2026-02-01: Sfumato
- Log: 2026-02-01 Sfumato
- Cast: Maria Sakurai, Ayame Watanabe, Eveline Deschamps, Umie Akabane, Tsubasa Seki, Ririka Kawase, Shinobu Shimizu, Ren Amamiya
- Where: Seven Sisters High School, and then... somewhere else
- OOC Date: February 01, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
- Summary: While searching for the missing Maria Sakurai, several Persona Users find themselves in a strange new kind of cognitive space called a Kingdom, specifically the Dollhouse Corporation. A rebel named Izumi, who leads the Dollhouse Resistance and bears a striking resemblance to Maria with her pink hair, invites them back to her hideout and explain what's going on--and why they all need to rescue Maria from the corporate overlords...
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
It starts with the disappearance of Maria Sakurai and the rumor that quickly circulates among the usual channels about someone 'hearing her voice calling for help' out by the running track behind the Seven Sisters High School building. Naturally, some come to investigate.
Wind rustles a nearby tree. No one else is out here just now, though it's a Wednesday. For a moment, it might well seem that the rumor was a hoax, but--
"...you hear me? ... help me!"
It's distorted and a little tinny, as if it were coming from a great distance away, but the origin point is here. And, for those with a Persona, something doesn't feel right. Like there's a string that could be pulled, and if you pull on it, you'll
unravel your entire sweater.
This isn't the track and field space behind Sevens anymore. A starless sky rises overhead, its darkness punctuated by spotlights from the city below. The streets here are slick with recent rain and lit by fluorescent and neon lights from the buildings overhead. In particular people might take notice of a large building that stretches so far into the heavens above that it might remind people of why 'skyscrapers' are called as such. It looms, ominiously.
As does the thing that twitches its way towards the group. In form, it might remind someone of a doll with rounded ball-like joints, strung with red string. But it has no face: instead, there is an inky darkness punctuated by two large shining spots that might be eyes.
Of rather more concern might be the blades that it spasmodically ejects from its arms as it lurches at the group.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
A missing student is something Ikkaku Watanabe can't ignore; he and Ayame have talked about Maria before, and they talk about her again the night before this event. But talking about it...
A voice calling for help? It might be somethig Ayame can look into.
So, she came after school, but this time, not just to meet Ikkaku; this time, she had her own business out by the track.
It does't feel right, hearing that voice, but Ayame is one of those who pulls. She does't look like the typical Persona-user, but here she is anyway, annd...
It isn't where it was. The sky is black; the spotlights shine...
"?" Ayame starts. And then suddenly--There is something there.
"A doll?" Ayame wonders, tilting her head, and then jumps a little. "Oh, my!" Blades!
Ayame calls forth her Persona in a shimmer of blue light, and Atropos unleashes a blast of magennta-yellow-cyan energy to try to knock the doll off-course.
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
The rumor reached the Wild Hunt's civilian rumormonger, which meant it reached Eveline Deschamps.
She waited until no one was around to approach the location marked, clad in her nice French chic of a white dress shirt and pants, wearing square glasses and having recently smoked a cigarette.
Then, once she felt that thread, heard that voice, she sent a text to her allies to let them know what she was doing, and pulled the thread.
Eve's Hunter outfit is still to be admired, with coat, cloak, top hat, and overall ensemble being very 1800s Victorian hunter. She's holding a two-handed rifle, immediately shouldering it to slip a vial out of her sleeve.
When opened, noxious fumes emit, as that murder doll approaches. She puts it to her lips, tilts her head back, and downs the entire thing. Her pupils dilate. Her veins constrict.
"Persona."
Guro Rysserova, the horsegirl in her blackened tank armor, manifests beside her, but does not make any moves. Instead, Eve's sensory range immediately expands, her Navigator abilities kicking in to prevent blindspots and ambushes.
"Hunt authorized," she whispers to herself, before firing the rifle with a markswoman's precision, trying to hit any perceived weak points as Ayame knocks it off course, trajectory accounting for her variable.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
There was a point where Umie could have doubled back, asked around for reinforcements and supplies, and *then* gone back in to a hypothetical dangerous situation fully prepared.
That obligation stopped when disembodied voice of Maria Sakurai called out for help.
>> Seven Sisters, running track. Palce????? Not feeling like one
>> Use side entrance around left side of building, you'll attract fewer eyes
>> Maria Sakurai is calling for help so can't exactly meet you out front
>> *shrugging cat emoji* ov( ='3'=)vo
>> Going innn, byyyyeee
(Hey, at least Umie's not just going in immediately. ... Just, immediately after texting some people.)
"Don't worry, Sakurai-san," Umie says, flipping the phone shut. "I heard you."
====NOW====
Umie would be lying if she said she didn't feel completely in her element here.
Darkness, fields of battle, and overwide expanse Badb can focus over instead of narrow corridors, lots of buildings to climb over and get a better viewpoint from... if the whole 'unknown quantity' and 'someone is in danger' of the situation didn't alarm her, she'd be having quite a fun time.
That, and the dangerous, creepy, unknown enemies, but--
A bolt of dark energy projects down from an neon light, its source a familiar person in an off-white oversized rain jacket, who squats down, a chin laid into the palm of one half-gloved hand.
"Glad some people could make it. No sign of Sakurai-san, but I doubt it was going to be *that* easy."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa knows Maria enough, at least, to notice that she's gone -- a text message unanswered leading to an investigation, because if they're going to be helping the Kuzunoha Detective Agency they have to have some pride -- and that, naturally, led to them asking Ren for help checking it out.
"You hearin' that?" They ask, having wisely changed out of of their uniform into cargo pants and an ALICE SIX band shirt, as they walk along the track. "Kinda... weird, like... look, right here? Jus' stand right here an' --"
Tsubasa puzzles at the incongruence, latches on, and all a sudden they're not in Sevens any more.
No: Phoenix is somewhere else.
"Whoa." They remark, as they look up. Their bright orange hooded cloak is the most eye-catching thing about them; the ninja robes beneath it are featureless, save for the white bandages bracing their lower arms, legs, and belly. (And the orange gloves, obviously. Can't leave prints.) They're wearing a dark grey mask pointed like a witch's hat, their blue eyes peering through it.
"This is freaky as shit..." They marvel, turning around. It takes them a moment longer to realise -- "WAIT WHAT THE SHIT!" -- there's something there.
Phoenix takes their greatsword in hand, and cleaves it, without asking a single other question, towards the freaky thing like a doll.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Maria Sakurai... Ririka remembers that name--the most recent of (distressingly) many run-ins she's had with the Joker Killer had her involved in things.
A voice calling out for help...
... It's hard not to think about Fuuka's voice calling out to those in Tartarus for help. Ririka hopes it's not a similar situation, but... she heads to Sevens to investigate. She's in her Gekkoukan uniform--she's got plenty of reasons to be a student visiting another school, it's the least conspicuous way to go.
And the tinny voice is very clear, to her senses. "Where are you," Ririka murmurs to herself.
She reaches out, and-- suddenly is in a different place. Ririka holds her breath as she looks and listens to everything around her. That tall, tall tower... maybe this is more like Tartarus than she first thought?
But then that figure approaches, she takes a half step back, digging her Evoker out of her backpack. "Amphion!" she shouts as she lifts it to her head, hand trembling, and fires.
