2025-08-29: Green Harvest
- Log: Green Harvest
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Ichika Kawase, Hyousuke Suzuki, Julian Marlowe
- Where: Hirasakan Streets - Dark Hour
- OOC Date: 2025-08-29
- IC Date: Tuesday, July 03 2012
- Summary: Yua oversees the punishment of a man who embezzled funds from the NWO; Ichika, Hyousuke, and Julian get in her way. She declines to tell them -- or anyone watching them -- just how happy she is they came by to save his life. But what was she extracting from those Shadows...?
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
The sky is green; the air is wrong. In the Dark Hour stands a woman, a man in a suit beside her. Yumi, the doomed bride, has been seen now and then in the supernatural world; her black bridal veils obscure her face, body armour strapped over her grey wedding dress. Gloves cover her arms, though the bare skin exposed by her short sleeves is darker, like you'd find in the sunny southern prefectures. By all accounts, the man manages the woman; that's how it's been, in the past.
They were directed here, to Hirasaka. He thinks it is because it is far from any consequences they might face; she knows it is because bodies disappear easier, here. The street is grasped in a green stranglehold; it was empty before the Dark Hour, and it is empty, still, now.
But now -- "Gretchen..." -- Yumi fires on her eye, or where it must be under those veils, and red flecks of light like flame curl from the left side of her face. A massive maiden in jewels and a white dress rises, behind them, large enough to dwarf them in her arms -- arms skewered through with steel bars, like a jail cell.
Gretchen's hands clasp, in front of them, trapping them both in her prison. Yumi extends her hand. "The artifact on your finger," she demands, anger in her voice. "Give it to me."
"Are you insane?!" Tomoya Abiru demands, his eyes widening. "If you take that, I'll be defenceless in the Dark Hour! I don't have a power like yours! I'm here to ensure the success of this harvest, so hurry up and call the Shadows, already!"
"I am." Yumi replies, her tone closed like a bear trap. "Shadows flock to unprotected psyches... even outside of Tartarus. Did you think the company failed to notice your embezzlement?"
"You can't be serious," he gapes, backing up until he hits the bars of Gretchen's cage. "A harlot like you can't do this to me! You're -- you're just a company resource!"
"And now, so are you," Yumi says, though her voice grows tighter. "Comply. In compliance, find atonement." It's not that she can't imagine how he's feeling; she's stood where he stands. (Still remembers the feeling of Shiryuu's cord, around her throat.) But his comments are cruel, and it is all too easy to deny him kindness, in the moment.
Trembling, Tomoya takes off his ring, handing it over to her; he stays awake, since he survived the transition, though he clutches his head with the grief of it all.
"Don't run," Yumi advises him. "... right now, I am your only friend in the world."
It seems like an impossible statement, as Shadows begin to notice them. He falls to his knees, clutching at his belly, as Gretchen summons her Chthonic Cage to bind them still. The bride steps forward, drawing a large syringe from a pack at her waist, and firmly thrusts it into the Shadow-stuff of something not quite a crow.
"Sorry," she says, as she draws something out of it, drawn to the silver lining on the inside of the syringe. She knows it is not kind.
The Shadow writhes... and expires.
So too with a wheeled lion, two heart-headed dancers, a beetle; each time, Gretchen beats them down and traps them, and each time Yua approaches them to extract something vital from their flesh. All the while that man quakes and trembles... and when the Shadows near him, Gretchen's jailer-arms extend to keep both Tomoya and Yumi safe.
Perhaps it would be inconvenient for her bait to die too early.
AS: Yua Ooshiro has readied for combat as Gretchen! She is now fully healed! Ready for 3 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"So," the Ogre says, "Sometimes there's trouble out here in the Dark Hour. I figure we can find some of that trouble. I also invited a guy I met at the Palace--that place I mentioned to you--so we can get a feel for him before we work together."
She's in her Rebellion attire already; it's not too far from the dorms. She is in heavy modern armor and carrying a big shield. And suddenly...
"Wait," Ichika says. "The Shadows... are moving."
"Let's follow and see where they're going," the Ogre says, and starts off at a run.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The Ogre might have had a costume that was worth observing, but Hyousuke's was altogether much plainer, and did nothing to hide his identity. Consisting of little more than a plain, snugly-fitting t-shirt and a pair of jeans, the whole ensemble was rounded off by some trainers that could politely be described as 'well-loved.' It was perhaps not a particularly protective affair, and Hyousuke would have much preferred something lighter and more flexible, but he figured that denim would at least proved some protection when compared to bare skin or thin cotton.
The real draw of his look was the pair of gloves clinging to his fists. The cesti, as he had heard the shopkeeper describe them, were formed from sheets of leather and hardened strips of it, each wound about his hand and arm to form a glove. Upon the knuckles were studs - metal things that glinted in the dim moonlight, threatening to land precise and devastating injuries against whatever poor soul was on the receiving end of one of his blows. They were simple things, as far as weapons went, but even Hyousuke could tell they had potential.
That aside, they were a lot less unwieldy than the pata that were on offer.
He raised his gloved hand briefly to Julian in greeting, and opened his mouth as if to speak in turn. However, before he had a chance to, Ichika brought something to his attention. Like a dog catching a scent, his head snapped around and his posture straightened, as if he was about to dart off at a moment's notice. With a nod to her, he set out, matching her pace.
"Any idea why?" He asked, eyes scanning about the area for anything interesting.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Meeting Ogre was quite the unexpected twist to what Vesper had thought would be the start of a new investigation. But not an unwelcome one. Delaying a foray into the Palace itself was a small price to pay for the opportunity to have allies in that venture. Experience taught him that one person is not ideal for managing the sorts of roadblocks that one may come upon in these places.
