2026-02-25: Gestalt
- Log: Gestalt
- Cast: Umie Akabane, Ren Amamiya, Tsubasa Seki, Goro Akechi
- Where: Dollhouse Corporation
- OOC Date: February 25, 2026
- IC Date: October 01, 2012
- Summary: Joker and Phoenix join Umie in a bid to wrestle a few passcodes for Izumi's plan to rescue Maria. However, on their way, they land in a sticky predictament and rudely rescued by Akechi, who invites himself into their party. Along the way each person presents a piece of information about Maria, forming a fuller picture of the events that led to Maria's disappearance.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
When two parties have to meet in a cognitive, cordoned space, there are safe methods to do so, depending on the venue.
However, within the streets of this neon-fueled city of night lies unexplored territory; even the seemingly safest bets can lead to disastrous outcomes, despite whatever caution is exercised by the three that attempted to gather in this city street.
The fate of the group gathered already has not quite reached disasterous proportions, but, as the crowd of ball-jointed Doll Legionnaires surround around a single point, it may be quickly approaching that nasty boiling point.
A slice of the bladed edge of the kyoketsu-shoge leaves two heads to topple uselessly against the pavement, but the bodies they belong to continue on slashing on through. Umie is forced to retreat backwards, hopping back with staggered, hunched hops.
"More of them coming from the southwest," Umie shouts, a touch distracted as the Badb's 'sight' interacts unpleasantly with her other senses. "Don't recommend making a retreat back that way, but hey, if it sounds like a fun time, I'm game."
Umie is not game. For every blast of mudo, every ghastly shriek, and every nimble toss of a metal ring, a tie of rope, or a slash of a blade, she's just not keeping up.
Maybe, having an Umie Akabane here may have just set this all up for bad luck all the way down. (Umie's going to keep that thought to herself.)
"Anyone got any good ideas for a distraction?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker and Mona are not together today. It happens on occasion. (It happened the last time Ren looked into the disappearance of Maria Sakurai.) The cause today is the contact yesterday from Alibaba, finally giving them the name of the target whose heart they want changed--Futaba Sakura--and threatening to expose The Phantoms to the police and their other enemies if they don't follow through. They need to find out more.
Makoto had suggested there might be a connection to Sojiro Sakura. Mona is thus tailing Sojiro as Morgana, while Joker has joined Phoenix to handle other necessary business--i.e., the rescue of Maria Sakurai. The Phantoms said they would steal the key to her prison, and Joker will not go back on their word. They've got Phoenix and Umie to team up with for this anyway.
(The bonus of focusing on this mission too is giving them something to think about that isn't their love life. What was supposed to be simple and joyous is rapidly turning murky and complicated.)
Given that a Kingdom is a brand-new, hitherto-unknown supernatural space for everyone in this group, the three of them had agreed to get the lay of the land first--do some fighting to warm up before heading into the Doll Corporation to complete their mission. This is quickly turning out to be a cocky decision. The slick streets of this Kingdom are overrun with Doll Legionnaires, and even with Umie's extrasensory abilities and Joker's Third eye, they're steadily growing overwhelmed.
"I've had enough of their nonsense, personally," Joker tells Umie as they gun down those still-writhing doll bodies. One or two fall, but there's still more left, and there's more incoming. "We've more important business here. Let's fall back somewhere quiet and head to the Doll Corporation."
Of course, they need somewhere quiet to fall back to. Joker is hoping Umie has some insight into that. Their Third Eye is mostly only good for finding hidden pathways and valuables.
What about a distraction, though? Joker leaps back from the vicious raking fingers of another Doll Legionnaire, calling up Ixtab to bring down a Landslide in response. It works, but they're left clutching a nasty wound on their side in return. They have a Persona that can heal, but at this rate, they'll be exhausted before they can call upon it to treat everyone's injuries.
"What say you, Phoenix?" they ask, sounding winded.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Sojiro is sympathetic to girls, you see, and Tsubasa ain't no girl. They're much better situated to help here. The Phantoms did say they'd steal the key to her prison, and that's why Phoenix is here, too.
Really, Phoenix is especially here...
Phoenix currently has both arms around a rocket launcher, supporting it as -- BAM! -- a massive shell fires out, at a couple of those Legionaries. They're blown back on their ass by the recoil of the explosion, and they shove the massive explosive weapon back under their bright orange feathered hood as they scramble back up. "I say I'm runnin' outta ammo, man!" They yelp, seeing another of those Dolls crawl up over the crater they've left. "Even I ain't got space for five shots!"
(Seriously, where do they KEEP all that shit? What's with their hammerspace cloak?! It must be some mysterious ninja power...)
"Maybe I fuckin'... set somethin' on fire? That's distractin', right?!"
Well, it's distracting to Phoenix...
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
The sound of the rebels gathering and planning for the morrow was loud. Loud enough to drown out certain foot steps, until they were so close that Izumi could no longer ignore them.
Step
Step
Step
Step
And Goro Akechi, stepped into the light, visibly only by the tip of his red nose at first, all the way down to his boots.
"Why hello there. My name is Goro Akechi" He offers in greetings to Izumi, who was now in a more private section of the headquarters. "... I believe that I might be of some special assistance to your cause."
Izumi eyed him suspiciously at first, but then seemed to relax some. "Goro Akechi..." She repeats, "...I don't know why, but I feel as if you're already an ally to our cause."
"... Fascinating." He says, smiling at that notion, before the private discussion began.
-=-=-
The situation is getting rather messy, isn't it? Tsubasa is out of ammo, more Legionnaires are incoming. What are the Phantom Thieves (And Umie) to do in this situation?
A pair of Legionnaires creep up, lanky things with missing limbs, but the ones they have are tipped with so many blades, like too many jointed fingers.
They spring out of the darkness and descend.
It's one of those moments where the world moves in slow motion. Where you can see something coming, but there's not time enough to react, they dive towards Joker and Phoenix.
A glinting beam pierces one in the head, through it, reflecting off of Joker's own firearm, then striking the second on the rebound in the torso.
They both thud down.
Look up. It's a certain Detective, against what little moonlight can be seen, and atop the grungy building is a flickering holographic advertisement.
DOLLHOUSE CORPORATION
OBEDIENCE
IS
OUR GUARANTEE
Above it, standing on some ancient looking building mounted watertower that seems to highlight the contrasts of this city, the haves and the have nots, is Goro Akechi, ray gun held up. One foot balanced on the edge.
"Just in time." He says cheerfully, as a hand glides up near his mask, flicking up several brown bangs, before he then flips off, end over end right towards one Joker of the Phantom Thieves.
He's coming down really close to them, isn't he? Really- really close... and then his foot extends, kicking off between Joker's shoulderblades, staggering him out of the way to run towards Phoenix right as two more shots hit the wall right behind where he was.
"Get down!"
Oh NOW he says it...
From leaping off Joker, he dives, firing off up where he was perched before. Apparently more Legionnaires were coming from an angle only he could see. It strikes the water tower's support, as it groans precariously, then begins to hurtling end over end towards the streets, where the suddenly loosed payload of water, which becomes a small river as it washes away hostile Legionnaires.
As he lands, he gets up, brushing himself off and wiggling his fingers towards Umie. "Shall we make our escape to regroup?"
(|============ Monad - Maria's Kingdom: The Dollhouse Corporation ============|)
-==== Round 1: The Loading Dock - Challenge Level 1 ===========================-
| Approach Options: Academics or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1 and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
"You're finally here."
The space you've found yourself in is dark, the shadows seeming to cling like
grime to the walls. Yet, there is light: a bright fluorescent glow illuminates
the street beyond the tight confines in which you've found yourself.
"Good," continues Izumi, seated comfortably in her mobile chair. "It's a
straight shot through here to the dock entrance, like we discussed. It could be
trouble: they'll be on high alert for anyone who isn't supposed to be there. If
they see you, you'll have to subdue them. But make it quick. We can't afford a
prolonged fight, not with their resources."
Izumi sighs, shakes her head, then turns her attention back on everyone. "But
off you go. Remember, get in, get the passcode, and return here. We'll need that
to storm the boardroom and rescue Maria once we're ready."
And with that, everyone is able to proceed along this dark alleyway, off towards
the hidden loading dock of the Dollhouse Corporation. Even here, the Corporation
looks like something out of a science-fiction movie: it's dark, curved docking
station is currently filled with gleaming tanker-trucks of equally chrome
pedigree.
