[Center][h3]Museum Dungeoneering[/h3]
[i]Starring [@Zoey Boey]'s Jesse, [@Potemking]'s Mao[/i]
Wordcount: 6,271(+7)[/Center]

Once outside, Jesse breathed in the open air, putting her hands in the pocket of her jacket. She cast her eyes over the rooftops of the buildings across the street, where she knew the Museum of Vanity was. It wasn’t a good idea to go in there without the Phantom Thieves support- at least not all the way. But Jesse was itching for some more action, and leaving that evil paint monster to terrorize people wasn’t sitting right.

	[i](How do we eat an elephant?)[/i]

	“Hey.” Jesse said, catching Mao’s attention. “You like fighting, right?”

[color=979CB2]"You could say that."[/color] Mao replied with a hint of curiosity in his tone, a shrug of his shoulders aiding to make his vermillion cape flow. [color=979CB2]"Why? The Resistance not enough trouble for one day?"[/color]

	Jesse smirked. “You could say that.” She replied in kind. “There’s trouble at the Museum. Crazy guy made out of paintings. I don’t want to push into the center of the maze where he is, as it were, but I do want to go in there and start taking out some of the monsters he has protecting him. Just so when we all attack for real, there’s nothing to slow us down. I was gonna just do it alone, but if you’re interested…” Jesse rolled her right shoulder. “It’s an open invite.” 

A slight grin on his face, Mao found this to be a profitable situation in multiple ways. Jesse, from his experience with her prior, seemed to not have the same wary nature as some of the others when it came to a fight. The way an already out Nastasia had been executed being a brilliant example. Plus, they were, as she said, 'monsters'. And what were monsters good for? Training, of course! And considering how this world worked? Potential servants, or even treasure. 

[color=979CB2]"Clearing out forces to leave the big 'boss' open?"[/color] He mused, figuring he could take this 'crazy painting guy' without much issue, though the prospect of looting all of his servants instead sounded promising. [color=979CB2]"You've sold me,"[/color] He said in agreement, nodding his head. [color=979CB2]"I won't pass up an opportunity to examine more Spirits."[/color]

	“You got it. I’m also looking for materials to upgrade my Service Weapon, so it’s a win-win.” Jesse briefly apparated the shiny, stone-like pistol to demonstrate and admire it. “I’ve fought these things before. They look like weird security guards, and then explode into monsters when you get close. In short: target practice.” She waved the weapon away.

Although the explanation was odd, Mao could roll with it. [color=979CB2]"Even if they do transform, it won't make a difference. By the time I'm done, this 'guy' made of paintings will have to rebrand his museum as a morgue."[/color] Confident as ever, he was.

	“All right, let’s roll.” She jerked her head over her shoulder and led the way. “I didn’t wanna distract anyone from their night of relaxation. But, y’know, you like fighting and I don’t really do [i]idle[/i] very well.”

[color=979CB2]"Like I'd sleep with the idea that Validar might still try to throw me in prison tomorrow,"[/color] Mao remarked, following without missing a beat. [color=979CB2]"Might as well get some training in, before they end up trying to backstab us tomorrow."[/color]

	“Don’t trust him, huh?” Jesse shrugged. “I don’t think it’s in their best interests to betray us. If he follows through on this deal, we’ll be out of his hair faster.”

	They navigated the evening streets to the Museum of Vanity.  It was a [url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Jrjx6Bj6Qrc/maxresdefault.jpg]large, garish building made of orange cubes[/url]surrounded by a gate. 

Mao stared up at the building, it's eyesore appearance familiar in the less than golden vista that surrounded it. [color=979CB2]"I was wondering what this eyesore was,"[/color] He commented as his upward-tilted head caused his hood to fall off. [color=979CB2]"Museum makes sense, this place just screams 'modern art'."[/color]

	Jesse just shrugged. “Eh. Modern art gets a bad rap. But y’know, this guy isn’t exactly helping. Madarame, I think his name was. First things first, we gotta get past the guards. I only got in last time because I clocked a thief trying to steal some sculpture. During our escape there was, uh, a car crash. Preeetty sure I’m on their blacklist. So this time, we’re gonna have to be sneaky. Once we’re inside the museum though, we’ll be in some kind of distorted, ‘bigger-on-the-inside’ style pocket dimension gallery...thingy. Then, we’ll be as loud as we want.” Jesse reached inside her jacket holster and produced the Tool Gun.

