linkingup | Argenti's Palace

...You keep calling me that name. Are you certain that I am who you think I am?

[ The inquiry is directed towards Sayaka, even as the voice remains distorted in its questioning. Then, it continues to speak. Is it Maika's statement that compelled it to? Or simply because of something else entirely? But, it keeps talking, in response to what other people have said. ]

I...don't remember...

What was it...that I gave you?

What was it that I have to go back to?

[ Kirumi strikes hard at the hand holding Richard, being the first person who a lands a hit there for awhile. But then, Aaron and Céleste's attacks towards its eyes occur. Followed then by Mafuyu's strike towards the hand gripping Richard, which leads to the creature dropping Richard - who tosses a debuff his way, lowering the creature's attack. Right as McGillis' wind spell hits the creature as well (that 12 from earlier) Though, it gives Aaron the literal demonic stinkeye and growls at Céleste in particular...almost as if nearing rage, but not quite just yet. Still, it is enough to make it more aggressive. Striking at its eyes seems to only have pissed it off rather than deter it. Darkness begins to gather in great amounts around it, but in the meanwhile? A pincer tries to get the Frenchman into a very dangerous and precarious grip, though he must be blessed because he misses (15)

The subsequent response that arrives is entirely unrefined. ]

...Y̷̗̝̯̍̆ou...

[ Then it spews out a fog of Fear in Aaron, Eli, Izou, and Kirumi's directions from its mouth. They've been inflicted by Fear! If they are not cleared, they will need to flip a coin to see if they act or not.

After that, the Shadow casts a heavy curse-aligned spell, Maeigaon on Aaron (6) but misses, misses Fray (6), hits Kirumi (13), and slams into Eli (18) It also follows up with a powerful physically heavy (Assault Dive) for two separate individuals. One attempt to whack with its free hand at Aerith, missing her (10), and smacking McGillis (12)

...Oh and speaking of Aaron, it is still pissy about earlier, so it swings at him hard enough with its free hand to make him go fly (take your pick whether he lands on the ground or into a wall)(19). ]

Edited 2024-09-19 01:33 (UTC)

[With each breath still feeling like the stab of a knife, the logical thing to do would be to use Diarama on himself. But with so many other people currently in a bad state and an actual threat to everyone else, it ends up making less sense, and so Richard opts out of self-preservation this time in favor of casting Energy Shower on Aaron, Izou and Kirumi.

... and no sooner does he finish doing that than Aaron gets sent flying, so that Diarama he had been preparing for himself ends up being used on Aaron instead.

It's fine. It's totally fine. But it also means he doesn't have any strength left to attack this round, so he'll just be sitting this one out for now.]

[ Eli freezes in place, suddenly stuck in spot by a wave of terror. It triggers his fight or flight instinct, only he can't even make himself turn tail and run. He stands there, still, wide-eyed and feeling a cold sweat bead up along his spine. He should run, he should run, he should... run?

It makes him easy prey for the Omen as he charges him, slamming into him and sending him flying right into a wall. Ow? Yeah, ow. ]

Stay here-

( immediately, mafuyu casts diarama on richard, and then... well. a lot of chaos is happening, and celeste is doing as she asked. she needs to take advantage of this.

so in the midst of the chaos, mafuyu begins trying to sneak around the edge of the battlefield, aiming to get behind the beast and see what it is behind him through her stealth (19). )

[Oh, that... Argenti can't remember like this, and maybe he's lashing out because he can't do anything else, and that... Fray can't afford to think about it right now; the others are getting injured and he needs to help them.

So it's time for an Energy Shower to cleanse Eli. Even though Argenti did attack him, Fray sheathes his sword on his back and pulls something out of his pocket, holding it up for the shadow to see.]

You gave me this. [Argenti's earring.] Even under control of the God of Conflict, you tried to warn me away. Yet you lingered long enough to listen to me, and vowed you'd wait for me to find you.

Well, here I am. I'm not leaving your side - just what awaits you is something we can find out together. You aren't alone anymore and you won't be again. So enough, Argenti. I don't want to hurt you any more.

[And true to his word, he does not attack this round.]

[He is truly blessed for that pincer to miss him... or maybe he doesn't HAVE TIME to get pinched, because he has a distraction campaign to run.

He remembers how going for the spear had derailed the shadow, so he once again goes for it, grabbing it directly once again with full intent to keep hold of it as long as possible. He even loops a leg around it for good measure. (14 for distraction).

While he's there, he'll also fire an Eiga (20!) at the shoulder of the arm holding the spear.]

[????????????????????????????????
RICHARD BUSTS HIM OUT OF THE FEAR STATE AND THE FIRST THING HE SEES IS THIS?]

CELESTE?

[...Okay, he didn't mean to distract teammates, too, but like. Cute.]

Izou~?

[HES NOT CUTE STOP IT!!!]

The hell are you doin' up there????

[CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP]

Keeping his attention~

[If I fail the dodge roll after this it's just karmic retribution, tbh.]

( thank you, dad. )

[Go getem, bb~]

[ It looks like a Media is in order, which Aerith casts on Kirumi, Eli, and McGillis.

Now, she'll aim at that pincer, since it seems to want to go around grabbing people, so she hits it with a Makouha (15). ]

What do you have to go back to? Well, look at Fray! He's a prime example of what's waiting for you, and are you really going to turn down a guy that dedicated to you?

Not to mention, you've got the rest of your friends waiting too. Including me.

[There's a chill down his spine for a moment. What it this isn't Argenti? What if this is just some monster that already killed him and they're too late? What if-

But then thank god Richard blasts off an energy shower. No more fear here! And the attempt of it predictably makes him angrier.]

The fact that it bothers ya enough to respond to us in the middle of battle means deep down yer still Argenti, idiot!

[And he lunges forward with his sword, stabbing at the Spear hand to try and further disarm it, before bracing his sword against his other arm to rake through flesh for a Giant Slice (15)]

So, fall down and die already!

[Sayaka sends a Media toward Kirumi, Richard, and McGillis, and there's a long pause as Sayaka looks to Argenti. The multi-eyed creature in front of her, the aggressive, growling, broken mess of a creature before her, and she manages to stay on her feet enough to try and speak.]

Of course you are. Of course you're still the Argenti we know. The one we...

[Sayaka's words are soft, perhaps surprisingly gentle, and--Sayaka attempts to conserve her energy, only sending an Agi at the shadow (4), though she misses.]

You're the same kind man who always tried to look out for everyone when we arrived here. You're the man who tries to...take on the world, take it all upon your shoulders. The one who tries hard to look out for our best interests. Always acting for the sake of others, giving your all in battle and giving sound advice and care. That's always how you've been, isn't it?

[Atropos floats down to support Sayaka, who stumbles a bit and uses the Persona's weight to support herself a little bit.]

Look all around you. Look at the people who are fighting for you, fighting so hard to bring you home--just look at Fray! Look at Aerith, look at Izou! Look at everyone--look at how many people here are trying to reach for you!

Is that not something to go back to?

Edited 2024-09-19 02:14 (UTC)

[ Maika casts a rare, quick Media on Kirumi, Eli, and Aaron. Still feeling the lingering effects of that stern Kippa stare, perhaps. When her next swipe at the spear swings wide (9) she falls back to position herself a little closer to Aerith, before the Shadow can take another one of those swings at her. ]

If you don't remember, then keep looking. You can't run from yourself forever. And I'm pretty sure none of the people here are going to let you get away for long.

[ With a pointed glance towards Fray and Sayaka and Aerith in particular. ]

[It's not like him to freeze up that easily even in the face of such a formidable opponent, but with the fear hitting right before, he can only watch as the hand comes at him. Aaron lets out a yell the moment the attack hits home, back slamming into the wall and knocking whatever breath he still has right out of him. As he slides back down to the floor, he just slumps there for a bit as he tries to get his bearings back so he can assess the damage. Thankfully, Richard's clear and heal make moving a lot easier, and he also tosses a Media to Richard, Eli and McGillis while he also tops himself up.

And normally, perhaps he would have gone for another attack instead of doing anything else, but those words resonate with him just a little, even if he'd never admit it.]

You gotta be kidding me... You keep yapping about your beauty crap day in and day out, you even kill a man 'cause of your stupid oaths... and now you got the stones to say you don't remember?

Don't give me that bullshit! Like hell anybody'd accept that!

[So he's going to pull out the ocarina and make an attempt to play it but uh, I'm gonna be fucking honest, I don't think he doesn't know what the hell he's doing so he's going to sound like a five-year old who just discovered what a recorder is especially because I rolled a 5!!]

Edited 2024-09-19 04:40 (UTC)

Argenti's Palace

FINAL BATTLE PHASE: ROUND 3

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