GODLY AUDIENCES: RAY

[divus]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

What's your stance on murder?

[divus]

Yeesh! You don't pull punches, do you? [Kids these days are so scary... must be all those violent video games] Murder is so messy. There are better ways of getting what you want.

[selfimmolates]

Would you prefer it if I beat around the bush?

[huh. "messy" is a bit telling.]

So you're on Team "Talk to People and Convince Them to Switch Sides"?

[divus]

Um, duh? Who wants to go to jail? Not this boy!

[Sincerity, you are a god.]

Bribery is fine. Blackmail too, if you have to. And if push comes to shove? Definitely get them before they can get you. But I sure wouldn't want to live in a world ruled by a good who got to the top by spilling the most blood, would you?

[selfimmolates]

... Hm.

[well, this is about what he thought. in terms of murder, he figured sincerity would be somewhere in the middle.]

Makes sense. What kind of god would you rule as, then?

[divus]

When I win, I'm going to create a world where everyone can be true to themselves.

[Sincerity likes to think they would be a benevolent god.]

...and where they can look fabulous doing it, of course!

[selfimmolates]

... Were you a fashionista before becoming a god, or something?

[divus]

Would it be so strange if I was?

[selfimmolates]

I'm still having some trouble reconciling the image of a god with one.

[divus]

Even gods need to look good. ...no, especially gods!

[selfimmolates]

Really putting in meaning to "dress to impress", huh?

[divus]

Duh. Would you take any of us seriously if we were running around in sweatpants and T-shirts?

[selfimmolates]

I mean, we wouldn't really have a choice in the matter, would we? You'd still hold power over us.

[divus]

Oh, where's the fun in that? Any old tyrant can exert their power over you. It's much more satisfying to get you guys to like us instead!

[selfimmolates]

Well, at least that attitude is probably winning over your followers.

[divus]

Maybe! They picked me for a reason. I just gotta keep showing them that reason was right.

[selfimmolates]

You're third place right now, right? Your chances of winning so far aren't too bad.

[divus]

Right. And honestly, my team isn't such a bad place to be. Sure, some of the others are more vicious than me, but I'm giving my followers ways to protect themselves.

[selfimmolates]

Got to admit, your powers did seem useful.

[divus]

Right? [Sincerity seems proud of themself.] I thought hard about it! It's paying off, too.

[selfimmolates]

Good for you.

[said sincerely! or at least, like. not meanly. that's about as much as you can expect from ray.

and because jes just reminded me—]

Also, I just remembered: there's something else about this competition I want to ask, if that's all right.

[divus]

Oh, go ahead! Ask me anything, little guy.

[selfimmolates]

[but can you not. call him that.]

... I've got my suspicions, but—what are the "trials" mentioned in the powers?

[divus]

Oh, that...

[Hmm. Sincerity actually takes a moment to think about that (which is rare).]

I don't really know exaaactly how it's going to work yet, but basically, if someone does anything big, someone's gotta be held accountable for it. The trials are for deciding who takes the blame.

[selfimmolates]

And executed.