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2025-09-20: Arsene Lupin Vs. Herlock Sholmes

2026-10-25T22:37:16Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: 2025-09-20: Arsène Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Goro Akechi]], [[Ren Amamiya|Joker]], [[Ann Takamaki|Panther]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa|Fox]], [[Makoto Niijima|Queen]], [[Haru Okumura|Noir]], [[Kasumi Yoshizawa|Belle]] and a Mysterious Interloper!
*'''Where:''' Principal Kobayakawa's Palace, Parade Grounds
*'''OOC Date:''' September 20, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 14, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Detective Akechi ambushes the Phantom Thieves in an attempt to arrest them, using the power of far too many Mementos runs for his own good. But someone out isn't too keen to just let this happen without having his own 'fun'...''

----

AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa has readied for combat as Cendrillon! She is now fully healed!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa has readied for combat as Goemon! He is now fully healed!
AS: Haru Okumura has readied for combat as Milady! She is now fully healed!
AS: Ann Takamaki has readied for combat as Carmen! She is now fully healed!
Makoto Niijima has arrived from Historia: The White Chronicle.
GRID: Makoto Niijima has joined Ren Amamiya.

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Over the weeks Principal Kobayakawa hasn't been seen by the Student body, mostly spending time in his office. He seems anxious... a little paranoid even. Chouno-sensei got snapped at for even knocking on his door to deliver a stack of quarterly reports. Vice-Principal Kawazu has been mostly picking up the slack on his own. The atmosphere around the faculty is ''tense'' enough that it's easy to see the signs from day to day at school.

Why is it like this? Is it due to them invading his Palace? Or... are there other pressures upon him. Pressures that spurred him to lay the responsibility for finding the ''Phantom Thieves of Hearts'' upon his Student Council President? And as Ren might well ask why was 'Black Mask' prowling around the Palace of the Shujin Principal in the first place?

Well today they'll figure these things out because after a meeting, the Phantoms went to Kobayakawa's Palace. The reason? Well not to change his heart! That requires unanimous consensus anyway and right now there are questions that they require answers to. Ones which will require them to go to the Ruler's Shadow themselves and interrogate them.

The Phantom Thieves upon entering his Palace will find that things have changed in response. The sky outside of the entrance to the Shujin Bunker is full of smoke, and the starbursts of warfare. Ordnance screams through the sky to slam into the top of the bunker, always causing it to shake. Never doing any real damage.

It is more reminder than anything, that everything could come tumbling down at any moment. Security is quite high, and the shadows trade banter, regarding their internal search for 'saboteurs' - Phantom Thieves.

They're far less concerned with anyone getting in, than more 'betrayals' from within. It would be convenient to be able to use the ventilation ducts for Joker to lead them straight into the War Room, but they've been blocked off, and in some cases collapsed. The atmosphere down here is more stifling than ever.

Which leaves only one way to get to the War Room, across the 'Parade Grounds'. Strangely, they're the place with the least security of all. There are no Shadows, no Cognitions. Just a long stretch between there and the hastily repaired blast doors to the War Room. Though at one point there seems to be a crate about halfway down the stretch? Most curious.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
When the Phantom Thieves enter, there's a moment of stillness, quiet. It's easy enough to guess that it's 'too quiet' indicating the possibility of a trap.

Well, someone is happy to oblige them with one. Abruptly, numerous flood lights turn on, all pointed in the direction of their entry. All blinding bright, like something out of a police drama. You know the ones, where the crooks are about to get away, only for the lights to turn on, and far too many cops are waiting for them.

And in the initial searing blindness of the lights, one can only hear the general direction of his voice. "I wouldn't take another step if I were you. The room was evacuated because the Ruler's forces turned this place into a minefield... fortunately I've disarmed them all and made some 'changes' of my own."

Step, step, step, step. The silhouette of a person can be seen now against the glare, which grows as he steps just about five meters closer, and stops as he greets them in a way that seems equal parts cheerful and smug. "I was hoping if I staked this Palace out long enough that you might make an appearance."

It's a familiar voice, far too familiar. Probably many at least have heard him from TV and are trying to ''place'' it. But several likely grasp who he is right away. The lights glare against the red of his long-nosed mask, not quite allowing definition against the blinding array of floodlights.

"I'm glad that my patience has been rewarded." More of him comes into view, as vision subtly adjusts. An outfit, princely, like a Drum Major in a marching band, with gold epaulets, and a red cape, with gold trim. "The value of a Detective is determined by there being a case that only he can solve, when all other institutions have failed." And then almost ''almost'' amiably, he compliments them! "I must admit, you've all given me quite the runaround trying to find the right opportunity to confront you."

If there was any doubt to anyone who he is, then it's dispelled in that moment, it's Goro Akechi, clad as he is - he almost certainly has a Will of Rebellion, but it's not protecting him. "But it's past time I close this case." He says, with a smirk, as he snaps out a toyetic shining gold ray gun with his right hand and points it right at them, "I will accept your surrender if you offer, but for now I'm just going to assume that's not on the table."

Something changes in his eyes as he checks Belle though, like he's not expecting them, scrutinizing her for an additional moment.

OOC: Due to the concept of the fight, target Penguin. He'll be filling in as Goro Akechi's stunt double! (An uncanny likeness really!)

</poem>
AS: Detective Prince PenPen has readied for combat as Detective Goro Akechi's Happy Funtime Field of Cognitive Traps!
They are now fully healed! Ready for 6 opponents!
AS: Makoto Niijima has readied for combat as Johanna! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Not to change his heart, no. The Phantoms do require unanimous consensus, and part of getting that is investigating the target--seeing not only if they really are twisted on the inside, but also if they really are inflicting their twisted desires on people in real life.

Kobayakawa's cowardice is infamous, and his ill deeds well-known to the student body--but how much is he actually doing himself, and how much can be dealt with in real life by leaning on that cowardice? The atmosphere at Shujin Academy is far from ideal, but it's way better than it used to be once Kamoshida was gone. He's already been withdrawing recently and relying on the Vice-Principal to do his work for him. How ''necessary'' is it to change his heart?

That's what they're here to find out--that, and to find out if Akechi has been here as a Persona User. Indeed, more important than Kobayakawa himself are those surrounding him--the aforementioned Akechi, the awakening of Kasumi Yoshizawa... and the lurking of the one in the black mask.

After all, he might just ''be'' Goro Akechi. That much, though, Joker's been keeping to themself (and Mona).

The Palace itself is in even more dire straits than it was when Joker, Panther, Noir and Fox explored it only last week. The environment is louder and flashier, but also nothing keeps actually happening. Despite that, security is high--and no wonder, again, after the events of last week--and sneaking around gets them lots of information, but not much in the way investigation. Even the vents are largely inaccessible. They do fill out their map of the shallower parts of the bunker Palace in the process, but after a while, there is a bottleneck.

The only way deeper is through the Parade Grounds.

"That all right by you, Belle?" Joker asks their newest provisional companion. (Not yet a member--maybe not at all. "Belle," or rather Kasumi, might only work with them until they've dealt with Kobayakawa's Palace, and then go her own separate ways, just like how it wasn't guaranteed that Fox would join until after Madarame's Palace was dealt with.) Still, they do quirk a smile at her response... and at the reminder of the codename she chose for herself. (Someone might well have made a joke about two Beauty Thiefs, considering o''~ Belle means beauty o''~, as the Destiny song goes!)

Either way, the group makes it there--or part of it does, anyway. Just to be on the safe side, several of them are serving as back-up at the closest safe room, ready to rush in to help--or secure the way out--as necessary. It's eerily empty and quiet--no Shadows, no Cognitions.

"Something's wrong," Joker murmurs, narrowing his eyes as they enter. "This could be a..."

''Trap,'' he's about to say, but he's cut off by... well, a trap. Brilliant floodlights pin all of them down. Joker reflexively raises a crooked arm to both shield their eyes and shade their face, and from behind it, he squints at...

''I wouldn't take another step if I were you,'' an excruciatingly familiar voice sounds. Joker's heartrate surges as an icy chill washes over their skin. They know immediately who that is--strange, because that outline... they can't make out the details with the light at his back, but that's a cognitive costume, isn't it? They shouldn't be able to know immediately who that is. But as he approaches, Joker hears the lightness in his voice, the cocksureness, that have irritated them since the first day they met in Leblanc, a copy of ''Arsène Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes'' in his name. He even echoes what he said that day about the value of a detective.

It's Goro Akechi. There's no doubt about it. Of which there is equally no doubt is that it's ''not'' the one in the black mask. Completely different outfit, completely different silhouette--and even with these blinding lights, Joker can tell that mask is red.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Spotlight! on Ann Takamaki, Ren Amamiya, Yusuke
Kitagawa, and Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Pressure: Detective Prince PenPen gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Spotlight! on Haru Okumura and Makoto Niijima!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Sleuthing Instinct on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Recovery skill Detective Prince on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Damn...!" But underneath that growled curse is a note of relief. Akechi pulls a shiny ray gun on them--and, defiantly as ever, Joker pulls a dark handgun back on him. Projecting their voice, they confirm, "It's not."

But rather than open fire, they take advantage of the hand over their face to set their mask ablaze with blue fire. (They keep their gloved hand where it is not just to shade their face but to hide it. They don't understand why Akechi is immediately recognizable despite his apparent Will of Rebellion, and they don't want to risk him recognizing them ''back''.) "Arsène!!" they cry, summoning their other self with the great black wings and the outrageous top hat mask face head. As they whirl up into existence behind them, the red-clad Persona cackles and spreads their clawed hands to call up a wave--no, a ''tide'' of darkness that roils forth not just at Akechi himself but at the floodlights in an attempt to darken their glare.

It's only a temporary measure, that Maeiha. They'll need something more decisive to deal with those floodlights, and it won't cure that initial blindness they would've given everyone. However, it should give everyone else the opportunity they need to make that "something more decisive" happen.
</poem>

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Spotlight!.
AS: Atk_Dn added!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Spotlight!.
AS: Atk_Dn added!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Sleuthing Instinct.
AS: Detective Prince PenPen's Strength Scan! Kasumi Yoshizawa resists Light!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen's Weakness Scan! Kasumi Yoshizawa is weak against Dark!
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Dark skill Maeiha on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Spotlight!.
AS: Atk_Dn added!
AS: Block Best! Detective Prince PenPen takes 38 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Maeiha. Weak!
AS: Blast added!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
It feels very weird to be going back into that world again. Kasumi's only seen it the one time and there were parts of that trip that weren't very enjoyable. But she steels her resolve. She needs to see for herself how the Phantom Thieves operate.

And she also has some unfinished business with the Shadow version of Principal Kobayakawa.

The transition into the Palace gets Kasumi looking around in mild wonder and curiosity. It's almost like something out of a fairy tale! Which is appropriate given the theming of her Persona. It's also how her new codename came to be about. 'Belle'. Another French fairy tale name to go with 'Cendrillon'.

She wasn't actually aware of Noir's claim to the title of Beauty Thief. Sorry Noir, she's not trying to steal it, honest!

There is equal interest in the appearance of her thief attire once they've entered the cognitive world. She hadn't had a chance to really examine it during the hectic escape last time. The leotard is of course an appropriate component for her. She quite likes the jacket with the long coat tails. And while she doesn't usually wear much black, it seems to suit her!

After a quick twirl to get a feel for how easy it is to move in this outfit, Belle quickly follows after the other Phantom Thieves into Palace proper, saying, "I'll make sure to watch closely how you experts handle yourselves in these situations. I'm counting on you, senpais!"

Annnnnnd she counts on them right into a trap.

Belle raises an arm to try and shield her eyes from the light as it floods them. Maybe she should have not agreed to this route when Joker asked!

It's hard to see anything through the light... But Belle quietly gasps at the voice. Of course she recognises it. She's had a number of conversations with Goro Akechi in the past. She didn't know he was a Persona user too!

Just how many people does she know who are Persona users?

Also what kind of luck does she have to get caught on her first mission!?

Though it's not quite a game over yet, as Joker reacts quickly, calling out Arsene to darken the area and lighten the burden shining on them. Pun intended. Joker gives them an opportunity to do something more decisive.

Belle clearly didn't get the memo as she confusedly asks the others, "W-What do we do now?" Definite newbie here. Though to be fair, she hadn't expected to be going up against Akechi!

</poem>
AS: Take! Detective Prince PenPen takes 62 Recovery healing from Detective Prince PenPen's Detective Prince.
AS: Eclipse added!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 8 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Spotlight!.
AS: Atk_Dn added!
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Spotlight!.
AS: Atk_Dn added!
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Spotlight!.
AS: Atk_Dn added!

<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
<poem>Here they are back in Kobayakawa's Palace - not the most pleasant place to make a repeat visit, but now that they have Kasumi on temporary call, they'll have to scope it out once more - not just because of the ''owner'' of the Palace, but also because of who else may be lurking inside. Haru has been quite the active member of the Thieves of late, and tagged along on the expedition.

"Hehe... perhaps I should have gone with Voleuse Belle in the first place?" Haru jokes, at the similarity between her ''original'' codename and Kasumi's temporary one. "Either way, it's great to have you with us, Belle!" Despite her cheerful demeanor, Haru can tell there's something strange about the Palace this time. It's like someone came in and ransacked it before they could even make a move. No Shadows, nothing... could it be another Persona user?

Joker's hunch was correct, in the end. "Goro Akechi..." Haru whispers, as a princely masked man approaches them, someone who could only be the Second Coming of the Detective Prince. She realizes, they haven't been playing ''him'' - he's been two steps ahead of them all along. And now they're surrounded. Haru had been told that their thief attire protects them from being recognized as themselves, but if ''they'' can somehow recognize Akechi, she's a little worried about that, now. So she invokes her right to remain silent, as one should when apprehended by a detective, and doesn't say a word at his offer of surrender - only a defiant look through her mask.

She ''does'' answer Kasumi's scared question, however. "It's so bright... but there's not much we ''can'' do except fight our way out! Stay sharp, Belle!" Haru warns, gripping her axe with both hands. "To me, Milady! Makarakarn! She calls, keeping her axe held in counterattack stance as Milady envelops her with a shield. In a situation like this, surrounded by spotlights, just attacking won't do her much good. She'll wait for Akechi to make his move and catch him the first chance she gets!
</poem>

AS: Persona! Haru Okumura has used the Almighty skill Makarakarn on Haru Okumura!
AS: Pressure: Haru Okumura gains 1 Limit!
AS: Haru Okumura's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Haru Okumura's Makarakarn.
AS: Reflect_Magi added!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Should they steal the Principal's heart?

For Ann Takamaki, the answer to that question was fairly simple. She knows firsthand what Kobayakawa was complicit in covering up. ... But she's at least managed to move on enough to not just press the issue, now. She knows -- they're not here today for that. They're here for something potentially more important: answers about one Goro Akechi. She doesn't forget that.

Even though technically they -all- did the last time but HEY that's neither here nor there, everyone knows the second attempt is always better than the first!! That's basic heist philosophy, she's pretty sure!

(It is not.)

But ANYWAY -- they can be forgiven for not quite remembering to interrogate Kobayakawa's Shadow. After all -- they was a lot going on. Like...

"Wow, y'know, I didn't get a good look last time, but you are ''styling,'' Belle!"

Like their newest maybe-member-that-didn't-even-blackmail-them(-which-is-a-super-hopeful-sign!!): Kasumi -- err, Belle!

This is Ann, enthusing supportively for their new guest party member as she scopes out her new cognitive threads. "You and Joker have kinda a theme going, huh? ... And Queen too, kinda. ... And Skull... and Noir a little..."

Ann scratches her cheek, frowning. "... Huh. I guess Fox and I are the only ones with really colorful costumes, huh...?" Does that mean -- she and Yusuke are... the same kind of weirdo...?!

"..."

Panther looks down on herself, frowning greatly.

"... I swear I will never give up my food budget for a new pair of shoes," she quietly vows. With ''great conviction''.

She's not that far gone--!

Still; Kasumi remarks about how she's relying on them, and Ann just about breaks into the biggest of all possible grins, hands on her hips as they make their way to the Parade Grounds.

"Hee hee, you got it, Belle! Don't worry, when we clear out big nasties like that creeper tank the path around it clears out nice and simple! It should be just fine--"

''Something's wrong.''

"Gerk. D-did I just totally jinx us--"

Floodlights erupt, the sudden flash of blinding lights all igniting dramatically one by one making Panther yelp reflexively as she sweeps up to leather-clad forearms to try to cover her eyes already swimming with blinding stars.

"WAH! I SO JINXED US!"

But whether it was Ann Takamaki's reckless knocking upon wood, or fouler forces still, one thing is certain:

''I wouldn't take another step if I were you.''

They're not alone here anymore.

A figure steps out from behind the endless glare of a dozen dozen spotlights igniting their singularly dramatic moment. Snappily dressed. Smarmily voiced. And wearing--

-- a mask--

"N-no way..." Ann half-gasps. "Another Persona-User?!"

Upon reflection, maybe it's not that weird, she realizes; they just ran into like ''a dozen other ones'' at Kaneshiro's Palace. But there's something about this one. His voice is so gratingly familiar, like one she's heard on all those TV spots, like the one who made her briefly second-guess what they were doing--

--like the one they were in this Palace to investigate to begin with--

Sky blue eyes fly wide. With realization.

"Hey, waitaminute! You're the guy!" Panther declares, shocked and aghast! She points an accusatory finger Goro Akechi's way, and gives name to the face of evil!

"The second-rate Detective Prince!!"

--

or, well. close enough.

It's partly natural, kneejerk reaction, and partially distraction, because a second later, Joker is manifesting an outswell of darkness, and Ann, like she was operating in perfect sync with their leader, -also- reacts a second later:

"Dance, Carmen!"

The servant-stepping silhouette of the ur-femme fatale Carmen Manifests, her parting lips puffing delirious, panic-inducing cigar smoke across the field to disorient and distract even as Ann, still trying to blink the stars out of her eyes, cries out:

"H-hey! Weren't we here to figure out if this guy was a Persona-User?! Mission accomplished, we should get the heck outta here!!"

At least she's pragmatic.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Almighty skill Pulinpa on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ann Takamaki's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Detective Prince PenPen takes 6 Almighty damage from Ann Takamaki's Pulinpa.
AS: Panic added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
For the previous incursions into Kobayakawa's Palace, Queen had been on the backlines. This time, though, she's with vanguard and is able to see the state of everything up close.

Indeed, the palace is on such heavy lockdown one might think someone had sent a calling card, and that in turn makes the lack of Shadows on their approach concerning. Joker seems to be on the same wavelength as Queen, at least.

But that doesn't stop the trap being sprung, or the voice that comes through.

Makoto might not know it as well as Ren does, but it does confirm one of Makoto's biggest concerns. Her sister's most reliable coworker is a Persona user, and has eyes on them.

Later, she might be able to spare the mental resources to be surprised by his choice of weapon. For now, it's pointed at them and a threat. The Parade Grounds don't offer much by way of cover, either. But not much is still better than nothing. "Scatter and take cover!" Queen yells, providing the tactics to Joker's action, already moving once he is, Joker answering Akechi's call for surrender with a response she agrees with.

Still, the lights are disorienting and it makes it harder for them to work as they normally would, not to mention their newest member asking for what to do. "Belle, Fox- take out the spotlights! Noir, cover them! Panther, support Joker!" The Phantoms advisor lays down her plan instantly, focusing on making sure the team turn around the ambush as quick as possible before offering any retorts.

Her plan for herself, however, is far more direct. "Johanna!" She yells, starting into a run and jumping onto her Persona as it pulls alongside her, gunning it towards Akechi. He claims he removed all the landmines, admittedly, but there's the chance that Akechi-kun missed one- or, perhaps, left a few- that makes riding Johanna in the parade grounds extra risky. But Makoto's goal is not, in fact, to just make a beeline for Akechi and run him down.

Instead, as she closes, she slides into a drift, the personacycle angling low to the ground as Johanna kicks up debris under her tires toward him, Makoto waiting for exactly the right moment-

When she hits the gas and a sudden flare of Nuclear Light goes off in close proximity to Akechi- not to damage, but to momentarily blind him instead, even as it puts Makoto closest in the field of fire.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Strike skill Flash Bomb on Goro Akechi!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Strike skill Flash Bomb on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Detective Prince PenPen takes 13 Strike damage from Makoto Niijima's Flash Bomb.
AS: Haze added!
AS: Makoto Niijima cancels 1 attacks on Goro Akechi.

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>"Gah!" Fox shields his eyes from the sudden bathing the floodlights give the Phantom Thieves, staggering backwards. The man who has rigged the trap steps forwards, gloating, and as Fox recovers his composure, he tries to look in that direction with shaded eye.

"... Is that him? ... He has a familiar voice."

Surely, not even he can fail to recognise Goro Akechi's silken tones???

(don't take it personally, Akechi-kun, Yusuke doesn't watch TV)

But it seems as though a fight has fallen upon them, and Fox finds his footing. "Come, Goemon! Bring us swiftness!"

A spritz of wind pools under his own, Belle, Joker and Panther's feet to spur them forwards.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Yusuke Kitagawa, Ren Amamiya, Kasumi Yoshizawa,
and Ann Takamaki!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Indeed, his mask is quite red isn't it? Nor even the right shape. It's like the polar opposite of everything Joker and Mona saw that day, that all of them saw during Kaneshiro's Palace. Belle asks what to do, and the Detective continues scrutinizing her for a moment, like he's trying to figure something about her out. The Will of Rebellion keeps her identity a secret, but she does seem quite new, doesn't she?

"Bad luck joining them so recently." He says as if sympathetic, "If you surrender... I'm certain we can work out a deal for leniency with the prosecutors."

'The second-rate Detective Prince!' says Panther, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

"Sticks and stones..." He feigns being unaffected, even when he's ''clearly'' irritated, "... will you say the same once I have you in custody?"

Arsene erupts forth, brilliantly, as the lights are briefly dimmed by the cursed energy and the Princely figure before them tries to parry the energy with a quick cut of his blade... and is forced to take a knee as the cursed energy strikes the silhouetted figure's weakness. "Mmph... Joker, right? Point to you. You can have that one."

Whereas Carmen puffs delirious smoke right over him. "Nnngh... that won't work...!" He says, with a hand upon his brow like he's warding off a migraine, and a sudden spell of dizziness all at once. A silhouette of a hand, but by now the light has likely cleared up enough that they can see peeking through his fingers with an eye at Panther declaring they should go.

BGM Change: Dark Sun (Spanish Electro Arrange) - Persona 5 The Animation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZSwdLIxC9Y

"Quick thinking. That would be a fine plan." He says, as if complimenting Queen. But as she starts to rush he gets up in a posture like he was merely ''stretching'' before he raises a hand with an slim rectangular object within it then leaps away from the Motorcycle Drift hooking his arm to shield his own eyes. "If I were to allow that."

The Detective presses a button on a controller! There's a swish overhead, a shadow in the glare of the lights, before a giant weighted net just falls down over Belle, Joker, Noir and entangles them. "But I didn't come here unprepared."

Without missing a beat, he draws that toyetic looking gun, and pulls the trigger- LASERS erupt from its barrel!? How is that possible! OR FAIR? He fires a salvo of several grazing, warning shots towards Joker, trying to make each one as 'close a shave' as possible, before he places a hand to his mask and calls out, "Take aim - ROBIN HOOD!"

With a burst of blue cognitive flames, the figure who looks like an amalgamation of robot media, Tokusatsu and Superheroes of the West bursts forth, pivoting around with a sweep of his cape, before raising a Golden Bow and firing, arrows suddenly descending in waves upon the pinned down Phantoms in Noir, Panther, Belle, and Fox.

It's so difficult to see the ground in here, especially while fighting Akechi, but as Queen moves atop Johanna, all it takes is one turn while recovering from the drift, and their wheel makes contact with something with give, that doesn't bear their weight. It's ''a tarp''!?

OVER A SUDDEN PITFALL!?

It's somehow about 5 meters deep and nearly as wide. And as Queen struggles to either avoid the fall or roll with it riding their Persona, Akechi fishes into his pockets then casually tosses an object towards the pit. It's... a can? Briefly they might catch that what's written on the side is:

Jack's Famous Hee-Hold Up Custard:
Fun for the Hee-Hole Family!

It bursts into a truly implausible amount of sticky custard, filling the entire pit trap with goo that might make efforts to get out a ''little'' difficult.

"Best of luck finding a way out!" He calls out, smug as ever.

</poem>
AS: You can't pay the cost for Exploit.
AS: Detective Prince PenPen spends Limit on Exploit! Detective Prince PenPen can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Comically Oversized Net on Kasumi Yoshizawa, Ren
Amamiya, Haru Okumura, and Ann Takamaki!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen takes 60 damage from Panic!
AS: Pressure: Detective Prince PenPen gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Comically Oversized Net on Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Weapon! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Pierce skill Warning Shots on Ren Amamiya! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Pierce skill Arrow Rain on Kasumi Yoshizawa, Haru Okumura, Ann
Takamaki, and Yusuke Kitagawa! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Strike skill Implausible *~Pit Trap!~* on Makoto Niijima!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Comically Oversized Net.
AS: Spd_Up removed!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ann Takamaki takes 52 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Comically Oversized Net.
AS: Spd_Up removed!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Comically Oversized Net.
AS: Spd_Up removed!
AS: Block Worst! Ann Takamaki takes 47 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 25 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Warning Shots.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Ann Takamaki takes 44 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 42 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Warning Shots.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 42 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Warning Shots.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 6 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 38 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Best! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 22 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 32 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 8 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Comically Oversized Net.
AS: Spd_Up removed!
AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 21 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 29 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Comically Oversized Net.
AS: Spd_Dn added!
AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 21 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Best! Haru Okumura takes 28 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Haru Okumura takes 52 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Haru Okumura takes 28 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Arrow Rain.

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Before Fox can even begin to move from Goemon's gift of speed, he's among the group of Phantoms caught in the Giant Net and knocked to the ground.

"Curses...!"

Struggling under the net, he catches a glimpse of Akechi's mask wreathed in blue flame, and then comes forth -

"Robin Hood!?"

The shining spectacle of superheroic archery pulls back his golden bow, and Fox realises he has only moments to react.

He grabs his saya, and ''click'' goes the blade in the sheath. A flurry of slashes bursts the net apart around him, allowing him to roll away from the first volley, get to his feet, and spring away from the worst of the barrage towards the so-called Detective Prince. "Enough showboating!" He barks, black blade gleaming. "Draw steel!"

He strikes in a blur, a one-two cut intended to force Akechi back and allow his teammates to find their footing.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Slash skill Katana Combo on Detective Prince PenPen! 2 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 40 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Katana Combo. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 37 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Katana Combo. Critical Hit!
<RP> Hitomi Mandai says, "I could come hang a li'l if you would like Myung"
<RP> Myunghon Yeo says, "ooh, of course"

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Ah, Noir's right! They're thieves. They need to try and escape. Which means fighting back against Akechi. That makes sense. Of course, Belle doesn't want to hurt him...

... Oh! Queen comes up with a good plan! Take out the lights. She can do that... Probably!

"Got it!" Belle's antique rifle appears in her hands and she grips the unfamiliar weapon tightly. Last time her instincts were in full swing following her awakening. Now she's feeling a little unsure of herself...

But thankfully she's not alone as an empowering wind swirls around her. And just in time too as Akechi presses a button. Belle hears the swishing and looks up to see the falling net. She reacts quickly, diving out of the way with unnatural speed! She just manages to clear the edge of the net, rolling across the ground a couple of times.

Rising to her feet again, Belle lets out a sigh of relief. That was close! She never would have been able to make it without help, "Thanks, Fox!"

Akechi has clearly prepared for this encounter. Such elaborate traps. Such forethought into how the Phantom Thieves will react. This is clearly why people call him a Detective Prince! Belle can only hope she'll be able to provide some small help in this thrilling battle of wits and Personas!

To that end, Belle raises her rifle and starts taking pot shots at the light sources. She's got no concerns about shooting out a few lights... But when the time comes, will she be able to shoot at Akechi?

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Pierce skill Second Routine on Detective Prince PenPen! 2 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Kasumi Yoshizawa gains 1 Limit!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.
<RP> Hitomi Mandai says, "also can i slip saika over to watch the shujinology"

AS: Block Best! Detective Prince PenPen takes 20 Pierce damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Second Routine. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 29 Pierce damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Second Routine. Critical Hit!
<RP> Miho Ijuuin says, "observers were welcome earlier! probably still are!"

AS: Avoid Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 92 Strike damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Implausible *~Pit Trap!~*.
Critical Hit!
Saika Kikuchi has arrived from Electric Town - Gigolo Arcade.
GRID: Saika Kikuchi has joined Goro Akechi.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
There's no helping it; this was the only way forward, after the lockdowns on various other parts of the Palace. That's what made this trap so effective: their only choices were to fall into it or turn back. Given their goals, turning back was not an option.

Ironically, now even without questioning Shadow Kobayakawa, they've now had their suspicions confirmed.

"We're not getting caught, and we outnumber him," Joker says over their shoulder to Belle. Queen barks out more actionable tactics in response--from taking out the spotlights (they ''are'' on the same wavelength, because Joker was going to say that) to assigning cover duty. Joker is the one with the Dark-elemental spells, so putting them on point only makes sense.

''Hey, waitaminute! You're the guy! The second-rate Detective Prince!!''

Joker just manages to choke back a snort-laugh. Panther remains the funniest friend they have without even trying.

But she does make a practical suggestion. It's a logical one--smart, even. But... "It's not just him anymore. Remember the one in the black mask?" they remind her. "Besides--" They turn a smirk back at Akechi, whose irritation they recognize. He says they can have that one, but that doesn't stop them from retorting, "No second-rate Detective Prince is going to tell The Phantoms where we can and can't go!"

Even if it's confirmed that Akechi is a Persona User who has been using this Palace to try to get more intel on the Phantom Thieves, there's still other things Shadow Kobayakawa could tell them about... like what or who he's so afraid of, and how the One in the Black Mask ties in with that.

Besides, they'll learn a lot more by taking Akechi on than by running away here--and Joker once again finds they don't want to lose to him.

So naturally, that's when a giant weighted net falls down from the ceiling, right before opening fire on Joker with a series of ''lasers''. Joker moves swiftly to evade the blasts--but in evading ''those'', Akechi herds them right where he wants them, under that net to get trapped. Joker cries out in loud frustration. A point to the Detective Prince!

Or is it?

To their friends who've also been trapped or close to it, they murmur, "Once the spotlights are out, move past them and surround Akechi." They smirk and hold up a length of the net. "We'll tie him up in his own ropes and question him too."

After all, they've got a master swordsman with them--and sure enough, Fox slices the net apart with his katana, then springs forward to take Akechi on directly. Joker shoots a wink at Belle and Noir, then calls forward, "Nice work, Fox! Keep him busy!"

But then there is a ''pitfall'' under Queen's Persona, and Akechi tosses in a can of ''sticky custard''? Joker grimaces, for real this time. "Noir, go help Queen!" Belle's already on taking out the spotlights, so-- "Panther--" They gesture to her--and to one end of the net. They take the other side.

"Let's do this quick," they murmur to her. "I go left, you go right. Watch your step--he's sure to have more traps."

Arsène rises above them again, whirling in midair to call up misty darkness that shoot down towards Akechi in a whorling rain. Belle may be reluctant to hurt him, and Joker commends her for that, but they know well how resilient a Persona User is; they don't need to worry too hard. Between that Multi-Eiha and Fox, it ought to keep Akechi busy while Joker and Panther attempt to use his own trap against him by closing that cut-up net around him.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Dark skill Multi-Eiha on Detective Prince PenPen! 3 Hits!
AS: Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 39 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Multi-Eiha. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Blast added!
AS: Block Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 26 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Multi-Eiha. Weak!
AS: Block Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 23 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Multi-Eiha. Weak!
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Haru Okumura can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Ann Takamaki can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
<poem>It seems Akechi didn't quite take the bait the way Haru was hoping, but the Phantoms do manage to recover their footing just a bit, even through Akechi's trap. Still, they can't keep their guard down. Akechi may not be the Black Mask, but he ''will'' do whatever it takes to close this case.

Haru remains stanced - prepared to follow along with Queen's plan, when... he brings out an oversized net?! At the same time, arrows rain in from his Persona, so Haru has to think fast. Throwing her axe through the net like a hatchet to cut an opening, she rolls out and away from at most of the arrows - though once lands its mark through her shoulder as she rises back up.

"Is that how you present yourself when the cameras stop rolling?" Haru asks, as he taunts the victims of his.. pitfall trap. "I'm starting to dislike your attitude!" Haru points an accusing finger Akechi's way. Joker suggests helping Queen out and Haru quickly nods. "Got it, Joker. Don't worry, Queen... I'm coming! She swings her axe around. "Might be a little rough, though~" She swings, and swings - and sure enough, with enough effort, she gets through the sticky custard - and reaches a hand out for Makoto to help her out. "Now, let's give him a little payback, shall we, Queen?

While she's doing that, Haru keeps Milady focused on Akechi. "His Persona has plenty of firepower in its own right... but we can match him in marksmanship, can't we, Milady?" Haru asks, with a flourish of her arm. "Fire away!" Milady's dress twirls, and from it, comes a deadly dance of bullets headed straight for Akechi and Robin Hood!
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Haru Okumura has used the Slash skill You shouldn't annoy a girl with an axe! on Goro Akechi!
AS: Persona! Haru Okumura has used the Pierce skill Triple Down on Detective Prince PenPen! 3 Hits!
AS: Haru Okumura's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Detective Prince PenPen takes 27 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's Triple Down.
AS: Avoid Best! Detective Prince PenPen takes 27 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's Triple Down.
AS: Haru Okumura spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Avoid Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 45 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's Triple Down.

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
''Sticks and stones...''

Panther, professional Phantom Thief with three - ''three'' - successful heists to her name, responds with the eloquence and grace of a femme fatale:

"Blehhhhhhhhh."

By sticking out her tongue at Goro Akechi, Detective Prince.

And of course as is the way of things--

"GACK! NET!"

--she pays for it immediately.

But, it's -so- worth it.

FLUMPF goes Ann, caught within the weighted ropes of Akechi's cleverly cartoonish cognitive capture. Sprawled out in an inelegant splay of limbs, the blonde cat burglar groans in annoyance and some mild confusion as she pulls against that netting.

"Wh-what the heck," she complains, "is this some kind of cartoon thing--?!"

The magics of Yusuke's Persona, however, are coursing through her. She pushes against those ropes, trying to pry an opening as vigor and speed within her redouble--

just in time to see

A) A FRIGGIN LASER GUN ("W-wait, is that a toy gun--!?")

B) A friggin Persona which, despite not meriting the All Caps of Alarm, is still very much pointing a giant bow at her

She'd muse as to the weirdly childish nature of that Persona - it DOES stand out, especially with how it reminds her of a certain Kansas-raised alien superhero - but, well.

"Oh crap oh crap oh crap crap crap--!!"

THOK!

THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK!

She's a bit preoccupied.

Arrows rain down. And Panther cries out in sharp pain even as Carmen protects her physical body from the brunt of the assault, her (and her servants) shoving forward to shield her. Pink lips twisting in a grimace, she clenches tightly onto that netting just as Joker does.

"Oh -- that is IT!"

And then it all just IGNITES.

Rope catches fire, and spreads RAPIDLY throughout the netting, intent to burn it ALL away as Ann pulls herself up in narrow-eyed frustration and anger, pushing stray locks of platinum from her narrow-eyed glare. Did she hear Ren?

"Let's GO, Joker!!"

Apparently so -- considering she -immediately- starts to break into a rightward run, becoming a smear of red leather and angry blues. She's about to mount an offensive, when--

"W-- watch out!!"

That TARP TRAP gives way underneath Makoto. Ann's eyes widen. And, without hesitation, she suddenly pivots, breaking out into a slide across the Parade Grounds. Her whip manifests as she drags across the hard grounds that was so recently the site of a hard-fought battle against a cognitive cohort of war machines.

"Queen! Catch!!"

And as Noir cuts away at the custard, with a snap-CRACK Panther swings that whip outward, intent to try to snare Makoto by the waist. "I'm so so sorry about this -- NNNG''GAH''!!"

And YANK, to help drag her -straight- out of that sticky-custard hellhole before she can get well and truly stuck. It's not quite a success -- but she does at least manage to get keep Queen from falling -completely- into the pit, just in time for Noir to clear away the custard and get her out.

In the meantime:

"Hey! You jerk!"

Ann comes to a rolling stop, just in time to swing her hand out, SMG suddenly in hand. And any floodlights the others -don't- get?

She's firing on, liberally, in that usual, SHOOT THE ENTIRE AIRSPACE way of hers. Akechi better watch where he's stepping!!

"What the heck is your problem, anyway?!"

Joker's right. This guy needs to be taken down a peg or ten.

Who uses custard for evil...?!

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill Agilao on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Weapon! Ann Takamaki has used the Pierce skill Trooper SMG on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Ann Takamaki's turn has ended.
AS: Ann Takamaki spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round! SP +8! Healed 20!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 90 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Agilao.
AS: Block Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 9 Pierce damage from Ann Takamaki's Trooper SMG.

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
The good news is Akechi did not, in fact, leave the landmines intact. The bad news is he had something else of the sort lined up, and if it was set up to catch anyone, it was definitely Queen with Johanna's focus on mobility. Akechi leaps away from her attack, and her momentum carries her past him, but as Makoto tries to pull up Johanna's wheels lose traction and Queen lets out a gasp of shock. "What?!"

Johanna is falling, and at the same time a can is hurled toward her and Makoto lifts an arm to protect her eyes. This turns out to be a mistake, as she is covered in... custard? Very sticky custard. She hears Ann call, and flails her free arm behind her, managing to grab onto the whip and is yanked clear of the pit and lands roughly on the ground, stuck, while Johanna shatters apart at the bottom of the pit trap, and Makoto winces. The rough landing hurt, and now she's trapped-

But not for long, as Noir comes and brings her axe and cuts her free, and she takes Haru's offered hand.

"Thanks, both of you. I can't believe I fell for that..."

Still, for all the lightheartedness of his approach, it's clear Akechi isn't purely joking around. Haru and Ann are both already hurting, she can tell. She frowns, it's six to one, but they can't get cocky.

"Right. Payback sounds great right now... but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Johanna!"

The bike manifests again, and Makoto does not get on this time, in case the remaining custard sticks her to her Persona, but she reaches to rev her engine. "Rakukaja! Diarama!"

A defensive aura washes over Haru, while a healing one rains down on Ann, hoping to keep them both in the fight a little longer, before Makoto focuses her eyes on Akechi. "As for you, Detective..." Makoto casts a look toward the master of Robin Hood, her eyes full of anger and fire.

Fire that her eyes lacked, not so long ago.

"Take this! Frei!"

With that, Johanna's engines rev again, and a plume of nuclear fire descends toward Akechi, while Makoto watches how he reacts. "Noir... Get ready to intercept when he dodges." Her voice is a whisper to Haru alone. She knows how athletic Akechi is now... may as well take advantage of it.

After all, if Akechi has the advantage of preparation, the Phantoms have the advantage of teamwork.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Ann Takamaki!
AS: Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Rakukaja on Haru Okumura!
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Frei on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Makoto Niijima: Atk_Dn removed!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Shift! Haru Okumura can use another Weak skill this round! SP +8! Healed 20!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 26 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Frei.
AS: Blast added!
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 65 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Diarama.

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Joker is correct, they absolutely outnumber him. Which is perhaps why he thought to even the odds in his advantage as much as possible. He is strong, apparently, but certainly not ''so'' arrogant as to think he can best them straight up. The snort-laugh from Joker does cause an eye to twitch, not that anyone ''can see it'' right now. Not even to mention Panther sticking her tongue out. "... Childish to the last, I see."

The net however burns, and Akechi has to leap backwards, shielding his eyes against the hot flash of Panther's ''being done with this''.

Fox calls out his challenge and the Detective Prince turns to face him. As Fox gets closer, he'll see that his blade hardly seems a blade at all. More like something Space Pirates from science fiction might wield. A glowing saber of light. A cut of his katana slips in to stab at an epaulette, before he bats his saber up to lock with his katana. "Certainly." He smiles under the mask.

Joker stays back, trying to articulate a later phase of the plan, and Akechi smiles at that, "I'd like to see you try." His eyes, not facing the 'sun' aren't so hindered as theirs are, but as he moves, Akechi then clashes back against Fox Fox, before angling his strike and suddenly shoving him back with the pommel.

All it takes is a misplaced step, as they feel something underfoot which they couldn't see at all before. They may have time to look down and see- a Crimson Magatama with a Kanji for what's that symbol? Is it... HELL!? Which is now glowing red hot, before it detonates into a wave of roaring flame.

"No appreciation for the time I spent putting this all together, just for you?" Akechi says towards Fox, at the idea of 'showboating'. "I'm disappointed." Before Akechi cheerily responds to Noir, "It's how I present myself to wanton criminals who would deny others their free will."

Meanwhile, Belle surges forward, rifle in hand, as she takes shots at the flood lights. The glass breaks in one, sputtering, before another goes out entirely. It's working! Then a foot snags against a hidden wire, so delicately thin, as it snaps.

And an object just falls. It looks like a strange metallic slinky atop a small pole, but as it does, it begins to spark and then, ZAPPPPPPPPPP as a Tesla Coil just sparks lightning all over for an attempt to rudely taze Belle, "It seems you found your motivation after all. A shame." Is he really disappointed by it though?

One would swear he's enjoying the challenge of them fighting back.

And then Arsene unleashes his tri-fold burst of cursed magic. The first staggers him, as the second is sliced by his saber, and the third causes the light to dim, as he nearly falls from the repeated assault against his weakness.

But Joker by going left, feels something under his foot. Look down Joker. You just stepped on an object with a smiling happy face. "One of my favorites." Akechi says, strained as he's recovering, "That would be the Happy-" He says with a cheerfully smug tone, as suddenly light energy streams out into a detonation of happy faces that tries to take Joker by storm. "-Bomb. Though I can't imagine you're all that thrilled at the moment." He knows ''he'' is though, and that's what's important.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Then as if in retaliation, Milady begins firing with its gatling guns, and Akechi is suddenly like a shadow against the brightness of the light. He's here - then there as he zips from place to place across the field of traps he set up.

But at the last moment, Robin Hood comes out and has to defend him against the final salvo. The bullets pepper his muscular form, as he shakes at the solid hit. "Aha, did you think I came here afraid of a little roughhousing?" He says with a soft chuckle, as a hand is placed to his Mask, "ROBIN HOOD!"

And the Persona reasserts himself, pivoting around, his Golden Bow sporting two arrows nocked at once, that they fire straight at Milady, trying to impale the Persona outright.

'Hey! You jerk!'

"Ah." And Panther does the time honored ''spray and pray'' towards the floodlights, as more and more of them gutter out between Panther and Belle's efforts. Akechi does in fact have to raise his saber, slicing into the sudden stream of bullets to keep himself out of harm's way as they seem to melt against the blade. Or do they? It's hard to say right now. It at least doesn't ''seem'' to be acting like a true blade of light, as in it was solid enough for Fox's Katana to clash against, and didn't melt it outright.

A hiss. What even triggered it? Proximity? A trip wire? It's hard to even say, but one might get a glimpse of a pressurized bottle of air, before a sudden intense blast of wind attempts to buffet Panther with the force of a Cannonade. "Problems? I wouldn't say I have any problems at the moment." He chuckles, smugly before he asks back, "Can you say the same?"

What a prick.

Queen newly freed from the efforts of others immediately sets about with the support, indeed showing that while he has the advantage of preparation, their teamwork sets them apart. "You're just delaying the inevitable." He remarks, before suddenly she sends Nuclear Fire his way. The flash of nuclear energy is something he has to shield his eyes against again, as he quickly tries to leap away.

Landing solidly, he suddenly grabs his toyetic ray gun again, and this time fires at- Fox?! Wait no. It strikes his katana blade, and against the metal, the blast is diverted towards Queen to attempt to strike her flanks! "You say that as if I'm already cornered."

With the lights gone, that crate now stands as the only prominent landmark. Others will come into view soon, perhaps, to make dodging the traps easier. But is that large crate something he's using for storage for all of his Cognitive objects? Or is it another enticing trap?

"Well come on then... show me what you've truly got, Phantom Thieves. And I'll show you just how my skills exceed yours."

</poem>
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Fire skill Quite the mistake stepping on my: Hell Magatama on Yusuke
Kitagawa!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Elec skill Aha that certainly was my: Tesla Coil on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Light skill Well well you've set off my: Happy Bomb! on Ren Amamiya!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Pierce skill Double Shot on Haru Okumura! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Wind skill Oh dear I believe you triggered my: Air Cannon! on Ann
Takamaki!
AS: Weapon! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Pierce skill Moebius Blast on Makoto Niijima! 2 Hits!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen: Blast removed!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 38 Light damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Well well you've set off my: Happy
Bomb!. Weak! Avoid Light!
AS: Haze added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 55 Elec damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Aha that certainly was my: Tesla
Coil.
AS: Paralyze added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ann Takamaki takes 82 Wind damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Oh dear I believe you triggered my:
Air Cannon!.
AS: Counter Best! Makoto Niijima takes 37 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Moebius Blast.
AS: COUNTER! Detective Prince PenPen takes 19 Earth damage in return for their attack!
AS: Counter Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 67 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Moebius Blast. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Detective Prince PenPen takes 14 Earth damage in return for their attack!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 73 Fire damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Quite the mistake stepping on my:
Hell Magatama. Weak!
AS: Haze added!
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Rakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!
AS: Block Worst! Haru Okumura takes 42 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Double Shot.
AS: Bind added!
AS: Block Worst! Haru Okumura takes 42 Pierce damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Double Shot.
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes on Yusuke Kitagawa,
Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima, and Haru Okumura!
AS: Persona! Detective Prince PenPen has used the Almighty skill Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes on Ann Takamaki and
Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Detective Prince PenPen's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes.
AS: Atk_Dn removed!
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 8 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes.
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes.
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes.
AS: Detective Prince PenPen has set a trigger!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Robin Hood is a name Joker will have to remember. They've been reading a lot about the Personas they and their friends have lately. If they can find some literature about Akechi's, maybe they can learn something new about him. ...Honestly, just the look of Robin Hood says a lot, with that tokusatsu-meets-Western superhero vibe to him... Not to mention the ray gun, the almost comical traps...

...For all that Akechi likes to present himself as cool and mature and grown-up--for all that he calls ''them'' childish, not unfairly--he has a surprisingly childish side of his own, huh? Maybe that's why he's so eager for a rivalry...

There is a feel of something under his foot. Joker doesn't even look--that smugly cheerful smile of Akechi's prompts them to leap forward into a forward roll as the 'Happy Bomb' explodes. A good thing for them; even an indirect blast of light energy burns at their coat. The net is burned in their wake. So much for that idea, but it's now time for the next. They shoot a glance across the parade grounds as their friends struggle. Akechi's ''very'' well-prepared, and if this is a game to him, it's clearly one he plans to win. But as Joker is trying to figure out their next move...

''I'll show you just how my skills exceed yours,'' Akechi boasts, while moving that light saber of his so quickly he cuts down Panther's spray-and-pray bullets.

Joker's eyes narrow. He isn't the one in the black mask. That's obvious now. Even Joker, with the power of the Wild Card, doesn't change the way they look when they call up alternate Personas, so with not just completely different cognitive costumes but also completely different Personas, there's no reason that Akechi and the Black Mask are the same. Except--

They continue to sound ''just like each other''... and now Joker's seen them use the same technique, too. And both with swords... ...though Akechi is, for some reason, choosing to wield his in his ''right'' hand.

They shelve that thought. Focus. The floodlights are out, so it's easier to see now--and one thing that comes into view is that crate from earlier. Joker hadn't given it a second thought at the time, thinking it something along the lines of what Shadow Kobayakawa had hidden in before, but when they look at it again with their Third Eye, it glows...

...and within that glow is the contours of a Psycho-Bomb, set to go off once the crate is opened.

Joker shoots a glance at Fox dueling with Akechi, with Belle hit by that Tesla trap, at Robin Hood arrowing down Milady, at Akechi firing his laser gun at Queen, at Panther getting blown by that Air Cannon, all while Akechi smugs it up at ''all'' of them. Giving out orders had the obvious downside earlier of Akechi overhearing and being able to counter. But if they can take him by surprise...

They clutch their mask, whirling in place as a new Persona crashes into the forefront of their mind. Mona might not be here, but the representation of their bond comes forth all the same as Joker calls, "Cait Sith!!"

An orange Puss-in-Boots materializes, waving a sword of his own. But rather than slice at Akechi with it... he sweeps it back, and with a grand swing, SLAMS the flat of it into the crate with the intent to send it hurtling towards the second Detective Prince.

"Clear!!" Joker shouts to his friends.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Slash skill Mighty Swing on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Ren Amamiya regains 10 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.
AS: Persona! Junes has used the Elec skill ~Psycho-Bomb~ on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Junes's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Detective Prince PenPen takes 61 Slash damage from Ren Amamiya's Mighty Swing. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 81 Elec damage from Junes's ~Psycho-Bomb~. Critical Hit!
AS: Bind added!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Fox's eyes widen behind his mask as he sees Akechi draw ''laser'' instead of steel, and is inwardly relieved when their blades cross instead of his being cut clean through. He might have an eloquent response to the other's banter, but the pommel to his chest reduces that to a grunt as he stumbles back, wind forced from his lungs. As he catches his breath, he glances down in time to see the magatama at his feet begin to glow alarmingly, and tries to throw himself to the side of the blast, instead being picked up and flung aside by it.

He coughs, struggling to his feet - and then the last of the floodlights is shot out, and darkness plunges over the arena. Blinking the spots out of his eyes, Fox looks around - in time to hear Joker call for them to clear out.

He acceeds to the order, stepping sharply backwards from where Akechi's white-and-gold spectacle stands and dropping his hand to his now-resheathed blade. He exhales, forcing himself to wait for their foe to advance.
Junes has left for Staff Lounge.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Iaijutsu Stance on Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 8 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Iaijutsu Stance.
AS: Atk_Up and Reflect_Phys added!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
With many of the spotlights taken out, Belle's eyesight finally begins to clear. Queen is being rescued from that pitfall, with help from Noir and Panther. While Fox and Joker are focusing on keeping Akechi occupied. Though not so occupied that he doesn't address Belle directly.

Her motivation? A shame? "Well it's not like I was just going to stand around and wait for you to arrest her! That wouldn't be very thief-like." Probably, she thinks. Unless there was some sneaky ulterior motive to getting caught. But that's probably not what's going on here.

Although if Belle had considered that motive beforehand, she might have anticipated a tazing. But as it stands, the tripwire initially surprises her. The strange object falling towards her even more so as Belle has no clue what it is. So she simply jumps back to try and avoid a direct hit.

The blast of electricity didn't need a direct hit though, zapping the area around it and catching Belle at its edges. Belle shakes under the brief, intense electrical shock, before it passes and she's left slightly smoking.

Belle stumbles for a moment, shaking her head a little as she still feels a light tingle throughout her body. As she takes a moment to recover, she asks Akechi, "Is this really all that your plan involves? It's like you're more interested in playing with us instead of trying to take us in!!"

There definitely has to be more to this. This is Goro Akechi!

And that's when Belle spots the ominous looking crate, "Is that...!?" Maybe that's the secret to Akechi's ingenious plan!? They should take care of it, quickly!

Joker's already on it though, aiming to send the crate flying at Akechi. Belle can't see what it is, but she trusts that they have a good reason for doing so! And at this point, trying to limit Akechi's movements to make dealing with it harder is her best bet, "Cendrillon!"

As Belle calls out the belle of the ball, the ornately dressed Cendrillon appears in a burst of blue flame. She rises into the air above Belle, arms crossed in front of her. Before she twirls, stretching her arms out as bolts of golden light appear in the air around Akechi, before darting in towards him from multiple directions.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Light skill Makouga on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 57 Light damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Makouga. Resist!
AS: Haze added! Bind removed! Explosion! 50 damage!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa spends Limit on Shift! Ren Amamiya can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
<poem>"He must be feeling quite desperate against this many of us, if he's willing to resort to such cheap tricks, don't you think?" Noir can't help but smile. "But that won't stop us~ Nice save, Panther!" Queen responds by firing off a nuclear blast towards Akechi, and telling Haru to be ready to intercept. "Right... I won't keep my eyes off him for a second." She nods, resolutely.

Milady fires, and it's as if Akechi phases from the shadows to the light in dodging them. "He's fast!" Haru's eyes widen. The Phantoms might have teamwork going for them, but Akechi can match them in every area of combat, handling this many opponents at once. "Is that what this is to you?" Noir shoots back, when Akechi calls it roughhousing. "A game?"

Unfortunately, Akechi's mockery proves to be quite effective - his shot is already lined up for Milady, and there's little Haru can do to defend against it. The arrows fly directly ''through'' the Persona, robbing her of her corporeal form for the moment. "Milady!!" Haru calls, feeling the pain of her 'other self' course through her own body...

But she can still fight. With the headlights shot out, Akechi no longer holds the same advantage he had before. She swaps her axe for her grenade launcher, waiting for just the right time, when he's most vulnerable after Joker's gambit with the Psycho-Bomb within the crate - and then firing off a large satisfying ''BOOM'' directly for the Detective Prince! "Satisfied yet, Detective Prince?"
</poem>

AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Detective Prince PenPen's Clear the Spots Out Of Your Eyes.
AS: Weapon! Haru Okumura has used the Pierce skill How's this? Painful? on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Weapon! Haru Okumura has used the Pierce skill How's this? Painful? on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Haru Okumura's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 87 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's How's this? Painful?. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 46 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's How's this? Painful?.

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
''Problems? I wouldn't say I have any problems at the moment.''

"Oh yeah RIGHT--"

Ann Takamaki's tirade never quite gets the chance to get off the ground. Because as soon as she takes a defiant, heel-clicking -stomp- forward, she hears a

*hss*

and immediately grimaces.

"Aw, come on--!"

Which is about when a big bundle of pressurized air hits her in the gut like an invisible runaway ram, forcing the air and any expletives Panther may have for the Detective Prince straight out of her lungs just as efficiently as it forces her footing straight off of the earth. With a strangled gasp Ann gets to learn the exquisite joys of being on the end of a ragdoll physics moment, of which there's really only debatably one:

"ghh--"

WHUD

"--hk!"

It has to end -eventually-.

Ann hits the ground shoulder-first in an ugly impact, rebounding with one brief bounce before she goes spinning out into a rolling stop across the Parade Grounds, dust and dirt kicked up in her wake. It -hurts-; for a second, she can't even breath, sucking air back into her lungs with a burning gasp. But as her vision stops swimming, as her gloves slap against pavement, the Phantom Thief--

"h-hah... haha..."

--laughs?

"Nnngghh... saying... saying you don't have a problem... and then g-going... through all this trouble and effort... j-just to try to catch us...?"

Panther stands up, despite the pain, and shows her defiance -- by giving the most dismissive of all gestures:

''The hair flip.''

"Give me a break, you are ''so full of it''!"

The crate. She notices immediately. Maybe there are more traps, maybe -that- is a trap too -- but Joker has their eye on it.

And that means it's time to follow their play and improvise on the fly. Like all the best heists.

"You're ''totally'' right, Noir," says Panther, eyes narrowed, bearing up full of fiery wrath. "He's not fooling ''anyone''. And, you know?" Cait Sith manifests. Fox prepares himself in that ready stance, aiming to counter whatever Akechi might throw his way; Belle is already backing Joker's move. And Panther follows suit, blue flames roaring around her as she takes a firm grip of her mask.

"High strung guys who try to act like they're above it all--"

And as Carmen manifests beside Cendrillon, she blows Akechi a kiss -- and then swings both her servants forward on their viny, thorn-riddled leashes. The crate is crushed by Cait Sith's powerful swing -just- about the time Carmen's servitors SMACK together, heart-head to heart-head, the clash of those heavy metal skulls creating a spray of sparks--

--sparks that manifest in a billowy gout of flame to flow through and -around- Akechi, intent to keep him from just -escaping- a taste of his own medicine.

"--are the WORST!"

And it must be said, Ann remains in the background, giving a big thumbs down.

"And ray guns? ''So lame''!"

She'd be completely confused and dismayed about how Akechi has functioning ENERGY GUNS and LIGHT SABERS but well

she's just so honkin' mad right now you guys

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill Maragi on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Ann Takamaki's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Detective Prince PenPen takes 55 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Maragi.
AS: Haze added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
"...You're enjoying this." Makoto says, sharply towards Akechi. The same way he seemed to enjoy cornering her earlier- and how she imagines he enjoys harassing Ren. "At least you'll get something out of this, then." Still, Queen sounds angry. Angry that she once again fell for another of Akechi's simple, blatant traps. She's sure if he knew he were Makoto, he would be mocking her for being so easy to catch.

On the upside, now understanding how much of a trickster Akechi is proving to be, she's not caught totally by surprise by Akechi's shots reflecting off Fox's katana, turning quickly to flip her scarf to deflect some of the blast- suddenly enchanted by earth magic. That armour she picked up in Kaneshiro's palace is coming in handy already, but it's not perfect. She deflects the worst of the first shot, but doesn't do as well against the second, as that shot pierces cleanly, forcing Makoto to stumble back as the shot draws blood. Tsk...

"Maybe. But you can only outlast us so long, and you can only have so many traps. Your edge is limited- you're going to have to make a decisive move soon. If you don't, you don't have a chance of winning."

But she can hear that he's getting under their skin. "Noir. He wants us angry, to get sloppy. Stay angry but stay focused, got it!?"

But she also watches as Panther gets hit hard again, and Queen grimaces. "Panther!? Are you okay?" ...Outlasting is, after all, reliant on outlasting him, especially if the team are taking their share of beatings. She can't risk getting as close as she'd like, either, given the traps across the battlefield.

And so she reaches for her hip and her revolver manifests in her hand, as she suddenly draws it and fires from the hip at Akechi, hoping to catch him off guard.

"...We're about evenly matched right now, but Belle is still new and we don't know what else he has up his sleeve." She murmurs to Joker, when the opportunity arises. "How do you want to play this? Take him down, or get us out?"
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Makoto Niijima has used the Pierce skill Fast Draw on Goro Akechi!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Makoto Niijima cancels 1 attacks on Goro Akechi.
AS: Weapon! Makoto Niijima has used the Pierce skill Fast Draw on Detective Prince PenPen!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Detective Prince PenPen takes 70 Pierce damage from Makoto Niijima's Fast Draw. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Hardly!" Is his answer to Noir, but does it sound like he's losing composure some? Perhaps he is growing a little desperate, "I'm only leveling the playing field." He says of his 'cheap tricks.' The dismissive hairflip... telling him he's full of it. "Shut up." He snarls at Panther.

Perhaps he does have a childish side at that. After all, is proving his skills exceed theirs so important? A matter of pride? Unfortunately, Akechi couldn't have counted for Joker's Third Eye. And thus when Joker switches to Cait Sith, complete with Puss-in-Boots, Akechi turns to face him.

Only to see a crate hurling right at him. His eyes widen in alarm, and suddenly he leaps backwards! Far enough that the swing almost misses him. Almost.

Because at that moment, a Psycho-Bomb trap that he'd hidden springs, with swirls of psychic energy with eyes, suddenly blasting him backwards, far enough to hit the wall. Growling, he stumbles to his feet. "Joker-!" Another point to Joker, it seems. Before Belle accuses him of being more interested in playing with them, which Noir follows up on in accusation. "... Just keep believing that." He seems to be catching his second wind, from the moment of that, when Belle blasts him with bolts of Golden Light.

And to this he grunts, as the light more than simply scours his uniform, but he looks mildly discombobulated from the combination of back to back to back attacks, one after another. "But I'll have you in custody yet."

Which is when Noir fires a grenade at him. And he tries to shoot it out of the air, succeeding instead only at detonating it far too close, as the shockwave slams him against the wall again, right as Panther's wave of flame strikes the side of his blade but as it splits, he finds himself down on a knee. "As if YOU could ever manage it!" He shouts back right as Queen's bullet hits the side of his red mask. He's not even shouting at the rest of what Panther said, not at being full of it, not at being a high strung guy acting like he's above all. (Even if that stings)

But calling his ray gun ''lame''.

And Queen's words, evaluating his plan, dissecting his advantage are getting under his skin quickly.

"I'll show you just who you're messing with...!" He sounds, actually angry? Well Ren knows how competitive he is. And indeed, despite knocking him down, and having him surrounded now, he tries to get up again, like he's going to try and ignore the sudden turn of fortune and attempt to power through.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> The Real Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
And then, out of nowhere, a sudden gunshot rings out. The Detective Prince pivots abruptly, as if to parry it with his blade. Only to gasp, and stagger, his blade dropping from his hand. His outfit, normally white in most places, has another spot of red near his left shoulder, right above his heart. "W... Who?" As he stumbles, then wavers, then falls to a knee, clutching the wound with a white gloved hand.

Blooming Villain (Strikers Version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jERcvK8Sb90

That's when ''he'' descends, like a wraith wreathed in crimson and black, eyes gleaming through scarlet lenses. In one hand, a pistol, still smoking. In the other? A saw-toothed blade. "Ahaha-! AHAHAHA-! It's almost ''too'' funny." As he turns to look at Joker, "That you actually came back here, after the beating I gave you."

A wide grin can be seen beneath the wellspring of cognitive flame beneath it. "Alright then... I'll play with you again. It'll be more fun with everyone else too. Two minutes... I'll give you two minutes to impress me."

Then it moves, like an ink smear against the background of reality, upon Joker in seconds, saw tooth blade swinging to smash his dagger away from his guard, before raising his pistol, firing twice, then casually swinging his gun around he fires at a nearby wall as it the bullet ricochets around towards Belle. "But I doubt you'll last THIRTY SECONDS!"

Vaulting off of him, he dives towards Fox with a chaotic rush of sword-work, before seemingly vanishing then reappearing, behind Panther. "Peekaboo." He smiles, as he fires at point blank range to try and catch her off-guard, before zipping over to Noir, forcing her to put her guard up quickly if she doesn't want to be cut down by that serrated blade.

And his other arm swings up, firing twice at Queen with deadly accurate shots, before he quickly moves over near...

The Detective Prince seems to be staggering to grasp his blade again, right as Black Mask stands right over him, "Here let me help you with that." He says with a wicked cheer, as he raises his blade, as if to impale him right through.

Objective: Secure Your Escape! This isn't a fight that can be won.
Sub-Objective: Save Akechi(???) If you want. He has been kind of a jerk.

</poem>
AS: The Real Black Mask sets off Detective Prince PenPen's trigger! 1800 damage!
AS: The Real Black Mask has readied for combat as Commandant Kobayakawa's Worst Nightmare: The One in the Black Mask! He
is now fully healed! Atk_Up added! Ready for 6 opponents!
AS: Weapon! The Real Black Mask has used the Pierce skill Double Tap on Ren Amamiya! 2 Hits!
AS: Aggression: The Real Black Mask gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 5 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! The Real Black Mask has used the Slash skill Wild Abandon on Yusuke Kitagawa! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 4 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: That attack doesn't seem to match one on your list.
AS: That attack doesn't seem to match one on your list.
AS: Weapon! The Real Black Mask has used the Slash skill Saw Through on Haru Okumura!
AS: You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! The Real Black Mask has used the Pierce skill Double Tap on Makoto Niijima! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! The Real Black Mask has used the Recovery skill Camouflage on The Real Black Mask!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: The Real Black Mask's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 51 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Double Tap.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 63 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Double Tap.
AS: Block Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 56 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Double Tap.
AS: Block Neutral! Makoto Niijima takes 76 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Double Tap. Critical Hit!
AS: Counter Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 45 Slash damage from The Real Black Mask's Wild Abandon.
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! The Real Black Mask takes 54 Slash damage in return for his attack!
AS: Counter Neutral! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 51 Slash damage from The Real Black Mask's Wild Abandon.
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! The Real Black Mask takes 49 Slash damage in return for his attack!
AS: Block Best! Haru Okumura takes 166 Slash damage from The Real Black Mask's Saw Through. Critical Hit!
AS: Take! The Real Black Mask takes 99 Recovery healing from The Real Black Mask's Camouflage.
AS: Eclipse added!
AS: Weapon! The Real Black Mask has used the Pierce skill Relentless Ricochet on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Aggression: The Real Black Mask gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 5 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: The Real Black Mask's turn has ended.
AS: Weapon! The Real Black Mask has used the Pierce skill Dispose on Ann Takamaki! 2 Hits!
AS: Aggression: The Real Black Mask gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 5 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: The Real Black Mask: Atk_Up removed!
AS: The Real Black Mask's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Ann Takamaki takes 63 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Dispose.
AS: Avoid Best! Ann Takamaki takes 49 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Dispose.
AS: Counter Neutral! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 78 Pierce damage from The Real Black Mask's Relentless Ricochet.
AS: COUNTER! The Real Black Mask takes 21 Pierce damage in return for his attack!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''It's like you're more interested in playing with us instead of trying to take us in!!'' Belle shouts, and Joker silently agrees. So it's not just them who sees it. Noir likewise calls him out on just messing around while Makoto observes that he's enjoying this, and Panther goes even further, saying he's full of it.

It must be said, Joker grins broadly when Panther calls Akechi 'high strung' and 'lame.' She's still the funniest friend they have.

Still, during the counter-assault, Queen comes close and murmurs to them. "We can't let him push us around. It'll just embolden him for next time," they murmur back as fire entraps and grenades fly and bombs explode. "If this knocks him down, let's move in for a hold-up."

It doesn't happen that way--but Akechi ''is'' losing his composure rather rapidly now that he's being repeatedly called out. Did he think he'd be able to take all of them out so easily that he'd be done by now? Even knowing how outnumbered he is? Or did he overestimate how effective his traps would be?

Joker is already thinking of an alternate idea when--

''BANG''.

Their eyes fly wide behind their mask as crimson blooms on Akechi's shoulder. ''Who?!'' he gasps--but Joker already knows. Even before they descend. Even before they cackle. Even before their eyes meet across the battlefield.

The one in the black mask. Who gives them all two minutes to "play" with them, but predicting not even thirty seconds.

"RUN!!" Joker roars to the others, already calling their Persona forward. That saves their life; the one in the black mask knocks their dagger aside and opens fire on them just in time to gun down Cait Sith. Joker snarls in pain from the psychic resonance, but they'll take this over the alternative.

"Pour everything you've got in a fighting retreat! Just GO!" Joker reiterates, already reaching for tools of the Phantom Thieves trade to help with this. The Black Mask is already mowing through them all, and they honestly completely believe their prediction.

Before they can unleash them, though, the Black Mask looms over Akechi, struggling as he is. They draw their sawblade back as if to run him through--and in the moment, Joker completely believes that he will. That, once again, he will deal death here. It's that aura of theirs--that diabolical, maddening, hateful resonance. It doesn't allow for any of the doubt that will creep in later.

"Akechi!!" Joker calls, a sharp note of fear in their voice. They don't bother with a 'watch out!'; they don't even think; they act, diving towards him as the one in the Black Mask aims to skewer him on their serrated sword. As they turn, Cait Sith rematerializes and swoops in with them, bringing down his curved sword in sync with Joker's dagger to block the Black Mask's vicious thrust--

In one hit, the Persona is shattered. Joker snarls in pain, physically thrust back along with the blow--but they're not impaled, and neither is Akechi. The two of them are ''merely'' sent hurtling across the floor, dust billowing in their wake.

Mostly Joker's wake. Since he's holding Akechi close enough to bear the brunt of the attack on his own.

He'll jump to the defense of even the most detestable enemy if it means preventing a murder--

''clink, clink clink click''

--and to that end, Joker hurls out every single smoke bomb they've got towards the one in the Black Mask. When they explode, that'll be everyone's chance to give a parting shot and ''run for it''.

"GO!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
It does feel like they're getting the upperhand against Akechi! His efforts started out strong with the trap. But now that the Phantom Thieves have managed to get their footing after those initial problems, things are looking up!

A gunshot echoes through the large enclosed space of the Parade Grounds.

Belle glances around in surprise, as it clearly didn't come from any of them. So where did-

Belle's eyes are drawn back to Akechi as he groans in pain. Her eyes go wide at the sight of red blooming on his outfit, "Akechi-san!"

But before Belle can do anything, a new foe appears. Maniacal laughter echoing from behind the black mask. Still new, Belle has no idea who this person is...

But from the unease permeating her entire being, she can tell this person is DANGEROUS.

Which is only confirmed as he reveals himself as the one who gave Joker his recent injuries.

Belle is starting to sweat and she glances around rapidly, unsure of what they should do in this position. But her attention is brought back to Black Mask as he fires off a shot. Not directly at her, but the bullet amazingly ricochets off the wall. Belle is able to bring her rapier up to intercept the attack, but stumbles under the force. A single shot was that powerful!?

She can't fight this thing!

Joker says as much as they tell the group to run for it. Belle glances at the others, some looking a little worse for wear. Belle needs to help them... It's not her strong suit, but she says, "Cendrillon, help them out!"

The ashen Persona appears again, raising her hands in Queen and Noir's direction. A soft light envelops them for a moment, restoring some of their strength to make an escape easier.

Hopefully that's enough, as for now, it's all Belle can do as she sheathes her rapier. Joker's smoke bombs go off, providing some brief cover for them. Belle doesn't question it, her instincts telling her to turn and run!

</poem>
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa spends Limit on Exploit! Kasumi Yoshizawa can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Recovery skill Dia on Makoto Niijima!
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Recovery skill Dia on Haru Okumura!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa: Paralyze removed!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Fox watches Akechi as he responds to their barbs with increasing ire, and forces himself to maintain his cold patience as the Detective Prince advances towards them - but then --

-- There's another combatant. The Black Masked Man. ''Shooting Akechi''.

This has turned bad ''very'' quickly, and it's only Fox's focus on his observation and reaction that saves him as the Black Mask descends upon him, sawblade-sword promising to make a tasty kitsune carvery -

- there is a resounding CLANG-CLANG as Fox's katana intercepts Black Mask's strikes twice - though by the clenching of Fox's teeth, he did not enjoy the exchange of blows. As their foe flickers away from him, he gasps in relief and starts to move towards Belle as their newest and most inexperienced teammate, to try and protect her. "Goemon, unleash your power!" He calls out, and the painted Ronin swings his kiseru like a blade towards Black Mask.

It's a grand, wide strike that could cleave a field of tall grass in a single strike. Fox falls back near Belle, covering her retreat, before disappearing into the smoke cloud himself.
</poem>

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 63 Recovery healing from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Dia.
AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Slash skill Blade of Fury on The Real Black Mask! 3 Hits!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Best! The Real Black Mask takes 36 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Blade of Fury.
AS: COUNTER! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 23 Slash damage in return for his attack!
AS: Counter Neutral! The Real Black Mask takes 41 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Blade of Fury.
AS: COUNTER! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 19 Slash damage in return for his attack!
AS: Counter Worst! The Real Black Mask takes 46 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Blade of Fury.
AS: COUNTER! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 14 Slash damage in return for his attack!
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 68 Recovery healing from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Dia.
AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Exploit! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
...Has she really annoyed Akechi that much? It couldn't have been that easy, could it. Joker states that they need to teach Akechi that they won't be pushed around, and she nods. Queen is already preparing to act on Joker's goal-

When a wildcard emerges, and violently.

Makoto lets out a shocked gasp as the man who tried to kill Kaneshiro emerges. The sheer, overwhelming strength of the Black Mask. "No..."

As much as Akechi sucks, she didn't want him dead. He's doing good, even if his justice isn't hers... Even if they don't agree, they both want justice, right?

The moment of shock leaves her open, and a pair of bullets pierce her armour, with a terrifying accuracy. She moves her arm up to block, and as a result both bullets pierce her arm and shoulder, one landing far closer to her heart than Makoto would have liked, as she drops to her knees. If it weren't for Johanna's power.... she'd definitely not survive that. And that's not even using a Persona...

Joker moves, and Makoto has to follow the new plan without any communication. Fortunately, it's a simple one.

"MOVE! Panther, Belle, Fox, cover Joker and Akechi-kun! Noir, with me!" Despite the terror, Makoto is keeping her calm- but Fox moves to buy them time with a clash of blades. That's not good. "Johanna, lend me your strength!"

And once again, shielding and restorative magics flow over him, as the smoke bombs hit. "FOX, GO!"

Wait, is Makoto's plan for the Senpai to buy time for the others to escape, and hold off the Black Mask?

Fuck no. She's just the fastest mover of the bunch. She flips onto Johanna, and reaches out to grab Noir's arm and haul her bodily onto the persona- either behind her or awkwardly in front of her, whichever is easiest for Haru right now. "Don't let go of me. We're all getting out of here, got it? If you can, though... collapse the hall after us. I'm counting on you to watch our back." She has faith in the sheer explosive power Milady and Haru's grenade launcher can bring to bear."

Johanna's engines roar, as Makoto pushes her Persona to the limit to get them both out of there. She doesn't have a strategy for if the Black Mask can smash his way through a collapsed hallway AND keep up with her.

That may be when operation self sacrifice comes into play. She's hoping it doesn't come to that.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Rakukaja on Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Makoto Niijima's turn has ended.

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 104 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Diarama.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 8 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Rakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
They have him on the ropes. Ann can tell.

Maybe if they corner him they can get some answers out of -him-. Like how he even has a Persona -- or just what exactly he's been doing in Kobayakawa's Palace. Was it really just to try to ambush them--?

Carmen dissipating, Ann's whip unfurls. Eyes narrowed, she starts to approach Akechi.

"You've got a ''lot'' of explaining to do," she says lowly. She doesn't ''want'' to think Goro Akechi is a bad guy. Annoying, sure. Kind of an ass? Definitely. Not as cool as Naoto? Ann Takamaki, president of the Detective Prince Fanclub, would have to agree there. But every time she's heard him talking on TV, he sounds so genuine.

And that almost childlike heroism about his Persona and his weapons. What does it say about him?

"So just... stop already. Seriously, you're gonna get yourself--"

BANG

"--hurt?"

And there is Panther, left wide-eyed and completely bemused as Akechi falls to his knee, scarlet blooming at the white of his shoulder.

It's just like last time. It's just like--

''Ahaha-!''

"Oh no. No no no--"

That feeling. That WRONG feeling. It's him--!

The Black Mask - THE Black Mask - lands, offering them a caveat: entertain him for two minutes. And Ann Takamaki's immediate response?

"Yeah to heck with that!! Guys, we REALLY NEED TO LEAVE LIKE RIGHT NOW GO GO G--"

''Peakaboo.''

She's still turning with a sharp and wise pivot towards the exit when the black mask appears. A shot fires. Her eyes widen.

A spark of blue.

And Carmen catches the first shot, shattering not even half-a-second after manifesting from the impact. Ann is diving on reflex already.

Too late; the second bullet wings her hip, slicing through leather with a spatter of blood across the Parade Grounds. She stumbles, her balance thrown off by the force of being shot near point-blank.

"AHH!"

That barely-second delay Carmen afforded her might very well have saved her life from a much worse, much more fatal shot. But she still pays the price: having the mask of her psyche just -shatter- sends ringing reverberations through her skull; Ann coughs, blood drooling out her right nostril as she fumbles for footing.

Her whole world is a tinny ring of confusion drowning out the shouts and sounds of panic. Her vision is swimming, making it hard to see the others as she clutches her side. The others. The others! Are they okay?? Are they--

"Guys--" Ann chokes out, just in time to hear those roared words.

''RUN!! Pour everything you've got in a fighting retreat! Just GO!''

"J-Joker--?"

Sky blue eyes find focus just in time to see Ren.

Moving away from them.

Towards Akechi.

"Joker, no--!"

She wants to protest; but the wince of pain cuts her off. She wants to -stay there- and protect the first person to see her for her since Shiho.

''Cendrillon, help them out!''

She can't just go.

''Goemon, unleash your power!''

She can't just leave them!

She can't! She can't --

''MOVE!''

she ''can't''--

''Panther, Belle, Fox, cover Joker and Akechi-kun!''

she-- she--

"I -- I know! I... know...!"

She has to.

Blue fire ignites around her, as she shouts, plaintively.

"JOKER! We're meeting up at the usual place after this, okay?!"

Carmen manifests, drawing forth all the heat suffusing the Parade Grounds.

"So you -- you need to be there!! Or else--!"

All of it sparking towards a big, gobbling ball of fire.

"LIGHT HIM UP, CARMEN!"

And with one forward fling, Carmen hurls that ball like a ace pitcher, the broiling spheroid becoming a screaming lance of flame that bursts outward into an all-encompassing, all-concealing wall of broiling flames.

Ann doesn't stop to see if it works or not. She can't. Her whip is already hooking into the scaffolding above, sending her yanking towards the cover of the high ground to find her own escape route; it'll be more dangerous for all of them if they try to stay clumped. She knows the way. She just can't look back.

She just... needs to have faith.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
<poem>"You said it, Panther!" Haru chimes in. About Akechi not fooling anyone? About high-strung know it all guys being the worst? About ray guns being lame? Any of them, really! "I have to admit, he's getting under my skin a bit..." Haru says, when Makoto tells her to keep her anger focused. "But you're right! We can't let someone like him get the best of us~" And indeed, it seems like they ''are'' pushing back Akechi - with all luck, they'll be able to escape unscathed.

...Unfortunately, that luck has run out. Akechi is shot - but not just by ''her own'' hand. Another familiar figure approaches, the one from Kaneshiro's Palace. "That's... the Black Mask!" Haru gasps. The one who nearly killed Joker. And now he's ''here''! His swordplay is certainly impressive - Noir manages to grip her axe in time to parry his strike, but the exhaustion of battle is getting to her, especially with her Persona as wounded as she is - and he still manages a gash. "Ghhh...!" Noir grimaces, the only thing truly saving her is the fact that the Black Mask has moved on to new prey.

There's a malice here she had never felt from Akechi, and every member of the Phantoms is thinking the exact same thing right now. Run. Anything they can do to survive right now, they must. "Thank you, Belle...!" Haru calls, cradling her wounded arm, before climbing onto Johanna with Makoto. She'd never had the opportunity to ride the back of a motorcycle before, but unfortunately now is not really the time for a thrill ride...

"I'm right with you, Queen!" Haru nods, calling Milady back to her. "If it's firepower we need... Milady, ''bring it to bear''!" Above Johanna rises the elegant ballroom lady Persona - who is quickly obscured by so many missiles and gatling bullets collapsing the hall behind them to make Black Mask's hot pursuit all the more difficult. Haru can feel her strength fading with each shot... but they ''need'' to survive first.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Haru Okumura has used the Pierce skill Triple Down on Detective Prince PenPen! 3 Hits!
AS: Haru Okumura's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! The Real Black Mask takes 36 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's Triple Down.
AS: Block Neutral! The Real Black Mask takes 45 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's Triple Down. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! The Real Black Mask takes 36 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's Triple Down.

<Pose Tracker> The Real Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
Akechi has time to glance in alarm, looking utterly startled at the sword pointed at his back like a Sword of Damocles.

Which then falls far too swiftly for him to react. But not too swift... for someone. Joker grabs him, and hurtles him to the side.

Black Mask cleaves through Cait Sith with a precision that causes the Persona to bisect. Something which... Joker may remember from when Black Mask cleaved Angel in twain, but the blade swing cuts his Persona and he feels the indirectness of the slice from mere proximity.

"You... What are you doing?" Akechi asks Joker as if equally surprised by this outcome. It's like the anger has been fully replaced by confusion, even as Joker hurls out Smoke Bomb after Smoke Bomb. "I ambushed you!"

"What is this?" Black Mask says as if rage were building from them trying to escape, "You think you can get away from ME?!" And even in the thick smoke, there's the dimness of a single red eye, and the motion of a sword swinging as if to try and clear the smoke around him. "I'LL GUT YOU LIKE A GODDAMN FISH!"

And indeed he seems like he'll prove it, because even as Goemon swings at him, his blade arcs and Fox in his retreat feels the pain of every single swing of his Persona met by waves of berserker fury.

Thus it's a good thing that Belle and Queen are covering the retreat with the healing magic, they're going to need it. And the others cover Joker helping Akechi get away.

The smoke however, isn't thick enough, and the Black Mask leaps out, blade extended towards Joker, with a bellow of rage, "COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE S-!"

Right as that broiling spheroid from Carmen intercepts his movement, his words drowned out by the sudden all encompassing flame, and the gunfire salvo that collapses the hall behind Joker and Akechi.

It's long enough for the two to get away, just long enough.

While Akechi doesn't protest the save, perhaps as a ''practical matter''. He does look a little put out, but his expression smooths out from the agony of the gunshot wound, like he's reminding himself slowly, that this is what Joker - and the Phantom Thieves are like. As Panther proved trying to talk him down back there.

It's upsetting, infuriating, but he has to accept that he cannot say 'I refuse to be saved by you' because, as a matter of fact... he was saved by all of them.

It's only once they're so far away that the presence of Black Mask is so distant as to vanish, that Akechi tells Joker (perhaps sounding a little flustered), "I can... stand on my own. It wouldn't be... sporting for you to give yourselves away, taking me outside the Palace."

What does he mean? That taking him out would give away their identities. Even injured as he is, he won't accept that. Winning by taking advantage of his own ''vulnerability'' to have them reveal that.

And once he's on his feet, still holding his wound, he stares at Joker and any other Phantoms who are still closeby, "When we meet again... I won't lose to you."

As that competitive nature burns in his eye, before he looks deeper in the Palace, "And... I now have a lot to think about." As if he were ruminating upon the chain of events, "That man. Could it be?"

Despite it all... he does wait for them to leave the Palace, before he limps out from another direction.

"Damnit... DAMNIT!" He says to himself, as if angered by this outcome, "... How did a pissant like Kobayakawa manage a cognition like that..."

It went perfectly. ''Too perfectly''. After all... if that blade had fallen... well, there's no time to think about that.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''What are you doing? I ambushed you!''

"Shut up and run," Joker snaps, eyes still forward on the blazing red eye in the midst of the smoke--and arm still tight around Akechi's shoulders.

...which can't be great for his injury, but they'll both deal with the blood later. A little now is still better than the loads the Black Mask will make them both bleed if he catches them. Already he's trying to ''slice through smoke'', and in the moment, it wouldn't shock Joker if it actually worked.

Later, he'll wonder why he didn't summon his Persona to help with that. Right now, the only thing that matters is everyone getting to safety.

Their heart leaps into their throat when the Black Mask does ''exactly that'', leaping at them blade-first--only for Panther's fireball to BLAST into him and give Joker precisely the moment they need to drag Akechi up and run with them for the exit.

And, thank god or devil, they do seem to make it. Belle heals Queen and Noir to ease their escape; Fox and Panther unleash their respective strengths on the Black Mask before the former falls into the smoke with Belle and the latter whips herself up into an escape; Queen guns it with Noir at her back, and Noir bombs the exit, bringing it down at everyone's backs.

Joker smiles in relief to see it over their shoulder as they race with Akechi out of there. That smile grows only fonder when they hear Panther call to them in open concern. "I won't let you down!" they shout back.

Just as Ren accepted Ann for herself, so too did Ann accept Ren for themself. Not just her, but Ryuji, Yusuke, Morgana... They all heard out Ren's story and believed in their innocence. They haven't yet repeated that story of their arrest for Makoto, Haru, or Kasumi, granted, but that's beside the point right now. All of them are their dear friends. Joker won't let them die, and Joker won't hurt them by letting themself die here. Even Akechi... ... ... is not really a friend, per se... but THEY HAVE THEIR PRINCIPLES. If they risked their life to protect Kobayakawa, they're damn well not leaving Akechi for dead.

...

Soon enough, they're close to the exit. Akechi breaks away from them, a touch flustered; Joker lets them, expression now neutral as they tuck their hands into their pockets. 'Sporting,' huh... Well, that's consistent with the Akechi they know.

Sometimes people are just similar. That's all there is to it. It's got to be.

So when Akechi says he won't lose to them next time, Joker quirks a half-smile back. "That's my line," they state. Still, they pivot on one foot, coat billowing in their wake. "'Til next time, Detective."

They stride out of the Palace without looking back... because they know they can count on their friends to watch theirs.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-10-08: Ran and Kogoro

2026-10-25T21:41:16Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: 2026-10-08 Ran and Kogoro'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Goro Akechi]]
*'''Where:''' Red Light District - Crossroads Bar
*'''OOC Date:''' October 08, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 21, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Akechi comes by Bar Crossroads to see Ren at work as invited. The two have fun flirting while pretending not to know each other.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Having seen Morgana prowling the school grounds earlier that day, Ren decided that their afterschool activities for the day would be something to take up as much of their attention and focus as possible. For early afternoon, it was thus saxophone practice in Inokashira Park, and for the evening...

For the evening, they make sure to notify Goro that she's going to be working a shift at Bar Crossroads.

By the time he arrives, she's already made up and dressed elegantly in her kimono. (Even a simple look takes a ''long'' time to prepare, but Lala the ever-supportive always helps her out with getting the kimono on.) Goro no doubt associates the colors black and red with Ren Amamiya, and for good reason; Ran Umemura, however, is dressed in a forest green kimono held in place by a flower-strewn black obi. The kimono itself, a hand-me-down from a friend of Lala's, is patterned on the sleeves and towards the bottom with white flowers shading into different verdant hues. A white flower hairpin, stark against Ran's silky black curls (smoothed out somewhat with hair spray and a vigorous combing), matches it, as do her white tabi socks and black geta sandals. Her complexion is flawless, her eyeshadow is dark and smoky, and her eyeliner is sharp as daggers. When she serves non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, she displays her slightly long, white-painted fingernails and a smile painted bloodred.

No glasses here. What's there to hide?

She's in the middle of chatting up a customer at the bar--one Ichiko Ohya, in fact, who's drunkenly gushing over how cute she looks--when the door opens to admit Goro Akechi, however he's come. Ran glances up enough to see if it's him or not, as she has since she started her shift, but aside from a knowing smile, she doesn't greet him just yet. She wants to see how he reacts to her like this first.

(She did, however, give a heads-up to Lala while she'd been helping her get dolled up. "Someone very important to me is coming by tonight," she'd told her, "and I want to make sure he's impressed..." "Oh, honey. Say no more," Lala had replied. Lala's thus been keeping an eye of her own on tonight's incoming clientele.)

https://myjapanclothes.com/cdn/shop/files/traditional-green-kimono-for-women-tanigawa_1_1024x.jpg?v=1700579340

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Sae Niijima was not the ''most'' pleased that he left early that night because he received a 'lead' in another 'case'. Of course she knew what it really must be. She seemed to detect it without fail.

It really made him wonder why she could read ''that'' off him, but not much greater lies...

Still, a short train ride to Shinjuku station, and a walk wherein he- took a more circuitous, back alley route to avoid being spotted by various touts and denizens of the Red Light District, he finds himself at the door to the Crossroads.

Taking a quick look in his phone camera to double check his appearance after a day's work, he steps into the bar, wearing his tan winter coat and checkered scarf, with black gloves of course.

"Why hello." He says cheerfully, stepping into the bar, as he stops- and stares for one increasingly long moment at 'Ran Umemura' in well- more than just ''aesthetic appreciation'' of herself in her kimono, no he may in fact be stunned speechless.

Beauty - BSSM S - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx178XZ7_gA

After he clears his throat, he forces himself to keep going, "I was told the bar here tonight would be kept by a great beauty, so I thought I'd come to investigate this with my own eyes..." A beat, as his gaze lingers. "... it would seem that some things do not require more than the briefest glance to know that they are true."

His briefcase finds its way onto the bar, followed by him having a seat. As while privacy might serve them both better- well. Perhaps the fickle part of him can't resist the prospect of taking her attention away from other customers.

"When you have a moment, I'd love to know what the lady recommends."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It's probably because Goro signals being genuinely happy and excited. How rare must that be?

Just as rare is Goro Akechi getting stunned speechless. Ran all but radiates flowers in pleasure at the sight and lack of sound. When finally he manages to pull himself together and offer a stare and a compliment, she giggles softly into the back of a hand.

Yes. This is ''exactly'' the reaction she was hoping for. Every single second of preparation was well worth it.

"Oh my, you're quite the flatterer, aren't you, sir?" she murmurs, winking one eye shut as he seats himself at the bar. Privacy might serve them both better, but there's a thrill involved in everyone getting to see, isn't there?

One such observer is Ichiko Ohya. "Ohhh? Ran-chan, you've already got a new fan!" she says cheerfully, a drunken blush ruddying her cheeks. "Heehee, I'm telling you, it's all 'cuz of how cute you are! Lala-chan really snapped up a treasure when she hired you~!"

...Thankfully, she's drunk enough to not immediately recognize Akechi. On the other side of the bar, Lala sighs.

"I'll handle this mess," she tells Ran, nodding to Ohya. With a subtle wink, she adds, "Why don't you make our new customer comfortable?"

Ran bows to her, smile lingering on her lips. (How could it do anything else?) Then she steps over to where Goro's seated, favoring him with a sparkle in her eye and the backs of her fingers on her chin. "You look a little young for a bar, sir," she teases. "Fortunately, there's plenty of non-alcoholic drinks here, along with snacks. Might I recommend a cup of amazake?"

Though it's a type of sake, it's so low-alcohol that even toddlers can safely have an occasional drink of it. It has an interesting texture, too--thick, even chunky, and milky. It's sweet too, but he doesn't have a strong preference for one flavor or another, as she well knows. What matters is that it's ''her'' recommendation.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Haha..." He chuckles at her calling him a flatterer, "... well, if it were a crime- then I'd certainly be guilty." He says, with a charming grin, as he has no intention of stopping.

Unfortunately being stunned speechless has a side effect, that being that he did not sweep the room of the rest of the crowd before sitting down.

He looks across the room at Ichiko Ohya-

-and remembers the state he left her ex-partner Kayo in. Mindless- broken.

He looks away a moment later, his reaction easily mistakable for him simply responding to her form of 'exuberance'. Or that he simply spotted a member of the press sitting down, drunk- while his private life is often considered 'newsworthy'.

Well, no need to provoke her. If she doesn't look twice, he'll pretend he never saw her once. Fortunately Lala seems inclined to 'take over'.

And so he busies himself with being 'distracted' by Ran's recommendations. "I won't insult you by claiming otherwise." He replies, with a hint of mirth at being called being a little young for the bar. "Though, I would say you seem a little young yourself for offering recommendations of any other kind of drink that isn't non-alcoholic."

He leans forward, elbow on the bar, a gloved hand on his chin, grinning, "Still, I believe I'll defer to your taste and expertise... I'll take the Lady's recommendation."

A beat.

"Kogoro, by the way. Kogoro Kobayashi." As he comes up with a pseudonym for himself on the spot, choosing a family name, of a character in the Kogoro Akechi novels rather than anything obvious that someone might overhear.

"And yourself? Though, I may be getting ahead of myself. Perhaps you'll stay anonymous, and leave another mystery for me to solve..."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ran does spot the way Goro glances at Ohya, then looks away. She fully misunderstands why. Knowing well what Ohya does for a living and how he might be affected if she ''does'' recognize him and decide to report on it--well, Ran doesn't think she will, and can even bargain with her to make sure of it, but Goro wouldn't know that--she not only lets Lala attend to Ohya, but sets herself up to ensure Goro faces away from her while talking to Ran to minimize risk of getting spotted and recognized.

"And I didn't recommend anything alcoholic, did I?" Ran banters, lips parting into a grin of her own. She bows again as he leans in. "Coming at once, sir."

She turns, only for 'Kogoro' to introduce himself. She looks back over her shoulder. Perhaps he did that on purpose, just to make her do that? Once upon a time, she'd have found that annoying; now, her smile is knowing all the same. It's a ''very'' obvious pseudonym--not that she minds.

"Kogoro-sama, is it? Such a cool and manly name... It suits you." Another soft chuckle at his suggestion. "Hmmm~... now you tempt me, good sir. I would love to see how you unravel such a mystery." At the very least, he's already overheard half her current name.

Still, she winks as she glides over to the bottles. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are thankfully clearly separated. No law-breaking here! It takes some time for her to heat it up, but she returns with a lacquered mug and sets it gently steaming in front of Goro. When she straightens, she watches him with a fondness in her now-softened smile. After being out in the cold, this--both Ran and the drink--are just the things to warm him up.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
He couldn't know, could he? After all... she's only a member of the press to him. Not even a meddling reporter.

Her editor is being paid well to stifle her ability to investigate.

Still, there's not much fun looking at something that makes you feel bad when there's someone who makes you feel good right in front of you.

"Haha..." He says with that hand against his chin, head tilted naturally by the position he's in, "... and such good humor as well, to indulge me."
Hisfter all, Ran can't serve alcoholic beverages- or recommend them, and 'Kogoro' can't purchase them.

"I'm rather fond of it." He says, when told his name is cool and manly, he says, "Perhaps I was so named because it was considered aspirational... since you say it suits me, well, I'd say that means I've met those lofty expectations."

He says with a light grin that hides the bittersweet feelings beneath saying such. Both of them know who named him after all.

Perhaps he can only say that because today he is playing the role of 'Kogoro Kobayashi' rather than 'Goro Akechi'. A projection which takes the edge off of those feelings.

"Then perhaps we should make a game of it- should I manage to discover your name by the end of your shift- then may I ask for your number, as your prize?"

It's actually fun, being together, he can play this flirtatious game, pretending to be strangers without the odd mixture of feelings he gets when an actual stranger flirts with him getting in the way.

"Naturally, being a gentleman- if you'd prefer to not offer it to anyone while you're working- then I'll respect it as the policy of a young maiden."

He says with a hand over his chest, as a theatrical gesture emphasizing the promise, "But... I would admit to a certain disappointment, if that were to be so."

As the drink is brought to him, he takes it, and lifts it to his lips, not breaking eye contact from Ran.

Then, setting it back down he remarks, "Ah. What a refreshing way to end a long day... your recommendation was quite on the mark."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
So, so very good--and all Goro has to do is not think about how he plans to eventually betray and murder her. Right?

Ran's smile turns indulgent when he speaks of her good humor. "For such a charming, handsome man? How could I not?" Her eyes shut as he speaks of how his name is aspirational, but her smile remains, at least. It must be bittersweet to him, she knows well, but... "I'm glad you feel so."

She's the one who decided, despite all the warning signs, she wanted him to come to like himself in time. He may be playing a role right now--they both are, to a certain extent--but that doesn't mean their feelings aren't real; they would never flirt with a stranger like this normally. There ''is'' something about pretending, isn't there? It adds a certain zest, a spice, to their already lively relationship.

"Oh my," she utters, openly amused, when he suggests a game--or rather, the terms thereof. It's not much of a game, considering he not only already knows her name but already has her phone number, but the play's the thing here. "Hmmm... What to do, what to do..." she pretends to muse, bringing a hand back up to her chin as she half-turns away.

However, when he makes that oh-so-heartfelt gesture, she grins anew, clasping her hands before her as she faces him. "My! I would so hate to disappoint a gentleman. Very well, I'll play along. You seem trustworthy--" She winks. "And if you aren't, you seem like you'll still make it fun~."

It's already so much fun, being together. She wasn't anticipating this when she invited him here, but now that the two of them are playing, it feels like only the most natural thing to have occurred.

He praises her recommendation. She'd curtsy, except there's really no way to curtsy in a kimono. "It's just the thing on a cold winter night--even if some would say it's best after a hearty meal. But perhaps you already had a chance to eat dinner, Kogoro-sama?"

For all that she keeps her deep voice light, there's some concern there in her expression as she asks that. After all, knowing him, chances are good that he ''hasn't'' eaten. That's part of who he is, but she'd still like him to keep his health and energy up.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Well, obviously. Murder plans do put a damper on a date. He'll just consider the upcoming murder ''tomorrow''.

'Compartmentalize It!' - The Goro Akechi story.

Indeed, that's exactly that- they can both feel quite secure in their relationship with each other, but have fun in these games.

Part of him almost hopes someone drunk would say something inappropriate to her, so he could defend Ran's honor.

That would be a particularly spicy night, wouldn't it? And besides- it would establish the two as so very similar in another way.

Even if it were only to be on the surface.

"Haha... you're quite the flatterer yourself." He says with a smile, "Though is it only because of your job tending bar... I wonder..."

The fingertips rub against the side of his sake cup, "To smile at a man is expected in a job such as yours, to make them feel like the most important person in their world."

He does chuckle at that, "Well, it would be impolite to ask of a lady on shift the truth of their smile. Besides, I don't mind a touch of mystery to a beautiful woman's motivations... it only ''enhances'' an evening. Perhaps one day- I'll solve the mystery of whether that smile is only for myself."

What to do, what to do. He leans back at this point, taking a sip while Ran considers the prospect, then as she says she'd hate to disappoint him, "Magnificent... then I shall use all of my wiles to discern the truth of the matter. And well, I'm told I have that kind of face."

A trustworthy one. After all, it's what he sells to so many people on television.

Taking out his phone, he begins to tap along, letting something load, as she asks him about whether he's eaten. It would be easy to simply brush it off, but- "Admittedly- not as well as I'd like." He confides, "My supervisor, well, she can be quite an exacting woman... which means skipping meals is par for the course. Often I find myself having to eat on the go."

He taps his briefcase with a finger, as if to imply where he keeps such snacks. "Would this bar happen to serve anything that might be a heartier repast?"

Something loads, his fingers tap again, while barely looking. If Ran looks, he's on some kind of social media feed, but- he's hardly paying attention to it. Like it's the most minute part of his brainpower...

... when everything else is focused on her.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Just put it in a box and set it aside. It's not like he needs to murder her right now. Right now can be exactly what it does and doesn't appear to be.

Ran's smile dims somewhat as 'Kogoro' reflects on how it's part of her job to smile at a man and make him feel special. Hmm... Is that some of his insecurity peeking through...? He knows well that, for all that she loves him romantically, he's not the only person she loves, period. Could this be an oblique remark on the inherent divide between him and her friends?

But then he says he doesn't plan on asking confirmation, and she nods her head with a slight revival of her smile, conceding the point. That mystery, she won't remark upon further.

After all, there's another one he's to solve right now. "I shall expect to be duly impressed, Kogoro-sama," she murmurs with a bow. When she rises, her smile has turned coquettish. "Impress me enough, and perhaps I'll reward you with something... extra~."

She'll leave it to his imagination just what that could be.

He admits he hasn't eaten very well. Her lips thin, but she nods once in understanding. That's about what she'd expected, given his job... to say nothing of his 'supervisor.' That'd be Sae Niijima, wouldn't it...? Makoto's painted a very exacting picture of her, too.

"I'm afraid we haven't any full meals, but we do have something to take off the edge. Might I recommend an order of yakitori and edamame?" she suggests. Amazake has glucose already, so... "Protein and extra fiber, to help keep you full."

There are a few calls further down the bar and elsewhere within the establishment; Ran glances up at orders coming in. She bows again to Goro. "I'll bring that for you as soon as I can, then," she concludes without waiting for him to confirm it. She already knows he'll accept.

As she turns away, she smiles again at him over her shoulder. "Do forgive me for leaving you, but... all the more time for you to unravel this mystery."

She ''is'' technically still on the clock, for all that Lala's being very forgiving with her. Said proprietress will join her to handle serving the alcoholic stuff, too.

Ran will glance at Goro every so often until she returns. Just to see if he's still focused almost everything on her.

There's ''such'' a pleasure in being seen when you want to be seen.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
A little (a lot) of insecurity. And a little social commentary. But the truth is that he said it to be part of the game, rather than any particular insecurity that Ran loves him.

It's just, even when it's a game, sometimes his feelings just creep right in, like he left the door open. How dare they...

"Haha..." He grins merrily at her promise of an incentive, "... well now, with that sort of incentive to motivate me... how could I ever fail?"

An easy confidence now, a contrast from the insecurity. Goro Akechi again in a nutshell. Invincibility and Invulnerability. Stability and Instability.

He continues his little tapping on the phone, and indeed- he could paint a far worse picture than Sae if he wanted to. Tonight, he painted what he feels is, at the very least 'the most accurate' descriptor. No one would ever disagree with him, least of all Sae's own sister.

"Well well..." A meal recommendation now, "... seeing that deferring to you already has been quite the rewarding experience- I think I'll do so again. One order of each, if you please." And as she implies she has other customers to take care of, he says, "Of course- I'll await your return with bated breath..."

And busy himself with deductions. Of course he knows Ran Umemura's name, but now he won't be satisfied unless he can discover it ''independent'' of any knowledge he has of her.

All the same, Ran finds that Kogoro Kobayashi's eyes are never off of her, and more often than not, he's nursing his drink, while doing so.

Furtive glances across a bar... all the makings of a lovely romance story.

It's only once he finds something on his phone, his eyes light up. Then, he follows a link. Then another...

And eventually...

He places his phone on the bar, turning it around, waiting for Ran to come back.

In it, is a picture of Ran Umemura, on shift at the Crossroads, chatting up a customer. And beneath it? A comment's section...

Being served by Ran-chan is a dream come true~
Whoa, what a beauty. Where was this taken at?
I recognize that place! It's the Crossroads Bar in Shinjuku's Red Light District.
Have her full name? Don't hold out on us now!
Ran Umemura. The new part-timer. She's so great at listening to a man's woes.

"The magic of social media." He murmurs to himself...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
And it's those very contrasts that Ran finds so alluring about him. If he were just one or the other, he wouldn't have ever stolen her heart like he has. Maybe he's the true phantom thief here?

Either way, whenever she glances his way and finds him watching her, she can't ever fail to smile at him. If she puts an extra sway into her hips the times she's otherwise faced away from him, isn't that just a little bit of extra service for such a diligent and attentive client?

Fortunately or unfortunately, no one is so drunk tonight as to say or do anything rude to Ran. This is Lala's bar, and she's well-known in this area to not put up with that kind of nonsense. Anyone who wants to keep patronizing Bar Crossroads will keep their hands to themselves and their comments--and staring--respectful.

Before too much longer, Ran returns with Goro's order. This not being a restaurant, the yakitori and edamame were both heated up in the microwave, as the amazake was, but it's still tasty repast. As she sets down his order from the tray she carries, she glances over at the phone pointed towards her side of the bar and sees...

"...."

Daintily holding the tray to her chest, she clucks her tongue. "Ohya-san was right. That picture really did net me more fans," she murmurs in low-key amusement. She meets Goro's eyes and explains, "Some time ago, a customer complimented me on my kimono and asked if he could take my picture while I was working. I said yes. It didn't occur to me he'd post it online."

Her smile fades as she touches a hand to her hair, now a bit self-conscious. "I'll have to be more careful in the future."

As flattering as that comments section is, and as proud as she is of herself for it, it's also a little unnerving. Still having no social media of her own, she had no idea about this until now.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
He definitely looks. Of course he does- while he wouldn't disrespect anyone else by looking at them in any way they were uncomfortable with...

... the two are play-acting, and in this show, he can pretend to be the 'interested' man. Knowing full well that Ran consents to the gaze of their boyfriend in this way.

He came here to enjoy their company- but he's not about to interfere in her working more than he needs to.

He's at least okay in one sense of witnessing nobody treat Ran that way. While it is a little disappointing in the sense of self-gratification... well, it means it's a good working environment in general for her.

He knows she can take care of herself. But the roles of gender can be fun when they're affirming rather than caging.

As Ran returns with his microwaved meal, he nods, with a smile, "Why thank you... this is much more enjoyable to sit down for, before any long train ride home."

He hasn't ruled out well- other evening ideas, but he's not going to assume that. As he tries the Yakitori, which- despite being microwaved is still tasty stuff.

He looks down at the picture, then back up at her. "I see. It is quite the flattering picture. I can understand why any man would want to take it. Well- while you didn't explicitly forbid it- it still wasn't really appropriate for them to post it without your permission."

He clucks his tongue, as if in condemnation of the customer. "I think it's reasonable for a young woman at work to be careful about such things. Social media can be... quite the jungle."

He takes his phone back, then looks up at Ran, "While most would think I'm exaggerating..."

His eyes linger on them, then there's something grim within them, "I don't think it's inaccurate to say that left unchecked... it could be the ruin of society as we know it."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ran wouldn't mind Goro galloping to her rescue like a prince astride a white horse--but she would definitely rather it not be at her favorite workplace, yes.

For now, he can look all he wants. If he ''didn't'' look, she'd be genuinely disappointed.

As for other evening ideas... Ran certainly wouldn't mind a late-night walk with Goro once her shift is over, but it ''is'' a school night for both of them. She knows Sevens lets him get away with skipping class for the sake of his detective work, but she doesn't want to encourage him to take advantage of that just to spend time with her.

...or does she? He ''is'' about to graduate anyway, and she knows full well he was already accepted into his college of choice... hmm....

That's something else for them to talk about it more detail when they have the time--if it means Goro's going to move to Tokyo. Right now, Ran's been busy trying not to think of where ''she's'' going to be in the spring. She's at least managed to ask Sojiro if he could talk to their parents about it, and he agreed, which was a relief. If he's the one doing the asking, it probably won't devolve into a one-sided argument.

"Mm. Yes," she murmurs of the picture getting posted without her consent. She isn't going to assume malice on that customer's part--he might have been so online-brained that he assumed that consenting to having her picture taken was also consenting to having it posted--but it's still an overreach.

Oddly gender-affirming, though. Ran can't bring herself to be fully glad about that.

She meets Goro's eyes as he issues his dire warning. The 'ruin' of society, huh... She's sure it's just a coincidence, but it's funny that he puts it like that. "I'll have to take your word for it. I don't do any social media these days," she replies. She's content to let Mishima handle that on The Phantoms' behalf. (Technically not even on The Phantoms' behalf, considering the Phan-Site is literally a fan-site. He loves to think he's doing this for the Phantom Thieves, and while Ren has never confirmed that and has even played dumb at times, he hasn't exactly dashed his dreams, either.)

"You seem like you spend quite a bit of time online, though, if your go-to method of solving this mystery was to look it up on your phone," she continues, her smile faintly returning. "Whatever were you going to do if that picture had never been posted?"

Not that it matters at this point. "Still, you did win this game fair and square. Indeed, my name is Ran Umemura," she says as she fetches her phone from under the bar counter. Her smile warms as she meets his eyes anew. "Do try not to make anyone too jealous you won my phone number, won't you, Kogoro-sama?"

To say nothing of that extra, unspecified service she mentioned...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Rest assured at least. If he did ride to Ran's rescue, it would be to toss someone that Lala-chan very much wanted out.

He might even leave them in mostly, one piece!

Indeed, Akechi would be very much willing to skip school to spend time with them, having caught a distinct bout of 'Senioritis'. It's not as if he won't get the work done anyway and maintain his perfect grades.

Still, he'd only do it if Ran wanted it, and he'd set terms that- fit what Ran knows of him. After all, it wouldn't be the greatest if he was caught skipping school with no viable excuse. He's certain he could talk his way out of it but...

Akechi doesn't assume malice either- or well, no more malice than a man being willfully ignorant of the implications of posting a woman's picture online and spreading her place of work. He perhaps thought it would be good for the business even...

... but the road to hell is certainly paved with good intentions, he knows that well...

He nods as Ran tells him he hasn't done any social media these days. "That is definitely for the best." While it would be quite ''convenient'' for his plans if Ran did use social media, he's not about to encourage it.

After all, he has more than enough access to them...

However, he can only imagine the debacle that would result if Ryuji was terminally online and a Phantom Thief both.

Nope, encouraging them not to start is for the best.

Still, Ran asks him how he might have solved the mystery without going online.

Leaning back, he continues working on the Yakitori and Edamame, only eventually after swallowing, "Well... the short answer is, that I would have looked for context clues around this establishment. Often, more is left in plain view than anyone realizes... failing that, I would have approached another customer for a friendly conversation."

As he cants his head towards where the drunken Ohya was led away by Lala, "Often, a simple enough bargain might be struck in exchange. But... let us presume even that turned up short."

With that, he takes another sip, as he looks lost in thought, then finally...

"... I would have recruited an accomplice." Holding up his cup, he waggles it in an idle back and forth, "I doubt I would need to look longer than a minute just outside this establishment to find someone willing for the right price. They would then put on an act that we discussed in advance. It would then come down to their ability to deceive you, or Lala-chan. Which is... taking a gamble, certainly, but one that might pay off."

He smiles as he is told he won, and raises a glass, "To victory... and most of all, to you, Ran-chan. As for making others too jealous..."

He meets her eyes, and allows a little mirth to enter them, as he winks at her, "... I make no such promises."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Maybe Goro could even come back to Ren's place, spend a cozy night next to the space heater...

But no. Ran really isn't going to suggest that on a school night. She's 90% sure he'd take her up on it, and then ''he'd'' be the one tempting ''her'' to skip school.

Not just her picture and her place of work, but her full name, too. It's just good for Ran that "Ran Umemura" is a pseudonym. Ren isn't too afraid that anyone will recognize them from that picture either--anyone who isn't already in the know, anyway--but that kind of thoughtlessness really is a hazard.

He details how he would've gone about "discovering" her name had her picture not happened to be online. She listens, and here her base personality re-emerges: she's silent as she absorbs that information, her eyes and attention focused in on him. There certainly are a few options there. That's a high school detective for you--soon to be a college detective.

"Hmmm... Then we ought to be grateful social media wasn't ''your'' ruin this time around." She smiles back. "After all, it means you get to spend more time in here with me."

His cheeky wink only gets a grin right back. Yes, the rest of this shift will be ''great'' fun.

~ * ~

Eventually that shift does end, though--and not too late. Lala knows both that Ran needs time to return home as well as to change clothes and remove her make-up. In between the first and the second, though, she makes a certain suggestion to her. And so, at the end of her shift, Ran approaches Goro...

"I'm off for the night," she tells him. Another fond smile. "Would you mind walking me to the station, Kogoro-sama? Or perhaps a bit farther than that..."

Bar Crossroads has a back door. Ran can always slip in there to get changed after she's had a stroll on the arm of her man. And once the two of them ''are'' out in the frosty night, she hugs his arm quite close indeed.

"Thanks for coming by. I loved seeing you tonight," she murmurs, leaning close as the two of them walk through the neighborhood. Shinjuku isn't exactly safe at this time of night, but this ''is'' where Goro grew up. She trusts him to keep them both secure. "Bar Crossroads is my favorite part-time job. The pay is great--" She flashes him a devilish grin. "--and I get to look my absolute hottest~."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
There are more options besides on how he might go about it and besides. It's just, making use of them would truly feel like it was taking all the fun out of it. Why ruin a friendly contest? Why not enjoy it for all its worth? Furthermore... it's best to keep a few tricks up his sleeve for when they matter.

"Then perhaps I should thank you for being such fine incentive for keeping my attention offline..." He says with an even cheekier grin as he looks her up and down her kimono again, "... quite fine, if I do say so myself...."

-=-=-

Indeed, Goro waits for Ran's shift to be finished, and as she approaches- he blinks as a startled cat might at the offer, then smiles, "I'd be delighted, Ran-chan..." And it's not long before an arm is offered.

A stroll at night, through Shinjuku's Red Light District. The very fact she's with a man may not stop harassment though... once they're on their way.

In fact, he's very much on the look out for that, he's seen it many times when a tout tried to separate a girl from someone to take them into a bar or a host club.

"And here I was thinking I should be thanking you." He allows himself to smile, "You turned an otherwise dreary day into one I'll be remembering for quite some time."

He catches someone looking at Ran, and indeed, he looks their way for a moment without breaking stride to warn them away, before-

"Your ''absolute'' hottest?" He queries, with a hint of mischief, "In a sense- it sounds like you challenged yourself, to top even this." He murmurs, "I'll certainly be eager to see the results... any time, Ran-chan."

A moment passes, before he adds, "I'm glad you found this place. There aren't many where you have this way of expressing yourself... not to mention getting paid so well for it."

He allows another smile to grace his expression, "I'd be happy to come back any time... perhaps you've found Lala-chan another regular..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Quite fine indeed. Ran's scythe-like grin is her most devilish yet.

~ * ~

Ran's walked around the red light district during the day, so it's not like she's completely unfamiliar with the area. Night really is another beast, though. She has had the sense to make sure she's fully Ren again by the time she leaves her shift before now. And now...

Now she's got her Prince, doesn't she? If not a prince astride a white horse, then perhaps a prince of (f)lies... Not that she has any reason to think he's lying now. She's quite comfortable with the Looks he shoots those leering at her as they pass by, and indeed, flagrantly pays the leerer no mind so she can instead gaze at Goro with another fond smile. No, there's no space here for anyone else to crawl in.

"I'm glad to hear it," she says of the memorable day. "I've been wanting you to see me like that for a while now." She flashes him a mischievous smile and teases, "Your reaction didn't disappoint. For someone who's been saving himself for true love, you sure know how to make a girl feel good about herself, Goro."

But then she smirks. "My absolute hottest... for now. Because you're right; I can still get even more charming. And won't you be in danger when that happens?" She leans in to whisper into his ear, "You already couldn't take your eyes off me tonight..."

The moment that passes is a comfortable one, though. "Me too," they murmur softly. "Lala-san's good people. Ohya-san, too--she's the one who introduced me to the place. Don't worry about her too much, by the way. She's a bit of a lush, but she's no paparazzi."

Talk of becoming a regular gets a low chuckle. "Hmmm... I don't know if she'd be happy or exasperated about that, after how much of my attention you took up tonight. I'd be happy to have you come back anytime too, either way."

The two circle around the block, heading through a back street down towards Bar Crossroads' back door. This alley's deserted for now at least--the cold weather helps there. When they've arrived, Ran stops next to the door and slips their arm off of Goro's.

"Well, this is me," she says wistfully. "I'd love to have you stay longer, but we've both got school tomorrow." The side of their mouth tugs upwards. "Though, come to think of it, I haven't given you that 'something extra' I promised yet, have I?"

Technically, that was only if Goro impressed her enough--oh, who's anyone kidding? They were planning on this all along. Ren steps closer, one hand slipping up Goro's chest, along his neck, stroking his cheek and threading through his hair to cup the back of his head...

He holds his gaze for just long enough, dark eyes burning with the intensity of Antares, before his eyelashes sink shut as he leans in close.

It's been a while since Goro had his hot snacks and drink. This kiss will keep him hot for a good, long while longer. When it's over, Ren rakes their teeth along his lower lip as they pull away, eyes right back on his.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Devilishly delightful, Ran-chan...

-=-=-

He'd be the first to admit to a certain amount of jealousy, though in this case it's mostly protective. Even if he knows that anyone who actually tried anything on Ran would get far more than they bargained for.

Ran's comment causes a sheepish smile, because of course he realizes how it must have seemed but, "If I hadn't been startled... then I could hardly call myself a man. For what true man could be anything but stunned before such a vision of femininity?"

He can't help but lean into it, into the flattery in this case, it's fun. Usually he'd resent being embarrassed, but in this case- he doesn't mind so much.

"For now." He echoes, at Ran's comment, seeming pleased by what he's provoked. Won't he be in danger. "My dearest Ran-chan..." He says with a glance her way, "... that is a risk that I'm ''certainly'' willing to take... I'm quite the daredevil, I'll have you know."

Understatement of the year perhaps, given his activities in the Metaverse, even as 'the Prince' - Ran well knows he often works alone.

"She is." He agrees of Lala, "As for... Ohya-san, I'm familiar with her work. She once strolled up to me out of nowhere and asked some rather blunt questions about a corruption case I was working... that wasn't actually public knowledge."

That part is not in fact, a lie. However, what he says next is a little, by dint of omission, "I was more afraid of her perhaps deciding to monopolize my time by asking about the Phantom Thieves case."

He makes a theatrical sigh at that, "How can anyone expect me to appreciate my girlfriend-" He chooses it in this circumstance as he feels it'll be more affirming than anything, "-if they won't allow me to have an evening off from work?"

A complaint which he kinda does to himself, doesn't he? But it is true that even a celebrity deserves privacy and a personal life outside of his public appearances.

It is a concern perhaps of 'distracting' Ren away from work, "Hahaha... well, I'm certain I can talk her into it, if need be." He grins at Ran, "I can be quite persuasive, you know. But- it also is the case that I can simply cherish the moments we get together- and appreciate the view otherwise."

He's not certain how long he can keep his jealousy and need for attention under wraps but- he can but try.

As they circle back around the block, and down the alley, Akechi takes stock of how quickly he could in fact, draw his firearm if need be... after all, it would be a perfect place for an ambush.

Such thoughts simply occur to a professional assassin, who expects one day betrayal might come. Or comeuppance, so it might be.

Even if he does not think so now.

As Ran slips her arm off of his, he faces her and nods, "A shame, truly... but it is the responsible thing to do..." But he perks up all of a sudden when she says she didn't give him 'something extra'. "Oh?"

His deductive capabilities do catch up before long as his eyes say the equivalent of 'I see', as he slides an arm around Ran Umemura, holding her gaze for a time as the two work their way up to the moment.

His lips touch to Ran's gently with a hot sensation that contrasts against the winter's chill, he osculates across them just a touch, as he appreciates his prize of 'something extra' for all the time that he has.

What a prize it is...

His breath is surprisingly quite fresh as well, perhaps when Ran went to the back, after he'd finished, he utilized some product.

After all, a celebrity has to care about such things... especially when they're with their girlfriend.

When they do part, he gives Ran a happy look, "'Something extra' you said...?" His voice drops to being low, and a little husky, "Mmm, I'm in danger I think of being in a good mood for the rest of the week."

Words he thought he would never say, and mean them. And while perhaps that's impossible... because of how he lives... in the moment at least, he believes it could be true.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"You really are a flatterer," Ran says. Judging by the sparkle in her eye, she doesn't seem at all displeased by it. "If only Fukami-san's Shadow could see us now, hmm?"

See them a witness a true man ''and'' a true woman. ...some of the time.

She only grins again when he informs her he's quite a daredevil. "Oh, are you? I'll have to make sure our next date is even more thrilling, then--unless you want the honors of picking the next time and place." After all, he ''did'' come out here to see her during a work shift, all because Ran wanted to see how he reacted to her kimono form. It's only fair to let Goro have a chance to let her be stunned next time.

That grin shifts into a wry smile when Goro reveals he actually knows her already, as well as how. "That sounds like her." They cluck their tongue and shake their head at his theatrics. She certainly doesn't mind being called his 'girlfriend,' though. "Girlfriend? Oh my, Kogoro-sama, weren't we just meeting for the first time tonight?" she teases all the same.

He /can/ be very persuasive. Ran knows that well. "Hmmm~... Sounds like a win/win to me, then." She leans into him a little more. "And if you end the night unsatisfied... I can always pay you a little special attention afterwards, just like this."

Just like this... considering what happens next, that's excellent incentive for Goro to be patient during any future shifts he shows up for. No need to linger on ambush points or any other assassinly concerns either--not when both of them are having such a good time.

Ren's breath is fresh, too. She'd planned for this moment all along, after all; of course she'd be prepared for it.

The way his voice drops into something huskier, though--that startles her a little. Not... in a bad way, she thinks. It's actually sexy. It just wasn't expected. It makes him sound like...

...

She slips her other arm around him and leans into a hug. "That sounds like a risk I'm willing to take," they murmur back.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-18: Izolado

2026-10-25T03:15:07Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: 2026-06-18 Izolado'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Goro Akechi]]
*'''Where:''' Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe
*'''OOC Date:''' June 18, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Monday, November 26, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Akechi comes by Leblanc to confront Ren about how their last conversation went. It doesn't go as expected for either of them.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
The lights are still on in Leblanc late Monday evening, even though the only person there right now is Ren and the sign is flipped to CLOSED. It's been flipped that way all day, actually, even though several people came in earlier. That was by invite, though; Ren had Haru, Hibari, and Kasumi come by to cook together, as the four of them had previously discussed, as friends. Dinner was a splendid variation on curry that Hibari had suggested, and whatever leftovers remained were split between the four to take home.

Now Ren is cleaning up the restaurant. Their friends have already left, but they haven't locked the door yet; this is a safe neighborhood and they're still in the middle of washing and drying dishes, re-wiping counters and tables, dusting, and, finally--since it's been a while--cleaning the bathroom. This is Ren's least favorite task, but it needs doing, and with the place empty and this being Monday night, it's as good a time as any to take care of it.

Leblanc's bathroom is a tiny thing, though--enough room for a single toilet, a sink, and a mirror, and that's basically it. The cleaning supplies spill out into the restaurant proper, easily visible from the door. Ren still has their apron on, but they've also got a face mask and rubber gloves, and of course their glasses and school uniform sans jacket. Their smartphone has been left on a nearby booth table, on top of their uniform jacket; they already weren't paying attention while cooking with the girls and they're certainly not paying attention now that they're in the middle of scrubbing the bathroom's porcelain.

Because of this, it would be simple enough for anyone to just walk in and surprise them. But who would do something like that, fully unannounced? Especially since Ren's finally managed to go a couple days without giving a certain detective prince more than a passing thought...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
An Akechi that doesn't want to be found is a difficult quarry indeed, when one is on the hunt. Oh certainly there are ''some'' ways to find him, but those would require Ren staking out a TV Station and there the key question is 'which one'?

No, the best way to find an Akechi who doesn't want to be found is to wait for him to come to you.

Which is sounded out by the chiming of the bells at the door that ring that telltale sound at his entrance.

Of course- Ren would hear it, despite their circumstances. However, what he might not expect is that as one is trying to get things sorted out to address the fact that they have cleaning supplies in hand...

... would a backlit shadow loom as a familiar outline steps closer to the door, gloved hands clinched at his sides, sans briefcase. His expression- far too serious- at least until he huffs a breath through his nostrils, in a way that would sound dangerously close to not just ''anger'' but fury.

Of course Ren would be turned around by now. Maybe their hands would even be free of the supplies- but all indication looks like it is leading to violence.

What? Why? Was what Ren said really enough to deserve ''this'' kind of reaction?

He doesn't say anything- doesn't greet him, doesn't respond to anything he says, if he pulled a gun right now, would it even be surprising? Would even Morgana hear it?

He lurches forward, his foot attempting to sweep one of Ren's out from under them- to force them to be at further disadvantage, off-balance in this tight space.

Rather than falling, however- Ren finds their descent suspended by the grip of a hand behind their back, caught- and Goro Akechi's face so close to theirs.

As he whispers close enough to feel his breath(it's minty fresh of course, damnit), the first phrase he's said since he entered-

"Still want to claim I don't have the guts?"

Goddamnit, he sounds even more smug than ever having them in this position.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
The bell over the door chimes. Ren hears it, but doesn't think anything of it at first; they assume it's Sojiro stopping by the check on them, and no one says anything to dispel them of that assumption, so they simply continue to clean the toilet. Fortunately, they're just about done, so this involves them popping the scrub-brush back into its container, flushing the toilet, and wiping their forehead with their sleeve as they watch the gunk get washed away. They'll need to do one more scrub to disinfect, but for now they can stop and greet Sojiro.

Which they do--or at least, they turn around to do. But there is a shadow on the floor, approaching, and it is not Sojiro's silhouette. Ren stops mid-step, right at the doorway; their heart is pounding when they look up with widened eyes to see Akechi approaching while they're in the middle of cleaning a goddamn toilet. They have just enough time to pull their mask down and utter, "Akechi--"

It already takes them by surprise, being caught in this situation. It's even worse that they've got rubber gloves and a face mask on, that they smell of chemicals, that they're in the middle of cleaning a ''goddamn toilet''. The vibe is even worse, though--the way Akechi huffs that breath, the way he doesn't stop approaching, the way he crowds them into the postage stamp of a bathroom--and they retreat a step, almost two, despite the absolute lack of anywhere to go, by the time he knocks their feet out from under them.

Ren is still reeling, mentally and emotionally, when Akechi grabs them by the waist with one arm. Instinctively, they clutch him by the sleeves, clinging hold as he suddenly leans in and whispers close to their ear. Their heart all but explodes in response. Is that--what--but--what??

Their fingers dig into Akechi's arms. He might well be able to feel the race of their pulse with how their chests are pressed together. Though his demeanor had been thunderous, Ren sure as hell never expected ''this''. Let alone for him to commit to this when he saw what an un-sexy thing they were doing.

"You could work on your timing," they murmur, and it might sound suave and dismissive if their hands and their voice weren't trembling.

Despite this, they make zero attempt to push him away. Why would they? It's frightening, but it's also thrilling, and it's also aggravating, and they don't want to ever let him go.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Ren's fingers dig into Akechi's arms. He can feel the race of that pulse certainly, even through gloves. Some are just that fast- some are just that forceful.

He could work on his timing, Ren says. A fair complaint, after all- there are few places as unsexy as a restroom in the midst of being cleaned.

"True." He agrees, still whispering huskily, "But there is something to be said about taking you off-guard when you least expect it."

Certainly a normal thing to say- and a normal person feeling to have.

"The effect I have on you would be hardly so ''pronounced'' otherwise."

Is this why he's been ghosting Ren so hard? Just to take him by surprise ''today'' in fulfillment of the dare? His anger on that day was obviously real-

-but his approach certainly leads to the idea that he left Ren twisting in the wind just to take advantage of that sour note to mess with him all the more in the long run.

"And the look on your face right now ''is'' quite adorable." He adds, as if it were an obvious observation at this range.

There is some uncertainty - whether he'll do it, not do it. Where his mind is at at all right now- it lasts for so long that Ren's pulse must feel like it's thrumming all the faster.

Will he?

Won't he?

Then, he just stands Ren up, balancing them upright with that hand around their waist, before taking a step back.

"What do you think- would you say it was worth the wait?"

The wait - that time period between when he ended that phone call early and right now. All that time spent looking for him-

-all amounted to this sort of petty retribution, for that parting comment- and for that dare.

What an asshole.

However, he left some ambiguity there whether it was a dare- or whether he might have actually kissed them.

Perhaps the only reason he didn't?

Well... he has to work on his timing.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Akechi definitely has one big thing on Ren right now: with as worried as they've been about him, alternating with how ''angry'' they've been about him, they honestly completely forgot they made that challenge in the first place. Aggravation flashes across Ren's face and dark eyes as their eyes narrow, but--they still don't push him away.

He's right, after all. He ''did'' take them off-guard, and their reaction ''was'' that much stronger for it. When he calls them adorable, they bare their teeth in a grimace, an expression undercut by the heat that rises in their cheeks.

What ''is'' he going to do next? Ren's stare might be nettled, but it's also locked on him in full anticipation, the tension of a taut string that might produce a sour note or might produce an epiphany of a chord. And then--

He stands them up and retreats a step. Once again, confusion--and disappointment--flash over their expression. The question can only get a frown.

He ''is'' an asshole. They find they don't hate it. All this time he spent ignoring them was just to wind them up, because he was just as fucking obsessed with them as they've been with him this whole time.

So INCREDIBLY aggravating. So ''incredibly'' gratifying.

Instead of answering verbally, they tug off their gloves and neatly fold them over the edge of the sink. Eyes lidded, they reach up to brush the backs of their fingers along his silken hair and sway close. It would be easy to put an arm around their waist again at this distance. Gaze locked on his, they bring a lock of his hair to their lips.

"When you got upset at me before," they murmur. "How much of that was a bit to set this up, and how much was real?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
So ''INCREDIBLY'' aggravating... also gratifying.

Akechi goes quiet as Ren grasps a lock of his hair, his smug expression dimming for a second, like he's trying to assess this in lieu of everything he just did.

Then...

"Oh I was genuinely upset." Akechi says with a soft, awkward chuckle- like it's difficult for him to make that admission. However, at the same time deciding that he shouldn't try to downplay it- Ren wouldn't believe it, and he's not sure he could sell a version without it.

"None of that was a bit- I stewed upon it for a time. Then decided-"

Now he's smirking again, "-that I'd enjoy a small measure of payback. I doubt you've even thought of the dare you made for the past week or so."

Ren wasn't thinking about it purely because they thought Akechi was mad at them!

SUCH AN ASSHOLE! GOD!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"..."

On the one hand, Ren is glad, in a muted way, that Akechi doesn't try to insult their intelligence--that he comes clean on having genuinely been upset, and that this was his idea of payback. It's even gratifying to see his attitude dim as they touch his hair. He might smirk about it afterwards, but that's fine. Ren doesn't mirror that expression back. Their own gaze remains intense and piercing, without a hint of a smile. They don't move away from him; indeed, they curl a finger around that lock of his hair.

"I hadn't," they admit in kind, low and quiet. "You got me. On every level."

It's important to graciously admit defeat when it comes. It's important, because the sincerity is important. These past couple of weeks have made that clear to them.

That's why:

"Explain to me why you were upset."

If none of that was a bit, that means Akechi was angry at them for... telling him they like him and they hope he can come to like himself too one day.

If that's true, then they are just as sincere when they conclude,

"I don't get it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Well, we'll just say this round goes to me."

Was it just a game though? For him? For either of them? Was it a game in the moment? Just a way for Akechi to score another point- a challenge from Ren to see what Akechi would do to win, when challenged?

Certainly not, but he's painting over that moment to himself- with a comfortable framework they'd previously set up.

Their rivalry.

Unfortunately- 'Explain to me why you were upset' causes him to look- discomfited, like he was hoping they wouldn't ''in fact'' dig into this.

Perhaps in vain.

Akechi breaks eye contact, with a turn of his head. "... It's difficult to explain. And... I'm not entirely certain." He admits, because by all- accounts, he enjoys being ''seen'' by someone, truly.

So why then did he get mad that time?

"If I had to offer at least- a partial explanation..."

...
...
...

"... it's that you too, have to work on your timing."

This may surprise Ren some, and at first it might sound like he's making fun of them- given their comment from less than a few minutes prior.

Yet...

"We were having a good time, were we not? I suppose it would be like if the mood was good- that we were enjoying ourselves- and out of nowhere- I brought up one of your ex-girlfriends from middle school and how the two of you lost touch with one another..."

He inhales once, then places a hand to his chin, "That is the best I can explain it. I understand you meant well enough- but in the moment, it felt like a- slap in the face? A cold bucket of water?"

He can't entirely parse the reasons why- otherwise, he felt upset in the moment.

It's what he wants, and yet, he's upset to get what he wanted in someone he was close to?

Why?
"It's not as if such subjects are off limits- just- I suppose it's again, a matter of timing."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Sure," Ren says dryly. The faintest hint of an upward tug on one side of their lips might hint that they aren't just placating Akechi, though.

That doesn't stop them from coolly demanding answers, though. Akechi might turn his head away, but Ren keeps boring that stare into him. He says he's not certain, and they say nothing, awaiting his attempt to explain. They're patient. When that answer ''does'' come...

Their eyebrows furrow. They still don't get it, clearly. The metaphor about if Akechi had brought up a middle school ex doesn't make them understand any better, either, though it does at least help put things into perspective, if the pull of their lips into a long, thin line is any indication. They don't precisely move away, but they do pull their finger out of and away from Akechi's hair, hand brushing briefly on his hip before they drop it at their side.

A matter of timing. Well... they sort of get ''that''. The two of them ''were'' having a good time, and if Ren had brought up a hated topic and rubbed his face in it, of course he'd get upset. It's just that the topic at the time was...

"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings--that was the opposite of what I wanted. But... I still don't get it," they reply. "Maybe I'm misunderstanding what upset you in the first place. From my perspective, it seemed to me like--well... back then, I told you..." ''Now'' they look away, a hint of color in their cheeks as they rub the side of their neck. "...that I like you the way you really are, and I hoped you'd come to like yourself too one day, and... that's when you started getting upset."

They look back at him. Their gaze is no less focused, but this time its intensity is softened by agonizingly genuine concern. "...Is that actually it? Did you really get upset that I'd hope you'd learn to like yourself?"

They hesitate for a heartbeat, then decide to commit.

"Do you really hate yourself ''that'' much? Why? Or do I have completely the wrong idea?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Even if Ren were, he'd just take it as all the more evidence that Ren is bitter over their loss ''this'' round.

Still, Ren doesn't get it. And Akechi isn't quite certain ''he'' gets it either. Introspection that deep is uncomfortable, for it always takes him to places he'd rather not revisit.

They apologize, and he simply nods- but, then they communicate that they are still misunderstanding something, just as Akechi himself feared.

Ren explains.

Why? Why does he get upset at the idea that Ren hopes he should like himself?

Because it's impossible.

What isn't there to like, he had used as a brush off, in the moment. The reality is- what ''is'' there to like? Achieving everything he set out to, doesn't make him less of a Cursed Child.

If anything, it proves that he always was. That there is nothing ''to'' like.

That he wants to be seen- but if Ren is truly seeing him as he is- then shouldn't they know?

Shouldn't they know there's nothing to like?

To want to be liked- to get angry that someone likes him and thinks there's something of value. If they truly saw him, then wouldn't they know there's nothing TO like?

If Ren thinks there is something to like- then does it not mean he's deceiving him into thinking so? Is he not then blaming the victim of his deceit?

That is the contradictory mess that is Goro Akechi.

"Do I really hate myself that much, that I can't accept such well-wishing...?" He repeats the question, in a contemplative tone, drifting off into silence for several long seconds before, "I'm not certain I have a satisfying answer for that one."

'''You do. You just don't want to say it out loud.'''

Looking at Ren again, studying their face, it's the thought that Ren Amamiya is perhaps - liking themselves more and more as time goes on.

And he's liking himself less and less.

'''The more you like them. The more you understand just how jealous you truly are of who they are and what they have.'''

"... I don't know."

'''And jealousy leads only in one direction with you- doesn't it?'''

"I'll have to think upon that one, I suppose. I wish I had a better answer for you- but I don't."

'''Once they know you hate them as much as you like them. It's all over.'''

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It does make sense from Akechi's perspective, doesn't it? If Ren likes him--if they tell him they like who he really is--there's only two options: either he's got them completely suckered, or they're lying. Neither is a good thing, and both are worth getting upset over, even at the same time that he should take it as a sign of triumph.

After all, Ren can admit this because they finally accept (or rather, have been convinced to accept) that Akechi and the Black Mask are two different people. The only reason they haven't said anything about it still is because they don't want to hurt Akechi's feelings by telling him they suspected him of being that homicidal maniac for even a second in the first place.

Granted, they still think there's a connection between them, but there's a gulf of difference between 'having a connection' and 'being the same person.'

Ren purses their lips when Akechi claims he doesn't know, that he doesn't have a good answer. They may accept that he's innocent, but when it comes to this...

''For a detective, you sure turn your eyes away from the truth a lot,'' they think. ''How can you really not know how you feel about yourself?''

(Of course, the answer there is that he ''does'' know; he just isn't willing to admit it to them. That's ultimately the same thing, though, just remixed.)

Still, he says he'll think on it, and they nod. They'll give him the benefit of the doubt here. Sometimes, some things are too painful to confront directly. The foot of a lighthouse is always darkest and all that. Maybe it's something he's buried so well even he's forgotten the face of it. In which case...

"I know you've been through a lot, growing up. I know you've had people who treated you badly for things totally out of your control. It wouldn't surprise me if you've got some deep-seated self-loathing that's been baked into you since you were a kid," they say quietly. "But, Akechi... I know I give you a lot of shit for being a jerk sometimes, but please trust me when I say that there ''are'' things about you worth liking. If there weren't..." They swallow hard, and their eyes shimmer with emotion they keep off the rest of their face. "I wouldn't have come around to you like I have.

"You're my friend, and I care about you. And I don't like the idea that you might hate yourself so much you can't stand to even hear that much."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
In a sense, being a Detective does not necessarily qualify someone to knowing themselves- or acknowledging themselves. Physicians are the worst people to diagnose themselves after all.

However, that doesn't mean that Ren is wrong in the idea that he ought to.

Ren begins speaking to him about his childhood, and Akechi doesn't get ''angry'' about it- it's the conversation they're having after all.

He doesn't look directly at Ren, as he it shifts to giving him shit about being a jerk- but that there are some things to like.

They only think that because you've tricked them.

There's a certain intensity in his eyes, even as he looks away from Ren... this idea that if they dig too deep, then it will in fact, be over- whatever this is between them.

Friendship? Rivalry? Something ''else''?

Yet, he can't play act his way out of it and deny it's true after all this either. He knows that much.

"Well- while I can understand your discomfiture with it... I don't think there's anything to be done."

He relates to Ren finally, "And despite how it sounds - I don't hate this life. Living. It's just the way I am, really." Before he says, perhaps a little distantly, "I can only ever be me."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Context matters, after all. Ren isn't hitting Akechi with the cognitive dissonance of emotional whiplash by turning a fun, flirty conversation into something serious and unintendedly painful this time; this time, it's just the conversation they're having, as Akechi says.

And because it's the conversation they're having, one they're having face-to-face at that, Ren can pay closer attention to him. To his little gestures; to his micro-expressions. To the way he won't look them in the eye, but how his gaze sharpens all the same. To the truth that gives all new, excruciating context to how he fakes his personality on TV, and why he got mad when Ren suggested they saw no point in leading a fake life.

He really does hate himself that much.

Why? How? Yes, Ren knows some of the causes. However, surely even with the trauma he's experienced growing up, he must know that he's done a lot of good in the world as a detective. He's brilliantly smart, devastatingly handsome, driven and determined. How can he seriously think there's ''nothing'' to like?

(Because, sure, Akechi said, 'What's ''not'' to like?' But Ren knows sarcasm when they hear it, and they know exactly what he was actually saying.)

"...Yeah. That's true of all of us," Ren says quietly. "We can all only ever be ourselves." They swallow hard. "That's why it makes me worry that you dislike that person so much." They glance away. "But... I can't make you change how you feel about yourself. No one can--no one but you."

It truly is heartbreaking, being in love with someone who can't love himself. If they told him how they felt, would he believe them? Could he, even?

"...Hey, Akechi. Uh... Not to make it weird, but... would it be okay if I hugged you?"

The color has seeped back into their cheeks and they rub their neck again as they say this, but they also gaze at him anew, and this time without turning away--whether he meets their eyes or not.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
He really does.

His existence is - wrong. It's a detriment not just to his Mother, but to the world itself. He was told that 'Ruin' was coming- and he could stop it, if only he would accept the patronage of a certain long-nosed man.

And to that offer, his answer was 'No'.

And as he stands across Ren Amamiya- he's rather certain that Ren's answer was the opposite. Because of course it is.

Ren pursues his own Justice. But that Justice will not visit harm upon so many people for the sake of the downfall of one man.

"... Well just as telling me that I should like myself won't change matters- I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to say you shouldn't worry for me in that regard."

They should be worried- for themselves. For what's coming.

No one can change that part of himself but him- there's almost this bitter smile on his features, upon his personal understanding that he cannot change who he is.

He cannot be the better man.

He can only be himself - the Cursed Child.

'but-- would it be okay if I hugged you?'

That idea jolts him out of whatever thoughts he was mired in, looking up, "Oh- ah-" He looks taken aback. After all, he hasn't been hugged for almost twelve years.

Even when a fan tried to- or a show suggested it, he maintained that sort of personal space.

But...

"... Well, I suppose- I wouldn't mind if- you'd like."

He's not certain if he's excited or embarrassed or touched or all at once by this request. It's really that distant to him, the memory of being hugged.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Of course it is. Ren didn't like waking up in a weird prison with two tiny belligerent guards and a weird long-nosed warden, but being told that they, the Trickster, had a chance to prevent the coming 'Ruin'... Even if they weren't sure they bought into it at first, how could they just ignore it? If nothing else, they had to hear him out, if only to be sure of the situation.

...you know, once they arrived in the Velvet Room under their own power rather than being summoned in their dreams. That's also an important part. Either way, Akechi is fully correct. While they're hardly free of vengeful, hateful feelings, Ren's form of justice is nonetheless chiefly about protecting and uplifting the weak, not tearing down and controlling the strong. That's how they can react to Akechi's smug better-than-thouness and decide that they're going to rise up to his level by accepting his challenges: they choose to become better.

Understanding this about them, no wonder Akechi can't stop himself from being resentful.

"Mmm," Ren murmurs in what is functionally agreement, eyelashes sinking. They see that hint of a bitter smile, and can only imagine what he might be thinking in that moment. At least... Akechi accepts how they feel. That's something. At least he isn't pushing back and getting angry anymore at the idea that they might like him. Compared to before, that's a huge improvement, actually.

They hold back a smile at the thoroughly startled way he looks at the request for a hug. It's very cute, though... and they're glad he gives his consent. Their gaze softens, and they raise a hand to brush a strand of hair from his face.

Akechi will have a moment to wonder at their wistful, almost yearning expression before they step in closer, slip their arms around his waist, and lean their head on his. They take it slow to keep from startling him or making him uncomfortable, and to give him the chance to either pull away or hug them back as he wills; however, soon enough, they're holding him tight, arms taut on his back as their gaze drifts to the floor.

A tender moment like this ''would'' have to take place in the bathroom, huh... In a weird way, though, that makes it better. That makes it real and unrehearsed--something that happened because that's just where they were and how things played out while each of them were being more or less sincere to the other, as opposed to being because either of them tried to re-frame it into something more ideal.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
What a mess, Goro Akechi is.

Even getting exactly what he wants - he gets upset about it. Perhaps in a sense, that is his life.

No matter what he achieves- he can't allow himself to be happy. Because fundamentally, he knows what a terrible person he is- and makes no effort to ''change'' that.

He accepts that's who he is.

Akechi does wait, seeming less to study Ren's expression and more to ''catch'' it, like the look in Ren's eyes as they approach.

There's a new context here. It's not necessarily just two guys anymore, but a guy - and someone who feels more like a guy sometimes, a woman at other times- and neither at others.

His amber eyes show that he seems a little tense as Ren approaches- only to get less so as Ren's arms wrap around him. At first, his own makes no such movement, like he's still trying to figure out how to deal with this.

Then slowly, his begin to do the same, lacing around the small of Ren's back, just above the waist. He's trying to keep it quite chaste despite his feelings- the worst thing he could do is take advantage of Ren, when Ren was being kind to him.

Then, something in him just subtly relaxes. Like the memory of what it's like just returns to him as something more than the vague person-shaped void within his mind, this long after.

Then anxiety spikes a little because how long is too long for a hug!? How long is too long? He finally clears his throat quietly, and loosens his grip, "Ah- thank you. That was rather-"

FIND A DESCRIPTOR AKECHI'S BRAIN HURRY!

"-nice."

IT'LL DO!?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Would it make ''that'' much of a difference if they were two guys? Ren admitted they're not just X-gender, they're also pansexual--that gender doesn't factor into who they find attractive, or alternately, they find all genders (or lack thereof) attractive. To them, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

They do spot that tension as they close in, and that only reinforces their decision to take it slow. They're grateful that Akechi eventually chooses to hug them back. More than grateful--their heart surges with emotion, and that's when their grip on him tightens. He relaxes in their hold, and they squeeze him a little together before letting their hold on him relax too. It's a wonderfully intimate moment, and they quietly breathe in the scent of his shampoo, eyelashes fluttering shut as they bask in the moment.

Alas, though, while Ren wouldn't have minded if that hug had gone on longer--a ''lot'' longer--all things come to an end. Disappointment tinges their heart when Akechi clears his throat and signals that he wants the hug to end by loosening his grip, but Ren accepts this and lets him go, backing up a step so they can look him in the eye.

This means they're looking him in the eye when he calls the hug 'nice.' Ren's own eyes crinkle with affection as they smile.

''I like you.''

''You're my friend, and I care about you.''

Maybe those lines will flash through Akechi's mind, seeing the way Ren looks at him now. They tuck their hands in their pockets; their nails are plain black, currently, and just slightly long. "Glad you enjoyed," they reply in that casual, unbothered way they do.

However, it melts into a bittersweet sort of melancholy as their smile fades away. "...Akechi? I really am sorry I upset you. That wasn't what I wanted, but I get that to you, it left a bad taste. Especially since..." Their eyes flick away. "...you told me before you don't trust me. I don't know how you feel now, but given that, it might've even sounded like a lie, or like I was mocking you."

A pause.

"So, um... next time you're that upset at me..." They meet his eyes again, and that melancholy has only deepened, like a ship sunken to the bottom of the sea. "Let's talk it out. Don't ignore me and shut me out like that again. Please."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
One has to consider the environment Akechi has been in for years. After all, two guys hugging is seen as weakness by the people he surrounds himself with, who give him orders.

It is allowing vulnerability, in a moment of physical affection.

The look in Ren's eyes causes his own to soften somewhat, like he's not weighing such things at the moment though.

'Glad you enjoyed,'

He doesn't speak immediately, he lets Ren fall into that bittersweet melancholy, as he apologizes. Something he didn't expect. Ren wasn't trying to hurt him- and by all rights, it was a sweet sentiment.

Things just can't be simple, with him, sometimes.

"...Mmh," he vocalizes, lightly, at the idea of whether that's changed. "Would it help if I said- I want to?"

Perhaps Ren even understands that he means that he is wired ''not'' to trust. And while that part of him can't be undone, the idea that he at least ''wants'' to, despite that part of himself might help.

There's bitterness at what Ren asks of him. He's plotting to murder them. Always doing so- stringing it out until he achieves some ultimate victory, some moment of sweet satisfaction. In which he wins- makes certain the other person knows it, and rubs their nose in their own downfall.

For his Justice to win, another Justice must lose.

And in truth, the relationship is on some level going to be something upsetting to him ''all the time'' because of it. Every achievement Ren has - he can't simply be happy for them. He can't just ''enjoy'' the idea that they made a new friend, or that the Phantom Thieves won a battle.

Because as they climb higher- the high mountain perch he's on seems more lowly.

Still... in this moment...

"I think I can agree to that," he says in soft agreement. "I do apologize myself; sometimes the impulse towards- my worst inclinations can be rather hard to resist."

Which isn't exactly, the best apology, in a sense it's saying 'I'm sorry that I was myself' but it's also 'I'll do otherwise so I won't hurt you.'

The truth is though- it took every ounce of his willpower to resist his need for attention, that all-consuming urge for validity, that gnawing hunger that can never be sated.

If it weren't for some ''challenge'', some ''dare'', some ''competition''- he could have never managed as long as he did to not make contact, so it's a rather easy request for him to give to Ren.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
One does, and one would--if Ren knew about it. As it stands, they can only presume the standard level of queerphobia in present Japanese society and Akechi's desperate desire for approval and validation from the masses he despises.

Either way, they assume it helps a lot that the two of them are still in the bathroom in an empty restaurant, out of sight of anyone who might chance to pass by outside. This moment is theirs and theirs alone--Ren and Goro, alone together.

It makes them feel special again. Important, considering that brief moment of jealousy they had with Maria and what she said about Akechi's encouragement vis-a-vis her exams. Ren really doesn't want petty jealousy to poison their personality.

Something flickers in their dark eyes when Akechi says he ''wants'' to trust them. "I'm not sure," they admit. "A little, at least. Yeah. As long as..." They bow their head. "...you don't just assume the worst of me when things go sour."

They don't mention Yoshio and how he'd publicly cut ties with them after their arrest. That's still a deeply tangled feeling, and they don't want to guilt-trip Akechi for how ''he'' accidentally tripped that trauma of theirs. This agreement is enough for now.

That apology might not be the best, but its sincerity draws a chuckle out of them. "Yeah. Once an asshole, always an asshole," they reply, and though on its face it's a criticism--even an insult--the affection in their eyes and smile is unmistakable. "That makes the times when you ''are'' sweet to me even sweeter."

...Maybe this might convince Akechi that Ren really ''does'' mean it--

--but considering his contempt for women who fall for bad men, that probably doesn't make anything better, and just might make things much, much worse.

"I do want to ask you one more thing, though," they add, sobering. "You told me before... you want your first kiss to be with someone you love, who loves you back. If you hate yourself so much it upsets you to be told you're liked..." They trail off for a moment. When they think on it, that puts a brand-new context on all the confessions Akechi turns down. Maybe it would be better to drop the topic--but Chihaya told them that communication is key to make it work for a Gemini and a Scorpio. Astrology might be nonsense, but the essential message behind that is not, and they swallow hard. "...does that mean you actually don't want to be kissed or get into a romantic relationship at all? Ever?"

They want--no, ''need'' to know where that line is. To know what they should do going forward. If Chihaya's right and Akechi just wants a superficial dynamic of "joke"-flirting on the side of their weird rivalry/friendship... they can do that. It'll hurt, but that's true of any meaningful bond they might develop with him.

The pain is worth it, if they can just keep him close--whatever form that closeness takes.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Things rarely can be simple with him.

Even moments of simple enjoyment, may cause such bitter hatred upon the rebound. It's so difficult being friends with Goro Akechi- much less, being something else.

'A little, at least. Yeah. As long as... you don't just assume the worst of me when things go sour.'

"I'll try. When things go badly- it's in my nature to distrust that there isn't some ulterior motive. Because I grew up so slow to trust- has become part of why I'm so capable as a detective."

He smiles ruefully, "Would you believe it if I told you that I was betrayed by my clients and my contacts often? It sounds like something out of a novel- but it's true to life... people who would seek to use me, to their own benefit."

It's an explanation perhaps, but not in regards to Ren...

"Friendship is... new to me. So, what I can say is that I'll do better."

Better in not assuming malice, rationally he can tell himself that, but his feelings are- prickly, when he's poked in an open wound, accident or not.

Prickly may be an understatement.

He chuckles at Ren's 'once an asshole always an asshole' comment, before 'that makes the times you ''are'' sweet to me all the sweeter' silences that chuckling, like he was about to use some sort of quip or glib remark and- it just falls away, like he has none in the face of it.

Before he can actually say anything though, Ren asks him something else. About his first kiss being with someone who loves him back. About whether his self-loathing means he doesn't ever want to be in a relationship... ever.

It's a contradiction that indeed, has been on Akechi's mind for years. In all the tangled, Gordian Knot-like context that is his psyche.

"Ah." He vocalizes, lightly, which perhaps informs Ren that he hit the nail on the head for a contradiction that even Akechi has understood for some time.

"... Well..." He begins, then stops for a time, like he's trying to figure out how to put it. "... It's not something that hasn't crossed my mind." He admits out loud, now, "But I suppose the theory is, that if I found someone like that... I could forget that I do- for a time."

He closes his eyes in thought, "Perhaps that's unfair of me- to put upon someone else. Or perhaps it's merely naive to think that it could work out that way. I just- hoped that it might, that's all."

Love, as he knows is powerful. Powerful enough for his mother to overlook his accursed nature. Powerful enough perhaps to resist doing what she did to herself for years...

... and while it's a different type of love. He can't help but wonder...

If perhaps one day, he might be able to forget it for a time. He knows with Ren- sometimes he does, but still, he can't help but doubt.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Mm. I would, actually," Ren replies. "I've thought for a long time that you've got an undercurrent of... hating the society you're so desperate for approval from. Knowing about how you were treated as a kid went a long way towards explaining why, and if you keep getting screwed over by the people you're trying to help, that only underscores it."

They're even a touch sympathetic as they say it, but by and large matter-of-fact. This is not something they judge Akechi on. ...anymore, anyway. It certainly used to rub them the wrong way--in particular when Akechi called them 'innocent' for buying into his I-love-sweets act. ''That'' made them mad.

Right now, they give him a muted smile and a little nod. They can buy that friendship really is new to him, too.

Then Akechi chuckles and is silenced in turn by Ren. Their eyes crinkle as they grin. It's so satisfying to see him at a loss for words--even more so when it's in response to them being fully sincere about how they feel. It's tempting to tease him about it--but no. They'll let the look on their face speak for itself.

Besides which... they've asked him an important question, and he's giving it due consideration. They wait for his response, and are rewarded for their patience.

"...I see." Ren's not sure they understand that perspective, but it makes sense to them that Akechi would have it. They work through it aloud, even: "Loving someone, and being loved by someone, so much that you forget you hate yourself... If, despite that self-hatred, you still can't stop struggling to make a better life for yourself, it makes sense to hope for." They rub a lock of their bangs between their fingers. "That's part of a better life, right? Of being accepted by the society that rejected you? Finding 'true love.'"

They slip their hand into their pocket and meet Akechi's closed eyes. "...Maybe it's unfair or naive, as you say. But I think that's beautiful." They offer another tiny smile. "You don't hate yourself so much you've lost all hope for something better. That gives me hope for you, too."

For a moment, they pause. Then they tilt their head to one side, towards the cafe. "...Since you're here, d'you want a cup of coffee? My treat." They give him a larger, crooked smile. "Your reward for catching me so off-guard earlier."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Ren believes him, and he nods, that rueful smile still upon his face, but then he hits the nail on the head. "... Well, I can't claim the way our society is now- is something I approve of." He says as a mild deflection, but only a mild way. "That's a characteristic we both share. Yours is simply as they would say in the West a 'Glass Half-Full' perspective, to my 'Glass Half-Empty' viewpoint."

It's more than that, and he knows it, but he's not going to detail that toooooo much further right now. "Pursuing those who have shaped society for their own corrupt aims- seeing they face punishment. That is my 'Justice'."

That is technically quite true! Yet at the same time, it's certainly leaving a lot out.

Including the fact that he would let society burn- is not only setting the fires, but pouring gasoline upon them- in pursuit of a singular personal vendetta.

Perhaps Akechi gets a taste of his own medicine in a sense of that grin from Ren, they're looking quite smug themselves. Yet he can't fault them in this moment for it.

Akechi does try to explain at least- his thoughts upon it. "In the end I understand it's an irrational impulse- to have such a loathsome opinion of myself."

'''No it's not and it never will be'''
'''A blight upon all their existences is all that you can ever be'''

"But- it's not something that can be fixed, I'm afraid."

'''Because you're fundamentally broken beyond repair'''

"... I've tried."

Yet as Ren comes to a conclusion, now verbally beginning to work through it aloud, Akechi nods along. "Yes. That's- accurate." He agrees, to the progression to 'true love' as if it were some math problem.

'''Just another irrational impulse'''

Yet, their conclusion to said problem?

"... You do?" He seems surprised, "Well..." He rubs a hand at the back of his neck, seeming suddenly a little embarrassed, or perhaps more accurately, shy, "... I suppose I can't disagree with your logic. I'm just a little surprised you- think so."

He's mostly taken aback, by the idea that such a mindset can be ''beautiful''. After all, he's someone who finds few things in this world - to be beautiful.

Least of all himself.

However he's broken out of that by Ren's request, by a chuckle, "I think I'd like that. I'll leave the blend up to your expertise." Usually he's partial to something dark and bitter- would request it even, but- tonight, he finds he wouldn't mind something a little mellower.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
That ''is'' a characteristic they both share--not that Ren ever intended on denying it. It's just that they don't see a point in trying to gain approval from people who don't see or care to see the real them. It's simplicity itself for them to disregard the opinions of haters as meaningless. ''That's'' a point on which the two of them couldn't be more opposite.

They don't know that they'd call it glass-half-full vs. glass-half-empty--but they suppose that reforming the world and making the guilty atone for their crimes is a kinder punishment than anything the current legal system has. If anything, it's more like... reformation.

"Maybe," they say aloud. "We can at least agree we can't let people like that get away with it."

They fall silent when Akechi admits he's tried and failed to fix his self-hatred. They appreciate his honesty, but... it really does break their heart. There's no fixing it, and trying to reassure him on that mark only upsets him... so...

"Oh, by the way--it might've been bad timing earlier, but what you did before..." They sway close to whisper close to Akechi's ear. "It was still hot." Their grin is devilish as they step back, mischief sparkling in their dark eyes. "You can knock me over and catch me as I fall anytime~."

They say it like it's a joke, but they very much mean it--especially if it helps lighten the mood.

That devilishness softens into something more angelic as shyness steals over Akechi. Boy, you make it sound so pretty, even when it's not... So Akechi might sing if the two of them were six and a half years in the future. They huff a breath of a laugh at his surprise as they shrug. "I'm told I'm good at seeing the glass half full."

They take up their position behind Leblanc's counter as Akechi presumably heads to his usual seat, second from the door. Ren probably should lock the door, but they'll just have to unlock it again when he leaves, and they're not in a hurry for that. For now, though they know it (probably) wasn't meant as a challenge, they find they want to come up with a blend that suits his palate.

It takes some time, but they measure out a selection of various beans, then begin the process of grinding them. They glance at the kitchen once they do; there's still some leftover rice from when they were cooking with Haru, Hibari, and Kasumi earlier. Now that they're thinking of it... "It's probably late for you to have something to eat," they say, looking over at him, "but if you want--would you like some onigiri to go?" They quirk him a smile. "I've been practicing, like you requested."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"I'll take it," Akechi says with a faintly smug smile, as if Ren once again 'soft' agreed to another version of his thesis and antithesis greeting. Yet he doesn't 'crow' about it right now. (hohoho)

And well- he has a reputation of being a heart breaker. Just not typically in this fashion. Perhaps he shouldn't be surprised that he broke Ren's telling them that.

What Akechi learned from his experience trying? ... That he does not like therapists, mostly. Especially child therapists.

You watch your ass, Maruki.

However, as a brighter note, as Ren comes near him to whisper 'It was still hot'. Akechi hesitates for a moment- like it might catch him off guard, before he seems to regain composure on hearing the tone as 'joking' and proceeds to take this one in stride, perhaps because it's a similar game to the flirtatious one they've played for some time.

Isn't it?

"Then it had the intended affect." And as such, he chuckles in his own 'all according to keikaku' sort of way, before offering, "I might just take you up on that. It would give me another glimpse at the adorable face you made..."

Akechi ''does'' have a pretty singing voice after all- now, after enough sessions in a karaoke booth and singing in the shower. He's even taken 'singing' out of the 'off-limits' category in the contractual obligations that he negotiates for commercials and TV appearances.

YOU DID THIS REN!

Now back at the counter, Ren can see where Akechi hastily left his briefcase before ambushing them. Sitting face-forward, he doesn't do anything other than let his gaze linger upon his 'barista' for several long seconds before remembering that he ought to do ''something''.

And thus does he slide the crossword puzzle book over.

He's jotting down the solution to one when-

"Hm." He hadn't expected that one- he could just say he'd gladly take them to go but, "Well, I'm known to enjoy a midnight snack from time to time." He says, as he closes the crossword. "If you've been putting in the effort then- I'm certain you're eager for the judge's 'verdict'." He says with a faint grin.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
You did this to yourself, Goro!! Ren never even asked you to sing with them!! Ren never even sang themself!!!

They do note the way Akechi hesitates, and wonder if they stuck their foot in their mouth again--but he recovers and flirts right back. Ren laughs, half glad and half relieved. "I ''am'' adorable, aren't I?" They wink at him. "Glad you agree~."

It might be a return to the more superficial relationship they've had, but, well... they need some time to digest what Akechi said about hoping he can be loved into forgetting how much he hates himself. How he acknowledged it might be selfish or naive. In the end, they're no closer to knowing if love between them could work out than they were at the start of the day, but it is an answer, and that has value in and of itself.

Ah, Akechi's briefcase. Once that giant embossed (A.) annoyed them. Now it's kind of endearing. He usually never lets it out of his grasp, but he wouldn't have been able to catch them if he'd kept it on hand, huh...

They smile back, seeing him open up this month's crossword puzzle book. (They wouldn't have minded him continuing to stare, though...) "Coming right up, then."

After the coffee, at least. Grind, grind, grind, grind... It's soothing, hearing and feeling the grinder mill the beans down. Such a satisfying scent, too. Hopefully this blend tastes as good as it smells.

"I've been learning how to make omelets, and Leblanc's curry too," they continue. "I never used to cook back home, unless you count heating stuff up in the microwave, but now... it's actually pretty fun. There's something satisfying about eating something you made yourself. It's even more satisfying to feed it to someone else and see them enjoy it." It's only one of many things Ren's been learning lately--one of those things being the saxophone. They won't mention that one for now. It'll be a surprise for when they get good enough to perform for him.

Soon enough, they serve up the blend. It's far from perfect, but it's quite smooth and fairly balanced for something Ren eyeballed. As Akechi savors it, they open up the rice cooker, mix up the seasoning in a small bowl, and fetch (what else?) the tuna filling from the fridge. It only takes a moment to form the rice ball between their palms, and they serve it up with a sheet of nori on a small plate. It too isn't perfect, but it's salty and delicious in its simplicity.

"If you like it, give me a new request, and I'll take that challenge on too." They flash him another broad smile. "I want the satisfaction of making my rival admit my food is good."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Look, your rivalry caused him to believe it was theoretically possible. Naturally, it remains Ren Amamiya's fault in all things.

Except for you know, all the murders and psychotic breakdowns. Those are all his.

"I can't deny it. Haha... perhaps I'll just keep your ''most'' adorable quality to myself." As he teases back, by offering a crumb, then withholding it.

It is an answer. Perhaps it is merely him articulating thoughts he's always had, been never could put into words.

After all, who else would he speak to about this subject? There's no one.

However the question he asks when someone confesses to him, 'What is it that you like about me?' has perhaps become a far more poignant, and sadder one in the process.

"Well, it sounds like you've made a great deal of progress since you started. As for myself..." He raises up both hands in a gesture of helplessness, "... my attempts at trying to make something edible in my apartment's kitchen aren't worth mentioning."

The fact of the matter is, when he heard Ren was trying to learn to cook - Akechi himself tried again. Tried, being the key word. He ultimately decided they would not be rivals in the kitchen.

And he seems very much okay with that. Perhaps Ren can understand why.

Soon enough, he's trying that blend, and leaning back in the chair after he takes a sip, "Mmm, quite smooth." Putting a leg up on the rest, he has his other arm over the back of the chair, "It's quite relaxing. Thank you for offering despite it being 'after hours.'"

And then comes the moment of truth...

''I'm sorry- I wish I had a real kitchen. This is all I can make you...''
''I'm so sorry that I'm such a failure as a mother.''

He picks it up, and takes it. Inspects it in his hand for a few moments. One bite. He chews- chews. There's a certain nostalgic simplicity to it. Reminding him of that old rice cooker they had in that basement.

It's not perfect. But it's also better at making him think of back then better than any convenience store onigiri he's ever tried before.

Another bite.

Another.

It's difficult to judge his expression as he eats it all, not commenting throughout the process, before he notes:

"...I find that it's quite agreeable," he remarks quietly. "I like it."

''Don't say that! I like your Onigiri, Okaasan.''

It's hard to say why, but one gets the feeling he's not saying so just because he doesn't want to give his real opinion. Perhaps it's just the strange solemnity in the air as he says it.

"Hm."

As he thinks back to the orphanage and 'Pancake Day' with Miki-Akihiko-Shinjiro all enjoying those stacks of pancakes, he remembers only that feeling of being an outsider, of jealousy.

And a strange thought occurs to him, "Perhaps, waffles?" He says after a time, "Let us call it an- impulsive request."

Suck it, Akihiko.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
That's what it means to have a friend: having someone that you can articulate your deepest thoughts to and reasonably expect them to not just listen but care.

If--when?--Ren confesses to Akechi, though, will he even need to ask that question? Or has Ren made it clear enough by now what they like so much about him?

Well... for someone like Akechi, it can surely always be made clearer.

"Tease," Ren accuses Akechi with good humor. "You just want me to challenge you to show me up again, don't you?" That ''is'' how their earlier moment started, after all.

A shame that Akechi's attempt to cook again met with failure. Ren gazes over their shoulder at him for a moment. "That's too bad," they reply quietly. "But I'm not surprised."

They ''do'' understand, at least intellectually. Good food is a form of self-care. How can you expect that from someone who hates himself so much?

They crook another smile when he enjoys their impromptu blend. "I'm the one who locks up. I get to decide if I serve a cuppa to a friend if I want," they reply. Inspiration strikes, and they add with a glint off their glasses, "A cuppa for a coppa."

The Black Mask ''loves'' puns. Ren will be okay if Akechi hates this one.

Once they serve the onigiri, though... they straighten and watch him inspect it. Their pulse has picked up. How long ago was it that they realized they care about Akechi's opinion of them? It happened bit by bit, until now it would break their heart to learn he secretly hates them. Hope picks up as he takes another bite, and another; when he admits he likes it, they breathe out a sigh of relief.

But... something ''is'' a little off. Or... not off, but--like it has a weight that Ren wasn't aware of. "I'm glad," they murmur, gaze lingering on his face.

He requests waffles. For a second, surprise flickers across their face. "Not pancakes?" After all, he was the one who picked out ''and'' doubled down on delicious pancakes. Still, they nod once, another smile spreading across their lips. If he's making this request, it means he really has acknowledged them. That makes them... truly happy. "All right. I'll add it to the list."

One of these days, maybe they'll even make him a full bento. If his requests so far are onigiri and waffles, it's going to be one strange lunch--yet isn't that part of the fun?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Will Ren need to answer that question?

Perhaps whether he will or not is written within the stars.

"Of course," Akechi admits shamelessly. "Though, I don't expect you to take the bait. I doubt you're so easily manipulated as to be goaded into a challenge as easily as that." As he just further leans into teasing him as is their way in this back and forth dynamic.

"I suppose I just don't have the knack for it."

A knack for self-care.

But also a knack for caring for others, too.

He just can't accept the idea of food ''as'' care. To do so seems like it's a betrayal of the feelings he holds for his past.

"Tck." He clucks his tongue at the pun. "Going for the low-hanging fruit, are you?" And yet, he chuckles all the same. Signs on whether he enjoys puns seem to still be mixed!

Signs on whether he's Black Mask seem to be mixed.

(What do you mean Light Yagami, high school student with a promising future and son of a police chief, is the brutal murderer Kira? That's impossible!)

His face remains hard to read perhaps, in these few moments. The admission that he likes it- it's nostalgia. But nostalgia always reminds him what came next. Perhaps it's just the taste this time allowed him to forget it for a while.

He would have traded any number of fancy meals for her to know that wasn't what defined how much she meant to him.

There's an inhalation of breath, liking it- he's glad he's taking it with coffee. Even enjoying the Onigiri is a bittersweet sensation.

"Thank you for that. I'll be happy to enjoy this any time you've made enough to share." And he says that with a little more cheer, as he takes another sip from the cup. "Not. Pancakes," he replies, enunciating those words.

A little too intensely??? What is this sudden reversal?

"Thank you. If you get around to it- I'd be very happy to try your waffles. I'm told they pair quite well with blended coffee."

Don't pancakes too???

(No. The day he takes Leblanc coffee with Pancakes is the day he has a Change of Heart and confesses to all those murders.)

Fuck Pancakes.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren's eyebrows rise when Akechi openly admits he wants that challenge. They already knew this, but it's always a gamble on if he'll actually be forthright about this sort of thing. Then again, he's always been pretty clear about wanting a rival, hasn't he?

"Hmm... I'd hate to disappoint," they quip. No challenge is forthcoming. Hoisted on your own petard, Akechi! Unless... this was your master plan all along?! (No, probably not.)

It's good though that Ren has already accepted on faith that Akechi is not the Black Mask, and so isn't seriously looking for similarities anymore. Otherwise, getting ''yet more mixed signs'' would be another source of frustration.

Whatever Akechi's true feelings on the onigiri are, though--or rather, the feelings he isn't expressing--Ren does trust he's sincere about enjoying the flavor. He wouldn't ask for more, otherwise. "You're welcome," they reply. "I'm thinking about trying curry-filled onigiri next." Would that even work...? Well, if it doesn't, it won't be because Ren didn't try.

/Not. Pancakes./ Wow. Okay. Ren's eyebrows rise even higher this time. There's clearly a story there, and they are curious--but they choose to let it go, this time. "Look forward to it," they reply instead.

Just like they'll look forward to his reaction when he tastes them. For good or ill... his reactions always been their motivation for taking on his challenges.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-18: Izolado

2026-10-25T02:44:25Z

Ayu:

2026-09-05: Mother Joker

2026-10-25T00:58:04Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: Mother Joker'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Tsubasa Seki]], [[Miho Ijuuin]], [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Hibari Aoki]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Futaba Sakura]], [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]], [[Makoto Niijima]], [[Maria Sakurai]], [[Penguin Mom Joker Edition]], [[Goro Akechi|Ruin]], [[Junes]]
*'''Where:''' Port Island Station - Main
*'''OOC Date:''' September 05, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 05, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''The Phantom Thieves have been watching Etsuko Seki for signs of her change -- but they haven't been watching alone. When Tsubasa's mother is taken by the Joker Curse, by her workplace at the flower shop Rafflesia near Port Island Station, someone will be there to retrieve her... and despite Umie's desperate attempt to summon demons and stop her, the Groom steals Etsuko away.''

----

(|======================== Port Island Station - Main ========================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
A sunny arrival greets people who ride the monorail to the artificial island
every day, as once off the platform, Port Island Station is open-air, allowing
the sea breeze to spread throughout it. Columns slice a diagonal towards a
curved wall that makes the station take on an amphitheater type appearance.

A vendor at Rafflesia makes the enticing offer of flowers for decorations and
gifts to your sweetheart alike, while Screen Shot Cinema presents matinee
pricing for students getting away from the stress of school and wanting to catch
the latest releases. Police dot the place, stopping people before they might
make a wrong turn towards certain alleys. Of course, you wouldn't know anything
about going to places like that, now would you?

