[ Tezcatlipoca does laugh when Silco mentions that it was the gun in his hand, since, yeah, that’s fitting. People here have tended to balk when Tezcatlipoca explains that his divinity is absolute. LILITH may have sapped away a fair portion of it, but there was still a level that they couldn’t touch, and it was things like this.
What may look like coincidence or simply irony is absolutely more than that, since that’s truly the nature of a god’s presence on Earth. It's why most gods also tended to stay in their various abodes, but Tezcatlipoca? Nah, he loves seeing shit play out like this. It’s fine when it’s not himself, obviously! ]
…Well, there probably is more of a reason, to be fair. Could guess at I, but don’t want to put words in his mouth, y’know? I understand how he thinks pretty well, but he still manages to surprise me.
[ He shrugs with a laugh. ]
I bet he said some edgy shit like “you’re worth remembering when I kill you” or something, right? That’s my guy. Believe it or not, that's a huge compliment!
[ Annoyance on his face, of course. The problem was, it was something Silco would use but to cut someone down, not a compliment. The fact that Daybit did it before is enough to incense him, and key him up, but is Tezcatlipoca really surprised? Daybit and Silco are opposites in just the right ways to make them both hate each other. ]
I would say he should think about who he sets off, but...
[ Well.
In this, they are the same. He just dislikes it being forced on him. ]
But I’ll do ya a favor that I know you’ll ignore and say that goes for you too. For once, no offense here, but you’d be barking up the wrong tree by trying to tussle with Daybit at a certain pont. That goes for anyone you might send after him in your stead too.
[ He’d picked up a spatula while talking, and he points it at Silco. It’s advice that he knows that Silco won’t follow, because it’s Silco, but he thinks it’s fair to give it. After all, it’s not like he’s being specific about the threat here. That’s for Silco to figure out as a consequence of not following Tezcatlipoca’s advice.
He turns his back to Silco as he starts cooking, but he’s just pushing the salsa around for now to make sure it doesn’t burn while it heats. ]
Gotta say, it is funny that you two are getting along exactly as well as I expected. [ so, not at all ] Though it’s probably the case that anyone I choose is destined to not get along with each other. It’s kinda proof that you stand as an acolyte of conflict, yeah?
[ Unfortunately for Silco, and everyone he keeps around him, he might not have a choice with people trying to tussle with Daybit in revenge. Jinx was... already angry. Already ready to get revenge in her own way.
His fingers tighten imperceptibly around the mug.
He can't let Daybit know that she might come after him.
He can't let him see her coming.
He can't let him take her from him either.
Silco's unusually quiet for a long moment. The gears and wheels are turning, winding, trying to come up with a plan. A way to ensure that Jinx survived, a way to make sure that nothing would happen to her.
He would make it work. He wouldn't let Daybit take her from him. ]
You think it's proof?
[ He does not address the other statement. This is his to solve. ]
You always knew I was, I think. I haven't exactly been shy in engaging in it, have I?
[ The quiet is a surprise, and Tezcatlipoca glances over his shoulder at Silco, but he doesn’t say anything. From his expression alone, he can tell that he’s hit the nail on the head that Silco was already at work for something. Tezcatlipoca wouldn’t interfere with that in the first place, but he’ll at least hope that look is because he’s taking the warning seriously.
After all, while Tezcatlipoca is beholden to staying neutral in action, it’s not like his feelings are that simple. He doesn’t want to see Daybit or Silco die—or at least not from something stupid like this. ]
Nope, you definitely haven’t!
[ Despite his reservations, he responds cheerfully. Naturally! ]
So maybe “proof” ain’t the right word, but “confirmation”? But it’s also not like you’d want to be favored by any other god, now would ya?
[ It's more like Silco was told by Jinx that she's going to "take care of it", and Silco... didn't say no. Because, well, he would never, let's be real. He couldn't just say no to Jinx.
To be fair, if Daybit hurt Jinx, Silco would not remember this conversation in the heat of the moment. ]
Well... [ A sly little smile, now. Teasing. He knows what he's doing. ]
There's still Set...
[ because he couldn't make it easy, even for the god of conflict. ]
Nahhh, that ain't the same. What you and Set have is different.
[ He laughs, and satisfied with the heat of the salsa, he starts to break the stale tortillas into the mix. He's going soft with this dish, since it just saves him the effort of pan-frying the tortillas to make them crispy. ]
Soulmates? But real literal, not romantic. Wouldn't think that's possible, but considering all that shit in Kenos, lucky you!
[ Now, granted. Tezcatlipoca would have personally intervened if Yima's plan ever made it that far. A mortal like Silco couldn't be a god. It would only spell disaster. So, he would have struck him down before that ever happened. Luckily, it didn't end up being necessary. ]
I'm better for you, is the point. You and Set are buddies, but I'm the one looking out for you both.
[ soulmates. He says it so casually. But they were, in their own way, weren't they? He can't feel Set's presence, but there will always be a part of him that feels... it. That link across worlds that feels tied to him. They had been the same. Raging fathers clawing at the bars of a cage they didn't erect, but had been forced into. He and Set were soulmates, despite his deficiencies as a mortal.
They were the same.
Tezcatlipoca was right, about that. ]
Unless Daybit decides to shoot me.
[ He says it sourly, crossing his arms as he does so.
He misses him. Set. He can't believe it, but he does. There's an aching thing in his chest, like a part of his soul feels empty for not having the god nest to him. ]
[ For most people, what would follow after their laugh would be a "of course I will", but this is Tezcatlipoca. He's beholden to different standards. ]
You know the rules. Can't interfere with shit like that. But fair's fair! You decide to shoot him, I'm not stepping in for that either. That's a conflict between the two of you, and I can't put myself on those scales.
[ He shrugs, but his tone is still light. ]
—Course, I'll be there to patch you both up after. Whether that's in this life or the next.
[ He says with a roll of his eyes. It's... well. Annoyed, but there's a softer edge to it, the slightest slip of teasing into it.
Yeah, yeah, he knows. ]
I'll remember that the next time I'm keen to pick a fight. [ Jinx asked him not to, and he'd been doing... well.
The Silco version of okay. Other than the whole rift corruption. And Daybit. Better! ]
That healer girl did the work for you this time. She was annoyed when I insisted on digging out my own bullets, as if she couldn't fathom why I didn't want her to have a knife around me.
[ Tezcatlipoca looks back at Silco, and he suddenly seems very interested, especially considering how he drops the rest of the conversation. It is, as you could guess, for a completely unhinged reason. ]
You still got it? Can I have it?
[ This probably could go with an explanation, but. Nope. ]
Lots! The biggest one would be tracking you. Like, if you get kidnapped or whatever [ again ], then I could use the bullet as material to help track you down. It’s infused with your blood and pain, and that’s potent for me.
[ He nods, and there are some other mundane things that come to mind, but his eyes light up with an idea. That’s probably something to be wary about when it’s coming from Tezcatlipoca, but Silco is used to that at this point, isn’t he? ]
…Or, y’know, we could try something weird with it.
[ Tezcatlipoca hums thoughtfully, since this isn’t actually something he’s confident that he’d be able to do here, but it’d be interesting to try. That’s much more tempting to him than the idea of keeping it for something boring. ]
Daybit won’t be happy about it, since it’ll tire him the fuck out, but, eh, he can deal with it. [ Silco might be convinced by that alone… ] We can see just how much of my divinity we can tap into for kicks. If I can wrangle enough, then we could take a peek at your future. Not this one, since I wouldn’t show you that, of course, but a “what if”. What happened if we stayed in Kenos. What happens for that other you. Things like that, but we only get one shot.
[ As soon as he says that it would cost Daybit, Silco's interest is piqued. He looks the god up and down, considering. He has two bullets. One he would keep, but perhaps he would leave it somewhere to be found in a pinch. If something happens again.
He knows that Tezcatlipoca might be nosy enough to break into his quarters if he had to, and Silco might just make sure that there was something to be found, if needed.
Ever the planner, really. Tezcatlipoca might find the possibility of That as boring, but Silco was a planner. A little spider at the center of his web. ]
Hm. What would have happened to me in Kenos, you think?
[ Intriguing.
He'd assumed he would die. It was just a matter of when.
He knew he'd been even less popular there, than here. ]
That might be interesting. To see how that would have...
[ If he would have... ]
Well. I know now that Jinx would have lived regardless, but... [ But... [
Ha, how did I know that would catch your attention?
[ That it would be a detriment to Daybit, he means. It's perfectly truthful, but it's probably also not what Silco would be expecting, really. Daybit is already formidable as a Master to be able to sustain Tezcatlipoca at all, so the worst that could happen would be making the guy take a solid nap for a day or so.
