week four - sunday - ludger

[arockstar]

[WELP Newt's been mugged by the policebot and friends peace mob, so now he's stuck in a stupid cell in the stupid dungeon for the rest of his stupid fake life. At least he's dying tomorrow. That's not something he'd ever thought he'd look forward to, but there's no breaking out of here, so... May as well get it over with. At least it'll be quick.

The door's little slot slides open and Newt assumes it's Connor or Yu "checking in on him" like they're doing him a favor, but, huh. Ludger. Interesting.]

Didn't expect to have you as a visitor.

Comments

[chromatized]

[ wow. this is... practically a 360 from the man that built a "misfiring" snow catapult a few weeks ago. the attitude makes ludger pause for a moment, slightly taken aback, before he relaxes. ]

Yeah, I've heard that a few times before. I was hoping to ask you a few questions, if you feel like answering.

[arockstar]

[He blows out a long breath. It's clearly for show.]

Ask away, buddy. It's not like I have anything better to do.

[He gestures to the lavish digs around him.







they're not lavish they're really gross get him out of here?]

[chromatized]

Well, you could be busy molding. Some people enjoy that.

[ does he look like a locksmith??????? he just smashes things ok ]

... What's your favorite food?

[arockstar]

[He cocks an eyebrow. That's far from the question he expected.]

Why do you care?

[chromatized]

You're probably going to die tomorrow. I think you should have a say in what your last meal might be.

[ that's... literally it. ]

[arockstar]

[...]

You gonna poison it? Get back at me for my opinions on your brother's death?

[i hate him for this i'm so sorry.]

[chromatized]

[ ludger's jaw tightens at the taunt, but makes am effort to keep his voice even. ]

That would just be a waste of food. Besides, you didn't kill him.

[ newt just wanted to exonerate julius's killer. :/ ]

[arockstar]

I didn't, that's true. I doubt you'll buy this, but I wasn't trying to let Rachel off the hook for her idiocy. If people are going to insist on being stupid, they need to either stay in their own lane or face the consequences of imposing their stupidity onto someone else.

[He'd figured his opinion on Rachel's """murder""" would be obvious, but then again, he's felt like a lot of the things he's done and said over the course of the game were obvious. Ludger's certainly not the only person to have misunderstood about this particular thing.

Usually, when this many people get the wrong idea about someone, it's the fault of that someone, not the group. However, Newt would beg to differ.

i've never done anything wrong in my life: the movie, dir. newton geiszler, in theaters this friday.

But.]

...Mint chocolate chip ice cream.

[chromatized]

[ that's. hm. if ludger is understanding newt's words, then he doesn't... entirely disagree. but- ]

At that trial... you tried to impose your own ideas about the situation on me and Julius. That was what made me angry at you.

[ and with that bizarre comment delivered, ludger will turn to head back out of the cells. there's no ice cream ingredients in here, after all. ]

[arockstar]

[Newt ponders that as Ludger turns to make his exit.]

And what does that mean, exactly?

[He calls it down the little hallway, his voice echoing in the dungeon.]

[chromatized]

That this is the only second chance we get!

[ yes, thank you ludger, that was as clear as mud. he did sound somewhat distracted though, so don't take it personally newt.

... after all, he'll be back in like an hour with a bowl of soft serve mint chocolate chip ice cream. ]

[arockstar]

[Well then!

Newt plays it cool for the time being he wants his ice cream chop chop ludger so he waits until the guy returns, ice cream in hand, before...]

What did you mean about this being the only second chance you get?

[...immediately bringing up what is probably a sore subject again. He's watching curiously from the little slot in the door.]

[chromatized]

[ hey next time you can churn your own ice cream ]

... I thought it was pretty straight forward. Things back home have reached a point of no return, so the only way out is with a wish. What did you think I meant?

[arockstar]

Well, that's the obvious answer, but I figured you were talking about something else. Why would my commentary matter if you were just talking about your wish?

[chromatized]

... Newt, take a guess at what I want to wish for. I'll tell you how close or far you are.

[arockstar]

Oh, hell if I know. You think I've been paying attention to all your sad backstories? I don't care.

[But he sighs. He's still curious.]

The obvious answer is that you're going to wish yourself out of that point of no return, either by fixing whatever problem's put you there or rewinding time to get another shot at a different path.

[chromatized]

[ joke's on newt, he hasn't said anything about his backstory in public. except the debt thing, of course. ]

Rewinding time would just put me further back on the same path. And fixing the original problem would upset a lot of systems in place in my world.

[ he doesn't want to break the world, jeez. ]

I just want to wish for a new path going forward, because there aren't any answers I can reach behind me.

[ there, nice and cryptic, see julius he can do it too. ]

[arockstar]

So, I'm right. You want to wish yourself out of the point of no return. Big whoop. A lot of us are here for the same thing.

[chromatized]

[ for a moment, ludger looks annoyed, before it fades into curiosity. ]

Like you? What were you going to wish for, anyways?

[arockstar]

[Newt scoffs a little before reconsidering. It's hypocritical, asking Newt for his wish when Ludger isn't willing to pony up himself, but.

He motions for the ice cream bowl. Tradesies.]

[chromatized]

[ i mean if he wants the exact wording, he could ask for it... ludger just doesn't want to share bc he's halfway convinced newt would scoff at it.

...... oh did he not hand over the bowl already? well, this works out better than expected! here's your ice cream, it's only a little melted around the edges. ]

[arockstar]

[honestly ludger is valid newt sure has turned out to be kind of a dick!

He takes the bowl through the little slot—it's sort of awkward negotiating it through the hole, but that's prison for you—and retreats to sit on the cot while he eats it.]

You're a pal. Thanks.

[He pops the spoon into his mouth, considering how he wants to approach Ludger's question before responding.]

The short version is that I was going to end the world. Don't think I want that anymore, though.

[chromatized]

[ ah

hm. ]

... Can I ask why?

[arockstar]

[He chuckles.]

You sure can, but you won't like the answer. I don't really know why. Anticlimactic, huh?

[...]

And what, exactly, is your wish?