GODLY AUDIENCES - NEWT GEISZLER

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

[The thing that Newt will take away from Cunning is that their play style isn't immediate. Each move is slow and calculated, hand hovering over the board every step of the way. They also seem to be leaving themselves wide open for some reason? Weird.]

Are you guys really debating my name while people are being murdered? I'm not sure if I should be worried or flattered.

[arockstar]

[Oh good, so they'll just be sharks circling the chummed water for a while. It's not a strategy Newt can keep up forever, though. His next move is meant to read as misstep, though, of course, it's not. He's leaving one of his pawns up for grabs, should Cunning want to draw first blood.]

Heh, well, admittedly it mostly came up before our situation got too serious. Still, there's been a lot of guessing.

[He looks up expectantly. You haven't answered his question, bud.]

[divus]

[Interesting enough. May as well up the stakes then and Cunning moves in a way to take the pawn for themselves.]

Somehow that doesn't surprise me. Pretty sure it's one of those traits that can be good or bad, like ambition. [They know. They 100% ignored the question to see what Newt would do, and somehow that answer's satisfactory.]

My definition? Being able to strategize and lay low, bide your time and build behind the scenes until you're ready to overwhelm the masses and take over. Making plans, getting people to execute other plans...and maybe showing just enough of your hand to make everybody else run around in circles.

[arockstar]

[Newt clicks his tongue.]

Damn, maybe I chose wrong with Ruin.

[Newt's next move is much more aggressive than his plays thus far, skirting his queen out from behind the ranks.]

Don't tell her I said that, though. Him? I don't know. Them.

[He shrugs. Whatever.]

Admittedly I was thinking more about my end goal than strategy in the beginning.

[divus]

Her. And don't worry. You know we aren't privy to what you guys tell us unless we feel like sharing right? She doesn't have to know a thing.

[Hm. Another moment to look at the board.] And if I may ask, Doctor, what is your end goal?

[arockstar]

I knew that, but the reassurance is appreciated. I'd be at a significant disadvantage if all of you knew everything.

[So would some of the gods.]

Y'know, that's a good question.

[His eyes drop to study the board instead of watching Cunning. He picks up the white pawn that's been knocked out of play, rolling it between his fingers.]

I've been working on a plan to destroy my world for the past ten years. I don't... I feel like I should continue that. I've come this far. The wheels are already in motion. Stopping it would be a big ask.

[Would it? He hasn't initiated the subroutine yet. Just because the plan is set for launch doesn't mean he actually has to—

No. He does. He does have to. He chews on his lip, dropping the piece back onto the counter.]

My name's Newt.

[divus]

[Interesting…most of what Newt says goes without acknowledgment because duh, anyone would be assured by that, and Cunning's eyes are watching that pawn in his hand. As it is…what a fascinating goal.]

Newt, then. Tell me why you don't think you should continue. [Better yet, let's maybe consider why Cunning isn't immediately saying "yeah you should definitely stop."]

[arockstar]

[The answer should be obvious, but it does seem fitting that a god called Cunning would probe for more information rather than make assumptions.]

Because I'd be killing over eight billion people. Earth would be broken down for scrap, essentially. All life as we know it would be gone. I—

[Wait. He looks up.]

That's not what I said. I said I should continue.

[But his eyes drop again, suddenly unsure. What did he say? He can't remember now. He huffs out a sigh through gritted teeth.]

I have to.

[divus]

You did. But if you were really sure about that, the "should" wouldn't even be brought up and we wouldn't be having this conversation. "Should"s usually imply a little bit of uncertainty in a decision. "I should get up for school but I don't want to." "I should eat my vegetables first, but I don't want to."

...so. Is it have to, or want to?

[arockstar]

[Newt's quiet for a long moment. He tries to look like he's studying the board, but he realizes he's fooling exactly no one. But, finally:]

I want to.

[He says it definitively. And it's true, he does want to. He just doesn't know why.]

It's your move.

[divus]

Innnteresting. [But okay, Cunning moves and claims another one of Newt's pieces.]

Tell me about this world-ending plan. What're you getting out of it by doing that? New world order? Starting over?

[arockstar]

[He chews on his lip again. Cunning needs to stop asking such difficult questions.

This one is difficult in an odd way, though. It's like he's butting up against a roadblock in his brain, like he can't quite remember what his reward is, or if there even was one in the first place...

But there has to be, right? Why the hell would he do this if he was doomed to die just like the rest of the world?]

Validation.

[It's not a great answer, but it's all he can come up with.]

People have a history of not taking me seriously. Now they'll have to.

[Oh, right, it's his turn. Focus, Newt. He eyes the board for a quick second and then moves a piece somewhat arbitrarily. He's opening himself up to another loss, but if he plays his cards right, he might be able to snag one of Cunning's rooks...]

[divus]

[At this rate Cunning may be willing to throw the game solely to see what else Newt has to say.

But there's a low chuckle because…well.]

You really should've aligned with me, man. I know how to get people to take me seriously if that's really what you're after.

[arockstar]

It's bigger than that.

[He says it automatically.]

I might be willing to switch, but I don't love the idea of pissing off Ruin this early.

[divus]

Oh, I know. [And it's not condescending, it...sounds oddly serious.]

If it helps, she might not mind so much since I'm kind of her favorite. She'd probably understand. [Maybe.]

[arockstar]

So you guys are pals, huh? That makes sense. I still doubt she'd take it well. She doesn't seem the forgiving type, especially when she's only got two followers as it is.

[divus]

Something like that, sure. [That's a stretch, but okay.]

Are you staying with her because you're afraid of getting smited? [A pause.] Smote? ...whatever, you know what I'm asking.

[arockstar]

[So: Not friends. Got it.]

Mm, I wouldn't phrase it like that. And anyway, the reason is twofold. I'd like to avoid her wrath because I want to stay in the competition, but I'll deal with the consequences if I have enough reason to switch. As of yet, I don't.

[divus]

What would give you enough reason to switch anyway? [...finally making a move on the board, and somehow leaving themselves wide open.]

[arockstar]

I'd want your help with something.

[Again, Newt doesn't waste any time making his move. The opening is probably a trap, but color him curious. He slips in to relieve Cunning of a knight, inching closer to his king.]

If I'm going to leave Ruin, I want some reassurance that the decision won't come back to bite me later. Lucky for me, I've heard you're all capable of dying, too.

[He leans forward to rest an elbow on the counter.]

I'd have to figure out who her other follower is first, and go figure, whoever it is is playing their hand close to their chest.

[divus]

Is that what you heard? [Zero tells with this one, but what a concept. Another move is made to block a potential play.] Funny story.

Anyway, you're looking for a hint then? I'll give you a tidbit. You'll wanna talk to Ambition. Girl's got a gift for that. [Weirdly they sound like a proud parent.] You ask her the right questions, she'll give you insight you need.

[A pause.] She's more likely to help, too, if you tell her it's because you're considering switching to me.

[arockstar]

Mm, noted. Thanks.

[Newt had been meaning to have a chat with Ambition too, so it works out. After all, she was the third god that offered him a slot.]

You know, as much as Ruin isn't working for me, I think this'll make the experience worthwhile. It'll make the game more interesting, that's for sure.

[He does pause briefly to consider his options on the board, but ultimately he changes course and moves a rook he hadn't put into play yet. If it's a response to Cunning's block, it's a weird one. It looks unrelated.]

And you won't mind me going after your BFF?

[He's joking but also answer him.]

[divus]

I'm all for making a game interesting. [Hence the chess game and hence this conversation. Cunning studies the board again, whistling to themselves for a moment.]

You don't go after me, Disorder or Ambition and everybody else is free game. [...] Piety too. I've got my own business with them.

[arockstar]

Those are fair enough terms. I like Disorder, and Piety isn't exactly my style, but I have no interest in going after him.

[Newt also doesn't want the entire game to immediately hate him, so.]

Truth be told, I like Ruin well enough, too. I just don't trust her. It's nothing personal.

[Nothing about this game is, really.]

So why did you want me on your team to begin with?

[divus]

For reasons just like this? [A pleased tone.] This is the kind of potential I look for in people because this game's been designed to get screwed up one way or another even if it's not supposed to be. I value people who know how to play with the hand they've been dealt and use it to their advantage. Figure out their own path.