[His heart skips not one, but a few beats. Of course she knows, and that means she's been aware this whole time. Swallowing, he dares a step forward.]
Fortune, I really don't want to leave—and I don't know where I should go, either—but the choice has been taken out of my hands. Starting next week, I will no longer be your follower . . .
[She's not angry! More like concerned, maybe. Why wouldn't she be? If he leaves, she'll be on her last leg, and he knows numbers enough to know that coming back would be a poor idea. Still . . . ]
Are you that worried about losing your last follower?
Once they see that you left, they're going to leave, too.
[Fortune sounds very sure of this.]
I'm going to work hard to get more followers next week to make up for it. But you have something you really want, and you need to win to get it. I still plan on winning this... but it will take time.
Until I manage to make up for those losses, it's smarter for you to stay with someone else. I think we both know that you know that.
[Fortune says that, but she's clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles have gone white.]
My other follower won't see that you've left until Monday, and he won't be able to leave me until the next Sunday. That gives me plenty of time to get someone to join me... I'll be okay.
Okay! Maybe she'll get lucky and someone will defect to her by tomorrow. Luck has a mysterious way of getting around. If no one does, though, then . . . ]
Next week, I'll leave another offering. If you haven't found someone by the last day, I'll come back.
[Just like that, it's out! He can't take it back now.]
[He's surprised, too. This is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea. Help.]
During our first meeting here, I said that I would bring you followers. How many have I brought? . . . All I've done is use your ability and now I must leave. If Fortune is unable to round up a follower to stay in the contest, Qinghua will make that luck himself.
[You know it's a bad time when Fortune and unfortunately are in the same sentence.
Thing is, he's not sure if this is really what he wants. But he can't well say that after he's just said something kind of cool. Ah, at least he can cross that one off the bucket list before he kicks the same bucket.]
It's decided, then.
The only uncertainty I have left now is the matter of which god to whom I should appeal. Do you . . . have any suggestions?
Well... if you might be coming back to me next week...
[She wouldn't want him to go to one of the vengeful gods.]
Piety... would probably be a good choice. You heard him at the trial, right? He's doing everything he can to protect his followers. He'd take care of you, even if you didn't come back to me. And if you did... he wouldn't hold it against you.
[What is this, Piety's Daycare Center? Hasn't this poor god gone through enough? Them's the breaks, he supposes.]
I will go to him.
[He's still afraid, of course. Why did a follower of Ambition target him, specifically? Are they going to somehow track him down and realize that he didn't join their ranks after all the trouble they went through? This is serious stuff! Please take good care of him, Piety . . . !]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WEEK 2
...a farewell present?
[Her voice sounds a little wistful.]
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Fortune, I really don't want to leave—and I don't know where I should go, either—but the choice has been taken out of my hands. Starting next week, I will no longer be your follower . . .
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[The words are said gently, at least.]
We all know when one of the participants decides to use their power. [...] ...I'd like it if you came back after next week, but...
[She sighs.]
I don't think that you will.
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[She's not angry! More like concerned, maybe. Why wouldn't she be? If he leaves, she'll be on her last leg, and he knows numbers enough to know that coming back would be a poor idea. Still . . . ]
Are you that worried about losing your last follower?
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[Fortune sounds very sure of this.]
I'm going to work hard to get more followers next week to make up for it. But you have something you really want, and you need to win to get it. I still plan on winning this... but it will take time.
Until I manage to make up for those losses, it's smarter for you to stay with someone else. I think we both know that you know that.
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But, Fortune, what will happen to you if you have no followers by the following week?
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[Fortune says that, but she's clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles have gone white.]
My other follower won't see that you've left until Monday, and he won't be able to leave me until the next Sunday. That gives me plenty of time to get someone to join me... I'll be okay.
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Okay! Maybe she'll get lucky and someone will defect to her by tomorrow. Luck has a mysterious way of getting around. If no one does, though, then . . . ]
Next week, I'll leave another offering. If you haven't found someone by the last day, I'll come back.
[Just like that, it's out! He can't take it back now.]
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[Fortune sounds... well. Surprised.]
You really mean that?
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During our first meeting here, I said that I would bring you followers. How many have I brought? . . . All I've done is use your ability and now I must leave. If Fortune is unable to round up a follower to stay in the contest, Qinghua will make that luck himself.
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[This is a really bad idea and they both know it. Unfortunately, Fortune really wants to stay in the contest.]
I can't stop you from doing that if it's really what you want to do. [A little hesitantly-] Thank you. Just hearing that means a lot.
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Thing is, he's not sure if this is really what he wants. But he can't well say that after he's just said something kind of cool. Ah, at least he can cross that one off the bucket list before he kicks the same bucket.]
It's decided, then.
The only uncertainty I have left now is the matter of which god to whom I should appeal. Do you . . . have any suggestions?
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[She wouldn't want him to go to one of the vengeful gods.]
Piety... would probably be a good choice. You heard him at the trial, right? He's doing everything he can to protect his followers. He'd take care of you, even if you didn't come back to me. And if you did... he wouldn't hold it against you.
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I will go to him.
[He's still afraid, of course. Why did a follower of Ambition target him, specifically? Are they going to somehow track him down and realize that he didn't join their ranks after all the trouble they went through? This is serious stuff! Please take good care of him, Piety . . . !]
While I'm there, I'll pray for your success.
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[Fortune is probably smiling at him from behind her mask. It's too bad she can't take it off so he can know that for sure.]
Even if you don't come back... I feel like I'm very lucky to have met you.