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who: Shigeru and ota?!
what: Shigeru turns into the one thing he's terrified of, nbd.
when: au event
where: All around
warnings: Probably gonna have some violence /sweats

I) Community Housing, Floor 2

[ So if anyone has seen Shigeru in passing they know that he most certainly doesn't look how he currently does. His eyes are black with purple irises and there are runes marking his entire right side. He looks, for intents and purposes, like a real monster now. Completely different than the man he once was. He's even a bit more chattier now as well if he ever decides to talk to you. He'll be humming something, its a sad and forlorn sounding tune, as he rummages through the cabinets. If you happen to run into him you'll get a glare and a slight sneer though. You're interrupting him and he doesn't appreciate it, okay? ]

II) Shopping District

[ Despite his looks and his demeanor there is still small parts of Shigeru left. The fact that he's taken up a seat on a nearby bench with his standard drawing pad is indicative enough of this fact. If it weren't for his looks one might not even know he was different. But it's only when he gets stares by people passing by that he gives them a sneer and the runes on his body flicker with a malevolent light. It'll cause anyone to look away and walk quickly off, allowing him to continue his work in peace. ]

III) River

[ He's around the same river where Memoria took place and with him is a spare lantern he never used or just kept for safekeeping from the event. With the sun now dying out and the dark settling in he's finally lighting the thing and smiling as he does so. ]

I guess you weren't able to help me after all. I wasted my time with you like a fool...and yet I can't seem to get you out of my head. [ And as if on cue the runes on his body glow with a purple aura and Shigeru will let out a small gasp of pain, grimacing as he grips his head. ]

Let me at least have this, you've taken everything else...please. [ He doesn't sound like the mean and nasty Shigeru some people have run into. He just sounds...desperate and sad as he struggles with an unknown force. ]

IIIa) Friendr un: shigeru miyata

Whose brave enough to go exploring the abandoned city with me? If you are meet me on the outskirts of the inner fence. I haven't explored it much myself and would like to see what's out there.

IIIb) Abandoned City

[ For those who came or those who happen upon Shigeru will see him fighting a group of monsters in the amusement park square. Black inky tendrils slither and undulate on the ground around him, they're focal point in Shigeru's feet. They'll snap and slice at anything that tries to attack him, and one creature is unlucky enough to get hit and the tendril peels itself off the floor and wraps around a dire wolves paw. The creature lets out a howl of pain as it falls to the ground, its foot disintegrating upward and downward from where the tentacle touched it. The rest of the creatures stay their ground, but it doesn't look like any of them are willing to go anywhere near Shigeru. ]

Is this all? You'll have to do better than that.

Wildcard

[ If there's anything you want to do not listed here please PM me on

pathogenic or at this journal so we can plot out something! ]

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Jamie's been on a bit of a quest to track down people that he feels he should apologize to... and of all the people he's got to get through, Shigeru really feels like the centerpiece. Dodger's treatment of him could be understood, he guesses, but he had Dodger's reasoning to work with... he felt at the very least he should explain the actions in a way that he felt would make things... smoother. Maybe.

He tracks Shigeru down to the second floor, which greets the man with a very, very different version of Dodger - one with no scars, two eyes and an argyle sweatervest in pristine condition. He's even got a box of cookies in his hands, purchased from one of the nicer patissieres around town. Supermarket cookies didn't feel like they would cut it.

"Hey, um... Shigeru Miyata?" He hasn't seen his eyes, and thus not yet realized something is wrong, but Shigeru will also notice that he has a distinct British accent now. "Can we talk for a moment?"

Shigeru is trying his hardest to fight back urges set on by the influence of the dark god. It's hard and while his old self is still there it's mostly masked and overtaken by these other, dark, urges.

So when he hears that voice, something about it is familiar and yet the accent is new. But once he turns around enough to look over his shoulder to see who it is...there's some sort of inexplicable rage that flares up within him. He'll grab Jamie by the shoulder and slam him into the counter top of the kitchen's island.

