[ Tezcatlipoca scoffs, since he doesn’t quite believe it, but he lets it go… Well, mostly. His tail does whip a bit more quickly like he’s considering pouncing, but it slows by the time he removes the mask to receive Link’s surprise. ]
Tezcatlipoca.
[ He corrects the shortening firmly, since he’s definitely less lenient on it than Quetzalcoatl ever was. It’s important to him because of his own arrogance, but also because it is something that holds meaning and power. Even a god’s name was a piece of divinity, at least to his pantheon. Plus. It sounds odd to his ear, since it’s cutting off a word before its last syllable. Not that he’s inclined to explain or give a lesson in Nahuatl, though…
He lowers his hand with the mask to cock it on his hip, and he laughs to the surprise. ]
Yeah, you should’ve. Didn’t realize you were a warrior. Still gotta sharpen my senses in Communion, I guess. [ Since normally, he would be able to just sniff it out, more or less. ] But same as you and that other guy, I’m guessin’. I dig it out here. Feels more “homey”.
[ The correction causes Link to frown sheepishly, like he's being scolded for something he immediately knows he shouldn't have done. ]
S-Sorry. Tezcatlipoca.
[ Lowering his bow and slipping the arrow back into his quiver, Link stands and steps around the makeshift fortification he'd been crouching behind. It's not skillful enough to be a proper cheval de fries, but too elaborate for two guys with no tools to have built on their own. ]
Other guy... you mean Drizzt? You met him?
[ He hasn't seen Drizzt for a few days, but that's pretty normal ever since they started "living together" out here. Even this camp is only temporary, easily abandoned and reestablished elsewhere if the need arises.
Link gestures for Tezca to take a seat as he hefts a new log into the fire. ]
He's not here, if you're looking for him, but you're welcome to stay. Are you hungry?
[ Do gods eat?? Maybe not. Probably not? But it feels weird not to offer him something, especially after he nearly shot an arrow at him and got too friendly with his name. ]
there's no gif but this is like a magical transformation in reverse ftr
[ In part, he’s a little disappointed that Link gives up the fight that easily, but in another, he’s not surprised. Link was more devout than most of the people here, and thus maybe wiser to know better than to tangle with a god. However arrogant it may be, Tezcatlipoca doesn’t imagine it would go well for him, after all. Even condensed from a Divine Spirit into a human body and a Servant, his power was great enough that few could rival it.
So, though his tail waves curiously for a few more strokes, he shrugs as Link starts to step around the fortifications. There’s a burst of tangible energy that feels warm against the skin, since it’s raw magical that sloughs off Tezcatlipoca as the odd armor he wears bursts into golden light that doesn’t linger long. It doesn’t even illuminate the area any more than the fire, but as it fades, it shows him in the same way that he’d been in Communion. It’s even complete with the sunglasses, though he reaches up to take them off, since it’s too dark at this time. ]
Ha, yeah. He’s one of the first Shard-Bearers I met here. First time around, I mean.
[ because I am a BULLY!! And kept tossing him into tdms. Get wrecked, idiot. ]
I ain’t lookin’ for him, though. Technically, wasn’t lookin’ for anyone, but when I noticed you were hanging around here—
[ Tezcatlipoca approaches the campfire and with a nod as he takes a seat, reaches into his jacket pocket. He pulls out a small, roughly stitched burlap bag , and once Link is finished adding another log, he tosses it his way. It’d be tragic for it to just fall in the fire if it missed. ]
Got a gift. Just as promised.
[ And, honestly. Link can probably smell it as soon as he catches it. It is, as the kids say, loud. ]
[ The burst of warmth and light makes Link squint, and when he finds Tezca standing before him in the same casual wear he sensed from him over Communion, all he can do is blink. His fearsome appearance from before was fitting for a god of darkness, but now he just looks like... well, a weed dealer.
He deftly catches the bag, and after another curious glance towards him, he unties the string keeping it closed. An oily, musky odor immediately erupts from the bag as soon as it's open. ]
This is... the weed from your world? The one that gets you drunk?
[ Huh. Frankly, it smells pretty bad. But, hey, his curiosity hasn't done anywhere since the first time they talked. But Tezca might want to intervene, and quickly — Link reaches into the bag, takes out a large, sticky bud, and starts to bring it to his mouth. To eat. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca starts to explain it cooly, but when Link takes out a nug and is about to fuckin eat it, he holds up his hand in the universal gesture for stop, and he’s quick to start to step over to Link’s side of the fire. ]
Woah, woah, wait, it’s for smokin’! Not eating! Not like that anyways.
[ …He’s never tried, but he has to assume that tastes terrible. Plus, would it even do anything? What a waste!! At least he’s already given some to Jade at this point, so he’s not totally thrown off. It’s more the immediacy with which Link was ready to eat it over anything else.
He clicks his tongue, a softly annoyed tch, then opens up his jacket to access an inner pocket and plops down on Link’s side of the fire instead. He’d brought some because he’d figured he might have to show Link how to do this, same way as he had for Jade, so he pulls out a few pieces of what looks like paper. ]
I figured you needed to chill out, but not that bad.
[ It's not like Link was scarfing it down in a hurry, so when Tezca hurries over to stop him, he easily saves Link from swallowing down any of his goods. The Hylian shuts his mouth and blinks at the god again with the same earnest curiosity. Can he blame him for trying to eat it? You drunk alcohol, so... he figured you'd just swallow this down too. ]
Smoke? Oh. Er... sorry.
[ He's never smoked anything before. Not weed, not tobacco... at best, he's familiar with incense, but that's more about making things smell nice. Which this definitely doesn't seem to be.
