Scion AMA: Geoff Matheson

The Scion AMA continues, this time with Sowiljr, better known to some as Geoff Matheson, a Las Vegas chef turned reluctant Allfather! He does not have time for autographs and would like everyone to stop trying to touch him, please, but is otherwise happy to answer a few questions.


Are you or have you ever been a member of the Handsome God's Club? I am asking for a friend. Not Ishtar.

Ah, the good ole Handsome Gods Club. I was a provisional member in the club because only the most handsome of the gods was allowed to be a member. My father, Baldr, took me on my first meeting and I was accepted as a provisional member by all who were there. Unfortunately with the Titan War raging ever harder, the club is not what it once was.

How many kids are too many?

I would almost say we can’t have enough children. I enjoy being a father and truly cannot wait to end this Titan War and begin rebuilding my family and my home. Right now, in the middle of the war, it is dangerous to have children. We can’t always protect them, so I would say we have enough children right now.

How do you see mortal society and ordinary people now, and how do you identify with them or anything in the world you came from - family, country or nation of origin, baseball teams, etc?

Mortals have a special place in my heart. Since apotheosis I have regarded them as another race completely. I spent most of my life as a mortal and only within the past 5 years had any interaction with the divine. I like to think that my past as a mortal influences my choices and actions as a god.

My mortal family has all perished in the Titan War. And while I still have a soft place in my memory of Las Vegas and the USA those entities no longer exist either. If they did I may have tried to protect them and put them under my jurisdiction and control.

So much has changed in Midgard since I was chosen to follow my father and be a Scion of the house of Baldr. If it were all like it once was, I may try to find ways to interact with that society...if it were at all possible.

How do you remember your mortal life? Nostalgia? Contempt? Indifference? What do you miss the most?

Looking back on my mortal life, I see myself moving through time without purpose. I always seemed to get what I wanted without truly trying and lived a charmed existence. But I wasn’t accomplishing anything. Sure, I had lain with countless celebrities and debutants, men would have given anything to have been me. I had a very successful restaurant at one of the premier casinos in Las Vegas. I was living like a king with none of the responsibilities. But now I see that I was wasting my life and my potential. I do not hold contempt for that life, and at times the lack of responsibility and the ease of it is very seductive. I would say what I miss most about that life is the time when the kitchen would be closed, I had left whomever I was sharing a bed with that night in the comped hotel suite, and I could swim. I would tip the guard on duty so that he gave me half an hour in the pool by myself. I would swim and then sit on the roof and watch the sun rise. Yes, that is what I miss the most, the calm before the storm.

Do you intend to go to your high-school reunions - for those who qualify and whose high schools aren't ash?

What an amusing question! I would almost say that if I had ever cared about my high school reunion I would probably like to see what happened to the mortals I shared the classroom with. I was certainly not the brightest student but I do have fond memories of my time in school. Unfortunately that whole area along with most of the people who lived there no longer exist.

How many, if any, people from your mortal lives know who you are and what you've become? Are you in even passing contact with any of them?

I do not think anyone from my mortal life survived Fimbulwinter or Ragnarok. The mortal population of Midgard has decreased greatly. Although there may be some who survived the harsh wasteland that is now Las Vegas...I should go and investigate...

If you had Comprenion by the short-hairs, and you could make it so that you were a mortal who had never been a Scion, and things had just run their course, would you? In other words - was it worth it?

The Norns are tricky creatures. I don’t know if anyone could truly say that they have any sway over their realm. The Nemetondevos thought they held power over the Fate realm and well...look at how well that worked for them. Fate sided with the Theoi and allowed them to utterly crush the Nemetondevos.

But hypothetically speaking would I change everything, go back to being a mortal, with no memory of my apotheosis...no, I wouldn’t give up my new life. Who knows if I ever would have had a family as a mortal. Who knows if I would have done anything substantial with my life. Sure I would have continued to be a celebrity, and an amazing chef. I’m sure I would have eventually gotten a tv show somewhere but compared to what I have accomplished as a god, it doesn’t even come close. I had an exciting but hollow life as a mortal, now the excitement is a thousand fold with the stakes as high as they come. Now I have a purpose, I have a mission; I am the All-Father, and I will rebuild and protect my family.

What has been the single hardest decision in your entire career as a Scion, and why?

I made a choice that damned a soul forever to rescue another from eternal torment. The decision was not made lightly and it will forever be a burden that I carry. I cannot say more, except to say that it was for love.

If you had the power to seal a Titan, but, for political reasons, it could only happen if you married Isis, would you do it?

There is more than one way to seal a titan. That woman is raw ambition and highly dangerous to anyone she deems expendable, as I am sure we are all of us expendable in her eyes. She seems to care greatly for her son and her husband, but her betrayal spoke volumes and I cannot abide a usurper. Ra would have handed the crown to Horus as he did once before, but she thought that too long a wait. I can understand why she did what she did, as I understand the importance and the need to see one’s family thrive, but she has. no. honor.

You are making a party to celebrate a major victory in the war, or maybe a big personal victory. You have 12 invitations to send out, who would you invite? and why?

