riverviewlogs | [closed] There is a terrible cost to dark magic, but you know what they say

[He tosses the onions and garlic into a pan, starting to brown them while he keeps talking.]

Catchy is my middle name. [He seems to consider that for a second, before amending:] Maybe 'flashy' would be more appropriate.

[He's not above making fun of himself, especially around Magnus.]

If you wanna toss like... half that packet of pasta into the water you can?

[On examination, Taako is pretty flashy. He's taking every opportunity he can to make note of his old friend's personality traits, on the off-chance that somehow he picks up some of his old—future?—memories.]

It's not a bad look on you.

[He pours the pasta as instructed. He feels so triumphant at this feat.]

Hey, I'm cooking! Nice!

Flatterer.

[Taako casts prestidigitation to summon a little shower of sparks around him, just for the fun of it.]

Look at you go, next think you'll be up to making toast. Nothing can stop you.

[It's so easy to fall back into the gentle teasing that he's used to.]

[He's pretend-offended at the comment.]

Hey, I can already make toast! It only took 5 tries for me to learn how to use the toaster in communal housing.

[It's a true story. We're lucky the building didn't burn down. But in the end, Magnus had some great toast.]

Y'know, I'm having a lot of fun. Is this something we do often? You and me, and whoever else we hang out with... Whenever we knew each other.

Well, shit, five tries is pretty good, there were a few dipshits when I was staying there that couldn't even manage that.

[He's not sure how to answer that question, so he buys himself some time whole he gets the vodka from the freezer. But he can't put it off forever.]

Kinda, I mean, we work together? But we also live together basically, so yeah, we hang out a lot. Mostly it's just you, me a d Merle these days.

[At this point Magnus is actually pretty comfortable talking about his hypothetical past-or-future-or-something now. He's still not sure whether he believes it, but now he kinda wants to. He leans into the counter in interest, standing out of the way of Taako's cooking space.]

So we were roommates? Does that mean I got to eat your cooking all the time?

[A chuckle. He doesn't recognize Merle's name, but he's not sure whether he should get into that right now.]

I didn't-- [Taako has to pause for a second, not because he doesn't know how to answer, but because the words sit too heavy in his chest.] I didn't cook for a while. For a long time.

[He was never really sure how much Magnus and Merle knew, about Glamorsprings, but neither of them pushed it and that was enough for him.]

But I taught you a little, like, some baking and shit. In the last couple months before I showed up here.

[After Refuge, after some of his guilt was washed away.]

Edited 2017-08-16 04:40 (UTC)

[He can tell that's not a path he needs to walk down right now. He lets Taako shift the conversation.]

That sounds like fun. I probably need to re-learn some of that.

[...Hoooopefully the conversation will pick back up once the food is done. It's cool. It's cool.]

[It's fine, Taako is nothing if not capable of shoving his emotions down in order to have a Good Time.]

Fair warning, you're terrible at anything involving icing.

[Magnus is good with woodwork, but icing is a little bit too delicate for him, which is why Taako would usually take over for that part.]

Hey, I know we've already got booze in the sauce, but do you want a glass of wine or a beer or whatever? We've got a lot.

[That probably doesn't say the greatest things about the group of them, but, well. It's been a rough few months.]

[Magnus considers the thing about the icing, and shrugs.]

Sounds about right, honestly.

[It's been a while since Magnus has been boozy, and maybe it says something about him, too, when he gets excited to hear about it.]

You know, I'd love a beer.

[Maybe he'll ask for something harder on another day when he and Taako know each other better.]

Help yourself, bubbale, there's a few different kinds in the fridge that I think were my ex's, so the sooner they're gone the better.

[He keeps his tone light, playing up the whole "get rid of the ex's stuff" stereotype, but there's nothing in his expression that suggests it actually bothers him.]

Edited 2017-08-16 05:24 (UTC)

[Taako's ex isn't a subject he wants to push, but he is mildly interested... for whatever reason. He picks the most hipstery bullshit beer he can find from the fridge and twists it open.]

If drinking up your booze will make you feel better, I will gladly make that sacrifice.

[Eddie is into craft beers so it is, in fact, hipstery bullshit beer.]

Oh, yup, you're really taking one for the team here.

[He turns away from the stovetop long enough to wink at Magnus, then picks up the pot and dances his way over to the sink to strain the pasta.]

Annnnnd we're nearly ready. Wanna get some dishes for us? Top cabinets, three left from the fridge.

Sure thing!

[After a swig, he sets his drink on the counter to retrieve the dishes as per Taako's request.]

Hey—thanks for doing this, by the way. I don't remember whether I thanked you yet.

[It doesn't take too long to plate up some pasta, pour the sauce over and top it off with some pecorino because he's a fancy boy.

He hands one plate to Magnus, then heads over to the table, claiming a seat amongst the (slight) mess of papers and trinkets.]

No thanks needed, this is totally a fair exchange as long as you gimme plenty of compliments.

[That's how this works.]

[As he finds himself a spot at the table, he grins. He's already used to Taako's sense of humor.]

You got it. Hey, Taako, you've got nice hair.

[He knows Taako is talking about the food. It's meant to come off as a joke more than anything. He blows on a forkfull of pasta to cool it down, then takes a bite.]

Oh, shit. Wow. God damn.

[He's like, staring at his fork inquisitively, like, how did all that flavor get onto this little thing.]

[Taako does a little Marcia Brady hair flick at that compliment, because even if it was a joke, he'll still absolutely take that compliment.

He'll also take the unspoken compliment about the food, laughing a little at Magnus's reaction.]

This isn't even my A game, I'm gonna knock your socks off when I break out the big guns.

[He has to take another few seconds to process this Flavor-Blasted(tm) pasta, but he comes back fast enough to prevent the moment from becoming awkward.]

Are you talking about your hair or the food?

[Without missing a beat, he continues eating. For real this shit is baller.]

[That earns another laugh.

He really did miss Magnus.]

I mean, I guess it depends how into braids you are, cause that's about as fancy as the hair gets.

[With a mouthful of food, he gives it some thought. He at least tries to swallow before answering, but unfortunately, Magnus has a habit of talking mid-chew.]

I could dig braids.

[It hits him that he's being kinda gross and gets embarrassed. Taako's probably used to this, he thinks, but to him Taako is still a stranger. He cleans himself up and tries to fix the moment.]

So what's your specialty? Like, food.

[You always did catches somewhere in his throat, and decides to roll with the second question, instead.]

I picked up a lot from our aunt, it was a lot of uh, provincial kinda shit? Quality meat, lots of sauces, roasted veggies, that sorta stuff. [Fantasy France. It's basically Fantasy France.] I'm doing a lotta desserts these days, cause I got the business and that stuff's easier to market and prep, you know?

[Magnus probably does not know.]

Totally! I get that.

[He does not know.]

So, a business? Are you selling desserts? I should come out and buy something!

Fuck yeah I do, but there's no store or anything, I take orders? Kinda like you'd do with furniture, right?

[Not that Magnus was doing his carpentry thing as a business, while they were working for the Bureau, but Taako figures that's kind of how it'd go.]

Sometimes I sell at markets, just to make a little extra cash and get the name out there.

Commissions, yeah! I'm doing one for Cisco right now. I would totally bring stuff out to markets but furniture is kind of a hard thing to transport. ... I guess I could bring like, carved animals and stuff, but I'm not super good at that yet.

[When he brings up his carved animals, he has this... thoughtful look on his face.]

If I were to order something, what would you suggest? Do you have a menu?

[Thanks! He hates this!]

Speaking from a couple centuries experience, practice makes perfect.

[If a fucking wooden duck turns up anywhere near him, he's going to yell and/or cry, partly because they kind of haunted the Starblaster once they got Fisher and honestly Taako is glad to be free of them. But also: emotions? Are gross?]

I've got examples? Gimme a sec...

[He puts his fork down to dig out his phone, then pulls up his instagram page and slides the phone over the table for Magnus to check out.]

[closed] There is a terrible cost to dark magic, but you know what they say

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