When Tezca sits, Link follows, sitting beside him attentively. The irony here is that once Link gets the hang of this, he will be very, very invested in figuring out how to incorporate this wonderful herb into his cooking, like he's already familiar doing with medicinal herbs from Hyrule. But for now, Tezca will have to show him the ropes. ]
Paper? [ All of this is new to him, but he's watching very carefully. ] Ohh... you're going to wrap that around it, right?
[ Crisis averted, at least… Link is being attentive right away, which gets Tezcatlipoca to nod appreciatively, and he’ll go slow as he starts to roll it. ]
Bingo. You can smoke it in a pipe too, but I prefer these if I’m gonna be smokin’. The pipe is… Well, it’s more of a pain to carry around.
[ His jeans are extremely skinny, like. There’s no way he’s fitting all of that in there, let’s be real.
But he’s a deft hand at rolling a joint, so even going slowly, it doesn’t take long. He twists off the paper with a little flourish, then waggles it Link’s way. ]
You wanna try and roll your own? Or you want this one?
[ As Tezcatlipoca rolls the joint, Link watches intensely. For all his knowledge of how to beat make use of the natural resources in both Hyrule and the Beyond, this is a method he's never used before. All of this is new to him — and new means interesting.
He's taking it all in with a sharply observant mind. The tall god has large hands, much larger than Link's, which might make it tricky for Link to attempt to roll one himself without the use of a flat surface. But lots of things are harder than they need to be due to his size — he isn't about to let it stop him from trying. ]
I think I can do it.
[ He takes a rolling paper and carefully picks out a few buds from the bag. The ones Tezca used were all about the same size, and Link immediately noticed the logic behind that — it's going to be all lumpy at the end of the pieces inside are too different from each other
After laying them in a straight line in the paper, he makes a respectable attempt at rolling everything up. It's not as tight and neat as the one Tezcatlipoca did, and if he were to smoke this one, some of the buds light fall out of the burning end if he isn't careful. But, considering it's his first time doing this... it's actually quite decent. Link learns by watching and doing, and he'd done his best copying Tezca. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca watches in return while Link works, and though his expression starts out as a fairly neutral smile, it doesn’t take long to bloom into a more genuine one. It’s just a little bit impish, since of course he’s just delighted to teach people something like this as a trickster god… But his praise is genuine. ]
Yep, definitely good enough for smokin’. You’ll have to be a lil’ careful with it so stuff doesn’t fall out, but no problem. You’ll get the hang of it as you go.
[ He reaches into his jacket pocket to grab his lighter. Even with the campfire, the lighter is just more convenient. ]
So, yeah, that bag’s for you. When you run out, lemme know. I’ll either hook you up with my stuff if it’s growin’ or I’ll let you know where to get something good.
[ He lights his first, then holds out the flame for Link to do the same. ]
So, enjoy some chill time. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend smokin’ this while you’re out here alone, but I’ll hang with ya tonight. Doubt anything will try stalkin’, but you know, just in case.
[ The whole bag...? Link glances down at it, blinking, and gets a sense that he's been given a gift. Worse yet, it's a gift for no apparent reason or occasion... And it's something he's receiving from a god. Tezca's demeanor suggests it really isn't that big of a deal, but... isn't it?
When Tezca lights his joint, Link watches with the same absorbent curiosity as before and does his best replicating his actions once the lighter is offered to him. As the flame flickers against one end of the joint, he has the other end perched in his lips, inhaling through the paper slowly. The inhale of air becomes an inhale of smoke, a sign that the weed inside has been lit, but it immediately stings the back of his throat. Being the novice that he is, he can't help up sit up straight and start coughing reflexively — but even while he's still coughing, he brings it back to his lips to pull on it again. ]
Did you really come all the way out here just for this? [ He glances up at the god, uncertain. The two drags haven't quite hit him yet. ] Thank you, either way. And for staying... I don't get a lot of visitors. Not that I can blame anyone for it, but still.
[ And of course, asshole that he is, Tezcatlipoca immediately starts to laugh at Link’s coughing. He could have warned him, sure, but where’s the fun in that! But he at least gives him a few friendly pats on the back like that might help clear the smoke out more quickly, or maybe just reassure him. ]
Ha, don’t worry, everyone’s first hit is like that. Ain’t like tobacco. [ With both of them now set, he pockets the lighter again. ] Just take your time and enjoy it. You’ll start feelin’ it soon enough.
[ He shakes his head at the question ]
Not exactly. Saw you the other night when I was out here and figured, what the hell, next time I head out, I’ll just bring it with me. Easy to pack, and it’s not like anyone’s gonna make a fuss about it out here.
[ He takes a long, luxuriant drag, then sighs as if satisfied by that alone. ]
Nah, it’s too fuckin’ cold out here to be totally to my taste, but the wilds are still my style. So I’ve been spendin’ time out here when I’m feelin’ more nocturnal.
[ Listening to Tezca's smooth, calm voice amidst the backdrop of the cold breeze rustling the trees around them, the occasional hoot of a far-off owl, and the fire crackling softly, Link starts to feel himself... relax. That sense of excitement at the new, and the pressure he normally feels when talking to gods, begins to drain out of him. Even Tezcatlipoca's face seems to come into sharper focus as Link looks up at him, watching him take a drawn-out drag.
Ah. Is he really a god? No, no, he is, Link quickly reminds himself. But at the same time he's a god... he's just a guy too, isn't he.
Blinking, he looks into the flickering orange flames of the campfire as he takes another hit himself. ]
You can get used to the cold. Especially if you've got any Discord built up.
[ Which Link clearly does, from the dark sclera of his eyes. ]
And the night... it's nice. When both of the moons are up, it's beautiful. The forest is more active then. The wildlife. The animals and the monsters. Even the mushrooms...
I might've told you before that they'd all need the sun to survive, but they don't.
