techalaniani. [cw: dr...ugs...]

[fursuit]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[baltimores]

[ Practically a kid is a hell of a saying to use to describe Set, for so many reasons. Because as far as he can tell, Set is very much grown. Amos might not be as old, but he's grown, so what in the hell is that actually supposed to mean...

If anything, his confusion should be evident. Just a whole lot of ??? vibes being sent Tezcatlipoca's way, even if Amos isn't elaborating on any of them.

And there are a lot of reasons for them. ]

He already killed you? The fuck for? [ Amos sounds less offended at the concept of Tezcatlipoca dying and more at the concept of Set, in general. ] How're you biased against crushing his shard in that case?

[ Because Amos figures like. Yeah. He could still do that, easily, as long as he got a chance. ]

[fursuit]

[ That confusion is fair, and Tezcatlipoca even expects it. It wouldn’t make much sense to most mortals, since it’s a way where they just work totally differently. There’s a feeling in response that’s like a thoughtful kind of a grumble, a “ah, shit, how do I explain this,”, but because Amos doesn’t ask and moves on, Tezcatlipoca is suitably distracted by the other topic. ]

Tch. By accident.

[ He doesn’t mind the lack of offense, since it’s not like he’s that pressed over it either. Death is a much more present part of his pantheon, so dying doesn’t bother him. It hadn’t even ticked up his Discord, really. ]

Like I said, he’s like a kid. So, fucker wanted to tussle for fun, but just snapped my spine first thing after I popped out of the damn ground. It’s a long story, so don’t worry about the how or why, but short of it is that I’ve got a human body that I gotta reinforce if I want to take big swings.

[ He actually wouldn’t mind explaining, but. If this guy is confused about him calling Set a kid, he’s not sure that the circumstances of the summoning are going to make any more sense. But, still. He’s annoyed just remembering it. Even in Communion, he wants to smoke? That’s the Set Effect™. ]

…It ain’t him that’s the bias though. Just souls in general. Part of my role in the world is bein’ a psychopomp. So, I got a fondness for the dead and a responsibility for souls. Think of it like a job, but I take it seriously.

[baltimores]

[ By accident—

Amos stares at him, flat and almost irritated. Because Set is being Set, which is somehow being a kid, which makes no sense but whatever. Fucker's immature enough, he can see it. As long as he doesn't think about it too much.

But also because, ] What, are you gonna need a bodyguard or something?

[ Because Amos has tussled with Set a couple of times, and it's turned out... okay? He's done an alright job in each of them. (And then there's the time he dissipated him, like, two weeks ago, but that was less a tussle and more an annihilation. He's still not sure what to think about that.) He hasn't had his spine snapped at least, and so, it might seem as though Amos is offering to be Tezcatlipoca's bodyguard.

Because he is, albeit under a veneer of being put upon. Because yeah, he'll look out for fellow Zenites. Especially if Set is involved.

What Tezcatlipoca follows up with makes him quiet down, though. So much so that Amos might as well not be there at all but for the way his form stays present, if still, and the depths of his sealed-off thoughts settle in the air around communion.

And very, very quietly: ] There're some souls that can stand to be destroyed.

[ And at this point in time, he still believes Set's to be one of them. ]

[fursuit]

[ …Amos’s earnest and blunt nature is making him feel just a tiny bit offended again. So, he’s very quick to address that. ]

No! Fuck no! He just caught me by surprise! [ He is NOT fragile (he is) (sometimes), thank you very much!! ] Look, I think it’s reasonable to not expect that fucker to come flyin’ at you first thing crawling out of the damn ground. Next time we’re seriously fighting, I’m going to rip his spine outta his asshole, don’t worry.

[ Is that literal? Who knows. I don’t. While he might get back to the much more serious topic of which souls do and do not deserve to be destroyed, for now, he’s solely focused on defending his own honor and prowess. ]

[baltimores]

[ Amos' eyebrows shoot up as Tezcatlipoca protests too much. ]

Out of his asshole? [ It's a visual he's trying to imagine before deciding... nah, he's good actually. ] Damn, Smoky, can't you just kill him like normal?

[ You know, like Amos did?? He's having to reevaluate that whole Tezcatlipoca is normal stance. ]

I mean, y'know he ain't exactly going to play nice with you, right? So if you get ambushed again...

[ The bodyguard thing is not entirely off the table. ]

[fursuit]

[ At least the offense is just turning into exasperation, but that’s a more familiar feeling, at least. He’s well used to it thanks to his weirdo of a Master who could also be… quite literal in a similar way. ]

Tch, it’s hyperbole. Ain’t actually gonna do that! [ (Probably.) ] Yeah, I know he’s not gonna play nice. I don’t either. That’s pretty much what it means to be a god that oversees things like conflict and war.

[ …That said. Set is definitely worse about this than Tezcatlipoca for multiple reasons. Most notably, he’s decidedly competitive whereas Tezcatlipoca is more laidback, even when it comes to war. ]

Look, I appreciate the offer, but it’s not gonna happen a second time. Lesson thoroughly learned that Set’s a little shit that "plays" as hard as Quetzalcoatl did.

