arockstar | week two - saturday post-trial

[She's currently in the western poetry section, probably in the really old epic poems, but she's moving steadily down the stack towards modern because after that kind of a trial who's going to want to dive into anything too long-winded.

Or maybe she's simply browsing, idle and without any real purpose to it.

She glances up when Newt speaks and... smiles, a little curl to her lip that's partially amused and partially inquiring.]

Yes?

[How the hell would she know.]

[Fair point.]

You seem to think this whole situation is funny. Why is it?

Isn't it? A trial that can't go anywhere because all of the killers are dead. And so many of us are supposedly cursed that it's impossible to disentangle most of it. If disorder and chaos was truly what those behind this wanted -- they've certainly reached their goal.

[It's debatable whether she's talking about the ones flinging curses around or the gods. Is there really much of a distinction?]

What else can we do now but appreciate it?

Well, that's certainly an interesting opinion.

[But he laughs a little.]

You aren't necessarily wrong, though I have to wonder how much of this is some god's power having an effect on you.

[And then, more seriously:]

I'm not sure that I can trust you right now.

I'm sure we'll find out, if and when any possible curses wear off.

[She is still way too chill about this, probably.]

But I have lived for a long time, you know. And after this strange competition, I intend to live on for much longer. That is the condition of robots. This business of curses is new to me -- but it will pass, whether or not any of my knowledge about Kaname Madoka comes to fruition.

Still, you are interesting, too. Do you want to trust me?

I do, as a matter of fact. I think there's more to you than you're letting on.

[He pauses.]

And, curse or no curse, you're much more convinced than Estelle seemed to be.

[She gives a little laugh, with an edge of either delight or irony. It sounds very similar in her voice.]

You have good instincts. I'm very certain that all of us have secrets -- though some more than others, after these last two weeks. These trials have a way of getting things out of people, don't they? Even when they're not implicated in the cases.

[Either that, or they're just surrounded by melodramatic yelling people with a tendency for verbal diarrhea. Well. Present company not excepted, probably.]

As for the differences between myself and Estelle... it is interesting, isn't it? I like to think of it as experience with the many, many possibilities of living things. No matter what or who they are.

All of them are capable of things you wouldn't expect.

[The corner of his mouth ticks up.]

You're very right about that. And you're right about what you said during the trial, too. There's a lot of people here that would refuse to acknowledge that fact. They seem to have forgotten we're all here on our own volition. It's a competition, first and foremost.

[He's not sure how people keep forgetting, but it's blatant.]

I'm still fairly sure Madoka isn't aligned with Ruin or Disorder, sorry to say. Then again, would it bother you that much if she was?

It is a competition -- between twelve very different entities, and then much more than that. When given free reign, it seems, both the gods and the people tend to form their own factions, and employ just about every strategy you can think of. It's quite measured chaos.

[And there's a lot of things that can get lost in it. She's not altogether surprised that there are so many trying to make it all make sense. By moral standards. By human standards. As though there are any true standards here that don't change from week to week.

There's a bit of a pause as she seems to think the last question over.]

I think that, if I could, I would counsel her to choose differently. And it would depend upon her actions as an agent -- as far as I can tell, she hasn't made true moves, herself. A warning is enough.

Mm. Measured chaos is a good way to put it. Merriment described it as a Rube-Goldberg machine, though I think a more accurate analogy would be something like the butterfly effect. Rube-Goldberg machines have structure. This competition doesn't, not really. The gods can't control the outcome, even if they pretend like they can.

[It's an interesting setup.]

I don't suppose I could persuade you to tell me which three gods reached out to you at the start of all this. I'd ask flat out who you're aligned with, but that would be a bit forward.

[Because bringing it up totally isn't.]

I'll reciprocate, of course. I have a feeling we could help each other out.

I think I'd be inclined to agree with you. There is a plan that goes into a Rube-Goldberg machine, to take it from the beginning to the end. Where this competition ends... no one yet knows. That's what makes it worth having, I suppose.

[She tilts her head -- the little smile that's lingered all this time widening just a little.]

It is rather forward of you, either way. As I've said, trust is an interesting thing in this place, and there is a good deal of power in knowing how someone is aligned. But I can give you an answer, though it may be only part of what you want: one of them was Justice.

[He mirrors her smile. Oh, Luna.]

He does like robots, huh? You didn't take him up on the offer, though.

[He does wish he knew more about how the gods chose their followers, but alas. He hasn't gotten very far in asking about that.]

One of mine was Ambition, and, no, I obviously didn't join their team. Haven't talk to them yet, actually. Just the other two. The god I did choose seemed to suit my needs better, though admittedly, I'm not so sure I made the right call.

[He hums.]

What do you think of Merriment?

I did not.

[She's certainly friendly enough with the little guy, but they did have their pick of the pack. Vague though the choice was, she doesn't seem to have any conflict about it.]

Ambition seems like they would have been fitting for you, but then, you are the resourceful, restless sort. I'm sure you would have landed on your feet in many followings.

[She pauses thoughtfully.]

Merriment is interesting, for his title. He seems ambivalent about it. He talked about not working well in teams, but he rarely leaves Justice's side.

Aw, thanks.

[He knows that about himself, of course, but he does appreciate her saying so. More than that, he appreciates that she's picked up on it.]

Too many others here seem to think I'm a bit of a joke. It's annoying, but I guess it'll probably work in my favor down the line.

[So he'll let his reputation go for the time being, even if he's not pleased.]

I had the same impression. Have you spoken to him privately? This has nothing to do with my own god alignment, but he asked me for a favor. I'm supposed to send someone his way. He'll likely try to talk you into joining his ranks, but I don't care whether or not you take him up on it. All you have to do is make him an offering and let him pitch you.

[And then, as an afterthought:]

He's giving me parts to build something for Justice in return. I'm not up to anything, just trying to lift the kid's spirits.

If we are talking about those of us who are a bit of a joke...

[She lets that hang in the air.

After today's trial? She's willing to concede that, well. None of them are probably free from or can free themselves from that label anymore. The curses, y'all. The curses and the suplexing and goodness knows what else.

She's not even entirely excluding herself from this, probably. Newt gets a considering look. She runs slow fingers through her hair, combing through those options.]

Something for Justice. I imagine most of us are fond enough of the little one, despite all that this week has brought. That's how this group is. But I do wonder -- you said that you weren't entirely satisfied with your own god, didn't you? Did Merriment not make this pitch to you?

Hah, yeah, pretty much none of us escaped unscathed after that trial. But it's different when most of the others actually are idiots.

[Savage.]

Mm, no, he didn't. It's possible he thinks I wouldn't be interested. He's not entirely wrong. I do like the guy, but if I'm going to defect, I'll need more incentive. I don't know that he'd be able to help me much.

There is a wide variety of idiots here.

[She's leaving it at that. Just. Putting that there.]

Maybe he just wasn't aware of your dissatisfaction, unless you told him outright. I wouldn't be surprised if he could have missed it.

So what is it you're looking for, in terms of incentive?

It's possible, but that's a bad strategy. I'm not about to defect to someone who's only gonna make a sales pitch to a vulnerable target. He only has two followers, anyway. Not much to be gained by defecting.

[Other than a better reputation, but, eh.]

I'm only gonna defect to a winner. I'm not leaving here without my wish.

So you are one who prefers to be wooed.

[Maybe she's messing around a little, judging by the amused look in her eye, but hey. Gotta make a little merry when you can.]

But there is danger, too, in going only where the numbers are. The higher the number of a god's followers, the more likely it is that they can afford to lose one or two. And of course, it's also more likely for them to go rogue. None of the gods so far have taken personal responsibility for the killings -- they don't yet have that influence over their followers.

It's something to keep in mind, as you pursue victory.

Of course. I deserve to be wooed.

[He's very valuable, in his opinion.]

You raise a good point, but follower count plus leadership is what's going to win the game. If someone in the bottom rungs is going to make a comeback, they'll need a stronger drive than Merriment has.

I wonder if you've been satisfied, then.

[I don't know why she's talking about his woohoo life like he's a Sim but it's fine.]

I will agree in the case of Merriment. He appears to be making an effort, but after all that has happened under his watch, who knows how much it will bear out? [not terribly, really, but we're dragging the bird here] What is it that you look for, in leadership? Are you interested in the new world, like many of us here?

[He laughs.]

Hardly.

[If anyone had managed to woo him by now, he would've defected.]

Call me callous, but I haven't given the gods' new world much thought. I chose the god that best suited my own interests, and I stand by that line of thinking even if my initial choice may have not been the best.

[He has more information now, after all.]

What about you?

Hmm. I wouldn't call that callous, but simple pragmatism. There is an arrogance in thinking that our presence here means we have so much power to shape their new world. We are, outside of this contest, mere avatars and visitors to this space so far.

It varies, but we are all pursuing our own interests.

I have my own responsibilities. For now, they include participating in this contest to secure the best possible outcome.

[He is so relieved to hear that, Luna.]

Man, you know what? That's exactly what's been bugging me about that attitude. It's not like all the gods except one are getting demoted at the end of this. You need all of them to make a new world.

[By his understanding, anyway. It's never really mattered that much to him for that reason, who wins this contest.]

And what, in your opinion, is the best possible outcome?

[She's here to help and dish the real tea. :)]

Perhaps the new leader will have more influence than the others -- but there is no guarantee that they will abide by their principles when they gain power, and all we have is their word, while we are here. Of course, as you said, all of them will eventually influence the world.

May it turn out better than this one.

[The current one, in the game, she means. That's probably about as far as she's going to involve herself in the creation of the world. It just isn't as much of a priority right now.]

... The best possible outcome is one in which as many of us get our wishes as possible, with as few sacrifices as possible. Of course. But the possibility is remote. I would settle for being able to get my own wish, and reducing the number of casualties.

week two - saturday post-trial - luna

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