[Week 4, Wednesday: Max]

[purrtagonist]

[sometime after the mission. . . well, someone is here to bug Max again. about the Noise problem]

Irrelevant to Players.

What about Reapers?

Comments

[concertmaster]

[he looks exasperated]

It's not an issue that's Reaper-class.

[purrtagonist]

[POOR MAX]

. . . uh huh.

[he sounds a bit dubious, a bit skeptical]

[concertmaster]

Listen. When I say "this is above your pay grade"? I really mean it this time.

[purrtagonist]

As opposed to the other times when you said it, and only sort of meant it?

[he jokes, but at least sobers pretty quickly]

All right, though. I won't ask any further.

[but Max is now On Notice that it's on Akira's mind]

[concertmaster]

... Thanks.

[he just. sighs.]

Anyway, I would've taken care of it if you guys were in real danger.

[ignoring all the stabs and fire?? no one died it's not real danger]

[purrtagonist]

Huh. You're right. Acid and fire absolutely don't count as real danger.

[concertmaster]

No one got erased, did they? [a beat] Seriously, did I miss an erasure.

[purrtagonist]

Yep. You sure did. It was me. Sorry about that.

[just gives him a snarky little wave]

[concertmaster]

God, was it Taako. Please let it be Taako.

[purrtagonist]

[MAX???]

I thought he bought weed from you?

[concertmaster]

Have you never worked retail? I'm not obligated to like my customers.

[purrtagonist]

Yes, actually.

[flower shop. convenience store. actually, now that he thinks about it]

There was a guy who would always come into the convenience store drunk. In the middle of the afternoon. He'd buy a pack of cigarettes and nothing else, before he'd shamble out the front door, leaving nothing but the smell of sour alcohol in his wake.

I hated that guy.

[concertmaster]

Yeah, see. Taako is that guy for me.

[purrtagonist]

I should be offering you my condolences.

He's still alive, by the way.

[concertmaster]

[snaps his fingers in dismay]

God damn it.

[purrtagonist]

He lives to buy weed from you another day.

[your business is still booming, host-san]

[concertmaster]

Just my fucking luck.

[purrtagonist]

Hey, I think he's kind of funny. He threw me in the air like I was a basketball.

[he went FLYING and that was fun]

[concertmaster]

.........

Every day, you become a weirder guy, Joker.

[purrtagonist]

Hm.

Is that bad?

[concertmaster]

[makes an ehhhhh gesture]

Ehh.

[purrtagonist]

That isn't a firm yes, so I'll take it.

[concertmaster]

You should, it's the best you're getting.

[purrtagonist]

Don't worry. In the past almost-five weeks, I think I've learned how to fluently speak Max.

[heh]

[concertmaster]

I'm kind of offended you think I'm speaking my own language.