- これはポカニキの一人称視点で書かれています。
- デくんは登場しないが、デテのヒントはある。

***

You asked me about acrylic standees I’d say they’re awesome.

Y’know, it was common for people of the past to sculpt effigies to represent gods. They picked a huge lump of clay and made small figurines out of it, following their wizened priests’ guidance on picking shapes that best represented the divine beings. Then, they brought those figures to the temples as part of many rituals, while some were also sold for the commoners to complete the altar in their houses. Simply put, the figurines brought a small part of divinity to protect their homes.

Oh, but they also made tiny statues of the bigwigs, too. Kings, military leaders, respected noblewomen. People would trade cacao beans just to get’em, and they’d brag to their neighbors about how the statues would someday help them climbed up the social status just like gods’ figurines blessed them.

In any case, I see no difference between the clay figures and the acrylic standees. In fact, I’m super pleased that the culture of worship still persist in modern times. Plastics are cheaper than clay, too. You can make a whole lot of figures in large batch and minimum spending. Extending influence and raking huge profits at the same time, like shooting two birds with a single bullet. Damn, I should take note of that.

Speaking of which, recently Miss Crane asked me if I wanted to model for standees. Apparently my current form was considered “attractive” by modern standard and it would be a waste to not capitalize on that. Usually I’m not the kind of guy who’d be in the front line unless the situation called for it, but her offer was way too good to reject. I got to wear two different clothes, all specially tailored by Miss Crane, and went to a photo session. Days later, I got a call saying that my standees were almost always sold out everywhere.

In short, the project was a huge success.

But later, I learned that Daybit was also invited to the project. Being always in a rush for literally everything, I wasn’t surprised he had only one costume variation, but that didn’t stopped the sales of his acrylic standees to soar. He’s really that popular with the ladies, huh.

Still, having only one costume doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t like being unfair.

Nonetheless, I still bought his standees. It’s just right to display them together with my own.

[Later, when Tezcatlipoca returned to Mictlanpa, he found himself an altar made entirely of his standees. The culprit who built the altar confessed that he hoarded Tezcatlipoca’s standees, but he didn’t have any money left to buy his own standees to pair with. The god only chuckled at his partner’s usual antics as he placed Daybit’s standees on the left side of his standees, saying now the altar looked balanced. This earned him a pair of sturdy arms wrapped around his waist and a deep, passionate kiss to his lips. A fair trade.]