melodiesoflife | Ghost in the Machine

Who: Chiaki and whoever
Where: Palitutu's Lab
When: November 22nd, right between the two player plots
What: Chiaki faces her inner demons

[Part of being the Ultimate Gamer is going for 100% completion. It's a point of pride for Chiaki not to leave any stone unturned, nor any quest unfulfilled. And so, as soon as she returns from the expedition to the Temple of the Heroes of Light, she heads straight for Palitutu's Lab to face her shadow. She isn't so naive that she expects not to have one, and her assumption is proven correct. One of the monitors flickers to life, depicting a figure that looks exactly like Chiaki - except with the telltale purple eyes. Regarding it impassively, she waits for it to speak.]

So, here we are on Disc Three. You've been pretty busy, haven't you? Mastering Jobs. Completing sidequests. Making new friends and allies. Gathering stronger equipment. All ready for the final battle.

But that was never your role in the story, was it?

You're nothing more than an NPC trying to shed her 'N.' But that's not your place. You can't be a hero. Not like the others. They're in the leading role, and you're here to support them. To give them hope, but never to have it for yourself.

NPCs don't save the world - they help the real heroes do it.

NPCs don't go on adventures - they sit in the towns and dispense useful advice.

NPCs don't solve puzzles - they guide others with hints until they can do it themselves.

NPCs don't have romances - they watch other people have them.

[At this point, the shadow phases out of the monitor and into the physical world, standing right in front of Chiaki. Both of their expressions are emotionless and blank, but it's easy to tell there's a lot going on beneath the surface.]

You can't fight your programming. No cheat code in existence can let you ignore that. You know where you belong, and it isn't here. Play at being a hero all you want - you know when it's all over, you'll be right back in the Neo World Simulation.

Alone.

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( even though she had expected it, seeing chiaki's other self in the monitor's screen made meredy uneasy. those unnatural purple eyes were what she focused on as the others offered their encouragement, thinking about how they could never radiate the warmth and understanding as chiaki's real ones.

she stepped up alongside of the other girl, concern lining her features as she watched her pull over her hood. when she begins to shake, meredy's hand instinctively starts to reach out — )

Chiaki...?

Jack is about to take a step towards Chiaki, but he's beaten to the punch by Meredy. H-unh. He stays further back, but he drops down to one knee to get onto her level. He is leaning over to automatically try to catch her eye, even if she's trying to look away. For a second, Jack's tone turns distinctly paternal, as if he was talking to his own daughter, not just a friend.

"Chiaki, you've got nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to be afraid of. Not around us." He pauses, almost like he wants to say more, but stops himself. She's so selfless, constantly trying to help the people around her, if she wants to demand something back from the world just this once? Jack thinks she's owed it.

K'pandolu takes a step forward, offering Chiaki a sympathetic expression. "It's all right to want things for yourself," she says. Chiaki's been a good friend, and a reassuring presence. Why shouldn't she have something for herself?

"Yeah, and you know if there is something you want we'll do whatever we can to help you." He's being honest, though he gets the feeling that it might be something not in their power to grant. Then again, given their powers in this world and all the people they have in their company it might just be.

Meredy...

[Chiaki stiffens a bit as Meredy walks up beside her, and when she reaches for her hand, she grabs it and squeezes tightly like she's grabbing onto a lifeline.]

Well?

[The shadow steps to the side to look straight at Chiaki from beside where Jack is crouched.]

I...

[Chiaki sighs, taking a deep breath and hanging her head. She can't bring herself to look anyone in the eye right now.]

...I don't want to go home.

[There's a sniffling sound from under her hood, and one by one, tears begin to fall to the floor in front of her.]

Jack can't help but glance at the Shadow coming so close to him, once, before ignoring her again in favor of Chiaki. She's just another part of her. 'Home,' where Chiaki doesn't have a real body anymore. Where she is exactly what her Shadow is telling her she is. A part to play in a program to fix other people from despair. But even that program was corrupted. Things won't change if she goes back. Not for Chiaki.

