2025-09-27: An Arsonist's Justice

• Log: 2025-09-27 An Arsonist's Justice
• Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Tatsuya Sudou, Niko Kirisaki, Ichika Kawase, Goro Akechi, Umie Akabane, Tatsuya Suou, Hyousuke Suzuki, Shinobu Shimizu, Yusuke Kitagawa, Shizuka Kuroki, Ren Amamiya, Ririka Kawase, Moriko Kumamoto, Saika Kikuchi, Katsuya Suou, Shinjiro Aragaki, Makoto Niijima
• Where: Aoba Park - Aoba Ward - Sumaru City
• OOC Date: September 27, 2025
• IC Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2012
• Summary: July 17th is the World Day for International Justice, and Aoba Ward is hosting an artistic exhibit to celebrate justice over atrocities. Tsubasa's presence at the exhibit sets it alight, though, when Sudou turns up -- having been summoned by their mother to kill them, alongside his associate Niko. When Sudou apparently burns Tsubasa to death, the entire Persona community is devastated -- but the Phoenix who rose from their ashes is able to deliver them, safe and sound, after Sudou declares his work done and Niko flees the scene.

---

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    It's a lovely, sunny afternoon in Aoba Park, and there's an exhibition running to recognise the World Day for International Justice. It was only a few years ago that the International Criminal Court decided to enshrine July 17th, the date of their treaty's formation, as the international date of recognition -- recognition which seeks to try crimes against humanity itself.

    Perhaps you've heard of the Hague. That's them.

    The art exhibition this year focuses on the theme of the Unheard: stories which aren't told in genocide, war, and famine, because their authors died, disappeared, or vanished inside themselves. The artworks displayed in Aoba Park are many and varied. An 'Art House' has been set up in the green to display painted works and delicate sculptures, a sheltered gallery designed to look like a hostile, squarish prison -- complete with barred gates which can really slide shut at the entrance, and lighting which is dismal aside from the spotlights on the art. The artworks are kept in individual 'cells', and there's plenty of shadowed crannies to hide one's feelings. (The evacuation signs, however, are well lit; that's just safety and regulation.) Outside, more robust sculptures and robust installations can be found, including a life-sized wooden carving of the victims of famine as they cared for each other.

    Of course, for every detailed, agonisingly beautiful work focusing on the forgotten victims of war crimes... there is an equal and opposite vandal. Tsubasa Seki wanders into this exhibit in their Kasugayama uniform -- the boys' uniform, notably, though the bottom half of their shirt is unbuttoned and tied up around their midsection, a neon blue and black undershirt(?) visible beneath it.

    "I mean, I'm not gonna fuck with anyone's work," they can be heard, approximating, as they amble into the exhibit alongside Ichika. "But c'mon, like. They shoulda asked us, too." Perfectly logical reason for why they've got a permanent marker in their pocket.

    ... and where's Lance? Well, you see, the TYRANTS running this exhibit are NOT ALLOWING ANIMALS, and so to avoid their evil plan being unseated... the other members of their gang are off in another corner of Aoba Park, playing fetch with her as they speak.

    Sneak, sneak, they make their way into that prison-like exhibit, and find a shadowed corner overseen by the unsmiling face of Napoleon behind grieving Turkish mothers. (Some of the figures featured in this exhibit, it seems, are a little controversial.)

    WAR CRIMES IN SUMARU PD, they scrawl, on the dingy 'dungeon' walls. With a doodle of a really quite inventive fangy monster surrounded by bottles of alcohol, they ask: WHO SURVEYS THE SENTINELS?

    "I think that's from a foreign manga or somethin'," Tsubasa asides, quietly. "... anyway, it sounds badass. C'mon, let's go back outside, fuckin' joint looks too much like the future."

    It means they're moving back towards the exits -- when a horrible feeling lurches across the guts of every Persona-user in the vicinity. That doesn't include Tsubasa, though, so they just keep ambling out...

    ... only for a gout of flame to flare up, over the bars of the entryway, catching the side of the art house on fire.

    "What the fuck?!" And Tsubasa's not the only one yelling it -- or things much like it -- though they're far more disorderly than most of the crowd, shoving at a businessman or three to flee outside.

    Most of the crowd, at least, listens to the art house staff as they fall back on their fire emergency training, raising their voices to command: "Please follow the exit signs and proceed to the evacuation point!"

    The evacuation points of Aoba Park are of course clearly signposted... or they were, before they too were set alight. A floating pumpkin head does flips, as he laughs, and sends another fireball to consume a nearby cherry tree. "Hee-ho! This is great! Thanks for the invitation, mister!!"

    The evacuation becomes even more disorderly as a great, two-headed dog leaps upon a housewife, her young daughter screaming. "Not know what Hellhound on about," the Orthrus takes the time to say, as she shrieks beneath them. "Good party." ... do all the demon dogs get around a table and gossip during their downtime? Do they play cards while they're doing it? Questions for later.

    Luckily, the demon's conversational nature is probably enough of a pause for someone to intervene... though it won't be Tsubasa, who is, at present, trying to take the quickest path out of the park. "Fuck this!" They're yelling, eloquently, as they bolt. "What the fuck?!"

    They're one terrified civilian of hundreds, trying to escape the demons which have flooded out across Aoba Park. One of hundreds, less a scion and more a statistic. Not everyone is so lucky as to escape unscathed, though many do, at least with the aid that's coming.

    Their panic should have been unremarkable. It might not have even been difficult for them to flee, just as dozens and dozens of art-lovers are fleeing. No fence keeps them chained into this event; their only requirement is to run faster than the men beside them.

    Except...

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.

...Except in front of Tsubasa, a man wearing a paperbag over his head has stepped into view from nowhere. Literally from nowhere, it's like the real world was a set piece and he stepped out behind the background to suddenly be on stage. Sword slung over his shoulder as he looks through the crowd and points the sword at Tsubasa. "Well well well if it's not you. It's been a while, Tsubasa."

Looking around at the festival he sees one of the banners artistically defining the purpose of the exhibit. A smile is heard in the voice behind the mask, "Well I see as the guest of honor I have arrived right on time. For now this exhibit is a performance piece!" A laughter is heard as he announces to others, some of the younger crowd suddenly recognizing him from the internet, a murmur through the crowd, The Joker Killer.

"That's right folks, I am the Joker Killer, and I have been called to dispense justice to Tsubasa Seki. " More chuckling is heard as it seems everyone is calming a little before he adds, " Don't worry folks, this performance piece is interactive. My friends from the other side you shall be the symbol of justice, all you innocent bystanders. You are the criminals." Another chuckle, "For you see, one can not have a festival dedicated to justice without criminals.They are like yin and yang, chocolate and peanut butter, Philemon and Nyarlathotep. " After a hesitation he adds, "Oh yeah, some criminals always escape. Feel free to only wound some of them."

Turning back to his own quarry, he lifts the sword off his shoulder and points it towards Tsubasa as he says, "It is time for you to face the flames of judgement." As he speaks, Sudou plunges his sword into the ground and fire spreads forth working to isolate Tsubasa.

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

Funny thing about this whole art exhibition deal. They just let anyone in. That is, anyone who isn't an animal, which contrary to what some might claim, does include Niko. You might even have seen her going around the exhibits earlier. Dressed as she usually is, she'd be hard to mistake for anyone else. At least she hasn't been all loud and drawing attention to herself so far. All she's done is spend some time looking around, like every other normal visitor.

Secretly, the main reason she's here is Business, the objective being to familiarize herself with the layout and where the exits are, to help ensure that a certain target could be cornered in a spot where they will not be getting away easily. But that doesn't mean she was feigning interest as she was looking around. She really was interested in seeing what kinds of stories might be told through people's artworks. Especially given the theme.

'The Unheard'. That struck a chord somehow. Surely not for any sort of personal reasons. Absolutely no particular reason why there was one particular painting that she paused at for a particularly long time.

The center of said painting's canvas depicts a knelt solitary figure, their body curled inward and arms wrapped tightly around their head, trying to block out that which looms behind them: a vast, swirling void made up of indistinct shadowy figures. The composition creates a visceral tension, contrasting the small, cowering human and the overwhelming, amorphous menace behind them, evoking a primal fear of being watched, of being consumed, of being utterly alone in the face of something incomprehensible.

Who would ever identify with that kind of imagery? No need to answer that - it doesn't matter anymore a few minutes later, when fires begin to break out across the exhibition ground. Knowing that was going to happen was another good reason to spend some time taking a good look around, while everything was still intact.

Once hell does break loose - literally, some visitors may believe - Niko stands out all the more for it, due to looking completely unconcerned by it. She's not even running at all. That's because she doesn't need to, not yet. She'll know when it's time. Everyone will.

Right on cue, the Joker Killer appears near Tsubasa and makes his presence known. That's when Niko starts running, to block off the obvious escape route. And so, should Tsubasa do the sensible thing and try to flee, when she turns around she will find another familiar face there. Smiling and waving, as if this were a perfectly fitting time for a friendly greeting.

"Hiii, Seki-kun~" The smile fades then, as she proceeds to make it clear she is NOT here to put a stop to this 'dispensing of justice'. "Sounds like your number's up. Sucks, but, so it goes, when you piss off the wrong person."

She casually takes a step back once the flames spread, taking over the task of preventing Tsubasa's escape, watching everything unfold impassively with her arms crossed. "If it helps, this was allll just a bad dream. There was no meaning in anything that happened to you, and nothing you could've done would've mattered. That's how it is for everyone. You just get to stop worrying about it a little sooner."

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    Tsubasa shrieks, as they see that man with a paper-bag mask again, a sound high and regrettably girlish. He knows their name, and they stagger backwards, when he points that sword at them. (Like -- a real-ass sword?!, they think, their blue eyes widening as they focus on the point.) "Y-y-you -- you're really... holy shit..."

    Luckily, their fake tan and concealer hides the way they grow pale, beneath their layers of artifice. "A... performance piece? Wait, what kinda sick shit... did my father put you up to this?!" Anger enters their voice, as they swipe the air, angrily. "Got sick of waitin' for me to do the decent thing and die? He coulda least hired someone who wouldn't set the whole fuckin' park on fire!"

    Flames plunge towards Tsubasa, and Tsubasa yells: "FUCK THAT!", scrambling inelegantly away from Sudou's judgement. Unfortunately -- they slam right into someone incredibly solid.

    "Niko-chan?!" Tsubasa yelps, as they step back. "Look, we gotta scram! Fuckin' --" Niko's smile fades, and horror dawns on Tsubasa's face, as they put two and two together. The girl who told them about Revenge Request, she's...

    "H-hey, Niko-chan!" Tsubasa yells, shrill and desperate. "What -- what're ya doin', man?! Don't tell me ya work with the Joker Killer--!!" Sure, she knew about such a dodgy website, but... how does that mean she's a murderer?! "C'mon, you don't gotta do this! Seriously, yer freakin' me out...!"

    They remember Shinobu's warning, about her, just in time for Niko to step away and let the fire rise. "W--wait! Arrrrgh -- I'm so fuckin' STUPID!" They howl, as they're surrounded and isolated by those flames.

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

"Sure," Ichika answers, also dresed in her midriff-baring version of the Kasugayama High School uniform as she ambles along with Tsubasa. She's walking casually; she did want to see the exhibits, but... it's kind of fun to make their own mark, too. She's interested in the people who disappeared, for some reason, the people who were victims of war crimes...

Once, it felt too distant to matter. Now...

"Yeah!" Ichika agrees with Tsubasa's scrawl. It's a very nice monster, too. "Probably," Ichika says of a foreign manga. "It does. But yeah, let's go. There was one out there I wanted to check out anyway."

But suddenly, Ichika lurches with that feeling. "Urgh," she starts, but Tsubasa keeps going. "Hey, I don't feel so--"

"SHIT!"

Fire. In front of Tsubasa. Ichika immediately tries to follow--but then she sees a a flicker of a demon beyond the entrance. "...Shit," she says, and looks around--she feels the sensation of a supernatural space. So she ducks around a corner, and allows the transformation to take hold.

The Ogre is very tall, even before her great horned mask. Her long, bleached hair cascades down her back, and her riot armor is emblazoned with roses and wrapped in thorns, over traditional samurai-type clothing--and high-tech sneakers with spiked fingerless gloves.

"FUCK OFF!"

Ogre charges the Orthrus next to the screaming girl. She doesn't know if the woman who was there will survive or not, but she doesn't have time to stop to find out. "TSUBASA!" Ogre calls, her voice raw.

But then she sees Niko. She sees Niko, cutting off Tsubasa's escape. She spots the Joker Killer, speaking. "JUSTICE my ass!" Ogre shouts, stepping forward. "You're just some psycho who gets off on fucking people up!"

Ogre raises her shield--colorful, circus-like, which she got out of the Atelier.

Then, though--

"You don't just say that to someone!" Ogre snaps at Niko. "What, you're supposed to be their friend like this? FUCK OFF!"

She starts forward. "ANYBODY who wants to go after Tsubasa Seki goes through me!"

She sprints for the fire. "Tsubasa!!"

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.

The World Day for International Justice.

It's a nice day for a PR appearance, which Goro Akechi is here for. Except, his 'perfect' image is marred in a single way, like a strand of hair that's 'out of place' in a noticeable way.

He's wearing a sling due to a certain injury from a certain gunman who will not be named. Several reporters have gone from covering the exhibit, to questioning him.

"Akechi-kun... on this day of import in the history of International Justice. What is your opinion upon our nation's politicians having yet to recognize our nation's past history of war crimes?" A reporter asked him. As he smiles patiently, "Huh. Not even leading up to it with a softball? Ordinarily I'd ask you if you might consider going on easy me with a few lead up questions... but I think it's a spectacular failure on our parts that we have yet to truly come to terms with our own sordid history... burdening the next generation with cleaning up the mess of the prior."

It'll make a good enough sound bite. The older demographic will hate it but that's fine, he's not trying to capture them. And trying to sidestep controversial questions will only make him lose ground with the youth.

"Well said. And may we ask about your injury, assuming it's not too personal?" The pause after this question was notable, he'd practiced his answer well for appearing in public with a sling, but the answer slips his mind for a moment.

Because of his anger over it.

And then he chuckles, and smiles, "Merely a minor sprain I suffered while participating in one of my school clubs. Nothing to trouble the rumor mill over. My Doctor is asking that I simply rest it for a while longer."

He smiles... smiles. He could have said that he suffered it while pursuing a suspect, but that would beg more questions. And he's not certain he can keep a straight face if they asked enough of them.

"Well just let me say, we hope you're fully recovered soon enough, so you can get back to working on your existing cases!" Akechi chuckles, smiling, "Why thank you, though before I get back to it, I'll have another sort of trial coming up."

"Oho, are you testifying in a major case?"

"Why no. Next week is finals for the Summer semester."

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.

The few gathered reporters laughed at the charming boy next door response, before the flames start to catch the exhibit on it's strange sheltered presence, and the reporters turn to gawk. Several of them raising a cell phone in order to capture the moment, while others simply have their camera men turn.

"The art exhibit is on fire! We're here on scene at Aoba Park as the 'gallery' has burst into flames! And here with us is Goro Akechi, the second coming of the Detective Prince... Akechi-kun, would you speculate for us on whether this is an act of arson-"

He turned around to where Goro Akechi once stood, only to see a blinking dotted-line. (Not really, but it might as well be.)

"Akechi-kun!? Ahem. Well this is- where'd he go?" As panicked people stream all around the reporters, causing the ultimate 'photo-bomb' another reporter from a different outlet smacked them upside the head during this moment, "Dumbass! Shit's burning up around us! Get a safe distance before you start trying to report on it-! That's the basics!"

-=-=-

A laser, an honest to goodness laser is fired close enough that it might graze Sudou's paper bag if he doesn't get out of the way in time.

"Beg pardon but I really don't think you know the meaning of the word." 'Justice' the figure means, who's currently standing atop... a lamppost. In a band major's outfit, a crimson tengu mask, with capelet behind him.

And his left arm is in a sling.

Yes, he really is trying to make a point here, by showing up like this. The minor betrayal of Tsubasa not knowing that they were befriending a newly christened member of Strega... well, that is what happens to normal people who get caught up in the politics of the supernatural.

"Ah well, far be it from me to give a serial killer a Pop Quiz on his vocabulary."

Right as his ray gun fires another two shots of an honest to god laser at Sudou's head as he suddenly takes a more serious tone, "... Release them. I won't ask quite so politely again. Your Rumor will take no more victims today, Joker."

AS: Weapon! Goro Akechi has used the Pierce skill Warning Shots on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Moriko Kumamoto has readied for combat as Otohime Gitsune! She is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    "... Listen to your tutor-senpai when she says 'do *something* for your birthday'." Umie grins a smug little gremlin smile as she follows behind Tatsuya, keeping up with a faster pace. She takes out a small party hat from the plastic bag and offers it out to him. "And also, <happy birthday>, Takkun." The heavily accented English well wishes aside, the young woman's smile turns apologetic. Is there seriously nothing Umie can think of to give a guy (who may be possessed by a space alien, for all she knows right now) a bracelet? Kumihimo weaving was used for a lot of traditional things, but her skills are more on the... bracelet making level. Either way, it'd have to wait.

    Unit then? ... An art exhibit, it seems. The original plan was 'food, hopefully nothing cursed to look like Tatsuya's face (do not ask), eat at Aoba Park, maybe do some investigations, Tatsuya clearly needs to fight (and kill) something, and it's beginning to make Umie restless too'. Umie's not particularly dressed for it (an art gallery, that is, not violence), having chosen to wear a red tee and dark grey shorts, her white thin windbreaker tied around her waist. "Huh. Want to take a look after we eat?"

    ====NOW====

    "... Can we move on?" A frowning Umie asks Tatsuya, as they look at the painting of the unsmiling Napoleon. Did he meet someone with a persona of Napoleon? Is that it?
    
    'You really should be more aware of your surroundings, Umie-chan.' As Mai-chan's child-like voice chides her, Umie takes a subtle glance around, trying to figure out what prompted Mai-chan to speak. The first thing she spots is the graffiti Tsubasa left, as well as the back of Tsubasa's modified Kasugayama uniform and neon-colored hair, signaling to Umie who it is. She opens her mouth to speak, but sighs instead, glancing back towards the graffiti with a guilty glance. It'd bring attention to Tsubasa. She'll catch them later.

    A wince creases her face as Umie feels something familiar, and entirely unwanted. Managing an understated murmur of, "we got to get everyone cleared out of here," Umie's warm brown eyes look towards the exits, which unfortunately burst into flames, accompanied by the familiar notes of demons' resonance. Dealing with demons, at least, is something Umie has experience in. Taking the strangely weighted windbreaker tied around her waist and slipping it on, zipping it up, and pulling the hoodie over her head, she then slips out a mask, this one a plain white plastic one she had grabbed in a discount bin for a mold. And guess what, Tatsuya: Umie has her weapon on her, which she draws from the modified pockets of her coat. Don't go wandering in Sumaru City without it!

    Just one problem: has Tatsuya ever *seen* Umie try to use a mask? "Let's go, Takkun. Old Maid's here." Umie seems to not realize it, either, and why would she? Those who know her by Badb will know who she is soon enough, but ordinary people that have never met her before? By the combination of Badb, simple obfucation, a hooded windbreak, a mask, and the major distraction of _things being on fire_, she's anonymous.

    And she has a bead on Sudou.

    The young woman ducks through the jostling crowd. She could be less subtle about it, but whether she's following Tatsuya or attempting to clear a way herself, she can only make a hidden attack work *once*.

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Suou has posed.

    It's Tatsuya Suou's birthday today. He's turning 18.

    Most people feel some sort of elation -- or at least, annoyance and a wish that everyone'd get over it, it's annoying to have attention paid on them. Perhaps Tatsuya was like that last year, when he turned 17 -- no, this Tatsuya would've thrown a bit of a party in the Suou garage with his delinquent friends, and given Katsuya a case to yell at him with the anger veins popping on his forehead.

    Today, Tatsuya seems...

    Extra lonesome and depressed, actually.

    BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKAefV48-H4

    He's here today because Umie dragged him out here after finding him in a state of nonfunction, just sprawled over a bench and additionally deeply trapped in his thoughts. It's better than doing nothing... but he still doesn't feel like it. He needs to go find something to kill is his first thought, some kind of Rumour Demon, spelunk around an abandoned factory... things seemed so much easier back then.

    The birthday meal was a hamburg steak on a cast iron platter, with one (1) tiny broccoli to say you've had some veggies, some corn, and mashed potatoes. It had a little France flag on it.

    Tatsuya stared at the flag of France for about five minutes without moving like it was going to consume his life.

    He did eat it, though, in the end.

    And now...

    "... ... ... ... ..."

    Oh boy, Tatsuya hasn't moved from that painting of unsmiling Napoleon for another five minutes. What the fuck is with this guy and France? Did a Frenchman kill his sister or something? (Well, yes, but, let's not tell.) He hasn't even spotted Tsubasa sneaking around the corner, fixated on the painting as he is, looking like he's truly lost something important he'll never ever get back.

    But then--

    SFX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6j1syeNcgM

    Flames erupt from the bars, and the art house begins to catch on fire. Tatsuya frowns deeply and glances around, hurrying away even as he stares back towards that now-gleaming portrait of Napoleon. Still unsmiling, in the flames.

    What the fuck?!

    The telltale noise of Hee-ho is all that Tatsuya needs to know this isn't just someone who sleepily left a welding torch in the back and now they're all paying for it. He doesn't have his sword here. It's fine. The Orthrus is a chatty one -- evident of the kinds of demons Sudou likes to summon.

    "I don't have time to mess with you," he utters, and Apollo rises in a column of blue and bold red -- and then in a singular, massive strike SLAMS into the dead-centre of that hound-like beast and powders it to pieces. He helps a nearby boy get back to his feet and hurries him along.

    "Tsubasa-kun, you'd best get out of here--"

    But his senses are sharply on fire (metaphorically) when a very familiar voice rings out. Well well well, if it's not you. It's been a while, Tsubasa.

    It is him. He hates being proven right. The boy in red motorcycle leathers turns towards the man with the paperbag on his head. He's quite surprised when Sudou declares straight-up that he's been called for a hit on... Tsubasa Seki.

    Fortunately, Tsubasa scampers away in time, but it's not only Sudou -- Niko is here again, and she's obviously working in tandem, blocking off the obvious exits. "You again..." Niko's words are reminiscent of something. "Are you ensnared by him as well...?"

    But Sudou isolates Tsubasa in a ring of fire, and even his reflexes can't reach out to grab them in time. "Tch...!" He's forced to back away, even with Apollo's protection -- that's how searing-hot Sudou's flames are. Ogre yells after Tsubasa and charges for the fire -- and he's forced to turn around to Sudou instead.

    The painting of unsmiling Napoleon frames him, in flames, in the background.

    "... you've made a bad mistake. Because you've been doing a good job of evading me up until now, but..."

    Tatsuya starts to stride forward, very slowly.

    "Now I can end this. Let's go back, Old Maid......"

AS: Goro Akechi cancels 3 attacks on Tatsuya Sudou.

