Taako Tacco (
mydude) wrote in
entrancelogs2017-10-23 09:39 pm
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[open + starters] Take a look inside my book of recipes
Who: Taako and all you good good boys (with a starter for Lup)
Where: The magic study room thingy, the kitchen, wherever Lup takes Taako,
When: The week of October 23rd
Rating: PG???
Summary: Taako fucks around with some magic, experiments with kitchen appliances, and Lup forces Taako to spend quality time with her.
The Story:
A | The Magic Study Room | Open
So he hasn't exactly been earning like, tons of EXP or whatever lately, but he can still practice his magic like, the normal boring way. Which admittedly is pretty much the ideal way to do it, given how often he almost dies or definitely makes other people die when he goes adventuring. Still, doing awesome magic shit when nobody's around to see it feels like a waste.
Which is why it's a good thing there's this magic study room for him to just casually do awesome magic shit in in the hopes that somebody comes by and sees him being totally baller. Like right now? He's just repeatedly shrinking and expanding the same vase over and over again. One second it's teeny tiny! The next it's taller than him! It's! So impressive!
Or it might be to anybody walking in. But if Taako's vague waving of the Umbra Staff is any indication, it's boring the shit out of him...
B | The Kitchen | Open
Now this is actually interesting. Taako hasn't gotten a chance to cook much since he found out he's not a mass food murderer, and he'd sort of forgotten in the intervening years since that bullshit happened that like. He really likes it? Like it's a fucking blast, with or without magic, and right now he's not even bothering with spells. There's too much normal non-arcane shit to fuck around with.
"What even is this thing?" Taako's got a pile of appliances and foodstuffs surrounding him on the counters, but for right now he's got his eyes on this...pitcher? With blades in it? Like, what's the point of them? Maybe they mo--
"Hachi machi!" Yeah, those are definitely blades and he is bleeding. Damn. So they're definitely not just for show. That's one theory crossed off the list, anyway.
Taako sticks his bleeding finger in his mouth and starts shaking the pitcher, trying to get the blades to spin that way.
C | Taako's Room | Closed to Lup
As much as the Taako who is living his truth is the Taako who actively avoids danger and complications, Taako is not an anxious guy. He's a guy with a penchant for denial and definitely has his problems to deny, sure, but he's not anxious about them because he's just that good at the denial thing. And when you've literally got no real way to think about something properly thanks to a fucking fish eating your memories or whatever the hell is going on, you'd think you could just go on pretending nothing is wrong forever.
But Nope. This Thing that is Wrong has a name apparently and she just made a date with him. And even Taako recognizes that this is probably a Thing that will become Less Wrong if he addresses it. But that doesn't mean he has to be pleasant about it.
So when she knocks at his door, he opens it. But he already looks kind of miserable.
"Alright. We're hanging. The hanging has begun and we are doing it." Maybe that's enough and he can just...close...the door...
Where: The magic study room thingy, the kitchen, wherever Lup takes Taako,
When: The week of October 23rd
Rating: PG???
Summary: Taako fucks around with some magic, experiments with kitchen appliances, and Lup forces Taako to spend quality time with her.
The Story:
A | The Magic Study Room | Open
So he hasn't exactly been earning like, tons of EXP or whatever lately, but he can still practice his magic like, the normal boring way. Which admittedly is pretty much the ideal way to do it, given how often he almost dies or definitely makes other people die when he goes adventuring. Still, doing awesome magic shit when nobody's around to see it feels like a waste.
Which is why it's a good thing there's this magic study room for him to just casually do awesome magic shit in in the hopes that somebody comes by and sees him being totally baller. Like right now? He's just repeatedly shrinking and expanding the same vase over and over again. One second it's teeny tiny! The next it's taller than him! It's! So impressive!
Or it might be to anybody walking in. But if Taako's vague waving of the Umbra Staff is any indication, it's boring the shit out of him...
B | The Kitchen | Open
Now this is actually interesting. Taako hasn't gotten a chance to cook much since he found out he's not a mass food murderer, and he'd sort of forgotten in the intervening years since that bullshit happened that like. He really likes it? Like it's a fucking blast, with or without magic, and right now he's not even bothering with spells. There's too much normal non-arcane shit to fuck around with.
