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Entry tags:
- arknights: gavial,
- culture (the): demeisen,
- enderal: jade the prophetess,
- ennead: set,
- expanse (the): amos burton,
- fate/: flat escardos,
- fate/: sakamoto ryouma,
- fate/: tezcatlipoca,
- legend of zelda (the): link,
- life is strange: chloe price,
- practical guide to evil: akua sahelian,
- pumpkin scissors: alice l. malvin,
- suikoden: yuber,
- zone-00: kiritsubo
techalaniani. [cw: dr...ugs...]
[ It’s about two weeks after the chaos that’s hit Highstorm and Springstar both. The dust has had time to settle and people have started to pick themselves back up. And in that busy time, the Shard-Bearers of Kenos are touched by someone new. It’s a mind that gives the impression of vastness in the way that other gods and similarly supernatural creatures have. There’s dark, fragrant smoke of copal, and the humid heat of a rainforest. It probably feels faintly familiar to some, since there’s just a hint of that warmth that feels similar to a certain sun god(dess)…
But as it focuses, that warmth seems to be coming from a campfire, perhaps oddly. The logs around it offer you a “seat”, whether proverbial or not, and it’s only if you take one that the speak themselves will come into more focus. But the introduction that comes with it is much cooler (in both senses of the word) than the bubbly Quetzalcoatl. ]
Yo.
[ …Is that how the newest god is greeting the masses? Yep. Apparently so. ]
I talked to enough people when Kenos was jerking me around [ no, that was me, the player, ] that Communion is just more efficient. So, for those I’ve met and for those I haven’t, consider this a more formal greeting. You’ve removed my brother Quetzalcoatl and allowed me to descend in his stead.
[ And even though he’s identified Quetzalcoatl as his brother… The smirk in that statement is unmistakable. He’s pleased that Quetzalcoatl is dead. For those that know the mythology of the Aztec pantheon even faintly, this wouldn’t be a surprise at all, since Quetzalcoatl only has one enemy that would be glad to see the feathered serpent fall. ]
Name’s Tezcatlipoca. Tloque nahuaque. [ The Nahuatl is spoken with a sense of power that’s subtle, but still raw, even though there’s no one that would understand it. Still, it conveys the idea well enough—this is no minor god of that pantheon. ] If you know me, great, and if you don’t, well. Met your god Set one of the times I was stoppin’ by, and our whole deal is similar enough. I am conflict, so in the spirit of fairness, I’ve thrown my lot in with Zenith. Can’t have two gods that oversee war and conflict on the same side, yeah?
[ There’s humor in his tone that makes it seem like it’s a joke, but… No. It’s not. That’s a pretty significant part of his rationale for picking Zenith. Thanks Set!/Don’t worry about. ]
Anyways. All that formal shit aside, easy one to follow it all up. Ain’t often that I got a human body to enjoy getting fucked up. So, if you’ve got a preference for weed, hit me up. Workin’ on somethin’ artisanal there, but I wanna know the poisons of preference for the locals. Let me know what you get fucked up on, and I might even make it worth your while.
[ …So. You know. That’s one way to introduce yourself. ]
But as it focuses, that warmth seems to be coming from a campfire, perhaps oddly. The logs around it offer you a “seat”, whether proverbial or not, and it’s only if you take one that the speak themselves will come into more focus. But the introduction that comes with it is much cooler (in both senses of the word) than the bubbly Quetzalcoatl. ]
Yo.
[ …Is that how the newest god is greeting the masses? Yep. Apparently so. ]
I talked to enough people when Kenos was jerking me around [ no, that was me, the player, ] that Communion is just more efficient. So, for those I’ve met and for those I haven’t, consider this a more formal greeting. You’ve removed my brother Quetzalcoatl and allowed me to descend in his stead.
[ And even though he’s identified Quetzalcoatl as his brother… The smirk in that statement is unmistakable. He’s pleased that Quetzalcoatl is dead. For those that know the mythology of the Aztec pantheon even faintly, this wouldn’t be a surprise at all, since Quetzalcoatl only has one enemy that would be glad to see the feathered serpent fall. ]
Name’s Tezcatlipoca. Tloque nahuaque. [ The Nahuatl is spoken with a sense of power that’s subtle, but still raw, even though there’s no one that would understand it. Still, it conveys the idea well enough—this is no minor god of that pantheon. ] If you know me, great, and if you don’t, well. Met your god Set one of the times I was stoppin’ by, and our whole deal is similar enough. I am conflict, so in the spirit of fairness, I’ve thrown my lot in with Zenith. Can’t have two gods that oversee war and conflict on the same side, yeah?
