expiationlogs | [closed] Special Extracurricular Phantom Thieves?

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[closed] Special Extracurricular Phantom Thieves?

Who: Akechi, Akira, Ken, Kotone, Shinji, Yoshizawa, Astralin
Where: Astralin's farm
What: Meeting of SEES and the Phantom Thieves! (sleepover)
Warnings: blood and violence, thanks akechi

It honestly feels a little overdue to get all of the Persona-users together in one place, but in fairness to them, there's been a lot going on! With Ken's arrival, though, it feels more important than ever to get everyone together -- if something happens again and they need to fight together as a team, it'll be good to have moments like this.

Hopefully.

Also, like, it's a chance to just relax and have fun with the others. Kotone's close friends with all of them, so it only seems natural to invite them to what's essentially a sleepover. There's nail polish, drinks, snacks, games -- it's not a party, but just a chill hangout session to her. An opportunity to sleep out under the stars with her friends while still being close enough to a house that they don't have to worry about monsters outside.

Everyone please be on your best behavior?

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[Once they're out Akechi looks over Kotone, from the head to the toe, all while weighting her in his mind. She looks so small and all sleepy while standing out there in moonlight wearing her pyjamas. He knows that this might not be the most ideal timing for her but it needs to be done.]

Kotone Shiomi. [He starts voice deep and serious as he turns his body to left to create more dramatic effect.]

I hereby officially challenge you into a duel. I shall be waiting you at the hill near the windmills in an hour. Bring your weapon of a choice with you.

Huh?

[Huh.

She lowers her hands from her eyes, tilting her head with the most befuddled expression imaginable as she tries to figure out what the heck he'd just said. Is she she still asleep? No, definitely awake.

He woke her up in the middle of the night to challenge her to a duel. Make it make sense. Then again, he'll probably make explaining one of the conditions of winning if she tries asking questions, and he really does seem serious about this, so...]

Okay...? [There's still a questioning lilt to her voice as she rubs her eyes again, slowly waking up a little more from the sheer mental effort of trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.] Do I need to wake up the others...?

[This is absolutely serious and very important to him, thank you very much.

He shakes his head at her question.]

No, I prefer to keep this just between two of us. We are probably done before any of them wakes up. Depending on your skills, of course.

[A small hint of smugness slithers to his voice during the last bit. It's not that he doesn't think she can bring a challenge but he's not going to sell himself short either.] I'll see you at the promised spot.

[And with that he turns to leave. So dramatic. Anyway, he's going to go fetch his own weapon. A sword with a sawtooth on the sharp side that he commissioned from the local blacksmith not too long ago. It's not quite the same as the one he used in the metaverse but it's close enough.

Aaand just as promised he'll be waiting for her near the mills.]

Okay...

[She still sounds so confused, but. Alright. She squints up at the moon as if that might help her figure out what time it is -- usually on a full moon, they'd need to fight Shadows, but apparently this one, she has to fight Goro? It definitely does feel like a key social link rank, though, so she just blinks a few more times and heads back into the farmhouse. A few splashes of water on her face and a change of clothes later, she's pulling her hair back and grabbing her feathery green naginata to head toward the mills.

At least by the time she arrives, she's fully awake again, a jolt of adrenaline at the sight of that brutal-looking sword helping with that as she realizes in a moment that he really is very serious. Her grip tightens on the naginata as in a moment, she's falling back into the habits that had carried her through Tartarus for countless hours, gaze sharpening as she studies his stance.

She doesn't say anything to announce her presence, though. She's not exactly sneaking up on him, and she's certain he must have something dramatic prepared.]

[The night is so quiet around the mills, save for the sound of softly rustling leaves in the nearby trees and occasionally hooting owl. So he notices her footsteps breaking the silence immediately. He turns to face her, eyes immediately focusing on that big weapon she's carrying.

What an interesting choice, not one he had expected to see. He would've seen her more as someone who'd prefer weapon that'd allow her maximize her agility and speed. Because those were the traits she seemed to lean against during their friendly water balloon match.]

Glad to see you. Now, I want you to come at me with everything you have. Otherwise you won't stand a chance against me and I'll slice you into two. [He assumes his battle pose, leaning down with his legs spread and holding his weapon low and behind.]

I won't go easy on you. Any questions?

Will you tell me why we're doing this after we fight?

