[action]

[cookingfordogs]

[There had been a lot of fog around Wonderland recently. The last time it appeared, it turned people into stone and 'killed' them temporarily. He wasn't sure which fact was more disturbing; petrifying fog or the fact that people came back to life. But it was someone's memory, so it probably wouldn't be back.

He wondered if this fog appeared because the last triggered the memory in somebody else.

Shinjiro had a wild, morbid idea. But if death was temporary, he would be okay. He walked through it.

And nothing happened. His sinuses didn't burn and his flesh was fine. It was harmless.]

Kree!

[That sound! Shinjiro looked down and saw a black, slimy blob slide past him, running away in fear. The two beady red eyes disappeared down the hallway.

Shit. Was this his memory? If so, there could be tons of shadows around each hallway. He ran back to his room, snatched up his Evoker, and asked the closet for a two-handed axe, his weapon of choice. Despite being a two-handed weapon, Shinjiro carried it and attacked with it using only one. And that was all he would need to do away with these things.

Now prepared for battle, Shinjiro re-emerges into the hallway of the mansion, ready to slay his enemies. He'll make sure Apathy Syndrome is a thing that doesn't exist here.]

Nobody's gonna suffer 'cause of me...

[OOC: Trigger warning: violence may abound in this thread! He'll see other residents as shadows as well as people who've wanted him dead. He will not touch hallucinations of people, but if you appear as a shadow, he'll attack you. Plotting thread is here if you wanna discuss something!]

Comments

[action]

[jivitadana]

[No use in going back to his own room now that the fog had taken it over. Minato left it behind in hopes the fog would just go away, though he didn't have enough time to grab his Lucifer's Blade before he escaped. Damn. And not getting a gas mask just yet because running around wearing the thing is impractical and only going to be used as a last resort.

So for now Minato wanted to contact his friends somehow with his comm device as he went up the stairs to avoid more of that fog. But along the way and down a hall he saw someone in a familiar red peacoat and a large axe. The sight wasn't that entirely reassuring though.

Minato headed in his direction, knowing he should be careful anyway and thinking that they all couldn't stay in one place for long lest the fog creep in or trapped them somewhere where they'd be forced to breathe it in. Time to get him and leave this floor before things got worse.]

[cookingfordogs]

[Shinjiro felt a familiar sensation as he stood in the hallway approaching from behind him. He hadn't experienced it in a long while, but it was one he couldn't forget and he hoped never to feel it ever again.

Guardian shadow. They weren't going to get off easy, it seemed. Shinjiro had never faced one on his own, but it was looking as though he would have to now.]

I'm right here!

[He challenged, thought it may have sounded like he was calling out to Arisato.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato could see the alternate version of his senpai, and he did finally approach, scanning the area for anything suspicious and for that fog.]

... Let's go.

[Because that fog was going to come their way soon enough.]

[cookingfordogs]

[Arisato was here? That's good. He could use the backup. It's hard to see him in all of this fog, unfortunately.]

Wherever you are, be careful. I ain't holding back on these guys.

[The sound of his axe lodging itself into the wall can be heard, even though Shinjiro hears the satisfying splorch of a shadow disintegrating beneath the blade.]

[jivitadana]

[What are you talking about? Minato didn't frown, but something was definitely not right about this situation.]

What are you seeing?

[cookingfordogs]

[Shinjiro's axe blade falls against the floor, splitting some of the floor boards. Again, he sees and hears nothing equal to structural damage, just destroyed shadows.]

Shadows. Little bastards are everywhere. There's a big one nearby too, so don't do anything stupid.

[jivitadana]

[Minato waited for a second, debating on how he should break the news to Shinjiro.]

I don't think there are any here.

[And he really didn't want to wait around to find out exactly, since some of that creepy fog was coming up from behind Shinjiro.]

[cookingfordogs]

[What? Can he not see them? Their little beady eyes glow like Christmas lights... Maybe it's an ability the shadow uses to take its prey.]

Then stand back while I beat the shit out of'em.

[jivitadana]

[Minato shook his head. The Mansion wouldn't bring Shadows like that back here twice, would they? He didn't remember any fog being part of his own memories, and this fog wasn't like the one before when it was based on Naoto's memories.]

... We need to leave before that fog comes.

[Because it is getting closer to them, and it's unsettling. Minato thought for now that one, if there are supposed Shadows then may as well try to fend them off, and two, one Panta Rhei spell should disperse the fog temporarily or keep it in one place in a column of air.

Thus that was his plan and he summoned Thanatos to cast the wind spell behind his alternative's senpai.]

