driftfleet | and then the fleet was banned from garbagetown

Entry tags:

and then the fleet was banned from garbagetown

Who: Taako, Lup, and you!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Planetside, Iskaulit
When: Now-ish!

Picture this - a planet that serves as the junkyard for the rest of the universe. Towns and cities are littered among the trash, having grown up wherever space provided. In one corner of this garbage-filled world is a city, not a massive city like Neverwinter or a small podunk thing, but a city tried and true. Which means it has a town square where all the main traffic flows through on any given day; bakers and merchants and workers, miners and salvagers and travelers, a myriad of people all going about their typical boring days.

And then two ostentatiously ugly costumes just start floating through the middle of it all. People scatter because costumes that look like Shaggy Bear consumed Gloomy Bear's Soul and Big Bird had a Bad Bender and Never Recovered should not be floating through the middle of town. They carve a path and set themselves up, swaying gently in the breeze, in the very center of the square where all can see. Horrified expressions mix with curiosity as the costumes hang there, doing nothing, and then slowly people start to gather.

Which is when Taako, cloaked in invisibility, looks over at Lup and smirks. It's show time. You ready?

And Lup is definitely ready; the levitation drops on the costumes as they hang, and there's suddenly a streak of red-hot light that crosses the plaza from the building on which they stand and strikes the costumes. Immediately there's an explosion of fire, spreading outwards- not dangerous to the onlookers, thanks to the height at which they hang, but definitely enough to scatter whatever remaining nerves they had. When the worst of the initial fire fades away, the costumes remain hanging, but are now on fire, feathers and fur sizzling and curling, ash beginning to dot the earth below.

It's Taako's turn and he sets the costumes to waving in a ghostly wind as they grow, the fire growing with it. The fabric shudders with the strain of it, looming up and over the crowd menacingly as growing bits of charred feather and shag upholstery disintegrate in the flames. It's harmless, of course, but the crowd doesn't know that and they start shrieking, backing away from the display. Now that the scene's been set, Lup calls out to the lingering onlookers, still just out of sight: "What's up, Trash Town? Or whatever you call this place. No need to be scared! Your new fashion overlords are here to help open your eyes to the travesty we've found you all in."

The Enlarge cast and the concentration over, the costumes hang like Ghost Rider up in the air, and Taako can barely keep it together as he sees the people below start looking for the source of the voice. "We are here in our fabulous benevolence to aid you and provide succor to your sadly lacking closets. But tribute is demanded or a curse shall be upon you. We have sent our emissaries who shall now appear before you!"

He's always had this showmanship thing in the bag and Taako Blinks out of existence at the same time Lup casts Dimension Door. It takes him a little longer to get where he needs to go, but the Ethereal Plane is so wonky on this plane. Still, he makes it in time for the grand entrance - the two of them popping back into reality, back to back, wearing their favorite outfits from their earlier heist and with Disguise Self burning over both of them. They look even more radiant than usual; and a little more celestial thanks to the light from the burning costumes overhead and a little extra light granted by Prestidigitation and Dancing Lights beaming behind them like sparks and rays of sunlight.

A low murmur starts up around them as the townspeople survey the scene, uncertain of what exactly to do about it. The murmur grows in volume as seconds pass. Lup continues, "Turn away from your wicked ways, and destroy all sinful manifestations of fabric that rain down from the sky, or a plague of supreme ugly will fall upon you!"

She wiggles her fingers at a random onlooker, some woman who'd been sneering skeptically at them, and suddenly an illusion appears over her- her skin turns to the nasty shag carpet design. She shrieks at once and flees the crowd. The murmur becomes a buzz and a few of the people at the front begin throwing credits and coins their way, but more are scooting backwards, not sure what to do.

Lup waves a hand in front of herself, and a Mage Hand glides along the ground to scoop up the discarded credits, then brandishes a bag, glittery and bedazzled (as only befits a fashion god) and gestures pointedly towards it. "Anyone else feel like being spared?"

"The bigger the donation, the higher the salvation," Taako chimes in, whipping out a similar bag just in a different color.

There's a long pause as the residents debate their options, but another confused wail from the woman down the road gets a few people moving, dropping coins into the bags and fleeing the scene. They're not asking for much, they're not animals, but a little bit (from a lot of people) goes a long way!

Option A: Were you in the crowd when this all went down? Want to talk to Taako and Lup? They're both walking through the crowd now, so this is your chance to see the face-twins in action.

Option B: Is flying solo more your style? Which of them do you want to talk to: Taako or Lup?

