WHO: Tezcatlipoca & Others WHAT: 2025 catch-all time baby WHERE: all over WHEN: all times WARNINGS: threads will include content warnings where appropriate!
[ Tezcatlipoca huffs out a sharp laugh, since having his words turned against him here is very Silco. He tosses him a toothy little smile that’s laced with an implicit, but fond insult. ]
Nah, those are just for you. An all-powerful god doesn’t face Trials, c’mon.
[ But he gets that this is Silco’s version of commiseration and comfort. Technically speaking, this is another area where they’re similar too. They’re both allergic to sincerity, so it’s easier to express it through criticisms and jabs. It’s why he’s on Silco’s couch rather than anyone else’s too. ]
I know what you think about Ereshkigal. [ like, you’ve made that super obvious, bud ] But whaddya think about Daybit, anyways?
[ if he'd wanted sympathy, there were plenty of people he could have gone to, but instead it's Silco he's with, and Silco knows that people like he and Tezcatlipoca wouldn't want it if given. Sure, he could say the words, inauthentic though they were, but he wouldn't want them.
Silco wouldn't either. So he throws it back to him, a twist of a smile on his face.
It's better than hearing "I'm sorry that happened" at any rate. ]
About Daybit? [ A scoff. ] He's a poor conversion partner, and seems only interested in the bare minimum of what's relevant to him.
[ It's a drawl in exactly the tone you expect, and it's probably telling that this turn in the conversation seems to improve his mood, however minutely. He's still conflicted about how things have gone in the past month, but when it comes to this question? He's imagined it a few times, even if it's mostly for his own amusement.
Daybit and Silco represented perfect extremes in the people that Tezcatlipoca liked, after all. Why wouldn't he be amused by the idea of them meeting? He'd just also never expected that it would happen.]
Yeah! 'Course he's only interested in the bare minimum...
[ That's also a drawl, but this time it's with a laugh in it. Honestly, paradoxical as it might seem, it's part of why Tezcatlipoca was so fond of the guy. With how deeply Tezcatlipoca's sympathies secretly run, he understands Daybit's inherit calculus. He appreciates it. But just as quietly as those sympathies, he'd also held a closer grip on the twenty-three hours and fifty-five minutes that went forgotten. Maybe they were truly unimportant, because, hell, he'd certainly gained an appreciation for how much of a day was truly meaningless when he parsed it through Daybit's point of view.
...But he'd still hold onto it all the same. ]
You're just sayin' that 'cuz he ignored you. Don't even know that for sure. Just know that he did and it annoyed ya, 'cuz I know both of ya.
[ And he's fond of both. For whatever reason, this seems to push him into action, and he stands from the couch, however wobbly... But it's at least to head to wherever Silco keeps some water. Luckily, he's not the kind of drunk to go for more alcohol. At least not at this point. ]
[ He crossed his arms over his chest, clearly annoyed. ]
Yes, well, you said he was a man of few words, but I hardly expected him to merely walk out of a conversation.
[ Like?? Hello????
He watches him for a moment, making sure he isn't going for another round of the liquor (sorry Tezca, but he really doesn't want to deal with your corpse tonight) before he pulled his own up and took a drink. ]
That doesn't discount that you have bad taste. Between him and Ereshkigal...
[ A shrug. ] I think you could do better, if you wanted to.
That's all.
[ It really is the dichotomy of the types of people that Tezcatlipoca likes. Maybe that says a lot, but Silco understands it. Well, Ereshkigal he doesn't get, but at least Daybit was different, albeit without a personality Silco could pick up on. (Because he isn't getting the opportunity to look.) ]
[ Tezcatlipoca barks out a laugh as he pours his water, since, yeah, that would uniquely piss Silco off, huh? This is exactly the funny kind of interaction that he’d predicted, since Daybit and Silco might as well be water and oil (respectively, of course). Whether it’s their personal principles or their mannerisms, they truly are at opposite ends of the spectrum. ]
Yeah, you’re just mad ‘cuz you can’t stand feeling ignored… You’re so petty, man. I love it.
[ He takes a swig, tops it off, then ambles back over. However, truly horrifyingly for Silco, he doesn’t take the side of the couch this time. He plops down right next to Silco, hip to hip. It’s the next stage of drunk emotion—cuddly. ]
What can I say? I like projects. And you can’t say they ain’t weirdos.