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Hyousuke was not the sort to attend art exhibitions - this much was clear from just a glance. He was not dressed for such an event in the slightest, with his clothes covered in a patchwork of crumples and creases, while his hands were shoved into jeans that were - to put it kindly - well-loved. His shoes were in no better a state, with their age, wear, and tear visible to whoever cared to look. His dress sense could be excused as someone being eccentric or not caring to dress up formally, however. The gaze with which he fixed the art? Not so much.

His gaze was a glassy one, devoid of any comprehension of what he saw. He examined them closely, and his furrowed brow showed that he was at least trying to ascertain some deeper meaning to whatever he saw, but there was no real work going on behind those eyes He simply didn't have the mind for it. Before Hyousuke had a chance to turn to Ichika and lament that coming there was a waste of time for him, however, something odd hit him. The feeling wasn't just unpleasant, it was downright unsettling. He froze, stomach beginning to twist into a knot, and his eyes suddenly sharpened.

"You feel that too?" Hyousuke asked, stepping back quietly while he scanned the room, speaking to Ichika despite not facing her. He didn't have to wait long for an answer - even if it didn't come from her. He didn't recognise either of the strange figures, but he knew a threat when he saw one. The fact that the place was going up in flames certainly didn't endear him to the strangers either. Quick as a heartbeat, he darted into the shadows, vanishing behind the first wall he could find to shed his uniform, and emerge as a black-clad warrior, fists wreathed in steel-studded leather.

There were no words from him. No condemnation of anybody's actions, no rallying cry, no encouraging shouts. He did not know anyone there besides the Ogre, after all, and had little to say even to her. Instead, a roar came from him. It ripped through the air, spilling forth from him like thunder as he followed Ogre's lead, barrelling forth with his firsts ready to hammer down into whatever lay in his path. Only when that initial adrenaline spike began to settle did he gain some semblance of composure in his eyes, but even so, there was a wild and frenzied air to him as he looked sharply to Ogre.
"Orders?!" He called out. A plain and simple request, though given his past, it was clear what he was really asking.

Who was he supposed to hurt this time?

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

An art exhibition in Aoba Park... That isn't usually Shinobu's thing, but this year's set-up is pretty inspired, at least. It's worth taking a look. But a day meant for remembering and acknowledging tragedy soon turns tragic itself.

Shinobu can feel it - that sickening pulse, that sign of looming danger heralding the eruption of flame as the art house catches fire.

"Shit!" Shinobu hisses. "Here!? With so many people around!?"

Demons flood out - and there's no choice but to fight back.

"Lachesis!" Shinobu calls out. Her other self raises behind her, judging the demons silently. There are too many fates to measure here today - best to minimise her workload. "Hama!"

With a gesture, purifying seals rise up around one of the attacking demons and explode with holy light. Her golden staff is drawn and she swings it through another.

"Keep moving, people! This way!" Shinobu shouts, raising her voice. The exit signs are gone, but maybe the sound of someone loud and commanding can help direct them to safety...

...But while people head to the exits, to safety, Shinobu heads deeper in. The demons are just a distraction - a pulse like that can mean only one thing. The real danger is here. She races ahead, pushing past fleeing humans and pushing through demons... and slides to a stop, as she sees the Joker Killer confronting his target.

"Tsubasa...?" Shinobu gasps. They're the target this time...? Who would -

...Well, alright. Shinobu likes them, but she can't say there's no one who wouldn't call the Joker Killer on them. But who, out of all the possibilities...?

"Tsubasa! Get out of there!" Shinobu calls out - and then her attention turns to the girl they address, as she cuts off their escape - and then Shinobu grimaces, as Tsubasa is isolated. Niko... is she the one they told her about?

"That's bullshit. This is reality. If you want to dream, dream on your own time and leave everyone else out of it." Shinobu counters. Ogre is here, too. She races for the flames - and Shinobu moves to cover her path, to try to make it harder to intercept her.

"Keep them safe, alright?" Shinobu calls her way.

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.

An art exhibition, on the theme of the lost voices of victims of tremendous crimes. Obviously Yusuke Kitagawa was going to attend, if only to... 'enjoy' isn't quite the word for something of this tone... Experience the pieces contributed to it.

He might have mentioned it to some certain other associates, however, and it quickly stopped being a solo outing.

He's in the middle of discussing how the techniques and colour choices of one such submission help reinforce the gravity of the theme when that feeling washes over them - dread and threat, as the space in the exhibit hall becomes fraught. He exchanges alarmed looks with the others as it becomes rapidly clear that chaos is descending on the park, and they're surrounded by civilians.

Fortunately, as the fire spreads and panic reigns, perhaps nobody will notice a few sparks of blue in the amber and crimson.

The Pyro Jack - Jack O' Lantern? Etymology maybe isn't really important right now - casting flames about at random targets of opportunity is mid-chortle when a chill wind washes over it, snuffing out its nearby handiwork. "Hey, what's the big idea?" It calls out, spotting a young man in a black outfit with a fox tail dangling from its belt. "Oh well - you look pretty flammable, hee-ho, you'll do for a new display!"

"I think not," Fox replies without turning to look, and finishes sheathing his blade. "Your embarrassing attempts at art end here."

Click.

"Oh, beans - " The Pyro Jack utters as Goemon looms over it, before several ice-cold slashes rip it into shreds of ichor. As his Persona disappears in turn, Fox turns back to take in the new battlefield, looking for other rampant demons or possible victims, and spots -

"Seki-san," he hisses under his breath, watching the brightly-hued punk stumble backwards from the cold-eyed girl as the Joker Killer declares the Kasugayama youth his target.

He draws his blade again, the black steel seeming to drink in the glow of the flames around them, and begins to hurry to Tsubasa's defense.

<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.

      Shizuka had taken a well-deserved break from studying for her exams to accompany her father to the exhibition, Masaharu Kuroki being one of the featured artists. This had been a common occurence for her ever since she was a child, and she had gotten used to the... well, the endless standing around and talking.
 
      "And the piece is really about the unseparable link between capitalism and war, as told through the lens of the popular media that serves as propaganda..." Her father was doing just such talking to one of his associates, rattling off a clearly-prepared spiel. She had heard him practicing it earlier in the day.
 
      "Hey Dad, I'm gonna meet up with the rest of the art club, okay?"
 
      "Hm? Ah, of course, Shizuka-chan! Have fun!"
 
      Shizuka excused herself and drifted over to the other members of Gekkoukan's art club, including her fellow SEES member Moriko, who immediately gets her gaze as a sudden chill runs over her.
 
      "Riko-chan! Something's up!"
 
      And then all Hell breaks loose. Something was definitely up! Looking back to see her dad safely evacuating, she reaches into her jacket, hand gripping around the Evoker and her knives in the inner pocket. It was definitely hard to smuggle several weapons around Japan, but she was glad she had decided to carry them around with her, especially when the demons entered the picture.
 
      "The Joker Killer?! This is really bad! We've gotta step in!"
 
      She pulls out her weapons, knife in one hand and Evoker in the other, staring the killer down right in his bag, knees shaking in fear. She really wished she could run away, but she'd probably never hear the end of it from the others if she did.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    It's of course Yusuke's idea to attend the art exhibit in Aoba Park, but when Ren heard about it--more to the point, heard about the subject matter--they were on board to join him. It might technically be falling at a bad time, this being the week before finals, but Ren still has time to study for those. This is a unique exhibit in a beautiful park in a city he doesn't often get a chance to visit, and who knows how long it'll be open for? Unique experiences should be prioritized over something as banal as studying for exams.
    
    ...Ren may regret this attitude next week. But for right now, they're spending time with a good friend at an exhibit to commemorate justice against war crimes. (It's the Hague!) It's not just an excuse to not study; it's relevant to their interests. Perhaps that's why Makoto's here too. For all that they've all fallen in together, she is an upright sort of person--something they respect about her.
    
    They take their time walking with their friends and absorbing the heart-wrenching art. Tales told of those who would otherwise be lost, buried, or forgotten... They flinch every time the barred door closes and it's hard for them to look into the cells, but they steel themself and keep from freaking out. Mostly. Nobody's going to question them keeping their shaking hands in their pockets; not when they do that normally. Nonetheless, they breathe easier once they're outside the confines of the "jail" and taking in the sculptures. It helps to have Yusuke and his unrestrained enthusiasm for ART, in this case the technique and color, to listen to. It's a good anchor.
    
    A nearby commotion draws their momentary attention, long enough for them to note Akechi getting interviewed by reporters who should otherwise be covering the art exhibit--with his arm in a sling. "..." They frown slightly, but make no attempt to approach.
    
    Instead, they look over at their friends. "The turnout for today is pretty impressive," they remark to Yusuke and Makoto. "Good for the exhibit. I'm glad."
    
    They do wonder briefly if they'd be here with Minako right now if they'd said yes instead of I'll think about it to her offer, but this kind of art show isn't exactly romantic, anyway...
    
    (...though maybe it would be if it were Akechi instead.)
    
    That's not a thought that gets to fully form. There is a sudden conflagration on the art house. Smoke. Screams. It comes straight on the heels of a familiar sickening feeling that drags them all into a cognitive space, so there's no question of the source. Ren shoots a sharp look at Yusuke and Makoto.
    
    There's barely a need to hide. The chaos and heat provide plenty of cover while the three of them are engulfed in blue flame and transform into their costumed, Rebellious selves.
    
    A woman and her child are getting marauded by a two-headed demon dog. It's grim to call it fortunate that the Orthrus prefers to chat it up before going for the kill, but it's fortunate all the same, since it gives Joker time to fire a warning shot at it and grab its attention--just long enough for others to swoop in to attack it more directly and go to that woman and her child's aid, something Ogre does by charging in with her shield. Fox handles that Pyro Jack nicely, and Joker shoots him a smirk of approval before falling serious.
    
    "Find the Old Maid. He must be here to kill someone," Joker tells Fox and Queen in a low voice. "Whoever it is, we've got to protect them."
    
    There are screams rising over the general commotion--profane howls, behind a growing wall of fire--and the fact that they sound familiar fills Joker with dread. A different voice yelling about TSUBASA SEKI only confirms it, as Fox acknowledges. Joker clutches his fists, heart pounding in fear for their friend. Fortunately, it looks like they're not the only Persona Users who've emerged to stop the Old Maid, but this is all going to hell in a handbasket real quick. At least they know where to go, and Joker rushing towards the heart of today's chaos after Fox, trusting Queen to join them.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka had been interested in checking out the art exhibit today, despite the fact that it was her birthday. 'The Unheard' was a theme that spoke to her, and while she had agreed to meet up with Ichika and leave with her later (for birthday celebrations), she had arrived early so as to have more time to check out the exhibits and to contemplate them in silence.

... A silence that is very quickly interrupted by a supernatural jolt that is starting to become distressingly familiar. "Oh no--" she sucks in a gasp as everything suddenly becomes so much noisier--not just the panicked shouts of people trying to escape the fire, but the supernatural hum of resonance as demons manifest in the space.

She ducks into one of those little cells for a moment instead of heading towards an exit. She's digging into her backpack for her hidden Evoker... and her katana.

She really hated she felt like she needed to start carrying it to Sumaru with the Evoker, but she wasn't going to be caught out again without it.

"Persona!" With a rush of blue flame and shattering glass a large stone statue holding a golden lyre appears. She charges to the nearest exit, throwing herself at the demons there with a combination of her katana and Amphion's magic. Then, she reaches out with her senses, fingers reaching out for piano keys that appear for her touch, trying to create a musical trail that will guide people for the exit.

But when the Joker Killer appears Ririka sucks in a sharp breath. "C'mon, Amphion!" She charges for the Joker Killer, halting when she sees both him--and Niko. "You guys again!?" she shouts, bringing her katana up into a guarding position. " She glances to her side towards Ogre and Hyousuke. "Hey. If either of you have any fire spells, the last time I fought her she was weak to them. But avoid electricity."

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's here as part of an outing and an excuse to not spend too much time away from her classmates. Sort of. It's fine. The subject matter is, at least something to approach and contemplate, though it's a bit beyond her grasp on some levels. Having been somewhat pointed elsewhere most of her life.
 
 Also you know, not drowning herself in work after hours. She has that kind of sleepy half awake look most days lately. Caffeine works. It always works. Besides, you get to a certain point and it becomes easier to lapse enough out of your own headspacing and see something else!
 
 She straightens up though, shoulders back at that weird pulse, having been halfway to waving to Shizuka when it happened. "Ah. Hell." She drops her arm and calls back, "Yeah, I felt it too." Hurrying over, hand sliding into her rather loose hoodie, she asks in an undertone, "Think the evoker's going to make it worse?" Referring to the fact that they are in fact, making a sound very similar to the pistol they resemble. Right?
 
 She did not bring her weapon today! It's a polearm. That gets awkward. Looking around, clasping her hands together, she offers a quick apology before grabbing one of the flags set up around the area and wields it similarly enough. Hefting it up and over her left shoulder.
 
 The usually scary faced teen does try to help Shizuka in a way. "If you want to make sure he gets out, I can cover until you're back." Her other hand hidden, holding the evoker as she steps forward, head at an angle, chin up like she's trying to intimidate. She learned from.. a certain group after all. Ready to stare down those demons and even the Joker Killer.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
Saika Kikuchi had been advised by someone she holds dear to look into the affairs of this 'Joker Killer.' This has turned out, in fact, to not be why she is here. She's here because she took the train.

That's not quite true. She is here because she heard about the event and it is public art. She was also able to come in without being directly blocked or scowled at for her dress sense and style; though, of course, she's gotten her share of double takes and mild frowns. Even so, we can all come together for the mourning of those lost, and the meditation on the steps that have been taken, and the many - terribly many, too many - that haven't.

It's sobering and shit, you know?

Without any of her usual companions to discuss with, Saika has been quiet, perhaps even respectful, while considering the works on display. She's read the signs - quickly, but not without reflection - and moved along. Her arms folded here and there. She remained stoic, even when the story was moving, but perhaps the opinion of a couple of the people who happen to be moving in approximately the same pace as her... well, maybe those punks aren't all bastards.

Or that might be the lesson, if there wasn't a bigger problem to be had.

That problem seems, at first, to be a disaster. "What the fuck?" Saika says in the crowd, before turning -- making for the exits. It might be notable she doesn't panic and freak and charge, though she moves quickly - indeed, a little slower than the crowd's press; she is borne along by the tide, stumbling. "Watch it!" says Saika, another voice in the crowd.

She is shorter than the average. Soon enough the tide sweeps over her.

But the tide whispers of a name. A rumor, a myth -- a myth that is confirmed. Saika feels a familiar subtle itch on her neck. She reaches up despite someone slamming into her sideways and getting an elbow back (medium strength) -- touches her neck. Her fingers run over familiar interruptions.

"Aha," Saika says, and then she puts her shoulder down and pushes her way through the crowd.

                AND SO

A figure in white emerges from the crowd, lurching for a moment. She rights herself as she finds herself loose, looking towards the relatively nearby form of the Detective Prince - who had just finished what he said. Her eyes widen for a moment, and then she looks ahead.

That's him, Saika thinks. If it's not the literal Joker Killer he's definitely someone trying to be the Joker Killer and that comes out to the same. Holy shit, thinks Saika further, they're never going to believe this.

He's strong, she thinks further, eyes flicking momentarily over -- and he has allies. And a target.

Why did he do this? Why does it have to be fire? Saika breathes in deeply, rolling her shoulders for a moment. She nods once, to nobody in particular, with her eyes shooting up to Akechi's for a moment... and then back to the Killer. Guys like this won't back down if you show the signs of weakness. So...

I guess my only shot is to not show even the slightest hesitation.

"Well, this is good luck," says Saika, "for me, at least." She works her jaw, almost as if she's chewing gum, and straightens up. She brings her right arm up - a chain has already been wrapped twice round the palm of her hand, and she spins it with a bullroarer-whuzz to wrap around her forearm.

"Listen up, Baghead," Saika says. "You're claiming a role that's only rooted in your arbitrary divisions, and you know what, the arbitrary divisions of reason can get completely absurd. So maybe you've got a point, but here's the thing, Mr. Killer, can I call you Joker?" Saika continues, speaking in a theatrically voluminous voice.

"Here's the thing, jerknuts," Saika continues. "The innate and natural tendency of humans inclines towards the good! I know, right?! You wouldn't be able to tell, looking at the TV, but even a hardened Yakuza who's cut off six pinky fingers would pull a kid back if the kid was about to run in front of a train! He wouldn't do it to impress anyway... but if he didn't, he'd probably feel it!" She sweeps her left arm back. "Every piece here -- did you take a tour or were you just here to start a fire? -- was talking about that inclination, and how it grows, even for all the times it gets blighted. Cuz you don't *get* a blight unless *something* is growing."

"So your division is arbitrary, sure, but you're ALSO goin' against the natural grain of humanity and so you're pushing rope through a needle hole, I am sorry to say, and I'm gonna second what THIS guy," a jerk of her thumb towards Akechi, "said, which is that if you do not get the hell out of my sight by the count of five, I am going to put you in a world of hurt!"

She holds up her left hand, index finger raised up. "One."

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    It's his little brother's birthday, and he hasn't been home in well over a month now. Thanks to Umie, Katsuya knows that he's not hurt, or worse than hurt. But it doesn't change the fact that he's tried to call, again (he's never stopped trying) and has once again failed to get through, or that their parents are still beside themselves over the absence of their younger son. Or that there's still a missing persons report, because how in the world would Katsuya even start to explain this -- this situation that he's only received the most vague information about from Umie, because she's sworn to silence in some way -- to his father?

    There's nothing that he can do, and perhaps that's part of the reason why he's ended up in Aoba Park today on his day off. An exhibit about international justice had seemed like a worthwhile event to participate in, and it has been a sobering experience thus far. It's true that great wrongs have been committed, and attempts had been made to correct these wrongs, yet...

    And then, a part of the exhibit had caught on fire. It's telling that in spite of recent events, Katsuya's first thought is that someone has committed arson, or that perhaps an electric wire has sparked the flame. He's immeditely in crisis-management mode: he's off-duty, but he's still a civil servant!

    "Everyone, remain calm! There is an unobstructed entrance to the left of the building! Please proceed quickly, but do not run!"

    And it's strange, but there's a sort of phantom familiarity for this sort of thing, like it happened and he can half-way remember it, somehow.

    Yet, it just as quickly becomes clear that the problem isn't mundane at all, or as confined to the art house alone as he'd originally thought. "That's--" he utters, catching sight of the Hellhound as it leaps onto a woman. He's still in the process of reaching for his gun as a young woman dressed in the guise of an ogre comes roaring out to have at the Demon. Fire. Demons. Surely, this isn't--

    But of course, it is. "--#501!"

    The killer's presence is undeniable, even as he makes his entrance. There he is. He's--

    Dispensing 'justice' to Tsubasa Seki, as he puts it.

    "Get away from that boy!" he shouts, going for his firearm to try and train it on the killer. "You're under arrest, for possession of a bladed weapon, arson, murder and attempted murder!" And probably a long list of other crimes besides, but these are the ones that leap to the forefront of Katsuya's mind. The good news is, he's not the only representative of the law present in this moment. Akechi is here.

    The bad news is, the Joker Killer isn't alone.

    The other news is...

    ......well, it's definitely 'other news'.

    "...Tatsuya?" He stares at his younger brother. "What are you doing here?!" ...This is probably not the time for that, though...

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

The last Tsubasa saw of Shinjiro, he was going to jail forever for drugs, most likely. Funny thing.

He's hanging at the art gallery mostly because he's interested in art. But as he's poking around, he spots familiar faces - Ichika and Tsubasa, Umie and Tatsuya, Ririka and Katsuya, hell, even Saika...

Before he can talk with any of them, though, there's DEMONS. DEMONS! Shinjiro's moving as he feels that uncanny feeling, and rips a little sign off a post, hefting it over his shoulder. He's migrating towards Niko once he spots her, juking through flaming corridors as if they don't scare him (they do), and as he reaches her...

"Niko. Funny seeing you here. Helping the Killer again? Sorry... but I can't let you get away with that. I'd say life has more meaning than this..." He points the sign at her, but does not attack. "So if we're going to play again, let's play."

AS: Shinjiro Aragaki has readied for combat as Castor! He is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.

    Honestly, it was not particularly hard to sell Makoto on the art exhibit, especially with the choice of theme. She's no Yusuke, but she can definitely appreciate the works. The fact that Yusuke is there to provide interesting commentary and discussion on the topic is a boon in and of itself!

    This also means now that she has her notebook out as Yusuke talks about the techniques, writing notes as Yusuke goes into detail on the techniques and themes, asking questions and learning more. There's always an opportunity to study, Ren! International Law is a bigger topic, but analyzing the impact on the people it's failed is in and of itself a worthwhile experience. She's a little too absorbed in the topic to notice the impact the jail cell is having on Ren, for better or worse. She doesn't even catch that Akechi is *right there getting interviewed*. Yusuke and the exhibit are very interesting!!

    Indeed, she doesn't seem to notice the change until the air changes and the sense of dread sours the area. It's still unnerving to her that shadows can just... appear in the real world like this, but that in and of itself means they can't waste time thinking. Joker gives the order, and Queen nods. "Understood."

    Her hand goes to her mask, the sharp steel plate disappearing for a moment as her eyes turn yellow and the space underneath it replaced with pitch darkness. "Johanna!"

    As Joker and Fox move to attack, Queen revs Johanna's engines and her Persona speeds in a straight line, cutting between the fleeing crowd and the demons, a trail of nuclear flame making a barrier between the monsters and the civilians.

    It turns out, though, finding the victim won't be hard, but hearing the name gives her fear. "Tsubasa-kun?!" Good news, Ren isn't the only one making a beeline for the battlefield. She only just met them again recently. She's not going to let the Old Maid just kill them now!

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.

    The Joker Killer offers a hand out as if to try and catch Tsubasa from stumbling. "Hey there, how have you been? " Sudou asks Tsubasa as if they are old friends and chuckles wagging at a finger at her. "Close, but no, it wasn't daddy dearest." Looking around at the fire for a moment he looks back at Tsubasa, "Hey don't judge me for my choice in material." Tatsuya Sudou looks around at his work nodding his head in agreement.

     As Niko appears behind Tsubasa, he hesitates a moment to let Niko do the introductions, before waving, "Hi Niko-chan. Thanks for coming to see my art."

     His focus turns back to the target, "Where was I? Oh right, daddy dearest. Nope not him, it was mommy." Sudou gives a couple of beats before he adds, "Which I was thinking about it, what kind of mother would you have to be to call me on my own kid? Thats when it hit me, now I don't normally do this but..." Sudou reaches into his trenchcoat and tosses a cellphone to Tsubasa's feet, "It's all ready for you, pick it up, hit call, and if you say your mothers name into it, I go away. Not only will you get revenge, but you will save everyone here." Thats when The Joker Killer sees the others and sighs dramatically, "Tell you what, think on it. I am going to go play for a moment and when I get back someone is dying."

     The sword in The Joker KIller's hand spins and twirls as he leaves Tsubasa in the ring of fire, his eyes falling on the one person he has really wanted to talk to, Tatsuya Su... Sudou's thoughts are interrupted by gunshots, from pretty and clean boy. "God damn it, can't you see I am busy." Using his sword as a golf club he tees up some flaming grass and swings at it launching, fire, and dirt at Robin Hood.

