GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

I think most people are assuming that. [Ambition gives a little huff.] People are assuming a lot of things here.

[requiemed]

Like, what kind of other stuff...?

[She tilts her head, even while she's careful not to move her hand too much.]

[divus]

[Ambition pays very close attention to Zoe's fingernails as she speaks.]

"Maybe Ambition took a hit out on Shiki and had someone else's follower kill her". Um, hello? How stupid would I have to be to want to off one of my own followers? I was watching the trial, and a lot of the people talking about what I would or wouldn't do have never even spoken to me.

[requiemed]

She was only going to be your follower for a few more days. I think that the idea was... Some people thought you might not another god's numbers to get higher.

[She sighs, though, frowning.]

But I thought it was pretty stupid, too.

[divus]

Oh, please. She'd only spoken to me once. [She finishes with Zoe's hand, then gestures for her to give her the other one.] Everyone loves me once they actually get to know me. I could have convinced her to stay.

[requiemed]

Thanks. Looks good.

[She puts her other hand out where Ambition can reach it.]

It's not just about liking you, though, is it? It's about liking what you stand for. Maybe she just didn't think of herself as a really ambitious person.

[divus]

[Ambition doesn't look convinced.

(Masks make it hard to tell what she looks like.)]

She was feeling ambitious enough to pick me in the first place.

[requiemed]

That just means she disliked the other two names more.

[A beat, and then:]

Sorry. That might've sounded rude.

[divus]

It did.

[Zoe is luck that manicures are Serious Business. Enough of Ambition's attention is on getting her nails done just right that she can't muster up the energy to get mad.]

That's stupid, though. How is ambition a bad thing?

[requiemed]

I'm not saying there is. Just that other people might not connect to it as much.

[divus]

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

[Ambition mutters under her breath, but then a moment later, she finishes with the nails.]

There! That looks great on you, don't you think?

[requiemed]

It looks really nice, thanks.

[She nods appreciatively, looking down at her hands.]

I didn't mean to upset you, though. Maybe we could talk about something better?

[divus]

You're welcome.

[Ambition sounds appeased by that... but after a moment she sighs, sounding aggravated.]

No, it was... my fault. [She does not sound like she likes admitting that.] I'm not very good at first impressions. One of my followers promised to help me with that, but...

[requiemed]

[She waves a hand, indicating that she doesn't mind.]

Do you not have a lot of experience with people...?

[divus]

I just don't see the point in acting like someone I'm not.

[She shrugs, bringing up a hand as if to toss her hair over her shoulder before remembering that her hair is all under her hood so she can't.]

I have every reason to be confident in myself, and I'm not going to act all humble just because people think humble people are nicer. But I guess that rubs some people the wrong way.

[requiemed]

[She pauses for a few moments, before:]

If I say something kind of blunt, are you going to curse me?

[divus]

[on the one hand, if she just said it without asking first, the chances of that happening were high.

ON THE OTHER... since Zoe warned her first, she can do something about it.]

I promise I won't, even if I want to.

[and divine oaths are binding. there, you're safe to talk, zoe.]

[requiemed]

There's a difference between confident and kind of... off-putting.

[divus]

For some people, sure. But some people just find confidence off-putting, period.

[Ambition waves a hand.]

Have you seen how insecure some boys get if a girl doesn't back down from something? It's like, think about why a girl being confident bothers you.

[requiemed]

Yeah, boys suck.

[wow]

I'm just saying, you can be confident and friendly at the same time. I think your problem might be that you could use a hand on the second one...?

[divus]

[Ambition doesn't seem too happy to hear that... but there's a minuscule nod a moment later.]

I've heard that before. From some of you.

[requiemed]

It's not the worst thing to realize you have things you could improve on. That's all.

[divus]

[ghhh]

It's just - easier said than done. With everything else going on here.

[requiemed]

[She nods, her expression shifting into something sympathetic.]

Yeah. I bet it's even pretty overwhelming for all of you.

[divus]

I'll be glad when it's over.

[i mean, everyone will be, because when it's over people won't be dying anymore]