Karma's gonna come collect your debt

[joker_wild]

Spoilers for Shido's palace/aftermath (if I even need to warn for that at this point, lol).


Shido collapses, false muscles falling away as he hits the floor on his hands and knees, and Joker takes a step back, taking a deep breath as the rest of the Thieves gather at his back. Their relief is as palpable as his own satisfaction, and he looks down at their adversary as he looks up at them in shock.

"How could I... lose?" he asks, and Joker doesn't look away from him as Queen joins him.

"For causing countless mental shutdowns in others, you will atone... with your life."

Ryuji's voice is, as always, more forceful. "Don'tcha got something to say to our leader before you go passin' out?"

Joker feels the tension in his shoulders return as Shido turns his attention back to him. "Yes," he begins, and Joker takes a breath. "I acknowledge... that I incriminated you on false charges. I did it to protect myself. I'm so sorry for what I've done. It feels as though it's been quite some time since I have felt sincerely apologetic."

The tension releases, and Joker lets out a breath that he feels like he's been holding for almost two years, now. He can feel the eyes of the others on him, and he dips his head slightly - he has to ask. "Do you really mean that?"

Shido lets out a dry breath. "I don't have the willpower to deceive you at this point. So, I've been defeated." He begins to laugh, but there's no real humor in the sound - and Joker understands. Part of him wants to laugh, too.

There's a clatter behind them, and Joker doesn't look away from Shido even as the others gasp and fall back from his side, doesn't take his eyes off the man who ruined his life - until Ryuji swears lowly. "Holy shit...?! Akechi?"

Then - and only then - does Joker look away - and then darts forward as a bloodied figure stumbles into the room.

Comments

[fairlylocal]

It's some kind of miracle that Akechi doesn't go down then, the adrenaline that's been fueling him long all but depleted, fading into something he recognizes as shock. It's some kind of miracle, but he manages, catching himself on the point of his sword and leaning into it. He hums dully then, the sound something between a giggle and a sigh, and flashes the assembled group a smile that echoes the not-quite-laugh. The expression picks up something of an edge, some of the clarity coming back to his face as his eyes slide past them to Shido.

"My apologies for being late," he starts, as his attentions dart back to the Phantom Thieves. Where etiquette might demand a bow here, he uses his sword to push himself that much more upright instead. "Though, I believe I had an invitation?"

[joker_wild]

"How...?" Ann says, still hanging back.

Joker stops short of Akechi, stops short of reaching out to him despite the fact that he wants to. He knows Akechi too well for that, knows he wouldn't accept the help, especially now, given everything that's happened in the last... hour? day? Time is always weird in the palaces, and he honestly has no idea how long he and Shido had faced off.

He looks Akechi over, not liking what he's seeing but keeps the concern behind his teeth, saying instead, "Glad you could make it."

There's a flash of green behind him, and he cuts his eyes briefly sideways as Futaba does... something. Whatever it is doesn't seem to have gone off, though - or at least not that he notices, but he's more concerned about Akechi for now.

[fairlylocal]

"Shido's estimation of my abilities left much to be desired, apparently," he answers, eyes flicking back to the man in question. Or maybe away is the only place he knows to look when he registers that brief, green light. Either way, in the end he does focus on Shido, a sick smile curling his lips. "Hello, Father."

The word is nothing short of a swear.

"So, uh. What now?" Ryuji asks, when Shido doesn't answer. He, like basically all the rest of them at this point, is suddenly at something of a loss.

[joker_wild]

Like Ryuji's question triggers it, there's another flash of light, this time overhead, this time golden, and an object begins to descend.

"Oh, the treasure!" Ann says, and then pauses as the object gets close enough to be easily identified. "A wheel? A ship's wheel? Why?"

Shido pushes himself unsteadily to his feet, and Joker turns back to look at the man, unbothered by the idea of putting his back to Akechi.

"I must... steer this country. If I don't... who will?"

