divus | GODLY AUDIENCES: RAY

[When Ray arrives, he'll find that there's a masked figure seated on the floor of the dance studio, soft music playing in the background. Ray's offering is on a plate in front of them and when they sees him they look up and give him their undivided attention.]

Hi Ray. [It's calm and gentle, hands folded primly in their lap as they wait for him.]

[This time when Ray enters the dance studio, Love seems to be pacing back and forth. Maybe pacing isn't the right word? It seems to be half-movements almost to music only they can hear.

Well. The offering isn't there this time, though there's definitely an empty plate with crumbs on it? So. Seems like Love had a snack prior to their meeting. They turn their head the moment they hear Ray's footsteps and even with the mask in place the tone is pleased.]

Welcome back.

[When Ray arrives at the lab, Justice is standing with the bouquet embraced in their arms. Their stance is poised, almost like they're standing on their toes.]

Thank you so much! I love these--I'm going to put them in my room later, like a centerpiece!

[When Ray enters the fortune-teller's den, he'll find Fortune seated at one of the low tables. The fortune cookie is broken in half, and Fortune is reading the slip of paper that was inside it.

When Fortune speaks, there voice is high-pitched and feminine sounding.]

You don't need to apologize. I'm not mad.

[It's maybe weird that when Ray enters the armory Cunning is sitting in a chair next to the sign-out log for weapons. There's a quill in their hand and they seem to be poring over the puzzles Ray left.

They're quietly working on them and figuring it out, but when Ray enters they glance at him from the corner of his eye.]

Challenging. I like it. [It's a masculine voice, there's no denying that.] I've been looking for something new to work on.

[…sometimes Cunning gets bored.]

[Without preamble, Sincerity reaches over Ray's shoulder to scoop the cookies out of the bowl.]

Hey, these look pretty good! You're quite the chef, for such a little guy.

[Well. Back to back is a little unusual but when Ray prays to Love and he comes into the studio he'll find that Love's sitting on the floor writing on a piece of paper. They look up though...and they laugh. The glitter's a nice touch.]

What happened?

[Knock knock knock, Ray. On Tuesday when he finds himself alone, regardless of where he may currently be, a soft voice will speak up from behind him.]

Excuse me--is this a bad time?

[Well that was fast. When Ray enters the parlor, he'll find a fairly tall masked figure seated in a high-back chair, right leg crossed over the left at the knee and holding the rose between their fingers. Twirling it by the stem, they cant their head to gesture toward Ray.]

Welcome, Ray-kun. Care to join me? [Mostly because there's a spread with tea, desserts, and little snacks on a table in front of them.]

[When Ray enters the game room, he'll find that there's a table. On this table there's a chess board set up including all pieces lined up. The seat available is in front of the black pieces, and Merriment sits before the white pieces, not even sitting properly. They're kind of crouched on their chair, leaning over the board to examine the pieces. Hearing Ray though, they look up and when they speak the voice is deeper than some that Ray's probably heard from other gods. It's also obviously masculine.]

Now why am I unsurprised you're into games of strategy? [It's sort of a joke, but they find it interesting all the same.]

[When Ray is back at the lab again, Justice has tucked the floral offering into different folds of the fabric that swaddles the sides of his mask. What an absolutely precious boy. He jumps up from where he'd been sitting, all but bounding toward Ray.]

You wanted to see me! Twice in one week!

[Back in the armory, Ray can probably hear the crunching of someone eating cookies before he enters the room but as soon as he does Cunning's mask is back on their face and they're wiping their hands off to get rid of crumbs.]

Not bad, kid. Normally cookies wouldn't do it for me, but I'm impressed. [They lift a hand, spinning a finger in a circle.] Loopholes.

[When Ray enters the room on Thursday, he'll find Love seated on the floor as usual but she seems to be distracted. The offering flowers are in a safe spot in the room and Love is doodling in the margins of a piece of paper.]

Do you really think this is a good idea? [Love knows what you're up to, Ray. Or she thinks she does.]

[Ruin, at least, does him the favor of not appearing behind him.

Instead, she appears on the other side of the altar, scooping up the necklace from the bowl with a girlish laugh.]

Wow, this is super cute! ♡

[It's eerily silent when Ray enters the room, though that's probably because the lights are dimmed to low stagelight settings and Love is seated in the middle of the room. There's no cheery greeting or excitement, just a quiet air around them.

Love won't say anything first. That'll be up to Ray for now.]

[Ray is literally the only person who can get to Love without an offering but he maybe doesn't want to come in, given the fact that the lights are dim again and Love's seated in a corner of the room.

The mask is still in place...but today Ray will notice that the hood of her cloak is down. Auburn-colored hair trails down her back, tied into two matching twintails and Love has her arms wrapped around her knees, pulling them to her chest.]

...hey. [Very ungod-like, it seems.

Seems that Ray's appealed to the god enough that she's able to reveal a bit about herself, though it may be wise for Ray to keep that to himself.]

[When Ray appears in the parlor, Beauty's sitting on a small sofa. The flowers are in a vase on the piano but Beauty themselves seems distracted even when the figure turns their head to the door.]

You wish to see me, Ray-kun?

[Justice, as always, is in the lab, and when Ray enters the child all but bounds up toward him, cradling the origami dog in their outstretched hands.]

Ray, I love this!

[When Ray leaves the altar room, he'll find Disorder waiting for him--fortunately, she's not right by the door with her mask staring down at him, but instead is milling around the statues, idly perusing their descriptions.]

I'm so glad that you called for me--I really wanted to apologize for what happened last week.

[Sorry if Ray wanted to be warm, but Love is waiting at the door to the west wing when Ray arrives.]

Wanna go for a walk with me? [Ray apparently has no choice.]

[Here's Sincerity, in the costume hall as usual. This whole room is probably just their own giant closet. The flower pin is attached to their cloak. That's ... probably a good sign?]

Come in, kid! You made this yourself, huh?

[As always, Piety is in his usual spot, and somehow it's easy enough to sense a smile beneath that mask as he greets Ray.]

Welcome back--it's good to see you again.

[Well, it finally happened. Ray arrives at the pool and Indulgence is sitting up at the top of the water slide, legs crossed under him. He's shaking his new limited edition sasuke-with-bowtie doll in one hand and laughing.]

Now you, kid, really stepped it up after that last offering. I mean, talk about abysmal.

[Back in the studio today, Love is pacing when Ray enters. The flowers are carefully placed in a nice container though.]

At least you tried an offering this time. [Child.]

[The flowers are spread over the keys of the piano and Beauty is seated near a window looking outside. They're quiet, contemplative almost, and they don't turn their head yet. ]

Ray-kun. Welcome.

WEEK 0

Week 1, Monday

WEEK 1