completelycrazy | week 5 - setz

[... Huh.

Setz crosses his arms, looking at Newt in the eye.]

Unlike Monika, I don't care about revenge, and I'm not convinced that you were responsible. [He tilts his head.] With that said, it's not as if we've spoken often, so "trust" is a bit much to ask.

[He nods.]

Fair enough. For what it's worth, I trust you. It takes real guts to come forward with information that could easily get you killed, to sign your name to that kind of thing.

We've reached a point where risks have to be taken. Anonymity wasn't doing much good.

True, but the fact that you're willing to take that upon yourself is still... I don't know. Noble, I guess. Selfless. A lot of words that don't apply to me.

[At least he's honest?]

That's not saying I don't want to save everyone. I do, but I'm not about to stand up in front of everyone and spill everything I know. [...] What are your thoughts on Jacopo as a Reaper? Clearly you two were close, so... I'm sorry in that regard. But all Reapers are a threat to Players, aren't they?

[...]

You're not entirely wrong. Jacopo wasn't... especially concerned about the fates of others, at first. He just wanted to win.

[He's quiet, looking rather uncomfortable—because what he says next is more personal than what he'd like to share.]

He changed his mind because he knew I cared.

Edited 2018-04-09 18:39 (UTC)

[Newt chews on his lip for a moment, looking away.]

Yeah, well. Been there, done that, I suppose.

[But, okay, back to the game.]

Anyway, I don't... I don't really care about morals, I guess. Whether or not Jacopo was a good guy, it still sucks that he had to die for the Players to win. Which, yeah, by the way, that's the camp I'm in. I think questioning the game is important, and we need to learn more about the Composer, but ultimately? I think his death was a win for us. Izaya's too.

[...

Setz's tone is calm.]

Were you the one who killed him?

[Newt is quiet for a moment, studying Setz. Hm. Better not think about this too long.]

I thought it was the right move. I didn't torture him, though. I want to make that clear. Sodium pentothal is an anesthetic, first and foremost. The first dose was meant to get him to talk and to keep him from fighting back, and the second was to knock him out before I did it. He felt nothing, okay?

[... Ah.]

[Setz might've been lying just a little when he said he didn't care about revenge, so.

Sorry, Newt, but you're getting a fist to the face right now.]

[Well, at least Newt expected something like this. He lets it happen--not that he'd be quick enough to dodge anyway. He stumbles backward, catching himself on the wall with his right hand and... His left starts to come up to grip his face, but it doesn't quite make it. He winces, swears under his breath. Setz might notice some black fabric wrapped around his palm.

He rights himself and touches his good hand to his mouth. He's bleeding. Great.

He doesn't look that upset about this, though. He had it coming.]

I'm sorry. Believe it or don't, but I am.

[Setz breathes in, breathes out. He reminds himself to hold back, hold back, holdbackholdback—

He's not so selfless to be above murderous thoughts. (This man took away his partner.) He just knows to restrain himself; in the end, it won't solve anything.

And so, once he calms down, he takes a step back. He doesn't intend on doing worse than that.]

I hope those injuries came from him.

[He's quiet for a moment. How much does he tell Setz?

Hm. He supposes it doesn't matter. He's expecting to be dead before the week is out, anyway, and the goal here is to get Setz to trust him. Somehow. Despite what he's just admitted.

He's never been very good at this.]

Izaya, actually. Jacopo got his licks in too, don't you worry.

[He pauses to wipe his lip on his sleeve. Which he has now, by the way. Wardrobe change!]

I'm telling you this in the interest of working together, okay? I'm done trying to fly solo here. Clearly that's not doing anyone any favors.

[His voice is tight.]

Well, I suppose in one way, this is a relief. I thought whoever killed him would go after me this week.

[...]

I'll listen. However, why would you tell this to me, when I've been against taking the Reapers out unless there is no other option?

[Newt lets out a hollow laugh.]

I know the feeling. I thought Monika and Izaya would come after me for sure, but... [Guess not.]

I still think my days are numbered, though. That's why I'm telling you. Maybe we disagree on the methods, but with everything that came out during the trial, well. I'd like to think we can put aside our differences in the interest of getting everyone out of here.

Then? Are you here to convince me that erasing all the Reapers is the best option?

No. I think holding out until the end of the game is our best chance, and ultimately the way to save everyone likely has something to do with figuring out why we're here in the first place. That said, we can get a Player win if we take out the Reapers, and as a Player... The Reapers are going to keep killing. I want some insurance if we're not able to achieve the other two things.

[But he sighs.]

When I decided to kill Jacopo, though... I was more convinced that killing all the Reapers was the way to go. Things have changed, but it's not like I can take it back.

You mean you should've thought about it more before you decided to kill someone? Imagine that.

[... Sorry, Newt. He's trying to keep this civil, but ultimately, he's still pissed off.]

At least one of the Reapers meant to erase us is willing to die if that really is necessary for the Players to be saved—they don't want a Reaper win any more than we want one.

Don't take the likes of Jacopo, Izaya, Dahlia Hawthorne, and Junko Enoshima as representative of the Reapers.

I did think, but I've since learned new information.

[Fair? But also: Don't insult his brains!!]

Hm. Good to know. Why wouldn't they want a Reaper win?

Because they actually don't want to survive only by sacrificing dozens of people?

