divus | GODLY AUDIENCES

I'm here.

[Fortune's voice comes from a corner of the altar room.]

...today was hard, wasn't it?

Today was bullshit.

[Her voice sounds tense when she turns to look to Fortune.]

Thanks for meeting me.

I know.

[Fortune knows.]

...you're welcome. I'm sorry. I'm not... sure what else to say.

No, it's... not your fault. And apparently you kept that one follower under control for another week, right?

[She means it to sound grateful in a joking way, but it mostly just sounds tired.]

It's been working out so far...

[Fortune sounds a little troubled, though. Hm.]

Do you want to go for a walk? You could probably use some fresh air, away from the courtyard.

...Yeah, it can't hurt.

[She nods.]

Is there anywhere in particular you want to go?

Maybe the east wing? I've heard the playground there is nice... they didn't have those where I came from.

[sad.]

...What kind of place are you from that they didn't have playgrounds?

[A beat.]

If you can tell me.

[Fortune seems to be struggling to answer for a few moments, before something occurs to her.]

You're from... Earth, right? Many of the other gods are, so I learned a little bit about their history. The place I come from is... sort of like Ancient Egypt.

...The entire planet is like that?

The part where I grew up was.

So it was like Ancient Egypt... How, exactly?

The weather and the architecture... and the technology.

[Fortune's voice sounds a little nostalgic.]

It was beautiful there. I think... when it's my turn to host, I'll show all of you.

[She nods to the description, but it makes her curious.]

Do you have the turns planned out in advance, or do you just volunteer when it comes up?

We're all going to go at least once. Those of us with fewer followers... we get to go first.

[Fortune chuckles.]

I'm sure you can guess why.

So... Piety's going to be next up, then?

It's... possible. But Piety is very kind. Protecting his followers the way he did... It wouldn't surprise me if some of you were to join him tomorrow.

You think it'll be you or Beauty, instead?

I think... It's a little too soon to say.

[One of Fortune's hands is clenched into a fist.]

—Oh, shit. I didn't mean to upset you, I'm sorry.

It's... not your fault.

Still... Let's talk about something else, okay?

Okay...

[let's say they've walked to the playground by now. fortune's headed for one of the swings]

Did you have places like this, where you grew up?

Playgrounds and parks, you mean? Yeah, we did. There’s a few around where I live.

What was your favorite thing to do in them?

WEEK 2

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