“Do you have, uh, like…I don’t know if this is a silly question but maybe we should exchange emails or…or phone numbers– if you have one…?” Was it silly to ask a god if they had a cell phone? Or social media? Can he follow a god on Instagram? Granted, he’s a demi-god and has all that but he is still not entirely were versed on godhood. “J–Just to keep in contact.”
“Yeah, it’s…it’s nice. He sort of wished people made a slightly bigger fuss about the Islamic holidays but…well, at least they weren’t so horribly commercialized. “Plus now everything is…is on major sale so I can finally get some new things for home– I bought Peaches new things to climb on for her tank…I think she’s going to like it!”
“Oh yeah, I can definitely give you my phone number. It’d be great to keep in touch.“ It was one of those things that Saima didn’t often think about. While actually engaging with tech these days, it still felt like an occasional thing for someone who was around for so long. Surprisingly, one could catch performances of Saima’s on Instagram if one got the right handle. They pulled out a card to hand over, something they carried now and then when they traveled.
“To be fair, it is kind of annoying that only one tradition tends to get most of the shine around this time of year. There could be more room for others. But yes – the sales are pretty interesting. I’m really glad that you found something Peaches will enjoy.“
Saima couldn’t resist smiling in response to Setau’s answer. It was always a pleasure to see him and having such a good friend like him was delightful.”Great to see you too. And yeah, I thought I’d hang out for the holidays. It’s wonderful this time of year. I like seeing the markets and performances people do to cherish the season.”
At least they get to stay out, it’d be a shame has Saima wished to get out of the rain– he assumed so as Saima no doubt had many of the same sensitivities as humans; the touch of wet seaweed on their leg disgusted them, any bit of water from above made them scatter, they seemed to really dislike having sand on them yet continuously came to the beach…
“I have…seen some that do.” Ayumu begins, his eyes shifty and voice lowered as if it were all a secret. “There is a man who comes by the docks…he guesses your card. Says he is a…magician.” And much like a human child, Ayumu is just as easily mystified by his tricks.
If nothing else, Saima was inclined to stay out longer – all too willing to let the rain fall down, relishing the feel of the water. Instead, they just appreciate the cooling down that they had caused – not being bothered by the side effects of being out in nature.
Upon hearing about the man who guesses the card, they give a knowing grin. “Ah, those kinds of people are fun. They are really talented with a set of cards and being able to know it and follow patterns of people’s picking.”
It doesn’t even feel too cold, just refreshing as water slides down the nape of his neck and starts to soak the thin shirt he’s wearing. Even the odd feeling of wet clothes against one’s skin doesn’t bother him in the slightest, the snake simply blinking up at the falling drops with a slight smile.
“Humansss are easssily entertained and impressssed.” He retorts, not to be rude or put down Saima’s opinion but simply stating a very obvious fact. “They wish to have much power but are not resssponsssible enough to handle sssuch giftsss.”
Saima hums for a bit, relishing in the feel of the water. None of it seems to throw them off in any meaningful way. Such is the benefits of being able to control how the water shows up on you.
They laugh a bit at Ayumu’s comment although it is very true. “You’re totally right in saying that. It’d take a few generations of them to even potentially handle a small bit of power. And watching that would be a wild process.”
Ayumu watches, still completely enthralled by Saima’s gestures and even more impressed as what was a light mist in the air became fat raindrops that bounced off his head. He clearly didn’t mind getting soaked, not moving an inch as the rain beats down on him; in fact he looks so content as his hair starts to cling to his forehead.
“I do not have much power assside…being better than humansss and being able to change my form…if I had powersss like yoursss, I would never ceassse to ussse them.” No doubt for silly reasons, to show off and to further ward humans off the beach.
The feeling of the cool raindrops falling on their head refreshes Saima. There’s something about being among the falling water that is, in fact, quite soothing to the point where they don’t regret the demonstration at all.
“Hm, fair enough. But I think there’s definitely a lot of power in being able to change your form. So many humans wish they could do that but don’t have that option at all.“
“You should make it rain.” Ayumu clearly has no qualms about messing with the natural order of things when it suited his fancy. Sure, he’ll be the first to gripe about leaving nature as nature intended but when nature decided to make it a few degrees warmer outside his comfort zone, all bets were off.
“Where isss the fun in having sssuch abilitiesss if you do not get to ussse them?” He questions, much like a child.
“…Probably wouldn’t be the worst thing to do.“ After giving it a small bit of thought, Saima says another small spell – with a twist of their hands, they summon rain to come to the area. The moisture now translating into actual raindrops falling on them.
“Oh, I do get to use them. And I’ve had a hell of a time playing pranks on people doing so. But I don’t know – I guess I do have personal preferences as to when I use them.“
Ayumu truly didn’t know or understand the extent of Saima’s powers, but now upon feeling the sudden drop in temperature, the usual moist air from the ocean filling the space between them once more– he’s obviously impressed and it reads so very clearly on his face.
He claps as if Saima were a talented magician and not a powerful god. “What more can you do? Can you make it rain?!”
Despite Saima having pulled such tricks before, they often were used to hiding such actions, letting people notice the change on their own. So seeing Ayumu obviously so impressed, they can’t help but smile a little bit in return.
“I mean, I probably could adjust the surroundings that it would rain. I tend to be able to tweak things to make things happen.”Which even if Saima doesn’t say, does have a lot of implications in terms of control over the environment.
“Bigger things I can do but.. are often not recommended if I don’t have to do so. Since there are other forces out there with abilities in nature.“
The warmer than usual weather did make things a little weird for Saima. Although they were still more comfortable than Ayumu at the moment. When asked about doing something about they thought for a moment. “Hm. I can make the area a lot more cool with breezes and maybe make it not quite so dry.” Despite not exactly having weather powers, being able to work magic in elemental ways had come in handy.
With that said, Saima did a specific few motions – along with a spell or two in Estonian to make the area a little more dreary and cool. If nothing else, it might help take the heat off of Ayumu.
Setau nods, nibbling at his bottom lip as he thinks about it. He often feels he is potentially helping someone but sometimes Thoth tells him he’s messing with the Order– too much good was sometimes a bad thing in his father’s eyes but….to Setau it was always a good thing.
“Ah, well, it is a good thing then to be able to do as you please. I mean, if you’re helping…that’s a good thing, no?”
Saima thinks for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I do try to be of service to people. And I get a lot of pleasure and fulfillment by helping people in a variety of ways.” While they knew it wasn’t really fitting of them to be to interventionalist in the lives of people, Saima did enjoy being a positive influence whenever they could. And sometimes that would have to be enough.
“Are there things like that? W–With gods I mean…” Thoth had on more than one occasion talked about trickster gods and even his own ‘peers’ that he felt did more harm than good for humanity– although, Thoth pretty much complained about everyone but himself.
“Like you’re…you’re very kind and I’m sure you only do…do nice things for people– do you have a…an adversary god? Someone who counteracts what you do?” Granted his situation at work with writers being counter intuitive to his own goals was much different than a light versus dark scenario.
“I mean – sure, there are definitely opposing forces. Although some of these ‘trickster’ figures might actually feel like their influences are in some way helpful.“
Saima gives a bit of a chuckle. “I do try to do nice things for people but.. I’ve had my own trickster moments from here and there. So I can be more ambivalent than I seem at times. I don’t exactly have an adversary god personally – but there are figures in the pantheon who have a more outright mischievous approach to things. ”
Seekesotsibteadmist 