[Normally any of Ruin's followers would be enough to set Merriment on guard...but this catapult's really friggin' cool. Hopefully Newt realizes this means Merriment is back to playing with it immediately and they're crouched next to one of the fire pits in the snow, letting snowballs fly and checking their distance.
When Newt arrives though they barely look up.]
The houses are warmer. [It's sort of an offer, but the cold never bothered Merriment anyway.] And no promises on a favor, but I'll see what I can do. Newt, right? [A pause, curious.] Should...I be calling you doctor?
[Merriment's had enough time to practice their aim tbh. There's a pleased laugh as the snowball smacks against the base of a tree, but okay, yes, godly things. They should maybe pay attention.]
I'd make it even by telling you mine but seems like I can't. [Weird. But they'll just remember to call him Newt and leave it at that. With that, Merriment loads the catapult again and whatever question they were expecting...it wasn't that.]
...yeah. He's a really good kid. One of the nicest people I've met here. Why?
Mm. Yeah, I heard you guys were stuck using aliases. It makes for a neat aesthetic, but it's a bummer.
[For reasons other than his ulterior motive with Patience, mind you.]
I heard he likes dogs, and I want to build him something.
[He pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to Merriment. He's sketched out some design plans for a robot puppy which is definitely an original design and not a beloved robot pet from the early 2000s.]
Full disclosure: It's leverage for another favor, but I just want him to let me break the "no music" rule. And, since this is gonna come up, I'm not up to anything. I may be on Ruin's team, but I'm not going to dick over a kid.
[He likes Justice?? Justice is trying his best???]
You get used to it after a while. [There's a pause as Merriment takes the paper, unfolding it and looking at what's before them. It's...cute? It's cute, and there's a tilt of their head as they look this way and that.]
He loves dogs. I know he wants a real one, but...[Hm.] Thanks for clarifying that.
[If Newt hurts this child Merriment will find a way to destroy him.] So just curious, why're you trying to break the rule in the first place?
Why do you think I made this place? [A sweeping gesture.] I got bored inside the temple, figured this would be better. After a while...everything feels the same.
[Interesting motive though, Newt.] You're looking for a back-up plan. That's pretty smart. Met with many of us so far? [Are they still examining this dog? Yes.]
...not sure he can change the rule, by the way, but it's worth a shot. The dog'll make him happy at least.
[Newt nods, huffing out a small laugh. He very much can relate to that. Obviously, but, like, at home, too.]
I mean, it's not like I made a very informed decision when I went with Ruin in the first place. I had some ominous names and your masks to go by, but you guys are full of surprises.
[He was not expecting any of the gods to be children, for example.]
Not privately. I've been trying to get in touch with Patience, but she won't call me back. I spoke to Ruin, of course, and Disorder came by to say hello. Got a feeling she regrets not offering me a spot on her team in the first place.
[AS SHE SHOULD. Everyone should regret that? INCLUDING YOU MERRIMENT WHAT'S YOUR DAMAGE???]
Eh, no skin off my back if he can't. I'll give it to him regardless, assuming you can get me the parts to build it. I may be playing for Ruin, but I'm not heartless.
I'm not a huge fan of the way things were done. Twelve creepy masked figures approaching you in a dream with names like Ruin or Sincerity or Cunning, giving you a few minutes to actually make a decision that'll change how the game's played for a wish that's important to you. But there's a reason we're getting the chance to host each week, reasons you guys can pray and get to know us, all that.
[Merriment is maybe kind of bitter about that???]
Patience is pretty picky and hard to get in touch with, but maybe you should--[A pause.] Actually? Keep trying. She'll come around. [No, Merriment just thinks it's hysterical.] I'm not sure how you went from Disorder to me, but I'm guessing that's the whole favor thing.
[It makes them wonder how many other favors Newt might be calling in. Oh well.] Disorder would like you though.
But sure. I'll see what parts I can get you, maybe take them from the lab while he's not looking. You've got a list or am I going off of sketches here?
Hey, as long as you're acknowledging it wasn't a fair opener. I suppose it does put all of us on the same page, though. We started with a disadvantage same as you all.
[It's no surprise that Ruin is doing so poorly in the rankings. He did expect more people to opt for Merriment's team, but maybe everyone interpreted their name to mean something frivolous. Not much sense in competing in a game like this just for some extra fun.
also just admit it merriment totally ships patience and newt.]
Don't worry, giving up isn't in my nature. I figure any god that's gonna use their divine rule to implement "no means no" would give me a firm answer if she wasn't into me.
[Or she's just basking in the attention, but as if Newt would let that get him down.
He tips his head back and forth at the mention of a favor, weighing his options.]
You could say that. We did get along pretty well, but I've liked all of you well enough. The ones I've met, anyway. Truthfully, I probably wouldn't have bothered you this early if you weren't hosting, so I guess that strategy's working. You aren't what I was expecting.
[Which is becoming a running theme.]
I can make a list, sure.
[He waves for Merriment to hand him the paper back.]
Could've been worse. We could've shoved you into a burlap sack and thrown you through a portal to get here. [Merriment can appreciate someone with a go-getter attitude but also yikes please love yourself, Newt. Merriment isn't going to stop him though, it's fine.]
Hey man, it's cool. Whatever's going on between you and here is totally not my business and I'm staying out of that.
[Handing over the paper, Merriment shrugs instead.] We figured that since our numbers were low it made sense for Justice and I to host this week and try to appeal to the masses. Everybody else seems to be doing fine on their own. [Though...] What were you expecting? Wait, wait, let me guess...someone jolly?
[Please make a list so he can check it twice, Newt.]
[i for one am pretty mad about how many santa jokes you were able to squeeze into that tag.]
True. Some folks are really hung up on the downsides of us being here, but I'd rather focus on the positives. After all, we all get to go home unscathed at the end.
[He says it casually enough, but he's eyeing Merriment for a reaction. These masks are annoying.
He takes the paper though, and sets to work scribbling down some basic components. This little robo dog isn't very complex, though Newt's going up make some upgrades from the early 2000s version that he is definitely not ripping off.]
More of a trickster type, actually. I guess you're not not that, but I thought you'd be more overt about it.
Mostly. [Oh?] You'll be physically fine in one piece, all nice and wrapped up with a bow, but the memories are still going to be there. [Hard to see how Merriment feels when there's a mask in the way, but it's safe to say there are definitely feelings there. They turn to watch what Newt's writing down though.] I can get why people are upset. It's free will, but at the same time it isn't.
[There's a chuckle though following that.] Just because you don't see it out in the open doesn't mean it's not happening, Newt. I've had a change in priorities is all. [There's a glance to the catapult though.] But this'll help.
[And they shouldn't bother anyone else, in his opinion. It's definitely that simple.]
Just because we didn't start with all the information doesn't mean it's not free will. We chose to be here, and now that the game's started, we can talk to you guys and move around however we want. It's not like the rankings changed much after last week, anyway, so clearly the majority's happy with their initial decision.
[Or maybe they just don't want to piss off their original god this early, but Newt's going to choose the optimistic approach.]
A change in priorities, huh? How so?
[He hands over the dogbot list. It's all fairly basic stuff, though some of the aesthetic components are a little more specific. He's not sure that the lab has the tools for shaping the body and stuff on his own.]
Yeah? Why's that? [Interesting, compared to someone like Madoka who very specifically asked to keep her memories. But Newt has a point and Merriment nods along.]
Try telling that to some of the others here. You all said yes, you all can still act as you want, but some people are still mad we kidnapped them. [A pause.] Can't say I condone some of the methods people are using around here, but that's…[A wave of the hand.] It's still early. People are still trying to make up their minds.
[They take the paper to look it over.] Well…got a new job offer for one thing. Trying some stuff out, learning some new tricks, and then we started the game.
