(Untitled)

[flakygoodness]

Geoff pops into the bar with the requisite fresh-baked smell and sees more than a couple glum faces. He frowns a moment, until the inspiration takes over. He spins around, changing his outfit as he does. Now he's wearing a yellow jogging suit and what can only be described as a giant chocolate chip cookie on a gold chain around his neck

Comments

[gotham_knocking]

"Huh. Advertising. Now that's just cruel." Knox sits at the Bar, glad it was not his fate to sell anything today.

[flakygoodness]

Geoff smiles at the man and jumps off the table, his clothes reverting to his more natural dark blue shirt and trousers as he does so.

"Not at all," he says. "It just... seemed like the thing to do."

[gotham_knocking]

"It wasn't bad. Decent production values for amateur theater under the force of a spell. And you didn't ignite in flames, so that gets a thumbs up.

"Not that I'm a theater critic. Those guys want everything to be Eugene O'Neill." Knox extends his hand. "Alexander Knox, Gotham City, 1989."

[flakygoodness]

He sets the tray down on the bar to shake the offered hand.

"Geoff. Late the Roman god of biscuits. Care for a cinnamon bun? They're still warm."

[gotham_knocking]

Knox doesn't actually believe this guy is a god. Let alone a god of biscuits. But the first rule of journalism is never pass up free food.

"Thanks. I think I deserve a treat after a long day."

[ooc: lyric just heard in a song by XTC on Internet radio: "the world is biscuit shaped" eep.]

[flakygoodness]

As long as it's a lack of belief and not an active disbelief, they'll get along fine. After so many years, Geoff's used to the first kind.

"Everyone deserves a treat!" he replies cheerily. "Even for no reason at all!"

[ooc: Geoff: hells yeah, biznatches.]

[gotham_knocking]

"You on staff here?" Knox takes one.

"Whoat. This is good. And you're giving it away?"

[flakygoodness]

"On staff? Goodness, no. I've no need of a job. So why shouldn't I give them away? People tend to believe more in things that are free."

[gotham_knocking]

"Oh, right. God." Here is an authentic nut. But the harmless kind. And if he's that good a baker, well, who is Knox to argue?

"I better be careful. Doc warned me not to overdo it," he says as he takes a second bun.

[flakygoodness]

"Well, yes, god. But a god with a 5% stake in Pillsbury. I'm not stupid, after all. And have all you like; doctors don't know everything. Besides, I can always make more."

Which he does. Instantly. Pulling two more cinnamon buns out of the air to replace the two eaten ones.

[gotham_knocking]

Knox is about to comment about wise investment strategies when the magically appearing buns stop him short.

"How did you do that?"

[flakygoodness]

Geoff rolls his eyes, a quirky grin on his face.

"God of biscuits. This is what I do, cupcake. Oooh, cupcakes. I wonder if I can do cupcakes again. Have to try that later."

[gotham_knocking]

Knox lets being called "cupcake" ride. This is just too weird not to think about.

"OK, let's assume that the Roman gods were real. Which given what else is that wacky place, I can almost accept.

"I don't remember there being a god of biscuits. And don't all the gods have Latin or Greek names?"

[flakygoodness]

"Of course you don't remember. No one remembers. That was the whole intent of the thing."

A long sigh.

"Okay, quick history lesson. Back when the world was born and everything was strange and new, mankind believed in gods that oversaw every aspect of their daily lives. That belief brought us into existence. All over the world, different cultures with different priorites brought forth slews of gods and goddesses through their belief. The trouble is, the Romans were... well, rather boring, when it comes right down to it. The early Roman gods oversaw more mundane aspects of life... Simon, the god of hairdos; Wendy, the goddess of bathing; and so on. And me, of course.

"Now, Rome was expanding and growing, partly because those mundane things were so thoroughly looked after by us gods. The empire finally stretched as far as Greece, and the Romans were completely wooed over by the Greek gods. They had gods of fire and thunder and high speed car chases -- well, maybe not that last, but you get the idea. How could we compete?

[gotham_knocking]

"The Greeks had car chases?" OK, this guy still seems like a nut. But when a nut creates baked goods out of the air, the last thing you do is show any sign of doubt. After all, if he really is a Roman god, he might have all the eccentricities and ill tempers of one.

"So...what happened to all the other gods? How come they seem like just stories?"

[flakygoodness]

"Well... no. I got carried away on that bit, I said. As for what happened..."

He looks out the Window and frowns.

"It's all belief. The world moved on, grew, changed. The nature of belief shifted, and gods were left behind. Now mankind believes in science, but they don't realize it's the same thing. They create theories, believe in them with everything they are, convince other people of the truth of their convictions, and then act utterly surprised when they are shown to be correct. Belief shapes the world.

"We're still around, the old gods. There are still pockets of people who believe in us, scattered about, and so we remain. Weakened, to be sure, scarcely divine at all anymore, but still around. I was on the verge of losing everything when I first came here. Now, though, I have a priest again, a shrine in the kitchens, and a larger number of believers than I've had in hundreds of years. It's fantastic!"