Why can't they just leave me alone?
Everywhere I go they follow. I use my god powers, and here they come. If it isn't family, it's someone looking for a fight. It's infuriating.
"Let's get this over with, manifest already, the sun is a little excessive."
"Is it nephew, I always thought it was quite modest."
"Firstly, I'm not your nephew Manny, we aren't related. Even if we were we would be cousins, or I would be your uncle!"
"So quick to yell. Who's older?"
"That isn't how that works and you know it."
"Who?"
"… Fine, you are."
"That's right, and we are related, don't you know technically your mom created my mom, so if that isn't a mother daughter relationship, I don't know what is."
"I've already said this: Indalia isn't my sister. How many times do I have to explain this?"
"None, cause you're wrong."
"This is hopeless. Kayla, let's move on."
"Not so fast!"
There's the green haired star-god, you'd think he would wear some natural clothes, being a god of spring and all, but no, he prefers a business suit.
"Why, so you can ask me politely to ask my mom to bring back David?"
"Hey, if you want to, but it won't be an issue soon enough. But enough about my brother, I want to make a deal."
"What can you possibly offer me that I won't immediately throw back at you?"
"My silence."
He does have a point.
"As much as it pains me to say this. I'm listening."
"Simple. I give you a house, you pay your rent to me instead, I'll charge you two silver and 50 copper a month, 50 copper less than where you are now."
I never thought I'd say this, but Manny is actually being helpful. Or trying to trick me, which is much more likely.
"What's the catch?"
"No catch, I just need some coin, I'm starting up a hotel chain you know."
"The god of spring, 'responsible for the creation of all life', is opening a hotel chain. Why?"
"I need coin, revenue, and there aren't many hotel chains in this world, just inns and such."
"So you want to start with me?"
"I want a first customer I have dirt on that won't cheap me or leave early."
"*Sigh*. What do you need the money for?"
"Season's secret."
"You're the only seasonal god that says that."
"Doesn't make it any less valid."
"*Heavier sigh*. Fine. I don't like it, but 2 and a half silver is a discount I can't pass up."
"Good news! Pleasure doing business with you, here's your key, you'll find the hotel on the road back to town."
"Okay, now please leave before someone else show's up."
"Always in such a rush Greg, you really don't take after your parents."
"Shoo shoo, hurry now, deal's done."
"Fine, I'm going I'm going."
Gods, you always expect them to be all powerful, or super wise, or all worship-y. You never expect a hardcore blackmailing capitalist. Especially when that capitalist is the god of spring and budding life.
"Greg, who was that."
"Officially, Manuel Springstar, god of the Spring Star (shocker I know). Unofficially, a rouge god who is part of a civil war in his pantheon, currently the losing side, and I'd wager their treasurer."
"So you just accepted a deal to pay a rouge god monthly?"
"For like an 18% discount and his word he won't rat me out to my mother, yes."
"I imagined gods would be less… political."
"So did I, at least until I met some I wasn't related too."
"So is that it, do we just act like it never happened?"
"Pretty much, and for the love of the gods don't start worshiping him or something."
"I'm not too religious, and even if I was, I have other gods in mind."
"Thank you. We best go collect our pay, but that noble is going to be livid that we just forcefully disowned the child instead of killing him or just bringing him home."
"You really think she wanted her own son dead?"
"It wasn't hers. It was her husbands with some mistress. Plus, he was to marry a Dracoid, the child of a dragon and beastman. This kingdom believes them nothing more than animals, she probably thought the marriage of even an illegitimate child to a monstrous race would be something that would have her lose her title. It's shocking what humans can do when they believe their property or standing is in jeopardy."
"I didn't realize humans were that insensitive to their own kind."
"Not all are, in fact most are very caring about at least each other, and the humans outside of this country are very accepting of other races as well. But the nobles in this place don't care about other people, even their own blood. The king abandoned the country to his wife and hasn't been seen since at any event in the borders. His wife issued bounties for the heads of any monstrous race or higher race that anyone would care to take to a police station. The country has been at war for the past 200 years with its neighbors for the same racially motivated reasons. This country is full of corruption, at least from what I've heard."
"It's eye opening to see it personally, none the less."
"It always seems smaller when you aren't seeing it for yourself. We should be at the house soon. If you want to wait outside with Lils to clear your head, or if you think you'd say something to offend her. I've fought enough duels for today."
"Speaking of duels, what's with that 'victor of 30' that Vivia called you."
"That's a story for later, there isn't enough time to tell it now. After we get our pay; when we head to our next quest."
Kayla is one of the few people in this country I'd trust with my past. I think that in another time we might have even been a couple. We even have our family pet.
"I'll be out in a few minutes, I just have to get our pay and get out alive."
"See you soon then Greg."