GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

Something like that, give or take. [Sur...prise...]

[bakaomi]

I wondered about that since you always call me a kid, but you don't... sound very old?

[divus]

...I died when I was eighteen, I think, but when the man in the moon chose me I'm pretty sure he didn't change that part.

[bakaomi]

[ he blinks ]

... so you're permanently young?

[divus]

Yeah. I...wasn't exactly human before I chose to become Merriment. [...soooo...] But something like that. I looked about the same age in my memories as I do now.

[...] But anyway I mostly stick around a town in America. I've watched things changed and kept up with what I could over the years, but there's a lot I've missed out on because of that.

[bakaomi]

Was there a particularly reason you stayed there?

[divus]

It was the first place I remembered when I woke up, so I never felt like I needed to leave. I can get around pretty quick with the wind so it doesn't matter where I go. I can always come back.

[bakaomi]

That sounds...

[ neat? cool, maybe, who wouldn't want eternal life and cool powers.

... but merriment seems so sad. and taka isn't really the best person for this kind of thing, he thinks. ]

You said you had friends, in your old life. What about you?

[divus]

[Yeah, it's about then that he clues in he's still missing some really important clues.]

I used to play with the neighborhood kids whenever they were around. They're still about the right age that they can appreciate snow days. They just don't know it's because of me. [...] People can't see me, except for people like me.

[bakaomi]

[ ... oh

he's quiet for a moment. ]

Are the others invisible too?

[divus]

[A pause. It's not a reminder he's too fond of.]

People believe the others are real, so people--kids--can see them.

[bakaomi]

[ what i hate the most about this is that it's a very serious moment that is being severely interrupted by the involvement of the easter bunny ]

... we can see you now.

[divus]

[Look Bunny is doing his best?? Also out of context, yeah, the whole thing sounds really bizarre. There's a pause again before Merriment taps on his mask.]

Might just be because of this thing, Taka. I don't really know how it all works.

[bakaomi]

... I know you exist.

[divus]

[...]

...I want to try something then.

[bakaomi]

... ?

[ he just tilts his head ]

1/2

[divus]

[Merriment's going to kind of take a moment to assure himself this isn't going to end poorly, and his hands come up to start lowering the hood. For some reason, Taka will feel that the temperature begins to drop just a little, icy patterns etching themselves into the fabric thanks to Merriment's hands. With the hood down, his hands come back up and feel for the mask, slowly prying it off with his fingers before holding it in his lap and staring directly at Taka.]

[divus]

[It's also easier to see that Merriment's wearing what looks like a blue hoodie under his robes, but that's impractical. He sits there, unsure and a little nervous and not sure what question he wants to ask. Ice blue eyes stay fixed on Taka's face just in case for some reason something happened before he speaks again.]

...can...you still see me?

[bakaomi]

[ oh, he really does look young

he's quiet for a few seconds, before, ]

Is that a hoodie?

[divus]

[Oh my god. For a moment, Merriment blinks in surprise before there's shocked, relieved laughter. A hand comes up to run through his hair because thank god.]

Yeah. Yeah, I started keeping up with the times after a while. [There's definitely a tone that's very "!!!!" but he's saving himself from embarrassment.]

[bakaomi]

[ it's fine, taka is just going to

keep the conversation casual. ]

Aren't you hot under all of that?

[divus]

[There's a beat before Merriment holds out a hand, frost covering his fingertips and forming a small crystalized snowflake.]

Don't exactly have a body temperature, you know. [There's also a tiny gust of wind before the snowflake blows away from his hand and over to Taka's nose instead.]

[bakaomi]

[ oh

he wrinkles his nose a little ]

What's your name?

[divus]

Jack Frost.

[Which probably will help put literally everything into context.]

[bakaomi]

[ he lets out a small laugh

yeah, that does. ]

Shishimaru Takaomi.

[ a pause ]

Or the other way around, for you.