week 4, monday

[reapertoire]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[rosemance]

I suppose it's...

[ it always comes down to semantics, doesn't it? ]

Like Max has told everyone, at the end of the game, everyone will be judged based on their actions. This is the start of the fifth week everyone has been playing since arriving in the UG. If the Game were to end right now, do you think there would be a difference between what's being judged versus if it lasted the full eight weeks?

[purrtagonist]

[it sure does. ganbatte, Composer-san]

Yeah. I do. Especially since the Players haven't found any of the other Reapers yet.

So you're saying. . . if we're judged favorably, then we're more likely to succeed in convincing you to revive the Erased?

[rosemance]

It’s less about convincing. Contrary to popular belief, I do not actually want you all to remain dead.

[ she’s fully aware that she’s not popular with the living. ]

But due to the constraints of... you are all calling it a bet, right? Because of the bet, I cannot be as lax as I would be otherwise on revival. So it’s less about convincing and more about everyone managing to do the requirements needed for the judgment to be successful.

[purrtagonist]

. . . I see.

You bound yourself to the same rules by which we're restrained. To make this "bet". . . fair.

[which, he is quickly figuring out, means. . .]

Does this mean if I ask you to let us abstain from killing for the rest of the Game, you'll say no?

[rosemance]

That’s one way to put it.

[ she can practically see the air quotes around the word fair there ]

I allowed a break last week since I feared you would be eliminated far too quickly otherwise, but I am not able to keep doing that.

[purrtagonist]

[there are definitely air quotes]

. . .

I'm going to keep asking every week, you realize. Now that I know I can. Even if you say no every single time.

[until she erases him for being obnoxious :/]

[rosemance]

And you’ll keep being disappointed by my answer.

[ ... ]

I do hope that you’ll be able to keep asking until the end. I’m sure Maya and Max would be sad if you were gone.

[purrtagonist]

[Akira opens his mouth to say something, thinks better of it, and closes it with a click. after a pause, he lets out a deep exhale, eyes slipping shut]

I hope I'll be here until the very end too, Anthy.

[. . .]

[he's not sure how far simple "hope" will get him. but, as always? he has to try. he has to try]

I'll do everything I can do to survive.

[rosemance]

Is there anything else you would like to talk about? Or will that be all?

[ :) ]

[purrtagonist]

[WHY DOES THE SMILEY FACE SCARE ME]

I-- [don't expect a response to this, but] -- want to know what the requirements we have to meet to revive the Erased are.

Can you give me a hint?

[or does he have everything that she can give him at this point in time?]

[rosemance]

If I say “communication” again, would you be frustrated?

[purrtagonist]

Slightly.

[ain't even gonna front]

But I suppose it's a start.

[rosemance]

My position is a frustrating one. I don’t expect to be liked by anyone by the time this is over.

[ she reaches over and plucks out a red rose and hands it to him. ]

But that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I think you’re smart enough to figure it out eventually.

[purrtagonist]

[he take the rose carefully, making sure not to prick his finger on the thorns]

Thanks. For the vote of confidence.

[I just have to stay alive long enough for that to happen--]

I'll be honest. . . for a while there, I was thinking about killing you.

[AKIRA. . .??]

[rosemance]

Everyone wants to kill me, Akira. That isn’t going to ever change, so it’s fine.

[ if there is one reason why anthy is a good choice to run this particular game, it’s that she’s used to no one liking her. ]

If you ever change your mind, you are free to attempt to kill me. Whether or not that gives you the results you were hoping for is another matter entirely.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . he shakes his head]

No. I was never really completely certain that it was the right answer, anyway. And I think. . . I know now, that it isn't.

[tilts his chin up]

Maya trusts you. And while I still think this Game is bullshit, that's. . . enough for me.

[rosemance]

Your opinion has been noted.

[ is that a joke. who knows. ]

I would say I’ll try not to let you down, but we both know I already have. So instead, I’ll try not to make you doubt Maya’s judgment.

[purrtagonist]

[ANTHY. . .]

. . .

Hey. Do you remember what we talked about, after-- [um] After Hawthorne killed Utena?

[rosemance]

I do, yes.

[ she waits for him to continue. ]

[purrtagonist]

I still believe in what I told you. Even knowing who you are now.

[You're more than just a Rose Bride. Just because someone killed Utena doesn't mean you don't deserve to live.]

[. . .]

[because his own thoughts and feelings on this Game aside? now that he's met her in person, he feels like. . . he understands. just a little more than he did before]

[rosemance]

[ anthy is quiet, focusing on the roses. when she does finally turn towards him, it’s with a curious look on her face. ]

It’s funny, Akira. I am no longer the Rose Bride. Despite everything that has happened since I have become involved in the Reaper’s Game, I still had that thought: at least I am free from the duels. But even now, I’m still the Rose Bride, aren’t I? I just traded one eternity for another.

[ she bows. ]

Thank you for your words.

[purrtagonist]

. . . at some point, I'd like to ask you why you decided to become a Composer.

[he bows in return to return her politeness, tucking the rose into his pocket]

But I'm assuming that's a story for another day?

[rosemance]

[ she just smiles, like always. ]

Remember to put your request in.

[purrtagonist]

I will.

[if I'm still alive]

Thank you for meeting with me today, Anthy.