[There's. Definitely some missing pieces, probably, but whatever.] But my job here is to make sure people don't get trapped in a state of darkness that takes over everything and makes it hard to proceed.
The beautiful thing about a memory is that it's in the past. If whatever happens here doesn't stick, it's just another drop in the bucket.
[He doesn't exactly have the healthiest coping mechanisms, but, like, it's fine.]
Is the job offer this gig? Being a god does sound pretty sweet, I gotta say. Even if you have to go through the motions with this kind of crap.
[But it's the last thind Merriment says that catches Newt's attention.]
You know, I had a feeling the group of you were meant to be in balance. I wish the rest of us shared that outlook, but the way I see it? Love and merriment and so on aren't inherently good things just like ruin and disorder aren't inherently bad. It's not that simple.
Yeah. I guess you're right. [What if we stop talking about memories? Merriment sidesteps the conversation easily.]
Nah, this was the old life…it doesn't really matter, turns out I wasn't that qualified after all. So I was offered this job and I took it to try and make things better. [Newt can't see it, but Merriment lifts an eyebrow behind their mask.]
You might be the first person to say that to me and actually get it. Tell me why you think that is.
Hm. Well, dunno what you were up to back home, but still sounds to me like you made the right choice.
[Again: Being a god sounds pretty sweet.]
Seriously? I mean, cool, but it's not that revolutionary of an idea.
[Then again, Merriment is just one god, so maybe the rest of the competition isn't as dumb as they sound right now. Come on, guys, catch up.]
The way I see it, you guys are more like the Greek gods than the gods in most modern religions. You read as human to me, and people are complicated. If you were some trickster god obsessed with embodying merriment as a concept, that wouldn't make you a very good god. Granted, I haven't talked to all of you, but if you're complex like people? That'll make you a stronger, like, board of directors for your new world.
[That's how he'd set it up if he was in charge, anyway.]
Yeah...I'm starting to think so, too. [Debatable.]
I've never really brushed up on my mythology but that's a pretty good theory you've got there. People are complicated and that's probably a huge factor in why everyone started fighting. We all had befores and afters. They're just different for everybody.
This whole human complexity thing. Does this make it better or worse when it comes to a game like this?
[Newt laughs. It's funny to hear a god say they're not familiar with other mythologies.
He ponders the question a moment.]
Depends on how you define those terms. From where I'm standing, it's better. I'm not a religious guy, and I'm sure as hell not going to stick my neck out for any quote-unquote god just because that's how the game's supposed to be played.
[He's never been great at supporting causes he doesn't genuinely believe in.]
If you're just like the rest of us with some bonus divine perks, it complicates things, but it also makes for a more interesting experience. I'll take that over the alternative any day. The only bummer is I actually like those of you that I've talked to.
[Which makes the competition aspect more challenging. That doesn't mean he intends to back off, but there's a little twinge of guilt that's been nagging at him since after that first trial.]
[This particular god maybe has a reason for that, but now they're curious and may bug the other gods about it.]
You're a really interesting contestant in all of this. [Can't deny that.] There's not too much that I can say because of the divine oath thing--[They even do the air quotes]--but like I said there's a before and an after. I'll let you guess what our befores were like and you can make that decision yourself.
But I can at least say that we had former lives that make this more complicated and interesting. We have our own biases and our own free will. How else would a game like this start?
[...there's a soft, unsure laugh.] The real bummer is that a lot of us like each other and like you guys, too. But it's sort of like--what do you call it? Those big machines where you start one thing and then it just snowballs from there with each part moving because another part started. [Rube-Goldberg.] That's what the game is now.
[A pause.] I can get you these parts, by the way, but I'll need a small favor in exchange. It's how this whole thing works.
[Newt grins at the compliment. Pat his ass more, please.]
It shows. I think even if some of you weren't so forthcoming with what you were up to before this, it'd be obvious that there's more to the story than just what we're seeing. It's neat.
[Largely because Newt would have a hard time caring about all this otherwise.]
