Not that it matters, but who is that in the photo?

 

I seem to have fooled you this time. A slide show may eventually fill the space to the left, but there are currently no pictures to accompany the words. However, this is only because the playing field in this case is so broad. At the very least, I consider myself to have a very good command of the ancient mythos of Greece and Rome, Sumer, Babylonia, Egypt, India, Japan, and Mesoamerica. I'm willing to learn about others if it makes for an interesting story.

 

Note #1: I recognize that using the word "mythos" in relation to the ancient beliefs of India and Japan is problematic, since many of those beliefs form the underpinnings of faiths like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto. A "myth" is not something that is false – it is a sacred story used to explain some aspect of nature or creation. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all have mythoi. No one should be offended by this, but if I'm going to offend someone then I might as well offend everyone.

 

Anyway, I imagine an ancient deity would have a bias towards manifesting as someone of the nationality that worshipped her pantheon in the before-times. This leaves ample room for the choice of an appropriate likeness.

 

 

What's the attraction?

 

Even though there is no beauty to behold, it should go without saying that beauty is not something uniquely linked to one color or ethnicity. All kinds of women are attractive – it therefore stands to reason that there is plenty of attraction out there to score.

 

 

What's the angle?

 

Note #2: The fact that I portray Variel as a Celestial creature is not meant to endorse a specific religion or belief system. I specifically avoid writing for Variel as though he were an Angel of the Christian God. One might take the title (specifically, the "escape" part) to indicate the superiority of modern faiths over older pagan beliefs. This is not the case – such is the beauty of writing fiction.

 

One school of thought suggests the ancient pantheons made a collective decision to withdraw from active interference in the daily lives of human beings. (This might indicate science, as opposed to modern religion, as the force prompting the withdrawal of the Old Gods.) Of course, beings who have thrived and luxuriated in the attentions of human devotees aren't going to just go cold turkey. With that said, the modern day probably offers too many diversions to waste time raining down frogs upon recalcitrant worshippers or raising swaths of fire and brimstone to cow enemies.

 

 

Where are the stories going?

 

Considering the open-endedness and potential variance in this characterization, it may be difficult to list all of the possible story directions. As with the others, I value your input. What's that? Do I have any mildly humorous vignettes in mind? Okay, since you asked:

 

Amaterasu only hits the town at night, since she has a job that keeps her busy while the sun is out.

 

In the early running for "Most Ill-Conceived Plan Ever": Freyja and Aphrodite entering into a partnership to open an exclusive Beverly Hills beauty salon. They argue all the time, and never share their best beauty secrets with each other – or with their clients. But it seemed like a good idea at the time – anything to get back at that bitch Ishtar for having her Grand Opening first.

 

Another case of professional rivalry: The Moirai opening a "House of Prophecy and Yarn Barn" right across the street from where the Norns have had their long-standing "Psychic Advising and Tree Nursery" service. This can only end well.

 

Xochiquetzal can't decide if running a high-class call girl operation is interfering with making it big in high fashion, or the other way around.

 

Bastet says: "Why no, I don't think my apartment has too many cats. But if you think this is bad, you ought to see my friend Hathor's dairy farm.

 

Well, I thought they were funny.

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