Not that he likes that, of course. Daybit's days are precious to him, so wasting one this way would be sure to earn Tezcatlipoca an earful (or, Daybit's equivalent of it). But naturally, that doesn't stop the whim in the slightest. ]
Yeah. Could see how Yima's plans for ya turned out, mostly. Have to assume that no matter what, it ain't good.
[ He shrugs, but it's with a smile. It's old news now, so who cares, really? ]
[ No, he knows it wouldn't have been good. There was no hope for him in that world. He knew that now, had... well. Accepted it isn't the word, but it no longer fills him with such rage that he can barely see straight. He still hates her, hates that, but he is free of that.
He doesn't know what he would do, if he was returned to it. If he was stuck in it yet again. Would he have chosen a different side, if he knew that Jinx would be returned? Hell, he doesn't think that he would be accepted, for certain. He would have still been hated. ]
I'll consider it.
[ He pulls one out of his pocket, to hand it to him. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca takes the bullet with a pleased smile and tucks it into the pocket of his pants. ]
Much appreciated. Either way, if I use it, it’s going to you.
[ And back to the stovetop he goes to finish up breakfast! It won’t take too much longer, since luckily, it’s a simple dish. He’s a decent cook, but he’s also not one for making anything elaborate. Tasty and functional is his style. ]
So, anything else you wanna get off your chest about Daybit? We’ll consider this a healthy lil’ bitching session, since I know you’re real pissed off about it.
Yeah, don't know what's up with that... Back when me and Izou used to try and duke it out all the time, we'd get zapped? Maybe LILITH knows that Daybit wasn't trying to kill you? No idea.
[ Tezcatlipoca shrugs, then grabs another small pan. The base is almost done, so time to cook the eggs for the topping. ]
Though, better question is, would you even have wanted them to? Like, they would have stopped you too.
But if you didn’t, then you wouldn’t be getting breakfast from me!
[ He’s joking, obviously… He’d make Silco breakfast pretty much any time, but it’s more a matter of dragging Silco out, and Tezcatlipoca only insists on it when it’s something important. He doesn’t think this will settle things (and wouldn’t want that, besides), but it’s certainly better than Silco stewing in it. ]
…Oh, but yeah, what was up with the machines and all that anyways? I missed all the chaos with bad timing, and then it was time to get outta there.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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What may look like coincidence or simply irony is absolutely more than that, since that’s truly the nature of a god’s presence on Earth. It's why most gods also tended to stay in their various abodes, but Tezcatlipoca? Nah, he loves seeing shit play out like this. It’s fine when it’s not himself, obviously! ]
…Well, there probably is more of a reason, to be fair. Could guess at I, but don’t want to put words in his mouth, y’know? I understand how he thinks pretty well, but he still manages to surprise me.
[ He shrugs with a laugh. ]
I bet he said some edgy shit like “you’re worth remembering when I kill you” or something, right? That’s my guy. Believe it or not, that's a huge compliment!
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[ Annoyance on his face, of course. The problem was, it was something Silco would use but to cut someone down, not a compliment. The fact that Daybit did it before is enough to incense him, and key him up, but is Tezcatlipoca really surprised? Daybit and Silco are opposites in just the right ways to make them both hate each other. ]
I would say he should think about who he sets off, but...
[ Well.
In this, they are the same. He just dislikes it being forced on him. ]
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[ He’d picked up a spatula while talking, and he points it at Silco. It’s advice that he knows that Silco won’t follow, because it’s Silco, but he thinks it’s fair to give it. After all, it’s not like he’s being specific about the threat here. That’s for Silco to figure out as a consequence of not following Tezcatlipoca’s advice.
He turns his back to Silco as he starts cooking, but he’s just pushing the salsa around for now to make sure it doesn’t burn while it heats. ]
Gotta say, it is funny that you two are getting along exactly as well as I expected. [ so, not at all ] Though it’s probably the case that anyone I choose is destined to not get along with each other. It’s kinda proof that you stand as an acolyte of conflict, yeah?
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His fingers tighten imperceptibly around the mug.
He can't let Daybit know that she might come after him.
He can't let him see her coming.
He can't let him take her from him either.
Silco's unusually quiet for a long moment. The gears and wheels are turning, winding, trying to come up with a plan. A way to ensure that Jinx survived, a way to make sure that nothing would happen to her.
