[Week 0, Monday: Undine]

[purrtagonist]

[sure, Akira is well aware that he's super green around the edges. that the only actual Game he has under his belt is the one in which he was a Player. but even so? something about this setup feels. . . off. from the fact that he and his fellow Reapers are on "loan" in the first place, to the fact that he's being asked to Erase Players instead of help them. and sure, that Max kid said a Reaper's gig wasn't usually a pretty one (and that he, a participant in a game with puzzles and dungeons and fighting Noise rather than direct Erasure or murder, had just been lucky enough to land himself a non-violent Composer), but still. . .]

[. . .]

[it's Undine he seeks out first, out of all of his Reaper comrades. he doesn't know why; maybe it's just her softer, kinder personality]

Wells-san?

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[quiet for a moment, just absorbing her words, before he finally speaks again. he takes his time, choosing what to say very carefully]

I don't plan on putting any of us in unnecessary danger. Our lives are tied to the lives of otherwise innocent people. Our deaths mean their deaths, and that isn't fair.

[and more than that, he knows he can't die here, either. not with Makoto and Yusuke as participants in this Game. not with everything he has to return home to, back in his world. not when his partner-- Ichigo-- is someone so broken and traumatized that all he wants to do is find a way to fix his circumstances and send him back to his world in one piece]

But I don't intend to Erase anyone. [he doesn't even add the caveat of "until I'm forced to." it shouldn't be assumed it's there] I'm going to spend what time I can figuring out the secrets behind this Game, no matter what it takes.

[alchemicalwater]

[It is a reasonable thing to think. She wants to find out what is going on here too. This is all so wrong, and all of these reapers are so broken. She has no idea what could have happened to them, but fixing whatever went wrong sounds like the best strategy here.]

You're right. We need to find out what's going on here. These games, there's never just one. If we don't find out what caused it in the first place, then it will just happen again.

[Maybe even with them still in it.]

[purrtagonist]

[her agreement with his assessment earns Undine a tiny, but firm, smile]

Then we're in the same corner.

[which is a nice feeling, because Akira hasn't felt on the same page as any of the other Reapers he's met thus far]

That makes us allies.

[alchemicalwater]

I thought that much was obvious already.

[She doesn't really trust anyone here, but Akira gets slightly more of a chance.]

It's so weird, though. In my world, only girls have powers. I've never fought alongside a boy before.

[purrtagonist]

Should I be honored to be the first?

[he says, one brow arched in amusement]

[alchemicalwater]

Maybe. Though it would be better if you had a transformation sequence too.

[Those get REALLY ridiculous in her world, it's great.]

[purrtagonist]

Oh, I do, so that's not a problem.

[AKIRA WHAT]

[alchemicalwater]

Really?

[WHAT?]

[purrtagonist]

Really.

[this punk ain't even explaining himself]

[alchemicalwater]

Can you show me?

[She can't show off hers but.]

[purrtagonist]

[SADLY--]

[he shakes his head]

My abilities don't work here. The only "power" I have access to is my psych.

[lifts a hand, tapping the sides of his glasses with his fingers. and suddenly? he vanishes from view. voila!!]

[so that top level where he's accidentally swapping to and from invisibility is obviously him being full of shit]

[alchemicalwater]

[Akira u shit

Undine has definitely been hiding stuff too though, so she's going to show off a bit here.

Namely by backing up a couple steps before she starts to run, but once she hits her stride she holds her hand out in front of her. Moisture is suddenly sucked out of the air, making a little jet of water for her to propel herself around on. So basically, she's skating around on a thin layer of water that is also pushing her forward.]

Even if you only have your psyche, it pays to get creative.

[purrtagonist]

[LISTEN, HE'S GOTTA PLAY UP THE FACT THAT HE'S A NEWBIE PLAYER TO THIS GAME AS MUCH AS HE CAN]

[when his hand drops from his side, his form suddenly phases back into view, fingers dipping into his pockets with the thumb hanging out. he watches her glide smoothly across the ground, letting out a low, impressed whistle as he does so]

It does. Even a non-offensive psych can be used offensively if you know how.

[spoilers: he has figured out how, but also, it doesn't seem prudent to show Undine that right. . . now. . .]

[alchemicalwater]

[She'll come to a stop near Akira, letting the water all fall to the ground. Somehow she is completely dry, despite just messing around with so much water.]

You're right there. It's unfortunate that it was needed, but I managed to pick up a few tricks along the way.

[During her time in games, she means.]

[purrtagonist]

[as expected from a master of hydrokinesis]

You must be a quick learner, Wells-san.