divus | GODLY AUDIENCE - SHANG QINGHUA

[He wants to cry. Inwardly, he does.]

Great Ambition, since the timing is better now, I would like to hear about your motivations. How does your vision for the world differ from the rest of the great gods?

[can't believe this brick is so easily bullied]

I'm going to make a world where the people who actually bother to try can rise to the top. If you want to be surrounded by only the best, then you'll be able to make it happen. You just have to be willing to do something in exchange for it instead of waiting for it to fall into your lap.

[Here it is.

It's now or never.]

. . . Great Ambition! I agree with everything you've said. If you want something in life, the only way you can achieve it is by acting. Sitting around and praying for everything to get better won't help anyone.

[He knows this better than anyone. If he'd just sat around and prayed in the setting of his novel, chances are that he would've been killed by now. What good would have been a prayer aimed at the creator of the world—he would've been praying to himself and died anyway!]

This week, there is a rule in motion to use a divine power at least once. As a new follower, I ask for your guidance.

I can't just tell you what to do. [Well. She could, but. That's not as much fun.] So how about this? You tell me what you're thinking of doing, and I'll tell you if I think it's a good idea or not.

[That's . . . too scary! What's more, Ambition's powers are way too difficult to utilize on a whim. He doesn't know nearly enough to know what he's doing. The last thing he wants is to appear completely useless (even though he is), because he'll be the first up on the chopping block if Ambition ever gets wrongfully convicted.]

Your divine powers are all highly useful, but only in the hands of a wise user. First, I must ask a question. In what scenario do you envision the efficacy of Mirage?

[im really sorry about this tag, but]

I don't know what efficacy means. Speak more plainly, you stuffy old loser.

[urk]

I mean, speak more plainly, please.

[If he weren't crying so hard inside, he'd have laughed.

What kind of a person named after ambition doesn't know what that means? Where is the ambition for lifelong learning!]

I . . . That is, how did you intend it to be used . . . ?

[it'll make sense if her mask comes off i promise]

Oh, that? There are plenty of ways you could use it. You could show them something they really want and use it to get them to join us. If you're in danger because someone's decided to try and off you, you could distract them with it so you can get away. It just depends on how smart you are about using it.

. . . Can I use it on myself?

...I mean, sure, if you really wanted to. But what's the point?

If I want to be smart about using a power like this, I should intimately understand how it works first. Just throwing it around everywhere won't help anyone and might even be detrimental in the long run. Don't you agree, Great Ambition? Ah, I guess I'm a little curious to see how it unfolds, too . . .

[If it hurts, he'll sue.]

...well, I guess that's fine, then. It's good that you're thinking about it that way.

[It shows he's sticking around for the long haul.]

So, sure, use it on yourself. That won't be totally useless.

[He fears what she might do to him if he were to bow out before he's done his part. Maybe he'll be stuck in this faction forever. Why can't he have normal employers for once? His heart can only take so much. One of these days, he's going to keel over from the stress.]

I am curious, though, about one of its applications that you mentioned. If I were to use it on a participant who's after me, would I really be able to use it and get away? What if the timing doesn't work?

Then throw a brick at whoever it is and run.

[ c: ]

[Is she talking about the stone he's been carrying around religiously?]

Great Ambition, I hate to tell you this, but . . . there is no brick in my possession. I understand what you mean, though. I shouldn't rely on things like chance so much. In order to serve you better, I will strengthen myself accordingly.

[From this day onward, he'll work out so that he can run even faster than before. Cultivate his combat skills? Who's got time for that!]

[she gives a heavy sigh]

And what's your plan for that, exactly?

I come from An Ding Peak, where hard work is valued above all else. It's a quality that perfectly suits ambition, don't you think? I'll figure something out. I always do.

[If he can be relied upon for anything, it's how he miraculously survives all kinds of disasters. At the ripe age of seventeen, he was the sole survivor of a demon attack, and it wasn't just luck that saved him! If he can jot that down on his resume, he would. Please believe him.]

[S I G H S.]

We'll work out together. I haven't been doing that enough lately anyway.

[She's not smacking him, so he considers this a smashing success without the smashing.]

Uh . . . work out?

[Not work it out, but work out? Does she want to hit the gym with him? That's not dignified!]

How else are you going to strengthen yourself? We'll borrow Cunning's arena in the armory. It'll be fine.

Unless you're afraid?

[No! Ambition is taking this too literally. If there's one thing that should be taken in a literal sense, it's this: An Ding Peak means Peaceful Peak!]

N-no, of course not. Great Ambition, I am henceforth yours to do with as you please . . .

Then you'll meet me in the arena every afternoon.

[yikes.]

[He wants nothing more than to find a bed and die in it.]

. . . I understand.

[not allowed]

Good. Was there anything else?

No, Great Ambition. I won't waste any more of your time.

[Please go, so he can have a moment to cry alone.]

(no subject)

divus - 2019-03-17 07:13 (UTC) - Expand