Uh, I think you're talking about a Rube-Goldberg machine. I get what you're saying, though. Now that things are in motion, it's out of your hands, both in terms of stopping it or controlling it.
[Which makes the Rube-Goldberg analogy not quite accurate since that's a structure set up meticulously beforehand, but, good enough. He won't criticize Merriment for that.
We're obviously allowed to say some things but not others, and I'm gonna guess that's why. Just enough to entice you guys to start asking us questions and figure out how to play along. And yeah, one of those things.
[Thanks, Merriment doesn't know how science works. On the other hand...a favor, a favor.]
Find someone you've spoken to and convince them to come see me. Easy, right?
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When Newt arrives though they barely look up.]
The houses are warmer. [It's sort of an offer, but the cold never bothered Merriment anyway.] And no promises on a favor, but I'll see what I can do. Newt, right? [A pause, curious.] Should...I be calling you doctor?
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[He's got his hands in his pockets as he watches a snowball whiz past the fire and into a tree. Figures that a god would have better aim than he did.]
Newt's fine, though I do kind of love the idea of telling a god to address me by my formal title.
[But also that would be weird so Newt's actually fine.]
You and Justice are pretty close, huh?
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I'd make it even by telling you mine but seems like I can't. [Weird. But they'll just remember to call him Newt and leave it at that. With that, Merriment loads the catapult again and whatever question they were expecting...it wasn't that.]
...yeah. He's a really good kid. One of the nicest people I've met here. Why?
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[For reasons other than his ulterior motive with Patience, mind you.]
I heard he likes dogs, and I want to build him something.
[He pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to Merriment. He's sketched out some design plans for a robot puppy which is definitely an original design and not a beloved robot pet from the early 2000s.]
Full disclosure: It's leverage for another favor, but I just want him to let me break the "no music" rule. And, since this is gonna come up, I'm not up to anything. I may be on Ruin's team, but I'm not going to dick over a kid.
[He likes Justice?? Justice is trying his best???]
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He loves dogs. I know he wants a real one, but...[Hm.] Thanks for clarifying that.
[If Newt hurts this child Merriment will find a way to destroy him.] So just curious, why're you trying to break the rule in the first place?
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Honestly? I'm bored. Not your fault. I'm always bored.
[Lately, anyway. It's weird—he never used to feel this restless all the time.]
I guess you could say my main motive is getting to know you guys. I'm in no hurry to cross Ruin, but I want to keep my options open, you know?
[And, like, trials and shit, but why would Newt apply himself unless he's trying to get himself off the hook???]
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[Interesting motive though, Newt.] You're looking for a back-up plan. That's pretty smart. Met with many of us so far? [Are they still examining this dog? Yes.]
...not sure he can change the rule, by the way, but it's worth a shot. The dog'll make him happy at least.
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I mean, it's not like I made a very informed decision when I went with Ruin in the first place. I had some ominous names and your masks to go by, but you guys are full of surprises.
[He was not expecting any of the gods to be children, for example.]
Not privately. I've been trying to get in touch with Patience, but she won't call me back. I spoke to Ruin, of course, and Disorder came by to say hello. Got a feeling she regrets not offering me a spot on her team in the first place.
[AS SHE SHOULD. Everyone should regret that? INCLUDING YOU MERRIMENT WHAT'S YOUR DAMAGE???]
Eh, no skin off my back if he can't. I'll give it to him regardless, assuming you can get me the parts to build it. I may be playing for Ruin, but I'm not heartless.
[Debatable.]
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[Merriment is maybe kind of bitter about that???]
Patience is pretty picky and hard to get in touch with, but maybe you should--[A pause.] Actually? Keep trying. She'll come around. [No, Merriment just thinks it's hysterical.] I'm not sure how you went from Disorder to me, but I'm guessing that's the whole favor thing.
[It makes them wonder how many other favors Newt might be calling in. Oh well.] Disorder would like you though.
