Bartering with a deity ((Mahadevi))

>>"Shut up."

The goddess' eyes flashed, half with surprise, half with irritation. Did he just...

>>"Do you truly view yourself as such an important being that you're entitled to know the deepest secrets of everyone you meet because the people in your country told you that your a deity? And because you view yourself as a deity, everything life changing event that has torn a person from the inside out is trivial to you?"

... he did.

>>"You were raised in an environment in which you've never lost anything, so let me paint a picture for you so you understand what the real world is like. Power comes with a price, and in every case the price is too high to pay. Some people, like myself, lose everything to the price that they had to pay for the power they never wanted in the first place, while others, like most tyrants, force everyone around them to pay the price of their power for them so they can live in luxury."

The artist had clearly lost his mind. One was never supposed to talk to a woman like that, let alone to a goddess. Mahadevi bit her lips as she started putting on her robes. She was not staying in this shop a minute longer, legendary art or not. Talented people abound in New York City, she did not need to endure being insulted.

>>"And before you think your different, think again! I can see the price that you had to pay already, and that was your free will... and you paid for it so long ago that you don't even know that you've lost it. Sure, you're position lets you live in wealth and has people idolize you, but I'm guessing that not once were you ever allowed to choose to do something that you wanted to do. You're forced to be a goddess even if you didn't want to be... and the moment you stop acting like a goddess they'll toss you out like a leper! Another thing is that no government allows someone else have as much power as you have unless they can profit from it. Do people have to pay money or make an offering in order to even catch a glimpse of you? How much of those offerings are being pocketed by the government or your loyal priests I wonder. And you're pocketing some of it too in the form of expensive clothing, jewels, and exotic foods."

The words stung, somewhere deep, but Mahadevi decided to ignore them. The poor man was out of his right mind. Clearly hurt. She was starting to see what being persecuted for being gifted did to people. It was not a nice thought. She felt anger mixed with pity.

>> "If you can prove to me that this isn't the case, then I'll take it all back and you'll get that idol you want for free. Otherwise, get out."

The goddess finished putting on her robes, and the scared-looking servant was already opening the door.

"I..." declared Mahadevi, pulling herself up to her full height "... have never been insulted like that in my life."

She wondered if she should curse him, or smithe him. He clearly deserved it.
Or, maybe, she could embrace being in America, and she could sue him. She wondered how that worked.
Mahadevi marched to the door of the workshop, but torned back to look at the artist one more.

"But I forgive you. You do not know what you speak of. You like in a place where your gift is frowned upon. That is punishment in itself. I wish you everything you wish for yourself, artist."

And then she left.