melodiesoflife | (no subject)

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Who: Johnny D'Amico and friends (?)
What: Time to face his Shadow self
When: January 12
Where: the lab
Warnings: Johnny's Shadow is a literal monster

[Johnny didn't want to do this. Not at all. It's taken a lot of courage for him to not only face his Shadow, but do it in front of other people. He's spent his whole life denying his demon heritage, trying to suppress it, to overcome it. But that's not possible; it's a part of who he is, and he has to accept it. He just needs to get over 24 years of repressed feelings and hidden emotions first.

The Shadow Johnny that appears has a frightening, wicked grin, highlighting those shark-like teeth, and carries himself with an air of confidence and not often seen in the real Johnny. The Shadow sizes him up, as well as everyone else in the room, with a predatory look.]

What a goddamn riot. Do you seriously think you even have the guts to take me on?

[Johnny tries to say something, but he's stuck. He doesn't even know where to start. He wishes everyone would just go away right now. Or maybe that he could disappear instead.]

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[Welp, that's a demon. Ramza has faced such things before. He draws his sword- in his experience, there is little hope of a peaceful resolution once a monster appears- but does not yet attack. This is not his Shadow, and he must leave it to Johnny to take the lead. But, as the other man seems frozen at the moment, Ramza calls out to the Shadow.]

We are not afraid of you. If you have speech, you have mind enough to tell us what you want. We need none of your vain posturing!

[Part of Mary is a bit disappointed at how quickly she's getting used to these sorts of things. Not simply the Shadow encounters, but the fact of Shadow Johnny's appearance. She's had the time to come to grips with his nature at least as far as him not being human, but she's not often had the chance to really think about the fact that she keeps company with an Actual Demon.

And it's no longer something that shocks her either.

She readies her blade as well, shifting her stance and ready to fight. But like Ramza she's hoping to avoid it.]

You're Captain here, Johnny. We follow your lead.

[Though of course an order to leave him with his Other will be ignored.]

(ooc: lemme know if I accidentally assumed too much in their CR)

[Saori kept her blade sheathed and smoke flasks hidden, but her fingers made sure either option was within reach. If anything, she could cover for someone as a Paladin and still have some versatility with her Fumomancer job. Demons weren't new for the goddess but the idea of fighting a Shadow of one without her usual powers was rather daunting for her.]

She's right, Johnny. Talk it out or fight it out, do what you think it's right. There's no way we're gonna walk out on you now.

[The Shadow form, while still Johnny, is definitely exaggerated in his demonic features. Long, full-grown horns, pointier teeth, and a stare that somehow seems to be even emptier than the one those pupil-less eyes already were. He's even more scarred than the normal Johnny, and he grinned confidently, unafraid of the people in the room surrounding him. He cocked his chin at Johnny.]

You might not be scared of me, but I think he is.

[Johnny finally snaps out of it at that, pointing at his other self.]

Fuck off! I ain't afraid of you. You're not even real. I didn't become you, and I'm not ever going to be. This is fuckin' ridiculous.

[Things are off to a bad start. The Shadow laughs at this response.]

Edited 2017-01-16 04:04 (UTC)

[Reno crossed his arms and shifted his weight. He wasn't going to jump right in to attacking a Shadow, not until he saw how things were going to go. Cloud's had needed it fairly quickly. Vincent's was a different story. This... Reno had no idea how this was going to go.]

[Immediately hostile, it turned out.]

Yer horns get bigger?

[Sorry, he got distracted.]

This is a thing that could happen, you get more demon-y?

[He wasn't appalled -- he was honestly just curious, and talking to Johnny as if the Shadow weren't even really there..]

[K'pandolu's immediate response is to bare her teeth in return, even if they are less impressive. She settles after a moment, with a flick of her tail , which is slightly puffed up.]

That's why we're here, to help as reminder.

[she tilts her head towards Reno, distracted by his words, and looks between Johnny and his double for a moment. Obviously he's in a position to know better, but-]

Well- tails grow, after all… [from her experience, anyhow.]

[Every Shadow Duster has encountered has been hostile to the corresponding Hero and the others in the room, but it has always been a verbal, passive-aggressive sort of animosity. This guy might actually attack them from the start.]

Johnny...? [He steps back. He's fortunate to have an offensive Job equipped this time, but he doesn't want to fight his Shadow either way.] I don't think we want to make him angrier.

[Johnny unconsciously reaches to his own horns.] They-- they're always growing. Slowly, but yeah.

[The Shadow would be glad to answer Reno's question.]

Being more demony is always an option. It's always there. Where do you think that temper comes from? Or when we lose ourselves in the heat of battle?

[Johnny's limit break has only happened twice in his time here, but he was a frightening berzerker mode that made him much stronger and faster. It had almost happened a few times in Exsilium, he'd gotten close. But not like that. Johnny doesn't remember what happens during those spells, but he has an idea.]

