Kirumi Tojo's Palace | The Ultimate Maid's Failures

[kandata]

By now everyone may be used to find themselves in bizarre locations, between going into palaces and visiting Nekyia. It might not come as a surprise that it has happened again.

What might come as a surprise, though...is how empty this place is.

All around you there's nothing more than a large, gray, featureless expanse. In the distance there seem to be bars, curving upwards to gather so, so high above you, possibly hundreds of miles above, so high it’s hard to distinguish.

It’s a cage. So unfathomably large. You could escape, were you to get to the edges of the cage, but...it would take forever. No matter how you look at it, you're trapped. The atmosphere is so...hopeless. Devoid of anything even remotely positive.

Not that you want to hang around for long, do you? After all, this is someone's palace. Not a place to stick around at. What to do, though?

It’s all so...empty. Silent. Featureless. A flat expanse of hard gray tiles.

Gather together, everyone. Gather and choose a direction. North, East, West, South. All directions look completely identical, but could it affect your time in this place, somehow? Probably not. But all treks start with the first step. Perhaps, if you get moving, you'll progress?

Comments

FINAL BATTLE

[kandata]

[You climbed the spider's thread. Therefore, you have reached paradise, didn't you?

One look at your surroundings show that no. You're still in hell. In Kirumi Tojo's eyes, she has never left hell.

She doubts she ever will.

There's a pair of gigantic red doors. Past them, you'll see a very busy room.



Looks pretty cramped, doesn't it? Monokuma is sitting on his throne, comfy and not too worried, and in front of him...it's Kirumi.

She looks away when she notices people entered]

Oh, look! They got here. They sure took their sweet time. Have you seen how roughed up they are? Half-dead, even!

[That's not even true, but Monokuma doesn't care about truth. He has spent a loooot of time talking to Kirumi directly, using his powers over her mindscape to force her to listen. Sayaka was told Kirumi was unharmed physically, and that's true.

Emotionally and mentally, though...she has been subjected to Monokuma giving her undivided attention.

Kirumi dares to glance towards everyone who arrived. Just that brief glance showed a lot of guilt, conflict, and dread. Fray was told Kirumi was dreading someone coming, and that was no lie at all. She looks like she wants to leave right now.

Monokuma puts a paw on Kirumi's head, forcing her to look straight at them all. "Remember what I told you, supermaid. Think of them. Your duty of helping them, make all their saccharine-sweet bonds happen and fight for the goddess or whatever...you know what's getting in the way of that?

It's you, Kirumi. You're in the way."

Kirumi stands up, shakily. She looks pretty lost, really. In her hand, there's the axe.

"Your crimes and worst sides are in the way, Kirumi. They'll ruin everyone's efforts, so you know what you must do, don't you? Go ahead.

Solve the problem you caused."

Monokuma's throne moved away, ascending out of the way, out of reach. He just gets a glass of wine, comfortable for watching the confrontation he spent all this time preparing Kirumi for, getting under her skin, breaking her defenses little by little, so he could get the result he wanted.]

MECHANICS

[kandata]

General mechanics for this battle are nothing we all haven't dealt with before. Unlike the other battles in the palace so far, this one will deal with the usual rounds. I'll check every hour at :00 to gather the moves and give results based on that. If there aren't many actions yet, I'll extend the time and nudge in chat about the state of the fight about needing more character actions.

As usual during fighting, 1-10 is a failure, 11-20 is a success.

Good luck!

EDIT: Yes, Luna, McGillis can bring the Exisal to the trial room.

Final Battle: Kirumi Tojo

[kandata]

[Kirumi steps forward towards everybody, past the podiums]

I am sorry for everything you have seen. I can solve this. I will solve it.

[Kirumi raises her axe, taking a deep breath]

I created this palace. I should be able to come up with a way to modify memories, or suppress them. If I suppress all you found out, it will be as if nothing happened. Please submit and do not fight back. [Slowly, Kirumi turns over the axe, to ensure she won't attack with the sharp edge] I will not kill any of you, but the consequences of you leaving this palace too soon can be dangerous.

I will not turn a blind eye to that possibility.

[It seems Kirumi has steeled herself for this. Influenced by Monokuma she is right now, but everyone here also knows how tenacious Kirumi Tojo can be. She intends to come at you with all she has.]

I know you will not surrender. I will attempt to be gentle.

[Kirumi Tojo intends to fight. As for you all? What will you do? How will you handle this battle? How will you end it?

The fight barely starts and Kirumi uses Sukukaja on herself, to ensure she has a good speed. She also waves with her axe, targeting everyone with Sukunda, reducing everyone's speed. Her opening moves are done.

Curious thing, even though she's bathed with the light that means she's using her Persona, nothing appears. All this time, and that particular mystery hasn't gotten any clearer]

[emptyself]

Stupid bear.

[ he clicks his tongue. yes, he can see that kirumi is preparing to attack and he feels that debuff on his speed, but soujuurou's not moving yet. he'll simply get himself into a more defensive position, but makes no motion to move.

he simply talks (19). ]

Tojo, you're not the problem here. You only did what you had to do to survive. I don't think that murder is right but you were trying to do everything you could do survive. I don't think that's wrong either. You were the one that reminded me of the importance of bonds— I still want to keep ours.

[prozaic]

[Well, Monokuma is not wrong about one of them being half-dead-- Shalem is looking pretty rough despite still being on his feet (3), he's definitely still feeling the effects of that Megidolaon that Monokuma sent his and Kaine's way. Look, he did look a little better earlier, but not by much! And just getting to this room after that has taken a lot out of him.

So he's... just hanging back, really far back, making sure there are people between him and Kirumi because he knows he won't be able to handle much more. He's skipping rounds until healed.]

[strawsandals]

Shalem...

[ Oof, buddy, you are not looking great. Yoon will toss Diarama his way just to make sure he's okay. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ He will be getting a Dia! ]

[imperiosity]

[Also tossing a Dia his way because bonds from grown men arts and crafts are sacred!!!]

[destage]

[Sayaka isn't sure what to do here. She feels like an idiot for going about this the wrong way; this had to have been wrong, didn't it? Everything shattered and they faced hell itself, the hell that Kirumi has gone through and how it's warped her psyche. How it continues to warp it.

Sayaka isn't altogether sure what to do, though she'll grab her sword and brandish it. Maybe she should be a little more sympathetic. Maybe she should try to talk a bit.

But someone has to fight to keep people safe.]

Are you truly so afraid of being understood that you'd resort to this, Tojo-san? I can't say I haven't thought of something similar myself, honestly...the idea of being seen by others when I've done something so terrible, and been prepared to do what it took to survive...

...It's kinda sickening feeling, isn't it? I've gotten used to it...I've gotten to accept it, but still.

[She'll cast a Media on Kaine, Yi Sang, and Shalem. Atropos manifests easily, and Sayaka still can't bring herself to completely attack Kirumi.

If anything, the Agilao (5) she sends is a warning shot. It's totally not because her nerves are shot to shit at all of this.]

I don't want to hurt you; you deserve better than this. You're a dear friend, Tojo-san, and you've helped me through some of the worst times we've had. None of this will change that. But if you really give us no choice...if this is really want you want...

[Sayaka steps near anyone who wants to talk, wanting to protect them and bringing out her sword in defense.]

...I'll meet you head on.

[moonshaded]

[The discrepancy in numbers between utility-oriented Personas and fighting-oriented ones is pretty stark now, facing down the final battle. The list of skills Kainé can access that don't do damage isn't exactly long. She hits herself with a Rakukaja to raise her defense.]

You talkers and huggers try to do your thing.

[She will try to take some Kirumi aggro should she physically attack while the others are still trying negotiations. Despite her turning the flat of the axe head, Kainé is still on alert. The girl that would do anything to live is probably still here.

And...what would she say that would matter? She left Kirumi to stay mostly alone in that goddamn dorm for weeks, anyway.]

[beautifulknight]

[ Yes...supposedly it doesn't appear. But, Argenti addresses Kirumi first and foremost. ]

You will not solve it in the way you have thought you could. Please, do realize this.

What you have done cannot be covered up, nor obscured, or erased from our mind, despite what this place might have convinced you. Do not run away or hide from the weight of your actions - otherwise, it shall crush you.

You must face what you did, acknowledge it, but not let it define you. There is still time to tread a new path, rather than continuing to believe you must continue to make those decisions in line with your previous situation.

[ It is clear she feels regret for her actions. Argenti firmly believes that this is key to her being able to turn over a new leaf for real. But he also is certain that it means she can't just hope for it all to go away so simply. They've saw what she did, her life at her worst.

They know the worst that she is capable of. But, Argenti knows that she is NOT just capable of those things - that at her best, she has made strives towards changing, that she did do the best she could in her situation, and she has cared for people before, she has HELPED them at the cost of her own life.

She can be someone who holds the weight of her actions in her heart, takes responsibility for them, and moves onwards without maliciously celebrating what she did. To that end, Argenti is ready to also attack, tightly clutching his spear as he shouts: ]

And if you cannot understand this, we shall help you open your eyes!

[ Right from the start Kirumi states her intent to attack, so he sees no reason not to meet her in kind. Let the blows do the talking!

...Argenti would do the same, but for some reason, he ultimately ends up hesitating (3) like he did before in a certain other Palace... hrm. We're starting off well, fam. ]

[kandata]

Acknowledge what I have done?! I haven't stopped thinking about it!

[Constantly. Once she was separated from the killing game she sure had a lot of time to think about that and realize the enormity of her actions.

Kirumi wastes no time getting up close, and although she's not holding back, she's not against defenseless people. Everyone here has been in fights for a couple months already. Kirumi tries to hook her axe onto Sayaka's sword to pull it away from Sayaka, but Sayaka probably can hold onto it. Kirumi, showing her ability to think on the fly, uses the same swing to grab Sayaka's ankle, to make her fall. (Rolled: 7).

She doesn't even have time to see if that worked, because she has to target others]

We all know that went far above just wanting to survive. Do not force me to do something more to regret now!

[Kirumi waves an arm, dark waves of magic crossing the air and enveloping Soujuurou, Argenti, Aaron and Yoon. They'd feel their Personas suppressed. They won't be able to use their Personas for two rounds. Three for Yoon because that was critical roll. Shalem, despite skipping a turn, gets no mercy, a Kouga lighting up the floor to hit him with Bless (rolled: 12).

Pretty ironic that someone so focused to help others do things now is suppressing their ability to do that]

So yes, I am afraid! But that alone will not stop me from doing what must be done!

[In this case, forcing everyone to submit so she can take time to figure out how to forget everything.

Everyone saw the way Kirumi could attack with blunt weaponry. Using Cruel Attack, she leaps, bringing her axe down onto Kainé, and then onto Arven ,both times with remarkable intent to defeat them. It's like a meteor collided against them! (Rolled: 18 and 16). Kainé is right, the girl who fights to live and succeed no matter what is still here, even against people she likes and ended up bonding with]

I made this mess; I must clean it up for our common objectives!

1/2

[kandata]

[Kirumi is, truthfully, very touched by all this. It's been...it's been such a wake up call. She's quiet, caught off guard by everything, but she's been listening to everyone, truly listening.

Monokuma, though, isn't nearly as happy.

...twelve people, and not a single vote. Monokuma is silent, watching everyone. He can see they're defying him. They haven't played along. This is ridiculous, he thinks]

...you all...I bearly can believe it. One can't rely on any of you to do a single thing right.

Not a single thing! From the very beginning! Well, you know what, fine! Damn you all!

Since all of you refuse to follow the nice little breadcrumb path I laid out for you, then okay, I'll handle things myself. Hope you're happy, bastards!

I will destroy Kirumi Tojo myself!

[Kirumi disappears from the Exisal's hand. Next thing they know, Kirumi is up there, at Monokuma's throne. Monokuma holds Kirumi by the neck, turning her head to the far end of the courtroom, where a screen descends]

Watch, all of you, how I get rid of the damn maid you all are sooooo eager to coddle!

[The screen turns on.

There's a girl there. She's staring upwards, like everyone did to the cameras some time ago. That girl, she talks. Her voice keeps trailing off, she sounds so unsure of herself -- completely different from the Kirumi Tojo everyone knows:

'...I...I want to be part of that world. That's why I'm here.

About what talent I could have, I'm not all that sure yet...? But I gave it a lot of thought, and I think that anything that could have me up front and center would be nice...please?

I'm so tired of being in the background. I don't want to be...just...this girl standing to a side like some piece of furniture...so...

...please let me be someone everyone sees! And then...I can...I can give you the killing game drama the season needs!

Just...just...can you please...not make me die early? The cases are fun, but also, I...the thought of surviving past all the death...wouldn't that be...really interesting?']

Theeeere you go, Kirumi. You're seeing that? That's you. Or more like, that's who you used to be, you little sniveling prop. Some random girl trying to get into the biggest, hottest television content ever. You were so eager to be in the 53rd season!

And guess what, silly girl?

You got in.

[Monokuma lets go of Kirumi's neck. When he does, Kirumi just drops to her knees, eyes wide open, staring at the screen. She seems absolutely dumbfounded.

And Monokuma isn't done. The screen goes back. There's no sight, but there's sound. There's a constant mechanical sound, like a buzz, and many voices talking to each other.

'...okay, all has been erased. The intern is ready to type in, you got the outline?'

'yeah, yeah. It's incomplete, though.'

'Why the fuck--?'

'Look, less talking, more solving.'

'Fine,' there's the click of a pen getting ready. 'Let's start...what'll be her name?'

'Something elegant, something--'

'Harumi?'

'.....'
'....'
'She doesn't have the face of a Harumi.'

'...you know what, just jot down something random. We'll consult with the committee about the name later. Uh, age, we can put the same than the original candidate. What did the candidate say? Any requests?'

'A bunch. She had some thoughts.'

'Yeah?'

'Who cares.'

There's the sound of typing, for about a minute.

'The higher-ups are getting a little antsy after the failure to get broadcast agreements with Europe, so let's focus on what to pass the character writing team. The roster needs, uh, three victims--'

'Yeah, she has the face of a victim character'

'Then why don't we turn that on its head and make her a killer?'

'Not a bad idea. Let's do it. How early, how late?'

'Depends on the talent we give.'

'Fuck it. No wonder it had so many blanks. She really is such a forgettable girl.'

'How about we use this?' There's the sound of rustling paper, followed by a groan from somebody else.

'The stupid 'teenager is the defacto prime minister' backstory was left in the cutting room floor seventeen seasons ago for a reason.'

'At this point we need to go for stuff out of the box! There's been 52 seasons, we need some new spins to old concepts--'

'Who the hell would put a teenager as the prime minister of Japan? That's the most stupid--'

'We can tweak it a little!'

'...minister...public servant...how about we make her a servant?'

'Like the cleaning lady?'

'Super cleaning lady.'

'...eh, sure. Whatever.']

Okay, that's all that survived of that moment. after the deletion back then. Your head is such a mess. Clean up a little, won't you?

[The screen disappears, but the damage is done. The implications were clear, and Kirumi and anyone else can connect the dots well enough.

Kirumi Tojo doesn't exist. She was some girl before who wanted to be part of what seems to be a show everyone in her world watches and enjoys. That girl is completely gone, emptied out of all original personality and memories. That's why there was all that blank expanse at the start -- there just was nothing else in Kirumi's soul. All that exists is the killing game, and what happened in it. All that's left of the original Kirumi is a vague shape.

Nothing else exists.

Kirumi Tojo's talent, her personality, her likes, her dislikes, her hopes, her dreams, her past, her bonds, her joys, her sadness...

...the actions she would take, what she would do, what her fate was...all predetermined for entertainment. A part of Kirumi must have

Monokuma steps to the edge of the throne, and glances back at Kirumi]

You, "Kirumi", existed only for about a week and half before you died. You were written and created to be this archetype of caring character who then would murder someone with cruelty. And your execution, oh boy, whoever authored that one should get a raise!

[Slowly, tendrils extend from Kirumi's entire clothes. Tendrils as fine as spider thread reach for Monokuma, the bear starting to get entangled in that]

Now come along. I still have to deal with your newfound friends.

[Monokuma jumps off the throne, towards the ground, Kirumi hurtling behind him]

[destage]

KIRUMI--!!!

[Sayaka's horrified as she witnesses everything. This, all of this--she was built from the ground up for entertainment? These sorts of games, they were entertainment for people who watched them--she was made into a

perfect

little doll.

It's oh so wretchedly familiar, and Sayaka's seeing red. She doesn't even consider if she was made to suffer a similar fate, if all of this wasn't the same for her. It doesn't matter. None of this does. None of it does, except getting the girl who was made into Kirumi Tojo out alive.

But she needs to mean what she says. And say what she means. The grip on her sword is tight, white knuckled, glaring at the spider threads and everything that extends from Kirumi into Monokuma. This is it. They have to save a girl who wanted to be something more from the clutches of a hideous fate.

And Sayaka is ready.]

...Monokuma, you bastard. You...

You're going to pay for this if it's the last thing I do--

[bloodweapon]

[Kirumi Tojo doesn't exist. All that they've been through, all that they've seen, were lies made up to give her a story, motivations, a reason to kill for... what? A show? A show that this girl wanted to be on so she could take center stage.

Maybe he doesn't have the full picture, but Fray has enough. It's enough to draw parallels to his own experiences and that... That isn't something he should be doing right now. This is about Kirumi. This is her story, her palace, her experiences, and yet Fray can't quite get out of his head for long enough to say or do anything to actually help.

(And privately, he wonders what this means for Sayaka, who has also been through something similar. Was she like this as well...?)

For the first time since he arrived here, he's completely consumed by... fear. Rage. Hatred, frustration, fury, disbelief, shock— so many other feelings that threaten to boil over into something, though hells if he knows what it is. Instead, he's left standing there silently, looking up at Kirumi without the words to express anything he's feeling.

It would be so much easier if this was simply a fight.

Fray remains silent, unable to react.]

[prozaic]

So, you're saying that her entire identity was scripted.

[NOW WHERE HAS HE HEARD THAT BEFORE--]

2/2 Final Fight: The Ultimate Maid

[kandata]

[Monokuma returns to ground level, glaring at everyone. Behind him, Kirumi falls to the floor, hard enough to almost fall unconscious at that point. Almost. While she's there, struggling to stand up, Monokuma talks to everyone]

I told you, it's kill or be killed! And since you didn't kill, you all die.

Allow me to show you...the great things our team can create!

[You know why Kirumi Tojo doesn't have a Persona anyone can see, not even herself? That's because all she is, is the Persona. A Persona is by definition the face shown to interact with others. There's no hidden side to her, either. All that could be hidden is right on the surface, to be part of the husk she was turned into.

Every time she just is using her own body and mind. She's the Persona, even though she never knew it.

The tendrils that extended from Kirumi's close begin forming, Monokuma blending with them. His own black and white cotton starts dissolving, an abomination being created in front of everyone. If anyone tries to attack during that, the threads lash at their weapons and their attacks, Monokuma's grin somehow surviving the union with Kirumi's Persona so far.

What arises, is a freakishly tall entity resembling Kirumi's maid uniform. There's no face to this monster. Its hands are soaked red. Monokuma's cotton seems to be imbued into everything, swirls of monochrome like splotches of paint and ink all over it. The thing extends a hand, spider threads falling from its palm and wrapping around Kirumi's torso and chest, and they hoist her up, torso-first, the threads dangerously close to her neck. The monster experimentally swings her like a flail]

Fifty-two seasons. You bunch have even less numbers than a season, so I'm sure you won't be part of the body count!

I'll crush you all to a pulp!

[The Ultimate Maid intends to kill. Watch out. It's so cocky it even lets you all have the first turn.]

1/2

[moodwrecker]

...

[Kirumi was created, all for... this. There's a weight in there that makes Aubrey sick to her stomach. Knowing that this was apparently accepted enough to have reality tv show writers who couldn't even care enough to craft a good story for her.

She was just fodder for that world, in the end.]

...But you're out of that world now.

[destage]

[There's still something to save in there. Sayaka knows it. She refuses to let herself be bogged down in fear, to be bogged down in what ifs and what could be. What's here in front of them is an objective, and it's one that Sayaka intends to see through. She closes her eyes briefly, gripping her sword tight, and she speaks to herself calmly.

It's about time she lives up to the path of the knight she wants to be, and save a girl who simply wanted to be noticed.]

...My brothers. You've both guided me for so long. May I make you both, and everyone else here, proud.

[Sayaka's eyes open.

She'll attempt to rush down the strange new form with all of her might with a Giant Slice (3), though it appears she can't grasp the true form of the monster just yet.]

[vogelfrei]

[ This explains the gaps in Kirumi's memory, the matters that don't add up, the unrealistic career... McGillis had been fairly certain that there was something off about her past that they had not yet discovered, but he could not have foreseen this.

Kirumi is nothing. Not a name, not a past, not anything at all. She's nothing, because she allowed who she used to be to be ground into dust for the mere chance of relevance.

At the same time, this means she is something. Kirumi is tenacity. Not to be sidelined, she'd been given the most sidelined role of all, and yet-- Kirumi's always wanted to shine, to keep going and reach something higher.

McGillis Fareed-- No, McGillis Montag understands that desire.

He'd related to Mafuyu and her masks, to Sayaka and the whittling down of who she might once have been... With Kirumi, he's confronted with the abandonment of self in pursuit of something else coming to its absolute final form.

And it makes him want to reach out his hand, for once.

But he can't, not yet. First he has to hit the monster with a Garudyne and get Kirumi free (11). ]

1/???

[prozaic]

[Shalem makes a face. He almost... looks annoyed, really. He's been denied a proper fight once, and then now they have to fight something not human? That's not murder, no potential for art-- that's just slaughter, culling. Clean, methodical.

Still, fight he must, so he gives a sigh and readies a Bufula-- but Orpheus is unresponsive. Shalem has to look up at his Persona quizzically. What's happening?]

[strawsandals]

[ This is so much. Kirumi Tojo isn't real? Kirumi was a character that someone else wrote? Kirumi is simply a narrative device...

...well, then. They'll just have to change the narrative then, won't they? And he will carve it into her mind so she doesn't forget.

While others presumably keep her busy, Yoon grabs a stray piece of wood and tries as hard as he can to carve letters into the floor: ]

Kirumi Tojo is real

[bloodweapon]

[Ah, wasn't he just wishing for a fight instead of time to think about all Kirumi Tojo is or once was? Perfect. Fray shakes his head as if to clear it, dropping into his usual battle stance as he prepares himself. There's really only one path forward, and it's one he's eager to take - battle is where he has always shined brightest, after all.

Regardless of his own issues and insecurities, a Dark Knight exists to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Right now, that's Kirumi. He can sort out the rest later.

Here's a Thunderous Rage, striking hard with a 19!]

[beautifulknight]

[ All of these revelations...

...They are unpleasant. One, right after the other, witnessing and hearing them makes Argenti's stomach churn, and his expression darken.

The fact that there was some kind of show involving a "killing game".

That she, as a person, wished to be a part of that world.

Yes, Argenti is staring down the core of this young lady's twisted desires in the face - he feels that much.

But, it does not end there. No, the rabbit hole grows even deeper, with her own identity essentially being placed into question. That she was never really "Kirumi" at all, it was just something gifted to her, without even consideration for her desires at all.

...To be honest, Argenti can't really understand why she would wish to be on such a stage like that. Not at all.

But, that doesn't matter.

He understands that she still wanted to be her own person throughout that, and he feels that was stolen away, when she was slotted into a role she never wished for. In the end, Argenti will endeavor to rescue her, to show her that she can still walk along a new path.

And be her own individual while she's at it. ]

I see a wretched fiend like you only has room to be conceited and full of nothing but wretched evil. We will take Miss Kirumi back, and she will have the chance to embrace that opportunity of a second chance as herself! And you?

[ Unfortunately Argenti doesn't know what else to call her, but Kirumi is his friend. That hasn't changed, even in the face of these startling, troubling revelations. ]

You shall fall!

[ Argenti shouts this, rushing ahead, and he just flat out misses (6) with his swing, but he isn't embarrassed in the slightest. ]

[emptyself]

[ soujuurou stares ahead, dumbfounded more by the memory that he saw rather than the monster that has taken control of kirumi tojo.

something about it feels horribly familiar and horribly sickening, but soujuurou has no time or energy to process his own feelings. if it’s a living thing, then it must have a weakness. and if it has a weakness, then it can be taken down. ]

I’m sorry, Tojo. But I know that you can continue living even with a false identity. It’s hard— but I think you can do it.

[ soujuurou poses, ready to strike, as he goes to strike the monster with a punch (19) ]