ruffboi | Week 5; Wednesday

[The explanation isn't terrible, but he doesn't want to be lectured about Jonas. He knows about Jonas. His hands tighten and he flicks the end of the umbrella - Newt will feel his feet ripped out from under him with psychokinesis, just to send him crashing to the floor again. A little vindictive, but probably not as bad as being punched in the face.]

Doesn't mean you aren't responsible, homeslice. For both of them. Their blood is on your hands, at least be a big enough dude to accept that.

[Magnus, though, relents a little. Or, at least he stops looking at Newt quite so much like he wants to punch him into paste.]

You told me to look into your eyes and tell you I thought you killed Jacopo. Your partner lectured Monika for being emotional. What the fuck was that about?

[But. He doesn't actually think Newt is to blame for Miki or Monika.]

This game screwed you. He wasn't that kind of Reaper. And - fuck. It probably wasn't wrong that killing some of Bad News helped, because this Game sucks. But. At least own up to your own shit. You tied him up and you poisoned him and you cut his fucking fingers off.

[Newt hits the ground against and just sighs. Maybe he should just stay down. That seems to be the point of this whole encounter, anyway. He's not sold on Taako's argument about his level of responsibility, but for probably the first time in his life (or death ig) he keeps his goddamn mouth shut. There's no point.

That is, until Magnus gets it so, so wrong. He shoots back up and gets right in the guy's face. If he's got another volley of blows coming, so be it.]

We didn't torture him! Maybe if you idiots would've pulled your heads out of your asses at the trial, you'd have understood the evidence! Sodium pentothal is an anesthetic.

[He starts counting off on his fingers as he goes over the order of events.]

We dosed him once to get him to calm down and start talking! We were there for information, first and foremost, and we had to tie him up so that he wouldn't get away or hurt us. But, wouldn't you know it, the drug takes a little while to kick in, and he was still coming at us, and--I couldn't get his ring off. For his psych. We had to cut his fingers off because it was either him or us, okay? It wasn't torture!

[After he's made that clear, he calms down a bit. Or quiets down, at least.]

We gave him the second dose to knock him out. He felt nothing.

[Newt calling him an idiot doesn't really inspire him to blows. It does give him at least a smidgen more respect for Newt -- calling someone who is kicking your ass an idiot takes at least a little more bravery than he'd give Newt credit. That smidgeon of respect doesn't make him less angry, though.]

Yeah, yeah, science, how could we get it so wrong. We cut his fingers off with bolt cutters to interrogate him, but in self-defense.

[He scowls, but then pulls something from his pocket - a cell phone. Magnus doesn't have the stealth to record him sneakily, so it's pretty obvious he's turning on a recording.]

I want you to take us through it. Start to finish.

Oh, yes, excuse me for getting a degree in some useful shit instead of, I don't know, murder.

[He doesn't trip him up again - at least while he's feeling chatty - but continuing on the bad cop, worse cop routine.]

Has anyone now, or has anyone ever, actually tried to kiss you?

[Helpful!]

[Newt sees the cell phone and knows exactly where this is going. He points at it.]

No way. I'll tell you what I know, but you're not recording it. I don't want that getting into the wrong hands.

[And... god. Taako just gets a look.]

Yes, jeez. That's really what you're worried about?

Hmm. So you're fine admitting what you did to Setz so you can get in on some info, but you're not gonna admit it to the group?

[Cracking his knuckles. Diplomacy may not work here.]

Talk.

Uh, wrong hands, as in like, the public, homie? Thinkin’ that might be the right hands.

[Letting Magnus do his thing, just waiting - though he is on alert still.]

Jesus, you want me to--? [Never mind. Shut up. He's recording this.

He glances at the phone, wondering if he'll be able to hit it with his psych from here... But. Wait.]

...That's Izaya's, isn't it? [He perks up, talking even more speedily than usual because he might have a way out of this that doesn't result in further violence.]