The Kasugayama dorms... perhaps there wasn't any particular reason for picking that location for the agreed upon test, but it does make him think. Is this the Ogre's usual patrol grounds? And what might be her motivation for such patrols? Not that it matters for the immediate moment - he'd already seen what he needed to see for there to be some measure of trust on his part. Now, to ensure he proves worthy of the same.
For Hyousuke, this means that he has two masked vigilantes to deal with now, and they couldn't look more different. The man waiting for the two of them looks like an elegant gentleman out on a late-night scroll, wearing a neatly tailored three-piece suit and carrying an umbrella. Though his expression is impossible to read behind the stark white mask, he does note his surprise immediately upon lifting his bowler hat in greeting.
"Good to see you again, Ogre... and associate?" He wasn't told others would be present, but he supposes that's his fault for not asking. "Vesper, Supernatural Investigator Extraordinaire," he rattles off his usual introduction for Hyousuke's benefit, before joining their side at the same hurried pace.
"On the hunt, perhaps... it's a common reason for Shadows gathering towards one location. A prime opportunity for the hunters to become the hunted, wouldn't you say?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
An animated table slinks down the street, sword and staff and cup floating above it. It creeps forward on its four little legs, scuttling, scuttling...
And the mighty Anti-Navigator Yumi looks at it with scorn, because it is, in fact -- a fucking table.
The table scuttles for that massive woman with her jail-cell arms, the man curled in a fetal ball on the ground and the woman standing tall. (She is short -- right now, that doesn't matter.)
Gretchen's jewels crash into it, pinning it down; its tablecloth flutters, mask cast in eternal sadness, as Yumi strides forward to thrust the needle of another syringe into it. Once the plunger has been pulled out, she tugs it a little further, removing the plunger entirely as a safety cap extends over the needle and the contents inside seal themselves. It leaves her with a horrible danger tube, filled with something shadowy, shining at the edges of the vial. She opens a pack at her hip, and slots it into a padded opening there... alongside the rest.
She straightens; she looks out, at the street.
"You would not tell, with such high zest, the old lie..."
Oh, Hyousuke. Her heart grieves; another boy she has tried to care for, to nurture and support, now come to stand against her. The fault is not his; nonetheless, the show must go on.
"Gretchen," Yumi calls, to her, as that white woman turns her mask to the humans who approach. A harsh fuzz enters the senses, as the minimap blurs; as Yumi confuses all the exits, and makes it difficult to retrace their steps and escape.
The woman, in her obscuring bridal veils, turns to the Ogre.
"I see you," she says, and it is a threat.
Gretchen sees her, too.
Then, to Hyousuke, she says: "It is sweet and honourable, to die for one's country," as she steps in front of Tomoya, the man still trembling. Gretchen lifts a hand, and a terrible malaise sinks over him, all grey with pink and red highlights.
Finally, she turns to Vesper, and says: "He is alone." The words echo, terribly, as Gretchen lifts an arm to summon a terrible feeling around him, threatening to lock him into place.
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Ichika Kawase!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Almighty skill Shared Suffering on Hyousuke Suzuki!
ARCANA: Ruin: Yua Ooshiro gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Almighty skill Isolation on Julian Marlowe!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Yua Ooshiro's Full Analysis.
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Strength Scan! Ichika Kawase resists Wind!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Weakness Scan! Ichika Kawase is weak against Water!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Support Scan! Ichika Kawase has passive skills Block Strike, Heavy Weapon, Peerless Skill, Sharp Student, and Wind Boost!
AS: Take! Julian Marlowe takes 0 Almighty damage from Yua Ooshiro's Isolation.
AS: Panic and Paralyze added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yua Ooshiro's Shared Suffering.
AS: Exhaust, Haze, and Sick added!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
If it weren't supernatural, Ichika would definitely not have this outfit. Fashion is one thing; costuming is a totally different skill!
But she appreciates that Hyousuke is getting used to his weapon. But before they can speak greetings and ideas...
Any idea why? "Yeah," Ichika says. "I think Vesper's right. They're hunting someone!"
Run, run, run. "Associate!" Ogre agrees with Vesper. "The idea is if we can all fight together--Ah, shit."
She skids to a stop as she sees Yumi and Gretchen fighting the Shadows. "What the...?"
She sees her. Ichika grits her teeth as she feels that scrutiny about her mask.
"Yeah, well," the Ogre says. "See this. PERSONA!"
She rips her mask off, blood pouring down her face, and a blue light extends from her feet; Momiji, the kijo, rises. And she extends one clawed hand--
As a downward blast of force slams towards Gretchen and Yumi, aiming to knock them straight to the ground.
"She's bad news!" Ogre says, helpfully(?).
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Wind skill Zan on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Help Up! Haze removed from Hyousuke Suzuki!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Then Ogre runs over to Hyosuke. "Hey!" she calls. "Whatever she's doing to you, snap out of it!"
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Another masked vigilante. Hyousuke couldn't help but stare a little, even as they made their way towards their target. Was it something to do with their Personas, he wondered? Did they put those on before they came in? Or was it just another supernatural phenomenon separate from Personas that he wasn't privy to? He didn't know, and certainly didn't spare much brainpower to thinking about it. being that there were more immediate concerns to hand, and that he likely didn't have the smarts or the information to work it out, he decided that thinking about it was best left for later.
"They're hunting?" He asked, brow furrowing a little. In his limited experience, he hadn't seen any animals in the Dark Hour, and further investigation didn't reveal any nearby either. There was the chance that he'd simply missed them, but a more grim idea came to mind. "...Are they hunting people? Damn it, then we're sure as hell following them." He paused for a moment longer, then realised that there was something else that he had forgotten. He spoke to Vesper again, though only spared a glance. His eyes were forward, and focussing on finding the Shadows' potential prey. "Hyousuke. Please to meet you".
