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Owner	Pose
Stanley Padgett	"Parley." It's not often a word you see outside of piracy and old war stories, at least not in Lampport. But get to an old enough time, to an old enough place, or someone who is baked into literature from Ye Olde Days, and well. Parley is probably the best idea of what's about to happen tonight.     Those arriving will be picked up by the Velvet Room. The blue Tour Bus is waiting at the Main Warpgate Plaza in Lampport, in the same spot where the city busses usually queue up. No one notices, the world just flows around it all. But inside? This is clearly the Shadow World. Not Neon City, not the Reversal. It's not even the usual setup of the Velvet Room.     Tonight? The Velvet Room is a Shadow Place. A Blue Door opens to a space inside a middle of a vaulted chamber. The sanctuary of a cathedral, or a massive long house, or something. It's tall and it's big, but the overall shape of it is... vague and shifting. This is a place of worship, of gathering, that has long been disused.     In the middle of the room, are three things, and two people. A large Blue Carpet with a stylized Golden V in the middle, and on top of that, a small table and chair, both ornately carved.     At the chair sits Igor, the keeper of this place, and at his side, looking... contrite and downcast, is Delilah.
Stanley Padgett	For his part? Stanley is in the crowd that's arriving, at least with Charlotte's side of things. He is looking much worse for wear tonight, but in better spirits than he might have been, considering.
Ishirou	Ishirou shows up, similarly to Stanley, looking worse for ware and on the side with Charlotte.  The end of the world was a tough ordeal, which came with... Loss.  A lot of loss.  Maybe some hope deep down, but right now he was still focused on what they had lost.  Perhaps a little more downtrodden than he usually was, he stepped onto the bus and through the door to the meeting.   'Parley', was certainly a term to use... but why would the man in the velvet room send it?  Wasn't he on Stanley's side?  Or was he acting on behalf of Delilah? "Hello!" Ishirou tried to sound upbeat despite the shape he was in, the body still aching and injuries still settling from the last ordeal he had gone through much like some of the others who would show up would be.  "So... who is parleying?" he asks, looking at both Igor and then Delilah.  He has a guess, but he wants them to say it first.
Charlotte Newman	Charlotte Newman waits for those who have come to back her up at the warpgate plaza, fidgeting in her winter jacket and periodically looking at her phone in case she missed a text. In the hand clutching her phone she also holds a letter on ornate blue and gold stationary with remnants of an oldschool seal made with blue wax, which she also occasionally reviews. When she's not distracting herself with this, she's casting glances at that distinct blue bus that nobody else seems to realize is there.     At least it seems like no gate to the Reversal will be necessary on her end, this time.     When Stanley and others arrive, she welcomes the distraction, offering tired smiles and quick pleasantries. A quick explanation of the situation; that Igor contacted her directly to ask for 'parlay' and she has no idea what he'd want from her.     Then it's time to board the bus-- and it's completely different from before. She takes a moment to appreciate the spacious interior carved out of the shadow world with its stylish decor and unified color scheme. Breathing out a sigh, Charlotte settles her nerves as best she can and approaches the man behind the table.     "I'm here, mister Igor," she says in a pensive tone. Her eyes flit to that woman, then back to his wide eyes and richtus grin, "What was it you.. um, what were you wanting to negotiate about? I can't imagine I have anything you'd want."
Kukuru	Joining those entering the Velvet Room today is someone that might not be familiar at first glance. A short, scrawny-looking girl in an ill-fitting jacket nearly falls over just boarding the bus, and she looks like she's about to pass out before groggily groping her way towards the first seat she can find to collapse. She doesn't look like she's been here before, but the drill-like horns on the side of her head, the messy green hair, the lensless glasses, and the oversized claw on her hands might clue people in to who this could be. For those that were present on that strange island in the middle of the ocean just a few days ago, they might already recognize Kukuru in her inexplicably shrunken form. Otherwise... She still sounds just the same when she speaks. "He-llo, Iggy and Deli..." She murmurs with a light wave in greeting, letting out an exhausted yawn seconds later and looking ready to curl up and just take a nap on the spot before remembering that everyone was called here. She just curls up without napping in stead. "So.. What's the occasion todaaay? Is something going on with this parley thing...?" As she speaks, she doesn't actually take out food for once. Judging from how sleepy she looks, though, she probably shouldn't be anywhere near a fire.
Stanley Padgett	Stanley, for once, is the one who has come prepared. He slides over to Kukuru, reaches into his old school bag (yes he is still walking around with it, it is still perfectly good), and pulls out a Creature BERRY DEWBLAST XTREME (with megaTaurine). He hands that over to his not-Mom, and smiles. "My turn"
Sarracenia	This whole multiple worlds thing is a bit odd, and Sarra doesn't fully understand why there are so many. She should really ask at some point. Despite her involvement in the whole Queen thing, Sarra wasn't in the final fight and is looking fine. She is trying to be respectful of Stanley and Ishirou though, since they were there. And she's doing that by...being mostly quiet for once.      She arrives with the group in her usual red dress. Her hammer isn't in hand, but her satchel purse likely contains it somehow. She gives a cordial curtsey when they approach Igor and Delilah. This is a parley after all, and one should put their best foot forward in such a situation. "Yes, hello." she says after Ishirou does, then looks over at Charlotte and Stanley. They look tired and stressed.      Kukuru's appearance throws her off quite a bit, and she has to stare a moment before saying, "...Kukuru?" uncertainly. Stanley has snacks covered it seems, so Sarra keeps hers in her bag for now.
Hibiki Tachibana	Hibiki hasn't exactly been around Lampport in a bit, which all things considered, may or may not have been for the best given the last major event that happened here. She's already had enough on her plate as it is without getting tangled up in even more. Today is a little different, though - since it has to do with Charlotte bringing a certain something up.     She's not in great condition herself, but that's no surprise. The wrappings tied in layers over her shoulder and midriff are mostly obscured by her knitted winter sweater, and though her usual outfit would expose the ones looped around her legs, being dressed for the cold means being in pants thick enough to hide that, too. A stray bandage on her face is just about the only obvious sign at a glance, other than her walking considerably more stiffly than normal.     It's seriously going to suck if this turns into any sort of engagement. Those things don't stay on when she transforms, you know.     "...Not like any of the times before, huh," she comments offhandedly while they're waiting to be picked up. Come to think of it, she's heard a certain ex-cop talk before about how he did things differently from how the Reversal worked in Lampport. Just how many other 'sides' to a place can there be, even...?     When they properly step in, it's also Charlotte she sticks close to - at least until the other girl draws close to Igor, where she respectfully stays a couple paces behind closer to the others to let her take the helm. There's a glance at Igor herself...     ...and then at Delilah. A few seconds of staring, and then a frown. Charlotte had mentioned that 'anything involving her is trouble'... so why in the world is she looking like she's almost guilty more than anything else?     And it's Delilah where her focus stays, as the conversation starts up.
Touta Konoe	Compared to most that arrived, Touta looks fine. Though, even if he wasn't there would be no real way to tell excluding the expression on his face given the way this guy tends to heal. Still, the looks on most of those that have joined haven't been lost on him, and after the day's prior of radio, he assumes that might be something that quite a few are dealing with as they roll in.     At the bus stop, Touta takes a moment to properly greet Stan and Charlotte.     "I heard you really went the extra mile recently."     He can tell just by the way he's postured how exhausted he must be.     "You feel like you're closer to what you wanted?"     He of course, referring to the topic that Stanley had asked of him the last time the two spoke.     When it comes to Charlotte, it's less so of chit-chatting and more of just taking the time to meet her gaze. To let her know that she's still seen. That she still has the support of him, and clearly so many others as they join the bus. Though even now it becomes clear that the other Elites that arrive are...Many are tired.     It's on the bus that he spots a certain Hibiki, to whom he finds himself making his way over.     "Mind I share a seat?"     If possible he'd sit down thinking two things. One, like many of the others, she seems more exhausted than usual, and two, it feels like this time around he might be the one that needs to fill her in on the details on what she may have missed.     "So, did Charlotte or Stanley get you up to date on the situation?"     Depending on the answer, she'd find Touta giving her small tidbits of the situation up to this point.By the time they make it to the Blue Room, Touta's staying on the sidelines. Like the times up to this point, he's been acting as the support cast. This was the act of Charlotte and Stanley, and for that he knew he had to let them act as they saw fit. If anything it was Charlotte's parley. That said, seeing Delilah here definitely does make him certain to stay on guard. Regardless of how contrite or downcast she may seem, as one of the few people here that's still at his prime he's keeping his eyes sharp. It's a rare day when Ishirou's so out of it that he's not preparing something on the side. He doesn't dare ask to see if he'll get his Pods ready.
