WHO: Tezcatlipoca & Others WHAT: 2025 catch-all time baby WHERE: all over WHEN: all times WARNINGS: threads will include content warnings where appropriate!
[ Cute… He wouldn’t say that either, dammit! He grimaces, somewhere between annoyed and embarrassed, but, what, can he deny it? That would just be proving her point and playing into her hands. He grumbles indistinctly as he picks up the card, since there’s just enough splatter of sake that he’ll start over. It’s only the name, so it’s not like it’s much. ]
That again?
[ He shakes his head lightly as he grabs another, and his pens out Daybit’s name quickly. Even if it’s quick, he has shockingly nice penmanship, though. Go figure. ]
I get your point, and it’s a nice sentiment. Hell, that’s what I tell anyone that’s following me, more or less.
[ “More or less” doing a lot of work there, because he doesn’t tend to say it so straightforwardly. It’s cloaked in the context that his followers should fight for every day and live vivaciously in the conflict that surrounds them. It’s more brutal, but that’s also the context of his world. ]
But can’t agree with that last point. My body may be human, but here— [ He taps his chest over his heart, but the implication is the same as if he had tapped his head. ] All god. The way I think, it just ain’t human. That’s why Daybit and I get along, since we kinda see things the same way.
[ Goodness, is it the topic of Daybit that makes him so vulnerable? ]
Maybe. [A pause.] Yet you are limited by your human brain, especially in this world where our selves are limited to those vessels.
[ They are much more than their vessel back home, even in such a limited Servant form. Their divinity radiates beyond the confines of those bodies and they can manipulate their surroundings in ways that enhance what they are capable of. Here though? Nothing, and he proved it himself when they failed to connect to the local afterlife.
But she supposes that's a difference in perspective. Even limited by a human body, the way he thinks is still so alien to the human mind, it may be accurate to call him a god anyway. Whereas she's always been the closest goddess to humans in her pantheon, alongside Ishtar. So the thought of being human... She likes it. ]
But I respect your decision on the matter. [She's not going to pick a fight on whether they should be categorized as gods or humans. It's too dependent on how they perceive the divide between gods and humanity.] You should be careful though, we're aging here.
[ She got great beauty products recommendations if he wants to delay the inevitable wrinkles and grey hair. ]
[ He frowns a bit more, and it’s clear that he would argue about it, but that’s no surprise. He’s willing to get confrontational over just about anything, but… That’s exactly what you’d expect from the god of conflict. So, as such, he also deflates a little when she brushes it off.
She’s also correct to do so, since getting into the finer points of how his godhood works and how he perceives it is a headache. The change of conversation is better, albeit much stupider… ]
Why are you tellin’ me to be careful? I’m the god of beauty. Of course I’ve got a beauty routine.
[ Very annoyingly, he is not kidding… Tezcatlipoca is perhaps one of the more regular visitors of the base spa. ]
But I also don’t exactly care about this vessel beyond it representing me well. I made it, so it’s not like your deal, I’m guessin’. [ He waves a hand vaguely at her. ] You borrowed yours, yeah? I think I met her. She wasn’t blonde, though.
[ I am definitely just pretending he just never cared enough to bring it up before and not that my stupid ass totally forgot, ]
... She opts not to comment on that. They say you shouldn't speak if you don't have anything pleasant to say. And it's not like she thinks he's ugly or anything like that!! But much like Ishtar, they're really handing out that authority to the least deserving people around. ]
This vessel is all you have in this world. You should be more careful with it.
[ While he may not care for it, if this body dies then that's it for him. Sure, his divinity would still exist back home, but the specific aspects and memories that are stuffed into that body? Gone forever, unless somehow LILITH has enough sense to dump the leftovers back to their world.
[ Shocking! Why did he never bring it up before? Was that to use this as a weapon against her somehow? But that makes no sense, whatever weaknesses she had are totally irrelevant to her
... Except the mysterious phenomenon that causes electronics to break around her, but she has no idea it's tied to her vessel. ]
[ He waves off the concern, since, well. He can't exactly promise that, but it's exactly what would be expected from him, so he doesn't think it would be a surprise. Besides. The new topic is more interesting! He nods as he takes another sip of the sake. ]
Yeah, pretty sure. Like the hair and eye colors are different, but all the structure and voice and all that. Exactly the same. It'd be a hell of a coincidence for it to be another person, especially since she was a mage from our world.
[ They'd only met once before she'd disappeared before wherever the hell people went when they had enough of Kenos, but... It'd been a strong impression, that's for sure. He clicks his tongue as he remembers it and shakes his head. ]
...Something about mages too. Not a iota of respect in their bones, I swear.
[ Mhm... She's been curious about her vessel for a long time. All she knows is that her name is Rin, she participated in a grail war and the red-clothed Servant that was briefly there was probably contracted to her. She'd like to ask him, but it feels that would imply she owes him a favor or something. Sighs. ]
If you treated her half as poorly as you did me initially, I'm surprised she didn't try murdering you.
[ She was chosen to be Ishtar's vessel - Ereshkigal is just the happy accident that came along - so she presumes Rin is a lot more like her sister than her. And Ishtar can be very murder happy when someone or something offends her. ]
Besides, did you give her any reason to respect you?
[ Sure, he's a god. But he's also something else, something she's too polite to say with words from the language they're using to communicate here (the word is shithead). ]
Huh? You're still sour about the water bottle, seriously?
[ That is definitely not the only reason that her first impression of him was so poor, but he's ignoring that. Their personal differences when it came to their roles as Servants and the Masters they choose to support are totally different in his book. Plus, as is clear, he's also relaxed his antagonism towards Ereshkigal and Izou both, but he'd never admit it. ]
No, I didn't treat her poorly. Hell, she was the one treating me poorly, since she was all buddy-buddy with Quetzalcoatl. I didn't have a damn thing to do with him dying. Her dying. Whatever.
[ He waves a hand dismissively, since the fact that his brother took a female vessel makes the pronouns a bit complicated. Gods and gender, it's whatever, truly, ]
Doesn't have anything to do with that anyways. Point is, mages have no respect when it comes to the divine. First words out of Daybit's mouth after summoning me was criticizing me, and your vessel, she had the audacity to ask if I'd consider a contract with her and then say "I wasn't actually offering."
[ That's not quite the case, but it's how he interprets it. With a click of his tongue and a shake of his head, he takes another drink. He starts to quickly (but surprisingly nicely) write out his new card, but it ends up just being a single world in Nahuatl—Nimitztlazòtla. It’s exactly what Ereshkigal suggested, but he can’t write it in front of her… Not in a language she’d understand, anyways. Apparently complaining (and alcohol) give him a little more courage in this arena. ]
[ ... Yeah, she's going to assume she would get a very different picture of the situation, were she to speak about this with her vessel. As for the word he's writing... She doesn't understand the language but she has an idea as to what it may mean.
Regardless: ]
If your own boyfriend criticizes you, perhaps you should seriously ponder what is wrong with you rather than assume every single souls you have ever encountered to be in the wrong.
[ Historians will look back at this exchange and wonder if Ereshkigal used the term "boyfriend" on purpose to fluster or perhaps even antagonize Tezcatlipoca. But as far as she's concerned, she's only use the word that best described their relationship.
After everything she's heard today, she can think of no term more appropriate to describe Tezcatlipoca and Daybit in relation to each other. Clearly he doesn't want to use "Master," and "Priest" is just a silly way to try and reframe things. Boyfriend is super approproate. ]
I understand changing is hard for our kind-- [Goodness, does she know.] But it is far from impossible.
[ Naturally, it’s that one word that gets Tezcatlipoca to lose his cool again in a way that’s almost comical. It’s nothing over the top, but the absolutely shocked, stricken look he gives Ereshkigal is so atypical from his normal expressions of cool aloofness or sharp, mean smiles. It looks like his brain has just short-circuited for her stating things so bluntly.
She’s right though, of course. It’s exactly how most people would identify it. But Tezcatlipoca has never considered it, because both he and Daybit are just incredibly unique, bizarre people. Their reasons couldn’t be more different as to why, but they both have an intrinsic hesitation when it comes to relationships. And apparently, saying “I love you” and calling Daybit his boyfriend are two completely separate, disparate concepts. The way he thinks is alien, but sometimes it presents itself stupidly. ]
Huh? You tryin’ to piss me off or what?
[ Truly. What could lead her to that conclusion other than everything he’s said. It would be worse if she knew what he hadn’t said, from surprisingly tender gestures that were destined to be forgotten to mana transfers. ]
I’m setting aside the fact that it’s a terrible idea in the first place. He ain’t my boyfriend, since that doesn’t even make any damn sense for gods.
[ That makes no sense for gods? Then why would that "piss him off," to use his own terms? She smiles slightly and stand up. That's just about enough Tezca bullying for the day. ]
I think I understand now... Why you're so disagreeable usually. [Because you're completely helpless the moment someone sees right through you. But she's kind enough not to word her conclusion aloud, she'll allow for him to retain some of his dignity today.] Ehehe.
[ Honestly with the way she now understands him...
... She doesn't think he'll ever manage to get under her skin again. She may be wrong, of course. She probably is. But at least the playing field is evened out now. ]
I have a recommendation before I leave. Try not to use the same excuse multiple times within the same discussion. [Like "I'm a god, therefore this doesn't apply to me." The first time may work, but after the third times it's getting a tad too obvious.] I usually try to alternate between excuses so people don't notice anything.
[ Take it from a professional when it comes to lying to herself - and to the world about herself. ]
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no subject
That again?
[ He shakes his head lightly as he grabs another, and his pens out Daybit’s name quickly. Even if it’s quick, he has shockingly nice penmanship, though. Go figure. ]
I get your point, and it’s a nice sentiment. Hell, that’s what I tell anyone that’s following me, more or less.
[ “More or less” doing a lot of work there, because he doesn’t tend to say it so straightforwardly. It’s cloaked in the context that his followers should fight for every day and live vivaciously in the conflict that surrounds them. It’s more brutal, but that’s also the context of his world. ]
But can’t agree with that last point. My body may be human, but here— [ He taps his chest over his heart, but the implication is the same as if he had tapped his head. ] All god. The way I think, it just ain’t human. That’s why Daybit and I get along, since we kinda see things the same way.
no subject
Maybe. [A pause.] Yet you are limited by your human brain, especially in this world where our selves are limited to those vessels.
[ They are much more than their vessel back home, even in such a limited Servant form. Their divinity radiates beyond the confines of those bodies and they can manipulate their surroundings in ways that enhance what they are capable of. Here though? Nothing, and he proved it himself when they failed to connect to the local afterlife.
But she supposes that's a difference in perspective. Even limited by a human body, the way he thinks is still so alien to the human mind, it may be accurate to call him a god anyway. Whereas she's always been the closest goddess to humans in her pantheon, alongside Ishtar. So the thought of being human... She likes it. ]
But I respect your decision on the matter. [She's not going to pick a fight on whether they should be categorized as gods or humans. It's too dependent on how they perceive the divide between gods and humanity.] You should be careful though, we're aging here.
[ She got great beauty products recommendations if he wants to delay the inevitable wrinkles and grey hair. ]
FINALLY BRINGS IT UP, LMAO
She’s also correct to do so, since getting into the finer points of how his godhood works and how he perceives it is a headache. The change of conversation is better, albeit much stupider… ]
Why are you tellin’ me to be careful? I’m the god of beauty. Of course I’ve got a beauty routine.
[ Very annoyingly, he is not kidding… Tezcatlipoca is perhaps one of the more regular visitors of the base spa. ]
But I also don’t exactly care about this vessel beyond it representing me well. I made it, so it’s not like your deal, I’m guessin’. [ He waves a hand vaguely at her. ] You borrowed yours, yeah? I think I met her. She wasn’t blonde, though.
[ I am definitely just pretending he just never cared enough to bring it up before and not that my stupid ass totally forgot, ]
1/4
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... She opts not to comment on that. They say you shouldn't speak if you don't have anything pleasant to say. And it's not like she thinks he's ugly or anything like that!! But much like Ishtar, they're really handing out that authority to the least deserving people around. ]
This vessel is all you have in this world. You should be more careful with it.
[ While he may not care for it, if this body dies then that's it for him. Sure, his divinity would still exist back home, but the specific aspects and memories that are stuffed into that body? Gone forever, unless somehow LILITH has enough sense to dump the leftovers back to their world.
And wait, what's that about her vessel? ]
no subject
no subject
4/4
[ Shocking! Why did he never bring it up before? Was that to use this as a weapon against her somehow? But that makes no sense, whatever weaknesses she had are totally irrelevant to her
... Except the mysterious phenomenon that causes electronics to break around her, but she has no idea it's tied to her vessel. ]
no subject
Yeah, pretty sure. Like the hair and eye colors are different, but all the structure and voice and all that. Exactly the same. It'd be a hell of a coincidence for it to be another person, especially since she was a mage from our world.
