[april catch-all]

[spellslots]

who: Taako & various
what: What it says on the tin! Assorted threads for April that don't fit anywhere else
when: Aprilllll
where: Your mom's bedroom
warnings: drugs, booze, probably some slightly nsfw content
notes: hmu if you want something

Comments

there's an aperture science joke here but i've never actually played portal

[spellslots]

[It takes a little wrangling; mostly just on the timing front, but eventually they work out a time with the authorities to travel to the portal. Clark says he's bringing someone else along, which is fine with Taako, he's not going to turn down extra help to take a look at this thing. That does mean they're likely not flying (a little disappointing) so he asks the guards if they can borrow a vehicle, working on the assumption that Clark or his friend will be able to drive.

He texts a time (mid-morning) and location (the perimeter guard barracks) to Clark, asking him to pass the details on.

Taako gets there way earlier than necessary in order to surprise Bryn at work, but by the designated meeting time rolls around he can be found sitting on the hood of a jeep, his bag and umbra staff on the floor beside a wheel, and his hat firmly on his head.

He's ready to adventure.]

[signifies]

[ Clark is here earlier than the requested time, having sent Peggy the details. He lands next to the jeep, checking their equipment. Clark would be able to drive but prefers not to.

He smiles in a self-deprecating way when he sees Taako looking at the suit and cape. ]

She found out.

[ He's bad at secret identities. At least Taako won't have to lie for him. ]

[mannerism]

She is standing right behind you.

[ and she is dressed in a crisp blue blouse, and a pair of fitted, black trousers. elegant and practical, save for the heels. It's as if she walked out of a vintage catalog with her victory curls and red lipstick. Beneath it all, she's still an English lady and she walks around him, offers Taako a hand. She's not big on jewelry but her nails match her lipstick, the same shade of red. ]

Peggy Carter, nice to meet you.

[spellslots]

You are fucking awful at secrets, my dude.

[Taako gives Clark a consoling pat on the shoulder as slides off the hood of the jeep, just in time to take that offered hand from Peggy, giving it a firm shake.

His nails don't match his lipstick, mostly because he doesn't bother with the latter most the time, and his nails are painted an awful shade of blue that should probably be illegal. No one wants to see what the matching lipstick would look like.]

Taako. It's a pleasure, and I can actually say that sincerely cause I'm seriously digging your look.

[He's wearing the clothes he came in wearing; fantasy leggings(tm), a tunic belted around his waist, knee high boots and the black cloak of the manta ray around his shoulders. It's pretty casual for him, but he was in mission mode when he got dressed so it only seemed fitting.]

[signifies]

[ He sighs. ]

So everyone says.

[ He moves out of the way so Taako can shake Peggy's hand. Clark keeps an eye out for anyone or anything listening to them. He'll also be checking the jeep for hidden cameras or microphones. ]

[mannerism]

In his defense, he chose the wrong person to try it with.

[ peggy has spent the better part of her time before this place slipping in and out of different identities, after all. the blond, american bombshell, the annoyed inspector with little to no time to waste. a spy that can be fooled is no spy, after all. ]

Kind of you, you'd be the first to say that.

[ he must be the most oddly dressed individual she had ever met but that's not here nor there. ]

Well then. Plan of operation. Who shall delegate?

[spellslots]

I'll give you some pointers later.

[Considering one entire person in this whole place even knows what Taako actually looks like, he thinks he's pretty good at keeping secrets.

At Peggy's question, he grimaces a little over-dramatically.]

Literally anyone but me is in charge, I'm just here to do cool magic shit.

[Don't give him any responsibility please.]

[signifies]

[ Pointers he desperately needs, thank you Taako. Short of wearing a mask, Clark's not sure what to do.

He nods to Peggy. ]

We'll follow your lead.

[ He gestures to the driver's seat. ]

Would you like to drive?

[mannerism]

[ she looks between them for a moment, and there is something there, surprise. she's not used to this, being allowed to have this much of a say, to lead anyone into anything, not anymore. All the more reason not to saddle me and my guys with babysitting her, was the nicest thing anyone had to say about the one field operation she was allowed into as of late.

a flicker of a moment passes and she nods, reaching for the keys. ]

Very well, then. It's only gathering intel, really, we'll come as close as they'll allow us, see what we can find out and Taako here could - do cool magic shit, was it?