[ The relevance of that statement to Tezcatlipoca isn't lost on him. He curls his arms around his knees contemplatively. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca nods to the comment about Discord with a playfully rueful laugh, since he knows that well. Considering his fondness for Kowloon, he’s essentially gotten a crash course in Discord. At least he doesn’t exactly have any problems with holding hands or kissing to get rid of Discord, positive or negative, honestly. ]
…Yeah. Like, obviously I’m biased as the god of darkness and all, but it’s nice out here.
[ He can see Link visibly relaxing (and feels it himself too, but he didn’t exactly need it as bad as the other guy), and he’s a bit pleased for that. ]
I am curious, though, since “nice” is in some pretty big air quotes. Why not go for the city? You just like roughin’ it?
[ Before Tezca suddenly appeared in his camp, he had been staring out at the darkness with his back to the fire, a mild but ever-present anxiety compelling him to keep an eye out for monsters. That feels like it was hours ago now. The gentle haze settling into Link's mind is making everything feel... easier. safer. ]
I guess you could say that. [ With humble smile, he shrugs. ] I'm used to living in the wilderness like this. There was a time when I didn't really have a "home," exactly... Hyrule is my home, of course, but I mean... you know. A building. Or even just a village. I didn't have anyplace like that for a long time.
[ He pauses to lean forward and toss another log onto the fire. A flurry of tiny embers waft upward with the smoke. ]
But even after I sort of got a place like that, I wasn't there very often. There was still too much stuff I had to get done. And... sitting still in one place doesn't feel right to me anyway. I can't remember ever living like that, although I know I must have, at one point.
[ this makes him pause. ] Oh — sorry. You don't know what I'm talking about, huh? I lost all my memories. Aside from a few bits and pieces, I only remember things starting from about five or six years ago.
[ Tezcatlipoca listens with cool interest, and at first he thinks of it as quaint. Link must be from a simpler world, and there’s something about that he finds admirable. It’s probably just his bias for exactly this, though. He loves civilization and the modern world, but his nature is closer to the kind of existence that Link explains.
However, that last little detail catches Tezcatlipoca off guard. He looks at Link with a little surprise at first, then laugh as he shakes his head. ]
Ha, I guess there’s something about amnesiacs. We must have been fated to meet.
[ It’s a confusing thing to say, surely. But Tezcatlipoca pauses as he shifts forward to rest his elbows on his legs. His smile turns just a little bit fonder, though it’s still more neutral. ]
I get it. My partner, he’s got memory problems of his own.
[ He’s called Daybit his priest and his Master, and both are true, more or less. But after mulling over his Shard for a while, he’s decided this is probably the better word for it. The pause is mostly because it’s the first time he’s said it aloud that way, and it’s more meaningful for Tezcatlipoca than simply one interpretation of the word “partner.” ]
He loses his every day, save for a little slice, so, yeah. Get that it’s weird, probably to extreme. [ He looks to Link and gives him a little shrug ] You miss ‘em?
[ The laugh is unexpected. Link blinks owlishly at Tezca, and as the god starts to explain, he brings his amateurish joint to his lips to take another long drag.
His... partner? Even through the relaxing haze, the fact that a god has a "partner" strikes him as odd. Does he mean a romantic partner, or the more neutral sense of the word? Someone that you pursue a goal together with. But what kind of goal would a god need a "partner" for? Or could this person be a deity of some kind as well? Consider the note Tezca ends on, that seems unlikely. ]
Every day? [ Link is clearly mystified by the very concept, immediately getting distracted from Tezcatlipoca's question. ] How does — how does he even survive? That'd be like... s'almost like you're frozen in your old memories, wouldn't it?
[ Although, honestly, that is Link's problem too, in a less literal sense. ]
Well, talent, mostly. Guy's a natural genius. Maybe he had to be to survive, yeah.
[ It's what Tezcatlipoca had figured, anyways. It's part of why he'd answered the incredibly cocky summoning at all, because he'd felt the connection of his domains in Daybit's soul. Survival, mostly, It's not a typical version of it—hell, he's damn sure it's one of a kind—but Daybit was someone that strove to always move forward and survive. ]
But he wasn't frozen, exactly. Gets into some wild shit, but he's got five minutes every day, basically. He picks what's important, discards the rest.
[ ...And, truthfully, though he'd never say it, Tezcatlipoca found that sadder than just having nothing at all. ]
So his brain is fifty different kindsa scrambled, don't get me wrong, but he's not as bad as that.
[ Link echoes the concept as he looks back into the fire with distant contemplation. Five minutes per day, and talent... it does seem less impossible, with those caveats, but only just. Surely it's no less amazing for someone to live a life like that, even if he gets to keep five minutes of the previous day with him upon every sunrise. ]
Makes me wish I could meet him. He sounds fascinating... and kinda sad, too.
[ Link sinks lower, shuffling his feet out and leaning back until he's almost laying on the ground now, with his shoulders and head propped up on the log he had been sitting on. That last hit from the joint is really starting to settle in now — everything is feeling calm, and soft, and peaceful, and safe. A mix of sentiments that he hasn't been able to experience for a long time. Rather than being giddy or hungry, a peaceful, talkative neutrality has descended over him. He stares into the fire like a meditating monk. ]
...Do you miss him? [ He asks casually. ] You called him your partner. S'that, like... partner in crime, or.... [ Blinking, he glances up sidelong at Tezca. ] Oh, but, he must've been the Shard you got from Yima, then?
[ Tezcatlipoca was odd, even for gods. His domains were vast and contradictory, and it made him a difficult, contradictory person too. He’s a god that demands sacrifice from his worshippers down to their very lives at times. He’s conflict and bloodshed, a violent, vicious god. It’s why he and Set get along so well to the point that they might as well be brothers an ocean away.
…But he’s a god of good, ultimately. His love of conflict is because of his desire for transformative change. Stagnation kills, and he pushes to encourage that change. His love for people is a tough one, mostly. But he can enjoy these quieter moments for what they are too. Allowing a warrior the space to relax and have their respite can be change too. ]
Partner in crime is probably the best way to put it, yeah. Wasn’t like what we were tryin’ to accomplish was a good thing, least by most peoples’ measures.