Stanley Padgett	Igor, the man with the rictus smile and the massive nose never stops smiling. "Oh, quite the contrary, Miss Charlotte. I think you'll find you do have things to offer at this time. But, first, the matter of just who is parleying. Of course, it is my assistant, Miss Delilah, who wishes to make a request." He smiles, and waves at the Attendant who fidgets a moment, and then takes a breath. She stops again, and then stamps her foot, shaking something off.     Ishirou, those locks, the censors, the bindings on Delilah are weakening. The meta-narrative Wishes silencing her, constraining her, are coming undone. And even more so, as she looks to Charlotte.     Delilah's words are halting. "I am sure you are all well aware that I have been... constrained. Bound by oaths and Wishes, like many of the other victims here in Steelport." She tries to put on the Smug Look she's had so often that people have seen her, but it's not working. "You are all right to distrust me. To feel that this is one more deception. But... With Isaac gone, and with..." A look to Stanley. "With only one member of the Grand Conspiracy remaining, the game is Less Unjust, just a little."     Stanley FROWNS at the mention of One Last Member, and adjusts his tie. More memories of his Father he did not want. More reasons to punch him in the goddamn face.     "Charlotte. I want you to have this." And in her hands, manifests a Grimoire. It's the size of a large large college textbook, with a delicately stenciled and inlaid Blue and Gold leather cover, the same as the rest of the decorations in here. "I am afraid that... while I am able to speak of some of what has transpired, I am unable to finish my story... *our* story..." White-gloved hands slip across the cover of the Grimoire, and she sets it down on the table. "Unless you pick up this book." Yellow eyes blink quietly, sadly, as she looks to the crowd gathered. "I *need* you to pick up this book."     Igor just watches. Is he smiling more than usual? Who the fuck knows.
Stanley Padgett	Ishirou, that grimoire is much larger than it appears, with many more pages than it ought to have. If anything in this place has ever screamed "This is a magical book" at you before, this would be it. It is full of Knowledge with a capital K. There are faint links to both Delilah and Charlotte.
Ishirou	Ishirou looks at Delilah first.   He then looks towards Hibiki, thankful to have someone he can trust as backup.  Small Kukuru gets his eye as well, in a way that almost makes him want to reach out and pat her on the head.  Instead, he smiles and gives her a wave.  Then he swings back to Delilah and Igor.  At least they have allies, even if one of them is Sarracenia, who is unreliable at best and dangerous at worst. The locks are failing, what's restricting her movements... her behavior and actions are weakening.  The metanarrative is changing for her, but that does not mean she is their friend yet.  It just means they can act more in line with her own goals and not those of Novatech.  That doesn't mean much, because they still don't know what those goals are. The book on the other hand... Magical, bigger than it should be, with a connection to both Delilah and Charlotte.  He takes a breath and looks at Charlotte.  "It's your choice, I don't see anything harmful but it is connected to both you and her..." he says looking towards Delilah.  To Delilah... he speaks softly to her.  "What is your goal with all of this?  What do YOU want to see done?  Do you want to be free from Novatech's influence?" "What do you want for this world and the real one?  You mention an unfair game, but I have a hard time trusting you without knowing what your stakes in all of this are..." he looks at Igor who seems to be smiling deeper.  He isn't sure how to feel about that.
Stanley Padgett	Delilah looks at Ishirou, and bites her lip. Hard enough it ought to bleed. It does not.     Her next words are very deliberate. "I wish I could tell you, Mr. Ishirou." An aching, desperate look in her eyes.
Sarracenia	Sarra also stays close to Touta and Hibiki. "I never did get the full story." she says quietly to them, hoping Touta will share the details.      When the book is brought out, Sarra hmms. "Is that the same book you were trying to give her last time? She didn't want it then. Why should she take it now? How do we know it isn't some kind of trap or something?" she asks. She tries to hear what Ishirou is saying to Delilah, but it's hard to hear with him speaking softly like that.      And while they wait, Sarra reaches into her bag and pulls out a green mushroom. She hands it to Hibiki since she's right there. "Here. This might help." is all she says.
Kukuru	Kukuru takes the drink from Stanley gratefully, fumbling with the can in her claws a bit before remembering to sit back up so she can actually see what's going on from her seat. Once she's upright enough, though, she's able to punch a hole into the side of the can and starts draining it that way, eventually just wrapping her whole tongue around it so she can bypass having to actually use her hands. That's about when Sarracenia says her name, prompting Kukuru to look right at her with the can still half-shoved across her face. "Mrph-hr?" She muffles in return, waving lazily with a now-free hand before turning a bit more to spot Ishirou, Hibiki, Charlotte, and Touta. She waves at each one of them just as lazily with one of those half-lidded eye-smiles (since her mouth is still occupied with the can), lingering on all three of them a bit just to try and eyeball the extent of their injuries. Even if she's tired... She still can't help but make sure nobody here's too banged up, even if she doesn't quite have the energy to deal with that just this second. Maybe after she finishes that energy drink. For now, though, she listens to Igor, and she absorbs just enough of what he says to actually hear Delilah properly when she starts explaining what little she's able to. She follows her gaze to Stanley, recalling his father's involvement in all this, and then she looks over at the Grimoire being offered to Charlotte. Her answer, or lack thereof, to Ishirou's question might be cause for suspicion, but Kukuru has her own solution to that: She finishes her drink, flops bonelessly out of her seat, then slides over to where Delilah is. "Down." Kukuru gestures at Delilah to sit, but doesn't actually wait for her to do that before she's already trying to tug Delilah down to use as a makeshift pillow, somehow managing to do all that without so much as nicking her despite her claws being rather pointy. "It'll be okaaay. Once we figure out the... Um. Whatever this is, we can rest up some more. No problem..."
Hibiki Tachibana	"Not the whole thing, but... I don't think I need to know all of it to know what I wanna do here," Hibiki offhands to Touta (and Sarracenia, to boot!), in the interim before they enter the Velvet Room. "...I get the idea it's a lot, though. More than a lot. You've been giving them a hand yourself, huh, Touta?" Somehow, she's not too surprised about that.     ...     "Right to distrust you," Hibiki repeats slowly, hands in her pants pockets while still eying Delilah. The attempt to put on the 'smug and knowing' look extra doesn't work on her, when she was so intently watching her beforehand. It's not terribly difficult to tell just from a glance at her expression - she probably buys that Delilah isn't trying to pull one over on them right now.     Charlotte doesn't trust her. She knows that. But she does trust Igor, who despite that smile that might be taken as unsettling, is encouraging this.     ...And as for Delilah herself, the reason she's not doubting her is simple enough. "...You're being too genuine to lie right now, even if you wanted to. Aren't you?" Even if she weren't too drained to even try overthinking it, she'd probably come to the same conclusion. Someone trying to trick them simply wouldn't be acting like that-- and if that kind of sincerity can be faked, she's not sure anyone would ever be able to see through it.     The grimoire is where her eyes settle afterwards. It doesn't take a genius to put together that there's a bigger connection between the two girls there than... Charlotte probably knows herself. And though the decision has yet to be made, when it's one between knowing and not knowing...     "...Looks like now's the time to decide how much you trust her. It doesn't sound like she can say anything else about it on her own. What do you think?" Hibiki shifts her head in Charlotte's direction, grimacing. She never intended to get in the way of what she wants-- just make sure things go as well as possible. For everyone.     ...     On a delay, Hibiki side-glances in Kukuru's direction. Her mouth falls open slightly. They were all at the island, sure, but with how hazy her mind was after everything. Under her breath, "That's... w-way too..."     Cute. It's too damn cute. Reconciling that with the tension now, much less remembering the events back at Trash Island, makes her head spin. Hibiki resolves to put it out of mind for now and worry about it later. It's during this vulnerable moment that the Princess of the Sundew Kingdom finds it way too easy to shove that mushroom into her hand while she's dazed. "--Huh? R-Right... wait, do I eat this, or...?"
Sarracenia	Sarra can't help a slight giggle at the question from Hibiki. "Squeezing it usually works, but if you wanted to eat it it is kind of fun. It is like mushroom cotton candy." Is that a welcoming image? Probably not, but the princess seems to think it is fun.
Stanley Padgett	The desperation boils out of Delilah though, as Kukuru shuffles over and demands a pillow. Delilah is tugged down, settles on her knees, and gently cups Kukuru to her lap. A hand delicately presses through the monster's hair, as she murmurs to the others. "Despite all else, the one thing..." Her words falter again, still bindings in place. White gloved hands gently pet at the sleepy Kuku. "My job is to serve those who have a Contract, and those they bring with them to the Velvet Room. You all have been no exception to that."
Touta Konoe	Funnily enough, despite this being a thing that Touta does quite a bit, for him to realize that the child-like form before them had been Kukuru on the bus. That's something that he generally should have asked about, truly. Though if that form was anything like what he thought it meant, if it was for the same reasons the others were handling...He wouldn't push that subject further. TWhen Hibiki explains her understanding, and what she doesn't need to know, there's just a smile on his face. Even without being told, it's clear she just has an inherent understanding of the hardships they're going through.. "I've been doing what I can. Though I think at the end of the day, however this turns out, they'll need to support each other...And the friends they know they can trust."     Which leads to Sarra as they finally arrive to the Blue Room.     "The situation's a little more complicated than this, but, the short and simple is that the group of the guy we been dealing with the last time has been abusing the wishes of the city here for their own benefit. And the girl in blue's been helping in some capacity, though we still don't know the full story on that either. If you want to get more details well..."     There's a bit of a smirk as he slowly does a zipping motion with his lips, "You'll want to ask everyone ahead of time. I imagine it's important for a princess not to be caught flat-footed?" He knows she's been going through the rough of it, and while the words might be a bit annoying for her now, she can at least see that they're trying to come from a good place. Hopefully...     As Ishirou speaks of the book and its connection to the girls, as well as start talking to Delilah of her goals in all of this. Touta starts thinking back to what he had spoken of before about the chains that had been binding Delilah, and of her own words even now.     "What if we could make that wish come true? Without the extra nonsense? Ishirou..."     Before he can finish his thoughts, his eyes do catch the grin of Igor, but doesn't think much of it, at least not yet. "Those chains you were talking about before, they're still there right? I can't see'em but they're definitely still tying her down, right? If that's the case...Delilah, if you're freed from those oaths, you'd have no issue saying what you want...?"     He sure that someone might have something to say on this, in fact Hibiki's already questioning Delilah's motives. but his eyes look at the group for a moment. A tell for them to hold back on immediately questioning the idea. For now, he wants to see what Delilah's genuine response is to the possibility of that.     He starts pulling out what looks like a ring from his pocket. Though the metallic object was already starting to expand a bit more than that. After hearing the woman's response he'd look to Charlotte and Stanley. "If those chains she's dealing with are binding her down, I think I can break them. I'd need Ishirou to guide me, but I think I can do it. I can't tell you what'll happen after the fact, whether she'll start speaking the truth to us or if those chains are meant for something else but...I think one way or the other, if we give her the opportunity to go unbound you'll find the truth you two are looking for one way or the other. And regardless of what that truth is, we'll be here to support you..."     That was his thoughts. If Delilah was lying, if she was doing so because she was bound. Then they should simply try to unbind her. Was it safe? It's not something he can guarantee. But at the same time, it would give Delilah the chance to show her true intentions. Whether that be by allowing her to speak their genuine truth to the Elites...Or un-chaining the inhibited desires she'd been holding back. Whatever the choice, he was leaving it to the two of them.