But sure. I'll see what parts I can get you, maybe take them from the lab while he's not looking. You've got a list or am I going off of sketches here?
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[It's no surprise that Ruin is doing so poorly in the rankings. He did expect more people to opt for Merriment's team, but maybe everyone interpreted their name to mean something frivolous. Not much sense in competing in a game like this just for some extra fun.
also just admit it merriment totally ships patience and newt.]
Don't worry, giving up isn't in my nature. I figure any god that's gonna use their divine rule to implement "no means no" would give me a firm answer if she wasn't into me.
[Or she's just basking in the attention, but as if Newt would let that get him down.
He tips his head back and forth at the mention of a favor, weighing his options.]
You could say that. We did get along pretty well, but I've liked all of you well enough. The ones I've met, anyway. Truthfully, I probably wouldn't have bothered you this early if you weren't hosting, so I guess that strategy's working. You aren't what I was expecting.
[Which is becoming a running theme.]
I can make a list, sure.
[He waves for Merriment to hand him the paper back.]
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Hey man, it's cool. Whatever's going on between you and here is totally not my business and I'm staying out of that.
[Handing over the paper, Merriment shrugs instead.] We figured that since our numbers were low it made sense for Justice and I to host this week and try to appeal to the masses. Everybody else seems to be doing fine on their own. [Though...] What were you expecting? Wait, wait, let me guess...someone jolly?
[Please make a list so he can check it twice, Newt.]
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True. Some folks are really hung up on the downsides of us being here, but I'd rather focus on the positives. After all, we all get to go home unscathed at the end.
[He says it casually enough, but he's eyeing Merriment for a reaction. These masks are annoying.
He takes the paper though, and sets to work scribbling down some basic components. This little robo dog isn't very complex, though Newt's going up make some upgrades from the early 2000s version that he is definitely not ripping off.]
More of a trickster type, actually. I guess you're not not that, but I thought you'd be more overt about it.
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Mostly. [Oh?] You'll be physically fine in one piece, all nice and wrapped up with a bow, but the memories are still going to be there. [Hard to see how Merriment feels when there's a mask in the way, but it's safe to say there are definitely feelings there. They turn to watch what Newt's writing down though.] I can get why people are upset. It's free will, but at the same time it isn't.
[There's a chuckle though following that.] Just because you don't see it out in the open doesn't mean it's not happening, Newt. I've had a change in priorities is all. [There's a glance to the catapult though.] But this'll help.
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[And they shouldn't bother anyone else, in his opinion. It's definitely that simple.]
Just because we didn't start with all the information doesn't mean it's not free will. We chose to be here, and now that the game's started, we can talk to you guys and move around however we want. It's not like the rankings changed much after last week, anyway, so clearly the majority's happy with their initial decision.
[Or maybe they just don't want to piss off their original god this early, but Newt's going to choose the optimistic approach.]
A change in priorities, huh? How so?
[He hands over the dogbot list. It's all fairly basic stuff, though some of the aesthetic components are a little more specific. He's not sure that the lab has the tools for shaping the body and stuff on his own.]
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Try telling that to some of the others here. You all said yes, you all can still act as you want, but some people are still mad we kidnapped them. [A pause.] Can't say I condone some of the methods people are using around here, but that's…[A wave of the hand.] It's still early. People are still trying to make up their minds.
[They take the paper to look it over.] Well…got a new job offer for one thing. Trying some stuff out, learning some new tricks, and then we started the game.
[There's. Definitely some missing pieces, probably, but whatever.] But my job here is to make sure people don't get trapped in a state of darkness that takes over everything and makes it hard to proceed.
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The beautiful thing about a memory is that it's in the past. If whatever happens here doesn't stick, it's just another drop in the bucket.
[He doesn't exactly have the healthiest coping mechanisms, but, like, it's fine.]
Is the job offer this gig? Being a god does sound pretty sweet, I gotta say. Even if you have to go through the motions with this kind of crap.