[ He laughs as he reaches into his jacket again and pulls out a small pouch. The pouch itself isn’t anything special, but strangely, a thick black smoke swirls around it for a moment until it suddenly fades away. It’s not something Tezcatlipoca explains, but it’s the protection he can offer for something important to him.
He unties the knot and pulls out a Shard, but even so far as Shards go, this one is odd. It looks more like a plane of glass, round and almost transparent save for a cloudy, opaque ring around its rim. Tezcatlipoca holds it up and peers through it at one of the moons above. ]
So lemme introduce you. This is Daybit Sem Void. Dunno how much he can really experience like this, but he’d remember an introduction.
[ It answers the question of if he’s the Shard Tezcatlipoca had received easily. He lowers it again to keep it cupped in his hand with care, then takes another drag before continuing. His tone is still casual, not quite with the warmth one might expect for someone that’s clearly important to him, but to even have the Shard is a deep conflict for Tezcatlipoca. ]
But, yeah. I miss him. Same as most people miss the person they picked, I figure.
[ And what a much-needed respite it is for this particular warrior. Not only do his problems feel so far away in this moment, but it's more like he isn't even thinking about them anymore. Like they've temporarily ceased to exist. For the first time, he's noticing the rich, heady scent of the wood being burned in their fire. Has it always smelled so good?
Tezca's movements capture his attention from the corner of his eye, and he looks up to watch him retrieve the odd little bag and pull out the Shard. The orange light from the fire flickers across its flat surface. ]
Nice to meet you, Daybit Sem Void. [ But he glances up towards Tezcatlipoca after, curious. They'd been trying to accomplish something... bad?
Looking away, Link ponders the fire again for a beat. Then, he sits up with a sense of purpose and plunges one of his hands into the neckline of his tunic. After rooting around under his clothing for a few seconds, he pulls a small metal case, secured around his chest with a cross-body strap, up to his collarbone and inputs a number combination into its lock. It opens with a click, revealing a medium-sized uncut gemstone, swirled with purple and orange-yellow. ]
This is Zelda. If she can hear us, she'll remember you, too. [ He takes the stone from its case to hold it up, towards Tezca, for him to see and address. ] Zelda, this is the god Tezcatlipoca. And his partner, Daybit Sem Void.
[ He’s pleased that Link addresses Daybit seriously, and it shows in his easy smile. He knows it’s not exactly natural, and it had been a little strange even for him at first… But whether it’s something you hold or something more ethereal, Tezcatlipoca is a guardian of souls and deeply respects them. He would have been annoyed for it to not be given the proper respect in turn.
He has an inkling of what Link is doing as he starts to fumble around, and he nods once he sees the box. When the Shard is removed, Tezcatlipoca gives her a respectful nod with a smile.
Though, internally, he does stutter a bit over Link calling Daybit his partner. Sure, he’d been the one to say it and introduce him that way, but it’s different to hear it from someone else. He knows it's stupid, too. He'd answered his Daybit’s call and agreed to destroy the world with him, on an extreme end. They’d shared a bed and Tezcatlipoca had made many meals for him, on the end that was much quieter. And now here in Kenos, Tezcatlipoca had chosen him above every other soul to be the precious one worth saving. What else could they be but partners?
…He’s still a little embarrassed to hear it, though. Extremely secretly. ]
Great to meet you, Zelda. Look forward to meetin’ you in person, eventually.
[ He responds much more smoothly than he feels, at least, though the second, quick drag might be to just push away those feelings. You know, as you do. ]
—Makes me feel better I’m not the only one that carries ‘em with me too.
[ He’d really debated it, since it wasn’t as safe, in a way, but especially considering Daybit’s condition, Tezcatlipoca had been unsettled by the idea of just keeping him locked away. It might be safer, sure. But if they’re conscious at all, that has to be worse, he’d decided. ]
I usually bring him out here, since there ain’t too much to worry about. Kinda like the lands we came from too, so it’s got some familiarity.
[ Fortunately for Tezcatlipoca's pride, Link is just a little bit too high right now to notice the subtle shift in the god's attitude when they started talking about Daybit. Later, it might occur to him how strange it is for Tezcatlipoca to have chosen one specific person to save from his world; he might look back and realize that he'd only been assuming that this "partner" is another god of some kind; it might even cross his mind how strange it is for a god to have aligned himself with the Zenith in the first place, considering that all the others he's known of were devout Meris.
But for now... he's just vibing. ]
Amos Burton made me this case for Zelda's Shard. [ with a small smile, he taps on the case, still sticking out from the neckline of his tunic. ] If you ask him, I bet he'd make you one... although, um, I guess a god wouldn't need any help keeping something like that safe?
[ A brief moment of awareness again of who Tezca is, but it seems to pass gently and swiftly, like mist on the surface of a lake. ]
The Beyond is like where you're from, too? You mean, because it's a big wilderness? Or is it the monsters? [ Link talks as he puts Zelda's Shard back, closes the case, and returns it snugly against the side of his ribs. ] It's pretty similar to some areas of Hyrule. Thick forests, dangerous wildlife, but a lot to live off of if you know what to look for — and aren't picky.
But, honestly, Alenroux is even more similar... if it were easier to go back and forth into the city when I needed things, I'd probably be living out there instead of here. I thought about it sometimes, when I was still with the Meridian.
[ But not lately. In this moment, Link suddenly realizes that it's not really convenience that's keeping him in Highstorm — if something were to go wrong, he'd want to be able to get back here quicker so he could help. Which does not quite align with what he came out here to do in the first place: avoid everyone. ]
[ Tezcatlipoca makes a thoughtful noise at first, clearly considering it, then laughs as he looks back down to Daybit’s Shard. ]
I dunno. I’d take the help. I ain’t too proud for that. [ Not with something this important, anyways. ] My smoke’s a big deterrent for anything bad to happen to it, but it’s not perfect. Kinda the point, since it’s all based around probabilities.