He would make it work. He wouldn't let Daybit take her from him. ]
You think it's proof?
[ He does not address the other statement. This is his to solve. ]
You always knew I was, I think. I haven't exactly been shy in engaging in it, have I?
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After all, while Tezcatlipoca is beholden to staying neutral in action, it’s not like his feelings are that simple. He doesn’t want to see Daybit or Silco die—or at least not from something stupid like this. ]
Nope, you definitely haven’t!
[ Despite his reservations, he responds cheerfully. Naturally! ]
So maybe “proof” ain’t the right word, but “confirmation”? But it’s also not like you’d want to be favored by any other god, now would ya?
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To be fair, if Daybit hurt Jinx, Silco would not remember this conversation in the heat of the moment. ]
Well... [ A sly little smile, now. Teasing. He knows what he's doing. ]
There's still Set...
[ because he couldn't make it easy, even for the god of conflict. ]
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[ He laughs, and satisfied with the heat of the salsa, he starts to break the stale tortillas into the mix. He's going soft with this dish, since it just saves him the effort of pan-frying the tortillas to make them crispy. ]
Soulmates? But real literal, not romantic. Wouldn't think that's possible, but considering all that shit in Kenos, lucky you!
[ Now, granted. Tezcatlipoca would have personally intervened if Yima's plan ever made it that far. A mortal like Silco couldn't be a god. It would only spell disaster. So, he would have struck him down before that ever happened. Luckily, it didn't end up being necessary. ]
I'm better for you, is the point. You and Set are buddies, but I'm the one looking out for you both.
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[ soulmates. He says it so casually. But they were, in their own way, weren't they? He can't feel Set's presence, but there will always be a part of him that feels... it. That link across worlds that feels tied to him. They had been the same. Raging fathers clawing at the bars of a cage they didn't erect, but had been forced into. He and Set were soulmates, despite his deficiencies as a mortal.
They were the same.
Tezcatlipoca was right, about that. ]
Unless Daybit decides to shoot me.
[ He says it sourly, crossing his arms as he does so.
He misses him. Set. He can't believe it, but he does. There's an aching thing in his chest, like a part of his soul feels empty for not having the god nest to him. ]
You going to stop him next time?
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[ For most people, what would follow after their laugh would be a "of course I will", but this is Tezcatlipoca. He's beholden to different standards. ]
You know the rules. Can't interfere with shit like that. But fair's fair! You decide to shoot him, I'm not stepping in for that either. That's a conflict between the two of you, and I can't put myself on those scales.
[ He shrugs, but his tone is still light. ]
—Course, I'll be there to patch you both up after. Whether that's in this life or the next.
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[ He says with a roll of his eyes. It's... well. Annoyed, but there's a softer edge to it, the slightest slip of teasing into it.
Yeah, yeah, he knows. ]
I'll remember that the next time I'm keen to pick a fight. [ Jinx asked him not to, and he'd been doing... well.
The Silco version of okay. Other than the whole rift corruption. And Daybit. Better! ]
That healer girl did the work for you this time. She was annoyed when I insisted on digging out my own bullets, as if she couldn't fathom why I didn't want her to have a knife around me.
[ There's the paranoia. ]
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[ Tezcatlipoca looks back at Silco, and he suddenly seems very interested, especially considering how he drops the rest of the conversation. It is, as you could guess, for a completely unhinged reason. ]
You still got it? Can I have it?
[ This probably could go with an explanation, but. Nope. ]
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Of course I do.
[ He reaches into his pocket, to pull out two bullets.
He eyes him suspiciously. ]
Did Daybit give you the one I gave him already?
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Nah, wasn't in him still. Otherwise I definitely would have taken it! I just stitched him up since it grazed him, but it ain't like that's nothing.
[ So, you know. Don't feel bad, Silco. He knows you. ]
Seriously, can I have one? Shit like that is handy for me doing magecraft if I need to.
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He's keeping one of them, jerk. ]
What kind of magecraft can you do with it?
[ He hasn't pulled it out for him, and clearly he's dragging it along. ]
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[ He nods, and there are some other mundane things that come to mind, but his eyes light up with an idea. That’s probably something to be wary about when it’s coming from Tezcatlipoca, but Silco is used to that at this point, isn’t he? ]
…Or, y’know, we could try something weird with it.
[ Tezcatlipoca hums thoughtfully, since this isn’t actually something he’s confident that he’d be able to do here, but it’d be interesting to try. That’s much more tempting to him than the idea of keeping it for something boring. ]
Daybit won’t be happy about it, since it’ll tire him the fuck out, but, eh, he can deal with it. [ Silco might be convinced by that alone… ] We can see just how much of my divinity we can tap into for kicks. If I can wrangle enough, then we could take a peek at your future. Not this one, since I wouldn’t show you that, of course, but a “what if”. What happened if we stayed in Kenos. What happens for that other you. Things like that, but we only get one shot.
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He knows that Tezcatlipoca might be nosy enough to break into his quarters if he had to, and Silco might just make sure that there was something to be found, if needed.
Ever the planner, really. Tezcatlipoca might find the possibility of That as boring, but Silco was a planner. A little spider at the center of his web. ]
Hm. What would have happened to me in Kenos, you think?
[ Intriguing.
He'd assumed he would die. It was just a matter of when.
He knew he'd been even less popular there, than here. ]
That might be interesting. To see how that would have...
[ If he would have... ]
Well. I know now that Jinx would have lived regardless, but... [ But... [
Perhaps it might be worth the energy.
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[ That it would be a detriment to Daybit, he means. It's perfectly truthful, but it's probably also not what Silco would be expecting, really. Daybit is already formidable as a Master to be able to sustain Tezcatlipoca at all, so the worst that could happen would be making the guy take a solid nap for a day or so.
Not that he likes that, of course. Daybit's days are precious to him, so wasting one this way would be sure to earn Tezcatlipoca an earful (or, Daybit's equivalent of it). But naturally, that doesn't stop the whim in the slightest. ]
Yeah. Could see how Yima's plans for ya turned out, mostly. Have to assume that no matter what, it ain't good.
[ He shrugs, but it's with a smile. It's old news now, so who cares, really? ]
If you're interested in that, we can do it.
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[ No, he knows it wouldn't have been good. There was no hope for him in that world. He knew that now, had... well. Accepted it isn't the word, but it no longer fills him with such rage that he can barely see straight. He still hates her, hates that, but he is free of that.
He doesn't know what he would do, if he was returned to it. If he was stuck in it yet again. Would he have chosen a different side, if he knew that Jinx would be returned? Hell, he doesn't think that he would be accepted, for certain. He would have still been hated. ]
I'll consider it.
[ He pulls one out of his pocket, to hand it to him. ]
For safe keeping, until I decide.
[ He doesn't jump on it.
Isn't that astounding, coming from Silco? ]
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Much appreciated. Either way, if I use it, it’s going to you.
[ And back to the stovetop he goes to finish up breakfast! It won’t take too much longer, since luckily, it’s a simple dish. He’s a decent cook, but he’s also not one for making anything elaborate. Tasty and functional is his style. ]
So, anything else you wanna get off your chest about Daybit? We’ll consider this a healthy lil’ bitching session, since I know you’re real pissed off about it.
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[ He says, with annoyance. ] I even disarmed myself in the middle of a fight, you know. And he still shot me.
[ He got in trouble about that???? Apparently, everyone is blaming him!! ]
LILITH didn't even stop him.
[ How come HE gets to shoot and Silco doesn't? ]
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[ Tezcatlipoca shrugs, then grabs another small pan. The base is almost done, so time to cook the eggs for the topping. ]
Though, better question is, would you even have wanted them to? Like, they would have stopped you too.
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[ He says, sourly. ]
I wasn't even trying to shoot him, you know. Not at first. Unless he was one of those machines.
[ Well, until he insulted him. ]
Until he opened his mouth, of course.
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[ He’s joking, obviously… He’d make Silco breakfast pretty much any time, but it’s more a matter of dragging Silco out, and Tezcatlipoca only insists on it when it’s something important. He doesn’t think this will settle things (and wouldn’t want that, besides), but it’s certainly better than Silco stewing in it. ]
…Oh, but yeah, what was up with the machines and all that anyways? I missed all the chaos with bad timing, and then it was time to get outta there.
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Then again, when did Silco even eat that much? Tezca could probably count on his fingers the number of times he'd even seen Silco eating in public. ]
It was apparently an attempt to steal identities and distract everyone so they could make off with the sword.
[ Annoyed ]
Thankfully, the small child we'd hired kept on it, and it made it easy to find.
[ The small child.
He means Asaboo. ]