And who said I'm angry? If anything, I'm entertained by you chumps. To think that there was anything you could do to help this guy...

[The Shadow was definitely ready for a fight, if the egging on of the others was any indication. It was Johnny who was the one who was getting angry.]

Yeah, cuz an asshole like you don't deserve any help. But I'm not the same as you.

[He gives Johnny an encouraging nod.] If you think steel would aid the negotiations, just say the word.

[They will do whatever is needed to help Johnny, but wiping the smug expression off the demon's face would be no imposition at all, is what Ramza is saying.]

[Duster lets out a soft, long breath. He shouldn't have been surprised by a fight, though he'd never faced something so clearly demonic and fairy-tale-like in appearance. At least he didn't look creepy.]

And then you'll leave him alone. [He whips out two knives, prepared for whatever the Shadow will throw at him.]

[Mary bites the inside of her cheek at Reno's comment. A friendly joke could certainly be made but now is not the time. Like him she gets ready, prepared. She doesn't believe Johnny's reaction because it seems like a natural one to have, fear. And a normal one to try to deny.

She and Reno were on the same page, and it's confirmed when the Shadow speaks. A possible future for Johnny, a reflection of what he could be. It makes sense.]

Johnny, be careful. All of the Shadows we've seen have been the person they came from in one way or another. If you're saying he doesn't deserve any help, what precisely do you mean by that?

[Johnny was about to give word, but what Mary said completely throws him off. He turns to her, trying to think of a response, looking angry and helpless. He'd probably admit to feeling undeserving of help, but Reno was there, and Johnny didn't want to say that in front of him.]

I-- I didn't want anyone to be here for this. [While true, it was only part of it.] I didn't...

[He doesn't know how to finish that, but he doesn't have to. The Shadow laughs at him.]

God, you're pathetic. Yes, of course, Heaven forbid anyone ever find out you have feelings, huh? You know, if you stop repressing yerself, and thinkin' about how worthless you are all the time, things'll get better. You'll be free to do whatever ya want. You'll stop caring about what anyone thinks about ya. I know I sure don't give a damn.

[The Shadow grins at Johnny, whose stomach turns just looking at it. His fists clench, trembling with anger and embarrassment. But to his credit, he doesn't strike out at the Shadow. Yet.]

Shut up! No one's on your side, are they? These people came along to help me. That-- That means somethin'.

[Grinning wider, the Shadow steps closer to Johnny, who stands his ground.]

Like it'll last. I mean, where's Lukas? Good fuckin' question, huh? How's yer family doing? What happened to Blaine? How about the last time you ever talked to Meliantha? Yer real good at ruining lives, so I'm sure you'll do the same to all of these people, especially him. [He nods his head in Reno's direction.] If the world hadn't doomed youse all first, I'm sure Johnny'd find a way to do it for ya.

[Well, that's it. Johnny's patience finally run out. He doesn't draw a weapon or prepare for battle with his friends, though. He just sucker punches his Shadow self on the jaw. The Shadow's head whips around, but he turns back to him grinning again, finally getting what he wanted. The Shadow casts Testament on himself, getting ready for all of his opponents.]

Edited 2017-01-23 03:14 (UTC)

[Without thinking, Saori cast Protect onto Johnny as a precaution. The Shadow's appearance didn't faze her because of her experience with the supernatural.]

The thing about these Shadows, while there is a grain of truth to what they say, that's all there is to it. They'll twist their words to provoke you and guarantee that you'll reject them.

Let me tell you, Johnny, I met my fair share of demons and you're nothing like them and I mean that in a good way. Being a demon is only just one part of you and don't you forget it.

[Ramza takes a step toward the demon, getting himself into a good position for an attack, when it comes time.]

Johnny, it matters not what you could become, only what you do become. You cannot control what happens to other people, but you can choose to be...continue to be...the kind of man who cares about others. He would try to drive away the ones you love, because they are the ones who make you strong enough to resist him. Do not let him.

[Is this enemy powerful enough for a Boss Theme? It is, Duster tells himself after half a second of hesitation. The concertina that Johnny helped pick pick out is in his hands, and he steps back, letting the fighters take control.]

...This is what you could have become, but you didn't. I don't think I'll understand what it's like, but you're more than your demon blood.

[K'pandolu glowers at Johnny's double, eyebrows drawing in. Part of her wonders- was there something they could have done? Asked to talk about Johnny's feelings more, perhaps…

Ah. But- again, there's nothing to be done for it now, but deal with what they have in the moment.

She squares up, lifting her chin, tail out, ready to move.]

I'd still rather have you around than not, Johnny.

[Mary curses as things get ready for a conflict. She's been a Sky Pirate for the month, but even without the job equipped she still has her hidden blade ready, as always. She flexes her wrist, feeling the weight, but she certainly doesn't wish to use it here.]