Stanley Padgett	Stanley looks to Igor. "When I first arrived, you and Delilah both seemed disappointed about me, that I wasn't some... fancy person coming here. Am I right in assuming... Delilah would have had more to do, more things to have to... juggle... if I had been whatever it was you were looking for? The Wild Card?"     Igor just smiles, and tilts his head a smidge. If you are asking if there would have been more direct involvment from myself and my Assistant, then perhaps. However do not dissuade you from the fact that you have made greats strides forward in your own self growth, even if your time of self realization is not here."     Stanley frowns, and looks to Charlotte and Delilah, as Touta makes his offer. "Charlotte, I think this one is up to you. Delilah..."     The Attendant shakes her head and smiles at Touta, even as she keeps petting Kuku-chan. "Again, I *wish* I could answer that question."
Ishirou	Ishirou speaks up to Touta, "They're weaker than they were the last time I saw them... which is why we're here now instead of what was happening when facing Isaac. Though... you can break metanarrative chains?" he asks, Touta, not convinced but curious somehow at the fact that he thinks he could and why he thinks he can. "But she can't say yes to them, that is how she is bound up."
Charlotte Newman	Igor is a presence that brings Charlotte some measure of comfort for reasons she cannot actually articulate. When his rich baritone corrects her assumption, though, she feels her chest tighten as she shifts her gaze to Delilah. > "I am unable to finish my story... *our* story..."     Charlotte's eyes follow Delilah's hands as she places the grimoire down, so attentively caressing its cover. Once again she feels an urge to touch it, just as before. When Ishirou mentions that the artifact seems safe and calls out its links, she nods gently. That makes sense. She can *feel* it tugging at her. > "And you, tootz, I should have left you in that fucking bus. You and your fucking big nosed hack of a boss." > "Well, you're our little friend from the other side, Charlotte Newman. You and your little blue bus."     She thinks back to what Francis Smithering and Isaac Beaufort told her. Things she shouted denials towards. Things she rejected out of hand because they were just too ridiculous. Eventually, she murmurs, "They weren't lying..." > "Why do you think you've never been able to get on that bus properly? To relax there?" > "See? She's so fucking vapid." > "Stick figure, chat bot, whatever. Practically see-through."     Charlotte's eyes close, her voice low, "My memories were carved out by someone's wish... but that isn't the only part of me I lost, is it..? Hollowed out like a doll. Set up in a fake house. Something to be forgotten." When her eyes open again, she stares down at the grimoire. > "If those chains she's dealing with are binding her down, I think I can break them."     Charlotte shakes her head at Touta's offer, her eyes still on the book presented to her, "It sounds risky to try and interfere with a wish like that... Even if it's one of these 'imperfect' ones from NovaTech..." She glances his way briefly, "G-give me a moment to think?" > "Looks like now's the time to decide how much you trust her."     "'Too genuine to lie', huh..?" Charlotte murmurs towards Hibiki. It's a little heartening to hear that; she was feeling the same way. Kukuru getting on Delilah about sitting to be at the right hugging/pillow height pulls a quick laugh before Charlotte can suppress it. This does, at least, get her looking back at Delilah's face. Immediately, she recognizes the silent desperation in her gaze.     "Every piece of me is telling me not to believe you..." Her eyes travel to Igor, then across those who have gathered around her. Eventually she returns her gaze to Delilah directly, "...I'm going to ignore that, this time."     Charlotte Newman steels herself with a deep breath in, held, and then out. Her eyes drop to the Grimoire again. Shifting her purse, she leans forward and; hesitantly, gently curls her fingers around the binding and lifts it up.
Charlotte Newman	Despite how gently she collected the book, the first thing Charlotte does is, quite suddenly, hug it to her chest. Lines of argon slice across the floor into a sigil around her feet, illuminating the moody interior of the Velvet Room. Surprised, she wheels around, her back to Delilah and Igor.     Her eyes are wide with shock, the red color of her irises glowing and then fading to glowing gold. Her jaw set, she takes a step back. The sigil follows, centered on her feet.     Galatea twists out of her form as if sensing a threat, but the Persona twists and contorts in bursts of argon and helium static and glitchy artifacting.     "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know! I didn't know..!" With each sentence she takes another shuddering step back. Despite Kukuru in the way, the girl passes right through her-- right into Delilah-- until the two superimpose.     Charlotte disappears. The glowing sigil filling the floor of the Velvet Room pulses with helium, then fades.     Only Delilah remains.     The woman inhales deeply, the metaphysical locks and safeguards shattering in Ishirou's sight one after the other. By the time she exhales-- they've all disappeared. When she opens her eyes again, the gold in her irises is more intense. More complete. A smug smile spreads across her lips as, with one hand, she gently finger-combs Kukuru's hair.     "Ahh. That is so much better." She lifts her other hand, flexing her fingers, inspecting her nails. Beside and behind her, Galatea thrashes, sending off neon smoke that obscures her chained figure. Eventually the movement stops. The rattling of chains ceases. The smoke dissipates; an entirely different Persona hovers behind the attendant now.     A woman cast of metal and marble, clad in traditional armor of bronze and iron, the upper part of her face concealed by a helmet and wreathed in golden laurels. She mirrors Delilah's nail-inspecting gestures perfectly, right down to the cock of her head and the precise curl of her fingers.
Ishirou	"The locks are gone.." Ishirou says, frowning, but so is Charlotte.  Only Delilah stands there and his trust has been shattered again.  He takes a breath and summons the damaged RESCUE unit around himself.  Its armor is nowhere near repaired and it is obvious he wasn't planning on fighting here.   Or at least, he was hoping.   "So this was your goal the whole time, which means... you know there is only one way this goes.  Do you think you can beat all of us here?" he says, frowning.  He's not so sure this time, because he's analyzing her in real time and is seeing the full scope of the two halves becoming whole again.   "Let. Her. Out."
Kukuru	"If we could make these wishes come true without all that trouble... Hmmn. That sure would be nice, but the way it works around here..." Kukuru starts to answer Touta and trails off, both to yawn and to furrow her brow in mild discomfort. "None of the wishes we've ran into so far have been anything we couldn't fix, but... There's usually something to fix, y'know? And the people that pay for it are..." Another discomforted noise, and she settles her head back down from Delilah's petting. Even with that energy drink hitting her, she's still managing to relax. Even Charlotte touching the book and starts changing colors with all sorts of flashes of color, despite the clear... Something going on, doesn't stir Kukuru from her laying position. Instead, she just keeps one eye open while looking up at the transformed Delilah and the disappearing Galatea behind her. "Feeling better, Charlie? Or... Deli? Delchar... Chard?" Kukuru murmurs while still draped across her lap just as easily as before, even stretching her arms and legs out briefly before going limp again. She hasn't yawned in a while, but she still looks just as boneless as before. "So does this mean... Ohhh. The wish took you both apart, and then now you're... Put together, then?" She looks over at Igor to study his expression (if it even changes at all), then over at the rest of the group. "Is this... Good, then?" Ishirou makes it sound like it isn't, but Kukuru doesn't seem to have registered a threat as of yet while she looks right back up at the combined whoever she's draped over. "How're you feeling, dear?"
Stanley Padgett	Stanley... takes a breath. His partner, merging with the Attendant. No. No.     "She was always Delilah, or Charlotte. Or both. That's how this worked. That's how it's always worked, isn't it?" He rises to his feet, and brushes at his old school uniform. "Charlotte, when I met you, when you came to find me. Came to... find a friend. You knew, didn't you?"     His saber manifests in front of him, and he shrugs his school bag to the ground as he takes it up. "This was our Fortune. THE Fortune." He looks to Igor. "Fool. Wheel of Fortune... Tower. Always... the Fool, the Wheel of Fortune, and the Tower. Ever and always." He takes a breath, ragged, tears coming into his eyes. His hair shimmers, his frame shimmers, as he tabard slips into place over him, a digital mask superimposing itself over Stanley. Neon green energy flickers on his body, the blade. Mercutio is not here, not yet.     "Charlotte. I know it's you and I know you're in there."
Sarracenia	Sarra does indeed look a bit annoyed at Touta for what he said, but that's mostly because he's right. A princess, even one who doesn't really aspire to be a proper princess, shouldn't be caught unaware. "...right."      Sarra is a bit dazzled by all the neon lights and runes, and stares wide-eyed as Charlotte is drawn to Deliah -through- a few things and people. It's kind of pretty.      But, that doesn't take away from the situation. "I knew it!" Sarra exclaims once all the fireworks are over. She's watched and read way too many things to think that this new Delilah is a friend. "That nail inspecting thing is -so- a villain thing! Is Charlotte even in there? Or did you just absorb her? You have a very short time to answer those questions you were just wishing you could answer!" she says, even as she pulls her DK Hammer free from her satchel. She gives it a few twirls, then smacks the haft down with a resounding thud.      Kukuru as usual does something unexpected which really probably should be expected. Sarra sighs softly, and says, "I'd go with Charlilah if it were me." she adds to Kukuru's list of names.      And, even though both she and Ishirou will not like it...she goes to stand somewhere in the area in front of him and Stanley. He fought hard, he looks rough. She's fresh and more of a front liner anyway. She doesn't say anything though. Seems better that way. He's not Petra after all. The chances he will knife her in the back are...well, she tries not to think about it.
Hibiki Tachibana	"Uh, right..." To her credit, Hibiki doesn't either squeeze or eat the mushroom on the spot, but holds onto it in the way someone might a plushie or something similar. Something to hold onto more than anything, maybe, as her attention drifts back to Charlotte and Delilah. There's no rushing the other girl's thinking, but there is a silent nod as she begins reaching out.     The decision's been made. Whether that's a mistake or not...     ...is up in the air, as her eyes shoot wie at the sudden and instantaneous reaction, on top of the show of lights and Galatea's thrashing. "Hey! Hey, Charlotte--!" Calling out isn't going do anything though. One eye forces itself shut amid the glitchy aftereffects, but she can still see the two come together and...     ...what just happened? There's a blink, and then a wary squint, straightening back up as Galatea completes her smoke-wrought transformation even as Delilah-- Delilah?-- acts so exceedingly casual about it. Her mind has to race a mile a minute to try and catch up. Did she just...?     My memories were carved out by someone's wish... but that isn't the only part of me I lost, is it..?     That, along with what Stanley says, makes some pieces click in. Hibiki's expression goes from awed surprised to brows furrowed, exhaling audibly. "--If that's how it is, all of 'Charlotte' has to be there, too. So don't act so self-satisfied about this whole thing just like that. There shouldn't be any more lies at this point, right? ...What are you trying to do?" Her voice is low and not wholly steady, still set entirely on Delilah's face.     "Just what's the ending of the story you couldn't talk about before supposed to be...?"
Touta Konoe	"I've done something similar a long time ago. Wasn't metanarrative, but I want to see what all our options are--" Touta does try to explain himself, even with how doubtful Ishirou is. He didn't mind the question, but just the look he gives when offering it. Though even Kukuru seems to be reluctant on the idea as well. Though it's when Charlotte makes the call, he takes a small breath in, and simply lets the small ring shrink back before sliding it into his pocket. "Alright, take all the time you need."     At the end of it all, Charlotte makes her decision to pick up the grimoire and it's one that has immediate consequences.     "Charlotte!!!"     Everything happens quickly, the argon formation of the floor, Galatea bursting out of form. The merging of Delilah and Charlotte. He's made to watch as the girl is pulled away from everyone and everything. It's surely something anyone would freak out about in their situation. But...      "...A..Am I..." the girl whispers, steadying herself, "...Not real..?"     When it's been the fear you've been holding, when it's been your biggest concern. It's probably as close to someone telling you how they'd absolutely hate to die, and then watching it as it happens to them...It's unnerving.     Though not as unnerving as seeing what falls into their sight next with the revitalized Delilah. Her casual demeanor in all this brings a vile taste in his mouth. Even if hearing the truth of it all properly from Stanley is the case he doesn't like it. Because at the end of the day, it leaves that thought in mind...And...     "You're not gone yet..."     She is someone who still etched her identity into the people here, and even now there are those that aren't just ready to accept such a story where the main heroine is simply written out. Whether it be to warn Delilah to release her, or accepting the one before them as a mix of the two.     "I want to hear it too..." As Hibiki asks her question of the ending to this story, Touta feels just as invested. Even now he's gripping at the blade in his hand with the kind of force that feels like it'd snap the grip. Though he's waiting for the truth of this tale. To decide whether he can try to accept the conclusion as it was in a way similar to Kukuru's comfort, or if he'd be ready to join in with Ishirou to make sure that the return of Charlotte Newman was made to bring about a genuine conclusion.
Charlotte Newman	"Let her out? But she is me." Delilah looks positively hurt at Ishirou's demand, resting her free hand on her breastbone with her eyes closed, "Those barbarians carved me into pieces. That 'girl' was the biggest one. You saw for yourself, I was falling apart without her."     This doesn't interrupt her petting Kuku-chan's head, though, "Quite a bit better, thank you for asking~. Delilah is fine, there is no need to mix my name like that. I feel quite fantastic now." > "Charlotte. I know it's you and I know you're in there."     "But of course, my charming Fool," Delilah gently pats Kukuru's head and then nudges her off so that she can stand up with the Grimoire of Souls tucked under her left arm. Behind her, the persona mirrors her shifting posture. Lifting her face, Delilah stares down her nose at those gathered, "There is a small part of me that is upset over this outcome. Seeing your faces as they are troubles me." She shifts her gaze, glancing aside at Igor.     Igor says nothing, simply propping his arms up on their elbows and lacing his fingers together. With this implied approval, she returns her attention to Hibiki, Touta, and the rest.     "That 'girl' had the right idea~... but the wrong order. It was not she who lost something. It was myself. My goal has always been to restore myself to full functionality, hindered as I was by the walls built around me." > "Just what's the ending of the story you couldn't talk about before supposed to be...?"     Delilah's eyes close, "Mm... Our story was to reach this conclusion. It always was meant to be." She closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them-- fixated on Stanley, "'The Hanged Man. Auspicious as well. You may have to let something go in the future, to gain something vital.' Does this fortune sound familiar to you? It was that 'girl's' reading, when 'she' was here." The woman raises both hands, one holding the Grimoire firmly.     Her eyes upturn just a touch, a curl returning to her lips, "Yes. I do believe some lingering doubts might remain. I should stretch my legs and dispose of that all at once."     "Step forward my other self; Athena."Behind Delilah, the Persona ceases suddenly in mimicing her posture. A glaive blade of filigree bronze and gold draws itself into existence in her right hand. In the left, two neon lines extend, then rotate, calling in a shield of silver and brass.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK8vpWIvA9o             DELILAH         ATTENDANT OF THE VELVET ROOM          Lifting her right hand, the woman in blue snaps her fingers; "Megidola."     The moody, vaulted interior of the Velvet Room explodes with light.
Ishirou	"You're not her," Ishirou says, mad at this turn of events.  "You lied to us, you tried to use your chains as leverage to fool us into thinking you were trying to do right, but instead were still doing what your overlord wanted... ugh!  This hands that corporate's fingers all over it, even if you can't see it!" However, the spell flattens him.  The explosion goes off, smashing him into the ground and he rolls across the ground.  He's smoking from the shot and he groans.  His body still hurt from the fight with The Queen, his armor still busted from the same fight, and now this woman is taking friends from them.   He groans, fighting to stand and once more fires a barrage of shots from POD to try and pin Delilah into a defensive attack and looks towards Hibiki.  He dives behind her, aiming to fire his shots around her offense, aiming to try and open up a weakness in her defense so that Hibiki can hit her very hard.   Then a barrage of missiles from POD are fired, swarming from both angles to try and smash into Delilah and explode once Hibiki is finished, aiming to add more harm to the attack.
Kukuru	More confusion. Stanley talks to Charlilah like she's Charlotte without Delilah, but he draws his weapon like he's ready to fight her. Sarracenia, too, brings out her weapon, and talks to Delottah like she's Delilah without Charlotte. Hibiki makes some more sense, like she's talking to both of them one after the other and raising a rather important point in Kukuru's mind, but it's still confusing enough for Kukuru to let out a brief droning noise in said confusion. She still hasn't gotten back up yet. "Oh yeah, you CAN tell us about... Um. That thing you said you couldn't before now, right? Or one of you said it..." She concludes with a nod towards Touta, then taps her chin briefly before onto her side just enough to get a better look at the Attendant's face. "Are you both moving at once, oooor... Do you gotta share time? This must be so new for you two..." And then she laughs, like she's remembering something pleasant. That's probably a clue as to why Kukuru doesn't seem worried at all about any of this. It turns out to be quite a mistake on her part, though, as she just lets out a confused noise when Delilah slides her off. "Oh...? Okaaay. That's good to hear, then. Being comfortable is important when things have been so crummy for..." She groans wearily, then sits up slowly while rubbing her eyes and finally lets out an open-mouthed yawn without bothering to cover her mouth with those giant claws or sleeves. "Feeling complete's important. Sounds like you've still got some stuff to work through, though, so..." Another groggy noise, and Kukuru's about to put her head back down when Delilah's Persona awakens and proceeds to blast the room full of light. Being as close to Delilah as she is and without even thinking about an actual fight, it's probably no surprise that Kukuru gets the shit blasted out of her, and she winds up on the other side of the Velvet Room by the time the light settles down. She isn't getting up right away, either, content to let her nanites soothe all the burns and pain first. By the time she does, though, she looks slightly more awake thanks to the power of that energy drink! "That's a pretty big shot there, Deli... Mmn. Yeah, if you wanna exercise some, that's fiiiine." Giggling softly, Kukuru winces as she scrapes a bit of burnt skin off her legs to let it heal right back up, then promptly falls forward. Instead of faceplanting, though, an inky cloud opens up in the ground, swallowing up Kukuru and dropping her right at Delilah with her arms and legs spread wide to... "Goootcha." Kukuru calls out in a tired monotone as she closes her limbs around Delilah, trying to bind her with her own body and... That's it? That's it. She doesn't seem keen on actually hurting her, but she's making a guess about how Delilah and Athena move as she tries to pin her down with a gentle force. Despite being far smaller and more tired than usual, she still has most of that ridiculous strength in those limbs!
