[Giving Taako twenty rip coins, for the bit. Even though Taako will definitely keep these.]
Yikes. Well, thank god we're here to shake things up a bit. Seems like Caren put a target on your back, huh? Kinda sounded like she was accusing you of being the Reaper who killed Chuuya. Was she right?
Yuck! Yeah, keep that to yourself. Nothing wrong with a naughty picture book but some things cross the line.
[Honestly, bless Akira for playing along with the gag. And for admitting it upfront instead of trying to deny it.]
Right. Thanks for, uh, not denying it and making this awkward. [He frowns a little, though, at the admission Caren really was the first time he's killed. That doesn't feel right.] What're they doing, shoving a kid like you in with the likes of Junko and Dahlia? Or even Terra seemed like he'd had some experience. Kind of sick.
[Taako's comment reminds him what they're doing here, though. He pulls from his pocket a cell phone, and presses a button. A muffled recording plays a few lines of dialogue. Dialogue in Akira's voice.]
It's easy to say "we weren't exactly the ones doing the killing" when you don't have a gun to your head telling you to "Erase someone this week or we Erase you." We never asked for this. . . . I don't give a shit about winning, [static]. And neither does my one remaining teammate. Neither of us have ever wanted to kill anyone. We still don't. I wasn't lying about that. This Game-- This Game is bullshit. It's been bullshit since the very beginning. The only thing I have ever wanted to do, from the moment I woke up here, was find a way to break it. And from. . . the moment I learned it was possible to save the Erased, that became my goal, too. I'm not here because I want to turn a loss into a draw. If my team's loss would save the Erased and give everyone their second chance, I'd throw myself in front of your bullet in an instant.
[Magnus lets the recording play long enough to get through this bit, then pushes the button to shut it off.]
Yeah. Cards on the table. I don't know if I should be showing you we have this, but I want to be honest with you since you're being honest with us.
It kind of seems to me that we need you to not die?
[. . . funnily enough, Akira just smiles, rueful and tired. because, as Taako and Magnus will see soon, there's a reason for his honesty]
I was wondering when you two would come to me with that. Izaya isn't as sneaky as he likes to think he is.
[he glances down at the book, turns away from the page with the statue, and stares blankly at the next long paragraph, fingers pinched between paper. he's silent for a few more moments, before he lets out a small sigh and continues, words slow]
. . . that is the current working theory. That if the Game ends prematurely, we won't be able to save the Erased.
And I am one of two remaining Reapers whose deaths would end the game before we hit eight weeks.
[Crossing his arms, but he doesn't seem threatening, or even all that tired anymore. Resolute, maybe.]
There's been decisions made, uh, here, between me and Magnus: the brakes are off this Battlewagon. The old tactics aren't working, clearly, so we've got to try something different, and I'm thinking that means we get direct about some of this shit, right? We're offering to protect you, or the other Bad News Bear -- that's your team name, by the way-- For a one time only discount price of cooperation. I don't intend to die here, we've got other obligations, amigo. The only way that's going to happen is if we strategize a little and everyone calms down on the murdering a bit.
Yeah, you guys are the Bad News Bears. The other Reapers are the Mighty Ducks.
[Grinning at him like he's supposed to find this cute and fun despite. The grim situation.]
You having a target on your back like the one Caren out there is, uh, a big problem for me. I was thinking, though. I'm not great at a lot of things in this game. Lying and, uh, bluffing, and solving mysteries? Not my wheelhouse. But I'm good at protecting people. It's just an option, but it's on the table - you or your partner wake me up as an accomplice. I'll help hide some evidence for you, no questions asked, no telling anyone what I see. And then I'll cover you. If someone comes for you, I'll be there, not asleep and useless.
[Hmmmmmmmm. They've already established canon that Akira's group is the Bad News Bears, you see, so changing it now? Difficult. (not really). Taako ponders, tapping a finger on his chin.]
You're saying the Ducks are better than the Bears? I mean, I suppose that's fair, we were going off the remake. We'll consider it. Though maybe not - that could be your punishment for the whole, uh, murdering thing?
[Shrugging.]
Besides, not everything is about you, my man. We aren't doing this because we're overcome by desire to help Reapers - in fact, I'd say I'm pretty turned off by Reapers now, so thanks for that? - it's so we all have a chance to get out of here. I'm not even sure this is a good plan. I mean, I mentioned before, awfully convenient the dudes that are up to no good have leaked info that says "hey, uh, don't kill us," right? But it's the best lead we've got.