[ Unsurprisingly, Tezcatlipoca just laughs as Silco sulks and sinks into the couch. He really does make it too easy, but even worse? What little impulse control Tezcatlipoca normally has is even further reduced. ]
Nahhhhh. This ain’t like Set. If it were Set, it would be like—
[ The ominous words come out of Tezcatlipoca’s mouth, but before Silco can lean away and escape, he lazily tosses an his arms over Silco’s shoulders like he’s about to climb into his lap. He doesn’t, at least, but he instead leans in, close to Silco’s cheek to—!!
Bite him. Just a tiny bit.
But of course, he thinks the little nip is hilarious, so he leans back and laughs, removing himself from being quite so clingy. ]
[ Honestly he half expected him to climb into his lap — that would be very Set, and though Silco is shorter than the two of them, he wouldn't put it past either of them to make him deal with it.
Set's concept of personal space truly was: "and set" after all.
But Tezca leans forward and he has this moment of slow realization that something is happening and then — ]
What —?
[ He reaches up to shove him away but he's too fast in backing off, so he just rubs at his cheek instead. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca laughs in delight, since he's surprised that Silco is letting him get away with this, honestly. It clearly doesn't stop him, especially not when he's drunk like this. ]
Heh, good! This is what it means to be beloved by the gods. Aren't you glad?
[ No, of course not. But as soon as Silco is done rubbing his cheek, Tezcatlipoca flops against him again. It's at least more comfortable this time, so at least Silco can rest slightly easier. He won't get bitten again. Probably. ]
Messin' with you is way more fun than bein' bummed. I'll say that. You know how to cheer a guy up, even if ya don't mean to.
[ Truly! Especially when Tezcatlipoca flops right back up against him. Less pressing, not trying to box him in this time, but truly? This is his lot in life. How in the hell did he keep ending up with these overly touchy gods who wanted nothing more than to simply bully themselves into his personal space?
He made a note of annoyance, and sank deeper into the couch. ]
Yes, yes. All well and good that you get it out of your system now, before you... I don't know, cause more problems.
[ It's a compliment (?) that comes out as a drawl, but it's not clear how much of that comes from alcohol versus just messing with Silco. It very well could be evenly divided. ]
I'll say it's good that I don't have all my divine powers, that's for sure. This is exactly how crazy myths start.
[ He basically did one to Quetzalcoatl, in fact, but the thought of him(/her) makes his expression twist up, so he just relaxes against Silco more. He's at least not as clingy as Set, but it's not like that's much better for Silco regardless. ]
...So. What d'you do when a relationship doesn't work out? Figure it's been a while, but you had to have gone through it before, yeah?
[ He shifts uncomfortably, half to get away, and half to just deal with him pressed up against him like this. The twitch of his lips says enough about the question. ]
In a way, I suppose. I haven't bothered since the incident. [ He reaches up, and taps under his eye with two fingers. ]
[ His head tipped, considering. ] I killed him.
[ To be fair, he had tried to choke and drown him, and relationship is... a hazy thing to describe whatever it had been, but it had been...important, regardless. Friendship...brotherhood... something Important. ]
[ That makes sense. Tezcatlipoca had vaguely guessed that might be the case, since it would certainly make that betrayal more significant. From his picture of Silco’s life, he feels like that event was a dividing line where there were stark befores and afters. While he does think Silco would be vengeful for anyone’s betrayal, it does make sense that this would be a flashpoint if there had been some kind of deeper feeling involved. ]
Well. I ain’t gonna kill either one of ‘em. It’s not that serious.
[ That’s joking, mostly. Obviously getting rejected wasn’t as severe as the circumstances surrounding Silco’s “break-up”. ]
…So, your “thing” recently. [ Verg, but he doesn’t say it, since he’s being serious enough. ] That’s the first time since?
We were trying to build a nation together. At some point, things somewhat don't fit any sort of definition.
I sincerely doubt that either of your rejections involved a murder attempt, but do tell me if I'm wrong.
[ It had once been everything. The little pack they had, the cause. In the end, they'd all been family. In the end, while the Enforcers took one of them away, Silco had excised the rest. Silco had always been the type to get attached. Oh, he pretended that he didn't, isolated himself and focused on the cause, but in the end... He still needed connection. He latched onto what he had so tightly, unwilling to let go.
