[open] remember when i put meaningful things in subject lines

[spellslots]

who: taako
what: monster fighting + general nonsense
when: late march
where: around!
warnings: violence for any flooding threads



on this week's episode of River Monsters ; ota

[It's been a while since Taako's really had to stretch his magic out; there was the stuff with the cult, sure, but that was a minor little mess and this is like, a bunch of river monsters. Totally different ballgame. If he's being honest with himself, this is something he kind of misses about being away from Fearun and out of the cycles. Because yeah, it's a lot safe not running around fighting random monsters or possessed arcanists or whatever, but blasting shit with spells is just a little bit fun.

There's been enough time since remembering Lup that he's stopped relying quite so heavily on fire spells, especially when he doubts fire will do much against crocodiles and lizards with thick skin. He relies on lightning and energy instead, a few necromantic spells to drain the life out of the creatures, with the occasional confusion spell thrown in, turning them on each other.

At one point, one of them moves a little quicker than anticipated while he's dealing with another, and suddenly Taako is knocked aside by a scaled tale, disappearing into the underbrush with a startled yelp followed by a roughly exhaled hachi machi.

But it’s okay! Because instead of his regular adventuring gear, he's got a sweet as hell superhero costume, courtesy of one Cisco Ramon, coolest person in the Quarantine. It's made from similar material as the Flash's costume, just in purples and blues instead of red and yellow (because really, red and yellow? Pick a better palette, Barry). There might have been some arguments over exactly how fancy it needed to be, versus actual functionality, but at the end of the day Taako trusted Cisco enough to give him most of the creative control. What really matters is that it means he can take a hit like that and only lose maybe 15 HP, allowing him to get right back up again.

Now he's gonna toss a fireball, just because he's kinda pissed.]

day to day ; pre-existing cr

out and about
[Taako is a social creature. He can handle being alone, sure, the ten years in Fearun made that abundantly clear, but that doesn't mean he likes it. It's much nicer to be surrounded by attention and affection in the form of friendship. And after the last few shitty months, he's aware that he hasn't exactly been present in other peoples' lives. Sampremi and the kigu party rectified some of that, but a one off catch up doesn't quite cut it. So he slips back into old habits eagerly, sending out texts to anyone who's company he's fond of. It's often as simple as an offer to join him for lunch/brunch/dinner/coffee, though occasionally he does tailor requests to someone's interests, a mention of a new store they might like, or a band playing he thinks they'd be into. After spending the last months feeling bitter and trapped in the Quarantine, he's reaching out and reconnecting in an attempt to remind himself that it's not all terrible.]

around the house
[For anyone who has the amazing privilege of being welcome at the IPRE (minus Lucretia) residence, Taako tends to flit in and out during the day and night, not really beholden to any particular schedule. He's pretty content with an even mix of getting out and being a homebody, though it tends to tip more towards the latter on days he has a lot of orders to get through for work. Spending several hours in the kitchen isn't much of a struggle for him, but it does mean that once he's done he'd prefer to just chill out watching a movie or listening to music, rather than going out.

There's enough to do around the house to keep himself occupied, especially considering the place is full up these days. If Merle or Davenport show up, they're gonna have to look at getting a bigger place.]

Comments

for skeletor

[spellslots]

[It's taking some getting used to, this whole situation with Kravitz, because as much as Taako wants to treat it like any other new relationship (as rare as those are) sometimes it's impossible to pretend. Kravitz is doing his best, Taako knows that and appreciates it, but there are always slip ups. Kravitz knows him too well, more than someone he just started some kind of relationship with has any right to know. Sometimes Taako wants to ask exactly what his other self has told the reaper, but most of the time he's too much of a coward.

But he wants to make it work, or at least try.

Which means doing normal fucking things, like a date. The arts scene in the Quarantine varies, since it's reliant mostly on people showing up who know what the fuck they're doing, but there's a decent sized theatre that doubles as an opera house and Taako managed to get two tickets to some show they're doing for the flower festival. It's not his usual jam, but it's not like he hates it, and he's trying to be like, considerate of other people's interests.

And it means he gets to dress up, so that's always a plus. After talking about it with the hologram version of Kravitz, Taako decides to go with the floral suit he wore to the masquerade, although he loses the waistcoat and shirt, pairing it with a light blue silk camisole instead. He does something a little different with his hair, just because and then tries not to spend too long fussing about literally everything else. Living in the same house is tricky, because he doesn't get to do a dramatic arrival. Instead, he just has to walk to Kravitz's bedroom and lightly knock on the doorframe.]

You ready, pumpkin?

