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. ]
no subject
He does wonder about that, but he doesn’t feel much of anything for the potential misunderstanding. There’s no disappointment at being misunderstood or even really a want to be understood, because it’s his very nature to be somewhat unknowable. If anything, he feels a bit of empathy for Matt’s sake. Maybe it’s somewhat unfair for a person to meet him as this—a vessel that doesn’t carry the immediate weight of his divinity. As something that appears human.
…But it’s also not something he takes all that seriously. It’s a rare opportunity on his part too, so he wants to indulge in it before it’s gone. For him, this is the equivalent of a forced vacation since he fully expects to step back into his duties eventually. ]
I mean, you definitely got a unique picture of me, that’s for sure. Bein’ a Servant is mostly a major downgrade for me, but it’s got its perks. I can be grateful that the World snatched me up in this form rather than tryin’ to grab me in full. Smart of it, actually.
[ He definitely speaks about Kenos like the world itself is something with will and intent, though this is just because it’s how it works in his (canon) world. ]
I’ll just have to see how your picture of me develops over time, yeah? Imagine it’ll be a little different once I start kickin' up some conflict myself.
no subject
[ It's true that it's easy to know a thing academically. Harder to square it fully with Tezcatlipoca's laugh and his exceedingly grounded presence here, making breakfast in a tiny apartment. Still, when Matt has his inevitable moment of realization, he won't be able to say he wasn't warned.
He makes a note to ask about what the word servant means in this context, though perhaps later. For now, he thinks he understands enough to get by before coffee. That Tezcatlipoca has been confined here to a vessel smaller than what he really is, either by Yima or the forces that animate Kenos itself.
A few minutes later, his arm is definitely hurting again. He holds out the mortar for Tezca's inspection. ]
How'm I doing?
no subject
Yep, perfect. These are real thin anyways, so the paste doesn’t have to be perfect, just enough to keep the meat all stuck together.
[ He takes the mortar and starts to scrape it out into the meat to mix it all together, then nods towards another cabinet. ]
I got exactly two skillets, so we have just enough. You do the eggs, I make the
pacholas?
no subject
[ While he awaits the verdict, he sets one skillet down on what's become Tezcatlipoca's unofficial side of the kitchen and retrieves his glass. Turns to the corner for a refill. The water doesn't cure his headache, but it tastes nice. It feels good going down. ]
Don't forget to hydrate. Human bodies tend to need a lot more water than you think they're gonna.
[ He hopes that doesn't come off condescending. In fairness, the reminder applies equally to him. ]
why was there a linebreak there LMFAO.... oh well
[ Tezcatlipoca elbows Matt, but it’s more playful than something that comes from offense. Luckily it’s something he can take in… some stride. It does still sting his pride a bit, but after nearly a year of Daybit’s blunt criticisms and not needing to lead by example here in Kenos, Tezcatlipoca can take the suggestions more easily.
He grabs a bottle of cooking oil from the counter and gives both skillets a drizzle before turning on the burners, but after that he starts to form the meat into very thin patties. With how thin he’s making them, it at least makes more sense that this is a quick meal, minus the prep. They definitely won’t take long to cook.
Also, he steals Matt’s glass to take a drink of water. So, there. You can tell that he has a strong association with cats through his little bursts of pettiness, honestly… ]
Sunny-side, by the way. [ He’d probably just also eat it raw, but. ] Least eggs don’t fuck me up so bad.
no subject
Oh, [ he says, making a swipe for the glass he'd set down for Tezcatlipoca. Turnabout is fair play! ] So random people can fight you on the road, but I can't give health tips.
[ He, too, takes a purloined sip. In Matt's case, he's motivated by a sense of playful mischief, one that tends to rear its head when the vibes are right (or: when they're exactly wrong). He does get back to business quickly though, retrieving an egg and cracking it over the skillet. ]
Does food taste better when you steal it? [ he muses, watching the egg with hawklike diligence. A somewhat bedraggled hawk missing out on restful sleep, but still. ] I think your water tasted nicer than mine.
no subject
Yeah, of course! They’re fighting me to prove themselves. Totally different!
[ It is, sure, but. Is that really the point here, no. He does have his hands dirty at the moment and at least won’t be as rude as to get raw meat on Matt (especially while he is actually helping with getting them fed), but. In true cat fashion, he leans over to just, you know. Bite Matt’s cheek. It’s still mischievous too, so no need to worry about his fangs, at least. ]
You got some kinda nerve stealin’ from me too!
[ He says, after biting him, ]
no subject
Oh my God, [ he protests around a stunned grin. ] Divine retribution, sheesh! [ His attention flashes back to the egg, knowing it to ride an extremely thin line between "perfect, runny" and "overdone mess." A matter of seconds. Matt may not cook complex meals for himself, but some of the simple chemical processes of cooking appeal to him: the phase changes of water to steam, butter to liquid. ] This one's for you, hurry up and grab it before it cooks too much.
no subject
As he laughs, he tosses the first patty into the skillet, then nods to the small stack of mismatched plates. All, you know. Three of them. You don’t need much down here in Kowloon. ]
I don’t mind some extra raw meat, but figure you will. Looks good to me, so just grab one of those plates and we’ll share. No reason to get extra stuff dirty.
no subject
Maybe the second one can be for you, [ he decides. Matt cracks a second egg, this time refraining from theft or teasing so as to devote his attention more thoroughly to the process. The second egg cooks faster, and Matt is quicker about sliding it onto the plate to join the first.
A moment later, he turns with plate in hand to see how Tezca's getting on. ]