Some time passes as they collect their bounty, and eventually a small group of more serious, burly viewers branch off and vanish into a shop. Lup watches them carefully, keeping her smile frozen in place as she gently shoos away a little girl trying to give her a single credit, because she's definitely not stealing from children. Those guys are probably going for weapons. Hey, Taako? I think that's our cue to make an exit.

Taako nods in agreement and tips his hat to the patrons nearby. He's gotten more than he expected today, so now it's time, as Lup says, for a flashy exit. There's no point in subtlety when the villagers are going for pitchforks. He puts his hands together and starts casting, light emanating from his fingers as he summons the only exit worth summoning. The light causes people to draw back from him and in their place, a beautiful, mulleted, rainbow-colored phantasm of a binicorn appears.

"Yo boss. It time to go?"

"You know it, Garyl. Lup! Let's hit it!"

There's an audible, delighted gasp from Lup, and without hesitation she hops onto the binicorn's back with Taako. With a loud whinny Garyl rears up on his hind legs, giving them one final opportunity for a dramatic pose (which they of course indulge) before Taako urges Garyl off at full speed, leaving behind them a rainbow of light. Before they vanish from sight, Lup, one arm wound around Taako's waist, blows the befuddled crowd a kiss. And just like that, they're gone again, with the now-armed local guard giving a futile chase behind them.

Option C: Catch them after their daring escape, laughing their asses off outside of the danger zone, or on the Iskaulit, perhaps over drinks?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lady Gloom? Yeah, I met her. No idea who she is besides "cat mom", though. She wasn't super chatty.

[Which is fine, since at the time Lup had been far more interested in the cat. That might change eventually, but for now it's all she's got.]

[Kova gently winds himself around both of their legs again with a soft affectionate sound before turning in a circle and heading to sit near his dish, tail gently gliding back and forth as he watches the pair.

And paying attention for the direct "find mom" cue, if that is what they want.]

Some kinda space elf with magic powers and a dour face. She doesn't like to use her name, but according to Loki, it's Haggar.

[But since it was more fun to call her every name under the sun, he's doing that.

Taako plucks another can of fish out of the cupboards and turns it over in his hands. Tuna again? Something else? What about... He opens the can up with distaste and then concentrates: chicken and white fish in gravy? That sounds like something a cat would like.

Once the transformation is complete, he heads over to Kova's dish, gives it a quick Prestidigitation cleaning and starts serving up the food.]

Unlike Kova here, she doesn't quite understand that food is something to be enjoyed. So we've been working on that.

Sounds like you ended up on the right ship, then. Time to educate the masses.

[Haggar, huh. She'll remember that, though she might just take a page from Taako's book and not use it. If the lady isn't going to provide her name and doesn't like what she ends up being called, it's her own fault.

She plops down on the floor with the cat, taking advantage of the fact that he has food now to give him a good petting.]

She's got magic, though? News to me.

[You'd think that Haggar's ears would be burning with all of this gossip, but no, she remains absent.

Instead, Kova winds himself around Taako's legs again once the food is procured. Sweet. What a great ship person. He is so happy. The happiest space cat around. Happily chowing down on this great new meal.

It's not anything he's ever had before. To be fair, nothing on board ever really has been. He can't afford to be picky. There's that, at least. It's delicious.]

Trying my best. And yeah, she does. Doesn't fling it around, but she can definitely use it. Not sure what school though.

[And doing his best. He has to conjure and transmute a lot of ingredients and it takes a lot out of him, but it's worth it. Or it will be, once he becomes indispensable.

Taako gives Kova a gentle scritch behind the ears.]

Kova, once you finish, go get your mom. I'll leave a salad for her.

[Oooh, maybe Her Royal Stoicism will be making a reappearance. Lup gives Kova one last pet and rolls back to her feet, dusting her hands off.]

I can help. I make a mean grilled Caesar.

[Kova makes a soft sound of agreement, happily taking those last few pets and scritches before returning to his meal.

He enjoys operation "find and bother mom", now that there's more than enough reward in it and it's not just him trying to get any sort of attention from her.

And so after he finishes chowing down, he'll quietly scamper his way out of the kitchen, a quick and intelligent cat. The sooner he gets started on her the better; she does not like to be rushed.]

[Oh, there he goes. Taako normally doesn't like other people in his kitchen anymore - not since Sazed - but he's on a tight schedule and he wants to go get drunk and celebrate a good time today as fast as possible.]

There's some dried vegetables in the pantry - grab 'em and let's get those back to life. I'll get some chicken transmuted and seasoned. Let's get this thing finished.

Hell yeah. Coming right up, chefman.

