GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

Comments

[bakaomi]

... that it's easier for us that way.

[divus]

...perhaps in a sense she was right. It would be easier if we were still a mystery to all of you, wouldn't it?

[bakaomi]

Probably, yeah.

[ he like. won't deny that. ]

But this game wouldn't work properly if that had happened.

[divus]

What makes you say that?

[bakaomi]

... I mean, if you were all just dark and mysterious gods who purposely kept your distance from us, then.... I can't say I would have really cared about doing this contest the way I'm doing it now.

[ as in, trying to actually be thoughtful about which gods would really make their new world a good place. ]

[divus]

This is why it's best to speak to all of us, truthfully. You can't be armed with enough knowledge if you see us as faceless entities. It takes time for us to be able to share much about ourselves and even more for you to see us like this.

[...he almost doesn't want to ask, because it's a sensitive subject, but:] Did you see her face?

[bakaomi]

... uh huh.

It probably didn't count though. She didn't take it off herself, it came off when she fell into the river.

[divus]

It counts. Mine came off only because Senri asked me for my name. Every time a mask comes off, it varies depending on who you are to us.

[Which means her bond with Takaomi must have been strong enough, but he keeps that to himself.]

[bakaomi]

... [ he's quiet for a moment after that ]

That's good to know.

[divus]

...I'm sorry. [For everything, he means.] Are you alright?

[Given...the gods know when people use their powers. And well. Hm.]

[bakaomi]

... I'm dealing with it.

[ he can say that he will be okay, but it's hard to say that he is right now. ]

[divus]

I'm...grateful that you and others are trying to find her killer. This shouldn't have happened, and I fear it will happen again. It means a lot.

[Also, like, mood, Taka.]

[bakaomi]

... Fortune was my friend. People kept saying things like she's timid, and submissive, but she's actually really funny and passionate and just an overall menace. I really hate that the image everyone was left of her was when she was so worried like that.

[ he was ready to fist fight everyone who called sheba shy at trial?? ]

And I guess that goes for the rest of you, even the ones who I don't know that well. It'll be kind of shitty that the only impression people have of you is when you're at your lowest place.

[divus]

You knew her somewhat well then. [He sounds pleased to hear that.] Is that why you've taken such measures to speak to all of us individually?

[It's curious. Takaomi's sort of this weird aloof figure but it's not like Beauty hasn't heard things by now.] Some of us are harder to speak to than others, and I can acknowledge that. You ended up with one of the most difficult gods, at that. But there's nothing in the rules that says we can't befriend participants anyhow.

...it's why Senri and I have an understanding. [Because Senri took the time to speak to him and they've talked a lot about things outside of this competition. Also Senri's a menace in his own right.]

[bakaomi]

[ it's funny because takaomi did not find merriment difficult at all, but if he tries to think about it from a different perspective then... maybe... other people probably would not have had a weird instantaneous bond with him. hm. ]

I mean... [ hm ] You're gods, but you're also just people, so it makes sense that some of you are more annoying than others.

[ he pauses. was that breaking a rule. ]

[divus]

[Merriment to Taka: this is mine now nobody can take it if anything happens to him I will kill everyone in this room and then myself.
Merriment to other people: ...well. Sure.

But somehow Beauty thinks that makes sense, and just brushes it off. It's apparently not breaking a rule given he laughs instead.]

Clashing personality types is precisely why we're here. We're all still learning to work with one another, after all, but it's become easier thanks to some of you.

[bakaomi]

[ merriment is the most valid god of all time and takaomi will stan him forever. ]

Yeah, who knew you had to have people summoning you every ten minutes for you to get anything done?

[divus]

[There's a slight smile.] I'm more used to this than the others, I believe. Entertaining individuals, appealing to requests…it's familiar from my old life. It's now about making things within the pantheon balance.

[bakaomi]

What the hell did you even do?

[divus]

I was the president of a host club for my high school.

[So many things may make sense now.]

[bakaomi]

[ he covers his face and groans ]

[divus]

[He reaches across the table and pats Taka on the head. There, there.]

[bakaomi]

How do I kick your was but in like, a respectable way?

[divus]

In theory, you already have.

[By taking Senri, but he's a good sport about it.]

[bakaomi]

[ ... he actually laughs, although there's not much humor in it.

it's more sad, than anything. ]

I guess so.