GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

[requiemed]

I think... age doesn't matter so much sometimes. There are a lot of pretty young people here. Even some of the gods seem pretty young. Maybe it matters more what you've been through.

[And from what she knows of Ray's world...]

[divus]

A lot of you have been through a lot...but at the same time a lot of you haven't. That's what I worry about, too. I don't know how to make sure you guys are prepared for whatever happens next.

[requiemed]

[A small pause.]

What happens next?

[divus]

...that's technically up to you. We can't act on our own behalf. That's what you guys are for.

[requiemed]

Are you talking about us deciding who wins, or...?

[divus]

...who wins, and if more murders happen. That's all up to you guys as a group. That's why it's so important to talk to people and find out what they're thinking.

[requiemed]

[A pause, before:]

Do you think more people are going to die?

[divus]

...I don't know if you're going to like my answer, Zoe.

[requiemed]

...That’s pretty much an answer in itself, you know.

[divus]

I know. [Ugh.] I don't want it to be this way, but I think we have to be realistic that it might just happen.

[requiemed]

You don't think it'll be, like... A deterrent that we found the right person this time?

[divus]

You'd think so, but I don't know. There's still so many of you...people are bound to take chances anyway.

[requiemed]

...I guess. I just - wish there was something more we could do to stop them.

[divus]

Unless there was a way to lock you all in one room and figure out how to get rid of the curfew? I'm not sure...but that doesn't stop us from thinking of something to do.

[requiemed]

Do you have any suggestions about the 'something to do' part, then? Because I'm drawing a blank.

[divus]

Um...handcuff all of you to one other person for a week for accountability? I never said the something was a good idea.

[requiemed]

I mean, considering what people have done with free reign... It might just be a better option at some point.

[divus]

I don't know where to get that many pairs of handcuffs though. [Frown.] The only other thing would be giving them something to keep themselves busy with, like a curse or a task or something.

[requiemed]

Can't you, like, will them into existence? Is that not how the whole god thing works?

[...]

I guess that wouldn't be the worst use of a curse.

[divus]

Maybe during a week I'm hosting but before that? I'm not sure it'd work...plus I don't want to actually make people mad even if it'd help them.

[requiemed]

I'd rather be mad than dead.

[But she's aware that isn't the point, and that it's impractical besides. She sighs.]

The problem is... I can see how a curse could make someone too busy to hurt anyone else, but it could make things more dangerous in most cases, too.

[divus]

It would have to be a really specific curse, wouldn't it? Like being cursed to hug everybody for a week or something.

[requiemed]

...Oh.

[Hm.]

Was that you?

[divus]

I wish I could take credit for that, but nah. That was...half-me. [Whatever that means.]

[requiemed]

So, one of your followers...?