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
The Phantom Thieves have been watching Etsuko -- first amongst them, Futaba and her digital surveillance. But there is a complicating factor which stays their hand, even as Futaba reports erratic phone activity which could indicate the Joker process.

"... we need t' catch out th' agent," Tsubasa explained it, one day, as they gathered for a secret meeting in Ren's room. "Get a bead on what they doin'... it's me an' Ichika an' Ryuji's lives all countin' on it." They've spoken to the two of them about the threat Shiryuu's hung over their heads at length -- at least, length as far as the laconic Tsubasa is concerned. "Might be th' one shot we got to get th' ''jump'' on one a 'em... if I can't grok some way to wreck their shit, we're sunk."

It may come as a surprise to some of them; Tsubasa only expressed the danger they were in to ''everyone'' once, when they were getting rescued. All this time, they've been bearing the wind up music of that locket... largely ''alone.''

Perhaps that comes as no surprise, though.

The explanation they offer is more wordy than they've been all ''week.''

And so, game, set, match: Port Island Station, one chilly afternoon. A dusting of snow has fallen over the steps leading up to the station, and the flowers of Rafflesia stand out all the more strikingly against the white backdrop. More than that, though: one of the workers has come in ''quite'' odd.

"Do you know when my daughter will get here?" Etsuko Seki asks, smiling dreamily to her manager. "I've been calling her all day... have you seen her?"

(Not shown: Tsubasa's silenced phone, with sixteen missed calls.)

Her manager looks to a bruise she ''hasn't'' bothered to put makeup over, today, frowning slightly. "Eh, Seki-san... are you feeling okay?" He asks, gently. "If you need to work in the back today again, you know that's fine..."

"I'm feeling fine!" Etsuko abjures the kindness people around her extend her, seeing the outline of her secrets. She denies it cheerfully, with a smile which splits just a little... too... ''wide.'' "Everything's fine! Peachy keen! I ''love'' being ignored! No news is good news, right?!"

A few customers have turned to stare, hearing her raise her voice, her manager growing uneasy as she ''causes a scene.'' "Seki-san, come on," he urges her, gently. "Let's just go back and..."

"Oh no no ''no!''" Etsuko snaps, slapping his hand away as he tries to guide her. The sound rings out with her voice, across the afternoon snow: "I am ''not'' having my ''husband'' accuse me of cheating with you ''again!'' If that no good daughter of mine won't show up..." ... her face has more in common with the snow than his, as a sick shadow falls over her eyes, "... I'll just start by killing ''you.''"

Her manager pales, as he takes a step back -- and Tsubasa, crouched by the alley with the other Thieves, growls out an agonised, "-- arrrgh, fuck this!" It was their idea to set a trap for the Order... but apparently they don't have the ''stomach'' for it, when they're faced with the reality of a Joker's violence.

Because they run right out there, just as Etsuko's grabbed her manager. "Mom!" They call -- and that's oka-san, not oka-sama, unlike the way they address their father. "You were callin', right?! I'm here!"

"''There'' you are," she snarls, tossing a man who's only gotten increasingly concerned for her over the months down like a sack of potatoes. "Tsubaki-chan, you've caused a lot of trouble...! You ''ruined'' our family, then refused to make up for it! And do you know who was blamed for raising you wrong?!"

"You were," Tsubasa says, biting down the blow of hearing how their mother views them. (Particularly given their binders, it's becoming increasingly difficult to ''mistake'' them as a girl... at least not without significant ''confusion.'') "Father ain't good about it, I get --"

"YOU'RE JUST LIKE HIM!" Etsuko ''screams,'' as her hand -- which seem, in the moment, a little more like a ''claw'' -- lashes out to strike her child, backhanded, and viciously enough to send them tumbling backwards. "''Neither'' of you stop to think about me for a ''second!'' About how ''hard'' it is for me! Do you know how hard I had to fight just to keep you -- because I wanted a daughter! And HOW do you repay me?! I had to make the hardest decision of my life... but in the end, you brought it on yourself, Tsubaki-chan! I really, really, really ''hate'' you! You're just going to tell me ''one thing'' before I gut you like Friday Fish," and that should have been a fun affectation of a housewife, except for the way she's advancing on them, shadow cast long in the Winter afternoon.

It warps, as the space becomes Supernatural, as her change completes... but Tsubasa can't hope to transform, out in the open like this.

"Ngh -- what?!" They grunt, as they scramble back, favouring one leg with a sharp wince.

"Where did I go ''wrong?!''" Etsuko wails. "What did I ''do?!'' You're proof I'm a failure of a mother...! You must tell me ''why!''"

There's real panic on their face, and it's not hard to tell why... or why that question feels so impossible to ''answer.'' When Etsuko screams, "SAY SOMETHING!", that shadow rises up around her -- not her shadow but the ''Joker Persona,'' stranger than they've seen it before. It is as if the Joker's robes have swollen with sick potential, something like eyes or boils seeping from their edges; the Joker's mask splits into a permanent jawish gape, teeth like some creature from the deep sea, and its horns fan back massively behind it. A tail lashes from beneath those robes, with three-clawed heels each pointed the wrong way; barbed wire coats its wrists and neck. Her anguish reverberates through it, echoing with particular sharpness into the minds of those with Personas... though the ''impacts'' of that terror are worn in the soul, not the body.

In that terror, how many of them will forget this was a ''trap?'' Etsuko has transformed into a Joker Monster... and there's a specific type of person seeking to ''collect'' them.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
'The Agent', as it happens, is the Groom. She, too, has been watching this space. See the small camera set up in one of the plants at Rafflesia? No, you probably didn't. That's the point.

Thus, no one sees her put on her mask within a building nearby, and few even see her walk out into the station, watching Tsubasa in great danger from their own mother's monstrous form.

"Yes," the Groom says, all in black and gray armor, with a mask over her face. "You are a failure."

"A wretched thing, hoisted on her own ill deeds."

"Where did you go wrong...?"

"...You called the Joker," the Groom says, lifting her dragon-motif sabre in salute to her opponents. "On your child."

"For this, you have forfeited your life."

Behind her there are men in cheongsams, familiar to those who might have seen them at Club Zodiac--members of the Tien Tao Lien, waiting by the edges of the station.

Her boots sound against the pavement as she walks--and then lunges, her Persona Faust emerging in a flash of red mist. "PERSONA!"

Faust--dressed in plague leathers--extends one hand, and a bolt of nuclear flame ''erupts'' towards the Joker's hands, aiming to free the youth.

"I am your opponent now, monster."

She then lifts a hand to her ear, to a radio there. "Subduing the target. Stand by for retrieval."

</poem>
AS: Penguin Mom Joker Edition has readied for combat as Joker Mother! They are now fully healed! Ready for 11 opponents!
AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Almighty skill Tentarafoo on Miho Ijuuin, Tsubasa Seki, Futaba
Sakura, and Hibari Aoki!
| Defense: Penguin Mom Joker Edition gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Almighty skill Tentarafoo on Hyousuke Suzuki, Makoto Niijima, Maria
Sakurai, and Ren Amamiya!
AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Almighty skill Tentarafoo on Ririka Kawase, Shinobu Shimizu, and
Umie Akabane!
AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
AS: Block Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Nerve Up! Futaba Sakura's SP +8!
AS: Avoid Best! Futaba Sakura takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
AS: Block Worst! Hibari Aoki takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Penguin Mom Joker Edition has readied for combat with Joker Mother! They are adjusted! Ready for 6 opponents!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Miho Ijuuin has readied for combat as Faust! She is now fully healed! Ready for 5 opponents!

AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) applied to Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa has readied for combat as Goemon! He is now fully healed!
AS: Hibari Aoki has readied for combat as Danzaburou! She is now fully healed!
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) applied to Hibari Aoki!
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren had long been operating under the misunderstanding that when The Phantoms rescued Tsubasa from Shiryuu's clutches, the threats he'd levied upon them were null and void. Never directly talking about it to them afterwards allowed them to maintain this wrongful assumption--until today. Their expression is dark, hands folded over their mouth, when Tsubasa explains what the plan is during that secret meeting.

Morgana, who'd been privy to this misassumption and followed their lead when it hadn't come up again in the group chat he watches from over their shoulder, glances at them in concern. "Ren... This is..."

"...Right," they murmur, deadly serious as they raise their head. "Let's make this happen."

They won't make this mistake again.

---

They watch silently with the others from the back alley near Port Island Station, arms folded over their chest, Morgana balanced over their shoulders. The two are grave as Etsuko's condition gets worse and worse, until she finally crosses a critical threshold.

Neither argue with Tsubasa nor try to hold them back. Ren chases after them, though they hang back a reasonable distance as Tsubasa approaches their mom. This lasts precisely long enough for her to backhand them.

"Tsubasa!!" Morgana shouts, leaping off Ren's shoulder to race to their side. As Etsuko transforms and that Joker Persona rises from her, the space allows him to change from not-a-cat to monster-cat, conveniently out of the shot of that hidden camera or sight of those watching. An advantage of being so small.

Ren, too, passes behind one of the columns throughout the station, and on the other side, Joker emerges. As terrifying as the aura of the 'Joker Killer' aura, it pales in comparison to Joker's rage, both for Tsubasa and for themself and their own fraught relationship with their parents. They get bodily in between mother and child, one arm outstretched as a barrier. They assume the others will want to get in on this too, and there's space enough for them to help form a wall.

"Your failure is in refusing to accept your child for who they really are," they tell Etsuko coldly. "When you come to your senses, actually listen to their truth."

A masked woman arrives then with her own answer for Joker Etsuko in the form of both words and nuclear fire, and Joker (the one and only) shoots her a sharp-eyed scowl. They haven't encountered the Groom directly before, but it's clear that she's with the NWO, here to collect Etsuko Seki for their nefarious purposes. They glance back at the rest of The Phantoms here with them now. "Mona! Get them to safety." (Or in other words, behind cover so 'Tsubasa' can leave and 'Phoenix' can arrive. "Fox, keep the Order agent off us. Oracle, scan this so-called 'Joker Killer' for weaknesses; Mujina, support her and keep a sharp eye for more of the Order's people. Everyone else, let's subdue this woman!"

They don't know if there's any way to salvage both the trap for the NWO ''and'' Etsuko Seki, but if there isn't, it won't be because The Phantoms didn't fight tooth and nail for it. For their part, Joker whirls, coattails flying in their wake, and splays their hand over their face as their mask burns away. Arsène rises above them, clawed fingers pointing at Joker Etsuko.

"Steal her speed away!" Joker commands, and with a whirl of Arsène's own finger, magic drains the speed from the transformed monstrosity.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Almighty skill Sukunda on Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
| Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Sukunda.
| Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Anyone who has called the Joker Killer in the past is effectively a ticking time bomb. It's hard to tell when or where the curse will take hold of them, so Shinobu has been doing her best to keep track of the ones she knows about - especially now that they know the NWO is after the cursed individuals.

Shinobu hears word of the commotion and comes running... and by the time she gets to Port Island Station, Etsuko Seki has already turned.

"Tsubasa! Get out of there!" Shinobu shouts, drawing her staff from her duffel bag. "As for ''you'', lady... you've got some nerve treating your kid like that."

She recoils back suddenly, as she feels the anguish roiling off of the transformed Etsuko - that anguish claws at her soul, disorienting her, making her stumble...

...But there is another here. The Groom is here, releasing a blast of nuclear flame to try and free Tsubasa. Shinobu grimaces internally, recoiling as she feels a spike of gratitude toward someone who ''should'' be her enemy right now. She tightens her grip on her staff and for a moment she has to choose where to aim her efforts. And then, she charges -

- at the Groom, interposing herself between her and the monster Etsuko has become. Her staff lashes out in a series of jabs, to try and drive her back.

"...Yeah, she's a piece of shit... But you really think comin' here and saying you're going to kill their mom right in front of them is doing them any favors either?" Shinobu asks. "That, or carting her away to wherever the hell you take them..."

She backs up, readying her staff. She looks up, eyes straying toward the members of the Tien Tao Lien accompanying the Groom.

Really... not the people she wanted to see right now. Things could get ''really'' bad if they decide to move.

"Eyes open, people! This could get bad quick!" Shinobu calls out, trying to clear some heads.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Jab Flurry on Miho Ijuuin! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Help Up! Panic removed from Hyousuke Suzuki!Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming
Damage Down!) applied to Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Help Up! Panic removed from Umie Akabane!Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming Damage
Down!) applied to Umie Akabane!
AS: Block Best! Maria Sakurai takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Tentarafoo.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!

AS: Block Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 26 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 74 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 74 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>Hibari was not entirely thrilled about the plan. It *felt* dangerous in a way she didn't quite know how to express her discomfort with.

But it's not like Tsubasa was *wrong*, either. They did have to do it, and it was them on the line more than her; if they want to take that risk, it's not Hibari's place to stop them, only to maybe try to make it a little easier for them. Plus, from what she knows, Etsuko is going to become a Joker no matter what they decide. So it's a little out of their hands regardless; it's not something they can force to happen at a better time or place.

So aside from saying - once, and only once - that she was a little worried about the decision, Hibari hadn't objected, and she'd done her best to help.

Which is why she's here, now.

It's not Hibari that shows up but Mujina, Phantom Thief - though since it's one of the first times she's done anything *as* a Phantom Thief and not a semi-independent operator, that part's easy to be unaware of. Her coat is trenchcoat-shaped in dark colours, a ruff of fur around the collar, and underneath it she has a black top and leggings. Her hair is red, probably dyed, and she has a mask. She's on the heavy side, though the billowy nature of her coat obscures it to an extent.

The mask has a distinctive aesthetic: traditional Japanese, red and white, similar to kitsune masks. Except instead of a fox this is a broader shape, with stripes that go up from the cheeks and over the eyes in a wide arc, and wider, more triangular ears with red along the outside; it's a (very) stylized animal that is either a tanuki-ish badger or a badger-ish tanuki.

She runs along behind Joker, and the horrible shout only makes her miss a single stride, though behind her mask she's feeling a lot more afraid than she wants to let on. And she's already summoning her Persona, spinning a pair of jade balls in one hand as something between a focus tool and a fidget. Danzaburou, the tanuki lord, appears above her, sweeping his gunbai from left to right.

And a mist rises. Not a physical mist; it's not wet, for one. It's just... obscuring, thick, a little hard to see through, and particularly hard to focus through, as if there were moving shapes in the cloud that aren't, strictly speaking, actually there. She's put it through the area the Phantoms have to run through, and a little bit of it carries with them, a slowly roiling shield like a soap bubble of mist that makes them waver like being in a heat haze.

But the lingering cloud also does a pretty good job of making the little side alley between Rafflesia and the next building hard to see into, given that's where the main mass of mental fog is centered. The eye tends to slip away from it...

"Already on it," Mujina replies to Joker, as she looks around. There's a fair number of them... that fog's going to have some hard work ahead of it.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Recovery skill Mirage Shroud on Futaba Sakura, Makoto Niijima, Tsubasa Seki, and
Ren Amamiya!
| Hibari Aoki takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Take! Futaba Sakura takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Mirage Shroud.
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Mirage Shroud.
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Mirage Shroud.
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka was ''not'' part of the Phantom Thieves' stakeout. But Port Island is her home turf, and she was already on her way to a station when she heard the alarming call of Mementos. So much for her Saturday... Moments later she appeared near the flower shop, dressed in a winter jacket and jeans, coming to a sharp stop with a surprised blink. "Wait-- I ''know'' this place."

She sucks in a sharp breath as she spots the newly-transformed Joker. "Oh, no-- Seki-san!" Crap, she can't let anything happen to them.

And then a ''second'' burst of Resonance she's only encountered once but could never forget--from the day she Awakened. Ririka whirls around to face the Groom. "''You''! You're not getting away with this!" She retrieves her Evoker from her bag, hand trembling as she steels herself. "Amphion!"

Shattered glass and blue flame give rise to a giant stone man bearing a golden lyre, and a moment later light sweeps in front of Ririka to enclose her with a keyboard made of light.

Panic washes over her, and she grunts as she struggles to fight it off, relying on her training to try and keep a level head. It isn't easy, though--she's already assessing the situation as she reaches out to play and scan the area. A fight on two fronts is always trickier.

"Joker!" It looks like they're already issuing orders to their team. And Shinobu gives her own heads-up. "I clocked them," she reports. Her ''own'' team, sadly, isn't here, but she can support those that are. "And I'll provide support. Amphion--Analysis!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Miho Ijuuin!
| Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Full Analysis.
AS: Ririka Kawase's Strength Scan! Miho Ijuuin resists Slash and Fire!
AS: Ririka Kawase's Weakness Scan! Miho Ijuuin is weak against Light!
AS: Ririka Kawase's Support Scan! Miho Ijuuin has passive skills Blast Boost, Defender, Fire Boost, Quick Weapon, Sharp
Student, Skill Card Affinity, Slash Amp, and Slash Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
EARLIER...
in da group chat

> ATTENTION >>LOOK<< ATTENTION
> Sorry to yell.
> I'm getting unusual phone activity from Target E.
> Give me five minutes and I'm ready.

Futaba let out a 'hmf!' of resolution. "Time's a wasting," she tells herself then, turning away from her computer--

COFFEE
in the afternoon

Futaba has underestimated the scope of the situation.

To her, the sketch was simple. Assist Tsubasa. Help them get the drop on their mother -- their mother who isn't, in Futaba's somewhat complicated view, being a very *good* mother. On the other hand, there is a mute certainty in her heart that... that...

She can't define it, really: but she understands how, love them or hate them or some mix of both, mothers can be important.

Coming out to the site was an ordeal. Futaba kept her thoughts on Tsubasa, on double and triple checking the results on her phone (which, somehow, apparently connects to her home computer), on not saying more than one syllable to anything or anyone, and -- towards the end -- thinking about knives, and about courage, and about the basic elements of close-quarters combat. Anything and everything other than the screams, and the half-intelligible words.

When that strange and uncanny sense of the shift of permitivity of free space expands outwards, it's honestly kind of a relief to Futaba. Straightening up from the nook where she had been squatting with her phone connected to a battery and a supplementary antenna, she sweeps everything into the bag and snaps the bodyglove where it rests on her wrist. "Yosh," Futaba says to herself, before looking up...

And so it is not, exactly, Futaba Sakura that emerges but ORACLE -- and she is within the luminous and fabulous form of Necronomicon, burning with passion and mystery!

"Heh -- well said, Joker!" speaks Futaba from within the thankfully-comfortable and oh-so-delectably-hidden space within. "I think she's not in the mood to have a conversation."

"Joker, Joker," Futaba says more quietly as the lights flash strangely on the outside of Necronomicon. "This could get confusing really easily, huh." An instruction. "On it!" Several of those lights flash twice, and then green and red ovoids swirl around the ground, centering on the thing that was, or is, or might be Etsuko.

"That's right... screw up their visibility, Mujina!" Futaba says. "Scan completing -- done! They're weak to--"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Futaba Sakura has used the Almighty skill Reveal your secrets to me! on Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
AS: Take! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 0 Almighty damage from Futaba Sakura's Reveal your secrets to me!.
AS: Futaba Sakura's Strength Scan! Penguin Mom Joker Edition resists Fire!
AS: Futaba Sakura's Weakness Scan! Penguin Mom Joker Edition is weak against Water!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Though not a part of the Phantom Thieves in any official capacity, Hyousuke was Tsubasa and Ichika's friend. All they had to do was call, and he would come running without a moment's hesitation. So it was that, when Tsubasa asked him to join forces with the Thieves, the only questions he had were 'where' and 'when.' It was a little difficult for him to blend in with the crowd and maintain any semblance of subtlety, being a six-foot blonde with a scar carved into his face like a trench, but he counted himself grimly fortunate that Etsuko made enough of a scene that eyes weren't on him.

Whatever relief he might have felt in that moment drained quickly away as he watched the scene unfold, however. It was bad enough to watch her speak with the manager - the display was painful to watch for more reasons than he cared to recount. And when she threatened to take his life, Hyousuke simply could not stomach standing back and watching. The plan be damned - he refused to watch another person die when he had the power to keep it from happening. He twitched forward, fists balled as he readied himself to fight... but Tsubasa beat him to the punch.

He stood back, just another face in the crowd, though it was another issue entirely that he faced there. It was personal business that Tsubasa faced, and he knew that he couldn't intervene... But hearing her speak that way to them left him clenching his teeth and his fists, each as tight as the other, until his jaw threatened to snap and his nails verged on carving through the skin of his palm. He hated to admit it, but her scream and lashing out was, in its own way, a relief. It was a signal of a clear course of action.

The cold talons of fear raked though his mind, demanding that the stop and submit, or turn away from the fight and flee like prey. Run, they told him, and abandon everyone to their fate - this was not his fight. But it was Shinobu's shout that brought him to his senses, and he nodded at her in acknowledgement. Proper thanks could wait - they had business to attend to.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He roared, sprinting onto the scene with Achilles behind him. That titanic mass of war-scarred bronze loomed behind him, red eye glowering like hellfire from the void within the helm, and Hyousuke strode forward to meet both monster and fencer.

"She's not yours to take! That woman's coming with us, and if you want to try and stop us, I'll break you in half! ACHILLES - SHIELDS UP!" With that, Hyousuke stood before Miho, glaring at her with a challenging, raging, fire in his eyes. The titan behind him creaked and clanked to life, metal straining against its own weight as Achilles heaved his shield to the sky, and roared out a rallying cry to bolster his allies' defences.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Invincible General on Hyousuke Suzuki, Shinobu Shimizu, Ririka
Kawase, and Yusuke Kitagawa!
| Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> This bad event really couldn't have happened at a better time.... if you specifically wanted Umie Akabane to be there.

That distant explosion of 'kegare' would be the first signal for the Badb, if Umie was close enough. The second, and more likely reason Umie started heading here, would be a supernatural arena -- 'a battleground' -- springing like a thorny bramble from rust-colored mud.

Nearing tripping into a staring bystander, the young woman in the white hoodie and paper maiche half-mask rudely rushes by with nary an apology for his distress. Her sights are instead set on the source of that cloud of so, so much kegare. So little time, so much distance to cover, too late, too late, too late.

She tries not to flash back to the panic and helplessness she felt with Hodai, instead, focusing on acting. "Seki-san, run! You're not going to get anywhere with her right now!"

(Well, that's not quite the situation, but Umie's trying to condense a massively traumatic event down to a single command.)

She wants to say more, but when Umie looks at the mutated *thing* spring from Etsuko, the words erupt as a soundless choke, her hands shaking as they clutch the ends of her kyoketsu-shoge. "... You're... mutating...?"

Miyu, agent of the Order, couldn't have picked a better time to arrive. Umie wheels on her like a startled cat.

"Well, aren't *you* the saint for taking this *terrible* possessed person off everyone's hands," Umie spits at Miho. "You're clearly not here to collect her for the Order." Glancing over her shoulder to see Joker delivering commands, her expression relaxes a touch.

She's blissfully unaware of the reason for this seemingly fortunate coincidence.

"They can handle it. So *back* off." Shinobu intervenes, and Umie joins her, raising her hand to point at the agent.

Badb rises with a shriek as Hyousuke charges in, unleashing a simple, charming, red-lipped smile on Miyu.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Almighty skill Hooded Smile on Miho Ijuuin!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Hooded Smile.
| Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added! Panic removed! Explosion! 59 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>The plan was to set a trap.

Seeing Etsuko lose her grip on herself, and her physicality, so quickly is unnerving, though - so much so that Tsubasa breaks cover to try and stop the transformed woman from killing anyone.

Yusuke stays near Ren, watching the altercation - and the arrival of the people they were here to get the drop on. The moment nearing, he nods to their leader and ducks away in the opposite direction, flickering blue flame distracting from the disappearance of Yusuke Kitagawa and the arrival of Fox.

With a curt nod to Joker as they give the order to intercept the NWO, Fox draws his night-dark katana and breaks off from the rest of the Phantoms. Recognising Ririka - at least, by the fact that she's the sister of one of his teammates - he pushes forwards, drawing a deep breath and reaching for his mask.

"Goemon! Let us begin!"

With a mighty "iyooooooooo!" the spectral ronin manifests in a whirlwind of woodcut inks, adopting a ready high guard with his pipe, which Fox matches with his own blade - hungry for the battle to come.
</poem>

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Rebellion on Yusuke Kitagawa!
| Pressure: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Rebellion.
| Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Help Up! Panic removed from Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Invincible General.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
As the Phantom Thieves' strategist, Makoto can't say she exactly likes the plan for the operation ahead of them. Unfortunately, given the situation, and Tsubasa's decision to try and bear up under it, they don't have much choice.

"We're going to need one group to focus on containing Tsubasa's mother, and the other to pin down this agent." She frowns, not liking their options. "...Do you have a way to get Ryouhara's attention once we've got them, because we're going to be limited on how we can contain them. We don't exactly have a setup to capture a Persona User and keep them as contained." She fears some handcuffs won't exactly do the job in Mementos.

Still, if Ren's declaring that they're going to make this happen, it's what they're going to have to do.

----

Waiting in the back alley is tense- unfortunately, there's not exactly a much better option. Even from there, it's not hard to tell how much of an effect this curse has had on Etsuko.

"Wait-" Makoto tries to hiss to Tsubasa, but honestly, once they're off, it's not like Makoto can stop them without chasing after them, and that's a danger in and of itself. If Etsuko is already willing to lash out at her boss, who knows how someone else turning up with Tsubasa would agitate her.

It doesn't stop Makoto wanting to run after them anyway.

Reality shifts and with that shift comes a terrible wave of panic. There's something truly horrifying about the Joker Killer form of Etsuko, Queen's mask helps her resist. Helps, but doesn't prevent.

When Joker starts advancing, so too does Queen, the Student Council President gone and replaced by some kind of post apocalyptic Rider. A run becomes a sprint. A sprint becomes a leap. A leap becomes a roar, and Queen crashes to the ground atop Johanna, her tires screeching as she speeds toward Etsuko. "Tsubasa-kun isn't your daughter- and you have ''no right'' to call yourself their mother after what you did!"

Queen leans into a sharp turn just before impact, manifesting Johanna's power into a sweeping, vicious strike, a mix of anger and fear for her friend and teammate consuming her.

"Run," She yells to any remaining bystanders still standing back, as Mujina's protection washes over her, Johanna skidding to a halt between Etsuko and where Tsubasa was. "We'll deal with ''her''."
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Strike skill Flash Bomb on Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
| Makoto Niijima takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Block Best! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 25 Strike damage from Makoto Niijima's Flash Bomb. Critical Hit!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>
It has not been, in fact, a very good winter holiday for Maria Sakurai. Fresh off her own possession, she then went on to really bomb her exams, a fact of which her grandmother, her mother, and even her ''father'' had taken poorly to. She had been instructed to stay home and study, excepting a few outings with family around the new year. In theory, that's exactly what had happened.

In practice, though...

Well, if you're being grounded, you can't just be a cool superhero, right? And if something awful is happening, shouldn't even bad grades get a pass if you're one of the only people who can fight against the awful stuff?

In practice, Maria Sakurai has been a good girl and done her best with the studying thing and stayed home.
In practice, Cherry the phantom thief has... not done that.

Mementos is a good place for someone like her to hone her skills and stay in shape. It's safer than the Dark Hour, she's found.

But then that train had pulled up with an alarm clanging and Maria, without a second thought, had jumped aboard (aome people would say that she hasn't ever had a first thought, either).

Where is she now, anyway? No, wait, that doesn't matter--
Something's wrong, she realizes the moment her sneakers hit the pavement out here. And she knows exactly what it is. Is that what it was like for...?

"Seki-kun!"

Hadn't Tsubasa asked her to call them by first-name? In the moment, Cherry's focus is solely on the figure with the white-mask face, and only at some remove realizes that she's not the only threat she has to worry about.

"Your mom's a--! No, get out of there!"

She draws back, raising an arm as she twists away from the wave of terrifying anguish that rolls of Tsubasa's mother. "Aa--!" she shrieks, her soul resonating with with that howl in spite of herself.

Shaking her head, Cherry squares up as she pulls herself together. Into her hands she draws from the air itself a polearm that looks one part industrial scrap pile and one part scavenged neon lights: this, she brandishes at Tsubasa's Jokerized mother.

"I know you can't help it right now, but you're not helping!" Cherry shouts at her, sparing but a glance at Miyu. "Get away from them--!"

With that, with the apparent help of her brightly-colored sneakers, Maria leaps into the air. She brings her polarm to the fore before her, falling like a shooting star. If Etsuko won't back off, she'll force the issue.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Maria Sakurai has used the Slash skill Daring Dive - Polearm on Penguin Mom Joker Edition! 2 Hits!
| Pressure: Maria Sakurai gains 1 Limit!

AS: Counter Neutral! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 94 Slash damage from Maria Sakurai's Daring Dive - Polearm.
| COUNTER! Maria Sakurai takes 39 Slash damage in return for her attack!

AS: Counter Worst! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 152 Slash damage from Maria Sakurai's Daring Dive - Polearm. Critical
Hit!
| COUNTER! Maria Sakurai takes 36 Slash damage in return for her attack!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
("Yeah, me too," Tsubasa had said, to Hibari, back then. "Shit sucks." But even though they were worried, they were still convinced it was the best of their bad options.

As for Makoto's concerns about reaching the Ryouhara? Well, there's a reason some of the ''most'' likely suspects aren't present right now...)

Tsubasa happens to know that Miho is associated with the Order...

... but they know that ''Miho'' is associated with the Order.

As for the ''Groom?'' No fuckin' clue. They know she's bad news, though, in that faceless ceramic mask of hers.

(Etsuko, as it happens, knows ''Makoto,'' too -- so it's wise for her to not run out beside them.)

Does that mean it's ''weird'' to hear the Groom calling Etsuko out for being a bad mom? Yes, actually. How is the horror lady making a decent point???, Tsubasa scrambles to grasp, in their mind, as they scramble away from their mother.

"Fuck was that?!" They bark, because of course they're not supposed to ''know'' what Frei is. (Sorry, monster cat Mona, they're implicitly wrapping you up in the same surprise. They know who the fuck is you, promise.) They scramble up, with a bit of a wince, to get some more distance in the wake of Faust's assault. "You're -- helpin' me?" ''Joker'' and the other Thieves protecting them isn't a surprise -- Shinobu and Ririka and Umie jumping in isn't, either -- and they ''asked'' Hyousuke to come help them with this shit going down, as one of his contacts to the otherwise-inscrutable Thieves -- but the ''Groom?!'' "C--cool, man, but fuck off me mom!" In their own way, there, they've asked for help making sure Miho doesn't hurt Etsuko. "She jus' --"

Tsubasa shakes their head, turning back to Etsuko. "You ain't never left me father! That's it, okay?! That's what ya fucked up, mom! You ain't never ''left'' him, so we all had to deal with him, an' -- an' you coulda ''left!'' Look, it's easy, fuck -- fuckin' -- like this! I'm outta here!" They can follow advice if it's from people who ''actually help them,'' apparently -- case in point: Shinobu and Maria telling them to scram.

With that, Tsubasa scrambles out to flee through the alleyway -- surely not ''realising'' that Hibari's misty Shroud has helped to obscure their escape. Luckily, Mona's there to make sure no one ''follows'' them, as the world's fiercest tiny monster cat.

(Oh, they realise. It's precisely that obfuscation which gives them a private moment to pull their ''own'' Will of Rebellion on, and --)

OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySC3gvKsIY8 Nevermore - Evolution 169

"-- Etsuko Seki!"

Phoenix, the Phantom Thief, is apparently ''late'' as they charge in, greatsword casting sparks as it scrapes along the ground beside them. They swing that sword around, to lash out at the Joker Persona she's wielding. "I don't wanna hurt ya, but you're in real hot water--!"

Swinging around, they call out: "Fox! Help those guys deal with th' Groom, she's got a fuckin' sword!" ''YOU'' HAVE A SWORD, PHOENIX! Okay, except ''Phoenix's'' sword is more akin to the broad side of a barn compared to Yusuke's elegant instrument...

... and the Thieves know just why Phoenix is focused on Etsuko, even if not everyone else here does. (Well -- not ''everyone.'' Hyousuke and Maria, on the other hand... man, does Tsubasa have a ''type'' of person they tend to trust their shit with?!)

"Cherry!" They cry, seeing her dive for Etsuko. "That's me -- friend's mom!" Good save, Phoenix. "We jus' gotta... knock some sense into her, right?!"

A beat, and they look to Queen, as they repeat, again, to their strategist: "Right?!"

</poem>
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hibari Aoki's Mirage Shroud.
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Weapon! Tsubasa Seki has used the Slash skill Greatsword Destruction on Penguin Mom Joker Edition! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Neutral! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 103 Slash damage from Tsubasa Seki's Greatsword Destruction.
AS: Block Neutral! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 122 Slash damage from Tsubasa Seki's Greatsword Destruction. Critical
Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Mom Joker Edition has posed.
<poem>
The Groom calls the Joker's attention, as her head turns, not even looking at the Saber, or her. It's an unnatural angle, so far that normal vertebrae would snap.

"Hahaha-" She laughs even as tears fill her eyes, her smile unnaturally wide now, "-EhehehHAHAHA- you're wrong. That isn't where I failed. That's where I acknowledged my failure- a failure of a mother in this wretched, sinful world!"

The bloated form of the Joker rises again, and with an inhalation that distorts its body, it exhales a cone of icy cold upon the Groom.

Even in that angle now her head turns sideways, looking as if it might snap at any moment, but still she grins, even as she cries, running little rivulets of makeup down her chalk white eyes. "It's where I tried to correct my failure." Her body turns now, but where her eyes should be are now fixated on the groom, unmoving, as her body catches up.

"Maybe in our next lives, she'll want to be my daughter. But before we go- I will find out ''WHY''!"

Joker offers their own wisdom, on where things went wrong, even interposing themselves. "Ehehe- but I do accept them! I accept them for who they really are! My Tsubaki! My daughter!" A step forward, as she brandishes her purse, and even as Joker steals her speed away, "NEVER get between a Mother and her daughter!"

The Purse swings right at the Phantom Thief's face, before trying to strike him again on the backswing. Each time it would feel as if there were the weight of something far more solid inside- far too solid to be normal contents.

Well there kinda are. She brought a few bricks in her purse to work today. Always gotta be prepared for a supernatural breakdown!

Tsubasa though... makes a certain point. Where she went wrong is- "Stop lying, Tsubaki." She says with tearful eyes, "STOP LYING TO YOUR MOTHER! That's not what made you decide to stop being my little girl! You- You decided-" A sob hitches in her chest, before becoming a giggle, "-hehehe-EHEHEHE- you decided to stop! You can't just stop being a girl! You left ''me''! You left me to deal with your mess, ALL BY MYSELF!"

But, Tsubasa says they're outta here and Etsuko straightens, "Don't you ''DARE''! Don't you leave me again Tsubaki! DON'T YOU DO IT!" But with Joker's spell, there's no hope of her catching up, as she whispers, "Everyone- I'll just kill EVERYONE HERE UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!"

Futaba meanwhile tries to analyze the Joker Persona- and there's a nonsensical readout. Even besides it's composition, it's vulnerabilities. There's something inexplicable. A factor that makes it like Joker - Ren Amamiya, and not at the same time, a commonality- despite the fact that the two have nothing to do with each other other than a shared name.

But before she can look more closely, the readout of 1's and 0's and characters beside changes, the code warping to show the outline of a mask, with open gaping mouth in a grin, that mouths silently a single word.

Interesting

And then vanishes, as if it never were, whatever she sensed- the evidence quite simply erased without a trace in her cognitive lair of the Necronomicon, followed by an ice spell being aimed to freeze their systems quite solid, by the Joker Persona.

The Joker gives the heavier girl of Hibari a strange look as the Joker turns upon her as well, sending a spray of ice upon her as well, "All these masks. Are you supposed to be some kind of gang? Tsubaki- I told you to stay away from the alley when you come here! If you don't, you attract delinquents like these!"

Case in point, as the Motorcycle Delinquent, Queen screeches towards her on a Motorcycle!? It sweeps towards her and, the Joker raises her purse, apparently deflecting part of the impact with a brick.

"What do you know!?" She shouts, spittle and tears flying off of her face, "Even if I am a failure - I'm still her MOTHER! Do you know how long I was in labor with her!? Well, DO YOU?"

Then advancing upon Queen, she swings the bag round and round before slamming it down angrily upon Johanna, again and again with wild abandon, in her frenzied rage, before spinning around for Momentum to aim another blow for Queen, right on the jaw and try to knock her off her Persona.

"Don't you tell me how to raise my child- until you've had one yourself! Your attitude is only encouraging her to act out!"

Cherry's Polearm slashes through the air and the Joker Persona catches it in it's strange bulbous body, one of those venus fly trap like maws surrounding it leaking filth. More filth bursts forth, before it then slashes down at Maria with her claws, once, twice causing great gouges in the air.

"Can't help it? I've never thought more clearly than right now, young lady." She tells Cherry, despite the tears in her eyes, "I'll help her. I'll help Tsubaki. I'll take her to the next world myself-!" Surging forward, she slams her purse against Maria, trying to dislodge her from the Joker, even as the air chills and the Joker forms long claws of ice, growing out of its spindly fingers like warped icicles as they slice down at Cherry, shattering on frigid impact. "Maybe- maybe in the next world, we can live as mother and daughter-!"

That's when Phoenix reenters the fray, though Etsuko certainly has no idea that it's her daughter, the Greatsword slashing down twice, forcing the Joker away from Cherry. "Yes dear, I know." On being in hot water, her mouth splitting open extra wide. "Her friend... her friend." She echoes, before anger fills her tone, "Her friend- HER FRIEND! Just look at you- the way you're dressed. Now I know where Tsubaki gets it from!"

Phoenix will find herself face to face with her Mother, as her Mom no longer swings the bag at her, but uses it as a bludgeon inside the reach of her Greatsword. Once, twice, thrice she tries to strike her across the face.

"Are you- why I failed!? Because you were there leading her astray- putting ideas in her head!? ANSWER ME!"

The Joker meanwhile, flings a dark orb, which splits into several nuclei, encircled by power, weakening those that it touches.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Water skill Cold Breath on Miho Ijuuin! 3 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Strike skill Handbag Smack on Ren Amamiya! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Water skill Mabufula on Futaba Sakura and Hibari Aoki!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Strike skill Mother's Pain on Makoto Niijima! 3 Hits!
| Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 45 damage from Stress!

AS: Tandem! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Water skill Frigid Wrath on Maria Sakurai! 3 Hits!
AS: Penguin Mom Joker Edition spends Limit on Exploit! Penguin Mom Joker Edition can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Almighty skill Matarunda on Tsubasa Seki, Maria Sakurai, Makoto
Niijima, and Ren Amamiya!
| Defense: Penguin Mom Joker Edition gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Strike skill Titanslayer on Tsubasa Seki! 3 Hits!
AS: Block Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 76 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Mother's Pain. Critical Hit!
| Pain (Attacker takes damage on healing and PL 0 attacks!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 29 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Cold Breath. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 65 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Cold Breath. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 29 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Cold Breath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Makoto Niijima takes 22 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Mother's Pain. Critical Hit!
AS: Counter Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 109 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Mother's Pain. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 53 Strike damage in return for their attack!

AS: Avoid Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Matarunda.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

AS: Block Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Matarunda.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
To the Joker, the Groom stands impassively. "This world is wretched and sinful," she agrees. "...And thus, it suits you perfectly." She stands still as the ice crashes down around her, mist freezing her to the bone. ...Nevertheless, she does not stop.

"I would not say I am 'helping'," Miyu the Groom says to Tsubasa. And indeed--Shinobu has the right of it. "No," the Groom says to Shinobu. "To take the child's mother is a cruelty, for all her faults. ...But it is a cruelty I am willing to commit."

It could get bad quick--but Shinobu successfully drives her back in the moment, and while Miho can seamlessly block the first strike, the second and third impact hard enough to ocupy her attention for the moment.

In the next, Ririka's scan comes; she can detect the sheer power of Faust, a sinister Persona who exemplifies hubris. There is something otherworldly about Faust, even beyond most Personas, as if it is not entirely of this... something. And of course, she can detect resistances and strengths.

"That is why it is 'theft', young man," the Groom answers Hyousuke. "I am taking that which does not belong to me for my own purposes. ...Can you stop me? I think not. Your rage will be your undoing."

Then Miyu turns to Umie. "And your emotions will be yours. I will not be 'backing off'. This battle is more important to me than it is to you."

She looks to Goemon and Fox yet. "A swordsman, and a stoic... This, I respect. Come at me, man of the sword."

Miyu hacks through the air to bring her sword down, pointing towards feet. "Protectors of this false world..."

BGM: Virtual Star Embryology (Utena OST) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfj4_IU968s

Miho brings her sword up parallel to her body. "I understand why you cling to it so. There is something to love in any world, I think." She then steps off, pushing her weight onto her forward foot--and then ''lunges''. As Faust appears to light her blade ablaze with blue nuclear waves, Miyu ''swings'' once twice three times for Ririka's Persona, darting around her to throw out her hand. Faust ignites again with a huge cerulean explosion hurtling for Hyousuke. Then, Faust ''swings'' her razor for Umie, and the finality of the grave tones with it.

Finally, she lifts her blade once again, in tune with Faust, and a shockwave of vitriol slashes towards Shinobu and Yusuke both--at the same time that a flash of healing sparkles rain down over Miyu.

"But I too, have those that I love. ...These Jokers can be studied. They can be used. And they may hold the key to the salvation of many who would yet die. One life, against that of many--one unrelated life to me, against those that are precious."

"Can you say you would not choose the same bargain? ...Would you lie to yourself if you did?"

"I won't," she tells Maria simply.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Fatal End on Umie Akabane!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Miho Ijuuin takes 90 damage!
| Defense: Miho Ijuuin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Fire skill Freila on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Tandem! Miho Ijuuin has used the Fire skill Atombrand on Ririka Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Blight on Shinobu Shimizu and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Recovery skill Dia on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Take! Miho Ijuuin takes 132 Recovery healing from Miho Ijuuin's Dia.
AS: Avoid Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Titanslayer. Resist!
AS: Avoid Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Titanslayer. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Best! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Titanslayer. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Salve! Charm removed from Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Block Best! Hibari Aoki takes 96 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Mabufula. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 107 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Blight.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 44 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Handbag Smack. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 5 Strike damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Handbag Smack. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Matarunda.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

AS: Hibari Aoki spends Limit on Help Up! Pain removed from Makoto Niijima!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 54 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Fatal End. Critical Hit!

AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 27 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Freila. Critical Hit!
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Futaba Sakura takes 171 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Mabufula. Critical Hit!
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren gets how Hibari and Makoto feel, really. It ''is'' risky. But it's exactly as the former's already realized: it's going to happen no matter what, and it's a chance to protect their friends who're in danger from the Ryouharas, so they've got to be all in about this.

Joker's relieved to see that the NWO isn't the only one getting reinforcements; other Persona Users, known friendlies race in to join the battle. Joker shoots them all a decisive, grateful nod as Shinobu leaps on the Groom along with Hyousuke, and Umie casts debilitating magic while Ririka scans her for weaknesses.

...and reveals the Groom's strong to slashing attacks, which means by sheer coincidence, Fox is a terrible match-up against the Groom--and ''would'' have been a good match against Etsuko, as ''Oracle'' then reveals. No going back now, though. These aren't enemies they can casually trade up against. They've got to lock in. Hopefully Fox can make do now that they all know this.

Mujina raises her obscuring, defensive fog; her long experience as a solo agent serves her well here, anticipating their orders as well as she does. Joker trusts her with their back, and Queen with their front as she literally runs into (over??) Etsuko. Moms really are tough, though. She takes that beating like a champ--so too from Cherry, who leaps in out of seemingly nowhere, shouting warnings to Tsubasa and wailing on Etsuko with her staff.

"Our thanks for the assist," they tell Cherry with a quick nod of acknowledgement.

(Mona knows. When he and Tsubasa get to that foggy cover and they transform, he tags them in with a high-four. "Good luck! I'll be right behind you!" he hisses. He'll need a moment more; after all, he's supposed to be getting Tsubasa to safety.)

Etsuko Joker claims she ''does'' accept 'Tsubaki.' Joker's lip curls as they look upon her with disgust. They bite back their initial, angry retort, though; they know that at this point, she is at best a distorted funhouse mirror of herself now. "Fortunately, I've done nothing of the sort," they quip instead of getting between a mother and her ''daughter''.

Of course, she gets them back with that brick-in-a-purse to the face. They snarl in pain as they recoil--but they turn that motion into a duck to avoid the backswing, at least, nimbly leaping into a backflip off one hand. That spell of Etsuko Joker's descends, draining them of some strength... which means they'll all have to aim even harder for her weak points. And with Fox on the Groom...

In their soul, they call up another self, a chime ringing in their mind. "Tell me about it," Joker mutters over their shoulder to Oracle about Too Many Jokers, knowing nothing of what she just scanned, as they raise a hand to their face again. Louder, they call in their deep voice, "Naga! Wash her sins away!"

Their mask once again erupts into blue fire, but this time, what arises over them is not the dark, cackling form of the Great Thief, but a great serpentine warrior with a spear and shield. The Phantoms will recognize it as a Naga--specifically, the Naga that they recruited in Futaba's Palace. He's a little different from the way he was back then, though...

He raises that spear and casts it down towards the transformed Etsuko. A torrential downpour gushes down to crash into her, taking advantage of the weakness Oracle scanned.

"Right," they tell Phoenix upon their official arrival, demeanor smooth and calm to their loud and panicked, though they'd addressed Cherry and Queen, not them. "Then she can be brought to the Velvet Room and restored to normal."

That's something Joker will leave others to do. Somehow, they're iffy on what the residents of ''their'' Velvet Room would do. Just as iffy: the Groom's talk of 'this false world.' Joker shoots her a look, but not knowing what she's talking about or if she's even just being dramatic, they don't remark. None of them will let her have her way if they can help it, and that's the beginning and end of it right this second.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Water skill Aques on Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
| Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!

AS: applied to Makoto Niijima!
AS: Avoid Best! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 138 Water damage from Ren Amamiya's Aques. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Ririka Kawase takes 44 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Atombrand.
AS: Block Worst! Ririka Kawase takes 44 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Atombrand.
AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 32 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Atombrand. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 1 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Blight.
AS: Block Worst! Maria Sakurai takes 108 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Frigid Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Maria Sakurai takes 22 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Frigid Wrath.
AS: Counter Neutral! Maria Sakurai takes 119 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Frigid Wrath. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 91 Water damage in return for their attack! Weak!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Maria Sakurai takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Matarunda.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>'The Groom' lifts her blade, and the air itself seems to tear as a virulent cutting wave descends upon Fox.

Exhaling, the modern ronin drops one hand to his saya and brings it up to deflect the formless blade, gritting his teeth as he's pushed back several feet. He twists his back foot, and then the lacquered wood in his hand - and with a tiny fleck of crimson from his exposed cheek, the wave of cutting intent smashes the tiles apart a handful of inches from where he's standing.

His eyes flicker to Ririka, accepting her gift of knowledge. This is going to be a challenge.

His Will exults in crossing swords with a superior opponent.

He paces clockwise as the others begin to mount their counter-attack against Miyu and her agents, grey eyes watching her. Her stance is immaculate - if her form shows any weaknesses, they are ''certainly'' feints. Goemon too looms over his shoulders, massive pipe held vertical like a blade in itself.

Nothing for it but to press the attack, he thinks, and in response to his thoughts Goemon reverses the pipe in his great hands, tapping the bowl twice on the ground. The sparks it kicks up seem to leap to Fox's blade, crackling along it in a wreath of lightning, before he lunges for Miyu!
</poem>

AS: Tandem! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Elec skill Crashbrand on Miho Ijuuin! 2 Hits!
| Pressure: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 83 Elec damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Crashbrand.
AS: Avoid Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 104 Elec damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Crashbrand. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Amphion strums, sending out waves of Resonance towards Miho, and Ririka listens as they come back. "The Groom resists Flam and Slashing weapns, and is weak to Light." She'll share the rest of the data Amphion gathered, too, and keep tabs.

But there is something more, and Ririka frowns, behind her keyboard. "What ''is'' that..." she murmurs, eyes closed so she can listen. She opens her eyes again to lock them on Miyu. "... What did you do to your Persona? Everyone, be careful, she's... powered up her Persona, or something!"

Ririka has fought alongside and met a few of the Phantom Thieves now. She knows she hasn't personally met ''all'' of them, but...

She's pretty sure she'd remember Necronomicon though. Ririka looks up. "Is that-- a ''UFO''?" And there's something about her Resonance...

Ririka sends out a pulse of Resonance towards Oracle as a greeting, in the form of a quick string of notes.

But there are more allies here, and she definitely recognizes Hyousuke. "Thanks!" she calls out as she feels Achilles' magic welling up around her. Since Hyousuke handled the defenses... she's looking ahead to offering other support.

Fox might also recognize Ririka as a fellow schoolmate! Though, obviously, Ririka isn't going to recognize ''him'', right at this moment. But yes, she is also Ichika's sister.

There's some confusion about the Groom. Ririka knows Tsubasa is, unfortunately, aware, but not ''Awakened''. But even so, she can't let there be any ''more'' confusion in a complicated battle than there already is. "The Groom isn't here to help. Get somewhere safe and let us handle this!"

She's relieved when Tsubasa finally bounces.

"Who are you to say this world is false?" she retorts to Miyu. " But then Miyu ''rushes'' for her, sword blazing, and Ririka throws an arm out. "A-Amphion!" Even with Achilles' help the first two hits rock her soundly back, clashing against Amphion's defensive presence as Ririka clutches her chest. "Augh--" The third one she resists but just barely. "Ugh." And here she is without her own katana...

... but was she really going to ever match that level of skill and power anyway?

No, her talents lay elsewhere.

"I'm not saying..." Ririka gets out through gritted teeth as she recovers. "... she's a ''great'' person, but... who said you get to judge someone and sacrifice their life?!"

Ririka shakes her head, gesturing. "Amphion! Bright Revel!" Amphion strums, and as the melody wraps around Fox, Umie, Hyousuke, and Shinobu, they'll find their attacks bolstered, guided by her Navigator senses to strike more true against Miho.

"And for an encore, Healing Song!" More soothing melodies stream out, wrapping around Umie, Shinobu, herself, and Hyousuke, to work at continually mending their wounds as the battle goes.
</poem>

AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Bright Revel on Umie Akabane, Shinobu Shimizu, Hyousuke Suzuki,
and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Healing Song on Umie Akabane, Shinobu Shimizu, Hyousuke Suzuki,
and Ririka Kawase!
| Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Help Up! Panic removed from Hibari Aoki!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu glances back toward Ririka as she gives her report, and nods.

"Good. Let us know if it looks like they're about to get involved, yeah?" She replies.

She meets Hyousuke's nod with a nod of her own - and then he comes in shouting. Achilles appears with a rallying cry, and Shinobu can feel herself back up to full potential.

"Thanks." She says, grateful for the help.

Umie is here, too, and Shinobu offers her a nod of support as she points at the Groom.

Also on the scene is Fox - and with him, other Phantom Thieves, too.

"Nice to see you, Phantom Thieves." Shinobu offers Fox and Joker both with a nod - and then turns her attention back to the Groom. They've got some good back-up today... They'll need all the help they can get.

And Tsubasa is able to get away, retreating through the mist. Shinobu exhales a sigh of relief. That's one less thing to worry about amidst a sea of problems - and the biggest problem right here is the one with the sword in front of her.

The Groom admits that taking Tsubasa's mother would be a cruelty - but one she's willing to commit. Her strikes drive her back, at least long enough for the others to move on.

"'False world'? What does ''that'' mean?" Shinobu asks. Is it like what Sudou was talking about...? She's forced on the defensive as Miyu and Faust lash out. She raises her staff to intercept the blade - but it slides right along the weapon, biting into her shoulder. She seethes a hiss of pain in response, backpedaling.

Ririka issues a report. Weaknesses and resistances... that's useful.

"Good to know." Shinobu calls out - then pauses. "...She what? You can ''do'' that? Aside, from like - the normal way?"

She's momentarily baffled, but the Groom's words focus her back on the situation at hand. She, too, has those that she loves, and the Jokers can be studied. A frown crosses her face.

"...I get it. You're doin' this for the ones you love." Shinobu comments. "...Yeah, if I were in your shoes right now... Maybe I'd be doing the same thing."

With how deeply she cares for her sisters... If she were put into that position, what ''wouldn't'' she do for their sake?

"But that don't mean I can just ''stand aside'' and let this happen, either. I dunno what's pushed you to this..." She shakes her head. "...But I'm not going to sit by and let anyone be used like that if there's something I can do about it."

Amphion's song rings out, and strength and healing surrounds her. The pain in her shoulder subsides. In that case... the best thanks she can give Ririka is to put her information to good use.

"Lachesis!" Shinobu calls out. Behind her, Lachesis appears. Shinobu raises her staff - and with a gesture, both of their weapons brim with light. With a sweep of Lachesis's measuring rod Shinobu is sent upward as Lachesis herself races toward Miyu from the front. The measuring rod sweeps out in two long strokes - and then Shinobu descends, bringing her light-infused staff crashing down like a star descending from the heavens.
</poem>

AS: Tandem! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Light skill Comet Drop on Miho Ijuuin! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 154 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Comet Drop. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 76 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Comet Drop. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 57 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Comet Drop. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
"-- water attacks! Fire won't work!"

"Flank her, Queen! We've got her surrounded, even with those scumbags coming in!" Oracle crows when Johanna roars and *peels the f out*. (Though, Futaba thinks, there's only one scumbag. Right? A quick glance at the LIDAR screen, but there's no incoming blue dots.)

(On this scanner, blue shift means they're approaching, red means they're moving away. Very advanced and scientific.)

"... Even if you had a hard time giving birth to them," Oracle answers, "you --"

The topic isn't one she can grapple easily. The screens are safer to look at. Though there is a vocalized "tch!" as the Joker demands they not judge her until they've gestated a mile in her shoes. A moment later there is a screaming burst near Necronomicon; the ice shards smash into the outer hull, skewing the entire vessel nearly thirty degrees to port and downwards a full three meters. "Gah! This is bad--"

Level it out. Look at the scopes. And see...

A mouth. A grin. A strange shape.

One that vanishes, a blink afterwards. Futaba stares at the scope, and feels something strange in the back of her mind. The iron trap of her memory seized that visual input, but somehow it's fuzzy -- but it's only fuzzy. It was real, Futaba tells herself. All of this is real, even if it's different than most things.

If it wasn't real, after all... *Her* mom--

Oh right, the battle didn't stop. "Woah! Another friend of Seki-kun leaps in!? She used Jump--!!"

FWASH! "It's super effective! Don't let it beat you down!" Another console is swung closer and hasty tapping on a one-hand-mode keyboard processes in... something. There's a trackball underneath and Oracle swings it around with her thumb, pressing a button once, twice, THREE times as three target boxes linked by a glittering string of green highlight several of the battlers against the Cursed Mother.

"Deploying fix! Boom!" The boom was the narration for hitting the execution button. A warm fountain of green particles rises upwards around Mujina, Queen and Cherry, the feeling of a cheer as well as the ineluctable yet satisfying sensation of one's Hit Points replenishing.

"I'm working on a better solution, try to keep it on the back foot!"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Futaba Sakura has used the Recovery skill Moral Support on Hibari Aoki, Makoto Niijima, and Maria Sakurai!
| Support: Futaba Sakura gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>Hibari knows that sometimes you have to take a risk, and sometimes it's not exactly your choice whether you're going to take one; the situation demands it. If it was up to her she would have tried to do this somewhere that was less exposed, less in the middle of Port Island - but this is the way it's got to be, no matter what she'd *rather* do.

That doesn't mean she has to like it!

"That's the first step," Mujina calls back to Phoenix, because there's no way they're going to get ETsuko somewhere safe without subduing her (Hibari privately does not think they will manage to knock some sense into her, but she'll settle for disabling whatever horrible Joker monster this is). Though it's more like the first-and-a-half step, since the first step is keeping Miyu and her minions away from this.

"Hardly a gang," Mujina replies to Etsuko - she *is* in a gang and it's the same one as Tsubasa (twice over, now) but she's hardly going to say that, is she? The Phantoms aren't really the same as a Kasugayama gang, anyway...

When ice rains upon her, Mujina hunkers down, using her coat as cover. She is a lot tougher than she looks, apparently; it only drives her back a step or two, though she feels the impact and it's starting to become a problem. Especially with her lingering panic, which hasn't exactly died down yet. She *knows* it's at least partially imposed on her but that doesn't make it any easier to handle!

But Joker's there for her, and knowing he's there helps a lot. She does double-take at the new Persona, because she hadn't seen that one before, but only for a moment. She's got her own job to do, and fast.

"Persona!"

Back comes Danzaburou, and this time he thumps his belly with his free hand. Once, twice...

A sphere of energy appears in Mujina's hand, and she flings it - not a real overhand throw, more of a hand-thrust in that direction that launches the ball. It crackles with energy, about the size of a baseball, and if it connects...

It doesn't *hurt*, really. It's almost electric, the pop of a shock or a fuse blowing, except directly behind the eyes; a neural shock accompanied by dazzling confusion, like your choice of Psi spell except more intense. (And less damaging, but Hibari doesn't care about that if it stuns her.)

Then she looks over toward Ririka, at the pulse of notes. She heard it too, and Danzaburou has the same sort of energy about it with its rhythmic belly-drumming. It *is* drumming, not just impact. It has its own music, but... different.

Don't get distracted, Hibari tells herself, as she looks back, hand tightening around the balls and no longer spinning them.
</poem>

AS: Take! Hibari Aoki takes 0 Recovery healing from Futaba Sakura's Moral Support.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Shift! Ren Amamiya can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Almighty skill Stun Sphere on Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
| Ruin: Hibari Aoki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Best! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 0 Almighty damage from Hibari Aoki's Stun Sphere.
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) and Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Recovery healing from Futaba Sakura's Moral Support.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 0 Recovery healing from Futaba Sakura's Moral Support.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Ever fibre of Hyousuke's being wanted to leap in and list every reason that Etsuko was wrong. He wanted, with every ounce of his soul, to scream into her face just how awful a person she was, how reprehensible a man her husband was... and how she did not deserve even the slightest fraction of care that Tsubasa allowed for her. His mind raced with every thought and idea that plagued it, until it all became a raging tempest, but he kept his lips curled into a tight snarl and his jaw clenched shut. Phoenix and their allies had that handled. It was his and everyone else's job to lock down the Groom.

Before Hyousuke could offer up his answer to the Groom, a burst of flaming blue erupted out towards him. Quick as a thought, he sent Achilles charging towards it with his shield raised high. He could feel the heat from where he stood, even as the mighty general stood against the burst of force and fire, and the flames licked at the bare skin of his face until black marks were singed into his cheeks. Flesh wounds at best - he could ignore the singing pain on those streaks for now.

"You think that's gonna stop me?!" Hyousuke roared, casting Achilles to the side so that he could look the Groom in the eye - or, rather, whatever passed for her eye. Fists clenched and raised into a guard, his Persona by his side with its spear readied, he looked more like a hound snapping at its leash than a man ready to fight on his friends' behalf. But he was no leashed warhound, and he needed to wait for no orders. It was only when Ririka offered up her magicks that he paused, and with a nod her way, he called back a quick "Thanks!" to her as well.

"Who gives a shit?!" Was Hyousuke's blunt response to Miho's question. Whether it was asked in earnest or not didn't matter to him. It made no sense, and he had no time to think about it. Thus, he was disinclined to answer. Yet, answer he did, as eager to beat down her beliefs and ideals as he was her physical body. "I don't know what you're planning, and I don't care! You're trying to take someone my friend cares about, and I told them I wasn't gonna let it happen! And if you think my rage is gonna stop me from beating you down...!"

Then he would just have to prove her wrong.

Hyousuke burst forward, closing whatever distance remained between him and the Groom, hoping to smother her and force himself past her effective range. But he wasn't quite dumb enough to use his body as the battering ram. No - that honour fell upon Achilles, who raised his shield and turned into a mighty wall of surging bronze. He hurtled towards her, heedless of any attacks borne against him, stopping only when he slammed into her with savage force.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Stunning Strike on Miho Ijuuin!
| Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem>
'This world is wretched and sinful.'
'But it is a cruelty I am willing to commit.'

"You're so blinded by the possibility of a better world that you'll commit sins and look past injustices, just like the rest of them. Jun had told Umie in further detail about how the world Miyu and Yumi seek for themselves is different from the 'pure world' Tatsuzou was seeking. Yet, as Umie stands here, it all just feels like the same thing with a different book cover.

Even as Umie tries her best to ignore the squelching wrongness of the Joker possessed person behind her, her senses might as well be staring directly at it. Every lurch and lean wafts kegare, filling the space with a 'stench' that sets her on edge.

And then, there's the Groom.

'And your emotions will be yours. I will not be 'backing off'. This battle is more important to me than it is to you.' In a way, Miho is right: Umie can't talk to her like Jun could. In the middle of a battle, her emotions and resentment cloud any means of discovering further truth.

Umie tries to pay attention to what Ririka is saying about the Groom's persona, casting a look back to Shinobu and Hyousuke to better calibrate where she needs to be.

Keep calm. The others at the other side of this battle need all of them to keep the Groom at bay.

And in fact... she has the advantage here, doesn't she? "Sounds like someone's a massive hypocrite." Umie tsks.

Faust's razor delivers a clean line of red as Umie doubles back with a nimble side-step back, not as fast as Fox to evade the Groom and her Persona.

Umie's not about to let up, however.

"Tell me, Groom-san," Umie says, taking advantage of Fox's advance, "how many people called the Joker Curse, thinking the same thing? 'Things will be better, if this person was gone.' Now look at them. You might look like you're in the right going after this one, but you've attempted to kidnap others for less."

She raises her fingers up in the air, and *snaps*, bringing Badb's shrieking form to manifest.

"You're just like those old men. You think none of them have made the same bargains?!" Her lips slide wide in an open mouthed grin. "There's no salvation in *any* of this!!"

</poem>
AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 52 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Stunning Strike. Critical Hit!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Pale Shriek on Miho Ijuuin!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 278 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Pale Shriek. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
You can't exactly blame Makoto for assuming Etsuko wouldn't remember her- she honestly figures Sae wouldn't remember Tsubasa either. (She would probably be wrong on that count too.) For her own part, Makoto wonders how she could have been so blind to all that was wrong with Tsubasa's family, back then.

For better or worse, Etsuko doesn't know Queen, apparently delinquent in chief- whose attack is fended off with something as little as a handbag. Queen's eyes widen behind her mask, even as the spittle and vitriol is sent toward her.

"I know Tsubasa-kun," Queen says, anger seeping into her voice, "which is more than you do!"

Unfortunately, that first handbag strike hits Johanna hard, stopping the motorcycle in it's tracks and shattering the windshield above her face. Queen brings up her arms to block the second strike, but in that big third swing, Queen sees and opportunity.

"How about you stop talking like your pain is the only pain that matters!?"

When Etsuko swings, Queen hurls a vicious punch, that diamond crusted tekko going for Etsuko's face-

But Queen is the one who comes out worse off, Johanna shattering under her and Queen sent flying, scraping across the ground as her mask sparks across the bricks when her head rebounds off them. It's rough, and Queen would be doing a lot better if she could stand.

Fortunately, Mujina has her back there and Queen takes the offered hand. "Thanks. I needed that." She really did, she was already panicked, but the sheer force that Etsuko had hit her with felt like it was reverberating through her bones and through her link to Johanna as well. How can she hit that hard...

Joker confirms things for Phoenix- who has made their dramatic entrance, and Queen nods. "Taking her down is step one. Let's focus on that for now." Still, it's hard not to feel concerned for Phoenix in this moment. "We've got your back, Phoenix. We'll make her see sense."

Oracle, too, offers some much needed health, but given the damage to her and Cherry- whoever Cherry is, beyond another Persona user like them, Queen doesn't know- things are rough. "Can you keep going?" She asks the newcomer, as if Makoto herself didn't just somehow avoid a concussion.

She sweeps her hand out, and a spell card manifests. It's not as good as Johanna's healing, but this lets Queen reach more people at once. "Media!" She shouts, and the green sparkling light falls over herself, Cherry, Mujina and Oracle in Necronomicon. "Joker, Phoenix and... Cherry, right?" Queen frowns. "Keep up the assault- I'll take care of that spell!"

Queen flips toward the back row, and Johanna manifests beneath her so Queen can land comfortably atop her, and revs her engine. "Dekunda!" She shouts, and the vibrations of Johanna's engine rumble through the ground to Joker, Phoenix and Cherry to dispel the debuffing magic cast by Etsuko.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Media on Makoto Niijima, Maria Sakurai, Hibari Aoki, and Futaba
Sakura!
| Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Hibari Aoki takes 106 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 106 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Almighty skill Dekunda on Ren Amamiya, Tsubasa Seki, and Maria Sakurai!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
| Atk_Dn removed!

AS: Take! Futaba Sakura takes 106 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
| Atk_Dn removed!

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>
She won't, the Groom tells Cherry.

"What if we make you?" she reponds, petulant.

Maybe Tsubasa just has a type. That's fine.

"Sure!" she responds to Joker, recognizing them from their rescue from the Joker Killer months ago. "I gotta help!" She's got debts to work off, and besides, it's just what a hero does.

Tsubasa gets on out of there, just as they've been told to by Cherry, the phantom thief that they most certainly don't know the real identity of, nope, no siree. Soon, as a late arrival to this stage, the absolutely unrelated phantom thief Phoenix makes their arrival...!

Of course, in the moment, Cherry is a little bit occupied as the Joker Persona snaps at her weapon. "Hey! That's mine!" she blurts out, struggling to free her weapon (and thus herself) as she dangles in mid-air. A few swipes from the Persona follow, but Cherry's a hero and heroes don't just give up...!

"Phoenix! There you are!" Cherry declares, clinging to her weapon as she continues to struggle with the Persona. "It'll be all right! I-- a friend of mine had it happen to them, and she was ok! We just have to get her to the Velvet Room after we beat up the Joker in her!" she insists, grinning (a little forcedly). It ''had'' worked for Maria, but...

...is it different, perhaps, if you don't have a Persona?
It in fact isn't, but Maria doesn't have that information.

Etsuko, though, insists that she'll help Tsubasa. She'll help take her to the next world!

"What the-- that's not helping!" Cherry insists, shaking her head. "That's not helping at all! I know you're all messed up by the curse but isn't that-- messed up?!" Cherry blurts out. "We'll help you out, but you gotta--"

And that's when she takes an icy purse to the head, followed by a flurry of now-frigid swipes to her own self. It's no good, she can't keep it up like that. Shoving the polearm in further, or at least, as far as she can make it go, Cherry then releases her grip as Phoenix cleaves in. She has her freedom-- to fall a few feet to the pavement, that is.

She shudders, though, as if the winter's chill had just gotten too intense to shake and wraps her arms about herself. "...That was really cold," she complains, rubbing at the place she'd been hit with the purse (never mind the clawing from the Persona...). Dropping back a step, she's just in time to receive a reverse shower of greenish particles that help clear the lingering haze from her mind. She glances up to look at the source of that, and:

"Oh wow, aliens are real!" Cherry gushes, because there's a reason she ended up in the bottom ten in grades this semester.

She's feeling a little bit better, even if the chill still lingers. "Yeah! I can still fight. Can you help me out, though?" she calls to Queen. "That really smarts! And, I haven't even gotten started yet!"

Fortunately, her request is answered. Healing magic cascades over her, reinvigorating her ability to keep on keeping on. "Thanks! And yeah, it's Cherry! I'm here to save the day!" she proclaims, lifting one gloved hand to her electric pink visor and tugs it off.
Her face goes with it.

"Here! Artemisia! I need a hand!"

And into reality at her partner's beck and call comes the blade-wielding woman-in-masquerade, her electrical cable shawl dancing in an invisible wind. "If it's water that works, use that fun skill we got!" she says, pointing at the Jokerized Etsuko. She hardly need to ask: Already, Artemisia conjures a sparkling spray of ice in one hand, casting it out towards Etsuko with a single dance-like twirl.

If it takes on a certain familiar shape of a certain ice fairy's head, well... that's just fitting, isn't it?
</poem>

AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 106 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 0 Almighty damage from Makoto Niijima's Dekunda.
| Atk_Dn removed!

AS: Persona! Maria Sakurai has used the Almighty skill Jack's Bufu on Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
| Maria Sakurai takes 90 damage from Panic!
| Pressure: Maria Sakurai gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 75 Almighty damage from Maria Sakurai's Jack's Bufu.
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"Sorry, mom. In my next life... I wanna be a bird."

It's not so much that Tsubasa is deeply religious -- as much as there's a kind of synchreticism woven deep into society which they can't shrug off as easily as that.

But perhaps it's a wish like that which is why someone like Phoenix keeps showing up to protect them.

Because they decided to stop -- and run away -- and thanks to Mujina's mists, no one but Mona could really ''see'' the way their fingers dig in against the brickwork, for a pained moment, lips curling up over their teeth. "Welp," is what they said, as they straightened up, that blue flame consuming them and baring their soul as the Phoenix. "Thanks, man," they nodded, sternly, to him, in that moment. It's a high-five of ''destiny.''

"Ain't you looked at them for a year? ''They're'' th' delinquent, Etsuko," Phoenix tries to reason with her, as she shrieks -- they ''heard'' some of her prior anger, apparently, even before they entered the field. (Sadly, they're far too direct to take advantage of Mujina trying to throw her off the scent.)

They shudder, as that wave of power crashes over them, leaning back on a heel. Their ankle still hurts, but the Will of Rebellion is ''really'' good at helping to cope with shit like that -- which is even luckier, as that handbag lashes out at them. They see the movement almost as soon as it begins -- because they're looking at her ''muscles,'' at her stance, at her intent to do harm. Their battle-instincts allow them to leap out of danger before it's even closed into their path -- once -- twice -- and three times; each time, they leap ''away,'' though those same instincts scream at them to answer aggression with aggression.

Anger spikes through their voice, as they yell, verbally aggressive instead: "Tsubasa ''got it'' from everyone lookin' at them like they was a ''freak!'' From ''you!'' Lookin' at them! Like they was a piteous FREAK! 'Til they stopped goin' outside at ALL," a scream which might catch Futaba's attention, particularly; "'cept they couldn't DO that when they was goin' back to school, HUH?!" Their voice climbs higher, as they yell: "YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE DID WHEN THEY FIGURED HOW TA COVER IT UP, ETSUKO?! WHERE TH' ''FUCK'' WERE YOU WHEN HE WAS SCRUBBIN' THEIR TAN OFF! HIGH OFF YA ''ASS,'' WEREN'T YA?!"

They stopped talking to Makoto, back then... because they couldn't bear to even go outside, huh?

Their grip on their greatsword tightens, white-knuckled, as they snap: "Didn't ''have'' no one to lead me! I had to figure it ''meself'' before I found someone, an' it was way ''longer'' 'til that was anyone weren't takin' advantage a me shit!" Between Kyoko and Hajime...

... well, at least they have Ichika and Ren ''now.''

Miho, though -- Miho declares that Etsuko is a worthy sacrifice, and that just seems to make the hotheaded Phoenix ''more mad.'' "GET FUCKED! Jus' 'cuz she don't mean shit to you don't mean she don't mean shit, Groom! You know what?! Same fuckin' deal for pricks like you! YOU COULDA ''LEFT'' INSTEAD A SACRIFICIN' PEOPLE!"

(They're ''really'' glad they're not fighting her with the report Ririka makes on ''her'' resistances, though. Fox is at a disadvantage... but then again, that's where Fox is ''strongest.'')

Luckily, Queen is there to cleanse that draining aura from Phoenix's feather cloak. "Thanks," they nod, sharply, to her. And to the plan: "Yeah." It's something they can elaborate on, as they look to Cherry: "You're th' expert here," they recognise her, given how she's ''lived'' it. "If ya reckon, I reckon!"

They take a breath, as they say: "Yeah, she's messed up. Uh, all them Sekis pre' messed up. Goes with th' territory. Uh, heard Oracle, so maybe me Persona can't help none here, but..."

They grasp their mask, as they growl: "... still gotta try. IZBUSHKA NA KUR'IH NOZHKAH!"

Their Persona, as it happens, is entirely worthy of ALL CAPS -- three times the size of anyone here, the hut on chicken's legs emerges, a shadowy figure inside steering it as its thatch-roof floofs and its window-hatches rattle like wings. A ring of spines and skulls encircles it, like a fence or a skirt, and the eyes of those skulls glow with flame as Phoenix charges the Joker Monster inside Etsuko. Greatsword and flaming gaze meet it, at once, in a flurry of violence...

... but they've always resisted each other.

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Blazing Wrath on Penguin Mom Joker Edition! 2 Hits!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 98 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Blazing Wrath. Resist!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 98 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Blazing Wrath. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Mom Joker Edition has posed.
<poem>
'This world is wretched and sinful,'
'...And thus, it suits you perfectly.'

"Haha- you're right. This world. It's my punishment. My daughter- my husband-" Her eyes brim with tears as she smiles in the way of a woman who's made peace with what comes next, "-it's only fitting that it turned out this way."

As for Oracle- well, she literally just doesn't understand what she's saying at all. It's so chaotic, so random! So- "How old even are you!? What would your Poor Mother think, seeing you hitching rides in strange UFOs?"

Because that's the important part, apparently?!

'Fortunately, I've done nothing of the sort.'

She's crying, she's smiling, in that contrast, does the Joker arise from her again in all of its bloated, unholy glory as it bodily picks Etsuko up and turns her around to avoid the wave of torrential downpour, even if the Persona itself is not so lucky, smoke spewing up from it as if it had just been doused in holy water.

"Ahahaha- Hahahaha- go ahead, disrespect me. Just like every other man in my life. I deserve it." And in that grin, does the Joker weave a new spell upon Joker, "But I think you deserve some of my misfortune, I have plenty to go around!" Joker suddenly finds themselves- feeling a wave of dread, like a pervasive feeling of misfortune pressing upon them.

A sphere of energy from Mujina launches into Etsuko, as she's blasted back a pace, but begins moving again right away at Mujina. "You certainly look like a gang. The masks are new but- motorcycles-" There's only one motorcycle here!!! "-when I was younger, girls formed gangs much like your own. It's how it started- they were doing it to attract criminals. To be their girlfriends."

It's a reductive way of looking at that subculture, isn't it? But, one can understand why she has that perception.

The Joker rises again, with frigid claws of icicles, bearing down on that girl.

"It's better to die young- than to settle down with the wrong man."

Cherry insists her attitude isn't helping, that it's messed up, "There's no helping it, there's no helping anything anymore- dear. This is just how things have to be." She tells her, tears in her eyes.

Artemisia though sends Jack's Bufu at Etsuko, who yelps in pain, taking a step backwards, "Whatever this 'Velvet Room' is- my husband wouldn't approve of me going there. I'm not going anywhere- not unless it's the next world with my Tsubaki!"

Queen announces that she knows Tsubasa, and Etsuko's far too wide smile falters a little, "It's true. I no longer know my little girl- she's drifted so far from me. So far. If she were there with me- doing as she was told." Her fingers spasm, and suddenly the Joker erupts, "He wouldn't beat me so much for crying over her!"

From the Joker's hands falls a deck of cards, spiraling over the room, face down, before turning over again, face up to every single step of the Arcana, from the Fool to the World.

A surge of energy erupts forth when the Hanged Man turns over.

"He would be KINDER!"

Phoenix though, begins yelling, yelling at her about where Tsubasa got it from, shock enters their face, something faltering, even as she says it, "I just- it's- I know how the world will look at her! I don't- I don't want that for her! I'm only trying to be a good mother to my Tsubaki-chan! I just- the pills... I can't take it anymore. I can't live without them."

Before she then repeats, as Phoenix charges the Joker Monster, with Witch's Hut in tow. "I can't live like this anymore, knowing the whole world will treat her like she's scum for the rest of her life! Who would want that for her!?"

The two brutal slashes carve through the Joker Persona- forcing a Persona Break as it shatters. And she sinks down, like it's becoming too much for her, even despite her hellish supernatural strength.

"All I ever wanted was my Tsubaki back..." She whispers, piteously. "... please give her back to me."

</poem>
AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Almighty skill Slumpa on Ren Amamiya!
| Defense: Penguin Mom Joker Edition gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tandem! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Water skill Frigid Wrath on Hibari Aoki! 3 Hits!
| Penguin Mom Joker Edition takes 90 damage from Exhaust!

AS: Persona! Penguin Mom Joker Edition has used the Almighty skill Old Maid on Makoto Niijima, Maria Sakurai, and Futaba
Sakura!
AS: Avoid Worst! Futaba Sakura takes 185 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Old Maid.
AS: Block Best! Hibari Aoki takes 51 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Frigid Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Hibari Aoki takes 27 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Frigid Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hibari Aoki takes 101 Water damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Frigid Wrath.

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"That would be a problem," the Groom admits to Maria. She does not intend to let them.

Fox is first to respond. As he is pushed back, the Groom turns towards him. However...

While her stance has no weaknesses, his skill is significant--and lightning makes for something that is ''atracted'' to her blade. As Fox and Goemon press the attack, Miho brings up her blade to parry--and lightning courses down her blade to her arm. Once, two--before she has a a chance to consciously decide another approach.

She leaps back as a result, shaking out her blade arm to ward off the numbness of electrocution. "Clever," the Groom says to Fox.

Be careful? Ririka's advice goes out. "Hmmm."

But then, she asks the question: who is she to say it? "I am one who Sees," Miho says simply. "I know the True World. ...And if I cannot restore it, then this--these Jokers--are my only path to saving those I must save."

"As to who says it... Who indeed? Would you feel better if I had 'permission'? Would it require an executive's assent? A god's?"

Shinobu asks what she means. The Groom replies, "This world is an illusion; it is not the natural state of the Earth or Japan. Many things are different, in the 'True World'. ...There are things I value in this world. But nothing so much as I value 'her'."

"Thus, I shall seek the 'truth'."

Shinobu understands...

"I respect that," Miyu says to Shinobu. "Nevertheless--Ng--"

With a tandem attack to her weakness, Miyu is ''blasted'' by the initial strike, her off arm the epicenter of an explosion of light. She is able to bring up her blade to parry the second and the third, but each still shines brightness into her being, suffuses her with hateful radiance.

"If the light is to be brought to bear..." Miho rises to her full height, "Then so too the darkness!" Faust rises--and suffuses Miho's blade with a horrible curse, as she hacks one-two-three against Shinobu and her staff once again in an effort to drive her back and prevent her doing ''that'' again.

And then to Phoenix--Tsubasa--she replies, "I'm aware she means something to you. And yes, I could have left... If I were willing to leave others to die. Not everyone has the ability to leave and live through it. ...And though it is 'sin' to save her, I will suffuse myself in the dark if I must."

"I don't think your rage is going to stop you fighting me," Miho says to Hyousuke then, and lifts her off-arm to ''block'' Hyousuke's charge. There is a terrfic ''crack'' of her bracer against him, and Miyu is knocked backward a few paces--but stays upright still.

"I think it's going to get you killed."

"No," Miyu says to Umie. "I am not blind. I see what I would give up, for the True World--what we would all lose. There are things to love in any world, as I said..."

"One who knows nothing can understand nothing," Miyu tells Umie then. "I do not care about looking as if I am in the right. I care for the results."

Badb ''shrieks'', and Miyu takes one knee from the sheer force of the impact. "...Funny," Miyu says. "That you know those 'old men'. Do your friends realize that you are a part of the very same structures that you claim to oppose?"

"I do not seek something as weak and vague as 'salvation', Umie Akabane. I seek life for one person."

She lifts her blade to the sky, and red mist gathers around her. Faust reappears--and begins to rise, as that red light intensifies. A sense of wrongness permeates the world--angles are sharper, wounds hurt more. And an echoing laughter takes hold of the world.

"...if the cost is all else..."

Her sword pulses with crimson light, as she looks down upon Umie.

"THEN I WILL SEE IT PAID!"

She ''darts'' forwrd--and an unblockable attack issues forth. With the power of her Persona and more, Miyu hacks at Umie once, twice, three times, the stones and the concrete around ''shattering'' with the force of the shockwave that results.

Miyu rises to her feet. "Faust!" she calls. "Clear the way!" Nuclear flame ''erupts'' in fractals around Yusuke and Ririka then, as Miyu sprints across the battlefield, busting through with a checking shoulder to ''leap'' behind the Joker.

"This has gone on long enough," she says, and wraps one arm around the Joker--while lifting her blade, Faust raising both hands to erect a magical shield.

...It would be easy to miss the way she jabs a needle into the Joker as her Persona acts. All too easy.

She leaps back after that. It will take a few moments for the sedative to take effect... Moments during which she can exhaust herself fighting.

She did not answer the Mother Joker's statement about her punishment. But now...

"...You can never go back," she says, as she lifts her sword to face her foes once again. She says it to the Joker. "No matter how hard you may wish it..."

"'Truth' cannot be escaped."
</poem>

AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Miho Ijuuin spends Limit on Exploit! Miho Ijuuin can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Tandem! Miho Ijuuin has used the Dark skill Unholy Wrath on Shinobu Shimizu! 3 Hits!
| Defense: Miho Ijuuin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Fire skill Hellfire on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Miho Ijuuin has used the Slash skill Inexorable on Umie Akabane! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Fire skill Mafreila on Yusuke Kitagawa and Ririka Kawase!
AS: Persona! Miho Ijuuin has used the Recovery skill Spell Guard on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Take! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Recovery healing from Miho Ijuuin's Spell Guard. Safety! Magical damage reduced!
| Magi_Safety applied!

AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 76 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Mafreila. Critical Hit!
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Block Best! Shinobu Shimizu takes 48 Dark damage from Miho Ijuuin's Unholy Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak! Block Dark!
AS: Block Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 90 Dark damage from Miho Ijuuin's Unholy Wrath. Weak! Block Dark!
AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 61 Dark damage from Miho Ijuuin's Unholy Wrath. Weak! Block Dark!

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Mom Joker Edition has posed.
<poem>
The syringe enters her neck, and despite the adrenaline of the moment, the supernatural fueled frenzy that is the Joker Curse... and her long addiction to Benzodiazapenes...

... her eyes begin to blink, and she slumps down against the Groom right away, only barely sensate. "Can't go ba.... please... just let me..."

What is in that syringe that it can have this effect on an already drug addicted Joker!?

"... Tsubaki..."

</poem>
AS: Block Worst! Umie Akabane takes 163 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
AS: Block Worst! Umie Akabane takes 211 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Umie Akabane takes 163 Slash damage from Miho Ijuuin's Inexorable.
| Umie Akabane is unable to continue fighting!
537

AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 89 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Mafreila. Weak!
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Slumpa.
| Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!

AS: Miho Ijuuin has readied for combat as Faust! She is now fully healed! Ready for 10 opponents!
AS: Avoid Worst! Maria Sakurai takes 205 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Old Maid.
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 85 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 94 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire.
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 70 Fire damage from Miho Ijuuin's Hellfire.
AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 145 Almighty damage from Penguin Mom Joker Edition's Old Maid.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''Sorry, mom. In my next life... I wanna be a bird.''

That's the most Tsubasa thing Joker has ever heard them say, and they're proud of them for it.

There isn't time to trade more pleasantries with Shinobu or respond much to Ririka's surprise at the "UFO", but Joker does hear them all arguing with the Groom--and in particular appreciates the support Ririka's freely giving Fox. Shinobu's take on doing whatever you can for the ones you love... Joker can understand that too, but there's lines being crossed here; as Umie points out, making bargains out of people's lives is not something they can get on board with. Best to leave it to Hyousuke's blunt refusal, and force. Some things you just shouldn't engage.

Just like their only response to Etsuko Joker encouraging them to disrespect her, just like every other ''man'' in her life, only gets narrowed eyes and an icy silence. However, stonewalling people is their style, not Phoenix's. Their chest squeezes at Phoenix's raw anger and anguish as they relate their--Tsubasa's--past, the parts that were the worst and most painful for them, and how mother ''and'' father failed and wronged them. Their jaw sets when they scream at the Groom next that she, too, could have just left instead of putting others on the altar of sacrifice.

When Phoenix settles for an instant, Joker will stop at their side to offer a supportive hand on their shoulder and a slow nod. The touch won't last long, partly because they're all still mid-battle, partly because of Phoenix's aversion to touch, but it's there all the same.

Joker shoots Oracle in her Necronomicon a worried look when it's impacted by Etsuko Joker's ice attack--but she's hanging in there, thanks to being literally in midair. (They have to suppress a laugh at Cherry gushing about aliens, though.) Mujina's next, and they keep themself between her and Etsuko, a silent reassurance that will help (has helped) her rein in her panic and help Queen out of hers in turn. In return, they trust Mujina to keep Etsuko Joker off-balance with the drumming of her Persona's belly, as Oracle has encouraged them all to do.

"Will do," they call over their shoulder before turning back towards the Jokerfied Seki. Queen speaks for the trees on the matter of her pain, and dispels the power drain that had weakened their magic in turn. Joker slips her a crooked smile, standing a little straighter. "Many thanks, Queen," they call, not just for the help they received but that she gave their friends and allies in turn.

They're all going to continue to need that healing.

"Nice work, Cherry," they remark approvingly, seeing the jovial head of her Jack's Bufu. (Though--is it their imagination?--it seems awfully ''intense'' for an ice spell.) They remember her from the same Kingdom, and add to Queen, "She helped save Maria Sakurai in that Kingdom from some time back." They ''don't'' know her secret identity for the time being, but they trust that her desire to help is genuine. She came in to help with Maria out of nowhere, after all.

Etsuko Joker radiates her misery then, and it hits Joker like the wave they'd washed down onto her. They stagger back, clutching their face this time out of a sudden nausea as they're rendered sick to their stomach. In that instant, they miss as the Groom grabs Etsuko Joker and jabs a needle into her neck--

Only for Mona to leap down out of the fog before them! "Ha! You think you're chasing the 'truth'?! Sounds like you're just coating up doing whatever you want in excuses to me!" he declares to the Groom, brandishing his cutlass. He half-turns to the others with a bright kitty smile and a wink to Phoenix. "The rest of you, don't worry--I got Tsubasa to safety!" He turns back to the Groom with a fierce scowl. "Now get your hands off Etsuko Seki this instant! Otherwise..."

Blue fire erupts around him. "ZORRO!" Mona calls, and the moustachio'd Persona arises, raising his rapier to the sky. Waves of empowering energy shower down on Phoenix, Joker, Fox, and Cherry--Queen's focused on healing, and Oracle and Mujina are doing support of their own, and this energy is all about increasing the strength and force of attacks.

"We'll just have to FORCE your hands off!" Mona concludes boldly.

For their part, though still queasy, Joker forces themself back into the game. There's still all those NWO agents around, and with Etsuko drugged and already in the Groom's hand, they're going to have a narrow window in which to save her. Maybe they'll get out-maneuvered, but once again, if they fail, it won't be because they didn't try. With the Groom as their enemy now, they once again change their inner mask. This time, when they call up their inner fire, what responds to their will is...

"PRINCIPALITY!"

...an avatar of Justice.

The thorn-crowned angel raises their staff and swings it down towards the Groom. However, rather than a direct strike, they unleash a purest blast of holy light.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Will do!" Ririka reports to Shinobu. "... I think they're waiting for the fighting to stop, first, but I'll watch them." It's not like they can stand up against Persona users... but it's not like the PErsona Users can counteract conventional weapons once the supernatural space collapses, either. They could still be a threat.

But Shinobu is confused about the additional report Ririka ahd. "I-- I'm not sure," she admits. "I haven't sensed something like it before. But there's ''something'' there..." She wasn't there, for the attack in Akihabara.

She notices Danzaburou's drumming belly rhythm, too, and appreciates it. Even if it's too chaotic to focus on extensively at the moment.

Hyousuke's fervor might concern her, but... the best thing she can do in the moment is provide him support. "Welcome!" she calls back.

Ririka is also noticing the kegare the same as Umie is. It's an effort to focus her attention, to entrust that the Phantom Thieves can handle themselves while she supports the people fighting Miyu. And unfortunately she doesn't have more information for Umie, yet, regarding the Groom.

It's upsetting to see how fixated Etsuko is on her 'daughter.' Maybe she was just fortunate that her parents were more accepting of ''her'' (even if she only found that out at the tail end of several tragedies for the family...) But to hear what's happened to ''her'' doesn't sit right with Ririka either. "''You'' don't deserve that! You're missing out on your kid when they're just... trying to live their life and be happy! You could accept that, and get away from that bastard and be happy too!"

But Miho has an answer. "The one who 'Sees'?" Ririka frowns. "What are you seeing that I'm not?" she challenges. "Because I can't see anything that would justify... any of this!" She scowls. "Anybody willing to give you permission I wouldn't respect anyway."

An illusion...? But nothing so much as... 'her.' "... You mean the Bride. Yumi." It's not a hard leap to make--they have matching codenames, after all. "... there are people I've cared for deeply that-- that I would do a lot for. But I can't think they'd want me to stoop to something like ''this''!"

Fractal fire erupts under her, and Ririka gestures. "Amphion!" Fire explodes against Amphion's magic, and the two forces struggle before Ampnion's magic finally shakes it off. Ririka is panting, though, eyes already tracking Miyu's movement. "Oh no you don't!"

Ririka redoubles her efforts as her fingers fly over her keys, listening as the battlefield rings out around her, directing her attention and focus. Achilles' magic is about to fade from Fox--but she can do something about that, can't she? She can see the pattern, the rhythm... "Amphion! Let's make the magic echo a little bit longer--Reverb!"

The stone Persona standing behind Ririka strums his lyre. The song that rings out isn't ''new'', but instead is an echo f the magics in play, and as it rings out, it synchronizes and strengthens the magics on Umie, Hyousuke, Fox, and Shinobu so they'll last just that little bit longer.

And then Ririka shifts her attention to Shinobu. "Shimizu-san--" she relays privately. "I'll find an opening for you to attack!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Recovery skill Bright Revel on Ren Amamiya, Maria Sakurai, Tsubasa Seki, and
Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Reverb on Umie Akabane, Hyousuke Suzuki, Yusuke Kitagawa, and
Shinobu Shimizu!
| Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Shinobu Shimizu can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Shinobu Shimizu! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Light skill Holy Light on Miho Ijuuin! 3 Hits!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Reverb.
AS: Block Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 71 Light damage from Ren Amamiya's Holy Light. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 60 Light damage from Ren Amamiya's Holy Light. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 69 Light damage from Ren Amamiya's Holy Light. Weak!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Reverb.
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Hibari Aoki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 0 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Reverb.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Yusuke Kitagawa spends Limit on Exploit! Yusuke Kitagawa can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ren Amamiya's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Maria Sakurai spends Limit on Help Up! Poison removed from Ren Amamiya!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa spends Limit on Psych!

AS: Futaba Sakura spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Makoto Niijima! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>As Miyu commends his cunning, Fox tilts his head in a sideways nod, acknowledging her respect.

Her dedication to one singular being... that too is to be respected. Yet... this lamenting about a true world...

... something sits wrong in his heart about that.

"'Truth is beauty, and beauty, truth,'" he quotes, as Miyu declares her intention to seek the truth - but he cannot continue his thought before she unleashes her Persona again, Faust lashing out with shadow and fire and forcing him to give ground in the wake of the nuclear-bright explosions.

Goemon having shouldered the worst of the blast, he pushes himself back to his feet, adjusting his singed mask. The fading ink that comprises Goemon's form seems to brighten as he regathers his will, and he twirls his blade to loosen his wrists again.

"... Though it be buried in grime and shadow, there is still beauty in this world, and thus still truth, and I will fight for it."

Goemon takes a deep draw from his pipe, and exhales, bathing the battle in a chilly mist. Through this mist, Fox steps forward, rime coalescing around his blade as he... sheathes it?

"Even if I must confront impossible foes to do so."

He ''draws'', icy stalagmites flashing upwards in the wake of his strike towards Miyu and Faust.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Theurgy! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Water skill Sublime Cut on Miho Ijuuin!
| Pressure: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 241 Water damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Sublime Cut.

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
"Cherry?" echoes Oracle. "That's different... I like it. Keep her busy, Cherry! And keep watching the skies......"

("Thanks, Queen... but we've got bigger fish to grill! Focus on our target!" See, Oracle's doing better already after that Media, and Necronomicon seems to have levelled out as well.)

There is enough of a balance in the conflict against the Joker Mother that Futaba's able to turn a screen, briefly, towards the Groom. Necronomicon has eyes round about, and so this is no strain on the Persona, but Futaba's heart doesn't follow it. Her eyes look at the Joker as Phoenix steps up. Countering.

They're speaking at least. I guess that's good, thinks Futaba.

"Phoenix..."

... And as for the collapsing mother, Futaba says quietly, "You should've left that guy ''ages'' ago." The best she can do, maybe. (It may ease Joker, if they're worrying too much, that she doesn't sound small or shrinking. It's just not something, it seems, she can take joy in. Too real, as the kids might say.)

But fortunately, there is another who can speak truth to power (and moms, being strong, do have their share of power). "Mona! He's giving her the business, alright-- huh??" Because that plate she'd turned to follow the Groom is showing convergence with...

Zoom in.

Magnify.

*Enhance*.

"She injected her with some kind of drug! We're running out of time-- And as for YOU!"

Nothing actually moves on Necronomicon, but the Groom may have a sudden acute feeling of being watched. A sensation of many things turning towards her. Many eyes, and one intelligence behind it, and it's a rather angry intelligence.

Because anxiety and fear and sympathy and sorrow simmering in Futaba's emotional core have to go somewhere. Etsuko is the mother of someone she knows... and perhaps, so fundamentally pathetic even in her cruelties and exuberance, that Futaba can't bring herself to full outrage.

Against the Groom, this is not a problem. As Faust gets scanned by unseen energies, Oracle continues, "What gives you the right to talk about 'truth'?! Are you going to act like you're some kind of rescuer, showing up at the last moment, when everyone's already hurt?! Or did you make up some kind of secret definition of truth when you were throwing them back at the corner bar!"

Of course, as Oracle says this -- and perhaps draws attention, and perhaps worse, *fire* -- she is also watching Joker, who has reared up (she knew they would!!) but has clearly, themselves, been pressed by the battle. The sensation the Groom might've felt, of many eyes watching her, snaps into sudden certainty when a number of the bulbous roundels and other cute features on Necronomicon suddenly ignite into a painfully bright light--

-- though, it is *only* a light, in this case.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Futaba Sakura has used the Almighty skill Analyzing the target's capabilities! on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 71 Almighty damage from Futaba Sakura's Analyzing the target's capabilities!.
AS: Futaba Sakura's Support Scan! Miho Ijuuin has passive skills Blast Boost, Defender, Fire Boost, Quick Weapon, Sharp
Student, Skill Card Affinity, Slash Amp, and Slash Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
<poem>"Thanks, Oracle - Queen!"

Mujina knows who to thank for that surge of energy. She's durable, but she's not THAT durable - if she's going to keep taking hits like that, she *needs* the help, armoured longcoat or not. Ren getting in front of her gives her the moment she needs to recover, straightening her sleeves and beginning the spin of the baoding balls in her hand again. It really does help her focus.

Who knew it was so much easier to work as part of a team?

She doesn't precisely respond to Etsuko-Joker. She's not sure talking to her is going to do much, but Phoenix - Tsubasa - hearing those words from them; that hurts. "We're here for you," she says, her voice a little lower, but not so much that Phoenix can't hear it. She hopes. Over the flames, it's easy to miss things.

Mujina's coat comes in use again as she braces against the sudden rush of Etsuko-Joker. Ice rakes across it, and while the icicle-claws don't precisely penetrate Mujina feels the impact against her body; she's going to be bruised tomorrow even if she hasn't been slashed open by them. She has the better of it at first, but as she tries to slip away from the last hit, it catches her solidly in the ribs.

Mujina ends up knocked head over heels - literally, she rolls backwards through a whole rotation before she manages to catch herself. Now, Hibari is not the most acrobatic person in the world and never has been, but Mujina still manages to roll to her knees, if not her feet. She's had half a year of practice, by now, in spaces like this. They're just not normally on Port Island.

But in the time it takes her to pick herself the rest of the way up, Miyu has made her move. Even Hibari didn't think she was going to move *that* quickly; it's all she can do to call a warning, and she's *still* late by the time she does it. "Watch out!" she calls, whether it's to the Phantoms (she sees you there, Mona; you're one of them) or to, of all people, Etsuko. Futaba gets a better view of it, but Hibari can tell enough.

This is the trap, she thinks. They're depending on her to do her part, she can't back away. They have to spring it *now*.

Or... be sprung.

"Danzaburou!" Mujina spins the baoding balls faster in her hand, clicking them together a couple times before they spread further on her palm and don't quite touch each other like they do at rest, pushed outward by their speed. She's never drawn quite this much power before. She's trying to do like three things at once and it's all she can do to keep them straight -

The first thing that happens is that Danzaburou smacks his stomach again. Pon, pon, poko pon... it's a musical rhythm, but with every beat the air *quivers* around Miyu, pressing in - and down - against her. With Danzaburou's other hand, he sweeps the gunbai, and colourful mental fog starts to spread, dazzling and confusing and making reactions sluggish.

(She doesn't bother not catching Etsuko-Joker in it, either. Easier for *them* if she's not fighting, too.)

And then, finally, Mujina stops spinning the balls. Instead, one in each hand, she tucks them back up her sleeve so her hands are free as she crouches, pressing both hands flat against the ground. This had better work, she thinks, as a card floats in front of Danzaburou, spinning slowly.

A whirlwind of ofuda spins up around Miyu, forming a cylinder of blessings a good ten feet tall - before a pillar of light *slams* downward from the sky, right down the whole length of the cylinder and focused inward by the paper talismans!
</poem>

AS: Hibari Aoki spends Limit on Exploit! Hibari Aoki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Earth skill Echo Beat on Miho Ijuuin! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Hibari Aoki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Almighty skill Hapirma on Miho Ijuuin and Penguin Mom Joker Edition!
AS: Persona! Hibari Aoki has used the Light skill Hama on Miho Ijuuin!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> 'Do your friends realize that you are a part of the very same structures that you claim to oppose?'

Umie's detached expression betrays a flinch, as she positions her half mask.

Thanks to a fellow bird, however, Umie has her answer.

She looks up.

".... I _left_."

It happens in the next moment, faster than Umie would have preferred: Miho's Persona powers up, and a problem that was meant to be kept to their side of the battle has become cast across the entire field.

But first--

One barrier is cast down, in Umie, who is thrown across the field from the brutal force of Miho's attack.

... If there was a reason to worry about Umie, however, it's quickly overshadowed by Miho herself, who shows just how powerful she is. Can all of you stand up against her, or will she get away with this Joker Possessed?

There's nothing, after all, that Umie could do.

......... It'd take a miracle.

"Stop..."

Nothing at all.

'It's just like Shiryuu-kun said: this power can produce miracles.' That Shiryuu said and meant something different doesn't matter here, of course. But Mai-chan just isn't worried about little details like that.

"STOP."

It's the short blonde again, her bleeding left hand pressed over her mask, holding it in place.

"You're not the only one... WHO CAN DO THAT?!"

(SFX:https://youtu.be/RARotEaobh0?si=ceVyqWpf9qVaQBr3)

For everyone here, it's a familiar feeling, a discordant chord ringing deep in one's chest. It happened when Sudou used his powers, as well as when agents such as Yumi and Miyu used certain abilities of theirs.

Something answers: a mothman, with a ribbon loosely tied on its little spindly ankle, now chirps helpfully at Umie's side to draw her attention. As she looks, the blonde's eyebrows rise, that grimaced fury falling away to a brief spark of nostalgia and... joy? "Taro...kun...?"

No, don't get distracted. This isn't close to enough, she thinks. If this power is like opening a door to the supernatural, dipping in a toe will not work. Throw away your hesitation, and-

rip it further open.

"*I'm* the one in control of the situation here..." The chipped red fingernails of her right hand splay outwards, Umie's angry intent cast through that empty gesture, translating it through cognition into meaning.

"... and I'll *make* YOU LISTEN!"

More demons come, heeding the Mark's call and snapping into existance. Its signature reverberates further, broadcasting its 'wrongness' through the cognitive veil, a quality unchanged despite it coming from someone most would consider an ally.

...........

You'll have to forgive Umie for being a little distracted, when that mothman launches itself happily on the nearest occupant, not caring if it's friend or foe.

... Well, in this case, it's unfortunately a trapped bystander, huddling under a display table. Clearly, she didn't heed Makoto's earlier command.

By the time Umie's able to notice what's happened, it's far too late to go back.

"Stop...!!"

One cannot unring a bell.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"...Good to know." Shinobu replies to Ririka. That ''is'' a problem... but one they'll have to deal with later. And as for her other report... Shinobu frowns. If she can't figure it out, that must be something serious. "Something, huh... The hell could it be...?"

The 'True World'... A frown crosses Shinobu's face. She hears what she says, about how it's different, and how there are things she values - but nothing so much as she values 'her'.

She doesn't think she has to guess who that is - she can only think of one reason why they'd label themselves as the Groom and the Bride...

"An illusion, huh. ...Sorry, you sound serious about it, but - I just can't accept that." She replies with a shake of her head. "What makes this less 'true'? All this pain, everything we've been through... like hell that's just an illusion. I wish you all the luck with 'her', but... This, right now, is real!"

The light is brought to bear - and Miyu, then, brings the darkness. Her full height is imposing as she bears down on her. With gritted teeth Shinobu raises her staff to defend.

"Shit!" She hisses. Each strike reverberates through her soul, and with each one the Groom's blade finds better purchase - but the weapon in her hands, a metal bar charred black by the Joker Killer's flames, absorbs some of that curse. Without it, she would've fared far worse... But even with it Shinobu stumbles back, exhaling sharply. Their opponent's getting serious now, and -

"The hell!?" Shinobu gasps, as the Groom suddenly ''sprints'' across the battlefield, injecting ''something'' into Etsuko. "The hell did you ''do''!?"

Tsubasa's Joker-cursed mother doesn't seem able to fight any more... but with the Groom seeming to seek to end this quickly, their situation has only gotten worse.

Amphion's tune plays, reinforcing the supporting magic Ririka and Hyousuke have provided her with. Ririka calls out to her specifically, and Shinobu nods.

"Right. On your word, then!" She says. She waits for the opening, and then - "Lachesis!"

Lachesis levels her measuring rod at Miho, centering her between her hands. Purifying seals rise up to surround her and Shinobu races forward. Her staff spins wildly, lashing out toward Miho... and then those seals erupt with blinding light.

And then, something ''else'' happens. Shinobu feels a familiar, discordant pulse - one much like the Joker Killer's, and the Groom's. Demons are appearing.

"Shit, where'd they come from!?" Shinobu hisses. Things just keep going from bad to worse - how far can things go before this becomes unsalvageable? She looks around - and her gaze settles on Umie. That feeling, it's coming from... "...Wait, you...?"
</poem>

AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Light skill Hama on Miho Ijuuin!
AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Spinning Staff on Miho Ijuuin! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 47 Earth damage from Hibari Aoki's Echo Beat.
AS: Avoid Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 51 Earth damage from Hibari Aoki's Echo Beat.
AS: Avoid Worst! Miho Ijuuin takes 51 Earth damage from Hibari Aoki's Echo Beat.
AS: Block Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 253 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Hama. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 56 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Spinning Staff.
AS: Avoid Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 52 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Spinning Staff. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 87 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Spinning Staff. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Miho Ijuuin takes 0 Almighty damage from Hibari Aoki's Hapirma.
| Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!

AS: Block Neutral! Miho Ijuuin takes 171 Light damage from Hibari Aoki's Hama. Weak!
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
Phoenix's pain- Tsubasa pain's is roared at the Joker, into the sky.

...Would Makoto have even answered, back then, if Tsubasa had reached out? After all the Student Council were made to be aware that 'Tsubaki Seki was a mentally ill criminal'? It's not as though the silence between them wasn't mutual. It wasn't like Makoto wasn't wrapped up in her own problems. "Phoenix..."

Joker gives her the information that Queen is missing on Cherry, and Queen nods. "Understood! Let's work together to get her under control!"

Queen shoots Oracle a thumbs up. "Got it. Stay out of the line of fire, Oracle!"

'He wouldn't beat me so much for crying over her!'

The words strike into Queen's chest. "How is that Tsubasa's fault!? A parent is supposed to protect their child, why didn't you go to the police, or ask for help!?" Queen shouts back, reaching for reason, reaching for sense-

But the Hanged Man washes over her, and even bracing herself Queen finds herself knocked off her feet by the surge of horrifying magic that comes from the Joker Killer. It means that Queen is barely able to stand up as she sees Phoenix shatter the Joker Persona-

And sees that the Groom jabs her in the neck, and the change in the battle. Etsuko Seki is all but in the hands of the NWO.

"Stop! Stay away from her!" Queen shouts as though the Groom will listen- even though she knows she won't.

Fortunately, the Phantom Thieves have one last piece of cavalry of their own.

"Good timing, Mona!" She shouts, before glaring at the Groom. "We won't let you escape with Etsuko Seki. She has to face Justice- so does her husband!"

Oracle lays out the Groom's strengths- but there's a lot of them. But at least they also know a weakness.

"Mujina, Joker, Fox, keep up the assault! Oracle, maintain support and keep eyes on the situation! I'll keep up support as best as I can! Phoenix... do what you have to do."

Which is a sudden, real concern now that more demons are entering the field of view. "What...?" The Tien Tao Lien backing up the NWO were already a problem, but this...?

Queen reaches for that spell card again, releasing another wave of healing over herself, Hyousuke, Oracle and Fox- before once again she mounts Johanna revving her engines, this time solely for Cherry's sake. "Diarama!"

She has to hope it'll be enough to keep everyone going.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Media on Futaba Sakura, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, and
Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Support: Makoto Niijima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 109 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Maria Sakurai!
AS: Makoto Niijima has no more TP available for healing!

<Pose Tracker> Ruin has posed.
<poem>
A sudden urge comes upon Umie Akabane to 'Look Up.'

Further up, Umie Akabane.

As you lose control of the situation, while claiming you have it.

Who should you see, but Ruin, standing atop the Mall near Rafflesia, filtered through the haze of Mujina's field.

A gun is raised, you know where it's pointed.

'Stop...!!'

"Say pretty please." Ruin says, finger on the trigger, and a vicious grin on his face. "Go on... Beg me for it. And maybe I'll give it to you this time."

Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it's only a mirage, through that haze of a spell.

Because when one looks again, he's not there.

But if he is, certainly he's still listening.

</poem>
AS: Take! Maria Sakurai takes 174 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Diarama.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 128 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Godly Ward on Hyousuke Suzuki, Ririka Kawase, Shinobu Shimizu,
and Yusuke Kitagawa!
| Hyousuke Suzuki takes 45 damage from Stress!
| Defense: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Godly Ward. Safety! Damage reduced!
| All_Safety applied!

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Phalanx on Ririka Kawase!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>Hyousuke moved like a man possessed. Where one of his allies - be it Fox with a lightning strike formed into a crashing blade, or Shinobu bludgeoning the Groom with a staff burgeoning with light - created an opening, he stole forward. Flesh and metal moved as one, Achilles protecting him with every inch forward that he fought to claim, and he refused to give any of it back. Fox was not the only one that sought to press the attack, it seemed, though the pressure Hyousuke exerted was more like a hunting hound seeking to clamp its jaws around its target.

But it wasn't just for practical purposes that he approached her. There was something he had to say in response that was not meant for the ears of those that cared for him. Fire burnt in his eyes, so hot and so bright that it was as if Hell itself raged in his gaze. There was conviction there too, stoking the flames that threatened to melt even the invincible armour of his Persona.
"You think I give a shit if I go down? You said it yourself - one life for everyone else's. If me dying means I'll take you assholes with me, then it's worth it."

With his piece said, Hyousuke readied an attack, but the Groom pulled away before the striking spear or bursting scattershot could impact her. Jaw clenched in frustration, his gaze snapped towards her, but consternation turned to dread as he saw that monstrous amount of force levelled against Umie. He didn't trust her - not as far as he could throw her - but she was still his ally, and she was still the friend of his friends. So when he saw her fall to that tremendous strike, he couldn't help but call out to her.

"Akabane-san! No!" Dread fought for dominance with fury in his features, but he hadn't the chance to leap in and help her. Fire, hot as the depths of Hell, burst out against him with force enough to send him staggering back. Even with the protection of Achilles's shield and armour, the heat threatened to singe the skin from his flesh, and burn him to the marrow. The first of the three blows scorched Achilles to a blackened, crouching, mess. The second dispelled him entirely, leaving Hyousuke stumbling to one knee as the sound of shattering glass pierced the air. He was denied the chance to cry out in shock as the third engulfed him, turning his surprised cry into a howl of pain.

Yet when he arose, singed and smoking, he still threw his hands into a guard. He didn't care how much it hurt. He didn't care how much it would cost him. His heart still beat, and that meant he could still fight. But he couldn't move - not fast enough to catch the Groom as she struck the possessed Etsuko. He lurched forwards on shaking legs, willing the pain to subside just enough for adrenaline to force his seared limbs into stability, but no force he could muster let him close that gap again.

"Shit... No! Get the hell away from her!" Hyousuke called out. It was all he could do. His mind still reeled from the break, he couldn't manage a clean shot with his gun, and even a hurled chunk of debris wasn't guaranteed to get anywhere close. It was all he could do to will his body forward, and once more act as the shield for those that yet remained. He hated it. The powerlessness of it all, the knowledge that he was too weak to fight back, that his enemies could stand tall before him... and that even the struggles he'd managed had been cast away in moments.

It took Ririka's melody to shake him out of his stupor, and Queen's healing to restore his strength, but even then, he refused to move. He looked back and called his thanks out to them both, standing taller than he had as bolstering magic renewed his vigour. He remained defiant in the face of power, who'd already cast down a member of his team, and he refused to cede ground. But he hadn't the strength for more than that. Etsuko was in the Groom's clutches, and he had neither the strength nor speed to see her work undone.

But he could spare those that yet remained. He could shield his allies - Ririka, Fox, and Shinobu - as best he could, and use whatever strength he had left to spare them the brunt of the Groom's wrath. It was all he could do, and he prayed that it would be enough.
"I'm sorry...!" He called out to them, though he did not look towards them. "But this is all I can do!" Were one to peer closely at his gaze, they might have noticed how it flickered towards Etsuko... and then to Phoenix.

"I don't know what kind of truth you're looking for! But we're not gonna be the price you pay for it! I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU TAKE ANYTHING ELSE FROM US!" It was not a bellowing warcry that ripped itself from Hyousuke's throat, nor a vicious howl, but a hoarse and desperate shout of defiance. Golden light shone down upon them as Achilles invoked the pantheon's favour. But it wasn't enough - it was never going to be enough. There would always be more attacks, always more fights, always more-

Marks.

There was a Mark.

He didn't know the name, but he knew the feeling, and Hyousuke craned his neck around to face the source. He couldn't speak, for that gut-churning, teeth-itching *dread* stole the air from his lungs and the thought from his mind. Wide-eyed and with muscles tensed, he mouthed his surprise at Umie, and immediately began to bristle with every thought, question, and accusation that his mind - already shaken by the chaos - could conjure. Where conscious thought failed to settle on a course of action, however, instinct took over. He moved before he could think, and acted before he realised it. By the time he came to, Hyousuke had placed himself between his team and the demons, ready to sacrifice his very flesh if it meant keeping them from harm.

He stood, braced for impact, with Achilles reforming before him. The titanic suit of battle-ravaged wargear forced itself upon existence, and stood with his wielder as a bulwark against those that would harm those behind them.
</poem>

AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Godly Ward. Safety! Damage reduced!
| All_Safety applied!

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Godly Ward. Safety! Damage reduced!
| All_Safety applied!

AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 109 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media. Safety! Damage reduced!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Godly Ward. Safety! Damage reduced!
| All_Safety applied!

AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Phalanx.
| All_Safety expired! Full_Cover applied!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Her daughter... and her husband.

Two devils, hanging Etsuko by a thread.

And what is unsaid, as Phoenix falls quiet, looking to her?

"Yeah, well... even if they fucked ya up... you still got ya son."

The question is not 'what' -- but 'who'.

The golden son... who never could do any wrong.

"''I'' got a girlfriend!" Is what Phoenix snaps, when she talks about girls attracting criminals with Mujina, though -- she talks about settling down with the wrong man, and a pit of horrific realisation settles in their stomach, as their blue eyes widen, behind their mask.

"... you... were that kinda chick, weren't ya? Settlin' down with..." Their grip tightens, around their greatsword, as they yell: "If you know he's no good, just leave! You can just leave! JUST -- COME WITH ME!"

Here, Joker leaps to them, a hand on their shoulder -- and they look to them, for that brief moment, their brow knit with tension. Their Rebellion is fueling their thirst for reparative justice... but it's all too easy to imagine how readily they'd be crushed ''without'' that feather cloak, beneath their palm.

"Yeah," they add, a touch raw, hearing Mujina say they're with them. "I'm -- uh -- don't count me out yet." It's a small miracle, honestly, that they ''don't'' just insist they're cool as they're close to tears.

It's a tear to their voice which becomes all the more raw, as she addresses Queen. It's not that they didn't know what she was dealing with, it's just --

Hearing her say it --

For some reason, Phoenix is crying, too.

"He won't be nice, man! He fuckin' won't! It's always everyone's fault but his, don't -- don't that sound weird to ya?!" They stab their greatsword into the cement, before them, leaning on it with both hands as their head bows. "Why can't you decide to live, Etsuko?! That's what Tsubasa did! Why -- why can't you -- why ''can't'' you protect them, huh?!" Just as Queen says...

Like she's scum... is it? "Carin' 'bout Tsubasa's image... that's his deal! Has he really jus' -- replaced you with -- all he wants?! Gettin' rich, gettin' known... all 'bout his rep... an' I..."

... Tsubasa values their rep mighty highly, too. They don't like to let ''anyone'' see them bleed -- not even their ''friends.''

"Fuck... ain't jus' you, man... ''fuck''..."

Their grip tightens, as they hear the Groom, too. "... it like that?" They ask, looking to Etsuko, monstrous as she is. "Reckon it'd kill ya? Well, we -- we could still help, do... somethin'..."

Another thing catches their ear, though, and they snap to the Groom: "Don't fuckin' kill him! He's my friend!" They have a lot of friends, fighting here --

Though --

The Groom says that Umie is part of that structure, and their eyes narrow. "Ain't like that," they snap, reflexively, hearing her group Umie with their tormentors. (She left, she says. That matters. That ''has'' to matter, or they're also...)

And then, eyes widening anew: "Holy shit."

Luckily, shocked as they are by that explosion of power, Mujina and Oracle are still there to call out warnings and orient Phoenix to the threat the Groom poses. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" Phoenix barks, but there's a moment of pause, there, as they have to heft their greatsword ''out'' of the cement --

As she cries out for them, a word starts to leave their lips: "Mo --"

'Ha!'

"-- Mona!" Phoenix cries, and perhaps they were calling out for him the whole time. "Right on time, man! Shit's fucked!" If Mona ''hadn't'' picked that moment to rally, would Phoenix have blurted out something revealing in front of everyone? ... well, shit's ''proper'' fucked. They'll put it down to one more thing they owe Mona, as that strength washes over them, and they wrench their sword from the stone.

They charge for the Groom --

-- but then --

-- the feeling isn't nostalgic, to Phoenix, the way it is to a lot of the people they care about. Even so, they ''recognise'' that wvoopish noise -- a noise they've heard before, when fighting the Old Maid.

"Eh... Akabane... san?" Phoenix asks, stunned and numb, as that horrific feeling floods the station grounds, and the hidden perils of Sumaru come to visit a place they're rarely seen. They feel like they see Ruin, up there -- but their attention is stolen away by a charred woman, setting the frozen flowers alight.

They tear their gaze back to the Groom, but -- "WAIT!" Phoenix yells, as they try to reach her, only to get knocked back by a glorious, shining Unicorn.

"FUCKIN' -- HORSES -- FUCK OFF FUCK FUCKIN' ''SHIT!''"

That outsized reaction definitely doesn't make any sense unless you know about Tsubasa's secret equinophobia... but it's no wonder they're frustrated, with so much on the line.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>
Was that spell actually ice, though...?

"Yeah! I like it too! And... and I will!" she tells Oracle. Will she more or less disappointed when she learns the truth? ...Are aliens even all that weird of a concept when it comes to dealing with demons and Shadows and Legionaires and so on?

Cherry shakes her head, fiercely. "Is it? Or are you just telling yourself that! Seki-san!" she blurts out, her eyes blazing behind her own version of a mask. "It's easy to give in and just-- think that's all! That's why I can't just let you!"

Even if she says she's not going to let them help her. Even if she says she won't go anywhere but to the next world with Tsubasa.

"Uh uh, that's where you're wrong! You're messed up because of the curse, right?" Cherry exhorts. "It was like that for me-- my friend! You'll feel better soon, promise! But, you have to be better to Tsubasa-kun!"

Now is the point when she remembers what she'd agreed to call them, and it's to this that she glances at Phoenix, grins, and effects a little 'eh heh' as if to actually apologize right in the middle of this deeply emotional moment...

But the cards are laid out.
Cherry calls out wordlessly as Artemisia blocking the eruptive blast of magic that follows the unveiling of the Hanged Man card and in so doing, evaporating into shadow just before her. Cherry stares at the space her Persona had occupied in shock, reeling from that just as much as the actual Persona Break she's just suffered. "That was... that was mean..." she utters, clearly dazed.

Consequently, Cherry doesn't see the jab of that needle. Instead, what she does note is how Etsuko is acting:

"Hey, is she...?" She rises wobbily to her feet "She's not down yet, right?" That was way too fast! Did they all hit her that hard? "No, she's still a Joker! We need to take care of that other lady! Or else--"

She doesn't need to say it, does she?

Patting her chest as she's introduced ("Yep, that was me!"), Cherry squints at the latest join-ee to the melee fray. "Is that a kitty?!" she gushes, even her injuries forgotten ''before'' that envigorating wave of energy is discharged upon her. "Thank you! I'm feeling better now!" ...Her injuries haven't actually been handled yet, though.

That's for Queen to help her out with, that soothing tide coming to wash over her various aches and pains and smooth them away.

'She injected her with some kind of drug'. To this, Cherry gasps, covering her mouth with one gloved hand. "No! That's... that's super mean! And, and she's still a Joker!"

Which means, as she's been asked to do, she has to act fast. "Okay! I know what to do--"

She moves to draw something from her hip, something that wasn't there moments ago. Here in her hand she produces a hand-operable crossbow, easing her finger over the trigger. "Seki-san! Sorry!" she tells Etsuko. "But we're running out of time!"

She fires a bolt, then leaps into the air. Seeming to hang there for a long moment, she unloads the rest of her ammunition into Etsuko Seki.

She gets to land, maybe. And that's as far as Cherry gets before the world tilts sideways. "What's--"

"--Why are there... demons...?"
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Maria Sakurai has used the Pierce skill La Tempesta on Penguin Sniper! 3 Hits!
| Pressure: Maria Sakurai gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke counters. And Miyu says, "No. You will not 'take me with you', not as you are. At best, you will delay me a few steps--your rage will burn you long before you can defeat me."

Then, "Think as you wish," Miyu says to Mona, though she cannot so easily deflect the empowering magic he shares with his friends. Her frown is invisible past her mask, as she looks upon the others. "I will not. And you will not stop me." She darts forwrd towards Mona--and ''hacks'' across his small form, clashing blades with him--and perhaps coming out the victor in that clash of strikes. It is perhaps cold comfort that she saw the need to remove him from the battlefield quickly.

Perhaps it should sit wrong; maybe insisting on a 'true world' is madness itself. But Miyu speaks that madness full-heartedly, with the iron certainty of the believer. "Yes." Truth is beauty; bueaty truth. But...

There is still beauty in this world, too. "I cannot deny it," the Groom answers Yusuke.

Then, she moves forward to strike--and instead, those stalagmites and that blade ''cut'' across her, leaving a visible rent in her armor. It does not go all the way through, but it is still plain to the eye, as she steps back, aborting her assault.

"...You have that right. Fight for your 'beauty', as I will mine."

She turns to Ririka. "No. You cannot see it. You lack the gift--it is no mere resonance, to be perceived through the power of Persona."

But... the Bride. "How good that you have such kindly friends. My Bride is not so soft as to wish to die that others might live. And I do not intend to ask her to shrink herself to do so."

'I left', says Umie. "Did you?" Miyu wonders. ...But she will not ''kill'' Umie. Not so long as Shiryuu is her ally. Batter through her to get her goals, sure...

Umie calls for her to stop, and Miyu turns towards her. "You think you are in control," she says. "But you are not. ...Did you think summoning more demons was going to ''improve'' your situation, Umie Akabane? ...They are not ''my'' demons, but I will use them, as I must."

The ''beats'' of the earth strike Miyu thanks to Hibari--it presses down, down... until those ofuda spin up, and light ''shines'' brightly upon her. She grits her teeth, as something on her person ''shatters'' against the attack.

"Tch," she starts. But Shinobu has more to say. "It's because the world was 'changed'," Miho says. "...Someone changed it. I have Seen it, in dreams. I could tell you so much about the world that was..."

"We have fought before, Shinobu Shimizu. In another time and place. When I wore a different mask, as part of a Circle..."

The situation is far worse. But still, Shinobu strikes--her staff spins, and these strikes she can parry--but the seals erupting ''throw'' her from her feet, backward again into a wall, which cracks under the impact.

She turns to Queen, as she rises from her crouch. "Do you think there is 'justice' in this world?" Miyu wonders. "No... if there were 'justice', then I would never have embarked upon this path. If there were 'justice'... perhaps you would win today."

She turns then to the UFO--the Necronomicon. She is 'watched', indeed, and grits her teeth against the sheer force of that anxiety.

She gets Miyu's attention: "Nothing 'gives' me the right. I hold it by virtue of the truth. I do not seek to rescue any of you. ...To be honest, you are largely irrelevant to my true goal, except that you are IN MY WAY!"

Hyousuke won't let her take anything else... Miyu considers. Hmm. "...perhaps, if you can defend them this way, you will accomplish something after all," she says. "But I will take one more thing from all of you--only one, today."

"You could not help," she assures Phoenix, though. She caught that statement. "...There are things that are beyond an ordinary person's power in this world."

The Groom finally makes her way back to the Joker, and reaches to pick her up. The demons swarm; there are too many in the weay to focus on her until after she's slung Mother Joker over her shoulder and taken her blade out once again. "Now!" she calls, and she jumps--

Landing below, at the van where men in cheongsams wait to usher her package into their vehicle and on to some final destination.
Junes has arrived from Staff Lounge.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Junes has posed.
<poem>
The demons swarm.

Jack Frost, the adorable fairy, ''slams'' towards Hyousuke, aiming to punch him right in the stomach. A Unicorn charges, knocking over a display of bottled plants--and shines holy light down upon Makoto, Hibari, Yusuke, and Ririka. Sati--a woman in flames--lifts her hand, and flames rush for Futaba's position. While Mothman--of course, gray Mothman--starts throwing lightning all over: at Shinobu, Ren, Tsubasa, and Maria.

There aren't ''that'' many of them, but if they aren't taken care of, they could leave this place--leave this place, and start hurting ordinary people. They must be stopped here and now.

...Which means there is little chance of chasing down Miyu and the Tien Tao Lien.

The day is lost, but there are those who can still be saved.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Junes has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Junes has used the Light skill Mahama on Makoto Niijima, Hibari Aoki, Yusuke Kitagawa, and Ririka Kawase!
AS: Persona! Junes has used the Fire skill Maragilao on Futaba Sakura!
AS: Persona! Junes has used the Elec skill Mazionga on Shinobu Shimizu, Ren Amamiya, Tsubasa Seki, and Maria Sakurai!
AS: Take! Futaba Sakura takes 109 Recovery healing from Makoto Niijima's Media.
AS: Block Best! Futaba Sakura takes 112 Fire damage from Junes's Maragilao.
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 70 Elec damage from Junes's Mazionga.
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 80 Light damage from Junes's Mahama.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
| Cover! #-1 NO SUCH OBJECT VISIBLE takes 80, protecting Ririka Kawase!

AS: Counter Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 143 Elec damage from Junes's Mazionga. Critical Hit! Safety! Damage reduced!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!
| COUNTER! Junes takes 13 Elec damage in return for her attack! Resist!

AS: Block Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 148 Light damage from Junes's Mahama.
AS: Counter Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 228 Elec damage from Junes's Mazionga. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Junes takes 135 Slash damage in return for her attack!

AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Strike damage from Junes's Sonic Punch. Resist! Safety! Damage reduced!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Hibari Aoki takes 212 Light damage from Junes's Mahama. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Myaha~! Leave it to me to make a dashing entrance!" Mona calls cheerfully back to Queen--a cheer that's wrecked by a torn grimace when Cherry calls him a kitty cat and then thanks him. "I'm not--ugh, you're welcome!"

However, this not-a-cat will soon eat crow. For all Mona's proud defiance, drawing the Groom's attention on him proves an immediate mistake. And for all that he's much smaller than her and should present a tougher target to hit, when she swoops towards him, blade meets blade with a loud CLANG before he's sent flying.

"Myagh...!!" he yelps as he goes. There's no comfort to be had here, cold or otherwise. His body will recover from the impact of his fall, but his pride has taken a severe blow.

"Mona!" Joker calls, turning towards him--but then several things happen in rapid succession. Umie, laid low herself, tears open reality with the sickeningly familiar sensation of her Mark, and Demons start to pour forth into reality. For an instant, they're torn on where to go.

Then another new presence makes itself known. One most terrifying of all to them.

"Ruin!!" Joker hisses, the adrenaline of fear and hatred lancing their heart. They sprint over to Umie to present a physical barrier between her and him, though they know it's more symbolic than anything else given Ruin's ridiculous trick shots. For the same reason, their pistol is in their hand in an instant, and they open fire on the spot in the fog where he'd vanished.

They have no illusion of significantly injuring him or even hitting him at all. It's all about making a statement.

Oracle warns everyone about the drug, alerting Joker to the Groom's covert actions. Fortunately, they're not the only one to get the idea to shine Light down on the Groom; Mujina's Hama spell rises while Oracle spotlights the Groom's attributes. Queen calls for everyone to keep up the assault, and with their statement made, they shoot a look back at Umie.

"Don't be reckless, Umie Akabane," they chastise her, though one may as well tell water to stop being wet.

Even so, they focus back on the Groom. They already know of Umie's connections to the NWO and so didn't react to the Groom calling her out on them, but Phoenix's ''big'' reaction to the Unicorn seems bigger than usual, even for them. Something to wonder about later. Between the Demons, the drugging, and the Tien Tao Lao, it's exactly as Phoenix reflects: shit's proper fucked.

"Bring forth your light, Principality!" they call, a last-ditch effort to strike the Groom back, away from Etsuko Joker and in revenge for Mona--but she leaps up with her prey over her shoulder and out of the way of the waves of light they summon.

What's more, that's precisely when the Demons swarm forth in her wake, answering her bidding as she'd told Umie she'd do. People are in danger, and though Joker starts to race after her, a Mothman flutters down in front of them and calls down lightning bolts in every direction. Joker swears as they barely avoid a direct hit and are forced back; even with that, the power buzzes over their coat, numbing them.

By the time they deal with that and the Demons threatening the area, then regroup with their friends and allies, the NWO and their target will be long gone.
</poem>

AS: Avoid Worst! Maria Sakurai takes 186 Elec damage from Junes's Mazionga.
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 91 Light damage from Junes's Mahama. Safety! Damage reduced!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Miyu is powerful indeed, to weather such a combined assault and still stand.

Yet even greater power shakes the world around them, and Fox's stomach lurches as he looks towards Umie. "What...?"

There is too little time to comprehend what's happening, only that it ''is'' happening, as demons pour out of nowhere, hidden angles beyond eyeline and thought to swarm upon them.

Gritting his teeth, Fox backs up, Goemon manifesting low over him. If this keeps up, they won't be able to escape...

Assaults of light bombard him.

"Queen!" He calls out, blade sheathed again. "I'll carve an opening, drive into it!"

His sword flashes out, a hail of strikes that Goemon imitates, turning the very air itself into biting slashes that drive the demons back.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"We'll have to investigate more later," Ririka replies to Shinobu in a rush. "Right now we just have to try and hang on!"

She scowls at Miho, who claims this isn't something to be perceived via ''Resonance''. "Oh how convenient for you, then," she retorts. She's not really sure if she ''believes'' Miyu--but it's not like she can claim to know all the workings of the supernatural, even as a Navigator.

She still isn't sure what that power Miyu has, after all.

Ririka is trying to entrust the other half of the battlefield of the Phantom Thieves so that she can focus on the Groom, Miyu. Unfortunately, Miho has broken through their lines and made this one giant cluster.

"Shit--" Ririka's trying to cast a wide net, to keep her eyes on the men waiting on the edge of the battlefield, to adapt to the need to shift targets, to monitor what's being said--

She can't fail to notice when that twisted power comes forth from Umie, clutching the side of her head as that foul Resonance suddenly invades her senses. "Augh-- what the hell!?"

Her head whips over to lock on to Umie. "What are you ''doing''?!" It starts with one--did she give it a ''name''!?--and then more, and Ririka looks around helplessly. "Hey-- stop!"

There's a demon going for a bystander, and Ririka throws a desperate hand out. "Magna!" Amphion strums, and sends a rock flying for it. Hopefully she's not too late--! "This isn't helping, Akabane!"

And here's Hyousuke saying he doens't care if he goes down to save everyone else. Right now Ririka is... let's say a ''tad'' stressed, and she snaps at him to hear him say that. "Suzuki don't-- don't be an idiot! You don't think your friends would care if you got yourself killed!? What would my sister think? What about ''Pudding''!?" (This is not as much of a non-sequitur as it may seem at first.)

She can track Miyu getting away--but she can ''also'' track more bystanders that will be in harm's way. "Dammit!" She redirects Amphion's defensive efforts to provide a bulwark against a spell of light. She can't very well chase Miyu down herself. The only thing she ''can'' do, in this moment... is to keep playing, to throw her senses out to all of the PErsona Users present and start sharing the locations of all the demons with them.

And once all the demons have been cleared out, she'll ahe to fight the urge to collapse. How are they going to explain this to Tsubasa? What can they possibly say? She can only hope that Tsubasa, at least, is safe for the moment.

But she'll need a few minutes of humming a repetitive tune to herself before she can start to focus on anything else, tapping on her thigh the whole time.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
"Get 'em, Mujina!" cheers Oracle as booming light and power smashes down at the behest of the noblest of tanuki. Then her eyes move towards Umie.

Stop! she says.

And then STOP again.

Something is happening.

A strange warning appears on the boundaries and corners of Oracle's screens. She doesn't recognize it, nor does the text it flashes make sense -- but -- but some of the words, she thinks in the half-moment before it seems to resolve to something simpler, an urgent flash of RED ALERT, some of those words were --

"What are you doing? What is she doing??" Oracle says, with alarm, which may be a bit of advance warning before something else is opening up and DEMONS ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK! "Multiple new contacts appearing! They're coming from -- from --"

They're all shouting. Panic is settling in. They were prepared for a third party, but this is a fourth! Or is it five, now, when Joker calls out the appearance of that man. Ruin! Could it get worse?

Before Oracle can produce more information a sudden klaxon and focus on Sati makes Futaba stare dumbfounded for a split second. At the end of it, Necronomicon is struck with an enormous burst of flame, hitting the ship on its prow and shaking it violently.

"Kuh!!" Futaba clings to the console in front of her as her heart lurches. It's not just the motion, it's everything. Fear and doubt and anxiety and tension and shame and anger. All of them do a five-forty spin and land directly on Futaba's diaphragm - so it feels. For the space of one heartbeat, it seems like everything's lost.

She exhales.

Nuh uh, she resolves, before pulling herself up and shoving her glasses back up her face. "Fox! Break left, you're aiming her right at a crowd!" She reaches over without thinking and pushes her hand into a patch of open space -- which resolves into a steering joystick control, which she clings to.

... and pulls back sharply to execute a loop in the air. Things must be serious: Oracle does not exclaim in what must surely be a thrilling maneuver to experience. There are bigger things on her mind. "The roofline over the station's clear!" A route out?? (sorry ririka)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"It's fine, this is good enough!" Shinobu assures, as Hyousuke apologizes. The gift of defense is key in a battle with a dangerous opponent.

"Right." Shinobu replies to Ririka with a nod.

The world was 'changed', the Groom says. She's seen it. The world that was...

"I'm the kinda gal that tends to focus on the here and now. I dunno that that would do me much good." Shinobu replies. They've fought before... This is the first time the two of them have fought each other directly, as far as she knows - often, another of her company finds her occupied... but somehow, that seems right. "...Well, that does ''sound'' like me."

She's able to push back - but Miyu is stronger. And she maneuvers through the crowd of attackers, until she's near Etsuko.

"Get away from her!!" Shinobu shouts. She charges in - but the demons swarm. There are many of them. Too many. Too many to count, and they're all thirsty for violence. A mothman hurls lightning. Mazionga crashes down toward her - and Shinobu dives ''through'' it, regardless of her own safety. Electricity crackles over her body, but with Achilles' protection courtesy of Hyousuke, she's still standing. Her staff sweeps out left and right, striking away demons... but for each one, another takes its place. "Damn it... DAMN IT!!"

The van is gone. It's too late. ...They've failed.

Shinobu seethes, shutting her eyes tight. They don't stay closed for long.

"Let's just... deal with the rest of these before they can hurt anyone." She exhales with a sigh. There's still fighting to be done. Her staff will see more work yet.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
There's so much, all at once. A horde of demons all beckoned here, the Groom grabs her target and there are still civilians here. Not everyone ran. Not everyone could run.

Holy light surges down, and Queen lets out a shout of pain as she's sent sprawling a third time. "Damn it..." She doesn't have time to lie down on the job, and once again she leaps to her feet, though it's clear that she's flagging.

Fox plans to carve a path for an escape, and Queen frowns. It's a smart idea, but-

"...Fine- cut a path and I'll forward it, but we focus on making sure everyone gets out, not just us!" Even though it is important that they're gone before the cognitive space is. ...especially Oracle, if she's floating.

"Mujina, get Mona and cover the wounded and anyone who needs to evacuate first! Oracle, let us know when we can pull out! Joker-"

Joker is already in the middle of the scramble. Of course they are. And Phoenix...

...can she even give orders to Phoenix right now...?

"Phoenix! Stay the hell alive!"

Queen summons Johanna as Fox readies his cut. Her engines roar, and nuclear flame bursts from exhausts- and Oracle gives them their new target. "Fox, you heard her- set them up! I'll knock them down!"

Johanna surges forward, a trail of flames following behind her as she makes for her new destination-

Mostly, though, Queen's focus is on making sure that no one else gets hurt- as worried as she is for her friend right now.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"Ya cool," Phoenix assured Maria, before their world came crumbling down.

And just as Joker notices: it's about the fact that there's a fucking horse knocking them down, but it's also not at all about the fact that there's a fucking horse knocking them down. It's a fucking horse knocking them down when they're trying to catch the woman trying to steal their mother to unimaginable horrors -- when their mother couldn't even imagine a world where the perpetrator was to ''blame.'' It's... it's...

"God... DAMNIT!" Phoenix yells, slamming a fist into the ground.

The world doesn't even have the decency to let them have that jagged moment of frustration in ''peace,'' man.

Because there's Mothman -- "Fuck off, Mothman!" -- bolting them from the blue, and if nothing else it at least electrifies Phoenix into ''movement,'' charging into the bolt to cleave through it with that massive greatsword of theirs.

"It's this evil demon-summonin' power," they explain the Mark, sharply, to Cherry, as their sword cleaves into a woman burnt on her husband's funeral pyre before she can take advantage of Mona's downed state. (Perhaps it's no wonder Sati would be called to a fight like this...) "Makes th' world go sideways an' get all fucked up. Ain't thought Akabane-san had that in her... fuck, where'd th' Groom go?! Shit!"

They can't see her -- or them -- through the din of these demons, but they ''can'' see a little boy getting hefted up by Jack Frost.

"OH ''YOU'' CAN GET ''ULTRA'' FUCKED," they yell, as they charge in to slice up ''him'' too -- and catch the kid by the scruff, in their other hand, right as the greatest villain alive, Jack Frost, throws him upwards.

"You're okay," they tell him, as he cries. "Hey. Hey. Hey, look at me!" Somehow, they find the space to put the kid down, a hand on his shoulder. "Look at me. You gon' be fine."

"I'M SCAAAAARED," the boy wails.

"If you're scared, run away," Phoenix advises him, pointing down the street. "That way. Can you do that?"

"Uh-huh," the boy sniffles, and Phoenix covers his escape with that massive slab of a sword of theirs.

... someone might need to yell at them a bit to get them to actually evacuate over that rooftop Oracle found, because now they have something to hit they only really ever ''stop'' hitting things to try and talk sense into the bystanders getting menaced.

Luckily, there's one order they ''can'' HUA without skipping a beat: Queen's demand they ''stay alive.'' "Got it!" They yell, back to her.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>"Shit...! We gotta move! That asshole's gonna get away!" Hyousuke, with whatever energy his screaming muscles could be forced to muster, rushed blindly forward. He grit his teeth against the pain, clenched his fists so tight the knuckles turned a paler shade than the bone beneath, and barged through whatever obstacles were in his way. But it was useless. The Groom had strength and speed to spare, and agility enough to leap free from the group's combined onslaught. Demons swarmed them like vermin, and even if he fought with all his might, there wasn't a chance in hell that he could catch up with her.

Searing light blinded him for a moment when he intercepted a blow meant for Ririka, sending him stumbling back and away. A Jack Frost tried to take advantage of it, but his anger was more than enough to force a recovery, and Hyousuke took the blow without so much as flinching.
"ENOUGH! ALL OF YOU!" He shouted, heaving his boot into the unfortunate Demon's gut. He'd failed to protect Tsubasa's mother, Umie had succumbed to whatever curse had been inflicted on her, Mona - someone he did not know, but recognised to be an ally - had been flung away like a ragdoll... and he'd been powerless to stop it all.

Frustration melded with fury, and the Demons in his path were the unfortunate targets.
"If you assholes don't clear out, I'll rip all of you to shreds with my BARE FUCKING HANDS!"
He hoped that they'd be stupid enough to stay and fight. He knew it was wrong... but nothing else could quench that raging fire in the pit of his being.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Shit is truly fucked, as some heavy sword wielding poets would say. "Mona!!"

Umie continually tries to reverse her actions, splaying her half covered fingers over and over again, trying to find some undiscovered muscle in her brain or arm that could undo her actions.

"_Stop_. Stop! I'm commanding you!" She's staring up at Futaba's UFO, and panicks, throwing her hand up to try to command that is very obviously yet another demon--

Look up.

No, further up, Umie.

There, on that building, where you know who is standing. Umie freezes in place.

".... Don't... look at me..." she grits her teeth.

There is something standing there.

'Don't be reckless, Umie Akabane.'

"...." Her eyes focus back on Joker, blinking, as she comes back.

"... he could have shot clear through you, you know," the blonde mumbles out of reflex, dazed.

Then, with a few second's worth of gained awareness, she says, shakily, ".... Thank you. I needed the reminder."

But then again, Joker already knew. So did a few others among the crowd, where she's allowed herself to share. And even those she hadn't, they're defending her. They're bewildered, yes,

Don't be reckless.
Don't forget you have people you trust.

"Go. I'll clean things up from my end."

Ruin is still listening.

'Look. Over there.'

On reflex, Umie looks, over where Phoenix cleaves through a Mothman-- Taro-kun? Or...

She fights back the urge to throw up, right then and there.

Phoenix is, after all, cleaning up the mess *she* made.

She rubs her mouth, grits her teeth, and readies her weapon to jump in.

She'll have all the time she wants to cry and feel sorry for herself later, Umie thinks.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>
It's already too late, even if Cherry doesn't yet realize that fact.

No sooner has she remarked upon the horde than she whirls about, eyes wide as she realizes there aren't just a ''few'' demons here. There's an entire horde. "Hey, wait..." She turns slowly, circling back to the Groom and Etsuko Seki, the latter of whom has collapsed. "Did you--"

Akabane, Miyu tells her, is the one responsible. "No... no way..." Cherry utters, at a loss. Lifting her pistol crossbow, she trains it on Miyu, only for her would-be opponent to instead swoop in to retrieve the collapsed Etsuko. Cherry's bolt handily misses her, and after that point, there's no longer any room to take a shot at her again.

"Hey, no! You can't!" she calls out. "You can't!"

The Groom already has.

Nor is there any time to lament over this fact. Cherry has no sooner let her shoulders slump than she hears a cackling from the swarm. She turns again, sharply this time.
Again too late.

It starts for her with the Mothman that sets upon her and others with a flash of lightning that cracks into the place she stands. But even this isn't quite enough to lay her out: she brings again her polearm to bear, calling upon her Persona as she charges on ahead. They have to be dealt with, right? And,

and

and Maria's just really angry right now.

"Get out of the way! Get out of here!" she yells, not able to close on that Mothman, but instead cleaving into a blazing figure with a pumpkin for a head.

It's a demon-summoning power, Phoenix explains as they hack and slash their way through the horde. "Y-yeah! I get that! But why did Akabane-san...? That's not something people can just do, right?" says a very confused (and mildly blood-thirsty) Cherry.

"Ah! Look out, there's another one of those guys!" By which Cherry, apparently, means another Pyro Jack. Why does it have to be more fire...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
Elevated, it is easier to think. To breathe. Futaba exhales hard, and Oracle takes a deep breath. The last few minutes (just!) of memories get riffled through. The words of Etsuko; did the Joker curse twist her, or was it a liberation like she had had, with her Shadow? How much was poor decisions, bad luck, the curse, or just...

For a silent midair moment, Oracle admires Phoenix; not for their personal presentation, but for that brief consideration of what they faced. A bigger burden, without the blessing of Sojiro stepping in. Would she have been able to rise like that? Without someone to give her a hand? Or, as it turned out, a large number of people?

Johanna surges forwards, even as she picks up Phoenix's explanatory summary. In her head, a notarized but unsorted list:

* Evil demon summoning power.
* Makes world go sideways
** And get all fudged up <- this is how you know Futaba is still young
* Akabane maybe didn't have it?
* Groom is gone??
* Shit!!

Dangit, blinks Oracle even if one of the others - Hyousuke in this case - power-stomps through one of the demons. "Yeeeech," Oracle vocalizes (approvingly).

"You have to trust the evidence of your own senses, Cherry," Oracle continues while levelling out. "You saw it happen - either it's some super complicated trick... or it's real. What's left when you've eliminated the impossible?"

"Though I guess that's kind of from the other side of the fence," she continues, and with each of these little flibberts of mental exercise, the demons and the despair feel just that tiny bit further away.

For now, at least...

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
For now, at least, they're able to protect the people of Port Island Station... except for the woman who worked at Rafflesia part time, with those bruises she had to explain away, now and then.

But Etsuko isn't the only Seki... if, indeed, she remains one at all.

"Yes. ... yes. I understand. Do what you have to do... the children are grown, anyway. I'll tell them she's receiving sanitarium care... all right. Let me know if the situation changes."

Click.

Hanzou Seki puts down his phone, with a deep sigh, as he massages his temples behind the glasses sitting there. "... so it was part of their scheme," he sighs, as he looks out his window -- and as the ''vice-president,'' he has a spectacular view. (One which Ichika Kawase happens to be taking advantage of, right now, with a pair of binoculars from where she's perched in an opposite building... because there were always several moving parts to this plan, and they knew it would be a bad idea to ''discount'' how he might play into things.)

He's still hungry to improve the view from outside his window. Five years ago, he was no one worth speaking of. Now...

"Damn inconsiderate... taking a man's wife like that. Tch... so I'll never see her again... they should have ''warned'' me," he insists, as he pulls a bottle from his desk and pours a stiff drink. "It's not my ''fault,''" he insists, stormily. "I never told her to do that in the first place... stupid woman!"

Beneath all the bodies he throws between himself and blame, he does feel grief... though he thinks it is grief for what ''he'' has lost, and no further than that.

Three drinks in, he picks up his phone again.

"Find me a maid service," he issues, to his secretary.

... you can tell a lot about a man through his priorities.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-05-22: Every Prince is a Fantasy

2026-10-25T00:51:34Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: 2026-05-22 Every Prince is a Fantasy'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Goro Akechi]]
*'''Where:''' Somewhere in Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' May 22, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Mon Nov 12 2012
*'''Summary''': ''After their [[2026-05-21:_Bullseye|darts game with Kasumi]], Ren calls Akechi to make sure he isn't too mad. The two come to an... understanding, until they don't.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Later in the evening, after the trio's visit to Penguin Sniper to play darts, Akechi's phone rings. It's Ren's ring tone. Considering the embarrassment he--they--she--visited upon him there, he might be tempted to ignore the call--but surely it'll stay at just temptation.

"Hey," Ren says, nonchalant, once Akechi picks up. "I wanted to check in on you. How're you doing?"

They don't specify why they would want to check in on him, but Akechi probably doesn't need it spelled out anyway. Probably he prefers it that way, too. So Ren figures.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
It's hard to discern where Akechi is, noise canceling phone and all. But the reality is as simple as him standing at the train station in West Tokyo, waiting for his transfer to Sumaru.

"Hm? Amamiya-kun?" There's a pause at their question, as Akechi takes a moment, "Well, one think the question is more appropriate for yourself. You are the one fresh out of a break up, after all. And what you shared with me earlier tonight couldn't have been easy for you..."

Akechi understands at least that even if they are friends, that it's still a risk for Ren. It's always a risk to share anything. Just as much as it is for him.

"So same question, but for you first. How are you doing?"

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren ''doesn't'' have a noise canceling phone--they don't get to beta test those kinds of fancy features before general release--but they're in between destinations themself.

They smiles at Akechi's response. They know a deflection when they hear one. "Sweet of you," they say anyway, because he's not wrong. It ''was'' hard to share--at least at the start--and they ''did'' just break up for Makoto less than a week ago.

For all that they did reel it back in the end, though, they're happy they did share. It's always so freeing when you gain more people you can be more fully yourself around.

"I'm fine. I had a good time tonight," they continue, letting Akechi set the pace. It's the least they could do after making him squirm so hard. "I honestly don't feel bad about the break-up. I feel relieved, actually. I made a mistake, but it didn't ruin our friendship."

That's the worst thing. When you change the nature of your relationship with someone, and it brings it all to an end.

"So, I went. No more deflecting," they reply, now brisk.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Well I'd be disappointed if I weren't, given all the sweets I eat for those commercials."

He takes a seat on a bench, deciding just to catch the next train, placing his briefcase beside him, and crossing one leg over as he leans back, resting an elbow on the back, a gloved hand relaxing forward.

A shame Ren can't ''see'' him right now. The way he sits is always rather hot.

"Good." Is his brief interjection that Ren was having a good time tonight, before eventually- "I see. Well. Perhaps I was more worried about two back to back- no matter how healthily one deals with it, it's still quite a lot."

No more deflecting though? There's a chuckle, "Perish the thought. I admit I was surprised? In retrospect, it makes perfect sense. But there is a certain 'reframing' the mind must do of certain prior memories and experiences- everything takes on a new context, if you understand my meaning."

Gloved fingertips rub together as if an unconscious motion, as if there were something tangible to be seen... to be touched, even while he's alone.

"It does require me to I suppose doubly apologize for our first game at the Penguin Sniper. While we have talked it out before- this new revelation about you- if anything makes it all the more transgressive."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
That ''is'' a shame. Still, Ren got a great look at him earlier with his blushy, angry face. Those are memories they'll cherish forever.

"Yeah... True," Ren admits of two back-to-back break-ups. If not for how they'd realized the true nature of their feelings for ''him'', maybe they would be more depressed than they are now.

He points out that new knowledge necessitates recontextualization--and then apologizes for their first game of pool.

"...Mm." For a moment, they fall silent as they remember that day. How they'd flinched under his unexpected touch. "Thank you. I appreciate that," they decide to say. They hesitate; they do not work up the nerve to say something like, ''But I wouldn't mind if you did that to me now.''

"You're taking it in much better stride than I thought. You seemed pretty mad earlier," Ren notes instead. "I was worried I'd gone too far with the teasing."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"You're welcome. I'll... take more care going forward." He says, oblivious of course to the idea that Ren might not ''mind'' that so much now.

However, Ren brings up that he seemed pretty mad earlier. And Akechi had been in a good enough mood with the phone call that he had- briefly glossed over those feelings in his own head.

But he had been stewing upon it before then.

"Ah. That."

Pause.

"Well I won't claim that I wasn't upset at the time."

And after, pretty much all the time after up until the phone call.

It's a good thing he's at least not trying to deny it.

"It was more that I wasn't certain what the parameters are. Given our previous conversation. You might be newly unattached- but that doesn't mean I felt it was appropriate for me to return such flirtatious teasing without- discussing it with you first."

He's not going to say that him having to adapt to the new information in regards to Ren being X-Gender.

But that was definitely a part of it, him having his emotions kinda wound up some- while Ren is newly off of one, and saying they have no intention of dating.

"And it's not as if it were something I could just bring up in public with Yoshizawa-san there."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"..."

Ren purses their lips as they come to a stop in the street. No, they definitely can't say he doesn't need to take so much care.

The topic moves on. Akechi pauses, then admits he was indeed upset. Ren gazes at the ground before moving out of the way of other pedestrians, leaning on the wall of a nearby building as they raise their eyes to the sky. Their chest squeezes as he mentions the mixed company in particular, and they shut their eyes for a moment.

"...Yeah. Sorry," Ren replies, and their tone reflects the penitence they genuinely feel. "I wasn't really... planning on coming out just then. It just sort of followed naturally after I started talking about the break-up. You know I'm normally not really... that good at talking about personal stuff."

They pause. They try to find Venus in the darkening sky, but from where they are, it's out of sight. "Well... if you don't mind going back to that... joking around... I don't either," they murmur.

...They're really stupid, huh. Calling that 'joking around'--for either of them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Akechi is at least aware enough that in a sense it was all a 'taste of his own medicine'. It's just he's a petty enough person to know he has a double standard, and not caring.

It's fine for other people to be embarrassed and humiliated. Not him.

Isn't it ironic that Ren he can at least tolerate it from, since that it was a rival is supposed to do? Isn't that... no, he can't follow that line of thought to the end.

"I see. I understand. I certainly hadn't planned to come out to you that day in that karaoke booth either."

He can at least note the parallels there. Neither had meant to- and it had caused some stepping on the other's toes at the time.

"Neither am I, to be frank. It's not something I make a habit of... well, though I suppose you've proved it isn't a hard line, personal policy wise."

Ren says they'd like to go back to that, and in that Akechi realizes the danger. After all, he's newly come to see Ren as anything other than a guy, much less both (and neither). Much less realizing he's attracted to both.

"... Well, I certainly don't mind. I think it's the natural thing for us to do- to enjoy that dynamic between us again. Though it does beg the question if you had any new boundaries you couldn't communicate to me before?"

Joking around.

Yes, that's all it is, of course. Why would Ren ''actually'' be serious about such things? About him?

Who would be?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"I was surprised back then. I sure hadn't expected it either," Ren reminisces, smiling slightly. "It really sold me on your sincerity. Especially given what you said about... you know." Their eyelashes droop as their smile fades. "How you could only be with a Princess."

They're aware that they can, at times, be a Princess, after a fashion. They're even more keenly aware of the key words ''at times''. As a contrast to Makoto, who accepted dating them but was only attracted to her while she was a girl, Akechi might potentially be attracted to them at all times, but could only date her if she were always a girl.

Which... just isn't the case, and won't ever be.

It is a little funny that Akechi says he's not good at talking about personal things either. That hasn't really been Ren's experience with him. He's always just... sharing things with them, whether they asked him to or not. Sometimes little--sometimes not so little. ...He's always tried to reach out and form a bond with him. Even when he didn't trust them. Maybe even though he might still not fully trust them.

''He couldn't be the Black Mask. I don't need proof. I'm taking it on faith,'' they decide, then and there.

There still begs a question of why they're so similar and what connection there could be if they're not the same person--but that's for Future Ren to ponder. Right now, they can enjoy the quiet relief that conviction brings.

"Nothing really comes to mind at the moment," they reply. They pause. "...I hope knowing I'm X-gender doesn't make this weird for you. If you'd rather not... I don't want to pressure you into anything you're not comfortable with. It was just..." They glance off to the side. "...fun."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
It's a memory that he's strangely fond of. There's something liberating about sharing something of yourself that no one else knows. Something you have to keep hidden.

Even if he hates having to be vulnerable to share it, he also enjoys it. It's a contradictory kind of mindset, but it's also his.

"Ah yes," he says, with a mild tone at the idea of only being with a Princess. That's taken on a new context tonight. "An unfortunate reality of being a celebrity."

His tone isn't exactly matter of fact there, it's more contemplative, like it's elsewhere- but it sounds a little like it's confirmation.

A Detective Prince can only have a Princess. It's the only acceptable sort of relationship.

Ren is rather spot on; he ''does'' talk about a lot of personal stuff with Ren- and basically only Ren. It's perhaps the fact that he's lonely that this aspect he's not so self-aware upon. That he doesn't realize it.

He understands he talks about ''himself'' a lot- but himself the ''lie''. Not- not the truth.

Ren's faith in him- well, it's a shame that the world doesn't always reward such faith. If it did, then the one in the Black Mask would indeed be someone else.

Ren does answer his question though, ultimately. "No. I wouldn't say it makes it weird at all." He says quickly enough, "A touch more complex- but that's not a bad thing. It just means I'm privy to some of your hidden depths, Amamiya-kun."

His gloved fingertips play with his hair some, on the right side of his head, rubbing a a lock of hair between them.

"If you found it fun- then I see no reason why we can't continue... playing around." He says, a touch huskily, "What will seducing me out of checkmate look like now- I wonder?" As he takes on a speculative tone.

"Perhaps you leaning in close- and pursing your lips... as I watch those beautiful eyes of yours close and-"

...
...
...

"-Just kidding." He says cheerfully. "Of course that would be beyond what you had in mind."

He's trying to let Ren know that everything is fine, that it can go back that way. That it won't be weird.

Of course, he's also thinking about what that would be like if he weren't just kidding, but that goes without saying.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''An unfortunate reality of being a celebrity,'' he calls it. It might be pensive rather than blunt, but it still sounds like confirmation. Given how hard he's worked to get where he is, to get the acclaim and affirmation he's hungered for since childhood, would Akechi really give up his celebrity status to be with them?

Probably not. While Ren doesn't ever cry, they wish they could.

One day, maybe they'll look back on this conversation, though--how Akechi said he hardly ever talks about himself, and Ren noted he actually does that a lot with them. How, ultimately, it was a lie--but not all of it. Maybe both of them will look back one day and reflect on that particular truth.

They do breathe a soundless breath of relief when Akechi's quick to reassure them it's not weird. They chuckle faintly. "Fair's fair--I'm privy to some of yours," they murmur. "Especially today, after getting to see some exciting new faces of yours."

Ren can't see Akechi play with his own hair, naturally. If they could, they'd think back to that day in Leblanc, when he let them run their fingers through his silky locks. Certainly they pick up on that huskiness that enters his voice, and the flirtation thereafter is clearer still. Their pulse picks up as they grin. It's a hell of a mental image he puts in their head, and when he breaks off to assure them he's just kidding, they laugh softly. The thought of what that would be like ''does'' go without saying, and so, naturally, they don't say it.

"Hmmm... So you're saying you want me to make the first move. Then you don't mind if I rib you again about how cute you looked when you were embarrassed?" they tease instead. Turning their own voice sultry, they continue, "Though I think you were even more handsome when you were mad. That dark flash in your eyes, your tense and rigid cheekbones... It was sexy." They pause a beat. "I can't wait to make you look like that again. Say, over another game of chess sometime--"

They grin, and their voice lightens too.

"--after I crush you with a new strategy you never saw coming."

Strictly speaking, they already did that today, but who's keeping track? Surely not the both of them.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
It's an unfortunate reality too, that sometimes people can't speak their feelings clearly. If he just indicated that it wasn't some hard no in some way- perhaps Ren would understand better what he means, here.

But it's also true that Akechi has little reason to believe Ren would reciprocate the feelings Akechi has for them.

"That is true." He says cheerfully, "You perhaps know me better than anyone else."

Other than say, his Father- but while his Father is privy to his murderous secrets, he isn't to anything else.

His tone seems to pout, just a little as Ren speaks of exciting new faces, "You certainly did manage to get more than just 'new faces', that was the worst game of darts I've thrown in years." Before he then adds, more cheerily, "... I'll just have to have my revenge next time."

Ren then begins a new salvo about how 'cute' he looked when embarrassed, and IRL, Akechi has to lean forward and put a hand over his face, feeling the heat even through his gloves.

"Haha... by all means."

Cute.

Come on get it together. Ren calling you cute, it's just part of the game.

"As the Western song goes <'Hit me with your best shot.'>" As he shifts to accented English for that.

And Ren does, certainly, as he has to lean back, and look up, gloved hand still covering his face, but now his eyes too. Good lord, how is he going to survive this.

"My my- you truly think so?" He says, as he tries to carefully control his tone, "So I'm sexy when I'm 'angry'. I'd say I'm quite sexy all the time-" Many many people would agree with him. "-but I'll keep that in mind."

Ren puts forward crushing him with a new strategy, and Akechi chuckles, "Haha- I can't wait to see how it fails... but for now- Would you like to know when you're at your hottest, Amamiya-kun?"

...
...
...
...
...

Ren might expect a Just Kidding. There's that Just Kidding kind of pause there- it's going on for sooooo long, this time.

"Well, it'd be more fun to just show you- one day."

He says instead.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It doesn't help that Ren already believed Akechi isn't willing to date anyone other than a cis woman. Hearing that only reinforced what they already assumed based on when Akechi came out to them as bisexual. It helps even less that Ren watched that interview he did on Good Evening Sumaru wherein he stated clearly, while he'd make the time for someone he had feelings for, he'd never date a criminal. Even if he was only saying that for the camera, the fact would remain that Akechi's image is important to him.

More important than they are.

Society's already made up its mind about Ren, and Akechi cares so much about what society thinks even as he holds it in disdain. Why would Ren understand him any differently?

So while they smile when Akechi says they know him better than anyone else, there's a certain bittersweetness to it. Yeah. It doesn't matter how either of them feels about the other. Surely Akechi isn't willing to openly be with them. And even if he was, should ''they'' really be dating again, right on the heels of two back-to-back break-ups? No. They know they shouldn't. Some casual, un-serious flirting... is as good as it'll get.

In fairness, it's been damn good so far. Moreso now that Akechi's on board, for all that Ren was quite sincere about enjoying his embarrassment and anger. They chuckle at his pouty little tone. "Yeah. It was hilarious." As for Akechi's revenge? "I look forward to messing it up for you."

He invites them to tease. Challenges them, even. Their grin broadens as they do exactly that. This ''is'' fun, and makes them feel alive in a way not too dissimilar from infiltrating a Palace. Can they tease him into another big reaction? Probably not right now, and certainly not over the phone, but they'll try anyway. He makes them want to try their best.

''I'd say I'm quite sexy all the time...'' "Maybe if you weren't such a smug asshole," they reply dryly. ...but they don't want to leave it at that, so they murmur, ducking their head as warmth rises in their own cheeks, "I'll admit you're an objectively good-looking guy, though."

They frown at Akechi's taunt about failing, mildly irritated, but then he asks ''that'' question. Ren's eyebrows rise. "Oh?" they utter--not quite a yes, but certainly not a no.

They'd REALLY like to know, but they don't want to ''say'' that.

However, there's a long pause, much longer than Akechi usually lets these things hang. The eventual conclusion makes their heart skip a beat.

"What's THAT supposed to mean?" they wonder with a hint of a laugh on their breath. "You're kind of an incorrigible tease too, Akechi." They run their free hand back through their hair, smiling at the early night sky as they clutch their phone close. Given how concerned he is about respecting their boundaries, they don't know that it'll ever go beyond a tease, but there's an undeniable allure to the idea of him demonstrating when he finds them most attractive one day unannounced. Maybe that's why... "But I bet you don't have the guts to actually do it."

Their voice dips down into a throaty whisper:

"Prove me wrong."

...they've got to issue a challenge. To make ''sure'' he does.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
A very smooth criminal.

Surely all of Ren's concerns are valid. And indeed, it's not as if Akechi himself hasn't been considering all of those facets of it themselves, from the opposite direction. If he were openly with Ren, his celebrity status would evaporate overnight. The country just isn't ready for openly queer celebrities, especially with his boy next door image.

But he's not really thinking of it from that perspective yet. After all, he doesn't ''really'' believe Ren is interested in him either, save for the sparring match that is flirting between them.

And it would never get that far as being 'open' about it in public, since ultimately he's going to kill him one day. That is certain.

You know, the murder part of it.

"You can ''try''," he says playfully, for emphasis. "Fool with me once, shame on you. Fool with me twice..."

Is he saying he's going to make that ''too'' a challenge for Ren? Well well... perhaps this could backfire after all.

Or perhaps it will simply require Ren to escalate.

"Yes you have correctly identified the reason ''why'' I'm so hot." He keeps up that playful tone, as he leans right into it. "Would I be half as interesting if I truly were the straight-laced boy detective?" he asks, perhaps in partial awareness of why Ren and him actually bounce off each other so well.

If he were the other thing, Ren and the Phantom Thieves would already be very much in trouble.

Then there's a moment where Ren takes the bait, and there's a chuckle over the phone. "Now now, I'm a Detective and your name isn't Watson. Feel free to figure it out yourself." A beat. "You do bring out the best in me." He says with that cheerful matter-of-factness.

However smug he sounds though, some of it dissipates as Ren not only tells him he doesn't have the guts, but then dares him- and Akechi swallows inaudibly in real life.

"Prove you wrong," he echoes, before saying in a faintly husky tone, "Isn't that what all great detectives aspire to do?"

It seems that it is 'challenge accepted'... but what does he intend to do, and when? He is being quite coy... and Ren quite bold in daring him.

Perhaps he might work up the 'guts' sooner than Ren knows.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Indeed so. Junko Kurosu has already gotten a fair amount of pushback for advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and she's not ''herself'' queer, just a mother who loves her son. Who knows what the reaction a celebrity who themself doesn't conform to society would get? Especially from girls who might consider it a betrayal of their image of him...

...
...
...okay he might just get super-popular with the fujoshi contingent. But can he risk that? ''Can you risk that, Goro Akechi''?

"I ''will'' try," Ren retorts. Hasn't that what they've been doing all this time? They laugh at ''his'' retort, a brief amused snort. "Hmmmmmm, I don't know. You can have a compelling tragic backstory without being a jerk in the present," they reply coyly. "You're actually very good at being nice when you want to be..."

And ''that's'' what they find attractive about him. Not the fact that he's a smug asshole--not how he's gotten kinder to them--but the fact that he's both at the same time. The dichotomy is alluring. More than that, he's not being nice for the sake of being nice or because he wants something from them, but because he really does care about them. That... means a lot.

They scoff when Akechi tells him to figure out himself--but they don't mind it so much. ''You bring the best out in me too,'' they think fondly, smiling into their smartphone.

That smile evolves into a broad smirk. Akechi's taken the bait too, it sounds like. "Most 'great detectives' are all talk, literally. That's not all ''you'' are--is it? That really would be boring if you were..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
And that isn't even taking the reaction of Shido into account.

While Akechi would like to believe he's so indispensable that Shido wouldn't dare, he also knows that Shido is a raging homophobe. Certainly, even if he didn't get rid of him right away, he'd make plans to do so in time.

Unfortunately the Fujoshi contingent just isn't enough on their own to support him being 'out'.

"I'm sure you will." Akechi replies, with such a smug tone to the idea that he'll 'try'. But it also shows that he is perhaps looking forward to the attempt. Before- 'compelling tragic backstory'. "Heh. That ''is'' so. My fans certainly eat up having several small tidbits of my past without the whole picture."

However, one might note that he doesn't ''play it up''. After all, to play it up, would mean he thinks of himself as a victim, even now.

And he's anything but- "That is ''so''..." He agrees, his tone becoming playful, "When I want to be... unfortunately I do rather like you saying that word 'incorrigible' too much to not be ''absolutely terrible'' at least part-time."

In a way, given that who he believes he is on the inside, it's how he 'lets his hair down' so to speak.

"Is that so? And what if I came over to the Leblanc ''right now''?"

He suggests, as if he were responding to the challenge by making it his top priority. But after a short pause.

"But where would be the fun in you receiving instant gratification? I think I'll rise to the challenge when you least expect it, Amamiya-kun. Do be careful what you wish for~"

He says teasingly, before it becomes just as husky as before, "It won't be long before I make you eat those words."

He promises, just how much is flirtation- and how much is real? The line blurs- and Akechi no longer even knows anymore.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren rolls their eyes at the smugness in Akechi's voice--but good-naturedly. His acknowledgement of how his fans react to that 'compelling tragic backstory' of his makes them fall contemplatively silent for a moment, though. That makes them think of something he said earlier, when he ran into them and Kasumi at Shibuya Station. A thing that's part of a much, much longer pattern of behavior.

As they wonder if they should say anything about it, he 'jokes' about being absolutely terrible, and they smile. The fact that he's simultaneously joking and completely serious is only another part of their dynamic that Ren so enjoys. It, too, is part of that behavior pattern, though.

But what if he came to Leblanc ''right now''?

"Then I'd say... you're desperately thirsty," Ren quips, with a certain quality to their deadpan that makes it clear that pun was ''fully'' intended. As Akechi says that he's going to tease this out a while longer, though, they hum quietly, the edges of their lips quirked up. Maybe they'll regret this later and maybe they won't, but he's confirmed in no uncertain terms this time that he's taking that challenge. Mission accomplished.

It would be easy to leave it at that. To purr back at that husky voice, to keep up the flirting. But... They let their eyes shut for a moment. It might seem like a non-sequitur, but...

"...You know, Akechi, I wasn't completely kidding earlier." About which part exactly--? "When I first met you and all I knew you as was the smug, smarmy, self-righteous Detective Prince, I loathed you."

oh.

Fortunately, they continue, "The more I get to know you and the parts of you that you try to hide from your adoring fan base," a note of irony there, "the more I've come around, though.

"You act confident on the outside, but I know deep down you worry about if people want you around. I get why, too." It's not just Akechi's orphanhood and how his extended family apparently resented taking care of him, or how the police hold a grudge against him for showing them up. The first time they met and Akechi went on and on without a reaction from Ren, he apologized for boring them; he murmured once that he felt unwanted no matter where he goes; and he talked earlier about how there was no reason his presence would be a nuisance, as if there were reasons it could be. There are lots of examples that span the entirety of the time Ren has known him. "This is a lot of fun, but I just want you to know..." They swallow hard. "I like the you when you aren't pretending to be the straight-laced boy detective. I like the you that's absolutely terrible at least part-time. Because he's real."

They lift their eyes back to the blackening sky. When they spot Venus this time, those eyes crinkle.

"I hope, one day, you come to like him, too."

A Joker, being so sincere... The line blurs for both of them. Maybe the two of them have been playing around for much of their relationship, but what is a game without genuine stakes?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
There's a loud chuckle at Ren's pun, "Yes, that would certainly be true." However, he's made it clear that since he's not coming tonight, but will be taking him up on that soon. He's only ''thirsty'' rather than desperately so.

After all, where would the fun in that he didn't keep Ren- and his thirst... waiting.

It would be easy to leave it at that.

To table this flirtatious match for later. To figure out where the line of flirtation ends- as well as lust and romance begins.

But then Ren speaks to him in a tone which causes him to be confused as to what he means.

"Well- I do-"

It might have been just a quick, glib quip, but Ren continues- and he forgets what he was even going to say.

Ren truly does know him better than anyone else- 'I like the you when you aren't pretending.' 'I like the you that's absolutely terrible at least part-time. Because he's real.'

Akechi finds himself speechless, trying to form the thoughts or words which might make him respond to something ''real''. Something forcing him to confront these parts of himself.

'I hope, one day, you come to like him, too.'

There's a sharp nasally inhalation over the phone, his eyes close, and he needs a moment to just breathe.

He's merely a cursed child. There's no point in hoping for better than to be a curse upon the existence of others.

It's who he is, and all he can ever be.

And so, despite how touched he was- that last comment hits a raw, vulnerable nerve.

"... Is that so?" He asks, tone becoming a little flat, hiding a subtle sharpness behind it, "Well, far be it from me to tell you otherwise- but if it truly were as easy as that..."

Pause.

"... then you might as well hope for the Moon, next. Anyhow, it seems my train is here- so I'm going to have to let you go."

