GODLY AUDIENCES - NEWT GEISZLER

[divus]

Comments

[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.

[arockstar]

Hah, well that description is spot-on. I've spent most of my life working with a shit hand.

[He really hasn't. He just feels like he has.]

What do you mean the game's designed to get screwed up?

[divus]

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?

[arockstar]

[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.

[divus]

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.

[arockstar]

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.

[divus]

And that kind of thinking is why I wanted you on my team in the first place. [Give him a second to move a piece.] Check, by the way.

[How? Just god things.]

[arockstar]

[Newt moves his king. It's not a longterm solution, but it'll buy him a turn or two.]

Well, I'll just have to make it up to you, I suppose. It'll take some doing, but I'm confident enough.

[divus]

I'll be disappointed if I don't see results. [It's a joke, but he's still watching the board before making his next move, and purposefully leaving himself open to let the game turn around.] Confidence is what a lot of you are lacking here. I'd like to see that change.

[arockstar]

Oh, you don't have to worry. I'll deliver.

[He's already come this far, after all.]

I can't make any promises about the rest of the crowd. I have a feeling they're not the "take action" type, for the most part.

[Newt is, though. His next move plays right into Cunning's opening. It's a bit obvious, maybe, but Newt's not one to miss out on opportunity.]

[divus]

Somehow I don't doubt it. To either of those statements. [Shrug.] It's still early in the game and the stakes will change easily enough, but it's all a matter of seeing how long it takes to push people.