"What even is this thing?" Taako's got a pile of appliances and foodstuffs surrounding him on the counters, but for right now he's got his eyes on this...pitcher? With blades in it? Like, what's the point of them? Maybe they mo--
"Hachi machi!" Yeah, those are definitely blades and he is bleeding. Damn. So they're definitely not just for show. That's one theory crossed off the list, anyway.
Taako sticks his bleeding finger in his mouth and starts shaking the pitcher, trying to get the blades to spin that way.
C | Taako's Room | Closed to Lup
As much as the Taako who is living his truth is the Taako who actively avoids danger and complications, Taako is not an anxious guy. He's a guy with a penchant for denial and definitely has his problems to deny, sure, but he's not anxious about them because he's just that good at the denial thing. And when you've literally got no real way to think about something properly thanks to a fucking fish eating your memories or whatever the hell is going on, you'd think you could just go on pretending nothing is wrong forever.
But Nope. This Thing that is Wrong has a name apparently and she just made a date with him. And even Taako recognizes that this is probably a Thing that will become Less Wrong if he addresses it. But that doesn't mean he has to be pleasant about it.
So when she knocks at his door, he opens it. But he already looks kind of miserable.
"Alright. We're hanging. The hanging has begun and we are doing it." Maybe that's enough and he can just...close...the door...
Mandatory Fun Time
The woman grins wide the moment the door swings open, her hands resting against the slight curve of her hips, her excitement for this impromptu adventure practically sparkling there in her eyes. Lup had gotten all of the crying she needed out on Lucretia's first day here and that was that. No more tears. Since Lucretia couldn't do a thing to fix what she messed up in the first place, Lup is just back on track with doing this her own damn way.
Which may just end up being 'annoy Taako until he remembers me'.
"Sup, my dude. Ready for a little fun with your main girl, Lup? I was thinking we could hit up a few of the more choice spots 'round here. You show me some of your fav places, I'll show you mine. It'll be sick."
awwwww here it goes
"Uhhh, sure. You'll have to go first. I've been here longer and I'm still pretty sure there's nothing much to like about this place, even when it's not trying to like, literally eat us."
Or whatever the hell was going on when it turned into that place with all the demon assholes.
SORRY IM SO LATE now that con is over im HERE
"Might not be my first pick of places to be, but that doesn't mean the whole mansion is a total shit-hole." And whatever he was expecting from her, Lup steps forward to loop her elbow through his, giving Taako a little tug forward with her.
"The gardens are pretty and the kitchen isn't the worst I've ever been it. Can't complain about a stocked pantry, right?"
IT IS OK
"Well, yeah. You've got a point. Growing up--"
And then it all feels again. A shock of something important in his gut. A shiver up his back. He's surprised he's able to keep walking with her.
"Uh, it was lean. This place doesn't even know the meaning of that. But I guess it's sort of making it out of us, ultimately? Magic here's...different."
SWEET CAUSE TIME TO CRY
She doesn't want to chase Taako away again. She's trying to take this at his speed. Anytime spent with him is better than no time at all, even if she has to pretend that he isn't her everything.
"Same. When you never know where your next meal is coming from, you learn to appreciate the little things." Like a magical pantry.
"Whoa, what?" Lup leads the man ahead at a leisurely pace. She has a destination in mind, but there's no rush. She just wants to talk to him right now. "Back up a little bit there, my man. Making it out of us? How's magic different here? No one else has brought this up, but I doubt any of the bozos in this place understand magic like we do, so hit me with the deets."
HOO boy
And he pauses again. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time. After all, he understood why the Director erased everyone's memories of the conflicts the relics caused. It didn't feel like a loss so much as a blessing, honestly. The world was more peaceful without all that. Right?
So being here, and having people say they're losing memories or words or whatever when events happen, it didn't seem all that big of a deal. You could lose a lot more, and hey, maybe it was for the better.
But now, with this living static holding onto him...
"People lose their memories. Because this place is using them as fuel."
no subject
He's bothered by the static in his head around her. Taako has to know what it means.
And even if it may be too much for this stage in their barely there relationship, Lup doesn't stop herself from asking carefully in return, "Do you think you've lost anything?"
no subject
"No, I don't think so. Haven't been here long enough, and I don't...think there's been anything that was taken from my memories. Or from Magnus's."
There was that one thing where he was an orc for a bit but that was someone else's, right? Weird as that was, given how clearly rare their kind of world is, here.
no subject
But instead of digging for more, she just shrugs, gaze turning back forward. "That's good, then. Most of the people I've talked to knew they lost something, so you'd probs know if you had. Either way, this placed is just fucked up."
no subject
He shakes his head. "Slow fucking torture."
