driftfleet | Libuscha IV System Mingle (no. 1)

[It's Lup's turn to roll her eyes, because she knows Taako's pretty damned inconsistent when it comes to preserving his own life. One moment he's standing by and letting whatever happen to whomever, the next he's neck-deep in trouble firing spells off to save the day. He talks a good game but there are a few people now that he won't just abandon to die, and she's grateful for his growth but at the same time it's hard to think about. Especially here, with fewer people around to watch his back.

Really wishing that protection fighter of theirs was here.]

So long as you don't get yourself killed, then fine, plot away. But you don't have to do it all yourself.

[He blows a raspberry, giving her a thumbs down. The last thing Taako expects is to get himself killed. He's taking all the right precautions, testing the spell out in smaller doses, finding places where there's little chance of collateral damage to himself or others, checking and rechecking, adjusting and readjusting everything he can about it until now when he's fairly certain with a clear mind and a clear goal, he just might stand a chance.

It isn't about getting himself through. All he has to do is get a message out, get some small thread of power from their world in, give the Raven Queen or Istus or Angus enough of a hint to let them know that they're missing. Fate said doesn't like to interfere with the lives of mortals, but Taako has a feeling it's a load of bunk and she'd slap some divine punishment down if it came to it. These Atroma were seriously fucking with the threads of Fate in a way that even she has to take offense to, right?

But just in case? He can't let anyone else in on this. If anyone is going to fail and take the brunt of the consequences, it has to be him. He has to give the rest of them a chance.

And a hint of what to do if he isn't strong enough.]

Never said I'm doing it on my lonesome.

[Raoul finishes with Taako's nails and wanders off to get a clear topcoat to seal them, while Taako inspects his handiwork. He keeps his voice light, even though this is the one thing that worries him more than anything.]

We're not the only ones looking into ways to break through the planes here. But letting anyone in on the secrets apparently gets them whisked away by the Atroma - not sure if it's home or somewhere else though. That dude that runs around with a bag on his head? Yeah, he's told me some interesting shit. So has Belth. But letting anyone know could mean one or both or all of you suddenly go poof.

[Lup included. And even if he was pissed at her, he didn't want her to just disappear for whatever reason.]

So? Better just not to talk about it.

[Lup listens as he speaks, watching him thoughtfully and trying not to let her emotions show. Taako's usually better at this than she is, but it's mostly that she's ill-practiced doing it around him in particular. What he's saying is worrisome, and an aspect of this place that she hadn't heard about yet, but it makes sense that there'd be failsafes somewhere. Threats that would disrupt the natural order of things - or whatever counts as natural to the Atroma, anyway - have to be dealt with, or the fleet wouldn't have existed in this way for so long. The thought of Taako trying to take that on alone, or with strangers that she's not familiar with, and not her? It's scary. She hates it. She'd rather be stuck in the umbrella again than lose him like that. The tales of a return from the dead in this place is still just that- a story, unverified in her eyes.

Whatever's going on, it's risky, she can feel it in her gut.

But she can't do squat unless he tells her, so at last she exhales an annoyed huff, rolling over in her chair to sprawl backwards so her legs can bend up against the headrest, pillowing her head on her arms as she watches the polish dry on her nails. Her legs kick slowly and absently, unable (or unwilling) to sit still.]

Use your fingers then, doofus, not your mouth.

[And that secret network they worked their asses off to set up.]

[Any collaborators, Lup; any of them were in the cross-hairs. He could live without the paper bag dude or even little Belth, but Lup? Kravitz? No. He might be miffed, but he didn't want her sucked into a vacuum or locked up somewhere alone.

It's not his responsibility maybe? But he doesn't need that guilt on his hands.

So Taako shrugs as she admonishes him, huffy and fidgeting. He blows on his nails and crosses his legs, waiting.]

Eh, maybe when it's closer to getting done and I need someone to look it over. Right now? It's just such a pain in the ass to write it all out.

[He'd send her the information later, once he was certain. Once he had a way out or if he failed and needed someone to continue his work. He could make it look like it was just a mistake of power, not an escape attempt if he was smart about it.

He doesn't know why he cares, but he does. Must be Magnus and Merle's fault, honestly. Those jackasses should have known not to leave him alone.]

I'll get to it. Eventually.

I hope you mean that.

[That's all she's going to say about it, though. Taako's not going to change his mind or his behaviour by being nagged into it, she knows that well. Plus she doesn't want to nag him. She's his sister, not his mom. It would be pointless to press further, much as she's itching to know what he's up to. She has no real choice but to trust him until he's willing to let her in.]

...Hey, if you could have any spell charged into your focus, what would you pick?

[He waves a hand dismissively and Raoul comes back, standing in front of Lup. He has a clear topcoat to finish off her nails now.]

Shit, Lup - any spell? That's a big ol' list there. Any parameter you can give me or is this a "Go big or go home, loser" sitch?

[Lup offers her hand out to him, ready and waiting with dry nails.]

Mmm... well, the bigger the spell, the longer it takes, and the less often it can be used. 1st level spells get multiple charges, but a big one can only be used once a day. I'd say anything 4th level or under would be doable. ...Theoretically speaking.

[And the servant mechanically starts applying the topcoat, oblivious to the conversation happening around him.

Taako rolls his head back, staring up at the ceiling as he thinks. 4th or lower being "doable," huh? He has an idea of what she's thinking of doing and while he's loathe to accept help from anyone, this is one thing he might actually be able to use.]

Does it have to be a spell I already know or can I pull something outta my ass?

[a beat]

Theoretically speaking.

