week 3 ( sunday )

[subordinacy]

[Hold himself together—he has to hold himself together. Don't show weakness, don't show weakness repeats itself in his head like a mantra, even as he knows he's already failed.

(He wants to cry, scream, hit something—anything. But he can't.)

He can't afford to mope. He just has enough time for the mask of ice to settle, before he seeks out Akira.]

What did you tell Ichigo, exactly?

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[on Sunday, Akira can be found nursing a soda from McDonald's, leaning against the side of a building as he watches shadow people pass by. when Setz approaches, he stands up a little straighter]

. . . what do you mean?

[subordinacy]

[Setz's expression and voice are utterly devoid of emotion.]

You discussed your role with him—or to the extent that you're able to, given your limits. Or, so I assume. What did you say to him?

[purrtagonist]

[ah]

[well, the gossip mill of Shibuya is almost as impressive as the gossip mill back home. Akira's mouth twitches, but his expression stays neutral, too]

Everything I told you, Setz. Nothing more, nothing less. The four ways to end the game, my suspicions about us needing to hit the time limit to achieve a neutral end, and. . . everything I could say about myself, within my constraints.

Why?

[subordinacy]

[...]

They know about you knowing about Ichigo. I can only surmise he went back to them and relayed the message.

[purrtagonist]

Mmm. Yeah.

[there's a. . . pause, but Akira sucks in a deep breath and decides that he and Setz have goals that are aligned well enough for him to be honest about this]

I don't know what he told them, exactly, but he said he couldn't pretend to be shocked when they scanned me on Monday. So he had to go back to them and pretend he suspected me.

. . . that's all.

[subordinacy]

... Then you might want to confirm with him again as to what he said to them, as it's entirely possible more than that happened.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . ?]

What. . . makes you say that?

[subordinacy]

I can't say. [Don't make him say any more than he already has, please.] I don't even really know what happened.

[purrtagonist]

[opens his mouth to ask, but then shuts it again with a click, looking. . . conflicted]

Setz. . .

[he pushes away from the wall to face him fully]

. . . I'm not going to be able to convince them to work with me if they doubt my intentions.

[subordinacy]

I don't think they even care about your intentions.

[And finally, his expressionless mask falters.]

... Everything I said before still stands—about your chances of convincing them. There's nothing I can do about this, Akira.

[If anything, he's worried that his own involvement is just making things worse.]

[purrtagonist]

Then they should give a shit about the Players and the Erased.

[his grip on his drink tightens, knuckles white]

They can kill me, for all I care. My life isn't what's important, except in the context that I need to stay alive long enough to bring this Game to a neutral end.

[via. . . the time limit or even through another method that they don't know exists just yet]

I'm not. . . asking you to get involved past your comfort point. I'm not asking you to get between us, or to choose sides, or act as a liaison, or anything like that.

But however low my chances are of convincing them? I have to at least try.

[subordinacy]

Yeah. I don't disagree with that. And if you want me there, or if you don't—I'll do whatever you think is best for the result we want.

[Everything's already in pieces, anyway. His comfort isn't worth anything.]

I just... [I just don't know what to do. He doesn't say that, though—this isn't about him.] Does Ichigo support you, at least?

[purrtagonist]

[he breathes out deeply, forcing himself to relax]

He does.

[thankfully. Akira had been worried about that one, since they're partners]

I don't know how much sway he has with them. Nor do I know exactly what he told them after we met.

. . . but I think he's going to try to convince them to at least meet with me. That's. . . the important part.

[subordinacy]

... Let's hope it helps. As things are, they have an overwhelming advantage. They have little to lose by revealing even one of their members.

But... they're convinced, somehow, that you knowing about Ichigo is going to cost them the entire Game.

[Either there's still so much that Setz doesn't understand or emotions were flying rather high.]

[purrtagonist]

[HE JUST. . . LOOKS. . . tired]

. . . because they don't know that the right answer just may be for them to not win. That it just might be to keep us alive.

