[ His eyes light up as Taryon explains the amusement park, since simple as it may be considering who he is, he’s still genuinely excited… He’d been completely serious about wanting to ride a roller coaster, considering his love of thrill seeking. A roller coaster is the safer version of it, though it’s not like he’s overly concerned with that… But his simple excitement is just as much expressed by how he’s quick to head towards the exit, though he’ll keep pace with Taryon. ]
Nah, no bein’ humble on this one. It’s definitely special, least for me. I’m crossing something of my— Well, bucket list doesn’t seem right. But I wanted to try it, is the point.
[ He nods, and his smile cools a little, but it’s a gesture of sincerity. ]
So, thanks already. I mean that.
[ But it doesn’t last long, since he tries to stay away from being too serious. Especially with the important caveat at hand. ]
Ah, but magic and dragons is good. Makes my half easier to explain. Wasn’t lyin’ with how I explained it, but maybe just tilting the perspective a bit. The family business is teotl. Everything.
[ He laughs with an easy shrug, but there’s a mischievous tilt to his expression. ]
[They approach the elevator, and Taryon pauses after he hits the down button.]
A what? You're a god? [He turns around quickly to look Tezcatlipoca up and down. Sure, he looks stunning, but anyone could be like that.] I would think...
[Wait. Ereshkigal is a god, and she looked like an ordinary girl until she started throwing tables at Taryon. Tezca could be hiding his abilities, and just like Ereshkigal, the technology that brought him here would hide his divine features. No glowing halos, no constant flowers popping under his feet, that sort of thing.]
Well, alright. That explains the secrecy. And how difficult it is to get into dating. [He tilts his head to the side.] So what exactly are you a god of?
[The elevator arrives, and the two begin their journey to the city. The park is a train ride away from the base, but it's not a complex route - Taryon has figured out the Tokyo Metro timetables quickly in the past few months.]
[ He looks amused by the one over, since he can guess what Taryon is thinking here, and it’s fair. It’s not exactly what people picture when they imagine divinity, and to be fair, that’s intentional. ]
What? Not impressive? [ He’s teasing, since he follows up immediately: ] Nah, I’m fuckin’ with ya. Supposed to be. This look is… relaxed from the usual, we’ll say. Makes it easier to hang out.
[ He’s still awfully casual about it, but as they head down the elevator, he does glance out to look at the scenery going by. ]
It’s a big list. But the main ones? The night, obsidian, jaguars. Magecraft, providence, beauty. [ He does look back at Taryon for that last one with a coy smile, but ends it with something odder. ] Conflict, primarily.
[ And once they’re outside, he pops on the sunglasses. They’re not his usual shades, since he’s opted for the more stylish round frames, but he still just likes to have them. Having pale eyes also means you’re sensitive to the sun… ]
Ah— [He glances away briefly, but he's assured that he hasn't insulted Tezcatlipoca.] Well, that makes sense. You don't want to make it obvious who you are until your reveal your true form at the most dramatic opportunity. Not that you aren't impressive now, just, well, like any other guy. Who knows how to dress.
[All those myths about gods and kings disguising themselves to mingle amongst the common people don't dwell on how unimpressive they look while in cognito. We'll, at least this guy remains as stunning as he would as a god.]
That's a big domain. ["Obsidian" doesn't sound like a thing people would worship, judging by the religions of Exandria. People use symbols to worship gods, but even disregarding that, Tezcatlipoca covers a lot.] Are you the only one covering the night? Or are you saying someone else is helping you there?
[He crosses his arms and leans closer, smiling in response to the coy smirk.] I hope this doesn't mean there's someone more beautiful handling your work.
[...No comment on the last part. Is he dating a war god? Should he be worried? Does he mean "conflict" as in chaos or something more noble?]
[ He’s pleased at the compliment for his style, since that’s the mildest of sore points. Sometimes, you get insulted by another god who is also an aspect of yourself and you take it especially personally. Or, just him. So, it shows with an appreciative smile before he gets into the technicalities, but he keeps the same kind of casual air about it that he’d had talking about what seemed to be a more mundane job on the dating show. ]
And that’s only a few of. I got a big fuckin’ list, so I never get into all of ‘em.
[ Plus, some of them are highly caveated, since their pantheon is rather unique compared to others of their world, much less those of others, he figures. He’s also a god of death, after all, but that’s not unusual for them. A degree of fatalism was part of the culture, so all the gods held a sliver of it. It’s easier to explain that kind of division through something like the night. ]
But, nah, there’s a few of us that cover the night. There’s a lot to the night, yeah? Metztli has the moon, the Centzonmimixcoah have the stars or the Northern sky, et cetera. I’m more the general darkness. That which isn’t seen, since that’s my general vibe too.
[ …He does notice that Tayron doesn’t mention the conflict part of the deal. He’s not sensitive about the idea that his “work” would be disliked, but it’s more worth noting that Taryon seems to step around it. He’ll just see where it goes, like everything else. It makes it easy to lean back, giving Taryon’s shoulder a playful bump in return. ]
I’m definitely the looker of the family, though. [ He laughs as he rights himself, then half shrugs off his light jacket to expose his shoulders and the simple, geometric tattoos around his upper arm and shoulders, but that’s just because it’s still hot as fuck. He’s dedicated to style, but when his body is solidly human, he can’t just cheat and ignore the weather. ] And the most social. I dig hanging out with people. Figure that’s obvious, though.
