[Much like their meeting at the beginning of the week, Piety sits in his chair in the Private Study. He inclines his head once again at Shang's arrival.]
I'm sorry that we didn't have more time to get to know each other.
Great Piety, the fault for that lies in this undisciplined follower. Tonight, I will leave to follow another great god; however, I will continue to do as you asked and suggest that other followers come and see you.
I don't . . . But this will be a good time to start involving myself. I can no longer afford to seek shelter behind a great god of my choosing while my juniors and fellow elders suffer.
Great Piety . . . Qinghua is undeserving. Not only that, I am inexperienced and too used to following a set path. I may just be wasting my time, but I must do what I can. To that end, what do you advise that I do?
[Moral values? He threw those away a long time ago. When it comes to life, everything is free game! That's probably not the right thing to say, though.
Piety is right. Any of the great gods would be lucky to have him, because they need a cannon fodder or they'll die. Just look at poor Fortune.]
. . . Honesty is important. A man who deceives his brothers and sisters has loose morals. Someone who's straightforward, on the other hand, is easy to work with and often very reliable.
[You're right he wants to hear precisely none of that please love yourself?]
I agree with you. Both qualities are very important to have in your team and in a leader. If you want someone who will never treat you falsely, Sincerity is a good choice. For someone straightforward, however, I'd recommend Cunning. The two of us have an accord, already, and while his presence may sometimes seem intimidating, he's a logical individual with an admirable sense of self.
[This sounds possibly like a code for "proceed with caution" so Piety gives it a measure of thought.]
Indulgence isn't a particularly dangerous person, but can be incredibly overwhelming and difficult to talk to. He's selfish, but ultimately his vision for the world is one that involves great prosperity. Disorder and Ambition can be equally hard to truly know, because they tend to put up a front, but are both intelligent and calculating.
[Ah, Indulgence. He'll never forget the hellish experience of turning into an octopus. What was even the point! He suffered, and for what? To get prodded at and tortured in a jar? How does this help the contest! It's pointless!]
But all the great gods have something worth siding with them for. Isn't that right?
[It would be strange for one or two gods to be so completely undesirable. Yet there seems to be the one, according to trial gossip. Doesn't that make the contest skewed?]
Yes, that's right. Everyone has something different to offer. We all have different specialties, different motivations, and different visions for the future. The only way to truly learn what all of those are is to talk to each of us directly.
Mine is one where the world has achieved a balance. Peace between each of us, where we all fulfill our individual tasks as gods without causing harm to one another or the people who we're meant to preside over.
[Piety puts his hands together.]
Even the seemingly non-ideal qualities that can be found among our pantheon have their place in the grand scheme of things. We're meant to work together, and I want to see us do so to our full potential.
[Honestly, it doesn't matter to him who wins, as long as he can get his wish granted. Why should it, when the resulting world won't be his? But he remembers what he said about Fortune, and he can't deny that this is a collaborative effort.
Collaborating might help him in the long run.]
Ah, what a wonderful world that would be. It's true that everyone has a role to play, and the system can only flourish when all roles are played effectively.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
WEEK 3, SUNDAY
I'm sorry that we didn't have more time to get to know each other.
no subject
Great Piety, the fault for that lies in this undisciplined follower. Tonight, I will leave to follow another great god; however, I will continue to do as you asked and suggest that other followers come and see you.
jae this brick makes me cry
because he's so pathetic?
stop!!!
but he is!!
YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH
[ :( !!! ]
What kind of qualities...appeal most to you? If not in a person, than in your moral values? Is that something you think you can tell me?
BUT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
Piety is right. Any of the great gods would be lucky to have him, because they need a cannon fodder or they'll die. Just look at poor Fortune.]
. . . Honesty is important. A man who deceives his brothers and sisters has loose morals. Someone who's straightforward, on the other hand, is easy to work with and often very reliable.
no subject
I agree with you. Both qualities are very important to have in your team and in a leader. If you want someone who will never treat you falsely, Sincerity is a good choice. For someone straightforward, however, I'd recommend Cunning. The two of us have an accord, already, and while his presence may sometimes seem intimidating, he's a logical individual with an admirable sense of self.
no subject
Great Sincerity and Great Cunning . . .
[This is good. He's been considering speaking with one or the other. With a title like Cunning, one really can't judge someone by the cover.]
Are there any great gods whose qualities I should be . . . aware of?
no subject
[This sounds possibly like a code for "proceed with caution" so Piety gives it a measure of thought.]
Indulgence isn't a particularly dangerous person, but can be incredibly overwhelming and difficult to talk to. He's selfish, but ultimately his vision for the world is one that involves great prosperity. Disorder and Ambition can be equally hard to truly know, because they tend to put up a front, but are both intelligent and calculating.
no subject
But all the great gods have something worth siding with them for. Isn't that right?
[It would be strange for one or two gods to be so completely undesirable. Yet there seems to be the one, according to trial gossip. Doesn't that make the contest skewed?]
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no subject
no subject
[Piety puts his hands together.]
Even the seemingly non-ideal qualities that can be found among our pantheon have their place in the grand scheme of things. We're meant to work together, and I want to see us do so to our full potential.
no subject
Collaborating might help him in the long run.]
Ah, what a wonderful world that would be. It's true that everyone has a role to play, and the system can only flourish when all roles are played effectively.