break in to break out

[wantsnudes]

Who: The Phantom Thieves of Hearts (Joker, Fox, Queen and Crow)
What: Deciding to target Caedra to steal her heart, the thieves scope out her residence for information.
Where: Caedra's house
When: Now
Warnings: Nasty crime kids, references to character death.

It had taken some time to gather information, but Yusuke was starting to get a better picture of the kind of person Caedra was. A she-demon who had been a known killer, who then had murdered one of the people here who had been kindest to him. Worse, she'd gotten away with it in the middle of a party, everyone turning a blind eye after the fact, adults offering nothing but condolences, or excuses for their own indifference. That was something he couldn't forgive, and he certainly couldn't forget the image of Ianchus's ruined body burned into his memory.

This was about personal revenge, but it was also about justice. Other people would suffer if he didn't do something. Ianchus might suffer again if he didn't do something. So after speaking with his fellow thieves, they'd set off for what his information gathering had pinpointed as her residence, one of the strange upside-down imported houses on the west island.

They arrive at night under the cover of darkness, Yusuke opting for thief attire instead of their civilian clothes. Best to stay anonymous even if they're spotted, and who knows what threats might wait for them, considering what they're dealing with? Finding a safe vantage point behind a line of trees, he crouches low and stares at the house, which is surrounded in a wide radius by a wall of towering thorns, making it impossible to get a closer look. If the ridiculousness of the house didn't give the impression of being home to a villain, the thorns certainly do.

He looks over to the group assembled with him, speaking low. "Her home is beyond there. We should find a way to bypass those thorns, and whatever other traps she may have rigged the place with."

Comments

[doublecrowss]

For the sake of anonymity, Akechi has opted for his thief attire, as well, but a with a twist: instead of the white princely suit the group was mostly used to seeing him in, he's chosen his true image of rebellion, the blue and black striped suit and the black mask. Considering they all are already more or less aware of his previous plans - even though it would seem the details of Akechi's demise are still foggy to them - he sees no point in keeping up with that lie.

It works as a reminder, too. That he's not quite a part of the team, not like everyone else. Once the outsider...

"You mentioned her home was protected by magic," He begins, eyeing the thorns with suspicion. "But, have you tried clearing these walls out with your own?"

[jocoeur]

It isn't the first time Akira has seen Akechi in this attire, so his reaction this time is more muted— but with a concerned side-eye all the same. The feeling of a fine-line of separation was there, though as he stepped forward, decked out in his own thief-gear, he stands close to Crow— maybe an indication that he wasn't going to be having any of that on this occasion.

There's a pull at the hem of his red glove, as he chimes in. "That's a good idea. But as for what would be most effective..." Ice or— his gaze falls to Makoto. Nuking them, perhaps?

[nuclearpriestess]

Makoto had never seen Akechi in that attire before and it only does more to unsettle her. Beyond this shaky plan that made her feel like they were going off half cocked, working alongside someone who tried to kill Akira and betrayed them frustrated her. She was in no mood for jokes or anything else, she was all business. Her clothes were her thief's attire as well, and for once, the dark appearance conveyed her current mood.

"Johanna might be able to pierce through?" She offered. Either through just ramming it like she did with Kaneshiro's palace or with one of her more powerful attacks. "There's a chance that the magic might reflect back on us."

[wantsnudes]

Akechi's attire is likewise unsettling to Yusuke, finally seeing the black mask that Madarame's Shadow and others had mentioned. But he also trusts Akira's judgement in cooperating. Fitting, that like the rest of him, his previous outfit had been another false front... Yet ironically, the black attire made him look more like a Phantom Thief than a Detective Prince.

Yusuke gets to his feet, casting that distraction aside and reaching for the hilt of his katana. "I can cut a path, which might prove less risky than magic... and will draw less attention than our Personas. It would be bad if anyone saw us."

Caedra might not be popular in the city, but she still has allies, he's sure of that much.

"If there's a trap, I'll trust you all to back me up."

[jocoeur]

Stepping forward, there's a reassuring squeeze at Makoto's shoulder as he moves past her— coupled with a smile of course, and careful to avoid the spikes that can be found there. He knows that there has to be some uneasiness there when it comes to trusting Akechi but with the motion he had hoped to convey a 'we've got this. Don't worry,' kind of reassurance.

He turns briefly to the darkened detective as well, with a curt nod— wanting Crow to know that he doesn't have anything to worry about, either. They were in this together, or at least... for as long as Akechi wanted. For now.

Joker took another step ahead, this time to stand alongside of Fox, and brandished his knife. Back him up? Well, he could do more than that— he'd take point alongside of his friend. Two blades were better than one after all, right?

[doublecrowss]

"If the magic is reflected at us, we can always reflect it back."

