I. {video}

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

[This wasn't meant to be a video, but it's a video nonetheless. Rosemariné thought he'd only have to speak, not be seen as well, but the concept of touch screens is a bit ahead of his time, to put it lightly. It's kind of a miracle he managed to get this far, although that might have been due to him spending the last four hours fiddling with the bracelet (and frequently throwing it onto his desk). What viewers have the pleasure of seeing now is a incredibly pretty individual dressed in the manner of a 19th-century man with far too much money on his hands. One that hates you so much that he doesn't even want to spend the energy to whack you over the head. Yes, you.]

Good afternoon.

[If he seems incredibly angry at the world right now, it's probably because he is. His words are polite but curt, as if he's trying to make sure that everything gets said as bluntly as possible so he can get back to glaring at things.]

I've already been told that there's no use in insisting I'm sent back immediately, so you don't need to tell me. That doesn't mean I'm at all inclined to believe it, but there you are. I'm tired of hearing the same thing constantly, as if I'm an idiot. If you happen to have information that is more useful, however, I'm happy to hear it.

[A small, annoyed sigh, although he doesn't drop his composure. (That, too, has already happened in a strictly private setting.)]

Now, as for this whole affair with emotions and patron deities... my Scandinavian roots do not mean that I believe in the gods of old. They are a part of fascinating legends, and nothing more. I require a proper Christian church to reach a state of health and happiness, so you've chosen very poorly if that's what you want from me.

That is all.

[The video lasts for another minute, though, as he attempts to make it stop.]

Comments

[video]

[songspitzel.livejournal.com]

So you know about these gods?

[video]

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

I'm not an expert by any means, but yes, of course I do.

[songspitzel.livejournal.com]

Will you be willing to share your knowledge with me?

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

That depends on whether I have any reason to.

video

[volcanoes]

[Well, you've said something that's pinged Iceland.]

Scandinavian roots?

video

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

What about it?

[volcanoes]

Which country?

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

Norway, for the most part -- but don't be mislead, I myself was born in France.

[video]

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

Good afternoon. I wish I could be of more assistance, but I've recently arrived myself. I agree that there's no sense in relenting merely because we're told that protesting is useless.

You're familiar with Norse mythology as well? [Yuri's primary focus is Greek mythology, but he has a great interest in the myths of various cultures.] These gods appear to be somewhat different than the ones I've read about.

[Video]

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

Anyone who would give up on protesting now is a fool. [But then again... a lot of people are fools. That's not exactly news.]

I'm moderately familiar with it, yes, but I wouldn't call it a particular interest of mine. Do you mean to say that these aren't the same gods at all, or is it rather that the myths are inaccurate?

[Video]

[a-civil-service.livejournal.com]

[He nods his agreement. He couldn't agree more, in fact.]

It's difficult to say, at this point. I myself find it hard to believe that they are gods at all, but in any case, one cannot use knowledge of the legends to predict what this place is like or how those who run it might behave, although there are similarities.

My name is Yuri Petrov.

Re: [Video]

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

Arion Rosemariné. [It occurs to him that one advantage of this method of communication is that he isn't expected to shake anybody's hand.]

You're right, of course. The longer I'm here, the more sure I become that they've absolutely no real interest in our happiness. Surely some people would feel very distressed if they couldn't use previous knowledge here. [Which is to say that he is very distressed. :(]

[video]

[gate_of_babylon]

[A snort, though it's not for Arion, and his arms are folded]

I have my doubts that these are the same 'gods' from the North, as opposed to pretenders who happen to share their names. Perhaps they lack the ability to return us...however, neither am I content to merely sit here and wait for them to stop cowering in whatever hole they've sequestered themselves in.

[video]

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

[There's a small "hmph" in response. This man sounds either informed or incredibly haughty.]

I don't disagree at all, but do tell me more about that theory. At the moment I'm inclined to think that there's nothing at all that's divine about them.

[video]

[gate_of_babylon]

[Generous helpings of both. Or the former in his own world, at least. The rest he's pieced together from what he's been told.]

The mongrels here seem to enjoy talking about the changed physical properties of this world, how it isn't theirs, and how that means that nothing they know of their own world applies to this one. But that neglects the fact that the rules of their own universes must be surpassed in order to summon them here in the first place.

But even the gods have rules which they must follow. Moreover, a god should have almost limitless power over his own realm, yet here we are, summoned to do something they cannot do for themselves.

[video]

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

You make excellent points. I, too, have been getting the impression that even in a world in which other gods might exist, [other than the Christian god, that is] they would have to be different than these... but I hadn't considered all of those points.

The question then, I suppose, is this: do those limitations mean that they can't possibly be true gods?

[Video]

[successorsama.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if these really are the Norse gods myself...although this isn't the first time I've been spirited away to end up somewhere else, so they certainly have some kind of power. A shame we don't know more about them...

[Video]

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

Yes, the least they could do is speak with us. There's only so much a kidnapper can gain without interacting with his victim.

It's not the first time, you say? [A raise of an eyebrow.]

[Video]

[successorsama.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling that they'll only show themselves when it's convenient for them, if that's the case.

No, it isn't. Though last time this happened, I ended up in a worse situation than this...

[turkishly.livejournal.com]

[There is a small tilt to his head where normally he would simply arch a brow, but it's hidden behind the mask he wears.] Pretty strong on your views in life aren’t yah?

video;

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

It's only natural for a man of my status.

video;

[turkishly.livejournal.com]

[He taps his chin.] You're hair is very long t' be a man! You are very pretty as well! But I will give yah the benefit of the doubt.

So tell me--what are you in status exactly?

video

[gesta-danorum.livejournal.com]

You've got Scandinavian roots? Do ya speak any of th' languages? From whereabouts, do ya know? Norway? Sweden? ...Denmark, maybe?

video;

[glimmerofpain.livejournal.com]

My family is from Norway, but I only know a bit of the language. [A lot, by most people's standards, but he has unusually high ones.] It's good to know you've heard of it.

video;

[gesta-danorum.livejournal.com]

Norway, huh! That's a great place t' be from, it's language is pretty similar t' Danish. Norway though, yeah, really great place. I know him really well.