[Salad is tough on a spaceship, with all of the ingredients requiring freshness besides, like, croutons maybe, but with wizards on board it's beautifully doable. A couple of careful spells and the dried food return to life, and she grabs a knife and a cutting board, chopping away. Hope the Hagster likes a strong garden mix because this is gonna be a full salad.]

[For the viewers at home, in another part of the ship: they are having a staring contest.

The cat loses this, of course, but he is also just persistent enough in other ways. Perhaps she has been too indulgent with him, even with what she thought she lacked.

And so it is when the pair is mostly through their salad making process that Haggar eventually appears at the entrance to the kitchen -- silent, as ever, observing with a neutral expression -- but of course Kova slips inside ahead of her, all but proudly announcing his triumphant return. His priorities were very clear.]

[While she prepares the vegetables, Taako creates the chicken. The spices available are adequate, but a few transmutations gives him what he really needs to make it special. Once the chicken is grilling, the only thing left is to make the dressing.

Things are finishing up when he hears Kova coming back and nudges Lup in the side with his elbow.]

Game time. Ghost of Candlenights Past is coming.

[Lup giggles and starts tossing the lettuce into a good-sized bowl, humming a Candlenights carol chorus. He might find it familiar and a bit old-fashioned; since she's been MIA for so long, all she remembers are the ones from their planet, not Faerun.

It's a weird one involving a ghost and an especially festive necromancer (or Necrodancer, as the song goes) so at least it's on point.]

[It is very much that feeling one gets when they've walked into an ambush. Kova plops himself right down behind her. As if that could really deter her from exiting if she really wanted to, but it was a kitty way of trying to prove a point.

She watches them cook and prepare silently for a few moments before finally speaking up, specter that she was.]

... I have received your summons. Why you still insist upon this, I do not understand.

[That's an old ass song, but he lets her hum it. It lets him know where she is at all times and it's... nostalgic. Sometimes he realizes he's lucky to have anyone from his world here at all, even if it's someone with whom he has an uneasy truce. A lot of people are here alone and Taako didn't do well with being alone.

He perks up as Haggar enters and transfers the chicken from the warming plate to a cutting board.]

Because I feed off your gratitude like a leech, Madam Morose. And Lup and I are heading out so I won't be here for the dinner hour.

[Lup finishes her song as she tosses the rest of the vegetables in, giving the bowl a proper shake before delivering it to the counterspace where Taako is working. She pops a stolen carrot into her mouth and returns to the sink to wash her hands.]

We can't let anyone report that he's not feeding you guys. Taako has a reputation to uphold, and we've got an audience watching, right?

... I see. Are you both planning to stay and join me for the meal before you depart.

[That looks like way too much for a singular person's meal from her perspective. Especially with both of them working on it.]

[He was in the middle of spicing the chicken when she commented and Taako stopped, starting at Haggar for a moment in shock. Then looked to Lup grinned.]

I think we finally melted the Ice Elf's heart. She just invited us to dinner with her.

Awww, shit, I thought it'd take at least another week or two.

[Grumbling, she digs through her pocket and flips a credit in Taako's direction.]

... It would be more suitable that way.

[She maintains her even tone despite the call out.]

... Your efforts would be wasted if it was only for myself, after all.

[Taako has seen the way she eats.]

[Taako is barely holding his laughter back as he catches the credit. He knew his food would eventually turn people around, even Haggar.]

I'm just that good.

[Then he turns to Haggar with a grin. He honestly never thought she'd ever want to eat with someone else the way she tucked herself away from the rest of the crew, but hell why not? Baby steps.]

You just earned me money, so sure. I'll sit with you for a bit. Why not? Lup?

[She glances between the two, then Kova- then shrugs her shoulders and drags out a chair to sit down.]

Why the hell not? At least I know the food's top-notch.

[Even if she greatly preferred her seclusion, at times there was... some merit in having others around, during times she felt particularly bereft of allies.

She's silent, giving only a small nod before she then decides to assist in setting up the additional dishes and utensils by deftly using her magic to retrieve and move them accordingly.

Almost like mage hand, if the hand was invisible and made up of glowy dark purple energy instead, but you know.]

[He goes back to slicing up the chicken until Haggar starts setting the take. Then he nudges Lup his foot, jerking his head in that direction with a very obvious "Told you so" look on his face

He can't figure out her school of magic, but it's powerful - that much is certain.]

I should get you to set the table every meal.

[Lup sticks her tongue out and nudges him right back, grabbing some refreshments for them while Taako handles the salad- but not before watching how Haggar does her magic, squinting curiously at the glowy energy floating around. Definitely a new one, and an arcana check doesn't net her much intel.]

Why not? It's a shared ship, everybody ought to pull their weight.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject