2026-02-13: Portrait of Nyarlathotep
- Log: Portrait of Nyarlathotep
- Cast: Tatsuya Sudou, Niko Kirisaki, Maya Amano, Umie Akabane, Shinjiro Aragaki, Tamaki Uchida, Goro Akechi, Jun Kashihara, Fuuka Yamagishi, Hyousuke Suzuki, Ririka Kawase, Rain Summers
- Where: Aoba Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: February 13, 2026
- IC Date: September 25, 2012
- Summary: Rumor has it that a private showing of a new Dimitri Tachovsky portrait is being displayed at a local art show in Iwatodai. Unfortunately it appears Mr. Tachovsky had fallen ill and won't be attending the show but the client who commissioned the portrait will be presenting it on his behalf.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
The art gallery in Aoba is swarmed with people who barely even understand art all because of a single headline, 'The Last Tachovsky Portrait to be Revealed' . It would appear the artist Dimitri Tachovsky had been hospitalized since his sudden reappearance after his 'staged' disappearance. Nothing official has been released, but rumors talk, and rumor is that the guy went nuts and this could be the last painting he does. No one has seen it, even the gallery curator has only heard about it from Dimitri's new manager.
In the main gallery is a large painting, covered with sheets and ropes so that no one can take a peek until the reveal. Still there is something that is not completely on the up and up about all this, perhaps it is the feeling of wrongness one may feel as they enter the gallery. Perhaps it has something to do that all the paintings in the gallery are tilted in some way. A little to the left, or right, hanging a little forward or back, just enough to be off. It could be that the resonance that is coming from the main gallery is a horrible resonance that feels sticky and black and has the taste of chaos to it.
The real sign that something is wrong though definitely comes when someone enters the main gallery, it's like stepping into the pockets of the supernatural that seem to follow a certain Old Maid. The closer one gets to the soon to be revealed portrait is like wading deeper into the ocean, the resonance is stronger and the weirdness increases. A good example is that the sculptures seem to be moving a little, twitching. The fruit in one of the paintings is starting to look a little too real. Yet the so-called patrons of the art simply believe that is the atmosphere and everything is fine.
So when the lights shut off and spotlights draw attention to the portrait and a tall man with a paper bag on his head who hadn't been anywhere in the gallery moments ago steps from behind the painting, it is obvious that this is all part of the show. Now as this man tugs on the rope, and the ropes and sheet fall away, the show really begins...
AS: Goro Akechi has readied for combat as Robin Hood! He is now fully healed! AS: Fuuka Yamagishi has readied for combat as Lucia! She is now fully healed! AS: That is not a valid bucket in this room. AS: Maya Amano has readied for combat as Maia! She is now fully healed! AS: Tatsuya Sudou has readied for combat as Old Maid! He is now fully healed! Ready for 5 opponents! AS: Niko Kirisaki has readied for combat as Ate! She is now fully healed! Ready for 3 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
The art gallery in Aoba is swarmed with people who barely even understand art all because of a single headline, 'The Last Tachovsky Portrait to be Revealed' . It would appear the artist Dimitri Tachovsky had been hospitalized since his sudden reappearance after his 'staged' disappearance. Nothing official has been released, but rumors talk, and rumor is that the guy went nuts and this could be the last painting he does. No one has seen it, even the gallery curator has only heard about it from Dimitri's new manager.
In the main gallery is a large painting, covered with sheets and ropes so that no one can take a peek until the reveal. Still there is something that is not completely on the up and up about all this, perhaps it is the feeling of wrongness one may feel as they enter the gallery. Perhaps it has something to do that all the paintings in the gallery are tilted in some way. A little to the left, or right, hanging a little forward or back, just enough to be off. It could be that the resonance that is coming from the main gallery is a horrible resonance that feels sticky and black and has the taste of chaos to it.
The real sign that something is wrong though definitely comes when someone enters the main gallery, it's like stepping into the pockets of the supernatural that seem to follow a certain Old Maid. The closer one gets to the soon to be revealed portrait is like wading deeper into the ocean, the resonance is stronger and the weirdness increases. A good example is that the sculptures seem to be moving a little, twitching. The fruit in one of the paintings is starting to look a little too real. Yet the so-called patrons of the art simply believe that is the atmosphere and everything is fine.
So when the lights shut off and spotlights draw attention to the portrait and a tall man with a paper bag on his head who hadn't been anywhere in the gallery moments ago steps from behind the painting, it is obvious that this is all part of the show. Now as this man tugs on the rope, and the ropes and sheet fall away, the show really begins...
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko Kirisaki wouldn't miss this event for the world. All things considered, she's got to imagine that the kind of art that would be unveiled here today is going to be right up her alley. She wasn't involved with its creation, nor does she have any idea why Sudou went through all this trouble, so she's exceptionally curious to see what's up with all this.
Technically, she is also here on behalf of Strega. They weren't looped in on all this, so they would probably want to know what their 'part-timer' has been up to lately. But that's far from high on Niko's personal priority list.
Supporting her 'Ojisan' is much higher. It wouldn't do for the show to be prematurely disturbed, after all. Even if most people here don't seem to have a clue, gallery security might decide to make trouble if they see someone that looks like the Joker Killer. Can't have that now, can we? So, if anyone wonders why there don't seem to be any security guards about--
Wait, there's one now, leaning against a nearby wall, watching the proceedings like a hawk from off to the side of the presentation. ...Or, no, that's obviously just Niko wearing a security guard's hat. All the evidence anyone needs to know that the actual security team won't be making an appearance today. They're fine, they're just a little... tied up at the moment.
Well used to Sudou's Vibe, Niko doesn't really react to the obvious change in the surroundings when he appears. She just starts to loudly applaud, and whistles on her fingers to aid in getting the crowd hyped up. That's fitting for an art show, isn't it? Sure it is.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
===BEFORE===
In an out of the way subway bathroom devoid of other people, a comb is passed through long, straight black hair, two hands adjusting the angle of the wig. A dab of concealer and some powder covers the beauty mark underneath her right eye. Lipstick is applied, lips thin, then pucker. Light eyeshadow is brushed on, mascara carefully applied. Metallic gold hoops are placed in.
The black of her long sleeved blouse cuts an elegant neckline, crossed over by a flash of white beads. The slim sleeves are long enough to cover the top half of each hand, a slit in the side of each sleeve for a thumb to hole the length of sleeve in place. Slim black dress pants and flats complete the look, along with a grey shawl. (No one has to know she got a lot of this on clearance.)
Really, the only thing that could give the young woman away right now is the dark red of her nails, and how many people would pay attention to that, or know what color someone was wearing for the past few weeks? (Besides, nail polish can be expensive.)
===NOW===
This is *definitely* Sudou's work; the woman is confident the moment she got close enough to the gallery.
When a man at the front door offers to take her shawl, the young woman shakes her head, holding up a hand before he gets close. "I'm fine, thank you."
Her right hand itches, as she gets closer, more a product of the young woman's imagination than any proof of what is already glaringly obvious.
As the lights shut off, a hand is inserted into the shawl, drawing out a plain black half-mask, which she uses one hand to hook a strap around each ear, holding it in place.
The same hand goes to take the few small balloons, each filled with ink, positioning the ties between each finger.
.... It took a lot of trial and error to figure out just how much to fill each balloon with and not have them make any noticeable sounds as she walked, or how to affix them under the shawl and *not* be noticeble. Vandalism *is* a crime, but if she times it right... no one will care, right?
She draws her right hand back, just about to throw them at the unveiling painting with an underhanded throw.
AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
The crowd outside the Aoba Gallery is unlike anything that she's seen before -- at least, that is, for an art show. She had covered plenty of concerts and movie openings where the crowd resembled this one, but art -- especially a singular piece -- rarely attracted this level of attention.
Maya snaps a few pictures of the crowd on her smartphone, wishing Yukki were here to help her. She reviews the photos in her gallery, then satisfied, closes the app and opens the other she uses for taking notes.
'The crowd's crazy. Lots of people speculating. Staged for publicity? Is he actually dead?' Those were only a few of the rumors she was hearing from cluster of people gathered outside the gallery. Hopefully she'll have a chance to interview a few of them after the show; there's only so much she can glean from eavesdropping alone. But the vibe she gets is that people were more interested in the spectacle than they were in the art itself.
Maya flashes her press badge as she slips past the crowd and into the gallery entrance. Immediately, she senses something is wrong.
A frame tilted left. Another leaning forward. A third hanging back like it's recoiling from the wall. Maya switches back to the camera app and starts taking photos. The feeling of wrongness grows with every photo she snaps. It's not just the misaligned frames that are responsible for her unease. It's something else entirely. Something that Maya can't quite put her finger on.
Maya swallows and forces her best 'Let's Think Positive!' smile as she maneuvers to the centerpiece. And then...
The lights cut out.
Maya stills instead of jumping, her weight shifting onto the balls of her feet. The spotlights snap on with an audible sound. Next to where the covered portrait stands now is a figure that Maya recognizes. And that recognition hits like a punch to the chest.
Sudou.
As unnaturally cheerful applause rises up from behind her, Maya tucks her phone into her bag and takes her guns out. Suddenly she's thankful for the lack of security at the entrance.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Hyousuke had given Shinjiro a heads up, and he was going to take it. Even he had an appreciation of the art, as 'uncouth' as he was, but that wasn't why he was here.
Clad in his red coat and beanie, clearly out of place in the summer and the gallery alike, Shinjiro is technically unarmed. His punch is good enough to defend himself, and he has his Evoker, but no giant weapon to swing. Luckily(?!) there's art props to grab in a pinch.
He steps smoothly through the halls, looking at the uncanny paintings and feelings altogether. At one point, he considers pulling the fire alarm, but that's too risky.
And then, the lights flicker, and the spotlight shines on...
"You fucking bastard," Shinjiro interrupts the show with ease, body tensing.
Part of him didn't know if he'd show. But the feeling accentuated it, as the words left his mouth.
What was he going to unveil? He couldn't rush him without risking others... so he instead had to move forward, positioning himself so that he'd be on the first line of defense if Sudou took the opportunity to attack with flames.
Then, he spots Niko. His focus turns to her, and he grimaces. She's his friend. That hasn't changed yet.
But he's still mad at her.
He does not clap, instead pivoting to the person who's probably gonna try to punish him for crashing the show.
He'll intercept her before she intercepts him, it seems.
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki's outfit for tonight consists of loose separates not too far removed from typical 'mori girl' fashion. She's paired a long-sleeved button-up shirt in a light pastel-green shade with an flowing ankle-length beige skirt and forest-green tights underneath, layered by a faded yellow see-through knit sweater on top and a matching sash serving as a 'belt'. This doesn't deviate too far from her usual color choices in her clothing, but it starkly contrasts with her usual office lady look -- the one constant between both styles is that six-coined necklace of hers.
Concealed somewhere under that getup is her practice fencing sabre; the shining glint of its bell guard occasionally peeks out on her left side from over her waist sash. One could feasibly mistake it for some sort of jewelry which resembles a flower. She hopes there won't be trouble, but she's prepared in case there will be, ready to emerge from the woodwork if something goes down. Otherwise, she's trying her best to fit in as if she were any other unassuming visitor, ostensibly oblivious to anything untoward about the sheets-and-ropes obscured painting.
Hyousuke was the one who clued Tamaki in to the true nature of the painter's mysterious new patron. She might not have arrived with anyone, but she certainly recognizes a few faces. For the immediate moment, should she spot Shinjiro, Maya, or Jun from a distance, she simply beams in their direction and waves. Still, since Hyousuke brought it to her attention, he's who she beelines to first with a friendly and chipper, "Suzuki-kun! How aaare you?"
Through her smile and through grit teeth, more quietly, she nervously raises her eyebrows and mutters in a croaking voice, "Ha ha haaaaa, holy shit, the vibes here are rancid. Was it this bad in the tower?" She hungrily eyes one of paintings which depict fruit.
For all of her prior experience, for all of the research and assistance that she's provided others like Umie and Maya with regarding their investigations into the Joker Killer, Tamaki actually hasn't had the pleasure of encountering him herself -- not in this capacity. She hopes that she hasn't bitten off more than she can chew tonight. His sudden appearance isn't doing her confidence any favors.
Neither is Niko's applause, as she's torn between joining in to blend in, not cheering because that strikes her as unusual for an art exhibition, and responding to that signal as 'go-time.' Ultimately, she decides 'not yet,' and whispers to Hyousuke, "Psst! Hey, go, uh ... 'find some help,' if you catch my drift."
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Art can be window or mirror... and perhaps Goro Akechi wonders which this piece is. Why does he get the unsettling feeling, without even seeing it, that it's more mirror than window?
Well that would be questions best left unanswered until later. Here he is tonight, in his school uniform, for which he'd be more recognizable in than any formal suit, wearing a pair of dark gloves.
And rather than mingle, he walks over to a guard beside a velvet rope, exchanges a few words, smiles- the guard lets him by, as he steps up the stairs he's guarding at a sedate pace.
From the Second Floor, he examines the scene. A hand upon his chin. "Quite a sticky situation we have in front of us... the Sumaru Police Department's official position is that there is no Old Maid, so they won't endorse an evacuation... ah well."
A security camera goes dark, from the shot of a silenced pistol in its blind spot, as he puts it back away. And then he steps right beside the fire alarm, "One hardly needs their permission." And he certainly doesn't plan to ask for forgiveness, not as he opens a brief case, and palms a certain object.
The moment the lights shut off, and the spotlights begin to turn on, is the same moment he casually tosses a smoke bomb across the second floor, and as Niko cheers - is when he pulls the alarm.
Which begins to blare it's loud cacophony, as smoke begins to billow out from the second floor.
Looking pointedly at Sudou, over his confrontation with Shinjiro he raises a gloved hand, smiles and waves his fingers... before stepping away from the edge, and walking through the haze of smoke away from the scene of the 'crime.'
It's not exactly a crime when there actually is a fire, now is there?
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Jun hadn't heard anything about the supernatural aspects of any paintings of Tachovsky's; he'd simply heard of the artist's disappearance, or hospitalization, or breakdown--the rumors don't seem to agree--and this might be the last time he ever paints at all.
Now, Jun is a cultured young man, but he's more into music and literature than paintings. However, the concept that this might be a living artist's final art show compels him to come check it out. It's vexing that apparently a lot of people had the same idea, considering Jun dislikes crowds, but he chooses to not let that chase him away.
He'll wish he had in short over. There's something about the paintings once he's inside the venue that make him uneasy. He gets that feeling more and more the deeper in he goes. Everyone else is acting as though it's normal, and he even spots Tamaki and waves back at her with a smile, along with a few other people he recognizes, so he puts up with it for a while--
Until the lights go out.
Until the Joker Killer appears in the spotlight, to the sound of clapping and whistling.
Until he pulls those curtain ropes and reveals the piece de resistance behind it...
Jun gasps like silk tearing, then ducks behind a twitching statue, clutching his hands to the sides of his head. Already he can see people pulling out weapons--even Maya has a pair of pink guns, of all things--and he realizes all too late what sort of situation he's in again.
I've got to get out of here. The others won't be able to fight back freely with people like me holding them back, he thinks as smoke begins to fill the room.
It will take him a moment to act on that. Hard to run when your knees are shaking.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Tachovsky had mentioned his art show in Tartarus. The meaning is clear - something is going to happen there. Another portrait... what could it be? What could it mean? Fuuka doesn't want to wait until it's too late to find out.
