Side-Write: Interview with Life

We're done playing around with the minor gods. This month we meet the first of the elder, greater gods, and... it's kinda cozy? Except when it's not. The series continues, interviewing each of the gods in the world of Project Wild One!

As always, this isn't strictly canon so much as an exploration of what may be going on behind the scenes in these worlds. I hope you enjoy!

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Q: Well, first of all, thank you for having me here.

A: Thank you for coming! I see so few of your kind these days. I hope my "guards" didn't frighten you.

Q: I'll admit, many people told me not to come here, and that I would surely die long before I ever saw you. I'm glad to see that was exaggerated, at least.

A: How awful! I should have known they'd try to scare other tribes away.

Q: Tribes?

A: They're not allowed to harm anyone that's coming to see me. It's very important to me that all of my children can come and visit anytime they wish.

Q: Children?

A: I really must find some way to let them all know it's safe. Maybe I need to start taking tours again.

Q: Actually, I could help with that. I plan to spread this interview around to all the people of the land, so if there's anything you want people to know, we can work that into the interview.

A: Why, that's a wonderful idea! It'll be a lovely start, at least. Go on then, ask your questions, dear. Do you know if any of the other tribes might have people like you they could send?

Q: Well, uh-- what do you mean, tribe?

A: Oh, you know! Your little bands. The place and people you call home. I know the others out there seem bad and scary, but they're all my children, too, dear, and they all deserve to know the truth.

Q: We don't really do... tribes anymore. Not most of us. We build cities now.

A: Hahaha! Aww. You really are trying to go back, aren't you? Well, you're not there yet, but it's been very impressive how much you've managed to do, despite all the commotion out there. I'm very proud.

Q: What?

A: Well, don't just sit around, honey, ask some questions! Isn't that how an interview works? Or is that some kind of... euphemism now? Am I wearing too much for this interview?

Q: I-- what? No! Please, yes, I do want to ask questions. Just... Okay. I have a lot of questions, so let's try and hit them quickly. Do you consider me one of your children?

A: Yes!

Q: ...Because...?

A: You are.

Q: ...Well... we weren't created by you. I could see the mo-- the... newer races being considered your children, but isn't that a little strange in our case?

A: Are we still going fast?

Q: What? I-- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rush you. I think I'd just like to try and keep the discussion a little more focused. Could you tell me why you consider my kind to be your children?

A: Well, back when the gods first arrived, I could see there being a case for not calling them my children. That didn't stop me, but at least there was some reason. But you? You were born into this world, under my gaze. Every one of you is my children, as is every living thing. Maybe that word isn't exactly right for how I feel about all of you, but it's the closest you have, and I do like how it helps people feel a little closer to me. I care for all of you, and each of you, and I want to see you flourish.

Q: I see... Thank you. And... earlier, you mentioned you-- that um, your "guards" were "not allowed" to harm anyone coming to see you. Do you mean you don't allow it? Do you command these... this tribe?

A: Oh, no. They have their own leaders of course, I'm not very good at that sort of thing. But I do set some rules, when it's important to me. I know they're using my presence to help nourish their tribe, and I don't really mind it, but that's only if they follow my rules.

Q: So if they don't follow your rules, you might leave them to starve?

A: Well, if they really upset me, yes. For little rule breaks, I just punish the ones that did it.

Q: ...May I ask how you punish your children?

A: Well, it depends! Sometimes I need complex life to test my ideas on. I do have my secret little projects, you know. But if I'm in a rush or I don't need anyone to use, then I just recycle them.

Q: ...Recycle? You... kill them?

A: Well, not exactly. Usually, I'll just make it so that where there was one big, living thing, now there are many little bitty living things that will probably be much better behaved. Or sometimes I'll just give the things living inside you a little boost so they eat you up! Nothing goes to waste, and there's much more life than there was before, so I don't think of it as killing.

Q: That... sounds a lot like they die. And you cause it.

A: Honey. Life is my domain. If anyone is going to know what is best for life, it is me. If all you see in something like that is murder, then the problem is that your perspective is entirely too narrow.

