reapertoire | week 4, monday

week 4, monday

[ Between one blink and the next, Akira will suddenly find himself in a greenhouse. If he tries looking outside its glass windows, he'll notice that there is a strange haze that makes it impossible to tell the exact location, but the interior of the greenhouse is fairly bright, as if sunlight was shining through.

Everything in it seems fairly normal. There is a variety of plants, but primarily roses, as well as a small outside garden table. Still, strangely enough, there's also a... kotatsu? Well. Okay. ]

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I don't get many visitors, so I have a lot of free time to take care of it.

[ she sets the watering can down on the floor before joining him at the table. ]

So, then. I'm sure you have more to comment on than just my roses.

. . . yes. I do.

[a deep breath. he's thought about this a lot, but now that he's here, he can't seem to remember what he wants to ask]

[so he starts off strong]

Am I right? To save the Erased, for everyone to get a second chance, do we need to achieve a neutral ending?

I wouldn't call it neutral, personally.

[ of course she'd be picky about the word choice, since she has been with every question so far asked. ]

But I will say that communication is very important for this Game's success.

Four weeks in, and that communication is only just beginning.

[and the Players are questioning the notes left by him and Setz, which is. . . concerning]

If you wouldn't call a three-way tie neutral, then what would you call it?

I would call it an ending.

[. . . Anthy. . .]

One that doesn't benefit the "beneficiaries" placing wagers on our teams?

[he knows it's just an analogy but it's been working for him]

Why do you think that?

[ is akira tired of npcs asking him questions as answers to his own questions yet. ]

[yes, god damn it]

I. . . think that based on what Max told me. About people other than you benefiting from this Game.

[. . .]

Unless there's another beneficiary betting on the three-way tie.

Hm.

[ for a moment, that seems like all she's going to say, until, ]

What do you think my bet is?

[a lengthy pause follows, silence that's heavy with tension, as he considers everything he knows. everything he's learned. everything he's surmised from Maya and Max]

[. . .]

You're betting on the fourth ending. The time limit. Is that right?

But then who are you betting against? Maya? Even though she told me you both want the same thing, despite your different methods?

[ she doesn't say yes or no to the first question, but her smile does appear more... genuine? at it. ]

She said that? That's what I told one of the other Reapers as well, but I'm not sure what they took from it.

. . . you made it sound like she didn't want anyone to be revived. If what I heard is correct.

[. . .]

I don't understand that part.

Oh. I lied. Much like how she lied regarding how she became Conductor.

[ at least that's one direct answer. ]

[oh my god]

You two. . .

[slips a hand under his glasses, rubbing at his eyes tiredly]

. . . so you're both betting on the fourth option. But again, against who?

And what is the exact nature of your conflict?

I'm afraid that, at this point, that is information I cannot give.

[ he can probably hear max's voice echoing, "ask again later," in the distance... ]

[hhhah]

Ask again later. . .?

I know it must be annoying when we say that, but even we must work according to our own rules.

[mmmm]

Then does this mean we'll be able to meet like this again?

If you put in another request for it, yes. I believe Undine also wanted to have a meeting with me, but she failed to hand over her own letter to Maya. Maya wanted me to invite her here anyway, but I'm afraid this is one thing we do have to be very strict about.

[ especially now that the players are aware that killing the composer is, you know, possible. ]

[YEAH. . . yeah]

I'll put in a formal request every week, then. I'd like to keep talking to you.

I want. . . to understand. But even more than that, I want to change the narrative you gave me. Us. All of us.

[he ducks his head a bit, eyes softening as he stares at his lap]

. . . I don't want to be a killer, Anthy.

[first name. no honorific]

... I will say that we did not personally choose you or the other Reapers. We only asked for ones who were good, but the word “good” is subjective. I’ve realized now that all of your respective Composers were thinking of different meanings when they chose each and every one of you.

[ she shifts slightly, like she’s about to move, but then decides against it. ]

This is unfair to you. I won’t lie and say otherwise.

[he honestly looks. . . extremely taken off guard when she says that, like an acknowledgement of the unfairness of the situation wasn't something he expected to hear from her]

Ah. . . [he thinks, maybe, he should be flattered his own Compser thought he was "good" enough for this job. and maybe it is a good thing he's here, with all that he's learned. he's been working his ass off, not for his own sake, but for the sakes of everyone here]

[he just hope it achieves the right results]

[his eyes slip shut. he takes in a deep breath]

What's done is done.

[and they open again, burning with determination]

I intend to survive this, in order to bring this Game to the ending you and Maya want to achieve the most.

... I really hope you manage it to. But I also hope you won’t have to do it alone.

[ she stands up and picks up the watering can again. ]

I agreed to the reward request last week because I figured it would get the Players to start questioning things a little more. They’ve been seeing this game as too black and white.

[he watches her for a moment, before he stands up as well to help]

They still are. None of them could trust in the validity of those letters, even after I encouraged them to verify the information with Max.

[. . .]

Anthy. . . if I deem it necessary to out myself as a Reaper to the Players as a whole, in order to give them the information I know without the veil of anonymity. . .

Will you Erase me for violating a rule?

[it's probably less her he has to worry about, and more. . . uh. everyone else in the Game. it isn't a strategy he intends to use now, and he'd prefer not to use it at all.]

[but if it's a last ditch effort to get everyone to cooperate? to question their black and white views and biases against Repaers? he'll do it. danger be damned]

[because he has always been the sort to draw dangerous attention to himself to protect others. this? this was no different]

I'll be honest with you, depending on how that plan goes, I probably wouldn't have to. The Players might do it instead.

[ it's extremely risky. they both know it, and it's not the kind of thing that should be done unless it's a backup of a backup plan. ]

I'll allow it, but only in a specific circumstance. I'm sure you are already aware of what kind of situation I am speaking of.

[ the one he's thinking of. if he feels like there's absolutely no other option left. ]

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