[Sasuke’s face darkens. He probably would have let it go if it wasn’t for Senri. But the posturing—he hates it. He hates seeing it on Senri more than he hates having to wear this awful outfit and stand in front of this awful god. And he feels bad? Senri had been right. Indulgence was snobby.]
No. [Reaching out, he bunches his fingers into the back of Senri’s clothes and yanks Senri upright.] I was talking to you. [did you forget he fought a god senri rip] You’re just a god. I’m not going to pretend like I owe you anything. Nito doesn’t owe you anything either. All of you owe us. We agreed to play your game for you. Without us, you would be squabbling amongst yourselves like chickens.
I’m returning the respect I received when I came in. I can do this easy, but I won’t kiss your feet. [He finally releases Senri’s clothes.] Nito wanted to see you, but you wouldn’t answer him, so I agreed to help. I don’t care either way. So answer Nito’s questions, and I won’t say another word.
[Indulgence's voice loses the playfulness it had had not too long ago, one foot drumming against his knee.]
I don't know what kind of lies your friend here's been filling your head with, but believe you me, this is the first time I've ever received an offering from either of you.
[Suddenly, he jumps down to his feet on the floor, shoving his hands into folds in his robes.]
Go ahead and talk a big game, but let's not make up stories.
[Slowly, his eyes cut to the back of Senri's head. He wishes he wouldn't have let go, and then he could have fisted his hand again as a threat. Remind him to kill Senri once this is all over.]
Later. [Low enough to hopefully make Senri's blood crawl.] Ask them anyway. [He said he wouldn't say anything else and, for now, he holds true to his promise. Countdown to the next time Sasuke gets mad and talks.]
I'll tell you what. Now that we've gotten the narrative a bit straighter, how about you cut the bullshit? I'm not in the mood for good cop, bad cop, so spit it out before I get bored and I'll consider answering your questions.
[Indulgence taps a foot, like one step away from judge judy giffing.]
the first is a bone-deep panic that the second he walks out of here he's going to get stabbed so fucking fast.
the second is oh my god i fucking hate rich people
but he does take a second to choose his words carefully, trying to keep a pulse of truth in them without over the top flattery]
.... it's just been hard to get ahold of you, but I wanted to know what your world looked like, from your own mouth. What it'd look like if you win, and how you feel about the competition.
Your name came up in the last trial, and you were innocent - but it was hard to say anything in your favor.
[Whatever. He guesses that because nobody can defend him at trials regardless of his innocence, he should maybe make it clear that he's just a snob and not, like, morally bankrupt.]
My ideal world is all about the three f's: fun, freedom, and frivolity. Everyone's comfortable, everyone's happy, so what's not to love about the idea? Am I willing to go pretty far to win this thing? Yeah, I would, because I'm a winner. Am I about to order my disloyal-proving following to go around murdering all the competition to get there? Come on, nobody's that heartless.
[is he really a better diplomat when this nearly went belly-up, like.
anyway his expression does seem to soften a little bit at that, something less apprehensive. is it real? who knows, not senri. though at least he can admit that this is good news.]
Mm, I'd like to hope so too, Indulgence-san. I guess that's why I'm trying to ask as many people as I can... Do you think any of the other gods would resort to that? We know that wasn't the case this past week, but for the future....
[please tell him indulgence is a gossip like other rich people he hates]
[Geez. It's worse than Sasuke thought. The Three Fs? He shouldn't have ever agreed to this with Senri. He wants to die? Kill him, thanks. He couldn't stand for a world to be so disorganized. There's no structure.
Rather than irritable, he now looks judgemental. But at least he doesn't say anything. Yet.]
Well, tch--yeah, duh. I mean, if nothing else we have a god named Ruin. Now I'm not saying she doesn't have her charms, because...
[He draws a blank. He's too picky.]
Anyway, the point is that she has that name for a reason, so if she wants to win, of course she's going to encourage or outright order her followers to help kill her way to the top. Sure, maybe not now, but if you ask me it's a plain inevitability. Aside from her? Cunning.