Whatever else he had to say stuck in his throat when he saw the strange figure and the curled-up man. He recognised neither of them, and didn't even think to try. he knew that the Shadows were bad. He saw a man afraid in a place with hostile creatures closing in. He saw some weird speaking ominously as they hurt the Ogre somehow, leveraging their own supernatural powers for whatever they had in mind. All that led him to only one conclusion - that he had to put his strength to use, and beat the living daylights out of this stranger.
Then, a sudden malaise. Exhaustion that left him clenching his teeth as he struggled to stay upright, swaying from side to side while his feet parted into a widened stance - some desperate attempt at maintaining balance. Then, sickness. A lurching in his stomach that threatened to surge through his throat, and took whatever willpower he could muster to force down. He looked to the woman with furious eyes, but didn't dare to open his mouth or waste energy speaking for fear that his condition would overtake him. It was only when the Ogre lent him a helping hand that he managed to get back into the fight - though he'd have to ask her how she managed it later.
"Thanks!" He grunted, nodding sharply at the Ogre before turning his attention back to the fight. "And you... You're gonna pay for that! Achilles, smash her face in!" The bronze warrior behind him, armour gleaming as silver light caught against its contours, surged forward at his command. It levelled its shield at her, and with breakneck speed, thrust that great wall of metal at her.
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Shield Smash on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 8 SP from Sick!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
AS: Nerve Up! Yua Ooshiro's SP +8!
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 52 Wind damage from Ichika Kawase's Zan.
AS: Mind Up! Yua Ooshiro's SP +8!
AS: Block Best! Yua Ooshiro takes 20 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shield Smash.
AS: Blast added!
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
On the other hand, this would totally be what Vesper would wear, if he could find anything like this, and he could afford it. Granted, the suits he does have are nice, but they're not... perfect. Hopelessly out of style and definitely not something anyone would think of where it comes to Japanese fashion to begin with, but... that's what makes it perfect.
"Rather likely, I'm afraid," is his brief reaction to Hyousuke, the smile visible below the mask genuine enough, approving of the reaction to that. "Pleased to make your aquaintance as well, Hyousuke-kun."
The introductions have to be cut brief, however, as there's someone else already there up ahead, engaging the Shadows in... some form of combat, it seems, alongside a Persona. And Ogre's reaction informs, "...This one doesn't number among your associates, I take it." In which case...
His thoughts are stopped cold at that moment as he is spoken to, in a way that may remind him of Fuuka Yamagishi, when he thinks back to it later. Not in this moment, however, as he finds himself overcome by a familiar, awful feeling.
Loneliness. His old enemy. One of several reasons for escaping his former life. Making a fresh start in Japan was obviously a lonely beginning as well, but... there are many he's become acquainted with since then, hasn't he? Many that he's come to feel some form of connection to.
...But it's still lonely, isn't it? Always having to maintain a greater measure of distance than he would honestly prefer, for professional or personal reasons. And in the end, every evening... coming home to an empty apartment. Ah... what he wouldn't give to turn back the hands of time...
For what others can see, Vesper just froze up entirely, expression not fully visible behind the mask, but the grimace below it still is. When the counterattacks begin, he shakes his head, forcing himself to snap out of it. That's right... regardless of these feelings, the fact is that he isn't alone right now. And that comes with responsibilities. His right hand raises, and is swiped past his mask. With the call of "Persona!" the gentlemancricketer amalgam that is Raffles appears behind him in a burst of blue flames, raising a diamond-tipped cane to summon a protective aura to aid his allies.
"Whoever you are... I'd advise you to cease your attack, and slink back into the shadows whence you came!"
AS: Persona! Julian Marlowe has used the Almighty skill Marakukaja on Julian Marlowe, Ichika Kawase, and Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Julian Marlowe takes 60 damage from Panic!
ARCANA: Defense: Julian Marlowe gains 1 Limit!
AS: Julian Marlowe's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Julian Marlowe takes 0 Almighty damage from Julian Marlowe's Marakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am6rArVPip8 Florence + The Machine - What The Water Gave Me
Yumi -- Yua -- sees her. There is a kind of base superficiality to her being and knowing, when she breathes in the Will of Rebellion; the way the ocean sinks into her, nothing but wet for kilometres around, treading water until there's nothing to grasp but the waves. It fills her lungs and stings her eyes(!), as the world becomes difficult to hear, all far away, all sinking. And then -- the gale! -- a thing so ferocious as to blow the ocean away, forcing her forward, at her back, to bring her sword-arm down mightily and charge fearless to the fray, roaring in her ears with the pop of atmosphere as she feels the rush against her skin.
"Ah," Yumi gasps, as she lurches forward. "You..."
(Tear off your mask, again. I see you. I SEE YOU --)
Gretchen moves as the bride stares, beneath her myriad veils, to embrace Yumi in her prison; Zan batters at her steel bars, while Yumi tries to collect her thoughts. Gretchen vibrates with the force of the blow, as, within...
Achilles rushes in to follow up on Momiji's might, its shield flashing with the might of ancient and celebrated warriors as it crashes against the bars of that cell. Yumi stumbles back, to grasp at her own Persona's white dress, hiding herself in her skirts, almost tripping over Tomoya to do so. "Ferocious children!" She cries, alarmed.
Gretchen spreads her arms, again, as Yumi takes a breath and turns back to them. "You wish me to cease?" She addresses Vesper, as she turns to him. "With your own might must you make me. Dance with me!" It is a demand as much as an invitation, as she twirls in front of Gretchen, waving her arms in the air.
"You," she turns to the Ogre, "I know. Drown!" A wave of water rips towards her at Gretchen's gesture, with force instead of gentle persuasion, to wrap around her and fill her lungs... like a babe who cannot be allowed to live.
"You ferocious youth... I see you!" She turns her baleful gaze on Hyousuke, now, to be-and-know him, to be possessed by the nature which shields and exposes him.