"You. What do you want?" Has he come here to trigger his phobias again? Or maybe to do try something else underhanded?! He's not sure but this version of Shigeru doesn't like it and won't take it sitting down. There's some deep seated malice in his voice and some fear as the runes on his face flicker purple. His memories of Dodger haven't gone away and his anger towards the other is somewhat understandable given their prior history. If he didn't have as much control over himself as he did, he probably would've maimed the other instantly. Instead he's just glaring at him his breathing a bit shallow as he waits for an answer.

Jamie lets out a yelp of shock as his back hits the island counter, his face draining of color as he stares up at the smaller man. That is not the Shigeru he remembers... so apparently he was affected by whatever's happening, too.

A whimper escapes him involuntarily, as he struggles briefly. He doesn't expect to be let go, but the monstrous eyes staring back at him are making his blood run cold. It's not just how scary Shigeru is in its own right... it's the sense that karma's finally hitting Dodger for his behavior.

"I- I just want to talk." There's a hint of panic in his voice... alright, more than a hint, it's written all over his face, "Please, just let me go, I mean no harm."

There's a half feral, half annoyed growl from Shigeru as he grips Jamie's shoulder tighter. And then he just laughs a little as he press Jamie against the counter further.

"Is that right? I recall you completely ignoring me several times before. But now that you're like...this you want to talk?" His tone is bitter and angry when he says that.

"Why should I care what you have to say?" Honestly he doesn't, not in this state at least. But there's that part of him that knows this is wrong and evil. The Shigeru he once was is still partially there, always trapped and mired in this darkness now, but still there. He fights with it and he might grab his head after a moment or two wincing in what appears to be pain. It takes some effort from him, and there's a clear internal struggle going on in the look in his eyes, but he does release the other man finally.

"Say what you need to and then leave me alone."

He notices it - it's something he's vaguely familiar with, a kind of a struggle he's seen in both of his timelines. Some people can't control their mutations, and their mutations control them. Sometimes Dodger felt like he was one of those types of people, thanks to all of the drug intake.

With a shaky motion, Jamie grabs hold of Shigeru's arm, just to steady himself. The cookies he was holding have fallen on the ground, and he glances down at them before shaking his head, "I wanted to- apologize. For my behavior. I shouldn't have- I shouldn't have treated you like a plaything, it was demeaning and... and horrible. The things I- could have done to you without... without feeling remorse or even caring. I just want you to know that I- I consider you a friend and I intend fully to make up for my actions."

Shigeru's eyes narrow as he listens to those words. They might be empty, or perhaps not, to him he doesn't trust Dodger at all. But this version of the other man seems to feel some remorse for his actions.

He'll flinch a little at Dodger grabbing his arm, jerking it away and stepping back from him in a momentary scared state. But it quickly dissipates as he steps a little forward again.

"How do you intend to make up for it?"

He's still shaky, but it seems he's out of immediate danger.. at least Shigeru is listening to him. With a meek noise he clears his throat.

"A-anything. Anything you want. I don't... know you well enough to think of the best way."

If nothing else... there is genuine submission in his expression, which is much easier to read than Dodger's cold and calculating stare. He wants to help. He just wants to help and make things better.

"Ah." His eyes will widens lightly almost as if he'd touched with what was just said. But that look is fleeting as his eyes narrow into glaring slits, flickering again with that power of the dark god within him. He'll reach out with a hand towards Dodger's face stopping once he's barely inches from his cheek.

"I'd really like for you to disappear." His smile is crooked and sharp as that hand of his shoots out and wraps around Dodger's throat. He starts to squeeze but it's stopped as there's a look of realization in his eyes and features. Shigeru's personality will change abruptly as he lets go, there's bruising left where Dodger's neck was held, but otherwise he'll be fine.

Shigeru on the other hand is anything but fine as he grips his head with one hand, his eyes wide with fear and pain. He looks genuinely upset that he just tried to kill the other man, at least for now, while he still has some of his sense about him.

"I...I'm sorry. Please...go away." He might not be able to fight his possession for the second time.

