POST-ROUND 2 MINGLE

[idolpro]

[ Once the decisions have been made, everyone is ushered—though those gentle tugs—out their respective mud rooms into the courtyard. An impossibly tall and incredibly dense garden hedge divides one half of the courtyard away—moreover, it increasingly gets taller when climbed, preventing its residents from escaping their slice of the courtyard. From beyond, idols can hear the distant sounds of something rumbling—perhaps it's the ground shaking. . .

The roster is visible on a large screen, though as time progresses, certain names are blacked out. . . ]

[ Mouths and Hands will be able to transform into monsters at-will, though Hands are much more diminutive and Mouths have supernatural abilities at their disposal. Moreover, unit abilities are on. ]

Comments

[leaveofabsence]

[ He pulls his claws back to fold them and rest his snout upon them, closing his eyes. ]

You are not taking me seriously.

[cecilias]

Nonsense. I believe you believe your own words.

[leaveofabsence]

Your own phrasing indicates you do not perceive them the same.

[cecilias]

Regrettably, your indifference for me doesn't change my feelings for you, or your regard. Wouldn't that be convenient for everyone, though?

[leaveofabsence]

Ah, it seems I was mistaken. It has now been amended to you putting words in my mouth.

Do you wish to speak plainly for once?

[cecilias]

Certainly. It's a simple thing.

[ His many wings shift, along with the sound of chimes ]

I love you more than anyone. No more, so no less.

[leaveofabsence]

And I believe you.

Yet this is not the first time you have called my feelings indifference.

[cecilias]

"I have nothing to silence."

"Why worry about you? Freedom cares little of the opinion of others."

[leaveofabsence]

[ There is a long slow steady blink. A short circuiting, if you will. Where the revival's poison of screaming at him to hate and be wary and trust nothing and no one - it would be so easy to say yes. To say that was all true.

Yet somehow the words never come.

And one of Zhongli's strongest defense mechanisms rises up automatically as easily as his shield. To let others think what they will. To watch history turn and twist over time. ]

As you say it is then.

[ And a never used defense mechanism to turn to exit the conversation ]

[cecilias]

[ There's a brief ripple through the maw of wings and eyes, like maybe they're about to strike. But they're stayed in the end, allowing Zhongli to leave unchallenged.

Perhaps this one is just not a fitting target. ]