ᴅ ɪ ᴠ ɪ ɴ ᴇ | ᴠ ɪ ᴅ ᴇ ᴏ | 8/2 ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ

[craftpunk]

I have found... [ Begins Woden, and the camera is angled from below, like someone is holding it. ] That sometimes, if things aren't going your way, it's best to change the situation to one you want.

Take me, for example. Ostracized by my own pantheon, for crimes I didn't even commit... [ A wave of his hand. ] Held accountable for a future that I haven't even experienced, I haven't even done anything, and yet... I'm supposed to pay for my future crimes. I think I would remember, if I'd done something unforgiveable. It's astounding to me, how I'm supposed to just take that kind of thing sitting down, and be isolated in a new world, away from everyone I know, expected to just... take it, and be alone. Especially in a place where I, a god, have no history or understanding of who I am, or how my world works. You would think that extinuating circumstances would make a group of people come together, despite their differences. Despite mistakes made in the past.

But that's no matter, I suppose. You see, reality is what we make of it. [ Woden shuffled, the glow of his clothing illuminated in the dark evening. His helmet practically foggy, from a sudden change in temperature, like condensation had crept across the surface. ]

I don't have to just wait to be forgiven by my friends, especially when they're hypocrites, doing worse than I have supposedly done -- I can... Well... I can always make new friends. That's as easy as just saying a few nice words.

Have fun, kids.

[ The comm shuts off. The SHAMTHEON is loose! ]

Comments

VOICE.

[craftpunk]

All those hangouts in Hades? You weren't there, the day they all decided I wasn't welcome to Pantheon...anything. Ask Inanna about it. They even teleported me to the middle of nowhere.

You'll find out what I did soon enough, Baal. It'll be...fun. For you in particular. I know how easy your temper flares.

VOICE.

[selfconducts]

[ "Ask Inanna about it:" things to never say to Baal to endear him to your plight, probably. Not that he won't be tempted to find out more about whatever the hell it is Woden's referring to, but he's certainly not expecting to take Woden's side on it. Baal and Inanna have butted heads before about how to handle god matters, but this was an entirely new playing field. An entirely different situation than the Lucifer ordeal had been. ]

No, I wasn't there. So this united front you're talking about has no legs to stand on. [ Firmly. ] "For me in particular." We'll see about that.

[ Not that Woden's, well, all that wrong, but... ]

VOICE.

[craftpunk]

Mm, maybe you weren't, but, and I did always like working with you, Baal.

But... things just can't stand the way they are. They have to change, and to do that, we need bold action! [ You can practically hear him waving his hands around, postulating. ] I'm unwilling to be complacent, and if you side with the rest, then the united front remains.

VOICE.

[selfconducts]

You sound like fucking Ananke.

[ Hadn't she said something very similar to this when trying to justify kidnapping Minerva, after all? "Hell is you children, forever." It sends a chill of revulsion down Baal spine. ]

If that's how it has to be then that's how it has to be. But don't forget for a damn second you're bringing this on yourself.

[ And with that, he's disconnecting. ]