Fluorescent lights line the vehicles; instead of tires, each hovers above the
ground with a light that pulses from pink to blue and back again. True to
Izumi's warnings, there are indeed Doll Legionnaires waiting by the dock, some
of them armed. Strung with red string and loaded with the finest cyber-hardware
the Corporation can afford, they stand alert and looking for trouble. As Izumi
had said, the loading dock doors are open. Floor-lights, perhaps meant to guide
the Legionnaires in moving goods in and out of the HQ's depths, shine invitingly
inside.
There are two ways you could go about this. You could try to sneak through as
they move things to and from the waiting tanker-trucks, taking care to avoid the
porters. Or, perhaps, you'll want to make a direct assault: but like Izumi says,
you'll have to move quickly and if you do that, you'll want to know where to hit
and plan accordingly.
BGM: M.O.O.N. - Dust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IJQHqECK9g
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
ha ha ha, if Umie only knew she wasn't the only one with a complicated love life at this moment that was present, here. But who doesn't, right?? (.... right?)
'I've had enough of their nonsense, personally.' "Yeeeeah, I hear that." Umie makes a face. "Neither of the Palaces were quite like this, so I wonder--"A sickle whiffs over the space where Umie's head was a nanosecond ago. The blonde is now hunched closer to the ground, the pale hood of her jacket landing cockeyed against one shoulder.
"_That's enough of that_," she grumbles, adjusting her mask with a grimy thumb. Tucking the metal ring over her fist, she knocks a punch at what seems to be the weakest part of the doll's structure: one of its ankles. Rolling to the side as the doll fell, the bladed half of the kyoketsu koge comes down straight into back of that ball-jointed neck.
That's the point when Phoenix pulls out the rocket launcher.
Umie's mask, the same starry field she wore last time, barely hides that her eyes are as wide as silver dollars here, as she stares, mouth gaping. Sure, Phoenix has taken it out before, but the situation has allowed Umie to notice it, close and personal. "How do you--kh... right." Mask-sans always have something up their sleeves... sometimes literally. Also, Phoenix has got a point. "Fire *would* be a great idea--"
"...!" Umie turns towards Joker and Phoenix. "Behind you!" A few seconds of awareness is barely enough... if the two wanted to turn and see just what is coming straight towards them.
One beam is enough to pierce them both, like an impressively scoped knock of a cue ball. Umie looks up. "... Prince-san." Now Akechi is the cue ball, knocking Joker aside, and now towards Phoenix-- *WHOOSH* goes the water tower as it unleashes its payload.
Umie, blinking, gives the display a crisp clap as Akechi wiggles his fingers at her in greeting. "... That was awfully close." She points a dark red finger towards the washed out river of convulsing Legionaires. ".... The situation, that is." As for why Umie even thought to even clarify, well, that's between her and her own true self.
"As for the Doll Corporation... it's... well, the activity's concentrated towards the tower, I can tell that much. If I can get a chance to summon Badb, I could get a better idea, but it'd be better to try to locate Izumi-san." She won't invite Akechi; by the way she looks to Joker and Phoenix, she makes it clear that she's leaving that decision up to them before she makes a bolt for it.
-----------And locate Izumi, the group does.
Umie nods as Izumi lays out the plan. ".... Aha..." She has trouble keeping the excitement out of her voice. "Yes, we've grown acquainted with the resources part." She looks up towards Joker, and in turn, Phoenix. "I'll get a bird's eye view when we get closer."
-----------And closer they get.
"It's just like a movie set..." Umie murmurs from up high, perched on top of a warehouse. Lingering feathers dissipate in the wake of Badb's guidance; she slips on over to where the three are gathered, if they're not up there with her. "The best I can tell... we could *maybe* take on the dolls, but only if we move quickly, like Izumi-san had said. I'm more inclined to go the sneaky route, myself. Those dolls are looking like they're itching for a fight." She shrugs. "But there's nothing wrong with combining the two, if we can meet up safely afterwards. What do you guys say?"
MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Academics toward The Loading Dock! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Fire would be very distracting, but considering that Phoenix is weak to their own element, and indeed, tends to destroy themself as much as they do the enemy, Joker's not confident in that as a strategy to get them all away and in one piece.
Still, they're not spoiled for options here, and getting away in pieces is better than not getting away at all. Joker's about to give the order when--
*clatter*
--a pair of Legionnaires leap for them, the sound of their jump Joker's only warning. They half-turn, eyes widening in alarm behind their mask, and they turn their handgun already knowing it's too late.
A laser fires then, piercing one Legionnaire, reflecting off Joker's gun, and taking out the other on the rebound.
They already know who they'll see when they turn again. Even so, they turn and take in the silhouette of a certain Detective Prince against a holo-ad.
"Akechi!" they call, smiling in relief despite themself. They hadn't expected him, but he's a welcome sight--with maybe a little something else surging in their heart right now that they will not name. Gratitude is enough.
...though, he is coming down very close to them.
--god dammit--
Joker realizes what he's doing in time to dodge out of the way if they had so chosen; for some reason, they do not so choose. Akechi's heel kicks off their shoulder blades, shoving Joker out of the way as they stagger and flail, so that Akechi gets to look cool again when he shoots down the water tower he'd just left behind to flood the streets and take out additional Legionnaire reinforcements in one fell swoop.
NOW he says it!!
Joker steadies themself with a hand held out for balance for a few seconds. The something else in their heart is now something else else. They tame it; they slide a hand over their mask; they call up a High Pixie who rains down healing energy on themself, Phoenix, and Umie.
Then, as she vanishes and their mask returns, they turn around, hands tucked in their pockets, their face as stoic as ever.
"Let's be off, then," they state, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.
There is a sharp, stabbing look they give Akechi, though, that makes it clear that his idea of a dramatic rescue has not been forgiven and will not be forgotten. Watch your back, they seem to silently threaten.
(...which is probably what Akechi wants from them anyway.)
~ * ~
The group does find Izumi. She explains what they need to do to get inside via the dock entrance. No argument on not getting into a prolonged fight; they've all had enough of that.
"Understood. You can leave it to us," Joker replies. When Umie says she'll get a view, they nod to her in acknowledgement. "We're counting on you."
The way down the alleyway is a contrast of shadow and neon light. Sure enough, there's more Legionnaires along the way. Joker has the advance of their grappling wire, so they go high along with Umie.
"Let's save our strength," they opine, on the matter of how to handle the Legionnaires. "We've dallied around enough."
That grappling wire will continue to come in handy as they leap from rooftop to rooftop to close in on the dock entrance over the Legionnaire's heads, out of their view. As they move, they look back towards their companions, making sure they're keeping up one way or another. Once everyone is in position, they can all head down and sneak through the shadows into the dock, waiting for the right moment to slip inside undetected.
...unless of course someone else has a different idea.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Thief Talk toward The Loading Dock! Diligence and Smarts!
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Umie shouts a warning, and Phoenix has just enough time to look to Akechi, eyes widening behind their own dark grey witch-hat mask, as the Prince makes his appearance.
"Shit!" They yelp, as, indeed, they do get down --
And he knocks down the whole damn watertower. "Showoff," Phoenix grumbles, as they pick themself up, with the help of High Pixie. "... still, guess it worked. So... nice work." Joker's call is as simple as let's be off; it works for Phoenix, man.
Off to Izumi , and so --
"Sneakin' in, huh?" Phoenix asks. "I got it." And so, when they come to a locked gate on the docks which it isn't so trivial to grapple around, they pull something else out of their Infinite Feather Cloak: a set of lockpicks. Rattle, rattle...
... hey, don't the things you have in cognitive space reflect things you're carrying in real life?
Hey, don't even worry about it.
MONAD: Tsubasa Seki has acted with Breaking and Entering toward The Loading Dock! Specialty!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
One might almost feel guilty after the sound in Joker's voice when he showed up.
Almost.
"I just couldn't help myself." He says with a grin at Phoenix.
When he glares those daggers at him, by the cheerful look he offers back, it's as if he's replying with, 'Whatever for?' in the flippant, dismissive way he has.
It seems it's on now.
As Joker uses that grappling hook, Goro Akechi slips into a cover point, then seems to just vanish. But a few seconds later they might catch a glimpse of him reaching through an open window of a still running tanker truck, and pulling the gear shift to...
... neutral... before he dives away back into cover...
One of the Tanker Trucks starts to list from its position.
And the Doll Legionnaires only notice too late, dropping their supplies in a panic, as the Tanker Truck starts down an incline at quickly increasing speed.
The Doll Legionnaires run after, shouting:
"Incompetence! Incompetence!"
"There will be no use for you after we report this to the President!"
And there's no hide nor hair of Goro Akechi.
As the truck crashes, a holographic display in the docks of...
DAYS SINCE LAST WORKPLACE ACCIDENT: 141
Changes
DAYS SINCE LAST WORKPLACE ACCIDENT: 0
And the Legionnaires become preoccupied with dragging one of their fellows who was responsible for driving the truck off to places unknown.
"There..." He dusts off his gloves as he approaches the group again, seeming to have no sympathy for the Doll Legionnaire he just framed, "... that should lighten security considerably while they deal with the clean up."
MONAD: Goro Akechi has acted with Second Coming toward The Loading Dock! Focus and Patra! (|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== The Loading Dock - Round 1 ==============================================- Ren Amamiya Proficiency Success Thief Talk Diligence and Smarts Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goro Akechi Academics Success Second Coming Focus and Patra Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Umie Akabane Academics Success Academics Base Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsubasa Seki Proficiency Success Breaking and Enterin Specialty Fatigue: 0 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2 and Stupor-2 Final Conditions: Clumsy-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 1/6 |= | =====================================================- (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Again, Umie's gained another reason to never question Joker's ability to summon multiple Personas.
"Thank you," Umie says, as she heaves a sigh of relief.
'Show-off' describes Akechi very well, but Umie's glad to for the help. As Joker gives Akechi that sharp look, Umie glances from one to the other. "...." she opens her mouth, then wisely, closes it, shrugging.
--------
One thing is still on her mind. Despite her overall calm, Umie could only cough as Joker acknowledged they were counting on her. "Right," she had managed to say, clearing her throat.
(damn it umie you just realized a new private ship, you kissed a _NWO agent_ several days earlier, and you're *still* doing this? what are you, a 14 year old?!)
Thanks to Akechi's advantageous assault on workplace safety, sneaking becomes a touch easier, given all four are on their A-game in slipping forward, by grapple, leaping, or weapon of choice.
AT least, until they get to the gate.
Lockpicks? No one else here has lockpicks, Phoenix. Certainly not Umie, who just a second ago was patting the pockets of her jacket, and is now watching Tsubasa, a hand to her chin.
"... Huh... so you... right." She'll need to try that little trick Phoenix did, next time...
The lock clicks under Phoenix's care, and the way forward is clear. Umie's eyes light up. "<Good>, this is going a lot smoother."
She casts an eye towards Akechi momentairely, lingering to ask a question that's also been bugging her. "... All of you've noticed, right? About Izumi-san," she says, her voice a whisper. "She's a cognitive being, but... she's showing a lot more awareness that there could be more 'outside' than the ones I've encountered."
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has drawn a new Challenge!
(|============ Monad - Maria's Kingdom: The Dollhouse Corporation ============|)
-==== Round 2: The Messenger - Challenge Level 2 ==============================-
| Approach Options: Charm or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Skillful - Proficiency Up L1, and |
| Smooth - Charm Up L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
As soon as you enter the Dollhouse Corporation building, you're stopped in your
tracks by a bird, a pink cockatoo wearing a fancy necklace. She swoops in from a
point unseen and alights upon a rail two heads' height above you all.
"We haven't met, have we? I am Jerri, an intermediary of sorts. You have come
seeking the girl, haven't you? I'm certain that the leader of the rebels told
you a fine story about how the CEO has taken her captive. Well. That's a lie,"
she explains, shrugging her wings. "The CEO is having an audience with the girl
to sort out a few things, and then she'll be able to leave. It's hardly as dire
as a kidnapping!"
She sighs, then continues, "So what you need to do is turn around, and leave.
Simple, really. This 'problem' will take care of itself. Besides, you've met the
girl. Trouble, isn't she? Let them sort it out here, and everything will be
fine. So go on. Turn around."
That's what she says. But did you come all this way just to leave? You could
make your case to Jerri and press on, or perhaps you could do something a little
more... underhanded to get past this avian roadblock.
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It is on now. But Joker won't be so brash as to try to get back at Akechi immediately. They've all got a job to do here.
Umie's gratitude is met with a slight smile and a nod of acknowledgement. As for Phoenix's lockpicks, Joker doesn't worry about it. They not only have but make their own lockpicks, with Morgana's guidance. To them, Phoenix is being totally normal, and actually, they're grateful to them for getting on that first. (They saw you patting your pockets, Umie.)
When that one truck starts to move, that does grab Joker's attention, though. It isn't immediately apparent why it happened, but they do note that Akechi is nowhere to be seen. When he returns in full nonchalance, Joker gives him a long, considering look.
However, Umie brings up Izumi, and they choose to pay attention to her instead of comment. "It does seem strange. But that's only in comparison to what we've experienced up until now," they point out. "This Kingdom is new to all of us..." They slide a questioning look Akechi's way, to let him countermand them if need be. Then they continue, "We'll learn more as we move onwards."
Once they're all inside, though, there's no time for sneaking and infiltrating. The four of them are immediately approached by a bright pink bird decked in gaudy jewelry who introduces herself as Jerri and basically tries to convince the group that Maria is totally okay, no really, and they should all go home, because it's a lie that she's in danger, and also Maria is such a trouble, isn't she? It's fiiiiine.
Joker's eyes narrow behind their mask.
"We'll determine that for ourselves, thank you," they reply coolly, and moves to stride right underneath and past her. What's she going to do? She's a bird.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Proficiency toward The Messenger! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
One presumes that everyone here has lockpicks, but not everyone has those skills in real life, which might explain why Phoenix's talents are so specialised.
Akechi is a sneaky guy, though, and Phoenix nods sternly to him as he re-emerges. Nice work.
"Yeah," they say, "Izumi-san's weird. She don't... seem to be dangerous, though." In they go --
Where they're stopped by --
"Oh, you're gorgeous!" Phoenix exclaims, their orange gloves clasping together as stars sparkle across their portrait. "Look at you! Look at that pink! Hang on," they dig around in their cloak, "I got jus' th' thing!"
They produce a hand mirror -- because, of course, one's cognitive equipment is based on what one carries in real life -- as they step up to her to show her her portrait. "Look at you!" They insist, again, hands above their head as they show her the mirror. "You're amazin'!"
have they heard a single word she's said or
"I'm sure you're jus' tryin' to help," they did, apparently, "but it's cool, Jerri-san, we are too. Here, how's 'bout I leave this one wit' ya," they prop up the hand mirror up on another rail which is a touch more reachable with their hands. "It was super great meetin' you! You're a great bird!"
At this point, they look over to see Joker, walking away...
"... hey, wait up!!" Phoenix yelps, as they scramble after them.
MONAD: Tsubasa Seki has acted with Charm toward The Messenger! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Umie notes that Izumi is a Cognitive being, and Akechi glances her way, "Ah, you noticed. It is rather a rather peculiar quirk of this place..."
As he then glances towards Joker at his knowing look, "...to answer your question, I've never encountered a 'Kingdom' before Sakurai-san's. However... so that we might 'compare notes' so to speak: Maria Sakurai's Shadow was present in Mementos previously, until the time of her disappearance."
As he lets that fact drop, which is telling enough on it's own. "I initially went there to see if her Shadow might share any details. When it was gone... I feared the worst... until at least, it was revealed that she was alive, here."
It's interesting that he is sharing this, but it does say a lot about the nature of this place.
When Jerri appears, Akechi listens, a hand upon his chin before he glances at Phoenix in surprise, and murmuring, "Ah. That does explain more about the choice of Codename... and the outfit."
And while Tsubasa is SCHMOOZING the Cockatoo, Akechi comes at it from a different angle, "Oh- is that so? Well, if this is all strictly above board, then there's really no need to trouble ourselves."
He sounds so agreeable! Jerri would likely think she's at least won him over. "... Though perhaps you might help me understand, what kind of things Sakurai-san would have to sort out with the CEO of a company? A high school girl hardly seems important enough to waste their time with, wouldn't you say? What 'problem' could she have possibly caused?"
As he pokes hole after hole after hole in Jerri's 'story' trying to divert them off, "Ah well, I'm certain there's something I'm merely not seeing. Perhaps you wouldn't mind providing me with an explanation."
He says, chatting in a walk and talk as he follows Joker and Phoenix. Though Umie will see how he has his Ray Gun held behind his back as he waits to see how the Bird responds.
MONAD: Goro Akechi has acted with Smooth Talk toward The Messenger! Focus and Friendliness!
