driftfleet | Libuscha IV System Mingle (no. 1)

Nooo idea. The legend - you've heard it right? - the legend is super unclear. Freaking indecisive tree.

[He digs into his pockets again and comes up with a stick with colorful candy wrapped around one end. Mmmmm, he wanted to eat this, so nope, back into his pocket it goes. He keeps searching.]

Something something "unburden yourself" and the tree's supposed to give you something in return. But so far it's been nada, zilch, zippo for ya boy here.

I have heard a number of things. [Thor glances up at the tree's icy boughs, completely unmoved by Taako's offerings so far.] Maybe it isn't a physical thing it wants.

Well, I dunno about you, my dude, but unlike some people I know, I'm not exactly plant-sexual.

[He's not giving love to a dumb plant, even if he knows that's not what Thor meant at all.]

I think it would have a very different legend around if it that was the key to all this.

[It would be a prime location for horny teens to hang out.]

No, I am wondering if it wants us to say something instead.

Look, I wasn't gonna shame anyone for their choices, bud. [Merle would be offended and even if he thought the cleric was weird, that didn't mean he wanted to offend him.

The next time he needed healing, the guy might actually hold it against him.

That said, the idea of "sharing" anything emotional was significantly distasteful to Taako and his face said as much. His nose scrunches up, his ears flick back, his arms cross over his chest, and he rolls his eyes. The irritation that climbs into his voice isn't entirely directed at the tree and none of it at Thor, but it's there nonetheless.]

Fine, so she was right. It's the sharing is caring hour, is it? What a piece of work this thing is.

[Thor just chuckles. He's 1500 years old, he's seen enough in his time to not find it that weird a concept. Not for him, no. But Asgard had its fair share of wild parties. He sets his hands on his hips and peers up at the tree, still and silent in this underground cavern.]

That is a form of unburdening. [He scratches his chin in thought, giving Taako a curious look.] You're intent on getting something from it, though?

[Because buddy, that's a lot of complaining already.]

I mean, I've trekked my fine little butt down here this many times already. If I leave with nothing for a third-- fourth? time? I'm going to blow this place up outta sheer spite.

[It's an empty threat though. He's pretty sure a place with this much magic threaded through its entire being would have safeguards in place or the ability to just regenerate itself. And then it'd probably explode him because that's just how his life has been lately. Taako generally lives a pretty charmed existence save for a few speed bumps along the way, but every so often Istus just has to go and be a real witch about the whole Fate thing.

And Thor? You haven't heard complaining yet.]

So what? Do I just tell you something about myself and that's it? [That's boring. His life is just one long road of shit he doesn't want to talk about. It's no one's business but his own and most people he knew back when he was young were long since dead by now.]

You wanna show me how it works, big guy, and start us off?

Hm? Oh.

[Thor's pretty open as a general rule. There's a lot he'll say outright that other might consider worth keeping quiet. That doesn't mean he doesn't harbour his own secrets, his own guilts and doubts. As he stares up at the tree, absolutely none of them come to mind ... he is not a guy who often talks about that sort of thing, or gets asked.]

I don't know what's even supposed to count. Just something you don't know about me?

Bud, I've been dumping my pockets into this thing. How am I supposed to know what counts?

[He has an inkling, but Taako's lived a life of keeping everything close to the chest. He's fought and cheated and stolen everything he's gotten and had to fight and cheat and steal to keep it. Giving up anything is not going to come easy to him.]

I dunno, tell me some weird story from your childhood or maybe tell me the color of your underwear. I have no idea what this freaky tree is gonna want.

[Thor crosses his arms and stares at the ground for a few moments, trying to come up with something that would be a secret he hasn't told. An unburdening? Some things just aren't simple to share, to the point where they don't even occur to him yet. But something from childhood that he's never admitted to...]

I once brought a young bilgesnipe into the palace when I was a child because I intended to tame the beast and ride it. It destroyed about ten rooms before anyone could catch it and get rid of it.

[He glances over at Taako, not very ashamed but still a bit guilty even after this many centuries.]

I never admitted I was the one who let it in.

[The hell is a bilgesnipe? Until Thor explains it's an animal that destroyed ten rooms, Taako honestly thought he was talking about sewer piping. Which would have been weird? But gods could be weird sometimes. He notes the guilty look in his eyes, but then glances at the tree to see if there's any reaction.]

Who got the blame for it? I assume these big beasties didn't just wander in all that often by their lonesomes?

Uhh, it was... a servant. For leaving a door open.

[Which was awkward as hell, and Thor's positive Loki knew it was really him. But he'd been far too nervous of getting the blame to 'fess up.]

Which I do feel bad about, but they weren't reprimanded too much. [He follows Taako's gaze over to the tree. It remains as aloof and pretty as always. Blowing out an explosive sigh, Thor shrugs.]

Not good enough, it seems! Your turn.

Well that's kinda shitty.

[But at least they weren't yelled at too much. And good on that servant for not just spilling the beans because in his experience? The hired help always knew more than they let on.

But since that wasn't enough Taako groans and rolls his eyes. What can he even talk about? The voidfish wasn't eating information anymore over here as evidenced by Lup's experiment with yelling about Greg fucking Grimaldis, so he could probably talk about the Bureau if he wanted. But why? It's not like anything that happened there would actually be worth discussing here. No ne knew the Grand Relics, no one knew about anything in his life. It made it easy to just float from place to place here, never really setting down any roots or making any real connections. Eventually, he'd break his way out of here and never see any of these people again, so....? Why bother?]

