Audience - Jacopo

[holyspirits]

Comments

[holyspirits]

It's not... [ he stops and seem to consider what to say, a little spike of frustration. again, it's not like he doesn't get it. but. ] I know I don't really have a right to be uncomfortable about it when I have answers people want. But I also don't have all of them that I know they're looking for, and it's just going to disappoint them all over again. And while I am, in fact, an expert at disappointing people, I was hoping to do less of that here.

[ staring at his hand...kind of poking at it a little, like he's not sure if it's just for show or for paw-holding or what. ]

I think it gave them some answers and further confirmation that the New God's the one in charge of this shitshow. Does that count?

[obdure]

You can't provide what you don't have and you can't prepare if you don't know what to expect. Their disappointment doesn't mean you failed.

[ He grabs their wrist after the poke. This is more of a secure hand-holding kind of. A wrist-hold like wanting to pull someone up and out from somewhere. ]

I think that counts. What shape do they even take? Another aquatic animal?

[holyspirits]

[ sorry, he laughs a little, more out of disbelief than anything. but he allows it, which means jacopo's probably actually wrapping his hand around a wristband. something kind of soft and almost worn, at least. ]

I don't know. [ i think people might agree later. but he moves past that, because jacopo's asking a question and he shakes his head. ]

No, not an animal. Not like that, anyway. If I ever had to see another giant amphibian I might lose my mind.

[obdure]

[ They can hold onto his wrist if they want. He doesn't realize it's happening. ]

The old god gave you that much grief? [ He finds it a little funny if he didn't also have to keep in mind that it could be depressing for Gabriel


Also just unrelated ] Do you have another bedroom in your place?

[holyspirits]

For one thing, I spent my life thinking God was, like, a person and not a salamander. [ so yeah, grief. ] How am I supposed to explain that to people? It sounds crazy.

[ but hm? ]

I don't, no. Why?

[obdure]

[ not ideal. ]

I wanted to sleep.

[ THE ENTITY MAY BE TRAPPED BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL FREAKS ]

[holyspirits]

Oh. I can always crash somewhere else.

[ don't just? offer your apartment?? ]

[obdure]

Don't just offer up your place if you don't have anywhere else, you idiot!

[ HELLO? ]

[holyspirits]

What makes you so sure I couldn't find someplace else? Or I could just come back when you're done using it. I've slept in worst places.

[ gabriel, telling jacopo about wandering around outside at ass o'clock in the morning and not clarifying that sometimes he just didn't bother going home. ]

[obdure]

No, no, no. You won't be sleeping in worse places or potentially worse places.

[ He shouldn't be surprised.... They told him of their habits back at home... but the holy shit....... ]

It's fine. I'll figure it out.

[holyspirits]

Jacopo. I'm working a few late shifts anyway. I likely won't be home to even use my place. Are you sure?

[ he won't press it if he says no, it's fine, but man. ]

[obdure]

[ ... Gabriel is making it easier to possibly accept. ]

Only for your late shifts—and I'll leave when you're done.

[holyspirits]

Sure. It's really just sort of crash space, I don't care. I'll take Simba out, too. I could use his company anyway.

[obdure]

Whatever you want, but you're free to leave him there, too.

[ Jacopo is cool with animals even if this is... a lion??? Cub??? If I remember correctly... or was this a cat I faintly remember for some reason YOU GOT A LION? ]

[holyspirits]

He's a lion cub. Some people might feel weird about that. [ some people are threatened by wild animals even if they're just cute little guys. ] He's nice to have around, he'll stay out of the way if you don't bother him too much.

[obdure]

... It is a bit strange, but if he's well-behaved, that's all that matters.

[ Jacopo is like as long as it doesn't bother me when I need to be unbothered, then great. ]

[holyspirits]

He's pretty docile. After somebody killed one of the lions in the arena, he showed up here. Figured I'll take him back to be with his kind next week though.

[ when everyone is gone. ]

[obdure]

Hopefully, he's received kindly. Otherwise, he still has you.

[ So Jacopo thinks it'll be okay? ]

How are you feeling about the end...?

[holyspirits]

[ thinking about this... ]

Maybe I'll keep him anyway. If the project's over soon I'll be out of a bartending gig anyway. Maybe just take him and go somewhere else.

[ much to consider. but anyhow... ]

Do you mean about all of your chances? Or in general?

[obdure]

And become a bartender in another section of heaven.

[ !! Because you're good at it. ]

In general. I can ask everyone else's opinion about their stay here.

[holyspirits]

We'll see. [ they're good at it, yes, but... you know. ] Depends how populated the other areas of heaven are, and how well a bar would fit in.

[ as for the rest... ]

I'm... feeling. That's about it. [ which is to say they're undecided. ] It's coming up pretty fast. It's a good thing for you guys.

[obdure]

Neutral is better than awful, I guess.

[ That's fine. ]

I think most people are simply glad that the murder parts have ended. The end of the project is also good.

[holyspirits]

[ well they feel awful about it as well for other reasons but we're not addressing those right now. ]

Yeah. I can do neutral. I'd hope everybody's glad the murder parts have ended. That was never supposed to be a thing. But... the end of a failed project's kind of something to look forward to. People are probably excited to start planning the next phase of their lives.

[obdure]

[ my man my man ]

They are. Many are thinking about what they're going to do after this, even though it isn't over quite yet. [ ... ] You'd tell me if you're not doing or feeling well, right?

[ Just making sure. ]

[holyspirits]

It's not wrong to be thinking about it. There are a ton of factors in everything... you've got your worlds and your lives and the people from home and the people here. I don't blame anybody for not being sure yet.

[ anyway they stare at him for a second. this feels very pointed suddenly... ]

... I don't know. [ if they would or wouldn't. ] I think I'm just tired. [ tired. stressed. anxious. depressed. all of those fun ones. ] But we're almost done. You guys are close to the finish line on this one, and that's a good thing.