...Oh, please, don't scoop up the cat on my behalf.
[He says, with a sarcastic drawl, but he gives him a questioning look before he continues. His tone slides back into sincerity, his words level and calm.]
You know...I wanted to say sorry for what I did during trial. I lied to you, about Emet-Selch, to protect him, and...I know that was wrong. I'm sure you realized it, too.
[me like IS MOB GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH THE CAT AWAY FROM THIS SHADY CYBORG MAN]
Mmm. It was still wrong. Of course, Emet-Selch murdered someone, but it was out of self-defense, so he wasn't necessarily a willing murderer. And lying to protect him was wrong, but we were trying to focus on the murderer who was cruel enough to cut off that girl's head.
Either way...things aren't black and white. But still, lying to you wasn't a good thing.
I wish. . . I wish we had been able to be honest from the start, about what happened. I wasn't trying to be cruel, when I said I wanted to focus on the nova.
[He knows he said that, and he knows Emet-Selch was angry about that. . . ]
I only meant. . . I don't care about things like that! Yoshizawa-san's murderer seemed cruel, but isn't it possible she was splintering? Isn't it possible we read the evidence wrong, and it wasn't as painful as it seemed?
I don't know any of those things for sure, one way or another. All I know is that I don't want to learn that anyone is a murderer, or vote for them to die.
But I also don't want anyone to think that their lives aren't important to us. So I'm sorry.
[He's a bit surprised - Mob's always seemed to be more of the "listen and then speak his mind" type, so hearing all of this is a little unexpected. But Hansa doesn't interrupt, just nodding as he finishes.]
That's all possible. Maybe we didn't see the full story. And none of this...is good. None of us want this. I don't think a single one of us is taking joy in sentencing people to death from a few pieces of evidence. But we all get our own selfish thoughts in the way. We've made friends here, and we naturally want to defend them. That's only human.
[A pause.]
You don't have to apologize, Shigeo. When you stepped in, I was upset, since I didn't want people to focus on Emet-Selch. But you were doing what you should have done, to find a murderer, and to give justice to those who have been killed. Its just a messy web of emotions that we all find ourselves into, you know?
That's fair, Mob. Honestly, especially in situations like these...the definition changes.
[He reaches over just to gently lay a hand on the boy's shoulder.]
...But if you're looking for something to do "right", you just have to work with the other people around you, and see what you can do to benefit as many people as you can. Helping everyone is...the right way to go, I think.
[Okay, here, I'm going to be self-indulgent and do this one. So. Here @ 9:18 - 13:34. It’s also on youtube but cuts out my favorite part at the end. :(
Anyway, it's the Mogami arc! Mob is in some kind of junkyard. He’s being punched and kicked and beaten very badly by a group of several middle school boys, while a girl named Minori Asagiri watches and laughs. Another detail - this is hazy, but someone watching the memory would probably understand. This situation is part of an illusion. Mob knows this, too, somewhere, but he’s been trapped here a long time and he’s starting to forget himself. He only recognizes himself as this weak and vulnerable boy, being picked on constantly by bullies without no one to turn to and no ability to defend himself.
And then a nearby caterpillar starts speaking to Mob in a weird, disembodied voice, one that is very familiar to him by now, encouraging to hate them and use his powers to destroy them.
Suddenly, Mob remembers that he has psychic powers. There’s a blast, tossing all of the boys hitting him away. The junk all over the junkyard picks up in the air and floats around him. He walks towards Minori Asagiri, a little terrifying. She cries, claims her father’s bodyguards will beat him up, but when that doesn’t work, start to beg for forgiveness. All Mob is doing is demanding she apologize and never talk to him again, but then one of the boys comes behind him and brains him from behind with a cinderblock, causing him to go completely apeshit. He lifts the boy off the ground with his powers and a hand around his throat and starts force choking him, blood streaming down his face.
The caterpillar is still talking to Mob, encouraging him, glad that he finally changed and stopped letting others use him.
And then out of the boy’s nose pops a hideous green ghost that looks like a snot bubble.
Dimple: Man. You’re pretty far gone, huh? Do you know who I am?
Shigeo: What the heck is this creature?
Dimple: Actually, before that. . .
He flies over and squishes the caterpillar that was talking to Mob. Then, he stores up a ball of psychic energy and punches Mob in the face with it, knocking him to the ground.
Dimple: Time for some shock therapy! Remember, Shigeo! Reigen and I are waiting for you outside!
Shigeo: Rei. . . gen. Who’s that?