[baltimores]

[ He brings up the whole god of war thing again, and Amos' mouth twists into a frown. Not that he disbelieves Tezcatlipoca on what he claims to be — and accepting it right out of the gate is a new one for him — but something about it makes Amos feel distinctly uncomfortable, a deep and heavy feeling from his side of the communion that he can't let go of entirely.

But at least he can puff out a breath, wave his hand off in a yeah, yeah gesture. ]

Alright. [ Why does it sound accepting and disbelieving all at once... ] Look, I played with Sunny once before. She was holding me back from killing Set, actually. So I get it. You can look after yourself.

[ The but hovers in between them for a moment. ]

But just in case it happens a second time I ain't gonna judge, okay? Whatever you need. I try to at least be reliable for folks on my side.

[fursuit]

[ The feelings are just as confusing to Tezcatlipoca, so there’s the kind of confusion that comes with a furrowed brow in return. But whatever it is, it doesn’t seem urgent for him to know. Though hearing that Amos has had his own tussle with Quetzalcoatl (Sunny? Another nickname, and it’s cute, he has to admit), the feeling turns to sympathy. ]

Damn. Don’t know which is worse in that case. I guess Quetzalcoatl ain’t as pro-killing as I assume Set is, but still. She got into that lucha shit and it made her ten times more annoying to fight.

[ It’s a big part of why he wasn’t keen to go check out her temple until now. Those wrestling moves are supposed to be for show, but they’re absolutely not to her... ]

But yeah, yeah, heard. You the team big brother? [ There’s a joke lightly in his tone, but no, he’s actually right, ]

[baltimores]

[ He laughs a little at the lucha shit, because it sounds like her. Fun, and kinda annoying when they weren't on the same side — though that minute they were was great.

He's just going to take a moment to sit with that, a little wistful feeling he's feeling more inclined to nurture these days, before looking back up at Tezcatlipoca, full attention on him once again. ]

You could probably call me that, yeah. [ Amos picks up on the joking tone, but also gives Tezcatlipoca a straightforward answer (because why would he answer any other way when it's the truth?). ] I wanna be there for my people, you know? Just the way I ended up wired.

[ And he could have ended up wired in substantially worse ways, so him taking on a ferociously protective streak towards the people he considers to be in his tribe is a pretty good outcome. ]

I get it, you being a god and all. I ain't stepping on your toes there. [ Well. Maybe a little. ] But I've been here a long while now, which means I got more experience than you. That's where I'm coming from is all, so I figure that shouldn't be a problem.

[ If Tezcatlipoca isn't so prideful as to concede to an honest desire to help, ]

[fursuit]

[ Tezcatlipoca laughs a little when Amos says he has more experience. It’s a quick little bark, a half-arrogant hmph, but there’s approval with it all the same. On one hand, the damn nerve of people of the modern day! Or Kenos or whatever… He’s not used to anything but exaltation, but luckily, he’s been well-humbled in that regard by his Master. If there’s anyone who was willing to fearlessly point out Tezcatlipoca’s flaws no matter the consequences, it was Daybit.

So, sure, maybe it stings his pride a little, but he respects the resolve in the words. And maybe just a little bit of the gall of it too. Conflict also includes this, doesn’t it? ]

Nah, I can’t argue with ya on that point. And if you’re the kinda guy that’s looking out for his people, I respect that. Ain’t an easy thing.

[ He shrugs, and his smile at least tilts towards more amiable and friendly at this point. He’s more pleased at Amos pushing for it than the opposite, after all. ]

Plus, I guess Zenites are my people now too, strictly speakin’, so they’re under my care. We got the same idea in mind there, at least more or less. I’m more on the “tough love” side of things, but you could say that’s how I’m wired too.

[baltimores]

[ Is it not an easy thing? ... Kind of. It comes so naturally to Amos he doesn't even think about it, but when he does... When the person he's looking out for insists on putting themselves in harm's way, or any other situation where he can't look out for them; when they're frustrating and stubborn and he can't do anything...

Okay. Maybe that's what Tezcatlipoca is referring to. Amos idly scratches at his neck, Lichtenberg scarring a part of his body now and so present with him here in communion as well, and his gaze softens at his smile. ]

Maybe not a bad thing to be tackling this from two different directions? You can cover the bases I can't and vice versa. [ Since tough love makes very little sense to Amos, but at the same time, so do some of their compatriots. Silco. ] Y'know, taking a diverse approach to things.

[ Since Tezcatlipoca says Zenites are his people, and Amos is inclined to believe him. That's the way things are supposed to work, after all — and the one-two of Smoky saying he's got a responsibility for souls and Sunny taking her duties seriously compounds the whole notion. Tezcatlipoca says this is how it is, and Amos has no reason not to take him at his word.

It'll just be better if Set doesn't snap his spine again. ]