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
_Holy cow it's a talking bird_.
And she's blocking their way.
'Besides, you've met the girl. Trouble, isn't she?' Whatever wonder over the plumage Umie may have had is quickly lost. ".... goddamn self-righteous ass chicken..." she hisses under her breath, only audible to her party, before striding *forward* towards Jerri, seeing the trajectory of Joker's own stride
"Oh, why, yes." Umie puts on a pleasant smile, almost instinctively. "Sakurai-san told me all about you! Sorry, I almost forgot." Umie is lying, of course: Joker may be able to tell; this is Umie's best Customer Service voice, reserved for the 'finest' of patrons.
"Well, I'm convinced. I *definitely* came all this way to make sure Sakurai-san was not being troublesome for anyone at all. It can be so hard, keeping people safe, especially when that means letting them sit in a dark city tower guarded by all *sorts* of strange knife-wielding doll creatures." She provides a space for Phoenix to jump in, and is quickly reminded of her own bag of tricks as she sees their handmirror.
She begins digging thhrough her jacket, patting it down to determine what pocket to reach into (just like before, as Joker witnessed). Akechi joins in, positioned enough for Umie to see the ray gun held behind his back.
She'll build off that. "Though you *clearly* didn't mean for things to get away from you like this. That's why you're here, right? -Ah." She peeks into her jacket, unzipping it halfway to better access the contents inside. A charm bracelet, made of metallic thread slips out of the folds of her jacket, the glass beads woven in glinting seductively in the austere corporate lighting. "Oh, don't mind me, nervous habit of mine..." The charm bracelet sways baaaccck and forth, very shiny.
"Please, enlighten us."
Seeing Joker and Phoenix slip by, Umie purses her lips. "Oh. Look at the time. I have an apppointment I must go to. You understand, don't you...?" She tilts her head, innocently tapping a finger to her chin. "... You do, of course. Muchly appreciated. Early bird gets the worm! Haha."
MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with String Theory toward The Messenger! Focus and Find! (|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== The Messenger - Round 2 =================================================- Ren Amamiya Proficiency Success Proficiency Base Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goro Akechi Charm Success Smooth Talk Focus and Friendliness Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Umie Akabane Charm Success String Theory Focus and Find Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsubasa Seki Charm Failure Charm Base Fatigue: 1 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Clumsy-1, Skillful-2, and Smooth-2 Final Conditions: Skillful-1 and Smooth-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 2/6 |== | =====================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ============================================================- Items: 1, Money: 1, Gear: 0 (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Phoenix proceeds to absolutely gush over Jerri and even give her a hand mirror. Joker just stops themself from staring at them, and only just. They're presenting a unified front and they definitely knew that Phoenix would go absolutely mad over an extremely shady cognitive bird. (It's definitely consistent with what they do know about them, given how much love they've shown for Lance and Morgana. It just takes a moment for Joker to update their mental view of Phoenix. It really does explain the codename and cognitive outfit...)
Umie's Customer Service Voice is familiar, though, and they hold back a smirk at that too--but again only just. They're maintaining a poker face while Jerri's still in the area.
Regardless, they move on. Jerri's feathers ruffle more and more as Umie and Akechi drip insincerity and suspicion at her. She of course knows perfectly well that Maria has not told anyone about her, but she doesn't call out this lie, even as that shiny charm bracelet of hers shines ever so brightly. Instead, as the two of them attempt to pressure her for actual information, she pulls herself up. "Well, I never!! The disrespect and ingratitude of you children! Here I am, trying--out of the goodness of my heart, mind you--to help you keep from wasting your time, and this is how you repay me? The absolute gall!"
Akechi, at the very least, will of course note that this show of umbrage means Jerri doesn't answer his question whatsoever. This is the defense of the Karen...
Fortunately(?), Phoenix is there, and their outright adoration does much to mollify the pink cockatoo. "I am a great bird," Jerri preens. "I'm so glad you possess the sagacity to see that!" If she had lips, she'd be sneering right now as she continues, "So many rude and brainless nitwits who can't understand the first thing in front of their noses..." But then she's all roses at Phoenix once more. Until they give her their mirror in all sincerity.
...
...
"My... gratitude..." she grits out. She may or may not be deeply offended by the gesture.
She sure is checking her reflection out and letting them all past, though.
MONAD: Tsubasa Seki has drawn a new Challenge!
(|============ Monad - Maria's Kingdom: The Dollhouse Corporation ============|)
-==== Round 3: The Atrium - Challenge Level 2 =================================-
| Approach Options: Charm or Guts |
| Conditions: Heartening - Guts Up L1, Scary - Guts Down L1, Skillful - |
| Proficiency Up L1, and Smooth - Charm Up L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
Making your way into the Corporation building proper, you eventually find
yourself in a large atrium. Tall chrome pillars line the hall, giving it a sort
of futuro-classic aesthetic. Lights embedded in the floor slowly pulse, the
illumination surging ahead across the atrium's expanse as if it were a tide's
breaker.
Unfortunately, you're not alone here. A group of Doll Legionnaires are here too,
arrayed as if they've been waiting for you this whole time. They're armed.
"You there. You're not supposed to be here, are you? Did she send you? She
should know there is no room in the corporation for traitors!" shouts the
apparent leader of this particular squad. The others nod their heads as if to
agree with this particular declaration, and one after another ready their
weapons.
It looks like this is going to turn into a fight -- unless you wanted to try
your best to win them over, instead?
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Nothins' more powerful than a bird, man," Phoenix shares with Akechi, all smiles. "Birds are th' best thing in this whole stupid world!"
They even forgive Umie's Customer Service Voice, because they are far too entranced by that bird.
"Hell yeah, man!" They grin -- and they're using exclamation marks, is Phoenix even allowed to do that?! "You're magnificent! Majestic!"
But the mirror... seems to offend her?!
"Huh?" Phoenix blinks, honestly taken aback as Jerri grits out that gratitude. "H-hey, uh..."
Sadly, they don't have any time to patch things up with that bird.
"Man," they exclaim, as they make their way into the Corporation building proper, "Kingdoms are th' fuckin' best, man. Cognitive parrots. Hey, what was she goin' on 'bout, anyway?" PHOENIX YOU EMPTY-HEADED BIRDBRAIN YOU DIDN'T HEAR A WORD SHE SAID DID YOU!
That's not the worst thing, though.
The worst thing is that there's an ambush.
"Crap!" Phoenix yelps, as they find all their sneaky exits blocked off in favour of the roadblock ahead of them. "We're, uh, new hires..."
They trail off, as they try to think of something to get them through this.
"... ahhhh, fuck it," they conclude, as they summon their greatsword to their hands. "I'm jus' gonna wreck ya shit!"
Phoenix has chosen violence, charging head-in towards the Dolls, and that means that one will probably have to wait to apply one's Charm -- perhaps after a spot of that ultraviolence wears them down a little.
You can win people over by beating them up and then sparing their lives, right.
MONAD: Tsubasa Seki has acted with Guts toward The Atrium! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Akechi merely smiles at Jerri, "Well if your motivation was merely to assist us then you wouldn't mind answering our questions, now would you?" He says, as he keeps walking.
He may be calculating the exact trajectory to ricochet a laser shot off the mirror Tsubasa gave her.
Even with Joker and Phoenix here he has few compunctions, she is a Shadow after all.
"I believe that was a Cockatoo, by the plumage." Akechi corrects Tsubasa, in his usual know-it-all way.
And then an ambush.
Akechi lifts a hand as he tries to build off Tsubasa's excuse, "Yes don't mind us, we're here for orientation. Could you perhaps direct us to the employee break room? I do my best work with a cup of coffee in hand..."
It's probably at least distracting enough, that when Tsubasa just starts to wreck shit, he just sighs and shrugs, before looking to Joker and Umie.
"Well, I did try to back up their story..."
And as a Doll Legionnaire starts to aim at him, he quick draws without looking at it and shoots it in the face twice before darting into cover.
MONAD: Goro Akechi has acted with Smooth Talk toward The Atrium! Focus and Friendliness!
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Losing sense of where she stands in the group, Umie frowns at Phoenix, though her words are quiet. "Don't lose your focus. We're here for Sakurai-san." Umie relents. "But now that you mention it, she *did* seem different ," Umie says, quietly. "... Maybe it's just the fact that she's a giant ass bird? Er, cockatoo." She sighs, shaking her head. "The last time I saw Sakurai-san, she said she had something she wanted to tell me. I never got to hear what she wanted to tell me, so. I keep thinking there's going to be something she was going to warn me about. There was a lot about her that kept me wondering... like... if she was going to Aw--"
Awaken to an ambush, maybe? Because that's what this is.
