week 4; saturday

[selfimmolates]

[hi, newt. ray has his gun out as he approaches?? nothing personal.]

I'm not going to kill you—but safety precautions. I'm sure you understand why.

So, why'd you do it?

Comments

[arockstar]

Oh, my death is still on your head, buddy. Sentencing someone to die is still, well, sentencing someone to die. It's all about whether or not you feel it's justified.

[He runs his index finger over the arm of the chair, thinking.]

That... is an awfully good question.

[selfimmolates]

Oh, I'm fine with that. I've never pretended to be a nice guy. It just wouldn't have been great if you were actually innocent.

Are you going to answer it?

[arockstar]

[He chews on his lip for a long moment.]

I would if I knew how. Annoying, isn't it? I don't have answers to any of the big questions.

[selfimmolates]

Um, what?

[arockstar]

[He lets out a breath.]

I refuse to accept that I've been caught by an idiot. What do you think I mean, Ray? I don't know. I don't know why I've done half the shit I've done here.

[selfimmolates]

That would explain your mood swings towards the end, but unless you suspect that a god here or whatever brainwashed you, that also sounds like a personal problem?

[arockstar]

We're all here because of personal problems. All of us have something we want really, really bad, remember?

[It's a sore spot. Newt's in no position to bristle with a gun pointed at him, but he's still irritated.]

Anyway, I've asked the gods. They've been less than helpful.

[selfimmolates]

[a scoff.]

And what's yours, to get your head screwed on straight?

[he shrugs.]

Well, if this is all 'cause of some kind of brainwashing crap, then I'll give you some sympathy. Still your head on the chopping block, though, especially since I doubt Disorder's keen to save you over her other follower. I'll be very impressed if you survive next Monday.

[arockstar]

Yes.

[It comes out immediately, urgently, and his eyes flick up to meet Ray's with desperation before he shakes it off. He clears his throat, and then he's back to business.]

Oh, I'm Disorder's golden child. I don't expect she'll save me because the cat's out of the bag and it'd be bad for her image to be caught sympathizing with a godkiller, but I'm certain she'd spare me if she could get away with it.

[selfimmolates]

... I'd say good luck, but the chances of Disorder winning and your wish being granted at this point are pretty damn low. Sorry.

[...]

Well, yeah. That's the issue: die by lightning strike on Monday or die via one of the other participants going straight for your throat anyway. Take your pick.

[arockstar]

Are you, though? Sorry for me?

[He glances at the gun, pressing x to doubt.]

Obviously I'd prefer getting smote, but I gotta say, it'd be interesting to see who'd win the race to kill me. It'd be an easy trial for you all, at least.

[selfimmolates]

I'm sorry that you're apparently brainwashed or whatever? Not enough to try and save you or not kill you if you tried anything funny, though.

I think Oda would probably be first.

[arockstar]

[His expression tightens.]

I'm not brainwashed. Don't be stupid. Oda's gonna be a bit slower after all the trouble you guys went through stopping him, though. I suppose I should thank you for that, but it's not like you've done anything but delay the inevitable.

[selfimmolates]

Then it's a good thing I didn't do it for your sake, hmm?

So, if you didn't get caught, what was your next plan of action?

[arockstar]

Of course not. If he would've killed me, I bet the rest of you would've still needed to vote.

[Cunning and Ambition likely wouldn't have gone soft and called a mistrial.]

Come to think of it, maybe I'm the good samaritan after all. What would've happened had you all been forced to start from zero again? I imagine everyone left alive afterward would've developed some serious trust issues. I gave you the gift of a common enemy.

[look it's newt during this conversation.]

I would've recruited more followers for the alliance Cunning, Ambition, and Disorder have going. Eventually I would've moved to Ambition myself, assuming her numbers continued to hold.

[And now, to address the elephant in the room:]

I wasn't planning to kill anyone else unless they tried to kill me first.

[selfimmolates]

[he raises an eyebrow.]

You know, I could believe that, but it would be a lot more meaningful of a statement if you hadn't just killed three people already.

What if Luna were still alive?

[arockstar]

You know what, that's fair. It's true, but I don't blame you for not believing me.

[He shrugs.]

If Luna were still alive... Eh. Just because we teamed up for one night doesn't mean we'd be permanent allies. Since she was playing for Ambition, I would've been inclined to help her out during trials, but if she wanted to keep killing? She could get her own hands dirty.

[selfimmolates]

Makes sense. I would've been kind of surprised if you told me that you two were secretly best friends.

[arockstar]

Hardly. Don't get me wrong, I liked her well enough, but the alliance was just a happy accident. Mutually beneficial at the time, and maybe even in the future, but I'm here for myself and so is she.