Playing With Fire

Joshua blinked as he felt Phalanx's hand on his shoulder. For all his anger spouting out today, it was really starting to cool off a bit more. He nodded in affirmative. But he was getting annoyed how they're going to waste time fighting, both Phalanx and Azami. Though if it's to get her to face reality, then it's what they're going to do.

He glared at Zachary, but it didn't matter. For now, words would have to be kept. What did any of his business matter? All he wanted is Rinna. So for now, he'll comply as he gave a curt nod... which was suddenly pulled to the side and causing Joshua yelp at the sudden jerk.

"What the fu--! Stop touching me, Christ! What's with you?!" he howled in pain as he attempted to pull her pinching fingers from his ear. But he did ignore the pain to listen what she had to say and it just didn't do enough to make him trust her. Instant relief and sore pain arrived just as he was busy rubbing his palm against his ear. Despite it, he still listened to what Anat had to say. Demi-gods? Did she mean the Angels? Whatever the case, it looks like he has more to talk about with Simon.

Speaking of Simon, Joshua would sympathize how he felt. The Nyarlathotep Child didn't want to fight in any side in all honesty. But given the government's ineptitude and the lack of other leads, it looked like they didn't have a choice. "You and me both, Simon. But we're out of options here. So, let's just get it over with. We can always deal with him if he ever goes back on his word."

He gave another glare back at Zachary before taking the radio for himself and pocketing it. Joshua nodded at Shunnosuke. He honestly didn't envy his situation. It was a fool's errand. But he evidently had a home to defend and no one can fault him for that.

"Alright. You watch yourself. Let's stay in contact though if anything happens," Joshua said to him before pulling out his phone and then exchanged numbers with Shunnosuke before allowing him to leave.

Now with that done, he looked back at Phalanx and Azami.


He started to leave, expecting everyone to follow him. Joshua nodded at Simon and gave one glance at Anat and Zachary before leaving. Though on the other hand, he did keep an eye on Azami. She was starting to become more of a pain if she was this suicidal.

[Exit with Simon, unless stopped]

OOC:

Azami would sigh and turn her attention to Simon as she walked away from Anat. "Relax. I'm not gonna waste time fighting her. Right now I've got bigger things to deal with. But I know for a fact what she's up to. A little birdie ensured that much. That being said..." She'd pause both in words and movement before looking over to Phalanx. "The same goes for you. I'm not going to waste time 'proving myself' to you or whatever. Penecia's at risk right now. I don't have time to dawdle about dueling with strangers." Just as the Wild Card finished speaking to him her body would suddenly begin to dissipate at a rapid rate. Glimmers of light seemed to flicker in the air and in the course of seconds a large swarm of black butterflies would shoot forward toward the door at a ridiculous speed. Azami had meant what she had said and, should she go unstopped, would make her exit -- moving fifteen feet away and presumably leaving the machine behind in the dust.

Action:

Upon Joshua walking towards the exit as he was already having a head start over Azami, his trained senses had picked up that something was flapping its wings and what the Nyarlathotep-align Wild Card had said. She just didn't learn. His reflexes caused him to act as his eyes turned an amber gold once more. Just as the butterfly mass that was Azami was trying to reach the exit, Joshua held up his right hand near his right cheek. Immediately, his spear was summoned in place. Doing so would take Azami off guard and additionally the distance was just about right that it wouldn’t allow Azami to dodge it since it appeared out of nowhere and so that its prongs would catch itself into her throat and cause her to stop in place while causing her body to suddenly jerk from the obstruction.

Because her strange ability was primarily meant for travel, a single attack should be able to force her to solidify into her normal form. However, Joshua didn’t stop there. Just as the spear caught her throat, he quickly twisted his body to face her while still having the spearhead stuck into her as he exerted more pressure through the entire movement and thrust the shaft to pin her down to the floor where she couldn’t move. During all of this Yamato-Takeru would be summoned to Joshua’s left as he was shaking his head at her while she choked.


Before allowing Azami to do anything else, Yamato-Takeru would grasp her by the ankle very tightly. Joshua would let the spear release her neck, but the Tainted Persona’s grasp on her was in a vice-grip as it immediately tried to swing her up in the air and into the ground causing it to shake and crack. Not allowing her any time to recover, the Persona would swing her again to another side so that it would meet against the floor once more to make it shake again. At this point, she was likely knocked unconscious. But he let Yamato-Takeru to remain holding on to her ankle just in case she still had some fight in her as he summoned his spear once again.


Of course, if she made even a little twitch, he would immediately sink the spear into her torso for good measure. That is only if she tries to keep moving and resisting.

