GODLY AUDIENCES: RAY

[divus]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

To be honest, it's the kind of thing beyond the scope of most people. Then again, things might be different for a god—even if, from what I've seen, you guys are pretty human-like so far.

[divus]

[Something in Ray's comment seems to sincerely please Justice, even if none of it was particularly meant as a compliment so much as a general observation.]

Yeah? You really think so?

[selfimmolates]

Yeah. Honestly, it threw me off guard a little. You're not as... imposing as I would've thought?

[divus]

Oh, good...that's a big relief! You see...I was so afraid that I'd scare people away.

[Weh.]

[selfimmolates]

[what the fuck is this]

You gave us a laboratory. I'm pretty sure a large portion of the people here now love you.

... You don't want to scare people, though?

[divus]

[They really didn't account for all of these technological geniuses but that doesn't mean they're not very pleased!]

No, of course not! Back home, people were frightened of me...but I just want to be friends.

[selfimmolates]

... Why were they frightened?

[divus]

[Justice shifts the flowers carefully to one arm, the other hand going up to his mask, which is swaddled entirely by cloth, making them look almost like a jester-themed Russian nesting doll.]

Underneath this mask, I'm just...it's the way that I look. I can't help it.

[selfimmolates]

... Ah. That sucks. Is that what led you to becoming Justice?

[divus]

Sort of. I guess it's a bit more complicated than that.

[There's a thoughtful pause.]

I just got tired of seeing people hurt. There are really, really bad people out there...and I know that I have to do what I can to stop them, even if I can only try.

[selfimmolates]

... By the way, can I ask how old you are?

[divus]

I wish that question was as easy to answer as it sounds...

[hashtag godliness]

Technically, you could say I'm ten years old.

[selfimmolates]

[well then.]

I'm not surprised...

[divus]

[Hurk--]

Do...do I really sound that young?

[He's self-conscious.]

[selfimmolates]

Your choice of words kind of is, yeah.

[and, well, other things too.]

[divus]

...okay! I'll work on sounding more, um, authoritative!

[That's a big enough word?!]

I bet I'll get taken seriously that way!

[selfimmolates]

Probably.

.. Though then you might come off as more intimidating.

[divus]

Oh--no, I don't want that, then.

[Another pause.]

What if I stand on a box when I talk so I seem taller?

[selfimmolates]

... Nnnnno, I don't think that'll help. You'll just be drawing attention to your height.

[i can't believe ray is here giving advice to a god as to how to seem less like a child]

[divus]

[Well, Justice is now out of ideas.]

I guess I'll just be myself.

[selfimmolates]

Probably the best option for now. Your followers might have better ideas—anyway, they're the ones whose opinion matters most, right?

[divus]

You're right.

[For a moment, Justice almost forgot he was talking to someone on another team.]

But thank you...talking to you has been really nice. Your god is lucky to have you on their side.

[selfimmolates]

Thanks.

[that's an important thing to remember, justice??]

... Out of curiosity, do the gods know who's sided with whom?

[divus]

Yes. We're not allowed to make any hints about anything we know to any of you, though. It's already started causing some conflict among some of them, so...please be careful.

[selfimmolates]

It's been three days.

[WHY ARE YOU ALREADY FIGHTING]