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[survivaltricks]

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[messianic]

[When the clock strikes, Minato stares at it. Stares at it for a long, long time--

And then a zombie lurches towards him and Minato yelps, springing back just in time to avoid sharp claws.

He tumbles and rolls away, barely avoiding a tombstone.]

[survivaltricks]

[Akira is one of the first on the scene as soon as the clock begins to chime. he's there to witness the slow emergence of rotting corpses from the dirt, the way the zombies lurch at anyone nearbye, teeth bared and entrails oozing]

[he's there to witness the way Minato jerks back, stumbles, and nearly trips over a tombstone. his gaze narrows as he immediately leaps into action, kicking at the dirt to dart towards the other wild card at surprising speeds]

Minato! Behind me!

[the blue fire burns away his Velvet Room-esque uniform (butler flavor, today) to reveal the leather jacket and red gloves. Joker is here and he is ready to rumble!!]

[messianic]

[Minato frowns a little, expression pinched--he's not a big fan of the fact that he's being awfully damsel-y right now--but then he obeys, darting behind Akira.]

If they're throwing zombies at us because the clock shifted to Death, it's a little heavy-handed...!

[survivaltricks]

[Akira's gaze darts upwards, eyes focused on on the hour hand and the wait it points, very clearly to one number-- XIII]

Tch. . .

[his wings spread out behind him, small and yet somehow expanding as though they can be a shield]

The symbolism is all wrong, too. Are you all right?

[the zombie that launched at Minato is regaining its bearings. none of the other shambling corpses are attacking yet, but Akira is acutely aware of their presence, gaze narrowing]

[messianic]

No kidding... [It's just a bland mutter, though. Despite his connections with Death, he's not about to get fussy about the symbolism at the moment.

Instead...!]

I'm fine. I need to find a weapon, though. I don't have anything.

[survivaltricks]

[weapons. . . a light curse. how are they supposed to acquire weapons on such short notice? even he doesn't have a dagger]

Will gardening shears work? I think that's about all we can manage at the moment-- your left!

[another zombie is lunging at them with inhuman, surprising speeds, but Akira is just as face. he arcs his arm to his side, mask bursting into fire as Metatron forms above him, obliterating the charging zombie with a well-placed Kougaon assault]

[. . . the zombie explodes into blood and gore, because of course it does. sorry about your outfit, Minato]

[messianic]

[Gross.

Minato's expression does not twitch, but he does brush off the worst chunks.]

... Gardening equipment should work. Lead the way--I'll grab something there.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira flicks some off of his cheek with a mild grimace, before he nods]

Right. I will, too.

[because he only has so much SP to spend on exploding zombies]

[ANYWAY. TO THE GARDEN SHED]

[messianic]

[TO THE GARDEN SHED.

Minato disappears inside with a quick:]

Be right back.

[AND THEN REAPPEARS... with gardening shears for Akira, and a rake for himself.]

This'll have to do, I think.

[survivaltricks]

[IT'S FINE, AKIRA IS GUARDING THE SHED ENTRANCE. Minato may hear another angry zombie cry and the sound of another explosion and squishy flesh being obliterated, but it's fine. it's fine!! don't mind the new blood spatters that decorate Akira's jacket when he finally retrieves his rake]

Thanks-- [taking those shears with a tired smile]

Let me guess. . . if I suggest you go wait things out at Cerberus, you're going to tell me no, right?

[messianic]

[Minato meets that tired smile with a calmly arched eyebrow.]

Of course I am.

[A quiet shake of his head, and he lifts the rake.]

Some of our companions might not be able to protect themselves.

[survivaltricks]

[thaaaat's about as expected. . . and while Akira wishes to protest in the wake of Minato missing his Personas. . . he also knows better than to try]

All right. I trust you can handle yourself in a fight, even without a Persona.

[a breath]

But stay close to me, okay? Just in case.

[messianic]

[... Ha. Minato's lips twitch faintly at that, but he nods.

And when he twirls the rake into his hands properly, it's with a practiced movement.]

I'll be fine--but I promise I won't go too far, either.

Same to you, okay? Even with your Personas... you can still get tired or overwhelmed.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira is absolutely making note of that practiced movement, lips quirking into a grin. hah. . . for being so quiet and mild. . . he's certain his senpai is more capable than he seems at first glance]

Mmm. SP goes pretty quick when you're not paying attention.

[and he has no coffee nor curry nor soul drops with which to replenish his stamina]

Let's move out, then.

[TIME TO GO KICK SOME ZOMBIE BUTT]

[messianic]

[HELL YEAH IT'S TIME.

Minato nods briefly, calmly, and then they're on the move. There's really... no end to the zombies, but Minato seems to be able to hold his own with the rake; with the weapon in his hand, he can fend them off, knocking them away with practiced blows and keeping them at bay.

And as he does, he huffs.]

Zombies that move quickly... are cheating.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira keeps his eyes on Minato from the corners of his vision, though he finds that there isn't much of a need for him to intervene. occasionally, he draws a Persona from the recesses of his mind out into the open-- Chi You, Ongyo-Ki, Cybele, Odin-- to blast a zombie into pieces from a distance. but otherwise, he's doing his best to pace himself]

[Minato's comment draws a breathless laugh from him]

This would be a lot quicker if they were slow and falling apart like they should be, yeah. . .!

[messianic]

[Minato just snorts to himself, shaking his head, and bashes another zombie away.

(As he does, he's taking note of those Personas. Some he recognizes...)]

I guess that would be too easy...

I'm really worried about some of the people here.

[survivaltricks]

[one more zombie gets blasted into pieces, and then. . . there seems to be a lull, a moment of quiet in which Akira recalls his Persona and lets out a deep breath]

Yeah; me too.

. . . not everyone is built to be a fighter.

[messianic]

[Minato takes a slow breath in as well, nodding firmly.]

That just means we have to do what we can to protect them. Us, and everyone else who can fight too.

They'll be okay. We won't let them get hurt.

[survivaltricks]

[taking a moment to catch his breath while there are no zombies in site, slowing to a stop as he lifts his arms above his head and stretches, one hand pressed against an elbow]

I haven't seen anyone else yet, so-- maybe they're already inside.

[SAFE AND SOUND. . . MAYBE THEY WON'T HAVE TO DO ANY RESUCING TODAY]

[messianic]

[THE IDEAL OUTCOME.

Minato just nods at that, lowering his weapon with a faint sigh.]

... Hey. What do you think of the Clock Tower?

[survivaltricks]

[rocks back on his heel, still surveying the area]

. . . I hadn't thought much about it at all, until now.

And I'm not really sure what to think.

[messianic]

[... Minato takes a deep breath... and lets it out.

And quietly:]

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed."

The numbers--they correspond to everything... up until Death.

[survivaltricks]

[blinks a few times, before he frowns brows furrowing]

And up until today, both hands were pointing to the Fool, right?

[messianic]

Yeah, that's exactly right.

... Maybe I'm overthinking it. But because this place is the way it is... [Velvet room adjacent and all] ... well, it's hard not to see the resemblance.