Tezca has seen it — with Jinx, with how he so desperately holds onto her. He'd been willing to burn his life's cause down for her, in the end. He wants connection so badly, he knows the cost as well, if it's lost.
Twice now, he's lost it. The first had almost broken him, it had certainly changed him. Made him into the monster he'd had to be. The second, when he'd thought he'd lost Jinx? It had broken him in some way. He'd not come out from the experience Unchanged. ]
My "thing"? [ He asks, flatly. Before with a weary sigh; ] Yes, it is.
…Well, not directly, anyways. Ereshkigal definitely tried to kill me by proxy with you, yeah?
[ Tezcatlipoca laughs, since in both respects, that’s just funny. Like, sorry Silco, but she shouldn’t have pitted a regular guy up against a god… But he thinks it turned out well. Even without his foresight, he can see how that had probably altered Silco’s path, and he thinks for the better. Overall, anyways. It’s minor things when you’re talking the scale of a life.
So, he hums appreciatively at the half-answer. He’ll take this half-admission! ]
No wonder you’re so damn cagey about it.
[ He grumbles, but since leaning up against Silco might as well be like leaning against a pole, he shifts again to sit up. Is Silco free from this torment?
No, of course not.
He settles down again, but for something far worse (in Silco’s opinion). Before he can move or push him off, Tezcatlipoca is settling so that he can use Silco’s lap like a pillow. Worse still, this definitely seems to be more comfortable for him. ]
Woah- Yeah, layin’ down is better… [ rip to silco cat (god) law is in effect ] Feel good at all? Having a “thing” again, I mean.
What? Nahhhh. She’s not dumb. Her idea was alright conceptually. And it’s not like you wouldn’t have killed me. Just. Y’know. I’m a god, you ain’t.
[ Even drunk, he won’t call Silco weak. He knows it’s a loaded word, and besides, he doesn’t actually think he is. Tezcatlipoca just also has a broader definition of it than Silco might personally like. But he relaxes comfortably, even closing his eyes at this point. The room kind of spins when he does, but that’s all the more reason to keep talking. ]
Fine’s pretty good for you, though. Hell, that’s practically a glowing review.
You'd really kill a god that cuddled up to you like this? Harsh, man.
[ He's clearly joking. He knows Silco would, and probably without much hesitation at all, if push came to shove. The concession that Tezcatlipoca gets is more that Silco would have to be really pushed to kill him, and he knows it. It's also why he doesn't take the attempt in the Underworld personally, though it's also hard to imagine Tezcatlipoca taking much personally. ]
And, hey, not sayin' you have to kiss and tell. But you're my guy, so I look after ya, y'know? Believe it or not, I care about your happiness. So, this is part of that. Or I guess it's more that I'm surprised it could be part of that, but it's good.
[ But it did have to be a really good reason. At this point, Tezcatlipoca has hit the 'accommodation' point of knowing Silco, which means it really does have to be something truly bad.
Hell, even spilling his secrets only got a punch out of him. Imagine if it was someone else?
Tezca, though, says something surprisingly genuine. And Silco... His mouth does this thing where it moves, just for a half second, as if unimpeded by all the layers of pretense, before he closes it, and closes his eye in turn. ]
I [ am too ] hadn't anticipated it. I don't necessarily make a habit of keeping people around.
[ It's not true, but it is. Being here was different. Maybe because he'd died enough in Kenos, maybe because he'd isolated himself so much before when he'd been there, maybe it was the relief of Jinx being alive, or maybe it was the implants, or maybe it was because he'd forged a scant few connections through Set and Tezcatlipoca that were odd and hadn't broken. In fact, they were oddly stronger. Here the god was, on his couch. Laying on him like Jinx did when she was younger. ]
I'll keep that little thing about 'caring about my happiness' [lol. lmao. ] in mind, the next time you decide to subject me to another trial. [ A roll of his eyes. ] We'll see if it holds the weight.
You should. Know that’s not all your fault, since you’re an unlucky son of a bitch, but people still like ya. Don’t need to push ‘em away just ‘cuz.
[ The one mercy here is that Tezcatlipoca seems to be settling down. His eyes remain closed rather than look at Silco, but it’s not like he needs to. He might miss details, like how his expression flutters at the observation, but Tezcatlipoca still hears it in his words. That chaotic, rowdy part of his personality is giving way to the part that’s more pensive and wise as he relaxes.
…Though, he’s still in Silco’s lap, so. If he really falls asleep like this, Silco is also going to learn if he’s a heavy sleeper or not. At least it won’t be that hard to free himself. He trusts Silco, so he’ll be a heavier sleeper around him. ]
And, hey, you can keep it in mind, but if you’re thinkin’ about it that way, you’re starting off all wrong. I care about ya, so I’ll put ya through hell too. You like being strong, right? It’s like that. What doesn’t kill you, and whatever.
[ He waves a hand playfully and lazily rather than finish the saying. Silco gets it. ]
[ Transactional arrangements, give and take, ones purchased with money or with loyalty, those were the only ways that things could last. He could always outbid a competitor, and he knew that with loyalty to a cause, all one had to do was Truly be loyal to it, like Sevika.
Anything more than that was... dangerous. He'd still done it. He'd allowed it to happen. First with Set, then with Tezcatlipoca. Then here, with...
He's still waiting for it to drop. The pin. For it all to come crashing down again. It had to. It would. He wasn't that lucky, to even allow for companionship. (How foolish that he allowed it to happen.) ]
Well... [ He likes the second line of conversation better. Let's go with that!! ] You think I haven't had enough opportunities to overcome my flaws? [ But no, he knows what he means. ]
Story of my life, I suppose. I can't even know the easy gods, no. I have to get picked by the one who says he'll put me through hell with a smile on his face, and a promise of caring.
[ But even that was...fond. As if Silco would allow it otherwise. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca does open his eyes at that "it's easier". It's that piercing blue, that gaze that makes it just feel like Tezcatlipoca is looking past him into some deep, hidden part of his soul. The expression is softer—gentle, even—because at least with the buzz of alcohol in his blood, there's a little more honesty than the pretense of separation he keeps up normally.
There's something he wants to say, clearly. Something sentimental and maybe even profound. ]
[ ...But also because of the alcohol, the distraction works. Tezcatlipoca bursts into a laugh that's a solid pfffft first, and he grins as he closes his eyes again. ]
Ha! You knew the easy god, remember? Then you killed him! So, yeah, you're stuck with me forever. None of the nice gods are gonna come visit you anymore, so get used to it.
[ Maybe the distraction spares him the embarrassment of being truly subject to Tezcatlipoca's sincerity — and truly, perhaps Silco's had enough of that to last him for a bit. Let him sit with this for a bit at least.
So he just snorts under his breath, and exhales a plume of smoke through his nose as he does it. ]
Oh no. [ A long inhale. ] Deprived the experience of dealing with gods like him again. [ Even if he can't see it, he rolls his eyes. ]
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no subject
Nah, those are just for you. An all-powerful god doesn’t face Trials, c’mon.
[ But he gets that this is Silco’s version of commiseration and comfort. Technically speaking, this is another area where they’re similar too. They’re both allergic to sincerity, so it’s easier to express it through criticisms and jabs. It’s why he’s on Silco’s couch rather than anyone else’s too. ]
I know what you think about Ereshkigal. [ like, you’ve made that super obvious, bud ] But whaddya think about Daybit, anyways?
no subject
[ if he'd wanted sympathy, there were plenty of people he could have gone to, but instead it's Silco he's with, and Silco knows that people like he and Tezcatlipoca wouldn't want it if given. Sure, he could say the words, inauthentic though they were, but he wouldn't want them.
Silco wouldn't either. So he throws it back to him, a twist of a smile on his face.
It's better than hearing "I'm sorry that happened" at any rate. ]
About Daybit? [ A scoff. ] He's a poor conversion partner, and seems only interested in the bare minimum of what's relevant to him.
Honestly? I think you have bad taste.
no subject
[ It's a drawl in exactly the tone you expect, and it's probably telling that this turn in the conversation seems to improve his mood, however minutely. He's still conflicted about how things have gone in the past month, but when it comes to this question? He's imagined it a few times, even if it's mostly for his own amusement.
Daybit and Silco represented perfect extremes in the people that Tezcatlipoca liked, after all. Why wouldn't he be amused by the idea of them meeting? He'd just also never expected that it would happen.]
Yeah! 'Course he's only interested in the bare minimum...
