Audience: Mineo Enomoto

[probe]

Comments

[sengokus]

Sorta. I talked with Kaan-san, and - Gojou-san? I heard there's fewest of us, so I dunno if there's more.

[he and gojou are just useless discussing stars. very good sloths.]

But the hoods aren't super bad... You're not totally anonymous, only kinda. When do you get to take them off?

[probe]

If you insist. [what the hell does that mean.] I haven't spoken to either of them, though I'm aware of them.

[anyway that question gets another pause they're here eating their ramen. the hoods...?]

As for the hoods, we could remove them whenever we want to. [...

...yeah.]

[sengokus]

[ . . . ]

Are you shy....?

[probe]

What? [don't sound surprised you dumb bitch.] That's still not relevant!

[sengokus]

Sure it is. Aw come on, man - er... person, don't be shy around me of all people.

[and he just puts aside the ramen bowl and grins]

Come on, let me see you, claws and all! It probably looks super cool!

[probe]

I'm afraid that's out of the question. [no!!! they put down their ramen and immediately start backing away? no thanks!]

[sengokus]

[oh my god - he holds up his hands almost in a cautioning way]

I'm not gonna charge at you or anything - come on, I'm not that kind of guy!

[probe]

[well. greed doesn't exactly move back to where they were but at least they stop moving all together and compose themselves again.]

Yes. Of course. [god.] ...some of the other Avatars may be more willing to expose themselves if you ask.

[sengokus]

Hmm...

Okay.

[he shrugs]

Well, if you change your mind, I'm here for you.

[WHY IS HE TALKING LIKE HE'S THE ONE CONSOLING GREED]

[probe]

[greed has decided they actually hate everyone on this base.]

I will not, but thank you. [...but they do take their ramen back because it's theirs.] Perhaps you should focus your energy on your own plights instead?

[mineo? your secrets?]

[sengokus]

I mean...

It's more slothful if I don't, right...

[like if he just

fucking ignores all his problems

again

won't that earn him points?]

[probe]

It's also a very convenient excuse. [noodles are great.]

...to properly indulge, you must change your strategy every now and then as to not stagnate.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . . . he just

grumbles]

Aren't I supposed to stagnate....

[though

even with that... he shifts his weight a bit. like he personally isn't comfortable with the idea after all]

[probe]

Yes and no. [mineo isn't under their alignment and yet he's apparently pathetic enough that greed will offer advice anyhow.] While the sloth aspect is one of apathy, laziness, and a lack of will and motivation, stagnation and repetition will cause you to fall behind the others. You are all here for the same thing. Why shouldn't the prize go to one who puts forth an effort using everything they have rather than simply going through the motions?

[sengokus]

[yeah he's super fucking pathetic

but he looks thoughtful about that. it makes some kind of sense to him. sure, drag his feet about some stuff - but enough stuff that it's clear that he still wants something.]

.... but it's not just one, right? It can be multiple? So Takeru and I aren't in competition with each other or anything.

[probe]

You may wish to think of it as a race instead of a competition. The faster and more someone indulges, the closer they get to obtaining the power to change things.

But sure, there could be more than one winner that way.

[sengokus]

.... power....

So we need to indulge in order to get that, right? Sloth-san suggested that if I indulge a lot, I could even float.

Is that right? So for what I want - to go back home and... not die, is there any idea of how much I've gotta do?

[probe]

That's correct. [more or less.] As for a gauge, unfortunately I cannot say. But if you were to measure for yourself, what would you think is fair?

[sengokus]

[ . . . . it's not a question of how much he wants, just what he thinks is fair.

he taps his hand on the counter.]

... I dunno.

[he admits]

Takeru probably just wants to end lockdown... and I just want to be able to get myself out of whatever the hell happened. I don't really wanna hurt anybody else to get what I want.... but I guess I can.... push myself... a little.

[the

the lewds]

[probe]

[The Lewds.

but they nod in agreement.]

There will be times you may have to rethink your entire ideology simply because someone has pointed out a flaw in your logic. The world may crumble around you, everything you used to know may reveal itself to be a lie. But you mustn't avert your eyes from what's right in front of you.

You can only push yourself forward in the right direction.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . . .

that

that gets way too close for comfort. it aches. because that's what happened - he was blinded until everything was suddenly painted in way too clear strokes. until he couldn't look away, and then -

then what happened?

he just stopped.]

.... you ever get scared, Greed-san?

[probe]

[likewise, that question is a little too close for comfort and there's a very distinct shift in greed's posture.]

Fear had no place in my past or current position. [which is a cop-out, and it may as well be a yes.]

[sengokus]

... not what I asked.

[if he's being honest.]

... m'not gonna make you talk about it but - you know a lot about me, and I can't say it's mutual.

So it's hard to wanna talk.

[probe]

I didn't ask you to talk, Enomoto. If you'll recall, you contacted me.

[but at least they seem to realize they're being difficult because there's another pause.]

...there have been times I've feared for my own life, and I've feared for the lives of others. Likewise, there have been times an outcome completely changed everything with little warning and little direction to follow.

[sengokus]

[it's true - but they're still talking, and mineo thinks that greed ultimately understood the point he was making. he just wants to have enough to hold a conversation that doesn't feel one-sided]

... when you were afraid for your life, or others....

You didn't feel -

Stuck at all? Like... you didn't know which way was the 'right' way to go?