Joker glances again at Akechi - and then looks to Futaba, nodding to her. She catches her lip between her teeth for a moment - but then returns the nod. Her goggles flash, and a ripple of healing light passes over Akechi. It's not enough to put him back at a hundred percent, but it should at least stabilize him.

[fairlylocal]

Akechi takes a shuddering breath, pain flooding back in in the sudden absence of shock. It's not as bad as he imagined it would have been, if he had been able to feel the whole of it from the get-go, and probably because his wounds aren't as severe now, but it is still a surprise. It doesn't take him long to get a handle on it, however, and in lieu of a thank you, he huffs out a breath, seemingly disgusted by her, now, too.

Rather than comment to that effect, however, he straightens entirely and finally, eyeing Shido with purpose, now. After a beat and almost in time with Yusuke's comment about the politician's arrogance, he orders, "Leave him."

On death's door, he was fine with the Phantom Thieves changing Shido's heart -- it would at least be some kind of justice. Now that he might make it out of here alive, however, he's swung back to wanting something worse for him. He wants to see him bleed like his mother bled. He'll let the Thieves make their escape and then take care of him himself.

[joker_wild]

Futaba rolls her eyes behind her goggles, huffing softly - she wasn't expecting any kind of gratitude, and honestly she would have been more surprised if he had kept up the change in attitude. Don't make them kick your ass again, Akechi.

Joker stills at Akechi's comment, the other thieves returning their attention to him.

"We're taking the treasure and we're going," Ann returns, her eyes narrowing behind her mask, because despite what he said before, she can guess what he's thinking of doing.

[fairlylocal]

"I think he deserves much worse than some light slap on the wrist, don't you?" he asks, voice growing colder still. Despite the fact that that's an answer to Ann, he locks eyes with Akira without so much as glancing in her direction. He knows how Shido derailed his life -- surely he wants something more. Surely, he must want blood as much as he does, and Akechi can give it to him.

"Call it me honoring my half of our bargain."

Being ever his opposite, his rival, and doing what Joker can't.

[joker_wild]

Ann looks to Joker - and there's something in his face that stops her from speaking up, insisting again that they're not murderers. Because she gets it, then, gets what Akechi is offering, and she presses her lips together.

Joker feels the eyes of the others on him even as he meets Akechi's gaze - and when he speaks, it's just above a whisper. "It's not enough," he begins, gaining volume, though his tone stays even. There's no disdain in his tone, no sarcasm, no hot anger - and through it all, he never looks away from Akechi. "It's too easy, and he doesn't get to have it easy. Not now, not when it was easy for him to take my life from me. Not when it was easy for him to set you aside. He doesn't get to die and have others clean up his mess. He gets to fall, and he gets to live to watch everything he's built crumble around him."

The lights around them cast strange shadows on and around Joker, setting his eyes to burning, Arsene's wings somehow just visible at the edges of his outline.

[fairlylocal]

Akechi bares his teeth in response, fingers tightening on the hilt of his sword. For all that he looks poised to argue, to attack, however, his reaction has more to do with the fact that Akira might have a point. Death would be too easy, even if it would also be immensely satisfying in this moment, and --

-- and behind Joker, Shido screams and falls to his knees, then lurches forward, dissolving into a spray of darkness. Akechi has just enough time for his eyes go wide before the ship starts shaking around them.

"No," he breathes. He has no idea what happened to Shido in the real world, but he recognizes what's happening here in the cognitive one all too well. "No! If I don't get to be the end of him ... !"

It's not fair. It's not fair.

[joker_wild]

Joker's head snaps up as Shido's shadow disappears - he, too, can guess what's just happened, especially based on Akechi's reaction.

"What's going on?!" Ann cries out, stumbling a little before she regains her balance.

"We have to go!" he tells the group, moving purposefully for Akechi, meaning to lend the other man support whether he wants it or not. There's no way anyone's getting left behind.

[fairlylocal]

Near-feral disgust returning to his face, Akechi shoves him away as he gets close.

"Idiot," he snarls. "You're going to get yourself killed."