[ There’s humor in his tone that makes it seem like it’s a joke, but… No. It’s not. That’s a pretty significant part of his rationale for picking Zenith. Thanks Set!/Don’t worry about. ]
Anyways. All that formal shit aside, easy one to follow it all up. Ain’t often that I got a human body to enjoy getting fucked up. So, if you’ve got a preference for weed, hit me up. Workin’ on somethin’ artisanal there, but I wanna know the poisons of preference for the locals. Let me know what you get fucked up on, and I might even make it worth your while.
[ …So. You know. That’s one way to introduce yourself. ]
switching to action y/n?
[It pays to have street smarts from all those years of living on them. She might be new to these parts, but Jade always has a habit of learning the lay of the land when she ends up someplace new. Never know when you might need to scheme a quick getaway or something.]
Sure do. It's Jade. And, er... I'll probably be doing some standing out, myself. You'll know when you know. Maybe.
[Being a big 6'9" woman with visible burns will do that. Her days of trying to blend in among humans get further and further behind her the longer she'd been away from her country, as she doesn't even slouch to obscure her height so much these days.
[She doesn't even try to hide her scarred features anymore. But most folks don't seem to mind her much when she does end up deciding to grab a coffee from one of the notable cafés. It's still a new concept to her, but she's adorable. Always had been.]
y!!
[ And indeed, it is about thirty minutes later! He’s later than her, since his estimate had been a bit off, for one, but two… Well, he also had to change. He might be a god, but he’s in a decidedly human body, and that means Highstorm is cold. He’s from central Mexico (essentially), so the freeze of his chosen city is not to his taste. But, he makes do. Sort of. He still picks fashion over total warmth, but that’s just where he prioritizes…
He does stand out for the amber sunglasses, though. And as he looks around, it’s with a little noise of amused delight when he feels that particular pull of their connection as Harbingers that leads him to… ]
Ha. Yeah, no kiddin’. You stand out more than I do for sure.
[ He raises a (gloved) hand in greeting as he approaches. She has almost a foot on him, so he’s definitely having to look up her way. ]
Yo. Sorry I’m late. Forgot to including bundling up in my calculation. This place is cold as fuck, at least by my standards.
no subject
[It might not be the most practical thing ever, but hey, she's trying to make a good first impression. And the hot coffee cup she's currently provides enough heat to make her happy enough.
[When she sees Tezcatlipoca (it's certainly not a name like anything she's ever heard, so she remembers it well), she lifts a gloved hand of her own in greeting, smiling slightly at the comment. Yeah, she's heard things like that before, but it beats the more... racist remarks she's used to getting from her fellow countrymen whenever they realized what she really is -- a halfbreed freak.
[Such things didn't matter so much in Enderal, and they certainly didn't seem to matter at all here.]
No worries, I get it. Heck, I never even saw what snow looked like until some moon's turn ago.
[How long ago was it...? Six months? Maybe more? She shrugs.]
Either way, I appreciate you coming on short notice. Maybe I can get you something for the trouble? [Coffee? People around here seem to like this coffee thing. Or would he want something stronger? Whatever. She's offering to buy him something.]
no subject
...Y'know, yeah, why not. We'll be hangin' for a bit, and unfortunately if you want to smoke— [ He pats at his breastpocket with a grin, since it's where he has it stored. ] We're gonna have to be outside, probably. Coffee works. Black.
no subject
Peachy. One black coffee.
[The same as hers. The last time she tried something a bit more flavorful, it ended with her getting a little handsy with someone she only just met.
[Less than a minute later, she retrieves a second cup and hands it over.] This is the least I can do for now. If the stuff you got works like how it does in my world, I might need a steady supply, and I'd prefer to know where it comes from.
no subject
Well, if you need the hookup and don’t wanna go slummin’ it in Kowloon, I ain’t got a problem with it. A little smugglin’ does the heart good.