So, what, does the Player win not actually kill them all permanently either?

From what I understand, the rules of erasure that apply to us apply to them as well. You're making this more complicated than it is.

The Reapers were given duties. In one faction's case, that duty is to erase Players. However, the remaining Reapers of that faction don't intend to carry out that role to the last. Right now, they're simply trying to buy time—by not getting erased and therefore triggering endgame prematurely—so that we can figure out how to save everyone.

If it turns out they have to die for the ideal end, then they'll accept that fate.

[Setz gets a little bit of a look at the comment about overcomplicated, but Newt will let it go. He rarely lets anything go. Appreciate this, Setz!!!]

Well, I suppose that's good to know. It's not like they can stop killing in the meantime, though. Obviously that's not ideal, but I get it. And I guess it's worth it if it means we can save everyone in the end. [He's not happy about that either, but these are just facts.]

How are they choosing their victims from this point forward, then? And what about the other faction?

[Thanks, Newt??]

I haven't discussed that with them—I don't know if they're even allowed to talk about it—but I imagine their focus will be people who pose an active threat to them. That is, people who would, perhaps, prioritize revenge above all else.

[... There might be some complications with that, but, well. They'll see by the end of the week.]

As far as I know, the other faction is simply choosing not to make a move, though I can't guarantee whatever Jacopo was up to before you killed him.

[...]

Also, I have a question for you.

Edited 2018-04-12 16:21 (UTC)

Izaya told me that Jacopo was working against the truce, and that things would move along more smoothly with him out of the way. Not sure how true that is, but... I don't see why he'd have a reason to lie about that.

[He can't even begin to claim to understand Izaya and his weird motivations though.]

...Shoot.

... Izaya told you that?

[What?]

You successfully pulled off an erasure and got away with it. What did you ask for as a reward?

He did, yeah. It surprised me too. I thought they were close, and I mean, he came after me so hard at the trial... [He shrugs. He really doesn't know what to make of it.]

And, um. It... Wasn't worth it, if I'm being honest. Like I said, I thought I was doing the right thing, but everything that came out of this just ended up being worthless. Stuff we already knew, stuff that doesn't matter.

[He sighs. He's more outwardly bent out of shape about Jacopo's death meaning nothing than killing him in the first place.]

I learned about Jacopo in the first place through a hint given to me by another Player. Or, well, by Max, but it was the Player's reward for getting away with murder. Caren. She... I guess she gave Max a list of Players she felt were trustworthy, and asked him to choose one to give a hint to about a Reaper's identity. He chose me, for whatever reason. I, um, I asked for the same thing. Not necessarily to ask another Player to kill, though. I just figured... Information is our greatest asset here, you know? I thought we needed it.

I tried to take it back and ask for something else once I realized I was wrong, but Max wouldn't let me. [...] And for the record, Max knew I was planning to kill a Reaper and hadn't sussed out a target yet. He still gave me the hint. That... That has to mean something, right?

[This is why you don't murder people, Newt.]

What, that he has nefarious intentions and wants us all to murder one another? He's a neutral party in this Game. He's not on our side or against it.

I doubt he personally went, "Newton wants to kill a Reaper, so I'm going to help him." In the same vein, though, he wouldn't have gone, "Newton wants to kill a Reaper, so I have to screw him over."

[HE HAS REGRETS OKAY??

i don't tho i'm living]

...I guess you're right. I don't know. I just don't want Jacopo's death to be for nothing. I hope Izaya wasn't feeding me bullshit about him holding up the truce, or something.

[Both for his own peace of mind and for the game at large, honestly.]

Look, I know this probably isn't worth much, but I'm sorry I put you in danger, too. It was a calculated move... I, uh, was banking on a Reaper kill for the week, since those seem to be inevitable. I figured you and that victim's partner could team up.

[Flatly,]

I don't care that you put me in danger.

[Regardless of Jacopo's dying wish.

It's the whole "you murdered Jacopo, period" thing.]

[Well, fair.]

All the more reason why working together is important, right? Save everyone, and all. I've messed up, I know, but I'm telling you the truth now. All of it.

[That has to count for something...?]

[...]

I'll be telling a few people I trust what you've told me. [In part as insurance, in case anything happens to Setz this week.] I don't think you deserve to die for what you've done, so I have no intention of getting you lynched, but you don't deserve to have this kept secret either.

That's a condition for working together.

[Newt presses his lips into a tight line. He can't argue with those terms, though.]

I don't like that, but okay, you do what you have to do. I have a feeling half the game knows already, anyway.

[and whose fault is that newton???]

Just leave Hermann out of it, okay? This isn't on him.

Did he know at all?

I told him afterward. After the investigation. That's... I made up the stupid story about him trying to kiss me.

[A move of desperation he's clearly embarrassed about after the fact, whoops.]

He figured it out pretty easily since I'd talked to him about wanting to take out the Reapers a couple weeks back. We did meet on Friday, but only so he could yell at me about being an idiot. In the end, he agreed to cover for me. We're partners, and all.

... Understood. I won't bring him up.

[Newt nods.]

Thank you. I guess, uh, we're about done here then. For now.

[Unless there's anything else Setz wants from him.]

... Yeah. [...] Thanks for telling the truth.

[He just... shrugs.]

I figured I owed you that much.

[Later, Setz. Sorry about slamming betray!!]

week 5 - setz - monday

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