Supportive Same old dan concept
I have already posted it in the Look outside community but I wanted post it here as well
I have been thinking about a supportive Same ol' Dan concept in the style of Juicebox. Since version 2.3, there is a hostile door encounter that can differ in its case with Trickster, aka the cursed Sophie. If you choose not to kill her, she can sell you various items. I imagined the same for Dan. An enemy being slain isn't necessarily dead; Rosie/Tooth Baby, is an example. I envision that if you meet and defeat Same ol' Dan, he might appear in apartment 25 after you've fixed the elevator.
If that's the case, the next dialogue will show:
[You can hear someone sobbing behind the door. Will you open it?]
If you enter the apartment, you'll find Same ol' Dan in front of what seems to be Bernadette (I don't think I need to explain that part).
At first, Dan would try to eat you but then change his mind out of guilt.
[The centipede creature grabs you. He opens his mouth, and his odd tongue comes out. It gets closer. You feel like it's the end for you. Then the centipede creature hesitates. In the end, he puts you back in the ground; he seems to feel guilty.]
He'll apologize for what happened during the door encounter and for now. You can ask him why he looked outside (that part is inspired by memes and a comic). He will explain that it's because his chat challenged him to look outside, And you know the result. He tells next what happens when he loses control and devours his mother. Like in his quest, the same old Dan would feel guilty for what happened. I can imagine a situation similar to Jeanne's, but sadder; he would ask you to kill him. You can refuse, and if you do, Dan would be confused by your decision. He would provide reasons for you to kill him, but if you persist in refusing, he resolves himself. However, the guilt won't go away. You can chat with him and try to comfort him by saying things like, "It's not your fault." I don't know exactly; actually, I need to think about it.
You can ask him to come with you, but the same old Dan would refuse because he thinks he'll take up too much space and fears that he might also devour the player. You can ask him if he needs something; he'll answer that he needs to eat. You can give him food (sandwiches, snacks, anything).
[Dan eats the food. He consumes it like a savage animal. He's not really human anymore after all...]
"That's not bone marrow, but it hits the spot. Thanks, dude."
After that, there's not much left to say.
You can leave the apartment, but before you do, Same ol' Dan would ask if you'll come back the next day. The player is the first who has not run away from him. It would be like having a daily talk or visit to Spine; if you come to see him the second day, he'll be happy that you did. You can talk about some things (like what he was doing before, that kind of stuff...) before you leave again. He asks if he can accompany you. He wouldn't be a party member. You can refuse, but it wouldn't change anything. You can still change your mind and let Dan come with you.
As a supportive ally, he'll work like Juicebox; he can use his basic ability and, like Joel, devour enemies if they are at low health. Additionally, Dan and Marc-André can bother each other if they're both active.
[Dan was going to do the coup de grâce, but Marc-André ran over and accidentally hit Dan.]
Dan: "Damn it, Marc! Can't you mind your business? It's my target!"
Marc-André: "It's you who bothers me, you giant worm! I saw it first!"
It's just a funny addition but not obligatory!
Like Juicebox about a time he'll leave.
"Sorry, Sam, I gotta go. See you tomorrow."
You can still check on him in his apartment and talk to him. There's a chance that depending on the enemies you've defeated with Dan, he can give you a weapon or another item.
"Oh, by the way, the monster we beat earlier had this."
[Dan coughs and pulls something from his mouth... It's disgusting...]
[You receive [Item]; it's covered with saliva... You are grossed out.]
"What? I turned into a centipede thing... Do you see a pocket anywhere? What was I supposed to do?"
"You're welcome. But I'd like you to be happier than that."
[You could've given it to me before going.]
"Aw, I forgot it happened..."
This is what I imagine so far; tell me what you think. I'd love to read your impressions.
