The Fifteen Strangers Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
strangerpeople) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
15strangers2017-12-02 11:15 pm
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2017-12-02 11:15 pm
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[The unfortunate death, and subsequent execution, has no doubt weighed on everyone's minds since. The dam has burst, and now, the idea that someone may kill another in this place is not just a possibility anymore. It is reality, and a very terrifying reality at that.
Yet, there is a strange side effect to the murder's aftermath. When the Titled go to sleep on Saturday evening, they will dream, even if they don't normally do so. When they wake up, their dream stays with them, and a thought comes to everyone. A realization.
Their dream had been a memory they lost. Now, they have it back, as if they had never lost it.
Nor is that the only change. They also feel just a little more confident in their power. Confident enough that they find that their ability has evolved to become stronger. Whether that's a good or a bad thing, well...
Soon enough, too, the Titled's phones start pinging, and when they open up their LIME app, they receive a simple message:]
Your Mall Map has been updated!
[And indeed, those who go to check the Food Court will find an elevator on the eastern end which leads to a brand new wing that had previously been obscured by the barrier.
Dio and Wake's information is also slightly different from before on the LIME app, but...maybe it's best not to think about it. Last week had been...disheartening.
Hopefully, this week will be better, right? Surely, this week, temptation won't win out again....right?
Well.
There's only one way to find out.
Welcome to Week 2, Titled.
There are thirteen strangers in this place.
This week's crab is Dungeness.]
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One hand rests gently against his boyfriend's face. ]
You really care a lot about her... and I'm sure those gestures mean a lot.
[ Hand not moving... ]
You still have a crush on her, huh?
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I...I would never choose her over you. You don't need to worry about that.
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Well... the sigh he releases isn't one of total relief, but also not one of anything negative. A fond sort of exasperation, perhaps. ]
That wasn't a concern... [ with a thumb gently brushing over the skin ] ... but thank you.
[ He offers a warmer smile. ]
I'm pretty sure just about anyone could get feelings for more than one person at a time... It doesn't mean you're a bad person, Goro.
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A thoughtful look appears on his face for a moment. It's after a short pause, he slides his hand down to gently take his boyfriend's. He interlocks their fingers. ]
There's not even a little doubt in my mind how much you care.
[ He lifts that hand to his lips, kissing it. ]
Just because you care about two people in a similar way, doesn't mean you're comparing them. [ staring down at their hands ] It's not all that different from having more than one amazing friend.
[ There's a pause as he shifts in his seat a little, his gaze shifting to the floor. ]
Want an example?
[ Hopefully Goro doesn't mind that he's giving one without waiting for an answer. ]
The first friends I made were Ryuji, Morgana, and Ann. [ just going to ignore that he doesn't remember how... ] They've been there for me through a lot of things, and we've had each other's backs ever since the day we teamed up.
[ And now there's a calm, but serious look in his eyes as his gaze shifts back to Goro. He'll get on with the rest of the point in a bit, but he's gonna pause for something.
It's not a challenge; it's a real question: ]
Do you think I ever saw one of them as more important or valuable than the other two? [ or even: ] Do you think I see those three as more important than the members who joined later?
There be spoilers here.
Of course not. But is that really an equal comparison, considering how many people use others they find attractive for personal pleasure, regardless of the feelings of those individuals or those of their romantic partner?
[He did use a very specific word for what his mother was to Shido...]
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In the case of us, yeah. [ shaking his head. ] I'm talking about people in a relationship where everyone respects one another's boundaries and needs...
[ But... okay. He feels like he's getting somewhere with understanding this. His thumb brushes over the back of Goro's hand as he wields a dim, thoughtful expression. A slow breath in, he carefully considers his words... ]
Everything you said earlier makes it obvious all you're thinking about is my feelings... and that goes both ways, here.
[ A very gentle squeeze of his boyfriend's hand. ]
We're not everyone else... Especially not Shido.
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[It's part of why what he has with Akira is so important to him. He'd needed this proof that such connections really did exist.]
But...I do know that my feelings for Sae-san haven't changed, despite falling in love with you.
[A weak smile.]
So much for getting over a hopeless crush by dating someone else, huh?
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Well, there are a few things he's considering saying in response to the first part, only to find his mind making like a scratched record. There's a soft blink, and then his cheeks darken ever-so-slightly. ]
...
[ The last part actually has a quiet laugh slipping out, only to come out just a tiny bit louder than he'd intended. Funny how surprise can amplify things ever-so-slightly, even for him... His focus lately has been on... other things, so... ]
Not gonna leave anything for me to do first, huh?
[ There's a small, fond smile on his lips as he reaches to tug Goro into a kiss. There's a pause after their lips are parted just enough for him to quietly add: ]
I love you, too.
[ One more kiss is given, and then he pulls back to reach for the coffee, taking a sip of it. It's colder now, but no way is he letting it go to waste.
He's making a thoughtful face as he takes a deep breath. ]
You're not the only one here with experience in having a crush on more than one person at a time.
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Sorry, do I keep stealing your opportunities?
[He gives a playful smile as he watches Akira drinking the coffee, and then...ah.]
Ah...and your example...was that you trying to put your personal experience into something that was easier to explain?
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I would think it takes a special kind of person to steal from a fellow thief.
[ There's a brief pause before he nods. ]
And, yeah. It was the best example I could come up with. The crush I had on you is one of the strongest I've ever felt. That's why, back when I was trying to give you advice, I couldn't tell you anything helpful.
[ With a hint of sheepishness in his eyes, he shifts in his seat. He glances at his phone, something dim ghosting over his face. ]
... There's something I want to tell you.
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Because you could never figure out how to get over those feelings for me, back when you didn't realize I felt the same way?
[He catches Akira's glance at his phone and frowns, reaching over to put an arm around his boyfriend.]
What is it?
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I kind of always suspected you had a crush, since you weren't super stealthy about hiding it... but I didn't want to force anything, as one of my dropped hints might have implied.
[ He can't remember the full reason he held back quite so much, but... ]
You were this big high school celebrity, and... you had your reputation to worry about.
[ He gives a quiet, breathed out chuckle, turning to rest his forehead against whichever part of Goro it can reach. ]
We don't know what could happen in a place like this. Even someone we've grown to trust could have a bigger secret than we realize...
[ ... ]
I guess what I'm trying to get at here is, if something happens to me before we all get out of this place... [ not something he likes to think about, but ] ...and you're given a chance to be with Sae-san, or anyone else you wind up liking, I don't want you to hesitate.
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I admit I might have had trouble resisting the temptation to flirt now and then...
[He's just going to...scoot his chair a bit closer. Cuddles? He could especially use cuddles after the scenario Akira just suggested.]
I strongly hope that doesn't happen... [Though who knows what tomorrow will bring, he can't be completely sure tonight won't be the last sunset he lives to see...] But it goes both ways. It's...funny. I've never considered myself an especially selfless person, but your happiness has become very important to me. If I don't survive, I don't want that to be the moment you decide to let yourself be chained to your past.
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I enjoyed every time you did.
[ Cuddles are great. He even scoots his own chair closer, eliminating more of that space, so that his arm can slide around the opposite form.
A small frown appears at those words. ]
... You'll survive. Even if I have to...
[ Maybe it's not a smart idea to dive into that out here... One hand firmly clutches onto the fabric beneath its grip. ]
Heh... [ a smile of irony ] I've never outright considered myself selfish... but... chained, huh?
[ ... for the first time, he has someone there isn't too much he isn't willing to do to keep. His expression dims considerably. ]
You're saying that to a guy who's still wearing glasses he doesn't even need a prescription for... [ gaze resting on the floor ] In case you haven't noticed, I don't let things go very easy... and I'm even worse with people.
[ He rubs at the back of his neck. ]
... Just because you can't see something doesn't mean it isn't there.
[ His gaze shifts to rest itself on Goro, something unreadable there for once. He's going quiet. ]
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[He kisses his boyfriends temple, right next to where those glasses sit.]
You came to Tokyo alone, followed by a criminal record, and immediately started surrounding yourself with new friends. You found your place in a situation that pre-judged you, and you moved forward in ways I've never been able to, myself.
You hold tight to your bonds... [He takes Akira's hand - the injured one - and touches a very light kiss to the back of it.] But I've never seen you let your history control you.
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There's a softening of his expression. After holding a blink, he presses a kiss to Goro's forehead before resting his own against it. ]
I can understand where you're coming from. Visually, you're right. My actions aren't exactly lies...
[ His eyes narrow a little in thought. ]
But, you really don't think you've moved forward?
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Every step counts, Goro...
[ That's what he'd like to believe with everything in him... ]
Anyone can accept advice, but it's what you do with it that really matters.
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That's right... you couldn't have known to go find confidants...
[ Er... though... how the hell did he even know to go do it? ]
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Confidants?
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I can't remember where I learned about them, but...
[ Guess the best way to explain it would be... ]
All the closest bonds you've made here would be considered your confidants. Basically, we bond with people, help them, and the power from that makes us stronger Personas users...
[ He gives a quiet, thoughtful hum. ]
When we maximize our bond with a fellow Persona user, it can awaken them to their strongest Persona.
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It's not quite like that here, so it must have been related to my Persona abilities...but I've definitely noticed that some of my... [He hesitates on the word, as if using it feels strange.] Friendships here have a similar feel to them, in terms of emotion.
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