2026-04-30: Zettai Zetsumei
- Log: 2026-04-30 Zettai Zetsumei
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Morgana (NPCed by Ren), The One in the Black Mask, Goro Akechi
- Where: Okumura's Palace
- OOC Date: April 30, 2026
- IC Date: November 02, 2012
- Summary: Joker and Mona set off the trap they've prepared to snare the One in the Black Mask, as Ren discussed with Akechi. It works great--until it doesn't. Ren calls Akechi about it afterwards.
- OOC Note: "Zettai zetsumei" is a four-character compound phrase that means "desperate situation with no escape; being driven into a corner; being cornered; last extremity." If one were to translate it literally, it would mean "the absolute end."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Considering it's a vast spaceport inside a geodesic dome, Okumura's Palace is bigger than most. Joker imagines that might mean his distortions are more powerful--more reaching--than most people's, given that Okumura's a CEO. Kaneshiro's Palace likewise took over all of Shibuya.
After getting hired by Big Bang Burger as a part-timer at their Shibuya Central Street to get past the first major roadblock, and after a dedicated Sunday of exploring the Palace with Mona, Joker's determined where they'll set their trap for the Black Mask: the factory, a production facility vast and impressive from the outside with its two tiers of illuminated rings circling an enormous starmap-studded building.
The export line's just inside past a couple hallways, a safe room, and an overlook room to survey it: two vast steel platforms on either side of the moving line, transporting large metal crates marked with BIGBANG that are worked on by several robotic assembly arms and an absurd number of barely person-shaped robots that break down and collapse every so often. Based on earlier parts of the Palace, it's clear that these represent actual people in the real world, so the implications are just as clear--and just as sickening.
On both sides of the export line are massive, haphazard stacks of black boxes lined with bright blue circuitry. A couple of them have narrow passageways to allow one the navigate through them. Therein lies the trick.
Mona lurks atop one of those stacks, paw on a control device that he and Joker crafted together--mostly Mona's handiwork; Joker simply provided the manual dexterity, but learned a lot in the process. While watching out from a hidden spot, he waits for Joker to dash through underneath, pursued by the Black Mask; when that happens, he sets off a remote glue bomb attached to the sides of the boxes below, which will erupt with a super-sticky substance that's sure to trap anything between them. They've tested it on the Shadows here, and after some trial and error, it's worked spectacularly.
Now it's a matter of luring the Black Mask here. That's where Joker comes in.
While Mona lies in wait, Joker lurks near the safe room at the entrance, spying on activity from the shadows of the alcove there for word or sign of the Black Mask's arrival. It's the date they told Akechi they'd be setting off their trap, so if he is the Black Mask, between that and the hints they sprinkled about which Palace they'd be using, that fearsome foe should arrive for sure.
...
...
Of course, if he doesn't, because Akechi isn't the Black Mask and therefore the Black Mask has no reason to appear in this Palace on this day, Joker and Mona might need to come back quite a few times before they get any results--if they ever do at all. Joker's got mixed feelings on which they'd rather have happen.
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
All of a sudden, a yellow worker robot, arms raised high in a panic enters the export line, "Emergency! Clear the line! Emergency!" Clack clack clack goes his fearful footsteps as he unlocks a locked box near the rarely used break button.
And presses the bright red button inside.
Alarm Klaxons sound, robots in the area flip out- as the conveyor belt production line freezes and a multitude of the Cognitive Robots pour outward down the hall, away from the export line.
And on the opposite end... there's a voice, footsteps. Like two people in conversation having a walk and talk.
"Hahahaha- really? Your cognition changed that much after our last business meeting? That's almost adorable. You care so little for your workers. But just because I slaughtered them all one time- they clear out every time I take the time to visit."
And then a pair emerges, on the other end of the line from Joker. The one in the Black Mask, certainly, but another man in a retro spacesuit and helmet, upon a floating throne. Certainly the Ruler, Okumura.
Haru's Father.
"N-Now see here. There's a difference between tossing out a few who break down on the line- and replacing all of them. Production stops-"
A gunshot goes off, grazing the side of the bubble glass helmet just enough for cracks to appear, the wall of the line now sporting a smoking hole.
"I didn't ask for some COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS you fucking MORON!" Yells the man in the Black Mask as he whirls on him. "For someone who wants to go into politics, you really don't understand when you're a minnow in a goddamn Shark Tank. Now if we don't have any further business- get lost."
There's an indignant noise from Okumura before- "I'll just get back to ruling my Empire then." "You do that... never forget that I can end your grease-stain of an 'empire' in a heartbeat, if I wanted to."
The man in the throne remains silent, as he floats back into the corridor they entered from, and the one in the Black Mask takes a short hop onto the now inert conveyor belt, strolling down it.
"What a fucking tool." He mutters, "The Diet and him deserve each other." He strolls down the conveyor belt further, circling debris, moving around it- so much so that Joker might believe that he fully missed them.
At least until, he stops- suddenly. And looks about- one way, then another- then of course, he's looking right at Joker's position right by the Safe Room.
"Oh? Are you playing hide and seek?"
He vaults over the side of the line, right onto the platform. "Well that's no good. Didn't you know that playing it alone only invites MISFORTUNE!"
As he cites an old Japanese Internet Urban Legend of Hitori Kakurenbo, and starts to stalk menacingly on his position at a sedate pace.
After all, in his mind, it's not like he can actually get away.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
For a time, the Palace runs as normal. Robots march to and fro when they don't outright break down; Shadows patrol in the form of Dalek-like robonoids. Joker and Mona, in their respective positions, watch and wait.
Until...
EMERGENCY! CLEAR THE LINE! EMERGENCY! There's a sudden, all-consuming panic as alarms go off. Joker watches in astonishment as the grunt robots stampede away from the export line, leaving it abandoned. When it appears they've all gone, Joker peeks their head out, then hurries down towards the overlook room--just in time for a door to open on the opposite end.
In an instant, Joker is pressed against the wall next to the entrance proper, peeking around the frame. Though the other side of the export line is a long ways away, there's nothing to block or distract their view or hearing at this point, and so they can make out both the Black Mask and what appears to be the Ruler of this Palace--Haru's father, clad in a Darth Vader-esque space suit.
They watch and listen. The gunshot makes them grimace. At least the Black Mask is easy to hear when he screams like that. Politics... Okumura wants to get into politics? Joker remembers what Shadow Kobayakawa had told the Phantom Thieves, and a lump forms in their gut.
Shadow Okumura soon makes his exit with as much dignity as he can muster. The Black Mask strolls down the now-inert conveyor belt. Joker takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. They and Mona had had a plan to clear out the Shadows for this confrontation, but the Black Mask had done it for them quite expertly--and in a truly plausibly deniable way.
What a fucking tool. The Diet and him deserve each other. So echoes the Black Mask's mutter. There isn't time to consider the significance of this. Joker slinks back to the alcove and waits. There's only one path out, so all they need to do is sit tight until the Black Mask passes by for the exit.
Once he does, Joker tenses, readying themself to run back towards the export line with just enough noise to draw his attention--but before they can, the Black Mask starts looking back and forth... and then locks in on their position.
Joker's heart freezes.
Halfway through the Black Mask's snarl, Joker nimbly jumps up onto the ramp that leads up to the export line and sprints back that way, coat flapping in their wake. No need to pretend like they panicked; they're genuinely frightened, more than enough to not realize the implications of the Hitori Kakurenbo reference. They slow near the entrance to the export line proper to glance back and see if the Black Mask is following. He is absolutely following--like a horror movie monster, even.
Joker sprints for their life. The chase is on.
I know you still think Akechi might be the Black Mask, but we can't bank on that, Mona had told Joker earlier in all seriousness. We've gotta treat him like he isn't, and that means not gambling that he's gonna spare you if he catches you alone. You gotta run for real.
I'm running for real either way, Joker had replied. Sure, if the Black Mask and Akechi are one and the same, that adds a certain dimension to their interactions. However, even when he was just playing around with them, he still threw them one-handed through the window of a moving train.
With the conveyor belt shut down, that too simplifies part of the plan. Joker gets halfway across the bridge between the two sides of the line, then jumps down to race from crate to crate along the line, then jumps up onto the other side as they approach the stack of black boxes. This time, they don't look back. They simply trust the Black Mask is hot on their heels.
As they enter boxed-in passageway, above, Mona sees them race past. His paw is on the remote, and the instant the Black Mask enters too--!
BOOM.
Along with the glue, there's also smoke that erupts to confuse and disorient the target. It'll clear and dissipate harmlessly in a moment, but in that instant where the Black Mask is (theoretically) caught by surprise, his arms and legs will be caught in the super-sticky substance, keeping him from moving or fighting or gripping his mask to call up his Persona.
Behind them, Joker hears the BOOM and skids to a halt. They turn around, watching warily just in case the trap failed...
They needn't have worried--or at least, it looks that way on the surface. Once it becomes apparent that the target's been caught, they breathe a sigh of relief. Then, nonchalantly tucking their hands in their pockets while their manic heartbeat begins to calm, they stride up to the Black Mask and stop a healthy but still conversational distance away. Just in case.
"Hi," they greet him, deadpan. "What's up?"
Click. Whether the Black Mask answers the flippant question or not, Joker raises their handgun to point at his head, demeanor suddenly deadly serious. "Just kidding," they say in a flat, humorless growl. "You've got a lot to answer for."
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
"How does it go again? Ah right! You say, 'I found you' and stab them with a knife-AhahahahHAHA!"
Joker is fast, but of course, the one in the Black Mask is faster. He's toying with him in his own mind- letting him get a head start.
And then he takes off, in a blur. Not even following him straight, but zig-zagging as he alights on the inert machinery, then towards another one of those strange crates on the opposite end.
"So much for the intuition of the leader of the Phantom Thieves." He says, as if disapproving of his path through the boxes. "As if going through there is going to make ANY DIFFERENCE!" And then he's an inky blur, in that same way the Phantoms see each other when they're moving to and fro from cover.
Only so much-faster. It would only take a fraction of a second of miscalculation for Morgana to mistime this.
Fortunately, he's an elegant Phantom Thief, and such things are a piece of cake.
There's an explosion that smothers out a startled noise of him being assaulted by glue- smoke- disoriented and discombobulated in that moment, snapped into a coup- and contrecoup by the sudden loss of momentum, snapping him back into the place of the trap.
Did it work!?
His sword-arm is- stuck in sticky strands, not quite immovable, but almost so- and the rest of his body is caught in a web of it. He snarls- his eyes flashing red, despite the countless status effects he must be suffering.
"Fuck you, you goddamn PISSANT!" Is his response to his casual 'Hi What's Up', "You think you can pull this shit on ME!? You don't know who you're MESSING WITH!"
Yet, Joker calmly raises the gun. And the one in the Black Mask, despite his dizziness and confusion heaped on manages to coherently reply back.
A bad sign perhaps, about how much it's affecting him.
"Try it. See what happens." Before he adds angrily dismissively, "Make me answer for it- with your bleeding heart and your self-righteous moral code!" He snarls again like some rabid animal, as he tries to reach for his mask- fails, but Joker might note, eerily- how he almost made it, the glue strands stretching taut, far beyond how far they ought to.
And may realize, if he takes any shot, the one in the Black Mask might use it to escape. All he'd have to do is stretch a limb quickly enough and far enough for the bullet to strike his bonds.
Perhaps that's what he's counting on.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It really is terrifying to get a long head start on someone, only for them to speed up much faster than you are. For a heart-stopping second, Joker fears he really will catch them--thus the wary moment of watching after the trap goes off.
Fortunately, Mona is elegant, and intelligent, and oh-so-gallant. He SO wants to jump down there and join Joker to brag about how he is indeed all of these things and how the Black Mask is nothing compared to their teamwork... but it's important for the Black Mask to believe that he and Joker are alone. He stays hidden. He'll brag to Ren about how well the trap went off later instead--or that's what Mona's thinking.
