tezcatlipoca

Change in all things is sweet.

[smoking-mirror]

hephaestxs​:

Tezcatlipoca was an annoyance. An unruly god who didn’t like to abide by any rules set out before them. She paid well, which was as good a reason as any to supply her with the tech she needed. In this particular instance he’d heard enough. She was poking into subjects that were not hers to look into. The subject of Tsukuyomi was private for a multitude of reasons. The young god would be lost if Heph unleashed him onto New Orleans freely. Much less let them meet her. “Some day.” He confirmed, with some lack of enthusiasm.

“If Peter can be harmed, then so can we all. Don’t mistake my warning Kyrie for selfishness or perhaps it will be your head next on the chopping block.” With that he stood, there were plenty of others about the memorial he could say a word to. Or perhaps better yet, he could leave. There were a thousand other things he’d prefer to be doing than mingling and engaging in polite chit-chat. He left without another word.

END.

[smoking-mirror]

Location: A quiet, unaffiliated bar @andtenjin​

It was nice to get away from the divine establishments, to lose herself in a benign, normal bar. Tez had an Old Fashioned cocktail in front of her, how she preferred to drink whiskey when she wasn't in Alekto's presence. Here the noise was restrained to the din of other conversations, the soft beeping of a table that had been fitted with a holographic version of pool. It was the perfect place to have a conversation.

The door chimed, and Tez looked up just in time to see Tenjin slip in through the door. Tez raised her glass to catch Tenjin's eye and then motioned to the seat opposite her. Once Tenjin joined her, Tez leaned back in her booth, cooly sipping her drink. "It appears we are living in eventful times," Tez mused, savouring the citrus, sugary kick of her drink. She skipped over pointless pleasantries, wasted words that felt like a sin in front of a deity like Tenjin. "Chaos scares many, but to those wise, it brings opportunity in tow." Tez thought of Hephaestus, his appeals for a council that she had heard whispered about. It was an obvious grab for power, one Tez bristled at partially from jealousy at having not thought of it first.

No matter, Tez would seek her own avenues for power. "Are you scared?" Tez asked Tenjin, staring into her eyes. "Or have you any news on opportunities?" Attaboy, was what Tezcatlipoca meant. Whether there might be inrows with Utu or Veles.

[smoking-mirror]

alxxkto​:

“Is that the best insult you can muster?” Alekto asked with a wicked sly grin. If there was anyone in this city that was dangerous to prod it was Tez. Their master. Their boss. Their bitch of a friend. Occasionally Alekto fed into whatever circling mass of unknowns had brought them together. They were fairly certain it was what the mortals liked to announce as a hate fuck. Alekto craved leaving their mark on Tez. But there was no tenderness in it. The closest Tez had ever gotten to that was a sucker punch to the face.

Alekto snorted. “I could fuck you up with base biomech.” The cheapest of the cheap. No added enhancements or fun little extras. There was biomech out there that did little to add strength, even with that Alekto felt confident they could punt Tez to the moon. They were delighted to accept the offer of a drink. One of Tez’s many perks. Though the offer would be worth significantly more if Attaboy wasn’t an open bar in honour of Pan. Alekto snaked through the familiar hallways of Attaboy. With Tez it was easier to forget their loss. “Shit offer Tezzy all the drinks are free tonight. You’ll have to do better than that.”

END. 

[smoking-mirror]

alxxkto​:

Of all the things Alekto had expected Tez to do. This was not one of them. It started out familiar. Tez’s hand on the back of their head and usually, what would follow was a flood of pain as Tez used her own forehead as a weapon. Clearly, Alekto wasn’t the only one turned on by a little sweet violence because Tez was kissing them. Biting as much as she kissed. Alekto might’ve chased more if that had been an option. If Tez didn’t practically push them away as she stepped back. Alekto licked their lips. No you can’t, they thought. That had never been part of their little bargain. Tez had always known that.

The moment did serve to sever Alekto’s ire, for the time being.

“Tezzy is that the best deterrent you have?” They teased with a hum. The memorial was thereabouts winding down and frankly, there was better places to be tonight. They’d honoured him. They’d sniffed about and wrung out their free drinks for the night. If Tez wasn’t going to extend her generosity and let Alekto loose, then they’d find somewhere else to do just that. Alekto wanted to raze the city to the ground. They giggled to themself and stepped past Tez, the fire escape door had been left slightly ajar so no need to jimmy it. “Let’s keep work and our little fun separate.” They repeated the words Tez had spoken one night, a long time ago, head cocked with a wicked grin. “Come to the hall. We can do it properly there.”

“Can’t beat on you here, can I? Would affront my master.”

It hadn't meant anything, it had meant everything, it was a mistake, it was on purpose. Tez wasn't sure what to think in the whirlpool of emotions that flooded her after kissing Alekto. Alekto's little jest, calling the kiss a deterrent brought a chuckle from Tez, dissipating some of the electricity that threatened to arc between them catastrophically.

This arrangement was only supposed to work because Alekto was completely disposable. Someone Tez could wipe her hands clean of at a moment's notice, feel nothing for as they severed the ties. Yet somehow, over the years Alekto had won a place in Tez's thoughts, her concerns. It was a liability, if left unchecked. If it festered.

