GODLY AUDIENCES: SENRI

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

That's right... but I wasn't able to stop it from happening, either.

[usogi]

But... you don't like how the competition's been going, right?

I don't think that you should make a sacrifice in a game that you didn't want to participate in in the first place...

[divus]

I'm not saying I want to make a sacrifice, Senri. I'm saying there are some people here who would see voting for a god as more acceptable than voting for one of you, whether I wanted the contest to be this way or not.

[usogi]

[he crosses his arms and as if it's the simplest thing in the world:]

Then I'm going to talk them out of it.

[divus]

[Oh, Senri.]

I hope you're able to.

[usogi]

[and he offers her a smile]

... just watch me. I'll make it all work out.

But before then.... can I get to know you better too? If I know more about you, maybe it'll help me find the right people to join your side.

[divus]

I'll be watching.

[She's probably smiling back, but it's hard to tell with the mask.]

...of course you can. I'm sure you know this already, but... you'll have to ask me questions. I can't just start... [she waves a hand] Telling you everything out of nowhere.

[usogi]

Ah, I know - I hate it. I'd like to just hear stories about you all... I'm sure you've all led really interesting lives.

[he's very much a storyteller and performer at heart? but he just hums thoughtfully]

... why are you the god of Fortune? I didn't get a good look at everything in your room... but you must really enjoy that stuff, right?

[divus]

Not exactly...

[Fortune giggles.]

You know what "fortunate" means, right, Senri?

[usogi]

Um.... being lucky?

[he's trying,]

[divus]

Exactly.

[A beat.]

The fortune-telling stuff is just a play on words. Luck is what I have power over.

[usogi]

Ohh, that's really neat! I think that having good luck on your side makes your whole life better.

[divus]

In some ways, it does.

[In others... well. Less said of that, the better.]

[usogi]

Only some...?

[he tilts his head]

I was going to ask too - does your godly specialty have something to do with luck? You know, like how Indulgence can summon items more easily....

[divus]

Exactly. I can make someone very lucky, if they earn it... or I can make them unlucky, if I have to.

[clarifying - ]

I haven't had to yet.

[usogi]

Oh!

[senri's expression brightens up at that]

Can you make me super lucky? I think I could use some of that, after everything lately.

[divus]

I'm bound by the rules, so you have to do a task for me first. Let's see...

[Hmm.]

You switched to Justice... have you used your new power yet?

[usogi]

[senri shakes his head]

Not yet.... There's someone in the game who's really bad at admitting he's my friend, so he told me he just wanted me to switch to Justice to use me - in exchange for something else. I was just going to make fun of him for forgetting to use me...

Do you have an idea though, Fortune? Is there something I could do to help get you more followers?

[divus]

Will you tell me which power you picked?

[she's pretty sure she knows but she wants to hear him say it]

[usogi]

Oohh, gods don't know that?

I have Supreme Authority. I've been waiting to use it, but I actually haven't thought of anything that isn't just... funny....

[and might backfire on him,,]

[divus]

We do, but...

[ha ha]

I'm trying to get better about asking instead of just knowing... so I don't frighten people.

[ha ha ha]

...could you... make a rule forbidding people from blaming themselves for things that aren't their fault?

[usogi]

[ . . . . ]

... can I ask why you want me to?

It's a good rule but - .... I guess I'm just curious.

[divus]

...

[She looks down at her hands.]

In case something happens... at the trial. I don't want the people who left me to feel responsible.

[usogi]

[ . . . ]

Is... Is it that easy?

[senri huffs out a little laugh]

I know what you're saying but.... maybe that's part of grieving too. Do you know what happened with Shishimaru last week? At the pond?

[divus]

[She nods.]

Yes... we all know when a power is used. The timing...

[Her voice trails off.]

That wasn't his fault, either.