He says, as he makes to stand up. Touched and upset at the same time.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren smiles, pleased with themself, when Akechi laughs at their joke. (A traitorous part of them remembers that the Black Mask likes puns too. They shush it. Akechi isn't the Black Mask. ''No one'' could be that good a liar.)

And indeed, Akechi's stunned silence--and then that sharp, nasal inhalation--speak volumes more than words could. Ren waits for him to react, heart thudding nervously as they finger a lock of their bangs, wondering if they said too much.

It seems like they did. He sounds upset--first from his tone, then from his insinuation that self-love is impossible, and then his transparent attempt to shut down further conversation. Granted, with the noise canceling on Akechi's end, they can't know if his train really is pulling in or not, but either way they know he's using it as an excuse to cut the conversation short.

They might as well hope for the Moon next. They shut their eyes briefly, then look over from Venus to the waning crescent moon above. Only a little longer before it goes black entirely. But...

"I never said it would be easy," Ren replies quietly. "I just wanted to say... you're someone worth liking. Even if you can't believe it yourself."

Surely, in time, it will grow full.

"Goodnight, Akechi. Safe travels."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
''You should know it's not possible!''

It's unfair of Akechi to have this expectation that Ren would know he thinks such. However, it's also the case that Ren knows more about this part of himself than anyone else.

Isn't it actually fair, for him to be upset when all Ren can offer is poisonous hope?

Surely, in time...

"What's not to like?" He says, tersely- as if to obfuscate the fact that there's nothing ''to'' like. "... Good night."

Click.

It's going to be a long night, at the very least. He's not so certain about it being a good one anymore.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-05-14: One More Life

2026-10-25T00:50:34Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: 2026-05-14 One More Life'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Goro Akechi|The One in the Black Mask]], [[Futaba Sakura]], [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Ichika Kawase]], [[Tsubasa Seki]]
*'''Where:''' Futaba Sakura's Palace.
*'''OOC Date:''' May 14, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' November 09, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''While the Phantoms [[2026-05-14:_Mottled_(b)Light|finish off Mot]], Joker runs ahead after the Black Mask before he can harm Futaba's Shadow. The other Phantoms will soon be at their heels to help, but what ''is'' the Black Mask's business with her, anyway?''

----

<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
Rain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcrb6365GsQ
The sounds of battle were ferocious, but they grew more distant with every passing footstep. A hollow thudding against stone. His footsteps were soon louder than that.

Up he goes. It had been a while since the last time he was here, and he'd never shown himself to the Ruler.

His sidearm felt heavier, somehow, in his hand as he made a turn into a side chamber - and stopped.

To look the shadow of his past sins right in the eye.

"You must be Futaba-chan," he says, the honorific a wry quip from his lips. "Wakaba Isshiki's little girl."

His hand tightened around the firearm. The deal to spare her was still in effect, and he hardly wanted to use it.

But he would.

"Do you truly want to die, Futaba-chan?" he asks, his tone devoid of malice for once. "I could grant you your wish."

He doesn't want to do it, but he asks the question anyway. Such is one of the myriad contradictions that make up the man behind that Black Mask.

"And if that is truly what you want... then why are these amateurs- ''here''?"

Her answers might spare her or end her lonely existence.

What's one more life, anyway?

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
The figure that stands up at the top of those great stairs from the foot of the pyramid up to near its apex is not impressive. Five-even if she stands on the balls of her feet. Synthetically-orange hair. Round glasses. A thin build. The Egyptian motif of the clothing may seem more like cosplay than the garments of a princess.

But as someone draws nearer, the Shadow of Futaba Sakura straightens up. If the man in the black mask is watching ahead of him, he can see it happen. Yellow eyes turned balefully down. Confidence, or an attempt at it. Strength, or an attempt at it.

He greets her.

Shadow Futaba is deliberately silent. If the man in the black mask keeps track, he can tell it goes past the four-second threshold of a natural conversational pause.

It is difficult to say what is *within* a Shadow, as a Shadow is often by definition something *within* something else. What is within the filling of a candy? What is within the pit of a cherry? Potential, perhaps, but you would not expect fruit; only the promise of fruit-to-be, if the conditions were right.

For the Shadow of Futaba Sakura, it is something different. Something stranger. Inchoate defiance and petulance are cooking in a broth of something else, and the broth is growing remarkably thick and strange.

When she finally speaks, the first thing she does is scoff. It sounds like 'teh!' - a deliberate vocalization. Her head tilts back, as if she can keep looking down upon a figure.

"You understand nothing, interloper," she speaks, and the voice is thick with the amplified distortion that comes and goes in the voice of most of the Shadows that speak in words that humans can understand.

"Want this. Want that. Wish that. Wish this. Do you wish the sun to stay in the heavens for a week straight? Do you want a bird to crawl back into its egg?"

An unclear answer. Clearer, perhaps, might be the way her frail-seeming hands are curling into fists.

"They came for their own reasons. My desires have NOTHING-" a sudden flaring tone in her voice, "to do with ANYONE'S actions! Are you here to slay them? They aren't here. You left them." One hand snaps up, trembling subtly, an index finger pointed down the stairs. "Don't expect aid."

Her teeth are clenched, even if the rest of her face is still oddly slack.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
'You understand nothing, interloper,'

"Don't be so certain." He replies, with icy self-assurance. As if his ego were bruised by the mere implication of ignorance.

"Nothing so grand as all that. All I want are answers."

Heavy as that firearm is, he raises it, pointing it right at the center of her forehead. Mostly because she's so short that pointing it at her chest would be less threatening.

"Is that so? Then that would imply that you don't want to be saved. You wouldn't- lie to me, now would you? Which is it, Futaba-chan?"

As his words become far more threatening, behind the barrel of that gun, a half-growl tossed her way, "If you're collaborating with the Phantom Thieves, then perhaps it's time for me to tie up this loose end..."

The air is thick as he pauses, like time dilates and stretches this moment forward, perhaps it truly is, here in this Palace of the Mind.

"... just like I did with your Mother."

Why would he admit to that? Well, he has his reasons.

"I understand nothing? What a pathetic little wretch you are." As his tone becomes mocking, "Actually ''believing'' you drove that woman to suicide."

A smirk, a flash of teeth, "I know her ''replacement'' spoils you so- but it's not always about ''you''- you stupid little shit."

In this moment, his words are a double edged sword. Because he believes that about himself. That he caused the death of his mother. Academically he knows he didn't really, but you can never really carve out that part of yourself that feels you were a curse on her existence.

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
Don't be so certain, he says.

"You defile this tomb with your mere presence. Consider yourself blessed I answer you at all," the Shadow continues...

Something is quivering, inside of that inchoate darkness. Facts are writhing around. Something trembling from the screams of greed, from the weeping of wounds, from the shame and anger around that one moment of hope. All of it swirling darkly.

But he raises his gun and points it at the Shadow's forehead.

I am helpless

Shadow Futaba keeps staring at him with those big eyes behind those big glasses.

I am helpless
I am cursed
I am pathetic

She keeps staring without visible reaction. And then the man in the black mask finishes his sentence.

He can see light dawning in the Shadow's eyes.

Somewhere inside of that murky soup a single fact reaches down like a rod of crystal thrown from the heavens, thundering and screaming and blasting confusion away. Total clarity for a moment. A perfection of satori, perhaps. It's only an instant; the sea is coming back in, but something about it is different.

The first change to the Shadow's face is that her lips split into an enormous grin, a grin that shows all of her teeth. And her eyes kindle with a flame as she straightens up, that false pose becoming true as she spreads out her hands. "You *fool*," she says. "I KNEW IT --"

There is a sudden emanation of wrathful energy from the Shadow, a luminous violet that surges outwards like live darkness --

and
just
sort of stays there, a radiant but impotent malice. The Shadow's face darkens, grows more alive, more furious, indignant, snarling, but she doesn't move and there is no growing transformation. No titanic mummy or hellacious monstrosity of scarab and bone emerges.

Shadow Futaba seethes.

I'm helpless,
I'm cursed,
I'm pathetic,
AND IT PISSES ME OFF!!!!!

Awareness ripples through the Shadow and it is laden with wrath. Impotent helplessness redoubles the wrath. An accursed life redoubles the wrath. A pathetic child's pleading redoubles the wrath. AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE!!!

Shadow Futaba hyperventilates. Nothing. There is nothing more. I'm helpless, she thinks. He's pointing a gun at my head and - and he hasn't pulled the trigger - wrath easily turns to spite and fury. Those fists, tight, spread out at either side as she throws her head back, eyes rolling in outrage as she cries out, "I WON'T--"

The sentence doesn't end. It's an absolute.

The warm green glow that suffuses the great vaults and the trailing circuits and alphanumerics flowing lazily behind her suddenly change tone, becoming something more toxic, more lime-tinged, more *poisonous*.

That impotent wrath doesn't do anything more than build and rebuild on itself but there is a silent call. There are other Shadows in here, and if she can't do anything else at all she can pray that this man, this liar, this absolute bastard in front of her can bleed on teeth and spear and stone alike!

Unfortunately, there are no Shadows nearby.

The nearest was Mot, and Mot is gone now. There are nagas and lamias in abundance, but they are far away. Other things that had slept, or only meandered through a meaningless path, snap to wakefulness. The Phantom Thieves, too damnably far away, may see several of the garbage Shadows they've likely plowed through a number of times *run past them*, silent but heeding a call.

Shadow Futaba can hear another familiar voice, but, at least, there's satisfaction with waking up *that*.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
"So high and mighty, 'great Pharaoh'. And yet, you don't even realize that I already have access to your most inner sanctum. If you didn't answer me, I'd rip you out of your sarcophagus and ''make you''."

Exactly, Futaba. You are helpless when facing down the barrel of this gun. The confidence in his eyes is such that even if you gathered every Shadow in this Palace, clad yourself in the armor of the mightiest Archdemon you could muster.

You still could do nothing, if this man decided to kill you.

She radiates insecurity, even as the atmosphere becomes permeated with the toxicity of these feelings she justly feels right now. He can read her so completely that it's unnerving. That empathy, that shared experience using it as a weapon against her.

"Did you?" He chortles at her declaration. "And yet you still know less than nothing."

He then echoes the statement, with a rephrasing, as she hyperventilates- and clenches those fists in front of him in her own impotence, and anger, "You ''are'' nothing. The only reason you were allowed to live at all was as an early guinea pig of my employer. Your mother, Futaba-chan? Well that was just business."

Yes that's right. Get Mad. Get Mad. GET MAD!

He cocks the hammer back of the gun, with an audible click. "Nothing personal. I killed her because a powerful man wanted her dead- and paid me a great sum of money to carry it out. Though I admit, I am rather enjoying rubbing it in. Now- why don't you finish that sentence?" He flashes that shark tooth, predator's grin at her, "Depending on what you say, those could be your last words."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
In the world of the real -

Futaba Sakura looks up from her anime, brow furrowing. For some reason she looks towards the shrouded window instead of back to the show, the chirping cries of imaginary animals filling her ears. What was that feeling?

But here, in the palace -

The Shadow stares at the Black Mask and she continues to seethe. Her face contorts into new straits of helpless, impotent rage as all of her exertions have managed to amount to nothing. She is drawing in something to help her weak form and that's going to fail too. The words of the Black Mask are recorded by the immortal, imperishable scribes inside of her mind, even as one of them turns around to begin drafting the last promise list.

She won't fulfill that one, of course.

Even if blood (or something like blood) is rushing in her ears (or something like ears) Shadow Futaba can hear the Black Mask perfectly well. The impressions are written perfectly. His words etched imperishably in a space that will be gone in less than a minute.

Maybe slightly more than a minute, but it's clear immediately to the Shadow that if she tries to run or disappear he will go ahead and fire. And what he describes suggests that even fading into nothingness won't help. Can she do it faster than a bullet can fly? Here: no.

I'm sorry, Kana. I didn't mean to see it.

Shadow Futaba hears the invitation to finish the sentence. Her breath hitches.

I'm sorry, Sojiro. You were really nice.
I hope you'll forget everything.

Another fast breath. The incandescent fury has apparently reached its pitch, or at least if she's getting angrier, it isn't accomplishing anything.

I'm sorry, Mom. I love you.
But maybe I'll get him like this.

Another thought crosses the contracting protostar of impotent outrage in her mind.

I'm sorry, Phantom Thieves... Mr. Fontaine...
... I don't --

She breathes in. Maybe she's composing a last spiteful insult. She's pretty smart, this might be a good one!

At least she isn't closing her eyes.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''Clink''.

Amid the thunderous battle closer to the foot of those stairs, and with Shadow Futaba's roiling rage, it might be difficult to hear a grappling hook connect overhead with a part of the ceiling. There is a ''whir'' as the line attached to it coils rapidly, and that might be more noticeable for a few seconds it's in action.

Then Joker flies up and in from below, their silvery new PMF-84W in their right hand as their left guides them into an intercept. They open fire on the Black Mask with a couple of shots to intercept him and drive him away from Futaba's Shadow, then kick off the wall as they reach the end of their line and disconnect, and finally flip forward to land in between the two of them.

They slash at the Black Mask with their also-new Harpe Knife as they do; it's a weak attack, the weapon being in their off hand, but that doesn't matter because it's a feint meant to drive him further away.

Joker raises their head. Fury burns in their dark eyes behind that domino mask, but unlike Futaba's incandescent rage, it burns coldly--with fear, but also an unswayable determination.

"Begone," they growl, and unload the rest of their clip on him without hesitation or mercy. They know he'll be fine anyway.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
Can he understand what she's going through? Absolutely. This anger, these feelings- they're all that led him to where he is right now.

He lets her seethe. No, he exults in it.

This is validation for his ''Justice''.

For however horrible he felt when he killed Wakaba Isshiki, his first true innocent... he can still be cruel to her daughter so very easily, or at least her Shadow.

It's like being cruel to the inside of someone's brain, in his eyes. Not really her. Yet, without the brain, one cannot function. Without the Shadow- such is the basis for the Mental Shutdown.

"No?" He tilts his head, as if trying to catch the look in those incandescent eyes. "No words at all?"

His fingertip barely flexes on the trigger.

"Such a shame."

Clink.

Right on cue.

"Haha- ahahaha-! Really? You show up ''now''?" Joker will see him lean back from his shots, in this casual, loose posture. Yet one shot will appear to be still right on the mark, hurtling towards that Black Mask.

Passing ''through'' him. Because he's a few paces away, moving so fast there was an after image of himself.

His serrated saw like blade starts to appear, as he tosses the firearm from his left to right hand, catching it- and parrying the knife, one, two-

The gun points at Joker, before swiftly shifting sideways at Joker's next attack, feinting like it's throwing him ''just'' slightly off from the impact.

There's a sound like thunder, as he pulls the trigger on Joker's next attack. And Shadow Futaba will feel the bullet so close that it whizzes by her ear, not enough to do real harm, but enough to set this cognitive image of hers' ear ringing.

'Begone,'

"Why don't you try and make me?" He says with a low snarl, like he's upset that his shot missed. A hand at his mask, as red flames spill out, with the effigy of a twisted butterfly covering his face with wings that elongate far too much behind him.

That translucent outline appears, and Joker will have to move quickly, because what's descending at a diagonal, pike like lance of negative force. Meant to demoralize and degrade.

Also possibly impale. If he's not fast enough.

"What's the matter? No little tricks this time?" He asks as he sweeps his blade down, and begins to an advance, "Did you actually believe for a ''second'' that you had me? ME? ... Let me show you how it's really done."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
Something goes 'clink.'

The Shadow, staring into the barrel of the gun, wonders - inevitably, because it's inevitable for the mind that is her and which she is - what caused it. Was it a spring in the gun? Maybe he fired a number of rounds, or perhaps he changed magazines before arriving. That's the proper term for them: 'clip' is wrong. She knows that. Six different people said that in different contexts. Shadow Futaba remembers.

A little breath escapes the Shadow's lips.

Something whirrs. Maybe it's all slowed down like that because I'm about to die, thinks (Shadow) Futaba: It's kind of inconvenient. Can't it just be over with really quick? It's unfair.

A huge dark shape rushes in.

Her eyes turn four degrees left as the shape resolves. It's...

Joker? That's what they called them. Joker.

It's a complex feeling. They might be able to avenge her, but will they have to see my blood and brains everywhere? It'd be really gross, thinks (Shadow) Futaba: and...

IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD

Futaba suddenly hugs her knees. A chill crossed through her. She's still looking at the window. It's quieter in her thoughts than usual, though she'll only notice it later.

IN THE TOMB

... they've worked hard, right? They had to, to - ah, there's the gunshot, two shots, he's not messing around, thinks Shadow Futaba, except there is a report from elsewhere in the hall. The eyes don't match the sounds. Somewhat muffled and she can't see the gunbarrel any more. But...

The man in the black mask speaks again and he's - he's not talking to me, realizes the Shadow, blinking once, but the interruption didn't stop what was going to happen, so then there's the thunderous sound, the one she was expecting. A silver thread passes, a discussion from a film on how in the movies (how meta!) the sound a gunshot made was always so loud, when in actual fact it was -

A huge wind passes by the Shadow's ear. The bullet comes, in fact, into the space between where her side-locks ended and her hair began. It strikes the hair on the back of her head, pulling it along in the wake of such tremendous velocity - the Shadow may be made of sterner stuff than a human, because her hair billows outwards with a shockingly vivid flourish, only a few strands severed and flying off with tiny *piff*s of darkness.

The bullet grounds itself in cognitive sandstone, and leaves only a tiny divot, putting a paradoxical second dot on top of a lower-case i.

Shadow Futaba blinks once.

Otherwise, she does not move.

There is a slow, cautious 'nnh?' sound, barely vocalized and easily missed underneath gunfire.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Isn't it wonderful, Black Mask, having someone you can trust so much?

Joker doesn't respond to his initial taunt; they literally came as soon as possible, once that enraged Mot had been beaten down with Ogre's weakness-striking Zan spells enough that they could get past it. Bullets and blades strike each other, and Joker's own predictions are on the mark: their attacks aren't enough to do him harm, but they ''are'' at least enough to protect the girl they're both here for.

Likewise, they don't respond to the Black Mask's snarled words, because they ''are'' trying to make him. Though Joker doesn't dare turn their back on him, they can sense behind them that that bullet missed--hear that faint 'nuh' from the Shadow, which might well be shell-shocked. Which definitely does not make any attempt to run away.

Crimson flames rise from the assassin's mask. Joker knows what's going to happen next. They ''would'' have to move quickly if they want to have any hope of avoiding that distorted, invisible lance.

But moving quickly would mean abandoning Futaba's Shadow to take the attack instead.

Joker SCREAMS in what sounds like mortal agony as they stand their ground to protect her, and are rewarded with that negative energy cleaving into their midsection. Demoralize? Degrade? Certainly. It's one more example of how Joker's not even in his league.

But as they half-slump, one gloved hand clutching a knee to keep from crumpling outright--as they bleed and gasp for breath--they grit their teeth.

''What's the matter? No little tricks this time?''

They don't just grit, they ''grind''. Their eyes lift in a searing glare that's beyond fury--and well into hatred.

As the Black Mask advances on them with his serrated blade in hand, Joker clutches their own mask. It lights up in a blue blaze, and the Great Thief rises at their back on wings of shadow.

No, not just wings--waves. Waves and waves, like a thick, choking mist whirling outwards from Joker and their Persona. Arsène's clawed hand rises to their own face in a reflection of Joker, and in between the cracks of their fingers, their eye--for ''both'' of them--lights up a bloody scarlet.

"I said BEGONE!!"

User and Persona's one eye flashes. That dark mist that coils around them now lunges at their foe like a black beast separated into their own afterimages that strike and strike and strike and strike with terrifying relentlessness.

Even if Joker can't defeat him as they are now, they WILL make him regret this encounter. They swear it--on their life.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Dark skill Nightmare Eye on The One in the Black Mask! 3 Hits!
AS: Avoid Neutral! The One in the Black Mask takes 17 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Nightmare Eye. Resist!
AS: Crt_Dn (Critical down!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! The One in the Black Mask takes 5 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Nightmare Eye. Resist!
AS: Avoid Worst! The One in the Black Mask takes 34 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Nightmare Eye. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
No it's the actual worst. It's making life ''so'' complicated when he's forced to acknowledge his own feelings.

Joker takes the Negative Pile like a champ. "Was it worth it?" He echoes, the same words he spoke on the day the two met in this guide.

Kobayakawa was a piece of scum to be flicked off his boot though, even Akechi would acknowledge to himself that it was definitely worth it.

The tip of his blade scrapes lazily on the ground, sparking up, as he moves over, one foot step at a time. Joker is fighting for his life, and this guy can afford to be so casual about it.

Then he stops.

The display in front of him is admirable, heroic certainly, standing his ground. As wings of shadow rise up.

'I said BEGONE!'

It's enough of a display that rather than try to advance through it as his battle instinct would ordinarily demand, tough it out, he instead shouts, "MANIFEST!"

And the effigy of the Great Thief clashes with the invisible Trickster of Myth. each claw strike causing darkness to spill across it's outline, revealing more of its shape with each blast, keeping them separated.

As both invisible Trickster and master vanish in the accursed Mist.

The first sign that he's still present, is the flash of a red eye from within the clearing blast of Arsene's mist.

As he steps out, and cracks his neck sideways, "Better." He remarks, surprised that Arsene was able to leave that mark on him. However, he feels sort of strangely touched by the use of Claws in an attack he hadn't seen before, "BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH!"

That shape flies forward, the air carving around Joker, so many gouges appearing in the air, before shining around him. With death by a thousand cuts.

Leaving no escape in sight that wouldn't expose Futaba's Shadow.

</poem>
AS: Persona! The One in the Black Mask has used the Slash skill Deathbound on Ren Amamiya! 3 Hits!
AS: Block Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 83 Slash damage from The One in the Black Mask's Deathbound.
AS: Block Best! Ren Amamiya takes 57 Slash damage from The One in the Black Mask's Deathbound. Critical Hit!
AS: You have 1 more attack in queue!
AS: Block Best! Ren Amamiya takes 39 Slash damage from The One in the Black Mask's Deathbound.
AS: Ichika Kawase has readied for combat as Momiji! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
She's still alive.

The Shadow does not quite believe it. That was the sound of the bullet, right? It must have hit her, right? It was as she thought, a perceptual slowdown as her mind expanded the last few sensory inputs to... to...

Flames arise, strange flames. The Shadow's eyes move and a few moments later so does her head. Not much, enough to watch. And when the shot bursts out and Joker screams, both of her hands break those fists and come up suddenly to cover her mouth with her fingers, following him. A sudden and perhaps-unheeded break in royal demeanor.

Perhaps more telling is that the poison-green light pulses, goes back to that more pleasantly-green phosphor glow from before... and then grows more intense anyway, as a feeling that is more like a sense of an enormous musical instrument, its sound far below the threshold of perception, just changed keys.

And yet, despite it all, Joker's getting back up. The hands stay put even as her eyes follow after them. Their voice comes up sharper, that great shadow behind them rallying despite - despite the gunshot. Not dead?

Where did the bullet go? A quick check between the scribes. No. That was a separate shot that flew by her ear. What hit...

What hit Joker...

hit joker

what hit

joker hit

A bullet.

The consolidations are checked. It's what happens. By this time, the Shadow - now just rocking back from that great and astonishing Abyss within her thoughts, stepping into a space she had assumed would simply be the uttermost black that prevailed before her birth - can tell, they're moving. Speaking more? Mist? NOT NEARLY ENOUGH?

They're both alive, thinks Shadow Futaba. And they're fighting.

The Man in the Black Mask was going to kill me, Futaba reasons. This room has nothing else in it save the entrance to the Chamber. And... her.

Joker...

It is a monumental thought, in a monumental place, but nevertheless, when all the facts, duly attested, line up...

Joker protected me.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Complicated feelings for a complicated man playing a complicated game.

''Was it worth it?'' that complicated man asks, echoing the first time he'd dominated Joker in a fight. Not quite so completely this time, though. For all that they're gravely wounded, Joker doesn't so much as flinch. They don't even look back to check Futaba's Shadow's reaction.

"Obviously," they growl back.

She's unharmed, and as long as they stay up, she'll stay that way. In this moment, that's enough.

And though the Black Mask bids his strange translucent Persona to grapple with Arsène, revealing more of itself in the darkness before both of them are obscured--though the Black Mask propels his Persona forward to unleash a flurry of slices into and around them, once again capitalizing on their unwillingness to allow Futaba to come to harm--they don't need to win, either.

They just need to stall long enough for the cavalry to arrive.

For that, the best maneuver is--

As those shining slashes manifest, Arsène dives down, taking those blows for their User. This only means the damage is psychological rather than physical; it's just as agonizing either way, if with the slight perk of not creating more bleeding wounds. ''That'' one remains dangerously open, Joker not even pausing to clutch it to slow the bleeding. They sway on their feet, as if to pass out or even outright drop dead... but Arsène's hand whips through the air, and a shining needle pierces through towards that heat-haze outline.

If they just need to last, then the best move they've got is to dull the Black Mask's edge and invite him towards slumber. Joker doesn't think ''he'll'' pass out, but fighting against their entire team while also fighting off exhaustion might just encourage the Black Mask to choose the better part of valor.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Mot's down. That means they need to back up Joker. Ogre isn't bad at running; she's no track star, but she's got a long, steady stride. And run she does.

Up the stairs, up through the pyramid, despite all the purple and toxic everything--

"JOKER!" Ogre calls, skidding up on the platform to see him fighting the Black Mask directly. ...She doesn't know what just happened, but she knows Shadow Futaba is still ''there'', and maybe that's what counts.

So Ogre, dressed in her padded armor and wearing her oni mask with the long horns, throws out her hand. "PERSONA!" she calls, and sparkling light ''erupts'' around Joker where he stands, Momiji having whirled into existence to conjure up a healing spell. The shadow-oni cackles madly with the merriment of bloodlust.

She stops short of actually charging into melee, instead reaching out for Joker. "You OK?" she asks.

She knows she's not alone here, though. Not because of Joker, but because--
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Mot's down, and there's no time to think about the assonance.

Phoenix was battered around pretty bad, by that raging Shadow, and yet --

"RRRAAAARGH--!!"

The shape of the Trickster falls upon Arsene with cut, and cut, and cut; and perhaps, one thousand and one, the Man in the Black Mask could carve right through Joker's strongest warrior to show them just how much blood they have. (Had.) And yet -- one thousand -- and another blur sets upon it, as Phoenix drags their greatsword alongside them in their charge, only to plant a foot and SWING in a mighty blow which sends them in a whirl.

Once their feet are planted, Phoenix finds the words: "FUCK OFFA JOKER AN' OUT SAKURA-SAN'S SHIT!"

Eloquence.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
Joker bleeds, looking like he's near swooning. He has no intention of killing him right now. Hardly the satisfying victory. No... he needs to know. He needs to understand that he was beaten not just physically, but intellectually.

The translucent outline of his Persona fades.

And then- 'JOKER!'

He turns his head, just in time looking for Ogre. 'RRRAAAARGH--!!' Only to see a Phoenix charging right at them, he pivots, like he's going to step out of the way, but instead, swings up his sword, holding it at a lazy backhand.

It looks like Phoenix is going to blow through his blade, that Greatsword is so much bigger, it has the advantage of momentum, leverage.

And they are ''ever'' so strong.

Yet, the two blades make contact at the point of parry. Sparks fly-

-and Phoenix eerily, as they rage, find that they've met a slab of Titanium. He is pushed back two paces, but only two, before he stops their momentum.

"You must think you're the Cavalry." He says, with a malicious grin plastered onto his face, before reaching out with his right hand, and grabbing their face with a clawed, gauntleted hand.

And then he twists at the hips, and slams them to the ground hard enough for the stonework of the Pyramid to crack beneath them. Proving that however strong they are with that blade.

There's always someone stronger.

"So are you offering for me to get up in yours instead?" He asks with a certain casual menace, "That's so ''mice'' of you. Ahahahaha-HAHAHA-!"

Why did he have to throw in the pun?

Why.

"Let's see. How many Phantom Thieves can I put in the ground in two minutes?" He asks, like he's trying to challenge himself, as he raises that blade again. "Shall we find out?" He asks Ogre and Joker- like he's prepared to cut through all of them to get to Shadow Futaba.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
The Shadow stands there, seemingly frozen, hands still covering her mouth. She is shrouded, shaded now. There are others in front of her. Shadow Futaba called for Shadows to avenges her and she has Phantom Thieves instead. Not simply Joker, to be a last dull leaden toll on her heart before it's crushed and slain -

(Because even as she acknowledged that yes, that was Joker, and yes, they did protect her, she did not really expect it to change the outcome... but Shadow Futaba is what rests in the heart.)

- it's also Ogre and Phoenix. Legendary warriors, and the others no doubt close behind.

She doesn't speak. She doesn't thank them. She actually hunches a little, as if finally allowing herself to show fear, or something like it. Her face seems frozen, peeking through the gaps between their bodies and their magicks. A glittering lens here and there. No doubt quite maddening.

It would be reasonable to run, thinks Shadow Futaba. I have an opening. I can simply fade into immateriality, as I have before, and - and perhaps shall again.

... and yet, she does not move.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ogre is the first on the scene, with Phoenix hot on her heels--or rather, her heals. Though it doesn't instantly erase the wound gouged in Joker's midsection, it does knit up and stop the bleeding, putting some color back into their face. At the same time, Phoenix goes directly for the Black Mask, swinging that enormous sword at him. The others are no doubt on their way.

"I've been better," Joker admits, accepting Ogre's offered hand and accepting her help to stay steady on their feet. They're still in a lot of pain; good thing it's a half-day tomorrow, and the weekend after that. "But I'll live--and more importantly," they glance over their shoulder at Shadow Futaba, "so will she."

But now that they're actually ''looking'' at her, she seems horrified. Frozen. Hunched over and, despite the airs she's taken previously, frightened.

"Go. He's after you," they urge her. "We'll make it out of here. I promise."

That's quite a promise to make, considering how the Black Mask just ''slammed'' Phoenix into the ground like they were a birthday cake, then had the nerve to make a ''pun'' about it.

Joker bares their knife against him anyway, stare stony as he makes his threats.

"Get out of here," they demand--though whether it's to him or to Futaba's Shadow is unclear. Either way, they call up a Persona again in a rush of blue flame, though this time what arises is--a very familiar snake-bodied man.

The Naga they'd acquired from this very Palace.

He raises his spear towards the Black Mask and calls down a Zionga spell. If the Dream Needle from before wasn't effective, then maybe a bout of paralysis will better persuade him to leave.

Even if it doesn't, they're sure Phoenix will appreciate the window of an opportunity to kick the Black Mask while he's twitching.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
They've been better; Ogre can accept that, but she's going to steady their leader as best she can. Joker catches her up on just what happened a moment ago, and Ogre scowls. "Even trying something like that--"

Eloquence is happening. Ogre watches Black Mask manage to ''stop'' Phoenix's charge, not without effort but without any of the expected beign smashed. How many Phantom Thieves...?

Well.

"Yeah, we do," Ogre says of thinking they're the cavalry. "I'm not giving up yet."

"--Phoenix!" She worries, of course, for them. She can't help that. But she doesn't have to just worry.

She throws another heal at Phoenix, this time, courtesy of Momiji who is now snarling instead of just grinning.

And Ogre realizes what it is that Joker is trying to do. For them to get out...

"Go, go, go!" she calls, and charges in to get to Phoenix and drag them out if she can.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Shadow Futaba -- like her mirror? -- is frozen.

It's something Phoenix is only really aware of on the periphery, though.

Taking up their field of view: the Man in the Black Mask, who arrests their momentum with only a slight backwards drag.

Later, perhaps Ren will talk to them about how pushing the Black Mask back two steps was actually a great ''achievement,'' given their scope of experience fighting him. Right now -- "FUCK!" -- Phoenix just feels ''thwarted.''

It's a moment of defeat which arrests ''them'' just long enough for the Black Mask to reach out --

(Phoenix isn't exactly an unstoppable force; they're exactly as stoppable as their heart.)

-- for all the brutality of Kasugayama's roughest students, Phoenix has never quite experienced being introduced to the ground by a grip on their ''face.'' They crack the stone; it is only by virtue of Izbushka's strength that ''their'' spine doesn't shatter alongside it. "Fuckin'..." They start, and almost spit out, ''again?'', except they're dazed enough that it takes a minute and that minute is just what they needed to remember their opsec.

It's only thanks to Ogre's heals that they're able to answer the way they do.

"Yeah," just like that, as they plant a hand beneath them, and, shakily, push their chassis upwards. Slip the knee underneath: push up. It's a deliberate process. Their titanic strength is dwarfed against the horror of the Man in the Black Mask -- as if nothing; if they were alone, they wouldn't get back up.

They're not alone, though. So even though it takes a labourous moment, they spit out, with the blood of a bitten cheek: "Yeah, actually. Pick on someone ya own size. An' for the record, bitch, I was ''ADORABLE!''" As a rat, they mean.

That rise of their voice coincides with them gathering up the determination to strike again, trying to keep the Man in the Black Mask's attention on ''them'' --

-- and not Shadow Futaba.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
Shadow Futaba's eyes turn towards Joker and despite the hands covering her mouth, there is something unusual in them. Is it a lack of hostility? It's the kind of broken-down look in some of the other Rulers of Palaces. Did Black Mask do something?

It's not that. Even as they call forth a Naga and fulfill Shadow Futaba's ambitions she looks to Ichika as she calls out to Phoenix. And there's an encouragement from her as well. Finally the Shadow, still covering her mouth, looks towards Phoenix. They are rough and perhaps coarse and incredibly strong, and...

Consider the facts.
Joker intercepted the bullet with their body.
Phoenix has arrived.
Ogre is
what
Mot - mouse/rat - they really
They're joking about this
Not me, about - about -

The Shadow's face contorts but it's in a different direction. Her eyes seem to halve in size as her face scrunches up. Something glistening pours out from the sides of her eyes - not a dramatic gush, simply a fall of displaced tears.

They're telling me to leave
They want me to go
Yes, it's a sound analysis
!!!!>HE<!!!! is here to kill me
only his sadism has saved me
I MUST SUCCEED

She takes a single step back and begins to fade from view. It's a simple fading, as if there's a hidden dial being turned in a long smooth motion from Completely Opaque to Completely Transparent, and at the end of that, it's as if Shadow Futaba wasn't there at all.

There is still a bullethole in the wall, of course.

Something, distantly, rumbles. It's a little too big to just be ground settling, or thumping and shooting and striking and healing and carrying-on dislodging something.

But the Shadow? Nothing.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
<poem>
Futaba freezes. That's not good enough. That's not angry enough. If she can't pull herself out of this learned helplessness- then all of this was wasted effort.

Zionga descends, from Naga. It strikes him dead on. Smoke wafts off of his armor from the entry and exit point, but it only causes the smallest twitch of his muscles.

"You really don't get it."

The One in the Black Mask speaks matter-of-factly to Joker. "You're in no position to tell me to do anything. All of you together couldn't hope to win this."

Ogre tries to rally them all to run, and Phoenix- "If I limited myself to that, there'd be no one to 'pick on' at all." He quips at them, with a smirk, before he tilts his head at being told they were adorable, before he leans down towards Phoenix, a blade being placed so near their neck for them to feel the blade.

"Well well, at least you're taking your tragic ''de-mice'' in good humor."

WHY

Which is when his head turns, and suddenly his hand that was bearing nothing moments ago now has that firearm again, he fires right at the spot where the fading Shadow's head once was.

It's so close, that one almost believes for a moment that he got her.

He didn't though. There's a smoking hole in the wall. "..." He's at least being performative enough to look upset about this development, his brows contracting in rage.

"You pathetic little ''bitch''. You think you can run away from this? From ME?"

There's a grunt, and- he looks towards the Phantom Thieves and shrugs, "Business before pleasure. All of you just aren't important enough. So we'll have to do this another time. I'll just be making a quick run through the deepest part of the Palace to see if she's cowering in the dark."

The height with which he leaps is impressive, as he stabs his claws into the wall, then kicks off, corkscrewing through the air and waving at them in mid-air as he goes.

"Have fun trying to figure out how to get in! Ahaha-HAHAHA!"

He becomes an inky blur as he cuts a diagonal into one of the side Safe Rooms. If they go to check, he's gone.

Given that he claims to have access to deeper in than them, they'll just have to trust that Shadow Futaba is smart enough not to show herself to him.

But assuming she is. The clock is definitely ticking.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2025-07-05: Opening Statement

2026-10-25T00:27:19Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: Opening Statement'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Goro Akechi]], [[Ren Amamiya]]
*'''Where:''' ''Penguin Sniper, Kichijoji, Tokyo''
*'''OOC Date:''' July 5, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' Tue, Jun 05, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Goro Akechi invites Ren Amamiya out for a game of billiards to get to know him better.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
They did exchange contact information in the past, with him saying that he thought Ren might be a worthwhile debate partner going forward. And then he promptly, did not call, or text for weeks.

Then one day on an early June day in the late afternoon, Ren's phone buzzes. And there it is...

@ >I find myself in possession of a rare night off.
@ >If you're in the neighborhood, perhaps you might consider another of our talks?

A pin is dropped, with the location of the Penguin Sniper in Kichijoji, a Darts and Billiards establishment.

@ >We can talk and play at the same time.
@ >How about it?

And true to his word, Akechi is waiting there, just outside of the establishment's staircase. He's in his summer uniform, of course. Tie jauntily loose. Even with the day's passage, his slacks still look immaculate on him... messy hair shining subtly in the indirect glow of Kichijoji's lighting.

He has his briefcase in one hand. He could set it down, but he isn't. It's held in his left hand right now, while his right is checking his smart phone. Every now and then he looks up, and about-

But clearly he is in fact, actually waiting for him.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren doesn't like that Goro Akechi, Detective Prince, has taken an interest in him. He doesn't like that he showed up at Leblanc with a copy of ''Arsène Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes'' in hand, he doesn't like that he gave him his contact information when they barely know each other--

He ''really'' doesn't like that he heard something he should not have been able to hear.

Ren has been keeping that one to himself--well. Himself and Morgana, anyway.

But at the same time, this is not someone Ren can afford to ignore. Before coming to Tokyo, he'd never heard of Akechi before, beyond that his name is ridiculously similar to a famous novel detective; after, it's like he's everywhere, and his whole big thing is chasing after the Phantom Thieves. Annoying, but extremely relevant to his interests and also personal well-being.

And if Ren's being honest with himself, he didn't hate that Akechi said he was fascinating to talk to and wants to talk to him more. Even if it is, essentially, to tell him he's wrong. He kind of wants to be told he's wrong /back/, and that's... kind of intriguing, actually? So with Morgana's private input, he went along with it--shook his hand, even--and left the TV station, not knowing what either of their next moves would be.

Apparently, Akechi's gotten tired of waiting for him. Not only does he text him first, he drops him a pin letting him know exactly where he is and asks him to meet him there. Ren is ''not'' in the neighborhood when he gets that text, but he's not too terribly far away either.

@ >OK

...is all he texted back. Just enough to confirm he'd do it.

Just enough to give Akechi cause to wait.

It does take Ren some time to figure out the trains and the transfers to get to that pinned location. By the time he arrives at Kichijoji, he is actually genuinely worried that Akechi might have gotten tired or bored and left on his own. (Morgana he's left back a Leblanc; they've agreed that they should avoid having Akechi see him. Just in case.) He hurries through the streets of Kichijoji, smartphone held up to guide him, until he closes in on that pin--right where Akechi is clad in his summer uniform, clearly waiting for someone.

Oh. So he ''is'' still waiting.

Ren, clad in his own summer uniform with a short-sleeved polo shirt and Shujin's chevron emblem on his left breast, is a little out of breath by the time he jogs up to him. "Hey," he says as he slows to a stop in front of him, reaching his free hand up to run through his hair. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Are we good?"

He wasn't ''trying'' to keep him waiting, after all. He is genuinely sorry.

Even if Akechi ''did'' invite him out of nowhere and beckoned him like he had nothing better to do...

...he'll decide how he feels about that after he sees Akechi's reaction.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Indeed, Akechi himself got the impression that Ren seems bothered by him. That he doesn't like him. That's nothing new for him. He's used to that when meeting new people his own age.

However, despite that... he's interesting to him. So many people faun over his Detective Prince image, that the idea of 'antithesis' of this sort is itself - novelty. The word rivalry that he grew up with in all of his media becoming more and more succinct shorthand for how his mind parses his interest.

No, he doesn't just /want/ a rival. He needs one. What good is proving his justice to the masses, or to people who don't understand the first thing about him other than what he says on TV?

No, he needs this. And for it to be satisfying - he must cultivate someone... interesting... into being someone worthy... but first, he must be certain they can hold his interest.

Akechi sees Ren coming from a distance, of course he does. However, he keeps tapping on his phone for a few seconds longer, before locking the screen with a click, and putting it away.

"I was beginning to become a little worried you'd left me hanging." Akechi says, with that close-eyed affable smile, in greetings, "But now that you're here, I'm glad I asked. Though."

His eyes open, and now Ren gets the impression he's... checking him out? Inspecting him? Akechi's eyes trail from Ren's shoes up to his face. And a hand rubs his chin.

"What you're wearing..."

What's wrong with what Ren's wearing? He's in his school uniform, same as him!

"... well, I suppose it's fine."

His scrutinizing look becomes a smile again, as if he didn't become unnecessarily obnoxious over such a small thing, "We're unlikely to come across some of the more extreme elements of my fanbase here. I wouldn't want you to be harassed on social media because you don't meet their standards for someone 'hanging out' with me."

He asked him to come here, then pulls this /right away/. Great.

"Anyhow, shall we?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
There is that, certainly. Ren isn't snowed over by Akechi's sparkly exterior, but neither does he dismiss him just because he dislikes him. Maybe it's just that he's a... fan, we'll say, of the Phantom Thieves. But even then, most people probably wouldn't have the nerve to say as much--to say that the Phantom Thieves are justice--when the mood of the entire room is against them. When they'd have their opinion aired on TV, in front of a live studio audience.

It's understandable why Akechi would take an interest in Ren despite their opposing viewpoints. He even said so to him explicitly. It's literally the basis of their relationship, at least at present. It's just...

Ren almost smiles back when Akechi says he's glad he asked. Before that can happen, Akechi looks him over. It's actually startling, like he's checking him out. But that can't be what's happening here, right? ...Right? Ren blinks once, eyes wide behind his glasses.

"What?"

Akechi says what.

Ren stares at him a moment longer.

God, this guy is annoying!!

But as much of a power move as it would be to turn around and walk away at this point, Ren opts to tuck his own phone and hands away in his pockets, then nods once and follow him upstairs. It's warm out, but there's air conditioning inside. He won't be sweating long.

He also doesn't mention he doesn't have a social media presence at present. He deleted his accounts after he got found guilty in court. Now he just texts. But if Akechi doesn't already know about his criminal record, Ren sure as hell isn't going to be the one to tell him.

Once they're in Penguin Sniper proper, he looks around at the place. It seems interesting. Darts to one side, pool tables in the middle, eating tables to the other side... A nice view of town out the windows, thanks to them being on the second floor. Ren's gaze lingers that way for a moment, but it soon returns to Akechi.

He's already here. He wants to see what this smug asshole has in mind.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
It /would/ be a power move to force Akechi to go 'There's no need to be like that.' And keep up the pursuit, but it is not necessarily a victory for him that Ren doesn't... but it might be as well, that he's hooked Ren's interest enough to bother to stay despite how utterly /obnoxious/ he's acting.

That is not common for him.

Akechi does know that Ren doesn't have a social media account, certainly. He's ran thorough searches, even for more anonymous - hidden accounts. That he didn't find one - well, he does respect his caution.

How many individuals has he arrested based on their lack of restraint on social media? Still, it didn't keep him from saying that comment either, to imply he must have one - rather than give away that he knows he doesn't.

Akechi walks up to the part-timer on duty. "Ah, Akechi-kun! Who's your friend?" He smiles at them, "Merely an acquaintance I wanted to have a little chat with over a game..."

A few words are exchanged, he does /not/ in fact introduce Ren to the employee, and pays for them both. It's not long before they're standing at a free billiards table together, as Akechi hands Ren a cue then casually inspects the other he selected for himself, like he's momentarily testing the weight - or some other quality of it.

It's only /after/ he's paid, and they're at the table that he asks, "This is actually an unusual experience for me. I'm not typically playing this game on what you'd call 'friendly' terms. Instead, my work with the Prosecutor's office often calls for me to play in more... questionable, establishments. People I'm questioning tend to be less cautious about divulging important details when they're distracted by a game."

Akechi then actually closes his right eye to wink at Ren, "Naturally, it isn't the same with you. You're not being interrogated after all. Just a casual conversation... I'd like to know more about the guy who's willing to stand up to me on television and say he supports the Phantom Thieves."

It's only now, that he's dropped that definitely not off-putting remark that /would never/ put someone on their guard that he asks... "Have you ever played before?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
How much Akechi want him to stay? How much does Akechi want him to play this game with him? Walking off might have tested that, but Ren doesn't particularly want to establish that Akechi can override his 'no' if he just cajoles hard enough, either. Better to save turning around and leaving for when he really means it.

Ren watches Akechi's exchange with the part-timer in silence, hands still tucked in his pockets. Akechi doesn't offer his name, and Ren doesn't give it, either. He does note that Akechi pays for him without asking. He's not sure how he feels about that. Is it a kindness, a courtesy, or a power move of his own?

Well. It's still not something to walk off over. He accepts the cue Akechi offers him, watching him inspect his own. He doesn't bother looking over his own. He hasn't played pool before--though he's long been interested, which is another good reason to stay and see how this interaction plays out--so it wouldn't help if he did or not. He doesn't know what he's looking for, after all.

He doesn't interrupt Akechi when he speaks. It's actually kind of cool, picturing Akechi facing off against criminals in a billiards parlor, playing high-stakes games as the framework for a battle of wits...

...

...oh.

Ren's expression remains stonily impassive when Akechi winks at him and assures him that's ''definitely not'' what's going on here.

"No," he replies. He looks down at the table. "...But I'm interested," he concedes.

Genuine as that might be, that's still as much concession as he'll give right here and now. Akechi claims this isn't an interrogation, but Ren's not going to volunteer any information about himself before being explicitly asked. He didn't do that for Miss Student Council President and he's sure as hell not doing that for an actual professional high school detective.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Perhaps it's merely what he feels fair, since he asked him here. Some unspoken rule of social etiquette. When he's at the Leblanc, Ren can't say 'no' really, when he's helping Sojiro to disengaging with Akechi. In fact, Akechi usually badgers him until he forces him to engage.

But that's weirdly flattering, perhaps. That Akechi is interested enough to persist, to pursue... even if he's annoying about it.

Indeed, it is a pretty cool image, which is part of why he brings it up - he wants Ren to think of him /as cool/ as... /aspirational/. A bar to measure himself against. After all... he's a criminal on probation, living in an attic. Akechi? He's a celebrity detective. It wouldn't do for Ren to have to look anywhere...

... but up.

Ren's ability to slip into stoic silence truly does impress Akechi in a strange way. Sometimes it makes him feel intensely awkward when Ren does it - like perhaps he went too far. But he's growing used to it simply being Ren's way of dealing with certain situations in that manner.

As he offers his interest, Akechi smiles actually warmly, "Is that so? Well then, I'd be happy to show you how it's done. First... the break. Ordinarily it's decided by both of us making a shot from behind the head string..."

His head cants towards a line marker, "... to rebound off the other side of the table. The shot that lands closest to the head string without going past it, decides the break. We'll skip that portion for now... so I can demonstrate... the first shot sets the tone for the rest of a match..."

The cue ball has already been on the table, from when the employees set it up after the last group came through.

It's to the left, definitely off center - but a legal position to start the game. Taking a step towards it, he sets up, hooking the index finger of his right hand near the tip of the cue's shaft, while holding the cue solidly with his left hand, leaning over to sight it down, and experimentally pulling the cue back - once, twice, subtly adjusting the cue's aim against the ball, as he sights the diamond of colored balls on the other end-

-the cue suddenly lashes forward like a snake on the attack, striking the white ball, a quick blur as it slams into the diamond, knocking the balls apart with a clatter as they rebound chaotically in several different directions.

One ball - two balls roll into various pockets... then...

... the nine ball that started in the center of that diamond slows down, just enough for Ren to follow that all-important target... on it's path, to where it rolls into the center pocket.

And while he knows Ren is distracted watching, he changes his hand placement, so that it's now his right hand holding the cue upright, where his left hand once was... Akechi offers a chuckle which... well, it /sounds/ mildly embarrassed. He is smiling, "Oh, my apologies. A break ace."

He doesn't actually immediately explain what that means, but the sound of it - it's like the tone of the match set by the first shot was 'I win. You don't even get a chance to play.'

A demonstration perhaps... of more than just his skill in this parlor game...
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It ''is'' weirdly flattering.

It's also worrying. Akechi went out of his way to imply that he was just barely passable to hang out with him. If Ren doesn't meet some invisible standard for him, then the main reason he would have for approaching him over and over like this is because he suspects he is or is involved with the Phantom Thieves.

Not that this is a new revelation for Ren. It was kind of obvious the moment he showed up in Leblanc with that lawyer lady the first day with that particular book. And it became even more obvious after he brought up delicious pancakes...

Which is his one ace up his sleeve right now. However else Ren feels about it, and him, it's true that Akechi is on top across the board as far as society is concerned. He needs all the advantages he can get.

For right now, he nods once as Akechi begins the pool tutorial. He pays close, careful attention to the explanation--looks at the line marker--watches how Akechi holds his cue and lines up his opening shot--

watches as Akechi sinks several balls in that single opening shot, including the nine ball.

Ren has never played pool before. But he knows enough about it to have a pretty good idea of what just happened.

'Oh, my apologies. A break ace.'

He doesn't know that specific term, but--

"Is that your win?" he asks, looking back up at Akechi to confirm it. As much as it irritates him to see this--he has to (grudgingly) admit, that's an impressive level of skill. It's clear it was no accident, and to be able to do something like that on purpose... He knows what he's doing.

Which means he's ''definitely'' doing it to make a power move on him.

Also deeply irritating, but Ren's only counter-move at this point is to pretend like he didn't even notice. Akechi can't silently lord over his victory if Ren doesn't make it clear he knows this was anything more than the fluke he's trying outwardly to pretend it is.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
And perhaps that standard is a moving goalpost, at that... food for thought, Ren.

Perhaps if you don't keep working hard to become the person he wants you to be, then... well, it's better not to dwell on that.

You're here, aren't you?

Ren's play is the correct one in their 'duel' of sorts. After all, it was a game, and a chat. If Ren can't best his overwhelming skill, then why not pretend you aren't irritated by the obvious... or didn't notice.

"Well... the victory conditions are met by the nine ball being sunk... and it already has been. Ordinarily... you can't aim for the nine ball right away, but if it happens during the break..."

Standing the pool cue up straight, he smiles at Ren so /very/ affably again, "But that was just a coincidence, of course, so we can start over. That won't count."

So gracious! So magnanimous!

... So fake.

Ren's already noticed, and Akechi /wanted/ him to notice.

After the diamond is set back up... Akechi positions the cue again, and tells Ren, "Why don't you give it a try and start us off this time with the break? I can use this opportunity to take a good look at your form... and if you'd like any pointers... well, I'd hardly mind."

Akechi waits to see how Ren responds, before...

"You do seem pretty interested in a game you've never played before." Akechi notes, and perhaps there's some praise in his voice at that. Indeed, at least so far - Ren was true to his word.

When faced by a superior opponent... he didn't run away, except - whoops. Ren certainly wouldn't be one of the Phantom Thieves, now would he?

"Is it the idea of a competition, a challenge that excites you? The thrill of pushing your limits, and seeing how far you can go?"

The Detective Prince does smile appreciatively at him, "You present yourself rather stoically, unobtrusively in your day to day... but I would swear even after meeting just a few times, that you truly don't mind standing out either. Perhaps that is why you were so willing to 'stand up' that day so to speak."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
...Yeah.

Ren's expression remains stoic as Akechi explains why this is indeed his win. He had an idea already, but it's good to have it confirmed. To understand ''why'' he lost without even getting a chance to play. It doesn't lessen the frustration any, but Ren chose to come here, to ''stay'' here. He wants to know how to play this game--to play, and to win.

So he can shove it in this jerk's excruciatingly smug, handsome face.

He nods once when Akechi ~graciously~, ~magnanimously~ offers to start over, without letting that first one count. Ren understands it's fake. Winning or losing wasn't the point. Well--it was the point. But not in the sense of that individual game.

The point is the message: that Akechi is just way out of his league, and could crush him at any time he pleases.

Well, Ren will make him regret looking down on him. But that's a long-term goal. Right now, he just needs to figure out what the hell he's doing.

"Sure," he replies. It's tempting to refuse any pointers, but-- "Well, if you don't mind..."

He walks over to the other side of the table. He paid close attention to the way Akechi held his hands and splayed his fingers; he mimics it passably, if in mirror image. As he slides the cue between the cradle of his fingers testingly and finds he enjoys the sensation, he doesn't speak. He nonetheless does not tune Akechi out. Whether that's a good or bad thing is yet to be seen, because it certainly strikes a chord.

A competition... the thrill of pushing his limits. His eyes go briefly distant. Yeah... he had a phase like that. Or... mm. It's probably not right to call it a 'phase,' huh?

He didn't stop competing because he ''wanted'' to give up ice skating.

He shakes his head a little and focuses. ''Don't let him distract you. It's part of the game.'' "Maybe," he replies, knowing that Akechi's right.

He thrusts the cue forward and strikes the cue ball with a solid ''crack''. The triangle of balls parts, going in every which direction--but not at random. It's all determined by physics. A set of laws they may not be visible, but that are nonetheless immutable.

Ren contemplates this as he watches them go for a moment. Then he lifts his chin and looks Akechi straight in the eye. Did he stand up that day because he doesn't mind standing out? Yes. That's part of it, to be sure. But also...

"I just don't see the point in living a fake life," he concludes.

Even from just his relatively brief experience, he knows extremely well how soul-crushing that is.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Indeed - it is a handsome face, and the way that messy hair frames it... it's like every silky strand is exactly where he wants it. The appearance of putting in so little effort to look like the boy next door.

The reality of controlling his image to the point of obsession. He is such a contradictory creature...

Ren radiates frustration, despite the way he presents himself. Akechi pretends not to notice. It is an enjoyable facet of this game of cat and mouse, this back and forth.

It is what he always wanted, in being a detective, really.

"Not at all." He says when it comes to pointers, and indeed...

He watches Ren, critically as he sets up his shot. Indeed, one might interpret watching him like a hawk as a means of psyching him out... distracting him, hoping he slips.

But that would be an /unsatisfying/ ending to this if he slipped that hard, now wouldn't it? No, he just wants him on edge...

Ren makes his shot, and states perhaps his philosophy... and Akechi's smile, it's subtle, but it's smoothed out along the edges ever so slightly. Perhaps Ren scored a point there after all...

"Oh? That's a fascinating opinion. ... Hold that pose." Akechi notes as he encircles the table, and then comes alongside Ren... then like a coach, begins to make little pointers, so very close.

"A steadier base." He notes of his feet, "Just a little closer together. Be careful not to lock your right leg." Then he adjusts his angle, "A slight bend in the left knee." And then, Akechi comes up behind him, bending down alongside him.

Despite having been out all day, there's something fresh - clean, about his scent. Perhaps it's the smell of his hair. What conditioner does he use? It's hard to identify...

Akechi puts his hand out, near Ren's left. "Straighten this arm a touch more... lock the elbow. But what is truly critical..." His hand then comes to rest upon Ren's right arm, his back hand, as he adjusts it himself, like a coach assisting him. "... draw a line from your elbow to wrist. Parallel to the floor."

Akechi is not a teacher, by his very nature. He is not one usually to divulge information to others - to guide them. Indeed, he's a very selfish learner. All these details greedily hoarded for his own benefit.

But today, he lets a few slip from his intellectual dragon's hoard of knowledge, for him.

... but not for free, as it is now, in this position of 'vulnerability' that he forced upon Ren, that he follows up. "And do you feel you always live up to that?" Akechi asks, softly, while still letting Ren get used to this pose, "In your day to day? Behind the counter at the cafe, with the manager watching... while in class?"

He lets that hang for a few moments, then smiles at him and straightens up. "So many people wish to live like that..." Akechi says, as he rounds the table, setting up near the new position for the cue. Indeed... when Ren looks, his form is perfect. Quite perfect, every minute detail that he focused upon with Ren is mirrored from what must have been countless hours perfecting it.

But there might be something about it that bothers him, nevertheless.

Akechi's right hand guides the cue forward, his pale assailant strikes - knocking one ball into a pocket, and rebounding to strike another against the other end of the table, rebounding at a geometric angle that sends it into the other pocket.

"... but every day make little sacrifices, for the sake of their goals. Don't you think?"

As Akechi straightens though, his cue is definitely in the position Ren saw him in after the Break Ace... held with the right hand back. What's wrong with it?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
There's good reason to be ill at ease from having Akechi watch him so closely. But Ren ''did'' accept his offer... and as Akechi said, he doesn't mind being seen. On the contrary, he quite enjoys it. For someone as stoic and quiet as he is most of the time, he's a pretty contradictory creature too.

Maybe that's why they're both drawn to each other, whether they ''like'' each other or not.

There ''is'' something flattened about that smile. Ren can tell because he's watching him closely in return. It was at least a ''little'' bit of a jab, but it was on the whole a sincere statement. But Akechi seems to move on to the pointers aspect; even comes over to his side of the table to get a better look. He resumes his pool pose and holds it, listening to Akechi's notes and adjusting his stance accordingly--

oh that's him leaning over him and wow okay

Ren can't help but hold his breath as his pulse quickens. He might not ''like'' Akechi, but he has ''eyes'', and-- Is this also on purpose? Is he trying to make him uncomfortable? Or is he just totally not understanding boundaries? He tenses, hands trembling, but he doesn't tell him to stop or try to force him away. He lets Akechi touch him--lets him adjust his body and give him tips with his fingertips.

He ''does'' smell nice. Ren absolutely cannot focus on that. He draws a line from his elbow to his wrist, parallel to the floor.

Akechi murmurs close to his ear. Ren says nothing.

yeah this is definitely on purpose

Eventually Akechi smiles and stands up straight. Ren takes a deep breath while trying not to make it obvious he's taking a deep breath and stands up too. Focus. Akechi did rattle him just now, but... while it was unnerving...

...damned if it wasn't also hot.

Ren wonders if Akechi meant for him to have that reaction.

"I think we do live in a society that encourages that," he replies, managing to keep his voice level. ''We live in a society where image is everything,'' someone he respected once told him. And he can't deny the truth of that, but also-- "It sucks."

He watches Akechi round the table and lower himself into his own pool posture. It is just like before: picture perfect. Except...

Ren furrows his brows as he watches him. It's not just right now. When they shook hands back at the TV station, the hand Akechi had offered him back then was...
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
He /definitely/ did that on purpose. However... whether he felt, knew that Ren would find it hot. Whether /he/ finds it hot. That's still such a maddening mystery there. Perhaps he just enjoys rattling a guy, throwing him off.

If it were a girl, she'd probably have been /quite/ put off by it, some might have even yelped, and pulled away immediately, startled unless it was well received. As a stoic guy like Ren even, it was a risk. There are so many ways to interpret that gesture.

"You'll find no argument here in that regard." Akechi says to the idea that it sucks, "The number of times I've been asked in if several high profile arrests I'm responsible for, whether I should have kept quiet... for the sake of an institution's, or a politician's reputation."

It's clear at least that he's disgusted by some aspects of society. "But I refuse to sacrifice my Justice for what some misguided fools consider the greater good." He does smile towards Ren again, "I will admit though, since we're not exactly being recorded right now, that sometimes it's necessary to put on a good show, in order to achieve anything of value."

Oh yeah, Ren's fake comment /definitely/ stung.

"I think even you could agree with that."

As Ren Amamiya...

... or the leader of the Phantom Thieves?

Which does he mean? Perhaps there is no distinction between the two within his own mind.

Akechi then casually leans over, and with one fluid motion, knocks another ball into the pocket. Then stands, lopes around the table like the world's most casual predator, and strikes another, it rebounding several times to knock another distant ball into the pocket.

Then on the next one... he tries to show off, but- well... he is playing with a handicap. His attempt to sink another two balls gets none... scratching the cue in a pocket, in a near miss.

"Oof... bad move on my part. I could in fact be in trouble here." He says with the casual ease of someone who isn't worried - even if Ren managed to surprise him and pulls a come from behind victory.

After all, he's already proven his skills to Ren so thoroughly that he's the undisputed winner here, even if he were to somehow lose.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren himself is not sure what he'd prefer Akechi's intentions to be. At least, not at first, not while he's still putting himself back together in as discreet a way as he can manage. He needs to figure out how ''he'' feels about it before he can figure out how he wants ''Akechi'' to feel about it.

First, he needs to be a little surprised that Akechi agrees with him about how rotten Japanese society is about ''saving face''. For someone who's putting on a face of his own, it's an odd stance to take. But as he continues about how sometimes a show is necessary to get results, Ren avoids his smile to stare down at the pool table, where Akechi continues to dominate.

"Sometimes, yeah," he concedes. "But there's a difference between putting on a show and betraying your principles." He looks back at him. "Like, for example, if I'd told you back at the station I agreed with you, just to avoid the risk of getting harassed by your fans."

He mulls on this further as Akechi sinks ball after ball. He really is a very skilled player. It's kind of gauche, given that Ren told him he's never played before. But when he thinks of Akechi holding back just to give him a chance to win... that's an irritating thought, too.

"I guess I do understand why someone might live like that. There are people in the world who can't live freely, because if they do, they'll get hurt for it. Just for being who they are," he adds quietly, thinking again of his ex-coach. "But I still think there's a difference between not saying what you're about and pretending you're something else entirely. Keeping that up... would just be exhausting."

He watches Akechi miss a shot--trying to go for two, ending up with none. The corner of Ren's mouth quirks up briefly at the obvious analogy that he doesn't make out loud. Once again, Akechi is annoying by talking like he's in trouble when he clearly is not worried at all. Is he ever genuine about ''anything''? He frowns a little, then inspects the table. There's an opportunity here he could take advantage of. ...He finds he wants to take advantage of it. This jerk might think he's above him, but Ren doesn't like the idea of just letting him have his way this whole time.

He moves into his own position and leans in--knee slightly bent, elbow locked, leg ''un''locked, arm parallel to the floor...

"By the way. Earlier, when you were adjusting my stance..."

And decides how he wants Akechi to feel about it.

"...if I were a girl, would you have done that the same way?"

''Clack''. He knocks the cue into the cue ball with force, and it strikes one of the balls Akechi had failed to sink with force in turn. ...It bounces off the corner, bounces back into the other corner, and flies away without going into the hole.

...

that's really very embarrassing actually.

Even so, Ren forces himself to look Akechi in the eye and see his reaction--and his response. It would've punctuated his question so well if he'd nailed that shot, but he wants an answer regardless.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
It is odd, isn't it? Caring about his reputation and image, while being upset at people who care about theirs... how does someone justify that kind of hypocrisy?

Well... he doesn't exactly explain himself.

"They still might track you down." Akechi warns, so casually, as if there's humor in it to him. "I've had several stalkers who were quite /pleased/ to be arrested by me."

However, despite the light interjection - and possible anecdote, he is listening to him, and taking him seriously. "Perhaps there is." And there's something a little vicious in his smile, "I suppose it must be that way for these so-called Phantom Thieves as well. Going through their day to day, pretending they're just as normal and law-abiding as everyone else... while they change the hearts of people whose actions displease them."

He says as he stands quite still, holding the Cue as as easily as a soldier might a rifle, at attention, complete with bayonet

"I would posit that they are all just as /exhausted/ - despite whatever thrills they might get out of living this way. When they're in custody... I'll be sure to let you know the truth."

There's a back and forth there, verbally - an accusation of hypocrisy, a clarification - a distinction, met with a riposte to indicate he doesn't think the clarification applies to the Phantom Thieves.

Back and forth - he's falling into the rhythm of it, quite enjoying it even, despite the blows to his ego he's received. Is he ever genuine? No, but he at least can accuse the Phantom Thieves of that.

And Ren - Ren of course can only speak as a /supporter/ rather than someone with first hand knowledge.

Akechi stands at the ready still, watching Ren quite closely to see how he manages this dilemma, but then he asks, a question. And Akechi looks surprised for a moment, then he begins to chuckle lightly, "Aha... you truly are something else. Well. Of course if it were a girl, I would do my best to make /certain/ she were comfortable with my actions before approaching her like that... but seeing as it's just the two of us. Well, why don't you tell me?"

He says, his eyes offering something of a challenge, albeit perhaps - one that's somewhat teasing, "Did it make you 'uncomfortable' being advised that way by another guy?" Certainly, he doesn't commit one way or the other. As if implying to some degree, this is /normal/ for guys to advise each other this way in sports and other activities...

... after all there's no /sexual/ context between two guys touching like that. There's no reason to ask permission, or to expect another guy to be uncomfortable.

Perhaps this is another part of his image though... and because of his image, he's being maddeningly roundabout.

"It was a good try really... but just a little, off the mark..."

Does he mean Ren's shot, or is he saying that Ren's indirect implication is wrong? Ugh, why is he LIKE THIS...

Leaning over, and once again using his right hand to guide the stick back, he knocks the remainder of the balls in- one, two and-

The nine ball sinks in last. Somehow he even made '7-8-9' all fall in sequentially in a single shot. "I win. Though that was closer than I'd like for your first time playing. If you'd pulled it off... it would have been quite embarrassing, now wouldn't it? However, I am impressed..."

And now Akechi's faux affable smile does fade, to something far more real in the moment, "... you showed some real potential, in a very short time."

And that - is what's interesting to him about Ren Amamiya, among other things... his vast /potential/.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Really?" Akechi could be bullshitting him about the stalkers thing--but Ren finds it just believable enough to think it could be true. "That must be tough for you." ...but not for him? (Well, Ren's only stalker at present is definitely not a criminal Akechi would have to arrest.)

But then Akechi ripostes, going after the Phantom Thieves. And as they both know, Ren can't say anything about that without giving himself away.

"...I doubt it."

Or can't he?

"After all, they're doing good in the world by going after criminals the law won't persecute."

Interesting choice of words, ''won't'' instead of ''can't''. But plausibly deniable, too, considering Kamoshida and Madarame's long history of scandals before they were finally found out through their confessions.

"There's nothing about that to get exhausted by. If anything, they'd get exhausted by cops who criticize them while sitting on their rumps doing nothing about ''actual'' threats." He shrugs. "It's like you said. Some people care more about their reputations than about doing what's right."

Even a supporter can say that much without having any firsthand knowledge of The Phantoms. Right?

In the meantime, he watches Akechi for his reaction. That surprise on his face seems genuine--unrehearsed. So it hadn't even crossed his mind, huh? If it wasn't ''intentionally'' sexually charged, then... well, that's a good thing. It's a relief knowing that part was unintended. If it ''had'' been--if Akechi had been trying to assault him in a plausibly deniable way--

Then he really would have to walk out.

And he finds he kind of doesn't want to.

"Yeah, it did," Ren replies, deadpan, of if it made him uncomfortable. He holds that expression for a second; then he smirks with devilish humor. "At least buy me dinner first."

Just to let Akechi know he wasn't uncomfortable for ''no homo'' reasons.

"...More seriously, this is a crowded place." Grin fading, he nods around them at the various other patrons, who fortunately don't seem to be paying either of them any mind. "You never know who might see something like that, jump to the wrong conclusion, and start spreading weird rumors online. You ought to be more careful.

"Just saying. Since you seem to care about that."

At least he definitely means Ren's shot was off the mark. If he's talking about Ren's implications, well, he's just going to have to deal with him saying it directly. Let's see how he handles ''that''.

...He handles the game itself with aplomb though. In short order, Ren has officially lost their "real" game of pool. He watches him sink the balls in numerical order, even. Yeah, he really messed up his chance with that. He could be resigned about that, but...

'That was closer than I'd like...'

Ren outright makes a face. That's a hell of a thing to say for someone who won the game in two goddamn turns, without his opponent having ever sunk a single ball. He's so GODDAMN annoying, it's almost incredible.

That face fades when Akechi... says he has potential, though. Ren searches his face. The way he actually looks like he means it, instead of hiding behind that pretty smile of his. Is he really impressed? Or is he just saying that?

...Ren finds he hopes he is.

It makes him want to impress him again, with something of substance. Something that feels meaningful. Even something small, if only to shove it in his face that he hasn't lost it all just yet--that Akechi might be incredibly skilled, but not every game they play will turn out like this.

His eyes drop to Akechi's hand--his right hand, in which he holds his cue. He frowns. Dammit.

"Aren't you left-handed?"

He probably ''was'' just saying that. That irritates him most of all.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Why yes. It's actually more common than you'd think."

Believe it or not, Akechi is not in fact bullshitting. It's just his stalkers are quite... different, from the stereotypical guy stalking a celebrity woman. While he was bullshitting Ren about his fans harassing him for hanging out with him - it's not entirely unfounded on anything...

... it's just, Ren isn't... quite as in danger than if he were 'hanging out' with a girl his age.

Ren however, does his best to counter his point, and Akechi merely smiles, as if impressed by his tenacity. But also pleased. He hangs with Ren /specifically/ to be his antithesis after all.

If he conceded a point too quickly...

"... A valid point - I often criticize the police and prosecutor's office for their recalcitrance to move on certain suspects..."

He concedes as much himself, "... but what if I told you that there had been investigations opened into both Kamoshida and Madarame prior to their change of heart? Then it becomes less won't - but that they're moving too slow for your liking, wouldn't it?"

Here, it's actually a bluff on his part. And indeed, he doesn't actually truly disguise that so much. "That criticism has merit too... but eventually, you run into a dead end. Exercising their own justice without accountability or oversight..." And there is something quite serious in his expression when he tells Ren, "... with strange methods, that have yet to be clarified. A 'change of heart' is a potent implication. And yet, are you to tell me that I shouldn't criticize and simply have faith in their judgment, as you do?"

There's a small shake of his messy bangs, like he thinks that all angles Ren might go here are a dead end. Then again he's only /deducing/ that it's a dead end. That Ren will run up against the idea of 'belief' in the Phantom Thieves being necessary.

As Ren works through it, Akechi smiles at him again, at his 'At least buy me dinner' first. "Aha... Well now, first billiards, then dinner... you're going to turn this into quite the expensive outing for me."

He does smile subtly at that, because first off - Akechi asked REN here and second off - REN NEVER ASKED HIM TO PAY FOR TONIGHT. He can be /quite/ infuriating.

However, Ren's grin fades, as he points out the appearance of impropriety, "I'm well aware of that possibility for my actions to be... misinterpreted by observers. But then again..." He smiles, and his tone causes his voice to come across like a knife in this moment...

"... nothing happened. So it would be quite upsetting for someone to start baseless rumors online." Perhaps it's simply as Ren says then - that he's hardly going to have /that/ conversation here, or perhaps he doesn't trust him enough to have a more honest conversation yet /anywhere/. It's difficult to say in this moment at least.

Then Ren searches his face, and Akechi just looks somewhat smug in this moment, "Is something the matter?" Like he can read Ren's entire thought process on his face.

But...

"Huh." Akechi keeps his expression neutral for a few moments, as if to see if he can get more information from Ren's face, then a smile breaks through again, "I'm honestly impressed you noticed. That's right..." He extends his left hand, palm out. "... this one's my dominant hand. I switched hands as we played. It's not anything against you. Going all-out against a beginner just seems a bit... gauche."

And then switching hands to hold the cue with his left, "I'm rather dextrous with my right hand. I can even use chopsticks with it. Frankly, I didn't expect you to see through it."

He is /so/ goddamn frustrating, but then again...

If Akechi /wasn't/ impressed with Ren's skill truly before, he's at least impressed with /him/ now. And isn't that the true victory here?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Who knows? Maybe a yandere fan of Akechi's will come to Leblanc one day and vivisect Ren for the heinous crime of being near him. But he's pretty sure that won't happen--even if Akechi does apparently have overeager adorers of some stripe following him around.

''It must be nice to be able to arrest your own stalkers,'' Ren reflects.

As Akechi argues back and presents a buff, Ren... frowns. Not because he thinks Akechi has a point--quite the opposite. Akechi might just see the spark of anger that ignites in his eyes... but while his hands might go defiantly to his sides, his tone remains cool and collected. "Maybe. But I don't think there were. You've been looking into these cases; you must know that a girl at Shujin attempted suicide over something Kamoshida did to her. I was there that day when she jumped. I saw ambulances, but I sure didn't see any cops. If they were really investigating him, that would've been the perfect pretext to move in on him, even if it turned out he had nothing to do with it. But they didn't." His eyes narrow. "How many people have to end up in the hospital before it's no longer 'too slow for my liking'?"

Strange methods, that have yet to be clarified. Well, Ren is willing to concede--privately--that someone who doesn't know The Phantoms might have cause to worry about the things they don't know. But he ''does'' know. "Why not?" he counters. "If you want me to believe that the cops were working on cases against Kamoshida and Madarame, why shouldn't ''you'' believe the Phantom Thieves' methods aren't unethical?"

This is not really the decisive counter that Ren thinks it is, considering he just said he didn't think Akechi was telling the truth about that, but as long as he's taking about having faith...

Akechi counter-jokes ("jokes"?) about what an expensive date he's turning out to be. Well... not in as many words. But close enough. Ren rolls his eyes anyway.

He does give him a piercing look as Akechi continues, an unexpected sharpness in his tone. Is he implying that he thinks ''Ren'' would spread those rumors himself? ...Does he think that's what ''Ren'' was trying to imply--that he was trying to threaten him? There's a lot Ren could say about that, but trying to explain the misunderstanding would, he thinks, only make it worse in this circumstance.

So he simply shrugs-- "I bet." ...and leaves it at that.

He doesn't say if anything's the matter. Akechi clearly already knows, the smug bastard. And anyway... it's much nicer to see him smile and admit he caught him. Ren looks down at his left hand, then up at his face. Gauche, huh... He'd been thinking that same thing not that long ago. He still thinks he's bullshitting him here... but it does feel kind of good that he does seem to have genuinely exceeded his expectations after all.

"Not like it helped me win any," Ren remarks, looking back at the pool table. There, his gaze lingers... until he clenches a fist and rivets a stare back into Akechi's eyes. "But it won't go so easy for you next time."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
It is an interesting thought... being able to arrest away your troubles. Were it Akechi, in Ren's place that day, what might have happened?

Well, certainly not what Ren thinks might happen - he might think that Akechi is privileged to have had a chance there. A celebrity after all is someone that even a politician has difficulty waving away to Juvie Hall.

... If only he knew.

"Shiho Suzui..." Akechi repeats her name, to make certain Ren understands he is in fact, familiar with the cases. "... What Kamoshida did there is indisputably a grave and despicable crime."

He does not even argue the lack of cops, because it was meant to be a bluff - truly, to move through the criticism. "And indeed, it is reasonable to posit that the Phantom Thieves made their decision to target him after that event. But..."

He emphasizes, and indicates, slowly, "... you shouldn't mistake 'investigate' for 'constant surveillance'. Suzui-san was in a coma for nearly a month after that event. How then, would the Phantom Thieves know he was responsible?"

Akechi notes, and puts a hand to his chin, "Indeed - knowing he was responsible before Suzui could speak to his culpability... Knowing how they knew, would rather narrow down the list of suspects, don't you think? And if they didn't know for certain, and instead acted decisively in an emotionally charged situation..."

He does look pensive, for a time after that, as if contemplating the answer...

"... well that would be most troublesome. Why shouldn't I believe that the Phantom Thieves methods aren't unethical?" He finally repeats the question, "It is simple... because if I witnessed a murder happen in front of me... I could not, and should not be allowed to punish the murderer for the crime on the spot, and is not a 'change of heart' a type of punishment for a crime? What if after their methods were known and much debate, our society decided it was tantamount to an 'Execution of Personality' - and a cruel punishment to inflict upon any person, no matter how vile? Whether something is ethical - or unethical to a Just society cannot and should not just be decided by a handful of vigilantes."

Well it's not like Akechi expects Ren to agree with him here, but to him - one thing that's always fascinating to him is how passionate Ren gets on the subject, how... personal it is to him. This enforcement of justice.

This anger.

Akechi meanwhile, while he can rise to the bait - the debate to him, the emotions of it, seem almost more /the competition/ than his anger over injustice truly figuring into this particular subject... how strange.

Perhaps the problem is, he just seems so fake, even when he's arguing back. Even when he raises his voice subtly, and things shift back and forth.

But - instead, they are upon a misunderstanding, and Akechi seems to let the matter go soon enough... or did he truly? Well... perhaps they'll find out some day, in a less public setting...

... after all, it was Akechi's behavior that prompted it... would that not imply, something similar might happen again?

But Ren definitely seems a little sour over the outcome, and perhaps Akechi is pleased that he does feel that way. Maybe it will be aspirational...

"... Still I thought you were unlikely to catch it, given your need for glasses." He smiles subtly, "But perhaps they're just for the aesthetic."

Ren's comment on it not going so easy for him next time... he does chuckle softly, expression subtly smug, "Is that so? I think I'd like it if you could back up those words. After all... a match where I didn't hold anything back?"

His expression only changes subtly, and there's something... wistful? Yearning? It's hard to parse the expression in those brown eyes of his. "That would be a truly rare treat."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
If only he knew--but alas, he doesn't.

And that's the point, isn't it, Akechi? That no one knows.

Something in Ren's eyes shifts when Akechi confirms that he does know what he's talking about--that he remembers Shiho's name, even. It's reassuring. Akechi has been a piece of shit this whole time, but it's genuinely reassuring to hear him say, in a way that Ren can reasonably believe, that he hates Kamoshida's behavior. If he were just giving lip service, he probably wouldn't bother to remember the victim's name, right?

But Akechi makes his counter, and Ren frowns. He unfortunately makes a lot of good points--not about the justice of it all, but about how the Phantom Thieves could have known Kamoshida was guilty. Though... if Akechi has a Persona of his own, he must have a pretty good idea of ''how''. How much does he know about the Metaverse? How much does ''anyone'' know, really? Maybe he's trying to get him to slip up in that regard, too.

"I'd hope you'd at least arrest them. That's also a punishment," Ren says curtly, thinking briefly of his own. "Unless it was in self-defense--and if you were there to be able to witness it, I'd ''hope'' you'd have done something before it got that far."

...But while that's a sincere statement, Ren knows it's also a dodge on his part. An 'execution of personality'... Ren knows (believes) that's not what it is--if it were that goddamn easy, he and his friends wouldn't have to have a boss fight over it, and afterwards, they tell the Shadow their expectation and let them reintegrate with their other selves on their own--but that's ''definitely'' something he can't comment on directly. The best he can say is:

"And what if their methods were known, and after much debate, society decides it's like reform? That's already part of our justice system." He pauses a beat. "I get that part of your problem with them is you ''don't'' know their methods. That's fair. I understand it's your job to be suspicious. But you could stand to be a little more open-minded instead of just assuming it must be bad."

His eyes narrow. "...And you might think vigilantes shouldn't get to decide what justice is, but I'd prefer vigilante justice over ''no'' justice any day. I think the other victims who were saved by the Phantom Thieves would agree."

Because Ren ''is'' one of Kamoshida's victims too, isn't he? Not to the extent that Ryuji or Ann or especially Shiho were, but Kamoshida had his criminal record leaked, ruining his new school life before it had even begun. Whether Ren is a Phantom Thief or not, it's far too reasonable for him to support them when he too was saved by them.

Especially if he wasn't going to get justice from anyone else with the "proper" authorization to mete it out.

Maybe that's the big difference between the two of them. Ren understands how it feels because he was in that position too. Akechi... If he were ever in a position where he'd need to get saved by the Phantom Thieves--it's long since passed by now. Hasn't it?

As for Akechi's behavior... that is indeed something they'll have to discuss further another time. If either of them ever brings it up again.

Ren doesn't comment on his glasses. He's not sure if that's supposed to be a joke or if he's trying to be annoying again, but either way it falls flat for him. What reaches his heart more is that new look in Akechi's eyes--something different from before. Something more sincere? He can't quite tell, and what he says...

...is frankly just another kind of obnoxious.

"Look forward to it, then," he replies, eyes still locked on him defiantly. "I'll beat you soon."

Beat him, and ''absolutely rub his stupid sexy smug face in it''.

"Just you wait."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Indeed, he does remember her name. Is he merely that detail oriented? Or does what happened to her truly bother him? It's reasonable to believe that he certainly /does/ hate Kamoshida's behavior.

If only he weren't so /fake/ all the time. If only he merely said what he meant more often that Ren wouldn't have to play this game of evaluating each statement for how truly he's speaking on the matter.

"Certainly." Akechi says of at least arresting a hypothetical murderer, but says nothing else. His point was not that he wouldn't arrest them, it's more that he wouldn't do more to them, because it's not his role. However, he knows Ren knows that, and awaits for him to speak more on the matter.

Indeed, perhaps the true test is in whether Ren believes it is, or isn't it. Akechi himself is /quite/ disturbed about the idea of changing someone's heart against their will. Everything he has done - everything he is - relies deeply on the belief in his mind that he is responsible for his actions... /and no one else/.

And so he must know how Ren thinks of this idea. It is not merely a debate about his Justice but it is also /very much/ a debate about that. An understanding of what his antithesis truly thinks of this.

Akechi allows Ren to finish before speaking, though he has more than enough room to interject. And the important part is he evaluates Ren does /not/ consider it that deep of a change to a person.

That's interesting to him.

"Because people are imperfect." Even now he can feel himself substituting that word within his own mind for many alternates.

Wretched
Disgusting
Trash

"Our system convicts innocent people all the time... a dirty little truth, that most won't say." He does understand that he is preaching to the choir here, even if Ren hasn't shared. He does say it, and indeed... does mean it. "And while you may call it close-minded... but I refuse to believe they are indeed, more perfect arbiters of Justice. When their methods become known... I will evaluate them myself. And if my conclusions are different than society's..."

Well, he does indeed look less /smug/ and self-righteous in this moment, more... confident? Resolved? "... then I will still hold true to my Justice." And perhaps Ren might even believe that, that Akechi would indeed go against society to hold true to his beliefs. "No matter the cost."

Perhaps he gets the impression that while it's more true to Akechi than the usual, it's still - partially an obfuscation.

This debate isn't likely to be resolved today, and indeed, Akechi doesn't believe it will ever be resolved. Not really... if Ren Amamiya would cave to his perspective, then he would not be so /interesting/ an individual.

The look on his face before, while it's just as /obnoxious/... Ren might see it now as eagerness. "Heh." As if Ren were threatening him with a /good time/. "Then I'm certain... you'll be an interesting influence on me."

Either way, it's a sure bet for Ren Amamiya that if he can figure out little else about Goro Akechi... it's that he desires to spend more time with him.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
If ''only'' he weren't so fake all the time. If only he weren't so damn ''annoying''.
intriguing

Ultimately, Ren does believe in the changes of heart (naturally, as the leader of the Phantom Thieves). Not knowing Akechi's whole deal, only that he can't trust him, he can't know how genuinely disturbing he finds the very concept. Of course, Akechi also can't know that this same power can't be used on ''him'', but that's beside the point for both of them. The point is that, to Akechi, it's like execution of personality, and to Ren, it's like reform, and now both of them understand this about the other.

Whether Akechi is being close-minded about Ren's point of view or not, at least they each have that.

People ''are'' imperfect. Ren might not necessarily agree with the other words Akechi substitutes in his own mind (or wouldn't if he knew what they were), but "imperfect" is certainly true. He bows his head a bit, eyelashes drooping to half mast, as Akechi points out that "dirty little truth." He doesn't say it, but Akechi certainly struck home there. People are imperfect, and so society is too--and since society is too, so is the justice system.

But he soon raises his chin, that unyielding look in his stormy grey eyes, as Akechi insists he'll evaluate them on his own--that he'll come to his own conclusions based on his own take on what is Justice.

"...Fine."

And Ren leaves it at that. Because he sure can't tell Akechi their methods... but that actually does sound fair to him. Not just fair, but ''respectable''. Like maybe he's saying something he genuinely thinks for once. Like maybe he has actual convictions and can ''eventually'' be approached like a real person.

Hard to tell, still.

But he also does look at least a little excited now. Ren might dislike him, but... he doesn't dislike that. An interesting influence on ''him'', huh... No, he doesn't dislike that at all. He holds Akechi's gaze for a moment as he responds to his challenge positively, a hint of a smile on his lips. Then he looks back at the pool table.

"One more game," he insists. "For today."

There'll be more for each of them to discuss in the future, especially with the dropped topic of Akechi putting his hands on him, but right now--he wants to ride this feeling while they both have it. Just a little while longer.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-03-17: Emotional Rebound

2026-10-25T00:24:48Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: 2026-03-17 Emotional Rebound'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Goro Akechi]]
*'''Where:''' Shinjuku, Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' March 17, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Thursday, October 11, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Takes place during [[2026-03-17:_A_Pair_of_Cracked_Hearts|this scene]]. Considering they encouraged him to consider her romantically before, Ren calls Akechi to make absolutely sure he has no intentions of asking Makoto out.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
A call from a certain dark-eyed delinquent rings--or otherwise alerts--on Akechi's phone. It's Thursday evening, the week before midterms, but that's probably not important. The important thing is that it's Ren Amamiya, isn't it?

"Akechi. I don't have a lot of time, so I'm going to skip straight to the point," is their idea of a greeting. "I encouraged you before to ask Makoto out if you're interested in her. ''Are'' you interested in her?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Ringtone OST (The first few seconds) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTKelM1ojis

The week before the midterms. Most are quite stressed about them. Goro Akechi is not at the moment.

Instead, he's in a train station Unisex single stall restroom, after a foray into the Metaverse when it occurs. A sink faucet is turned off, and a glove is slid back on, before he places the phone to his ear.

"Amamiya-kun?"

And then he's listening to Ren say something hastily, about-

"I..."

He had thought about it at least, when it was presented as an option, and while in her company again, but he hadn't REALLY thought about it any other time.

Caught flat-footed, he asks, "...What brought this on?" He asks, but then understands that in Ren's state, given his stated need for haste, he ought not to pry in depth yet. "Well, since you're asking for a swift answer... it's not like I lack any interest in her. I just ultimately decided it's unwise to date the sister of my co-worker."

He then quickly tries to add, "It's not as if it couldn't potentially work out, mind you but we both are possessed of rather strong opinions, and I suspect that we'd be the type to quarrel in ways that would carry over to the workplace. I feel that would be rather unfair to Niijima-san, given her older sister's..."

Pause. An obvious search for a diplomatic word.

"...proclivities."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
By coincidence, Ren is also in a bathroom at the moment; Akechi might be able to tell by the acoustics on their side of the line. Ren has an inkling of that for Akechi, though that doesn't strike them as important in this moment.

It's reasonable for him to ask what's prompting this. Ren ignores the question for the moment, particularly since Akechi's skipping ahead too. They listen quietly. It's not an ''ideal'' answer, but it does seem straightforward. Certainly he's thought it out--even if he hasn't thought about it since he interacted with her last. Not that Ren knows that part.

"So you have zero intention of asking her out or otherwise pursuing any kind of romance with her. Is that right?" they press, just to make absolutely sure.

They want Akechi to say it before they explain why they're asking.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
He can at least get an inkling of where he is by the other end of the line, not that it necessarily matters all that much for the conversation.

"That's correct. I did consider it - and at one point thought that I might."

That much is true, at least. The thought did not last long, but it was there not long after Ren put it in his head.

"But ultimately I decided against it. Thus, I have no intention of asking her out."

He turns around, eyebrows furrowing, "I rather suspect that the reason you're asking has nothing to do with the rumor?" He questions.

Either Ren is asking because ''he'' intends to ask her out, an idea which surprises Akechi. After all, isn't he dating Minako? That doesn't make much sense to him with what he currently knows...

... or he's asking for another friend. Recounting the other Phantom Thieves, he ultimately decides it's unlikely to be one of them if so, unless it's some grand scheme to 'hook someone up' without their knowledge.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren is quiet for a few seconds after Akechi speaks. He thought he might, huh... They could leave it at that--but all considered, they should be transparent about why they're asking. They're the one asking out of the blue, and he's given them a clear answer despite that.

"Right," they reply. "Minako and I broke up. Makoto and I were talking about it, and I realized I have feelings for her. But I encouraged you before to think about her that way, so I don't want to make a move on those feelings unless you're okay with it.

"So I'm going to ask you one last time. You really don't have any intention whatsoever of asking Makoto out, ever? If you've got even the slightest doubt about that, I won't ask her out."

It is, in its own way, a challenge. If Akechi wanted to sabotage Ren's love life for reasons ''definitely'' unrelated to his own feelings for them, here is a prime opportunity. But considering Ren and Minako both thought that Akechi has a crush on Ren--Ren implicitly, Minako explicitly--isn't this also a chance to prove he definitely doesn't?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Akechi makes a startled noise as Ren notes that Minako and him broke up. Did the secret ''really'' cause that much relationship tension? Certainly he tried to interfere but, he didn't expect it'd be so easy as ''that''.

More likely it was something he doesn't quite understand, about the relationship between the two.

He tries not to let himself think about that one.

"... Well, that does prompt more questions, but I'll abstain for now. You're certain you wish to ask her out so soon after breaking up with her?"

He asks, pointedly, though it doesn't seem like he's trying to necessarily dissuade him, just, it's more thinly veiled concern.

Maybe not even actually veiled.

"Even discounting that. There is that rumor... and as you well know, with the nature of rumors as they stand in Sumaru City... there is a small chance that it is influencing your actions."

He delivers that with a sort of discomfiture. Part of the reason he deals with rumors so much is that he wants to make certain ''he'' isn't influenced by them, it's his manner of exerting control over them.

"I won't claim it's a large chance. People such as you and I are much more resistant to these effects... and outside of Sumaru City, the power of such rumors do seem much diminished."

Rubbing his nostrils, as he keeps the phone to his ear, "Nevertheless, that doesn't answer the question you asked. I can't predict the future, but as matters stand currently, no- I don't have any such intention of ever asking her out."

It's a fair response, in his own way, feelings can and do change over time. What decisions one would never make today, might change into a leap you could take on the morrow.

But he understands now that he does feel... a little sad, about this conversation. And it was Minako who forced him to finally confront it, if it were so obvious to her.

"I give you my blessing to ask her out, if that is more unequivocal. ...Though, I do not envy you facing greater scrutiny from Sae-san for doing so."

His tone indicates that isn't an implied threat either. It is merely the reality of dating Sae Niijima's little sister.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Akechi raises a good question. Is it really wise for Ren to ask Makoto out literally the day after breaking up with Minako?

Not unlike Akechi, Ren doesn't let himself think about that one. "Why wait?" they say firmly instead.

(Why indeed?)

"Yeah. I thought about that rumor too." Ren turns and paces a small circle in the Niijima bathroom. "I get your concern, but I don't think that's what's going on here. If anything, it just made me rethink some things I've been taking for granted up until now." (Well, that and the reason why they and Minako broke up. Ren doesn't see a reason to get that specific, though.) "If it ''were'' like that, I'd be more of a delinquent to fit the Beauty and the Beast narrative, wouldn't I? And I'm the same as ever."

Maybe a little more lonely and depressed than usual, especially with their birthday coming up in a few weeks. Maybe a little more worried about the fact that they ''weren't'' bothered by the secrets they've been keeping when Minako's had been tearing her up inside. But surely that isn't influencing them as they support Makoto through working through her trauma, any more than that's influencing her.

But Akechi gives a proper answer. On their end, Ren smiles. They honestly didn't know how this conversation would go, but they're happy he's being so supportive. Maybe they really are friends now. "...Okay. Thank you," they reply. Though Sae does seem scary from the limited interactions they've had with her, they add with confidence, "I can handle it."

A beat. "I gotta go. Talk to you again later?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
'Why wait?'

"... Well I don't know the circumstances yet as to why you and Arisato-san decided to part ways, but there is a concept known as the 'Emotional Rebound'. As in, quickly trying to assuage the pain of a breakup with another relationship."

Akechi is definitely not the person to TALK about this, and he knows it, but he understands it ''academically''.

"But I suspect you're quite familiar with that yourself... and have already considered it."

Ren notes that he thought about the rumor, and Akechi listens to them as they go through it, "... You're correct that it's likely so. Or perhaps people would simply ''view'' your actions in that light, even if you were unchanged yourself."

Still, he doesn't like to think of the idea of some RUMOR changing Ren. That'd be the worst if suddenly the person who was to be his... Rival, who he has such feelings for were forced to be different.

In a sense, it's why he really recoils at the idea of the 'Change of Heart'.

It's difficult, in the moment, to say, "Well I can see you've thought this through. As such, I see no reason why you shouldn't go through with asking Niijima-san out."

His heart falls again, even as he says it. However, he's a well accomplished liar. It figures he'd be able to lie to support Ren.

He certainly lied to himself, long enough.

"You're quite welcome. I wish you the best of luck in receiving a favorable response. ... And I believe you can, at that."

After all, if he can fool Sae for years about who he is, he suspects Ren can too. So long as Sae doesn't go OVERBOARD.

... Actually that's a distinct possibility that she might...

"Of course. I'd like to hear more certainly but... it can wait until you're ready to talk again."

He waits until the call is disconnected, and then he leans against the wall, feeling heavier - and hollow all at once in his own contradictory way. "Fuck..." Before he then repeats it, with greater passion and volume, "... FUCK!" Quickly tapping through his phone, he switches to the Metaverse Navigator and-

"Mementos, NOW!"

The world shifts, he's only mildly fatigued, but he can endure another round. The one in the Black Mask immediately leaps onto the top of a speeding train, descending into the depths.

He really needs something to hit right now.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren ''is'' familiar with the concept of an emotional rebound. They remain uncomfortably silent through Akechi's suggestion. They hadn't... really thought about it, not properly.

But it's not like it was a ''bad'' break-up. They and Minako are still friends, and they've experienced attraction to Makoto before. (Queen's fists are a thing of beauty ''and'' might.) This isn't that. It can't be that. Not when they feel so happy about Makoto. Especially not when Akechi's encouragement makes them feel so much better about everything.

They push that thought away and say their goodbyes, and leave Akechi to his emptiness while they go to fill themself with joy.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-12-05: What Do You Think True Happiness Is?

2026-10-25T00:18:20Z

Ayu: Created page with "*'''Log: What Do You Think True Happiness Is?''' *'''Cast:''' Ren Amamiya, Goro Akechi *'''Where:''' Ikebukuro, Planetarium *'''OOC Date:''' December 06, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 21, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''A scheduled hangout between two boys leads one to realize he has no home to return to...'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed. <poem> Ren's mornings start early, even in the summer. They start with a work-out in their dusty attic room, which c..."

*'''Log: What Do You Think True Happiness Is?'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Goro Akechi]]
*'''Where:''' Ikebukuro, Planetarium
*'''OOC Date:''' December 06, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 21, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''A scheduled hangout between two boys leads one to realize he has no home to return to...''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren's mornings start early, even in the summer. They start with a work-out in their dusty attic room, which consists of several sets of pull-ups from one of the overhead beams--something they've been slacking on since summer began, but which a recent encounter with Isabeau Fontaine has inspired them to get back on--and, when it's done, enjoy a cup of coffee by their window and watch the pedestrians passing by below.

Yep. This is how you start the day.

Which is good, because they've got nerves about how the ''rest'' of the day is going to go.

The last time they hung out with Akechi, he'd mentioned a planetarium in Ikebukuro. Ren, who hasn't done any decent stargazing since they left their hometown, asked if he'd want to go sometime. Akechi had agreed, and the two of them had scheduled a date to visit.

This bare-bones description does nothing to pay homage to the emotion that had underpinned the interaction. That's how Ren is trying to keep it. They've got a lot of things twanging on their emotions lately, and one is the thing that takes up their attention now: their father's contact information, staring up at them from the screen of their smartphone.

"You should get it over with already," Morgana has been advising them. He does that again now in between licking himself, perched up atop the ceiling beams.

Ren knows he's right. They waste time rubbing their towel on their already-wiped, bare shoulders. Their coffee mug is already empty, perched on the windowsill. They need to start getting ready to head out to meet Akechi at the planetarium soon. This call is bound to go badly, and it's better to do it now--rip the band-aid off--and let their outing improve whatever lousy mood they're left in.

They know that. They know that. They take a deep breath deep breath deep breath deep breath

"Okay," they say aloud, and press the SEND button before they can get any more in their own head.

~ * ~

It's not hard to find the planetarium. Akechi has a habit of sending Ren pins of the places where he wants them to meet. Just use a map app and it's all about following the dotted line from there. Ren arrives sans cat-carrying bag at the main doors, panting and clutching their knees; they've shown up in their sports jersey, jacket open-chested, following a jog/run. It's not /great/ apparel for an outing, but whatever. Akechi said there were spots where they could just lie down and look up, right? This isn't a date. It's fine if they wear something comfortable.

They check their wristwatch, which is functional even if they wear it for fashion rather than function. They're on time, at least. They push their damp bangs out of their slightly foggy glasses. God, they're so winded... What's working out every morning good for if you still get this winded when you run?

(That's why cardio is important, Ren.)

They shake their head. Whatever. Akechi's probably inside, and the building will almost certainly be air conditioned. They shrug off their jacket, showing off the short-sleeved black shirt underneath (which has the unintended side benefit of also showing off their muscular arms), and tie it around their waist before pushing the main doors open and walking in. Now they at least look a ''little'' more like they're out to meet up with someone.

The blast of cool air inside helps mollify them, too. It's easier to be in a good mood when you're not out sweating in the late summer heat--especially when you have thought space to dedicate to anticipation for something you've been genuinely looking forward to. They smile at the decorations inside--all sorts of hanging displays of the cosmos. They ''are'' starting to get excited now...!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Dispatch OST - Fvck the Stars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m859x-LHFRY

It was the first time it was actually ''planned'' in advance. Not an invitation sent. Not a 'Just happened to be in the area.'

And he too, was working up to it.

Hands laced casually behind his head, he looked up into the blackness above, as if there were a sky.

"Why are you asking me about the stars at a time like this?"

Another voice asked him, perplexed, and he didn't look at them.

"Well, because you're right there of course. Me? Personally, I see them as something that isn't even real. Any message you're seeing is light that took thousands of years to reach us... and the message isn't often even received. It's drowned out- by millions of people living their lives. Perhaps they died so long ago- and no one even notices. Just another sign of the cruelty of existence."

A beat.

"Looking for meaning in the stars always felt like a pointless endeavor to me. A way to- shed responsibility by blaming your choices on some nebulous concept of fate... destiny, whatever word you choose for it."

"... Is there some point to any of this, asshole?"

He picked himself up from the ground from staring at the twisted ceiling of Mementos, and the man in the Black Mask stretched languidly, then turned to the Shadow that was bleeding ichor on the ground, an accountant that had been caught 'cooking the books' to skim off of the top of Shido's bottom line.

"Not really." Just like that, he raised his arm and- thwip thwip two shots. The Shadow of the man burst, vanishing into non-existence. "...I might as well have spoken to the wall." As he stalks off, away from this place, vanishing into the swirl of distortion.

-=-=-

What's interesting is that as Ren finds his way into the lobby, he might notice a sign of the hours. The place is nearly empty, because- this is the time of day where there aren't any shows.

There's hanging displays- signs of employees. People buying tickets for later. Decorations of the cosmos...

... and...

Buzz.

Ren's phone goes off.

@>Tell an Employee you're my Guest, when you get there.

After Ren does, the velvet rope that cordon off most people is taken aside, and he's led to the auditorium.

Above, the stars stream in time lapsed circles- lines of light, that make them all look like comets carving a radius across the sky. A projector gleaming.

Then they- stop, suddenly.

And the sky is set to what Western Japan might look like in the Summer. The seats are empty. "Since it might not be obvious... over here." Akechi's voice calls out, from the front of the auditorium.

Amongst a stretch of empty couches, and stretched out beneath them, mats.

"The Employees were kind enough to offer us this time when it's not in use. They felt if I was spotted by a member of the public... it might disrupt the show for everyone else."

Akechi says as he flashes a smile, "And I'd rather not resort to your idea of a 'disguise' today, if I can help it."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren ''does'' notice the lack of people. It's not surprising--it's still fairly early in the day--but they can't say they expected it, either. Tokyo's such a big city, and it's summer--all manner of kids with nothing better to do. They'd figure there'd be at least a ''bit'' of a crowd.

''Buzz''. They look down as they pull their phone from their pocket. A missive from Akechi... They sigh a little at the implications, a half-smile crooking up their lips. How many pies does this guy have his fingers in? ...Well, today, they don't mind. They hit up a bathroom first to dampen some paper towels, wipe off the sweat, and dry off; then they hit up an employee and follow them past a velvet rope.

Akechi really is trying to give them luxury treatment. They have this thought then, because when they step into the auditorium and are treated to the blazing western sky, their eyes light up behind their glasses. Without thinking, they hurry towards the spectacular lights, expression riveted, before their lips part into a smile of pure joy.

They absolutely don't spot Akechi until he calls them over. He's thus treated to their unguarded surprise, even knowing he had to already be here. They stare at him for a moment; then, at the reminder of what happened at Gigi's, a warm grin in return. They move to join him, their steps a little quicker and lighter than usual. "It's too dark in here to really appreciate your mop-head look, anyway," they tease.

''The employees were kind enough to offer...'' Ren rather doubts that Akechi didn't actively arrange for this. They're hard-pressed to care right now, though. They pick one of the cozy-looking couches and drape on one side of it, one leg pulled up beneath them as they gaze up at the dazzling display.

"It's beautiful," they murmur, attention rapt.

Beautiful, and romantic. That's well within Ren's notice. If this ''were'' a date, this would be an incredible pick. Even if it's just a projection, it's an incredible rendition of the sky they grew up with. The skies... of...

~ * ~

Ren's heart is hammering as they raise their phone to their ear. Ring... ring... It's early afternoon on a Tuesday. Ring... ring... Their dad is probably already signing documents or whatever in the mayor's office. Ring... ring... Will he pick up? Or will he let it go to voice mail? Ri--

''Click''. Ren sits up straight as the line connects.

"Ren," says a familiar, level voice on the other side. "What do you want?"

There's no warmth to his tone. Of course. Why would there be for a father talking to a child he's disappointed in? There's only an unyielding calm that betrays nothing of his feelings beyond what his to-the-point speech does.

"Father," Ren replies. They usually use ''Dad'', but calling him ''Father'' might help butter him up a bit. "I'll keep this quick," they add, so he can appreciate their expediency instead of tut-tutting at their rudeness. "How did you get me enrolled at Shujin Academy?"

"What?" The question's unexpected. Is that good or bad?

"It couldn't have been easy, getting someone in my position enrolled into such an elite prep school. Did..."

Their voice almost fails. Shadow Kobayakawa had said he'd accepted Ren Amamiya into Shujin Academy because the shadowy organization stringing him along had wanted it so. The shadowy organization that might just have political ties. Ties like their mayoral father (their amoral father?)...

"...Did you pull strings to get it done?"

His tone cools. "Why does that matter to you?"

''Shit.'' They'd been so caught up in working up the nerve to call that they hadn't considered what kind of line to feed him. Ren's voice catches in their throat as their mind races in place. "It's important," is all they can manage.

"I don't see how. You're in a good school with a good reputation. Just behave yourself and be a diligent student and you don't need to worry about anything else."

"If you called in favors, I want to know about it," Ren insists. "I don't want preferential treatment," they add, because it's true even if it's not the point. It still implies a believable reason for the call.

Their father sighs, betraying a hint of irritation. "I did my duty as your father to ensure you had a second chance at an upright life, despite your earnest and repeated attempts to throw that all away. ''Your'' duty as ''my son'' is to behave yourself, and be a diligent student, and not to worry about anything else," he said, voice now outright chilly.

Their stomach lurches, leaving behind an empty pit. "So you ''did'' pull strings," they interpret. "With who?"

"Ren, I'm not indulging this nonsense any further. If you must insist on wasting someone's time, go call your mother."

"I'm not--"

Too late.

The line disconnects.

Fury bubbles up like magma in the pit of their stomach as they bare their teeth at their smartphone. He won't pick up again. They know he won't.

~ * ~

Ren's eyes lid behind their non-prescription glasses.

Just like the skies of their hometown, now so far away.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
What use is being a celebrity, if you can't flaunt it every now and then? Which would apply to Akechi if it were only 'every now and then'.

Even from a distance, he can see the look of joy on Ren's face, and his expression changes from afar, as if in questioning.

Trying to seek the intangible answer to the question still on his mind.

However, Ren comes over, and he chuckles at his response, "Aha... I can't say I'm not a little thankful for that." That affable smile is there again.

It's a little of column A, a little of column B. The employees asked about special accommodations to make certain he wasn't disturbed and people's show wasn't disrupted- he asked for an extra special one.

'It's beautiful,'

He looks up...

"... Yes. I rather see the appeal. It's very different from what I'm used to."

He's not exactly ''lying''. He does see why it appeals to people, the stars in the country. So numerous - so many without the light pollution.

There is a beauty within it.

He just doesn't see ''meaning''. Why does Ren Amamiya see meaning in the stars, that he does not? What connections are there to be found within a boundless sea of nothing?

... What does he have, that Goro Akechi doesn't?

He looks down, at Ren's lidded eyes, then pauses for a few seconds longer. "There's mats over here with cushions, if that is something you'd prefer...?"

He suggests, "It feels like the best view for star-gazing. Though..."

He looks to couches, and seats- "... we have options." He says, playfully, referring to the empty auditorium.

Either way, he leaves that choice up to Ren.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Flaunting your status is how you prove to yourself and others that you're special, after all.

"Only a little? Is that because the rest of you is..."

Ren falters and trails off.

''Disappointed?''

~ * ~

The next call only takes a ring and a half to connect. Ren's mother always was more attentive.

"Ren," she says softly--more softly than usual, actually, as if she's keeping her voice low on purpose. "I missed you... How have you been? Are you eating well? How are your classes? Have you made any friends?"

It's almost a nice sentiment, all these personal questions she asks. She'd know the answers to all of them if she'd ever bothered to call them first--hell, if she'd bothered to call Sojiro for updates. The fact that she doesn't already know... Ren shakes their head. That doesn't matter. Focus. "I'm fine," they say, because they're sure that's all that really matters to her anyway. "I just had something to ask."

"About your enrollment?" A beat. Then, vaguely apologetically: "I'm in the room with your father. He's about to head into a meeting, and I'm helping out with a couple of things."

"That makes things simple, then. Who did he pull strings with to get me enrolled at Shujin?"

"Ren," she says, and her tone alone tells them she won't give a straight answer either. "You're being confrontational again, dear... Couldn't you at least say hello first?"

Again, fury bubbles within them. ''Enough of your fucking tone policing!'' they want to snap. They keep themself in check. The first one to lose their temper loses the argument. "I'm just trying to respect your time, Mother," they reply stonily.

"Well..." She trails off for a moment. "I'm afraid there isn't really anything to say about that. It's as your father said: he did everything he could to make sure you had a chance to sweep away that ugly mess and get a fresh start. We know you're a bit... headstrong, dear, so we were trying to keep our expectations tempered, but..."

"...What are you trying to say?"

Her voice lowers further into a whisper. Even as she scolds them, she still sounds so gentle--so harangued. "Maybe it is a little bit like that, but I notice you aren't complaining about your room with Sakura-san, even though it's no different. Talking about it like 'calling in favors' or 'pulling strings' that you never asked for is a bit... lacking in gratitude. Don't you think?"

Ren fixes a glare on a spot just above the stairs. Their hands are shaking.

"Please don't be angry," she pleads, as if reading their mind. "It's noble to not want preferential treatment, really. It's just... We're just trying to do right by you as your parents."

"You threw me to the wolves and left me to die."

"Oh, Ren," she utters. How can she pack so much melodrama into two simple words? There's a moment of silence--Ren can imagine her exchanging glances with their father--before she continues. "I know we... haven't been in touch... but we thought you'd prefer it that way. You're so young, but so independent..."

"Don't bother," their father says in the background, crisp and sharp like the arctic frost. "If this is what he wants, leave him to stew in it."

She sighs. "We need to go. It's time," she murmurs to them. "I'm sorry. I know you wanted to talk to your father, but with you trying to pick a fight over something so trivial... he's a bit..."

~ * ~

''...disappointed.''

She hadn't even needed to say it. Ren already knew.

Both of them have always wanted something out of them that they refuse to give them, because it's just not who they are. Both of them have always treated them like they're doing it on purpose to spite them. Is that why they sold them out to whoever's pulling Kobayakawa's strings? Maybe they really did delude themselves into thinking it was for their own good, but... Have they even been following the news about Shujin? Neither of them so much as hinted at news of the Phantom Thieves.

Were they both that eager to get them out of their lives? All because they wouldn't fit the mold they wanted for them?

They're troubled thoughts, and not ones Ren wants to have right now. The mood is rapidly getting spoiled. It's so beautiful in here--and peaceful, and cozy... The perfect place to snuggle up with someone, either on a couch or on the floor. Just the two of them, no one else to see...

...Exactly what are Akechi's expectations of them here, in this deeply romantic-coded setting?

Ren looks at him when he suggests there are ''options'' here--including lying down together.

Maybe they're reading too much into it. The two of them already talked about this, multiple times. Akechi is fully aware they have a girlfriend and aren't interested in him like that. (They ''aren't''.) It's not like there's a big sign on the auditorium wall reading 'FOR COUPLES.' He just said it: this is a very different sight from what he's used to. Why couldn't a pair of platonic friends platonically watch the stars together? They and Yoshio used to do that all the...

...

...all the time.

Ren quickly folds their toned arms over the back of the couch they already sat on and lifts their eyes back up to the starry display. "Right here is fine," they murmur.

This was supposed to be a nice time. It can still be a nice time. Please let it be a nice time...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"...I'm betting you don't know any constellations, huh? You want me to point them out to you?" they offer. They just have to make it a nice time.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Is it because the rest of you is...?

"Hmm?" Akechi does not actually catch Ren's meaning there, his anxiety as to whether Akechi himself is disappointed... because his Father is disappointed...

"Well, I hardly know what to expect from hanging out with you. You can be rather unpredictable, you know." He smiles, as if that were more a compliment than anything.

Perhaps that's part of the appeal. White to Black - Order to Chaos... opposites attract.

If his image were real, that is. Instead it's more like a Storm and a Blaze meeting in the form of a Forest Fire.

What are his expectations? What does Akechi want? Why does a Storm do anything? Perhaps it wishes to know why the heat of Arsene's blue flames reach even them, so high above...

Akechi doesn't know what's troubling him, but he does see that he ''is'' troubled. Because that awe changed to something more reserved.

"Ah..." He almost asks if he did anything to offend him, because he too is nervous about this, and doesn't know why.

Nervous enough to talk to a Shadow about his feelings. Something he would ordinarily never do.

"... Certainly. I think I'd like that." He says, as he lays his briefcase down beside the couch, then seats himself upon it, shifting, until his body is laying down, looking up, placing his hands behind his head, on several of the cushions, elbows splayed out... as if it were his image of how one star gazes outside. Yet he offers more than enough space for Ren himself, without it being uncomfortable.

He can still see he's troubled - so perhaps... it'd be a kindness not to question it too deeply, yet.

"Do you have any favorites? I admit it's something of a gap in my knowledge..."

... Admitting he doesn't know something. Wow. This might be the first time he's ever done that. But he'd made it clear to Ren before he didn't know much about the Stars.

There's little point in pretending otherwise. It would be almost tantamount to gaslighting if he did.

"... I know some Astrology of course, on an academic basis but... that's hardly equivalent to astronomy."

It's difficult to let him take the lead, perhaps... but then again, he doesn't understand why he asked that Shadow that question, either.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
'Hmm?' Akechi tries to prompt Ren to finish their sentence... but they don't. At this point, it doesn't feel like they can make it a joke anymore.

Especially if they're joking specifically about how disappointed Akechi is that they're not touching him.

At least Ren smiles a little when Akechi calls them unpredictable. They do take it as a compliment at first. That's a key trait for a phantom thief, after all--you can't give the runaround to a great detective if they can read your every move. Being unpredictable equals being fun.

...That's when it hits them.

Akechi told them to their face, hadn't they? That there was a role he wanted them to live up to.

The detective and the phantom thief. The thrill of the chase. The fun of playing a high-stakes game.

"..."

Akechi seems a little off-kilter. Like he's nervous. Is he picking up on Ren's conflicted feelings? They're silent as he takes up a spot on the couch--quite a bit of a spot, splaying out on it like a cat--and yet still giving them plenty of space. Making sure they don't touch, even though Ren doesn't move. They watch him for a moment, leaning with his back as flat as he can make it, while Ren maintains their crouch, seating themself facing the couch's back instead.

White and black; order and chaos. Even now, the two of them do give that vibe. Ren has only hints of the true storm within Akechi, and for now has been fooled about its nature... but that doesn't mean they see nothing. For now, they watch--him, and then the projector's sky.

"Hardly," they agree quietly. "I know a little too. Astrology centers around the Zodiac, so they're popular constellations. Your birthday was June 2, so that makes you a Gemini... That's a winter constellation, believe it or not, so you won't see it here. Instead..."

They point towards one side of the Milky Way splitting the sky, then trace their finger along its path. "There. That's Scorpio, the Scorpion. That's my sign," they say. (This means Ren's birthday falls somewhere between October 23 and November 21--but Akechi hardly needed the clue for an answer he no doubt notes already.) "Have you ever read Night on the Galactic Railroad? When they talk about the burning heart of Scorpio, that's the star they mean." They shift their fingertip a little to a bright red star. "It's called Antares. It's a red supergiant, which means it's one of the older stars in the galaxy." They pause a beat. "Well--'one of.' It looks like a single star to the naked eye, but it's actually a binary star system, made up of Alpha Scorpii A and Alpha Scorpii B," they continue, the warmth of enthusiasm creeping back into their tone.

They pause again; then they lean their head on the back of the couch to look over at Akechi. "In Greek, the name Antares means 'rival to Ares,'" they say quietly. "Because the ancients thought its reddish color made it a rival to the red planet, Mars, whose Greek equivalent was Ares, god of war."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
A role. That's accurate.

He does want Ren to be his rival - in being a Phantom Thief.

But is it only that? Does he even know if it's only that?

Maybe the reason neither of them can be certain of what this is, is because Akechi himself is blind to his own feelings of something that isn't part of his 'Justice'.

Stumbling in the dark... only contradictory voices in his head, to guide him.

"Yes..." Astrology has no meaning, in the same way Wang Long has none, it's useful though for knowing how people think.

"... I guess some part of me always felt Libra would be more fitting. Not for some personality test, but the imagery..."

Gemini. He knows that it fits him so well. Both sides of him might as well be twins. Two sides of the same...

... but...

... he doesn't want to admit that. Not even now.

"Scorpio... passionate... fearless. If one is to believe the Horoscopes, yet - I can't claim they're wrong in your case." He comments, asides as he looks towards it. Then Ren asks him about the Night on the Galactic Railroad.

"Who do you take me for?" He asks with a chuckle, thinking about 'True Happiness' and the Mountains one must climb, the sorrows one must cross. "Of course I have."

As a child, it was a little comforting...

... but he still never found meaning in the stars.

He looks towards that spot, Antares. "Huh. It's a curious thought, the two bound to each other to become a single 'heart' in the minds of others." He thinks upon the matter, then turns to look Ren's way, there's some consideration at the idea of a Star being a Rival.

For a time, he's silent, looking Ren's way, then back up. "... A not quite eternal rivalry... but, it might as well be. I imagine Antares is millions of years from vanishing, still. Maybe it's light will outlast humanity..."

Still, as he looks up, watching the bright star - it's slight crimson hue catching his eye, like a flickering flame.

"In the story as I recall, the Scorpion made a wish, after a lifetime of harm unto others that it grant... happiness, through the fires of self-sacrifice."

His eyes reflect the star projected upon the ceiling, as he contemplates it, "A commendable... thought, but it never quite sat right with me, I think. That with a single act after a lifetime of regretful actions - one finds 'true happiness'."

It doesn't feel like, truly taking responsibility, to him. Even if the fires should burn for this long, grant this view to so many.

Should it be enough?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
In fairness to Akechi, it's probably hard to clearly see any non-Justice-related feelings towards someone you ultimately plan on killing.

Ren chuckles, ignorant of that for now. How they see Akechi--how they feel about him--is equally confused, if in different ways, but they're starting to relax again now that they're talking about the stars. It's a romantic setting, but maybe that can't be helped. He's trying to give them space. He's trying to encourage them to talk. It's not his fault Ren's enamored.

"Libra the Scales... It ''is'' the spitting image of Justice," they remark. They shrug. "Ah, well. It's all made-up anyway. Fun to talk about, though. Don't worry about it too much." They crook him a smile. "Geminis are supposed to be smart and good at communicating. You can brag about that much, at least."

Passionate and fearless. Astrology is made-up, but Ren must admit, they do like being described that way. That part of them comes out much more in the Metaverse... but Akechi's seen that part of them, too. Remembering that, Ren's smile fades again, and they gaze back up at the stars.

They at least tilt their head in a silent 'point taken' when Akechi pokes fun at their question. Yeah, obviously an erudite guy like him has read a book that famous. What child in Japan hasn't read Miyazawa's final work? Out of the corner of their eye, they see Akechi looking at them... but they don't return the look, for now. "Two together are brighter than one alone... or something like that. It's not like people could tell they were a binary star system until telescopes were invented, though," they remark. "From Earth, it really does look like a single star."

A rivalry not quite eternal--but it may as well be. Ren nods in agreement. Compared to stars and planets, human beings are less than a single nail shaving off one's little toe. Some might find that existentially terrifying, but not them. After all, the stars and they all are...

"..."

Akechi looks at the stars; Ren looks back at him. Once again, he paints a picture of feeling that redemption is the wrong answer. "Even if that act is giving up everything that makes you 'you'?" they wonder quietly. They know--the Phantom Thieves might lay extreme force down on the Palace Rulers and steal away their Treasures, but once the source of their distortions are gone, they agree of their own accord to go back and make things right. That, too, could be a form of self-sacrifice--a way to atone.

If ''that'' isn't enough, how could anything ever be?

They lean their head back on the back of the couch. "What do you think true happiness is, then?"

And, Ren has to wonder--is it going to be 'the fruits of revenge'?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
"Ideas still have power, I suppose... if people believe in them enough. I've had cases enough where people made one decision, or another because of something they read in the Horoscopes. Still... I think you're right."

That it's fun to talk about. He means. Perhaps, he's having fun, he thinks- even if he can't see what Ren sees. It's fun listening to his passion about the subject- this subject.

"At least... I rather hope so." He says of an eternal rivalry as if he were second guessing it, "It's not impossible that it's been over since long before either of us were born. Who can say?"

Akechi suggests, "For all we know - one, or both of them went supernova long before either of us were born. Though, I hope it's both, if so- it would be rather fitting."

It's wrong that his Mother is dead - and Shido is alive. That he doesn't even ''know'' she's dead. Much better had her death turned him to ashes...

... but since it didn't, he'll make certain there's nothing left of the life he built, but that.

Even if that act is giving up everything that makes you 'you'?

"Even self-sacrifice, can be a selfish act." He explains, "For instance - the heart that caught fire and was left behind... remains proof of one's existence, in a universe where one might not be remembered before. How others would see you - defined wholly by that final act - rather than every single one before."

He says, with more than a touch of cynicism. But what is... true happiness?

Akechi looks up at Antares- the binary he was ignorant of before, then looks sideways towards Ren, "I don't know." He admits, "If I had to think about it, I'd posit that 'True Happiness' is an unachievable ideal. I always considered the book's premise of 'keeping to the path one deems to be true'... well, that certainly seemed right to me. If you walk it... you'll certainly find ''meaning'' to life at least... and one hopes to find happiness... but 'true happiness'?"

He looks up, and thinks of how he found his Mother for the first time. Did she think, in her final moments, she was sacrificing herself for his happiness?

That thought alone, is enough for him to dismiss the entire idea of it. If anything he did convinced her of this - then she remains his first murder.

And yet, does not that image burn on in ''his'' heart? The first spark - not to happiness, but to hatred.

"I can't even imagine what it would look like."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ideas ''do'' have power. It's amazing--and sometimes terrifying--how much.

They're having fun too, though. In fact, Ren tries and fails to stifle an affectionately amused smile. Akechi really doesn't know anything about the stars if he thinks Mars is one too. Really, the only reason there's any rivalry at all is because of how they appear from Earth. Mars and Antares can be very respectable rivals to each other from that viewpoint.

Still, one thing he says is true--and proves that Akechi does know at least a little bit after all. "That ''is'' possible. We're only seeing their light after millions of years," Ren muses, in their case using 'they' to refer to the binary star system that is Antares. (If one of those went supernova, the other would most certainly go down with the other, considering how close they are.) "The way they look now... the way Mars looks... it's all just..."

They trail off again as something clicks in their mind.

Perception.

''Cognition,'' as someone cheeky might call it. Either way, it's all just the biased perception of people who died ages ago... still influencing the way they're seen now, even after science has expanded so much. Even with the ability to see so much better now, it's ''still'' a biased perception, because they're all so far away.

Like the heart of Scorpio, burning as a lamppost to the galaxy at the end of a life of sin.

Like Ren and their hometown. Their family.

"...."

This is the view they grew up with in the mountains of Inaba during summer vacation. The friends they camped with... the adults who looked out for them... That limited view is all they'll ever remember, even if they go home.

They grip the back of the couch.

Can they ever go home at this rate? What happens when they do go home? They're only supposed to be here in Tokyo for a year. What happens after that? They go back to Inaba, where the only high school around already expelled them? To people who grew up with them, yet discarded them once they broke the mold of 'proper' society? No... Even if they do go back to the town where they were born, they can never go "home" again. "Home" is somewhere where you belong.

Their hands shake.

They don't belong anywhere. Not anymore.

They will never see this view again. Not the way they remember it from their childhood.

To keep to the path one deems to be true--that's always what they've tried to do. They're doing it now, even after getting crushed by the hammer of society. They ''do'' find meaning in that; they don't regret becoming a Phantom Thief--they love it, even--but if becoming that means burning away everything that made them 'them'...

Maybe they'd have done it anyway.

But it would've been nice if it could've been ''their'' choice, instead of something a twisted society forced them into.

'''True happiness'? I can't even imagine what it would look like.''

There's a tragedy there worth unpacking. Unfortunately, it's come just as Ren's had the worst kind of epiphany.

They get up abruptly, head bowed, hands clenched. "Sorry," they mumble. This isn't Akechi's fault. The two of them were just talking. (Even though Akechi's also caged them with his perceptions and expectations. Even though Akechi keeps confusing them with his mixed signals, like the wrong lights blinking from a communication tower at midnight.) "I just..."

An appropriate excuse doesn't come to mind. They stop bothering to find one. They just turn and stride out of the room, tight and hurried.

If Akechi chases after them--or gives them some time and comes looking for them later--he'll find them in the bathroom, hunched over one of the sinks, washing their face.

The men's bathroom, even. Just one more way they're imprisoned by other people's perceptions.

"......."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
To be clear, Akechi doesn't ''actually'' believe Mars is a Star. However, it's easy to think he might, by what he said.

It's more poetic to think of the rivalry in terms of 'stars' than to be an 'um, actually' in that moment. But, Ren can question that one later...

... cognition, perception. Such things are on his mind. The stars are up in the sky at night. If one didn't know any better, one would think their light was just... there, a view in real time of the entire galaxy.

If one didn't know any better, one might look at the ceiling of this planetarium and think they were real stars. If you woke up here, with eyes staring above... would you understand the difference right away?

"... Hm? You were saying?" He asks, of Ren just trailing off, but as he falls into silence, Akechi lapses into silence too. It's strange, the quiet feels different than it does when he's alone.

Your thoughts veer different places. Your self-concept does too.

Quiet... Ren grips the couch, and he doesn't notice, because he's trying to give him space. His thoughts aren't of home - in that mouldering basement, with pipes that leaked above, the pang-pang-pang of it in old pans he'd have to empty every so often.

Here, he doesn't have to always think about it...

... it's only when they glance again, that they see his hands trembling, "...Amamiya-kun?" He asks, with a tilt of his head their way, questioning, concern implied. He apologizes, gets up, and he begins to sit up.

'I just...'

"... Is something..." Ren has turned away, hurried out of the room, "... amiss?"

Akechi starts blaming himself right away. It's the easiest target. He must have said something, did something that offended him. However, as he reviews the last few moments - he can't figure out a single thing he did.

Rationally... it isn't him.

He only half believes it though. It takes him about half a minute to get up, after his final sight of Ren out that door.

When he enters the Men's restroom, he's standing there in his sweater vest, at the moment, without his suitcase. He stands there, observing him as he washes his face.

Then looks back to the door, like he's considering giving him privacy. He is after all, bad at this.

He's never been good at talking to people in these moments. He knows - if it were him, it'd feel like pity. That he'd despise it.

"I'd ask if it were a case of an upset stomach... if I thought that is all it was."

But... Ren isn't him. Even if there's a lot about him that feels like a reflection in one of those bathroom mirrors to him.

"You don't have to say- if you'd like some privacy, I certainly wouldn't mind."

But, the invitation is there, to say - if he'd like. Because... there's nobody else here for Ren, today. Nobody but him.

So many better candidates out there... and it's just him.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It ''is'' poetic--especially in Japanese, where the planets are colloquially called 'stars'. When Ren realizes that's what Akechi was doing, they'll appreciate his willingness to play along.

Right now, they're in no position to realize their misunderstanding.

The bathroom is quiet at first. Bright and clean and sterile. Ren has never been good at crying; they can be sad or upset, but the tears just don't come. It's like that now too. Their throat's constricted and their breath is hitching and their face hurts, but the only water that runs down their face comes from the faucet.

It doesn't even make sense. It's not like they've realized anything new. Intellectually, they've known all these things all along. But with Kanae's silent rejection and Sojiro still missing-but-not... somehow, all of a sudden, it hits differently.

They don't have a "home." Their parents don't want them--have probably never wanted them--and even that attic where they're staying is... just a room where they're staying. They can collect decorations from their outings with their friends all they like. At the end of the year, they'll have to collect it all and find somewhere else to stay.

Where else ''can'' they stay? Their friends wouldn't let them end up on the street--they have faith in that, and that helps this from spiraling into a full-blown panic attack. But none of their places would be "home" either, nor would they be able to stay for long.

When this school year is over and they have to go "home," where is that going to be?

They're hunched over the sink, rubbing water into their face, when the door faintly creaks. Ren's shoulders tense. Akechi's voice follows. Of course it's Akechi. Of course he'd wonder what the hell just happened. Ren looks over at him, dead-eyed and dripping. He doesn't have his briefcase in hand, they note, though their thoughts are too chaotic to read anything into that at the moment.

"...."

It's a kind offer, made through implication. Just the two of them. They could just open up, admit the morning they've had, ask for comfort. Maybe Akechi would even give it. It's the perfect opportunity, isn't it? It's just the two of them.

"Could just" has such a way of trivializing something so fucking difficult.

Ren lowers their gaze to the sink. They fold their arms and hunch over it. "...."

Is it crazy that they want to tell him? Even though they know it's a bad idea? Even if Akechi's being sincere and not trying to lure them into a trap of telling him deeply personal information he can use against them, they know just enough about him to know he won't sympathize anyway. A kid who grew up desperately poor, who lost his parents at some point, who constantly struggled for everything he had and was constantly subjected to judgment for things outside his control--how's he supposed to sympathize with some kid who grew up well-to-do with a still-living set of parents who just want them to Behave, who'd be living a perfectly normal life still if he'd just minded his own business?

Maybe he'd even be right to. Maybe even thinking of telling him what's wrong is incredibly selfish of Ren.

Maybe that's the trap Akechi is trying to lure them into. It's absurd to think he could have predicted this would happen--less so to think he wouldn't take advantage of a prime opportunity.

Didn't they talk about this already, though? About how they don't trust him and he doesn't trust them, and they're both going to move forward with this weird, awkward relationship they have anyway? He could be trying to take advantage. He could also be worried about them. Shouldn't they at least... give him a chance to prove which it is?

...that would be a lot more convincing if their freedom and the freedom of their friends wasn't on the line.

"...Yeah. I think I need to leave," they murmur, looking away. "Sorry."

''Pathetic,'' Caroline and Isabeau had both called them.

They sure as hell feel like it right now. Turning off the faucet, they rip a paper towel from the dispenser and bury their face in it to dry.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
<poem>
Even the idea of an upset stomach, was a way to save face, preserve pride.

Ren deals with the crisis of realizing his home no longer exists. Akechi hasn't had one in over a decade. There's a symmetry in the asymmetry of that idea between the two of them.

However, he's been to a restroom to wash his face before. Not after crying. But because he was still nauseated, throwing up after killing Wakaba Isshiki. He wouldn't let himself cry. He doesn't deserve to.

Ren does, though, even if it's only in the privacy of a restroom when they think they're alone.

There's symmetry in the asymmetry. That's how one like him might learn to sympathize with the well-off child of a politician who grew up with a family and a home in a rural area.

Ren tells him he needs to leave. And Akechi nods, as if in acceptance of this idea, looking away. He could just accept the excuse, without complaint, but instead, something creeps into his tone, "... If you say so."

'''Why the hell do I feel so disappointed?'''

Because yet again... he feels like an unwelcome guest. Even if it's not in someone's home - just someone's space.

That so many other people exist within casually.

But why should he expect anything different? To be a celebrity detective, is to set yourself apart from everyone else. To be the monster of the Metaverse... is to set yourself apart.

He's a threat to the person that is Ren Amamiya on every possible level. He's right not to trust him. And there's no reason for Akechi to trust Ren either.

To trust, is have someone be a part of your life. So why should this moment end any differently? Ren doesn't even want him in his life, not really. Keep your friends close - but your enemies even closer.

Except... that's not true either. That would imply he's closer than them to the person Ren Amamiya is...

"For what it's worth... I was enjoying this."

... and he knows he's not. Not by a long shot.

He then turns, and the door swings open to mark his passing, as he leaves the restroom and walks away.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
They don't look at him. They don't have to, to hear it in his voice.

Disappointment.

"...."

Why does that have to hurt so much?

(He's disappointed because you aren't living up to the role he assigned you in his head. He's disappointed because there's a game he's playing and you're not playing along the right way. He's disappointed because you have your own fucking shit going on and he doesn't care a goddamn bit--)

''For what it's worth... I was enjoying this.''

"......"

There's silence in the wake of the swing of the door, after Akechi leaves him behind. Ren lifts their face from the paper towel, eyes down for a long moment before they eventually stare themself down in the mirror.

They look like how they feel: like shit.

Like a disappointment. To someone who...

"Me too," they whisper.

Whatever. They have other things they need to do... Things that, all else aside, Akechi can't be a part of, because he opposes them.

Eventually, they throw their garbage away and leave the planetarium behind.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-11-08: Assessment, Acknowledgement and Appropriate Response

2026-10-25T00:11:22Z

Ayu: Created page with "*'''Log: 2025-11-07: Assessment, Acknowledgement and Appropriate Response''' *'''Cast:''' Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima *'''Where:''' Central Street, Shibuya and Shibuya Station *'''OOC Date:''' November 07, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' August 07, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''With the Fireworks Festival rained out, the Phantom Thieves make for Shibuya Station to get to their midnight appointment. Ren falls back a bit to enquire about Makoto..."

*'''Log: 2025-11-07: Assessment, Acknowledgement and Appropriate Response'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Makoto Niijima]]
*'''Where:''' Central Street, Shibuya and Shibuya Station
*'''OOC Date:''' November 07, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' August 07, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the [[2025-11-07:_Fireworks,_Interrupted|Fireworks Festival]] rained out, the Phantom Thieves make for Shibuya Station to get to their midnight appointment. Ren falls back a bit to enquire about Makoto's sudden and convenient acquisition of a Buchimaru-kun umbrella, and they discuss Akechi's motivations, as well as how to respond.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
While inside Triple Seven, Ren had gotten Makoto's text that she'd gotten an umbrella. That's great--one less umbrella that the group needs. They rejoin Makoto and Ann with Ryuji in tow not too long after that--though still after Akechi's ride has already driven off. Thankfully, Kazusa is gone by now--probably inside Triple Seven to go after her own friend.

As Ryuji and Ann talk between themselves (probably good-natured bickering) and distribute/receive Schroedinger's Goods, Ren looks curiously at Makoto's umbrella. The panda-like design looks familiar. "Where'd you get that from, anyway?" they wonder. Kazusa didn't have anything like that on her, so she couldn't have gotten it from her...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
It's a little easier to wait outside with a proper umbrella, rather than the shelter of the storefront. It provides a little more protection from the angled rain swept in with the occasional wind. It's also, frankly, a little awkward and embarrassing and *surely* Ann noticed right? But... well. Those two are occupied and it's just her and Ren hanging back.

"...It's almost too unlikely to believe," Makoto starts, with a sigh, but she sees no reason to hide it from Ren asking, she just wanted to avoid any unnecessary shouting. "It was Akechi-kun." Makoto shakes her head, clearly a touch frustrated. "Apparently, Sis had let him off work early for the fireworks festival. Given he pulled up in a government car, that much checks out but..." She looks up at the panda umbrella, before returning to Ren. "...It's an incredibly unlikely coincidence, isn't it? But if he was following us, why would he go out of his way to show up like that?" Makoto lets out a fatigued sigh. "I really don't understand him."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren's eyebrows rise. It was Akechi? They glance at Ann and Ryuji, distracted with each other, and step in closer to Makoto so they can talk more. Morgana's still taking cover from the rain in their bag, too, so...

Those eyebrows furrow when Makoto explains more of what happened. That ''does'' sound like an unlikely coincidence. At the same time, the rain was abrupt; a lot of people didn't anticipate it. On the other hand, Akechi is smarter than most and could have anticipated the possibility... But showing up just long enough to give Makoto an umbrella, while in a government car, and then just leaving? One hand rises to twiddle with a lock of their bangs in thought before they too look again at the umbrella.

"Don't you have a pencil case with this mascot on it?" they observe. "Is this a thing?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
As Ren steps in closer, Makoto adjusts her grip on the umbrella to give him room, understanding the need for quiet conversation under the circumstances. It is, after all, technically PT business and it's good to not be overheard.

That's not the question Makoto was expecting, frankly. "Ah, yes, I do." Makoto blushes a little at the question, looking a touch embarrassed. "It's Buchimaru-kun, he was a mascot around when I was a kid." She's not surprised that Ren hasn't heard of him- but she is a little surprised that he noticed. Not that Ren's unobservant, it's just... most people don't.

"They don't really make things for him these days, but he was pretty popular when I was a kid. Dad got me the pencil case when I was young, and I've kind of... collected it ever since." It's a pretty childish attachment, but an important one for Makoto. "Why do you ask?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Good thing there's no one around to read too much into the fact that Makoto and Ren are now sharing an umbrella.

Ren listens to Makoto's explanation. They don't remember ever seeing or hearing of Buchimaru-kun, and they're only a year younger than Makoto, but they grew up in a country town, after all. It probably never reached their neck of the woods, especially if he was a flash-in-the-pan mascot, from the sounds of it.

So it's a thing Makoto likes and has liked for a long time, that she is at least a little embarrassed about liking, if that blush is any indication. "Did you ever tell Akechi you like Buchimaru-kun? Or do you think your sister might've told him?" they press, their form of an answer.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
Who could possibly read too much into a simple sharing of an umbrella between friends.

Still, Ren brings up a new idea, and Makoto pauses. "...I don't think Sis told him," she says, thoughtfully, "but I am pretty sure he learned I liked him from her." Makoto thinks back. "He already knew about that the first time I met him."

Makoto frowns, she hadn't thought about it at all back then, but she's had to replay that first conversation a few times in her head since then. Ren is giving her cause to go over it moreso. "...Apparently he saw Sis looking at a pair of Buchimaru shoes at some point, and thought they were more my taste than hers."

Makoto sighs. She and Sae still hadn't had a proper conversation since then. How much of that was Makoto becoming more guarded, and how much was it Sae having less and less time for her. Not that Makoto had as much time for Sae, either.

"It's... not exactly a hard thing for him to figure out, if he spends that much time with Sis." It's easy to catch the jealousy in Makoto's voice, especially given she has little reason to hide it from Ren beyond habit. "But it's... weird that he'd have a Buchimaru umbrella at all. They haven't made these in years, and you'd think it'd show more use of wear and tear unless he's a collector."

Makoto's frown deepens. "He even said I could borrow for as long as I wanted, which kind of indicates it's not precious to him."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Makoto's initial reply prompts a quizzical look from Ren. As she explains further, understanding dawns, and they nod once, mulling over the facts. They've only seen Sae once, but based on her style, they think that's a fair assessment on Akechi's part. That lawyer lady definitely doesn't seem like she'd be using panda goods for herself, and if Akechi knew she had a younger sister...

But then there's another piece of information: that jealous note ringing like church bells in Makoto's voice. Ren gives her a concerned look. She hadn't wanted to talk about her home situation before, but this definitely sounds like she ''dis''likes the fact that Akechi has a close relationship with her sister. After all, if Akechi saw Sae looking at Buchimaru shoes, that means they were shopping casually together. And if he's not personally attached to that umbrella...

"He definitely got it specifically for you," they conclude. "No idea where he got it ''from'', but I don't believe for a second it's a coincidence."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
It's a style that Makoto kind of respects, herself, even if it's not quite hers. That said, Makoto's own style has shifted more adult in the years since her dad died, and only some of that is because of Sae's hand me downs.

Look, you don't have to discuss your feelings if you bury them deep enough no one else notices, or fail so badly at that that the people around you notice!!

Indeed, she takes Ren's concerned look to match their conclusion, and not Makoto's own emotional state. "...That's the only explanation that makes sense," Makoto agrees, looking up at the umbrella again. "But ''why'' though?" Makoto shakes her head, clearly failing to understand the logic. "If he wanted to show that he knew I liked Buchimaru-kun, well, he did that in our first conversation. If he wanted to show he has his eyes on us, hasn't he done that enough already?" She rotates the umbrella a bit, as if looking for something planted on it- but Makoto sees nothing, and an umbrella is surprisingly hard to hide things on. "So... why go out of his way to deliver an umbrella to me ''tonight''? And there's no way he could have accounted for you going in after Ryuji and Ann being distracted at the time. He's good but he's not Sherlock Holmes. Only fictional characters can get to ''that'' level of deduction..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren considers the conversation they'd had with Akechi only yesterday and rubs a lock of their bangs again in thought. "So, they don't make Buchimaru-kun goods anymore, right? So this probably isn't something he picked specifically because it's an umbrella; it's probably the first Buchimaru-kun he was able to get his hands on. He's probably had it for a while, and he gave it to you tonight because he knew you'd be at the fireworks festival, and probably guessed it'd get rained out after checking the weather like you did. The rest ''was'' a coincidence, but also an opening he was waiting for, probably. Maybe he would've gone for it anyway, but who knows.

"As for why..."

They slip their hands into their pockets and look back at Makoto. "I don't fully get Akechi, either, but he's confided a lot of personal things to me. Assuming they're true, I do understand some parts of him, and there's two plausible scenarios I can think of.

"The first is that he was trying to be nice and give you something he knew you'd like, but didn't want you to think he was making a big deal of it in case it didn't land or you turned out not to like it after all. In other words, he's trying to make friends with you but he's too awkward to say it.

"The second is that he's showing off that he knows you like this thing because of how close he is to your sister--closer than maybe even you are, thanks to how much they work together," Ren says, watching Makoto's face closely. "In other words, he's mocking you and trying to make you feel bad about yourself.

"Which do ''you'' think it is?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
Ren lays out the scenario as he sees it- and it's kind of surprising the way Ren thinks through Akechi's logic, in a way Makoto just couldn't. Finding rare merch just in case, waiting for an opportunity, weighing the odds and making a right call that Makoto got wrong about the weather. And then striking the second he saw the opportunity. Makoto seems to take a while to process Ren's logic, walking through it herself.

And then Ren posits his scenarios, and that gives Makoto pause.

''Which do ''you'' think it is?''

Makoto sighs. "It's... probably the latter." Makoto says, sounding a touch frustrated with herself. "He made it clear how little he thought of me at the end of that first conversation." She frowns. "He seemed pretty disappointed I was a 'good girl pushover' instead of being more like Sae." Those words are still buried in her head, popping up with many of her other recurring doubts, sometimes for motivation, sometimes to dispirit her. "...He probably worked out how I felt about that too. It goes against his image, but..."

But does he care if he thinks that they're the Phantom Thieves?

Makoto seems frustrated by this revelation, but is she more frustrated that Akechi thinks that way or that she couldn't work it out on her own. "Leave it to Akechi-kun to find a way to wrap an insult in a kind gift." Makoto mumbles, somehow having failed to place juvenile bullying tactics that she was on the receiving end of as a kid.

"...Is that too harsh of me?" Makoto asks, looking to Ren for advice. They know Akechi best of all of them- and that Makoto is predisposed against him already could be colouring her view. "And... what do we do if I'm right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren is silent at first when Makoto posits that scenario #2 is probably the correct one. That's definitely possible--they wouldn't have brought it up if they thought otherwise; they even called Akechi out yesterday on doing plausibly deniable things with the intention of hurting others, but not so overtly that he couldn't get away with it.

"His image is fake, anyway. Cultured for the cameras," Ren remarks. They shake their head. "No, it's not too harsh, but... There's one thing that doesn't make sense if that's the right scenario. That's a ''lot'' of effort to go through to insult you in a backhanded way. Does he really hate you that much?"

They look back at her. By now, they're back in Shibuya Station--no doubt have been for a bit. "Truth be told, I'm 99% sure Akechi already knows who we are. That means he's seen all of us fight, up close and personal. He knows you're not that 'good girl pushover' anymore. I bet he did dislike you back then, but he probably doesn't want you to be like your sister. He wants you to be you, unapologetically." They look back at her. "And you are now."

They pause to let this sink in for a moment. "That being said," they continue, "he ''is'' a jerk. He mocks me a lot too. And at the same time that he mocks me, he challenges me. Sees what I'll do when he jabs at me and encourages me to push back. He's a ''competitive'' jerk. He likes it when people push back on him--and at the same time, he hates being rejected."

Ren offers Makoto a slow, slight, but real smile. "So it might be that the truth is in the middle: it's some of both. If he really held you in contempt, he wouldn't go to all that trouble. He's trying to challenge you--see if you notice both sides of the gesture and how you react." They shrug a little. "...That's what I think, anyway."

That smile fades as they look back at her. "Either way, this is a message he sent to you specifically. What we do next depends on what you want."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
<poem>
Ren is quick to dismiss Akechi's image as fake, and Makoto is inclined to agree with them there, but Ren posits something she hadn't considered at all- the idea that it could be both. It takes Makoto a while to consider the possibility. "...honestly, after that first meeting, I'm kind of surprised he'd consider me even worth his notice." Makoto seems to take a while to think about that, while Ren lays out everything else. When given the chance to let things sink in, that gives her a chance to truly consider what it means- especially the fact that Ren suspects he's fully aware of who they are.

"...And he hasn't just handed us over to Sis. That means he's more interested in the competition than anything else, right?" It's an educated guess, but it tells her something too.

"...Do you think that's what he was doing, when he approached me for information on you?" Makoto frowns. The implications of ''that'' are worrying. It means Akechi-kun's push is what led her to join the Phantom Thieves, and the further implications of that...

The specific words about changing Sae's heart take on a new context, if Akechi was active as a Persona User even then, that's... that's a whole lot. Enough to make Makoto hesitant to voice any further.

She takes in Ren's smile, that smile she associates more with Joker than she does Ren Amamiya. So if it depends on what Makoto wants...

The Queen's cold expression makes it onto Makoto's face, perhaps a little out of place here in regular Shibuya Station, as Makoto Niijima finds her answer. "...I want to wipe that shit eating grin off his smug face at least once."

And maybe there's a more personal side to that ambition than just Akechi needling her, challenging her. Maybe, just maybe, she wants Sae to see that Makoto is just as valuable, worth just as much as the Detective Prince.

That part, however, is a little harder to say out loud.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
'That means he's more interested in the competition than anything else, right?'

"Exactly."

But does that mean he was pushing Makoto deliberately, back in their first meeting? "I'm not sure. Pushing you towards us? Yeah, I think so. But he couldn't know that you'd end up awakening and joining us. I think that part had to've been a surprise." But Ren doesn't sound sure of that. "I think it's likelier you were a pawn to him back then, and he's taking you more seriously now."

None of them know for sure how long Akechi's been a Persona User. However, Ren knows it's at least been since before that visit to the TV station. That means he was definitely awakened by the time he and Makoto met. More importantly, Makoto considers what she wants...

And when she says it, Ren's slight smile broadens into a sickle of a grin--an expression that's ''definitely'' more Joker than Ren Amamiya.

"Give 'im hell, Makoto," they encourage. "It'll be fun."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-09-05: Girl Und Panzer

2026-10-25T00:05:54Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: Girl Und Panzer'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Penguin Sniper|Commandant P. Pen]], [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]], [[Ann Takamaki]], [[Haru Okumura]]
*'''Where:''' Commandant Kobayakawa's Palace, Parade Grounds
*'''OOC Date:''' September 05, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' Friday, July 06, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''The Phantom Thieves descend deep into Principal Kobayakawa's Palace to see if they can rescue Kasumi Yoshizawa... Takes place immediately after the scene [[2025-08-30:_The_Great_Debunker|The Great Debunker]].''
*'''TW''': Glorification of a Sexual Predator, Suicide Attack, Exploitation of Children

----

<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>
Loudspeakers lead the Phantoms far deeper into the bunker, every so often the loudspeakers mounted on the walls screech their staticky announcement.

>Thebztmartial of BZZTTT-TCK-oshizawa will begin shortly on the parade gro-HSSHHH

The bunker trembles in the aftermath, like the aftermath of a mortar's detonation like the entire place would be under threat of coming down from a single good shot. And yet, they have to keep going, because Kasumi Yoshizawa is somewhere deep within. Still in danger.

As their footsteps take them closer to the parade grounds, there are things that catch their eye, on announcement boards, postings in regards to disciplinary action taken.

JUNIOR OFFICER MAKOTO NIIJIMA - INSUBORDINATION, DERELICTION OF DUTY

By order of the Commandant, she is to be stripped of rank and commendation, blacklisted from the Military Academy of her choice, and shipped off to Fort Big Bang to serve as a mess attendant.

CADET SHIHO SUZUI - DEFECTION, TREASON

Rumored to be under the protection of foreign saboteurs. If captured, by order of the Commandant she is to be immediately expelled by firing squad.

CADET RYUJI SAKAMOTO - ASSAULT ON SUPERIOR OFFICER, INSUBORDINATION, VARIOUS UNIFORM VIOLATIONS, DELINQUENCY

Stripped of rank and honors, consigned to the brig of obscurity for as long as he should live.

CAPTAIN SUGURU KAMOSHIDA - HONORABLE DISCHARGE

It is with a heavy heart that the Commandant regrets to inform all that our beloved Captain Kamoshida has been taken advantage of by saboteurs, and forcibly defected from our ranks. Let us remember him as he once was, and not the stain of this most ignominious disgrace.

That's all infuriating enough, certainly, but as they turn to go, Joker's foot finds a torn flyer stuck to it. Look closely, it's half of Kasumi's face, her smile and gaze bisected, with only a glimpse of red hair in profile.

SHIZAWA - KILLED IN ACTION, DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE

etting herself be killed before repaying the Commandant's investment in her, she is to be buried without honors and discharged from the rolls.

It's not that far beyond that the tunnels reach a much larger blast door, which is currently wide open, and beyond it is an enormous bunker room that dwarfs all the others. The sky is still invisible, but the blare of floodlights overhead light a large room up, apparently meant for assembly and yes - ''parade'' of the troops, despite the entire bunker being underground.

It is here that Kasumi Yoshizawa is found being held up by two cognitions, wielding gymnastics ribbons to bind one arm each from the side, pulling her in both directions uncomfortably at once. These cognitions are even recognizable, as members of the rhythmic gymnastics team, in leotards, wearing sunglasses, and dark berets.

"Disgraceful."

"You were supposed to bring us glory!"

More shadows, and cognitions of various special forces units, each wearing berets and sunglasses, many more with dark jerseys rather than leotards, as if to mark which unit they belong to.

But towering above all, is an enormous Reviewing Stand, draped in Shujin colors, with the Insignia of Shujin Academy prominent, surrounded by the rays of the Imperial Sun.

And atop it, is an enormous man, and wearing a red officer's uniform that's stretched out by his mere girth, with large silver shoulder plates, a black cape, and a peaked service cap, as he taps an educator's baton to his side like a riding crop.

He seems disappointed and vaguely put out by this.

Below him, is his right hand man, Vice-Commandant Kawazu, a cognition of Shujin's Vice-Principal in a less resplendent but still authoritative, green version of that same uniform, wearing shaded spectacles, leading the proceedings... and this is what they walk into.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"'Motojima-senpai... Furuya-san... Please, let me go." Kasumi looks at the two holding her up with pleading eyes. But the two members of the gymnastics club only give her glares in response.

"Quiet!" Vice-Commandant Kawazu shouts at Kasumi. The ribbons tighten around her wrists and she winces in response, going silent as she stares in confusion at the man she thought was the Vice-Principal.

"Hmph, better. Let us begin. Cadet Yoshizawa. You were discovered out of uniform attempting to flee through the main gate. As such you are hereby charged with desertion." The Vice-Commandant Kawazu sighs, "To think that we treated you with honor because of your supposed skills as an elite soldier."

Kasumi is aware that something weird is going on, but she can't quite grasp what as she tries to explain, "But I-"

"I said quiet!" Kawazu cuts her off, the ribbons pulling on Kasumi's arms and causing her to let out a yelp of pain. Her head then drops down as her mind swims. She can't understand what's going on. Why the people she thought she knew are being so weird and hurting her.

Kasumi can barely hear 'Vice-Commandant' Kawazu as he continues, "Consider your special status revoked!"

But at the rate that things are going,
Yoshizawa-san's honor status could possibly be
revoked.
Getting special treatment is like... Whatever if
it's deserved. But do you think she's earned it?

Kasumi freezes, staring down at the ground as the Vice-Commandant's words sound so familiar. Finding satisfaction in Kasumi's seeming obedience, Kawazu continues, "You and your sister were transferred to this command for the express purpose of bringing us honor and glory."

We took in those sisters to improve Shujin's
standing, but at this rate, we're only going
to end up suffering for it.

Hey, isn't that the new transfer
student? I don't get what the big deal
is, she doesn't seem that great.

Kasumi hangs limply as Kawazu paces in front of her, "Not only did your sister go and get herself killed before she could even start her service, but you have repeatedly shown an inability to perform your duties to the level expected of you!"

Not only have we lost one of them, but the
other one's not doing us any good. Talk about
a waste of effort...

Well, third place doesn't really cut it in
this case. She needs to attain first-place
results for her exceptional status to be
worthwhile.

Although Kasumi remains silent, she does clench her fists as Kawazu sighs and shakes his head, "It's because of those with disgraceful actions like you and your sister that this command is under threat of falling to the enemy and central command doubts our ability to hold this position!"

Hah! That's all you can do!? You're pathetic. I've
seen monkeys with more grace than you.

If this school doesn't bounce back soon, even my
own ass will be on the line.

Kasumi, her head still bowed, is starting to shake a little as Kawazu stomps right up to her and finishes, "You'll never be more than failures. It was a mistake to expect the two of you to accomplish anything. A mistake that we shall now rectify. Cadet Yoshizawa, on the charges of desertion and repeated failure to perform your duties, you are hereby found-"

"Enough!" At Kasumi's shout, a force cuts through the ribbons holding her up, slicing them to pieces and allowing her to drop down to the ground.

Vice-Commandant Kawazu quickly backs up, a sudden look of confusion and fear on his face, "W-What is this!?"

On the ground, Kasumi is still shaking a little as she starts, "You're telling me I'm not cutting it? As if I don't know that better than anyone!" She's been trying so hard all this time, but she hasn't been able to perform as she used to. Of course it's been weighing on her...

Kasumi slowly pushes herself up from the ground, "Filling my life with this pressure... Demanding the results that you want... And now you're all branding me a failure..." Standing on her own feet once more, she continues, "Let me remind you who you're talking to... I am... I am..."

There's a brief pause, before Kasumi looks up straight at Kawazu and shouts, "Kasumi Yoshizawa!" She glares at him, "I don't care what anyone says about me... But I will NOT tolerate anyone speaking ill of our dream!"

Kasumi then grunts in pain, suddenly grabbing at her head-

So adamant...

Kasumi pants quickly as she clutches at her face, her normally red eyes shining golden as power starts to course through her.

Rather than accept a life in cinders... You'd strive
towards splendor--you know the risk...

Kasumi doubles over, crying out as slivers of blue flames start to spontaneously burst into existence across her body, eating away at her uniform.

Well, if those really are the shoes you've chosen...
Then we'll dance to the end.

A large burst of those flames briefly engulf Kasumi's face, leaving behind a pointed black mask with silver highlights. Seemingly no longer in pain and undisturbed by the flames, Kasumi stands up straight once more and reaches up to the mask. She calmly rips it off with a flourish, power blue flames engulfing her entire body and rising high, hiding all but her silhouette from view.

Slowly twirling within the flames, new clothes can be seen manifesting on Kasumi. First, stiletto lace-up pumps that lead into black thigh-high stockings. Then ruffled flared sleeves that extend down to a black bolero jacket that has three long coattails. A black leotard appears, hugging her torso closely as a chain belt with a large rose on the front wraps around her waist, a long scabbard with a rapier nestled within attached to it.

The blue flames finally vanish in an instant, leaving Kasumi standing there in her new attire. And floating above her, a person. A woman with ash-black skin and blonde hair, wearing a blue crystalline dress, a skirt of golden armor floating around her waist and a white cape that flows behind her from a free-floating collar of glass hearts.

I am thou, thou art I... Accept this contract... The
spell cast upon you.

"I request we have a rematch." Kasumi calmly reaches for the rapier at her side, gracefully pulling it from its scabbard and swinging it out to her side, "This time... I'm going all in with Cendrillon!!"

Ryuji Sakamoto has arrived from Historia: The White Chronicle.
GRID: Ryuji Sakamoto has joined Ren Amamiya.
</poem>

AS: Yusuke Kitagawa has readied for combat as Goemon! He is now fully healed!
AS: Ryuji Sakamoto has readied for combat as Captain Kidd! He is now fully healed!
AS: Haru Okumura has readied for combat as Milady! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Joker looks over the various postings with a brief and stony gaze as they and their friends hurry to the parade grounds. They all found a safe room right before the place where Kasumi is to be executed for frankly bullshit reasons and took a moment to regroup and take a breather, giving Mona and the others time to catch up and join the group, but Joker's worried about Kasumi. For good reason, because again, they've all been informed that she is due for ''execution''.

As they go, though, Joker's foot falls on a torn poster and sticks to the sole of their boot. They slow and stop to pull it off, and furrow their brows at it.

Killed in action... And that hair is a darker shade...

They shake their head and look over their shoulder at the others. "Just another one of these garbage posters," they say, sticking it to the wall. A bit of grime on the backside lets it stay there so the others can see too if they so choose. "Let's keep going."

Further on, they pass the blast door and come to a stop in a massive bunker room with an invisible sky and blinding floodlights. Joker stares. There's so ''many'' Shadows and cognitions here... There--they focus. Kasumi's being held captive by what look like a couple of her teammates. They scowl as the cognitions berate her, and Kasumi can only plead with them back. Still, as much as they want to run in, they know what the cost of recklessly going to someone's aid is. They look over their shoulder at their friends.

"We're outnumbered here. We'll only have one shot to rescue Kasumi-san," they murmur. "Let's surround this parade and wait for an opening."

With that, they split up while the attention is off of them, each going towards whatever cover is available--probably not much, in a room like this, but still--so they can creep closer as Shadow Kobayakawa's cognition of the Vice-Principal yells at Kasumi some more.

Joker listens with one ear as they sneak closer. Kasumi's sister died... So that's what that torn poster was about. It's infuriating to see them blaming her for a ''literal tragedy'', but that's the nature of garbage people like Kobayakawa. Joker keeps their cool and hides in the shadows, watching and waiting for their time.

And what a hell of a time it is. When Kasumi reaches the limit of her patience, Joker's eyes widen behind their mask. When she tells Kawazu off so hard that light shatters around her and she pulls a mask off bloodlessly to the twirl of her Persona, Cendrillon, they grin ferociously. The transformation that follows is outright beautiful, more like a magical girl sequence than the bloody, violent awakenings Joker and the others have had so far (to their knowledge, anyway). How fitting for a rhythmic gymnast aiming for the Olympics.

"And you won't have to do it alone." Joker steps out into the blinding lights and stands next to Kasumi. They gesture to the others, one red-gloved hand high to point forward, and grin at their training partner. "The Phantom Thieves are here to help you dazzle the stage!"

Explanations will come later. Now is the time for being cool as hell.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>"A fortress for a penal legion. How droll," Fox remarked upon joining the others at the safe room. "Perhaps Kobayakawa-sensei takes poorly to the burden of command, if this is how his cognition sees this humble institution." His tone is dry and cold. "I would thank him for the opportunity to make a personal study of brutalism, but... there are more important matters to attend to first. Excellent directions, by the way, Panther. Your inimitable style is a delightful contrast to these grim aesthetics."

====== ======

Fox glances at the poster Joker sticks to the wall, but much of the subtleties of its details are thoroughly lost on Yusuke Kitagawa Of Gekkoukan High. Still, the ''tone'' of the demerits listed has him rolling his eyes. "Somehow, I doubt you intend to remain consigned to obscurity ''forever'', Skull." He hefts his blade over his shoulder with a cold grin towards his comrade.

The sight at the parade ground has him gritting his teeth - this is an execution waiting to happen - but at Joker's order he nods, slipping into the shadows and circling around the flood-lit stage.

Kasumi Yoshizawa defies authority even at the risk of her own life, and is immersed in blue light. For her first crime, she steals Fox's breath at the sheer beauty of her transformation... but this beauty is transient, to be replaced by the Phantom Thieves' unparalelled style in battle.

The glint of his black blade seems to drink in the glare of the floodlights, as he draws it and settles into his stance, stepping into the light on Joker's cue.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Things were bad.

...

Okay so really that's ''usually the case in a Palace''.

But this is, like. Extra bad!! Okay?!

All of this, from accidentally drawing Kasumi into Kobayakawa's Palace, to seeing the interior, war-torn contents of his slimy mind, to her abduction by the cognitive soldiers of this realm -- it reminds Ann Takamaki ''acutely'' of her first experience within Kamoshida's disgusting Castle. The individual elements are different -- but the feel of it all, and knowing everything she knew about the gossip circulating around Yoshizawa, and Kobayakawa's spineless clout-chasing--

"We're coming! Just hold on, Yoshizawa-san...!"

Panther was extremely insistent they didn't linger in the Safe Room for very long. In fact, the only thing that manages to distract her is--

''Excellent directions, by the way, Panther.''

"W-wait, really?! Heh heh, I guess I'm getting better at this whole art thing!"

Is, well. That. Oh no. Now her ego is swelling...!!

But the second they're out? The red-clad cat burglar of the Phantom Thieves is at the front of the charge, sprinting across the halls until they reach the Parade Grounds, her eyes narrowed, her jaw set. Her hand firmly fixed to her spooled whip. She wants to help Kasumi, and save her from this place, and the awful things Kobayakawa has planned -- especially after finding that creepy, torn poster...

... but she'd be lying if she said her fervor wasn't at least partially personal and ignited all the more fiercely at those announcements about Shiho and Kamoshida.

She's got scores to settle here, too.

So she runs, just behind Joker. It's only as they all get to that bunker room with its myriad floodlights that Panther comes to a skidding half-stumble of a stop, sky blue eyes widening with alarm.

"H-holy crap!" she whisper-gasps, because she's a GOSH DARN PROFESSIONAL. "That's so many Shadows...!"

And there, at the center of this Kangaroo Court -- Kasumi Yoshizawa, bound by gymnast ribbons of her cognitive peers.

Ann's gaze narrows. She grips more tightly to her whip.

"... Right," she hisses out, before unfurling that whip and snapping it forward. The cognitively-empowered weapon's reach extends, snares an outcropping --

--and with one firm yank, Panther is a silent blur of red, landing on the outskirts of the bunker's upper levels in a crouch. She listens to the accusations with growing frustration, a frown pressing at her lips and her crouched stance tensing like an angry cat just yearning for the pounce.

"This is ''so'' unfair..." she mutters to herself, but, well. She knows all those things students were whispering behind Kasumi's back. The Principal, pinning all his sad little hopes onto her... she should never have had to shoulder -his- burdens for covering for Kamoshida for so long. And with what happened to Kasumi's poor sister--

She leans forward at her perch. And then--

''Enough!''

Something unexpected happens.

Ann's eyes widen once more.

"N-no way!"

And as Kasumi Yoshizawa's Will of Rebellion ignites into that duelist's eloquence--

There is a great, swift red smear as Panther leaps from the flood lights, landing beside Joker like a whipcrack of impact in a three-point stance -- eyes snapping up and affixed ''squarely'' on the big man in all his overstuffed grandiosity on his monolith of a podium.

"Like hell we'd let you take all your sad failures out on Yoshizawa-san! You better get ready -- you've got a lot to answer for!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>
Motojima and Furuya are bowled back by the display, as are the majority of Shadows and cognitions, they're all recovering on the fringes, from the force of awakening of Kasumi's rebellion.

Kawazu gapes at the sight of her awakening, seemingly taken aback by the forcefulness of her insubordination, stepping back nervously, again, and again as if in disbelief. Whereas the Ruler up on the stand, it's difficult to see, but his enormous balding head beads with sweat under the cap as he then looks straight at Joker, then Fox, then Panther like he's just realizing how many Phantom Thieves precisely are in the room ''already''.

"So you were another saboteur! A Judas Goat leading more of them right into our midst! You- damn you! Damn you for besmirching our reputation again!"

The Ruler shouts, as the stand's Shujin flag suddenly rises, furling, and Commandant Kobayakawa rises from his chair, "Deal with this disgrace swiftly, Kawazu, if you would have any hope of one day rising to my rank." With a sweep of his elegant black cape, he turns, step - step - step. What a dignified military figure Kobayakawa cuts once he's got a handle on the situation-

STEPSTEPSTEPSTEPSTEP!

Oh he just took off running full speed, as two doors behind what once were his seat slam shut, a sign lighting up to state:

IMPORTANT WAR ROOM BUSINESS
DO NOT DISTURB

The stand reveals a large hatch behind the flag, which opens, and through it a sudden rumbling starts, Vice-Commandant Kawazu smirks as he adjusts his sunglasses, "Your dream? How selfish of you to put yourself before the whole. My only concern is that Shujin continues to shine brighter and brighter still! What is the dream of one girl who can't even meet expectations compared to ''that''."

He gives Kasumi a grave look, "And here I was going to offer that you atone with your disgrace with your life, Cadet. But instead you turned out to be one of the saboteurs, who took our beloved Captain Kamoshida away! But now that you've revealed yourselves here-"

Blooming Villain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aShp3H7xiU

The rumbling grows louder, as suddenly a mass of gleaming steel to a mirror shine sporting spiked treads tear out of the open hatch and across the Parade Grounds. Suddenly multiple special forces cognitions from the Morale Squads rush out in colorful uniforms, hand him an object and boost him up, with a 'hup' that sends him skyward into a flip.

The tank abruptly brakes, and he lands atop a turret, a bullhorn in his hands posing with all the arrogance of someone who acts like he just did that on his own, the Morale Squads all saluting before scampering, some somersaulting hurriedly to get out of his way.

"-I can DISCIPLINE ALL OF YOU! Did you think we weren't PREPARED? You're just like everyone else in this generation, expecting easy hand outs, leeching off our Commandant's good will. Well you'll go no further! Witness the fruits of our Science Squad's labor!"

And right before their eyes, characters flash, to show that which they face!

The Pride of Shujin!
Disciplinary Committee's Mobile Armored Enforcement:
Taibatsu! Sensha!
(Subtitles: Corporal Punishment! Tank!)

The tank's design looks vaguely like a WWII tank from the history books, but that's where the similarities end. While its armor plating is polished to a mirror sheen, it looks as if it were riveted and welded together by the science club for some robot gladiatorial combat match. The treads are made of elongated steel rulers, with FURTHER rulers welded on and protruding out like blunt spikes.

The turret has painted upon it the characters for CORPORAL PUNISHMENT and DISCIPLINE as if it were one and the same, with several more turrets protruding from tiny slits in the steel. With several catapults mounted on the hull and- IS THAT A FLAMETHROWER?

Wow! It really must have been built for some robot combat match in reality!

"Ready for your commands, Sir!" Someone shouts from inside, some would recognize that masculine voice, some may recognize them as the Student Council Disciplinary Executive, apparently helping drive this crazy monstrosity! "We'll teach these so-called Phantom Thieves a lesson together!"

There's a whiteboard attached to the turret, with: 'Days since last Disciplinary Action: 2' Which he erases with his hand, and marks '0' before sliding down into the hatch, the tank then revs up, and begins rushing across the parade grounds, before circling back and, then begins to violently tilt this way and that like it's being driven in an absurd fashion, the rulers of the treads slapping the concrete grounds in a frenzy, which asynchronously pound down again and again from side to side. Enormous shockwaves rush out, even more startling than a teacher slapping your desk when you're asleep!

Then as the tank settles, the turret begins its slow turn, "You're not getting out of this one! This one is going on your Permanent Record, CADET!" Once it stops, aimed at X, he shouts, "FIRE!" One might wonder what comes out of it after that rampage of measuring implements, but it's just a tank shell fired at high velocity right at the newly awakened Phantom Thief! How boring!

Oh, wait.

OOC Note: Throughout the scene, various cognitions will attack. These cognitions can be dealt with as a free action if you so desire. They won't respawn throughout the fight.

</poem>
AS: Commandant P. Pen has readied for combat as The Pride of Shujin! Disciplinary Committee's Mobile Armored
Enforcement: Taibatsu! Sensha!! They are now fully healed! Ready for 5 opponents!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Strike skill Excessive Force on Ren Amamiya, Ann Takamaki, and Yusuke
Kitagawa! 3 Hits!
AS: You still have 4 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Pierce skill This'll go on your Permanent Record! FIRE! on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Commandant P. Pen's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Ann Takamaki takes 21 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force.
AS: Avoid Worst! Ann Takamaki takes 51 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Ann Takamaki takes 30 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 55 Pierce damage from Commandant P. Pen's This'll go on your Permanent Record!
FIRE!.
AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 22 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 32 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 23 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force.

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi's head quickly turns as a strange figure steps out of the shadows, making themself known. She gasps in surprise at the bold announcement, "The Phantom Thieves?" What are they doing here?

Speaking of, where even IS here? What even is going on?

And what is she wearing!?

Whatever's happening, Kasumi gets the feeling that her life is in danger. And that these people trying to hurt her probably aren't the same people she knows. Answers will have to wait though as right now Kasumi expects she is going to have to fight for her life.

But can she trust these Phantom Thieves whom she looks at as each reveals themselves. All wearing equally strange outfits. Though again, she's one to talk.

Looking back at Joker, Kasumi studies this stranger for a moment... Though they seem oddly familiar. Perhaps they can be trusted after all. Though it's not like Kasumi has many other options at this point...

"Very well." Kasumi takes several precise steps closer to Joker, "I shall gratefully accept your assistance in this matter." Kasumi stops nearby Joker, turning to face Kawazu as he proceeds to get onto the tank. Narrowing her eyes at him, Kasumi continues, "But if we are to perform this dance..." She raises her hand up to her face, tilting her head back.

Blue flames burst into existence around Kasumi, her clothes fluttering amidst them without feeling their destructive touch. Above her, Cendrillon appears in a flash, taking the same pose as Kasumi finishes, "... Let us blaze through it with elegant poise!" Kasumi sweeps her hand out and Cendrillon twirls, raising her hands into their air as flames swirl around her.

Light bursts upwards from beneath the Phantom Thieves, engulfing them for a moment and powering them up.

"As for you..." Kasumi raises her rapier towards Vice-Commandant Kawazu, even as the tank he is on spins its large barrel around to point at her.

It fires.

Kasumi dives to the side, hitting the ground in a roll just as the spot she had been standing in explodes. She comes out of the roll into a crouch, before slowly standing up and finishing, "You're nothing but a bully, treading on your students dreams. You might try to justify it as it being in the best interest of us and the school. But in reality, it's all for your own gains!" Kasumi stares Kawazu down with a cold gaze.

Though on the inside, 'Oh my gosh, that was CLOSE! I almost died!'

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Almighty skill Brave Step on Ren Amamiya, Haru Okumura, Yusuke Kitagawa, and
Ann Takamaki!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Brave Step.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Brave Step.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Brave Step.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Counter Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 23 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force.
AS: COUNTER! Commandant P. Pen takes 8 Strike damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 24 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 24 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Excessive Force.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Brave Step.
AS: Crt_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Fox comments that Skull surely won't be content with obscurity as his poster says. Joker grins back at the two of them, a low 'heh' on his breath. They won't speak for Skull, but Fox has him pegged there, they think.

Panther's insistence on moving on quickly is far from unwelcome--after all, Kasumi is a good friend of Joker's, and they're just as worried about her. They can imagine how much this is hitting Panther's buttons, though.

With Skull, Mona and Queen hanging back to make sure they all have an escape route secure, either at the back of the parade grounds or back in the safe room, Joker, Panther, Fox, and Noir step forward to join Kasumi in her battle against those who would try to crush her and her sister's dreams for their own selfish ambitions. ''For the good of the school'', nothing; that's just an excuse men like Kobayakawa use to alternate between propping themselves up and hiding behind others for their convenience.

But now Shadow Kobayakawa's assuming Kasumi's one of them, and Joker frowns--not because they hate the idea, but because ''Kasumi'' might. They thus raise their chin in a show of contempt. "Hmph--nothing of the sort. We just happened to see the fireworks and decided to make it into a ''proper'' show!" Joker declares, projecting dramatics in their deep voice.

...Not that it matters much, with him running away into his war room. Joker's lip curls. Here, they speak more like they usually do with a curt, "Coward."

Vice-Commandant/Principal Kawazu takes his place, calling forth a /literal tank/ with a rumbling that shakes the Palace. Cognitions flip Cognitive Kawazu into it, and Joker looks thoroughly unimpressed at how self-satisfied he is about it. Still... That looks like a strong enemy. They can't let their guard down if they want to win this.

All the same, they crook a lopsided smile at Kasumi when she draws closer and accepts their offer of help. "We'd do nothing less," they declare as Cendrillon's light radiates brilliant power, boosting everyone's strength. They turn towards the tank with prism-edged dagger in hand. "Keep on your toes, primadonna!"

It ''is'' close, though, considering Kawazu proceeds to ''charge'' that at them. Joker leaps nimbly to one side to avoid a direct hit, but the sheer force of those treads stomping down catch them in their shockwaves, messing up their landing and sending them sprawling several feet away. It ''hurts'', but they spin around and leap upright again afterwards.

Kasumi's derision of Cognitive Kawazu gets her a sharp nod of agreement. "Well said. To that, I can only add..."

They raise a red glove to their face, where their mask goes up in blue flame. "PERSONA!!" Arsène's diabolical winged form rises, and cackling, they spread their clawed fingers. Several plumes of darkness bloom around the tank, seeking to tear at it with wicked force.

"...A school is nothing without its students," they add to Cognitive Kawazu. "Your Ruler would do well to listen to them once in a while!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Dark skill Multi-Eiha on Commandant P. Pen! 3 Hits!
AS: Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 8 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Multi-Eiha. Resist!
AS: Blast added!
AS: Block Best! Commandant P. Pen takes 14 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Multi-Eiha. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Counter Best! Commandant P. Pen takes 11 Dark damage from Ren Amamiya's Multi-Eiha. Resist!
AS: COUNTER! Ren Amamiya takes 11 Pierce damage in return for his attack!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Yoshizawa's newly-blooming combat instincts are excellent, Fox thinks, as he dives out of the way of the ''disciplinary machine's'' assault after a well-meaning but flawed attempt to turn some of its shots back against it.

"Let's see just how well those treads withstand the cold." His free hand goes up to his mask. "Goemon, come forth!"

With the dramatic report of taiko drums, that watercolour-woodcut ronin manifests, swinging his kiseru pipe wide and unleashing a wave of ink and water towards the tank!
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Water skill Double Aques on Commandant P. Pen! 2 Hits!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
<poem>
Together, Ren, Ann, and Haru had managed to scout out part of Kobayakawa's Palace and found that one of their classmates was in danger. The Phantom Thieves aren't ones to rush into things, and waited for their backup in the Safe Room, but like Ann, Haru didn't want to wait ''too'' long. Who knows what would happen if those guards really did get their way with Kasumi? They weren't about to find out...Apparently, what that is would be is an execution however. "How gruesome..." Haru frowns. "We cannot allow that to happen!" She agrees.

Volunteering to stay in the back lines to keep the Shadows hounding them distracted, while the rest of the team joins up, Haru is a little late to the proceedings. As she passes by the posters - and see the charges against the students, the ''lack'' of charges against one Suguru Kamoshida - it becomes apparent just how truly distorted their principal's view has become. He may not really be calling the shots, but he sure thinks he does. Haru tenses up as the cognitive classmates berate Kasumi, as Joker relays that they only have one chance to save her... "He won't do a thing to save his own students.. not even when it's like this." She shakes her head.

By the time Haru gets close enough to do anything that could help save Kasumi... it's as if she saves herself, awakening to a ''Persona''? "How graceful...!" Haru's eyes light up, seeing Kasumi's elegant moves as she calls upon Cendrillon with a sharp pose. That's one way to steal the show! "We'll have to match that~ let's fight together!" She agrees, when Kasumi accepts their assistance. "Milady!" She calls with a flourish of her own. "They're focusing their fire on her... let's give her some armour!" Milady raises her arms, and bestows a reflective barrier upon the newly-awakened Persona user - that tank will have a much harder time firing at her without risking counterfire!
</poem>

AS: Persona! Haru Okumura has used the Almighty skill Tetrakarn on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Pressure: Haru Okumura gains 1 Limit!
AS: Haru Okumura's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Commandant P. Pen takes 20 Water damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Double Aques. Resist!
AS: Paralyze added!
AS: Counter Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 37 Water damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Double Aques. Resist!
AS: COUNTER! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 15 Pierce damage in return for his attack!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Haru Okumura's Tetrakarn.
AS: Reflect_Phys added!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
There's always a certain, deepset satisfaction Ann feels, witnessing someone else Awaken to their Persona.

She still remembers how it feels. Finally feeling like she was in control. That she had the power to do -something-.

It inspires the knife's slice of a smile on her lips as she cracks her whip against the ground as if to underscore Kasumi's powerful condemnation that blows those cognitive soldiers and Shadows away with its intensity. And as Kobayakawa makes his strategic retreat?

"Pfft! Look at the small man on his ''big'' pulpit! You're -such- a chicken! You better run!" Panther taunts, a spark igniting at her whip.

A second passes.

"--Wait, no! We need him here to answer our questions! H-hey wait come back--!"

SLAM

IMPORTANT WAR ROOM BUSINESS
DO NOT DISTURB

"Argh! They always do that! So frustrating--!"

This is Panther, compromising her sleek entrance by literally stamping her foot and thrusting her arms to her sides, fists pointed outward, like someone throwing the tiniest of pouty tantrums.

Because Phantom Thieves contain Multitudes.

Of course, Panther knows the steps to this dance well by now -- but let it not be said that Palaces don't keep finding ways to surprise her. As that whole-ass TANK tears onto the battle field, the blonde Phantom Thief leaps -backwards-, eyes narrowed. But it's the morale squad giving the Vice-Principal - no, Vice-''Commandant'' - the ol' heave-ho that has her sputtering out in pure incredulous bafflement.

"Wh-why are you acting so tough?! You didn't even get up on your tank yourself!!"

Yes. That's what she takes exception to right now. Though

THE PRIDE OF SHUJIN!

TAIBATSU! SENSHA!

"Wh-what the heck--?!"

certainly isn't helping all that much either.

Look. A tank is no big deal. She fought a -giant piggy mech- like. Within the last month! But -- those tread-rulers -- and all the sanctimonious, teacherly grandstanding--!

As the tank comes roiling out, rulers-a-paddlin', Panther lets out an undignified "WAH!" as she barrel rolls out of the way of its path, shockwaves rippling through her one after the other to send her off-course with a sharp gasp of pain. She flips in mid-air, the graceful twist of her limber body seeing her land several feet out with a grimace.

"Ohhhhh, I swear this is like STRAIGHT out of my nightmares--!"

School was already bad enough without weaponized meter sticks being involved!!

A tank shell fires. Ann lets out a brief, concerned "Yoshizawa-san--!"

But -- Kasumi can handle herself. No -- she's flourishing still, in the strength of her own rebellion, her bold declaration given raw, bolstering power through her Persona that ripples across the battlefield. Ann can feel the electric tingle in that surge of light. Her eyes narrow, that determined look returning in full force.

"She's right! How dare you treat your students like fodder! You're supposed to be the one's looking after us, not grinding us up and spitting us out!"

Blue flames ignite. She grips her mask.

"And all this glorifying you're doing of that ''monster''..."

Ann rips that cognitive mask free. And Carmen manifests, swinging one of her thorn-bound servitors over her head like a lasso.

"SERIOUSLY PISSES ME OFF."

And HURLS it, straight at stretch of tank treads that Yusuke has doused with water. The second it strikes? The heart-headed servant self-destructs in a brilliant fireball plume that is distressingly heart-shaped, trying to ignite a sudden and extreme temperature shift within the tank's structure to do even -more- damage.

</poem>

AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill Agi on Commandant P. Pen!
AS: Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ann Takamaki's turn has ended.

AS: There's nothing in your queue by that number or attacker.
AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 27 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Agi. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi newly awakened, flush with power is seen by Kawazu as the greatest threat in this moment, not because the others aren't threats, her newly awakened Will of Rebellion spooked him, badly, and he's spent this time within the tank.

But now the hatch flies open again, and he pops out, wielding the bullhorn, "A bully? Spoken like a girl who's never known real responsibility or hardship! You think you're special because your sister passed away young? Get over yourself! Everyone goes through that grief at some point in their lives. I'm finished coddling a spoiled BRAT like you!"

The tank is rolling away from their positions, like it's trying to get some distance now, in fact the man is stomping inside, barking orders off the Bullhorn. When Joker - attacks! And the man hurriedly ducks back inside, as Arsene's darkness blooms-! It strikes the plating's mirror shine once, twice- then, a machine gun spits a volley right through his third.

What is going on here? That tank armor is too tough to be normal!

He then throws the hatch open again, before putting it against his lips again at Joker's addendum

"Don't presume to lecture ''me'' on on the value of a cadet! Cadets come and go! They're a ''resource'' so that men like us can climb higher upon their achievements." Noir was far too correct about the values of men like this, he won't do a ''thing'' for them, "Get me some covering fire! Now! Sniper Squad! Take him down!" He returns to the safety of the Taibatsu Sensha. And that's when a cognition of an adult woman appears on a catwalk overhead, wearing a beret, sunglasses and a khaki uniform, "Line up girls! Now no shoving for the best perch!"

Those from her class will definitely recognize her by her voice, it's Kawakami! And a whole squad of girls in berets and sunglasses follow in sporting bows and arrows. "Alright! Remember! Headshots are great and all- but they're a much smaller target and this guy seems pret~ty slick! I want to see body shots instead. Nothing too fancy! You got that?" "YES MA'AM!" "That's great! Now LOOSE! Let's make him look like a porcupine!"

And suddenly arrows are flying down at Joker. It may occur to them that Kawakami isn't the faculty advisor to the Archery Club even, but does Kobayakawa remember that!?

Fox has Goemon unleash a wave of ink and water, and the tank treads for a moment slip and slide, enough that the second blast strikes against the plating without marring it at all, and a gun sends a small salvo back! Interesting, did he demonstrate the flimsiness of the treads, or the impenetrability of the armor plating?

Panther then ignites the doused treads, and indeed, they seem them warp some, certainly, several of the strange ruler protrusions bending enough that the tank's movement... jams, then halts abruptly as Kawazu pops back out of the hatch.

"Why aren't we moving!? How dare you damage Shujin property Missy! Captain Kamoshida added more value to Shujin than any number of students! You should have been grateful for the opportunity to even stand in his presence!"

Kawazu seems furious at this development, as he calls out, "You were supposed to FIX the integrity of the treads! SCIENCE SQUAD! GET OUT HERE!" And suddenly, a bunch of nerdy looking cognitions all rush out there, and the Taibatsu-Sensha vanishes in a cloud of dust.

When they look again, it's definitely something to gawk at. Because, they've improvised a fix! That fix is now the Cognitions of the Science Club having removed the lower wheels on both sides, gripping the struts, and rolling the tank forward like a bunch of hamsters on a wheel.

It sure is moving, though... at the speed of Robotics Nerd. Shouldn't it be an 'Engineering Club'? Well, why not both?

The Vice-Commandant pops out of the tank, wielding his bullhorn, "That's more like it! Beautification Squad! Turn up the pressure!" Upon which, several cognitions run across the battlefield, led by... a frizzy haired girl wearing a jersey and a beret. As several of them haul up an enormous hose, she turns the spigot herself with the help of two others. "Such indecency on Shujin's grounds!" And all the Phantom Thieves might be somewhat startled to know... it's Haru.

The high pressure hose is wielded mercilessly, the water coming out hundreds of gallons at a time at high pressure, attempting to wash several of the Phantoms away as the squad bears the enormous hose, pointing it straight at Panther. "SHOW SOME MODESTY!" Before sweeping it over to Noir. "I'm disappointed at how many ladies are involving themselves with these... hooligans!"

IS THIS HOW HE SEES HER? Well yes, she's a billionaire's daughter after all. How else would a man like this see her?

"Driver! Let's help our guests with ''drying off''. The tank then whirls around, and a nozzle of sorts starts to ignite! As the tank turret then begins a long sweeping turn to try and take the Phantom Thieves right out with an enormous wave of flame that roars over the Parade Grounds, trying to catch them inside of it, before then following up with another fusillade of bullets Kasumi's way, like they're trying to target her all the more.

Morgana boosts off of Zorro's winds in a furious somersault over the flamethrower spray, leaping up and slashing, slashing through the cognitions on the catwalk (heh) with his scimitar as the snipers scatter and turns to Joker at this moment, "Joker, we're not making any progress against that thing! We just can't get through its armor. But you've already noticed, right?"

>The treads seem flimsy...
>He exposes himself whenever...
>That Bullhorn...?

There are several options available to him to choose, to direct the Phantoms, "What's your call?" Morgana asks.

AS: Commandant P. Pen has set a trigger!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Water skill Beautification Squad Go! PUNISHMENT HOSE! on Ann Takamaki and
Haru Okumura!
AS: You still have 4 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Commandant P. Pen spends Limit on Exploit! Commandant P. Pen can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Weapon! Commandant P. Pen has used the Pierce skill Sniper Squad! Take them out! on Ren Amamiya!
AS: You still have 4 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Fire skill Burn their Free Time Away! Detention FLAMETHROWER! on Yusuke
Kitagawa, Haru Okumura, and Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Block Worst! Ann Takamaki takes 80 Water damage from Commandant P. Pen's Beautification Squad Go! PUNISHMENT HOSE!.
Weak!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Ren Amamiya takes 27 Pierce damage from Commandant P. Pen's Sniper Squad! Take them out!.
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Pierce skill Suspension! Suspension! on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 3 Hits!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 100 Fire damage from Commandant P. Pen's Burn their Free Time Away! Detention
FLAMETHROWER!. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Haze added!
AS: That attack doesn't seem to match one on your list.
AS: Commandant P. Pen's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 38 Fire damage from Commandant P. Pen's Burn their Free Time Away! Detention
FLAMETHROWER!.
AS: Counter Neutral! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 32 Pierce damage from Commandant P. Pen's Suspension! Suspension!. Critical
Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Commandant P. Pen takes 30 Pierce damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Counter Worst! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 36 Pierce damage from Commandant P. Pen's Suspension! Suspension!. Critical
Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Commandant P. Pen takes 26 Pierce damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Counter Worst! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 24 Pierce damage from Commandant P. Pen's Suspension! Suspension!.
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Commandant P. Pen takes 18 Pierce damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Block Best! Haru Okumura takes 46 Water damage from Commandant P. Pen's Beautification Squad Go! PUNISHMENT HOSE!.
AS: Paralyze added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Haru Okumura takes 78 Fire damage from Commandant P. Pen's Burn their Free Time Away! Detention
FLAMETHROWER!. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
To Kasumi, these Phantom Thieves definitely seem to have experience with whatever's happening here. Is this how they normally operate? She can't help but notice the similarities between their abilities and her own power that has awakened within her.

Not that she understands any of it.

But again, answers will have to wait as right now there's more life-threatening things to focus on. Kawazu pops his head out of the tank again to continue berating her and Kasumi grips onto her rapier a little tighter, "You think this is easy for me?"

Kasumi stares at the ground, "Taking on the responsibility of achieving our shared dream... Of continuing forward for my sister's sake, who will never be able to see the results of her efforts." Kasumi is shaking again as she says, "She worked so hard! Yet here I am, failing her... But I'm not going to give up."

Kasumi looks up at Kawazu, "I don't need your coddling! I don't need your special treatment! I'll get through this with my own strength!"

The tank's turret starts to turn, unleashing that stream of flames towards several of them, Kasumi included. She quickly leaps backwards into the air, performing several flips to try and escape the range of the flames. She can feel their heat radiating around her as she barely escapes with her new outfit slightly singed.

Landing on her feet again, Kasumi whips her rapier up into a ready stance as she watches closely. She can see some of the Phantom Thieves fighting in her periphery, hearing them counter Kawazu and his troops. Some of whom look familiar! Meanwhile, some of the Phantom Thieves are taking this rather personal... Are they fellow Shujin students? It would make sense.

Power washes over her and Kasumi feels herself become a little stronger. She's not sure how all this works, but she seems to be receiving help from one of the Phantom Thieves. Kasumi nods in Noir's direction, "Thank you."

And it seems that assistance comes at just the right time as the tank unloads a barrage of bullets in her direction. Kasumi has never even so much as seen a real gun, let alone been fired at before!

But thanks to the power awakened inside her, she reacts on instinct, rapidly sweeping her rapier out in front of her with numerous quick strikes. A powerful force radiates from each strike, blowing many of the fired rounds back in the direction they came from, while others slip past and just barely miss striking Kasumi.

Kasumi lets out a quiet breath of relief as the barrage ends. She's working up quite a sweat in this stressful situation... How much longer can she endure?

Another Phantom is seeking guidance from who Kasumi has assumed is their leader... But she's not going to simply stand around and wait, following someone she doesn't even know. She raises her rapier up in front of her face in preparation, saying to the Vice-Commandant, "You should be ashamed of yourself as a teacher and school administrator! Your role is to give your students the knowledge to help them enter into the harsh world. Not to exploit them!"

Kasumi spins around, sweeping her rapier down. Cendrillon appears above her, performing a similar twirl and lashing out with her hand. A single large crescent of physical force slices out towards the tank, attempting to slice through its armor with intense sharpness.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Slash skill Keen Blade on Commandant P. Pen!
AS: Aggression: Kasumi Yoshizawa gains 1 Limit!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.

AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 49 Slash damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Keen Blade. Critical Hit! Resist! Block
Slash!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>The tank doesn't show ''much'' sign of being particularly hindered by Goemon's wave of ink and water... but the tracks stall in the muddied ground, and are outright ruined by Panther's flame.

Fox grins, sharply - only for that grin to vanish when the tank turns ''A FLAMETHROWER'' on him.

He takes the blast full to the chest, knocked down to the hard ground with a strangled, agonised cry.

Coughing, he struggles to his feet and staggers backwards, withdrawing to the rearguard of the group. "Goemon..." He calls out for a blessing of speed for himself and his comrades, the charring on his mask vanishing as the much more comfortable blue fire washes over him.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Ren Amamiya, Kasumi Yoshizawa, and Haru Okumura!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa cancels 1 attacks on Ren Amamiya.
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa cancels 1 attacks on Kasumi Yoshizawa.
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa cancels 1 attacks on Haru Okumura.
AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Yusuke Kitagawa, Ren Amamiya, Kasumi Yoshizawa,
and Haru Okumura!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa: Haze and Crt_Up removed!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Panther yells at Shadow Kobayakawa that he ''better'' run--then remembers with a mini-tantrum they need to question him. That is, in fact, explicitly the reason they all came in here in the first place.

Joker says nothing, though there is a single, subtle bead of sweat on the side of their face. They... also forgot about that part...

ahem.

Joker's expression twists with anger when the Vice-Commandant yells at Kasumi to get over her sister's death already, then tells them that 'cadets' are expendable resources for men like him to use as stepping stones. "Disgusting," they snap. It's pointless to get upset at cognitions--they're only reflections of the Ruler's mindset--but this is a reflection of a man who is in charge of a significant chunk of not just ''their'' life but many of their ''friends''' lives as well.

However, their righteous fury takes second place to Kasumi's. Once again, she's well said. She's as ferocious and willful as any of The Phantoms when ''they'' first awoke, and Joker crooks her another smile as she stands up for herself with bravery and style. She's inspirational--for Panther and Noir too, no doubt. Maybe Fox will want to paint ''her'' portrait next.

Then the order comes to turn him into a pincushion, and Joker looks alarmed before they spot Cognitive Kawakami ordering the archery team around. He is ''pretty sure'' Kawakami is not advising ''any clubs at all'', considering her side job, but that doesn't matter at all to a Ruler. Joker's next several seconds are spent avoiding the porcupine's dilemma with all their might. It's exhausting, and a few of them score lines or holes in his dark coat, but it's better than the alternative.

By the time they're done, the tank has gotten a tread upgrade, and Kawazu has called out several squads, including one with a giant hose wielded by... Oh dear. That sure is a ridiculous cognition of Haru. But flames follow the water, and between those two elements, The Phantoms are taking a beating. Meanwhile, Kasumi continues to draw Kawazu's ire...

Morgana somersaults down and suggests that there's a way they can get past the tank's ridiculous armor. In truth, Joker ''has'' already noticed it.

"He exposes himself whenever he pops out to lecture us," they reply. "If we can draw him out and distract him... Noir! Take that opportunity to use your grenade launcher. I'll provide a distraction!"

Kasumi would no doubt be an even better distraction, but for all that they're working together, she's not someone for them to give orders to, and they don't even try. Instead, they touch their mask, which lights up in blue flame for an instant before Arsène materializes again. Joker runs for them, and already knowing the intent of their other self, Arsène extends a clawed hand from them to leap up onto--a trick they never would've thought of without Queen and ''her'' Persona. Boosted by the speed Fox's Goemon grants the two, they boost Joker towards the catwalk where Cognitive Kawakami and the Archery Team have been sniping.

Twirling in mid-air, Joker pulls their Makaronov and guns down each of them as they turn. At the other end of their trajectory, they grab the edge of the catwalk and pull themselves up with another aerial flip to land on it just as the cognitions dissolve into black smoke.
Mask back in place, Joker smirks down at Cognitive Kawazu, one boot planted on one of the posts on the edge of the catwalk. "If you want to snipe someone," they call loudly, "''this'' is how you do it!"

Taking out cognitions might not mean much at this point, however many of them there were--but between that and Kasumi's frontal assault, the two of them are ''sure'' to get Kawazu's attention, and give Noir and the others an opening.
</poem>

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Weapon! Ren Amamiya has used the Pierce skill Makaronov Shot on Commandant P. Pen! 3 Hits!
AS: Ren Amamiya's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
<poem>"You're welcome!" Haru asides to Kasumi. "Fight on... you can do this!" She encourages her. She knows it's not easy to be thrust in this situation, but Kasumi is strong - she seems to be handling it better than she had.

Noir squints as a new squad of cognitive students enters the battlefield, calling themselves the Beautification Squad, led by none other than... herself. "Beautification Squad? Is that supposed to be me?" She winces, with that kind of second-hand discomfort that may as well be first-hand. "That's so... embarrassing!" Thanks to this, Haru is actually well-prepared when her cognitive self readies a ''hose'' of all things, bracing against the heavy water pressure.

"Immodesty? Come now... you should know, there's nothing less beautiful about a catsuit, is there!" She points an accusing finger at Kobayakawa's cognition of her, who is apparently big on the internalized misogny. Haru gets the feeling that, in Kobayakawa's cognition, she won't have the spine to fight back when the pressure is on her. So she doesn't even raise a hand against her.

What Haru is less prepared for is the follow-up, which is an actual flamethrower. Though she withstood the hose attack, it's left her clothes damp, heavy and difficult to move in, so the ''natural'' reaction of jumping away and taking cover from the fire doesn't do much good, leaving her clothes being disaster the least of her worries as fire engulfs Milady's form. At least they'll be good as new ''next'' time they infiltrate a Palace, right? "They're tough...!" Haru struggles, gripping her axe, before swapping for her grenade launcher.

Thankfully, after the setback that was the flamethrower, it's like she never slowed down, feeling lighter on her feet than ever. "Thank you!" She calls, getting herself in a better position, as the Thieves plan out an attack

"A distraction? I'm counting on you, Joker!" Haru nods, readying her gun. Joker and Kasumi together - they should be more than enough. Her eyes just need to follow them. Joker's mid-air tricks as he taunts Cognitive Kawasu are certainly a show-stopper. If Kawasu had been sniping them before, now it's time to turn the tables. The moment her eye catches him, Haru doesn't hesitate to fire off a booming grenade directly for the cognition!
</poem>

AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Weapon! Haru Okumura has used the Pierce skill How's this? Painful? on Commandant P. Pen!
AS: Pressure: Haru Okumura gains 1 Limit!
AS: Haru Okumura: Paralyze removed!
AS: Haru Okumura's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Commandant P. Pen takes 10 Pierce damage from Ren Amamiya's Makaronov Shot. Critical Hit! Resist! Block
Pierce!
AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 4 Pierce damage from Ren Amamiya's Makaronov Shot. Resist! Block Pierce!
AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 4 Pierce damage from Ren Amamiya's Makaronov Shot. Resist! Block Pierce!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
"Ugh! What is this thing made of, anyway?!"

Probably a silly question to ask in a world where everything's made up and the points don't matter, but.

Let Ann vent her frustrations, here!!

No, but really -- there's ''something'' up with this tank. It's even tougher than Piggytron, and that's saying something! Irritation rides high on Panther's fair features -- even her momentary look of triumph as her clever endeavor to hobble the tank with a one-two combo of elemental opposites is cut tragically short as -- a cognitive nerd squad shows up to do a pit stop fix on the tank and through the power of SCIENCE innovate--

"W-wait, what?!"

-- manual labor?!

"That's so messed up--!"

That's not the least of it -- there's a cognition of Kawakami beyond, leading a -- sniper squad?? What?!

"What? Kawakami-sensei doesn't even advise the Archery Club, you dumb jerk -- Joker, look out!"

But Ann has her own problems to worry about. Mid-warning Ren, she notices someone familiar out of the corner of her eye, flanked by a whole BEAUTIFICATION SQUADRON. Bafflement writs large on Panther's masked features as she half-turns.

"Okumura-s--BLRUGL"

FWOOOOSH

And this would be the exasperated and pained and ever-so-slightly garbled sound Ann makes as she is hosed down for her indecency by the WORST COGNITION she's EVER SEEN excluding her own--

--oh ''god'' she hopes there isn't one of ''her'' here--

She has more important things to worry about right now, though. Attempting to guard that hose with Carmen is a futile endeavor: the raw power of the very element she is weak to crashes into and -THROUGH- Ann's Persona. Her pained cry is cut short as the water engulfs her, the great wave of H2O hitting her like a battering ram loaded on a freight train going at maximum speed. She hits the wall of the bunker so hard the stands of the Parade Ground tremble. She struggles, gloved hands trying in vain to push through and past the water, only to be slapped back against the wall once more. When it ends -- she lands in a kneeling slump, gasping for air, twintails drooping and water sluicing off cognitive leather as she tries to keep her vision from swimming -too- bad.

"... blgh... you think... I'm gonna let what ''you'' think of me get in my way...?"

Ann drags herself up. Drenched she might be--

"... Like I'd ever care about what someone as pathetic as -you- thinks."

-- but her stare is ''fire''.

"That's the problem with ''shitty'' faculty like you. You don't even know what your ''school staff'' does -- how are you supposed to actually run a successful school when all you can think of is yourself?! You've got no one to blame for the sorry state of your school but you, for not even seeing how amazing your students like Yoshizawa-san are, and groveling at the feet of perverts and predators like Kamoshida! But you better believe -- we're gonna remind the Principal of ''just that''!"

All that moisture evaporates off Ann with the ignition of the fire in her heart, manifesting out into the cogni-physical. She braces -- and then surges -forward-, swinging her whip up high before slinging it -wide- to snag that hose and -yank- it up and out of the Cognitive Beautification Squad's hands.

"And just so you know?!"

There's a fire in her eyes. A fire in her heart. A fire in her whip!

oh wait oh no

"I!" WHIPCRACK! "LOOK!" WHIPCRACK!

And this would be Ann, swinging her weapon so violently and so swiftly the entire air becomes filled a sequence of increasingly loud leather snaps punctuated by superheated bursts of flame as she becomes a veritable STORM OF WHIP slice-snapping through the cognitive crowds.

"AMAZING!!"

crackcrackcrackCRACRACRACRACRACKACKACKACKACK--*

All punctuated with one firm high-heel boot planting right into the cognitive Haru to kick her away right as the REAL Haru cuts her cognitive self down to size with words.

Proving that words and violence are equally effective!

A second passes. Panther realizes what she has done with a look of dawning embarrassment. Did she just -- put the boot to her cognitive senpai?!

"Um. S-sorry, Noir!!"

wait why is she apologizing to noir DON'T BREAK KAYFABE PANTHER

The whipstorm, however, is finished. And Joker seems to have a plan. Ann turns her gaze on Kawazu, teeth gritting towards a sneer. A distraction. Joker provides one.

"Hey!"

Panther decides to join in.

"You know what's really indecent?! How TERRIFIED you are, huddling away in your little tank without your golden child. You really can't do anything without Kamoshida, huh?"

Ann cracks the whip, one more time, blue flame igniting.

"That's just -sad-. Dance, Carmen!"

And Carmen re-manifests in a gout of flame and an eloquent twirl of motion, the skirt-bouncing swivel of her movements sending her kneeling over the tank and blowing it cigar-chomping kiss. A soft puff --

And a weakening swarm of pink gushes past, seeping into the foundations and - hopefully - disorienting Kawazu's cognition the second he takes the bait.

Hopefully, it's enough--!

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Almighty skill Pulinpa on Commandant P. Pen!
AS: Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ann Takamaki's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Commandant P. Pen takes 0 Almighty damage from Ann Takamaki's Pulinpa.

<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>
Kawazu listens to Kasumi's words about her and her sister, and his jaw grows taut, "What strength? You've shown yourself to be third-rate at best." He says coldly, "Someone like you could never achieve anything of value. Not for yourself! And more importantly- NOT FOR SHUJIN!"

Cendrillon's blade comes down, with all of it's might, and the blade sparks against the armor, more - and more! As it drives it down into the armor.

And what results in the aftermath? There's a gouge there. A small gouge in the plating.

"Haha... ahahaha! Is that all your strength is worth?" But, he looked nervous there, far too nervous! Like he thought it might actually break through, "You should count yourself ''fortunate'' to be exploited in exchange for the wisdom and guidance of your elders. Exploitation is the way of this world, you foolish child! Get out there Morale Squad! Show them your moves!"

He then has to duck his head down rapidly, in alarm, as Joker calls out at him that he's going to snipe him. Waiting for the bullets to plink down, and only then popping back out, keeping his head behind the hatch.

"How dare you target a man of my stature so flagrantly!" He slams down on the side of the hatch again, "If we let him mouth off like this! Everyone else will follow his example! TAKE HIM OUT!" And catapults mounted on either side of the turret, begin to raise, before then flinging something at Joker at high speed.

SOUNDTRACK INTERRUPT (Timestamp Sensitive) - https://youtu.be/ZNGqBDRJgvo?si=_k-JQQtp3pho2FQU&t=45

He never saw it coming.

But he has honed his reflexes from many hours of training for this moment, as what's flying at him are in fact clusters of enormous pieces of chalk, sure to coat him in an outrageous amount of white dust if they slam into them. Also possibly give him a traumatic brain injury? Possibly! Has anyone studied the long term effects of taking so much chalk to the head? Probably not!

>Proficiency Check!
(If you can't make it, there's always New Game Plus???)

And then, as Kasumi and Joker serve as distractions - Kasumi may find themselves ''quite'' distracted, in response to the earlier call a team of cognitions in bright colored Red T-Shirts with a splash of other colors, runs out there, pumping their fists. Several of them twirl around in improvised dance moves, while another does somersaults, and finally one girl takes up a microphone, "Is everyone having a good time tonight?"

And there's the roar of a multitude of cognitions, "What's that!? I can't HEAR YOU!" And again a cheer goes up, louder from what cognitions are there tonight! "Let's give it up to everyone here who came out tonight!" The girl smiles suddenly as the entire team brandishes combat knives, "To watch us GUT Little Miss Traitor and her wretched friends!"

One of the boys abruptly somersaults end over end, before beginning to try and slice and dice Kasumi with a knife, while another begins break-dancing into a chaotic slashing frenzy at Yusuke to try and slash him up. Motojima and Furuya from the rhythmic gymnastics team make an appearance leaping on either side of Kasumi, as two ribbons slash at her from either side, hoping to box her in and help finish her off.

"I know ''my'' morale is going to improve after I take you out!" Motojima yells at her, "You were never worth the hype! NEVER!"

It was just Joker and Kasumi making the distraction right? Well, Panther proves quite apt at distracting him too, as a swarm of pink gushes past, and Kawazu gets a faceful, panic welling up in his throat, "H-How dare you! You're not even going to come NEAR the Commandant!"

Gesticulating wildly with a hand he yells in alarm, he says, "I want her expelled, NOW! RUNNERS! IT IS TIME TO ATONE FOR YOUR PAST DISGRACE!" And suddenly, several cognitions take the field in track uniforms, running towards Panther at top speed, it's only as they get close that you might notice the vest of grenades, all strung together, with their hand on a ring binding all the pins together.

Panther possibly even recognizes two of the faces as Ryuji's former track teammates back when they used to run, Nakaoka and Takeishi, "GLORY TO SHUJIN! BANZAI!" As they pull the pins, each of the cognitions erupts in a fireball right beside her.

Track Team students, fully willing to die in a Kamikaze attack. Faculty, fully willing to sacrifice them. Shiho, on that day fully willing to jump.

Did they not realize Panther was resistant to flames, and that this was only likely to piss her off more?

... Not even a little. That would require Kobayakawa's cognitions of his inner world having some actual awareness of the people around them!
</poem>

AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Strike skill Think You Can Get Smart with Me!? See if you can dodge my:
Chalk Launcher! on Ren Amamiya!
AS: You still have 4 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Fire skill RUNNERS! Atone for your disgrace with your Lives! on Ann Takamaki!
AS: You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Commandant P. Pen has used the Slash skill Morale Squad! Show them your Moves! on Yusuke Kitagawa! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Commandant P. Pen has used the Slash skill Morale Squad! Show them your Moves! on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Commandant P. Pen's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 31 Slash damage from Commandant P. Pen's Morale Squad! Show them your Moves!.
AS: COUNTER! Commandant P. Pen takes 2 Slash damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Counter Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 24 Slash damage from Commandant P. Pen's Morale Squad! Show them your Moves!.
AS: COUNTER! Commandant P. Pen takes 9 Slash damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Block Neutral! Ann Takamaki takes 43 Fire damage from Commandant P. Pen's RUNNERS! Atone for your disgrace with your
Lives!. Resist!
AS: Haze added!
AS: Counter Worst! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 21 Slash damage from Commandant P. Pen's Morale Squad! Show them your Moves!.
Counter Slash!
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Commandant P. Pen takes 21 Slash damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Counter Neutral! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 26 Slash damage from Commandant P. Pen's Morale Squad! Show them your
Moves!. Critical Hit! Counter Slash!
AS: COUNTER! Reflect Phys! Commandant P. Pen takes 38 Slash damage in return for their attack! Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>

Unfortunately for him as he crosses his arms coming down from the panic, satisfied with the horrible tableau of human sacrifice he created on a cognitive level. That's the moment that Noir fires... the grenade rebounds off the man itself, who is suddenly slammed against the edge of the tank, as the explosive device rolls inside with a satisfying clank, clank, clank.

The Disciplinary Committee Executive turned tank driver yells, "Is that a-? GRENA-!" But his warning is cut off by the sudden explosion within, detonating in satisfying glory as the monstrosity that was the Taibatsu Sensha begins to explode from within, spewing metallic plates and rulers and chalk everywhere, even before the fuel tank ignites, and it goes up in a fireball, consuming the tank personnel and science club as well.

</poem>

AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 49 Pierce damage from Haru Okumura's How's this? Painful?. Critical Hit!
Resist! Block Pierce!
AS: Haru Okumura sets off Commandant P. Pen's trigger! 900 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>
Kawazu lands on the ground, his sunglasses shattered, his bullhorn missing, as he props himself up on his hands and knees! Shaking off the dust, he looks at the Phantoms and- goes into full Dogeza!? "Wait, let's talk this out! Spare me and I'll reward you! I'll recommend you all for- for- commendations!"

As the man suddenly reaches into his military jacket and throws out several form letters, not even personalized at the Phantoms, as he gets up quickly, backing up! "It's all the Commandant's fault anyway! I'm the real victim here! All he does is pawn off his work on other people, while he hides in his office and plays wargames! I'm innocent! So let me live! Please!?"

So this is what Kobayakawa thinks of even his right hand man. Who knows how accurate it is to the portrayal of the man in real life, but... there is likely a lot of truth to it.

"SOMEONE! ANYONE! SAVE ME!" As he starts running towards a student who runs out. "Vice-Commandant! I'm here to help-!" "Yes thank you! And now that you are-!"

Which is when the man grabs the younger teenager in a headlock, "Make yourself USEFUL!" And pulls a sidearm, putting it to his head, "Nobody move damnit!" And that's when they all see the expression of Mishima gaping at this betrayal of his good will. "You slaughtered enough of our Special Forces didn't you? But if you value our cadets ''so much'' then you'll let me walk away, now."

The Phantom Thieves don't kill... but... the man is just a cognition, isn't he? And so is Mishima for that matter, but that look of desperation on his face is so...

</poem>

AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Almighty skill Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of Recommendation! on Ren
Amamiya, Kasumi Yoshizawa, Ann Takamaki, and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: You still have 4 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Almighty skill Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of Recommendation! on
Haru Okumura!
AS: You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Almighty skill Avoid Responsibility! on Ren Amamiya, Kasumi Yoshizawa, Ann
Takamaki, and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Commandant P. Pen has used the Almighty skill Avoid Responsibility! on Haru Okumura!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Commandant P. Pen's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of
Recommendation!.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Haru Okumura takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Avoid Responsibility!.
AS: Rage added!
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of
Recommendation!.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Avoid Responsibility!.
AS: Rage added!
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of
Recommendation!.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Avoid Responsibility!.
AS: Rage added!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of
Recommendation!.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Avoid Responsibility!.
AS: Rage added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 48 Strike damage from Commandant P. Pen's Think You Can Get Smart with Me!? See if
you can dodge my: Chalk Launcher!.
AS: Panic added!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Wait! Let's Talk about this! Letter of
Recommendation!.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Commandant P. Pen's Avoid Responsibility!.
AS: Rage added!
AS: Ann Takamaki spends Limit on Shift! Kasumi Yoshizawa can use another Weak skill this round! SP +8! Healed 20!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem> Another of the Phantom Thieves provides Kasumi with assistance. She notices they're each summoning their own version of... Whatever it is that Cendrillon and the others are. She doesn't know what they are, but why does she feel such a strong connection to Cendrillon?

Kasumi is vaguely aware of the plan that the Phantom Thieves leader is hatching. She's not sure exactly where it's going, but she's just going to have to trust them. Besides, she's just barely hanging on, her lack of understanding of current events, her sudden awakening of power, and the threat to her life, all quickly piling up.

The more she hears Phantom Thieves chattering amidst the fight, the more convinced she is that they are fellow students. Glancing between them, Kasumi briefly tries to figure out who they might be... But it's hard to tell with their outfits and masks.

Kasumi can't spend too much time on figuring out who the Phantom Thieves are though. As her attention is drawn back to Kawazu. He mocks her strength and unfortunately she doesn't have the experience to see through it and recognize his concern...

She's failing to achieve again... This familiar feeling.

The brief diversion in her attention allows the Morale Squad to move in on her. The first charges at Kasumi head on, lashing out with his knives towards her. But Kasumi leans back, showing off her limber body as she doubles back into a hand stand, causing the knife strikes to pass through the air above her.

Kasumi then brings her feet up to follow, launching a kick into the jaw of the squad member. She's been watching closely enough as the others fought to realise that these aren't real people. There's no harm in taking them out... Right? Not that she has much choice if she wants to survive.

Kasumi's fellow squad members--or at least these fake versions of them--both attack from either side. The ribbons twirl through the air towards Kasumi. She reacts, pushing off from the handstand and launching herself to twist through the air, gliding through the gap between the ribbons.

As she twists, Kasumi sends the hand holding her rapier flicking out, sending the blade streaking tip first into her gymnastics senpai. Kasumi then lands in a crouch once more. Rising in a spin she swiftly summons an antique rifle into existence in her hands. She quickly levels it at the other squad member and fires a shot.

The 'Morale Squad' briefly dealt with, Kasumi walks over to retrieve her rapier and turns to notice that the tank has been expertly dealt with by the Phantom Thieves teamwork.

But now Kawazu is holding one of his own at gunpoint... Will this be alright? Does it even matter that he's doing this? Right now, Kasumi can't quite grasp the answers to those questions...

But that's alright, because she has a plan anyway, "Taking one of your own students hostage... And you call ME disgraceful? There is no end to your sins."

A quick fingersnap and Cendrillon appears, instantly calling down a pillar of bright light to engulf Kazuma. Hopefully disorienting enough to buy just a few moments...

... For the true threat, as a blade of golden light hovers ominously in the air above and behind Kawazu. Cendrillon brings her hand down, the blade rapidly darting point down to try and impale the 'Vice-Commandant'.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Light skill Kouha on Commandant P. Pen!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Pierce skill Sword Step on Commandant P. Pen!
AS: Aggression: Kasumi Yoshizawa gains 1 Limit!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa: Psych removed!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended.

AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 101 Light damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Kouha. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Commandant P. Pen takes 128 Pierce damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Sword Step. Weak!
AS: Commandant P. Pen is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Commandant P. Pen has posed.
<poem>
The man tries to pull the trigger rapidly of the gun as Kasumi condemns him, but the pillar of light engulfs him, and only him, dropping him to his knees. Mishima runs away, at a clumsy, staggering gait.

The man's eyes grow wide as he falls on his backside, "Wait - wait! I don't want to-!" And the blade pierces him through. He falls down, insensate.

And then dissolves. Not as Shadows do, for he's a Cognition. It's more a gradual fade of his body disintegrating, than a spray of ichor and sudden collapse.

The Phantoms know, so long as he lives in real life, he'll be back one day, like a bad penny. But for now, the Parade Grounds are silent.

Kobayakawa's office remains shut. It's perhaps not impassable, but... have they not what they came for?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''Exploitation is the way of this world, you foolish child!'' Kawazu shouts, and Joker suddenly frowns--not because of the horrible sentiment that this is (though that doesn't help), but because this is a reflection of Kobayakawa's mindset. If exploitation is the way of this world, and Kobayakawa's search to find if The Phantoms are among his students reeks of desperation... who's exploiting ''him''?

Joker doesn't have a chance to contemplate that for long. He finds himself on the wrong end of a chalk launcher, and while his Proficiency is high--it's apparently not quite high enough.

They flashback to Ushimaru's murderous intent and the many bruised foreheads, and freeze in their panic...!

"WAUGH," they cry while they get WHALED on with many, many high-velocity pieces of chalk. Their black coat will be pure white by the end of this. But go ahead, keep shooting, Kawazu. You'll get yours when Noir fires that grenade in your tank!

And when it goes off, it goes off with a most satisfying, tank-shattering KABOOM.

...It helps shake off some of the chalk snowing down from their hair and costume, at that. Joker takes a moment to step away from the edge of the catwalk and dust the worst off it off. It occurs to them to swap Personas and use a water spell to wash it off--but no, that would only make it worse. The thought of looking that uncool in front of their friends fills them with fresh panic...!

Once they look more or less presentable, Joker jumps down from the catwalk to rejoin their friends, taking another moment to look over the team and Kasumi. They've taken some bad damage--but Panther's also taken out a ''significant'' number of cognitions with her fiery whip technique, including the Cognitive Haru, and Kasumi's taken care of those cognitive bullies from the gymnastics team. (Are they that bad in real life, or is that just Kobayakawa's perception? They'll have to look into that later.)

Kawazu is the worst off by far. They should be able to finish this up and leave... Except when Joker approaches, hands tucked into their pockets, the Vice-Commandant immediately starts groveling.

Joker is unmoved. Not by his dogeza, not by his ''generic-ass'' letters of recommendation, not by his excuses.

"If you're an adult, take responsibility for yourself," he tells him coldly.

So naturally, Kawazu's response is to grab a cognitive Mishima and hold him hostage to try to get himself an escape route. Joker narrows their eyes at him.

But Kasumi doesn't hesitate. As much as all this is, she's picked up on context clues to realize (or assume) that these cognitions are things that she can just take out--and does so without mercy. Cognitive Mishima even manages to get away unscathed while Cognitive Kawazu reduces to nothing. Perfect.

Joker watches until the cognition is well and truly gone. Then they tuck their hands in their pockets again and look at her, then at all the others.

"The show's over," they announce. "Let's get out of here before any reinforcements arrive." They turn to Kasumi. "You're welcome to join us if you like... but if you'd rather not, all you need to do to get out is leave. Once you're out of this bunker and past the perimeter fence, you should be able to return to the real world."

The Phantoms do still need to question Shadow Kobayakawa, but now is not the time.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem> Kawazu vanishes, just firmly proving that he wasn't a real person... Which certainly explains some of his strange behaviour. But does that mean the real Kawazu isn't actually like that? Or is there some connection between this fake one and the real one?

So many questions...

... But now is still not the time for answers. Even though they're taken care of the ones attacking them, Kasumi suspects there are more waiting in the wings--

--Kasumi drops down to her knees, groaning quietly as the exhaustion of her awakening and the subsequent battle overtakes her. She's so tired... But she can't stay down. She can't keep being weak.

Kasumi struggles back onto her feet, giving the Phantom Thieves leader a weak smile as he gives her the option of joining them in their escape or going her own way, "I think I'll have to rely on your help for a little longer."

The group begins to make a break for it, amidst the shouts and alarms that are starting to blare through the bunker. Thankfully they'll be able to make it out without another fight, more soldiers quickly following on their heels all the way back until returning to the real world.

Upon returning to said reality, Kasumi will be relieved to find her normal clothes weren't actually burned up in her awakening (that would be awkward). But surprise quickly follows as she recognises a couple of the Phantom Thieves!

But despite all the questions she has, she doesn't quite feel up to an explanation at that very moment... And she has to get home before her parents start to worry! She's already late!

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2026-10-17: Prodigal Children

2026-10-18T19:49:06Z

Ayu: Created page with "*'''Log: 2026-10-17 Prodigal Children''' *'''Cast:''' Kasumi Yoshizawa, Ren Amamiya (also NPCing Morgana), Ichika Kawase, Ryuji Sakamoto, Futaba Sakura *'''Where:''' Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe *'''OOC Date:''' October 17, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' Friday, January 25, 2013 *'''Summary''': ''After returning to Leblanc, Morgana and Kasumi decide to do re-join The Phantoms. Both of them are welcome. However, there's still much to discuss about 2026-10-16..."

*'''Log: 2026-10-17 Prodigal Children'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Ren Amamiya]] (also NPCing [[Morgana]]), [[Ichika Kawase]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]], [[Futaba Sakura]]
*'''Where:''' Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe
*'''OOC Date:''' October 17, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Friday, January 25, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''After returning to Leblanc, Morgana and Kasumi decide to do re-join The Phantoms. Both of them are welcome. However, there's still much to discuss about [[2026-10-16:_Sibling_Bickering|the mystery Palace they all just left behind]].''

----

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Back in reality, Kasumi (and whoever wanted to hover), return to Leblanc from a short trip to Dr. Takemi's around the corner. They climb the stairs to Ren's attic bedroom, and she takes a seat nearby. "Thank you for introducing me, Amamiya-senpai." Kasumi says. "Dr. Takemi was very helpful. Thankfully, it's a shallow cut, so it'll heal, but..." She raises a hand, tracing it with her fingertip. It's another reminder of her failures, up to now.

Kasumi trails off, as she shuffles a little in her seat. "Thank you for saving us..." She says. "I... wasn't expecting that shadow to be so strong. I'm really not cut out for this..." She lets out a big sigh, as she looks towards Morgana. "Maybe... we should just forfeit?

Despite Kasumi's focus on sore feelings, there's a lot to talk about. Just what was that strange, sterile Palace? What is it, and who's it supposed to belong to? And what ''was'' that cognitive shadow? Now's a good a time to discuss as any.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Dr. Takemi continues to be a reliable and trustworthy ally of The Phantoms, for all that she doesn't know that's what they are. Aside from raised eyebrows and some snarky comments, she didn't make any comments on how worn out Ren, Kasumi, and their friends looked, and cleaned and bandaged Kasumi's cheek cut up quickly and efficiently. Honestly, she's seen Ren in worse condition.

As they all return to Leblanc, wave off Sojiro's own raised eyebrows, and head upstairs, Morgana looks back at Kasumi. He makes a low noise, but doesn't agree or disagree about forfeiting. "..."

"Fighting Shadows can be really tough, especially if there's only two of you," Ren remarks, noting this long with Kasumi's self-depreciation. "That's why I'm glad we've got such a big team. Between all of us, we can always make sure we're fighting fit and no one has to overextend themselves for the team."

Ren picks the desk chair to sit on; Morgana leaps up onto the desk itself for his spot, as he's usually done in the past. Ren glances at him, and he glances back, and both look out at everyone else who's gathered. Some are those who helped explore the mystery Palace; some are those who joined up with them on the way back.

There are a ''lot'' of mysteries around that mystery Palace, too. Ren hasn't forgotten them, either. However, right now, their focus is on Kasumi and Morgana.

"So don't think you have to forfeit because of one bad encounter," they continue, looking between them. "There's benefits to having a small, light team. You just have to lean into them more."

"...Nah," Morgana says. "I had my own troubles when I was a solo agent. Yoshizawa's right; that's not a Palace that can get conquered with just two people. And... a-and anyway..." He quivers for a moment; if he had a human form, a blush would be stealing over his face right now. "I-I wanna come back!" he bursts out. Then he hangs his head in embarrassment and shame of admitting this. "I've really missed you guys..."

Ren's dark eyes soften. "...We've really missed you too. Especially me."

Morgana looks back at them, startled, but then happy. "Ren..." He looks down, but this time there's a dignity to it. "I... really got attached to you guys. But we started all this as a deal--a bargain. I thought, what happens to me if it ends? And then we got more and more members, and I started feeling like... I wasn't really needed anymore. I kept worrying about that on and on, but I--I didn't know how to say it. I thought I'd look pathetic if I said it. So when everything exploded with Ryuji about Lady Ann, I ended up lashing out, all because I was too much of a coward to say how I ''really'' felt. I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry too, Morgana," Ren murmurs. "I'd noticed something was weighing on you, but I didn't check in with you as much as I should've. I figured..." They glance away, rubbing the side of their neck. "Well, that you wouldn't want to talk about it. So I didn't ask. But sometimes that's exactly when you ''need'' someone to ask."

They glance over at the others. If there's anything anyone else wants to say, now's a good time to weigh in--either for Morgana or for Kasumi.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Dr. Takemi is great! Ichika is pretty cool with her, actually. For Tsubasa reasons, mostly. But she doesn't bring those up, other than to generally be hype to be there.

She's a little worried about Kasumi, frankly. But Ichika can keep that to herself for the intermediate period. She's dressed in green today, a layered green top over a gray shirt for the cold and a short black skirt with thigh-highs and boots.

"Glad it'll heal," Ichika says to Kasumi of the cut.

Then.... Hmm... Small teams, and benefits, and--

"Morgana," Ichika says more softly when he says he missed them. "We missed you, too."

He got attached. Ichika smiles faintly, her dark-painted lips gleaming in the low light. "I like having you around" she says.

"It's not just your experience or your expertise we want, Morgana. You, as a teammate, are improtant to us. ...besides, without you, I've gotta do all the healing..."

She grins. Then, she grows a lot more serious, folding her hands on the table. "But you and Ryuji-kun are gonna have to get a lot cooler with each other if we're going to all be a team together. Don't worry about who started it, whose fault it is--just... try to be cool with each other. OK?"

"I won't hesitate to grab both your ears if you slip up. ...But..."

"I really did miss you too, Morgana. It wasn't the same without you."

"And hey, Yoshizawa... this stuff is hard. Especially when they get at your emotions like that. Don't beat yourself up, OK?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji received the call from the others at the end of his shift. He booked it to Leblanc, using some creative train hopping to get to the district quickly. Upon arriving Ryuji is dressed in a dark grey hoodie with a skull over the chest, some distressed pants, and beat up sneakers. He is probably dressing better than he used to admittedly. He walks in with his iconic slouch, looking around the cafe for everyone. "Yo! Whats going on, dudes. Sorry, I had a last minute shift I had to cover so I didn't make it. Is Morgana back on the team?"

He spots the...furred individual in question and smiles as much as he can in the circumstances. It wasn't smug or distainful just maybe a little hopeful. "Hey dude...Welcome back." He leaves it at that, knowing it is better to keep a little distance while they felt out how this would go.

He immediately finds his way to Ichika, grinning. "You guys wreck some havoc or something?" He was honestly kinda jealous since he could've used the exercise.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
Futaba Sakura was not there, despite her vows to support everyone. What's up with that?

FLASHBACK: WEDNESDAY - JAN 23 - PHANTOMS GROUP CHAT

> I got a cold.
> If I die, I need Panther to do something.
> You can share my treasure among you once she's completed the task.

THURSDAY - JAN 24 - DIRECT MESSAGE TO PANTHER AKA ANN TAKAMAKI

> I'm not going to die I just feel like butt.
> But if I did end up really sick
> Delete all my hard drives. There's instructions on a sticky note inside the cabinet.

A sacred duty for Ann... but why her?

NOW

A little while after others come through Leblanc, Futaba arrives as well. She seems to be as normally healthy as a nerd with chronic slouching and other such issues can be. She is wearing a disposable face mask - even if she feels better enough to make the incredibly arduous and burdensome 'two block walk from the house' to Leblanc, you don't want to spread germs.

(Also, irrespective of their other benefits, wearing face masks in the winter is actually baller. You get to kind of pre-moisturize your air *and* it stays warmer, so it's basically a win all around!)

Sojiro looks at Futaba skeptically, and Futaba manages to return his look. (He is, after all, one of the few people whom she can look at without anxiety in the first place. Or least only with like background level anxiety.)

"I suppose you're going upstairs, too, huh?"

Futaba nods vigorously.

"... I have to ask. What's the occasion?"

Futaba stares at Sojiro. Fortunately, the face mask hides her slack jawed 'uhhhh' expression. Fortunately further, she has an answer to hand: "Video games."

"Oh," says Sojiro, in the same tone that you might expect if Futaba had said 'knitting circle' or 'car stereo discussion.' He grunts and turns back to one of the customers at the bar.

Up she goes.

"Sup," Futaba says, leaning to the side to peek out from behind Skull. She freezes when she gets her eyes on the relatively-unfamiliar form of Kasumi, though, and straightens back up, breaking line of sight.

(Until Ryuji moves.)

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi is still filled with a feeling of 'I should be better'... Like Drake Adventure 1, where the main hero has no party members. Like she needs to be special, that leaning on others is a weakness. That breaks when Ren says that it's why they team up with others, and Ichika's agreement. "Huh? You seem so strong though Kawase-san... And even Senpai...?" Everyone else struggles alone too...?

Kasumi listens as well to Morgana's confession, and agreeing to rejoin the Theives... "Morgana... I'm glad to hear that...!" She was able to help save one relationship, at least! Not just that, but coming clean with his weakness up to this point! Morgana's growing stronger, by admitting his insecurities?

"I'm... I'm joining too!" Kasumi stands suddenly, clutching her hands into fists. "I'm sick of feeling alone! I want to grow stronger and fight with everyone too!" There's been a lot of reasons holding her back, but, "I'm not going to hold you guys, or myself back anymore!" Kasumi lets out a sigh as she finally lets everything out, as a wave of shyness suddenly comes over her. "If you'll... have me, I mean." She sits back down, cringing at herself a little. Just a little, with a smile coming over.

During this pow-wow, Ryuji and Futaba surely arrive midway through! "Ah! We're, uh..." Kasumi stammers a little. "W-well, the comptition is over, Morgana and I are joining..." Then, she notices Futaba, and clamps her hand over her mouth. Crud! Someone she doesn't know-

"Oh, uh! Joining a, uh... knitting club, I mean...!" A beat, as she tries desperately to figure out a subject change. "You look around my age... I'm Yoshizawa, Kasumi!" She stands for a offer a bow. "What, uh, school are you from...?" She asks, gently?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Morgana beams at Ichika as she reiterates that they missed him and it hasn't been the same without him. However, when she adds that he's got to start getting along better with Ryuji--it doesn't matter who started what--his ears slink back. Still, he does murmur, "Yeah..."

Of course, that's the exact moment that Ryuji arrives, asking if Morgana's back on the team. His ears perk up at his welcoming attitude. Even if he did agree with Ann the other day, he didn't really expect that. "Hey... Thanks," he replies, subdued but... actually sincere.

He accused Ryuji of hating him, but maybe that was all in his head. He ''has'' been kind of a jerk to him up 'til now, huh?

When Futaba peeks out from behind Ryuji, then hides back behind him at the sight of Kasumi, Morgana and Ren both smile. She's come a long way, but it's still a long journey, huh? That's okay, though. That means you're still alive and growing.

"Hey, Futaba. Feeling better?" Ren asks. A cold is especially tough when you have Futaba's lack of resilience. As Kasumi likewise stammers around her, though, it clicks, and they add, "It's cool. Futaba's one of us." They gesture to each in turn. "Futaba, this is Kasumi Yoshizawa, an underclassman of mine at Shujin. Yoshizawa, this is Futaba Sakura, the Boss's daughter. Yoshizawa was on the team temporarily for a while, and Futaba's on the team now."

When Kasumi expresses her surprise about individual vs. group strength, they nod to her. "We wouldn't be nearly so strong if we didn't have each other." Their times attempting to take Ruin on have made that clear. There are some enemies you just need a team to beat. When Kasumi jumps to her feet and says she's joining, their eyes widen a little--but it's more at the vehemence than the declaration itself. They smile slowly and nod again. "You were on the team before. If you've made up your mind that you want to join for real, you're welcome." They look around to Ichika, Ryuji, and Futaba. "Any objections?"

That's more a joke than anything else; they really don't expect any problems. They do look back at Kasumi a moment later, though. "About Goro--that is, Akechi... You won't need to worry about lying to him. Don't explicitly confirm you're on the team now, but he basically figured us all out a while ago."

They lean an elbow on the desk and their cheek on their hand. "But that's fine because he and I are dating anyway."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika when she's called strong grins. "My Persona works best in a team," she says simply. "It's how I fight outside Palaces, too. I can do OK on my own, for a while... but without someone to watch your back, everybody gets got sooner or later."

She smiles when Ryuji welcomes Morgana. "Tht's better," she says to both of them encourgingly.

But theree's... Futaba! Ichika nudges Ryuji and gets him to sit down with her, and Ren and Morgana can explain.

"That's right," Ichika agrees on strength. "No objections from me," Ichika says. "You were pretty handy back there, even when it was rough on you. I'd trust you to watch my back."

Then, kechi... Well, Ichika knew this part.

But Ren has a certain style delivering it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Not expecting the sudden Futaba, Ryuji jolts from the sudden voice behind him. He whirls around to see the girl, looking as gremlin as ever. He sighs with relief and nods to the recluse, moving deeper inside of the cafe.

As the explanation is given, Ryuji grins. "Sorry I missed it but hell yeah." When the mention of membership comes up, Ryuji smiles. "Nah. I kinda figured it was gonna happen."

He finds his seat, predictably next to Ichika. He leans forward, looking over the room. "Man we're quite the gang of interesting faces now...If your boyfriend has this all figured out, I'm gonna call shenanigans cuz there is no way he's that smart, RenRen."

"Anyway, welcome to the group!" Ryuji smiles at Kasumi.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
Concealed behind Ryuji and immune to detection, Futaba wonders where this is going to go. She heard them talking, but... did she read the room wrong? Did she - wait. Futaba's brow furrows as she compares pieces. Complex mathematics happen in her head. Then she figures it out. Which is shortly confirmed: it is, indeed, 'the woman called Belle.'

"Mmhm," Futaba tells Ren, with a nod. She points at the mask: "This is to suppress the enemy." So suddenly relaxed! (Ren can probably kinda-see-her, just by the distribution of viewing angles.) After that...

She takes a step to the right. This breaks concealment, allowing Kasumi to target Futaba with a ranged weapon. However, Futaba is then being asked for her objections. Her hands have folded behind her back; she looks back to Ren, then to Morgana, then back to Kasumi. "Nice to meet you," she states. "I'm pretty new. Please take care of me."

Am I about to sneeze...?

No, Futaba decides, her eyes resting on Kasumi for a few moments. "None. Did you guys find the Treasure that fast...?"

Since Ryuji is moving in, Futaba must do the same. She just barrels towards the bed and turns around fast enough for her hair to bounce a bit as she plunks down. Her ankles cross, and for about three seconds it might seem like she's going to sit normally.

Then she removes her shoes (which is a little awkward - is this not Ren's residence? but it's also an attic? whatever) and brings them up to curl into the familiar shrimp pose.

"It's a credible possibility," Futaba answers Ryuji. "He's not just marketing. I've been keeping an eye on him, but I didn't expect..."

the dating, she means the dating.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
With Kasumi's joining official, Kasumi's beams happily. She stands for another bow. "Thank you all so much! I'll do my best out there!"

Then, she meets Futaba properly. As she breaks concealment, Kasumi uses her reaction to smile. "The Boss's daughter?" She repeats aloud. "Ah! Sakura-san, then. It's a pleasure to meet you. My codename's Belle." She matches Futaba's bow with one of her own.

'I'm pretty new. Please take care of me.'

Wait... Does that mean...? "I-I've been doing this for since last summer..." Kasumi says, trying to put on a bashful facade... Then, after bouncing on her feet for a few beats. "I guess what sort of makes you my Kouhai, then, huh...?~ I'll do my best!" She's ''so'' happy about the prospect.

More to the point... "No, we weren't able to make the treasure just yet." Kasumi says, with a shake of her head. "We ran into a tough boss and had to get saved."

Wait. Akechi-san and Amamiya-senpai. Are dating?!

"Ehhhhhh?!" Kasumi lets out a loud noise, using a hand to cover her mouth. "You two are?!" Part of her wants all of the gossip, but there's something much more important at hand...

"How, uh... Does that work?" Kasumi asks, tilting her head. It's fine in fiction, but... "Akechi-san's working with the police. Is it really okay for a Phantom Thief and a detective to...? Especially when the detective knows the other's...?"

It hasn't quite occured to Kasumi yet that Akechi's realized that Kasumi's a phantom thief before ''she did''...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"He doesn't have 'this all' figured out. Still no idea how we change hearts. He's figured out most of the members, though," Ren replies mildly to Ryuji. They've already told everyone about that much, but it's important Kasumi know that too. To whit: "That includes you. You're on his 'maybe' list."

They smile at Kasumi's shock about the news of them and Goro dating. "We have an understanding. He isn't just caving to our Justice, but he's willing to be open-minded about it now that he knows me better." (In other words, that they're not the kind of person who would brainwash others into being good.) "He's going to keep up the act on TV for now, though."

They shake their head at Futaba, though. "The contest is off. We decided to skip the song and dance this time. Morgana and Yoshizawa are just back." To say nothing of the difficulties with the Palace itself. They let Kasumi cover that, though.

It really does help that Ichika's here, too. Certainly Morgana feels better about everything with her encouraging him and Ryuji to get along, and that shows even on his kitty face.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika takes the couch with Ryuji; she reaches down to take his hand after a moment, and leans on him a little. It's PDA, but it's among friends, so it's a little more OK.

"He could be that smart," Ichika says. "...But yeah, I think if he had it ''all'' figured out he'd have done... something," she says. The way Ren puts it... hmm. "That's just as well. Phantom Thieves shouldn't be loved by the authorities. Right, Morgana? It's not in style."

"Yeah... that Palace is gonna take all of us at our best," she agrees with the explanation to Futaba. "it was rough. And apparently it can draw on pieces of what's improtant to you? Like..." She glances at Kasumi. "It made a copy of her sister," Ichika explains. "it was really mesed up."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji takes Ichika's hand an squeezes it, leaning back against her. PDA wasn't something he was concerned with at the moment. He just relaxes and looks around, noting Morgana's content expression.

Seems everything was getting better.

"Look, I don't know what he knows but we gotta be careful or we're gonna end up on TV for all the wrong reasons."

He blinks when Kasumi reacts to his statement and laughs a little nervously. "Yeah. My bad for letting that out so casually...But yeah."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
("Oracle," Futaba tells Kasumi. Who she's really taking quite well... maybe it's because of the earlier cognitive encounter, or the indirect vouching of both Ren and Morgana, that this isn't someone she has to worry about.)

Her fingers steeple together as Kasumi pops shock at the news of DATING. Is Futaba smiling? Her mouth is kind of hidden by her fingers. It's more of a smirk kind of thing. She is not helping. The rest of her questions, though, are pretty logical.

Then Ren speaks... and Futaba hugs her legs a little. Her face colors. She doesn't seek out Morgana. Maybe she's still embarrassed. "... I guess it's good... people were honest about it," Futaba concludes, more quietly. Though back to Ichika. "... So it's able to respond dynamically to people's cognition? I wonder if you could manipulate the diff by..."

Trailing off. A copy of her sister. That sounds Heavy, and Futaba says no more.

... Until she bugs Ryuji. "What's the right reasons?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
("Oracle!" Kasumi nods. "The cute girl from before! It's good to properly meet you, hehe.")

Ren explains the situation with Akechi, as Kasumi nods. "I see... Not wanting to relent in public ''does'' sound like Akechi-san, alright." She giggles, remembering a conversation she's had with him before. "I'm not surprised he's figured you guys out, but I really am glad he's willing to hear you out..." Maybe falling in love will be good for Akechi? Then it's ''really'' like a romance subplot! "I also noticed he has a Will of Rebellion too. Maybe he can see eye to eye with all of us..." It's sort of nice actually, to be included in that now.

Kasumi nods in agreement with Ichika. "It was really freaky... I couldn't stand it, taking her face like that." She pauses, and decides that now's a good time to start talking about it. "The Palace is so strange... It's overtop the stadium construction site, out in Odaiba. I go there when I'm sad, sometimes..." Not the point! Kasumi shakes her head. "I think it's meant to be a laboratory, but I don't know who it could belong to..."

"The palace itself is pure white and sterile. I noticed some posters talking about health and happiness... Ah, and we also grabbed a keycard for the elevator!" Kasumi explains. "I ended up feeling a call further into the Palace, so I started running in... And ran into a cognitive version of my younger sister. She pleaded me to leave, and my head started to hurt with voices talking to me..." She crosses her arms. "I don't really remember what they were saying though... Then, my sister turned into that Shadow, as Morgana caught back up."

What else should she mention...? "Yeah, it's an anomaly of a Palace, that's for sure." She thinks to check her phone to bring up the entry on the Metanav. Though... There's an issue actually. She furrows her brow, taps on it some more. Only... "Uh... The entry, it's gone now. Is... Is that normal...?" After stealing the treasure? Maybe. After leaving in defeat? Definitely not.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Exactly right," Morgana tells Ichika. "The back-and-forth between a detective and a thief is one thing, but we should always be a thorn in authority's side!"

"Fortunately, the cops don't like Goro either. He keeps making them look back, so they resent him," Ren adds. "That's why he says he's not a cop." They nod to Ryuji all the same. "Yeah. I didn't confirm or deny anything, mind you. I just asked him who he thought was on the team, and he told me."

A copy of Kasumi's sister... and responding dynamically to people's cognitions. Ren touches their chin as they consider this combined suggestion from Ichika and Futaba. "I'd assumed the Ruler must've known Yoshizawa and her sister, but that's a possibility. If that Shadow had an ability to pick up on someone's memories of a loved one and take on their form, then the Ruler wouldn't have to know anything about either of them."

Morgana utters a low, grim hum and looks over at Kasumi. "Good thing we defeated it before it could report back to its 'Master.'"

He smiles as she and Futaba murmur between themselves. They're already getting along! That's great to see. Both of them could use more friends.

Ren glances at Futaba, meanwhile. They can guess what she must be thinking. If it'd been her mom... They're sure she wouldn't want a repeat of that wrathful sphinx from ''her'' Palace.

What are the right reasons, though? "Winning a competition," Ren suggests. They're no longer an ice skater and Ryuji's no longer a runner, but that's still where their mind goes first.

They smile as Kasumi looks optimistically on Goro seeing eye to eye with The Phantoms. "Yeah. I hope so."

Ren's smile fades into a serious look as she starts talking about the Palace itself--as well as the cognition/Shadow they all fought. The elevator keycard will be handy later, but... huh. That sounds intense... The last bit surprises them the most, though.

"It's gone?" They take out their own phone to check their Meta-Nav. Sure enough, the listing has vanished. "What in the world...?"

"That's not normal at all," Morgana says. "Did the Ruler notice us after all? But even that shouldn't stop us from being able to get in again!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika nods in satisfaction to Morgana's answer. But Ren does point out that akechi's not a cop, either... Hmm.

Oracle! ichika sees Futaba hugging her legs. She also notices the way that she just quiets down.

"Hey..." But she's bugging Ryuji now, and Ichika... leans on him a little more.

"Oh," Ichika says. "I guess that would make sense too, if he knew them. But it just seemed... Like, it seemed tailor made to get under Yoshizawa-chan's skin. Even more than a usual Cognition, it felt like."

"...But maybe that's because i find that kind of personal, too. My brother, and all."

The right reasons, though... winning a competition. "That sounds nice,' she says.

"...?"

"I don't think that's normal," Ichika says, checking her own phone. "I don't think that's normal at all."

"Do you think we'll be able to get back in? ...I mean, I guess we don't know who the Ruler is so we don't know if we want to change their Heart anyway, but..."

She's uneasy.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji blinks at Futaba's question. "Uh. I guess not being arrested is a good start. I dunno. Finishing 12 bowls of Ramen in a single go?" He isn't really sure how to answer the question.

"Yeah...I mean I guess if he has you figured out it would be easy to see us all together. Pretty sure he might think Mishima is on the team...But like the guy is scary smart."

He smiles as Ichika leans into him. "Hmm? Something wrong."

When Ren mentions winning a competition, Ryuji's smile shrinks a little. If his damn legs would work, stuff would be so much easier.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
"He's brutal like that," Futaba says as the Egyptian chorus when Kasumi comments about Akechi not letting up in public. She rests her chin on her knees then, letting her eyes finally search for Morgana... but what Ren says makes her head turn towards them instead.

"Did they think about getting good? If they're getting showed up by some teenager with good hair, they need to put in some effort. Lucky for us it sounds like they're too lazy."

Back to Kasumi. "You're sure it didn't have any way to communicate? If it's a modern hospital... I guess the only way is to find out. And..." Futaba adjusts her glasses. "... It might not be a hospital at all. That's just how it sounds."

"You saved it on the app, right?" Futaba tells Ichika, looking towards her. "... And it deleted your shortcut too?? What kind of Ruler is that?"

AND AS FOR RYUJI, he has some pretty credible ideas. Twelve bowls of ramen. Futaba's head tilts down in a meditative way.

Yup.
That's a lot of ramen.

Back up. "...Mishima? Is that somebody's Persona?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"I dunno if not being arrested is worthy of being famous..." Kasumi repeats aloud. Competition though! "That's more like it." She nods approvingly towards Ren. "Though, I don't really know if there's detective competitions for Akechi-san..."

Twelve bowels of Raman, huh? Sounds like Tuesday for Kasumi, if it wasn't so high in sodium.

Kasumi nods in agreement with Ichika. So, there's something about her brother... She'll have to ask about it sometime. "It was freaky, right? And the way it was so mean...

Which rolls into Futaba's question. "Communicate?" Kasumi shakes her head. "No, the Shadow was definitely talking..." She hesitates for a moment. "It was very direct. Either, trying to get us to leave, or degrading me, specifically... Acting like it knew me. But that was ''not'' my sister! She wouldn't be like that...!"

It's gone. "So, it's not normal..." Kasumi murmurs. "I guess it really is a one of a kind Palace, huh...? I'll try to get back into it occasionally." Kasumi vows. "Maybe this time, I'll figure out who's it is this time!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"That could've been the point of the Shadow. It ''was'' trying real hard to get us to leave," Morgana points out to Ichika. "If it latched onto Yoshizawa's memories, that could be why it was so focused on her. ..............possibly."

There it is!! Still, he might be on to something. Kasumi ''was'' the only one in the room when she encountered it. Without being able to go back and without any other similar incidents to compare against, though, there's no way to know for sure.

Ryuji suggests Goro thinks Mishima's on the team. "I don't think so," Ren replies. "At least, he didn't mention suspecting him, and I asked him to name everyone. Not impossible he forgot him, though; I didn't ask him about who he thought might help us out on the side, either."

Futaba asks if Mishima is someone's Persona. Ren chokes back a laugh. "No--no, no. He's a classmate of mine and Ann's." As for the police: "Hey, Goro works hard! It's legit a high bar." Beat. "But yeah, the cops suck. Seems like a lot of them are corrupt, too."

Ichika thinks it's nice to end up on TV due to winning a competition. Noticing the dimming of Ryuji's smile, though, Ren replies, "There's other, cooler things to end up on TV over, too. Getting on a game show for couples, for example." (He ''is'' sitting next to his girlfriend.)

Morgana frowns as Ichika asks if they can get back in. "I don't know. Like you said, we still don't know whose Palace it is. It could be that the entry's hidden instead of gone... but we can figure that out later, especially if Yoshizawa's going to keep an eye on it. For now, we ought to focus on someone whose heart we ''know'' we want to change."

"Like Furudate," Ren says, to which Morgana nods. "We should take a long break for now--it's been one thing after another lately. Yoshizawa needs to join the group chat and introduce herself to everyone too. You're right, though. He's gotten delayed more than long enough."

"We'll explain the deal with him to you later, Yoshizawa," Morgana adds. "In short, he's a crooked land and property owner. Of course, you'll get a chance to weigh in on if you think we ought to change his heart or not, but once you hear the full story, I doubt you'll be against it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"It's fine," Ichika says to Ryuji. But that's a lot of ramen...

"Yeah, I did," Ichika says then to Futaba. "i saved it and eerything. It's just... gone."

Ichika doesn't know Mishima either. She might've met him once... but he wasn't very memorable. "I guess it was," ichika allows of the Shadow's purpose. "But hey, hey," she says to Kasumi. "I believe you." About her sister.

"Oh, yeah!" Ichika says, picking up on what Ren is doing. "One of those couples' competitions would be super fun," she agrees. But... Morgana gets it. And they should focus on the others...

"Yeah," Ichika agrees eventually. "Like Furudate."

"Well, cool. Guess that's that, for now."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
"You can definitely be famous for crime," Futaba assures Kasumi.

She frowns, though. It's a very authentic, brow-wrinkling, lower-lip-creasing frown, as if this new wrinkle, the degradation, has angered Futaba. So she has a little more energy when she says, "Those are cognitive reflections. They're not the real person. It was using your memory. It might have been doing that to hurt you..."

"... which is totally unforgivable!"

BUT NEWS. No, nobody has Yukio Mishima as a Persona. (Futaba saw the literary trend. If it wasn't for her VPN there would probably be an easy to fingerprint web search for everyone's Persona's name at a certain time and date...)

"I got into his office computers and everything, so we can pull the fresh data whenever you want," Futaba continues, to Ren. "It wasn't my best work, but it'll do. Though..."

She turns herself a little. Towards Morgana. "Um..."

Futaba squirms.

"... ... You can infiltrate and drop things off right??" An unusual burst of awkwardness, but it may be nothing more than residual *shame*. "Like, on a work site or something... there's stuff I can do with a wireless access point that I can't over the Internet. Especially if you can get it into some panels."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"I don't think I'd want to be famous for crime..." Kasumi replies to Futaba... Then, a realization is clicked into place. "Oh! Yeah, I guess you can. But I don't think 'famous for not getting arrested' criminals are getting on television shows anytime soon..." She says with a laugh.

Not quite picking up on Ryuji's thinning smile, Kasumi giggles with Ren. "Like a variety show. There's definitely people famous for stuff like that!" Idols for one, comedians, or detectives.

"To get under my skin...?" Kasumi wonders. "Well, they clearly miscalculated, considering how angry it made me. What a strange defense mechanism..." She supposes that might be why the entry disappeared.

Furudate? "You'll have to fill me in later, Senpai." She says with a smile. Ah! Then Morgana gives her the gist. "I see... That sounds awful. I'd be happy to help!"

"That's that." Kasumi nods. "I'll make sure to let everyone know if I can figure something out. I'm looking forward to fighting with all of you!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"That's called infamy," Ren points out with regards to getting famous for crimes.

Mona perks as Futaba makes a certain suggestion. For all her squirming, he picks up what she's putting down. "Yeah! If you need someone to make a move in the real world for you, you can leave it to me!"

Pause.

"But don't you dare call me your cats-paw!!"

Ren smiles, eyes squinting briefly shut at the exchange. "Do you want to stay here again then, Morgana? Or d'you like it at Yoshizawa's place?"

He pauses at that. Morgana looks between him and Futaba and Kasumi. "Weeeelll... You two have school for most of the day, but Futaba might need me any day, any time... I ''guess'' I can stay here again, for her sake!"

"Good to have you back," Ren replies with quiet affection. They look over at Kasumi. "Feel free to come by to visit whenever you like."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Infamy! It's probably for the best that Kasumi didn't ask what Ichika meant by fighting 'outside Palaces', incidentally.

"Oh, yeah?" Ichika says. "Good work!" she tells Futaba. Morana might have a job, meanwhile, and...

"Angry's a way of getting under your skin," Ichika cautions Kasumi. "it means you're not thinking straight, either way. You might miss things you'd otherwise recognize--or you might make mistakes."

When they establish where Morgana will stay though... Ichika smiles. "Cool," she says. All is well.

"I could use the break anyway," Ichika says. "I got into the school I was going for: PIC. So..."

"I need to focus on getting ready for that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
<poem>
"No way," Futaba agrees with haste, about not calling Morgana a cats paw. "You're a special agent. That's obvious." See? Way more flattering. And then...

Morgana gets a look from Futaba which is *almost entirely* hidden by her face mask. But there is a little widening of the cheeks, as if a :I face happened underneath it. "I'm gonna put you through training, if you're gonna be like that."

* Minigame unlocked ??

After that, though, Futaba exhales into her knees. It feels like a cloud was lifted. And the cold seemed to have gone away completely after she'd caught up on sleep. Really, it had just been two really violent sneezes. Maybe she aspirated a dust mote or something and it --

"Is that the one with the observatory??" Futaba asks Ichika, with vigor. "Congratulations! ... Are you seriously going to college though??" Somehow she sounds dismayed by the news, with time to think of it. But... well...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi giggles. "Infamy it is."

Kasumi smiles, happy that Morgana is being put to work. "On that note, I've discovered I'm pretty sneaky... If there's ever a time to trail someone, I'd be happy to help.~"

Ichika comments on how anger can make you sloppy, causing a little "!" to pop over Kasumi's head. "Ah! I was thinking mainly of them trying to get me to leave... You're right, Kawase-san. I'll try to keep my emotions in check in the future."

Kasumi smiles as Morgana debates the two. (She also does a little "Oh!" once she realizes that Futaba isn't in school either.) "That's fine by me. I'll make sure to come by plenty, Senpai, Morgana.~"

It takes a second for Kasumi to remember. PIC... "Ah! Congratulations, Kawase-san! That's so exciting!" She beams! It'll be a couple of years still until Kasumi needs to worry about her own university days, but she's intending on Tokyo U so she can stay in the area.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Special agent Morgana...! It really does sound much cooler! (Futaba learned from Ren choosing "essential party member" over "key item," it seems.) "Accepted!" Morgana declares.

But then Futaba declares anti-tsundere training. "Wh-what? What??? What kind of training?!"

He and she might be play-bickering for a while... But Ichika's got some good advice for Kasumi, so at least the other half of the room is keeping their cool. Similarly, when Kasumi accepts the invite, Ren nods to her, and Morgana looks pleased as well.

"Oh? Congratulations," Ren tells Ichika with a growing smile, meanwhile. "I'm proud of you." Goro got into UTokyo, of course, but that's his news to share--assuming it doesn't end up on the news in a talk show or a magazine article, anyway.

"Then it sounds like a lot of us could use some time focusing on the real world," they add. Makoto, Haru, Tsubasa, Hibari: they've got a lot of third-years in the group. Whatever they're doing in the new school year, they'll also need time to prepare.

The new school year, though, huh... Ren's eyes flick down. Sojiro hasn't gotten back to them yet about what their parents might've said about what's happening with ''them'' in the spring. It's still only January, but February's short. March will be here in no time...

They can only hope he smooths things out with them soon. If not, though--they've got money saved up. They can figure something out if they have to. The only way they're going back to Inaba now is if they're chained up and dragged back there.
</poem>

'''The Phantoms / Message: 12/21'''
Author: Ren Amamiya
(IC) New Members, Next Palace
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<poem>
Morgana's back on the team. Kasumi Yoshizawa, codename Belle from her probationary period with us just before Kamiya's Palace, has joined us with him. Make sure to welcome them both.

We're going after Furudate's Palace next; we've gotten delayed on that for too long. We're going to take a break first, though. We're nearing the end of the school year, and I know a lot of you have college and other stuff to get ready for. Tsubasa, since this guy's been your White Whale all this time, we'll start making our move on your signal. When you're ready, let us know.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-16: Sibling Bickering

2026-10-18T19:42:27Z

Ayu:

* '''Log: 2026-10-16: Sibling Bickering'''
* '''Cast:''' [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]] (also NPCing [[Morgana]]), [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Ichika Kawase]], [[Ann Takamaki]], [[Tsubasa Seki]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]]
* '''Where:''' Odaiba, Mystery Palace
* '''OOC Date:''' October 16, 2026
* '''IC Date:''' January 25, 2013
* '''Summary''': ''The chase is on! The Kasumi and Morgana duo enter the mystery palace, aiming to blaze a trail straight to the treasure! However, they're stopped by a strange, cognitive Shadow... of Kasumi's sister? A fiendishly powerful Shadow fights off the duo, as The Phantoms arrive to save the pair!''
* '''Content Warnings''': Attempted re-traumatization, sibling death, sibling verbal abuse

----

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
??? Palace

Kasumi and Morgana land safely on the section part of the lobby, past the barred elevator. The freshly made grappling hook zips back onto Kasumi's wrist. "Now, I see why Joker-senpai likes using this thing so much!" Belle says to her fellow Thief with a laugh. "That's so much fun!"

They, Mona and Kasumi have been challenged by the Phantom Thieves. If they can't reach the treasure first, then the pairing must join with the Phantoms! It's a pretty exciting wager, but Kasumi has no intention of losing. Never have, never will.

While Mona goes off to look for an elevator key card to make future infiltrations easier, Belle takes a look around in the other direction. As she walks through the pure white, clinical Palace a headache starts to set in. Or is it a heartache? She spots an entrance and... feels something compelling her.

In a move that is very well not advised... Belle splits the party and goes running off. The way seems to open up for her, until...

"Sumire!"
"Kasumi!"

She runs straight into her sister. The younger Yoshizawa is pretty much identical to the elder, except the duplicate has brown hair, and a beauty mark underneath her left eye.

"Sis." The brunette places her hand over her heart as she leans forward. "You have to leave."

"You... aren't her..." Belle mumbles. Then, like white blood cells rushing to the invaders, the redhead experiences a heavy headache. Voices invade her mind.

"brutal thank you routine lunch tall as apples my right as nutrition same grade dreams things...better... apologize watch...red... dreams stop... not a bad thing"
"..su.."
"..mi.."
"Sumire!"

"YOU AREN'T SUMIRE!" Belle yells in a rare moment of genuine anger. She grabs her rapier and tears the blade from the scabbard and points it at the fake. Her hand shudders uncontrollably. "I won't let you wear her face anymore!"

The fake gives a look full of pity. "If words will not eject you, then force must." The cognitive person collapses into blackness, turning into a Palace Shadow. A Maria. "My poor, pitiful sister. You've never beaten me before. You won't start now."

Mona arrives just in time to see the fake transform. "That's a Shadow masquerading as my sister." Belle says to fill Mona in. "I can't let this stand. Please, help me defeat it."

----

The resulting battle is rough. The Maria, 'Javotte' as she's called, eviscerates the duo. The room is pouring rain, hard. Javotte prepares a blast of water towards Belle, who gets ready to brace. Staring down the spiraling water. But then she's hit from the side. No, she's pushed?

'Belle!'

"Mo...na?" Everything goes slow. She watches as her friend, the adorable Mona pushes her out of the way. His big, round eyes... What... What does this... remind her of? Then, the water meets cat, sending him flying. It's a pretty nasty hit, with the steam coming off the attack. "Mona? Mona!" Belle says. "No...!"

Javotte looms. "This is your fault, sister." It says. "You should never have come here. This is for spurning my Lord's grace." The Maria charges another attack, to finish Mona off. Another Hydro Cannon gets sent his way...

</poem>
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa has readied for combat as Javotte! She is now fully healed! Ready for 4 opponents!
| Crt_Up added to your status!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
By pure coincidence, The Phantoms have come to the mystery Palace in Odaiba today too. It's a chance for Ren to show everyone (well, everyone who could make it today) where it is--because god knows the Meta-Nav still won't display the name--so they can enter with them and get it in their Meta-Navs too for future access. Not everyone is here, of course, but as long as some of the team is here, they may as well do an initial foray, right?

They too swoop in thanks to Joker's grappling wire. Just ahead, there's a vicious fight going on between a Shadow and Belle and Mona. The Phantoms land just in time to see Mona knock Belle out of the way and take a brutal hit for her.

"!!" Joker utters, eyes widening behind their mask as Belle calls out to him.

''This is your fault, sister. You should never have come here. This is for spurning my Lord's grace.''

A part of Joker wonders what the Shadow means by literally all of that. The rest is already in motion as it charges up another attack aimed at Mona. But will one of the others beat them there first?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
The Phantoms! Ichika is glad for the wager--it gives her hope about Mona... and even if they fail, it might mean that they part on better terms. Not that they plan to fail--Ichika sure doesn't. She didn't work as hard as she has to let Mona slip away now. He's their ally... and their friend.

But dressed as Ogre, Ichika wanders in with Joker and some of the others, swooping in. "Whew!" Ogre says. "That's always--"

Mona takes the hit. Ogre's eyes widen underneath her mask. She doesn't know what's going on, but--

"MONA!"

Ogre hits the ground and ''sprints'', skidding to a stop right in front of Mona with her golden shield held straight out for the attack.

"Fuck off!"

...The expletive might ruin what was otherwise an elegant rescue, but Ogre has planted her feet and gathered herself up behind her shield, intent on saving her friend.
</poem>
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa has readied for combat as Goemon! He is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
"This place is... really, ''really'' creepy..."

This is the main throughline of the Phantom Thief Panther's thoughts as they navigate through this new, unknown Palace. And it's the pervading sense that she's gotten since they stepped foot in here. It's not necessarily the aesthetics; the place is beautiful, eerily so. But it's just...

Sterile?

Like something scrubbed of imperfection and fault.

She can't give words to the feelings, of course. And so she just expresses it another way: by hugging herself, shivering, and announcing, "Ughh. _Seriously_ making my skin crawl...!" to underscore the fact that she thinks this is all ''really skeevy.'' There is, at least, ''one'' thing she can give voice to:

"... This is weird, right? I don't remember a Palace we've been to where we don't know the ruler already..."

Kamoshida, maybe, for Ren and Ryuji. But that, too, was strange circumstances, wasn't it? The anomaly that started all this.

"D'you think--"

Whatever she might have to say is stalled by the sound of violence. Behind her panther mask, Ann's eyes snap wide. Someone's fighting -- and there's only two other people who could possibly be here (besides the Black Mask (oh god did she just jinx it--))

"Belle! MONA!!"

~ <3 ~

A golden shield springs to life in front of Mona as Ogre interposes herself between him and certain death. And almost immediately after--

"NOBODY hurts Mona on our watch!!"

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH

A sudden deluge of roaring flame rushes in from around the two of them, crashing into the polished grounds and flooding towards Javotte furiously as Panther lands beside Ogre not a second later, Carmen indolently lounging on her servitors and puffing her freshly-lit cigar not far behind.

"Belle! Mona! Are you okay?!"

Wait.

--Sister--?

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill Fire Breath on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 3 Hits!
| Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa has readied for combat with Javotte! She is adjusted! Ready for 5 opponents!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Something comes for Mona...

... and Phoenix comes for Javotte.

"EAT SHIT, FUCKWAD!"

That's the bellowing warcry which cleaves through Ann's flames, the massive form of a chicken-legged hut appearing briefly as her fire seems to wrap ''around'' Phoenix's greatsword -- though indeed, it's really Izbushka's flames -- to slam it into that shadowy foe with the force of a thousand incredibly pissed off birds.

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Firebrand on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!
AS: Ann Takamaki has readied for combat as Carmen! She is now fully healed!
AS: Tsubasa Seki cancels 2 attacks on Kasumi Yoshizawa.
AS: Tsubasa Seki has readied for combat as Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah! They are now fully healed!
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill Fire Breath on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 3 Hits!
| Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tandem! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Firebrand on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>At the sight of Belle and Mona in peril, the Phantoms move as one - silently, unanimously, and inexorably.

As Ogre raises her shield against Javotte's high-pressure blast, Panther and Phoenix unleash a combined assault of flame and sword upon her.

Finally, a black-stained katana reflects the fire, flicker-flashing through to cut into the peculiar imitator-Shadow. Fox flourishes, flicking his blade out to one side and then raising it into a hanging guard. "Don't think you'll get to have your way, fiend!"

He glances to Belle, then Mona. "Are you two alright?"

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Slash skill Katana Combo on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!
| Pressure: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid: Great Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 64 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Breath. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid: Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 68 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Breath. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Breath. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid: Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 72 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Firebrand. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 159 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Firebrand. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid: Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 51 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Katana Combo. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid: Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 51 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Katana Combo. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
The hydro cannon slams against Orge's shield. The force gradually peppers off, as Javotte turns her attention to the newcomers and coos. "Oh, you brought more friends, sis?" The Palace Shadow lets out a laugh. "/She/'s never friends before. She always clung so close to me, you know..." From the ground, Belle casts a spell to try and silence the shadow. The three light arrows are sent flying, pinging off harmlessly. "Touchy.~ It's no matter. Please, take care of my ridiculous sister, she's awful at showing her /true feelings."

"Now... I ''must'' ask you take her and the cat and leave my Master's realm."

"Ogre?!" Mona says, looking up at Ogre's impressive, protective figure! And all of the Phantom Thieves too! He's thrilled that everyone came, but... "Everyone, you followed us?! It's too dangerous-" This shadow is way too strong! They might have to retreat!

"Please!" Belle cuts in instead, as she struggles to her feet again. "This shadow is pretending to my sister. I can't let it use her face!" She cries out.

Mona shakes his head. Well, maybe with everyone together, now... "I'll focus on support then! It's resistant to Light, and neutral to wind. Give me a second for a proper scan!" He calls as he falls back.

With Belle's protestations, and the Phantom Thieves answering with attacks of their own, Javotte tuts, tuts, tuts... "You've grown so stubborn, sis. You should know when you're outmatched." The Shadow lets out a wave of attacks! First, she brings the rain in closer to defend her. Then, utilizes the heavy rains to attack her foes!

</poem>
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Recovery skill Rain Dance on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Take: ! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Rain Dance.
| Fire_Wall (Fire Affinity Up!) added!

AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Water skill Heavy Rain on Ann Takamaki, Tsubasa Seki, and Ichika Kawase!
| Aggression: Kasumi Yoshizawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Water skill Torrenting Rain on Ren Amamiya and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Avoid: Success! Ren Amamiya takes 89 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Torrenting Rain.
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Torrenting Rain. Critical Hit!
Resist!
AS: Block: Critical Failure! Ichika Kawase takes 99 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Heavy Rain. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Failure! Ann Takamaki takes 228 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Heavy Rain. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Counter: Critical Failure! Tsubasa Seki takes 155 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Heavy Rain. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 38 Slash damage in return for her attack

AS: Yusuke Kitagawa spends Limit on Shift! Tsubasa Seki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Ann Takamaki spends Limit on Shift! Ichika Kawase can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Ichika Kawase! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Tsubasa Seki spends Limit on Shift! Yusuke Kitagawa can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Even without being directed, The Phantoms are on the same page. The Palace is eerie and sterile; none of them will tolerate Mona getting hurt. Ogre takes her shield and takes up a stance between him and the Shadow just in time to block the attack, and Panther and Phoenix display their outrage the best way they individually and jointly can: with copious amounts of fire. Fox follows up with copious amounts of ''sword'', likewise jointly with Phoenix.

Joker, seeing that Ogre has Mona covered, changes trajectory over towards Belle, to whom he offers a hand up as she's struggling to her feet. His eyes narrow as she explains what's going on. A Shadow pretending to be her sister...? "We won't let it," they promise. Once she's steady, they whirl around, coattails flapping in their wake.

While Mona works on support, they observe that Javotte took extra damage from Panther and Phoenix's attacks--but it's also raised a barrier of rain to defend itself from fire--and then blasts out more water at everyone assembled. Joker leaps up to narrowly avoid an attack, helping Belle too if needed, but this Shadow really is a powerful one. Just getting away, especially with Belle too, took all their effort.

"Dangerous or not, we won't let this Shadow mess with our friends," they declare, glancing at Mona and nodding to Belle. They splay a hand over their mask, which goes up in blue fire. "Arsène! Ravage their speed!!"

The Great Thief arises above Joker, black wings spread wide, and beckons towards Javotte with a clawed finger. Green light pulls ''something'' from her--and her reactionary speed should decrease as a result.

It really is leaning hard on pretending to be Belle's sister, though, huh...
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Almighty skill Sukunda on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
| Ruin: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take: ! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Ren Amamiya's Sukunda.
| Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
There's a ''lot'' of weird at this place. Ogre isn't thinking about it too much in the moment, but in the time after the water stops crashinga gainst her shield she has time to notice a lot more. There's the unusual, pure white; tehre's the fact that they don't know whot he Ruler is. And...

Belle, shouting about her sister.

"It's cool, Mona," Ogre says. "I've got you."

They might have to retreat, huh?

"Sounds like she doesn't want to! Do we know who this 'master' is?"

The second blast, from above, is harder to block. Ichika can't get her shield up in time and hisses as the supernaturally-empwoered water crashes down at her. "Ugh--"

"Momiji! Keep us up!" Ogre rips off her mask again, and in the blue flames Momiji rises, the sleeve of her kimono catching the spectral light as she extends a clawed hand. Healing light sprkles down around Panther and Phoenix, while Ogre herself rises back to her feet.

"Not done yet!"
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Ann Takamaki!
| Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Ann Takamaki can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Ann Takamaki! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Dia on Tsubasa Seki!
AS: Take: ! Ann Takamaki takes 200 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Diarama.
AS: Take: ! Tsubasa Seki takes 147 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Dia.

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
"... it's jus' a Cognition or some shit, right?" If it were a Shadow, it would be the Ruler, wouldn't it? Can Kasumi's sister really have a Palace like ''this...?'' Phoenix froms, and assures Belle, gruffly: "Be cool."

A beat,

"Shit's weird, yeah."

(They've met themself, in a place like this... similar sorta deal.)

Ogre's healing drapes over them, though, and with those healing sparkles Phoenix straightens from where they'd slouched over their sword. "Too right!" They snap back at her, and their enthusiasm could easily be ''read'' as aggression.

Being fair, they're ''rather'' aggressive... towards that Shadow, anyway. "Let's go!" They call, to Yusuke, and charge forward, their sword sending sparks up from the sterile ground as they carve a path which ends with a foot thrust forward to ''wrench'' their momentum in a sideways swing.

They spin around entirely as they do so.

</poem>
AS: Weapon! Tsubasa Seki has used the Slash skill Greatsword Destruction on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Tsubasa Seki has used the Recovery skill Matarukaja on Tsubasa Seki, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, and Ren
Amamiya!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Izbushka is also here! There is a red light! The red light is bad news for fakers.
</poem>
AS: Take: ! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Recovery healing from Tsubasa Seki's Matarukaja.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take: ! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Recovery healing from Tsubasa Seki's Matarukaja.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Behind her mask, Ann Takamaki's brows scrunch inward until the bridge of her nose wrinkles. Sister? The Shadow talks to her in such a familiar way, too. Is this Palace connected to Kasumi somehow--?

Panther is briefly lost in thought over this. It isn't long enough.

"Wait -- what the heck's it doi-- oh crap!!"

But it's enough.

The magic pitter patter of rain draws inward like a veil around Javotte, before flooding outward like a monsoon. Panther tries her best to spring out of the way -- but it's, unfortunately, much too late.

"AH!" The scarlet-clad Phantom Thief's cry of pain is a sharp, short thing, cut off with decisively violence as those rains sweep her and Carmen up in their storm, dousing their passionate flames with the one thing both fire AND cats hate most: excessive water. Torn away from Mona, Ann goes crashing back-first into a nearby wall, landing on hands and knees with a sharp, coughing gasp.

"Ughh... she hits way too hard..." A gloved hand grips at her upraised knee, trembling slightly...

... but as she rises, she feels that warm rush of healing light spark that fire within her once more, and that willful stare ignites with renewed passion behind that red mask. As Phoenix's bolstering power rushes through her, fierce grin blooms at pink lips.

"Thanks, Ogre! Thanks, Phoenix!" she calls out, before focusing the whole of her attention on the strange Shadow.

''Let's go!''

"Heck yeah!"

For now, she tables thoughts on who exactly this 'Master' is supposed to be, and how she keeps calling Kasumi sister.

What matters in the moment--

"Hey. Didn't you hear me?! There's no way in hell I'm letting you hurt ANY of our fellow Thieves!!"

-- is protecting their own.

Carmen ignites to life. Her doused cigar re-lighting with Ann's pure passion, she draws deep of it--

"So you--"

And then inhales in a massive veil of noxious, acrid cigar smoke, blowing past Javotte like a fog. That smoke clings at the rainy barrier it erected, eating away at those defenses--

Just as Ann punctures through the smoke, flaming whip in hand and swinging.

"-- can BACK OFF FROM BELLE TOO!!"

Crack! Crack!

Swinging ''hard''.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Ann Takamaki has used the Almighty skill Fire Break on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
| Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tandem! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill Firebrand on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!
AS: Take: ! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Tsubasa Seki's Matarukaja.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take: ! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Recovery healing from Tsubasa Seki's Matarukaja.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>As Joker calls Arsene forth to slow their foe, Fox lifts a hand to his mask in tandem. "Goemon, come forth! Grant us peerless speed!"

Icy mist ripples across the room, coalescing around himself, Joker, Panther, Phoenix and Fox with a brisk ''frisson'' that lends them haste. Perhaps that will tip the odds in their favour, enough to drive back this powerful Shadow and regroup.

"Got it!" he replies to Phoenix as power surges through him, and with Goemon still looming over him, he lunges, blade and kiseru pipe dancing in tandem as he takes the fight to Javotte!
</poem>
AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Slash skill Arm Chopper on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
| Pressure: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Ren Amamiya, Tsubasa Seki, Ann Takamaki, and
Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Take: ! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Take: ! Ann Takamaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 131 Slash damage from Tsubasa Seki's Greatsword Destruction.
AS: Avoid: Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 84 Slash damage from Tsubasa Seki's Greatsword Destruction.
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes -0 Almighty damage from Ann Takamaki's Fire Break.
| Fire_Wall removed!

AS: Avoid: Great Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 72 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Firebrand. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 121 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's Firebrand. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 255 Slash damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Arm Chopper. Critical Hit!

AS: Take: ! Tsubasa Seki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Belle gladly takes Joker's hand, and is able to stand on her own strength. "Thank you, Joker-senpai." She murmurs. "You saved me yet again." She can't quite meet Joker's gaze, instead looking down. They promise to defeat the shadow for her, and she nods. "I'll do my best to support everyone." She promises, as she too, has to back off for a moment, using Diarama on herself.

Ichika asks about Javotte's master. "I don't! The Metanav isn't telling me either."

"You still don't know, sis?" Javotte asks with a laugh. "You always did take longer to learn a routine, sis."

Still- Arsene tears up Javotte's speed. If this is Belle's sister, slowing her down is needed. This gives time for Ogre to start healing.

Tsubasa wonders whether it's just a cognition... "It has to be someone's cognition! This is ''not'' Sumire!" Belle is firm on that. "But... whose?"

"'This isn't Sumire', she says!" Javotte repeats in a mocking tone. Then, more seriously, "If words will not cause you all to leave, then force must."

Phoenix smashes hard with their great sword with a stylish spin move, and a red light blasting the faker! Ann shreds the fire wall, and smashes it's weak point with flames, turning the water into steam! Yusuke gets in on the fun, speeding up his allies and lunging with a powerful Arm Chopper! Cracks are showing in the Javotte's marble skin.

"''This'' is how it's done, sis!" Not one to take an opportunity to degrade Belle laying down, Javotte goes back to mocking her 'sister'. She prepares to shield herself again, while powering up her attacks. "I am the perfect Yoshizawa! Leave, or be destroyed!" She calls as another wave of attacks come flying out!

"Scan completed!" Mona calls out! "'Javotte' is sometimes weak to Fire, and weak to Strike! It's also strong against Water. When the water barrier's down, burn her!"

</poem>
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa spends Limit on Favor!

AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Water skill Hydro Cannon on Ann Takamaki!
| Aggression: Kasumi Yoshizawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Almighty skill Life Drain on Ichika Kawase!
AS: Weapon! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Strike skill Violet Destruction on Tsubasa Seki!
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Almighty skill Obeisance on Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Avoid: Success! Ann Takamaki takes 234 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Hydro Cannon. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Water skill Hydro Cannon on Ren Amamiya!
AS: Block: Failure! Ichika Kawase takes 53 Almighty damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Life Drain. Drain!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
''You saved me again,'' Belle says without meeting Joker's eye.

"That's what friends do," Joker replies, their gaze steady on her.

Ogre wonders: do they know who the Shadow's Master is? The Phantoms certainly don't know, but that must be the Palace Ruler. Joker glances at Belle and Mona, but Belle confirms they don't know either. She falls back to heal herself, and they nod.

Water crashes hard into Panther, and Joker, knowing she's weak to it, shoots her an alarmed look. "Panther!" they call. Fortunately, Ogre's on top of the healing as they commanded, and she's soon back on her feet, stripping away that protective rain from Javotte before whipping her with flame.

Panther's inner inquiry is probably right, too. Whoever the Palace Ruler is, they're most likely familiar with the Yoshizawas in some way to be able to command one of the Shadows within to act like this. Maybe ''that's'' why Kasumi and Morgana got pulled in that day. Good thing Ren had been there too to follow them.

For now, Ibushka's red light and Goemon's green shimmer down on Joker, bolstering their
strength and speed. Joker shoots Phoenix and Fox an appreciative nod. Javotte calls forth another torrent of water, and this time, they shoot their grappling wire upwards and yank themselves out of the way of the attack swiftly. They disengage and twirl in midair before nailing a three-point landing, then raise a toothy smirk at the Shadow. She's powerful, no doubt--but if she's going to torment Belle like this, they'll show her no quarter.

"We Phantoms leave a Palace when ''we'' choose to," they retort. Belle and Mona might not be Phantoms right now, but they don't care about that. Mona announces Javotte's weaknesses--Fire and Strike. There's one Persona that's perfect for that.

"SETANTA!" they call as they change the Persona at the forefront of their heart. Their mask goes up in blue flame, and an armored man with a spear and a bowl cut arises. On Joker's will, he whirls his weapon, drawing up nuclear fire around it until he ''thrusts'' it towards Javotte.
</poem>
AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Yusuke Kitagawa takes -0 Almighty damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Obeisance.
| Crt_Dn (Critical down!) added!

AS: Take: ! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid: Critical Success! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Hydro Cannon. Critical Hit!
AS: Tandem! Ren Amamiya has used the Fire skill Nuclear Wrath on Kasumi Yoshizawa! 2 Hits!
| Pressure: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!

AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Ichika Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's not a real Shadow--Ichika's ''pretty'' sure that's true, anyway. But she can't be sure. She doesn't know these things.

It's really weird, though. "Yeah!" Ogre calls back to Phoenix, getting pumped up. She doesn't complain on missing out on the buffs; her job right now is to ensure the rest of them can do their best, by keeping them up and fighting.

And Ogre thinks she's pretty good at it.

'heck yeah!' "You got it!" Ogre calls to Panther, though a few moments later, she feels the strange, spectral sensation of life being drained from her. "Guuuh..."

"..." It's ''not'' Sumire. "It can't be, right?" Ogre says, but more gently. And besides--

"I have a lot of experience being the 'other' sister," Ogre says, straightening her shouldes. "The one who isn't talented, and special."

"So to that I can tell you..."

Momiji reappears, casting green light on Ann again, "I'm not gonna let you play with her heart like that."

"So STRIKE I can do!"

Ogre ''charges'' after her heal is delivered, swinging her shield down like a hammer straight for the stony Shadow.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Dia on Ann Takamaki!
| Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Ichika Kawase has used the Strike skill Beatdown on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
AS: Take: ! Ann Takamaki takes 134 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Dia.
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Ann Takamaki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 214 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Nuclear Wrath. Critical Hit!
Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 175 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Nuclear Wrath. Weak!
AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 185 Strike damage from Ichika Kawase's Beatdown. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Fox grimaces as he feels his legs buckle at Javotte's command, allowing himself to drop to one knee. Panting, he sheathes his blade, and closes his eyes, focusing.

After a long moment, the trembling of his hands ceases, and he feels his focus align, but he stays kneeling, hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword.

Waiting.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Iaijutsu Stance on Yusuke Kitagawa!
| Pressure: Yusuke Kitagawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take: ! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Iaijutsu Stance.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Reflect_Phys (Phys Counter Improved!) added!

AS: Ann Takamaki spends Limit on Shift! Tsubasa Seki can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Tsubasa Seki! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Counter: Critical Success! Tsubasa Seki takes 43 Strike damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Violet Destruction. Resist!
| COUNTER! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 100 Slash damage in return for her attack

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
Goemon's speed rushes through Phoenix -- and they immediately take advantage of it to leap ''into'' a great, crushing blow from the part of what they can only presume is Cognitive Sumire.

"Got that, got that!" They call, when Mona finishes his analysis. In the manner of Panther's own rage, they scream: "Let's fuck it right off!" Yusuke has a calculated approach, and Phoenix --

phoenix has a fucking rocket launcher. who gave that to them. who let this happen.

With a flourish, they toss their sword into their feather cape -- and bowing, they draw their rocket launcher ''and'' its massive shell from it instead. With a flourish, one enters the other, and as Phoenix sets it on their shoulder they tear their mask from their face. "Let's go! IZBUSHKA NA KUR'IH NOZHKAH!"

As that massive hut on leg appears, a skirt of skulls and spines around it, the eyes of those skulls glow with crimson power. As they do, Phoenix lines up that shell... and fires in a terrible conflagration!

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Rocket Sublation on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
| Tsubasa Seki takes 60 damage from Stress!
| Aggression: Tsubasa Seki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block: Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 266 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Rocket Sublation. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
Oof. This thing hits ''hard''.

Ann Takamaki, currently not relishing the idea of being a wet cat, takes a ragged, steadying breath as she keeps that fiery whip at the ready. Those healing magics help quite a bit -- but she ''still'' feels that initial volley deep down in her (soggy) bones.

"Ughhhh the water got under the leatherrrrrr," she still prioritizes complaining about, because getting knocked around is one thing, ''but anyone who has had to wear leather knows how much worse moisture is''.

She's still focused on the battle itself, of course. She's just good at multitasking.

Of course... some things are very difficult to deal with no matter ''how'' focused you are. Like -- a huge cannonade of water!! Ann's eyes fly wide. "Not again--blrbrlbll!!"

She lunges. But just not in time: that column of frothing water CRASHES into her, engulfing her and snuffing out the fire of her whip as she and Carmen go cannoning backwards with a dismayed, burbling cry. She's only saved from more painful collisions when by a last-minute lunge within the waters that sees her right hand BURST out of all that fluid, gripping on to the side of a nearby, camera-like fixture.

"Fflbt... ugh... my body... the leatherrr..." huffs Ann in uncomfortable agony as she dangles off the edge of that strange golden ribbon hanging just overhead of the battle. Water dripping from her sad soggy twintails, ribs aching with every inhale and exhale she takes, she feels Ichika's healing power rejuvenate her once more. The aches, sadly, still linger. But she can fight through it.

"I-I'm okay! Focus kicking that thing's ass!"

Especially as she hears that Shadow talk.

Sky blue eyes narrow. Panther's grip on her hanging spot tightens, until she is ''hoisting'' herself up, flipping over onto the surface of that overhanging gilded ribbon with a wet, splotchy impact. One gloved hand lifts to her mask.

"Perfect? ... Who wants to be perfect?" Her body tenses. Sapphire flame burgeons around her.

"No one's perfect! And if 'perfect' is like you, or -- or -- just like this place -- all creepy and sterile and -- and --- ''weird'' -- then you can keep it!"

Panther rips that mask off. And Carmen manifests over her, leaning down to tap her cigar against that whip, reigniting it.

"I LIKE BELLE JUST THE WAY SHE IS!"

Carmen blows Javotte a kiss. A gout of flame screams towards her -- just as the Servitors fly after, both clutching their bombs like precious cargo. They sputter around, pink rocket trails creating dual arches that curve high above Javotte -- before converging INWARD toward her, creating a cute little heart of rocket exhaust in their wake. Adorable!

"AND I WOULDN'T TRADE HER FOR A DOZEN 'PERFECT' YOUS!"

Especially the way it FILLS WITH EXPLOSIONS THE EXACT SECOND THOSE BOMBADIERS CRASH INTO HER.

<3 B O O M <3

</poem>
AS: Persona! Theurgy! Ann Takamaki has used the Fire skill My Love For You is Like a <3 B O M B <3 on Kasumi Yoshizawa!
| Pressure: Ann Takamaki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Block: Success! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 194 Fire damage from Ann Takamaki's My Love For You is Like a <3 B O M B <3.
Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"Friends?" ''That'' gets Belle to look up, blinking at Joker from beneath her mask. She thought it was too much to assume, but... "Yes! We fight together, Senpai!" What a relief..

"Such a boorish audience..." Javotte lets out a laugh. "The Phantom Thieves?" That does get the Shadow's attention, as she looks towards Joker. "Well, my Master will be very interested to hear about this... Such a shame, you will not be meeting them." Despite the big words, Javotte takes a nasty hit from Setanta's nuclear fire, searing it.

Ichika sympathizes with Belle, and resolves to silence the hate-spewing, special sister. Strike is exactly perfect for Ichika to nail down. The marble somehow bends down, before bouncing back like rubber?? Causing chunks to fall off. "Her heart? You don't truly believe that, right? After all, only one of us is dead!"

While Javotte is distracted, Belle uses her grappling hook to launch into the rafters, to try and find her chance.

Meanwhile, Panther declares that she likes Belle as she is. (Which would cause Belle's cheeks as red as her hair, if you know. She wasn't red from fighting already.) A wave of explosions smash against Javotte, causing water everywhere to evaporate. The indoor rainstorm lets up, turning into a vague drizzle. And sections of the statue of Maria crumbles, marble hitting the sterile vinyl flooring. And yet, it's still standing.

Javotte lets out a scoff. "Charming, but nothing less than perfect will achieve our dream. To stand together, at the top of the Gymnastics World! To win the Olympics together!" A cruel smile crosses her face. "The wrong Yoshizawa died that day! You all will get to meet the ''real'' her!"

Wait... The cognitive shadow knows she's supposed to be dead? How's that work? The Phantoms don't get a lot of time to ponder that, before the rains start up again!

"Brace yourselves, everyone!" Mona cries out. "It's not going down quietly!"

</poem>
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa spends Limit on Break!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa spends Limit on Blood!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa spends Limit on Broad!
AS: Persona! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Water skill Hydro Cannon on Ren Amamiya, Ichika Kawase, Ann Takamaki, and
Tsubasa Seki!
| Aggression: Kasumi Yoshizawa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Kasumi Yoshizawa has used the Strike skill Violet Destruction on Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Kasumi Yoshizawa's turn has ended. It's time for an All-Out Attack!
| Kasumi Yoshizawa: Break, Broad, and Favor removed!

AS: Avoid: Great Success! Ann Takamaki takes 168 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Hydro Cannon. Weak!
AS: Nemesis! Ann Takamaki can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Counter: Failure! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 156 Strike damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Violet Destruction.
| REFLECT! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 195 Strike damage in return for her attack Weak!

AS: Nemesis! Yusuke Kitagawa can take another Weak action this round!
| Kasumi Yoshizawa is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Block: Great Success! Ichika Kawase takes 172 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Hydro Cannon. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Nemesis! Ichika Kawase can take another Weak action this round!
| Kasumi Yoshizawa is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid: Critical Failure! Ren Amamiya takes 407 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Hydro Cannon. Critical Hit!
Weak!
AS: Nemesis! Ren Amamiya can take another Weak action this round!
| Ren Amamiya is unable to continue fighting!
| Kasumi Yoshizawa is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Counter: Success! Tsubasa Seki takes 128 Water damage from Kasumi Yoshizawa's Hydro Cannon.
| COUNTER! Kasumi Yoshizawa takes 156 Slash damage in return for her attack

AS: Nemesis! Tsubasa Seki can take another Weak action this round!
| Kasumi Yoshizawa is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Recarm on Ren Amamiya!
| Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Ren Amamiya, Ann Takamaki, Tsubasa Seki, and Yusuke
Kitagawa!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Javotte unleashes raw fury, pelting the Thieves with barrages of high-pressure water.

As she does so, Fox rises slowly to his feet, grip tightening on his hilt.

The Shadow lunges for him with a vicious ballerina kick, and he meets her, clashing with a draw cut!

He lands gracelessly, staggering from the strike and rolling several times until he hits the wall. Javotte looms, menacingly, as he struggles once more to his feet. Apparently heedless of her threat, he exhales and sheathes his blade.

''click.''

Several lacerations open on Javotte's body, spraying black ichor.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Yusuke counter hits Javotte's red wave, taking the shadow down. His slashes cut deep through the Shadow, striking through the marble armour.

As Javotte begins to crumble fully, a grappling hook is shot out from the darkness to latch around the body. "Ah, there you went, sis. Returning to play after a sulk? That's ''so'' like you..."

"You don't know ''anything''!" Belle responds, as she leaps off the rafters. She starts gaining a lot of speed as her rope is pulled taut. "You aren't Sumire!"

"Are you still going about on that?" Javotte is starting to grow frustrated. "You're as tiresome as you are d-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Belle yells, even louder. "She would never have said those things! We struggled to understand each other! But I will make our dream come true! I will not let you masquerade as her!"

Left with no more words, Javotte tenses as Belle is underrated. "Then, there will be two dead Yoshizawas." She sends a red wave flying up. It skates by Belle, cutting her cheek and smashing into the grappling wire on her wrist. The miss at least grants Belle enough time to close the distance.

"Cendrillon!" Belle calls. The glass dancer kisses her rapier, empowering the blade with blue energy. Belle comes down on Javotte with her rapier, piercing through the Shadow's face.

The rains finally, ''finally'' cease. The lights start turn back on. "Go... No further..." Javotte struggles out. "You must... stay away... sister..." The shadow finally disintegrates with it's final cries. Kasumi falls through the deteriorating Shadow, just barely catching herself as she falls.

</poem>
AS: Take: ! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 147 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Dead. Ogre had that impression, but now it's confirmed. Marble ''bends'', and--

At least btween their firestarters they've got it--until Yusuke finishes matters off. "Nice one, Fox!" Ogre calls, and then... spots joker. she grimaces.

But she ''scowls'' at those words. "Even for a Cognition," Ogre says, "That's too cruel. ...It's not her fault she didn't die instead. That's not how it ''works''."

It indeed doesn't go down quietly... but Ogre is still standing (well, she's down to one knee) when the rains stop falling, and she looks to her friends. "...Come on," she says. "Up we go."

Momiji waves her hand towards Joker, and Joker will feel Ogre's determination to see them up and standing and ''leading'' again in those sparkles.

"...This is... different from what we're used to, right?' she asks. "it seems different."

"...Belle," she says. "I'm sure your sister didn't feel like that for real. It's ahrd, understanding your sibling..."

"But you loved each other, right? That means something."
</poem>
AS: Take: ! Ann Takamaki takes 28.4 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Take: ! Ren Amamiya takes 151 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Recarm.
AS: Take: ! Ren Amamiya takes 147 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
That raises Belle's spirits. Joker smiles at her and gives her a firm nod.

That smile fades as they look back at the Shadow, who speaks of telling her Master. Of course it's not Sumire. Joker has no doubt of that. After all... she's dead. However, that's something Kasumi told him in confidence, so while they glance at Ogre, they don't answer her question. That's for Belle to do--or Javotte, as it turns out. However...

Whatever's going on with Javotte, it's strange and unsettling--just like the rest of this Palace.

"Well said, Panther," they declare, taking a step towards Javotte. Like Skull, she's a genius at speaking, and acting, from the heart. (They hold back a grimace at the wet leather. All the more reason to wrap this fight up quickly.)

But... 'the wrong Yoshizawa died that day'? Their eyes narrow.

Fox rests a hand on his sword's hilt. Joker recognizes that stance. For all that he'd taken a knee, they're not worried about him. He'll make his comeback, and Javotte will suffer for every pound of flesh she's taken from him. Phoenix meanwhile unloads one of their rockets on the Shadow to great noise and conflagration, never relenting in their offense. Ogre keeps up the healing--but she's also taking advantage of the Shadow's other weakness.

That doesn't mean Javotte's taking this lying down either, though. She unleashes a torrential downpour on them all, and Joker suffers for it this time; Setanta might command matchless physical might as well as nuclear flame, but he's also weak to water. A gamble after how well they've been dodging so far, but Setanta gives as good as he gets. Indeed, as a group, while they're taking a beating, they're all giving back as good as--no, ''better'' than they get.

Mona's warning is exactly right, though. Though Setanta raises his spear against that deluge, it's too much, and he shatters, sending back a ferocious psychic backlash on Joker. They scream and drop to one knee, clutching their face. Fortunately, before they can pass out entirely, Ogre hits them with a Recarm, and then sends around a Mediarama for good measure. Joker pants for a moment, then nods their gratitude towards her.

By the time that's over, Fox has already made swift work of the Shadow, and Belle finishes it off with one final blow. Joker wobbles to their feet as it disintegrates, all but begging Belle to go no further. They frown at that too. Then they slip their hands into their coat pockets and look at the others.

"Very different," they agree to Ogre. "But we took it out. That's what matters right now." They look around at their friends. "Everyone hanging in there still? Now that the Shadow's taken out, let's fall back to the entrance."

The Phantoms only came here to do a preliminary investigation, and Belle and Mona were already struggling by the time they all came in. At least that helped soften the Shadow up, but it would be wise to fall back and catch their breath before another threat shows up.

Their gaze falls last on Belle. Being an only child, they can't know how she must feel, but... they're worried all the same.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Fox raises his gaze to meet Belle's as she and Cendrillon finish off Javotte. He offers her a nod and a gesture with his saya as a salute, before turning his attention to the architecture of the Palace.

"How peculiar," he murmurs, framing the walls and scenery with his hands.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
<poem>
"Heh heh! Guess I'm too hot to handle--"

Panther begins to taunt, having spent a solid month perfecting her own femme fatale one-liner she is sure would do all her (cartoon) idols proud--

"--wait what it's still standing?! That's seriously unfair--!!"

--and she doesn't even get to the all-important tilde before her Sexy Cool Moment is just -- just--

"Don't you DARE spray more water at meeeeeaaaaaaaa crap crap craaaap--!!"

-- it's in shambles. So much shambles.

And so this is Ann Takamaki, pumping her arms like she's a T-1000 as she desperately tries to hoof it out of the all-consuming radius of Javotte's typhoon in miniature. She doesn't ''quite'' make it. The water and winds of the downpour catch her, sweeping her violently off her feet as a choked sound escapes her lips --

--but this time, ''this'' time, she goes ''with'' the momentum of the waters, letting herself go limp within it, gripping onto her whip, and at the right moment --

-- SNAPPING it out to snare at an overhang and YANK her out of the torrent, shoulder protesting as she hits ground in a water-spraying roll until she stops in a harried, huffing crouch.

"Urrgg..." Gripping at her shoulder, Panther snaps her gaze up, silently grateful for Ichika's continued healing support that her battered (and chafing sob) body desperately needs. She focuses in on their target, resolving herself that if it's not finished with, then she'll just have to keep ''fighting''--

-- just in time to see Yusuke do that amazing cinematic samurai strike--

"Oh wow -- awesome, Fox! I'll--"

--giving Kasumi time to deliver that coup de gras.

Big, sky blue eyes shutter out a blink.

"-- u-um, sit here and take a breather!"

And sit she does, flopping backwards on with a leathery squeak as she lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. A smile touches the corners of pink lips.

"... Hee. Nice going, Yoshizawa-chan," she praises with quiet warmth.

A second passes, in which Panther catches her breath. And then, her gaze sweeps about with mild concern, searching first and foremost for their leader -- who she saw getting swept up in the monsoon, just like her. Her gaze sweeps this way and that -- and relief finally settles over her when she finds Joker, dragging themself back up onto their feet.

"Oh thank goodness you're okay, Joker!" Panther exclaims in open relief, pushing off her knees to get to a wobbly stand. "Ugh. What was ''with'' that thing? And the things it was saying..."

Her gaze drifts towards Belle for a quiet moment. Her expression gentles.

"..."

She has so many questions, but for right now... Kasumi probably needs to recover even more than they do.

So, for now, Panther just exhales a sigh, looking as weary as can be as Fox takes in the strange scenery.

"Right? It's ''seriously'' making my skin crawl," she bemoans, looking around. "... Joker's right. We should get out of here for now. Who knows what weird thing is gonna pop up next, and we are ''really'' not in any shape for that."

She frowns. She frowns big. And then she sags in sopping defeat.

"... And I ''so'' need to get out of this stupid costume...!!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
So she died, huh...

... Phoenix wonders, in the wake of Fox's blade and Belle's anger, though they leave the talking to Ogre. Can dead people... really rule a Palace?

"... fuck off that faker," they offer, gruff as ever, as they turn to Belle to finally muster words which aren't quite as ''blatantly'' loud. "We weren't gon' let her have her way. C'mon." Joker gives the order, and so, they fall back -- taking a moment to help pick Panther up, in the process.

(They landed in a puddle from the blowback of that rocket launcher. It was totally uncool. No, they don't wanna talk about it.)

"Too right," they add, sternly, in the wake of Panther's frustrations.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
As things come to an end, Belle struggles to find her rapier's scabbard and shoves the blade inside. It's very unlike her usual elegant way. "Thank you, Fox. That was a really impressive move, you had." She says. She's trying to put on a smile, but she's a little exhausted.

Actually... As Belle turns back to the Phantoms, she feels something wet dribble down her cheek. She figures it's just sweat, but... Well, the others will start to see blood coming down her right cheek.

Ogre reassures Belle, who's crosses an arm underneath her chest to hug herself. "Thank you, Ogre. I really want to believe that, but... Well, things were rough towards the end. I just wanted to talk with her one more time properly, like old times, but..." That didn't happen.

What she can say though, "That wasn't her. How matter how bad things got, she was never like ''that''." She says with the upmost certainty.

Joker suggests to leave, and Belle is a little thankful for it. "Agreed. I think... This place is a little high level for Mona and I on our own..."

Panther praises her and red creeps back into her cheeks. "A-ah, thank you, Panther-senpai!" She pauses, for a slightly shyer comment. "Thank you, too, for a little earlier." For saying that Belle's fine the way she is. She's not sure if she ''believes'' it... But it's nice to hear, anyways.

Now... Belle's not sure if she gets Pheonix just yet, but... "Thank you, Pheonix." She says. "I really do appreciate the help. You were great out there."

Before they can go... Mona grabs Belle's attention. "Uh, Belle, you have, a..." Mona makes a little motion for having something on her Belle's cheek. She dabs it with her red glove to take a look... Only to see a wet, gloved fingertip. There's a sigh, as they miss it, and Mona just comes out with it. "You have a cut on your cheek, Belle."

"What? No! Ugh!" Belle groans as she tries to take off her glove. Then, decides to just wipe it off her cheek. "Yeah, let's go... Oh, I really hope it doesn't scar...!"

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-12: Lunch on the Roof

2026-10-18T19:40:54Z

Ayu: Created page with "*'''Log: 2026-10-12 Lunch on the Roof''' *'''Cast:''' Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto *'''Where:''' Shujin Academy - Practice Building *'''OOC Date:''' October 12, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, January 23, 2013 *'''Summary''': ''While having lunch on the roof, Ren and Ryuji chat about Morgana, and what's going on in their lives of late.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed. <poem> Winter's maybe not the best time to eat lunch on the roof, but honestly..."

*'''Log: 2026-10-12 Lunch on the Roof'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]]
*'''Where:''' Shujin Academy - Practice Building
*'''OOC Date:''' October 12, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, January 23, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''While having lunch on the roof, Ren and Ryuji chat about Morgana, and what's going on in their lives of late.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Winter's maybe not the best time to eat lunch on the roof, but honestly, the courtyard has the exact same issue and it's not like Ren or Ryuji can eat in their classrooms if they want to hang out, given that they're in different ones. They'll just have to wear their winter coats.

(The roof is still technically off-limits to the student body. It still isn't locked, so there ''still'' is nothing stopping them from hanging out there when they want.)

Ren's lunch today is curried chicken onigiri, tossed salad, and rolled omelets. (They've gotten somewhat better at rolling the omelets.) They don't always have the time to make their own lunch--too often it's just bread and a soda--but after The Phantoms issued their challenge to Morgana and Kasumi yesterday, they were feeling hopeful and energized, so they took advantage of the kitchen once they returned to Leblanc.

Halfway through one of their onigiri, they swallow their bite and look over at their best friend. "So how're you feeling about everything?" they ask, like a good bro would never do. (This is because Ren is only sometimes a "bro.")
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji didn't really think through the plan of eating on the roof. Still, the cool air is nice and the inhospitable weather made talking a little more private. So it was a mixed bag in how well this worked.

Ryuji was dressed in his usual winter attire, pulling his uniform coat around him as he rubs his hands together. He looks over at Ren's lunch with some jealousy, not that his lunch was bad but....Homemade food always tastes better.

"Hmm? Oh, you mean about Morgana...Second one to check in on me RE that." He looks over to his bro, before looking up at the grey winter sky as he thinks exactly where he is on this. "I guess---like I don't hate the guy. Kinda can't stand when he acts all holier than thou despite having some pretty obvious flaws himself. That said---he's kinda a kid."

He reaches into his lunch, something he picked up at the school store, and takes a bite as he continues. "Like Ichika talked with me about it and I realize a lot of it is just the disrespect we have for each other... That and how he is really going too far with Ann. Like she can handle herself but...you know? Sometimes ya gotta speak up."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Catching Ryuji eyeballing their lunch, Ren tilts the bento box his way. "Wanna trade anything?" they offer. They're betting it'd make him feel bad to just get offered something outright.

They nod once at his initial reaction to the check-in and listen silently as they take another bite. It's no surprise to them that Ichika was the first one to check in on him about it.

"It sounds like he and Ann finally had a talk with each other, at least," they reply. "A kid though, huh? He'd hate hearing that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji doesn't waste time, trading some of his food for one of the rolled omelets. He chows down, making a blissful smile as he swallows. "Thanks dude. You are too cool."

Ryuji nods at Ren's comment, grinning. "Yeah...he would. Maybe more than me calling him...well you know." His grin fades into a more serious expression as he takes another bite of his lunch.

He swallows and looks back at them. "Good. Like I know I used to be a big horn dog but the whole white knight thing reads as so cheesy to me. Like he's trying to win her or something." He stuffs something into his mouth, continuing to talk. "Mmph...Like its their business though so I'm glad it's mostly done with."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren crooks a smile at Ryuji and his appreciation for their omelet, nodding back a 'you're welcome.'

What ''would'' Morgana hate more: being called a kid or a cat? It's hard to say. Ren is not eager to find out.

"You did used to be a big horndog," Ren replies. "You know what made you stop? Getting a girlfriend."

They give Ryuji a significant look.

"I'd say it's more he's trying to win her over than to 'win' her. It's not like he thinks she's a prize. But... it's not like you didn't have a point, either." Ren looks out towards the city and polishes off their onigiri. "If you want it to be completely done with, maybe you need to show off your cool side to him. Show him he's been underestimating you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Yeah. Well. My girlfriend is kinda a horndog too" Ryuji looks kinda proud of that fact. "But yeah. I can agree to that." He nods to them, smirking as he pulls more food into his mouth.

"What's the difference?...I dunno. Just hope Ann and him came to an understanding." Ryuji sighs as he looks into the distance in thought. Ann could take care of herself and it wasn't like Morgana was being a scumbag. Still, there was some part of Ryuji that made him jump at certain things he didn't agree with. It was what got him into trouble.

"Man, that sounds like a lot of work. Plus if he finds out my other job, I don't think I'll ever be cool to anyone ever again." Ryuji blinks before his eyes widen. Crap. Well at least his bro didn't know the details. "Errr...forget I said anything."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Fair," Ren says with a bit of a laugh. "My point is more that you acted like that because you wanted to have a girlfriend. Well, Morgana wants to have a girlfriend too. It's just that he's got his eye on someone specific--" They give Ryuji another pointed look. "And until Ichika came along, you would've taken attention from anybody."

They sober after that. "Me too, though." They're pretty sure they did, since the two of them talked before they all met in Mementos and they both had a pretty positive vibe, but they don't know the details just yet.

Ren breathes a rueful little sigh. "I guess it wouldn't be cool if you did it to be cool, anyway. It's got to come from the heart." They nudge him with their elbow. "Fortunately, when it comes to thinking with your heart, you're a genius."

It's that sincerity and willingness to jump without hesitation at things he didn't agree with that got the two of them to be friends, after all.

Ryuji mentions an 'other job' that would make him uncool, though. Ren raises their eyebrows--but when Ryuji immediately tries to shove the lid back onto Pandora's box, they give him a solemn look and let him: "Already forgotten."

When he wants to talk about whatever it is with them, he will.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Ouch." Ryuji laughs as Ren gets him exactly. Still he has a point about Mona. He scratches the bridge of his nose as he adds. "Yeah...you got me. And whose to say if I don't revert if Ichika ever gets sick of me. But yeah...I guess you're right on Mona."

"Nah. It would be trying to hard...But thanks, dude. You always know what to say. You're kinda built that way." The blonde puts down his lunch and leans back on the bench, relaxing into his seat. "Honestly, when we beat them, I'll be glad to have the little jerk back...Too quiet without 'em." He says this genuinely but mostly thrown away.

When Ren just drops it, Ryuji sighs. What a true friend. He feels like kind of an asshole keeping it from him. What's the harm. "Wait....fine but you can't tell any of the others. Not Makoto. Not Futaba AND DEFINATELY NOT ANN, MONA OR TSUBASA...so you know how I'm Akiba a lot with my job at the model store."

Ryuji gets an intense look on his face. As if he's about to tell Ren that he is secretly some kind of super hero who fights those with black hearts. Not what comes out of his mouth next. "So...I got a gig at the Butler cafe. I'm kinda popular too. It pays great but it's embarrassing as hell. Like Ichika knows and now you do....actually don't tell your boyfriend either. He seems the type who'd figure it out and come by to gloat."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"I'd like to think you wouldn't. You've grown a lot since you two started dating," Ren replies, picking up some salad with a pair of chopsticks from their bento box.

As they chew, they smile at Ryuji when he thanks them for knowing what to say. That's reassuring to them, too. Once they swallow, they add, "It's not as fun if there isn't some banter. ...Though the banter's not fun if there's no respect, either."

They know that well from Goro... not that they're going to compare Ryuji and Morgana to themself and Goro (out loud).

Their eyebrows rise again. "I won't. Promise," they reply, and fall silent to listen. They do remember his model store job in Akiba. When he reveals it's actually (additionally?) a job at the butler cafe, they stare.

They stare some more.

They stare down at their lunch.

"It's kinda hard to picture..." they admit. "But don't worry. I won't tell anyone at all who doesn't already know."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>Ryuji laughs and scratches the back of his head. "Heh. Maybe." He knows he probably has changed but it was hard to tell since he still felt like himself.

"Yeah. Like the whole C-A-T thing---" He pauses as he is pretty sure that spelling it made bringing up the word in regards to Morgana Ok. It wasn't the smartest thought but for the moment, Ryuji isn't going to stress on it.

"--feels kinda similar to Tsubasa. Like Morgana could be trapped in a body he doesn't feel is right...I thought about that and I kinda felt like an ass...And I'm not comparing...well I am...but like if I can look at Tsubasa and get it, it feels like I have to get Morgana too. So I'm gonna try to be better about it. If not for Morgana, then for my own sake. Get me?"

Ryuji watches them, looking nervous for a moment. Was it right to tell them? When Ren reacts, Ryuji smiles awkwardly and nods. "Oh yeah dude. I don't even see it and I'm in the suit. That said, it's a lot of physical movement and routines, which I'm good at...The way of talking took a lot of work and I think the customers felt bad for me while I was figuring it out. Honestly, if you need a job, you could do worse. Just need a lot of Guts and Skill to survive a shift....Heh, I wish there was a way to make money with my food reviews."

"But yeah...I imagine if Morgana or Ann or Tsubasa figure it out, I'll be hearing 'Ryuji, serve me tea' or 'Ryuji, that isn't very dignified' or bullshit like that. Ugh..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
That's the thing: no matter how much someone changes, they're always still themself.

It ''is'' reassuring to Ren though that Ryuji's starting to get why Morgana gets so upset about being called a cat. Ren's lucky enough to not experience dysphoria since they're genderfluid and thus this body is also fine, but they know how rough it's been for Tsubasa and how much happier they are now that they're on hormones. If seeing their experience makes Ryuji more compassionate, that's good for everyone. Ren nods accordingly.

Was it right to tell them? That's something only Ryuji can decide. Ren's not laughing at them or making fun, at least. "Honestly, I need to cut down on part-time jobs. I already got a few I hardly even do anymore. Even without those, I got five I'm juggling. Fortunately, I can just do shifts whenever, so it's not too hard."

They rub their chin when Ryuji laments their blog. "There ''is'' such a thing as professional food reviewers," they say slowly. "I don't know how you'd get into the business, but it's basically like a reporter for food, right? Maybe you could ask Amano-san about it. See if she has any advice. I still got her number if you need it."

They smile nervously at Ryuji's prediction of how he'd get made fun of. He's probably not wrong... They pat him on the shoulder.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"So yeah. That's my big secret job. I make enough that Mom was able to quit one of her jobs...though she isn't happy she's relying on me so hard. But man, she's sleeping well again so--" Ryuji nods proudly, glad of this part. It's part of why he puts up with the Butler thing.

When Ren puts a hand on his shoulder, he smiles and nods. "Yeah. It's not easy being Ryuji Sakamoto, lemme tell you. I got people expecting stuff of me now. It's great but it's also a pain. I can't just veg out and read Manga anymore."

He pauses and decides to pry just a little. "So you don't gotta get too detailed but what is it that you see in that Akechi guy? Like I'm not judging that you're into guys but---Why's it gotta be a jerk like that? You deserve better dude."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"That's great. Good for both of you," Ren replies, crooking a smile. They know Ryuji worries a lot about his mom and wants to support her, so they're sincerely happy for him that he's found such a well-paying job while still in high school.

They snort at his playful complaining about how people ''expect'' things of him, though. "Poor you."

The question about Why Akechi gets a blink--it wasn't anticipated... but, well, it's not unexpected, either. They scratch their cheek with one painted nail as they stare off into the distance. "Hmm... He's actually really sweet and thoughtful once you get past his walls. Yeah, he can be a jerk, and he definitely is before then, but once he cares about you, he ''really'' cares."

Their gaze gentles as a smile creeps up the corners of their lips. "He sees me for me. He cares about ''me'', not just the idea of me or what I can do for him. And... that makes me really happy."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>"Thanks dude." Ryuji smiles.

He smiles even more when Ren reacts to his woe is me thing. He finds himself laughing. "Yeah...definitely. Poor me" He says it as if he's honestly kinda proud of where he is.

But he keeps it cool on the topic of Akechi. Ryuji listens to Ren's answer, noting that he threw them for a loop by asking it. Still, he wanted to know exactly who they were putting them all in danger for. Akechi could destroy their lives by opening his mouth.

So when Ren explains that Akechi is a caring guy who appears to making them happy, Ryuji keeps his eyes on the field in the distance. He lets the words wash over him as he thinks about it. Finally, he just nods. "Fine. I support you....but if he hurts you I'm gonna kick his ass. Make all his fangirls cry about his black eye."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
He could. Ren, by this point, trusts that he won't, though.

And therein lies the problem...

They chuckle when Ryuji says he'll kick his ass if he hurts them. They're sure he means it, but it's funny to them anyway ''because'' they trust Goro not to hurt them. "Thanks. I know you've always got my back."

It might be less funny some indeterminate point later on, but that's a problem for Future Ren. At least there's no problem at all anymore with Shinichi Nagisa, whose Homunculus has been taken out as of yesterday. Ryuji, as his classmate, is sure to be glad about that too.

The problem for Present Ren: eating the rest of their lunch before break runs out. Actually, that's a problem for Present Ryuji too?!
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

Yanagi Nagisa

2026-10-18T18:36:26Z

Ayu:

Yanagi Nagisa

2026-10-18T18:31:44Z

Ayu:

2026-10-14: Bridge of Separation

2026-10-18T18:25:09Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: Bridge of Separation'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Yanagi Nagisa]], [[Shinichi Nagisa]], [[Tsumugi Kujaku]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Roger]], [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Coin]], [[Pernelle]], [[Yuuki Hoshizora]], [[Yoko Hirano]], [[Saika Kikuchi]], [[Misato Fushihara]], [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Kikuno Kisaragi]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Penguin Slasher]], Special Guest: Mifuyu Itami
*'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's Atelier
*'''OOC Date:''' October 14, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 22, 2013 (set immediately after [[2026-10-09:_La_Bête_(THE_BEAST_II)|La Bête (THE BEAST II)]])
*'''Summary''': ''With the Homunculus, Eshm the Wrath, defeated, brother and sister reunite. But for how long? Can any familial bonds survive when one desires 'true freedom'? What will Shinichi do, when faced with the prospect of his sister leaving his life just as swiftly as she reentered it?''

----

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
There is a long, cold moment as Yanagi simply watches the Homunculus shudder, fall, and go still. Just as it is nothing, there is nothing on her face.

Until Pernelle tippy-tappies at her and asks if he sounded forlorn enough. Then she looks at him, a bright smile blossoming onto her face. "Yes! It was very convincing! I don't think it ever suspected." She reaches out to pat his head--but the double-bladed knife is still in her hand, dripping black ichor. She looks down at it. "Hm." Then she smiles again, this time ruefully, at Pernelle. "This would definitely give you a tummy-ache if you tried to eat it!"

She waves jauntily to Saika next, that wicked knife high over her head. Droplets of ichor splatter off it onto her resplendent hair. "Saikaaaa~ I got to claim it this time~~" she cheers. "It really was a different experience! I'm so glad I did it!"

As she lowers her arm, she turns then to the now-wild Tsumugi, her eyes turning tender, smile softening, at the person whose brutal murder she'd cheerfully requested scant moments ago. "Tsumugi..." Her lips move to continue to speak--

'O... Oneesan?'

'Oh, he's awake now.'

Yanagi looks over towards Shinichi as Kikuno limps over to him and the fallen Homunculus. Her eyes widen, and she breathes a soft little sigh that is nonetheless also accompanied by a smile.

"One moment," she tells Tsumugi, and then tup-tup-tups over to her younger brother, supported by both her cane and her reinforced boots.

Though there are several things around him of interest, such as the now-empty Cocoon ripe for harvesting, her peacock green eyes are fixed only on him. As she reaches him, still sprawled on the floor, she settles down onto her knees and sets the knife and her cane to one side with care.

Then she folds her hands on her lap and meets his eyes. "I'm here, Shinichi," she murmurs.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
'Oh, he's awake now. Hurry up, or you'll miss your dear sister a second time.'

If there were any incentive at all for Shinichi Nagisa to snap himself out of it, it's this. It's ''this''. He's conscious, and he tries to force himself to sit up, as Yanagi comes to sit before him on her knees.

He stares at her, perhaps in disbelief as she says the words 'I'm here, Shinichi,' "You really are- you... Neesan... I can't... how...? How could you still be...?"

Everyone has regrets. Moments they wish they could do differently, moments you could take back. But death is finality, the shear that cuts off the point where everyone's relationship with someone will be for the rest of their lives. You can't take it back. You can't apologize.

That would take a miracle.

And right now he's come face to face with the thing he's been wishing for years, picturing what he might say if the impossible should ever happen, or if they came face to face in some grim afterlife as grey shades.

That hardly makes it easier. "I'm sorry." It comes out as a whisper, at first, then louder, much louder as the words you practice but never think you'd get to say face to face spill out, his vision blurring with every passing moment, "I'm so sorry neesan. There's... no excuse for what I said to you. None that matters. It was horrible, telling you that I wished you would just die- I knew what you were going through and all I could think about was myself. I should have been there for you- and I wasn't... I guess you got stuck with just about the worst brother that exists."

He forces himself to take a breath, realizing he's crying- and deciding he doesn't care. "You don't have to forgive me. I won't ask you for that. Just- I'm glad you're okay... I'm glad you're okay! I just- Holy shit- I still don't know how this could be real!?" Even if she survived that day, her disease is a death sentence- it's been years. It doesn't make logical sense to him, but he's so willing to accept it right now. Anything illogical about it just doesn't matter in light of the evidence right before his eyes.

"I mean- better than okay, I saw you walking! You're still- haha- wow-!" He chuckles, even while he's crying, "That outfit looks great on you! You really changed your style up there and wow- look at you!"

It contrasts almost every memory he has of her, it's so much brighter in ways that Yanagi almost never was in the later years they knew each other.

And yet despite it all, despite how badly he wants to, he doesn't actually reach out to hug her- or touch her in any way, as if even right in front of him- he doesn't serve to be presumptuous, after what he did.

Can he really even call himself her little brother anymore?

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
In the exhaustive body of Tsumugi Kujaku's personal experience with the act, there are many reasons why a person may commit violence. Most of the forms they've encountered originate in purely petty reasons.

Money is a primary motivator, more often than not.

Ego, too.

There are some that simply enjoy the act of suffering and what it takes away from the person it inflicts upon them. Control, the most direct cage of choice.

Some people just do it out of boredom. It stopped surprising Tsumugi long ago, how many people will commit violence simply to because they have the opportunity to do so without repercussion, and there is nothing better to do.

But it's moments of violence like this that reminds them of a line they read in a Western science fiction novel one time, long ago:

'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.'

Arms thrown wide, they accept it. Encourage it, with little regard for their personal safety. If violence is the only medium through which Wrath can communicate, so be it! Let it sing them an epic. Let it claw the truth of its freedom onto their very bones if it must! They'll accept it all to know the answer this creature came to -- what it will do if it can steal this place in the real world from its host! They want to hear the symphony of that truth, even if it must be beaten into their flesh!

They don't try to defend themself. Don't try to get out of the way. But there is no symphony. No profound revelation.

Just frustrated fingers clamping their throat til airways clench off around the mounting pressure.

The wide excitement possessing Tsumugi Kujaku's brilliant, haunting eyes fades. Surprise doesn't take its place, nor alarm or fear or any other satisfying emotion abusers so often want from their abused.

They just hood into a distinct, detached stare of apathy. The kind of stare that bores straight through you. The kind of stare that sees who you are.

"Ah," is the last exhaled sound they manage before hands constrict so painfully tight that no more air can work their vocal cords.

Ah.

((shut up))
Shut up!
((stop talking))
Stop crying!
((forever))
You think I don't see what you are?!
((that is my freedom))
You fucking FREAK!

How familiar.

Not another strangled sound escapes them as they feel the familiar, burning sensations of asphyxia becoming hypoxia. Their head begins to swim as tight fingers rupture the myriad of blood vessels racing along their throat and neck and the hunger for air becomes inescapable in its desperate demand. The tips of their fingers tingle in telltale warmth.

And yet their right hand raises not to try to tear those hands off of them.

It just pats its palm condescendingly on Eshm's plastercast cheek, twice.

pat 'There,'
pat 'there.'

That gaze stays locked on Eshm's gazeless face. It may well be the last thing the Homunculus 'sees' before its precious sight is taken from it. The look of someone who sees how small it is. Who sees right down to the core of it, and isn't amazed, horrified, or even simply surprised.

The demeaning reality of a stare that sees your behavior as expected and predictable.

As that lidded stare begins to unfocus, as neurons fire off wild, confusing signals across their brain in a panic that dredges up so many unwanted memories, as that hand falls limp off Eshm's cheek and their vision starts to go black, a strange thought Tsumugi Kujaku never thought before bubbles towards the surface.

Huh.
'Shinichi Nagisa.'
What a strangely familiar na--

Scarlet-gold eyes snap wide as the first reflexive gulp of oxygen burns its way down their lungs. They fall to the ground on knees and forearms, lurched forward and hacking wet coughs as they reorient themself to the breathing world. That wide-eyed stare turns upward.

Their vision refocuses just in time to see the Homunculus gripping desperately at its slashed throat throat. As those hands fall away, that stare doesn't look away, doesn't even blink. Not even as thick black ichor drools from that open wound on the Homunculus and splatters on their marble-cast features.

They watch until the exact moment Eshm falls and its meaty thump leaves only Yanagi standing there, Eyes-made-weapons in hand. With a look that says that, too, was expected and predictable.

And then they exhale a shuddering, burning breath.

"Hah - h-hkk - haha..."

Hoarse, shivery laughter escapes dark lips, and then fades. Tsumugi's focusing stare drifts unsteadily upward toward Yanagi, watching her for a quiet moment. And then Tsumugi crawls on hands and knees towards that fallen Homunculus. A fingerless (were they always fingerless--?) gloved hand grips the mane of Eshm's darkened hair.

"... Take... your time," Tsumugi says to Yanagi hoarsely, yet unperturbed. "Do... hh... what you want. We already have what we need."

And the Homunculus' face is indifferently ground into the ichor-sluiced floor beneath it as Tsumugi uses that grip as a purchase point to provide the leverage they need to shakily get back onto their feet.

"there,
there."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Everyone has regrets. Kanae, though, doesn't regret trusting Yanagi. ...Well, it was bloodier than she imagined, but she doesn't even mind that. She's going to have some emotional scars from this particular Hunt...

Not least will be the sight of Isabeau sacrificing herself for her--she's alive, at least, so Kanae isn't ''too'' traumatized, but she didn't ask for that. She didn't want that. ...And now, she stays near her, to guard her in case anything ''else'' gos wrong.

But she doesn't stand up again to talk. Not at first, anyway; Shinichi and yanagi need to have their moment, right...?

Besides, she's still thinking about what Tsumugi was saying. And about...

'The worst brother that ever exists'.

"..."

Kanae says, mostly to Isabeau, but also to anyone else who comes to check on them:

"...Family's weird, huh?" The orphan shakes her head. "...I don't think I'll ever really understand it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger comes down from the exciting battle high of a dangerous dance with a Homunculus that was within a heartbeat from finally overtaking the original Atelier host. A lot of things play out between Yanagi and Shinichi he looks upon with curiosity, quietly.

"Oh... that's why the names were the same," he says at the bit of acknowledgement he can grasp.

Roger does not have a strong sense of what it means to be a sibling. Were all the Humours in the Atelier of his origin his siblings? In retrospect he'd be hard-pressed to put it like that. Maybe it is an experience that simply does not have an equivalent for Shadows.

A lot to be said about the grisly sights of Tsumugi's intensity and the seeming play of Yanagi's bizarre gambit with the Homunculus to that very end.

"Um," Roger looks to the others, "Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with. I'm happy to see them gone," he snorts, "but... I have no idea what anyone would want with them."

...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is still reeling from the intensity of that fight, and she will have a lot of complicated emotions to work though, too. The Homunculus may be gone, but it's still been more than a month of her life spent living in fear and hypervigilance. Not to mention all the horrifying things she witnessed in the Atelier.

... she'll just have to add it to the list of her other emotional issues to work through.

She's busy chugging a drink to restore some energy and then tending to the injured with Mina's magic. She inevitably makes her way over to Kanae and Isabeau, looking at the unconscious Witch with some concern before looking to Kanae.

Family's weird...

Kazusa looks over her shoulder to where Shinichi is busy apologizing. Best to give them a moment first, probably. Quietly, she admits to Kanae, "... yeah. I don't always understand mine, either."

There's a quiet sigh as Roger ''finally'' gets the connection. She'll come back to that point about the eyes in a moment, though.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Once she'd recovered from Tsumugi's... intenseness, and she was pretty sure they were breathing again (humans have to do that pretty much all the time, right? right, she's pretty sure), and Yanagi's sheer violence, which hit her in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Coin had zipped somewhere else in the room.

She'd intended to go over to Kanae's side, but something came up.

Coin found herself derailed, slightly, by the Eyes and the Cocoon. Something about them feels important in a way she doesn't clearly understand. She slows to get a better look at it, even reaching it to poke at it with one finger before she takes a step back and does something complicated with her hands; she interlaces her fingers in such a way that there's a small gap between her hands.

(For her it's an extra-small gap. Paws are not meant for this.)

But she brings it up to her face, her eye just barely visible through the laced fingers. It looks somewhere between perplexing and silly, but it seems to satisfy Coin, because she nods firmly as she lowers her hands afterwards.

"Fascinating!" Coin has been well and truly distracted. She reaches out -

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with'

"Bleh," Coin says when she hears that someone has a prior claim, leaving the Eyes alone but moving her focus to the remnants of the Cocoon furthest away from Yanagi; she does not want to get in the way, but she's certainly close enough to hear. Even if it doesn't entirely make sense to her. Family's weird, as Kanae points out... but Coin doesn't have family.

...does she? She's pretty sure she'd know THAT...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle leans his head up on his long neck for a pat that never comes, pausing to regard Yanagi's knife. His beak begins to open... ... and quietly shuts when even Yanagi thinks better of letting him make a snack of it.

"Hm, yes, I suppose I see your wisdom in this. Just this once! We've much to do. Celebrating, mostly, I should think!" As Yanagi address Saika and Tsumugi, Pernelle turns to dance back and forth, from one foot to the other, adding a victory dance to go with Yanagi's delightful acquisition.

But as Shinichi stirs, Pernelle quiets and shuffles to Tsumugi's side, addressing them in a lowered voice. "What a glorious evening it has been, and it is young yet! ... Do you require a morsel of Medicine? A Recarm, perhaps?" He absently shakes some ichor from his clawed foot with no further acknowledgment of the Homunculus' remains.

Whatever Tsumugi's response, Pernelle does not make any more of a verbal fuss. There is a reunion to behold... and though it is Shinichi who pours out his heart, Pernelle's gaze drifts to Yanagi, attentive for her reaction.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Once she'd recovered from Tsumugi's... intenseness, and she was pretty sure they were breathing again (humans have to do that pretty much all the time, right? right, she's pretty sure), and Yanagi's sheer violence, which hit her in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Coin had zipped somewhere else in the room.

She'd intended to go over to Kanae's side, but something came up.

Coin found herself derailed, slightly, by the Eyes and the Cocoon. Something about them feels important in a way she doesn't clearly understand. She slows to get a better look at it, even reaching it to poke at it with one finger before she takes a step back and does something complicated with her hands; she interlaces her fingers in such a way that there's a small gap between her hands.

(For her it's an extra-small gap. Paws are not meant for this.)

But she brings it up to her face, her eye just barely visible through the laced fingers. It looks somewhere between perplexing and silly, but it seems to satisfy Coin, because she nods firmly as she lowers her hands afterwards.

"Fascinating!" Coin has been well and truly distracted. She reaches out -

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with'

"Bleh," Coin says when she hears that someone has a prior claim, leaving the Eyes alone but moving her focus to the remnants of the Cocoon furthest away from Yanagi and giving some of the strands a tug; she does not want to get in the way, but she's certainly close enough to hear. Even if it doesn't entirely make sense to her. Family's weird, as Kanae points out... but Coin doesn't have family.

...does she? She's pretty sure she'd know THAT...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki comes to, slowly.

Her Transmutation slips away from her. ''Should'' it work like that? She doesn't know. But it might say more about her, rather than he concept of Transmutation. Blue hair drains to light brown; with a dull shimmer, her rumpled and dirtied Seven Sisters uniform is visible again.

She swallows, as she looks at Shinichi and Yanagi. She knew, already; she had pieced it together in the Atelier herself.

Her mouth opens. A reunion, between family. Even if it's bittersweet. Even if Tsumugi is--

What ''are'' they doing?

Her green eyes -- duller, now -- turn to them. She regards them for a moment, before she looks back to the siblings. She sits up, wobbily.

And she watches with a drained, exhausted expression.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
The real Shinichi Nagisa can't believe that his sister is alive. He's so different than the Homunculus. Even though Yoko had been told about it, it's still so weird to see it for herself.

''This'' boy probably doesn't have any kind of hit list.

She picks up Bearemy and holds him in her arms, his long arms and claws swaying like some kind of defeated prisoner, or maybe a cat resigned to bathtime. Kikuno (it ''is'' her) has hurt her feelings but she wants to see the Cocoon which means getting closer to her cousin and...!

Kanae is right. Family is weird.

"...What happened?" Yoko tries asking her cousin, because... well they've never gotten along poorly before!! ...But they'd never gotten along very ''well'' either, in that neither one of them had been very good at socializing. Oops.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Splap.

Drip.

Plep.

Ichor splatters into Saika Kikuchi's hair. She nevertheless is smiling.

It's one of those kind of complicated smiles. There's a lot of *relief* in it. Perhaps *relaxation*, or the calm that comes after the breaking of tension, which has a unique quality of satisfaction to it that many other forms do not. (Don't worry, young Persona Users, it's something adults do for fun.)

"It was perfect," Saika tells Yanagi as she sweeps her chain up, letting it wrap around her arm as she pumps it in the air, a musical tingle-jingle-rattle as it does. "You nailed it. Brava. Brav--"

Her head suddenly turns towards the new voice. Towards the brother, now returned to his proper seat of self-rulership. Will he be a good ruler? That is up to him.

But... he is speaking, and to Yanagi, to whom he has something to say. Saika's attention turns towards Tsumugi then, though it becomes a deep and visibly concerned look that relaxes over the course of a second and a half of assessment. She steps over, her unchained hand slipping out. An offer, but not an insistence. Tsumugi, after all, has their pride.

"Maaa, don't push it~. You know, that's how that actor from those two Western kungfu movies went, the bad guy?"

Kanae speaks and Saika cups her own chin. "Hmmm~. He's laying it on a *little* thick," Saika murmurs, "but he *does* have cause, and maybe he's just naturally eloquent."

Then Roger speaks.

Saika's head turns slowly to look towards Roger. Roger actually has a couple of inches of height on Saika, who is quite diminutive if you measure from crown to sole, despite the additional billowing presence of her long biker jacket and evident superhuman strength. Her face is utterly still and expressionless for a full additional second, and then it warms, lips smiling before her eyes do.

Her eyes don't really smile at all, actually. They pass over the others for several more seconds.

"Well..."

"I guess you could call it a hobby! Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!"

NOW the smile reaches her eyes.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>It has been a long, grueling battle. Magus's body still aches, with pains natural and supernatural both. She remains transfixed, for a moment, on the lifeless form of the Homunculus... and then she draws her cloak around herself with a 'hmph'.

She keeps watch over Yuuki carefully - so she's aware, when she starts to stir. She shifts her cloak so she can get a better view.

"Yuuki Hoshizora." She acknowledges quietly. She extends a hand toward her, if she needs the help up - but leaves it up to her whether or not she takes it.

Her attention soon turns to Yanagi and Shinichi. Whatever words she might have for her act die on her lips as he regards her with deserved surprise.

...Even she isn't cold enough to interfere in this reunion. She looks away, briefly - this time to Kanae as she speaks. Family...

"...It can be cruel." She notes. "Purposefully, or unintentionally. ...It doesn't always end like this."

...She doesn't say whether that's for the better or worse.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi has been off fighting the humours, to protect everyone else fighting the homunculus. And now, with the terrifying homunculus defeated, Kasumi returns to the group proper, additionally helping with her Diarama. She ends up joining the Kazusa, Kanae, and Isabeau group.

She heard about the sibling complications and having a dead sister herself, she feels for Shinichi. "Oh, I really hope they can patch up their relationship..." 'Belle' says, clutching her hands together to her chest as she watches. "It'd be just awful if Nagisa-san discovered his sister was alive, but there was still hard feelings, you know?" If the same happened to her, Kasumi would be destroyed!

Watching it, Kasumi feels her heart climb into her throat. It's way too tense...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Everyone has one thing they can't take back. Something they'd give almost anything to try again, properly this time. In that sense, Kikuno...

Her gaze flicks downwards on Shinichi as he comes to, and comes to grapple with the situation into which he's awoken. Just like that, his situation has taken a turn for the better. Hasn't it? It might even almost be worth the nightmare he's endured!

After all, he's able to get the closure he's always wanted. Hasn't he?

Even as words tumble as freely as tears, her expression remains as sour as always as she regards him a moment more before she looks away.

"Well. Now what?" she says and not to him.

Her gaze lingers a moment on Yanagi, close at hand. In this one, brief way, they're again akin to one another.

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes', Roger says.

Kikuno, lost perhaps in her study of Yanagi, does not look his way.

It's only Yoko who breaks her from her apparent reverie; minutely she turns her head her cousin's way.

"I said, get out of here," she tells her again. "This isn't any of your business."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> There are a list of things that land on Umie's priority list.

First is knocking her hood up over the pinkening little bird's nest of broken hair strands, pulling the cords of her hood tight so that the edges of it press against the edges of her face and mask.

The second is assessing everyone. It's not like she's a healer, but this was a creature of another caliber than many are used to, including her. Standing next to Eriko and Tamaki for a while, she murmurs, "I'm going to check on the others."

They don't need the Badb's shroud, and it's hard for the Badb in her to ever feel satisfied standing still, once the promised bloody end has been achieved. Hobbling carefully over to Kanae and Isabeau, she stands a few feet away, then moves on, satisfied. Let them have their motion of peace.

The mere mention of the word 'family' is enough to make her restless in another way, wholly tied to Umie as a person. The person who dared to mention her family is dead now, and good riddance. Meanwhile, the young man whose face the monster wore is waking up, a wholly different person.

Like Roger, she's out of sorts, but unlike him, she does have a family. But, eyes... that's a topic Umie can focus on. "... What's the significance of the eyes?" she asks now, looking to Tsum-- no, let the poor soul recover, nevermind, she'll look to Saik--

She squints. "... riighhhtt. Well.... I suppose I can't argue." They *are* a source of income.

The number list is out of order now, a hopeless attempt to keep an Umie Akabane from focusing on the most important thing in the room here: the reuniting of brother and sister, the former being someone she cannot quite bear to look into the eyes of, and the latter... unsure of what role she intends to play in what could be a heartfelt or heartwrenching encounter.

"Usually it's other people who do kitsune no mado, to see they're being fooled but the kitsune," she says to Coin with a mischevious grin, before moving onto--

Ah.

Yoko will feel someone by her side now; the sharp open grin of Umie Akabane displayed like a subtle display of claws. "My, my... What's this about...? Rather sweet of you to display such concern over a fellow Persona-user's health..."

Yet even Umie has to look back at Yanagi and Shinichi, despite being in the middle of instigating some trouble. Just... what is going to happen next?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Mona's here too, having fought alongside Belle; he eyes Isabeau with suspicion, but she seems to be down for the count, so he stays with Belle as she joins the others. He doesn't weigh in on the matter. He simply keeps his paws folded and watches the unfolding drama.

Joker's also here, along with the rest of The Phantoms who'd come to help fight back the Humors from interfering with the battle for the Atelier's true heart, including Queen. They all keep their distance, however. Everything seems to have been resolved, and Joker (whose masked eyes flick towards Belle and Mona) personally doesn't want to interrupt this reunion with any drama, so... they share a nod with their team, then quietly exits with them. The real Shinichi Nagisa has been saved. The rest is out of their hands.

As for Yanagi...

It was the plan all along, after all. That it makes Yanagi's actions expected and predictable doesn't bother her. That's just another way of saying she has Tsumugi's trust.

She does stroke her leader's cheek with the back of her hand, gaze affectionate and concerned, as they catch their breath amid hacking coughs. (She could have done that with Pernelle, but she hadn't thought of it at the time, half a minute ago.) She doesn't condescend to Tsumugi by offering to heal them, though. That can come later if need be. She nods once when they wave her on and tell her to take her time, and then goes to do precisely that.

When she's in front of Shinichi, Yanagi is quiet but attentive, her vibrant eyes gentle as she watches and listens to her younger brother tearfully apologize. It continues to be clear that this is something that's weighed on him heavily over the past three--no, is it four now?--years, that guilt has wracked him like her disease has wracked her body. Saika might think he's laying it on thick, but Yanagi believes in the sincerity of every word that he says. When he talks about her walking and about her Transmutation costume, she chuckles with him, her cheeks rosy. "Thank you. I like it too," she replies.

Then she pauses. She hears the others murmuring in the background--to each other, to themselves--but she pays them no mind, beyond that Roger kindly informs everyone that the Eyes are theirs. Good. No misunderstandings, then. The Cocoon, they're willing to share, so it's fine if others clusters around it and, in Coin's case, already start to claim threads. Kikuno might be studying Yanagi from close by and considering how the two are similar, and that's fine too. Yanagi's focus remains on her brother.

The two of them had been so close when they were little. And now...

And now, she reaches out to take his hands in hers.

"Shin-chan," she says softly, the nickname she had for them when they were young. "I already forgave you a long time ago. It's okay. You can let this guilt go."

He may not try to hug her, let alone touch her, but she has no such reservations. She leans forward and pulls him into her arms for an embrace between long-lost siblings.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Some in the crowd he has a vague sense of familiarity that he cannot rightly begin to parse. Others he has no idea who- or even what they are.

Shinichi still has little context for what's happening around him. After all, he's still a normal guy, he came out of the cocoon like this. Just like a civilian in the Dark Hour, perhaps tomorrow this is more like a dream.

Then again, he did remember more of Mikage-Cho than most.

Does that mean what happens here matters less, though?

Certainly not.

He lets out a small laugh as she says she likes her outfit too. "I'd hope you do... you've got a fun sense of style, neesan."

Yanagi calls him by his nickname, she takes his hands, he stares at her in a tearful confusion as she outright says she forgives him for that long ago. Then reaches out to hug him. Now, there's no hesitation, as he hugs her back, tightly, before easing up that grip out of worry of causing harm and whispering.

"But I don't... Do I really deserve that...? Neesan... I..." He inhales a breath, then allows a tenuous smile to creep on his face, "... Thank you. ''Thank you''. I think... I don't really know what's going on but... I think you saved me there..."

He thinks a lot of people did, but he can figure that part out after he sorts out what's going on with the sister that was dead - and is now apparently quite alive.

Smiling, he leans back, an arm still loosely around her, a hand dabs at his eyes, "Man... Mom and Dad are going to freak, seeing you again. Like- I still don't know how we're going to explain it to them? But, you know what, it doesn't matter." He takes a deep breath, dabbing at his eyes again, "Let's just... let's just go home, okay? We'll figure it out when we get there."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
As Tsumugi lifts to one knee, a hand falls into their field of vision.

"..."

They already know who it belongs to without even looking up. Even before she offers those chiding words. Who else but Saika?

Soon enough, Pernelle is there too, offering those murmured words. Tsumugi's answer to both is silence, initially. It's something unsurprising likely, given what just happened, and given who Tsumugi is.

Perhaps it's also unsurprising, too, that their first act? Is to lift themself up without taking Saika up on her unspoken offer, slowly but certainly.

"No," they answer Pernelle with that roughened voice as they rise. "Not... yet. I want to feel it.

"Like you said... it's a glorious evening."

It's only once they're on their feet that their arm slips around Saika's shoulder, the warm weight of them leaning into the smaller as dark lips glide close to her ear.

"So you think I'm a bad guy?" they whisper, conspiratorially hoarse. Is that what they chose to take away from Saika's trivia?

It's the part they liked the most, anyway.

Scarlet-gold eyes drift back toward Yanagi. A brush of the cheek on their hand; no offer of assistance. Just a mutual, unspoken understanding, same as they one that saw Tsumugi let themself be choked near to death for the sake of creating an opening. They watch with muted interest as Yanagi approaches her brother -- but that is as far as their interest takes them. Their gaze drifts towards some distant point in the middle of the others gathered, not focusing on the Nagisas or anyone else who risked their lives here to save Shinichi.

What's the significance of the eyes?

It's a curiosity that both Roger and Umie echo. Umie's attention shifts to Saika for the answer, who provides a simple enough one. Tsumugi's gaze doesn't so much as shift, nor does their marbeled, ichor-smeared features. Their bound chest swells briefly with the intake of a burning breath.

''Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!''

Their lips part. As if they have something profound to say.................!

"It's a pun,"

is their revelatory wisdom,

and the sum whole of their contribution to this discussion.

After all, even if their gaze is distant...

''Let's just... let's just go home, okay? We'll figure it out when we get there.''

They're listening.

"'The free bird thinks of another breeze,'" they recite under their breath.

"'And trade winds soft through sighing trees.
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn.
... and she names the sky her own.'"

Placid eyes shut. "... Pernelle, Saika. Get ready to get the Eyes. We'll be leaving soon.

"There's nothing left here for us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
'Well, now what?'

Yoko staaaaaares at Kikuno with guileless green eyes. "Who are you talking to?" she whispers, frowning slowly. It's genetic, she read. Hereditary. Bearemy squirms in her arms as Yoko very successfully doesn't sulk or scowl at her cousin. "Don't tell me what to do." Said sulkily, yes, but calmly. Like an adult.

Nevermind the tell-tale tail lashing side to side behind her, twitching at the fabric of her obi knot.

Someone she doesn't know stops at her side. Defending her? Bearemy's claws prick into the fabric of Umie's sleeve, as if to get her attention. "....." But Yoko just stares at Kikuno, like she's trying to solve a puzzle.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Oh, Roger didn't get it. Kanae remembers that now. She grins, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Yep. Humans are funny like that," shet ells him.

The Eyes... why do they want the Eyes? It occurs to Kanae to ask, but frankly just this moment... She's so tired that she barely cares. Her sawtooth gunblade remains on the ground beside her; her hat is... somewhere, and will reappear in time, a Cognitive matter.

Kazusa mentions her own. "...Mm," Kanae answers, because Kausa is her friend, so she's not going to give her immediate response. Misato seems to understand what she's saying, too. "I see..." Cruel.

"I believe that." She glances over to Yuuki in some concern, and back to Coin, as she seems disappointed. "We'll have to find other trophies of our Hunt," she offers Coin. A 'glorious evening', Tsumugi calls it. Kanae glances at arguing cousins. And...

She wishes she could find this reunion sweet. Maybe she just has too much bitterness in her for that.

"...All's well that ends well, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin has always liked her little treasures. She's even She has no idea what she's going to *do* with these strands, or what they represent, but she can feel the power in them. Something she'll have to think about. Something she'll have to learn about! Coming here was worthwhile.

Well, it was anyway, to help Kanae. But now it's extra worthwhile.