The kiss hadn't been caring, it had been a mark of possession, Tez rationalised, remembering the bite between their lips fondly.

"You'll need to get your arms fixed first," Tez said wryly, following a step behind Alekto back into the party. More pleased than she should be at Alekto's tease of *master. "Your reflexes were sloppy," Tez said, even though her face still ached from Alekto's punch.

"Let me get you a drink," Tez offered to Alekto as they both stepped back into the comforting din of Attaboy.

[smoking-mirror]

Is your character pragmatic? Think first? Responsible? All action? A visionary? Passionate? Quixotic?

No matter the situation, Tezcatlipoca will find a way to play as many sides as they can. She prides herself on her foresight and preparation against any possibility. Tezcatlipoca speaks carefully and tries not to give away too much of what she feels, though she loves to hint she knows more than what she necessarily does know. She is the god of rulers, therefore it is befitting of her to act like one, calm and in control. And it's entirely vexing when Alekto manages to push Tezcatlipoca's buttons and make her lose her cool. The only other who can annoy Tezcatlipoca so is her brother and rival, Quetzalcoatl.

[smoking-mirror]

alxxkto​:

“Fuck you Tezzy, I’m not stupid.” They snarled, it cut particularly deep from Tez. Who they had let in after the last few decades, even if it was only a little. Step by step. They were trying to be on their best behaviour. As Tez had instructed them to be. The nymph was a blip. But now, they were trying to behave with Tez. Not slap her around the alleyway even if that’s what would bring them the most satisfaction. “Well she lived didn’t she? She’ll go scurry off to her little bitchy friends and they’ll be out of the city by nightfall anyway, probably fucking off into Kanaloa’s oversized pond. She won’t do any harm and no-one really believes the nymphs anyway.” Alekto shrugged.

Was it any surprise that Alekto’s mood had shifted between the last time they’d spoken? Alekto was not particularly good at sticking to just one idea, one mood, one plane of existence. They flitted about full of ire and with no restraint. Well. Not always. “Well sure as hell fucking feels like it. Stopping me because you’re worried I’ll drag your name through the dirt. Well wake up Tezzy I’m not the only one they’re whispering about.” They stalked forth, coming chest to chest with Tez, as always, they enjoyed looking down at her.

Felt good. Felt really good.

Alekto pinched her jaw, knowing full well it would fucking hurt after taking a battering from their fists. “We made a deal you and I. Working for you is a convenience is it not? You get what you want. I get to guide my anger, or whatever it was you fucking spouted at me all those years ago. Never said I’d stop doing that. Told you I was going to hunt and that little bitch deserved it. You, well who knows what you deserve sweet little Tezzy.”

They leant forwards to murmur. “There’s a difference between you pointing fingers at your hard-working employee…and me, just getting a little bit of hard-earned retribution.”

Alekto came chest to chest with Tez and Tez's fury flared at the way Alekto looked down at her. As if the stupid inadequcy of her mortal form meant anything, as if Alekto had the right to look down at her. Some little voice in the back of Tez's mind reminded her that this was what Alekto enjoyed. They took delight in winding others up, feasting on their rage. By pinching Tez's chin with their strong, mechanical fingers and holding her in place as they threatened her.

They were impossible!

Tez gripped Alekto by the back of their head, lip half-curled up in a snarl. A move they had used in the past to headbutt Alekto, bring them both pain and blood. But this time the only thing that clashed was Tez's lips on Alekto's, their sharp teeth cutting Tez's lower lip. Tez hummed in delight, the thrill of doing something definitely very dangerous and stupid in the heat of the moment. Because it hadn't been about her name, Alekto dragging it through the mud. Tezcatlipoca was reviled as much as she was loved, and yes she would prefer for Alekto to keep themselves contained and neat, but there was an appeal to their ire. The damaging flames of their rage that threatened to burn Alekto to a crisp, and if they would just listen to Tez they might not destroy themself with their own anger! Because Tez didn't want Alekto to to self-implode.

Tez stepped away from the kiss, before Alekto could push her away. Now, well, she couldn't remember what it was they had been arguing over. Alekto beating up the nymph, being a stubborn fool who was trying to get themself hated by all the gods. "I can't control you," Tez said, something of a mantra she needed to repeat around Alekto. "But might I request that such beatings occur anywhere else but the greatest gathering of the divine in New Orleans?"

[smoking-mirror]

alxxkto​:

Alekto simpered. White-hot rage bloomed in their dingy little alleyway and they were starving, ready to eat that shit up. Alekto tilted their head back as Tez embroiled herself in ire. This was what Alekto had wanted. The fight and the rage of someone to their equal. Someone who could give as good as they get. Just like he did. Alekto shuddered. “Fuck you too, Tezzy.” They scowled down at their feet and the blood that covered them. “The fucking nymph deserved it.” They spat. Squaring up their shoulders to look down at her. If Tez didn’t shut up then she would deserve it too. “So you get to kick your heels and fuck around town saying he died a good death, but I can’t choke the bitch that bad-mouthed him?”