     A glare is given towards pretty fox boy , "Why do all you faked mask people show up now of all the damn time." A heavy sigh is given before a large sweep of his sword is performed, producing a wave of heat and flames spraying out in an arc trying to keep people from interrupting this moment that Sudou has been waiting for.

     Stepping forward he raises his arms toward Tatsuya, "My good friend Tatsuya! Where have you been? Have you gotten my messages from your..." Stopping midsentence he sees said Brother. "Oh he is here, and he is looking grumpy again. Is he always grumpy?" Looking back to Tatsuya he shrugs, "Also have you heard of these masked fakers, they even have their own joker. Masked circle posers. Speaking of , is he here? Have you seen him? Tell me he is here, that would be so great." Sudou looks around and then groans. "Hold on..."

     Looking over at Saika, Tatsuya growls, "Will you please, SHUT UP! I AM BUSY!" With a wind up given, The Joker Killer launches a ball of fire at Saika. He is about to get back to Tatsuya, when he hears Katsuya's proclamation, "Oh come on. I did more than that on my youtube video and those are my only charges. That is rude." Another ball of fire is thrown at Katsuya.

     Finally he looks back at Tatsuya, "Now then where was I? Oh right! You and I should totally hang out and talk, compare notes. Maybe work together to fix this entire mess. However... I am working right now." The man with a bag on his head looks around before leaning closer to speak in a loud whisper, "And I know the sight of blood makes you ragey. Sooo going to need to just slow you down..." A quick slash towards Tatsuya's legs is given before Sudou is running back to Tsubasa,

     "Tsubasa-chan did you make a decision?"

AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Goro Akechi!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Saika Kikuchi!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Katsuya Suou!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Goro Akechi takes 87 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Blaze. Critical Hit!
AS: Tatsuya Sudou has readied for combat as Old Maid! He is now fully healed! Ready for 8 opponents!
AS: Tatsuya Sudou cancels 1 attacks on Saika Kikuchi.
AS: Tatsuya Sudou cancels 1 attacks on Katsuya Suou.
AS: Tatsuya Sudou has readied for combat as Old Maid! He is now fully healed! Ready for 8 opponents!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Saika Kikuchi!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Blaze on Katsuya Suou!
AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Slash skill Slice & Dice on Tatsuya Suou! 2 Hits!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Heat Wave on Umie Akabane, Moriko Kumamoto, Shizuka Kuroki, and
Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Suou takes 24 Slash damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Slice & Dice.
AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Suou takes 28 Slash damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Slice & Dice.
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 42 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Heat Wave. Critical Hit! Avoid Fire!
AS: Block Neutral! Katsuya Suou takes 39 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Blaze. Resist!
AS: Blast added!
AS: Block Neutral! Saika Kikuchi takes 72 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Blaze. Weak!
AS: Blast added!
AS: Avoid Best! Moriko Kumamoto takes 71 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Heat Wave. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 57 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Heat Wave. Weak!
AS: Block Neutral! Shizuka Kuroki takes 67 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Heat Wave. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa has readied for combat as Goemon! He is now fully healed!

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

Niko cheerfully waves back at the Joker Killer. "Don't mention it!" He invited her, so of course she came, why wouldn't she? Granted, it's not like she has zero mixed feelings about today's target, but it is what it is. Plenty of other friends out there.

She gasps, hearing his offer to Tsubasa. "Wow, did you hear that, Seki-kun? You're so lucky, nobody ever gets an offer like that! Usually if you get beaten to it, too bad for you, but now you can have revenge after all!" That's the only sensible option here, of course... after all, what's the alternative?

Other arrive, with their own ideas about that. The first of whom addresses her quite rudely, which doesn't impress Niko.

"Excuse the fuck me?" is Niko's eloquent reply to Ogre. "Who are you, the friend police? How about you fuck off?"

She was about to question what costume party she came from, but... she sees that the Phantom Thieves are also here, so she makes the natural connection that this must be a new member or something. She massages her temples. "Ugh, why are you even here right now? Don't you have Palaces to plunder, hearts to steal or whatever?"

Tatsuya Suou's appearance, however, gets the complete opposite reaction. Niko seems quite happy to see him. "Oh, it's you! I was hoping to see you again!" She glances around, before adding, "Maybe now's not the best time for a chat though. Raincheck?" Niko what do you think is even happening right now

As for the question Tatsuya poses her... Niko just responds with a headtilt. It doesn't appear as if she understands what he means by 'ensnared by 'him, but who can say.

Shinobu addresses her then, calling her words out to be bullshit. To which Niko... openly yawns. "Yeah yeah, heard it all before. Believe what you want, I don't care."

Ririka gets a friendly wave. "We gotta stop meeting like this, Rika-chan!" Her faint smile fades away. "Seriously. If you get in the way of my job, you know what I gotta do."

"...That means you," she continues smoothly, addressing Shinjiro, though in doing so, she finds her smile again. "Not very fair, is it? Ganging up on Ojisan like that? If you didn't keep doing that, I wouldn't have to be here. If you don't like it, only got yourself to blame. But if you wanna play... sure, I'm game."

It is, ultimately, not her job to prevent people from going after the Joker Killer. He can handle himself. She's here to make sure Tsubasa Seki doesn't escape their punishment, which means those trying to get them out are her problem with to deal with. Although, looking around, even she realizes...

"That sure is a LOT of people, though. And it's just me today," she muses aloud, in regards to her absent Strega buddies. Doesn't look very good for her, does it? The smart move would probably be to back down. But since Niko so rarely picks the smart option, she draws a gun instead - no, that's an Evoker - and jabs it at the side of her head.

"Guess that means I better go all out today!" She fires.

AS: Niko Kirisaki has readied for combat as Ate! She is now fully healed! Ready for 8 opponents!

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

Ate's giant, blank visage appears behind Niko, the dark blue spirit shuddering for a moment, before its mouth opens, letting out a soundless cry as its eye hollows glow purple. Niko is wreathed in a red and purple aura, before multi-colored orbs go flying every which way, seeking out the Phantom Thieves... and Ichika, who is targetted multiple times, to dissuade her doggedly persistent attempts to reach Tsubasa.

Reaching for her waist, Niko removes the chain from her belt and lashes out with it, engaging Shinobu directly with a whip strike... only for the move to be imitated by Ate, several chains lashing out from the Persona's long hair to strike at Ririka, Shinjiro and Hyousuke.

AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Elec skill Mapsio on Ren Amamiya, Yusuke Kitagawa, and Makoto Niijima!
AS: Ruin: Niko Kirisaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Rebellion on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rebellion.
AS: Crt_Up added!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Tarukaja on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Tarukaja.
AS: Atk_Up added!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Elec skill Furious Psio on Ichika Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Weapon! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Steel Snap on Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Crazy Chain on Ririka Kawase, Shinjiro Aragaki, and Hyousuke
Suzuki!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    Tsubasa surely would have cared about Ichika feeling bad, except, of course, that the whole world went to shit. Sorry, Boss. (Sorry, Boss's... new boy? Is that the situation with Hyousuke? Oh, well, Tsubasa's nice enough to him anyway, if a little gruff.)

    The Orthrus is soundly trounced by all his foes, going YIPE YIPE YIPE! all the way back to Hell (or wherever it is these things come from?!). Nekomata, Pyro Jack, Slime -- they're all banished whence they came, by light and ice and sheer physical force.

    "Ogre!" Tsubasa yells, and it is panicked and it is a plea; they're freaking out, and it's a wonder they can even string thoughts together at all.

    There's this guy in a bird mask (nice????) firing on the Joker Killer, which is at least a relief, even if Tsubasa can't see where they're supposed to go now every exit they cast their eyes upon is AFIRE.

    (Tragically, Tsubasa's celebration of any birthdays is cut short by all that fire.)

    "Suou-kun!" Tsubasa yells, their voice tearing at a high pitch. "Big Sis?! Hey--!!" There are people they don't really know, too -- like Ririka's cohort in SEES -- but they catch glimpses of them running in to intercept Sudou, too, as their head whips back and forth amidst the flames. And -- is that Shinjiro?!

    Yusuke and Ren and Makoto, as far as they know, are another trio of strangers... because they've never met Fox, Joker, or Queen before. (How can they not know the people who DESTROYED THEIR LIFE?! Well, of course Queen would know their name, given the Phantom Thieves are so dastardly.) Tsubasa is at least glad to hear the demons being soundly trounced, even if their problems are much more immediate and fiery.

    It's the weirdest thing, though -- between all their horror over these flames -- they happen to focus on Saika's speech, something about how even a hardened Yakuza would rescue a kid. They can't help but think back to what happened when they took Lance on a walk before coming out here -- how they ran into this girl who was clearly living in her own world and how they volunteered to go clear her footprints out of an unlucky establishment to at least stop her from accruing more misfortune. If that's the last thing they ever did for a stranger... think that's gonna keep them outta Hell?

    That morbid thought is one they keep to themselves, though. Well, that plus the hyperventilation. It's kind of making it hard to talk.

    (In any other situation, they might be quite pleased that they're now coming off as a boy and not a girl. Tragically, Katsuya's comments are caught in a backdrop of flame, so any good feelings are far away from them now.)

    That panic means they don't entirely register Sudou getting into their space until it's too late to run. Tsubasa tries to yank themself out of Sudou's grip once it's too late, at least, eyes wide and panicked. "I-I'm not ya friend, asshole!" They yell, as they struggle --

    -- only for those struggles to die in an instant, when Sudou reveals it wasn't their father at all.

    "Wait... mom called you? But... but, she jus' rang me up... jus' the other day... s-sayin' she loved me an' all that crap..."

    ... between their mother and Niko, one might get the impression that it's easier to pull the wool over Tsubasa's eyes than it seems. Even Sudou recognises how messed up this whole situation is -- as he tosses a phone to their feet. For long moments, they are silent, as they stare at it.

    "I'm lucky, huh...?" They ask, their voice hollowed out, for a moment, as Niko informs them how rare their opportunity is. "... guess yer right. Don't seem like... he's not tryin'. I did go to that website, y'know? I thought about it... thought 'bout puttin' my father down there, but..."

    They crouch down, and pick up the phone, holding it gingerly in their hand. "So, that's how it is... I throw my mom under the bus and survive, huh... ha! Hahaha -- gh, hck," their broken, shrill laughter is cut off by coughing, before they recover, to yell: "... you fuckin' moron!" They straighten back up, with a terrible slash of a grin. "Give me somethin' harder! It's 'kill or be killed,' right?! Hahahaha...!"

    Their teeth haven't quite stopped clenching together, though, beneath their grin. "Yeah... there's nothin' else to do, huh? Ya gotta look out for number one... no one else fuckin' does. If I had a single brain cell left in my head, I'd call myself an' give you her name right now, right? Fuck, man."

    So why haven't they done it?

    "He really made the whole family into fuckin' monsters... so my own mom would call a hit on me like this. And all I gotta do is repay the favour... hhkk-- it oughta be easy." With a rakish, smoke-choked breath, Tsubasa spits into the churned ground. "'Cept -- here's the thing, aight -- the Boss told me I weren't out here 'cuz it's easier. She was right. There's only one way for me to live... an' I ain't the kinda guy who gives my mother's name to a murderer." They take a sharp breath. "... even if she don't give a shit 'bout protectin' me."

    They toss the phone back at Sudou as he runs back in, and screams: "I AIN'T LIKE THAT! An' -- hghk," they cough, again, before labouring to add: "... don't fuckin' -chan me, neither!"

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.

The Paradox Boy. Akechi looks towards Suou, framed in the flames of the painting of an unsmiling Napoleon - and nearly double takes.
 
Not from Deja Vu but just the absurdity of the image.
 
Getting to see him in action up close... well, "Yes, perhaps we will at that..." End this. Though he seems ruminative, like he doesn't think it will happen.
 
But perhaps Tatsuya can prove him wrong with his incredible powers?
 
At least, until his brother shows up and- "Ah. Officer! It seems I'll be backing you up again, albeit this time with one hand tied up rather than behind my back... aha." And indeed, his left arm is in a sling. But he seems unconcerned about the prospect.
 
And then he sees the Phantom Thieves, Fox bursting in to silence a Demon, Joker swooping in to save some civilians and Queen's motorcycle encircling several. "Do my eyes deceive me? Two Jokers and both of them suspects that I need to take into custody... this could get confusing!"
 
He says with a sardonic cheer, and one might believe he's implying he's going to be shooting at both before noting, "Though, I believe saving Seki-san and taking in Joker Number Five-Oh-One are the priority right now. What say I let your presence here slide for the day?"
 
Scandalous as an offer for an Officer of the Law! Though- he's not precisely a Cop, is he? And is prioritizing the serial murderer over the heart changers so unreasonable in the moment when they're lacking manpower?
 
He then looks sidelong at Saika's discussion of arbitrary divisions. "You might want to skip a few numbers of that count." He suggests, deciding not to speak of the modern Yakuza he's met that absolutely would not save a kid stepping in front of a train.
 
What Sudou says though, it was Tsubasa's Mother? Akechi's sardonic smile smooths out into a thin line, as he looks towards them momentarily in sympathy. "Their own mother..."
 
So blessedly neutral is his expression, he's certainly heard worse, on any given day - but not much worse. And it's usually not so personal. Sudou tees up some flaming grass and swats it with a sword, as the Princely figure leaps down past the flames, close enough that it sears the side of his sleeve.
 
Landing in a perfect three point landing, despite the lack of one arm. "Oh I'm sorry. Did you think I actually cared that you're a little occupied?"
 
He says as he places a hand to his mask, as it bursts into a butterfly of blue flames, "ROBIN HOOD!" And the Persona appears, bow already nocked with two arrows. Which then fire.
 
One vanishes in mid-air, before an ephemeral arrow reappears on the other side of Sudou, both of the projectiles trying to skewer him from both sides.
 
"If you'd like to tell my Persona's arrows you're busy, then go right ahead, but I rather doubt they'll listen." He says, before noting, "I suggest instead you clear your schedule, as we'll be taking Seki-san out of harm's way."

AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Pierce skill Double Shot on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Avoid Best! Makoto Niijima takes 73 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Mapsio. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 55 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio. Critical Hit!
AS: Bind added!
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 30 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio.
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 30 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Furious Psio.
AS: Block Worst! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 133 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Crazy Chain.
AS: Avoid Best! Shinobu Shimizu takes 84 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Steel Snap.
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 99 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Crazy Chain. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Lasers, and a voice. Ah, 'Prince-san' is here. This is going to be ugly, if the bit about 'two Jokers' is correct. Umie'd like to react, but, as she's gotten into position beyond the Old Maid, as she gets an angle on what Sudou may be seeing right now, if from a lower vantage point.

    Tatsuya (the one in red, who she came in with) is looking more alive than she's seen him all day.

    'Now I can end this.' Nyarlathotep. 'Let's go back'. To where? Towards that sinless world, where everyone remembers what they were supposed to? Takkun, there's only this world, because this is the only one she's in.
    Who will get one next?
    There's only two people who are Marked in this way: Umie, and Tatsuya. Umie was first, and it was after she met Tatsuya that he got one... it had to have been around the time she decided to become more active...
     Wouldn't you like one of your co-workers to be next, Umie-chan? Have something cute to bond over. What about Amamiya-kun? Bring him into the supernatural world; that'll give you so much to *talk* about.
    Umie's fingers tense along the braided handle of the bladed shoge in her right hand.

    'Nope not him, it was mommy.' Tsubasa has to suffer even more... and something inside Umie's mind is ready on where to place the blame. The stress of a rebellious child's incarceration could make any parent buckle, wouldn't it? Maybe if you had tipped over that cop's coffin that night, all of this would have been averted.

    "...." Don't think about it. What's one more life?

    Springing from her crouch behind Sudou, barreling through the flame, the small form of Umie Akabane, former tutor-sensei and former victim of the Joker Killer, attempts to land on the serial killer's back and shoulders.

    If she lands, Umie's hands will attempt to loop a length of rope around Sudou's neck. "I hope you feel _each and every knife and bullet you're going to get_, Old Maid!"

    If this works? She'll have to hope everyone aims around her. Either way, there's only one course of action forward:

    "GO!" she yells.

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

"I feel it!" Ichika calls to Hyousuke.

But soon, chaos. Ogre shouts back to Shinobu, "I will!"

But Hyousuke is in demand of orders--and that means Ogre has to figure out what to tell him. If she can just get through the flames--

But she can't. "I'm Tsubasa's friend!" Ogre counters Niko. "So YEAH excuse the fuck you!"

And Ririka--Ogre grits her teeth at that threat.

"Kick her ass!" Ogre points at Niko as she tries to get through Sudou's flames. That's her orders for Hyousuke. But Sudou... has things to say. Sudou says it wasn't Tsubasa's father, not their father at all. "What?" Ogre starts, immediately shocked out of her anger by the revelation. "Their... their MOTHER!?" It's so foreign to Ichika that she can barely imagine it. How far gone do you have to be...?

"T-that's not--" It's horrible, is fwhat it is, and Ogre stares, wide-eyed, as she sees Tsubasa respond to it. Could she blame them, if they did that? Right here and now?

...She doesn't have to find out. Looking out for number one...

"Damn right!" Ogre calls at Tsubasa's resolve. "We'll kick their asses here and now!"

Ate comes. Ogre keeps trying to get through the fire, but it doesn't go well at all. Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt. The first knocks Ogre from her feet, slamming her backward away from Tsubasa. "Damn!" she calls, and gets hit a second time, and a third, the psychokinetic force buzzing through her mind. "Aaah!"

But she grits her teeth, and stands back up. "...if Tsubasa's gonna do their best, I can't do any less." She spits on the ground. "MOMIJI!" she calls, and rips off that mask, blazing with blue fire that conceals her identity all the same. "Knock her down!"

She got this Skill Card from Myunghon--she hopes it helps. Red light shimmers around Niko as Ichika attempts to undo her buff. Momiji the ogre throws out her hand, unfurling s croll.

"RAAAAAAGH!"

The innate and natural tendency of humans... Ogre looks to Saika in surprise, briefly. Something strikes a chord in her of that. "YEAH!" Ogre shouts. "So get out of here with that!"

"I don't have any fire!" Ogre answrs Ririka. "And I don't have any electricity, either!" A pause. "...Be careful." She has the presence of mind to say that to Ririka, at least. In other circumstances, she'd comment on how cool a motorcycle Persona is, but for now, she just notices she has allies. Like Joker, who she met before--like Fox, prior to that.

"Let's go! I'll back everybody up!"

AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Almighty skill Tarunda on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Tandem! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Seeker in the Dark on Tatsuya Sudou!
AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!
AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 124 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Crazy Chain.

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Suou has posed.

    Poor Umie. It's going really poorly for the birthday outing, and now this. Umie's leaping to action already, however, seizing initiative of getting people out -- and then slipping on a mask to disappear into the shadows. That's good. She can strike from her vantage point as she needs while he has his attention.

    There's others as well, and perhaps ordinarily Tatsuya would fixate more on his surroundings, get a lay of the battlefield -- but this time, he's fixated on Sudou. He has to believe that this nightmare can end if he just snuffs out the main link between the Other Side and This Side. He has to believe the web doesn't go any deeper. Nyarlathotep wouldn't make it that simple. It's all happening according to plan still.

    Akechi -- or rather, the Prince's bold declaration does get him a glance, but no more than that... though there's a frown as Joker, Fox and Queen all arrive. There's too many people with masks. There's an uneasy feeling he gets from those three, though they seem to be battling the Demons, not associated with Strega and by association Sudou.

    Evokers. Friends of Ogre's... no, he can't afford to get distracted.

    He's locked in on Sudou, even as Shinjiro arrives. But Sudou speaks up again, and he goads him as to where he's been.

    "I've been looking for you, but you've been hard to reach..." Tatsuya murmurs. His brother's here, looking grumpy, Sudou points out.

    ...Tatsuya?

    Oh great. His brother's here too. Whatever. He's going to ignore him. Bam. Just like his phone calls.

    Sudou asks if he's heard of these fakers -- even has a Joker. Tatsuya's blood runs cold for a moment, and he frowns deeply. "You're trying to distract me." But it's clear Sudou's hit a nerve. He has been thinking of the Phantom Thieves. He has been thinking of how they don't seem any different from the Masked Circle.

    But is he here?

    "Leave him out of this...! This should only have ever been between you and me."

    But Sudou's now talking about how they should compare notes, work together to fix this entire mess. Tsubasa seems to have registered what's happened, and it was their mother who called. That gets Tatsuya's attention, and even he can't avoid a shocked expression for a moment. Tsubasa picks up the phone, seemingly like they're gonna take him up on his offer.

    "Don't listen to him!" Tatsuya yells, but Tsubasa reveals the feint for what it is, grimacing. "Don't breathe in the smoke, just hold on!"

    Within the flames, Tatsuya and Akechi's glances meet for a moment, beneath that mask of his. There's a moment in which Tatsuya frowns, not quite certain what this masked prince is gazing at him for. He doesn't like masked people.

    And--

    Suddenly he's in his face, slashing away with a sword, and he pays for not having one of his own. He leaps back and has Apollo bodyblock, but one of the slices still gets through and shallowly nicks at the slacks that Shiori bought for him, drawing blood as he grimaces and draws back with his face still steely and resolute.

    "... all right. Fine," Tatsuya answers, stone-faced, seemingly thoroughly fed up. "You want to fix this mess... make it more like the 'Other Side'."

    His face becomes darker, as he raises his hand, walking forward still -- and then he thrusts his palm forward, bringing Apollo's power to bear as he drags Sudou's mastery and comfort of the flames down.

    "You remember, don't you?" he falls to a near-whisper, his face contorting. "What happened on that day..."

    He balls his palm into a fist, and Fire Break takes hold.

    "You want to relive it so bad.... I'll drag you back to that day."

AS: Persona! Tatsuya Suou has used the Almighty skill Fire Break on Tatsuya Sudou!
AS: Pressure: Tatsuya Suou gains 1 Limit!
AS: Tatsuya Suou regains 40 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ichika Kawase's Tarunda.
AS: Atk_Up removed!

AS: Avoid Best! Ren Amamiya takes 67 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Mapsio. Critical Hit!
AS: Bind added!
AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 66 Elec damage from Niko Kirisaki's Mapsio. Critical Hit!
AS: Bind added!
AS: Counter Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 80 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Seeker in the Dark.
AS: COUNTER! Umie Akabane takes 5 Dark damage in return for her attack! Resist!
AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 44 Pierce damage from Goro Akechi's Double Shot.
AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 44 Pierce damage from Goro Akechi's Double Shot.
AS: Take! Tatsuya Sudou takes 0 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Suou's Fire Break.
AS: Fire_Break added!

<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.

      "GALATEA!"
 
      It's basically an instinct at this point, Shizuka bringing the Evoker to her chin as the wave of heat comes towards her, the woman cast in stone appearing in front of her to block the absolute worst of it. "Out of the frying pan and into the fire, is it?" That was lame. That was lame, right, Galatea? The stone woman says nothing and readys her spear. Hey, I thought you were supposed to be part of me!
 