Eh. I've died like 19 times apparently. I dunno if that counts as "unburdening" myself though because I don't even remember the first eight and I just have the Grim Reaper's bounty on my head to go by. And it doesn't really bother me.

[Well he wasn't expecting that. Thor's eyebrows shoot up as he stares at Taako, as though he could spot evidence of nearly twenty deaths on the guy.]

Wait, you've died that many times and come back each time?

I'm just that fantastic.

[But yep. There's no evidence of it unless Thor can somehow see the marks on his soul - which they apparently exist? He has to ask Kravitz about it in further detail someday when he isn't freaked out by the whole idea of it.]

Eleven of 'em are kiiinda my bad, but the first eight are a blank. No idea, no recollection.

[Thor snorts, amused despite the morbid undertones.]

I must admit, I would be bothered if something like that had happened but I had no memory of it. Though dying in general is not pleasant. I've only done it once and have no desire to try it again.

[Even if that time had been a unique circumstance, a lack of powers met with a vindictive automaton. Thor doesn't much like to think about who had been controlling the automaton either.]

Yeah, dying eleven times? Reeeeally don't recommend it.

[He doesn't like to admit it bothers him, but it does. He died. He died and came back and each time he felt it and lived it, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. It wasn't until Kravitz showed up again in their rooms that he'd realized that the deaths were actual deaths and not, like, resets though. That had been a little jarring.]

But not remembering things is kind of....well, it's shitty, but it's uh "normal" for me, now, I guess. Kind of. [This is the part that makes Taako uncomfortable. Dying was unpleasant, but he'd been able to laugh it all off in the end. It was the gap that the Chalice showed him, and the gaps that Lup keeps poking in his life, that crawl under his skin.

But since Taako has put 0% of his skill tree into being honest with anyone, he quickly switches gears.]

So how'd you die? I thought gods were supposed to be like...immortal beings of power of something. Did your luck run out?

[Thor uncrosses his arms finally, regarding Taako with a softer look.]

How is it normal?

[He has to blink at the change of subject only to chuckle a bit, self-conscious. Thor did bring it up himself, unfortunate though the whole event was. Shaking his head, he stares off into the boughs of the ice tree.]

Asgardians aren't immortal, though our lives are much longer than that of most other beings. At that time ... well, I'd been stripped of my powers. I was no stronger than a human. And I faced down something I knew I was no match for.

[Not in a fight. Thor had hoped to match Loki, the one pulling the strings, in reason at the least. He hadn't known then how far from reason Loki had fallen.]

[He wants to avoid this subject entirely, but a look at the tree gives him the impression that this is what it wants. Because of course it does. It couldn't take the myriad of baubles and gifts Taako dropped in the water and ruined. It just had to have the one thing that actually bothered him. It wasn't exactly something he could fully let go of either, not with Lup still here. Not with Kravitz being from a completely different point in time. He fidgets for a moment, then ignores Thor's question, skirting around to talk about his thing instead.

He didn't think what went on in his head was anyone's business but his own. If this tree wanted that out of him, it would have to really make it worth his while.]

So I guess your luck did run out. But why would you go toe-to-toe with something knowing it was just gonna, you know, wipe the floor with you?

[It isn't unknown behaviour to Thor. Talking to Loki about anything he doesn't want to discuss is much the same. Shifting on his heels, he lets out a breath, not quite in a mood to be cavalier about it. That 'death' wasn't something he dwelt on overmuch, not so much as the cause behind it. He needs to be careful here not to lay blame somewhere it can be recognised.]

It was after me, but it was destroying the town I was in. Where my friends were. I thought that going out and facing it was better than letting it raze the place to the ground.

Just gotta rush in and be a hero, huh?

[That's something Taako understands - although not him. He's the last person ever to rush into something, preferring a (mostly?) thought out plan and relying on his magic to get him out of nasty situations. If he ever lost it? Taako internally shudders at the thought. He remembers what it is was like being that helpless, constantly alert for danger, and he doesn't relish the thought of going back to that.]

But it looks like it worked out for you in the end. Powers all back and, yanno. [He gestures at Thor.]

Not dead. How'd you win?

[Thor scratches his cheek, humming in thought.]

It was more of a steady walk, but - yes. That was the idea. [Shaking his head finally, he hitches up a smile.] Doing that made me worthy of having my powers again, and they returned to me along with my hammer. That brought me back.

[Then he smacks a fist into his other palm.]

And then the Destroyer didn't stand a chance against me.

Wait, you have to be worthy of your powers?

[That's one hell of a caveat.]

You're a god though. Don't gods just kind of auto-radiate power?

Edited (Spelling (´・д・｀)) 2018-12-12 14:01 (UTC)

[His smile turns a little less bright, something more tired tugging at it.]

Not if you father decides to strip them from you as punishment.

[It really wasn't that long ago. Seven years, barely a blink in his lifetime. And yet it feels far more distant, the time between who Thor had been back then and who he is now. Not to mention how he had seen Odin then and what he knows today.]

[That's. Huh. That's surprising? And it shows on Taako's face. He didn't think gods could do that to one another. At least the gods he knew wouldn't or couldn't. If the Raven Queen decided to mess with Istus' powers, por Oghma went after Pan for whatever reason, there would probably be a world melting war that ensued.]

Well shit. What'd you do to deserve that kinda punishment?

[The words are out of his mouth before he can really consider the consequences of them. And once his brain catches up, he shrugs his shoulders, crossing his arms over his chest.]

You know, if you wanna talk about it. If not, totally cool.

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