GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

[requiemed]

I can't really put my finger on it, but jeans weren't included in the mental image.

[He seems much more normal than she thought, basically. It's fine.]

[divus]

[A derisive snort, and he finally turns to face her. Blue eyes examine her carefully and it allows her to take a good look at him, too.]

Zo, it was 2009 when I left. I grew up mostly in New York. Jeans are kind of a staple and I didn't feel like wearing armor. [So there's that.]

[requiemed]

New York? That actually explains a lot.

[what does that even mean]

[divus]

[A lift of an eyebrow.] Wait like what?

[Please explain, Zoe.]

[requiemed]

You’re from the city, right? Totally explains the kill or be killed thing. I’ve been downstate, I know how it is there.

[She’s joking, maybe.]

[divus]

[...it gets a small laugh at least.]

Camp was located on the Long Island Sound. The city itself was a quick drive in. Olympus was above the Empire State Building. [He shakes his head.] But yeah. That explains that.

[requiemed]

You should have come up to Rochester. People are at least 25% better up there on average.

[divus]

A whole twenty-five huh? Amazing. If only I were so lucky.

[He seems pretty calm and relaxed which is maybe different than what Zoe might have expected.] Stretch and warm up, we're going to run a couple of drills.

[requiemed]

We shoot for the stars.

[She starts as he indicates, but as she goes:]

Hey, tell me some obscure fact you want to know about me, I want to get that rule out of the way.

[divus]

...forgot about that rule. Let's see...[He stretches his arms.] Got a middle name?

[requiemed]

[As she stretches one of her legs:]

That’s really what you want to go for? So boring.

[divus]

Boring, sure, but it's a one-up on you who doesn't even know my name.

[...] Fine, whatever. What about...the dumbest secret you ever kept?

[requiemed]

It's not my fault you haven't told me. You can change that at any point.

[She rolls her shoulders, thinking.]

When I was a kid, I tried to adopt a kitten and thought my parents wouldn't find out.

[divus]

And go easy? No way. Feel free to guess though.

[He considers that before there's a snort of laughter.] Let me guess. They found out within an hour?

[requiemed]

Do I at least get a hint in return for my wonderful company?

[Hm.]

They found it so fast. It didn't help that I kind of... grabbed it from outside because I thought it was cute, so it wasn't exactly tame.

[divus]

You brought home a feral kitten. Hopefully they let you get an actual cat later. I've heard people like pets.

[There's a hum though before he nods.] My name's a duplicate in this competition.

[requiemed]

Tragically, they did not.

[Anyways.]

Am I allowed to go one by one, or do I get a limited number of guesses here?

[divus]

Then your parents are completely unfair.

[A joke.] These things come in threes. [He holds up three fingers, wiggling them a bit.] Three guesses, and if you don't get it you'll never know.

[requiemed]

Before I start, can we narrow it down by people who are still alive or people who've gotten killed?

[divus]

Now you're thinking smart. Let's say people who are still alive.

[requiemed]

I was always thinking smart, but thanks.

[Hm.]

Alex?

[divus]

I'd beg to differ, but you're the only person who's come this far. And no. Low-hanging fruit, try again.

[requiemed]

Excuse me? Why would you beg to differ?

[She doesn't sound offended, at least. She does pause for a few moments, though.]

Please don't tell me it's Connor.

[divus]

You don't really want an answer to that, do you?

[He seems a little stunned by the answer though.] ...no, but that was my brother's name so I guess you're kinda close.

[requiemed]

Of course I want an answer to why you just called me stupid.

[There's a beat, as she blinks.]

I didn't realize you had a brother. [...] Is it Luke?