Contrast, First Impressions

In a distant plain of existence, where magic flowed even more naturally than air through lungs, two "gods," as mortals would call them, stood around an ethereally constructed globe, like two challengers at a chessboard.

"Honestly, Mercury, you're more well known among the higher realms as a messenger than a prank-puller," jested Loki as he finally placed his next piece down on their [three-dimensional,] planet-shaped arena.  "The next time we find an unclaimed world rich with mortals to bend to our will, the Olympians may not want you as their team's trickster."

"And?  What of it?  I still have time before Kepler develops a sufficiently sapient race." Mercury strolled around to his opponent's side, bolstering great confidence.

Loki did not turn to his companion.  Instead, he looked at the globe for another moment.  "If you can't prove you still have your touch..."  He released the [formidable/strategically powerful] creature piece he had in his grasp back into the ether and pulled out a smaller, more expendable piece. "...You may have to play the role of a lesser being."

Mercury stared Loki straight in the eyes.  His own face sported a smirk that reeked of a challenge.  "We both know you're not going to trick me into doing something rash by getting me worried. We were the ones who invented [that/the] ‘worry ploy.’

He turned and leaned on the edge of the table that held their mock planet.  "Why don't you cut the small talk and get straight to your dare?"

Loki motioned Mercury to look at the globe and reset it with a simple wave of his hand.  "It’s not so much a dare, but more of a way to stave off our boredom.  Here, let me explain..."

"So, no matter which given path that the mortal chooses, they will still choose wrong.  And, by having Equus as our stage..." Loki gave a sly look to his partner.

"We take the factors that normally prevent us from having fun there and use them to do the work for us,"  Mercury finished.  "Now, that very well could prove to be entertaining,” he mused as the glint of mischief that had been dormant far too long resurfaced in his eyes.

* * *

Alexander sat at his desk.  "Ugh..."  he grunted. "I get that we can learn from history, but is cramming so much of it really that useful to someone not even pursuing a history major?"

Alexander gave a huff, stood up and went over to his dorm bed then grabbed a jelly bean from a bowl atop the mini fridge next to it.  Popping the jelly bean into the air as he sat down, he felt a strange sensation.

The air was thick, yet it wasn’t at the same time.  His hair felt like it needed to be standing on end, but couldn't.  He got back to his feet with ease, and yet he felt like he had to fight something that wasn't there just to stay standing.

And then he noticed something else: Silence.

He couldn't hear anything.  Not the traffic outside, nor the hum of his computer running.  Even his breath made no noise.

Breathing the strange air as evenly as he could, Alexander did his best to calm down and understand what was going on.

"Well, that was pretty fast.  It usually takes a mortal a lot longer to calm down enough to talk to them," someone called from behind him.

With no other sound in his ears at all, Alexander shot himself around as fast as possible, ready to fight off whatever was behind him.

Alexander's eyes fell upon what could only be described as the most convincing drama club prank ever.  There, floating in midair on the other side of his bed, was some guy dressed up as the most realistic rendition of the Roman god Mercury he had ever seen.  If it weren't for the bizarre air and otherwise unbroken silence, he'd chalk it up to just that and have a laugh.  Instead, he backed down a little while his eyes quietly questioned the intruder.  Clearly, this was not your run-of-the-mill intruder.

The floating figure gave a pompous smirk.  "Since you have neither attacked nor dismissed me as illusion as many mortals have in the past when first gazing upon me, I'll return the gesture of respect and quell some those inquiries your eyes are asking."

The figure ceased floating and made a very loud thump on the dorm’s floor, breaking the deafening silence once more.  "No.  You are not dreaming.  Nor are you 'on something,' as the modern phrase goes.  I am very real."

Alexander stood there for a moment more with his fists still raised, though only as a sign that he still wasn't comfortable with the situation at this point.

*OK.  So, what do you want with me?*  Alexander tried to ask, only to put a hand to his mouth after no sound came out.

"Oh, All I want is the answer to a simple question," the figure answered with a knowing gaze.  "There is no wrong answer, so long as it is an honest one."

Alexander looked at the figure with newfound resent.  *You appear to have me at a disadvantage.  Go on.*

The figure gave a small titter. "Very astute for a mortal.  Very well, to the point:  If you were to be given the chance to start over in a new land, would you prefer to hold fast to your roots and go exactly as you are, even though you would risk being scorned for being someone foreign?  Or would you prefer a little help being accepted by the natives?"

Alexander just looked at the figure skeptically.  He opened his mouth for a brief moment, only to close it immediately and turn away in thought.  Finally, after a little meditation, he returned his attention to the figure that was still waiting patiently.

*You said that there is no wrong answer so long as it is honest, correct?*

"I did," the figure responded with perfect poise.

Alexander steadied himself and answered, *Then, here is my answer: I would choose neither.  Both are too vague and have a risk of you hiding something.  I'd rather go on as if you had never interrupted my life.*

Alexander braced himself for the worst, but nothing happened.  Instead, the figure simply looked at him with pleasant surprise.

"Even better," was all the figure said before turning his attention behind Alexander and nodding.

Alexander tried to look behind him, but before he could, the strange air dissipated and he fell onto his bed, unconscious.  The jelly bean landed on top of him.