"You don't have to go. It's not abandoning them to leave and move on to a new life. The-" How does he want to put this? "The whole point of the program that you were a part of was so that the friends you made could eventually move on, live lives free of despair. I'm sure that your friends would want you to be able to leave, too."

Jack pauses, and he nods firmly. "In fact, I'm very sure of it. And I can prove it. Chiaki, why are your feet ticklish?"

( meredy's expression turns somber, as she looks down at the hand grasping hers— and tightens reassuringly around the other girls. she probably wasn't very good at comforting others, since she had no experience with anything like this.

but what she did know, is that she wanted chiaki to be happy. to feel loved.
stepping even closer, she held out a corner of her sleeve to wipe at the hidden cheek where a tear had fallen from.

it seemed that jack had something further to say, and so meredy remained quiet, just offering a small smile of encouragement. )

[Sadness pushes the frown on Cloud's face. Not because of the words that Chiaki has said, but because she's beating herself up over it. He knows he's not been the only Hero who wants to remain in this world when all is done, but he's at least been vocal about it. Now he wonders how many others are hiding their own fears and worries on it.]

Jack is right. I remember what your world was like. You're worried that if you stay here you're abandoning it, right?

[The fact that her world isn't a very nice one to return to is left unsaid, but it hangs in the air. He and Chiaki are a bit matched on this impulse and concern.

He pauses. He knows that there's the worry that if they don't go home their part in the story won't play out and it may doom others. But he's also heard from others that the story has already run its course, and they're echoes of their own past. He's not sure which is the darker thought.]

There's no shame in seeking your own happiness. And I don't think you're the sort who would do it without weighing every option and coming to the answer you think is best. Not just best for you, but best for everyone. I don't think anyone who really knows you would blame you.

...My feet?

[Chiaki blinks, finally lifting her head. She pulls back her hood, tilting her head and looking at Jack. Of course she remembers that conversation, but she hadn't expected him to invoke it now.]

That doesn't mean anything. It's just junk code.

[She shakes her head, her posture straightening as she glances in turn at each person in the room. Her grip on Meredy's hand is less desperate now, but no less full of warmth.]

...You're right. All of you.

[A small smile begins to spread across her face as she peacefully looks back at her Shadow.]

There's no such thing. Nothing in my code is junk. Everything that's there was put there for a reason. And that reason...

[Another monitor suddenly flares to life, depicting a face that somewhat resembles Chiaki's own. Alter Ego, to anyone who's met him since Chiaki brought him back and installed him in the lab.]

...is that we love her. Father, myself... and the Future Foundation. We only ever wanted you to be happy too, Chiaki.

[Chiaki glances to the monitor and bows her head gratefully for a moment, closing her eyes. And when she looks back up, it's at her Shadow again.]

...And that's it. I've made my choice. For my own happiness. I've brought hope to my world, and now I choose to stay in this one. To keep bringing that same hope to others. But more importantly...

[Smiling over at Meredy, she lifts their hands between them, clasping her other over top of them.]

...to finally have some for myself.

[And with that, the Shadow dissipates.]

[K'pandolu smiles back at her, ears up. Her attention flicks to the monitor briefly, and she nods.]

You've done so much- you more than deserve it. And I think you're well on the way, hm?

( as the screen comes to life with fujisaki's face— there's instant recognition for meredy who has seen the doppleganger in the flesh, as well as the AI chiaki had brought back with her. father... chiaki had a family that loved her, on top of all the others that the program would list.

hearing the determination her friend had found, and wanting to stay in this world, a softness came over meredy's expression. she doesn't even look to see as the shadow fades away, instead leaning in to kiss the other girl's cheek lightly, full of pride. )

[Cloud doesn't recognize the other face, but the encouragement and resolution that Chiaki is gaining makes him smile. All the Heroes brought to this world are as varied as the worlds they come from, but he's never had a doubt that Chiaki deserves the happiness she's found.]

The thing about happiness is you don't just make it yourself. We're all here to help.

Ghost in the Machine

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