[video]

[shortwired]

[So there's a half- naked, bewildered kid with tears streaming down his face in the square. WAS HE ABUSED, YOU ASK? DID SOMEONE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIM? OR PERHAPS HE'S ONE OF THOSE CRAZY MASOCHISTS WHO ENJOY PAIN because there's still a ghost of a smile present.

In any event, he's going to continue to appear bewildered for a few moments more.]

Shit-

[He hastily scrubs the tears away with both hands. WHOOPS.]

This isn't an illusion, I can already tell. [SWIFT RECOVERY!] So. What's going to happen next? I'll only be patient for a little bit. Two minutes, maybe three. The clock is ticking.

Comments

[virginwings]

The gods... [--actually, hm] I've never seen them.

[shortwired]

Then why do you believe they are what they say they are?

[virginwings]

Because...they have magic to make deals and stuff.

[shortwired]

Deals? What kinds of deals? I'll bet they're lopsided, the kind where you offer your soul and are given a pittance in return.

[virginwings]

The kind where you... um, where you can trade your sight for a month for an important thing...

[shortwired]

You see? Nobody should have the power to do that. It's tyrannical.

[virginwings]

Yeah, but all you gotta do is just not make any deals with them.