GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

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WEEK 7, TUESDAY

[divus]

[Today when Taka enters the parlor he'll find Beauty at a window seat staring down into the courtyard. He's demasked and dressed down in a pair of nice jeans and a t-shirt with a sleeveless hoodie pulled over it. A golden retriever sits at his feet basking in the sunlight. There's a table set for tea and biscuits should Taka want, but the cologne's nowhere in sight.]

Good morning, Shishimaru-kun. [Pleasant and polite as ever.] I see you've made your way to Ambition's wing.

[bakaomi]

Mmhm. We're staying there this week.

[ because of course senri would choose the five star hotel.

he... just goes straight for the dog. ]

[divus]

I'm not surprised... [The dog immediately sits up upon sensing a person, rolling over to get up and ambush Taka. She's friendly, and the red bow around her neck is a little floppy but she doesn't seem to mind. Tamaki doesn't say anything, letting them get acquainted.

...Antoinette. [The dog's name, in case he doesn't know.]

[bakaomi]

Antoinette.

[ he repeats it, scratching her behind the ears.

he doesn't say anything else for a few minutes. ]

If we made a wish so that you guys could talk to us after the game, would that work? Even if it was just something like... I dunno, letters, if we can't do something in person?

[divus]

[There's a pleased bark as Antoinette tries to lick Taka's face, allowing him to pet her and scratch her ears.

As for Tamaki, he doesn't immediately reply either.]

...I don't really know. It's technically a wish, so...it's possible. But it would take up one of yours unless something else could be done.

[bakaomi]

[ there's a pause before taka answers as well, but it's mostly because he's trying to get his face far enough from the dog to be able to talk properly without getting licked. ]

I don't mind using mine. If we can't figure something else, but... it'll be worth it.

[ it would mean definitely switching from merriment, which sucks, but taka wouldn't have gotten his wish anyway if he refused to switch to someone else. ]

[divus]

[Antoinette's still practically crawling into Taka's lap because she, like her owner, is incredibly needy.]

Noble of you. [It's hard to say what he thinks about that, but it's a thought.] Truthfully I don't see why not if it's a wish of your own, though I advise asking the gods who are most likely to win. They might be better to judge the extent of their power.

[bakaomi]

[ well he has a dog in his lap now. it's fine, he continues petting. ]

I wouldn't really call it noble. You guys have been telling me to become friends with the other participants all game, and that was dumb. And in the last few week I've... kind of tried, I guess, because you all wouldn't shut up about it. But I think I was too late.

[ ... ]

So, it'll suck if I can't get bothered by my therapists.

[divus]

[An-chan is a good girl, text it.]

I don't think there's such a thing as making friends too late, Shishimaru-kun. It's the memories that are important if you're separated from them, isn't it?

[...] You would make several of us happy if something to that nature worked, I think. It would be nice to stay in contact.

[bakaomi]

... it's a little late.

[ for him, anyway. ]

You want to stay in contact.

[divus]

But not too late.

[...like. Yes, he does, but.] ...I've been thinking about what you've said. Regarding connections and everything. I can understand that.

[bakaomi]

[ ... ]

Can you?

[divus]

Yes. [He seems pretty serious as well, head turned toward the window again.]

...even in the end, despite the friends I've made in all of you and the good memories to come from it, I recognize that I've lost this competition and my luck's run out. I wonder if I had taken this more seriously and focused on myself if anything would have changed.

[He hates that idea though.] The impact that other people leave isn't simple. Even after years of separation...you're a changed person.

[What in the fuck is he talking about.] ...and I wonder...if it will help or if it will hurt more to know you all exist but are still somewhere we can't reach.

[bakaomi]

Who the fuck knows?

[ he keeps idly petting antoinette, looking down at her instead of over at tamaki. ]

But it's a little annoying hearing you talk like this, especially after you spent most of the game lecturing me on the important of reaching out to people and making connections and understanding others. You can't just change your mind like that.

[divus]

[He blinks in surprise, suddenly a little unsure.]

Sorry. My apologies. [He straightens up and adjusts his posture a bit, turning to look at Taka again with a light smile on his face.] My mind hasn't been changed. I do still believe those things are important.

[Those things also just, coincidentally, hurt like hell.] Do you feel you've come to understand people any better than before?

[bakaomi]

Don't change the topic to me.

[ it's muttered. ]

That's not what matters here.

[divus]

Doesn't it? I think it's still important.

[bakaomi]

No. I decided that we're going to give you a therapy session for once!

[divus]

What makes you think I need a therapy session!?

[bakaomi]

Uh. This entire fucking conversation?

[ hewwo?? ]

[divus]

How insulting. [There's not much of a bite though because like. Yeah.]

I've already burdened enough people, Shishimaru-kun. The game's almost over. [He bothered two whole people.]

[bakaomi]

Yeah. And? What's your point?

[ :/ ]

[divus]

[He goes quiet, puffing out his cheeks a little before he settles again. There's silence.]

...what do you want, exactly? [It's tired and uncertain and he's not really sure what Taka's angle is on this.]

[bakaomi]

You're getting on my nerves so we're going to talk about it.

[ he presses a kiss to the top of the dog's head. ]

It's my fault you're so... emo.

[divus]

[Antoinette licks Taka's face again. At least she's not a moron.]

If I'm bothering you so much, you can always leave. [Just a suggestion. But...] I am not emo. You are the emo here.

[No.] The only thing you've done is point out the facts and abided by my requests. [After all, Tamaki's the one who asked Taka to flat-out ask him whatever he was holding back.]