Truth Meme

[folkie]

Truth Meme

Somehow, there is kirin on you.

Most likely, it is the fur of the kirin that was caught in the environment of wherever you’ve been; there is a stray hair on you because one was on the seat you sat on upon the train or because it blew onto the brim of your hat in the wind.

Or it may be because you met the kirin—a playful ungulate moose-sized spirit who prefers not to speak—and engaged with him and gave him a pat, or a scratch behind an ear. Maybe the kirin nosed or licked your hand because you made him laugh (it’s an adorable ‘keh keh keh’ sound).

Unfortunately for both you and the kirin (who had not meant to trouble your day like this, truly), this exposure to his dander has only one reaction, and it happens to 100% of Star Children: you are compelled to tell the entire truth. About what is less specific; you are compelled simply to announce things about yourself—your life, experiences, thoughts, opinions, feelings. No matter if it’s something silly and inconsequential, deep or secretive, life-altering or commonplace. Some may choose to do this by employing Foxi and their relic; others by finding people to exchange truth with to face to face.

When you have met the kirin’s subconscious desire for four hours, you will be free from the truth telling and the recipient of 24 hours of good luck. The good luck will be sometime in the next year rather than in the next day, and you may have no idea where it came from, but you’ll know a lucky day when you have it!

• This meme is game canon unless marked otherwise at the start of threads! Threads can be used for spoons and application samples.
• Assume all characters involved on this meme are affected.
• Characters will compulsively state truths about themselves/their feelings on the network or in-person. Top-levels may include either/both options.
• Please include prompts in your top level.
• All questions will be answered with complete and total honesty. No special abilities, half-truths, or omissions can avoid sharing all of the truth.
• Meme is open until the next truth meme!
• After one month, you may use the kirin mechanic generally in game. It can be one-sided! All truth-telling characters must consent.

Comments

[steepwithdead]

[He smiles and accepts the compliment to his family with a nod. He'd agree, of course. They pride themselves on doing their best, whatever their situation. If the Wildmother agrees and loves them, that's good to him.]

I was told her name is Amatsu-Mikaboshi, by Akechi. Mika was the name everyone else used.

[He doesn't speak Japanese so there's a joke in there somewhere for her, probably.]

[therewerefifty]

[...oh lord. Well, the humour is welcome at any rate. Her lips twitch.]

That feels a fitting name for Akechi-kun's cat.

I will look after her. [...] Perhaps he will return for her one day. [This place is rather strange. She won't hold out much hope, though.] Do you know... what happened to his gym? Is it still here?

[steepwithdead]

Ah. Hadn't thought about the gym, actually. I should go check it out.

[He wasn't a frequent visitor or anything, but it was a useful tool for some, and Akechi seemed to get a real thrill out of it. Would be a shame to have it go to waste.]

[therewerefifty]

I hadn't been for a while, but... if it needs someone to look after it...?

[That would mean prying herself out of the house, but for good reason. And it's not like Rin will ever turn up there.] It is a dangerous environment and needs oversight, should it have survived Akechi-kun's departure.

[steepwithdead]

I don't do a lot of fighting practice, admittedly. Most of my usefulness in a fight is magic based.

[Not to say that it's bad to practice magic either, it just tends to not do much for him besides use up spell slots.]

You'd likely get more mileage out of it. I'll gladly lend a hand if you need, though.

[therewerefifty]

[She offers him a smile at that, then crosses to her refrigerator to see if there's any leftover meat. A modern appliance she isn't scared of, at least.]

Do you function as a medic in a fight or do you have other magical skills?

[steepwithdead]

A bit of both, though I'm better suited to supporting others.

[He wiggles his fingers for the kitten to try and coax her out and make her feel more at ease. It seems to work, and she bats a bit at him, bunting experimentally against his fuzzy hand.]

[therewerefifty]

[Ahah. There's some leftover yakitori in here, which is probably not ideal, but she can break down the chicken pieces as a stopgap and... summon in some fish? Is that what cats eat? The stray that followed her around while she was on the run with Kagehisa ate her steak with great relish, so probably meat of any kind. She pulls out the leftovers.]

It must be very useful, to have such power available to you. You strike me as someone who would prefer to avoid conflict. [She blinks at him curiously.] Is that wrong?

[steepwithdead]

Not wrong. [He'll readily admit that, truth spell or not.] I'm not opposed to violence, when the situation calls for it. But I've found that many jump right to violence when alternatives could be safely pursued first.

[therewerefifty]

They do. [Softly.] I've killed a great many people, you know. I don't like killing. But sometimes I feel like my country runs on murder.

