[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]

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?

[concertmaster]

You think this is a narrative?

[he gestures around them]

Let me break it down. For Players, Reapers are the bad guys. The ultimate bad guy is the Composer. It's straightforward. They're stuck in a bad place with an "evil mastermind", trying to survive his minions. You? Should definitely know better. It's not that black and white. Nothing fucking is.

[he looks at Akira seriously for a second]

You wanna change your narrative? That's up to you.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

[a deep breath and a smile]

Okay.

[Maya and Max make a great tag-team duo, honestly]

Are you sure you haven't been sharing notes with our Conductor?

[concertmaster]

That's the most fucking offensive thing anyone has ever said to me, and I was a non-white kid in America.

[purrtagonist]

[HAHA]

[he laughs, ducking his head, nearly spilling his slush]

Hey, don't look at me. You both just happened to say something extremely similar, that's all.

[concertmaster]

Telling you to get over your angsting bullshit is not that hard to have a wavelength on.

[throws popcorn at Akira!!!!]

[purrtagonist]

[why do people throw things at him!! ducks soundly and chucks a JubJub at Max in return]

Don't make fun of me. I'm not a killer. I steal hearts, not lives. Or un-lives, as it were.

[ssssobering up a lot]

And it isn't easy for me to just do as I'm told without understanding why.

[concertmaster]

[it's in the Mop of hair now and Max is just gonna struggle to get it out for a bit. thanks akira. thanks]

No one said you had to do as you're told. I know you're a baby Reaper, but I did tell you rebellion is the number one cause of promotion, right? It's not always just about power. Not agreeing with how the upper echelon is doing things and Erasing them is classic Reaper move.

[purrtagonist]

[hehehe]

When you say it like that. . . it almost sounds like you actually want me or someone else to chase that promotion.

[concertmaster]

I'm a neutral party in this shitshow. I don't care one way or another what happens.

[how many times does he have to say it!! g o s h ]

[purrtagonist]

He says, after writing a scathing report criticizing the inhumanity involved in taking entry fees and not telling Players what they're missing.

[he doesn't think you're as neutral as you act, Max]

[concertmaster]

Yeah, you forget the part where I told you I think entry fees are fucking bullshit in general.

[purrtagonist]

They are. But that's still not a neutral opinion.

[hmmmm]

One more question. Well, two, but this is the last of the ones I don't think you'll answer.

Makoto said you told her you made a mistake in your last Game. [a beat] Is. . . that something you would ever want to talk about?