[ That's also a drawl, but this time it's with a laugh in it. Honestly, paradoxical as it might seem, it's part of why Tezcatlipoca was so fond of the guy. With how deeply Tezcatlipoca's sympathies secretly run, he understands Daybit's inherit calculus. He appreciates it. But just as quietly as those sympathies, he'd also held a closer grip on the twenty-three hours and fifty-five minutes that went forgotten. Maybe they were truly unimportant, because, hell, he'd certainly gained an appreciation for how much of a day was truly meaningless when he parsed it through Daybit's point of view.
...But he'd still hold onto it all the same. ]
You're just sayin' that 'cuz he ignored you. Don't even know that for sure. Just know that he did and it annoyed ya, 'cuz I know both of ya.
[ And he's fond of both. For whatever reason, this seems to push him into action, and he stands from the couch, however wobbly... But it's at least to head to wherever Silco keeps some water. Luckily, he's not the kind of drunk to go for more alcohol. At least not at this point. ]
no subject
Yes, well, you said he was a man of few words, but I hardly expected him to merely walk out of a conversation.
[ Like?? Hello????
He watches him for a moment, making sure he isn't going for another round of the liquor (sorry Tezca, but he really doesn't want to deal with your corpse tonight) before he pulled his own up and took a drink. ]
That doesn't discount that you have bad taste. Between him and Ereshkigal...
[ A shrug. ] I think you could do better, if you wanted to.
That's all.
[ It really is the dichotomy of the types of people that Tezcatlipoca likes. Maybe that says a lot, but Silco understands it. Well, Ereshkigal he doesn't get, but at least Daybit was different, albeit without a personality Silco could pick up on. (Because he isn't getting the opportunity to look.) ]
you've missed set right silco well,
[ Tezcatlipoca barks out a laugh as he pours his water, since, yeah, that would uniquely piss Silco off, huh? This is exactly the funny kind of interaction that he’d predicted, since Daybit and Silco might as well be water and oil (respectively, of course). Whether it’s their personal principles or their mannerisms, they truly are at opposite ends of the spectrum. ]
Yeah, you’re just mad ‘cuz you can’t stand feeling ignored… You’re so petty, man. I love it.
[ He takes a swig, tops it off, then ambles back over. However, truly horrifyingly for Silco, he doesn’t take the side of the couch this time. He plops down right next to Silco, hip to hip. It’s the next stage of drunk emotion—cuddly. ]
What can I say? I like projects. And you can’t say they ain’t weirdos.
[ Said fondly, of course. ]
HELPSJBS
What are you doing? [ And then, low and annoyed: ] With Set gone, I thought I was free of this nonsense.
[ And yet. He doesn't stop him, just sinks further into the couch like he's offended.
Unfortunately — Silco has a fatal flaw in these situations: he always accommodates. ]
They are odd. Maybe you should choose different projects with better yield.
[ Silco??? ]
coin flipped
Nahhhhh. This ain’t like Set. If it were Set, it would be like—
[ The ominous words come out of Tezcatlipoca’s mouth, but before Silco can lean away and escape, he lazily tosses an his arms over Silco’s shoulders like he’s about to climb into his lap. He doesn’t, at least, but he instead leans in, close to Silco’s cheek to—!!
Bite him. Just a tiny bit.
But of course, he thinks the little nip is hilarious, so he leans back and laughs, removing himself from being quite so clingy. ]
Yeah, like that! He’d bite me all the time!
no subject
Set's concept of personal space truly was: "and set" after all.
But Tezca leans forward and he has this moment of slow realization that something is happening and then — ]
What —?
[ He reaches up to shove him away but he's too fast in backing off, so he just rubs at his cheek instead. ]
How can I miss Set when he's never left?
[ He sounds truly like he's pouting more. ]
no subject
Heh, good! This is what it means to be beloved by the gods. Aren't you glad?
[ No, of course not. But as soon as Silco is done rubbing his cheek, Tezcatlipoca flops against him again. It's at least more comfortable this time, so at least Silco can rest slightly easier. He won't get bitten again. Probably. ]
Messin' with you is way more fun than bein' bummed. I'll say that. You know how to cheer a guy up, even if ya don't mean to.
no subject
With being beloved by gods, who needs enemies?
[ Truly! Especially when Tezcatlipoca flops right back up against him. Less pressing, not trying to box him in this time, but truly? This is his lot in life. How in the hell did he keep ending up with these overly touchy gods who wanted nothing more than to simply bully themselves into his personal space?
