pancakeboy | ic inbox [ota]

I wonder if I can lead us deeper. I am an associate of Mitsuru Kirijo's on top of my affiliation with the Phantom Thieves. And seeing how we had recently thwarted Kaneshiro some time ago...

[Well, that's a rather bold success now, isn't it? Wakaba Isshiki's situation is... more delicate. That being said-]

"Medjed," of course, has also been dealt with.

[He goes still, glancing back en route to the edge of the platform. "Medjed", of course, was largely him.]

Of course. [Turning away again, he starts to time his jump. Why would Crow be able to get any deeper than he can? Without realising it, he's forgotten the vast majority of his first trip to Mementos with Ren and the others, and nobody mentioned the doors to him either way.]

It's worth a try, of course, if you think you can do it.

[It's just a bit honeyed. It will annoy the shit out of him, if it's true.]

Think of it as a tactical benefit of our bond. You get to reap the spoils.

[Finally, a playful smirk graces his lips again. Likely a good sign. It seems much too genuine to be a facade.

Regardless, he'll once again keep pace with Magpie as they leap about like acrobats.]

[Indeed, they get across the platform and down the escalator to the next level with minimal cartwheeling; Magpie's picked up his pace. The shadows here, for him, take a little killing or a lucky shot, and he would like to find one directly.]

Is this about those doors? [The ones he doesn't use. Here, shadow, shadow...]

Yes. With my notoriety, I may be able to get us through, at least to a certain degree.

[Crow continues at a comfortably pace alongside Magpie, although... hm.]

I do wonder if my strength is still the issue. Before Yaldabaoth sapped my strength, I was quite formidable, and I've since regained that strength here.

[Notoriety. Why would notoriety, of whatever sort, affect the doors? Magpie is fairly notorious, for want of a better word, and the doors have always seemed quite impenetrable...

He stops.]

You mentioned Kaneshiro. Are you saying a door opened every time you did a Palace?

[Because the doors had opened, progressively, once the Phantom Thieves were in town. One every time a Palace fell.]

Yes. It seemed as though every step we made toward greater public awareness granted us further privilege within Mementos itself.

[Although... hmm. That raises a curious question and give Crow quiet pause.]

If the false god Yaldabaoth resided at the depths of Mementos, then it is possible that he restricted you deliberately despite your fame. He was, after all, giving the Thieves the thinly veiled comfort of success.

The difference is that we know he's a fraud. We simply didn't know what he was.

I haven't felt that restricted. The doors were more of a curiosity than anything else.[He purses his lips.]

Once I got bored at the top and dared the trains, it took me to this point. Right from the start. Of course, I didn't stay long at first. But there's always been that door at the bottom, clearly made to open. I could never—

[A Shadow appears in the tunnel to their left, and he ducks back against the wall, lips curling with glee. Time to die, little whatever you are.]

[Ah, a Shadow. Crow readies his sword, following Magpie's motions. They just have to wait and watch for the perfect time to strike...]

[Magpie's gun is in his hand, with the silencer. He steps back in near-silence, aiming it so that the Shadow will walk amorphously into his field of fire. It does, and he pulls the trigger with a careless smile.

The Shadow hits the floor, erupting into an angel, and he winces.]

Weak to curse. Too easy. [Like all the shadows this deep in Mementos, it's practically half his size.]

Hmm... I have a fun little idea.

[Crow tears off his mask, but the name he calls isn't Loki at all, it's-]

Alice.

[The little girl gives a deceptively cheery giggle before casting Die for Me!

Yes, really. Is it overkill? Certainly. He wants to show off anyway.]

Edited 2024-01-08 20:33 (UTC)

[... Bears. An army of bears. Fucking bears.

He clears his throat as the last wisps of Shadow dust blow away.]

Bears?

You would think she'd be Goldilocks, wouldn't you?

[Just look at that bright, playful smile. He's having too much fun.]

Is this something you picked up from your friend, the reindeer bear?

[It is kind of enchanting. He doesn't pull his gun this time; he doesn't need to ambush these minnows.]

None of Robin Hood's attacks work that way.

Ha. He doesn't actually resemble a reindeer typically, but he did find the attack rather delightful.

[Because of course he would. It's Teddie.

The edges of Crow's smile tug a little, flattening slightly but not quite dipping.]

I was able to fuse such a powerful Alice due to my bond with Izanami. Fitting enough, I suppose, given her ties to death and the underworld.

Aren't we down here to kill shit?

[Stop preening, Crow, it's unbecoming and will give him an envy hangover. He looks around for the next shadow, serrated sword flashing into his hand. All this shit he can't do.]

Are you saying I'm due another persona because of our bond? Perhaps I should mark my calendar.

[A Shadow blob emerges around a corner, getting tangled up in its own feet as Magpie hacks it in half.]

You could always try to down and interrogate them instead of killing them. All you need is at least one other person to perform a hold up.

[Which they happen to have. Isn't that lovely?]

[Pride tapes his mouth shut as the second shadow blows away on the Mementos wind. Talking to them, like he's seen Ren do so often. Imagine if he could do that.]

It's really just that this is all about cooperating, isn't it? There's no reason I can't down a Shadow and make it talk.

It is rather odd how it only seems effective in a group. I believe it's because you have to surround them. Apply pressure, so to speak.

[He thumbs the handle of his saber. When you lay it out like that, it is rather absurd.]

I can apply pressure. [It is absurd. Thank you, Crow.]

All right. I give in. Let's find another of these titmice and you can show me how it's done.

[Come here, little shadows. He only wants to talk!]

[Pffft... Crow can't help but snicker at how crass his counterpart is. Incredible.

True, titmouse is an actual animal, but it also contains tit, which... damn it. He really is a fucking teenager, isn't he?]

You truly do have a way with words.

Edited 2024-01-08 21:39 (UTC)

Either that or I've been talking to Akira-kun too much.

[Yes, it contains tit, which is funny. But, for some reason, it's not female anatomy that the world "titmouse" inspires him to think of...

Another shadow lurches through the junction ahead. Magpie fires.]

Every moment with Akira-kun is a blessing.

[Crow slips into a combat stance, ready to scan the enemy. So what do they have to contend with?]

[Fucking ow. The ambush shot reflects, catching Magpie in the arm; he screeches at the top of his voice, which cracks.] Piece of shit!

[The tangled heap of braids and talons picking itself up from the floor is a Rangda. Magpie hisses a summary.]

Well, it repels bullets, for a fucking start! Also, uh, no physical attacks. No fire or curse, they'll be no good. Electricity, though, and bless, it's weak to those.

[He picks himself up. Can he not just kill the fucking thing? Already, though, he's running those resistances in his head.]

Edited 2024-01-08 22:19 (UTC)

Well, then. All you truly have to do is hit its weak spot. A simple task for Robin Hood, I should think.

[Why yes, he is leaving that to Magpie, but he'll still tear off his mask and call Kaguya in to sprinkle a little Diarahan on him.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject