Working With Phantoms

Art Supplies and Pain

May 22nd

It was now a Sunday, and several days had passed. Madran's group had trained their personas in Madarame's palace due to the gap in time, and Akira's group had reached a few startling conclusions due to the cognitive door. Thus, they all got together in the diner.

"Ugh, Ryuji, you can't be serious..."

Ann was expressing annoyed disbelief at Ryuji's idea for how to get through the door.

"What? I mean, it's the only way..."

Philemon sipped his coffee and shrugged.

"Ann, drawing paintings like such are necessary for an artist to succeed in life. In fact, it turns out to be more strenuous than, well, sexual."

"Well, what about me? I'm not on board with this."

"Ann, I know more than anyone how people think. Yusuke, as Madran told me he said last Saturday, has only an interest in you in an art-like position, and not as a lover. Yusuke, while odd and slightly eccentric, is incredibly passionate about what he does, and I doubt he would try to take advantage of you."

"Hey, is saying 'nude' against the rules? Ann, it looks like having him paint you nude is kinda the only way."

Wysteria glared at Suga.

"Watch your mouth, young lady. Anyways, Ann, you don't really have to do the painting. Your objective is to open the door in front of Madarame's eyes. Simply put, do your best to stall and then when the timing is right, work your magic."

Ann nodded.

"Hey, uh, can Morgana come with? I need someone to, well, show me where the door is."

Morgana practically hopped out of Akira's bag in excitement.

"Yes, Lady Ann, I'll certainly accompany you! I'll make sure nothing bad happens under my watch!"

"Hmm, some kitty love there. Well, I assume we'll be waiting in the Metaverse?"

Everyone nodded at Wysteria and Maya cleared her throat.

"Alright, to recap, Ann and Morgana will go into the hut to open that big door, and while they do that, we get into the palace and infiltrate the door once it's been opened."

"Yep. Ok, everyone, disperse."

Madran's and Akira's groups parted ways, with the majority of them arriving in the Metaverse but Ann and Morgana heading to Madarame's shack. Once Madran got to the Metaverse, however, she immediately began to try to monitor Ann with Nightingale.

"Hey, Butterfly, can we transmit my signal to your tablet, and then to Ann?"

"Um, I can try..."

Madran directed Nightingale's lamp to Philemon's tablet, and searched for Ann.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

"Wait, what the...?"

Madran heard Ann's voice come through.

"Oh, great! Hey, uh, everyone's in the Metaverse. Where are you?"

"I'm walking to the hut right as we speak. Um, so, what are you doing?"

"Well, I honestly just wanna make sure that nothing goes awry. Hey, uh, good luck!"

Madran continued to monitor Ann as she made her way to the shack, and as she arrived there. Once she got to the shack, Madran closed her eyes and then saw what Ann was seeing.

"Ooh, I forgot that I could do this."

"Do what?"

"I'm currently seeing what you're seeing. It's pretty cool."