[Week 2, Monday: Max]

[purrtagonist]

[just like last week, Akira approaches with his specially brewed coffee made out of stolen beans from Wildkat in hand! for the record, he made this ~super stealthily~ in the McDonald's bathroom so no one would see him at work and question his entry fee. just saying]

[he holds the drink out to Max and starts things off with a simple question]

Want to go see a movie?

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[oh, right. in the two hours of that movie, he forgot they were going to raid the concession stand. TIME TO CLIMB OVER THE COUNTER AND HELP]

All right. Buckle in, I've got a lot.

[piling sour patch kids into his jacket pockets as he speaks]

Hume-san was given a favor early last week, where she got to choose a "boon," and said "boon" gave her the ability to check and see if a Player was a Reaper.

What were the other "boons" that she didn't pick?

[concertmaster]

Fucking give the Players one bit of aid and they immediately tell a Reaper. God. This is why I hate the lot of you.

[is he facepalming? a little bit. and then he shrugs]

Yeah, not happening. I can't even tell the Players that kind of shit. They make their choice, they live with it.

[purrtagonist]

You say that like telling us is a bad thing.

[I mean, Akira is glad to know about it, so??]

Right. That's what I thought. Can you at least tell me what boon was chosen this week?

[not asking for the person since he figures he won't get a name]

[concertmaster]

Alright. Let me break this down for you. In this scenario, for the purpose of the Game, you are the bad guy. You wanna know so bad? Start networking with Players and hope one of 'em tells you.

[that's a pretty harsh no]

[purrtagonist]

[listen he had to try and ask anyway. . .!]

[there is a pause where he considers this, as he pops open a box of JubJubs for consumption, before he slowly nods]

In the context of this game. . . that's fair.

[to keep the rules perfectly balanced]

Change of pace, then. Have you been writing letters to the Composer?

[concertmaster]

[Max stops his impression of a raccoon rummaging to look genuinely baffled at Akira]

Why the fuck would I write them a letter?

[purrtagonist]

[h. . . huh]

To complain about entry fees? Or rather, how they were taken for this game?

[concertmaster]

Oh, that thing. Yeah, that's not a letter.

[purrtagonist]

Then what is it?

[concertmaster]

Official documented report about the on-goings of this Game. Except I don't give a shit about being formal on anything ever, so.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . SNORT]

Are we going to get sneak peeks of your other extremely official Game reports?

[concertmaster]

You better fucking not. I don't know how that shit wound up in Player hands in the first place.

[purrtagonist]

Yusuke and a few others found it in Wildkat.

. . . am I in any of your reports?

[CURIOSITY]

[concertmaster]

No.

[shut down!!!!]

[purrtagonist]

[boooooo]

So what sort of things do you include in your reports? Other than legitimate complaints about the ethical nature of this Game.

[concertmaster]

Legitimate complaints about all aspects of this Game.

[... he's not wrong]

[purrtagonist]

Hm.

I deserved that one.

[pops a JubJub into his mouth and leans his hip against the counter]

Another change of pace. . . and this question is from Setz, since he requested I keep asking until you answer.

Is there a way to save those already Erased? Like Maya? Other than one of us becoming the new Composer?

[concertmaster]

You deserve pretty much all of them.

[Max is now climbing another counter to get some slushies. Oh yeah. This is happening.]

I'll tell you what I told Setz like three days ago. Ask again later.

[purrtagonist]

-- oh, hey, get me a cherry flavored one.

[CHERRY SLUSH. he also accepts that answer for what it is and moves on with another nod]

Those pins. The ones that protect people if they're partnerless on Sunday.

How can I get one for Ichigo? Beyond Erasing someone and getting away with it.

[concertmaster]

[Max gets himself a blue one but does, actually, give Akira a red one. incredible.]

Well you're just limiting my options, aren't you. [he sits down on the counter, drinking from his slushie] Get one of those requests from missions, I guess. You worried about the guy?

[purrtagonist]

[yeeees cherry slushes. this is a healthy meal of popcorn and candy and sugary drinks. Akira makes a slight face when he takes a sip, actually, because this much sugar is almost too much. but hey, it's still good]

Everyone would know about it if we got one from a mission, and they'd ask to use it on someone else's partner first. I wanted something low key. Just for me. Just for Ichigo.

[and then, a little more quietly]

. . . of course I'm worried about him. I want him to survive. And he won't, if I get taken out at trial without a pin as backup.

[and he doesn't want Ichigo to go down with him]

[concertmaster]

There is one option for you. If shit starts to look bad in trial, you can always erase yourself before it ends.

[he says it while casually slurping on his drink, without batting an eye]

That would give him a chance to make a new pact. [slurps] Ooooor, best option yet: you want Ichigo to be fine? Don't get caught.

[purrtagonist]

Who would they vote for?

[THIS PLAN HAS PROBLEMS, but. . .]

Getting caught isn't in the cards, but it wasn't for Terra, either. And the more I think about it--

[actually, he cuts himself off and doesn't finish that idea]

. . . nevermind.

[concertmaster]

I assume the second person with the most votes would get it. Or random. Depends on the Composer's mood.

[he leans forward in interest at that cutting off]

The more you think about it...?

[purrtagonist]

[a small sigh, eyes flickering down, distant and pensive. he picks his words carefully]

. . .

In what narrative is it satisfying for the bad guys to win?