divus | GODLY AUDIENCES

[What in the actual hell Eli!! Love easily accepts the song and is even humming along when Zoe enters the room, even if they seem downtrodden and quiet. Once the door is closed, they speak first.]

You did great.

[That downtrodden feeling doesn't just belong to Love, given the look on Zoe's face when she enters in.]

I was defending the person who killed my friend until, like, less than an hour before everything stopped. And I tried to do what you said, but I didn't lead anything.

[She takes a deep breath in, though, running a hand through her hair.]

But you tried. Doesn't that count for something?

No, because you told me to help lead, and if everyone listened to me we would have gotten it wrong.

That's true. But it's better than sitting by doing nothing, and that's the main thing I didn't want you to do at all.

Of course I wouldn't do that.

[After a moment, she rubs at her eyes.]

Sorry, I just - this just sucks.

I know. [...] Some people are paralyzed with fear, and some people make the wrong choices while panicking. I knew I chose you for the right reasons, but this confirms it even more.

[...and then, tentatively:] But I understand if you ever do decide to defect after this.

[From her expression, she seems surprised by that offer, immediately shaking her head.]

What? No, that's... Like I said yesterday, it's not your fault. He even said it had nothing to do with you.

Even saying that, I'm still responsible because he's under my alliance and he acted while still bound to me. People are going to start looking at all of us twice now. I don't know if people will defect, but if that girl was already planning to...

[This definitely gave people a reason to. Still.] ...but thank you. What did he even say?

I'm sure you tried your hardest to stop him. I mean, maybe you made a bad choice about who to take in, but that doesn't make you responsible for him. Any who's talked to you for more than five seconds probably knows how you feel about it.

[She sighs, though.]

That's about all. He wouldn't say why he did it.

It sort of does, actually. Why do you think we're the ones on trial and not you guys? We make demands of each other when our followers are taken out because they're under our care.

It's the first week. If this happens again, more people will be lost. The numbers will change. I...need a way to make sure they don't. I don't want people going to other gods who will let them really hurt other people. Does that make sense?

[But there's a huff.] Figures he wouldn't elaborate on that though.

Well, that's a dumb system. People should be taking responsibility for what they do.

[She nods, though.]

Is there anything I can do to help? I don't know how I did on the first task, but if there's anything... I don't want anyone to get hurt, either.

Do you really think Itachi-san would have 'fessed up if he wasn't caught? It's...unfair, sort of, but it also means we ultimately get to decide who to take out of the game and bench on the sidelines.

[...well.] I'm sorry I gave you a sort of complicated task. I didn't realize things would get that out of hand. But what would really help is trying to convince people to stay on this team, or join it if they aren't. Find where people are aligned and get their thoughts on their gods. I can't talk to everyone myself, but you may be able to help there.

...Bench on the sidelines is a big understatement, you know.

[She nods, then frowns.]

I guess you can't tell me the other five.

I know, I know. But how else do you want me to say it? [Huff.]

...I can't. Not yet, anyway, but...I'm sure you've spoken to some of them already. You just have to get them to confirm it.

You can say kill them, because that's what's actually going to happen.

[She nods.]

Okay. But I haven't spoken to all of them, right?

Okay, well, I don't want to be the one killing them so I'm not saying it. [Hmm...] And I don't think you have, no. It's still pretty early in the game but you're making progress and alliances.

Who's stood out to you?

Yeah, but you're not necessarily going to have a choice, right?

[She sighs, then, before looking thoughtful.]

Stood out for good reasons or bad reasons?

...sort of. I can at least choose sometimes. [Sort of. It's complicated.] People are always going to have to die, Zoe-san. It's just that sometimes it doesn't have to be the person guilty.

Either or? I'd like to hear both.

Just Zoe is fine.

[She frowns at that, though, before moving out.]

Ray and Senri are probably my best friends here so far. Connor's smart. Chuuya and Rachel are... not smart. I think they've stood out most so far.

I see. [No comment on that, but Love seems to take that into consideration.] It's still early, but judging by how the trial went that seems pretty accurate. I'd like to speak to some of them sometime just to get a better understanding of who they are.

...do you know who they might be aligned to?

[She shakes her head.]

Neither of them have told me. Why?

[Hm.]

Okay, sooo...I know everyone's alignments. We all do. We were all present when you guys chose, but! I'll make you a deal. You find out their alignments and earn their trust, I can grant you a small favor.

...Okay. I can at least try my best.

[She pauses.]

How many of them? Just the two that I mentioned as friends?

Yeah. Let's start with them, and if you're feeling really ambitious you can do the rest for a bigger reward.

WEEK 1, SATURDAY

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