video; un:marvelgirl

[iseegoblins]

[ The face that comes on video is a young woman with fiery red hair and a tired looking smile. She's doing her best to try to keep it all together given the circumstances here and the circumstances she left back home. ]

So, uh, hi. My name is Jean Grey. I've also gone by Marvel Girl and Phoenix more recently but...[ she shrugs and chuckles ] not really sure what the point in keeping superhero codenames would be in a place like this. Just Jean seems pretty good to me.

[ She waves a hand. ] Anyway, I've been trying to get to know people. I'm used to living in a school with a lot of people I know. They're loud sometimes but, I dunno, I guess it's different when you know them. I had a question though, to try to get to know people better. Where I come from it's not uncommon for people to have special gifts. What I wanted to ask is, how common is that where you're all from? And if you're comfortable saying, how many of you have gifts? I'll understand if anyone isn't that comfortable talking about their own, where I'm from it's also super common for humans to hate people with abilities. So, no worries if you don't want to talk about it and thank you to anyone that does.

Comments

[iseegoblins]

Don't I get some questions about you? I mean you seem pretty interested in me.

[morethanatrickster]

You've already had the one. I don't see why you can't ask more.

[He might even answer them honestly.]

[iseegoblins]

Generous of you. I didn't expect it. So...are you actually a god then?

[morethanatrickster]

Millions across the Nine Realms know my name. To either bow and exalt or cower in fear at a name? To be beseeched for aid? Lauded as a hero of the people? Reviled as a portent of destruction? Is that what makes a god? If so, then yes, I suppose I am.

[iseegoblins]

That's uh, definitely not what makes a god.

[morethanatrickster]

Well, since you have so much more experience in this arena than I, what does make a god.

[iseegoblins]

I'd think it'd come down to power, wouldn't it? I mean I'm not really an expert. [ Which isn't a lie, she's pretty new to this. ] But it seems like it'd involve just how much someone can do.

[morethanatrickster]

Perhaps, but in relation to what or to whom?

[iseegoblins]

I don't know. Gods that people worship usually have control over something directly don't they? Like creating people, planets, reviving the dead, things like that?

[morethanatrickster]

Not necessarily control, no, and not all gods are creation deities, or even involved in the creation myths of the people who worship them. Personally, I believe it comes down to blame.

Humans blame us for everything. Our ship was driven into the rocks after we foolishly attempted to sail in a tempest? Blame Thor! His storms were surely sent to test us! I chose to betray my brother and sought forgiveness by blaming Loki's mischievous spirit for corrupting me.

Of course, they're just as quick to give us credit where there is none. Thor's storms dashed our enemy's troops or we were particularly gifted in our deception of the enemy? The gods are with us!

[iseegoblins]

Doesn't that just describe false deities though? Like people who are really powerful, more powerful than a regular human can understand, and so they decide they must be gods?

[morethanatrickster]

Now we've gone in circles. What I mean to say is god is a title, not a type of creature. I am a god because people believe me to be.

[A pause, filled with the purpose of making his next statement more impactful.]

So are you.

[iseegoblins]

What makes you say that? The so am I part I mean?

[morethanatrickster]

Do others not believe you to be a god? You seem powerful enough for mortals to attach the moniker. They're very impressionable.

[iseegoblins]

[ She falls silent for a while and then finally admits something to him. ]I don't think there's any world where I'm from that doesn't consider the Phoenix a god. Worlds fell apart when I flew past them in space. People started wars just because they saw me.

[morethanatrickster]

I'm sorry, you obliterated entire worlds with your presence?

[iseegoblins]

Kind of. Evidently I also caused worlds to go to war and mass suicides. I guess the Phoenix hasn't been seen by a lot of worlds in a really long time.

[morethanatrickster]

And just seeing it caused all this? Mortals really are unbelievable.

[iseegoblins]

Evidently. I didn't really notice, the Silver Surfer told me about it all when he asked me to go back to Earth to stop the panic and everything.

[morethanatrickster]

Impressive, if it's true. Did you verify this surfer's words?

[iseegoblins]

Yeah, I did. On my way back I went by some of the planets. Or what was left of some. I don't understand why they'd do some of the things they did.

[morethanatrickster]

Mortals are a strange lot.