nosediving | Newt

[Shang Qinghua was among those who'd stayed quiet during the confession. When he comes upon Newt in the parlor, his expression is one of polite neutrality and a hint of wonder as he lingers by the doorway.]

I wasn't expecting to find you here.

[Newt is playing a song. What a catchy tune!!

But he looks up when Shang Qinghua enters, and the song abruptly changes.]

Why not? It's been a long time since I've gotten to play.

[The shift is so sudden that his heart seems to skip a beat. Taking this as an invitation, however, he wanders in and closer, smiling wryly.]

It can't have been that long ago that you played for Great Patience.

I meant before this. Before I came here. It's like they put the piano here just for me.

[And Nonon, but he likes to think he's special.]

I'm sorry, you know. You're a good guy. I hope you're on the winning team.

[Whatever helps Newt sleep at night—]

Why me? If you want to apologize, there are more suitable alternatives. You haven't wronged me at all.

[He frowns.]

I lied to you. I've been lying to everyone, not to mention I killed three people. Shang, come on. Don't be this forgiving.

Has anyone in this temple ever not told a lie?

[As he poses this question, he takes a seat near the piano with a stern face.]

To take the life of another, of course, is a grievous sin. That is not something that can be forgiven so easily. I would say that my only question to you is why, but I think I know the answer.

[They're here to win. His next words are his invitation for Newt to say more as he folds his hands on his lap.]

Still, it isn't good to assume.

[There's a heavy sigh.]

I didn't want to kill Ai. Ruin... I couldn't have her coming after me once I defected. She was never going to win.

[He stops playing briefly to take his glasses off. He sets them on the piano.]

I don't actually need these things anymore. I don't know why I bothered wearing them all this time.

[His gaze falls on the glasses. Maybe they helped with the facade—something physical to serve as a reminder and a way to distinguish between the real and constructed personalities. Or, maybe, there's another reason.]

What happened with the young miss?

Someone asked me to kill her, and I didn't have much choice. I found her in the dance studio practicing... She was tiny, you know? I didn't know her very well, and I thought that'd make it easier, but.

[He shrugs. It didn't.]

I threw her against the mirror to knock her out, and then I threw her in the pool to drown. She was out cold as soon as she hit the mirror. Didn't feel much.

[He frowns. There's a lot of concerning statements to parse from this answer.]

What about the glass shard in her head?

...That happened when she hit the mirror. It wasn't intentional, but it was convenient.

[He pauses.]

In that it's likely why she didn't wake up. It happened too quickly for her to feel much as a result.

. . . You said you were asked to kill her. Was it framed as a challenge? If so, by whom?

No. Luna asked me to in exchange for killing Ruin.

[His shoulders drop.]

...It seemed like a good idea at the time. I don't know.

Luna? Then is it true that she targeted Great Fortune, too?

[He looks away, a hand coming up to his chin in thought.]

I can see why you agreed. In the end, you were merely—as the great gods like to say—playing the game.

[That gets a wry laugh.]

It's certainly possible. I can't say for sure.

[Despite everything that's happened, he doesn't know Luna all that well.]

Don't make excuses for me. We both know what I've done is above and beyond just playing along.

[He goes quiet, fidgeting in his seat. It's an explanation, not an excuse; and he's not sure whether or not he agrees with Newt's assessment.]

Sir, it turns out that I have one more question for you. When we first met, you said that your wish was to repel the alien invasion in your world. Was that true?

[He sighs, chewing on his lip.]

No. I accomplished that on my own a decade ago. My wish was the opposite.

[...]

Maybe. I don't know anymore.

[And it won't matter anymore if he's executed in two days.

Shang Qinghua straightens in his seat.]

If there isn't another miracle this next week, you'll have time to sort out those thoughts.

[He says this not unkindly. Newt sounds like he needs that moment to himself.]

You mean, if no one convinces the gods to spare me?

[He laughs.]

I really don't see that happening. Who would advocate for me? No one should, and even if they did, I'd be dead a few days later, anyway.

[He stares at Newt. Whatever his thoughts are, he turns just enough to face and gesture at the piano.]

Then let's use what time is left carefully. Your skill with this instrument is rather remarkable. Would this one be able to request another song?

...Thanks.

[He turns his attention back to the piano, his expression somber.]

I doubt we're familiar with the same songs, but what sort of music do you like?

The song you were playing when I walked in . . . what was that?

[He shifts his weight.]

Something from my lifetime. It's old by music standards, but good songs will always hold up. The other was a piece called Clair de Lune, the only good classical composition out there, in my opinion.

An instrument like this one doesn't exist in my world, so these pieces are new to me. If you don't mind, could you play them both again?

Week 4 - Saturday

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