[ Whatever the fuck that means, apparently, since he doesn’t seem inclined to explain it. But nor does he seem inclined to put Daybit “back” now that he’s out. He feels secure enough, so he thinks it’s better to allow him the time to soak things in, more or less. ]
It’s the wilderness. Monsters… [ He shrugs ] It’s kinda complicated, but they ain’t a thing so much anymore. Least not like they are here or in Alenroux. Those kinda things are pretty damn rare since the Age of Gods ended, but that ain’t a bad thing. Humanity’s kinda weak, comparatively speaking, so just the wildlife like jaguars and snakes was plenty for ‘em to contend with. Out here reminds me of what the world was like before they figured it out with guns and shit like that.
[ He doesn’t bring up the Lostbelt as an example, since that would really make it confusing… Not the ideal conversation to have when you’re high, so he keeps it simpler. ]
If you like Alenroux, why here, in that case? That place has more goin’ for it, seems like.
[ It's a natural question to ask, but Link pauses. He's still grappling with his own lack of an answer for that question, with his realization that he isn't really doing this anymore for the sake of being alone. If that was the goal... he could just keep walking deeper and deeper into the woods and disappear. Or live in Alenroux, like Tezca is saying. ]
Well...
[ The fire crackles and flickers. ]
...if something goes wrong, and people need me... It would be bad for me to be too far away.
[ He frowns and stares into the fire. ] That's what happened last month. When I was out in the Beyond with Drizzt.
[ If Shez hadn't killed him and Drizzt hadn't been captured, they would have had to spend another two or three weeks just getting back to Highstorm. ]
You know, when I first started living out here... I really just wanted to be alone. But, I guess that's not the case anymore.
[ The event that Link refers to is a little fuzzy to Tezcatlipoca, since he’d only heard about it second, third, or even further-hand. He hadn’t been here, after all. Quetzalcoatl was still in the world, waiting to be the battery for the very weapon that Drizzt and Link had found, but that’s why he vaguely knows about it. Naturally, he wanted to know everything his brother had been up to.
He makes a soft noise of understanding, and he looks at Link appraisingly for a moment. There’s a silence that lingers just a little too long, but by the time Link might start to question it, Tezcatlipoca seems to have made a verdict of some kind. It’s at least what his tone implies. ]
Sounds like you found somethin’ to protect to me.
[ It’s what drives any warrior, at their core. He’s definitely seen that in Drizzt, and it’s what had led him to decide that the guy was “his”. It looks like he might have found another. ]
…’Course, that seems like a pretty big gig, least from what I can tell so far. You up for that?
[ There's a challenge in his tone there, but it's a genuine question too. ]
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Tezcatlipoca.
[ He corrects the shortening firmly, since he’s definitely less lenient on it than Quetzalcoatl ever was. It’s important to him because of his own arrogance, but also because it is something that holds meaning and power. Even a god’s name was a piece of divinity, at least to his pantheon. Plus. It sounds odd to his ear, since it’s cutting off a word before its last syllable. Not that he’s inclined to explain or give a lesson in Nahuatl, though…
He lowers his hand with the mask to cock it on his hip, and he laughs to the surprise. ]
Yeah, you should’ve. Didn’t realize you were a warrior. Still gotta sharpen my senses in Communion, I guess. [ Since normally, he would be able to just sniff it out, more or less. ] But same as you and that other guy, I’m guessin’. I dig it out here. Feels more “homey”.
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S-Sorry. Tezcatlipoca.
[ Lowering his bow and slipping the arrow back into his quiver, Link stands and steps around the makeshift fortification he'd been crouching behind. It's not skillful enough to be a proper cheval de fries, but too elaborate for two guys with no tools to have built on their own. ]
Other guy... you mean Drizzt? You met him?
[ He hasn't seen Drizzt for a few days, but that's pretty normal ever since they started "living together" out here. Even this camp is only temporary, easily abandoned and reestablished elsewhere if the need arises.
Link gestures for Tezca to take a seat as he hefts a new log into the fire. ]
He's not here, if you're looking for him, but you're welcome to stay. Are you hungry?
[ Do gods eat?? Maybe not. Probably not? But it feels weird not to offer him something, especially after he nearly shot an arrow at him and got too friendly with his name. ]
there's no gif but this is like a magical transformation in reverse ftr
So, though his tail waves curiously for a few more strokes, he shrugs as Link starts to step around the fortifications. There’s a burst of tangible energy that feels warm against the skin, since it’s raw magical that sloughs off Tezcatlipoca as the odd armor he wears bursts into golden light that doesn’t linger long. It doesn’t even illuminate the area any more than the fire, but as it fades, it shows him in the same way that he’d been in Communion. It’s even complete with the sunglasses, though he reaches up to take them off, since it’s too dark at this time. ]
Ha, yeah. He’s one of the first Shard-Bearers I met here. First time around, I mean.
[ because I am a BULLY!! And kept tossing him into tdms. Get wrecked, idiot. ]
I ain’t lookin’ for him, though. Technically, wasn’t lookin’ for anyone, but when I noticed you were hanging around here—
[ Tezcatlipoca approaches the campfire and with a nod as he takes a seat, reaches into his jacket pocket. He pulls out a small, roughly stitched burlap bag , and once Link is finished adding another log, he tosses it his way. It’d be tragic for it to just fall in the fire if it missed. ]
Got a gift. Just as promised.
