[Week 4, Monday: Max]

[purrtagonist]

[well]

[it's been a kind of exhausting Monday, but Akira is seeking Max out nonetheless. why? because there's an arcade here, and someone made him a promise, all the way back during week 0. he's got coffee, too! as usual. and this time he made it in the Maid Cafe kitchen]

Okay, so this place doesn't have Gun About.

But we can play Dragon's Lair. Or even Dragon's Lair, if we're feeling adventurous.

Comments

[concertmaster]

I'm pretty sure that game is older than my parents.

[IT'S PROBABLY NOT, MAX? but he's bribed with coffee so]

Again: you realize I knew this place was around all the way back when you asked, right?

[purrtagonist]

That just makes it vintage.

[that word does not mean what you think it means, Akira. anyway]

And of course I do. But I didn't, and you still didn't turn me down, which says something.

[concertmaster]

At the time, I kinda expected you'd have been Erased by now.

[......wow, max.]

[purrtagonist]

[WOW, MAX]

Five weeks in, and I'm still kicking, against all odds.

[heading in the direction of the arcade, now]

Fingers crossed for at least another three weeks.

[concertmaster]

Dreaming big now, Joker. Wow.

[but he... follows. with his coffee]

[purrtagonist]

Shoot for the stars, as they say. I won't make it to eight weeks if I don't try.

[. . .]

I've done everything I can, on my end.

[concertmaster]

A lot more than you needed to do, sure, I'd agree to that. But I wouldn't call it "everything".

[ah? he doesn't expand because wow look they are at the arcade]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . he stops at the arcade entrance, frowning]

What do you mean I haven't done "everything?"

[QUE???]

[concertmaster]

Being a martyr is all well and good-- well, no, it's annoying as fuck, but that's your entire deal-- anyway, just because you've done as much as you could right now doesn't mean shit's over. I thought your whole deal was you wanted to reform society? You should know just trying to nudge people in the right direction isn't the end line.

[he's? going inside the arcade?? fuck you]

[purrtagonist]

[why are you like this Host-san?? a soft snort, and he follows Max inside]

I don't want to be a martyr. You're right; it's annoying as fuck.

[to the nearest Dragon's Lair machine. . .?]

Gentle nudges aren't exactly my style either, but there's only so much I can do at this moment without taping a sign on my back that says, "hey, look, I'm a Reaper!"

[and he still isn't sure his chances of living until next week are that great]

[concertmaster]

First, that's because you're unsubtle.

[dragon's lair is not a two player game, so Max is just on his tippy toes looking at the screen to see akira die over and over again. yay]

Second, you don't have to go for everyone at once. Isn't that the whole point of your "confidant" shtick? You already did something similar with Setz. Except now you know who the other team is, and who's close with them. If you're worried those guys would act, go outside of that.

[purrtagonist]

I'm not a very good "phantom," all right? Never have been.

[don't make fun of him this game is FUCKING HARD]

. . . keep networking with people who have more sway with them than I do, you mean?

[concertmaster]

Something like that. You're not completely out of options, is what I'm fucking saying.

[a beat]

Unlike in this game, where you're dead. Again.

[purrtagonist]

[:/!!!]

I'd like to see you try.

Without cheating.

[concertmaster]

How do you know I'd be cheating?

[also, no, god, i'm not making rage quit 2.0]

[purrtagonist]

Because after Mario Kart, I have your number.

[AAAAAND there he goes, dying again]

Dirk the Daring isn't a very good knight.

[concertmaster]

His name's "Dirk", of course he isn't.

[judgmental much, max]

No wonder the video game industry crashed if this is considered one of the good ones.

[purrtagonist]

[Dirk is a terrible name, it's true]

Only good in terms of graphics and artwork. Not game play.

[aaaand after dying for the umpteenth time. . .]

[he steps away]

You give it a go.

[concertmaster]

Didn't you originally want to "curb" my violent tendencies with these video games? Yeah, I'm sure that's gonna go great.

[but fine, he'll step up. and.




he can't see someone bring him a box]

[purrtagonist]

You can work out your pent up anger on DDR when you're done.

[. . .]

I'll get you a stool, short-stuff.

[Max is going to murder him]

[concertmaster]

I will murder you.

[yeah.]

[purrtagonist]

[JUST. laughs, beofre he heads off to find a stool somewhere in this arcade. he's probably grabbing it from behind the counter, don't ask me. he returns a minute or so later and drops the stool in front of the arcade machine]

Show me up, and I'll never call you short-stuff again.

[concertmaster]

[i'm imagining it as one of those tiny stepping stools btw

anyway he just climbs up and grumbles]

Yeah, yeah, fucking fine. I'll do it. Without "cheating".

[maybe he's just good at mario kart??? you don't know???? as it stands he uh. dies on the first choice because This Game]

Motherfucker.

[purrtagonist]

. . .

Hm.

I need popcorn.

[c: this is going to be great]

[concertmaster]

[he takes every nice thing he's ever said about Akira back. the whole two things he's said.]

Shut up, I wasn't ready.

[....... dies again]

Fucking-- seriously? Are they fucking serious?

[i can't believe you're making me roleplay rage quit]