[he looks away, swirling his drink in his hand, once again leaning against the wall]

What do they think I'm going to do? Start picking them off, one by one? Start telling Players who they are? Fuck.

[he lifts a hand, slipping it under his glasses to rub at his eye]

I'm not going to do any of that. It wouldn't help anyone.

[subordinacy]

That's what I thought.

[That Akira wasn't about to start a hunt even knowing their identities. If he does, then—although Setz can understand why, it'd be...]

If they won't meet with you... I'll—I'll do whatever it takes to get them to accept. I'll pull every string I possibly have.

[He doesn't have much. Still, if he has anything...]

[purrtagonist]

[a witch hunt-- especially in this atmosphere-- wasn't what Akira wanted. for his group of Reapers, or the other]

I-- [he thunks his head back against the wall, eyes slipping shut, mind wandering to the impossible task that lies before him. to the knowledge that this may be a wall he can't surpass. that he may die, regardless of his efforts, because the chances of everyone in this game coming together to push for a neutral end were zero to none from the very beginning]

[he swallows thickly, and nods]

. . . thanks.

[. . .]

Please don't-- tell them Ichigo was lying. The last thing he needs is to have his comrades doubting him.

[subordinacy]

Don't worry, I won't. It's not like I really know what Ichigo even said to them, at any rate.

[...

He pauses, before—and it's stupid and childish, he knows, so it might just be a slap in the face to Akira—he pulls out a braided bracelet and hands it to Akira.]

... I got this from the egg hunt we did yesterday. I think... they may have been gifts from the Erased—I don't know.

[But even if they weren't, then this one, at least, is from Setz to Akira.]

Keep it. And remember that no matter what happens, no matter how difficult things get... you aren't alone.

[purrtagonist]

[and for a moment, Akira's exhaustion and anxiety melt away into surprise, brows raising and expression going slack. he pauses for a moment, before reaching out and gingerly taking the bracelet from Setz]

[. . .]

[if there was anything Akira was weak to. . . it was gestures like this. receiving trinkets from Confidants and friends alike, to immortalize their interactions. tiny reminders of the bonds he has forged, and will continue to forge for as long as he is able]

[Akira Kurusu will now die for you, Setz]

It's cute. I'll remember that, every time I look at it.

[he says with a grin, before he slips it past his hand and onto his wrist. he's gonna wear it in public now!!]

Do you like coffee, Setz?

[this is related]

[subordinacy]

[NO DYING FOR HIM. THAT WASN'T THE INTENTION.

He looks a little caught off-guard by the question, but—]

Um... it's fine? I haven't really drunk a lot of it...

[purrtagonist]

[NO PROMISES, HE IS LIKE PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE RIGHT NOW. which, you know, is canon]

You just haven't had real coffee, that's all. This way.

[and he turns on his heel to lead Setz towards the McDonald's!]

[subordinacy]

[He's still very ??? but sure, he'll follow.]

[purrtagonist]

[into the building in which McDonald's resides! and straight to the McDonald's. . . bathroom. . .?]

We hid those eggs, by the way.

[right, let him confirm that, since Sipp said that I could]

The Conductor told us to. I don't know where they came from, though.

[subordinacy]

[Why... are they going to the bathroom...]

Really? Well, they obviously weren't from Max, at least... Actually, when I asked him about them—he reacted about how you'd expect.

[i.e. with complete and utter exasperation over his superior's whims.]

[purrtagonist]

[you'll see. . .]

[he places his McDonald's soda down on the counter and moves to one of the steel, removable trash cans that are inlaid into the wall]

Haha, he was annoyed, wasn't he? Especially about the one found in his hoodie?

[hehe]

I think. . . they really were from the Erased, but the Conductor wouldn't confirm.

[annnnd he pulls the removable trashcan from the wall to reveal a space behind it! in which Akira has hidden one (1) stolen coffee maker and one (1) container of stolen coffee beans from Wildkat. at least both are covered with plastic bags so they don't get dirty, but ya know]