackwitch]

Do you really think people will forgive you that easily?

[ It's just a simple message left there, but.. it's honestly just what Evatrice does. The tower has pissed her off so much lately that the easiest way to still feel a little bit of joy or at least be entertained is by watching other people be miserable. ]

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

...No. [Most of them haven't.] But it's the least I can do.