recolle | [closed]

[ Before they can investigate any wayward dogs, they've got crab worm larva to contest with, swarming all over the streets and scuttling their way as soon as they've been spotted. No wonder people have been having a hard time of helping out around here; pinched ankles aren't quite worth the trouble when you can do something easier like waste eggs throwing them at your senpai's home, why would anybody do that?? ]

[ Why are you so salty that your apartment got egged, Minato? Akira grimaces at the sight of these crab worm larva because they are quite ugly. In a way, it's endearing? Kind of like finding authenticity in low quality things. Where did these even come from? ]

I don't remember these being here. [ Checking their surroundings, he doesn't see any dogs that Minato might be concerned about. ] But weird stuff always pops up when it's Zee sending us to places.

[ Like armed fish! ]

How do you want to take care of these?

[ Since he has... Heard of Minato endeavors before in Bosuma, but also how he killed Fishy. What the fuck, man. ]

[They

are so disgusting? Why his birth month. First guard dogs, now... these things, he's finding out new things about himself every day. Goro takes half a step back, grimacing to keep his composure intact.]

Can't we just... shoot them? Like in arcade games? I don't fancy getting any closer than we are to them.

[pllelease let's just shoot them he is all about shooting them actually he is so ready to shoot these things.]

They seem... pinchy.

We're going to take care of them to the best of our ability.

[ They're just trying to kill us, but that's no reason we have to shoot them dead from the get-go? Curb your murderous rage.

Minato, unfortunately, seems to like crab a lot more than he likes fish, and these particular ones are some sort of hybrid monster larvae thing... meaning they're not even full grown. ]

I work with these sorts of things, so just trust me. We just have to-

[ -to. Hm. He'd taken a step towards the advancing crab-things, but he moment gets within ten feet of them, the closest ones bury down underground, and he leaps back to put space in between him, and Akechi and Akira. ]

[ Akira sees it burrowing, but doesn't expect it to go so fast and pop up between him and Goro. Eyes wide, he instinctively kicks the crab with all his might straight into Minato. Oh, shit.

Uh. ]

Sorry!

[ This is a horrible start. ]

[This is a horrible, horrible start.]

You really should listen to me more often!

[Like going left! And shooting disgusting crabs! Two for fucking two, Akira!!!! He'll have his light saber appear in hand, slashing at the next that burrows up near his feet and sighing when it scurries off more than a little singed.]

I won't kill them if you don't deem it necessary, but know that I have every right to defend myself.

[ You don't go slaughtering stray dogs that come running up to you with potentially snappy fangs, right?? So why the crabs... Because they hurt, slamming into Minato's chest with the force of that kick at the pincers that grab hold of his wrist and the mistake he makes in bringing his knee up to slam into its stomach. There was a 50-50 chance that it would either 1) let go, or 2) clamp down even harder, and it's bad luck that it's the latter. ]

Just- Cut its arm off if you can. [ without slicing his wrist in the process, he means ] Incapacitate, but don't kill.

I wasn’t against it.

[ At this point, he is really not against shooting monster crabs, especially when the drool that comes from their mouths sizzle and smoke. God. Having to trust Minato again makes his hair grey, but he will do what he has to do... It’s better if they work together while they can, but they can overrule each other when it matters.

Good thing Minato has Shiva. Attis appears and buffs everyone’s attack, defense, and agility with Thermopylae. ]

Goro, help Minato. I’ll take care of the ones swarming in.

[ A beam saber should cut through the crab’s arms easily. A couple burrow towards them, seeing Minato as easy prey they can steal from the other crab. When they resurface, Akira does as Minato asks and doesn’t kill them. Kohryu uses mapsiodyne, leaving the crabs somewhat confused and pained—which direction were they going? One burrows right into a wall. ]

[DOGS AND CRABS ARE DIFFERENT.

But he'll do ask Akira instructs, sorry about the heat and energy thrumming so close to your delicate maiden skin, Minato, even if he's very much trying not to get too close while still take care of the crab.

When it falls off he takes care of its other arm too -- not out of cruelty, but because two arms means two pinchers and it's unfortunate but that has to go. He'll warn any crabs, confused or otherwise, off away from them with his saber, because heat is No Good in anyone's opinion.]

They're almost cute when they're not looking at you, but I still can't say I'm favorable~. There's too many to deal with them all at once, so shall we have a bit of a competition and split up on our way?

[He'll feel better if it's like that.]

[ Someday they'll learn not to trust Minato and his predilection towards things that don't deserve love. He'd rather not harm them at all, but real crabs have the ability to regenerate lost limbs overtime and fingers crossed that these monstrosities can do the same. So he nods at Goro's suggestion to split up— there's no use in staying together when they can cover more ground apart, and he won't be taken by surprise again now that he knows not to let the things too close.