“Fucking stupid.” Alekto kicked the dumpster. They wanted to feed into the rage that Tez was brewing up hot and juicy for them. But they knew how that would end. Suppose it would make for a glorious way to spend the next few days. Passed out on the floor of their bathroom, if they made it that far, face bruised and lip split. Alekto wanted to feel that burn for a little while longer and of everyone, everyone on this shitty plane, Tez could give it to them. “I didn’t fucking kill him did I?” They screamed, their voice hoarse and garbled. It wasn’t like them to lose themself like this. Alekto shouted. Alekto would punch. Kick. Chokehold a bitch. They rarely screamed like a child. They never screamed like this.

Alekto inhaled a lungful of dirty air, the city smog was like a thick fluorescent cloud hanging over them. They could hear wise words, from a much wiser immortal ringing through their head, and despite wanting the beating, Alekto simply snarled. “I wasn’t going to fucking kill the nymph, just shove her around a bit. There’s a fucking difference. I don’t even know how to kill a god Tezzy. I can send you assholes back to where you came from. But I’ve never ended a god.” 

“If I wanted to fucking kill her, temporarily, she’d have been dead long before you fucking came here.” Their blades weren’t exactly functioning Alekto had yet to find someone trustworthy to do repairs to them. It wasn’t their fault the last ripperdoc they used happened to get shut down for illegal practices. There was no fucking way they were going to go grovelling to Hephaestus after refusing him all these years. “It’s like you don’t know me but at all.” 

It wasn't as easy as saying that Alekto infuriated her. Alekto infected Tez with hatred, slipped it past the cool and collected deity's shields and sunk it into her heart to leech out its toxic heat. Once it took root, it was difficult to slow down or calm. Which is how Tez found herself in, wanting to bash Alekto's skull into the cofrner of the dumpster over and over and over again. It still probably wouldn't be enough to wipe the smug smile off of their face. That they had won by making Tez stoop to their level. Fuck.

"Yes, you are fucking stupid," Tez muttered as Alekto paced, holding themselves back. Waiting for Tez to launch the next strike? Or was this as close to a de-escalation that Alekto got? Tez brushed off Alekto's jibe about her comments. Her fucking fault for trying to bring comfort. Comfort that Alekto needed as they screamed at her, raw and wounded.

Too bad Tez was too pissed off to be a comforting presence.

"It's not about what I think, Al," Tez gritted out. Unable to match Alekto's snarl, heightened by their sharpened sharks-teeth. She gave it her best, though, glaring daggers at her fury. "You threatened to kill her to her face, you know how nymphs are." They'd be lucky if it wasn't already being whispered about by the club already.

"I didn't stop you for my sake," Tez spat, touching her aching jaw. Her thank you. It had been Alekto who had been miffed that they'd been assumed a murderer. That screamed it like bloody murder.

[smoking-mirror]

Location: Vamp @mcgaera​

Utu's management of Attaboy was a growing headache for Tez. The sun deity was stubborn in his desire to turn Attaboy around, make it legit. At least Tez had Erzulie tightly wrapped around her finger, and Vamp's business was booming. Vamp was the place to be, apparently. For a speakeasy, the group of mortals lingering outside the lingerie store in the middle of the night sure didn't make it look inconspicuous. But Tez didn't need to wait in the queue, wait for the doorkeep to flick a message to the next people in line letting them know it was time to come in.

Inside, Tez managed to squeeze herself a seat near the bar. She could have demanded use of her booth, but she felt a little bit like slumming it, letting herself be caught up in the excitement of the night. Business sure was booming, though the crowd was more boisterous, busy than usual. Erzulie had always tried to create a charming environment, an air of refinement to her shows and drinks. Most of the mortals here wanted to push the acts off the stage and dance themselves silly, all while taking some of Tez's products, of course. Tez smiled into her cocktail and enjoyed the passionfruit punch. She settled her glass on the table and began to look around the room, scouting out for other divines she could converse with, when a shiver rose up the back of her neck. Animal instinct.

"Not Alekto, nor Tisiphone," Tez mused sitting back in her chair. "But Megaera," Tez said pleasantly, as if it were a nice thing to have a fury staring daggers into your back. "Care to join me?"

[smoking-mirror]

hephaestxs​:

The smoking mirror was an annoyance. Hephaestus had seen her as nothing more than a fly when she’d first descended and yet, the god had proved herself. Had risen into insurmountable power of which, even he could not ignore. He had offered an olive branch of weapons. Mostly because Tez had had the money. He would not refuse any immortal, or mortal, their deepest desires if their pockets were deep enough. However, there were limits to his generosity. She liked to push them. Amongst others. He chuckles, bemused by her apparent cock-up. The e-cig clearly hadn’t been to her tastes. He doesn’t blame her. He hates the things. They leave an awful aftertaste in your mouth. It’s not smoke, it isn’t even alive not in the same way red-hot embers were. Hephaestus has evolved – absolutely, but that doesn’t mean he likes were humanity has gone.

The immortals too.

If Tez wanted him to buy her bullshit then he would nod, he would smile, he would puff at his cigar as if she was telling him the truth. But ah, he didn’t have to wait long for the truth to come spilling out. She sent out her line and clearly was hoping he would take the bait. “There was no need for them to be here,” he said. Bringing Tsukuyomi to a party such as this would’ve been a disaster. There was too many gods. Too many people that could corrupt them. Of course, Hephaestus could take care of it but there was a limit to the hard resets. “It would’ve caused them distress. I presume you have heard the warnings of what happens to a god if they try to bend the rules set upon us?”