A giant stone man arises behind her, and she gestures forward. "Amphion, Analysis! Everyone, I'll support you all!" she indicates to the other Persona users as Amphion sends waves of sound at the approaching figure.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
A girl's gone missing. Shinobu doesn't know Maria personally, but she remembers the incident with the Joker Killer. Somehow, she's gotten herself into another mess, huh...? She started looking into it. The sooner they find her, the better. She doesn't know if this incident is magic or mundane, but the rumor that begins to spread in the wake of her disappearance makes it lean to the former.
These days, one has to take rumors seriously. Shinobu heads to the running track... and just as she's about to consider turning back - she hears the voice.
"I hear you. Where are you?" Shinobu calls out. She feels that sensation, follows it, and pulls.
The world shifts. Sevens is no longer here - the city rises above, the sky dark.
"The hell...?" Shinobu mutters to herself - and then she whirls, reaching into her duffel bag and drawing out her staff as that bladed doll approaches.
As she moves though, she realises she isn't alone here - so she delays her attack for just a moment.
"Followin' you up, Nee-san." Shinobu announces. The moment Ayame knocks that doll off-course Shinobu lunges with a wide swing of her staff - and it looks like she isn't the only one.
Umie, Ririka, and Phoenix receive a nod of greeting, and so does Eveline, though she doesn't know her.
"Yeah... Not yet. We've got our work cut out for us in a place like this. If she's even... here." Shinobu comments. She stops herself from saying 'alive'. ...Better stay positive.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren doesn't know Maria Sakurai well, but they do know her. They did a shift at Chagall Cafe once, and another time they and Tsubasa stumbled on her getting attacked by the Old Maid and so naturally stepped in to help her and the other students under attack. She seems like a nice girl--cheerful and energetic--who's made mistakes but not a bad person by any means. Most importantly, she seems to be in serious trouble again. The fact that Tsubasa seems to care a lot about her is just the cherry on top. When Tsubasa let them know what was going on and asked for their help, they didn't hesitate to agree.
After taking the train from Tokyo to Sumaru, and then specifically to Rengedai Ward, Ren met up with Tsubasa near the empty Seven Sisters High School. They're in their Shujin Academy uniform, having not had the time to go home to change, but Shujin doesn't have the reputation Kasu does and no one is likely to know about the delinquent transfer student out here. There's a voice on the wind, asking for help...
"I hear it," they murmur to Tsubasa, following them to the spot they indicate. They stare at the spot, and--
And then
the two of them are
somewhere
else.
And in this somewhere else, both of them have transformed, blue fire adorning their bodies with their cognitive costumes. Joker is instantly on alert, whirling around to spot any sort of enemies, black coat flying in their wake. Freaky is the word. "Are we in some kind of Metaverse?" they wonder aloud. It doesn't look or act like a Palace, though...
The stars are gone. Spotlights burn down on them. Joker raises an arm instinctively to cover their masked face, but it's not discovery they need to worry about. An eerie doll, strung on red threat and with headlights in darkness for a face, jitters towards them from the neon-lit skyscraper that reaches endlessly into the heavens... And like it, it too reaches for them and everyone else who's suddenly appeared--with blades.
"Phoenix!" Joker calls sharply. Where they charge in without hesitation, Joker takes in not just the doll-thing but all the other Persona Users who've suddenly appeared with them, including ones they don't recognize. Some summon their own Personas, like Ayame, Ririka and Umie; some attack physically, like Eveline and Shinobu. Joker leaps nimbly backwards and calls upon Arsène to use their magic to drain the doll-thing of its speed and make it an easier target to both hit and dodge.
They glance at Shinobu afterwards, burning mask shadowing their face. 'If she's even here,' she says... "I take it you too are in search of the one whispering for help?" they comment, taking on the more theatrical cadence of Joker when in mixed company. No need to specify that they know it's Maria Sakurai specifically; that voice is there either way.
Of course, Umie mentions that name herself. Joker shoots her a brief smirk. They can always rely on her to be helpful.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
Lurching forward, the thing lunges at Phoenix and, for its trouble, gets a two-handed sword to the face. In spite of this, it picks itself back up: Ririka, quick on the draw with a scan, finds that Dark and Piece should be particularly effective against it. Good news for Eve, and good news for Joker and Umie: three shots of its weaknesses sees the thing down and twitching, leaving it to the Shimizus to properly finish it off. No sooner than they have done so, though--
There is a shotgun blast behind them. There, lying on the ground, broken, is another one of those creatures, if outfitted with a slightly different arrangement of built-in melee weaponry than the others. The source of the shot...
...is the woman seated atop what can only be called 'an electronic mobility device'. The word 'wheelchair' isn't really appropriate, since one would expect it to have, well, wheels.
Her hair is pink, not unlike Maria's, and is pulled into a loose side-plait that loops just over one of her shoulders. Dressed in urban camoflage, the woman herself wears a satisfied smile. In her arms she carries a weapon that bears some resemblance to a shotgun, at least in its shape and form. Her gaze then turns towards the group here.
"Come with me. It's not safe here. This area is crawling with their Legionnaires," she says, lifting one hand off her weapon to beckon them hither.
She pauses, then adds, "You're looking for her, aren't you? Maria." Her gaze turns towards the building that appears to dominate the city. "They have her. But I can explain more once we're safe. They can see us out here," she adds, pointing again at those spotlights.
"By now, the corporation can see almost the entire city."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame can definitely count on her sister, who is... much more of a badass (not that she'd put it that way) than one might expect her youngest sister to be. It tracks for Ayame, though; Shinobu's always seemed so brave.
But it's nnot just her. Phoenix is SWEARING and Ayame looks towards them and their greatsword. Eveline, in her HUntner's garb, is... vaguely ominous to Ayame, somehow. And yet, she's helping. "Hello," Ayame says to everyone. "So you're all looking for Sakurai-kun?" Ayame wonders. Then she regards the oens in the masks--Especially Joker. "Well, how dashing," she says. A beat, "...But yes, I'm also searching for that girl."
She nods to Shinobu. "Well, we have to do what we can; she won't just appear out of nowhere, I'm sure."
As it happens, Ayame's pretty good with Dark, too. But it does't turn out to be necessary with the woman inn the... chair?
Ayame would probabluy be satisfied in her position, too. "Good aim," she reflects, though gus still inntimidate her a bit.
"All right," she says, immediately trusting the woman who asks them to follow.
"We are," she says. "Whatever you can tell us would be appreciated."
Ayame looks to Shinobu. "I think we can trust her!" Off Ayame goes.
...She'll try to avoid the spotlights.
All channels have been gagged.
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
"Affirmative," Eve tells Ririka as she gives the weaknesses. She shoulders the rifle again as it goes down, noding to Ririka in thanks, before looking over the group.
Some Phantom Thieves, some teenagers, some adults. Interesting pull. Should be effective, hopefully.
But as the woman in the mobility device appears, covering them and having them follow, she considers. She pulses once with Guro Rysserova, looking for traps or ambushes in the direction they're heading, and if she finds nothing...
"Very well. Trust is not freely given, but I believe we should follow. Better than going in blind, and you know what they say."
"Amicus meus, inimicus inimici mei."
Regarding the spotlights, Eve throws up a shroud over herself, before moving to just be really stealthy, befitting an experienced Hunter. If they can find this girl, who is supposedly alive... that's to be pursued.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Phoenix doesn't realise they've charged right in half-cocked until Joker calls their callsign out behind them. Luckily, they're not the only ones here!
