withsadness | Week 5, Post-Execution: Max

[he's just going to plop down next to her]

Your coloring technique could use some work.

[wow, max.]

It's abstract expressionism!

[Okay.]

Do you like to color, Max?

Maybe when I was two.

[art is for others? clearly? anyway, he's here on business? :/]

What's your Composer like, Mary? Your real one, not Anthy.

[Mary laughs like it was a joke and not a biting comment, then closes her sketchbook. She hums to herself as she thinks over his question, tilting her head from one side to the other.]

Kind of a wet noodle, I guess!

That sucks.

[he tilts his head a bit as he regards her]

You ever think about becoming Composer for your own Game?

[Mary can't help but look surprised at the question.]

Not really, but this is only my second game as a Reaper. Do you think I'd do a good job? I'd do it if it was fun!

[It's probably not fun, but Max probably realizes that her definition of "fun" isn't always like, normal.]

I do, actually. You're a bit... eh, let's go with "raw" right now, but I think with the right guidance, you'd make a good Composer.

[he leans forward a little bit]

And I've kind of been looking around for someone to replace mine.

[Oh. Wait. Oh! She's picking up what he's putting down.]

I'll do it.

[Mary be subtle, you're jumping the gun a little bit.]

I mean...what would I have to do?

[he takes her sketchbook to lightly bonk her on the head with it]

Hey. Actually think about this shit. Don't pull with me what you pulled with Assassin.

[ah. he's not softening that blow.]

This might not be the only offer you get. If shit goes well, maybe other people will invite you to their Games without you having to do anything like killing someone else's Composer. And maybe this offer will fall through because shit doesn't go well, but we'll see that soon enough.

There's upsides and downsides to being Composer, too. It's a lot of work. You have to judge people and pick who lives, who dies, how the Game is played, who joins your ranks... You can't let anyone dictate how you act as Composer. It's all on you. I'd be there, obviously. I'm kind of a guide for Composers. But that's it. It'd be your choices.

The point is, think about what you would want. For real.

[God, don't rain on her parade! She starts pouting, but at least she actually looks like she's taking this more seriously and not getting to ahead of herself.]

Okay, I'll think about it. How long do I have to figure it out?

[It's hard for her to believe that anyone else would really offer to take her along with them after the absolute merciless betrayal she committed (even if it was in someone else's name), but if Max says she might, she'll have to keep that in mind. It does bring up another question, though.]

How come you wanna get rid of the one you already have?

Until the end of this Game. So ... two weeks. Maybe less, depending on how things go.

[he... shrugs. The time limit is eight weeks but who knows... if the mods... will change that??? at her follow up question, he just shrugs.]

He's an evil piece of shit who killed all of my friends to get revenge on probably the only adult who was ever not a total jackass to me.

[Well. That's. Uh. Blunt.]

I can't take the job for a bunch of reasons, so I was trying to find someone to replace him before I was volunteered for this Game.

[We don't know a thing at all????]

That's horrible! What a piece of shit!

[He said it first so it's fine.]

Are you gonna ask other people, too?

[She needs to know what competition she has to eliminate--er, consider with no dubious intent.]

I fucking know, right?

[Max is a good example?]

In this Game? Fuck no. [max, looking at potential prospects: hm. yikes.] I can find someone else outside of it if I have to. It's what I planned to do once everything was down, bullshit pending.

[but she's his pick right now, is what he's saying]

[She's his number one pick!!! She can't help it, she's smiling a little bit. A lot of a little bit.]

Well, whatever happens...I'm glad you asked me.

[his only pick to be real but. sh. that's too feelings-y]

You should be.

[he's joking. (probably.) he hands back her sketchbook since he no longer has to bonk her]

You're a good kid, Mary. A little bit messed up, but I've never met a kid who wasn't majorly fucked up in one way or another.

[max you're ten]

I think working with you would be... fun.

I do, too.

[She's glad that he didn't want to stop being her friend after what she did. She's glad that maybe she won't have to be alone like she thought she would. All of a sudden, even though she felt so sad not so very long ago, things feel much brighter. In the end, as long as you have someone, it doesn't matter what happens all around you.

At least, that's always been her truth. All she's ever needed was one.]

I can get better at knitting, and we'll leave body doubles everywhere, and it would be really funny!

Knitting doubles of Players and Noise, too. Freak 'em out a little bit.

[but look, he pokes her again]

But seriously. Think on it. This is a permanent move we're talking about.

I like the idea of a permanent move over a temporary one. I don't like when things end.

[Anthy told her that everything has to end, but...even if it's logical or correct, that doesn't necessarily mean that Mary wants it.]

But I will. I'll think it over very seriously and give you a very serious answer!

Everything ends some day. But getting some extra time isn't a bad thing.

[that's saying a lot from mister "death will be nothing and it'll be great]

Okay, good. Make sure you seriously think about it. We'll still be friends no matter your answer.

[he is ... calling her... a friend.... gasp]

[I'm sorry, Max. A hug is happening. She can't stop herself, even though he knows he's not the touchy-feely type. Her sketchbook falls from her lap as she flings her arms around him.]

Friends no matter what! It's a promise!

[ WHY THIS

He kind of stands there awkwardly letting it happen for a second before he pats her on the back a few times. But he doesn't remove her!!! Progress. ]

... Yeah, yeah, don't make such a big fucking deal out of it. I wouldn't have offered the other thing if we weren't, christ.

[This is the hell that he's chosen to (potentially) live with.]

Okay! I won't! It'll be our secret!

[One final squeeze for good measure and then she lets him go. This is fine. This is gonna be fine!!!]

The friend part isn't a secret. ...But yeah, keep the other one to yourself.

[obv...iously... either way once she lets go, he shoves his hands back in his hoodie :/ comfort pose]

Week 5, Post-Execution: Max

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject