week two - saturday post-trial - luna

[arockstar]

[It takes Newt a little while to find Luna, largely because he's not expecting to find her in the study of all places. But, eventually, he wanders in and finds her poking through the bookshelves.]

I'm assuming you're still cursed, huh?

[This Madoka thing can't be anything but that.]

Comments

[arockstar]

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.

[artificialhighness]

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.

[arockstar]

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.

[artificialhighness]

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?

[arockstar]

[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?

[artificialhighness]

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.

[arockstar]

[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?

[artificialhighness]

[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.