[Taryon Darrington, famously bad at names, will forget any of the other gods Teczatlipoca will mention. He had to look over his contacts list and repeat his date's name over and over to commit it to memory. Without some sort of studying device, the best he will recall is "night god" and "stars god". Hopefully, the brief flicker of panic in his eyes will go unnoticed as this important piece of lore is laid out.
Darkness...how should he go about using that while they flirt? If it was the night in general, Taryon could go through every poetic line about the moonlight or the quiet outdoors, but darkness? That's good for intimate activities, but the inability to see each other isn't useful in most situations.] That's a shame, that you must be so beautiful but stay in the domain of darkness. I hope no one in your family was so jealous that they made sure that people wouldn't see you?
[If they were talking about combat...that would benefit greatly from obfuscation. That may be what it's intended for, why LILITH brought Tezcatlipoca here.]
So, you like talking with people? Your worshippers, or does it work differently where you're from and you can just hang out on the mortal plane? Because you said that you're really busy, but I don't know if it's because all of those prayers [or wars], or there's more to being a god that I thought.
[He leans in, just an inch.] I want to know what you couldn't say back there.
Ha, nah, we’ve got our share of family drama, but doesn’t tend to go like that, at least. The domains we represent have been solid since before humanity existed. No need to be jealous over what’s unchangeable fate.
[ Though, to be fair, that’s definitely unusual, based on stories from other pantheons he’s heard about… The Greeks seemed especially dramatic, so he kind of hopes he can meet one of them in person eventually, but that also seems unlikely as of late. But family drama, that’s not interesting.
The other part is a better topic of conversation, though he laughs, because it’s not exactly a date topic. Not that it’ll stop him, though. Considering this is a date, it probably works as good “filtering” in the sense that the gloomy conversation topics are just part of Tezcatlipoca’s whole “deal”. ]
Probably more than you think, honestly. It’s not hard for me to be in multiple places at once, generally. That’s the convenience of omnipotence.
[ Which is fine, but. As he continues, he closes his eyes briefly in a serene smile. ]
Like I said, I talk to people who’ve had a rough time of it. That’s cuz I’m the person they meet when they die. Doesn’t matter if they worship me or not. I’m the god of those who struggle to survive, so I welcome ‘em to a peaceful paradise once it’s all done.
[ But he opens his eyes again to look back at Taryon, but that serene smile is just a little mischievous, since he really can't stay overly serious for long. So, he jokes playfully. ]
So, yeah, hell of a lot I couldn't just say straightforwardly! I get the need for the civvie gig, but sheesh, get us all together, and 'course we wanna chat about the real shit.
That's...rather poetic. There's bound to be dead people when there's wars, even if thise wars really shouldn't be a thing in the first place. Well, I guess thats just what mortals do. [Ereshkigal may be a goddess of death, but this sounds more familiar to his world's pantheon. No one really knows what happens to your soul when you die other than that the gods are looking after you, but there is not one specific god that rules the underworld. Unless you go to Hell, then you have the devils and their schemes to deal with.] That sounds a lot like what the Raven Queen does back home. Not that I personally met her, but she's the one that ferries every soul to the afterlife. My friend is one of her champions, and he said that death is one thing that comes equally to everyone, so there's just her.
[He says it casually, like it's just another quirk of life. Walking with high-level heroes has normalized things like resurrection rituals, traveling to other planes of existence, and talking with gods.]
So, you have to decide who gets which person? I'm certain that lessens the work load, but what if someone's praying to you and another death god? [He watches Tezca expectantly. With them nearing the train station, Taryon doesn't have to pay much attention to where they are walking, and the fact that he can talk with a god — like Vax talks with the Raven Queen, or how Pike can commune with Sarenrae, or Vex gets vibes from Pelor — is the opportunity of a liftime.]
[ He doesn’t totally agree about wars not being necessary, but he keeps that to himself for now. It’s not out of any hesitance on his part, since he has no problem staking his claim on the difficult facets of life, but that’s just not where the conversation is heading. After all, it’s a bit good to hear that this isn’t exactly a new concept for him. Makes things easier, since there’s no need to explain half of the world’s mysteries like would be the case for his world. ]
Nope. The process is a little vague because where a soul ends up is kinda up to them, in a sense. Not consciously or anything, but the soul just ends up where it’s supposed to be. Sometimes that’s meeting me in Mictlampa at my campfire, sometimes I’m sure it’d be going to hang out with Ereshkigal. I usually have a good sense of it when I meet someone, but I’ve also got more insight into shit than most gods.
[ He shrugs casually, and it probably is a bit funny, because he talks about it with the cadence that anyone else would talk about work. There’s no special gravity to it, but he’s not so casual as to be dismissive. He takes his duties as a god quite seriously, but he also includes things like this in those duties. Tezcatlipoca simply wasn’t a god that kept people at arm’s length, generally speaking. ]
—Well, that’s how it works where I’m from, anyways. Don’t know a Raven Queen, so sounds like your world has a pantheon totally separate from the ones in mine.