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Almighty skill Dance With Me on Julian Marlowe!
ARCANA: Ruin: Yua Ooshiro gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Water skill Bruising Wave on Ichika Kawase!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Ichika Kawase takes 92 Water damage from Yua Ooshiro's Bruising Wave. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Yua Ooshiro's Full Analysis.
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Strength Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki resists Strike!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Weakness Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki is weak against Wind!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Support Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki has passive skills Mind Shield and Nerve Shield!
AS: Take! Julian Marlowe takes 0 Almighty damage from Yua Ooshiro's Dance With Me.
AS: Charm, Haze, and Spd_Dn added! Panic removed! Explosion! 60 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"I think so," Ogre says about hunting people. But Hyousuke is on the same page she is--they're both interested in preventing that. As to how Ogre helped... Well, don't worry about it, she can explain later. Instead--
"C'mon!" Ogre says. "let's go!"
To Vesper, "Nope. She's a problem--I've fought her before."
Loneliness...
"Right!" Ichika agrees with Vesper, though... she doesn't know what she's after, either.
"Vesper! You OK?" she asks. But Yumi is still there. Ogre's identity may be safe, but her person definitely isn't. The mask doesn't abate. But Yua calls them ferocious.
"Fine! My might's good enough!' she calls. And then--
Then she drowns. The Ogre coughs, and coughs, hitting one knee as the attack drives the air from her. "Ugh--"
"Ass," Ogre chokes out. "But fine! I can be sneaky, too!"
"MOMIJI!"
Ichika calls forth her Persona, and the kijo in the kimono appears--and winks at Yumi, whirling in her confusing dance.
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Almighty skill Marin Karin on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
If she could truly see his heart, Yua would see such awful things. Though he bore the guise of a man, there was something more animalistic beneath - primal rage and a thirst for battle clawing its way out of the depths of his soul, kept in check only some concerted effort. A peaceful life had forced him to repress and control it, but now that he had been given power and a target? It was like watching a pot slowly boil over, knowing there was nothing to be done about it but watch from a distance.
His focus on Yua only broke when he realised just what had happened to Ogre, and he cried out to check if she was alright. He got his answer in short order. Her won persona sallied forth, and the woman herself seemed hell bent on returning whatever she'd taken. Unwilling to let himself be outdone, Hyousuke gave a grin that ventured far too close to a snarl for comfort. The last gesture he gave the two as a nod of thanks and acknowledgement to Julian, before issuing another command to the bronze-wreathed titan at his back.
"Cut her open!" He bellowed. No sooner had he issued the command, than a flash of steel and bronze tore through the air towards Yua. It swiped its sword in a lightning-fast arc in front of it, giving the light barely a split second to glint off of the blade's razor-keen edge, while hollow eyes amidst the black void of its helmet levelled a piercing gaze at its target.
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Sword Swipe on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 8 SP from Sick!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Yua Ooshiro takes 45 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Sword Swipe.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
For an enemy of Ogre's to show up now... that's quite the coincidence. Vesper has to consider the possibility that he's being used to further Ogre's own ends here. But that hardly matters now, when there's little choice but to fight. And regardless, as long as the other end of the bargain is upheld, there's little reason to balk at the circumstances.
That is, presuming this battle can be won, of course. He can't say he's liking its nature one bit. It's not as simple and straightforward as he's used to. Attacking the mind... truly insidious.
"Mm," is his non-response to being asked whether he's alright. He's not quite sure himself. He doesn't exactly feel alright, even though no direct blow had landed upon him. He'd have to acknowledge his ill preparation for anything like this, but that would hardly help matters now.
And that dance... it makes it all worse somehow. His head is swimming, his vision playing tricks - it's as if there are multiple Yumis before him, twirling about at impossible angles. Yet he can't look away. And he finds that demand is one he can't help but answer.
"...My own might, you say? Very well then! Raffles! Let's take her breath away!"
And he means that quite literally. A shadowy haze rises up the dark tendrils that form Raffles's right half, and with a wave of his cane, the thick, choking cloud of darkness is sent to envelop the area where the... several Yumis are located. That should be one way to ensure he reaches whichever is the real one. Hopefully it won't turn out that one of them was actually an ally...
AS: Julian Marlowe spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Persona! Julian Marlowe has used the Dark skill Stagnant Air on Yua Ooshiro! 3 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Julian Marlowe takes 60 damage!
ARCANA: Defense: Julian Marlowe gains 1 Limit!
AS: Julian Marlowe: Paralyze and Psych removed!
AS: Julian Marlowe's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Yua Ooshiro takes 23 Dark damage from Julian Marlowe's Stagnant Air. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 29 Dark damage from Julian Marlowe's Stagnant Air. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Yua Ooshiro takes 23 Dark damage from Julian Marlowe's Stagnant Air. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN0w5QgHdEY Megadeth - Crush 'Em
"As you will again," Yumi informs the Ogre, as she elucidates on the trouble she is. "And again. And again..."
The man huddled behind her whimpers, incoherently.
"Miserable wretch," she asides, bitterly, glancing to him. "You cry for mercy? Harlots have no pity. Serve your purpose, and perish." ... it's hard to tell, beyond the fuzz of her confusion, but Yumi's been devoting some extra magical attention to laying low the Shadows which come in as soon as they enter her sphere of direct influence. Almost like... she doesn't want these dogooders to get pinned between a rock and a hard place.
Secretly, she is not cruel to no end; a plan is forming, in her mind, crammed in between her crushing-overwhelming awareness of the Shadow seeping down three streets away and a drain which won't stop leaking and the place her fiancee watches it all from and the crumbling of a brick which is years too old.
If these passing heroes save him -- then they will have no grounds to accuse them of insubordination.