As the hand closes around Jamie's neck, sparks swirl around his arms... his fire powers have become harder and harder to access over the years of therapy, but the sparks and small amount of heat he gives off are proof of his attempts to conjure them and fight back. In a panic he teleports them both to another part of the kitchen, pressing his back against the wall. Which will give Shigeru the feeling of the world falling apart in a flash of sparks around them, before reasserting itself in their new location.

Jamie is left coughing and rubbing his neck, fear still written on his face from the attack, but... Shigeru is afraid as well, and his focus latches onto that. Refusing to linger on his own stress, he reaches to grab Shigeru's wrists, steeling himself as best as he can.

"Let me help you."

The sudden shifting of the world around and feeling as if the ground he was standing upon was falling out from underneath him makes Shigeru gasp. He had forgotten that this was one of Jamie's powers. But it didn't matter because before he has a chance to recover he feels Dodger's hand around his wrist.

His expression shifts from angry to scared and he tries to pull away with a whimper. He might even try to push Jamie away from him.

"Let go!"

"No!"

His grip tightens a bit; it may not be as obvious without Dodger's dangerous demeanor, but Jamie is incredibly strong. There's no way Shigeru will be able to break out of his grasp without seriously injuring him first.

"Shigeru, this isn't you. Something's wrong with you, if you tell me what's going on I can help you."

Half of him is totally sure this is going to get him killed, but.. he has to try. He won't forgive himself if he just runs - Shigeru's saved his life when he was Dodger, the least he can do is endanger himself for Shigeru's sake in turn.

He doesn't like this. Shigeru even in this form still retains his phobia and while the darkside of him mostly doesn't care his innate fears still take over despite the powers the god has. He'll try to pull away again sounds of distress escaping him as he does so.

"You-you can't! No one can." It was true, or so he thought, without anyone to find a cure or even to believe in one he was just another phrobiest consumed and overtaken by Malneminous.

"It-it's impossible to get r-rid of him, Malneminous, he can't be stopped." Here he'll start fighting again to push Dodger away from him.

"Go-Go away before he makes me kill you too..." his voice sounds so pained and distressed when he says that. There's no telling how much longer he can actually fight Malneminous' urges and control back either.

He watches Shigeru hesitantly, still holding onto him firmly. After a moment he releases Shigeru's wrists, backing up a few feet but refusing to leave. Even if he ends up hurt, he's going to try his hardest to help him.

"I want to help you, I really do." He hesitates, "You can hurt me- he can hurt me, just let me do- anything that will make things better. Maybe you can't control it, maybe there's nothing I can do to fix it but there must be something that makes it easier to keep you from hurting others."

Shigeru's breathing will lighten when his wrist is released. He'll grasp it tightly in the other hand as he looks back at Jaime.

"There's no way, unless you know light magic and how to defeat a god." That was the only way he was stopped before, so that's the only way he could see it being done now too.

"Just leave me alone, before I really do hurt you."

His shoulders slump. Alright, he can see he isn't doing much and no, he doesn't have any light magic or knowledge on defeating gods. There are no gods in his reality, as far as he knows. At least not corporeal, provable ones like other worlds have.

"I just- I don't want to leave you like this." He hesitates, "Shigeru, I hate to bother you but- I've seen people lose control of their powers and-" Another moment of hesitation, "If you really insist, I'll go, but I'm stronger than you think. Much stronger. Even if it's just keeping his interest so you're not hurting someone else, I can do some good here, I know I can."

[He's restless, and he really shouldn't be out by the river right now. He knows that, but he's reserving his strength still so there shouldn't be an issue, right? He needs the air to think, and without his parents or staff around, he has this ability.

But he doesn't expect to see an unfamiliar face already here, with one of those old lanterns.]

Are you alright? [The guy looks troubled, so of course Eichi speaks up, both curious and a tad bit concerned.] The festival to release those lanterns ended quite some time ago, you know?

I know that. I was there for it. [ He probably shouldn't have stopped by to ask. Shigeru is on edge most of the time in this state but he can't exactly control it sometimes. So when he hears Eichi approach he'll just turn to glare at him. ]

It doesn't mean we can't still mourn people, right?

[The glare doesn't deter him at all, but that purple aura is definitely strange. Eichi stares at it, drawn in more than he should be by the oddity of it, and tilts his head.]