[ Well. His heart, anyways. He takes the sip and nods, feeling a bit more comfortable with the warmth, then nods down the road to indicate where to go. ]
But I’m gonna start growin’ for myself in Greenwood, so when that’s all done, I can be an actual hookup. C’mon, we’ll head that way, and I’ll give you your stuff when we’re somewhere less busy.
[ Like, he doesn’t think anyone would really care that much if he just gave it to her now, considering Zenith’s general vibe… But if he’s wrong, that’s not the fun kind of conflict to inspire. ]
no subject
Far be it from me to disapprove of criminal activity, so long as it's not gonna be a major problem for you.
[Would hardly be the first time she had to go sneaking about in order to get what she needs. Back then, it was usually food or other necessities when no one wanted to do legitimate business with an "Aeterna bitch", with the occasional... frivolous and unsavory things as well.
[But this is just Peaceweed -- or weed? Whatever the difference is. It was pretty commonly smoked, even in a backwards conservative country like Enderal. Highstorm doesn't seem the type of place where folks would clutch pearls over some minor drogae, but maybe they're erring on the side of caution here.
[Absentmindedly nodding as well, Jade takes a long sip of her coffee and heads down in the direction he indicated. The drink is still unusual to her, though after discovering the stimulating effects of caffeine, she's started to develop a taste for it.]
Sounds good. And, ah... Is that how people normally smoke where you're from, by the way? [She gestures at the cigarette.]
no subject
[ And if it bothers other people, well! They're welcome to do something about it, of course. He'd be almost delighted for it, since it's the kind of conflict he practically feeds on.
For now, though. Things are chill, which is why he's a little bit surprised by her question, but he nods. Without getting to the verbal answer immediately, he reaches into his pocket to pull out the pack of cigarettes and hand them over to her to inspect if she's so inclined. ]
Yeah, mostly. There's other ways, but cigs—cigarettes—they're the most common. Most people are smokin' tobacco in the modern day if they're smokin', and the cigs make it easier than havin' to pull out a pipe and all the other stuff.
[ He pulls it from his lips to give it a playful wag ]
Don't really give you a high or anything, but they're pretty relaxin' to smoke.
no subject
[The only problem she can anticipate in the foreseeable future is the "faction overlap" such an arrangement might present. But Tezcatlipoca doesn't sound very devoted to Zenith's cause, and Jade herself is still trying to wrap her head around the whole situation she just stumbled into to really care at the moment.
[This is at least something she can understand, to an extent. Curiously she reaches over with her free hand and plucks out a cigarette from the offered packet, inspecting it for herself. The material seems to be crafted differently from the medieval-esque technological state one could call the "modern day" of Vyn, much like most things in this place. If the culture shock wasn't simultaneously so damn interesting, she'd be more troubled by it.]
Well, pipes are how I'm used to taking my poison. Is the stuff you're giving me gonna be wrapped up like this as well?
[She isn't opposed to it, as she's always been down to trying new things. You spend most of your life scraping by on the streets or living in the cellar of some overly paranoid upstart noblewoman, a lot of things still seem pretty new. But if it's going to possibly involve a different sort of prepping process, she wants to do it right.]
no subject
Oh, nah, I just brought a bag of it. There’s lots of ways to prepare it, and pipe’s one of ‘em for sure, but I prefer it rolled like this, yeah. More convenient.
[ …He didn’t think at all about the technical aspect here, and he realizes belatedly he probably should have. She wasn’t familiar, so of course she wouldn’t know? Ah, well. Good thing he brought some of his own and some papers. ]
Can’t do much for the pipe, and they might be a different kind than you’re used to, but I can show ya how to roll a joint. Ain't hard, just takes some practice.
no subject
Huh. I'd appreciate that. I might see about getting myself a pipe here either way, but it can't hurt to know that there are other methods.
[She arches a brow at the cigarette.]
D'you use firetwigs to light these things, or something else you also consider "more convenient"?