Frankly, I'm thinking the least bloody plan would be to find a Mighty Duck willing to volunteer to be, uh. [Imitating......a noose.] And then their partner taking the fall at trial. Willingly! That's a pipe dream though, isn't it? This seems the next best option. Player kills are fucking us over.
Yeesh, kids these days. No respect for the classics.
[But. He considers Akira and his response. Yeah. He gets that.]
But, yeah, okay. I did spend the first couple weeks saying I was going to find you guys and kill you, so, as a show of goodwill, we'll change our already established goof. You guys can be the Ducks. Look. I'm not - I'm not an unreasonable guy. We've all been in situations where we've had to make tough choices. But, uh, you started us off with that Big Mac lady who died screaming about revenge. I didn't have strong reasons to expect you were anything but enemies to us, and I wanted to kill the enemies and get home. But I've been talking to some folks these past few weeks. Setz. Undine. And Monika, too. Made me see things a little differently.
Just killing our enemies and going home isn't enough for us anymore. We want to save the Erased, and we want to get a chance to meet the head honcho here, whoever that is, and give 'em a piece of our mind. So, yeah. If we need you two alive to do that, then I'm keeping you alive.
[but he considers what both Taako and Magnus say, both of them making very fair points about how things had progressed over the past few weeks. but it's ultimately Magnus's words that draw an actual, genuine smile from him, soft and. . . relieved, in a way? it's been a long five, almost six weeks]
This Game isn't black and white. It isn't Players versus Reapers, although it's presented as such on paper. Especially since-- [MURDER] Well, anyway. In the words of the Composer themselves, communication is essential for the success of this Game.
[. . .]
I don't blame you for hating us. I never blamed anyone, considering the things we've been asked to do. [willingly or not] But-- [a breath] Thank you. For being willing to put that aside for the sake of everyone here.
I'll bring up your proposal to my remaining companion. But based on what they've said about you before, I think they'll be happy to accept your help.
. . . And the chick who set herself on fire? Was that special too, or just for funsies?
[Junko burnt his favorite hat :/ the real tragedy of this game]
Anyway, glad we could work this out. Listen, if this turns out to be the world's most fucked up Synergy Training Seminar, I am going to be so pissed off. Can you tell Emilio Estevez that for me? Seriously. Good god.
I don't hate you. When I was first told you guys wanted to help, I didn't believe it. But then I heard that recording of you. I couldn't hate you. It's obvious you're a good person in a bad situation. I'm hoping it's the same with your partner. I guess it makes sense - all the real killers in your group already went, huh?
You guys talk it out. But Thursday night, you keep us in mind.
[but. at being called a "good person," he turns away and gives a hapless shrug]
I wouldn't call myself a good person. But my remaining partner definitely is. [and that, he says emphatically] Even Ranpo and Terra were good people, although Ranpo was more of a pragmatist than anything. Truthfully, Dahlia and Junko were the worst of us.
[SPEAKING OF JUNKO, to Taako]
Fire girl was a force to be reckoned with, by the way. None of us could rein in her. . . everything.
[and then, more seriously, turning back to Magnus]
Speaking of my partner-- I'm supposed to mention "mahogany" with your something? I don't know your secret code language, but. . .
Don't think anyone's out here proclaiming to be good people - very human centric terminology there by the way, buddy boy. I mean, uh, I don't consider myself a good anything. Magnus likes to think he is but I saw him rob a bank once, soooooooo.
[Just, raising an eyebrow at the second part. He's not aware of this, but that's a very Magnus codeword.]
[Yeah. He definitely knows what mahogany means. He'd had a suspicion, when he was having that conversation, but - ]
You guys are just kids. [Considering that for a second.] Or, maybe not. Since you're, uh, dead, I guess, I don't know how old you really are. But this is starting to feel especially sick.
I robbed a bank once. And a castle. And a museum. And a casino.
[hm]
[. . . at Magnus's comment, he gives another shrug]
I'm sixteen. [yep] This is the first Game I've been in as a Reaper. Second Game total.
[the first being the one he participated in as nothing but a Player. the one he won. so, yeah. out of all the Reapers in the Game. . . this one is the least experienced]
She and I. . . we're doing our best with what we've been given. It's all we can do, at this point.
Hey, I wanna go on this dude’s adventures. Sounds like a friggin’ blast.
[Softening just like. A little. He knows he’s been a little harsh in this conversation, but the fact that it’s clearly just two kids who have no idea what to do either kind of hits him in the gut. The Ducks really are the underdog team. Quack quack quack.]
I know. I fought an eel with his buds, too. They're all pretty rad.
