purrtagonist | [Week 3, Thursday: Setz]

... 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.

. . .

You know to whom your opinion does matter, Setz?

[folds his arms, head tilted]

The other Players. And don't they hold the majority, here?

[...

Sorry, Akira. He's just going to stare, surprised.]

So there's a chance two opposing Reapers won't agree with me. That's fine. As I said, I won't go down without a fight. And in the end, isn't it as Max said?

The Players are the ones who will determine the course of this game. You have a voice in trials, Setz. You can convince them to take the right path. Whatever that path may be.

[hm that is a lot of faith he has for a group of people who have been. . . kind of bloodthirsty??]

[Um.]

I couldn't even entirely convince Magnus not to axe down Reapers, so I'm not too sure about that... but I'll try.

Magnus seems like a decent guy. Hardheaded and kind of. . . blunt, but I think you could get him to hold his axe back for the sake of saving the Erased.

He's just an example. For one, if your role is publicly revealed... well, I'd make sure to know where Shinssin is at that moment. It's not impossible to talk him down [don't ask how Setz knows this] but...

[taps his glasses]

Invisibility, thanks.

[but, uh. yeah. he knows]

But that was the point of releasing all of that information to the public. To get Players questioning the narrative they've bought into. Maybe then. . . [trails off]

Maybe. At the very least, I'd like to think Shinssin would prioritize saving the Erased above all else, and... he trusts me, I think. [a beat] Though I don't know how much that's worth.

[Considering he thought Shinssin trusted him before and then Shinssin sure tried to murder him, but whatever, they've made up.]

We'll have to see how everyone reacts to the letter on Monday, then. ... And see how the other Reapers respond to yours.

[Shinssin is hot and he's cold, he's yes and he's no, he's in then out, he's up and he's down--]

Yeah.

[inhales deeply, and exhales]

Max didn't have much faith that it'd work. But I-- I really want to believe.

[even though, truthfully, he doesn't have a whole lot of faith in people himself]

... It'll be hard as long as erasures keep happening. Even if it weren't the right thing to do to begin with, finding a way to save the Erased is a top priority.

That's probably the only way for you to prove your goodwill.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject