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[survivaltricks]

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[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.

[survivaltricks]

[a noise of agreement, but. . . he tenses a little as he senses some movement in a nearby bush, hand shooting to his face again]

But what does it all mean?

[his Velvet Room didn't have a clock in it]

[messianic]

I'm not sure yet--but it means something.

I feel like... I've seen a clock tower like this before. But... I can't remember where.

[damn u pq]

... Well. I'm sure we'll figure it out in time. It's good to keep in mind, at least.

[survivaltricks]

[DAMN U PQ. THERE WAS NO CLOCK TOWER IN PQ2]

Mmm. And to keep in mind as things continue to unfold.

[and out of the bush pops another zombie!! with a few friends!! these guys are bigger and more muscular than the ones they've been fighting thus far. perhaps they are also less squishy?]

[Akira squares his stance]

[messianic]

[Minato frowns, lifting his rake like a quarterstaff.]

... Let's take them out.

[They could hurt someone else if they just avoid them!

So Minato, naturally, moves forward to engage the enemy.]

[survivaltricks]

[Akira is right behind him! though he doesn't bolt forward like Minato does. . . if only because he's grabbing Ongyo-Ki from the depths of his psyche, sending the Person about to slice through the nearest zombie with an arc of his blade]

[. . .]

[if Minato notices, in between whacking zombies with his rake, Akira's breathing is getting a little heavier]

[messianic]

[Minato does notice. It's been awhile since he fought with SEES, but he hasn't forgotten being a field leader.

He bashes a zombie's arm clean off, whips the rake around, and knocks it back, buying himself some breathing room.

...]

Akira. You should take a breather. You're starting to overdo it.

[survivaltricks]

[Ongyo-Ki vanishes as the zombie goes down, and Akira sucks in a sharp breath, knuckles pressed against his mouth]

Nah. I'm okay. We just took a break--

[for. . . whatever definition of "break"]

[but either way, he's cut off by another zombie literally LAUNCHING itself at Akira from behind, an enemy that he doesn't notice until it's too late. the creature bowls into him, and with a surprised cry, Akira goes down, face first into the dirt]