      "I don't know what it is you're trying to do here--well it's probably a murder--but I won't let you get away with it!" Galatea raises her spear and causes a torrent of spectral rocks to rain down on the notorious serial killer from phone.

AS: Persona! Shizuka Kuroki has used the Earth skill Landslide on Tatsuya Sudou!

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
Saika's eyes cut towards the sound of a motorcycle -- she can glimpse Johanna, even if she may not quite be able to parse the nuances of what Johanna's rider, nor her colleagues, can do. Her expression speaks a simple vision: That's rad.

There isn't much room or time to speak further. The Joker Killer is doing plenty of talking of his own, yes, but then, he has a certain privilege here. A just one? A moral one, a legal one? No: but for better or worse, he is setting the tempo, as well as the fires. Whoever he is, whatever the Joker Killer *means*, the fact that Saika sees before her is throwing Tsubasa some sort of lifeline. Not an easy one, she reckons. That isn't how you talk if the solution would be simple.

And then he turns disapproval towards her; not the first, and not the last. What is a little different, of course, is he has something to back up the harsh language. Saika steels herself as the flame smashes towards her, raising up her chain-wrapped arm in a cross block.

Flame hits the metal. It hurts.

It is hard to speak of how it hurts: it washes through her in a way that the other by-blows she's run into tend *not* to do. The heat, the aftermath, that simmering tickle that promises of something horrifying. Something that does not transform but simply destroys, leaving naught but ash and hot wind behind it. A guardian and ward against fear... and perhaps, perhaps that's why it hurts.

It always feels like a fever, Saika thinks, the sickly ones that came and went back then, but the important thing, she tells herself as she makes herself breathe out, then back in, is that they *went*. So does this one.

At the cheer from the Ogre, she raises her chain-wrapped fist for a moment while looking at her, as if to say: Word, sister.

"I was rolling, get off my case," she answers Akechi, before her voice lifts: "Busy, huh. That's rough, man. So am I, though: MONSTER!"

cross promotional exercise? No. The looming shape, gray and monstrous and somehow grinning despite the flames and the terror, appears behind Saika as she rushes forwards. There's a hissing of wind across the links of the chain on Saika's right arm as she moves faster, until there is a snap-THOOM just as she swings the fist forwards.

Towards the Joker Killer's gut.

AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Tatsuya Sudou!
AS: Defense: Saika Kikuchi gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Hyousuke could barely understand what was happening, let alone the finer points of what any other combatants were saying. He saw a phone and the fires, heard the screams and the crackling of flames as they swallowed more of the area, bore witness to a visceral reaction to a taunt he could not hear... It mattered not. He had his orders, and they were as clear as day.
"Bitching." Was all he gave in response, before baring a gleam-toothed grin and his target. Fabric crumpled as his mask tilted with his smile, and leather creaked as his fists tightened - whoever that was, they didn't stand a chance.

The fight got off to an unceremonious (and slightly embarrassing) start, however. Hair short towards him faster than his legs could push him, and without the speed to dodge, his instincts told him to stand and take it. Arms raised in a tight guard and stance lowered to brace, he let out a pained groan as sheer force hammered into his arms. He staggered backwards. He clenched his teeth. He gripped his fists tight enough that his knuckles grew pale. Yet, when the dust settled, Hyousuke remained standing - and those emerald eyes bore fury that burnt as hot as the fires around him.

"Achilles!" He bellowed, his voice like a gunshot ringing out into the smoke-tinged air. "Shield!" That great titan of bronze rose from behind Hyousuke, red eyes glowering like hot coals. His shield came up like a flash, but not to act in defence. The two surged forward, Persona covering its wielder as each closed the distance, dead-set on reducing their target to a red smear upon the wall. A great clanking joined the din that filled the room, followed quickly by yet another guttural roar, and Achilles hammered his shield into Niko's body with all the force that could be mustered.

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Shield Smash on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Mind Up! Niko Kirisaki's SP +8!
AS: Counter Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 23 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shield Smash.
AS: Blast added!
AS: COUNTER! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 2 Strike damage in return for his attack! Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

There is a lot going on here, and not just on the mundane level. The supernatural is thrumming right now, and Ririka is doing her best to keep track of everything on the battlefield.

But she blnks and glances over as she hears Queen with Johanna. "Wh-whoa... is that a motorcycle Persona!?" Suddenly she remembers Yukari's presentation from the other day. She glances to Shinjiro. "Are those the Phantom Thieves?" she asks quietly.

She looks to Sudou, scowling as she hears that offer. "That the hell... that's a little messed up, you know!" A mother turning on her kid, trying to tempt Tsubasa into a revenge killing... "Seki-san! We'll get you out of this!"

Ririka scowls at Niko. "Stop calling me Rika-chan! And do you seriously think nobody's gonna try and stop you when you're out trying to hurt people?"

Thankfully, Ririka already had her katana up in a guard--though she wasn't quite expecting a chain attack from the Persona. "Whoa--" She turns quickly, trying to fend off the chains and deflect them to the side, though a few of them still slip through her guard, and she stumbles back a few steps as pain impacts. "Gah."

She nods to Ogre. "You, too. And don't worry, I've got a trick up my sleeve, but first--" She lowers her sword for a moment. "Amphion! Give everyone some protection! Marakukaja!"

Amphion strums his lyre, and at the sound of his melody the earth beneath the feet of Ririka, Shinjiro, Shinobu, and Ichika seems to move. A boulder erupts from the ground, encases them, and then falls away, leaving their defenses fortified with the sturdiness of the earth.

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Marakukaja on Ririka Kawase, Ichika Kawase, Shinjiro Aragaki, and
Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!
AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
AS: Def_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    There's a difference between 'studying a topic because school told you to' and 'studying a topic because you have a genuine interest in it'! The latter is precisely why Ren is here, with Yusuke and Makoto, instead of at home, hitting the books for finals. They might not have a notebook out like Makoto (something that quietly impresses them, to be honest), but they're taking in Yusuke's explanations all the same.
    
    That was then, though. This is now. And once everyone is on the other side of the flames and closing in on the heart of this chaos...
    
    Akechi addresses Joker, cheerfully talking about how there's two Jokers here. Joker frowns at him, their masked mien otherwise stony. They don't appreciate that one at all--no more than they appreciate the Old Maid talking about 'masked fakers with their own Joker'--but they're not about to argue about it in this circumstance. Akechi is actually right: stopping the Old Maid (or #501, as Akechi and Katsuya both call him) and saving Tsubasa takes priority. "Suit yourself," they quip.
    
    Besides Fox and himself, it sounds like Queen also knows Tsubasa--not only knows them but is on first-name terms with them, which is a little surprising. Joker isn't about to question that right now either, but they do make a note of it.
    
    More horrifically, it sounds like the one who called this serial killer on Tsubasa was Tsubasa's own mother--and the Old Maid gives them the opportunity to call a hit on their mother back to save their own life. They hold their breath for a moment, especially when Tsubasa picks the phone up, but it turns out it wasn't necessary. Tsubasa isn't that kind of person... no matter how dire their family situation sounds. Joker smiles, proud of their friend and the positive bonds they've made for themself--but keeps that to themself. There's no reason a masked stranger should be invested in their refusal, after all.
    
    Instead, they glare at Niko. They recognize her from Kaneshiro's Palace, though Joker didn't fight her directly back then, and does not immediately clock that she's assuming Ogre is with them now. "We're here to steal your chance to kill," they declare. "Prepare yourself!"
    
    Ogre's retort to Niko makes the situation clear, at least. "So this Tsubasa Seki is a friend of yours? We'll help you with the defense," Joker comments to Ogre, as much to make The Phantoms' position here clear to Fox and Queen as to provide some smoke on just how invested the three of them are by pretending they don't already know them. To Fox and Queen, they nod. "It's decided. We'll keep this fiend well away from Tsubasa Seki while the others fight the Old Maid!"
    
    Niko summons her Persona with one of those strange guns--Joker recognizes that too from Kaneshiro's Palace, both from her and those with and against her. Being very familiar with highly realistic model guns, they clocked immediately back then that an Evoker isn't a real one, thus how they were able to avoid alarm when people pointed them at themselves--but it's still creepy to see, however clear it is now that it's a device for summoning Personas. The technicolor orbs of the Mapsio shoot out towards The Phantoms, striking them with psychokinetic energy that feels a lot like getting their brain electrocuted. Joker leaps to avoid a direct hit, but it's still a dizzying effect, and they land with one red hand down.
    
    They didn't arrive soon enough to hear Ririka's warning to Ogre or Hyousuke--but they do hear Ogre's response about not having fire or electricity. Even without that, knowing the properties of the Psi spells thanks to Noir, there's one conclusion they can make. They rise up to their feet, tugging their gloves tighter before drawing their dagger from thin air. "Is that so...? Then I have just the thing!" They raise a hand to their mask, and it erupts into blue fire as they call forth--a different Persona. "CAIT SITH!"
    
    A Puss-in-Boots-esque orange cat with a feathered hat, boots, and a great big scimitar materializes above Joker. With a yowl, Cait Sith raises up his sword in triumph, then swings it forward towards Niko. A burst of flame follows the motion of the blade as an Agi spell erupts around her (or, perhaps, her Persona, to soak the blow for her). It is not an attack with lethal intent, though, and when Hyousuke's Achilles charges towards Niko, Joker shoots the two of them an alarmed look.

AS: Persona! Ren Amamiya has used the Fire skill Agi on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Pressure: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya regains 10 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Avoid Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 34 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Agi. Weak! Avoid Fire!
AS: Haze added!

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro grimaces as Niko addresses him. "Ojisan, huh? I don't care if you care about him, if you have work to do. That's fine. I won't stop you from doing that..."

A breath. "But I'll stop you all from doing something abhorrent. I can't let Seki die here... and more than that, this is personal, after everything that bastard's done...!" He hefts the sign over his shoulder, before being thrown backwards from the hair chain attack, rolling backwards with a thump before rising back to his feet and grimacing again, coughing once.

Shinjiro puts the Evoker to his head, pulling it out of his jacket. "Castor. Time to play hard." A glance to Ogre, followed by a firm nod. "Ogre! I'll back you up too."

With a click of the Evoker and a flash of blue, Castor rides in on his hobby horse, the impaled skeleton sinisterly storming around before approaching Niko. And then, silver energy starts to well up...

It washes over Niko, trying to weaken her resistance to blunt damage!

"Shimizu! I softened her up, hit hard!" Shinjiro calls out to Shinobu nearby. Ririka's buff is also appreciated... "Thanks, Kawase." Normally, he buffs himself first... but he doesn't have *time* to do so right now, so this will keep him alive a bit longer.

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko glances back, briefly, then pulls her evoker free from its hiding place as well. She had at least wanted to make sure. Holding the barrel under her chin, she calls out, "That's vile." Having watched the killer try to manipulate a kid into something terrible. "Just on principle you've got this beating coming."
 
 Pulling the trigger, her head jerks the other way as she calls out, "Otohime, let's go." The fox figure stepping forward from the aether with a regal touch. Head bowing briefly before it lunges forward and fades away, matching Shizuka's rain of rocks with an earthen spike of her own. The ground rumbling before it juts forth!
 
 Some of that composure is.. briefly lost as she quickly scurries out of the way of the flames. The heat was rather intense, but she avoided the worst of it! Thankfully. "Careful careful." Talking partially to herself. Partially to her teammate. Was she even heard?
 
 As for the joke, she does have a good poker face. "Might have to refire that one." If her classmate's going to make terrible jokes, she will too.
 
 She has no remorse.

AS: Persona! Moriko Kumamoto has used the Earth skill Magna on Tatsuya Suou!
AS: Moriko Kumamoto cancels 1 attacks on Tatsuya Suou.
AS: Persona! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Almighty skill Guard Buster on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Pressure: Shinjiro Aragaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Shinjiro Aragaki regains 20 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Persona! Moriko Kumamoto has used the Earth skill Magna on Tatsuya Sudou!
AS: Take! Niko Kirisaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's Guard Buster.
AS: Strike_Break added!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    "It seems that way," he tells Akechi, his gaze lingering a moment on that arm in its sling. 'Will this be okay', he asks him silently, though he knows there's no chance but for it to be: innocent lives hang in the balance.

    His gaze shifts in silence towards the figure that Akechi addresses: so this is the infamous Joker, of the Phantom Thieves? "What brings them here?" he wonders aloud, though he recognizes Fox from that battle within Kaneshiro's Palace. There are too many unanswered questions where the Thieves are concerned--
    And now is hardly the time to ask them.

    Especially since his brother is here, and ignoring him! But even Katsuya has some awareness of the right time and place for this sort of thing and now is most certainly not the time, not as Sudou goes on about who it is who made the latest fateful phonecall.

    Was it their dad, Tsubasa wonders, and Katsuya knows him well enough now -- he has in fact met the man -- to consider that this was a distinct possibility. Despicable, to think that a father would want to kill their own child--

    But the Joker Killer says it wasn't their father that did the deed, and he would know best, considering how he'd be able to see at a glance who had given him a call. No, it wasn't Tsubasa's father: it was their mother.

    "...What?"

    Bad enough for it to be a father. But to Katsuya, it feels all the worse to consider that it was their mother that gave the call. But, as #501 says, there's a way out for Tsubasa. All they need to do is give them a call. Go ask for the same in kind. Get revenge.
    See their mother killed in their place.

    It's a horrible suggestion. A cruel one. Defiant, Katsuya shakes head. "What--? You cannot be...!" He directs his attention away from Sudou, though, and calls out to Tsubasa: "Seki-san! You mustn't do this!"

    It may be hard to hear against the flames.

    ...Could anyone be blamed, if they did, though, in such an impossible situation? And, even if he were to take off running now, there is no way for anyone to get there in time. Didn't he remark to Maya himself: it seems like #501 has the ability to 'appear' in the same place that his victims do.

    But Sudou's attention turns first to his brother. 'Leave him out of this', Tatsuya says, which finally does provoke a response from Katsuya: "'Leave me out of this'? What are you talking about?!" It's not the first time this sort of question has come up. But he has a grievance of his own to level at Katsuya, which is specifically that...

    Katsuya was already mad. Now he's furious. Someone had died, and there had been nothing they could do to stop it. "I am well aware of what you did in that video! Enough-- surrender yourself now, or I will use force to take you in!"

    Sudou answers in the only way he could, which is to throw a gout of flame Katsuya's way. There's no time to evade: he braces himself, letting it roll right over him as he grits his way through it. Fortunately, this is one of those places where Helios' affinities help him: flame is his bailiwick as much as it is Sudou's.

    ""Enough! I won't let you have your way!"

    He responds in kind if not in type: leveling his firearm at the Old Maid once more, he now takes that shot. They're beyond words at this point. He'll have to use force to save lives.

AS: Weapon! Katsuya Suou has used the Pierce skill Handgun - Shot on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits!
AS: Defense: Katsuya Suou gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.

Ripples and spirals of prsimatic energy fall upon Fox and he - well, no, this is a psychic attack, isn't it? It's hard to 'dodge' an attack that strikes at your mind.

"Goemon, come forth!" He calls out, and the blue-blazing woodcut ronin manifests before him, angling his pipe and swinging to deflect the coruscating energy. Fox winces at the impact, hissing through his teeth and putting one hand up to his mask to steady himself.

"If you're going to give your best, I suppose we had best respond in kind," he says - but before he can proceed with his counter-attack, he hears the offer made to Tsubasa by the Old Maid.

    Their mother made the call?

The world seems to drop out from under Yusuke Kitagawa as he tries to grapple with that. By the time Fox has recovered his bearings, though, Tsubasa has already understood that their family situation is twisted and grim, and the only way out is to choose a different path - reject the Killer's offer.

Fox nods to himself, refocusing on Niko and the other Phantom Thieves, and the others fighting her. "... And here's my response," he completes his own interrupted sentence. Goemon swings his arm wide, a rush of energy suffusing Joker, Queen, and Ogre with haste.

AS: Persona! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Ren Amamiya, and
Ichika Kawase!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

The Ogre confirms that she will, and Shinobu sends her a nod. There's some other familiar faces here, too, and she's quietly glad she's going to have reliable back-up here for this.

"Aragaki." Shinobu greets with a nod toward Shinjiro. She looks toward the Phantom Thieves, too - Fox especially, since he's the one she's fought beside the most. "You guys are here, too... I'll back you up. Consider it payback for the Palace."

She hears Tsubasa calling out.

"I'm here!" Shinobu calls back. The Joker Killer has words for Tsubasa. It wasn't their father, it was...

"...Tsubasa..." She starts, uncertain what to say... but Tsubasa has words enough for both of them. Shinobu cracks a smile. "...Well said. Give 'im hell."

Her attention is quickly turned back onto Niko. She yawns. She's heard it before, and she doesn't care. Shinobu rolls her neck.

"That's fine with me. I don't care if you care or not. It wasn't a request." She replies. Niko's whip lashes out. Shinobu dodges to the side. If that connects it's really going to hurt, even with Lachesis offering her protection. She swings her staff out, to catch and redirect her lash. It lands on her coat - and she winces, even though it catches armor. Shinobu tries to power through it. "You play all buddy-buddy with them and decide it's fine if they die... Yeah. That doesn't slide."

The power of the earth comes to her aid, courtesy of Ririka. She feels tougher, now. Shinobu looks her way, sending her a nod.

"Thanks." She says. Shinjiro calls upon his own Persona. She's fought alongside him long enough that when she sees Castor appear, she's already on the move.

"On it." She calls back to Shinjiro as she rushes toward Niko, her staff whirling in a flurry of attacks!

AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Spinning Staff on Niko Kirisaki! 3 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!
AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 28 Pierce damage from Katsuya Suou's Handgun - Shot.
AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 28 Pierce damage from Katsuya Suou's Handgun - Shot.
AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 53 Earth damage from Moriko Kumamoto's Magna.
AS: Bind added!
AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 63 Strike damage from Saika Kikuchi's Sonic Punch.
AS: Haze added! Bind removed! Explosion! 50 damage!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 99 Earth damage from Shizuka Kuroki's Landslide. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 36 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Spinning Staff. Weak!
AS: Block Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 51 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Spinning Staff. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Counter Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 47 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Spinning Staff. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: COUNTER! Shinobu Shimizu takes 15 Strike damage in return for her attack! 
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Masukukaja.
AS: Spd_Up added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.

    The story that the Old Maid lays out is a distressing one. Tsubasa's mother called the Joker Killer on them? That's... why would she even do that? What kind of mother would want to kill their own child? But as much as she wants to reach out to her old friend, to support them-

    That's something 'Makoto-chan' can do, not Queen. Trying might just give away her identity, and there's Detective Suou and Akechi- if with higher priorities- right there. So right now, she can just direct her anger toward Sudou. "You sick bastard..."

    But Tsubasa refutes it, and hurls the phone back at the Joker. It's no small relief to Makoto that they do. Thank goodness- even if it puts them back at risk.

    Fortunately, Joker is the one with their head in the game at the moment, and Queen gets refocused by the theatrics that only their leader can pull off. "Got it. We won't let her past."

    For all that resolve is declared, though, Makoto can't get clear of Niko's attack, and it hits hard enough to make Johanna shatter and send Queen sprawling with a cry of pain.

    It's the lifting winds that Fox and Goemon probvide that help her back to her feet, and it appears they're aligned with the Ogre, and others. That's fine. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, at least for now.

    "...If you've chosen to align with a killer, there's no reason for us to hold anything back." Queen's voice practically comes out a growl, directed at Niko. "Johanna! Frei!" Once again, she calls her persona back to her, leaping through the air to land on the motorcycle shaped persona, and revving her engine to send out a plume of nuclear flame toward Niko and her Persona.

AS: Persona! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Frei on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 76 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Frei. Weak!
AS: Blast added!

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.

    "Oh Tsubasa-chan, don't be like that. " The Joker killer says as he looks at the others before Tsubasa and then off to no one. "I know I know. Look I like to have a little fun. Of course not, don't be like that. " A heavy sigh is heard from the paper bag before he looks at Tsubasa, "I'm sorry my boss says I have to stop chit chatting on the job, " Without another word Sudou charges forward and shoulder slams into Tsubasa to send them flying into through a door frame on fire. "I give that room like another thirty seconds before it collapses. We can count that as a win."

     With a roll of his shoulders he turns around to face all those who have been trying to get his attention and more importantly, he gets to go back to talking with Tatsuya. Just as he is about to start talking again he begins to choke with something around his neck. This instantly makes the paper bag covered head slam backward to try to knock whoever is strangling him off. Then comes hard hilt jabs with the back of the sword. Sudou may be choking and coughing, but he isn't out yet. Finally he wraps a hand under the rope and pulls forward. He may no longer be choking but he can speak.

     Sudou's attention is still distracted as he sees the arrows of light come towards him and he attempts to do a cool moment of blocking the laser arrows with his sword. Such a technique is much harder with an Umie on your back. Still it doesn't do anything more then cause him to stumble back and bleed, but who isn't bleeding. To return the pleasure of the arrows, Sudou slashes his sword in mid air sending a phantom blade to slash at the princely one.

     His focus is divided between seven people and Tatsuya counts as 2 people so it might as well be eight. It's how he didn't notice the stone woman until rocks begin to rain down and now The Old Maid is trying to bob and weave through them. Only to run into Saika as she throws a punch at his gut and all he can do is tense up to take it as more rocks come in from Moriko. In the end Sudou could describe to anyone interested on what the rock feels like after being polished he could tell you.

     Looking bruised and batter, and yet now having a particular shine he looks at the three. "FIrst off if you don't know me stop getting in my way!" The Joker Killer's sword lights on fire as he raises it, "Second if you are going to stick your nose in it be ready to commit. " Charging forward with the burning blade he slashes at Saika, before chasing down Shizuka and slashing again with the burning blade. "Each of you is talking about stopping me. I am not looking to beat any of you up, I am willing to commit to murdering you all." Finally he reaches behind himself and grabs at Umie, "Here! This one knows about being ready to murder. Learn from HER!" With a huff Sudou throws Umie at Moriko.

     It seems Umie was removed from the kill box just in time as Katsuya opens fire and Sudou tucks and rolls, scraping himself up along the way but better then bullet holes. Getting back to his feet he smiles at the cop, " Oh good you did see it. Next one I will dedicate to you personally." More fire in Sudou's hand, this time a nice blue color is gathered. "Do you want to know something Katsuya, your brother has secrets. Like my name." A chance to react isn't given as he throws the blue fire at Katsuya.

     Finally he pivots to Tatsuya, "We both know he can't be left out. If we want to fix things he will have to get involved. All the players need to be put back on the field. It's why the fake circle needs to exist, it is just so insulting." Sudou doesn't move as Tatsuya charges in, in some ways he seems to welcome it. "We both know this isn't the time or the place for that Tatsuya. Another day another time another field trip perhaps." He huffs the sword and the flames on the blade turns black as Sudou stabs it towards Tatsuya. "I will admit, if he asked and the boss said it would get us back on track. Well an eye for an eye..." Laughter is heard from the bag as he staggers himself back.

AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Burning Slash on Saika Kikuchi!
AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Burning Slash on Shizuka Kuroki!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Slash skill Vortex Slash on Goro Akechi!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Inferno on Katsuya Suou!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Umie Akabane!
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Moriko Kumamoto!
AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Dark Fire Slash on Tatsuya Suou! 2 Hits!
AS: Tatsuya Sudou: Haze removed!
AS: Block Neutral! Goro Akechi takes 38 Slash damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Vortex Slash.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 78 Strike damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Sonic Punch. Critical Hit!
AS: Haze added!
AS: Avoid Best! Saika Kikuchi takes 111 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Burning Slash. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Poison added!
AS: Counter Best! Shizuka Kuroki takes 47 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Burning Slash. Resist!
AS: COUNTER! Tatsuya Sudou takes 44 Fire damage in return for his attack! 
AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Suou takes 30 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Resist!
AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Suou takes 36 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Dark Fire Slash. Resist!
AS: Block Worst! Katsuya Suou takes 127 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Inferno. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Haze added!

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

Seems like Tsubasa has more friends than the impression they gave Niko before. She'd thought she recognized the type - the outcast, the one that nobody wants to have anything to do with. ...Maybe they're not quite so similar as she thought. Not that that's very surprising. No one is exactly like her.

But this, this situation is the great equalizer. When faced with their own death, people will do whatever it takes to survive. Really, Tsubasa's decision is easier than most. Who wouldn't choose to take revenge on the person who sent a murderer after them, especially if doing so would cause them to keep their life? Who it is shouldn't even matter at that point. 'Better you than me', that's how the world works.

Niko is fully astonished by Tsubasa's violent rejection of that simple principle. "The hell are you saying?! The only way for you to live is to do what he says! This isn't a joke, you're really gonna die, dumbass!"

She's more upset about it now that a chance existed where one didn't exist before. And yet it was rejected. She can't understand why anyone would choose to accept their death instead. This world really is insane.

Nothing for it but to let 'justice' be served then. She'll hold up her end of the bargain, doing what she can to keep people away from Tsubasa's fiery cage. Ogre's quick thinking following the initial barrage reduces her lethality, prompting her to frown. "If you think that'll stop me, you've got another thing coming!" And that thing is a steel chain to the face!

She addresses Ririka next, grinning unpleasantly. "Oh you don't like that, Rika-chan?" She covers her mouth briefly. "Oops, looks like I can't stop myself. How about you, think you can stop me? I don't think you even know how to throw a punch!" She punctuates the last word with a silent command to her Persona, a shadowy fist appearing out of nowhere to slam down to Ririka. "What's wrong, is that sword just for show?"

Hyousuke blindsides her then, Niko bracing herself as she shows that she CAN throw a punch, smashing it into that incoming shield. It's no contest - she goes flying backwards for her effort, but doesn't remain on the ground for long following the rough landing. Even if she couldn't match that power, her physique grants her exactly the kind of toughness you'd expect from looking at her. "...Nice one," she compliments, as her Persona's hair lashes out again, this time leaving a very unpleasant numbing sensation on impact.

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

Standing up straight, she faces... "Oh look. It's the other Joker. Is this what they mean by 'like attracts like'?" Her hint of a grin fades away when she adds, "They took too much away from me already. You can't have anything else!" Her obviously aggressive approach is halted through the summoning of Cait Sith, eyes going wide as she dodges away from the fiery blast, only to land straight in the path of Makoto's follow-up flames. "Argh! Dammit... you think you get to take the moral high ground with me? You?!"

She leaps back up to her feet, spinning the chain in her hand around before lashing out with it low to the ground in a broad sweep, striking at all the Phantom Thieves at once, before yelling out, "You think you're better than me?! You, who are prepared to kill everything what makes a person who they are?! Bunch of FUCKING hypocrites!"

She's mad now, angrily turning towards Shinjiro and Shinobu as they team up against her. After being weakened by Castor, Niko suddenly finds her attempts to intercept the staff attacks with her arms is a way more painful endeavor than she's used to, flinching away after the second hit and risking a punch to strike back after the third, just to get Shinobu to back off a moment. "You just don't get it! There's no way you could! When you've seen what I have, know what I do, then you'd see! You'd see that nothing matters! Nothing! Absolutely NOTHING!"

It's hard to even follow what happens next. Niko is a flurry of fists as she charges Shinobu and Shinjiro both, but it's not just her. Her Persona is assisting her - it doesn't just look that way, there actually ARE more fists than Niko's own pair, all the easier to to rain down a major pummeling with.

AS: Weapon! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Steel Snap on Ichika Kawase!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Ririka Kawase!
AS: Ruin: Niko Kirisaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Feral Bite on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Weapon! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Wild Whirl on Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima, and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Strike skill Rampage on Shinjiro Aragaki and Shinobu Shimizu! 3 Hits!
AS: Niko Kirisaki: Haze removed!
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 43 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Steel Snap. Critical Hit! Block Strike!
AS: Counter Worst! Makoto Niijima takes 88 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Wild Whirl.
AS: COUNTER! Niko Kirisaki takes 27 Earth damage in return for her attack! 
AS: Tandem! Tatsuya Suou has used the Fire skill Nova Kaiser on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Tatsuya Suou gains 1 Limit!
AS: Tatsuya Suou regains 40 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 54 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rampage.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 54 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rampage.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 64 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rampage. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ren Amamiya takes 76 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Wild Whirl.

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    It would have taken a lot more coffins to weigh against all Tsubasa's sins. ... but how could Umie know something like that? As far as she knew, up 'til this point, Tsubasa was just a punk who stole things from the corner store. Why would someone like that have a family like --

    well, like hers?

    Tatsuya and Katsuya were right to call out, really; Tsubasa was considering Sudou's offer. (So maybe Hell's the destination, after all. It's empty right now, anyway -- all the devils are here.)

    Ogre, at least, has all the volume to her horror which fled Tsubasa's lips. For a moment, Tsubasa can actually believe that it might be those guys whose asses are to be kicked. "I -- I'm countin' on ya, man!" They yell, in turn. And... on her boy?! They do catch a glimpse of Hyousuke's berserking, and in any other situation, they'd appreciate it more deeply than they know.

    Shinobu approves of the choice, too... so it can't have been the worst one they've ever made.

    But, another voice -- "Kawase-san! Get outta here! The Boss is gonna kill me if you get roasted!" -- it took Tsubasa a minute to realise just what it meant that Ririka is out here too, but once their mind's caught up to them, they'll at least try to look out for her.

    That bird-faced guy... is he really going to be able to pull this off? "R--really wanna be any other way than this right now," they say, trying their best to be cool about it. And to Tatsuya, they add: "I'm tryin'!" To hold on, or to not breathe in the smoke? Both, really.

    But they turn to see Shizuka, in the flames, and yell: "WAIT, DON'T--!!" -- because of course they can't recognise an Evoker on sight; to them, it just looks like a gun. It isn't bone that shatters when she fires it, though, even if Tsubasa can only really make out a blurred impression of something rising up alongside her. (Thanks to Tatsuya's careful tutelage, they can at least recognise something is supposed to be there... but since they're not Awakened, it's difficult to focus on a power as great as Galatea.) "Y--yeah, it's a murder! That's the Joker Killer, man! This -- hhhghk -- this's his shit, shows up and sets shit on fire and kills people!"

    They look to Saika, blocking flame with chains wrapped about her arm, and are forced to exclaim: "Damn." They're about to die, but respect where respect is due.

    But the other Joker declares that they're stealing Niko's kill, and it's a word which catches Tsubasa's attention, through the flames. Are those...? No, they can't be. Why would the Phantom Thieves be here trying to save them, now, after what they did? (Don't tell Tsubasa it's their friends, under there. Particularly not the girl under Queen's mask.)

    But Shinjiro says something they hear, too, and it might not just be the smoke making them tear up. "I don't wanna die, man," they say, with all the heaviness of the possibility.

    Even though... everyone's here to...

    Man, don't make them think too hard about that.

    "I don't... reckon he meant it like that," Tsubasa adds, looking to Moriko, as their mind catches up to how vile she calls Sudou's actions. "Seems more like that's the only room he's got to try'n... make it right. But that's pretty twisted as it is, huh...?"

    Tsubasa looks to Sergeant Suou, frown creasing their panicked features. "Don't reckon he can surrender," they realise, and in that realisation they would well describe empathy as a curse. In much the same way, they yell, to Shinobu: "I don't think it's an act! She's just broken, man!"

    But Sudou insists on -channing them again, and they turn to him, glaring. "I said, don't fuckin' -chan me! Hey! Are you listenin'?!" Yes -- just not to them. Tsubasa yelps, wordlessly, as Sudou charges forward -- and sends them crashing into the burning art house.

    One of the few remaining demons, Rakshasa, helpfully swings the barred door shut behind them -- so that even those thirty seconds are fruitless. Tsubasa rushes to the bars, banging on them, only to yelp as they realise they're way too hot. Perhaps it's only now that Niko's warning has really sunk into their head. "H-hey! HEY! Listen, I ain't laughin', now! Jus'-- jus' SHOOT me, man -- don't do it like this! Not like this! Please--!" It's hard to even cry out, with all the smoke gathering there, but they at least manage to holler...

    "HELP--!!"

    But Tsubasa's cries are buried as they knock over one of the burning exhibits in the entryway; they disappear from view, as the painting clatters down. Their wig catches on the falling debris, as they stagger back, and fall to the boiling ground.

    "Guh... goddamnit..." Their breath grows shallow, as they look up, at the burning walls around them. Is this the same thing they saw last time, they wonder? When they set that fire in City Hall... it must have looked just like this.

    Just like this...

    How is that fair?

    They're going to die, trapped in here, and -- and it's got to be because of that damn promotion, Tsubasa thinks, darkly.

    They slam their fist against the floor, as the injustice of it pounds in their ears, through their skull --

    "Cast out of society," a shrill, cronish voice echoes, as Tsubasa grasps at their face in some vain effort to tear their scars away, "how many times will you burn for their convenience? You know your own worth, the power inside you. If they will frame you in every sin they commit..." Tsubasa screams as a mask burns across their face, "... grasp sin with your own two hands!" That voice goads them on, as they get a foot beneath themself, pushing themself up into the smoke with a savage scream. "Yes! Consume the inferno of your rage and roar! I am thou, thou art I. Ours is a deal sealed in sacrifice. Kyahahahaha...!" The crone's voice fades into a wicked cackle, as Tsubasa finally stands, tearing that three-pointed mask from their face with a terrible gout of blue flame to scour away the red.

    "IZBUSHKA NA KUR'IH NOZHKAH--!"

    OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNvhPSxFKxA Self Deception - Fight Fire with Gasoline

    Despite never having spoken a lick of Russian in their life, their invocation is pitch-perfect, as a great chicken's leg tears out of existence to stomp down beside them. Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah is several times larger than they ever were, and the art house is battered down from the inside by the great Persona -- itself a house, a hut on chicken's legs, surrounded by a skirt of bones and skulls which must have once been its fence. It slams the burning wall down with one of those great chicken-legs, and flaps shutter-windows like little wings to either side of its body, revealing a shadowy figure inside.

    The person who storms out of the remains of the burning building alongside their own, though... isn't Tsubasa. Couldn't be Tsubasa.

    No. It's someone wearing a feathered flame-orange hood which falls down their shoulders and obscures their head in a birdlike display, covering black ninja's robes broken up by cloth wraps around their ankles, wrists, and belly. Orange gloves cover their hands, which grasp a greatsword which -- much like their Persona -- drags along the ground, larger than they are. Their mask strikes a mixture of dark and light grey, giving shape to a witch's hat splayed across their eyes and pointing up between their brow. That their skin is an unusual orange shade, mottled on the right, doesn't seem strange at all given the colour of their feathers.

    No... someone like this would naturally have been born from the flames.

    "HEY, ASSHOLE," they yell, as they start charging, sword dragging sparks against the ground as they haul ass towards Sudou with surprising speed. Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah runs with them, and as they swing their sword, the eyes on the skulls at its fence-skirt glow and alight upon it -- setting the whole thing aflame, just in time for them to swing.

    "Now I'm here," because of course they only just arrived, "and fuck you!"

AS: Tsubasa Seki has readied for combat as Izbushka na Kur'ih Nozhkah! They are now fully healed!
AS: Tandem! Tsubasa Seki has used the Fire skill Blazing Wrath on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits!
AS: Tsubasa Seki regains 10 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Block Worst! Ririka Kawase takes 78 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Sonic Punch. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 34 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rampage. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 34 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rampage. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 27 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Rampage.
AS: Avoid Best! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 35 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Wild Whirl.
AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 78 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Blazing Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 64 Fire damage from Tsubasa Seki's Blazing Wrath.
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 54 Strike damage from Niko Kirisaki's Feral Bite. Resist!
AS: Paralyze added!

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Suou has posed.

    "I don't have time to explain, just -- stop getting in the way!" Tatsuya snaps for a moment at his brother, before something wounds him inside, like he doesn't have the right to get angry at *this* Katsuya. Then again, his number was alrady blocked before he even arrived on This Side, so perhaps it doesn't need to be a particularly big grievance.

    He can't know what's in Umie's head. He's not particularly concerned about what he's spilling right now. He has to believe he can end this right here. Nip it in the bud before it becomes an even larger, sprawling conspiracy and a mess. Umie tries for her sneak attack, and he charges at this point, but Sudou's sword bursts with flame and he strikes viciously at him -- again, he doesn't have the space to contest him, without a sword of his own; he avoids the first one, and then--

    Leather glove burning where that Mark is underneath, he catches Sudou's sword in a blade grasp, grimacing as they struggle for control of the weapon.

    "Leave. Him. Out. Of. It!"

    Wow, is Tatsuya so caring about Katsuya not being involved? He's so sweet and caring about his older brother! No, they're both talking about the cute boy who Sudou sent screaming because of his reverse Persona having his face, but Katsuya's free to believe as he wishes.

    Tatsuya grimaces as he spots Tsubasa being barred by a Rakshasa in the heat of combat, but there's absolutely nothing he can do about it where he's struggling with Sudou. The flames erupt high and hot around them, and for a moment he's warped out of the literal middle of a fight and--

    TEN YEARS AGO -- BUT NOT REALLY. IT NEVER HAPPENED

    A small Tatsuya screams and slams his fists against the shut door of the Alaya Shrine, which is on fire. "Maya-nee! Maya-nee!!" His tears have run out; they're still staining his cheeks, and are starting to evaporate with the heat of the flames erupting around them.

    Something forceful grabs him from the back of his t-shirt, and Tatsuya can feel a sharp pain on his back. Gurgling, he collapses and stares helplessly as a larger, older man, his white hair flickering in the heat, his twisted, scowling face burned into his memory forever...

    NOW

    No. No... it's happening again. He catches sight of the wig falling on the debris, and Tsubasa falls -- and for all he knows, that was the end of Tsubasa, even as Resonance blazes as something awe-inspiring and great BURSTS from within the art house, a great Persona, a house on chicken's legs. Someone all should fear, a baba yaga. The masked person that steps from within is... unknown. A complete unknown to Tatsuya.

    Whoever this is, it doesn't change that Tsubasa is dead. Burned in that house.

    He turns towards Sudou.

    "Are you trying to recreate the events of that day...?"

    His anger's reached well past boiling peak and gone right back to cold, haunted fury. Apollo rises in incandescent waves of blue as he screams and shoves that sword he's managed to grapple in a vise-like position backwards at Sudou, a distraction move while Apollo's hands glow with the incandescent fury of a small star at the time of its birth.

    "Do you remember what happened on that day?"

    TEN YEARS AGO -- BUT REALLY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

    Gurgling and flinching from the most pain he's ever experienced in his short eight years of life, Tatsuya Suou raises his hand up, staring at the figure of Tatsuya Sudou as he echoes laughter in front of the Alaya Shrine. And then--

    A mechanical god of the forge rises from within him, eyes flashing as Vulcanus' hands BURST forth with incandescent flame, consuming Sudou's body and face, his eye, his eye...

    NOW -- THIS SIDE, REALITY

    Apollo rushes forward and SLAMS down with overwhelming force, briefly blinding the room in nuclear wrath, aiming directly for his face.

    "I'll make you remember... I need to rearrange your face, just like the Other Side..."

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

It's amazing to see Suou out again--after what Jun said about him. But Ichika can't watch him now, despite his awesome power, because she's so fixated on the battle before her. Once again, he's out to stop the Joker Killer. And once again--

Can Ogre help?

Steal her chance to kill? It's admittedly a cool line. But what matters more to Ogre right now is Joker's comment back. "Thanks," Ogre says. "They're... really important to me," she says, which isn't ambiguous at all. "I won't let them be hurt like this." She knows she can rely on Hyousuke, at least. He's found a target, and that's enough. Frankly, she could find his rage intimidating... but right now she feels the same way as he does, she thinks.

Amphion's protection washes over Ogre, and she can't tell Ririka right now that she's her sister. Instead, she says, "I will." 'Also be careful', that is. Shinjiro will also back her up. "I appreciate it," she says. "Let's kick some ass!

She hears Katsuya, at least, say that they mustn't. But Tsubasa doesn't. And Fox is here, too. "Fox," she says. "Be careful. They're both real strong."

-Chan again, for Tsubasa. Ogre grits her teeth. But then Niko comes at her with a steel chain. Ichika throws her shield up before the chain, the colorful steel whimsical in execution--and still reverberating with the force of Niko's strike. "Then BRING IT ON!" Ogre calls to Niko. "Don't call my friend a dumbass, dumbass!"

Killing everything that makes a person what they are... ichika might stop to think about that. But she doesn't. Instead--

Ogre lifts up her shield again. "Momiji!" she calls, and the maple-kimonoed Oni lifts her scroll once again. Healing light sparkles down on Queen, Shinobu, Ririka, and Joker.

But--Even as Ogre acts, the Joker Killer acts, and shoves Tsubasa back. "Tsubasa!" Ogre calls in dismay and horror. "TSUBASA!"

They call for help, and Ichika hefts her shield and starts running, heedless of the flames now. "No! Let me go!"

"TSUBASA!" The despair and fear in her voice are both plain.

But the remnants of a building will not stop her from trying to dig out her friend, with no focus anymore at all on her own defense. "You can't die like this! You can't!"

It's all gone wrong.

AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Shinobu Shimizu, Shinjiro Aragaki, Makoto Niijima,
and Ren Amamiya!
AS: Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ichika Kawase: Bind removed!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 105 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama. 
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 105 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 66 Fire damage from Tatsuya Suou's Nova Kaiser.
AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 46 Fire damage from Tatsuya Suou's Nova Kaiser.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 66 Fire damage from Tatsuya Suou's Nova Kaiser.

<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.

      Shizuka winces and tosses her knife towards Sudou as the burning blade comes down, falling to her knee and beginning to break out in a sweat from both the exertion and the heat of the killer's attacks. Using her Persona outside the Dark Hour was taking a bit of getting used to. She turns her head to Tsubasa as they call out to her, twirling her Evoker up and giving a smile.
 
      "Don't worry. I'm here to help! I'm not just taking a *shot* in the dark!"
 
      She brings herself up to her feet, swallowing a glob of saliva that had formed in her throat. She holds out her hand, catching her knife as it comes back to her, and sticking it out towards Sudou.
 
      "Sorry, buddy. Much as I'd like to be outside with my dad right now, you're up to some supernatural garbage! And that's unfortunately my organization's business!"
 
      She brings her second knife out to join the first, lunging in to slice at the killer with both.

AS: Tandem! Shizuka Kuroki has used the Slash skill Dual Slice on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits!

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.

Fox sweeps his blade to deliberately tangle with Niko's lashing chain to mitigate how much harm it can do, though the kusari-gama does scrape across his chest a couple of times before he manages to throw it aside.

"You don't understand how and why we do what we do," he says, calmly. "But that's fine; our secrets are ours to keep."

He levels his blade at the punk girl. "Now then."

Before he can strike, though, the Joker Killer throws Tsubasa into the exhibition hall, as the flames threaten to swallow it up. "Seki-san - !"

... The building collapses. There is - a giant hut, on chicken legs? Shining proud over a figure in a flame-hued cloak and a witchlike mask-and-hat.

... Fox can only stare at the rubble at their feet, hands shaking on his blade. Whoever this new Persona-user is... they didn't get there in time.

"... You're wrong," he says to Niko.

"Whatever they might have become, whatever they might have suffered - Seki-san mattered."

https:'i.namu.wikiiXOUXJNEh7SBbnQ4PMJ47_Gxg_-O3s7UV1E68nhKa-_Vh4XjOuAYp7Nj2VGJH2db8rNx_XjNZCRu-V5PorR_lzZRR5_Js16bsWV4b0TZRHJsqbh7EtL1f4ccVmN2gQrLtzJugNsgSCDo85LLGaGMGmw.webp

"GOEMON! STRIKE!"

As Fox closes, swinging his blade out, Goemon also swings his great pipe. Chilling crystals form around the blade and pipe, to sharpen the bite of the strikes!

AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 109 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Tandem! Yusuke Kitagawa has used the Water skill Frigid Wrath on Niko Kirisaki! 2 Hits!
AS: Yusuke Kitagawa: Bind removed!

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
"Oh, am I bullying you?" Saika retorts to the Joker Killer: "SO SORRY! Lemme come back after you BURN THE ART GALLERY DOWN!"

Big words. Unfortunately, the Joker Killer has a compelling counter-argument: a flaming blade. After that punch Saika ends up rolling to the side; she ends up briefly on the ground on her back before kipping up, which is when the blade comes towards her. Once again the chain-wrapped arm comes up for a block.

This time the fire is worse. She is smashed back and onto her back, although she's able to roll enough that there isn't that lingering opportunity for the Joker Killer to stamp a mud-hole in her torso. The motion hurts. The flame hurts. Her arm hurts. Everything hurts. She doesn't get up immediately, though she does rise to a crouch -- it would be quite unpleasant for that girl with the sick motorcycle to just... accidentally run her over.

It could happen to anyone.

There they are, thinks Saika, looking at Tsubasa, the target of all of THIS. Why are they getting the heat? They're shouting. They know most of these people. She heaves herself up into a squat, but before she can rise...

... they're taking offense... crying out...

There they are. Something's... Saika stops, turning her head to watch. Something comes and something forms. Saika's lips form an 'oh' as the crone speaks, as Tsubasa stands up... and then... "WHOOH!" Saika finds herself calling out, before heaving upwards. "Urgh," she continues. "Someone owes me a massage for this one."

A deep drawing of breath, an exhalation, and she stays more or less where she is. "Point of order, I second the motion of the honored speaker," Saika calls out, though her tone of voice makes it sound like a cuss. "Advance it t' committee, Frankenstein's Monster! Choke on the power've life!" As the Monster appears again, a stuttering flurry of electrical arcs snap from the sky down towards the Joker Killer, a staccato one-two-THREE of bursts that leave black scorch marks.

AS: Persona! Saika Kikuchi has used the Elec skill Rapid Zio on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits!
AS: Defense: Saika Kikuchi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Saika Kikuchi: Loses 46 HP from Poison! Blast removed!

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.

It's not such a surprise, hearing that Tsubasa's mother called them to say she loved them after they called the Joker. It's not a surprise at all. How else can a Mother deal with a Cursed Child? Indeed... that Akechi is still alive is evidence only of one thing...

That Tsubasa does not take the offer? Well... Akechi could have expected that one too.

Katsuya looks at his arm in concern, but he doesn't seem all that fussed about it himself, like he's merely taking it as a small challenge fighting like this. His question though? "It's because they consider themselves vigilantes, rather than criminals." He says with a smirk, "Perhaps they don't realize there's no actual difference?"

He meets Tatsuya's eyes and as he frowns... Akechi draws his own conclusions on that. The Paradox Boy lives up to his name, with his speed and swordwork and despite being in a battle, Akechi takes a moment just scrutinizing it, especially the whispered conversation near Sudou.

He can read lips but, in the heat of battle he can hardly make out a fragment.

"Haha... Oh but I just couldn't." He replies to Saika, as if he were using it as a distraction from what he's actually paying attention to, "I have a reputation for getting 'on' the case."

Joker seems unamused, but Akechi doesn't seem to mind, after all, needling him has become a favorite past time of his. And on the attack, his words cause a smug response, "Well, I think even Officer Suou can't find a reason to complain about that kind of theft."

It's just a small jest, but it at least lets them know they have an 'understanding' until this battle is over.

Sudou comes at him with a whirling slash, and Akechi's hand suddenly snaps a luminous saber, wherein the blade seems made of light. "Please... stop projecting. You're the one who has commitment issues. After all..."

And as he locks blades with Sudou, his own voice drops to a near-whisper, "... you're here, aren't you? Just a sniveling little boy, too scared to man up because Daddy might take his belt off."

Tsubasa however, the situation is getting desperate their cries to be shot rather than burn to death, and Akechi calls out, "Hang on! I'm coming!" As if to call out at the last moment, hearing it, but he doesn't act upon it.

He waits, circling Sudou like he's sizing up a predator animal. But he has no time to act in the heat of battle because the building is already collapsing.

And Tsubasa is no longer there... Ogre crying over their absence.

He looks upon that burning pyre for a moment, despite the Phoenix Rise of another Persona User, his mind cannot connect it.

"That's enough out of you... you murdering little pissant." He says, quietly but with a sort of deadly edge. And even as he says it, Sudou would note as Robin Hood spins, bloody runes suddenly form around him, before they all conjoin into a bloody blast of darkness.

Then before anyone can even comprehend what's happened, a multitude of blasts of light strike down on him, one, two, three.

AS: Avoid Neutral! Moriko Kumamoto takes 90 Strike damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Sonic Punch. Critical Hit!
AS: Goro Akechi spends Limit on Exploit! Goro Akechi can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Dark skill Mudo on Tatsuya Sudou!
AS: Persona! Goro Akechi has used the Light skill Multi-Kouha on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Goro Akechi gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Niko gets angry. Her flurry of fists impacts Shinjiro three times - each time, the sign goes up to block it, diffusing most of the force and just sending him skidding far. This is fine. "Niko, I-"

But before he can give a compassionate response...

Tsubasa Seki seems to die. Their anguish, the fire, them burning to death. Even if someone else comes in the aftermath to avenge them, they're dead.

He may not have known Tsubasa closely... but they had an understanding of sorts. They saved Myunghon. They helped Ichika. They cared and were cared for.

Shinjiro freezes as he realizes this. Flashbacks skid across his mind of ten years ago, of a little girl burning in flames, as his best friend and basically-younger-brother tries to rescue her, and is pulled back before he can burn to death.

Flashbacks, as a woman's house collapses onto her, crushing her instantly.

Shinjiro starts to wobble, falling to one knee as the force continues to push on him. When he finally centers his mind...

"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, OLD MAID! YOU'RE GONNA BURN IN HELL!"

His face twists in rage, his old emotion. But even as he's starting to become that bull in the china shop... he has to focus on Niko. He has words for her.

"A teenager is dead because of you. You stopped us, all because 'nothing matters'. Well, news flash, it did! They had the chance to make it matter fully and truly! It only doesn't matter if you *let it not matter*! Their life was ripped away and for what, someone else's hate?!"

He's almost growling. In his heart, he doesn't *hate* Niko, but he's pretty pissed at her.

"I'm gonna kick your ass. You've made a mistake I wish you hadn't... I know I haven't seen the same shit as you, but I've seen shit! I've seen people die, been responsible for some things I can't take back!"

He's rushing forward with the sign, but it's not what he swings with. Instead, Castor comes forth again, as a bloody aura washes over Shinjiro, ripping into his own body as he hurts himself just to empower himself.

"Once you take a life, you can't ever wash that sin off! Take it from me! Every death you cause, every sin you commit... it's gonna live with you until the day you die!"

"So I'm gonna imprint that straight into your fucking brain!"

Then, Castor stomps, before moving to plow Niko backwards and smash her into the nearest hard object with force. He knows she'll live.

It's the only way she can get the lesson instilled.

AS: Shinjiro Aragaki spends Limit on Exploit! Shinjiro Aragaki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Almighty skill Bloody Charge on Shinjiro Aragaki!
AS: Pressure: Shinjiro Aragaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's Bloody Charge.
AS: Atk_Up, Crt_Up, and Def_Up added!
AS: Persona! Shinjiro Aragaki has used the Strike skill Bash on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Shinjiro Aragaki regains 20 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Niko Kirisaki takes 50 Water damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Frigid Wrath.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Niko Kirisaki takes 60 Water damage from Yusuke Kitagawa's Frigid Wrath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 115 Strike damage from Shinjiro Aragaki's Bash. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

The blow was a success, and whatever counter damage he'd received was minimal at best, but Hyousuke knew better than anyone not to savour the moment. He had momentum, and he had to push it before Niko could recover. He thrust his fist out and split wide his lips, preparing to issue yet another command - though it was not to be. Niko's strike came before he could press his advantage, and with no distance between them, he could do nothing but throw up yet another guard. It struck with force like the first, but there was more to it than simple strength.

His legs stiffened as he tried to move out of his bracing stance, and moving his arms was a Herculean task he had to expend every effort for. It wasn't just his limbs either. Every muscle in his body seized as if they were made of stone, with all his energy needed to make even the simplest of movements. Even that could not stop him from craning his neck around to see the gargantuan foot bearing down upon them, nor could it keep his face from contorting into abject astonishment. It was a strange look, malformed from his features, feeling as though they had been welded in place, but there was no mistaking the shock that he took on.

Hyousuke was no stranger to violence, nor to grievous harm. But this... this was death. Something he'd never been witness to, much less party to. And he could not begin to describe what it instilled in him. Sadness was only one part of it, and that was numbed by the shock and adrenaline that surged through his veins like lightning. Anger flared up in him like a wildfire, but that was simple instinct. A primal, unthinking, thing - and this was more. This was hatred. Pure, unfettered, hatred, so powerful that it forced him to move his screaming muscles until he pointed to Niko, and glared at her with murder in his eyes. Through gritted teeth, he spoke only one word to her.

"BURN!."

Achilles rose from behind him, before levelling his spear like a headsman's axe. A surge of oil descended with it, burning with such intensity that Hyousuke felt as though the skin was being seared from his flesh. Yet, he watched on, still and growling as Achilles directed that surge of blazing oil at the murderer before him.

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Fire skill Blazing Oil on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 100 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Joker continues to look unamused when Akechi claims that vigilantes and criminals are the same--and then looks smug at them about it. "Mind your arm, Detective," they retort, an indirect reminder of what might have befallen him if not for them coming to his aid--but the needling and counter-needling will have to leave off there. After all... the Old Maid has body-checked Tsubasa into a burning room. Thirty seconds might be enough to escape--if only that Rakshasa didn't swing the barred door shut behind them, locking them in.
    
    "!!" Joker enunciates, dark eyes going wide behind their mask. "Ogre, go!! Save your friend!!" they shout, not that Ogre needed to be told that. Surely ordering around someone who isn't a Phantom Thief--surely that desperation in their voice--has nothing to do with Tsubasa as an individual. They don't try to crowd her. They can only trust that Ogre will save her friend.
    
    But just before that, Tsubasa yelled something about Niko--not to Joker, but they heard it all the same: 'I don't think it's an act! She's just broken, man!'
    
    This, right before Niko snarls at them about their 'hypocrisy'--about how there's nothing left of her for them to steal. How what they do is stealing everything someone is. Joker doesn't respond; they simply stare at her for a moment. Fox's response is eloquent enough for all of them... but Joker remembers what Tsubasa said. How Niko seemed genuinely upset that they didn't save their own life. How her anger vents itself not just through her fists, but her Persona's fists, which smash into Cait Sith and de-materialize it. Joker cries out in pain, staggering back a step... but they don't fall--nor do they turn their eyes away.
    
    "I see," Joker says quietly to Niko. The look in their dark eyes might hew suspiciously towards pity--but their mask hides their shape and the contours of their eyebrows. They simply look at her with an unyielding steadiness. "If nothing matters, as you claim... why are you getting so upset?"
    
    Blue fire flares around them, and Cait Sith materializes anew, sword raised. However, rather than call up another Agi spell, fire whorls up around him--and around Joker, as they raise in with their dagger in their right hand and Cait Sith over their left. Ogre's healing powers wash over them, energizing User and Persona both--but Joker will have to give her their thanks later.
    
    "The truth is, you don't even believe your own words! You know you have things left to lose--and you're terrified that we'll take them! But we aren't the ones you should fear in that regard."
    
    Someone new bursts out of the flaming prison in which Tsubasa had been entrapped--a new Persona User, with a house emerging from the house. It's a hell of a sight, made all the more harrowing from the fact that this means Ogre has failed. Joker's teeth grit--but just as they kept their shaking hands in their pockets earlier, they don't let themself cry out now. They can take bitter comfort in the fact that this new Persona User is here fight Sudou, and that's good enough. For their part, they focus in on Niko. Shinjiro is lecturing her very well on the subject of murder, so they'll leave that part to him. Instead...
    
    "If you truly cared about Tsubasa Seki..." Joker and Cait Sith swoop in together towards Niko. "...you should never have allied with the Old Maid on this matter." Flames heat their prismatic dagger white-hot as they slash it towards Niko and Ate. "I pray you learn that lesson well!!"

AS: Tandem! Ren Amamiya has used the Fire skill Firebrand on Niko Kirisaki! 2 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Ren Amamiya gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ren Amamiya: Bind removed!
AS: Ren Amamiya regains 10 HP from Regenerate!

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    "...I see, so that's how they're conceiving it," he says, to Akechi, the only one here wearing a mask (well, other than a certain young woman he knows well enough at this point) whom he can identify as his public persona (uncapitalized, please). In the moment, he has no choice but to let it slide, but what had become of Kaneshiro (or rather how it had apparently been done) does still weigh heavy upon his mind--

    And while he says nothing to this 'other' Joker, he does glance his way as he retorts to Akechi's own commentary.

    Tsubasa says they don't think that Sudou can surrender. His gaze meets theirs, for just an instant. Someone too caught in their own delusions to back down. Someone who can't do anything but what they're currently doing, or believes as much, in any case. 'Fate', as some might call it. He doesn't say a word in response to Tsubasa, but perhaps, that gaze will say it all for him.

    Even if Sudou can't back down or surrender, Katsuya still feels the need to extend the offer.

    "What are you talking about, Tatsuya?! /This is my job/!" Katsuya shouts back in kind, ire spiking into his words. When's the last time they have had a conversation that hasn't resulted in at least one of them shouting and/or (in Katsuya's case) a lengthy lecture? Longer than either of them can remember, no doubt.

    'Leave him out of it'.

    Vehement, Katsuya shakes his head. "Tatsuya, that's enough!"

    Of course he's mistaken it for being about him. Is there any other 'him' his brother could be talking about in such a way here and now? Of course this is a natural mistake for Katsuya to make, given what's been said and what's happening. Maybe it's better for Katsuya to have those delusions, if just in this moment.

    But he did see that video, even if he's not on the case officially anymore. It was hard not to learn about it, and once he did, he didn't really have a choice but to watch it, even knowing what he'd likely see within it. Forget furious: this is downright apoplectic anger. "You! How dare you--!" he yells at Sudou, and if the other man didn't keep talking, it's without question that Katsuya would have struck at him again in some fashion.

    Sudou has something more to say to him, though.

    His brother has secrets, Sudou tells him, and at that, #501 will find himself the recipient of a glare. "--Do you think I don't know who you are?!"

    Of course, that statement was also punctuated by a shot of flame from #501, a terrible shot that seems to scour through even Helios' defenses. It's a lot harder to shake it off; his suit jacket, for just a moment, is caught aflame. Even the most intense dry cleaning and repair probably can't do all that much about this--

    But in the moment, it's the absolute least of his concerns. Tsubasa is swept into the burning art house. That demon swings the barred door shut upon them.

    "Seki-san!"

    Tsubasa, somewhere in there, cries out hoarsely once, and then, even as he makes a few quick strides towards the building, he knows it's already a futile effort. All that Katsuya can hear is the roar of the flames and the crackle-crash of parts of the art-house coming down. "...No..."

    He'd told them not to call. And, maybe that was the correct thing to do. Maybe survival isn't acceptable if you sacrifice someone else in your place. But neither is this sick, guilty feeling an easy thing to bear. Just like that, they're gone, with their few acquaintances left only to mourn them. Katsuya, then, does the only thing left that can be done.

    "How dare you--!" he roars at Sudou, and it's then that something is stirring among the wreckage. The heart is allowed to hope, just for a few moments.

    But the person who emerges is a Persona-user, and most certainly Not Tsubasa Seki. "You're-- too late," he says, closing his eyes briefly. "But so am I! Helios! Come here!"

    The black cat Persona leaps from his very being in perhaps the same instant that the mystery Persona user haves at Sudou; hovering before Katsuya, Helios bears flame in both hands and lobs that fire one after another at the Joker Killer.

AS: Persona! Katsuya Suou has used the Fire skill Double Agi on Tatsuya Sudou! 2 Hits!
AS: Defense: Katsuya Suou gains 1 Limit!
AS: Katsuya Suou: Blast removed!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    'You want to fix this mess... make it more like the 'Other Side'.
    'Other side'. R?eset?t??loc?, l?t??????b?????????
    'Ara ara~ those past lies of yours are spreading, Umie-chan.'
    
    Umie's head is slammed against with the back of Sudou's own, coupled with a hilt jabs, has her hanging on by the smallest thread of coherency-- that is, angled so that her body is arced backwards, both hands hanging onto a slacked shoge.

    Which means.... 'We're here to steal your chance to kill--' Umie sees the other side of the battle from an upsidedown vantage point, her hood falling back to expose blonde hair. ".... cat." Cat. That was a cat. (The Other) Joker's summoning a cat. In boots. (Stop grinning like that, Umie. You failed to kill Sudou and now you are going to pay for it.)

    And there's that hand. Time for all murderers to be punished.

    Umie is sent flying towards Moriko, colliding with the SEES member and senselessly rolls off her. "Ugh...." Her mask, cracked, falls off her face as she falls aside.

    The scene, when the blonde-haired girl rouses from her temporary lapse of consciousness, is hellish. A building on fire, the screams of someone within, and out...

    "....."
    It's already too late to change what's already happened. But you know that very well, don't you?
     Only Akechi would recognize the way Umie's eyes have gone glassy. But would he even look that way, when he is similarly looking (and similarly reacting) at the same event?

    Umie's resonance emerges from hiding.... and if it could make a sound, it'd be terrible *shriek*. Badb, calling out the death (of an old self), as another one rises from the flames.
    Spread the delusion and maybe something will change.
    .....
    "... Scarlet fire cleanses the lion's throat." Each word feels like a piece of barbed wire pulled straight from Umie's throat. #-1 INVALID ANSI DEFINITION: +xterm124"A dance of death cast in shadow."

    The corpse porcelain flesh of the Badb swirls above Umie as she's a blur of motion, the shoge's rope criss-crossing over in impossible lines over Sudou; if it hits, it will bind, and it will *constrict* like the woody barbs that marr the battlefield.

    "I'll see your death," Umie says, in monotone.

    There's no oracle here: she's just declared what she wants to happen.

AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 80 Dark damage from Goro Akechi's Mudo.
AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 40 Light damage from Goro Akechi's Multi-Kouha. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 27 Light damage from Goro Akechi's Multi-Kouha.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Tatsuya Sudou takes 22 Light damage from Goro Akechi's Multi-Kouha.
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Makoto Niijima can use another Weak skill this round! SP +8! Healed 20!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Niko Kirisaki takes 61 Fire damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Blazing Oil. Weak! Avoid Fire!
AS: Avoid Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 32 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Firebrand. Critical Hit! Weak! Avoid Fire!
AS: Avoid Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 22 Fire damage from Ren Amamiya's Firebrand. Weak! Avoid Fire!
AS: Ren Amamiya spends Limit on Shift! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round! SP +8! Healed 20!
AS: Tandem! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Garden of the Crow on Tatsuya Sudou! 3 Hits!
AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 66 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Garden of the Crow.
AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 84 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Garden of the Crow. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 66 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Garden of the Crow.
AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 17 Elec damage from Saika Kikuchi's Rapid Zio.
AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 17 Elec damage from Saika Kikuchi's Rapid Zio.
AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 13 Elec damage from Saika Kikuchi's Rapid Zio.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Joker's got something for this, and Ririka glances as a different Persona comes forth. Just like the Arisatos... "Whoa." But she nods. "Nice one." If Ririka knew he deduced the correct attack with the missed warning, he'd be impressed. (She's still impressed, just for different reasons.)

She nods to Shinjiro. "Welcome, Senpai! I'll be backing all of you up as best I can!"

Ririka nods back to Shinobu.

But then she focuses her attention on Niko, as she calls her Rirka-chan again. "You did that one on purpose," she mutters. "What's it to you?" She lets out a shout of surprise as a giant fist materializes, and before she can figure out how to block a fist with a sword it sock her, sending her sprawling back and down to the ground. "Ouugh...." she groans as she puhes herself back up.

It's not for show, but... "Sorry, I'm not a DPS type," she manages to get out through slightly haggard breaths.

Tsubasa's looking out for her, though. Ririka shakes her head. "It's you I'm worried about, Seki-san!" There's not really enough time to explain the whole 'I have magic powers' thing. "... I can keep up with these guys, trust me!"

But then he's locked in the art house, and panic swells up in Ririka's chest. Despite saying she could keep up, this feels like something she doesn't know how to handle. "TSUBASA!" She forces herself up to standing, leaning on her katana for support. "We have to get them out, we can't heal them, if they're in there too long--"

Someone new emerge, though, and Ririka is tense--but at least they seem to be on their side and not the side of the Joker Killer and Niko.

Ogre's got healing for some of those fighting Niko, and Ririka calls out, "Amphion! It's time for a medley!" Amphion begins to play, strings made of holographic light springing to life as the statue's fingers move over them. "First movement--"

A gentle, calm and relaxing melody sounds out, and calm healing magics wash over Ogre, Ririka, Fox, and Hyousuke, to keep sustaining them as the fight goes on.

"You wanna see me throw a punch?" Ririka declares, glaring at Niko. "Try this on-- Amphion, time for the second movement!"

Ririka points her katana at Niko. The song continues as before, but where before it was calm and gentle, and uplifting, it suddenly turns fast and blazing, and flame erupts for Niko.

AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 33 Slash damage from Shizuka Kuroki's Dual Slice.
AS: Block Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 33 Slash damage from Shizuka Kuroki's Dual Slice.
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Avoid Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 23 Fire damage from Katsuya Suou's Double Agi.
AS: Avoid Worst! Tatsuya Sudou takes 39 Fire damage from Katsuya Suou's Double Agi.

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko glances to Tsubasa briefly, "When all you have is a hammer?" She thinks she gets the point. There's a brief moment of thought. A distraction, which probably isn't the best place for it. "I don't know though." Fully admitting she's not going to try and get into the headspacing needed for that train of thought.
 
 There's a rant from the Joker Killer about a killing instinct. Which, fair. Moriko doesn't have. She does have a violent streak though and she's about to try and throw that flag pole like a spear at the figure out of pure spite when Umie is suddenly a projectile.
 
 There's a brief moment where Moriko's brain can't process it. Then a brief moment of her brain deciding she can catch the person turned kinetic object.
 
 Her brain then reminds her she's a high schooler and then it's too late and she's tried to catch Umie which is painful. She makes a sound similar to 'Augh!" and lands heavily on the ground. Umie might not have taken as bad a hit though!
 
 Hopefully. Otherwise Moriko's going to feel even dumber later. She even wheezes out a, "You okay?"
 
 Her hand flops out and she grabs for her Evoker nearby and says, "Give me a second." Trying to get her head in order. Trying to push herself back up so she can pull the trigger again, "Otohime Gitsune" That mostly came out coherent. The fox appearing over the prone form. Darting forward, motes of light around her before she fades away, engulfing the killer in the light instead.
 
 Moriko, getting her senses back together somewhat quickly tries to push herself up. A concerned look to the woman, reaching out, "Hey." There's a distant stare. That's a head injury right?
 
 Then she's active again. And shouting about fires. And killing someone in a monotone. She quickly gets herself to her feet. Grabbing the fallen flag and leaning on it to catch her breath. Does she inch away? She's wildly out of her depth and a bit ragged around the edges by now.
 
 She makes a quiet judgement, "I'm.. going to hope for the best." Turning to face the Joker Killer. She knows that threat. Even if only by reputation.

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Healing Song on Ichika Kawase, Ririka Kawase, Hyousuke Suzuki,
and Yusuke Kitagawa!
AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen added!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Fire skill Agi on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Persona! Moriko Kumamoto has used the Light skill Hama on Tatsuya Sudou!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen added!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

Niko is angry, now. She finds space in her swings to punch out and Shinobu goes staggering back, her rhythm broken. Niko declares that nothing matters - absolutely nothing. She becomes a flurry of fists - and Shinobu can only let out a grunt as she braces herself, trying to weave through the attacks thrown by Niko and her Persona both. She does her best, but there's too much to avoid completely. The further hits only make the rest harder to avoid.

Shinobu's pretty angry herself, after that - but it's only Tsubasa calling out that it's not an act, that she's just broken that keeps her from sniping out with the immediate response that comes to mind.

"Maybe I don't 'get it'." Shinobu replies. "I don't want to get it. I've got things that matter to me, so I don't care what you think matters or not. You're not one who gets to decide that... so get out of our way so we can help them."

The Ogre calls upon her Persona, and Momiji's healing light shines down on her. She feels a little less sore - but before she can move forward, the door is blocked off.

"Tsubasa!" Shinobu calls out, alarm growing. Before she can do anything - the building collapses. "NO!"

Shinobu inhales sharply. Her grip tightens on her staff.

"You bastard...!" She hisses, bloodlust seeping out of her voice as she whirls toward the Joker Killer. She's not going to fool herself. That isn't... survivable.

A Phoenix rises from the flames... Whoever they are, they've come too late to stop the worst.

She turns her attention back to Niko.

Shinjiro voices her feelings better than she could.

"You're a part of this... So you don't get to get out of it." She says. "Lachesis!"

Her other self rises behind her, her eyes focused on Niko.

"Hama!" Shinobu calls out. Lachesis's hands slide across her measuring rod, and come to a stop - and purifying seals begin to rise up around Niko, Shinobu races in as they do. The seals explode in a flash of light - and Shinobu uses the flash as a cover as she lunges in, jabbing her staff toward Niko.

AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Exploit! Shinobu Shimizu can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Light skill Hama on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Jab Flurry on Niko Kirisaki! 3 Hits!
AS: Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!
AS: Block Best! Tatsuya Sudou takes 66 Light damage from Moriko Kumamoto's Hama.
AS: Mind Up! Niko Kirisaki's SP +8!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 127 Fire damage from Ririka Kawase's Agi. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 109 Light damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Hama.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Block Best! Niko Kirisaki takes 44 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 52 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 52 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Take! Yusuke Kitagawa takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen added!

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.

    It seems that the Phantom Thieves have gotten under Niko's skin. But something about Niko's own retort shakes Makoto.

    You, who are prepared to kill everything what makes a person who they are?!

    And yet.... it was worth it. Necessary, as far as Makoto is concerned. It's not like they steal heart's lightly. But... killing everything they are? ...even if it stops monsters, is it justice? She'd decided it was, so why is she still so easy to make doubt.

    The chain sweeps out, and it takes Johanna's wheels out from under Makoto, and sends her and her motorcycle persona tumbling- but not without calculating. They both take damage, badly, but Makoto used the opportunity to turn getting sent airborne into a tackle, a sheen of rock emerging on the spikes of her shoulderpads. The Accountant Cape from Kaneshiro's palace continues to make itself useful, even if she can't turn it into a clean tackle. She gets ready to shout back-

    But them she sees what's happening, Tsubasa-kun launching an attack at the Joker Killer, and then they're trapped in the burning arthouse. "Johanna!" Queen calls again, panicky. "Joker, Fox, keep her busy, I need to-"

    But it's already too late. The art house explodes, a Persona emerging from it. But the person who steps out isn't Tsubasa. They're not there. The figure in the flames... it couldn't be them. But there's no one left there. Or at least. No one left standing. Nothing could have survived those events.

    "TSUBASA-KUN!" Fear makes her throw away her opsec, her eyes going wide under her mask. No. No way.

    Even in middle school, Makoto Niijima didn't have many friends, but the few she had were precious. Of those, Tsubaki Seki was the closest, most important. They both made student council, and when the transfer to high school came, the two's scores (and their respective parent's funds) got them into Shujin Academy High School. After her dad died, the two people Makoto could most rely on were her older sister, and Tsubaki-chan.

    And then Tsubaki-chan burnt down the office of the politician she was doing an internship with, and Makoto had just herself and Sae. She hadn't expected to ever see them again, or be able to be friends even if she did.

    Circumstance led her to being able to maybe understand what happened. Circumstance led to her meeting Tsubasa-kun. To have a chance to reconnect with the person she was closest to in school.

    And now they're dead. A burnt up corpse. Johanna disappears again, as Makoto drops to her knees. "No way..." She murmurs, even as she can hear Ogre equally distraught, her focus seems to narrow. The healing that washes over her does little to soothe the sudden, intense pain she's feeling. Her eyes are wet, and tears are trailing down from under her mask.

    And when she turns back to face Niko, her eyes are aflame with fury and hatred, her body shaking as Johanna comes back to Makoto's side, unbidden. This time, Johanna is responding to the call of Makoto's soul.

    "Shut your goddamn mouth, you murdering scum!"

    Makoto starts running forward, and Johanna speeds along side her until Makoto leaps atop her, with no flash, no ceremony. Her engines roar, her exhaust lets out white green nuclear flame, singing black the ground behind her. "You killed them!!" Any fears she had about her justice lacking, about her superiority to Strega, are gone. "Because of a phone call! If you think nothing matters-" She revs Johanna's engine again, and the motorcycle speeds toward Niko, becoming fully wreathed in nuclear flame. Normally, she would brake, turn it into slide to scythe someone's legs out from under them.

    Not this time. Makoto only goes faster, aiming to drive Johanna into Niko at full speed, and as she closes, she leaps off Johanna, straight at Niko.

    "Then I'll make you feel how much they mattered!" Queen roars, aiming to slug Niko across the jaw with a brutal right. In an ideal world, she'd be able to use this to drive Niko to the ground and pin her. This isn't an ideal world. So she'll settle for turning the second she lands to try and drive the other oversized, heavy brass knuckle into the back of Niko's head. There's no elegance in this technique, no showiness. Just pure, unrestrained brutality.

AS: Makoto Niijima spends Limit on Psych! 
AS: Tandem! Makoto Niijima has used the Fire skill Full Throttle on Niko Kirisaki!
AS: Weapon! Makoto Niijima has used the Strike skill Tsuki on Niko Kirisaki! 2 Hits!
AS: Makoto Niijima: Psych removed!
AS: Avoid Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 125 Fire damage from Makoto Niijima's Full Throttle. Critical Hit! Weak! Avoid
Fire!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 42 Strike damage from Makoto Niijima's Tsuki. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Niko Kirisaki takes 42 Strike damage from Makoto Niijima's Tsuki. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.

    Suddenly a new player has appeared and she seems angry for some damn reason, and Sudou is so worried of running away from Tatsuya's attacks that he wasn't expecting a new sword wielder to appear. He runs right through those swords as he does everything to avoid angry Tatsuya. That doesn't mean he is done making Tatsuya angry though, " Tatsuya, I couldn't remake that night today. You didn't push her in, but my boss will count it. "

     As the emotional damage is dished out to Tatsuya, Sudou doesn't have the heart to tell the guy he really doesn't remember. He has just heard stories. "I've already told you, Tatsuya, I am trying to fix all the mistakes. We both know since that night here, nothing has gone right. That you shouldn't be fighting me but him." As if on queue above The Joker Killers head, The Joker appears and waves to Tatsuya." I already told you Tatsuya. The pieces are still being gathered, we can't redo things until they are all on the battlefield. Even the faked mask people are a part of that now, as they play the role of the circle. They will be there too, and so will he. "

     It is at this point that the others begin to interfere, which is fine. A certain voice is yelling at Sudou for talking too much, but there is something about Tatsuya that makes him want to start monologuing. Fortunately other people pull his attention starting with the pretty and clean boy, and now it is Sudou's turn to get angry as The Prince moves in and speaks to him in such an uncouth language. That doesn't help him though as all that light magic causes Sudou to fall for an obvious trick, of hiding something in the shadows and it nails him in the chest like a brick as he stumbles back coughing as he catches a breath. The Joker persona looks down at Sudou condescendingly shaking it's head.

     Still Sudou doesn't fall and those who know Sudou know that he doesn't fall easily. Instead he moves toward the danger, as he runs toward Shizuka's blades and doesn't stop as he protects his vital part but all that happens is a playing card is jabbed into Shizuka's chest. Before Shizuka can even conceive why Sudou is already charging ahead again. From Shizuka's blades into the motes of light, the lights burning, but Sudou has direction now, thanks to his anger being fueled. Now smoking from the magical light damage and bleeding from the blades, he delivers a playing card to Moriko. Now towards Saika and the electricity causes him to slow, his muscles not responding but thats when the joker persona seems to mime being a puppet master and Sudou is moving just fine. As he stops infront of Saika he smiles and hands her a card too.

     The Joker Killer is about to speak before the Joker Persona leans down and taps the paper bag and points to Umie. It is all Sudou can do to clench up and takes the attack becoming a mummy. Fortunately the binding and ropes pulls him out of Katsuya's fire.

     The rope does it's job, Tatsuya Sudou is bound, until the Joker Persona gets annoyed. The persona snaps and the black flames ignite the ropes and immolating Sudou at the same time.

     Standing there is a flaming Sudou, drenched in black flames and lets out a blood curdling scream. Still on fire, as the bag turns black, his voice can be heard. " I was going to be nice. However if are all going to get pissy with me doing my job from my boss." He reaches up to the Persona and takes the deck of cards, "New game! 52 card pickup" With that said Sudou throws the deck in the air, kinda childish. The cards rain down and each one is a joker card that has spread across the ground.

     The Joker persona then turns and looks at the newcomer, as it reaches down and draws all the fire off of Sudou, the paperbag turning grey but somehow remaining in tact. The black fire in hand the Joker Persona blows it toward The Phoenix aiming to have the black flames burn the new comer to ash. The Joker Persona and the Joker Killer give Niko a look , Sudou's voice echos in a serious nature, "The job's done and I'm bored. Let's get out of here. " The J

AS: Tatsuya Sudou spends Limit on Psych! 
AS: Tatsuya Sudou spends Limit on Broad! 
AS: Tatsuya Sudou spends Limit on Reach! 
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Fire skill Inferno on Tsubasa Seki!

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.

    The Joker and Joker Kiler give a snap as all the cards begins to glow with magic until all 52 explode in a giant explosion. Sudou is nowhere to be found after.

AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Almighty skill Joker Wild on Tsubasa Seki, Goro Akechi, Tatsuya Suou, and
Shizuka Kuroki!
AS: Block Neutral! Tatsuya Suou takes 124 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Persona! Tatsuya Sudou has used the Almighty skill Joker Wild on Moriko Kumamoto, Umie Akabane, Saika Kikuchi, and
Katsuya Suou!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 133 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Tatsuya Sudou: Broad, Psych, and Reach removed!
AS: Avoid Best! Goro Akechi takes 100 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Mind Up! Tsubasa Seki's SP +8!
AS: Counter Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 192 Fire damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Inferno. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Haze added!
AS: COUNTER! Tatsuya Sudou takes 47 Slash damage in return for his attack! 
AS: Avoid Worst! Tsubasa Seki takes 174 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Take! Shizuka Kuroki takes 219 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Katsuya Suou spends Limit on Brace! 
AS: Block Best! Katsuya Suou takes 105 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Avoid Best! Moriko Kumamoto takes 121 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.
AS: Block Neutral! Saika Kikuchi takes 132 Almighty damage from Tatsuya Sudou's Joker Wild.

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

Niko clashes with Ogre, chain meeting shield. Not bad, that is a heavy chain. But she's in no mood to give out any such compliments, not after those words. What do you mean she's the dumbass? "I call 'em like I see 'em, dumbass!" Boy, this is rapidly turning into the most mature argument ever.

She's ready for what she believes is the inevitable counterstrike, but something else happens instead. Something completely contrary to her expectations. "...You're a healer? When you look like THAT?" So she judges by appearances, sue her.

But that's where it all ends. While she her angry outburst, the Joker Killer takes action... and accomplishes what he came here for. Of course, Niko was prepared for that to happen. That was the plan, after all, and she performed her part in it quite well. Really, she deserves some praise, managing to hold off all those people long enough. Maybe it'll even be a little easier for others to accept now, how futile and meaningless it all is.

She doesn't exactly look happy about it though. Cooling anger aside, it's not like she was ever going to be. She already knew this is how she would feel from the start - or would fail to feel, rather, as she is feeling a whole lot of absolutely nothing right now. Like always. She almost wishes that she could feel whatever it is that Ogre is feeling right now. She does not take advantage of Ogre's distracted state in any way - there's no point.

The appearance of a new Persona User in the wake of this, THAT gets her attention. Another person with a grudge against the Joker Killer? That's certainly what it looks like. Too late to make a difference here, but... she sure hopes she doesn't need to intervene on that side. She has enough to deal with already.

Such as Hyousuke, immediately turning his anger in her direction. Having had quite enough of fire, Niko responds to that clear statement of intent by making herself scarce. He's given her no indication that he can be reasoned with, and she has no more reason to be particularly aggressive, so she's just plainly going to run away from him. She feels good about that decision, at least enough to outrun that volley of burning oil.

Of the Phantom Thieves, Fox simply claims she's wrong. That's a normal enough reaction, she gets it all the time. As she leaps back, her Persona battles freezing blade with hair, getting in the way of landing a solid strike on her. Again, she seems uninterested in directly seeking the confrontation at all. Joker, though...

Niko locks eyes with Joker. 'Do you get it now,' she seems to ask, though she doesn't verbalize it. As it turns out, he does get something... though not what she wanted him to get. She frowns, at first... then the rest of his words prompts her to wave her arm in a gesture of rejection. "Mind your own business! You're sticking your nose where it's not wanted!"

But it seems she has no words in her defense. From him, too, she can only run away, flaming dagger striking twice in the spot she once was - she's fast, when she focuses fully on defense for once.

<Pose Tracker> Niko Kirisaki has posed.

But all this dodging has tired her out. And Shinjiro's words... those hit her harder still. Not so much because they get through to her beliefs... but of how angry he is in speaking them. She's never seen him like this. She wasn't sure he could get like this. When it's him... she finds that she DOES want to argue.

"Hey, look, it's not like that! It's just, this world--"

Whatever defense she had in mind doesn't get further than that. She just clams up at his stated intention to kick her ass. And she just... braces herself, and lets it happen.

That enhanced, enraged punch sends her directly and unceremoniously into a wall. Following that, she remains on the ground for moment, before picking herself up, seeming... sad, more than hurt. She no longer has a single thing to say for herself.

She was fully unprepared for an attack from Ririka, following that, having entirely dismissed her as an active threat. She pays for that, breaking her silence with a cry of pain as she's struck fully by the weakness that Ririka herself had determined some time ago. In any other situation, she might have to hand it to Ririka, well played.

But Shinobu, too, seeks to make her pay for her part in this. A blast of light serves to snap her back to attention, but she can only manage to put up a weak fight at this point, blocking Shinobu's first hit, but the others landing solidly. And once again... she silently backs down. The only thing she may have struck Shinobu with was the look on her face just now. Empty eyes, blank expression... that's a look of defeat if you ever saw one. There's simply no more fight in her at all.

And that's... when Makoto happens. And she certainly does exactly as stated. Niko gets, to coin a phrase, fully punked by someone who is filled with all the fight that she no longer has. Her dodging is sluggish, her attempts to block weak, her attempts to strike back non-existent. It's like she's entirely forgotten how to fight, no match at all as she suffers strike after strike. It's only due to her enhanced physique that she remains standing in spite of that.

She backs away, now actually looking... frightened. To the point where tears have come to her eyes. And she utters perhaps the last words anybody ever expected to hear from her.

"...Mommy...? Where are you, mommy...?"

Then she turns and runs - flees - like her life depends on it, letting out an agonized scream. A scream which Ate responds to. It shudders, then *bursts*, causing a sudden, bright flash - seen less with the eyes and more with the mind - of debilitating intensity. It doesn't last long, but long enough for Niko to vanish from sight.

AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Ichika Kawase!
AS: Ruin: Niko Kirisaki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Ririka Kawase!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Shinjiro Aragaki!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Ren Amamiya!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Niko Kirisaki has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Makoto Niijima!
AS: Niko Kirisaki: Exhaust, Blast, and Crt_Up removed!
AS: Take! Ren Amamiya takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Take! Shinjiro Aragaki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    For a minute, all Phoenix -- what else would you call someone who just rose from the flames that destroyed them? -- is too angry to hear anything other than the pounding in their ears and the screaming in their voice. They're satisfied, striking Sudou with those blows. But then --

    They're not the only one striking Sudou. Tatsuya is struggling with emotions Phoenix can only partially understand. They turn, they find...

    The Ogre, digging through the flaming wreckage.
    The Fox, insisting they mattered, knowing them more than they know him.
    The Prince, who's shifted from theatre to quiet, violent anger.
    Shinjiro, screaming in anger, contextualising his hatred of killing in the process of his grief
    .Hyousuke, facing death for the first time, a thing so unlike the injuries he's faced before.
    The Joker, who names them just as Fox did, another man they don't recognise who knows enough to grieve them.
    Katsuya, who insists he's too late, with all the weight of someone used to the feeling.
    Umie, invoking some horrific screed, her soul screaming as she foresees another death.
    Ririka, trying her best to play despite her tension.
    Moriko, unable to even process what she's seen.
    Shinobu, unwilling to forgive Niko for her crimes.
    The Queen, screaming their name, as if they were truly dear to her heart.

    "But --" Tsubasa starts, only to realise, in that moment, that they're not Tsubasa at all; or, to be exact, none of these people know they're Tsubasa. With this mask on, they're a Phoenix...

    Someone society doesn't recognise.

    If not for Ichika's example, surely they would have confessed their identity here and now; their heart can't stand it. They feel a great sin falling over their shoulders, to have charged out so aggressively without reassuring everyone -- though they couldn't have realised that they'd be hidden from the world, just like Ichika was. (Newly hatched, does any bird know how to fly?) They have enough sense, at least, not to say anything while Sudou is still right there -- though that does mean that they have to withstand him, first.

    "FUCK YOU!" They yell, eloquently, as they charge into the flames -- and prove in the process that Phoenixes are consumed by flame and born again, because the fact that they just took a grievous blow is made obvious by the way they're thrown out of their counter and knocked down. They get back up to slice at him, doggedly, only to have to leap out of the way of those terrible cards.

    And as they look through those cards, there's one more name for the list of shocking reactions...

    ... Niko, who came to help kill them, only to cry for her mommy as she's battered by everyone's anguished anger. Why... would she cry out like that...?

    The Joker Killer is gone, though -- and Niko with him. "Argh!" Phoenix yelps, apparently as vulnerable to a flash of light as they are to fire. But -- "Leave her!" Phoenix snaps, offering instruction and guidance in the wake of all that horror. "Hey! Listen to me." And it's thanks to the Ogre's inadvertent tutelage that Phoenix understands just how they should say it, before anyone can panic even further: "You're worried 'bout that guy that was stuck in there, right?! They're not dead! They're not, all right?! They ran out the back when I busted the joint up!" Shinobu and the others aren't wrong to notice how the building collapsing isn't something anyone can survive, but... hopefully they buy it?!

    Of all the people they could approach, it's the Ogre, as they grasp her arm to shake her out of her desperate digging. "I saw where they went -- let's go get 'em." They look back up, to the others, and assure them: "Jus' give us a sec, all right? They'd prolly freak if a whole gang came out to get 'em."

    Once the Phoenix leads the Ogre into a shaded gazebo which escaped the wrath of the demons, though, they reach out and warn her: "... look... you're not gonna find 'em." And perhaps that warning sounds ominous, because Tsubasa doesn't know exactly how to d

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    Once the Phoenix leads the Ogre into a shaded gazebo which escaped the wrath of the demons, though, they reach out and warn her: "... look... you're not gonna find 'em." And perhaps that warning sounds ominous, because Tsubasa doesn't know exactly how to do this, except to pull her attention back to them --

    As they take off their mask, and, like, try to will themself normal again. (Please work. Please work. Holy shit, the weird voice said NOTHING about how this works.)

    Luckily, Tsubasa's prayers are answered -- as their Will of Rebellion falls away, revealing someone very important to her, burned and beaten up but still very much alive. "It's 'cuz I been here t-the whole time, man," they say, choking up. "Sorry, Boss, I -- I didn't know -- but this shit, it's s'posed to be secret, right?"

    Somehow, they'll figure out how to hug her despite all the spikes and thorns.

    "... gonna need yer help," they interrupt that, though, to step back and clasp her hand instead. "Jus'... say that guy ran off after you two found me. Yeah?"

    And so, it's just the Ogre, coming back with Tsubasa Seki -- one notably alive Tsubasa Seki -- in tow. "H--hey," they call out, hesitantly, raising a hand in salute. "You guys, uh... chased the Joker Killer off, yeah...? L--look, I --" I'm sorry, "I owe you all one -- seriously."

    There is the wail of sirens, in the distance, but it will be a few moments still before help arrives.

<Pose Tracker> Shizuka Kuroki has posed.

      Shizuka's eyes widen, unable to register what had happened until the card is already in her chest. She looks down at the card, frozen in her tracks. It's only a second, but her mind perceives it as an eternity.
 
      I got stabbed
 
      The Joker Killer stabbed me
 
      Does it hurt
 
      It has to hurt, right
 
      Am I bleeding
 
      Am I going to die
 
      Why did I do this
 
      Where's Dad
 
      And then Shizuka Kuroki explodes.
 
      The girl is thrown back by the force of Joker's final trick, tumbling onto the floor, singed and bleeding as Galatea disappears.
 
      With a ragged breath, she props herself up on her arm, surveying the situation. "H-He's gone... Guess that Joker wasn't very... wild..." She loses the strength in her arm holding her up and collapses to the ground.

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

"Yeah, I am!" Ogre shouts back at Niko. "You got a problem with that!?" She's a healer. ...But she and Niko, perhaps, are fated not to get along, after this.

Many people are upset. There is dismay; there is righteous fury. Even that motorcycle-riding Queen over there seems to have a strong reaction... Ogre will remember that.

She appreciates Ririka's healing, but...

But Tsubasa.

Joker may be right about Niko, but Ogre only cares right now about breaking through. Her orders for Hyousuke are forgotten; Shinjiro's rage is distant.

But... Fox. '"Whatever they might have become, whatever they might have suffered - Seki-san mattered."'

If Niko had taken advantage, Ichika would've been defenseless but for her friends and allies around her. In the meantime, Ogre just starts picking up flaming debris, heedless of the damage to her hands. "Tsubasa!" she cries. "I'm coming!"

She doesn't hear Phoenix. She doesn't see Phoenix. Tears are dripping down her face as she digs, despite the cognitive mask. It's only when Phoenix finally shakes her out that those words register. "What?" she starts. "Then--"

"OK. I'm coming."

'You're not gonna find 'em.'

"Huh?" the Ogre starts. But then--the mask comes off. "Oh, my God," Ichika answers, and it's only the interruption that stops her hugging them, thorns and all. "O-Oh... OK."

Ogre steps out with Tsubasa.

"Hey," she says. "We... we found them. But that other guy, he ran off..."

"...Look after Tsubasa-kun," she directs her friends--and particularly, Shinobu and Shinjiro. "I'm gonna go after that guy."

She can't be here for the sirens, either.

<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Suou has posed.

    Katsuya's complaints are falling on deaf ears.

    Umie's focused on her own efforts -- her look's gone glassy. He doesn't doubt that Nyarlathotep's got a hold of her mind. He can't help her right now. Her drive to end Sudou is just as firm as his is.

    He doesn't notice that Akechi's got eyes on him. He's drawn in entirely in his world right now.

    But Sudou says he couldn't remake that night today.

    He didn't push Tsubasa in -- but his boss will count it.

    "You..." Tatsuya's cold anger still roils faintly within him.

    I told you. I am trying to fix all the mistakes. We both know since that night here, nothing has gone right.

    ...

    On that, and that alone, the two Tatsuyas agree. Nothing has gone right since that night... he hasn't gone even slightly off the rails that everything's been scripted. Sudou's just as much of a pawn as he is. They're all his pawns, and he's wickedly laughing in a riot over all that's happening, and people are dead. More and more, the reality of the Other Side is going to take hold...

    But Sudou's not done quite yet. The Joker Persona unleashes its greatest weapon -- the Joker Wild, which more and more he's come to realise feels very familiar... it's as if it's coming from a fragment of Tatsuya Suou himself that he lost, somewhere along the way... the Wild Card potential that once was inside of him. He lost that. He regressed, and the world suffered for it. Tsubasa Seki suffered for it.

    The cards explode, and Tatsuya is thrown against some bars and Sudou's gone by the time he kips back up. There's still a cold, almost dissociated glare, even within the flames that continue to consume the gallery.

    "... ... ..."