(Phoenix would call Shinobu a badass, Ayame, it's okay.)
There's a shotgun blast, though, and Phoenix looks at Eve, first -- a shotgun is basically a rifle, right? -- before realising it came from somewhere else.
A woman in... something like a wheelchair? Tsubasa doesn't know enough about shotguns to know it's just something like one, though. "Who said we trust you?" They demand, suspiciously -- only for Ayame to just up and TRUST HER. "Hey, auntie, don't jus' go followin' every weirdo with a gun!" They call after her, only to rub at their shoulder with a hand as the other weirdo with a gun decides to follow her, too. "Ugh, guess we gotta..."
That weird Victorian Gun Lady (that's you, Eve) says some weird Latin shit, though, and Phoenix says: "Dude. Literally no one said that. Fuck even is that, Italian?"
It's probably not Italian, Phoenix.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
"We can try negotiating with one of them, but that may require finding something with a working mouth," Umie comments dryly to Shinobu, her eyes trained on the creature. "Even then, I'm not so sure they're going to be real chatty."
The friendliness dissipates, though, at the merest insinuation that Maria may be anything but alive, if not here. "She's only been missing a day, at most," she comments sharply, then, pressing a hand to her lips to try to appear thoughtful instead of on a short fuse.
Think, Umie.
The similarities and differences to Palaces would be interesting to relate to one of the Phantom Thieves, which-- well hey there. Giving a subtle wave back towards Joker as they smirk up at her, Umie grins back. "Any of this feel familiar to you guys?" This is directed at Joker and Phoenix, being the two 'Mask-sans' Umie can see, but really, with the variety of people here, there may be some others who may be able to have some observations. "I was able to come in, and that wasn't the case with Palaces. Doesn't have the requirements of an Atelier, so it's not that, either."
*BLAM* Umie's attention is drawn to the new person, bearing hair similar to Maria's. "...."
She doesn't answer in the affirmative, but, slipping her feet over the sign, she makes a calculated drop down, intending to follow.
'Amicus meus, inimicus inimici mei.'
"Funny you should say that," Umie murmurs coolly towards Eveline, as she passes by the hunter. "If you drag your fellow hunters in, I'd *really* like it if you didn't turn this into another turf war."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
She nods back to Shinobu as she spots her. There's a few people she recognizes, even. "If she's here, I can help find her."
But she gets the Analysis back. "Its weaknesses are Dark and Pierce!" she announces. She's got something for that as she gestures for Amphion to add a Single Shot to the attacks (thank you, Skill Card.)
She nods to Ayama. "Yes, Watanabe-san. I heard about the rumors." She ha a nod back for Eve, too. She's a little uneasy around her, considering the last time, but... not too much.
She whirls around, Evoker at the ready, when she hears the shot. "A shotgun... Yes, I came here looking for her." She frowns, thoughtfully. She notes the spotlight. "... whoever 'they' are, I can sense pretty far, too. I'll keep an ear out for any approaching enemies, so... please, lead the way."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
It looks like they've got quite the crew forming to look for Maria. She meets Joker's glance, offering them a nod. The Phantom Thieves are looking into it too, huh?
"That's right. Looks like we're working together again." She replies, then looks toward Ayame.
"Yeah... Only thing for it now's but to look." She replies. She looks toward Umie, then. Her comment gets a smirk out of her.
"I'd take 'frantic pointing' if it gets us any closer." She replies with a shrug - and then whirls at the sound of a shotgun blast, readying her staff. ...There's another one of those dolls, lying broken on the ground. She lowers it, somewhat, looking up to the woman seated atop the mobility device.
"'Legionnaire'?" Shinobu repeats. "What, like a soldier? Someone's directing these things?"
She looks toward Ayame... who immediately seems to trust her. Shinobu frowns consideringly for a moment, but... Ultimately, she trusts Ayame's judgment.
"If you're sure, Nee-san." She replies with a nod, and starts to follow. She shifts into a more casual stance, but keeps her staff at the ready. If there are more of those... Legionnaires, and it sounds like there are, she wants to stay armed. The woman explains. This mysterious force has Maria.
"Who's 'they'?" Shinobu asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker crooks a half-smile at Ayame. Dashing, hmm? They'll accept that compliment. Their smiles fades as they look over the group. They recognize Eveline from that time in Mementos, even if they hadn't fought her directly. It seems like they're all here for Maria... chasing after whispers. They nod back to Shinobu. "A pleasure to be working with you again, then, Shinobu Shimizu." They glance again at Ayame. Shinobu's older sister, hmm...?
Regardless, it's not a tough fight--all the more so after Ririka announces one of the thing's weaknesses is Darkness. What's tougher is the other creature who'd apparently snuck up behind them, but is taken out by a shotgun blast. Joker whirls again to see a pink-haired woman... with cyborg enhancements? There's no wheels on them, so it's no wheelchair.
It's pretty damn cool, actually.
But she seems to know what's going on and who they're looking for. The creatures, she calls Legionnaires, and she knows about Maria... They peer up at the skyscraper and its spotlights. They... also don't know what the hell Eveline just said in Latin, but they keep up a poker face about it, opting instead to shake their head at Umie.
"Sadly, we're unfamiliar," they tell her. To Phoenix, when they react to the pink-haired woman with hostility, they lean in and murmur in their more normal mode of speaking, "She clearly knows more about this world than we do. No need to trust her, but following her means we might learn what she knows."
They tilt their head up towards the spotlights. "Besides, I want to get out of those anyway."
It's but a moment to dash off out of the immediate reach of the spotlights. After that, they leap from shadow to shadow and other rain-stained cover after the pink-haired woman to wherever it is she may lead.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"Thanks," says the woman, to Ayame. "Nailing those bastards unseen is a trick in and of itself." She shakes her head and sighs. "You can handle one of them on your own if they catch you. Two? That's a problem. Three or more? Lights out, unless you've got a trusty partner, or you're lucky."
At Eve, the woman raises an eyebrow; one supposes she doesn't know Latin.
Phoenix wonders why they should trust her, only for Ayame to go on and trust her. At this, the mystery woman smiles and shakes her head. "Good question, kid. But you can trust me when I say this: if you're looking for Maria, I'm your best and only bet."
She regards Umie in silence, before her gaze tilts towards Eve. "Oh, it's complicated, is it?"
Who are 'they', as Ririka implicitly and Shinobu explicitly ask? "You're new here, aren't you? It's the corporation. The Dollhouse Corporation. Or, I suppose, their CEO and her little machine." The woman closes her eyes, sighs, then reopens them. "In this city, if you're not with them, then you're against them. As for me... well."
"I'm certainly not their friend."
Once off the street and away from the lights that search its dark streets, she leads them ahead through an apparent maze of of alleyways that twist this way and that before, at last, stopping by what looks to be an old, busted door to a car garage. After some meddling with the spot just next to it, it begins to winch its way open, inch after corroded inch.
Inside is what looks like something of a safehouse: Overturned crates draped with cloth serve as seats, while some sort of alrge, discarded industrial spool works as a table. A neon lamp dominates the table, while other lights are hand-bolted onto the walls. A sheet separates this area from somewhere in the back, and a whole host of cabling leading from origin point unknown to around the corner there hints at significant use of electronics somewhere in the back.
