[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."]
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."
[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...]
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.
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.
[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.
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.
[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.]
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.
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.
Think about it, Newt. [A move on the board, once again opening themselves up for a bad play for some reason.] You're told you can come here and help us make a decision for any wish in the world you want. But then it just takes one person...in this case, a ninja for some reason, to shed the first drop of blood and the whole game goes off the rails. People stop trusting each other, people start planning on how to covet those wishes, and people are left trying to figure out their own means of survival.
Some of the others are all about peace and kumbaya and whatever but that's not gonna get us everywhere. It's action versus inaction. Make sense?
[He laughs a little and then moves a knight directly into Cunning's opening, taking a bishop. May as well. If he loses his knight, so be it. A little bloodshed is necessary, as Cunning has already pointed out.]
It does, but that's the thing. I figured it was always intended to move in this direction. What's the point of assuring us our safety if it wasn't meant to be compromised temporarily? The other gods have to have seen this coming.
I dunno about that. Some of the others were pretty anti-murder from the very start. I think maybe they really thought this would work out peacefully but that's just wishful thinking.
Wishful thinking is a synonym for stupidity. There's not condoning it but accepting it as reality, and then there's naively assuming everyone will be on their best behavior in a no-limits competition.
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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."]
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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.
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...so. Is it have to, or want to?
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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.
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Tell me about this world-ending plan. What're you getting out of it by doing that? New world order? Starting over?
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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...]
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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.
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[He says it automatically.]
I might be willing to switch, but I don't love the idea of pissing off Ruin this early.
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If it helps, she might not mind so much since I'm kind of her favorite. She'd probably understand. [Maybe.]
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Are you staying with her because you're afraid of getting smited? [A pause.] Smote? ...whatever, you know what I'm asking.
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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.
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[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.
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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.
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[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.]
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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.
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[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?
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[He really hasn't. He just feels like he has.]
What do you mean the game's designed to get screwed up?
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Some of the others are all about peace and kumbaya and whatever but that's not gonna get us everywhere. It's action versus inaction. Make sense?
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It does, but that's the thing. I figured it was always intended to move in this direction. What's the point of assuring us our safety if it wasn't meant to be compromised temporarily? The other gods have to have seen this coming.
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[How? Just god things.]
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