What she knows of Hyousuke, then, is the shearing force of the storm, winds which tear and lash and bring to ruin; she tastes the numb oxygen of opening her mouth only to find air forcing its way in, not a scent as much as the overpowering stampede which precludes smell. Even the thing which lays him low is violent, angry, stinging at the eyes and the skin; her voice rises, in a wordless cry, and she cannot hear herself for the din. Yumi -- no, surely the woman who looks into him is Yua -- sees in turn the way his strength is the battering ram, and though no blow yet rains down on her she can be seen to stagger back, visibly, as though her gut were slammed up into the chassis of her ribcage. It is an assault with no weak points for her to enervate, the taste of blood in her mouth and down her throat and pounding, pounding in her ears --
"Oh!" She gasps, as her Sight clears to sight again, and she sees Achille's blade crashing down towards her.
She does not try to flee, nor steel herself; she is frozen, trembling.
And then --
Clash! The sword glances off of Gretchen's bars, as Yumi's Persona, at least, moves quickly to protect her user. Sparks fly as bronze meets steel, but in the end, the woman is not carved in twain... though a large gash carves into one of those steel bars, instead.
Ogre can be sneaky, though. As Yumi is still reeling from Achilles' blow, Momiji appears and winks at her, and -- well, her face is entirely veiled, but a little heart appears over her head, anyway. "Huh?" She asks, as she looks to Momiji. "What a lovely woman..."
(Sorry, Miho.)
Julian brings his own might to the fray, though, as darkness seeps out around them. Once more, Gretchen closes her steel cage around Yumi, but of course haze isn't so easy to block; the darkness clouds her eyes(!), plunges her back into her own isolation-place, and she clutches her head. "I dwell and exist in this world as it is! Don't lock me away! Ah, you wretched -- I see you!!" And so Gretchen turns her baleful gaze on Julian, now.
Yumi lowers her hands, though they tremble. She reaches into another pocket on her body armour, pulling out something like a bullet, as she slips it into her Evoker. "Load Garu Cartridge," she talks through it, as she holds the 'gun' to her head, to what must be her eye burning red beneath her veils. "Fire."
As she pulls the trigger, it is glass, not bone, which shatters; with coiling wind reflected in Gretchen's jewels, she lifts a hand, and invokes the winds of Garu to knock Hyousuke down.
"Come," she reaches out, to the Ogre. "Join me in my imprisonment." Gretchen reaches out, just the same, and lances of darkness rise around Ichika before the bars of that dark 'cage' collapse in around her.
But...
"Er... wait, was I to aid you..?"
Yumi, who is particularly addled by Charm spells, glances around them all, before another wave of water washes over them -- this one plunging them into the depths of random buffs.
AS: Yua Ooshiro spends Limit on Exploit! Yua Ooshiro can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Julian Marlowe!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Yua Ooshiro takes 60 damage!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Wind skill Garu on Hyousuke Suzuki!
ARCANA: Ruin: Yua Ooshiro gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Dark skill Chthonic Cage on Ichika Kawase!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Recovery skill Rousing Wave on Julian Marlowe, Ichika Kawase, Hyousuke Suzuki, and Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Yua Ooshiro: Blast removed!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yua Ooshiro takes 0 Recovery healing from Yua Ooshiro's Rousing Wave.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 40 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Chthonic Cage.
AS: Bind and Poison added!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Yua Ooshiro's Rousing Wave.
AS: Def_Up added!
AS: Take! Julian Marlowe takes 0 Almighty damage from Yua Ooshiro's Full Analysis.
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Strength Scan! Julian Marlowe resists Dark!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Weakness Scan! Julian Marlowe is weak against Light!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's Support Scan! Julian Marlowe has passive skills Comeback, Peerless Skill, Sharp Student, and Team Player!
AS: Take! Julian Marlowe takes 0 Recovery healing from Yua Ooshiro's Rousing Wave.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 53 Wind damage from Yua Ooshiro's Garu. Weak!
AS: Haze added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Yua Ooshiro's Rousing Wave.
AS: Crt_Up added!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Maybe a monster who seeks only battle is what they need at the moment. It could be.
Ogre could be playing Julian... if she's a lot cleverer than she's looking at the moment. There's much that's bad here. But Ichika, unaware of that issue...
Again, and again...
The man calls for mercy, it would seem, and Ichika frowns. She doesn't notice the Shadows behind; instead...
CLANG. A little heart over Yumi's head. That shows it worked, and Ogre grins. But instead...
"She's kind of crazy," Ogre says, "And I'm... not sure she wants to fight. But she keeps doing it."
The Ogre receives a cage for her troubles. "No--" Ogre brings out her shield and defends against the bulk of the attack, but she's still stuck in place. She frowns.
"All right then," the Ogre says. "If you want that guy so much..."
Ichika calls forth Momiji once again--but this time, her first action is to send healing light sparkling down among the combatants--Hyousuke and Vesper and herself. Not Yumi, though.
And then she says, "Vesper! Can you get that guy free? I think he's the one the Shadows are after!"
"NOW TAKE THIS!"
A whirlwind appears at Momiji's urgings, and rushes towards Yumi with strange, sanity-draining might.
AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ichika Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Media on Hyousuke Suzuki, Julian Marlowe, and Ichika Kawase!
ARCANA: Defense: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 67 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Media.
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Wind skill Heavenly Cyclone on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Ichika Kawase: Loses 48 HP from Poison!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Pain. That was all he could feel, for some few seconds. The wind hurt, and sent pain through his body, be it the blunt force of the ground he collapsed against as he tried to stand against the force, or the winds themselves carving into his skin like so many blades. Then there was rage. Seeing those he had come with - be it Vesper or the Ogre - attacked and impeded again and again, only clouded his mind with yet more thoughts of battle and aggression. Knuckles white from clenching, he righted himself in a heartbeat, and levelled his own piercing glare at Yua.
But there was still enough sanity left in his adrenaline-addled mind to hear what the Ogre's plan was. Vesper was to rescue whoever that stranger curled up and off to the side was. But what of the Shadows? Should he take care of them? Was such a thing even necessary? They hadn't closed in throughout the entirety of the fight, after all. A smarter man might have pondered why it was and acted accordingly, but Hyousuke was not one of those men. All he could see was that the path was clear, Ogre was in a cage, and Yua hadn't been beaten to a bloody pulp.
He wanted to fight. he *desperately* wanted to fight. His mind and his veins felt like they were on fire as his instincts screamed at him to lunge forward like an animal. But whatever good sense was in him prevailed, and he turned to face Ogre, quickly inserting his hands into the gaps between the bars, then gripping as hard as those leather cesti would allow him to.
"Stand back!" Was all the warning that he gave her before he began to try and wrench the bars apart, leveraging whatever brute strength his straining muscles could summon.
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Help Up! Bind removed from Ichika Kawase!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The metal creaked in his hands, just loud and close enough that he could hear it over his own snarling. His hands shook, his arms tensed, his jaw clenched... Then finally, the cage gave. Metal broke apart in his hands like brittle glass, shattering to pieces as his arms flew free. He didn't stop to examine his handiwork. With the Ogre freed, there was only one thing on his mind. Like some savage beast, he locked his eyes onto Yua, and surged forward. The fact that he stood between her and the Ogre was not a gesture of protection, it was aggression, plain and simple. He wanted to fight, and had no intention of leaving until he got what he wanted.
"Shields up!" He bellowed, and the clang of bronze shifting into place ripped through the air. "Come on, asshole - it's you and me!"
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Phalanx on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 8 SP from Sick!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 49 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Phalanx.
AS: Def_Up added!
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Julian always goes by the assumption that people are more clever than they might appear. It's not just a matter of assuming people are more capable than they themselves might think, it's also a good way to keep the rug from being pulled out from under you. He'd rather regret having been right than have to regret having been wrong.
Either way, he won't assume that he made a mistake so quickly. He's been barely capable of thinking straight enough for that as it is. But even with it being so unclear what's happening here, it's clear that he's not being abandoned. Even though he barely knows his allies in this fight, and he hasn't be able to focus enough to encourage any sort of teamwork, they have stood, and still do stand together. Ogre's healing cements that much, giving him a small measure of reprieve from his mostly mental struggles. That, and...
"What? Me?" His surprise at being entrusted with an important task isn't hidden even a little bit. But as Ogre is trapped, and Hyousuke busies himself with freeing her... that does leave it to him, he supposes. Very well then...
Yumi's own confusion is a great boon in that regard. She does see him - and in his case, it's not so much seeing as there is absense of seeing. A deep darkness hidden away, a negative space in more ways than one, fearing to be brought into the light of day. Though he does experience that distinctly uncomfortable sensation of Being Seen, he pushes past, for the sake of those who placed their faith in him. It's the only way he knows how to be.
"Come, Raffles!" he calls to his Persona, radiating with ominous dark power as he presses his hand to his mask. His hand flies out in Yumi's direction, commanding the formation of a pillar of darkness directly underneath her. While he himself seeks to create an opening by attacking Gretchen, wielding the umbrella he holds as if it were a fencing saber, delivering a series of rapid strikes against those prison-like bars.
"Escape now, if you value your life!" he calls to the captive man. With no hands free, he'll have to trust that survival instinct will help the man help himself from here.
AS: Nerve Up! Yua Ooshiro's SP +8!
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 90 Dark damage from Julian Marlowe's Mudo.
AS: Panic added! Charm removed! Explosion! 50 damage!
AS: Block Best! Yua Ooshiro takes 25 Strike damage from Julian Marlowe's Umbrella-Fu.
AS: Block Neutral! Yua Ooshiro takes 41 Strike damage from Julian Marlowe's Umbrella-Fu. Critical Hit!
AS: Nerve Up! Yua Ooshiro's SP +8!
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 90 Dark damage from Julian Marlowe's Mudo.
AS: Panic added! Charm removed! Explosion! 50 damage!
AS: Block Best! Yua Ooshiro takes 25 Strike damage from Julian Marlowe's Umbrella-Fu.
AS: Block Neutral! Yua Ooshiro takes 41 Strike damage from Julian Marlowe's Umbrella-Fu. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z769xf9ET5A Jonathan Young - Army of Tigers
The light of dawn is unwelcome, in this place. Yumi -- no, she wears no mask as she becomes his experience -- Yua feels the way the sun belts down on her skin, holy and ascendant and inescapable, revealing every scar on her beautiful skin and searing into an Eye which does more than see. Closing her eyes is no escape; no, the only escape is the darkest night, moonless shadows casting everything to indistinct shapes, a cool sweet taste and the noise of the world settling still. Shadows are the supporting players to all creation; always there, at her side, always returning when the light ceases glaring so brightly.
"'Want'?" Yumi asks, with acrid scepticism. "What a useless concept. I could cry, 'I WANT TO FLY!' --" and she does scream it, demonstratively, her voice slicing into the stillness of the Dark Hour like a violation before her voice returns to its normal volume, "yet do my feet leave the ground? No more can I change the facts of our existence, the Powers woven through our bones and blood."
She's really not proving the Ogre... wrong.
"He is necessary," Yumi explains, to the Ogre, as if she's forced it from her. "It is through the agony of the Unawakened that Shadows come hence. Why be overwhelmed in Tartarus when we can grow strong from the thin herd in Sumaru?"
Her tone is flat, as she says, "... don't worry. Men greater than I would have him fail to survive the night. He'll not be plagued by his misery, day after day after day after day after day..."
Momoji's gusts slam into Gretchen's bars, as she closes them around Yua. Veiled by steel, she keeps repeating, "day after day after day after day after day after DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY!" Her voice raises, again, in an infuriated scream. She crashes forward, to slam her fists, entirely impotently, against Gretchen's cell bars.
Hyousuke, at least, is better at shattering prisons, a thing which brings horror to Yumi's overheated heart. (Gretchen--!) As he advances on her, Yumi's hands tighten, around the bars of Gretchen's arms. "You!" She bellows, entirely not in her right mind. "Ravenous beast, you would rip into my heart and tear?! Choke on it!" She rocks as Mudo claws at her life-force, slaying her affection for the enemy in an explosive display. Julian surges forward to strike Gretchen with his umbrella --
And Yumi screams, "NO ESCAPE!"
Gretchen throws open her arms, as Yumi throws herself forward, onto Hyousuke. He may realise, in his blood-rage, that as soon as she sets on him she has no business being here; the way she grasps his t-shirt and shakes him is feeble, against his might, and her eyes widen under her veils as soon as she collides with him.
"oh,"
That's the noise of a woman who just realised she fucked up.
Tomoya, curled in a ball, is quite occupied muttering indistinct things to himself -- but something in Vesper's words reaches him, regardless. "H...help!" He cries, as he crawl-scrambles away from Gretchen, towards the man in a very dapper suit, instead. (His own suit is... rather scuffed, at this point.)
Gretchen doesn't try to keep him by her side, though -- because she's floating-drifting forward to scoop Yumi back up into her bars, hopefully before she gets too battered throwing herself blindly into melee. Acting on commands Yumi is too addled to place in order in her mind, she wraps the both of them up in a Shroud which causes them to disappear -- sending them far away from the battlefield.
... when Yumi and Gretchen disappear, though, the Shadows which Yumi was confusing with her disruptive aura suddenly aren't so confused, any more -- and there are six of them, now, built up against the 'walls'. As Yumi's disruption fades, they rush in from the streets in a final assault -- they'll need to defeat them before they can get this man to safety!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Dark skill Stagnant Air on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
AS: You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Dark skill Stagnant Air on Julian Marlowe! 3 Hits!
AS: You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Yua Ooshiro has used the Dark skill Stagnant Air on Ichika Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Yua Ooshiro's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 15 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air.
AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 13 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air.
AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 13 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air.
AS: Block Worst! Julian Marlowe takes 11 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air. Resist!
AS: Block Best! Julian Marlowe takes 5 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air. Resist!
AS: Block Best! Julian Marlowe takes 8 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 11 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air.
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 16 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air.
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 19 Dark damage from Yua Ooshiro's Stagnant Air. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Thanks!" Ogre says to Hyousuke, though she has to marvel a little at his sheer strength. It's a surprise that he's able to just... break the bars and shatter the cage. But she's not going to complain. "We got this!"
"You!" Ichika confirms to Vesper. "I sure can't!"
But Yumi has... more to say. The Powers woeven through bones and blood?
"Oh, so this was a trap with... him as the bait?" Ogre wonders.
He won't be plagued...
"Holy shit," Ogre says of Yumi. There is apparently no escape. Except that--there is.
Yumi and Gretchen disappear, and now there are Shadows.
"Whoop--not done yet!"
Ichika steps back, and looks around. "I'll try and knock them off balance--Hyousuke-kun, tear 'em up!"
Vesper... well, she doesn't know for sure what he Does yet. But she gives him a thumbs-up!
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Wind skill Mazan on Yua Ooshiro!
ARCANA: Defense: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ichika Kawase: Loses 48 HP from Poison! Poison and Def_Up removed!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Despite being so close, there was not a hint of recognition in Hyousuke's eyes. Part of it was the getup and the situation, of course - there was little chance he could connect his bubbly dance teacher with whoever the woman grasping feebly at his t-shirt was. However, the larger part of it was the fact that he was so hopped up on adrenaline and bloodlust that he couldn't think clearly enough to concentrate on her appearance. All he could tell was that his enemy had come into melee range, and hadn't even the strength to challenge him.
He swung his fist round in a savage right hook, the steel on his knuckles surging towards her jaw. Yet, despite his speed, he only found himself swinging at empty air. The woman, whoever she was, had been spirited away by her Persona, leaving him with nothing to vent all that rage on. With nothing to focus on, what remained of his rationality saw a chance to calm down and collect himself, before he got lost in the moment. This was swiftly ruined by the arrival of a horde of Shadows.
Black fog enveloped him, and with his first breath, there was yet more pain. He couldn't describe it - a chill? A sting? A stab, or a cut? So surprised was he that he couldn't even figure out precisely what the pain even did to him, only that it hurt as it billowed down into his lungs. So, at the Ogre's prompting, he did the thing he knew best. He burst forward towards the nearest enemy, and slammed his fist in, striking with a left jab that was meant for a more human target. There was another to his left, but they were not deprived of his attention. No sooner had his left coiled back to his body, than his right lashed out in a furious straight, as if to try and punch through rather than into it.
He roared out, venting frustration in an attempt at gathering the attention of every beast closing in on them.
"Is that all?!" Came his warcry, voice as loud and booming as thunder. "That was nothing! YOU'RE nothing!"
AS: Nerve Up! Yua Ooshiro's SP +8!
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 56 Wind damage from Ichika Kawase's Mazan.
AS: Blast added!
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 33 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Guard Break.
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 39 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Guard Break.
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
The effort to break through was about as successful as it could be given the circumstances, Vesper not quite managing to do so entirely unscathed. What on earth did that woman do to his head, it feels like a pound of bricks. Although, hearing the way she goes on like that, it doesn't appear as if the situation in her own head could be much better.
...He'll blame his addled brain for the brief thought that he should attempt to counsel this person. As much as they may need it, the middle of a fight is hardly the time for that!
Thankfully, a misstep brings the matter into their favor, and the captured individual over to his side. "Careful now! Stick close, but stay down," he tells the man in a firm voice, figuring the danger will not pass quite so readily. This makes it harder for him to move freely, but with someone to protect, his resolve increases all the more for it. Brandishing his umbrella, he prepares for whatever might come next...
...Only for Yumi to unexpectedly depart. Behind the mask, blue eyes blink twice. "Well. That simplifies matters." And then Shadows begin to swarm. "Or perhaps not quite!"
Keeping himself firmly positioned between the Shadows and Tomoya at all times, he calls, "Raffles, assist me!" Sending his Persona to strike at targets a bit further removed with the oversized cricket bat it carries, while standing his ground to strike at any shadows that approach - with the sword he is now holding, pulled from the umbrella. All part of the aesthetic.
Vesper acknowledges Ogre's thumbs up with a nod. Though he does wonder aloud, "Your associate is... rather energetic, isn't he?" Bit of an understatement, perhaps.
AS: Julian Marlowe spends Limit on Exploit! Julian Marlowe can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Julian Marlowe has used the Strike skill Skull Cracker on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Julian Marlowe takes 60 damage!
ARCANA: Defense: Julian Marlowe gains 1 Limit!
AS: Weapon! Julian Marlowe has used the Slash skill Hidden Blade on Yua Ooshiro!
AS: Julian Marlowe: Charm, Def_Up, and Spd_Dn removed!
AS: Julian Marlowe's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 61 Strike damage from Julian Marlowe's Skull Cracker.
AS: Block Worst! Yua Ooshiro takes 65 Slash damage from Julian Marlowe's Hidden Blade. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yes. The trap was set -- and to what end?
Yumi is gone, though Hyousuke may have been satisfied to see her freeze like a deer in the headlights before her Persona got in the way. He could have defeated her. He could have easily defeated her.
Instead, he is set to defeat the shadows, erasing a humanoid figure on a luxurious lounge from existence. Ogre's forceful blow sends a massive beetle onto its back -- and that leaves it open to Hyousuke's rage, too. So, too, does a face with a glorious tiara go twirling... until it's punched to bits.
Ogre's force tears through a cross balancing scales, too, and knocks over a lion chained to a great weight. It's enough to set them up for Raffles to score a home run -- wait, hang on, that's baseball. Score a... wicket? It's wickets, right? Anyway, those Shadows are toast.
And as for the final Shadow, sneaking up to try and nibble on Tomoya where he's hiding beside Vesper... well, he has this very cool hidden sword, you see, and it carves nicely into that snake's tail, cutting its female sign from itself and ending its amorous existence.
The Dark Hour will end, soon... and it should be much easier to manage the Shadows attracted one at a time, until then, especially if you can get him somewhere safe.
... the problem is...
... when the Dark Hour ends, Tomoya won't tell you anything about the people who set him up to die.
("I'm grateful," he'll say, "but the walls have ears.")
Just what kind of business are people like that bride and Tomoya wrapped up in...?
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ogre does her best; she's very fatigued, but she can keep the party up and direct things well enough to handle what remains. That other pain...
And Yumi gone. Ichika still doesn't know her deal, but 'holy shit' about sums up her feelings.
What was this for, though...?
But when the smoke clears, Ogre says, "Yeah. He's good in a fight," of her lively, energetic associate. "Really into fighting. ...But that's what you need in battle, right?"
She looks around. "We got him saved, but..."
She trails off. "...The Dark Hour's gonna end soon."
She considers. "You won't talk?" she asks the guy.
"Fine."
"..."
She looks around, and considers. "Vesper," she says. "I'll contact you later. Your disguise goes away when the Dark Hour ends, right?"
"Like mine."
"...We'll talk it out later. For now, you should go. I'll handle him with Hyousuke-kun."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke couldn't see anything left to fight. All that remained around him were his allies, and that one civilian whose name he'd not been paying enough attention to catch. With the threat gone, he could finally - after what had been a blur of magic and metal - settle down. His muscles slackened, a sigh drifted past a loosening jaw, and his eyes closed for a moment that felt like an age. Leather creaked by his sides as his fists finally unclenched, and with the last few embers beginning to die down, he turned towards the Ogre with a tired - and, perhaps, somewhat unsatisfied - look to his gaze.
"Let's get on with it." He said bluntly, before casting one more look towards Vesper. "Thanks for the help. Couldn't have done this without you."
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Vesper would never say it out loud, but 'holy shit' is right. His head feels like it's ready to explode. He's very glad that the battle doesn't last any longer than it does. It would be rather embarrassing to show weakness at a time like this. He does look forward to collapsing on his bed however. What a night indeed.
With the immediate threat past, he offers the simple reply, "I can't argue there," to Ogre's point that having people really into fighting around certainly helped a lot here today, directing a smile to Hyousuke to go with it. "It was my pleasure."
They kept that man safe... though his words seem to imply there is more to all this. He frowns behind the mask. As much as he would like to pursue this further... time is running out, as Ogre also notes.
"...I see," he responds. "I'd suspected it was the was the same for you. That makes this simpler, no need to make up an excuse for why I'll have to take my leave here." That being the case...
"You'll be needing this then." Vesper reaches into his coat's breast pocket, using two fingers to withdraw... a business card. Of course he'd carry those with him, if this is his profession. It's pretty sparse though, a simple white card with a stylized letter V on it plus a phone number, that's it.
"The number automatically forwards to voice mail, but rest assured, I'll get your message," he explains. Naturally, it's also the number of a burner phone. Just sensible caution.
And with that, he tips his hat one final time, before starting to make his way out of the immediate area, to ensure he'll be well out of sight once the Dark Hour ends. "Until we meet again, comrades!"