Joker, below, watches the Black Mask struggle and listens to him rant with impassive-seeming eyes. They do, however, take in his coherent responses and how close he came to grabbing his mask. The former is fine--they wouldn't be able to question him otherwise--but the latter is dangerous.
"Shut up, you rabid dog," they say flatly, likewise noting that similarity as they keep their gun level but do not pull the trigger as the Black Mask dares them to do. "You murdered the Old Maid. And I don't care about him--but he wronged a friend of mine who wanted to bring him to Justice properly. You murdered the Old Maid--" they step closer, the barrel of their gun still trained on his forehead, "and now his chance for Justice is ruined."
Joker and Mona agreed that they should talk to the Black Mask as if they had no suspicion he's Akechi. There are a lot of things the Phantom Thieves suspect him of doing, but only one thing they know for certain he's done. If Akechi and the Black Mask really are two different people, then Joker really is angry on his behalf for that precise reason.
If that would potentially get a reaction out of him if he is Akechi, well, so much the better. Joker keeps close, sharp attention on him either way.
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
It stings more than he wants to admit at the 'rabid dog' bit. Especially since it's what he called Hyousuke. The snarl he gives to that remark is even MORE charged with his fury, like he's lunging at him so much that all the strands strain- before falling back into place.
And then what Joker is upset about comes out- and at first, the one in the Black Mask looks at him in confusion, then, sniggers, which becomes a chuckle, then a laugh- "Haha-ahahahahaha-! That's what you're upset about!? What you're willing to sign your death warrant for?"
He laughs again, "It's too goddamn funny- you're dying for some friend's Justice? Not even your own!" And then he falls deadly silent.
"And tell me, what would that friend have done? What would you have done? Changed their heart?"
He suggests- with emphasis. "I did all of you a fucking favor - your stupid ass friend included. And if he doesn't realize that- then he's even dimmer than your 'teammate' in that idiotic Skull Mask."
It hurts his pride to say that, but he's good at compartmentalizing him as 'Akechi' away from him as the 'Black Mask'. The one in the Black Mask can't know what friend it is- he realizes that. But he also knows that Goro Akechi is in fact smarter than that. That Goro Akechi knew that there was only one way it was going to end. And that knowledge is a balm to any wounds his pride might take.
"No matter what you tell yourself- you know the truth. There was only one way that was going to end... the Old Maid, bleeding out on the floor."
A beat.
"The only question was who was going to pull the trigger. Were you reserving that for him?" He grins viciously, in such an unsettling manner, "Maybe I'll take back what I said about your self-righteous moral code if you were."
Would it be even more like looking into a mirror if Joker said 'yes' or less?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
That extra-furious snarl does nothing to convince Joker he's not a rabid dog, just like his demeanor in general does nothing to convince them he's not an attention-starved drama king. Only the latter makes them question the former, and is that really much better?
Joker's deadpan turns nettled when the Black Mask mocks him. Ignoring the part about the death warrant, they growl, "He's not just 'some friend.'" What is he, then? That, Joker doesn't specify. Instead, their lip curls. "I wasn't going to do anything. I was leaving it to him." At least until it became apparent that Akechi's Justice wasn't going to deal with the Old Maid after all, but no need to go into that either. Changing Tatsuya Sudou's heart was definitely not in the cards; he didn't manifest properly on the MetaNav.
It's hard to admit that the Black Mask is probably right; at the very least, Joker doesn't know if Sudou could've been taken in and tried by the law, even if his dad wasn't the Foreign Minister and deeply invested in keeping their connection quiet. However, 'probably' right is not the same as 'definitely' right. Akechi would have figured something out--and if not him, Katsuya. Probably.
That aside, once again, he does an amazing job of talking as if they're not the same. It's actually reassuring, and helps calm them down. "You're wrong," they reply, without specifying about what part, "but I'm not going to argue with you about that. What's done is done."
They lower their gun.
"...Which means shooting you about it would be meaningless." Joker pauses; then, gun vanishing, they tuck their hand back into their pocket. "Instead, I'll have fun dragging you out of here so he can bring you to Justice instead." They smirk. "Can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees I caught you all by myself."
That smile fades. "Before that, though, let's have a chat. He'll have his turn soon enough. For now, there's a lot I want to ask you about in private." Their eyes narrow behind their mask. "When you killed Tatsuya Sudou, you said his father, the Foreign Minister, sent you. Just now, you were saying something about Okumura getting into politics. How deep into the government do the New World Order's fingers grasp?"
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
Hearing he's not just 'some friend' to Joker, causes this lightness in his chest- a flutter. His expression only minutely changes into shock, before he forces himself back 'in character'.
It's just, in-character is- himself.
"How boring. Washing your hands of it- and having faith that your friend would do the right thing." Even beneath the crimson lenses of his helm, Joker can see the eyeroll...
"Am I?" He challenges him, at being told he's wrong. And then he lowers the gun.
"Oh- I wouldn't go that far." On shooting him being meaningless, with a vicious smirk reappearing on his face. "And just how are you planning on doing that?"
He challenges him again, regarding the idea of dragging him out of here. "You can't. And you know it. Thinking you have the upper hand here is adorable."
That's a helluva thing to say while he's trapped in the booby trap, still suffering God only knows how many status effects.
But it doesn't sound like he's bluffing either. It's more like he has full confidence on how it would turn out if Joker broke the impasse of the standoff they're in.
"Just try it. Your hidden partner won't save you if you do."
Is he just guessing??? Or does he actually know?
Joker's question causes a snort of derision from him. "Do you really have to ask, if it goes as high up as the Foreign Minister?"
His lip curls, "All the shitty old Warhawks flock together of course." This is of course true, but it's definitely not the whole of the NWO's influence in the Diet.
It's meant to distract them towards Sudou's allies and collaborators.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
'In character' is himself, just not in love. Right?
What's the Black Mask need with love or friendship anyway?
"That's right. That's what friendship is," Joker replies, unfazed by his contemptuous attitude or the eyeroll under those tinted lenses. "I'm not surprised you wouldn't get it."