Of course it's not limited to just that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt... You seemed as though you were in pain, so... [He didn't want to witness something more gruesome than mourning.]

Pain? [ He lets out a huff as black smoke curls out from his mouth when he does that. ]

That fool had it coming. Thinking he could over power a god's influence. I had to teach him a lesson.

[ That's not what he wanted to say, but the possession is something he can't fight against. ] And why are you here?

Like I just said, it's that you seemed in pain, so I stopped to find out why. Are you comparing yourself to a god, then...? Who was "he?"

[He doesn't get it, but he eyes that smoke.] Regardless of that, it seems as though you could use some medical attention either way.

Comparing? No. I am part of him, Malneminous, the one true god that was betrayed. And he is Alex. He was...the person I loved. [ But he does look pained while saying that, almost as if he didn't actually want to. ]

I need none of that. I am perfectly fine. [ And he'll shoot another glare back at Eichi again. ]

[Well, this tells him nothing, but it does get Eichi to relax a little. Whatever is going on must be deeply personal, and he likely won't understand at all, but...]

If you truly are part of a god, then I suppose you wouldn't need any help at all. I'm a little envious of that, if that's true. [He hates his own body, that just slips out sometimes. Eichi steps closer, daringly.] If you are fine, then surely you won't mind the company.

I don't need any help from someone like you at least. [ His eyes flicker towards the other again. His smile is a bit condescending as well as he turns away to look at the river. ]

I don't care, do what you like. [ But he does give a pause looking at this strange young man again. ]

You don't seem afraid. It's quite amusing actually.

Is there a reason that I should be afraid?

[Eichi turns to look at him with that, still standing calmly. Talk of gods and all of that— everyone does that. But even when faced with real fear, he's the type of person who stands tall and pretends he's not afraid. So now, when this person has given him no reason to fear anything, why should he seem afraid?]

[ It's not uncommon for Gladio to be found by the river that bisects their corner of civilization, he uses it as a guide to switch his mind off for a jog. But when he sees the shape of someone standing by the water's edge and letting a lantern go, he's given every reason to approach with caution.

He's close enough to see, to have heard. But it's the first time he's ever heard Shigeru speak and he had thought up until now that he couldn't. But then, he doesn't really look quite like the Shigeru he knows.

First thing he thinks of is a certain pain in the ass with his smirking mouth bleeding with an ink-like corruption that slides between his teeth and down the corner of his mouth, filling up the spaces around his eyes until only some monstrous glow peers back out at them. Some kind of new demon, one of many he's been seeing of late -- or was, back in his reality.

And that's what he thinks he's looking at, only Shigeru of all people seems to have been swallowed up by it. How? The Scourge shouldn't be here. ]

Shigeru...? You okay?

[ Shigeru might laugh at that. It's a eerie and extremely sad laugh when he does, almost as if his body has two voice coming from it in that moment. ]

Would you be, if you killed the one person you loved back home?

[ He wants to say more but he'll clutch his head again as the runes on his body light up. ] Y-you shouldn't be here.

[ That dual-tone sound coming from Shigeru's body sets Gladio on edge. It's weird to hear Shigeru speaking on his own when he's only ever known him to be mute... but two voices?

They're unnerving, not so much as the bright glow of those runes leaving afterimages on the backs of his eyes as if he's staring at Ramuh and one of the astral's bolts of lightning. Gladio tenses up at the sight, but takes a careful step towards him.

Shigeru's his friend and he's in trouble, right? Clearly not normal, so what kind of friend would he be if he left him like this? ]

Hey, hey, just calm down... it's just me, I'm alone... let's just...

[ He takes another step, closing that distance in careful increments, inch by slow inch. He has no idea how Shigeru got like this, but he won't very well find out unless he stays with him. Asks. ]

Keep our cool, okay?