Heph eyed her. He didn’t want to tell her the whole truth, just enough that she wouldn’t come sniffing around like a dog in heat. “They have needed an adjustment period to become accustomed to their sense of being.” Now, the question is why was Tezcatlipoca suddenly interested in them. “Why, would you like to meet them? I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea Kyrie. You and I, we work well together, do we not? I see that you’re granted what you need.” For a price. Which wasn’t always monetary.

“Can you not trust me to know what I’m doing? A better question would be what are we going to do if another god shows up dead? Everyone is sprawled across New Orleans focused solely on their own hide. We should be facing this enemy as a united cause.”

“Make no mistake, this is an attack on us all.”

Tez liked to needle Hephaestus. For a god with a rage said to rival Alekto's, he was much better at keeping his anger in check. All that meant was it would one day explode, but wouldn't that be spectacular to watch? The cataclysmic power needed to create obsidian.

His ward seemed to be something of a touchy subject for Heph. He hadn't brought him here, on the basis that it would have distressed them. Tez arched an eyebrow at that, and Hephaestus' following point, that gods who have bent the rules of descension suffer. Returning to the mortal plane too soon, or to a body that was too young... "You are very generous to take in the deity, Matthew," Tezcatlipoca wryly said, sipping at her drink. In all her dealings with Hephaestus she would not call him generous. He had drained her for as much cash as he could, hidden maintenance fees, voided warranties, keeping his technology needlessly complicated so it could only be serviced by Volcan-x, not one of the hundreds of independent technicians floating around.

"I like to know who is floating around New Orleans," Tez gave as reason for her curiousity. That the deity was under Hephaestus' thumb made it all the better. His hidden threat, the implication that if she pressed too far he would revoke her access to Volcan-x's products. "Perhaps I will get a chance to meet them someday," Tez mused, more curious than before yet not willing to annoy Hephaestus yet. "Once they are confident enough to venture beyond your walls, that is."

Tez did not trust Heph at all, that was exactly her problem. She especially did not trust his grandstanding about Pan's death, about a coming threat and how the gods needed to band together to prevent another attack from occurring. Tez looked blankly at him, and gave a non-committal hum. "And you would lead this cause?" Tez casually asked, sipping her drink. Again, how generous of Hephaestus. "All it will do is drive paranoia and fear in us... Which has its uses..." Tezcatlipoca knew that well. The Aztecs had ruled an empire, after all. "There is nothing to suggest that another god will be killed," Tez said off-handedly, clenching her jaw. "It's self-centered to believe otherwise, don’t you think?" That they were important enough to be killed, just like Pan. 

[smoking-mirror]

alxxkto​:

Alekto hisses. Because the voice that hollers over the top of the nymph’s useless screaming is her. And, if it was her. Then the fun was over. Alekto would’ve, well they might’ve dropped the nymph if Tez had asked politely, but she doesn’t do just that. She touches them. A hand to Alekto’s shoulder as if that’s going to have a calming effect on them. “Fuck you,” they spit. It’s not clear to who they’re attending this derision too. Though reluctant as they may be to end the fun, they do let the nymph go. She squeals and high-tails it out of there as Alekto circles back. “You said you wouldn’t interfere…”

They’re almost hurt. Who is Tez to deny them a little bit of satisfactory judgement? The nymph was a little bitch, she hated Pan, and now she was pretending to have loved him? Cry for him? They glowered, the hot burning coals of their hatred intensified. It’s true that Alekto hasn’t felt this raw since they first descended. When they had beaten and bruised their way through New Orleans as if the whole city had a vendetta against them. Well so fucking what!

There was no killing the bitch, not permanently, not like Pan. Least as far as Alekto knew. So, surely they should be allowed this little indulgence. An act of retribution in Pan’s honour. If Pan were here he would’ve laughed. Then they would’ve fucked behind the dumpster but Tez didn’t understand – not really. Even if their ever-evolving relationship over the years had stemmed from that same venomous wasteland. Alekto cants their head back with their gaze fixated on her.

“Tezzy you little bitch.” They hissed.

Parties were made for fun. Did it matter if that fun was the kind that felt good, or the kind that felt really fucking good? Alekto felt another twinge of grief. Pan would understand. He had always grasped how the two intertwined. Pain and pleasure intersecting for a slice of euphoria. 

They don’t warn her. Really, it’s half-assed from the slurry of drugs and everything else they’ve consumed tonight. It’s messy as Alekto swings their right fist into Tez’s cheek. If Tez wanted to she could just fucking duck. But what Alekto really wants is to dislocate Tez’s jaw.

That would be a satisfying end to the night. 

Tez scoffed at Alekto as they seethed about Tez's promise not to interfere. "You are impossible," she said, exasperated at the fury's tactile rage. "That was not hunting," Tez hissed, the energy in the air between them palpable now, as if a spark would cause an explosion. 

Tez stared deep into Alekto's cold, blue eyes. Saw them grow fierce and harden. "It was beneath you-" she got out, too focused on Alekto's eyes that she missed their fist until it was too late. Tez pulled her head back so she avoided the full force of the blow, her teeth hungrily kissing the inside of her cheek so that blood bloomed freely in her mouth.