Getting into the gallery is easy enough, at least - she's a student of Gekkoukan's Art Club. The venue is... just a little stuffy. There are so many people here...
Well, no. Not just stuffy... 'oppressive'. Everything's just a little off, and it isn't just her aversion to crowds that's making her feel this way. This is definitely the place.
"Everyone... be careful. I don't know what we're going to see..." Fuuka warns. The feeling gets worse and worse, and her stomach starts to twist as she enters the gallery itself.
She looks across the crowd, taking in everyone. ...She sees that 'security guard'. She only recognizes Niko from Isabeau's ghost-hunting event, but she hasn't forgotten.
And then... the lights go off. Spotlights appear - and so does the man himself. Fuuka tenses.
"There's so many people here... How are we going to get them out...?" Fuuka murmurs. More importantly - what is he trying to do?
Don't look, she tells herself.
Whatever you do, don't look directly at it.
Look only at the edges, at the shape of it, not directly at it.
She sees a familiar tall silhouette in the crowd - Shinjiro... He's easy to spot, at least, and he must know what's happening. And... smoke begins to billow nearby. Will that be enough to drive everyone out...?
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke was sick to his stomach.
The gallery was one part of it. The layman easily managed to brush it off as part of the ambience - something he heard no shortage of comments on, or positing about. They were all blissfully unaware of the fate that was yet to befall them, and the danger they were all in. But Hyousuke knew better. He could feel that teeth-itching *wrongness* that hung in the air, thick as fog and threatening to overwhelm his senses. Every detail he noticed twisted his stomach further into a knot, and every step he took towards that ever-familiar resonance inched bile further into his throat.
The other part of it was more personal than the presence that threatened to drown him in itself. Ichika had texted him before the show, but her message had been short on details, and ominous to a degree that he hadn't the mind to express.
> something bad came up; do your thing, but I can't be there. Will tell you the details assuming we both come out OK later.
For a few minutes that felt like aeons, he deliberated on a response, teeth clenched and mind racing. What trouble was she in? Was Tsubasa involved? Why had neither of them asked him for help? He needed answers, and needed them badly. But time was running short, and for her to have sent such a message on such a day, he had the sinking feeling that it was darkly urgent. Thus, he made his response short, but clear.
> understood
> speak later
The seconds passed like minutes, the minutes like hours. Tension wracked his every thought and movement, and Hyousuke could scarcely bring himself to breathe. Was it the Joker Killer's resonance, winding itself like a snake about his chest? Was it the anticipation of the coming fight, and the danger it posed? Was it the looming presence of the skewed art and twitching statues, all a little too lifelike - a little too *alive* - for him to truly draw his eyes away from? He did not know. He had not the presence of mind to figure it out. All he could do was wait.
Tamaki was the one to shake him out of his reverie. He snapped back to attention, and once more, he looked like any other student that had simply wandered into a gallery to take notes or pass the time. A forest-green Harrington-style jacket in some neutral brown colour, zipped up high enough to hide his costume, sat above a pair of faded blue jeans and well-loved shoes of an earthen brown. Hardly the most formal of outfits, but then again, he was just a student, so who expected anything more than for him to look 'presentable?'
"It's worse here." Hyousuke replied, his smile clearly forced, his tone wavering as he attempted to keep it sunny enough to fool any eavesdropping passersby. "I called in as many favours as I could, but we're short two. Something's happened with one of them, and I can't reach the other." His voice lowered as far as he could take it without keeping Tamaki from hearing him at the mention of the missing two - Ogre and Phoenix. He did not mention their names, but his worry for them was clear from the way his smile faded.
Then, the shadows fell, the enemy revealed themselves with thunderous applause and glaring light, and he had no need to fake it any longer.
Hyousuke did not need to be told twice, and he darted towards the shadows, staying out of view of all else gathered - a task made easier by the blaring alarm and the cloud of smoke. The armour under his jacket suddenly felt heavier, weighing on his shoulders and pulling at his limbs, silently screaming at him to let it realise its purpose. His mask called to him as well, demanding that he press it to his face, and become that warrior wreathed in purple and gold. Those gathered had no need of the student whose mind was distracted by thoughts of his friends - they needed the charging warrior who took to the van without a moment's hesitation. They needed Achilles, and his invincible might.
They needed a fighter, and he would answer their call.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka missed the encounter in Tartarus, but she was going to support her fellow SEES members for the follow-up to that incident here at the art gallery.
She winces as she steps into the gallery, one hand going up to rub at her ear. "Ugh..." she mutters with a shudder. "... it feels like something trying to crawl into my brain through my ear, I hate this. Yamagishi-san, do you feel it, to?"
And it only gets worse, and Ririka is on edge. "What could even be causing this...?" There's only one thing she can think of that feels like this... and spotting Niko in the guard's cap cinches her suspicious. "So she's here, too..." Ririka mutters.
She's of a similar mind to Fuuka of not engaging directly with whatever's about to be revealed. But when she mentions getting people out--Ririka sees people she recognizes, including Jun--she tenses.
"... Fire alarm?" she proposes to Shinjiro and Fuuka. "It might cause a panic, but... we can try to guide people out?" That's a lot for her tohandle alone, but maybe if they team up...
She's already sliping her backpack off, reaching into the false bottom for the Evoker.
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
Rain didn't know why she was here. The only art she had a real appreciation for was the type where the pictures were moving. But seeing the headline... something seemed to compel her. Maybe she had just been reading up too much about Sumaru and it was on her mind. There was that whole thing about the Joker Killer going around...
~A man who knows how to take what he wants.~
She shakes her head and pushes herself out of her own thoughts. She hoped they were her own. Or would that be worse? This whole gallery has a bad vibe, she thinks to herself.
~But it feels right.~
She shakes her head again. Maybe she should start putting more comedies on the store TV. The horror binge had been messing with her, clearly.
And it's not any better when a man who literally stepped out of Wednesday the Eleventh Part 2 appears next to the much vaunted portrait. She takes a step back, but hesitantly.
"What the hell..."
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
The sheets fall away and at first staring at the painting, one might think that someone just put black paint on the canvas and put a gold frame around it. Except the blackness seems to have depth, and the longer you stare the more and deeper you can see. Things in the painting are moving, what exactly, who is to say. The one thing that can be said though is that whenever you look at the painting, something is watching you, and you get the feeling that they are staring just as deep into you as you are staring at the painting.
Now that the sheets are done, it feels like the resonance is on full display as well, and it is a resonance of madness. The innocent gallery viewers are the first to feel the true effect of this resonance, perhaps as some burst into high emotional states of laughter and tears, while others simply collapse from their brain not being able to process what is happening. Others try to heed the fire alarm and exit the gallery but find that the doors , as far as they can see, lead nowhere and are beginning to panic.
The Old Maid himself though is simply standing there watching the proceedings as they go on for a moment before stepping forward and using his hands to usher attention to the portrait, "Welcome all who have come today for our reveal. Dimitri Tachovsky is sorry he could not be here tonight, but as his new manager I am happy to reveal to you Tachovsky's finest work. Portrait of Nyarlathotep. " The Joker Killer breaks into applause as he turns to look at the painting for a moment before he shakes his head and an obvious shiver runs down his spine. For those particularly adept at resonance analysis, Sudou's own resonance is getting drowned out by the paintings.
"Isn't it truly divine! May you all take this moment deep into your souls and carry it with you, forever." The Joker Killer laughs as he just watches things unfold. Sudou looks at the fire alarms for a moment, "WOW, I DIDN"T THINK WE WOULD START WITH RAVE MUSIC!"
Turning he is picking out faces in the crowd that he hadn't really expected to be here, "Oh hey guys, you all didn't need to come. I don't think you guys can be marked, happy to try though." His eyes fall on Umie, "Oh little sister, you definitely didn't need to come, but best that the newly marked has someone to help them. I am working to grow our family." Sudou shouts over the alarms, before tossing the fire alarms a dirty look. They are really killing the vibe.
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Almighty skill Tentarafoo on Shinjiro Aragaki, Fuuka Yamagishi, Ririka Kawase, and Maya Amano! AS: Take! Maya Amano takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Almighty skill Tentarafoo on Umie Akabane, Tamaki Uchida, Goro Akechi, and Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Take! Goro Akechi takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo. AS: Panic added! AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Tentarafoo.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko has seen what she thought was Sudou's tastes in art, it mostly involved a lot of Play-doh. Granted, not really Tachovsky's deal, but still, she was expecting something kind of in that ballpark. Certainly not anything remotely like what ends up being revealed. That even strikes her silent, fully forgetting to applaud again. Just what... is that, that she's looking at...?
'If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.' She suddenly finds herself remembering that line. Oh don't be so shocked, sure Niko has read a book! Though granted, she might be the last one you'd expect to have read anything like that one.
Somehow though, she gets the sense as if she's being somehow... being spared, from whatever the full effect of this is. She doesn't really get it herself, why most people have a reaction so much stronger than she does. Maybe it's just because they're Normal People.
Doesn't mean that she likes looking at it, so she quickly stops doing that. Especially given a fire alarm has gone off, and certain people who are obviously going to be a problem have given away their presence. She grins, and pushes away from the wall. Time to take action.
She is quick to identify certain familiar individuals in the crowd, that belong to a certain group that is of special interest. Rather than address any of them individually to start with, she decides to devote her ~special attention~ to them collectively, with an unfitting amount of cheer as usual. "If it isn't SEES! What's wrong? Show not to your liking? Well then..."
Out comes the Evoker, barrel brought to her lips as if speaking into a microphone. "If you don't like Ojisan's art, get a load of mine!"
...And then she starts to sing, of the 'melodious yelling' variant, in English. Niko, for one, is quite prepared to go with the impromptu rave music the fire alarms provide.
Hey!
I wanna play
So stop and stay
Because it's time to fight now
Hey!
I'm in your way
So don't delay
Go ahead make my night now
Take it away, Ate~
That's when she fires, summoning the giant blue statuesque head with sweeping long hair that is her Persona. Not much of a backup singer, Ate just emits an excruciatingly loud screech - that only the members of SEES can hear, with their brains rather than their ears.
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Shinjiro Aragaki! AS: Ruin: Niko Kirisaki gains 1 Limit! AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Fuuka Yamagishi! AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Ririka Kawase! AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break. AS: Exhaust added! AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break. AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break. AS: Exhaust added!
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Tamaki gets a nod, when Shinjiro sees her. Looks like there's enough people here to try and stop him.
But the painting is unspeakably horrifying. Shinjiro's already trying to look away, feeling a retching feeling in his stomach. He proceeds towards Niko, nodding to Fuuka and Ririka as they join him. "Fuck. Fuck!"
Yeah, those are all the words he can spare right now.
The fire alarm goes off. Someone had the same idea as him, good. He approaches Niko, as she begins doing fire alarm hip hop, grimacing.
"Niko. This is *going to stop*."
He's serious. People are injured, maybe even dead. There's madness being spread. There's too much at stake.
But as Ate screams, he finds himself recoiling, his brain taking a jackhammer blow much like the one the painting gave. He staggers backwards, thumbing for his Evoker - he can barely feel his hands right now, so a punch is right out.
Jerking it to the side of his head, he pulls the trigger, no flinch, no recoil.
"Castor!"
In a flash of blue, the hobby horseman manifests, the skeleton knight charging forward as sharp phantasmal jaws open in front of him, moving to crunch down hard on Niko, trying to shock her and slip her out of her song.
"Yamagishi, Kawase, I don't have as much time to get setup. Can you keep us safe?"
He still has to speak with Akihiko. Getting murdered by an evil painting isn't in the cards.
AS: Persona! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Strike skill Feral Bite on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Pressure: Shinjiro Aragaki gains 1 Limit! AS: Shinjiro Aragaki: Exhaust removed! AS: Shinjiro Aragaki regains 15 HP from Regenerate! AS: Counter Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 74 Strike damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's Feral Bite. Counter Strike! AS: Paralyze added! AS: COUNTER! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 55 Strike damage in return for his attack!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
The sheets fall away.
"Don't look at it!" Fuuka calls out. She averts her eyes. But the urge to take a look is immense. The curiosity. She needs to know and understand what she's dealing with, after all.
Shouldn't she look? Shouldn't see analyze it - take it all in? Perceive that which should not be perceived. Stare into it - and invite it to stare into her in return.
The thoughts crawl at the edge of her mind. She pushes them back.
Don't look at it, she urges herself.
Don't look.
DON'T LOOK.
It's all she can do to tear her eyes away. There's nothing she can do for the people here - and the doors...
...Has this place been sealed off?
"...I'll try to find an exit." Fuuka comments.
The Joker Killer introduces the painting as the 'Portrait of Nyarlathotep'. It's so intense, she can't even sense him through it...
Niko calls out to SEES, and Fuuka whirls toward her. She's almost glad to have something, someone else to focus her attention on.
"You're... Niko-san, aren't you?" Fuuka ventures - and Shinjiro confirms it, as he tells her to stop. "Of course it isn't. This is horrible... Look at what it's doing to these people. How can you enjoy this?"
Niko introduces them to her own art - music? She hears the singing - melodious yelling, really, but she's not the type to judge anyone for their taste in music.
She might judge Ate's, though. Fuuka winces, clapping her hands over her ears - but the sound goes through anyway, the screech ringing in her brain. It makes concentration difficult... but she manages to draw her Evoker.
"Lucia...!" Fuuka calls out. Lucia appears around her, wrapping her in that protective globe.
"Understood, Aragaki-senpai... I'll do what I can. I'll try to get a read on her..." Fuuka assures, and turns her attention to Niko. She may not be able to analyze the painting - but she can try to analyze her and Ate, to pierce through the messy collage of colors, the frenzied emotions that this room has become to discern what she can from her aura.
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Madness.
Goro Akechi certainly isn't mad. But that doesn't mean that the state of madness isn't comfortable nor familiar for him. As he looks upon the works of Tatsuya Sudou, he has a singular evaluation to himself on the second floor, as the madness of the painting tries to prick at his brain as he stares upon it, regardless of the warnings.
"... Pathetic."
He almost gives in to the urge to change into his other self, to show him what madness truly is. However, he reins in that urge to do something so unwise and instead brings forth the White Band Major uniform, the Tengu Mask in a burst of blue flames.
The people run to find no escape, but he didn't do this for them. He did this specifically for a singular reason.
To try and ruin Tatsuya Sudou's day.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry, are the Fire Alarms driving you mad?"
He asks at his shout about the Rave Music in conjunction with Niko's singing, looking quite smug from his perch on the second floor, only slightly audible over the incessant ringing.
And from a pocket, he produces a skill card, which he releases - as it spins in the air, right as he touches his mask, Robin Hood appearing with a flourish before pointing his bow at the Old Maid.
Akechi then winks as the Old Maid feels the vitality of his god-given powers sapped away in a sudden burst of dark energy.
"If that's the case, you could always have yourself voluntarily committed... I happen to know just the place."
AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Full Analysis. AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Strength Scan! Niko Kirisaki resists Elec! AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Weakness Scan! Niko Kirisaki is weak against Fire! AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Support Scan! Niko Kirisaki has passive skills Ailment Boost, Counter Strike, Explode Boost, Heavy Weapon, Mind Up, Nerve Shield, Strike Boost, and Strike Riposte! AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Almighty skill Rakunda on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
And suddenly, a man wreathed in richest purples and gleaming, golden, yellows burst onto the scene. Tall of stature and strong in build, he was still towered over by the creaking, clanking, mass of bronze hoplite armour that rose from behind him. Glaring red pierced the the dark of its helm, focussing upon the Joker Killer himself, while the golden gaze of the masked Persona user followed suit. He strode forward, fists clenched and gaze hardened, mask shifting some fraction of an inch as his lips curled into a bare-toothed snarl.
"You!" He bellowed out. Even the toughened fibres and hardened polymers of that face-spanning armour could not stifle the anger that pervaded his voice. His pointing hand thrust forward like a spear, while Achilles' own polearm was raised in tandem with his shield with a great scraping of metal. "Can't you just stay down?!" His eyes looked to the man himself, but something pulled at the edges of his vision. It called to him, both eerily silent, and deafeningly loud. The void beckoned for him to pay it attention. It demanded his focus. It was not what he came for... yet he could not tear his eyes away.
He felt something. He could not describe it. His mind strained at the attempt. But he could feel it. He could feel it drawing him in, its tendrils lashing at the edges of his thoughts, ensnaring him and letting madness seep into the farthest reaches. His jaw clenched. His fists tightened. His muscles tensed. He could not describe it. Attempting to do so made him feel as though he would be drowned beneath a maddening sea. But he could feel it... and he HATED it.
"You don't get to hurt anyone else! Not today! We're not going to let you!" Hyousuke's voice was strained. Was it a promise? A threat? A declaration? All three, or none? It was hard for even him to say for certain. He certainly did not think on it when he cannoned himself towards Sudou, bellowing his hate into the Resonance-stained air. As he surged forward in a streak of purple and gold, so too did his fist. His left lashed out like a whip, striking towards Sudou's face with blinding speed. His right, he heaved forward like a battering ram.
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Chained Strikes on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits! AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
The sheet falls and the darkness beneath it moves.
For one terrible heartbeat, Maya stares too long at it. The blackness threatens to pull her in like an endless ocean. Beneath the surface, something shifts, something that's staring right back at her, into her very being. The resonance slams into her skull like screaming static. She staggers back from the force of it. Around her, the sound of raucous laugher shifts into sobbing. Bodies drop to the ground. Thick smoke coils through the gallery as alarms shriek overhead. A singing voice joins the cacophony of screams from the fleeing and injured -- and it's that that finally snaps Maya out of it.
She tears her gaze away and reorients herself, both physically and mentally. She takes a breath and steadies both her legs and the racing beat of her heart.
"Everyone! Eyes off the painting!" she shouts. The warning may have come too late for some, but she yells it out anyway; if it helps just one person, that's enough for Maya.
Through the smoke, Maya spots a familiar figure from the periphery of her vision.
"Jun-kun...?" she breathes.
The smoke thickens between them and people stagger blindly through it. Maya quickly joins Jun's side before the smoke removes him from her line of vision.
"Jun-kun, stay sharp," she says, her tone firm but protective. "Don't let it get in your head."
She stands in front of Jun, a living barrier between him and the Joker Killer. While her twin guns are still in her hands, she doesn't take the offensive yet; she doesn't want to attract attention from Sudou until after she's sure Jun has gotten away.
Instead, she does something else...
"Maia!"
AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 0 Almighty damage from Goro Akechi's Rakunda. AS: Def_Dn added! AS: Persona! Maya Amano has used the Almighty skill Marakukaja on Jun Kashihara, Tamaki Uchida, Umie Akabane, and Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Support: Maya Amano gains 1 Limit! AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Almighty damage from Maya Amano's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added! AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Maya Amano's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added! AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Maya Amano's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added! AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 37 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Chained Strikes. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 24 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Chained Strikes.
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Is it fortune? Is it fate? Because Jun ducked out of line of sight with the painting the instant he spotted the Joker Killer, he doesn't actually see the painting unveiled--and so is able to avoid its effects. He almost peeks over the corner of the statue, but then he hears Fuuka shout to everyone not to look. Between that and how the other museum-goers suddenly start freaking out, that's more than enough cause for Jun to slip back into his hiding spot.
Will the fire alarms help with getting people to evacuate? Jun can only hope they will. As they run in their own panicked state, he looks up and over at Akechi--wait, no, it's a young man in a princely costume. Why did he think for a moment it was the Detective Prince? Perhaps it's just the look of his outfit. His gaze thus turns instead to several people he does know, of whom there are a startling number now that the crowds are rushing away--besides Tamaki, whom he'd exchanged non-verbal greetings with earlier, there's Maya, Hyousuke, Umie, Ririka, Shinjiro (in passing)... and, terrifyingly, Niko. Without something else to focus on, like trying to keep an underclassman from bleeding out, it's hard for his brain to wrap itself around the things they summon, and he shakes his head and sinks back against the statue, covering his ears anew. All this noise, all this chaos--it's so hard to think--
But then he hears his name. It is like a pure tone cutting through the static, and he looks up to see... "Amano-san," he breathes, lowering his hands and staggering upright. "I-I know, I heard. Thank you."
He can't help but smile when Maya stands between him and the Joker Killer. There's something truly reassuring about it--as if he were a child being protected by his big sister. Which is a silly thing to think, as an only child, but it's what comes to mind first. "I'll make sure everyone else makes it out safely first. Please stay safe yourself, Amano-san!"
Jun holds up his phone in flashlight mode to provide a beacon. Then he moves into the plumes of smoke to help direct the stampeding, panicking crowds towards the exit. It will no doubt take him a good long while--as he said, he's making sure everyone else gets out first.
AS: Take! Jun Kashihara takes 0 Almighty damage from Maya Amano's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added!
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Fuuka had the right idea. Don't look at the painting.
Akechi had the right plan: get everyone cleared by pulling the fire alarm, as well as a smoke bomb. (Why didn't Umie think of that?! Maybe it's that secret delinquent past that Umie has yet to find out about lets him do that.)
Jun had the right instinct to hide.
Hyousuke had his heart in the right place.
Umie had the right intentions.
Intentions mean nothing when you see into the void.
The balloons of ink leave Umie's numb hands, plopping uselessly on the ground.
Some part of this feels familiar, doesn't it?
There's a space inside her head where a memory should be.
F O O T A G E N O T F O U N D
Don't look at her.
Blank eyes break from the painting to the gloating Sudou. "... Our... family...?" she mumbles.
'Maia!' Maya's Persona provides the further push for Umie to finally break from her malaise, added onto by Hyousuke's anger, and Akechi's taunting.
_Of course_. The fire alarm means....
If Sudou happens to look Umie's direction again, she's simply not there anymore.
A minute later--
*SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSTTTTTTSSHHH*
White foam sprays from the fire extinguisher as Umie aims at the painting, and then, when all the foam is used up, she rushes in, ready to directly dent the metal canister over Sudou's paper bagged head.
AS: Weapon! Umie Akabane has used the Strike skill Ring Bash on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Hearing the news from Hyousuke that confirms that this is worse than at the tower and two absences of people she had expected to be here causes Tamaki to anxiously titter. "That's not great." She advises soon after, "No use dwelling on it right this second. One thing at a time. Think of it like triage: stay zoomed-in, just focus on getting through this first."
Then he's off like a shot to change -- she can only hope that her words did him some good. In the din of the growing chaos, while the smoke from Akechi's bombs rise, Tamaki calmly stands for just a few more moments to assess the situation. While she knew Niko's name thanks to Tsubasa, she doesn't recognize her by appearance alone. (She likely doesn't hear Shinjiro clear up the matter of her identity with the fire alarm blaring. For similar reasons, she doesn't quite catch that Sudou mentioned Umie by name, either, but she knows she's around.)
Tamaki's nervous plastered-on smile dissolves into an expression of concern as she spots Jun again, this time behind the statue. A realization dawns on her: Jun, who both Tatsuyas have some kind of interest in for one reason or another, Suou keeping his distance, but Sudou wanting to draw nearer and nearer, to 'grow his family'. Her first course of action is to create some distance between herself and Jun and be the biggest unignorable nuisance that she can be. She calls out to Maya as she runs, drawing her sword out from its hiding spot in her sash, "Amano-san! Good to see you here!"
Finally, her eyes briefly glance at the newly-revealed painting, and immediately her mind reels. The notion of an impossible reality-bending emptiness that this portrait represents is everything that she's worked so hard for years to leave in the past, that thrice-damned supernatural abyss that managed to pull her into its orbit and now threatens to induct a fresh set of new recruits.
All she had ever wanted was to live a normal life. As if by the reflex of a well-practiced motion, she shuts her eyes so as to not lose herself in that vantablack storm. Heeding her own earlier advice, she zooms back in on thoughts of the mundane world, the sensations afforded by earthly delights: the cool feeling of the pavement and grass beneath her feet as she looks up to admire the stars, the warmth and light of the sun, the bracing chill of the river. These form the colors of her palette, and while it may be a feeble gesture, it's all she has to anchor herself with. She hopes it can stabilize the others, too.
"Arianrhod." Tamaki's Persona manifests as she opens her eyes again, now blinded by the goddess' rainbow-lit broadsword. Tamaki stands still while Arianrhod rushes forward to paint over the void with all that glitters.
AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Slash skill Glittering Blade on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit! AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 92 Strike damage from Umie Akabane's Ring Bash. Critical Hit! AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 26 Slash damage from Tamaki Uchida's Glittering Blade. AS: Rage added!
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
The sheet comes down, and from the depths of the blackness... something stares. Ririka feels that same urge that Fuuka does--to look, but more generally to analyze--and the things she hears trying to worm their way into her ears are enough to leave her shaking.
With a great force of will she wretches her eyes away, and she starts to hum loudly to try and drown out the noise and bolster her sense of self. Don't listen, it's not worth it, it's so much it's even overpowering her sense of the Joker Killer, and she's run into him far too many times for her liking, by now.
What in the world is this thing meant to do!?
And still it cloys at the edge of her senses, trying to draw her attention back to it with whispers. Ririka hums louder to try and force the unnatural sounds out.
Someone beat her to the fire alarm. And she can hear the way the ordinary people are starting to be affected, all around them. "If this turns into a fight all these people are at risk." But the title... Portrait of what? And what's more... "Marked? What is he talking about? Is he doing something to them? That means we need to get them out of here, or destroy that painting, or something."
But addresses SEES. "Whatever you're doing to these people, we won't let you get away with it!"
And then Niko... sings. Oh don't get her started on a music off. Ate, though, has the backup vocals, and as it screeches Ririka clutches her head, feeling the effects directly in her brain. "D-dammit, not this shit again." It's the last thing she needs with all the weird Resonance around.
Shinjiro asks for help, and Ririka nods. "Got it!" She finishes pulling her Evoker from her back and brings it to her hand. Her hand trembles for a moment, before she fires. The giant stone form of Amphion rises behind her, clutching a golden lyre and wearing heavy, laden boots. "Amphion!" she calls.
She gestures high up into the air, with a shout of, "Marakukaja!" Amphion strums, and from the ground the power of the earth flows up over Shinjiro, Fuuka, and herself to bolster their defenses.
And she herself reaches out, starting to play a fast-paced melody on a keyboard of light as she starts to search for exits and ways to guide the people from danger. "Come on, come on..." She's happy to notice Jun moving away from the fight, at least, and she'll be happier when more people follow suit.
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Marakukaja on Shinjiro Aragaki, Fuuka Yamagishi, and Ririka Kawase! AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added! AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added! AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja. AS: Def_Up added!
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
The old maid can't hear Akechi's criticism over the fire alarms, can't even realize the guy is there until he starts yelling about being mad. The paper bag tilts his head confused as he tries to understand what the guy is saying, "You mad bro?" The confusion is broken when the arrow strikes him and he feels the magical wards fading away and retreating under the light of the arrow. "No fair, I wasn't ready!"
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for Hyousuke, the Joker Killer is ready now and yet still gets punched in the face by Hyousuke's whip like left, before doing better to move back enough that it isn't as damaging from Hyousuke. "You're wrong. I am not here to hurt anyone. I am here to enlighten them with the truth. To help them understand the truth."
Whatever that truth is though Sudou doesn't explain as his eyes notice someone. "Jun? Jun is that you?" Sudou shouts before Myaa steps in the path, "Hey lady get the hell out of the way I was trying to start a conversation with one of my besties."
The Joker Killer can't react to Maya as he takes an empty extinguisher over the head and stumbles a bit before pivoting and sees Umie, "Why! I did this for us! No more mummies, no more control, let it spread, let it be natural, and once it spreads we can do what is needed. You know I am right!" Sudou turns only to now see what had been done to the painting.
The extinguisher foam and the glittering sparkles are being absorbed into the painting, the obfuscation doesn't last long. However there is an effect, the painting has brightened, it is now something that could be argued that the artist used a dark blue or purple, the movement isn't as steady either and more perceivable out of the corner of ones eye. It seems that the attacks did effect it.
Sudou growls, "I tried to do this the easy way." Sudou looks at the non persona users and grins, "Still I am sure at least one of them let my dear friend into their soul." A smug grin is heard as he grabs some metalic statue of some abstract art and lifts it up, "Not a sword, but it will do."
The metal piece of art turns cherry red as Sudou slashes forth at Hyousuke and then Umie. Moments later from behind Sudou the Joker Persona climbs out of Sudou's shadow and looks at Maya and Tamaki before pointing finger guns at them before 'shooting' fireballs toward the two. The crazy duo then turn to look at ole Robin Hood and his merry kid, " You know, I really want to throw you into the painting personally. Maybe some of that blackness will make your outfit easier on the eyes." The words said Sudou stabs his sword into the ground and across the gallery the floor under Prince erupts with flames.
AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Burning Slash on Umie Akabane! AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Burning Slash on Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Maya Amano! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Tamaki Uchida! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Inferno on Goro Akechi! AS: Avoid Worst! Maya Amano takes 142 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Blaze. Weak! AS: Blast added! AS: Avoid Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 61 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Blaze. AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 30 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Burning Slash. Avoid Fire! AS: Poison added! AS: Avoid Worst! Goro Akechi takes 213 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Inferno. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
At least one person other than the Joker Killer seems to still be having a good time at this show. Niko absolutely feels like she's making the best of things, taking a bit of the spotlight for herself in order to deliver an improvised little song of her own making. She's spreading her arms for applause and everything. She might even be hearing it, in her own mind.
Then Shinjiro tells her this is going to stop, which just prompts a shrug from Niko. "C'mon now, we can't stop yet! This party's just gotten started! Don't be a party pooper, nobody likes a party pooper." If anything that's going on around them is a big deal, Niko doesn't seem to have noticed.
Fuuka, she is quick to correct, with a raised finger, "Ah-ah-ah, you almost got it! It's Niko-chan, please and thank you." By now she knows what may be a distressing amount of faces and names, of those in SEES. As for looking at what's going on around her... "Oh, no need to worry about any of that. Just look at me instead. Right now, I only have eyes for you, Fuuka-chan~"
Only to immediately negate her own claim by turning her attention to someone else. "I see you trying to ignore me there, Rika-chan! Sorry, I'm not the type who goes away when ignored, that just make me do my best to get noticed even more!"
Of course, Ate's little contribution to her song won't keep Shinjiro at bay for long. Niko smiles, and thumbs her nose when he summons Castor. "All right then, let's play." At least she stopped singing, that much could be considered a success.
