02 | Video

[halfblaked]

As a professor, whenever a holiday comes, it's always an opportunity for learning, and today happens to not be an exception, despite the personal nature of the holiday.

I suspect there are not many who celebrate such things, but perhaps it is a nice time to speak of them, considering it's father's day. I'm reflecting on fathers of myth, of course, not real ones -- but, ah, if you need someone to listen, I am, of course, here to listen.

There are, unfortunately, not a terribly high amount of good fathers in mythology, at least from my world. Sometimes, if you think of yourself as a poor parent, you can at least remember that you are no Zeus, or Hiranyakashipu. One was merely...devoted to sowing his progeny around Greece, as we all know, but Hiranyakashipu attempted multiple times to murder his son, because he worshipped a god he hated. [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ] I worried about moving too much, with mine! I suppose things could be worse. Then again, there is also Cronus, the god who ate his sons, [ he starts ticking on his fingers, ] Tantalus, Izanagi, Abraham...

Well, we're not short on those, are we? [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ]

I suppose there's something to be said, when we consider ourselves bad parents, yes? Not that we should ever excuse ourselves. [ A beat. ] I suppose I'm just...thoughtful, today. Moreso than I thought I would be. [ Another pause. ]

Are there others out there, who are thinking of things like this today?

Comments

[fettering]

idk i've never asked him
pretty sure he wouldn't tell me anyway, it's already weird enough for him that i am what i am

[halfblaked]

Then I will respect his wishes. I only...want to know that he's alright.

[halfblaked]

Oh? In what way?

[fettering]

well, with me being yehoshua's clone, and lu having basically raised me

[halfblaked]

Ah.

I see.

That is awkward, you are correct. Does that make you the son of man, proper?

[fettering]

[ huh. ] i guess in a weird way
i'm still just a copy of the real one tho

[halfblaked]

That doesn't make you less valid, does it? To be him? I mean, you're him, it sounds like.

Or does the powers that be disagree?

[fettering]

i'm him, but i'm not
i'm damaged, and i don't have his memories

[mortalweapon]

Perhaps that desire is less important than your son's independence.
Though if your concern is genuine, I suppose that should still be commended.

[halfblaked]

I agree. It's why I haven't -- I didn't reach out. [ He shrugged. ]

But I also worry. What if he is in danger? What if he got involved in something? Perhaps he's been running with a gang, or worse -- Although I would hardly think that Jon would get involved in such things, I do worry.

But...you're correct that it's selfish to still reach out, so stew is all I do. Not that it means much. My son is in another world, right now, and I am here.

[halfblaked]

I don't know if I would say that is damaged.

In my world, gods and goddesses recur every ninety years, and not all remember the people they were in the past. You could hardly be expected to do so either.

[fettering]

that's not exactly what i meant, but that's nice of you to say
honestly, it's been great seeing other people around that are kind of like me

[ kind of. being one of the pantheon is pretty different from being a direct clone, but.. it's close enough. closer than anything he's ever had before, anyway. ]

how did it start, anyway? and why??

[halfblaked]

I apologize, if I didn't quite get it.

[ A pause, though. This is where David excels, after all. ]

It's complicated, how it started. We know very little of that time, although estimates put it at about six-thousand years ago. We only know that it has always happened, although there have been "lost" Pantheons that never made it to record, it's suspected that they all existed, in one form or fashion. The reason is...I suspect because of the great darkness. The gods must exist in each time to stop the great darkness from manifesting, and putting an end to all of mankind.

[fettering]

it's not your fault! i'm deaf, so the people that made me would have replaced me with a corrected version if they'd had the time

what's the great darkness?? how is it that it keeps coming back?

[mortalweapon]

Can his mother not establish communication with him?
If your son does not wish to speak with you, perhaps he would speak with her.

[halfblaked]

[ David's mouth twitched, something between a grimace and a sad smile. ]

I'm afraid that's not possible. She left us when he was very young. Jon and I -- we're all each other has. I raised him.

[ After a moment, he paused, and shook his head. ]

It is nothing, I'm happy to wait for him, I just...worry. As most parents do.

[halfblaked]

Is that what you meant by damage? Who said such a cruel thing?

[ Says David Blake. ]

Ah, your question, however, is a very good one.
I wish I knew. We've been...studying it, back home. I've been fortunate enough to work with some members of the pantheon to illuminate ourselves on the nature of it, but... I arrived even before I could analyze the data Cassandra brought me.

[mortalweapon]

[ A pause of her own. ]

My condolences.
Perhaps I should not have pressed you.

[halfblaked]

Oh, it's nothing. It's perfectly fine. She left over a decade ago. It's an old wound.

[ Another pause. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name.

[mortalweapon]

I am called Danger.
How do you prefer to be addressed?

[halfblaked]

It's nice to meet you, Danger. Most people call me Professor Blake, but you may call me David, if you wish.

It sounds a great deal less formal.

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[devoutish]

I'm not sure that anyone thinks about mythology as much as you do, mate.

[... He says it sort of fondly, at least?]

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[halfblaked]

Ah...perhaps not. [ A soft scoff. ]

I certainly can't help it, I've written a lot of books on the subject, after all. Besides, what else do I have a complete and total knowledge of that I can talk about?

[ That's his power, you see. ]

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[devoutish]

Surely you also talk about things that you don't have a complete and total knowledge about?

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[halfblaked]

Oh, no, no! [ He laughs. ] I'm a professor! I can't have anyone start thinking I'm human, or unlearned in other subjects. How will they respect me then?