He doesn't need Akira's help and doesn't want it. He may not be leading the charge out, but he'll manage, and Akira is just wasting time if he wants to make something out of it. Shido's cognition of him failed to kill him; he's far too stubborn to die here.

[joker_wild]

Joker doesn't reply, the comeback dying behind his lips; they don't have time for verbal sparring right now, but he gives Akechi another considering look and then turns away, picking up pace to take up his usual position at the front of the group.

They pelt through the halls, taking corners with little hesitation as the ship shudders around them. Eventually, though, they come to yet another intersection, and Ann, now in the lead, skids to a stop. "Wait! Didn't we just come from this way?"

[fairlylocal]

"And you went the wrong way," Akechi informs them, from where he's leaning against the wall down the path they didn't take the first time. "I would have told you as much, but ... hm."

He hadn't quite been in earshot. Thankfully, their going in circles has given him a chance to rest, where he'd been falling behind.

"If you wouldn't mind hurrying it up?"

For all that he needed a pause, he'll never admit it and they're still on the clock here. They have to keep going. They should consider themselves lucky that he waited for them at all.

[joker_wild]

Ann startles, head whipping in that direction before she stomps her foot. "You could have said something!" she says as she starts down the hall he's waiting in.

Behind her, Joker offers Akechi a nod as they catch up and pass him. "You know the way out?"

He had just been about to ask Futaba to plot them one, but it will save time if Akechi already knows it - and if he can convince the other to take the lead, it'll be easier to make sure he doesn't fall behind again.

It could also end in Akechi leading them into a literal dead end, but in this moment, he doesn't think killing them all is at the top of Akechi's priorities. In this moment, he's going to trust him.

[fairlylocal]

"I have a better idea than you, it seems."

He may not have a complete exit path mapped out, but he at least knows the way out of the labyrinth of narrow hallways, back into the more open areas of the ship. From there, he's pretty sure he can figure out how to get back above deck -- or one of the others can. This, though, this is the hard part.

"If you trust me enough to follow my lead?"

He doesn't wait for an answer; they don't have the time. He just moves to follow Ann, to pass her as fast as he can manage, right now.

"I wonder if this crow will lead us to our death," Yusuke muses, as he follows not Akechi but Joker, despite the commentary.

[joker_wild]

Akira doesn't answer that either - but he does catch Akechi's eye, knowing the other will be able to read his answer. He does trust Akechi, if just because he knows how Akechi's mind works. He knows his rival plays to win - but an easy, uncontested victory isn't his style. In this moment, it would be too easy for him to lead them into danger and might further rob Akechi of another victory over Shido.

Anyway, he follows Akechi through the ship's hallways, keeping an eye on the others as they go to make sure no one falls behind. Once or twice, he hears Futaba say something about "this looking okay", but he doesn't pay her much attention; he knows they're okay for the moment.

[fairlylocal]

Okay is relative. While Akechi doesn't do anything to lead them astray, because yes, it would be a hollow victory and probably one at the cost of his own life, the palace continues to crumble around them. He goes as fast as he can, teeth gritted, bearing it as best he can with the little bit of healing Futaba gave him, but by the time they hit the doors that lead out to the deck proper, he's starting to feel like he's stuck in Titaniac. The last slog to the door is a slog, uphill to the point of being vertical, and as he bursts out, he swears.

"I hope we all know how to swim."

Because they're going to have to. Maybe. He's not sure even that will get them clear of the Palace. Leave it to Shido to make this place a death trap.

[joker_wild]

Joker keeps an eye on the others as they push through the Palace, explosions going off in every room they pass through. Shido's projections are all running and screaming, too, but they don't seem to pay the Thieves any mind, more concerned with trying (and failing) to escape.

"Swim? I don't know how to swim! We're all gonna die!" Futaba wails, and Joker looks frantically for something they can use.

In the next moment, he sees it, but Makoto beats him to pointing it out. "Over there! A lifeboat! Come on!"

The group rushes for the railing closer to the boat, all of them gasping again when they realize the distance they still have to cross to reach it - and the pitch of the deck that lies between it and them.

