Normally, Kohra wasn’t too bothered about having an insanely crazy room mate who was actually a deity. But today, as he watched Arkadin watch dishes in the kitchen, Kohra just couldn’t think of anything else. He’d always been one to ask questions, and right now he had the eyes and ears of the Thantophor, the literal God of Death that the whole universe feared.
Like, why the hell was he washing the dishes.
“Why are you washing the dishes?”
Kohra realised he’d said that out loud.
“Because they need to be done.”
“But…”
“But what?” Arkadin rinsed off some glasses and left them on the side to dry. “Do you think I’m above chores?”
“Kinda?” Kohra hesitated. “Like, don’t you have work and stuff to do?”
Arkadin shrugged and sat down next to Kohra on the comfy pile of cushions that made up their sofa.
“Not really.”
“You’re the God of Death and you don’t have any work to do?”
“Most of the time everything just dies on its own and sorts itself out. I only get involved if I need to or if something comes up that catches my interest. Or of it’s a huge mass murder or genocide or something. Then I’m compelled to at least keep an eye on things.”
Arkadin got up again and headed over to the kitchen, grabbing one of the freshly cleaned glasses to pour himself a drink.
“So… the universe… doesn’t really, like, need you?” Kohra stuttered.
“Not really. Entropy and Death exist no matter what. I just give them a relatable face and make sure their laws are enforced.”
“So… what if you died?”
The Lord of Death shrugged. “Eh, one day it’ll happen.”
“You will die?”
Arkadin returned to the sofa. He’d poured himself some fruit juice and brought over a can of caramel soda for Kohra even though he hadn’t asked for it. “When this universe dies, yeah. Nothing lives forever. But if I die, if Arkadin dies, well, I kinda don’t really know what happens. It’s not like death and entropy and all that stop working. It’s just I won’t… It’s hard to explain.”
The Thantophor glanced at Kohra and smiled.
“Just so you know, you’re not learning anything new.”
“I thought I was learning how the universe worked.”
“Scientists already know how it all works. They just don’t get how deities work. Because how could you all? Especially when half the time we don’t even know how we work ourselves and the rest of the time we just follow the same laws that we put in place when the universe was created.”
“You’re not gods, you’re gatekeepers.”
Arkadin beamed with joy. “Exactly! And gatekeepers, unlike universal laws, can change… Which…” The Thantophor trailed off. “I guess that explains some things…”
“Like what?” Kohra asked.
“Like the time when… When I wasn’t me. I mean, I haven’t always been or looked like this.” Arkadin sighed. “I was something feral and nasty and terrifying. I’m glad I’m not like that any more.”
Kohra blinked. “You were…”
“I was a beast. A monster. A wolf. We were three serpents and a wolf. Back then my siblings didn’t really like me. I don’t really remember though. I tend to forget details every million or so years, but what happened is a complete blur to me.”
“Did you… die?” Kohra felt like maybe he had gone too far. He was surprised when Arkadin didn’t seem to retaliate.
“Maybe. Maybe I am what formed after the Wolf was… taken out, I guess? I know something happened, but the details are fuzzy… Really I’d have to talk to the other gods to find out more, and they might not like that…” Again, Arkadin trailed off.
After a moment of silence, Arkadin clapped his hands.
“So, you want to play some video games?” the Death God asked, abruptly changing the subject.