realpolitik | Minato | Souji | Akira

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

[raises hand]

I can help.

[!!!]

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

[. . . . . what]

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

[ ah. ]

[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.]

[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.

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

[ ... ]

I talked back to one of my teachers once.

[ GASP. ]

[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...?

[. . . 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.

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?

[.. .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.]

[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]

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.

[A shrug.]

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

[. . .]

[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]

[ Oh.

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

[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.]

[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]

[ 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. ]

[... 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.]

[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]

[ Excellent, that's always a good sign. Of course, Souji once again has no idea what these guys are weak to and has a Certain Feeling he probably doesn't have it, so he'll have to go for something else. A Megidolaon can wait; for now, he lets the tarot card materialize over his palm and crushes it in his fist.

Once Izanagi-no-Okami appears, so too does the Ziodyne, plummeting down to slam into the angel closest to him. ]

[Minato lunges into action immediately as well, sword raised. He doesn't call on Messiah, not quite yet--

Instead, he follows up Souji's Ziodyne to lunge forward, slamming his sword down on the already listing Shadow, dissolving it into nothing but goop.

Two more...!!]

[a pretty excellent and smooth double assault by Souji and Minato, and Akira lets out an impressed whistle]

Keep it up!

[Souji and Minato may not have any attacks that can hit these Shadows' weaknesses, but. . . in a whirl of blue fire, Satanael rises up at Akira's back again, wings spreading wide as he levels the barrel of his shotgun at the two remaining Dominions. Akira mirrors this motion, only with his forefinger instead of an actual gun, and cries out--]

Take them down, Satanael!

[and, with a sharp rapport, the Riot Gun assault kicks back the Persona's gun and rains down on the field, tearing through their enemies and knocking them both to their knees with a pained cry. WEAKNESS, GET]

[they're down, but they aren't out yet, which means there's only one thing left for this trio of wild cards to do. right??]

[ One of these days they'll get to hit the weaknesses too. But Minato's already helped take down one, and when Akira downs the other two, Souji glances at them only briefly. ]

Now's our chance! Let's end this in one go!

[ CHAAAAARGE. ]

[ALL OUT ATTACK TIME, GOOOO...!!!

Time to take out those nasty Shadows.]

[FOR NOW. . . they're on top of the world. and as Souji and Minato dart in, Akira is right behind them, his dagger glinting in the light as the blade slices through one of the Shadows, reducing it to a dissipating cloud of black smoke]

[EASY]

Whew. . .

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