WHO: Tezcatlipoca & Others WHAT: 2025 catch-all time baby WHERE: all over WHEN: all times WARNINGS: threads will include content warnings where appropriate!
[ 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. ]
[ He may not be able to see it, but he can certainly hear it. Hell, even if he couldn’t, he’d imagine it to be there, since Silco is probably the only person in existence that hates Quetzalcoatl more than he does. ]
Exactlyyyyyy. So, me and Set, we’ll just be your favorites forever. Even if we part ways, like Set did? We’ll always be with you. Aren’t you lucky~.
[ Yeah, there’s a tilde there. He’s playfully drunk, so sue him. At least now he’s transitioning towards sleepy drunk, since his words a slurring more. ]
[ It was true, in a way. He felt it, even now. Without Set here, he still... thought of him. Considered his thoughts when he was plotting out his next moves, as if he were there still poking holes in his actions with all of the quick wit of a military commander.
Would it be the same if Tezcatlipoca was gone? Would he... hear him asking questions like he does? ]
Wouldn't expect you to. We've got joint custody of ya anyways, so no worries. We already hashed it out.
[ He laughs in a way that makes it seem like he's probably joking but also... With the two of them, can you be sure, really? He's at least decently comfortable now, so he murmurs out a more sleepy slurred thanks. ]
—And thanks for lettin' me crash, you old bastard. I'll get outta your hair tomorrow.
[ His tone edges insulted, but it's at least more teasing than anything else. He was sure they had, in some way. In some ways, Set was capable of as much jealousy as he was.
[ He huffs it out with a laugh, but after that, his murmurs get more indistinct, and he definitely falls asleep. Or passes out. It's a little hard to tell, at this point.
Silco will at least be able to remove himself without too much trouble, since one Tezcatlipoca falls asleep, it's truly dead asleep. He's comfortable here with Silco, so he's not sharply on edge like he normally might be. He even sleeps quite soundly and silently! If you're going to have a drunken friend crash at your place, he's honestly ideal.
...Even down to the fact that unless Silco is too paranoid to sleep, he'll find that Tezcatlipoca wakes up before him and leaves. The couch is even politely set back in order!
Just don't come to the communal bathrooms for a while. It's fine. He's fine. ]
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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.
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
Exactlyyyyyy. So, me and Set, we’ll just be your favorites forever. Even if we part ways, like Set did? We’ll always be with you. Aren’t you lucky~.
[ Yeah, there’s a tilde there. He’s playfully drunk, so sue him. At least now he’s transitioning towards sleepy drunk, since his words a slurring more. ]
I’m your favorite, and I know it.
no subject
Yes, yes. Lucky me.
[ It was true, in a way. He felt it, even now. Without Set here, he still... thought of him. Considered his thoughts when he was plotting out his next moves, as if he were there still poking holes in his actions with all of the quick wit of a military commander.
Would it be the same if Tezcatlipoca was gone? Would he... hear him asking questions like he does? ]
I'm not picking between the two of you.
no subject
[ He laughs in a way that makes it seem like he's probably joking but also... With the two of them, can you be sure, really? He's at least decently comfortable now, so he murmurs out a more sleepy slurred thanks. ]
—And thanks for lettin' me crash, you old bastard. I'll get outta your hair tomorrow.
the tezcachella icon...
[ His tone edges insulted, but it's at least more teasing than anything else. He was sure they had, in some way. In some ways, Set was capable of as much jealousy as he was.
He shifts, and crosses his arms. ]
Hm. Free drinks, don't forget.
🤠🎀
[ He huffs it out with a laugh, but after that, his murmurs get more indistinct, and he definitely falls asleep. Or passes out. It's a little hard to tell, at this point.
Silco will at least be able to remove himself without too much trouble, since one Tezcatlipoca falls asleep, it's truly dead asleep. He's comfortable here with Silco, so he's not sharply on edge like he normally might be. He even sleeps quite soundly and silently! If you're going to have a drunken friend crash at your place, he's honestly ideal.
...Even down to the fact that unless Silco is too paranoid to sleep, he'll find that Tezcatlipoca wakes up before him and leaves. The couch is even politely set back in order!
Just don't come to the communal bathrooms for a while. It's fine. He's fine. ]