[open] Open up your heart and you'll find love, love, love

[notsogrimreaper]

Prompt A:

It's been one thing after another in the castle, much to Ryoji's disappointment. He was hoping after changing back, things would settle into normalcy, but then there were the bizarre dreams, Neil getting sick, Sans transforming into that creature... Now Mettaton's miserable too, with the latest newcomer being a more blunt, harsh version of himself.

It's disappointing for Ryoji, because he doesn't really know how to help. He offers to assist where he can, running errands for Neil, checking on healing herbs with Tauriel, but there's nothing really substantial he can do. He can't heal anyone. His powers are meant to bring about destruction, not renewal.

He ponders this glumly as he wanders the hallways. If he could just do something to take away the sadness and pain of everyone around him...

"Kweh!"

There's a tiny squeak from somewhere behind him, distracting him out of his musing. He looks behind him, and... well. It seems the long shadow cast behind him thanks to the sunset is more than just a regular shadow. If anyone was watching while Ryoji walked past, a part of it... rose up, slowly morphing and building on top of itself until it was a large lump of darkness. As Ryoji turns to look at it, it suddenly forms little dot eyes that blink up at him, and it sprouts arms to reach up towards the teenager.

"What in the world...?"

Prompt B

It took some fiddling, but Ryoji has discovered that the Shadows (yes, it's a plural now; Ryoji only seems to create more of them every time he enters a patch of sunlight) are not actually like regular Shadows. For one thing, they seem harmless. They haven't moved out to hunt anyone down or attack them. In fact, they seem more interested in the candy Ryoji offered them than finding a human soul to feed on. In fact, that's the only way Ryoji can convince them to do anything: unlike regular Shadows, which would take orders from Ryoji as a much larger Shadow, these ones are... uncooperative, to say the least. They've been climbing all over Ryoji and tugging on his scarf even as he gathers materials for... something.

It takes a bit longer than it would if he hadn't had a small army of distractions, but eventually, Ryoji has set up a table in the lounge, and propped up a cardboard sign to explain the occasion.

FREE Shadows! Very affectionate and cuddly. Looking for a good home!

Ryoji is dearly hoping these little guys will continue to stay as well-behaved as they've been so far. Fingers crossed, he settles down to wait.

((OOC: the little Shadows tend to take the forms of Mayas from Persona 3, but with a variety of different masks. Some also go without masks. If your character chooses to adopt one, feel free to customize it! The Shadows are also different from the regular ones, in that they only feed on negative human emotions. Upon playing with one of them, your character may find their mood lifted greatly!

So yes, enjoy this silly adoption agency for all your fluff needs.))

Comments

B /o/

[dustless]

"...Shadows?"

Frisk squints at one settled under a cushy chair. It looks like its face is a crown?

[notsogrimreaper]

The little blob of darkness looks back up at them, letting out a cheerful squeak and moving in between the chair's legs, peeking out at the stranger, then huddling back in the comfortable shade.

Ryoji just smiles. "They're like monsters, I guess. Little creatures made out of darkness. Um, don't worry, though, I'm pretty sure they're harmless."

[dustless]

Frisk crouches to look closer, slowly extending a hand into the darkness. Enough for the Shadow to come to them if it wants. Or for them to pull away if that 'pretty sure' isn't entirely accurate, they think belatedly.

"Where'd they come from?" There seem to be a lot of them around, more than would be normal for beings kidnapped to the castle.

[notsogrimreaper]

The Shadow does in fact move closer, making more curious squeaking sounds, before reaching out a spindly arm and placing their tiny hand in Frisk's palm.

"This is going to sound strange, but... from me? I was just walking, and somehow, when I pass under light, these things come from my actual shadow."

That must be why the little one Frisk is playing with prefers the shade, though after a moment, it lets out a gleeful noise and starts trying to climb up onto Frisk's arm.

[dustless]

Weird. It feels...cold, but not in a bad way.

"Really? Is that--did you always do that?" Frisk can imagine that might get to be a problem if there's a lot.

They squeak in response, a bit more startled than gleeful. Despite their first instinct being to shake it off, they manage to suppress it into just a little twitch. "Hi."

B

[antitemporal]

Sans-Serif leans forward to squint curiously at the sign. Then he stares at the pile of shadows that are huddled under the table or a nearby chair.

"i already have a shadow."

Sans-Serif stares pensively down at the floor for a second - it's a little harder to tell, when he's not outside. "i think..."

A Shadow that seems to be wearing a swirling sort of mask with no proper eyeholes, however, starts to ooze its way down from the seat and onto the floor as Sans-Serif regards the little adoption setup.

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji offers Sans-Serif a careful smile. He knows to tone his usual enthusiasm down around the little skeleton by this point, but he's glad to see him again. He gestures at the pile, as the group of Shadows there make faint noises of curiosity, beady eyes staring out at the skeleton.

"Not like these. These Shadows are like... sentient creatures, made out of darkness. They're all over the place in my world. They were dangerous back home, but these ones... seem clingy at worst."

He chuckles softly as the Shadow lands on the floor with an audible plop, immediately skittering over to Sans-Serif's feet.