He made a note of annoyance, and sank deeper into the couch. ]
Yes, yes. All well and good that you get it out of your system now, before you... I don't know, cause more problems.
no subject
[ It's a compliment (?) that comes out as a drawl, but it's not clear how much of that comes from alcohol versus just messing with Silco. It very well could be evenly divided. ]
I'll say it's good that I don't have all my divine powers, that's for sure. This is exactly how crazy myths start.
[ He basically did one to Quetzalcoatl, in fact, but the thought of him(/her) makes his expression twist up, so he just relaxes against Silco more. He's at least not as clingy as Set, but it's not like that's much better for Silco regardless. ]
...So. What d'you do when a relationship doesn't work out? Figure it's been a while, but you had to have gone through it before, yeah?
no subject
In a way, I suppose. I haven't bothered since the incident. [ He reaches up, and taps under his eye with two fingers. ]
[ His head tipped, considering. ] I killed him.
[ To be fair, he had tried to choke and drown him, and relationship is... a hazy thing to describe whatever it had been, but it had been...important, regardless. Friendship...brotherhood... something Important. ]
no subject
[ That makes sense. Tezcatlipoca had vaguely guessed that might be the case, since it would certainly make that betrayal more significant. From his picture of Silco’s life, he feels like that event was a dividing line where there were stark befores and afters. While he does think Silco would be vengeful for anyone’s betrayal, it does make sense that this would be a flashpoint if there had been some kind of deeper feeling involved. ]
Well. I ain’t gonna kill either one of ‘em. It’s not that serious.
[ That’s joking, mostly. Obviously getting rejected wasn’t as severe as the circumstances surrounding Silco’s “break-up”. ]
…So, your “thing” recently. [ Verg, but he doesn’t say it, since he’s being serious enough. ] That’s the first time since?
no subject
I sincerely doubt that either of your rejections involved a murder attempt, but do tell me if I'm wrong.
[ It had once been everything. The little pack they had, the cause. In the end, they'd all been family. In the end, while the Enforcers took one of them away, Silco had excised the rest. Silco had always been the type to get attached. Oh, he pretended that he didn't, isolated himself and focused on the cause, but in the end... He still needed connection. He latched onto what he had so tightly, unwilling to let go.
Tezca has seen it — with Jinx, with how he so desperately holds onto her. He'd been willing to burn his life's cause down for her, in the end. He wants connection so badly, he knows the cost as well, if it's lost.
Twice now, he's lost it. The first had almost broken him, it had certainly changed him. Made him into the monster he'd had to be. The second, when he'd thought he'd lost Jinx? It had broken him in some way. He'd not come out from the experience Unchanged. ]
My "thing"? [ He asks, flatly. Before with a weary sigh; ] Yes, it is.
cat behavior
[ Tezcatlipoca laughs, since in both respects, that’s just funny. Like, sorry Silco, but she shouldn’t have pitted a regular guy up against a god… But he thinks it turned out well. Even without his foresight, he can see how that had probably altered Silco’s path, and he thinks for the better. Overall, anyways. It’s minor things when you’re talking the scale of a life.
So, he hums appreciatively at the half-answer. He’ll take this half-admission! ]
No wonder you’re so damn cagey about it.
[ He grumbles, but since leaning up against Silco might as well be like leaning against a pole, he shifts again to sit up. Is Silco free from this torment?
No, of course not.
He settles down again, but for something far worse (in Silco’s opinion). Before he can move or push him off, Tezcatlipoca is settling so that he can use Silco’s lap like a pillow. Worse still, this definitely seems to be more comfortable for him. ]
Woah- Yeah, layin’ down is better… [ rip to silco cat (god) law is in effect ] Feel good at all? Having a “thing” again, I mean.
PLEASE!!!!
[ That's what he thinks, anyway.
But then...
There he goes. Cat behavior, truly. He very nearly starts to push him off before Tezcatlipoca sinks down and is just hanging out in his lap. ]
Will you —?
[ Silco, unfortunately, is stuck here. Thanks!! He can't even push him off now, not really. He ain't that strong. ]
It's fine.
[ He lies. It's more than fine, even he with his inability to self reflect knows that it is.]
no subject
[ Even drunk, he won’t call Silco weak. He knows it’s a loaded word, and besides, he doesn’t actually think he is. Tezcatlipoca just also has a broader definition of it than Silco might personally like. But he relaxes comfortably, even closing his eyes at this point. The room kind of spins when he does, but that’s all the more reason to keep talking. ]
Fine’s pretty good for you, though. Hell, that’s practically a glowing review.
no subject
[ Or maybe he's just bullshitting him. It's mostly that.
