Lin
The words that Calliope said to me, and the following conversation we had yesterday, still fill my head, even now.
"Lin, you're starting a revolution."
I don't know whether or not to be proud or terrified. The last time I properly revolted against nopeman, I was thrown down the incarnation shaft, and we all know where that got me.
It became more than several lifetimes of hurt, and suffering, love and loss, never quite happy or sad, but hell, was there a lot of pain.
"I don't want anyone else to suffer because of me."
It's too late for me to say that.
So instead, I asked "Why me?"
To which she replied "Because you're the only person who has seen him so recently who is able to. And you remember enough to put him and his goons to shame." She sighed. "Most people don't remember nearly as much as you."
She had a point. I'm also a God of Time, so even if I didn't remember, I could always find the archives, which even nopeman can't reach (myself and my father locked them away) to prove his wrongdoing.
"Also," she continued, "your rank is increasing again. Which means," she smirked, scratching Erebus' ears, "you'll be put into public consciousness again."
Wait. That means...
I'll be able to have a proper following again.
"So I just need to keep going?"
She nodded. "And document as much of that as you can. Keep in mind as well, you're the person he least expects to rise at this time, especially given how quiet you've been.
"You don't need to be quiet any more."
Calliope stood, and strolled towards the door. "Oh, and Lin?"
" ελευθερία ή θάνατος."
Elefthería í thánatos.
Freedom Or Death. The Greek motto.
I nodded, repeating the phrase, and she saw herself out.
Ever since, I've been lying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.
It's always me.
It's not that I mind - I enjoy it. I'm just surprised that it came up so soon. Saying that, I've been sporadic for more than two years. It's hardly a surprise that some of my fellow Gods want to see me again.
I was pretty popular, if I do say so myself.
As I lie there, I think of my day, to try to process how I feel about it all.
My caseworker helped me with Housing Benefit, and I watched some of the wrestling with my neighbour (I missed quite a bit because I didn't sleep when I should have done as I was trying to sort out my money... but I am very happy that Sheamus and McIntyre were around.), which was entertaining, but not much to talk about here.
It's all so weird. To think that people actually want to hear from me, even now, is a surprise to me.
The Voldys were very much the types who wanted me to neither be seen nor heard, and that was echoed to me by others throughout my life, who would have preferred that I'd stayed quiet.
Not any more.
As I think this, a portable mirror and what looks like an SD card surface on my altar. There's a note.
"Like what you see?"
Mnemosyne! I haven't heard from her since last century!
I wasn't expecting gifts from her at all, but given that she's a Goddess of memory and one of her daughters just came to visit me, it must have been of importance to her to send gifts.
I'm also going to have to ask you to eat. As soon as possible.
My stomach growls, and I cringe.
Ever predicting me correctly, I see.
You're not easy to predict, but once people get to know you well enough, it gets easier.
I take that as a challenge.
As I was expecting.
I grin, reaching for a rose gold timepiece to give to her, and place it on the offering altar.
Lovely, thank you.
Of course.
Mnemosyne has always been like a great aunt to me (honorary great aunt, I should say. She's one of my many cousins), but for a while, I hadn't really heard from her. Like, at all, despite being a part of the same department.
I can only assume she was repairing the public memory valve, which nopeman and the charlatan norns damaged after trying to get rid of me.
Yes. It has been a pain to repair.
I can imagine. Do you think we'll ever be able to properly get things back to how they were?
Not exactly. However, I do think that we can make things better. And I feel, somehow, that it all starts with you.
Take as much time as you need.
I sigh, and smile.
Mat eo din.