	“I love this thing. Dunno how I lived without it.” She guided Mao to a section of the gate away from the view of the guards. She hit the posts of the fence with a few quiet blue beams and peaked her head inside the wall. When the coast was clear she gestured for Mao to follow her and stepped inside the perimeter fence, phasing right through. 

Which made Mao do a double-take, blinking and staring at what he assumed was a solid object moments before. Reaching a hand out and realizing he could also go through, he let out a mildly stunned [color=979CB2]"The hell?"[/color] before he slowly followed in her footsteps, considering the experience oddly surreal as for all the things he did know, or had experienced, having a tool that could let you walk through solid matter was not at all something he'd seen before. [color=979CB2]"That's the thing you used back at the elevator,"[/color] He recalled, noting it also had shrinking and growing capabilities. [color=979CB2]"Just how many features does it [i]have?[/i]"[/color]

	Jesse’s eyes admired her second favorite pistol. “Five, actually.” She stuck out the relevant amount of fingers. “No-Collide, Inflate, Thruster, Balloon, and Weld. I think it can do more, but I haven’t been able to bond with the object enough to get them. Now come on, gotta be quick, before the guards see us.” She hit the fence with a similar beam, re-colliding it. She jogged into the Museum of Vanity. There were no guards on the inside, the guards perhaps too overly reliant on their big wall and gate. 

	“This way.” She lead Mao past a public area, through a door, and into a courtyard, where a colorful doorway topped with massive fake peacock feathers that glared at them with angry eyes. “Madarame is way into this place. But we’ll just poke holes in the outskirts, for now. To be honest, I think the two of us would be able to take him, but there’s literally no reason to risk it. So I won’t.” Pushing through the beaded door she led Mao inward to the distorted gallery, where the paintings on the wall made even less sense and the entire place took on a more sinister vibe. 

Having thought the outside was an eyesore, the farther in they went seemed to only make things feel worse. Mao's eyes scanned the paintings on the walls, the whole area feeling disjointed from the courtyard they'd just been in. [color=979CB2]"Sounds good to me,"[/color] As much as Mao would love cleaning up other people's work, tomorrow was already looking to be a busy day. So striking at Madarame's defenses and leaving him for later, whatever the beef really was with him, felt fine. [color=979CB2]"We'll just put plenty of fear into him. Anyone with a pompous place like this is just asking to be beat down and pillaged for resources, anyways!"[/color]

As if on schedule, they could see a few figures at the other end of the room. Security, much as Jesse described, but considering Mao's scrappy nature he wasn't anywhere near showing concern over such a thing. Even with the knowledge of them having transformations, it merely meant that things would be more interesting. [color=979CB2]"Speaking of resources!"[/color] He called out, easily getting the attention of the three initial figures that seemed to realize the entrance was opened by very unwelcome guests. Mao had to stare in almost childlike wonder as they violently reacted to their presence, their humanoid forms proving to indeed just be a farce as the dark mass within wildly shifted , the center one taking the form of a [url=https://nioh.fandom.com/wiki/Yoki]massive red Yoki[/url] wielding a large and dangerous-looking [url=https://nioh.wiki.fextralife.com/Bizenden+Odachi]Odachi[/url]. While the two security guards to its sides seems to take form in the air, becoming a duo of [url=https://okami.fandom.com/wiki/Blue_imp]devious and rude Blue Imps[/url] that flew above the floor on their kites, cackling at the duo as if they were nothing more than a punchline to their latest insult.

	“Okay, here we go.” Jesse summoned her shifting Service Weapon into her hand. “I’ll try to keep the flying ones off you.” The blue imps began firing quick little blue energy projectiles out at the pair, which Jesse side-strafed while Mao recklessly went forward, his four extra limbs aiding in allowing for him to maneuver around the oncoming projectiles with twists and turns. They scattered across the ground, creating scratch marks. Her Service Weapon was in Grip form. As she strafed, she aimed her pistol with one hand. The first couple of shots missed, but she used them to hone in the flying blue target and struck its center of mass. The Blue Imp glared at Jesse, angry but its anger quickly faded as two more shots penetrated through his body, destroying its kite and sending it full of holes onto the museum floor, where it landed hard and poofed into dust. 

	The red Yoki, still supported by the remaining imp, charged forward with its sword and swung downward upon Mao’s head. 

Mao dodged to it's left, drill and scalpel limbs colliding with the ground to allow him to roll out of the way, still having a free hand to ready his spear as the creature's two-handed blade slammed into the ground. Pushing himself back towards the large red demon, Mao's spear dug into the Yoki's arm, causing it to roar in a mixture of pain and anger, showering the area in a vile drool that disgustingly enough happened to land on Mao's cape. Not a pushover by any means, the Yoki raised it's pierced arm, showing strength as it took Mao along with it: Flailing the overlord into the air and conveniently enough providing cover for the remaining Imp, which promptly cackled at Mao's expense and took the opportunity to swoop and kick him in the head, before the Yoki slammed him into the floor. It lifted it's Odachi with one hand, a volatile war cry filling the museum as it decided to bring it's weapon down on a trapped target this time.

For a moment, Mao braced for impact. But one eye opened as a voice rang out, perhaps to the room as a whole, or just inside his head. Gravely to an extreme, and snarling like it was some sort of wild animal. 

[i]"YOU'RE GOING TO GET [b]US[/b] KILLED."[/i]

Two arms of mineral matter formed above Mao's shoulders, swinging forward and colliding it's claws against the Yoki's blade, shattering it. Not one to leave an opportunity alone, Mao revved his drill and dug it into the arm the large red creature was using to hold him down. It naturally recoiled rather than losing an entire arm, but to it's horror whatever was happening with Mao wasn't quite done with it yet. The arms of smooth and dark stone pushed Mao up to his feet, revealing extra mass that had conjured behind him, opening almost like a shell at it's torso as it drifted behind the overlord, eyes glaring below it’s large horns. [color=979CB2]"Who the hell are you?! I don't remember having any golems as servants!"[/color] Mao questioned aloud, though the creature seemed less than interested.

[i]"LESS TALKING,"[/i] It demanded, brushing the claws on its arms together. [i]"MORE VIOLENCE."[/i] It launched forward, claws at the ready to slay the Yoki and leave it as nothing but shreds on the floor. It's broken blade merely bounced off the rock monster, leaving it open to having it's chest dug into by claws that seemed more dangerous than they might at first glance, with their stony appearance. With a roar that put the Yoki's to shame, it ripped the sword-wielding creature in half from it's chest cavity, reducing it to nothing more than ashes on the ground as the two uneven halves fell.

The Blue Imp, utterly terrified, attempted to flee to find reinforcements. Jesse put a bullet through its brain and it disintegrated. Invisible to Mao, she saw geometric shapes and little grey, almost felt-like shapes drop from its body and float into her gun. Raising an eyebrow, Jesse approached Mao and his new friend.

“That’s new, huh?” She indicated the rock arms. “Useful?”

[color=979CB2]"Useful? Maybe, but that doesn't explain what the hell it is,"[/color] Mao responded, not even distracted enough by the spirits to keep from staring at the floating monster before him, that seemed to essentially sprout out of his body. [color=979CB2]"You've got a lot to explain, and [i]fast,[/i] before I reduce you into a pile of pebbles!"[/color]

[i]"TRY, YOU'D JUST KILL US BOTH, LIKE YOU ALMOST DID MOMENTS AGO."[/i] It bickered, bringing forth somewhat of an answer along with the threat: [i]"WE ARE TETHERED, STUCK TO THE SAME SPIRIT. I ONLY INTERVENED TO KEEP MYSELF ALIVE!"[/i] 

Crossing his arms, Mao seemed displeased with a realization that came to mind. [color=979CB2]"Wait. I recognize you... You were with that scrawny punk that tried to attack me underground!"[/color]

[i]"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT,,"[/i] It responded, shifting behind Mao. [i]"AND I DON’T CARE. THE CONCEPT OF BEING LINKED TO SOMEONE ELSE IS UTTER HELL IN ITSELF. "[/i] It informed, in a very plain and forward, yet extremely loud manner.

Realizing he brought this upon himself, Mao rested a hand on his temple and huffed out a sigh of frustration. [color=979CB2]"I think I’m starting to understand that, you bucket of stones! Listen, there's only one way I can think will ever possibly 'unstick' us, and that's by killing-"[/color]

[i]"--GALEEM, YOU EXPLAINED IT TO THE CHILD WITH THE VERY LARGE AND CRUSHABLE LOOKING SKULL."[/i] It responded, interrupting Mao. [i]"KILLING IS ACCEPTABLE. IF I CAN'T END YOU, THEN I CAN AT LEAST END SOMEONE ELSE."[/i]

Raising a brow at the creature, Mao shrugged. [color=979CB2]"Yeah, just don't kill that big-headed guy. Or the people actually trying to fight the real problem."[/color]

Jesse glanced between the odd couple. “...Well, anyway. No doubt we set off some alarms. We were a little quieter last time through, but only a little.” She heard approaching footsteps on the tile. Several more security guards entered the room, spotted them with their faceless heads, and exploded and shifted into more demons from folk-lore.

This group was a little bigger, a few patrols having banded together to take on the intruder force. Three steaming red Yoki, one with an axe, one with a spear, another with a large curved sword. Four more Blue Imps cackled into the room, floating like annoying kites. But one of the guards remained in his security uniform as he wheeled some kind of wooden cart behind him. Wheeling in, he set it down before shifting into a fifth Blue Imp that also took flight. 

From said cart, a ghostly green feminie figure emerged, bringing with her verdant flames and long, unfurled scrolls that grasped at the air like cloying tendrils. The [url=https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Fuguruma]Fuguruma[/url] began to conjure forth sickly green fire.

She released the flames in a shrieking fireball in Jesse and Mao’s direction. Instinctively, the Director took a step forward and raised both her hands. The tiles of the Museum tore out of the ground and floated in front of her and Mao. The fireball scattered upon them and the invisible shield of Energy between them. Several more blue imp projectiles stuck into its psychic surface, but the Shield held firm. Jesse smiled. “We’re in business, Mao.”

The trio of Yoki were approaching quickly, weapons raised and muscles tensing with violent intent. The Blue Imps circled above, not wanting to approach just yet, continually laying down suppressive fire on the Shield of energy. 

[i]"EXCELLENT,"[/i] Mao's tethered-rock friend reacted, liking the odds. [i]"DON'T SLOW US DOWN THIS TIME!"[/i] Mao could inherently tell such insults were directed at him, and didn't take it lightly. Jesse's shield proved to be a great tool for pushing forward, Mao's left hand glowing with harmful intent as she brought the shield into one of the Yoki, a blunt approach of grinding tiles against the creature's flesh proving to be more effective than the spear attempt from before. [color=979CB2]"Just watch, you underestimate what you're dealing with!"[/color] He boasted, taking a leap into the air over Jesse's shield. Grabbing one of the Yoki's horns, driving his fist directly into it's face. A point-blank explosion left it's upper torso blown off, the overlord standing over the ashes, allowing the remains of the horn to sift between his fingers. [color=979CB2]"Pathetic!"[/color] He spat, though the rock-beast caught his attention soon after.

[i]"DEFEND YOURSELF, FOOL!"[/i] The rock-creature demanded, before enclosing Mao into it's center. It's arms spread over his own and serving as a great piece of upper-body armor. The only area left exposed were the bottom of his legs, and his torso from the front. But the Yoki that swung his axe towards Mao from the side had no time to change targets, instead bouncing off of the rock armor along with the Blue Imp’s blasts that went towards Mao, seeing him as a  more exposed target. The Yoki became a victim to the combination of fighters as they turned, Mao lacking hesitation in lashing out with the claws now in his possession, swatting the axe aside and jabbing into the Yoki’s chest. Twisting, it caused immense pain as Mao brought the second hand of claws across it’s head, it’s neck twisting and audibly snapping, but it seemed to be more hindered than murdered by this. Regardless, it gave Mao an easy edge to keep up his assault. [color=979CB2]"It IS useful,"[/color] Mao remarked back to Jesse his head turning to see a few of the Blue Imps seemed to be soaring over her and past her shield, splitting their efforts by taking multiple angles, or perhaps to just keep away from Mao’s forward onslaught. He found himself trying to prevent the third Yoki's approach as he tried finishing off the second, insisting for Jesse to [color=979CB2]"Turn around!"[/color] at the Imps surely planning to fire upon her from behind.

“Yup.” Jesse had responded after nodding to him about the usefulness of his new arms. Flying enemies usually tried this trick, and Jesse always had a response for them. That is, if this worked again. Jesse leaned backwards, like she was going to wall, and willed herself back. Suddenly, she zoomed nearly twenty feet back, becoming a black blur with a trailing comet of concrete tile. When the dash ended, she was right underneath the circling Blue Imps, who were firing at the empty space where she just was. 

They looked down in surprise at her just in time for two of them to receive a mouth full of high velocity ceramic and concrete, shredding them to pieces. Jesse had crossed the arms that held up her Shield and sent it outwards like grape shot. Now that she was in relative close quarters, her Service Weapon switched into Shatter. Hopping out of the way of retaliatory shots, one of which grazed her shoulder, she fired a shotgun blast into the Blue Imp that floated right above her. It exploded, and then dissolved. The Blue Imps realised their mistake and began to fly away, covering their retreat with more bullets. Jesse threw herself to the side and fired after them with Grip, the semi-auto shots cutting one out of the air. It fell to the ground next to Mao’s encounter, its kite ruined, and angrily continued its retreat. Only one Blue Imp managed to escape her counter attack, firing more blue shots at her that she had to avoid. While brutally reprised, their flank attack had done the job of preventing Jesse from assisting Mao, leaving him to deal with the remaining Yoki and the pyromantic ghost on his own.

The rock-claws left the skull of the weakened Yoki, but Mao found himself in a less than ideal 2v1 situation. As the third Yoki charged with it's spear, Mao prepared to defend, but instead found his extended rock-limbs wrapped by the scrolls of the Fuguruma. To his surprise, he was feeling a bit ragged. Like he'd been hit harder, and it was only getting worse. Unable to escape in time, Mao resorted to saving himself with the use of his servant. [color=979CB2]"Ara [i]Mitama![/i]"[/color] Mao called, the demon appearing to shield his torso from the attack. As the spear tried to force itself through, Mao quickly questioned the mineral-fiend. [color=979CB2]"Why the hell am I getting so tired? Is this your fault?!"[/color]

[i]"TETHERING LIKE THIS INSTEAD OF REMAINING REPRESSED CAUSES US TO LOSE POWER,"[/i] It concluded, essentially taking the blame without actually admitting to it. [i]"IF YOU WERE LESS PATHETIC, THIS WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM."[/i]

[color=979CB2]"I don't have time for you petty insults!"[/color] Mao growled, his mechanical limbs banging against the stone keeping them in place. [color=979CB2]"Get lost! You're slowing ME down now!"[/color] Such crude communication seemed to work well enough, the big shell of rocks dispersing, loosening the scrolls wrapped around Mao's limbs. Within moments, Mao's sharp extra limbs diced the scrolls to fight them back, and his actual limbs being free allowed him to maneuver away from the spear as Ara Mitama gave out on it's defensive capabilities, twisting his body to avoid the spear's thrust, the Yoki instead trying to grab with his second hand but was met with a revved drill that dug in, bringing immense pain to the creature before him as it recoiled with a large hole left burrowed into it's palm. 

To Mao's surprise, the Yoki seemed to bring forth some sort of circle around him. Unknown to Mao, this was a circular pool of the Yokai Realm that allowed for the creature to regenerate it's stamina and stood as a domain where it’d have the upper advantage in combat. The overlord didn't want to step within the borders of it's circle, instead charging a spell in his fist in preparation to try and knock it outside the borders of it's newly displayed ability. As his fist went forward, a need for a ranged attack was answered: Rather than his usual explosion, a small beam fired forward, light piercing the borders of the Yoki's alternative realm and going straight through its chest. As stunned by this as the red creature before him, Mao momentarily froze but realized what the attack was. Smirking at the recovery of his signature Shine Beam, he began to make guiding gestures with his hand: The bright beam shifting directions in the air, skimming over paintings on the walls barely avoiding causing damage to them as the beam  returned through the Yoki's back, before making a few lines across his left with the trail of the beam as it began to fade. The scrolls of the Fuguruma shifted between this small wall to progress forward, and the Yoki was trapped, finding it's wounds quickly getting worse as it tried to move away and the penetrated beam cut into it further.