He smirks at them, taunting them, insisting they can't. How are they planning on that? "I'm not going to tell you that," they reply. They flick their gloved fingers along their curly hair. "It's true, I am adorable. Human girls and Shadow girls agree, and I'll be pleased to add you to the list."
Confidence met with confidence--but that breaks for a second when the Black Mask calls out their hidden partner. There's a split-second of shock in their dark eyes, a tension that they quickly bury. However, the two of them are close enough that they're confident he saw it anyway, just as Joker saw that split-second shock in the Black Mask's eyes a moment earlier. "...."
There's no checking in with Mona right now. Joker will leave it to him if or when he reveals himself. Either way, Joker opts to stay silent on that matter.
The topic at least changes soon. "I do. It makes a difference if it stops with him or goes up even higher," Joker replies. "It also makes a difference depending on how big the group is--how much they've got in resources." Especially if they're courting a man as rich as Okumura. "So I want a straight answer. If you don't give a damn about anything but the chance to wreak havoc on a broken society, what's it matter to you either way if you tell me the truth?"
And if it does matter to him still, then that too tells Joker something.
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
What indeed?
He doesn't need anybody- or so he tells himself. As for what he wants...
... he tries not to think about that.
To want validation- but prove it through isolation. This is the kind of mess that the one in the Black Mask is.
"I think I get it pretty well- that you're all a bunch of losers licking each other's wounds by playing at being 'Phantom Thieves'."
As he goads him- but also implies he knows at least something about them.
"How many of you are just victims of 'King Kamoshida' thinking you can change the way of the world- one heart at a time? It's laughably naive. Say- how well did all of you actually explore his Palace?"
He leans forward, grinning, "There's victims of his that I bet you don't even know about. Do you think receiving Justice really changed everyone's lives? ... Or are some of them going to be taking their own swan dive off the third story- soon enough?"
The one in the Black Mask doesn't say anything more about his hidden partner. Just smirking as he lets Joker process it all.
But Joker presses, and there's an exasperated, impatient noise from his 'captive' in front of him. "He's known as 'the Silver Lion' within the organization- and he's as far up as it gets. As for their resources..."
There's a sudden shift in his expression. "... a word of advice. Call it professional courtesy towards an amateur or whatever you'd like. But if you ever face someone named Hisataka Shinjo-"
It's hard to read his expression in this moment, it's carefully controlled, as is his tone, but one might swear... he's actually a little afraid?
"-run, and pray to whatever God or Devil that's sponsoring you dumbshits that chasing you and your piddly ass friends isn't his priority."
Why that shift from a discussion of resources to that? Well- because it's perhaps the most dangerous resource that Tatsuzou Sudou has.
"If it is... death would be the kindest outcome any of you could hope for."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The Black Mask calls them and their friends a bunch of losers. Joker figured he'd start insulting them all sooner or later--he already insulted Akechi and Ryuji--but they narrow their eyes at him again all the same.
It's a stab right at their heart, of course. The Black Mask can tell by the way their hands bunch into fists even in their pockets, a subtle movement in the dark of their coat. There's a sharp point there that changing the world one heart at a time is a lot to ask for, even if that heart has a hell of a lot of influence over other hearts. Then, though, the Black Mask insinuates that there are parts of that castle they didn't discover. Joker's eyes widen reflexively. They're certain they explored the whole thing thanks to the maps they found with Mona, Skull, and Panther, but it's hard to be absolutely certain. It's not like they can go back and double-check now. And the idea that there's a victim they overlooked, who's rotting in despair even now...
"....."
What a fucking asshole.
Joker stands up straight, fists leaving their pockets to stop at their sides, and lifts their chin to glare at him with dark and icy eyes.
"What about you?" they reply stonily. "How much did you suffer at someone else's hands before you got the power you have? It must've been a lot, if you hate the idea of being a victim. Funny, considering you seem to hate the men you work for. If that's true, has anything really changed? Or are you just a pawn someone else moved across the chessboard until you got to become a queen? Either way, no matter how strong you are now, that doesn't erase your pitiful beginnings. Does it?"
If he can flaunt what he knows or has guessed about The Phantoms to hurt them, then they can do the same and be an even bigger asshole right back.
For all that, though, the two of them can still have a more or less civilized conversation. The Black Mask tells them about the Silver Lion, and Joker reasserts their stoic poker face. "Hm."
It's something to consider. Silver goes naturally with gold, doesn't it? The presence of someone with 'Silver' in their codename doesn't necessarily imply someone with 'Gold' or 'Golden,' but if there is, and the Black Mask is claiming the Silver Lion is as high as it gets regardless... either he's not as in the know as he thinks--or there's someone he's protecting.
Of course, maybe he's telling the truth and Tatsuzou Sudou really is as high as it gets. The 'Silver' part could just be because he's old, like a silver fox--but one of the most feared predators in the world.
Joker tucks the idea away for now as a mere possibility and nods. "OK. Thanks."
But then the topic turns to the NWO's resources, and there's a minute shift in the Black Mask's demeanor. He seems to get more serious, deigning to give them 'professional courtesy'--and is that a hint of fear in him? It's hard to tell with how measured he is right now. The implication is plain, that this Hisataka Shinjo works for Tatsuzou Sudou, and if The Phantoms continue to oppose the NWO, they'll reach a point where their only option is to run with their tails between their legs. (The implication of the Black Mask's demeanor compared to before is also plain. This is what convinces Joker he really is no rabid dog, for all he loves to act like one.)
"So there's someone even stronger than you out there?" Joker asks, purely to irritate him. Even so, they nod again, hands slipping back into their pockets. "Thanks for the 'professional courtesy' too."
It's sweet of you to worry about us, they're tempted to say, but that one they reel back.
"Speaking of Palace Holders' victims, though..." They reach up to twiddle a lock of their bangs between their fingers, a tic he might recognize in Ren Amamiya. "I heard you threatened the Kawase family back on the zeppelin. What's your interest in them? And if you're the attack dog for a bunch of politicians..." They lower their hand, frowning. "Who had you make Tsubasa Seki have a psychotic breakdown and set City Hall on fire, and why?"
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
What a fucking asshole, indeed.
He doesn't even have to do more than plant a seed of doubt. That castle had ever so many secret passages, didn't it? Are you sure you got them all?
Then Joker asks him about his own suffering- and it wipes the smirk off his face, as he stares with a cold fury at Joker, "Do you see me crying about it? I don't need to form some shoddy B-Team of superheroes to be my goddamn therapy couch! I do what I want, when I want to-" He growls, and Joker will see him strain against the trap yet again, alarmingly hard enough that he might fear it could snap, "-and I have not, nor ever been anyone's FUCKING PAWN! End of story!"
Yeah, that got under his skin, definitely. How often does he tell himself he's not Shido's pawn, just to get by day to day- while carrying out his orders?
However, he does Joker what he calls a 'professional courtesy' and at Joker's answer, his eyes narrow, "That's yet to be seen." He says, with an angry - but almost speculative edge to his tone.
Like he's actually considering the outcome.
Interesting. Does he think he stands a decent chance- and yet still fears him?
Why?
He grunts at Joker's thanks-
As he cites the Kawase family- then Tsubasa Seki. And he barks a laugh, "HA-! And just what makes you think I'm the one responsible for the Psychotic Breakdowns?"
It's not that he won't potentially claim responsibility, after all- he enjoys it, but he wants it to be based on evidence.
He won't give that to him for free.
"And what's your interest in those two? Would they happen to be your newest 'recruits'?" He smirks at them. "Do they even know you're down here- asking?" He leans forward, "If I had the answers to those questions- would you tell them? Or are you looking to spare them from the consequences of asking me directly?"
There's a snigger there, as his expression becomes that vicious smirk, "No- no- they can ask themselves- and maybe I'll consider telling them everything I know."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the castle no longer exists. Even if Joker can't be absolutely certain anymore if there were any secrets they didn't uncover, they can't do anything about it now. They and their friends did the best they could with the information, strength, and resources they had at the time. Shiho was avenged, they and their friends protected themselves, and Kamoshida won't victimize anyone at Shujin Academy anymore.
If there really is someone who was left over, who's suffering now... they can only do something about that if or when they find out about it. Until then, they aren't going to let the Black Mask make them paranoid and anxious over a hypothetical.
Likewise, the Black Mask denies that he's anyone's pawn--but indirectly admits that he was victimized before by saying he's above it now and he doesn't need friends about it. Joker looks into his eyes as he snarls, but they flick quickly to the gluey strands as he strains against them. They do seem for an instant like they might snap--is that glue starting to dry?--and Joker takes a reflexive step back away from him.
They might have gotten under his skin, but he can still instill fear in them.
They look back up at that response. That's yet to be seen. That is an interesting reaction. He fears him enough to warn Joker about him, but thinks he might still be able to take him? Is that just pride speaking, or...?
The topic turns to the Kawases and Tsubasa. "Who else is there but you?" Joker replies, annoyed--but also vexed. It's true they have no actual evidence, just speculation. Even last time, the Black Mask refused to own up to it. His counterassault, though... Joker's expression goes flat as their heart pounds again, but not because of the on-point accusation.
They asked about the Kawase family, not specifically Ichika Kawase. And they asked about Tsubasa Seki, not Tsubaki, as they were known back then. Yet the Black Mask knows immediately who they're talking about and what their interest might be, as if he's been following the both of them specifically all this time too. As if perhaps he'd encouraged them towards the Phantom Thieves in the first place.
That's a big, big, big hint in favor of him being Goro Akechi, actually.
"Don't be absurd. Both of them had cognitions appear in Eiji Kamiya's Palace, and both of them have already suffered more than enough. Of course we'd worry when you go out of your way to threaten Ichika Kawase's family. As for the other, when we looked into them along with Eiji Kamiya's other victims, we also learned about Tsubasa Seki's arson and how they claimed they had no memory of perpetrating it. We speculated that this might have been a psychotic breakdown. With you in front of me, why would I not ask?" they reply coolly. "I would certainly never have a pair of ordinary people like them try to question a bloodthirsty hound like you directly."
They shake their head and fold their arms. Considering that, it might be dangerous to ask about Okumura and try to confirm if he's already part of the NWO or if the NWO is trying to court him. How much more should they ask--and about what? They bow their head for a moment, then regard the Black Mask anew.
...It's probably true that releasing him from the trap for any reason is a bad idea, so their stated intentions aren't really feasible. However, they could get the answer to one big question right here and now without that.
"Enough of this. Dealing with you is exhausting," Joker says aloud. "I'll concede you're right about one thing: I probably won't be able to drag you back to the entrance all on my own. So instead..." They stride forward a couple of steps and reach up for that black mask. "I'll reveal your true form."
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
It's not just pride talking.
Rationally, he knows it's not impossible he could- going all out. He's a Physical Combatant, Shinjo's more Spellcaster. He has the tools to make a mage's life a living hell.
But he also stared into the Abyss, and he watched it blink at him. The Devil he has behind him- he's not certain he can take him.
The fear is there, in spite of reason.
"And if it's not a Metaverse Phenomenon?"
The one in the Black Mask challenges Joker, on the Psychotic Breakdowns, "If it were done to say - coffins during the Dark Hour and set to go off later - you'd feel rather silly, wouldn't you?"
He smirks at him with that shit-eating grin, "The fact is- you don't know jack shit. You're taking a shot in the dark- and hoping for bullseye."
As for his answer- it is a big hit towards him being Goro Akechi-! But it's also not definitive.
He chuckles at Joker as he goes through his story of why he's concerned about the matter, and he grins at him.
"But they're the ones you're asking about- over so many other people 'the Order' has put in the ground." He chuckles, like he's not quite buying it. "But sure- if you say so."
'Dealing with you is exhausting,'
"Hm hm hm." He chuckles, throatily, at the statement that he's exhausting. "You certainly look exhausted. How long have you been in the Metaverse, waiting for me?"
He flashes a grin at him with absolute confidence, even as Joker's hand comes near his mask.
"Reveal my true form? That would be quite the trick."
