GODLY AUDIENCES: SIEG

[divus]

Comments

[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.

[divus]

What made you choose that one then?

[heartmunculus]

I thought... maybe people would be kinder if they empathized, and if they're tied together, they're less likely to hurt each other.

[divus]

...your heart is in the right place. I hope you're right. [That would be wonderful, wouldn't it?] Be kind and listen to the people around you. If they feel supported, maybe they'll ask for help before it comes down to hurting everyone else.

[heartmunculus]

[He hopes he's right too, but he doesn't really know if it'll work out that way.]

I can at least do that much, even I don't know how much people will ask a homunculus like me for help.

[divus]

Do you really think people are going to judge you just for that? It's not like you're the only non-human we invited here.

[heartmunculus]

I'm just... used to that from when I first gained sentience.

[divus]

I think if you talk to people here and prove you're more than what you were created for nobody's going to mind. I knew someone like you once who was born with a different purpose. He turned out pretty okay.

[heartmunculus]

Really? Could you tell me about him?

[divus]

Maybe another time. [They sound regretful.] There's only so much I can say right now since we've just met, but I want to continue getting to know you. It's just one of our rules, in a way.

[heartmunculus]

Then I hope we get more chances to speak.

Are your rules different than the ones we have?