GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

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WEEK 6, MONDAY

[divus]

[Takaomi's going to have to work on actually getting access to Cunning's room which means stabbing all eleven dummies again. As the trap door opens and he heads down the stairs, he'll find that the lights are on the the room is actually cleaner than the last time he was there. Laundry's put away, trash is in the trash can, things are organized...

...and there's a blonde college-aged guy laying on the (new, less crispy) bed with his arms folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling. The pizza's on the nightstand and at least one slice is gone. The mask is also next to it. From where he's at, Taka can probably see that Cunning's eyes are blue, he's a little on the skinnier side aside from having pretty reasonably buff arms and there's a pale, thick scar running from the bottom of his eye to his chin.

He keeps his eyes fixed on a point on the ceiling at least.]

So. How bad is it up there? [The only reason he's not wearing the mask is that he remembers what their deal was, and he's frankly assuming that Taka might take off soon now that he got what he came for.]

[bakaomi]

[ that's fine? he's stressed, so stabbing things is fine.

he pauses when he actually sees luke though. he figured he was going to be young given all the context clues and that he had seen it partially, but it's always weird to realize just

how young. the gods mostly are. anyway. ]

They dragged him back to the dungeon.

[divus]

Of course they did. [There's a low, annoyed sigh as he scrubs a hand over his face. And just kind of leaves his hand over his eyes.] Would love to know what they think that's gonna accomplish.

...before anybody asks, this wasn't my idea.

[bakaomi]

I figured. You guys kind of said from the beginning that something like this could happen.

... it just happened to be a very unfortunate week for someone to do it.

[divus]

It was. And it was a stupid move on that girl's part when all that's gonna happen now is people are gonna go after him on their own. If she wanted to be a martyr she should've picked someone who stood a chance after she left.

[He's...mad. ] But Guy and I are gonna be the ones to get the blame. I'm not looking forward to that.

[bakaomi]

I can try talking to people, but...

[ honestly every time he has said "cunning isn't that bad actually" people tend to like

give him weird looks

so. ]

[divus]

Don't worry about it. People wouldn't believe you anyway. Or me. It's gotta be up to Guy, but with the dungeon squad it'll be hard. Unless they give him a break, too.

[...] I've been in bigger messes than this. I'll get back out somehow. And besides...I can kind get why he was doing it. But nobody's going to want to hear that either, are they?

[bakaomi]

Probably not, no.

... give me a vague reason why you understand because I know you can't tell me his business.

[divus]

Vague reason? If I had something really important to protect, I'd do just about anything to make sure it stayed safe. Wouldn't you?

[bakaomi]

[ ... ]

Things would be so much easier if you settled everything with rock, paper, scissors.

[divus]

Nah...guys like me and Guy would probably still have shit luck. [He peers at Taka from between his fingers.]

I didn't know about it until after it'd already happened, or I would've at least said not to go after Zo. [Why is there a nickname? Hm.] But it's hard to understand for people who…

[…it's Guy's story to tell.] If you really wanna know, I recommend asking him. Not my business either, but as a guy who's done sort of the same thing for sort of the same reasons? I'm not as mad as I should be and I'm sure people would find a reason to be pissed off about that.

[There's a sigh.] Sometimes doing things for the sake of other people is a pain in the ass.

[bakaomi]

... I kind of understand but I also don't.

[ he at least admits it?

because he willing to do a lot of senri, at least, and he has complicated feelings on ray's killer, but he's always been someone who clings very tightly to his morals so

it's a weird place to be at, emotionally. ]

[divus]

...it's different when you have kids, Takaomi. Really different. Sometimes you end up in situations where you're sort of stuck with a last-ditch effort even when you realize halfway through it was a bad plan.

[He's still staring at the ceiling. He apparently has a lot of thoughts about that.] ...either way, my hands and Guy's hands are tied. But that doesn't mean I'm not laying low until something else comes up.

[bakaomi]

[ ... hm

he glances at luke, before going over to

take a slice of pizza. it's fine. ]

Do you know if you're going to accept audiences eventually?

[divus]

[Oh. Well that's fine, he doesn't stop him.]

I'm gonna have to if I want to keep playing. Maybe tomorrow. This doesn't count?

[bakaomi]

Nope. This is just a neighborly visit.

[ he takes a bite. ]

[divus]

Well as you can guess, I don't get many of those. [...] Pizza wasn't bad, by the way. Thanks.

[...] How're you holding up with all of this bullshit anyway? [This is a bad attempt at small talk, but. Cunning also happens to like Taka enough to actually ask.]

[bakaomi]

... alternating between being mad and tired.

[ it's

not even directed at the guy thing, which he should feel bad about. ]

[divus]

Sounds about right for this kind of game. [Hrm.] Wish I could say "it gets better" but you've got a few more weeks if things go according to plan. I'll let you draw your own conclusions about that.

[...] What I don't get is how nobody died from the Greek fire. [Switching gears.] That stuff's volatile, I lit a whole house on fire with a smaller amount than that.

[bakaomi]

... I was wondering about that. If Ray's killer had been Guy, it would have made a little more sense because his kills involved fire, so you'd think he would have come prepared for something like that.

But it isn't. Ishikirimaru and I couldn't even try to get through the flames.

[divus]

Because you're not supposed to be able to. So that means even things I create can't stop somebody with an intent, I guess. Would've been nice to know beforehand.

But they should've burned or something. It doesn't make sense.

[bakaomi]

... so, either they should have some kind of mark or whatever they had might not be there anymore?

[divus]

Yeah that's what I'm starting to wonder myself. Not sure how you'd find that sort of thing though.

[bakaomi]

[ hmm.... ]

I guess that's what strip searches are for, but... there's stuff that can heal injuries, right? Like Piety healed IshIkirimaru.

[divus]

Yeah, and Love's wing had a bunch of healing items. Plus there's the ambrosia I gave...well, just Connor now. Zoe and Ray didn't...[He waves that off.] But it's possible.

If anything, you shouldn't rely too much on strip searches and focus more on people's behavior.