That's insane.

What I'm saying is that I was upset, for a lot of reasons, and yeah sometimes when I get emotional I'm the kind of person that needs, you know, a stress ball, but punching clean through a mirror? That's such a gross exaggeration that I can't even...

[She shakes her head.]

Whatever. If he's going person to person telling them I'm a psychopath who punches holes in glass, it's not like there's anything I can do to prove him wrong. It's totally he-said-she-said.

That's an absolute lie.

[Now more than ever, the shock in her voice sounds completely genuine.]

What I said was that he'd regret defecting. I guess he, like, assumed the worst out of what I said? But I never, ever, threatened to kill him or send anyone after him. Honestly, all I care about right now is getting more people on my side, and that's not going to happen if I go around getting people killed.

Probably to make his new god look like a saint.

[She clicks her tongue.]

But I wouldn't lie about that. I'm not a killer. If you knew more about me, some of the things that I went through when I was mortal, you'd believe me.

I can tell you that I was the victim of a vicious bullying campaign when I was in high school. I became a god shortly afterward.

[She pauses, quiet as she kicks her feet gently in the water.]

People can be really closed minded.

Exactly. The qualities that I value have more to do with how a person follows their own path despite what expectations demand of them. I don't like it when the value of a person lands on how good looking they are or how well they can follow orders.

[It's clear in her voice that she's calming down from mention of The Dreaded Chuuya Incident.]

Thank you for hearing me out. This is really nice.

I don't see what good it'll do; if you think you can get through to him you're free to try, but I really don't think that anything anyone says will change how he sees me. I care more about clearing my name for the ones he's spoken to on his own. They'll all probably still be thoughtful enough to actually, like, hear my side of the story.

Do you think maybe I should try to talk to him again myself? I don't know how well you know him, we only had the one conversation.

[She sighs again.]

I'm hoping if I try and clear up the misunderstanding it'll be easier for him to rectify what he's been saying.

[Chuuya's just That Kind of Person.]

I totally understand. Thank you, Zoe. Let him know that I told him I'm sorry about the whole thing.

Yeah, for sure! I'll totally give you a reward for it, because it's so important to me that this nasty little argument gets resolved. I'd so owe you one. I feel like I already do but you know, the rules and all.

Don't sweat it. It's not on you if he decides not to let bygones be bygones. I'll still know that I took the high road, and I'll still be here to thank you afterward.

[Pulling her feet out of the water, Disorder tucks them underneath herself and leans back on her hands.]

So, like, anything else you wanna talk about in the meantime?

Aww, it was nice to meet you too, gorgeous!

[Disorder blows Zoe a kiss.]

Come by any time!