[ And, honestly. Link can probably smell it as soon as he catches it. It is, as the kids say, loud. ]
https://youtu.be/biNJu5vaA18?si=aD0vt8N4QSs6QgCQ
He deftly catches the bag, and after another curious glance towards him, he unties the string keeping it closed. An oily, musky odor immediately erupts from the bag as soon as it's open. ]
This is... the weed from your world? The one that gets you drunk?
[ Huh. Frankly, it smells pretty bad. But, hey, his curiosity hasn't done anywhere since the first time they talked. But Tezca might want to intervene, and quickly — Link reaches into the bag, takes out a large, sticky bud, and starts to bring it to his mouth. To eat. ]
HELP / thank you for this
[ Tezcatlipoca starts to explain it cooly, but when Link takes out a nug and is about to fuckin eat it, he holds up his hand in the universal gesture for stop, and he’s quick to start to step over to Link’s side of the fire. ]
Woah, woah, wait, it’s for smokin’! Not eating! Not like that anyways.
[ …He’s never tried, but he has to assume that tastes terrible. Plus, would it even do anything? What a waste!! At least he’s already given some to Jade at this point, so he’s not totally thrown off. It’s more the immediacy with which Link was ready to eat it over anything else.
He clicks his tongue, a softly annoyed tch, then opens up his jacket to access an inner pocket and plops down on Link’s side of the fire instead. He’d brought some because he’d figured he might have to show Link how to do this, same way as he had for Jade, so he pulls out a few pieces of what looks like paper. ]
I figured you needed to chill out, but not that bad.
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Smoke? Oh. Er... sorry.
[ He's never smoked anything before. Not weed, not tobacco... at best, he's familiar with incense, but that's more about making things smell nice. Which this definitely doesn't seem to be.
When Tezca sits, Link follows, sitting beside him attentively. The irony here is that once Link gets the hang of this, he will be very, very invested in figuring out how to incorporate this wonderful herb into his cooking, like he's already familiar doing with medicinal herbs from Hyrule. But for now, Tezca will have to show him the ropes. ]
Paper? [ All of this is new to him, but he's watching very carefully. ] Ohh... you're going to wrap that around it, right?
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Bingo. You can smoke it in a pipe too, but I prefer these if I’m gonna be smokin’. The pipe is… Well, it’s more of a pain to carry around.
[ His jeans are extremely skinny, like. There’s no way he’s fitting all of that in there, let’s be real.
But he’s a deft hand at rolling a joint, so even going slowly, it doesn’t take long. He twists off the paper with a little flourish, then waggles it Link’s way. ]
You wanna try and roll your own? Or you want this one?
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He's taking it all in with a sharply observant mind. The tall god has large hands, much larger than Link's, which might make it tricky for Link to attempt to roll one himself without the use of a flat surface. But lots of things are harder than they need to be due to his size — he isn't about to let it stop him from trying. ]
I think I can do it.
[ He takes a rolling paper and carefully picks out a few buds from the bag. The ones Tezca used were all about the same size, and Link immediately noticed the logic behind that — it's going to be all lumpy at the end of the pieces inside are too different from each other
After laying them in a straight line in the paper, he makes a respectable attempt at rolling everything up. It's not as tight and neat as the one Tezcatlipoca did, and if he were to smoke this one, some of the buds light fall out of the burning end if he isn't careful. But, considering it's his first time doing this... it's actually quite decent. Link learns by watching and doing, and he'd done his best copying Tezca. ]
Okay. Like this? Did I do it right?
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Yep, definitely good enough for smokin’. You’ll have to be a lil’ careful with it so stuff doesn’t fall out, but no problem. You’ll get the hang of it as you go.
[ He reaches into his jacket pocket to grab his lighter. Even with the campfire, the lighter is just more convenient. ]
So, yeah, that bag’s for you. When you run out, lemme know. I’ll either hook you up with my stuff if it’s growin’ or I’ll let you know where to get something good.
[ He lights his first, then holds out the flame for Link to do the same. ]
So, enjoy some chill time. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend smokin’ this while you’re out here alone, but I’ll hang with ya tonight. Doubt anything will try stalkin’, but you know, just in case.
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When Tezca lights his joint, Link watches with the same absorbent curiosity as before and does his best replicating his actions once the lighter is offered to him. As the flame flickers against one end of the joint, he has the other end perched in his lips, inhaling through the paper slowly. The inhale of air becomes an inhale of smoke, a sign that the weed inside has been lit, but it immediately stings the back of his throat. Being the novice that he is, he can't help up sit up straight and start coughing reflexively — but even while he's still coughing, he brings it back to his lips to pull on it again. ]
Did you really come all the way out here just for this? [ He glances up at the god, uncertain. The two drags haven't quite hit him yet. ] Thank you, either way. And for staying... I don't get a lot of visitors. Not that I can blame anyone for it, but still.
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Ha, don’t worry, everyone’s first hit is like that. Ain’t like tobacco. [ With both of them now set, he pockets the lighter again. ] Just take your time and enjoy it. You’ll start feelin’ it soon enough.
[ He shakes his head at the question ]
Not exactly. Saw you the other night when I was out here and figured, what the hell, next time I head out, I’ll just bring it with me. Easy to pack, and it’s not like anyone’s gonna make a fuss about it out here.
[ He takes a long, luxuriant drag, then sighs as if satisfied by that alone. ]
Nah, it’s too fuckin’ cold out here to be totally to my taste, but the wilds are still my style. So I’ve been spendin’ time out here when I’m feelin’ more nocturnal.
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Ah. Is he really a god? No, no, he is, Link quickly reminds himself. But at the same time he's a god... he's just a guy too, isn't he.
Blinking, he looks into the flickering orange flames of the campfire as he takes another hit himself. ]
You can get used to the cold. Especially if you've got any Discord built up.
[ Which Link clearly does, from the dark sclera of his eyes. ]
And the night... it's nice. When both of the moons are up, it's beautiful. The forest is more active then. The wildlife. The animals and the monsters. Even the mushrooms...
