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[judicialassistant]

choose your own adventure.

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[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.]

[judicialassistant]

I see.

[ So she noticed. Though she did not have much time to take in his outfit that night, she can certainly see what he was going for, particularly now that he's said as much. How . . . unsettling. ]

In that case, I can only promise that we will care for him to the best of our abilities. [ So we won't be requiring your services, thanks! ] Please feel free to come see for yourself... if you'd like.

[ Yikes. She feels a pang of regret immediately, but it's not like either of them would be able to stop him from seeing Jack, so perhaps this is for the best. ]

[b_a_n_g]

You and your family keep him alive, and you may call on my services once.

[So he decided to give her and her family one favour of him. It was the neighbourly thing to do, right? Also, he doubted she would want to use his services.]

Don't worry. I'll be the one making certain he doesn't sneak out too often.

[judicialassistant]

[ What does that meaaaan? After their history with assassins, she really doesn't want to think about his services, or ever considering them. Still... she supposes she doesn't really know yet, what kind of patient Jack would be once he got a little more of his strength back, so the offer is vaguely threatening, but--well.

Christ, just say thanks, Susato. ]

Thank you, sir. [ Whatever "making sure" entails, she will quietly leave it at that. ]