Supplication...
Legend had it that ambrosia was the food of the gods. But it was actually Deadre's chocolate chip cookies. What? You thought that Toll House invented those? Gift from the gods. Literally.
Today she held a plate of freshly created cookies and went in search of her younger brother. Her sisters did not approve.
"He does not deserve the visit let alone the cookies."
"If he wanted to be part of this family he would have been."
"He made his choices. Let him rot."
But she never thought anyone was beyond help. Or hope. It was her calling. Even after all these years. And with the renewed prayers in her name (sort of) she was feeling that call stronger than she had in years.
She found him alone in a cave on a cloud far removed from their world or the mortal one. He was playing solitaire. When she entered the cave he turned and glared at her.
"Go away. You aren't welcome here."
She put the plate of cookies down just out of his reach. "Be that as it may I am here anyway. You have been neglectful."
"Of you? You don't need me."
"I don't. That's true. But of your followers. You haven't paid attention to them in years."
"They bore me. They are too needy. Constantly asking for even the most mundane things."
"It is their nature to need. And to ask. And it is supposed to be ours to listen and to help."
"They ask too much of one god."
Deadre raised her left eyebrow. "They do. Do you think that's why there are multitudes of us?"
"There is only one me. I AM."
"You are. And I am. And our brothers are. And our sisters are. And we are. You might have forgotten us, but we are still here."
He sighed. "I don't need any of you. Especially you. Goddess."
Deadre picked up a cookie and took a bite. "Don't try that with me. You can call yourself what you choose but we are all gods. Your invented word to lessen my sisters and I has no power over me." She made a soft pleased humming noise as she chewed.
He watched her eat. It had been a long time since he'd gotten to have a warm freshly created cookie. He'd tried making them himself but something was always missing. Once instead of chocolate chips they came out with raisins. He shuddered thinking about it.
"Now, back to why I'm here. Your followers have started to cry out to us. To call our names. And we are not above answering them. In fact we feel compelled to do so. But they are your people. You turned them to you a long time ago. You should get the chance to help them first."
He turned back to his cards. "They don't want help. Not really. They want gifts and blessings."
"And whose fault is that? You were the one who poisoned their minds against those of us who are called to help. You were the one who promised them streets paved with gold if only they would turn away from us and only to you. What did you think would happen?"
He scowled. "You wouldn't understand."
"I wouldn't. You are right. I don't understand why you did what you did. I don't understand why it worked. But I do know that now we have a mess. They don't know who to turn to. They don't know why you have forsaken them. They pretend that you are listening and turn to the worst of their lot to interpret what you want. And you sit here not listening. Not watching. Not caring."
"You say they are calling your names? How do they know them? Have you been meddling?"
"Are you trying to blame your neglect on us? We have not been meddling but they have gotten desperate. They call out for Vengeance, for Blood, for War, for Pain and our siblings are hearing them. They cry out in Hopelessness and I listen. Did you really believe you could erase all of us and then walk away without them calling out to us again?"
"I don't want to pay attention to them anymore. It's not what I had imagined it would be like. Sure, it was fun at the beginning. To get them to pay attention to what I wanted. To create new stories that featured only me. To focus their love and devotion on me. I sent them out to convince the rest of the world to just follow me. They couldn't even do that right. They failed me. There are still pockets out there that call out to you. To some of you, anyway. If they can't even do what I want why should I listen to them?"
"You are blaming them for not convincing the whole of creation to just follow you? When you don't listen to them but our siblings listen to those who still call to them? Have you ever considered being a better god instead of a selfish one?"
"How dare you speak to me like that!"
She picked up another cookie. Inhaling deeply at the wonderful scent of it. "Oh, very scary. Do it again but with an accent this time."
"You aren't welcome here. I will do as I see fit. Now go away."
"As you wish, brother, but remember that I came to you. I asked for your help. I asked you to listen to them. They need you. They need all of us. I'm afraid it might be too late as it is. But my sisters and I will still try. Our brothers will listen and respond as they can. I'm afraid of what they are asking for. Afraid we will have to start again. Again."
With that Deadre left him alone in the cave on the cloud at the edge of existence.
But she also left him the plate of cookies. She didn't believe anyone was beyond hope.
It was her nature.