But when Castor charges... Niko leaps in as well. In one fluent motion, she unwinds the chain from her waist, slamming it down towards the Persona. Neither one comes away clean in that exchange, Niko having foregone defense against the attack in order to make her move, betting on that fun effect of indirect damage by striking someone's Persona. Taking a solid blow from those jaw-like projections in return feels like it was worth it.
Given her earlier words, she could hardly complain about Fuuka doing exactly what she said - taking a good look at her. But in this, too, what she said to Ririka is completely true: the SEES girls not attacking her doesn't mean she won't keep doing her best to get their attention.
"My turn~", she announces, before firing her Evoker again. This time, Ate takes active action, a dangerous red aura surrounding the Persona and Niko before the former launches upwards, only to come crashing down on Shinjiro's position. Niko takes the opportunity to lash out with that heavy chain she carries, whipping it around towards Fuuka and Ririka both.
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Tarukaja on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Tarukaja. AS: Atk_Up added! AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Savage Assault Dive on Shinjiro Aragaki! 2 Hits! AS: Ruin: Niko Kirisaki gains 1 Limit! AS: Weapon! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Wild Whirl on Fuuka Yamagishi and Ririka Kawase! AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 26 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Burning Slash. AS: Poison added! AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 38 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Wild Whirl. AS: Block Neutral! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 41 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Savage Assault Dive. Critical Hit! AS: Blast added! AS: Block Worst! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 67 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Savage Assault Dive. AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 69 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Wild Whirl. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
Maya is relieved when Jun makes his retreat; a rush of sisterly pride floods through her as she hears him ushering others to the exit.
He really was a good kid.
Tamaki isn't the only one grateful to see a familiar face among the crowd. "Uchida-san!" Maya exclaims. Tamaki is running so fast that by the time Maya gets the words out, all she can see is the back of her head. "I'll support you!"
Her attention turns back to Sudou and Maya is careful not to let her gaze shift back to the painting -- that is, until Umie comes out of nowhere to spray it with a fire extinguisher. Maya's mouth drops at the sight of it; she's barely processed what has happened when Umie launches the fire extinguisher down towards Sudou's head.
An astonished laugh catches in Maya's throat at the site of it; she almost wishes she had her camera out to capture this on video. "Whoo-hoo! Akabane-san! Whoop his ass!" Maya pumps a gun-wielding hand in the air. Whoops, she really should be more careful when she's holding a firearm!
Several of their team have managed to land some pretty impressive hits on the Joker Killer, but there's no time for celebration; a spray of fire hits Maya and she winces through the pain. But she knows what she needs to do now.
"Looks like it's time to switch things up! Pixie!"
AS: Maya Amano spends Limit on Exploit! Maya Amano can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Maya Amano has used the Recovery skill Media on Goro Akechi, Tamaki Uchida, Umie Akabane, and Maya Amano! AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 72 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 72 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Goro Akechi takes 75 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Maya Amano takes 72 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Persona! Maya Amano has used the Recovery skill Media on Goro Akechi, Hyousuke Suzuki, Umie Akabane, and Tamaki Uchida! AS: Pressure: Maya Amano gains 1 Limit! AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 71 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 71 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
It's fine that the Old Maid can't hear him. It's enough for him to know that he's here, ruining his day.
However, what truly catches his attention, is the way the Old Maid reacts to Jun Kashihara's presence. "My my..." Right before Umie coats the area in extinguisher foam.
Unfortunately for the Princely figure, Sudou turns his attention to him, and he looks smug long enough for the floor beneath him to erupt in flames.
"What-?"
His white outfit is scorched in exactly the way Sudou might like, blackened in several places as they burn before he can get out of the way. To his small credit, he doesn't scream, despite the pain.
However, with a hand on his mask he says with clinched teeth, "You son of a bitch..." He says softly, over the sound of the alarms, drowning it out, "... I'm going to massacre you!"
Straightening up abruptly, Robin Hood arises again, flames spilling out from his mask, as it launches an arrow through the air, before then making another motion towards him. There's a sound above, as the arrow comes down as a pure light blast, detonating into orbs of energy which encircle him and converge on him from above.
Right as the Eiha spell goes off simultaneously, utilizing the delay of the first, consuming the Joker Killer in a one-two combo of that all powerful energy intermingled with blasts of darkness.
The anger is only visible on his face at first, but then he breathes more easily as Maya Amano's healing spell washes over him and as he straightens up, he makes a motion to his mask like he's tipping his hat to her, before bowing, "Ah. My thanks." He says conversationally, "While I'll refrain from saying the words - I share a similar sentiment."
In other words, 'whoop his ass'.
He has to calm down. He can't let himself lose it here.
AS: Goro Akechi spends Limit on Exploit! Goro Akechi can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Take! Goro Akechi takes 75 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Tandem! Goro Akechi has used the Almighty skill Proof of Justice on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits! AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit! AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Dark skill Multi-Eiha on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits! AS: Shinjiro Aragaki spends Limit on Exploit! Shinjiro Aragaki can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 71 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"Was invading our home and trying to turn us against each other a party too?"
Shinjiro's voice is firm as he speaks to Niko. He deserved the consequences he got... but it doesn't mean she's getting away scot-free.
The counter-chain impacts against Castor, causing Shinjiro to recoil again, shaking his head clear, before that dive throws him backwards, hitting him hard in both strikes as he nearly falls on the ground. Ririka's buff keeps him moving, as he exhales, trying not to collapse.
"Just because we're friends... doesn't mean I'll let you hurt people. Especially not the ones I care about."
He clicks his Evoker again, another flash as Castor stampedes forward, dark shadows trailing him. He stampedes, but does not strike Niko directly.
Instead those shadows reach out all around, making it nigh-impossible to dodge them, trying to smother over Niko briefly! Shinjiro follows it up with a shadow-enhanced punch in the middle of it, trying to stagger her backwards through the darkness.
Then, with a second tap of the Evoker, Castor leaps, and moves to charge forward, trying to take advantage of the shadows to crush Niko underfoot!
AS: Tandem! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Dark skill Death Stampede on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Pressure: Shinjiro Aragaki gains 1 Limit! AS: Persona! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Strike skill Bash on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Shinjiro Aragaki regains 15 HP from Regenerate! AS: Block Neutral! Niko Kirisaki takes 82 Dark damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's Death Stampede. AS: Counter Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 72 Strike damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's Bash. Counter Strike! AS: COUNTER! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 42 Strike damage in return for his attack! <Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Raising a light as a beacon means innocents can see him; it also means the Old Maid can see him. Jun grimaces as he hears Sudou call his name. In his peripheral vision, he can see Tamaki moving in to try to drag the Old Maid's attention off of him, and of course Maya is still blocking the way. All he can do is pretend he didn't hear and continue to evacuate the others to the first floor.
He can only pray the others are able to keep Sudou occupied long enough for him to escape, too.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"You call this a party, Kirasaki!?" Ririka shouts to Niko. (So much for trying to ignore her.) Ririka throws a hand out to gesture at the room, and then quickly goes back to playing. "People are getting hurt--do you even care about that!?"
Niko says being ignored just makes her want to get noticed even more. "Yeah, I kind of noticed. But if you're not going to let us help the people..." She's cooking up a plan, reaching out to Fuuka via the Navigator link. <Yamagishi-san-->
But that's as far as she gets before Niko comes in with the steel chain, and Ririka scrambles back, using her arms to try and block the worst if it. "Yeowch!" shee hisses, shaking her arms out after. They sting, but thankfully Amphion's magic blunted the damage.
"You want some music? Then try this on for size!" She starts a fast-paced tune--using the fire alarm as a backbeat, but as she plays she's weaving Resonance, and she reaches out to Fuuka once more. <We need to pin her down so we can help the others. Will you help me?> She links up with Fuuka so they can coordinate, inviting the other Navigator to help weave this effect with her. The music is a handy cover for the work they're doing.
AS: Ririka Kawase has initiated a fusion spell! The spell still requires 1 Strong attacks and Any Magical! Anyone can join! AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 55 Almighty damage from Goro Akechi's Proof of Justice. AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 91 Almighty damage from Goro Akechi's Proof of Justice. AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 128 Almighty damage from Goro Akechi's Proof of Justice. AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 34 Dark damage from Goro Akechi's Multi-Eiha. AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 46 Dark damage from Goro Akechi's Multi-Eiha. AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 30 Dark damage from Goro Akechi's Multi-Eiha. Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Fireballs come her way, and Tamaki's not fast enough to dodge the shot entirely. Compared to Maya, however, she fares better, and Tamaki's voice raises in a panic at the sight of her ally taking a severe hit. "Amano-san! I've got you covered!" While she's not as adept at others at recovering from damage, she can stem the tide.
From above, an image of the moon shines down onto Maya: from the heavens, to the earth, past the sea, down into the depths of hell. The beam of light briefly solidifies into a rocky castle, then fades from view while its effects remain. Maya is still herself, but she has new layers of protection afforded by Tamaki standing in front of her and Arianrhod's magics obscuring her weakness from view.
She glances over to Akechi to check in on him. "You doing alright there, uh -- guy?" ... she's not sure what to call him in this particular situation.
Now Tamaki forces the issue further, making herself more difficult to ignore, hopefully making it more difficult for the Joker Killer to get away. She clutches at her necklace and wills Arianrhod to move: she points her broadsword in his direction and chants spells to trap him in a maze of geases and restrictions, establishing lines of threat from a queen, bishop, and rook all at once. "Stop right there!"
AS: Tamaki Uchida spends Limit on Exploit! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Almighty skill Threefold Tynghedau on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit! AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Spiral Tower Shelter on Maya Amano! AS: Take! Maya Amano takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Spiral Tower Shelter. AS: Eclipse added! AS: Cover applied! AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 0 Almighty damage from Tamaki Uchida's Threefold Tynghedau. AS: Charm, Pain, and Poison added! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Niko corrects her, and Fuuka pauses and flusters for a moment. They barely even know each other... and she and her people attacked them in her home. Should she really...? But she did ask...
"Niko...chan." Fuuka corrects, though it really doesn't sit right with her. Niko says there's no need to worry about what's going on with everyone else... and Fuuka frowns. That's her secret - she's always worrying about things she doesn't need to worry about.
"How can you be so callous...?" Fuuka asks, even if she does have eyes only for her. "Of course I'm going to worry."
But she does focus.
"She's strong... watch out for physical striking attacks." Fuuka warns. "Mind your health, too..."
Niko shows just why those physical attacks are something to watch out for a moment later. Her heavy chain lashes out - and Amphion's Marakukaja flashes to life just in time. The chain slams into Lucia's globe, but the backlash is mitigated by Ririka's defensive support.
"Thank you..." Fuuka offers gratefully.
But as she thanks her, she hears Ririka's voice in her head.
<Yes. I understand. I think I can help...> Fuuka replies. She accepts the link. Ririka weaves Resonance, and Fuuka helps guide it - perceiving Niko's movements, trying to divine the optimal way to do this, and using that to provide direction.
She takes a moment to reach out to Shinjiro, too.
<Aragaki-senpai, be ready to take advantage of the opening!>
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi has joined Ririka Kawase's fusion spell! The spell is ready! AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Shift! Shinjiro Aragaki can use another Weak skill this round! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke heard a name, and saw a face.
"Kashihara-san?!" His head snapped to the side, and the mask shifted again as shock drew itself into his features. He had questions, and he was sure his friend had them too. But Hyousuke had no time for either. "Get out! Move! It's not safe here!" He bellowed, before turning back to focus his attention on Sudou. Jun had the right idea, and the stranger - whoever they were - stood as his shield. He wanted to worry about them, but there was more to deal with than just him.
Umie's act with the extinguisher caught his attention next. His grin - a wide, bare-toothed one - was strong enough that he swore it could be felt through the thick plastic muzzling him.
"Should've saved some of the foam for him!" He called out to her, though his eyes did not leave Sudou. "Might've shut that asshole up for once!" The thought of the great and powerful Joker Killer trying to spout his ideology through a mouthful of foam was an amusing one, but not one he could linger on for long. Red metal glinted at the edge of his vision, and reminded him of why he was there.
The 'sword' came at him quickly, but its ferocity was matched by Achilles' stalwart defence. Hyousuke acted on instinct, sending his Persona out to interrupt the blow, and that bronze titan's gleaming shield stood against cleaving strike. But for all of Achilles' strength, his speed - in that moment - could not match Sudou's. The blade was slowed, but not stopped, leaving Hyousuke with a bleeding cut across his torso. It was a flesh wound at worst, the bleeding superficial, the damage treatable. But that was not his problem. It was what came after.
Pain surged through his body like wildfire, singing his veins as surely as the fire had his skin. Something coursed through him, seeping into his flesh and burning through his muscles, and Hyousuke realised that it was not simple fire and steel that had struck him.
"...Poison..." He hissed, shaking his head and focussing on his anger. On this mission. On anything that would let him ignore the pain. He would pay for it later, and he could already feel it taking its toll, but he could not - WOULD not - let Sudou leave.
"Thanks for the assist!" Hyousuke called out, speaking to the stranger briefly. He knew not their name, but they had healed him, and they stood to protect his friend. That alone was enough for him to assume Maya was on his side. Fists balled tight and jaw clenched, he refocussed his attention in its entirety, grimacing through the pain that gnawed at his every inch of flesh. Even so, he could not help but give his own response to Akechi through gritted teeth. "Hey, archer - save some of him for me!"
Not a condemnation of Akechi's rage, nor a taunt. It was encouragement.
"And you..." Hyousuke's voice lowered to a savage growl as he closed in on Sudou again. he ignored the painting. He could feel it tugging on the edges of his mind, its talons digging deeper in, and punishing him as Achilles readied his wargear. "I'm gonna beat you into a red goddamn paste, and the only truth these people're gonna know is you're fucking PATHETIC! ACHILLES, EVERYONE - FUCK 'EM UP!"
Hyousuke surged forwards, his heavy footfalls set against the backdrop of a bellowing warcry. Achilles, shield raised high, instilled the strength of his wrath those that stood by his side - into Umie, into Akechi, and into Hyousuke himself. He did not know them, nor their true allegiances, but they stood against the Joker Killer. That was enough for him to commit to that action, before he dedicated his mind to levelling another blow at Sudou. The first was a brutal left hook, striking at the jaw like a hammer. The second was savage upper, his right hand surging upwards towards Sudou's chin with a throat-rumbling roar of aggression.
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Raging Warcry on Hyousuke Suzuki, Umie Akabane, and Goro Akechi! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage from Panic! AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit! AS: Take! Goro Akechi takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Raging Warcry. AS: Atk_Up and Crt_Up added! AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Raging Warcry. AS: Atk_Up and Crt_Up added! AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Chained Strikes on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 68 HP from Poison! AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Raging Warcry. AS: Atk_Up and Crt_Up added!
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Welcome," Ririka tells Fuuka, as she works.
The two navigators link, and together, their individual talents blend and merge to help reinforce each other's efforts. Fuuka sees directly a lot more clearly than Ririka does, but Ririka is used to creating and shaping. The music flows, and then when it's ready, Ririka gestures. "Amphion! ABEYANCE!"
Amphion strums, and the sound is suddenly amplified by the Navigators' efforts--it creates a cage around Niko and seeks to bind her, to restrict her so that the others can act more freely.
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi and Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Abeyance on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
'Why! I did this for us!' "It's a *curse*," Umie hisses. "Nothing good comes from it."
'Still I am sure at least one of them let my dear friend into their soul.'
