GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

[requiemed]

We just have to put the pieces together. Like what you said about training, right?

[divus]

[...there's a pause...and he claps slowly.]

Finally somebody gets it. [It's not even that sarcastic, he's actually happy about that.] You're gonna have things thrown at you tomorrow you may not expect, but you can't let the rest of your team stray.

[requiemed]

I can't tell if your clapping is sarcastic, but I'm choosing to ignore it if it is.

[Hm.]

What do you mean by my team, exactly?

[divus]

That's for the best. [And he stops.] I mean everybody in the trial tomorrow. Isn't this technically you against us?

[requiemed]

...I would have said you working through us, actually.

[divus]

Yeah? What makes you say that?

[requiemed]

Well... People want their god to win, obviously. They want their wish to be granted, so I'd bet a lot of them are doing everything they can to make sure their god will come out on top.

[...]

That's why Luna killed Fortune and tried to kill Ruin, right?

[divus]

...I dunno. Is it? [There's something in the tone that suggests he doesn't quite agree with that.] Sometimes people are just opportunists, Zo. You can't always help that.

[requiemed]

Right, but...

[Hm.]

If she wasn't doing it because she thought it would help her win, why do it?

[divus]

Free will? Because she could? Someone else wanted her to? There's a ton of reasons anybody could have picked. Some people might just like the challenge.

[requiemed]

...I guess so.

[But, hm.]

Can I ask you something?

[divus]

I'm pretty sure you'd do it even if I said no. What is it?

[requiemed]

It doesn't need to be anything major, since I doubt I could learn a ton in a few weeks, but...

[Hm.]

Can you teach me self defense?

[divus]

[...] Not what I was expecting, but acceptable. [He sounds surprised.] Yeah. Yeah, I can teach you...my hand to hand's a little rusty, but with a blade? Easily. We can cover both.

[requiemed]

I don't want to just barge in here and make you start right now, but - you know. Whenever you want.

[divus]

Not like I'm doing anything else right now. We could get started if you want. Unless you have other plans?

[requiemed]

Yeah, I came here to immediately bail as soon as you agreed.

[A small laugh.]

What do I need to have?

[divus]

Depends. What do you want to start with first? If it's hand to hand you just need to be ready. If you want to learn with a blade, we'll get you one.

[requiemed]

[Hm.]

...Hand to hand, I guess. If someone who knows how to use a sword or whatever comes after me, a few days of practice isn't going to prepare me for that.

[divus]

True. At least with hand to hand you can try to disarm somebody coming at you. [Give him a moment before he suddenly turns.] C'mon. Let's head to the arena. You'll have more space there.

[requiemed]

[She nods, following after him.]

[divus]

[The walk isn't that long and thankfully they're alone when they enter the arena. With that though, Cunning looks around for a moment before he sighs and pushes at the sleeves of his stupid cloak.]

This would be a lot easier if I didn't have these things. [Grumblebitchmumble.] Alright, first thing's first. Have you ever had any kind of defense training before?

[requiemed]

I played dodgeball in gym class...?

[No.]

[divus]

...that doesn't exactly count, but nice try. Then again, dodging's important. You've got two skills that're gonna benefit you more than throwing a punch can sometimes. Dodging, and blocking. If you can block somebody, you can throw off their balance and gain the upper hand.

[requiemed]

Dodging and blocking... Got it. But, timing's important too, right?