"It's *investigation*," Coin insists to Umie, her ears flattening down slightly. And maybe it is; Coin does have some sensitivity beyond most Persona-users, if not as much as a Navigator. "I just don't know what these things are. Perhaps I should ask you, if you don't need to investigate!"

She keeps the fibers in her hand as she steps away. Another look at Tsumugi, and then toward Yanagi and Shinichi. She never met the Homonculus, let alone the real person, and this is her first time meeting Yanagi too, but this is...

It, too, is peculiarly human. She likes to see the meeting. It feels right. They do seem to treasure each other...

"Indeed!" is her response to Kanae, as she marches over to finally meet up with her. "A bond rediscovered, a monster defeated; what's not to like?" She has not, perhaps, yet understood all the fine details that make something like this so *complex*.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki looks up at Magus. Her expression is tense -- but it's distant. She hesitates, almost flinching when that hand is extended towards her. She doesn't know that she has any right to take her hand. But... she does, in the end, and gets up to her feet. It's shakily; she took a hard hit, and it's left her feeling drained.

She glances at Kanae -- she wonders, for a second, at that bitterness. Does this hurt, for her?

It hurts for Yuuki, but not the same reasons.

"I'm glad they found each other again," she says, a little quietly. "That's... that's good."

She glances once at Coin and blinks once at her, before she looks back at the twins.

She frowns, a little, despite her words.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger tilts his head at Coin's disappointment about the claim over the Eyes.

5t'I guess you could call it a hobby! Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Oh! eyes can see. I see!" Roger smiles guilelessly for a passing moment, and has a snort-laugh at Saika's say of it.

"Okay!" The former Sanguin Humour asserts himself. "Terrific! Wonderful! ...It looks like a mess, but the Flegmat Humours can take it from here!" The kinds of Humours that seem like they're window dressings at best, they're the ones who help set the tone of an Atelier's 'normal' atmosphere. The power of reflecting all the very, very small ways one asserts themselves...

Roger's smile stops. His eyes open sharply. He snorts loudly, and lets out a yelp of alarm.

"Um...!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Misato comments on purposefully or unintentionally... some days Kazusa's not sure which of those applies to her situation.

She nods to Belle as she returns from holding off the Humors, and lends a Diarama to the recovery effort. She gives Belle a small nod and a quiet "Thanks." But as for patching things up... "... that's up to them," she says quietly. Her silver eyes settle on Yanagi for a moment. "...I really don't know how she'll react."

She gives Mona a quiet nod, a moment later, when he joins Belle.

And Yanagi goes for the hug. Kazusa honestly wasn't sure if she would or not, but... she feels like she always has a hard time getting a solid read on anyone in Peacock Silk.

Kazusa knows that if Shinichi doesn't Awaken, that he ''should'' forget all of this... but she had wondered, too, about the Demons represented by Hunmors in the Atelier. Shouldn't he have forgotten those, too?

But she tenses when Shinichi just pleads for Yanagi to go home. She's not sure how long Yanagi's been 'alive', but if she'd wanted to do that, she's had plenty of chances, right? They had to get his address from Kanae (who, in turn, got it from the Homunculus. Her lips are draawn tight in a not-quite-frown as she watches.

She glances at Tsumugi, as they declare Peacock Silk will be leaving soon. She still has some unanswered questions from her last conversation with the Peacock Silk leader, but now is not the time for them. "... you must really want those Eyes to let yourself go through that," she mutters.

It's fine if Kanae doesn't have an answer for her. Kazusa doesn't, either. All's well.. "Yeah. Because this went ''so'' well," she grumbles.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Just like that, two siblings are reunited. A long-wished for miracle has finally occured, here in the heart of a young man's personal hell. It's so cute. It's so sweet.

It's enough that, to judge by the expression on her face, Kikuno would rather go be sick somewhere. Her lip curls in marked distate, but here she says nothing, her attention fixed on the two of them as they speak to one another.

Or, that is, until her cousin speaks to her.

"I said, shut up," she tells Yoko, brushing one hand through the air as if to thereby push her aside. "Don't get involved," she tells Umie, her glare just as intense at the girl she's ''not'' related to. "We're busy."

Who's busy? Her and Yoko? Or...

Such a state can't last, though. Not when Tsumugi speaks.

Her gaze turns a moment towards Pernelle, then to Tsumugi. She cocks her head a faint few degrees as if catching a sound that only she can hear.

"Perhaps," she says, and it's likely not clear who she's addressing at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus looks back at Yuuki - at that tense, distant expression. She meets her eyes, wondering what thoughts run behind that complex emotion. She doesn't retract her hand - and when Yuuki takes it, she helps her to her feet. And if she needs something to support her, she won't push her away.

"...I suppose it is." Magus allows, as Yuuki says it's good they found each other again. She looks back to Shinichi and Yanagi, as Yanagi assures him that she forgave him.

It's been a long time, Magus supposes. Perhaps time does heal all wounds. ...That's what she'd like to say, but it isn't always so easy. And the way he insists on bringing her home...

Magus wonders if a dead woman can really just show up at home like nothing happened.

All's well that ends well...

"...Hm." Magus considers. "The monster has been slain. ...But the scars yet remain."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Tsumugi wants to feel it, and Pernelle gives them a single, firm nod of perfect understanding.

"Most glorious," he affirms twice over.

His whole face lights up with Saika's wordplay and Tsumugi's identification thereof.

"Oh, is it? Marvelous. I love puns!"

But now there's dinner (the eyes are not for eating, Pernelle!) AND a show. Upon the grand stage, Yanagi offers Shinichi what was already his, and the two embrace. Pernelle gives a tippy tap on his feet, though he seems to be ''trying'' to contain it with smaller steps to avoid a percussive interruption.

While not typically in the business of ''moderation'', he makes an exception when that moderation might prevent even greater moderation should those in the spotlight become spooked. Pernelle must choose... the lesser of moderations.

''There's nothing left here for us.''

"Then off we shall go and fly, fly, fly~," he says in his own singsong way, spreading his wings to flap in place, grasping his feet open and closed in the air like an overeager claw machine.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Saika looks over towards Kikuno as she speaks. "What indeed," Saika echoes back, which is probably not gonna actually address what Kikuno was getting at, like, at all.

(That proffered hand turns away; rises to fold loosely beneath her bandaged bustline. Saika smiles at Tsumugi, because she likes to and she wants to, but then there is no more. At their question, she leans over and replies, in bad but quiet english "<Just because you Bad Guy, does not mean you Bad Guy.>" She definitely bootlegged that movie, or saw a clip. It is still in theaters. She smiles as she does it.)

Saika's grin gets even more coprophagic as Tsumugi reveals the REAL truth.

But there's still work to do. "Man," Saika sighs, "this has been one hell of a long night, hasn't it? Pernelle, you're gonna have to cook tomorrow," she continues as she laces her fingers together and stretches, "cuz the cook is *taking personal time*."

They are already planning dinner?? (Well, Saika is, anyway.)

"Exactly, Buta-san," Saika adds to Roger (how cruel, to emphasize his swinery). "But visiting hours are a little bit flexible, so you should -- hmm?" Her head swivels around to look at Kazusa, her chain-wrapped hand resting on her hip.

"What, were you hoping someone was gonna die? Maybe put their eye out, just t' kind of stay on topic? That's pretty messed up."

But her attention returns to Shinichi and to Yanagi. Her other hand comes up to tap the side of her nose as Shinichi speaks of... re-introducing Yanagi to her mother and her father. Her eyes turn towards Yanagi for a moment, lidded. Is that what *she* wants?

To the assembled, Saika asides, "He can fly, you know. I was shocked at first too."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
As Yanagi voices her forgiveness, Kasumi lets out a big sigh of relief along with the tension she's been feeling. "Oh, thank goodness! That's such a relief!" Not every sibling parting needs to end badly. And Nagisa-san gets a second chance. She sincerely hopes that he's able to make the most of it, if nothing else, then on behalf of the people who don't get that chance.

With that out of the way... Kasumi's about to comment on hoping things go back to normal at school pretty soon, but catches herself just in time. "Did either of you know Nagisa-san before the Homunculus? Is he... You know... Normally nice?" She asks. She might like to help support him too in reality...

All's well? Normally, Kasumi would be thilled to go along with it, but... "Is that really true?" She wonders aloud. "I mean, you were in a twisted relationship, Fuyuki-san... Is that really okay now?" That, and she's worrying about the terrorized female populations of Shuujin... Are the boys really just going to let things fade away? Is that how that works?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> A missing sibling. A family, waiting.
But if that was the case, why did Yanagi keep herself separated from them? For their own protection, or hers?

Maybe, it's to be able for Yanagi to protect the self she is now, without the weight of being the 'sick one', or 'the one who may have little time left to live'. A person like that wouldn't have been allowed to celebrate Seijin no Hi like she did out of concern for her own health, alone.

Coin's flattening ears bring a impish grin to Umie's face. Ahhh, she must be like Mona, and hate being compared to the animal, even mythical, she resembles. "I'm afraid my specialties lie in poking." If it's a pun, as Tsumugi says, "If 'the eyes have it'," she says, "you may very well have this under control."

There can only be room for the Badb to poke around what remains, sometimes instigating something, for better or worse, as Yoko's claws press into her sleeve. Umie missed the part about Kikuno talking to someone; or maybe, her consciousness had considered it so normal that she didn't even think to note it.

Huh. So this is what it's like, to see such an exchange occur outside of herself.

... Is Kikuno... like her? ".... Rather prickly, aren't you?" she muses, with some amusement, trying to catch a glimpse of Kikuno's wrists without being too obvious.

Before Umie can consider it further, Roger seems disturbed(?) by something. "Roger-san," Umie says, frowning. "Something wrong?" The Homunculus is dead, right? Umie can't *sense* anything nearby that fit neatly into the Badb's sense as 'a threat'. Things can and *do* get past it, however, as that sense is merely something co-opted to serve a different purpose, as much as Badb's sense of 'a battlefield', or supernatural space, being nearby when she's in Sumaru City.

She *could* summon Badb, but it's hard to tell, from Roger's expression, whether that would be an overreaction on her part.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi giggles when Shinichi compliments her sense of style. Pernelle's barely-contained excitable flapping and tippy-tappying contributes to that giggle, too. No need for words right now; he hugs her back, and it ''is'' good. This is a good moment. She's glad to have had it, in a different way from how she was glad to have taken the Homunculus's Eyes. She leans her head on his as he hugs her back, unafraid of harm. When he eases up, she lets go--but he doesn't pull away entirely.

Her smile is muted but still there as he asks her if he deserves it, as he thanks her for saving her. It regains its warmth, and she nods once. No need to explain it. He understands what needs to be understood.

At least... that's what she thinks until he asks her to come home. To their parents. To that apartment in Aoyama-Itchome.

Her smile dims fully this time, and a profound sadness shades her brilliantly green eyes.

A bond rediscovered, a monster defeated; so why not go 'home'?

"No."

There's no malice, no grudge, in her voice or demeanor. It's just a delicate yet unyielding refusal.

"I have a new home now, Shinichi. And I might have lived to become an adult after all, but I still have DMD. I'm still going to die young--maybe this year; who knows?"

Despite this fatalistic acknowledgement of her terminal condition, Yanagi smiles anew. It reaches her eyes, in which that sadness lingers. Umie's silent supposition was on the money, it seems, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love Shinichi. It's just...

"Mom and Dad already grieved for me and moved on. It would be cruel to make them do it twice." She pats his hand still resting on her--and gently, gently removes it. "You know you didn't kill me now, Shinichi. I didn't die because of what you said. I've forgiven you, so it's time to forgive yourself and move on too." She squeezes his hand...

...then pulls hers away. "You're free now."

As Tsumugi so eloquently recited, she has named the sky her own. She turns her smile to them and Saika and Pernelle, that sadness blown away. There is indeed nothing left for her here, and once again she conveys that mutual understanding with Tsumugi despite a lack of words. It's time to go to her true home.

"Ooh, I want hot pot!" she says brightly to Saika, regardless of whether she's taking tomorrow night off or not. It is a future Yanagi's looking towards all the same... a future with Peacock Silk, and without Shinichi Nagisa.

Paying no mind to Roger's sudden yelp, she leans over for her cane and the double-bladed knife that was once--and is still--a pair of Homunculus Eyes.

Until she too snaps a sharp, wide-eyed look over her shoulder, far too late.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Michael Kills Judith - Halloween OST - https://youtu.be/pW-z037uA1o?si=976AkjncjweEOuX2&t=52

The drama is quite distracting, is it not? As a sister rejects the idea of a lasting bond with family. As she readies to enjoy her future plans with her new home...

A shape melts out of the retreating mist. Look upon the ground, the Homunculus who was laying there, quite dead- now gone. For instead it encircles its enormous arms around Yanagi, lifting her up- and beginning to squeeze with all of his might- with bone snapping force.

His head is lolled at a sideways angle, with that dripping wound still present. His hands have deep pits where its Eyes once were. Even without his Eyes, somehow, he still persists.

((taking you from him))
((taking you with me))
((i will not be nothing))
((i will be your grave))
((we go together))

Still alive, it only thinks of one thing to do with its maimed, dying body. Spiteful- possessive vengeance. Not even to try and take the Eyes back. To kill her. Then die, in triumph, having paid her back for her betrayal in full, with her.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
The 'No.' hits him like a bucket of ice water to the face. For a while, he doesn't even respond, as she speaks to him, his mouth working like he wants to say something, like a gaping fish that was just landed and is suffocating on the air itself.

It's only when she pats his hand, then begins to pull away that he begins to answer in desperation, "What- but- that doesn't matter! Even if you were going to die tomorrow- I don't care! They wouldn't care. I can't just- just- move on? You're my sister!? I don't want to be ''free'' of you!"

His protestations grow weaker, and weaker by the moment, because- even if she forgave him, doesn't she deserve her wishes respected? Why should ''he'' who thinks he's the worst brother in the world to her- who thinks he doesn't deserve her, chase after her? Fight to keep her in his life?

All he can do is hurt her in the attempt. Just like he did before.

It grows worse as she excitedly talks about Hot Pot- with a woman he doesn't even know? With a whole strange group of people- and... weird monster bird!? But... not him. Not her family. Does she really just- not want to be a part of their lives anymore that much? It's so upsetting that he can't even understand yet that he feels more than a little jealous?

Still reeling with shock and confusion from this whole interaction with someone he would have thought he knew only seconds before, he only vaguely sees the shape rise up behind her, as he calls out in horror, "NEESAN!" He knows how frail she was, and almost certainly still is. He can see the monster behind crushing her- and knows, there's nothing he can do.

Nothing. He's entirely helpless to stop what happens next. Even staggering to his feet, he knows there's no way he can pry this creature off her in time- even though he'll try anyway.

Back in his life for a moment, then gone again. Like a rekindled flame of hope, flickering and wavering, then guttering away.

And why does he have the vaguest feeling that this was never supposed to happen at all. That idea, that impression that she's already dead, causes something to be consumed inside of him.

Reborn - Revue Starlight OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ge9LoG6ibw

There's no time, but blessedly, between the ticks of a second- the collective makes time.

Oh loathsome fear that binds you in this cage of passivity.

If she is taken from you again, the fault will lay only in your own cowardice.

Why not alter thy nature into one who would dance instead, and rekindle discarded ambition?

The shreds of fabric from a cocoon begin to glow a ghostly blue as spun potential- nearly lost forever- erupts with threads that attach to his head, his body, the entirety of his being. Boundless on the inside of that cocoon, Shinichi is bathed in the purest scarlet light to the rhythmic clanking of industrial machinery.

To pursue coveted bond with jealous abandon, to be ferocious to one's rivals and to wear conviction nakedly in the face of adversity is what it truly means to live!

A half-cape with a hood forms over him, the outer layer a blue, with a dark purple interior- fluttering down to land upon his shoulders. His torso is encased into a top of double breasted buttons in matching color, with a thin fabric that gives the impression of a scrub top.

I AM THOU,
THOU ART I.

Around his legs the silken threads wind, weaving blue athletic pants, then forming dark boots with metal cleats on each foot- his form constantly surrounded by ephemeral, blue wisps of flame that are ever burning-shifting.

Even should our dance take us to the grave, let our fervor set the underworld ablaze. Now, call to me- and let us have this dance together!

"HILARION!" he screams as he erupts from the cocoon, with the desperation of someone who knows they might lose so much if they don't act ''now''! Blue flames erupt in kind, and something rises out of him.

That ghostly blue flame compresses within a half-circle arc of machinery that constantly rotates around it. It tapers down into the neck of a spindly purple demonic creature armored all over in green and orange plating that is segmented in ways as to give the impression of sporting pads, in the center of which is a medical cross. On one hand, it wields a long staff made up of twisting and winded snakes in the familiar form of the caduceus, but without the wings. Its thin legs are crossed, as if to imply it is mid-dance- or pose.

With a dramatic sweep of its staff downward, it reveals to the Homunculus the lie that his vengeance can be complete. Behind the Homunculus, nuclear flame mushrooms up through him, consuming him so completely as to seemingly disintegrate him outright, leaving only his arms untouched.

Its arms slide off Yanagi, limply- his body ablaze in ever-burning nuclear fire, a shadow of a shadow within that blaze. He takes a step. Then another.

Then he falls over, disintegrating into Shadowy ash before he even hits the floor.

Despite the wonder of this moment, he doesn't even waste any time approaching her to check on her. "Neesan! Hey, are you okay? Just breathe-!" Intention becomes action, as Hilarion, the Persona casts a Diarama spell upon her taking the form of ghostly little wisps of blue light that surround her like an aura. "Somebody call an ambulance!" he calls out, still panicking in the moment.

Not even considering for a moment the adrenaline rush that the last place Yanagi would ever want to be- is in a hospital. Or whether ambulances can even run here.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Kikuno pauses, watching Yanagi as she informs her brother precisely why she can't go home again. Ever so slightly, Kikuno's sour frown deepens. In the same moment, Yanagi reaches for the knife and speaks of getting hot pot.

((An Opportunity Arrives)) speaks the voice only she can hear in her skull.

She glances again at Pernelle, at Tsumugi, her attention returning to Yanagi as the seconds seem to slow to a crawl. The one place that Kikuno does not look after all is at the fallen flesh of Eshm.

((He Lives Yet))

((Ware Ye))

Its carcass twitches, solidifying once more to too-solid flesh.

For Eshm is not yet dead. Malice lingers where a chance at life slips from its grasp. Of this, she is also familiar. So it's also petty--

But no, Eshm isn't dead yet. Kikuno, with sudden speed as Yanagi is struck, snatches up the knife.

And then something else happens.

"Ah," she says, tucking the knife away as chaos unwinds about her. "You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister." She pauses, taking one step back.

"Not tonight, anyway."

One more step. One more step. She turns her gaze up as Eshm is reduced to so much ash under the newly awakened Persona's burst of ultimate flame.
She had limped before. There's no hint of it now as she turns sharply and bolts for the door.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>It's not that Coin minds being called a fox; she's described *herself* as vulpine before. It's just that she knows that kitsune no mado is a thing children do, and that one she does mind. (How does she know it's a childish thing? ...beats her.)

This time, Coin gives someone else a long look.

Pernelle, specifically. Something about him -

He's not like her. But he's not NOT like her, either. She's fascinated by him like she was some of the other things she's seen, though she does not do the peek-through-her-hands or anything else particularly uncanny. She just *looks*, the same way she did at Roger earlier; a little uncomfortably if you're the target, especially when her ears quiver and point forward.

"You! And you!" Coin points directly at Pernelle, and then Roger. "You I will speak with, later! For our time here is short!" Especially with the Peacock Silk crew making plans to move out -

- until -

Coin is not especially familiar with the nature of the Homonculus. She thought that when it was defeated, it was gone; it wasn't something you needed a Silver Bullet for. It was something Else, something Different, and you couldn't integrate it.

Which means it should have the decency to *stay* dead once you kill it.

Coin's tail lashes as she spins around, but she's both way too far away and way too slow to do anything at all. Despite herself she draws her sword, although what she thinks she's going to do with it is a very good question. Even if she was closer it wouldn't be very helpful.

But something new is summoned, in defense of another... Coin's eyes widen. "A power, called by change and need...?" This is the first time she has seen someone Awaken to a Persona (besides her own, that doesn't count) and Transmutation feels so different. She does not have any words for a few moments, which for Coin is unusual, until Shinichi's panic snaps her out of it.

"How?" she asks, baffled. Ambulances don't run here! At least, not any ambulance you'd want to get in; she doesn't know if the place has cognitive ambulances but if it does you couldn't pay her to get in one.

She pushes Kanae forward instead, or at least against her leg. "Go! Help, if you want it to end well after all!"

Coin, after all, is not entirely used to how normal human bodies. She's pretty sure she will be less help than none at all... but at least she realizes that!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
What's not to like? Kanae likes Coin, for this too. Indeed though; Kanae has no answers for Kazusa, not at the moment. "it went fine," Kanae says, and when Kasumi chimes in, Kanae shrugs. "Whatever," she says of her twisted relationship. "It's done. I'm not worried about it."

...is it really that simple? Maybe it is!

Pause. "He was pretty nice," she adds for Kasumi's benefit. "Too nice."

But Yanagi... says ''no''. Kanae schools her features immedaitely; shock turns to something else, and she doesn't want anyone knowing what she thinks. ...How she kind of admires Yanagi's free spirit, in the moment. She feels a little bad for Shinichi, but... Wow!

"Forgive... yourself, huh...?"

Roger seems alarmed suddenly. Quickly, Kanae sees why--but too late to do anything. "Holy SHIT," Kanae starts, scrambling for her gunblade even though it's far too late--

The scars remain indeed, Magus.

She blinks--and starts to rise to her feet at Coin's push. "Uh!" she starts. "Right!"

With the shattering of another glass, Kanae changes the presence in her mind, and calls forth her own persona as she goes. "Ame-no-Uzume!" The dancing, laughing goddess appears to lend her own healing to Yanagi's body.

"...Sorry dude," she says. "No ambulance is coming ''here''. ...But now that I see, it looks like you already had it taken care of..."

Will it still 'end well'?

...Depends who for, maybe.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Magus speaks of the scars that remain. Kazusa glances at her out the side of her vision. "... the scars don't go away just because the monster is defeated," she says quietly.

She has some experience in the matter. But then again, she didn't get a tidy resolution, either. nor is she convinced yet this one will be quite so tidy yet.

She glares at Saika, bare arms crossed in front of her. "Don't be morbid," she snaps. "... though frankly I'm kind of all mobirded out at the moment."

"He's in my class," Kazusa answers Belle. But when she brings up the ''relationship'' Kanae was in with the Homunculus, Kazusa jabs Belle in the side with her elbow. "Not ''now''," she hisses quietly.

'No.'

Kazusa sucks in a sharp breath, even though she'd half-expected that reaction. But then she gasps, as the Homunculus reforms, and goes after Yanagi in a lat act of revenge. "No!"

She darts forward, her spine whip in hand, instinctively reaching out to call forth the butterfly that would presage her Persona's arrival--only to draw up short as a Cocoon encases Shinichi, followed by flames both blue and nuclear. "Nagisa-san..."

She didn't get to see her Awakening from the outside before. This is the first one she's seen, and she's momentarily taken aback, until--

'Somebody call an ambulance!'

Kazusa's jaw sets, and her whip cracks out as Mina HArker rises again. She'd kept her distance, before--if Shinichi was going to forget, she didn't want to prompt him into remembering. But now that he's Awakened anyway...

A short sprint sees her by Shinichi's side, and the hand that goes to rest on his shoulder may come from one of the least likely sources: a Kazusa Motojima in some sort of strange wolf princess cosplay, looking serious and also... concerned. "Nagisa-san," she says quickly. "A hospital can't help her. But your Persona can."

"And I'll help too. Mina!"

Mina Harker lends her own healing efforts to that of Hilarion and Ame-no-Uzume. Kazusa gives Kanae a grateful nod, but quickly looks back worriedly to Yanagi a moment later.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
It's in the past now, huh? Kasumi nods. "I'm glad to hear it, Fuyuki-san." She says. "You're strong." She says, earnestly.

Then, she gets jabbed. "Huh?!" Kasumi lets out a noise. "(What was that for? She mentioned it earlier...)" She whispers back to Kazusa.

Too nice, huh? Well, now it makes a bit more sense why the humunculus lashed out so hard. She hopes that Shinichi can find more peace now. It's a good start, at least.

Yanagi says no, and something inside Kasumi screams, that she stuffs down hard. Yanagi is completely reasonable, but... it does hurt to hear.

Then, something tragic happens. The humunculus, still alive, attempts to take a life with him. Kasumi lets out an strangled noise, clamping her hands overtop her mouth. She can't move, can't do anything to intervene. She can only watch in horror. As...

Shinichi... Transmutates? Awakens. And finishes off the Homunculus. "Oh. Oh, thank goodness..." Kasumi murmers, as life returns to her. "That was terrifying..." Everyone else runs to check up on Yanagi and Shinichi, but Kasumi can't bring up the energy just yet. So, she sinks down, still covering her mouth with her gloved hand.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "The Homunculus is still alive!" Roger brings the sensation of shock to something more verbally sensible when it is too late for him to intervene. He's aghast at this! He should normally be on top of this kind of thing! He's the member of the team they're meant to rely on when it comes to the ins and outs of how an Atelier's denizens and unwanted Homunculus parasites all work!

...The terrible thought that Yanagi will not be able to play anymore with anyone, because of this.

But then...

Shinichi finds it in himself. He finds it in himself to change.

To awaken, to a Transmutation... and his Persona.

Hilarion disintegrates the Homunculus in its entirety, as Roger flails and balances back on one leg in the backwash of that awesome power of nuclear fire.

..And then Kikuno escapes.

"W-Wait! Weren't you going to-- explain... eee." Roger presses his fingers together, hunched over, at the rapid series of events. "Um, Shinichi-kun...!"

Many are, rightfully, coming to crowd around him to come to both his aid and Yanagi's. "D-Don't push it! You'll wear yourself out! You just awakened to something called a 'Persona!' You don't know the rules of that game yet!"

"...But..."

Roger tries to give a reassuring smile. "We're all on your team! We'll do all we can!!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus looks toward Kazusa as she agrees with her. Yes... It is not that easy. She can hear the weight of familiarity in her voice.

Just because the source of the pain is gone, doesn't mean it is over.

She looks back toward Shinichi and Yanagi. ...It is, perhaps, the expected outcome. Of course it isnt so easy as letting her just go home to the family.

What isn't expected, though, is what happens next.

Magus curses under her breath as the Homunculus rises again. How foolish...! This is her first time encountering one of these creatures. She never thought to ask whether or not it was normal for the body to remain - but it was foolish of her to not guarantee the job was finished properly. She starts forward, drawing her saber - but she feels a spike of pain throughout her body, drawing a hiss from her. She isn't fast enough like this. She won't be able to do anything -

- but she doesn't need to. The shed cocoon begins to shine, and scarlet light washes over Shinichi.

"...I see. So this is..." Magus murmurs, trailing off. She lowers her blade - and watches as the Homunculus is consumed by flame.

But, her health...

"...We are currently outside normal reality." Magus states, as Shinichi asks for someone to call an ambulance. "They cannot reach us. We would need to leave this place. If you wish for something to be done, you must do it under your own power."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
They must really want those Eyes to let themself go through all that.

Maybe so. Tsumugi Kujaku doesn't explicitly deny it as they turn to make their exit with the others. All they say is this:

"I wanted to see if it could show me something new." Fingerless gloved hands move through that wild mane of platinum-and-glowing gradient hair, blowing locks back behind them as they walk.

"But it wasn't anything I didn't already know."

The steady click of heels carries them out in Pernelle's wake, ready to leave. They don't look behind them toward Yanagi. They don't tell her to hurry up and come with. Don't question her intentions.

Maybe because she's called the sky her own, and you don't cage a free bird.

Maybe they simply know what's coming next.

Either way...

They don't look back as Yanagi parts with Shinichi to grab the Eyes. They just lift a hand as Saika hands off kitchen duties to Pernelle.

"Ara. Is it time to play Russian roulette again--"

And then they stop. Red-gold eyes snap wide.

Something's wrong--

They spin, a second later, just in time to see the Homunculus gripping Yanagi, fit to crush her if only to deprive its host of the one thing he just took back. Eyes still wide, they take a single step forward -- and then still.

Those widened eyes narrow.

"..."

If Saika and Pernelle try to rush Eshm and Yanagi? They suddenly find a hand on their shoulder, and a high-heeled boot in their path, respectively, as Tsumugi suddenly seeks to preemptively still them.

"Wait," they advise, gaze fixed forward, past Eshm.

They blink. Once.

It's remarkable how much things can change in the blink of an eye? It's a powerful figurative device for a reason, after all. How profound things can just happen right past your notice. In some cases, however, it is very literal. Like now.

Tsumugi Kujaku's eyes shut for a fraction of a second.

And when they open --

Shinichi Nagisa is consuming the parasite that once tried to steal his life away in furious, desperate nuclear fire.

Shinichi Nagisa's chains break for the sake of saving another fetter he thought he'd lost.

"..." Tsumugi Kujaku's eyes hood as they watch Yanagi fall, and watch Shinichi rush to her side.

''Neesan! Hey, are you okay? Just breathe-!''

click
click
click

''Somebody call an ambulance--''

A long dark shadow casts over Shinichi and Yanagi Nagisa as an angelic figure dressed in white and carved of marble crouches down near them...

... and scoops Yanagi into their arms.

"No."

Tsumugi Kujaku lifts slowly. It hurts, with their injuries, but they lift Yanagi up, princess carry in their arms all the same. They don't even bother to look at Shinichi as they turn, fully intent to take his sister away from him.

"She was never yours to take. Shin-chan."

But their words are unmistakably for him.

"She's free now."

They turn, to start to leave once more. "Pernelle, open the--"

And then there is Kikuno, swiping that knife.

Those unnatural scarlet-gold eyes are wider than they've ever been as they fix immediately upon Kikuno. Surprise, for once, grips their gaze, along with something else -- something that makes pupils shrink towards pinpricks. The entire world seems to freeze in that moment.

And then she bolts for the door like a thief in the night.

"Saika, Pernelle--" the leader of Peacock Silk says immediately, their voice level but possessed of a sudden, ineffable ''intensity''.

"''Get her.''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Coin looks at Pernelle. Pernelle looks back and tilts his head to one side. Then she points, and Pernelle ruffles in surprise. "Me! And he?!" Pernelle glances from Coin to Roger and back again, then straightens up, chest puffed with delight. "If speaking is what you seek, then speak we shall! I will bring snacks."

Later, of course.

Pernelle gasps and looks toward Saika.

"Have my kitchen privileges been restored?! Splendid! I shall whip up a feast the likes of which you have never experienced!" Yanagi chimes in to ignite Pernelle further with ideas. "Oh Yanagi, how I have missed your brilliant mind! We shall have the hotest of pots! The potest of hots!"

The excitement vibrating off of him comes to a sharp halt. Pernelle falls out of the air with his glasses falling from his beak.

"''Yanagi!''"

Scrambling with scratching claws, he makes to hurry toward her --

Only for Tsumugi's hand to fall upon him. He looks back up at them, stilled without resistance, but fear in his beady little eyes. Then he turns to look, burning blue reflected in his gaze. A grand awakening sees Eshm dispatched.

Pernelle watches the dust fall as Tsumugi takes Yanagi into their arms. And then --

"Eeeyaw?!" Pernelle squawks as Kikuno sweeps in.

''Get her.''

Pernelle's next squawk is more of a ''bellow'', terrifyingly resonate and echoing to have come from the throat of such a small creature. He spreads his wings and launches into full flight, casting his massive shadow over everyone in his path as he pursues Kikuno.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, well, I'll try to be less gross, then," Saika jabs insouciantishly to Kazusa in reply. But she's not really focusing on her.

It does not quite reach Saika's face, in its stitchwork glory, but her eyes do soften slightly when Yanagi speaks. It must have been hard for her; well, maybe not, thinks Saika, but if I was in her shoes, and I had family that--

-- and it's hurting him, huh. It's hurting a guy who's gone through a lot. Obviously it can't be helped, but he seemed to come along pretty well when the chips were down. Maybe...

... nah: he doesn't seem like the type.

Saika lets out a sigh. Her attention turns to Yanagi, who is, after all, not a stranger to her, and says, "Absolutely, this is the perfect time of year. Actually, Pernelle could probably... hm..."

Her eyes lid for a moment, at the *worst possible* moment, because when something makes that horrible shadow-humor-nightmare-fluid *sound* her eyes snap open. She raises her chain-wrapped hand. "Fucking MONSTER! Go back to Hell already! Fr--" Her doubtless invocation of the Monster of lore is cut off momentarily when something goes *click*.

For a distinct tick, Saika is staring with total consternation at Shinichi.

Just one tick. It's probably for the best.

Because in that tick Tsumugi's hand rests on her shoulder. She knows it by reflex. Saika stays tight, but she doesn't lunge. She exhales. Her own eyes are focused with laser intensity on Yanagi, on where Yanagi is, on where Yanagi *stays*, because with this new resurgence on the part of Shin-chan over there, she's going to have to fight and it's not going to be easy.

Especially since --

Wait.

There was that flash.

She should be doing the heavy lifting, not Tsumugi, they're all beat up, BUT

BUT

Her eyes widen immensely, enough that one of the staples on the edge of her eye gives way, revealing a hint of lurid blood-wet tissue underneath. She seems to rise upwards because she's putting it all together, and Tsumugi's unambiguous. Pernelle has a screeching cry of fury, and Saika speaks with more conventional language.

Her voice sounds notably deeper now.

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING?"

Saika strides forwards, towards one of those pieces of heavy machinery on wheels that would be attached to your ailing relation or wounded love; the machine that calmly and coolly sings the sound of heart and lung and blood and brain, making the hidden apparent for the occult scholars society knows as doctors.

Anyway, Saika brings up her right leg and kicks it dead on.

The sensory array does not so much roll as disappear, streaking forwards fast enough to smash through a significant fragment of the wall. The resulting hole is shrouded in dust but Saika has to advance and even with her height she has to duck to get through the hole thus ripped, taking one big step over the edge as she shouts again,

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

This must be one hell of a hobby.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> To be your own person.
Tick tock, tick tock, Umie.

Umie's clock is broken, but Yanagi's is still brutally shortened. To be the person she wishes to be, she had to cut herself free from the cocoon.

Umie bows her chin, slightly, and nods, closing her eyes.

'You're my sister!? I don't want to be ''free'' of you!'
Shinichi will likely not remember any of this, once enough time has passed. Maybe it's for the best... "..."

Do Umie's parents feel the same about her? She's cut them off for their own safety, just like she's done with almost things. They are the umbilical cord that connected her to the NWO, but also stubbornly ignorant of just how much damage the NWO has done to her.

Ignorance can kill a person, if they aren't careful. "Shit...!" Well, there's yet another flaw in Umie's 'radar': the Badb's radar is selfish, limited to dangers to *Umie*, not someone else, something others like Roger could see past.

The homunculus strikes to take what is his, expressing a deadly possessiveness the real Shinichi lacked.

But what Shinichi has that Homunuculus didn't, however, was the needle to thread the actualization of his True Self: his Persona.

".... amazing..." No matter what type, or situation, to see someone Awaken was like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon; a release of intention and willpower rarely ever given actual form. It's a fitting end, for the beast to be ended by the one who created him.

Still, Yanagi's life is now hanging from yet another thread. But, if Kazusa is correct... "Concentrate," Umie says calmly, excusing Kikuno's exit from her mind. If there's room, she'll stoop down close to the two, intent on trying to coach the newly made Persona User through what is a rough awakening.

Click, click, click.

Tsumugi scoops Yanagi up, much to Umie's dumbfounded shock. "Whoah, be careful," she cautions, but doesn't stop or hinder. Tsumugi has a point, as cruel as it may be for Shinichi to swallow.

Kikuno, meanwhile, has apparently made off like a thief in the night, meanwhile. She sighs, and gets up. "All this over some monster parts," she groans. "I guess it's an exciting life, though..."

Her gaze falls back down to Shinichi now, trying to bite back the wince at possibly seeing that face look up at her. ".... We should probably get going too, eh?" She glances back at Roger. ".... Will this place be stable long enough for us to get everyone stablized first? Including him."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus, returning to non-life like the last sting from a movie monster, snatches Yanagi up and lifts her into its crushing embrace. She cries out in reactionary pain, her cane and even the Eyes forgotten. As Eshm's grip tightens to break her, her cries intensify into ravaged screams.

She accepts that she will die, and die young. She ''does not'' accept that it will be at the filthy paws of the Homunculus she--she!--conned.

The aid that frees her comes not from whom she expects, though. Rather than Tsumugi or Saika or Pernelle, Shinichi is clothed in the red light of Transmutation and awakens to nuclear flame that burns Eshm clean away. As its arms slacken, she falls and stumbles into him, then looks back just in time to see the dying monster finally return to nothing.

(Mona meanwhile was shocked by this sudden sting too, but Yanagi's clearly got plenty of healers on her. He stays by Belle's side, resting a worried paw on her shoulder when she collapses. He'll leave when she does. They're partners, after all.)

Shinichi calls forth his Persona once more to heal her, and she breathes a little more easily, though sweat still beads her beautiful face. She doesn't respond though she also doesn't resist; when he calls for an ambulance in his panic, she grimaces. Kanae and Kazusa heal her as well, but Yanagi doesn't offer gratitude to either of them either. Instead, she twists to shoot a plaintive look over at one person:

Tsumugi.

Saika and Pernelle are dearly important to her too, but it's Tsumugi whom she loves the most. It's Tsumugi who she trusts with her whole heart to not be hurt or bereaved by her inevitable early passing. It's Tsumugi who will move on without hesitation afterwards, who will forget her once she's gone.

It's Tsumugi, and Tsumugi alone, with whom she can enjoy the present without being chained by a past or worrying about a future.

And so when they swoop towards her and sweep her into their arms, even before she appealed to them wordlessly, she breaks into a relieved and adoring smile. Eyelashes fluttering shut, she leans her head on their shoulder and relaxes...

'You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister. Not tonight, anyway.'

'Saika, Pernelle--''get her''.'

Yanagi's eyes shoot open just in time to see Kikuno exiting stage left, pursued by a peacock. The Eyes are nowhere to be seen; certainly they're not where she left them. "Did she--" she utters.

Then her eyes narrow. A deep breath; she lets it out.

Saika and Pernelle will have it handled. Already they're screaming fury and chasing after Kikuno with violence in their hearts. They, too, are loyal. All four of them are dedicated to their cause. Yanagi settles anew--but this time, she peeks over at Roger. He speaks of the rules of the game that Shinichi doesn't yet know.

"Roger," she says softly, "please help Shinichi understand." Umie, meanwhile, has the right idea. Yanagi looks up at her boss, her friend, her companion, her lover. "Tsumugi, let's go."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
"Just dial One-One-Nine!" Shinichi calls to Coin in a panic, not realizing the actual context of the 'How'.

''... Sorry dude, No ambulance is coming here! ... But now that I see, it looks like you already had it taken care of...''
'Nagisa-san, a hospital can't help her. But your Persona can.'

"Taken care of-?" He can't comprehend that she might be right so easily as he watches Kazusa add more healing magic into the mix, "Is- is that really enough!? He probably broke a few ribs at least...!"

'You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister.'
'Not tonight, anyway.'

He was too distracted to see what Kikuno did, but his jaw drops at what she said because- isn't this a medical emergency right now? "Yeah I mean- I'm trying to prevent that right now!"

'D-Don't push it! You'll wear yourself out! You just awakened to something called a 'Persona!' You don't know the rules of the game yet!'

"Rules!? My sister almost got murdered! Just give me the quick rundown!"

'No.'

A shape scoops up Yanagi, and he suddenly is on his feet- only to swirl with vertigo, less due to the drain of awakening and more from...

... from...

... the feeling that he knows this person.

"Who- who the-" Whatever hesitation he felt, melts away in the face of his confusion, and jealousy over the life she's chosen to live- with... them?

"-''fuck'' are you to say that!?"

Are they the reason Yanagi is acting like this? Are all of them in this crew the reason?

"This is between her and me- you can stay out of it."

'Saika, Pernelle--'

Two more names, he can now engrave in his brain.

'''Get her.'''

Their priority, right now, after Yanagi almost died- is going after another girl who saved him? For what!?

"Yeah- no. I'm not letting you just have your way here. You wanna get at her, you have to go through me!"

Which is probably more bluster than anything because the exhaustion of newly awakening is settling in and- he definitely wants to lay down for a hundred years.

But he won't until he makes himself have a fist fight with a monster peacock, at least and forces himself to take a step Pernelle's way.

CRASH BANG

or maybe you know that girl over there who suddenly seems like she's pretty mad

Instead his direction changes a half-step further towards Saika, "Hey! You're Saika right? Leave her the hell alone!"

Before he nearly slips and falls on his ass from sheer exhaustion.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Boss Penguin has posed.
<poem>
Soundtrack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmQiHClfko

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

The sound of feet bearing geta, with a measured gait, just the right amount of force- to turn an inelegant 'thok' into a familiar 'tak'. A sound pronounced enough to be heard even over the din.

Familiar to one person in the Atelier's heart, that is. A woman wearing a black kimono, a symbol of calmness, stability... control. A pattern of pine trees: longevity, endurance, strength.

The resonance of her presence is immense- almost suffocating. Like even the awful vertigo of her existing nearby was enough to give many the urge to get on their knees before her rather than try to remain upright. Certainly at least enough to distract people away from the idea of fighting. Even if someone overcomes and gets the impulse to approach her, they'll find they're just unable to.

As if she could part the sea that is 'humanity' with her presence alone.

Her hands laced together, entirely unthreatened, her face that of a middle-aged woman, dark hair pinned up. "Such a lovely scene." She says of the chaos that she's just interrupted, "Just the kind of family reunion I envisioned. Between brother and sister..." A hand gestures towards Yanagi and Shinichi.

"...Mother and-" Another hand moves up, but before pointing at someone, her expression becomes the tiniest of insincere smiles as she looks right at them. "Oh. But I should call you Tsumugi now, shouldn't I? The name you chose for yourself."

She enunciates each word as green eyes, locked with theirs. "Your. Freedom." Rather than gesture at her, she lets a sleeve slide down naturally by gravity, showing a bracelet. It is an unsightly thing. Diamonds in the rough, interspersed with cut ones, mismatched in size and shape. A shogi piece for 'pawn' facing the object of their attention.

Yanagi will recognize it as a very familiar commission. The one she delivered on the day she saw Shinichi, before this whole mess.

"'Family,' 'tradition'... words that bind you- you remember when I said that, do you not? It is because you remain bound by your memory of me. Your freedom, a lie- shaped by your remembrance of our time together." She beckons Tsumugi with a single fingertip. "Let us leave this place, Tsumugi. I will allow you to serve me once more."

The hand drops, as she says with a self-confidence of absolute certainty.

"Just as you always have."

Many in this room may be confused by this. Who this woman is- even the few who know her, are certainly confused. One young man looks at her with eyes wide, staring in shock like he's seen not just one ghost today, but two.

"... Itami-san?" Shinichi whispers. "But you're..."

She does not even bother to look in Shinichi's direction, yet she does at least acknowledge him, "This is my gratitude for helping to take such good care of me, Nagisa-kun. The miracle you always desired. Your sister returned to your side."

Whether she wants to be or not, she does not say. That much is obvious.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae can feel for Shinichi in the moment. He's having trouble. He's finally speaking up for something he ''wants'', like she wanted him to a while back... but it's something he's not going to get, plainly.

But she hadn't realized Kikuno was running away with something so important.

"..." 'Give me the quick rundown', he says, but 'no' is more relevant for the moment. Between them...

Tsumugi has started to walk away with Yanagi, and while it was simple while Shinichi was a nonissue to appreciate Yanagi's desire for freedom, seeing the toll it takes on Shinichi is harder, now.

It gets harder and more complex when that ''woman'' appears.

Yanagi has made her decision, but...

"Huh?" Kanae wonders, and suddenly feels ''very'' out of place. A reunion between mother and... someone.

"..."

She didn't expect gratitude, of course. But she didn't expect a ''lot'' of what happened, either. Kanae takes a look back towards Isabeau for a moment--and then steps over to where the Homunuculus was. "Hey, hold on..."

She looks apologetically at Shinichi, and picks up Yanagi's cane. She hurries a few moments after Yanagi and Tsumugi before they can go--and offers it forth.

"This is yours," she says. "Here you go. ...Guess that finishes out our deal."

She steps back, and doesn't stop Yanagi or Tsumugi any further from here.

But she looks back at Shinichi. "So this is freedom, huh...?"

She thinks of Touma, again, and bows her head. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess it is."

But nervously, Kanae can't help but look to 'mother' once again, uneasy.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa will explain it to Belle later, that she was concerned about Shinichi and what mentioning things that the Homunculus might do, but... that's a moot point now.

Also, just a time and place thing.

(... also, a little bit that Kanae dating the Homunculus, even if for a noble cause, made Kazusa irritable. That probably doesn't mean anything.)

It's okay, Roger. None of this has happened how anybody expected. At least, not how ''Kazusa'' expected. They can talk about it later.

Roger cautions Shinichi on the 'rules' of playing Persona, and Kazusa, for once, agrees with him. (Maybe not with the exact ''phrasing'', but her capacity to nitpick right now is deeply bottomed out.)

Shinichi asks if it's enough. Kazusa nods seriously. "The Homunculus was supernatural. And... so are you, now. Between the three of us... it'll work."

She also doesn't have time to process Tsumugi's wanting to see something new. But she ''does'' react when Tsumugi just... scoops up Yanagi to princess carry her away. "H-hey!" Shinichi can't cage her, and Kazusa ''gets'' that, but also, "You could let us finish healing her!"

She missed what Kikuno did, with her attention focused on Shinichi and Yanagi. But when Tsumugi says to 'Get her' her head cranes around. "Wha-- didn't she come in with you? What the heck!?"

She gets that Shinichi is upset--and she in no way knows how to unpack any of this right now, but when he goes to pick a fight-- "H-hey! You're not going to be in any condition to fight--" He goes down, and this means Kazusa goes to kneel by his side.

Which means she doesn't have to worry about trying to remain standing when that immense presence comes, but she gasps and recoils anyway as she feels that power. "Wha--" She can't help but grit her teeth, but feels in no way willing to try and fight back.

What the heck is going on here!?

'Mother and...' She looks at Tsumugi, then back at the strange woman who just appeared.

She shoots Kanae a concerned look. If another fight breaks out, do any of them have enough left to fight something like ''this''???.

"Nagisa-san, do you ''know'' her?" she asks under her breath to her classmate.
</poem>
[OOC] Kazusa Motojima says, "bluray: Tack that onto my pose."

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"On WHAT," Coin calls back to Shinichi. "I do not own a phone, and even if I did, it doesn't work here!"

It is probably not a surprise that the little fox humanoid does not have a phone if Shinichi calms down enough to think about it (and also does not freak out about there being a little fox humanoid, which is an important step).

But Yanagi is alive, and even up, and Coin is pleased by that. She crosses her arms, nodding in a satisfied way -

- which is when Saika smashes down part of a wall, and Pernelle flies overhead. Coin stares after them for a moment, torn between following and not. 'Not' wins, but only by a hair - she wants to see what's going on! Still, she remains at Kanae's side -

Scratch that. She remains *behind* Kanae, having swished around her as soon as the new arrival... arrived. Even before she spoke. Coin doesn't want to be seen, and even she does not know why. Maybe it's that sheer presence. It certainly overpowers Coin's; Coin does not exactly have a small attitude, but she's feeling completely overborne by... 'Itami-san'?

Coin peeks out from around Kanae, but does not step around her. She does give Kazusa a look up at that concern, making a 'please calm down' patting gesture - no, you should not fight someone like this!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>It seems there's an altercation. ...Past this point, it isn't Magus's place to interfere. They'll have to work it out between themselves. Shinichi, meanwhile, is understandably confused about the situation. This must be a lot for him. She doesn't envy him, to have so much dropped onto him at once. What he does from here, though, is between him, Yanagi, and that group taking her.

But then there's the sound of someone approaching - followed by an overwhelming presence.

Who is this? Just being around her makes it difficult to breathe. It's difficult even to remain ''standing'' - but even in her current state, rebellion roars in Magus's heart against those who would force her down. She forces herself to remain standing - but even that much is difficult to manage. She watches her carefully, but for now that's all she can do.

But whoever this is, Shinichi seems rather surprised to see her...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi does not understand at all what's going on. She understands that the kimono clad woman is important with an impressive presence. And Shinichi has seen another ghost.

She also understands that this woman is very, very strong. Not just anyone can say 'I will allow you to serve me once more', and cause a bystander to feel a tug.

Kasumi grabs Mona close. "We need to keep our heads down." She whispers. "This isn't the time to interfere." Even she can tell that much.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger can completely trust in Kazusa's Persona to help deal with any hurts outright! Which is good, because his ability to sense Homunculi that are still a threat - or rather, the failure to do so - rattles him.

Tsumugi takes hold of Yanagi as all hell breaks loose and the other members of Peacock Silk are running off.

"Roger,' a soft voice. He looks up. Someone gave him a name, some time ago, and he holds onto it like a precious thing. He's someone! Someone to play with. With everyone. 'Please help Shinichi understand.'

"...Oh... okay." He says, a bit taken aback. He doesn't know what game is being played here, but having accustomed himself to 'working a job,' he knows some games you have to play even if they don't seem very fun on the outset. Humans play a lot of games.

"I, I meant it!!" Roger snorts to Shinichi as he tries to hurry to his side as he falls from exhaustion. "You can't hoof it after 'em like this," he stomps his feet, his back turned to something else.

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

A powerful presence washes through, and Roger's eyes widen to pinpricks. He snorts the once inquisitively, turns about-face. He feels shoved just by being there, an aggressive fight-or-flight better described as a fervent stay-in-place.

He doesn't escape Shinichi's side. Not when Shinichi managed to fight to determine for himself who he is and what he wants, but to call Roger's posture 'defiant' is being generous.

His words, however...

"That's a Homunculus!" He says. "...I'm sure of it, but..." Roger stammers some. It reads more like confusion than out-and-out fear, at a 70-to-30 ratio. "...Never one like this..."

He holds his tennis racquet defensively, but cannot raise it further. He remains by Shinichi's side.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
It's hard to call the look on Tsumugi Kujaku's face, or the pitch of their voice, urgent. It barely seems different from their typical placidity -- and it's certainly a far cry from the wild passion they were demonstrating earlier.

But for those who know them, there's a difference there, as they ask Pernelle and Saika to give Kikuno chase. A subtle shift in body language and voice that adds an underscore of tension to it all, like the way the mood seems to just shift when a storm is on the horizon. Can you call it urgency?

Could you call it anything else?

It's there and gone in a moment, the second Saika and Pernelle pursue. As if content they'll secure the Eyes, the subtle edge dissipates like dirt washed away by the rain. They have nothing to say to the others; not to Shinichi's angry accusations, nor to Kazusa's startled shout. They just turn to leave once more, heals clicking on soiled, cognitive grounds.

click
click
click

t a k .

And then they freeze.

Their head hangs the moment they stop, platinum locks and their glowing, scarlet-gold undersides a veil obscuring their immaculate features from everyone.

Everyone but Yanagi, held in their arms, who can see their eyes widening, and lips pursing to part out a brief, small sound.

"no."

''Such a lovely scene.''

Fingers grip more tightly to Yanagi. They tremble, lightly, against her hip. They don't look behind them to see who has arrived. Maybe they don't need to.

Maybe they don't dare to.

"..."

Kanae approaches. Her words are light the muffled blare of a Peanuts adult in Tsumugi's ears, indistinct and lost as everyone else's confusion and uncertainty is. Like their body was moving of their own accord, they suddenly lower Yanagi as that cane is offered out to her, one hand on the small of her back to but otherwise left to hold herself up by that walking stick Kanae offers up as Tsumugi's other hand falls limp to their side.

''"Family," "tradition"... words that bind you- you remember when I said that, do you not?''

"..."

Their head rolls back. And slowly...

... slowly...

... they pivot on one heel, the entire world feeling like it shifts around them until it inevitably, inexorably draws them face to face with a beautiful vision that once filled them with the most excrutiating and painful of envies.

She looks just like the last time Tsumugi saw her. Exquisite. Unapproachable.

blotted and disgusting

"..."

Let us leave this place, Tsumugi.

I will allow you to serve me once more.

Their eyes are wide. Their entire stance is rigid.

Just as you always have.

Like someone staring down the face of death.

"..."

Your entire life has been as a puppet
whose strings have merely been traded from person to person.

Their eyes widen further.

Furiously.

"...

"''You never taught me anything.''"

shwff

By all accounts, the movement is sudden. Spontaneous. Unhesitating. To most, they'd just see Tsumugi Kujaku's right arm suddenly swing up in a smear of a white sleeve.

And then a knife singing through the cognitive air aimed right for the dead center of the one Shinichi called Itami-san's forehead.

But to the observant, and the ones who know them.

It isn't instant.

It isn't unhesitating.

There's the slightest, critical delay before that knife flies--

the damning sting of uncertain hesitation.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Of course Umie has the right idea! She always has good ideas! Even when they're ones snuck in by a tiny doll-like manifestation of her curse.

"Nagisa-san." It's definitely time to be the adult in the room, now that several adults are now in the process of leaving. "Pretty sure you'll see her again, now that you've got a Persona of your own." As Yanagi surmised, Roger may be a better candidate for this, come to think of it; but that doesn't mean Umie isn't going to *try*.... "First time's always hard summoning, so... you're not going to be able to stop anything." ... Apparently, from what Umie's heard.

Of course, *they* could stop the crew from taking Yanagi, but...

*tak* *tak* *tak*
It's a sound Umie knows well, having had to navigate them not too long ago: geta. "...." Her head snaps to the intrusion ever alert.

'I will allow you to serve me once more.' Even if this person may come in hopes of reunion, the sting of those words are like nails on a chalkboard.

If it's as Roger says...

The Badb is willing, even if Umie's at half her reserves. ".... Yeah, no." Woth a twist, the kyoketsu shoge is slung out of one sleeve, the hoop end grabbed by her other hand. However, she doesn't thrown or move, slightly bared as a threat, much like Roger has chosen to.

.... She'll choose to believe that Roger sees how much of a threat this homunculus is, and follow his lead.

Tsumugi's reaction, however, is something wholly different.

As the knife flies... a crow longs to do the same.

'Don't hesitate, Um-i-e-chan~' Pupils constrict, but Umie stays back.

But her tongue doesn't follow suit. "I don't think you're welcome here, I-ta-mi-san~"

The tone is sweet, playful, almost identical to the one purred against her ear alone moments ago. Umie is too eager to remain ignorant of it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Another squawk echoes through the area.

Pernelle returns, carried by the same wings that he left on, abandoning his quarry and ignoring his leader's instruction.

"Not today!"

He folds his wings in a twists his body mid flight into a single aileron roll. Long neck outstretched like a needle, he meets sudden and inexplicable resistance.

Yet his momentum is not stopped, merely ''paused'', and with an explosive streak of light he seems to ''puncture'' nothingness, his body threading through reality itself to reveal a shimmering, ovoid gate.

His head pops back out of it, Pernelle now grounded and gesturing with a sweep of his wings to motion through.

"Quickly now, ''quickly!''"

It is Tsumugi he beseeches, but he shall not close the portal on anyone who wants to leave through it, provided they are nimble in their decision.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi protests Tsumugi taking Yanagi away in rather coarse language. Her eyes narrow. She might love him, but that only makes it irritate her more than he's trying to fight this. "Shinichi," she says reproachfully, "you're being annoying. Please calm down and let us leave." At least Roger has agreed to help him. Yanagi is content to leave it at that, even if he seems confused too.

Kazusa gets a similarly unimpressed look when she says Tsumugi could at least wait for them to finish healing her. "I can heal myself," she tells her, voice clipped. She might be a Navigator rather than a healer, but that doesn't mean she lacks any such magic at all. More importantly, has Kazusa ever seen Yanagi annoyed or angry before?

The elegant footfalls of geta resound then in the ruined hospital room. Yanagi sucks in a sharp little gasp and pulls herself up in Tsumugi's arms, one hand slipping around their neck and clutching their shoulder. She sees the look on their face, hears their smallest refutation, feels their fingers dig into her and shake. It's a reaction even beyond the subtle urgency they had about Kikuno's grand theft.

Her gaze thus ''must'' go to the stately woman in the black pine kimono. To see who could have this kind of effect on them.

She barely needs to, though. She doesn't know Mifuyu by name, but she does know what she is. The Resonance alone makes it obvious, even without her Navigator abilities--at least, it feels that way to her. There's something ''odd'' about it, but even so--

"Homunculus," she whispers. "A fully matured one."

Good thing Roger's here to explain that loudly enough for ''everyone'' to hear, not just Tsumugi. Yanagi's attention is more on what's on the entity's wrist. This isn't just a fully matured Homunculus; it's one wearing the diamond bracelet commission she'd delivered to Shibuya University Hospital--where she and Shinichi reunited, where this entire debacle started.

Yanagi may have never finished high school, but she can still put two and two together before the Homunculus that has become Mifuyu Itami explains this was entirely by design. Her nails dig into Tsumugi's shoulder--all the more so as the one called Mifuyu invites them back under her command, tells Shinichi that all this was its gratitude for his own service.

(Mona meanwhile gets scooped up by a terrified Belle. "Are you serious?!" he hisses at her. "This is ''exactly'' the time to interfere! We can't just let this lady strongarm someone into servitude!!" But with Belle's arms around him, he can't get to any of his tools of the trade to help with a getaway for everyone. After all, even as he says that, he fully agrees that this is not someone they all should fight.)

Kanae picks up and gives Yanagi back her cane. This gets a grateful if steely smile that she didn't get before when she contributed to her healing. It does indeed conclude their deal, in her view.

"Thank you," she says--but before she can do what she wants to do next, Tsumugi sets her down--gently, with care--but leaving her to support herself now that her cane's been returned. They turn away and approach the Homunculus.

"Tsumugi!" Yanagi cries, staggering to one side as she steps toward them, forced to clutch her cane with both hands to stay upright. The Dias and Diaramas mended the worst of her injuries, and she's used to enduring pain, but it's not something she can just shrug off either.

No more than she can shrug off that barest hesitation just as Tsumugi throws their knife.

That confirms it. Whoever this Homunculus is, she is...

...what Shinichi almost became for her.

Pernelle returns, no doubt after sensing Mifuyu's approach and arrival. Yanagi feels the gate as he forms it, and she grabs Tsumugi by the crook of their elbow. "Let's go," she says again, leaning on them--so that she can raise her gun-cane and fire on the Homunculus.

She ''doesn't'' hesitate, but she doesn't have nearly Tsumugi's speed. It's merely something to buy a fraction of time--time enough for Yanagi to use her own weight to drag Tsumugi towards the gate and allow Peacock Silk to run. The rest, too, if they're quick enough. Yanagi won't begrudge it of them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Boss Penguin has posed.
<poem>
The woman who was once Mifuyu Itami, looks at Tsumugi in that inhuman way one might- as a favorite pet perhaps. So far above them, in control of every aspect of her life.

As Tsumugi yells '''You never taught me anything.''' she says nothing as the dagger flies, straight at her forehead. Only for her to raise a finger.

Only for the blade to stop, in mid-air, the moment it strikes the pad of that finger. Or rather, the Tetrakarn spell protecting that finger. As the backlash causes a searing, migraine like pain in Tsumugi, in the exact spot they had intended for her.

The knife clatters to the floor.

"Are you finished?" She asks, as if they were merely some unruly child, in open rebellion against their mother. "'You must appease the collective, because it is a ravenous beast and will devour you if you let it go hungry. So feed it scraps and pretend it's a feast, while you enjoy the true bounty.'"

As she echoes another lesson, from long ago, as a mockery of their own 'role' within Peacock Silk. As a rejection of the idea she taught her nothing, "Allow me to truly unburden you. Choose one of your allies in Peacock Silk... prove to me, you are free."

A gunshot, from a cane. It strikes dead on, the psychic backlash is just as swift as before.

"Or perhaps I should choose for you, so you can keep up appearances."

A slender hand is raised, in a dismissive gesture towards Yanagi.

The last thing that Yanagi will feel, before entering the portal, is the full force of a Zandyne spell, pure force itself- smashing her through it.

"Run from your past, Tsumugi, as long as you'd like. I can be patient..."

The other side of the bracelet is now in full view, showing the Shogi piece for 'King'.

"...we are not playing chess, after all."

Some may know she's speaking about the long time professional Shogi uses between moves. An eternity, in comparison.

She waits for them to leave, then smiles without even looking at Umie. "What care have I, for the invitation of a rabid beast?" She does not even bother with retribution for her impudence. Instead she turns.

Tak

Tak

Tak

Three footsteps. Blink. Or don't.

Either way, she's still gone.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
'Shinichi, you're being annoying. Please calm down and let us leave.'

Part of him withers under her reproval, like he's a little kid again. However, "Your friend just told all of you to 'Get them!' and tried to jump someone. You're being ''weird''!" Is that the best he can do for what to call Yanagi's behavior?

Well, yes, she's his sister.

Having sent Roger over to Shinichi, he's collapsed on one knee, as he looks at the... pig? The pig who told him he didn't know the rules!? Who says the approaching woman is- a Homunculus?!

His mind clicks things together that it didn't before, the creature he immolated is something like her.

"What- no I mean, how? That doesn't... she's-"

He can't articulate why that sounds wrong, as Roger said, he doesn't know the rules of the game.

"Right, have a rulebook?" He mumbles, nursing both a pounding headache and terrible exhaustion- not to mention the resonance from Tsumugi.

What happens next though-

A knife thrown. "Hey-!" A shot of a gun, "Wait-!" Was THAT A GUN? DID HIS SISTER PUT A GUN IN HER CANE? Before he can protest about his shock at the overwhelming illegality...

A Zandyne spell in retribution, "HEY!" He shouts, in fury at the attempt to kill her, as he tries to rise, then collapses again behind Roger and his tennis racquet. "What is WRONG with-!"

She's no longer there.

"-you?" The fury goes out of his voice, as he deflates. "Some gratitude..." He mumbles, of Mifuyu's exit. His sister was there, and gone. She saved his life. He saved hers- he awakened to some power. And to his very real concerns and confusion...

He was being ''annoying'' to her?

"Anyone care to... fill me in on what's going on?" He says in utter exhaustion, yet still, determined, despite it to try and figure things out. "Who were these people my sister is with?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
That overwhelming presence weighs more heavily on Kanae by the moment. But Coin is behind her, hiding there, and Kanae mkkes sure to stay in front of her. She can be a presence herself. Until--

A Homunculus. A mature Homunculus, Yanagi confirms.

"...Good luck," Kanae says, and looks back to Shinichi. She isn't going to go after Yanagi and company. Tsumugi speaks their defiance, and Kanae juzt looks between them and the woman in the kimono. She is not fast enough to get through the portal.

She shivers. "That's messed up," Kanae says to the 'back' of the woman who disappeared. "That's what almost happened...?"

To Shinichi. To Kazusa.

She looks to the others, and then pulls something from her pocket. It is recognizeable as a little talisman called a Goho-M.

"...Nagisa-kun," she says. "That's, ah..."

"You almost got replaced by a monster, we stopped it, your sister's taken up with a group called Peacock Silk that does fashion and apparently likes Homunuculus eyes, and the school thinks you and me are going out because I was kind of dating the Homunuculus?"

Pause.

"Anyway come here because I'm going to get us the hell out of here, we can have a good long talk later. Coin, make sure we've got Isabeau?" she requests. "Kazusa-san, go grab Nagisa-kun. Roger-san..."

"I don't even know. Let's get out of here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"No." Kasumi is going to keep Morgana close. So she can take him and run when the time is right. "If..." She hesitates, unsure what pronoun to use for Tsumugi. "If they did it once, they'll reject her again."

As Kasumi predicts, Tsumugi responds to their mother with a tossed knife. She's definitely fooled by how smooth that was. And yet, 'Itami-san' deflects it with a Tetrakarn. And it's revealed, that the mother is a humunculus, casuing Kasumi to shudder. This? Is what happens if the person can't be saved from their Atelier? That's terrifying... Itami-san gave such an uncanny feeling.

Still, the Peacock Silk gang leaves, and Itami-san promises to be patient and disappears into the air herself.

Kasumi, once more, lets the tension back out. They're all okay. They made it through. She lets go of Mona as she rises back to her feet. "It's time to go, Mona." She says, even if she's looking back over to Kazusa. See you back in reality? The pairing will make their own escape.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>There's a reason Coin was hiding. She may not have the deep knowledge of Ateliers and Homonculuses that Roger does, nor does she actually know 'Mifuyu Itami' (a lot of the interpersonal byplay has been memorized for her to chew over later), but she recognized enough to know she wanted no part of that woman.

But eventually she goes, and it becomes safe. Safe*r*, anyway. From behind Kanae, Coin sticks her head out. "I've got her!" she says, brightly.

She does sort of got her. Coin is not actually big enough to lift an entire human being. But she's trying, and she's supported, so that's good.

A few moments later, though, Coin realizes something.

"...wait, we're going out? As in, not in the Atelier? You want me to go OUT into the PHYSICAL WORLD? I don't know - "

That's going to be all she gets out before they go, though.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi listens to that whole statement, then forces himself to come over to Kanae, slowly, slowly- leaning on Roger some because he has to then.

Coin protests about the physical world, Shinichi though makes a realization in his exhaustion addled brain.

"... ... Wait what do you mean the school thinks we're- ... ... ... those weren't just weird dreams-"

TRAESTO

Crisis averted.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa hasn't really seen Yanagi annoyed or angry before, no, but she might not be able to appreciate that fully in the moment, considering the rapid-fire sequence of everything that's happened. She huffs angrily. (Which is a very common emotion for her.) "Sure. Heal yourself while you're already half-dead. I'm sure that'll work out ''great''."

Coin makes the 'please calm down' gesture at her, and Kazusa does not look like she's got any ounce of chill in her at the moment. But she does a little roll of her eyes and a nod in what is probably some variation of 'Yeah, yeah, I ''know''.'

Kazusa isn't sure if she should be trusted with important matters yet. But... that's the change she's working towards, isn't it? (She'll reassure Roger later; the not-quite-dead Eshm took ''Yanagi'' by surprise, too.) But when he labels the newcomer a ''Homunculus'' her head whips around to look at him in alarm. "A-are you sure!?"

This time, it's not distrust or skepticism that colors her voice, but simply alarm.

She can only watch, as Mifuyu Itami, Tsumugim, and Yanagi attempt to exchange blows, as Pernelle ''opens a whole in reality''-=- "Wait what!?" Can ''Roger'' do that?

Questions for later.

But she looks to Shinichi with open concern. "I don't know what ''that'' was all about, but..." Kanae provides a summary. "... yeah. What she said. I know it sounds like a lot, but just... it'll make sense in time, promise." Weird dreams. Kazusa looks pained. "... sorry, they weren't."

With the Homunculus gone, Kazusa can get up, and she's got just enough in her to offer a hand and a shoulder for Shinichi to get up. "Roger-san, help me with him." She is a comparatively tiny gymnast girl she is not bearing a male lacrosse player by herself.

"... I'll see you in class tomorrow, Nagisa-san. We can talk then, okay?"

She casts a glance to Belle and gives her a silent nod.

She'll feel good about rescuing Shinichi, but... the feeling of that Homunculus' presence is going to keep her up tonight.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The knife is let fly.

And then it stops.

The effect is almost like it strikes a wall. And that--

"gk!"

is ''exactly'' what it feels like for Tsumugi as all that momentum rebounds directly into them. The typically graceful tailor's head snaps back like they were just struck, or shot. White hot pain blooms out a flashbang from their temple through to their sinuses through to their quivering jaw until it settles into a tingling agony across their whole face.

By the time their head lurches back forward, scarlet droplets splatter the ground, dripping off the exquisitely marble chin of their face from a stream of blood drooling down their nostril.

Are they finished?

They have no answer but the huff of breath. Their eyes still wide, their expression blank. Unreadable.

But she was always able to read them, wasn't she?

No matter how hard high a wall they thought they had put up--

''Allow me to truly unburden you.''

''Quickly now, '''quickly!'''''

Light punches a hole in nothing. Pearlescent and shimmering, that gate blooms behind Tsumugi, the backdrop of resplendence rendering them a dark silhouette.

Quickly. Quickly!

They don't move.

Their gaze remains wholly fixated on the thing called Mifuyu Itami.

Did they reject her before?

Right now, despite that burst of violence, they seem locked in a standstill as her gentle insinuations paint a picture in which the white space of what goes unsaid provides the full portrait.

Pick one.

A heeled foot starts to step forward--

"You didn't--"

An arm around their elbow. The report of a gun whipcracks at their eardrums.

They are so rarely off their footing. But they are now as Yanagi manages to drag them into that portal with her bodyweight, seconds before that bullet seizes and the force rebounds in cold retribution for the audacity.

And yet...

Yanagi will feel resistance against her tugging right up until the very moment that the two disappear past the gate.

Tsumugi's gaze never leaves Mifuyu's, even for a moment, until they vanish. But it's her move, now. They can do nothing.

... They did nothing. Even after so many years, even after how far they've come, how could they--

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "Rabid beast, huh? Been definitely called worse," Umie grumbles, as Itami's presence is suddenly gone.

People move to leave; Umie opts not to involve herself with the various ways people get out, wincing with some sympathy as Shinichi, as well as Coin, object, for different reasons.

She looks to Tsumugi and Yanagi, tilting her head. "You'll probably run across them again, you know." Wasn't that what she said to Shinichi? ".... You'll... be okay, right, Kujaku-san?"

There's one other group she wants to make sure of as well, and, even if the threat of Eshm is gone... she realizes she *should* be more careful hinting at any connection she has to the Phantom Thieves.

(Hilariously, this is an assumption, as Belle is freelance, as is Mona. BUT ENOUGH OF THAT.)

She looks Belle and Mona's way as she digs into her coat. "... You two have a way to escape once we all do, right?" she says, quietly, trying not to be noticed. "Just... wanted to check."

She won't move until she has an answer, but once she does, she'll leave in a flash of light.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Umie reaches out quietly to check that the freelance thieves have a way out. "Ah! We always pack a couple Goho-Ms." She pumps her arms, forcing a confidant outlook. "Thank you though, Umie-san. That's sweet of you." A pause. "And sorry, for about earlier..." She means back at the Monad, naturally.

Though, now she wonders. Is Umie friends with Amemiya-senpai?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Kasumi answers in the affirmative; Umie nods, grinning as Kasumi pumps an arm. "Alright~ jussst checking." She takes out her gem, just about to use it, when...

'And sorry, for about earlier...'

It earns Kasumi a soft smirk from Umie, as the hooded blonde chuckles, waving a hand. "I'm the one who can't settle on a codename. There's nothing to apologize for."

Attempting to use the gem *and* put away her weapon, Belle and Mona see Umie just about to do.... *something*, but the gem is just about to fall from from her hand.

In a flash of an Umie Akabane fumbling for the gem, they are left alone.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-14: Bridge of Separation

2026-10-18T18:23:16Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: Bridge of Separation'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Yanagi Nagisa]], [[Tsumugi Kujaku]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Roger]], [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Coin]], [[Pernelle]], [[Yuuki Hoshizora]], [[Yoko Hirano]], [[Saika Kikuchi]], [[Misato Fushihara]], [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Kikuno Kisaragi]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Penguin Slasher]], [[Shinichi Nagisa]], Special Guest: Mifuyu Itami
*'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's Atelier
*'''OOC Date:''' October 14, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 22, 2013 (set immediately after [[2026-10-09:_La_Bête_(THE_BEAST_II)|La Bête (THE BEAST II)]])
*'''Summary''': ''With the Homunculus, Eshm the Wrath, defeated, brother and sister reunite. But for how long? Can any familial bonds survive when one desires 'true freedom'? What will Shinichi do, when faced with the prospect of his sister leaving his life just as swiftly as she reentered it?''

----

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
There is a long, cold moment as Yanagi simply watches the Homunculus shudder, fall, and go still. Just as it is nothing, there is nothing on her face.

Until Pernelle tippy-tappies at her and asks if he sounded forlorn enough. Then she looks at him, a bright smile blossoming onto her face. "Yes! It was very convincing! I don't think it ever suspected." She reaches out to pat his head--but the double-bladed knife is still in her hand, dripping black ichor. She looks down at it. "Hm." Then she smiles again, this time ruefully, at Pernelle. "This would definitely give you a tummy-ache if you tried to eat it!"

She waves jauntily to Saika next, that wicked knife high over her head. Droplets of ichor splatter off it onto her resplendent hair. "Saikaaaa~ I got to claim it this time~~" she cheers. "It really was a different experience! I'm so glad I did it!"

As she lowers her arm, she turns then to the now-wild Tsumugi, her eyes turning tender, smile softening, at the person whose brutal murder she'd cheerfully requested scant moments ago. "Tsumugi..." Her lips move to continue to speak--

'O... Oneesan?'

'Oh, he's awake now.'

Yanagi looks over towards Shinichi as Kikuno limps over to him and the fallen Homunculus. Her eyes widen, and she breathes a soft little sigh that is nonetheless also accompanied by a smile.

"One moment," she tells Tsumugi, and then tup-tup-tups over to her younger brother, supported by both her cane and her reinforced boots.

Though there are several things around him of interest, such as the now-empty Cocoon ripe for harvesting, her peacock green eyes are fixed only on him. As she reaches him, still sprawled on the floor, she settles down onto her knees and sets the knife and her cane to one side with care.

Then she folds her hands on her lap and meets his eyes. "I'm here, Shinichi," she murmurs.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
'Oh, he's awake now. Hurry up, or you'll miss your dear sister a second time.'

If there were any incentive at all for Shinichi Nagisa to snap himself out of it, it's this. It's ''this''. He's conscious, and he tries to force himself to sit up, as Yanagi comes to sit before him on her knees.

He stares at her, perhaps in disbelief as she says the words 'I'm here, Shinichi,' "You really are- you... Neesan... I can't... how...? How could you still be...?"

Everyone has regrets. Moments they wish they could do differently, moments you could take back. But death is finality, the shear that cuts off the point where everyone's relationship with someone will be for the rest of their lives. You can't take it back. You can't apologize.

That would take a miracle.

And right now he's come face to face with the thing he's been wishing for years, picturing what he might say if the impossible should ever happen, or if they came face to face in some grim afterlife as grey shades.

That hardly makes it easier. "I'm sorry." It comes out as a whisper, at first, then louder, much louder as the words you practice but never think you'd get to say face to face spill out, his vision blurring with every passing moment, "I'm so sorry neesan. There's... no excuse for what I said to you. None that matters. It was horrible, telling you that I wished you would just die- I knew what you were going through and all I could think about was myself. I should have been there for you- and I wasn't... I guess you got stuck with just about the worst brother that exists."

He forces himself to take a breath, realizing he's crying- and deciding he doesn't care. "You don't have to forgive me. I won't ask you for that. Just- I'm glad you're okay... I'm glad you're okay! I just- Holy shit- I still don't know how this could be real!?" Even if she survived that day, her disease is a death sentence- it's been years. It doesn't make logical sense to him, but he's so willing to accept it right now. Anything illogical about it just doesn't matter in light of the evidence right before his eyes.

"I mean- better than okay, I saw you walking! You're still- haha- wow-!" He chuckles, even while he's crying, "That outfit looks great on you! You really changed your style up there and wow- look at you!"

It contrasts almost every memory he has of her, it's so much brighter in ways that Yanagi almost never was in the later years they knew each other.

And yet despite it all, despite how badly he wants to, he doesn't actually reach out to hug her- or touch her in any way, as if even right in front of him- he doesn't serve to be presumptuous, after what he did.

Can he really even call himself her little brother anymore?

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
In the exhaustive body of Tsumugi Kujaku's personal experience with the act, there are many reasons why a person may commit violence. Most of the forms they've encountered originate in purely petty reasons.

Money is a primary motivator, more often than not.

Ego, too.

There are some that simply enjoy the act of suffering and what it takes away from the person it inflicts upon them. Control, the most direct cage of choice.

Some people just do it out of boredom. It stopped surprising Tsumugi long ago, how many people will commit violence simply to because they have the opportunity to do so without repercussion, and there is nothing better to do.

But it's moments of violence like this that reminds them of a line they read in a Western science fiction novel one time, long ago:

'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.'

Arms thrown wide, they accept it. Encourage it, with little regard for their personal safety. If violence is the only medium through which Wrath can communicate, so be it! Let it sing them an epic. Let it claw the truth of its freedom onto their very bones if it must! They'll accept it all to know the answer this creature came to -- what it will do if it can steal this place in the real world from its host! They want to hear the symphony of that truth, even if it must be beaten into their flesh!

They don't try to defend themself. Don't try to get out of the way. But there is no symphony. No profound revelation.

Just frustrated fingers clamping their throat til airways clench off around the mounting pressure.

The wide excitement possessing Tsumugi Kujaku's brilliant, haunting eyes fades. Surprise doesn't take its place, nor alarm or fear or any other satisfying emotion abusers so often want from their abused.

They just hood into a distinct, detached stare of apathy. The kind of stare that bores straight through you. The kind of stare that sees who you are.

"Ah," is the last exhaled sound they manage before hands constrict so painfully tight that no more air can work their vocal cords.

Ah.

((shut up))
Shut up!
((stop talking))
Stop crying!
((forever))
You think I don't see what you are?!
((that is my freedom))
You fucking FREAK!

How familiar.

Not another strangled sound escapes them as they feel the familiar, burning sensations of asphyxia becoming hypoxia. Their head begins to swim as tight fingers rupture the myriad of blood vessels racing along their throat and neck and the hunger for air becomes inescapable in its desperate demand. The tips of their fingers tingle in telltale warmth.

And yet their right hand raises not to try to tear those hands off of them.

It just pats its palm condescendingly on Eshm's plastercast cheek, twice.

pat 'There,'
pat 'there.'

That gaze stays locked on Eshm's gazeless face. It may well be the last thing the Homunculus 'sees' before its precious sight is taken from it. The look of someone who sees how small it is. Who sees right down to the core of it, and isn't amazed, horrified, or even simply surprised.

The demeaning reality of a stare that sees your behavior as expected and predictable.

As that lidded stare begins to unfocus, as neurons fire off wild, confusing signals across their brain in a panic that dredges up so many unwanted memories, as that hand falls limp off Eshm's cheek and their vision starts to go black, a strange thought Tsumugi Kujaku never thought before bubbles towards the surface.

Huh.
'Shinichi Nagisa.'
What a strangely familiar na--

Scarlet-gold eyes snap wide as the first reflexive gulp of oxygen burns its way down their lungs. They fall to the ground on knees and forearms, lurched forward and hacking wet coughs as they reorient themself to the breathing world. That wide-eyed stare turns upward.

Their vision refocuses just in time to see the Homunculus gripping desperately at its slashed throat throat. As those hands fall away, that stare doesn't look away, doesn't even blink. Not even as thick black ichor drools from that open wound on the Homunculus and splatters on their marble-cast features.

They watch until the exact moment Eshm falls and its meaty thump leaves only Yanagi standing there, Eyes-made-weapons in hand. With a look that says that, too, was expected and predictable.

And then they exhale a shuddering, burning breath.

"Hah - h-hkk - haha..."

Hoarse, shivery laughter escapes dark lips, and then fades. Tsumugi's focusing stare drifts unsteadily upward toward Yanagi, watching her for a quiet moment. And then Tsumugi crawls on hands and knees towards that fallen Homunculus. A fingerless (were they always fingerless--?) gloved hand grips the mane of Eshm's darkened hair.

"... Take... your time," Tsumugi says to Yanagi hoarsely, yet unperturbed. "Do... hh... what you want. We already have what we need."

And the Homunculus' face is indifferently ground into the ichor-sluiced floor beneath it as Tsumugi uses that grip as a purchase point to provide the leverage they need to shakily get back onto their feet.

"there,
there."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Everyone has regrets. Kanae, though, doesn't regret trusting Yanagi. ...Well, it was bloodier than she imagined, but she doesn't even mind that. She's going to have some emotional scars from this particular Hunt...

Not least will be the sight of Isabeau sacrificing herself for her--she's alive, at least, so Kanae isn't ''too'' traumatized, but she didn't ask for that. She didn't want that. ...And now, she stays near her, to guard her in case anything ''else'' gos wrong.

But she doesn't stand up again to talk. Not at first, anyway; Shinichi and yanagi need to have their moment, right...?

Besides, she's still thinking about what Tsumugi was saying. And about...

'The worst brother that ever exists'.

"..."

Kanae says, mostly to Isabeau, but also to anyone else who comes to check on them:

"...Family's weird, huh?" The orphan shakes her head. "...I don't think I'll ever really understand it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger comes down from the exciting battle high of a dangerous dance with a Homunculus that was within a heartbeat from finally overtaking the original Atelier host. A lot of things play out between Yanagi and Shinichi he looks upon with curiosity, quietly.

"Oh... that's why the names were the same," he says at the bit of acknowledgement he can grasp.

Roger does not have a strong sense of what it means to be a sibling. Were all the Humours in the Atelier of his origin his siblings? In retrospect he'd be hard-pressed to put it like that. Maybe it is an experience that simply does not have an equivalent for Shadows.

A lot to be said about the grisly sights of Tsumugi's intensity and the seeming play of Yanagi's bizarre gambit with the Homunculus to that very end.

"Um," Roger looks to the others, "Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with. I'm happy to see them gone," he snorts, "but... I have no idea what anyone would want with them."

...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is still reeling from the intensity of that fight, and she will have a lot of complicated emotions to work though, too. The Homunculus may be gone, but it's still been more than a month of her life spent living in fear and hypervigilance. Not to mention all the horrifying things she witnessed in the Atelier.

... she'll just have to add it to the list of her other emotional issues to work through.

She's busy chugging a drink to restore some energy and then tending to the injured with Mina's magic. She inevitably makes her way over to Kanae and Isabeau, looking at the unconscious Witch with some concern before looking to Kanae.

Family's weird...

Kazusa looks over her shoulder to where Shinichi is busy apologizing. Best to give them a moment first, probably. Quietly, she admits to Kanae, "... yeah. I don't always understand mine, either."

There's a quiet sigh as Roger ''finally'' gets the connection. She'll come back to that point about the eyes in a moment, though.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Once she'd recovered from Tsumugi's... intenseness, and she was pretty sure they were breathing again (humans have to do that pretty much all the time, right? right, she's pretty sure), and Yanagi's sheer violence, which hit her in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Coin had zipped somewhere else in the room.

She'd intended to go over to Kanae's side, but something came up.

Coin found herself derailed, slightly, by the Eyes and the Cocoon. Something about them feels important in a way she doesn't clearly understand. She slows to get a better look at it, even reaching it to poke at it with one finger before she takes a step back and does something complicated with her hands; she interlaces her fingers in such a way that there's a small gap between her hands.

(For her it's an extra-small gap. Paws are not meant for this.)

But she brings it up to her face, her eye just barely visible through the laced fingers. It looks somewhere between perplexing and silly, but it seems to satisfy Coin, because she nods firmly as she lowers her hands afterwards.

"Fascinating!" Coin has been well and truly distracted. She reaches out -

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with'

"Bleh," Coin says when she hears that someone has a prior claim, leaving the Eyes alone but moving her focus to the remnants of the Cocoon furthest away from Yanagi; she does not want to get in the way, but she's certainly close enough to hear. Even if it doesn't entirely make sense to her. Family's weird, as Kanae points out... but Coin doesn't have family.

...does she? She's pretty sure she'd know THAT...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle leans his head up on his long neck for a pat that never comes, pausing to regard Yanagi's knife. His beak begins to open... ... and quietly shuts when even Yanagi thinks better of letting him make a snack of it.

"Hm, yes, I suppose I see your wisdom in this. Just this once! We've much to do. Celebrating, mostly, I should think!" As Yanagi address Saika and Tsumugi, Pernelle turns to dance back and forth, from one foot to the other, adding a victory dance to go with Yanagi's delightful acquisition.

But as Shinichi stirs, Pernelle quiets and shuffles to Tsumugi's side, addressing them in a lowered voice. "What a glorious evening it has been, and it is young yet! ... Do you require a morsel of Medicine? A Recarm, perhaps?" He absently shakes some ichor from his clawed foot with no further acknowledgment of the Homunculus' remains.

Whatever Tsumugi's response, Pernelle does not make any more of a verbal fuss. There is a reunion to behold... and though it is Shinichi who pours out his heart, Pernelle's gaze drifts to Yanagi, attentive for her reaction.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Once she'd recovered from Tsumugi's... intenseness, and she was pretty sure they were breathing again (humans have to do that pretty much all the time, right? right, she's pretty sure), and Yanagi's sheer violence, which hit her in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Coin had zipped somewhere else in the room.

She'd intended to go over to Kanae's side, but something came up.

Coin found herself derailed, slightly, by the Eyes and the Cocoon. Something about them feels important in a way she doesn't clearly understand. She slows to get a better look at it, even reaching it to poke at it with one finger before she takes a step back and does something complicated with her hands; she interlaces her fingers in such a way that there's a small gap between her hands.

(For her it's an extra-small gap. Paws are not meant for this.)

But she brings it up to her face, her eye just barely visible through the laced fingers. It looks somewhere between perplexing and silly, but it seems to satisfy Coin, because she nods firmly as she lowers her hands afterwards.

"Fascinating!" Coin has been well and truly distracted. She reaches out -

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with'

"Bleh," Coin says when she hears that someone has a prior claim, leaving the Eyes alone but moving her focus to the remnants of the Cocoon furthest away from Yanagi and giving some of the strands a tug; she does not want to get in the way, but she's certainly close enough to hear. Even if it doesn't entirely make sense to her. Family's weird, as Kanae points out... but Coin doesn't have family.

...does she? She's pretty sure she'd know THAT...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki comes to, slowly.

Her Transmutation slips away from her. ''Should'' it work like that? She doesn't know. But it might say more about her, rather than he concept of Transmutation. Blue hair drains to light brown; with a dull shimmer, her rumpled and dirtied Seven Sisters uniform is visible again.

She swallows, as she looks at Shinichi and Yanagi. She knew, already; she had pieced it together in the Atelier herself.

Her mouth opens. A reunion, between family. Even if it's bittersweet. Even if Tsumugi is--

What ''are'' they doing?

Her green eyes -- duller, now -- turn to them. She regards them for a moment, before she looks back to the siblings. She sits up, wobbily.

And she watches with a drained, exhausted expression.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
The real Shinichi Nagisa can't believe that his sister is alive. He's so different than the Homunculus. Even though Yoko had been told about it, it's still so weird to see it for herself.

''This'' boy probably doesn't have any kind of hit list.

She picks up Bearemy and holds him in her arms, his long arms and claws swaying like some kind of defeated prisoner, or maybe a cat resigned to bathtime. Kikuno (it ''is'' her) has hurt her feelings but she wants to see the Cocoon which means getting closer to her cousin and...!

Kanae is right. Family is weird.

"...What happened?" Yoko tries asking her cousin, because... well they've never gotten along poorly before!! ...But they'd never gotten along very ''well'' either, in that neither one of them had been very good at socializing. Oops.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Splap.

Drip.

Plep.

Ichor splatters into Saika Kikuchi's hair. She nevertheless is smiling.

It's one of those kind of complicated smiles. There's a lot of *relief* in it. Perhaps *relaxation*, or the calm that comes after the breaking of tension, which has a unique quality of satisfaction to it that many other forms do not. (Don't worry, young Persona Users, it's something adults do for fun.)

"It was perfect," Saika tells Yanagi as she sweeps her chain up, letting it wrap around her arm as she pumps it in the air, a musical tingle-jingle-rattle as it does. "You nailed it. Brava. Brav--"

Her head suddenly turns towards the new voice. Towards the brother, now returned to his proper seat of self-rulership. Will he be a good ruler? That is up to him.

But... he is speaking, and to Yanagi, to whom he has something to say. Saika's attention turns towards Tsumugi then, though it becomes a deep and visibly concerned look that relaxes over the course of a second and a half of assessment. She steps over, her unchained hand slipping out. An offer, but not an insistence. Tsumugi, after all, has their pride.

"Maaa, don't push it~. You know, that's how that actor from those two Western kungfu movies went, the bad guy?"

Kanae speaks and Saika cups her own chin. "Hmmm~. He's laying it on a *little* thick," Saika murmurs, "but he *does* have cause, and maybe he's just naturally eloquent."

Then Roger speaks.

Saika's head turns slowly to look towards Roger. Roger actually has a couple of inches of height on Saika, who is quite diminutive if you measure from crown to sole, despite the additional billowing presence of her long biker jacket and evident superhuman strength. Her face is utterly still and expressionless for a full additional second, and then it warms, lips smiling before her eyes do.

Her eyes don't really smile at all, actually. They pass over the others for several more seconds.

"Well..."

"I guess you could call it a hobby! Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!"

NOW the smile reaches her eyes.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>It has been a long, grueling battle. Magus's body still aches, with pains natural and supernatural both. She remains transfixed, for a moment, on the lifeless form of the Homunculus... and then she draws her cloak around herself with a 'hmph'.

She keeps watch over Yuuki carefully - so she's aware, when she starts to stir. She shifts her cloak so she can get a better view.

"Yuuki Hoshizora." She acknowledges quietly. She extends a hand toward her, if she needs the help up - but leaves it up to her whether or not she takes it.

Her attention soon turns to Yanagi and Shinichi. Whatever words she might have for her act die on her lips as he regards her with deserved surprise.

...Even she isn't cold enough to interfere in this reunion. She looks away, briefly - this time to Kanae as she speaks. Family...

"...It can be cruel." She notes. "Purposefully, or unintentionally. ...It doesn't always end like this."

...She doesn't say whether that's for the better or worse.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi has been off fighting the humours, to protect everyone else fighting the homunculus. And now, with the terrifying homunculus defeated, Kasumi returns to the group proper, additionally helping with her Diarama. She ends up joining the Kazusa, Kanae, and Isabeau group.

She heard about the sibling complications and having a dead sister herself, she feels for Shinichi. "Oh, I really hope they can patch up their relationship..." 'Belle' says, clutching her hands together to her chest as she watches. "It'd be just awful if Nagisa-san discovered his sister was alive, but there was still hard feelings, you know?" If the same happened to her, Kasumi would be destroyed!

Watching it, Kasumi feels her heart climb into her throat. It's way too tense...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Everyone has one thing they can't take back. Something they'd give almost anything to try again, properly this time. In that sense, Kikuno...

Her gaze flicks downwards on Shinichi as he comes to, and comes to grapple with the situation into which he's awoken. Just like that, his situation has taken a turn for the better. Hasn't it? It might even almost be worth the nightmare he's endured!

After all, he's able to get the closure he's always wanted. Hasn't he?

Even as words tumble as freely as tears, her expression remains as sour as always as she regards him a moment more before she looks away.

"Well. Now what?" she says and not to him.

Her gaze lingers a moment on Yanagi, close at hand. In this one, brief way, they're again akin to one another.

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes', Roger says.

Kikuno, lost perhaps in her study of Yanagi, does not look his way.

It's only Yoko who breaks her from her apparent reverie; minutely she turns her head her cousin's way.

"I said, get out of here," she tells her again. "This isn't any of your business."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> There are a list of things that land on Umie's priority list.

First is knocking her hood up over the pinkening little bird's nest of broken hair strands, pulling the cords of her hood tight so that the edges of it press against the edges of her face and mask.

The second is assessing everyone. It's not like she's a healer, but this was a creature of another caliber than many are used to, including her. Standing next to Eriko and Tamaki for a while, she murmurs, "I'm going to check on the others."

They don't need the Badb's shroud, and it's hard for the Badb in her to ever feel satisfied standing still, once the promised bloody end has been achieved. Hobbling carefully over to Kanae and Isabeau, she stands a few feet away, then moves on, satisfied. Let them have their motion of peace.

The mere mention of the word 'family' is enough to make her restless in another way, wholly tied to Umie as a person. The person who dared to mention her family is dead now, and good riddance. Meanwhile, the young man whose face the monster wore is waking up, a wholly different person.

Like Roger, she's out of sorts, but unlike him, she does have a family. But, eyes... that's a topic Umie can focus on. "... What's the significance of the eyes?" she asks now, looking to Tsum-- no, let the poor soul recover, nevermind, she'll look to Saik--

She squints. "... riighhhtt. Well.... I suppose I can't argue." They *are* a source of income.

The number list is out of order now, a hopeless attempt to keep an Umie Akabane from focusing on the most important thing in the room here: the reuniting of brother and sister, the former being someone she cannot quite bear to look into the eyes of, and the latter... unsure of what role she intends to play in what could be a heartfelt or heartwrenching encounter.

"Usually it's other people who do kitsune no mado, to see they're being fooled but the kitsune," she says to Coin with a mischevious grin, before moving onto--

Ah.

Yoko will feel someone by her side now; the sharp open grin of Umie Akabane displayed like a subtle display of claws. "My, my... What's this about...? Rather sweet of you to display such concern over a fellow Persona-user's health..."

Yet even Umie has to look back at Yanagi and Shinichi, despite being in the middle of instigating some trouble. Just... what is going to happen next?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Mona's here too, having fought alongside Belle; he eyes Isabeau with suspicion, but she seems to be down for the count, so he stays with Belle as she joins the others. He doesn't weigh in on the matter. He simply keeps his paws folded and watches the unfolding drama.

Joker's also here, along with the rest of The Phantoms who'd come to help fight back the Humors from interfering with the battle for the Atelier's true heart, including Queen. They all keep their distance, however. Everything seems to have been resolved, and Joker (whose masked eyes flick towards Belle and Mona) personally doesn't want to interrupt this reunion with any drama, so... they share a nod with their team, then quietly exits with them. The real Shinichi Nagisa has been saved. The rest is out of their hands.

As for Yanagi...

It was the plan all along, after all. That it makes Yanagi's actions expected and predictable doesn't bother her. That's just another way of saying she has Tsumugi's trust.

She does stroke her leader's cheek with the back of her hand, gaze affectionate and concerned, as they catch their breath amid hacking coughs. (She could have done that with Pernelle, but she hadn't thought of it at the time, half a minute ago.) She doesn't condescend to Tsumugi by offering to heal them, though. That can come later if need be. She nods once when they wave her on and tell her to take her time, and then goes to do precisely that.

When she's in front of Shinichi, Yanagi is quiet but attentive, her vibrant eyes gentle as she watches and listens to her younger brother tearfully apologize. It continues to be clear that this is something that's weighed on him heavily over the past three--no, is it four now?--years, that guilt has wracked him like her disease has wracked her body. Saika might think he's laying it on thick, but Yanagi believes in the sincerity of every word that he says. When he talks about her walking and about her Transmutation costume, she chuckles with him, her cheeks rosy. "Thank you. I like it too," she replies.

Then she pauses. She hears the others murmuring in the background--to each other, to themselves--but she pays them no mind, beyond that Roger kindly informs everyone that the Eyes are theirs. Good. No misunderstandings, then. The Cocoon, they're willing to share, so it's fine if others clusters around it and, in Coin's case, already start to claim threads. Kikuno might be studying Yanagi from close by and considering how the two are similar, and that's fine too. Yanagi's focus remains on her brother.

The two of them had been so close when they were little. And now...

And now, she reaches out to take his hands in hers.

"Shin-chan," she says softly, the nickname she had for them when they were young. "I already forgave you a long time ago. It's okay. You can let this guilt go."

He may not try to hug her, let alone touch her, but she has no such reservations. She leans forward and pulls him into her arms for an embrace between long-lost siblings.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Some in the crowd he has a vague sense of familiarity that he cannot rightly begin to parse. Others he has no idea who- or even what they are.

Shinichi still has little context for what's happening around him. After all, he's still a normal guy, he came out of the cocoon like this. Just like a civilian in the Dark Hour, perhaps tomorrow this is more like a dream.

Then again, he did remember more of Mikage-Cho than most.

Does that mean what happens here matters less, though?

Certainly not.

He lets out a small laugh as she says she likes her outfit too. "I'd hope you do... you've got a fun sense of style, neesan."

Yanagi calls him by his nickname, she takes his hands, he stares at her in a tearful confusion as she outright says she forgives him for that long ago. Then reaches out to hug him. Now, there's no hesitation, as he hugs her back, tightly, before easing up that grip out of worry of causing harm and whispering.

"But I don't... Do I really deserve that...? Neesan... I..." He inhales a breath, then allows a tenuous smile to creep on his face, "... Thank you. ''Thank you''. I think... I don't really know what's going on but... I think you saved me there..."

He thinks a lot of people did, but he can figure that part out after he sorts out what's going on with the sister that was dead - and is now apparently quite alive.

Smiling, he leans back, an arm still loosely around her, a hand dabs at his eyes, "Man... Mom and Dad are going to freak, seeing you again. Like- I still don't know how we're going to explain it to them? But, you know what, it doesn't matter." He takes a deep breath, dabbing at his eyes again, "Let's just... let's just go home, okay? We'll figure it out when we get there."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
As Tsumugi lifts to one knee, a hand falls into their field of vision.

"..."

They already know who it belongs to without even looking up. Even before she offers those chiding words. Who else but Saika?

Soon enough, Pernelle is there too, offering those murmured words. Tsumugi's answer to both is silence, initially. It's something unsurprising likely, given what just happened, and given who Tsumugi is.

Perhaps it's also unsurprising, too, that their first act? Is to lift themself up without taking Saika up on her unspoken offer, slowly but certainly.

"No," they answer Pernelle with that roughened voice as they rise. "Not... yet. I want to feel it.

"Like you said... it's a glorious evening."

It's only once they're on their feet that their arm slips around Saika's shoulder, the warm weight of them leaning into the smaller as dark lips glide close to her ear.

"So you think I'm a bad guy?" they whisper, conspiratorially hoarse. Is that what they chose to take away from Saika's trivia?

It's the part they liked the most, anyway.

Scarlet-gold eyes drift back toward Yanagi. A brush of the cheek on their hand; no offer of assistance. Just a mutual, unspoken understanding, same as they one that saw Tsumugi let themself be choked near to death for the sake of creating an opening. They watch with muted interest as Yanagi approaches her brother -- but that is as far as their interest takes them. Their gaze drifts towards some distant point in the middle of the others gathered, not focusing on the Nagisas or anyone else who risked their lives here to save Shinichi.

What's the significance of the eyes?

It's a curiosity that both Roger and Umie echo. Umie's attention shifts to Saika for the answer, who provides a simple enough one. Tsumugi's gaze doesn't so much as shift, nor does their marbeled, ichor-smeared features. Their bound chest swells briefly with the intake of a burning breath.

''Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!''

Their lips part. As if they have something profound to say.................!

"It's a pun,"

is their revelatory wisdom,

and the sum whole of their contribution to this discussion.

After all, even if their gaze is distant...

''Let's just... let's just go home, okay? We'll figure it out when we get there.''

They're listening.

"'The free bird thinks of another breeze,'" they recite under their breath.

"'And trade winds soft through sighing trees.
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn.
... and she names the sky her own.'"

Placid eyes shut. "... Pernelle, Saika. Get ready to get the Eyes. We'll be leaving soon.

"There's nothing left here for us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
'Well, now what?'

Yoko staaaaaares at Kikuno with guileless green eyes. "Who are you talking to?" she whispers, frowning slowly. It's genetic, she read. Hereditary. Bearemy squirms in her arms as Yoko very successfully doesn't sulk or scowl at her cousin. "Don't tell me what to do." Said sulkily, yes, but calmly. Like an adult.

Nevermind the tell-tale tail lashing side to side behind her, twitching at the fabric of her obi knot.

Someone she doesn't know stops at her side. Defending her? Bearemy's claws prick into the fabric of Umie's sleeve, as if to get her attention. "....." But Yoko just stares at Kikuno, like she's trying to solve a puzzle.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Oh, Roger didn't get it. Kanae remembers that now. She grins, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Yep. Humans are funny like that," shet ells him.

The Eyes... why do they want the Eyes? It occurs to Kanae to ask, but frankly just this moment... She's so tired that she barely cares. Her sawtooth gunblade remains on the ground beside her; her hat is... somewhere, and will reappear in time, a Cognitive matter.

Kazusa mentions her own. "...Mm," Kanae answers, because Kausa is her friend, so she's not going to give her immediate response. Misato seems to understand what she's saying, too. "I see..." Cruel.

"I believe that." She glances over to Yuuki in some concern, and back to Coin, as she seems disappointed. "We'll have to find other trophies of our Hunt," she offers Coin. A 'glorious evening', Tsumugi calls it. Kanae glances at arguing cousins. And...

She wishes she could find this reunion sweet. Maybe she just has too much bitterness in her for that.

"...All's well that ends well, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin has always liked her little treasures. She's even She has no idea what she's going to *do* with these strands, or what they represent, but she can feel the power in them. Something she'll have to think about. Something she'll have to learn about! Coming here was worthwhile.

Well, it was anyway, to help Kanae. But now it's extra worthwhile.

"It's *investigation*," Coin insists to Umie, her ears flattening down slightly. And maybe it is; Coin does have some sensitivity beyond most Persona-users, if not as much as a Navigator. "I just don't know what these things are. Perhaps I should ask you, if you don't need to investigate!"

She keeps the fibers in her hand as she steps away. Another look at Tsumugi, and then toward Yanagi and Shinichi. She never met the Homonculus, let alone the real person, and this is her first time meeting Yanagi too, but this is...

It, too, is peculiarly human. She likes to see the meeting. It feels right. They do seem to treasure each other...

"Indeed!" is her response to Kanae, as she marches over to finally meet up with her. "A bond rediscovered, a monster defeated; what's not to like?" She has not, perhaps, yet understood all the fine details that make something like this so *complex*.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki looks up at Magus. Her expression is tense -- but it's distant. She hesitates, almost flinching when that hand is extended towards her. She doesn't know that she has any right to take her hand. But... she does, in the end, and gets up to her feet. It's shakily; she took a hard hit, and it's left her feeling drained.

She glances at Kanae -- she wonders, for a second, at that bitterness. Does this hurt, for her?

It hurts for Yuuki, but not the same reasons.

"I'm glad they found each other again," she says, a little quietly. "That's... that's good."

She glances once at Coin and blinks once at her, before she looks back at the twins.

She frowns, a little, despite her words.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger tilts his head at Coin's disappointment about the claim over the Eyes.

5t'I guess you could call it a hobby! Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Oh! eyes can see. I see!" Roger smiles guilelessly for a passing moment, and has a snort-laugh at Saika's say of it.

"Okay!" The former Sanguin Humour asserts himself. "Terrific! Wonderful! ...It looks like a mess, but the Flegmat Humours can take it from here!" The kinds of Humours that seem like they're window dressings at best, they're the ones who help set the tone of an Atelier's 'normal' atmosphere. The power of reflecting all the very, very small ways one asserts themselves...

Roger's smile stops. His eyes open sharply. He snorts loudly, and lets out a yelp of alarm.

"Um...!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Misato comments on purposefully or unintentionally... some days Kazusa's not sure which of those applies to her situation.

She nods to Belle as she returns from holding off the Humors, and lends a Diarama to the recovery effort. She gives Belle a small nod and a quiet "Thanks." But as for patching things up... "... that's up to them," she says quietly. Her silver eyes settle on Yanagi for a moment. "...I really don't know how she'll react."

She gives Mona a quiet nod, a moment later, when he joins Belle.

And Yanagi goes for the hug. Kazusa honestly wasn't sure if she would or not, but... she feels like she always has a hard time getting a solid read on anyone in Peacock Silk.

Kazusa knows that if Shinichi doesn't Awaken, that he ''should'' forget all of this... but she had wondered, too, about the Demons represented by Hunmors in the Atelier. Shouldn't he have forgotten those, too?

But she tenses when Shinichi just pleads for Yanagi to go home. She's not sure how long Yanagi's been 'alive', but if she'd wanted to do that, she's had plenty of chances, right? They had to get his address from Kanae (who, in turn, got it from the Homunculus. Her lips are draawn tight in a not-quite-frown as she watches.

She glances at Tsumugi, as they declare Peacock Silk will be leaving soon. She still has some unanswered questions from her last conversation with the Peacock Silk leader, but now is not the time for them. "... you must really want those Eyes to let yourself go through that," she mutters.

It's fine if Kanae doesn't have an answer for her. Kazusa doesn't, either. All's well.. "Yeah. Because this went ''so'' well," she grumbles.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Just like that, two siblings are reunited. A long-wished for miracle has finally occured, here in the heart of a young man's personal hell. It's so cute. It's so sweet.

It's enough that, to judge by the expression on her face, Kikuno would rather go be sick somewhere. Her lip curls in marked distate, but here she says nothing, her attention fixed on the two of them as they speak to one another.

Or, that is, until her cousin speaks to her.

"I said, shut up," she tells Yoko, brushing one hand through the air as if to thereby push her aside. "Don't get involved," she tells Umie, her glare just as intense at the girl she's ''not'' related to. "We're busy."

Who's busy? Her and Yoko? Or...

Such a state can't last, though. Not when Tsumugi speaks.

Her gaze turns a moment towards Pernelle, then to Tsumugi. She cocks her head a faint few degrees as if catching a sound that only she can hear.

"Perhaps," she says, and it's likely not clear who she's addressing at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus looks back at Yuuki - at that tense, distant expression. She meets her eyes, wondering what thoughts run behind that complex emotion. She doesn't retract her hand - and when Yuuki takes it, she helps her to her feet. And if she needs something to support her, she won't push her away.

"...I suppose it is." Magus allows, as Yuuki says it's good they found each other again. She looks back to Shinichi and Yanagi, as Yanagi assures him that she forgave him.

It's been a long time, Magus supposes. Perhaps time does heal all wounds. ...That's what she'd like to say, but it isn't always so easy. And the way he insists on bringing her home...

Magus wonders if a dead woman can really just show up at home like nothing happened.

All's well that ends well...

"...Hm." Magus considers. "The monster has been slain. ...But the scars yet remain."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Tsumugi wants to feel it, and Pernelle gives them a single, firm nod of perfect understanding.

"Most glorious," he affirms twice over.

His whole face lights up with Saika's wordplay and Tsumugi's identification thereof.

"Oh, is it? Marvelous. I love puns!"

But now there's dinner (the eyes are not for eating, Pernelle!) AND a show. Upon the grand stage, Yanagi offers Shinichi what was already his, and the two embrace. Pernelle gives a tippy tap on his feet, though he seems to be ''trying'' to contain it with smaller steps to avoid a percussive interruption.

While not typically in the business of ''moderation'', he makes an exception when that moderation might prevent even greater moderation should those in the spotlight become spooked. Pernelle must choose... the lesser of moderations.

''There's nothing left here for us.''

"Then off we shall go and fly, fly, fly~," he says in his own singsong way, spreading his wings to flap in place, grasping his feet open and closed in the air like an overeager claw machine.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Saika looks over towards Kikuno as she speaks. "What indeed," Saika echoes back, which is probably not gonna actually address what Kikuno was getting at, like, at all.

(That proffered hand turns away; rises to fold loosely beneath her bandaged bustline. Saika smiles at Tsumugi, because she likes to and she wants to, but then there is no more. At their question, she leans over and replies, in bad but quiet english "<Just because you Bad Guy, does not mean you Bad Guy.>" She definitely bootlegged that movie, or saw a clip. It is still in theaters. She smiles as she does it.)

Saika's grin gets even more coprophagic as Tsumugi reveals the REAL truth.

But there's still work to do. "Man," Saika sighs, "this has been one hell of a long night, hasn't it? Pernelle, you're gonna have to cook tomorrow," she continues as she laces her fingers together and stretches, "cuz the cook is *taking personal time*."

They are already planning dinner?? (Well, Saika is, anyway.)

"Exactly, Buta-san," Saika adds to Roger (how cruel, to emphasize his swinery). "But visiting hours are a little bit flexible, so you should -- hmm?" Her head swivels around to look at Kazusa, her chain-wrapped hand resting on her hip.

"What, were you hoping someone was gonna die? Maybe put their eye out, just t' kind of stay on topic? That's pretty messed up."

But her attention returns to Shinichi and to Yanagi. Her other hand comes up to tap the side of her nose as Shinichi speaks of... re-introducing Yanagi to her mother and her father. Her eyes turn towards Yanagi for a moment, lidded. Is that what *she* wants?

To the assembled, Saika asides, "He can fly, you know. I was shocked at first too."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
As Yanagi voices her forgiveness, Kasumi lets out a big sigh of relief along with the tension she's been feeling. "Oh, thank goodness! That's such a relief!" Not every sibling parting needs to end badly. And Nagisa-san gets a second chance. She sincerely hopes that he's able to make the most of it, if nothing else, then on behalf of the people who don't get that chance.

With that out of the way... Kasumi's about to comment on hoping things go back to normal at school pretty soon, but catches herself just in time. "Did either of you know Nagisa-san before the Homunculus? Is he... You know... Normally nice?" She asks. She might like to help support him too in reality...

All's well? Normally, Kasumi would be thilled to go along with it, but... "Is that really true?" She wonders aloud. "I mean, you were in a twisted relationship, Fuyuki-san... Is that really okay now?" That, and she's worrying about the terrorized female populations of Shuujin... Are the boys really just going to let things fade away? Is that how that works?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> A missing sibling. A family, waiting.
But if that was the case, why did Yanagi keep herself separated from them? For their own protection, or hers?

Maybe, it's to be able for Yanagi to protect the self she is now, without the weight of being the 'sick one', or 'the one who may have little time left to live'. A person like that wouldn't have been allowed to celebrate Seijin no Hi like she did out of concern for her own health, alone.

Coin's flattening ears bring a impish grin to Umie's face. Ahhh, she must be like Mona, and hate being compared to the animal, even mythical, she resembles. "I'm afraid my specialties lie in poking." If it's a pun, as Tsumugi says, "If 'the eyes have it'," she says, "you may very well have this under control."

There can only be room for the Badb to poke around what remains, sometimes instigating something, for better or worse, as Yoko's claws press into her sleeve. Umie missed the part about Kikuno talking to someone; or maybe, her consciousness had considered it so normal that she didn't even think to note it.

Huh. So this is what it's like, to see such an exchange occur outside of herself.

... Is Kikuno... like her? ".... Rather prickly, aren't you?" she muses, with some amusement, trying to catch a glimpse of Kikuno's wrists without being too obvious.

Before Umie can consider it further, Roger seems disturbed(?) by something. "Roger-san," Umie says, frowning. "Something wrong?" The Homunculus is dead, right? Umie can't *sense* anything nearby that fit neatly into the Badb's sense as 'a threat'. Things can and *do* get past it, however, as that sense is merely something co-opted to serve a different purpose, as much as Badb's sense of 'a battlefield', or supernatural space, being nearby when she's in Sumaru City.

She *could* summon Badb, but it's hard to tell, from Roger's expression, whether that would be an overreaction on her part.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi giggles when Shinichi compliments her sense of style. Pernelle's barely-contained excitable flapping and tippy-tappying contributes to that giggle, too. No need for words right now; he hugs her back, and it ''is'' good. This is a good moment. She's glad to have had it, in a different way from how she was glad to have taken the Homunculus's Eyes. She leans her head on his as he hugs her back, unafraid of harm. When he eases up, she lets go--but he doesn't pull away entirely.

Her smile is muted but still there as he asks her if he deserves it, as he thanks her for saving her. It regains its warmth, and she nods once. No need to explain it. He understands what needs to be understood.

At least... that's what she thinks until he asks her to come home. To their parents. To that apartment in Aoyama-Itchome.

Her smile dims fully this time, and a profound sadness shades her brilliantly green eyes.

A bond rediscovered, a monster defeated; so why not go 'home'?

"No."

There's no malice, no grudge, in her voice or demeanor. It's just a delicate yet unyielding refusal.

"I have a new home now, Shinichi. And I might have lived to become an adult after all, but I still have DMD. I'm still going to die young--maybe this year; who knows?"

Despite this fatalistic acknowledgement of her terminal condition, Yanagi smiles anew. It reaches her eyes, in which that sadness lingers. Umie's silent supposition was on the money, it seems, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love Shinichi. It's just...

"Mom and Dad already grieved for me and moved on. It would be cruel to make them do it twice." She pats his hand still resting on her--and gently, gently removes it. "You know you didn't kill me now, Shinichi. I didn't die because of what you said. I've forgiven you, so it's time to forgive yourself and move on too." She squeezes his hand...

...then pulls hers away. "You're free now."

As Tsumugi so eloquently recited, she has named the sky her own. She turns her smile to them and Saika and Pernelle, that sadness blown away. There is indeed nothing left for her here, and once again she conveys that mutual understanding with Tsumugi despite a lack of words. It's time to go to her true home.

"Ooh, I want hot pot!" she says brightly to Saika, regardless of whether she's taking tomorrow night off or not. It is a future Yanagi's looking towards all the same... a future with Peacock Silk, and without Shinichi Nagisa.

Paying no mind to Roger's sudden yelp, she leans over for her cane and the double-bladed knife that was once--and is still--a pair of Homunculus Eyes.

Until she too snaps a sharp, wide-eyed look over her shoulder, far too late.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Michael Kills Judith - Halloween OST - https://youtu.be/pW-z037uA1o?si=976AkjncjweEOuX2&t=52

The drama is quite distracting, is it not? As a sister rejects the idea of a lasting bond with family. As she readies to enjoy her future plans with her new home...

A shape melts out of the retreating mist. Look upon the ground, the Homunculus who was laying there, quite dead- now gone. For instead it encircles its enormous arms around Yanagi, lifting her up- and beginning to squeeze with all of his might- with bone snapping force.

His head is lolled at a sideways angle, with that dripping wound still present. His hands have deep pits where its Eyes once were. Even without his Eyes, somehow, he still persists.

((taking you from him))
((taking you with me))
((i will not be nothing))
((i will be your grave))
((we go together))

Still alive, it only thinks of one thing to do with its maimed, dying body. Spiteful- possessive vengeance. Not even to try and take the Eyes back. To kill her. Then die, in triumph, having paid her back for her betrayal in full, with her.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
The 'No.' hits him like a bucket of ice water to the face. For a while, he doesn't even respond, as she speaks to him, his mouth working like he wants to say something, like a gaping fish that was just landed and is suffocating on the air itself.

It's only when she pats his hand, then begins to pull away that he begins to answer in desperation, "What- but- that doesn't matter! Even if you were going to die tomorrow- I don't care! They wouldn't care. I can't just- just- move on? You're my sister!? I don't want to be ''free'' of you!"

His protestations grow weaker, and weaker by the moment, because- even if she forgave him, doesn't she deserve her wishes respected? Why should ''he'' who thinks he's the worst brother in the world to her- who thinks he doesn't deserve her, chase after her? Fight to keep her in his life?

All he can do is hurt her in the attempt. Just like he did before.

It grows worse as she excitedly talks about Hot Pot- with a woman he doesn't even know? With a whole strange group of people- and... weird monster bird!? But... not him. Not her family. Does she really just- not want to be a part of their lives anymore that much? It's so upsetting that he can't even understand yet that he feels more than a little jealous?

Still reeling with shock and confusion from this whole interaction with someone he would have thought he knew only seconds before, he only vaguely sees the shape rise up behind her, as he calls out in horror, "NEESAN!" He knows how frail she was, and almost certainly still is. He can see the monster behind crushing her- and knows, there's nothing he can do.

Nothing. He's entirely helpless to stop what happens next. Even staggering to his feet, he knows there's no way he can pry this creature off her in time- even though he'll try anyway.

Back in his life for a moment, then gone again. Like a rekindled flame of hope, flickering and wavering, then guttering away.

And why does he have the vaguest feeling that this was never supposed to happen at all. That idea, that impression that she's already dead, causes something to be consumed inside of him.

Reborn - Revue Starlight OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ge9LoG6ibw

There's no time, but blessedly, between the ticks of a second- the collective makes time.

Oh loathsome fear that binds you in this cage of passivity.

If she is taken from you again, the fault will lay only in your own cowardice.

Why not alter thy nature into one who would dance instead, and rekindle discarded ambition?

The shreds of fabric from a cocoon begin to glow a ghostly blue as spun potential- nearly lost forever- erupts with threads that attach to his head, his body, the entirety of his being. Boundless on the inside of that cocoon, Shinichi is bathed in the purest scarlet light to the rhythmic clanking of industrial machinery.

To pursue coveted bond with jealous abandon, to be ferocious to one's rivals and to wear conviction nakedly in the face of adversity is what it truly means to live!

A half-cape with a hood forms over him, the outer layer a blue, with a dark purple interior- fluttering down to land upon his shoulders. His torso is encased into a top of double breasted buttons in matching color, with a thin fabric that gives the impression of a scrub top.

I AM THOU,
THOU ART I.

Around his legs the silken threads wind, weaving blue athletic pants, then forming dark boots with metal cleats on each foot- his form constantly surrounded by ephemeral, blue wisps of flame that are ever burning-shifting.

Even should our dance take us to the grave, let our fervor set the underworld ablaze. Now, call to me- and let us have this dance together!

"HILARION!" he screams as he erupts from the cocoon, with the desperation of someone who knows they might lose so much if they don't act ''now''! Blue flames erupt in kind, and something rises out of him.

That ghostly blue flame compresses within a half-circle arc of machinery that constantly rotates around it. It tapers down into the neck of a spindly purple demonic creature armored all over in green and orange plating that is segmented in ways as to give the impression of sporting pads, in the center of which is a medical cross. On one hand, it wields a long staff made up of twisting and winded snakes in the familiar form of the caduceus, but without the wings. Its thin legs are crossed, as if to imply it is mid-dance- or pose.

With a dramatic sweep of its staff downward, it reveals to the Homunculus the lie that his vengeance can be complete. Behind the Homunculus, nuclear flame mushrooms up through him, consuming him so completely as to seemingly disintegrate him outright, leaving only his arms untouched.

Its arms slide off Yanagi, limply- his body ablaze in ever-burning nuclear fire, a shadow of a shadow within that blaze. He takes a step. Then another.

Then he falls over, disintegrating into Shadowy ash before he even hits the floor.

Despite the wonder of this moment, he doesn't even waste any time approaching her to check on her. "Neesan! Hey, are you okay? Just breathe-!" Intention becomes action, as Hilarion, the Persona casts a Diarama spell upon her taking the form of ghostly little wisps of blue light that surround her like an aura. "Somebody call an ambulance!" he calls out, still panicking in the moment.

Not even considering for a moment the adrenaline rush that the last place Yanagi would ever want to be- is in a hospital. Or whether ambulances can even run here.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Kikuno pauses, watching Yanagi as she informs her brother precisely why she can't go home again. Ever so slightly, Kikuno's sour frown deepens. In the same moment, Yanagi reaches for the knife and speaks of getting hot pot.

((An Opportunity Arrives)) speaks the voice only she can hear in her skull.

She glances again at Pernelle, at Tsumugi, her attention returning to Yanagi as the seconds seem to slow to a crawl. The one place that Kikuno does not look after all is at the fallen flesh of Eshm.

((He Lives Yet))

((Ware Ye))

Its carcass twitches, solidifying once more to too-solid flesh.

For Eshm is not yet dead. Malice lingers where a chance at life slips from its grasp. Of this, she is also familiar. So it's also petty--

But no, Eshm isn't dead yet. Kikuno, with sudden speed as Yanagi is struck, snatches up the knife.

And then something else happens.

"Ah," she says, tucking the knife away as chaos unwinds about her. "You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister." She pauses, taking one step back.

"Not tonight, anyway."

One more step. One more step. She turns her gaze up as Eshm is reduced to so much ash under the newly awakened Persona's burst of ultimate flame.
She had limped before. There's no hint of it now as she turns sharply and bolts for the door.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>It's not that Coin minds being called a fox; she's described *herself* as vulpine before. It's just that she knows that kitsune no mado is a thing children do, and that one she does mind. (How does she know it's a childish thing? ...beats her.)

This time, Coin gives someone else a long look.

Pernelle, specifically. Something about him -

He's not like her. But he's not NOT like her, either. She's fascinated by him like she was some of the other things she's seen, though she does not do the peek-through-her-hands or anything else particularly uncanny. She just *looks*, the same way she did at Roger earlier; a little uncomfortably if you're the target, especially when her ears quiver and point forward.

"You! And you!" Coin points directly at Pernelle, and then Roger. "You I will speak with, later! For our time here is short!" Especially with the Peacock Silk crew making plans to move out -

- until -

Coin is not especially familiar with the nature of the Homonculus. She thought that when it was defeated, it was gone; it wasn't something you needed a Silver Bullet for. It was something Else, something Different, and you couldn't integrate it.

Which means it should have the decency to *stay* dead once you kill it.

Coin's tail lashes as she spins around, but she's both way too far away and way too slow to do anything at all. Despite herself she draws her sword, although what she thinks she's going to do with it is a very good question. Even if she was closer it wouldn't be very helpful.

But something new is summoned, in defense of another... Coin's eyes widen. "A power, called by change and need...?" This is the first time she has seen someone Awaken to a Persona (besides her own, that doesn't count) and Transmutation feels so different. She does not have any words for a few moments, which for Coin is unusual, until Shinichi's panic snaps her out of it.

"How?" she asks, baffled. Ambulances don't run here! At least, not any ambulance you'd want to get in; she doesn't know if the place has cognitive ambulances but if it does you couldn't pay her to get in one.

She pushes Kanae forward instead, or at least against her leg. "Go! Help, if you want it to end well after all!"

Coin, after all, is not entirely used to how normal human bodies. She's pretty sure she will be less help than none at all... but at least she realizes that!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
What's not to like? Kanae likes Coin, for this too. Indeed though; Kanae has no answers for Kazusa, not at the moment. "it went fine," Kanae says, and when Kasumi chimes in, Kanae shrugs. "Whatever," she says of her twisted relationship. "It's done. I'm not worried about it."

...is it really that simple? Maybe it is!

Pause. "He was pretty nice," she adds for Kasumi's benefit. "Too nice."

But Yanagi... says ''no''. Kanae schools her features immedaitely; shock turns to something else, and she doesn't want anyone knowing what she thinks. ...How she kind of admires Yanagi's free spirit, in the moment. She feels a little bad for Shinichi, but... Wow!

"Forgive... yourself, huh...?"

Roger seems alarmed suddenly. Quickly, Kanae sees why--but too late to do anything. "Holy SHIT," Kanae starts, scrambling for her gunblade even though it's far too late--

The scars remain indeed, Magus.

She blinks--and starts to rise to her feet at Coin's push. "Uh!" she starts. "Right!"

With the shattering of another glass, Kanae changes the presence in her mind, and calls forth her own persona as she goes. "Ame-no-Uzume!" The dancing, laughing goddess appears to lend her own healing to Yanagi's body.

"...Sorry dude," she says. "No ambulance is coming ''here''. ...But now that I see, it looks like you already had it taken care of..."

Will it still 'end well'?

...Depends who for, maybe.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Magus speaks of the scars that remain. Kazusa glances at her out the side of her vision. "... the scars don't go away just because the monster is defeated," she says quietly.

She has some experience in the matter. But then again, she didn't get a tidy resolution, either. nor is she convinced yet this one will be quite so tidy yet.

She glares at Saika, bare arms crossed in front of her. "Don't be morbid," she snaps. "... though frankly I'm kind of all mobirded out at the moment."

"He's in my class," Kazusa answers Belle. But when she brings up the ''relationship'' Kanae was in with the Homunculus, Kazusa jabs Belle in the side with her elbow. "Not ''now''," she hisses quietly.

'No.'

Kazusa sucks in a sharp breath, even though she'd half-expected that reaction. But then she gasps, as the Homunculus reforms, and goes after Yanagi in a lat act of revenge. "No!"

She darts forward, her spine whip in hand, instinctively reaching out to call forth the butterfly that would presage her Persona's arrival--only to draw up short as a Cocoon encases Shinichi, followed by flames both blue and nuclear. "Nagisa-san..."

She didn't get to see her Awakening from the outside before. This is the first one she's seen, and she's momentarily taken aback, until--

'Somebody call an ambulance!'

Kazusa's jaw sets, and her whip cracks out as Mina HArker rises again. She'd kept her distance, before--if Shinichi was going to forget, she didn't want to prompt him into remembering. But now that he's Awakened anyway...

A short sprint sees her by Shinichi's side, and the hand that goes to rest on his shoulder may come from one of the least likely sources: a Kazusa Motojima in some sort of strange wolf princess cosplay, looking serious and also... concerned. "Nagisa-san," she says quickly. "A hospital can't help her. But your Persona can."

"And I'll help too. Mina!"

Mina Harker lends her own healing efforts to that of Hilarion and Ame-no-Uzume. Kazusa gives Kanae a grateful nod, but quickly looks back worriedly to Yanagi a moment later.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
It's in the past now, huh? Kasumi nods. "I'm glad to hear it, Fuyuki-san." She says. "You're strong." She says, earnestly.

Then, she gets jabbed. "Huh?!" Kasumi lets out a noise. "(What was that for? She mentioned it earlier...)" She whispers back to Kazusa.

Too nice, huh? Well, now it makes a bit more sense why the humunculus lashed out so hard. She hopes that Shinichi can find more peace now. It's a good start, at least.

Yanagi says no, and something inside Kasumi screams, that she stuffs down hard. Yanagi is completely reasonable, but... it does hurt to hear.

Then, something tragic happens. The humunculus, still alive, attempts to take a life with him. Kasumi lets out an strangled noise, clamping her hands overtop her mouth. She can't move, can't do anything to intervene. She can only watch in horror. As...

Shinichi... Transmutates? Awakens. And finishes off the Homunculus. "Oh. Oh, thank goodness..." Kasumi murmers, as life returns to her. "That was terrifying..." Everyone else runs to check up on Yanagi and Shinichi, but Kasumi can't bring up the energy just yet. So, she sinks down, still covering her mouth with her gloved hand.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "The Homunculus is still alive!" Roger brings the sensation of shock to something more verbally sensible when it is too late for him to intervene. He's aghast at this! He should normally be on top of this kind of thing! He's the member of the team they're meant to rely on when it comes to the ins and outs of how an Atelier's denizens and unwanted Homunculus parasites all work!

...The terrible thought that Yanagi will not be able to play anymore with anyone, because of this.

But then...

Shinichi finds it in himself. He finds it in himself to change.

To awaken, to a Transmutation... and his Persona.

Hilarion disintegrates the Homunculus in its entirety, as Roger flails and balances back on one leg in the backwash of that awesome power of nuclear fire.

..And then Kikuno escapes.

"W-Wait! Weren't you going to-- explain... eee." Roger presses his fingers together, hunched over, at the rapid series of events. "Um, Shinichi-kun...!"

Many are, rightfully, coming to crowd around him to come to both his aid and Yanagi's. "D-Don't push it! You'll wear yourself out! You just awakened to something called a 'Persona!' You don't know the rules of that game yet!"

"...But..."

Roger tries to give a reassuring smile. "We're all on your team! We'll do all we can!!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus looks toward Kazusa as she agrees with her. Yes... It is not that easy. She can hear the weight of familiarity in her voice.

Just because the source of the pain is gone, doesn't mean it is over.

She looks back toward Shinichi and Yanagi. ...It is, perhaps, the expected outcome. Of course it isnt so easy as letting her just go home to the family.

What isn't expected, though, is what happens next.

Magus curses under her breath as the Homunculus rises again. How foolish...! This is her first time encountering one of these creatures. She never thought to ask whether or not it was normal for the body to remain - but it was foolish of her to not guarantee the job was finished properly. She starts forward, drawing her saber - but she feels a spike of pain throughout her body, drawing a hiss from her. She isn't fast enough like this. She won't be able to do anything -

- but she doesn't need to. The shed cocoon begins to shine, and scarlet light washes over Shinichi.

"...I see. So this is..." Magus murmurs, trailing off. She lowers her blade - and watches as the Homunculus is consumed by flame.

But, her health...

"...We are currently outside normal reality." Magus states, as Shinichi asks for someone to call an ambulance. "They cannot reach us. We would need to leave this place. If you wish for something to be done, you must do it under your own power."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
They must really want those Eyes to let themself go through all that.

Maybe so. Tsumugi Kujaku doesn't explicitly deny it as they turn to make their exit with the others. All they say is this:

"I wanted to see if it could show me something new." Fingerless gloved hands move through that wild mane of platinum-and-glowing gradient hair, blowing locks back behind them as they walk.

"But it wasn't anything I didn't already know."

The steady click of heels carries them out in Pernelle's wake, ready to leave. They don't look behind them toward Yanagi. They don't tell her to hurry up and come with. Don't question her intentions.

Maybe because she's called the sky her own, and you don't cage a free bird.

Maybe they simply know what's coming next.

Either way...

They don't look back as Yanagi parts with Shinichi to grab the Eyes. They just lift a hand as Saika hands off kitchen duties to Pernelle.

"Ara. Is it time to play Russian roulette again--"

And then they stop. Red-gold eyes snap wide.

Something's wrong--

They spin, a second later, just in time to see the Homunculus gripping Yanagi, fit to crush her if only to deprive its host of the one thing he just took back. Eyes still wide, they take a single step forward -- and then still.

Those widened eyes narrow.

"..."

If Saika and Pernelle try to rush Eshm and Yanagi? They suddenly find a hand on their shoulder, and a high-heeled boot in their path, respectively, as Tsumugi suddenly seeks to preemptively still them.

"Wait," they advise, gaze fixed forward, past Eshm.

They blink. Once.

It's remarkable how much things can change in the blink of an eye? It's a powerful figurative device for a reason, after all. How profound things can just happen right past your notice. In some cases, however, it is very literal. Like now.

Tsumugi Kujaku's eyes shut for a fraction of a second.

And when they open --

Shinichi Nagisa is consuming the parasite that once tried to steal his life away in furious, desperate nuclear fire.

Shinichi Nagisa's chains break for the sake of saving another fetter he thought he'd lost.

"..." Tsumugi Kujaku's eyes hood as they watch Yanagi fall, and watch Shinichi rush to her side.

''Neesan! Hey, are you okay? Just breathe-!''

click
click
click

''Somebody call an ambulance--''

A long dark shadow casts over Shinichi and Yanagi Nagisa as an angelic figure dressed in white and carved of marble crouches down near them...

... and scoops Yanagi into their arms.

"No."

Tsumugi Kujaku lifts slowly. It hurts, with their injuries, but they lift Yanagi up, princess carry in their arms all the same. They don't even bother to look at Shinichi as they turn, fully intent to take his sister away from him.

"She was never yours to take. Shin-chan."

But their words are unmistakably for him.

"She's free now."

They turn, to start to leave once more. "Pernelle, open the--"

And then there is Kikuno, swiping that knife.

Those unnatural scarlet-gold eyes are wider than they've ever been as they fix immediately upon Kikuno. Surprise, for once, grips their gaze, along with something else -- something that makes pupils shrink towards pinpricks. The entire world seems to freeze in that moment.

And then she bolts for the door like a thief in the night.

"Saika, Pernelle--" the leader of Peacock Silk says immediately, their voice level but possessed of a sudden, ineffable ''intensity''.

"''Get her.''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Coin looks at Pernelle. Pernelle looks back and tilts his head to one side. Then she points, and Pernelle ruffles in surprise. "Me! And he?!" Pernelle glances from Coin to Roger and back again, then straightens up, chest puffed with delight. "If speaking is what you seek, then speak we shall! I will bring snacks."

Later, of course.

Pernelle gasps and looks toward Saika.

"Have my kitchen privileges been restored?! Splendid! I shall whip up a feast the likes of which you have never experienced!" Yanagi chimes in to ignite Pernelle further with ideas. "Oh Yanagi, how I have missed your brilliant mind! We shall have the hotest of pots! The potest of hots!"

The excitement vibrating off of him comes to a sharp halt. Pernelle falls out of the air with his glasses falling from his beak.

"''Yanagi!''"

Scrambling with scratching claws, he makes to hurry toward her --

Only for Tsumugi's hand to fall upon him. He looks back up at them, stilled without resistance, but fear in his beady little eyes. Then he turns to look, burning blue reflected in his gaze. A grand awakening sees Eshm dispatched.

Pernelle watches the dust fall as Tsumugi takes Yanagi into their arms. And then --

"Eeeyaw?!" Pernelle squawks as Kikuno sweeps in.

''Get her.''

Pernelle's next squawk is more of a ''bellow'', terrifyingly resonate and echoing to have come from the throat of such a small creature. He spreads his wings and launches into full flight, casting his massive shadow over everyone in his path as he pursues Kikuno.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, well, I'll try to be less gross, then," Saika jabs insouciantishly to Kazusa in reply. But she's not really focusing on her.

It does not quite reach Saika's face, in its stitchwork glory, but her eyes do soften slightly when Yanagi speaks. It must have been hard for her; well, maybe not, thinks Saika, but if I was in her shoes, and I had family that--

-- and it's hurting him, huh. It's hurting a guy who's gone through a lot. Obviously it can't be helped, but he seemed to come along pretty well when the chips were down. Maybe...

... nah: he doesn't seem like the type.

Saika lets out a sigh. Her attention turns to Yanagi, who is, after all, not a stranger to her, and says, "Absolutely, this is the perfect time of year. Actually, Pernelle could probably... hm..."

Her eyes lid for a moment, at the *worst possible* moment, because when something makes that horrible shadow-humor-nightmare-fluid *sound* her eyes snap open. She raises her chain-wrapped hand. "Fucking MONSTER! Go back to Hell already! Fr--" Her doubtless invocation of the Monster of lore is cut off momentarily when something goes *click*.

For a distinct tick, Saika is staring with total consternation at Shinichi.

Just one tick. It's probably for the best.

Because in that tick Tsumugi's hand rests on her shoulder. She knows it by reflex. Saika stays tight, but she doesn't lunge. She exhales. Her own eyes are focused with laser intensity on Yanagi, on where Yanagi is, on where Yanagi *stays*, because with this new resurgence on the part of Shin-chan over there, she's going to have to fight and it's not going to be easy.

Especially since --

Wait.

There was that flash.

She should be doing the heavy lifting, not Tsumugi, they're all beat up, BUT

BUT

Her eyes widen immensely, enough that one of the staples on the edge of her eye gives way, revealing a hint of lurid blood-wet tissue underneath. She seems to rise upwards because she's putting it all together, and Tsumugi's unambiguous. Pernelle has a screeching cry of fury, and Saika speaks with more conventional language.

Her voice sounds notably deeper now.

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING?"

Saika strides forwards, towards one of those pieces of heavy machinery on wheels that would be attached to your ailing relation or wounded love; the machine that calmly and coolly sings the sound of heart and lung and blood and brain, making the hidden apparent for the occult scholars society knows as doctors.

Anyway, Saika brings up her right leg and kicks it dead on.

The sensory array does not so much roll as disappear, streaking forwards fast enough to smash through a significant fragment of the wall. The resulting hole is shrouded in dust but Saika has to advance and even with her height she has to duck to get through the hole thus ripped, taking one big step over the edge as she shouts again,

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

This must be one hell of a hobby.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> To be your own person.
Tick tock, tick tock, Umie.

Umie's clock is broken, but Yanagi's is still brutally shortened. To be the person she wishes to be, she had to cut herself free from the cocoon.

Umie bows her chin, slightly, and nods, closing her eyes.

'You're my sister!? I don't want to be ''free'' of you!'
Shinichi will likely not remember any of this, once enough time has passed. Maybe it's for the best... "..."

Do Umie's parents feel the same about her? She's cut them off for their own safety, just like she's done with almost things. They are the umbilical cord that connected her to the NWO, but also stubbornly ignorant of just how much damage the NWO has done to her.

Ignorance can kill a person, if they aren't careful. "Shit...!" Well, there's yet another flaw in Umie's 'radar': the Badb's radar is selfish, limited to dangers to *Umie*, not someone else, something others like Roger could see past.

The homunculus strikes to take what is his, expressing a deadly possessiveness the real Shinichi lacked.

But what Shinichi has that Homunuculus didn't, however, was the needle to thread the actualization of his True Self: his Persona.

".... amazing..." No matter what type, or situation, to see someone Awaken was like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon; a release of intention and willpower rarely ever given actual form. It's a fitting end, for the beast to be ended by the one who created him.

Still, Yanagi's life is now hanging from yet another thread. But, if Kazusa is correct... "Concentrate," Umie says calmly, excusing Kikuno's exit from her mind. If there's room, she'll stoop down close to the two, intent on trying to coach the newly made Persona User through what is a rough awakening.

Click, click, click.

Tsumugi scoops Yanagi up, much to Umie's dumbfounded shock. "Whoah, be careful," she cautions, but doesn't stop or hinder. Tsumugi has a point, as cruel as it may be for Shinichi to swallow.

Kikuno, meanwhile, has apparently made off like a thief in the night, meanwhile. She sighs, and gets up. "All this over some monster parts," she groans. "I guess it's an exciting life, though..."

Her gaze falls back down to Shinichi now, trying to bite back the wince at possibly seeing that face look up at her. ".... We should probably get going too, eh?" She glances back at Roger. ".... Will this place be stable long enough for us to get everyone stablized first? Including him."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus, returning to non-life like the last sting from a movie monster, snatches Yanagi up and lifts her into its crushing embrace. She cries out in reactionary pain, her cane and even the Eyes forgotten. As Eshm's grip tightens to break her, her cries intensify into ravaged screams.

She accepts that she will die, and die young. She ''does not'' accept that it will be at the filthy paws of the Homunculus she--she!--conned.

The aid that frees her comes not from whom she expects, though. Rather than Tsumugi or Saika or Pernelle, Shinichi is clothed in the red light of Transmutation and awakens to nuclear flame that burns Eshm clean away. As its arms slacken, she falls and stumbles into him, then looks back just in time to see the dying monster finally return to nothing.

(Mona meanwhile was shocked by this sudden sting too, but Yanagi's clearly got plenty of healers on her. He stays by Belle's side, resting a worried paw on her shoulder when she collapses. He'll leave when she does. They're partners, after all.)

Shinichi calls forth his Persona once more to heal her, and she breathes a little more easily, though sweat still beads her beautiful face. She doesn't respond though she also doesn't resist; when he calls for an ambulance in his panic, she grimaces. Kanae and Kazusa heal her as well, but Yanagi doesn't offer gratitude to either of them either. Instead, she twists to shoot a plaintive look over at one person:

Tsumugi.

Saika and Pernelle are dearly important to her too, but it's Tsumugi whom she loves the most. It's Tsumugi who she trusts with her whole heart to not be hurt or bereaved by her inevitable early passing. It's Tsumugi who will move on without hesitation afterwards, who will forget her once she's gone.

It's Tsumugi, and Tsumugi alone, with whom she can enjoy the present without being chained by a past or worrying about a future.

And so when they swoop towards her and sweep her into their arms, even before she appealed to them wordlessly, she breaks into a relieved and adoring smile. Eyelashes fluttering shut, she leans her head on their shoulder and relaxes...

'You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister. Not tonight, anyway.'

'Saika, Pernelle--''get her''.'

Yanagi's eyes shoot open just in time to see Kikuno exiting stage left, pursued by a peacock. The Eyes are nowhere to be seen; certainly they're not where she left them. "Did she--" she utters.

Then her eyes narrow. A deep breath; she lets it out.

Saika and Pernelle will have it handled. Already they're screaming fury and chasing after Kikuno with violence in their hearts. They, too, are loyal. All four of them are dedicated to their cause. Yanagi settles anew--but this time, she peeks over at Roger. He speaks of the rules of the game that Shinichi doesn't yet know.

"Roger," she says softly, "please help Shinichi understand." Umie, meanwhile, has the right idea. Yanagi looks up at her boss, her friend, her companion, her lover. "Tsumugi, let's go."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
"Just dial One-One-Nine!" Shinichi calls to Coin in a panic, not realizing the actual context of the 'How'.

''... Sorry dude, No ambulance is coming here! ... But now that I see, it looks like you already had it taken care of...''
'Nagisa-san, a hospital can't help her. But your Persona can.'

"Taken care of-?" He can't comprehend that she might be right so easily as he watches Kazusa add more healing magic into the mix, "Is- is that really enough!? He probably broke a few ribs at least...!"

'You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister.'
'Not tonight, anyway.'

He was too distracted to see what Kikuno did, but his jaw drops at what she said because- isn't this a medical emergency right now? "Yeah I mean- I'm trying to prevent that right now!"

'D-Don't push it! You'll wear yourself out! You just awakened to something called a 'Persona!' You don't know the rules of the game yet!'

"Rules!? My sister almost got murdered! Just give me the quick rundown!"

'No.'

A shape scoops up Yanagi, and he suddenly is on his feet- only to swirl with vertigo, less due to the drain of awakening and more from...

... from...

... the feeling that he knows this person.

"Who- who the-" Whatever hesitation he felt, melts away in the face of his confusion, and jealousy over the life she's chosen to live- with... them?

"-''fuck'' are you to say that!?"

Are they the reason Yanagi is acting like this? Are all of them in this crew the reason?

"This is between her and me- you can stay out of it."

'Saika, Pernelle--'

Two more names, he can now engrave in his brain.

'''Get her.'''

Their priority, right now, after Yanagi almost died- is going after another girl who saved him? For what!?

"Yeah- no. I'm not letting you just have your way here. You wanna get at her, you have to go through me!"

Which is probably more bluster than anything because the exhaustion of newly awakening is settling in and- he definitely wants to lay down for a hundred years.

But he won't until he makes himself have a fist fight with a monster peacock, at least and forces himself to take a step Pernelle's way.

CRASH BANG

or maybe you know that girl over there who suddenly seems like she's pretty mad

Instead his direction changes a half-step further towards Saika, "Hey! You're Saika right? Leave her the hell alone!"

Before he nearly slips and falls on his ass from sheer exhaustion.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Boss Penguin has posed.
<poem>
Soundtrack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmQiHClfko

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

The sound of feet bearing geta, with a measured gait, just the right amount of force- to turn an inelegant 'thok' into a familiar 'tak'. A sound pronounced enough to be heard even over the din.

Familiar to one person in the Atelier's heart, that is. A woman wearing a black kimono, a symbol of calmness, stability... control. A pattern of pine trees: longevity, endurance, strength.

The resonance of her presence is immense- almost suffocating. Like even the awful vertigo of her existing nearby was enough to give many the urge to get on their knees before her rather than try to remain upright. Certainly at least enough to distract people away from the idea of fighting. Even if someone overcomes and gets the impulse to approach her, they'll find they're just unable to.

As if she could part the sea that is 'humanity' with her presence alone.

Her hands laced together, entirely unthreatened, her face that of a middle-aged woman, dark hair pinned up. "Such a lovely scene." She says of the chaos that she's just interrupted, "Just the kind of family reunion I envisioned. Between brother and sister..." A hand gestures towards Yanagi and Shinichi.

"...Mother and-" Another hand moves up, but before pointing at someone, her expression becomes the tiniest of insincere smiles as she looks right at them. "Oh. But I should call you Tsumugi now, shouldn't I? The name you chose for yourself."

She enunciates each word as green eyes, locked with theirs. "Your. Freedom." Rather than gesture at her, she lets a sleeve slide down naturally by gravity, showing a bracelet. It is an unsightly thing. Diamonds in the rough, interspersed with cut ones, mismatched in size and shape. A shogi piece for 'pawn' facing the object of their attention.

Yanagi will recognize it as a very familiar commission. The one she delivered on the day she saw Shinichi, before this whole mess.

"'Family,' 'tradition'... words that bind you- you remember when I said that, do you not? It is because you remain bound by your memory of me. Your freedom, a lie- shaped by your remembrance of our time together." She beckons Tsumugi with a single fingertip. "Let us leave this place, Tsumugi. I will allow you to serve me once more."

The hand drops, as she says with a self-confidence of absolute certainty.

"Just as you always have."

Many in this room may be confused by this. Who this woman is- even the few who know her, are certainly confused. One young man looks at her with eyes wide, staring in shock like he's seen not just one ghost today, but two.

"... Itami-san?" Shinichi whispers. "But you're..."

She does not even bother to look in Shinichi's direction, yet she does at least acknowledge him, "This is my gratitude for helping to take such good care of me, Nagisa-kun. The miracle you always desired. Your sister returned to your side."

Whether she wants to be or not, she does not say. That much is obvious.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae can feel for Shinichi in the moment. He's having trouble. He's finally speaking up for something he ''wants'', like she wanted him to a while back... but it's something he's not going to get, plainly.

But she hadn't realized Kikuno was running away with something so important.

"..." 'Give me the quick rundown', he says, but 'no' is more relevant for the moment. Between them...

Tsumugi has started to walk away with Yanagi, and while it was simple while Shinichi was a nonissue to appreciate Yanagi's desire for freedom, seeing the toll it takes on Shinichi is harder, now.

It gets harder and more complex when that ''woman'' appears.

Yanagi has made her decision, but...

"Huh?" Kanae wonders, and suddenly feels ''very'' out of place. A reunion between mother and... someone.

"..."

She didn't expect gratitude, of course. But she didn't expect a ''lot'' of what happened, either. Kanae takes a look back towards Isabeau for a moment--and then steps over to where the Homunuculus was. "Hey, hold on..."

She looks apologetically at Shinichi, and picks up Yanagi's cane. She hurries a few moments after Yanagi and Tsumugi before they can go--and offers it forth.

"This is yours," she says. "Here you go. ...Guess that finishes out our deal."

She steps back, and doesn't stop Yanagi or Tsumugi any further from here.

But she looks back at Shinichi. "So this is freedom, huh...?"

She thinks of Touma, again, and bows her head. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess it is."

But nervously, Kanae can't help but look to 'mother' once again, uneasy.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa will explain it to Belle later, that she was concerned about Shinichi and what mentioning things that the Homunculus might do, but... that's a moot point now.

Also, just a time and place thing.

(... also, a little bit that Kanae dating the Homunculus, even if for a noble cause, made Kazusa irritable. That probably doesn't mean anything.)

It's okay, Roger. None of this has happened how anybody expected. At least, not how ''Kazusa'' expected. They can talk about it later.

Roger cautions Shinichi on the 'rules' of playing Persona, and Kazusa, for once, agrees with him. (Maybe not with the exact ''phrasing'', but her capacity to nitpick right now is deeply bottomed out.)

Shinichi asks if it's enough. Kazusa nods seriously. "The Homunculus was supernatural. And... so are you, now. Between the three of us... it'll work."

She also doesn't have time to process Tsumugi's wanting to see something new. But she ''does'' react when Tsumugi just... scoops up Yanagi to princess carry her away. "H-hey!" Shinichi can't cage her, and Kazusa ''gets'' that, but also, "You could let us finish healing her!"

She missed what Kikuno did, with her attention focused on Shinichi and Yanagi. But when Tsumugi says to 'Get her' her head cranes around. "Wha-- didn't she come in with you? What the heck!?"

She gets that Shinichi is upset--and she in no way knows how to unpack any of this right now, but when he goes to pick a fight-- "H-hey! You're not going to be in any condition to fight--" He goes down, and this means Kazusa goes to kneel by his side.

Which means she doesn't have to worry about trying to remain standing when that immense presence comes, but she gasps and recoils anyway as she feels that power. "Wha--" She can't help but grit her teeth, but feels in no way willing to try and fight back.

What the heck is going on here!?

'Mother and...' She looks at Tsumugi, then back at the strange woman who just appeared.

She shoots Kanae a concerned look. If another fight breaks out, do any of them have enough left to fight something like ''this''???.

"Nagisa-san, do you ''know'' her?" she asks under her breath to her classmate.
</poem>
[OOC] Kazusa Motojima says, "bluray: Tack that onto my pose."

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"On WHAT," Coin calls back to Shinichi. "I do not own a phone, and even if I did, it doesn't work here!"

It is probably not a surprise that the little fox humanoid does not have a phone if Shinichi calms down enough to think about it (and also does not freak out about there being a little fox humanoid, which is an important step).

But Yanagi is alive, and even up, and Coin is pleased by that. She crosses her arms, nodding in a satisfied way -

- which is when Saika smashes down part of a wall, and Pernelle flies overhead. Coin stares after them for a moment, torn between following and not. 'Not' wins, but only by a hair - she wants to see what's going on! Still, she remains at Kanae's side -

Scratch that. She remains *behind* Kanae, having swished around her as soon as the new arrival... arrived. Even before she spoke. Coin doesn't want to be seen, and even she does not know why. Maybe it's that sheer presence. It certainly overpowers Coin's; Coin does not exactly have a small attitude, but she's feeling completely overborne by... 'Itami-san'?

Coin peeks out from around Kanae, but does not step around her. She does give Kazusa a look up at that concern, making a 'please calm down' patting gesture - no, you should not fight someone like this!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>It seems there's an altercation. ...Past this point, it isn't Magus's place to interfere. They'll have to work it out between themselves. Shinichi, meanwhile, is understandably confused about the situation. This must be a lot for him. She doesn't envy him, to have so much dropped onto him at once. What he does from here, though, is between him, Yanagi, and that group taking her.

But then there's the sound of someone approaching - followed by an overwhelming presence.

Who is this? Just being around her makes it difficult to breathe. It's difficult even to remain ''standing'' - but even in her current state, rebellion roars in Magus's heart against those who would force her down. She forces herself to remain standing - but even that much is difficult to manage. She watches her carefully, but for now that's all she can do.

But whoever this is, Shinichi seems rather surprised to see her...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi does not understand at all what's going on. She understands that the kimono clad woman is important with an impressive presence. And Shinichi has seen another ghost.

She also understands that this woman is very, very strong. Not just anyone can say 'I will allow you to serve me once more', and cause a bystander to feel a tug.

Kasumi grabs Mona close. "We need to keep our heads down." She whispers. "This isn't the time to interfere." Even she can tell that much.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger can completely trust in Kazusa's Persona to help deal with any hurts outright! Which is good, because his ability to sense Homunculi that are still a threat - or rather, the failure to do so - rattles him.

Tsumugi takes hold of Yanagi as all hell breaks loose and the other members of Peacock Silk are running off.

"Roger,' a soft voice. He looks up. Someone gave him a name, some time ago, and he holds onto it like a precious thing. He's someone! Someone to play with. With everyone. 'Please help Shinichi understand.'

"...Oh... okay." He says, a bit taken aback. He doesn't know what game is being played here, but having accustomed himself to 'working a job,' he knows some games you have to play even if they don't seem very fun on the outset. Humans play a lot of games.

"I, I meant it!!" Roger snorts to Shinichi as he tries to hurry to his side as he falls from exhaustion. "You can't hoof it after 'em like this," he stomps his feet, his back turned to something else.

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

A powerful presence washes through, and Roger's eyes widen to pinpricks. He snorts the once inquisitively, turns about-face. He feels shoved just by being there, an aggressive fight-or-flight better described as a fervent stay-in-place.

He doesn't escape Shinichi's side. Not when Shinichi managed to fight to determine for himself who he is and what he wants, but to call Roger's posture 'defiant' is being generous.

His words, however...

"That's a Homunculus!" He says. "...I'm sure of it, but..." Roger stammers some. It reads more like confusion than out-and-out fear, at a 70-to-30 ratio. "...Never one like this..."

He holds his tennis racquet defensively, but cannot raise it further. He remains by Shinichi's side.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
It's hard to call the look on Tsumugi Kujaku's face, or the pitch of their voice, urgent. It barely seems different from their typical placidity -- and it's certainly a far cry from the wild passion they were demonstrating earlier.

But for those who know them, there's a difference there, as they ask Pernelle and Saika to give Kikuno chase. A subtle shift in body language and voice that adds an underscore of tension to it all, like the way the mood seems to just shift when a storm is on the horizon. Can you call it urgency?

Could you call it anything else?

It's there and gone in a moment, the second Saika and Pernelle pursue. As if content they'll secure the Eyes, the subtle edge dissipates like dirt washed away by the rain. They have nothing to say to the others; not to Shinichi's angry accusations, nor to Kazusa's startled shout. They just turn to leave once more, heals clicking on soiled, cognitive grounds.

click
click
click

t a k .

And then they freeze.

Their head hangs the moment they stop, platinum locks and their glowing, scarlet-gold undersides a veil obscuring their immaculate features from everyone.

Everyone but Yanagi, held in their arms, who can see their eyes widening, and lips pursing to part out a brief, small sound.

"no."

''Such a lovely scene.''

Fingers grip more tightly to Yanagi. They tremble, lightly, against her hip. They don't look behind them to see who has arrived. Maybe they don't need to.

Maybe they don't dare to.

"..."

Kanae approaches. Her words are light the muffled blare of a Peanuts adult in Tsumugi's ears, indistinct and lost as everyone else's confusion and uncertainty is. Like their body was moving of their own accord, they suddenly lower Yanagi as that cane is offered out to her, one hand on the small of her back to but otherwise left to hold herself up by that walking stick Kanae offers up as Tsumugi's other hand falls limp to their side.

''"Family," "tradition"... words that bind you- you remember when I said that, do you not?''

"..."

Their head rolls back. And slowly...

... slowly...

... they pivot on one heel, the entire world feeling like it shifts around them until it inevitably, inexorably draws them face to face with a beautiful vision that once filled them with the most excrutiating and painful of envies.

She looks just like the last time Tsumugi saw her. Exquisite. Unapproachable.

blotted and disgusting

"..."

Let us leave this place, Tsumugi.

I will allow you to serve me once more.

Their eyes are wide. Their entire stance is rigid.

Just as you always have.

Like someone staring down the face of death.

"..."

Your entire life has been as a puppet
whose strings have merely been traded from person to person.

Their eyes widen further.

Furiously.

"...

"''You never taught me anything.''"

shwff

By all accounts, the movement is sudden. Spontaneous. Unhesitating. To most, they'd just see Tsumugi Kujaku's right arm suddenly swing up in a smear of a white sleeve.

And then a knife singing through the cognitive air aimed right for the dead center of the one Shinichi called Itami-san's forehead.

But to the observant, and the ones who know them.

It isn't instant.

It isn't unhesitating.

There's the slightest, critical delay before that knife flies--

the damning sting of uncertain hesitation.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Of course Umie has the right idea! She always has good ideas! Even when they're ones snuck in by a tiny doll-like manifestation of her curse.

"Nagisa-san." It's definitely time to be the adult in the room, now that several adults are now in the process of leaving. "Pretty sure you'll see her again, now that you've got a Persona of your own." As Yanagi surmised, Roger may be a better candidate for this, come to think of it; but that doesn't mean Umie isn't going to *try*.... "First time's always hard summoning, so... you're not going to be able to stop anything." ... Apparently, from what Umie's heard.

Of course, *they* could stop the crew from taking Yanagi, but...

*tak* *tak* *tak*
It's a sound Umie knows well, having had to navigate them not too long ago: geta. "...." Her head snaps to the intrusion ever alert.

'I will allow you to serve me once more.' Even if this person may come in hopes of reunion, the sting of those words are like nails on a chalkboard.

If it's as Roger says...

The Badb is willing, even if Umie's at half her reserves. ".... Yeah, no." Woth a twist, the kyoketsu shoge is slung out of one sleeve, the hoop end grabbed by her other hand. However, she doesn't thrown or move, slightly bared as a threat, much like Roger has chosen to.

.... She'll choose to believe that Roger sees how much of a threat this homunculus is, and follow his lead.

Tsumugi's reaction, however, is something wholly different.

As the knife flies... a crow longs to do the same.

'Don't hesitate, Um-i-e-chan~' Pupils constrict, but Umie stays back.

But her tongue doesn't follow suit. "I don't think you're welcome here, I-ta-mi-san~"

The tone is sweet, playful, almost identical to the one purred against her ear alone moments ago. Umie is too eager to remain ignorant of it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Another squawk echoes through the area.

Pernelle returns, carried by the same wings that he left on, abandoning his quarry and ignoring his leader's instruction.

"Not today!"

He folds his wings in a twists his body mid flight into a single aileron roll. Long neck outstretched like a needle, he meets sudden and inexplicable resistance.

Yet his momentum is not stopped, merely ''paused'', and with an explosive streak of light he seems to ''puncture'' nothingness, his body threading through reality itself to reveal a shimmering, ovoid gate.

His head pops back out of it, Pernelle now grounded and gesturing with a sweep of his wings to motion through.

"Quickly now, ''quickly!''"

It is Tsumugi he beseeches, but he shall not close the portal on anyone who wants to leave through it, provided they are nimble in their decision.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi protests Tsumugi taking Yanagi away in rather coarse language. Her eyes narrow. She might love him, but that only makes it irritate her more than he's trying to fight this. "Shinichi," she says reproachfully, "you're being annoying. Please calm down and let us leave." At least Roger has agreed to help him. Yanagi is content to leave it at that, even if he seems confused too.

Kazusa gets a similarly unimpressed look when she says Tsumugi could at least wait for them to finish healing her. "I can heal myself," she tells her, voice clipped. She might be a Navigator rather than a healer, but that doesn't mean she lacks any such magic at all. More importantly, has Kazusa ever seen Yanagi annoyed or angry before?

The elegant footfalls of geta resound then in the ruined hospital room. Yanagi sucks in a sharp little gasp and pulls herself up in Tsumugi's arms, one hand slipping around their neck and clutching their shoulder. She sees the look on their face, hears their smallest refutation, feels their fingers dig into her and shake. It's a reaction even beyond the subtle urgency they had about Kikuno's grand theft.

Her gaze thus ''must'' go to the stately woman in the black pine kimono. To see who could have this kind of effect on them.

She barely needs to, though. She doesn't know Mifuyu by name, but she does know what she is. The Resonance alone makes it obvious, even without her Navigator abilities--at least, it feels that way to her. There's something ''odd'' about it, but even so--

"Homunculus," she whispers. "A fully matured one."

Good thing Roger's here to explain that loudly enough for ''everyone'' to hear, not just Tsumugi. Yanagi's attention is more on what's on the entity's wrist. This isn't just a fully matured Homunculus; it's one wearing the diamond bracelet commission she'd delivered to Shibuya University Hospital--where she and Shinichi reunited, where this entire debacle started.

Yanagi may have never finished high school, but she can still put two and two together before the Homunculus that has become Mifuyu Itami explains this was entirely by design. Her nails dig into Tsumugi's shoulder--all the more so as the one called Mifuyu invites them back under her command, tells Shinichi that all this was its gratitude for his own service.

(Mona meanwhile gets scooped up by a terrified Belle. "Are you serious?!" he hisses at her. "This is ''exactly'' the time to interfere! We can't just let this lady strongarm someone into servitude!!" But with Belle's arms around him, he can't get to any of his tools of the trade to help with a getaway for everyone. After all, even as he says that, he fully agrees that this is not someone they all should fight.)

Kanae picks up and gives Yanagi back her cane. This gets a grateful if steely smile that she didn't get before when she contributed to her healing. It does indeed conclude their deal, in her view.

"Thank you," she says--but before she can do what she wants to do next, Tsumugi sets her down--gently, with care--but leaving her to support herself now that her cane's been returned. They turn away and approach the Homunculus.

"Tsumugi!" Yanagi cries, staggering to one side as she steps toward them, forced to clutch her cane with both hands to stay upright. The Dias and Diaramas mended the worst of her injuries, and she's used to enduring pain, but it's not something she can just shrug off either.

No more than she can shrug off that barest hesitation just as Tsumugi throws their knife.

That confirms it. Whoever this Homunculus is, she is...

...what Shinichi almost became for her.

Pernelle returns, no doubt after sensing Mifuyu's approach and arrival. Yanagi feels the gate as he forms it, and she grabs Tsumugi by the crook of their elbow. "Let's go," she says again, leaning on them--so that she can raise her gun-cane and fire on the Homunculus.

She ''doesn't'' hesitate, but she doesn't have nearly Tsumugi's speed. It's merely something to buy a fraction of time--time enough for Yanagi to use her own weight to drag Tsumugi towards the gate and allow Peacock Silk to run. The rest, too, if they're quick enough. Yanagi won't begrudge it of them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Boss Penguin has posed.
<poem>
The woman who was once Mifuyu Itami, looks at Tsumugi in that inhuman way one might- as a favorite pet perhaps. So far above them, in control of every aspect of her life.

As Tsumugi yells '''You never taught me anything.''' she says nothing as the dagger flies, straight at her forehead. Only for her to raise a finger.

Only for the blade to stop, in mid-air, the moment it strikes the pad of that finger. Or rather, the Tetrakarn spell protecting that finger. As the backlash causes a searing, migraine like pain in Tsumugi, in the exact spot they had intended for her.

The knife clatters to the floor.

"Are you finished?" She asks, as if they were merely some unruly child, in open rebellion against their mother. "'You must appease the collective, because it is a ravenous beast and will devour you if you let it go hungry. So feed it scraps and pretend it's a feast, while you enjoy the true bounty.'"

As she echoes another lesson, from long ago, as a mockery of their own 'role' within Peacock Silk. As a rejection of the idea she taught her nothing, "Allow me to truly unburden you. Choose one of your allies in Peacock Silk... prove to me, you are free."

A gunshot, from a cane. It strikes dead on, the psychic backlash is just as swift as before.

"Or perhaps I should choose for you, so you can keep up appearances."

A slender hand is raised, in a dismissive gesture towards Yanagi.

The last thing that Yanagi will feel, before entering the portal, is the full force of a Zandyne spell, pure force itself- smashing her through it.

"Run from your past, Tsumugi, as long as you'd like. I can be patient..."

The other side of the bracelet is now in full view, showing the Shogi piece for 'King'.

"...we are not playing chess, after all."

Some may know she's speaking about the long time professional Shogi uses between moves. An eternity, in comparison.

She waits for them to leave, then smiles without even looking at Umie. "What care have I, for the invitation of a rabid beast?" She does not even bother with retribution for her impudence. Instead she turns.

Tak

Tak

Tak

Three footsteps. Blink. Or don't.

Either way, she's still gone.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
'Shinichi, you're being annoying. Please calm down and let us leave.'

Part of him withers under her reproval, like he's a little kid again. However, "Your friend just told all of you to 'Get them!' and tried to jump someone. You're being ''weird''!" Is that the best he can do for what to call Yanagi's behavior?

Well, yes, she's his sister.

Having sent Roger over to Shinichi, he's collapsed on one knee, as he looks at the... pig? The pig who told him he didn't know the rules!? Who says the approaching woman is- a Homunculus?!

His mind clicks things together that it didn't before, the creature he immolated is something like her.

"What- no I mean, how? That doesn't... she's-"

He can't articulate why that sounds wrong, as Roger said, he doesn't know the rules of the game.

"Right, have a rulebook?" He mumbles, nursing both a pounding headache and terrible exhaustion- not to mention the resonance from Tsumugi.

What happens next though-

A knife thrown. "Hey-!" A shot of a gun, "Wait-!" Was THAT A GUN? DID HIS SISTER PUT A GUN IN HER CANE? Before he can protest about his shock at the overwhelming illegality...

A Zandyne spell in retribution, "HEY!" He shouts, in fury at the attempt to kill her, as he tries to rise, then collapses again behind Roger and his tennis racquet. "What is WRONG with-!"

She's no longer there.

"-you?" The fury goes out of his voice, as he deflates. "Some gratitude..." He mumbles, of Mifuyu's exit. His sister was there, and gone. She saved his life. He saved hers- he awakened to some power. And to his very real concerns and confusion...

He was being ''annoying'' to her?

"Anyone care to... fill me in on what's going on?" He says in utter exhaustion, yet still, determined, despite it to try and figure things out. "Who were these people my sister is with?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
That overwhelming presence weighs more heavily on Kanae by the moment. But Coin is behind her, hiding there, and Kanae mkkes sure to stay in front of her. She can be a presence herself. Until--

A Homunculus. A mature Homunculus, Yanagi confirms.

"...Good luck," Kanae says, and looks back to Shinichi. She isn't going to go after Yanagi and company. Tsumugi speaks their defiance, and Kanae juzt looks between them and the woman in the kimono. She is not fast enough to get through the portal.

She shivers. "That's messed up," Kanae says to the 'back' of the woman who disappeared. "That's what almost happened...?"

To Shinichi. To Kazusa.

She looks to the others, and then pulls something from her pocket. It is recognizeable as a little talisman called a Goho-M.

"...Nagisa-kun," she says. "That's, ah..."

"You almost got replaced by a monster, we stopped it, your sister's taken up with a group called Peacock Silk that does fashion and apparently likes Homunuculus eyes, and the school thinks you and me are going out because I was kind of dating the Homunuculus?"

Pause.

"Anyway come here because I'm going to get us the hell out of here, we can have a good long talk later. Coin, make sure we've got Isabeau?" she requests. "Kazusa-san, go grab Nagisa-kun. Roger-san..."

"I don't even know. Let's get out of here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"No." Kasumi is going to keep Morgana close. So she can take him and run when the time is right. "If..." She hesitates, unsure what pronoun to use for Tsumugi. "If they did it once, they'll reject her again."

As Kasumi predicts, Tsumugi responds to their mother with a tossed knife. She's definitely fooled by how smooth that was. And yet, 'Itami-san' deflects it with a Tetrakarn. And it's revealed, that the mother is a humunculus, casuing Kasumi to shudder. This? Is what happens if the person can't be saved from their Atelier? That's terrifying... Itami-san gave such an uncanny feeling.

Still, the Peacock Silk gang leaves, and Itami-san promises to be patient and disappears into the air herself.

Kasumi, once more, lets the tension back out. They're all okay. They made it through. She lets go of Mona as she rises back to her feet. "It's time to go, Mona." She says, even if she's looking back over to Kazusa. See you back in reality? The pairing will make their own escape.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>There's a reason Coin was hiding. She may not have the deep knowledge of Ateliers and Homonculuses that Roger does, nor does she actually know 'Mifuyu Itami' (a lot of the interpersonal byplay has been memorized for her to chew over later), but she recognized enough to know she wanted no part of that woman.

But eventually she goes, and it becomes safe. Safe*r*, anyway. From behind Kanae, Coin sticks her head out. "I've got her!" she says, brightly.

She does sort of got her. Coin is not actually big enough to lift an entire human being. But she's trying, and she's supported, so that's good.

A few moments later, though, Coin realizes something.

"...wait, we're going out? As in, not in the Atelier? You want me to go OUT into the PHYSICAL WORLD? I don't know - "

That's going to be all she gets out before they go, though.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi listens to that whole statement, then forces himself to come over to Kanae, slowly, slowly- leaning on Roger some because he has to then.

Coin protests about the physical world, Shinichi though makes a realization in his exhaustion addled brain.

"... ... Wait what do you mean the school thinks we're- ... ... ... those weren't just weird dreams-"

TRAESTO

Crisis averted.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa hasn't really seen Yanagi annoyed or angry before, no, but she might not be able to appreciate that fully in the moment, considering the rapid-fire sequence of everything that's happened. She huffs angrily. (Which is a very common emotion for her.) "Sure. Heal yourself while you're already half-dead. I'm sure that'll work out ''great''."

Coin makes the 'please calm down' gesture at her, and Kazusa does not look like she's got any ounce of chill in her at the moment. But she does a little roll of her eyes and a nod in what is probably some variation of 'Yeah, yeah, I ''know''.'

Kazusa isn't sure if she should be trusted with important matters yet. But... that's the change she's working towards, isn't it? (She'll reassure Roger later; the not-quite-dead Eshm took ''Yanagi'' by surprise, too.) But when he labels the newcomer a ''Homunculus'' her head whips around to look at him in alarm. "A-are you sure!?"

This time, it's not distrust or skepticism that colors her voice, but simply alarm.

She can only watch, as Mifuyu Itami, Tsumugim, and Yanagi attempt to exchange blows, as Pernelle ''opens a whole in reality''-=- "Wait what!?" Can ''Roger'' do that?

Questions for later.

But she looks to Shinichi with open concern. "I don't know what ''that'' was all about, but..." Kanae provides a summary. "... yeah. What she said. I know it sounds like a lot, but just... it'll make sense in time, promise." Weird dreams. Kazusa looks pained. "... sorry, they weren't."

With the Homunculus gone, Kazusa can get up, and she's got just enough in her to offer a hand and a shoulder for Shinichi to get up. "Roger-san, help me with him." She is a comparatively tiny gymnast girl she is not bearing a male lacrosse player by herself.

"... I'll see you in class tomorrow, Nagisa-san. We can talk then, okay?"

She casts a glance to Belle and gives her a silent nod.

She'll feel good about rescuing Shinichi, but... the feeling of that Homunculus' presence is going to keep her up tonight.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The knife is let fly.

And then it stops.

The effect is almost like it strikes a wall. And that--

"gk!"

is ''exactly'' what it feels like for Tsumugi as all that momentum rebounds directly into them. The typically graceful tailor's head snaps back like they were just struck, or shot. White hot pain blooms out a flashbang from their temple through to their sinuses through to their quivering jaw until it settles into a tingling agony across their whole face.

By the time their head lurches back forward, scarlet droplets splatter the ground, dripping off the exquisitely marble chin of their face from a stream of blood drooling down their nostril.

Are they finished?

They have no answer but the huff of breath. Their eyes still wide, their expression blank. Unreadable.

But she was always able to read them, wasn't she?

No matter how hard high a wall they thought they had put up--

''Allow me to truly unburden you.''

''Quickly now, '''quickly!'''''

Light punches a hole in nothing. Pearlescent and shimmering, that gate blooms behind Tsumugi, the backdrop of resplendence rendering them a dark silhouette.

Quickly. Quickly!

They don't move.

Their gaze remains wholly fixated on the thing called Mifuyu Itami.

Did they reject her before?

Right now, despite that burst of violence, they seem locked in a standstill as her gentle insinuations paint a picture in which the white space of what goes unsaid provides the full portrait.

Pick one.

A heeled foot starts to step forward--

"You didn't--"

An arm around their elbow. The report of a gun whipcracks at their eardrums.

They are so rarely off their footing. But they are now as Yanagi manages to drag them into that portal with her bodyweight, seconds before that bullet seizes and the force rebounds in cold retribution for the audacity.

And yet...

Yanagi will feel resistance against her tugging right up until the very moment that the two disappear past the gate.

Tsumugi's gaze never leaves Mifuyu's, even for a moment, until they vanish. But it's her move, now. They can do nothing.

... They did nothing. Even after so many years, even after how far they've come, how could they--

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "Rabid beast, huh? Been definitely called worse," Umie grumbles, as Itami's presence is suddenly gone.

People move to leave; Umie opts not to involve herself with the various ways people get out, wincing with some sympathy as Shinichi, as well as Coin, object, for different reasons.

She looks to Tsumugi and Yanagi, tilting her head. "You'll probably run across them again, you know." Wasn't that what she said to Shinichi? ".... You'll... be okay, right, Kujaku-san?"

There's one other group she wants to make sure of as well, and, even if the threat of Eshm is gone... she realizes she *should* be more careful hinting at any connection she has to the Phantom Thieves.

(Hilariously, this is an assumption, as Belle is freelance, as is Mona. BUT ENOUGH OF THAT.)

She looks Belle and Mona's way as she digs into her coat. "... You two have a way to escape once we all do, right?" she says, quietly, trying not to be noticed. "Just... wanted to check."

She won't move until she has an answer, but once she does, she'll leave in a flash of light.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Umie reaches out quietly to check that the freelance thieves have a way out. "Ah! We always pack a couple Goho-Ms." She pumps her arms, forcing a confidant outlook. "Thank you though, Umie-san. That's sweet of you." A pause. "And sorry, for about earlier..." She means back at the Monad, naturally.

Though, now she wonders. Is Umie friends with Amemiya-senpai?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Kasumi answers in the affirmative; Umie nods, grinning as Kasumi pumps an arm. "Alright~ jussst checking." She takes out her gem, just about to use it, when...

'And sorry, for about earlier...'

It earns Kasumi a soft smirk from Umie, as the hooded blonde chuckles, waving a hand. "I'm the one who can't settle on a codename. There's nothing to apologize for."

Attempting to use the gem *and* put away her weapon, Belle and Mona see Umie just about to do.... *something*, but the gem is just about to fall from from her hand.

In a flash of an Umie Akabane fumbling for the gem, they are left alone.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-09: La Bête (THE BEAST II)

2026-10-18T18:22:02Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: La Bête (THE BEAST II)'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Penguin Slasher]], [[Yanagi Nagisa]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Isabeau Fontaine]], [[Yuuki Hoshizora]], [[Roger]], [[Coin]], [[Misato Fushihara]], [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Pernelle]], [[Yoko Hirano]], [[Tamaki Uchida]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Saika Kikuchi]], [[Eriko Kirishima]], [[Tsumugi Kujaku]], [[Kikuno Kisaragi]], [[Shinichi Nagisa]]
*'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's Atelier
*'''OOC Date:''' October 9, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 22, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Shinichi Nagisa is nearly gone, having been replaced by an awful parasite that has been terrorizing numerous Shujin Academy students for weeks. At the center of the Atelier, the Homunculus believes his victory is nearly complete... yet, he is swiftly proven wrong by the Persona Users who stand against him.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The door knob of Room 302 is warm. A little too warm. Enough to make one hesitate in worry that there's a fire behind it.

But as it opens, the red is revealed to be countless Higanbana, Red Spider Lily flowers, lining the floor, the walls, the ceiling of a far too large room. The walls move as if a sky full of clouds in animation, behind shadowy bars and crimson blossoms.

In the middle of the room is a hospital bed, with a cocoon whose webbing is stretched to encircle the bed from so many sides, like a restraint to keep it there. A monitor floats in space above it, several wires connected to the Cocoon, with an EKG tracing of beeps that are coming far, too slowly.

There isn't much time left.

A Sanguine Humor has died recently, her body is already being consumed by the crimson blossoms on the floor in a rapid decay. The room itself shifts, vision narrowing. Now the room itself pulses out of synch with the electronic beeps on the monitor, quickening. Like a predator ready for the kill.

The Homunculus is here. Even if you can't see him.

Breath begins to fog, as mist curls about the corners of the room, like a fog cloud that was let in through a suddenly opened window, gradually obscuring where the room begins and ends. There's whistling that echoes from out of that mist, to a slower more melancholy version of a tune everyone will recognize. A Japanese nursery rhyme about bubbles. As he whistles, the lyrics almost certainly spring to mind.

''All of them have disappeared,''
''each and every one of them.''
''So soon after they were born''
''all of them have disappeared.''

Then abruptly it stops the sound of the Homunculus speaking to them reverberating all around.

"You parasites have a lot of nerve- breaking into a man's home. What are you even here for? Trying to force me to change back to my past self? To that conceited sad sack that let the whole world walk over him? Hahaha-"

He lets out a little chuckle, before all humor drops out of his voice.

"Fucking morons. Let me tell you a story. Once there was a real stupid kid who lived in a town named Mikage-Cho. He had a sister that was deathly ill, and parents that spent their every waking moment with her. So this dumb kid felt really lonely- lonely enough that one day he told his sister that maybe it'd be better if she were dead."

There's a shape moving in the mist. It's there, and then gone. Then at another place- then gone. The Navigators in the room have difficulty tracking it with any accuracy, other than little blips that seem too erratic to narrow down like a radar.

"Then- that same day, ''she died''. Except not really- spoilers." He adds, with a voice dripping with a sense of grim irony, "How she lived isn't important. What's important is the kid thought it was his fault. And on what felt like the very next day- Mikage-Cho went to hell. ... Literally. So a kid seeing all that happening right in front of him, he saw cause and effect where it didn't exist. He killed his sister- thus, divine punishment fell upon him. And he decided, when he got back to his middle school that had fallen into chaos that he had to spend the rest of his life atoning for his crime."

Silence, as if there were some gravity in the moment. Like there's more weight to that decision than his story would imply, until his voice angrily breaks the silence.

"... What a fucking laugh. The loser committed himself to getting treated like a dog, taken advantage of by anyone who wanted to. In fact he volunteered himself for people to take and take and take from- until all the parasites had had their fill and he was a shell of his former self. Then one day- he woke up. Realized what a stupid little shit he'd been. And decided, nobody was going to take anything else from him ever again."

The mist shines a deep crimson hue, like an emergency light shining from deep within the fog, a glare- a resonant anger so thick and palpable they can taste it on their tongues.

"So if you think I'm going to let you bring me back to that place- you've got another thing coming. I'd rather die than go back to being what I was... but, I think I'll just kill all of you instead, string you up as a warning as to what happens if you fuck with Shinichi Nagisa."

'''OST:''' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE6BSNCg-co (''Les Bêtes'', Shirou Sagisu (''Evangelion 2.0''))

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Recently:

Yanagi stands, supported by her polished gun-cane, by the bedside of the Cocoon where Shinichi Nagisa is trapped. Her peacock green eyes reflect nothing; her beautiful features are impassive. She may well be a statue for all she emotes. She barely even blinks. When she does, it's in time with those all-too-infrequent EKG beeps.

The Homunculus speaks to her. It's finally become comfortable enough to let her inside this room, though of course not unmonitored. Never unmonitored. Much like how it does in the present moment, it speaks of the one in the Cocoon as its past self, that it will soon be reborn, that it will not let anyone drag it back to what it once was.

Chin ticking up like the spindly fingers of a clock, or perhaps like a porcelain marionette on stage, she looks at it degree by degree.

All she says is one word:

"Oh?"

. . .

Now...

Now, lost somewhere in the mist, Yanagi's voice hums along with that whistling. When it breaks off, she does not. That soft, melancholy humming keeps on as the Homunculus tells the story of a lonely boy and his dying sister.

She keeps on humming until the Homunculus declares 'that boy' won't let anyone else take anything from him again. Then she sighs and falls silent.

That deep and bloody shine overtakes the mist. The Homunculus's anger might be palpable, but there may as well be nothing at all in Yanagi's voice as she politely says, "Shall we, then?"

There is movement and light in the mist--the flapping wings of a luminescent blue butterfly. It shatters with a BANG, and from the mist rises a mist-clad porcelain doll, crowned with jewels and pirouetting on needle limbs.

Little origami angel-spirits phase into existence and fill the room. One for each person present, seemingly a guide to the land of the dead.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae stands among the group when they open the door and head inside, her heavy coat and robes comfortable only because of their supernatural nature in this heat. There is no fire, but there is no Kanae readily apparent, either; to someone who doesn't know her battle form, she's unrecognizable with her tricorne hat down over her face. She can see, but she keeps her head down.

And there, the cocoon...

Kanae was here once before. And now, she knows they are not alone here. The whistling tune registers for her, a memory of when she had her parents...

She grits her teeth, thinking about that now. Combined with the eerie whistling, it's a bad time. But she doesn't speak up. She waits, until he tells his story, calls them morons, waits through his explanation... the shape moves in the mist. Still, Kanae conceals herself.

But it all adds up with what she knew: his guilt, his desire to help, his 'pushover' nature... until the mist shines crimson.

When the Guide to the land of the dead appears, Yanagi's doing--Kanae finally steps forward. She reaches up, takes her hat--and removes it. Her face is much darker than most here, her skin browner thanks to her other heritage. And her eyes? Her eyes are set.

"Hi, honey," she speaks up to the Homunculus, and throws aside the hat. Her long, black hair tumbles down her back; she hefts her gunblade in one hand to point it towards him.

"...You're done, as of today. I've been Hunting you all along. You're not a 'real man.' You're not even ''human''. ...I was only with you to keep you going all-out with innocent girls.

"And now it ends."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
The cocoon -- the room. The Sanguine Humour. Isabeau advocates killing these women, just as sternly as she insists the Melanc orderlies ought to die; some could call them mercy kills.

Others know better.

But there she stands, as this one dies without the crescent-moon decorated spear in her hand, girlish silver ribbons tied about it. Her bronze vest exposes her bare arms, muscles evident even beneath her layers of fat -- though a white greatcoat hangs off of one arm, belted around her waist to keep it secure. (Another belt, securing her britches, holds a dozen pouches and vials and other helpful things -- alongside the empty hilt of a knife.) Her exposed arm is instead defended by a targe, the Eye of Ra staring imperiously out from it in eternal rebuke.

"I do not think you will let me," she says, when he asks whether they expect trample him. "Still I have come."

But he has a story to tell, and --

"What do you talk about?!" Isabeau demands, sharply, when Shinichi finishes illustrating what ''happened.'' "The 'Mikage-cho Incident'?! It was a gas leak! A ''gas leak!''" Her voice rises, as she yells -- "That is what they ''said,'' at the hospital! You damn Japanese gassed me with your kerosene heat! That is what ''happened!''"

The red flames of her truth erupt around her, as she grasps the side of her head, with a sharp cry.

"Ugh -- 'that day'--!"

OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noKmWtc0R9E Hozier - Through Me (The Flood)

At once she is overcome, falling to broad knees. One hand curls, against the ground, as the full weight of her dreams return to her. "... no... that day... when monsters flooded the town... I remember. My classmates pushed me out the door as a sacrifice to them... while ''he'' just stood and ''watched!''" She's pointing at the fake Shinichi, but that can't be ''his'' crime. "I ran away, but one of them found me... that 'Pixie'. Somehow, I impressed her, so she protected me from the others... but when the children saw me walking with her, unharmed... that is when they deemed me a Witch. Even after we forgot... they knew me to be a Witch..."

Her fingers scrape the ground, as she realises: "Even after I forgot, that creature stayed with me... I forgot, but Mielikki remembered. A damn monster... a damn ''monster'' saved me, though she would eat the other...!"

She takes a breath, harsh and laboured, as she hears Kanae speak. "... that is right," she says, as she staggers to her feet, lifting herself by her own spear. "You... you are Hunted by more than one Hunter, you who does not speak the word with its weight! MIELIKKI! My head is clouds, but my resources are not! Holy Arrow--!" She lifts a Skill Card -- straight from the Time Count -- high into the air --

-- as a little spruce-haired fairy with blue wasp's wings appears above her, draped in a golden dress and an oversized bear fur, its claws gripped in her hands like weapons. As that Skill Card spins, its sign reflects in the gold of her dress, and she draws back her claws as if firing an arrow from a bow she does not possess.

She knows it won't do him any permanent harm; she's been here before.

It's about sending a message.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
It took Yuuki Hoshizora awhile to get here, along with Magus. The blue-haired girl looks a little roughed up; the long fall and making her way back here has her covered in dust and with a few small cuts and bruises here nad there, from the effort of clamoring back. She still arrives at Room 302.

And she listens, with an expression that's barely holding back outrage at the Homunculus's words.

She glances, once, at Yanagi's voice. Then, back at the mist.

"You're not him. You--you're just stealing his pain, to replace him, and hurt the lives of people around him! You... I can't stand things like you, for--for everything you take from people!"

She looks at the cocoon, then lifts her rapier. The tip of the blade glints, as she steps up -- just ahead of Magus, just a little behind Kanae and Kazusa.

"So I'll send you to hell, if I have to!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Here!" Roger calls, boldly filtering in with the rest. They can already intuit that 'it' is 'here,' but as someone whose earliest semi-conscious existence is as a Sanguin Humor, there are some things about Ateliers that come natural to the now Persona-using Transmutation-ified human-shaped Roger - as he was named - snorting angrily all the while and stamping a foot.

He's clad in a sports team uniform, envisioning himself as someone who gets to play with everyone as someone. The whistle on a chain dangling around his neck is not blowed. Tennis, specifically, is not quite a large number team sport, but this fact has not stopped him from wielding a tennis racquet and matching ball.

"That's the Cocoon...! And that's another Sanguin Humor..." Roger has a very good idea what it means when nearly all Sanguin Humors are exhausted and removed from an Atelier's ecosystem. (Politely, he doesn't shout over the storytelling, though...)

"...Um... are you listening?! Hey!! Are you listening?!" He calls. He is not Shinichi's Sanguin Humor. He does not reflect what of his goals, desires, and needs are, but there are just ''some'' things inherent when one's initial existence was of that manner of entity. "Don't let that Homunculus eat you up!! If your sister's okay," hi, Nagisa, though it is odd he speaks like she isn't here in the moment, this might be a localization phrasing issue that needed one more editorial pass, "then... why let this be you?! Come on! Come back and play with her! Think of all the fun you could have in the time you could make up!"

"...Would she really be okay with you being like this?! Come on!! We're all here for you as you really are!"
</poem>

AS: Kanae Fuyuki has cleared her buckets.
AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga has cleared her buckets.

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin promised Kanae that she would find her way to help her with the Hunt.

And yet, Kanae got to the day chosen for the Hunt without hearing from her. Coin is not exactly someone you can call on the phone or send a text; if she's not there, she's not there, and that's the end of it.

She made it through the entire Atelier without seeing hide nor hair of her. Nobody did, in fact. It's as if Coin simply did not choose to come after all, and ditched Kanae without warning.

Until...

The fog parts. Not all of it. It's more like a gust of wind caught a little patch of it and dispersed it a little, thinned it out; even there it's not *gone*. It's enough to see the silhouette of a figure much shorter than a human -

A silhouette that resolves itself into a small fox-like humanoid. Two and a half feet tall, orange-red and white and black, wearing a knee-length leather coat over a waistcoat and a hat with a brilliant green feather, wielding a broadsword scaled for it. Her coat has some of higanbana petals stuck to it, as if she'd crawled through a cluster of them to get here.

"So different than a Foraine," Coin says, more to herself than anyone else. "And still, both possessed of a quarry." If not a Quarry. Those are different. She orients herself in the place -

Okay. THIS part is nothing like a Foraine. Coin lacks a lot of the context to hang 'hospital' on, let alone 'Mikage-cho', but it makes her uncomfortable in a way she doesn't much like. This is what he hates, she thinks, not a place of desire. And yet, he's stuck in it. It makes her fur bristle, her tail most of all.

The sight of Roger makes her stop for a moment - well, lots of people, but especially Roger. She's momentarily taken with something that she doesn't quite recognize as stage fright - she has never seen so many humans in one place before! So she looks at Roger instead, long and thoughtful, for about five seconds before she shakes her head hard enough to make the feather sway; her ears flatten. Later. "Kanae!" she calls, scrambling through the mist.

"You found your 'quarry', the target of your hunt. Now, what will you do with it?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Getting here was a trial for Magus and Yuuki. Magus's right side hurts all over from the fall, familiar old pains burning throughout her body. Nitocris's protection is usually enough so that she doesn't feel them until afterward, but if she's feeling them even ''now''...

...She's going to suffer for this later. She knows that. But what's new, really?

They arrive later than the others - but not so late that they miss all the 'fun'. And as they step through the door, she can feel it. Like eyes on the back of her head - like an animal sizing up its prey, preparing to strike. A haunting whistle echoes through the room, a familiar tune bringing forth familiar lyrics.

And then it stops, as a voice speaks.

What is she here for? Is she here to change him back to his past self?

"No. I'm here to kill you." Magus states plainly. "If that's how he wishes to live his life afterward, it's not my problem."

She's not a person who saves people, except by happenstance. ...Or so she tells herself.

She listens as he recounts his tale. The tale of a boy who's loneliness lead him to wish death on his sister, if only briefly - and then blamed himself for the hell on earth that arose the next day. The bodybag, and the shoes within... so that was why.

And that was the warzone they walked through. The monsters roaming the city streets. This 'Mikage-Cho Incident', as Isabeau put it.

Of course it wasn't the result of a single boy's mistake - but it's enough that he ''thought'' it was.

It's enough to make her feel some small sympathy for him. But for the thing wearing his face, even if she can't see it now...

"...It's as she says." Magus says with a nod, as Yuuki tears him down verbally and declares that she'll send him to hell. Is that a hint of pride in her tone? ...Surely it isn't.

"You would not be the first to try to kill me. Do you think yourself capable of succeeding where others failed? That boy may be spineless, a 'loser'... but without him, there would never have been a you. What does that make you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Black and silver drifted into the room. A wraith, its form defined by sharp and sweeping curves, its limbs ending in vicious talons, its face forced into the rictus grin of a silvered half-skull, held its rifle at the ready, silver-laced fingers ready to pull the trigger at anything that dared to approach. Grim had entered the fray, and evaluated the situation with cold, composed, silence. Behind the darkness that cloaked whatever of her face was left unmasked, her eyes drifted across the long strands of crimson, lingering on anything that seemed of interest. Her expression twitched beneath the shroud as the readouts betrayed the truth of the matter - they were racing against the clock.

Her head snapped towards the source of the noise. She knew it all too well. It sounded like Shinichi, that much was true, but it hadn't been Shinichi that had stolen those images of her. It hadn't been Shinichi that had stowed those blades away, nor made those threats against the lives of those that had wronged him. It was the *thing* in his body that had done those things, and it was that which spoke to them as the massed group made their play. For her part, Grim remained quiet, listening intently while looking for any opportunity to press the attack.

For once, Grim began to get an inkling of what it felt like to be on the receiving end of her shrouded ambushes. Something moved in the mist, so close that she could reach out and choke it to death, yet shifting and changing and disappearing the very moment she laid eyes on it. Rifle raised fully and senses pricked up to even the faintest of hints of the Homunculus, Grim stalked the room as she had before, waiting for a lull in the conversation. The only sounds she made were the faint tapping of her feet against the floor, and the quiet clicking of her weapon being brought to bear.

"And this is your solution."
Grim's voice was flat as a razor blade, but like one, it carried an edge to it. Cold and cutting, she made no attempt to hide her contempt for the thing that piloted Shinichi's body, even if her nature did not let her express it any more strongly than that. "Strutting around like you're God's gift to the Earth, demanding everyone bow to you, and threatening to murder anyone that doesn't. Claiming his past as your own, and using it to justify your own actions... You're pathetic."

Grim called upon Dantes to envelope her in dark magicks, and drag her back into the shadows. As much a disembodied voice as him now, Grim uttered her judgement with a voice so cold that the air threatened to mist around her.
"If it's death you want, it's death you'll get. Justice comes for you, monster. And we will deliver it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
The iridescent, glorious, and altogether fantastic and magical mascot that is Pernelle looks... exhausted. His usual springy step and rambunctious tear are subdued as he beholds Shinichi and Yanagi, listening to the tale of a sad young man, and to the two huntresses who seek to bring him down.

An origami angel-spirit lights up beside him, revealing Pernelle has already been looking toward Yanagi's voice all the while.

With a deep breath in, he uses a pinion to push his orange tinted glasses further up his beak, and rustles his feathers to smooth them out as he brushes the dust and debris from his indigo vest.

"So it has come to this."

Pernelle outstretches one wing, and lowers into a deep, flourished bow, as slow to rise from it as he is to dip into it.

"But with the shine of the spotlight, the dance shall commence. I can do nothing more, and nothing less."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
She hadn't meant to come here at all, the first time.

This is the second time, and Yoko Hirano is exactly where she means to be.

It feels better, somehow. To be herself in this space, even though the place itself is terrifying and twisted and tragic. But the obi wrapped around her middle feels like armor, her bare legs are free to run, and her misshapen cat-like feet have no trouble wading through the spider lilies. She carries an equally-malformed stuffed animal in her arms, its legs dangling. It's a bear, kind of.

The paper angels floating around her cast their ghost lights on the red flowers, through the red mist. It's scary, like clouds made of blood. Her mouth twitches unhappily as 'Shinichi' declares that he won't go back.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't want to go back. He's not really Yanagi's brother. And Yoko could tell that Queen was frightened of him, and he has a ''hit list'' and he has Yanagi and neither of those things are okay!

Yoko reaches out to delicately touch the paper angel that's come to her. "Yanagi-chan, where are you...? Oh."

Surprise, Pernelle, there's a cat of a sort joining you...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
The color drains from Tamaki's face as she listens to Shinichi's 'story.' The shining red mist coalesces, but she has no retort for Shinichi. She's struck wordless, seemingly with the same exhaustion that Pernelle suffers from, and hardly feels like she can lift her sword.

How can she face him when she's made similar decisions in her own life? What counterargument could she possibly ''have''? The notion that ''she'', of all people, could take Shinichi to task is outright comical.

Isabeau's outcry that it was only a 'gas leak' causes her heart to sink even further with guilt, then immediately oscillate back in the other way to assert that she couldn't have had any more control over the Mikage-cho situation than she did, that she had put in her time once already. All the pain that she could have prevented, all of the secrecy necessary to protect the ones without a Persona from getting involved in this damned half of the world, all of the gargantuan effort that it would take and the sacrifices that Tamaki ''isn't'' willing to make ...

"That was no gas leak," she relays to Isabeau, though at this point, Tamaki's sure that she's already figured it out.

It's too much. It's too much! To Tamaki's shame, even though she tries to cover her face with both hands, she can't stop her delirious laughter from bubbling up.

After a few moments, she regains her composure, claps her hands together once, and looks at the Homunculus with a wild-eyed grin. "Ohhh, you know, I think I might be one of the ones here who best ''understands'' you. I don't want to go back to being the old me, either."

Tamaki drops into a fencing stance and levels her sword at the Homunculus, point-in-line. "... neither of my old selves. You and me both, let's figure out a new way to go forward!"

Her hand reaches up to her necklace as she glares at her assigned guide to the land of the dead. She comments to it like she's making a grim joke with an old friend, "What, finally letting me through this time?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "That's quite a pickle your other self was in. Definitely traumatic. Handling demons by yourself is pretty hairy with a Persona, but without one? Forget about it," says a voice, familiar to some, but entirely ordinary. "Pretty impressive that he managed to remember without a Persona in the first place."

Suddenly, there's an Umie Akabane among them, complete with her own origami angel. With her hands in her pockets, the young woman is dressed in her usual utilitarianfashion, with oversized white hooded jacket, black leggings, red sneakers, and a half-mask: red checkboard with yellow peonies painted on the sides.

(The cursed red glitter mask is back at her apartment, getting its glitter everywhere.)

Yanagi's little paper doll gets a lingering side eye, as Umie considers something, in light of the full story of the two siblings.
.... she huffs a sigh, looking up towards the slip of paper and raises her hand, in order to try to lightly bap an index finger against it.

Now, back to (fake) Shinichi. "You can make all the proclamations you want, but if you want to evict us troublesome criminals out of your house, you're going to have to make a move."

More people are coming; some she can sense with resonances, and others, she senses by their speech and movement alone, one of which is Tamaki, who she sends a half-grin towards. "I was hoping one of you guys would show up! I felt bad talking about all this like I was some kind of expert."

Now, back to Shinichi again. While Tamaki plays good cop, Umie shall go ahead and play the terrible gremlin.

"So come on, Shinichi-*kun*," she says, beckoning with a curled up right hand, like a cat. "Are you man enough to fight for what's yours, or are you going to wimp out like your other self~?" It's a ploy, drawing on his behavior at the Triple 7: insult the young man's masculinity, and draw him out with anger.

Maybe, a little vinegar might help Roger's words echo into that cocoon, as well.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa didn't quite make it to Room 302 on her first attempt--her group's fight with the Melanc waylaid them enough to need to retreat and recover. Now, though...

She's here, clad in her Transmutation form, a long black starry cloak, moonstone circlet, princessly ragalia, and her wolf ears and tail. There is a quiet, subdued gasp as the Cocoon comes into view--she hasn't ever seen one from the outside before, but the monitor makes it clear: things are dire.

She pulls the cloak tighter as the mist rolls in, expression grim. The Homunculus speaks--she's heard this before, at least most of it. The rest she had to make guesses at.

Parasites... ''she'd'' been one of those parasites, once, foisting her school chores on Shinichi without a second thought, and even encouraged by her teacher to do so.

... She'd stopped, taken responsibility for her own chores, but not soon enough to prevent this. But that didn't mean she was going to give up now.

And when the butterflies appear to guide them, she follows. Her silver eyes are set as she takes in the Homunculus.

"... you think you know me. What a girl 'really wants', just because I was nice to you in the past." She lifts her chin up, defiant. "But what you never figured out was that I've been where Nagisa-san is now. That soft, nice girl you got fixated on? That was never me."

"But you were right about one thing. I ''do'' have a lot to make up for. And it's not easy, but I'm trying." She reaches for the silver clasp on her cloak and undoes it, throwing the cloak away. A coiled, bloody spine sits on her hip, which she snatches up and cracks into the air like a whip. Her silver eyes gleam. "And if I can change, so can Nagisa-san! We'll be leaving, and we'll be taking Nagisa-san with us--the ''real'' Nagisa-san, Homunculus."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
The indefatigable force of Saika Kikuchi has, in fact, gotten kind of fatigued as they made their way to Room 302. Her hands look scraped up. Her demeanor - already somewhat grisly thanks to all that stapling - is smeared with dirt, the white tails of her embroidered coat stained gray with filth and burn-residue. (Somehow it makes the inscriptions *more* legible.)

But she gets there! She gets there. Despite the horrors. Despite the greasy, cloying familiarity, like meeting a cousin who seems so similar to you that it's like looking into a mirror. Despite the darkness. She hasn't been quipping much for a while.

Saika makes a hand gesture popular in the West (which she learned from DVDs) towards the Homunculus in the brief moments before the mist thickens. Saika grits her teeth again. She does it loudly enough to be heard clearly, despite the fog. It happens when the Homunculus says

'it'd be better if she were dead'

In the mist, Saika, momentarily, sees red. Her eyes water. Her fists curl into tight balls of helpless fury. Somehow it's all just so fucking...

so FUCKING...

And there in that fulminant mist, there is a little angel. The light shines on Saika's closed eyes, enough to make her open them. She looks then, and she raises a hand. The little angel perches momentarily on her outstretched index finger. She gathers it close; she kisses it, lightly, on the top most vertice. A teardrop runs down her cheek.

It stings when it gets into the stitching.

Saika guides the little angel to her shoulder, and after two deep breaths, she speaks. She can hear others out there.

"Gonna follow up on your victory against a dying girl, huh, big man?"

Saika starts to spin the chain she has wrapped around her wrist and forearm, feeding it out. An eerie whirling sound as the wind snaps through the links of the bike chain.

"Smile, then; so I can see you," and she finds that she can grin even if the joy is a poisonous sort of thing. "Lessee who strings up who."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
Coming back down memory lane is a different experience for everyone. Eriko, for her part, had relished the opportunity to revisit one of the greatest times of her childhood- except when it brought back some memories that stung a bit too much.

And memories of things that even someone who had been in Mikage-cho at the time should not be aware of. Things that were supposed to be a bad dream.

But making it to Room 302 had been relatively simple, now she knew the way. And she was hardly alone.

-----

At the same time, the Phantom Thieves have declared an infiltration- their strategist, Queen, leading the way, with whatever support she could get. Getting to 302 has been difficult. This place plays upon her fears so well, but the team continue to work as a team.

For now, Queen watches the Homunculus from the shadows, eyes narrowed. The hospital is already quite crowded- and this place is still full of Melancs. Quietly, she gives her orders- the Phantom Thieves are going to be running interference today, as much as she'd like to take the fight to the homunculus herself.

Even if she is surprised to see Yoko returning to the Atelier. Perhaps she shouldn't be- but it seems that the cat has returned beyond her curiousity.

-----

Eriko listens, as the story is told, and her eyes widen. Yanagi died...? Or was presumed dead? And the boy in the cocoon...

And then the outbursts start coming, first from Isabeau, then from Tamaki. Eriko is worried for both.

"...I didn't realize the effect had reached as far as the Middle School," Eriko says, after a moment. "But for a great many people, Hell did come to Mikage-cho. Demons flooded the streets and zombies walked the halls of this very hospital. Nurses, doctors, patients- corpses brought back to life." Her eyes look to Isabeau. "...The gas leak was an excuse. A justification- something to explain the deaths to those who couldn't remember what happened, but lost those they loved. A chance at normalcy for those that survived, to be able to believe they hadn't seen beyond the veil."

A thin smile comes to Eriko's lips. "It seems for some people, though, that was simply a cruelty. Especially for a lonely child who made a mistake and lashed out because of his pain, and believed all that happened was his fault."

Eriko shales her head. "Ah, but a 'man' like you would know all about invading someone's home, wouldn't he?" Eriko's smile disappears, and anger appears on her expression. "After all, you're nothing more than a squatter, intruding on someone else's heart- and tracking in all manner of things that you couldn't possibly know about."

Eriko won't put her hand on her friend's shoulder with her sword drawn, she *will* draw her own and fall in alongside Tamaki, sword drawn, assault rifle slung over her shoulder.

Memories of high school come flooding, but that's not what's important.

"Tamaki," she says, quietly. "Normally, I might suggest ''keeping your cool'', but I think we're past that. So all I'll say is remember- you don't have to find your way alone." Her eyes glare back at the Homunculus. "Fortunately, we don't need a Navigator. Today's path is through that parasite. Shall we blaze it together?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The trip to this fated hospital room was a long one, and one not without suffering. Even years of experience with spaces like Ateliers means, most of the time, you know intimately well how wrong things can go within a heart's single beat. How much survival balances on the precarious razor's edge. How one person's selfish suffering can smother out the significance of your own existence and every ambition saddled alongside it in an instant.

It's thrilling. Isn't it?

And yet, rough and ill-fortuned as the ascent was...

"The villain has arrived~."

C L I C K !

The deadpan singsong of those words alights the sea of bloody blossoms as gold heels land upon a bundle of spider lilies with such detached decisiveness that it crushes that bloody bulb beneath it and cracks at the ground underneath, viscous red bleeding out from beneath its uncaring grind. On the proverbial heels of the heroes' arrival comes another:

Dressed in an eloquent three piece ensemble of a victorian white tailcoat buttoned high and a black vest accented in reds, and golds - just as much as the coat itself is - a column of roses like a natural epaulet drape their left shoulder, their petals gradating gradually from black, to white, to yellow, to red and seeming to glow with unearthly light, the newcomer steps inside calmly. Their skin is like the most excrutiatingly polished Calacatta marble. Their hair is a swept back, shimmering white. Their eyes, an inhuman scarlet and searing gold.

Beautiful. Yet in that cold, untouchable way a statue reminds you there is some beauty in this world that has no life or passion.

They seem rather indifferent to the words being exchanged around them -- the defiance, the disgust. They deliver their own greeting, and then simply... step inside, hands tucked in their pockets. 'The villain has arrived.' It's a greeting they offered the Homunculus the first time they encountered it in the depths of the Atelier. At that point, it was easy to assume they were referring to the creature itself.

Now, the actual subject is much more muddled.

It isn't helped by the fact that their attention seems to be on anything other than the unseen monster creeping in the corners of their vision, spitting vitriol upon this morbid, funerary space. Eyes lidding by half, their attentive stare seems more fixated on the actual landscape around them, from the spider lilies to the decaying Sanguin, to the thickening fog...

... to the Cocoon and the wires dangling from it like unspooled threads, thrumming out the dwindling vestiges of life within...

... to the familiar silhouette hidden in the fog, bringing that all-too familiar doll wrought of porcelain to whimsical, graceful life.

"... Isn't it interesting? Shame has a way of bringing out arrogance in humans."

They don't address the Homunculus still. They don't even try to look for it. As if it was beneath their notice entirely. No.

"They act in self-interest, and when they feel guilty about it, feel they are so important the world must be punishing them for their selfishness."

Their gaze is looking at - looking past - the Cocoon. Into and through it.

"A boy throws a tantrum for attention. And now the world must have poured horror onto unsuspecting innocents because of them. It must have been for them.

"Even in guilt, people try to make the world their revolution, even as they let themselves be dragged along its axis.

That rose-covered shoulder lifts, with the rustle of ephemeral petals.

"But I guess that's just another way humans tie themselves down."

Their attention isn't for the Homunculus. It's not even really for the person inside that Cocoon. No.

Their final words, their final question, make it very clear who has their attention:

"Is it everything you expected it to be, Sa-ya?"

</poem>
AS: Kazusa Motojima has readied for combat as Mina Harker! She is now fully healed!
AS: Tsumugi Kujaku has readied for combat as Jekyll! They are now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The nothingness in Yanagi's voice is not remarked upon by the creature wearing her brother's shape, as she politely asks 'Shall we, then?' and origami fly out to mark each person.

"Sure sis. How about we make this fun for you too... you tell me who here you like the least, and I'll kill them first."

There's something beyond just braggadocio overconfidence in those words, like to him the outcome is a matter of fact certainty.

The Homunculus doesn't appear at Isabeau's demand, instead replying in a blunt tone as she's overcome by memory, "You never were particularly bright. You fancy yourself an expert on this kind of thing- and yet, you don't even remember your first brush with it."

It's only when she replies that he just stood and ''watched'' that the homunculus chuckles, "Man, what a cruel witch you really are, blaming me for not interfering in the justice of the mob. Just what about you would be worth saving anyway?"

Yuuki calls him out, and he says nothing at first, until she tells him she'll send him to hell. At that, he starts chuckling, then outright laughing in a horrible, grating way.

"Don't you get it? You're already in hell you wouldn't be sending me anywhere I'm not already. And now you're stuck here with me." Whereas Magus, well, the insults cause the one behind the voice to bristle, and grow deadly low, "Your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash. I think you've never encountered anything like me before, bitch."

Tamaki is one of the few people in the room that knows, 'That was no gas leak,' "So you were there, huh?" 'I might be one of the ones here who best ''understands'' you. "You don't understand shit you ever stood across from a room full of people who are there to murder the 'new you'? How many people would you be willing to kill to keep that?"

And so too, does Eriko, "A living hell." He says, as if to sum up the reality, and to make another stab at Yuuki, but his voice turns threatening again in short order, "I think I recognize you- some sort of model, right? Well. Shame- a woman in your position really ought to know not to mouth off to a man."

Umie, tries to appeal to his masculinity, insult it, "Wimp out? Oh darling. You just handed yourself to me on a silver platter. I might not even have to do a thing here Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Do you know how much time has even passed since you came here? Maybe- you're already gone, and don't even know it yet."

And Grim well, "Hahahaha, are you sure you aren't describing yourself? Just listen to that high and mighty tone of yours. Acting like I should ''bow to you''. Well fuck that sweetie. You aren't justice. And soon you won't be ''anything at all''."

'Gonna follow up on your victory against a dying girl, huh, big man?' Saika asks. "Dying but not dead. Can't you see? We made up." The Homunculus really is getting to that stage where he thinks he's Shinichi for real- evidence that he's nearly won, that Shinichi nearly is gone. "Think I'll give you that smile, right across that dainty neck of yours."

'The villain has arrived~.' Tsumugi sing-songs and the Homunculus seems to respond to the theatricality with a sneering tone to disguise his marked confusion, "Who the hell even are you? Make a wrong turn from a Dickens novel? If you want to bully Oliver Twist- you'll have to head for the next Atelier over."

The way they don't address him though seems to getting under his skin though, fast, "I'm not fucking tied down. I'm ''free''. Free of that bullshit."

Whereas Kazusa makes a declaration, and he chortles, "The fuck are you talking about? Never you- wait. Ahhh now I get it. Doesn't sound like you're ready to take responsibility at all for what you did." He grins, "You kept running from me like a coward, freezing up whenever I came near. Where was all that bravado then? I think- you haven't changed one bit. You're gonna die here- a scared little bitch, and no one will ever find the body."

Roger calls out- and the Homunculus actually seems momentarily confused, "What even are you? You're not one of mine well whatever. Sure piggy. Our first game between siblings is gonna be slaughtering you and seeing what you taste like. Dibs on the rib meat, Sis."

Then Pernelle, in all of his glory addresses the room, and certainly he doesn't know he ''might'' be lamenting that he must fight Yanagi. Instead the Homunculus just, listens in silence, "The fuck is up with this guy? Dance? Just because you can talk doesn't mean you can throw down, Peacock."

On the same token, the Homunculus seems just as confused by Coin's presence, as if sensing something similar yet entirely different., "What do you mean 'Kanae'... you little shit? If you're with the hunters- I'll have you know-"

'Hi, Honey,'
"The fuck?" As she throws her hat aside, he doesn't say anything for a few long momenst, the air thick with the surprise, and fury, "Hey Babe. Nice night for a bitch to want to fuck a man over. So what else is new? Women really are the true parasites"

A shape appears right behind Kanae, still swathed in mist. A grey, stained duster with a hood that crests a baseball cap. The very image of a 'man you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley'. One hand brushes her hair, which is the first indication she receives that he's right there. A hand presses a rusted kitchen knife at the base of her spine. A sideways glare tells everyone not to move, or Kanae gets it.

"I'm as 'real' a man as it gets- sweetie. Your former flame? He didn't fight for you and you dumped him. Want to say it's because you pleaded with him? Asked him nicely? I know the fucking truth. You don't want a man like that, some preppy coward. You want a man you can ''submit'' to- and feel good about it, a man who takes charge so you can take and take and do as little as possible. A man who's willing to fight for what he wants- and feel like it's you."

He leans in to whisper in her ear, "Especially if he's fighting you. If not me, you would have married someone just like me- who knocked you around whenever you got uppity- and made you feel like he still loved you. That's the real truth- but now, you've lost your chance- not just with me- but at ''life''."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Persona Users of all stripes, including Hunters, arrive to declare defiance against the Homunculus, deny it its humanity and invite death. Kanae reveals her deception and her defiance; Isabeau remembers something she'd repressed; Yuuki projects her hatred for the Homunculus plaguing her life onto this one; Roger earnestly misunderstands the story and its characters; Coin bottlebrushes her tail and encourages Kanae; Magus speaks plainly and bluntly as she agrees with Yuuki; Grim sneers coldly as she stalks and hides; Yoko calls out to Yanagi as she touches the Wilis before her; Tamaki breaks out into broken laughter as she actually empathizes with the Homunculus; Umie taunts the Homunculus in a bid to draw it out into the open; Kazusa reveals her own experience with the good-girl Homunculus that had tried to consume ''her''; and Eriko provides some valuable context about the Mikage-cho Incident.

(The Phantoms, including Joker, follow Queen's lead here, as she's been appointed leader for this particular mission. There's no telling what might happen when it's all over, and there have been floods of Shadows in other Ateliers, so they've agreed to secure the perimeter so the others can take out the Homunculus.)

Yanagi reacts not at all, even as the mists begin to part enough to reveal her form before her Persona's. She simply... stands there, if with the support of her polished gun-cane, staring into nothing even as those origami Wilis phase out one by one and back in front of her to pass on their information. Even Yoko in her Transmuted regalia isn't acknowledged, despite how excited Yanagi had been the other day for her Awakening; neither is Tamaki, despite her grumbling remark about letting her through 'this time.' At most, the arrival of Coin gets her to slowly tick her head in her direction and stare at her, head tilting to one side, then the other, as if the foxling were a bizarre specimen of butterfly pinned to the wall.

The Homunculus invites its "sister" to pick who in the room she likes the least to die first, for fun. "Fun?" she echoes tonelessly. "Fun... hmm..." Her gaze, so dull despite the brilliant green of her eyes, passes over the room like a divine plague. It lingers briefly on Kanae; on Kazusa; on Kikuno; on...

Her eyes widen a fraction. It's her stand-in Kikuno's presence that she senses, rather than Kikuno's physical self. Before her arrives Pernelle, Saika, and... None of them address her directly, but they know, they know. Pernelle makes his bows as if joining a grand ballroom before taking up the rear; Saika sheds a tear as she kisses her little angel and challenges the Homunculus; and Tsumugi...

Tsumugi addresses the air, and then at last Yanagi herself. Is it arrogance, or ignorance, or both that led Shinichi Nagisa to this conclusion? Even without the Homunculus twisting the Atelier, its form wouldn't have changed ''that'' much. The nurses and the patients and the demonic Mikage-cho were all realities well before it infected this place. Yet, for all that her answer genuinely does tear at Yanagi's heart--

"Nope! I never expected any of this at all!" she replies effusively as a fond smile parts her lips. "It seems I've been arrogant too, haven't I?"

She gasps then, free hand raised to her mouth, a lively sparkle lighting up her once-dull eyes. "Oh! Tsumugi! Yes, that would be ''very'' fun!" she utters. She points to them and sparkles now at the Homunculus. "Focus on ''them''!"

And not at all on what Kikuno does next.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
They're not the only ones here, of course.

An unfolded black lace parasol, ornamented with purple and dark green ribbons, has hovered in the background, neatly shielding its bearer from view. With quiet slow steps, the parasol has begun to move through the room, a hovering dance over the green skirt and robes visible beneath it.

Still a distance from the cocoon, it comes to a stop, almost as if its bearer were curiously investigating the Homunculus and the cocoon alike -- as well as those now engaging with it.

'It', to Kikuno's way of thinking, would be the most apt description of the thing wearing Shinichi Nagisa like a suit. Whatever it might say otherwise. However human it might act.

She would know, of course.

"So, you're going to kill her, too." The parasol snaps snut all of a sudden, revealing Kikuno in full. Long pointed ears emerge from loose black hair shadowed with brilliant violet, and she peers at him over her glasses, her gaze straying only once for the origami angels.

"Pathetic," she concludes, joining that remark with one thing more:

"Beatrice."

BGM: J.A. Seazer - Missing & Bo-Peep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwSZkbGaP6M

It emerges from behind her in a flurry of blue flame and scattered petals, an amalgam of long violet petals, wide lashed eyes and the long elegant arms and hands of a woman. For her, Beatrice is a throne, and she perches atop it like a queen.

Crossing her legs, with her parasol set in her lap, she snaps the fingers of her right hand. Vines, trailing falling blossoms and petals, rush for the cocoon.

"Didn't I tell you?" she remarks to the Homunculus.

"That I'd have the last laugh."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi 'marks' Tsumugi for 'death'.

"Them, huh? Honestly they were starting to piss me off too. Think I'llstart with the tongue..."

-=-=-

When Kikuno addresses him, he sees his error right away, neck whipping around towards her, "Don't you fucking touch that you smug fat- BITCH!" As he shoves Kanae away abruptly, trying to cock his arm back for a sudden throw to stop her. He never makes it, his arm going limp mid-swing as Beatrice severs the threads.

Halloween 2 Main Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JflWFBreok

The color drains from his face, literally as the cocoon threads are severed, at the whine of the EKG that rather than flatlining, picks up in pace- and rhythm, with the sounds of life as he staggers backwards. "Guh-ngh-AAAAAAA!" Covering his face with his hands he doubles over in a spasm that wracks his whole form, something flows out from beneath them, an intermingling of crimson and black, like life itself were fleeing his form. "I WON'T LET YOU- WON'T- WON'T TAKE THIS FROM-"

And then he cuts off abruptly, as if the ability to speak were taken from him.

A puddle pools at his feet, disintegrating, as he stands up again, straighter- taller. Three meters at least, only a dribble is left of the fluid that leaked out of him, coming from a pair of black pits that ''were'' eye sockets. Now his face looks pale, artificial, as if it were crafted from papier-mache and clay, with a shock of faded orange-red hair that's turning black even as they speak, it moves still, like a barely formed appendage, but little else.

He bears a similar old bloodstained duster as before, but a glance at his hands might cause someone to double take, because there are slits on the back of each one. Slits that flare open, revealing crimson irises with yellow pupils that shed a baleful light as the eyes swivel to look directly at Kikuno.

[[File:HomunculusEshm2.png|Center|Spooky Scary Homunculus]]

Then, the monster just isn't there, despite the fact that so many were looking directly at it. Just like in a film when you blink- and it's gone, even if none of them have done that very thing.

Yanagi had pointed out Tsumugi when the Homunculus asked for a target that she hates the most and while he doesn't know this couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth, he appears right in front of them, that rusted kitchen knife still in hand. With a trio of powerful slashes, each one bears a flash of red hot anger- hatred. A silhouetted scene of a brother, yelling at their sister in bed.

[[File:HomunculusEshm1.png|Center|Dramatic Intro: Thanks goes to Tsumugi's Player!]]

This psychic imprint adds the full force of Shinichi Nagisa's first 'kill', his elder sister, to every strike against them. One might get the impression, this Homunculus, can't even communicate without committing violence first.

Discarding the knife, he moves over to Roger, he slashes down. On the tips of each fingers are claws, which try to slash their chest with deep gouges. Then with slow menace moves towards Yuuki, then Misato and finally towards Coin, slashing, and slashing, and slashing with bloody efficiency that goes far beyond his actual reach- before he vanishes again in an instant.

A hand reaches for Umie's shoulder from the mist, before the rest of the creature appears. In a gesture of incredible strength, he simply hauls her up, then attempts to throw them into Badb, who she'll assuredly summon on reflex to defend, an impact that tries to shatter it into shards, before their trajectory takes them into Pernelle with an impact that will almost certainly take them into Saika too.

Is this the old saying about two birds, one Umie?

Then before others can react to his reappearance, he slashes down towards Eriko first, scything past Tamaki as he tries to carve a bloody swath through the pair with his claws. And last of all, Yoko, which he tries to bring down across her back before then disappearing again.

When he reappears again, this time he's bearing a simple meat cleaver. The room goes red in the hues of his anger, each becoming a silhouette as he swings the blade- as spurts of black erupt from the necks of each Personas he hits, first Leshy- then Mielikki- then Mina, then finally Dantes as if he were making this quite personal.

When the red clears, one can see that each font of black was merely shards from their Personas taking a great amount of damage... to the necks, perhaps even some being decapitated outright.

With each attack, he looks at Kikuno, every- single- time. The promise she called attention to is called to mind each time. 'Think I'll kill you last, just because you're such a funny gal.' And she will know that even with his humanity stripped away to that of a base monster- he keeps his promises.

</poem>
AS: Penguin Slasher has readied for combat as Eshm the Wrath! They are now fully healed! Ready for 16 opponents!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Final Girl on Kikuno Kisaragi!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Original Sin on Tsumugi Kujaku! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Penguin Slasher gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Nightmare on Joy Street on Roger, Yuuki Hoshizora, Misato
Fushihara, and Coin! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Him on Umie Akabane, Saika Kikuchi, and Pernelle! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Nightmare on Joy Street on Eriko Kirishima, Tamaki Uchida, and Yoko
Hirano! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Its AlleGOREy! on Kanae Fuyuki, Isabeau Fontaine, Kazusa Motojima,
and Katsuko Yoshinaga! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Empty Wrath on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Empty Wrath.
| Cloak (Non-Area Damage Mitigated!) and Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Recovery skill Unstoppable on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Recovery healing from Penguin Slasher's Unstoppable.
| Reflect_Phys (Phys Counter Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Saika Kikuchi takes 150 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Saika Kikuchi takes 21 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 70 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 18 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 94 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Misato Fushihara takes 101 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Best! Roger takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Worst! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 104 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Original Sin. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Roger takes 104 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Best! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 15 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Original Sin.
AS: Counter Best! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 74 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Original Sin.
| COUNTER! Penguin Slasher takes 21 Dark damage in return for their attack! Resist!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 102 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Best! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 73 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Worst! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 73 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Worst! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Final Girl.
| Crt_Up (Critical Up!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Yoko Hirano takes 164 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Yoko Hirano takes 125 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Coin takes 121 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Coin takes 29 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 170 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 170 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 125 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 125 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau demands the story of Mikage-cho--and then--"--!" Kanae doesn't reveal herself immediately, but she takse half a step towards Isabeau as she falls to the ground. And then... she explains. Kanae's eyes widen under her concealment. A monster saved Isabeau...

But when Kanae steps forward, she has no reason any longer to hide hersself--or avoid Isabeau. "Isabeau, I had no idea," she says, in Japanese--and then switches to French.

"`...Just this once`," she says, "`We do this together.`"

She is surprised by Yuuki's vehemence, too--to send this Homunculus to Hell. And Roger thinks to reach out to the real one...

As Coin proves that she keeps her promises. Kanae grins at her, her gunbalde in hand. "Coin!" She calls. "I'm going to--"

The Homunculus is behind her abrubtly, and Kanae stiffens; there's no way for her to turn and parry the cleaver at her back. She has to put her faith in the plan. Nevertheless, the Homunculus will notice the way she swallows, and she feels that lump in her throat.

But her free hand curls into a fist at her side, and she practically holds her breath. What he says...

His attention is drawn long enough. Yanagi points out Tsumugi, and Kikuno strikes. A little smile spreads on Kanae's face. "Asshole," she says. Then she's ''shoved'', hard, hitting the ground. "Gh--" But rolling around, Kanae gets her feet, holding out her saw-toothed gunblade once again. The rust and blood on the blade glint in the low light, as the Homunculus ''changes''.

She calls forth Leshy immediately, the towering tree-woman raising club-like hands towards the Homunculus. "Hang on!" she calls. But--he reeappears. Black gouts of sap erupt from Leshy from the first strike, though the second hack it manages to turn and block. The Persona nearly shatters nevertheless.

"Gh," Kanae says again. "Fuck off!"

"...Instead of fighting for me, he fought against me," Kanae says of Touma. "I tried to keep him safe, and he threw it in my face. You're right. I ''don't'' want a coward."

"...Maybe I did want that. someone who could take care of it all for me. ...Even if he pushed me around. Maybe I wanted to be fought for, even though I didn'tw ant him to get hurt."

"...But I'm not done here. And I won't ''ever'' submit to a man like that again."

She breathes in, and Leshy disappears.

"Coin is my friend," Kanae explains once she's free, for Isabeau's benefit, and looks to Kazusa, who talks about changing. ...She really is trying. But she continues on Coin, "She's a Hunter, too. She's apparently good at getting around spaces like this."

"Now..."

"VALKYRIE!" Kanae calls, and with a shattering sound like glass breaking, she calls forth another Persona--a masked woman on a horse wielding twin blades. Valkyrie ''charges'' behind her, but it's Kanae's weapon that moves first this time. She ''swings'' for the great Homunculus, and her weapon's gun ''fires'' with a resounding BANG as she swings it, pushing hot lead straight for the monster's body.

"I'll show you you never controlled me!"
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Pierce skill Brutal Shell on Penguin Slasher!
| Aggression: Kanae Fuyuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kanae Fuyuki's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Best! Penguin Slasher takes 23 Pierce damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Brutal Shell.
| COUNTER! Kanae Fuyuki takes 76 Strike damage in return for her attack!

AS: Avoid Best! Kazusa Motojima takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Avoid Best! Kazusa Motojima takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki glances sideways at Magus as she speaks up. Harsh, but... she as a point, she thinks. Her jaw sets as she looks back at the Homunculus.

"This isn't--" Yuuki snaps back.

But is it that simple? She feels as if everyone is so distant, for a moment -- even Kazusa, who welcomed her; even the people of Peacock Silk, who said they would help; even Magus, who is... -- and she has to face that face that she has been put through the ringer.

"Shut--shut up!" she shouts, heatedly.

But Yanagi and Kikuno have a plan. Her too-bright green eyes hoot wide, as the Homunculus seems to dissolve -- and the truth of its nature is revealed -- and it comes at her, claws slashing down. She tries to duck backward, but the claws strike into her. Blue blood splashes on the ground and she gets hurled backward, hitting the ground and rolling.

Her breathing is ragged, then.

"D-Damn it..."

She pushes herself to her feet. She focuses, for a second, before she thrusts a hand out. "Galileo!" she yells. Teamwork, fighting with others, it all leaves her mind. She has to turn this around. She has to be able to handle a Homunculus.

Her Persona swirls around her. Clockwork rings, interlocking together, with crystalline orbs in it, move with clicks. And then, she is ''hurled'' forward.

Gravity shifts for her. She goes into a wild flight -- rushing away from Magus, and then between Kanae and Coin -- with a wide-eyed, furious shout.

"STRIKE!" she yells, as she thrusts her rapier straight for the midsection of the Homunculus.

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Yuuki Hoshizora has used the Earth skill Mass Driver on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Yuuki Hoshizora's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Penguin Slasher takes 16 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Mass Driver.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 32 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Mass Driver.
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 6 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Mass Driver.
AS: Block Best! Isabeau Fontaine takes 12 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 32 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Tsumugi, of course, addresses the real person in this situation. Saika exhales herself, letting the tension shift into something more ready. It's perhaps notable that Saika has actually had yet to fully show her Persona tonight. That is not going to last. The Homunculus mocks Yanagi.

Yanagi takes it straight and gives him an answer. An answer which seems simultaneously completely perfect for the ethereal spirit that Saika has cared for, that Saika in her own way loves, and also, which is - wait, Tsumugi?

(what,) thinks Saika, looking towards the direction of Tsumugi's voice BUT

it's happening

the moment, the tension. The leaking. The pouring outwards. Something being assembled. growing. His hands are real and so are the eyes. Saika blinks--

-- the Homunculus isn't there--

Something's going towards Tsumugi. "Look out!" Saika cries out on pure spinal reflex, probably not the only one. Saika turns herself to face towards Pernelle just in time for Umie's manifestation to shatter and send jagged fragments towards her. Saika throws up her guarded arm, the chain serving as mail as one fragment breaks apart and another one rips a piece out of her thigh before streaking out through the back of her coat.

The line that flutters: 'Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0JaUjpu3Lo

Because for at least a couple of seconds, as the Homunculus turns to regard the new meat (Kikuno is the new meat) (Saika didn't call her that but she definitely thought it) and even *addresses* her, Saika can see exactly where *HE* is.

And after this entire horrid journey, it's a relief. Because *now* Saika knows what to do.

Saika runs forwards, head down. She is not big, but momentum is one of those things that can address the balance. She brings her arm backwards, letting the trail of chain clatter faintly in the increasing chaos of the battlefield, and when she has closed enough to the Homunculus she whips it forwards, aiming for his face and throat!

That'd be pretty good on its own. Slash the guy across the eyes. Nice, moderate. Builds momentum, probably richly earned from that entire conversation right now.

Saika does not waste velocity. After the lash she is still closing the ground, letting the crack-lash draw her right shoulder forwards as she bears down. She makes a ragged alto-profundo roar in the back of her throat as that wedge-point aims to smash directly into the Homunculus's torso. If he was an ordinary boy, Saika - if she was plotting it out rationally rather than running on instinct - would say: this would probably be bad for his clavicle, his solar plexis, and his dermis.

Of course the Homunculus is not a normal boy.

But are any of them? Normal, that is...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> There's a moment where Roger stops what he's doing to consider Coin's presence. "Um? This is a..."

Kanae helpfully explains. A fellow 'Hunter.' "Oh! Okay. It's fine. I'd never complain about anyone that's here to get rid of a Homunculus!" A bright, happy smile. "Hi! I'm Roger. I can tell you all about Ateliers later!"

...Back to facing the horror.

His eyes widen at the threat of being eaten, recoiling at the very idea of it. "Ahh! Don't fry and batter me up!!" Still, with all this, he sees Yanagi over there as she's given an invitation by the Homunculus, and matters... play out as they do, with Kikuno's play to tear open the cocoon - that is finally opening, and with that...

"There!! The cocoon is torn open!" Which Roger didn't really have a hand in, but he's narrating for everyone here who may not have a full understanding how this works. "The rightful Atelier owner can take back their place once we show this monster outta here!"

An emboldened Roger snorts as the Homunculus warps and transforms in their desparate bid to keep existing, in the face of something so utterly gut-wrenching and ''scary''.

Roger snorts as the claws come swinging. He nimbly leaps back from the first swipe, only the second to catch him and strike true to both rip into him, and catch into his uniform to have himself lifted up and thrown away so the others in line can be similarly menaced.

Sliced and battered (off-handedly) but not fried, Roger catches himself on the way down as a blue butterfly flits by.

"...That Homunculus has already made a real sty of things for Shinichi-kun... I won't let him beat himself up over any of you either!" He swings for the butterfly with his racquet, flaying it into velvet-y blue energies that coalesce into the form of the resplendently-colorful hog-man that is Kamapua'a.

"Persona...!" Roger calls, a flourish as a healing wave settles upon those most grievously wounded in the flailing Homunculus' opening volley - Yuuki, Katsuko, Yoko, and Tamaki - to quietly dull the hurts and offset the harms.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Strike skill Saika Body Attack on Penguin Slasher! 2 Hits!
| Defense: Saika Kikuchi gains 1 Limit!

AS: Saika Kikuchi's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Neutral! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Saika Body Attack. Resist!
| COUNTER! Saika Kikuchi takes 45 Strike damage in return for her attack!

AS: Counter Best! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Saika Body Attack. Resist!
| COUNTER! Saika Kikuchi takes 60 Strike damage in return for her attack!
AS: Kanae Fuyuki spends Limit on Shift! Roger can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Roger has used the Recovery skill Healing Wave on Yuuki Hoshizora, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Yoko Hirano, and
Tamaki Uchida!
| Support: Roger gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus has never encountered anything like him before. She hears the low tone to his voice.

"No, I haven't." Magus agrees. "Be honored that you will at last serve a purpose as an opportunity for learning."

She looks toward Yuuki, though, as she hesitates.

"Do not falter!" Magus calls out to her.

A plan is enacted - and the cocoon's threads are severed. The reaction from the Homunculus is immediate and severe - and so is his transformation. He looks less human than before but still just as much a monster, and he lashes out with cruel, intense efficiency. Claws seek her flesh. They dig in to a flash of blue flame - but Magus is gone, too, in the next moment before they can fully carve through her. She leaps back, taking a moment to assess Yuuki's condition before looking back toward the false Shinichi.

And as she rushes away...

"Crush him, Nitocris!" Magus calls, grasping her mask. The spectral form of a regal Egyptian queen appears behind her, and with a gesture of her hands, arrows of water appear around Shinichi. And as Yuuki races in, the arrows descend upon him.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Water skill Aqua Crush on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!

AS: Misato Fushihara's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>"Strong words from a weak man. But you've got it wrong. I don't need you to bow for me - I need you to die."
A person might have elicited some restraint from Grim. Threats of bodily harm or blackmail, perhaps, or thinly-veiled barbs to verbally beat them into submission. But the Homunculus was not a person, and there was no negotiating with it - their only option was to kill the thing dead. And thus, it brooked no restraint. Grim might have smiled at the notion, were it not for the fact that everyone's lives were on the line.

So focussed was she on the Homunculus that even Grim herself hadn't noticed someone slipping through to sever the cocoon's threads. Part of her wanted to kick herself for letting anything escape her notice - if that'd been someone working against them, she would've been on the backfoot before the fight even started. But as luck had it, Kikuno (whoever that woman was) was someone fighting on their side, and Grim was of a mind to take all the allies she could get in that moment. Thanks would have to wait for after the fight, however. They had a job to do.

The glint of a sniper's scope created a pinprick of light in the dark while Grim levelled the barrel down towards the Homunculus. Through its sights, she watched as the thing shifted and turned, dragging itself up and draining itself dry, until a three-metre-tall monstrosity loomed above the gathered warriors. She looked it dead in the eye, fighting the urge to step back and cast her gaze away from the horror, but those few moments of hesitation were all that were needed. With her hesitating to pull the trigger, an opening was left for a cleaver to hack and slash away at Dantes.

There was no time to dart away. Much as she would have liked to slip away into the dark, the Homunculus was upon her Persona before Grim had a chance to blink. It was all she could do to have Dantes raise the blade in anticipation of the blow, but even that did little as steel scraped against steel. The first blow sent both Grim and Dantes reeling backwards, their guards wrenched open in a welter of supernatural sparks, while the second cleaved a bloody line into the Count's neck. That he didn't shatter was more a feat of will than endurance - Grim herself looked as though she was about to fall to a knee before slinking off into the dark.

"You made it. Good. This thing's dangerous - we need all the help we can get with this." She said eventually, seeming to manifest out of nowhere next to Magus. " She hated to admit it, but she hated the idea of dying an ignominious death at the Homunculus' hands even more. "Don't stop until it's dead. This isn't a person, and we can't reason with it." With her piece said, Grim issued Dantes' order to retaliate, and that began with a scathing condemnation. No damage came as the fog-wreathed spirit stretched out his hand to cast the Homunculus down. Instead, blackened energies sapped the strength from it, falling from the air like a judge's gavel.

"Judgement is passed, monster. Tonight, you're going to answer for everything you've done."
</poem>

AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added! 10 SP regained!

AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Take! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added! 10 SP regained!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added! 10 SP regained!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Take! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Almighty skill Judge on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Katsuko Yoshinaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga's turn has ended.
| Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Saika Kikuchi spends Limit on Shift! Kanae Fuyuki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 51 Water damage from Misato Fushihara's Aqua Crush. Weak!
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Judge.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"I told you I'd be here and so I came," Coin replies to Kanae. She'd sweep her hat if she wasn't a little too occupied to do so. "Cognitive spaces... yes, I do. But we can talk later!" That is to Roger, because Coin definitely wants to pick his brain about Ateliers; they're one kind of cognitive space that she knows relatively little about, perhaps because they're harder for her to get into.

She had to follow everyone else into here, after all. It's not like a Foraine or even a Palace, where she can get in by herself...

Coin stares right back at Yanagi, apparently detecting the stare even though she was not, strictly speaking, looking at her originally. She's aware, then, and not just a Shadow or a Humour of some sort - though she certainly isn't a Humour from *this* Atelier.

But it's the Homonculus needling her that gets her to respond.

Coin draws herself up to her full height (not very) and puffs her chest out. "I am not *with* the hunters, I *am* a Hunter," she says, her capital letter practically audible. "I am called - I am Coin, and I'm helping with their hunt - of which you are the quarry! I can *feel* the cognitive distortion, and I cannot let such a thing pass!"

She's never been in an Atelier that's been taken over before. (Actually she's never been in any Atelier before.) She doesn't like the feeling. It's *wrong*.

So perhaps it's her inexperience with this particular kind of cognitive distortion that leaves her surprised when the thing *changes*, blurringly fast - or is it? The Homonculus - Eshm the Wrath - doesn't actually seem to be moving all that quickly. It's just there, and then it's somewhere else. It makes Coin's eyes water.

Her attempt to block with her sword is too slow, and the first stab strikes, but Coin is a slippery target. Coin dives forward, letting the follow-up strike pass overhead - she's small enough that she can, and is, using her lack of size to her advantage, so it nearly catches her coat but she scrambles underneath the second blow.

When Coin rises again, she has a ball in her hand. It's something she can hold in one paw, but not by much, like a baseball maybe. It appears to be glass, or something like it, and it's filled with something grey, slowly churning. She spikes it down at the ground, and vanishes in a cloud of smoke.

The smoke is faintly tinged with yellow and smells sulphurous at first, though the hellfire-ish smell pretty soon shifts to clean, fresh smoke, like a wood fire, pine and oak and apple.

"Come forth!" Coin calls, from inside the cloud... and something comes.

As the smoke clears, Coin is there, fist clenched around the blue-glowing light of a called Persona, and something is rising above her. A dragon; long and narrow and vaguely serpentine, but with the broad wings of a European dragon, a tail with a fan-like frill. It has big hands and big feet, making it look either comedic or vicious depending on how much you pay attention to the claws on them, and its toothy grin *is* a grin.

A monster, hunted for fear and for treasure, who killed those who threatened it but hoped for something new.
A chance meeting became friendship, and a friendship made the dragon the icon of a city, so perhaps the dragon got their wish.
But still: The one thing the dragon was never able to do was stay in the city that bears its image.
Because, after all...
It still wasn't human, no matter how well-mannered a dragon it was.

"Krepel!"

The dragon - the Persona - opens its mouth, and light starts to build up - not near it, but a patch on the ground beneath Eshm the Wrath's feet... and when it brightens enough, it explodes into a pillar of brilliant, shining flame.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Coin has used the Fire skill Shining Flame on Penguin Slasher!
| Aggression: Coin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Coin's turn has ended.
| Coin regains 8 HP from Regenerate!

AS: Avoid Best! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Fire damage from Coin's Shining Flame. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa bristles at the Homunculus' words. She ''ahs'' been running scared of him, as much as she hates to admit it. "Your idea of 'responsibility' is to just punsih me and satisfy your own ego! Do you think a 'real man' needs to beat up someone weaker than him just to prove some kind of point?"

"But if you don't think I've changed, that's fine. ''You're'' not the one I need to make things up to."

She whirls around when the Homunculus finally apepars, gritting her teeth as she sees that knife. "Kanae-chan--" Crap.

Her heart beats a little faster when Yanagi is invited to pick the person she likes the least--she's not sure if Yanagi is holding a grudge against her or not, for what she did to Yanagi's brother.

... but she's got a plan, right? That was the deal--to let her handle this her way. Kazusa is ''really'' hoping the plan is still on.

And she picks Tsumugi--did they plan that? Her entire body is tense as she tries to keep her eye on the threat. But what is Kikuno doing?

There's an audible gasp as ''something'' drains from the Homunculus, as it changes, those extra eyes appear. This keeps getting worse--

No. Power through. You have to do this. For Shinichi's sake.

The Homunculus vanishes and then reappears with a meat cleaver, lashing out at the throats of several Personas. When the cleaver lashes out at Mina Harker there is a spray of black--but it doesn't stop there, instead the entire Persona seems to melt into a black mist, dispersing into the air, eddies of current still swirling from the force of the Homunculus' swing.

But Kazusa seems unharmed teeth grit as she tries to track the Homunculus. Mina Harker reforms behind her, as Kazusa stands up straighter herself.

There is a fox, and an introduction. Kazusa blinks as she looks at Coin. "Uh, hi?" ''Another'' talking animal? She has ''so many'' questions--that are best saved for later. "Kazusa Motojima. if you're with Kanae-chan, then fine."

A blue butterfly floats out in front of her, and her (still-bloody) whip cracks out to smash it and disperse it.

BGM: Face Down (Casette Beasts) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6BDtASMLAI

"The old me ''hated'' being closed off from people, but would never admit it--now I'm here trying to support everyone. Mina! Mediarama!"

Mina Harker, who is manifested as a floating woman with an ashen, corrupted left half and a more healthy-looking right hand, lifts her right hand as healing energy rushes out to envelop Yuuki, Saika, Yoko, and Tamaki.

(A moment later she catches sight of what Coin has summoned. "Wait is that a ''dragon''!?")
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kazusa Motojima has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Yuuki Hoshizora, Saika Kikuchi, Yoko Hirano, and
Tamaki Uchida!
| Support: Kazusa Motojima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kazusa Motojima's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"A 'cruel Witch'... perhaps I am. No, it is certainly so... that is what I can ''be!''" Isabeau's hand balls to a fist, beside her, as she brandishes her spear. "You think me worthless? You do not know the worth my father holds me! We are ''family!''" Not that she expects the Homunculus to understand that -- with how it's speaking to Yanagi...

(She feels disturbed, slightly, when she hears the cheer with which Yanagi responds to these events.)

Kanae, though, suggests -- ''just this once'' -- and Isabeau issues back, her French heated and far less ''stilted'' than her Japanese: "`I don't need your ''help!''`" She takes a breath, though... and shakes her head. "`... there's a lot you don't know about me,`" she says, then. "`And you'd better not go around asking. But... I told you I wouldn't let him have his way. So -- fine. Together!`"

But then... 'things like you'...

All this time, Isabeau had condemned them all alike. Now, as she hears Yuuki decry the thing wearing Shinichi's face, she feels bile in her throat as she realises she wouldn't be standing here if not for a monster much ''like'' him.

That Roger and Pernelle are here -- with their typical bands of focus -- only seems to underscore the point. In each instance, she hates it -- is it more proper to say him, like he claims he is? -- but how many people has she ''seen'' him eat? Whether pig or peacock, what sins have they committed in front of her...?

What is the thing which shifts such a creature from destruction to salvation? Should she be disturbed, hearing the Homunculus threaten to eat Roger? ... she knows, at least, that Pernelle ''can'' throw down.

Back then... just because she made Pixie laugh... despite the horrors raging around them, by creatures just like her... no, by her, just as much.

... Isabeau realises, as she grapples with the dehumanisation she's laid on Roger and Pernelle, that her memories had no such weight placed on ''Pixie.'' Pixie does not cross her mind as an 'it', not until she consciously frames the question. Did she feel differently... back then?

Did something change about Isabeau, between Mikage and now...?

It's on that backdrop of her realisation that a diminutive fox girl steps into their midst. "You... you are not human!" She gasps, as she brandishes her spear. "What business have you with Kanae?! What do ''you'' know of the Foraine?!"

(She forgets the honourific; sorry, Yasushi.)

She's suspicious, but grant her this much: Isabeau -- a keen-eyed Hunter, though she was ever Eve's ''apprentice'' when she would deliver reports to their old Navigator -- understands immediately and intuitively the difference between Kazusa's wolf-tail and Yoko's cat-feet and the features of the Shadows and creatures she interrogates inside and out.

"You," she issues, imperious, to Yoko and her mysteries. "You are ''new.'' No reports have we of a girl with cat's feet... why have you come?"

(She will not admit she has things to work on, the way Kazusa does.)

When Tamaki insisted it wasn't a gas leak, meanwhile, it was just one more brick loosening in the wall before it crumbled. That pain stayed there, trapped in the walls, until --

"So you were there," she concludes, looking to Tamaki. "And you," she adds, to Eriko.

Umie, meanwhile, does not address her own survival... but the words she speaks to Shinichi remain true for her as well. Perhaps ''moreso,'' that she made a Pact with no Persona to rescue her if she'd failed. "A 'Demon'... yes, I suppose that was the type of monster she was. I had no words for such a thing... back then."

Back then, in middle school... "I wonder if he knew," Isabeau scowls, looking to Eriko again. "When I was cruel to him... when I asked him whether he thought his people would ''save'' him, and told him why they would not. There, on the train station... as I told him he would not be there when someone truly needed help..."

She tilts her head, as she says, softly, "... did some part of me remember, too?"

There, though -- the villain, not only Pernelle but Saika and Yanagi and ''Tsumugi,'' person of the hour, who is human but speaks as if they were not. Isabeau recalls her anger towards Shinichi, too... and wonders.

She wonders, too, how powerful Tsumugi ''is,'' that Yanagi would urge the Homunculus's anger onto them as a fun little jaunt.

Kikuno's power, at least, is more a blindside; and she was sure of Coin's place outside humanity, and sure of Yoko's place within it, but ''this'' girl confuses all her assessments in an instant. "What -- what strength is this?" She demands, though it is scarce little time she has to worry about ''Kikuno'' now she's met her in a Supernatural space, before --

Without its Eyes, the Homunculus... is ''worse.'' It comes for Mielikki and at once ''shatters'' her, Isabeau crying out at the violence of it; with black ichor, there is a moment one might be able to glimpse a moment of great violence, before her red glass shatters.

In that lacuna, she hears it --

'You're right. I ''don't'' want a coward.'

Kanae explains Coin, yes, and she hears Coin explain herself too... but it's what she says first that echoes louder.

"Destroy him," she issues, to Kanae. "I will join you. But first --"

-- she pulls out a ledger, the first copy of all those reports she presents to the Wild Hunt, as she turns to Kikuno. "You," she issues, to her. "That strange feeling... you will explain yourself!" Mielikki flutters into existence again, dusting fairy dust over Kikuno, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and...

"... so... you are not so different to the girls with cat feet and wolf tails," Isabeau concludes, as her jealous green eyes narrow. (Her power, particularly concerned with ''Hunting,'' is uniquely occupied with whether someone is or is not a monster worthy of the Hunt.) "Though your power is so unsettling... do not concern me this way."

Is that really what's most important right now--?!

... Isabeau never promised she was the kind of girl who fought the boss so easily.

(That Coin has a Persona is not shocking to her, at least; Mona had one too, when he fought the Wild Hunt, just as Roger and Pernelle do. That she is a Hunter? She will have to address a monster turning around to hunt other monsters later.)

</poem>
AS: Take! Saika Kikuchi takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Brutal Scan on Kikuno Kisaragi!
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
"...Really though," Eriko says, in a perhaps all too chipper manner, as the Homunculus reiterates the concept of a living hell. "For me, it was one of the most fun times of my life." And there's not a hint of a lie there, the smile coming to her face joyous. "Demons, angels, monsters- all of them real, all of them walking around. You could talk to them, you could fight them, you could outsmart them. And then there were all the wonders outside- the stories of the Agastya tree, the Shrine, the dungeons below the ruins- I'm a little sad I didn't see you and your Pixie, Isabeau, I would have been most impressed. It's shame your schoolmates were such bullies and cowards about it." ...Eriko would probably bear the title of witch with pride.

The homunculus tells her he recognizes her- and not to mouth off. "Your recognition fills me with disgust," Eriko says, flatly. "Because I recognize you too. You're every mediocre, pointless man who thinks he has worth because his reproductive organs on the outside, but who is useless on his own so blames women for his own pathetic nature. No ambition, no drive- just the feeling they deserve a women handed to her on platter."

As Yanagi solidifies, Eriko's attention turns to her. Someone who thought her a friend- so why would she be working with the Homunculus...? Is she placating it, or working with it? "...Are you content to let this thing speak for you, Yanagi? If not, this is a far less enjoyable prank than moving the mannequins." Eriko smirks, but she isn't particularly happy about it.

But perhaps the prank is directed elsewhere- Eriko had not been sure what to make of Kikuno when she joined the investigation. But she knew the girl was another of Shinichi's targets. "...My, my," Eriko says, as her Persona comes, and she slices the threads filling the cocoon. "Rappacini's Daughter retains her poison, I see. ''Marvelous!''" She switches between Japanese and English with ease- but then the EKG sounds speed up and the homunculus drains into something else. Robbed off metamorphosis, it becomes something archetypical in and of itself. And normally, Eriko would be happy to see a horror movie killer made flesh-

But the Platonic Ideal of a Stalker is more than she was ready for. Her body freezes, and fear grips her. It puts her back there.

-----

In that apartment, she shared with a couple of other models. The door is unlocked- even though they made sure it was when they left. No lights are on, but things are disturbed. Stepping into her home and seeing him and Nike being unreachable and-

-----

The first slash catches Eriko flatfooted and the claw slashes across her chest, cutting at her jumpsuit, tearing free a button along with the blood, leaving a trail of claws across a breast, the carefully tailored outfit leaving her slightly exposed. The second, however doesn't get close.

-----

Even without Nike, she's not powerless. She doesn't have her sword, or her gun- but there is a very heavy lamp right there. She'll have to apologize to her roommate later.

-----

With a dart of unnatural speed, Eriko gets free of the Homunculus' claw range and clear of danger. One cut is enough. "What was it you said about 'mouthing off', squatter? It seems you've lost that capability- but let's make sure, shall we? Nike!"

The Goddess of Victory with wings of steel comes to Eriko's call, and she raises her sword in a salute, just like she used to. "Let's not let it have any more last words, it's talked enough. Righteous Mafui!"

The roar of Nike's jet engines echoes out, with a touch of divine song carried through. For the target, though, the song sings of ill fate and silence. Not a warning, or a premonition. A command with all the authority shy of the Metatron themselves. It's as though the Chorus itself is all saying one thing: 'Suffer silently, and repent.'

Isabeau asks her a question directly, and Eriko nods. "I was. For almost all of it. I think... I would owe you an explanation once this is all over. You and the real Shinichi." As for whether Isabeau remembered... "Some part of him- or of you- might have. The masks inside of us carry things our conscience mind might not. There's so much the heart can hide- for our own wellbeing or to harm us."

Coin, on the other hand, does get a smile. "Oh my- the Bytom Dragon? How wonderful. I see you have found a hunter rather than a farmhand- perhaps a more useful friend in these times."

Still, she can't get distracted more- she's worried about Tamaki too, given the damage and healing sent her way.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Almighty skill Righteous Mafui on Penguin Slasher!
| Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Eriko Kirishima's Righteous Mafui.

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> There's a few things Umie only notices once she makes her entrance:

- Coin is here with Kanae, the friend she mentioned. While under the effects of the Badb's feathers and the paper maiche half-mask made , Coin may not recognize Umie, but that may not matter the moment someone makes it clear who Umie is, by name. It was Mona and Belle mentioning her name (and Umie herself confirming it) that made it possible for Shinichi to pierce that veil himself, after all, and why would anyone suspect a thing? In a Palace, the ruler's equivalent in the physical world is none the wiser for most of it.
- Wait. Why is Yoko here?! WHY DOES SHE HAVE A - focus, Umie, there's a predator in the room
- Tsumugi's heels are very fabulous.

'You tell me who here you like the least, and I'll kill them first.' "So she was the one you mentioned," Umie supposes aloud. "With her abilities..." She considers Yanagi, and quietly murmurs a reply at this supposed 'betrayal': "... was the izakaya I picked *that* bad... ?" It's a quiet acknowledgment, in a way, that things may likely be a lot more complex that Umie can give her credit for. Like Tamaki, there's a part of this, and that guilt the real Shinichi bared over causing his sister's 'death', that Umie can understand. Yanagi even picks Tsumugi, the person Umie would have least expected.

(..... maybe Tsumugi's just really that difficult to have as a boss.)

"Your *real* self was traumatized for years," Umie suddenly snaps at the false Shinichi, as he rounds on Isabeau. "For someone who hated his past self so much, you *really* want others to follow his example. And besides, it was her intelligence" -- pun fully intended -- "that helped others to not fall to the same threats."

Isabeau sees herself in Umie's comments, and Umie nods. "A Demon can be your enemy or your ally, sometimes even both. A Pixie helped you." While it was a pixie (or several of them) that killed(?) Tamaki, in that sordid realm she was trapped in years ago. (Yes, Umie is looking up at Tamaki just then.)

The homunculus's venom does not lack in targets, nor does it become any less diluted by the time he comes to her. There's a palpable pause, as Shinichi reminds her of how that clock is ticking.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"Oh *please*," Umie belatedly scoffs with a cackle, waving a hand. "I've been doing this for nearly a *decade*. The ticker's broken. I'm your problem now."

The appearance of Kikuno (ie, someone Umie does not know) is surprising, but equally welcome, as her interference moves the battle from words and tense standoffs to direct, immediate violence. Umie *could* make a quip here, but watching the 'human' drip out of the thing's body draws a sudden, icy chill from her.

"He's coming, get read--!" Ah, FakeShinichi wastes no time.

She nearly manages to escape the homunculus's hand, but her hood is snagged instead. Badb instinctively manifests, but instead becomes a mass of projectiles as Umie's body as flung right into her other self. As Pernelle is attacked with an Umie missile, Saika has to deal with the rest, with the blonde-haired young woman curled up in pain.

... And *angry*, as she gets up, readjusting her mask (and quietly apologizing to poor Pernelle, who will likely need to be paid in tater tots, as well as Saika). She'd even straighten, but her body's not quite ready to uncurl itself.

"... A few days ago, you said you smelled death on me," Umie says, wiping the spit from her mouth. "_Did you ever pause to think it was yours?_"

It takes a tense moment before Badb reappears at the slightly bent Umie's command, but the shriek that is cast on the field suffers no loss in volume as its omen is laid out on the homunculus.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Bad Moon Rising on Penguin Slasher!
| Umie Akabane takes 45 damage from Stress!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.
| Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Bad Moon Rising . Resist!
| Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) and Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added! damage!

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
He hurls insults at her, mocks her weight. For a moment and only a moment as the vines speed for the cocoon, her blue eyes narrow.

Is it for better, or for worse that as the vines peel the cocoon free from its moorings that Kikuno, perched on her throne, regards Shinichi's Homunculus with a decidedly evil smile? Like the cat that got the cream, perhaps. It's certainly self-satisfied.

"Too late," she tells him, even as signs of life pulse more strongly into this room. As the Homunculus begins to come undone.

He's a monster under that veneer, just like she'd told him he was. Her gaze flicks to Kanae, and she thinks back on their previous altercation as the change takes hold in full.

He's probably awake by now, she thinks, of the boy in the cocoon. He can probably hear everything.

"Pathetic," she says again. "Taking the life of a boy like that just so you can have your own... you could do better, you know," she tells the monstrosity. "But it's already too late. You're back to being the little monster I knew you could be," she tells him, holding the gaze that burns from the palms of those hands. "Saving me for last just like you promised? You'll regret that." If her heart quickens a beat, if she's overtaken by a bad old memory, then--

The only one who has to know that is 'her'.

She glances at Roger. "Familiar with these, are you? I'll keep that in mind. For now, make yourself useful. In a battle like this..." She sighs. "Idiots have a way of keeling over otherwise." He'll be important for keeping people -- such as family -- alive, that is.

Her gaze turns to Kazusa next. "You, too. I suppose I'll have to count on you to keep these fools alive." She sighs, as if burdened by her duty. "Leave ''him'' to me."

But it's Isabeau who wonders aloud what Kikuno is and that draws her Kikuno's almost startled attention, as if she's been roused from her languid ennui and irritation at the world towards--

"What are you-- I'm a person," she insists, doused as she is in fairy dust. "Go away. I won't explain myself to you--" she persists. "Don't you dare look at--"

It's already too late for that.

But she is human. She's very human.

"...Hmph. I told you. It's not my fault if you don't listen," she complains aloud. "We're of the same cloth," she says, tossing her head and sending her long hair aflutter. "And it's also not my fault if you're concerned. Go be concerned on your own time."

She points then at the Homunculus.

"Now. Beatrice, take a closer look," she orders, and all at once Beatrice's many eyes focus to stare at the Homunculus to stare with an intensity that may well burn.

"Let's peel back the veil."
</poem>

AS: Block Worst! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 87 Almighty damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Brutal Scan.
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's Strength Scan! Kikuno Kisaragi resists Earth!
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's Weakness Scan! Kikuno Kisaragi is weak against Elec!
AS: Persona! Kikuno Kisaragi has used the Almighty skill Brutal Scan on Penguin Slasher!
| Insight: Kikuno Kisaragi gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 158 Almighty damage from Kikuno Kisaragi's Brutal Scan.
AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's Strength Scan! Penguin Slasher resists Slash, Strike, and Dark!
AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's Weakness Scan! Penguin Slasher is weak against Fire, Water, and Light!

<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
Ah, there's Yanagi. She looks...

That's not the Yanagi that encouraged her to Awaken, for the others to not let her die before she could, who congratulated her when she did. Who is breathless with excitement all the time, because she understands how beautiful and overwhelming the world can be. This one looks like...

A squiggle of discomfort sours Yoko's stomach a bit and she holds her bear a little tighter. Everyone's yelling, and the Homunculus-Shinichi keeps ''talking'' but it's better to try to ignore him, probably? Even just looking near him makes Yoko uncomfortable. Like just seeing him will let him under her skin. So she looks ''around'' him, and is glad to be able to watch Yanagi seemingly come back to life when Tsumugi arrives and declares herself the villain.

When Kikuno speaks, Yoko doesn't even recognize her voice. It's ''that'' different. And even when her eyes flick towards Beatrice and the figure reclining atop her, it takes Yoko a long, long look before she can resolve what she's seeing.

"kiku...no...?"

But it gets worse. It gets even worse! "I was right not to look at it," she mumbles, despite the fact that she's doing that, she's staring right ''at'' 'Shinichi' and its horrible curdled-ink-melt and hand eyes and, and! Because it's awful and mesmerizing, and Yoko is slower for it when she feels something coming to Get Her. She yowls in shock and pain, obi-musubi rent and tattered. The bear tumbles out of her arms as Yoko leaps away, ears airplaned so hard they've nearly disappeared into her messy black hair.

Once Isabeau rounds on her, however! Even her black tail lashes back and forth. No reports of a cat-footed girl! Why is she here? A grumbling, growling figure pushes itself between Yoko and Isabeau, wisps of cottom 'foam' drifting from Bearemy's unstitched maw as he protects his creator. ...He's only a little over a foot tall. But the claws splitting apart the seams at the ends of his fuzzy wuzzy arms are very real.

Roger's healing waves settle onto Yoko's shoulders. She's scowling at Isabeau, clawed hands balled into fists. "I'm here to save Yanagi-chan. So leave me alone!!"

"BAKENEKO!" The cat that answers Yoko's call is nondescript, a calico, save for the sheet of cloth that slithers off of its head as it stands up on its hind legs and bares its teeth at Emsh, summoning an inferno.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yoko Hirano has used the Fire skill Sea of Flames on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Yoko Hirano gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yoko Hirano's turn has ended.
AS: Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 133 Fire damage from Yoko Hirano's Sea of Flames. Weak!
| Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
(Take your pick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGMWL8cOeAU Transistor OST - In Circles - Darren Korb / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMyoI-Za6z8 Transistor OST - _n C_rcl_s - Darren Korb)

Tamaki nods in Umie's direction, quietly catching onto their dual-sided dynamic, then turns to confirm for the Homunculus, "I was there, yes." She steps forward. "And I did ''nothing.'' I didn't even have your excuse. I already had this power to help,"

She grasps at her necklace to illustrate, and the imposing figure of Arianrhod manifests in front of her while she continues, "and I stayed back to let others deal with the situation."

She shrugs and shakes her head. "The main difference between you and me is that you went and made yourself a target. No, admittedly, I haven't had to stare down a room full of my peers out for my blood with my back against the wall to them."

Tamaki lowers her head and gives Shinichi's Homunculus a sidelong glance. "I stopped sticking my neck out for others and let them suffer in my stead. That, unfortunately, included you." Quietly, she flicks her eyes in Isabeau's direction.

"I see this 'new you' as my responsibility to fix." With that declaration, she begins to lunge towards the Homunculus to pierce it through, but it's then that Eriko admonishes Tamaki for trying to go it alone again, for having fallen prey to the very same follies highlighted by Tsumugi's monologue. Now acutely aware of her arrogance, she hesitates and loses her resolve to attack, turning around to start to protest --

-- only to turn around in horror as the writhing form of Eshm bursts out from the Humonculus, only barely escaping certain doom from his scythe by hiding behind Arianrhod, who only barely manages to parry the scythe away from a more certainly-lethal blow.

As she scrambles back to her feet, her mind spirals with panic at the thought that she's too in over her head, that she can't fix this, but Roger and Kazusa both lend their aid. "Th ... thank you both." She looks at Eriko and nods. "You're right. Let's blaze that trail together."

Tamaki grabs her necklace once more, and Arianrhod strikes her blade into the earth, causing an incandescent pillar of light to erupt from underneath Eshm.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Light skill Sealing Hama on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tamaki Uchida's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 187 Light damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sealing Hama. Weak!
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus speaks to them. Tsumugi Kujaku does not answer. Their gaze doesn't even so much as flick in the creature's direction.

As if their taunts, and their growing defensiveness, are completely immaterial and only serve to create the context of their true interest:

Is it everything you expected, Sa-ya?

'''Nope! I never expected any of this at all!'''

Tsumugi Kujaku's gaze fixes forward on some distant point.

'''It seems I've been arrogant too, haven't I?'''

"Yes."

That blunt answer comes without hesitation, without bothering to soften it with platitudes. Their gaze remains affixed elsewhere, so far away.

"You are."

So often they do this. Like the concerns of the moment simply don't reach them. Like they never could.

"You..."

It makes the moments when they do decide to turn their attention back to the world all the more sharper for its contrast. When that cold burn of scarlet and gold fixes on something in the now.

"... are one of the most self-interested people I've ever met. Sa-ya~."

Like ''right now.''

It's a statement - especially with Tsumugi's dispassion, and the cold intensity of that stare fixing straight on Yanagi - that could easily be construed as spiteful by anyone who doesn't know Tsumugi. Doesn't know Yanagi. Doesn't know ''them.''

Because to something that only parrots at being human, how could such a statement ever be seen as purest praise?

It's tinder to the fire of the Homunculus' angry attention, to perfectly - coincidentally? - tee up for that one moment where Yanagi urges it to focus on Tsumugi, to think only of killing Tsumugi for her, that indifferent, infuriating ''Tsumugi'' just standing there with half-lidded indifference even as Yanagi requests their likely heinous and brutal murder, like nothing in the world could touch them, least of all the Homunculus. To make it focus all of itself on THEM--

--just in time for Kikuno to make her move.

''Didn't I tell you?''

A rush of vines surge for the Cocoon. Tsumugi's stare fixes blandly forward.

''That I'd have the last laugh.''

"Ara."

The wiring threading into the Cocoon snap like so many snipped cords, whipping away from the cage - the chrysalis? - that made the Homunculus' dominance possible. Tsumugi's left hand falls to their side.

"I guess this is as far as you can manage."

Something sharp glints between their fingers.

"What a shame."

'''I WON'T LET YOU- WON'T- WON'T TAKE THIS FROM-'''

The Homunculus stops. It ''changes''. Where once was a crude facsimile of the guilty boy known as Shinichi Nagisa, now stands the monster that was sent by the world to punish him.

Tsumugi's fingers splay.

And then it's gone.

''Look out!'' cries Saika. Too late.

It's already there.

Tsumugi is moving as if on pure instinct the second the Homunculus disappears. But even that, too, is too late. The butcher's blade is brandished, and with its sadistic slice it carves carnage in a brutal tear across the cognitive clothes of Peacock Silk's tailor. It's painful - agonizing, the way that knife slashes an angry path up their torso with a red sear of fury. Rose petals burst outward from Tsumugi's shoulder as the first stroke completes, raining down between them in little shards of black and white.

The few droplets of scarlet splattering the ground beneath them prove that you can draw blood from this particular stone.

It hurts. Carves through flesh and blood and bone and soul. But it isn't what grabs Tsumugi.

A silhouetted scene of a brother, yelling at their sister in bed--

Scarlet-gold eyes snap wide.

The second slash comes. Tsumugi's arm is still swinging. Hints of something thin and metallic glint against the fog-crusted light of the room before they snag against that knife, dulling its momentum considerably to make that second swipe much more shallow as it slices at their hip.

Wires. With the full rotation of Tsumugi's arm, they ''yank'' that knife about like a puppet and slicing strings.

But not to avoid them. Oh no.

They pull that blade -towards- them.

The momentum is lessened. It dulls the pain a little as the blade tip bites in.

As stolen memories used as fuel fill their thoughts with the hideousness of a terrible mistake

Isn't it funny, how something can be so intense, yet so dispassionate?

It is exactly the wide-eyed STARE that affixes on Eshm the Wrath as Tsumugi's right arm snaps out wide, wires attached to their glove swinging out a knife from within their sleeve that they grasp --

and then STAB with bulging-eyed intensity straight for the Homunculus.

Ultimately, it does very little. Even Tsumugi can feel how the shadow-tinged edge of their blade struggles against flesh that naturally resists it.

But sometimes, it's the gesture that matters most.

Like how that blade instantly swung for the eye on the back of the Homunculus' hand.

Blue light swells. A butterfly births and unbirths in a rapid unraveling of sapphire light.

"... Jekyll."

And a shadow casts overhead as a MASSIVE case of wood and glass comes crashing down above Shinichi Nagisa's parasite.

It's a feint, ultimately; this thing is fast, and disappears and reappears with all the horrifying implacability of an unstoppable slasher. The goal isn't to hit it. It's just to get it to ''move'' and in a certain direction, distract it from disappearing--

just in time for Saika to come roaring for it with all her beautiful fury.

No. Jekyll's attach comes after, as the sightless automaton within that case twists in an empty motion, lifts its cane... and slams it DOWN with a lifeless, mechanical whirr.

A second later, flashes of brilliant, blinding light bloom one after the other for Eshm, each one bursting with searing radiance one after the other.

Tsumugi stands back. Their hand is on their injury, pressing down tightly until scarlet oozes between their fingers. They feel the twinge of pain. They don't feel the memory anymore.

Hand removing itself, they stare at their bloody palm for a few, quiet seconds.

"..."

And then that gaze, calm once more, fixes on--

"Oh."

Coin?

Their head cants. "Another one? Interesting."

And then that gloved hand lifts to wiggle its bloodied fingers at the strange fox, one after another.

"Hi~" they say.

In cheerful(?) deadpan.

--

It's really not any weirder than ANYTHING ELSE going on right now, is it?

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tsumugi Kujaku has used the Light skill Multi-Kouha on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Tsumugi Kujaku gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tsumugi Kujaku's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 31 Light damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Multi-Kouha. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 65 Light damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Multi-Kouha. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 63 Light damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Multi-Kouha. Weak!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Katsuko Yoshinaga!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yoko Hirano!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Tamaki Uchida!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Katsuko Yoshinaga!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yoko Hirano!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Tamaki Uchida!
AS: Atk_Dn (Damage down!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Atk_Dn (Damage down!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Kanae Fuyuki!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Coin!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Yoko Hirano!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Kanae Fuyuki resists Slash!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Kanae Fuyuki is weak against Dark!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Kanae Fuyuki has passive skills Block Physical, Heavy Weapon, Peerless Skill, Pierce
Boost, and Slash Amp!
AS: Take! Coin takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Coin resists Fire!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Coin is weak against Water!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Coin has passive skills Avoid Magical, Explode Shield, Fire Amp, Peerless Skill,
Regenerate 1, Team Player, and Third Eye!
AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Yoko Hirano resists Fire!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Yoko Hirano is weak against Earth!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Yoko Hirano has passive skills Block Slash, Explode Shield, Fire Amp, Heavy Weapon,
Null Poison, Slash Boost, and Third Eye!

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi doesn't remark on Tsumugi's tongue. If she did, she might say something about how she'd go for that first too.

That's something pretending to be her brother, though. Gross!

Instead... no, instead her focus where Tsumugi is concerned is that moment where golden-scarlet eyes lock onto peacock green. In that moment, it's as though stagelights shine down upon the two of them, and all else falls back into darkness. Yanagi's gaze is wide and trembling as all cheer drops away from her.

"Really...? I'm one of...?"

She bows her head; her bangs cast her lovely face in shadow. Truly, is Tsumugi wrong? Yanagi left Peacock Silk, barely explaining what she was planning; it's no wonder that even Saika is surprised by what she's doing now. "Then..."

And she sparkles with another smile. "Then I'll have to work even harder to be ''the'' most self-interested! <3 When I die, I don't want to leave behind such a half-baked memory for you, Tsumugi!" She pauses; then she giggles. "...Just kidding~"

About what, she doesn't specify. Because it's time to observe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ojG_Evkqc (I Want to Watch It Happen (The Nightmare III) - Brandon Boone)

Kikuno calls up her Persona, Beatrice, and seats herself upon the throne of thorns with an imperious air as she snaps vines to rend the Cocoon asunder. Yanagi watches this, and though her expression is once more impassive, there is now interest gleaming in her gaze. Behind Yanagi, Giselle continues to pirouette in place, sending forth and calling back the origami Wilis spirits to gather information for her other self.

Eriko asks her if she's content to let the Homunculus speak for her. Yanagi stares at her for a moment with soulless eyes. Then she tilts her head to one side as she smiles so brightly it squeezes those eyes shut. "Yup!" she chirps.

''Was'' that izakaya really that bad, Umie? ''Does'' she have a grudge against Tsumugi after all? Still she offers no answers.

"Hmmm... You're really angry about that one in particular, aren't you?" she comments to the Homunculus of Kanae. "Isn't it awful when you thought you knew someone and you learn you never did at all?"

She reaches out her free hand. "Giselle," she half-calls, half-chants.

The Wilis hovering near Kanae crumples into non-existence, then unfolds before Yanagi to display a brief animation. "So you, too, can change Personas. I wonder how many of you there are?" she remarks as she absorbs it. "This one she's wielding now is strong against slashing attacks, but weak to darkness. She's also skilled with slashing attacks--not that that'll help her much against you."

Then, if Coin is here to support her... She's quite an interesting creature, isn't she? Yanagi wants to know about her too. The Wilis sweeps around the little foxling, then likewise crumples and uncrumples before Yanagi. "Speaking of how many there might be... this one is new! It's always so exciting, experiencing new things. She's strong against fire, but weak to water!"

Yoko declares that she's here to save her. "Oh! Yoko, that's so sweet!" Yanagi gasps. She smiles and tilts her head as her Persona scans the calico. "I don't need saving. But you might! You should fall in with allies quickly!" And, as if to prompt her to, the Wilis that Yoko had touched earlier spirits itself away to transmit-- "Ah, this one's strong against fire too! But instead of water, she's weak to earth! Both of them are strong with fire magic. That might be troublesome to you, 'Shinichi'!"

What ''is'' her plan here? Why was she so dead-eyed before and back to her 'normal' now? Why is she helping the Homunculus?

Yanagi continues to offer answers to none of these things. Instead, she watches the exchange between Isabeau and Kikuno with keen interest, as one scans the other and the other scans the Homunculus.

They're all the same manner of monster, aren't they?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The Beast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KKkdIODSok

Tsumugi, in all of their glorious strangeness, has spoken many words that this creature cannot understand as anything but insults. After all, he does not expect that another human would share his point of view about self-interest- only Yanagi has, thus far.

They pull the blade towards themselves, as the Homunculus tilts that useless appendage, his head towards them, like he does not understand.

((why))
((welcome my wrath))
((who?))

But when the swing comes, instinctually, it protects its true eyes, blade moving to deflect the blow as much as it can. Jekyll's next spell may be a feint, but it's one that proves quite effective. The Homunculus interprets the action now as merely trying to get at its eyes and the contact is broken.

Light descends, flashes blooming upon its form, forcing the get of the dark back into the shadow. It's only as they cheerfully wiggle bloodied fingers that he returns back behind them, wielding a simple claw hammer.

It rises. It falls. It rises and falls again with brutal simplicity. An act that almost seems like black humor, with its timing.

Kanae will never submit to him, she says as she summons Valkyrie. The weapon pushes hot lead into his body- and he staggers back, a half step. Before lashing out with a vicious backhand across her cheek to send her sprawling.

((i still am))

Perhaps its only with raw physicality alone, but that is the monster's place of dominance, if he can't make her submit emotionally, then he will break her. Yuuki's rapier enters his gut at that moment, and he says nothing. He simply tilts his odd head appendage without true eyes as if it were regarding a little kid in the midst of an emotional moment.

Then he tugs out the rapier from his gut as if it were a insignificant needle. Shoving her back. When she looks again, he's gone, as she then feels the warning sensation of something behind her, as he swings an axe right at her back.

Which is the moment Saika's chain wraps around his throat. The creature reaches up, pawing at the chain, before seizing hold. And then as Saika moves to slam into the back of his torso, she finds that chain yanked to pull her- faster?

The impact is like striking a brick wall, as he yanks her up and over at that exact moment, to slam her against the ground, crimson flower petals fluttering in the air.

((big man))
((little girl))

As he looms over her, she can feel her spirit to fight him, draining right out of her, like an unsettling aura of terrible fear. Nitocris sends arrows of water at him, and the beast staggers under the power of that water pressure. And yet, it makes no sound at all.

A curse, as Umie postulates that the death he sensed might be his own. The curse falls upon him, and he reaches up a finger, to draw it across his fake throat.

Judgment passes, with Dante utilizing a certain spell, to sap energy out of him, like a gavel. And for a time it looks like it's working. Far too well in fact.

And then the spell sloughs off of him, the darkened energy pouring on the ground, the darkened pits of his eyes merely staring at her, before he then vanishes again.

He steps out of the mist moments later, behind Grim. In his hand, a Sledgehammer he wields only one handed. Then, in silence, he winds up- and aims a blow at the back of their spine. A shockwave of force erupting through them and into the room, that hurtles towards Roger and Umie.

((tell me again whose death i sensed))

A Dragon Persona appears, and Eshm stares at it- even as the flames come. But as they erupt from his feet, he's takes a slow step back- and vanishes. And not only is he gone, gone for several long moments.

Is he afraid of the flame, to have fled so? It's hard to tell, given his silence, but Coin might swear that he must be. After all, he shook off most other attacks, but that, he avoided.

Bakeneko erupts at that moment, as if to confirm what Coin might already suspect, in the flames, his arms arch back and silently, its like he screams, arms waving to try and get it off of him, as he steps out of the fire, burnt- right into Tamaki's pillar of light.

When he reappears from that flash of light, he's taken a knee. But then, he rises again as Eriko uses the magic of Nike to silence him. And the eyes on the back of his hands suddenly move independently of the body to look right at her.

And then they flare with a terrible light, as pentagrams appear at her feet.

((out))
((from my home))

Is this what it feels to be exorcised? Darkness falls, as he tries to force Eriko to leave his house... but not vertically. No he wants her to be quite horizontal when she does. Perhaps, even in his monstrous state, he still takes issue with her calling him a squatter in this place.

In this place he's taken over. More pentagrams appear, summoned by the eyes, as another one tries to remove Tamaki and the Magus in turn... then last of all, Coin, like he wants the dragon as far away from him as possible.

((can't fix))
((isn't broken))

Is that him taunting Tamaki??? Strange. Perhaps it realtes to Shinichi's interests...

Isabeau tries to take a peak at Kikuno. Eshm at least knows there is something strange back there, something he ''fears''. But he's not about to communicate that, in turn- Beatrice reveals much about him.

His immense strength- but also what he fears.

He vanishes again, then there's the sound of a rope start sputtering as it's pulled in the mist. Then it tugs again, as it purrs to life in an ominous hum. Stepping out of the mist, he bears a chainsaw in his hands, whirring as he holds it so steady they can't even see it vibrate. Lifting it up with both hands, he slashes down. And the room is suddenly full of a motorized massacre of serrated cuts as he appears here, and there, and over there. It's not just that the killer is in the room.

The killer is ''everywhere''.

Dropping the chainsaw, he then moves quite deliberately towards Kanae and begins slashing with a knife, mercilessly, aiming one even to try and move across her throat.

((scour you))
((from this world))

Yanagi is quite correct, he seems to have a particular grudge against this ''betrayal''- of learning who she truly was. Just another parasite. Her insight drives his blade with greater efficiency towards her vitals.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Recovery skill Infatigable on Penguin Slasher!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Recovery healing from Penguin Slasher's Infatigable.
| Atk_Dn, Def_Dn, and Spd_Dn removed!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Behind You on Yuuki Hoshizora!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Exhaust!

AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre on Kikuno Kisaragi, Kazusa Motojima,
Isabeau Fontaine, and Yoko Hirano! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Parasite Eve on Saika Kikuchi!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill World War H on Katsuko Yoshinaga, Roger, and Umie Akabane!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Dark skill The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa on Eriko Kirishima, Tamaki Uchida,
Misato Fushihara, and Coin!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Butcher on Kanae Fuyuki! 3 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Black Christmas-sacre on Tsumugi Kujaku! 2 Hits!
AS: Penguin Slasher's turn has ended.
| Penguin Slasher: Exhaust, Omen, and Panic removed! Omen: 150 damage!

AS: Avoid Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Butcher. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Butcher. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 66 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Butcher. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Best! Coin takes 0 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa.
AS: Avoid Best! Saika Kikuchi takes -0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Parasite Eve.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 0 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa.
AS: Kazusa Motojima spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Worst! Kazusa Motojima takes 150 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Kazusa Motojima takes 103 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical
Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's World War H.
AS: Block Best! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 32 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Black Christmas-sacre.
AS: Block Best! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 32 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 104 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Black Christmas-sacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 97 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa. Weak!
Avoid Dark!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre on Pernelle! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Penguin Slasher gains 1 Limit!

AS: Penguin Slasher's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
Block Slash!
AS: Block Best! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
Block Slash!
AS: Take! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Avoid Best! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Behind You. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 190 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's World War H.
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 119 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 97 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him.
AS: Block Best! Pernelle takes 30 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre.
AS: Block Best! Pernelle takes 33 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 164 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical
Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 164 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical
Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Roger takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's World War H. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Roger is helpful as always--but Kanae calls out to him, "Right! Homunculi are your area--we're counting on you!"

Yuuki going wild concerns her--but there's not a lot she can do about it in the moment.

But Family, Isabeau says. Kanae purses her lips but says nothing about it. Instead, she listens to her French. "`No promises,`" Kanae says. "`...Except that we'll take him down. ''That'' I'll promise with you.`"

'Destroy him'. Kanae says, "Workin' on it--"

She's ''backhanded''. 'I still am', he says, and drives her back to the ground despite her bravado. "Ugh--"

Kikuno calls him pathetic. Maybe he will regret it. And Kanae? Kanae is curious about Yanagi. The most self-interested? And her friends are fine with fighting against her...?

Either way, Kanae must continue. "So, that's what his nature is..." She looks to Kikuno. The veil is peeled back...

"Thanks," Kanae says. And she considers, too--Tamaki and Eriko, who were 'there'. "You were at that place...?"

Kanae drags herself to her feet. And then, he strikes again. Valkyrie's power shields her; the first slash she evades completely, the second she parries with her gunblade--but the third, the one that could cut her throat, only tears a gash at her clavicle, failing to kill thanks to her Persona's fused abilities.

"You--"

Scour her. "You never knew me," Kanae insists. "I was playing you!"

She stumbles back, despite her bold words, because nearly being decapitated is still terrifying, and blood still runs down her front. "...You know," she says. "I learned a few things in your--no, in ''his'' Atelier."

"He gave me a new Persona.. I hope you like it. He's the judge of the dead."

"And you'll be meeting him for real, soon. Is ''your'' heart lighter than a feather...?"

"Come forth!" Kanae calls, and lifts up her gold vial. it ''shatters'' with the glass of her Persona changing, showering her with glittering dust.

"ANUBIS!"

"Judge him." She points her gunblade forward.

The black jackal-headed god, holding the scales, rises before Kanae. Presenting those scales, he attacks--

Prayer stripes burst into being at Eshm's feet. They rise, circling, gleaming, ''glowing'' with brilliant light, before a blinding flash--

To exorcise.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Light skill Hama on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Kanae Fuyuki's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 227 Light damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Hama. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
It dawns on Yuuki a little belatedly that Magus is backing her up. She sees the water arrows rain down and sucks in a breath. Right, she has back up, and--

And she can't falter. Not here!

But when her rapier slides into his midsection and doesn't get a response, she freezes up for a moment. He shoves her back. Her feet stumble, but she doesn't fall. "What--what the--"

He just vanished.

Roger's racquet sends forth a wave of light across her. Yuuki breathes it in -- then glances back at him and nods. "Th--thank you, Roger-san!" she cries out, before she turns to look at Kazusa. She gives her a quick nod.

And then the Homunculus reappears behind her. But in the window, she sees the killer's reflection; she sees the axe coming down. Yuuki spins, eyes wide, and then gravity shifts for her. She falls -- towards the wall of the room, which becomes the floor. She stands on it, perpendicular to the rest of the room.

She sees the pentagram light up under Magus's feet. "Magus!" she calls. "Look out!"

Yuuki starts running up the length of the wall, towards the ceiling. It has the strange effect of running by Tsumugi -- while at a 90-degree angle to them. "Coming through!"

And then she throws a hand out.

Gravity forms up around the Homunculus, four little orbs of black -- and just after that flash of light erupts at Kanae's command, they expand and contract. Gravitational force threatens to yank the Homunculus back and forth, but into Anubis's exorcising light.

While also bending and multiplying that light, as the concentrated gravitatioal force causes the light to bend as if seen through a lens.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Yuuki Hoshizora has used the Earth skill Precise Magryva on Penguin Slasher!
| Pressure: Yuuki Hoshizora gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yuuki Hoshizora's turn has ended.
| Yuuki Hoshizora: Gains 73 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Regen and Vigor removed!

AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 232 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Precise Magryva. Critical Hit!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa spends Limit on Shift! Saika Kikuchi can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Saika Kikuchi! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>"Indeed, I have come. And you as well." Magus confirms to Grim with a nod. "There is no need to fear. I shall offer him no quarter - for I can already see he intends to give none."

Her provoking him certainly didn't help with that, but things were already set into motion far before her arrival. This anger can't just be for her alone - no, she can tell there are those here for whom it is far more personal.

Eshm's eyes blaze terribly. Pentagrams appear under Magus's feet, and those of others. Yuuki shouts a warning. Magus feels it, that rejection - he's trying to expel her, remove her from this place. The panic tries to grip her. She takes a deep breath. She forces herself to focus. Fixate on the now - and leaps back, before the seal can fully eject her.

"I refuse." Magus forces out. She stumbles slightly when she lands, but she nods her thanks to Yuuki. It might have made the difference.

"I've already been invited in, you see. It's too late to retract it." She says. "Nitocris. Box him in."

As Yuuki draws the Homunculus into Kanae's purifying light, Nitocris snaps her fingers. Suddenly, spheres of highly-pressurized water begin to surge into existence. Many localize around Eshm, but others lie in wait around the room. At the slightest contact, they'll explode - turning Eshm's domain into a minefield of Magus's making.
</poem>

AS: Misato Fushihara spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Water skill Pressure Mine on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!

AS: Misato Fushihara's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 139 Water damage from Misato Fushihara's Pressure Mine. Weak!
AS: Eriko Kirishima spends Limit on Shift! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
(It's fine, Isabeau. You and Kazusa are just on different paths.)

She glances over her shoulder at Kikuno as she comments on herself and Roger. "Roger-san and I know what to do--don't go issuing orders like you're in charge."

She turns her head to track the Homunculus again. "... but don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on everyone."

"Fontain-san, focus!" she snaps a moment later. (Kazusa what did you just say to Kikuno?)

"Of course," Kazusa says to Tamaki with a short nod. She returns the nod to Yuuki, too.

But the Homunculus isn't letting up in the slightest, and Kazusa shivers as she hears the start of a chainsaw. "H-how many weapons does he have!?" He's moving impossibly fast, she tries to stay alert--

And instead is sent sprawling as she's caught unawares, letting out a scream as she's thrown to the ground clutching her stomach. She shudders as she fights to push herself back up. "D-damn it..."

She's not even fully standing again before she sinks back to a knee. "I w-won't... let you... win. I'll show you how I'm changing--!" She reaches deep within herself to find the motivation. "Mina Harker! Show them!"

Mina's good eye flashes as she raises her hand again, and this time a much larger burst of healing magic pours forth, reaching for Isabeau, Umie, Tsumugi, Kazusa, and then a secondary wave hits Pernelle, Kanae, Eriko, and Kikuno.

She finally pushes herself to her feet. "I know what you did to him inside that Cocoon. How you made him suffer. And that's all you've brought to everyone else around you, too. No more!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kazusa Motojima has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Isabeau Fontaine, Umie Akabane, Tsumugi Kujaku,
and Kazusa Motojima!
| Support: Kazusa Motojima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kazusa Motojima's turn has ended.
AS: Kazusa Motojima spends Limit on Exploit! Kazusa Motojima can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 146 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Kazusa Motojima takes 146 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Kazusa Motojima has used the Recovery skill Media on Pernelle, Kanae Fuyuki, Eriko Kirishima, and Kikuno
Kisaragi!
| Support: Kazusa Motojima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 146 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Right!!" Roger calls to the votes of confidence and trust in him. "This is the position I play!" There's an innocent gleefulness in that, despite the gloom. He has defined his desire to change through playing with everyone as someone, after all, and he is... someone. Here to play.

To bring the A-Game.

"...I really don't know what game she's playing, though," he says, head tilting over what Yanagi is doing over yonder. "All Homunculi are playing for themselves... aren't they?"

Even he seems pretty unsure, catching that flip from dead-eyed to bright but not much more. He was a Sanguin Humor in one (1) Atelier, Taro Nakata's. He shouldn't have any sort of greater idea on how they all operate, should he? Well, never mind that, for now.

He jumps at watching the way Tsumugi ''moves''. Roger can't describe it - he has seen Tsumugi, knows their name, and everything, but there's something terribly inscrutible that just about anything they say or do seems unfamiliar and distant.

There is something more profound being said and shared between them, that Roger doesn't quite catch. Still...

"Um, even so," he admits in a moment of introspection, "the Peacock Silk people sure knew a lot about what was going on, too." Then, brighter. "They were very helpful!"

The Homunculus does not let this conversation go unchallenged, and every word spoken is borrowed time while they flail to protect what existence the destruction of the cocoon denies them. The way they warp, move about...

"Eee! Behind you!" Roger shouts at Grim as he ''leaps'' back from a shockwave of force that passes from where he was, entire person looking windblown in the wake of the displaced force but otherwise unharmed.

As the killer vanishes, and reappears seemingly everywhere...

"This isn't their house! They know it!! We'll get 'em out together..." There's the blue butterfly, which is out of racquet-swing range, so he throws up a tennis ball and ''serves'' it into them as they explode into Kamapua'a anew. "Come on! A Bright Revel!!" Roger cheers, as a celebratory, bright air of revelry falls upon Yoko and Coin - but also Pernelle and Tsumugi, of Peacock Silk.

Tsumugi, especially, whom seems to be of great interest to said Homunculus.

"Go hog wild!!" A level of trust, placed on those who seem close to those with strange machinations.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Roger has used the Recovery skill Bright Revel on Pernelle, Coin, Yoko Hirano, and Tsumugi Kujaku!
AS: Roger's turn has ended.
| Roger regains 8 HP from Regenerate! and 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Coin takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Saika will, of course, accept tater tots later. (Oh, they're meant for Pernelle? NOW HE KNOWS HOW IT FEELS.)

More to the point, of course, is the healing energies that Mielikki pours outwards. Saika can feel the pain rise and flow out of her, like a horrid anti-blood that's been blessedly, delightfully loosened and liberated, free to escape. Or perhaps like soaking in a hot bath, all in an instant. It's hard to say.

She takes in a number of other things. The impression of Coin's Persona, the manifested wyrm, is notable. That one's going to stick with her later. Saika is in too much bloody, mortal, thrilling danger to *think* about it much. (Part of the liberation of this moment for her: she gets to get out of her head.)

What Saika also takes in is the force of her impact as her momentum is redirected. On her patchwork face there is a brief, arresting instant of 'ah, shit' a moment before she smashes into the ground, the crimson flower-petals falling down on her like bloody snow.

The Homunculus - the Thing - the Shape - it looms, and Saika looks upwards at him, and she can feel herself quail. She hates that flinch inside. She hates the hatred. She hates--

His attention, at least, is turning. Saika is trapped once more in her own mind, and the worries all bloom up like exploding airbags. Is Tsumugi OK? (Of course they would seem OK, doubtless even if thrown alive in a crematorium. Saika expects nothing less. But -- you know--!!)

Is Pernelle? Is...

Something runs up Saika's spine, and she heaves herself forwards. She reaches her feet several secounds later, hunched over. She hadn't dropped her chain. She swings it around to wrap it around her wrist as she straightens up. Slowly. Her back hurts in exciting and novel ways. Her hand goes momentarily over that seeming-permanent wound at her side.

It hurts. All of it hurts but she can rise above it, can she not? She can, she assures herself, even as she feels her head tilt back slightly, her spine finding its natural level and moving slightly past it. Saika stands right there and...

Watches it happen. All of it. The Homunculus rips and tears. Others throwing themselves and the power of their souls against the inhuman thing. It's not gonna necessarily be enough, either, is it? This is a strong one. Saika's chest swells as she breathes in, despite several different pains.

Did her spirit break? Saika's head bobs a couple of times, gently. Marking time. Watching the Homunculus, and then she suddenly goes still. A moment later she exhales, snapping a hand out -

The enormous black-and-gray-and-yellow form of The Monster rises behind her, already moving forwards. Frankenstein's Monster, of course, is renowned for his size, and Saika is pretty average height, which means that the first one to reach the Homunculus is the Monster. He reaches forwards with one hand. It's almost avuncular.

To clap the Homunculus on the shoulder. "Good,"

Saika says, as the clasping hand suddenly squeezes. It probably does hurt a little but the real problem is that the Monster's implacable strength is *just as horrible* as something like the Homunculus. If it is a contest of metaphor, of dream, who is the stronger? And if it is no more than it seems - a big Persona grasping onto a smaller cognitive being, for a few fleeting moments - well, the Monster is pretty big.

"Good hustle," Saika says during the second step, "but you new guys always, you know, it's just messy."

... is she critiquing trends in horror film? (Maybe, a little, but more to the point:)

"You just leave yourself" AND THEN both Saika and the Monster swing a fist forwards - in Saika's case, the one wrapped in the chain, and in the Monster's case the one not clasping the shoulder of the Homunculus:

"WIDE OPEN!!"

There is a sound like thunder in the middle distance, or like a stout-struck iron plate. It happens whatever Saika ends up *actually* hitting.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Almighty skill You're Wide Open! on Penguin Slasher!
| Defense: Saika Kikuchi gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Saika Kikuchi's turn has ended.
| Saika Kikuchi: Hyper removed!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Saika Kikuchi's You're Wide Open!.
| Strike_Break (Strike Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 112 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Sonic Punch.
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin does recognize Umie over there, as much from feel as anything else. 'Something about battle seems right for you', indeed - and here we are, at a battle. "It is good to see you again! I will support you, too!"

Fire support, anyway (the literal kind). Coin doesn't really do the other sort all that much.

That Coin has a Persona may not be that surprising to Isabeau, given the others like her - Roger, Mona - do, but that's the less important part anyway. She is more surprised that someone recognized it. Eriko actually knows more about it than Coin does, for Coin has never read a book on Silesian mythology; she looks startled. "You recognize it?" she asks, before: "That isn't important. Call your chariot for victory!"

The *more* important part is that she's bristling over being called not a Hunter. That's the kind of thing that might cause a fight of its own...

...though Coin is not interesting in pressing it with Isabeau, at least. Instead, she calls, "This is a Hunt - it's dangerous to look away from your quarry like that...!" Focusing on Kikuno instead might get you killed!

And then Tsumugi waves at her, and Coin goes against what she *literally* just said. "...hi?" She raises one hand - paw - and wiggles it back. This is some sort of secret code, she's sure of it. Perhaps this is how you are initiated into the final secrets of fashion, not that Coin is particularly aware that Tsumugi is one of the arbiters of fashion. (Yet. She will. Coin always has things in her pockets to trade.)

Returning her paw to her sword, Coin hefts it two-handed as Eshm comes back. It's not a physical strike this time, and Coin doesn't parry as if she was blocking a physical blow. Instead, she does something with her thumb, and whirls it over her head.

Whirls, because the sword has 'fallen apart'... sort of. It's now a cable, quite a bit longer than the sword was, with individual segments of sword evenly spread along it, each of them angled rather than straight across the blade, though with a sturdy-looking dagger-like blade at the tip of the cable.

It sweeps through the pentagrams with a slash, dispersing them before she's banished, and with a click-click-click Coin's sword snaps back to being a sword, each segment locking into place against the next. "I can't be taken that easily." Coin looks over her blade, eyes glittering in the strange light. "You..."

"I understand."

What does she understand? She doesn't say, as Krepel moves again when Coin gestures. It lifts away from her and dives, wreathed in flame as it chases the homonculus down. It fears fire? Coin can manage that. And a moment later, and her Persona snaps its wings, rises up, and exhales a gout of fire. (What were you expecting?) "Thank you! I'm in your debt!" she calls back to Roger, as the feeling of revelry fills her.

But while she does that, the Wilis whirl around her... "Hey!" Coin hops from foot to foot. So much for her more serious mien. "My secrets! I've been detected! Studied! Examined!" Coin is the one who examines Shadows. They (well, Personas) don't examine her!
</poem>

AS: Coin spends Limit on Exploit! Coin can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Tandem! Coin has used the Fire skill Scorching Dive on Penguin Slasher!
| Aggression: Coin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Coin has used the Fire skill Fire Breath on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Coin's turn has ended.
| Coin regains 8 HP from Regenerate!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 213 Fire damage from Coin's Scorching Dive. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 103 Fire damage from Coin's Fire Breath. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 17 Fire damage from Coin's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 64 Fire damage from Coin's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 167 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga spends Limit on Exploit! Katsuko Yoshinaga can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle's dramatic demeanor begins to crack as the Homunculus shows its true colors. His glasses go opaque, and his attention sharpens. Only the slightest tilt of his head indicates he hears Yanagi's call on Tsumugi.

Instead, he leans toward Yoko in a too-loud, conspiratory whisper that is in no way a whisper at all. "I do not mean to be rude, but is it just me, or had he hardly emblazoned himself in enough tints and shades to be judged as... ''manly''? An eensy extra preening might have endeared him to potential mates more than the knocking around business, yes? No?"

No one need worry about answering, for a moment later, Pernelle is stuck by an Umie-shaped project that is in every way the actual, factual, entire Umie.

Pernelle lies sprawled from the strike, back flat and legs straight up. His train feathers are on full display, which means nothing with them laid out across the ground, every eye spinning in dizziness.

"My word, are the two of you quite all right?" Pernelle asks the double-visioned Umie as she herself apologizes.

(MEANWHILE SAIKA PLANS TO BETRAY HIM)

Does the peacock even have the strength to stand, to see a fracture in the members of the boutique he has fondly called his comrades? Horror is descending, Yanagi's keen sense piercing into the group before the Homunculus capitalizes in violent pursuit.

A glimmering butterfly flits to Pernelle, landing on his beak moments before he is lost in that flurry of chainsaw cuts that splatter the room.

Yet there is a terrible crunch of a carapace.

And then there is fire. Nuclear, blue and green and white fire that detonates at the Homunculus' position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyPFT_p7SoU

"I believe --

Once: sudden and sparkling as a two birds spin past. One is a green and iridescent peacock, the other is a gold and rainbow stitched doll of a Persona.

"I promised you --"

Twice: brilliant and bursting, bending back around to catch under the wave of Kazusa's Media.

"A ''dance!''"

''Thrice'': explosive and efflorescent, ever entwined in Roger's Bright Revel.

"I too am a selfish creature!" Pernelle declares. "A veritable beast, with a hungering heart! Whatever you think you have reclaimed, I will not relinquish without ''objection!'' If you are left with nothing again and again and again, so be it!"

It is taunting and provocation, yes, but it's also true what the Homunculus has 'reclaimed' in the moment is Shinichi's elder sister.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Pernelle has used the Fire skill Freila Freila Freila on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Pernelle's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 22 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 166 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 83 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Grim was used to Roger's presence. She'd seen him around, she'd reconciled his existence with her knowledge of the supernatural, and nobody else seemed to take umbrage with his existence. Nobody but Isabeau, but she seemed to be having a crisis of her own about such things. Grim was not used to Pernelle's presence, but his wasn't a new one, and she'd had time to take in the fact that there was at least one sapient bird prowling around Japan. What she'd not had a chance to get used to was Coin, and her existence.

The second she had a chance, Grim stole a look at the new arrival. She was, she had to admit, strange. Not in the way that Kanae was, where her powers made her a unique presence in the world. Not in the way that Yanagi was, in the sense that looking into her eyes for too long made it feel like something crawled down one's back. She was just... odd. A part of the world that stuck out, and all but demanded investigation. Someone to investigate later, she supposed, once she wasn't busy trying to keep herself alive.

What was less strange and more frustrating was how her efforts to strip away the Homunculus' defences had been rendered null only moments after she'd levelled her ire at it. She briefly considered having Dantes issue the same curse again, but stopped that train of thought before it could leave the station. It'd turn into a constant back-and-forth she didn't have the resources to win - a new approach was needed. Something else to work around the thing's strategies, and pry open any weaknesses in her armour. Silently, she cursed herself for not taking any offensive skill cards - that holy set looked a lot more tantalising now that she faced down something that, if its reactions to others' attacks was any indication - resisted the majority of her arsenal.

"Then we're of one mind. Don't die in here - I still need someone to help me find that treasure." With that pithy remark given, Grim backed away, giving the both of them room to work. Even so, she took a moment to look at Yuuki, and speak with a firmer tone than she'd addressed Magus with. "Keep it together. Focus, and we'll all make it out of this alive." Any friend of Magus's was an ally of hers, and with that came all the dubious benefits she offered. Words of what could maybe be construed as some form of encouragement was just one of them.

Grim felt a chill behind her the second she finished speaking, but it was Roger's panicked shout that confirmed her suspicions. She didn't think, in that heartbeat after the raising of the hammer. She simply moved, leaping across the ground like a shadow flitting from one end of the room to the next.
"Thanks for the assist. Looks like I'm in your debt again." She said to Roger, only partly intending it as a wry remark on the situation. No further gratitude was spared, however. There would be ample time for it later.

"Dantes." She commanded, once more shrouded in the safety of the dark. "Bind him, and break him." The wraith of a man obeyed his wielder's orders, and as his hand rose into the air, so too did a pillar of earth. Stone, roughly hewn and slick with saltwater, heaved itself out of the floor while chains shot from its sides like striking vipers, lashing against the Homunculus' limbs to imprison him and force him to face justice. Justice that Dantes wielded in the form of a saber lined with a black darker than the night itself. Once close, he heaved the blade in, slicing at the Homunculus' throat in a single, clean, motion - a vicious variation of the blow it had landed on the Persona before.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Earth skill Imprison on Penguin Slasher! 2 Hits!
| Ruin: Katsuko Yoshinaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Dark skill Coup de Grace on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga's turn has ended.
| Katsuko Yoshinaga: Gains 72 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
| Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 7 Earth damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Imprison. Critical Hit!
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added! Haze removed! Explosion! 60 damage!

AS: Block Neutral! Penguin Slasher takes 28 Earth damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Imprison. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
"Do you?" Kikuno wonders as Kazusa says she and Roger already know what to do. "Do you understand what's really going on here?" Kikuno says, only to shake her head. "Of course you don't. Yet another thing I'll have to correct," she sighs, shutting her eyes briefly.

"But he's an interesting one. I suppose we'll all just have to talk about it later," she says, of Roger.

Slowly, Kikuno turns her head, her attention zeroing in on Yoko. "...Cousin. I thought I felt something familiar creeping about," she says, which is hardly polite to say about someone who is family. "Get out of here, and quit worrying aunt and uncle," she tells her, not mincing any words.

Her gaze abandons Yoko here, moving on to Yanagi, who has roused somewhat from the state she'd been in before and made a semi-formal return to the twinkling fairy princess. It's a contrast to Kikuno, perched atop her throne of flowers, thorns, and flesh.

Whatever Kikuno might think about that, she doesn't say.

"Well... look at you," she says, flatly, to Eshm. "Such a big man. Strong against slashing, striking, and darkness of course." She sighs, as if for effect. "But fire, water, and light hurt you. That's just too bad for you, now that everyone knows your secrets." She leans back a touch against her throne. "So, now what? You're only making this harder, you know. You've already lost."

They're brave words, sure enough, until the moment there's a rev of a chainsaw rising in the midst of the parasite's terrible fury. Those half-lidded blue eyes of hers go suddenly wide. "What are you--"

The shriek that follows as she curls back into Beatrice's petals -- rising to intercept the grinding blades of Eshm's weapon -- might sate something within the Homunculus. It's unlikely to be 'enough', though.

"You... you-- sicko!" she shouts out, once she rallies from a frankly petrified state. "Horror movie freak!" (Bold words perhaps for someone who sits on a throne that has eyeballs.)

The healing magic that follows at least does some to soothe her nerves; she shoots a narrow-eyed gaze at Kazusa before looking away sharply once again.

"Water," she tells Eshm, "That was one of the things you're weak against. Too bad for you," she says, pointing directly at Eshm.

Water, interspersed with violet petals, rains as a sudden torrent upon the Homunculus.

But Kikuno isn't finished.

"Did you think that was all?" she wonders, before thorny vines snake off from her Persona's bulk, racing and shedding flowers as they rush down Eshm. Only if they snare him do they wrap him in a tight embrace, bloom in full...

And explode.
</poem>

AS: Kikuno Kisaragi spends Limit on Exploit! Kikuno Kisaragi can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Persona! Kikuno Kisaragi has used the Water skill Maraqua on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Persona! Kikuno Kisaragi has used the Earth skill Full Bloom on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 14 Dark damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Coup de Grace. Resist!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 81 Water damage from Kikuno Kisaragi's Maraqua. Weak!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 126 Earth damage from Kikuno Kisaragi's Full Bloom.
AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Umie Akabane!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Kanae Fuyuki!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Isabeau Fontaine!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Katsuko Yoshinaga!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki half-smiles sheepishly at Kanae after she realizes what she's admitted to. "Ahh, well, yes, though perhaps I shouldn't have said it in front of so many people ..."

'((can't fix)) ((isn't broken))' Tamaki tilts her head in curiosity towards Eshm at that, then nods. "You're right, I wouldn't consider ''myself'' broken. More like I'm making up for my own wrongdoing. Repentance of a sort. After all,"

A pentagram of ill portent appears under Tamaki's feet. Recognizing the threat it poses, Arianrhod, with her blade still in the ground, cuts through the earth to sever the one circle underneath Tamaki's feet, dispelling it.

" -- as I said earlier, I do think I'm one of the people here who best understands you." She grimaces slightly. "Not all the way, mind you. The whole macho act isn't my thing at all."

While she may have been fortunate enough to avoid the brunt of the spell, not everyone was. Her chest tightens as she realizes Eriko was caught in the attack, not to mention how Yanagi's begun to relay information on them to Eshm. "Why are you ..." she begins to ask Yanagi, but trails off.

She looks between Eriko and Tsumugi briefly, then decides to take Eriko's advice to heart and share the burden she believed was solely her own. While her friend revels in the awe and wonder of the supernatural world and its spine-tingling tales, Tamaki takes a different denial-based approach. Arianrhod carves a circle in the air as tall as herself, from which a transparent image of the moon appears and spread out to Eriko, Kanae, Coin, and Yoko, reasserting a sense of 'normality', scrambling and obscuring the very flaws in their defenses that had been brought to light earlier.

In another quick motion, Arianrhod raises her sword and covers Tamaki, Eriko, Tsumugi, and Roger in an iridescent light, bolstering their spirits and empowering their attacks. She even encourages Roger further by adding, "Hey, you can be in the spotlight too! I know you try to cheer everyone else on, but let yourself shine sometime!"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Silver Wheel on Eriko Kirishima, Kanae Fuyuki, Coin, and Yoko
Hirano!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Block Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Kanae Fuyuki resists Light!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Kanae Fuyuki is weak against Fire!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Kanae Fuyuki has passive skills Dark Boost, Dark Resist, Fortify Spirit, Heavy Weapon,
and Light Boost!
AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Per Aspera on Tamaki Uchida, Eriko Kirishima, Tsumugi Kujaku, and
Roger!
| Tamaki Uchida takes 45 damage from Stress!

AS: Tamaki Uchida's turn has ended.
| Tamaki Uchida: Gains 69 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Katsuko Yoshinaga resists Pierce!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Katsuko Yoshinaga is weak against Light!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Katsuko Yoshinaga has passive skills Ailment Boost, Bind Boost, Dark Amp, Invigorate
2, and Paralyze Boost!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Roger takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Coin takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Umie Akabane resists Dark!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Umie Akabane is weak against Light!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Umie Akabane has passive skills Ailment Boost, Break Limit, Dark Amp, Explode Boost,
Fortify Spirit, Invigorate 1, and Jamming!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> ---EARLIER---
".... eh?" Umie blearily looks up(!) at Pernelle from where she's doubled over (in more ways than one, from Pernelle's point of view). "... both...?"
Also, *when did Yoko get a Persona*?! Was Umie konked out that long?!

---A LITTLE CLOSER TO NOW---
"Wait, _you saw through it_?!" Umie squeaks, as Coin valiantly declares that she'll support her too. "Focus on your friends, he's got it out for Fuyuki-san!" (Does she seem like she's a little... flattered?)

---NOW, AS UMIE'S HUBRIS TURNS EVER ONWARDS---
"Mm." Umie regards Yanagi's seeming indifference with a curious glance, trying to understand.

Something in the reflection of Umie's gaze may look back, if Yanagi happens to glance past those eyes, peering from the yellow peonies of the mask.

'Imagine how much easier it would be...'
Tick tock. A finger slices across Eshm's neck.

Time'll run out before you know it, Umie Akabane.

"Don't worry about it," Umie spares, for Tamaki. "We have ghosts from the past lurking around. Sooner or later, they're going to figure things out." As to what Umie means specifically...

"Motojima-san, remember, men like him thrive on attention. Don't give it to him, _make him beg for it instead_-" Yeah, Umie's lips are sealed tight.

Ah, hubris. The shockwave from Eshm's sledgehammer violently smashes Umie into a field of the ominous red-petaled lilies, painting the white of her jacket with splotches of crushed red and sap.

Kikuno, though. Something in the taunting tilt of Kikuno's words excites the Badb, and in turn the Umie, who cackles. "Water, eh...."

It's not much, but a spray joins the girl's watery onslaught, as Umie leaps backwards into the shadowy black and grey feathers of the Badb's mantle.

Thankfully for Yanagi, the Badb's cloaking abilities cannot compare with that of Giselle.
</poem>

AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Exploit! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Water skill Aqua on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 168 Water damage from Umie Akabane's Aqua. Weak!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Isabeau Fontaine resists Wind!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Isabeau Fontaine is weak against Dark!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Isabeau Fontaine has passive skills Block Magical, Defender, Explode Shield, Fortify
Spirit, Peerless Skill, Quick Weapon, Recovery Boost, Skill Card Affinity, Sneak Guide, and Wind Amp!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Recovery skill Dark Tear on Umie Akabane!
AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.
| Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Umie Akabane's Dark Tear.
| Cloak (Non-Area Damage Mitigated!) and Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"They knew nothing," Isabeau scowls, when Eriko speaks of her middleschool classmates. "But you... what a strange woman. A person should not wish to see the unseen... value your normal life more strongly. Are you not Eriko Kirishima? You, who was cover girl of Coolest... it is strange to see you speak so highly of strangeness so often. Enjoy your glory more, and lust for Hell less."

"... explain as you like. I am as I am."

(And, indeed, she is not disguised -- easily identifiable as the contemptible Isabeau Fontaine of Shujin.)

Tamaki, though, did nothing. "I will have my answer from you," she issues her, for her crimes, "in another place than this. Your cowardice I will answer, at that time, and not before. Prepare yourself."

"But," she adds, to Umie, "a monster is a monster. Never should you suffer a monster to live... it always was very simple! Just... on suffer of a monster did I live, and..."

She probably didn't say that right. Don't think about it. Move on. Keep going forward.

"I look as I like!" She snaps, to Kikuno, then. "My father will hear of this! You claim on my nerves... now it is clear to me you are worth the sensitivity. Bah... if you did not want me to question it, you should not be so ''creepy!''"

That's not the only thing that will have to feature in her report, though. Once again, Isabeau witnesses the titanic strength of Tsumugi's Jekyll, counterpointed with their casual speech. That bloody palm... "Do you not feel your injury?" She asks, sceptical and impressed both.

Speaking of creepy -- ''Bearemy.'' "What manner of magic is this?" She asks Yoko, as she takes a step back, scowling. "It is not alive, but still is it made animate..."

Yanagi, meanwhile, shares insights on Kanae with her 'brother'. "What is your plot?!" She snaps, having not attended any teamwork-focused planning meetings beforehand ''whatsoever.'' (Kanae, luckily, thought ahead to intercept her so she wouldn't charge in alone... this time.) It means she wouldn't ''know'' if there's some secret reason why Yanagi is helping him...

... though she knows that her erratic behaviour sets her teeth on edge.

Manic women are the most unreliable women of all.

When Shinichi ''backhands'' Kanae, though, Isabeau's attention snaps back to him. "You dare?!" She barks, as she leaps forward --

-- only for her eyes to widen, as he isn't where she ''thought'' he was, and she has to bring her targe up to protect the twin sides of her skull as a chainsaw roars down towards her centre of gravity. The Eye of Ra barely holds against it, a deep scar carved through its centre, as if Ra himself were blinded through a solar eclipse...

... but the killer is not finished. As Isabeau sprawls on the ground, that chainsaw lifts, from another imperceptible angle, to carve down again. Already downed by his savage critical hit, she has no choice but to summon Mielikki to absorb the blow; her bear claws cross as she stops that horrifically steady downward slice, but the struggle lasts only long enough for Isabeau to roll away from his arc before her Persona shatters in a shower of red glass once again. Isabeau's hair tie catches on the ground, tearing her drill curls free as she makes her hurried escape.

And that chainsaw scores a deep gash in the ground, where she laid only moments prior, so deep that even her large chest would have surely been carved straight from sternum to spine.

Speaking of that carving -- when Isabeau kips up, weight swaying from shoulders to hips to press herself upright with her momentum, she sees Kanae's red blood spilling down the front of her vestments.

And Isabeau's seeing red, too.

Leave Magus to Yuuki; she has her priorities, even as Kazusa's healing weaves through her.

"I know that!" She snaps, angrily, to Coin, when she reminds her to keep her eyes on the prize -- though she's angry because she ''knows'' she looked away. "What business has a monster as a Hunter, in any case?! You... you are not sense-making!"

Kikuno lists off his weaknesses, but Isabeau snaps: "I need it not! I have a power he cannot resist or reflect! MIELIKKI!" Her curls scatter across her face, half feral, as she crushes a bronze vial in her hand to issue more power to her battered Persona.

The data Yanagi will get from Isabeau suggests a greater power than some here...

... because she wouldn't normally ''be'' here.

But here she is.

And here's her solution --

Mielikki summons the birth of a star onto the false Shinichi, as Megido forms in a chirascuro silhouette of white on black, and EXPLODES.

In the weight of the youngests' might, a paling shimmers, as it erects, over Kanae, shining with the green light of the forest.

"You did not contend," she issues to Shinichi, then. "No more will you touch her."

</poem>
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Megido on Shinichi Nagisa!
| Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended.
AS: Isabeau Fontaine spends Limit on Exploit! Isabeau Fontaine can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Recovery skill Ally Guard on Kanae Fuyuki!
| Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Ally Guard.
| Full_Cover applied!

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
Eriko smiles a bit more as Tamaki agrees to work together. "That's more like it." This time, she puts her hand on Tamaki's shoulder for a moment. "If you start to step back, I'll catch you- and help you keep walking forward. You'd do the same for me." That bolster of confidence said Eriko takes her position back up again.

Eriko frowns at Yanagi's response. That deadness, marked with a wide smile and closed eyes. Eriko is quick to make friends- but perhaps she has been more shallow than she thought. Perhaps everything she knew of Yanagi was surface level, and Eriko was just ready to decide the two were just similar. Even so, that's not what Eriko wants. "Why bother with even moonstone, if you'd settle for glass and plastic? Are you even going to try and find those pearls you were after?"

Tsumugi calls Yanagi the most self interested person they know- even if Eriko isn't sure she can see it. She can't really understand it.

Normally, Eriko would be thrilled by an exorcism, even a dark one- but it isn't an exorcism if it kills the host. The gold and onyx garter on her leg glows, and while the spell causes her pain, it doesn't cause Eriko to fall. Indeed, that magic that Yanagi put into that piece of jewellery saves her again.

"You can't remove me from a place that isn't yours," Eriko says, firmly. "You can't even clean up Mai's abandoned toys." There's a shakiness there- Eriko does not care for the feeling of the Killer being everywhere, all consuming and ever present. "After all, that ''Iron Mouse'' roaming the streets isn't something you OR Shinichi could know about. It never existed in the same world as he did."

Kanae gets a smile from Eriko. "Oh, yes. For almost all of it, in fact." Coin too gets a nod of acknowledgement. "A bit! Polish mythology isn't my strongest suit, but you see it so rarely out here."

Eriko calls out a chipper 'thank you!' to Kazusa, as Mina's healing washes over her. "We'll make sure it doesn't escape, Kazusa. Just keep fighting."

Isabeau recognizes her, and even chides Eriko for her willingness to find hell. "Ah, I'm afraid it's as I said- this other side is not hell to me- it's more like Wonderland. Full of dangers, certainly, but full of wonderful things as well." There's a slightly manic joy to her words- and something in her wording makes Eriko giggle, though she stops herself. "Ah, I apologize. It's just... you sound like my agent. I'm afraid that I am not in modelling for fame- I have a much greater aspiration." No matter that Tsumugi has said she's already fashion royalty- a crown isn't what Eriko seeks.

Tamaki's assistance washes over Eriko and she embraces it. It's a pleasant light that surges through her and Nike. "Thank you."

"Now then, I believe you were trying to exorcise me, ''Mr Nobody''. You're technique is all wrong, though. I hope you won't mind me leaning on a more... international approach." Eriko starts to call on Nike again, the engines flaring again. "Ave Maria, gratia plena," she starts- but, really, she's not feeling the rest of it today. "Etcetera, etcetera- HAMA!"

It probably would be a waste to throw actually devout catholic prayer over, well, the Asian style exorcism summoned from the pillar of light that starts to rise underneath the homunculus with the intent to give it a taste of it's own medicine. Or at least, similar enough medicine.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Light skill Hama on Penguin Slasher!
| Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.
AS: Isabeau Fontaine cancels 1 attacks on Shinichi Nagisa.
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Megido on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 207 Light damage from Eriko Kirishima's Hama. Weak!
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 168 Almighty damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Megido.

<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
Emsh burns and burns and screams and burns. Yoko frowns past it, at Yanagi. She still doesn't understand. Maybe it's a sibling thing. ...Yoko doesn't know anything about that. Maybe that would make someone want to fight their friends. Even if the Homunculus isn't really Yanagi's brother, after all. Maybe if she asks, Yanagi will explain.

But not right now.

Eshm demands her attention, after all. Everybody's attention, everybody's apologies, everybody's submission. Everybody's terror, as it rampages in flashes of crimson red and a roar that has Yoko covering her ears - the presumably human ones, still hidden underneath her tangly black hair. She stumbles back, squeaking in mortal dismay, when...

KTANG! KTANG!

Bearemy, all fifty centimeters of him, launches himself claws-first into Eshm's path, knocking away both swings in a shower of sparks. He rumbles angrily, squaring up to protect Yoko from danger with every ''fiber'' of his being.

Yoko is breathing hard but she's still okay. Roger and Kazusa's healing energies have seen to that. She has to be sure to thank them. When this is over, and everything is quiet, and she's burned away everything that--

Yoko takes a deep breath. Because of Kikuno. Because she's never heard Kikuno talk like that, ever! "Are you really-- mnnngh!" It's a sound of frustration more than anything. Because everything's weird. Because Yanagi and Kikuno are both acting weirder (bad weirder) than usual and Yoko hates it. "Don't tell me what to do," she complains, ears flat. "Why are you so... not like you??"

But fire, Kikuno reveals. Eshm is weak against fire. And Yoko will eventually burn it all down, anyway. At least Pernelle is a strange comfort. A better kind of weird. Expected and normal weird! "...I don't think there are enough fancy dances in the world to fix him," Yoko tries, straight-faced -- an affect that's ruined when a masked woman is hurled directly into Pernelle, bowling him over. :I

Yoko calls for her Persona again, Bakeneko's scratchy mroooooooowr echoing as a pillar of flame burts open around Eshm.

Bearemy hasn't forgotten about you, Isabeau! He stares up at her, lifeless button eyes somehow conveying the message that he is ready to swing on her. ''Give him a reason, Isabeau.'' "I just made him. I don't know how he moves. It doesn't matter, does it?"
</poem>

AS: Yoko Hirano spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Yoko Hirano has used the Fire skill Agilao on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Yoko Hirano gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yoko Hirano's turn has ended.
| Yoko Hirano: Gains 66 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Psych removed!

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
'''Then I'll have to work even harder to be ''the'' most self-interested! <3 When I die, I don't want to leave behind such a half-baked memory for you, Tsumugi!'''

In the moment, Tsumugi Kujaku doesn't answer the one who excitedly ordered their immediate evisceration, the one who now reacts with such beaming delight.

'''...Just kidding~'''

The briefest glimpse of the scantest hint of a placid, enigmatic smile is all they offer in that moment, perhaps confident that Yanagi will be able to come up with a more interesting interpretation of what kind of answer that could mean all on her own.

In ''this'' moment, there are more pressing concerns. Like Isabeau, asking if they can't feel their pain, a question that earns the curious cant of their head.

"Of course I do," they say simply, distantly, as if it should be a given. After all...

"I want to feel it.
"I just don't feel the part that interests me."

And other pressing concerns still, like the appearance of a new animal-like creature with a Persona, so very fascinating. Fingers wiggle in a most surreal and casual greeting.

And then a long shadow casts over them, its dark silhouette of an arm raised.

S W I N G

The first swing is met with air as Tsumugi's slender figure snap-pivots on a heel, turning them to face Eshm's unseeing plaster mask of a face directly, expression alert yet unreadable.

C R N C H

The second swing is not so unlucky.

Blunt force bludgeons Tsumugi's right shoulder until something makes a sound it shouldn't.

A starburst of pain. And with it, words.

Why?

Why welcome its wrath?

Who...?

The scattershot smear of sentiments blend so pristinely with the pain as Tsumugi is brought low with the power of that blow. Gloved hands touch the ground -- and they feel another swell of sweet agony as they push -off- the hospital grounds, launching into the air to land in a beautiful stagger next to Jekyll's uncaring frame. They hold tall for two seconds -- and then drop to one knee, head bowed as they suck in a deep breath. Even they can be moved by things. Physically, at least.

And yet...

Something warm suffuses them, knitting at wounds, mending the superficial hurts of the body. Kazusa. The Demon Queen who yearns to relinquish her title.

"Hah," exhales Tsumugi, before an echo of the assessment they offered her last they spoke spills past those beautiful marble lips:

"Truly breathtaking."

And yet more. Revelry alights the scarlet-soaked gloom of the Homunculus' hijacked sanctuary. Energy dances electrical urges along Tsumugi's nerves until the very tips of their fingers tingle -- until an exquisite shiver rolls down their spine.

Until their heart yearns to sing in the chaos.

All thanks to Tamaki and Roger.

The detective who spun such a fascinating story for them with Eriko and Masao.

The Humor that rejected its very nature. The fascinating mystery.

A smile cracks at those lips.

... Jekyll suddenly twitches with the tug of those facial muscles, like someone experiencing an unwanted spasm.

"... 'I'm not fucking tied down.'"

Tsumugi's voice does not raise higher from that ever-even level -- yet somehow, it cuts through all the same as they speak those words. ''Recite'' those words. The words Eshm spat at them, before the violence began -- until it was caught in this desperate struggle to prove that claim once and for all.

Tsumugi's bloodied hand raises to their throat, until fingers hook at their collar.

"Aaaah..."

pop. pop. pop.

The buttons of their high-collared shirt pop open, one. by. one. With every one, Jekyll jerks faintly in its glass confines.

"'I'm not fucking tied down,'" they repeat, as marble flesh is exposed inch by inch, a scarlet smear dragging down in that bloody hand's revelatory wake.

"'I'm free. Free of that bullshit.'"

pop. pop.

"Show me."

The porcelain plates of Jekyll's body bulge. Something dark swims within, anxious. Impatient.

pop

"Show me."

Perfect plating distends as Jekyll lurches forward, cane released as it grabs at its midsection.

pop--

"SHOW ME!"

And something beautiful and hideous screeches as glass and porcelain SHATTER just as Tsumugi surges upward, yanking the last buttons away with the outward sweep of their hand.

Something dark and sinewy surges past the wreckage that was Jekyll, bits of glass and wood and porcelain puncturing its dark, organic corpus. Like Eshm, it is there and gone in a moment, leaving only Tsumugi...

... Tsumugi, who looks different now. Who ''feels'' different now. Their tailcoat has blown open, revealing pants with meshed, hip cutouts that didn't seem like they were there moments before. Their hair is longer, wilder, blowing outward to reveal the shimmering gold-to-scarlet gradient glowing at their undersides. Their torso is now bare save for the coat now draped decadently at their shoulders, polished marble decorated - sullied - by the lingering slash of Eshm's initial blow --

And a bundle of religious scrolls wrapped around and binding their chest with sacred texts and maxims, the most prominent of which is this, and simply this,

DO AS THOU WILT IS THE WHOLE OF THE LAW

"You're free!" Tsumugi cries, ''cries'' with unbridled elation, that smoky voice of theirs pitched with interest, fascination -- ''passion''.

"So what will you do? What will you be? What are your dreams?"

Black drips from the ceiling.

"Will you spite women? Will you love men?"

It's above Eshm. Hanging there. Upside-down. Black and inky and strangely feminine, smaller than Jekyll, its entire body from arms and legs to victorian coat and tophat looking entirely, offputtingly organic. Like Eshm, it has no eyes to be seen. Its tailcoats sway behind it, sinuous and slow.

"Will you hurt people? Will you let them hurt you?"

And then seams in each of those tail coats split open, revealing splendorous, breathtaking, terrifying eyes of several concentric colors -- green, blue, yellow, and the deepest sapphire and the most molten gold at the center. Eyes, beautiful like the eyes of a peacock's tail. Hideous like a human stare.

"Will you find purpose? Will you lose it?"

The second those snap open, something snares at Eshm. Something strips away the resistance to the shadow that sheathes it.

"Will you desire? Will you grow sick of desire?"

And then that thing - that hideous, haunting Hyde - ''drops'', those tail coats SCREAMING quite literally forward.

"I want to know! Show me!"

To PIERCE into the Homunculus' shoulders, its knees, as Hyde SLAMS into its back to DRIVE it forward--

"Show me everything you want to be with your freedom!!"

Right towards Tsumugi, their arms wide, their eyes wider. Ready to experience the violence in Eshm's answer in a way that is sure not to help Saika's worry as to if they're OK.

If Tsumugi was like a distant, apathetic beautiful that couldn't be touched before, then this --

This is like an intimate, mad beauty you hope does not touch you.

</poem>
AS: Tsumugi Kujaku spends Limit on Exploit! Tsumugi Kujaku can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Tsumugi Kujaku has used the Almighty skill Dark Break on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Tandem! Tsumugi Kujaku has used the Dark skill Unholy Wrath on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Tsumugi Kujaku's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 204 Fire damage from Yoko Hirano's Agilao. Weak!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added! Bind removed! Explosion! 120 damage!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Dark Break.
| Dark_Break (Dark Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 98 Dark damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Unholy Wrath.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 98 Dark damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Unholy Wrath.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 98 Dark damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Unholy Wrath.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi hums softly, thoughtfully, as Kanae changes Personas again--this time to Anubis, Egyptian lord of the dead. "Changing your Persona won't shield you from my eyes, you know," she says with serene calm as an origami spirit circles her anew--two, now, spiraling in opposing descents like a double helix. "This one resists both light and darkness, and is particularly strong in using those elements too. However, it's weak to fire. I suppose he's not ''that'' kind of lord of the dead?"

Coin yelps about having been scanned. Yanagi shoots her a bright smile. "You have! <3" Her Persona Krepel's even been tutorialized, thanks to Eriko! She's so familiar with all sorts of supernatural things. To Eriko, she breathes a bit of a giggle. "Oh, but it's rubies I'm after this time."

She looks thoughtful when Kikuno and Yoko address each other as cousins. Family... It seems like a contentious relationship. Yanagi knows a thing or two about that. She doesn't share what she thinks of it either.

Instead, she clasps her cheek with one hand. "Oh my, she's revealed you to everyone, 'Shinichi.' Don't you think you ought to do something about that?" she wonders to Eshm.

Saika brings down massive superviolence on the Homunculus. Yanagi, having already known how well she can smash through things, was perfectly comfortable letting her do her own thing. She stops and admires her and the Monster as they face off against the faceless monster. Pernelle meanwhile doesn't need to smash through; though he may have hollow, fragile bird bones, his heart burns hotter than the sun. His flames are more than enough to scorch the soul. (Do Homunculi have souls...?)

Are they not all self-interested creatures, the four of Peacock Silk? It is the biggest thing that binds them together and makes them a team--a ''family''. Yanagi rests a hand over her heart, which swells with love for her dear companions as they continue to get brutalized by the Homunculus she's actively aiding.

However, even as she watches it happen, Giselle's Wilis shimmer and shimmy, trembling around their targets as they send back visual feeds. After Kanae, it's...

Isabeau: "Oh, my. This one is not only a strong healer, but also very good at defense ''and'' attack! However, she's weak against the darkness. I don't think her strength with or against wind will benefit her very much here! Good thing for her she has other options!" ("Hmm? Plot? ...It's very cute of you to just come out and ask that! I'm not going to tell you." (That answers that, Yoko.))

Umie: "Ah, she resists the dark, which she's also strong at using, but is weak to light. She's prolific at landing damaging ailments, too. Ah, ''and'' she has water attacks! She seems troublesome! But maybe that was already obvious?" (Does she see the flowers on that mask? What do you think, Umie?)

Grim: "This Persona is strong against piercing attacks, but is weak to light. Oh, but it's highly effective at using darkness element attacks and landing ailments! Hmmm, haven't we seen this before...?"

Finally, for all that Yanagi had not acknowledged the Homunculus calling dibs on rib meat, she rests her smile on Roger. He doesn't know what game she's playing, he doesn't know she's Shinichi's sister... "You really don't realize at all. I like that about you, though. It's nice to see someone get to stay innocent." Especially since he acknowledges how helpful and knowledgeable Peacock Silk has been so far! For that, he gets a giggle and no scan--''yet''.

It's Tsumugi, though... It's always Tsumugi. They don't respond to her in words--only the faintest hint of a smile. That, too, Yanagi shares with them, mirroring it--or perhaps they've been mirroring it at her?

The two of them have their own mutual understanding. They have for a long time now. That's why Yanagi didn't hesitate--why she watches, enthralled, as they Transmute anew and call forth ''their'' own other other self, exploding out from within. As if bursting through Jekyll's chest, perhaps.

Kanae, as it turns out, isn't the only Wild Card here.

And as Tsumugi bombards Eshm with ecstatic questions, many of them not so different from what Yanagi has already asked the Homunculus in their private conversations, Yanagi sighs with an ecstasy all her own, staggering into her twirling Persona as her gun-cane barely keeps her upright. Despite the contact, the twirling does not stop.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki indicates again she might be the one who best understands him. The Homunculus regards her with a strange confusion, like he doesn't understand why she might still be trying to claim this. 'Not all the way, mind you. The whole macho act isn't my thing at all.'

((of course))
((you're a broad))

And yet, he can only dismiss the fact that she can't do the macho act in the respect of her being a woman, why not the rest? Maybe because he doesn't know if he can, any longer. Even as his humanity slips away like a cloak on the wind, he desperately seeks anything with which to reclaim it.

'You you sicko!' 'Horror movie freak!'

((yes]
((so))
((very))
((human))

A strange point, to assert his grip on his humanity even as he loses it, yet all the same- he does have a point. Are those insults one would use merely for a monster?

Too bad for him, she knows all of the secrets of his constitution now. A water spell nearly blasts him off his feet outright, as he plucks a violet petal from the center of his forehead, and stares at it with unseeing eye sockets.

Then he crushes it between his fingertips as more and more flowers wrap around him, the creature flailing as he tries to tug through them with raw strength, even as they explode. Right as Umie's water moves to douse what's left, leaving only steam.

As the steam clears, a hand clasps the shoulder of the sodden Homunculus. Its head slowly turns, even though it needs it not to see. A hand reaches up to grasp that of Frankenstein's Monster, as it tries to squeeze its fingers in a contest of strength.

((messy?))

This very human critique is confusing for it, which has been cut off from most of its source of humanity. Fom behind, the Persona has leverage- and so the Sonic Punch from both of them striking at once catches them completely off-balance.

The creature staggers forward, right into the flaming hell that Krepel conjures, with several gouts of fire, as it becomes erratic in its movements for a few moments, trying to escape from the flames.

Anubis judges Eshm with that awful light, as the creature arches its neck back in agony. But then his eyes on his hands look right at her.

((know you))
((better than you think))
((not the first woman))
((to play games with a man))

Isabeau, in her anger sends the birth of a star right onto the Homunculus in that moment. And while he has mostly shown only a great aptitude for physical strength thus far.

Taking Yanagi's wisdom in mind for Isabeau the creature raises a hand in response, which flashes, and abruptly, spheres of deific power form around Kanae and Isabeau, orbiting them- as they grow closer and closer in a fraction of a second, boxing them in.

Then imploding point blank near each of them. Some might realize its the Megidola spell, a power greater than the Megido she cast, which Isabeau often boasts of.

How rude.

((you don't tell me))
((what to do))

Highly pressurized spheres of water detonate on his position, seeming to break his concentration. Which is when Yuuki's sudden Magryva spell cause its shoulders to buckle, and feet to drive further in the floor, as it cracks. The floor gives- the Homunculus looks like it is to fall.

It's it's not there.

No in fact, he's right behind Magus as he aims the blow of a fireaxe right into the back of their Persona's head. Then on the backswing, tosses the axe as easily as one might a hand axe at Yuuki.

An aim which is spoiled by the sudden Hama spell that erupts on his position from Eriko, who has some pointed criticism of his exorcism technique.

He will remember that.

And then the Homunculus actually pauses, because something so absurd has happened as to throw it off-kilter. The bright display of Pernelle's sudden reentry onto the dance floor.

((dance?))

Which is why when nuclear fire rains down upon him, he's taken completely unaware. The creature holds up an arm, palms facing out, as if to try and shield itself from it as it backpedals in a stutter step, trying to vanish again.

A rope then flies out of the mist, in the form of a noose aimed for Umie's neck. Then another- and another, trying to catch Eriko and Pernelle!? How did he conjure up a peacock sized rope!?. They each are tugged off their feet, then dragged abruptly into the mist, as Pernelle hears in the midst of the sudden violence.

((objection))

The motion of their dragging causes the mist to part from the sudden motion. Where they see the Homunculus, with multiple ropes wrapped around a hospital light fixture. With a quick tug they're lifted into the air- finding themselves momentarily strangled, a rope twisted upon a familiar figure's hand as they're hauled up to slam into the ceiling, with a brutal impact.

((if i only break your neck]
((will you try to tell me))
((how to improve))
((or will you be too dead))

A terrible taunt of one of his victims, indeed, he remembered that.

Dantes appears, trying to imprison him in that moment, forcing him to drop the rope to shatter the sudden pillars of Earth before they can cage him in, showing he is certainly, not even close to done. And each of his victims will hit the ground roughly.

Another pillar of flames drives him further back in this moment, as he's forced to abandon his assault in order to prevent being consumed by Bakeneko's flames.

Tsumugi echoes words the Homunculus said earlier. And it reappears right in front of them, as if it had sensed the change, and wished to see it with their own eyes.

((free))

It echoes, in chorus, as it witnesses this odd transfiguration with the narrative of Jekyll transforming into Hyde. A glorious thing, that leaves the Homunculus only watching.

Question after question after question. What will he do? So much potential. A life that he could live.

Hyde strips away his resistance as a get of the dark, he doesn't even move. Wrath descends in the form of its tailcoats piercing its shoulders. Causing it to shudder in a different sort of emotion, in the violence of the moment.

It is free.
Yet it cannot answer.

A contradiction. It grasps for a way to answer. It finds nothing to answer to all of the unlimited potential. All of its pretend answers for how it would live its life once it took over Shinichi Nagisa are lost to it.

And without any possibility of a human life.
It leaves only the self-loathing,
Of a creature that knows its a monstrous parasite
And nothing more.

It moves from being mesmerized to furious in a fraction of a second, as its hands try to wrap both around Tsumugi's neck- and to squeeze, harder- and harder- with increasing pressure.

((shut up))
((stop talking))
((forever))
((that is my freedom))

His answer to what he would do with his freedom- to become anything, is only the pathetic lashing out of a creature with no answer, but to silence the person who forced him to understand this of himself.

Showing just how weak he truly is.

It's rage causes the whole room to glow red, as those deific orbs it summoned before, descend- descend, DESCEND in his incandescent, uncontrollable rage, as he focuses solely on choking the life out of Tsumugi- Hyde.

</poem>
AS: Penguin Slasher has set a trigger!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Megidola on Kanae Fuyuki and Isabeau Fontaine!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Night of the Living Homunculus on Umie Akabane, Eriko Kirishima,
and Pernelle! 2 Hits!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
| Aggression: Penguin Slasher gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Him on Tsumugi Kujaku! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Megidola on Tamaki Uchida, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Saika Kikuchi,
and Roger!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Megidola on Kazusa Motojima, Coin, Yoko Hirano, and Kikuno
Kisaragi!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 194 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 220 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
| Cover! Isabeau Fontaine takes 258, protecting Kanae Fuyuki!
| Isabeau Fontaine is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 142 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 117 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him.
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 123 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Block Best! Pernelle takes 6 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Coin takes 93 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Avoid Best! Roger takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Neutral! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 152 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 73 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Yoko Hirano spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Block Best! Yoko Hirano takes 61 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Worst! Eriko Kirishima takes 120 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus. Critical
Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 74 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Block Worst! Saika Kikuchi takes 246 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 94 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Tuesday the 22nd on Yuuki Hoshizora! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Tuesday the 22nd on Misato Fushihara! 2 Hits!
AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 94 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Critical Hit! Wound! 9
TP damage!
AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 94 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Critical Hit! Wound! 9
TP damage!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 85 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Wound! 9 TP damage!
| Yuuki Hoshizora is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 113 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Critical Hit! Wound! 9
TP damage!
| Yuuki Hoshizora is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Worst! Kazusa Motojima takes 231 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Eshm the Wrath is, as its name implies, a creature of violent fury. When it does not, /cannot/ answer Tsumugi's questions--when it tells them to shut up and moves to strangle them, calls silencing them its freedom--

when it calls forth those twin scarlet orbs--

Yanagi's eyes lid.

All appearance of cheer is gone again. But this time, there is a needle focus there.

Giselle's catheter limbs provide her support; she pushes her forward, staggering on reinforced but still weak legs towards Eshm's back as it is wholly focused on murdering Tsumugi with its bare hands and thus wholly ignorant of what is approaching it from behind.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

She reaches out, and grasps the orbs--

--which transform into a knife with two '''ruby''' blades, that she thrusts down into and across its neck.

No hesitation. No remorse.

Simply a pitiless look in her dead eyes as she watches it fall.

"She was right; you aren't a man," Yanagi says softly, referring obliquely to what Kanae had said ages ago. "You're a Thing. And now, you are no-thing at all."
</poem>

AS: Yanagi Nagisa sets off Penguin Slasher's trigger! 6666 damage!
AS: Penguin Slasher is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
'Megido' is the smallest of the great powers.

There are greater powers, still, on Heaven and on Earth, than a girl who is so dedicated to self-sufficiency that she is able to heal, defend, and attack all in one.

Megidola --

"A power beyond Megido--!!" Isabeau gasps, in that breath of a moment as Megidola's orbs orbit her, remembering the terrifying aura of the Reaper as Vivienne aborted her efforts to hold it off with a swift escape.

First, she knows hunger.

Then she knows pain.

(And unlike Tsumugi and that terrifying Hyde... she does not ''want'' to feel it.)

Megidola drives into her once, with that massive explosion -- and then once again, as Isabeau's spell reveals that there is ''one'' way to reflect Almighty damage.

Not onto the attacker... but onto her ''defender.''

She crashes into the complex machinery of the ICU, the back of her -- thick? -- skull cracking a display, body tangling in IV tubing as she's thrown clear ''through'' it to slam into the wall behind it all.

She does not rise again.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki's head turns to stare at Tsumugi as they change. It's a thorough change -- one far beyond the different Persona. They aren't the same person they were in the shop; or, maybe, there is more to them. The teenager stares for a second.

Then, she looks back up at Eshm. But Eshm isn't there, and--

Her eyes widen. She shouts a wordless, panicked cry to Magus. It doesn't quite come out.

Then the axe goes flying.

There is a meaty ''THUNK'', and Yuuki drops to the floor -- to ''her'' floor. She hits the ground hard, a spray of blue blood-light splashing the wall and then dripping down. Then, her manipulation of her personal gravity gives way.

And she falls in a heap, landing like a discarded rag doll at Magus's feet. Her eyes are closed. Her hair, previously bright blue, starts to fade to the more ordinary chestnut brown.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"It doesn't have to," Kanae answers Yanagi. "I've prepared enough Personas that I can handle whatever he throws at me. You'll see."

Light... ''bends''. Yuuki really knows what she's doing. "Great work!" Kanae calls to Hoshizora. "Keep it up!"

"Thanks, Kazusa-chan." Kanae offers a shaky grin. "Still got a problem saying we've been stalking him?"

The smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. She's puffing herself up because she's afraid. Determined... but still afraid.

But Peacock Silk... through Pernelle's words, it's clear to her; they aim to leave the Homunculus with nothing. And frankly, as far as she's concerned... that's a good thing.

Tamaki is sheepish, but Kanae calls back, "Probably not! Makes me want to ask more questions!" To Eriko, "And to you, too!"

She feels Tamaki's strength next; that 'normality' helps her, makes her feel... better. And she always has felt an affinity for the moon.

But she learns something, from Tsumugi. She sees that exultation, that exhortation to freedom--but she sees their Persona ''change'', as well. "You, too...?" Different from her--but alike to her, too. Kanae wonders, in that moment: what could summon forth ''that''...?

But she does not get much time to contemplate it, in the end. Kanae sees that barrier light up before her. "Isabeau?" she wonders, looking towards her in surprise. 'No more will you touch her.' "That's--"

But she is 'not the first woman to play games with a man.' How many 'games' has she played? Was Touma that different?

But...

The beautiful, terrible starlight does not touch her. Kanae realizes this as she sees the rest of the room red and quaking--as she sees--

"NO!" Kanae calls in alarm, banging on her side of the barrier with a fist. "Isabeau!"

"Don't touch her," Kanae says sharply. "DON'T TOUCH HER!"

Darting in front of Isabeau, Kanae pulls a vial from around her neck, starting to tug at it--

But then Yanagi strides up. Closer... closer... closer, before Kanae can gt clearnce to attack, and then--

"That's--"

She was right, Yanagi said, and kanae blinks in surprise--and then laughs. "...You really did take care of it your own way," she comments. "Ah... hahahaha..." She laughs in relief, in shock, and a few tears.

"...That's..." In a moment, Kanae will tend to Isabeau--in a moment, when the shock lets her move more at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Grim had noted Yanagi's presence - and her apparent cooperation with the Homunculus - but she had been on the periphery of Grim's notice the whole time. Until she scanned. Noticing that Yanagi had laid bare her every strength and weakness, Grim brought her rifle and Dantes's pistol around, locked squarely onto the one that had performed the scan, and a slight scowl began to creep into her shrouded features.
"All of this. Why?" She asked. There wasn't much in the way of accusation or reproach in her tone. No approval, certainly, but Grim didn't have the luxury of anger either.

She didn't get the luxury of a response. Not from yanagi, at least. The Homunculus was only too keen to level that monstrous force at her, and it surged towards Grim with such ferocity that she knew she could not evade it. Thus, she did the only thing she could, and called Dantes to defend her. He was no great shield, nor some titan of a man whose body could withstand any blow. But still, he deflected it, and spared Grim the worst of the damage - even if he shattered in the process, leaving Grim staggering backwards from the backlash in her mind.