[Like, she's just accepted that this battle is important to him, but she'd at least like to know his reasoning eventually. She has to believe he doesn't actually want her dead -- like, if he did, there'd be no point in this kind of fight, he could have just killed her while she was sleeping, probably.

But she twirls the naginata in one hand, the ease of the motion hinting at long hours of practice. Either the weapon is lighter than it looks, or she's stronger than she looks, because for its length, there's no visible exertion behind the movement before she drops back into a guarded stance, gripping it with both hands.]

Whenever you're ready.

[No, he doesn't want her dead at all. But for this battle to have any real meaning he can't hold back exactly, which means that he'll be fighting with lethal intentions. And luckily for her it truly seems like she can hold herself up against him just fine.

He pays great attention to the way she handles the weapon. The way she spins it makes it rather clear that he can't understate her either if he wants to stay in one piece. Good, just like he wants it.

A brief and heavy silence falls between them as he waits for the right moment, eyes narrowing a bit while listening to her breathing, reading her body language. While he can't summon his personas he can still reach for their power and influence. This time he settles down on Robin Hood instead of Loki, tuning into that precise aim and accuracy. Robin is a master of his craft while still allowing room for more spontaneous acts.

A moment passes, then another. The third one rolls and -- that's when Akechi lunges forward. He's fast with his feet and he brings his sword down on her with a force, the sharp end aiming at her head. He fully expects her to block the attack with her weapon, which is why he's prepared to sidestep around her to move behind her back to launch another hit.]

[Okay, thanks for the non-answer, Goro.

It's almost funny, the way she can feel her pulse picking up, her breathing coming a little faster to accompany the jolt of adrenaline from before. SEES doesn't really fight people. Even when they were fighting Strega, they were fighting Persona to Persona, not hand to hand. But long nights in Tartarus meant they couldn't only rely on their Personas -- more often than not, it was more efficient to fight enemies with weapons to save their stamina. Hopefully Chuuya's training has helped her become better at reading people, and not just Shadows.

Mentally, she switches to Helel -- logically, she knows it won't make a difference, but he's quick, strong, and resistant to physical attacks, as well has having some of his own. It's more habit than any actual belief that it'll make a difference.

The logical thing to do would be to block. He has to be expecting that. When they fought on the beach, he'd liked feints, hadn't he? So instead of blocking that initial strike, she dives forward and to the right in a roll to dodge whatever attack he had planned. She comes up onto her knees in the dirt and whirls, snapping her naginata around in an attempt to catch him at the ankles and sweep him off his feet.]

[Ah, that's a move he didn't see coming. Still, Akechi reacts just as fast and jumps backwards so that he's out of the weapon's way.

Her weapon does give her an upper hand when it comes to range. His own blade is long but still definitely meant for the more close combat. Meaning that he needs to pass the sharp edge of her naginata and get in her personal space, that way she can't touch him all that easily.

With the plan fresh on his mind he comes tries again, moving close and totally trying to take an advantage of her being down on the ground. Because this time he circles around to behind her and striking down from the above. She either needs to stand up very fast or block]

[It's a weird sword, isn't it? It looks almost like a bread knife. She's never seen anything like it, but it hints at a style that's more for hacking and tearing than finesse. Can she use that?

It feels like when they'd had to use trial and error to guess a Shadow's weakness, using small visual cues to learn what would work and what wouldn't. He's quick, and he'll need to be fast to get inside her range. Standing up quickly puts her back on his level, and it would be the smart thing to do, but if he has to commit to a downward strike, then --

She tenses as if she's about to stand, a few seconds too late, trying to lure him into committing to the obvious overhead strike, then snaps the naginata sideways to block without standing up. She has a stronger base, a lower center of gravity like this, and with the blade against her naginata, she continues the twist with both hands and grunt, trying to catch the sword between its serrated points and steal his momentum, hurling him over her and hopefully to slam hard into the ground so she can lunge to her feet and regain the advantage.]

[It's an unique weapon, specifically crafted for Akechi's fighting style. Brutal, hectic and bloody. When Loki's in he tends to throw his entire body into the battle, tearing the flesh apart with everything he got. With his blade, teeth and hands.