[senri glances to sasuke briefly, and since he's standing so close by, senri's just going to lightly hipcheck him because he needs to fucking train his face into something less openly judgy.
he does this while still paying attention to indulgence, so he hopes he can get away with it]
Oh yeah - I've heard those names come up too. I mean... obviously we don't want them to win and all - but if they do, what do you think the Pantheon would look like? They'd be ruling over the rest of you, right?
What proof do any of us have? Any of us can point fingers at any of us. Some won't, some will, and some may or may not. It's all distrustful, it's all up in the air, it's all up to you to choose your best option.
[Which, he would argue, is him, but he's not enough of a dolt to see where he's NOT WANTED so he's just going to be indignant instead.]
Whoever wins gets to boss the rest of us around, and we get to cater to their image of what the world should be like. Which means, mostly, that most of the people who want to win are going to make everything boring. For some of them, though, it's prooobably safe to say it wouldn't be quite so pretty.
[though he's heard mixed opinions about Ambition too - though he's not sure if it extends to her world. senri frowns as he seems to pause on anything else to ask.]
I have another question - you can do favors for gods that aren't yours. Do you know what people can get in return if they're serving someone that isn't their patron? Do the gods have rules about what they can give you, or does it depend on the god what the results of a favor are? Say if someone did favors for Cunning or Ruin....
[Sasuke peers at Senri... (this fucking moron somehow has decent questions?? how did this happen at all??) ...and then slowly slides his eyes back to Indulgence. It's a rather pointed look, strangely uninterested, but hawkish and watchful. Knowing.
[But he seems more interested in that question, at least, and a bit of that smarmy edge bleeds away.]
Well we all generally have the same rules, but every god has their specialty, you know? So one god's going to be able to grant certain things more easily, or even find loopholes. Say one god can help with a curse, for instance, or one can make exceptions to formerly unbreakable rules. Or maybe another can make items suddenly available for no cost.
[A shuriken appears around one of his fingers and he twirls it idly.]
[The shuriken wipes the snide look off Sasuke's face. Hey, what the fuck? Don't wave shurikens he doesn't have around in his face! GIVE HIM...
His mouth opens, but Senri butts in. Senri... butts... in...
Astounded by the idiocy of the question, Sasuke turns a Look over at the other boy. He balls his fist up. And, without hesitation, he clocks Senri hard across the back of the shoulder without a word.]
[Indulgence seems to be considering Senri's question as he plays with his very sharp new toy when Sasuke just up and punches him--and not like, a warning punch. There's a second's hesitation, and Indulgence laughs.]
HAH! You know what, I'll consider that a favor.
[This is what he does. This bitch just makes arbitrary decisions on what he can allow to be rewarded based on his dumb bitch mood. Suddenly he has three shuriken, and he holds them out for the taking.]
[Nevermind. ABORT. This is awful. Sasuke's fist slowly unfurls. He peers at the offered shuriken like they're gold. Three of them, no less.
But the conundrum is Sasuke's utility versus Sasuke's pride. If he accepts them, he'll be accepting favors from a god without his own conditional control, something he harped on about not doing. At Senri's expense, he'll be accepting a gift, he'll be getting a gift instead. But he can use them.
Slowly, he reaches out. His eyes cut to Senri, drop down, look back at the shuriken. Dammit. Right now, they're valuable to him.
But his hand balls into a fist again, and he draws it back to himself. The lines of his jaw clench.]
[Byebye, shuriken. Indulgence will remember that. They disappear and Indulgence shoves his hands back in his pockets.]
Same thing still applies whenever. I can get you what you want, easily, for much less than anyone else can. And anyone else can do other things for you for much less, as well, depending on what you're asking for. Next question.
senri is absolutely gasping in dumb bitch, but also just generally having a hard time processing for a second? sasuke didn't take the shuriken.... and senri glances over to him and then back to indulgence. his mind is racing for a question, even as he reaches a hand out to let his fingers just lightly touch the back of sasuke's fist - a quiet thank you
and then - ]
... can you tell us a little about yourself Indulgence-san? Who you used to be, before you came here? Or is that still not allowed this week...