He's vaguely addressing Makoto's suggestion, and while he's not downright antagonistic, he does somewhat look down on her and the rest of the Thieves for not thinking about that possibility. And while he does let Yusuke say his piece and is mostly fine with that second idea, his point does still stand-- melee attacks, too, could easily be reflected, so why not think ahead and protect themselves?

"Joker. Do you have access to protective wall spells? If you and Fox will be taking the lead, it might be wise to take precautions."

You know, Tetrakarn, Makarakarn, anyone? Certainly Joker would have something like that.

(And while that may sound strange, what's being left unsaid here is that Akechi is offering to cast them-- it's just that it would make the job quicker if Joker could give him a hand with that, too.)

[nuclearpriestess]

Joker's gentle squeeze gave her a moment to relax and feel reassured, but it's soured by the tone in Crow's voice, reminding her of his earlier antagonism of her. 'You're just one of those pushover good girl types.' While she had a tendency to react first, it never veered away from the goal and plan. She ignored his condescension, but wouldn't forget it. They might be working together right now, but she would never trust him to have their back.

"I can boost our defenses." She didn't have the ability to reflect, but she could at least lessen the damage that they would take, if it came to that. Rakukaja would come in handy here.

"Fox, you take point and I can follow behind you."

[jocoeur]

"Ah—" he doesn't outright say it, but the only persona in Joker's arsènal since arriving in Hadriel was, well, Arsène. There's a glance over his shoulder as he looks Crow's way, and shakes his head to indicate a no.

"You don't happen to have some skills like that, do you?" That's right detective, he's calling you out. He couldn't recall Robin Hood to be armed with them, but perhaps now, knowing that there was more laying below the surface...

[doublecrowss]

"... so you really don't remember."

It's not really an accusation, but rather, confirmation of what he had already been suspecting since his arrival in Hadriel. Akira, Yusuke and now Makoto, it really would seem like neither of them remembered the outcome of their battle-- and, judging from Joker's question, perhaps they didn't even remember the battle itself at all.

Well. They're surely in for a surprise, then.

With a hand to the back of his neck, he rolls his head in a way too nonchalant manner, like he's about to get to work-- which, in fact, he is. His attention shifts to Fox's sword, then back to Joker's dagger, and finally, he asks:

"Will the both of you really stick to physical moves only?"

He's prepared either way, but he'd rather not waste his stamina if the idiots decide to change plans after he's already cast a physical mirror!

[wantsnudes]

While they discuss strategy, Yusuke does as bidden and takes the lead, sword raised.

"Everyone, get ready--!" As he reaches the wall of thorns, he brings the sword sweeping diagonal in a clean, precise slash to maximise the amount of thorns hacked out of the way, yet--! His blade finds no purchase and seems to pass straight through.

"What...?" Confused, he puts a hand to the thorns instead, and that, too, phases through unscathed. "This seems to be some kind of illusion... A purely visual deterrent?"

Either this was part of a larger, more elaborate trap, or Caedra really thinks so little of outsiders that these are her only defences.

[jocoeur]

There it is again— that feeling in the pit of his stomach, knowing that somehow he failed Akechi one way or the other, as he made his comment about remembering. Surely, one day, he'd be able to sort out this mystery... but today was for another riddle it seemed, as he turned to watch Fox's katana sail through the air, and coming up with nothing.

"Hm..." Joker approached the edge of the thorny brush as well, extending his hand outwards to test it, too. Sure enough, it phased through as well, though there was smirk at the revelation on his part.

"Then, that's just made our job easier. Let's go!" And without any more hesitation, he charges forward, his black coat covering him in the night to any that fell too far behind, as he made his way to the hold's wall— and pressed himself against it, listening. He took this moment to close his eyes— and try to feel what may be beyond them.

[nuclearpriestess]

Akechi's words through one ear and out the other. Whatever he meant, he didn't seem ready to share and she wasn't in the mood to listen. She'd been told that people came from different points in time and he likely knew something she didn't. Given his betrayal, it was likely something that was going to irritate her further.

She waited behind Fox, watching as his katana passed through the thorns. It only confirmed what she suspected, that there were different rules to the magic in this place and that people wielded. Without any clear answers, they were going in blind and had to learn on the fly. This didn't sit right with her. The sudden change threw a wrench in their plans and left her uneasy about this entire thing.

"I'm not sure we should engage in battle yet." She told them, rethinking her earlier suggestions. "If we're going to infiltrate, we should try to do it without being detected. If we can observe a bit, we might have a better idea of what we're facing."

[wantsnudes]

"It would be best if we did not engage in a battle at all, if we can avoid it. I don't know what kind of power she has, but it would be foolish to challenge her so directly here."

Recovering from his initial surprise, Yusuke sheathes his sword and follows Joker to the wall of the house. He does a quick scan of the building now that they're closer, looking for any further illusionary obstacles or potential for traps. The lights are off, and more notably...

"There doesn't seem to be a lock on that door," he observes, voice low. "But we should still find a window to climb through to be safe. Do you sense anything amiss, Joker?"