riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: CARNIVALE

Smart choice, can't fault that.

[He's only just getting back into eating meat again, so he could've picked a few vegetarian options easily, but having both is easier.]

This way, I got the perfect thing.

[And he's off! Though at a reasonable pace and making sure Izzy is keeping up, as he leads her to a cart about half a block away and orders something from the menu (the food on the grill looks similar to okonomiyaki) without consulting her again, he's in charge now. Once the food is paid for, Taako steps back to wait for it to be cooked, and offers Izzy his hand.]

I'm Taako, bee-tee-dubs.

[Introductions! Sometimes he forgets]

I do try. [Izzy jokes, surprised when not only does he seem to decide on a suggestion that he's happy with, but takes the initiative to move and lead her to his particular suggestion. Petite, though she may be, Izzy's quick on her feet and the heels don't inhibit her in the least.

Izzy has always been the adventurous sort, and this situation doesn't change that in the least. She did want suggestions. And the personal touch behind this one only gives it a leg up already, in her opinion. Sniffing the air once they're close, Izzy peeks at the food on the cart before her eyes move back to Taako, taking the offered hand with a friendly smile.]

Isabelle, it's nice to meet you 'officially'. [Her handshake is confident, holding his hand with the certainty that she treats everything before letting go and gesturing to the cart.] So, tell me what is this perfect thing that you've decided on as your suggestion, Taako?

Pleasure's all mine, Isabelle.

[The question earns another moment of consideration, as if he's weighing up whether or not to spoil the surprise, before he relents.]

Bean sprouts, cabbage, pickled ginger and potato in a like, a batter made with tempura. There's also this meat in it, not too dissimilar to pork, but it's got a smoky flavor, and I made sure to ask for the spicier sauce.

I don't know about that, but if you say so. [Izzy throws the coquettish comment out with ease obviously keeping the conversation light and teasing. Plus, if the smells greeting her nose are any indication of what she's about to try the pleasure might literally be all her's considering. Listening to the list of ingredients Izzy gives a light 'mmm' of anticipation.]

Well if it tastes half as good as it sounds or smells you might have given the best suggestion by far. [Not that she's an expert when it comes to food, by any means. She, like anyone else, knows what tastes good when it hits her tongue, though...even if beyond tasting food (and enjoying it) she's been a complete and utter failure.] And I'll owe you one.

I'd hope so, my reputation is at stake.

[Not really, there's a big difference between cooking and picking out a certain street food for someone to try, but he prides himself on being able to find good food wherever he goes.]

And be careful, I'm sure people warn against owing wizards favors.

[No they don't he's just being playfully ominous.]

[Izzy doesn't bother to hold back the small laugh that escapes. She's fairly certain that if the food isn't great it won't actually mar his reputation, but she enjoys the playful banter, nonetheless.] I, somehow, think your reputation could survive. I highly doubt that something that smells like that could be bad too, though.

[Izzy's cooked enough things that smelled bad to know that the nose is involved in the tasting process. Izzy does find herself pausing for a moment, though. Wizard. Not the same as a warlock, but the world--the magical core--is familiar to her.

Izzy isn't exactly used to someone coming right out and stating what they are, but then again...back home there were a lot of mundanes to protect. And in Wayward Pines the rules in place initially prohibited talk of memories...what she is, what others were, just wound up looped in with that at the time.

Without missing a beat, though, Izzy grins a bit wider and tosses out her retort.] Well, just because some people give warnings doesn't mean that they're right. I'm pretty sure I've heard the same about seelies, and a few other species now that I think about it, at one point. Where's the fun in being careful about every little thing, anyway?

[She's kidding....mostly, anyway. By the angel, she has done a few things in her life that did follow that exact philosophy, though. Oh well! Either way, she's not too worried about owing her new friend. Lightwoods are good for their word, anyway.]

[Of everything Izzy just said, the most important fact to Taako is that she references species as though there's more than one, more than just humans, and that's something he's missed, when talking to a lot of people, so his immediate response is to ask about it.

So he is, of course, interrupted by the vendor calling out his order, so he holds up a finger.]

Hold that thought.

[It only takes him a couple seconds to duck over, grab the cardboard plate of food, and come back, at which point he offers it to Izzy.]

First things first, try it and tell me if you like it, but I'm also gonna ask what a seelie is once your mouth isn't full of food.

[He's curious!]

[Izzy is pretty sure the calculated mention of seelies isn't going to go over too badly. After all, she didn't reference shadowhunters, so the attention won't be on her and what more than mortal she is. Shadowhunters don't share with mundanes, but it would seem that Taako is most certainly anything but mundane. Still, caution and secrecy have always been tools of a shadowhunter.

It keeps the mundanes from finding out the things that they don't know about. And some habits, like holding back certain information about the downworld, are a little difficult to break.

Laughing at the timing, Izzy gives a nod along with the 'go ahead' gesture.] Not going anywhere.

[Watching the most interesting new person she's met today, even if not the most brightly colored, Izzy can't help but wonder if this experience...this place will both last longer, and be better, than the one at Wayward Pines. So far...it certainly feels that way. Taking the offered food, Izzy sniffs it with a smile on her face. It smells amazing.] Yessir. [The tease comes out, but she doesn't hesitate before she takes a bite of the food that is currently tantalizing her senses. The sound that escapes while she chews is a quiet, appreciative hum while she nods.

The verdict is in.] Definitely the best suggestion of the day. Your reputation is safe.

[Izzy grins before taking another taste, chewing thoughtfully as she considers how to speak about a seelie. Once she's finished, Izzy decides on the basic facts and to go ahead and explain without the prompting.] Seelies....also known as faeries, fair folk, pixies, and so on and so forth are half-demon and half-angel members of the downworld. Most love to speak in riddles, avoid direct answers, can't lie, and are incredibly attractive.

[Taako grins as soon as Izzy gives her approval, before schooling his features into an appropriately smug look that's clearly just him being a fucking idiot, because that's how he rolls.]

Glad I could be of service.

[And all joking aside, he does mean that; it's always fun to share good food with people, even if it's not food he made himself (being able to share stuff he cooked is his third favorite thing, after like, fame and money).

When she explains seelies, something seems to click.]

Oh, like the fey, right? We used to have those, elves are descended from 'em, but the fey all fucked off to like... dance in the woods or whatever fey do. I'm not a myths guy. [Which is what they fey mostly are, in his world. Much like dragons, even if it's possible to run into one if someone is very unlucky.] Super glad we didn't inherent the lying thing.

[That would be bad. for him.]

Is the downworld a plane?

[He's way more curious about her world now, since it sounds way better than boring old Earth with just humans and animals.]

Likewise. I lucked out running into you.[Izzy grins, nibbling at another bite. Anyone would rather have a tasty suggestion, like this, than one that doesn't pan out she's sure. Plus, there's something about that grin he's giving that is amusing all on it's own.

The shift, though, is easy for her. Downworlders are an everyday part of her life. So, the nod that she gives in response comes automatically.] Exactly. Most fey stay in the fairy court, back home, but they venture out if they have enough of a reason to. [Meliorn comes to mind, and though navigating through a casual relationship with him had been fun, interesting, and tricky it had been worth it. Izzy still doesn't regret that decision despite the disapproval. She did learn a lot about the fair folk, especially negotiating with them.

Izzy does notice the comment about inheritance, filing it back for later.] Not another plane, no, but it's the supernatural world--vampires, fey, werewolves, warlocks, and demons--everything and everyone that exists in secrecy among the mundanes.

[The fairy court, theoretically, sounds like a pretty rad place, but then he reconsiders based on the whole riddles thing, because there's no way he could deal with that nonsense.]

So like, what's a mundane? Someone without magic? Why are they secret?

[It's absolutely baffling to him (and kind of weird) when he's so used to various cultures and races and supernatural creatures living together. Things don't always go perfectly, but they're mostly good.]