"Sorry about the mess," the mystery woman says, steering her device in after them before the door closes. "Haven't used this one myself in a minute. The name's 'Izumi', by the way." She gestures around, as if to suggest they can take a seat if they want. "Welcome to the Dollhouse Resistance. I'm the leader, if you can call it that."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Phoenix has advice for her, and Ayame smiles lopsidedly at them. "Don't worry. I have a good feeling about her!"
Pause. "It's Latin," she says for Phoenix's benefit. "Not that I know what it means..."
She smiles again at Joker, but doesn't say much else at first to them; they've made a good impression, is all. Shinobu gets more of her attention... but Umie, too, gets a note. "I'm not familiar with most of those places," Ayame admits. "But she's my husband's precious student... I won't leave her to her fate."
Ririka is helpful, too! "I'll be relying on you, Kawase-kun."
A soldier, Shinobu says... "I'm pretty sure," Ayame says. "And as your friend says, she knows more than we do; if we're wrong, following her is still a good idea."
She also wonders who 'they' are though...
And the woman answers. "The Dollhouse Corporation..."
Ayame follows. She has a large bag on her shoulder; she hasn't pulled a weapon out of it yet. But there are electronics somewhere, and...
"Izumi-san," Ayame says politely. "It's good to meet you. I'm Ayame Watanabe," she introduces herself in turn.
She isn't as good at stealth as the others, but she can follow along. And now...
She does take a seat. "So there are more of you?"
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
"As she says, it's Latin," Eve tells Phoenix casually as if she isn't literally speaking in tongues. "Originates to the early 18th century. It means 'an enemy of an enemy is my friend'."
Umie, however, gets an even smile. "Ah, I don't remember *starting* any turf wars. I am willing to finish them if necessary, but I don't believe it will be. It's not very efficient to pick unnecessary fights."
As the woman asks if it's complicated, Eve just waves a hand. "Only as much as anyone wants it to be, but c'est la vie."
The woman leads them to the Dollhouse Resistance. Izumi, or so it seems...
"Eveline Deschamps," she introduces herself, having no need for codenames. "How long have you been fighting here?"
She wonders if Izumi is a Shadow. She has no reason to confirm either way, as Persona Users have a lot of interesting gear and clothing.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Yeah, no fuckin' clue," Phoenix shrugs, to Umie. Still, they glance aside, to Joker, as they murmur. "Hrm... guess so." They're still suspicious, but... the way they're looking at the lights, they're thinking the same damn thing.
The weird thing is, this woman telling them it's a good question earns her more points than just straight-up insisting she can be trusted. "... aight," they nod, following along. "Let's say I believe ya on that." They're still sceptical, but even if she's lying, they'll still learn things. ... anyway, Ayame has a good feeling, huh. Well, if they stick with this woman, they can at least look out for Ichika's sister. Y'know.
"Latin ain't even spoke no more," Phoenix insists, to Ayame. And so, to Eve, they squint behind their mask. "Yeah, that makes sense, but just say it straight-up, man!"
(They at least have the wisdom to not ask about cesta... la vee???)
One thing they learn: it's the Dollhouse Corporation. "Creepy-ass shit," Phoenix mutters. This woman says she's not their friend, and Phoenix mutters to Joker, this time: "Hey, you catchin' the rhyme on this shit?" They're asking if her story sounds familiar to them -- a pair of Thieves who are just as eager to get out of the spotlight.
The garage door winches open, and...
"Cool," Phoenix says, as they duck in. They find a crate to sit on that looks sturdy enough. "... call me Phoenix." Looks like Shinobu was right to call them 'soldiers', if this is a 'Resistance'... they fold their arms, and look to Izumi. "So. Where's Sakurai-san?"
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Joker and Phoenix confirm this is new to them. "Then this'll be a <fun experience>." She's... being sarcastic there. Really. She's not having fun at all!
To Eveline, a bit later, Umie shrugs. "Just saying."
On the outside, it'd be easy to see Umie as being nonchalant (and being a giant sassy pants).
Internally, Umie is... a mess. Does this have anything to do with Maria being in her time of Joka? Maria's nightmares about death?
"... At least one of us wasn't negligent then," she murmurs under her breath in a quiet departure from her earlier mood, as Ayame mentions how she came to investigate. Her eyelids drift downwards as she follows along.
------
If they play this game, are they losing time? These have to be all cognitions, if this is similar to something like Mementos. Maybe, the intent is for Umie to feel at home here, but she doubts it's that intentional.
Umie's just a weirdo.
"Umie Akabane," Umie says, after she considers a moment. As Phoenix folds her arms, Umie walks forward, making a point of placing one palm on the table, attempting to strike a balance between 'assertive' but also 'willing to listen' with the impact of palmflesh hitting wood. "We're here for Maria Sakurai. I take it, if we help you, we'll find her in turn? Or are we talking different kinds of terms?" She frowns, eyeing the shade of Izumi's hair. "This doesn't sound like something that can be solved in a day..."
What did Maria want to say to Umie before she left? It must have been something silly -- that's what Umie assumed anyway -- but did she just shrug off following up on something that could have explained all this?
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ayame will be relying on her. Ririka straightens up a little. "Right!"
"The Dollhouse Corporation..." She glances back at the downed... shadow? Cognition? The whatever it is they just fought. "I'm guessing they make those things, then. So does this CEO have something to do with her disappearance?"
In the maze of alleyways, Ririka listens to track their progress, tapping rhythmically at her leg as they go.
They get to the safe house, and Ririka looks around as she steps in. She'd... kind of dig the decor, if there wasn't someone's life at stake.
"Izumi-san." She offers a short bow as Izumi introduces herself, "Ririka Kawase. Thank you for having us." She goes to take a seat on a crate. "How can we help?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Same to you." Shinobu offers back to Joker with a nod. She looks toward Ayame, then, as she admits not being familiar with the supernatural places Umie mentions.
"I can fill you in later. If you get there before I do, Dark Side'll probably have you covered, too." Shinobu comments. Ayame makes a good point, too. The woman - Izumi - knows more than they do, so whether or not they can trust her, following her is a good idea. "Makes sense."
With that sorted, Shinobu follows - and Izumi explains who 'they' are.
"You could say that." Shinobu confirms with a nod, of being new. "The Dollhouse Corporation, huh... So they're the ones to watch out for."
She nods, as Phoenix gives their opinion on the name.
"...No kiddin'." She agrees. They go through a maze of alleyways. It turns out to be good that they have a guide - it'd be easy to get lost in a place like this, particularly without any direction. Shinobu recognizes a safehouse when she sees one, though.
"Don't worry about it. I know how it is." Shinobu replies with a shake of her head, as Izumi apologizes for the mess. She leaves the chairs to the others to make space for them, leaning against a nearby wall. She nods, then.
"Shinobu Shimizu. If the Dollhouse Corporation's got Sakurai, then looks like we've got a common goal." She replies. She certainly didn't expect to get wrapped up in something like this when she set out looking for her... but she's not the kind of person who'd just cut her losses and turn back at this point. She doesn't know how much of this is 'real' - but it's clear enough that Maria's in trouble.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The 'Dollhouse Corporation'... That explains the doll creature, anyway, though it's lost on Joker why the pink-haired woman called it a Legionnaire. A corporate soldier, perhaps? It sounds like they're much tougher if they catch one alone... Number favored them this time around, but Joker suspects that wouldn't have lasted the longer they'd stayed in the spotlights. They and Phoenix are very much of one mind about those.