He shifts, and drinks. ]
It's just fine. No need to make it out to be anything more than that.
no subject
[ He's clearly joking. He knows Silco would, and probably without much hesitation at all, if push came to shove. The concession that Tezcatlipoca gets is more that Silco would have to be really pushed to kill him, and he knows it. It's also why he doesn't take the attempt in the Underworld personally, though it's also hard to imagine Tezcatlipoca taking much personally. ]
And, hey, not sayin' you have to kiss and tell. But you're my guy, so I look after ya, y'know? Believe it or not, I care about your happiness. So, this is part of that. Or I guess it's more that I'm surprised it could be part of that, but it's good.
no subject
[ But it did have to be a really good reason. At this point, Tezcatlipoca has hit the 'accommodation' point of knowing Silco, which means it really does have to be something truly bad.
Hell, even spilling his secrets only got a punch out of him. Imagine if it was someone else?
Tezca, though, says something surprisingly genuine. And Silco... His mouth does this thing where it moves, just for a half second, as if unimpeded by all the layers of pretense, before he closes it, and closes his eye in turn. ]
I [ am too ] hadn't anticipated it. I don't necessarily make a habit of keeping people around.
[ It's not true, but it is. Being here was different. Maybe because he'd died enough in Kenos, maybe because he'd isolated himself so much before when he'd been there, maybe it was the relief of Jinx being alive, or maybe it was the implants, or maybe it was because he'd forged a scant few connections through Set and Tezcatlipoca that were odd and hadn't broken. In fact, they were oddly stronger. Here the god was, on his couch. Laying on him like Jinx did when she was younger. ]
I'll keep that little thing about 'caring about my happiness' [lol. lmao. ] in mind, the next time you decide to subject me to another trial. [ A roll of his eyes. ] We'll see if it holds the weight.
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[ The one mercy here is that Tezcatlipoca seems to be settling down. His eyes remain closed rather than look at Silco, but it’s not like he needs to. He might miss details, like how his expression flutters at the observation, but Tezcatlipoca still hears it in his words. That chaotic, rowdy part of his personality is giving way to the part that’s more pensive and wise as he relaxes.
…Though, he’s still in Silco’s lap, so. If he really falls asleep like this, Silco is also going to learn if he’s a heavy sleeper or not. At least it won’t be that hard to free himself. He trusts Silco, so he’ll be a heavier sleeper around him. ]
And, hey, you can keep it in mind, but if you’re thinkin’ about it that way, you’re starting off all wrong. I care about ya, so I’ll put ya through hell too. You like being strong, right? It’s like that. What doesn’t kill you, and whatever.
[ He waves a hand playfully and lazily rather than finish the saying. Silco gets it. ]
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It's easier.
[ Transactional arrangements, give and take, ones purchased with money or with loyalty, those were the only ways that things could last. He could always outbid a competitor, and he knew that with loyalty to a cause, all one had to do was Truly be loyal to it, like Sevika.
Anything more than that was... dangerous. He'd still done it. He'd allowed it to happen. First with Set, then with Tezcatlipoca. Then here, with...
He's still waiting for it to drop. The pin. For it all to come crashing down again. It had to. It would. He wasn't that lucky, to even allow for companionship. (How foolish that he allowed it to happen.) ]
Well... [ He likes the second line of conversation better. Let's go with that!! ] You think I haven't had enough opportunities to overcome my flaws? [ But no, he knows what he means. ]
Story of my life, I suppose. I can't even know the easy gods, no. I have to get picked by the one who says he'll put me through hell with a smile on his face, and a promise of caring.
[ But even that was...fond. As if Silco would allow it otherwise. ]
1/2
There's something he wants to say, clearly. Something sentimental and maybe even profound. ]
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Ha! You knew the easy god, remember? Then you killed him! So, yeah, you're stuck with me forever. None of the nice gods are gonna come visit you anymore, so get used to it.
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So he just snorts under his breath, and exhales a plume of smoke through his nose as he does it. ]
Oh no. [ A long inhale. ] Deprived the experience of dealing with gods like him again. [ Even if he can't see it, he rolls his eyes. ]
I can hardly consider it a loss.
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the tezcachella icon...
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