Minato | Souji | Akira | 097

[messianic]

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[purrtagonist]

Running for one's life is good exercise.

[lifts an arm above his head and grabs at his elbow, stretching]

That's why I offered to take the lead on this one. If you both follow me and do what I do. . . we should be fine.

[he sure hopes Minato and Souji have a decent stealth stat]

[sworders]

Roger that, Leader.

[ Completely seriously, or maybe he just has a really good poker face. But he seems to be willing to follow orders just fine. ]

[messianic]

Mm... okay. Let's do it, then.

[Minato's stealth stat is not good, good luck, leader.]

[purrtagonist]

[shoots Souji a vaguely amused and exasperated look, but! into the train they do!]

[and just as before, they start off in the ransacked dining car, with Joker's outfit appearing on Akira's form in a whirl of blue flame. there's no surprise on his features this time. he's ready]

Looks like the only way to go is forward. Hopefully we'll hit the end sooner rather than later.

[. . . hopefully there will be some safe room equivalents along the way]

[sworders]

... If only we got the costumes too.

[ But he's tightening his grip on his sword and moving after Akira. ]

[messianic]

[...... Yeah... Mournfully:]

How do we get cool costumes...? If it requires a special incantation, I'll do it.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . . . . OPPORTUNITY. . .]

[raises hand]

I can help.

[!!!]

Repeat after me: bippity boppity double bubble boo supercalifragilistic snack snicker jabberwocky.

[. . . . . what]

[sworders]

I'm pretty sure you missed a rama lama ding dong somewhere in there.

[ ah. ]

[messianic]

[One finger up, as in a "hold on" gesture, and:]

In the name of the moon, I'll punish you. [he does the gestures to go with it, too...

Just.

Very straight-faced and without losing his deadpan tone.]

[purrtagonist]

[CRACKS UP, HAND PRESSED AGAINST HIS MOUTH. good thing the train cabin is empty, right!!]

Good job.

[eventually, he straightens, giving them both a thumbs up. annnd now he's leading the way into the next cabin]

Anyway, I have no idea why you two don't get outfits. Mine is a manifestation of my "will of rebellion." It's what protects me from the distortions of a Palace.

[sworders]

... So are we just supposed to think rebellious thoughts?

[ ... ]

I talked back to one of my teachers once.

[ GASP. ]

[messianic]

[Oh my god.]

Ah... I knew you were the actual bad boy. [THAT WAS TO SOUJI.

Anyway, down the train they go, Minato's hand casually tucked into his pocket, the other holding his sword.]

What are you rebelling against, though, Akira...?

[purrtagonist]

[. . . also to Souji]

I robbed a bank once.

[CONTEXT??? either way, as they walk, Akira is careful to keep himself tucked in the corners and crannies of the train cars. so far, there aren't any enemies in sight. so. . . that's good news?]

[his next answer is directed at Minato, at least]

In the context of the Metaverse? The control of the Palace master, obviously.

[sworders]

I'm sure you had a good reason for it.

[ Rather, he's sure that's not as cut and dry as it sounds. He's keeping an eye out as they go, following Akira's example by staying out of sight as much as he can. ]

... And what about the context outside of the... Metaverse?

[messianic]

[.. .Yeah.

Minato's just tilting his head as well, blinking at Akira for that answer.

He can't say he's great at following in Akira's footsteps, but he's trying... ish.]

[purrtagonist]

[there's a pause at the doorway leading into the next car, a moment where Akira presses his back against the wall and tilts is head to the side, listening for the telltale sound of footsteps of a guard. it. . . maybe a delay tactic, because. . .]

. . . is now the time for that story?

[he has conflicted feelings on how honest he should be about his answer]

[sworders]

If you'd rather us take down a few Shadows first, I don't mind waiting.

But I do think it'll help us understand you a little more.

[messianic]

[A shrug.]

If you don't want to tell us, that's fine too. You can just say so.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

[he can probably tell them both the story without getting into his recent arrest, right? right. . .]

It isn't that, it's just--

[and as they slip into the next car (which is, just like the one before it, another ravaged passenger car), he cuts himself off abruptly. because standing just ahead with its back towards them is another Shadow dressed as a train conductor. Akira darts behind a seat quickly, gesturing silently at Souji and Minato and indicating that they should do the same. QUICK, HIDE BEFORE THEY'RE SEEN]

[sworders]

[ Oh.

Hold on, Souji's freezing up before diving for that same seat. Not quite as gracefully, but he's managing. ]

[messianic]

[Minato is quick to follow after, though not entirely stealthily either. He ducks beneath the seat with a bit of a hint of clatter; the Shadow turns, tilting its head, but...

IT doesn't seem like it can see them.

That was close.]

[purrtagonist]

[super close, and Akira lets out a quiet, shaky exhale. he lifts one red finger to his lips, indicating that Souji and Minato should remain quiet and in place, before he darts out from behind the seats to the next set ahead]

[he moves quickly on his feet, a black streak against the bright interior of the train car. but he also doesn't make a single sound; stealth is his area of expertise, after all. . . and Minato and Souji get a front row seat to that fact as he creeps ever closer to the conductor Shadow]

[sworders]

[ Well, if he's supposed to stay put, he'll stay put, shooting Minato a glance before tracking Akira's movements with his eyes.

... Honestly, he's impressed. Moving that swiftly and silently is a skill he hasn't quite acquired for himself. ]

[messianic]

[... Oh, this is fun. Minato watches with wide eyes and a bit of a thrill, well-hidden, but nonetheless there in his expression. He can't help it.

It's...really cool.

Akira's really cool.]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira is really cool, and he isn't even showing off]

[but he is going to wait until the conductor Shadow moseys past him, until he can see their enemy's back and a clear path to its mask. his mouth curves into a confident smile, and suddenly. . .]

[he rockets out of his hiding place like a bullet shot from a gun, uses the leverage of the seat to launch himself into the air and wrap his legs tightly around the Shadow's neck. the creature lets out a surprised yell as Akira's fingers dig into its mask to rip away its outer shell. the mask tears away from the creature's face easily, drops of black goop spattering onto the ground]

[and then Joker is gone, landing in a crouch a few feet away from Souji and Minato]

Come on! Now!

[the Shadow is twisting and distorting until it takes the new form of three different angels, all of them spread out in a line in front of the other wild cards. they look dazed and completely taken off guard]