GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

We didn't have a real say in that. It just...happened. When we were chosen and ascended. I don't think any of us thought to ask or question it because it felt right and we just knew who we were.

[bakaomi]

Huh.

You don't seem very... merry.

[divus]

It's complicated. [Is it?] I'm not exactly cut out for responsibilities and everything, but if that's the title I was given there has to be a reason why.

[bakaomi]

Hm.

The other ones I was offered were Love and Beauty. Would they be mad I didn't pick them?

[divus]

No. Well actually... [Man. Okay.] Love wouldn't mind. Love is the type who wants everyone to pick what's best for them, and Beauty's a little overdramatic and might be offended for a few minutes but they'd get over it. ...they're both good kids.

[Though that brings up a question:] Why did you choose me?

[bakaomi]

[ he shrugs. ]

Going by the names alone didn't really help. But... I guess Merriment just didn't sound as bad as the others.

[divus]

[...they end up laughing, a little disbelieving and also a little relieved.]

It's also been a long time since I've worked with anyone. But if you stick with me, I'll do my best to make this work. [They almost sound a little more cheerful, god.]

[bakaomi]

I don't see any reason to abandon ship.

[ they seem to get along just fine? taka was worried what kind of person he'd get stuck with, but he hasn't gotten annoyed even once this whole conversation and that's like

kind of amazing. ]

[divus]

[Their shoulders relax and they lean forward, suddenly a little more trusting. That's...good news, isn't it? That someone will stay.]

Let's hope I don't give you a reason to then. [Hm.] What power did you pick?

[bakaomi]

The one that lets me ignore curfew.

[ it seemed like the most useful one. ]

[divus]

[Mood, Taka.]

Makes sense. All sorts of interesting stuff happens at night. You learn a lot about a place when the rest of the world isn't active.

[Merriment should know.]

[bakaomi]

I have a question on how that works though. If someone, is sleeping near me, would they be able to notice me getting up and leaving?

[ listen he knows how clingy senri can be so he wants to be ready for the inevitable of when that binch tries to do sleepovers. ]

[divus]

[One day Merriment's going to notice and mercilessly tease Taka, but until then.]

Unless they have the same power? Nah. They'll sleep right through it and won't notice at all.

[bakaomi]

[ stop he'll die on the spot ]

... good.

[ that was his main worry about it. ]

Do you have any idea what the other gods are doing or do you keep it from each other?

[divus]

In general? Or with their followers? [This time Merriment leans back and sort of lounges over their chair, casually tucked up and also revealing the fact they're not wearing any shoes.]

I can't see what any of them are saying to any of their followers if that's what you mean. Goes against our whole "no interference" thing. But we talk to each other sometimes.

[bakaomi]

[ of fucking course they don't have shoes on. ]

Can you lie to each other?

[divus]

[Who needs shoes, not this asshole.]

Of course we can. There are some rules we have in place that make it a little more complicated, but everything we say to you guys is off the record and we don't have to disclose the truth if we don't want to. It'd be a little harder to play against each other if we were transparent, wouldn't it?

[bakaomi]

Can you lie to us?

[ a pause, and then he snorts. ]

I realize the irony of asking that.

[divus]

[That is kind of a dumb question, and there's an echoing snort.]

We could, but I'm not sure how that's going to help us either. We want you guys on our side. What would be the point of keeping things from you?

[bakaomi]

You say that but people still lie anyway.

[ ... ]

[divus]

Takaomi. [The relaxed air fades again and Merriment's a little serious again.] ...I can't force you to believe what I tell you, but I never want to lie if I can help it. I can't speak for everybody else though.

[....] Have you been lied to a lot?

[bakaomi]

... I think that people hide things, and twist them, and it can break apart your relationships. Someone you think you know as well as the back of your hand can turn out to have been lying to you the whole time.

[ he is going to have a fun time in a murdergame!!! ]

Some things aren't worth that.

[divus]

[...can't really discount that, and they seem to be thinking about something in particular.]

You know what the scariest thing in the world is? Trusting other people. [There. They said it.] But it's still better than being alone. Even if you learn you don't know people as well as you think you do, it's something that'll make you stronger for the next person who comes along.

[So. Try, Taka.]

[bakaomi]

[ oh this is a bad topic

and also not really something he expected to admit, especially on a first meeting. but if the gods know general information about the participants, this probably shouldn't be too surprising for merriment to hear.

hopefully. ]

... that sounds like a pain.

[divus]

[Hey what the fuck is Dream!ing. It's...sort of nice though. While Merriment isn't entirely sure why they were given this name, it's also nice to know that there's someone aligned with them that isn't entirely cheerful either.]

I know. [That's said with conviction.] Isolating yourself's not a great strategy either, but trying to find a middle ground's harder than you'd think.