I don't fully understand the exact metaphysics, but how it seems to work is that we talk to shadows to gain their compliance. [At gunpoint.] In some instances the shadow offers to lend Joker their strength. When he accepts this, the shadow gets absorbed into his mask and becomes another Persona for him to draw on.
We did destroy most of the shadows we encountered, but on occasion we would simply let them go.
Huh. [He frowns a bit, leaning back to cross his arms in thought.] The Shadows in the TV World didn't become Partner's persona. Like, ever. They didn't talk, either.
I'm actually not entirely sure how he got his Personas, I never really thought to ask since he's kind of a special case in general compared to all of us.
[He straightened, realizing something.]
No, okay, scratch that. Some Shadows became Personas. [He looked a little uncomfortable here.] Our Shadows did. Everyone but Partner.
Oh! You all met your shadow and, confronting something about yourself that you were suppressing, you accepted your will of rebellion and acquired your Persona. Am I wrong?
[Either someone already mentioned it to her or someone had experience on her end, since the last part she got wrong.]
There was not rebelling involved. What we were suppressing wasn't something that we were rebelling against. It was literally facing ourselves, the ugly and negative part of ourselves that we kept hidden away to the point that we didn't want to believe it existed.
[Her gaze drifts to one particular Shadow that she happened to encounter. Her hands clench the hem of her skirt and she shifts uncomfortably for a while.]
That must have been very challenging. Did everyone in your group do this as well? Face their Shadow?
Except Partner, he had a Persona and was able to get into the TV World from the get-go, like I said. It's kind of a long story and probably something he could better explain than I can.
That's curious. Everyone in our group had to face their inner spirit of rebellion...
[Wait...]
...except Mona. As it turned out he had special circumstances. I hope you may forgive me for doing so, but I feel like I should let him explain that should he ever arrive.
[She... realizes that may make asking about Teddie a little awkward.] I'd understand if you would like to stop answering my questions about Teddie. I do have a few more I'd like to ask.
[It's just something that he feels Souji could better explain than he could.]
No, it's fine. Teddie kind of found out things about himself at the same time we did, so I don't think he'd mind if I answered your question.
[Actually, Teddie would mind but that was more because Yosuke was sure he'd yell at Yosuke for probably not telling her how handsome he was or something ridiculous like that.]
Something I always found interesting about shadows is that they reflected repressed emotions or experiences that were buried away with someone. I would imagine this is why many of the shadows that we encountered had such a negative reaction to humanity, because they saw other Persona users as enemies or were themselves fragments of naked hostility.
That being said, it sounds to me like your Teddie was in stark contrast to that. That somehow he expressed repressed kindness and generosity. From how you described him, he had some serious concerns about your safety... or perhaps he was simply trying to protect his metaspace and was "pushy." Regardless, he did not seem to view humans as hostile, and was even helpful on multiple occasions.
This may be an impossible question to answer, but do you think that might be the case? That he was somehow a reflection of humanity's desire to be good?
[He looked down at the table in thought, a hand to his chin.]
But the TV World was apparently really peaceful before, according to him. And that the Shadows weren't always so hostile, not until the fog happened anyway. Once that all cleared up, supposedly all the Shadows would be calm again or something? It was a really pretty place once it went back to normal, anyway.
Then again... He's also the only Shadow I've seen who looks like him. The Shadows are normally pretty gross looking and sounding. He just looks like a mascot you'd find at a store, you know?
There's honestly a lot about the TV World that I don't think we'll ever fully understand, Teddie is part of that. [This was something he wasn't sure he should mention, but his lips thinned to a line as he sighed through his nose.] The thing is... he's a Shadow who had a Shadow much like we did. He gained his Persona through that as well. Everything about him is like an exception to the rule when it comes to how all this stuff works.
So it's hard to figure out if he's really just some kind of anomaly or if he's, as you're proposing, some sort of reflection on humanity.
Yeah, we learned that a long time ago. It sounds concerning when telling people he's a Shadow but I promise, it's mostly harmless. If he ever does show up, the only thing I would really need to warn you about is that he's an impossible flirt.
[He actually didn't have too many photos of Teddie on his old phone and he didn't transfer any of it to his new device yet. So he pulled out the group photo that they all had a copy of and pointed to Teddie.]
[Well that's certainly a reaction he doesn't normally get. Everyone just usually laughs at him or teases him further. So there's a bewildered stare to her bewildered stare.]
[He sighed heavily, flushing lightly in embarrassment.]
N-No, it's my fault. I overreacted. I kind of have a tendency to do that? Anyone of the IT can tell you.
[He laughs a little, self-deprecatingly.]
Teddie and I actually bicker a lot, I'm constantly having to deal with his antics and he's worse than me about saying shit out loud you shouldn't say. But I guess you're right in that he is like a little brother. We argue enough to have that kind of relationship, anyway. And it'd really suck if anything happened to him. He disappeared once before and I was worried sick, I mean we all were but...
[He does like Teddie and considers him family. So having his room empty for over a week without Teddie's usual presence was harder than he'd like to admit.]
Just... don't tell Teddie or any of the others I said this, I'll never heard the end of it!
[She looks at him, a heavy smile on her face. She wonders if this is the type of view Sae has of her, while never actually articulating it.]
I had no intention to.
[She... fumbles in her purse a moment, and reconsiders even pulling it out. But considering just how she had been privy to some pretty deep secrets of other members of the various groups, felt like it was only fair.]
[She pulls out her phone and scrolls to a picture of a young adult. She is looking stern at the camera, and cuts a severe image.]
My older sister. I... until recently, we had a complicated relationship.
[She forces a smile.] I guess I can't help but think that she sees me in the same way you do Teddie.
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We did destroy most of the shadows we encountered, but on occasion we would simply let them go.
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I'm actually not entirely sure how he got his Personas, I never really thought to ask since he's kind of a special case in general compared to all of us.
[He straightened, realizing something.]
No, okay, scratch that. Some Shadows became Personas. [He looked a little uncomfortable here.] Our Shadows did. Everyone but Partner.
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[It was how Oracle acquired hers, after all.]
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[Either someone already mentioned it to her or someone had experience on her end, since the last part she got wrong.]
There was not rebelling involved. What we were suppressing wasn't something that we were rebelling against. It was literally facing ourselves, the ugly and negative part of ourselves that we kept hidden away to the point that we didn't want to believe it existed.
Accepting the truth, as it were.
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[Her gaze drifts to one particular Shadow that she happened to encounter. Her hands clench the hem of her skirt and she shifts uncomfortably for a while.]
That must have been very challenging. Did everyone in your group do this as well? Face their Shadow?
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Yeah.
Except Partner, he had a Persona and was able to get into the TV World from the get-go, like I said. It's kind of a long story and probably something he could better explain than I can.
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[Wait...]
...except Mona. As it turned out he had special circumstances. I hope you may forgive me for doing so, but I feel like I should let him explain that should he ever arrive.
[She... realizes that may make asking about Teddie a little awkward.] I'd understand if you would like to stop answering my questions about Teddie. I do have a few more I'd like to ask.
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[It's just something that he feels Souji could better explain than he could.]
No, it's fine. Teddie kind of found out things about himself at the same time we did, so I don't think he'd mind if I answered your question.
[Actually, Teddie would mind but that was more because Yosuke was sure he'd yell at Yosuke for probably not telling her how handsome he was or something ridiculous like that.]
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That being said, it sounds to me like your Teddie was in stark contrast to that. That somehow he expressed repressed kindness and generosity. From how you described him, he had some serious concerns about your safety... or perhaps he was simply trying to protect his metaspace and was "pushy." Regardless, he did not seem to view humans as hostile, and was even helpful on multiple occasions.
This may be an impossible question to answer, but do you think that might be the case? That he was somehow a reflection of humanity's desire to be good?
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[He looked down at the table in thought, a hand to his chin.]
But the TV World was apparently really peaceful before, according to him. And that the Shadows weren't always so hostile, not until the fog happened anyway. Once that all cleared up, supposedly all the Shadows would be calm again or something? It was a really pretty place once it went back to normal, anyway.
Then again... He's also the only Shadow I've seen who looks like him. The Shadows are normally pretty gross looking and sounding. He just looks like a mascot you'd find at a store, you know?
There's honestly a lot about the TV World that I don't think we'll ever fully understand, Teddie is part of that. [This was something he wasn't sure he should mention, but his lips thinned to a line as he sighed through his nose.] The thing is... he's a Shadow who had a Shadow much like we did. He gained his Persona through that as well. Everything about him is like an exception to the rule when it comes to how all this stuff works.
So it's hard to figure out if he's really just some kind of anomaly or if he's, as you're proposing, some sort of reflection on humanity.
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I wonder what happened to cause it to change... though a part of me is afraid that I already know the answer.
[Her eyes furrow at that last one.] A shadow of a shadow. A reflection of a reflection. I...
...
I think I see what your group means when you say Teddie defies explanation.
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Yeah, we learned that a long time ago. It sounds concerning when telling people he's a Shadow but I promise, it's mostly harmless. If he ever does show up, the only thing I would really need to warn you about is that he's an impossible flirt.
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[If one listens really carefully, you could almost hear her lofty perception of Teddie shatter.]
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Yup. He will try to flirt with you if he comes here and you meet him. Just tell him no.
[Sorry not sorry, Teddie.]
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I... see...
Thank you for the warning...
[She's image-conscious, but not really one that is used to flirts. Those were more for cute and hot girls like Haru and Ann.]
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You don't need to worry too much about it, like I said, he's harmless. Especially when he's outta that bear suit.
[He's so much smaller and easier to drag off, that's for sure.]
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[He actually didn't have too many photos of Teddie on his old phone and he didn't transfer any of it to his new device yet. So he pulled out the group photo that they all had a copy of and pointed to Teddie.]
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...this is the human form that he created?
He looks a little like you... like a brother, perhaps...
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[He can't help the face he makes.]
He looks nothing like me!
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[That reaction took her off guard.]
[She recoils, giving him a bewildered stare.]
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...uh, s-sorry?
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And you two seemed rather close... you spoke very fondly of him... I just assumed...
[Fumble fumble...]
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[He sighed heavily, flushing lightly in embarrassment.]
N-No, it's my fault. I overreacted. I kind of have a tendency to do that? Anyone of the IT can tell you.
[He laughs a little, self-deprecatingly.]
Teddie and I actually bicker a lot, I'm constantly having to deal with his antics and he's worse than me about saying shit out loud you shouldn't say. But I guess you're right in that he is like a little brother. We argue enough to have that kind of relationship, anyway. And it'd really suck if anything happened to him. He disappeared once before and I was worried sick, I mean we all were but...
[He does like Teddie and considers him family. So having his room empty for over a week without Teddie's usual presence was harder than he'd like to admit.]
Just... don't tell Teddie or any of the others I said this, I'll never heard the end of it!
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I had no intention to.
[She... fumbles in her purse a moment, and reconsiders even pulling it out. But considering just how she had been privy to some pretty deep secrets of other members of the various groups, felt like it was only fair.]
[She pulls out her phone and scrolls to a picture of a young adult. She is looking stern at the camera, and cuts a severe image.]
My older sister. I... until recently, we had a complicated relationship.
[She forces a smile.] I guess I can't help but think that she sees me in the same way you do Teddie.
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