GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

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Week 1, Wednesday

[divus]

[Whenever Takaomi enters the parlor, he'll find that there's a set-up of tea, little snacks, and this masked figure in a high-back chair. With their right leg crossed over their left at the knee, the figure seems to be examining the eye mask carefully before looking up toward Takaomi.]

Welcome, Shishimaru-kun. [They extend a hand, gesturing to the chair before them.] If this isn't to your liking, I can provide you with something else.

[bakaomi]

[ he looks over the setup before shrugging. ]

It's fine.

[ and he'll take a seat. ]

[divus]

[Thanks Taka. The mask is held still as Beauty looks it over.]

Are you sure you won't be needing this? A good night's rest is important.

[bakaomi]

I'll manage.

[ also he doesn't want to resort to stealing shit yet for offerings?? so ]

Was it one of you guys who made that new rule?

[divus]

[Then in that case the mask is carefully tucked into one of the folds of Beauty's cloak for later, goodbye.]

It certainly wasn't me. [They seem to wish to continue, but--] Anything more, I can't say just yet. I do believe with a bit of searching you'll find your answer, however.

[bakaomi]

Hm... got it.

[ as annoying as that answer is, he expected it. ]

So. Tell me about yourself.

[divus]

Right to the point. I admire that. [They shift, cupping their chin in their hand as they fix their gaze on him. They would happily ramble about themselves if they could, but the strange pause seems to indicate they're not allowed to do that.]

Are you asking about me? Or about my role in this game and the questions some of you have already asked? [They don't seem to mind either way.]

[bakaomi]

Let's get the role out of the way first.

[ so he does want to actually ask about them. ]

You're all new gods, right?

[divus]

[Fair enough.]

That's correct. Which of us told you that?

[bakaomi]

Would they get in trouble if I said who?

[ :/ ]

[divus]

[:)]

Not by me, no. Everything you speak to us about is kept amongst ourselves and kept between each of us, unless you share with us. I've no reason to confront anyone.

[bakaomi]

Huh.

You're only allowed to tell us certain things, right? Because of the rules. So can you tell us more as time passes?

[divus]

Correct again. [And suddenly Beauty's hand moves, index finger pointed up as if to say "aha!"] Think of it almost like a business partnership. You, the client, are brand new to us and we, the gods, are providing a service to you. However, like any other client-business relationship, a certain level of trust and respect must be reached. The more you speak to us, the easier we can cater your experiences and understand your tastes and who you are. In return, the more loyalty you earn with us and we can provide small perks.

[So yes.]

[bakaomi]

That makes sense... so a person's experience here will probably be different depending on if they only talk to a single god instead of all of them?

[divus]

Very good, very good! [A smart boy!] In this competition, of course we'll try to bring you to our own teams, but there are different ways to play the game if one's creative enough to plan and act.

[bakaomi]

You wouldn't bring together so many different people with different backgrounds and skills if you expected them all to play the same way, I guess.

[divus]

Precisely. Likewise, we know that we'll have to appeal to each of you differently than we would your peers. That's what makes the game a little fun and why we learn from you.

[bakaomi]

Do you have any particular goals in mind for if you win?

[divus]

I do, though I'll understand if you don't agree. [Simply because they know they aren't the most practical, but it's important to them.]

The true goal is to create a world where everyone may follow their heart and live and treat every day as a good day. Following your heart isn't easy, but a world that allows it may be beneficial. [However:] Ideally, the goal would be an expansion of the world where people can learn more, be more, and do more outside of the confinements they've had placed upon them.

It takes a bit of planning, I'll admit, but I'm willing to play along and work with what's available.

[bakaomi]

... do all of you have this idea? It's pretty similar to what others said.

[ then again merriment did say he only trusted some of them to want something good ]

[divus]

[There's a laugh then.] Of course not. Would there be a need for this contest if we did?

[bakaomi]

So are there gods who want the.... opposite? In simple terms.

[ it's probably more complicated than that ]

[divus]

Yes. [And this time they sound troubled.] Each of us have different goals in mind even if the ideas are similar. How we approach it is dependent on us, in simple terms.

[bakaomi]

Would it be easy to tell which ones they are just going by name?

[ he doubts it's that easy but

they also seem like dumbasses ]

[divus]

[Beauty leans back in their chair.]

Deductive reasoning, Shishimaru-kun. The names aren't just for show, after all.