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' Eveline translates. Good to know those Hunter friends of Isabeau's are so pragmatic. Joker side-eyes her and Umie, but does not weigh in.
Do they catch the rhyme here, though? "Hmmm," they murmur, voice low for just Phoenix to hear. "I'll have to listen a little longer." It might be familiar, but it's still too early to say for sure. They've certainly never heard of the Dollhouse Corporation or Resistance before.
The alleyways twist and turn until they lead into a garage that the pink-haired woman--named Izumi--has open, inch by horrifically corroded inch. A safehouse is a safehouse, though. Joker hangs back for a moment to observe their surroundings; no sign of any spotlights or Legionnaires. They head inside after the others, and look around at the crate-seats, spool-table, lights, sheets, and cables.
"Well met, Izumi," they say, opting to tuck their gloved hands in their coat pockets and remain standing. "Call me Joker."
Ayame asks about the resistance, while Eveline asks how long the fight has been going on. Phoenix gets to the point and asks where Maria is, while Umie essentially asks what the catch is. Ririka asks about the CEO of Dollhouse Corp and how they can help, while Shinobu lets the others ask. Joker does likewise. Any questions they still have after the others are done, they're willing to let Izumi have a chance to answer on her own.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"Good to meet you, too, Watanabe-san, Deschamps-san, Akabane-san."
Does the corporation have something to do with Maria's disappearance? "Correct," Izumi answers Ririka. "They're the ones who took her. I'll explain the rest soon."
There's a brief round with a few more introductions: "Ah, Kawase-san, Shimizu-san, Phoenix-san, and Joker-san. Got it."
Once they're settled, she's far more willing to answer questions.
"Let me start from the beginning. ...This isn't a normal place. You can call it a 'Kingdom'. This one is dominated by its Rulers, the CEO and her artificial intelligence atop the rest of the Dollhouse Corporation, and we're the ones fighting to take it back from them," Izumi explains, shifting herself in her mobile chair. "Those things out there are their 'Legionnaires'. Correct, they make them to serve them," she tells Shinobu, "They're the footsoldiers, but not all of them fight. They're on the side of the CEO and her AI," she continues. "The CEO likes to augment the ones that do fight, so they can be quite dangerous, especially if they gang up on you."
How long have you been fighting, Eve asks, and Izumi pauses, her expression growing mildly troubled. "...As long as I can remember, I think. It seems as if I've always been doing this."
So, there are more of them? How can they help? ask Ayame and Ririka. "Some," Izumi admits. "The fighting has gotten worse lately, and I've been losing people left and right. There's a few others besides me. It's lucky I ran into you. I have a proposition for you, if you're willing to throw in with us against the corporation."
She raises an eyebrow as Umie, planting her hands on the table, asks more directly about Maria. "Actually, it's funny, because that's what I was going to ask you about. I need to save Maria. If you're here to save her, too, then we're on the same page. Now that I have all of you, we have a chance of making this work." She smiles, the pleased turn of her mouth only slightly colored by her own light defensiveness. "...Well, do you want to hear my plan?"
So, where's Maria-san? "They've captured her," Izumi explains, "The Rulers will be trying to get her to side with them." She purses her lips, frowning. "Something terrible will happen if she submits," she says, "but I don't know what it is. I only know that it could spell the end for our resistance. There's something... they want from her." She glances, over at the metal wall, itself covered with paper both recent and tattered emblazoned with pamphlets and fliers speaking of 'revolution' and 'liberation'. "She'll be somewhere in their headquarters, probably in the board room..."
It's the court, after all, of any CEO's power.
"But if you try to even just enter the building without a plan, you'll get killed. In there is where they're the most powerful."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Something that can't be solved in a day...
Well, Ririka is asking how they can help. And Ayame feels the same. But Shinobu can fill her in later! "I'd appreciate that," Ayame says. "But I suppose the site is good enough in a pinch..."
Introductionnns. But there's the questions. a 'Kingdom', it's called, and Izumi continues to explain. "It's gotten worse..."
Ayame considers it. The court, the CEO's power...
Ayame nods. "...A young woman should be able to choose for herself," Ayame says seriously. "Not at the directionn of someone else."
"Anything they want from a teenage girl can't be good." She considers, then, and looks to Shinobu. "Since we both want to save her..."
She looks back to Izumi. "I'm in," she says. "Provided that I like your plan, of course." She smiles.
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
Eve just smiles pleasantly at Phoenix instead of argue with some youth about the intricacies of the Latin language and its modern days uses. Umie also gets a nod.
But Izumi has been fighting forever... must be a Shadow, she decides, though she knows Shadows can be extraordinarily people-like. She listens to her share her details, and Ayame lists something important.
"Yes. Provided the plan is workable, I can tell my crew whatever you share. You'll have more aid if so. And if the plan isn't workable, we can modify it."
She'll then fade a bit into the back to listen. She's good at that.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Umie says this will be -- something, and Phoenix blinks, double-taking, before they lean to Joker again. "Fuck she said?" They whisper, because apparently it's not just the Romance languages they struggle with.
Rebellion, Resistance... Phoenix can't help but feel like there's something familiar about it.
Izumi says the Dollhouse Corporation took Maria, though, and Phoenix's scowl darkens. (It's a little hard to tell, under that mask, but their lips are uncovered.) A Kingdom with a Ruler...
(Here, they glance to Joker, again. Their line, unspoken, is displayed by the subtitles like this: "???")
"Well, shit," Phoenix can't help but say, when Izumi says it feels like she's always been fighting. "That sucks." Does that mean she's a Cognition...?
They're much less calm about the answer to their question. "Mother-FUCKER!" Phoenix slams a fist into the crate, only to realise what they just said and look over to Ayame, sheepishly. "Uh. Sorry." Ayame just... looks like a mom, apparently...?
(Nah. Phoenix just knows it for a fact. That's why they didn't apologise to Eve.)
"So what the fuck they doin'?! Brainwashin' her?! Torturin' her?! What happens if they jus' take it, man?!" Someone's invested! They stand up, sweeping their arms out. "If we know where she is, let's go right now--!!"
did they completely miss that part about the getting killed or
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Umie looks at Shinobu as she offers to explain things to Ayame, quietly clapping her hands together in front of her and shaking them twice.
It's... one of those topics she *really* *really* needs to hunt down Hazuki for, she couldn't even explain how it worked to Joker!!
'It seems as if I've always been doing this.' Umie spots that minute change in Izumi's expression. "... Let's change the subject," Umie says, quickly, mouthing a 'I'll explain later' to Eveline over her shoulder. Sure, Umie may have sassed at Eveline earlier, but Eveline *has* helped her before, with Noriaki.
Listening to Izumi explain, Umie mimes a thoughtful expression, with how her hand is pressed to her mouth. However, with how her lips tighten she feels the hard surface of her teeth against her index finger instead. Narrowing, her brown eyes are as solemn as the grave, despite the whimsy of the starfield of splattered paint on her mask.
"...." Umie then shrugs, feigning a more lackadaisical approach. "You had me at 'captured'--" oh man Phoenix is *in*. "Hahahaahhhhhh, pretty sure she explained why. It *would* be a good idea to see if there's some way to communicate with Maria that there's an effort to get to her, though. We may've heard her voice, but we have no idea if she's actually conscious of people answering."
Oh god, is Umie going to have to be the voice of reason.
"You'll need someone with some experience with environments like this. I also have connections I can ask." Umie holds up a finger. "If we keep our teams small and divided up, I bet that'll keep them unaware that you have allies, if just for a little longer. We have the advantage of being 'new' here; let's use it to our advantage and burrow in, one step at a time."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Izumi confirms that the Corporation is tied to Maria's disappearance, and that she'll explain more, soon. Ririka nods. "Okay."
Well, at least their two problems are related.
She listens attentively as Izumi explains. The CEO and her AI, the Legionnaires acting as footsoldiers... There are others, and then... a proposition.
They're all on the same page, and now that she has all of them... "... I know more people that can help, too. I'll let them know about what's going on."
"... so we have to rescue her before she submits, then." She looks at the pamphlets, too. Revolution, liberation... "I'll listen to your plan, Izumi-san. We should combine our efforts, if we can."
Tsubasa has some choice words, and then they stand up, ready to charge in. Umie mentions that they should try to get a message to her, if they're able. "Phoenix-san, let's hear the plan first. And Akabane-san, that's a good idea. I wanted to scan that tower anyway, so I can try to locate her and get her a message." She looks to Phoenix. "So if you can wait just a little bit, I'll share anything I can find out, okay?" She glances to everyone else. "That actually goes for everyone else here, too. My powers let me extend my senses and communicate at a distance in supernatural spaces."
Phoenix saved her sister's partner! She's more than willing to do them a solid, gratis. (Sorry, Phoenix, that's more Latin.)
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Cool." Shinobu replies with a nod toward Ayame. She'll make sure to do that - but for now, she focuses on the current situation.
So, this is a 'Kingdom', and the Dollhouse Corporation's CEO and her AI are its 'Rulers'. Shinobu nods thoughtfully, making a mental note of that. That makes sense enough. And the Legionnaires are exactly what she thought they were - footsoldiers. And the CEO can augment them...
"...This CEO sounds like a pain in the ass." She replies with a shake of her head.
Izumi has been fighting for as long as she can remember, and the fighting has gotten worse lately...
"...Sounds like we've got an uphill battle on our hands, then." Shinobu considers, folding her arms in front of her. It doesn't deter her from helping - but it does mean they'll need to take this seriously, if the people who have been doing this already are having trouble. ...And worse, the Rulers have captured Maria, and are trying to get her side with them.
"Seriously." Shinobu agrees with Ayame with a nod. "Pressuring a kid like that..."
She nods, though - she and Ayame are on the same page. She's willing to help, so long as that plan of hers is something she can agree with. She looks back toward Izumi.
"So, what's your plan?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker leans back to Phoenix. "She said it'll be a <fun experience>. A fun time. She's saying it's going to suck," they interpret, whispering back. (Joker is good at English--not nearly as good as Panther, but good enough to hold a conversation or read a book if they take it slow.)
Izumi explains, and Joker listens. This place is called a Kingdom, and the dolls, which are made by the Ruler of the Kingdom to fight for them, are Legionnaires. Despite being called a 'Kingdom,' it's ruled by a techie CEO, not a King or Queen. Interesting. It's like the names are more about the spirit of the thing... This is a cognitive world, all right. (To Phoenix, they just shrug a little. "Seems like it runs on vibes," they'll tell them later.)
Izumi's always been fighting here--for as long as she can remember. Joker frowns a bit. Does that mean she's lost some of her memories, or...? What's her connection to Maria, anyway? And how did this 'Kingdom' thing form?
Either way, the fighting has been going poorly and they're down a lot of resistance fighters. Izumi wants to save Maria; they all want to save Maria. The Dollhouse Corporation wants to use her to do something, and they need to bust her out before that happens. Joker follows Izumi's look over at the papered wall.
Rebellion and resistance. Considering they're up against some kind of corporation that uses creepy dolls for foot soldiers, they're all for that--but there's something missing. They look back at Izumi. "This thing the Corporation wants from her--do you and your people want it too? What happens once we get her out of there?"
Phoenix is, as usual, much more explosive and prone to charging in without thinking. Joker rests a hand on their shoulder--lightly, briefly, just long enough to interrupt their runaway momentum and get their attention. "Calm down, Phoenix. We need to handle this with care. It won't help Maria Sakurai any if we get killed before we can even reach her," they tell them. "It's like a Treasure. It's not enough to know where she is; we also need an infiltration and escape route so we can get her, and all of us, out safely."
Strictly speaking, they don't even know if Izumi is on the level, though Joker is inclined to trust her. Infiltrating and exploring the Dollhouse Corporation should confirm if what she's said is true. They nod to Ririka when she offers to scan the skyscraper and send a message to Maria. "Good idea. If we can communicate with Maria Sakurai, that will increase the odds of a successful rescue dramatically."
A person--a teen girl especially--should choose for herself. "Agreed," Joker says to Ayame, with a nod to Shinobu next. They consider Umie's suggestion of breaking up into smaller teams. That's not a bad idea... Certainly Eveline is making it clear she plans on coming back with more of her team. But first, they want to hear Izumi's plan. Shinobu's on top of asking that, so Joker looks back and listens.
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"My thoughts, too," Izumi answers Ayame, as she glances also at Shinobu. "It shouldn't be 'their' choice."
But what's the thing that the Corporation wants from Maria? And, is it the same thing that the Rebellion wants?
"I only want her to be free," says Izumi. "No one should be held against their will like that, especially not her." Her forehead creases as if she were thinking about something, only to let go. And so, she shakes her head. "I assume... that she goes free. I don't know what happens after that. I just know that it's important, and that something terrible will happen if she bends to their will."
So what are they doing in there? Are they torturing Maria, as Phoenix so effusively asks? "Ah-- Phoenix-san, you shouldn't--" says Izumi, sounding far more mild for the moment than a resistance leader ought to. She pauses after a moment, then her expression hardens. "--That's a bad idea. You'll get killed if you run in there alone. You'll need a group, and a plan. Luckily for you, I have a plan."
She seems a little surprised when Ririka makes her own suggestion about what she can add to what's going on in here. "You can...? I see, so you could try to communicate with Maria. It's worth a shot. Just do be careful, I don't know if your frequency could be hacked. The AI the CEO controls is quite powerful. All of our communications are heavily encrypted for that reason...
"Right," she says, when they ask about the plan. "Some of my people have managed to learn a few things about the layout and security in the building through hacking their systems. I assure you, it took a very long time to be able to do it. It looks like there are passcodes that give people access to the boardroom. The problem is, the codes are physical items. Someone will have to go in and steal them, and it looks like we'll need a set of them."
Izumi reaches up, toying a moment with the end of her side-plait. "It should be possible to sneak in. I've been investigating a few options for infiltration, but they'll recognize me on the spot. It will have to be you," she explains. Her lips curve in something like amusement as Umie pitches in her suggestion. "Ah, exactly as I was going to say, Akabane-san. I also think it would be easier if you do this as separate teams, and not all at once. If you make too much noise, they might realize what you're trying to do. But after that..."
Izumi closes her eyes for a moment.