    But the Phoenix is true to their namesake. He gives them a hope, rebirthed from the ashes. Tsubasa isn't dead. They ran out the back when Phoenix came in... ... just like a superhero. Their red mask reminds them of Apollo's, and Apollo's, by extension, is an embodiment of the Red Featherman mask...

    That's right. A symbol of his sin. His innocent sin.

    Phoenix and Ogre both leave, and Tsubasa comes back -- and his expression is one of sincere, shocked relief for a moment. His hands ball into fists again, and--

    BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUApejoGNUs

    He's crying, while standing there. The sirens wail in ths distance, and he is crying. There's something again so familiar about this. He shouldn't engage with these emotions. It's like the moment they all realised they'd repressed the memories of what'd happened from the fire. The more he engages, the more he becomes ensnared by This Side, as much an invader as Sudou is...

    The more they'll suffer...

    But it still feels pretty good to be proven wrong right now. He shoves his hands in his pockets and quietly turns towards the exit, but not at time-stopping speeds that Katsuya and Umie can't flag him down.

    He'll just have to take their survival, a little seed that feels like it didn't happen according to Nyarlathotep's wishes, as his birthday present.

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

As Niko tries to argue, Shinjiro's basically seeing red. But even then... when she cries out about 'mommy', something hits him like a truck.

One more flashback. A boy, who would never have a mother again.

The flash sends him flickering back, falling to his knees. He's having a coughing fit, a bad one, the kind Umie or Tatsuya or Shinobu will recognize. Blood splatters lightly across his hand covering his mouth, as if he was injured too badly. (He was not.)

And then, he hears Tsubasa's voice. His head rises, eyes looking for them and Ogre. He doesn't know them. He shouldn't crowd.

His feet are moving against his will, however, and he's rushing over there, calling out. "Seki! Thank fuck..." He is so relieved.

When Ogre appears and asks them to look after Tsubasa... "Yeah." He nods once, before turning to *Katsuya*. "...I need to ask you a favor. You won't like it. Can you cover for us?"

And then, he turns to Shinobu and Tsubasa. "...we need to get you the fuck out of here. No offense, but this isn't a good place to be right now. We can get you over to the Cardboard Dragon."

And then, as Tatsuya Suou starts to leave, his eyes move over to him. He doesn't know it's his birthday, but... he nods once to him. He probably doesn't see it.

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.

"Indeed so." He replies to Katsuya, before Joker quips to 'Mind your arm, Detective,' and his smile vanishes at that, as he bristles inwardly. "... I'll mind it alright." He says, quietly. Only Joker knows after all that he's using his non-dominant arm for this fight, and that it's his dominant in a sling.

Right before he feels something 'wicked' in Umie's resonance, alarmed, he turns in time to see that glassy look in her eyes.

"... I see." His eyes flutter as he watches the oracular become less prophetic, and more a shaper of reality.

Still, Sudou is hardly dealt with, just as he imagined. The Paradox Boy's power is immense, which is delightful, but also, expected. It's not that he cannot overwhelm his foe, he just can't seal the deal.

And he's beginning to suspect why after their last encounter.

Sudou screams in fury, throwing out cards. And the 'Prince' despite being one armed is suddenly an ink-smear blur across reality that the 'Phantom Thieves' know they can well become when they move fast enough.

When they detonate, he's raising his good arm to shield his face, at a nearly fully safe distance.

"Damn." He curses, considering the merits of paying a visit prior to figuring out a solution for Sudou's... abilities, before Phoenix, the new Persona User to enter calls out that the person isn't dead, and his eyebrows shoot up behind his mask.

It definitely doesn't make sense that someone could survive that, but he knows there's more to this world than logical sense. Many Persona Users could manage it, if motivated enough.

"... I'll take your word for it, as I certainly hope it's true. Though if you're wrong, I'll be quite upset."

Then Tsubasa returns after Phoenix has some conference and some part of him looks closely at them for a time. "Well... I'm glad you haven't slipped off this mortal coil. Though... it sounds as if this is hardly over."

He doesn't mean the sirens. His eyes are searching Tsubasa's for a time. Part of him wonders if Tsubasa is going to go home, to discover that a Mother's Love can go so far as to take them to the grave.

But he hopes not.

His Saber vanishes and as the sirens blare he looks towards the Phantoms (should any still remain), "Now as per our agreement, I'll give you a ten second head start."

A beat.

"Just kidding." He's definitely smug about that one.

<Pose Tracker> Saika Kikuchi has posed.

 
The advantage of using magic is that while you're standing there like a sucker (so Saika thinks - she prefers to stay on the move, even if the Joker Killer has not been the loving recipient of some of her techniques) is that you can actually look around.

That cool guy with Robin Hood - he's talking about the thieves? No, to her. "Sounds like you're in favor of the motion raised by the junior diet member," Saika answers Akechi, with the tone of reflexive motormouth. Because --

She shakes her head for a moment. Something felt like it didn't line up, but then it smoothed out, and a look of confusion and perhaps horror. It does give ol' Tatsuyu Sudou a little bit of a break, because Saika would probably have punched him again -- the momentary and belated understanding that some *stranger* just died is filling her with indignation.

Saika has a card in her hand. "What the fuck!" she says, immediately throwing it to the ground. NOW she starts unwinding the chain, shouting with the voice of attempted authority, "Get your ass back here so I can finish beating i" which is, of course, cut off when the card detonates, blasting Saika back two paces and making her sway violently, almost but not quite keeling over, and definitely groaning.

Saika's vision swims for a moment, but it settles down as she sees Niko. Joker Junior? Just an ally? Opportunist? I gotta read up on situational awareness, thinks Saika a bit dizzily, before they flee. And then it's a wrecked battlefield.

It's a pretty sudden shift. The shock of it washes over Saika and is much of why for a few moments she is silent with shock.

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

White filled Hyousuke's vision. It was all he could see, and he could not even bring his hands up in time to block it. All he could do, with his muscles like stone, was stand their and keep his eyes clasped shut. Not that he could run after Niko if he could see where he was going - it was all he could do to twitch, let alone give chase. Battered, bruised, exhausted, and blinded, he counted the fact that he was even upright in the first place a small miracle - though how much of that was his own strength, and how much of it was because the paralysis still had its talons in him, he couldn't say.

As the adrenaline in his system began to fade, however, so too did the white dominating his vision, and the effects of Niko's last attack against him. Hyousuke staggered backwards, all but collapsing against the nearest wall, slumping down against ground with his back held just about upright by whatever remained of the gallery's architecture. Heavy, ragged, smoke-tinged breaths shot down his throat and filled his lungs, and only then did he begin to truly process what had happened. He'd watched a man die. He himself had been set upon by someone that would have had no qualms about killing him. He could have *died* there.

And for all the power Achilles granted him, hed been little more than a flailing animal.

He passed the quivering in his hands off as the aftereffects of the adrenaline rush. Then he gripped his knees to stop them shaking, and tried to put it out of his mind entirely. There were more important matters to attend to - matters such as the dead man strolling in with the Ogre, worse for wear, but very much alive.
"How..." He asked, voice rasping and breath heavy. Then, he shook his head, as if to try and shake the question loose. "...Forget it. We'll talk about it later." He'd talk about it with Ogre later too, time permitting. For the time being, he focussed on staggering to his feet and dragging his sorry carcass towards an exit, despite his body's protestations. "Just... don't do that again. Dying, I mean."

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Joker does know that, Akechi. A little extra sting, just for you. But never mind that for now.
    
    "I expect I am," Joker tells Niko, cold and level. "And I note you don't disagree."
    
    But that frigidity thaws when he sees how she reacts to everyone else--to how her will of fight fades, until Queen has mowed her down, and she flees with tears in her eyes and 'Mommy' on her lips.
    
    She's a bad person. She was party to a murder. And yet... there's so much pain there. Joker pauses in concern even before Ate reflects that pain through a momentarily disabling scream. When they gather their wits, Niko--and the Old Maid--are both gone, destruction in their wake.
    
    It might feel like a hollow victory, until the newcomer reassures them all that Tsubasa still lives, that they escaped out the back when this one charged in. Joker breathes a sigh of relief to hear it. With all the heat haze around, it might be impossible to see how their hands shake.
    
    But Queen... that reaction isn't just righteous anger. That's fury. That's grief. She dropped all pretense when she called out their name, and charged at Niko full-throttle.
    
    Just what kind of relationship did--do--she and Tsubasa have?
    
    It's a question that'll have to get an answer later. Now that the fight is over, Joker gestures to Fox, then runs over to Queen's side. As they do, Ogre and Phoenix leave, and--to a rush of even more relief--Tsubasa reappears to confirm what they've already been told. They don't need Akechi's ten-second warning to understand the stakes here (though they do shoot him another hard stare), and they can't let Queen run to Tsubasa's side still transformed.
    
    "They're okay. Let's get out of here," they murmur to her. "Come on."
    
    The three of them won't need to leave for long--just long enough to get out of sight. Ren, Yusuke, and especially Makoto will be able to return a moment later--if Makoto chooses to return as herself to see to her dear friend. Otherwise... they'll be retreating from the area with the other civilians, phone in hand to call emergency services. (Just in case.)

AS: Take! Makoto Niijima takes 0 Almighty damage from Niko Kirisaki's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust added!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Moriko was right to be worried about Umie. Between having her head hit by the back of Sudou's own, as well as the back of his hilt, being *thrown* at someone (sorry, Moriko), and now...

    Those blasted (literally) cards again.

    The last coherent thought was when Umie was unfurling Badb's fury and declaring that she'll see Sudou's death. It can be a prophecy if she makes it true, after all, whether she's the one doing it, or the the witnessing it.

    Now, blasted into the air and falling into the dried grass, Umie coughs, holding back the urge to throw up.
    
    "There's.... c... l...ock.... rese... wrong." Red-tipped fingernails grip the grass as she gets up, watching as Tatsuya begins to walk away.

    'You don't look so good, Umie-c"... Takkun."han... you should get someone to look at you.' She can't say it loud enough for him to hear it, with his back turned to her.

    Another terrible, familiar sound. Shinjiro's coughing up blood. There's a tickle of blood on her own face.

    And then... Tsubasa. They're alive. 'They're alive! Look! Why are you so scared?' "Shinjiro..." Get Tsubasa out of here. Get the Phantom Thieves out of here.

    oh yeah there's Akechi. _Is he even trying to hide it at this point_. Umie gives Akechi a flat expression of '_*really*_, you're doing this *now*??' before she finally collapses onto the turf.

    Yeah, she'll need the hospital, but at least she got to make that reaction.

     She's okay with that, as she sinks away.

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.

As Shinobu strikes, she meets Niko's eyes. And the look she sees - is a look of defeat. A face empty of the will to fight. A complicated grimace crosses Shinobu's face.

"You... Don't give me that look." Shinobu says. "This is what you wanted."

And then, as Queen comes in for an attack, Shinobu hears something that throws her off completely. Niko asks for her mother - and then she runs, letting out a scream.

...Shinobu grimaces. ...Well, how the hell is she supposed to feel about that? The Joker Killer has retreated - and now she's the only one she can direct her anger toward. But... What is with her...? It's as she's trying to figure out what to do, and if she should run after her that she heard a cough.

"...Shit! Aragaki!" Shinobu says, hurrying over to him. "Lachesis! Dia!"

Her Persona appears. She doesn't have any innate healing skills - but she does work at the Cardboard Dragon, and that's one of the many support cards she's picked up from her work there. She knows she can't do much - but hopefully the healing light will at least ease things a little.

And in that time, the Phoenix calls out, telling them all to leave Niko. Shinobu looks their way. She's still a little on edge, but she's at least willing to hear this stranger out.

"Just who are you?" She asks - but they mention the guy that was stuck in there. Shinobu starts forward. "What- you're serious? How the hell...? If you're lying, we're gonna have trouble."

She's shocked and surprised - but she does want to believe it. Even though it doesn't seem like it should be possible.

"...Alright." She says, as they insist that they wait. She'll give them this opportunity to prove themself. They take Ogre to check things out... and sure enough, a moment later, Ogre emerges with Tsubasa in tow.

...Shinobu exhales a breath she didn't realise she was holding, tears starting to form at the edge of her eyes.

"Thank god. You scared the shit out of me, Seki." Shinobu replies, then shakes her head. "...Don't worry about it. Seriously. I'm just glad you're alright."

She looks toward Ogre who asks for them to look after Tsubasa, and then to Shinjiro, who suggests that this isn't a good place to be.

"...Yeah. C'mon. Let's get you out of here, alright?" She says.

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.

To see Niko abruptly fall away from the fight, an empty distance in her eyes and expression... is jarring, to say the least.

To have her respond to Queen crashing into her with a cry for her mother is... outright eerie.

Hearing the Phoenix call out, Fox glances over.

Tsubasa is alive?

That seems impossible.

The disconcertion and confusion thaws his fury like the snow under the sun. Patchy and gradual, but inevitable.

By the time Ogre has returned with Tsubasa, the man in the kitsune mask has calmed enough for the adrenaline crash to be about to hit. The sight of the brightly-garbed graffiti artist, though, is a relief, as it becomes apparent that somehow the impossible has become reality.

... Well. That shouldn't be that much of a surprise.

As Joker brings him and Queen together, Fox nods in agreement. As they move away, though, he steps closer to Shinjiro, Ogre, and Tsubasa. "Make yourselves scarce," he advises, supporting Shinjiro's suggestion. "I doubt the police will believe the Killer was here, no matter what witnesses might say."

With that, he darts off to follow his fellows, quickly becoming a shadow in the smoke.

Beyond the threshold of the distorted space, Yusuke looks at the others. "... I think we need to call a meeting," he says quietly. "Or at least... discuss what just happened somewhere else."

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    His complaints fall on deaf ears. Alas, this is hardly new territory: Katsuya takes it in stride. It's just another thing to lecture him about later, assuming his brother doesn't continue to dodge him.

    "Stop--"

    He's seen this before. There's no hope of him avoiding it, and even less of circumventing the disappearing act that is sure to follow: all he can do is brace himself and prepare for the explosion that follows on the tossed card's heels.

    The world around him is brilliant fire, the heart of an exploding star. He's surrounded by it and passes through it, and though he's dropped to a knee in the wake of the spell's detonation, he's in one piece. Rising sharply, Katsuya stumbles for only that one moment. "Is everyone alright--"

    The answer to that is 'no, actually', which can be seen by the still form of that girl over there as she utters a few words and collapses. He turns sharply towards where Shizuka lies. "Akabane-kun, call an ambulance," he tells her, turning even as 'Phoenix' tells them something very important.

    Tsubasa's not dead. He just about stops in his tracks as he advances towards where Shizuka is lying.

    The Joker Killer is gone. The woman who was with him is also gone. And... Tsubasa is alive? Where are they? In the moment, all he can do is continue to do what he is doing, which is seeing to someone who was wounded.

    Lifting his head from where he's taken a moment to evaluate Shizuka's condition, he realizes that the mystery Persona-user, the one he's never seen before, is gone. This, even in retrospect, will be an unremarkable thing.

    What catches him far more by surprise, though, is the sudden reappearance of Tsubasa Seki: battered, burned, but very much alive.

    "You-- you're not...!" Katsuya utters, staring at them. Somehow, they must have escaped, just in the nick of time. What do you call this but 'a miracle', as nonsensical as it seems? He exhales. "I... see. This is a relief..."

    But, where did his brother go? "--Tatsuya? ...Damn," he exhales, the only sentiment that seems appropriate in the moment.

    It's here that Shinjiro approaches him, asking him for a favor. He won't like it, he says, and Katsuya's expression suggests that he already knows what he's about to ask.

    No, he doesn't like it. But he likes the other way this could go even less.

    "I'll do what I able to do," he says, and that's where it will have to lie.

<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.

    She doesn't have it in her to second guess the rage, the anger that she feels in this exact moment. Tsubasa-kun is dead. Joker might have room to acknowledge Niko's pain, but crying for her mother doesn't stop Makoto's anger, even as Niko tries to flee. "Don't you dare run-" Queen starts, preparing to advance, but Ate's flash stops her in her tracks, blinded and causing her to stumble back. When the light disappears, Niko's gone. "Damn it. Damn it!"

    The adrenaline that pushed her forward isn't stopping, even as the figure tells them Tsubasa is okay. Her eyes go wide, and she's about to yell, but Joker's hand stops her. She's Queen. She's not Makoto. They can't stick around. Right. Right.

    But Tsubasa's okay. According to that figure. They'd better not be lying.

    Fox too reiterates the importance of retreating. Breathing heavily, Queen nods. She doesn't say anything, just nods, and follows the other thieves' lead.

    Out of the distorted space, Yusuke suggests a meeting, or a debrief or... something. Makoto seems exhausted again, the adrenaline leaving her system almost as soon as her mask disappears and reality reasserts herself.

    "...it's too suspicious to go back there as is, isn't it?" She mutters, quietly, self preservation and her desires at war. Indeed, she looks to Ren and Yusuke, hoping one of them have the answer to her question. She wants to go back, to make sure Tsubasa's okay, but once again, Akechi is right there. If it's coincidence, it's very inconvenient. She's definitely shaky and rattled right now.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka is feeling a jumble of emotions as she stares Niko down, but she does her best to clamp down on them, just for the moment. IT's not the time. She's still fighting for her life. Other things ahve to take priority.

... She's had some practice at that.

She is really mad at Niko. This is the second time she's attacked a place her sister might have been, the second time she's seen Tsubasa near danger, and they might even have--

Don't think about that right now.

She's mad, but she doesn't expect... 'Mommy.' Ririka's expression, still guarded, softens, just for a moment. "Uh..." And in that moment, a bright mental flash. "Augh!" Ririka drops her sword, and then drops to a knee, clutching at her head. Her vision swims, and she forces her eyes shut to try and block as much out as possible. "Dammit!"

It takes her a moment to feel steady enough to force herself back to her feet, though she's not completely steady. But the enwcomer--assures them that Tsubasa ran out the back. "Oh thank goodness," she gets out almost as one word.

Not scaring them with a whole group of people makes some kind of sense. And really... Ririka turns her attetion to thoe that are here. "K-- Kuroki-senpai..." She makes her way over. "H-hang on, I got a Dia with your name on it. Amphion!"

She'll work on healing Shizuka and anybody else who needs it while Ogre and Phoenix go 'find' Tsubasa. But moments later, she looks up, and gasps. "Seki-san...! You're... y-you're really okay!" She doesn't go in for a hug, but tears of relief are rolling down her cheeks. "I thought-- I d-didn't know how we'd ever tell nee-san-- I'm... glad we didn't lose you."

But she can hear the sirens, and she has a thing that looks like a gun and a thing that definitely is a sword, and she's already trying to get both hidden in her backpack before (more) cops show up. (Sorry, Katsuya.) She looks to her fellow SEES members. "Kumamoto-san, let's get Kurokki-senpai out of here."

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko straights up. Watching those cards soar through the air. She tries to simultaneously swing at the card and duck out of the way. Probably saving herself much worse injuries, even if she's not exactly happy with the hit she took. Finding herself staring at the sky once more.
 
 There might be some muttered, impolite language as she lays there. Only hearing the screams at first. Clearly confused by them. Then she scrambles to her feet in a hurry, vision going a bit wobbly. She looks over to Umie first. Spooky as she had been, she's definitely hurt and-
 
 "Yeah." She says to Ririka, "Yeah we should. Can we grab anyone else?" She's pretty sure that's not normal and you know what. "Yeah screw this let's go." She drops the flagpole, grabs her evoker and stashes it, then limps over to help Ririka

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wouDFje3RY8 Tensei - Arisen Anew

    Tatsuya makes their way away, and Tsubasa watches him go. Does he know how much he helped, today...? They don't have the strength to go after him and insist. Amidst everyone's emotions, they find the Prince's gaze. They're really quite beaten up themself, but... there's something in their gaze which wasn't there, before.

    Like they've insisted on living.

    "That guy in the sick phoenix getup grabbed me outta there," they explain, for Akechi and Hyousuke, and they feel really stupid coming up with an explanation like that after they panicked and tried to reassure everyone, but surely that's more believable. "Reckon I woulda been toast if they hadn't."

    (What? It's weird to call your own outfit cool? No it isn't. They didn't get that long to look down at themself, but they're aware they look great.)

    "I'm done with dyin'," they assure Hyousuke, thumping a hand to their chest. It's in their response to him that they vocalise what Akechi saw, in their own words. "No one's takin' me down."

    Joker calls his friends away, though -- and Tsubasa spares a long look to them, and in particular to Queen. "You guys..." They start, and find they don't know how to finish their sentence. "... better beat it," they suggest, after that awkward pause, looking away. "Don't get caught 'cuz 'a me." Fox is right, after all, that the police will be here soon.

    "You, uh... you saw it, right?" Tsubasa asks Katsuya, hesitantly. "H-he was tryin' to kill me. I didn't do nothin'." Well, aside from the vandalism, but all the evidence of that has burned to a crisp, so they're effectively innocent.

    "H--hey," they say, still quite awkward, but trying to make their gruff voice reassuring in the wake of Ririka's tears. "Hey, it's cool. I'm -- hk, hghk," they make a liar of themself by coughing right in the middle of assuring her they're good, but they straighten up soon enough. "Uh, I'm, like, m-mostly good, yeah? Still here, still kickin'. I -- I'll call her, tell her what happened so you won't freak her out none sayin' nothin'. Yeah?" Well, it's as good an excuse for anything for why Ichika will know what transpired, today.

    People are collapsing, though... Umie, and Shizuka, too. And there's Saika, who seems like she's frozen with shock, which Tsubasa is pretty sure is also serious. "Shit," Tsubasa says, looking to them. "I-it's cool, the ambulance'll be here soon..." Right? It's cool, right? They rub at their arm, looking down. "... c'mon, don't get hurt on my account, man. I can't pay that shit off..."

    But Shinjiro and Shinobu can hear the danger in the air. Tsubasa turns to Shinobu, first, shaking their head. "S--sorry 'bout that, Big Sis," they say, addressing her as they do women in gangs. "Real disrespectful of me, makin' everyone worried like that... heh... an' bein' a pain in yer ass again, too, Aragaki-san. Y-yeah... I don't wanna get you another visit with the cops."

    They pause.

    "Uh, not you," they add, looking back over to Katsuya. "You're cool. Countin' on ya."

    And so, Tsubasa will try not to make a big deal out of needing some support to make an escape out the side of the park. It's a good thing they leave when they do --

    The wail of sirens announce firefighters, ambulances and the police; in short order, the scene becomes site zero of an emergency response. (And the delay in their response will never be sufficiently explained to the people suffering; the shadows behind the stage willed it, and so it was done.) The injured are swept into to those ambulances so that the emergency medical staff can administer treatment on the way to hospital, and...

    ... the police approach Katsuya, alongside anyone still present.

    "Hey," one officer says. "We received reports that the 'Arsonist of City Hall' struck again... you know the one, Tsubaki Seki? She was here, wasn't she? Did you see anything...?" In that manner, they'll question any other stragglers -- though mercifully, they don't take anyone in. They've clearly already decided who's guilty.

    ... and they think Tsubasa did it.

    Tsubasa's gonna need a lot of friends on the inside of the law to get them out of this one.