"Bullshit! No one would..." Umie tries to glance out into the audience, but with the lingering smoke and everyone scattered, there's no real way for her to see any faces to follow up on.
Instead, she shouts a warning. "If anyone hears something in their mind, don't--"
The glint of glowing red hot metal catches the corner of Umie's eye; abandoning her plea, she attempts to duck back.
*sihhhhhh* The heated metal of Sudou's impromptu blade slices through the long hair of the wig, the strands melting away as Umie tugs it away with her free hand, exposing flattened blonde hair.
The DIY black mask may provide some cognitive protection, but Maya's sharp reporter eyes instantly see through Umie's disguise. "Oh, I'll whoop his ass, alright!!" She gives Maya a smirk and a nod, as thanks for the reporter's healing.
Concern marks Umie's gaze as she sees Maya, and then, Akechi, who, despite his princely attempts to keep quiet, is hit particularly hard. (Are his lips moving? She's not particularly good at lip-reading, especially right now.)
'Maybe some of that blackness will make your outfit easier on the eyes.'
Anger provides a sweetly sharpened knife to cut through any hesitation, especially with Tamaki there to keep an eye on Maya and Akechi.
If Akechi can't scream or allow himself to be angry, then, the only gracious thing is to take on the duty herself.
"... I think he looks rather regal, myself." Blue light reflects from below the girl dressed in black. "You should pay more attention to your own sense of fashion, _Old Maid_."
Like she had when she first rose from Umie's body nearly a decade ago, the Badb lifts her hooded head, and stretches her normally coy red mouth in a brutal, blood-curdling *shriek* of rage.
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Exploit! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 43 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Chained Strikes. Critical Hit! AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 68 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Chained Strikes. AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit! AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Abeyance. AS: Omen added! AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Bad Moon Rising on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Umie Akabane takes 45 damage from Stress! AS: Umie Akabane: Loses 67 HP from Poison! AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate! AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Soul Break. AS: Exhaust added! Rage removed! Explosion! 120 damage! AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 64 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Bad Moon Rising. Critical Hit! AS: Omen added!
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
For a second, Niko looks perfectly perplexed at Shinjiro's accusation, before the lights seem to come on. "Oh, that? No, that was a warning."
She rarely has issue with just saying it like it is. It's just a bit of a surprise to her that he's still going on about that, she doesn't even remember how many weeks ago that happened. She's been over that a long time ago, it's weird that he isn't.
She doesn't even have the decency to be intimidated at all, just letting out a chuckle in response to Shinjiro's determined statement. "Scary, scary. Maybe I should call you Shima-chan instead."
She doesn't mean 'island' (after all, no man is an island). She's using a Buddhist term, which could be translated as 'demon of death'. Few would think that flattering, but who knows how Niko intends the strange things she says.
Then she sighs, directing an accusing finger towards Ririka, "You got it wrong again! At least use my first name, Rika-chan, come on, we've been over this." It kind of says it all already, her caring more about that than everything else that's going on around them. "Could've sworn we've been over how nothing that happens here matters, too."
But it's okay everyone, Niko gets her Niko-chan from Fuuka, and she's visibly pleased as punch about that. "There we go! At least one of you knows how to be friendly, the proper way!" Given that, she's more than happy to take a little time to answer a question. "Seems crazy not to care about any of this, right? It's not, though. I just know more about the truth of this world than you do. We'll see what you're like, once you figure it out. For your sake, I hope you never do."
Shinjiro's anger shows through in the darkness surrounding his attack, effectively pinning Niko in place and forcing her on the defense. Still, when she sees the opportunity for a cross counter, she has to take it, trading a punch with him in the middle of a all. Before Castor bowls her over, and she lands in a crouch. His emotions came through loud and clear. And given that... she feels she should set the record straight.
"Ne, Shin-chan. Real talk? I just wanna apologize, about what happened back there at the dorm."
What's this? Niko Kirisaki, showing remorse about her actions?
"I didn't know the others were planning to throw your name around like that. Didn't mean to get you in trouble, y'know?"
No, not really, this is about other people's actions. Of course there was nothing wrong about the attack itself, or anything she personally did, perish the thought. She's just setting the record straight - there's no hard feelings on a personal level, there never were.
Taking that time seems to have cost her - it allowed the Navigators to team up and combine their powers trap her in a cage of some sort. "Huh," is all she has to say about that. She calmly ties her chain back around her waist, and puts her arms behind her head. "Okay, you got me." She is way too cheerful about this. She spins her Evoker around her finger, casually raising it up to her head. "I'll just take it easy over here for a second. Ate... you handle this."
Even if her own actions appear lackadaisical, once the Evoker fires, Ate's actions are anything but. The Persona immediately goes absolutely mental, spinning around wildly while multi-colored psychokinetic orbs fly out of it every which way - only to turn in the air, homing in on those engaged with Niko.
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Elec skill Furious Psio on Shinjiro Aragaki! 3 Hits! AS: Ruin: Niko Kirisaki gains 1 Limit! AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Elec skill Furious Psio on Fuuka Yamagishi! 3 Hits! AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Elec skill Furious Psio on Ririka Kawase! 3 Hits! AS: Niko Kirisaki: Paralyze removed! AS: Counter Worst! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 55 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. AS: Bind added! AS: COUNTER! Niko Kirisaki takes 14 Elec damage in return for her attack! Resist! AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 31 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Critical Hit! AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 21 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. AS: Block Best! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 60 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Critical Hit! Weak! AS: Bind added! AS: Block Best! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 44 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Weak! AS: Block Worst! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 96 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Critical Hit! Weak!
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Sudou is always expecting the white knight of Akechi to summon force the barrage of justice, but never remembers that justice has a shadowy dark side as they destroy his attempt to guard and swat them away with his make shift sword. The Joker Killer looks at Akechi, and spits out a little blood, which makes a wet spot on the paperbag. Yeah he didn't think that through.
Tracking the Prince as they descend towards Maya he shakes his head, "I am sorry you lot have sent armies against me and I am still here. Today you are witnessing me raising my army. Just a little more time in his presence." Sudou says as he watches Maya now comment about whoopin his ass. " Soon he shall have the army."
Suddenly there is a trio of presence around Sudou and he tries to move out of the way, but compared to the trio he can only move one square forward and feels the rook, queen and bishop place there curse upon him. Shuddering Sudou says, "I hate chess, " rather out of the blue turning towards the source of the attack.
That is until the brute that is Hyousuke comes in swinging again. Attempting to use the sword to deflect the blows doesn't work to well, at one point Hyousuke hits the sword enough that it whaps Sudou in the face. That was embarrassing. Stumbling back Sudou attempts to get his bearings.
As he staggers to his feet he doesn't know what is more hurtful, Umie's persona shrieking in his face, or that Umie would take Prince's side. Doesn't she know he is all wrong for her.
As he steps back from the attackers he finds himself backed against the painting. "My dear friend, you hate when I lose and we are so close. So just maybe..." Sudou asks before plunging his sword like object into the painting, only to draw back from the darkness a large dai-katana with black flames anointing the tip. This has a cost though, the darkness seems to recede from the edges of the painting, and has faded more. The madness resonance has decreased too.
The Joker Persona draws forth its own matching sword for a moment from Sudou's own shadow and then the persona moves in one direction as the Joker Killer moves in another. Flaming sword slashes for everyone, except for Akechi. No the duo arrive at Prince at the same time and smile and both Sudou and the Persona try to deck the Prince right in the mask.
AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Dark Fire Slash on Umie Akabane! 2 Hits! AS: Tatsuya Sudou takes 90 damage from Exhaust! AS: Charm results in party damage! Tatsuya Sudou takes 90 damage! AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Dark Fire Slash on Tamaki Uchida! 2 Hits! AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Dark Fire Slash on Hyousuke Suzuki! 2 Hits! AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Dark Fire Slash on Maya Amano! 2 Hits! AS: Tatsuya Sudou spends Limit on Exploit! Tatsuya Sudou can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Goro Akechi! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Goro Akechi! AS: Tatsuya Sudou: Loses 73 HP from Poison! Pain removed! AS: Avoid Worst! Goro Akechi takes 67 Strike damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Sonic Punch. AS: Haze added! AS: Avoid Neutral! Goro Akechi takes 74 Strike damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Sonic Punch. Critical Hit! AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 11 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. AS: Avoid Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 72 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Neutral! Tamaki Uchida takes 72 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 22 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Critical Hit! AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 115 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Critical Hit! Avoid Fire! AS: You have 1 more attack in queue! AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 78 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Avoid Fire! AS: Avoid Worst! Maya Amano takes 69 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Critical Hit! AS: Cover! Tamaki Uchida takes half of the damage, 69! AS: Avoid Best! Maya Amano takes 12 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Critical Hit! AS: Cover! Tamaki Uchida takes half of the damage, 12! AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 33 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Weak! AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 63 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Critical Hit! Weak! AS: Block Worst! Ririka Kawase takes 79 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Critical Hit! Weak!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
"Yeah!" Maya says, galvanized by Akechi's words. "It's Whoop-Ass Time!" She has no problems saying what he won't. Multiple times, even. "Let's show him how it's done!"
And show them how it's done, they do. Akechi hits Sudou, over and over and over and over again. Maya lets out a low whistle at the impressive display -- but she doesn't have long to admire it before Tamaki's persona puts a lightshow on, right above her head. She stares up in awe as the spell works through its colorful motions and when the spell finally hits her, she's filled with warmth. And not the bad warmth like the fireballs that hit her earlier.
"Whoa! That's amazing, Uchida-san!" She has no idea what just happened exactly, but she feels more than ever that she can take on whatever hits her!
"No problem!" she shouts back at Hyousuke, waving at him, gun still in hand. She really should re-holster those things.
And then Hyousuke lays into Sudou with an impressive display that would put a professional fighter to shame. Maya's mouth drops open in stunned silence. "Get him!" she cheers when she finally manages to regain control of her faculties.
As if on cue, Umie _does_, her Persona letting out a blood-curdling scream that raises goosebumps on Maya's arms. Whoa. She's glad that Umie's on their side!
"Not if we don't stop you first! And it looks like we're doing a pretty good job of it."
Famous last words? Not quite! Though Sudou's attack lands true even despite her attempts to evade it, the attacks don't land as hard as they did before. Still, the team's looking kind of beat up, so maybe the times have changed after all...
"Okay! It's Healing Time! Pixie!"
AS: Maya Amano spends Limit on Exploit! Maya Amano can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Maya Amano has used the Recovery skill Media on Umie Akabane, Hyousuke Suzuki, Goro Akechi, and Tamaki Uchida! AS: Take! Goro Akechi takes 77 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 73 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 73 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 73 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Persona! Maya Amano has used the Recovery skill Media on Umie Akabane, Tamaki Uchida, Hyousuke Suzuki, and Goro Akechi! AS: Maya Amano: Blast removed! AS: Take! Goro Akechi takes 75 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 71 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 71 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media. AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 71 Recovery healing from Maya Amano's Media.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"...do you think this is a joke?"
None of the three involved in the fight with him really know all the signs of Shinjiro getting angry. Niko's seen pitch-hot anger, but not the cool kind that he does possess, just as intense.
Everyone could have died. People were badly injured, and their house was raided. If even one of them had died, he would have never forgiven himself.
"...I don't care that they said my name! I should have said something myself!" he admits, heating up just a little, as that psychic blast causes him to scream, rolling backwards. He lands on his back for a long moment.
Just stay here. Don't move...
No, it's not that simple. Shinjiro pushes himself up, gritting his teeth now, a psychic headache roiling in his skull.
"I care that they could have died! They're my *friends*, dammit! You think bringing guns and bombs to bear against a school dorm is okay?! We're kids! We're just kids, dammit! Stupid kids trying to make things right!"
He may calm down, talk to Niko later. He does care about her in his own way, and it might be clear in the way he hesitates for a moment as his hands shake. But right now...
Right now, he wants to protect his kouhai, and all these people, and fight for the right thing.
Shinjiro pops something out of his coat, some sort of cartridge. He's heating up too much. He wants Niko to feel what he's feeling, right now, to actually face consequences for once instead of walking away and doing it again and again and again.
"I'll show you how I feel!"
The cartridge is smoothly loaded into his Evoker, pointed to his head, and fired. Castor roars in, a cackling stampede, as the tile of the gallery *cracks* underneath him. An intense pressure builds, and builds, and builds, until finally it explodes outwards as Castor *charges*. Anything in front of Castor is shattered beneath his storm, and the shockwaves topple statues shatter glass alike.
To Castor, the world is cardboard. And if he hits Niko head-on, he'll be pushing her into that wall and seeing how far into it he can shove her. She can take it. The wall might not.
AS: Shinjiro Aragaki spends Limit on Psych! AS: Persona! Theurgy! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Strike skill World of Cardboard on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Pressure: Shinjiro Aragaki gains 1 Limit! AS: Shinjiro Aragaki: Blast and Psych removed! AS: Shinjiro Aragaki regains 15 HP from Regenerate!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
He cocks his head, at Maya's insistence on it being Whoop-Ass time. "Oh you're delightful." To be a fly on the wall when Sergeant Katsuya Suou is hearing her say something like that.
"Well when you put it that way, how could I do anything else?
There is a certain satisfaction in the eye for an eye, seeing his riposte.
Tamaki can't be blamed for asking if he's alright. He got arrogant, and Sudou punished him for his hubris.
That doesn't mean he has to like it.
"Just peachy." He says with a smile, and a twitch of an eyebrow, the comment only made correct by Maya's healing spells. "And yourself? This is becoming rather heated, wouldn't you say?"
What surprises him though is how Umie defends him. The two are on good terms, but it's not precisely their dynamic. Defending him when he's obviously vulnerable like that...
... is she...
"I'm so glad that I meet your approval, Akabane-kun. At least compared to him..."
... pitying him...?
Whereas Hyousuke calls out to him for the same rage, and what might either infuriate him, or inspire him more, is the way that Akechi grins broadly, with that smirk of his.
"No promises." Especially as Achilles offers that Warcry, as it washes over him. "I think I can only offer a piece of him for so long. Especially with what his aim is..." To raise an army.
Sudou however remarks how much he hates Chess.
And Akechi's expression grows cold. There is a reason why he sought a rival elsewhere, rather than here.
Thesis and Antithesis is required.
They do not aspire each other to greater heights in opposition, they merely try to tear the other apart.
As proven when the Joker comes at him, and as his Persona tries to punch him square in the mask, he leaps off the second floor. Right as the force of the Sonic Punch moves by his head.
It was close, but not so close as the next, which slams right into his mask, while he's still aerial.
The Prince is driven out of his graceful flight to slam against the wall, heavily, his red mask cracked in one area, just above his right eye, for a moment his chin is slumped.
It's not until Maya's healing from Pixie comes over him that he begins to get up, a hand against the wall wobbling strangely as he does so, swaying from side to side with his head still dipped, raising it with a glint of in his eye.
"Ahaha- haha- Oh this is... hilarious. I think you're actually trying to kill me."
He snaps a Saber of Light into his hands, which looks like a Laser Sword from some old school anime, and it begins to grow, and grow- to about three times its length.
Like he's about to slash him from across the room by some unknown method. "You have NOTHING on me." Rather than slash him, he changes direction and tries to bring it down on the painting itself in an attempt to sever it entirely.
It's only now that Robin Hood comes out again, in a spin, before nocking his bow and kneeling down.
Look up.
In all of those films, you know when the arrows of an entire army are so numerous as to block out the sun?