He played me a recording from it after the trial. Akira, talking about the Reapers... He wants all three "teams" to truce. I know he's one of the Reapers tasked with killing Players, and that he and the only other Reaper left from his side don't want to do that. I know... I know who the other Reaper is, too.

[But judging from the look he's giving Magnus, he's not saying who until he puts the phone away.]

[His brows furrow a bit, still angry, but considering. He certainly seems surprised that Newt recognizes the phone.]

...Yeah. It's Izaya's, and we've heard the recording, too. Not new information. But, hmm. So you're saying if I stop recording you, you'll give me the name of the other Reaper? That the deal you're offering?

Uh, kind of, yeah, that’s what I think you should do. But—

[Well, Newt had his chance to fire off anything if he wanted to take it, but Taako’s back on the ball now - if he so much as twitches he’ll feel a pressure holding him to the floor. Taako’s quiet for a second, since this is, uh, clearly a watershed moment, letting his gaze flick back and forth between Magnus and Newt. There’s a powderkeg in the room and it’s probably about to blow if someone drops a spark. Kiiiiinnd of inclined to try offering a bucket of water here. Just clearing his throat.]

Listen, Newt, you said you wanted to help, right? Before you guys offed Jacopo, you thought you were doing the right thing. I get it - I mean, we get it? We’ve been out here trying to help too - maybe in less murder-y ways, sure - and there’s gotta be a reason Izaya wanted you to have that too. When you got that information, uh, what did you think? The shit that’s been said is we’ve got to work together: Players, Reapers, all the Sports Teams, whatever.

I realize we came in kinda hot here, I’m down for admitting that, but, uh, not really sorry, you deserved at least a little roughing up for all that shit at trial, but I think we want the same thing. I think you want to go home, like us, and get a chance to bring everyone back, because you’re sick of being yanked around by this game and its hidden rules, and all the backalley information trading shit, like us.

I . . . don’t think you’re bad dudes. [He has the decency to at least look a little guilty about all the vindictive shit from earlier - if he feels that Newt has blood on his hands, then he feels at least equally guilty about Monika, about Miki, about Jonas, about Alex, about everyone else he’d failed through inaction. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t really feel all that bad about watching something happen with Newt. At least they’re trying something.] You made a mistake, but we’ve still got a chance to fix this. We have to, right? I made a couple of promises, so I can’t be getting a reputation as Taako! Promise Breaker. Already got Taako: Check Bouncer following me around, and there’s only so much weight a guy can carry. [Okay, rambling. But he’s trying to buy Newt a little time to think this one through.] If you heard the recording, you know what Akira said - that they want to save the Erased too - so, think you need to make a decision here, hombre. You can help us and them, and the poor suckers who’ve already kicked it, but I think you need a new strategy. The one you’ve been using is clearly not fuckin’ working.

[Just looking at him, waiting. TL;DR? Answer Magnus carefully, my man.]

[He gives Magnus a nod.] Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[But... Taako. Hm. His eyes drop as he considers it all, but then they flick up toward the phone again. Goddammit.]

Let's get one thing straight: Hermann had nothing to do with it. I told him after the investigation. That's what the fight was about.

[He gives both of them a very pointed look. Please, understand what he's getting at here.]

So, sure, I killed Jacopo. I did it because I thought it was the right thing to do, but, well, you said it yourself. It was a mistake. I'm trying to make up for it best I can, but that's going to be hard to do if no one trusts me because you out me like this. Izaya gave me the recording because he thought I was useful. He said it was a shame to lose Caren, but losing both Hermann and I would be a greater loss to the game. He also said that Jacopo had been working against the truce, and that things would likely go a lot more smoothly with him out of the picture.

[A beat.]

And I will give you the name of the other Reaper in the interest in open communication. But I won't do it while you're recording. I think there's still Players who believe killing them all is the thing to do. I'm not putting he--them in danger.

