genessia | 008: Two Sides of a Soul/Darkness Falls [Anon Text/Private Video]

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008: Two Sides of a Soul/Darkness Falls [Anon Text/Private Video]

[Anon Text, Open]

[Izanami was fed up. With the problems in Everglade, being chucked out the Subarchway whilst they fixed themselves, the new Guardian, and random people teleporting into Castlvania at will, it all left her feeling rather frustrated.

So naturally, she decided to send one of her ambiguous, anonymous messages. At least this would take her mind off things for the time being. It was something she knew would resonate with anyone from Inaba who was here, but maybe smoke out other people with similar powers. Besides, if anyone else had thoughts on the subject, that was something she was interested in hearing too.]

There's a concept in psychology I have been reading about a great deal, lately. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, proposed that there were multiple pieces to a person's true self.

An individual has a side of themselves -- a mask, if you will -- that they present to the world around them. This is the impression they wish to make on other people, and conceals that which they do not want known. It reflects the role that they play in life, and thus, allows them to adapt to the demands society makes of them.

On the other hand, people also possess a subconscious part that they cannot acknowledge. An undesirable piece they reject, that they are ashamed of within themselves. It is the counterpart of the conscious ego, the mask I mentioned before. Despite it's nature, as much harm can come from denying it's existence as from becoming consumed by it.

The mask, 'Persona', and the subconscious 'Shadow Self'.

I wonder, how much can we hope to understand about the way people think...and how much of their true selves we can really see?

[Video, locked to Fai]

[That done, there was one more point of business she had to deal with: The new Guardian of Everglade. He seemed competent enough. An eternally calm man with a pleasant smile.

Yet, the Goddess was not convinced this would last. Fai couldn't really be as unphased as he appeared now, could he? In the end, he would prove as much of a coward as Ted had been, and Izanami was determined to prove this.

The video feed opened to a darkened room, somehow filled with a thick fog. Pillars carved with scythe-wielding skeletons rose up in the background, framing the horrifying figure holding the videophone: a towering being, with the rotting remains of emaciated, shrunken skin clinging tightly onto blood red bone. Although the angle made it difficult to see, many more skeletal arms emerged from beneath the tattered robes at it's waist. The fabric was certainly as rotten with age as this creature was.

It watched the video phone for a moment, before finally speaking, it's voice a rasping death rattle. The pendant - marking them out as one who had been brought to Genessia from another world - glinted as it caught the screen's light.]

So you are Everglade's new Guardian... Who is it that you intend to protect here, and why? Can you really claim to care for the wellbeing of all this town's citizens?

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"Cannot acknowledge"? That's a little defeatist. It must be possible. As for this 'Shadow Self', that seems a cold way of saying 'Sin', something very healthy to be ashamed of. And so long as we're speaking of sin, it's said that only God knows and judges the heart, though I understand temptations of curiosity.

As for true selves, I'm reminded of Diogenes' endless and, I suppose, fruitless search for an honest man. Truthfully I don't think most of us are quite 'real', as of yet. I've read that in heaven, the grass is so real and sharp, and the arrivals so ethereal and half-formed, that at the start it is like walking on blades. One day we will, perhaps, become solid creatures, though now we are merely a type and a shadow.

Many humans can not handle facing their true selves.

Without their mask, they become scary. But they were already scary to begin with.

I do not think humans would be able to handle knowing everyone's true selves.

[Well that was interesting. He was use to a lot of things, but he had to be honest that the towering pile of bones could be one of them. But he simply smiled.]

I am trying my best to make sure everyone is happy. I do not enforce people to be something they are not after all, like even though I would rather people have permission, the creatures of the night can still be themselves.

Considering this is something I know full well about ones true self and ones mask, I find I embrace both in my own way. As for others, I very much doubt we see everything.

I could bet a lot on it.

I honestly don't think that we can ever understand a person. I mean I am as open as I possibly can but find that there are even times that I have to hie things.

People I like to think do it for a reason.

More if we were to dig into their minds. Which can be pretty entertaining. But it is quite funny what people think that they can get away with simply because they think no one will be able to read their thoughts.

Defeatist, perhaps, but I have seen many cases where people have struggled to accept their Shadows. I would argue your view was shallow. A Shadow is simply a side people reject, a part of their being they see as shameful...whether it is that they secretly loathe their position in life, or that they are ashamed of their inability to make a choice. These are not sins.

You are right in that understanding humanity so deeply, guiding and observing them, that is the realm of Gods. Although, even they cannot always see the truth. Humans are complex creatures, after all.

The Persona, the Shadow, they are both real in their own way. Both of them are aspects of humanity, but I believe they are only reflections of the truth, warped by what is around and within them. The question is whether you can see the true selves that forms those reflections.

...That does not sound like a 'heaven' to me. Or do some people truly desire to wake somewhere painful upon their death?

