007: Do you think I'm beautiful? [Anon Text, cw: gore/horror]

[goddessinthefog]

[Izanami's night shift was nearly over, but unsurprisingly at this early hour, there were very few visitors to the Schnee company branch in Genessia. Instead, she decided to share an old urban legend with the network to kill some time, one that she resonated rather strongly with.]

I wonder how many of you are familiar with the story of Kuchisake-onna, the 'slit-mouth woman'.

In life, she used to be very attractive. However, her samurai husband believed that she was having an affair, and with his sword, he slit open her face in a fit of jealousy. 'Who will find you beautiful now?' he asked, before killing her.

It's said that her ghost wanders dark streets on foggy nights, wearing a mask to cover her scars. She approaches those who pass by and asks them if they think she is beautiful.

Normally, they will reply 'yes'. She then lower her mask, to reveal her mouth has been slit open from ear to ear, and ask: 'Do you think I'm beautiful, now?'

If you answer 'no', she will become enraged and kill you. If you answer 'yes', she will cut your own mouth open - perhaps to expose your lie, perhaps to make you as pretty as she is...

Comments

[hatedbloodline]

Oh my...! What an absolutely dreadful tale.. that poor woman. ...whether it is true or not, I fear I will keep from treading upon the streets during such weather conditions, personally. I wonder what became of the fiend that was her man?

[Anon Text]

[goddessinthefog]

It's horrible, isn't it, how cruel a man can be to those he claims to love?

I like to think he was her first target, or if not, that he died in a suitably gruesome way.

[ Voice ]

[hatedbloodline]

Oh my, that is indeed true. Men can be despicable scoundrels. I would not disagree with your guess either. A man as vile as that does not deserve to escape any manner of revenge, or justice as you will.

It is a shame that that poor woman did not find peace if she did claim his life first. Presuming such a tale is true, and not just a simple myth that is.

[Anon Text]

[goddessinthefog]

I definitely agree with that. Men like him deserve every wrath that can be called upon.

Perhaps she was afraid that her husband's words were true, that none would ever love her or see her as beautiful again. That fear caused her to lash out at those who proved him right.

...Still, it is just a legend.

[text]

[aphotic_auror]

Oh aye, I have heard of something like that, only-- well. Obviously, since I'm from Britain, it's actually a legend about a "Glasgow Woman" who absolutely did not deserve a damned Glasgow smile carved into her face!

I mean, of course, the legend never actually says that it was her husband who did it to her-- leastwise, not the versions I've heard for myself... But still, pretty gruesome business, aye indeed.

I do think that there's a third option, suggested to us by our Ministry, to get away from the Glasgow Woman, but-- damned if I can remember it, just now! Sorry...

[anon text]

[goddessinthefog]

Interesting, so there are similar tales from other countries... I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised to hear people adopting and adapting old legends like that.

I believe it's said that the best way to avoid Kuchisake-onna is to tell her that her appearance is average, or to ask her if she thinks you're beautiful -- that will confuse her enough to give you time to escape.

[are_you_cereal]

Oh, yeah, we kind of heard that kind of legend at school. I used to be surrounded by huge nerds...

We decided to go with the "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, who am I to say if you're pretty or not?" kind of reply. Or something like that.

[Anon Text]

[goddessinthefog]

I've not heard that option before, but a non-committal reply like that would probably be a safe answer.

But who, then, do you believe has the right to decide if a wretched woman like that can ever be called beautiful?

[Text]

[the_heroine]

There's a bonus route where if you tell her you want to be with her forever, she'll just make you live with her. Then you can use the depressing outcome or the one where you stab her with her husband's sword again, freeing yourself and killing her sorrow.

[Anon Text]

[goddessinthefog]

[That response left her feeling conflicted. As it was, she already related to the story a little too closely, and it didn't help that, in the end, Souji had summoned Izanagi to destroy her with 1,000 truths when he finally confronted her.]

...Mm, that is an interesting variation.

I wonder if destroying her is the only way to free her from her sorrow?

[Text]

[the_heroine]

The less depressing outcome would be to just marry her, but it's really hard to do that and the ending is kind of vague.

ALSO ANON

[youfool]

There's just no pleasing some people, is there? I never would've guessed the "do these pants make me look fat" riddle would come from something so bloody.

ANON? Yeah, sure, Teddy.... Guess who SEES YOU! With her EYES! xD

[aphotic_auror]

Maria is somewhat disgruntled when she sees Teddy's text upon the network, because of course, she was sitting right beside him while he was typing it, in the office, and THEN, of course, there was the SENDING of it coinciding with a damned NEW TEXT message on her phone... Thingummy... Anyway, she KNOWS who the "anonymous" sender is, of that somewhat insulting message.

