GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

WEEK 2, MONDAY

[divus]

[Love is seated on the floor again today, the brownies on a plate in front of her. At least one of them looks half-eaten.]

Have you been baking these yourself? I keep meaning to ask.

[requiemed]

Oh, yeah, I have. And then just cutting them into the right shape.

[But, also:]

Do you know why one of you decided to ban music?

[divus]

[There's a hum that seems to suggest that the first answer is satisfactory.]

You're sure it was one of us?

[requiemed]

...Okay, fair point. Better question, do you know why someone decided to ban music?

[divus]

Maybe they're tonedeaf? [So no.] It's possible someone just doesn't like poetry and music, but it's also possible they want something else to take priority. It's hard to say what people are thinking.

[requiemed]

Whoever it is, they're a jerk.

[But now that she's put that out there, she changes the subject.]

I actually had a question for you, if that's okay.

[divus]

Have I ever said no to a question from you? Fire away.

[requiemed]

I've been talking to a lot of different gods this week so I can learn more about all of them. Most of them have been nice, but it's kind of made me wonder...

[She hesitates for a moment.]

I've been talking about names with a lot of them. Why do you think you're named Love?

[divus]

Mm...good question. [Is it? Love seems to have an answer, like, immediately.]

...in my old life...love was the thing that kept me and my friends together. They taught me how to love myself for who I am, and that it was okay to be multiple people because people are complicated like that. And it was our bonds with each other that helped save us and our world in the end. Love is probably the most powerful emotion because people don't realize it can be a double-edged sword.

I want love to be used for good. I want people to feel loved and understand love and know that they aren't alone because nobody should ever feel like that. [...] Plus there was a bond I had with someone special. They taught me how to awaken my true powers and be the person I needed to be to help others. It's why...I chose this. To make a world where I can keep helping others understand the truth and also accept it.

[requiemed]

[After a long moment, once she's taken all that in, a small smile spreads on her face. Her words are simple but sincere, packed with gratitude.]

I knew I picked the right god.

[divus]

[There's a small laugh.] I'm glad you think so. We're a pretty good team so far, don't you think?

[requiemed]

[She nods.]

For sure. Hopefully it pays off.

[divus]

I think it will...anything else I can do for you today?

[requiemed]

Yeah, I actually had one more question... Would you tell me more about what your world would be like if you won?

[divus]

Have I really not told you? [They sound surprised, like "oops, their bad."] When I win...my world would be one where people aren't kept in the dark about what's happening out there and the truth prevails. The most important thing is that it'd be a world where people don't feel like they have to hide themselves or their true feelings, or where they feel like they only have to be one thing I want a world where you don't have to make a choice about what kind of person you are...you can be multifaceted, and it'll be okay, because people will love and accept you for who you are.

I know love doesn't sound like the answer to everything. I want a world where people's emotions are valued and they don't have to let them eat away at them and hurt them and other people around them. The world I want...is a truthful one.

[requiemed]

So... You want a world where people aren't afraid to face the truth of what they're feeling, because they know their loved ones will be there to support them no matter what?

[divus]

Yeah. It doesn't sound as great and powerful as some of the other worlds, I know, but the thing that causes people to live or die is other people. If people can feel supported...[They stand a better chance.]

[requiemed]

..It doesn't need to be great and powerful. People just need to know that they matter. Everything would be better, if that were the case.

[Her voice is... somber, but full of conviction.]

[divus]

Exactly. [Likewise, her tone's equally full of conviction.] That's why I feel really strongly about it and I'm gonna win no matter what. I'm just hoping we can do this the right way.

[requiemed]

[A nod, but then a small pause.]

You wouldn’t want to win if it’s the wrong way, right?

[divus]

...I want to win, but I don't want it to be at the expense of other people. That's what pisses me off about the way this game's going. I get that it's a competition but people shouldn't have to be thrown away just to declare a winner.

[requiemed]

Yeah... It really, really sucks.

[She sighs.]

And it's hard to tell who's going to pull something when there are so many people here.

[divus]

People are getting better at hiding their intentions, too, even as people are dropping their guards and getting closer. It's just a bad design all around.

[requiemed]

Right. It's not like anyone who was going to kill somebody would go around announcing it beforehand.

[divus]

Not unless they were cursed into doing so...