Newt

[nosediving]

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[nosediving]

[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?

[arockstar]

[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.

[nosediving]

[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.]

[arockstar]

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.

[nosediving]

[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?

[arockstar]

...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?

[nosediving]

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

[arockstar]

[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.

[nosediving]

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?

[arockstar]

...Sure.

[And Newt does, starting with the first song. There's not as much life to it on this second go-around, more like he's just going through the motions because Shang Qinghua asked him to.]

This one's not written for piano. Clair de Lune is, but this one's meant to be played by a band.

[nosediving]

Like a band of musicians?

[He stares, deliberating on whether or not he should pose his next question.]

Sir, are you . . . not used to associating with others?

[arockstar]

[He nods, finishing out the song before he glances up at Shang Qinghua's question.]

...What do you mean?

[nosediving]

You said that piece was originally meant for a group of people to play. To make it so that you'd be able to play it by yourself, I thought . . . well . . .

[Did he read too much into it? Still, it's an awfully intrusive comment to make, so he trails off, a touch diffident.]

[arockstar]

[Hm. He's admittedly never thought of it in that way before.]

You're more clever than you let on, you know. I'm glad.

[There's a pause as he thinks.]

I used to be into the whole "rock star" dream. That's obviously not a thing where you're from... But you have, like, celebrities, right? Great heroes or, I don't know. Cultural icons. Musicians and bands are like that where I'm from. I was in a crappy little punk band when I was a kid, and I kept telling myself I'd chase that dream again after the Kaiju war ended. I had plans.

[He turns away to start up Clair de Lune. A couple weeks ago, he wouldn't have been able to talk and play at the same time. It's been nice to get behind the keys again.]

That never panned out.

[nosediving]

[With the right amount of examples and context clues, Shang Qinghua understands most of what Newt says. It's a story tinged with the feeling of loss, in the same sort of way that childhood dreams are lost on the path to adulthood. If Newt had become a rock star as planned, would he be the same person of whom Shang Qinghua is sitting in front?

The next song plays, and he listens to a certain number of notes before he replies.]

Life doesn't always go in the direction we think it will. At times, that can be a good thing.

[arockstar]

[A good thing.

Newt stops playing mid-bar and his attention snaps to Shang Qinghua.]

And which part of me is supposed to be a good thing?

[nosediving]

[He winces, his hands rising to shield his face on instinct before he lowers them with a blink. He was clearly expecting to get hit.]

. . . Ah, there's a great deal that I still don't know about you, sir. And won't it sound insincere if I were to say it now? That good thing, you'll have to figure it out for yourself.

[arockstar]

[Newt deflates at the reaction. It's a valid enough response, even if Newt was never planning to hurt him, but that honestly makes it worse.]

I'll be figuring it out for a long time, then. There's nothing good for me in any of this.

[nosediving]

[When Newt says that, Shang Qinghua's hands drop completely onto his lap. His previous reaction notwithstanding, there's no hint of fear in his body language.]

Is that really true?

[arockstar]

I don't have a reason to lie anymore, do I?

[nosediving]

. . . I may not know much, but I've known you for some time now. Even though you were acting, your intelligence is indisputable. Is this not a good thing?

[arockstar]

[He laughs a little.]

I'd say it's a neutral thing. It's like the gods, you know? Concepts like love and sincerity aren't wholly good just like ruin and disorder aren't wholly bad. It depends on the application.

[nosediving]

Then, as long as you applied that knowledge you carry in a good way even once, I'm not wrong either.

[arockstar]

[He sits on that for a long time, clenching his jaw. He doesn't feel like's true, but that's not exactly a good argument.]

But what if my actions after the fact negated the good use of that knowledge?

[nosediving]

Does that change the fact that the initial use was good?

[His rebuttal is quick, calm. As soon as the words leave his lips, he seems to second-guess himself. It's really not his place to be force-feeding an opinion.]

However, I am ignorant to the life you've led. You can easily dismiss me by saying that I know nothing, and I would be forced to agree.