[rapsheet]

[ Kravitz has been ready for a while, essentially - standing in front of the mirror, changing and changing his outfit in small ways, which is much easier to do when your clothes are technically part of you but no less frustrating. Worse, maybe, for having this much control over it. Still, by the time Taako appears he's about reached something he likes and is mostly just fussing with tiny design elements for something to do so that he doesn't go out of his mind with nerves.

Because he is definitely nervous. Trying not to be, but... he's never exactly been the suave, confident type when it comes to things like this. Their first date was an accident on his part. He'd expected it to be more of an argument than anything else, so he hadn't had this period of psyching himself out about it beforehand. They're not exactly starting from scratch, of course - but they may as well be, considering how long it's been for Taako, and the... unique circumstances.

It'll be okay, he keeps telling himself. It isn't as if they're total strangers.

He tries not to think about the part where that's exactly the problem.

The knock on the doorframe actually makes him jump a little, startled; though the advantage to that is that it serves to shake him out of his thoughts pretty quickly. ]

Ah - hello, love, I was just...

[ It's likely not exactly a first for Taako seeing someone lose their train of thought just looking at him, but here it is again, in case he's forgotten what that looks like. A lot of mushy poetic bullshit like every time I think I've seen you as beautiful as you can get, you one-up yourself again springs to mind - but Kravitz decides he'll spare him that much. Waxing lyrical isn't exactly first date stuff, after all. Even second. ]

You look amazing.

[spellslots]

[It isn't a first, but it's... different when it's someone who's opinion he actually cares about, and Kravitz certainly falls into that category, regardless of the difficulties of the situation. Taako's smile is warm, delighted, rather than the smugness that might be there if it were anyone else complimenting him.]

Can I assume that means you like it? I'm not really a suit guy, but it doesn't hurt to shake things up sometimes.

[rapsheet]

I do.

[ Kravitz steps forward, for once not trying to hide the way he looks at Taako like he hung the moon. ]

I can't say it's what I expected, but nothing ever is with you.

[ The words that might have echoed regret another time come instead with an appreciative chuckle. Being unpredictable might not be the easiest thing about Taako, but it's definitely one of the best. ]

around the house

[kievs]

(She'd been invited around by Taako to come collect her order, which she's more than happy to do because that means she gets to snoop around his place. How exactly does a wizard who can turn stuff into diamonds live?

Really really fucking well, turns out.)

Holy shit. (She has to stop in front of the house as she approaches just to take it all in, hands buried deep in her pockets. This is pretty swish. To be fair, if she made a lot of money she'd probably buy a big stupid house too, and fill it with lots of useless, ornate crap.

She marches on up to the door, and rings the bell three times.)

[spellslots]

[That's an excessive amount of doorbell rings, considering the wards already pinged her arrival, so when Taako opens the door he's giving her a look, like - child please.

But he's more amused than annoyed.]

Hey, fucko, come on in.

[He's nice.]

[kievs]

(Alyssa flips him the bird in response. She's also nice!)

Hey.

(She swipes her feet a bunch on the doormat but doesn't take her shoes off. It's just as fancy inside as it was on the outside, shit.)

This place is swank.

[spellslots]

Shoes.

[He says it as he closes the door behind Alyssa, because even if he lives with Magnus fucking Burnsides, Taako tries to keep the place tidy.]

And thanks, it's uh, I've had it for a while, but it's all pretty full now so I am glad I got a big place.

around the house-ish

[millenials]

[ dani loves it when random meetings in bars or clubs turn into something more, something lasting. she's found that the women's toilets are actually a great place to meet new female friends. that's not quite what happened with taako, but, well. there's a great shot of her with artful glitter on her arms and chest on her newly minted instagram profile and there's one of the two of them and if that isn't the start of a beautiful friendship, dani doesn't know.

they've agreed to meet up to go shopping, but somehow, the conversation had turned and now he's cooking instead and she's bringing some stuff from the boutique over for the two of them to try on instead. ]

Hey. [ she leans in easily when he opens the door, moving into his space to slide her lips against his cheek -- but because she's wearing immaculate lipstick, she doesn't actually touch his cheek. air kisses are a go. ]

[spellslots]

[Taako is delighted to have met Dani; he's got a few friends who's interests align with his but it's always nice to have someone who ticks multiple boxes.

Maybe it's partly to do with how much he misses Bryn, but he's trying not to think too hard about that. He's happy to just focus on Dani, which is why he's smiling through the air kisses.]

Welcome to my humble abode.