But he's not desperate enough for that just yet. Not even when she's managed to catch his blade with her weapon, immobilizing him for the moment. He pushes back, clashing his strength against hers and trying to force her back by pressing his blade down. Careful now, Kotone, the teeth are coming close to nick your pretty face]

Hnngg-- [He groans as he continues to push. And just when he thinks he got her where he wanted Kotone manages to surprise him. With a firm twist of naginata she manages to throw him off, make him lose the balance briefly.]

Not bad. [Credit where credits due! He huffs out a laughter as he quickly gets back on his feet and takes a position.] Now try that again.

[As soon as he's lost his balance, she lunges to her feet, using the butt of the naginata to propel her up faster than just her legs alone could. Her eyes are wide, but not frightened -- she's completely focused and completely silent. He wanted her full intent? That's what he's getting, no playful quips or silly banter, just the quiet sound of feet settling against dirt and breath coming quickly through parted lips.

She twirls the naginata once to loosen up and grips it in both hands again. This time, she runs toward him with light footsteps, twirling the naginata in a quick series of strikes she expects him to block. Again, the only sound are her brief cries of exertion whenever the naginata hits sword, but she doesn't stop moving forward, trying to overpower him through sheer momentum and drive him backward, keep him on the defensive.]

[Another laughter escapes from him when she rushes forward, starting the 'round two' so to speak. He plants his legs firmly on the ground and braces himself for her series of attacks. She tries to push him back but he's not budging, his blade meeting each strike of her naginata with a loud clashes.

He let's her keep at it for a while, seemingly satisfied with not reciprocating. But then something in his expression shifts, turning into darker as Robin Hood steps aside and makes room for Loki. There's a now wild gleam in his eyes as he just, lowers his own weapon and allows the sharp tip of the naginata come close, actually scratching his cheek as he steps past the weapon.

With the naginata on his side he rushes suddenly forward, almost jumping at her, with his blade lifted in the air all ready to aim a brutal blow at her arms holding the weapon.]

[She can feel the shift as much as see it, the way she can sense when a Persona changes its affinities. It's a change in pressure, in atmosphere, in a way she would struggle to articulate if she were forced. She stumbles forward when he suddenly lowers his sword with a sudden shout of surprise, slipping and almost overbalancing at the sudden change. It's more reflex from hours and hours of brutal combat that lets her keep her footing as twists hard and fast to try to block his brutal lunge.

It's not quite quick enough, the brutal saw-toothed edges catching her sleeve and ripping a jagged gash along her forearm, but the adrenaline dulls the pain as she follows through the motion in an attempt to direct the sword up and over, taking advantage of her shorter height to duck under and try to catch him in the groin with the butt of her naginata.]

[Unfortunately(??) for them this is getting so close to the action that excites him. That makes his blood rush fast in within his vein, making his entire vision go crimson. There's nothing quite like being able to just let go and go after your target with everything you have.

He doesn't stop at just one strike, fully intending to let her taste of her own medicine so to speak and launch several strikes with his sword. The red looks so good on her, after all.

Sorry, Kotone. He's a weirdo who gets off on violence and blood.

Anyway! He catches on her attempt for a literal low-blow just on the last minute, making a wide grin to spread over to his face.]

Hahaha! [Even the laugh coming from him is different. It's somehow more..unhinged, almost maniac. With his weapon forced up he decides to take another course of an action. He raises his leg and delivers a powerful kick at her body. If she's gonna play dirty so is he.]

Edited 2023-06-25 00:13 (UTC)

[Hm, she doesn't know how to feel about that laughter, but it makes her heartbeat with the knowledge that he's taking this way, way too seriously, and she has to win, if only so neither of them get too hurt in the process. She changes tack and snaps the butt of the naginata into his outstretched knee instead, catching some of the force of the kick against the unforgiving metal, but it's still enough to send her stumbling backward with a shriek as she slips against the dirt and lands hard on the ground.]

[Yeah, he's definitely in the mood at the moment, wanting to go all out and tear his opponent into pieces. God, it's been far too long since the last time he allowed this side of him show. Kotone had gotten only a slight taste of the madness within him during the Dazai Incident.

And once she hits the ground Akechi follows, unarmed had extended forward to grab her throat as he raises his weapon again and aims to land the finishing blow at her. Better think fast because if he hits she will not survive with just a mild scratches or surface wound.]

