week 5, friday

[digestif]

[ Mizuki goes to find Ishikirimaru fairly soon after the reveal of the bodies. At least it's only three this week - not that it's much comfort when they're all children, and when they're having the problem they're currently having. As always, they're quite good at concealing anything they might be feeling about the matter, but show concern for Ishikirimaru immediately upon finding him. ]

Ishi-san, I need a minute of your time... Are you all right?

[ he's gentle, paternal - he's probably not doing well with this, they know. ]

Comments

[ritualization]

I... had some assistance. A friend made me a new one.

[-and he looks sad at that thought, actually, though he doesn't explain why, choosing to move right on.]

I may know why you would have been chosen, but first-- was Majima-kun also marked in any way?

[he's majima-kun to ishi now too that's fine]

[digestif]

[ Mizuki can guess why he looks sad. Easily. But they don't bring it up, either. ]

No... Just me. He was fine. [ a beat. ] Because someone is trying to bring Beauty down to zero followers...? Or because they consider me suspicious already, maybe. What's your thought?

[ritualization]

...please keep this to yourself for now, just in case. I do not know if it will be brought up tomorrow.

[a pause, there.]

I was informed that someone received a hint about a killer, this week. It was that there are six letters in their name.

If someone is aware of that who would have reason to direct suspicion elsewhere... that may be why you were targeted, though Majima-kun would have worked as well.

[digestif]

Just from that...?

[ that certainly isn't a reason they considered they'd be suspected, but they suppose it's fair enough if it came from a god, even if they resent it a little. They tug their sleeve back down, then rub their temples. ]

Maybe I should have made people call me Ioti-san, after all. [ a sigh. the joke doesn't really do much to lighten their spirits. ] If that information comes from a reliable source, then I can't blame them... but I promise you that I'm innocent. I haven't hurt anyone the entire time I've been here.

[ritualization]

It is also possible that they know your alignment and wish to make your god vulnerable, or simply have something against you... but it was something I felt I should mention.

[but at their last words, he quickly shakes his head.]

-I know. I trust that if you had ever needed to, you would have at least let me help, wouldn't you? Especially after... everything that happened, last week.

[he's definitely not going to forget that. ishi had faith they wouldn't turn on him, but it's still something that he deeply appreciates.]

Mm, but speaking of help-- come. It won't do if those are allowed to become infected.

[digestif]

[ Ishikirimaru isn't the type to turn on them. They already knew that. Still, they weren't about to take it for granted, either - they want to make sure he knows they're not the one who did this. It shouldn't matter to them; for some reason, it does.

At his offer, though, they gently shake their head. ]

It's all right. Majima-kun already helped me treat them this morning... I should be fine. But thank you. [ a beat. ] ... We've been working on having the gods form an alliance so that we can end this game without more violence. If something happens to Beauty-kun, it won't work.

[ritualization]

If he becomes vulnerable, I do not think you are the only one who would like to see him protected-- truthfully, I doubt he will become vulnerable at all. I will see to it that someone is with him, no matter what, just as I would do with any of the gods now.

[he doesn't want a repeat of fortune or ruin. two is enough.

but he tilts his head slightly, more willing to focus on other topics knowing that mizuki's injuries will be all right.]

Can you explain a bit further? I am aware of different efforts to try to organize us, rather than the gods themselves, but I had not heard anything of this.

[digestif]

... Well, if he's protected, that's good, but...

[ his being vulnerable would mean that Mizuki was dead, probably, and they'd like to avoid that if at all possible?! Dismissively, they shake their head, moving onto his question. ]

Sure. I'm trying to build an alliance in the pantheon between Beauty-kun and some of the other gods - Indulgence-san, Sincerity-san, Piety-san... Anyone who seems like they could work together. Instead of forcing us to kill one another, we should be forcing them to compromise, don't you think? Even if just one of them is the "head" god, the others could still have concessions made in their favor that make the arrangement appealing to them. [ a beat. ] Mostly, it's a matter of social engineering between the gods. But I also need to try and find at least one other person to join Beauty-kun.