[Oh, it's you. Izanami smiles to herself, and sets the text to private. There's no need to hide her identity around him, as far as she's concerned.]

Hello again, Anubis. Are you well?

Many cannot, and many fight in order to discard the parts of their true selves they cannot face. Although, I have seen a rare few who manage to embrace every part of themselves, and grow more powerful for it.

Scary? I have never been afraid of people, they are only human after all. Still...once their masks have fallen and their illusions shattered, some grow so fearful of being exposed that they lash out. Humans are not alone in being frightened by that, I have been as well, in my time.

Perhaps not. They wish for knowledge of others, yet I doubt they would be truly happy if they had all the answers.

[Well, this is interesting.]

Bold words. Do you truly think that you could accept the deepest, darkest parts of yourself, or even have that much of an awareness of them?

How much would you bet?

To loathe anything but evil is sin. As for incompetency, that's as may be. In either case shame is fitting and natural.

lol [Ted's getting used to texting 'normally'] what kind of God does not know truth?

Well, real in a certain way; something extant, but wispy. Foggy; half-formed. Half-baked, to borrow analogies of bread. The true self seems hardly worth seeing until it's fully realized.

Thank goodness heaven does not depend on the desires of its potential residents. It might be painful as purgatory is painful; as a necessary shedding of all the trash and tinsel that came before.

True, I would be surprised if there was anyone who exposed themselves entirely to the world around them. Everyone has pieces they seek to hide, whatever reasons they have.

Why is it, do you think, that some conceal so much, and others so little?

Understanding them would be far easier if reading their minds were possible. Although it sounds as if this is a power you possess?

A persona only holds it's power when people cannot see through it.

[Yeah, she was a little jealous.]

Do you believe all shame is fair and rational, then? That any facet a person feels reason to hide is innately wrong? I did not think anyone was such a good judge of right and wrong.

The kind who is not prideful enough to assume they know everything.

When do you believe a true self is fully formed, then? It seems to me as if each individual is always changing and evolving. Who they were yesterday may be different from who they are today, but does that make the truth of yesterday's self false? They are imperfect, but never incomplete.

Why would your God not wish their people to be happy, in their Heaven? It seems cruel to intentionally let them suffer.

[He was holding his nerve well. That was impressive enough.]

Then you took this position so that all the people here could be happy? Do you honestly think there is a way that you can please everyone?

It's typically the humbler bet; people ought to trust their instincts, and all that. Still, sometimes shame is a weapon wielded by fashion against the transcendental. In cases like that, only courage and faithfulness will save.

I suppose omniscience is given seldom. It'd be more accurate to say "cannot know truth"; God sometimes investigates of his own accord, though no obstacle impedes Him.

A true self is likely formed when it makes the ultimate, ironical choice: to choose themselves, or everything else. Only those who lose their lives will save them. I confess I do not know your delineation between "imperfect" and "incomplete".

An objection like that betrays a childish understanding of God and perfection. Perfection practically always hurts. Even perfecting understanding involves harsh rebukes. That's simply the way of things. As for the relation between suffering and cruelty...well, were you ever a parent? Raising a child for five minutes rips that idea to ribbons.

Edited 2016-02-16 21:07 (UTC)

Considering the thing's I've seen or done. I accept them, I embrace them with a cold hard hug. I also accept who I am. The only thing I don't accept is the way certain people are treated, but that's a different kettle of fish.

Hm, who knows really. My life, all the money I have. I'm just that confident.

Honestly, I can't really say. I know why I might and usually it's not to worry people or to have people think of me differently.

But as I said that is me alone.

Probably not, there will always be conflict in one way or another. Like people would not want to ask for permission to kill. They will just do it, but it is something I have to make sure doesn't happen.

Hm, that is true. Your Persona is what is presented to the world around you - it is this that people use to draw opinions of you.

All people are different, yes. It's fascinating, really.

So murder is the only crime you intend to put an end to? There are plenty in Everglade, including the former Guardian, who would rather us removed from this city.

Interesting indeed. Well, if it comes to that, we will see if you truly can accept every single part of you. And yes, I suppose that is a different matter.

Such confidence. You're certainly self-assured, if nothing else.

We'll see what the people truly think here someday.

I've had to, let's just say that. I have a mission and if I wasn't like that I wouldn't get very far.

It is, we act the way we want people to see us. But sometimes we learn things and act different over time, or something happened and that causes a change as well. So our Persona I guess is never a constant.

To which I would ask why should be people be removed for not being human? Everglade is more home for those both human and not. I'm not going to force someone from their home. I'll protect them if people are trying to kill them because of who they are because that isn't right and I say that not just because it's my job but because it's the right thing to do.

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008: Two Sides of a Soul/Darkness Falls [Anon Text/Private Video]

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