Reddish brown eyes mark the number of dolls gathered here, how many are armed, how they're positioned, and, most importantly, how they defer to one specifically.
"Mn." A sound, and Umie's gone, when Akechi looks back towards her, having taken advantage of the distraction made by Tsubasa and Akechi's preliminary attempts to placate the Doll Squad.
The next most will see of Umie is when her short form is at the 'leader's' back, attempting to leap on the ball-jointed doll's back like a monkey, blade positioned over the doll's throat.
"Sorry, we're in a hurry," she says.
She makes a point of making sure she's noticed, covered in the glow of Badb, who quietly spreads her laced hands towards the group.
T Maaayyybbbeee she should have told the group she was going to do this, but then it wouldn't be a surprise, right? ..... right
MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Bird's Eye View toward The Atrium! Automap!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker looks over their shoulder at Phoenix as they continue to gush about the cognitive parrot (or cockatoo, as Akechi corrects them) while everyone walks away. They smile slightly, fondly, and shake their head a bit. It's the same sort of single-minded devotion that Yusuke has for his art, and with Jerri's extremely suspicious self behind them, it's endearing.
"How we're here to rescue Sakurai-san," they remind them all the same, underscoring Umie's scolding, because they do all need to stay focused. Joker falls silent when Umie continues that she really did talk to Maria, though, and that Maria had told her she had something to say--that she never got to say before she vanished. Hmm...
But then the group enters an oddly-lit atrium and runs into more Doll Legionnaires, who immediately clock the four of them as outsiders. Joker slips into a combat stance--but even as they draw their dagger, they don't immediately attack, because something else catches their ear.
"Traitors?" they echo, eyes widening. Does that mean Izumi used to work for the Doll Corporation? Curiouser and curiouser...
No time to linger on the matter, though. Phoenix immediately abandons their attempt at a cover story, leaving Akechi in the cold. When he laments the fact, Joker only shrugs.
"Get to work, Detective," they quip, and summon Arsène. The winged Persona calls forth a spell of darkness to blanket the Legionnaires in its power while Phoenix rushes in for a beatdown and Akechi fires his laser gun.
Between that and Umie jumping onto the leader of the Legionnaires and holding a knife to its throat, the four of them might just be able to scatter the enemy group and press through. Emphasis on might.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Warning Shot toward The Atrium! Specialty! (|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== The Atrium - Round 3 ====================================================- Ren Amamiya Guts Success Warning Shot Specialty Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goro Akechi Charm Success Smooth Talk Focus and Friendliness Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Umie Akabane Guts Success Bird's Eye View Automap Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsubasa Seki Guts Success Guts Base Fatigue: 1 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Heartening-2, Scary-2, Skillful-1, and Smooth-1 Final Conditions: Heartening-1 and Scary-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | =====================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ============================================================- Items: 1, Money: 1, Gear: 0 (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Whoa! You reckon that's a cockatoo?!" Phoenix asks Akechi, too jazzed to even recognise they're being sassed. This is such a tragedy. "Wow, yeah, reckon ya right... huh?" They blink, looking to Umie. "No man, yeah, I'm focused." Beat. Joker helpfully fills in the blanks. Alarm enters Phoenix's eyes, behind their mask, as they underline: "Sakurai-san, yeah! She's in trouble!" ... and Umie feels guilty, huh. Phoenix wonders, to themself, how right she is to feel that way; but they put it aside, for another day.
Akechi tries to talk his way through the conflict -- a few of the Legionaires, in fact, nod to themselves and start to move away -- but then Phoenix loses patience and just charges in. Their brutishness is counterpointed by Umie's deadly precision, with a knife at one Doll's neck, and Akechi's effortless switch from reason to violence; Umie's victim doesn't get the chance to reason with her, though, because his fellows are consumed by darkness.
In that shroud, it isn't entirely obvious that two more Dolls fall from laser shots to the face. Who could have done that? More to the point, who could have done that while aiming around the berserker tearing up a storm in the middle of them?!
Maybe Joker will get to notice Akechi's prowess, anyway...
Throats slit, faces shot, darkness consuming them and blade crashing through their chests, the Dolls aren't a threat harrowing them for long. The battle is taxing, but not prolonged. Violence rarely is.
MONAD: Goro Akechi has drawn a new Challenge!
(|============ Monad - Maria's Kingdom: The Dollhouse Corporation ============|)
-==== Round 4: The Digital Archive - Challenge Level 2 ========================-
| Approach Options: Understanding or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Hard - Understanding Down L1, |
| Heartening - Guts Up L1, and Scary - Guts Down L1 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
The archive, which you've found after some exploration of the facility, seems a
likely place to look for the passcode you need to gain access to the boardroom.
If it's not here, you might be able to find some information about where it's
at.
After some hunting, you're able to find the latter: it looks like the passcodes
are stored in a secure location below, which is accessible by a private
high-speed railcar. It seems that the facility extends high above, yes, but also
branches out below like some parody of a train.
With this information in hand, you turn to leave.
"You really think you're helping, don't you?"
There, perched atop a flatscreen monitor is Jerri. With condescension in her
eyes, she regards your group.
"Take a look around you. Everything in here is working exactly the way it
should. There's no room for any of that stupid risk-taking stuff, and they're
better for it. That girl will join them soon. So turn around and get lost." The
cockatoo pauses, then with the birdlike equivalent of a nasty smile, she leans
forward with slitted eyes. "Let me help you!"
The world around you distorts. You're in a dark space, illuminated by bright
lights running along the floor. They seem to be tracing certain paths through
the darkness to a distant point of light, but which one is correct? Try to walk
right across the paths towards the light, and you won't be able to proceed: you
must walk a path.
Is there some way to work it out from here which path you had best take? Or is
there some way to use your dexterity to hop paths midway or perhaps even bend
the apparent rules of this space to escape the trap you're caught in?
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"Well while my ornithological know-how might be a little spotty- I'm rather certain in this case." He says to Tsubasa, "But I rather think it's wise not to trust her... she's certainly trying to mislead us."
But back to now! "Does that mean you're employing me? I don't recall you paying my retainer." He quips back to Ren cheerfully, in the firefight. And as the firefight ends...
"... Isn't it interesting that none of them are utilizing magic?" As he points this fact out, "It rather makes them unique amongst Shadows..."
As they move on.
"You really think you're helping, don't you?" A bird alights atop a flatscreen, sneering condescension. "Take a look around you. Everything in here is working exactly the way it should. There's no room for any of that stupid risk-taking stuff, and they're better for it. That girl will join them soon. So turn around and get lost."]
"Oh I see we're dropping all pretense now." Akechi says smugly, as if it didn't take long for Jerri to go 'mask off' so to speak.
"Miserable child! If you're not going to listen to your elders, then allow me to help you get lost."
And then the world distorts and everything fades into darkness, save the lights running against the floor.
"... She's clearly not a normal Shadow either." Akechi murmurs, in consideration, "This isn't a typical trick. Hmmm..."
As he rubs his chin, he asks the others, "... How do you think we should approach this? If this isn't meant to kill us, then she's certainly trying to make us waste significant time that we don't have..."
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"Well while my ornithological know-how might be a little spotty- I'm rather certain in this case." He says to Tsubasa, "But I rather think it's wise not to trust her... she's certainly trying to mislead us."
But back to now! "Does that mean you're employing me? I don't recall you paying my retainer." He quips back to Ren cheerfully, in the firefight. And as the firefight ends...
"... Isn't it interesting that none of them are utilizing magic?" As he points this fact out, "It rather makes them unique amongst Shadows..."
As they move on.
"You really think you're helping, don't you?" A bird alights atop a flatscreen, sneering condescension. "Take a look around you. Everything in here is working exactly the way it should. There's no room for any of that stupid risk-taking stuff, and they're better for it. That girl will join them soon. So turn around and get lost."
"Oh I see we're dropping all pretense now." Akechi says smugly, as if it didn't take long for Jerri to go 'mask off' so to speak.
"Miserable child! If you're not going to listen to your elders, then allow me to help you get lost."
And then the world distorts and everything fades into darkness, save the lights running against the floor.
"... She's clearly not a normal Shadow either." Akechi murmurs, in consideration, "This isn't a typical trick. Hmmm..."
As he rubs his chin, he asks the others, "... How do you think we should approach this? If this isn't meant to kill us, then she's certainly trying to make us waste significant time that we don't have..."