[This has gone way too far, way too fast, the madness in Goro's eyes terrifying in its intensity. In a flash, she knows that even if she tried to say something, it probably wouldn't get through. She has to end this now, or they're both going to get seriously hurt.

The advantage to wielding a two-handed weapon is that she can let go with one hand and still use it. Rather than lean backward in a vain attempt to break his grip and dodge, she lets go with her left hand and uses her naginata in her right to absorb some of the sword's blow. She can feel and hear her shirt and the flesh of her shoulder tearing, but it's not a lethal blow, and she doesn't scream, not yet. As he's distracted with that blow, her left hand draws the knife Chuuya had given her as she uses the momentum of her lunge forward to press the flat of the blade against his throat.]

Enough!

[It's a shout backed by the force of someone who's led her team through Tartarus on dozens of missions, the blade pressing warningly into the soft skin of his throat, enough to draw a few drops of blood. Her hair is loose and disheveled, breath coming hard through her mouth, and she's covered in dirt and blood, but her eyes are set.]

Edited 2023-06-25 00:56 (UTC)

[He's on top of her, pressing her much smaller body down with his own. And he's sure he has this in his hand when the blade manages to draw blood for the second time. But this is also the danger in allowing himself to go too far, because there's always the chance that he gets lost in the moment and turns blind to smaller details. Such as Kotone swiping out a knife and pointing the sharp tip against him, carefully pressing it on his throat.

Yeah that's enough for him to stop. His body freezes, going so terribly still while his eyes are wide and staring down at Kotone's.]

Have you ever killed anyone, Kotone? I have. [His voice is rough and hoarse as he speaks, still clearly lost in his own head. Then, he turns his head to the side and gently presses forward, allowing the knife cut along the delicate skin on his throat. The blade draws a wound that looks like a gruesome and gross imitation of a red smile. There's more blood now, but not enough for it to be serious yet.] Do it.

[She yanks the knife away before the cut can get that far, refusing to be party to whatever macabre fantasy is playing in his mind. Instead, she takes a page out of Shinji's book.

She snaps her head forward and slams her forehead into his nose. If it takes her breaking his nose to get him out of whatever the fuck is going on, so be it. Healers can fix that. Maybe it breaks his nose, maybe not, but-]

I said enough!

Hey-- [His shout is turned into a painful yelp when her forehead makes contact with his nose. The impact is enough to make his head throw back and he brings his free hand over his now very bloody nose that's definitely broken.

Akechi leans back, giving her room to move away from him if she so desires.]

Shit! Fucking fuckfuck [His groans are followed by soft 'crunch' sound as he fixes his nose back to it's place. Yeah, it'll take healer to get it properly fixed but this is better than nothing.]

That was low, Kotone.

[She scrambles back, almost falling from the sudden shock of pain in her shoulder from the wicked gash pierces through the haze of adrenaline. There's still enough to drive her backward, hands shaking as she clutches both of her weapons with an open glare.]

Shut up!

[Her voice is raw, ragged and emotional as she uses her naginata to push herself back up to her feet.]

Why does everyone around me want to be dead?!

[He picked the wrong night to try to taunt her into murdering him.]

[Geez Kotone, chill.

Her scream is the last straw to make him snap out of his previous state, the bloodlust fading away from him and leaving him with a perplexed expression as he watches her to struggle up.]

What-- [He starts off, wiping the blood off his nose to his sleeve.] You're the one who pulled a freaking knife on me.

[He wouldn't have let her kill him. Not really, he would've done something if she had actually taken up his bait. All he wanted to do was to see if she, as a fellow Loki-user, could fall as deep as he can. But then again.. She's not like him. She can't hear the call of the chaos within her.]

Yeah, and you lost. Get up. We're going to a healer.

[There's a scream building behind her lips, one of anger, confusion, hurt, exhaustion, frustration- a lot of emotions she hasn't been able to express in the last several months. Coupled with the fading adrenaline leaving her shaking and the pain from her injuries, her eyes are starting to blur with tears she hasn't allowed herself to shed since arriving here months ago.]

I didn't lose. [As far as he's concerned it was more of a draw than anything.

But his expression softens a little when he sees the state she's in. Shaky, weak, injured and tears in her eyes. Which he bets are not all caused by the pain.]

No. You sit down and take a deep breath, Kotone. You look like you're about to faint.

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non-sexual use for this icon

incredible

cw: mention of a murder & slight self-harm

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