[Everyone jumps to skewering first. But seeing as we're being completely honest, she's forced to add after a moment...] I think... coming here has shown me how much gentler the world can be. It's hard to process. But it's clear I also made very poor choices.

[steepwithdead]

Mm.

[Did he know? He looks unbothered, anyway. He traveled with the Orphanmaker. Blood on one's hands doesn't mean as much when you're able to meet someone in the middle.]

There are many worlds, or many parts of a world, where you can't live without another creature dying. Even a desire to change that world can't stop someone from taking a few lives along that path. You can only make the choices you feel are best in the moment.

[therewerefifty]

[He's a very gentle sort, isn't he? And he is correct; she'd been trying to reconcile that; just move ahead and Do Better. The river put a bit of a kink in that stream of thought.]

I'm afraid Akechi-kun took to all the worst parts of me. [Ruefully. A little sadly. But it makes no difference now he's gone.] If I told him I'd tried to kill someone recently, he'd only have tried to finish the job for me.

[steepwithdead]

[Caduceus chuckles quietly at that.]

That does sound like him. [A little regrettably. He wishes he'd had more time to coax a bit of extra gentleness in that sad, angry soul. He'd deserved the chance to be happy.] That's how he showed his love.

[therewerefifty]

Hmm. [Actually, nobody had ferociously threatened to kill her enemies for her before Akechi.] I will miss him, regardless.

[There we go, some sliced up chicken for the kitten. She rounds the counter to crouch down, putting the dish quietly on the floor.] I would be happy to look after the cat for him. [She smiles faintly.] Perhaps it will be more discerning in the enemies it chooses.

[steepwithdead]

[Caduceus gives the kitten a gentle little prod in her direction. The cat doesn't need much coaxing, the sound of the dish earning her curiosity. She skitters over and, still unfed and hungry due to the unfortunate absence of her former masters, immediately starts wolfing the chicken down.]

I suspect she'll find her most dangerous foes in belt strands and paper balls.

[therewerefifty]

Truly worthy of a kitten's attention. [Solemnly. Oh, that's fast. She hopes it doesn't waste the food by throwing it up from an upset stomach, but if it happens they can just try again.]

Thank you for bringing her here.

[It does, indeed, give her something to focus on. But while the kitten eats, she focuses back on Caduceus instead. Hospitality and courtesy, etcetera. If she's bland enough about it, the rest of the visit doesn't need to be awkward.] Would you like some tea?

[steepwithdead]

I would, [always, tbh] but I would much prefer not to force you to host if the company bothers you. Considering this forced truth nonsense going on. [He pauses, glancing around.] I've noticed you don't get out much lately.

[therewerefifty]

The company does not bother me. [She pauses, the sentence rattling off easily enough, but she's somewhat... relieved, actually, that that's the truth.] I am not avoiding company, I am... avoiding Folkmore.

[Makes perfect sense. After a moment, she adds:] I am afraid of what its magic may do to... my self-control.

[steepwithdead]

Ahh. Because of the one you nearly killed?

[Yeah, he didn't miss that, it was purposeful.]

[therewerefifty]

[She doesn't flinch. Looks more tired, maybe, but she'd practically invited the question. Because blurting all her crimes seems rather easy today.]

My husband's killer is here in Folkmore. I do not begrudge her his death. [And again, it's somewhat relieving to know this for a fact; that the river was an overflow of emotions and just extremely poor timing. So she takes a breath, and the next admission comes easier.] He was not a good man. I know that. He knew that. He killed her parents years ago, and I know... if anyone was going to kill him, he'd prefer that it was her.

So...I didn't mean to try. But she found me in the river when I was lost to grief, and immediately started crying about her parents. It was... too raw. [You know, there you are, crippled by loss, and this teenager wades up to you and makes it all about her. Then suddenly, you find an outlet and you're not so crippled anymore. You're just angry.]

I've spent months telling her she has no vengeance to fear from me, and then I try to drown her in a river. It's best she doesn't have to see me again.

[steepwithdead]

[He listens quietly all the while, as he is wont to do, and when she finishes, he makes a long, thoughtful noise.]

I'm sorry for your loss. [First and foremost.] You have been forced into this world to endure an unusual challenge, and that I agree is something worthy of fear. What I disagree with is the concept that self-isolation will spare you.

[therewerefifty]

[That causes her to give him a startled blink.]

I don't care about sparing myself. I just want her to be comfortable here.

[steepwithdead]

[Little bit of (x) to doubt, there.]

Why did she approach you to begin with?

[therewerefifty]

[Shh, she's terrible at self-awareness.]

She saw me in pain and wanted to help.

[steepwithdead]

Has she reached out to you since?