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[judicialassistant]

choose your own adventure.

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[b_a_n_g]

He survived. That's all that matters.

[In the end, much of the healing would have to come by 76 himself. Just patching the old asshole together was generally enough to get him up and moving again.]

You mentioned you weren't a nurse. What are you studying to be?

[judicialassistant]

[ All that matters? Reaper would set the bar so low? Susato is almost offended on 76's behalf, but she can't claim to understand whatever these two have. ]

I am studying law. Though I don't imagine that would be of interest to a soldier like you.

...You are a soldier, are you not?

[b_a_n_g]

[If he had low expectations, he wouldn't be disappointed. And 76's survival meant that he wouldn't have to go full homicide mode, so it was good for all involved.

Reaper's hand writing didn't change, but he still found himself offended.]

A soldier like me.

[Big uncultured stupid guy with a gun, was he?]

You're already sounding like a lawyer.

[judicialassistant]

...Do I?

[ She is confused. There is nothing to indicate that he was offended (handwriting-wise), but she is still nervous somehow. Like she shouldn't even be talking to him, after the warnings she has received, but-- ]

I suppose it doesn't matter if I do. [ Between being stuck here in Reverein, and being a woman in 19th century Japan, not actually allowed to be a lawyer. ] When you say it like that, I guess I don't actually know anything about you. Maybe you do have an interest in law.

[b_a_n_g]

Doesn't it? If law is that important to you, you should keep studying. Maybe someday you can represent me in court.

I'm sure you know what people tell you.

[judicialassistant]

It is important.

[ At the time, she'd made a grave side promise that it would be the first and the last time she would stand in court. Maybe if her father did ever get some sort of council or common laws in place, things could be different, though. ]

But... people don't tend to tell me much.

[ Want the truth? Dance Fight for it. It'll be worth it. ]

[b_a_n_g]

Then it is good you'll continue to educate yourself, so you can help such a common soldier such as I in future.

[Since she had offended him, he wasn't about to make anything easy on her. He had come to extend the olive branch of a favour in a time of need, but he had reconsidered now.]

If you want information, you can't expect it to be handed to you. Maybe you should consider eavesdropping as a hobby.

[judicialassistant]

That, or a good spot of honest investigating will usually do the trick.

[ She has learned not to expect her clients to always be cooperative, over her short year overseas. Either way, his sarcasm is noted; she isn't expecting any olive branches or favors (or ease) but she doesn't exactly want to antagonize him either. ]

I don't see 76 as a common soldier, and certainly not you. My apologies.

[b_a_n_g]

Considering how little law enforcement exists, honest investigation might be difficult to find.

[It was basically the Wild Wild West out there. It wasn't as if he expected to be brought to any sense of justice in this place.]

He's usually too stubborn to die at least.

[judicialassistant]

[ They talked about that, her and Yujin and Kazuma. It was totally a great conversation to have over Christmas dinner. They've been rather distracted since, though, from the idea of forming a council--or any kind of common law--for obvious reasons. ]

I've noticed that about him. Though I would say he's also had a lot of help.

He tells me you were partners for many... many years. [ A lifetime, even. ]

[b_a_n_g]

Less help these days than before. However, he always had a way to inspire loyalty.

[There was a golden boy comment in there somewhere, but it wouldn't fit as well as when 76 actually had blond hair.]

You said you aren't told things.

[But he will give a little despite his dig.]

We have history. I saved his life; he saved mine.

[judicialassistant]

...I asked this time. Nicely. It doesn't always work.

[ It totally should. Still, she'd been sleep-deprived at the time and about to leave, so she certainly didn't pry as much as she could have. ]

You saved him again. Is it his turn now?

[ Does he keep score nowadays? Was their partnership competitive? ]

[b_a_n_g]

And he regaled you with a tale of military history and all those 'war buddy' stories then?

[He highly doubted that. 76 was usually quite private, though not as much as Reaper was.]

I don't require saving because I'm not a reckless moron. It isn't as if I can die anyway.

[Not long, if at all. He needed to test death in this place.]

[judicialassistant]

[ This should come as a shock. Susato is tempted to ask, "You can't?" but then she does remember that 76 was supposed to be very, very hard to kill due to all the experimentation. ]

I wouldn't say he was that specific. [ Though honestly? He was pretty kind and open to answering questions. She'll go ahead and keep that to herself, though. ] But he did say he's been to hell and back with you.

[b_a_n_g]

[Where 76 was hard to kill, Reaper was far more difficult and didn't tend to stay in such a state.]

Some could call it that. War does tend to resemble some circles of Hell.

[judicialassistant]

[ It makes sense, though Susato, at 16, could not even begin to fathom what war was actually like. This leaves a bit of an awkward pause, where she doesn't really know how to comment, but rather than try and say something else offensive, she just poses another question. ]

Why are you called Reaper?

[ 76 just got a number. Though now that she thinks about it, she wonders if he could have chosen some other name, if he wanted to. Maybe he just preferred the number. ]

[b_a_n_g]

For obvious reasons. When I arrive on mission, death follows.

[It was so dramatic to say, even if it was true. What could he say? He could be a very, very dramatic personality. Also, he dressed in a particular way to solidify that aesthetic.]

Does your name have significance?

[judicialassistant]

[ Her mother, who likely named her, died, and Yujin... wasn't exactly around at the time. It wasn't something she ever thought to ask, so it is interesting to her that a relative stranger would. She kind of wishes she had a better answer. ]

No. Well... [ She hesitates, tapping the quill a few times, but she doesn't change her answer. ] Certainly not in the same way that "Reaper" is significant.

I know someone else who was called that once. But he didn't wear a mask the way you do.

[ She wonders if that is to hide his identity the way 76 is secretive about his name, and wears a visor. (And she thought Lord van Zieks was dramatic.) ]

[b_a_n_g]

But it does have significance to you?

[Now that was interesting. Another Reaper? They would probably have to battle to the death if they ever met. It was a whole there-could-be-only-one type scenario.

Too many Reapers together diluted their potency.]

What did he wear then?

[It better be very dramatic or Reaper would lose all respect for this doppelganger.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Obviously, she thinks, though that thought quickly falls by the wayside. A subtle chill runs down her spine for no reason in particular, and the voice in her head is suddenly very loud: be as vague as possible, and lie if you have to. ]

Do you happen to be familiar with upper class British fashion?

[ Specifically from the 19th century, but she actually doesn't think to specify. ]

[b_a_n_g]

It depends on the time period. I'm familiar with many common fashions.

[After all, he and 76 were from the 25th Century.]

[judicialassistant]

...19th century. I saw a lot of cravats.

[ She found it easier to just stick to what she knew, which means she wore her kimono the whole time, despite probably sticking out like a sore thumb for it. ]

He wore a cloak, too. Sometimes. [ Cloaks are dramatic, right? ]

[b_a_n_g]

Fancy neck warmers of silk and cotton.

[Those had thankfully gone out of style where he was from. Those always seemed like a good way to be choked to death.]

Anything that flows has a dramatic effect.

[judicialassistant]

[ That description checks out. It just feels strange to be discussing this sort of topic with him.

For a while, Susato is not sure how to continue, or whether he even wants to. She continues folding the tiny paper cranes she's been working on to place in her bottle charm for Kazuma, but then she finds herself picking up the quill again, asking what she'd been thinking about not long ago. ]

Being called Reaper also carries a rather dramatic effect. Did you choose the name for yourself?

[b_a_n_g]

[Reaper, true to his name, was sitting in dim light and assessing his situation and who might be a threat or potential interest.]

I did. My whole aesthetic is death from name to outfit.

[In that, he was being honest.]