Tez stumbled a few steps back, out of range, for now. Pain blossomed, fresh and bright as she recoiled from the hit. "Fuck you," Tez muttered, a hand coming up to her cheek as she swallowed a warm mouthful of blood.

"You resented that I didn't defend your honour when you disappeared immediately after Pan was found dead?" Tez asked the fury, feeding into her growing rage. "Make it easier for me to fucking defend you, then. Stop going around nearly killing gods every other day!" Tez spat at Alekto's feet, bloody spittle splattering over their shoes.

[smoking-mirror]

Is your character tall? Short? What about size? Build? Posture? How do they feel about their physical body?

In this descension:

Tezcatlipoca's current mortal form is… shorter than Tez would prefer. But the confidence that oozes from the supreme god tends to make her appear larger than life. That, and the decent heel he tends to wear on her smart oxfords. Her posture is beyond confident, often cocky and overly arrogant. She has annoyed more than a few gods with her habit of kicking her feet up onto the table, all the better to gleam at reflections in her obsidian foot.

Her missing foot has failed to be much of a hinderance in the past couple centuries. Prosthetic technologies have made it so she can walk normally. The only annoyance comes when the join malfunctions or wears, and she has to have it fixed. This descension she's had it customised so the entire surface is made of a series of obsidian sheets. She can also execute a command that releases a spike at her toe, covered in poison.

She exercises regularly at a small gym set up in her house fitted with a few punching bags. She is not bulky, but has a reasonably athletic build. As she tends to wear suits and button-downs, her strength isn't so obvious.

When it comes to gender, although Tezcatlipoca was historically remembered as a masculine god, they dabbled in androgyny and femininity in turn. As such, they have embraced their current mortal form as it is.

[smoking-mirror]

hephaestxs​:

If she had been a minute later perhaps all Tezcatlipoca would’ve found was the neat pile of ash he’d left in a make-shift tray. As it stands, she joins him without an invite, sliding into the booth seat opposite him. Immediately, she starts fishing and doing a poor job of it too. He watches her flit about from remark to remark like a blind firefly before she settles on the obvious. Her pandering is obvious – it always has been. Hephaestus knows what she’s after, she makes no great secret of it. But this is quite different to Tez hunting out new biomech for herself, or her prime dog. “Ever poignant and astute in your observations Kyrie.” He offers her a wan smile but refuses to set the cigar down. Knowing full well she’d taken it if he did.

“And you? Are you mourning the loss of your favourite walking advertisement?” It was no secret that Pan had been ensnared by the goods that Tez supplied the city. He had been her own personal drug mule, dealer, fixer and even marketer. “We weren’t close, but that doesn’t mean I can’t mourn a brother.” Mourn, honour, forget. Heph wouldn’t deny that Pan’s death was convenient for him. It tied up a loose end that would have been otherwise difficult to deal with himself. He wonders how long it’ll be before Tez, like the bulldog she was, would launch into a perfectly primed attack-style presentation on the merits of their partnership.

He pointedly ignores her remark regarding the speak, instead choosing to puff the cigar and stare through the sprawling mass of smoke. “Now yes, technically he isn’t a brother but shouldn’t we honour all immortals as our godly brothers and sisters. I’m sure no doubt Hermes will be devastated.” 

He cuts straight to the point, too tired to play out her nightly games. “What do you want Kyrie?”

It wasn't difficult to tell that Hephaestus did not like her. Most gods did not like her, but that did not matter, in the end. Tez smiled back at Heph as he called her astute, fetching her own e-cig out of the pocket, though she merely fiddled with it, for now. Tez raised her hand as a waitress walked past, ordering two drinks for the off pair of them.

"You have to admit, he was good at it," Tez said, shrugging as Heph reduced Pan to a walking, talking billboard. "He enjoyed the benefits of a steady supply a little too much, but..." It was in his nature. Tez couldn't hold it against him. She gave Hephaestus a look over as he said that he was mourning him. "You look the picture of grief," she said, taking a drag on her e-cig. Tez coughed, sputtering out bubblegum sweet vapour. Fuck, she must have swapped a vape with Alekto. It was bound to happen, with how often Alekto nabbed her vapes. Just at that, their drinks arrived. Tez knocked a good mouthful back, washing away the sickly sweet taste. Only a hint of Bees Knees in this one, so it didn't add to her situation.

"Why do I have to want anything?" Tez asked after regaining her composure. "Is it not enough to share the company of a fellow god?" Tez asked, though she could not hide the wry smile from her face for long.

"Your... kid, ward, whatever. A deity... I haven't met him yet. Did you bring him along?" Tez looked around the room, scanning for unfamiliar faces. Hephaestus had kept them locked up, a secret that had only recently come out. Tez was desperate to know, why? Why the secrecy? What was Heph hiding?

[alxxkto]

Location: Back alleyway behind Attaboy @smoking-mirror

The night had gone well. Or, as little as they could consciously remember. Mess of bee’s knees and far too much drink. Even Alekto could only stomach so much. Though they never needed an excuse to send out waves of infectious hatred. As if they themselves were the source of all evil in the world. Alekto had stumbled across one particular mouthy, and minor, nymph that hadn’t liked Pan very much. Except tonight she was putting on a riotous effort of waterworks. 