"After that, it's time for brute force. It could get messy, but time isn't on our side." She opens her eyes again to stare at all of them in turn. "But if we have the codes and if we can get a group to the board room without running into their security... we can make them release Maria."
It's a pretty tall ask, all told.
Izumi leans forward in her mobile chair. "That's what I have. I can't do it alone. Will you help us?"
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Thank you," Ayame says to Phoenix, with a small smile. "You're passionate! That's a good quality."
Umie has experience with environments like this. Phoenix is definitely going to go. And Ririka has special skills...
Ayame nods to Shinobu, too. "Agreed." A pain in the ass! ot that she'll say it that way.
Still, Joker's question is a smart one, she thinks--what does Izumi want with her. Joker agrees with her, too. And Eveline has a whole team...
Ayame is thoughtful. "I'm not much of a hacker," she admits, "But I do know electronics. If I could get access to some of theirs..." Then she might be able to do something. This might surprise people, though.
"Especiallyw ith what your people already know! After all, half of breaking into systems is convincing the people within them to do what you want!"
Pause. "...I'm not very good at sneaking," she admits, "But brute force I can do! My Personan is very strong on offensne."
"I'll help," Ayame says. "As I said... Sakurai-kun is my husband's precious student. And I don't aim to let her down when I can help, in any case."
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
Umie gets a nod, before Eve only chimes in to Izumi to say one thing.
"I accept the plan. I also have a long-ranged communications-based Persona, so I can assist her in getting a secure channel," she says with a nod towards Ririka. She's not going to *voice* that she doesn't trust Ririka to not fuck it up, but she doesn't trust Ririka to not fuck it up, for the sole reason of lack of experience comparatively.
Eve then smiles. "Don't worry. I will authorize the hunt of this CEO, her AI, and her legionnaires. My team has much experience with fighting cognitive beings."
The big thing she has to do, though, is get a dossier going on Maria Sakurai... do some digging... find out *who this girl is* so she can bring it back to the Wild Hunt. Private eye stuff!
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Oh," Phoenix whispers back to Joker. "Cool. Ain't never been no good at English, so..." Even smart people aren't universally smart, apparently.
Phoenix's vibes, apparently, are ON FIRE! Joker, luckily, is on top of calming Phoenix down -- and also is one of the few people here they'd let put a hand on their shoulder to sit them back down. (Look, Shinobu might get a pass. Let's call it the 'badass pass'.) "Alright, let's... cool it, I guess... fuck, man." Phoenix shoots a vaguely apologetic look at the others -- particularly Izumi and Joker. They hear Joker's scepticism, too, but... Izumi's answer is pretty satisfying to them. "Ch... you can really listen in?" they ask, looking to Ririka and Eveline.
(They appreciate Ayame appreciating their attitude, anyway.)
Izumi has a plan, though. "Aight. Lucky for you, I can do both a that shit. Breakin' in an' breakin' shit, I mean. So..." They turn to Joker. "We doin' this, boss?" Joker is also their boss now! Just not, you know, their Boss.
They look over to Ayame and Shinobu, to add: "... that's why people callin' you guys reliable." It's Tsubasa. Tsubasa was the one who called them reliable! Tsubasa specifically called Ayame a Reliable Adult when giving her number to Maria, in fact. But Tsubasa's not here, obviously, so someone has to be grateful the sisters old enough to be aunties are stepping up.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
"Since when has a CEO been anything but?" Umie jokes over her shoulder, at Shinobu. "As for our prospects... I'd say it was an uphill battle before we even got here."
Umie folds her arms, frowning at Eveline. She *wants* to challenge her on that, so badly. Experience? For how long?! Bet they didn't have to figure everything out as they went along, she thinks.
No, Umie, focus.
Remembering Akechi's explanation about cognitions, Umie tilts her head slightly as Izumi offers her reasoning towards saving Maria, as well as the blank spaces on where her plan may be.
Like a cognition, but halfway aware of it, maybe? This isn't a Palace, so stubbornly holding Izumi to these rules, like holding the demons that lurk in Sumaru City during the Dark Hour, may not map correctly as Umie may like, for the cause of having easy answers. "It's okay if you don't have all the answers," she offers, a far cry from her earlier skepticism. "Honesty's going to get you pretty far here."
Maybe, this Izumi's growing on her, despite her only knowing Izumi for a short while.
"I can't speak for everyone, but I think I can get behind that way of thinking." Still standing, Umie folds her arms, as Ayame explains her traits. "As for me, Badb is good with magic, as well as general field intelligence. Not as good as someone dedicated like Kawase-san, though. Sneaking though... I do a decent job. Whatever we do, however, the first time you do things is the first chance you have to make your mark. If we have someone contact Maria, we'll need to have a solid message to give her, because there may be no second chance. So, it may be a question of timing: should be move first, then send a message when our efforts are beginning to be noticed, or notify Maria straight away and possibly lose that trump card? They'll likely be used to the status quo, so they'll rest on their laurels for a little while before they begin to notice the tides turning. And believe me, the tides will turn."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
She nods to Joker next. "Right. If she knows she's not alone... she might be able to hold out hope a little longer. Even if I can't reach her... I can hopefully at least provide some information about the lower floors of the building."
Joker does ask a good question, though. But Izumi says she'll go free, which is good--certainly, if they can get her out they can take her to the exit of this place.
She nods to Izumi. "I can try--I can't promise anything, but if it's possible, I will." But she advises caution, and Ririka nods. "I'll do my best. I don't know if my link can be hacked like that, but I'll be careful." Eve offers to help, though, and Ririka gives her a cautious smile. "I would appreciate the assistance, Deschamps-san."
Ririka might be comparatively inexperienced, compared to Eve, but at least she's been getting... a lot of practice, since she awakened.
But she keeps listening. Physical passcodes, and they need to be a set. Infiltration points, separate teams, and once they get to the boardroom... the application of force.
"That's useful information. I'll pass it along to my friends, too. I'm sure they'll want to help. We can send a few parties. But speaking for myself, I'm willing to help."
She looks to Ayame. "Oh, you know about electronics?"
She nods to Phoenix. "I might be able to. I'm going to try, at least."
"Eh heh... well, Akabane-san, you're probably better at sneaking than I am on my own. Most of my magic is support-based, but I do have a few attack spells." But she brings up a good point about the message, frowning as she considers it. "That's a good point... It'd probably be easier to contact her if we were already disrupting their operations... but if they're trying to convince her to give them something... she might need the encouragement now to hold out while we work on reaching her. Like Izumi-san said, we're new here, so it might be possible to deliver a message in a way they don't expect, especially if we can keep the channel secure." She nods to Eve at that. "Izumi-san, what are your thoughts on the timing? You're more familiar with the situation."
"But regardless of when we send the message... I'd still like to search for her--even if we don't contact her right away, it'd still be useful to gather as much information as possible first." And she can, at least, confirm that she's here at all, which will help in verifying what Izumi's said.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Heh. You're right, there." Shinobu agrees with a smirk at Umie's joke.
Looks like they're all in agreement. This isn't something they can just let happen. If it's true that Izumi just wants Maria to be free... Then, that's fine. And then, it's time for the plan. Izumi's people have figured out they need passcodes to access the boardroom, but the codes take the form of physical items, so someone's going to have to sneak in and steal them. It doesn't surprise Shinobu that her sister is good with electronics, at least.