I might've told you before that they'd all need the sun to survive, but they don't.
[ The relevance of that statement to Tezcatlipoca isn't lost on him. He curls his arms around his knees contemplatively. ]
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…Yeah. Like, obviously I’m biased as the god of darkness and all, but it’s nice out here.
[ He can see Link visibly relaxing (and feels it himself too, but he didn’t exactly need it as bad as the other guy), and he’s a bit pleased for that. ]
I am curious, though, since “nice” is in some pretty big air quotes. Why not go for the city? You just like roughin’ it?
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I guess you could say that. [ With humble smile, he shrugs. ] I'm used to living in the wilderness like this. There was a time when I didn't really have a "home," exactly... Hyrule is my home, of course, but I mean... you know. A building. Or even just a village. I didn't have anyplace like that for a long time.
[ He pauses to lean forward and toss another log onto the fire. A flurry of tiny embers waft upward with the smoke. ]
But even after I sort of got a place like that, I wasn't there very often. There was still too much stuff I had to get done. And... sitting still in one place doesn't feel right to me anyway. I can't remember ever living like that, although I know I must have, at one point.
[ this makes him pause. ] Oh — sorry. You don't know what I'm talking about, huh? I lost all my memories. Aside from a few bits and pieces, I only remember things starting from about five or six years ago.
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However, that last little detail catches Tezcatlipoca off guard. He looks at Link with a little surprise at first, then laugh as he shakes his head. ]
Ha, I guess there’s something about amnesiacs. We must have been fated to meet.
[ It’s a confusing thing to say, surely. But Tezcatlipoca pauses as he shifts forward to rest his elbows on his legs. His smile turns just a little bit fonder, though it’s still more neutral. ]
I get it. My partner, he’s got memory problems of his own.
[ He’s called Daybit his priest and his Master, and both are true, more or less. But after mulling over his Shard for a while, he’s decided this is probably the better word for it. The pause is mostly because it’s the first time he’s said it aloud that way, and it’s more meaningful for Tezcatlipoca than simply one interpretation of the word “partner.” ]
He loses his every day, save for a little slice, so, yeah. Get that it’s weird, probably to extreme. [ He looks to Link and gives him a little shrug ] You miss ‘em?
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His... partner? Even through the relaxing haze, the fact that a god has a "partner" strikes him as odd. Does he mean a romantic partner, or the more neutral sense of the word? Someone that you pursue a goal together with. But what kind of goal would a god need a "partner" for? Or could this person be a deity of some kind as well? Consider the note Tezca ends on, that seems unlikely. ]
Every day? [ Link is clearly mystified by the very concept, immediately getting distracted from Tezcatlipoca's question. ] How does — how does he even survive? That'd be like... s'almost like you're frozen in your old memories, wouldn't it?
[ Although, honestly, that is Link's problem too, in a less literal sense. ]
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[ It's what Tezcatlipoca had figured, anyways. It's part of why he'd answered the incredibly cocky summoning at all, because he'd felt the connection of his domains in Daybit's soul. Survival, mostly, It's not a typical version of it—hell, he's damn sure it's one of a kind—but Daybit was someone that strove to always move forward and survive. ]
But he wasn't frozen, exactly. Gets into some wild shit, but he's got five minutes every day, basically. He picks what's important, discards the rest.
[ ...And, truthfully, though he'd never say it, Tezcatlipoca found that sadder than just having nothing at all. ]
So his brain is fifty different kindsa scrambled, don't get me wrong, but he's not as bad as that.
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[ Link echoes the concept as he looks back into the fire with distant contemplation. Five minutes per day, and talent... it does seem less impossible, with those caveats, but only just. Surely it's no less amazing for someone to live a life like that, even if he gets to keep five minutes of the previous day with him upon every sunrise. ]
Makes me wish I could meet him. He sounds fascinating... and kinda sad, too.
[ Link sinks lower, shuffling his feet out and leaning back until he's almost laying on the ground now, with his shoulders and head propped up on the log he had been sitting on. That last hit from the joint is really starting to settle in now — everything is feeling calm, and soft, and peaceful, and safe. A mix of sentiments that he hasn't been able to experience for a long time. Rather than being giddy or hungry, a peaceful, talkative neutrality has descended over him. He stares into the fire like a meditating monk. ]
...Do you miss him? [ He asks casually. ] You called him your partner. S'that, like... partner in crime, or.... [ Blinking, he glances up sidelong at Tezca. ] Oh, but, he must've been the Shard you got from Yima, then?
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…But he’s a god of good, ultimately. His love of conflict is because of his desire for transformative change. Stagnation kills, and he pushes to encourage that change. His love for people is a tough one, mostly. But he can enjoy these quieter moments for what they are too. Allowing a warrior the space to relax and have their respite can be change too. ]
Partner in crime is probably the best way to put it, yeah. Wasn’t like what we were tryin’ to accomplish was a good thing, least by most peoples’ measures.
[ He laughs as he reaches into his jacket again and pulls out a small pouch. The pouch itself isn’t anything special, but strangely, a thick black smoke swirls around it for a moment until it suddenly fades away. It’s not something Tezcatlipoca explains, but it’s the protection he can offer for something important to him.
He unties the knot and pulls out a Shard, but even so far as Shards go, this one is odd. It looks more like a plane of glass, round and almost transparent save for a cloudy, opaque ring around its rim. Tezcatlipoca holds it up and peers through it at one of the moons above. ]
So lemme introduce you. This is Daybit Sem Void. Dunno how much he can really experience like this, but he’d remember an introduction.
[ It answers the question of if he’s the Shard Tezcatlipoca had received easily. He lowers it again to keep it cupped in his hand with care, then takes another drag before continuing. His tone is still casual, not quite with the warmth one might expect for someone that’s clearly important to him, but to even have the Shard is a deep conflict for Tezcatlipoca. ]
But, yeah. I miss him. Same as most people miss the person they picked, I figure.
