wipingallout

"It could be. It wasn't supposed to be possible for me to stand up against Nyx."

Everything had collapsed in Hamuko's world, repeatedly. People had failed her. She had to step up where others couldn't or wouldn't.

It's okay that not everyone could do that. They shouldn't need to. But those who can... there's a responsibility that someone eventually needs to take.

"I believe in people. I think we could be capable of so much more than even we think... I think the world itself can change to make it possible for people to flourish."

Maruki chuckled lightly at her words, now thoroughly amused by her words.

"Now that is something we could precisely agree on," he nods slowly. "We can absolutely change the very fabric of reality through the power of our imagination. It's why our personas exist. Otherworldly beings, gods and goddesses stemming from the general concilement of the collective conscious."

"Had I ever mentioned where my research first stemmed off from?"

It's just a difference of opinion on how, exactly, isn't it...

Still, she paid him attention, smiling. "Where from? What inspired you to look into it?"

He beamed at her.

"I was studying how we could use cognitive pscience as a way to promote social justice." There's that sheer brightness in his eyes again as he smiles at her, voice picking up momentum. "The pain in our hearts can cause us to take steps that would be otherwise distorted in nature, yes? Actions that could cause others to suffer down the line?"

"By tapping into one's cognition we can signficantly change their perception of reality- one that adheres to an encouraging environment where people grow and not cause harm to others. Not only is it a preventative measure against a criminal's distorted desire but it's also healthier. More effective than general persecution and society's unjust treatment towards offenders. It's all a cycle of violence in the end, after all."

Edited 2025-07-11 12:42 (UTC)

"Yeah...! I think if people were more empathetic as a whole, they would start making more healthy decisions for themselves and others. More able to understand people that need help, more willing to make sure everyone has their basic needs met like food and shelter... then resorting to crime because of hunger or frustration or being maligned won't be nearly as big of a problem."

It's a hopeful thought, and one that appeals to her.

"It'd give people a chance to choose to do better."

"There are certainly a lot of people here who's hearts are too pained to be empathetic," he admits with the smallest smile. "Jaded seems to be more accurate given the constant persecution and paranaoi is definitely something that would help others get better."

Even when he lightly laughs, his expression sinks for a moment as his heart pangs in his chest. That's exactly what he wants. He wants to open up people's hearts by getting rid of the pain that makes them judge others unfairly. He looks down at himself before forcing himself to smile again.

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't be saying that. Atleast I haven't died yet."

Edited 2025-07-11 22:22 (UTC)

"I don't think you're entirely wrong, either... I think it would be easier to come out of being jaded if there was more support overall. That's how it was for me, I think... everyone can take their time and take their turns being there for someone else, or focusing on their own healing. Having friends... and bosses, and teachers, and doctors... that are all able to go I'm here for you if you need me. It really makes a world of difference."

So if he's not wrong...

"You know what's funny about that?"

Takuto turns to her, smiling almost bitterly at the way she explains herself. "We don't have anyone like that here."

"We don't have professions. We don't have a way of life. We live in an anarchy devoid of balance. It's simply an echo chamber for everyone else who are trapped in their pain."

"I think that's not entirely true, either," Hamuko shrugged, fidgeting and tapping her heel against the dirt in thought.

"A lot of us bounce off of each other pretty violently, that part is true. But I think there are those of us around here who can find solace in each other. Those of us who... needed someone that actually understands what the other person might've been through. Or at least come close to understanding."

She's thinking of SEES... how much it mattered after ten years to finally have others that could actually see the Dark Hour. To finally know she wasn't hallucinating or crazy. How her doctors before then were... unable to help.

"There's people that are at different stages of their lives, too. Who've gone through more of their pain and know the journey. Like Phoenix. And there's those who're younger, who need the help and understanding of people who have been through anything similar, like Wolf and Falcon... we were able to be there for them, and help them through the jaws of their painful pasts and they're moving forward, now. It's not hopeless."

Something in the doctor's expression softens at her explanation, remembering the days of how it all had started out before he found himself living with Morning and Kuon. They were a strange bunch, one who's situation was something he found himself being hopeless in and in the other where she called herself heartless.

...he needed to do something for them both.

"I did see the broadcast after reading about the network post," He admits- finding himself growing numb for people he had never even quite met aside from the younger Wolf- his heart grappling at the violent sighting of their shadow. "It's remarkable that all of you jumped forward to help them in their obvious time of need and from what I have read- they could end up being caught in a cycle of death if you weren't careful."

"It just...makes me wonder to what extent were they pushed to reach that stage. Was it fright? An epiphany? Radacalization? Or a culmination of everything and if that is so- what about those who don't have a visible shadow or a persona but are still hurting?"

"Well, I helped Wolf... he didn't have a Persona and didn't end up getting one, exactly. It seemed like... a lot of what was going on in his world had been building up stress. He doesn't have anybody in his world that he can trust, aside from Rookmon... and there was a good chance he might have gone down a similar path that a lot of the Akechis have gone. But here... we got to be here for him."

She gave him a soft smile.

"It didn't solve the core problem he's facing, but... he got to face his darkest feelings and understand them. He got to realize how important the friends he made here are to him. And I've been spending time with him, too - helping him have maybe a little more direction for what he can do once he's home. For now... he can focus on being a kid and figuring himself out, since he won't have that time or space to do it once he's back, it sounds like. Dungeon or not... I think people can get the emotional support from the right 'person' here, or are more likely to get it the more we have a variety of people around. Anyone has a Shadow, but I don't think we have to wait for a dungeon before we spend time with them and support them while they figure themselves out."

Maruki's expression doesn't flinch at all, in his eyes what Hamuko is saying still aligns with what he has been saying all this time.

He had figured that much was the case considering he's seen first hand how much trauma and rage can be held in someone's heart. Especially ones like Goro Akechi.

"So you do admit that our true reality poses us problems enough that we can't reach out to others when our mind is drawn to the helplessness of it," he points out. "And that's through people who don't have a biased slate, like you, who genuinely connect and empathize with others."

"Without any supernatural means possible, without bending the rules of our reality as it aligns- you know precisely what we need is a favourable environment to grow in and it will be by chance that people will decide to trust someone else and open up about their problems."

"That doesn't stop the fact that they are still hurting. That doesn't stop them from hurting others."

He hums, fingers pressed against his chin. "It's precisely what I have been working on and yet- people are drawn to persecuting me for wanting that outside this place. In our own individual realities." He chuckles lightly.

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