week two - sunday - ishikirimaru

[arockstar]

[Newt's already milling around in the east wing—an area that creeps him out but he feels like he should take advantage of for Justice's sake—when he spots Ishi doing the same. Ah, good, Newt was hoping to catch him before tomorrow... Maybe Piety will pull off a miracle, but just in case, better take advantage of the here and now.

Newt approaches, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket.]

So why'd you decide to throw yourself under the bus?

[Ishi's probably getting that a lot lately, but it's a question worth asking.]

Are you that confident Piety's gonna be able to spare you?

Comments

[ritualization]

I have faith in them.

[Which is not exactly a direct answer, but... he feels that it's good enough. There's a pause before he answers the first part, though, a thoughtful hum before he continues.]

As for why... because I could not see the same happen to anyone else. Nor was it worth anyone turning on each other over condemning someone innocent-- regardless of how the decision was made, someone would have been hurt by the results.

[arockstar]

You're not wrong, but I don't get it. Why enter a competition like this willingly if you're afraid of a little bloodshed?

[It's a morbid way to phrase it, but the question is genuine.]

[ritualization]

...it isn't that I am afraid of it. I would say it's more that... I have already seen enough of it.

[More than he would have ever wanted to, by now.]

If I can help to lessen it where I can, then that is all I can ask for.

[arockstar]

I guess.

[He's not convinced.]

What about your wish?

[ritualization]

It's something I believe we can accomplish eventually, without divine help, although... having it granted would certainly mean a lot.

[A moment of consideration, before:]

I want to put an end to our current war, and all future ones.

[So-- yeah, a wish would go a long way.]

[arockstar]

World peace, huh? That tracks.

[And so does Ishi being a follower of Piety. Newt hadn't thought about it too hard before this weekend, but it was probably the least surprising reveal that came out of that trial.]

It's pretty noble of you to come here for the good of your world. Are the lives of the people here more important to you, then? If you're giving up the wish for us?

[ritualization]

It is important to me to protect those I can, I suppose. My duty at home-- sometimes prevents that.

[That's a little quieter, but he seems to shake it off quickly enough.]

But that is how war works.

[With a slight quirk of his mouth, he adds:]

I understand that I should say that about this contest, as well. That much isn't lost on me, but-- perhaps I just want to save who I can, while I can. Even if we come back, that's no reason to force someone to experience death in the first place.

[arockstar]

Hm. Still, all you're doing by sacrificing yourself here is sparing one person from an unhappy memory. Ending all wars would save way more actual lives, by my math.

[He shrugs. He gets the sentiment, but the numbers don't check out to him.]

[ritualization]

It would, yes. But I feel that it's something we should be able to do, with or without divine help.

[the heart does not always listen to logic, either, and he's still getting used to that actually.]

It is just a matter of ensuring it happens sooner, I believe.

[arockstar]

[That gets a sigh.]

I don't get it, but it's your call. It's already done, anyway, so I doubt there'd be much to do about it if you were having second thoughts.

[ritualization]

It would be awfully unbecoming if I tried to back out now, wouldn't it?

[he smiles slightly at that, then shakes his head.]

-it's all right if you don't get it. There are times I am unsure how much I understand myself, but that's part of humanity, I think.

[arockstar]

I'd call backing out human instinct, but no, it wouldn't look good in terms of morals or whatever.

[He pauses.]

Which is interesting, isn't it? It's not like any of us would have room to judge.