She’d been bubbling and bawling, the tears come thick and fast as if she’d pierced her retinas. Alekto had watched at first, thought that they could simply ignore it and move on. Unaffected. 

Well they were wrong.

Alekto weaved their way through the crowd and lured them in, well ensnaring a nymph wasn’t particularly difficult. Though some of them were naturally sharp as a pin, those that seemed to enshroud Pan had always been dimwitted. Alekto practically dragged the young woman out by the hair. They knew a direct path through the speak and out the back into a dingy little alleyway. “You bitch,” they hissed, their hand wrapped around her throat. She didn’t look a day older than twenty but Alekto knew that beneath her youthful gaze, was an eternity of being a bitch.

She was screaming, some garbled remarks about wanting to be let go, and that she’d do whatever it was that Alekto wanted.

Alekto wanted him back.

They didn’t want this shit-of-a-nymph and her moaning as they punched her in the stomach. “Shut the fuck up,” they snarled. Bring him back to me. They struck her again, grunting as they pinned the nymph up against the dumpster. “You hated him!” She was desperate now. Hands grasping and reaching forwards as Alekto’s grip tightened. 

“Doesn’t matter if you die, does it? You’ll just come straight fucking back– -”

[smoking-mirror]

The night was winding up, dawn was creeping over the horizon, and with the new day Pan's memorial would end. Everyone would pack up and go home, and talk about how nice the memorial had been, self-satisfying discussions of the fear of the unknown, of keeping their eyes peeled. It was all very kitsch, Tez thought as she prowled outside. She'd had her fill of saccharine driads dabbing tears from their lashes, conspiratorial gods muttering about who could be next. Tez longed for a crisp bout of fresh air against her skin, and while New Orleans was always humid, the air smelled cleaner out here than within the bar.

There was a noise, further down the alleyway. Tez heard the first moan, and assumed it was from a pair of lovers. The alleyway behind Attaboy wasn't particularly romantic, but who was Tez to know, or tell. Tez had just about fished out her e-cig when one of the voices started screaming, begging to be let go. Well, perhaps it wasn't a lovers' rendezvous after all. Tez pocketed her vape and turned to the voices, debating splitting up whatever was going down. She wasn't a vigilante, but there was a familiarity to the other's voice, a hateful snarl that gave it all away.

Alekto, her little fury.

Tez sighed, deep and weary. It would be easier to leave Alekto to this ill-advised vengeance. But if she caused trouble, permanent trouble, so soon after Pan's death... It wouldn't look good. For her or for Tez, her employer. So Tezcatlipoca stalked forward, towards the sound of Alekto's ramblings turning from anger to threatening murder.

"Really? Again? Is this how you usually finish your night when you're invited to parties? When you're already accused of murder?" Tezcatlipoca asked Alekto, annoyed with her immature bouts of anger. Annoyed, because Alekto already had her anger flaring and there was nothing more that Tez wanted to do but to impale Alekto onto a spike. 

"They're a twig, look you're close to breaking them in half by touching them," Tez sighed, and paused. It was a mistake, because she was going to end up with a bleeding nose at the end of it, but Tez didn't want to play another game of talk circles around Tisiphone. Tez stepped closer to the pair and reached for Alekto's shoulder. Pulling them back in an attempt to dissociate the pair.

[smoking-mirror]

velcs​:

smoking-mirror:

True, with every cycle came the capacity to learn more. For Tez it came with an opportunity of more conflict, another chance to take her rightful place on top. A place that had been ripped from her as often as it had been claimed. And each time she was a little bit better at keeping it. “Consequences…” Tez repeated, twirling her e-cig around her fingers. “May we always outrun them,” she gibly said, raising her vape in a mock-toast to the serious god of final judgement.

“So you think this descension is his comeuppance?” Tezcatlipoca asked, trying to figure Veles out. There was a true hatred for Perun there, long-lived and well tempered. All because… what? He stole a woman? He was arrogant and prideful? That would be enough to have Veles hate most deities. “What do you think it’s going to teach him? How to throw a proper tantrum? How to be a moody bastard? Humility?”

With that last point Tez felt a shiver of understanding. A reflection in her inner mirror. “It’s not about teaching him a lesson…” she said, tilting her head to a side. “It’s about besting him. Being better than him.” Now that, she could understand. Tez leaned her head back and chuckled. “How alike we are…”

If this was a conversation held in his Divine Halls, his vein would’ve popped. But, since they’re now two almost mortals dreading the consequences… he couldn’t say he blamed her desire to outrun the shady parts of her character - he wasn’t all that different, either ; judgement God or not. He had… shady parts of his characters pretty well hidden, so far. Now, if only the rest of the divine populace knew the lengths he went to make Perun… well… less fork-y. “No one enjoys the consequences. So, now, we agree.” He grinned, raising the glass in return of her gesture.

