Footsteps echoed through a long hall of polished pearl and wood, papers scattering across the floor. A tall, handsome man with red skin and black hair burst through large wooden double doors, out of breath. A measured tapping of a pen could be heard on the desk in front of him as he panted.
“You’re late…” the voice boomed. “Like always…”
He held up his finger as he composed himself and straightened his suit.
“That doesn’t matter. Where are they?” His black eyes met a large figure cloaked in white.
The white figure raised her eyebrow and turned a page, her voice measured and calm.
“Well, they certainly aren’t here,” she stated. “Most of them go into limbo nowadays.”
“Don’t play games with me. My numbers are down, and jobs are going unfilled in my realm!” The red figure clenched his fist as heat waves rose from his shoulders.
“Well, that’s exactly why I called this meeting.” She flipped a page from the book in front of her. “It seems we have to intervene again…”
“Again?” The red figure rolled his eyes. “Because last time worked so well.”
She looked up from her book. “Last time, I was a lot more like you…” She sighed. “Nonetheless, you know the contract—”
“I know the contract. I wrote half of it!” he interrupted.
Her eyes glowed like the sun for a brief moment before she continued.
“And as you know, if we both don’t get our numbers up, we’ll be in for a performance review.” Her calm demeanor showed a hint of frustration.
The red figure let a smile slip slightly across his lips. “And what are they threatening this time? I swear they think they’re better than us, despite us all being gods.”
“Reassignment.” She paused as the red figure scoffed.
“They wouldn’t do that again…”
“Oh, but they did. And the punishment was light, comparatively. This time they plan on wiping our memories and making us live a few lives in the mortal plane. Now, I don’t know about you, but the last time I was there, they hung me up on a cross.”
The red figure’s defensive demeanor shifted into worry for a moment before he gathered himself.
“What do you suppose we do?”
“Well, I know how much you like games, so I have a friendly competition in mind—something to motivate us besides the whole ‘forced to the mortal plane’ gimmick.”
“I’m listening…” He cocked his head in curiosity.
“We start orphanages. You’ll have your own, and I will too. We’ll influence the children to live the lives we desire, so our numbers go back up.”
“Why orphanages? Why not influence the ones who are already grown or close to crossing planes?”
“Many mortal adults don’t listen to anything other than their own ego, stuffing it to the brim with self-satisfaction. However, the children are still willing to take in outside information and follow examples. Probably why we are here in the first place…”
The red figure raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a slow smile.
“So… we’re recruiting children to settle a cosmic performance review?” He let out a low, brief chuckle. “I can’t decide if that’s brilliant or pathetic.”
The white figure shrugged. “Perhaps brilliant, perhaps pathetic, perhaps both. Do you have any better ideas?”
He tapped his chin with a long, black nail. “I suppose not. And what do I get if I win your little competition? What’s in it for you?”
“How about if one wins, they get to ask the other any favor their heart desires?”
“Any favor?” The red figure raised his eyebrow as multiple fantasies popped into his head of what he’d ask his business partner—and rival.