He has an easier time of peeling off towards one side with the crabs confused thanks to Kohryu, finding a brief window of time where he isn't being swarmed to summon Yatagarasu. ]

Infuriate. Masukunda.

[ There is a plan somewhere, maybe, about how a lowered defense, hit rate and evasion will make it easier for the three of them to land hits, but with the crabs now faster, able to hit harder, and scuttling around ramming into anything indiscriminately...

Hm. ]

All right.

[ Akira is game for splitting up, but it’s hard to... Clear the streets without annhilating the crabs entirely. Maybe this is a lesson to learn—how to control your powers so that you don’t become a destructive monster. Or maybe Minato is just a fool. Kohryu uncoils around the group before disappearing, thinking they can easily just hack off their arms, but... uh. Is this easier to handle?! The confusion doesn’t last and they’re in the crosshairs of these strange creatures again, except they’re stronger, faster, and more hostile.

Now that they’re ramming head first, they don’t need to worry about these crabs using their acidic spit. Except their rage causes their mouths to foam and for droplets to fall as they rush into the group. Akira tries to evade as best as he can, cutting off an arm or two before summoning Baal to cast a large gale. It evidently pushes a third of the crabs back. ]

I’ll race you guys to the source.

[ Goodbye. He’s gone. ]

You--!

[Goro no longer trusts either of them. Fools that they are, confusing and enraging the beasts. He wishes he had the time to side-eye either of the boys, but these crabs are fast and very interested in smashing themselves into anything and anyone.

So if they run into his saber and die that isn't his fault, nope, that gale may push back a chunk but there is still at least One that is pleasantly cooked now. He kicks it away, hoping it wasn't seen by Friend of the Monsters Minato, and switches his saber for his ray gun.]

Catch up and pinch him for me, thank you, I'm going to cover our backs. Robin Hood!

[The Persona appears, shooting an arrow up into the air... that comes down in the form of a Megidola, blasting another cluster of the encroaching crabs away and making for a very cool wind effect. He is aiming not to kill them, but if they're caught they're caught. He'll follow soon after.]

[ It's fine! It's how you deal with dogs, tiring them out and then you— no. Minato's frame of reference is only old dogs with crippling arthritis, so that even him with half-functioning lungs can outrun them. Crabs are another story entirely, dangerous both close and long range and Minato summons Horus in order to grab onto a foot and lift into the air, projectiles being a little easier to dodge than thirty bodies ramming into him all at once, and he gets to see that Megidola from above. Super cool, if the light didn't disperse to leave a crater in the ground filled with a dozen sizzling bodies.

Horus flies Minato over towards the building, dropping him off to land right in front of Akira, who he reaches out to and pinches hard on the back of the hand before turning around to see what left stands between them and Goro.

If they're not dead, they're dying, and he should at least put them out of their misery... God. Alright. ]

Mahamaon.

[ Let's do a no mercy run. ]

[ Well... They sure learned a lot about each other in the couple of minutes they've teamed up. Goro is the most violent one despite Minato's concerning processes. Almost reaching the shelter, he's stopped by one senpai.

Ah. Ah. Ow. ]

You didn't actually have to listen to him.

[ He rubs the back of his hand as he looks behind—a handful of crabs instantly die, leaving a handful left. The rapture brings them to their senses, now readying their acid spit at their perceived enemies. They're scattered, a couple near them, a couple near Goro... Baal appears again, sending another tornado towards the crabs, collecting them in its vortex. He turns to Minato: ]

... I thought you said not to hurt them?

[ Hopefully boyfriend can evade the tornado coming towards him. Akira has faith. ]

[You have faith, do you.

... Well, with good reason. Robin Hood is a fairly good Persona to that end, though Goro does get slammed by a crab in the stomach mid-jump and wheezes. He's fine though! He's fine. This is fine.

Ugh. He is here, looking a little queasy, but he is here. Robin Hood gently pats his human's head, and then bows his head to the other two before disappearing.]

Hand, Akira.

[He's going to pinch it. For the tornado.]

[ Minato shrugs. It's a quick, painless death, instantaneous and leaving no time for thought. ]

Hang onto this problem child, Akechi. Let's keep going.

[ Akira quickly orbits around Goro when he arrives, but then stops when asked for his hand. Conflicted and defiant, he doesn't offer it until a second or two after. Fine. Pinch him. ]

I'm the problem child?

[ Between all three of them?! The shelter doors are beckoning them, easily opened. They just need to take a step. ]

Yes, you are. Don't run off like that. [Pinch pinch.

But he'll hold Akira's hand otherwise, innocently doing as Minato says. Hanging onto the problem child. Dragging the problem child towards the shelter doors, expecting the problem senpai to follow.] Let's find the source of these already.

[And. The howl, he guesses, but the crabs are still first on his mind as a Problem.

That said... while the shelter doors are easily opened, taking a step in is painful; Goro's not sure why, body scalding and teeth clenched reflexively against the apparent damage against his person, and he's still just as confused when he manages to open his eyes and

find himself

rather close to the ground? Though he's unaware of it, he's got two long ears and a very fluffy cottontail. The pain is still lingers a little through his oddly small body, but he's turning to say something to Akira and Minato despite it.]

[ His first thought is that they'd been caught from behind by the acid, but the pain spreads from his feet and shoots up his spine, and he has to close his eyes against it until the wave of pain and nausea passes. He then spins around to give the warning about some renegade crab they'd missed, when he sees the GIANT RABBIT level with his face and he jumps back in shock—- which in turn creates only more shock as he finds himself lifted several meters off the ground, head turning to see black wings beating the air on either side of him.

Looks like he stole your namesake, Goro. ]

[ Akira is coping with the singe as they pass through the layer as best as he can, but he can't help but let out a short yet sharp hiss as they finally pass through. Bigger than the other two, he's back is scrunched up as he's settling in, still looking behind them only to find that the door is closed.

Weird.

Wait. Why is he so low? Why is everything so big? Turning to the party, he looks for some answers only to find... Ah. They're in Homebound, aren't they. Confused like the scruffy cat he is, he tries to speak.

Mew.

...

Meow.

.............

MEEEEEEEEEEOWWWWWWWWWWWWW! ]

[At least you two can speak?! Or rather... Goro can make noises, but he's mostly thumping his back feet, ears pinned back, because-- because-- oh my god he can't say why, he's gonna bounce past them and hit what's very much a wall now.

And immediately recoil from it, ducking under Akira and pressing to the ground. Brr. Not the right way, obviously, and after a moment he crawls out to look at his new... furry friends. Crow and cat. Crow, cat, and-- mm. Rabbit. He's the prey animal in a team of predators.

His ears pin back again. He wants to complain so badly, but he's making small grunty noises instead. They're animals and he can't talk this is the worst there could not be a bigger nightmare for his talkative ass.]

[ The narrow corridors he used to like so much now feel cramped and incredibly vulnerable with a cat in the room, that wail of which Minato shakes off as he settles back on the ground and lets his feathers ruffle before folding them across his back. He could chatter up a storm of his misgivings about this whole thing, but it looks like Akira's got it covered...

Well. Things can be worse. There are ways to communicate without talking too, so he takes off down the hall— gliding only a meter or two before lowering back onto the ground, turning his head to look back at the other two. There's no door over there, so let's go this way. ]

[ It’s hard to tell when a cat is amuse, but Akira watches Goro fuss over their predicament, tail swishing back and forth. To be honest, he thought his boyfriend would be a crow? However, based on the bunny’s actions and habits, it’s definitely Goro. On the other hand, he thought Minato would be...

A hedgehog.

He presses his head against the bunny, purring for a couple of seconds, before trailing off after Minato with soft pads. Being a cat means being almost completely silent. His travel slows when he gets there, lifting one paw to examine it. Christ, he has soft toebeans now. Let him air paw senpai to show him.

This is how you keep calm. Stay distracted. ]

[Akira.......... he appreciates you very much. Perhaps he will nip you with the utmost affection later.

Goro's a little slower than them, hopping along steadily and swirling his ears about, interested in his new capabilities. He can hear so well? And yet it isn't overwhelming, because he's a rabbit and they're adjusted to it. It's actually not that bad, if he has to admit it to himself (and he does, unfortunately), and once he reaches them he sits up on his hind legs, periscoping down the hall before hopping forward again.

... Why are human sized places so inconvenient. This is too big, honestly. How are they going to open doors. Is it going to be his responsibility or Minato's. Hm.]

[ Hedgehogs are cute, but Minato's heart is with his feathered neighbors that pick spare change off the sidewalks and contribute handsomely to his college fund. Assuming Akira wouldn't appreciate his toebeans being pecked (he doesn't have hands to gently squish them?? only being allowed to see isn't fair), he ignores the other two as he takes off in the air again. The animal shelter isn't somewhere he spends a lot of time in, but he has spent time here, enough to know that it's almost always overrun by animals. In contrast, the absolute stillness and silence of the building right now is unnerving.

To open doors... it would take some teamwork, but again, the follow-up to his actions are intuitive— taking flight, he can land on one of the door handles and depress it, leaving the other two to... tease the door open, somehow. Cats are supposed to be able to fit under doors? Or something. ]

ARRIVAL

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