Stanley Padgett	Charlotte... Delilah speaks. And keeps speaking. And Stanley's heart swells. His hand grips on his saber. Stanley can feel it coming. Can see it. His fortune. Their fortune.     Megidola washes over the Velvet Room. And Mercutio manifests itself. There's a flicker of nothingness, as Stanley reads the blast, and teleports- Behind Igor.     The Megidola washes across everything else. Besides Igor and his desk. The old man just sits there implacably, and even brushes a bit of dust from his suit. "Clever boy, Stanley, though I doubt she'll let you do that again." Stanley winks at Igor, and then... strides around the desk.     "Actually. No. No you're not Charlotte, and you're not Delilah. You are... Ophelia." He quirks a smile, and then dips his head a bit, slipping back into his repertoire. "Poor drowned Ophelia. Lost in her mind, when everyone else around them kept calling her crazy." A beat. "Does that make me Polonius or Hamlet?" He shrugs a little bit, the blade dangling gently in his grip, before the sabre comes up again. Mercutio manifests again, as Stanley starts to pace, a manic look entering his eyes. He is bone tired, he is dragging his ass, but he is DRIVEN. "To be, or not to be, Ophelia? That is the question." He circles his Partner Attendant, sword point out. "Tis life or death, and which are you? If you are Delilah, 'tis neither. A dreamless dream where you were cut into shards. Sent to do others dirty work. Wrapped up in this."     In an instant he dives, 5 Stanley's all at once, in succession, straight pierces at Delilah over and over, forcing the woman to turn her attention to him, force her to focus. Give others the openings.     Get her talking.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia's eyes widen...when Hibiki cuddles the mushroom instead of squeezing it. Like some brilliant and cute idea just went of in her head. "Mushroom plushie!" she squees quietly.      She doesn't have much time to ponder that thought though, as the Shadow World suddenly goes bright, and that brightness really hurts! Sarra cries out in pain and goes flying back as well! Tumbling across the ground she slides to a three-point stance, then lets out a growly 'nnnng!'      "You won't get rid of those doubts so easily!" Sarra exclaims as she rushes forward, the magic of her hammer already starting to flow. Prismatic watery waves of energy flow down from the head, over the handle, and over her. Her eyes gain a prismatic glow and her hair starts to float slightly sort of like she is underwater. Those who have seen it before might recognize the incoming.      "Iiiiit's...HAMMER TIME!" the princess exclaims. She's really needed to relieve some built up anger lately, and this is her chance. She starts hammering away like she is demon possessed. Blow after earth-shaking blow rain down, each one enough to cause a crater and a shockwave.      She tries her best to avoid Kukuru, but...it might be kind of hard to avoid her completely in this state and in that position. "S-sorry Kukuru!" she manages through gritted teeth and a somewhat sadistic grin.
Hibiki Tachibana	Yes. I do believe some lingering doubts might remain. I should stretch my legs and dispose of that all at once.     "Charlotte--!" That's all that she gets out, before light overtakes them all.     ...     By the time it clears, and the chaos of the Megidola dies down to fail to hide the end of a chant, the sphere of golden light that had shielded Hibiki's body flecks away from the excessive force. Out of her casual winterwear and clad in her Symphogear instead, ready to fight, the first thing she does is--     ...collapse down to a knee, one eye forced shut in a wince. The mushroom is gone, though whether it vanished with the emergency transformation or she actually crushed it is still unknown. "Ghh..." Everything is still aching. If she moves too fast, wounds will open themselves back up. They're already bared again, now that she's transformed. Either way, she inhales sharply and forces herself back to a stand. "...Delilah," she continues with a rough exhale. "I don't think you'll... get rid of those doubts as easily as you think you will. That's not as easy to do as you think."     She leaves it at that for now, because talking and moving at the same time would use up more air than she'd like. Her posture drops low, so that she can dive in while Ishirou tries to make an opening. She's not in as good of a state to capitalize on it as she'd like, but that doesn't mean she won't try - the exact way she does best. With a closed fist--     --that bypasses Delilah herself with a last-second sidestep, a feint. Whether it's because she can't bring herself to strike Delilah straight-on or for another reason entirely is up in the air - but the momentum she's built up goes to /Athena/ instead. Hibiki skids a meter along the Velvet Room's floor, then twists her body into a punch meant to strike the Persona dead center.     It'll hurt, to say the least. It'll have to. They're tangoing with two here, literally.
Touta Konoe	Those barbarians carved me into pieces. That 'girl' was the biggest one. You saw for yourself, I was falling apart without her.     "Don't make it sound like it's just as easy as taking something back that was stolen..."     As if a physical response to his agitation the Blue Room begins to fill with black fog as it protrudes out from Touta's back. The argon that had filled the floors, the helium static as static and especially the neon smoke , all was starting to slowly fade to black.     That 'girl' had the right idea~... but the wrong order. It was not she who lost something. It was myself. My goal has always been to restore myself to full functionality, hindered as I was by the walls built around me.     "That /girl/, Charlotte has goals of her own! You think she's just some puzzle piece you can put back into place?!"     Touta had waited to hear the answer to Hibiki's question and it was one without a doubt left him ready to reprimand this girl. No, even if he wasn't, she was choosing it so. Deciding to rid herself of her 'lingering doubts'. Athena moves in time to remedy her user's ailment as everything goes up in a bright flash. What becomes of Touta in all of this? Well, his form looks like it had taken a hit and yet...Any wounds that were upon his limbs, cuts open his cheek, they don't bleed red. What drains from them is the same black fog that continues to fill the room.     "Those doubts..."     He speaks of Sarra and Hibiki both as they speak of those doubts.     "In the time that you've been away from that girl do you think her shape has stayed the same...? She might have started out as your piece, but she's molded. Her own strengths...Her own weaknesses...Her own identity."     The black fog begins to encircle Delilah as Touta's form is completely veiled. Though his voice still somehow travels like an echo through it.     "For better or worse that girl has forged her own shape, and carved her own existence into the world. Of course you're going to have doubts..."     From the smoke crimson light forms like two pairs of eyes staring down those of the amber ones of Delilah. A heap of the fog propels forward all at once like someone was blowing a gale not at her, but at Athena. The fog only faded a moment after the fact, to unveil Touta's form as he joined Hibiki in her strike.     "That 'piece' of you that you're trying to put back, is carving her way out!"
Charlotte Newman	> "You lied to us."     "Our story could not continue so long as we were apart. Where is the lie? I have spoken no mistruths and only left out what I was forced to by the bindings against me." Delilah purrs. Athena slips forward, drawing her sword up in an arc that creates a shimmering, sherpical blue barrier that Ishirou's missiles burst against, "The corporation no longer has any sway over me. That 'girl's' actions shattered the wish that cut me apart. I could not do so on my own, you see, powerless as I was."     Kukuru drops on her from above through teleportation chicanry, binding her arms to her sides, "Oh!" The surprise gives way to delight, a melodic laugh escaping, "Ahaha~, you really are quite charming. Even in this form-- why, you are even more charming, I should say."     Stanley dives while she is encumbered as she is. Athena springs to action in her stead. The goddess of wisdom and war meets the Fool and the Duelist in clashes of steel and brass that throws sparks into the air, "You are still caught on Charlotte? Ahh, such a noble mind is yet overthrown." Bound as she is by Kukuru, Delilah cannot pantomime or the like, but she does throw her head back with a laugh, "This courtier's eye, scholar's tongue, and soldier's sword; the glass of fashion and the mold of form! T'is not your Ophelia you behold, but a mere attendant."     Fortunately the Velvet Room is a liminal space. Carved as it is from the fabric of the Shadow World, it withstands Sarracenia's blows clashing against Athena's silver shield when she should by all rights be cracking stone. Between Sarracenia pounding on her defenses and Delilah bound up as she is by Kukuru's iron grip, Hibiki has a wonderful opening to punch the Persona right between the shoulder blades. The blow sends Athena tumbling as if in zero gravity, batted along by the hammer and some late-arrival missiles and the latter half of Stanley's multiple sword strikes. Capped off by Touta's charge, the Persona seems, at least briefly, stunned after so much sudden punishment.     > "In the time that you've been away from that girl do you think her shape has stayed the same...? She might have started out as your piece, but she's molded. Her own strengths...Her own weaknesses...Her own identity."     "Mmm. The thought had crossed my mind, my helpful vampire." Delilah closes her eyes for a moment with a bright hum. She flickers and disperses in a series of helium and neon scanlines that separate to either side. These recombine on the opposing side of the Velvet Room, leaving her free of Kukuru's iron grip.
