[Week 3, Thursday: Setz]

[purrtagonist]

[idk where you are Setz, but like. Akira is dropping down from some high place, like a roof or something, to land right next to you]

Twice in one day! We need to stop meeting like this.

Comments

[subordinacy]

[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.

[purrtagonist]

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.

[subordinacy]

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...

[purrtagonist]

[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]

[subordinacy]

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.

[purrtagonist]

[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]

[subordinacy]

... 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.

[purrtagonist]

[at that, he flinches, gaze flickering away. his confident demeanor falters. he seems both frustrated and guilty all in one]

. . . the Reapers don't have a say in that matter. They occur every week, regardless of their personal feelings. Under threat of their own Erasure.

[subordinacy]

I figured. A lot of people won't care, though.

[And though Setz is probably about as sympathetic to the Reapers as one can get here—and he meant it at the start of the Game, when he said that he didn't like killing even them—he can't really blame others for feeling that way.]

[purrtagonist]

I know. They have a right not to.

[and neither can Akira]

[subordinacy]

[He sighs.]

... Do you have any kind of plan in place if you're lucky and the other Reapers do want to start a conversation with you? Or is that still up in the air?

[purrtagonist]

All I can do is give them my intel and be honest about my intentions. [just. . . shrugs] After that? It's out of my hands.

[subordinacy]

[...]

Just... try not to sound too idealistic. That, um, might rub some of them the wrong way.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

Good to know. . .

[subordinacy]

[Setz cringes.]

Sorry. Not my thought, but... that's how it is. You'd be better off appealing to their practical sides, I think. The nature of your character isn't necessarily what's in doubt here.

[purrtagonist]

Yeah. I know. It's my judgment, and whether I'm right about extending the game to the time limit.

[god he hopes he's right]

[or does he? I mean, it'd be better to end this early, but. . . hell. he doesn't know]

[subordinacy]

Your reasoning isn't a stretch. It isn't foolproof, but... none of us have anything like that.

[purrtagonist]

. . . yeah.

[. . .]

If they wind up not agreeing with me-- [and here? he hesitates, uncertain if he should finish that thought]

[subordinacy]

[Setz doesn't want to say it, but—]

... They'll kill you.

[purrtagonist]

Yeah.

[yeah. it's a simple fact. they both know it. it isn't the first time Akira has stared death in the face, after all]

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

[because if it does, he'll fight to survive]

[subordinacy]

[...

Setz really hopes it doesn't, but words alone—not his, at least—won't make a difference at this point. He doesn't know what else he can do for Akira now.]

[purrtagonist]

[not that Akira would ask Setz to do anything else for him at this point-- besides, it's less his own life he's concerned about and more. . . the ultimate outcome of this Game]

[all they can both do is their best. nobody can ask for more than that]

We'll just have to see what happens from here. [. . .] Thank you, for everything you've done so far.

[subordinacy]

... I haven't done anything yet. Like you said, we'll just have to see.