[Endgame: rise or DROWN]

[warpweft]

[How long have you been exploring Nessa's palace now? You've met her family, viewed her memories, learned how to fight as a witch and tried to find the source of her power and the Treasure of her palace: the Voidheart. And along the way, you've tired your best, with mixed success, to avoid the incarnation of her eldest cousin and the representation of her trauma and fear, the Nightmare of Esmau.]

[Wherever you are in the Palace right now, you feel the ground briefly shake under your feet. Little shakes here and there haven't been out of the ordinary - Esmau is trying to blow the place down to the studs, after all. But that felt different. That felt....worse.]

[Your phone beeps as you receive a message.]

Comments

[messianic]

[ Minato just tilts his head back a bit as he listens, hands tucked into his pockets, still a little bloody from his early ambush from a certain someone. He's standing tall though, perfectly fine, expression contemplative.


...

Once he notices any of the rest of the group, though: ]

... Hey. Are you doing okay?

[cosplayed_out]

...Are you suggesting retreat?

[deadly serious demeanor from a girl holding a knife.]

[messianic]

[ ........ he shakes his head slowly, brow furrowing. ]

No, of course not. We're here now... we have to see this through.

[ a beat. ]

Are... you Tsumugi-chan?

[cosplayed_out]

No. My name is Mukuro Ikusaba, the Ultimate Solider. One half of the Despair Sisters, and willing to fight until this mission is a success. As a member of the Fenrir mercenary company, we do not accept surrender. Even in the face of bleak odds.

This will not become a failed mission.

[messianic]

... Right.

[ he's not sure he follows but it's fine!! She's willing to fight and do what it takes and that's fine. ]

I agree, though. With all of us together... we'll be fine, I'm sure of it.

[cosplayed_out]

...It wouldn't kill you to say you are impressed. Even if you don't recognize the source material.

[messianic]

[ ...? ]

Huh?

... Oh. Oh! With your cosplay? Um--it's definitely impressive. I wouldn't have recognized you at all.

1/2

[cosplayed_out]

Indeed. You only asked because I was the only one left.

2/2

[cosplayed_out]

Which means I totally got you~!

[okay, she'll break character a little]

Don't worry! By all means this shouldn't be the case... but cosplaying as her is actually giving me access to her abilities! Mukuro Ikusaba will be the best option to face the End Boss, for now.

[messianic]

Yeah, you definitely did.

[ he'll agree to that with a faint smile. ]

But... that's pretty amazing. It says a lot about your skills, I think.

[cosplayed_out]

Yes... I too, think there is no magic that will withstand the power of a gun.

[back to being IC, I guess]

And if there is... use more gun.

[messianic]

[ u-use more gun... ]

Um... right. I think I get the idea, at least.

I'll be counting on you, then--er, Mukuro-san.

[velluminous]

[ she's chewing her thumbnail, grimly. doesn't... appear to realize he's addressing her. ]

[messianic]

[ ... he reaches out gently to touch her arm. ]

Sprezzatura-san?

[velluminous]

[ STARTLES ]

—Hm? [ what did he say...? ] Yes...

[messianic]

[ okay so signs point to no... ]

... What are you thinking about? If you don't mind me asking.

[velluminous]

[ about the last time a Palace killed her ]

Death.