Human Strengths:

Action:

Stats:

Joshua's interference hadn't been expected. It was a potential factor that Azami had overlooked and it came back to bite her... And it bit her hard.

Upon collision with the spear Azami would revert back to her human form and look at the boy with shock in her eyes. However, that initial surprise only lasted for a moment and quickly transitioned into rage. Her face twisted into a pained expression that only grew more vivid as he put even more pressure onto the spear and sent her slamming into the ground pinned underneath it. The girl opened her mouth and tried to force out a, "Fuck you," but it came out garbled and was drowned out under the sound of her choking. Around this time though a feeling of pain emerged in her head and her lips curled into a spiteful grin. At first it likely wouldn't be clear what she was smiling about, but soon enough Joshua would understand.

Her eyes stared up at him now emitting a bright yellow glow. Susano-o and Bhima would appear simultaneously; the latter letting out a savage roar. He'd point his sword at Joshua and disappear as Susano-o glowed a bright green and zoomed through the air with his blade aimed at Joshua. It was unlikely the man would be able to avoid this sudden attack considering the small amount of distance between them from the start, but certainly not impossible. Regardless of whether it found its mark or not though, it wouldn't matter in the end. Though the attack was powerful, it wouldn't be enough to subdue him and almost certainly wouldn't stop what came next.


If she wasn't feeling it before, she was now. It washed over her body as the Tainted Persona dug its fingers into her leg. Dragged helplessly into the air, a yelp would escape her lips before a sudden thud would sound -- her head crashing into the ground. It wasn't done with her yet though. Once again it'd unleash its fury and swing her around a second time. Taking advantage of her enhanced reflexes she'd summon her soulbound and swing it downward at Yamato. This was done in the hopes of causing him to let go, but even if the strike hit its mark and worked as intended it would be for naught. At that point she was already in the air and would come down slamming against the floor despite her efforts. It was only two times, but to Azami, who was already in intense agony, it felt like a dozen. The world began to fade to black around her and, unable to move her body, she could only look up at Joshua with a defeated look on her face. Her hand shook, lightly trembling in place, while her eyes slowly closed: her vision consumed by darkness and her mind slipping into a deep slumber.

Azami:

Personas:

Action:

Strengths:

Passive:

OOC Notes:

Phalanx blinked at what just happened. Good thing Joshua was so quick to react, and stopped her before she could leave. "Thanks, Joshua. I owe you one." He said, giving the young man a pat on the shoulder before walking up to the unconscious Azami. Roughed up, but still alive, thankfully. The android would crouch down, and carefully picked up the girl. Even for being a man made out of metal, he could certainly be gentle to the touch when he wanted to. "I suppose we're heading to Lunapa, then. I'll carry her the whole way. No need for you to wear yourself out un-necessarily." He waited for a response from Joshua or Zachary, before he left the area, heading towards the Tunnels... Looks like that valuable info inside his capsule would have to wait until another day... He had more important things to do.

Joshua had to admit, he underestimated her to an extent. While the Nyarlathotep Child expected her to be too busy trying to breathe, Azami quickly counterattacked with a Persona of her own, unlike the ones she used back in the earlier fight together. He grit his teeth together as Susanoo's blade slashed at him. Her shinai couldn't reach Yamato-Takeru as the Persona was already at work smashing her into the ground twice in a row while grasping at her ankle.


When it was clear that she passed out, Yamato was dismissed and his eyes turned back to normal. Joshua watched Phalanx take up the girl and nodded at him silently while crossing his arms. He had wondered for a bit. It wouldn't be the first time he met someone use multiple Personas. Yet, Azami was clearly lacking compared to Hyde. Perhaps she was new to her power and if she was anything like him, she had potential. It's no wonder why she kept thinking so arrogantly, yet it just showed she needed time to get to that level.

"If you don't have anything else of interest, we'll be making our leave," Joshua told to both Zachary and Anat.

With that done, he left the place with Phalanx unless something or someone was going to stop him. Joshua wondered what this would all mean. There's so much going on and he wished he can have some time to look at it and see where Rinna fit in all of this. But, as usual, he doesn't have that luxury with the utter lack of information. All he can look forward to is taking down one of Isla's cronies with his small party and Analee.

[Exit unless stopped]

OOC:

He stopped at the doorway for a brief second as Joshua spoke up. "Hm? No, nothing that immediately comes to mind. Let's get this done quickly. We don't want to keep Zachary waiting." And with that, left the rooftop, shooting one last glance back at Zachary and Anat before walking down the staircase.