divus | GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

I'm mostly into punk and emo, they're soooo cool! My favorite band is Uribos, but they're not together anymore, but they're fucking legendary.

[ listen taka is grouchy and rude and a killjoy but

when he gets excited about something he is like a little kid and can talk forever it's embarrassing ]

... I wouldn't really call it a music school, but we do performances for the yume lives. The better performance you give, the more points you get, and you have a better chance of scoring in first.

[ there's a pause. ]

So it's kind of like this game, I guess.

I don't think I've heard of them. [There's nothing to say about punk and emo because it's not entirely Love's style, but they can appreciate all sorts of music.] But I think people's favorites say a lot about them.

[This is adorable though what the hell, sorry that Love is eating this up and also escalating in excitement.]

Lives...[It's not even a questioning tone, it's one that seems to indicate Love knows what he's talking about.] Maybe that would've been easier than this game. [Love taps their fingers on the floor, a little beat only they can hear.] Do you have to always score really high to stay there?

There's different ways to score besides just the lives, but it's the best way to get ahead. So even if you rank poorly in one live, if you... let's say, get the highest score on an exam, you have a chance to catch up.

[ he gestures vaguely. ]

Not everyone in the school participates though, only if you're in the special class. And only the best of the best gets invited to it-- so there's a chance you might get kicked out of the special class if you're not doing enough.

[Hm...] Does it ever take the fun out of it if you're constantly competing? The business can be pretty tough, I've heard.

[It's not the same based on what Taka's saying but that's still trying to be the best of the best and that just sounds stressful.]

It's not about fun when it comes to the academy. All that matters is getting the top seat, so if I have to go through the damn lives...

[ the problem with the lives is that you have to open your heart to others while doing them.

and taka is bad at that, to the point where he routinely gets sick while doing them because of how much he Refuses but. he chooses not to mention that.... what the fuck is a feeling ]

[That's even more concerning.]

Can I ask you something a little personal? Why are you at that academy? What does getting the top seat really get you?

[Taka you dumb binch, you are talking to the god of feelings. Hope you're prepared to answer a bunch of questions.]

[ THIS IS WHY HE DIDN'T PICK LOVE, GOD ]

You're pretty much set for life after. You get a lot of power and money, so whatever goals you have you can accomplish fairly easily.

[ will he say what his goals are? no ]

Oh. [That still doesn't sound so great.] A price for a price...that sounds about right.

[With that, she's letting the subject drop just a bit.] I've heard somebody has a karaoke machine here. And if you ever wanted a space just for a musical environment without the pressure of a live that's what this place is for. I just don't like the idea of music not being fun anymore, ever.

[ there's a pause, as he squints slightly. ]

I feel like I just got conned somehow.

You think? [It's a light tone, but Taka you better bring your ass back here at least once or twice or Love will be Disappointed.]

...are you happy with your choice? You went with Merriment, right?

I'm not sure if "happy" is the right word for it...

[ he doesn't really think he'd be happy with any of the choices, since in the end it's a decision you have to make with zero context ]

But I think I get along with them well. I don't have any reason to switch yet. [ ... ] They called you a good kid.

That sounds happy enough. [Happy can be subjective. Still, they pause and appear...a little flustered.] He's...very nice that way, yeah. I think he views most of us as kids, but he's a little hard to connect to sometimes. Aloof, almost. I think he's getting better though now that we've started.

I wasn't really expecting to get along with him. The name's a little misleading.

[ he tilts his head slightly, regarding love. ]

Surprisingly into motivational speeches.

Appearances can be a little deceiving, can't they. [It sounds like they're teasing him a little.] He says he isn't entirely sure why that name was chosen for him, but I think he needs to dig a little deeper. He's a little lost, too.

[Stop gossiping about the other gods, Love.] He's...wiser than he thinks, too. And I know he doesn't want anyone else getting hurt in this game.

He said that he would be okay with someone else winning as long as they can make the world a better place.

[ he pauses. ]

What about you?

That sounds like him. [Love pauses then, tilting their head.]

I want to win. That's not even a question. [Love...] But I want to make the world a better place, too.

[ listen he would have been surprised if love was also like "i don't mind losing lol" ]

What do you consider better?

[That's a bit of a harder question, especially considering the goals Love has in mind.]

Shishimaru-san. I'm going to ask you a question. [A dramatic pause.] Do you know who you are?

... I'm guessing you mean in the metaphorical sense?

[ he could have gone with a smartass answer but he chooses not to for once ]

Unless there's something in the literal sense you need to tell us, yeah. Metaphorically.

... I think I have a better sense of what I'm not, if that makes sense.

[ why are all of you into emotions ]

It makes total sense. [Surprise, it's because some of the gods are idiots.] In a better world? It'd be a world where people don't feel like they have to hide themselves or their true feelings. Bonds with other people are the strongest thing there is and with bonds you can get through just about anything.

...when you lie to yourself and you don't really know who you are, or you can't admit the truth, you're not only hurting people but you're hurting yourself. It isn't easy, I get it, but...a world where it's a little easier would be nice. It'd cut down on a ton of problems.

[ he's feeling really fucking attacked right now why do all of his conversations with gods end up like this ]

That sounds like an impossible dream, even for a god.

[FEEL SOMETHING, TAKA!!!]

What makes it so impossible?

[ NO ]

How do you even make people more honest? Snap your fingers and they suddenly change?

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