[ Something that clearly doesn’t bother him, but that’s actually the same kind of insight. Parallel or separate worlds were nothing new to him even before coming here. ]
A champion of a god, though, that’s interesting. [ He guesses that could be a word to describe Daybit, since “Master” never sat right with him, but “priest” still feels the best. ] That common where you’re from?
[Taryon hums, then bobs his head to the side as he must accept that there's some mysterious process that determines where each soul ends up. He's no cleric, so how can he say that it's more straightforward in his own world?] Are you saying that you and Ereshkigal are from the same world? It would- well, it wouldn't explain a lot, but it's starting to sound like you work together.
[He likes Tezcatlipoca more than Eresh, although that has more to do with her throwing at table at Taryon when he was just trying to make polite conversation. Even if their date doesn't wind up being a big success, Tezca isn't scaring Taryon from asking too many questions at the risk of starting a fight.]
Not really. There've only been a few for each god in the history of the world, and my friend ended up obtaining that position. [He pauses. It may not be wise to explain how he begged the Raven Queen to take his life in exchange for his sister's, only for him to end up with the position. Taryon sometimes wonders if past champions of the goddess of death had been pushed to such desperate measures.] So now, he's basically her emissary on the mortal plane while she's up in the divine plane. From what I've seen, he's really fast and deadly in battle, but from the outside you'd never tell he's some important guy.
Yep. Her and Izou both. Not that Izou’s a god, feel like I should say, but we’re definitely all from the same world.
[ He could explain that further, but honestly, there’s a lot to explain, and Tezcatlipoca isn’t totally inclined to do so. It suits him better if Ereshkigal or Izou are the ones that take up that task, especially since he can only assume they’re both talking to people they know here about his presence. So far as they’re concerned, he’s a dangerous threat, after all. And if someone hears about that? Suits him just fine.
Besides. All of the complicated mess that is Servants and Lostbelts, it doesn’t matter here, so far as he’s concerned. Instead, he makes a thoughtful noise, since by that definition, yeah, Daybit probably is… But Izcalli would be just as much, if not moreso. It amounts to a professional interest of how gods between worlds conduct their business, but it’s still interesting. ]
That’s the way to do it, I figure. Make your special little guy too obviously special to other people and it causes all kinds of problems. For them, for you, all kinda shit.
[ He waves a hand lightly like he’s dismissing the trouble of it, then nods ]
So, what about you? Got anything juicy that you couldn’t say on TV? [ Which, considering easy talk of gods and their champions now: ] That dream of adventuring maybe not so much a dream?
Me? Well. [He straightens up.] I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to be an adventurer fighting all sorts of beasties. And I did learn a lot once I joined a team. It's just that I couldn't say that it's a widespread job in my world or that I fought a Kraken and demons.
[Despite the vast differences in technology and history, the similarities between Exandria and Earth made it easier when Tary's cover story stumbled: there was a disastrous calamity many years ago, the world is full of humans, and monsters roamed the wilds while professionals hunted them down. Magic is replaced by nanotech and cybernetic enhancements.]
But everything else is true. I grew up in a small city. I left for the wider world, and I learned how to fight. The details are different, but overall, I was telling the truth.
[ There we go. Tezcatlipoca grins a little when Taryon admits that the stories weren’t exactly stories, since that’s essentially what he’d been hoping. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with a pretty average human living a normal life, but as has been made clear, he’s personally a thrill seeker. He’d likely just get a bit bored in the company of a normal guy, though it wouldn’t be anything personal. ]
Oh, hell yeah. No wonder you got picked for this gig then, huh? Dunno so much about demons, but kraken, that’s basically a kaiju, yeah?
[ Plus. That puts Taryon squarely in Tezcatlipoca’s interest, so far as his godly duties go. If he’s someone that learned to fight, then the god who favors warriors above all else would naturally be interested. ]
You got an adventure that was particularly juicy? Big odds, bigger monsters, that kinda deal. Love that shit.
You know, you're not wrong there. But I'm hoping we don't run into that here. [With only 6 people fighting a massive beast, the battle nearly turned into a catastrophe. Taryon can only hope that having dozens of fighters here will lead to a better outcome.]
You mean bigger than traveling to the bottom of the ocean to fight a monster? Or bigger than traversing through the second layer of Hell to take down a specific demon? Well, I don't know what you find juicy, but we did get arrested down there and rescued from their torture prison before barely escaping with our lives. How's that for an adventure?
Ha— Nah, don’t get me wrong, those all sound like great ones. Was more if you had a particular favorite.
[ It’s a good set of stories as they make their way to the park, he thinks. He’s a thrillseeker, as is surely obvious, so even in partial mention, he seems interested in and pleased by the stories. Plus. It just helps with that unique feeing of fondness he has for people that face the impossible. Though, clearly, “impossible” might be a strong word for it, since if he’s to be believed, he’s faced down a few and he’s still here. ]
Escaping a torture prison, that’s a pretty good one, though. [ He nods approvingly ] A grand battlefield’s just always gonna be my bias, but that still sounds great. Maybe not a great time, but I appreciate the high stakes.
[ He almost asks for the whole tale, but something else occurs to him first that’s a little more important. It also fits the idea that this is a date, on his side of things, anyways. ]
Well, gotta ask, then. Those kinda situations, where you at? Warrior, strategist, that kinda thing.
