[Ruin laughs again, and slides the little opening slot shut. A moment later, there's the sound of jangling keys, and a click of the lock before the door swings open. Newt will see the god sliding the keyring back up their sleeves.]
I wanted to see how you would react. It's so boring when people scream and cry to be let out, don't you think? I'm glad my followers are made of sterner stuff than that.
[Ruin wags a finger at him, their other hand on their hip.]
I'm not supposed to give you any clues about that! It would be cheating. [It's practically possible to hear the eyeroll in Ruin's voice.] Not that I really care about that, but we have to play smart to start out! If you all start finding each other right away, the others will think I helped you.
[After a moment...]
No one can complain if you figure it out all on your own, though.
[He hums. Fair enough. Annoying, but it's a challenge, and it's a challenge outside of the usual shit he's been getting up to these days. If this winds up speeding things along back home, he'll play by this weird rules.]
How are you expecting me to get you more followers if our allegiances are supposed to be a secret?
[He's not stupid; he has some ideas, of course. But while he's here, may as well get a second opinion. Or a third, technically.]
Getting me more followers is only one way of doing this.
[Ruin's gaze shifts toward the whips and crops on the rack not too far away.]
The winner is whoever has the most living followers at the end of the competition. If people are smart, they'll see that it's better to follow someone who can give them unyielding power. But if they're not? We can just take them out of the game.
[Ha ha.]
They'll come back at the end, so even the goody-two-shoes here shouldn't worry. ♡
Beautiful. Y'know, I had a feeling that's where you and the other gods were going with this. Good on you for skipping the coy bullshit.
[He appreciates the use of "we" there, too. He's glad he called Ruin out before the official start of the competition. With a name like "Ruin", he was anticipating some headbutting and having to prove his worth and crap. Luckily, it seems like they're on the same page. For the moment, anyway.
Good.]
And I suppose that's the need for secrecy, huh? Everyone who isn't aligned with you would be a target, and if the others were to figure out your follower was out there killing the others, it wouldn't go over well. Lotta those goody-two-shoes types already, I've noticed.
[Maybe? Probably? Murder tends to be a thing people don't abide by, so it's a fair assumption.]
Even some of the other gods don't want their followers to kill anyone. [There's definitely another roll of the eyes there, not that it's visible behind the mask.] They're convinced they can win people over peacefully.
"Oh, I just believe in everyone and want us all to be friends! I hope you'll support me!" [Ruin puts on a falsetto - their voice already being high-pitched, this is quite the feat - and clasps their hands together, then takes a few steps to the side, lowering their voice before speaking again.] "Murder is so ugly. I hope we don't have to resort to that." Phooey!
[Ruin stomps their foot.]
We're gods, aren't we? What's the use of having all this power if we aren't going to use it? The strong will live, and the weak will die. That's the first thing you need to accept in order to survive in this world or any other.
That'll go over well in a competition where others are already planning to take more extreme measures. My money's on them changing their minds as soon as the first body drops.
[Or at least their followers will have a hard time upholding that moral high ground. Fear is an exceptional motivator, especially when actions don't have consequences. In the traditional sense, anyway.]
You and the others are a new pantheon, aren't you? Patience mentioned something about that. How long have you been a god?
Oh, lame. What a dumb thing to not be able to talk about. The killing makes some sense, though. Think about it: When you win, it'll be fair and square, and you'll get to lord over the other gods you didn't kill. It's worth it.
[Optimism(?)]
I did want to ask you something else, though.
[He hesitates, chewing his lip. He's not sure how to word it.]
My head feels different since I woke up here. It's like... I don't know. Like I'm forgetting something important, or something's missing. Do you have anything to do with that?
No kidding! When I get my hands on the god that came up with it...
[Or... when Ruin's allowed to, anyway. But Newt has a point.]
Oooh, you're right. I can't wait to make sure they never, ever forget who's in charge. ♡
[...as to his question, though - Ruin crosses their arms and considers him for a moment or two.]
I didn't do anything. But... hmm, how should I put it? You know you're not in your own world anymore, right? This isn't heaven or anything - it's a totally new realm. So some things you had there might not be here at all.
I don't know what that would have to do with my brain. I've been assuming this was a dream, though. If it's not, maybe...
[He's not sure what it would mean, honestly. It still doesn't shed light on this weird feeling he's had, but a lot has changed in the past couple of days. Before he ended up here, too. Seeing Hermann again may have rattled him more than he realized.]
Whatever. I doubt it matters here if you don't know about it.
[He'll just try not to think about it. That's a good and healthy way to deal with problems.]
One more question. I have that power of yours that lets me heal but it sends the wound to someone else. Is that really random, or do you pick who it goes to?
[Including the part where people are going to die! ...especially that part, honestly.]
Oh... that? It's totally random. I don't have aaany say in it at all! I wanted to, but I guess that would have given me an unfair advantage, or something.
If you don't mind a little pain, it's a pretty useful power for getting rid of other people!
[Ruin says, cheerfully, as if they aren't talking about someone deliberately inflicting a fatal injury on themselves with the intention of transferring it to someone else at random. Yikes.]
Right. We all promised we'd send you back no matter what once this is over. But it's only the winners who are going to go back with everything they ever wanted.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Ruin punctuates the question with a giggle.]
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Given that I've only got your name to go by, you're into destruction. It's a mutual interest, and you probably have some way of knowing that. Close?
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No, silly. It's because I think you're interesting.
That other stuff is just a bonus. ♡
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Gotcha. And why'd you lock me up in here? I'd rather talk face to face.
[open the cell stop having it be closed]
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I wanted to see how you would react. It's so boring when people scream and cry to be let out, don't you think? I'm glad my followers are made of sterner stuff than that.
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[He steps out of the cell, though it's not like the rest of the dungeon is much of a change in scenery. Good to know what Ruin's into, he supposes.]
Followers? The others that chose you have come calling too, I take it?
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[Ruin wags a finger at him, their other hand on their hip.]
I'm not supposed to give you any clues about that! It would be cheating. [It's practically possible to hear the eyeroll in Ruin's voice.] Not that I really care about that, but we have to play smart to start out! If you all start finding each other right away, the others will think I helped you.
[After a moment...]
No one can complain if you figure it out all on your own, though.
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How are you expecting me to get you more followers if our allegiances are supposed to be a secret?
[He's not stupid; he has some ideas, of course. But while he's here, may as well get a second opinion. Or a third, technically.]
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[Ruin's gaze shifts toward the whips and crops on the rack not too far away.]
The winner is whoever has the most living followers at the end of the competition. If people are smart, they'll see that it's better to follow someone who can give them unyielding power. But if they're not? We can just take them out of the game.
[Ha ha.]
They'll come back at the end, so even the goody-two-shoes here shouldn't worry. ♡
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Beautiful. Y'know, I had a feeling that's where you and the other gods were going with this. Good on you for skipping the coy bullshit.
[He appreciates the use of "we" there, too. He's glad he called Ruin out before the official start of the competition. With a name like "Ruin", he was anticipating some headbutting and having to prove his worth and crap. Luckily, it seems like they're on the same page. For the moment, anyway.
Good.]
And I suppose that's the need for secrecy, huh? Everyone who isn't aligned with you would be a target, and if the others were to figure out your follower was out there killing the others, it wouldn't go over well. Lotta those goody-two-shoes types already, I've noticed.
[Maybe? Probably? Murder tends to be a thing people don't abide by, so it's a fair assumption.]
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"Oh, I just believe in everyone and want us all to be friends! I hope you'll support me!" [Ruin puts on a falsetto - their voice already being high-pitched, this is quite the feat - and clasps their hands together, then takes a few steps to the side, lowering their voice before speaking again.] "Murder is so ugly. I hope we don't have to resort to that." Phooey!
[Ruin stomps their foot.]
We're gods, aren't we? What's the use of having all this power if we aren't going to use it? The strong will live, and the weak will die. That's the first thing you need to accept in order to survive in this world or any other.
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That'll go over well in a competition where others are already planning to take more extreme measures. My money's on them changing their minds as soon as the first body drops.
[Or at least their followers will have a hard time upholding that moral high ground. Fear is an exceptional motivator, especially when actions don't have consequences. In the traditional sense, anyway.]
You and the others are a new pantheon, aren't you? Patience mentioned something about that. How long have you been a god?
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[Ruin is the worst.]
Hmmm... not for very long. I-- [Ruin pauses for a moment, then shakes their head.] ...can't say more than that. Ugh! How annoying.
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[Newt is also the worst, so...
He raises an eyebrow.]
Did you just remember that rule or is something preventing you from saying more?
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[Ruin gives a little huff.]
They're lucky one of the first rules they made was that a god can't kill another god, or else they'd be dead right now. ♡
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[Optimism(?)]
I did want to ask you something else, though.
[He hesitates, chewing his lip. He's not sure how to word it.]
My head feels different since I woke up here. It's like... I don't know. Like I'm forgetting something important, or something's missing. Do you have anything to do with that?
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[Or... when Ruin's allowed to, anyway. But Newt has a point.]
Oooh, you're right. I can't wait to make sure they never, ever forget who's in charge. ♡
[...as to his question, though - Ruin crosses their arms and considers him for a moment or two.]
I didn't do anything. But... hmm, how should I put it? You know you're not in your own world anymore, right? This isn't heaven or anything - it's a totally new realm. So some things you had there might not be here at all.
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But Ruin's answer is, well, lacking.]
I don't know what that would have to do with my brain. I've been assuming this was a dream, though. If it's not, maybe...
[He's not sure what it would mean, honestly. It still doesn't shed light on this weird feeling he's had, but a lot has changed in the past couple of days. Before he ended up here, too. Seeing Hermann again may have rattled him more than he realized.]
Whatever. I doubt it matters here if you don't know about it.
[He'll just try not to think about it. That's a good and healthy way to deal with problems.]
One more question. I have that power of yours that lets me heal but it sends the wound to someone else. Is that really random, or do you pick who it goes to?
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[Ruin can, at least, confirm that much.]
This is all very, very real.
[Including the part where people are going to die! ...especially that part, honestly.]
Oh... that? It's totally random. I don't have aaany say in it at all! I wanted to, but I guess that would have given me an unfair advantage, or something.
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Disappointing. I was hoping it'd let me send presents your way.
[Ruin seems like the type to appreciate getting to dole out a little pain.]
Oh well. I'll make it up to you. Not right away, though. The best strategy is to lay low for a while, I think. Scope out the competition.
[He's more of a long game kinda guy these days. Besides, he'd hate to accidentally take out one of his teammates. That'd be bad.
But, hm.]
It's real, but the idea is still that I go home at the end regardless of what happens, right? Even if I die for you?
[He's very not planning on it, but, like, just checking.]
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[Ruin says, cheerfully, as if they aren't talking about someone deliberately inflicting a fatal injury on themselves with the intention of transferring it to someone else at random. Yikes.]
Right. We all promised we'd send you back no matter what once this is over. But it's only the winners who are going to go back with everything they ever wanted.
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[It would take some desperation to drive Newt to that, but, well. It would guarantee the wound doesn't circle back to him... Food for thought.]
Everything they ever wanted, huh? And here I thought it was just a single wish or whatever.
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[i really hate that Ruin is giving him a nickname. just. throwing that out there.]
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[He... is grimacing at that name though.
AS AM I?]
I'd really love if that pet name didn't stick. Great energy, though.
[He gives Ruin some fingerguns. He'd better be their favorite.]
That's all I've got for you for the moment, but I'll keep in touch.
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You'd better! I'll be waiting to see what you do.
[When Newt next blinks, he finds himself standing alone in the dungeon - Ruin is nowhere to be found.]
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