By the time her vision returned to her from that nova-bright flash of energy, Grim had only the strength to watch as Yanagi approached the Homunculus. Hands gripping the rifle for all the god it would do, she waited for an excuse - any excuse - to fire. But none came. With ruthless efficiency, Yanagi executed the Homunculus, and the fight (she hoped) was over. But there was no time to rest. There were many wounded, and she yet had reserves left to heal. The Homunculus was gone, but was the fight truly over?

She didn't want to sit around and be halfway dead if the answer proved unfavourable.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Yoko offers a heavy wisdom, and Pernelle sighs. "I fear you are all too right. Ah, to be a lost soul, even to the spirit of da --" That was when Umie had hit him, before.

Now, he dances, for he is neither lost, and depending on who you ask, he only questionably has a soul himself.

After his own fiery assault, Pernelle spots Yoko calling forth Agilao, and meeting her with a cheering EEEYAW of a squawk. "Fervent enough to set fire to my spirit! Excellent, excellent, most excellent!" Who should question Bearemy? Isabeau? "Is it not obvious? Artistic passion itself animates her adorable agent!"

Does it count as making things up if he believes it?

Past his fire, Tsumugi demands a demonstration. Pernelle pauses, watching them make their demands of the Homunculus. To be a self interested creature, a selfish beast, to be free, free, ''free''... Pernelle's eyes brighten with every question that leaves their mouth.

Here, in this supernatural space, Pernelle is an animated creature, a peacock, but a little more than a peacock: some fae thing. But even here, as a little more than a peacock, his eyes have turned beady in blank animal hunger.

It is only a moment, for there is a dance. A dance of fire and a dance of ''ropes''.

A peacock sized noose for a peacock's slender neck loops around his throat and ''yanking'' with force quicker than furious flapping of his wings can slacken. He squawks the terrible sound of poultry facing slaughter as he's dragged into the mist.

objection
stop talking
forever

Rope pulls, and Pernelle collides with the ceiling before he is left to dangle. It is a posture ready to be defeathered by the butcher... until his head turns one hundred and eighty degrees -- rather like an owl or a possessed corpse -- to look to Eshm.

"Oh, the ache of the void where your answers should be."

Oh, to be no-thing where a Thing used to be.

As Yanagi dispatched the Homunculus without remorse, Pernelle's rope is no more. He drops, hitting the ground in a tippy tappy dance of his clawed feet as he looks to Yanagi in purest delight.

"Did I sound suitably forlorn at the onset? I did my best, but it is truly is so difficult to act against one's natural demeanor."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin gives Yanagi a slightly offended look. "I am not for studying!" she objects, even though she is an oddity in the first place. She feels seen! She pulls her hat down a little bit over her eyes, her ears flattening down along with it.

Is she shy? Coin has never considered that she might be shy before. She's usually so not... but she's never had to deal with this many humans at once before, either!

But... "Should I not have?" Coin seems baffled about Umie's objection to being seen through. She literally *told her* that her Persona was the Badb, right after she sensed it the first time in the Dark Hour, and then she went and summoned her! Coin isn't going to forget the feeling THAT fast!

What business does a monster have with being a Hunter?

...

"We can talk about that when we are NOT on a Hunt!" Coin didn't have an answer she cared to say here... or perhaps she didn't have one at all. Either way, Isabeau is not getting her answer.

The falling explosive orbs are sufficient to keep Coin occupied for some time. She dives, covering her body with her coat; it's knee-length anyway and she curls up underneath it, using the whole thing like a shield. Her Hunter's outfit is significantly more durable than she is...

...but unfortunately her tail sticks out through it, and it has no such protection. Coin decides to stay down for a few moments.

But.

She feels something.

Coin rises, the back of her coat smoking slightly, either from Krepel or from the Megadola. She is staring directly at Tsumugi. Her ears vibrate with something like startlement - and excitement. She can feel it. Feel it resonating. Passion, freedom -

This is what Tsumugi desires.

It's magnificent and terrifying at the same time, and it makes some internal part of Coin's spirit sing at the same time it's repelled. She stands there, ears quivering, tail swishing, for several long seconds, until the spell breaks; she realizes there has been a killing, and a new (old?) voice, like the Homonculus but not the same.

Coin attempts to regain her composure by pulling her hat straight again before she scampers over toward Kanae - and Isabeau, as she's fallen.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus believes she has him pinned down. Spheres of water limit his movement - but the one place she does not predict is behind her ''Persona'' rather than behind her own physical form. The axe is swung, and a gout of blue flame issues forth from Nitocris as it meets its mark. Her Persona shatters into glass - and with a gasp, Magus is sent to one knee. The pain in the right side of her body flares up intensely in that short moment that Nitocris is lost to her before she recovers from the Break, but it's enough.

She meets Yuuki's eyes in that moment that Yuuki shouts to her - and then the axe swings again.

"Yuuki!" Magus calls - in a rare instance of dispensing with the theatric 'full first-name last-name way she does'. Yuuki lands at her feet - and Magus casts her cloak protectively about her as she forces her body to move in front of her. Fury crosses her face as she begins to draw something from its depths.

She can still fight - she ''must'' still fight, exact vengeance for what that ''thing'' has done to her...

...but in an instance, a fatal blow is struck. ...But from an unexpected source. Surprise crosses her face - and for a moment, she has no idea what's going on.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> 'Do you understand what's really going on here?' Roger isn't directly spoken to, but somehow his attention manages to drift that way to Kikuno's exasperation. 'Of course you don't. Yet another thing I'll have to correct.'

"Um. What's more important than getting rid of the Homunculus?!" Roger asks. "It seems simple enough to me," but he is also a simple-minded creature who has both a greater grasp of, and not quite perfect, idea of what it means to ''have'' a mind at all.

It makes some of Yanagi's teasing a little louder. 'You don't really realize at all. I like that about you, though. It's nice to see someone get to stay innocent.'

"...I like you too! I like playing with you," Roger says, from their time exploring Night Parade and that bizarre wall-graphic character. "I don't want that Homunculus to hurt you or anyone else!"

Then... Hyde. Enough, to break things into silence in awe of what transpires. The power, the presence, the will.

'A power beyond Megido--!!'

"I don't like this!" Roger says, flinching as he tries to dive for it - but it's not because of his attempts that he avoids harm.

He is an accidental beneficiary by relative proxy of who Isabeau protects from it. He's left lying prone and flabbergasted. Isabeau's name would be on his tongue.

He watches the way Yanagi just quietly strikes into the Homunculus - just like that, after her bizarre game with rules that Roger simply did not understand.

He can only tilt his head quietly.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa glares at Kikuno. "If you have something to share, share it ''before'' we're in the middle of a battle next time. Otherwise, worry about yourself."

She doesn't look at back when Kikuno looks at her after the Media works its magic on her.

Umie has some advice, and Kazusa looks at her and blinks. "Ehhh? H-how am I supposed to do ''that''!? The only thing I want to make him beg for is his demise."

There's a nod to Eriko at the thanks, and the encouragement to keep fighting. "Right! But-- I can't keep dropping heals like that. My well is running kind of dry..." She's breathing hard, even after having her wounds mended.

Kazusa would be interested in talking to Yoko later--now's not really the time for a chat, as it happens.

"Demon Queen" is a hard title to give up, sometimes, for a variety of reasons. But Kazusa watches as Tsumugi... changes? Their Persona does, too, and Kazusa finds herself glancing quickly bewteen the both of them. "Wait could you always do that??"

At least the idea of summoning multiple Personas doesn't seem ''so'' weird--but the change of outfit is ''definitely'' a bit odd.

Kazusa has been doing so much to keep everyone up, but sher strenght isn't unlimited--and when the terrifying explosion of Megidola comes she's too winded to outrun it, getting caught up in the blast and thrown to the ground once more.

"Guh..." she pushes herself up to her hands and knees. Her clothing is a bit singed now. She looks up to Kanae. "Kill that thing first," she says in between gulps of air. "Argue later."

Kazusa's scared too, Kanae. She'll nag at you later.

She looks around. Isabeau and Yuuki are dropping, but Tsumugi is in danger right then. She grits her teeth. She doesn't have a lot, but if she ahs to keep the right going--

"Mina, Rec--"

Her call is cut short by a startled gasp as Yanagi just ''rips'' the eyes out of the Homunculus' head. The sight is gruesome, but Kazusa is momentarily distracted by a memory.

'''That.'''

She shakes her head and forces herself up. She staggers her way over to Magus, who is protecting Yuuki. "Magus-san, here, let me help Hoshizora-san."

There will be time for more questios later. First she'll do what she still can for the wounded...

... and then see to the person they've come here to rescue.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
The shift in Tsumugi's presentation is jarring- and with that presence, that resonance of mad beauty makes Eriko step away- the relative ease she had had around Peacock Silk's proprietor on Christmas vanishes suddenly and unpleasantly.

Maybe it's simply that she has been around too many people she really didn't want to touch her. Maybe it's just Hyde living up to the hype.

It means she's shaken when Yanagi simply says she came here for rubies. "...what do you mean rubies?" Eriko asks, completely baffled now. Why would there be rubies...?

That's all she can posit before the noose slips around her neck and yanks her off her feet. She tries to get her hands in the way, but she's far too slow. The force is not enough to kill her- but it is enough to strangle her, and the cry she had in her throat disappears to give way of airless choking as Eriko struggles and swings. Her hands grip around the rope around her neck, to try and pull without luck. Her rapier has fallen to the floor.

It's only by sheer luck that she's able to shift her body and spread out her brutal impact against the ceiling of the atelier- and even then it's painful. She would cry out if she had any air left in her lungs to share. Instead, she drops unceremoniously, hitting the floor with a painful thud as she gasps desperately, trying to breathe, trying to get enough air to remove the noose by any method. Not everyone here has the wonderful, flexible neck of a peacock, Pernelle.

It means she can barely watch as Yanagi finds her rubies- and uses them to end the thing that was fighting them.

Normally, Eriko might have a comment, a thought, something to add-

But right now the extent of what she can manages is a few more wheezes as she slowly regains her ability to breathe, rolling onto her back. She will... probably need some help with the rope, but that's going to be easier without the Homunculus in her way.

Still, her thoughts linger on the wounded juniors and one simple thought.

Eriko's not sure she understands Yanagi at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki jumps slightly when Eriko touches her shoulder, but she turns back to smile and doesn't pull away. "Yeah. We've got each others' backs."

She winces as Isabeau responds. "... understandable. I'll be ready for it," she replies. Similarly, she hangs her head when Kanae says it just makes her want to ask more questions.

She cranes her head to one side in response to Eshm, opting to not clarify her stated position out loud -- not yet, at least. Whatever enmity she held towards Eshm in the initial moments where she had rushed towards him was now gone, held back after Eriko's earlier exhortation.

Tsumugi's tirade sends a shiver up Tamaki's own spine. She's heard it once before, against a different Homunculus, but new information has come to light since then. She stares at Tsumugi and feels the sting of envy start to take hold in her chest.

What does it say about her that she just wants to be 'normal' again? To have the 'gas leak' truly just have been a gas leak? To have any claims that someone 'must have been daydreaming' be just that instead of her cover story to dissuade people from learning about Personas and Demons?

It'd ease her sense of guilt, earned or unearned as it may be. It'd mean that she wouldn't have been reminded of this aspect of herself.

All of her moonlit veils can't hide from Megidola. There is no escape from such a spell; it will find its way past ''any'' defenses, save one throwing themself in front of another to protect them. Wide-eyed with panic, Tamaki scrambles to flee and save her own skin from the almighty. She dives away in a last-ditch effort to avoid the brunt of the blast and lands on her stomach with an undignified grunt of pain.

As Eriko lands to the ground, Tamaki staggers over to her. "Elly! Elly, are you okay?!" Every other concern is gone from her mind as she works to loosen the knot to give her friend enough slack to get free.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Coin's reply reminds Umie of something important.
... ah, right, it's Umie who is bad at opsec

"Ah, right, right. Sorry. It was late at night..." The many sides of Umie Akabane: a menace to beings threatening her life, an apologizer to anything below her in height (but still mighty!).

But what's also top of Umie's mind in terms of 'that is something that maybe should be concerning' is Tsumugi's transformation. Umie, however...

... watches in awe. ".... So Personas can do that too, huh..."

But the homunculus still stands, and Yanagi has fed him information about Umie. But really, is there anything he doesn't already know? The most important parts are laid clear...

_Umie Akabane is a troublemaker_. And she *will* make good on her omen, one way or another.

The noose comes for Umie's neck, and manages to snag its mark-- or, well, a bun. "SH---" Blonde hair comes away as she is snagged, slamming down onto the ground with a painful thud.

*RIPP*

Umie lets out a hoarse shriek as the noose leaves her, her left hand clutching the now tender (and possibly bleeding) part of scalp and hair that was thankfully freed. It could have been worse, had she not managed to keep it from taking part of her scalp.... or if she was Eriko.

"Kirishima-san?!" Umie scrambles over besides Tamaki, attempting to help her free Eriko from the knot still around her neck and carefully lower her down. "... Careful now... just keep by me." She also casts a look towards Pernelle, even if she's unsure of how such a magnificent bird could be deterred by such an attack.

.... is that... Yanagi...?
Maybe, the headache Umie's beginning to feel is affecting her eyesight...

But no, no. Yanagi paid her brother in full.

"Well, aren't you a little schemer..." Umie breathes, despite her shock.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>

"Oh, it won't change the outcome here," Kikuno tells Kazusa. "But please, keep on telling yourself that."

"You'll see," she tells Roger in turn. "I promise."

She shoots Isabeau a glance that may as well be a thrown dart. "Then go tell your father. It's not my problem," she tells her, waving a hand dismissively. "Now, shut up. We're fighting a real monster." As if, somehow, /she's/ the normal one here and Isabeau is the oddity.

Then again, when set against the likes of Peacock Silk, as demonstrated thus--

(But, wait does that mean that Kikuno, despite entering alongside them, counts herself not among their number...?)

(And, for that matter, whose side /is/ Yanagi's on right now, anyway...?)

She turns her head to look at Yoko, her younger cousin. Her mother's younger brother's daughter. Who now wonders aloud what /happened/ to her. Why isn't she... herself?

"Shut up," Kikuno tells Yoko, quite bluntly.

And then, to rub salt into the wound, she turns her attention away.

Her honest reaction to Eshm's attack, on the other hand...

"Ch..." she hisses, glaring at the Homunculus from behind her spectacles. "Don't put words in my mouth." He doesn't need to, technically speaking: she'd said as much herself, when last they'd met. She's wondered it herself, anyway.

Just what's the difference between parasite and host? From where do the darker impulses really spring? Knowing what she knows, knowing twice-over the invasion of the soul by another, can she really claim that the thing that had once taken her and herself are so very different?

That a horror movie can spring from a human heart alone?

There's little time to consider it now. Before her, there's a star. From that star, there's light, and terrible soul-scouring force. Kikuno yells something: it's swallowed by the detonation's roar. Her throne melts away beneath her as Beatrice shatters into dust, sending her toppling to the ground. This is where she lies as Eshm tells Tsumugi exactly what he -- it -- thinks of them.

This is as far as its expression of humanity can go, though. In the end, an imitation is just an imitation. But does that mean that it will necessarily fail? Kikuno, on the floor, gazes up at Eshm as he -- it, it, he's no man -- descends upon Tsumugi.

Yanagi, in that moment reveals precisely whose side she's on.

A terrible snicker, even as she pants for breath and slowly rises from the floor to then stand, escapes Kikuno. "Didn't I tell you...?"

Her own gaze then turns towards Shinichi, waking at last from his slumber.

"Oh, he's awake now. Hurry up," she says, limping her way over towards the cocoon and fallen Homunculus alike, "or you'll miss your dear sister a second time."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus is not merely distracted, it is consumed by an urge to reduce all Tsumugi is to ''nothing''. To obliterate all memory of them from its landscape. It is utterly single-minded in this.

Which is why, when Yanagi reaches, it does not notice her at all, until it is

far
too
late

Its neck slashed. The Homunculus lets go of Tsumugi, to grip its own throat- as black ichor pours out of it. It holds it, as unseeing sockets stare right at Yanagi - for the betrayal.

'She was right; you aren't a man,'
'You're a Thing. And now, you are no-thing at all.'

A twist of the knife, without any motion of the knife at all, it seems the creature will take those thoughts to its grave. Without its eyes, silenced, no retort at all, just- pathetic flailings of a creature that already knows its dead.

The Homunculus shudders, as it loses its strength, arms falling away from its neck to its side. The creature staggers backwards as more and more ichor pours out of it.

Then falls to the ground, unmoving, as that dark fluid pools beneath it. There are no signs of life whatsoever as it lay there- as if in state.

And it's at this moment, that a boy who had been trapped in a cocoon for so long, surprisingly- not merely his Shadow says the words, "O... Oneesan?"

'''[[2026-10-14:_Bridge_of_Separation|TO BE CONTINUED]]'''

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-09: La Bête (THE BEAST II)

2026-10-18T18:21:17Z

Ayu: Created page with "2026-10-09: La Bête (THE BEAST II) *'''Log: La Bête (THE BEAST II)''' *'''Cast:''' Penguin Slasher, Yanagi Nagisa, Kanae Fuyuki, Isabeau Fontaine, Yuuki Hoshizora, Roger, Coin, Misato Fushihara, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Pernelle, Yoko Hirano, Tamaki Uchida, Umie Akabane, Kazusa Motojima, Saika Kikuchi, Eriko Kirishima, Tsumugi Kujaku, Kikuno Kisaragi, Shinichi Nagisa *'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's..."

2026-10-09: La Bête (THE BEAST II)

*'''Log: La Bête (THE BEAST II)'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Penguin Slasher]], [[Yanagi Nagisa]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Isabeau Fontaine]], [[Yuuki Hoshizora]], [[Roger]], [[Coin]], [[Misato Fushihara]], [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Pernelle]], [[Yoko Hirano]], [[Tamaki Uchida]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Saika Kikuchi]], [[Eriko Kirishima]], [[Tsumugi Kujaku]], [[Kikuno Kisaragi]], [[Shinichi Nagisa]]
*'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's Atelier
*'''OOC Date:''' October 9, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 22, 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Shinichi Nagisa is nearly gone, having been replaced by an awful parasite that has been terrorizing numerous Shujin Academy students for weeks. At the center of the Atelier, the Homunculus believes his victory is nearly complete... yet, he is swiftly proven wrong by the Persona Users who stand against him.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The door knob of Room 302 is warm. A little too warm. Enough to make one hesitate in worry that there's a fire behind it.

But as it opens, the red is revealed to be countless Higanbana, Red Spider Lily flowers, lining the floor, the walls, the ceiling of a far too large room. The walls move as if a sky full of clouds in animation, behind shadowy bars and crimson blossoms.

In the middle of the room is a hospital bed, with a cocoon whose webbing is stretched to encircle the bed from so many sides, like a restraint to keep it there. A monitor floats in space above it, several wires connected to the Cocoon, with an EKG tracing of beeps that are coming far, too slowly.

There isn't much time left.

A Sanguine Humor has died recently, her body is already being consumed by the crimson blossoms on the floor in a rapid decay. The room itself shifts, vision narrowing. Now the room itself pulses out of synch with the electronic beeps on the monitor, quickening. Like a predator ready for the kill.

The Homunculus is here. Even if you can't see him.

Breath begins to fog, as mist curls about the corners of the room, like a fog cloud that was let in through a suddenly opened window, gradually obscuring where the room begins and ends. There's whistling that echoes from out of that mist, to a slower more melancholy version of a tune everyone will recognize. A Japanese nursery rhyme about bubbles. As he whistles, the lyrics almost certainly spring to mind.

''All of them have disappeared,''
''each and every one of them.''
''So soon after they were born''
''all of them have disappeared.''

Then abruptly it stops the sound of the Homunculus speaking to them reverberating all around.

"You parasites have a lot of nerve- breaking into a man's home. What are you even here for? Trying to force me to change back to my past self? To that conceited sad sack that let the whole world walk over him? Hahaha-"

He lets out a little chuckle, before all humor drops out of his voice.

"Fucking morons. Let me tell you a story. Once there was a real stupid kid who lived in a town named Mikage-Cho. He had a sister that was deathly ill, and parents that spent their every waking moment with her. So this dumb kid felt really lonely- lonely enough that one day he told his sister that maybe it'd be better if she were dead."

There's a shape moving in the mist. It's there, and then gone. Then at another place- then gone. The Navigators in the room have difficulty tracking it with any accuracy, other than little blips that seem too erratic to narrow down like a radar.

"Then- that same day, ''she died''. Except not really- spoilers." He adds, with a voice dripping with a sense of grim irony, "How she lived isn't important. What's important is the kid thought it was his fault. And on what felt like the very next day- Mikage-Cho went to hell. ... Literally. So a kid seeing all that happening right in front of him, he saw cause and effect where it didn't exist. He killed his sister- thus, divine punishment fell upon him. And he decided, when he got back to his middle school that had fallen into chaos that he had to spend the rest of his life atoning for his crime."

Silence, as if there were some gravity in the moment. Like there's more weight to that decision than his story would imply, until his voice angrily breaks the silence.

"... What a fucking laugh. The loser committed himself to getting treated like a dog, taken advantage of by anyone who wanted to. In fact he volunteered himself for people to take and take and take from- until all the parasites had had their fill and he was a shell of his former self. Then one day- he woke up. Realized what a stupid little shit he'd been. And decided, nobody was going to take anything else from him ever again."

The mist shines a deep crimson hue, like an emergency light shining from deep within the fog, a glare- a resonant anger so thick and palpable they can taste it on their tongues.

"So if you think I'm going to let you bring me back to that place- you've got another thing coming. I'd rather die than go back to being what I was... but, I think I'll just kill all of you instead, string you up as a warning as to what happens if you fuck with Shinichi Nagisa."

'''OST:''' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE6BSNCg-co (''Les Bêtes'', Shirou Sagisu (''Evangelion 2.0''))

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Recently:

Yanagi stands, supported by her polished gun-cane, by the bedside of the Cocoon where Shinichi Nagisa is trapped. Her peacock green eyes reflect nothing; her beautiful features are impassive. She may well be a statue for all she emotes. She barely even blinks. When she does, it's in time with those all-too-infrequent EKG beeps.

The Homunculus speaks to her. It's finally become comfortable enough to let her inside this room, though of course not unmonitored. Never unmonitored. Much like how it does in the present moment, it speaks of the one in the Cocoon as its past self, that it will soon be reborn, that it will not let anyone drag it back to what it once was.

Chin ticking up like the spindly fingers of a clock, or perhaps like a porcelain marionette on stage, she looks at it degree by degree.

All she says is one word:

"Oh?"

. . .

Now...

Now, lost somewhere in the mist, Yanagi's voice hums along with that whistling. When it breaks off, she does not. That soft, melancholy humming keeps on as the Homunculus tells the story of a lonely boy and his dying sister.

She keeps on humming until the Homunculus declares 'that boy' won't let anyone else take anything from him again. Then she sighs and falls silent.

That deep and bloody shine overtakes the mist. The Homunculus's anger might be palpable, but there may as well be nothing at all in Yanagi's voice as she politely says, "Shall we, then?"

There is movement and light in the mist--the flapping wings of a luminescent blue butterfly. It shatters with a BANG, and from the mist rises a mist-clad porcelain doll, crowned with jewels and pirouetting on needle limbs.

Little origami angel-spirits phase into existence and fill the room. One for each person present, seemingly a guide to the land of the dead.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae stands among the group when they open the door and head inside, her heavy coat and robes comfortable only because of their supernatural nature in this heat. There is no fire, but there is no Kanae readily apparent, either; to someone who doesn't know her battle form, she's unrecognizable with her tricorne hat down over her face. She can see, but she keeps her head down.

And there, the cocoon...

Kanae was here once before. And now, she knows they are not alone here. The whistling tune registers for her, a memory of when she had her parents...

She grits her teeth, thinking about that now. Combined with the eerie whistling, it's a bad time. But she doesn't speak up. She waits, until he tells his story, calls them morons, waits through his explanation... the shape moves in the mist. Still, Kanae conceals herself.

But it all adds up with what she knew: his guilt, his desire to help, his 'pushover' nature... until the mist shines crimson.

When the Guide to the land of the dead appears, Yanagi's doing--Kanae finally steps forward. She reaches up, takes her hat--and removes it. Her face is much darker than most here, her skin browner thanks to her other heritage. And her eyes? Her eyes are set.

"Hi, honey," she speaks up to the Homunculus, and throws aside the hat. Her long, black hair tumbles down her back; she hefts her gunblade in one hand to point it towards him.

"...You're done, as of today. I've been Hunting you all along. You're not a 'real man.' You're not even ''human''. ...I was only with you to keep you going all-out with innocent girls.

"And now it ends."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
The cocoon -- the room. The Sanguine Humour. Isabeau advocates killing these women, just as sternly as she insists the Melanc orderlies ought to die; some could call them mercy kills.

Others know better.

But there she stands, as this one dies without the crescent-moon decorated spear in her hand, girlish silver ribbons tied about it. Her bronze vest exposes her bare arms, muscles evident even beneath her layers of fat -- though a white greatcoat hangs off of one arm, belted around her waist to keep it secure. (Another belt, securing her britches, holds a dozen pouches and vials and other helpful things -- alongside the empty hilt of a knife.) Her exposed arm is instead defended by a targe, the Eye of Ra staring imperiously out from it in eternal rebuke.

"I do not think you will let me," she says, when he asks whether they expect trample him. "Still I have come."

But he has a story to tell, and --

"What do you talk about?!" Isabeau demands, sharply, when Shinichi finishes illustrating what ''happened.'' "The 'Mikage-cho Incident'?! It was a gas leak! A ''gas leak!''" Her voice rises, as she yells -- "That is what they ''said,'' at the hospital! You damn Japanese gassed me with your kerosene heat! That is what ''happened!''"

The red flames of her truth erupt around her, as she grasps the side of her head, with a sharp cry.

"Ugh -- 'that day'--!"

OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noKmWtc0R9E Hozier - Through Me (The Flood)

At once she is overcome, falling to broad knees. One hand curls, against the ground, as the full weight of her dreams return to her. "... no... that day... when monsters flooded the town... I remember. My classmates pushed me out the door as a sacrifice to them... while ''he'' just stood and ''watched!''" She's pointing at the fake Shinichi, but that can't be ''his'' crime. "I ran away, but one of them found me... that 'Pixie'. Somehow, I impressed her, so she protected me from the others... but when the children saw me walking with her, unharmed... that is when they deemed me a Witch. Even after we forgot... they knew me to be a Witch..."

Her fingers scrape the ground, as she realises: "Even after I forgot, that creature stayed with me... I forgot, but Mielikki remembered. A damn monster... a damn ''monster'' saved me, though she would eat the other...!"

She takes a breath, harsh and laboured, as she hears Kanae speak. "... that is right," she says, as she staggers to her feet, lifting herself by her own spear. "You... you are Hunted by more than one Hunter, you who does not speak the word with its weight! MIELIKKI! My head is clouds, but my resources are not! Holy Arrow--!" She lifts a Skill Card -- straight from the Time Count -- high into the air --

-- as a little spruce-haired fairy with blue wasp's wings appears above her, draped in a golden dress and an oversized bear fur, its claws gripped in her hands like weapons. As that Skill Card spins, its sign reflects in the gold of her dress, and she draws back her claws as if firing an arrow from a bow she does not possess.

She knows it won't do him any permanent harm; she's been here before.

It's about sending a message.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
It took Yuuki Hoshizora awhile to get here, along with Magus. The blue-haired girl looks a little roughed up; the long fall and making her way back here has her covered in dust and with a few small cuts and bruises here nad there, from the effort of clamoring back. She still arrives at Room 302.

And she listens, with an expression that's barely holding back outrage at the Homunculus's words.

She glances, once, at Yanagi's voice. Then, back at the mist.

"You're not him. You--you're just stealing his pain, to replace him, and hurt the lives of people around him! You... I can't stand things like you, for--for everything you take from people!"

She looks at the cocoon, then lifts her rapier. The tip of the blade glints, as she steps up -- just ahead of Magus, just a little behind Kanae and Kazusa.

"So I'll send you to hell, if I have to!"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Here!" Roger calls, boldly filtering in with the rest. They can already intuit that 'it' is 'here,' but as someone whose earliest semi-conscious existence is as a Sanguin Humor, there are some things about Ateliers that come natural to the now Persona-using Transmutation-ified human-shaped Roger - as he was named - snorting angrily all the while and stamping a foot.

He's clad in a sports team uniform, envisioning himself as someone who gets to play with everyone as someone. The whistle on a chain dangling around his neck is not blowed. Tennis, specifically, is not quite a large number team sport, but this fact has not stopped him from wielding a tennis racquet and matching ball.

"That's the Cocoon...! And that's another Sanguin Humor..." Roger has a very good idea what it means when nearly all Sanguin Humors are exhausted and removed from an Atelier's ecosystem. (Politely, he doesn't shout over the storytelling, though...)

"...Um... are you listening?! Hey!! Are you listening?!" He calls. He is not Shinichi's Sanguin Humor. He does not reflect what of his goals, desires, and needs are, but there are just ''some'' things inherent when one's initial existence was of that manner of entity. "Don't let that Homunculus eat you up!! If your sister's okay," hi, Nagisa, though it is odd he speaks like she isn't here in the moment, this might be a localization phrasing issue that needed one more editorial pass, "then... why let this be you?! Come on! Come back and play with her! Think of all the fun you could have in the time you could make up!"

"...Would she really be okay with you being like this?! Come on!! We're all here for you as you really are!"
</poem>

AS: Kanae Fuyuki has cleared her buckets.
AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga has cleared her buckets.

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin promised Kanae that she would find her way to help her with the Hunt.

And yet, Kanae got to the day chosen for the Hunt without hearing from her. Coin is not exactly someone you can call on the phone or send a text; if she's not there, she's not there, and that's the end of it.

She made it through the entire Atelier without seeing hide nor hair of her. Nobody did, in fact. It's as if Coin simply did not choose to come after all, and ditched Kanae without warning.

Until...

The fog parts. Not all of it. It's more like a gust of wind caught a little patch of it and dispersed it a little, thinned it out; even there it's not *gone*. It's enough to see the silhouette of a figure much shorter than a human -

A silhouette that resolves itself into a small fox-like humanoid. Two and a half feet tall, orange-red and white and black, wearing a knee-length leather coat over a waistcoat and a hat with a brilliant green feather, wielding a broadsword scaled for it. Her coat has some of higanbana petals stuck to it, as if she'd crawled through a cluster of them to get here.

"So different than a Foraine," Coin says, more to herself than anyone else. "And still, both possessed of a quarry." If not a Quarry. Those are different. She orients herself in the place -

Okay. THIS part is nothing like a Foraine. Coin lacks a lot of the context to hang 'hospital' on, let alone 'Mikage-cho', but it makes her uncomfortable in a way she doesn't much like. This is what he hates, she thinks, not a place of desire. And yet, he's stuck in it. It makes her fur bristle, her tail most of all.

The sight of Roger makes her stop for a moment - well, lots of people, but especially Roger. She's momentarily taken with something that she doesn't quite recognize as stage fright - she has never seen so many humans in one place before! So she looks at Roger instead, long and thoughtful, for about five seconds before she shakes her head hard enough to make the feather sway; her ears flatten. Later. "Kanae!" she calls, scrambling through the mist.

"You found your 'quarry', the target of your hunt. Now, what will you do with it?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Getting here was a trial for Magus and Yuuki. Magus's right side hurts all over from the fall, familiar old pains burning throughout her body. Nitocris's protection is usually enough so that she doesn't feel them until afterward, but if she's feeling them even ''now''...

...She's going to suffer for this later. She knows that. But what's new, really?

They arrive later than the others - but not so late that they miss all the 'fun'. And as they step through the door, she can feel it. Like eyes on the back of her head - like an animal sizing up its prey, preparing to strike. A haunting whistle echoes through the room, a familiar tune bringing forth familiar lyrics.

And then it stops, as a voice speaks.

What is she here for? Is she here to change him back to his past self?

"No. I'm here to kill you." Magus states plainly. "If that's how he wishes to live his life afterward, it's not my problem."

She's not a person who saves people, except by happenstance. ...Or so she tells herself.

She listens as he recounts his tale. The tale of a boy who's loneliness lead him to wish death on his sister, if only briefly - and then blamed himself for the hell on earth that arose the next day. The bodybag, and the shoes within... so that was why.

And that was the warzone they walked through. The monsters roaming the city streets. This 'Mikage-Cho Incident', as Isabeau put it.

Of course it wasn't the result of a single boy's mistake - but it's enough that he ''thought'' it was.

It's enough to make her feel some small sympathy for him. But for the thing wearing his face, even if she can't see it now...

"...It's as she says." Magus says with a nod, as Yuuki tears him down verbally and declares that she'll send him to hell. Is that a hint of pride in her tone? ...Surely it isn't.

"You would not be the first to try to kill me. Do you think yourself capable of succeeding where others failed? That boy may be spineless, a 'loser'... but without him, there would never have been a you. What does that make you?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Black and silver drifted into the room. A wraith, its form defined by sharp and sweeping curves, its limbs ending in vicious talons, its face forced into the rictus grin of a silvered half-skull, held its rifle at the ready, silver-laced fingers ready to pull the trigger at anything that dared to approach. Grim had entered the fray, and evaluated the situation with cold, composed, silence. Behind the darkness that cloaked whatever of her face was left unmasked, her eyes drifted across the long strands of crimson, lingering on anything that seemed of interest. Her expression twitched beneath the shroud as the readouts betrayed the truth of the matter - they were racing against the clock.

Her head snapped towards the source of the noise. She knew it all too well. It sounded like Shinichi, that much was true, but it hadn't been Shinichi that had stolen those images of her. It hadn't been Shinichi that had stowed those blades away, nor made those threats against the lives of those that had wronged him. It was the *thing* in his body that had done those things, and it was that which spoke to them as the massed group made their play. For her part, Grim remained quiet, listening intently while looking for any opportunity to press the attack.

For once, Grim began to get an inkling of what it felt like to be on the receiving end of her shrouded ambushes. Something moved in the mist, so close that she could reach out and choke it to death, yet shifting and changing and disappearing the very moment she laid eyes on it. Rifle raised fully and senses pricked up to even the faintest of hints of the Homunculus, Grim stalked the room as she had before, waiting for a lull in the conversation. The only sounds she made were the faint tapping of her feet against the floor, and the quiet clicking of her weapon being brought to bear.

"And this is your solution."
Grim's voice was flat as a razor blade, but like one, it carried an edge to it. Cold and cutting, she made no attempt to hide her contempt for the thing that piloted Shinichi's body, even if her nature did not let her express it any more strongly than that. "Strutting around like you're God's gift to the Earth, demanding everyone bow to you, and threatening to murder anyone that doesn't. Claiming his past as your own, and using it to justify your own actions... You're pathetic."

Grim called upon Dantes to envelope her in dark magicks, and drag her back into the shadows. As much a disembodied voice as him now, Grim uttered her judgement with a voice so cold that the air threatened to mist around her.
"If it's death you want, it's death you'll get. Justice comes for you, monster. And we will deliver it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
The iridescent, glorious, and altogether fantastic and magical mascot that is Pernelle looks... exhausted. His usual springy step and rambunctious tear are subdued as he beholds Shinichi and Yanagi, listening to the tale of a sad young man, and to the two huntresses who seek to bring him down.

An origami angel-spirit lights up beside him, revealing Pernelle has already been looking toward Yanagi's voice all the while.

With a deep breath in, he uses a pinion to push his orange tinted glasses further up his beak, and rustles his feathers to smooth them out as he brushes the dust and debris from his indigo vest.

"So it has come to this."

Pernelle outstretches one wing, and lowers into a deep, flourished bow, as slow to rise from it as he is to dip into it.

"But with the shine of the spotlight, the dance shall commence. I can do nothing more, and nothing less."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
She hadn't meant to come here at all, the first time.

This is the second time, and Yoko Hirano is exactly where she means to be.

It feels better, somehow. To be herself in this space, even though the place itself is terrifying and twisted and tragic. But the obi wrapped around her middle feels like armor, her bare legs are free to run, and her misshapen cat-like feet have no trouble wading through the spider lilies. She carries an equally-malformed stuffed animal in her arms, its legs dangling. It's a bear, kind of.

The paper angels floating around her cast their ghost lights on the red flowers, through the red mist. It's scary, like clouds made of blood. Her mouth twitches unhappily as 'Shinichi' declares that he won't go back.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't want to go back. He's not really Yanagi's brother. And Yoko could tell that Queen was frightened of him, and he has a ''hit list'' and he has Yanagi and neither of those things are okay!

Yoko reaches out to delicately touch the paper angel that's come to her. "Yanagi-chan, where are you...? Oh."

Surprise, Pernelle, there's a cat of a sort joining you...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
The color drains from Tamaki's face as she listens to Shinichi's 'story.' The shining red mist coalesces, but she has no retort for Shinichi. She's struck wordless, seemingly with the same exhaustion that Pernelle suffers from, and hardly feels like she can lift her sword.

How can she face him when she's made similar decisions in her own life? What counterargument could she possibly ''have''? The notion that ''she'', of all people, could take Shinichi to task is outright comical.

Isabeau's outcry that it was only a 'gas leak' causes her heart to sink even further with guilt, then immediately oscillate back in the other way to assert that she couldn't have had any more control over the Mikage-cho situation than she did, that she had put in her time once already. All the pain that she could have prevented, all of the secrecy necessary to protect the ones without a Persona from getting involved in this damned half of the world, all of the gargantuan effort that it would take and the sacrifices that Tamaki ''isn't'' willing to make ...

"That was no gas leak," she relays to Isabeau, though at this point, Tamaki's sure that she's already figured it out.

It's too much. It's too much! To Tamaki's shame, even though she tries to cover her face with both hands, she can't stop her delirious laughter from bubbling up.

After a few moments, she regains her composure, claps her hands together once, and looks at the Homunculus with a wild-eyed grin. "Ohhh, you know, I think I might be one of the ones here who best ''understands'' you. I don't want to go back to being the old me, either."

Tamaki drops into a fencing stance and levels her sword at the Homunculus, point-in-line. "... neither of my old selves. You and me both, let's figure out a new way to go forward!"

Her hand reaches up to her necklace as she glares at her assigned guide to the land of the dead. She comments to it like she's making a grim joke with an old friend, "What, finally letting me through this time?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "That's quite a pickle your other self was in. Definitely traumatic. Handling demons by yourself is pretty hairy with a Persona, but without one? Forget about it," says a voice, familiar to some, but entirely ordinary. "Pretty impressive that he managed to remember without a Persona in the first place."

Suddenly, there's an Umie Akabane among them, complete with her own origami angel. With her hands in her pockets, the young woman is dressed in her usual utilitarianfashion, with oversized white hooded jacket, black leggings, red sneakers, and a half-mask: red checkboard with yellow peonies painted on the sides.

(The cursed red glitter mask is back at her apartment, getting its glitter everywhere.)

Yanagi's little paper doll gets a lingering side eye, as Umie considers something, in light of the full story of the two siblings.
.... she huffs a sigh, looking up towards the slip of paper and raises her hand, in order to try to lightly bap an index finger against it.

Now, back to (fake) Shinichi. "You can make all the proclamations you want, but if you want to evict us troublesome criminals out of your house, you're going to have to make a move."

More people are coming; some she can sense with resonances, and others, she senses by their speech and movement alone, one of which is Tamaki, who she sends a half-grin towards. "I was hoping one of you guys would show up! I felt bad talking about all this like I was some kind of expert."

Now, back to Shinichi again. While Tamaki plays good cop, Umie shall go ahead and play the terrible gremlin.

"So come on, Shinichi-*kun*," she says, beckoning with a curled up right hand, like a cat. "Are you man enough to fight for what's yours, or are you going to wimp out like your other self~?" It's a ploy, drawing on his behavior at the Triple 7: insult the young man's masculinity, and draw him out with anger.

Maybe, a little vinegar might help Roger's words echo into that cocoon, as well.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa didn't quite make it to Room 302 on her first attempt--her group's fight with the Melanc waylaid them enough to need to retreat and recover. Now, though...

She's here, clad in her Transmutation form, a long black starry cloak, moonstone circlet, princessly ragalia, and her wolf ears and tail. There is a quiet, subdued gasp as the Cocoon comes into view--she hasn't ever seen one from the outside before, but the monitor makes it clear: things are dire.

She pulls the cloak tighter as the mist rolls in, expression grim. The Homunculus speaks--she's heard this before, at least most of it. The rest she had to make guesses at.

Parasites... ''she'd'' been one of those parasites, once, foisting her school chores on Shinichi without a second thought, and even encouraged by her teacher to do so.

... She'd stopped, taken responsibility for her own chores, but not soon enough to prevent this. But that didn't mean she was going to give up now.

And when the butterflies appear to guide them, she follows. Her silver eyes are set as she takes in the Homunculus.

"... you think you know me. What a girl 'really wants', just because I was nice to you in the past." She lifts her chin up, defiant. "But what you never figured out was that I've been where Nagisa-san is now. That soft, nice girl you got fixated on? That was never me."

"But you were right about one thing. I ''do'' have a lot to make up for. And it's not easy, but I'm trying." She reaches for the silver clasp on her cloak and undoes it, throwing the cloak away. A coiled, bloody spine sits on her hip, which she snatches up and cracks into the air like a whip. Her silver eyes gleam. "And if I can change, so can Nagisa-san! We'll be leaving, and we'll be taking Nagisa-san with us--the ''real'' Nagisa-san, Homunculus."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
The indefatigable force of Saika Kikuchi has, in fact, gotten kind of fatigued as they made their way to Room 302. Her hands look scraped up. Her demeanor - already somewhat grisly thanks to all that stapling - is smeared with dirt, the white tails of her embroidered coat stained gray with filth and burn-residue. (Somehow it makes the inscriptions *more* legible.)

But she gets there! She gets there. Despite the horrors. Despite the greasy, cloying familiarity, like meeting a cousin who seems so similar to you that it's like looking into a mirror. Despite the darkness. She hasn't been quipping much for a while.

Saika makes a hand gesture popular in the West (which she learned from DVDs) towards the Homunculus in the brief moments before the mist thickens. Saika grits her teeth again. She does it loudly enough to be heard clearly, despite the fog. It happens when the Homunculus says

'it'd be better if she were dead'

In the mist, Saika, momentarily, sees red. Her eyes water. Her fists curl into tight balls of helpless fury. Somehow it's all just so fucking...

so FUCKING...

And there in that fulminant mist, there is a little angel. The light shines on Saika's closed eyes, enough to make her open them. She looks then, and she raises a hand. The little angel perches momentarily on her outstretched index finger. She gathers it close; she kisses it, lightly, on the top most vertice. A teardrop runs down her cheek.

It stings when it gets into the stitching.

Saika guides the little angel to her shoulder, and after two deep breaths, she speaks. She can hear others out there.

"Gonna follow up on your victory against a dying girl, huh, big man?"

Saika starts to spin the chain she has wrapped around her wrist and forearm, feeding it out. An eerie whirling sound as the wind snaps through the links of the bike chain.

"Smile, then; so I can see you," and she finds that she can grin even if the joy is a poisonous sort of thing. "Lessee who strings up who."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
Coming back down memory lane is a different experience for everyone. Eriko, for her part, had relished the opportunity to revisit one of the greatest times of her childhood- except when it brought back some memories that stung a bit too much.

And memories of things that even someone who had been in Mikage-cho at the time should not be aware of. Things that were supposed to be a bad dream.

But making it to Room 302 had been relatively simple, now she knew the way. And she was hardly alone.

-----

At the same time, the Phantom Thieves have declared an infiltration- their strategist, Queen, leading the way, with whatever support she could get. Getting to 302 has been difficult. This place plays upon her fears so well, but the team continue to work as a team.

For now, Queen watches the Homunculus from the shadows, eyes narrowed. The hospital is already quite crowded- and this place is still full of Melancs. Quietly, she gives her orders- the Phantom Thieves are going to be running interference today, as much as she'd like to take the fight to the homunculus herself.

Even if she is surprised to see Yoko returning to the Atelier. Perhaps she shouldn't be- but it seems that the cat has returned beyond her curiousity.

-----

Eriko listens, as the story is told, and her eyes widen. Yanagi died...? Or was presumed dead? And the boy in the cocoon...

And then the outbursts start coming, first from Isabeau, then from Tamaki. Eriko is worried for both.

"...I didn't realize the effect had reached as far as the Middle School," Eriko says, after a moment. "But for a great many people, Hell did come to Mikage-cho. Demons flooded the streets and zombies walked the halls of this very hospital. Nurses, doctors, patients- corpses brought back to life." Her eyes look to Isabeau. "...The gas leak was an excuse. A justification- something to explain the deaths to those who couldn't remember what happened, but lost those they loved. A chance at normalcy for those that survived, to be able to believe they hadn't seen beyond the veil."

A thin smile comes to Eriko's lips. "It seems for some people, though, that was simply a cruelty. Especially for a lonely child who made a mistake and lashed out because of his pain, and believed all that happened was his fault."

Eriko shales her head. "Ah, but a 'man' like you would know all about invading someone's home, wouldn't he?" Eriko's smile disappears, and anger appears on her expression. "After all, you're nothing more than a squatter, intruding on someone else's heart- and tracking in all manner of things that you couldn't possibly know about."

Eriko won't put her hand on her friend's shoulder with her sword drawn, she *will* draw her own and fall in alongside Tamaki, sword drawn, assault rifle slung over her shoulder.

Memories of high school come flooding, but that's not what's important.

"Tamaki," she says, quietly. "Normally, I might suggest ''keeping your cool'', but I think we're past that. So all I'll say is remember- you don't have to find your way alone." Her eyes glare back at the Homunculus. "Fortunately, we don't need a Navigator. Today's path is through that parasite. Shall we blaze it together?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The trip to this fated hospital room was a long one, and one not without suffering. Even years of experience with spaces like Ateliers means, most of the time, you know intimately well how wrong things can go within a heart's single beat. How much survival balances on the precarious razor's edge. How one person's selfish suffering can smother out the significance of your own existence and every ambition saddled alongside it in an instant.

It's thrilling. Isn't it?

And yet, rough and ill-fortuned as the ascent was...

"The villain has arrived~."

C L I C K !

The deadpan singsong of those words alights the sea of bloody blossoms as gold heels land upon a bundle of spider lilies with such detached decisiveness that it crushes that bloody bulb beneath it and cracks at the ground underneath, viscous red bleeding out from beneath its uncaring grind. On the proverbial heels of the heroes' arrival comes another:

Dressed in an eloquent three piece ensemble of a victorian white tailcoat buttoned high and a black vest accented in reds, and golds - just as much as the coat itself is - a column of roses like a natural epaulet drape their left shoulder, their petals gradating gradually from black, to white, to yellow, to red and seeming to glow with unearthly light, the newcomer steps inside calmly. Their skin is like the most excrutiatingly polished Calacatta marble. Their hair is a swept back, shimmering white. Their eyes, an inhuman scarlet and searing gold.

Beautiful. Yet in that cold, untouchable way a statue reminds you there is some beauty in this world that has no life or passion.

They seem rather indifferent to the words being exchanged around them -- the defiance, the disgust. They deliver their own greeting, and then simply... step inside, hands tucked in their pockets. 'The villain has arrived.' It's a greeting they offered the Homunculus the first time they encountered it in the depths of the Atelier. At that point, it was easy to assume they were referring to the creature itself.

Now, the actual subject is much more muddled.

It isn't helped by the fact that their attention seems to be on anything other than the unseen monster creeping in the corners of their vision, spitting vitriol upon this morbid, funerary space. Eyes lidding by half, their attentive stare seems more fixated on the actual landscape around them, from the spider lilies to the decaying Sanguin, to the thickening fog...

... to the Cocoon and the wires dangling from it like unspooled threads, thrumming out the dwindling vestiges of life within...

... to the familiar silhouette hidden in the fog, bringing that all-too familiar doll wrought of porcelain to whimsical, graceful life.

"... Isn't it interesting? Shame has a way of bringing out arrogance in humans."

They don't address the Homunculus still. They don't even try to look for it. As if it was beneath their notice entirely. No.

"They act in self-interest, and when they feel guilty about it, feel they are so important the world must be punishing them for their selfishness."

Their gaze is looking at - looking past - the Cocoon. Into and through it.

"A boy throws a tantrum for attention. And now the world must have poured horror onto unsuspecting innocents because of them. It must have been for them.

"Even in guilt, people try to make the world their revolution, even as they let themselves be dragged along its axis.

That rose-covered shoulder lifts, with the rustle of ephemeral petals.

"But I guess that's just another way humans tie themselves down."

Their attention isn't for the Homunculus. It's not even really for the person inside that Cocoon. No.

Their final words, their final question, make it very clear who has their attention:

"Is it everything you expected it to be, Sa-ya?"

</poem>
AS: Kazusa Motojima has readied for combat as Mina Harker! She is now fully healed!
AS: Tsumugi Kujaku has readied for combat as Jekyll! They are now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The nothingness in Yanagi's voice is not remarked upon by the creature wearing her brother's shape, as she politely asks 'Shall we, then?' and origami fly out to mark each person.

"Sure sis. How about we make this fun for you too... you tell me who here you like the least, and I'll kill them first."

There's something beyond just braggadocio overconfidence in those words, like to him the outcome is a matter of fact certainty.

The Homunculus doesn't appear at Isabeau's demand, instead replying in a blunt tone as she's overcome by memory, "You never were particularly bright. You fancy yourself an expert on this kind of thing- and yet, you don't even remember your first brush with it."

It's only when she replies that he just stood and ''watched'' that the homunculus chuckles, "Man, what a cruel witch you really are, blaming me for not interfering in the justice of the mob. Just what about you would be worth saving anyway?"

Yuuki calls him out, and he says nothing at first, until she tells him she'll send him to hell. At that, he starts chuckling, then outright laughing in a horrible, grating way.

"Don't you get it? You're already in hell you wouldn't be sending me anywhere I'm not already. And now you're stuck here with me." Whereas Magus, well, the insults cause the one behind the voice to bristle, and grow deadly low, "Your mouth is writing checks your ass can't cash. I think you've never encountered anything like me before, bitch."

Tamaki is one of the few people in the room that knows, 'That was no gas leak,' "So you were there, huh?" 'I might be one of the ones here who best ''understands'' you. "You don't understand shit you ever stood across from a room full of people who are there to murder the 'new you'? How many people would you be willing to kill to keep that?"

And so too, does Eriko, "A living hell." He says, as if to sum up the reality, and to make another stab at Yuuki, but his voice turns threatening again in short order, "I think I recognize you- some sort of model, right? Well. Shame- a woman in your position really ought to know not to mouth off to a man."

Umie, tries to appeal to his masculinity, insult it, "Wimp out? Oh darling. You just handed yourself to me on a silver platter. I might not even have to do a thing here Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Do you know how much time has even passed since you came here? Maybe- you're already gone, and don't even know it yet."

And Grim well, "Hahahaha, are you sure you aren't describing yourself? Just listen to that high and mighty tone of yours. Acting like I should ''bow to you''. Well fuck that sweetie. You aren't justice. And soon you won't be ''anything at all''."

'Gonna follow up on your victory against a dying girl, huh, big man?' Saika asks. "Dying but not dead. Can't you see? We made up." The Homunculus really is getting to that stage where he thinks he's Shinichi for real- evidence that he's nearly won, that Shinichi nearly is gone. "Think I'll give you that smile, right across that dainty neck of yours."

'The villain has arrived~.' Tsumugi sing-songs and the Homunculus seems to respond to the theatricality with a sneering tone to disguise his marked confusion, "Who the hell even are you? Make a wrong turn from a Dickens novel? If you want to bully Oliver Twist- you'll have to head for the next Atelier over."

The way they don't address him though seems to getting under his skin though, fast, "I'm not fucking tied down. I'm ''free''. Free of that bullshit."

Whereas Kazusa makes a declaration, and he chortles, "The fuck are you talking about? Never you- wait. Ahhh now I get it. Doesn't sound like you're ready to take responsibility at all for what you did." He grins, "You kept running from me like a coward, freezing up whenever I came near. Where was all that bravado then? I think- you haven't changed one bit. You're gonna die here- a scared little bitch, and no one will ever find the body."

Roger calls out- and the Homunculus actually seems momentarily confused, "What even are you? You're not one of mine well whatever. Sure piggy. Our first game between siblings is gonna be slaughtering you and seeing what you taste like. Dibs on the rib meat, Sis."

Then Pernelle, in all of his glory addresses the room, and certainly he doesn't know he ''might'' be lamenting that he must fight Yanagi. Instead the Homunculus just, listens in silence, "The fuck is up with this guy? Dance? Just because you can talk doesn't mean you can throw down, Peacock."

On the same token, the Homunculus seems just as confused by Coin's presence, as if sensing something similar yet entirely different., "What do you mean 'Kanae'... you little shit? If you're with the hunters- I'll have you know-"

'Hi, Honey,'
"The fuck?" As she throws her hat aside, he doesn't say anything for a few long momenst, the air thick with the surprise, and fury, "Hey Babe. Nice night for a bitch to want to fuck a man over. So what else is new? Women really are the true parasites"

A shape appears right behind Kanae, still swathed in mist. A grey, stained duster with a hood that crests a baseball cap. The very image of a 'man you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley'. One hand brushes her hair, which is the first indication she receives that he's right there. A hand presses a rusted kitchen knife at the base of her spine. A sideways glare tells everyone not to move, or Kanae gets it.

"I'm as 'real' a man as it gets- sweetie. Your former flame? He didn't fight for you and you dumped him. Want to say it's because you pleaded with him? Asked him nicely? I know the fucking truth. You don't want a man like that, some preppy coward. You want a man you can ''submit'' to- and feel good about it, a man who takes charge so you can take and take and do as little as possible. A man who's willing to fight for what he wants- and feel like it's you."

He leans in to whisper in her ear, "Especially if he's fighting you. If not me, you would have married someone just like me- who knocked you around whenever you got uppity- and made you feel like he still loved you. That's the real truth- but now, you've lost your chance- not just with me- but at ''life''."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Persona Users of all stripes, including Hunters, arrive to declare defiance against the Homunculus, deny it its humanity and invite death. Kanae reveals her deception and her defiance; Isabeau remembers something she'd repressed; Yuuki projects her hatred for the Homunculus plaguing her life onto this one; Roger earnestly misunderstands the story and its characters; Coin bottlebrushes her tail and encourages Kanae; Magus speaks plainly and bluntly as she agrees with Yuuki; Grim sneers coldly as she stalks and hides; Yoko calls out to Yanagi as she touches the Wilis before her; Tamaki breaks out into broken laughter as she actually empathizes with the Homunculus; Umie taunts the Homunculus in a bid to draw it out into the open; Kazusa reveals her own experience with the good-girl Homunculus that had tried to consume ''her''; and Eriko provides some valuable context about the Mikage-cho Incident.

(The Phantoms, including Joker, follow Queen's lead here, as she's been appointed leader for this particular mission. There's no telling what might happen when it's all over, and there have been floods of Shadows in other Ateliers, so they've agreed to secure the perimeter so the others can take out the Homunculus.)

Yanagi reacts not at all, even as the mists begin to part enough to reveal her form before her Persona's. She simply... stands there, if with the support of her polished gun-cane, staring into nothing even as those origami Wilis phase out one by one and back in front of her to pass on their information. Even Yoko in her Transmuted regalia isn't acknowledged, despite how excited Yanagi had been the other day for her Awakening; neither is Tamaki, despite her grumbling remark about letting her through 'this time.' At most, the arrival of Coin gets her to slowly tick her head in her direction and stare at her, head tilting to one side, then the other, as if the foxling were a bizarre specimen of butterfly pinned to the wall.

The Homunculus invites its "sister" to pick who in the room she likes the least to die first, for fun. "Fun?" she echoes tonelessly. "Fun... hmm..." Her gaze, so dull despite the brilliant green of her eyes, passes over the room like a divine plague. It lingers briefly on Kanae; on Kazusa; on Kikuno; on...

Her eyes widen a fraction. It's her stand-in Kikuno's presence that she senses, rather than Kikuno's physical self. Before her arrives Pernelle, Saika, and... None of them address her directly, but they know, they know. Pernelle makes his bows as if joining a grand ballroom before taking up the rear; Saika sheds a tear as she kisses her little angel and challenges the Homunculus; and Tsumugi...

Tsumugi addresses the air, and then at last Yanagi herself. Is it arrogance, or ignorance, or both that led Shinichi Nagisa to this conclusion? Even without the Homunculus twisting the Atelier, its form wouldn't have changed ''that'' much. The nurses and the patients and the demonic Mikage-cho were all realities well before it infected this place. Yet, for all that her answer genuinely does tear at Yanagi's heart--

"Nope! I never expected any of this at all!" she replies effusively as a fond smile parts her lips. "It seems I've been arrogant too, haven't I?"

She gasps then, free hand raised to her mouth, a lively sparkle lighting up her once-dull eyes. "Oh! Tsumugi! Yes, that would be ''very'' fun!" she utters. She points to them and sparkles now at the Homunculus. "Focus on ''them''!"

And not at all on what Kikuno does next.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
They're not the only ones here, of course.

An unfolded black lace parasol, ornamented with purple and dark green ribbons, has hovered in the background, neatly shielding its bearer from view. With quiet slow steps, the parasol has begun to move through the room, a hovering dance over the green skirt and robes visible beneath it.

Still a distance from the cocoon, it comes to a stop, almost as if its bearer were curiously investigating the Homunculus and the cocoon alike -- as well as those now engaging with it.

'It', to Kikuno's way of thinking, would be the most apt description of the thing wearing Shinichi Nagisa like a suit. Whatever it might say otherwise. However human it might act.

She would know, of course.

"So, you're going to kill her, too." The parasol snaps snut all of a sudden, revealing Kikuno in full. Long pointed ears emerge from loose black hair shadowed with brilliant violet, and she peers at him over her glasses, her gaze straying only once for the origami angels.

"Pathetic," she concludes, joining that remark with one thing more:

"Beatrice."

BGM: J.A. Seazer - Missing & Bo-Peep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwSZkbGaP6M

It emerges from behind her in a flurry of blue flame and scattered petals, an amalgam of long violet petals, wide lashed eyes and the long elegant arms and hands of a woman. For her, Beatrice is a throne, and she perches atop it like a queen.

Crossing her legs, with her parasol set in her lap, she snaps the fingers of her right hand. Vines, trailing falling blossoms and petals, rush for the cocoon.

"Didn't I tell you?" she remarks to the Homunculus.

"That I'd have the last laugh."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi 'marks' Tsumugi for 'death'.

"Them, huh? Honestly they were starting to piss me off too. Think I'llstart with the tongue..."

-=-=-

When Kikuno addresses him, he sees his error right away, neck whipping around towards her, "Don't you fucking touch that you smug fat- BITCH!" As he shoves Kanae away abruptly, trying to cock his arm back for a sudden throw to stop her. He never makes it, his arm going limp mid-swing as Beatrice severs the threads.

Halloween 2 Main Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JflWFBreok

The color drains from his face, literally as the cocoon threads are severed, at the whine of the EKG that rather than flatlining, picks up in pace- and rhythm, with the sounds of life as he staggers backwards. "Guh-ngh-AAAAAAA!" Covering his face with his hands he doubles over in a spasm that wracks his whole form, something flows out from beneath them, an intermingling of crimson and black, like life itself were fleeing his form. "I WON'T LET YOU- WON'T- WON'T TAKE THIS FROM-"

And then he cuts off abruptly, as if the ability to speak were taken from him.

A puddle pools at his feet, disintegrating, as he stands up again, straighter- taller. Three meters at least, only a dribble is left of the fluid that leaked out of him, coming from a pair of black pits that ''were'' eye sockets. Now his face looks pale, artificial, as if it were crafted from papier-mache and clay, with a shock of faded orange-red hair that's turning black even as they speak, it moves still, like a barely formed appendage, but little else.

He bears a similar old bloodstained duster as before, but a glance at his hands might cause someone to double take, because there are slits on the back of each one. Slits that flare open, revealing crimson irises with yellow pupils that shed a baleful light as the eyes swivel to look directly at Kikuno.

[[File:HomunculusEshm2.png|Center|Spooky Scary Homunculus]]

Then, the monster just isn't there, despite the fact that so many were looking directly at it. Just like in a film when you blink- and it's gone, even if none of them have done that very thing.

Yanagi had pointed out Tsumugi when the Homunculus asked for a target that she hates the most and while he doesn't know this couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth, he appears right in front of them, that rusted kitchen knife still in hand. With a trio of powerful slashes, each one bears a flash of red hot anger- hatred. A silhouetted scene of a brother, yelling at their sister in bed.

[[File:HomunculusEshm1.png|Center|Dramatic Intro: Thanks goes to Tsumugi's Player!]]

This psychic imprint adds the full force of Shinichi Nagisa's first 'kill', his elder sister, to every strike against them. One might get the impression, this Homunculus, can't even communicate without committing violence first.

Discarding the knife, he moves over to Roger, he slashes down. On the tips of each fingers are claws, which try to slash their chest with deep gouges. Then with slow menace moves towards Yuuki, then Misato and finally towards Coin, slashing, and slashing, and slashing with bloody efficiency that goes far beyond his actual reach- before he vanishes again in an instant.

A hand reaches for Umie's shoulder from the mist, before the rest of the creature appears. In a gesture of incredible strength, he simply hauls her up, then attempts to throw them into Badb, who she'll assuredly summon on reflex to defend, an impact that tries to shatter it into shards, before their trajectory takes them into Pernelle with an impact that will almost certainly take them into Saika too.

Is this the old saying about two birds, one Umie?

Then before others can react to his reappearance, he slashes down towards Eriko first, scything past Tamaki as he tries to carve a bloody swath through the pair with his claws. And last of all, Yoko, which he tries to bring down across her back before then disappearing again.

When he reappears again, this time he's bearing a simple meat cleaver. The room goes red in the hues of his anger, each becoming a silhouette as he swings the blade- as spurts of black erupt from the necks of each Personas he hits, first Leshy- then Mielikki- then Mina, then finally Dantes as if he were making this quite personal.

When the red clears, one can see that each font of black was merely shards from their Personas taking a great amount of damage... to the necks, perhaps even some being decapitated outright.

With each attack, he looks at Kikuno, every- single- time. The promise she called attention to is called to mind each time. 'Think I'll kill you last, just because you're such a funny gal.' And she will know that even with his humanity stripped away to that of a base monster- he keeps his promises.

</poem>
AS: Penguin Slasher has readied for combat as Eshm the Wrath! They are now fully healed! Ready for 16 opponents!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Final Girl on Kikuno Kisaragi!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Original Sin on Tsumugi Kujaku! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Penguin Slasher gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Nightmare on Joy Street on Roger, Yuuki Hoshizora, Misato
Fushihara, and Coin! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Him on Umie Akabane, Saika Kikuchi, and Pernelle! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Nightmare on Joy Street on Eriko Kirishima, Tamaki Uchida, and Yoko
Hirano! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Its AlleGOREy! on Kanae Fuyuki, Isabeau Fontaine, Kazusa Motojima,
and Katsuko Yoshinaga! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Empty Wrath on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Empty Wrath.
| Cloak (Non-Area Damage Mitigated!) and Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Recovery skill Unstoppable on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Recovery healing from Penguin Slasher's Unstoppable.
| Reflect_Phys (Phys Counter Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Saika Kikuchi takes 150 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Saika Kikuchi takes 21 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 70 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 18 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 94 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Misato Fushihara takes 101 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Best! Roger takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Worst! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 104 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Original Sin. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Roger takes 104 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Best! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 15 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Original Sin.
AS: Counter Best! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 74 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Original Sin.
| COUNTER! Penguin Slasher takes 21 Dark damage in return for their attack! Resist!

AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 102 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Best! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 73 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Worst! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 73 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Worst! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Final Girl.
| Crt_Up (Critical Up!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Yoko Hirano takes 164 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Yoko Hirano takes 125 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Coin takes 121 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Coin takes 29 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 170 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 170 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 125 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.
AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 125 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Nightmare on Joy Street.

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Isabeau demands the story of Mikage-cho--and then--"--!" Kanae doesn't reveal herself immediately, but she takse half a step towards Isabeau as she falls to the ground. And then... she explains. Kanae's eyes widen under her concealment. A monster saved Isabeau...

But when Kanae steps forward, she has no reason any longer to hide hersself--or avoid Isabeau. "Isabeau, I had no idea," she says, in Japanese--and then switches to French.

"`...Just this once`," she says, "`We do this together.`"

She is surprised by Yuuki's vehemence, too--to send this Homunculus to Hell. And Roger thinks to reach out to the real one...

As Coin proves that she keeps her promises. Kanae grins at her, her gunbalde in hand. "Coin!" She calls. "I'm going to--"

The Homunculus is behind her abrubtly, and Kanae stiffens; there's no way for her to turn and parry the cleaver at her back. She has to put her faith in the plan. Nevertheless, the Homunculus will notice the way she swallows, and she feels that lump in her throat.

But her free hand curls into a fist at her side, and she practically holds her breath. What he says...

His attention is drawn long enough. Yanagi points out Tsumugi, and Kikuno strikes. A little smile spreads on Kanae's face. "Asshole," she says. Then she's ''shoved'', hard, hitting the ground. "Gh--" But rolling around, Kanae gets her feet, holding out her saw-toothed gunblade once again. The rust and blood on the blade glint in the low light, as the Homunculus ''changes''.

She calls forth Leshy immediately, the towering tree-woman raising club-like hands towards the Homunculus. "Hang on!" she calls. But--he reeappears. Black gouts of sap erupt from Leshy from the first strike, though the second hack it manages to turn and block. The Persona nearly shatters nevertheless.

"Gh," Kanae says again. "Fuck off!"

"...Instead of fighting for me, he fought against me," Kanae says of Touma. "I tried to keep him safe, and he threw it in my face. You're right. I ''don't'' want a coward."

"...Maybe I did want that. someone who could take care of it all for me. ...Even if he pushed me around. Maybe I wanted to be fought for, even though I didn'tw ant him to get hurt."

"...But I'm not done here. And I won't ''ever'' submit to a man like that again."

She breathes in, and Leshy disappears.

"Coin is my friend," Kanae explains once she's free, for Isabeau's benefit, and looks to Kazusa, who talks about changing. ...She really is trying. But she continues on Coin, "She's a Hunter, too. She's apparently good at getting around spaces like this."

"Now..."

"VALKYRIE!" Kanae calls, and with a shattering sound like glass breaking, she calls forth another Persona--a masked woman on a horse wielding twin blades. Valkyrie ''charges'' behind her, but it's Kanae's weapon that moves first this time. She ''swings'' for the great Homunculus, and her weapon's gun ''fires'' with a resounding BANG as she swings it, pushing hot lead straight for the monster's body.

"I'll show you you never controlled me!"
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Pierce skill Brutal Shell on Penguin Slasher!
| Aggression: Kanae Fuyuki gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kanae Fuyuki's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Best! Penguin Slasher takes 23 Pierce damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Brutal Shell.
| COUNTER! Kanae Fuyuki takes 76 Strike damage in return for her attack!

AS: Avoid Best! Kazusa Motojima takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Avoid Best! Kazusa Motojima takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki glances sideways at Magus as she speaks up. Harsh, but... she as a point, she thinks. Her jaw sets as she looks back at the Homunculus.

"This isn't--" Yuuki snaps back.

But is it that simple? She feels as if everyone is so distant, for a moment -- even Kazusa, who welcomed her; even the people of Peacock Silk, who said they would help; even Magus, who is... -- and she has to face that face that she has been put through the ringer.

"Shut--shut up!" she shouts, heatedly.

But Yanagi and Kikuno have a plan. Her too-bright green eyes hoot wide, as the Homunculus seems to dissolve -- and the truth of its nature is revealed -- and it comes at her, claws slashing down. She tries to duck backward, but the claws strike into her. Blue blood splashes on the ground and she gets hurled backward, hitting the ground and rolling.

Her breathing is ragged, then.

"D-Damn it..."

She pushes herself to her feet. She focuses, for a second, before she thrusts a hand out. "Galileo!" she yells. Teamwork, fighting with others, it all leaves her mind. She has to turn this around. She has to be able to handle a Homunculus.

Her Persona swirls around her. Clockwork rings, interlocking together, with crystalline orbs in it, move with clicks. And then, she is ''hurled'' forward.

Gravity shifts for her. She goes into a wild flight -- rushing away from Magus, and then between Kanae and Coin -- with a wide-eyed, furious shout.

"STRIKE!" she yells, as she thrusts her rapier straight for the midsection of the Homunculus.

</poem>
AS: Tandem! Yuuki Hoshizora has used the Earth skill Mass Driver on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Yuuki Hoshizora's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Penguin Slasher takes 16 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Mass Driver.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 32 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Mass Driver.
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 6 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Mass Driver.
AS: Block Best! Isabeau Fontaine takes 12 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.
AS: Block Neutral! Isabeau Fontaine takes 32 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Its AlleGOREy!.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Tsumugi, of course, addresses the real person in this situation. Saika exhales herself, letting the tension shift into something more ready. It's perhaps notable that Saika has actually had yet to fully show her Persona tonight. That is not going to last. The Homunculus mocks Yanagi.

Yanagi takes it straight and gives him an answer. An answer which seems simultaneously completely perfect for the ethereal spirit that Saika has cared for, that Saika in her own way loves, and also, which is - wait, Tsumugi?

(what,) thinks Saika, looking towards the direction of Tsumugi's voice BUT

it's happening

the moment, the tension. The leaking. The pouring outwards. Something being assembled. growing. His hands are real and so are the eyes. Saika blinks--

-- the Homunculus isn't there--

Something's going towards Tsumugi. "Look out!" Saika cries out on pure spinal reflex, probably not the only one. Saika turns herself to face towards Pernelle just in time for Umie's manifestation to shatter and send jagged fragments towards her. Saika throws up her guarded arm, the chain serving as mail as one fragment breaks apart and another one rips a piece out of her thigh before streaking out through the back of her coat.

The line that flutters: 'Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0JaUjpu3Lo

Because for at least a couple of seconds, as the Homunculus turns to regard the new meat (Kikuno is the new meat) (Saika didn't call her that but she definitely thought it) and even *addresses* her, Saika can see exactly where *HE* is.

And after this entire horrid journey, it's a relief. Because *now* Saika knows what to do.

Saika runs forwards, head down. She is not big, but momentum is one of those things that can address the balance. She brings her arm backwards, letting the trail of chain clatter faintly in the increasing chaos of the battlefield, and when she has closed enough to the Homunculus she whips it forwards, aiming for his face and throat!

That'd be pretty good on its own. Slash the guy across the eyes. Nice, moderate. Builds momentum, probably richly earned from that entire conversation right now.

Saika does not waste velocity. After the lash she is still closing the ground, letting the crack-lash draw her right shoulder forwards as she bears down. She makes a ragged alto-profundo roar in the back of her throat as that wedge-point aims to smash directly into the Homunculus's torso. If he was an ordinary boy, Saika - if she was plotting it out rationally rather than running on instinct - would say: this would probably be bad for his clavicle, his solar plexis, and his dermis.

Of course the Homunculus is not a normal boy.

But are any of them? Normal, that is...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> There's a moment where Roger stops what he's doing to consider Coin's presence. "Um? This is a..."

Kanae helpfully explains. A fellow 'Hunter.' "Oh! Okay. It's fine. I'd never complain about anyone that's here to get rid of a Homunculus!" A bright, happy smile. "Hi! I'm Roger. I can tell you all about Ateliers later!"

...Back to facing the horror.

His eyes widen at the threat of being eaten, recoiling at the very idea of it. "Ahh! Don't fry and batter me up!!" Still, with all this, he sees Yanagi over there as she's given an invitation by the Homunculus, and matters... play out as they do, with Kikuno's play to tear open the cocoon - that is finally opening, and with that...

"There!! The cocoon is torn open!" Which Roger didn't really have a hand in, but he's narrating for everyone here who may not have a full understanding how this works. "The rightful Atelier owner can take back their place once we show this monster outta here!"

An emboldened Roger snorts as the Homunculus warps and transforms in their desparate bid to keep existing, in the face of something so utterly gut-wrenching and ''scary''.

Roger snorts as the claws come swinging. He nimbly leaps back from the first swipe, only the second to catch him and strike true to both rip into him, and catch into his uniform to have himself lifted up and thrown away so the others in line can be similarly menaced.

Sliced and battered (off-handedly) but not fried, Roger catches himself on the way down as a blue butterfly flits by.

"...That Homunculus has already made a real sty of things for Shinichi-kun... I won't let him beat himself up over any of you either!" He swings for the butterfly with his racquet, flaying it into velvet-y blue energies that coalesce into the form of the resplendently-colorful hog-man that is Kamapua'a.

"Persona...!" Roger calls, a flourish as a healing wave settles upon those most grievously wounded in the flailing Homunculus' opening volley - Yuuki, Katsuko, Yoko, and Tamaki - to quietly dull the hurts and offset the harms.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Strike skill Saika Body Attack on Penguin Slasher! 2 Hits!
| Defense: Saika Kikuchi gains 1 Limit!

AS: Saika Kikuchi's turn has ended.
AS: Counter Neutral! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Saika Body Attack. Resist!
| COUNTER! Saika Kikuchi takes 45 Strike damage in return for her attack!

AS: Counter Best! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Saika Body Attack. Resist!
| COUNTER! Saika Kikuchi takes 60 Strike damage in return for her attack!
AS: Kanae Fuyuki spends Limit on Shift! Roger can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Roger has used the Recovery skill Healing Wave on Yuuki Hoshizora, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Yoko Hirano, and
Tamaki Uchida!
| Support: Roger gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus has never encountered anything like him before. She hears the low tone to his voice.

"No, I haven't." Magus agrees. "Be honored that you will at last serve a purpose as an opportunity for learning."

She looks toward Yuuki, though, as she hesitates.

"Do not falter!" Magus calls out to her.

A plan is enacted - and the cocoon's threads are severed. The reaction from the Homunculus is immediate and severe - and so is his transformation. He looks less human than before but still just as much a monster, and he lashes out with cruel, intense efficiency. Claws seek her flesh. They dig in to a flash of blue flame - but Magus is gone, too, in the next moment before they can fully carve through her. She leaps back, taking a moment to assess Yuuki's condition before looking back toward the false Shinichi.

And as she rushes away...

"Crush him, Nitocris!" Magus calls, grasping her mask. The spectral form of a regal Egyptian queen appears behind her, and with a gesture of her hands, arrows of water appear around Shinichi. And as Yuuki races in, the arrows descend upon him.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Water skill Aqua Crush on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!

AS: Misato Fushihara's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>"Strong words from a weak man. But you've got it wrong. I don't need you to bow for me - I need you to die."
A person might have elicited some restraint from Grim. Threats of bodily harm or blackmail, perhaps, or thinly-veiled barbs to verbally beat them into submission. But the Homunculus was not a person, and there was no negotiating with it - their only option was to kill the thing dead. And thus, it brooked no restraint. Grim might have smiled at the notion, were it not for the fact that everyone's lives were on the line.

So focussed was she on the Homunculus that even Grim herself hadn't noticed someone slipping through to sever the cocoon's threads. Part of her wanted to kick herself for letting anything escape her notice - if that'd been someone working against them, she would've been on the backfoot before the fight even started. But as luck had it, Kikuno (whoever that woman was) was someone fighting on their side, and Grim was of a mind to take all the allies she could get in that moment. Thanks would have to wait for after the fight, however. They had a job to do.

The glint of a sniper's scope created a pinprick of light in the dark while Grim levelled the barrel down towards the Homunculus. Through its sights, she watched as the thing shifted and turned, dragging itself up and draining itself dry, until a three-metre-tall monstrosity loomed above the gathered warriors. She looked it dead in the eye, fighting the urge to step back and cast her gaze away from the horror, but those few moments of hesitation were all that were needed. With her hesitating to pull the trigger, an opening was left for a cleaver to hack and slash away at Dantes.

There was no time to dart away. Much as she would have liked to slip away into the dark, the Homunculus was upon her Persona before Grim had a chance to blink. It was all she could do to have Dantes raise the blade in anticipation of the blow, but even that did little as steel scraped against steel. The first blow sent both Grim and Dantes reeling backwards, their guards wrenched open in a welter of supernatural sparks, while the second cleaved a bloody line into the Count's neck. That he didn't shatter was more a feat of will than endurance - Grim herself looked as though she was about to fall to a knee before slinking off into the dark.

"You made it. Good. This thing's dangerous - we need all the help we can get with this." She said eventually, seeming to manifest out of nowhere next to Magus. " She hated to admit it, but she hated the idea of dying an ignominious death at the Homunculus' hands even more. "Don't stop until it's dead. This isn't a person, and we can't reason with it." With her piece said, Grim issued Dantes' order to retaliate, and that began with a scathing condemnation. No damage came as the fog-wreathed spirit stretched out his hand to cast the Homunculus down. Instead, blackened energies sapped the strength from it, falling from the air like a judge's gavel.

"Judgement is passed, monster. Tonight, you're going to answer for everything you've done."
</poem>

AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added! 10 SP regained!

AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Take! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added! 10 SP regained!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added! 10 SP regained!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Take! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Healing Wave.
| Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added! 30 healing!

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Almighty skill Judge on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Katsuko Yoshinaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga's turn has ended.
| Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Saika Kikuchi spends Limit on Shift! Kanae Fuyuki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 51 Water damage from Misato Fushihara's Aqua Crush. Weak!
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Judge.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"I told you I'd be here and so I came," Coin replies to Kanae. She'd sweep her hat if she wasn't a little too occupied to do so. "Cognitive spaces... yes, I do. But we can talk later!" That is to Roger, because Coin definitely wants to pick his brain about Ateliers; they're one kind of cognitive space that she knows relatively little about, perhaps because they're harder for her to get into.

She had to follow everyone else into here, after all. It's not like a Foraine or even a Palace, where she can get in by herself...

Coin stares right back at Yanagi, apparently detecting the stare even though she was not, strictly speaking, looking at her originally. She's aware, then, and not just a Shadow or a Humour of some sort - though she certainly isn't a Humour from *this* Atelier.

But it's the Homonculus needling her that gets her to respond.

Coin draws herself up to her full height (not very) and puffs her chest out. "I am not *with* the hunters, I *am* a Hunter," she says, her capital letter practically audible. "I am called - I am Coin, and I'm helping with their hunt - of which you are the quarry! I can *feel* the cognitive distortion, and I cannot let such a thing pass!"

She's never been in an Atelier that's been taken over before. (Actually she's never been in any Atelier before.) She doesn't like the feeling. It's *wrong*.

So perhaps it's her inexperience with this particular kind of cognitive distortion that leaves her surprised when the thing *changes*, blurringly fast - or is it? The Homonculus - Eshm the Wrath - doesn't actually seem to be moving all that quickly. It's just there, and then it's somewhere else. It makes Coin's eyes water.

Her attempt to block with her sword is too slow, and the first stab strikes, but Coin is a slippery target. Coin dives forward, letting the follow-up strike pass overhead - she's small enough that she can, and is, using her lack of size to her advantage, so it nearly catches her coat but she scrambles underneath the second blow.

When Coin rises again, she has a ball in her hand. It's something she can hold in one paw, but not by much, like a baseball maybe. It appears to be glass, or something like it, and it's filled with something grey, slowly churning. She spikes it down at the ground, and vanishes in a cloud of smoke.

The smoke is faintly tinged with yellow and smells sulphurous at first, though the hellfire-ish smell pretty soon shifts to clean, fresh smoke, like a wood fire, pine and oak and apple.

"Come forth!" Coin calls, from inside the cloud... and something comes.

As the smoke clears, Coin is there, fist clenched around the blue-glowing light of a called Persona, and something is rising above her. A dragon; long and narrow and vaguely serpentine, but with the broad wings of a European dragon, a tail with a fan-like frill. It has big hands and big feet, making it look either comedic or vicious depending on how much you pay attention to the claws on them, and its toothy grin *is* a grin.

A monster, hunted for fear and for treasure, who killed those who threatened it but hoped for something new.
A chance meeting became friendship, and a friendship made the dragon the icon of a city, so perhaps the dragon got their wish.
But still: The one thing the dragon was never able to do was stay in the city that bears its image.
Because, after all...
It still wasn't human, no matter how well-mannered a dragon it was.

"Krepel!"

The dragon - the Persona - opens its mouth, and light starts to build up - not near it, but a patch on the ground beneath Eshm the Wrath's feet... and when it brightens enough, it explodes into a pillar of brilliant, shining flame.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Coin has used the Fire skill Shining Flame on Penguin Slasher!
| Aggression: Coin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Coin's turn has ended.
| Coin regains 8 HP from Regenerate!

AS: Avoid Best! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Fire damage from Coin's Shining Flame. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa bristles at the Homunculus' words. She ''ahs'' been running scared of him, as much as she hates to admit it. "Your idea of 'responsibility' is to just punsih me and satisfy your own ego! Do you think a 'real man' needs to beat up someone weaker than him just to prove some kind of point?"

"But if you don't think I've changed, that's fine. ''You're'' not the one I need to make things up to."

She whirls around when the Homunculus finally apepars, gritting her teeth as she sees that knife. "Kanae-chan--" Crap.

Her heart beats a little faster when Yanagi is invited to pick the person she likes the least--she's not sure if Yanagi is holding a grudge against her or not, for what she did to Yanagi's brother.

... but she's got a plan, right? That was the deal--to let her handle this her way. Kazusa is ''really'' hoping the plan is still on.

And she picks Tsumugi--did they plan that? Her entire body is tense as she tries to keep her eye on the threat. But what is Kikuno doing?

There's an audible gasp as ''something'' drains from the Homunculus, as it changes, those extra eyes appear. This keeps getting worse--

No. Power through. You have to do this. For Shinichi's sake.

The Homunculus vanishes and then reappears with a meat cleaver, lashing out at the throats of several Personas. When the cleaver lashes out at Mina Harker there is a spray of black--but it doesn't stop there, instead the entire Persona seems to melt into a black mist, dispersing into the air, eddies of current still swirling from the force of the Homunculus' swing.

But Kazusa seems unharmed teeth grit as she tries to track the Homunculus. Mina Harker reforms behind her, as Kazusa stands up straighter herself.

There is a fox, and an introduction. Kazusa blinks as she looks at Coin. "Uh, hi?" ''Another'' talking animal? She has ''so many'' questions--that are best saved for later. "Kazusa Motojima. if you're with Kanae-chan, then fine."

A blue butterfly floats out in front of her, and her (still-bloody) whip cracks out to smash it and disperse it.

BGM: Face Down (Casette Beasts) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6BDtASMLAI

"The old me ''hated'' being closed off from people, but would never admit it--now I'm here trying to support everyone. Mina! Mediarama!"

Mina Harker, who is manifested as a floating woman with an ashen, corrupted left half and a more healthy-looking right hand, lifts her right hand as healing energy rushes out to envelop Yuuki, Saika, Yoko, and Tamaki.

(A moment later she catches sight of what Coin has summoned. "Wait is that a ''dragon''!?")
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kazusa Motojima has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Yuuki Hoshizora, Saika Kikuchi, Yoko Hirano, and
Tamaki Uchida!
| Support: Kazusa Motojima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kazusa Motojima's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"A 'cruel Witch'... perhaps I am. No, it is certainly so... that is what I can ''be!''" Isabeau's hand balls to a fist, beside her, as she brandishes her spear. "You think me worthless? You do not know the worth my father holds me! We are ''family!''" Not that she expects the Homunculus to understand that -- with how it's speaking to Yanagi...

(She feels disturbed, slightly, when she hears the cheer with which Yanagi responds to these events.)

Kanae, though, suggests -- ''just this once'' -- and Isabeau issues back, her French heated and far less ''stilted'' than her Japanese: "`I don't need your ''help!''`" She takes a breath, though... and shakes her head. "`... there's a lot you don't know about me,`" she says, then. "`And you'd better not go around asking. But... I told you I wouldn't let him have his way. So -- fine. Together!`"

But then... 'things like you'...

All this time, Isabeau had condemned them all alike. Now, as she hears Yuuki decry the thing wearing Shinichi's face, she feels bile in her throat as she realises she wouldn't be standing here if not for a monster much ''like'' him.

That Roger and Pernelle are here -- with their typical bands of focus -- only seems to underscore the point. In each instance, she hates it -- is it more proper to say him, like he claims he is? -- but how many people has she ''seen'' him eat? Whether pig or peacock, what sins have they committed in front of her...?

What is the thing which shifts such a creature from destruction to salvation? Should she be disturbed, hearing the Homunculus threaten to eat Roger? ... she knows, at least, that Pernelle ''can'' throw down.

Back then... just because she made Pixie laugh... despite the horrors raging around them, by creatures just like her... no, by her, just as much.

... Isabeau realises, as she grapples with the dehumanisation she's laid on Roger and Pernelle, that her memories had no such weight placed on ''Pixie.'' Pixie does not cross her mind as an 'it', not until she consciously frames the question. Did she feel differently... back then?

Did something change about Isabeau, between Mikage and now...?

It's on that backdrop of her realisation that a diminutive fox girl steps into their midst. "You... you are not human!" She gasps, as she brandishes her spear. "What business have you with Kanae?! What do ''you'' know of the Foraine?!"

(She forgets the honourific; sorry, Yasushi.)

She's suspicious, but grant her this much: Isabeau -- a keen-eyed Hunter, though she was ever Eve's ''apprentice'' when she would deliver reports to their old Navigator -- understands immediately and intuitively the difference between Kazusa's wolf-tail and Yoko's cat-feet and the features of the Shadows and creatures she interrogates inside and out.

"You," she issues, imperious, to Yoko and her mysteries. "You are ''new.'' No reports have we of a girl with cat's feet... why have you come?"

(She will not admit she has things to work on, the way Kazusa does.)

When Tamaki insisted it wasn't a gas leak, meanwhile, it was just one more brick loosening in the wall before it crumbled. That pain stayed there, trapped in the walls, until --

"So you were there," she concludes, looking to Tamaki. "And you," she adds, to Eriko.

Umie, meanwhile, does not address her own survival... but the words she speaks to Shinichi remain true for her as well. Perhaps ''moreso,'' that she made a Pact with no Persona to rescue her if she'd failed. "A 'Demon'... yes, I suppose that was the type of monster she was. I had no words for such a thing... back then."

Back then, in middle school... "I wonder if he knew," Isabeau scowls, looking to Eriko again. "When I was cruel to him... when I asked him whether he thought his people would ''save'' him, and told him why they would not. There, on the train station... as I told him he would not be there when someone truly needed help..."

She tilts her head, as she says, softly, "... did some part of me remember, too?"

There, though -- the villain, not only Pernelle but Saika and Yanagi and ''Tsumugi,'' person of the hour, who is human but speaks as if they were not. Isabeau recalls her anger towards Shinichi, too... and wonders.

She wonders, too, how powerful Tsumugi ''is,'' that Yanagi would urge the Homunculus's anger onto them as a fun little jaunt.

Kikuno's power, at least, is more a blindside; and she was sure of Coin's place outside humanity, and sure of Yoko's place within it, but ''this'' girl confuses all her assessments in an instant. "What -- what strength is this?" She demands, though it is scarce little time she has to worry about ''Kikuno'' now she's met her in a Supernatural space, before --

Without its Eyes, the Homunculus... is ''worse.'' It comes for Mielikki and at once ''shatters'' her, Isabeau crying out at the violence of it; with black ichor, there is a moment one might be able to glimpse a moment of great violence, before her red glass shatters.

In that lacuna, she hears it --

'You're right. I ''don't'' want a coward.'

Kanae explains Coin, yes, and she hears Coin explain herself too... but it's what she says first that echoes louder.

"Destroy him," she issues, to Kanae. "I will join you. But first --"

-- she pulls out a ledger, the first copy of all those reports she presents to the Wild Hunt, as she turns to Kikuno. "You," she issues, to her. "That strange feeling... you will explain yourself!" Mielikki flutters into existence again, dusting fairy dust over Kikuno, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and...

"... so... you are not so different to the girls with cat feet and wolf tails," Isabeau concludes, as her jealous green eyes narrow. (Her power, particularly concerned with ''Hunting,'' is uniquely occupied with whether someone is or is not a monster worthy of the Hunt.) "Though your power is so unsettling... do not concern me this way."

Is that really what's most important right now--?!

... Isabeau never promised she was the kind of girl who fought the boss so easily.

(That Coin has a Persona is not shocking to her, at least; Mona had one too, when he fought the Wild Hunt, just as Roger and Pernelle do. That she is a Hunter? She will have to address a monster turning around to hunt other monsters later.)

</poem>
AS: Take! Saika Kikuchi takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Brutal Scan on Kikuno Kisaragi!
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
"...Really though," Eriko says, in a perhaps all too chipper manner, as the Homunculus reiterates the concept of a living hell. "For me, it was one of the most fun times of my life." And there's not a hint of a lie there, the smile coming to her face joyous. "Demons, angels, monsters- all of them real, all of them walking around. You could talk to them, you could fight them, you could outsmart them. And then there were all the wonders outside- the stories of the Agastya tree, the Shrine, the dungeons below the ruins- I'm a little sad I didn't see you and your Pixie, Isabeau, I would have been most impressed. It's shame your schoolmates were such bullies and cowards about it." ...Eriko would probably bear the title of witch with pride.

The homunculus tells her he recognizes her- and not to mouth off. "Your recognition fills me with disgust," Eriko says, flatly. "Because I recognize you too. You're every mediocre, pointless man who thinks he has worth because his reproductive organs on the outside, but who is useless on his own so blames women for his own pathetic nature. No ambition, no drive- just the feeling they deserve a women handed to her on platter."

As Yanagi solidifies, Eriko's attention turns to her. Someone who thought her a friend- so why would she be working with the Homunculus...? Is she placating it, or working with it? "...Are you content to let this thing speak for you, Yanagi? If not, this is a far less enjoyable prank than moving the mannequins." Eriko smirks, but she isn't particularly happy about it.

But perhaps the prank is directed elsewhere- Eriko had not been sure what to make of Kikuno when she joined the investigation. But she knew the girl was another of Shinichi's targets. "...My, my," Eriko says, as her Persona comes, and she slices the threads filling the cocoon. "Rappacini's Daughter retains her poison, I see. ''Marvelous!''" She switches between Japanese and English with ease- but then the EKG sounds speed up and the homunculus drains into something else. Robbed off metamorphosis, it becomes something archetypical in and of itself. And normally, Eriko would be happy to see a horror movie killer made flesh-

But the Platonic Ideal of a Stalker is more than she was ready for. Her body freezes, and fear grips her. It puts her back there.

-----

In that apartment, she shared with a couple of other models. The door is unlocked- even though they made sure it was when they left. No lights are on, but things are disturbed. Stepping into her home and seeing him and Nike being unreachable and-

-----

The first slash catches Eriko flatfooted and the claw slashes across her chest, cutting at her jumpsuit, tearing free a button along with the blood, leaving a trail of claws across a breast, the carefully tailored outfit leaving her slightly exposed. The second, however doesn't get close.

-----

Even without Nike, she's not powerless. She doesn't have her sword, or her gun- but there is a very heavy lamp right there. She'll have to apologize to her roommate later.

-----

With a dart of unnatural speed, Eriko gets free of the Homunculus' claw range and clear of danger. One cut is enough. "What was it you said about 'mouthing off', squatter? It seems you've lost that capability- but let's make sure, shall we? Nike!"

The Goddess of Victory with wings of steel comes to Eriko's call, and she raises her sword in a salute, just like she used to. "Let's not let it have any more last words, it's talked enough. Righteous Mafui!"

The roar of Nike's jet engines echoes out, with a touch of divine song carried through. For the target, though, the song sings of ill fate and silence. Not a warning, or a premonition. A command with all the authority shy of the Metatron themselves. It's as though the Chorus itself is all saying one thing: 'Suffer silently, and repent.'

Isabeau asks her a question directly, and Eriko nods. "I was. For almost all of it. I think... I would owe you an explanation once this is all over. You and the real Shinichi." As for whether Isabeau remembered... "Some part of him- or of you- might have. The masks inside of us carry things our conscience mind might not. There's so much the heart can hide- for our own wellbeing or to harm us."

Coin, on the other hand, does get a smile. "Oh my- the Bytom Dragon? How wonderful. I see you have found a hunter rather than a farmhand- perhaps a more useful friend in these times."

Still, she can't get distracted more- she's worried about Tamaki too, given the damage and healing sent her way.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Almighty skill Righteous Mafui on Penguin Slasher!
| Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Eriko Kirishima's Righteous Mafui.

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> There's a few things Umie only notices once she makes her entrance:

- Coin is here with Kanae, the friend she mentioned. While under the effects of the Badb's feathers and the paper maiche half-mask made , Coin may not recognize Umie, but that may not matter the moment someone makes it clear who Umie is, by name. It was Mona and Belle mentioning her name (and Umie herself confirming it) that made it possible for Shinichi to pierce that veil himself, after all, and why would anyone suspect a thing? In a Palace, the ruler's equivalent in the physical world is none the wiser for most of it.
- Wait. Why is Yoko here?! WHY DOES SHE HAVE A - focus, Umie, there's a predator in the room
- Tsumugi's heels are very fabulous.

'You tell me who here you like the least, and I'll kill them first.' "So she was the one you mentioned," Umie supposes aloud. "With her abilities..." She considers Yanagi, and quietly murmurs a reply at this supposed 'betrayal': "... was the izakaya I picked *that* bad... ?" It's a quiet acknowledgment, in a way, that things may likely be a lot more complex that Umie can give her credit for. Like Tamaki, there's a part of this, and that guilt the real Shinichi bared over causing his sister's 'death', that Umie can understand. Yanagi even picks Tsumugi, the person Umie would have least expected.

(..... maybe Tsumugi's just really that difficult to have as a boss.)

"Your *real* self was traumatized for years," Umie suddenly snaps at the false Shinichi, as he rounds on Isabeau. "For someone who hated his past self so much, you *really* want others to follow his example. And besides, it was her intelligence" -- pun fully intended -- "that helped others to not fall to the same threats."

Isabeau sees herself in Umie's comments, and Umie nods. "A Demon can be your enemy or your ally, sometimes even both. A Pixie helped you." While it was a pixie (or several of them) that killed(?) Tamaki, in that sordid realm she was trapped in years ago. (Yes, Umie is looking up at Tamaki just then.)

The homunculus's venom does not lack in targets, nor does it become any less diluted by the time he comes to her. There's a palpable pause, as Shinichi reminds her of how that clock is ticking.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"Oh *please*," Umie belatedly scoffs with a cackle, waving a hand. "I've been doing this for nearly a *decade*. The ticker's broken. I'm your problem now."

The appearance of Kikuno (ie, someone Umie does not know) is surprising, but equally welcome, as her interference moves the battle from words and tense standoffs to direct, immediate violence. Umie *could* make a quip here, but watching the 'human' drip out of the thing's body draws a sudden, icy chill from her.

"He's coming, get read--!" Ah, FakeShinichi wastes no time.

She nearly manages to escape the homunculus's hand, but her hood is snagged instead. Badb instinctively manifests, but instead becomes a mass of projectiles as Umie's body as flung right into her other self. As Pernelle is attacked with an Umie missile, Saika has to deal with the rest, with the blonde-haired young woman curled up in pain.

... And *angry*, as she gets up, readjusting her mask (and quietly apologizing to poor Pernelle, who will likely need to be paid in tater tots, as well as Saika). She'd even straighten, but her body's not quite ready to uncurl itself.

"... A few days ago, you said you smelled death on me," Umie says, wiping the spit from her mouth. "_Did you ever pause to think it was yours?_"

It takes a tense moment before Badb reappears at the slightly bent Umie's command, but the shriek that is cast on the field suffers no loss in volume as its omen is laid out on the homunculus.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Bad Moon Rising on Penguin Slasher!
| Umie Akabane takes 45 damage from Stress!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.
| Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Bad Moon Rising . Resist!
| Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) and Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added! damage!

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
He hurls insults at her, mocks her weight. For a moment and only a moment as the vines speed for the cocoon, her blue eyes narrow.

Is it for better, or for worse that as the vines peel the cocoon free from its moorings that Kikuno, perched on her throne, regards Shinichi's Homunculus with a decidedly evil smile? Like the cat that got the cream, perhaps. It's certainly self-satisfied.

"Too late," she tells him, even as signs of life pulse more strongly into this room. As the Homunculus begins to come undone.

He's a monster under that veneer, just like she'd told him he was. Her gaze flicks to Kanae, and she thinks back on their previous altercation as the change takes hold in full.

He's probably awake by now, she thinks, of the boy in the cocoon. He can probably hear everything.

"Pathetic," she says again. "Taking the life of a boy like that just so you can have your own... you could do better, you know," she tells the monstrosity. "But it's already too late. You're back to being the little monster I knew you could be," she tells him, holding the gaze that burns from the palms of those hands. "Saving me for last just like you promised? You'll regret that." If her heart quickens a beat, if she's overtaken by a bad old memory, then--

The only one who has to know that is 'her'.

She glances at Roger. "Familiar with these, are you? I'll keep that in mind. For now, make yourself useful. In a battle like this..." She sighs. "Idiots have a way of keeling over otherwise." He'll be important for keeping people -- such as family -- alive, that is.

Her gaze turns to Kazusa next. "You, too. I suppose I'll have to count on you to keep these fools alive." She sighs, as if burdened by her duty. "Leave ''him'' to me."

But it's Isabeau who wonders aloud what Kikuno is and that draws her Kikuno's almost startled attention, as if she's been roused from her languid ennui and irritation at the world towards--

"What are you-- I'm a person," she insists, doused as she is in fairy dust. "Go away. I won't explain myself to you--" she persists. "Don't you dare look at--"

It's already too late for that.

But she is human. She's very human.

"...Hmph. I told you. It's not my fault if you don't listen," she complains aloud. "We're of the same cloth," she says, tossing her head and sending her long hair aflutter. "And it's also not my fault if you're concerned. Go be concerned on your own time."

She points then at the Homunculus.

"Now. Beatrice, take a closer look," she orders, and all at once Beatrice's many eyes focus to stare at the Homunculus to stare with an intensity that may well burn.

"Let's peel back the veil."
</poem>

AS: Block Worst! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 87 Almighty damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Brutal Scan.
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's Strength Scan! Kikuno Kisaragi resists Earth!
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's Weakness Scan! Kikuno Kisaragi is weak against Elec!
AS: Persona! Kikuno Kisaragi has used the Almighty skill Brutal Scan on Penguin Slasher!
| Insight: Kikuno Kisaragi gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 158 Almighty damage from Kikuno Kisaragi's Brutal Scan.
AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's Strength Scan! Penguin Slasher resists Slash, Strike, and Dark!
AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's Weakness Scan! Penguin Slasher is weak against Fire, Water, and Light!

<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
Ah, there's Yanagi. She looks...

That's not the Yanagi that encouraged her to Awaken, for the others to not let her die before she could, who congratulated her when she did. Who is breathless with excitement all the time, because she understands how beautiful and overwhelming the world can be. This one looks like...

A squiggle of discomfort sours Yoko's stomach a bit and she holds her bear a little tighter. Everyone's yelling, and the Homunculus-Shinichi keeps ''talking'' but it's better to try to ignore him, probably? Even just looking near him makes Yoko uncomfortable. Like just seeing him will let him under her skin. So she looks ''around'' him, and is glad to be able to watch Yanagi seemingly come back to life when Tsumugi arrives and declares herself the villain.

When Kikuno speaks, Yoko doesn't even recognize her voice. It's ''that'' different. And even when her eyes flick towards Beatrice and the figure reclining atop her, it takes Yoko a long, long look before she can resolve what she's seeing.

"kiku...no...?"

But it gets worse. It gets even worse! "I was right not to look at it," she mumbles, despite the fact that she's doing that, she's staring right ''at'' 'Shinichi' and its horrible curdled-ink-melt and hand eyes and, and! Because it's awful and mesmerizing, and Yoko is slower for it when she feels something coming to Get Her. She yowls in shock and pain, obi-musubi rent and tattered. The bear tumbles out of her arms as Yoko leaps away, ears airplaned so hard they've nearly disappeared into her messy black hair.

Once Isabeau rounds on her, however! Even her black tail lashes back and forth. No reports of a cat-footed girl! Why is she here? A grumbling, growling figure pushes itself between Yoko and Isabeau, wisps of cottom 'foam' drifting from Bearemy's unstitched maw as he protects his creator. ...He's only a little over a foot tall. But the claws splitting apart the seams at the ends of his fuzzy wuzzy arms are very real.

Roger's healing waves settle onto Yoko's shoulders. She's scowling at Isabeau, clawed hands balled into fists. "I'm here to save Yanagi-chan. So leave me alone!!"

"BAKENEKO!" The cat that answers Yoko's call is nondescript, a calico, save for the sheet of cloth that slithers off of its head as it stands up on its hind legs and bares its teeth at Emsh, summoning an inferno.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Yoko Hirano has used the Fire skill Sea of Flames on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Yoko Hirano gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yoko Hirano's turn has ended.
AS: Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 133 Fire damage from Yoko Hirano's Sea of Flames. Weak!
| Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
(Take your pick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGMWL8cOeAU Transistor OST - In Circles - Darren Korb / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMyoI-Za6z8 Transistor OST - _n C_rcl_s - Darren Korb)

Tamaki nods in Umie's direction, quietly catching onto their dual-sided dynamic, then turns to confirm for the Homunculus, "I was there, yes." She steps forward. "And I did ''nothing.'' I didn't even have your excuse. I already had this power to help,"

She grasps at her necklace to illustrate, and the imposing figure of Arianrhod manifests in front of her while she continues, "and I stayed back to let others deal with the situation."

She shrugs and shakes her head. "The main difference between you and me is that you went and made yourself a target. No, admittedly, I haven't had to stare down a room full of my peers out for my blood with my back against the wall to them."

Tamaki lowers her head and gives Shinichi's Homunculus a sidelong glance. "I stopped sticking my neck out for others and let them suffer in my stead. That, unfortunately, included you." Quietly, she flicks her eyes in Isabeau's direction.

"I see this 'new you' as my responsibility to fix." With that declaration, she begins to lunge towards the Homunculus to pierce it through, but it's then that Eriko admonishes Tamaki for trying to go it alone again, for having fallen prey to the very same follies highlighted by Tsumugi's monologue. Now acutely aware of her arrogance, she hesitates and loses her resolve to attack, turning around to start to protest --

-- only to turn around in horror as the writhing form of Eshm bursts out from the Humonculus, only barely escaping certain doom from his scythe by hiding behind Arianrhod, who only barely manages to parry the scythe away from a more certainly-lethal blow.

As she scrambles back to her feet, her mind spirals with panic at the thought that she's too in over her head, that she can't fix this, but Roger and Kazusa both lend their aid. "Th ... thank you both." She looks at Eriko and nods. "You're right. Let's blaze that trail together."

Tamaki grabs her necklace once more, and Arianrhod strikes her blade into the earth, causing an incandescent pillar of light to erupt from underneath Eshm.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Light skill Sealing Hama on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tamaki Uchida's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 187 Light damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sealing Hama. Weak!
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus speaks to them. Tsumugi Kujaku does not answer. Their gaze doesn't even so much as flick in the creature's direction.

As if their taunts, and their growing defensiveness, are completely immaterial and only serve to create the context of their true interest:

Is it everything you expected, Sa-ya?

'''Nope! I never expected any of this at all!'''

Tsumugi Kujaku's gaze fixes forward on some distant point.

'''It seems I've been arrogant too, haven't I?'''

"Yes."

That blunt answer comes without hesitation, without bothering to soften it with platitudes. Their gaze remains affixed elsewhere, so far away.

"You are."

So often they do this. Like the concerns of the moment simply don't reach them. Like they never could.

"You..."

It makes the moments when they do decide to turn their attention back to the world all the more sharper for its contrast. When that cold burn of scarlet and gold fixes on something in the now.

"... are one of the most self-interested people I've ever met. Sa-ya~."

Like ''right now.''

It's a statement - especially with Tsumugi's dispassion, and the cold intensity of that stare fixing straight on Yanagi - that could easily be construed as spiteful by anyone who doesn't know Tsumugi. Doesn't know Yanagi. Doesn't know ''them.''

Because to something that only parrots at being human, how could such a statement ever be seen as purest praise?

It's tinder to the fire of the Homunculus' angry attention, to perfectly - coincidentally? - tee up for that one moment where Yanagi urges it to focus on Tsumugi, to think only of killing Tsumugi for her, that indifferent, infuriating ''Tsumugi'' just standing there with half-lidded indifference even as Yanagi requests their likely heinous and brutal murder, like nothing in the world could touch them, least of all the Homunculus. To make it focus all of itself on THEM--

--just in time for Kikuno to make her move.

''Didn't I tell you?''

A rush of vines surge for the Cocoon. Tsumugi's stare fixes blandly forward.

''That I'd have the last laugh.''

"Ara."

The wiring threading into the Cocoon snap like so many snipped cords, whipping away from the cage - the chrysalis? - that made the Homunculus' dominance possible. Tsumugi's left hand falls to their side.

"I guess this is as far as you can manage."

Something sharp glints between their fingers.

"What a shame."

'''I WON'T LET YOU- WON'T- WON'T TAKE THIS FROM-'''

The Homunculus stops. It ''changes''. Where once was a crude facsimile of the guilty boy known as Shinichi Nagisa, now stands the monster that was sent by the world to punish him.

Tsumugi's fingers splay.

And then it's gone.

''Look out!'' cries Saika. Too late.

It's already there.

Tsumugi is moving as if on pure instinct the second the Homunculus disappears. But even that, too, is too late. The butcher's blade is brandished, and with its sadistic slice it carves carnage in a brutal tear across the cognitive clothes of Peacock Silk's tailor. It's painful - agonizing, the way that knife slashes an angry path up their torso with a red sear of fury. Rose petals burst outward from Tsumugi's shoulder as the first stroke completes, raining down between them in little shards of black and white.

The few droplets of scarlet splattering the ground beneath them prove that you can draw blood from this particular stone.

It hurts. Carves through flesh and blood and bone and soul. But it isn't what grabs Tsumugi.

A silhouetted scene of a brother, yelling at their sister in bed--

Scarlet-gold eyes snap wide.

The second slash comes. Tsumugi's arm is still swinging. Hints of something thin and metallic glint against the fog-crusted light of the room before they snag against that knife, dulling its momentum considerably to make that second swipe much more shallow as it slices at their hip.

Wires. With the full rotation of Tsumugi's arm, they ''yank'' that knife about like a puppet and slicing strings.

But not to avoid them. Oh no.

They pull that blade -towards- them.

The momentum is lessened. It dulls the pain a little as the blade tip bites in.

As stolen memories used as fuel fill their thoughts with the hideousness of a terrible mistake

Isn't it funny, how something can be so intense, yet so dispassionate?

It is exactly the wide-eyed STARE that affixes on Eshm the Wrath as Tsumugi's right arm snaps out wide, wires attached to their glove swinging out a knife from within their sleeve that they grasp --

and then STAB with bulging-eyed intensity straight for the Homunculus.

Ultimately, it does very little. Even Tsumugi can feel how the shadow-tinged edge of their blade struggles against flesh that naturally resists it.

But sometimes, it's the gesture that matters most.

Like how that blade instantly swung for the eye on the back of the Homunculus' hand.

Blue light swells. A butterfly births and unbirths in a rapid unraveling of sapphire light.

"... Jekyll."

And a shadow casts overhead as a MASSIVE case of wood and glass comes crashing down above Shinichi Nagisa's parasite.

It's a feint, ultimately; this thing is fast, and disappears and reappears with all the horrifying implacability of an unstoppable slasher. The goal isn't to hit it. It's just to get it to ''move'' and in a certain direction, distract it from disappearing--

just in time for Saika to come roaring for it with all her beautiful fury.

No. Jekyll's attach comes after, as the sightless automaton within that case twists in an empty motion, lifts its cane... and slams it DOWN with a lifeless, mechanical whirr.

A second later, flashes of brilliant, blinding light bloom one after the other for Eshm, each one bursting with searing radiance one after the other.

Tsumugi stands back. Their hand is on their injury, pressing down tightly until scarlet oozes between their fingers. They feel the twinge of pain. They don't feel the memory anymore.

Hand removing itself, they stare at their bloody palm for a few, quiet seconds.

"..."

And then that gaze, calm once more, fixes on--

"Oh."

Coin?

Their head cants. "Another one? Interesting."

And then that gloved hand lifts to wiggle its bloodied fingers at the strange fox, one after another.

"Hi~" they say.

In cheerful(?) deadpan.

--

It's really not any weirder than ANYTHING ELSE going on right now, is it?

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tsumugi Kujaku has used the Light skill Multi-Kouha on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Tsumugi Kujaku gains 1 Limit!

AS: Tsumugi Kujaku's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 31 Light damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Multi-Kouha. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 65 Light damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Multi-Kouha. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 63 Light damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Multi-Kouha. Weak!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Katsuko Yoshinaga!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yoko Hirano!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Tamaki Uchida!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Katsuko Yoshinaga!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yoko Hirano!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Tamaki Uchida!
AS: Atk_Dn (Damage down!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Atk_Dn (Damage down!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Kanae Fuyuki!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Coin!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Yoko Hirano!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Kanae Fuyuki resists Slash!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Kanae Fuyuki is weak against Dark!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Kanae Fuyuki has passive skills Block Physical, Heavy Weapon, Peerless Skill, Pierce
Boost, and Slash Amp!
AS: Take! Coin takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Coin resists Fire!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Coin is weak against Water!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Coin has passive skills Avoid Magical, Explode Shield, Fire Amp, Peerless Skill,
Regenerate 1, Team Player, and Third Eye!
AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Yoko Hirano resists Fire!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Yoko Hirano is weak against Earth!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Yoko Hirano has passive skills Block Slash, Explode Shield, Fire Amp, Heavy Weapon,
Null Poison, Slash Boost, and Third Eye!

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi doesn't remark on Tsumugi's tongue. If she did, she might say something about how she'd go for that first too.

That's something pretending to be her brother, though. Gross!

Instead... no, instead her focus where Tsumugi is concerned is that moment where golden-scarlet eyes lock onto peacock green. In that moment, it's as though stagelights shine down upon the two of them, and all else falls back into darkness. Yanagi's gaze is wide and trembling as all cheer drops away from her.

"Really...? I'm one of...?"

She bows her head; her bangs cast her lovely face in shadow. Truly, is Tsumugi wrong? Yanagi left Peacock Silk, barely explaining what she was planning; it's no wonder that even Saika is surprised by what she's doing now. "Then..."

And she sparkles with another smile. "Then I'll have to work even harder to be ''the'' most self-interested! <3 When I die, I don't want to leave behind such a half-baked memory for you, Tsumugi!" She pauses; then she giggles. "...Just kidding~"

About what, she doesn't specify. Because it's time to observe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ojG_Evkqc (I Want to Watch It Happen (The Nightmare III) - Brandon Boone)

Kikuno calls up her Persona, Beatrice, and seats herself upon the throne of thorns with an imperious air as she snaps vines to rend the Cocoon asunder. Yanagi watches this, and though her expression is once more impassive, there is now interest gleaming in her gaze. Behind Yanagi, Giselle continues to pirouette in place, sending forth and calling back the origami Wilis spirits to gather information for her other self.

Eriko asks her if she's content to let the Homunculus speak for her. Yanagi stares at her for a moment with soulless eyes. Then she tilts her head to one side as she smiles so brightly it squeezes those eyes shut. "Yup!" she chirps.

''Was'' that izakaya really that bad, Umie? ''Does'' she have a grudge against Tsumugi after all? Still she offers no answers.

"Hmmm... You're really angry about that one in particular, aren't you?" she comments to the Homunculus of Kanae. "Isn't it awful when you thought you knew someone and you learn you never did at all?"

She reaches out her free hand. "Giselle," she half-calls, half-chants.

The Wilis hovering near Kanae crumples into non-existence, then unfolds before Yanagi to display a brief animation. "So you, too, can change Personas. I wonder how many of you there are?" she remarks as she absorbs it. "This one she's wielding now is strong against slashing attacks, but weak to darkness. She's also skilled with slashing attacks--not that that'll help her much against you."

Then, if Coin is here to support her... She's quite an interesting creature, isn't she? Yanagi wants to know about her too. The Wilis sweeps around the little foxling, then likewise crumples and uncrumples before Yanagi. "Speaking of how many there might be... this one is new! It's always so exciting, experiencing new things. She's strong against fire, but weak to water!"

Yoko declares that she's here to save her. "Oh! Yoko, that's so sweet!" Yanagi gasps. She smiles and tilts her head as her Persona scans the calico. "I don't need saving. But you might! You should fall in with allies quickly!" And, as if to prompt her to, the Wilis that Yoko had touched earlier spirits itself away to transmit-- "Ah, this one's strong against fire too! But instead of water, she's weak to earth! Both of them are strong with fire magic. That might be troublesome to you, 'Shinichi'!"

What ''is'' her plan here? Why was she so dead-eyed before and back to her 'normal' now? Why is she helping the Homunculus?

Yanagi continues to offer answers to none of these things. Instead, she watches the exchange between Isabeau and Kikuno with keen interest, as one scans the other and the other scans the Homunculus.

They're all the same manner of monster, aren't they?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The Beast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KKkdIODSok

Tsumugi, in all of their glorious strangeness, has spoken many words that this creature cannot understand as anything but insults. After all, he does not expect that another human would share his point of view about self-interest- only Yanagi has, thus far.

They pull the blade towards themselves, as the Homunculus tilts that useless appendage, his head towards them, like he does not understand.

((why))
((welcome my wrath))
((who?))

But when the swing comes, instinctually, it protects its true eyes, blade moving to deflect the blow as much as it can. Jekyll's next spell may be a feint, but it's one that proves quite effective. The Homunculus interprets the action now as merely trying to get at its eyes and the contact is broken.

Light descends, flashes blooming upon its form, forcing the get of the dark back into the shadow. It's only as they cheerfully wiggle bloodied fingers that he returns back behind them, wielding a simple claw hammer.

It rises. It falls. It rises and falls again with brutal simplicity. An act that almost seems like black humor, with its timing.

Kanae will never submit to him, she says as she summons Valkyrie. The weapon pushes hot lead into his body- and he staggers back, a half step. Before lashing out with a vicious backhand across her cheek to send her sprawling.

((i still am))

Perhaps its only with raw physicality alone, but that is the monster's place of dominance, if he can't make her submit emotionally, then he will break her. Yuuki's rapier enters his gut at that moment, and he says nothing. He simply tilts his odd head appendage without true eyes as if it were regarding a little kid in the midst of an emotional moment.

Then he tugs out the rapier from his gut as if it were a insignificant needle. Shoving her back. When she looks again, he's gone, as she then feels the warning sensation of something behind her, as he swings an axe right at her back.

Which is the moment Saika's chain wraps around his throat. The creature reaches up, pawing at the chain, before seizing hold. And then as Saika moves to slam into the back of his torso, she finds that chain yanked to pull her- faster?

The impact is like striking a brick wall, as he yanks her up and over at that exact moment, to slam her against the ground, crimson flower petals fluttering in the air.

((big man))
((little girl))

As he looms over her, she can feel her spirit to fight him, draining right out of her, like an unsettling aura of terrible fear. Nitocris sends arrows of water at him, and the beast staggers under the power of that water pressure. And yet, it makes no sound at all.

A curse, as Umie postulates that the death he sensed might be his own. The curse falls upon him, and he reaches up a finger, to draw it across his fake throat.

Judgment passes, with Dante utilizing a certain spell, to sap energy out of him, like a gavel. And for a time it looks like it's working. Far too well in fact.

And then the spell sloughs off of him, the darkened energy pouring on the ground, the darkened pits of his eyes merely staring at her, before he then vanishes again.

He steps out of the mist moments later, behind Grim. In his hand, a Sledgehammer he wields only one handed. Then, in silence, he winds up- and aims a blow at the back of their spine. A shockwave of force erupting through them and into the room, that hurtles towards Roger and Umie.

((tell me again whose death i sensed))

A Dragon Persona appears, and Eshm stares at it- even as the flames come. But as they erupt from his feet, he's takes a slow step back- and vanishes. And not only is he gone, gone for several long moments.

Is he afraid of the flame, to have fled so? It's hard to tell, given his silence, but Coin might swear that he must be. After all, he shook off most other attacks, but that, he avoided.

Bakeneko erupts at that moment, as if to confirm what Coin might already suspect, in the flames, his arms arch back and silently, its like he screams, arms waving to try and get it off of him, as he steps out of the fire, burnt- right into Tamaki's pillar of light.

When he reappears from that flash of light, he's taken a knee. But then, he rises again as Eriko uses the magic of Nike to silence him. And the eyes on the back of his hands suddenly move independently of the body to look right at her.

And then they flare with a terrible light, as pentagrams appear at her feet.

((out))
((from my home))

Is this what it feels to be exorcised? Darkness falls, as he tries to force Eriko to leave his house... but not vertically. No he wants her to be quite horizontal when she does. Perhaps, even in his monstrous state, he still takes issue with her calling him a squatter in this place.

In this place he's taken over. More pentagrams appear, summoned by the eyes, as another one tries to remove Tamaki and the Magus in turn... then last of all, Coin, like he wants the dragon as far away from him as possible.

((can't fix))
((isn't broken))

Is that him taunting Tamaki??? Strange. Perhaps it realtes to Shinichi's interests...

Isabeau tries to take a peak at Kikuno. Eshm at least knows there is something strange back there, something he ''fears''. But he's not about to communicate that, in turn- Beatrice reveals much about him.

His immense strength- but also what he fears.

He vanishes again, then there's the sound of a rope start sputtering as it's pulled in the mist. Then it tugs again, as it purrs to life in an ominous hum. Stepping out of the mist, he bears a chainsaw in his hands, whirring as he holds it so steady they can't even see it vibrate. Lifting it up with both hands, he slashes down. And the room is suddenly full of a motorized massacre of serrated cuts as he appears here, and there, and over there. It's not just that the killer is in the room.

The killer is ''everywhere''.

Dropping the chainsaw, he then moves quite deliberately towards Kanae and begins slashing with a knife, mercilessly, aiming one even to try and move across her throat.

((scour you))
((from this world))

Yanagi is quite correct, he seems to have a particular grudge against this ''betrayal''- of learning who she truly was. Just another parasite. Her insight drives his blade with greater efficiency towards her vitals.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Recovery skill Infatigable on Penguin Slasher!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Recovery healing from Penguin Slasher's Infatigable.
| Atk_Dn, Def_Dn, and Spd_Dn removed!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Behind You on Yuuki Hoshizora!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Exhaust!

AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre on Kikuno Kisaragi, Kazusa Motojima,
Isabeau Fontaine, and Yoko Hirano! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Parasite Eve on Saika Kikuchi!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill World War H on Katsuko Yoshinaga, Roger, and Umie Akabane!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Dark skill The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa on Eriko Kirishima, Tamaki Uchida,
Misato Fushihara, and Coin!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Butcher on Kanae Fuyuki! 3 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Black Christmas-sacre on Tsumugi Kujaku! 2 Hits!
AS: Penguin Slasher's turn has ended.
| Penguin Slasher: Exhaust, Omen, and Panic removed! Omen: 150 damage!

AS: Avoid Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Butcher. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Butcher. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 66 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Butcher. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Avoid Best! Coin takes 0 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa.
AS: Avoid Best! Saika Kikuchi takes -0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Parasite Eve.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Avoid Best! Misato Fushihara takes 0 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa.
AS: Kazusa Motojima spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Worst! Kazusa Motojima takes 150 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Kazusa Motojima takes 103 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical
Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's World War H.
AS: Block Best! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 32 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Black Christmas-sacre.
AS: Block Best! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 32 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 104 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Black Christmas-sacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 97 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa. Weak!
Avoid Dark!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre on Pernelle! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Penguin Slasher gains 1 Limit!

AS: Penguin Slasher's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
Block Slash!
AS: Block Best! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
Block Slash!
AS: Take! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 145 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Avoid Best! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Behind You. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Dark damage from Penguin Slasher's The Exorcism of Shinichi Nagisa. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 190 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's World War H.
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 119 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 97 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him.
AS: Block Best! Pernelle takes 30 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre.
AS: Block Best! Pernelle takes 33 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 164 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical
Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 164 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Mikage-Cho Chainsaw Massacre. Critical
Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Roger takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's World War H. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Roger is helpful as always--but Kanae calls out to him, "Right! Homunculi are your area--we're counting on you!"

Yuuki going wild concerns her--but there's not a lot she can do about it in the moment.

But Family, Isabeau says. Kanae purses her lips but says nothing about it. Instead, she listens to her French. "`No promises,`" Kanae says. "`...Except that we'll take him down. ''That'' I'll promise with you.`"

'Destroy him'. Kanae says, "Workin' on it--"

She's ''backhanded''. 'I still am', he says, and drives her back to the ground despite her bravado. "Ugh--"

Kikuno calls him pathetic. Maybe he will regret it. And Kanae? Kanae is curious about Yanagi. The most self-interested? And her friends are fine with fighting against her...?

Either way, Kanae must continue. "So, that's what his nature is..." She looks to Kikuno. The veil is peeled back...

"Thanks," Kanae says. And she considers, too--Tamaki and Eriko, who were 'there'. "You were at that place...?"

Kanae drags herself to her feet. And then, he strikes again. Valkyrie's power shields her; the first slash she evades completely, the second she parries with her gunblade--but the third, the one that could cut her throat, only tears a gash at her clavicle, failing to kill thanks to her Persona's fused abilities.

"You--"

Scour her. "You never knew me," Kanae insists. "I was playing you!"

She stumbles back, despite her bold words, because nearly being decapitated is still terrifying, and blood still runs down her front. "...You know," she says. "I learned a few things in your--no, in ''his'' Atelier."

"He gave me a new Persona.. I hope you like it. He's the judge of the dead."

"And you'll be meeting him for real, soon. Is ''your'' heart lighter than a feather...?"

"Come forth!" Kanae calls, and lifts up her gold vial. it ''shatters'' with the glass of her Persona changing, showering her with glittering dust.

"ANUBIS!"

"Judge him." She points her gunblade forward.

The black jackal-headed god, holding the scales, rises before Kanae. Presenting those scales, he attacks--

Prayer stripes burst into being at Eshm's feet. They rise, circling, gleaming, ''glowing'' with brilliant light, before a blinding flash--

To exorcise.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kanae Fuyuki has used the Light skill Hama on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Kanae Fuyuki's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 227 Light damage from Kanae Fuyuki's Hama. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
It dawns on Yuuki a little belatedly that Magus is backing her up. She sees the water arrows rain down and sucks in a breath. Right, she has back up, and--

And she can't falter. Not here!

But when her rapier slides into his midsection and doesn't get a response, she freezes up for a moment. He shoves her back. Her feet stumble, but she doesn't fall. "What--what the--"

He just vanished.

Roger's racquet sends forth a wave of light across her. Yuuki breathes it in -- then glances back at him and nods. "Th--thank you, Roger-san!" she cries out, before she turns to look at Kazusa. She gives her a quick nod.

And then the Homunculus reappears behind her. But in the window, she sees the killer's reflection; she sees the axe coming down. Yuuki spins, eyes wide, and then gravity shifts for her. She falls -- towards the wall of the room, which becomes the floor. She stands on it, perpendicular to the rest of the room.

She sees the pentagram light up under Magus's feet. "Magus!" she calls. "Look out!"

Yuuki starts running up the length of the wall, towards the ceiling. It has the strange effect of running by Tsumugi -- while at a 90-degree angle to them. "Coming through!"

And then she throws a hand out.

Gravity forms up around the Homunculus, four little orbs of black -- and just after that flash of light erupts at Kanae's command, they expand and contract. Gravitational force threatens to yank the Homunculus back and forth, but into Anubis's exorcising light.

While also bending and multiplying that light, as the concentrated gravitatioal force causes the light to bend as if seen through a lens.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Yuuki Hoshizora has used the Earth skill Precise Magryva on Penguin Slasher!
| Pressure: Yuuki Hoshizora gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yuuki Hoshizora's turn has ended.
| Yuuki Hoshizora: Gains 73 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Regen and Vigor removed!

AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 232 Earth damage from Yuuki Hoshizora's Precise Magryva. Critical Hit!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa spends Limit on Shift! Saika Kikuchi can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Saika Kikuchi! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>"Indeed, I have come. And you as well." Magus confirms to Grim with a nod. "There is no need to fear. I shall offer him no quarter - for I can already see he intends to give none."

Her provoking him certainly didn't help with that, but things were already set into motion far before her arrival. This anger can't just be for her alone - no, she can tell there are those here for whom it is far more personal.

Eshm's eyes blaze terribly. Pentagrams appear under Magus's feet, and those of others. Yuuki shouts a warning. Magus feels it, that rejection - he's trying to expel her, remove her from this place. The panic tries to grip her. She takes a deep breath. She forces herself to focus. Fixate on the now - and leaps back, before the seal can fully eject her.

"I refuse." Magus forces out. She stumbles slightly when she lands, but she nods her thanks to Yuuki. It might have made the difference.

"I've already been invited in, you see. It's too late to retract it." She says. "Nitocris. Box him in."

As Yuuki draws the Homunculus into Kanae's purifying light, Nitocris snaps her fingers. Suddenly, spheres of highly-pressurized water begin to surge into existence. Many localize around Eshm, but others lie in wait around the room. At the slightest contact, they'll explode - turning Eshm's domain into a minefield of Magus's making.
</poem>

AS: Misato Fushihara spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Misato Fushihara has used the Water skill Pressure Mine on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Misato Fushihara gains 1 Limit!

AS: Misato Fushihara's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 139 Water damage from Misato Fushihara's Pressure Mine. Weak!
AS: Eriko Kirishima spends Limit on Shift! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) applied to Yuuki Hoshizora!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) applied to Penguin Slasher!

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
(It's fine, Isabeau. You and Kazusa are just on different paths.)

She glances over her shoulder at Kikuno as she comments on herself and Roger. "Roger-san and I know what to do--don't go issuing orders like you're in charge."

She turns her head to track the Homunculus again. "... but don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on everyone."

"Fontain-san, focus!" she snaps a moment later. (Kazusa what did you just say to Kikuno?)

"Of course," Kazusa says to Tamaki with a short nod. She returns the nod to Yuuki, too.

But the Homunculus isn't letting up in the slightest, and Kazusa shivers as she hears the start of a chainsaw. "H-how many weapons does he have!?" He's moving impossibly fast, she tries to stay alert--

And instead is sent sprawling as she's caught unawares, letting out a scream as she's thrown to the ground clutching her stomach. She shudders as she fights to push herself back up. "D-damn it..."

She's not even fully standing again before she sinks back to a knee. "I w-won't... let you... win. I'll show you how I'm changing--!" She reaches deep within herself to find the motivation. "Mina Harker! Show them!"

Mina's good eye flashes as she raises her hand again, and this time a much larger burst of healing magic pours forth, reaching for Isabeau, Umie, Tsumugi, Kazusa, and then a secondary wave hits Pernelle, Kanae, Eriko, and Kikuno.

She finally pushes herself to her feet. "I know what you did to him inside that Cocoon. How you made him suffer. And that's all you've brought to everyone else around you, too. No more!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Kazusa Motojima has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Isabeau Fontaine, Umie Akabane, Tsumugi Kujaku,
and Kazusa Motojima!
| Support: Kazusa Motojima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Kazusa Motojima's turn has ended.
AS: Kazusa Motojima spends Limit on Exploit! Kazusa Motojima can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 146 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Kazusa Motojima takes 146 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Kazusa Motojima has used the Recovery skill Media on Pernelle, Kanae Fuyuki, Eriko Kirishima, and Kikuno
Kisaragi!
| Support: Kazusa Motojima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 146 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "Right!!" Roger calls to the votes of confidence and trust in him. "This is the position I play!" There's an innocent gleefulness in that, despite the gloom. He has defined his desire to change through playing with everyone as someone, after all, and he is... someone. Here to play.

To bring the A-Game.

"...I really don't know what game she's playing, though," he says, head tilting over what Yanagi is doing over yonder. "All Homunculi are playing for themselves... aren't they?"

Even he seems pretty unsure, catching that flip from dead-eyed to bright but not much more. He was a Sanguin Humor in one (1) Atelier, Taro Nakata's. He shouldn't have any sort of greater idea on how they all operate, should he? Well, never mind that, for now.

He jumps at watching the way Tsumugi ''moves''. Roger can't describe it - he has seen Tsumugi, knows their name, and everything, but there's something terribly inscrutible that just about anything they say or do seems unfamiliar and distant.

There is something more profound being said and shared between them, that Roger doesn't quite catch. Still...

"Um, even so," he admits in a moment of introspection, "the Peacock Silk people sure knew a lot about what was going on, too." Then, brighter. "They were very helpful!"

The Homunculus does not let this conversation go unchallenged, and every word spoken is borrowed time while they flail to protect what existence the destruction of the cocoon denies them. The way they warp, move about...

"Eee! Behind you!" Roger shouts at Grim as he ''leaps'' back from a shockwave of force that passes from where he was, entire person looking windblown in the wake of the displaced force but otherwise unharmed.

As the killer vanishes, and reappears seemingly everywhere...

"This isn't their house! They know it!! We'll get 'em out together..." There's the blue butterfly, which is out of racquet-swing range, so he throws up a tennis ball and ''serves'' it into them as they explode into Kamapua'a anew. "Come on! A Bright Revel!!" Roger cheers, as a celebratory, bright air of revelry falls upon Yoko and Coin - but also Pernelle and Tsumugi, of Peacock Silk.

Tsumugi, especially, whom seems to be of great interest to said Homunculus.

"Go hog wild!!" A level of trust, placed on those who seem close to those with strange machinations.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Roger has used the Recovery skill Bright Revel on Pernelle, Coin, Yoko Hirano, and Tsumugi Kujaku!
AS: Roger's turn has ended.
| Roger regains 8 HP from Regenerate! and 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Coin takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Saika will, of course, accept tater tots later. (Oh, they're meant for Pernelle? NOW HE KNOWS HOW IT FEELS.)

More to the point, of course, is the healing energies that Mielikki pours outwards. Saika can feel the pain rise and flow out of her, like a horrid anti-blood that's been blessedly, delightfully loosened and liberated, free to escape. Or perhaps like soaking in a hot bath, all in an instant. It's hard to say.

She takes in a number of other things. The impression of Coin's Persona, the manifested wyrm, is notable. That one's going to stick with her later. Saika is in too much bloody, mortal, thrilling danger to *think* about it much. (Part of the liberation of this moment for her: she gets to get out of her head.)

What Saika also takes in is the force of her impact as her momentum is redirected. On her patchwork face there is a brief, arresting instant of 'ah, shit' a moment before she smashes into the ground, the crimson flower-petals falling down on her like bloody snow.

The Homunculus - the Thing - the Shape - it looms, and Saika looks upwards at him, and she can feel herself quail. She hates that flinch inside. She hates the hatred. She hates--

His attention, at least, is turning. Saika is trapped once more in her own mind, and the worries all bloom up like exploding airbags. Is Tsumugi OK? (Of course they would seem OK, doubtless even if thrown alive in a crematorium. Saika expects nothing less. But -- you know--!!)

Is Pernelle? Is...

Something runs up Saika's spine, and she heaves herself forwards. She reaches her feet several secounds later, hunched over. She hadn't dropped her chain. She swings it around to wrap it around her wrist as she straightens up. Slowly. Her back hurts in exciting and novel ways. Her hand goes momentarily over that seeming-permanent wound at her side.

It hurts. All of it hurts but she can rise above it, can she not? She can, she assures herself, even as she feels her head tilt back slightly, her spine finding its natural level and moving slightly past it. Saika stands right there and...

Watches it happen. All of it. The Homunculus rips and tears. Others throwing themselves and the power of their souls against the inhuman thing. It's not gonna necessarily be enough, either, is it? This is a strong one. Saika's chest swells as she breathes in, despite several different pains.

Did her spirit break? Saika's head bobs a couple of times, gently. Marking time. Watching the Homunculus, and then she suddenly goes still. A moment later she exhales, snapping a hand out -

The enormous black-and-gray-and-yellow form of The Monster rises behind her, already moving forwards. Frankenstein's Monster, of course, is renowned for his size, and Saika is pretty average height, which means that the first one to reach the Homunculus is the Monster. He reaches forwards with one hand. It's almost avuncular.

To clap the Homunculus on the shoulder. "Good,"

Saika says, as the clasping hand suddenly squeezes. It probably does hurt a little but the real problem is that the Monster's implacable strength is *just as horrible* as something like the Homunculus. If it is a contest of metaphor, of dream, who is the stronger? And if it is no more than it seems - a big Persona grasping onto a smaller cognitive being, for a few fleeting moments - well, the Monster is pretty big.

"Good hustle," Saika says during the second step, "but you new guys always, you know, it's just messy."

... is she critiquing trends in horror film? (Maybe, a little, but more to the point:)

"You just leave yourself" AND THEN both Saika and the Monster swing a fist forwards - in Saika's case, the one wrapped in the chain, and in the Monster's case the one not clasping the shoulder of the Homunculus:

"WIDE OPEN!!"

There is a sound like thunder in the middle distance, or like a stout-struck iron plate. It happens whatever Saika ends up *actually* hitting.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Almighty skill You're Wide Open! on Penguin Slasher!
| Defense: Saika Kikuchi gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Saika Kikuchi's turn has ended.
| Saika Kikuchi: Hyper removed!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Saika Kikuchi's You're Wide Open!.
| Strike_Break (Strike Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 112 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Sonic Punch.
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin does recognize Umie over there, as much from feel as anything else. 'Something about battle seems right for you', indeed - and here we are, at a battle. "It is good to see you again! I will support you, too!"

Fire support, anyway (the literal kind). Coin doesn't really do the other sort all that much.

That Coin has a Persona may not be that surprising to Isabeau, given the others like her - Roger, Mona - do, but that's the less important part anyway. She is more surprised that someone recognized it. Eriko actually knows more about it than Coin does, for Coin has never read a book on Silesian mythology; she looks startled. "You recognize it?" she asks, before: "That isn't important. Call your chariot for victory!"

The *more* important part is that she's bristling over being called not a Hunter. That's the kind of thing that might cause a fight of its own...

...though Coin is not interesting in pressing it with Isabeau, at least. Instead, she calls, "This is a Hunt - it's dangerous to look away from your quarry like that...!" Focusing on Kikuno instead might get you killed!

And then Tsumugi waves at her, and Coin goes against what she *literally* just said. "...hi?" She raises one hand - paw - and wiggles it back. This is some sort of secret code, she's sure of it. Perhaps this is how you are initiated into the final secrets of fashion, not that Coin is particularly aware that Tsumugi is one of the arbiters of fashion. (Yet. She will. Coin always has things in her pockets to trade.)

Returning her paw to her sword, Coin hefts it two-handed as Eshm comes back. It's not a physical strike this time, and Coin doesn't parry as if she was blocking a physical blow. Instead, she does something with her thumb, and whirls it over her head.

Whirls, because the sword has 'fallen apart'... sort of. It's now a cable, quite a bit longer than the sword was, with individual segments of sword evenly spread along it, each of them angled rather than straight across the blade, though with a sturdy-looking dagger-like blade at the tip of the cable.

It sweeps through the pentagrams with a slash, dispersing them before she's banished, and with a click-click-click Coin's sword snaps back to being a sword, each segment locking into place against the next. "I can't be taken that easily." Coin looks over her blade, eyes glittering in the strange light. "You..."

"I understand."

What does she understand? She doesn't say, as Krepel moves again when Coin gestures. It lifts away from her and dives, wreathed in flame as it chases the homonculus down. It fears fire? Coin can manage that. And a moment later, and her Persona snaps its wings, rises up, and exhales a gout of fire. (What were you expecting?) "Thank you! I'm in your debt!" she calls back to Roger, as the feeling of revelry fills her.

But while she does that, the Wilis whirl around her... "Hey!" Coin hops from foot to foot. So much for her more serious mien. "My secrets! I've been detected! Studied! Examined!" Coin is the one who examines Shadows. They (well, Personas) don't examine her!
</poem>

AS: Coin spends Limit on Exploit! Coin can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Tandem! Coin has used the Fire skill Scorching Dive on Penguin Slasher!
| Aggression: Coin gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Coin has used the Fire skill Fire Breath on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Coin's turn has ended.
| Coin regains 8 HP from Regenerate!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 213 Fire damage from Coin's Scorching Dive. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 103 Fire damage from Coin's Fire Breath. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 17 Fire damage from Coin's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 64 Fire damage from Coin's Fire Breath. Weak!
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 167 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga spends Limit on Exploit! Katsuko Yoshinaga can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle's dramatic demeanor begins to crack as the Homunculus shows its true colors. His glasses go opaque, and his attention sharpens. Only the slightest tilt of his head indicates he hears Yanagi's call on Tsumugi.

Instead, he leans toward Yoko in a too-loud, conspiratory whisper that is in no way a whisper at all. "I do not mean to be rude, but is it just me, or had he hardly emblazoned himself in enough tints and shades to be judged as... ''manly''? An eensy extra preening might have endeared him to potential mates more than the knocking around business, yes? No?"

No one need worry about answering, for a moment later, Pernelle is stuck by an Umie-shaped project that is in every way the actual, factual, entire Umie.

Pernelle lies sprawled from the strike, back flat and legs straight up. His train feathers are on full display, which means nothing with them laid out across the ground, every eye spinning in dizziness.

"My word, are the two of you quite all right?" Pernelle asks the double-visioned Umie as she herself apologizes.

(MEANWHILE SAIKA PLANS TO BETRAY HIM)

Does the peacock even have the strength to stand, to see a fracture in the members of the boutique he has fondly called his comrades? Horror is descending, Yanagi's keen sense piercing into the group before the Homunculus capitalizes in violent pursuit.

A glimmering butterfly flits to Pernelle, landing on his beak moments before he is lost in that flurry of chainsaw cuts that splatter the room.

Yet there is a terrible crunch of a carapace.

And then there is fire. Nuclear, blue and green and white fire that detonates at the Homunculus' position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyPFT_p7SoU

"I believe --

Once: sudden and sparkling as a two birds spin past. One is a green and iridescent peacock, the other is a gold and rainbow stitched doll of a Persona.

"I promised you --"

Twice: brilliant and bursting, bending back around to catch under the wave of Kazusa's Media.

"A ''dance!''"

''Thrice'': explosive and efflorescent, ever entwined in Roger's Bright Revel.

"I too am a selfish creature!" Pernelle declares. "A veritable beast, with a hungering heart! Whatever you think you have reclaimed, I will not relinquish without ''objection!'' If you are left with nothing again and again and again, so be it!"

It is taunting and provocation, yes, but it's also true what the Homunculus has 'reclaimed' in the moment is Shinichi's elder sister.

</poem>
AS: Persona! Pernelle has used the Fire skill Freila Freila Freila on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Pernelle's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 22 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 166 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 83 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Grim was used to Roger's presence. She'd seen him around, she'd reconciled his existence with her knowledge of the supernatural, and nobody else seemed to take umbrage with his existence. Nobody but Isabeau, but she seemed to be having a crisis of her own about such things. Grim was not used to Pernelle's presence, but his wasn't a new one, and she'd had time to take in the fact that there was at least one sapient bird prowling around Japan. What she'd not had a chance to get used to was Coin, and her existence.

The second she had a chance, Grim stole a look at the new arrival. She was, she had to admit, strange. Not in the way that Kanae was, where her powers made her a unique presence in the world. Not in the way that Yanagi was, in the sense that looking into her eyes for too long made it feel like something crawled down one's back. She was just... odd. A part of the world that stuck out, and all but demanded investigation. Someone to investigate later, she supposed, once she wasn't busy trying to keep herself alive.

What was less strange and more frustrating was how her efforts to strip away the Homunculus' defences had been rendered null only moments after she'd levelled her ire at it. She briefly considered having Dantes issue the same curse again, but stopped that train of thought before it could leave the station. It'd turn into a constant back-and-forth she didn't have the resources to win - a new approach was needed. Something else to work around the thing's strategies, and pry open any weaknesses in her armour. Silently, she cursed herself for not taking any offensive skill cards - that holy set looked a lot more tantalising now that she faced down something that, if its reactions to others' attacks was any indication - resisted the majority of her arsenal.

"Then we're of one mind. Don't die in here - I still need someone to help me find that treasure." With that pithy remark given, Grim backed away, giving the both of them room to work. Even so, she took a moment to look at Yuuki, and speak with a firmer tone than she'd addressed Magus with. "Keep it together. Focus, and we'll all make it out of this alive." Any friend of Magus's was an ally of hers, and with that came all the dubious benefits she offered. Words of what could maybe be construed as some form of encouragement was just one of them.

Grim felt a chill behind her the second she finished speaking, but it was Roger's panicked shout that confirmed her suspicions. She didn't think, in that heartbeat after the raising of the hammer. She simply moved, leaping across the ground like a shadow flitting from one end of the room to the next.
"Thanks for the assist. Looks like I'm in your debt again." She said to Roger, only partly intending it as a wry remark on the situation. No further gratitude was spared, however. There would be ample time for it later.

"Dantes." She commanded, once more shrouded in the safety of the dark. "Bind him, and break him." The wraith of a man obeyed his wielder's orders, and as his hand rose into the air, so too did a pillar of earth. Stone, roughly hewn and slick with saltwater, heaved itself out of the floor while chains shot from its sides like striking vipers, lashing against the Homunculus' limbs to imprison him and force him to face justice. Justice that Dantes wielded in the form of a saber lined with a black darker than the night itself. Once close, he heaved the blade in, slicing at the Homunculus' throat in a single, clean, motion - a vicious variation of the blow it had landed on the Persona before.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Earth skill Imprison on Penguin Slasher! 2 Hits!
| Ruin: Katsuko Yoshinaga gains 1 Limit!

AS: Persona! Katsuko Yoshinaga has used the Dark skill Coup de Grace on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Katsuko Yoshinaga's turn has ended.
| Katsuko Yoshinaga: Gains 72 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
| Katsuko Yoshinaga regains 6 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 7 Earth damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Imprison. Critical Hit!
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added! Haze removed! Explosion! 60 damage!

AS: Block Neutral! Penguin Slasher takes 28 Earth damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Imprison. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
"Do you?" Kikuno wonders as Kazusa says she and Roger already know what to do. "Do you understand what's really going on here?" Kikuno says, only to shake her head. "Of course you don't. Yet another thing I'll have to correct," she sighs, shutting her eyes briefly.

"But he's an interesting one. I suppose we'll all just have to talk about it later," she says, of Roger.

Slowly, Kikuno turns her head, her attention zeroing in on Yoko. "...Cousin. I thought I felt something familiar creeping about," she says, which is hardly polite to say about someone who is family. "Get out of here, and quit worrying aunt and uncle," she tells her, not mincing any words.

Her gaze abandons Yoko here, moving on to Yanagi, who has roused somewhat from the state she'd been in before and made a semi-formal return to the twinkling fairy princess. It's a contrast to Kikuno, perched atop her throne of flowers, thorns, and flesh.

Whatever Kikuno might think about that, she doesn't say.

"Well... look at you," she says, flatly, to Eshm. "Such a big man. Strong against slashing, striking, and darkness of course." She sighs, as if for effect. "But fire, water, and light hurt you. That's just too bad for you, now that everyone knows your secrets." She leans back a touch against her throne. "So, now what? You're only making this harder, you know. You've already lost."

They're brave words, sure enough, until the moment there's a rev of a chainsaw rising in the midst of the parasite's terrible fury. Those half-lidded blue eyes of hers go suddenly wide. "What are you--"

The shriek that follows as she curls back into Beatrice's petals -- rising to intercept the grinding blades of Eshm's weapon -- might sate something within the Homunculus. It's unlikely to be 'enough', though.

"You... you-- sicko!" she shouts out, once she rallies from a frankly petrified state. "Horror movie freak!" (Bold words perhaps for someone who sits on a throne that has eyeballs.)

The healing magic that follows at least does some to soothe her nerves; she shoots a narrow-eyed gaze at Kazusa before looking away sharply once again.

"Water," she tells Eshm, "That was one of the things you're weak against. Too bad for you," she says, pointing directly at Eshm.

Water, interspersed with violet petals, rains as a sudden torrent upon the Homunculus.

But Kikuno isn't finished.

"Did you think that was all?" she wonders, before thorny vines snake off from her Persona's bulk, racing and shedding flowers as they rush down Eshm. Only if they snare him do they wrap him in a tight embrace, bloom in full...

And explode.
</poem>

AS: Kikuno Kisaragi spends Limit on Exploit! Kikuno Kisaragi can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 98 Recovery healing from Kazusa Motojima's Media.
AS: Persona! Kikuno Kisaragi has used the Water skill Maraqua on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Persona! Kikuno Kisaragi has used the Earth skill Full Bloom on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Kikuno Kisaragi's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Penguin Slasher takes 14 Dark damage from Katsuko Yoshinaga's Coup de Grace. Resist!
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 81 Water damage from Kikuno Kisaragi's Maraqua. Weak!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 126 Earth damage from Kikuno Kisaragi's Full Bloom.
AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Umie Akabane!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Kanae Fuyuki!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Isabeau Fontaine!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Katsuko Yoshinaga!
| Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
| Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki half-smiles sheepishly at Kanae after she realizes what she's admitted to. "Ahh, well, yes, though perhaps I shouldn't have said it in front of so many people ..."

'((can't fix)) ((isn't broken))' Tamaki tilts her head in curiosity towards Eshm at that, then nods. "You're right, I wouldn't consider ''myself'' broken. More like I'm making up for my own wrongdoing. Repentance of a sort. After all,"

A pentagram of ill portent appears under Tamaki's feet. Recognizing the threat it poses, Arianrhod, with her blade still in the ground, cuts through the earth to sever the one circle underneath Tamaki's feet, dispelling it.

" -- as I said earlier, I do think I'm one of the people here who best understands you." She grimaces slightly. "Not all the way, mind you. The whole macho act isn't my thing at all."

While she may have been fortunate enough to avoid the brunt of the spell, not everyone was. Her chest tightens as she realizes Eriko was caught in the attack, not to mention how Yanagi's begun to relay information on them to Eshm. "Why are you ..." she begins to ask Yanagi, but trails off.

She looks between Eriko and Tsumugi briefly, then decides to take Eriko's advice to heart and share the burden she believed was solely her own. While her friend revels in the awe and wonder of the supernatural world and its spine-tingling tales, Tamaki takes a different denial-based approach. Arianrhod carves a circle in the air as tall as herself, from which a transparent image of the moon appears and spread out to Eriko, Kanae, Coin, and Yoko, reasserting a sense of 'normality', scrambling and obscuring the very flaws in their defenses that had been brought to light earlier.

In another quick motion, Arianrhod raises her sword and covers Tamaki, Eriko, Tsumugi, and Roger in an iridescent light, bolstering their spirits and empowering their attacks. She even encourages Roger further by adding, "Hey, you can be in the spotlight too! I know you try to cheer everyone else on, but let yourself shine sometime!"

</poem>
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Silver Wheel on Eriko Kirishima, Kanae Fuyuki, Coin, and Yoko
Hirano!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Block Best! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Kanae Fuyuki resists Light!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Kanae Fuyuki is weak against Fire!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Kanae Fuyuki has passive skills Dark Boost, Dark Resist, Fortify Spirit, Heavy Weapon,
and Light Boost!
AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Per Aspera on Tamaki Uchida, Eriko Kirishima, Tsumugi Kujaku, and
Roger!
| Tamaki Uchida takes 45 damage from Stress!

AS: Tamaki Uchida's turn has ended.
| Tamaki Uchida: Gains 69 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!

AS: Take! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Katsuko Yoshinaga resists Pierce!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Katsuko Yoshinaga is weak against Light!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Katsuko Yoshinaga has passive skills Ailment Boost, Bind Boost, Dark Amp, Invigorate
2, and Paralyze Boost!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Yoko Hirano takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Roger takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Coin takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Silver Wheel. Melody! Buff durations extended!
| Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Umie Akabane resists Dark!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Umie Akabane is weak against Light!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Umie Akabane has passive skills Ailment Boost, Break Limit, Dark Amp, Explode Boost,
Fortify Spirit, Invigorate 1, and Jamming!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> ---EARLIER---
".... eh?" Umie blearily looks up(!) at Pernelle from where she's doubled over (in more ways than one, from Pernelle's point of view). "... both...?"
Also, *when did Yoko get a Persona*?! Was Umie konked out that long?!

---A LITTLE CLOSER TO NOW---
"Wait, _you saw through it_?!" Umie squeaks, as Coin valiantly declares that she'll support her too. "Focus on your friends, he's got it out for Fuyuki-san!" (Does she seem like she's a little... flattered?)

---NOW, AS UMIE'S HUBRIS TURNS EVER ONWARDS---
"Mm." Umie regards Yanagi's seeming indifference with a curious glance, trying to understand.

Something in the reflection of Umie's gaze may look back, if Yanagi happens to glance past those eyes, peering from the yellow peonies of the mask.

'Imagine how much easier it would be...'
Tick tock. A finger slices across Eshm's neck.

Time'll run out before you know it, Umie Akabane.

"Don't worry about it," Umie spares, for Tamaki. "We have ghosts from the past lurking around. Sooner or later, they're going to figure things out." As to what Umie means specifically...

"Motojima-san, remember, men like him thrive on attention. Don't give it to him, _make him beg for it instead_-" Yeah, Umie's lips are sealed tight.

Ah, hubris. The shockwave from Eshm's sledgehammer violently smashes Umie into a field of the ominous red-petaled lilies, painting the white of her jacket with splotches of crushed red and sap.

Kikuno, though. Something in the taunting tilt of Kikuno's words excites the Badb, and in turn the Umie, who cackles. "Water, eh...."

It's not much, but a spray joins the girl's watery onslaught, as Umie leaps backwards into the shadowy black and grey feathers of the Badb's mantle.

Thankfully for Yanagi, the Badb's cloaking abilities cannot compare with that of Giselle.
</poem>

AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Exploit! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Water skill Aqua on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!

AS: Avoid Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 168 Water damage from Umie Akabane's Aqua. Weak!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

AS: Take! Isabeau Fontaine takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Full Analysis.
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Strength Scan! Isabeau Fontaine resists Wind!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Weakness Scan! Isabeau Fontaine is weak against Dark!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's Support Scan! Isabeau Fontaine has passive skills Block Magical, Defender, Explode Shield, Fortify
Spirit, Peerless Skill, Quick Weapon, Recovery Boost, Skill Card Affinity, Sneak Guide, and Wind Amp!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Recovery skill Dark Tear on Umie Akabane!
AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.
| Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Umie Akabane's Dark Tear.
| Cloak (Non-Area Damage Mitigated!) and Eclipse (Weakness turned to Resist!) added!

AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 0 Recovery healing from Roger's Bright Revel.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Per Aspera.
| Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Inner_Strength (Affinity Damage Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
"They knew nothing," Isabeau scowls, when Eriko speaks of her middleschool classmates. "But you... what a strange woman. A person should not wish to see the unseen... value your normal life more strongly. Are you not Eriko Kirishima? You, who was cover girl of Coolest... it is strange to see you speak so highly of strangeness so often. Enjoy your glory more, and lust for Hell less."

"... explain as you like. I am as I am."

(And, indeed, she is not disguised -- easily identifiable as the contemptible Isabeau Fontaine of Shujin.)

Tamaki, though, did nothing. "I will have my answer from you," she issues her, for her crimes, "in another place than this. Your cowardice I will answer, at that time, and not before. Prepare yourself."

"But," she adds, to Umie, "a monster is a monster. Never should you suffer a monster to live... it always was very simple! Just... on suffer of a monster did I live, and..."

She probably didn't say that right. Don't think about it. Move on. Keep going forward.

"I look as I like!" She snaps, to Kikuno, then. "My father will hear of this! You claim on my nerves... now it is clear to me you are worth the sensitivity. Bah... if you did not want me to question it, you should not be so ''creepy!''"

That's not the only thing that will have to feature in her report, though. Once again, Isabeau witnesses the titanic strength of Tsumugi's Jekyll, counterpointed with their casual speech. That bloody palm... "Do you not feel your injury?" She asks, sceptical and impressed both.

Speaking of creepy -- ''Bearemy.'' "What manner of magic is this?" She asks Yoko, as she takes a step back, scowling. "It is not alive, but still is it made animate..."

Yanagi, meanwhile, shares insights on Kanae with her 'brother'. "What is your plot?!" She snaps, having not attended any teamwork-focused planning meetings beforehand ''whatsoever.'' (Kanae, luckily, thought ahead to intercept her so she wouldn't charge in alone... this time.) It means she wouldn't ''know'' if there's some secret reason why Yanagi is helping him...

... though she knows that her erratic behaviour sets her teeth on edge.

Manic women are the most unreliable women of all.

When Shinichi ''backhands'' Kanae, though, Isabeau's attention snaps back to him. "You dare?!" She barks, as she leaps forward --

-- only for her eyes to widen, as he isn't where she ''thought'' he was, and she has to bring her targe up to protect the twin sides of her skull as a chainsaw roars down towards her centre of gravity. The Eye of Ra barely holds against it, a deep scar carved through its centre, as if Ra himself were blinded through a solar eclipse...

... but the killer is not finished. As Isabeau sprawls on the ground, that chainsaw lifts, from another imperceptible angle, to carve down again. Already downed by his savage critical hit, she has no choice but to summon Mielikki to absorb the blow; her bear claws cross as she stops that horrifically steady downward slice, but the struggle lasts only long enough for Isabeau to roll away from his arc before her Persona shatters in a shower of red glass once again. Isabeau's hair tie catches on the ground, tearing her drill curls free as she makes her hurried escape.

And that chainsaw scores a deep gash in the ground, where she laid only moments prior, so deep that even her large chest would have surely been carved straight from sternum to spine.

Speaking of that carving -- when Isabeau kips up, weight swaying from shoulders to hips to press herself upright with her momentum, she sees Kanae's red blood spilling down the front of her vestments.

And Isabeau's seeing red, too.

Leave Magus to Yuuki; she has her priorities, even as Kazusa's healing weaves through her.

"I know that!" She snaps, angrily, to Coin, when she reminds her to keep her eyes on the prize -- though she's angry because she ''knows'' she looked away. "What business has a monster as a Hunter, in any case?! You... you are not sense-making!"

Kikuno lists off his weaknesses, but Isabeau snaps: "I need it not! I have a power he cannot resist or reflect! MIELIKKI!" Her curls scatter across her face, half feral, as she crushes a bronze vial in her hand to issue more power to her battered Persona.

The data Yanagi will get from Isabeau suggests a greater power than some here...

... because she wouldn't normally ''be'' here.

But here she is.

And here's her solution --

Mielikki summons the birth of a star onto the false Shinichi, as Megido forms in a chirascuro silhouette of white on black, and EXPLODES.

In the weight of the youngests' might, a paling shimmers, as it erects, over Kanae, shining with the green light of the forest.

"You did not contend," she issues to Shinichi, then. "No more will you touch her."

</poem>
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Megido on Shinichi Nagisa!
| Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended.
AS: Isabeau Fontaine spends Limit on Exploit! Isabeau Fontaine can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Recovery skill Ally Guard on Kanae Fuyuki!
| Defense: Isabeau Fontaine gains 1 Limit!

AS: Take! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Isabeau Fontaine's Ally Guard.
| Full_Cover applied!

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
Eriko smiles a bit more as Tamaki agrees to work together. "That's more like it." This time, she puts her hand on Tamaki's shoulder for a moment. "If you start to step back, I'll catch you- and help you keep walking forward. You'd do the same for me." That bolster of confidence said Eriko takes her position back up again.

Eriko frowns at Yanagi's response. That deadness, marked with a wide smile and closed eyes. Eriko is quick to make friends- but perhaps she has been more shallow than she thought. Perhaps everything she knew of Yanagi was surface level, and Eriko was just ready to decide the two were just similar. Even so, that's not what Eriko wants. "Why bother with even moonstone, if you'd settle for glass and plastic? Are you even going to try and find those pearls you were after?"

Tsumugi calls Yanagi the most self interested person they know- even if Eriko isn't sure she can see it. She can't really understand it.

Normally, Eriko would be thrilled by an exorcism, even a dark one- but it isn't an exorcism if it kills the host. The gold and onyx garter on her leg glows, and while the spell causes her pain, it doesn't cause Eriko to fall. Indeed, that magic that Yanagi put into that piece of jewellery saves her again.

"You can't remove me from a place that isn't yours," Eriko says, firmly. "You can't even clean up Mai's abandoned toys." There's a shakiness there- Eriko does not care for the feeling of the Killer being everywhere, all consuming and ever present. "After all, that ''Iron Mouse'' roaming the streets isn't something you OR Shinichi could know about. It never existed in the same world as he did."

Kanae gets a smile from Eriko. "Oh, yes. For almost all of it, in fact." Coin too gets a nod of acknowledgement. "A bit! Polish mythology isn't my strongest suit, but you see it so rarely out here."

Eriko calls out a chipper 'thank you!' to Kazusa, as Mina's healing washes over her. "We'll make sure it doesn't escape, Kazusa. Just keep fighting."

Isabeau recognizes her, and even chides Eriko for her willingness to find hell. "Ah, I'm afraid it's as I said- this other side is not hell to me- it's more like Wonderland. Full of dangers, certainly, but full of wonderful things as well." There's a slightly manic joy to her words- and something in her wording makes Eriko giggle, though she stops herself. "Ah, I apologize. It's just... you sound like my agent. I'm afraid that I am not in modelling for fame- I have a much greater aspiration." No matter that Tsumugi has said she's already fashion royalty- a crown isn't what Eriko seeks.

Tamaki's assistance washes over Eriko and she embraces it. It's a pleasant light that surges through her and Nike. "Thank you."

"Now then, I believe you were trying to exorcise me, ''Mr Nobody''. You're technique is all wrong, though. I hope you won't mind me leaning on a more... international approach." Eriko starts to call on Nike again, the engines flaring again. "Ave Maria, gratia plena," she starts- but, really, she's not feeling the rest of it today. "Etcetera, etcetera- HAMA!"

It probably would be a waste to throw actually devout catholic prayer over, well, the Asian style exorcism summoned from the pillar of light that starts to rise underneath the homunculus with the intent to give it a taste of it's own medicine. Or at least, similar enough medicine.
</poem>

AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Light skill Hama on Penguin Slasher!
| Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!

AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.
AS: Isabeau Fontaine cancels 1 attacks on Shinichi Nagisa.
AS: Persona! Isabeau Fontaine has used the Almighty skill Megido on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Isabeau Fontaine's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 207 Light damage from Eriko Kirishima's Hama. Weak!
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 168 Almighty damage from Isabeau Fontaine's Megido.

<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
Emsh burns and burns and screams and burns. Yoko frowns past it, at Yanagi. She still doesn't understand. Maybe it's a sibling thing. ...Yoko doesn't know anything about that. Maybe that would make someone want to fight their friends. Even if the Homunculus isn't really Yanagi's brother, after all. Maybe if she asks, Yanagi will explain.

But not right now.

Eshm demands her attention, after all. Everybody's attention, everybody's apologies, everybody's submission. Everybody's terror, as it rampages in flashes of crimson red and a roar that has Yoko covering her ears - the presumably human ones, still hidden underneath her tangly black hair. She stumbles back, squeaking in mortal dismay, when...

KTANG! KTANG!

Bearemy, all fifty centimeters of him, launches himself claws-first into Eshm's path, knocking away both swings in a shower of sparks. He rumbles angrily, squaring up to protect Yoko from danger with every ''fiber'' of his being.

Yoko is breathing hard but she's still okay. Roger and Kazusa's healing energies have seen to that. She has to be sure to thank them. When this is over, and everything is quiet, and she's burned away everything that--

Yoko takes a deep breath. Because of Kikuno. Because she's never heard Kikuno talk like that, ever! "Are you really-- mnnngh!" It's a sound of frustration more than anything. Because everything's weird. Because Yanagi and Kikuno are both acting weirder (bad weirder) than usual and Yoko hates it. "Don't tell me what to do," she complains, ears flat. "Why are you so... not like you??"

But fire, Kikuno reveals. Eshm is weak against fire. And Yoko will eventually burn it all down, anyway. At least Pernelle is a strange comfort. A better kind of weird. Expected and normal weird! "...I don't think there are enough fancy dances in the world to fix him," Yoko tries, straight-faced -- an affect that's ruined when a masked woman is hurled directly into Pernelle, bowling him over. :I

Yoko calls for her Persona again, Bakeneko's scratchy mroooooooowr echoing as a pillar of flame burts open around Eshm.

Bearemy hasn't forgotten about you, Isabeau! He stares up at her, lifeless button eyes somehow conveying the message that he is ready to swing on her. ''Give him a reason, Isabeau.'' "I just made him. I don't know how he moves. It doesn't matter, does it?"
</poem>

AS: Yoko Hirano spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Yoko Hirano has used the Fire skill Agilao on Penguin Slasher!
| Ruin: Yoko Hirano gains 1 Limit!

AS: Yoko Hirano's turn has ended.
| Yoko Hirano: Gains 66 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Psych removed!

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
'''Then I'll have to work even harder to be ''the'' most self-interested! <3 When I die, I don't want to leave behind such a half-baked memory for you, Tsumugi!'''

In the moment, Tsumugi Kujaku doesn't answer the one who excitedly ordered their immediate evisceration, the one who now reacts with such beaming delight.

'''...Just kidding~'''

The briefest glimpse of the scantest hint of a placid, enigmatic smile is all they offer in that moment, perhaps confident that Yanagi will be able to come up with a more interesting interpretation of what kind of answer that could mean all on her own.

In ''this'' moment, there are more pressing concerns. Like Isabeau, asking if they can't feel their pain, a question that earns the curious cant of their head.

"Of course I do," they say simply, distantly, as if it should be a given. After all...

"I want to feel it.
"I just don't feel the part that interests me."

And other pressing concerns still, like the appearance of a new animal-like creature with a Persona, so very fascinating. Fingers wiggle in a most surreal and casual greeting.

And then a long shadow casts over them, its dark silhouette of an arm raised.

S W I N G

The first swing is met with air as Tsumugi's slender figure snap-pivots on a heel, turning them to face Eshm's unseeing plaster mask of a face directly, expression alert yet unreadable.

C R N C H

The second swing is not so unlucky.

Blunt force bludgeons Tsumugi's right shoulder until something makes a sound it shouldn't.

A starburst of pain. And with it, words.

Why?

Why welcome its wrath?

Who...?

The scattershot smear of sentiments blend so pristinely with the pain as Tsumugi is brought low with the power of that blow. Gloved hands touch the ground -- and they feel another swell of sweet agony as they push -off- the hospital grounds, launching into the air to land in a beautiful stagger next to Jekyll's uncaring frame. They hold tall for two seconds -- and then drop to one knee, head bowed as they suck in a deep breath. Even they can be moved by things. Physically, at least.

And yet...

Something warm suffuses them, knitting at wounds, mending the superficial hurts of the body. Kazusa. The Demon Queen who yearns to relinquish her title.

"Hah," exhales Tsumugi, before an echo of the assessment they offered her last they spoke spills past those beautiful marble lips:

"Truly breathtaking."

And yet more. Revelry alights the scarlet-soaked gloom of the Homunculus' hijacked sanctuary. Energy dances electrical urges along Tsumugi's nerves until the very tips of their fingers tingle -- until an exquisite shiver rolls down their spine.

Until their heart yearns to sing in the chaos.

All thanks to Tamaki and Roger.

The detective who spun such a fascinating story for them with Eriko and Masao.

The Humor that rejected its very nature. The fascinating mystery.

A smile cracks at those lips.

... Jekyll suddenly twitches with the tug of those facial muscles, like someone experiencing an unwanted spasm.

"... 'I'm not fucking tied down.'"

Tsumugi's voice does not raise higher from that ever-even level -- yet somehow, it cuts through all the same as they speak those words. ''Recite'' those words. The words Eshm spat at them, before the violence began -- until it was caught in this desperate struggle to prove that claim once and for all.

Tsumugi's bloodied hand raises to their throat, until fingers hook at their collar.

"Aaaah..."

pop. pop. pop.

The buttons of their high-collared shirt pop open, one. by. one. With every one, Jekyll jerks faintly in its glass confines.

"'I'm not fucking tied down,'" they repeat, as marble flesh is exposed inch by inch, a scarlet smear dragging down in that bloody hand's revelatory wake.

"'I'm free. Free of that bullshit.'"

pop. pop.

"Show me."

The porcelain plates of Jekyll's body bulge. Something dark swims within, anxious. Impatient.

pop

"Show me."

Perfect plating distends as Jekyll lurches forward, cane released as it grabs at its midsection.

pop--

"SHOW ME!"

And something beautiful and hideous screeches as glass and porcelain SHATTER just as Tsumugi surges upward, yanking the last buttons away with the outward sweep of their hand.

Something dark and sinewy surges past the wreckage that was Jekyll, bits of glass and wood and porcelain puncturing its dark, organic corpus. Like Eshm, it is there and gone in a moment, leaving only Tsumugi...

... Tsumugi, who looks different now. Who ''feels'' different now. Their tailcoat has blown open, revealing pants with meshed, hip cutouts that didn't seem like they were there moments before. Their hair is longer, wilder, blowing outward to reveal the shimmering gold-to-scarlet gradient glowing at their undersides. Their torso is now bare save for the coat now draped decadently at their shoulders, polished marble decorated - sullied - by the lingering slash of Eshm's initial blow --

And a bundle of religious scrolls wrapped around and binding their chest with sacred texts and maxims, the most prominent of which is this, and simply this,

DO AS THOU WILT IS THE WHOLE OF THE LAW

"You're free!" Tsumugi cries, ''cries'' with unbridled elation, that smoky voice of theirs pitched with interest, fascination -- ''passion''.

"So what will you do? What will you be? What are your dreams?"

Black drips from the ceiling.

"Will you spite women? Will you love men?"

It's above Eshm. Hanging there. Upside-down. Black and inky and strangely feminine, smaller than Jekyll, its entire body from arms and legs to victorian coat and tophat looking entirely, offputtingly organic. Like Eshm, it has no eyes to be seen. Its tailcoats sway behind it, sinuous and slow.

"Will you hurt people? Will you let them hurt you?"

And then seams in each of those tail coats split open, revealing splendorous, breathtaking, terrifying eyes of several concentric colors -- green, blue, yellow, and the deepest sapphire and the most molten gold at the center. Eyes, beautiful like the eyes of a peacock's tail. Hideous like a human stare.

"Will you find purpose? Will you lose it?"

The second those snap open, something snares at Eshm. Something strips away the resistance to the shadow that sheathes it.

"Will you desire? Will you grow sick of desire?"

And then that thing - that hideous, haunting Hyde - ''drops'', those tail coats SCREAMING quite literally forward.

"I want to know! Show me!"

To PIERCE into the Homunculus' shoulders, its knees, as Hyde SLAMS into its back to DRIVE it forward--

"Show me everything you want to be with your freedom!!"

Right towards Tsumugi, their arms wide, their eyes wider. Ready to experience the violence in Eshm's answer in a way that is sure not to help Saika's worry as to if they're OK.

If Tsumugi was like a distant, apathetic beautiful that couldn't be touched before, then this --

This is like an intimate, mad beauty you hope does not touch you.

</poem>
AS: Tsumugi Kujaku spends Limit on Exploit! Tsumugi Kujaku can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Tsumugi Kujaku has used the Almighty skill Dark Break on Penguin Slasher!
AS: Tandem! Tsumugi Kujaku has used the Dark skill Unholy Wrath on Penguin Slasher! 3 Hits!
AS: Tsumugi Kujaku's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 204 Fire damage from Yoko Hirano's Agilao. Weak!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added! Bind removed! Explosion! 120 damage!

AS: Take! Penguin Slasher takes 0 Almighty damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Dark Break.
| Dark_Break (Dark Affinity Down!) added!

AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 98 Dark damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Unholy Wrath.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 98 Dark damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Unholy Wrath.
AS: Block Worst! Penguin Slasher takes 98 Dark damage from Tsumugi Kujaku's Unholy Wrath.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi hums softly, thoughtfully, as Kanae changes Personas again--this time to Anubis, Egyptian lord of the dead. "Changing your Persona won't shield you from my eyes, you know," she says with serene calm as an origami spirit circles her anew--two, now, spiraling in opposing descents like a double helix. "This one resists both light and darkness, and is particularly strong in using those elements too. However, it's weak to fire. I suppose he's not ''that'' kind of lord of the dead?"