I have had over a year of thrilling adventures and supernational suspense, Tezca. I can't select one adventure as my favorite. [Unless he excludes the ones where he nearly died or had a miserable time, then the selection would be easier.] Although, seeing that you're one of the gods of death, I did see my friends successfully bring another back from the dead by pleading with the Raven Queen. It's a beautiful ceremony. Everyone gathers in a temple, they pour their hearst out in an emotional display of love...
[Or they slap the corpse and yell at him for dying.]
And then he came back to life like nothing. It's exciting in its own way. [Although it's may be more exciting to a mortal than to a god. Taryon concludes that he should move onto a different adventure.]
We had a wonderful time in the platinum mines, fighting off beasties and corrupted angels. I'm not much of a brute fighter, but we all do a bit of strategizing. I'm the prep guy. [He holds up a fist, then a metal, customized coin pokes out between his fingers.] I set up a few spells for my comrades to use in their time of greatest need, and that way, I can save their lives while doing my own fighting elsewhere.
[ He listens with interest to the story about the Raven Queen, since he’s absolutely correct that it especially piques Tezcatlipoca’s interest. The mortal side of it is a bit interesting to hear, because if it works anything like it would for him, then the mortal pleas don’t hold all that much weight, really. It’s simply whim of the one that holds their friend’s soul. Tezcatlipoca wouldn’t be inclined to give one up, for example. Not without “payment” being offered, but that’s just his personal way of doing things.
It's nothing he speaks to directly, since the details of how those sorts of things work are best kept to himself. If anyone ever finds themselves in the situation, it’s better to be a surprise, honestly. So, he just hums out a pleased note for that part of the story. It’s at least a good one, certainly. ]
Oh, for sure. Any story that includes cheatin’ death is a good one. Or bargaining with death, as is the case.
[ But as Taryon explains his role, that cool expression warms again with interest. ]
Prep guy, huh? With coins? [ He steps in a little closer and lifts his sunglasses so he can take a better look at it. ] Wouldn’t have pegged ya for a mage, but all the better. I like warriors, but anyone that uses spells is much more neatly under my care.
[Taryon releases a heavy breath at the comment on cheating death. He has seen how often his friends had been brought back from death, and he's heard of other times they were coaxed away from the Raven Queen's embrace that occured before he joined Vox Machina. In the end, they lost one of their members permanently. Cheating death is only temporary.
And now, Taryon is stuck in another world while his friends continue to mourn their lost member.
When Tezcatlipoca leans in, Taryon's thoughts zip back to the present. He tilts his head to the side in pride as he holds the coin steadily.] I'm not a mage on the same level of, say, a wizards or a sorceror, but I'm well versed in the art of enchantments and magical artifacts. Moreso than most people in my world, where magic is commonplace.
[Not so much that everyone can use it, but more common than Neo Tokyo. He doesn't have to say that much detail yet - it would sound more impressive if he lets Tezca believe he's that special.]
But I am also a bit of a warrior as well. [He smiles and pockets the coin.] The best of both worlds, I may say.
[ He's used to the idea that there are worlds out there where magic is common and certainly doesn't work as it does in his world, but it's still interesting to him. Plus, Taryon's version is more unique. It's not like enchantments didn't exist, but he didn't often see them used in a fight. So, that plus the mention of also being a warrior pleases him. ]
Best of both worlds indeed. You've got my attention, so you'll have to show me what you've got sometime.
[ His smile is sly and a little flirtatious, but... No, he means it completely without innuendo, largely. He's a god that favors warriors and battles, so naturally, he wants to see what every Outsider is capable of and evaluate them for his favor. But he laughs as he pulls away after leaning in to inspect the coin, since ~conveniently~ to move the thread along, they're getting close to their destination. ]
But that's another day. Today? Goin' for the modern thrills. That's the place, right?
[Ah, how fortunate that they have already arrived at the street where the repaired amusement park lies. Taryon isn't sure if he's imagining the salacious implication in Tezcatlipoca's voice, but thankfully, that can be addressed after the date. There are roller coasters and displays with flashing lights to admire!]
Right here. Most people won't think of investigating here, but Elan and I did a pretty good job hiding it. It's more...well, it feels more romantic if only locals and a select few know there's a secret paradise in the city.
[There are old, worn signs pointing to the park, but the metropolitan area has given up in maintaining it. From a distance, it doesn't seem functional, but as they approach the walls, the sounds of operational machinery can be heard.]
There might be a few people here, but we'll find time for ourselves. [He smiles and cocks his head to the side — a practiced gesture for a confident date partner.] You said you've never been on a roller coaster, right?
[ He looks at the signs with interest as they past, noting the fact that they’re worn down. It makes sense, considering the situation in this world, so he can’t blame them for not prioritizing it. But as he hears the sounds that signal it’s not quite shut down yet, his smile shows open excitement. It’s a charming enthusiasm, perhaps especially when it’s coming from a god of all people. ]
Well, then I gotta give you and Elan props. Since, yep, never been on one. Hell, never even been to a park like this period.
[ And he will happily consider it “market research”, since it’s precisely the kind of thing he’d consider adding to his afterlife… A roller coaster might not fit the principle of “rest”, exactly, but it definitely fits his conception of it as a resort. ]
You gotta show me the best one, though. I got high standards.