[He gives Akira a grin - he's still a little shaken, in part because of bad feeling about this. All along, when they've argued about killing Reapers, it's been a couple of kids hiding out and trying to stop the game from falling apart. But that feeling comes with a sense of relief. He hasn't felt good about a lot of the choices he's made here, hasn't been able to tell right from wrong or feel comfortable in his own skin. But this is the right thing. He doesn't feel any doubt about this.]
Keep doing your best. But you guys don't have to do it alone.
[please excuse him while he pushes his glasses up and scrubs at one eye furiously. these past few weeks, the only people he had heard that from were his partner, his friends from home, and the last remaining Reaper on his side. struggling to survive against popular opinion isn't anything new for Akira, but just knowing that two more people out there are willing to have his back is enough]
[in other words both Taako and Magnus just jumped up on his list of Very Good people]
I-- [okay his voice is shaky. he sucks in a breath to level it out] Thanks. It's actually pretty nice to hear that.
[they can do this. they can end this Game the right way, and save the Erased in the process]
There are Players who don't feel the same, though. Chuuya was one of them.
Shin is another.
[people who want Akira dead regardless of how it affects the outcome of this Game, for personal reasons]
[Oh my god don't cry Taako is no good at emotions and he's had to deal with a lot recently. Why are all these teens crying at him. Please!!!!! Not really making a move, and just pretending he didn't see. Have your dignity, Akira.]
We'll, uh, see what we can do about reining in some of the murder boners around here.
[Trying to direct this back to the No Feelings Zone though, just briefly.]
Listen, gotta know a couple of things. Reapers: know it got said at some point that you don't pick your own victims? That true or nah? If we're going to be trying to organize a complex hail mary here, need to know the deets.
[IT'S OKAY!! HE'S FINE!! he's. . . put together. . .! no seriously he is; the one hitch in his breathing aside, he's managed to rein in how touched he is pretty quickly. and although he gives Magnus a grateful nod because someone needs to try to talk sense into Assassin, his next response is for Taako]
No, that's not true. Terra told that lie to protect the rest of us.
[so people wouldn't know h. . . how they were picking. . .]
If you're worried about the player population dipping below that of the Reapers, don't. My teammate and I are keeping a close eye on it so we don't accidentally trigger our win condition.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Yeah just holding his hand more insistently under Magnus' face. That's some weird porn alright.]
no subject
Yikes. Well, thank god we're here to shake things up a bit. Seems like Caren put a target on your back, huh? Kinda sounded like she was accusing you of being the Reaper who killed Chuuya. Was she right?
no subject
She was half-right.
[back to the book, flipping from page to page in quick succession]
I didn't kill Chuuya. She was, as she put it so eloquently, my "first."
[holds up the book]
There's a picture of a naked guy on this page, does this count?
[it's a statue of a Greek philosopher]
no subject
[Putting his money away, to keep it safe. Also yeah, there's no way Magnus is getting that back.]
Well, Rejoice boy! If you're worried about us, uh, being here for revenge or whatever, we're not. We've got a deal to discuss. Magnus?
no subject
[Honestly, bless Akira for playing along with the gag. And for admitting it upfront instead of trying to deny it.]
Right. Thanks for, uh, not denying it and making this awkward. [He frowns a little, though, at the admission Caren really was the first time he's killed. That doesn't feel right.] What're they doing, shoving a kid like you in with the likes of Junko and Dahlia? Or even Terra seemed like he'd had some experience. Kind of sick.
[Taako's comment reminds him what they're doing here, though. He pulls from his pocket a cell phone, and presses a button. A muffled recording plays a few lines of dialogue. Dialogue in Akira's voice.]
It's easy to say "we weren't exactly the ones doing the killing" when you don't have a gun to your head telling you to "Erase someone this week or we Erase you." We never asked for this. . . . I don't give a shit about winning, [static]. And neither does my one remaining teammate. Neither of us have ever wanted to kill anyone. We still don't. I wasn't lying about that. This Game-- This Game is bullshit. It's been bullshit since the very beginning. The only thing I have ever wanted to do, from the moment I woke up here, was find a way to break it. And from. . . the moment I learned it was possible to save the Erased, that became my goal, too. I'm not here because I want to turn a loss into a draw. If my team's loss would save the Erased and give everyone their second chance, I'd throw myself in front of your bullet in an instant.
[Magnus lets the recording play long enough to get through this bit, then pushes the button to shut it off.]
Yeah. Cards on the table. I don't know if I should be showing you we have this, but I want to be honest with you since you're being honest with us.
It kind of seems to me that we need you to not die?
no subject
[. . . funnily enough, Akira just smiles, rueful and tired. because, as Taako and Magnus will see soon, there's a reason for his honesty]
I was wondering when you two would come to me with that. Izaya isn't as sneaky as he likes to think he is.
