[ senri & ray are not okay ]

[usogi]

Comments

[selfimmolates]

... You really have no idea how similar you and I are, do you?

[usogi]

I'd rather you wouldn't insult yourself like that - I'm great, but you don't give yourself enough credit on how amazing you are, Ray-kun.

[selfimmolates]

Shut up, idiot.

[he opens his mouth and then closes it, before he settles for what's easier to say right now.]

Like I said, any wish is inherently selfish. No matter how many people it helps, or regardless of who else it makes it happy, they're all born from the same need for self-satisfaction. Wanting something that keeps you going isn't "stupid".

[usogi]

.... I can keep going without it, is the thing.

[he has a chance that others don't - he has an academy where he can literally reach his wish if he just tries]

Anyway... I'll decide what I want to do about it, at the end.

What about you? What do you want?

[selfimmolates]

You guessed it already, for the most part: for my family's continued survival.

[admittedly, ray had literally never considered adding himself to the equation until senri mentioned it.]

[usogi]

[senri offers up a smile and nods]

... that's a good one too.

[selfimmolates]

[...

he just shrugs, because there's a hell lot of baggage going into it that senri doesn't realize, but sure.]

[usogi]

[.... it's fine. senri won't press anymore if ray doesn't want to answer]

... we'll get it. I'm trying to get Sasuke to agree to switch to Piety, just so that that's one more person. We can make sure that Piety will definitely try to grant as many wishes as possible too, or at least give small favors for participation.

We'll have to adapt if anything changes in the plan but... I'd like as many people to get their wishes as possible.

[selfimmolates]

[honestly, it's in part because he figures senri doesn't really want to hear about it, because why would he.]

And what can you do to convince everyone that Yu couldn't, back during that meeting?

[usogi]

Things get lost in large groups. Everyone talks over each other, and no one even came to any consensus besides 'talk to more gods' during that meeting. It was worth a shot, but doing things his way would've broken everything anyway.

[he was happy to spread the word because he'll try anything - but now he knows better.]

I'm going to say I want Piety to win to people personally, and I'm going to tell them to talk to him while we have more time. So he's the one convincing them, not me, so we won't run the risk of this game being voided. It still might not work.

But... I think we can do it, if everyone has the information they need to work with. Certain voices have sway, and level-headed people like you and Shishimaru can provide the logic, while I implore others to listen to me as a friend. Instead of a general 'have you considered this?' and letting people talk idly....

[selfimmolates]

... Well, good luck with that. And what will you do if you can't form a majority?

[usogi]

... if the people closest to me can get their wishes, I'd be the happiest. I want it to happen for as many people as possible, of course.

But if even you, me, Sasuke, Shishimaru, Ishirin-san, and Zo can all agree on someone... that's not a number to sneeze at.

[selfimmolates]

What if one of us dies or gets hit by Advancement Opportunity?

[usogi]

[senri shakes his head]

I think it's smart - to not go to the god you want to win until the end. I'd... rather not think about any of you dying either.

But if it comes down to needing more numbers... do you want the list of people I think I can convince or rely on?

[selfimmolates]

Yes.

[mainly he's here to play devil's advocate to make sure senri has a plan.]

[usogi]

[he hums thoughtfully]

Then add... Madopyon, Ogou-san, Sieg-kun, Luke-kun, and Jude-kun.

I think... they trust me enough, and it'd still mostly require Piety to be able to really convince them of his world, but I think they all want to both leave behind a good world, as well as get their wish.

It'd take a little more work, but I think I could also convince Connor-san, Mizuki-san and Guy-san. Yu-kun I would ask the people closer to him to do the convincing for me.

[selfimmolates]

I thought Mizuki didn't trust you?

[usogi]

Mizuki-san might not trust me, but they trust my information. They seemed a little more interested in the idea of everyone defecting to one god in the name of peace toward the end when I mentioned it. I think it can happen.

I don't... think I can convince everyone that fast. There are some people that I don't have strong relationships with.

But.... I want to try. It's... It's not perfect - because I still want Cheri to win. I want Beauty to be happy. Love, Justice, Merriment, Dizzy, Bambi... All the gods matter a lot to me. But I think Piety is the way to make as many people happy as possible. I do think balance is the best option... so that's what I'll suggest.

[selfimmolates]

Perfect solutions don't exist. Just about everything is built on sacrifice.

What's important is knowing what it is and that you can accept it.

[usogi]

... I have a little more time. As long as I have a little more time, I think we can do it. I know that it's not just on me - and if people end up not agreeing, we'll have to switch plans and pick someone else. But... this is at least an idea, and some things have no hope if they aren't said out loud.

[ . . . ]

I'm okay, not getting my wish. I want it. More than anything. But I'm still going home after this, and I'll still want my wish more than anything once I'm home, where I get another chance at it.

If that's a sacrifice I have to make, that's okay. I can't decide other people's sacrifices for them, but I can at least try to aim for a way so that less people have to make those sacrifices.

[selfimmolates]

[isn't this familiar.]

As long as you're sure.

[usogi]

I am. I know I can't count on you to actively help me until I get at least a few more of these numbers secure - you, me, Ishirin-san, and Bakaomi are at least in agreement that Piety is best suited to lead. Luke-kun won't be leaving him anytime soon either, obviously.

I think I can talk to Zo... and maybe she can talk to Connor-san.

But if you can just tell people that you think Piety is the best suited to lead, that'd be enough for me.

[selfimmolates]

[he shrugs.]

Sure. It's not a secret that he's the favourite among the gods to win, at least.

[usogi]

That doesn't mean anything if we can't get people to defect to him at the end... I know 1 isn't a super exciting number right now, but I also don't want to risk anyone getting hit by Advancement Opportunity at the last stretch.

[selfimmolates]

I was part of the faction that hasn't managed to ever get a single new follower. I don't know why you'd expect me to be any good at convincing people to defect.