riverviewlogs | [open] we tried to bury it and rise above

[Immediately upon waking up, Taako knows that something isn't right; the bed is too big and too soft. Lup isn't beside him, which isn't that unusual, sometimes she gets up earlier than him to help their aunt with chores, but the bed thing is definitely weird. Their aunt is nice, but she hasn't got a lot of money for things like big soft beds and duvets that seem to be filled with feathers. Taako feels like he should be worried, probably, but there's something in the back of his mind that tells him this place is safe, even if he doesn't know where this place is.

Still, he clambers out of the bed and starts investigating the room; marvelling at the wardrobe full of colourful clothes (all too big for him, though he finds a shirt that falls to his knees and pulls it on, then grabs a loose silk scarf to cinch it around his waist. He finds a lot of jewellery, though none of it looks expensive enough to bother about taking, and he finds photos of… himself, he thinks. Older, definitely a lot older, but he's pretty sure that's his face all grown up. There are other people in the photos that are tacked haphazardly on the wall, and two things stick out to Taako. One, he doesn't know any of these people. Two, none of the photos contain Lup.

That's the weirdest thing he's run into so far, because whatever this older version of him is doing, he should obviously still be with Lup.

So he decides to go looking; there's cash in one of the drawers (score) of the vanity, and he carefully folds it up in his hands before climbing out the window.

First order of business is clothes: he buys a pair of tights and a tunic, nicer than he's used to but still familiar, and a pair of boots that eat up almost all of his cash, though he's not too worried about that. Now that he blends in a bit better, he can just take anything else he needs.

This idea promptly gets him into trouble. He's used to having Lup serve as a distraction, but this time when he tries to swipe a pastry from a street cart, the vendor notices and starts yelling, at which point Taako turns and bolts, barrelling down the street as fast as he can, not wanting to get caught.

Please help this small disaster.]

[It had become very apparent very quickly that Taako needed to be anywhere but in the same building as Lucretia, because despite their uneasy truce, it's painful to be reminded of everything she's done to them. The city itself has started to feel stifling, so he packs some supplies, along with his stash of magical items, sends a text to Cisco inviting him along, and starts towards the abandoned city. It's not that he necessarily needs company, but he isn't a huge fan of being alone, and while he could ask Clark or Eddie or Bryn, he'd rather hang out with someone he likes but isn't super close to. The last thing he needs right now is someone asking if he's okay.

And Cisco is pretty infectious in his enthusiasm; Taako doesn't think he'll have too difficult of a time pretending that everything is totally, perfectly fine.

In the interest of showing off, Taako tells Cisco to meet him just outside the first barrier. He has A Plan, and he thinks Cisco will approve of it, though for now he's just chilling on a fallen log, casting little sparks of prestidigitation to amuse a handful of alien-looking butterflies, who seems to be enjoying the bright colours.]

[ Cisco is happy for a little excitement; he shows up when and where Taako tells him. And if he happens to be wearing a tactical vest with a ridiculous amount of gadgets, and carrying a backpack with all kind of medical supplies and probably some weapons that ought not to just be thrown in a backpack together, well, let's just say that his first venture outside the wall had Not Gone Well.

But Taako can probably shoot fireballs, and surely even his luck isn't bad enough that he'd get attacked by monsters two times in a row - right?

So he is beaming when he spots Taako some distance off, making little mulitcolored sparks and flashes in midair, and possibly conjuring butterflies? Or maybe they're just there for the tiny fireworks. Either way, it's somehow very flashy and strikes Cisco as very Taako. He waves an arm in the air, shouts: ]

'Sup?

[ A few moments later he is at Taako's side, adjusting the straps of his backpack and saying: ]

So you were very mysterious about what exactly we're doing out here.

[That sure is a lot of gear, Taako sort of stares at Cisco for a long moment, caught between baffled and amused, the butterflies momentarily forgotten.]

You know this is just a day trip, right? Like, we're not having a camp out, you didn't need to bring the kitchen sink.

[Cisco pls.... pls.....

Taako has a leather satchel over his shoulder and that's all he felt it was necessary to bring. The tactical vest is overdoing it.]

Yeah, I know. If we were I'd have twice as much. Better safe than sorry, right?

[ He delivers the justification with a slightly embarrassed grin; the fact is, it really is a ridiculous amount to bring with him. Even Cisco is aware of that. He'd tried leaving with less, but his brain kept coming up with 'what if's and the best way to shut it up was to capitulate. And he just knows he's going to end up sore from hauling all this around, but that's a sacrifice he is willing to make. ]

Anyway, you didn't answer my question. What've you got planned?

Well, listen, if Garyl complains that's on you.

[Which is the answer to Cisco's question; Taako points his umbra staff towards a clear space between the trees, makes a quick gesture with it, and Garyl shimmers into existence.

The unicorn looks over at Taako, then Cisco, and says:]

What's up?

Garyl?!

[ Cisco only has time to repeat the rather odd name, in a tone of surprise, before Taako is waving his magic umbrella through the air and summoning a unicorn. Like, an actual unicorn. A horse. With a horn on its head.

Then, somehow, things get even more unbelievable, because the thing is looking at him and it spoke. To him. ]

No way!

[ At which point Cisco claps both hands over his mouth in sheer, unadulterated, childish glee. What else is there to do? There's a talking unicorn, named Garyl of all things, and really sometimes his life is just way too wonderful to be true. His eyes are bright with joy and he can't even drown Taako in a barrage of questions, like he usually would, because he's just too excited about the whole situation. ]

It's a unicorn.

[ Cisco is fully in that 'state the obvious' level of euphoria and disbelief right now. ]

[Taako is used to people being pretty jived with the whole Garyl situation, but Cisco is even more excited than Ellie was, which is kind of hilarious, so the look he exchanges with Garyl is one of 'can you believe this guy?'

It's kind of cute, though.]

I'm not carrying this dude if he passes out, Taako.

[That gets a laugh, as Taako digs a small pack of sugar cubes out of his bag, tipping one onto his palm so that Garyl can eat it. Technically spectral horses don't need food, but it makes Garyl happy to get some every now and then.]

He's not gonna pass out - [And with a glance at Cisco:] - Right?

[ Cisco takes a few steps closer, watching as Taako feeds the talking unicorn, as if it's the most natural thing in the whole world. It takes a moment to actually process what he was being asked, but when the words sink in he nods: ]

Oh, yeah, of course. No passing out, promise. Cross my heart.

[ He makes a little x over his heart, and edges still closer to Taako and his sugar cubes. Excitedly, he asks: ]

Can I feed him one?

[ Cisco's never fed a horse from his hands, much less a unicorn. But it looks easy enough. ]

[Oh good, both Taako and Garyl look relieved at that promise (relief is an odd look on a horse), because neither of them wanted to deal with the consequences of someone getting so excited they passed out. That's never fun.]

Fair warning, he's kinda slobbery.

[But Taako passes Cisco a sugar cube, as Garyl responds:]

Fuck you, Taako.

[The rudest.]

(Lucretia is turning a corner into the market when something bowls sharply into her legs. She blinks and stumbles back, looking down: it's a child, a little elf with a pastry clutched in his fist. The vendor is yelling in the distance, and it doesn't take long for her to put two and two together: she promptly side-steps in front of the little kid, hiding him from view with her long robes.

When the vendor comes stalking through she simply stands in place until he's left, making a ploy out of checking her phone, tapping at nothing on a blank screen until he's passed. The whole thing has actually reminded her of Taako, and actually has his network name pulled up before she realises that she can't message him right now. Or rather, shouldn't. Not when she's like this.

It's on that somber note that she puts her phone away, glancing down and behind her as she steps forwards.)

Are you alright?

[It doesn't take him long to realize what the human woman doing, and Taako goes very still as he waits behind her robes, holding his breath as though it might help ensure that he isn't spotted. It feels like forever, until the vendor is gone and the lady addresses him.

She seems familiar, but like the familiarity of this place, he can't quite place it.]

Do I know you?

[The accent ("accent") might be recognizable, although it's slightly ruined by the fact he's already shoving half that pastry in his mouth.

He's hungry, let him live.]

No, I... don't think so.

(But he does seem familiar. He's got the same colour hair as Taako now that she's looking at him properly, the same nose. Maybe that's just an elf thing, though?

The way he's tearing into his food is breaking her heart a little bit; little kids shouldn't ever be so hungry that they have to resort to stealing.)

Are you hungry? I can get you some food if you'd like more.

Why...?

[The pastry is basically gone by the time Lucretia finishes her three whole sentences, so it's easier to hear the suspicion in his voice. None of the adults in his life are necessarily awful, but he's used to trusting no one but Lup, especially not strangers.]

(Lucretia almost laughs.)

So you don't have to keep taking it and nearly getting caught? (Standing here in the middle of a market place and talking to an elf child abruptly makes her miss Faerûn; a strange thought. The memories that she has of it are fond.)

Why do you care about that?

[Getting passed from family member to family member probably explains that attitude, really.]

You said you don't know me!

[was she lying??

SUSPICION INTENSIFIES]

I don't! I just– I would feel uncomfortable if I knew a child was going without enough to eat, that's all.

(His suspicion is both endearing and sad auuaughgh)

[His desire to have a lot more food is warring with his distrustful nature, and right now the former is winning, almost.]

What's your name?

Lucretia.

How about you? (Hopefully he's not so sus that he won't withhold that information from her?)

That's a pretty name.

[He doesn't think he's heard it before, but it sounds nice, and even if he's not exactly relaxed, some of his suspicion is lessening. So far she's only helped him, and been nice.]

I'm Taako.

(She opens her mouth to say thanks, but says nothing, and closes it again. Opens it again.)

Taako? (~~Like, from TV?~~ Well, at least she isn't elf racist or something: this little kid looks exactly like Taako because he... is. Huh. The chalice must have got to him.

Lucretia has been standing and staring for a good thirty seconds now. Eventually she catches herself, clearing her throat.)

It's uh– it's good to meet you, Taako.

[That's a weird reaction.

He's not a stupid kid, by any means, even if he tends to let Lup drag him around most of the time rather than having his own opinions about things, but right now he's having an opinion about this being kinda weird.]

Are you lying?

(She doesn't know how she'd possibly go about explaining this in a way that would be satisfying, so she just... lies.)

No. (All the while super aware that Taako basically invented lying.)

Do... do you want to go get something to eat?

[She's totally lying.]

Can it be hot?

[But now he's curious, he wants to know what she's lying about, and how she knows him, so he'll play along for now.]

(But she said it with a straight face and everythingggg cmon)

Course. Want to go through the stalls and pick something out?

[open] we tried to bury it and rise above

open; 22-24

cisco; 17

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hello naughty children. its sad time

as opposed to all those happy time threads we have

name one other sad thread weve done

uM........

thats what i thought!

wow ok sure

>:P

i h8 u

big lie

i'm being called out

yfip: justine

i mean, true

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