[ He’s teasing, because while the statement is technically true, he’s going to be impressed by pretty much anything… ]
[When Taryon returns home, he will have a story about how he impressed a god of war with his engineering skills. He will be just like his friends, paladins and clerics and Champions, even if Tezcatlipoca can't offer his powers across planes. The respect will remain, as well as the fact that they were on a date. When has taking a god as a lover ended terribly for mortals?
They enter the park. Half of the game stalls are dark, with the AI running them not yet fully repaired, but the ones that do promise small trinkets as prizes. A covered tent holds crane games and gatcha machines. Beyond them are roller coasters for children and adults.]
I know, it's impressive. I'm impressed. But let's see what we can do. ["Best." Would it mean the most romantic? The smoothest ride? The one with the steepest drop? The one that has a loop?] How good are you with being upside-down?
[He hooks his arm around Tezca's and leads him in the direction of the scarier rides, away from the carousel.]
[ Tezcatlipoca looks at the stands with interest, since it really is interesting to him. The way that gods experienced the world where he’s from was truly distant. He wasn’t totally ignorant of the modern world, but the way he experienced it was at a distance. He either had to observe from up on high (so to speak), or the world itself would impart the knowledge it considered important when he decided to descend. And amusement parks? They decidedly didn’t make the cut.
His expression is fond and warm, too. He really does admire what humanity has accomplished, though he doesn’t express it in a straightforward way. It’s always more subtle like this, or even the fact that he really doesn’t carry himself in a way that would make people think he was a god.
That appreciation easily shifts back to a more personal excitement, though. He chuckles as Taryon links their arms together, but he leans in. Why not? It’s a date, after all. ]
…Y’know, good question. No idea!
[ There’s nothing that exactly compares to a roller coaster in that respect, so he truly has no point of comparison there. But— ]
[So far, this fate has been incredible, and the best part is that it's with an Outsider. There's no need to be cagey about the specifics of where he's from, and after a few trials, Taryon has become weary of researching the spot in Europe that he claims he's from. Relationships are no fun if he as to pretend to be someone else. Sure, it works if he's looking for single-night guys, but he's firmly on the romantic long-term end of preferences. Whatever Tezcatlipoca will be, it will be more fun than dating a local.]
There's this one, the Sea Dragon, where you go through this loop and you're handing upside-down for a second. You're strapped in, so no worries there, but it's feels like you're falling. [A shrug.] It's safer than being tossed around by a giant monster, but lose enough. A lot less shaking involved.
[A small line has formed outside the ride. It's shorter than what it could have been in it's heyday, but teens in search of thrills love riding it multiple times.
Taryon stops once they are in line where they get a decent few of the track as it rises over the wood fence enclosing it. The riders scream as they drop, and towards the end, high loop showcases the main draw od the attraction. The rails are protected on the side with panels with faded paint that resembled a scaly draconian body long ago.]
[ It’s clearly a good pick, since his expression lights up further. He’s a thrill seeker, so anything that sounds dangerous also sounds fun to him. He’s fine with getting tossed around by a giant monster, really, so a little safety is just a bonus that he wouldn’t consider strictly necessary… But his standards are also skewed.
Once they’re in line, he watches the ride go through its loops with an easy-going grin. That’s what he’s looking at, but he’ll continue chatting as he watches. Better than just standing in line quietly, but it at least won’t take too long to give it a spin. ]
Y’know, I don’t give my thanks often, but thanks for this, by the way. With “work” bein’ the way it is—
[ He does cast Taryon a little smirk of a glance at “work”, since that’s just how he’ll allude to it while they’re near people that ostensibly he has to hold up the charade around. ]
—Don’t get to do fun shit like this. Y’know, ever. Hell, it’s not even possible.
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Nah, no bein’ humble on this one. It’s definitely special, least for me. I’m crossing something of my— Well, bucket list doesn’t seem right. But I wanted to try it, is the point.
[ He nods, and his smile cools a little, but it’s a gesture of sincerity. ]
So, thanks already. I mean that.
[ But it doesn’t last long, since he tries to stay away from being too serious. Especially with the important caveat at hand. ]
Ah, but magic and dragons is good. Makes my half easier to explain. Wasn’t lyin’ with how I explained it, but maybe just tilting the perspective a bit. The family business is teotl. Everything.
[ He laughs with an easy shrug, but there’s a mischievous tilt to his expression. ]
I’m a god. Preeminent of the “family”, even.
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A what? You're a god? [He turns around quickly to look Tezcatlipoca up and down. Sure, he looks stunning, but anyone could be like that.] I would think...
[Wait. Ereshkigal is a god, and she looked like an ordinary girl until she started throwing tables at Taryon. Tezca could be hiding his abilities, and just like Ereshkigal, the technology that brought him here would hide his divine features. No glowing halos, no constant flowers popping under his feet, that sort of thing.]
Well, alright. That explains the secrecy. And how difficult it is to get into dating. [He tilts his head to the side.] So what exactly are you a god of?
[The elevator arrives, and the two begin their journey to the city. The park is a train ride away from the base, but it's not a complex route - Taryon has figured out the Tokyo Metro timetables quickly in the past few months.]
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What? Not impressive? [ He’s teasing, since he follows up immediately: ] Nah, I’m fuckin’ with ya. Supposed to be. This look is… relaxed from the usual, we’ll say. Makes it easier to hang out.