Coin yelps about having been scanned. Yanagi shoots her a bright smile. "You have! <3" Her Persona Krepel's even been tutorialized, thanks to Eriko! She's so familiar with all sorts of supernatural things. To Eriko, she breathes a bit of a giggle. "Oh, but it's rubies I'm after this time."

She looks thoughtful when Kikuno and Yoko address each other as cousins. Family... It seems like a contentious relationship. Yanagi knows a thing or two about that. She doesn't share what she thinks of it either.

Instead, she clasps her cheek with one hand. "Oh my, she's revealed you to everyone, 'Shinichi.' Don't you think you ought to do something about that?" she wonders to Eshm.

Saika brings down massive superviolence on the Homunculus. Yanagi, having already known how well she can smash through things, was perfectly comfortable letting her do her own thing. She stops and admires her and the Monster as they face off against the faceless monster. Pernelle meanwhile doesn't need to smash through; though he may have hollow, fragile bird bones, his heart burns hotter than the sun. His flames are more than enough to scorch the soul. (Do Homunculi have souls...?)

Are they not all self-interested creatures, the four of Peacock Silk? It is the biggest thing that binds them together and makes them a team--a ''family''. Yanagi rests a hand over her heart, which swells with love for her dear companions as they continue to get brutalized by the Homunculus she's actively aiding.

However, even as she watches it happen, Giselle's Wilis shimmer and shimmy, trembling around their targets as they send back visual feeds. After Kanae, it's...

Isabeau: "Oh, my. This one is not only a strong healer, but also very good at defense ''and'' attack! However, she's weak against the darkness. I don't think her strength with or against wind will benefit her very much here! Good thing for her she has other options!" ("Hmm? Plot? ...It's very cute of you to just come out and ask that! I'm not going to tell you." (That answers that, Yoko.))

Umie: "Ah, she resists the dark, which she's also strong at using, but is weak to light. She's prolific at landing damaging ailments, too. Ah, ''and'' she has water attacks! She seems troublesome! But maybe that was already obvious?" (Does she see the flowers on that mask? What do you think, Umie?)

Grim: "This Persona is strong against piercing attacks, but is weak to light. Oh, but it's highly effective at using darkness element attacks and landing ailments! Hmmm, haven't we seen this before...?"

Finally, for all that Yanagi had not acknowledged the Homunculus calling dibs on rib meat, she rests her smile on Roger. He doesn't know what game she's playing, he doesn't know she's Shinichi's sister... "You really don't realize at all. I like that about you, though. It's nice to see someone get to stay innocent." Especially since he acknowledges how helpful and knowledgeable Peacock Silk has been so far! For that, he gets a giggle and no scan--''yet''.

It's Tsumugi, though... It's always Tsumugi. They don't respond to her in words--only the faintest hint of a smile. That, too, Yanagi shares with them, mirroring it--or perhaps they've been mirroring it at her?

The two of them have their own mutual understanding. They have for a long time now. That's why Yanagi didn't hesitate--why she watches, enthralled, as they Transmute anew and call forth ''their'' own other other self, exploding out from within. As if bursting through Jekyll's chest, perhaps.

Kanae, as it turns out, isn't the only Wild Card here.

And as Tsumugi bombards Eshm with ecstatic questions, many of them not so different from what Yanagi has already asked the Homunculus in their private conversations, Yanagi sighs with an ecstasy all her own, staggering into her twirling Persona as her gun-cane barely keeps her upright. Despite the contact, the twirling does not stop.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki indicates again she might be the one who best understands him. The Homunculus regards her with a strange confusion, like he doesn't understand why she might still be trying to claim this. 'Not all the way, mind you. The whole macho act isn't my thing at all.'

((of course))
((you're a broad))

And yet, he can only dismiss the fact that she can't do the macho act in the respect of her being a woman, why not the rest? Maybe because he doesn't know if he can, any longer. Even as his humanity slips away like a cloak on the wind, he desperately seeks anything with which to reclaim it.

'You you sicko!' 'Horror movie freak!'

((yes]
((so))
((very))
((human))

A strange point, to assert his grip on his humanity even as he loses it, yet all the same- he does have a point. Are those insults one would use merely for a monster?

Too bad for him, she knows all of the secrets of his constitution now. A water spell nearly blasts him off his feet outright, as he plucks a violet petal from the center of his forehead, and stares at it with unseeing eye sockets.

Then he crushes it between his fingertips as more and more flowers wrap around him, the creature flailing as he tries to tug through them with raw strength, even as they explode. Right as Umie's water moves to douse what's left, leaving only steam.

As the steam clears, a hand clasps the shoulder of the sodden Homunculus. Its head slowly turns, even though it needs it not to see. A hand reaches up to grasp that of Frankenstein's Monster, as it tries to squeeze its fingers in a contest of strength.

((messy?))

This very human critique is confusing for it, which has been cut off from most of its source of humanity. Fom behind, the Persona has leverage- and so the Sonic Punch from both of them striking at once catches them completely off-balance.

The creature staggers forward, right into the flaming hell that Krepel conjures, with several gouts of fire, as it becomes erratic in its movements for a few moments, trying to escape from the flames.

Anubis judges Eshm with that awful light, as the creature arches its neck back in agony. But then his eyes on his hands look right at her.

((know you))
((better than you think))
((not the first woman))
((to play games with a man))

Isabeau, in her anger sends the birth of a star right onto the Homunculus in that moment. And while he has mostly shown only a great aptitude for physical strength thus far.

Taking Yanagi's wisdom in mind for Isabeau the creature raises a hand in response, which flashes, and abruptly, spheres of deific power form around Kanae and Isabeau, orbiting them- as they grow closer and closer in a fraction of a second, boxing them in.

Then imploding point blank near each of them. Some might realize its the Megidola spell, a power greater than the Megido she cast, which Isabeau often boasts of.

How rude.

((you don't tell me))
((what to do))

Highly pressurized spheres of water detonate on his position, seeming to break his concentration. Which is when Yuuki's sudden Magryva spell cause its shoulders to buckle, and feet to drive further in the floor, as it cracks. The floor gives- the Homunculus looks like it is to fall.

It's it's not there.

No in fact, he's right behind Magus as he aims the blow of a fireaxe right into the back of their Persona's head. Then on the backswing, tosses the axe as easily as one might a hand axe at Yuuki.

An aim which is spoiled by the sudden Hama spell that erupts on his position from Eriko, who has some pointed criticism of his exorcism technique.

He will remember that.

And then the Homunculus actually pauses, because something so absurd has happened as to throw it off-kilter. The bright display of Pernelle's sudden reentry onto the dance floor.

((dance?))

Which is why when nuclear fire rains down upon him, he's taken completely unaware. The creature holds up an arm, palms facing out, as if to try and shield itself from it as it backpedals in a stutter step, trying to vanish again.

A rope then flies out of the mist, in the form of a noose aimed for Umie's neck. Then another- and another, trying to catch Eriko and Pernelle!? How did he conjure up a peacock sized rope!?. They each are tugged off their feet, then dragged abruptly into the mist, as Pernelle hears in the midst of the sudden violence.

((objection))

The motion of their dragging causes the mist to part from the sudden motion. Where they see the Homunculus, with multiple ropes wrapped around a hospital light fixture. With a quick tug they're lifted into the air- finding themselves momentarily strangled, a rope twisted upon a familiar figure's hand as they're hauled up to slam into the ceiling, with a brutal impact.

((if i only break your neck]
((will you try to tell me))
((how to improve))
((or will you be too dead))

A terrible taunt of one of his victims, indeed, he remembered that.

Dantes appears, trying to imprison him in that moment, forcing him to drop the rope to shatter the sudden pillars of Earth before they can cage him in, showing he is certainly, not even close to done. And each of his victims will hit the ground roughly.

Another pillar of flames drives him further back in this moment, as he's forced to abandon his assault in order to prevent being consumed by Bakeneko's flames.

Tsumugi echoes words the Homunculus said earlier. And it reappears right in front of them, as if it had sensed the change, and wished to see it with their own eyes.

((free))

It echoes, in chorus, as it witnesses this odd transfiguration with the narrative of Jekyll transforming into Hyde. A glorious thing, that leaves the Homunculus only watching.

Question after question after question. What will he do? So much potential. A life that he could live.

Hyde strips away his resistance as a get of the dark, he doesn't even move. Wrath descends in the form of its tailcoats piercing its shoulders. Causing it to shudder in a different sort of emotion, in the violence of the moment.

It is free.
Yet it cannot answer.

A contradiction. It grasps for a way to answer. It finds nothing to answer to all of the unlimited potential. All of its pretend answers for how it would live its life once it took over Shinichi Nagisa are lost to it.

And without any possibility of a human life.
It leaves only the self-loathing,
Of a creature that knows its a monstrous parasite
And nothing more.

It moves from being mesmerized to furious in a fraction of a second, as its hands try to wrap both around Tsumugi's neck- and to squeeze, harder- and harder- with increasing pressure.

((shut up))
((stop talking))
((forever))
((that is my freedom))

His answer to what he would do with his freedom- to become anything, is only the pathetic lashing out of a creature with no answer, but to silence the person who forced him to understand this of himself.

Showing just how weak he truly is.

It's rage causes the whole room to glow red, as those deific orbs it summoned before, descend- descend, DESCEND in his incandescent, uncontrollable rage, as he focuses solely on choking the life out of Tsumugi- Hyde.

</poem>
AS: Penguin Slasher has set a trigger!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Megidola on Kanae Fuyuki and Isabeau Fontaine!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Panic!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Night of the Living Homunculus on Umie Akabane, Eriko Kirishima,
and Pernelle! 2 Hits!
| Penguin Slasher takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
| Aggression: Penguin Slasher gains 1 Limit!

AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Strike skill Him on Tsumugi Kujaku! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Megidola on Tamaki Uchida, Katsuko Yoshinaga, Saika Kikuchi,
and Roger!
AS: Persona! Penguin Slasher has used the Almighty skill Megidola on Kazusa Motojima, Coin, Yoko Hirano, and Kikuno
Kisaragi!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 194 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Worst! Isabeau Fontaine takes 220 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Worst! Kanae Fuyuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
| Cover! Isabeau Fontaine takes 258, protecting Kanae Fuyuki!
| Isabeau Fontaine is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 142 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him. Critical Hit!
AS: Take! Tsumugi Kujaku takes 117 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Him.
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 123 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Block Best! Pernelle takes 6 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Coin takes 93 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Avoid Best! Roger takes 0 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Neutral! Kikuno Kisaragi takes 152 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 73 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Yoko Hirano spends Limit on Brace!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 0 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Block Best! Yoko Hirano takes 61 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Worst! Eriko Kirishima takes 120 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus. Critical
Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 74 Strike damage from Penguin Slasher's Night of the Living Homunculus.
AS: Block Worst! Saika Kikuchi takes 246 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Block Best! Katsuko Yoshinaga takes 94 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Tuesday the 22nd on Yuuki Hoshizora! 2 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Penguin Slasher has used the Slash skill Tuesday the 22nd on Misato Fushihara! 2 Hits!
AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 94 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Critical Hit! Wound! 9
TP damage!
AS: Avoid Worst! Misato Fushihara takes 94 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Critical Hit! Wound! 9
TP damage!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 85 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Wound! 9 TP damage!
| Yuuki Hoshizora is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Worst! Yuuki Hoshizora takes 113 Slash damage from Penguin Slasher's Tuesday the 22nd. Critical Hit! Wound! 9
TP damage!
| Yuuki Hoshizora is unable to continue fighting!

AS: Avoid Worst! Kazusa Motojima takes 231 Almighty damage from Penguin Slasher's Megidola.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Eshm the Wrath is, as its name implies, a creature of violent fury. When it does not, /cannot/ answer Tsumugi's questions--when it tells them to shut up and moves to strangle them, calls silencing them its freedom--

when it calls forth those twin scarlet orbs--

Yanagi's eyes lid.

All appearance of cheer is gone again. But this time, there is a needle focus there.

Giselle's catheter limbs provide her support; she pushes her forward, staggering on reinforced but still weak legs towards Eshm's back as it is wholly focused on murdering Tsumugi with its bare hands and thus wholly ignorant of what is approaching it from behind.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

She reaches out, and grasps the orbs--

--which transform into a knife with two '''ruby''' blades, that she thrusts down into and across its neck.

No hesitation. No remorse.

Simply a pitiless look in her dead eyes as she watches it fall.

"She was right; you aren't a man," Yanagi says softly, referring obliquely to what Kanae had said ages ago. "You're a Thing. And now, you are no-thing at all."
</poem>

AS: Yanagi Nagisa sets off Penguin Slasher's trigger! 6666 damage!
AS: Penguin Slasher is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Isabeau Fontaine has posed.
<poem>
'Megido' is the smallest of the great powers.

There are greater powers, still, on Heaven and on Earth, than a girl who is so dedicated to self-sufficiency that she is able to heal, defend, and attack all in one.

Megidola --

"A power beyond Megido--!!" Isabeau gasps, in that breath of a moment as Megidola's orbs orbit her, remembering the terrifying aura of the Reaper as Vivienne aborted her efforts to hold it off with a swift escape.

First, she knows hunger.

Then she knows pain.

(And unlike Tsumugi and that terrifying Hyde... she does not ''want'' to feel it.)

Megidola drives into her once, with that massive explosion -- and then once again, as Isabeau's spell reveals that there is ''one'' way to reflect Almighty damage.

Not onto the attacker... but onto her ''defender.''

She crashes into the complex machinery of the ICU, the back of her -- thick? -- skull cracking a display, body tangling in IV tubing as she's thrown clear ''through'' it to slam into the wall behind it all.

She does not rise again.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki's head turns to stare at Tsumugi as they change. It's a thorough change -- one far beyond the different Persona. They aren't the same person they were in the shop; or, maybe, there is more to them. The teenager stares for a second.

Then, she looks back up at Eshm. But Eshm isn't there, and--

Her eyes widen. She shouts a wordless, panicked cry to Magus. It doesn't quite come out.

Then the axe goes flying.

There is a meaty ''THUNK'', and Yuuki drops to the floor -- to ''her'' floor. She hits the ground hard, a spray of blue blood-light splashing the wall and then dripping down. Then, her manipulation of her personal gravity gives way.

And she falls in a heap, landing like a discarded rag doll at Magus's feet. Her eyes are closed. Her hair, previously bright blue, starts to fade to the more ordinary chestnut brown.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
"It doesn't have to," Kanae answers Yanagi. "I've prepared enough Personas that I can handle whatever he throws at me. You'll see."

Light... ''bends''. Yuuki really knows what she's doing. "Great work!" Kanae calls to Hoshizora. "Keep it up!"

"Thanks, Kazusa-chan." Kanae offers a shaky grin. "Still got a problem saying we've been stalking him?"

The smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. She's puffing herself up because she's afraid. Determined... but still afraid.

But Peacock Silk... through Pernelle's words, it's clear to her; they aim to leave the Homunculus with nothing. And frankly, as far as she's concerned... that's a good thing.

Tamaki is sheepish, but Kanae calls back, "Probably not! Makes me want to ask more questions!" To Eriko, "And to you, too!"

She feels Tamaki's strength next; that 'normality' helps her, makes her feel... better. And she always has felt an affinity for the moon.

But she learns something, from Tsumugi. She sees that exultation, that exhortation to freedom--but she sees their Persona ''change'', as well. "You, too...?" Different from her--but alike to her, too. Kanae wonders, in that moment: what could summon forth ''that''...?

But she does not get much time to contemplate it, in the end. Kanae sees that barrier light up before her. "Isabeau?" she wonders, looking towards her in surprise. 'No more will you touch her.' "That's--"

But she is 'not the first woman to play games with a man.' How many 'games' has she played? Was Touma that different?

But...

The beautiful, terrible starlight does not touch her. Kanae realizes this as she sees the rest of the room red and quaking--as she sees--

"NO!" Kanae calls in alarm, banging on her side of the barrier with a fist. "Isabeau!"

"Don't touch her," Kanae says sharply. "DON'T TOUCH HER!"

Darting in front of Isabeau, Kanae pulls a vial from around her neck, starting to tug at it--

But then Yanagi strides up. Closer... closer... closer, before Kanae can gt clearnce to attack, and then--

"That's--"

She was right, Yanagi said, and kanae blinks in surprise--and then laughs. "...You really did take care of it your own way," she comments. "Ah... hahahaha..." She laughs in relief, in shock, and a few tears.

"...That's..." In a moment, Kanae will tend to Isabeau--in a moment, when the shock lets her move more at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>Grim had noted Yanagi's presence - and her apparent cooperation with the Homunculus - but she had been on the periphery of Grim's notice the whole time. Until she scanned. Noticing that Yanagi had laid bare her every strength and weakness, Grim brought her rifle and Dantes's pistol around, locked squarely onto the one that had performed the scan, and a slight scowl began to creep into her shrouded features.
"All of this. Why?" She asked. There wasn't much in the way of accusation or reproach in her tone. No approval, certainly, but Grim didn't have the luxury of anger either.

She didn't get the luxury of a response. Not from yanagi, at least. The Homunculus was only too keen to level that monstrous force at her, and it surged towards Grim with such ferocity that she knew she could not evade it. Thus, she did the only thing she could, and called Dantes to defend her. He was no great shield, nor some titan of a man whose body could withstand any blow. But still, he deflected it, and spared Grim the worst of the damage - even if he shattered in the process, leaving Grim staggering backwards from the backlash in her mind.

By the time her vision returned to her from that nova-bright flash of energy, Grim had only the strength to watch as Yanagi approached the Homunculus. Hands gripping the rifle for all the god it would do, she waited for an excuse - any excuse - to fire. But none came. With ruthless efficiency, Yanagi executed the Homunculus, and the fight (she hoped) was over. But there was no time to rest. There were many wounded, and she yet had reserves left to heal. The Homunculus was gone, but was the fight truly over?

She didn't want to sit around and be halfway dead if the answer proved unfavourable.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Yoko offers a heavy wisdom, and Pernelle sighs. "I fear you are all too right. Ah, to be a lost soul, even to the spirit of da --" That was when Umie had hit him, before.

Now, he dances, for he is neither lost, and depending on who you ask, he only questionably has a soul himself.

After his own fiery assault, Pernelle spots Yoko calling forth Agilao, and meeting her with a cheering EEEYAW of a squawk. "Fervent enough to set fire to my spirit! Excellent, excellent, most excellent!" Who should question Bearemy? Isabeau? "Is it not obvious? Artistic passion itself animates her adorable agent!"

Does it count as making things up if he believes it?

Past his fire, Tsumugi demands a demonstration. Pernelle pauses, watching them make their demands of the Homunculus. To be a self interested creature, a selfish beast, to be free, free, ''free''... Pernelle's eyes brighten with every question that leaves their mouth.

Here, in this supernatural space, Pernelle is an animated creature, a peacock, but a little more than a peacock: some fae thing. But even here, as a little more than a peacock, his eyes have turned beady in blank animal hunger.

It is only a moment, for there is a dance. A dance of fire and a dance of ''ropes''.

A peacock sized noose for a peacock's slender neck loops around his throat and ''yanking'' with force quicker than furious flapping of his wings can slacken. He squawks the terrible sound of poultry facing slaughter as he's dragged into the mist.

objection
stop talking
forever

Rope pulls, and Pernelle collides with the ceiling before he is left to dangle. It is a posture ready to be defeathered by the butcher... until his head turns one hundred and eighty degrees -- rather like an owl or a possessed corpse -- to look to Eshm.

"Oh, the ache of the void where your answers should be."

Oh, to be no-thing where a Thing used to be.

As Yanagi dispatched the Homunculus without remorse, Pernelle's rope is no more. He drops, hitting the ground in a tippy tappy dance of his clawed feet as he looks to Yanagi in purest delight.

"Did I sound suitably forlorn at the onset? I did my best, but it is truly is so difficult to act against one's natural demeanor."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin gives Yanagi a slightly offended look. "I am not for studying!" she objects, even though she is an oddity in the first place. She feels seen! She pulls her hat down a little bit over her eyes, her ears flattening down along with it.

Is she shy? Coin has never considered that she might be shy before. She's usually so not... but she's never had to deal with this many humans at once before, either!

But... "Should I not have?" Coin seems baffled about Umie's objection to being seen through. She literally *told her* that her Persona was the Badb, right after she sensed it the first time in the Dark Hour, and then she went and summoned her! Coin isn't going to forget the feeling THAT fast!

What business does a monster have with being a Hunter?

...

"We can talk about that when we are NOT on a Hunt!" Coin didn't have an answer she cared to say here... or perhaps she didn't have one at all. Either way, Isabeau is not getting her answer.

The falling explosive orbs are sufficient to keep Coin occupied for some time. She dives, covering her body with her coat; it's knee-length anyway and she curls up underneath it, using the whole thing like a shield. Her Hunter's outfit is significantly more durable than she is...

...but unfortunately her tail sticks out through it, and it has no such protection. Coin decides to stay down for a few moments.

But.

She feels something.

Coin rises, the back of her coat smoking slightly, either from Krepel or from the Megadola. She is staring directly at Tsumugi. Her ears vibrate with something like startlement - and excitement. She can feel it. Feel it resonating. Passion, freedom -

This is what Tsumugi desires.

It's magnificent and terrifying at the same time, and it makes some internal part of Coin's spirit sing at the same time it's repelled. She stands there, ears quivering, tail swishing, for several long seconds, until the spell breaks; she realizes there has been a killing, and a new (old?) voice, like the Homonculus but not the same.

Coin attempts to regain her composure by pulling her hat straight again before she scampers over toward Kanae - and Isabeau, as she's fallen.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus believes she has him pinned down. Spheres of water limit his movement - but the one place she does not predict is behind her ''Persona'' rather than behind her own physical form. The axe is swung, and a gout of blue flame issues forth from Nitocris as it meets its mark. Her Persona shatters into glass - and with a gasp, Magus is sent to one knee. The pain in the right side of her body flares up intensely in that short moment that Nitocris is lost to her before she recovers from the Break, but it's enough.

She meets Yuuki's eyes in that moment that Yuuki shouts to her - and then the axe swings again.

"Yuuki!" Magus calls - in a rare instance of dispensing with the theatric 'full first-name last-name way she does'. Yuuki lands at her feet - and Magus casts her cloak protectively about her as she forces her body to move in front of her. Fury crosses her face as she begins to draw something from its depths.

She can still fight - she ''must'' still fight, exact vengeance for what that ''thing'' has done to her...

...but in an instance, a fatal blow is struck. ...But from an unexpected source. Surprise crosses her face - and for a moment, she has no idea what's going on.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> 'Do you understand what's really going on here?' Roger isn't directly spoken to, but somehow his attention manages to drift that way to Kikuno's exasperation. 'Of course you don't. Yet another thing I'll have to correct.'

"Um. What's more important than getting rid of the Homunculus?!" Roger asks. "It seems simple enough to me," but he is also a simple-minded creature who has both a greater grasp of, and not quite perfect, idea of what it means to ''have'' a mind at all.

It makes some of Yanagi's teasing a little louder. 'You don't really realize at all. I like that about you, though. It's nice to see someone get to stay innocent.'

"...I like you too! I like playing with you," Roger says, from their time exploring Night Parade and that bizarre wall-graphic character. "I don't want that Homunculus to hurt you or anyone else!"

Then... Hyde. Enough, to break things into silence in awe of what transpires. The power, the presence, the will.

'A power beyond Megido--!!'

"I don't like this!" Roger says, flinching as he tries to dive for it - but it's not because of his attempts that he avoids harm.

He is an accidental beneficiary by relative proxy of who Isabeau protects from it. He's left lying prone and flabbergasted. Isabeau's name would be on his tongue.

He watches the way Yanagi just quietly strikes into the Homunculus - just like that, after her bizarre game with rules that Roger simply did not understand.

He can only tilt his head quietly.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa glares at Kikuno. "If you have something to share, share it ''before'' we're in the middle of a battle next time. Otherwise, worry about yourself."

She doesn't look at back when Kikuno looks at her after the Media works its magic on her.

Umie has some advice, and Kazusa looks at her and blinks. "Ehhh? H-how am I supposed to do ''that''!? The only thing I want to make him beg for is his demise."

There's a nod to Eriko at the thanks, and the encouragement to keep fighting. "Right! But-- I can't keep dropping heals like that. My well is running kind of dry..." She's breathing hard, even after having her wounds mended.

Kazusa would be interested in talking to Yoko later--now's not really the time for a chat, as it happens.

"Demon Queen" is a hard title to give up, sometimes, for a variety of reasons. But Kazusa watches as Tsumugi... changes? Their Persona does, too, and Kazusa finds herself glancing quickly bewteen the both of them. "Wait could you always do that??"

At least the idea of summoning multiple Personas doesn't seem ''so'' weird--but the change of outfit is ''definitely'' a bit odd.

Kazusa has been doing so much to keep everyone up, but sher strenght isn't unlimited--and when the terrifying explosion of Megidola comes she's too winded to outrun it, getting caught up in the blast and thrown to the ground once more.

"Guh..." she pushes herself up to her hands and knees. Her clothing is a bit singed now. She looks up to Kanae. "Kill that thing first," she says in between gulps of air. "Argue later."

Kazusa's scared too, Kanae. She'll nag at you later.

She looks around. Isabeau and Yuuki are dropping, but Tsumugi is in danger right then. She grits her teeth. She doesn't have a lot, but if she ahs to keep the right going--

"Mina, Rec--"

Her call is cut short by a startled gasp as Yanagi just ''rips'' the eyes out of the Homunculus' head. The sight is gruesome, but Kazusa is momentarily distracted by a memory.

'''That.'''

She shakes her head and forces herself up. She staggers her way over to Magus, who is protecting Yuuki. "Magus-san, here, let me help Hoshizora-san."

There will be time for more questios later. First she'll do what she still can for the wounded...

... and then see to the person they've come here to rescue.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
<poem>
The shift in Tsumugi's presentation is jarring- and with that presence, that resonance of mad beauty makes Eriko step away- the relative ease she had had around Peacock Silk's proprietor on Christmas vanishes suddenly and unpleasantly.

Maybe it's simply that she has been around too many people she really didn't want to touch her. Maybe it's just Hyde living up to the hype.

It means she's shaken when Yanagi simply says she came here for rubies. "...what do you mean rubies?" Eriko asks, completely baffled now. Why would there be rubies...?

That's all she can posit before the noose slips around her neck and yanks her off her feet. She tries to get her hands in the way, but she's far too slow. The force is not enough to kill her- but it is enough to strangle her, and the cry she had in her throat disappears to give way of airless choking as Eriko struggles and swings. Her hands grip around the rope around her neck, to try and pull without luck. Her rapier has fallen to the floor.

It's only by sheer luck that she's able to shift her body and spread out her brutal impact against the ceiling of the atelier- and even then it's painful. She would cry out if she had any air left in her lungs to share. Instead, she drops unceremoniously, hitting the floor with a painful thud as she gasps desperately, trying to breathe, trying to get enough air to remove the noose by any method. Not everyone here has the wonderful, flexible neck of a peacock, Pernelle.

It means she can barely watch as Yanagi finds her rubies- and uses them to end the thing that was fighting them.

Normally, Eriko might have a comment, a thought, something to add-

But right now the extent of what she can manages is a few more wheezes as she slowly regains her ability to breathe, rolling onto her back. She will... probably need some help with the rope, but that's going to be easier without the Homunculus in her way.

Still, her thoughts linger on the wounded juniors and one simple thought.

Eriko's not sure she understands Yanagi at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki jumps slightly when Eriko touches her shoulder, but she turns back to smile and doesn't pull away. "Yeah. We've got each others' backs."

She winces as Isabeau responds. "... understandable. I'll be ready for it," she replies. Similarly, she hangs her head when Kanae says it just makes her want to ask more questions.

She cranes her head to one side in response to Eshm, opting to not clarify her stated position out loud -- not yet, at least. Whatever enmity she held towards Eshm in the initial moments where she had rushed towards him was now gone, held back after Eriko's earlier exhortation.

Tsumugi's tirade sends a shiver up Tamaki's own spine. She's heard it once before, against a different Homunculus, but new information has come to light since then. She stares at Tsumugi and feels the sting of envy start to take hold in her chest.

What does it say about her that she just wants to be 'normal' again? To have the 'gas leak' truly just have been a gas leak? To have any claims that someone 'must have been daydreaming' be just that instead of her cover story to dissuade people from learning about Personas and Demons?

It'd ease her sense of guilt, earned or unearned as it may be. It'd mean that she wouldn't have been reminded of this aspect of herself.

All of her moonlit veils can't hide from Megidola. There is no escape from such a spell; it will find its way past ''any'' defenses, save one throwing themself in front of another to protect them. Wide-eyed with panic, Tamaki scrambles to flee and save her own skin from the almighty. She dives away in a last-ditch effort to avoid the brunt of the blast and lands on her stomach with an undignified grunt of pain.

As Eriko lands to the ground, Tamaki staggers over to her. "Elly! Elly, are you okay?!" Every other concern is gone from her mind as she works to loosen the knot to give her friend enough slack to get free.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Coin's reply reminds Umie of something important.
... ah, right, it's Umie who is bad at opsec

"Ah, right, right. Sorry. It was late at night..." The many sides of Umie Akabane: a menace to beings threatening her life, an apologizer to anything below her in height (but still mighty!).

But what's also top of Umie's mind in terms of 'that is something that maybe should be concerning' is Tsumugi's transformation. Umie, however...

... watches in awe. ".... So Personas can do that too, huh..."

But the homunculus still stands, and Yanagi has fed him information about Umie. But really, is there anything he doesn't already know? The most important parts are laid clear...

_Umie Akabane is a troublemaker_. And she *will* make good on her omen, one way or another.

The noose comes for Umie's neck, and manages to snag its mark-- or, well, a bun. "SH---" Blonde hair comes away as she is snagged, slamming down onto the ground with a painful thud.

*RIPP*

Umie lets out a hoarse shriek as the noose leaves her, her left hand clutching the now tender (and possibly bleeding) part of scalp and hair that was thankfully freed. It could have been worse, had she not managed to keep it from taking part of her scalp.... or if she was Eriko.

"Kirishima-san?!" Umie scrambles over besides Tamaki, attempting to help her free Eriko from the knot still around her neck and carefully lower her down. "... Careful now... just keep by me." She also casts a look towards Pernelle, even if she's unsure of how such a magnificent bird could be deterred by such an attack.

.... is that... Yanagi...?
Maybe, the headache Umie's beginning to feel is affecting her eyesight...

But no, no. Yanagi paid her brother in full.

"Well, aren't you a little schemer..." Umie breathes, despite her shock.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>

"Oh, it won't change the outcome here," Kikuno tells Kazusa. "But please, keep on telling yourself that."

"You'll see," she tells Roger in turn. "I promise."

She shoots Isabeau a glance that may as well be a thrown dart. "Then go tell your father. It's not my problem," she tells her, waving a hand dismissively. "Now, shut up. We're fighting a real monster." As if, somehow, /she's/ the normal one here and Isabeau is the oddity.

Then again, when set against the likes of Peacock Silk, as demonstrated thus--

(But, wait does that mean that Kikuno, despite entering alongside them, counts herself not among their number...?)

(And, for that matter, whose side /is/ Yanagi's on right now, anyway...?)

She turns her head to look at Yoko, her younger cousin. Her mother's younger brother's daughter. Who now wonders aloud what /happened/ to her. Why isn't she... herself?

"Shut up," Kikuno tells Yoko, quite bluntly.

And then, to rub salt into the wound, she turns her attention away.

Her honest reaction to Eshm's attack, on the other hand...

"Ch..." she hisses, glaring at the Homunculus from behind her spectacles. "Don't put words in my mouth." He doesn't need to, technically speaking: she'd said as much herself, when last they'd met. She's wondered it herself, anyway.

Just what's the difference between parasite and host? From where do the darker impulses really spring? Knowing what she knows, knowing twice-over the invasion of the soul by another, can she really claim that the thing that had once taken her and herself are so very different?

That a horror movie can spring from a human heart alone?

There's little time to consider it now. Before her, there's a star. From that star, there's light, and terrible soul-scouring force. Kikuno yells something: it's swallowed by the detonation's roar. Her throne melts away beneath her as Beatrice shatters into dust, sending her toppling to the ground. This is where she lies as Eshm tells Tsumugi exactly what he -- it -- thinks of them.

This is as far as its expression of humanity can go, though. In the end, an imitation is just an imitation. But does that mean that it will necessarily fail? Kikuno, on the floor, gazes up at Eshm as he -- it, it, he's no man -- descends upon Tsumugi.

Yanagi, in that moment reveals precisely whose side she's on.

A terrible snicker, even as she pants for breath and slowly rises from the floor to then stand, escapes Kikuno. "Didn't I tell you...?"

Her own gaze then turns towards Shinichi, waking at last from his slumber.

"Oh, he's awake now. Hurry up," she says, limping her way over towards the cocoon and fallen Homunculus alike, "or you'll miss your dear sister a second time."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus is not merely distracted, it is consumed by an urge to reduce all Tsumugi is to ''nothing''. To obliterate all memory of them from its landscape. It is utterly single-minded in this.

Which is why, when Yanagi reaches, it does not notice her at all, until it is

far
too
late

Its neck slashed. The Homunculus lets go of Tsumugi, to grip its own throat- as black ichor pours out of it. It holds it, as unseeing sockets stare right at Yanagi - for the betrayal.

'She was right; you aren't a man,'
'You're a Thing. And now, you are no-thing at all.'

A twist of the knife, without any motion of the knife at all, it seems the creature will take those thoughts to its grave. Without its eyes, silenced, no retort at all, just- pathetic flailings of a creature that already knows its dead.

The Homunculus shudders, as it loses its strength, arms falling away from its neck to its side. The creature staggers backwards as more and more ichor pours out of it.

Then falls to the ground, unmoving, as that dark fluid pools beneath it. There are no signs of life whatsoever as it lay there- as if in state.

And it's at this moment, that a boy who had been trapped in a cocoon for so long, surprisingly- not merely his Shadow says the words, "O... Oneesan?"

'''TO BE CONTINUED'''

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-14: Bridge of Separation

2026-10-18T18:09:38Z

Ayu:

*'''Log: Bridge of Separation'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Yanagi Nagisa]], [[Tsumugi Kujaku]], [[Kanae Fuyuki]], [[Roger]], [[Kazusa Motojima]], [[Coin]], [[Pernelle]], [[Yuuki Hoshizora]], [[Yoko Hirano]], [[Saika Kikuchi]], [[Misato Fushihara]], [[Kasumi Yoshizawa]], [[Kikuno Kisaragi]], [[Umie Akabane]], [[Penguin Slasher]], [[Shinichi Nagisa]], Special Guest: Mifuyu Itami
*'''Where:''' Shinichi Nagisa's Atelier
*'''OOC Date:''' October 14, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' January 22, 2013 (set immediately after [[2026-10-09:_La_Bete|La Bête]])
*'''Summary''': ''With the Homunculus, Eshm the Wrath, defeated, brother and sister reunite. But for how long? Can any familial bonds survive when one desires 'true freedom'? What will Shinichi do, when faced with the prospect of his sister leaving his life just as swiftly as she reentered it?''

----

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
There is a long, cold moment as Yanagi simply watches the Homunculus shudder, fall, and go still. Just as it is nothing, there is nothing on her face.

Until Pernelle tippy-tappies at her and asks if he sounded forlorn enough. Then she looks at him, a bright smile blossoming onto her face. "Yes! It was very convincing! I don't think it ever suspected." She reaches out to pat his head--but the double-bladed knife is still in her hand, dripping black ichor. She looks down at it. "Hm." Then she smiles again, this time ruefully, at Pernelle. "This would definitely give you a tummy-ache if you tried to eat it!"

She waves jauntily to Saika next, that wicked knife high over her head. Droplets of ichor splatter off it onto her resplendent hair. "Saikaaaa~ I got to claim it this time~~" she cheers. "It really was a different experience! I'm so glad I did it!"

As she lowers her arm, she turns then to the now-wild Tsumugi, her eyes turning tender, smile softening, at the person whose brutal murder she'd cheerfully requested scant moments ago. "Tsumugi..." Her lips move to continue to speak--

'O... Oneesan?'

'Oh, he's awake now.'

Yanagi looks over towards Shinichi as Kikuno limps over to him and the fallen Homunculus. Her eyes widen, and she breathes a soft little sigh that is nonetheless also accompanied by a smile.

"One moment," she tells Tsumugi, and then tup-tup-tups over to her younger brother, supported by both her cane and her reinforced boots.

Though there are several things around him of interest, such as the now-empty Cocoon ripe for harvesting, her peacock green eyes are fixed only on him. As she reaches him, still sprawled on the floor, she settles down onto her knees and sets the knife and her cane to one side with care.

Then she folds her hands on her lap and meets his eyes. "I'm here, Shinichi," she murmurs.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
'Oh, he's awake now. Hurry up, or you'll miss your dear sister a second time.'

If there were any incentive at all for Shinichi Nagisa to snap himself out of it, it's this. It's ''this''. He's conscious, and he tries to force himself to sit up, as Yanagi comes to sit before him on her knees.

He stares at her, perhaps in disbelief as she says the words 'I'm here, Shinichi,' "You really are- you... Neesan... I can't... how...? How could you still be...?"

Everyone has regrets. Moments they wish they could do differently, moments you could take back. But death is finality, the shear that cuts off the point where everyone's relationship with someone will be for the rest of their lives. You can't take it back. You can't apologize.

That would take a miracle.

And right now he's come face to face with the thing he's been wishing for years, picturing what he might say if the impossible should ever happen, or if they came face to face in some grim afterlife as grey shades.

That hardly makes it easier. "I'm sorry." It comes out as a whisper, at first, then louder, much louder as the words you practice but never think you'd get to say face to face spill out, his vision blurring with every passing moment, "I'm so sorry neesan. There's... no excuse for what I said to you. None that matters. It was horrible, telling you that I wished you would just die- I knew what you were going through and all I could think about was myself. I should have been there for you- and I wasn't... I guess you got stuck with just about the worst brother that exists."

He forces himself to take a breath, realizing he's crying- and deciding he doesn't care. "You don't have to forgive me. I won't ask you for that. Just- I'm glad you're okay... I'm glad you're okay! I just- Holy shit- I still don't know how this could be real!?" Even if she survived that day, her disease is a death sentence- it's been years. It doesn't make logical sense to him, but he's so willing to accept it right now. Anything illogical about it just doesn't matter in light of the evidence right before his eyes.

"I mean- better than okay, I saw you walking! You're still- haha- wow-!" He chuckles, even while he's crying, "That outfit looks great on you! You really changed your style up there and wow- look at you!"

It contrasts almost every memory he has of her, it's so much brighter in ways that Yanagi almost never was in the later years they knew each other.

And yet despite it all, despite how badly he wants to, he doesn't actually reach out to hug her- or touch her in any way, as if even right in front of him- he doesn't serve to be presumptuous, after what he did.

Can he really even call himself her little brother anymore?

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
In the exhaustive body of Tsumugi Kujaku's personal experience with the act, there are many reasons why a person may commit violence. Most of the forms they've encountered originate in purely petty reasons.

Money is a primary motivator, more often than not.

Ego, too.

There are some that simply enjoy the act of suffering and what it takes away from the person it inflicts upon them. Control, the most direct cage of choice.

Some people just do it out of boredom. It stopped surprising Tsumugi long ago, how many people will commit violence simply to because they have the opportunity to do so without repercussion, and there is nothing better to do.

But it's moments of violence like this that reminds them of a line they read in a Western science fiction novel one time, long ago:

'Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.'

Arms thrown wide, they accept it. Encourage it, with little regard for their personal safety. If violence is the only medium through which Wrath can communicate, so be it! Let it sing them an epic. Let it claw the truth of its freedom onto their very bones if it must! They'll accept it all to know the answer this creature came to -- what it will do if it can steal this place in the real world from its host! They want to hear the symphony of that truth, even if it must be beaten into their flesh!

They don't try to defend themself. Don't try to get out of the way. But there is no symphony. No profound revelation.

Just frustrated fingers clamping their throat til airways clench off around the mounting pressure.

The wide excitement possessing Tsumugi Kujaku's brilliant, haunting eyes fades. Surprise doesn't take its place, nor alarm or fear or any other satisfying emotion abusers so often want from their abused.

They just hood into a distinct, detached stare of apathy. The kind of stare that bores straight through you. The kind of stare that sees who you are.

"Ah," is the last exhaled sound they manage before hands constrict so painfully tight that no more air can work their vocal cords.

Ah.

((shut up))
Shut up!
((stop talking))
Stop crying!
((forever))
You think I don't see what you are?!
((that is my freedom))
You fucking FREAK!

How familiar.

Not another strangled sound escapes them as they feel the familiar, burning sensations of asphyxia becoming hypoxia. Their head begins to swim as tight fingers rupture the myriad of blood vessels racing along their throat and neck and the hunger for air becomes inescapable in its desperate demand. The tips of their fingers tingle in telltale warmth.

And yet their right hand raises not to try to tear those hands off of them.

It just pats its palm condescendingly on Eshm's plastercast cheek, twice.

pat 'There,'
pat 'there.'

That gaze stays locked on Eshm's gazeless face. It may well be the last thing the Homunculus 'sees' before its precious sight is taken from it. The look of someone who sees how small it is. Who sees right down to the core of it, and isn't amazed, horrified, or even simply surprised.

The demeaning reality of a stare that sees your behavior as expected and predictable.

As that lidded stare begins to unfocus, as neurons fire off wild, confusing signals across their brain in a panic that dredges up so many unwanted memories, as that hand falls limp off Eshm's cheek and their vision starts to go black, a strange thought Tsumugi Kujaku never thought before bubbles towards the surface.

Huh.
'Shinichi Nagisa.'
What a strangely familiar na--

Scarlet-gold eyes snap wide as the first reflexive gulp of oxygen burns its way down their lungs. They fall to the ground on knees and forearms, lurched forward and hacking wet coughs as they reorient themself to the breathing world. That wide-eyed stare turns upward.

Their vision refocuses just in time to see the Homunculus gripping desperately at its slashed throat throat. As those hands fall away, that stare doesn't look away, doesn't even blink. Not even as thick black ichor drools from that open wound on the Homunculus and splatters on their marble-cast features.

They watch until the exact moment Eshm falls and its meaty thump leaves only Yanagi standing there, Eyes-made-weapons in hand. With a look that says that, too, was expected and predictable.

And then they exhale a shuddering, burning breath.

"Hah - h-hkk - haha..."

Hoarse, shivery laughter escapes dark lips, and then fades. Tsumugi's focusing stare drifts unsteadily upward toward Yanagi, watching her for a quiet moment. And then Tsumugi crawls on hands and knees towards that fallen Homunculus. A fingerless (were they always fingerless--?) gloved hand grips the mane of Eshm's darkened hair.

"... Take... your time," Tsumugi says to Yanagi hoarsely, yet unperturbed. "Do... hh... what you want. We already have what we need."

And the Homunculus' face is indifferently ground into the ichor-sluiced floor beneath it as Tsumugi uses that grip as a purchase point to provide the leverage they need to shakily get back onto their feet.

"there,
there."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Everyone has regrets. Kanae, though, doesn't regret trusting Yanagi. ...Well, it was bloodier than she imagined, but she doesn't even mind that. She's going to have some emotional scars from this particular Hunt...

Not least will be the sight of Isabeau sacrificing herself for her--she's alive, at least, so Kanae isn't ''too'' traumatized, but she didn't ask for that. She didn't want that. ...And now, she stays near her, to guard her in case anything ''else'' gos wrong.

But she doesn't stand up again to talk. Not at first, anyway; Shinichi and yanagi need to have their moment, right...?

Besides, she's still thinking about what Tsumugi was saying. And about...

'The worst brother that ever exists'.

"..."

Kanae says, mostly to Isabeau, but also to anyone else who comes to check on them:

"...Family's weird, huh?" The orphan shakes her head. "...I don't think I'll ever really understand it."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger comes down from the exciting battle high of a dangerous dance with a Homunculus that was within a heartbeat from finally overtaking the original Atelier host. A lot of things play out between Yanagi and Shinichi he looks upon with curiosity, quietly.

"Oh... that's why the names were the same," he says at the bit of acknowledgement he can grasp.

Roger does not have a strong sense of what it means to be a sibling. Were all the Humours in the Atelier of his origin his siblings? In retrospect he'd be hard-pressed to put it like that. Maybe it is an experience that simply does not have an equivalent for Shadows.

A lot to be said about the grisly sights of Tsumugi's intensity and the seeming play of Yanagi's bizarre gambit with the Homunculus to that very end.

"Um," Roger looks to the others, "Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with. I'm happy to see them gone," he snorts, "but... I have no idea what anyone would want with them."

...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa is still reeling from the intensity of that fight, and she will have a lot of complicated emotions to work though, too. The Homunculus may be gone, but it's still been more than a month of her life spent living in fear and hypervigilance. Not to mention all the horrifying things she witnessed in the Atelier.

... she'll just have to add it to the list of her other emotional issues to work through.

She's busy chugging a drink to restore some energy and then tending to the injured with Mina's magic. She inevitably makes her way over to Kanae and Isabeau, looking at the unconscious Witch with some concern before looking to Kanae.

Family's weird...

Kazusa looks over her shoulder to where Shinichi is busy apologizing. Best to give them a moment first, probably. Quietly, she admits to Kanae, "... yeah. I don't always understand mine, either."

There's a quiet sigh as Roger ''finally'' gets the connection. She'll come back to that point about the eyes in a moment, though.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Once she'd recovered from Tsumugi's... intenseness, and she was pretty sure they were breathing again (humans have to do that pretty much all the time, right? right, she's pretty sure), and Yanagi's sheer violence, which hit her in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Coin had zipped somewhere else in the room.

She'd intended to go over to Kanae's side, but something came up.

Coin found herself derailed, slightly, by the Eyes and the Cocoon. Something about them feels important in a way she doesn't clearly understand. She slows to get a better look at it, even reaching it to poke at it with one finger before she takes a step back and does something complicated with her hands; she interlaces her fingers in such a way that there's a small gap between her hands.

(For her it's an extra-small gap. Paws are not meant for this.)

But she brings it up to her face, her eye just barely visible through the laced fingers. It looks somewhere between perplexing and silly, but it seems to satisfy Coin, because she nods firmly as she lowers her hands afterwards.

"Fascinating!" Coin has been well and truly distracted. She reaches out -

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with'

"Bleh," Coin says when she hears that someone has a prior claim, leaving the Eyes alone but moving her focus to the remnants of the Cocoon furthest away from Yanagi; she does not want to get in the way, but she's certainly close enough to hear. Even if it doesn't entirely make sense to her. Family's weird, as Kanae points out... but Coin doesn't have family.

...does she? She's pretty sure she'd know THAT...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle leans his head up on his long neck for a pat that never comes, pausing to regard Yanagi's knife. His beak begins to open... ... and quietly shuts when even Yanagi thinks better of letting him make a snack of it.

"Hm, yes, I suppose I see your wisdom in this. Just this once! We've much to do. Celebrating, mostly, I should think!" As Yanagi address Saika and Tsumugi, Pernelle turns to dance back and forth, from one foot to the other, adding a victory dance to go with Yanagi's delightful acquisition.

But as Shinichi stirs, Pernelle quiets and shuffles to Tsumugi's side, addressing them in a lowered voice. "What a glorious evening it has been, and it is young yet! ... Do you require a morsel of Medicine? A Recarm, perhaps?" He absently shakes some ichor from his clawed foot with no further acknowledgment of the Homunculus' remains.

Whatever Tsumugi's response, Pernelle does not make any more of a verbal fuss. There is a reunion to behold... and though it is Shinichi who pours out his heart, Pernelle's gaze drifts to Yanagi, attentive for her reaction.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Once she'd recovered from Tsumugi's... intenseness, and she was pretty sure they were breathing again (humans have to do that pretty much all the time, right? right, she's pretty sure), and Yanagi's sheer violence, which hit her in a way she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Coin had zipped somewhere else in the room.

She'd intended to go over to Kanae's side, but something came up.

Coin found herself derailed, slightly, by the Eyes and the Cocoon. Something about them feels important in a way she doesn't clearly understand. She slows to get a better look at it, even reaching it to poke at it with one finger before she takes a step back and does something complicated with her hands; she interlaces her fingers in such a way that there's a small gap between her hands.

(For her it's an extra-small gap. Paws are not meant for this.)

But she brings it up to her face, her eye just barely visible through the laced fingers. It looks somewhere between perplexing and silly, but it seems to satisfy Coin, because she nods firmly as she lowers her hands afterwards.

"Fascinating!" Coin has been well and truly distracted. She reaches out -

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes of the Homunculi we deal with'

"Bleh," Coin says when she hears that someone has a prior claim, leaving the Eyes alone but moving her focus to the remnants of the Cocoon furthest away from Yanagi and giving some of the strands a tug; she does not want to get in the way, but she's certainly close enough to hear. Even if it doesn't entirely make sense to her. Family's weird, as Kanae points out... but Coin doesn't have family.

...does she? She's pretty sure she'd know THAT...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki comes to, slowly.

Her Transmutation slips away from her. ''Should'' it work like that? She doesn't know. But it might say more about her, rather than he concept of Transmutation. Blue hair drains to light brown; with a dull shimmer, her rumpled and dirtied Seven Sisters uniform is visible again.

She swallows, as she looks at Shinichi and Yanagi. She knew, already; she had pieced it together in the Atelier herself.

Her mouth opens. A reunion, between family. Even if it's bittersweet. Even if Tsumugi is--

What ''are'' they doing?

Her green eyes -- duller, now -- turn to them. She regards them for a moment, before she looks back to the siblings. She sits up, wobbily.

And she watches with a drained, exhausted expression.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
The real Shinichi Nagisa can't believe that his sister is alive. He's so different than the Homunculus. Even though Yoko had been told about it, it's still so weird to see it for herself.

''This'' boy probably doesn't have any kind of hit list.

She picks up Bearemy and holds him in her arms, his long arms and claws swaying like some kind of defeated prisoner, or maybe a cat resigned to bathtime. Kikuno (it ''is'' her) has hurt her feelings but she wants to see the Cocoon which means getting closer to her cousin and...!

Kanae is right. Family is weird.

"...What happened?" Yoko tries asking her cousin, because... well they've never gotten along poorly before!! ...But they'd never gotten along very ''well'' either, in that neither one of them had been very good at socializing. Oops.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Splap.

Drip.

Plep.

Ichor splatters into Saika Kikuchi's hair. She nevertheless is smiling.

It's one of those kind of complicated smiles. There's a lot of *relief* in it. Perhaps *relaxation*, or the calm that comes after the breaking of tension, which has a unique quality of satisfaction to it that many other forms do not. (Don't worry, young Persona Users, it's something adults do for fun.)

"It was perfect," Saika tells Yanagi as she sweeps her chain up, letting it wrap around her arm as she pumps it in the air, a musical tingle-jingle-rattle as it does. "You nailed it. Brava. Brav--"

Her head suddenly turns towards the new voice. Towards the brother, now returned to his proper seat of self-rulership. Will he be a good ruler? That is up to him.

But... he is speaking, and to Yanagi, to whom he has something to say. Saika's attention turns towards Tsumugi then, though it becomes a deep and visibly concerned look that relaxes over the course of a second and a half of assessment. She steps over, her unchained hand slipping out. An offer, but not an insistence. Tsumugi, after all, has their pride.

"Maaa, don't push it~. You know, that's how that actor from those two Western kungfu movies went, the bad guy?"

Kanae speaks and Saika cups her own chin. "Hmmm~. He's laying it on a *little* thick," Saika murmurs, "but he *does* have cause, and maybe he's just naturally eloquent."

Then Roger speaks.

Saika's head turns slowly to look towards Roger. Roger actually has a couple of inches of height on Saika, who is quite diminutive if you measure from crown to sole, despite the additional billowing presence of her long biker jacket and evident superhuman strength. Her face is utterly still and expressionless for a full additional second, and then it warms, lips smiling before her eyes do.

Her eyes don't really smile at all, actually. They pass over the others for several more seconds.

"Well..."

"I guess you could call it a hobby! Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!"

NOW the smile reaches her eyes.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>It has been a long, grueling battle. Magus's body still aches, with pains natural and supernatural both. She remains transfixed, for a moment, on the lifeless form of the Homunculus... and then she draws her cloak around herself with a 'hmph'.

She keeps watch over Yuuki carefully - so she's aware, when she starts to stir. She shifts her cloak so she can get a better view.

"Yuuki Hoshizora." She acknowledges quietly. She extends a hand toward her, if she needs the help up - but leaves it up to her whether or not she takes it.

Her attention soon turns to Yanagi and Shinichi. Whatever words she might have for her act die on her lips as he regards her with deserved surprise.

...Even she isn't cold enough to interfere in this reunion. She looks away, briefly - this time to Kanae as she speaks. Family...

"...It can be cruel." She notes. "Purposefully, or unintentionally. ...It doesn't always end like this."

...She doesn't say whether that's for the better or worse.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi has been off fighting the humours, to protect everyone else fighting the homunculus. And now, with the terrifying homunculus defeated, Kasumi returns to the group proper, additionally helping with her Diarama. She ends up joining the Kazusa, Kanae, and Isabeau group.

She heard about the sibling complications and having a dead sister herself, she feels for Shinichi. "Oh, I really hope they can patch up their relationship..." 'Belle' says, clutching her hands together to her chest as she watches. "It'd be just awful if Nagisa-san discovered his sister was alive, but there was still hard feelings, you know?" If the same happened to her, Kasumi would be destroyed!

Watching it, Kasumi feels her heart climb into her throat. It's way too tense...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Everyone has one thing they can't take back. Something they'd give almost anything to try again, properly this time. In that sense, Kikuno...

Her gaze flicks downwards on Shinichi as he comes to, and comes to grapple with the situation into which he's awoken. Just like that, his situation has taken a turn for the better. Hasn't it? It might even almost be worth the nightmare he's endured!

After all, he's able to get the closure he's always wanted. Hasn't he?

Even as words tumble as freely as tears, her expression remains as sour as always as she regards him a moment more before she looks away.

"Well. Now what?" she says and not to him.

Her gaze lingers a moment on Yanagi, close at hand. In this one, brief way, they're again akin to one another.

'Peacock Silk has only ever asked us for the Eyes', Roger says.

Kikuno, lost perhaps in her study of Yanagi, does not look his way.

It's only Yoko who breaks her from her apparent reverie; minutely she turns her head her cousin's way.

"I said, get out of here," she tells her again. "This isn't any of your business."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> There are a list of things that land on Umie's priority list.

First is knocking her hood up over the pinkening little bird's nest of broken hair strands, pulling the cords of her hood tight so that the edges of it press against the edges of her face and mask.

The second is assessing everyone. It's not like she's a healer, but this was a creature of another caliber than many are used to, including her. Standing next to Eriko and Tamaki for a while, she murmurs, "I'm going to check on the others."

They don't need the Badb's shroud, and it's hard for the Badb in her to ever feel satisfied standing still, once the promised bloody end has been achieved. Hobbling carefully over to Kanae and Isabeau, she stands a few feet away, then moves on, satisfied. Let them have their motion of peace.

The mere mention of the word 'family' is enough to make her restless in another way, wholly tied to Umie as a person. The person who dared to mention her family is dead now, and good riddance. Meanwhile, the young man whose face the monster wore is waking up, a wholly different person.

Like Roger, she's out of sorts, but unlike him, she does have a family. But, eyes... that's a topic Umie can focus on. "... What's the significance of the eyes?" she asks now, looking to Tsum-- no, let the poor soul recover, nevermind, she'll look to Saik--

She squints. "... riighhhtt. Well.... I suppose I can't argue." They *are* a source of income.

The number list is out of order now, a hopeless attempt to keep an Umie Akabane from focusing on the most important thing in the room here: the reuniting of brother and sister, the former being someone she cannot quite bear to look into the eyes of, and the latter... unsure of what role she intends to play in what could be a heartfelt or heartwrenching encounter.

"Usually it's other people who do kitsune no mado, to see they're being fooled but the kitsune," she says to Coin with a mischevious grin, before moving onto--

Ah.

Yoko will feel someone by her side now; the sharp open grin of Umie Akabane displayed like a subtle display of claws. "My, my... What's this about...? Rather sweet of you to display such concern over a fellow Persona-user's health..."

Yet even Umie has to look back at Yanagi and Shinichi, despite being in the middle of instigating some trouble. Just... what is going to happen next?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Mona's here too, having fought alongside Belle; he eyes Isabeau with suspicion, but she seems to be down for the count, so he stays with Belle as she joins the others. He doesn't weigh in on the matter. He simply keeps his paws folded and watches the unfolding drama.

Joker's also here, along with the rest of The Phantoms who'd come to help fight back the Humors from interfering with the battle for the Atelier's true heart, including Queen. They all keep their distance, however. Everything seems to have been resolved, and Joker (whose masked eyes flick towards Belle and Mona) personally doesn't want to interrupt this reunion with any drama, so... they share a nod with their team, then quietly exits with them. The real Shinichi Nagisa has been saved. The rest is out of their hands.

As for Yanagi...

It was the plan all along, after all. That it makes Yanagi's actions expected and predictable doesn't bother her. That's just another way of saying she has Tsumugi's trust.

She does stroke her leader's cheek with the back of her hand, gaze affectionate and concerned, as they catch their breath amid hacking coughs. (She could have done that with Pernelle, but she hadn't thought of it at the time, half a minute ago.) She doesn't condescend to Tsumugi by offering to heal them, though. That can come later if need be. She nods once when they wave her on and tell her to take her time, and then goes to do precisely that.

When she's in front of Shinichi, Yanagi is quiet but attentive, her vibrant eyes gentle as she watches and listens to her younger brother tearfully apologize. It continues to be clear that this is something that's weighed on him heavily over the past three--no, is it four now?--years, that guilt has wracked him like her disease has wracked her body. Saika might think he's laying it on thick, but Yanagi believes in the sincerity of every word that he says. When he talks about her walking and about her Transmutation costume, she chuckles with him, her cheeks rosy. "Thank you. I like it too," she replies.

Then she pauses. She hears the others murmuring in the background--to each other, to themselves--but she pays them no mind, beyond that Roger kindly informs everyone that the Eyes are theirs. Good. No misunderstandings, then. The Cocoon, they're willing to share, so it's fine if others clusters around it and, in Coin's case, already start to claim threads. Kikuno might be studying Yanagi from close by and considering how the two are similar, and that's fine too. Yanagi's focus remains on her brother.

The two of them had been so close when they were little. And now...

And now, she reaches out to take his hands in hers.

"Shin-chan," she says softly, the nickname she had for them when they were young. "I already forgave you a long time ago. It's okay. You can let this guilt go."

He may not try to hug her, let alone touch her, but she has no such reservations. She leans forward and pulls him into her arms for an embrace between long-lost siblings.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Some in the crowd he has a vague sense of familiarity that he cannot rightly begin to parse. Others he has no idea who- or even what they are.

Shinichi still has little context for what's happening around him. After all, he's still a normal guy, he came out of the cocoon like this. Just like a civilian in the Dark Hour, perhaps tomorrow this is more like a dream.

Then again, he did remember more of Mikage-Cho than most.

Does that mean what happens here matters less, though?

Certainly not.

He lets out a small laugh as she says she likes her outfit too. "I'd hope you do... you've got a fun sense of style, neesan."

Yanagi calls him by his nickname, she takes his hands, he stares at her in a tearful confusion as she outright says she forgives him for that long ago. Then reaches out to hug him. Now, there's no hesitation, as he hugs her back, tightly, before easing up that grip out of worry of causing harm and whispering.

"But I don't... Do I really deserve that...? Neesan... I..." He inhales a breath, then allows a tenuous smile to creep on his face, "... Thank you. ''Thank you''. I think... I don't really know what's going on but... I think you saved me there..."

He thinks a lot of people did, but he can figure that part out after he sorts out what's going on with the sister that was dead - and is now apparently quite alive.

Smiling, he leans back, an arm still loosely around her, a hand dabs at his eyes, "Man... Mom and Dad are going to freak, seeing you again. Like- I still don't know how we're going to explain it to them? But, you know what, it doesn't matter." He takes a deep breath, dabbing at his eyes again, "Let's just... let's just go home, okay? We'll figure it out when we get there."

</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
As Tsumugi lifts to one knee, a hand falls into their field of vision.

"..."

They already know who it belongs to without even looking up. Even before she offers those chiding words. Who else but Saika?

Soon enough, Pernelle is there too, offering those murmured words. Tsumugi's answer to both is silence, initially. It's something unsurprising likely, given what just happened, and given who Tsumugi is.

Perhaps it's also unsurprising, too, that their first act? Is to lift themself up without taking Saika up on her unspoken offer, slowly but certainly.

"No," they answer Pernelle with that roughened voice as they rise. "Not... yet. I want to feel it.

"Like you said... it's a glorious evening."

It's only once they're on their feet that their arm slips around Saika's shoulder, the warm weight of them leaning into the smaller as dark lips glide close to her ear.

"So you think I'm a bad guy?" they whisper, conspiratorially hoarse. Is that what they chose to take away from Saika's trivia?

It's the part they liked the most, anyway.

Scarlet-gold eyes drift back toward Yanagi. A brush of the cheek on their hand; no offer of assistance. Just a mutual, unspoken understanding, same as they one that saw Tsumugi let themself be choked near to death for the sake of creating an opening. They watch with muted interest as Yanagi approaches her brother -- but that is as far as their interest takes them. Their gaze drifts towards some distant point in the middle of the others gathered, not focusing on the Nagisas or anyone else who risked their lives here to save Shinichi.

What's the significance of the eyes?

It's a curiosity that both Roger and Umie echo. Umie's attention shifts to Saika for the answer, who provides a simple enough one. Tsumugi's gaze doesn't so much as shift, nor does their marbeled, ichor-smeared features. Their bound chest swells briefly with the intake of a burning breath.

''Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!''

Their lips part. As if they have something profound to say.................!

"It's a pun,"

is their revelatory wisdom,

and the sum whole of their contribution to this discussion.

After all, even if their gaze is distant...

''Let's just... let's just go home, okay? We'll figure it out when we get there.''

They're listening.

"'The free bird thinks of another breeze,'" they recite under their breath.

"'And trade winds soft through sighing trees.
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn.
... and she names the sky her own.'"

Placid eyes shut. "... Pernelle, Saika. Get ready to get the Eyes. We'll be leaving soon.

"There's nothing left here for us."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yoko Hirano has posed.
<poem>
'Well, now what?'

Yoko staaaaaares at Kikuno with guileless green eyes. "Who are you talking to?" she whispers, frowning slowly. It's genetic, she read. Hereditary. Bearemy squirms in her arms as Yoko very successfully doesn't sulk or scowl at her cousin. "Don't tell me what to do." Said sulkily, yes, but calmly. Like an adult.

Nevermind the tell-tale tail lashing side to side behind her, twitching at the fabric of her obi knot.

Someone she doesn't know stops at her side. Defending her? Bearemy's claws prick into the fabric of Umie's sleeve, as if to get her attention. "....." But Yoko just stares at Kikuno, like she's trying to solve a puzzle.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Oh, Roger didn't get it. Kanae remembers that now. She grins, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Yep. Humans are funny like that," shet ells him.

The Eyes... why do they want the Eyes? It occurs to Kanae to ask, but frankly just this moment... She's so tired that she barely cares. Her sawtooth gunblade remains on the ground beside her; her hat is... somewhere, and will reappear in time, a Cognitive matter.

Kazusa mentions her own. "...Mm," Kanae answers, because Kausa is her friend, so she's not going to give her immediate response. Misato seems to understand what she's saying, too. "I see..." Cruel.

"I believe that." She glances over to Yuuki in some concern, and back to Coin, as she seems disappointed. "We'll have to find other trophies of our Hunt," she offers Coin. A 'glorious evening', Tsumugi calls it. Kanae glances at arguing cousins. And...

She wishes she could find this reunion sweet. Maybe she just has too much bitterness in her for that.

"...All's well that ends well, huh?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>Coin has always liked her little treasures. She's even She has no idea what she's going to *do* with these strands, or what they represent, but she can feel the power in them. Something she'll have to think about. Something she'll have to learn about! Coming here was worthwhile.

Well, it was anyway, to help Kanae. But now it's extra worthwhile.

"It's *investigation*," Coin insists to Umie, her ears flattening down slightly. And maybe it is; Coin does have some sensitivity beyond most Persona-users, if not as much as a Navigator. "I just don't know what these things are. Perhaps I should ask you, if you don't need to investigate!"

She keeps the fibers in her hand as she steps away. Another look at Tsumugi, and then toward Yanagi and Shinichi. She never met the Homonculus, let alone the real person, and this is her first time meeting Yanagi too, but this is...

It, too, is peculiarly human. She likes to see the meeting. It feels right. They do seem to treasure each other...

"Indeed!" is her response to Kanae, as she marches over to finally meet up with her. "A bond rediscovered, a monster defeated; what's not to like?" She has not, perhaps, yet understood all the fine details that make something like this so *complex*.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yuuki Hoshizora has posed.
<poem>
Yuuki looks up at Magus. Her expression is tense -- but it's distant. She hesitates, almost flinching when that hand is extended towards her. She doesn't know that she has any right to take her hand. But... she does, in the end, and gets up to her feet. It's shakily; she took a hard hit, and it's left her feeling drained.

She glances at Kanae -- she wonders, for a second, at that bitterness. Does this hurt, for her?

It hurts for Yuuki, but not the same reasons.

"I'm glad they found each other again," she says, a little quietly. "That's... that's good."

She glances once at Coin and blinks once at her, before she looks back at the twins.

She frowns, a little, despite her words.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger tilts his head at Coin's disappointment about the claim over the Eyes.

5t'I guess you could call it a hobby! Don't feel bad if you don't see the appeal!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Oh! eyes can see. I see!" Roger smiles guilelessly for a passing moment, and has a snort-laugh at Saika's say of it.

"Okay!" The former Sanguin Humour asserts himself. "Terrific! Wonderful! ...It looks like a mess, but the Flegmat Humours can take it from here!" The kinds of Humours that seem like they're window dressings at best, they're the ones who help set the tone of an Atelier's 'normal' atmosphere. The power of reflecting all the very, very small ways one asserts themselves...

Roger's smile stops. His eyes open sharply. He snorts loudly, and lets out a yelp of alarm.

"Um...!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Misato comments on purposefully or unintentionally... some days Kazusa's not sure which of those applies to her situation.

She nods to Belle as she returns from holding off the Humors, and lends a Diarama to the recovery effort. She gives Belle a small nod and a quiet "Thanks." But as for patching things up... "... that's up to them," she says quietly. Her silver eyes settle on Yanagi for a moment. "...I really don't know how she'll react."

She gives Mona a quiet nod, a moment later, when he joins Belle.

And Yanagi goes for the hug. Kazusa honestly wasn't sure if she would or not, but... she feels like she always has a hard time getting a solid read on anyone in Peacock Silk.

Kazusa knows that if Shinichi doesn't Awaken, that he ''should'' forget all of this... but she had wondered, too, about the Demons represented by Hunmors in the Atelier. Shouldn't he have forgotten those, too?

But she tenses when Shinichi just pleads for Yanagi to go home. She's not sure how long Yanagi's been 'alive', but if she'd wanted to do that, she's had plenty of chances, right? They had to get his address from Kanae (who, in turn, got it from the Homunculus. Her lips are draawn tight in a not-quite-frown as she watches.

She glances at Tsumugi, as they declare Peacock Silk will be leaving soon. She still has some unanswered questions from her last conversation with the Peacock Silk leader, but now is not the time for them. "... you must really want those Eyes to let yourself go through that," she mutters.

It's fine if Kanae doesn't have an answer for her. Kazusa doesn't, either. All's well.. "Yeah. Because this went ''so'' well," she grumbles.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Just like that, two siblings are reunited. A long-wished for miracle has finally occured, here in the heart of a young man's personal hell. It's so cute. It's so sweet.

It's enough that, to judge by the expression on her face, Kikuno would rather go be sick somewhere. Her lip curls in marked distate, but here she says nothing, her attention fixed on the two of them as they speak to one another.

Or, that is, until her cousin speaks to her.

"I said, shut up," she tells Yoko, brushing one hand through the air as if to thereby push her aside. "Don't get involved," she tells Umie, her glare just as intense at the girl she's ''not'' related to. "We're busy."

Who's busy? Her and Yoko? Or...

Such a state can't last, though. Not when Tsumugi speaks.

Her gaze turns a moment towards Pernelle, then to Tsumugi. She cocks her head a faint few degrees as if catching a sound that only she can hear.

"Perhaps," she says, and it's likely not clear who she's addressing at all.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus looks back at Yuuki - at that tense, distant expression. She meets her eyes, wondering what thoughts run behind that complex emotion. She doesn't retract her hand - and when Yuuki takes it, she helps her to her feet. And if she needs something to support her, she won't push her away.

"...I suppose it is." Magus allows, as Yuuki says it's good they found each other again. She looks back to Shinichi and Yanagi, as Yanagi assures him that she forgave him.

It's been a long time, Magus supposes. Perhaps time does heal all wounds. ...That's what she'd like to say, but it isn't always so easy. And the way he insists on bringing her home...

Magus wonders if a dead woman can really just show up at home like nothing happened.

All's well that ends well...

"...Hm." Magus considers. "The monster has been slain. ...But the scars yet remain."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Tsumugi wants to feel it, and Pernelle gives them a single, firm nod of perfect understanding.

"Most glorious," he affirms twice over.

His whole face lights up with Saika's wordplay and Tsumugi's identification thereof.

"Oh, is it? Marvelous. I love puns!"

But now there's dinner (the eyes are not for eating, Pernelle!) AND a show. Upon the grand stage, Yanagi offers Shinichi what was already his, and the two embrace. Pernelle gives a tippy tap on his feet, though he seems to be ''trying'' to contain it with smaller steps to avoid a percussive interruption.

While not typically in the business of ''moderation'', he makes an exception when that moderation might prevent even greater moderation should those in the spotlight become spooked. Pernelle must choose... the lesser of moderations.

''There's nothing left here for us.''

"Then off we shall go and fly, fly, fly~," he says in his own singsong way, spreading his wings to flap in place, grasping his feet open and closed in the air like an overeager claw machine.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
Saika looks over towards Kikuno as she speaks. "What indeed," Saika echoes back, which is probably not gonna actually address what Kikuno was getting at, like, at all.

(That proffered hand turns away; rises to fold loosely beneath her bandaged bustline. Saika smiles at Tsumugi, because she likes to and she wants to, but then there is no more. At their question, she leans over and replies, in bad but quiet english "<Just because you Bad Guy, does not mean you Bad Guy.>" She definitely bootlegged that movie, or saw a clip. It is still in theaters. She smiles as she does it.)

Saika's grin gets even more coprophagic as Tsumugi reveals the REAL truth.

But there's still work to do. "Man," Saika sighs, "this has been one hell of a long night, hasn't it? Pernelle, you're gonna have to cook tomorrow," she continues as she laces her fingers together and stretches, "cuz the cook is *taking personal time*."

They are already planning dinner?? (Well, Saika is, anyway.)

"Exactly, Buta-san," Saika adds to Roger (how cruel, to emphasize his swinery). "But visiting hours are a little bit flexible, so you should -- hmm?" Her head swivels around to look at Kazusa, her chain-wrapped hand resting on her hip.

"What, were you hoping someone was gonna die? Maybe put their eye out, just t' kind of stay on topic? That's pretty messed up."

But her attention returns to Shinichi and to Yanagi. Her other hand comes up to tap the side of her nose as Shinichi speaks of... re-introducing Yanagi to her mother and her father. Her eyes turn towards Yanagi for a moment, lidded. Is that what *she* wants?

To the assembled, Saika asides, "He can fly, you know. I was shocked at first too."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
As Yanagi voices her forgiveness, Kasumi lets out a big sigh of relief along with the tension she's been feeling. "Oh, thank goodness! That's such a relief!" Not every sibling parting needs to end badly. And Nagisa-san gets a second chance. She sincerely hopes that he's able to make the most of it, if nothing else, then on behalf of the people who don't get that chance.

With that out of the way... Kasumi's about to comment on hoping things go back to normal at school pretty soon, but catches herself just in time. "Did either of you know Nagisa-san before the Homunculus? Is he... You know... Normally nice?" She asks. She might like to help support him too in reality...

All's well? Normally, Kasumi would be thilled to go along with it, but... "Is that really true?" She wonders aloud. "I mean, you were in a twisted relationship, Fuyuki-san... Is that really okay now?" That, and she's worrying about the terrorized female populations of Shuujin... Are the boys really just going to let things fade away? Is that how that works?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> A missing sibling. A family, waiting.
But if that was the case, why did Yanagi keep herself separated from them? For their own protection, or hers?

Maybe, it's to be able for Yanagi to protect the self she is now, without the weight of being the 'sick one', or 'the one who may have little time left to live'. A person like that wouldn't have been allowed to celebrate Seijin no Hi like she did out of concern for her own health, alone.

Coin's flattening ears bring a impish grin to Umie's face. Ahhh, she must be like Mona, and hate being compared to the animal, even mythical, she resembles. "I'm afraid my specialties lie in poking." If it's a pun, as Tsumugi says, "If 'the eyes have it'," she says, "you may very well have this under control."

There can only be room for the Badb to poke around what remains, sometimes instigating something, for better or worse, as Yoko's claws press into her sleeve. Umie missed the part about Kikuno talking to someone; or maybe, her consciousness had considered it so normal that she didn't even think to note it.

Huh. So this is what it's like, to see such an exchange occur outside of herself.

... Is Kikuno... like her? ".... Rather prickly, aren't you?" she muses, with some amusement, trying to catch a glimpse of Kikuno's wrists without being too obvious.

Before Umie can consider it further, Roger seems disturbed(?) by something. "Roger-san," Umie says, frowning. "Something wrong?" The Homunculus is dead, right? Umie can't *sense* anything nearby that fit neatly into the Badb's sense as 'a threat'. Things can and *do* get past it, however, as that sense is merely something co-opted to serve a different purpose, as much as Badb's sense of 'a battlefield', or supernatural space, being nearby when she's in Sumaru City.

She *could* summon Badb, but it's hard to tell, from Roger's expression, whether that would be an overreaction on her part.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Yanagi giggles when Shinichi compliments her sense of style. Pernelle's barely-contained excitable flapping and tippy-tappying contributes to that giggle, too. No need for words right now; he hugs her back, and it ''is'' good. This is a good moment. She's glad to have had it, in a different way from how she was glad to have taken the Homunculus's Eyes. She leans her head on his as he hugs her back, unafraid of harm. When he eases up, she lets go--but he doesn't pull away entirely.

Her smile is muted but still there as he asks her if he deserves it, as he thanks her for saving her. It regains its warmth, and she nods once. No need to explain it. He understands what needs to be understood.

At least... that's what she thinks until he asks her to come home. To their parents. To that apartment in Aoyama-Itchome.

Her smile dims fully this time, and a profound sadness shades her brilliantly green eyes.

A bond rediscovered, a monster defeated; so why not go 'home'?

"No."

There's no malice, no grudge, in her voice or demeanor. It's just a delicate yet unyielding refusal.

"I have a new home now, Shinichi. And I might have lived to become an adult after all, but I still have DMD. I'm still going to die young--maybe this year; who knows?"

Despite this fatalistic acknowledgement of her terminal condition, Yanagi smiles anew. It reaches her eyes, in which that sadness lingers. Umie's silent supposition was on the money, it seems, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love Shinichi. It's just...

"Mom and Dad already grieved for me and moved on. It would be cruel to make them do it twice." She pats his hand still resting on her--and gently, gently removes it. "You know you didn't kill me now, Shinichi. I didn't die because of what you said. I've forgiven you, so it's time to forgive yourself and move on too." She squeezes his hand...

...then pulls hers away. "You're free now."

As Tsumugi so eloquently recited, she has named the sky her own. She turns her smile to them and Saika and Pernelle, that sadness blown away. There is indeed nothing left for her here, and once again she conveys that mutual understanding with Tsumugi despite a lack of words. It's time to go to her true home.

"Ooh, I want hot pot!" she says brightly to Saika, regardless of whether she's taking tomorrow night off or not. It is a future Yanagi's looking towards all the same... a future with Peacock Silk, and without Shinichi Nagisa.

Paying no mind to Roger's sudden yelp, she leans over for her cane and the double-bladed knife that was once--and is still--a pair of Homunculus Eyes.

Until she too snaps a sharp, wide-eyed look over her shoulder, far too late.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Penguin Slasher has posed.
<poem>
Michael Kills Judith - Halloween OST - https://youtu.be/pW-z037uA1o?si=976AkjncjweEOuX2&t=52

The drama is quite distracting, is it not? As a sister rejects the idea of a lasting bond with family. As she readies to enjoy her future plans with her new home...

A shape melts out of the retreating mist. Look upon the ground, the Homunculus who was laying there, quite dead- now gone. For instead it encircles its enormous arms around Yanagi, lifting her up- and beginning to squeeze with all of his might- with bone snapping force.

His head is lolled at a sideways angle, with that dripping wound still present. His hands have deep pits where its Eyes once were. Even without his Eyes, somehow, he still persists.

((taking you from him))
((taking you with me))
((i will not be nothing))
((i will be your grave))
((we go together))

Still alive, it only thinks of one thing to do with its maimed, dying body. Spiteful- possessive vengeance. Not even to try and take the Eyes back. To kill her. Then die, in triumph, having paid her back for her betrayal in full, with her.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
The 'No.' hits him like a bucket of ice water to the face. For a while, he doesn't even respond, as she speaks to him, his mouth working like he wants to say something, like a gaping fish that was just landed and is suffocating on the air itself.

It's only when she pats his hand, then begins to pull away that he begins to answer in desperation, "What- but- that doesn't matter! Even if you were going to die tomorrow- I don't care! They wouldn't care. I can't just- just- move on? You're my sister!? I don't want to be ''free'' of you!"

His protestations grow weaker, and weaker by the moment, because- even if she forgave him, doesn't she deserve her wishes respected? Why should ''he'' who thinks he's the worst brother in the world to her- who thinks he doesn't deserve her, chase after her? Fight to keep her in his life?

All he can do is hurt her in the attempt. Just like he did before.

It grows worse as she excitedly talks about Hot Pot- with a woman he doesn't even know? With a whole strange group of people- and... weird monster bird!? But... not him. Not her family. Does she really just- not want to be a part of their lives anymore that much? It's so upsetting that he can't even understand yet that he feels more than a little jealous?

Still reeling with shock and confusion from this whole interaction with someone he would have thought he knew only seconds before, he only vaguely sees the shape rise up behind her, as he calls out in horror, "NEESAN!" He knows how frail she was, and almost certainly still is. He can see the monster behind crushing her- and knows, there's nothing he can do.

Nothing. He's entirely helpless to stop what happens next. Even staggering to his feet, he knows there's no way he can pry this creature off her in time- even though he'll try anyway.

Back in his life for a moment, then gone again. Like a rekindled flame of hope, flickering and wavering, then guttering away.

And why does he have the vaguest feeling that this was never supposed to happen at all. That idea, that impression that she's already dead, causes something to be consumed inside of him.

Reborn - Revue Starlight OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ge9LoG6ibw

There's no time, but blessedly, between the ticks of a second- the collective makes time.

Oh loathsome fear that binds you in this cage of passivity.

If she is taken from you again, the fault will lay only in your own cowardice.

Why not alter thy nature into one who would dance instead, and rekindle discarded ambition?

The shreds of fabric from a cocoon begin to glow a ghostly blue as spun potential- nearly lost forever- erupts with threads that attach to his head, his body, the entirety of his being. Boundless on the inside of that cocoon, Shinichi is bathed in the purest scarlet light to the rhythmic clanking of industrial machinery.

To pursue coveted bond with jealous abandon, to be ferocious to one's rivals and to wear conviction nakedly in the face of adversity is what it truly means to live!

A half-cape with a hood forms over him, the outer layer a blue, with a dark purple interior- fluttering down to land upon his shoulders. His torso is encased into a top of double breasted buttons in matching color, with a thin fabric that gives the impression of a scrub top.

I AM THOU,
THOU ART I.

Around his legs the silken threads wind, weaving blue athletic pants, then forming dark boots with metal cleats on each foot- his form constantly surrounded by ephemeral, blue wisps of flame that are ever burning-shifting.

Even should our dance take us to the grave, let our fervor set the underworld ablaze. Now, call to me- and let us have this dance together!

"HILARION!" he screams as he erupts from the cocoon, with the desperation of someone who knows they might lose so much if they don't act ''now''! Blue flames erupt in kind, and something rises out of him.

That ghostly blue flame compresses within a half-circle arc of machinery that constantly rotates around it. It tapers down into the neck of a spindly purple demonic creature armored all over in green and orange plating that is segmented in ways as to give the impression of sporting pads, in the center of which is a medical cross. On one hand, it wields a long staff made up of twisting and winded snakes in the familiar form of the caduceus, but without the wings. Its thin legs are crossed, as if to imply it is mid-dance- or pose.

With a dramatic sweep of its staff downward, it reveals to the Homunculus the lie that his vengeance can be complete. Behind the Homunculus, nuclear flame mushrooms up through him, consuming him so completely as to seemingly disintegrate him outright, leaving only his arms untouched.

Its arms slide off Yanagi, limply- his body ablaze in ever-burning nuclear fire, a shadow of a shadow within that blaze. He takes a step. Then another.

Then he falls over, disintegrating into Shadowy ash before he even hits the floor.

Despite the wonder of this moment, he doesn't even waste any time approaching her to check on her. "Neesan! Hey, are you okay? Just breathe-!" Intention becomes action, as Hilarion, the Persona casts a Diarama spell upon her taking the form of ghostly little wisps of blue light that surround her like an aura. "Somebody call an ambulance!" he calls out, still panicking in the moment.

Not even considering for a moment the adrenaline rush that the last place Yanagi would ever want to be- is in a hospital. Or whether ambulances can even run here.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kikuno Kisaragi has posed.
<poem>
Kikuno pauses, watching Yanagi as she informs her brother precisely why she can't go home again. Ever so slightly, Kikuno's sour frown deepens. In the same moment, Yanagi reaches for the knife and speaks of getting hot pot.

((An Opportunity Arrives)) speaks the voice only she can hear in her skull.

She glances again at Pernelle, at Tsumugi, her attention returning to Yanagi as the seconds seem to slow to a crawl. The one place that Kikuno does not look after all is at the fallen flesh of Eshm.

((He Lives Yet))

((Ware Ye))

Its carcass twitches, solidifying once more to too-solid flesh.

For Eshm is not yet dead. Malice lingers where a chance at life slips from its grasp. Of this, she is also familiar. So it's also petty--

But no, Eshm isn't dead yet. Kikuno, with sudden speed as Yanagi is struck, snatches up the knife.

And then something else happens.

"Ah," she says, tucking the knife away as chaos unwinds about her. "You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister." She pauses, taking one step back.

"Not tonight, anyway."

One more step. One more step. She turns her gaze up as Eshm is reduced to so much ash under the newly awakened Persona's burst of ultimate flame.
She had limped before. There's no hint of it now as she turns sharply and bolts for the door.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>It's not that Coin minds being called a fox; she's described *herself* as vulpine before. It's just that she knows that kitsune no mado is a thing children do, and that one she does mind. (How does she know it's a childish thing? ...beats her.)

This time, Coin gives someone else a long look.

Pernelle, specifically. Something about him -

He's not like her. But he's not NOT like her, either. She's fascinated by him like she was some of the other things she's seen, though she does not do the peek-through-her-hands or anything else particularly uncanny. She just *looks*, the same way she did at Roger earlier; a little uncomfortably if you're the target, especially when her ears quiver and point forward.

"You! And you!" Coin points directly at Pernelle, and then Roger. "You I will speak with, later! For our time here is short!" Especially with the Peacock Silk crew making plans to move out -

- until -

Coin is not especially familiar with the nature of the Homonculus. She thought that when it was defeated, it was gone; it wasn't something you needed a Silver Bullet for. It was something Else, something Different, and you couldn't integrate it.

Which means it should have the decency to *stay* dead once you kill it.

Coin's tail lashes as she spins around, but she's both way too far away and way too slow to do anything at all. Despite herself she draws her sword, although what she thinks she's going to do with it is a very good question. Even if she was closer it wouldn't be very helpful.

But something new is summoned, in defense of another... Coin's eyes widen. "A power, called by change and need...?" This is the first time she has seen someone Awaken to a Persona (besides her own, that doesn't count) and Transmutation feels so different. She does not have any words for a few moments, which for Coin is unusual, until Shinichi's panic snaps her out of it.

"How?" she asks, baffled. Ambulances don't run here! At least, not any ambulance you'd want to get in; she doesn't know if the place has cognitive ambulances but if it does you couldn't pay her to get in one.

She pushes Kanae forward instead, or at least against her leg. "Go! Help, if you want it to end well after all!"

Coin, after all, is not entirely used to how normal human bodies. She's pretty sure she will be less help than none at all... but at least she realizes that!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
What's not to like? Kanae likes Coin, for this too. Indeed though; Kanae has no answers for Kazusa, not at the moment. "it went fine," Kanae says, and when Kasumi chimes in, Kanae shrugs. "Whatever," she says of her twisted relationship. "It's done. I'm not worried about it."

...is it really that simple? Maybe it is!

Pause. "He was pretty nice," she adds for Kasumi's benefit. "Too nice."

But Yanagi... says ''no''. Kanae schools her features immedaitely; shock turns to something else, and she doesn't want anyone knowing what she thinks. ...How she kind of admires Yanagi's free spirit, in the moment. She feels a little bad for Shinichi, but... Wow!

"Forgive... yourself, huh...?"

Roger seems alarmed suddenly. Quickly, Kanae sees why--but too late to do anything. "Holy SHIT," Kanae starts, scrambling for her gunblade even though it's far too late--

The scars remain indeed, Magus.

She blinks--and starts to rise to her feet at Coin's push. "Uh!" she starts. "Right!"

With the shattering of another glass, Kanae changes the presence in her mind, and calls forth her own persona as she goes. "Ame-no-Uzume!" The dancing, laughing goddess appears to lend her own healing to Yanagi's body.

"...Sorry dude," she says. "No ambulance is coming ''here''. ...But now that I see, it looks like you already had it taken care of..."

Will it still 'end well'?

...Depends who for, maybe.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Magus speaks of the scars that remain. Kazusa glances at her out the side of her vision. "... the scars don't go away just because the monster is defeated," she says quietly.

She has some experience in the matter. But then again, she didn't get a tidy resolution, either. nor is she convinced yet this one will be quite so tidy yet.

She glares at Saika, bare arms crossed in front of her. "Don't be morbid," she snaps. "... though frankly I'm kind of all mobirded out at the moment."

"He's in my class," Kazusa answers Belle. But when she brings up the ''relationship'' Kanae was in with the Homunculus, Kazusa jabs Belle in the side with her elbow. "Not ''now''," she hisses quietly.

'No.'

Kazusa sucks in a sharp breath, even though she'd half-expected that reaction. But then she gasps, as the Homunculus reforms, and goes after Yanagi in a lat act of revenge. "No!"

She darts forward, her spine whip in hand, instinctively reaching out to call forth the butterfly that would presage her Persona's arrival--only to draw up short as a Cocoon encases Shinichi, followed by flames both blue and nuclear. "Nagisa-san..."

She didn't get to see her Awakening from the outside before. This is the first one she's seen, and she's momentarily taken aback, until--

'Somebody call an ambulance!'

Kazusa's jaw sets, and her whip cracks out as Mina HArker rises again. She'd kept her distance, before--if Shinichi was going to forget, she didn't want to prompt him into remembering. But now that he's Awakened anyway...

A short sprint sees her by Shinichi's side, and the hand that goes to rest on his shoulder may come from one of the least likely sources: a Kazusa Motojima in some sort of strange wolf princess cosplay, looking serious and also... concerned. "Nagisa-san," she says quickly. "A hospital can't help her. But your Persona can."

"And I'll help too. Mina!"

Mina Harker lends her own healing efforts to that of Hilarion and Ame-no-Uzume. Kazusa gives Kanae a grateful nod, but quickly looks back worriedly to Yanagi a moment later.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
It's in the past now, huh? Kasumi nods. "I'm glad to hear it, Fuyuki-san." She says. "You're strong." She says, earnestly.

Then, she gets jabbed. "Huh?!" Kasumi lets out a noise. "(What was that for? She mentioned it earlier...)" She whispers back to Kazusa.

Too nice, huh? Well, now it makes a bit more sense why the humunculus lashed out so hard. She hopes that Shinichi can find more peace now. It's a good start, at least.

Yanagi says no, and something inside Kasumi screams, that she stuffs down hard. Yanagi is completely reasonable, but... it does hurt to hear.

Then, something tragic happens. The humunculus, still alive, attempts to take a life with him. Kasumi lets out an strangled noise, clamping her hands overtop her mouth. She can't move, can't do anything to intervene. She can only watch in horror. As...

Shinichi... Transmutates? Awakens. And finishes off the Homunculus. "Oh. Oh, thank goodness..." Kasumi murmers, as life returns to her. "That was terrifying..." Everyone else runs to check up on Yanagi and Shinichi, but Kasumi can't bring up the energy just yet. So, she sinks down, still covering her mouth with her gloved hand.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> "The Homunculus is still alive!" Roger brings the sensation of shock to something more verbally sensible when it is too late for him to intervene. He's aghast at this! He should normally be on top of this kind of thing! He's the member of the team they're meant to rely on when it comes to the ins and outs of how an Atelier's denizens and unwanted Homunculus parasites all work!

...The terrible thought that Yanagi will not be able to play anymore with anyone, because of this.

But then...

Shinichi finds it in himself. He finds it in himself to change.

To awaken, to a Transmutation... and his Persona.

Hilarion disintegrates the Homunculus in its entirety, as Roger flails and balances back on one leg in the backwash of that awesome power of nuclear fire.

..And then Kikuno escapes.

"W-Wait! Weren't you going to-- explain... eee." Roger presses his fingers together, hunched over, at the rapid series of events. "Um, Shinichi-kun...!"

Many are, rightfully, coming to crowd around him to come to both his aid and Yanagi's. "D-Don't push it! You'll wear yourself out! You just awakened to something called a 'Persona!' You don't know the rules of that game yet!"

"...But..."

Roger tries to give a reassuring smile. "We're all on your team! We'll do all we can!!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>Magus looks toward Kazusa as she agrees with her. Yes... It is not that easy. She can hear the weight of familiarity in her voice.

Just because the source of the pain is gone, doesn't mean it is over.

She looks back toward Shinichi and Yanagi. ...It is, perhaps, the expected outcome. Of course it isnt so easy as letting her just go home to the family.

What isn't expected, though, is what happens next.

Magus curses under her breath as the Homunculus rises again. How foolish...! This is her first time encountering one of these creatures. She never thought to ask whether or not it was normal for the body to remain - but it was foolish of her to not guarantee the job was finished properly. She starts forward, drawing her saber - but she feels a spike of pain throughout her body, drawing a hiss from her. She isn't fast enough like this. She won't be able to do anything -

- but she doesn't need to. The shed cocoon begins to shine, and scarlet light washes over Shinichi.

"...I see. So this is..." Magus murmurs, trailing off. She lowers her blade - and watches as the Homunculus is consumed by flame.

But, her health...

"...We are currently outside normal reality." Magus states, as Shinichi asks for someone to call an ambulance. "They cannot reach us. We would need to leave this place. If you wish for something to be done, you must do it under your own power."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
They must really want those Eyes to let themself go through all that.

Maybe so. Tsumugi Kujaku doesn't explicitly deny it as they turn to make their exit with the others. All they say is this:

"I wanted to see if it could show me something new." Fingerless gloved hands move through that wild mane of platinum-and-glowing gradient hair, blowing locks back behind them as they walk.

"But it wasn't anything I didn't already know."

The steady click of heels carries them out in Pernelle's wake, ready to leave. They don't look behind them toward Yanagi. They don't tell her to hurry up and come with. Don't question her intentions.

Maybe because she's called the sky her own, and you don't cage a free bird.

Maybe they simply know what's coming next.

Either way...

They don't look back as Yanagi parts with Shinichi to grab the Eyes. They just lift a hand as Saika hands off kitchen duties to Pernelle.

"Ara. Is it time to play Russian roulette again--"

And then they stop. Red-gold eyes snap wide.

Something's wrong--

They spin, a second later, just in time to see the Homunculus gripping Yanagi, fit to crush her if only to deprive its host of the one thing he just took back. Eyes still wide, they take a single step forward -- and then still.

Those widened eyes narrow.

"..."

If Saika and Pernelle try to rush Eshm and Yanagi? They suddenly find a hand on their shoulder, and a high-heeled boot in their path, respectively, as Tsumugi suddenly seeks to preemptively still them.

"Wait," they advise, gaze fixed forward, past Eshm.

They blink. Once.

It's remarkable how much things can change in the blink of an eye? It's a powerful figurative device for a reason, after all. How profound things can just happen right past your notice. In some cases, however, it is very literal. Like now.

Tsumugi Kujaku's eyes shut for a fraction of a second.

And when they open --

Shinichi Nagisa is consuming the parasite that once tried to steal his life away in furious, desperate nuclear fire.

Shinichi Nagisa's chains break for the sake of saving another fetter he thought he'd lost.

"..." Tsumugi Kujaku's eyes hood as they watch Yanagi fall, and watch Shinichi rush to her side.

''Neesan! Hey, are you okay? Just breathe-!''

click
click
click

''Somebody call an ambulance--''

A long dark shadow casts over Shinichi and Yanagi Nagisa as an angelic figure dressed in white and carved of marble crouches down near them...

... and scoops Yanagi into their arms.

"No."

Tsumugi Kujaku lifts slowly. It hurts, with their injuries, but they lift Yanagi up, princess carry in their arms all the same. They don't even bother to look at Shinichi as they turn, fully intent to take his sister away from him.

"She was never yours to take. Shin-chan."

But their words are unmistakably for him.

"She's free now."

They turn, to start to leave once more. "Pernelle, open the--"

And then there is Kikuno, swiping that knife.

Those unnatural scarlet-gold eyes are wider than they've ever been as they fix immediately upon Kikuno. Surprise, for once, grips their gaze, along with something else -- something that makes pupils shrink towards pinpricks. The entire world seems to freeze in that moment.

And then she bolts for the door like a thief in the night.

"Saika, Pernelle--" the leader of Peacock Silk says immediately, their voice level but possessed of a sudden, ineffable ''intensity''.

"''Get her.''"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Coin looks at Pernelle. Pernelle looks back and tilts his head to one side. Then she points, and Pernelle ruffles in surprise. "Me! And he?!" Pernelle glances from Coin to Roger and back again, then straightens up, chest puffed with delight. "If speaking is what you seek, then speak we shall! I will bring snacks."

Later, of course.

Pernelle gasps and looks toward Saika.

"Have my kitchen privileges been restored?! Splendid! I shall whip up a feast the likes of which you have never experienced!" Yanagi chimes in to ignite Pernelle further with ideas. "Oh Yanagi, how I have missed your brilliant mind! We shall have the hotest of pots! The potest of hots!"

The excitement vibrating off of him comes to a sharp halt. Pernelle falls out of the air with his glasses falling from his beak.

"''Yanagi!''"

Scrambling with scratching claws, he makes to hurry toward her --

Only for Tsumugi's hand to fall upon him. He looks back up at them, stilled without resistance, but fear in his beady little eyes. Then he turns to look, burning blue reflected in his gaze. A grand awakening sees Eshm dispatched.

Pernelle watches the dust fall as Tsumugi takes Yanagi into their arms. And then --

"Eeeyaw?!" Pernelle squawks as Kikuno sweeps in.

''Get her.''

Pernelle's next squawk is more of a ''bellow'', terrifyingly resonate and echoing to have come from the throat of such a small creature. He spreads his wings and launches into full flight, casting his massive shadow over everyone in his path as he pursues Kikuno.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, well, I'll try to be less gross, then," Saika jabs insouciantishly to Kazusa in reply. But she's not really focusing on her.

It does not quite reach Saika's face, in its stitchwork glory, but her eyes do soften slightly when Yanagi speaks. It must have been hard for her; well, maybe not, thinks Saika, but if I was in her shoes, and I had family that--

-- and it's hurting him, huh. It's hurting a guy who's gone through a lot. Obviously it can't be helped, but he seemed to come along pretty well when the chips were down. Maybe...

... nah: he doesn't seem like the type.

Saika lets out a sigh. Her attention turns to Yanagi, who is, after all, not a stranger to her, and says, "Absolutely, this is the perfect time of year. Actually, Pernelle could probably... hm..."

Her eyes lid for a moment, at the *worst possible* moment, because when something makes that horrible shadow-humor-nightmare-fluid *sound* her eyes snap open. She raises her chain-wrapped hand. "Fucking MONSTER! Go back to Hell already! Fr--" Her doubtless invocation of the Monster of lore is cut off momentarily when something goes *click*.

For a distinct tick, Saika is staring with total consternation at Shinichi.

Just one tick. It's probably for the best.

Because in that tick Tsumugi's hand rests on her shoulder. She knows it by reflex. Saika stays tight, but she doesn't lunge. She exhales. Her own eyes are focused with laser intensity on Yanagi, on where Yanagi is, on where Yanagi *stays*, because with this new resurgence on the part of Shin-chan over there, she's going to have to fight and it's not going to be easy.

Especially since --

Wait.

There was that flash.

She should be doing the heavy lifting, not Tsumugi, they're all beat up, BUT

BUT

Her eyes widen immensely, enough that one of the staples on the edge of her eye gives way, revealing a hint of lurid blood-wet tissue underneath. She seems to rise upwards because she's putting it all together, and Tsumugi's unambiguous. Pernelle has a screeching cry of fury, and Saika speaks with more conventional language.

Her voice sounds notably deeper now.

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING?"

Saika strides forwards, towards one of those pieces of heavy machinery on wheels that would be attached to your ailing relation or wounded love; the machine that calmly and coolly sings the sound of heart and lung and blood and brain, making the hidden apparent for the occult scholars society knows as doctors.

Anyway, Saika brings up her right leg and kicks it dead on.

The sensory array does not so much roll as disappear, streaking forwards fast enough to smash through a significant fragment of the wall. The resulting hole is shrouded in dust but Saika has to advance and even with her height she has to duck to get through the hole thus ripped, taking one big step over the edge as she shouts again,

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

This must be one hell of a hobby.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> To be your own person.
Tick tock, tick tock, Umie.

Umie's clock is broken, but Yanagi's is still brutally shortened. To be the person she wishes to be, she had to cut herself free from the cocoon.

Umie bows her chin, slightly, and nods, closing her eyes.

'You're my sister!? I don't want to be ''free'' of you!'
Shinichi will likely not remember any of this, once enough time has passed. Maybe it's for the best... "..."

Do Umie's parents feel the same about her? She's cut them off for their own safety, just like she's done with almost things. They are the umbilical cord that connected her to the NWO, but also stubbornly ignorant of just how much damage the NWO has done to her.

Ignorance can kill a person, if they aren't careful. "Shit...!" Well, there's yet another flaw in Umie's 'radar': the Badb's radar is selfish, limited to dangers to *Umie*, not someone else, something others like Roger could see past.

The homunculus strikes to take what is his, expressing a deadly possessiveness the real Shinichi lacked.

But what Shinichi has that Homunuculus didn't, however, was the needle to thread the actualization of his True Self: his Persona.

".... amazing..." No matter what type, or situation, to see someone Awaken was like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon; a release of intention and willpower rarely ever given actual form. It's a fitting end, for the beast to be ended by the one who created him.

Still, Yanagi's life is now hanging from yet another thread. But, if Kazusa is correct... "Concentrate," Umie says calmly, excusing Kikuno's exit from her mind. If there's room, she'll stoop down close to the two, intent on trying to coach the newly made Persona User through what is a rough awakening.

Click, click, click.

Tsumugi scoops Yanagi up, much to Umie's dumbfounded shock. "Whoah, be careful," she cautions, but doesn't stop or hinder. Tsumugi has a point, as cruel as it may be for Shinichi to swallow.

Kikuno, meanwhile, has apparently made off like a thief in the night, meanwhile. She sighs, and gets up. "All this over some monster parts," she groans. "I guess it's an exciting life, though..."

Her gaze falls back down to Shinichi now, trying to bite back the wince at possibly seeing that face look up at her. ".... We should probably get going too, eh?" She glances back at Roger. ".... Will this place be stable long enough for us to get everyone stablized first? Including him."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
The Homunculus, returning to non-life like the last sting from a movie monster, snatches Yanagi up and lifts her into its crushing embrace. She cries out in reactionary pain, her cane and even the Eyes forgotten. As Eshm's grip tightens to break her, her cries intensify into ravaged screams.

She accepts that she will die, and die young. She ''does not'' accept that it will be at the filthy paws of the Homunculus she--she!--conned.

The aid that frees her comes not from whom she expects, though. Rather than Tsumugi or Saika or Pernelle, Shinichi is clothed in the red light of Transmutation and awakens to nuclear flame that burns Eshm clean away. As its arms slacken, she falls and stumbles into him, then looks back just in time to see the dying monster finally return to nothing.

(Mona meanwhile was shocked by this sudden sting too, but Yanagi's clearly got plenty of healers on her. He stays by Belle's side, resting a worried paw on her shoulder when she collapses. He'll leave when she does. They're partners, after all.)

Shinichi calls forth his Persona once more to heal her, and she breathes a little more easily, though sweat still beads her beautiful face. She doesn't respond though she also doesn't resist; when he calls for an ambulance in his panic, she grimaces. Kanae and Kazusa heal her as well, but Yanagi doesn't offer gratitude to either of them either. Instead, she twists to shoot a plaintive look over at one person:

Tsumugi.

Saika and Pernelle are dearly important to her too, but it's Tsumugi whom she loves the most. It's Tsumugi who she trusts with her whole heart to not be hurt or bereaved by her inevitable early passing. It's Tsumugi who will move on without hesitation afterwards, who will forget her once she's gone.

It's Tsumugi, and Tsumugi alone, with whom she can enjoy the present without being chained by a past or worrying about a future.

And so when they swoop towards her and sweep her into their arms, even before she appealed to them wordlessly, she breaks into a relieved and adoring smile. Eyelashes fluttering shut, she leans her head on their shoulder and relaxes...

'You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister. Not tonight, anyway.'

'Saika, Pernelle--''get her''.'

Yanagi's eyes shoot open just in time to see Kikuno exiting stage left, pursued by a peacock. The Eyes are nowhere to be seen; certainly they're not where she left them. "Did she--" she utters.

Then her eyes narrow. A deep breath; she lets it out.

Saika and Pernelle will have it handled. Already they're screaming fury and chasing after Kikuno with violence in their hearts. They, too, are loyal. All four of them are dedicated to their cause. Yanagi settles anew--but this time, she peeks over at Roger. He speaks of the rules of the game that Shinichi doesn't yet know.

"Roger," she says softly, "please help Shinichi understand." Umie, meanwhile, has the right idea. Yanagi looks up at her boss, her friend, her companion, her lover. "Tsumugi, let's go."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
"Just dial One-One-Nine!" Shinichi calls to Coin in a panic, not realizing the actual context of the 'How'.

''... Sorry dude, No ambulance is coming here! ... But now that I see, it looks like you already had it taken care of...''
'Nagisa-san, a hospital can't help her. But your Persona can.'

"Taken care of-?" He can't comprehend that she might be right so easily as he watches Kazusa add more healing magic into the mix, "Is- is that really enough!? He probably broke a few ribs at least...!"

'You lucky boy. You don't have a dead sister.'
'Not tonight, anyway.'

He was too distracted to see what Kikuno did, but his jaw drops at what she said because- isn't this a medical emergency right now? "Yeah I mean- I'm trying to prevent that right now!"

'D-Don't push it! You'll wear yourself out! You just awakened to something called a 'Persona!' You don't know the rules of the game yet!'

"Rules!? My sister almost got murdered! Just give me the quick rundown!"

'No.'

A shape scoops up Yanagi, and he suddenly is on his feet- only to swirl with vertigo, less due to the drain of awakening and more from...

... from...

... the feeling that he knows this person.

"Who- who the-" Whatever hesitation he felt, melts away in the face of his confusion, and jealousy over the life she's chosen to live- with... them?

"-''fuck'' are you to say that!?"

Are they the reason Yanagi is acting like this? Are all of them in this crew the reason?

"This is between her and me- you can stay out of it."

'Saika, Pernelle--'

Two more names, he can now engrave in his brain.

'''Get her.'''

Their priority, right now, after Yanagi almost died- is going after another girl who saved him? For what!?

"Yeah- no. I'm not letting you just have your way here. You wanna get at her, you have to go through me!"

Which is probably more bluster than anything because the exhaustion of newly awakening is settling in and- he definitely wants to lay down for a hundred years.

But he won't until he makes himself have a fist fight with a monster peacock, at least and forces himself to take a step Pernelle's way.

CRASH BANG

or maybe you know that girl over there who suddenly seems like she's pretty mad

Instead his direction changes a half-step further towards Saika, "Hey! You're Saika right? Leave her the hell alone!"

Before he nearly slips and falls on his ass from sheer exhaustion.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Boss Penguin has posed.
<poem>
Soundtrack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmQiHClfko

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

The sound of feet bearing geta, with a measured gait, just the right amount of force- to turn an inelegant 'thok' into a familiar 'tak'. A sound pronounced enough to be heard even over the din.

Familiar to one person in the Atelier's heart, that is. A woman wearing a black kimono, a symbol of calmness, stability... control. A pattern of pine trees: longevity, endurance, strength.

The resonance of her presence is immense- almost suffocating. Like even the awful vertigo of her existing nearby was enough to give many the urge to get on their knees before her rather than try to remain upright. Certainly at least enough to distract people away from the idea of fighting. Even if someone overcomes and gets the impulse to approach her, they'll find they're just unable to.

As if she could part the sea that is 'humanity' with her presence alone.

Her hands laced together, entirely unthreatened, her face that of a middle-aged woman, dark hair pinned up. "Such a lovely scene." She says of the chaos that she's just interrupted, "Just the kind of family reunion I envisioned. Between brother and sister..." A hand gestures towards Yanagi and Shinichi.

"...Mother and-" Another hand moves up, but before pointing at someone, her expression becomes the tiniest of insincere smiles as she looks right at them. "Oh. But I should call you Tsumugi now, shouldn't I? The name you chose for yourself."

She enunciates each word as green eyes, locked with theirs. "Your. Freedom." Rather than gesture at her, she lets a sleeve slide down naturally by gravity, showing a bracelet. It is an unsightly thing. Diamonds in the rough, interspersed with cut ones, mismatched in size and shape. A shogi piece for 'pawn' facing the object of their attention.

Yanagi will recognize it as a very familiar commission. The one she delivered on the day she saw Shinichi, before this whole mess.

"'Family,' 'tradition'... words that bind you- you remember when I said that, do you not? It is because you remain bound by your memory of me. Your freedom, a lie- shaped by your remembrance of our time together." She beckons Tsumugi with a single fingertip. "Let us leave this place, Tsumugi. I will allow you to serve me once more."

The hand drops, as she says with a self-confidence of absolute certainty.

"Just as you always have."

Many in this room may be confused by this. Who this woman is- even the few who know her, are certainly confused. One young man looks at her with eyes wide, staring in shock like he's seen not just one ghost today, but two.

"... Itami-san?" Shinichi whispers. "But you're..."

She does not even bother to look in Shinichi's direction, yet she does at least acknowledge him, "This is my gratitude for helping to take such good care of me, Nagisa-kun. The miracle you always desired. Your sister returned to your side."

Whether she wants to be or not, she does not say. That much is obvious.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
Kanae can feel for Shinichi in the moment. He's having trouble. He's finally speaking up for something he ''wants'', like she wanted him to a while back... but it's something he's not going to get, plainly.

But she hadn't realized Kikuno was running away with something so important.

"..." 'Give me the quick rundown', he says, but 'no' is more relevant for the moment. Between them...

Tsumugi has started to walk away with Yanagi, and while it was simple while Shinichi was a nonissue to appreciate Yanagi's desire for freedom, seeing the toll it takes on Shinichi is harder, now.

It gets harder and more complex when that ''woman'' appears.

Yanagi has made her decision, but...

"Huh?" Kanae wonders, and suddenly feels ''very'' out of place. A reunion between mother and... someone.

"..."

She didn't expect gratitude, of course. But she didn't expect a ''lot'' of what happened, either. Kanae takes a look back towards Isabeau for a moment--and then steps over to where the Homunuculus was. "Hey, hold on..."

She looks apologetically at Shinichi, and picks up Yanagi's cane. She hurries a few moments after Yanagi and Tsumugi before they can go--and offers it forth.

"This is yours," she says. "Here you go. ...Guess that finishes out our deal."

She steps back, and doesn't stop Yanagi or Tsumugi any further from here.

But she looks back at Shinichi. "So this is freedom, huh...?"

She thinks of Touma, again, and bows her head. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess it is."

But nervously, Kanae can't help but look to 'mother' once again, uneasy.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa will explain it to Belle later, that she was concerned about Shinichi and what mentioning things that the Homunculus might do, but... that's a moot point now.

Also, just a time and place thing.

(... also, a little bit that Kanae dating the Homunculus, even if for a noble cause, made Kazusa irritable. That probably doesn't mean anything.)

It's okay, Roger. None of this has happened how anybody expected. At least, not how ''Kazusa'' expected. They can talk about it later.

Roger cautions Shinichi on the 'rules' of playing Persona, and Kazusa, for once, agrees with him. (Maybe not with the exact ''phrasing'', but her capacity to nitpick right now is deeply bottomed out.)

Shinichi asks if it's enough. Kazusa nods seriously. "The Homunculus was supernatural. And... so are you, now. Between the three of us... it'll work."

She also doesn't have time to process Tsumugi's wanting to see something new. But she ''does'' react when Tsumugi just... scoops up Yanagi to princess carry her away. "H-hey!" Shinichi can't cage her, and Kazusa ''gets'' that, but also, "You could let us finish healing her!"

She missed what Kikuno did, with her attention focused on Shinichi and Yanagi. But when Tsumugi says to 'Get her' her head cranes around. "Wha-- didn't she come in with you? What the heck!?"

She gets that Shinichi is upset--and she in no way knows how to unpack any of this right now, but when he goes to pick a fight-- "H-hey! You're not going to be in any condition to fight--" He goes down, and this means Kazusa goes to kneel by his side.

Which means she doesn't have to worry about trying to remain standing when that immense presence comes, but she gasps and recoils anyway as she feels that power. "Wha--" She can't help but grit her teeth, but feels in no way willing to try and fight back.

What the heck is going on here!?

'Mother and...' She looks at Tsumugi, then back at the strange woman who just appeared.

She shoots Kanae a concerned look. If another fight breaks out, do any of them have enough left to fight something like ''this''???.

"Nagisa-san, do you ''know'' her?" she asks under her breath to her classmate.
</poem>
[OOC] Kazusa Motojima says, "bluray: Tack that onto my pose."

<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>"On WHAT," Coin calls back to Shinichi. "I do not own a phone, and even if I did, it doesn't work here!"

It is probably not a surprise that the little fox humanoid does not have a phone if Shinichi calms down enough to think about it (and also does not freak out about there being a little fox humanoid, which is an important step).

But Yanagi is alive, and even up, and Coin is pleased by that. She crosses her arms, nodding in a satisfied way -

- which is when Saika smashes down part of a wall, and Pernelle flies overhead. Coin stares after them for a moment, torn between following and not. 'Not' wins, but only by a hair - she wants to see what's going on! Still, she remains at Kanae's side -

Scratch that. She remains *behind* Kanae, having swished around her as soon as the new arrival... arrived. Even before she spoke. Coin doesn't want to be seen, and even she does not know why. Maybe it's that sheer presence. It certainly overpowers Coin's; Coin does not exactly have a small attitude, but she's feeling completely overborne by... 'Itami-san'?

Coin peeks out from around Kanae, but does not step around her. She does give Kazusa a look up at that concern, making a 'please calm down' patting gesture - no, you should not fight someone like this!
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>It seems there's an altercation. ...Past this point, it isn't Magus's place to interfere. They'll have to work it out between themselves. Shinichi, meanwhile, is understandably confused about the situation. This must be a lot for him. She doesn't envy him, to have so much dropped onto him at once. What he does from here, though, is between him, Yanagi, and that group taking her.

But then there's the sound of someone approaching - followed by an overwhelming presence.

Who is this? Just being around her makes it difficult to breathe. It's difficult even to remain ''standing'' - but even in her current state, rebellion roars in Magus's heart against those who would force her down. She forces herself to remain standing - but even that much is difficult to manage. She watches her carefully, but for now that's all she can do.

But whoever this is, Shinichi seems rather surprised to see her...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Kasumi does not understand at all what's going on. She understands that the kimono clad woman is important with an impressive presence. And Shinichi has seen another ghost.

She also understands that this woman is very, very strong. Not just anyone can say 'I will allow you to serve me once more', and cause a bystander to feel a tug.

Kasumi grabs Mona close. "We need to keep our heads down." She whispers. "This isn't the time to interfere." Even she can tell that much.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Roger has posed.
<poem> Roger can completely trust in Kazusa's Persona to help deal with any hurts outright! Which is good, because his ability to sense Homunculi that are still a threat - or rather, the failure to do so - rattles him.

Tsumugi takes hold of Yanagi as all hell breaks loose and the other members of Peacock Silk are running off.

"Roger,' a soft voice. He looks up. Someone gave him a name, some time ago, and he holds onto it like a precious thing. He's someone! Someone to play with. With everyone. 'Please help Shinichi understand.'

"...Oh... okay." He says, a bit taken aback. He doesn't know what game is being played here, but having accustomed himself to 'working a job,' he knows some games you have to play even if they don't seem very fun on the outset. Humans play a lot of games.

"I, I meant it!!" Roger snorts to Shinichi as he tries to hurry to his side as he falls from exhaustion. "You can't hoof it after 'em like this," he stomps his feet, his back turned to something else.

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

A powerful presence washes through, and Roger's eyes widen to pinpricks. He snorts the once inquisitively, turns about-face. He feels shoved just by being there, an aggressive fight-or-flight better described as a fervent stay-in-place.

He doesn't escape Shinichi's side. Not when Shinichi managed to fight to determine for himself who he is and what he wants, but to call Roger's posture 'defiant' is being generous.

His words, however...

"That's a Homunculus!" He says. "...I'm sure of it, but..." Roger stammers some. It reads more like confusion than out-and-out fear, at a 70-to-30 ratio. "...Never one like this..."

He holds his tennis racquet defensively, but cannot raise it further. He remains by Shinichi's side.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
It's hard to call the look on Tsumugi Kujaku's face, or the pitch of their voice, urgent. It barely seems different from their typical placidity -- and it's certainly a far cry from the wild passion they were demonstrating earlier.

But for those who know them, there's a difference there, as they ask Pernelle and Saika to give Kikuno chase. A subtle shift in body language and voice that adds an underscore of tension to it all, like the way the mood seems to just shift when a storm is on the horizon. Can you call it urgency?

Could you call it anything else?

It's there and gone in a moment, the second Saika and Pernelle pursue. As if content they'll secure the Eyes, the subtle edge dissipates like dirt washed away by the rain. They have nothing to say to the others; not to Shinichi's angry accusations, nor to Kazusa's startled shout. They just turn to leave once more, heals clicking on soiled, cognitive grounds.

click
click
click

t a k .

And then they freeze.

Their head hangs the moment they stop, platinum locks and their glowing, scarlet-gold undersides a veil obscuring their immaculate features from everyone.

Everyone but Yanagi, held in their arms, who can see their eyes widening, and lips pursing to part out a brief, small sound.

"no."

''Such a lovely scene.''

Fingers grip more tightly to Yanagi. They tremble, lightly, against her hip. They don't look behind them to see who has arrived. Maybe they don't need to.

Maybe they don't dare to.

"..."

Kanae approaches. Her words are light the muffled blare of a Peanuts adult in Tsumugi's ears, indistinct and lost as everyone else's confusion and uncertainty is. Like their body was moving of their own accord, they suddenly lower Yanagi as that cane is offered out to her, one hand on the small of her back to but otherwise left to hold herself up by that walking stick Kanae offers up as Tsumugi's other hand falls limp to their side.

''"Family," "tradition"... words that bind you- you remember when I said that, do you not?''

"..."

Their head rolls back. And slowly...

... slowly...

... they pivot on one heel, the entire world feeling like it shifts around them until it inevitably, inexorably draws them face to face with a beautiful vision that once filled them with the most excrutiating and painful of envies.

She looks just like the last time Tsumugi saw her. Exquisite. Unapproachable.

blotted and disgusting

"..."

Let us leave this place, Tsumugi.

I will allow you to serve me once more.

Their eyes are wide. Their entire stance is rigid.

Just as you always have.

Like someone staring down the face of death.

"..."

Your entire life has been as a puppet
whose strings have merely been traded from person to person.

Their eyes widen further.

Furiously.

"...

"''You never taught me anything.''"

shwff

By all accounts, the movement is sudden. Spontaneous. Unhesitating. To most, they'd just see Tsumugi Kujaku's right arm suddenly swing up in a smear of a white sleeve.

And then a knife singing through the cognitive air aimed right for the dead center of the one Shinichi called Itami-san's forehead.

But to the observant, and the ones who know them.

It isn't instant.

It isn't unhesitating.

There's the slightest, critical delay before that knife flies--

the damning sting of uncertain hesitation.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Of course Umie has the right idea! She always has good ideas! Even when they're ones snuck in by a tiny doll-like manifestation of her curse.

"Nagisa-san." It's definitely time to be the adult in the room, now that several adults are now in the process of leaving. "Pretty sure you'll see her again, now that you've got a Persona of your own." As Yanagi surmised, Roger may be a better candidate for this, come to think of it; but that doesn't mean Umie isn't going to *try*.... "First time's always hard summoning, so... you're not going to be able to stop anything." ... Apparently, from what Umie's heard.

Of course, *they* could stop the crew from taking Yanagi, but...

*tak* *tak* *tak*
It's a sound Umie knows well, having had to navigate them not too long ago: geta. "...." Her head snaps to the intrusion ever alert.

'I will allow you to serve me once more.' Even if this person may come in hopes of reunion, the sting of those words are like nails on a chalkboard.

If it's as Roger says...

The Badb is willing, even if Umie's at half her reserves. ".... Yeah, no." Woth a twist, the kyoketsu shoge is slung out of one sleeve, the hoop end grabbed by her other hand. However, she doesn't thrown or move, slightly bared as a threat, much like Roger has chosen to.

.... She'll choose to believe that Roger sees how much of a threat this homunculus is, and follow his lead.

Tsumugi's reaction, however, is something wholly different.

As the knife flies... a crow longs to do the same.

'Don't hesitate, Um-i-e-chan~' Pupils constrict, but Umie stays back.

But her tongue doesn't follow suit. "I don't think you're welcome here, I-ta-mi-san~"

The tone is sweet, playful, almost identical to the one purred against her ear alone moments ago. Umie is too eager to remain ignorant of it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Another squawk echoes through the area.

Pernelle returns, carried by the same wings that he left on, abandoning his quarry and ignoring his leader's instruction.

"Not today!"

He folds his wings in a twists his body mid flight into a single aileron roll. Long neck outstretched like a needle, he meets sudden and inexplicable resistance.

Yet his momentum is not stopped, merely ''paused'', and with an explosive streak of light he seems to ''puncture'' nothingness, his body threading through reality itself to reveal a shimmering, ovoid gate.

His head pops back out of it, Pernelle now grounded and gesturing with a sweep of his wings to motion through.

"Quickly now, ''quickly!''"

It is Tsumugi he beseeches, but he shall not close the portal on anyone who wants to leave through it, provided they are nimble in their decision.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi protests Tsumugi taking Yanagi away in rather coarse language. Her eyes narrow. She might love him, but that only makes it irritate her more than he's trying to fight this. "Shinichi," she says reproachfully, "you're being annoying. Please calm down and let us leave." At least Roger has agreed to help him. Yanagi is content to leave it at that, even if he seems confused too.

Kazusa gets a similarly unimpressed look when she says Tsumugi could at least wait for them to finish healing her. "I can heal myself," she tells her, voice clipped. She might be a Navigator rather than a healer, but that doesn't mean she lacks any such magic at all. More importantly, has Kazusa ever seen Yanagi annoyed or angry before?

The elegant footfalls of geta resound then in the ruined hospital room. Yanagi sucks in a sharp little gasp and pulls herself up in Tsumugi's arms, one hand slipping around their neck and clutching their shoulder. She sees the look on their face, hears their smallest refutation, feels their fingers dig into her and shake. It's a reaction even beyond the subtle urgency they had about Kikuno's grand theft.

Her gaze thus ''must'' go to the stately woman in the black pine kimono. To see who could have this kind of effect on them.

She barely needs to, though. She doesn't know Mifuyu by name, but she does know what she is. The Resonance alone makes it obvious, even without her Navigator abilities--at least, it feels that way to her. There's something ''odd'' about it, but even so--

"Homunculus," she whispers. "A fully matured one."

Good thing Roger's here to explain that loudly enough for ''everyone'' to hear, not just Tsumugi. Yanagi's attention is more on what's on the entity's wrist. This isn't just a fully matured Homunculus; it's one wearing the diamond bracelet commission she'd delivered to Shibuya University Hospital--where she and Shinichi reunited, where this entire debacle started.

Yanagi may have never finished high school, but she can still put two and two together before the Homunculus that has become Mifuyu Itami explains this was entirely by design. Her nails dig into Tsumugi's shoulder--all the more so as the one called Mifuyu invites them back under her command, tells Shinichi that all this was its gratitude for his own service.

(Mona meanwhile gets scooped up by a terrified Belle. "Are you serious?!" he hisses at her. "This is ''exactly'' the time to interfere! We can't just let this lady strongarm someone into servitude!!" But with Belle's arms around him, he can't get to any of his tools of the trade to help with a getaway for everyone. After all, even as he says that, he fully agrees that this is not someone they all should fight.)

Kanae picks up and gives Yanagi back her cane. This gets a grateful if steely smile that she didn't get before when she contributed to her healing. It does indeed conclude their deal, in her view.

"Thank you," she says--but before she can do what she wants to do next, Tsumugi sets her down--gently, with care--but leaving her to support herself now that her cane's been returned. They turn away and approach the Homunculus.

"Tsumugi!" Yanagi cries, staggering to one side as she steps toward them, forced to clutch her cane with both hands to stay upright. The Dias and Diaramas mended the worst of her injuries, and she's used to enduring pain, but it's not something she can just shrug off either.

No more than she can shrug off that barest hesitation just as Tsumugi throws their knife.

That confirms it. Whoever this Homunculus is, she is...

...what Shinichi almost became for her.

Pernelle returns, no doubt after sensing Mifuyu's approach and arrival. Yanagi feels the gate as he forms it, and she grabs Tsumugi by the crook of their elbow. "Let's go," she says again, leaning on them--so that she can raise her gun-cane and fire on the Homunculus.

She ''doesn't'' hesitate, but she doesn't have nearly Tsumugi's speed. It's merely something to buy a fraction of time--time enough for Yanagi to use her own weight to drag Tsumugi towards the gate and allow Peacock Silk to run. The rest, too, if they're quick enough. Yanagi won't begrudge it of them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Boss Penguin has posed.
<poem>
The woman who was once Mifuyu Itami, looks at Tsumugi in that inhuman way one might- as a favorite pet perhaps. So far above them, in control of every aspect of her life.

As Tsumugi yells '''You never taught me anything.''' she says nothing as the dagger flies, straight at her forehead. Only for her to raise a finger.

Only for the blade to stop, in mid-air, the moment it strikes the pad of that finger. Or rather, the Tetrakarn spell protecting that finger. As the backlash causes a searing, migraine like pain in Tsumugi, in the exact spot they had intended for her.

The knife clatters to the floor.

"Are you finished?" She asks, as if they were merely some unruly child, in open rebellion against their mother. "'You must appease the collective, because it is a ravenous beast and will devour you if you let it go hungry. So feed it scraps and pretend it's a feast, while you enjoy the true bounty.'"

As she echoes another lesson, from long ago, as a mockery of their own 'role' within Peacock Silk. As a rejection of the idea she taught her nothing, "Allow me to truly unburden you. Choose one of your allies in Peacock Silk... prove to me, you are free."

A gunshot, from a cane. It strikes dead on, the psychic backlash is just as swift as before.

"Or perhaps I should choose for you, so you can keep up appearances."

A slender hand is raised, in a dismissive gesture towards Yanagi.

The last thing that Yanagi will feel, before entering the portal, is the full force of a Zandyne spell, pure force itself- smashing her through it.

"Run from your past, Tsumugi, as long as you'd like. I can be patient..."

The other side of the bracelet is now in full view, showing the Shogi piece for 'King'.

"...we are not playing chess, after all."

Some may know she's speaking about the long time professional Shogi uses between moves. An eternity, in comparison.

She waits for them to leave, then smiles without even looking at Umie. "What care have I, for the invitation of a rabid beast?" She does not even bother with retribution for her impudence. Instead she turns.

Tak

Tak

Tak

Three footsteps. Blink. Or don't.

Either way, she's still gone.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
'Shinichi, you're being annoying. Please calm down and let us leave.'

Part of him withers under her reproval, like he's a little kid again. However, "Your friend just told all of you to 'Get them!' and tried to jump someone. You're being ''weird''!" Is that the best he can do for what to call Yanagi's behavior?

Well, yes, she's his sister.

Having sent Roger over to Shinichi, he's collapsed on one knee, as he looks at the... pig? The pig who told him he didn't know the rules!? Who says the approaching woman is- a Homunculus?!

His mind clicks things together that it didn't before, the creature he immolated is something like her.

"What- no I mean, how? That doesn't... she's-"

He can't articulate why that sounds wrong, as Roger said, he doesn't know the rules of the game.

"Right, have a rulebook?" He mumbles, nursing both a pounding headache and terrible exhaustion- not to mention the resonance from Tsumugi.

What happens next though-

A knife thrown. "Hey-!" A shot of a gun, "Wait-!" Was THAT A GUN? DID HIS SISTER PUT A GUN IN HER CANE? Before he can protest about his shock at the overwhelming illegality...

A Zandyne spell in retribution, "HEY!" He shouts, in fury at the attempt to kill her, as he tries to rise, then collapses again behind Roger and his tennis racquet. "What is WRONG with-!"

She's no longer there.

"-you?" The fury goes out of his voice, as he deflates. "Some gratitude..." He mumbles, of Mifuyu's exit. His sister was there, and gone. She saved his life. He saved hers- he awakened to some power. And to his very real concerns and confusion...

He was being ''annoying'' to her?

"Anyone care to... fill me in on what's going on?" He says in utter exhaustion, yet still, determined, despite it to try and figure things out. "Who were these people my sister is with?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kanae Fuyuki has posed.
<poem>
That overwhelming presence weighs more heavily on Kanae by the moment. But Coin is behind her, hiding there, and Kanae mkkes sure to stay in front of her. She can be a presence herself. Until--

A Homunculus. A mature Homunculus, Yanagi confirms.

"...Good luck," Kanae says, and looks back to Shinichi. She isn't going to go after Yanagi and company. Tsumugi speaks their defiance, and Kanae juzt looks between them and the woman in the kimono. She is not fast enough to get through the portal.

She shivers. "That's messed up," Kanae says to the 'back' of the woman who disappeared. "That's what almost happened...?"

To Shinichi. To Kazusa.

She looks to the others, and then pulls something from her pocket. It is recognizeable as a little talisman called a Goho-M.

"...Nagisa-kun," she says. "That's, ah..."

"You almost got replaced by a monster, we stopped it, your sister's taken up with a group called Peacock Silk that does fashion and apparently likes Homunuculus eyes, and the school thinks you and me are going out because I was kind of dating the Homunuculus?"

Pause.

"Anyway come here because I'm going to get us the hell out of here, we can have a good long talk later. Coin, make sure we've got Isabeau?" she requests. "Kazusa-san, go grab Nagisa-kun. Roger-san..."

"I don't even know. Let's get out of here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
"No." Kasumi is going to keep Morgana close. So she can take him and run when the time is right. "If..." She hesitates, unsure what pronoun to use for Tsumugi. "If they did it once, they'll reject her again."

As Kasumi predicts, Tsumugi responds to their mother with a tossed knife. She's definitely fooled by how smooth that was. And yet, 'Itami-san' deflects it with a Tetrakarn. And it's revealed, that the mother is a humunculus, casuing Kasumi to shudder. This? Is what happens if the person can't be saved from their Atelier? That's terrifying... Itami-san gave such an uncanny feeling.

Still, the Peacock Silk gang leaves, and Itami-san promises to be patient and disappears into the air herself.

Kasumi, once more, lets the tension back out. They're all okay. They made it through. She lets go of Mona as she rises back to her feet. "It's time to go, Mona." She says, even if she's looking back over to Kazusa. See you back in reality? The pairing will make their own escape.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Coin has posed.
<poem>There's a reason Coin was hiding. She may not have the deep knowledge of Ateliers and Homonculuses that Roger does, nor does she actually know 'Mifuyu Itami' (a lot of the interpersonal byplay has been memorized for her to chew over later), but she recognized enough to know she wanted no part of that woman.

But eventually she goes, and it becomes safe. Safe*r*, anyway. From behind Kanae, Coin sticks her head out. "I've got her!" she says, brightly.

She does sort of got her. Coin is not actually big enough to lift an entire human being. But she's trying, and she's supported, so that's good.

A few moments later, though, Coin realizes something.

"...wait, we're going out? As in, not in the Atelier? You want me to go OUT into the PHYSICAL WORLD? I don't know - "

That's going to be all she gets out before they go, though.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi listens to that whole statement, then forces himself to come over to Kanae, slowly, slowly- leaning on Roger some because he has to then.

Coin protests about the physical world, Shinichi though makes a realization in his exhaustion addled brain.

"... ... Wait what do you mean the school thinks we're- ... ... ... those weren't just weird dreams-"

TRAESTO

Crisis averted.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa hasn't really seen Yanagi annoyed or angry before, no, but she might not be able to appreciate that fully in the moment, considering the rapid-fire sequence of everything that's happened. She huffs angrily. (Which is a very common emotion for her.) "Sure. Heal yourself while you're already half-dead. I'm sure that'll work out ''great''."

Coin makes the 'please calm down' gesture at her, and Kazusa does not look like she's got any ounce of chill in her at the moment. But she does a little roll of her eyes and a nod in what is probably some variation of 'Yeah, yeah, I ''know''.'

Kazusa isn't sure if she should be trusted with important matters yet. But... that's the change she's working towards, isn't it? (She'll reassure Roger later; the not-quite-dead Eshm took ''Yanagi'' by surprise, too.) But when he labels the newcomer a ''Homunculus'' her head whips around to look at him in alarm. "A-are you sure!?"

This time, it's not distrust or skepticism that colors her voice, but simply alarm.

She can only watch, as Mifuyu Itami, Tsumugim, and Yanagi attempt to exchange blows, as Pernelle ''opens a whole in reality''-=- "Wait what!?" Can ''Roger'' do that?

Questions for later.

But she looks to Shinichi with open concern. "I don't know what ''that'' was all about, but..." Kanae provides a summary. "... yeah. What she said. I know it sounds like a lot, but just... it'll make sense in time, promise." Weird dreams. Kazusa looks pained. "... sorry, they weren't."

With the Homunculus gone, Kazusa can get up, and she's got just enough in her to offer a hand and a shoulder for Shinichi to get up. "Roger-san, help me with him." She is a comparatively tiny gymnast girl she is not bearing a male lacrosse player by herself.

"... I'll see you in class tomorrow, Nagisa-san. We can talk then, okay?"

She casts a glance to Belle and gives her a silent nod.

She'll feel good about rescuing Shinichi, but... the feeling of that Homunculus' presence is going to keep her up tonight.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Tsumugi Kujaku has posed.
<poem>
The knife is let fly.

And then it stops.

The effect is almost like it strikes a wall. And that--

"gk!"

is ''exactly'' what it feels like for Tsumugi as all that momentum rebounds directly into them. The typically graceful tailor's head snaps back like they were just struck, or shot. White hot pain blooms out a flashbang from their temple through to their sinuses through to their quivering jaw until it settles into a tingling agony across their whole face.

By the time their head lurches back forward, scarlet droplets splatter the ground, dripping off the exquisitely marble chin of their face from a stream of blood drooling down their nostril.

Are they finished?

They have no answer but the huff of breath. Their eyes still wide, their expression blank. Unreadable.

But she was always able to read them, wasn't she?

No matter how hard high a wall they thought they had put up--

''Allow me to truly unburden you.''

''Quickly now, '''quickly!'''''

Light punches a hole in nothing. Pearlescent and shimmering, that gate blooms behind Tsumugi, the backdrop of resplendence rendering them a dark silhouette.

Quickly. Quickly!

They don't move.

Their gaze remains wholly fixated on the thing called Mifuyu Itami.

Did they reject her before?

Right now, despite that burst of violence, they seem locked in a standstill as her gentle insinuations paint a picture in which the white space of what goes unsaid provides the full portrait.

Pick one.

A heeled foot starts to step forward--

"You didn't--"

An arm around their elbow. The report of a gun whipcracks at their eardrums.

They are so rarely off their footing. But they are now as Yanagi manages to drag them into that portal with her bodyweight, seconds before that bullet seizes and the force rebounds in cold retribution for the audacity.

And yet...

Yanagi will feel resistance against her tugging right up until the very moment that the two disappear past the gate.

Tsumugi's gaze never leaves Mifuyu's, even for a moment, until they vanish. But it's her move, now. They can do nothing.

... They did nothing. Even after so many years, even after how far they've come, how could they--

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> "Rabid beast, huh? Been definitely called worse," Umie grumbles, as Itami's presence is suddenly gone.

People move to leave; Umie opts not to involve herself with the various ways people get out, wincing with some sympathy as Shinichi, as well as Coin, object, for different reasons.

She looks to Tsumugi and Yanagi, tilting her head. "You'll probably run across them again, you know." Wasn't that what she said to Shinichi? ".... You'll... be okay, right, Kujaku-san?"

There's one other group she wants to make sure of as well, and, even if the threat of Eshm is gone... she realizes she *should* be more careful hinting at any connection she has to the Phantom Thieves.

(Hilariously, this is an assumption, as Belle is freelance, as is Mona. BUT ENOUGH OF THAT.)

She looks Belle and Mona's way as she digs into her coat. "... You two have a way to escape once we all do, right?" she says, quietly, trying not to be noticed. "Just... wanted to check."

She won't move until she has an answer, but once she does, she'll leave in a flash of light.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
<poem>
Umie reaches out quietly to check that the freelance thieves have a way out. "Ah! We always pack a couple Goho-Ms." She pumps her arms, forcing a confidant outlook. "Thank you though, Umie-san. That's sweet of you." A pause. "And sorry, for about earlier..." She means back at the Monad, naturally.

Though, now she wonders. Is Umie friends with Amemiya-senpai?

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
<poem> Kasumi answers in the affirmative; Umie nods, grinning as Kasumi pumps an arm. "Alright~ jussst checking." She takes out her gem, just about to use it, when...

'And sorry, for about earlier...'

It earns Kasumi a soft smirk from Umie, as the hooded blonde chuckles, waving a hand. "I'm the one who can't settle on a codename. There's nothing to apologize for."

Attempting to use the gem *and* put away her weapon, Belle and Mona see Umie just about to do.... *something*, but the gem is just about to fall from from her hand.

In a flash of an Umie Akabane fumbling for the gem, they are left alone.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

Ren Amamiya

2026-10-18T17:13:38Z

Ayu: /* Secondary Personas */

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 15%; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#000000; border: 2px #ed1c24 solid; font size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Ren Amamiya'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:Ren_Amamiya_P5R.png|300px]]
|-
! style="background:#000000; border: 2px #ed1c24 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Ren Amamiya (雨宮　蓮)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender (Pronouns):
| X-Gender/Genderfluid (Any/All, Primarily He/They)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Arcana:
| {{Arcana|Fool}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age (Birthdate):
| {{ICAge|1995|10|31}} (October 31, 1995)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Dark Grey
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'9" (175 cm)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Residence:
| Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| Shujin Academy
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Grade:
| Second Year
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Role:
| Focus
|-
! style="background:#ed1c24; border: 2px #000000 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| Persona 5 (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Voice Actor:
| Jun Fukuyama / Xander Mobus
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Groups:
| The Phantoms
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Ayu|Ayu Oakhay]]
|-
|}

'''"The show's over."'''

At a glance, Ren Amamiya would seem to be a calm, quiet, boring high schooler, barely notable for his frizzy hair, constant slouch, and large glasses. Listen to the rumors, though, and one will learn he's also a convict on parole--for exactly what depends on who's doing the telling--who carries around a cat in his shoulder bag. Behind both the gossip and those non-prescription lenses burn the eyes of one who seethes at the injustices rife in "proper" society. This spirit of rebellion and an accidental trip into the Metaverse birthed the leader of the infamous Phantom Thieves of Hearts, codename Joker. But that's a secret. First, he needs to make sure he doesn't get expelled...

= Background =

== Pre-VRM Start ==

Ren Amamiya is a silent protagonist, so there's a lot about his background that is not detailed or left open-ended. For the purposes of Velvet Room MUSH, this is what has been established for him.

* Born on October 31, 1995 (birthday based on the Japanese release date of ''Persona 5 Royal'')
* Born and raised in [[Inaba]], Japan, a town in the countryside
* Father is Mayor Subaru Amamiya; mother is Akira Amamiya (née Kurusu)
* Father has been mayor for four consecutive four-year-terms, so almost Ren's entire life
* Ren often butted heads with his parents, with his father disapproving of him and pressuring him to Fit In, and his mother passively taking his father's side
* Kept arguments private, but unspoken knowledge in Inaba was that "the mayor's son is a little too headstrong"
* Was generally privileged despite family friction; had money, could spend time with friends, could dress and decorate as he pleased as long as he stayed clean-cut, even got a smartphone for his 15th birthday in 2010 (an excessive luxury for most Inabans)
* This contradiction quietly built up resentment among many of Ren's friends, peers, and teachers, including his childhood best friend, Yoshio Sato
* Enjoyed ice skating; starting skating seriously once discovered by his Coach Himuro in 2009 at a skating rink in Okina City
* Coach Himuro both trained Ren to win competitions with a goal of the Olympics, and helped him discover and understand their own gender (genderfluid) and sexuality (pansexual)
* One night while coming home from practice at school, Ren ran into a couple arguing on the street
* The woman begged for help, so Ren got in between them; the man, drunk, fell on the sidewalk and accused him of assaulting him
* A pair of policemen who came to the scene to check out a reported disturbance arrested Ren
* Ren was found guilty in court, thanks in part to the man (who did not personally appear in court and had his name kept out of the proceedings) forcing the woman to testify against him
* Ren was expelled from Yasogami High School; the court sentenced him to a year of probation in Tokyo, to which his parents agreed
* Ren's parents set up a school for him to attend (Shujin Academy, class 2-D) and a place for him to stay (Café Leblanc's attic)
* On the way to his first day at his new school, Ren encountered Ryuji Sakamoto and Ann Takamaki, and ended up stumbling into the Palace of Suguru Kamoshida
* Ren awoke to his Persona and met Morgana within Kamoshida's Palace, and the four came together to change Kamoshida's heart to protect themselves and avenge Ann's friend Shiho Suzui, who was victimized by Kamoshida
* After successfully changing Kamoshida's heart, Ren, Ryuji, Ann, and Morgana agreed to stay as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, or The Phantoms for short
* The Phantoms targeted and changed the heart of Ichiryusai Madarame next, saving and recruiting Yusuke Kitagawa in the process
* Ren is dealing with the suspicion of the school's principal and student council president in the wake of Kamoshida's change of heart
* Ren met "Second Coming of the Detective Prince" Goro Akechi when he came to Leblanc with a lawyer associate, and later again during a school trip to a local TV station
* Present day...

==Season 1, Episode 1==

* Persona User Umie Akabane was attacked by the Joker Killer and rescued by The Phantoms; upon learning the Joker Killer is codenamed Old Maid by the police, they adopt that epithet
* Shujin Academy Student Council President Makoto Niijima made a move on The Phantoms and had them agree to change the heart of mafia boss Junya Kaneshiro
* Makoto Awoken as a Persona-User and joined the team
* Together, they changed Kaneshiro's heart across from groups like SEES and Cardboard Dragon while opposing Strega and [[Assorted_Supernatural_Phenomena#The_Black_Mask|The One in the Black Mask]]
* Met Ichika Kawase and Tsubasa Seki on initially bad terms when they tried to investigate the bad rumors about Ren, but he soon befriended them both
* Discovered Shujin's Principal Kobayakawa has a Palace
* Friend and underclassman Kasumi Yoshizawa fell into it by accident while The Phantoms tried to investigate
* Kasumi Awoke to her Persona in there and agreed to join The Phantoms on probation to weigh in on whether or not to change Kobayakawa's heart
* Ren, as Joker, fought the Black Mask and lost badly; Akechi comforted him afterwards
* Akechi set a trap for The Phantoms in Kobayakawa's Palace, only for all of them to be attacked by the Black Mask
* Shadow Kobayakawa revealed to The Phantoms that the NWO had him hire Kamoshida and take Ren on as a student
* The Phantoms ultimately decided not to change Kobayakawa's heart, and Kasumi (codename Belle) decided not to join after all due to feeling guilty about lying to Akechi
* Tsubasa was attacked by the Old Maid and rescued by many friends, including Joker, Fox, and Queen; they secretly Awakened and adopted the codename Phoenix as a result
* Ren and Minako Arisato started dating, much to Akechi's disgruntlement
* The Phantoms met with Cardboard Dragon, but were unable to come to a full agreement on alliance
* Ichika (codename Ogre) approached The Phantoms with a request to change her ex-fiancé Eiji Kamiya's heart
* While exploring Kamiya's Palace, Phoenix attacked The Phantoms, believing them responsible for their psychotic breakdown two years prior thanks to speculation from Akechi
* The Phantoms and Phoenix resolved the misunderstanding, and Phoenix and Ogre officially joined the team
* The Phantoms changed Kamiya's heart with support from various other Persona Users, including Akechi
* Ren celebrated Kamiya's change of heart with the rest of The Phantoms and came out to everyone as X-gender/non-binary/genderfluid, as inspired by Tsubasa
* Ren attempted to talk to their parents (in particular their father) about their enrollment at Shujin, only to get shut down, and was messed up about it for a while
* Akechi and Joker fought over his involvement with Tsubasa's misunderstanding, but came to terms over his help with Shadow Kamiya
* Ren confided in Akechi about their parents and the two continued to grow closer
* Sojiro left Leblanc without warning over the summer, leaving it in Ren's care, and returned just as suddenly
* Kazusa Motojima, an antagonist of Ren's and Kasumi's, was infected by a Homunculus, and The Phantoms helped with rescuing her from it, but not before Kazusa's Homunculus spread rumors that Ren is dating Makoto
* Maria Sakurai fell into a Kingdom, and Joker, Phoenix, Umie and Akechi all helped rescue her with antagonizing from an annoying pink cockatoo named Jerri; mysteriously, a Persona User codenamed [[Maria Sakurai|Cherry]] showed up at the end to help out
* Phoenix/Tsubasa was kidnapped by the Ryouhara ninja clan after its leader Shiryuu took an interest in them; with the help of Hibari (codename Mujina and member of Ichika's school gang), The Phantoms rescued them after a life-or-death battle with Shiryuu's subordinate Kurou
* Ren started keeping an eye on the Ryouharas with a pretense of befriending Kurou, who had become Umie's roommate
* A mysterious person calling themself [[Futaba Sakura|Alibaba]] approached Ren via text and requested The Phantoms change the heart of Futaba Sakura
* The Phantoms investigated Futaba and heard her story from Sojiro, her guardian
* Ren and Minako broke up after the latter had a confrontation with Akechi, and Ren rebounded onto Makoto, to Akechi's dismayed support
* Present time...

==Season 1, Episode 2==

* Ren and Akechi went stargazing together after midterms, and Ren unhappily realized they're in love with him
* Ren and Makoto realized they're both in love with other people and broke up amicably
* The Phantoms encountered the Black Mask while exploring Futaba's Palace. no one was happy about this
* After giving Futaba her calling card, The Phantoms moved in to change her heart, only for the Wild Hunt to block their way and fight them
* Futaba's heart was successfully changed even so, and Futaba left her room at last
* Ren turned 17 on Halloween and had a movie night party with their friends
* Joker and Mona trapped the Black Mask, only for him to break out and nearly run them both down
* Ren and Akechi got into another fight for unrelated reasons, but made up and became even closer
* Umie was attacked by a Joker Killer while with Ren; Akechi, Shiryuu and Kurou came to their rescue
* Hibari approached The Phantoms about a Shadow of a personal antagonist of hers in Mementos that was on the verge of forming a Palace
* The Phantoms and Futaba helped Mujina and changed the Shadow's heart
* Mujina and Futaba (now codename Oracle) officially joined The Phantoms
* Umie enlisted Joker's help with a Ryouhara-related matter and both got caught up in a battle between Shiryuu, Kurou, and the Black Mask, and later a new supernatural space called the Mizunagi
* Joker coined the codename "Ruin" for the Black Mask
* Ren became actual friends with Kurou
* Ren confessed their feelings to Akechi, who accepted; the two started dating
* Ongoing!

= Personas =

== Primary Persona ==

'''Arsène''' ({{Arcana|Fool}}): The Great Thief; the Pillager of Twilight. Ren's main Persona, who directly reflects who he is at his core. The quintessential gentleman thief who stole for thrills but also for social justice, and who also famously clashed time and time again with Sherlock Holmes--whoops, I mean Herlock Sholmès--Arsène Lupin was originally the debonair lead of a series of books by French author Maurice Leblanc. Dark and stylish, Arsène has feathery black wings, an outrageously tall top hat that might well just be part of their head, a ghoulish grin on a black mask-face, a white neck scarf tucked into a black lace-up vest, clawed fingers, a red jacket and tall boots with knives for heels. They vibe like they're dangerous and loving it.

== Secondary Personas ==

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="3" | '''First Wave'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Description
|-
|'''Cait Sith'''
|{{Arcana|Magician}}
|A Puss in Boots-looking Persona that represents Ren's catlike nature as well as his bond with his mentor in phantom thievery, Morgana. One gets the sense that there will be a long line of cats in Ren's future. This one in particular has a focus on buffs and physical attacks.
|-
|'''Ame-no-Uzume'''
|{{Arcana|Lovers}}
|Fused to have Frei line attacks, a request made by and completed for the jailer twins, Caroline and Justine. It otherwise has a focus on healing and area attacks. It conveniently also represents his bond with Ann, a fellow Phantom Thief.
|-
|'''Angel'''
|{{Arcana|Justice}}
|A representation of Ren's strong sense of justice and righteousness, acting as the flip side of his will of rebellion via Arsène. With a focus on Light magic and status effects, it ''definitely'' does not represent any kind of brewing bond with any obnoxious Detective Princes.
|-
|'''Ixtab'''
|{{Arcana|Death}}
|A fusion accident produced the rare Persona, Ixtab. (Canonically, it's no Persona at all; it appears in P2EP as a Demon.) It focuses on disastrously powerful Earth and Gravity magic, and represents Ren's bond with his physician/dealer, Dr. Takemi.
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="3" | '''Second Wave'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Description
|-
|'''Nekomata'''
|{{Arcana|Magician}}
|Replaced Cait Sith. A mischievous human-sized cat monster who, like Cait Sith before her, represents Ren's cat-like nature and their bond with Morgana. She focuses on dishing out ailments via physical attacks and Wind/Force magic.
|-
|'''Setanta'''
|{{Arcana|Emperor}}
|Replaced Ame-no-Uzume. Fused to be able to boost defense, a request made by and completed for the jailer twins, Caroline and Justine. He otherwise focuses on physical and Nuke attacks. He also conveniently represents their bond with Yusuke, a fellow Phantom Thief.
|-
|'''High Pixie'''
|{{Arcana|Fool}}
|Replaced Angel. She represents Ren's bond with Minako, their girlfriend (at the time). She focuses on healing and support.
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="3" | '''Third Wave'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Description
|-
|'''Naga'''
|{{Arcana|Hermit}}
|Replaced Ixtab. He was acquired while exploring Futaba's Palace and also represents Ren's bond with her. After doing hard time in Velvet Room jail, he's become proficient in both Electric and Water magic.
|-
|'''Principality'''
|{{Arcana|Justice}}
|Replaced High Pixie. Once again represents the deepening bond between Ren and Akechi. They're strong at healing and Light magic, with a bit of Dark defense and Earth magic to supplement them.
|-
|}

= Equipment =

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="3" | '''Weapons'''
|-
!Name
!Class
!Description
|-
|'''Prism Dagger'''
|Knives
|A dagger with a prismatic sheen to its blade. Joker's primary weapon at the start of Velvet Room MUSH.
|-
|'''Harpe Knife'''
|Knives
|A wickedly long, sickle-like knife based on the weapon Cronus used to castrate his father Ouranos in Greek mythology. Found in a locked treasure chest in Futaba Sakura's Palace. Joker's current primary weapon.
|-
|'''Makanorov'''
|Handguns
|A model gun based on the Russian pistol. References the maker of the Makarov pistol, Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov. Joker's secondary weapon at the start of Velvet Room MUSH.
|-
|'''PMF-84W'''
|Handguns
|An ornately carved, silver model handgun that can shoot wind-aspected bullets. It originates from ''Star Ocean: Anamnesis'' and is an homage to that game's crossover event with ''Persona 5''. Joker's current secondary weapon.
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="3" | '''Armor'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Description
|-
|'''Queen's Necklace +'''
|{{Arcana|Empress}}
|Created in the Velvet Room from an Empress-aspected Treasure Demon of the same name found in Eiji Kamiya's Palace. The Queen's Necklace + is based on the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, an incident involving Marie Antoinette and a diamond necklace fraudulently commissioned in her name. This necklace was also target of Arsène Lupin in one of his stories. Joker's current armor.
|-
|}

= Special Skills =

Ren has the Wild Card, and as such can summon multiple Personas in battle. His version of the Velvet Room is unique to him and reflects his mindset; it takes the form of an enclosed circular jail decked out in blue, and he, a prisoner confined to one of its cells. Igor is the jail's warden who addresses him as a "prisoner of fate" in need of "rehabilitation," and Ren's attendants, the young twins Caroline and Justine, are the guards who watch over his cell.

When Ren has to address a difficult situation, he has three particular approaches:

1. ''Thief Talk'' (Proficiency): Ren engages with a Shadow or Demon with the tricks of the trade that he's been learning as a Phantom Thief.

2. ''Diplomacy'' (Understanding): Ren uses calm reason and negotiation to talk a Shadow or Demon into agreeing to cooperate with him.

3. ''Warning Shot'' (Guts): For when Ren needs to brute-force intimidate a Shadow or Demon into doing what he wants, courtesy of his handgun.

= Relationships =

==Friends==

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''The Phantoms'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Codename
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Morgana]]'''
|{{Arcana|Magician}}
|Mona
|''My mentor and partner in crime. I tell him nearly everything. We're even closer now that he's overcome some personal issues.''
|-
|'''[[Makoto Niijima]]'''
|{{Arcana|Priestess}}
|Queen
|''Reliable and trustworthy; the unofficial 2IC. Struggles with emotions and her prosecutor sister. We dated for a bit. She keeps me principled.''
|-
|'''[[Haru Okumura]]'''
|{{Arcana|Empress}}
|Noir
|''Helping her with her roof garden. I especially like how scary her sweet smiles can be. We're keeping an eye on her dad's Palace.''
|-
|'''[[Yusuke Kitagawa]]'''
|{{Arcana|Emperor}}
|Fox
|''Helping him with his art. He's making Skill Cards for the team. Delightfully eccentric. Needs to learn how to manage his finances...''
|-
|'''[[Ann Takamaki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Lovers}}
|Panther
|''My best female friend and make-up sensei. She always cheers me up. The most passionate one. She and Morgana cleared the air between them.''
|-
|'''[[Ryuji Sakamoto]]'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|Skull
|''My best male friend. I can always rely on him in a pinch; his biggest muscle's his heart. In a polycule with Ichika and Tsubasa.''
|-
|'''[[Futaba Sakura]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hermit}}
|Oracle
|''Incredible info-gatherer; Morgana's her feet on the ground now. We managed to win her trust. Is this what having a sister's like?''
|-
|'''[[Ichika Kawase]]'''
|{{Arcana|Temperance}}
|Ogre
|''The "Thorn Boss" at her school. Comfortable with me as leader, though. Easy to talk to. Joined at the hip with Ryuji and Tsubasa.''
|-
|'''[[Tsubasa Seki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Devil}}
|Phoenix
|''My best non-binary friend. If not for them, I wouldn't be out. Paranoid for good reason. Their dad sucks and their mom... it's complicated.''
|-
|'''[[Hibari Aoki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Star}}
|Mujina
|''An old friend from Inaba. Teaching me how to cook more than curry and coffee. Rumormonger and a peacemaker.''
|-
|'''[[Kasumi Yoshizawa]]'''
|{{Arcana|Star}}
|Belle
|''An adorable kouhai. Joined us after partnering with Mona for a while. Issues with loneliness and her deceased sister.''
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Confidants'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Epithet
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Minako Arisato]]'''
|{{Arcana|Fool}}
|Minako-chan
|''Ex-girlfriend and a field leader of SEES. We're still good friends, even though secrets divide us.''
|-
|'''[[Sojiro Sakura]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hierophant}}
|Boss; Chief (by Morgana)
|''My guardian and technically my parole officer. Started out gruff, but we get along well now.''
|-
|'''[[Umie Akabane]]'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|Akabane-san
|''My "work senpai." We have a lot of fun together, despite how (because) she's a trouble magnet.''
|-
|'''[[Goro Akechi]]'''
|{{Arcana|Justice}}
|Detective Prince
|''My rival and now boyfriend, and all that implies. It's been messy and complicated and I love it.''
|-
|}

==Neutral Parties==

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''SEES'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Address
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Minato Arisato]]'''
|{{Arcana|Fool}}
|Arisato-kun
|''Minako-chan's twin brother; a field leader of SEES. We get along OK. I went to his and Minako-chan's birthday party; it was fun.''
|-
|'''[[Fuuka Yamagishi]]'''
|{{Arcana|Priestess}}
|Yamagishi-san
|''Minako-chan's friend and Yusuke's clubmate. Glad to see she's been thriving. Seems nice. I think she and Futaba would get along if they ever met.''
|-
|'''[[Mitsuru Kirijo]]'''
|{{Arcana|Empress}}
|Kirijo-san
|''President of SEES. Heiress of the Kirijo Group. Composed; intelligent. Recognizes we want to do right but still distrusts us.''
|-
|'''[[Akihiko Sanada]]'''
|{{Arcana|Emperor}}
|Sanada-san
|''Headstrong and eager to fight. Seems reliable as a senpai. Told me about his past with Goro, who dislikes him. Distrusts us too.''
|-
|'''[[Shinjiro Aragaki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hierophant}}
|Aragaki-san
|''Confirmed his past with Sanada-san and Goro. Apparently been through a lot, making him broody; not a bad guy, though. Distrusts us three.''
|-
|'''[[Yukari Takeba]]'''
|{{Arcana|Lovers}}
|Takeba-san
|''Minako-chan's BFF. Unafraid to speak her mind, but tries to be fair, which I respect. Her dad caused the Dark Hour. Distrusts us x4.''
|-
|'''[[Aigis]]'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|Aigis-san
|''An actual robot. You'd barely guess without already knowing. She's into gardening and watched me play a chess match against a master.''
|-
|'''[[Suzume Fukura]]'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|N/A
|''Asked lots of thoughtful questions during our meeting with SEES. Been investigating Mementos because she Awakened there.''
|-
|'''[[Koh Katsuhiro]]'''
|{{Arcana|Fortune}}
|N/A
|''Mostly seemed interested on if "Joker" and "Joker Killer" had any connection. Didn't stand out much otherwise.''
|-
|'''[[Ririka Kawase]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
|N/A
|''Ichika's little sister. Seems a little better-disposed to us than most of the rest of SEES. I see her around in Persona fights a lot.''
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Schoolmates'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Address
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Kanae Fuyuki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Fool}}
|Fuyuki-san
|''Ex-friend from Inaba. She apologized for shunning me, so we're cordial but not yet friends again. Same type of Persona-User as the Wild Hunt.''
|-
|'''[[Shinichi Nagisa]]'''
|{{Arcana|Magician}}
|Nagisa-kun
|''Ryuji's classmate. Was possessed by an extra-nasty Homunculus, but he's safe now. Good luck to him getting his life back together.''
|-
|'''[[Katsuko Yoshinaga]]'''
|{{Arcana|Emperor}}
|Yoshinaga-senpai
|''Gave me the time of day during a shift at Ore no Beko. Seems awkward but friendly enough.''
|-
|'''[[Kazusa Motojima]]'''
|{{Arcana|Strength}}
|Motojima-san
|''Ryuji's classmate, Ann's friend, and Yoshizawa's teammate. So-called "Demon Queen." Trying be better after beating her Homunculus.''
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Acquaintances'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Address
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Maya Amano]]'''
|{{Arcana|Fool}}
|Amano-san
|''A reporter who was chasing the story of the Old Maid; a rare honest adult who respects kids.''
|-
|'''[[Roger]]'''
|{{Arcana|Lovers}}
|N/A
|''Seems like a friendly little-big pig guy. Fontaine-san loathes him. Morgana says he's a Humor Shadow. Uh oh...''
|-
|'''[[Hyousuke Suzuki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|Suzuki-san
|''One of Ichika and Tsubasa's friends from their school. Has a dog. Seems violent but loyal.''
|-
|'''[[Katsuya Suou]]'''
|{{Arcana|Justice}}
|N/A
|''A cop with a Persona. Allegedly one of the "good ones." I'll still keep my distance, thanks.''
|-
|'''[[Julian Marlowe|Vesper]]'''
|{{Arcana|Fortune}}
|Vesper
|''A mysterious Persona-User who acts with cool grace. I like his style.''
|-
|'''[[Shinobu Shimizu]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hanged Man}}
|Shimizu-san
|''Seems like a reliable adult; I often see her helping out in Persona battles.''
|-
|'''[[Maria Sakurai]]'''
|{{Arcana|Star}}
|Sakurai-san
|''A cheery airhead. Called the Old Maid but regretted it. Was sucked into a Kingdom. Hope she's doing OK.''
|-
|}

==Enemies==

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''New World Order'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Epithet
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Assorted_Supernatural_Phenomena#The_Black_Mask|Ruin]]'''
|?. ???
|The One in the Black Mask
|''Assassin and enforcer. Unstoppable except for seduction and I hate it. What's he know...?''
|-
|'''[[Shiryuu Ryouhara]]'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|Shirogarasu
|''Akabane-san's boyfriend and actual ninja clan boss. I don't like him, but I'll acknowledge he cares about his people.''
|-
|'''[[Kurou Ryouhara]]'''
|{{Arcana|Death}}
|Kurou
|''Both an enemy and a friend; maybe a kindred spirit. Loves tea. Lives with Akabane-san.''
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Strega'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Epithet
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Tatsuya Sudou]]'''
|{{Arcana|Sun}}
|Old Maid; OG "Joker Killer"
|''A pyromaniac and vicious murderer, up until he died. RIP to a real monster.''
|-
|'''[[Niko Kirisaki]]'''
|{{Arcana|Moon}}
|N/A
|''Acts cheerful superficially, but has real anger and pain underneath. Close to Kurou. Don't like that.''
|-
|'''[[Noriaki Okaga]]'''
|{{Arcana|Magician}}
|N/A
|''Apparently opened a coffin during the Dark Hour. A real piece of work. Akabane-san knows him.''
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Wild Hunt'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Day Job
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''[[Laurent Fontaine]]'''
|{{Arcana|Judgement}}
|UTokyo Professor
|''I dislike him. Good intentions eclipsed by being someone else who wants me to shut up and obey.''
|-
|'''[[Isabeau Fontaine]]'''
|{{Arcana|Lovers}}
|Shujin Academy Student
|''I dislike her. Between her father, "friends" and "boyfriend," I also worry for her. Why's it like this...''
|-
|'''[[Alain Wakamatsu]]'''
|{{Arcana|Temperance}}
|Kagurazaka Baker
|''I dislike him. Polite at least, but he's still cut from the same cloth as Prof. Fontaine.''
|-
|'''[[Vivienne Sournois]]'''
|{{Arcana|Magician}}
|Movie Theatre Owner
|''I'm... neutral-ish towards her? More easygoing than the rest, but still condescending.''
|-
|}

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Palace Holders'''
|-
!Name
!Arcana
!Ruler Form
!Journal Notes
|-
|'''Suguru Kamoshida'''
|{{Arcana|Chariot}}
|King of Castle Shujin
|''Abused students who couldn't defend themselves. Sir Kamoshida, the great sinner of Lust, we have stolen your distorted desires without fail.''
|-
|'''Ichiryusai Madarame'''
|{{Arcana|Lovers}}
|Lord of the Golden Museum
|''Plagiarized his wards and destroyed their lives. Sir Madarame, the great sinner of Vanity, we have stolen your distorted desires without fail.''
|-
|'''[[Junya Kaneshiro]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hierophant}}
|Yakuza Banker of Shibuya
|''Scammed kids in Shibuya; stole property in Sumaru. Sir Kaneshiro, the great sinner of Gluttony, we have stolen your distorted desires without fail.''
|-
|'''Eiji Kamiya'''
|{{Arcana|Sun}}
|Hell's Groom-in-Waiting
|''A rapist and human trafficker at age 18. Sir Kamiya, the great sinner of Envy, we have stolen your distorted desires without fail.''
|-
|'''[[Futaba Sakura]]'''
|{{Arcana|Hermit}}
|Pharaoh of the Empty Tomb
|''Futaba, you great sinner of Sloth and doleful victim of Wrath, we have stolen your distorted desires without fail. Welcome to the light of the sun.''
|-
|'''???'''
|{{Arcana|Moon}}
|(not encountered)
|''There's a mysterious, beautiful but sterile white Palace in Odaiba. It's actually a stadium but it's perceived as a laboratory. We fought a cognition-turned-Shadow there that took on the form of Yoshizawa's sister, and it spoke of its 'lord and master,' but we never encountered the Ruler. We don't even know their name because its entry in the Meta-Nav was glitched. After that fight, the entry itself disappeared from the Meta-Nav too. What was that all about?''
|-
|}

==Original NPCs==

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Original NPCs'''
|-
!Name; Age
!Details
!Appearance
!Profile
|-
|'''Subaru Amamiya (雨宮寿春); {{ICAge|1969|01|11}} (January 11, 1969; 25 when married, 27 when Ren was born)'''
|{{Arcana|Emperor}}, Cis Male, Ren's Father, Mayor of Inaba
|5'10" (179 cm); black hair and eyes; a no-nonsense, short, straight hairstyle; always wears suits; square shoulders, good posture.
|A stern, stubborn, driven man with traditional values. He does not believe in violence and thinks it's gauche to get openly angry, and so makes a point of always being soft-spoken but eloquent, unyielding but calm. He does love his wife and son in his own way, more or less, as seen by his eventual support for Ren's ice skating, but he buys heavily into inexpressiveness as manliness and so is emotionally remote. He's been mayor for four terms and is going for a fifth; however, as he ages, he's grown ambitions beyond just being mayor and was going to meet with Representative Shido in the hopes of getting a finger in the national pie while offering him an inroad to the rural vote in return. Accordingly, he is icy-furious at Ren for endangering his career on multiple levels. He has no desire to be in touch with him while he's away in Tokyo, and is hoping that his time away will straighten him out and stamp out his rebelliousness. He just wishes Ren would be normal.
|-
|'''Akira Amamiya (雨宮　暁), née Kurusu (来栖); {{ICAge|1971|05|27}} (May 27, 1971; 23 when married, 25 when Ren was born)'''
|{{Arcana|Temperance}}, Cis Female, Ren's Mother, Housewife/mayor's assistant
|5'0" (153 cm); curly, dark brown hair kept just above shoulder-length; hazel eyes; slight and diminutive; tends to wear dresses.
|A demure, kindhearted, secretly fatalistic woman with a sharp mind but a weak spine. Ren gets his curls and emotional intelligence from her. She met Subaru through their parents, bonded with him about their respective unisex names, and married him because she was impressed by his strong core values. She's significantly more loving to both her husband and child, having accepted the burden of emotional labor for the family, but she's also passive, tending to listen rather than speak, go with the flow and do what others want. She frequently tells Ren to do the same out of a misguided sense of love; she feared his rebelliousness would get him in trouble one day and blames herself for not properly getting him in hand before his arrest and expulsion. She wants to sweep it all under the rug and let everything go back to normal, and hopes having Ren far from home will let everyone in town forget what happened. She doesn't call, but she thinks about him often. Even so, she also wishes Ren would just be normal.
|-
|'''Coach Himuro (氷室コーチ); {{ICAge|1985|07|02}} (July 2, 1985)'''
|{{Arcana|Priestess}}, Cis Male, Ren's former ice skating coach, Professional ice skater
|6' (184 cm); lean and muscular; short and spiky brown hair and brown eyes; a dazzling smile; usually wears sports wear with expensive cologne.
|A professional skater who discovered Ren at the Okina City Skating Rink one day three years prior to game start and nurtured his love of the sport into an ambition for the global stage. He's also queer and privately out but professionally closeted; he encouraged Ren's journey of self-discovery when he realized it about them, and has provided them with a lot of support and advice about their gender and sexuality as well as their skating. However, while he believed in Ren's innocence, he was too much of a coward to go to bat for him or even continue to coach him, concerned about what either would do to his own career. He did apologize and express his regrets, though ultimately told Ren he shouldn't have gotten involved, and both advised him about glasses as a way of managing his image and gifted him a pair as a farewell present.
|-
|'''Yoshio Sato (佐藤芳央); {{ICAge|1996|03|21}} (March 21, 1996)'''
|{{Arcana|Hanged Man}}, Cis Male, Ren's ex-best friend, High school student
|5'6" (167 cm); dark hair and eyes; plain features with wide-set eyes; small scattering of freckles; basic haircut
|Ren's former best friend since about ten years ago, ever since Yoshio moved into town to live with his grandparents while his parents were getting divorced. (Even after the divorce, he still lives in Inaba with his grandparents, and consequently he feels unwanted.) Ren was the first to welcome him, so they became close in elementary school, but over time Yoshio grew jealous of Ren due to feeling like Ren was better than him and had more than him. Ren sensed this and tried to cover up or brush aside the parts of his life that were more privileged, but it didn't help. When Ren was arrested, Yoshio made a big show of believing he was guilty and publicly cut ties with him. On the surface, Yoshio insists Ren betrayed his trust first by committing a serious crime, and so keeps himself from feeling ashamed, but deep down, he doesn't really believe Ren was guilty; he simply seized his chance to rip him down from the pedestal he'd put him on. He hasn't confronted this about himself.
|-
|}

= Soundtrack =

* Main Theme: ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHyXZQE7-bQ BREAK IN TO BREAK OUT]'' (Lyn)
* Change Your Heart Theme: ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPaCgNDwqqs Life Will Change -instrumental version-]'' (Shoji Meguro)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2IkpeeIE4Y Raise Your Glass] by P!nk
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL4LNg-iyY4 Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken] by P!nk
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqmRhLoHt6w Ai no Scenario] ([https://www.animelyrics.com/anime/magickaito/ainoscenario.htm Love Scenario]) by CHiCO with HoneyWorks
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc5EMYE_2DM UpSide Down ~Eien no Wa~] ([https://www.animelyrics.com/anime/stail/stusd.htm UpSide Side ~Möbius Ring~]) by Shouko Inoue

= Logs and Cutscenes =

==Season 1 Logs==
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Episode 1'''
|-
| <div style="column-count: 3;">
{{#dpl:
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|-
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{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Episode 2'''
|-
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|-
|}

==Cutscenes==

{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="background:{{{BGColor|#000000}}}; border: 2px {{{BorderColor|#ed1c24}}} solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Season 1'''
|-
| <div style="column-count: 2;">
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|-
|}

=Gallery=
<table>
<tr>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:Ren_profile.jpg|150px]]</td>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:Ren_reflection.jpg|150px]]</td>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:Ren_profile2.png|150px]]</td>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:Ren_and_Morgana.jpg|150px]]</td>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:Ren_figurine.jpg|150px]]</td>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:P5X_Joker_Artwork.png|150px]]</td>
<td width="150px" align="center">[[File:P5X_Arsène_Artwork.png|150px]]</td>
</tr>
</table>

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Shujin Academy]]
[[Category:The Phantoms]]
[[Category:Focus]]