GODLY AUDIENCES: RAY

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

Please. The last treats you brought were great. [But...there's a laugh.]

I knew you'd find them eventually. Congratulations. Do all four of you know the alignments of each other?

[selfimmolates]

Zoe and I swapped. Yu doesn't know mine and is probably afraid I'm going to kill him. [could ray just tell him? maybe. but he won't.] I haven't actually talked to Nonon yet.

i can and can't believe your catch-all has 1000 comments and it's been two weeks.

[divus]

Zoe's sweet. I had a feeling you two would swap this week. [Not going to say why though, but.] ...you know, you are a little scary that way. Yu-s--an is a very giving person who wants to lead to the best of his ability...which I guess means he was honest with you about using his power.

[It's hard to say what that was about, like she fumbled on which honorific to use. However, there's a clap of her hands at the mention of Nonon.] You should definitely talk to Nonon-san soon. She's great, too. Real ambitious, go-getter type who might be able to help you talk to people and swing their alignments.

All of you have very important wishes.

i desperately hope that someone is worse than me

[selfimmolates]

I don't know Yu well enough that I'm willing to give him that info unless I have reason to think he'll target me.

[....... GOD I KNOW WHO LOVE IS NOW]

... And I definitely wasn't sure that Nonon wouldn't stab me for knowing her alignment, but I guess I can give her a try.

keep hoping

[divus]

[Love sure is Something. Anyway, she seems to consider that because it's...probably bias talking? She likes all of these people a lot.]

He's a good person to get to know. He's been very kind to me these last few weeks even though we've just met. And Nonon-san...she's a little intimidating, but she has the best intentions.

I think I'm more surprised that you and Zoe are close. [Pleased, but surprised.]

I CAN'T BE THE WORST RIGHT

[selfimmolates]

"Close" is an exaggeration.

[though he does like her well enough. still, it's hard for ray to shut down the part of him that evaluates people from a pragmatic standpoint.]

Part of it is just that I don't think she has the fortitude to be dangerously malicious yet. She's... pretty ordinary so far.

:)

[divus]

Close for you, and don't try to tell me otherwise. [Sigh.]

Out of all of my followers? I think she's the most ordinary and that's what makes her very special. But I wouldn't underestimate her either...she's pretty brave.

i hate this

[selfimmolates]

Well, she's actually gone around talking to the gods, which is a point in her favour. And I won't deny it takes guts to argue with 'em, even if I think that's a dumb move at this stage.

[divus]

What makes you think it's so dumb? It might even put a few of them in their place.

[selfimmolates]

If you're going to piss off people who potentially hold your lives in their hands, you wait until the right moment.

[divus]

And you don't think this is it? When it's early and we can still figure out ways to make deals and protect you guys?

[selfimmolates]

I doubt a god would be "put in their place" by a random person's comments this early on, so it's not worth it.

[divus]

You'd be surprised how delicate some of their egos are...but it's something to consider anyway. If anyone can handle themselves though I still think its her. Just by how she handles herself.

[selfimmolates]

I guess. I won't be surprised if it gets her cursed, though.

But moving—two things I need to talk to you about. First: could I ask for a piece of jewelry? It's for Ruin.

[divus]

[SIGH.] Yeah, sure. I'll grab something for you before you leave. What's the second thing?

[selfimmolates]

[listen it's not his fault senri is okay with leaving this to the 12-year-old child]

Senri's going to meet with you at some point to ask this, but I'm getting a head start. Each of the gods have some kind of specialty in the competition, right? Like being able to summon items more easily or get around the rules.

What's yours?

[divus]

[Senri's a dumb baby.]

Am I supposed to pretend I didn't tell you when he comes and asks? [There's a little laugh, but okay.] Mine's breaking curses.

[selfimmolates]

—I was right! And geez, Merriment tried to tell me it might just be because you were my patron god.

[divus]

You asked Merriment before you asked me? [Wait!!] That's not exactly his fault. He's not so great at outting us even when people ask.

[selfimmolates]

The subject came up last week when he advised me to go to Justice to bend the rules. I asked if the gods had specialties and if yours was undoing curses.

[divus]

Don't listen to him. He means well but Merriment's still pretty selective about some stuff like that. But you're right. All of us have specialties, and that one's mine. I can't always undo things, but I can do my best and make things less. Better than the other gods, at least.

You gave Ruin a necklace last time, right?

[selfimmolates]

[still mentally grumbling about merriment smh]

Yup.

[divus]

...close your eyes for a sec.

[selfimmolates]

[wow this is suspicious!!! but sure, he'll do it (though he's pretty reluctant).]

[divus]

[With Ray's eyes closed, he'll hear the sound of Love taking a few steps in some kind of pattern before something slides open. It's quick as a flash, but the something slides closed again as Love approaches.]

Thanks. Here. [She holds out a small jewelry box containing a bracelet.] Try this.