purrtagonist | [Week 3, Thursday: Setz]

[There's a variety of emotions that flash across Setz's face. Surprise, pain—and not of a physical sort—before his usual passiveness covers it up.

... Actually, he looks even more emotionless than he typically does, so maybe not so usual after all.]

... Akira. Did you need something?

[. . . ah. . .]

Yeah, actually. But first--

Are you okay?

[...

If it were anyone else, Setz would lie. Withdraw back into his shell and mask of cold—he can't show weakness. But... the one person who deserves the truth is the one in front of him right now.

His expression crumbles, and he looks away.]

I'm sorry.

[. . .]

[squares his stance a little, shoulders tensing, even though he drops his hands into his pockets]

About what?

[He doesn't want to say it. He doesn't want to see Akira regret having ever trusted him.

Still...]

I know someone who is... likely among the second group of Reapers. I can't tell you who it is—and even if you figure it out, it's pointless to go after them, anyway.

... They've had strong suspicions of you—and Yang Xiao Long—for a while now. [He breathes in, and then out.] I told them about the four routes. I didn't tell them you were my source; however, given their reaction, I don't think they needed me to.

[...]

I don't know if they'll actually go after you, or if they'll try to out you in a trial.

[. . . . . . .]

[he's quiet for an extremely long moment, his expression completely and utterly neutral. it's difficult to tell what he's thinking now. . . especially when he presses his thumb against his glasses and pushes them back, so the lenses catch the light and obscure his eyes]

[. . .]

[and then. . . he smirks, sharp far more Joker than Akira. not that Setz knows who Joker is]

I'd like to see them try.

[he has his own suspicions, but he doesn't ask. he won't put Setz in that position twice. and for what it's worth? there isn't an ounce of regret, or anger, or frustration on his features]

[only sheer confidence. only someone reacting to a challenge]

[He doesn't know how he should feel about that—reassured? Worried (but for whom)? He feels trapped in the middle, and he hates it.

—Which is self-centered of him, he knows. Out of all the parties involved, he's quite possibly the safest. Not to mention... he's the problem to begin with.

In the end, all he can do is repeat himself.]

I'm sorry. [And then, so that Akira doesn't have to assuage Setz's feelings, if he would even be inclined to at all, seeing as how he has every right to hate Setz now—] ... I gave the letter to Max. He'll type it up and put it out for everyone next Monday. No censoring.

Edited 2018-03-30 00:20 (UTC)

[listen, how could Akira hate Setz after every damn thing he's been forced to be complicit in over the past four weeks? so even though Setz moves on quickly, Akira lingers on that apology]

No. Don't be sorry. It's fine. If this person really is one of the other Reapers, then I'm glad you gave them the information. It saves me the trouble.

[why is he rocking back and forth on his heels, instead of like. . . acting like he's legitimately worried for his life?? god]

I won't ask you who this person is. But on a scale of one to ten, how much goodwill do they have?

[this is important, I swear]

[His hands curl into fists. Not out of anger, but because he's afraid of an emotional outburst if he doesn't restrain himself.]

... Eight? They've told me previously that they're out to protect the people of this Game. They immediately rejected the second route, where the Reapers erased enough Players.

. . .

[he looks. . . relieved]

Good.

Because I think I know which ending we need. And it's going to require a lot of goodwill.

... What is it?

[a breath. this explanation is a long one]

Let me walk you through it like Max did for me. He didn't confirm or deny my conclusions, but-- you know how he is. He can't.

We both know this Game exists for a purpose: it's a competition between the Composer and the Conductor, but it's also benefiting someone else, in a way we don't understand. There are, essentially, three teams in this Game, and three separate win conditions for each one.

But haven't you seen it? These teams are imbalanced. One of them has had the luxury of invisibility for weeks now. One of them has come into this Game completely blind. And one of them is forced into the spotlight every week through trials.

If this Game is allowed to run its natural course, obviously the team with the biggest advantage is going to win. Right?

[follow him. . .]

[...]