[millenials]

[ dani is equally delighted to have met taako. there's something to be said for people who appreciate posing for instagram shots, drinking and dancing and having a good time the same way she does. fashion, too.

and now he's willing to make food for her, too. that's pretty much friendship jackpot right there. it's not that dani can't feed herself, but. well, take-out is expensive on her current salary. she'd never really had to do the math before and see how much she'd have let at the end of the month.

okay, so maybe she can't really feed herself. ]

Humble? I don't believe that for a second.

im gonna fistfight html behind a 7/11

[spellslots]

[Taako laughs as he gestures for Dani to come inside, stepping back so she move past him. There are, noticeably, a pile of shoes by the door and Taako is barefoot, so it's one of Those households.]

Let's just say it's only like half as over the top as it could be.

[Taako would definitely go All Out if he had full creative control, but Ellie helped him pick out the original apartment and now he shares with a bunch of people, so he keeps it toned back.]

macarons time

[tanker]

[ As discussed earlier in the day, John shows up at Taako's house after his shift. He's not even gone home first - he's between two at the moment anyway, so it felt easier to go straight to Taako's. (Fact is, if he goes back to the new apartment and Clarice is there, he won't leave again.)

He's still in his fatigues, and it's been a long day, but not a bad one. Especially since he knows there's the promise of food in his very near future, and not just any kind, either. He's smiling as he rings the doorbell, as excited about it as a kid about to get a sugar high. ]

[spellslots]

[Taako makes sure there's a fresh pot of coffee ready to go a little bit before John is due to arrive, sets the macarons in their box on the table and then busies himself with prepping dinner while he waits.

The wards ping him to the arrival of company before the doorbell does, so it doesn't take him long to open the door.]

Afternoon, pumpkin, you look kinda like you could use that coffee.

[From the fatigues, he's assuming perimeter guard, and he knows that can be hard work.

Most people arriving at Taako's door get a kiss on the cheek at least, but drunk-flirting aside, he doesn't know John well enough to know his stance on casual affection, so Taako just steps back to wave him inside, instead.]

Come on in.

[tanker]

[ Might be for the best - John might startle at a cheek kiss. Casual affection doesn't really happen much to him, and usually it's a shoulder squeeze, maybe a hug, at best.

He's working on all that, though. That's something, learning how to be... 'normal', as much as he can be. Still, at Taako's gesture, John steps in, looking around with interest before he nods. ]

Been a long day. Lots of new arrivals recently. But really, I don't want to put you out - I'm sure you're busy.

[spellslots]

[Their door is rarely locked (he doesn't see the point, anyway who can get through the wards isn't going to have much trouble with some metal) but Taako shuts it behind John before leading him into the kitchen.]

I'm pretty sure I owe for the terrible flirting.

[He knows what he's like, even if he didn't mean much by it, so he pours two mugs of coffee.]

How do you take yours and what is it you do with the guard? You're with the guard, right?

[He's partly curious because Kravitz does orientation with the perimeter guard, and he's wondering if they've met.]

rolls up to river monsters late with starbucks

[bythehand]

Hey!

[ Finn's spent a lot of monster duty feeling like this would be a weirdly ideal time to have a lightsaber, frankly. It would save so much trouble. What he's got to bring to the party, courtesy of the Perimeter Guard, are mostly gun-related and regular-blade-related. Which aren't awful, but they're sure not lightning. He's been trying to stick with teams that have one or two people who can fire off lightning or rip things in half with inhuman strength. It's how he ended up here, right now.

Taako can definitely handle himself, generally speaking.

But look. Weird purple body armor or no weird purple body armor (and obviously knowing it can't be argued that Cisco Ramon is one of the coolest people, if not perhaps the coolest person, in the Quarantine), there is something inherently One Fear about watching the guy get swatted into the underbrush by a big river lizard thing.

He doesn't make his own emotional rules. All he does is follow them. And while his rules say it's a relief that Taako bounces back and throws a fireball, they also say to make a strategic withdrawal closer to Taako's personal vicinity to check in. It's cool this is fine we all hang out and yell over monster-fighting soundtracks together. ]

You okay?

theres no such thing as late

[spellslots]

[Taako's not going to say it out loud with words, but he's almost kind of glad that Finn comes closer, even if the suit really did take the brunt of the impact. He's used to fighting in a group because wizards aren't great at 1v1 battles against things that aren't other wizards.

He throws up a wall of force; the already slightly crispy and very shot monster slams head first into it, dropping down cold.

It gives Taako a second to put a hand on Finn's shoulder and catch his breath.]

Hachi machi, been a while since anyone's knocked me around that good. [He puts his free hand on his own chest and breathes in slowly, hissing in pain but:] Sweet, nothing's super broken.