There's nothin' wrong with having a hard life. If someone is living an easy one there's usually something going on behind it to make it so. Guilt means you regret your mistakes and you want to make better next time, but you can't let it weigh you down like an anchor either.

[She steps up, drawing her sword and readies to defend Johnny from his Shadow.]

Being free means taking responsibility for what you do. But it also means knowing that you get to choose. Your actions make you and your heart tells you where to sail. Nothing worth doing is easy when it counts the most, especially being true to yourself. But that doesn't make it impossible or wrong.

[Johnny is actually listening to all of these encouragements, even if it doesn't seem like he is. But accept this side of himself goes against everything he's spent a lot of his life ignoring or denying this side of himself. Even when indulging in it, he'd convinced himself he was better than that. Filtered through that, the words of his friends get bent. He is his own person, not this awful demon in front of him.]

If-- If I accept him, it means driving you all away. It means ruining even more. I-- I won't be like him! I won't...

[Johnny stepped away from the group a bit. He knew he should have come here alone. He shouldn't have brought anyone into this. Maybe his Shadow was right; he ruins everything on everyone. His existence was a curse.]

You all should-- should go. I'll handle this. This is on me.

[The Shadow laughs again, so very amused by how far off the mark his actual self is from all of this. Well, that's good news for him! Because this way, he gets to take over. He quickly steps forward to Johnny, and before he can react, the Shadow is looming over him, grinning.]

Man, you just don't get it.

Heh. Good.

[The Shadow suddenly vanishes, but it doesn't take long for everyone to figure out where it went. When Johnny turns back to face everyone, his grin mimics the one his Shadow self had been displaying.]

But I guess you guys need a little more convincing yet.

[Calamity Johnny opens with a Dragon Breath aimed at everyone.]

"Whoa, hey!" Reno stepped forward angrily, pissed that anyone should speak for him or make Johnny doubt their relationship. He didn't know who the hell Lukas was... or Meliantha... honestly, it did concern him, but now was not the time.

"We are just fine, so you can shut the fuck up and -- " And then Johnny was talking about driving them away, talking about them leaving. It was hard to remember they were two halves of a whole when the Shadow was making him so angry. But all of this, even the worst of it, was Johnny. All of it was a part of Johnny's deepest fears and secrets.

Reno was incredulous. "Johnny, I ain't leavin' you! We can deal with this, we can -- !" He reached out for his lover only to see the transformation up close. He paled as Johnny, possessed, opened his mouth to attack Reno point blank.

[Ramza, for one, is prepared for the transformation. That is how these things always go back home, too. Sometimes people turn into demons and need to be beaten within an inch of their life to return to themselves. No big deal.

Ramza raises his sword and points it at the demon.]

If you know what Johnny knows, you know the power I have mastered here. I shall ask it only once. Stand down, or be cut down.

'It means I'll drive you all away'

Mary's eye's flashed at those words, "You damn bloody fool-" But she was cut off as things proceeded anon and the Shadow attacked. She was already making the hand seals for Shunshin, starting as soon as it vanished and she was glad she did. She reacted on the spot, dodging out of the way of his breath and grabbing Reno as she went.

"Damnit Johnny, don't make me do something we'll both regret!"

Regrets aren't something I have anymore.

[Those are definitely the Shadow's words, not Johnny's. Johnny was burdened by many regrets, but his Shadow pretends like everyone and everything is nothing to him. You can't have regrets if you stop caring about everything.

Ramza's threats don't seem to phase him.]

But you don't know about the new abilities I've got mastered.

[Ramza is the lucky recipient of Heartless Angel, reducing his health to 1. Who's next?]

Ramza!

[That's- not good, no. K'pandolu flattens her ears back as she casts two Curas on Ramza- she doesn't think that was a good move at this point, but she won't allow him to be felled if she can help it. She scowls at the Shadow, tail flicking.]

You say you've left all of that behind? Those feelings, those connections? That sounds hollow to me.

Oh for fu--

[Seeing K'pandolu tend to Ramza, Saori turned her attention to the Shadow. She pulled a vial full of smoke from her belt and threw it. With a smash, the glass broke at the Shadow's feet, sending the smoke into its face. The plumes wrapped around the wrists like manacles. Chain Smoke should hold him back for now.]

You won't be driving us away, Johnny. We'll kick your ass if you ever did that for real, you got that?! And that's because we care. If this is about your demon powers, you probably just need time and support in learning how to control them properly!

[With K'pandolu's help, Ramza is able to stand again after the Shadow's attack. He's still hurt, but he can move.]

There will be no reasoning with him. Be on guard! He's strong.

[The best thing they can do for their friend now is defeat the Shadow controlling him, Ramza thinks. He charges toward the demon for a melee attack with his sword.]