[ There's an unnatural sort of growl to him as he moves away from the other man's advances. This is especially hard on him since Gladio does remind Shigeru of Alex not only in appearance but also in attitude as well. It doesn't help that he's so out of sorts as it is, having a man who resembles his crush doesn't help matters either. He'll turn on the other, eyes flickering with a visible malice before they calm down just enough as Shigeru puts his hand to his head again. He'll let out a shaky breath before he nods. ]

I...I told you to go away. [ There's a flare of purplish energy around the runes on his skin as he says that. ]

Go away. Please.

[ The flare-up of that energy brightens on the Shield's skin, in his eyes. His pupils dilate briefly and he squints into it. How did this happen to him? Gladio's hands clench into fists. His mute friend... ]

Shigeru...

If you think I'm gonna leave you when you're like this? [ His mouth curves at the corner, confidence brimming over only because he's forcing it out.

He strides forward, feeling fear tug sharply at his stomach, like it would any other time he faces something dangerous. He's a Shield, but that doesn't mean he's immune to fear - fear is a powerful, important tool. He's learned to harness it, employ it to motivate him to action. Heighten his senses.

In short, he's afraid but not nearly so much as what could happen should he leave Shigeru as he is. ]

Think again.

You wanna tell me what's going on? I'm listening.

You...should leave. It's not...safe around me. [ Ugh he knows fighting Malneminous is a bad idea and that every time he tries to it just gets progressively worse for him. But this is...someone he cares about. Gladio is a nice person and he doesn't deserve this sort of treatment.

Upon being asked that question Shigeru will grip his head a little tighter and shut his eyes for a second, a shaky sigh escaping his lips before he continues. ] Malneminous. He...he can p-possess us if-if our gates break.

[ Ugh this is so hard to talk about and not just because of Malneminous' influence either. ] I-I turned into one of them. I...I killed Alex and everyone else. [ He'll grip the place over his heart there and then. ]

Can't...can't stop it. [ He'll look back at Gladio with a pained expression. ] You have to leave before he...makes me hurt you too. [ He doesn't want to hurt anyone here. Everyone's been so nice to him, he doesn't want that. ]

Alex?

[ There's glowing signs and some kind of toxin brewing beneath his skin, giving him an uneasy feeling. This isn't the Shigeru he knows, he gives off some kind of aura that's twisted up and cancerously sick. Power too, but you don't have to have the kind of training a King's Shield gets to tell that. ]

No kidding. But what kind of friend would I be if I turned tail now? Even if you did all that stuff. You didn't always used to be like this.

[ His instincts are telling him to run, but his heart says that if Shigeru's fighting this hard, there's a reason for it. ]

I don't get all this alternate universe crap, but I do know that nothing is going to change the kind-hearted guy who bakes cookies for strangers mourning the departed. A good listener, remember?

[ Gladio puts out a hand, but looks at it. Shigeru's a bit touch-averse, isn't he? That probably hasn't changed. He balls it up into a fist and drops it, raising his voice to prove he's not giving up. It doesn't mean he's an idiot - he'll go if there's no saving Shigeru this way, because there's no harm in escape only to live to fight another day. ]

...I wanna help. Tell me how I can help you.

The man I loved...but I could never really tell him. And then I...

[ He'll hold his head again as his eyes widen slightly, before they look like he's about to cry. The memory of what he did to Alex is still there, ever present, among all the other atrocities he committed since being turned into this. ]

You would be smart and do exactly as everyone else. [ There's a small wince at those words and the extended hand as he backs away slightly. No he wasn't like this, not at all, but then again people change whether they want to or not sometimes. ]

You can't. Unless you know how to get rid of possession or have light magic. Then there's no way to help me.

[ Gladio looks down at his open hand, knowing he could summon a weapon imbued with the power of Light. Effective against daemonspawn, against anything weak to that burning purification. Amber eyes look up at Shigeru from beneath furrowed brows as his hands ball up into tight fists, the leather creaking in that half-glove he wears on one hand. ]

...Why? What's light magic gotta do with it?

[ He suspects that it's a 'cure' but not one he'd like to use on him. He's not willing to hurt his friend, and he thinks maybe that's what he's getting at. ]

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iii. tries to keep this spoiler free

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omg I thought I tagged this ages ago /catches up on AU things

It's okay!!!

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