GODLY AUDIENCES: SIEG

[divus]

Comments

[heartmunculus]

If you'd like me to.

[He approaches and offers a small smile.]

It's good to be able to talk to you. We didn't get the chance to before.

[divus]

[If the mask wasn't in the way, Sieg would be able to see that the figure smiles back. It's evident in tone though, a light, happy sort of voice.]

You mean with the ceremony? [Dream, whatever. The figure waves a hand as if that's something that doesn't matter too much.] I think it's so that you guys can't change your mind before we even get started.

[heartmunculus]

It's a ceremony? Have you all done this before?

[But if they're a new pantheon and they've only done this the one time... it can't have happened more than once... right?]

We weren't really able to make an informed decision to begin with. I wanted to ask... why did you offer your aid to me?

[divus]

Mm, no...maybe some of the others have, but this is my first time. Did I do okay? [It sounds like they may be teasing him a little...]

And what do you mean why?

[heartmunculus]

I don't really know what ceremonies like that are supposed to go... But I think it went well? [He sounds a little confused, but he's trying. These are the kinds of things that happen around him, not to him.]

There were 12 of you, but only three offered a coin during the dream. I was just wondering if there was a reason why you offered yours to me. Or... was it just a whim?

[divus]

[They would continue that line of thought, but they believe the question and what Sieg is saying is far more important.

...and then they're going to sit right on the floor, inviting Sieg to do the same.]

I can't say what the others were thinking, but...do you know what love means, Sieg-san?

[heartmunculus]

[He'll follow Love's lead, crossing his legs and thinking about the question. He knows about it as a concept, but has he felt it for himself?]

It's a feeling of affection for someone or something, isn't it?

[divus]

Exactly. Maybe you don't realize it yet, but...I can see a potential in you. You're someone who will want to help people in this game, right? Because it's the right thing to do.

[heartmunculus]

You're right. I do want to help people. I... don't know how good I'll be at that.

This is the kind of game where people die, right? Like in the Holy Grail War.

[divus]

It's not about if you're good at it or not. It's about being willing to try. That means way more than anything. [The tone is gentle.] This competition's about making sure the god with the most followers wins, but that doesn't mean it has to be done by killing everyone. Getting people to trust you and caring for them is just as important.

[They seem to debate saying this next part, but it's important.] You can be whoever you want to be here. You're helping us, but you aren't a tool.

[heartmunculus]

[He's thoughtful. The "competition" he ended up locked into at home was a very different kind than this one seem to be. Whichever god ends with the most followers. But at least this one won't end with everyone dead except the victors.] I'll try.

I don't know how to be anyone other than myself. [Still... it's nice to know he isn't thought of like a tool. He fought hard to even be considered a person and bring that right to all of the other homunculi. They were tools more than people at the beginning of the war.

At least he doesn't have to fight to be seen as a person now with a foreign god.] But... tell me how I can help you.

[divus]

Sometimes? Being yourself is the hardest thing to do. [It's a little aside, but Love moves right along. Somehow the cream puffs Sieg had offered have materialized next to them and they place the plate between them. "Help yourself", they seem to say, though they can't exactly eat with the mask on and they know it.]

I'm a little worried about how this game is going to go. Even if everyone's gonna come back at the end, I'm afraid that people will be more brutal than necessary. Or they'll lose hope the longer they're here. The thing is...the god who wins gets to determine what happens next. Shouldn't it be a god that will do what's best for everyone?

[heartmunculus]

[It definitely took him a while before he developed a real sense of self- but at the same time... He gained a sense of will when he wasn't supposed to. Being himself is- he hasn't really gotten the chance since the time he hijacked the Chaldean Master's dream.

He'll take one of the cream puffs for himself, chewing thoughtfully. He swallows and takes a few more seconds before he answers.]

I want to believe in you.

While I want the best for everyone I also worry... how you're going to go about that. I don't mean to sound confrontational, but Amakusa Shirou Tokisada thought he was doing the best for humanity by eliminating all suffering, but the way he was going to do that was to turn all of humanity into spiritual waves. The method you're using is important too.

[divus]

[They're thoughtful, at least, but also maybe trying to figure out what exactly he's talking about given there's a tilt of the head and a period of silence.]

...some people would say that suffering is a way that we grow. But that doesn't mean it has to be meaningless or mindless. And didn't that guy lead a rebellion or whatever? That's not what this is.

[heartmunculus]

He did... a lot of things. [Sieg can't condemn him entirely, even if he's sure the way he was going about his goals was wrong.] But he still thought he was doing what was right.

I guess... What I'm asking is, what kind of a world you're going to make after all of this is through?

[divus]

[That's a valid point. Okay, they can give them that.]

Ideally? A word where people will be able to be themselves without being judged. [That seems important.] And a world where people aren't afraid to be who they are. I know it's a little silly to say I want a peaceful world but we can dream, right?

[heartmunculus]

I see. Then I'm glad I picked you when I was given the choice.

[divus]

[What an adorable boy.]

That's so sweet of you! [That makes them happy.] I think...together? We can win this thing. We just have to make sure my numbers are the highest at the end of this contest.

[heartmunculus]

I'd like that. I'll see what I can do for you.

[divus]

Thank you, Sieg-san. And you'll come back to me for anything you need, right? I want to help you as much as I can!

[heartmunculus]

[-san? That's a new one to him.]

I thought the gods couldn't get involved in things directly?

[divus]

[Shhh...]

Is it really getting directly involved if we're offering you guys advice?

[heartmunculus]

Is... is it just advice?

The rules were very sparse.

[divus]

And your powers, I guess...which have you chosen?

[heartmunculus]

Strung red, but I didn't really know which to choose.