This is fine. It's fine. We're fine.

[sharpasanarrow]

[Well that was.

Something.

Underneath everyone’s door they’ll find a slip of paper, in shaky calligraphy, that reads:

INVITATION

Meet in the Dining Room.

Do not bring alcohol of any sort.

Upon arrival into the Dining Room it’s clear that this is very much...not a party.

The center of the room is cleared of all tables, and instead has all the chairs arranged in a circle, facing inwards. On the tables pushed to the side are jugs of water, cups, plates of saltines, and several hastily-made pamplets that read on the front ”How to cope with Child homicide” that contains an advisory list:

1. Try not to think about it.
2. Do not get hysterical.
3. Crying is permitted, but keep it within a reasonable volume. (For the consideration of fellow mourners)
4. Maintain civility
5. Do not plunder the belongings of the deceased.
6. No drinking or gambling your sorrows away. Set an example.

Standing in front of one of the chairs already is Mr.Arrow. He clears his throat as people start to slowly come in.]

I gathered you all here because I believed it would be conductive to group morale if we all worked through our feelings regarding recent events. Talk about your feelings with one another, but not with me.

[He steps back a little, out of the circle of chairs, in what seems to be an invitation for people to sit down and discuss with one another.]

Comments

[lusito]

Hmm... that sounds like quite a steep favor to ask for in exchange for just buying me ramen...

[Josh this is not the time for trolling--!!]

[psychopinesis]

[Grr.]

Really, Josh? Can we save negotiations for when people are not in danger of dying?

[lusito]

You seem to forget that we are constantly surrounded by the danger of dying, at least where you and I are concerned.

[The Reaper's game, the game that Joshua had set up in Traverse Town to keep what little he could save of Neku and the others from leaving Joshua the only survivor...]

... I'm working on it. Have been, since the moment you arrived there.

[psychopinesis]

[An eyeroll.]

I've noticed. But you started it.

[Deep down, he does appreciate the effort to save them, even if it was sort of self-serving. But that's why he simultaneously gets along with and hates Joshua. It's very complicated.]

Okay, okay. See if you can hurry it up a bit.

[lusito]

[Ah...]

I take it you haven't forgiven me for that, if you're still holding a grudge after all this time.

[Which, if Neku's smart, he wouldn't. Joshua wouldn't.]

[psychopinesis]

I'm not holding a grudge, but it doesn't mean I've forgiven you. I'm still mad at you.

[At least for the first bullet.]

[lusito]

[There's a pause, and then--]

Good. I would have thought you a fool, if only a few weeks there would make you turn too sentimental on me now.

[But then, it makes perfect sense. If the Neku he's seeing is the same one from Traverse Town...

But, rather than give shape to the thought there, Joshua's tone becomes a little more serious.]

This is not my game, so it has been difficult being able to obtain your location in order to aid you any further than this current means of communication. Even so, we're working on a plan to find you and put an end to these second-rate knock-offs as soon as possible.

[Reaper's Game is better than these murder games, hot take right off the grill here folks]

[psychopinesis]

Don't think I don't want to punch you in the face just because I consider you a friend.

[Because Joshua is also a dick sometimes and totally deserves it.]

I figured it wasn't another Reaper's Game at least. No timer and no missions. I'd say I'll try to keep in contact, but this guy's probably not going to let anyone touch his mirror for a while after this.

[lusito]

[is it weird that Neku is the only person who has expressed a desire to punch Joshua in the face in this entire game--]

He's probably going to want some quality alone time so that he can snapchat with his dead girlfriend, I assume. [JOSH] Regardless, we are afforded another means to see most of what's happening in your game, so if you have a message you want to pass to me but are unable to use the mirror, I might be able to see it nonetheless.

1/2

[psychopinesis]

[He's surprised more people don't want to punch him in the face.]

I guess that works, too.

[It takes a few seconds for him to register exactly what that implies.]

2/2

[psychopinesis]

[And...]

Wait...you're watching us?! How? [WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS? Are he and Hiro right about it being a reality television show?]

[lusito]

I believe your... host thought it would be amusing if some of us could see our friends and family going through the same thing we had to deal with in their last game.

[And yes, he assumes that Neku will understand the implications there too.]

[psychopinesis]

[Sorry Josh, he's hung up for a bit on the possibility of people watching most everything they do.]

It's...it's not! It's creepy!

[Please don't tell him you've watched him sleep or shower. He might start screaming and not stop.]

...So you were in one of these games too.

[lusito]

[oh my god no, he didn't watch you do any of that, he has some standards!!

namely that they don't show any of that, thank God, but still--]

Not too long ago. In fact, I wonder if I can get Hiro to tell me any stories about his brother so that I can embarrass Tadashi with more material sometime.

[Josh you are the worst friend]

Casually threadjacks own thread

[tadaishi]

[From somewhere behind Joshua:]

Joshua, don't you dare!

[lusito]

[oh right you're still in the room]

Tadashi, dear, how long have we known each other? [... Like only a few months Josh--] Surely you can tell by now when I'm joking right? At least in regards to the embarrassment part, because I'm always serious when it comes to wanting to learn more about you.

[Josh can you not]

[psychopinesis]

I thought his brother was-- [Dead, but apparently that's him yelling in the background. Maybe he'll ask Hiro about that later.]

I don't know. Ask Hiro about that.

[lusito]

I certainly will sometime, when I have a chance to speak with him.

[Which is probably "never" now, at the rate Joshua is going with annoying Tadashi here--]

Until then, do try to stay alive: it would be a hassle having to change plans and come get you from the Underworld if you end up dying on me here.

[psychopinesis]

...Right, got it. 'Try not to die'. Go hang out with your...whatever he is back there and I'll catch you later.

[Sorry not sorry Tadashi.]

[lusito]

[There's a pause, and then--]

There's no need to be jealous, Neku: as my closest friend, there's still a spot in my heart just for you, dear.

[... Please just hang up on him before your so-called "best friend" embarrasses you further.]

[darnsitall]

👀

[psychopinesis]

OKAY...I'm just leaving. Right now.

[And to Beast:] How do you hang this up? Turn it off? Whatever. [And to Joshua:] Bye, my turn's over, someone else can go.

[lusito]

[Hee Hee]

See you later, partner.