Content
YAHH.... depression arc idea... hmm
Okay first off, trigger/content warning !
This page has mentions of the following:
- -Depression
- -Self neglect
- -Depersonalization
This page is going to be a tad bit ramble, because i am VERY indecisive and have many ideas in my head. But most of them are just me putting Tala through hell !
Some parts of this page may be spaghetti because i keep adding stuff here and there. And i really don't know how to approach Tala's character. He's a bit difficult, especially because i don't know if i want to fully seperate him and his alter ego ?.. hmm..
01
OKAY step one, I MAKE TALA DEPRESSED. How ?
He has to reveal his identity to Khris.
I am thinking they could be potentially dating beforehand, and it would make the fall even worse ?
This is one of the scenarios how i imagine Phantomiau revealing his true identity to Khris. (click to enlarge)
So what happens is, Phantomiau is injured and Khris has him cornered. He pleads to the other, wanting to be let go. Phantomiau is so desperate he says he'll do anything. Then Khris would ask him to tell them about his true identity.
This would sooo devastate Khris too because it's them asking about something he doesn't like the answer to. After this interaction i think Khris would cover for Phantomiau this time. And both of them would feel soo bad about talking to one another.
They would stop talking and meeting up altogether. I feel like Khris would cope by going outside more, and Tala would just be cooped up at home, drowning in projects OR just rotting in bed ?
So their personality traits would kind-of flip around. Khris would go out as much as he can possibly handle next to studying. He would possibly abuse caffine.
And Tala would just be in his flat, seeing as little sunlight as possible.
Their whole friend group would be so fucked ToT!! They would suspect a breakup i think, but i'm not sure.
I'm wondering how Zahir would come into play with this. I think Khris is more likely, and i think Khris would pour a bit of his heart out to Zahir. I'm not sure if he would reveal Tala's secret though.
Depression arc
Tala falls into like, a few month long depressive episode.
He turns into a shut in. And when friends message him, he just replies he's busy. He is not working on his commissions, not even taking any once he's done with his queue. He starts shoplifting from the small corner store. While before this he was making nice meals for himself, he's mainly eating noodles and eggs. He feels like it's a chore. His hair and facial hair starts growing out, and he' s doing the bare minimum regarding hygiene and selfcare. Spends his time binging anime,sleeping and staring at the wall.
Palette is mainly blue, dull colors, no red or green at all.
I am thinking about how his friends would react... One idea of mine is his friends "breaking in" and seeing how FUCKED the place is. They would either try to talk to Tala or clean up for him ? [TBH that just sounds too good to be true]. Tala being paranoid and noticing that his friends were in his flat could jumpstart his 'oh im finee' era.
Another idea of mine is his friends just, stop contacting him because "he's always busy".
Idea 3 is Khris' friends notice that Khris hasn't been themselves lately either (not mentioning Tala as often). And so Khris and Tala's mutual and non-mutual friends team up and do something about these two. That could be setting up a meeting between the two. Possibly in the store where Tala shoplifts at, since he doesn't go much anywhere else. If i would go with this scenario, i think Tala would notice Khris first due to being on high alert. He would try to leave immediately. Khris could notice Tala as well. And i do think they would get super angry. Either at Tala or at their friends for setting this up.
Things could go multiple ways from here too. Like Khris leaving to yell at friends. Or Khris confronting Tala, angry at him for still thieving (and potentially for not taking care of himself).
_______
A friend of mine suggested that the set up meeting with Khris could result in Tala immideately just, dissociating to cope (or repress). Then later on he would just not acknowledge the existance of Khris even if brought up in conversation. He would just steer away.
Getting out of said depression
Once you're down you're down, but you gotta get back up somehow, right ?
What i'm thinking about is that Tala would just, subconsciously start to take on Phantomiau's traits. He cuts his own hair, ears not showing (-> symbolises him not paying attention to his surroundings [maybe?]). He starts wearing more red colored clothing, mainly button-ups. There's a little green in his palette, but even less bright blue.
He starts acting really cat-like. Sitting on the table, throwing stuff off the table, being "mean". He's more clumsy than before, almost like he's having struggle controlling his body.
This "version" of Tala (who i usually just call Miau) is very prone to slipping up, even though they're good at lying most of the time. Very very socially awkward in casual situations. He's very much in his own little world. Not in tune with his bodily needs AT ALL (he forgets to eat). He is okay at puting together an okay meal though.
He feels more alienated from his friends than ever, since he's kinda a different person than he was beforehand. Miau's trying to make friends, with people who he's already friends with.