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

[mortalweapon]

A diplomatic answer.

I assume he has not attempted to murder you, which must speak to some success.
Only time will truly tell.

[halfblaked]

Correct. Last time I spoke to him, he... asked me to stay away. He's at university, you see.

I understand, of course. I was off creating all sorts of trouble when I was that young. But...I do miss him, even now. It's been quite some time since I heard from him.

I just hope I have the opportunity to speak with him soon, back home.

[mortalweapon]

And if your son does not wish to speak with you?

[halfblaked]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[mortalweapon]

Acknowledged.
What is your field of study, Professor?

[halfblaked]

Ah, I'm sure it's not difficult to guess. Pantheon studies and mythology.

[mortalweapon]

A very specific field of study.
It is fascinating how humans can dedicate the entirety of their short existence to a single subject.

[halfblaked]

Well, when you have such little time, you can really only choose one to become an expert in. [ A beat. ]

But, ah, it's not so specific, in my world. We have... a very constant ebb and flow of the gods and goddesses. Apparently that is not common.

[mortalweapon]

That could be a rather impressive phenomenon.
Depending on what constitutes "gods and goddesses" in your world.
Often, I find such entities more fragile than one might think.

[halfblaked]

Oh? Have you encountered many in your days?

[ A pause. David knows precisely how fragile they can be. ]

They seem to be more weak to one another, as opposed to us mere mortals, at least in my world. I couldn't stand a chance against them, for example, but any one of them can do so, if needed.

[mortalweapon]

A few.
I killed the last one.
She was called Ammut the Devourer.

But I do not share in the frail mortality of humans.

[halfblaked]

Then you very well could be closer to a god.

Although it sounds like that may be more insulting, than complimentary. What was it like, the god you killed?

[mortalweapon]

Large.
And rude.

In the end, it bled.
Just like all other fleshy things.

[halfblaked]

Ah, most gods can bleed, in my experience. They...don't seem to be weak to much, beyond that, in my experience.

[ They can even survive a beheading! ]

Perhaps you are just extraordinarily powerful?

[mortalweapon]

Perhaps I am.
But I am also man-made.
Which somewhat disrupts the hierarchy between man and gods.

[halfblaked]

Man created something...beyond themselves with you, yes? And beyond gods? [ A thoughtful hum, as if he's considering it. ]

Or is it something new? Are gods man-made as well, ideas that we've gestated into power? The origin is...malleable, I've noticed. Some cannot survive without the belief of man, it seems.

But I suppose that's beside the point. You may be truly shaking things up, if you are outside of the hierarchy. I don't consider that a particularly poor idea. Why, I think even some of my own gods would quite like that.

[mortalweapon]

Would they?
That seems counterintuitive.
Do the gods not benefit from maintenance of the hierarchy?