[Week 3, Thursday: Undine]

[purrtagonist]

[WHAT'S UP UNDINE]

[YOUR REAPER BUDDY IS HERE]

I know this is break week, but it's felt way more like "Akira works his ass off week," if I'm going to be honest.

Comments

[alchemicalwater]

I know what you mean. Befriending EVERYONE takes a long time.

[Guess what she's been up to? Since her plan for survival hinges on that.]

But what's up? Did you find out something?

[purrtagonist]

[good, Undine is a good]

I found out a lot of somethings, Undine. So many somethings I don't even know how to hold them all.

Let's find a place to sit.

[maybe McDonald's won't be crowded this time of the day]

[alchemicalwater]

[Yes let's go talk in the McDonald's and try not to look at the ball pit.]

I found out some things too, but you can go first.

[purrtagonist]

[the gay baby jail ball pit]

I have a lot. I'm sorry if I wind up drowning you in information.

But did I ever tell you what I learned about the Composer from Max? It isn't much, but I do know that they designed the Game this way for a reason. It was to prove something to someone, apparently. But after talking to Setz, I also learned that this Game is a sort of. . . argument? Between Maya and the Composer.

I think they both have something to prove, although I'm not completely sure what it is.

[alchemicalwater]

Well we can ask Maya about it at least. I wonder how Setz knows so much, though.

[purrtagonist]

He talked to Max. Max is pretty willing to help people out if they ask him questions.

["willing to help" is probably pretty generous]

[alchemicalwater]

Maybe we should talk to Max more, then. Or just Setz, if he's so good at getting stuff from Max.

[Undine likes Setz, so.]

Magnus isn't one of those other-reapers, by the way. He talked to me and admitted to getting the same pin Eleanor had.

[purrtagonist]

I've been talking to him at least once a week. Most of the info Setz had I got from Max, too. We just put our heads together to figure some things out.

[also? perking up!]

Ah, he isn't? Huh. [he had been pretty convinced!] Did he tell you how the pin worked?

[alchemicalwater]

Yeah, he said it's how he knew Ranpo was a reaper. But he also said he only had it for one week, and that someone else has it now.

[purrtagonist]

That's how it works, according to Eleanor. And remember, not all the boons offered by the pin let them check other Players for Reaper status.

[alchemicalwater]

It must have checked something about Ranpo that made it seem like he was a reaper. That was why he was pushing for it, though. He said the only reason he was so sure was because of the pin.

He's also a huge idiot who's going to get hurt because he's not careful at all and doesn't care about people trying to attack him.

[She. She feels obligated to protect him.]

[purrtagonist]

[oh my god]

Have you seen him, though? He's a tank. I'm afraid of him.

[alchemicalwater]

He's big, but he has a kind heart. One that can be taken advantage of.

[purrtagonist]

. . . yeah. That's true.

[she has a point. he won't argue any further]

Ah-- anyway, I did tell you about the other Reaper group's win condition, right? That brings us to four ways to end this game.

[holds up four fingers, and ticks them off as he counts]

One: the Players Erase ever Reaper, regardless of alignment.

Two: we bring the Player population down below the Reaper population, plus partners.

Three: . . . you and I die.

And four: we hit the time limit.

Have you wondered which of those endings is the one we need to strive for?

[alchemicalwater]

It's the survival one, right? It would give the Composer the most time to judge the Players and see who deserves to be returned to life.

[purrtagonist]

Right. Though maybe not necessarily for that reason.

[but, to be frank, he isn't completely sure]

I know for a fact from Max that this Game is benefiting something or someone other than the Composer and Maya. What if there were beneficiaries placing wagers on the teams in this Game? You know. . . people who receive something when one team wins.

What are those beneficiaries supposed to do if none of these teams win?