Charlotte Newman	"When a piece loses its shape, one must repair that, no?" Her posture straightens. Tucking the Grimoire of Souls under her arm once again, Delilah reaches out with her right hand once more, "Athena. To me."     The stunned Persona snaps back to 'consciousness', warping itself back to her side. She immediately twirls her sword, supporting it with both hands, and drives it down until the tip slams into the Velvet Room's floor with a resonant sound.     "Maragidyne."     A crimson-orange circle flares out around Delilah's feet, then expands outward in waves of curling flames like crashing waves from the sea.     "Can you conceive of a world in which the two of us exist at once? Part of me wishes to. Alas, I cannot. We are two parts of the same whole." Surrounded by flames, Delilah lowers her hand, her golden eyes shining in the firelight, "That I began to crumble first is only fortunate. She, too, should have begun to fail after the fall of NovaTech's scheme. Have you not already seen it?"
Ishirou	Flames wash over Ishirou, once more he's driven to his knees from the force and power of the blow and his body is giving him warning signs.  He was near his limits again, and the moment the fire was over there was a huge BURST of steam to release heat an cool his systems down before he would explode.  Groaning, he struggles to stand again. "Just because you spoke no lie, doesn't mean you were being deceitful.  You knew this would happen, but again you think that this will go well for you.  How many times will you people underestimate my ability to see how things will go?" he says, and once more goes on the offensive.  Once more, he goes to back up Hibiki.   "Hibiki, wait... you'll see your moment," he says, with a grin.  He fires another barrage of shots from POD, once more trying to get that shield up and he keeps hammering it.  This time, however, he fires the missiles again and a beam fires directly from the center of POD, attempting to break through the shield. "NOW!" he shouts, trying to do everything he can to buy Hibiki and anyone else working with her a moment to get at Delilah while her defenses are broken.
Kukuru	"Your story, huh...? Yeah, if neither of you were complete, then coming back together only makes sense. And if you're not stuck with the corporation's stuff... even better~" Truly, there's little fault that Kukuru can actually find in Delilah's logic, although something about all this still rubs her just slightly the wrong way. Still, she can't help but giggles softly at the compliments. "Aw, that's so nice to say... Hmmn. You sound a lot happier like this, too. I'm really happy that you can finally feel like this and speak the way you really want to. I wonder..." Well, these circumstances are probably far too different from Angela's to really figure out how to make it work for her, too. Still, it soothes Kukuru just a bit to think about. When Delilah shifts topics back to Charlotte, though, Kukuru's finally able to concretely think about what it is that's bothering her. Between that and Delilah shimmering momentarily out of existence to teleport to the other side of the room, it can't be any surprise that Kukuru just drops to the ground and lands on her claws and feet while making no effort to chase her to that other side of the Velvet Room. "Repairs, repairs... Oh, yeah, that makes sense if something's broken. But what's that gotta do with you and Charlie?" She asks, still sounding about as clueless as ever. Unlike Kukuru's usual manner of speaking, though, she says it in just a fast enough way that it might almost hint at her being purposely obtuse to draw out an answer. And then she gets set on fire. That actually has her screeching and scrambling around, dropping and rolling and everything to put out the flames before she's consumed entirely. Kukuru lays there for several moments while whining pitifully the whole time, and she doesn't move until a good while after Ishirou calls out the moment to strike for Hibiki. Seizing on that moment, she falls through a new portal that opens up underneath her, sliding out of the wall closest to Delilah a moment later and approaching her at a languid strolling pace. "A world where... Um. Yeah. There's no reason you two couldn't share, right? Two broken parts might not work a hundred percent on their own, but..." As she draws closer, Kukuru rears back with her claws like she's about to slam them together right over Delilah. Instead of that, however, she instead pivots on her heels and clasps both claws together before going for a double-fisted hammer blow with the blunter bottom side of her claws instead. Even if it's a fight, and even if she was just set on fire, she still refuses to use the sharp stabbing side of her claws. "... You could make something real nice putting them together~" As cheerful as she sounds, there's still a rather bone-obliterating amount of force behind the swing, fully intended to launch her right in Hibiki's path at (ideally) the right moment.
Stanley Padgett	Stanley Padgett sighs as Charlotte starts paraphrasing him back. It's a sigh of... happiness? "See I *knew* you were paying attention." Athena batters away his pinpoint strikes, but he can see the effort. And he appreciates it. "That you piece by piece become what you are is the point."     This time, the Maragidyne washes over him... but misses him. Just... the flames lick around him, the heat of the fire singes his hair and eyebrows, but it does not burn him. Stanley considers this a moment or two, tapping at the heel of his hand with his saber, before leaning back into it. "The Rub. The Rub is you called to us, called to me. Called me out. Me, the Fool. You and Igor had your pick of everyone, and it was me."     Stanley's sabre flashes, Mercutio slashes, and engages Athena, as the young man teleports in, close to Delilah. The saber aimed right at her middle. He goes for the thrust, and instead... gets close. Close enough to kiss, close enough to hold Delilah. But it's not a kiss. It's a whisper.     What sort of girl are you trying to be, Delilah? Even if you're back in one piece... what then? How are you going to solve the fucked up world you've seen? That Charlotte has seen. That your captors created. Once this is done, how are you going to stop them?     He smiles, and scampers back to steady for an attack again.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia pants a bit from all the effort of hammering, then hmphs. "So, what were you trying to do that someone wished you apart in the first place, huh? Why do you have to repair her?! Just accept her growth as a part of you, too! Do you realize how hard it is for some people to have a group of friends that would do this for her?!" There's definitely no built up resentment or jealousy in that.      The waves of fire flow, and Sarra can't do much buy keep charging in. It's the only thing she's good at. Her dress catches fire, her hair gets all frizzy, and between this and the light attack she is going to have such a sunburn tomorrow. "See? Even Kukuru can see it, and she's..." Sarra doesn't finish that sentence because...well...it's mean and she doesn't dislike Kukuru.      That and Ishirou is right there, just waiting for her to be the crazy princess so he can record her or something. Well, she isn't going to give him any material today! (He surely saw the sadistic glee as she was hammering away)      Ishirou shouts and Sarra feels energized for some reason! She reaches into her satchel and begins tossing things up into the air. Things as big as her hammer's head. Things that look like huge bullets with shark-faces painted on them. Wait...are they real shark faces?      Either way, those bullets come down in a steady rhythm, and the princess goes into a graceful spin. Her dress billows out elegantly around her, and she holds her hammer out fully. Each Bullet Bill gets hit on the flat at its back and goes flying off like a cannon shot, a few aimed at Athena and a few aimed at Charlilah. Or Ophelia. Whoever this is now! Those giant bullets all home in on their targets and explode powerfully on impact!
Hibiki Tachibana	Battering Athena around only gets so far. It gives them a bit of reprieve for sure, but it won't save them for long. Not when Delilah unveils that new trick to get out of Kukuru's hold, especially. Hibiki is still recovering from the wind-down of her own punch when she vanishes, and has to twist on her heel and slam her boot down to steady herself again.     Just in time for the onrush of flames comes roaring in. That Persona's power is the real deal, just barely taking one attack from it proved that well enough. Taking another isn't going to be pleasant-- so she shouldn't. Even though her body is going to really hate her for it, Hibiki buckles her knees, and then /jumps/.     The sweltering fire singes at her as she passes overhead, but that doesn't slow her down - even the fact she'll be diving into more fire still doesn't seem to do that, as she primes back an arm. "If you're two parts of one whole... then you're just as much 'Delilah' as you are 'Charlotte'...! That means you're carrying the wants and wishes of the both of them!"     She waits until Ishirou gives the signal - and then the thrusters on her Symphogear's skirt fire, propelling her back down from the apex of her leap at full speed. In the opening he's made, in the forceful redirection that Kukuru is attempting to do, she'll throw herself headlong into Delilah's path.     "--So instead of this 'I' and 'she' crap, get your head on straight already!"     To the surprise of no one, her idea of taking advantage of an opening is hitting someone. Really, /really/ hard, in the midriff section, with all the torque and emotional weight she can muster, that may or may not really be trying to send them flying like a bullet from the impact.     She'll apologize for it later. Charlotte was really set on paying her back for the favor after all of this, so this'll get them just about even.
Touta Konoe	When a piece loses its shape, one must repair that, no?     Athena is called back as it becomes the blade at Delilah's hand, in no time at all she continues her offensive as the wave of flames begin to envelope the Blue Room. Touta continues to stand where he was as he watches the wave come crashing down. At first, he simply braces for the wave as he feels his skin sear, and the smell of burned flesh fills his senses. Though he's not backed down, not even been pushed back by the wave. In fact, in the time the attack's been unleashed the heat of the wave was slowly being mitigated, taken in by the black fog as it consumes those crimson flames, their heat in the process as it leaves Touta before her. It's as he braces the flames does he catch it. The wave of flames catching all but with the exclusion of one person. Stanley is left safe from the flames. Not once but twice has he been saved...He can't imagine that's just chance. Still, his gaze returns back to Delilah he finds himself speaking up again.     "That's the difference between you and that girl. You make it sound so cut and dry, but she...She's the type that's been trying to find what that answer entails. Perhaps that's not something you can perceive, and maybe that still is something that would elude Charlotte but...Until the last moment, that girl won't keep struggling. Even if it's not graceful, even if it has others question her decisions, even when it causes her to make mistakes that bring her pain...She is someone that would have tried to find an answer for both of you...That's what I respect about her. Maybe that's a part of her you can learn from, but it won't be the part you fix...Besides..."     "Hibiki!!! Stanley!!!"     Touta's voice calls to her, he can see that Ishirou's preparing his pods for her, and even Kukuru's swing intends to bring Delilah to her. It's a good strategy. A strategy that utilizes their strongest hitter, to finish the fight and yet...He believes there's another way to end this fight...     Hibiki's attack is all but fed to her, and knowing her she'd give a strike that even Charlotte would feel into her core. The force alone was likely enough that it'd send the girl flying after taking a rather brutal first initial strike. Thus, Touta can be seen right where Delilah's expected to be launched, waiting with an arm extended out as she comes flying his way.     "Charlotte, grit your teeth!!!"     He's shouting to Delilah but he calls to that girl. That girl who has etched herself into the people here, and who he hopes his voice can be etched deep enough to reach her. As she comes blasted his way, she's caught in a lariat. Using all the force of Hibiki's strike to catch Delilah on his forearm. In truth...     It feels like his arm was going to fly off any moment. Teeth gritted to the point that it felt like he was going to crack his teeth. He was basically trying to catch a projectile that Hibiki launched herself, and was in a sense trying to obstruct its path. It's not something he'd recommend for anyone, and surely the opposing forces of Hibiki's blow, and Touta's arm compressing on Delilah's body is not something easy to handle. In the way though, he is trying to redirect her fall. Not because he believes that alone is necessary. But because if there's going to be one way to stop the fighting...     "...That girl...Has already found someone to make her whole..."     In the moment that Delilah is cloth-hanged on his arm, he whispers those words to her before launching her once again, only this time it's towards one person in particular. To bring her into the arms of the one person that she had been unable to bring harm to.
Charlotte Newman	"I understand," Delilah states simply to Ishirou with her eyes closing. Athena surges ahead to deflect the laser rather than absorb it, sending it off into the wall; a wall that is undamaged. "You have been a very insightful assistant to our contract-bearers, my dear Scanner. Do you think I would do anything that would harm her? Please think hard about this one."     Kukuru's reaction to the flames puts a pensive look on the woman's face, "Oh, dear. Did I strike a particularly nasty phobia? My most sincere apologies!" The concern in her voice is genuine, nowhere near mocking, as she looks over the smoldering little monsterlet. When Kukuru teleports, Delilah breathes a visible sigh of relief. Athena repositions to intercept the shell barrage and; due to how many Sarracenia throws, the Persona must remain in place to guard.     Stanley opts for something different. With his speed, he gets the drop on her while Athena is occupied. Delilah leans back when he draws so close, her eyes going wide. He whispers. She pauses. Athena pauses. Stanley jumps back-- and Delilah gets broadsided by Kukuru. It's the first time in the entire encounter that's pulled a sound of pain from the woman, hurled from the smoke cloud created by Bullet Bills bursting against Athena's shield.     Trailing gunsmoke, she's caught in Touta's arm and held in place. Bringing her free hand up, she grabs at his forearm. Athena, across the room, whirls in place and makes like she's going to save the Attendant, only to get waylaid over by more Bullet Bills. > "Charlotte, grit your teeth!" > "If you're two parts of one whole... then you're just as much 'Delilah' as you are 'Charlotte'...! That means you're carrying the wants and wishes of the both of them! --So instead of this 'I' and 'she' crap, get your head on straight already!"     The smoke is barely clearing from Sarracenia's barrage when Hibiki breaks into the opening Touta, Ishirou, and Kukuru have created. What she finds, up close, is wide glowing golden eyes filled with the desparation to live. The punch lands, solidly, against her midsection. There is no armor or the like; and the impact blasts away the smoke around the two into thin black ribbons of mist.     Delilah-- shatters, rather than flying back as one might expect. The air around Hibiki fills with shards of a mirror. Reflected in each piece is not her own face but scattered memories of a blonde girl with red eyes; meeting a boy at an arcade; the stunning neon-outlined skyline of the Reversal; attending school with friends; encountering a mousey brunette at a meetup; attending a lacrosse game to cheer for a friend; trapped in a maze of conveyor belts; Meeting Miss Salem; the Bacclaureate; Lilian Rook's face; Exigent Serenity's outline rotating into that of her nightmarish Shadow.     Stanley Marigold Padgett's face, blurring through hair colors and gradually less awkward, more genuine smiles. A face that occupies multiple shards at once, each in different states.     After a moment, these bits of glass coalesce, crystallize, and burst back from a delayed kinetic impact of Hibiki's powerful blow. Delilah tumbles across the floor, rolling to a stop.     A few feet away from her, Charlotte bounces on her back with a gasp, hits again on her side, and comes to rest face-down. She's unconscious but breathing, battered yet not lethally.
Charlotte Newman	"Oh, my..." Delilah murmurs, picking herself up on hands and knees. Sliding back, she comes to sit on her heels, lifting her hands to examine them. Despite her own battered state, she seems-- pleased. Bright gold eyes, completely unchanged from even moments ago, slip closed and the Attendant begins to laugh.     Before hostilities can resume, Igor raises his hand and finally speaks. "This is a happy occasion. In times past, some of my servants have decided to leave on their own, to journey to the lands of mortals, to be one with them and learn what it is to be something different. But this is the first time one was stolen from me."     A look to Charlotte as she stirrs. "This is what all those who are bound by contract must experience. Some would say moving from... servant to mortal would be a loss. I disagree. The freedom to choose one's own actions is the spiral to growth, much like it is in humanity." An excited look in the man's eyes.
Ishirou	`Do you think I would do anything that would harm her? Please think hard about this one.` "No, but that doesn't mean you have sole rights to her being.  From where I am standing, the harm you're bringing towards her is that of depriving her of her existence.  There is no harm greater than that..." he says, but sort of is now doubting his words.  Until Hibiki's punch shatters Delilah.  When the two parts of her manifest again, Delilah and Charlotte... he's not sure what to make out of this but that it's a miracle. Everyone will rush over to Charlotte no doubt, and he heeds the hand of Igor.  Instead, he walks over towards Delilah herself and helps her to a seat or somewhere to lie down.  "I guess I misjudged you after all... I'm sorry."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley Marigold Padgett serves as a fantastic decoy for Everyone, and manages to get clear before Sarra and Hibiki and Touta shatter Delilah and Charlotte back into separate bodies. And he's still standing there... breathing heavily, as he watches Delilah get up, and Charlotte doesn't.     Igor's words though... get him to shiver and raise his saber again, pointing it at the old man... "...Tests? This was... tests?" There's a moment of pure Obstinance that shudders through him... and it passes. "This is all a test. A game. That's what... what..." He pauses, and thinks, as he lowers his sword, and slips over to Charlotte. "If this isn't your game, and it isn't NovaTech's game? Whose game is it?"
Kukuru	Delilah's apology is taken surprisingly well! "Oh, it's okaaay... Just be careful with that kind of thing, okay?" Kukuru warns with only a hint of lingering pain in her voice, but it's probably of little concern compared to what follows for Delilah once everyone gets to swinging and smashing and shooting and slicing. She's all but forgotten about that, too, by the time Delilah and Charlotte split apart from Hibiki's heartfelt blow. Letting out a satisfied sigh, Kukuru strolls right over to Delilah and helps brush her off, then looks over as Igor finally speaks. Naturally, she's confused by what he's saying. "Stolen...? But they're both here, aren't they?" Kukuru glances from Delilah to Charlotte a few times to make sure that they are, in fact, right there, and then she nudges Delilah gently to try and urge her closer to where Charlotte's laying down. It'll be easier to heal them both up if they're closer, after all. Even if her nanites are back at normal levels, she's probably not too keen on having to extend her recovery period. "But if they're split apart again... Hmmn. Are you two gonna be okay?" It's not clear if Kukuru's asking that of Igor and Delilah, or of Delilah and Charlotte. Her gaze is focused on those she's healing, after all, and keeping that nanite cloud jumping back and forth to make sure nobody's going to bleed too much after all this.
Hibiki Tachibana	Delilah-- shatters.     ...and the kaleidoscope of memories and experiences is something that she gets an up-close view of. A lot of them are unfamiliar. A lot of them are entirely normal sights. A small handful are familiar to her, too. But all of them are definitely important.     An after the fact, when force kicks in and not one but two girls end up hitting the ground, Hibiki herself is in absolutely no position to compensate for her overswing and promptly comes down onto the floor of the Velvet Room too. She rebounds once, then falls back down onto her stomach, where she lets out a pained groan.     "...That really smart..." Murmuring that through her teeth, she picks her head up... just enough to catch sight of Delilah examining herself, and Charlotte unconscious not terribly far away at all. A moment passes, and then Hibiki allows herself to go limp against the floor, with a relieved exhale.     Is it a 'miracle'? She's not so sure about that. As far as Hibiki is concerned, it was just everyone helping get the record straight, after two halves becoming one again started off a little skewed. She's not sure she has the brainpower right now to process it as anything more complicated.     That's also why she's not lingering too much on the fine details of Delilah still seeming to have retained what was given to her through the merger, or Stanley's very good question on the real nature of what's going on. After a few seconds of getting her breath back, and a descending-pitch whine that comes with her Symphogear dispersing into light and returning her to her normal clothes... she idly turns her head in Igor's direction.     "...Guess her gut was right to trust you all along, huh? I'm... glad." She's not going to pass out or anything. But she'll be fine just laying here for a minute. Kukuru will help a lot.