And with that, he gestures vaguely in the direction they're walking. "Speaking of, where are we going, exactly?"
no subject
Her expression remains casual, arm looped in his. "Another Wonderland?" Lup's travels had taken her all over the continent, but she hadn't stumbled that far yet. "Nope, can't say I have, but sounds like that's a good thing. That place probably had an easier escape than this place too, I bet. What I wouldn't give for an exit right about now..."
But Taako asks where they are going and Lup can't help the grin that curls at her lips. "The kitchen. Thought we could do a little cooking together." Maybe he'd see how easily they fell into step in the kitchen and some memories of her might spark. Angus and Lucretia seemed to think it was impossible, but that won't stop her from trying.
no subject
Taako's eyes widen a little when she reveals their final destination. "Really? How did you--"
No. Dumb question. He manages an awkward laugh. "Right. My memories are fucked. I forgot."
He basks in the irony in silence for a moment, eyes dropped to the floor.
"Uh, that sounds. Fun. You cook?"
He's...beginning to realize how fucking cruel these sorts of questions are.
no subject
So Taako's question is a little cutting, but it's nothing Lup wasn't already prepared for. "Yep, even better than you, which is saying something." And maybe it's a step too far, maybe all he'll hear is static, but she tries for something innocent enough to maybe bypass the Voidfish's censorship. "We used to cook all the time together. I always had to clean up your messes when you'd fuck up, but most of the time we kind of kicked all of the ass together."
And sure enough, they aren't too far from the kitchen now, just a few doors down. "Sound alright? If not, I've got like a million other things planned."
no subject
He nods as they finally enter the kitchen. "This is great. I've been meaning to practice since, like, kinda don't need to adventure in the traditional sense anymore. So long as I don't forget how to cast fireball I should be fine. Or I'll just die because I can't do magic in whatever event it is. Y'know."
He shrugs lightly and breaks from her grasp in order to lean back against the counter, facing her.
"Did you plan a recipe or are we winging it?"
no subject
She steps away to move towards the pantry, throwing open the doors and quickly assessing the plethora ingredients in front of them. It's so strange to have everything she's ever needed right there at her fingertips. They've always just had to make due with what they could find, conjuring what they needed or transmuting when they could. Wonderland sucks in a lot of ways, but the kitchen has been the one exception to this place for Lup so far.
"So, if you haven't been doing much around the kitchen, what kinda stuff do you do here?"
no subject
It's said flippantly, but it's...pretty honest. He sets his hat aside on a counter and starts rolling up his sleeves.
"It's not like we get a lot of time to ourselves before shit's, like. A different reality for a few days."
no subject
Lup's expression doesn't change, but she does turn to look at him, eyes dancing over his face. She looks at Taako like she can see right through him. He's speaking flippantly, but she can see that it's too truthful to just brush away. It's not a response she's particularly pleased with.
But she finally breaks her gaze to pull out a couple of aprons from where they're hanging, tossing one to him. "C'mon, there's gotta be more to do around here than that. Don't you and Mags get up to shit together?"
KITCHEN BOYS
So that what Magnus finds himself doing now. This time his wandering takes him past the kitchen at the exact moment that Taako yells out. Magnus pokes his head into the door and finds the elf shaking...some kitchen-y thing he's never seen before.
"You doin' okay in here Taako?"
no subject
He slaps on a dopey grin and holds up the pitcher, waggling it.
"This asshole bit me, but it's fine. I mean, if I use my blood as an ingredient it stops being a cocktail and starts being dark magicks, but honestly if you're getting the right kinda blasted, who knows the difference, am I right?"
He puts the pitcher down and grabs a towel, putting pressure on the cut. It's already starting to clot, thankfully. Peering out from under the brim of his hat at Magnus, he asks, "You hungry, bro?"
no subject
"I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference either way."
The things that Magnus will put into his body is truly astounding. Magnus certainly won't be forgetting the boy tube incident with the Philosopher's Stone any time soon (and really...it sounded like such a good idea in his head at the time).
"I'm pretty much always hungry! Whatcha making?"
no subject
He points Magnus to the cupboards, and he goes for the fridge. He's not looking for anything in particular, which so far has meant he gets whatever random shit Wonderland decides for him. This time he nets a stalk of celery, two kiwifruit, and a string of some strong-smelling sausage. He sets these on the counter and turns back to Magnus.