Then his cell phone rings, and Reigen’s voice is on the other end, demanding he comes into the office. Mob looks like he’s slowly starting to recognize the voice. In fact, as Dimple keeps speaking, Mob seems to be slowly remembering various people who he’s forgotten.
Shigeo: Master. . .
Dimple: Stop using your powers for dumb things in this dumb world! Don’t you want to be a big brother your little brother can look up to?
Shigeo: (confused) My little brother? Look up to me? (Looking down at his sneakers) Wait, I accidentally wore the wrong shoes today. . . these are Ritsu’s!
Dimple: Don’t let Mogami influence you like that! You even stuck to your values when you fought Hanazawa!
Shigeo: (startled) That’s right! I’m not supposed to use these powers against other people.
Dimple: Not to mention, why are you losing so easily to commoners? You’re bringing shame to the Body Improvement Club! Where did all those muscles you’ve built up go? I don’t know how much time you’ve spent in this dump, but this isn’t like you! Do you want your beloved Tsubomi-chan to hate you?
Mob gasps, and the blood on his face vanishes in a shock. The spurt of blood coming out of his head transforms into a flower. He can remember again all of the wonderful people in his life he somehow forgot. He grows muscles, suddenly extremely tall and buff, but then quickly realizes he got carried away and goes back to his normal, slightly less wimpy after working out for a year, self.
Shigeo: I remember!
Dimple: (excited) Do you remember me, too? I’m your partner!
Shigeo: Eh. . . not really.
Dimple: Seriously?!
Shigeo: (smiling) I’m kidding. Thanks, Dimple.
Mob looks happy again, now, shaken out of whatever depression he’s been in. It has been six months of loneliness and torture, but he remembers now that none of this is real. His real life is so much better than this.
Now, Mogami appears for real in the illusion he’s trapped Mob in - not a caterpillar or any other creature, but the ghost of a dishelved looking adult man standing before them.
Mogami: So what if your memories came back? The six months you spent here are forever etched onto your heart. I know you were hearing my voice subconsciously.
He raises the bodies of the kids who were bullying Mob, but they don’t look human anymore. They look like spirits as well. Dimple braces, defensive of Mob, but Mob seems to be considering what Mogami said rather seriously before speaking.
Shigeo: . . . Just like you said, the world can be a cruel and messed up place. You helped me see it in a new light.
Dimple: Huh? Don’t tell me you -
Shigeo: (still smiling) I’m truly blessed. I need to be more thankful to everyone around me once I get back to the real world.
Mogami: (preparing to fight) So that’s how it’s going to be? And here I thought I found a sympathizer. How disappointing.
Shigeo: One other thing. People can change through their interactions with others. I was able to change because of everyone. I was able to become a little stronger than if I had been alone.
If I’m able to change, then everyone else should be able to as well. That means no one is worthless.
Mogami: Don’t say another word, or you’ll have hell to pay.
Shigeo: The Shigeo that you fabricated might have succumbed to you, but I won’t. I’m not going to run. I still have that awful Asagiri-san to save.
[He blinks after it dissipates, taking it in. A whole world, created to...torture a child? A child with impossible powers. Hansa opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again, only to say, still at a loss for words:]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[He says, with a sarcastic drawl, but he gives him a questioning look before he continues. His tone slides back into sincerity, his words level and calm.]
You know...I wanted to say sorry for what I did during trial. I lied to you, about Emet-Selch, to protect him, and...I know that was wrong. I'm sure you realized it, too.
no subject
. . . She runs away sometimes, still.
[But he listens to what Hansa has to say, his brow furrowing.]
Was it wrong? I don't like being lied to, but I'm realizing sometimes things are more complicated than that.
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[me like IS MOB GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH THE CAT AWAY FROM THIS SHADY CYBORG MAN]
Mmm. It was still wrong. Of course, Emet-Selch murdered someone, but it was out of self-defense, so he wasn't necessarily a willing murderer. And lying to protect him was wrong, but we were trying to focus on the murderer who was cruel enough to cut off that girl's head.
Either way...things aren't black and white. But still, lying to you wasn't a good thing.
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[He knows he said that, and he knows Emet-Selch was angry about that. . . ]
I only meant. . . I don't care about things like that! Yoshizawa-san's murderer seemed cruel, but isn't it possible she was splintering? Isn't it possible we read the evidence wrong, and it wasn't as painful as it seemed?
I don't know any of those things for sure, one way or another. All I know is that I don't want to learn that anyone is a murderer, or vote for them to die.
But I also don't want anyone to think that their lives aren't important to us. So I'm sorry.
no subject
[He's a bit surprised - Mob's always seemed to be more of the "listen and then speak his mind" type, so hearing all of this is a little unexpected. But Hansa doesn't interrupt, just nodding as he finishes.]
That's all possible. Maybe we didn't see the full story. And none of this...is good. None of us want this. I don't think a single one of us is taking joy in sentencing people to death from a few pieces of evidence. But we all get our own selfish thoughts in the way. We've made friends here, and we naturally want to defend them. That's only human.
[A pause.]
You don't have to apologize, Shigeo. When you stepped in, I was upset, since I didn't want people to focus on Emet-Selch. But you were doing what you should have done, to find a murderer, and to give justice to those who have been killed. Its just a messy web of emotions that we all find ourselves into, you know?
no subject
It is. I can't. . . I can't be angry at someone for doing what they think is right. Because I don't know the right thing to do, either.
no subject
[He reaches over just to gently lay a hand on the boy's shoulder.]
...But if you're looking for something to do "right", you just have to work with the other people around you, and see what you can do to benefit as many people as you can. Helping everyone is...the right way to go, I think.
no subject
[Okay, here, I'm going to be self-indulgent and do this one. So. Here @ 9:18 - 13:34. It’s also on youtube but cuts out my favorite part at the end. :(
Anyway, it's the Mogami arc! Mob is in some kind of junkyard. He’s being punched and kicked and beaten very badly by a group of several middle school boys, while a girl named Minori Asagiri watches and laughs. Another detail - this is hazy, but someone watching the memory would probably understand. This situation is part of an illusion. Mob knows this, too, somewhere, but he’s been trapped here a long time and he’s starting to forget himself. He only recognizes himself as this weak and vulnerable boy, being picked on constantly by bullies without no one to turn to and no ability to defend himself.
And then a nearby caterpillar starts speaking to Mob in a weird, disembodied voice, one that is very familiar to him by now, encouraging to hate them and use his powers to destroy them.
Suddenly, Mob remembers that he has psychic powers. There’s a blast, tossing all of the boys hitting him away. The junk all over the junkyard picks up in the air and floats around him. He walks towards Minori Asagiri, a little terrifying. She cries, claims her father’s bodyguards will beat him up, but when that doesn’t work, start to beg for forgiveness. All Mob is doing is demanding she apologize and never talk to him again, but then one of the boys comes behind him and brains him from behind with a cinderblock, causing him to go completely apeshit. He lifts the boy off the ground with his powers and a hand around his throat and starts force choking him, blood streaming down his face.
The caterpillar is still talking to Mob, encouraging him, glad that he finally changed and stopped letting others use him.
And then out of the boy’s nose pops a hideous green ghost that looks like a snot bubble.
He flies over and squishes the caterpillar that was talking to Mob. Then, he stores up a ball of psychic energy and punches Mob in the face with it, knocking him to the ground.
Then his cell phone rings, and Reigen’s voice is on the other end, demanding he comes into the office. Mob looks like he’s slowly starting to recognize the voice. In fact, as Dimple keeps speaking, Mob seems to be slowly remembering various people who he’s forgotten.
Mob gasps, and the blood on his face vanishes in a shock. The spurt of blood coming out of his head transforms into a flower. He can remember again all of the wonderful people in his life he somehow forgot. He grows muscles, suddenly extremely tall and buff, but then quickly realizes he got carried away and goes back to his normal, slightly less wimpy after working out for a year, self.
Mob looks happy again, now, shaken out of whatever depression he’s been in. It has been six months of loneliness and torture, but he remembers now that none of this is real. His real life is so much better than this.
Now, Mogami appears for real in the illusion he’s trapped Mob in - not a caterpillar or any other creature, but the ghost of a dishelved looking adult man standing before them.
He raises the bodies of the kids who were bullying Mob, but they don’t look human anymore. They look like spirits as well. Dimple braces, defensive of Mob, but Mob seems to be considering what Mogami said rather seriously before speaking.
The memory ends.]
omg siz YOUR POWER
[That was a lot.]
[He blinks after it dissipates, taking it in. A whole world, created to...torture a child? A child with impossible powers. Hansa opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again, only to say, still at a loss for words:]
You...almost forgot everything.
[Just like here.]
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You mean - in Mogami's world?
[Hmm.]
I could only see a little bit of that.
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[Oh no.]
What little could you see?
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[Oh no...Mob...]
Its fine. You looked very brave, there. Dimple really helped you out.
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. . . I was brave?
no subject