“Perhaps.” Veles replied after a moment. Perhaps it really was Perun’s punishment. After all, he is a God of judgement, and many times he’s judged the Thunder god guilty. Maybe this truly is his punishment - long overdue. Snorting in amusement at Tezca’s guessing, he shrugged. “I doubt he will ever learn the meaning of humility, it’s not in his nature. But, he might learn a thing or two, now that his… punishment has come. Or however you like to call it. Maybe he’s just starting a trend, trying to be an influencer at bad descensions.” He chuckled.

But, when she spoke again, she hit a little too close to home - and Veles’ grin widened.

“Perhaps.”

There was a definite darkness to Veles, the horrors of his pantheon's underworld. Tezcatlipoca as she caught a glimpse of it, present in the wry smile as he admitted that perhaps she was correct. "Perhaps..." she repeated, blowing out a  plume of vapour. "Veles," she said, leaning forward to the god. "I think I know you half as much as I should like to," Tez smiled, amused and intrigued by Veles, this dark streak that grew all the stronger whenever his rival was mentioned. She stood up from his table, eager to taste the rest of Kan's delights. "Perhaps we can work on that when we next meet," she suggested, looking again at the cards he had played for her, risk, an opportunity. Time would tell if he had been correct.

|||| END

[smoking-mirror]

attaboyutu​:

☼

‘Change scares you’, Tez said, as easily as if she was cracking a walnut to get to the sweet meat within.  Utu looked away, but forced themselves to reply,  “That’s no surprise, I’m kind of known for my reliability.”  The one thing everyone could count on - the sun always rose and it always set.  Every day, in all the long millennia that Utu had existed, more or less.  

“And I know what it’s like, to be on the brink of non-existence as well.  I care about that…”  Utu thought about Veles’ brimming anticipation, and now, they looked into Tez’s dark eyes and saw nothing but determination.  No fear in the least.  Did these other pantheons know something that Utu didn’t?  Even if Pan’s murder only affected the Greek-pantheon - who were, without a doubt, one of the more utilized and culturally effective gods in the current world - did the other gods truly not care about the Pan’s destruction, other than seeing it as an opportunity for some exciting new change?

Utu would not be convincing Tez of anything, not tonight or ever.  The more they listened to her speak - clear and crystal and firm - the more Utu couldn’t help but marvel at her confidence.  At her arrogance.  She was a waning god as well, crushed centuries ago by monotheism; but she had no fear.  None; nothing revealed to him, anyway.  Utu tilted his head, regarding Tez - gleaming with a zealous furor in her beautiful bright black eyes - in a new light.  

“I was so wrong about you, Tezcatlipoca…” Utu murmured, but he didn’t elaborate. They only dropped their gaze again, and said,  “I think we understand each other, even if we’ll never agree.  But.  I rarely agreed with Pan either.  You have given me a gift tonight, Tez.  The gift of perspective.  Thank you.”

Not compatible, but complementary.  

“I’m flattered, by the way,” Utu called to wryly, as Tez straightened herself back to her usual jaguar-like sleekness to head back to the memorial.  Utu shut the office door, as he kept talking to Tez as she exited. “By this newfound professional interest. Thank you for taking rejection so well!”

End!

[smoking-mirror]

@hephaestxs​

Pan's memorial was a great excuse to gather all of the divine of New Orleans in one place. Most were here because they missed Pan, others because they wanted to network with their fellow deities. Some, however, were here merely to keep up appearances. Tezcatlipoca, as was in her nature, was here as a mixture of all three. Reminiscing about the dead satyr with one, and scoping out for his replacement with another. Of those that were here only to be seen, none was quite so obvious as Hephaestus. Smoking, properly smoking, in a shadowy booth like some simmering volcano. Fitting.

"I wasn't sure whether you'd show up," Tez said, slipping into the booth opposite Hephaestus. The thought of asking him for permission to join him hadn't crossed her mind. "Pan, more than any others was your opposite, wasn’t he?" Tez asked, tilting her head to the side, eyes drawn to the ember glow of Heph's cigar. "You're the god of technology, of higher thought, of intellect and learning. Pan was animalistic chaos." Tez shrugged, not saying anything, apart from what she insinuated. Animosity between the two of them.

“It’s not often you leave your fortress,” Tez pointed out, leaning back in the booth. “Is it all you dreamt of and more?” she asked, motioning to the dive bar around them, the deities managing to make the memorial into something of a party. It was what Pan would have wanted, supposedly.

[smoking-mirror]

attaboyutu​:

☼

Sometimes, late at night and agonizing over a spreadsheet that tried to cover and cook Pan’s wild expenditures and profits at Attaboy, Utu would wonder if Pan had found himself a fantastic pidgeon.  Utu the patsy.  Like finding that rich old grandma, so lonely and desperate for attention, that she’ll give all her money away to an internet scammer.  A landline scammer, even.

But somehow, even in Utu’s moments when he decided to ‘confront’ Pan once and for all, put his foot down, make things clear about what Utu wanted (even though he was grateful, so, so, so very grateful to this vibrant strange satyr who did so much for Utu with a simple, beautiful hymn), he’d meet with Pan, and…Pan would simply charm him all over again.  No, Pan couldn’t possibly have considered Utu nothing more than a sad lonely grandma.  Pan had those eyes, that face.  He looked at Utu with nothing but convivial love.