"What'd you get?"
no subject
Magnus makes a beeline for the cupboards and, true to his word, grabs the first three things in sight. He turns back toward Taako with his arms filled with a few cucumbers, a large block of swiss cheese, and some lima beans. Magnus looks down at his ingredients and then back toward Taako with a smile.
"Sooooo any of this gonna work?"
no subject
"Well. Everything can be stew." He's always believed that. But he's not so sure what the fruit's gonna do. Dessert, maybe?
He picks up a knife and gestures at Magnus. "You know how to cut veggies?"
Honestly he'd be surprised if Magnus managed to fuck that up.
no subject
Magnus certainly doesn't know much about making stews, but he believes in Taako's ability to make anything edible. So he'll roll with it.
"I think I can figure it out. If I can cut a boy in half, I think I can cut some veggies."
Magnus still has 9 fingers to possibly chop off, so don't get too ahead of yourself Taako.
no subject
Taako sorts the ingredients and sets Magnus up with his tasks. As Magnus takes up the knife, Taako's eyes are drawn to the nub where Magnus' finger used to be.
"You, uh. How're you adjusting to that?" Taako nods at Magnus's hand, his own busy with getting a pot and filling it with water.
no subject
He lifts his hand in the air and gives his remaining fingers a little shake before setting it back on the vegetable. He picks up the knife and begins to cut the food into smaller, not entirely even (but close!) chunks.
"I'm getting used to it. Thankfully it doesn't throw my fighting off much, so I sometimes forget I'm missing it. Honestly, not the worst thing I sacrificed, so I think I can live with dropping shit more often with my left hand from now on."
no subject
"You know, I don't think I'm clear on our, like, time difference. Are you from further along than the weird dating game thing?"
no subject
Magnus stops chopping for a second as his brain tries in vain to recall that thing that he can't remember. A few seconds pass before Magnus sighs and goes about cutting again.
"At least that memory I chose to give up. Anyway, we did a boss rush thing against a bunch of dummies that looked like people we already killed. The Red Robe that I'd been seeing since you gave me the true vision thing helped us escape and we made it to what the elves called the end of the game."
"We walked down a fancy catwalk while the liches told us that we'd won and all that shit, which I did not believe for a second. Anyway, they were explaining their dumb tragic backstory when they brought up my bad luck. Next thing I was flat on my ass in some hallway in this Wonderland."
no subject
"So you're further than me, but not as far as Angus, I think?"
He crosses his arms and leans against the counter. Does he want to get into this? Ugh, he has to eventually, right?
"Soooo. You don't remember that Lup girl either, then? She didn't, I don't know, show up and become really important in those couple hours you got?"
no subject
Magnus finishes cutting the first cucumber, nearly slicing a chunk of his knuckle off as he neared the end. He pushes the cut pile to the side before starting on the next piece.
"No, before this place I'd never even met someone named Lup before, let alone an elf that looks exactly like you. All I get when I think too hard about it is static. Hell, half the shit she says comes out as static. I feel kinda bad, she seemed real bummed that I didn't know her."
no subject
Taako starts tossing spices into the pot, stirring absentmindedly. Sometimes he thinks he could cook in his sleep.
"I mean, that means something, right? Like. It's probably to do with what you and the voidfish--"
Pause. He should probably mention that, huh?
"Oh yeah, I kind of walked around in your memories during an event once. That wasn't super cool. Anyway. The egg. Probably. Right? So there's another layer of static?"
magic study!
It's been... odd, coming here, to say the least. Being the apparent furthest along of anyone in their story gives her the unique advantage of knowing what's waiting for them, but also puts her in the most precarious position; not that it's a place she's unused to occupying. The last year and a half has been an up and down dive of keeping herself distant, and she was doing fairly well for a while, she thinks. But ultimately, she misses them; misses the way it used to be on the Starblaster, watching the lively scene around her. Misses being part of that, even if she has no power to change it now.
Eventually, her desire wins out, and she takes a few measured steps to lean on the doorframe, staff in hand.
"Getting some practice in?"
no subject
"Yeah. I guess. Nothing to train for, obvs, but might as well." He shrugs. "After how hard you ran us before we left for Wonderland...A, I guess?, uh, kinda surprised we aren't back on the regimen or what have you."