[ He’s still awfully casual about it, but as they head down the elevator, he does glance out to look at the scenery going by. ]
It’s a big list. But the main ones? The night, obsidian, jaguars. Magecraft, providence, beauty. [ He does look back at Taryon for that last one with a coy smile, but ends it with something odder. ] Conflict, primarily.
[ And once they’re outside, he pops on the sunglasses. They’re not his usual shades, since he’s opted for the more stylish round frames, but he still just likes to have them. Having pale eyes also means you’re sensitive to the sun… ]
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[All those myths about gods and kings disguising themselves to mingle amongst the common people don't dwell on how unimpressive they look while in cognito. We'll, at least this guy remains as stunning as he would as a god.]
That's a big domain. ["Obsidian" doesn't sound like a thing people would worship, judging by the religions of Exandria. People use symbols to worship gods, but even disregarding that, Tezcatlipoca covers a lot.] Are you the only one covering the night? Or are you saying someone else is helping you there?
[He crosses his arms and leans closer, smiling in response to the coy smirk.] I hope this doesn't mean there's someone more beautiful handling your work.
[...No comment on the last part. Is he dating a war god? Should he be worried? Does he mean "conflict" as in chaos or something more noble?]
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And that’s only a few of. I got a big fuckin’ list, so I never get into all of ‘em.
[ Plus, some of them are highly caveated, since their pantheon is rather unique compared to others of their world, much less those of others, he figures. He’s also a god of death, after all, but that’s not unusual for them. A degree of fatalism was part of the culture, so all the gods held a sliver of it. It’s easier to explain that kind of division through something like the night. ]
But, nah, there’s a few of us that cover the night. There’s a lot to the night, yeah? Metztli has the moon, the Centzonmimixcoah have the stars or the Northern sky, et cetera. I’m more the general darkness. That which isn’t seen, since that’s my general vibe too.
[ …He does notice that Tayron doesn’t mention the conflict part of the deal. He’s not sensitive about the idea that his “work” would be disliked, but it’s more worth noting that Taryon seems to step around it. He’ll just see where it goes, like everything else. It makes it easy to lean back, giving Taryon’s shoulder a playful bump in return. ]
I’m definitely the looker of the family, though. [ He laughs as he rights himself, then half shrugs off his light jacket to expose his shoulders and the simple, geometric tattoos around his upper arm and shoulders, but that’s just because it’s still hot as fuck. He’s dedicated to style, but when his body is solidly human, he can’t just cheat and ignore the weather. ] And the most social. I dig hanging out with people. Figure that’s obvious, though.
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Darkness...how should he go about using that while they flirt? If it was the night in general, Taryon could go through every poetic line about the moonlight or the quiet outdoors, but darkness? That's good for intimate activities, but the inability to see each other isn't useful in most situations.] That's a shame, that you must be so beautiful but stay in the domain of darkness. I hope no one in your family was so jealous that they made sure that people wouldn't see you?
[If they were talking about combat...that would benefit greatly from obfuscation. That may be what it's intended for, why LILITH brought Tezcatlipoca here.]
So, you like talking with people? Your worshippers, or does it work differently where you're from and you can just hang out on the mortal plane? Because you said that you're really busy, but I don't know if it's because all of those prayers [or wars], or there's more to being a god that I thought.
[He leans in, just an inch.] I want to know what you couldn't say back there.
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[ Though, to be fair, that’s definitely unusual, based on stories from other pantheons he’s heard about… The Greeks seemed especially dramatic, so he kind of hopes he can meet one of them in person eventually, but that also seems unlikely as of late. But family drama, that’s not interesting.
The other part is a better topic of conversation, though he laughs, because it’s not exactly a date topic. Not that it’ll stop him, though. Considering this is a date, it probably works as good “filtering” in the sense that the gloomy conversation topics are just part of Tezcatlipoca’s whole “deal”. ]
Probably more than you think, honestly. It’s not hard for me to be in multiple places at once, generally. That’s the convenience of omnipotence.
[ Which is fine, but. As he continues, he closes his eyes briefly in a serene smile. ]
Like I said, I talk to people who’ve had a rough time of it. That’s cuz I’m the person they meet when they die. Doesn’t matter if they worship me or not. I’m the god of those who struggle to survive, so I welcome ‘em to a peaceful paradise once it’s all done.
[ But he opens his eyes again to look back at Taryon, but that serene smile is just a little mischievous, since he really can't stay overly serious for long. So, he jokes playfully. ]
So, yeah, hell of a lot I couldn't just say straightforwardly! I get the need for the civvie gig, but sheesh, get us all together, and 'course we wanna chat about the real shit.
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[He says it casually, like it's just another quirk of life. Walking with high-level heroes has normalized things like resurrection rituals, traveling to other planes of existence, and talking with gods.]
So, you have to decide who gets which person? I'm certain that lessens the work load, but what if someone's praying to you and another death god? [He watches Tezca expectantly. With them nearing the train station, Taryon doesn't have to pay much attention to where they are walking, and the fact that he can talk with a god — like Vax talks with the Raven Queen, or how Pike can commune with Sarenrae, or Vex gets vibes from Pelor — is the opportunity of a liftime.]