[Magnus let's him finish talking, but his expression has gone hard as Newt speaks. Once he finishes, though, he takes the phone, turns off the recording, and flashes the screen to Newt to confirm for him it's not on - and then once he's done that, he hands the phone to Taako.]

So what you're saying is, you don't think we're players who want to kill Reapers. And you're sure about that? You're sure you trust us? You'd bet her life on it? Or maybe you'd rather bet her life than bet yours.

[He's looming, dangerous, like he's going to strike him again, but then he deflates. Taako has a point, after all.]

Or maybe you just wanted to trust us. We already know who she is. I just wanted to know if they can trust you.

[God Izaya. Even in death, a Masterful Troll. Iconic, honestly.

Taking the phone, and off it disappears into whatever one of Taako’s pockets isn’t currently full of whatever sauces he’s managed to collect this week. Alright boys, he’s sorry he ruined Good Fun Punching Time but there is actually work to be done.]

We’re trying to do something about that - Players who think Killing them all is the only thing to do - by the way.

[Newt visibly relaxes as Magnus puts the phone away. Okay, now they're actually talking.]

Yeah, I trust you. You have the phone, after all, and you're pissed off about Jacopo. That's enough for me. But, um, glad we're on the same page.

[Sort of. He hesitates again.]

And... That was bullshit, by the way. I think you know already, but Hermann helped me. I killed him in the end, yeah, but... [He sighs.] Keep that to yourselves, okay? Please. If you do want to use all this against me and out me to everyone, fine. I guess I can't stop you. But Hermann needs to see this thing through to the end. Our world depends on it.

[Aaanyway. Yeah, there's work to be done.]

Whatever you're up to, I'm in. I, uh, have a feeling I'm not going to be around for much longer, but I've been trying to learn more about the Composer. I've got some things in the works.

You get that if you get executed, he goes down, too, right? And that might be what happens this week. If there's only one murder to solve, and the person we have to execute is one of those two, then - well, whether we out you or not, enough people know the truth by now that there will be options. And - I'm not saying you deserve it, even. But the Ducks are kids.

[...After a second.]

That's their name now, by the way. The Mighty Ducks. And the other team, the one Jacopo and Izaya were on, are the Bad News Bears. I don't know if being friendly with the Bears means you're looking out for the Ducks, but the Bears aren't bad.

Yeah, I’d say that much was pretty obvious. You aren’t like the only dudes with world saving missions though, homie? That’s the whole point of trying to bring back all the Erased. Don’t think it even matters if your deal is like, I really gotta get back to life so I can finish delivering this order of Big Mac sauce, still going to work for it.

[Not really snappish or anything, just. This is the same kinda thing he told Noctis, and he still believes it.]

We do too, if you want to, uh, check-in later. But. Uh. [He twiddles his thumbs, clearly thinking.] Magnus is right. Can’t know for sure, but we probably aren’t the only ones talking. And if you’re serious about helping. [Well.]

Edited 2018-04-11 21:17 (UTC)

[Newt is quiet for a long moment.]

You're asking me to throw myself under the bus so you all have someone to vote for this week.

[He lets out a breath, shaking his head.]

I can't do that.

I mean, that's fair!

[Like, what are you going to do. It's not exactly a no big deal kind of request.]

It may not wind up being exactly up to you, but I get it. Look, I know I hit you, but if I'd gotten that same clue, and I hadn't been talking to Monika and Jacopo, I might've done the same thing you did.

What about the Get Out of Jail Free card? That was yours, right?

Just asking, homie.

[I mean, Taako’s okay with that. He gets it? He kind of expected a no on that one.]

Maybe not, but voting for me would be shooting yourselves in the foot. You'd be losing both me and Hermann. I think we've proven ourselves in terms of usefulness when it comes to the investigations and trials. There... I don't like the idea of voting for someone innocent, but we need to maximize our chances of winning this thing.

[He at least has the decency to know how that sounds, but he stands by his point.]

...What Get Out of Jail Free card? Like a pin or something?

Week 5; Wednesday

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