He gestures and the vase-- which was massive and just about to teeter on top of them --shrinks down to the size of his thumb. He catches it out of the air and stares at it as it rests in his palm.
"Y'know, at least Wonderland A had like, reasons for being the way it was, kinda? Like we had theories. Here they just found out about what happens if you die too many times and people have been here for years. And that still doesn't touch what this place is or who actually runs it."
He shrugs again. "Gonna have to fight a fool eventually no matter which letter Wonderland I'm in, though, so. Here I am."
Here he is. Ready to fight a fool if need be.
no subject
"Yes, it's... not ideal, our situation here. I never thought I'd be saying anything like this,but Edward and Lydia were at least rather outspoken about their intentions. The forced neutrality of this place is making it difficult to discern anything at all, especially since the locals don't appear to be very chatty."
She wants to say it reminds her of being back in the cycles, of finding themselves in a new world with only each other, but... well, she's already had that conversation in her head. About how much she's holding back. So Lucretia pushes it from her mind, and continues forward. "I'm sure we'll get our answers in time, but seeing as we supposedly lose memories the longer we exist in this space, I'd prefer to know what's going on sooner than later. I appreciate you being prepared."
no subject
There's a crystal ball in a stand at the center of the table. Taako picks the ball up and weighs it in his hand, messing with it vaguely as he avoids looking Lucretia directly in the eye. He realizes that he's acting suspicious, but he's not ready for this shit. He doesn't know if he'll ever be ready.
"Have you figured anything more out?"
no subject
"Not especially. I've been testing some boundaries here and there, trying to determine the liminal nature of the mansion. Unfortunately, it makes absolutely no sense." She sighs, shifts her weight a bit between her feet. "It has to be some kind of magic, but I can't dispel it, and if this isn't illusion then it's incredibly powerful. Not something I can likely handle alone, but I don't know where I'd even begin with making a plan against it."
no subject
Even with how crazy powerful the Director is, this place is even worse than the Wonderland in their world, and she almost died in there. People legit die here all the time, repeatedly. And if the Director hadn't pulled him into the Bureau, if he hadn't been made to care about these dumb idiots who are stuck with him, maybe that'd be fine. Who cares if he dies, right? But if Magnus dies? Ango? And he's even starting to care about Lup, despite...
His hands still on the crystal ball as he forces her out of his head. No. He's not thinking about her while Lucretia's here. He's not putting himself in that position just yet. The time will come.
"Have you met anybody here who's, like, on our level, magically-speaking?" He forces a yawn leans heavily on the table. "I was putting it off in the hopes that maybe I'd just go home instead."
no subject
"I don't think so, but I confess, I haven't been actively looking. There are undeniably warriors here, but magic seems not to be consistent between worlds. There are others with power, certainly, but it's hard to have a good scale of strength."
She's considered it, of course. Who here to ask for help, who here she thinks could help and actually might. But she hasn't been here long enough to get all her ducks in a row, so to speak.
"You've been here longer than I have. Do you have any leads?"
no subject
"Nah. There's a lot of people here, though, and I didn't really feel up to mingling."
Which is weird, actually. He's been pretty good at it in the past. But that was on missions with clear(ish) end goals, and...and he had Merle and Magnus, then.
Huh. He has been more interested in figuring this shit out now that more of his-- now that more people from his world are here. Weird.
Taako looks around, then gestures vaguely at the room at large with the hand holding the crystal ball. "Maybe we just hang out here until someone magic shows up?"
no subject
"Do you think we simply start a club and see who appears? Now taking applications: spellcasters, unless you're terrible. No bummers."
This is going much better than expected. But maybe she's just more inclined to be happy when she can trust Taako, or pretend she can.
no subject
He's going to need a giant water tank, hundreds of gallons of hot sauce, and a high quality snorkel.
no subject
She also would just adore to see what Taako would come up with... provided she isn't the one who has to run it. She's sure it'd be nothing short of stunning.
no subject
Taako narrows his eyes. Has she just been almost killing him over and over again for a year now?
Well, he's gotta respect her tenacity.
no subject
"Well, I did say they were dangerous, didn't I? But you, Magnus and Merle have always pulled through. I have, and always had, complete faith in your abilities to not end up super dead. Really."
Kitchen time!
SOOOOOO I'M ABOUT 200% SURE THAT'S NOT HOW YOU USE A BLENDER.
no subject
Blender? That's what this is called?