That's what's up there, as they all descend, in an all encompassing torrent.
AS: Goro Akechi spends Limit on Psych! AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Pierce skill Myriad Arrows on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit! AS: Goro Akechi: Psych removed!
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Jun hears someone else call his name, and this time he flashes a pained look Hyousuke's way. He's quite aware of how dangerous it is here, and he plans on fleeing as soon as he can--but he isn't going to leave anyone defenseless behind.
This'll be an awkward conversation later, but so be it. At least Sudou does indeed seem distracted from him.
The evacuation's going well, at least--almost everyone is out by now, though Jun has to help with some of the more hysterical (maddened) people to make sure they make it down the stairs in one piece.
AS: Avoid Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 218 Strike damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's World of Cardboard.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"No," Ririka says stubbornly. "I got it right. We aren't friends, Kirisaki. You attacked my dorm--you helped the Joker Killer attack my friend-- you attacked my sister's school!"
Wow, how long ago was that? Is Niko over that, too? Ririka isn't.
"Yamagishi-san," Ririka hisses. "You don't have to call her that if you don't want to! Don't let her push you around like that!"
But the truth of the world. "I won't accept a world where it's okay to hurt other people like that!"
But those psychokinetic orbs go flying out every which way, and though Ririka manages to guard against the first one--the other two manage to tag her, moving too fast for her to catch She lets out a pained cry and stumbles back, crashing to the floor. Blame the knee stil in a brace for slowing her reaction time.
She slowly pushes herself up, carefully getting to her feet. "Whatever it is you two are up to, we're not gonna let you get away with it, you hear me?" She focuses her senses, trying to feel the flow of the battle--maybe if she-- there! Ririka gestures. "Amphion, knock both these jerks off balance!"
Amphion strums a song, and a chaotic, discordant melody of truly ear-splitting music races out for both Niko and Tatsuya to disorient them and send them off balance. But Ririka gestures again, raising her hand up high. "And for the encore-- Magnara!" She lifts her Evoker and fires again to give Amphion new strength, and the song becomes deep and grounding as a large rock lifts up to slam down on Niko where Abeyance has her trapped.
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Dissonant Song on Niko Kirisaki and Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit! AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Psych! AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Ririka Kawase: Psych removed! AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song. AS: Crt_Dn added! AS: Mind Up! Niko Kirisaki's SP +8! AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 147 Earth damage from Ririka Kawase's Magnara. AS: Bind added! AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 145 Pierce damage from Goro Akechi's Myriad Arrows.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Multi-colored orbs of psychokinetc power blast out from Ate, homing in on everyone. One crashes against Lucia's globe - and with a pulse, it's repelled back at Niko. The rest hit their mark, exploding against the barrier. Fuuka winces, feeling the backlash even through Lucia's protection.
Niko... seems pleased? Fuuka doesn't know how to feels about that. What she says, though... Fuuka frowns.
"'The truth of this world'...?" Fuuka repeats. "I don't understand."
The thought knows at her. What 'truth'? What does Niko know? She shakes her head.
"But that doesn't make any of this right. You shouldn't do this to people, Niko-chan. What 'truth' could make any of this okay...?" She asks.
Ririka tells her that she doesn't have to call her that - and it's something she'll have to keep in mind later.
Niko was there, too, when the dorm was attacked - she apologizes... but not for the attack itself. Shinjiro's name...
She hasn't forgotten. She's still... processing how she feels about it, and deciding what she'll do. Shinjiro has made his decision already, it seems.
And right now, the best thing she can do is continue to support him and Ririka.
"Lucia... Give them the strength to keep fighting." Fuuka urges. Lucia spreads her arms wide, and healing light washes over the three of them to restore strength.
AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song. AS: Spd_Dn added! AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Shinjiro Aragaki, Ririka Kawase, and Fuuka Yamagishi! AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 102 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Mediarama. AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 110 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Mediarama. AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 102 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Mediarama.
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki reminds herself to introduce Hyousuke to Maya -- or to just gather people for a general round of introductions. Sometime later. Now's a bad time for it!
Something about Akechi's response sends a shiver up Tamaki's spine and she flashes him a nervous grin and thumbs-up before turning her attention back to her opponent. If he says he's okay, he's okay! No need to press that issue further!
"Hear something -- ?" Umie's warning only briefly registers in Tamaki's mind. It isn't a warning intended for her, but it still draws her attention. ... also, Maya's call-out and Badb's appearance confirm that that is, in fact, Umie. She'll have to ask about just what those voices are later.
She angles her head at Hyousuke, especially after that display of anger. It causes her to wonder: should she be more angry, or does their group here need at least one cool head to balance them out? Or is it just that her own anger burns cold and analytical in contrast with his unconstrained fiery rage? Can she properly guide him to strike where it would be most effective?
At hearing Sudou express his distaste for chess, Tamaki shrugs and gives him a slightly embarrassed smile. "Hey, good to know that it's effective. I'll do it as long as it works!" That is ... up until Sudou figures out the solution to the puzzle. That's the risk involved with Arianrhod's trickery. Still, even this reply is a taunt, said in service of directing his attention towards her instead of those more vulnerable.
She only has herself to blame when Sudou takes up her invitation. She and Arianrhod both stand in front of Maya to try and blunt the effect of the dual swords' burning slashes with parries of their own, but it's no easy task to defend both Maya and herself. Their tandem attacks slip past her defenses. "Ow. Ow! Ow ow ow!"
Things don't look good, and she can't take much more ... but Maya's Pixie comes in clutch with the recovery. " -- good looking out, Amano-san!"
Tamaki holds her own blade up defensively to further parry any more incoming strikes while Arianrhod levels her broadsword towards Sudou. Symbols and scripts form in the air around him, heralding the way for a pillar of light which bursts from the ground below.
AS: Tamaki Uchida spends Limit on Exploit! Tamaki Uchida can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Light skill Sealing Hama on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Ruin: Tamaki Uchida gains 1 Limit! AS: Persona! Tamaki Uchida has used the Almighty skill Mafui on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Tamaki Uchida: Def_Up removed!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Sudou's attempts to block were met with resounding failure, and the satisfying crack of a well-placed strike. He might have smiled, were it not for the agony that wracked both mind and body. The poison was like acid chewing through his veins, searing whatever it could not putrefy, while the painting's hold upon his mind turned to knives stabbing into the deepest parts of his soul. The physical pain, he could weather - that much he had trained for. That much, though he grunted and growled at, he remained standing against. But that which attacked his inner self struck where he was most vulnerable, and he buckled against it.
"Out..." Hyousuke snarled, his voice growing almost bestial as he summoned his willpower against the fear that raced through his mind. "Out... of my HEAD!" Once more, he brandished his anger against it. Once more, as with the tower, he fought back the dark with the light his burning hatred cast, steeling himself against all that the Joker Killer could throw at him. Were one to peer past that mask, what they would see was barely a man. Snarling, growling, snapping - he was a beast given human form, bringing all to bear against its prey.
He needed it when a blade of black flame cut out towards him. He was close - at a literal arm's length - and could not move aside in time. Instead, he summoned Achilles to the fore again, and the mighty general once more hefted his shield into the attack. The flames licked at his face and singed thin streaks of skin, but the blade's strike was blunted against that impervious wall. The second, he ducked under, hands thrown into a guard as he closed the distance. The edge scored a line into his cheek as he bolted forwards, and he could feel it pooling down at the bottom of his mask, but it was summarily ignored. He had no time, no patience, and no focus for it. There was only the hound, and that which he sought to rend apart.
But the beast subsided when healing energy cooled the fire in both his veins and his mind. It did not cure them, but it drove them back, and gave his mind space to focus. He turned to Maya, and levelled a nod towards her.
"I owe ya!!" He called out to her. It was a short and sharp reply, but he could not spare a split second more. Not when a hail of arrows descended from on high. It wasn't hard for him to guess where they'd come from. The hard part was moving deftly out of their way.
Yet it was not the near miss that he seemed to take offence at. Rather, what little annoyance he cared to level at Akechi's way was, in fact, for his refusal to share.
"Gonna be like that, are ya? Fine!" He bore that predator grin again, and cracked his knuckles against armour-wreathed palms. "Guess I'm gonna have to tear a chunk out of him myself!" The pound of flesh Hyousuke sought to take was as much literal as it was figurative - and he intended to do so with his own bare hands if he needed to.
He did not make it clear whether it was the portrait's madness that drove him to do so, or if it was simple, bestial, rage.
It was not a sequence of practised blows that Hyousuke levelled at Sudou. It was a single, powerful, kick, with a motion no less fluid than the sharp and savage strikes he had barrelled into Sudou with before. He heaved his boot up, and then lashed forwards at his gut, a grunt of effort bursting from between clenched teeth.
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Hammering Strike on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 66 HP from Poison! AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 30 Light damage from Tamaki Uchida's Sealing Hama. AS: Exhaust added! AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 0 Almighty damage from Tamaki Uchida's Mafui. AS: Panic added! Charm removed! Explosion! 120 damage! AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 94 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Hammering Strike.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
'I'm so glad that I meet your approval, Akabane-kun.'
Something twitches on Umie's face, as if she was trying to decide whether to be the gracious one, the quiet one, or the snark-ass bitc--
Too late, her lips are already moving!!
"Ahh, so some of it was just to impress m--" Even in the middle of a battle, U M I E
She didn't even get to the audible question mark at the end, as a flaming sword slices in the blonde's direction, shutting Umie up, as well as setting her mask on fire. "Ngh!!" No, unlike Akechi, while Umie tries, there's a point where she will cry out.
She's just learned to clench it behind her teeth. Amateur hour stuff, really.
Ripping the mask off with a pained grunt, Umie throws it to the ground and stomps out the lingering flame, revealing that, as Tamaki has suspected, the formerly masked blonde is no one other than Umie herself.
"I don't know why you call it your friend," Umie continues, Maia's healing soothing the pain of Sudou's flames. "It's just a fragment of your mind. That's all it is. There's nothing behind it!!"
It's a foolish thing to say, in a world of Personas and cognitive spaces. Even more foolish is the way she subtly refutes her own point, by drawing on the very thing that started it all, in the first place.
It doesn't matter. WIth Hyousuke's earlier actions sharpening the weapon of her soul, Umie will make this hit, fast and true.
The words spill from Umie's mouth, unceasing, unbound, capitalized by the Badb's rising presence behind the short blonde.
"The discarded sun lies buried in the hill,
The spiral clockwork ticks to the inevitable climax.
As the dragon rises from its slumber,
the feast will begin anew."
It means nothing, these words, except what she defines them to be. That's the point of it, right?
Like the point she makes with the brambles of thorns that cross over the field, the calling of blackbirds, and the smell of the mire, reaching for the Joker Killer, and threatening to bring him down to the nonexistent mud.
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Psych! AS: You can't afford that attack's Limit cost. AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Psych! AS: Tandem! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Seeker in the Dark on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit! AS: Umie Akabane: Loses 70 HP from Poison! Def_Up and Psych removed! AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate! AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 73 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Seeker in the Dark.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
The attacks come at Sudou and don't give him time to be chatty as well they are starting to hurt, alot, and he didn't even wear his red shirt. The ceiling rains arrows and Sudou wishes he has a bigger sword to use as a shield, and then of course with rain comes lightning. The lightning in this case is a pillar of light and symbols brought down upon Tamaki. The sword that he just brought forth from teh painting is broken by Hyousuke's kick that travels to impale itself in the old maid's chest. Stumbling back with his broken sword as it shifts back to now a broken piece of warped art, Sudou is forced to abandon it before Umie tries to drag him down into the mud, by thorny bramble too. Ripping himself out of the bramble as he runs from that he stands in front of the painting. All this was of course only possible because in Sudou's eye that damn fairy and the rotating persona user kept healing things.
The Joker Killer looks at Niko and shouts, "Wrap it up kiddo. I think the party is almost over for us." Sudou says as he looks at his opponents. The painting behind him pulses with madness before he nods his head. "Joker!" The Joker persona rises up from the ground and begins to play with a deck of cards. Meanwhile Sudou lets his mouth run, maybe to buy time for Niko.
As the Joker tosses one of the cards toward Maya, Sudou responds to the idea of being stopped. "Again and again you all try. You can't do it, I have been beaten and broken and all but dead and yet I rise. No one here will ever stop me." The card hovers over Maya's head as it flashes through a random suits and numbers for the moment.
Joker and Joker Killer turn and look at Tamaki, "You could hear it to, it's not to late look deep into the painting. Let him in, and you can hear him forever." Another card thrown by Joker now randomly floating near Tamaki.
"Pretty boy!" Sudou says to address Akechi, "First off I think she already has a stalker or three, and has eyes for the fake joker too so back off my little sister. Second I am not trying to kill you, not yet. You, you need to be broken first. You are close, I can see it every time, I take a little more. Soon you will break and be no different then me. For now I simply hope to put some red on your outfit." Another card thrown, Akechi is probably familliar with what is about to happen.
Umie gets Sudou's attention next , "Little sister we both know who I mean. We both know they are real. We both know more then either of us ever could say and be understood by those in this room. Well for now. " A laughter is heard, another card thrown but Sudou gives Umie a warning, "Don't die little sister. We still need you."
Finally Sudou's eyes fall on Hyousuke, " You, you are interesting. Unlike the others you remind me of Strega's good buddy Shinjiro." Yes, Sudou now knows who Shinjiro is since he was pointed out. "More beast than man, all emotional and stuff. A real treat to have fought. " Sudou imitates a hat tip , before Joker persona throws a card at Hyousuke, " Have my card."
All cards have been distributed and they all come up as Joker, 5 of a kind, which obviously means the deck cheats but it is Sudou's card deck so what can be expected. The Joker Persona is on each of the cards and it snaps it's fingers causing them each to explode.
In the chaos of the explosion Sudou is moving toward one of the knocked out civilians, he has to check if they are done cooking yet.
AS: Tatsuya Sudou spends Limit on Broad! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Almighty skill Joker Wild on Maya Amano, Goro Akechi, Umie Akabane, and Tamaki Uchida! AS: Tatsuya Sudou takes 90 damage from Panic! AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Almighty skill Joker Wild on Hyousuke Suzuki! AS: Tatsuya Sudou: Loses 65 HP from Poison! Broad, Def_Dn, and Omen removed! Omen: 120 damage! AS: Block Worst! Tamaki Uchida takes 203 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild. AS: Avoid Worst! Maya Amano takes 122 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild. AS: Cover! Tamaki Uchida takes half of the damage, 122! AS: Avoid Worst! Goro Akechi takes 236 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild. AS: Almighty attacks cannot be Countered. AS: Block Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 86 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild. AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 217 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko is totally already over all of the things that Ririka said. That stuff just seems to slide right off of her. "Don't be like that, Rika-chan. Why wouldn't you want to be friends? After all..." Her tone darkens just a smidge. "What's the alternative? Would you rather be enemies, Rika-chan? Is that really want you want...?" If she's fine with treating people she's decided are friends like this... what might Niko Kirisaki do to an enemy?
Fuuka, of course, can't understand what she's saying. That's fine. Fuuka's been nice, and not outright rejecting her claims. She can have a little hint if she needs one. "You haven't said anything wrong. You're so close, Fuuka-chan. Maybe you can put two and two together. If you shouldn't do this to people, then what truth could make this okay...?"
However, it's Shinjiro who demands the greater deal of her attention. Niko already has a bit of a sinking feeling from the words 'do you think this a joke'. Shinjiro should know her better than that. Niko likes to have fun, it's true. But you can be perfectly serious and have fun with it at the same time, right? She means what she says, at times like this. If there's a problem now, then... that doesn't mean she should take those words literally. It means she misunderstood something.
She doesn't know what that something is, but, the fact that Shinjiro is upset doesn't escape her notice. But it is her, or himself he's angry at? It's hard to say. And she might have been sympathetic. Except...
We're kids! We're just kids, dammit!
Instantly, Niko's expression clouds over. That... is an argument that she takes issue with.
"Oh yeah? Does being a kid make everything you do okay? Can't really complain about anything I do then, can you?"
It's something that could easily slip one's mind, given the way she looks and the things she does, but... had everything gone right with the world, Niko would be in high school, too. This feels to her like trying to make the argument that the kids in SEES are somehow better, more precious and valuable than she is. It's not like she asked for things to be the way they are. Why won't anybody get it?
Arguments that are pointless to try making at a time like this. Niko knows what she's got coming - even if the form it takes is unexpected. The widening of her eyes shows that she knows very well what a Theurgy cartridge is. She wasn't so concerned about being stuck in that cage before, but now, it keeps her from getting away. Moreover, Ririka picks that time to unbalance her with song and Earth, knocking her down at the worst time. Nowhere to run, and there's no halting that raging bull. She has no choice but to be struck, cage and all, slammed through the wall that she was so casually leaning on before.
Yet, when the dust settles... Niko does indeed prove that she could take it. She's not feeling so cheerful anymore, but... she only cracked bricks, not bones.
"Ow, ow, ow..." she complains, picking herself up slowly. "...I've received your feelings. But... I'm afraid I can't accept them." She coughs, once, stumbling slightly as she rises back up to her full height. "Man... you really aughta treat me better. I'm a delicate young lady, y'know."
Standing once more, Niko clutches her left arm, which she landed badly on. Any sense of mirth and flippancy vanishes abruptly. "Not to make excuses or anything. But I'm doing my best, too. I know I'm right to do what I do. You don't understand, and that's fine, you don't need to. But you do need to stay out of my way. Didn't anybody ever teach you? Don't interfere with things that you don't understand. You think you're saving people? Fuck no. You're just making everything worse. And you don't even realize it."
The Joker Killer picks that moment to yell at her to wrap it up. "I'm getting to it Ojisan, god. Fuckin'... killing the moment here." She grimaces as she moves her left arm. But she pushes through it, for the sake of... collecting her own theurgy cartridge, from her jacket pocket.
"Fine. You wanna talk feelings?" She slams the cartridge home, ignoring the pain she suffers in the process, and places the Evoker at her temple.
"Here's mine."
An ear-piercing shriek rings out, as Ate appears front and center, blood running down from the hollows where eyes should be. Then the Persona's hair, already impossibly long, begins to grow rapidly, lashing out in several directions - the directions of Shinjiro, Fuuka and Ririka. It's not long until they can see nothing, nothing but dark hair, surrounding them completely. And then it moves inward. Squeezing powerfully, constricting, choking -- for an agonizing few seconds, although the feeling of being inevitably crushed may linger for some time beyond that.
AS: Niko Kirisaki spends Limit on Blood!
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
Akechi's Saber of light looks _just like_ Featherman X's Battle Saber in Featherman ASK! It's hard for Maya not to be impressed seeing something like it in the flesh. Special effects could only do so much back when it first aired!
It's clear that Akechi is taking Whoop-Ass Time very seriously! And so is everyone else -- Tamaki's Persona lands a brutal light attack on Sudou; Hyousuke follows up with a kick so savage that Maya can't help but wince when it hits its target; Umie --
-- well, Maya's still processing what she just witnessed there.
Soon enough, Maya's processing power has to move elsewhere as Sudou directs a card right over her head. It's just high enough that she'd be able to touch it if she stood on her tippy-toes. Somehow, Maya gets the feeling that'd be a bad idea.
And then it explodes. Maya staggers back; this assault hit her harder than any of the others -- and that's even with Tamaki protecting her. Even if she heals herself, she still knows she's going to feel that in the morning, even if she takes a good soak in the tub tonight.
"Okay!" Maya huffs. "It's time to bust out the big guns!!"
Well, not really. They're kind of small, but Maya's not going to stop them from having a Big Impact. She levels her pistols in Sudou's direction and starts blasting!
AS: Weapon! Maya Amano has used the Pierce skill Cover Shot on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Niko Kirisaki spends Limit on Exploit! Niko Kirisaki can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Theurgy! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Fate's Constriction on Shinjiro Aragaki, Fuuka Yamagishi, and Ririka Kawase! 3 Hits! AS: Niko Kirisaki: Bind, Atk_Up, and Omen removed! Omen: 120 damage! AS: Block Neutral! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 79 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. Critical Hit! AS: Block Best! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 43 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. AS: Block Worst! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 93 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. AS: Shinjiro Aragaki is unable to continue fighting! AS: Block Best! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 48 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. Critical Hit! AS: Block Best! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 40 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. AS: Block Worst! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 86 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 32 Pierce damage from Maya Amano's Cover Shot. Critical Hit! AS: Tatsuya Sudou is unable to continue fighting! AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 67 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. AS: Block Worst! Ririka Kawase takes 95 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction. AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 67 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Fate's Constriction.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"That's not what I'm saying, dammit! I don't think that!" Shinjiro replies to Niko, but their time for communication probably broke down a bit ago. The same thing that hurts her about what he says is the same thing that makes him sympathetic to her. They're kindred spirits in some ways, and not at all in others - but he wouldn't have dreamed of thinking he's better than her, better than *anyone*.
"...I understand perfectly well! The Dark Hour takes, and it takes, and it takes, and I'm not letting anyone go through what I have. Never again!"
Yet, as Niko pulls out her own theurgy cartridge, his eyes widen in turn.
"Where did you-"
And then, the shriek strikes home. Shinjiro tries to move, still sore from using his own, and he sees that hair. Strangling, choking, crushing...
He staggers a few steps, and then, once Ate pulls back, he's collapsing, a heavy drop to the ground. He may have stayed standing, if it wasn't for the Theurgy exhaustion moments before.
As the world goes black, he's wondering how much more he can screw up his relationships, good and bad... and feeling he deserves this, in a way.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
It's true, he takes Whoop Ass time extremely seriously! Maybe a little too much so.
There, Tamaki gives him a thumbs up. He too gives her a thumbs up, with a smile.
Everything is fine. Just fine. Super fine. The most fine.
"Aha, you'll have to forgive me." He says affably, even if his chuckle sounds a little- off. "I'm just eager for this collar in particular."
What's between him and Sudou... is personal.
Even if he might not even understand why. It cannot be anything but personal to him.
TOO LATE- Umie! 'Ah so some of it was just to impress m-' "Well after you announced your intentions, I admit I was rather eager to play my own part in this little drama."
SO QUICKLY!
Sudou addresses him though, and his smile seems a little forced, "Aren't you all three of them though?" The Detective Prince rejoinds in regards to Umie's Stalker Coterie.
What Sudou says next though, in regards to them being the same as him, causes all his expression to become icy, "We are NOTHING alike-!" He snaps, angry, before he forces himself to take a breath, "I think you've gotten something of a mistaken impression about the nature of our relationship... do you remember-?"
The Card flies his way, and indeed he knows. There's not time enough for him to even move. The blast detonates, and for a time, the Detective Prince vanishes.
And then walks out of the dust cloud of the blast, holding his arm, which appears injured to the point where he holds his arm.
"... Ten Years Ago." He glares daggers at him, "You probably don't. It was just another fire for you, wasn't it? Just another victim. Gone - nothing to you but another cheap thrill. But Justice? It always catches up to people like you eventually..."
The anger has become something grim on his expression, like he's finally done with him.
A hand to his mask, and Robin Hood appears again and gestures heroically at the Joker. "It's long past time you learned to give the Devil his due... Old Maid."
A bloody swath is carved in the air, like hand prints made of blood. And a dark gathering of energy, ritualistically trying to drive itself like a stake into the Joker.
AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Dark skill Mudo on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit! AS: Goro Akechi: Haze removed!
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Akechi returns Tamaki's thumbs-up to her. This does nothing to ease her concerns, but on the other hand, it doesn't make them any worse ..? "Yeah, yeah, I -- I get you. I think."
Tamaki quietly stares at Sudou as he boasts towards Maya that he's been beaten and broken and keeps rising. She could say the same of herself in the past, but ... this isn't that particular realm and that doesn't apply to her outside of it. Maybe she just doesn't have it in her anymore.
When he more directly turns to her, however, Tamaki mimes cleaning the wax buildup out of her ears. Her reply sounds as innocent as she can muster. "HmmmmMMMM? Whaaat? I didn't quite catch that." If the fire alarms are still going, that just lends further credence to her case. She has very selective hearing, you see; it's how she managed to avoid stepping foot in the Velvet Room for so long.
As the card designated for Tamaki floats by her, it's her turn to dourly complain like Sudou did before her. "... I hate card games." She's ready to take her own on the chin, but her eyes widen in panic as the one intended for Maya floats near. "Shit -- !" Rather than be prepared for one strike, the surprise catches her and she's left defenseless against two.
The double-dose of explosions cards leaves her Persona broken and her own senses dazed and reeling. She slumps over forward and places her hands on both knees to try and recover from her exhaustion. "HOOGH."
There's still people to take care of. Other innocents, maybe. Jun, she should check on Jun -- Shinjiro needs attention -- she'll get to it, just -- just as soon as the floor stops spinning. Any second now, she'll regain her bearings. Aaaaaany second now. Niko's shriek isn't doing her any favors.
At least Maya seems to have the finishing strike covered, as Tamaki can see as she blinks owlishly. Worth it. Akechi cements the deal for sure. No one's going to complain if she breaks out an energy drink to bring herself back to her senses, right?
AS: Item! Tamaki Uchida has used the Recovery skill Eternal Ally on Tamaki Uchida! AS: Tamaki Uchida's Cover tactic expires on Maya Amano! AS: Take! Tamaki Uchida takes 0 Recovery healing from Tamaki Uchida's Eternal Ally. 12 SP regained!
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Fuuka provides support through Mediarama, and Ririka gives her a relieved nod as she feels some of her aches lesson. "Thank you, Yamagishi-san."
Ririka just told Fuuka she didn't ahve to call Niko 'Niko-chan' if she didn't want to... and already she herself is hesitating at Niko's words. The threat to be enemies... Ririka recoils a little.
She cannot wrap her mind around Niko's logic. And it feels really dangerous to try and respond on her terms... but not doing that just seems to slide right off of her anyway.
"Ummm..." She looks to Shinjiro and Fuuka. Little help here!?
But the humor vanishes from Niko as she gets up, and she tells them they're just making things worse. "If you're so convinced you're 'helping' people than cut the cryptic bullshit and just say what you're doing!" Not that she thinks there is a compelling reason, of course, but... if she really wanted to convince them, surely she wouldn't be afraid to say it?
Niko pulls out a Theurgy cartridge, and Ririka is instantly alarmed. "Wait is that a--" She takes a hesitant step back. This could be really bad.
A wince at the screech that comes, and then she draws her arms in front of herself., as massives of hair just come forward and start to fill up her vision. She's pushing back at what she can, relying on Amphion;'s strength to blunt the blows, to push back against the constriction, but she still takes a hard hit in the gut and is wheezing after. She stumbles back, panting. "Shit..." But then she spots Shinjiro. "Aragaki!"
She's starting to feel the strain--she put a lot of herself into that last attack, and she doesn't have a whole lot left. But she's still going to give it her all. "Damn you, I won't let you get away with this--" She raises her hand again, "Magnara!"
Amphion strums, and another boulder tears itself grom the ground and rises to come crashing down at Niko.
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Niko Kirisaki! AS: Ririka Kawase: Exhaust and Def_Up removed! AS: Mind Up! Niko Kirisaki's SP +8! AS: Avoid Neutral! Niko Kirisaki takes 156 Earth damage from Ririka Kawase's Magnara. Critical Hit! AS: Bind added! AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 105 Dark damage from Goro Akechi's Mudo. AS: Panic added! AS: Tatsuya Sudou is unable to continue fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The blade sunk into the Joker Killer's chest. Hyousuke saw it. That length of supernatural steel, blazing with dark fire, was broken in half by the brute force of his kick, and the shredded metal bit like broken fangs into the Old Maid's torso. This - this was what he wanted. To watch the Joker Killer stagger and stumble under the weight of the attacks brought to bear against him. To watch him break, be it physically or mentally. Hyousuke wanted things to end, and he wanted his strength to have played a part in that.
There was bloodlust in every movement he made. Even as the poison hurtled through his body alongside adrenaline, even as it burnt in his veins like acid, he stalked forward like the beast Sudou claimed him to be.
"Then fight me some more." Hyousuke snarled, his hands brought up into a guard. he was the very image of a hound, prowling towards a wounded animal, preparing to savage it and deliver the final blow. "If you think that was a treat, you've seen NOTHING." He had no idea who Strega was, and were it not for Shinjiro being mentioned in the same breath, he would not have cared about them in that moment either. No - he could taste copper on his tongue, and smell iron on his own breath.
He wanted to hurt the man that stood before him.
But the card flew at him, a paper-thin dart slicing through the air. Hyousuke could not guess at what it would do, but was certain of its purpose. His guard tightened in a heartbeat, and the mass of armour that had lurked behind him brought his shield up into a close, protective, stance. Yet even that was not enough. Fire burst across the shield and then beyond it, singing and searing and hurting whatever its tongues could lash against. He hissed with the pain of it, but pushed through whatever heat he could feel upon him. He could tend to his injuries later... there was yet work to do.
The thorns, the light, the heavy-handed blows, they all had softened the target before him. They all had worn away at his defences, and all involved had exerted themselves to see it done. But the Joker Killer sought to leave, and though Hyousuke did not know what he had planned for the civilians he investigated, he did not intend to let Sudou be long enough to find out.
"Get your hands off them!" He called out, pushing through the agony that cocktail of toxins and adrenaline forced upon his limbs. "Your fight's with us!"
No longer was Achilles playing part of Hyousuke's shield. Hyousuke did not care that his body screamed for repose, or that his mind tore at itself while he tried to focus enough to force an attack. His body felt as though it was a hair's breadth from tearing itself apart, but that did not matter. They were close - so very, very, close - and he would never forgive himself if he let the chance slip through his fingers.
As Maya's barrage collided against Sudou, Achilles gathered energy to his spear. Sanguine red and pulsing like a heart, there was pain and rage and hatred distilled into their purest forms there. As Akechi swore vengeance upon the Joker Killer and unleashed his own deadly strike, the energy coalesced around that legendary spear, until it glowed a bloody crimson. As all made their moves, and all sought to finish the fight, Hyousuke played his final, most dangerous, piece.
"Achilles!" He commanded. "End this!" He thrust his hand forward towards the Joker Killer, and past it, a streak of red and bronze cannoned by.
It burst into the air, pausing for a heartbeat and suspending itself at the highest point it could reach. It hung there like some scarlet star, gleaming amidst the dark. Then, it fell. Achilles' meteoric descent was quicker than a blink, and ended with a blinding, outward, surge of blood-red energy. Even that spear of myth could not contain the strength it had gathered as it plunged down, and soon, Achilles' weapon returned to its usual bronze lustre. All that was left to do was to see if the work was complete.
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round! AS: Persona! Theurgy! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Princeslayer on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage from Panic! AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit! AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 67 HP from Poison! Atk_Up, Crt_Up, and Def_Up removed! AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 145 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Princeslayer. AS: Tatsuya Sudou is unable to continue fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Niko gives her a hint. If she shouldn't do this to people, then what truth would make it okay? Fuuka catches the implication, and she shakes her head in disbelief.
"Are you saying they're not people...? That's... awful." Fuuka replies. "I can see them panicking. I can hear their screams! They're terrified, and angry, and... Frenzied. I can feel their presence in my mind."
She meets Ririka's glance with a helpless, apologetic look of her own. She's not sure how much she can help in her situation - she's being polite to smooth things over, but she doesn't think making enemy is a good idea, either...
Niko produces a Theurgy cartridge. Fuuka's eyes go wide. She recognizes it, and feels the danger before it comes. Ate appears, and the Persona's hair extends -
- and Lucia's globe is encased wholly in hair. Fuuka can feel it constricting, squeezing - she winces. She can feel the globe strain against the hair. For a moment she fears it will buckle and break, and then she'll be next. ...But the moment passes, though the terror of it still presses on her mind. And as her vision clears...
"Aragaki-senpai!" Fuuka gasps. He's unconscious... She looks to Ririka, and then Niko...
And with Ririka pressing the attack, Fuuka makes the decision to release Lucia, hurrying over to Shinjiro's side to check on him.
Attacking isn't her specialty - but she can at least help by covering him, to make sure neither Niko nor the Joker Killer can attack him while he's down.
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi: Bind and Def_Up removed!
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
"Give Uchida-san a little more credit than that, Old Maid," Umie says, as Tamaki mimes not hearing what Sudou just said.
Akechi's reply draws a laugh from Umie, though she's careful not to draw her attention away from Sudou this time. "I'm assuming you're the one who pulled the alarm... but maybe it was some other clever person who was thinking outside the box."
All three stalkers? ".... I'm a popular person, nowadays," Umie says, shrugging, quick to sidestep the comment about 'Fake Joker'. "You should--"
Akechi's brief outburst draws the blonde's attention, but, unfortunately, Sudou's attention is now on her.
And boy, does it ever hit a sore spot. "I don't need understanding," she seethes, drawing back. "And _I'm not your little sister_."
The card is not as kind, throwing her back against a pedestal, the abstract metal piece falling with a *KLUNK* to Umie's side. "... Gh..."
She rubs her neck, trying to realign her focus.
"... eh...?" For her own sake, Umie hadn't paid attention to the other side of the battle. Seeing Shinjiro's tall gangly body collapse out of the corner of her eye, Umie turns fully towards him. "Shinji-kun!!" She hauls herself up by the plain white pedestal, stopping as Akechi steps from the cloud of dust.
".... The orphanage..." No, the same as...? "... Scarlet fire cleanses the lion's throat..." Her eyes, outlined in soot, move to Shinjiro, and back to Akechi. Thinking... connecting... refuting...
WHat does she truly know, about Akechi? But then, wouldn't Shinjiro have said.... no, he wouldn't have revealed something about someone else; he only reluctantly admitted to Akihiko's connections, and those were sparse in detail.
"Why are... but I thought it was the shrine you set on fire..." Umie's lips crack in a grimace. "No, that was something else..."
"Bone pieces... chess...." Her eyes see Fuuka going to Shinjiro's side; something in Umie's shoulders relax, knowing someone is already there.
Checkmate? Checkmate.
Akechi fires that swath of dark energy, and Umie casts her own hand up, despite her confusion, Badb's coy smile accented by the delicate gesture of her red lace covered hand, summoning a similar spear.
"Ngh!" Umie casts it forth, with a downward sweep of her hand.
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Mudo on Tatsuya Sudou! AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit! AS: Umie Akabane: Loses 67 HP from Poison! Atk_Up and Crt_Up removed! AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate! AS: Umie Akabane is unable to continue fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Sudou shouldn't be standing, perhaps it was the bullet in his shoulder that obviously hit him, evident by the blood. Sudou's persona isn't looking to great either taking the stake of darkness into it and well appears to be bleeding as well in the opposite shoulder. It seems to like energy but tries to put itself between Sudou and the spear of Hyousuke, but Achilles's spear pierces them both, leaving a hole in the joker and Sudou. Badb's spear impales the Joker again and the persona fades away, which might raise the question cana persona die?
The painting is shrinking almost as fast as Sudou is bleeding , as if the painting is what is keeping Sudou standing.
Still Sudou moves with intent as he leans down and lifts one of the victims, " You're all to late see!" Using strength that he shouldn't have Sudou rips the sleeve off the person to reveal...a relatively normal arm. Sudou's eyes go wide as he removes the other sleeve and sees no mark. "NO NO NO NO NO! "
Sudou moves toward the painting dragging the victim and pushing the innocent person up against the painting. "GET MARKED DAMN IT!" It is clear things are not going to Sudou's plan.
"Fine I will take this loser with me. Well no-name, congratulations you have become subject 001 in how to get a wicked tattoo." Sudou is pushing the victim into the painting and slowly the poor soul is being absorbed into the ever shrinking painting.
AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 75 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Mudo. AS: Panic added! AS: Tatsuya Sudou is unable to continue fighting! AS: Umie Akabane is unable to continue fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
"WAIT!"
Jun's shout comes from the back of the room. He'd thought he'd gotten the last of the crowd out, but with the chaos of the fight and the smokescreen, he hadn't realized that there were innocents directly around Sudou too. Seeing Sudou assault someone--seeing them melt into the painting--he knew he couldn't simply run away and save himself.
So he strides forward slowly through the room, chin held high with a projected calm betrayed by the clench of his fist. "Sudou-san, please let that person go. Unharmed," he states. There are lots of people with power who have been fighting up until now to stop him--but with a person's life literally in his hands, dealing with this matter with force will only risk that life.
"If you do..." He takes a deep breath to mask his hard swallow. "...I'll go with you instead. That's what you want, isn't it?"
He doesn't look at anyone else but Sudou. He already knows they're going to shout at him to stop--rightfully so--and that will only make this more difficult.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Sudou stops mid sentence and stares across the room at Jun, his jaw has dropped as he stares at Jun giving himself up. Walking towards destiny it's a glorious moment. It feels right.
Sudou looks at the others and then back at Jun, "I don't know who this Sudou-san but as the Joker Killer I accept your terms." Looking back at everyone else he shouts, "We will be departing, and if you try to do anything I will take the life of the innocent in my final moments." He doesn't look at no-name, he looks at Jun when he mentions the innocent.
For a moment he looks to the others before gesturing to the painting, "After you Jun."
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
All this... she had tried to protect Jun, but in the end, she wasn't able to do anything.
"Jun-kun, no!" she shouts. "We can stop him -- you don't have to go with him!"
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Jun doesn't try to argue with 'the Joker Killer' about who he is or is not. It isn't really what's important right now.
Maya calls out to him to stop. Jun turns a bittersweet smile her way. "I just don't want anyone to be hurt any further," he says softly.
It only takes a look around the room to understand what he means. That's what he does, too--to bolster his resolve.
Without another word, he walks forward and joins the Joker Killer through the painting. His eyes shut just before he passes through.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka is definitely hurting. Niko is formidable, for all she doesn't understand the other girl, and they don't exactly have a balanced party composition... Ririka's worried about Shinjiro, she's worried about the crowds--though Jun has done a great job of helping them out... even if Ririka's worried about him still being there.
But she's forced to pivot her attention back to Sudou. That 'mark' thing again--what is he on about? "Give that guy back! Or we'll--"
'WAIT!'
her head snaps around as she gasps. "Kashihara-san, what..."
He offers himself. "NO! Kashihara-san, we'll figure out a way to rescue him, okay? You can't trust that guy!"
It hurts, to see someone give themselves up like that--and it hurts more for someone she just found understanding with the night before. But she's in no condition to start another fight. "... we'll find you, okay? Just remember that."
<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.
Niko sags after her last shot, discovering that this Theurgy stuff really takes it out of you. Now she knows why it's meant as a last resort. Was this the right time for it? Doesn't matter. It felt right.
Seeing the results, she looks at Shinjiro's fallen form, sniffing once. In an ideal world, she might be able to feel something about this. But, there's nothing. She can't feel happy or smug, but she can't feel sad or frustrated either. There's just... nothing, to accompany the words that flow from her lips.
"...Don't underestimate the strength of my feelings."
If only she could just do as Ririka suggested and tell them the truth that she's discovered. But it's pointless. It's not like anyone would just believe her. No one could, no one who hasn't been through what she has.
Fuuka's reaction is proof enough, isn't it? She'd seemed receptive to hearing Niko out, and yet, so quick to reject a notion that doesn't fit her personal values. Even in this world filled with supernatural impossibilities, people still can't help but believe that whatever their senses are telling them has to be real. Why bother trying to discuss it? It's pointless.
But that's fine. It doesn't matter. Really, they should be thanking her, for not trying harder to convince them. Ignorance is indeed bliss. Not a day goes by that she doesn't wish she could return to it. "I'm doing you all a favor," she mumbles to herself.
At least it doesn't seem like she's about to keep fighting. She does have a final request for Fuuka, even though it might sound like a demand. "Hey. When he wakes up. Tell him 'no hard feelings'."
And then she's scrambling to get out the way of another sudden boulder sent her way, Ririka not letting her off easy. Though avoiding getting flattened, her awkward dive causes her to land on, of course, her already injured arm. Though she screams and curses, she has to get back to her feet, knowing it's a bad idea to stop moving now.
As she runs, she catches sight of the Joker Killer - who looks like shit, but that's probably fine, he's totally unkillable as far as she knows - as well as... another familiar face standing close by. "No way... that guy?" Strega had taken notice of Sudou's odd obsession. Now that she sees this, she can't help but think... was this, all this, just about Jun Kashihara to begin with?
... Was she, in effect, duped? Granted, it was her own decision to come. Granted, she had no idea if there were any hidden objectives to this. Granted, she didn't ask. But it still kind of feels like she was duped!
"Dammit, Ojisan!" Well, with him evidently getting what he wants, there's no more reason for her to stick around, obviously. She promptly adjusts her trajectory away from the art gallery, as fast as her legs can still carry her.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
He should not have been standing. The Joker Killer should not have even been conscious, let alone *standing.* What manner of man could possibly have remained on his feet and manic enough to scramble around tearing apart strangers' clothing like that? It didn't make sense. There had to be something he was missing. Armour? No, he'd been wounded far too severely by far too many attacks for that. His Persona? No, that'd been impaled and bludgeoned and shot at and subjected to all manner of things, and it had not protected him. So what was...?
Of course. The painting.
Hyousuke had been too lost in his own animalistic frenzy to notice, but its presence had waned as the battle wore on. Were the two linked? It couldn't have been a coincidence. Far too many factors were at play for it to be one. The grand reveal when the show had begun, the madness that seeped from the painting's depths, the presence of a prototype in Tartarus... there had to be something there. But whatever train of thought Hyousuke had managed to start grew to a screeching halt when a civilian was placed against it, and was almost *devoured.*
Before he could shout - before he could even lunge forward to catch the Joker Killer's attention - there stood his friend. Jun, bereft of any powers or weapons, stood before the Joker Killer and offered himself in exchange for that stranger's safety.
"NO!" Hyousuke shouted. His voice was strained - the poison had worked its way even into his throat. Every movement ached, every word spoken was agony. To call out like that, so desperately and with such volume, was utter torture. But he couldn't let Jun go - not when there was still something he could do.
There had to be *something* he could do.
He staggered forwards. His mouth opened and closed, and sounds - words, he hoped - fell past his lips. But there was ringing in his ears, and claws still tearing at his mind. He could feel his muscles seizing and aching and burning, all in sequence then all at once. He tried to take another step... and then he felt the floor beneath him. It was only through instinct that he threw his hands in front of him, but even that simple movement left him quivering. All of his strength was needed to fight back the toxin, and just stay awake. To rescue his friend, and fight back the enemy... he couldn't do any of it.
"Kashihara-san, you can't!" His voice quavered hoarse and weak from the stresses of battle. He tried to drag himself to his feet through willpower alone, but his limbs refused his orders. All he could do was stagger to his knees, and watch. "Don't go with him! Please! We'll- I'll-" They would what? He could see at the corners of his eyes what state they were all in. Most were battered and beaten, Shinjiro and the blonde stranger lay unconscious, he himself could barely keep himself upright. What were they *supposed* to do?
"Don't... don't leave us... Please..."
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
This may not have happened if Umie hadn't gone all out. Poison had laid a final 'mark' all its own on Umie's stamina, leaving her to collapse back down against the pedestal, the white paint flaking against her nails.
Sudou is panicking. "Serves you right..." Umie wryly murmurs, with a crooked, pleased grin.
Ah, but she spoke too soon.
As Sudou grabs a hostage, the blonde sits up abruptly. "Shit, Sudou, it's over!! Stop it!" However, there's not much Umie *can* do besides words, at this point.
And, when Jun offers himself, it's like a punch to the gut.
It's Jun's response to Maya, its meaning deeper than Umie's 'prophecies' or 'knowledge' could ever pierce, that delivers the final stroke to Umie's will.
"This... isn't funny," she murmurs, dourly, in the absence of anything she can really do.
Hyousuke's despair doesn't make things any better, but it does make Umie recenter herself. "No one do anything stupid with that painting," she starts.
Think, Umie. Think. This is a lock, how do you get around it?
"Uchida-san. We can't let whatever time we got left to go to waste. Maybe, if Kashihara-san's will holds out, we can figure out where they went." She looks at the others. ".... field's only going to hold out for so long. Heal while you still can, guys... I'd like some, if you got a few spares."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro is down. He won't wake for a bit, not until it's too late. Luckily, he'll awaken in time for healing to be effective...
But Jun is gone, Niko and Sudou are gone, and it's time to escape before any police come here. He'll affirm he's okay, but he's in too much of a funk to help with planning right now. He needs to get his kouhai home.
Shinjiro will be relying on Fuuka and Ririka to help, and he only says one thing...
"I'm sorry."
Now, though, it has steeled his will. When he gets home to the dorm, he's going to start drafting that text to Akihiko and Mitsuru to talk. He can't wait any longer.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Tatsuya Sudou looks at them for a moment as Niko runs off and Jun pass into the painting. His eyes fall on Umie for a moment, " No, this is time fixing itself. Finally."
Sudou puts one foot into the portal, "Next you all will face the real Joker." Sudou may be bleeding like a mess before he steps into the painting as well.
As he disappears through the painting, the painting turns into just a normal painting, the magic behind it gone for now.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>'No hard feelings', Niko tells her to tell Shinjiro. Fuuka frowns... but she nods.
She gasps, then, as the Joker Killer grabs someone, and prepares to - drag them into the painting!? Fuuka gasps, but before she can protest... Jun volunteers.
"Kashihara-san..." Fuuka murmurs. They have to stop this.
...But how can they stop this? If they try to, someone might die... She feels powerless. She can only grit her teeth and watch.
Umie asks about healing... and Fuuka raises a hand.
"Um... I can help." She offers. She's no Yukari, but she can still provide support. And when Shinjiro apologizes... she shakes her head.
"It's alright, Aragaki-senpai..." She assures. They'll have to hope everything will be fine.