GODLY AUDIENCES: RAY

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

What's wrong with asking for your perspective on it?

[selfimmolates]

Why would you want my perspective...? Anyway, she just confirmed some stuff for me. That the kitchen would be restocked, we'll all be here for about six weeks and get to go home at the end of this, time shouldn't be passing back there, and stuff about this being a new world. Do you not know how you became a god either?

[divus]

Because it's important to me. [There's a long, lengthy pause.] ...it's complicated, I guess. But let's just say we all made some choices.

Patience was right about the rest though. Everything back home is frozen, sort of, so you don't have to worry about people thinking you're missing or anything.

[selfimmolates]

[choices, huh...]

What I'm worried, first and foremost, is something happening while I'm not there. You already know what I'm fighting for here, right?

[divus]

Your family. Keeping them safe and changing that system...[It's hard to continue. The idea makes them a little emotional because yes, they know what sort of situation Ray's coming from and what he's trying to accomplish here.]

...I promise you they'll be safe until you return. It's part of time being frozen.

[selfimmolates]

Good, because if you're wrong or lying about that, then I will find a way to come back here and do something about it.

[and he's deadly serious about that.]

Any info at all you can give me at this point?

[divus]

[Holy shit Ray calm the hell down. Love, despite being a little alarmed, seems to have enough composure not to respond.]

Consider that a promise on your part then. [They take this very seriously.] What else do you want to know? There's a lot of you here and a lot of things happening.

[selfimmolates]

[ray CAN'T CALM DOWN]

Let's see... what're the west and east wings for? Let's start with that.

[divus]

Those? [They wave a hand as if it doesn't matter.] Those are going to be areas that might help you in the future. You'll get to see them soon enough, I think. But I can't be sure what's behind the doors yet.

[selfimmolates]

Is it up to Patience, since she's our host for now?

[divus]

[There's another laugh even if it's not that funny.] No, no. It's up to all of us, but getting everyone together's sort of a problem in and of itself. We're not the most...organized? It's our first day with you, too.

[selfimmolates]

Your lack of organization is a little worrying. Just saying.

[divus]

Tell that to the rest of them. I'm used to having a schedule to follow. [Look. Did you expect them to know what the hell's going on? That was your first mistake.]

[selfimmolates]

[yeah there's some regret right now]

You can grant any wish we want but you can't get your act together?

[divus]

[There's a heavy sigh.] We're working on it, okay? It's a little harder when some of us have different ideas how this whole thing should be done.

[selfimmolates]

And what are those different ideas, or is that another "not now" question?

[divus]

Ray. [...mmm.] How do you think some of us are planning on whittling down the numbers?

[selfimmolates]

... Well, there's one very easy way to "whittle down numbers".

[it starts with "d" and ends in "eath".]

[divus]

Exactly. Some of us are more into that idea than others. [Spoilers: Love is Not Down for Death and their tone says that loud and clear.]

[selfimmolates]

Don't suppose I could know which gods are down for that?

[divus]

You're smart, Ray. I'm sure you can figure it out just by observing them. [That is to say, they have suspicions but it's hard to say.]

[selfimmolates]

Right... Well, let's just make this clear: that means some people are probably going to go down that route, which puts me at risk.

[a beat.]

I'll kill to survive, if that's what it takes. I have no intention of being a sitting duck for others to eliminate. Knowing that, you sure you still want me as a "follower"?

[divus]

[Well...]

It'd be a little hypocritical of me if I said no.

[selfimmolates]

Then we shouldn't have any issues for now. With that said, how do you want to settle things?

[divus]

Try your best. Talk to people. Make as many connections as you can and sway their options. Words are a really powerful thing, Ray. You can't forget that influence is a dangerous tool if used the wrong way.

Learn who the others are aligned with and try to find others who have or would align with me. That's your best option. [It also means building a support team so that maybe less people will die and be killed. ]