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Week 1, Tuesday
[once the game is announced properly, Joshua decides giving Neku time to adjust to the setting and the people might be a good idea. Not to say he didn't keep an eye on his proxy-- if he's even his and not some alternate, but for the sake of keeping things in check he's assuming-- but he left him to his own devices for a bit. Now, though, he figures it's time to go ahead and "properly" ally himself with him.
(having to take a different approach to Neku is ... interesting and annoying at once, but he'll make do.)
so that's why he walks up to him in whichever secluded area he's currently occupying with this:]
Hello there, Neku. Could we talk?
(having to take a different approach to Neku is ... interesting and annoying at once, but he'll make do.)
so that's why he walks up to him in whichever secluded area he's currently occupying with this:]
Hello there, Neku. Could we talk?
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when he hears josh approach—he's still wearing his headphones, but it's mostly as of habit as his mp3 player is still out of commission—he does not immediately acknowledge his presence. he only glances at the other boy out of the corner of his eye.]
(This kid again... I can't say I'm surprised, though. We were both Players.)
[after a moment's pause, he turns to properly give joshua his attention.]
About what?
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[he makes a show of huffing when he says it, pushing a lock of hair as he looks away, though he doesn't have to pretend to sound annoyed. He is annoyed. This entire scenario is annoying.]
The both of us have a pretty big disadvantage stepping into this, don't we?
[it's a lead-on question not unlike the kind he'd usually ask, but with a dialed down attitude-- because it's a delicate balance he has to strike with Neku right now. He doesn't have the advantage this game, via info OR powers, and without the pact tying them together Neku has literally no obligations towards him. He needs to convince him to work together, because if he dies here Joshua doesn't know that he could recuperate his Soul, and that'd be...even more annoying. Not to mention Joshua honestly believes working with Neku would be-- well, they don't make a half-bad partners, disagreements aside.
so he's playing a bit of a part, even more than with everyone else.]
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did mr. h really talk him up enough to joshua to make the other player seek him out specifically?]
Don't we all? Hell, it's not like we haven't died before.
(Kind of a prerequisite of the Reaper's Game, last I checked.)
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[--implying he thinks neku is. he huffs and looks away]
Amongst other things.
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[it's something he needs to establish, considering Neku's first game participation was all about his memories, from what Hanekoma reported.]
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I want to go back to Shibuya and get my damn entry fee back, if that's what you're trying to get at.
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I kind of hate how freaking vague you keep being.
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[that's probably the most truth that will happen in this conversation, because he follows it up with this:]
The truth is, Mr. H. told me about you because I was the same way. I didn't "trust" my partner.
[and here's where the narrative josh made up kicks in. similar to the one where he said he wanted to "jack" shibuya, it's mostly bullshit with a little bit of truth sprinkled in.]
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all he's ever cared about is himself; screw everyone else, right?]
...so what, you think that means I'm supposed to trust you?
(I wouldn't trust EITHER of us for that reason, honestly.)
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[is that even a lie? who's there to trust? Joshua is only ever in contact with his Producer and Conductor. He trusts them to do their jobs. Does that count? Does trusting in Neku's ability to win for him count? Either way, this is the answer that'll resonate better with Neku, he's pretty sure. That's what's important.]
But we've got similar goals, and you've made it quite clear how you feel about everyone else here with those headphones of yours. I'm the same way. When it comes to people... I'd rather be rid of them.
[#nukeshibuya]
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he shakes it off quickly enough. it takes a fraction of a second to recompose himself and return to his indifferent attitude, maybe with a hint of irritation in his voice.]
Just get to the point already. What are you trying to ask me? To get rid of everyone here together so we can get back to Shibuya?
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[and-- he needs to fully sell this, so--]
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Of course, by coming to you first with this, I'm leaving myself completely open to betrayal. There's nothing stopping you from just outing me to everyone else in this place. I'm hoping you'll pick otherwise, since I came to you instead of my "partner" for good reason. It's entirely up to you, though.
[maybe the nervousness is a little bit real at that last one. you know what sucks. not being kind of omniscient. that fucking sucks.]
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...again, it's hanekoma's trust in joshua that stops him from outright ditching the other boy. neku owes a lot to hanekoma, and joshua does seem to genuinely escape this game as much as he does.
"do what you want, how you want, when you want." what is it he wants out of this potential alliance?]
...What do you mean, trying to break the game?
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so playing fair has never been part of joshua's philosophy, even back during the reaper's game, neku notes. in a way, he can respect that—instead of helplessly playing by the rules and being at the hosts' whims, why not attempt to smash the cycle altogether? it's a very cat thing to do.
maybe they could have more than just acquaintance by association in common after all.]
Didn't strike me as the kind of person who plays by the rules, anyway. (And given that the rules straight up mean killing other people AND playing a murder mystery game...)
[he takes a second more of hesitation, but he's honestly made up his mind already. he just doesn't want to come off as eager, because he's anything but. if anything, it's for survival.]
Fine. Deal. Just don't expect me to automatically get involved in every crazy scheme you come up with. I get to choose what I do and what I don't, got it?
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I'm not sure if I should be grateful you agreed or worried you did while thinking I've got "crazy schemes" planned out.
[neku JUST accepted and can absolutely take it back but look. josh has to establish who he is as a person he can't lie that much.]
Don't worry about it. I didn't ask to rob you of your agency. I'm just self-aware enough to know as much as I'd want to go it alone, with everything being about "partnership", that's not going to be possible. [and then, wryly:] Not to mention, since a vote is apparently involved, half of this game is going to be a popularity contest, and I'd almost rather die than have to play nice.
[neku earned at least one truth]
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[but joshua's got a point. there's no getting around the fact that survival on your own will lead to anything but an early or easy death. at least in shibuya, he knew the streets and the city, and he wasn't completely at a loss; here, literally all he has is a faint connection to home in the form of joshua.
that's great.]
I'm pretty sure popularity won't do anything to save your ass when there's enough proof to peg you down as a murderer.
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[s h r u g s]
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With as much "righteousness" and "justice" people have been talking about, I'd hope they make the smart choice. Sucks for her that her partner went and messed it up for the both of them. Otherwise, what, screw over an actual innocent person and their partner, too?
[HA HA... HA... things that are extremely ironic in hindsight when you're backthreading]
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(That's taking it too far, even for me... I'm not the greatest person, but I like to think I learned THAT lesson before I got pulled out of Shibuya.)
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