GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

[Hm.] Aren't you the one who said you're not really into people that aren't truthful? [Interesting.] Sounds exhausting for both of you.

[Though it makes Merriment wonder about Takaomi himself.] ...wonder if you could inspire that kind of thing in other people.

[bakaomi]

[ senri is exhausting, but despite takaomi's rough edges he... actually is a nice person deep down, and wouldn't let senri get himself killed. he would never admit to it out loud though. ]

What? The ability to stop being two-faced?

[divus]

[There's a reason Merriment extended their hand to you, Taka. Just Remember That.]

Not that. The ability to let their guard down.

[bakaomi]

[ he just looks genuinely bewildered at this lads ]

[divus]

...really? [TAKA...also that icon makes this so much worse goddamnit Francy.]

[bakaomi]

[ it's the first time i used it i'm so glad ]

Is my response that surprising?

[divus]

[...there's another laugh, but this time it's not exactly at Takaomi's expense.]

Maybe I'm just not used to dealing with teenagers. [It's just a thought.] Is it that surprising to think you just might be someone other people could confide in?

[bakaomi]

[ ... if he thinks about it, probably not, because back home there are people who come to him for help and advice. but he tries not to think about it too much, because it's weird and vaguely uncomfortable that someone else might want to depend on him. ]

No one here particularly likes me.

[ well except like madoka ]

[divus]

[Dear god is Takaomi the one braincell. Please no. Still, Merriment doesn't seem to find that answer surprising either.]

Well kiddo, not a lot of people like me right now either. [So there's that.] But I don't think that's impossible to change.

[bakaomi]

[ dream!ing is about 12 boys who compete in order to have control for the single braincell that exists between them ]

... off topic, but do you know if your other follower is going to stay with you?

[divus]

Dunno. Can't say I've actually spoken to them in person yet. [Or like. He can say? But that's the jist of it.] I think so for now, but that might change.

[bakaomi]

Hm...

[ he taps his finger against his chin ]

Why do you think you might not appeal to others?

[ do a character study, merriment ]

[divus]

Are you asking me this as revenge for me asking you a bunch of questions or is this the detective thing? [Rude :\]

[bakaomi]

Yes.

[ :) ]

[divus]

[Glad that it's yes to both. Merriment kind of just. Groans. And shakes his head because why!!]

Alright, you want my assessment? Fine. Pretty sure it has to do with the name. We're in a game where you're going to be challenged and some of you are going to get hurt. Not exactly something I'd consider fun, would you? People are going to align themselves with traits that seem more willing to play dirty like cunning and ambition or traits that are more universal like love or sincerity or hope and wonder.

[...those two aren't gods, but sure.]

And anyway I'm not exactly the most responsible person I know.

[bakaomi]

[ he makes a face at hope and wonder like he also. realizes they're not god but ok ]

... you really have no luck, huh?

[divus]

[...he doesn't entirely know what to say about that.]

What even counts as luck? Sometimes you're chosen for things and you don't know why. All you can do is try to figure it out.

[bakaomi]

It's just interesting that you all very clearly didn't start out on even ground.

[ and he's not really sure how some of them can manage to catch up without resorting to murder ]

[divus]

I'm used to that. [He shifts, pulling his feet up to sit cross-legged instead of letting his legs dangle over the edge of the table.] And it's probably not anybody's fault. Our names were chosen for us, so even if we wanted to be something else I'm not sure we could be.

[bakaomi]

If you could have chosen for yourself, what would it have been?

[ taka likes being on this side of the questions?? ]

[divus]

[This is such bullshit Taka.]

Fun might've been a better word than "merriment." [He seems to be contemplating.] ...but in terms of this game? Maybe something like...I don't know. Protection.

[bakaomi]

Do you think that describes yourself better?

[divus]

Fun, yes. Protective, yes. But I guess you could say I'm better at one than the other. I'm hoping to change that here.

[bakaomi]

[ merriment sounds like a sibling honestly and taka can say this because he is one ]

... you'll probably be fine.

[divus]

We'll see. [Big shrug. This isn't about Merriment anymore.]

Tell you what. You work on your appeal, I'll work on mine.