[ crisply, sharply but not without a grin. ]

[spellslots]

[He notes the surprise, but isn't entirely sure where it comes from, eventually chalking it up to the fact he's happy to hand over the lead to someone who's essentially a total stranger. Sexism doesn't exist where he comes from, it's nice.]

That's the technical term, yeah. You want the run down of my plan?

[It's something he's willing to give; he likes the sound of his own voice and even if neither of them are familiar with magic, it's good to have a sounding board.]

[signifies]

[ It's an incongruency for an otherwise self-assured woman. Her 1950s seem to be similar. Clark has an abstract idea of what it might feel like. Sexism is still alive and well in his Earth.

Someone might have stressed to her that they preferred her as a secretary or a housewife. Clark has a hard time imagining either scenario. Peggy is like Lois. She won't sit still. ]

I'd like to hear it. Peggy?

[mannerism]

I'm all ears. Never met someone with magic skills. I'm quite curious about it all. Buckle up, the pair of you.

[ because when peggy carter is driving, she does it as she does everything else, rather passionately. others might call it speeding; there's a reason why she's usually in the passenger's seat. ]

[spellslots]

[His normal mode of transport is being shoved in a giant glass bubble and launched from orbit so.

Her driving is probably fine, which is why Taako isn't even remotely concerned as he tosses his pack and umbrella into the backseat, then clambers in himself (Clark can ride shotgun). The seatbelt does baffle him for a second, but he gets there.]

Alright, so, magic. [His grin is audible.] My thinking was that if this is a planar thing, it can't hurt to have a look at it while I'm not on the material plane with the rest of you thugs. If it looks like Kravtiz's magic – he's the grim reaper, he can move through planes – that'll give me a good place to start. I'm not exactly sure how Krav does his thing, but it's definitely magic.

[The explanation about Kravitz is for Peggy, Clark's already heard this story.]

I've also got a spell that can tell me forgotten legends about an object or person, so, you know, thought that might gimme something.

[signifies]

[ Clark, meanwhile, is in the front seat listening, wondering if this choice was the right one.

He can fly next to them if he's really worried. ]

[mannerism]

I can hear you thinking and worrying, it's going to be fine.

[ to clark, as for taako, well - ]

Did you say grim reaper?

[ whatever's next? ]

[spellslots]

[Clark stop being such a mom.]

Yeah, uh, he tried to kill me but we cleared that mess up pretty quick. [And went on a date, but. That's not vital information.] He's pretty cool.

[That explanation definitely makes sense.

Taako shrugs.]

Point is, his scythe can cut through the planes, so if it's magic like that, my bet's on divination or necromancy. Narrows it down a little, at least.

[Necromancy because he's dead, divination because he's a god servant. Could be either.]

[signifies]

I'm not worried.

[ Clark is the mom friend. He can't help it. ]

[mannerism]

I hope you realize that we are currently in the company of a man who can fly and that I have met a variety of fellows here who were remarkable, including a skeleton who is a couple of beds over.

[ and yet, taako, ]

You must be the oddest individual I've ever met. Cheers for that.

[spellslots]

[Aww, he looks so pleased with himself.]

That's the nicest shit you could've said. [a hand on his heart, he's flattered.] And you don't even know the half of it, my dude, I work for a secret organisation that operates out of the fake moon.

[It gets weirder.]

[signifies]

[ Clark turns to Peggy. ]

I can never tell if he's making it up.

[ #friendship ]

[mannerism]

He's not the best secret organization member. I may not understand much about it,

[ of course she doesn't ]

But isn't the first code of any secret organization not telling it exists?

[spellslots]

There's no powerful magic items threatening to plunge this world into another devastating war, so like, who gives a shit?

[There's no point keeping the Bureau a secret in this universe.]

[signifies]

[ Clark is going to shake his head (fondly). ]

[mannerism]

Yet.

[ with their luck. hell, with peggy's luck, these things should be coming into play sometime next Tuesday. ]

Let us hope that it can stay this way. Devastating wars are one thing but I know next to nothing about magical items.

[spellslots]

Well hey, listen, the most powerful magic shit in this place is probably my umbra staff, and we're chill.

[As long as no one makes macarons that it disapproves of.]

If anything does turn up, I'm pretty fucking good at resisting their thrall.