Tez, was not the same.  Utu wasn’t beholden to Tez.  Sure, she was somehow involved with keeping Attaboy’s profits up - not that Utu wanted to know the gory details - but there were other revenue streams.  Honest revenue streams, that Utu could shine some light on, cultivate with honest businesses and vendors, grow like plants to make Attaboy something more than just a sleazy speakeasy den and a sunny coffeeshop above.

Utu gave Tez a sour look as she teased them.  “Oh har har.  I’m sure this kinda thing is just normal for you…”  Did Pan and Tez ever…?  Actually no; Utu didn’t want to think about that.  He shut the dildo drawer.  

“Baast huh…”  Utu straightened up, tapping a long finger along their lip.  “That’s not such a bad idea, but the backroom unfortunately doesn’t get a lot of light.  Maybe I can get a bank loan and build in some sky lights, though…”  Utu grinned at the thought.  Brighten up the neon-dark corners of the speak-easy, strip it of it’s dark allure and sweet mystery?

But they could tell that Tez was displeased.  And before Utu could say anything more, Tez piped up first - with her own proposal.  Utu wasn’t expecting this and they stared at her in honest surprise.  Did Tez think Utu was just vying for an offer?

“A Pan 2.0?  No one could replace Pan when it comes to Attaboy, Tezcatlipoca.  For all of his disorganization and lack of business management skills.  And his late payments, and his lackadaisical schedule.”  And and and.  Utu made a disgruntled noise, and shut all the cabinets.  “We shouldn’t even be talking like this.  This is Pan’s memorial, he’s gone forever.  Don’t you - I know you explained about your idea of death - but the death of a god isn’t the same as a mortal!  He’s not on their Olympus!  He’s wiped from existence!!  He’s gone and he’s never coming back!!  Someone obliterated him - and - and I have no freaking clue how his murder is going to affect humans, even.  Something’s going to happen to their way of life - not just in this little city.  Without Pan living in the mass-subconscious of humanity, that’s gonna have a ripple effect, Tez.  A huge shift in culture, beliefs…mark my words.  You can’t just kill a god and expect it to have no consequences.”  

No one from any of their pantheons in New Orleans were technically worshipped, except adjacently.  They existed in the subconsciouness of humans, or more directly in small sporadic cults and pagans.  Pan more than most.  Mortals still knew of Pan, utilized him in words and songs and terminologies and shorthand.

But Utu was ranting and Tez was staring at him, in a way that (to Utu) looked completely unimpressed by his grief, and his alarmism.    Utu waved a hand.  “Whatever.  I won’t get through to you.  And no - I don’t need your help with my business, Tez.  I’m sorry, but…I don’t think we’d be compatible.”

He could say that now.  Steeped in grief and moral self-righteousness, and maybe a petty satisfaction of shooting Tez down.  But…but.  There was always that air siren wail alarm in the back of Utu’s mind, growing louder with each day that passed, post-Pan.  What to do with Attaboy.  What to do with Attaboy.

Beware the quiet ones, that was a mantra Tezcatlipoca needed to pay more attention to. Huitzilopochtli was the loud brother, boisterous and noisy, gnashing at the bit for his fill of bloodlust and carnage. Yet it had always been Quetzalcoatl who had been Tezcatlipoca's downfall, literary and quiet. Utu was so much like him, it could have made Tez sick. As Utu spoke she knew this approach wouldn't work, that he was drawing out the art of spurning her. Tez kept her face as neutral as she could make it, about to make a point that if he so desired it, she would happily be disorganised, manage business badly and pay Utu late when the sun deity's emotional outburst stopped her in her tracks.

Tez listened, thoughtfully. Truly listened. She assessed Utu carefully, slipping her e-cig away into her pocket so no more smoke would obscure them. Pan was gone forever, and yes that would leave an ache in the world. Like a lost tooth, the bloodied gap in the gum that the tongue couldn't help but slip through, searching for its missing companion. But it was just that, a tooth, and after a while the gum would heal over, the gap would hardly bother the tongue.

"There will be consequences," Tez said, agreeing with Utu. "Change scares you," she stated, cutting to the core of their disagreement. It wasn't about the sanctity of Pan's life, or death, the unfairness of his demise, the ripples that would grow into waves from this moment. It was that Utu was afraid, and Tez was not. "It's alright," Tezcatlipoca said, smiling as she stepped back into the office, back over to Utu. "It will never be the same, but it never is the same. That's the great deception we play, isn't it? Every day is different to the last. Within ten years, every cell that makes up this mortal form would have replaced itself. Nothing, is ever the same, Pan is dead, and he is never coming back, gods can die, and the world will keep turning and the sun will burn," she said, and she was right in front of Utu. She poked a finger into the center of his chest.

"I have torn a world to pieces because it did not please me, and built it up anew. Yes, Pan's death is terrifying, it is horrible and sad and exciting. What will come next?" she hissed, dark eyes blazing with energy. This was her element, change through disorder, chaos and adaptation. It had been centuries since she had been on Earth and something so exciting had happened! Something which could shake not only a city or a country, but the entire world to its core!

Tez stepped back, aware that she was overzealous, giving Utu some space to breathe. Straightening her jacket, looking cool and unaffected once more. "Think on it," she said. "Not compatible, but complimentary." Night and the sun, working together.