[But it's the last thind Merriment says that catches Newt's attention.]
You know, I had a feeling the group of you were meant to be in balance. I wish the rest of us shared that outlook, but the way I see it? Love and merriment and so on aren't inherently good things just like ruin and disorder aren't inherently bad. It's not that simple.
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Nah, this was the old life…it doesn't really matter, turns out I wasn't that qualified after all. So I was offered this job and I took it to try and make things better. [Newt can't see it, but Merriment lifts an eyebrow behind their mask.]
You might be the first person to say that to me and actually get it. Tell me why you think that is.
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[Again: Being a god sounds pretty sweet.]
Seriously? I mean, cool, but it's not that revolutionary of an idea.
[Then again, Merriment is just one god, so maybe the rest of the competition isn't as dumb as they sound right now. Come on, guys, catch up.]
The way I see it, you guys are more like the Greek gods than the gods in most modern religions. You read as human to me, and people are complicated. If you were some trickster god obsessed with embodying merriment as a concept, that wouldn't make you a very good god. Granted, I haven't talked to all of you, but if you're complex like people? That'll make you a stronger, like, board of directors for your new world.
[That's how he'd set it up if he was in charge, anyway.]
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I've never really brushed up on my mythology but that's a pretty good theory you've got there. People are complicated and that's probably a huge factor in why everyone started fighting. We all had befores and afters. They're just different for everybody.
This whole human complexity thing. Does this make it better or worse when it comes to a game like this?
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He ponders the question a moment.]
Depends on how you define those terms. From where I'm standing, it's better. I'm not a religious guy, and I'm sure as hell not going to stick my neck out for any quote-unquote god just because that's how the game's supposed to be played.
[He's never been great at supporting causes he doesn't genuinely believe in.]
If you're just like the rest of us with some bonus divine perks, it complicates things, but it also makes for a more interesting experience. I'll take that over the alternative any day. The only bummer is I actually like those of you that I've talked to.
[Which makes the competition aspect more challenging. That doesn't mean he intends to back off, but there's a little twinge of guilt that's been nagging at him since after that first trial.]
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You're a really interesting contestant in all of this. [Can't deny that.] There's not too much that I can say because of the divine oath thing--[They even do the air quotes]--but like I said there's a before and an after. I'll let you guess what our befores were like and you can make that decision yourself.
But I can at least say that we had former lives that make this more complicated and interesting. We have our own biases and our own free will. How else would a game like this start?
[...there's a soft, unsure laugh.] The real bummer is that a lot of us like each other and like you guys, too. But it's sort of like--what do you call it? Those big machines where you start one thing and then it just snowballs from there with each part moving because another part started. [Rube-Goldberg.] That's what the game is now.
[A pause.] I can get you these parts, by the way, but I'll need a small favor in exchange. It's how this whole thing works.
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It shows. I think even if some of you weren't so forthcoming with what you were up to before this, it'd be obvious that there's more to the story than just what we're seeing. It's neat.
[Largely because Newt would have a hard time caring about all this otherwise.]
Uh, I think you're talking about a Rube-Goldberg machine. I get what you're saying, though. Now that things are in motion, it's out of your hands, both in terms of stopping it or controlling it.
[Which makes the Rube-Goldberg analogy not quite accurate since that's a structure set up meticulously beforehand, but, good enough. He won't criticize Merriment for that.
He ticks an eyebrow up at the idea of a favor.]
What's the favor?
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We're obviously allowed to say some things but not others, and I'm gonna guess that's why. Just enough to entice you guys to start asking us questions and figure out how to play along. And yeah, one of those things.
[Thanks, Merriment doesn't know how science works. On the other hand...a favor, a favor.]
Find someone you've spoken to and convince them to come see me. Easy, right?
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[He doesn't have any guesses right now, but it'd be good to know how the game works.]
It certainly sounds easy enough. Why does it have to be someone I've spoken to?
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[There's a shake of their head.] Would you go see a god just because a stranger told you to?
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