And so... Rather than merely stew about it, she decided to lean over and whisper into his ear, with a delicately minty breath that was obviously a little bit dry with cordial: "I don't think that's the take-away lesson, there, in the fable there... And for the record, luv, if a woman asks you if something makes her look "Fat", the Answer is ALWAYS, always NO!"

[youfool]

He put down the videophone, enjoying the more personal turn of events. Still, respect his ear space.

"You're sure about that? But what if one's lying? Clearly the moral of the story is that comforting lies have painful consequences. Or blunt truths.

So, something outside the 'yes-no' paradigm is needed. What about a non sequitur? Like "I prefer dogs to cats". Or something inspirational, like 'No, but stick with me and my excellent regimen, and soon you too need never fear pants again.' Or slit faces, whichever applies."

Anon text

[goddessinthefog]

Hmph. I suppose you've never had anyone make you believe you so hideous that no one could possibly care for you?

[That...was revealing a little more than she liked, in hindsight. At least it was anonymous.]

...What would you say, if she approached you and gave her your question?

(anon) the thought of Izanami angrily texting makes me smile

[youfool]

[Ted? Ugly? But he had the finest fashion sense in all the land. The idea was absurd in the extreme.]

No, though that would be quite the feat. I believe it's very difficult to make one believe anything, especially if it's negative.

You mean "if she approached me and gave me her question", right? The other way is confusing.

[Voice/Recording]

[koishi_komeiji]

A few moments later Izanami would receive a voice message. "Sorry. I'm bad at the text. But I can talk!" A small laugh.

"I've heard that story! Don't forget about the way to get away from the woman. If you reply 'yes' a second time and you don't seem startled or horrified she'll thank you and walk away since you seemed sincere. Of course its scarier if you don't include that part... Though she'll probably still cut you up if either way if you were prettier than she was in life."

[Anon Text]

[goddessinthefog]

I don't mind, although I would rather keep to text. It is easier to keep my identity private this way.

I wonder, if even Kuchisake-onna believed herself to be hideous, would she really believe someone telling her otherwise - however sincere they were?

[Voice]

[koishi_komeiji]

"That's fine. I'm just so slow writing that it addles my head because my thoughts move so fast!" A small laugh.

"Maybe. I've never met her so I wouldn't know. I only know the story. I know lots and lots of stories because I'm a satori!" Satori youkai were known to be storytellers. It also narrowed down who this person could be considerably since the only satori youkai in Genessia were well-known.

"I've been thinking of the tongue-cut sparrow recently. It might do a lot of people well to hear that one I think. Most here don't seem to know any fables."

text;

[eighthchild]

That poor woman. That man was rather horrible doing that to her. But she shouldn't kill others because of what happened, it doesn't help.

[Someone is taking this a little too seriously.]

anon text;

[goddessinthefog]

[Izanami was already taking the story too seriously.]

Vengeance has never been logical, neither has fear. When one is hurt they inevitably lash out at others.

anon text;

[eighthchild]

I don't. I just get upset. It's different for all people, I guess. I just don't think vengeance is a good thing.

[ text ]

[ascendedbeing]

[ Getting her mouth sliced open wouldn't be the worst thing that happened to her... ]

I would take my time to understand what has made this woman want to continue this path. Perhaps all she needs is for someone to understand her and also, someone who would accept her, despite her blemish.

I would like to meet someone like this. Maybe I might be able to make a difference in her life.

[anon text]

[goddessinthefog]

[Considering how personally she related to the story, it was strangely comforting listening to what this stranger said.]

You would really take the time to listen to a being that twisted by vengeance?

...I think having someone to listen and accept her would help. Perhaps prove that her husband's words that none would ever see her as beautiful again were wrong.

[A pause, before: ]

If you did meet someone like that...what would you do?

[ text ]

[ascendedbeing]

Yes, of course. Everyone, despite how wicked they may seem, deserves a chance to be understood, even if it is by one person. One person has the power to be the catalyst to change everything.

[ A pause of her own as she thinks about her answer. ]

I would ask if they want someone to talk to. I would do nothing but listen as I hear them discuss what had made them be like this. When they were finished, I would offer my friendship to them, as one of my own beliefs is no one should be lonely.

And yes, I would do my best to help her see herself as beautiful once more. It was not right for her husband to jump to conclusions like that and cause her to suffer for what must be ages.