Honestly? I don’t even need that many invitations. Every single divine being has their own agenda, and by having a celebratory party and only inviting 12 gods or beings, would be an intricate political nightmare. I would rather just celebrate with my family, and my close friends or those who were involved first hand in the victory. If the Kingsmoot teaches me anything it is that when you are king, every move, every decision, every action taken or the absence of action is seen, recorded, judged and probably found wanting.

What would you do if every sign pointed to a new Fimbulwinter starting?

Get very angry. Possibly break something. Then start making plans for how the mortals are going to survive in Midgard and begin formulating a plan of attack on Ymirheim. Probably while swearing in many different languages the whole time.

Let's be honest: most of the gods are horrible people. Deities like Isis and Raiden are the norm, not the outliers, and by fighting for the world, you're fighting to keep the gods in power. Does that ever cause cognitive dissonance? And how did knowing you were becoming the peer of gods like these influence your ascension and your career as a god?

If we weren’t fighting for Midgard who would be fighting for? The Titans? They are worse than the gods because they have no. free. will. I would also like to point out that I am most definitely not fighting for those gods. I am fighting to protect the legacy of my family, both mortal and divine. Without Midgard, there is nothing. It is the central world that holds the great tree together, and without mortals there is no Midgard. All of my decisions and actions are influenced by my life and my history, the majority of which was as a mortal. I am only 37 years old, and I have the power of a being that has been around for millennia. I have had to play catch up this whole time, and when interacting with any new being I take something away from the experience. Not all gods are as bad as you seem to think they are. They all have their own ideas of what is right, what is wrong, and what is acceptable. Some of the old guard are still stuck in the notions and ideas of those tribes and ancient cultures that worshipped them.

Related to the above, how do you think the Aesir measure up as a family? Would you rather have been related to some other family?

The Aesir are an amazing family. Now we have our problems, what family doesn’t but when it comes down to it, we always look out for each other. We are loyal to the family, and to each other. Although some are more loyal than others. Now if you are not of the Aesir, say you are a member of the Vanir or possible of another pantheon, you could be friends with the Aesir but they may not have any loyalty to you. The end of days, Ragnarok, was ever looming over our heads. We had to prepare for the worst, and that meant doing things for the benefit of the family, and to the detriment of all others.

I was split between my inlaws and my family by blood. I had conflicting loyalties, and you should pray that you are never caught in a similar situation. What my grandfather did, he did for himself, and his family, and for that I admire him. But while his end goal may have been admirable, the means he used to try and achieve that goal were horrendous. I wanted no part in that ugly affair. So I reiterate, the Aesir are a wonderful family, they take care of their own. But sometimes that can be the worst thing they could do.

What are your thoughts on the Tuatha de Danann, if you've ever had the chance to interact with them?

I counted some of the Tuatha as close friends, and others I regarded with wary suspicion. Their ability over fate, to lay a Gaes over someone, was terrifying, and amazing at the same time. In fact I had a Gaes laid on me to protect all children no matter what the cost. The pain and shock of that Gaes was broken in Ragnarok when millions of people perished; men, women, and children. I was closest to Aengus as he was one of the members of the Handsome Gods club. He helped me rescue my son from the stars. They are still a very wild pantheon, with heated tempers and joyous celebrations. Then there are always the courts of the Fey, but I never really had much dealings with them. You should ask Folkvardr about them.

Fate twists in strange ways. Are you happy that you ended up with Sangria? If you could go back and stop yourself from sleeping with her, would you?

What a strange life that would have been. If I could go back and dismiss that ugly beast’s powers over the mind, control my lust, and not be with Eztli would I do it? I think if I were put into that situation and I had the choice I would have stopped it. I do not like others having any power over my mind or body. If I were able to beat back the madness that took over in that moment, yes I would. But would I give up on Eztli? On the family that we have together? Not for a single moment. I have spoken about this before, that we symbolize a new beginning in many respects for the divine houses. She may be more animal than anything else, but I too tend towards the animalistic sides of things. We care deeply for each other, and our family is paramount in our responsibilities and dedication. I am happy that Eztli’s father allowed me to take her hand in marriage, although it was something of a shotgun wedding. No one ever said that marriages would be easy, and at times it is very trying, for everyone. But overall it is rewarding and satisfying, and I could not think of anyone else I would want by my side, or who I could trust more than my Queen, my wife, my Xochiyotl.

What was it like to steer the Solar Barque? Would you ever do that again?

It was intimidating, daunting, terrifying, and powerful. To know that you drove the sun through darkness incarnate, that you had to battle that darkness and come out on the other end or the entirety of existence would end? The responsibility and power that comes with that is awesome, and not to be taken lightly. I do not envy Ra or his compatriots who have to make that sojourn every night. I would do it again, if I were called upon to help, but I would never seek the throne of that Barque.

What's your favorite food? Favorite drink? Do you have anything of a sweet tooth?

My favorite food as a mortal was Steak Oscar. I used only the finest ingredients; Steaks from small ranches in Argentina, Crab from Alaska, and White Asparagus from Belgium. Now I would have to say that the food prepared on my apotheosis feast day was the best that I ever had. I could not identify all that was there, but the flavors and textures were exquisite and truly made for a divine palate.

My favorite drink was classic coca cola (made with cane sugar) with a small wedge of Phillipine Lime, or Calamansi in it.

My favorite wine was a red, mainly Tempranillo from the Rioja region in Spain. It was a vineyard that was located at a higher altitude and had clearer water running to it’s vines than the vinyards below. I invested in the vineyard after personally viewing the grapes.

My favorite dessert to this day would be the frozen key lime pie my mother would buy at the store for us. I think it was Marie Callender's. She loved key lime pie ever since she lived in florida as a child. She never was a very good baker, so she found a favorite brand at the store and stuck with it. I have had better desserts, ones that challenge your palate or melt in your mouth, but this is all about comfort. While I was a mortal I would always have a slice on my mothers birthday.

Do your kids get to actually be kids and play around? What’s your ideal family vacation spot?

The children are well taken care of by their teachers and caregivers. They are given the finest education, both mundane and divine that allows them to express themselves through their interests. Right now they are all under the age of 4 so they are not learning anything too advanced. All of my children live in Solheim and Eztli and I visit whenever we can. The children are always sad to see us leave, and it is a bit heart breaking every time.

They play as much as they want, and are given many toys and friends to occupy their time. They rarely leave Solheim as Midgard is too dangerous a place for them at the moment, and Aren and Chicahua are the only ones who can survive in Gimli.

Does your size inconvenience you in any way in your daily life or are you used to it by now?

It used to. When I was a demigod I was about 8 or 9 feet tall. This made it impossible for me to travel comfortably in most vehicles. I was skilled enough in my appearance and through the ingenuity of my friend Aiona to be able to create any clothing I wanted and to have my sturdy leather armor to protect me if ever I lost my clothing.

Vehicles weren’t the only problem. While I was drew people’s attention for other reasons being almost 10 feet tall makes you stick out in a crowd, especially when the person who is constantly at your side is only 5’3”.

The main way that my size continues to inconvenience me to this day is in being intimate with my wife. There was a time when I had no power over my size and was stuck as the giant that is my right by blood. During this time Eztli did not think about the damage our coupling would cause her was anything other than another task to accomplish. I had an eye opening experience, when I began to understand the inner workings of all living things, and then that problem was fixed going forward.

Now our intimate moments require a little more effort, on both our parts, but is generally safe... for the most part.

Did you leave any mortals you cherished behind to take on your responsibilities as a god king? If so, can you tell us about them?

I didn’t have much family to speak of when my father sent Sigrdrífa to Midgard to help me claim my birthright. There were some cousins and uncles and aunts out on the east coast but my mother never really got along with her more conservative family. My family consisted of the chefs, cooks, and workers in my kitchen. We formed a good team so much so that we were making waves in the media and I was being looked at by investors to open up two new restaurants in San Francisco and New York. They all trusted me and would put their blood, sweat and tears into their work, figuratively speaking.

Speaking of which… what are your responsibilities in the Kingsmoot?

You’ll know in time...

What’s the worst thing another King has done to disrespect you? And did you do anything about it?

The worst thing another king has ever done to disrespect me? I have always had the respect if not the friendship of most kings that I meet. Now when my Ichor had not fully manifested itself, and I was just a Scion of the House of Baldr, I am sure there were many interactions with kings that did not go wholly smoothly. As the All-Father and the commander of the Aesir and husband to Ristablodr, many kings make sure that they are cordial around me, even if we are on opposite sides of an issue.

The one time I can remember when dealing with a “king” was when I met the ghost council of the Vanir in Sverrir’s dilapidated hall in Vanaheim. They were very angry and upset at the Aesir king who had set foot in their lands again. I tried to tell them that I was not like my grandfather and that I sought a partnership with the Vanir so that we could be a single strong family and not a divided household. They were not impressed...at first. I eventually won them over, starting with their oldest king and then moving onto those Vanir who had passed that I knew briefly in life.

So the vengeful and spiteful ghosts of the long dead Vanir kings disrespected me...once.

How does the future of the Aesir look from your perspective?

I no longer have the future sight that was the province of my young Aunt. It is a very rare commodity these days. My hopes are that my family will persevere and grow into something great again. I do not seek the war with fate that my grandfather had, but I will try to make sure that my family is protected and provided for. I believe that there will eventually be a great intermingling of houses in the future and perhaps the Aesir will be joined by other great divine houses that will in turn strengthen everyone.

Can you cook Mexican food? What are your favorite dishes?

I can cook most dishes if I put my mind to them. I had to know all types of cuisine when I was an executive chef. My favorite mexican dishes? Pozole was one of my traditional favorites, and I am sure that my wife would love it as well. Also you could never go wrong with any of the interesting fusion tacos that were becoming all the rage those many years ago!

You can take the chef out of Las Vegas, but apparently you can't take the chef out of Geoff. Or something.