[ They'd only met once before she'd disappeared before wherever the hell people went when they had enough of Kenos, but... It'd been a strong impression, that's for sure. He clicks his tongue as he remembers it and shakes his head. ]
...Something about mages too. Not a iota of respect in their bones, I swear.
[ aka she'd bullied him immediately ]
no subject
If you treated her half as poorly as you did me initially, I'm surprised she didn't try murdering you.
[ She was chosen to be Ishtar's vessel - Ereshkigal is just the happy accident that came along - so she presumes Rin is a lot more like her sister than her. And Ishtar can be very murder happy when someone or something offends her. ]
Besides, did you give her any reason to respect you?
[ Sure, he's a god. But he's also something else, something she's too polite to say with words from the language they're using to communicate here (the word is shithead). ]
no subject
[ That is definitely not the only reason that her first impression of him was so poor, but he's ignoring that. Their personal differences when it came to their roles as Servants and the Masters they choose to support are totally different in his book. Plus, as is clear, he's also relaxed his antagonism towards Ereshkigal and Izou both, but he'd never admit it. ]
No, I didn't treat her poorly. Hell, she was the one treating me poorly, since she was all buddy-buddy with Quetzalcoatl. I didn't have a damn thing to do with him dying. Her dying. Whatever.
[ He waves a hand dismissively, since the fact that his brother took a female vessel makes the pronouns a bit complicated. Gods and gender, it's whatever, truly, ]
Doesn't have anything to do with that anyways. Point is, mages have no respect when it comes to the divine. First words out of Daybit's mouth after summoning me was criticizing me, and your vessel, she had the audacity to ask if I'd consider a contract with her and then say "I wasn't actually offering."
[ That's not quite the case, but it's how he interprets it. With a click of his tongue and a shake of his head, he takes another drink. He starts to quickly (but surprisingly nicely) write out his new card, but it ends up just being a single world in Nahuatl—Nimitztlazòtla. It’s exactly what Ereshkigal suggested, but he can’t write it in front of her… Not in a language she’d understand, anyways. Apparently complaining (and alcohol) give him a little more courage in this arena. ]
no subject
Regardless: ]
If your own boyfriend criticizes you, perhaps you should seriously ponder what is wrong with you rather than assume every single souls you have ever encountered to be in the wrong.
[ Historians will look back at this exchange and wonder if Ereshkigal used the term "boyfriend" on purpose to fluster or perhaps even antagonize Tezcatlipoca. But as far as she's concerned, she's only use the word that best described their relationship.
After everything she's heard today, she can think of no term more appropriate to describe Tezcatlipoca and Daybit in relation to each other. Clearly he doesn't want to use "Master," and "Priest" is just a silly way to try and reframe things. Boyfriend is super approproate. ]
I understand changing is hard for our kind-- [Goodness, does she know.] But it is far from impossible.
this is so stupid
She’s right though, of course. It’s exactly how most people would identify it. But Tezcatlipoca has never considered it, because both he and Daybit are just incredibly unique, bizarre people. Their reasons couldn’t be more different as to why, but they both have an intrinsic hesitation when it comes to relationships. And apparently, saying “I love you” and calling Daybit his boyfriend are two completely separate, disparate concepts. The way he thinks is alien, but sometimes it presents itself stupidly. ]
Huh? You tryin’ to piss me off or what?
[ Truly. What could lead her to that conclusion other than everything he’s said. It would be worse if she knew what he hadn’t said, from surprisingly tender gestures that were destined to be forgotten to mana transfers. ]
I’m setting aside the fact that it’s a terrible idea in the first place. He ain’t my boyfriend, since that doesn’t even make any damn sense for gods.
no subject
I think I understand now... Why you're so disagreeable usually. [Because you're completely helpless the moment someone sees right through you. But she's kind enough not to word her conclusion aloud, she'll allow for him to retain some of his dignity today.] Ehehe.
[ Honestly with the way she now understands him...
... She doesn't think he'll ever manage to get under her skin again. She may be wrong, of course. She probably is. But at least the playing field is evened out now. ]
I have a recommendation before I leave. Try not to use the same excuse multiple times within the same discussion. [Like "I'm a god, therefore this doesn't apply to me." The first time may work, but after the third times it's getting a tad too obvious.] I usually try to alternate between excuses so people don't notice anything.
[ Take it from a professional when it comes to lying to herself - and to the world about herself. ]