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Nope. The process is a little vague because where a soul ends up is kinda up to them, in a sense. Not consciously or anything, but the soul just ends up where it’s supposed to be. Sometimes that’s meeting me in Mictlampa at my campfire, sometimes I’m sure it’d be going to hang out with Ereshkigal. I usually have a good sense of it when I meet someone, but I’ve also got more insight into shit than most gods.
[ He shrugs casually, and it probably is a bit funny, because he talks about it with the cadence that anyone else would talk about work. There’s no special gravity to it, but he’s not so casual as to be dismissive. He takes his duties as a god quite seriously, but he also includes things like this in those duties. Tezcatlipoca simply wasn’t a god that kept people at arm’s length, generally speaking. ]
—Well, that’s how it works where I’m from, anyways. Don’t know a Raven Queen, so sounds like your world has a pantheon totally separate from the ones in mine.
[ Something that clearly doesn’t bother him, but that’s actually the same kind of insight. Parallel or separate worlds were nothing new to him even before coming here. ]
A champion of a god, though, that’s interesting. [ He guesses that could be a word to describe Daybit, since “Master” never sat right with him, but “priest” still feels the best. ] That common where you’re from?
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[He likes Tezcatlipoca more than Eresh, although that has more to do with her throwing at table at Taryon when he was just trying to make polite conversation. Even if their date doesn't wind up being a big success, Tezca isn't scaring Taryon from asking too many questions at the risk of starting a fight.]
Not really. There've only been a few for each god in the history of the world, and my friend ended up obtaining that position. [He pauses. It may not be wise to explain how he begged the Raven Queen to take his life in exchange for his sister's, only for him to end up with the position. Taryon sometimes wonders if past champions of the goddess of death had been pushed to such desperate measures.] So now, he's basically her emissary on the mortal plane while she's up in the divine plane. From what I've seen, he's really fast and deadly in battle, but from the outside you'd never tell he's some important guy.
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[ He could explain that further, but honestly, there’s a lot to explain, and Tezcatlipoca isn’t totally inclined to do so. It suits him better if Ereshkigal or Izou are the ones that take up that task, especially since he can only assume they’re both talking to people they know here about his presence. So far as they’re concerned, he’s a dangerous threat, after all. And if someone hears about that? Suits him just fine.
Besides. All of the complicated mess that is Servants and Lostbelts, it doesn’t matter here, so far as he’s concerned. Instead, he makes a thoughtful noise, since by that definition, yeah, Daybit probably is… But Izcalli would be just as much, if not moreso. It amounts to a professional interest of how gods between worlds conduct their business, but it’s still interesting. ]
That’s the way to do it, I figure. Make your special little guy too obviously special to other people and it causes all kinds of problems. For them, for you, all kinda shit.
[ He waves a hand lightly like he’s dismissing the trouble of it, then nods ]
So, what about you? Got anything juicy that you couldn’t say on TV? [ Which, considering easy talk of gods and their champions now: ] That dream of adventuring maybe not so much a dream?
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[Despite the vast differences in technology and history, the similarities between Exandria and Earth made it easier when Tary's cover story stumbled: there was a disastrous calamity many years ago, the world is full of humans, and monsters roamed the wilds while professionals hunted them down. Magic is replaced by nanotech and cybernetic enhancements.]
But everything else is true. I grew up in a small city. I left for the wider world, and I learned how to fight. The details are different, but overall, I was telling the truth.
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Oh, hell yeah. No wonder you got picked for this gig then, huh? Dunno so much about demons, but kraken, that’s basically a kaiju, yeah?
[ Plus. That puts Taryon squarely in Tezcatlipoca’s interest, so far as his godly duties go. If he’s someone that learned to fight, then the god who favors warriors above all else would naturally be interested. ]
You got an adventure that was particularly juicy? Big odds, bigger monsters, that kinda deal. Love that shit.
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You mean bigger than traveling to the bottom of the ocean to fight a monster? Or bigger than traversing through the second layer of Hell to take down a specific demon? Well, I don't know what you find juicy, but we did get arrested down there and rescued from their torture prison before barely escaping with our lives. How's that for an adventure?
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[ It’s a good set of stories as they make their way to the park, he thinks. He’s a thrillseeker, as is surely obvious, so even in partial mention, he seems interested in and pleased by the stories. Plus. It just helps with that unique feeing of fondness he has for people that face the impossible. Though, clearly, “impossible” might be a strong word for it, since if he’s to be believed, he’s faced down a few and he’s still here. ]
Escaping a torture prison, that’s a pretty good one, though. [ He nods approvingly ] A grand battlefield’s just always gonna be my bias, but that still sounds great. Maybe not a great time, but I appreciate the high stakes.
[ He almost asks for the whole tale, but something else occurs to him first that’s a little more important. It also fits the idea that this is a date, on his side of things, anyways. ]
Well, gotta ask, then. Those kinda situations, where you at? Warrior, strategist, that kinda thing.
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[Or they slap the corpse and yell at him for dying.]
And then he came back to life like nothing. It's exciting in its own way. [Although it's may be more exciting to a mortal than to a god. Taryon concludes that he should move onto a different adventure.]
