GODLY AUDIENCES: RAY

[divus]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

[...]

I'm not giving up; I'm just readjusting my strategy. These people aren't my family, and it's not like I'll ever be seeing them again after this competition, so why should I care about them?

[it's callous, maybe, but it's said as someone who before now has only ever known two types of people: other cattle children with the same goal, and everyone else. not coincidentally, everyone in the latter category has been his enemy. his lack of experience in that regard may be his disadvantage.

he knows that closing himself off like this will be lonely, all the more so when being apart from his family has already disrupted his stability. but love—rise—had asked him if he thought people like him deserved happiness, and truth be told, the answer doesn't matter.

regardless of which it is, he doesn't expect happiness for himself. he never has.]

[divus]

[Still not exactly a surprise, but unfortunately Love is a very stubborn girl.]

…I can't force you to care about people either, but at the same time you know you can't force people not to care about you, right? Like. You know that's bound to happen. Senri, Zoe…me? What about those people?

[selfimmolates]

Then that's something for me to use.

[which is precisely why he can't tell senri anything—why tell a pawn that he's (someone you're desperately trying to see as) a pawn?]

[divus]

[Definitely time to kill Senri Nito.]

Alright. Then can you do something for me? If you're going to use me, at least give me a heads up. You're not the only person I'm trying to protect here, and if something happens to me I have to make sure he's okay.

[selfimmolates]

[NO KILLING SENRI especially because ray still cares ): ]

... My life is in your hands, especially if you're ever voted for. It's not in my best interests to piss you off.

[divus]

[Fine =\]

Probably not, but it's not like you're in danger anyway. I don't really have an interest in getting rid of you. [And then, pointedly, she pushes half of the cookie on the plate toward him.] I just really hope I'm not up for suspicion this week.

[selfimmolates]

[he doesn't even want the cookie!!]

Careful or you might jinx yourself.

[divus]

[She is trying her best!!!]

Ugh. Let's not. [If Ray's going to be a brat, she's still reaching for her half and taking a chunk out of it.] It's still early in the week anyway...

[selfimmolates]

Imagine if you're up there every week.

[divus]

[She kicks him under the table :|]

That's not funny! There's only six of you left, I don't have three of you I want to sacrifice if I'm voted guilty.

[selfimmolates]

[he just grins because he's a shit!! even though it's technically his neck on the line as well.]

Guess we can't all just abuse the same loophole Ishikirimaru did, huh?

[divus]

I actually don't know. I didn't even think about that as a loophole, so that was very smart on his part. I bet Piety was relieved.

[A beat.] But seriously, don't joke about that.

[selfimmolates]

Trust me, I'm hoping you'll be off the list this week. But on the other hand, hoping won't stop it from happening.

[divus]

I know. And you're right. It's why we have to come up with a plan to make sure people don't vote for us. I'm pretty sure everyone aligned with me right now won't kill, but...just in case.

[selfimmolates]

Well, it's already come up that voting for you could be beneficial, even if only in the sense of trimming the numbers of the leading god.

So yeah, you have a target on your back, regardless of whether or not any of us kill or not.

[divus]

I know. I can see all of the trials even if I'm not there. [There's a sigh though.]

...there are at least three of you I cannot give up no matter what. Which sounds bad, because I don't want any of you getting hurt, but...um...[...] You're really important to me. I'm going to ask the other two for their opinions, too.

[selfimmolates]

[he's just not going to think about being cared about beyond how it's pragmatically useful, thanks.]

I'm guessing Yu is one of those three? You two seem fond of each other.

[divus]

...he doesn't realize it, but Narukami-kun and I have known each other for a while.

[selfimmolates]

... What?

[divus]

[It's truly unfortunate that Ray has the highest s-link for her right now.]

Yu-senpai was the boy who changed everything. ["A strategist. Pragmatic. I know someone like that. The boy who changed everything for me? You're alike that way."] And I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm actually dead.

[selfimmolates]

[that's bad]

... Um...?

[divus]

The point is yeah, I'd like to keep him alive. [There's a pause because at this rate Ray already knows, so.] You, Zoe, and Yu-senpai. Those are the three opinions I value the most even though I want to keep all of my followers alive until this game's over.

[selfimmolates]

[this is

a lot?]

... Do you think Yu will stick with you until the end?

[divus]

Yes. Five out of six of you? I'm pretty sure will stay no matter what.

[selfimmolates]

... Done a pretty good job of enticing loyalty, huh?