[After a life like his, you learn how to tell the difference between a cracked rib and a very broken rib. It hurts, but there's nothing moving and that's a good sign.]

[bythehand]

[ Taako lives. Which-- okay, sure, he obviously did, it was already apparent when he got back up and started throwing fire around, but still. It's a relief to see the proof up close.

Finn sort of flops a hand briefly onto Taako's shoulder in return, the ultimate gesture of "I can basically do nothing to help with that but I'm glad you're here and you seem okay-ish and that was a cool magic thing you did." It's brief because he'd definitely like to keep his hands in direct weapon contact as much as possible. ]

Oh, good. [ Dry as the Jakku desert. If only it were able to absorb some of this flooding. ] What does it say about this situation that nothing being super broken is a big relief?

around the house because he was invited to stay for food

[tevinteraltus]

[There were a few times when Sleep and Dorian just didn't seem interested in staying acquainted, and even fewer times in those situations he didn't find himself intrinsically wrapped up in Magnus and unable to escape. He found himself lucky this morning, and even more lucky than the house was silent in the wee hours of this morning as he made his careful and quiet way toward the darkened kitchen for, perhaps, something to nibble on before attempting sleep once more. He wore what some might call a typical outfit for late night secret romps to a kitchen in which you're just making yourself at home without ever having met the owner of the house there, loose pants drawn around his waist with a tie and no shoes (Dorian was never one to not make himself at home wherever it was he found himself anyway).

If Taako were to come down, or in, or wherever it was he was located, he'd find the kitchen lit by the soft glow of the light from his refrigerator as Dorian was searching for a snack.]

[spellslots]

[The thing about elves not needing sleep means that Taako can be found around the house at all sorts of hours, especially now that Lup has Barry and is less inclined to hang out with him at four am. There's Kravitz, but... Taako likes having some space. Hanging out at ungodly hours in the morning feels too intimate? Strange? The whole thing is still a confusing mess.

So although Taako's already caught had his four hours, he's in the living room idly scrolling the network on his phone when he hears footsteps. It's none of the IPRE, he knows the sound of them moving like the back of his hand, and he's fairly certain it isn't Kravitz.

Which leaves Dorian, who Taako likes, sure, but he's still doesn't Trust Like That, so off he goes to find out what Dorian's up to. Raiding their fridge, apparently.]

You know, bubbale, I'm like ninety percent sure I offered to cook for ya if you wanted.

[tevinteraltus]

[Tired but unable to sleep, Dorian couldn't really say he was particularly vigilant about who else may be about at 4am.

Also, why was Taako about at 4am, making him jump at the sudden address? Why had he not thought to put on a shirt?

At least Taako's question had a valid enough answer.]

You...did, yes, but I didn't expect anyone else to be awake at this hour.

[He crossed his arms as though that should explain everything.]

And I found myself without a book to pass the time. [But Taako hadn't asked why he was creeping around the kitchen, had he? Damn.]

eye of the tiger.mp3

[realists]

[ two things happen almost at once: jyn gets swatted by one lake placid reject, landing next to taako with the most undignified and offended grunt, landing just in time to see taako launch a massive fireball at another enormous crocodile.

(is it an alligator? she doesn't know the difference, this train of thought is irrelevant.)

soaked from head to toe and looking like a(n adorable,) disgruntled mess, jyn's mouth nonetheless pops open in surprise at the fire before that startled expression slides over to taako himself. is she into the dark arts? is he a sorceress? magic with a k? does he play skyrim alone?

but more to the point: ] What's hachi machi?

[ like honestly, this is what she is taking away from the whole experience, a little exclamation taako made before THE FUCKING FIREBALL. ]

[spellslots]

[Taako, who is used to getting thrown around a bit and despite being a glass cannon, can take a decent amount of damage, is immediately a little concerned about Jyn also been thrown around.]

It's a fucking - it's just words? Like holy shit or whatever.

[He casts a simple magic missile, aiming two at Jyn's crocogator and one at his own (which is looking very worse for wear). It buys Taako time to jog over to Jyn.]

You okay?

[realists]

[ jyn shakes her head, dismissing taako's concern because regardless of the situation her answer is always going to be the same. ] I'm fine.

[ she's bleeding from a split lip, there's a scratch leaking watery blood on her neck, and she twists her torso to plant her far hand on the ground to push herself up, completely ignoring the other arm. one of her truncheons has skittered off somewhere and the other is slick with mud and water, but she scoops it up, still doing everything with her left hand, attempting to wipe it off on her equally muddy and wet pants.

look, jyn refuses to show weakness, ever. ] I've had worse.