[he glances down at the book, turns away from the page with the statue, and stares blankly at the next long paragraph, fingers pinched between paper. he's silent for a few more moments, before he lets out a small sigh and continues, words slow]
. . . that is the current working theory. That if the Game ends prematurely, we won't be able to save the Erased.
And I am one of two remaining Reapers whose deaths would end the game before we hit eight weeks.
no subject
[Crossing his arms, but he doesn't seem threatening, or even all that tired anymore. Resolute, maybe.]
There's been decisions made, uh, here, between me and Magnus: the brakes are off this Battlewagon. The old tactics aren't working, clearly, so we've got to try something different, and I'm thinking that means we get direct about some of this shit, right? We're offering to protect you, or the other Bad News Bear -- that's your team name, by the way-- For a one time only discount price of cooperation. I don't intend to die here, we've got other obligations, amigo. The only way that's going to happen is if we strategize a little and everyone calms down on the murdering a bit.
no subject
[Grinning at him like he's supposed to find this cute and fun despite. The grim situation.]
You having a target on your back like the one Caren out there is, uh, a big problem for me. I was thinking, though. I'm not great at a lot of things in this game. Lying and, uh, bluffing, and solving mysteries? Not my wheelhouse. But I'm good at protecting people. It's just an option, but it's on the table - you or your partner wake me up as an accomplice. I'll help hide some evidence for you, no questions asked, no telling anyone what I see. And then I'll cover you. If someone comes for you, I'll be there, not asleep and useless.
no subject
No way. I call Mighty Ducks. The other guys can be the Even Worse News Bears.
[bright side? Akira has a great sense of humor, so despite the subject matter, he is totally playing along]
[. . . even though afterwards he slowly closes his book, regarding both Taako and Magnus with a somewhat bewildered expression]
Are you. . . really offering to help us? Despite knowing what we are? What we've done?
[Akira has pegged Magnus as the most vocal anti-Reaper guy around, so to say this is surprising is. . . an understatement]
no subject
You're saying the Ducks are better than the Bears? I mean, I suppose that's fair, we were going off the remake. We'll consider it. Though maybe not - that could be your punishment for the whole, uh, murdering thing?
[Shrugging.]
Besides, not everything is about you, my man. We aren't doing this because we're overcome by desire to help Reapers - in fact, I'd say I'm pretty turned off by Reapers now, so thanks for that? - it's so we all have a chance to get out of here. I'm not even sure this is a good plan. I mean, I mentioned before, awfully convenient the dudes that are up to no good have leaked info that says "hey, uh, don't kill us," right? But it's the best lead we've got.
Frankly, I'm thinking the least bloody plan would be to find a Mighty Duck willing to volunteer to be, uh. [Imitating......a noose.] And then their partner taking the fall at trial. Willingly! That's a pipe dream though, isn't it? This seems the next best option. Player kills are fucking us over.
no subject
[But. He considers Akira and his response. Yeah. He gets that.]
But, yeah, okay. I did spend the first couple weeks saying I was going to find you guys and kill you, so, as a show of goodwill, we'll change our already established goof. You guys can be the Ducks. Look. I'm not - I'm not an unreasonable guy. We've all been in situations where we've had to make tough choices. But, uh, you started us off with that Big Mac lady who died screaming about revenge. I didn't have strong reasons to expect you were anything but enemies to us, and I wanted to kill the enemies and get home. But I've been talking to some folks these past few weeks. Setz. Undine. And Monika, too. Made me see things a little differently.
Just killing our enemies and going home isn't enough for us anymore. We want to save the Erased, and we want to get a chance to meet the head honcho here, whoever that is, and give 'em a piece of our mind. So, yeah. If we need you two alive to do that, then I'm keeping you alive.
no subject
[other reapers at Dahlia tbh]
[but he considers what both Taako and Magnus say, both of them making very fair points about how things had progressed over the past few weeks. but it's ultimately Magnus's words that draw an actual, genuine smile from him, soft and. . . relieved, in a way? it's been a long five, almost six weeks]
This Game isn't black and white. It isn't Players versus Reapers, although it's presented as such on paper. Especially since-- [MURDER] Well, anyway. In the words of the Composer themselves, communication is essential for the success of this Game.
[. . .]
I don't blame you for hating us. I never blamed anyone, considering the things we've been asked to do. [willingly or not] But-- [a breath] Thank you. For being willing to put that aside for the sake of everyone here.