His right hand- the hand that isn't holding his sword, he's opened it several times already since this began.
It's been empty every time.
Now there's a glint out of the corner of Joker's eye, in the opposite direction of the Sword. In his hand that was empty earlier- there's now a red, many-faceted gem. Which he just- lets go, now that Joker is so close that he can't make the space to dive for it.
"Mine are better."
Whether Joker tries to lurch for the gem anyway, or complete the act of trying to tear his mask- or reflexively leaps away, the gem bursts open upon contact with the line- into a Maragion spell, as his immediate space is blanketed in an inferno of blazing flame.
And as the flames still roar, there's a shadowy haze of his outline in them, as he steps out of the haze and cracks his neck to one side like he's stretching after spending so much time in the web of glue.
"Playtime's over... you overconfident little shits."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
And if it's not a Metaverse Phenomenon?
That one makes Joker hesitate. "...." Just because it bears some superficial similarities to a change of heart doesn't mean it's a Metaverse phenomenon, it's true. There are Ateliers, Homunculi, the Dark Hour--all sorts of supernatural phenomena that have nothing to do with the Metaverse. The way the Black Mask all but laughs at them for their assumptions, it makes them suddenly wonder if they have been on the wrong track all this time--and considering there's still much to be done about it, this is a seed of doubt that will actually bloom.
For now, at least, they clench their fists again. "I do say so," Joker says stubbornly of the matter of Ichika and Tsubasa. "Just like you're saying so about the psychotic breakdowns. So fuck you."
That's one question they could have asked, they realize too late: why did the Black Mask spare them before? What about those two vulgar words made him find them so interesting--interesting enough to keep them alive when he had them dead to rights? But Joker's already reaching for that mask, and they spot his palm open--and the scarlet glitter within--a little too late.
They recognize the Maragion Gem for what it is. It is a damn good trick, because it means he was faking his rage from the start. What's more, it means he anticipated some kind of trap from the start. No, it's not decisive proof that he and Akechi are the same, but it's two more pieces of circumstantial evidence stacking more and more suspicion on top of him. As those flames roar up around the Black Mask, setting him free, Joker takes several steps back--and hears that plural.
Akechi told them they ought to use the Goho-M immediately if things went south, and they do have one on them--but from in here, Mona won't be able to join them. If the Black Mask really does know they're not alone, then they cannot abandon Mona here.
Joker turns and flees towards the control room where frosted glass and control panels abound, inviting the Black Mask to give chase once more. They can only pray Mona understands their intent and uses this opportunity to get the hell out of here.
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
He just smirks at Joker saying 'So fuck you.' "Is this some kind of bondage kink thing for you? You could have just said so from the start, jackass."
And well he is flirting with him too, but then again- he wasn't immune to Joker trying to seduce him before.
Joker flees, and he just begins to walk slowly after him.
Joker might think he's just toying with him.
"Here~kitty~kitty~ Come on out- and tell ME how you're actually a real boy."
And of course, he is. However, he understands Joker's mindset enough to get what's going on here.
If he wants them to stay, then he's got to threaten the cat. Meanwhile - if Mona steps out to tell Joker he's actually okay, then he'll reveal his position as an easy mark...
Well either way, he's going to play head games and see how effective it is, starting by leaping towards the control room with only the smallest running head start, then an enormous leap.
As the glass of the control room shatters, without even a swing of his blade, just the force of the impact. "Pspspspsps!" He sounds as he grins mockingly, "Are you in here? Or were you back down- there?"
As he points his blade back towards the general area of the stacks where they originally activated the remote detonator.
"It's only fair~after I answered all those questions that I make you answer-" Suddenly, there's a haze of crimson-black energy that just, engulfs him, surrounding him like a battle aura, "-SOME! OF! MINE!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It's true; that moment when Joker caressed his stomach, he did freeze up. Right now, though, Joker's on the back foot, and the sardonic flirting is met with a look of open disgust.
Probably not the way you want your crush to look at you, but so it goes.
Up until now, it's been uncertain if the Black Mask really knows there's someone else here or if he's bluffing. Him calling for a kitty cat makes it agonizingly clear he does know, and specifically who. Fear lances through Joker's blood like a million tiny icicles, and for a moment they stagger and stumble around to face him.
The Black Mask approaches in a single enormous leap, shattering the frosted glass outside and knocking them down with it from the sheer impact. Joker raises an arm to protect their face only just in time.
"Joker...!" Mona hisses meanwhile from his hiding spot. He does understand Joker's intent--they're the one with the Goho-M after all--and for a moment, he dithers, wondering if he should try to help Joker or run away like a coward. The plan had been that they'd escape together, but that plan's been dashed.
His decision is made when the Black Mask exudes that horrific aura and turns towards him--and three gunshots ring out as Joker opens fire on their foe's back.
"I'm your enemy! Come and face me!" they shout, far louder than they normally would. Naturally, since it's meant for Mona's ears. The Black Mask would no doubt realize that too, given how utterly transparent Joker knows they're being, but in that moment, they don't care. Protecting Mona is the only thing that matters, and the idea of failure makes them sick with fear.
The moment the Black Mask turns back on them, still knocked to the floor, Mona leaps down in view of his protégée and companion. "I'm sorry, Joker! Please be safe!" he hisses, then dashes away for his life, choosing to trust that Joker will met him at the Palace's entrance.
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
Certainly not- but you know. It's not a bad way for your Future Rival to look at you. Thesis and Antithesis.
His eyes are scanning the room from this high perch for signs of the cat. Mona is easier for him to sense than most in this realm- for reasons that would make both Joker and Morgana incredibly uncomfortable.
If he can take a hostage- it makes his job that much easier. But he doesn't need to.
"Right on cue." He murmurs to himself, as Joker begins to turn, only in his periphery. His sword abruptly waves behind him to intercept the first with a ptang of contact as he begins to turn.
The second grazes his shoulder mid-motion.
The third?
It might be a surreal moment for Joker when with his right hand, he raises a firearm that's just suddenly in his hand, faster than the trajectory of the bullet.