[It's a hard thing to give up for his pride. Three shurikens. He wanted them so badly.
The touch is a gesture he understands, but one which feels is more patronizing than it is. He draws his hand away, more to himself. don't be gay in front of a god!!!]
Is who you were even as important as who you are now?
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No. [Reaching out, he bunches his fingers into the back of Senri’s clothes and yanks Senri upright.] I was talking to you. [did you forget he fought a god senri rip] You’re just a god. I’m not going to pretend like I owe you anything. Nito doesn’t owe you anything either. All of you owe us. We agreed to play your game for you. Without us, you would be squabbling amongst yourselves like chickens.
I’m returning the respect I received when I came in. I can do this easy, but I won’t kiss your feet. [He finally releases Senri’s clothes.] Nito wanted to see you, but you wouldn’t answer him, so I agreed to help. I don’t care either way. So answer Nito’s questions, and I won’t say another word.
Indulge him.
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[Indulgence's voice loses the playfulness it had had not too long ago, one foot drumming against his knee.]
I don't know what kind of lies your friend here's been filling your head with, but believe you me, this is the first time I've ever received an offering from either of you.
[Suddenly, he jumps down to his feet on the floor, shoving his hands into folds in his robes.]
Go ahead and talk a big game, but let's not make up stories.
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what he hates the most is the swirling feeling in his stomach, of gratitude mixed with irritation.
yet none of it shows on his face - there's a look of surprise and a stilted, lost:] Did I - miscount my cakes...?
[he's been yanked upright and he blinks a few times - ]
Sorry. [he's not really sure he's apologizing to, but he'll say it anyway] Um - really sorry.
Indulgence-san, is it... okay if we still ask questions? Or -
[is this too much of a disaster and is sasuke about to deck him anyway]
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Later. [Low enough to hopefully make Senri's blood crawl.] Ask them anyway. [He said he wouldn't say anything else and, for now, he holds true to his promise. Countdown to the next time Sasuke gets mad and talks.]
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[Indulgence taps a foot, like one step away from judge judy giffing.]
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the first is a bone-deep panic that the second he walks out of here he's going to get stabbed so fucking fast.
the second is oh my god i fucking hate rich people
but he does take a second to choose his words carefully, trying to keep a pulse of truth in them without over the top flattery]
.... it's just been hard to get ahold of you, but I wanted to know what your world looked like, from your own mouth. What it'd look like if you win, and how you feel about the competition.
Your name came up in the last trial, and you were innocent - but it was hard to say anything in your favor.
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It gives Indulgence room to grace them with an answer, if desired.
THANK GOD FOR SENRI WHO IS A BETTER DIPLOMAT THAN HIM]
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[Whatever. He guesses that because nobody can defend him at trials regardless of his innocence, he should maybe make it clear that he's just a snob and not, like, morally bankrupt.]
My ideal world is all about the three f's: fun, freedom, and frivolity. Everyone's comfortable, everyone's happy, so what's not to love about the idea? Am I willing to go pretty far to win this thing? Yeah, I would, because I'm a winner. Am I about to order my disloyal-proving following to go around murdering all the competition to get there? Come on, nobody's that heartless.
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anyway his expression does seem to soften a little bit at that, something less apprehensive. is it real? who knows, not senri. though at least he can admit that this is good news.]
Mm, I'd like to hope so too, Indulgence-san. I guess that's why I'm trying to ask as many people as I can... Do you think any of the other gods would resort to that? We know that wasn't the case this past week, but for the future....
[please tell him indulgence is a gossip like other rich people he hates]
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Rather than irritable, he now looks judgemental. But at least he doesn't say anything. Yet.]
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[He draws a blank. He's too picky.]
Anyway, the point is that she has that name for a reason, so if she wants to win, of course she's going to encourage or outright order her followers to help kill her way to the top. Sure, maybe not now, but if you ask me it's a plain inevitability. Aside from her? Cunning.