[Fire magic would be the most convenient option for her... if Jade were willing. She's a skilled Elementalist with her magic, but conjuring flames from her fingers just didn't agree with her.]
no subject
[ Or, like. He assumes that means matches, anyways. He digs further into his pocket he’d fished the cigarettes out of to produce the lighter, which is a Kenos-brand zippo, more or less. He flips and flicks it open with a little flourish to produce the flame. ]
I prefer lighters. They’re flashy. [ And modern, which is really what he prefers. But with another flip, he closes it. ] But, yeah, you’ll find firetwigs. They call ‘em matches here.
[ He nods to the cigarettes. Since he already has the lighter out, well. ]
You wanna try one? Those are pretty cheap, so I won’t be offended if you don’t like it.
no subject
[When he pulls out the lighter, she blinks. And then again when it presents a tiny flame. It's not enough to trigger any visceral reactions she has towards fire (if it were that bad, she would barely be able to function in life), but it instead elicits some intrigue.]
That's... interesting.
[How do they work? With some kinda oil? She must investigate further after this.
[For now, she looks down at the cigarette she's holding, before glancing back down at him.]
If you wouldn't mind... I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't curious. And I'm no stranger to tobacco.
[So it's hardly "babby's first smoke". But still, she pops the cigarette in her mouth, and makes a small gesture towards his zippo to see whether he lights it for her or hands it over. Either way is good.]
no subject
Sure. Assume it’s grown somewhere in Alenroux, but couldn’t tell you for sure. Just appreciate it either way, personally.
[ And once it’s lit, he’ll pocket the lighter again, since there’s no reason to keep it out. ]
Ain’t bad, either way. I’d call it solidly middle of the road stuff.
no subject
[Despite not knowing where Alenroux is, she takes in the comment with a hum, pausing to light the cigarette like she's done so a hundred times. It's an odd taste, but not an unpleasant one.]
Hm.
[She doesn't even cough when the smoke fills her mouth.]
Most of the time I couldn't really afford anything higher than the middle, so the quality's not too bad for somebody like me. At least it's not fog sponge -- that shit will stick to your throat.
no subject
Ha, nowadays, things you smoke are pretty smooth. Time gets funky for me, so I’ll just make it simple and say a long time ago, but shit back then was way worse.
[ Limited options, mostly. He really didn’t partake so much back in the height of times when he was more likely to walk the Earth. ]
Just watch out if you ever go down to Kowloon. There’s stuff down there that’s definitely not made for— [ He starts, but catches himself with a shrug ] Well, was gonna say humans, but you might not be? So I’ll just split the difference and say “people that look way different from you and me”.
no subject
[His warning also does not go unappreciated, even if Jade simply acknowledges it with a quiet laugh, smoke billowing from her lips.]
Well, you're half right.
[She pulls back some of the strands of black hair on the side of her head to reveal the pretty large, very pointed ears, adorned with ebony piercings, before letting it slip over like a thick blanket framing her face.]
Human enough, at least. But I've traversed Ark's Undercity for some time to know how to survive in unsavory subterranean places, and I always had a knack for making myself... unseen. [Which is quite the feat, given her size.] Thanks for the warning, though.
no subject
Yeah, still gettin’ used to updating my turns of phrase. World I’m from—
[ He pauses, then laughs as he realizes no, that’s not even true, technically. The world he’d just come from had more than humans. Hell, humans didn’t even exist. But he waves it off. ]
Well, world I’m originally from, pretty much only humans, at least in the most recent society. Definitely the dominant species, anyways. Anyone else is pretty much just a human with a few lil’ tweaks.
[ They’re definitely not as distinct and different as, say, Deinos. But rather than get into all of that, since explaining his knowledge of the worlds gets complicated fast, he returns to the much simpler topic of delightfully unsavory places. ]
Anyways, yeah, doesn’t matter what you are, those kinda places will chew you up and spit you out. It’s why I like ‘em. Way more my style.
no subject
[At least it gives her fingers a nice, tingly feeling.]
Humans are pretty dominant on Vyn these days, too. Aeterna like my mother have a... peculiar history there.
[With Jade only being half of both and receiving none of the benefits from either growing up, and all of the conflicting texts, she's reluctant to go too deep into it.
[As she sighs, smoke billows from her mouth.]
Honestly... me, too. But I never fit in with those fancy pants, or even among the bourgeois rabble. No matter where I went, people saw me as beneath them.
[Ironic, considering her height.]