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Is it right that Umie feels guilty?
"She'd kept having the same dream about death, she even thought it may be a sign of something that was going to happen," Umie mentions, as they go through the archive. "Ever since her grandpa died just this year. It'd be a loop, over and over: she'd be running away from something, there'd be a figure all of the sudden, and then, it hurts. She'd realize she was dying, and then wake up. She'd only met me one before, so. I think she's been looking for answers."
"There was another thing: she was in her 'time of Joka'." Umie's posture pauses as she hunches over some file. "'Joka', to be clear. A Wang Long thing, related to luck. Supposed to be temporary. Apparently, she's been in her 'time of Joka' since last year. During all the occasions I've met her, that hadn't changed." Before there's any mention of *why* Umie knew this, the blonde pauses as the location of the passcodes is revealed. "A-ha! We're getting close!"
But first-- the brilliant giant cockatoo has arrived, in all her fashionably bright glory.
The room distorts, and Umie tries her best to keep her calm; she can't afford to panic, especially in front of....
"Were you the thing she was going to tell me about?"
.... Probably not, Umie thinks, but she'll ask that question in such a way that it sounds like a threat.
'That girl will join them soon.' That calm quickly dissipates from the curve of Umie's lips as she sneers. "Sakurai-san has the same right to live her life the way she wants as anyone else, without something else making that decision for her... You, and whoever else is involved, have no *goddamn right* to take that from her!"
... 'superumie'. Could she really even be that kind of person? Foolishly, but honestly, Umie believes. "Maybe the thing she was looking for was people who could *do* something about it, and thankfully, she's got more than one person here!!"
That belief is taking her several times to understand just what forces are operating in this room, as she charges ahead, darting from path to path, relentlessly trying to pick the lock of the problem in front of her with trial and error.
A cooler head will prevail here, but Umie's kind of done with that, right now.
MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Can you do this? toward The Digital Archive! Specialty!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker does recognize Akechi's prowess. They keep it to themself, though.
"I didn't need to. You magnanimously took this job on pro bono. If that displeases you, feel free to scale this Kingdom on your own," Joker quips back at Akechi, taking on a lofty tone to complement their theatrical cadence. They smirk. "A simple matter for one who could defeat all of The Phantoms on his own, no?"
The Legionnaires hadn't used any magic... Joker realizes he's right. It's possible they just hadn't had the chance, or that these ones in particular aren't the magic-using type, but they do consider this observation in thoughtful silence.
As they move through the archive and find out the location of the passcodes, though, Umie shares some context on what was happening with Maria. Joker stares at her for a moment--what the hell is a 'time of Joka'--but she explains... more or less. The dreams of death seem easier to understand--but how do they relate to what's going on now?
At least Akechi has the heart (or lack thereof) to tell Phoenix just how shady Jerri is. Joker was willing to drop it as long as she didn't keep bothering them--but clearly that was too much to hope for. Joker moves into a wary combat stance, just in case, leaving the talking to the others. They've only met Maria a couple of times, so their feelings of Jerri being full of crap are relatively superficial.
Even with that, though, Jerri's full of nasty tricks, and the world distorts.
So much for getting to that railcar that'll take them to the place where the passcodes are stored. They'll need to traverse this dark space first.
As Akechi remarks on Jerri, Joker kneels down, pressing a gloved hands to the pathway of light. They follow it with their eyes, looking up and around at where they lead to. They call up their Third Eye, and it makes a certain set of pathway lights glow green...
"There's a logic to it," they say aloud to their companions, because they aren't going to give away their tricks while Akechi's here. They look over at Umie as she charges ahead, and lift a hand to signal to her. "This way," they call, and stride forward with confidence.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Diplomacy toward The Digital Archive! Empathy and Patra!
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"I dunno, man, she seemed fine to me...?" Phoenix wonders, rubbing at the back of their birdlike hood. Phoenix has completely fumbled their Sense Motive roll, evidently.
Though -- "Yeah, that's kinda weird," they note, when Akechi points out that none of those Shadows have used a single spell.
Soon, a bird alights atop a screen, and -- "Hey, Jerri-san!" Phoenix grins. "Yeah, we --" Their efforts to explain how they're helping are (mercifully) cut short by Jerri's condescencion, as their face slowly falls.
"Uh, hey..."
Their own efforts to reach her are lost with the rest of them, as they're plunged into darkness.
"... man..." Phoenix sighs, shoulders drooping, in the dark. "I get it, y'know? Why Sakurai-san would have a Shadow like that screwin' with her. She was... real big on what her grandmother thought. Didn't wanna disappoint her none... I kinda get it. Weren't always so mouthy meself... so, y'know... gettin' told to listen to ya elders..."
Umie's all movement, but they're... much more thoughtful, in the dark. Maybe it's the weight of disappointment, realising that a bird might, in fact, be kind of evil, even though there's no such thing as an evil bird, man.
"Caught her breakin' back into an ol' shop, thought it'd be unlucky leavin' footprints... I went in an' cleaned 'em up for 'er, I been unlucky long enough it don't bother me none. She acts spacy, but she's a real dutiful girl, y'know...? So... maybe that's why she'd have a Shadow like that on her ass."
They'll follow Joker's lead, though.
... they feel like that's something Maria would do, too.
She was always looking for role models...
MONAD: Tsubasa Seki has acted with Scar Talk toward The Digital Archive! Empathy and Focus! MONAD: Goro Akechi has acted with Warning Shot toward The Digital Archive! Specialty! (|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|) -==== The Digital Archive - Round 4 ===========================================- Ren Amamiya Understanding Success Diplomacy Empathy and Patra Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goro Akechi Proficiency Success Warning Shot Specialty Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Umie Akabane Proficiency Success Can you do this? Specialty Fatigue: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsubasa Seki Understanding Success Scar Talk Empathy and Focus Fatigue: 1 -============================= Party Conditions: ==============================- Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2, Hard-2, Heartening-1, and Scary-1 Final Conditions: Hard-1 -======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====- -==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | =====================================================- -==== Loot So Far: ============================================================- Items: 1, Money: 1, Gear: 0 (|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"My, is that a challenge? We could always race each other to the top." Akechi says with a chuckle, seeming to take the banter with Joker as something he delights in.
"Hm." Akechi listens to Umie, and again seems to be lost in his thoughts, like he's trying to piece together something from what assorted jigsaw of facts he's been given about this place.
Before he sideeyes Umie at saying time of 'Joka' but still seems to listen, considering the matter further. Before Tsubasa indicates they think Jerri was fine.
"I think you're about to have a hard earned lesson on just exactly the type of person she's like..." He says, seeming to realize that Tsubasa only sees 'bird' and not... the rest.
However, it is worth contemplating if Jerri is what Maria was going to tell Umie about. That would imply...
... another Shadow in reality. "Hmmm. Dutiful. That's not the word I'd use..." He says, listening to Tsubasa's evaluation of Maria. It's... interesting to him.
What Jerri said- the conflict Maria was having...
... could it be?
No, he doesn't dare make that kind of conclusion yet.
He snaps out of those ruminations as Joker declares there's a kind of logic to it, "By all means then, I'm eager to see how you worked it out."
It's along the way that he considers one of the darkened walls, and stands still, placing a hand against it, then-
Draws his saber, and skewers right through it, where an enormous Legionnaire gurgles from the wound in it's neck, trying to grasp at the blade, before dissolving into ichor.
"It seems she never intended for us to make it out alive after all." As he presses against it, showing that it's fabric covering an alcove, alerting them all to the possibility of more ambushes as they follow Joker out.
MONAD: Umie Akabane has drawn a new Challenge!
(|============ Monad - Maria's Kingdom: The Dollhouse Corporation ============|)
-==== Round 5: The Rail Depot - Challenge Level 3 =============================-
| Approach Options: Guts or Proficiency |
| Conditions: Boss - Add 1 Fatigue on failure., Hard - Understanding Down L1, |
| and Terrifying - Guts Down L2 |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
One way or another, you slip the leash of the bird's digital maze: the world
around you resolves and you find yourself in an atrium on a floor below where
you had been. It takes some sleuthing to find your way to an elevator, but
you're soon on your way to the subterranean depot that will lead you to the
place where one of the passcodes for the boardroom is being stored.
According to the schedule, the next train should be along soon. There's no
detail about whether you will need to pay a fee, or if you will have to show ID,
or any number of ways the Corporation might use to vet who can or can't use what
must be a highly-restricted railcar to a restricted area.
You receive, in your own way, your answer. A howl can be heard before you see
the red lights that bounce off the walls of the depot: it's not a railcar as you
know it, but another Legionnaire, and of enormous size! It barely clings to the
tracks as it barrels towards your position at the depot. If you're not fast, it
could be a direct hit!
But perhaps that's exactly what you want: this isn't a rail car that will simply
stop and let you board it. You will have to defeat it one way or another: either
with direct force or by focusing on its weak points. The lights look like a good
place to start for the latter.
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
"Mmn, yeah." She angle sher head towards Phoenix. "Thank you for looking out for her. I haven't really known her that long, but." She waves a red nailed hand before moving on to a more simple and succinct explanation: "Unluckiness attracts the supernatural." Does it, Umie? Does it?
Thankfully for Umie, Joker's signal is enough to make her pay attention. ".... Thank you," she mumbles, rather embarrassed, but nonetheless ready to follow the confident Joker's strides.
More ambushes may be on the way, Akechi warns. Perhaps, Umie thinks, if she were a little calmer, she would have seen that setup from the outset. It is what it is; Umie would do well to not let Jerri's words inflame her like that, if the bird appears again.
The blonde tries to hold herself to the standard the three have set here, as they look for the elevator. ".... Hm." Placing a hand to her head, the two-bunned blonde summons the Badb again. ".... I think... this direction..." she mumbles, as she walks forward.
There may be more than one elevator however, as the rest of the party may need to examine each instance to ensure they're the correct one.
From there, the only direction to go is down, down, down, to the subterranean depot.
Umie frowns., as they exit the elevator. "Just as a note: you guys may already know this, but, according to her schoolmates, Sakurai-san was involved in a subway accident, last April."
It's appropriate, how the next part of her parcel of information is ended by a piercing howl. "She was one of the worst injured, so...."
She turns to the direction of the howl, her face calm, ready to see just what may occur next.
......
Nevermind, Umie was *not* expecting this, *at all*, and the way her face twists moments before the *HUGE* Legionnaire comes carreening towards them, its hands gripping the tracks. "... That's a new feeling."
Out comes the Badb once more, erupting with an indulgent *shriek* that it (and Umie) have been holding in this entire time. The mental *weight* of the Badb's grasp of what colors the emotions of an opponent is thrown at the beast, the blonde's body flinching as she heaves it forward.
It's not stopping.
Ah, this is a new lesson: it doesn't matter whether you scare a train or not, because the train will keep coming.
MONAD: Umie Akabane has acted with Bird's Eye View toward The Rail Depot! Automap! <Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"We're not trying to reach the top," Joker points out to Akechi. The side of their mouth quirks up. "So maybe next time."
They're otherwise quiet as Phoenix shares more about Maria, with a shop break-in and a desire to please her family out of a sense of duty, and Akechi weighs in with the implication that he has a different experience with her. All people contain multitudes--few are exactly the same to all people at all times--but it is interesting to note. It doesn't change anything for them in terms of what they need to do, but it does make them wonder.
But then the four of them move on through the pathways. Umie's embarrassment is met with a calm nod. "You're welcome, Umie Akabane," they say, simply and graciously.
Akechi gets significantly more razz when Joker smirks at him. "Oh, you haven't figured it out? Very well. I'll allow you to follow my lead, Detective." They wink, audacious. "We'll make a Phantom Thief lover out of you yet."
Their Third Eye helps them see hidden things and places; however, it doesn't help them with combat. When Akechi stops at a certain point and stabs through a black curtain to murder a Legionnaire, they're genuinely caught by surprise. That's humbling. They look up at the fabric's top, then down at Akechi, expression back to neutral.
"Good work," they say, nodding slightly. As obnoxious as he is, they do appreciate the help.
Eventually, the four of them escape the maze, and the world resolves itself into another atrium. They find an elevator; they make it to the underground depot; they reach the platform where the train should arrive. There is a dearth of detail on what to do to actually board, and Joker's Third Eye won't help them here either.
But it's Umie's turn to guide the group now, and they look at her as she shares more about Maria that they hadn't known. So she'd been involved in that subway accident... and according to Umie, it was real bad. It's sobering to realize that when they'd heard about that on the news, she must've been getting rushed to the hospital.
A howl reverberating through the depot makes it clear this is not that kind of situation, anyway. So too does the massive Legionnaire suddenly barreling down towards the group.
Joker's reflexes are good. As Umie summons her cacophonous Persona, they whip their left arm up and launch their grappling wire, which pulls them up and out and away from the Legionnaire's path. Its forelights are blinding--practically begging to get taken out and divert it from its ruinous charge.
Just before they lift off, they grab Akechi by the waist and yank him along.
"Fire," they command, and trust him to understand.
MONAD: Ren Amamiya has acted with Thief Talk toward The Rail Depot! Diligence and Smarts!
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Umie says that 'unluckiness attracts the supernatural', and Phoenix's blue eyes grow shrouded and indistinct, behind her.
... they don't say anything, though they do look to Joker, for a complicated moment.
"Fuck," they say, instead, when Akechi reveals the ambush. (It's a rather surprised invective.) So Jerri really did mean to kill them. "Man, this suuuucks..."
They'll trust Umie's sense of direction more than theirs. As they're exiting the elevator, though, she mentions an accident --
-- last April, and Phoenix claps a hand on her shoulder to spin her around. "April?" They ask, their tone and gaze cutting again. "You're sure?" Phoenix releases her, at least, at the sound of that howl.
"Last April, a train driver copped a Psychotic Breakdown an' hurt a bunch a people," Phoenix fills out, as they listen to that howling. "I been trackin' 'em... jus'..."
The train screams in, and Badb screams at it, and Phoenix barrels into Umie from the side to shove her off the tracks, shoulder-first. "MOVE!" They yell, as they do so, and turn to tear off their mask: "IZBUSHKA NA KUR'IH NOZHKAH!"
Giant train, meet giant house-chicken. Izbushka doesn't try to intimidate the phantom of Maria's nightmares, though: it charges into it from the side, attempting to derail it again, just as the horrors first went.
People who've undergone Psychotic Breakdowns are terrifying, huh.
MONAD: Tsubasa Seki has acted with Guts toward The Rail Depot! Base!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
There's a smug look in the dark at Joker as he follows along, "And who says I haven't? Perhaps I'm merely trying to discover if you have." He at least hasn't revealed whether or not he knows about the 'Third Eye' to anyone. "You'll have to do far more than that for me to join your 'Phan'-dom."
As they finally do escape the maze into the atrium and down to the depot. Umie relates about the train... Maria's role in the crash.
The pieces really are starting to all fit together.
"And it is there while recovering in the hospital that her ex-boyfriend broke up with her, to pursue another girl. A detestable man, truly. Even if that hardly excuses her actions afterwards..."
He at least finds them far more sympathetic than the boyfriend's, which is weird given that hers involved attempted murder, but the Joker Killer is... something that people can do on a whim, and can't really take back.
The howl causes Akechi to turn, which means he's caught off-guard fully when Joker, rising on the grappling hook grabs him by the waist. "What are you doing!?" Akechi yelps, as he darts Joker a look...
... realizing he failed to watch his back. 'Fire' And fire he does. Not just with his gun, but a hand to his mask, "Persona!" And Robin Hood rains down a myriad of arrows from above, skewering more and more Legionnaires.
"Very well. Point to you." As he concedes to Joker that he got him. "Though I suppose it is a bit fun- haha... Like something out of a classic Adventure film."
He doesn't let himself consider who it is usually being hoisted up while the 'hero' is swinging about.
MONAD: Goro Akechi has acted with Warning Shot toward The Rail Depot! Specialty!
(|============================= Monad - Results ==============================|)
-==== The Rail Depot - Round 5 ================================================-
Ren Amamiya Proficiency Success
Thief Talk Diligence and Smarts Fatigue: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goro Akechi Proficiency Success
Warning Shot Specialty Fatigue: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umie Akabane Guts Success
Bird's Eye View Automap Fatigue: 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tsubasa Seki Guts Success
Guts Base Fatigue: 1
-============================= Party Conditions: ==============================-
Starting Conditions: Boss-0, Hard-1, and Terrifying-2
Final Conditions: Terrifying-1
-======================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 6/6 |=====| =====================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ============================================================-
Items: 1, Money: 1, Gear: 0
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
(|============ Monad - Maria's Kingdom: The Dollhouse Corporation ============|)
-==== Round 6: The Subterranean Vault - The Passcode and... - Challenge Level 1 -
| Approach Options: None |
| Conditions: Revelation - The best result. |
-==== Challenge ===============================================================-
With the rail car Legionnaire subdued, you're able to travel the tracks to the
remote subterranean vault without incident and get inside. Within is the
passcode you'll need to enter the board room. Through the device Izumi gave you,
you hear as soon as you take the passcode into your possession, "Good work, you
found it."
She continues, "I'll keep them occupied outside while you get out of there.
Reconvene with your allies and get ready. The next part will be down to timing,
but leave that to me. I'll find out when we can break in again with minimum
interference."
But the passcode isn't the only thing in the vault. You also find high-tech
synthetic fabrics and fibers carefully wrapped in plastic. The right person
could turn these into lightweight but strong armor or accessories of your
choosing.
Getting out of here again might not be especially easy, depending on how it went
as you came in, but eventually you arrive without too much incident back out
onto the mean streets of this city wreathed in night's embrace. You're almost
there, if Izumi's right about the next steps. It's just a matter of getting
ready and waiting for the right time to assault the boardroom to save Maria.
Final Loot: 1 Item and 1 boxes of Money!
(|============================================================= Monad 1.1 ====|)
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
These two... It'd be polite to not look at Joker and Akechi as they have their back and forth, Umie thinks.
She's looking anyway, hiding the sharp little smile that threatens to snake along her lips with a discreet lift of her hand to her lips, as if thinking. "My, my," she quietly observes.
There's other revelations to be made as well: most pressing are the shards of experience that assemble, creating a section of the gestalt that is Maria Sakurai. Umie makes a quiet 'oof' as she's spin around, nearly losing her mask in the process. (It's not like everyone here doesn't already know who Umie Akabane is.)
"April... The only way I'd be wrong is if my sources were wrong," Umie confirms, meeting Phoenix's hard gaze with renewed confidence, once she adjusts the straps on her mask. Akechi adds onto it, further casting light on the full events of what happened. "... it's easier to make a call than it is to think about the consequences." It seems, she and Akechi are thinking along the same lines.
The nature of some of Maria's problems may have become clear, but if they don't survive this next moment, it'll be all for naught.
Phoenix slams into Umie, shoulder-first, easily sending the petite blonde spiralling off to safety. "*GRHK*," she grunts, body skipping across the ground.
This isn't a job for Umie Akabane, after all, this is a job for... Phoenix's Persona, and the cooperation of two rivals!
PING PING PING PING With Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah slowing the giant Leggionaire down, Akechi's Robin Hood takes care of the lights, leading the confused shadow to crash out of control against a wall with an impact that causes the ground to quake.
All of this, Umie gets to watch, if in some amount of pain.
She's trying to keep herself from smiling like an idiot, once again.
".... You hit... like a *sledgehammer*," Umie groans, getting up. "........ and thank you," she then adds, for yet another time, this time to Phoenix.
Cracking her shoulder, the grumpy blonde keeps on moving. "This'a'way." Is that the Badb's guidance? (No, Umie's just going down where the thing came from.)
It may take Joker's Third Eye, Akechi's detective experience, Tsubasa's persistence, or more of Umie's... Umieness, but the vault is located, revealing the codes inside. Izumi congratulates them all, and gives further plans.
"So...... loot." Umie rolls and rubs her neck. "Looks like some nice fabric... I may take that, if you want to divide the money amongst yourselves. I can't magic up my fashionable armor, after all." She doesn't seem at all bitter there, as she's trying to hold back a laugh. ".... And... thank you again. All of you." She bows her head, slightly.
Would it be terrible to admit... that it was fun?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker doesn't know that they agree with Umie that bad luck attracts the supernatural--at least her 'my, my' was quiet enough for them not to overhear--but when Phoenix looks their way, they meet their masked eyes. They can understand what must be running through their head... especially when they follow up with Umie about the subway accident.
"That was a psychotic breakdown?" Joker says, eyes widening. "I'd heard of the accident at the time, but I hadn't realized..."
Having just moved to Tokyo and started life at a school where their criminal record had already been leaked and then stumbling into a strange castle, they'd had a lot on their mind at the time. If the news had mentioned that part, they clean forgot about it. But Phoenix wouldn't, would they?
Akechi adds even more context, mentioning the ex-boyfriend who broke up with her while she was in the hospital. They had an inkling of this thanks to the incident near Shujin Academy, but that's truly despicable. All of a sudden, Joker can understand why Maria might have called the Old Maid on him in a moment of weakness--as Umie likewise points out. It doesn't make it right, but that's already a massive emotional blow on its own. If she saw him later with another girl...
As Joker carries Akechi through the air, providing him with a vantage point to better take out those lights with Robin Hood's help, they shoot a glance down at Umie and Phoenix. Sure enough, Phoenix has both of them covered, between knocking Umie to safety and summoning their own giant Persona to crash into the massive Legionnaire. They still breathe a quiet breath of relief, though. They were confident their compatriot would have it handled, but that doesn't mean they aren't relieved to see them safe.
The two of them land nearby on the platform, close to the tracks. For all that Akechi had yelped at first, he doesn't seem to mind it now. Joker quirks a slight half-smirk at him as he laughs about the point they scored on him. They could leave it at that, but...
"It is fun," they reply--and step forward into him as they continue to hold his waist tight, forcing him to lean back into a dip. Their eyes lock onto his. Voice extra-low and husky, they murmur, "Wanna have even more?"
They let this question hang for a beat; then they flash a broad, toothy grin and let Akechi go, allowing him to fall a short distance to the floor. "Just kidding."
They'll leap down back onto the tracks, coat flapping in their wake, and jog over to Umie and Phoenix. "Are you two unharmed?" they call. Confirmation gets a simple but genuine, "Good."
From there, the four of them only need to travel down the tracks and find the passcode in the vault at the end. There's more treasures there beyond just what their goal is, and they'll let Phoenix have first pick before they all go (they could use them for an upgrade to their armor) if they don't simply split the money and let Umie have the goods, but confirming the successful mission to Izumi comes first. There's a promise to regroup, and a plan to move forward once Izumi picks the correct timing...
It won't be long now. They'll all save Maria for certain.
Joker crooks a slight smile at Umie.
"No need to thank us for this," they reassure her. "We won't ignore someone in trouble."
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
He does answer in regards to the Psychotic Breakdown, in an expository tone. "It was. They're correct. Or at least - it fits the pattern of Psychotic Breakdowns. The train engineer didn't respond to hails over the radio. No one witnessed it to be certain but... his lack of memory of the incident is consistent with the others..."
As Akechi glances sympathetically towards Phoenix during this.
But as he's carried- Joker makes a comment that wipes the smirk off his face, as he looks him in the eye with those amber eyes of his as if not certain if he's serious or not-
Unfortunately, you reap what you sow. "Aha. You had me going there..." He looks away, "... for a second."
At the end of the corridor, at the vault, he's paying little attention to the loot, instead considering the vault. "We have no idea what we'll be facing once we initiate the plan..." Akechi notes, "As cliche as it sounds, we must prepare ourselves for literally anything."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker's grin fades when they see Akechi look away, hear his response. It makes remorse stab through them.
How does he act like this and then ask in all seriousness why they think he has a crush on them?
But still, like Akechi himself, they let it go. They'll keep their hands to themself going forward... at least for tonight.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>
So that's why Maria called the Joker Killer, Phoenix thinks, as Akechi reveals what her boyfriend did. "Asshole," is what they have to say about it.
"That's what I dug up," they confirm, in turn, for Joker, when they ask about why the train driver crashed. "Was tryin' to find a pattern..." And Joker, at least, knows all about Phoenix's pattern-finding.
(Akechi does too, of course. Their various paranoid materials were all seized, when the police raided their safehouse.)
"Yeah I do," Phoenix grins, though they at least offer Umie a hand up while they're gloating about it. "Don't worry 'bout it. It happens." Staring headlights down and becoming roadkill? Yeah, all the time, probably.
"We cool!" They yell, to Joker, when they seek signs of life.
"I ain't sayin' no to cash," they say, when they get to the loot. Obviously. Ichika's dates don't pay for themselves. "Uh, but we woulda helped even if th' vault were empty, obviously."
...
"But it ain't empty, so everythin' under the sun's fuckin' mine!"
Apparently, birds are driven by avarice, as Phoenix shoves everything which can be sold into an actual sack.
That's probably fine. And it means Umie gets her cool fabric, too!