The paintings on display became damaged as the beam began to bloat, expanding in size. This cut open larger holes as the Yoki struggled in place, and burned through the scrolls that were only narrowly slipping through his beams before. Mao took advantage of the Fuguruma being momentarily unable to bother him by making a demand of the monster within. [color=979CB2]"Get out here! Pull it from it's circle, we’re not fighting on it’s terms!"[/color] Once again it sprung to life, conjured on Mao's position. 

[i]"I'M NOT GOING IN THERE."[/i] It said in defiance, realizing the potential danger. 

[color=979CB2]"Like hell you aren't! We kill it, or it kills us!"[/color] Mao responded with anger clear in his tone, but it just embedded its claws, seemingly to tell Mao he could handle it himself. Against his better judgement, he simply rushed forward: To the pain of his rockier self, however, he was also pulled along for the ride even if he declined due to their tether. In continued defiance he dispelled himself, leaving Mao on his own entering the pool of Yokai Realm, the area surrounding him and the Yoki dark and devoid of color as dark ripples flowed along the circular point on the ground. To Mao's surprise, this ability wasn't at all a hindrance: Rather, he was building stamina and regaining strength within it due to his own demon origins. 

The Yoki wasn't expecting of such an outcome, but was also too enraged to truly care. Rather it came forward in a strong shoulder-charge, Mao's thin frame slipping past it as a reaction. As it tried to come to a halt, it felt a grip on it's horn: Mao had snatched onto it from behind, tugging and nearly causing the Yoki to struggle to turn. [color=979CB2]"Let's dissect your worthless body and see what I can find!'[/color] From there, he let his mechanical limbs do the talking: All four skewering and digging into the Yoki, tearing at it's torso and jamming drill tips and blades into its wounds, carving it open and obliterating it's insides in a brutal display that turned the Yoki’s innards into outtards before it all blew away into ashes, and the pool of Yokai Realm expired.


The Fuguruma, enraged at the damages caused by Mao's Shine Beam, had prepared and now sent a sprawling fireball in his direction. With a turn, Mao blocked the heat with the body of his rocky companion, but it seeped through the exposed portions of the rock armor and burned him nonetheless despite lowering the direct damage. [i]"YOU’RE DOING BETTER THAN I EXPECTED."[/i] his armored-fiend remarked, causing Mao to wave a hand to brush off such a compliment. [color=979CB2]"We're going to get wrapped again if you don't piss off!"[/color] Mao growled, his second self dispersing at his command just in time for his mechanical limbs to spring out and fend off the scrolls again. Though, this time, Mao pressed forward. Twists and turns marked his progress towards the carted beast, the green demon seemingly having an infinite amount of scroll length in that small transport she had. It didn't stop Mao from shredding it during his approach while dodging conjured flames, though as he got closer he wasn't sure of his target for a moment. Unsure if he could even physically damage the spirit, he aimed for the cart instead: Fist charging for another blast as his limbs moved optimally to keep the restraining-scrolls off his person.

Rather than jump high, Mao went low. He lowered himself into a slide across the flooring, underneath the cart that held the demon. This caused a need to retract his mechanical limbs, causing scrolls to quickly fill the area underneath to try and pull him out, though Mao only needed those few crucial moments beneath the cart to cause a point-blank explosion that caused it to be reduced to a rain of splinters, boards, and paper. A shrill scream being all the demon could release before it disappeared, the scrolls that had been wrapping Mao beneath the cart now turning to nothing but ash that he could easily pull himself out of. Though growing more tired with the use of that conjured monster and decreasing magical reserves, Mao still pulled himself to his feet, breathing heavily from the experience as he brushed ash off his clothing.

“Boom goes the dynamite.” Jesse said from across the empty hall, voice echoing. She was lining up a shot when Mao took care of the entire thing himself. Approaching, she kicked her shoe at the dust of the demon. “Nice work. I wish Research was here so they could get a sample of this stuff. I mean, I don’t [i]feel[/i] like I’m made of magic dust, but logic dictates that I am. At least in this world. Back where I’m from, I was made of meat. So I’m pretty curious about all this.” She stuffed her hands in her jacket pocket.

[color=979CB2]"Seems to simulate our real bodies just fine."[/color] Mao noted, being able to relate to the concept of being a chunk of meat that moved around. Though, Mao in particular didn't have that much meat on his bones either way, so it was up in the air. 

“You good to keep going?” Jesse asked. As if to offend him, her clothing didn’t even seem scuffed, let alone her being short of breath. Any stamina she might have expended was brought back to her when she killed her enemies and replenished her own Health. 


Absolutely offended she even asked, Mao nodded. [color=979CB2]"Of course! Fodder isn't going to stop me."[/color] A defense without much reason to raise one, as he rubbed some of the ashes between his fingers. Being a little singed was a common situation he could brush off like these ashes, though the drain from the creature he was hosting inside himself was notable. It far from meant he'd back down, however. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine he'd simply charge ahead even if he was too tired.

“Forgive my insolence.” Jesse said. She produced her Service Weapon. “Then let’s get to work.”

	Jesse and Mao proceeded deeper within the Museum. Security guards, alerted to their presence and hiding in wait, attempted several ambushes. But the bulk of the remaining forces had been destroyed by the first large battle, and the first time the Phantom Thieves blew through here. Jesse also regaled an intrigued Mao of the tale of the battle with the invincible eldritch monster that got sucked through a magic painting. 

	About halfway through the borderline casual battles, Jesse told Mao to hold up a second. She extended the Service Weapon out in front of her, and let go. Instead of clattering to the ground, it floated in mid-air. She rotated it, and the pieces that made up the gun shifted. After a moment it zipped back into her hand, and several black rectangles detached from the gun and began to float around the barrel. Eager to test it out, she pointed at a wall and held down the trigger. The pieces span, and a torrent of machine gun fire ripped a line through the walls of the Museum. Spin was unlocked, finally. Jesse twirled the Service Weapon around her finger and blew on the barrel as if to put out the smoke.

 “Nice, huh? Been looking forward to getting this one back.”

[color=979CB2]"So [i]that's[/i] what you meant by upgrading."[/color] Mao was, to say the least, curious about the technology involved. Though considering that it was a gun situation, something he barely used in his own experience, he could leave it well enough alone for the moment. Clearly whatever materials she was searching for were provided by these mooks, though Mao himself didn't recall even seeing anything. Unless the damned thing was ash-powered, he was pretty clueless on what she was using. Not that it truly mattered, it just meant Jesse had more firepower, which he wasn't going to exactly be upset with. 

Waving forward, Mao marched on. Although he argued, insulted, and became very petty with his newfound conjured rock monster, the creature which decided to identify itself by an internally familiar name of 'Aurox' wasn't as bad of an addition to him as he initially thought. Mao came into discovery that as he weakened from Aurox's use, he became hungry and a bit more moody. It also let him learn that they could drain energy sources, as Aurox was less than hesitant about reaching for any electrical source he could find to absorb power for their own use. All the while, it also provided an excellent chance for Jesse to unload her latest upgrade to her Service Weapon and wreck havoc onto panicking demons, mowed down by shatter blasts and machine gun fire all the same, with the occasional rip, tear, and dissect from the accompanying duo. It didn't take long for the fodder to realize who was mowing down who, their forces being reduced further to a point where if they pushed much farther, it was possible the big guns would have to come into play sooner rather than later. 

Soon the pair passed through a few rooms that Jesse recognized as familiar. Then they entered a room of infinite size, like a pocket dimension. Paintings floated freely through open space, and illogical stone structures that marked their path forward looped in and around on themselves. 

“End of the line.” Jesse said. “This is as far as we should go. We’ve cleared the way for our next visit, though. Madarame is…” She pointed up to the top of a very large, spiral-like art sculpture. “Up there. Last time we got up there by me attaching balloons and rockets to the cat thief that can turn into a van.”

[i]"I AM [b]IMMENSELY ANGERED[/b] I COULD NOT WITNESS A 'CAT-VAN' BE ROCKETED AT THE OWNER OF THIS HEADACHE-INDUCING DOMAIN."[/i] Aurox commented, for once with not much for snark, but instead genuine desire to see a rocket-propelled vehicle blow someone up. Or maybe he just wanted to see a cat explode? One could easily assume both.

[color=979CB2]"... Noted."[/color] Mao responded, the mental image seeming quite entertaining. [color=979CB2]"Maybe if we tag along next time we'll see it. But for now, we might as well get out of here."[/color] Not that it was hard to find the exit. Just follow the ashes and spirits on the ground, and they'd end up where they started eventually. Mao's eyes scanned the strange domain before them, but disregarded it figuring this 'Madarame' had to be a pushover to have minions that got snuffed out like they did. Fanciness didn't hide weakness well, though given Mao's own ego it was entirely possible he was [i]highly[/i] underestimating such an opponent.

“Maybe you will. Either way, thanks for your help, Mao. And also you… arms guy.” Jesse said, turning and beginning to lead the trio out of the Museum. The halls were quiet now, with few scattered spirits and ruined walls. Jesse looked fondly on a huge chunk of missing concrete where her Shatter had blown through an enemy and clear out the other side. 

“Nothing like a good battle aftermath to remind you of where you’ve been, huh?” Jesse commented.

[color=979CB2]"I'm sure there's a cleanup crew that'll sweep them off the floor."[/color] Mao cackled devilishly, as if in mockery of the Imps in particular, and the idea of the survivors having to try and dispose of the remains of their former comrades. Jesse smirked, nodding.

Soon they were back in the public section of the museum, and Jesse followed the same path she took to get out, once again phasing through the solid fence surrounding the entire building.

Rolling her shoulder, she turned and reflected on their handy work. “That was fun, huh?”

[color=979CB2]"Always good to knock a few heads."[/color] Mao replied in agreement, lightly scratching at his back. [color=979CB2]"Guess it's better that I came anyway. Could've found that [i]rock-thing[/i] at a worse time."[/color] Although the idea of having a secondary and somewhat stand-offish person on his, well, person, was still a little odd. Though Aurox had proven his use, even if he was an immense jackass. 

“Yeah…” Jesse trailed off, furrowing her brow. “So, that guy is just stuck to you now? Is he listening all the time?”

Mao crossed his arms, seeming to not like the answer he had to provide. [color=979CB2]"When I absorbed that Spirit back at Rocket Inc, this came as part of the package."[/color] Such was the life of a scientist. Experiments could have quite the results, sometimes. [color=979CB2]"Bailed on me once, inside. And just him lingering about feels like he's draining me dry."[/color] A tool that had uses, but clearly drawbacks as well. Mao would need more time to sit and think on this, before he could truly decide. Not like it was fixable, either way.

“Mm. Right. Well, I hope for your sake you still get some privacy. Hey shit, speaking of spirits, I forgot about this guy.” Concentrating, she brought forth the rotund form of Uncle Sven the alchemist. Hands at his sides, he stood there.

“...Hi, Sven.” Jesse waved awkwardly.

Sven squinted, and his allotted time ran out. He vanished. Jesse cleared her throat. “I wonder if he’d be up for an interview later.”

[color=979CB2]"Hope a written interview will suffice..."[/color] Mao noted from Sven's silence. 

“I hope he wasn’t pissed about me totally forgetting about him.” Jesse pulled on the collar of her shirt. “...Welp. See you tomorrow morning, Mao.” She extended the knuckles of her clenched fist towards Mao for a fist bump. Which he returned after a moment, an amused smirk on his face.

To which his stomach promptly growled. [color=979CB2]"Guess I'll be getting another use out of this badge after all,"[/color] Mao noted, hand lowering to his side. He offered a nod Jesse's way, noting she wasn't half-bad for a human. Plenty of them could learn from how she lived. [color=979CB2]"'Suppose I'll see you at the train station. Or the public Resistance denouncement, if things go south."[/color] He still didn't trust that whole ordeal, but at least he'd feel a bit more prepared for a fight now. 

Turning on his heels, Mao marched off. To find food accessible at this time of night, for one. And then to find a place to pass out until morning.

Jesse watched him go, wondering if it would be awkward if she went the same way he was going after they basically said their goodbyes. Even though the Director was planning on going that way, she waited for a few moments and walked briefly in a different direction. Then, when he was out of sight, she went the same way he did to find a place to stay.