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he does this while still paying attention to indulgence, so he hopes he can get away with it]
Oh yeah - I've heard those names come up too. I mean... obviously we don't want them to win and all - but if they do, what do you think the Pantheon would look like? They'd be ruling over the rest of you, right?
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What proof do we have to trust what you say when you also want to win?
[he tried so hard and got so far but in the end at least it wasnt rud... maybe it was a little rude. A FAIR QUESTION ALRIGHT]
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[Which, he would argue, is him, but he's not enough of a dolt to see where he's NOT WANTED so he's just going to be indignant instead.]
Whoever wins gets to boss the rest of us around, and we get to cater to their image of what the world should be like. Which means, mostly, that most of the people who want to win are going to make everything boring. For some of them, though, it's prooobably safe to say it wouldn't be quite so pretty.
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[though he's heard mixed opinions about Ambition too - though he's not sure if it extends to her world. senri frowns as he seems to pause on anything else to ask.]
I have another question - you can do favors for gods that aren't yours. Do you know what people can get in return if they're serving someone that isn't their patron? Do the gods have rules about what they can give you, or does it depend on the god what the results of a favor are? Say if someone did favors for Cunning or Ruin....
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Go on.]
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[But he seems more interested in that question, at least, and a bit of that smarmy edge bleeds away.]
Well we all generally have the same rules, but every god has their specialty, you know? So one god's going to be able to grant certain things more easily, or even find loopholes. Say one god can help with a curse, for instance, or one can make exceptions to formerly unbreakable rules. Or maybe another can make items suddenly available for no cost.
[A shuriken appears around one of his fingers and he twirls it idly.]
Just because he feels like it.
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Does Indulgence-san know what a portable phone charger is?
[and that's where senri's usefulness runs out]
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His mouth opens, but Senri butts in. Senri... butts... in...
Astounded by the idiocy of the question, Sasuke turns a Look over at the other boy. He balls his fist up. And, without hesitation, he clocks Senri hard across the back of the shoulder without a word.]
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[Indulgence seems to be considering Senri's question as he plays with his very sharp new toy when Sasuke just up and punches him--and not like, a warning punch. There's a second's hesitation, and Indulgence laughs.]
HAH! You know what, I'll consider that a favor.
[This is what he does. This bitch just makes arbitrary decisions on what he can allow to be rewarded based on his dumb bitch mood. Suddenly he has three shuriken, and he holds them out for the taking.]
Congratulations, you earned them.
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What? No?! Why!
[DO NOT GIVE THE NINJA HIS TOOL OF CHOICE WHEN HE'S BEEN A RUDE BITCH THIS ENTIRE TIME]
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But the conundrum is Sasuke's utility versus Sasuke's pride. If he accepts them, he'll be accepting favors from a god without his own conditional control, something he harped on about not doing. At Senri's expense, he'll be accepting a gift, he'll be getting a gift instead. But he can use them.
Slowly, he reaches out. His eyes cut to Senri, drop down, look back at the shuriken. Dammit. Right now, they're valuable to him.
But his hand balls into a fist again, and he draws it back to himself. The lines of his jaw clench.]
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[Byebye, shuriken. Indulgence will remember that. They disappear and Indulgence shoves his hands back in his pockets.]
Same thing still applies whenever. I can get you what you want, easily, for much less than anyone else can. And anyone else can do other things for you for much less, as well, depending on what you're asking for. Next question.
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senri is absolutely gasping in dumb bitch, but also just generally having a hard time processing for a second? sasuke didn't take the shuriken.... and senri glances over to him and then back to indulgence. his mind is racing for a question, even as he reaches a hand out to let his fingers just lightly touch the back of sasuke's fist - a quiet thank you
and then - ]
... can you tell us a little about yourself Indulgence-san? Who you used to be, before you came here? Or is that still not allowed this week...
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The touch is a gesture he understands, but one which feels is more patronizing than it is. He draws his hand away, more to himself. don't be gay in front of a god!!!]
Is who you were even as important as who you are now?
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