week 4, Monday (chuuya, caren, assassin)

[doublesmall]

[the others are all well and good when it comes to sharing information-- but caren and assassin are the two chuuya trusts the most. they're the ones he thinks to go to after the initial discussion on those notes.]

You two saw those messages too, yeah? Figure we might need to talk about that second one especially-- and what we're going to do from here.

Comments

[shinssin]

[ When was the last time he worked with a team? This is almost nostalgic.

No, maybe this is the moment that he will remember fondly. ]

It's a long shot, but...

In the last leg of the trial, I'll pretend to out myself as a Reaper — the kind that's supposed to protect us. Then I'll out Akira. If we can get everyone to vote for him, Mary and I will be safe. Then we can get Akira killed without getting the blood on our hands.

[doublesmall]

--are you sure about that? What if the ones that're supposed to protect us know who they all are, huh? If any of them aren't on our side after all...

[chuuya's fingers clench, tightening into a reflexive fist at the thought. that could get him outed as lying, cast suspicion back on him and end up getting him killed just the same.

but it'd require a reaper to say they are one to prove assassin isn't, wouldn't it.]

If it's a risk you're set on taking, I'll... I'll back you up. I can just say you've told me your name after all-- but either way, you might have to just pick a fake name in case you have to prove you weren't missing it.

[sexorcism]

That is a significant risk you'd be taking. [Never mind a name; if all Reapers have wings, she wonders if some of the more skeptical among them would ask to see them, forcing him to admit there are none.

Her hand stays on his shoulder a little longer, until its weight and warmth feels completely natural. If he gives them a fake True Name, she'll make sure she remembers it.]

But you've realized it too, haven't you? Whoever comes forward to defend him most vehemently runs a high chance of being the other one we're looking for.

[shinssin]

Bingo. Makoto and Yusuke are friends from his world. They'd naturally defend him, Reaper or not. He says he doesn't like killing, you know? It's against his nature.

[ He draws circles in the air, then points at Caren. ]

But whoever joins 'em... that's who we're after.

[ The perfect net with the perfect bait.

well i just have to be awake for it to happen but

Anyway, their eagerness to back him up worries him. Not because he thinks they're lying... He just wishes he could stay with them longer than this Game will allow. ]

Well, maybe calling myself a Reaper's too much. I'll just be whatever Monika's supposed to be. It's just hard when I don't know what to call her, you know?

[doublesmall]

We'd call her a broker, in the mafia-- well. Nah, she's not really selling anything, so maybe she's just an informant...?

Either way, I like it better than claiming you're a Reaper. There's ways to disprove being one, but it's harder to say you don't just have sources that gave you a name.

[they've already lost one of their four, and chuuya would prefer not to make it two. not just because he's an ally or because he's trusted, but because he's someone chuuya genuinely likes.]

[sexorcism]

You could pass as someone like Monika. You have a face that some are inclined to trust, for some reason.

[It's a relief, albeit a surprising one, for both of them to be cautious with what they're proposing. Neither Assassin nor Chuuya are completely jumping into things headlong, which makes managing the plan between all three of them a little easier.]

Given the number of unknown elements, I'd advise choosing a few people to observe closely, instead of us all trying to monitor everyone.

1/3

[shinssin]

Oh, good idea, Master. That'll be easier now that we know who Akira's friends are, too. Anyway, everyone likes a handsome guy! I've been doing my best to earn everyone's trust, you know? Even if I'm like this, I'm super charming!

[shinssin]

But Chuuya makes a good point. I still need to prove I'm not just a Reaper trying to get Akira killed. That's why I need your help.

Chuuya, Caren, I found a copy of Water Margin in the bookstore. My name's blurred out. My titles, too. The Game really took it all away. It's solid proof I'm not a Reaper. There's just one problem...

[shinssin]

I'm poor.

[doublesmall]

-what, so you need help getting a copy? If that's all it is, we can take care of that.

[if that's the one that he's from, it would be absolutely worth it, especially if it could be used to prove he's clear.

and besides:]

If we do, though... I want to borrow it from you later. Seems like it'd be good reading material, you know?

[of course chuuya wants to know more about it. about him, particularly.]

[sexorcism]

Water Margin? So you did find it after all... [She can only imagine what it must feel like to be so close to the answer and yet completely barred from it.

She'd felt a little like that, surrounded by all those spiritual books int he store, but she knows it can't be anything like what he's feeling.

Almost imperceptibly, Caren squeezes Assassin's shoulder before finally releasing it.]

Consider it done. Maybe you'll get lucky, and someone more familiar with the literature can use the process of elimination to find you.

1/2

[shinssin]

I hope so. Feels like no one can.

[Caren's gesture comforts him, but there is a certain sorrow and frustration in forgetting who you are when no one else can seem to remember.]

Thanks, Chuuya, Caren.

[shinssin]

... God, I hope none of us are framed this week.

[doublesmall]

-if we are, we'll deal with it, right? We just have to prove it wasn't us, and if we could manage last time...

We'll just have to do it again. They won't pin us down that easily.