[antitemporal]

Sans-Serif lets out a startled little squeak, immediately trying to take a step back. In doing so, he nearly overbalances himself at even that slight weight on his feet, and has to pinwheel his arms wildly to try and remain upright. The shadow remains standing peacefully on his feet, staring up at him with what might be its eyes. When Sans-Serif looks down at it, it hopefully extends a couple of hands.

He can't help but smile at the sight of it, and cautiously extends a hand in turn. It's grip is very light, barely able to wrap its hands around him.

"why were they dangerous? and, and why aren't they dangerous now?"

[notsogrimreaper]

"Hey, hey! Quit that, you..."

Ryoji runs over to Sans-Serif, trying to pull the Shadow away, but it just slumps farther across Sans-Serif's toes, letting out a pleased squeak. The hand is immediately taken, and it gives Sans-Serif an awkward high five, leaving Ryoji to just sigh and sit back.

"They were meant to feed on human emotions where I was from. They could hurt someone really badly, or even make them sick. But these ones... I don't know. They don't seem interested in attacking humans at all. They're more interested in bothering me and finding treats."

[mediadarling]

Mettaton had just been able to give his darling costar a loud and enthusiastic greeting when suddenly...something sprouted from his shadow. A monster? ...He's never seen anyone grow a monster before.

"Um, sweetheart? Does that...usually happen?"

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji is looking from his friend to his latest little follower with a look of utter confusion on his face. It's pretty obvious he's never done that before, and he's not sure how or why it happened.

"Um... no. No, it doesn't. Can you... stay back, please?"

The Shadow is already slowly crawling forward towards Ryoji, and Ryoji doesn't want Mettaton getting in the way if this monster is going to attack.

[mediadarling]

"If you're sure, darling."

He stops where he is, but with the greatest of reluctance. What if his costar needs his help with his new...creation? He can hardly do anything from over here.

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji just keeps his eyes on the creature, wincing as it gets slowly closer, and closer. It can't do anything to him, he knows that. It can't hurt one of its own... can it?

The shadow gets closer, reaches its spindly arms out... and then reaches them up towards Ryoji, making a squeaking noise and bouncing slightly. It almost looks like it wants to be picked up.

B!

[lightofthestars]

The soft sound of squeaking reaches her ears long before she sees Ryoji and his table. She frowns as she draws nearer; will the castle now be plagued with mice?

With her friend in her sight, she is no less confused, and the sign he has written is no help either. What...are those beneath his chair?

"...Ryoji?"

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji offers a slightly embarrassed, but happy smile upon seeing Tauriel. It's always good to see one of his friends, and especially now, when he's looking for potential owners of all these Shadows.

"Tauriel-san! Nice to see you."

The Shadows continue to squeak cheerfully.

[lightofthestars]

"It is good to see you as well," she says, though it is clear her thoughts are for once not upon her friend.

"Do you...." she begins, but she changes her mind. Surely he must be able to hear those sounds...? "What is beneath your chair?"

[notsogrimreaper]

"Oh, these little guys?"

Ryoji smiles and lifts up one of the little creatures, who gazes at her with its beady eyes before letting out something akin to a purr.

"It's a Shadow. Beings made of darkness. I think I might have mentioned them before, but I... didn't really expect them to end up here."

[lostinmyway]

Grune is on her way out the door with a watering can in hand when--oh! There's Ryoji sitting behind a table!

She changes direction, wearing a big smile as she joins him. "Hello, Ryoji!"

Her eyes pass over not only the Shadows beneath his chair, but even the sign sitting on the table. She's much too focused on her dear friend to notice anything else.

[notsogrimreaper]

He waves as she approaches, apparently not realizing her ignorance of the Shadows. The Shadows themselves do, however, and swarm out to gather around her feet.

"Grune-san! Good to see you again."

There are now a bunch of shadowy creatures tugging at your dress, Grune. Enjoy.

[lostinmyway]

"It's good to see you too--oh!"

Feeling something pull at her dress, Grune looks down. Oh, my!

She giggles. "Hello, everyone! It's good to see you, too!"

[notsogrimreaper]

"Guys, come on! Quit bothering her!"

Ryoji rushes forward, trying to pull them away.

"Sorry about that. They're really curious..."

[lostlegacy]

"What's that?"

Sophie points under Ree-oji's chair. There's something (a lot of somethings?) moving and squeaking under there. Does he know they're there?

[notsogrimreaper]

"Oh, are you talking about the Shadows? They're little monsters made out of darkness! Don't worry, they're harmless."

They seem to mainly be innocently curious, as one oozes over to examine her feet.

[lostlegacy]

She looks down at it, not quite sure she wants to get any closer just yet. "Why's it wearing a mask?"

She points. That kind of looks like the makeup Fen used to wear on the one by her feet. It's kind of...weird.

[notsogrimreaper]

"Hm?"

Ryoji looks down at the one she's staring at, but is surprised to find the mask it's wearing isn't a common one.

"Weird, usually the masks they wear represent the arcana they're part of. I don't suppose you know tarot cards? Either way, this doesn't look like any of those..."