GODLY AUDIENCES: SASUKE UCHIHA

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

I'm not so worried about being destroyed. I'm worried about someone destroying something important to me. [Don't bully children!!!]

Can't really say since we're not allowed to interfere too much ourselves, but I've got some ideas. [They're absolutely not happy, thanks.] So. Why?

[The why could mean a few things, but they're waiting to see if Sasuke's going to answer. Down another shelf they go, and if Sasuke's still watching he might notice the figure's not wearing shoes and doing this crap. RIP lab.]

[moralmyopia]

[At this, Sasuke does glance up, looking curiously intrigued. But then his eyes drop to the feet, and he frowns.] Get off the shelves. [Don't insult Justice's gift. :\]

I told you I knew how to make a world worth living in. It starts with none of you in it.

[The way he peers at Merriment seems to say he's trying to see if he can get an honest rise by saying exaggerated claims.]

Who else cares about Justice besides you?

[divus]

[=\ Fine, fine...Merriment seems to swing themselves down and somehow gracefully float to the ground, but this means leaning against a table near where Sasuke's working.]

Uh, anyone with a heart? [Just throwing that out there. The answer doesn't surprise them, but they'll come back to that in a second.] You do realize he's ten.

[Screw this, Merriment's just hauling themselves up to sit on the table instead.] Explain to me how this ideal world of yours would start then.

[moralmyopia]

[Great. Don't hover, it's rude. Sasuke peers at Merriment and then tries his best to half focus on piddling with the wires.]

I did. You'll all be gone. [Sasuke, you can't question gods who are questioning you!!!] So there isn't any god among you who would harm Justice? Who would want to see him fail?

[divus]

Okay that's not an answer and you know it. After that. How does it go after that?

[Sasuke is such a brat??? Merriment seems fine being perched on a table though so like. Okay. Their feet idly swing instead.]

I'm sure there're a few of us who'd do anything to knock the rest of us out of the competition, but I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about you.

[moralmyopia]

And I should give my plan away so you can prepare yourselves, why?

[He's a brat.

But he pauses what he's doing to glance up and peer at the mask on Merriment's face. He hadn't forgotten what Merriment said, he only chose to ignore it.] I'm going to destroy you one by one, and if I can't destroy you, I'll find a method to seal you away.

I'll save Justice for last. [He'll win by then basically, but that isn't the reason he'd keep Justice.] He has something I want back when this is all over. He'll be left to send all of us home.

[divus]

[Merriment doesn't do anything right away, letting Sasuke stare at them before waiting patiently for an answer.]

Clever. I'd like to see you try. [The tone's still casual but bordering on protective, a slight edge that usually isn't there but still mostly calm.] He has something Disorder doesn't? Like what?

[moralmyopia]

[For a brief second, his face looks almost fond, but it's gone as quickly as it appears, and he goes back to fiddling with the armbands.]

He has something I gave him. Why don't you go bother him instead of me if you want answers?

[Again, he looks back up.]

He's too young. Why is he a god?

[divus]

[SIGH.]

Or you could just ask for it back. And I'm not done with you yet.

[What a strange question.] You know that's like saying I'm too old to be a god. He was given the choice just like the rest of us. Whoever chose us saw something in him that made sense.

[moralmyopia]

I told him to keep it.

[What a bothersome god!!! It really does feel like he's being big brothered, not that he knows how a healthy big brother relationship goes after the age of, like, five or six.]

If he's the youngest, who is the oldest?

[divus]

Then I don't understand why you want it back, but okay. [It's a good thing Merriment has an insane amount of patience for this sort of thing.]

Anyway...I am. You can see my point.

[moralmyopia]

I'm allowing him to borrow it.

[He's trying so hard to dodge and skirt around this whole long con without giving it away.] I'll destroy you first if you're oldest. [Is this a joke? Is he serious? HE SOUNDS SO NONCHALANT. Curse him please. WAIT THIS IS MERRIMENT DON'T]

[divus]

Does he know it's just borrowing and not for keeps? [Child logic. Also Sasuke what in the HELL are you doing.

...Merriment slides off of the table then, stepping closer again and waiting patiently, staring down at Sasuke.]

Go on then. I'm waiting. [It's also hard to tell if Merriment's serious or not??? God.]

[moralmyopia]

He knows I'm going to want it back when this is all over.

[Dang, get off his back. Just because he was trying to manipulate others doesn't mean he's being mean to Justice...!!]

Are you important to Justice? [Sasuke glances up fully--all the way up--at Merriment, but doesn't budge.] Do you know if you're important to him?

[divus]

[TRUST NO BITCH. But somehow that answer seems to satisfy Merriment because that subject gets dropped.

Instead...that question seems to blindside them. There's a pause like they don't know how to answer, moments passing by as they think.]

Yeah. [It's not quite as sure as they'd like, but it's there.] Yeah. I am.

[...hm.]

[moralmyopia]

[Very slowly, Sasuke bends and picks himself up like some kind of rising emo, teen phantom, standing at his full height, taking the wire and the armbands with him. Merriment has, like, almost ten centimeters on him??

He tips his head back and squares his shoulders. He looks like he is ready to throw down!!!

But then he turns away to walk off to another part of the lab.] I have better things to do than destroy you right now. Later. [???]

[divus]

[....?????????]

Wait, what? [NO!!! Merriment's moving, practically gliding across the floor.] That's it?

[moralmyopia]

[Carefully, Sasuke fans out the bands and the wires. He starts digging through drawers and shelves, lifting out wheel cogs, putting them down to measure the size.]

I'm busy. [Shut up, he doesn't want to hurt Justice's feelings, so he can't kill Merriment.] Besides, your death will be a surprise.

It's how ninjas work.

[divus]

My death is always going to be a surprise. [Flatly. But okay, sure, ninjas. Merriment goes quiet again, this time just watching Sasuke work.]

...what're you even making?

[moralmyopia]

Retractable wires for weapon manipulation. [He doesn't look up, so this makes it seem as if doing this is completely normal!!] You all blocked my chakra and ninjutsu, so I have to make a mechanical version.

[He pauses for a moment, though still doesn't look up.]

I want you to do something for me.

[divus]

[That's. Hm.] I have no idea what any of that means, but sure. Sounds fair. But if you use it for a murder it'll be a little obvious.

[That's for Sasuke to deal with though, and Merriment pauses again.]

So okay. Let me see if I have this right. You start a rumor threatening one of my kids, you threaten me, you're making weapon manipulation...weapons, and you still want a favor? [This is all said fairly idly like Merriment's not even mad, just extremely curious.] We'll see. What is it?

[There's a 72% chance of Merriment saying yes.]

[moralmyopia]

[wow, don't listen things this is just how he functions ALRIGHT]

I want you to do or give something nice to the girl, Madoka Kaname. [He finally looks up at this. Merriment gets his full attention.] Whatever you want in return for it, I'll do it.

[divus]

[...Sasuke what in the actual??? Like okay, fine, that won't be difficult for Merriment because they happen to like Madoka, but that wasn't at all what they were expecting.]

...am I saying this is from me or from you? [Why are you like this you goddamn goblin.]

[moralmyopia]

[He doesn't forget nice things done for his brother. (◡_◡✿)]

It's from you, not me.

[divus]

...alright. I can do that, but for a price. [The god crosses one ankle over the other, arms folded over their chest mostly for dramatic effect.]

If you ever decide to willingly switch teams again, align with me. [Sasuke even gets a free choice, how now.] I don't know what your plans are, kiddo, and I don't know how long you want to stay with Disorder, but that's my condition.

Can we agree?