We had a wonderful time in the platinum mines, fighting off beasties and corrupted angels. I'm not much of a brute fighter, but we all do a bit of strategizing. I'm the prep guy. [He holds up a fist, then a metal, customized coin pokes out between his fingers.] I set up a few spells for my comrades to use in their time of greatest need, and that way, I can save their lives while doing my own fighting elsewhere.
sorry about the delay! back from con 🥳
It's nothing he speaks to directly, since the details of how those sorts of things work are best kept to himself. If anyone ever finds themselves in the situation, it’s better to be a surprise, honestly. So, he just hums out a pleased note for that part of the story. It’s at least a good one, certainly. ]
Oh, for sure. Any story that includes cheatin’ death is a good one. Or bargaining with death, as is the case.
[ But as Taryon explains his role, that cool expression warms again with interest. ]
Prep guy, huh? With coins? [ He steps in a little closer and lifts his sunglasses so he can take a better look at it. ] Wouldn’t have pegged ya for a mage, but all the better. I like warriors, but anyone that uses spells is much more neatly under my care.
I hope you had fun!
And now, Taryon is stuck in another world while his friends continue to mourn their lost member.
When Tezcatlipoca leans in, Taryon's thoughts zip back to the present. He tilts his head to the side in pride as he holds the coin steadily.] I'm not a mage on the same level of, say, a wizards or a sorceror, but I'm well versed in the art of enchantments and magical artifacts. Moreso than most people in my world, where magic is commonplace.
[Not so much that everyone can use it, but more common than Neo Tokyo. He doesn't have to say that much detail yet - it would sound more impressive if he lets Tezca believe he's that special.]
But I am also a bit of a warrior as well. [He smiles and pockets the coin.] The best of both worlds, I may say.
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Best of both worlds indeed. You've got my attention, so you'll have to show me what you've got sometime.
[ His smile is sly and a little flirtatious, but... No, he means it completely without innuendo, largely. He's a god that favors warriors and battles, so naturally, he wants to see what every Outsider is capable of and evaluate them for his favor. But he laughs as he pulls away after leaning in to inspect the coin, since ~conveniently~ to move the thread along, they're getting close to their destination. ]
But that's another day. Today? Goin' for the modern thrills. That's the place, right?
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Right here. Most people won't think of investigating here, but Elan and I did a pretty good job hiding it. It's more...well, it feels more romantic if only locals and a select few know there's a secret paradise in the city.
[There are old, worn signs pointing to the park, but the metropolitan area has given up in maintaining it. From a distance, it doesn't seem functional, but as they approach the walls, the sounds of operational machinery can be heard.]
There might be a few people here, but we'll find time for ourselves. [He smiles and cocks his head to the side — a practiced gesture for a confident date partner.] You said you've never been on a roller coaster, right?
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Well, then I gotta give you and Elan props. Since, yep, never been on one. Hell, never even been to a park like this period.
[ And he will happily consider it “market research”, since it’s precisely the kind of thing he’d consider adding to his afterlife… A roller coaster might not fit the principle of “rest”, exactly, but it definitely fits his conception of it as a resort. ]
You gotta show me the best one, though. I got high standards.
[ He’s teasing, because while the statement is technically true, he’s going to be impressed by pretty much anything… ]
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They enter the park. Half of the game stalls are dark, with the AI running them not yet fully repaired, but the ones that do promise small trinkets as prizes. A covered tent holds crane games and gatcha machines. Beyond them are roller coasters for children and adults.]
I know, it's impressive. I'm impressed. But let's see what we can do. ["Best." Would it mean the most romantic? The smoothest ride? The one with the steepest drop? The one that has a loop?] How good are you with being upside-down?
[He hooks his arm around Tezca's and leads him in the direction of the scarier rides, away from the carousel.]
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His expression is fond and warm, too. He really does admire what humanity has accomplished, though he doesn’t express it in a straightforward way. It’s always more subtle like this, or even the fact that he really doesn’t carry himself in a way that would make people think he was a god.
That appreciation easily shifts back to a more personal excitement, though. He chuckles as Taryon links their arms together, but he leans in. Why not? It’s a date, after all. ]
…Y’know, good question. No idea!
[ There’s nothing that exactly compares to a roller coaster in that respect, so he truly has no point of comparison there. But— ]
All the better, right? Try somethin’ totally new.
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There's this one, the Sea Dragon, where you go through this loop and you're handing upside-down for a second. You're strapped in, so no worries there, but it's feels like you're falling. [A shrug.] It's safer than being tossed around by a giant monster, but lose enough. A lot less shaking involved.
[A small line has formed outside the ride. It's shorter than what it could have been in it's heyday, but teens in search of thrills love riding it multiple times.
Taryon stops once they are in line where they get a decent few of the track as it rises over the wood fence enclosing it. The riders scream as they drop, and towards the end, high loop showcases the main draw od the attraction. The rails are protected on the side with panels with faded paint that resembled a scaly draconian body long ago.]
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Once they’re in line, he watches the ride go through its loops with an easy-going grin. That’s what he’s looking at, but he’ll continue chatting as he watches. Better than just standing in line quietly, but it at least won’t take too long to give it a spin. ]
Y’know, I don’t give my thanks often, but thanks for this, by the way. With “work” bein’ the way it is—
[ He does cast Taryon a little smirk of a glance at “work”, since that’s just how he’ll allude to it while they’re near people that ostensibly he has to hold up the charade around. ]
—Don’t get to do fun shit like this. Y’know, ever. Hell, it’s not even possible.
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