GODLY AUDIENCES - ZOE MURPHY

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

It's never a really good feeling. I can't imagine how it'd make you guys feel if you're not used to it, so I want to learn more myself. [There's some sympathy there, but they're keeping their gaze on Zoe anyway.]

It's pretty new to us, too! I've never lived anywhere this big or full of so many rooms but it's been nice. We tried to make it suitable so you'd have everything you could ever want. [Sort of.] Just because you agreed to come here doesn't mean we should make it totally miserable.

[requiemed]

I like it, yeah. It seems like there’ll be a lot to do here. Where did you live before this?

[She pauses for a second, then gives a clarification on that.]

If you can tell me. I’m not really sure how much you can say about yourself, since... The whole hiding your face thing.

[divus]

[They seem to pause, a little hum under their breath as if they're trying to figure out if they can get around the rules.]

You're a fast learner. [More to the fact that Zoe's realized there are some things they may not be able to say much just yet.] I used to live in a really big city, but for a while I lived in a smaller town. I moved back after a year, but...I sort of liked the small town better even if it was quiet.

[requiemed]

Yeah? What did you like about it?

[She shifts a little, leaning forward curiously.]

[divus]

I had friends there. [The tone shifts to something fond.] Even if there wasn't a lot to do, it was nice having people to spend time with. Things were hard for a while, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[requiemed]

[There’s a smile upon hearing that before she continues.] Are your friends here? I mean, are they the other gods?

[divus]

I--[And it seems something cuts them off, and there's a strange pause.] I can't say. I'm sorry.

[requiemed]

Oh - no, it’s okay.

[Quick and apologetic, as she glances away for a second.]

I hope you at least like the other gods, then. Although, some of their names are kind of...

[It seems hard to imagine them getting along with someone called Ruin or Disorder.]

[divus]

[There's an apologetic laugh.] Some of them are okay. I don't mind. Our names were picked for us, but none of us really questioned it. They made sense.

[They look down at their hands, tracing a little heart on the floor.] I think it's just too early to say too much. It'd be kind of cheating to tell you everything right away.

[requiemed]

Right. Besides, I bet it would get old pretty fast to have all your... followers, I guess is what you’d call everyone who picked you? All your followers start grilling you immediately, anyways.

[At least, she’s pretty sure she’d be annoyed in that situation.]

[divus]

It wouldn't be the first time. [But anyway...]

Tell me more about you. Maybe about your music?

[requiemed]

Oh, sure. I’ve played guitar for years, and I’m kind of starting to write my own songs? I don’t know how good they are yet, but it’s fun to do, at least.

[divus]

Really? [INSTANTLY INTERESTED.] Do you think I could hear one of them sometime?

[requiemed]

Oh, uh...

[A pause for a few moments, while she decides how to say this.]

The ones I've written so far are kind of personal, but - I could play you something I know on the guitar sometime.

[divus]

[Their posture seems to relax a little.]

I get it. It's okay. [That must mean they're important to her.] I'd like that though. CDs are pretty old-school even if they're not too bad, but I miss live music.

[requiemed]

Yeah, I get it. There's something different about the kind of energy.

[She tilts her head slightly, though, thinking.]

What kind of music do you like? I could probably think of something for you.

[divus]

Anything with a good beat. [They are in a dance studio, after all.] And anything that makes people smile, you know? That's the coolest thing about music. It makes people feel so many different things, sometimes without even using words at all.

[requiemed]

[She nods along.]

Some of the stuff I like is more upbeat, but... Even if people aren't smiling, I feel like it can be pretty cathartic, too. You know?

[divus]

Yeah...definitely. [A hand moves to trace a pattern on the floor as they speak.] Sometimes I write things just for me, too. It's nice even if nobody else hears it.

[requiemed]

[After a moment:]

It's cool if this is off limits, too, but I'd like to hear something of yours sometime too.

[divus]

[There's a lingering pause.]

Maybe someday. I--[And there's another pause because it seems that's something else they can't quite say.]--think it may have to be another time.

[requiemed]

Yeah... I thought that might be the case. I'll just look forward to it, then.

[divus]

Me too. It means we'll get to talk again and that's...really nice. [Love likes talking to people.] Is there anything else I can do for you until then? Or any questions you have for me? Usually that's how these things go.

[They got distracted talking about themselves which is also fine tbh.]

[requiemed]

Oh, uh...

[She thinks that over for a moment, but there's an obvious question here.]

This is a competition, right? How are we going to be competing, exactly?

[divus]

...well. [Ah.] The thing about this competition is that it's to make sure one of us has the most followers in the end. There're a few ways to do that though, and not all of them are great options. Especially when some of the gods are more open to them than others.