Are you there God? It's me, Mikami. (Homeless, voicetest)

[eraser_rain]

Dear Mundane,


That subject line will make it hard to be taken seriously. You're testing a new voice and your first experiences will be important. My voice shouldn't be forged in absurdity; I don't thrive in nonsense.

Before you cynically cite God or my "fanatical" devotions as a joke to those just outside the fourth wall, I'll remind you that the difference between insanity and culture is context. There's precedent for veneration of something undefined that concretely, regularly validates my actions and views. You're using an internet community where you look for playmates by talking to yourself in public with different voices.

I'm not trying to paint an unflattering image of you with that but it's something to think about before preparing icons from an unflattering time in my life.



Sincerely,

Teru Mikami

Comments

[casuistor]

[There's a scoff. Light's tone isn't particularly generous. It's as if blood hadn't been the only thing to hemorrhage out of him in the warehouse.]

I knew one of you would show up, eventually.

[bloodredridinghood]

Do you feel the need to be taken seriously, Teru? Or do you just think that writing humor that revolves around a guy like you is in poor taste and isn't playing fair?

All the same, you probably need to lighten up a bit.

[ronch]

...

Not bad. "Fanatic" - more context.

[eraser_rain]

[He'd love to think that he stiffened gradually enough to almost be graceful discomfort, but it's more of a quick jerk to attention. To his credit, he keeps his greeting level enough it could pass equally well as polite distaste or hesitant but habitual reverence.]

....God.

[eraser_rain]

It's ridiculous. I'm not a whimsical man.

[eraser_rain]

It's not always a bad word. If there's anything it's right to be "fanatical" about, it's justice.

[ronch]

Continue.

[keikakudoori]

[Another god appears.]

What do you mean by "unflattering time," Teru?

[casuistor]

[For a moment, he's pleased to hear the title. The moment, however, passes very quickly. Mikami's discomfort, subtle as he may try to keep it, is something Light picks up on near instantly. And that's good, too. It means Light still has power over him despite everything. There's no reciprocal greeting in return; he delves straight to the point. To the jugular.]

Afraid of looking unflattering, are you?

[bloodredridinghood]

Dude, get a sense of humor. It could do wonders for your complexion and stuff.

[eraser_rain]

[There's a small pause that may be mentally preparing the presentation or deciding whether or not to comply so easily. Either way, it's brief and he launches into a speech quickly enough.]

Justice is something that needs to be both earned and maintained, like society. It is society; if judgement is lax, so too is society. The advancement of civilization cannot depend on only a few great achievers. If everyone benefits from a just society, than everybody must take part in maintaining it. It should be at the forefront of every mind, before every action.

[eraser_rain]

[Polygamous mana from heaven! Or some kind of double pronged hell.]

It... was a moment of fatal weakness.

[eraser_rain]

[Mikami thinks of himself as one who has an excellent poker face, and for most practical and professional purposes he's correct. But to the observant it's obvious the target was hit on the first try; it's not a matter of what's said, it's that it's meant to hurt. Keeping eye contact is a clear matter of attrition rather than defiance.]

It was a pathetic time.

[ronch]

[ Snort ]

Don't disagree. Idealistic and disillusioned. God doesn't seem to care.

[eraser_rain]

Smiling is actually more likely to cause wrinkles.

[bloodredridinghood]

You got anything in particular that you like? Something that makes you smile?

[eraser_rain]

[That had been his attempt at ironic humor. He looks a little disappointed that it failed, but continues the conversation. It might not be as convincing as he'd think in such a matter of fact tone.]

I have reasons to smile almost every day. I'm proud of my job and live an honest, healthy, productive life.

[casuistor]

[His eyes narrow at the assessment. There's a brief flash of unspoken vitriol because how everything ended was Mikami's fault and they both know it. But then that's gone, as well and is replaced with a slight upwards quirk of Light's lips.]

And I thought you were a man of principle. Surely you're not ashamed of where your ideals led you?

[bloodredridinghood]

And what about this "God" you talk so enthusasitically about?

[eraser_rain]

[In any other circumstance he might feel proud of being able to read a stranger's body language so well as to know there's nothing genuinely friendly to that smile, but Mikami knows where this is going and almost wishes he could just be caught off guard. Maybe then he'd be indignant enough to snap back when it hit. Maybe he still will.]

It wasn't the ideals that were a mistake.

[eraser_rain]

He sees me, and approves! I am doing right.

[eraser_rain]

"Doesn't seem to care"? Entire nations' legal structures have official stances of approval or disapproval of him! Crime rates have dropped! God has more involvement in this age than any other in recently recorded history!

[bloodredridinghood]

Whatever makes you sleep well at night.

I just remembered where I recognized her from! That movie was great.

[eraser_rain]

It's easy to be cynical.

[casuistor]

No?

[It's stated in a tone that's obviously an invitation to elaborate.]