Q: ...I'll admit that I've had to struggle to accept that to the gods, all of the... younger species are just as valid as we are.

A: Hahaha! You really do like to put everything in categories so you can put it below you. If you had a hard time with that, you'll have even more trouble with me. The rest of the gods mostly care about complex life, the things that can feel emotions and think thoughts, that can understand wisdom and justice and all that. To me, all life is valid and valuable. All life is important, just that some of it has gotten complex and decided to cop an attitude about it. Listen... I love you, and I want you to be happy and healthy. But that's also true for all of the tiny creatures living inside you, even those that only live for a day, or less. And it's true for whatever you ate recently. These fields? These feel much more self-contradictory to me than reusing the body of someone that enjoys my bounty but spits on my rules.

Q: You don't like growing all these crops for the tribe?

A: Oh, I've accepted it. They were on the verge of death when I found them, and now see how they bustle and thrive. Their needs are complex, but they've been able to leverage something as simple as growing food into an economy they can live on and be happy. It's just... I've nurtured so many sweet little lives up from nothing, just so they can be killed to sustain a few larger beings. I know that's how it goes in nature, and in your farms, at a slower rate. But sometimes, this does feel a little... cruel, somehow, in its efficiency. Sometimes I wonder if we should have made the plants come back when they're killed as well, but the others talked me out of that. Still, I wonder...

Q: Since you mention it, are you happy with how things have turned out since you... enacted that change?

A: Oh, yes. Well, I'm much more comfortable with the necessity of death now than I was early on, you know. If you died right now, I'd probably barely even cry. I just... so many species were dying out, so quickly, it was horrifying. Now... some still die out occasionally, but I know that if we hadn't acted, the world would be a much quieter, more barren place now. Just a few species would have survived in the end, I think, and the other gods might not have even had anyone to babble about freedom to or whatever. It wasn't a perfect solution, but I'm glad we did it. Aren't you?

Q: Well... I'm glad my species is still around. I know-- actually... I guess I don't. You were the one that drove this decision forward, right? Did--

A: Yes, I can't tell you how much trouble it was convincing the others, but I managed it. I was very proud of that. Sometimes I think nobody could convince those two the sun is warm if they decided otherwise.

Q: Did you make that change... to protect us? Specifically?

A: Oh... honey. I love you. I love all of you. But if somehow, it were ONLY your people that would have died out, I would not have gone to all that trouble. Some think it's a terrible thing we did, you know. But... I'll admit that knowing you all would have died out was a significant part of my decision. We do like keeping you around, and I think you know that. You just... read a lot more into that than is really there, I think.

Q: ...So, but... you do like us, more than... the other people?

A: More? ...No. Your people do many things you shouldn't be proud of, dear. You have a long way to go before you could earn the spot of favorite child. But I think all of us do see you as just a little special. Like having a memento from long ago, that means something to you. So... maybe spend a little less time puffing up over being "better" than others and work on... being better than you are, instead, okay?

Q: ...Well, I think we're trying. ...How would you say we can do that? Is there something particular we really need to work on?

A: Haha. I think that's too complicated for our little interview. And I think my "protectors" feel like we should wrap this up. Hmmm. The pride thing is definitely a big part of it. And... you're pretty good at the working together to accomplish big goals thing, but you still aren't very trusting of each other. Or very deserving of that trust, really. If you want the short version of how to live better and be a "good kid," I think that would be... Be honest. Stay humble. Think about what's best for everyone, and work toward that. If you can manage that, as a people, you might not even need approval or help from any of us anymore.

Q: Thank you.

A: Haha, it doesn't sound that helpful, does it? I tried to give the short version, but like I said...

Q: I'm sure you've given us a lot to think about. I don't know if the people of my "tribe" are ready to really make big changes together, but hopefully this will at least nudge a few people in the right direction. I deeply appreciate getting this time to talk with you.

A: Are you sure you didn't want a blessing or something? Usually people want healing, or a healthy child, or...

Q: I think I've already received blessing enough. Now, I'd better go before I drive someone to get themselves recycled. Thank you again, and... best wishes.

A: Aren't you sweet. Come back any time!