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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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[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.]

[Duster shields his face with the concertina as he is hit with Dragon's Breath, but apart from the hiccup in the song, he continues playing as if nothing happened. The show must go on. But the enemy - though only temporarily their enemy - is strong. Using Trabadour, he adds the effect of Dancing Mad to the music, doubling attack power and stats when fighting other Heroes of Light. Does the Shadow posing as Johnny count as a Hero. Duster is an optimist.]

Keep going! We have to stop him before we can save Johnny!

[Saori's Chain Smoke interrupts the Crescent Moon Johnny was about to unleash on the party, which only angers him more.]

This isn't about my demon powers! Count your lucky stars that I ain't got 'em back, or you'd all have been dead minutes ago already.

[Duster's music has no effect, since the Shadow is a Calamity Knight, and no Hero any longer. While he can't physically attack while restrained, the Shadow can still cast spells. Saori's interference gets Death cast on her, but she lucks out - while she can feel the spell wash over her, nothing happens. Johnny roars in frustration.]

[The music slows down, gradually coming to a halt like a cheap carnival ride in a comedic play. Absolutely nothing changed since Duster began playing. No powerful moves, no changes in the battle. Nothing. Unless Johnny's bad luck with casting Death counts.]

...

[Either demons are immune to music or Johnny is no long considered a Hero. Then the opposite is...]

Try this!

[There was nothing to be gained is he doesn't try Melody of the Calamity]

[Mary is just getting back to her feet as the Death spell begins, the image of the Grim Reaper forming above Saori and swinging its scythe down on her. The Assassin's breath hitches for a second, a strangled cry escaping her lips before the spell's failure registers.

Relief is brief and quickly replaced by anger. She was concerned about the lethality of her training, of holding back for Johnny's sake, but this side of him wasn't offering the same courtesy. She throws down a smoke bomb of her own, vanishing on the spot. A second later she's lunging at Johnny from behind, driving her hidden blade at his shoulder. She's avoiding any major bloodlines but hoping to at least disable their raging friend.]

[Ramza only had two moves he can do. He does not assess this as a rock-throwing situation, so that leaves him only one choice. The demon needs be vanquished before it harms any of Johnny's friends. Accepting his Shadow would surely be even harder knowing it had killed someone he loved.

So Ramza raises Excalibur to throw a Final Fantasy Johnny's way.]

[Just when he thought he was about to get a face full of pain, Mary saved his ass. He could barely breathe out any thanks before Johnny was targeting Saori and Mary was gone.]

[He couldn't really blame her. He felt the same way about Johnny. Which was why it was really, really hard to let everyone start hurting him.]

Dammit!

[He loved Johnny. But he couldn't let this Shadow kill anyone here.]

If this ain't about bein' a demon, what's it about? If yer ready t' kill me already, then tell me why!

[Frustrated, he cast Thundara against the smoke-restrained Shadow.]

[Duster's song does the trick this time. Mary's attack is enough to enrage Johnny that he breaks the shackles of the smoke with sheer strength. He whirls around in a flash, grabbing her by the midsection and throwing her away from him in a frenzied move. He does try to aim for Duster, hoping she'll land on him and stop the song.

In response to Reno's question, the near-berserk Johnny turns to him menacingly when the Thundara hits him. He staggers, singed but still standing - yet he doesn't make a move towards Reno yet.]

Because you'll all just get hurt or killed cuz of me anyway! That's all that ever happens!

[Really, this does have everything to do with him being a demon. Johnny's wracked with guilt and shame and hatred of everything he is. It's a simple case of pushing everyone away in order to keep from hurting them further. Staying steeped in that logic for so long becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where he goes out of his way to hurt people before they can even have a chance to get close to him. His guilt and loneliness would him to sink into demon side, even after clinging so hard to his humanity previously. It's a thin line he'd always walk.

Thankfully, he has a lot of good people in his life to keep it from happening.

Ramza's attack manages to hit Johnny while he's distracted by Reno. He had no inkling that Ramza had such a devastating attack at his disposal. If it wasn't for the boost that being a Calamity Shadow gave, he'd be a goner for sure. After grabbing Ramza by an arm and attempting to roughly fling him into the nearest wall, he collapses face first.]

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