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Tezca's movements capture his attention from the corner of his eye, and he looks up to watch him retrieve the odd little bag and pull out the Shard. The orange light from the fire flickers across its flat surface. ]
Nice to meet you, Daybit Sem Void. [ But he glances up towards Tezcatlipoca after, curious. They'd been trying to accomplish something... bad?
Looking away, Link ponders the fire again for a beat. Then, he sits up with a sense of purpose and plunges one of his hands into the neckline of his tunic. After rooting around under his clothing for a few seconds, he pulls a small metal case, secured around his chest with a cross-body strap, up to his collarbone and inputs a number combination into its lock. It opens with a click, revealing a medium-sized uncut gemstone, swirled with purple and orange-yellow. ]
This is Zelda. If she can hear us, she'll remember you, too. [ He takes the stone from its case to hold it up, towards Tezca, for him to see and address. ] Zelda, this is the god Tezcatlipoca. And his partner, Daybit Sem Void.
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He has an inkling of what Link is doing as he starts to fumble around, and he nods once he sees the box. When the Shard is removed, Tezcatlipoca gives her a respectful nod with a smile.
Though, internally, he does stutter a bit over Link calling Daybit his partner. Sure, he’d been the one to say it and introduce him that way, but it’s different to hear it from someone else. He knows it's stupid, too. He'd answered his Daybit’s call and agreed to destroy the world with him, on an extreme end. They’d shared a bed and Tezcatlipoca had made many meals for him, on the end that was much quieter. And now here in Kenos, Tezcatlipoca had chosen him above every other soul to be the precious one worth saving. What else could they be but partners?
…He’s still a little embarrassed to hear it, though. Extremely secretly. ]
Great to meet you, Zelda. Look forward to meetin’ you in person, eventually.
[ He responds much more smoothly than he feels, at least, though the second, quick drag might be to just push away those feelings. You know, as you do. ]
—Makes me feel better I’m not the only one that carries ‘em with me too.
[ He’d really debated it, since it wasn’t as safe, in a way, but especially considering Daybit’s condition, Tezcatlipoca had been unsettled by the idea of just keeping him locked away. It might be safer, sure. But if they’re conscious at all, that has to be worse, he’d decided. ]
I usually bring him out here, since there ain’t too much to worry about. Kinda like the lands we came from too, so it’s got some familiarity.
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But for now... he's just vibing. ]
Amos Burton made me this case for Zelda's Shard. [ with a small smile, he taps on the case, still sticking out from the neckline of his tunic. ] If you ask him, I bet he'd make you one... although, um, I guess a god wouldn't need any help keeping something like that safe?
[ A brief moment of awareness again of who Tezca is, but it seems to pass gently and swiftly, like mist on the surface of a lake. ]
The Beyond is like where you're from, too? You mean, because it's a big wilderness? Or is it the monsters? [ Link talks as he puts Zelda's Shard back, closes the case, and returns it snugly against the side of his ribs. ] It's pretty similar to some areas of Hyrule. Thick forests, dangerous wildlife, but a lot to live off of if you know what to look for — and aren't picky.
But, honestly, Alenroux is even more similar... if it were easier to go back and forth into the city when I needed things, I'd probably be living out there instead of here. I thought about it sometimes, when I was still with the Meridian.
[ But not lately. In this moment, Link suddenly realizes that it's not really convenience that's keeping him in Highstorm — if something were to go wrong, he'd want to be able to get back here quicker so he could help. Which does not quite align with what he came out here to do in the first place: avoid everyone. ]
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I dunno. I’d take the help. I ain’t too proud for that. [ Not with something this important, anyways. ] My smoke’s a big deterrent for anything bad to happen to it, but it’s not perfect. Kinda the point, since it’s all based around probabilities.
[ Whatever the fuck that means, apparently, since he doesn’t seem inclined to explain it. But nor does he seem inclined to put Daybit “back” now that he’s out. He feels secure enough, so he thinks it’s better to allow him the time to soak things in, more or less. ]
It’s the wilderness. Monsters… [ He shrugs ] It’s kinda complicated, but they ain’t a thing so much anymore. Least not like they are here or in Alenroux. Those kinda things are pretty damn rare since the Age of Gods ended, but that ain’t a bad thing. Humanity’s kinda weak, comparatively speaking, so just the wildlife like jaguars and snakes was plenty for ‘em to contend with. Out here reminds me of what the world was like before they figured it out with guns and shit like that.
[ He doesn’t bring up the Lostbelt as an example, since that would really make it confusing… Not the ideal conversation to have when you’re high, so he keeps it simpler. ]
If you like Alenroux, why here, in that case? That place has more goin’ for it, seems like.
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Well...
[ The fire crackles and flickers. ]
...if something goes wrong, and people need me... It would be bad for me to be too far away.
[ He frowns and stares into the fire. ] That's what happened last month. When I was out in the Beyond with Drizzt.
[ If Shez hadn't killed him and Drizzt hadn't been captured, they would have had to spend another two or three weeks just getting back to Highstorm. ]
You know, when I first started living out here... I really just wanted to be alone. But, I guess that's not the case anymore.
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He makes a soft noise of understanding, and he looks at Link appraisingly for a moment. There’s a silence that lingers just a little too long, but by the time Link might start to question it, Tezcatlipoca seems to have made a verdict of some kind. It’s at least what his tone implies. ]
Sounds like you found somethin’ to protect to me.
[ It’s what drives any warrior, at their core. He’s definitely seen that in Drizzt, and it’s what had led him to decide that the guy was “his”. It looks like he might have found another. ]
…’Course, that seems like a pretty big gig, least from what I can tell so far. You up for that?
[ There's a challenge in his tone there, but it's a genuine question too. ]
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