Humans, mortals, the vast majority of society. [Izzy rattles off, pausing with her food for a moment to focus on Taako. How to explain what's always been accepted, and known, as a shadowhunter to someone who isn't familiar with the culture? And the history....]

Some mundanes wind up finding out, but overall it keeps peace and keeps both mundanes and downworlders safe. Or, at least, that's the intent and the way that it's always been done.

[Simon, though now a vampire, proves the point that it isn't necessary to keep it from all mundanes, but...it's always been this way.] There's a history of mundanes reacting...badly to even the ideas of witches, let alone anything else. Shadowhunters keep mundanes from being turned, hurt, or anything else. And from downworlders being hunted down. Besides, most downworlders can't be seen by mundanes unless they use various magical means.

[Not the best explanation, but it's not exactly easy to give shadowhunter history 101 in a casual situation like this.]

Well, that sounds dumb as shit.

[It's not necessarily judgmental, just kind of confused. He's sure that whatever's going on in her world works for her world, but he can't really wrap his head around the idea that a) people without magic would hurt people with magic just... because they can or b) most of the world's population not being able to see an entire subset of people.]

I mean, most of my friends are wizards, sure, but like, Magnus isn't gonna kick my ass just cause he's got no magic and I do.

[Izzy laughs, a bit of a smile pulling at her mouth. When you don't have all the details--or know the full history--she can't blame Taako for thinking that it sounds dumb. It does. In theory they should all be able to just...co-exist without secrecy and problems.

That theory hasn't ever worked in practice, is the problem. Fear, a lack of understanding, and so much more has attributed to the decisions that have been made to protect both sides of this issue.]

There's a lot of history that I'm skipping over to simplify it. It does sound dumb when you try to simplify it...and if you're used to just being open with what you can do and who you are too. [Izzy understands. She's not one of the smartest shadowhunters of her generation for no reason--it's never been an empty boast on Alec's part.]

It's not a perfect system. It's been broken for a while, but back home there are a lot of laws set in place that are antiquated...that a lot of us would like to change. [Though, revealing everything to the mundanes isn't on said list; there are other more pressing problems, after all. And other mistakes that the Clave has made that haven't been forgotten.] It's worked, mostly, though. Keeping both safe. Mundanes generally believe that fae, demons, witches, etc are just stories. And when they haven't...it's led to some violent times...burning accused witches at the stake, hanging them for 'making deals with the devil', and the like.....acting out of fear and a lack of actual understanding. So...it's just been left as it was, to protect mundanes from downworlders and downworlders from mundanes. Both sides pose a certain amount of risk and danger to the other in the right given circumstances.

[Izzy shrugs lightly before taking another bite of her food.]

You know, the more I hear about humans that aren't from my reality, the shittier they sound.

[Or at least, the whole society that humans have built, where there's this weird insider/outsider culture, sounds shitty to him, considering a lot of that doesn't exist in his world. There's some minor tension between races, but nothing serious and nothing as bad as some of the stuff he's heard about Earth in particular. Especially when it comes to people with powers, whether it's aliens or metas or "downworlders".]

Some of them. [Izzy agrees, knowing that she can't deny the truth, especially not when there really are a number of humans--of people--that are shitty. She won't deny the truth. That doesn't mean that she wouldn't protect them. And it doesn't mean that they all fit into that category, but because they exist it's just been better, in the end, to hide.]

For all the shitty ones there are good ones too. [Simon comes to mind, despite the fact that he is no longer a mundane...though it's not fault of his own.] But there are enough of the first kind that it makes a difference. [Izzy shrugs; this was not where she thought this conversation was going considering she had initially just been going out in search of something good to eat--sampling the food.]

There's good and bad in every race, though. [Izzy shrugs, offering a small smile.] I think that's enough serious discussion about the way things work where I'm from, though. Don't want to dampen the celebration.

[Izzy winks, playfully dismissing the serious tone that the conversation had begun to veer into.]

introductory mingle: CARNIVALE

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