Sarracenia	Those Bullet Bills do their job, and she watches with some awe as everyone works together...and a small amount of jealousy as Hibiki gets the final hit.      The shattering is startling, and Sarracenia yelp in surprise. "H-hibiki! What did...?" Then she sees all those memories in the shards. She can't help a bit of a smile, once agan awed. "These are..." she starts.      Then the shards coalesce and reform into Delilah and Charlotte. Sarra naturally approaches Charlotte, but she does spare a look toward Delilah. The other part of Ophelia is...happy?      The princess comes to a stop by Charlotte and offers a hand up. "Welcome back! Are you alright?" She looks over at the happy Delilah and wonders aloud, "So...does this mean you both didn't want to go back to being Ophelia? Or is she just a little bit...unstable?" she says to Charlotte.      As those healing nanites move between them, Sarra waves to Kukuru. "It's alright, Kukuru! I have my mushrooms! You can focus on the others!" She heads over to Hibiki after that. "Hibiki! You hit her so hard she broke! That is kind of amazing! Do you need another mushroom?" The princess hands one over whether Hibiki says yes or not.      She turns to Touta after that. "Were you always this strong? And...imposing? You seem a lot different than then boy I accidentally splattered with my hammer in the Shrine." she says with a smile.      She looks at Ishirou. The feeling of don't talk to me ever again is still there, but...she still takes out a mushroom and tosses it at him. It bounces across the floor toward him. He can take it or not.
Touta Konoe	Within the Blue Room, the last strikes of a fight for existence are finished with an array of shards. Each one portrays an example of her existence. From a first meeting, to a normal daily life, to seeing the abnormal and everything in between. Yet, as he sees more and more of them, he finds himself closing his eyes. He doesn't need to see these moments. They weren't his to take in, but just feeling them around him is proof enough of Charlotte's existence and that's enough.     It's as he closes his eyes, do his ears take note of the pained groan from Hibiki, his eyes open to see her reeling on the floor. She had taken a larger brunt of everything he was sure of and now well...Seeing everything conclude, he found himself having a thought. It's something that clearly leaves him lost in thought a moment as he takes his time to reach Bikki first while Kukuru was handling the two halves.     "You really are something you know that? In a good way." He feels like she'd imagine it as a positive remark, but well...He feels like he has to say it like that. He doesn't have the kind of magic to heal someone else, all he can do while Hibiki lies on the floor is try to help her into a position that makes it easier for her to breathe if she'd let him. If she's not to crungled. Still, as he tries to help he can already see just how banged up she is. "Ya know, this place supposedly can't really grant wishes without the whole Monkey's paw thing. But...I wonder if once, just once, this was the kind of wish that was worth granting." The kind that truly deserved to be made, that because of it had no backlash. Or maybe it was a miracle. Regardless, he looks to see her again, "I'll make sure Kukuru gets to you in a second. Don't move around too much, alright?"     It's the final words he speaks to Hibiki as he steps away to where Charlotte and Delilah now rest, before Kukuru begins to take the both of them to heal. "Kukuru, I almost didn't recognize you like that. But, even when you're that small you're still putting in the work, huh?" It was true, even in this form she was able to make sure that those on the brink were patched up well without worry, and it's because of that that he's able to look between Delilah and Charlotte. First turning to the girl of amber eyes.     "Congrats, you're free...But you almost took away someone else's happy ending, didn't you? You're not just making your decisions on how to survive, so I...I really hope you'll think about how you want to live your life now instead."     Admittedly, Touta's not happy with Delilah, his expression a bit soured after all she said. But he's not digging into her beyond this. It's then that he looks to Charlotte as well. The girl was still stirring, not yet completely awake.     "That goes the same for you...Charlotte...You've gone through a lot, and well...I wish I could say you get a better happy ending than getting punched into existence but...You exist. Right now, no one gets to take that away from you. And because of that...When you open your eyes, /your/ new story begins. I imagine there's still going to be plenty of troubles to deal with, but you made it to the end of the first one, and I hope I get to be around when you finish the next one. So I hope you'll be proud of that."     Stanley had chosen to be a decoy, but it's not enough at the end of the day for him to be outright ignored. At least by Touta anyway. Admittedly he was one of the people to end up making his way to Charlotte first, but just as quickly he returns to Padgett as she comes by..
Touta Konoe	"Stanley, you've won today. You won the day before. Give yourself some time before jumping into the next role?"     He imagines that Stan really is on edge, but, it's all he can think to say to the young man desiring to be a hero. He doesn't want to see him burn out before he reaches that point...     There's not much Touta can do at this point, nothing he needs to report back to any faction, and no one that he can mend to. He's just about ready to go till he's stopped at the moment.     Were you always this strong? And...imposing? You seem a lot different than then boy I accidentally splattered with my hammer in the Shrine.     There's a tiny laugh he gives to her before there's a sullen smile to his expression.     "That's a great question. I've been wondering it myself for a bit if I'm honest."     He doesn't say anything more on that, though as she's about to throw the mushroom to Ishirou, before it can bounce on the floor Touta catches it to return it to her. "Sarra, if you're going to offer something to someone, it shouldn't go to waste right?"     He brings the mushroom back into her hand, closing her palm over it as he steps away. It's her call if she wants to try giving it again, but he hopes this time even if she's upset she might try to bridge the gap between them.     The only person that he can speak to at this point would have been Igor himself. At which point, his eyes meet with those of the long-nosed man. There's not much to say between the two...Only the black smoke begins to form in front of him, and with a smile he gives a light wave. "Think I'm going to walk home today over taking the bus. Let me know the next time things get crazy here."     And with that, the vampire finds himself stepping through the black fog, his form fading, as he ends up vacating the realm of the Blue Room of his own volition.
Charlotte Newman	Delilah's laughter eventually fades. She leans back on one hand, raising the other to examine the back from a different angle, "Mm... Yes, this will do quite nicely." Turning her hand around to view the palm, the Attendant titters, "I am no longer in danger of breaking apart." Her head rolls to the side towards Charlotte as others gather around her, "That girl... Perhaps I did betray her in the end. But this is her gift to me even after that."     Charlotte stirrs when Stanley settles down beside her. Red eyes flutter open, tired and worn out. She puts on a little smile, "We did it..?"     "You most certainly did, my dear. Through your actions; and the actions of those with whom you have forged a bond, the crisis which threatened you has been averted." Igor has not moved from his desk, as content as he is with the outcome.     "You and she have merged once again to correct what harm was brought to you by careless hands." His own hands unfold, fingers splaying out to either side of his face and his great beak-like nose, "And then came apart once more on your own terms. Though each of you is once again not quite complete... This separation is different. Stable, and autonomous."     Ishirou's eyes will tell him as much. There are no narrative locks on either girl. When Sarracenia offers her a hand up, Charlotte accepts it, though only makes it as far as 'sitting up'. She casts a look towards Delilah, offering a small smile.     "Are you feeling better?" the Host inquires.     "Yes, mister Igor, thank you," Charlotte manages tiredly.     "Yes sir," Delilah breathes out a sigh and then stands, fussing with her dress to straighten it out. She then fixes her little cap, pats her cheeks with both hands, and-- only then, does she dip into a bow towards those precious friends gathered around Charlotte, "Thank you very much. Yes, I will think very hard about my future, mister Konoe."     Charlotte closes her eyes with a little acknowledging noise, "...I don't feel sick around her. Not anymore."     Touta addresses Charlotte directly. While he has a whole speech for her, asserting her as Real, by the end of it all the girl can do is smile and tiredly admit, "I exist."     "What is an earnest wish but a miracle made real? This is the truth of things. Of worlds crafted from desires, stories shaped by mortal hands. If perhaps quite literally, this time." Igor allows himself a slow, rich chuckle.
Stanley Padgett	Stanley smiles at Touta, and grumbles. "I'll think upon my actions and... refrain from hopping directly into the fire, I suppose." He's not moving far from Charlotte, though as Delilah starts to talk, he looks up at the Attendant, and blinks. "So which one of you is the older sister, then?"     This is a vital question for Stanley.
Charlotte Newman	"Me, of course," Delilah chimes in as she retakes her seat beside Igor.     "..." Charlotte closes her eyes, breathing out a low sigh, "...Not gonna fight her on this one." Glancing aside at Stanley, "She technically has existed longer."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley nods solemnly.     And then sighs, and flops out on the carpet in the liminal space. Staring up at the vaulted nothingness over the top of himself. And like the other night? He starts to drift a bit. "Okay, just making sure because that's... something I'll need to know in the future." He yawwwwwwwwns.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia blinks in surprise as Touta catches the mushroom and hands it back to her. She sighs softly and looks annoyed again. She holds the mushroom in both hands and stares into its big black cute eyes for a few moments, then with a slight mmph she walks toward Ishirou. She steps just close enough to be within arm's reach, then holds out the mushroom without looking directly at him. She fully expects him to not take it and yell at her or something.      She heads over to Stanley and the others after. "Sister...I wonder what it's like to have a sister? I'm an only child, you know. Why would you need to know that, though?" She hands Stanley a green mushroom as well, and anyone else who wants one.