"We'll never make it!" Ann yells, leaning out over the railing.

[so_pissedoff]

Ryuji looks out over the railing, and then on a breath out, he takes a step forward, pulling his mask down over his eyes as he goes "I got this. Hang tight -- I'll nab the boat."

Without waiting for a response, he's off like a shot, following the impossible angles of the ship as it sinks with impossible ease. He kicks off of a railing, when he runs out of ground, launching himself at the lever that controls the boat release, and then it's in the water and the Thieves are making their way aboard. There almost to him when something explodes behind him and everything goes sideways, swallowed in a ball of light and heat.

[joker_wild]

Joker isn't sure whether or not he actually yells, but if he does, his voice is lost under the others' shouts of "Ryuji!" and "Skull!" He keeps staring, anyway, mouth slightly open, eyes skimming over the rubble ahead of them as the light begins to dissipate --

but as the light dissipates, so does the Palace, and Akira stumbles a step as they find themselves back in front of the Diet building. "We're back," he says needlessly, looking around himself, looking for the others - looking for Akechi, to check the state he's in now that they're back in the real world - and to look for Ryuji.

He has to be here.

[fairlylocal]

Akechi looks tired, but if he has any wounds that carried over from the Metaverse, they're hidden away by layers of argyle and wool. The fact that he doesn't have anything smart to offer when it seems they've lost Ryuji permanently is telling, however, as is how he sags into the nearby fence, gloved fingers disappearing into the folds of his coat. He's not mortally wounded, but he is worse for the wear; he'll deal with it later, alone as he always has.

No one but Akira seems to be interested in Akechi, anyway, as the hope of a clean escape starts to evaporate. Solemnly, maybe to hide the fact that he's nearly just as teary-eyed as the girls, Yusuke bends down to pick up something at his feet. "So, this is the treasure ... "

"A legislator's pin," Makoto notes, though it goes unnoticed as Ann breaks into sobbing loudly.

The only thing louder is Ryuji's voice, abruptly, "Maannnnn, that was close."

[joker_wild]

Akira's eyes move over Akechi quickly, taking in his posture quickly and adding a couple of mental underlines to his name in his list of priorities. For the moment, though, he looks back to the rest, looking at the pin - and blinking as Ann begins to cry, trying to banish the burning behind his eyes.

He has to hold it together. They might be out of the palace, but he still needs to be their leader. Needs to swallow his own relief that Shido has been defeated, needs to move to get them out of here before someone takes notice of the group of them standing around - but Ryuji. His best friend, the first friend he had here, the first person who dared to talk to "the delinquent".

Akira clears his throat and opens his mouth - and then snaps his head in the direction of Ryuji's voice.

For a moment, everyone just stares at him before Haru begins, "Didn't you... die?"

[fairlylocal]

Akechi's eyebrows go up at Ryuji's sudden reappearance, though he doesn't comment. Instead, he takes that as his cue, this victory not his and his ribs more than likely broken, and moves to slip away. No one seems to notice him as far as he cares to notice, the group busily crowding around Ryuji. The last thing he hears before he's out of earshot is Ann's hand connecting with his face.

"I'm feeling a bit hungry," Yusuke comments, once Ryuji's been taken care of.

[joker_wild]

Akira looks on, bemused, as the girls descend on Ryuji. Honestly, he deserves that, but he'll step in if they get too carried away.

He snorts, shaking his head at Yusuke's comment. "What are we eating?" he asks, because honestly, he could eat, too.

He has another concern, though, and he looks around, looking around for Akechi and then down at Morgana. "Where's Akechi?"

[so_pissedoff]

"Huh? Hey!" Morgana, it seems, didn't notice Akechi's departure anymore than Akira did. He does, now, however, and while he's alarmed, it's probably for reasons entirely different than Akira's "Ryuji let him get away!"

Ryuji, after all, was the one all their attention was focused on when Akechi presumably escaped. He doesn't argue that either, if only because he can't, too busy recovering from the beating the girls gave him.