GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

[requiemed]

[As she comes in the pool, she's surprised to see all the pink - that's not what she imagined a god of disorder would wear. Still, she takes a seat by the edge of the pool next to her, shifting so she's crosslegged.]

I thought it'd be a good idea to meet all of you at least once. I can come back more, if you want... Sorry you don't get many visitors.

[divus]

It's alright, I can't say I'm surprised. My title doesn't really leave a good taste in peoples' mouths. They think chaos and lawlessness and destruction, I guess. Why bother with disorder when you could back love or sincerity?

[She shrugs, sighing.]

So, like, I get it. Thanks for giving me a chance.

[requiemed]

[She nods, before her curiosity gets the better of her.]

Do you actually believe in those things, or is it just a name? You... don't look like how I expected someone who likes disorder to look.

[divus]

What? Oh, God no. For me, it's like, creative thought, freedom of choice, and non-conformity. Like, being able to be yourself without sticking to the status quo, you know?

[requiemed]

Well, that sucks.

[...]

I mean, not that any of the things you said suck, just - it sucks that people are going to assume those things about you.

[divus]

Yeah. It's pretty discouraging but I'm trying not to let it get to me? I mean, it's only been a week, so there's plenty of time to change opinions.

[She gives a small laugh.]

You'd think the way some people talk about me around here that I'm some kind of crazy person. I really don't get it--that's just not me.

[requiemed]

Have the people who have said those things actually spoken to you, though? Or are they just kind of assuming?

[divus]

Oh, absolutely both. You wouldn't believe some of the nasty things that were said about me by one of my own followers--and I mean, like, before we even met? Rude, right?

[requiemed]

You mean Chuuya, right? Did you really threaten him...?

[divus]

Threaten? I tried to warn him. I told him that he had the wrong impression about the god he was planning on defecting to, and he mocked me for it.

[Disorder sounds clearly offended, a touch of hurt creeping into her voice. She sighs heavily, looking down at the water.]

[requiemed]

Was the part about you punching through a mirror true?

[divus]

That's insane.

[requiemed]

So you're saying it didn't happen?

[divus]

What I'm saying is that I was upset, for a lot of reasons, and yeah sometimes when I get emotional I'm the kind of person that needs, you know, a stress ball, but punching clean through a mirror? That's such a gross exaggeration that I can't even...

[She shakes her head.]

Whatever. If he's going person to person telling them I'm a psychopath who punches holes in glass, it's not like there's anything I can do to prove him wrong. It's totally he-said-she-said.

[requiemed]

And you never told him that you'd send your other followers to kill him?

[divus]

That's an absolute lie.

[Now more than ever, the shock in her voice sounds completely genuine.]

What I said was that he'd regret defecting. I guess he, like, assumed the worst out of what I said? But I never, ever, threatened to kill him or send anyone after him. Honestly, all I care about right now is getting more people on my side, and that's not going to happen if I go around getting people killed.

[requiemed]

...Weird.

[She frowns, then, looking towards the water.]

I wonder why he'd lie about that.

[divus]

Probably to make his new god look like a saint.

[She clicks her tongue.]

But I wouldn't lie about that. I'm not a killer. If you knew more about me, some of the things that I went through when I was mortal, you'd believe me.

[requiemed]

But I'm guessing that you can't tell me any of it yet?

[divus]

I can tell you that I was the victim of a vicious bullying campaign when I was in high school. I became a god shortly afterward.

[She pauses, quiet as she kicks her feet gently in the water.]

People can be really closed minded.

[requiemed]

Right. And that's why you believe in creativity and being your own person, right?

[She frowns, glancing back towards Disorder.]

That sucks. I'm sorry.

[divus]

Exactly. The qualities that I value have more to do with how a person follows their own path despite what expectations demand of them. I don't like it when the value of a person lands on how good looking they are or how well they can follow orders.

[It's clear in her voice that she's calming down from mention of The Dreaded Chuuya Incident.]

Thank you for hearing me out. This is really nice.

[requiemed]

I think that's pretty cool.

[And she nods.]

Yeah. Do you want me to talk to him to see if I can at least have him set the story straight...?

[divus]

I don't see what good it'll do; if you think you can get through to him you're free to try, but I really don't think that anything anyone says will change how he sees me. I care more about clearing my name for the ones he's spoken to on his own. They'll all probably still be thoughtful enough to actually, like, hear my side of the story.

[requiemed]

I mean, disliking you shouldn't be the same as outright lying to other people about the stuff you've done. He could at least set the record straight with other people... I feel like it'll mean more coming from him.