GODLY AUDIENCES - LUNA

[divus]

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WEEK 0

[divus]

[When Luna enters the pool, she finds that it's...empty? No, wait, there's a red and gold figure lounging backward from the top of the water slide, peering idly her way. Or, maybe it's idle? Hard to tell with that expressionless mask.]

You didn't even bring me anything?

[artificialhighness]

[Good thing she's used to expressionless masks. These things happen when robots lose their outer shell; so she's perfectly comfortable peering up and up and up.]

Oh, yes. Indulgence, is it? Would you like me to indulge you?

[It's not as though she has many possessions as of yet, and it seems odd to bring the gods offerings from their own structure. All the same, she can see where offerings might be had, from what she's seen of the place. For now, she gently raises the little blue bouquet she has. It's down to a few flowers, but they're still just as perfect and dewy as they were the moment she arrived.

For now.]

had to write this twice bc I accidentally closed my tabs :(((

[divus]

Always, dollface.

[Indulgence hooks an arm around the railing leading up to the top of the slide, and in a dramatic whooshing of fabric swings their way down. When the god's toes bounce against the tiled floor, they jaunt their way over, plucking one of the flowers from the bouquet and twirling it between two fingers.]

Cute. Quaint. Annnnnd now you want something from me. That's how these things go, after all.

WEEK 1 (POST-TRIAL)

[divus]

[When Luna leaves the Altar Room, Indulgence is lounging in the courtyard, twirling her flowers idly up over his face.]

You rang, dollface?

[artificialhighness]

I did.

[She stops and gives a small nod -- this is their second meeting, but today of all days she doesn't feel the need to stand on ceremony. Certainly, a great deal has happened this weekend and she's here to sort it out.]

It was Piety, I think, who advised us to talk to our patrons, but I had some more questions for you regardless. I'm sure you're all very busy in the wake of the trial.

But I feel as though these tasks, as well as their relation to all of you, will be something important for us all to understand going forward.

WEEK 2 (DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT)

[divus]

[Justice is sitting at one of the tables in the lab, playing listlessly with two different origami dogs. They look up when Luna enters, speaking up shyly.]

H...hello. Thank you for your offering. It was really cute.

[artificialhighness]

[Somehow it seems natural to find Justice here, even if this is the first time she's seen them in this context. Luna pauses to observe the little dogs before coming closer to perch on the table next to them.

She tends to sit wherever it strikes her fancy here. There's little rhyme or reason to the way the science types use the space, so she's as likely to be in the way in a space meant for sitting as not. Justice gets a brief smile.]

It seemed fitting. I thought you might like to spend time with more rabbits.

[The right now goes unsaid.]

WEEK 3

[divus]

[It's easy enough to find Piety. When Luna leaves the altar room, they're sitting in the soft grass among the statues, her offering in hand. They look up to greet her, inclining their head.]

Thank you for your offering--it's nice to see you again.

[artificialhighness]

Yes.

[She'll settle in the grass by them, light dress pooling around her knees and hands settling delicately in her lap. Piety gets a look that's part-thoughtful and part-pleased.]

That was quite the move. I'm pretty sure you took a few years off several people's lives.

[Judging by the placid pacing of her words, her lifespan is just fine.]

WEEK 3

[divus]

[Indulgence, the God who Never Stays in One Place, is now on the auditorium's stage in the East Wing, dancing his damn heart out. It seems unlikely that he would've heard or seen Luna come in, but with a final dramatic flourish he comes to a halt at the edge and slams down into a regal sitting position, chin poised on his fist.]

You call, I answer.

[artificialhighness]

[He certainly seems to always be anywhere and everywhere.

Luna drifts her way over to the East Wing at a good pace and stops at the entrance to the auditorium -- just watching, quietly, the way she does most performances here. Taking it in, the rarity of art in a strange world. It's only once Indulgence has finished his dramatic exit stage center that she moves down, clapping gently all the way.

She seats herself in the front row, faint smile in place.]

Hello, Indulgence. It was a lovely performance.

[Not that she's really got standards, but you can't expect a roomba to do everything.]

WEEK 3

[divus]

[Ambition meets Luna at the entrance to the beauty salon. She's calmer now, but still a little tense.

The bracelet is worn on her wrist.]

...you wanted to talk?

[artificialhighness]

Of course. Hello, Ambition.

[Hey, at least she answered the door for once. :) Progress.]

I suppose I was curious about what you're planning to do with yourself now.

WEEK 3, SUNDAY

[divus]

[Luna's transformation makes it easy for her to bypass the enchantment keeping people from reaching the southern tower by foot. No such enchantment exists in the air - an oversight, perhaps - and it doesn't take long for her to arrive at the top of the tower, high above the clouds.

It is eerily quiet up here, and there are not many places for her to go - she can examine the statues circling the aerie, or she can take the floating platforms to the structures on either side.]

[artificialhighness]

[The hippogriff is mostly monochrome, silver but for the darker feathers at its head, and small and sleek. It's the first time she's used her power on herself, and being able to fly really is a fascinating thing. Watching the world drop away--

And landing in the silence, a familiar and peopleless sort of weight. She lopes gently on all fours around the platform, examining the makeup of it. She'll take a closer look at the statues first, why not.]

WEEK 4

[divus]

[Ambition meets Luna out near the strawberry fields. This offering has come full circle.]

So... you joined me, huh. Are you planning to stay long?

[artificialhighness]

[It's nice, out by the fields, with the wide-open spaces and the fragrance of strawberries.]

I said so, didn't I? That I thought I'd like to see what you can do.

I am here on the whim of one of your followers, but I haven't yet decided how long I'll stay.

[She's holding onto the little glass bottle she found at Fortune's tower. She hasn't bothered lugging the treasure chest out here because it's unwieldy among the berries.]

WEEK 4

[divus]

[Ruin appears in the altar room as the first droplets of blood hit the bowl. She eyes Luna for a few long moments.]

Who gave you the idea to do that?

[artificialhighness]

Myself.

[And Luna smiles, a little too serenely, but it's pleasant enough.]

As I recall, you should all know the details of the contestants here, and so you should know what my blood is. For now, it's simply blood. But I thought it might be a fitting offering.

Was I wrong?

WEEK 4

[divus]

Luna!

[A stranger is running up to her the second she enters the pool room. The stranger, here, is Indulgence...with his mask up on top of his head. He clasps his hands together and lets out a whoop of relief.]

You don't know how glad I am you called me. You've gotta come back next week.

[artificialhighness]

[Well -- she certainly recognizes the pomp in the manner and the cadence of the voice, and of course there's the unmistakable flash of the mask -- and Luna blinks at him once, twice, not quite startled but certainly taking a moment to take things in before giving him the same smile as always.]

Well, I wasn't going to leave without a word -- especially since that wasn't my intention.

[They are the worst combination in the world I have to say this again, but at least they're entertaining.]

It is quite a start to the week for you, isn't it?

WEEK 4, THURSDAY

[divus]

[Well. When Luna enters the game room on Thursday she'll find that the bowl of ice cream is a.) on a table next to a game of checkers, b.) now features the ice cream shaped like a snowman and c.) is still cold somehow. Merriment's perched in a chair today and looks up as Luna enters the room.]

Nice touch. [So he seems fine with ice cream, apparently.]

[artificialhighness]

I thought it seemed in the spirit of things.

[Well, what she's seen of him, anyway -- which admittedly hasn't been much lately, and though he's been an idle thought in the back of her mind since the week he hosted, she's only just meandered back around to checking in. Why not.]

You've certainly given it a life of its own.

[She smiles at the little snowman and seats herself at the table before the checkers.]

Hello again, Merriment.

WEEK 4, THURSDAY

[divus]

[Whenever Luna makes her way to the parlor, she'll find a table set for two despite the fact she's a robot. It's polite though, because while Beauty isn't sure if she requires sustenance there are two cups for tea, a small plate of cookies and the bouquet in a small crystal vase in the center. Beauty's seated in a chair and upon hearing Luna a hand is extended in welcome.]

Welcome, Luna-chan. Please have a seat.

[artificialhighness]

[Oh. This is probably the most elaborate welcome she's had so far; leave it to Beauty to come up with it, even if Luna doesn't need the sustenance. Nevertheless, she is a polite roomba who delicately seats herself at the table and rests her chin on her hands, taking a moment to appreciate the spread.]

Hello, Beauty. You needn't have gone through so much trouble for me.

I just wanted to meet you.