And fires-
He'll see the moment where his bullet makes contact with Black Mask's, their momentum nullified as both spent projectiles drop to the floor.
There's a smirk on his face as he casually tap tap taps the edge of his blade to his left shoulder, "Oh? I thought you had places to be. But hey- if you're looking to get your ass beat-"
It's like a trick of light- a heat haze left from motion too fast to follow. He's there. He's gone. And there's a glint of a blade descending, of him descending- caught in the gunmetal of Joker's firearm just a split second.
There's enough time for him to intercept it, or get out of the way- with his weight behind it. It flickers again- and again, feint- feint- and that's when the right arm brandishing his gun starts to raise again, ready to fire at point blank range.
"-I can OBLIGE you!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
One day, perhaps they'll come together and form synthesis... but for right now, that bitter rivalry is all the two can have.
It doesn't shock Joker that the Black Mask blocks the first of their bullets; they know they're being transparent, that they're rising to the bait he's dangling above them. This is something they can't bluff their way out of or ignore, though. The second bullet at least draws a line of blood, but then the third?
That absurd mid-air impact of bullet and bullet actually does shock them.
The Metaverse is way too anime.
They grit their teeth and glare at the Black Mask as he taps his blade on his shoulder, much like they do with their dagger. Beads of sweat course down their face. Fear knots their guts, now for themself instead of Mona.
Then he vanishes, and Joker has only a split-second to react.
They do so with the muzzle of their gun, which rises to block the descending sword. Despite being a plastic model, it works, for no doubt the exact same reason that the Black Mask shooting their bullet out of the air worked. The next feint meets their rainbow-edged dagger instead as the Black Mask forces Joker back step by step--but nonetheless doesn't immediately disarm or crush him.
The Black Mask raises his pistol to fire at point blank range. Joker mirrors him.
If he can be that anime, so can they.
Both firearms retort at the same instant, and this time it's Joker who shoots the bullet out of mid-air.
They lash a boot out at the Black Mask's midsection in a sharp kick then, aiming to force him back even a step. Whether that works or not, they use the momentum to leap back a step and once again flee, this time deeper in around the corridors of frosted glass.
It's a dead end. That doesn't matter. They just need the spare second or two to snatch the Goho-M from where it's hidden in their sleeve and--
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
And unfortunately, as the one who has known this realm the longest- the One in the Black Mask is the most anime of all.
There's a clang as his blade hits Joker's gun, and tries to drive through, before having to stop trying in order to parry the dagger.
Again, and again- it's like a deadly dance, where neither of them are inclined to dance at each other's pace.
One tries to lead - the other tries not to follow.
The two bullets meet, and the one in the Black Mask grins wickedly, like he's surprised he could pull that off, but also pleased.
The boot lashes at his mid-section, and this time while Joker is almost certainly forced to retract the foot before, the blade sweeps down to catch his leg- there is at least a satisfying enough impact.
And his laughter is interrupted by a single cough, "Hahah-*cough*-ha! Okay sure- I respect the effort. Let me take the kid gloves off." As he places a hand to his mask, red flames spilling off.
Joker has a good idea, trying to gain distance. But there's an ominous sensation, that they're not alone in the corridor. Try as they might though, they can't tell where the one in the Black Mask is-
Because it's not him per se.
Some instinct likely drives his attention up, towards the translucent shape in the air, flickering with the motion of pointing.
And suddenly the dead end corridor is inundated with bullet fire, saturating it wholly. In three barrages, as if there were whole lines of musket wielding soldiers taking turns at firing at him.
In order to get out- he's going to have to get past whatever Persona is in his way.
"You sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind, little Wild Card. Time for your punishment," he says from a distance. "Though, next time if you actually came alone, I might consider humoring you."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joker's leg does retract in time, considering they aren't just kicking but kicking off the Black Mask. They can feel the breeze of his sword almost severing their limb all the same. No time to think about that, or about how pleased the Black Mask's grin and words seem--they have to run, get far enough away to use that item. They hear him, and they sense a distortion in the air. They look up--
And then dive to the floor, just in time to avoid the mass of gunfire above that shatters each and every pane of glass. Shards of it rain down on them, and they cover the back of their head. Fortunately, their coat is thick enough to protect the rest of them, but there's no going forward from here.
They're caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
When the gunfire tapers off, Joker lifts their head a bit. The Goho-M is in their gloved hand. They lift it--
Though it might be from a distance, with the destruction of all the panels that separated them, Joker hears him quite clearly. How he calls them a Wild Card, as only Igor has done before--and how he tells them he might just humor them if he actually comes alone next time.
"......"
There is no response worth making right now--save, of course, for flicking the Goho-M into the air with a snap of their fingers.
A heat haze-like distortion overtakes the room, warping and wobbling it. When it has cleared, Joker is gone, banished back to the first chamber of the Palace.
<Pose Tracker> The One in the Black Mask has posed.
The One in the Black Mask rolls a shoulder, and both his blade and gun vanish- as does the see-through Persona.
"Not bad." He remarks. Ren is after all improving quicker than he expected. Perhaps too much so even...
... it's a thought he dwells on some, as he enters a Safe Room.
"Damn."
As he reveals, what was clinched in the palm of his sword hand, was a Bead.
"I was really hoping he'd stick with the plan."
Naturally, he had no intention of letting himself be captured, but he could have made it look more feasible to take him down in such a manner...
Which would mean his capabilities would be underestimated going forward.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
In that first chamber, with the holographic BIG*BANG*BURGER circling overhead, Joker and Mona reconvene and leave the Palace together. Joker isn't injured too badly this time, but they definitely are exhausted. Discussing how poorly everything went will have to wait for later.
The two of them return to Yongen-Jaya together. A hot bath later, and Ren drags themself up to bed and collapses. (Today, Friday, is usually their laundry day, but they skip that. They've been meaning to move it to Saturday night anyway.) Morgana paws the lights off, then hops onto the foot of their bed and curls up.
However, Ren doesn't immediately pass out as they usually do. Instead, they stare at the ceiling for several minutes.