Mm-hmm.

. . . let's say there's someone out there. Several someone's, even, placing wagers on each team. Betting on who wins and who loses.

If the team they bet on wins, then they get. . . I don't know. Something? I'm not sure. This is more of an analogy than the actuality, but keep following me.

[a hum]

Four endings. Three of them with clear win conditions. One of them completely neutral.

So what do you think would happen if we hit that fourth, neutral ending instead of any of the others?

... The time limit, you mean. What are you thinking?

. . . I believe that the way to end this-- the proper way, the way that protects the Players and saves the Erased-- is to hit the time limit.

[he continues quickly]

I don't-- I don't like it, either. It prolongs a lot of suffering. A lot of. . . [a-anyway] But it's the only neutral ending to this Game. The only ending where none of those metaphorical people placing bets on our teams wins.

And even more than that? In a Game as imbalanced as this one, reaching the time limit would require a lot of work, communication, faith and good will. Things that don't come naturally in this kind of environment.

The Composer and the Conductor are both trying to prove something. What if that's it?

... Maybe. Max told me that the most important people in this Game are the Players, and that we'll be the ones to the decide the outcome of the Game—but that could mean anything.

[Also, he could've, like. Just been saying that to reassure Setz since Setz was kind of falling apart in front of him?? Yeah.]

Extending the Game will be difficult—as you're aware. The other Reapers expect to be finished within two weeks, and at least one of them isn't keen on letting you survive. They don't believe it's actually possible to save everyone.

They don't care about my opinion, either. You're... going to have your work cut out for you if you want to convince them otherwise. [...] You might have a chance with some of the others, however.

He's right. The most important people are the Players. That's what the Game is about, after all. Your growth. Your character development. Your journey. The choices you make when pushed up against a wall.

[a tiny smile]

Reapers, on the other hand? Are just background noise. Support to help Players on their journey to self-discovery. A kick to the pants when Players start to falter. That's. . . what a real Reaper should be.

[I mean maybe Max was trying to say that to be nice, but also. . .]

. . . you speak like you know who all of the other ones are. Or are you just guessing?

... The Reaper I know couldn't directly confirm who they were working with, but they gave me a list of names I could trust.

[He's quiet for a moment, as he thinks, before he decides to just go for it.]

Akira. Have you discussed any of this with your partner?

[. . . ? at that, he looks surprised]

Ah-- no. I haven't. Don't get me wrong, I trust him implicitly but he's. . . ah.

[been really really sad]

Had his hands full.

... His name was on the list. In fact, he's aware that you're under suspicion, which he vehemently disagrees with, so far as I've been told.

[just. furrows his brow, very confused]

But he can't. . . can he?

[yeah, like Setz knows the answer to that one. but now that the thought is in Akira's mind, he's totally turning back to a few conversations he and Ichigo had a while back. something about secrets. . . secrets? secrets Ichigo couldn't tell. secrets into which Akira did not pry]

. . .

I mean, I appreciate him standing up for me, but. . .

... I don't know any more than that. It's something you'll have to settle with him.

But... if there's a Reaper from that group—if he is one—who'll listen to you, I imagine it's him. There are two I'm not sure about, and two that I... don't think will care what you have to say, unless you make it especially convincing.

[. . . five. as he suspected]

I sent them a note, asking to meet with them if they happen to find one of us. To start a conversation. To get their help in getting to the bottom of this fucked up Game.

It's-- [mmmm] Like I said, it's a plan that's dependent on a lot of goodwill. Not just from the other Reapers, but the Players, too.

If hitting the time limit of the game isn't the right answer, then I'll stop fighting to survive. [because like hell will he screw over Players for his own life] But until then?

I won't go down unless I'm kicking and screaming the entire way.

... Yeah. As it should be.

[Not to give up your life so easily, but to fight—and do what's right, at the same time.]

I hope they'll listen. Let me know if there's anything I can do. Like I said, my opinion is worthless to them, but I'll deal with it if I need to talk to them again.

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