I'll bring up your proposal to my remaining companion. But based on what they've said about you before, I think they'll be happy to accept your help.
no subject
[Junko burnt his favorite hat :/ the real tragedy of this game]
Anyway, glad we could work this out. Listen, if this turns out to be the world's most fucked up Synergy Training Seminar, I am going to be so pissed off. Can you tell Emilio Estevez that for me? Seriously. Good god.
no subject
[But he frowns at what Akira says.]
I don't hate you. When I was first told you guys wanted to help, I didn't believe it. But then I heard that recording of you. I couldn't hate you. It's obvious you're a good person in a bad situation. I'm hoping it's the same with your partner. I guess it makes sense - all the real killers in your group already went, huh?
You guys talk it out. But Thursday night, you keep us in mind.
1/2
[he's going to call his Conductor Emilio Estevez now, thanks Magnus, thanks Taako]
no subject
I wouldn't call myself a good person. But my remaining partner definitely is. [and that, he says emphatically] Even Ranpo and Terra were good people, although Ranpo was more of a pragmatist than anything. Truthfully, Dahlia and Junko were the worst of us.
[SPEAKING OF JUNKO, to Taako]
Fire girl was a force to be reckoned with, by the way. None of us could rein in her. . . everything.
[and then, more seriously, turning back to Magnus]
Speaking of my partner-- I'm supposed to mention "mahogany" with your something? I don't know your secret code language, but. . .
no subject
[Just, raising an eyebrow at the second part. He's not aware of this, but that's a very Magnus codeword.]
Yeah, uh. That's not my wood joke either.
no subject
[Yeah. He definitely knows what mahogany means. He'd had a suspicion, when he was having that conversation, but - ]
You guys are just kids. [Considering that for a second.] Or, maybe not. Since you're, uh, dead, I guess, I don't know how old you really are. But this is starting to feel especially sick.
no subject
[hm]
[. . . at Magnus's comment, he gives another shrug]
I'm sixteen. [yep] This is the first Game I've been in as a Reaper. Second Game total.
[the first being the one he participated in as nothing but a Player. the one he won. so, yeah. out of all the Reapers in the Game. . . this one is the least experienced]
She and I. . . we're doing our best with what we've been given. It's all we can do, at this point.
no subject
[Softening just like. A little. He knows he’s been a little harsh in this conversation, but the fact that it’s clearly just two kids who have no idea what to do either kind of hits him in the gut. The Ducks really are the underdog team. Quack quack quack.]
Just, uh, hang in there, alright?
no subject
[He gives Akira a grin - he's still a little shaken, in part because of bad feeling about this. All along, when they've argued about killing Reapers, it's been a couple of kids hiding out and trying to stop the game from falling apart. But that feeling comes with a sense of relief. He hasn't felt good about a lot of the choices he's made here, hasn't been able to tell right from wrong or feel comfortable in his own skin. But this is the right thing. He doesn't feel any doubt about this.]
Keep doing your best. But you guys don't have to do it alone.
no subject
[please excuse him while he pushes his glasses up and scrubs at one eye furiously. these past few weeks, the only people he had heard that from were his partner, his friends from home, and the last remaining Reaper on his side. struggling to survive against popular opinion isn't anything new for Akira, but just knowing that two more people out there are willing to have his back is enough]
[in other words both Taako and Magnus just jumped up on his list of Very Good people]
I-- [okay his voice is shaky. he sucks in a breath to level it out] Thanks. It's actually pretty nice to hear that.
[they can do this. they can end this Game the right way, and save the Erased in the process]
There are Players who don't feel the same, though. Chuuya was one of them.
Shin is another.
[people who want Akira dead regardless of how it affects the outcome of this Game, for personal reasons]
no subject
We'll, uh, see what we can do about reining in some of the murder boners around here.
[Trying to direct this back to the No Feelings Zone though, just briefly.]
Listen, gotta know a couple of things. Reapers: know it got said at some point that you don't pick your own victims? That true or nah? If we're going to be trying to organize a complex hail mary here, need to know the deets.
no subject
Yeah, that doesn't shock me. I can handle that guy. We'll talk to him.
no subject
No, that's not true. Terra told that lie to protect the rest of us.
[so people wouldn't know h. . . how they were picking. . .]
If you're worried about the player population dipping below that of the Reapers, don't. My teammate and I are keeping a close eye on it so we don't accidentally trigger our win condition.
no subject
Sure, sure. How do you pick, then?
no subject
no subject
[kind of. looking away at that, guilt flashing across his expression as he rubs the back of his neck]
Majority vote. There was logic behind each of our picks.
[. . . do they want to know. . .]