Then they scrabble for their phone and give someone a call. If and when it connects...
"Akechi?" they whisper.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
The phone picks up.
"Amamiya-kun?" He answers immediately, "Is everything alright-? It's rather late..."
It's not him complaining. Just indicating that him calling this late makes him wonder if something is wrong.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Hey. So. It sucked," Ren whispers back. Akechi's voice is so pleasant, with such a velvety cadence--so different from the Black Mask's raspy growls and cackles. But there's a certain quality to both of them... They breathe in; breathe out. "It was a stupid idea and I should never try that again."
Breathe in. Breathe out.
"...I thought about what we said before. Getting someone's help, I mean. I decided afterwards, actually, I should bring some back-up, and brought one of my friends. ...He noticed them. And when he decided he was done pretending to be caught, it went south fast."
They still have no conclusive evidence either way. But if Akechi is the Black Mask, they've got to do their due diligence. They have to reach out. They have to pretend like Mona being there was a last-minute decision and not the plan all along.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
His voice is pleasant, but it has changed to one of concern and dread, "You encountered him?"
Put away the one in the Black Mask in another box.
A certain apprehension enters his breathing, as he listens to not just Ren breathe but- his words afterwards.
"I see... no, that's rational. As you said, you have friends to call upon. I can't help but feel partially responsible."
He sounds glum, "If you and your friend were hurt, then- it's because my plan was inadequate to the task at hand."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren listens to him. He really does sound sincere.
They shut their eyes and drape their free arm over their face. They don't cry, but they want to.
"I didn't go by your plan. Not exactly," they murmur. "You've got nothing to feel responsible for. And we weren't hurt too bad, fortunately. We managed to get away before that. If by the skin of our teeth."
They lift their arm to glance down at the foot of their bed. Morgana may or may not be asleep; it's hard to tell from here. They set their arm down again.
"It doesn't matter. I'm not putting anyone else in danger again. Hah--I asked a different friend a while back about if I should try to trap him, and they basically called me an idiot."
Breathe in. Breathe out.
"I should've listened."
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Akechi falls silent for a time. Like he's processing all of what Ren is telling him. In truth, he's deciding how guilty he feels about this.
He can tell how emotional Ren is, just over the phone. Leaning back against the wall, he takes his time.
"...I'm glad you weren't hurt too severely."
It doesn't sound like Ren absolving him made him feel much better at least, but it's not like he's obviously trying to let it show either.
Akechi just breathes for a time-
"Don't beat yourself up too much about it. Everyone makes mistakes like that- in the pursuit of understanding their own limitations."
He looks away and-
"I've done it as well. I was on a case where Sae-san told me it was too dangerous to try and pursue the evidence in the manner I suggested would guarantee a conviction. I decided that I knew better."
...
...
...
"And as I was attempting to acquire the evidence on my own- the suspects got the drop on me as if I were some rank amateur. I very nearly didn't survive the experience. Haha... I really got an earful from her, that night."
He's not certain why he's telling them this. It's an embarrassing story for him, even in the broadest strokes. It would be better for his pride to just take a different approach.
But he feels like... he feels like Ren will feel better, if he does. And that's a good enough cause.
"The point is- we do dangerous work, both of us. And there's no way to guarantee everything to go perfectly all the time. We... learn our limits only through trial and error."
There's another very soft chuckle, "And well, that's my tale for the real world. As for the 'Other' Realm- well you can only imagine how many I have from those early days, learning to navigate it by myself."
For some reason, it makes him feel a little better too, to say this, even if it shouldn't...
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"..."
Ren falls silent, listening to Akechi gently reassure them--shares a story about a time when he messed up in a similar way in a clear attempt to try to commiserate, and cheer them up. Tells them everyone makes those mistakes, that the two of them in particular do dangerous work and failure is a natural part of that. It really is very sweet. Once again, they doubt themself.
Maybe I'm overthinking all of this. Maybe I'm trying to see connections where there's just coincidences. Who could be this good of a liar?
"It's hard to imagine you messing up that badly," Ren murmurs. "...I'm glad you made it out okay too."
They slip their arm off their face and stare at the ceiling. "I guess you're right. It went badly, but we did learn something new. ...And had some things we already knew reinforced." They sigh. Despite the reassurances, they still feel down.
They want so badly to be wrong about this, for Akechi to be innocent and exactly as he's presenting himself to be right now. But if he's not, he's making a fool of them for the second time tonight.
They shut their eyes. Act like they're not the same. Think it. They take another deep breath: in; out.
"...Thanks for sharing. I still feel like an idiot, but... less of one, now." They chuckle a little, faintly. "Anyway... I told you I'd let you know, so I did. I hope I didn't interrupt anything important." Their tone lifts a little, into a hint of a tease: "But knowing you, you'd have picked up anyway, wouldn't you?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"Thank you... It's only difficult to imagine because I learned from the experience." He notes, gently. "We don't have the same safety nets that most people do, you and I."
He doesn't only mean the Metaverse. He means that most people have parents who are there to be safety nets when their children screw up.
Who teach them how to screw up- and how to recover and learn from it... if they're doing their jobs correctly.
Neither him nor Ren have that luxury, really.
"And there you have it." He says to Ren saying he learned something new. "Understanding that you've gained something from this experience- indicates you failed in the most graceful way possible."
If it sounds like he's making fun of him, it's only because he hasn't explained it yet. "On the shows I watched as a child- I noticed that both the best heroes- and the greatest villains possessed that quality. Even in defeat- they made certain they gained something from it."
It's not something he's really spoken about, has he? His childhood media tastes.
"That's good. And you have something to look forward to in the morning... the possibility that you'll feel like even less of one." He says, as he teases Ren some himself, before...
"Well, yes I would..."
Let us zoom out for a moment- to see Goro Akechi, leaning against an alleyway...
... and a burning building looming over him about a block away, from a Psychotic Breakdown victim- soon to become his latest crime scene.
"...barring some notable exceptions."
Noise cancelling is such a wonderful feature in the latest smartphone model he's beta testing. He'll remind himself to write up some glowing feedback later.