[cookingfordogs]

[As Minato summons Thanatos, Shinjiro gazes up at the persona, still blind to Arisato's appearance, but seeing his other self in all its glory. Coffins, chains, and a freaky bill-shaped mask...this is going to be one hell of a fight.]

Hrrraaaaaaaaagh!

[Shinjiro charges in Minato's direction, attempting to split him and the persona in two.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato had dispelled the oncoming fog enough, but having someone come after him with a giant axe is not his idea of fun. Almost not as fun as having someone with chains and two long-barrel revolvers come after him At least in that latter case he got a Bloody Button and some money out of it.

Minato had to dodge and fast, letting Shinjiro take his swing at the air where he used to be, and had Thanatos sink back into himself. He switched to Messiah, but hadn't summoned yet.]

Snap out of it.

[cookingfordogs]

Shit! It's gone!

[Where is he? Where is Arisato? All he sees is a sea of shadows.]

I ain't letting you win!

[jivitadana]

Nothing's there, Aragaki-san.

[But Minato didn't know how else to get through to him besides maybe summoning Thanatos again. So he did after switching Personas, now having the Death Arcana Persona hovering above him.

He moved backward toward the stairs, taking his Persona with.]

[cookingfordogs]

[It's back. It's like the grim reaper of shadows,and it taunts him. Seeing it makes him panic.]

You can't see'im!

[But he can. Forgetting to warn Minato, Shinjiro raises his axe and charges towards Thanatos' position, swinging the blade wildly once he closes the distance.]

[jivitadana]

[Good. Now since Minato didn't really feel like being split in two, he took off in the other direction again.

At least by now they were away from the fog coming after them, but who knew about the fog coming from somewhere else. In any case, Minato had to be careful not only about that, but oh, right, that axe.

Thanatos wanted to stay, but Minato opted for... He thought Messiah, but thought better of it, summoning Jack Frost instead. The Jack really, really lowered all of his stats, which was the risk Minato was taking, but Jack Frost was cute and had Dia and how could anyone think he was harmful? Well, save for the bitty Bufu + Ice Boost spell Minato had him use on Shinjiro to try and stop him.]

[cookingfordogs]

[...Jack Frost? It's the little crane game dude. They have dozens of dolls in the crane machine at the mall back home of this thing. It's kind of cute-]

Ch!

[The little bastard is a trickster though, trying to attack him like that. Shinjiro glares at it, shaking off the ice shards.]

Changin' your shape so you can fucking trick me! That ain't gonna work.

[He shuffles in his pocket, pulling out his Evoker. He hates calling on Castor for help, but he's going to need it. Castor's mount whinnies, and the persona casts Akasha Arts.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato really could not afford to have Jack Frost stick around for too long if Shinjiro was going to insist on attacking. Thanatos and now Kartikeya were both clamoring to have a chance to attack, but Minato didn't let them.

He switched to Orpheus Telos, and took the attack. It hurt, but it really wasn't as bad as it could've been.]

Do Shadows ever change shape?

[cookingfordogs]

Shadows can fucking-

[...He knows this figure. It's a little different, but it feels familiar. Castor's image faded away, and Shinjiro lowered his weapon, resting the blade against the ground.

He's been attacking Minato all this time.

He remains silent, and drops to his knees.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato breathed a sigh of relief to himself, then moved closer to Shinjiro now, still keeping an eye out for the fog though.]

It's okay. But we should go.

[cookingfordogs]

[He uses his axe to force himself back up, throwing it down to the floor and abandoning it there as he reluctantly follows.]

...

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded just once, walking toward the stairs, almost like he were leading a team through Tartarus.]

It's not your fault.

[cookingfordogs]

[It sure did feel a lot like that. The more he hangs out with Minato, the more he can see the subtle similarities between him and her.

But he's not helping their alliance one bit. He just attacked him with blind rage. How could he have been so dumb? Seeing Jack Frost should have been enough of a hint.]

It is my fault. I could of done worse to you...

[jivitadana]

[Minato shook his head. What could be worse than anything he's been through?]

It's the Mansion's fault. We'll just be more careful.

[Another floor should be safer for now since Minato hadn't noticed any fog on the way up.]

[cookingfordogs]

There ain't any shadows, are there?

[On the next floor, he didn't see anything. Visibility was much better, and he couldn't make out any patches of fog. His mind seemed a lot clearer and relaxed as well.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato shook his head. There weren't any Shadows here that he knew of or had seen.]

It's the fog. Something about it makes you see things.