"I get it. We're convenient because we're new here and the pain-in-the-ass Rulers don't know us on sight yet." Shinobu considers with a nod. Ayame says she isn't very good at sneaking, though... and that makes two of them. "Yeah, I'm more of 'brute force' kinda gal, too... I know how to get in and out of places, at least. What've you learned about it so far? Any lead'll be helpful."
She looks toward Phoenix, then, as they say that people are calling them 'reliable'. She glances Ayame's way briefly.
"Heh, people are calling me reliable...? You, maybe, but can't say I expected that..." Shinobu comments with a smirk. She's surprised... but she'd be lying if she said it didn't feel a little nice, too.
"...But, yeah, I'm in." Shinobu decides, looking back toward Izumi. "We'll get those passcodes."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Izumi... doesn't seem to know what happens once Maria's freed. She, too, seems to run on vibes. Maybe she's a Shadow or maybe she's a Cognition, but neither of those seem quite right--maybe because they don't actually know what the nature of a Kingdom is beyond being a cognitive world. Maria is clearly not the Ruler here, though, so there's no guarantee that it's her cognition. So what exactly is Izumi?
Still, they nod once. Her answer is vague, but there is a ring of sincerity there. They're inclined to trust her--for now. They're open to revising their opinion in the future.
Eveline also has a navigating Persona, it turns out, and can also potentially reach out to Maria. Joker will leave that to Ririka to handle, and perhaps also the reliable Ayame (who has hacking experience) and Shinobu (as her sister), given Izumi's warning; they're not sure they trust the Wild Hunt, but Eveline seems sincere in her desire to help. ...even if the way she talks about 'authorizing the hunt' like she's in charge here rubs them the wrong way.
Izumi says they know the way, but they need to find physical keys to access the boardroom--specifically, they need to steal them. Joker huffs a breath of a laugh as they grin toothily. No need to ask why. Phoenix settles, but looks to them for confirmation. They nod back, then look at Izumi. "Infiltration and theft is our specialty. Leave the codes to us," they say with confidence to Izumi. Once they're done, as Phoenix says, they can help with the brute force too--but first things first.
There's not a lot of time, so they won't be able to round up all of the Phantom Thieves. Still, if they can get one or two more teammates, that should be enough... unless Umie tries to hook them in with her first. Joker doesn't think of that, though; she already said she has her own people, and they and Phoenix of course have theirs. She does ask a good question, though: reach out to Maria now, or wait until they're in position?
"If we know where the boardroom is and simply need to acquire the keys, and there is a risk in tipping our hand should the CEO's AI companion catch us reaching out to her, we should wait until go time to make contact," Joker opines. "But the call is yours, Izumi. You know the Dollhouse Corporation best--" They nod to Ririka. "And it may indeed be worth the risk to give Maria Sakurai the hope she needs to endure sooner."
<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
"That's what I think, too," she tells Umie. "I know that what we're fighting for -- liberation -- is important. Even if I don't understand every detail."
Izumi, in spite of everything, laughs a little at Phoenix's reaction. " She must be important to you." Then, she pauses. "To be honest, I feel the same way myself..." She purses her lips. "I wonder who 'Maria Sakurai' is to me, truly?"
"So there's two of you with that power? That's fortunate for us," Izumi remarks, glancing between Eve and Ririka. "Yes, even if you can't reach her, knowing more about the layout should help us."
She looks at Joker. "Good, I'm glad you have experience in this. We'll need to move quickly and quietly, where possible. The sooner we can get them, the better."
What should they do, progress first and then send a message to Maria, or the reverse? "You make a good point, Akabane-san. Either could be a good approach, but..." She glances at Joker as they explain their own things. "Yes, I think we should also wait, at least until we have more information, and we're a little closer.
As for timing, she tells Ririka, "I think... perhaps a little over a week, perhaps two. Every day she remains their captive is another day she might give in." She shakes her head. "I don't know how I know it but... it's a feeling I have."
"Yes, of course," Izumi says to Ayame. "My hackers are very good... but I want to see what someone who isn't from here can do."
If there's one thing Ayame can do, it's brute force. Her sister, too. "Then, I'll be counting on you when it comes to that, both of you." She looks at Phoenix. "And you, too. My people are good in a fight, but I don't think we're prepared for a fight like this one. I have a feeling it will be more than we can handle by ourselves."
Eve, though, speaks of 'authorizing the hunt', which leads Izumi to raise an eyebrow as if she were wondering what that meant. "I see..."
"Thank you. I'll give you the information I know about one of the weak points once you're ready," she says to Shinobu.
Then, to all of them, Izumi says, extending her arms, "I think it was a stroke of luck meeting all of you. I feel like, at last, the tide will turn. We might be able to win this with your help, and save Maria." She gestures around herself. "Please, use this space as you see fit. You're one of us, now."
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Haha, it's like she and Izumi are thinking on the same wavelength now.
.... Like the person Maria thought Umie was.
('Superumie'. What a fat load of nonsense that turned out to be, when she couldn't even keep Maria from disappearing.)
She tried handling it all by herself. Maybe, it'd be good to--
Maybe she should.... ask. For help.
Maybe.
"H-hey," Umie tries to whisper, quietly, to Joker and Phoenix. "I realize you guys, uh, have... people, but... if it works out, I'd... like to... join you. For this mission. Later."
She's trying to hide the bottom half of her face again with one hand.
".... If it's okay."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka's used to thinking in terms of missions, but similarly to Ren, she's a bit hesitant at the term 'hunt' being thrown around.
But she nods to Joker as they weigh in on the risk/reward factor for contacting Maria. And Izumi weighs on it soon enough. "A week, two at most..." She takes a deep breath. "Then I'll tell my friends right away."
"I'll wait to reach out, like you suggest, but... before I go I'll scan as far as I can, and share the inforamtion with everyone."
She heads out to find a safe spot from which to scan the tower, relaying the information back via the Navigator Link. And then she'll go inform SEES of what's happening here.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"... I told her she ain't in this shit alone," Phoenix says, to Izumi. "She thinks I'm someone she can count on. Like... be a real piece a shit if I let her down." Which might explain their grim expression, when Joker says it's safer if she doesn't know, even if they know they're logically right. Who is Maria to Izumi, though...? "You been fightin' this whole time," is what they suppose.
(Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?)
The other masked woman wants to join them, though, and Phoenix looks to Joker. "... cool with me."
They're cool with Ririka's information, too... even if they wish they could just lay into that board room, already!!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
So that's why Phoenix is so passionate about protecting Maria... They freaked out a lot when the Old Maid attacked her too. Joker doesn't interrupt them, since they're talking to Izumi, but they do listen.
It can be hard to choose the logical path when you're emotionally invested--when someone's counting on you and you don't want to let them down. They're glad Phoenix is willing to listen all the same.
A week or two... Good to know their time limit. Joker, too, will wait around for whatever information Ririka and Eveline are able to scan for the tower. And while they're waiting, Umie approaches them and Phoenix, asking to join them for this mission...
They consider her, their expression a mask both figuratively and literally. Doesn't she have her own people she can contact? That's nothing against her, though. Joker glances at Phoenix, then once they confirm they're okay with it, back at Umie.
"I don't mind. We've cooperated before, and your abilities will be useful," they reply. They have some limited navigational-type abilities too, but those are about finding hidden objects and locations, not people.
As for Umie's friends... they'll just have to see.