Jasper paused in his foyer. A tall, bearded man in a toga stood in his living room staring at Jasper through glowing, electrified eyes.
“Can I help you?” he asked the figure, then he set his keys and sunglasses in the leather catch, and continued on into his living room.
“Cease your ridiculous impersonations, and I may let you live,” Zeus replied with a low voice. It echoed in a quiet, thundering rumble around Jasper’s living room.
“Yeah…,” Jasper nodded to himself as he crossed the room into the kitchen. It was open enough that he could still see Zeus from the fridge. He grabbed two beers then returned to the living room. “..that’s what I thought you wanted. Beer?” He offered Zeus a freshly opened bottle. The confused god could only accept the drink; Jasper’s casualness threw him off.
“Why are you not trembling with fear, mortal?” Jasper laughed. He raised the brown bottle at Zeus, then took a giant swig. He let himself fall on his couch, swallowed his gulp, then looked up at Zeus.
“I’m not mortal,” Jasper replied. “Furthermore, I’m not impersonating anyone. I am Zeus. Jupiter, technically; but half of one, six dozen of the other.”
“Fool,” Zeus replied. He raised his hand and loosed a bolt of lightning at Jasper. The middle-aged, bearded man raised his own hand and caught the bolt. Then, he squeezed it out of existence.
“You’re not even the first one of me to get offended by me,” Jasper shook his head with a chuckle. “It’s hard to believe I”m that insecure.” Without warning, Zeus fired two more bolts at Jasper. This time he didn’t move to stop the electricity. He was struck directly in the face, and the electricity washed over him. His eyes glowed bright blue with energy for a moment, then, he let it dissipate.
“I hoped the first one would be enough of a point,” Jasper said. “I’ve been me longer than you’ve been you; I’m better at this than you are.”
“How is this possible?” Zeus asked. Jasper shrugged.
“Long story – short; I’m from a different universe. I like settling down in one universe for a while until I get bored. And what better job than acting as myself?” He grinned.
“There are…. other universes?” Zeus asked. Jasper nodded. “How does one access these other universes?” Jasper shrugged.
“Sorry to say, you won’t be able to; if that’s why you’re asking.” Thunder rumbled around Jasper’s living room; he rolled his eyes in response.
“You dare tell me what I may and may not do?” Jasper nodded and grinned.
“You’re a bit slow, but you got there,” he chuckled. “I don’t make the rules though. You’re welcome to try. Myths like us need permission to traverse universes.”
“I NEED NO ONE’S PERMISSION!” Zeuz roared. Jasper’s house trembled, his glassware clinked together in the cabinets.
“Okay,” Jasper shrugged again. He remained seated with a smirk on his face.
“How does one ..traverse?” Zeus asked.
“Maybe you don’t need permission; but, I don’t have permission to tell you that. If you want to find out you’ll have to ask Ms. Sharp yourself.”
“A woman?” Zeus smirked. Jasper shook his head.
“A god.”