[....Welp, that's not exactly what she was going for. She'd honestly been asking for her own sake - now that the Umbra Staff is well and truly out of her hands for good, her plain focus feels kind of beneath her. She still digs the design Taako gave it, though, so rather than replacing it, infusing it with a spell or two is the best solution. She hadn't expected Taako to show any interest in getting enhancements from her of all people... though he hasn't actually said he would take it, yet.

Her brows furrow as she considers the question.]

You can try to pull something out of your ass, but I can't make any promises that it'll happen. Mixing arficing and spell creation is a long, messy business.

[Creating the Umbra Staff had taken her months and months to complete for that reason. The power to absorb a wizard's focus and use it to restore spell slots - and occasionally infuse itself with new spells - was one she'd had to design from scratch. That shit takes time.]

[Time to really think then because having a spell at the ready always in his focus...? Well, that's a big deal. It could be the difference between life and death or winning and losing. It could be defensive or offensive, or just something plain old useful.

He rolls his head side to side as he thinks, listening to the sound of his earrings clinking softly against the back of the chair.]

Fiiiine. Offensive? Go with something like Fireball or Scorching Ray. Defensive? Nothing beats the sheer shock that goes through a crowd with Shatter. Or Fire Shield or Stoneskin if you didn't want to mess with the components anymore. But for fun? Fucking Evard's for sure. Who doesn't want to just tentacle some jackass at the wave of your hand?

[Her lips curve into a smirk. Yeah, she should have expected that last one. He does so love those tentacles... not that she can blame him. It's a damn good spell, fun to cast and funny to see the results of. That one is tempting, but definitely more Taako's style than hers. She prefers the instant gratification magic more than the slow burn.

Scorching Ray, though... that one's got potential.]

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't. I do still have plenty of dried tentacle left... yeah, I'll consider it.

Being here, putting whatever spell you don't want to have to keep scrounging components for is what I'd eventually go with though.

[Which is why he's partial to Evard's. There aren't a whole lot of worlds where he will likely find giant octopus tentacles on display unless he steals them from museums. Which he isn't opposed to? But he shouldn't exactly make a habit of robbing places that have actual security. It's a lot more risky than just looting some dead body somewhere.]

Why're you asking though? You got an idea kicking around in your head?

[It's a more logical conclusion than she'd expect out of Taako, but if Evard's is his pick, it's a little of column A, a little of column B. She'll just file that info away for future pondering. Candlenights is right around the corner, after all.]

It's just a thought, yeah. My new focus is great on aesthetics, but it's kind of lacking in power compared to the old one- doesn't do anything fancy yet. I'm trying to decide how I want to enchant it.

[All she knows for sure is the enchantment she isn't going to give it - she doesn't want to end up living inside a spoon next - and that hardly narrows down her options.]

Ohhh, I get it. So no Feather Fall on your spoon yet, huh?

[And no magical eating of defeated magic users either. He can see how a flame spoon might be lackluster in comparison.]

Why don't you just make a new focus entirely? A spoon's, uh, well, it was good in a pinch, but... [He waves his hand absently.] You could choose anything. Why keep that?

[Fair question, and one she has to consider cautiously for a moment. She'd made it pretty clear that she doesn't want the Umbra Staff, sure, but that doesn't mean she can't replace it with something better. Why is she clinging to the spoon so much? It's not as if he gave it to her, not really- she pretty much just stole it.

She shifts her position, gaze drifting down to her waist where it's tucked into her belt like always. She'd given it a clear coat to protect the design, to stabilize it, and to avoid splinters if she has to grab it in a rush. It's rad-looking but hardly durable or especially strong. If she really wants to get out of here one day, or if it comes down to a serious fight, she'd need something better than just a piece of wood, enchanted or not.]

Dunno. I guess there's just something about it that I like, that's all. ...Why, got any brilliant ideas for what I could make?

[She tosses the challenge out as an afterthought, mostly to avoid looking too much like a sap- and maybe so he won't feel as uncomfortable about her more or less implying that she's keeping it because of him.]

[Weirdo. Taako liked his egg timer just fine, but the second something better came along? Yup, ditching it. He was going to put the timer back in the kitchen as soon as Lup left and start refocusing his attention on the Umbra Staff. Maybe he wouldn't carry it with him all the time, but... Well, he probably would. Just not near her if he could help it.

For whatever reason, it makes her cagey and a cagey wizard is a dangerous one.]

I dunno - something easy to carry around that most people won't notice? [A rock?] I mean you guys made those Relics - can't you just crib an idea from there?

[....Owwwww. Her smile fades, and she turns to gaze off at nothing, chin back to resting on her arm.]

Considering all of the damage they did to the world, I think the last thing anyone needs is more of them. As fun as a fireballing gauntlet would be for a focus.

[And it would be fun- enough that she files the thought away as something to reconsider in the far, far distant future. Not exactly like the Phoenix Fire Gauntlet. Not even close. She couldn't replicate it even if she wanted to- the light of creation isn't here. And if it was? She'd be using it to try and blast their way out of this place, not make world-wrecking relics out of it.

She's had ten years to think about the relic, the plan, the mistakes they'd all made, both collectively and individually. Ten years to lie in wait near the vault where it'd been locked away. Ten years where she knew, thankfully, that it wasn't killing anyone anymore. That's a long time to put things into perspective. Even so... the thought of holding it in her hands again gives her chills.]

[Oooh, right, yeah. He probably should have thought that one through a little more. He'd just been thinking of their designs - a gauntlet, a monocle, a sash, a cup, and a rock - all of them fairly simple and easy.

Just unfortunately destructive as shit.

Raoul finishes her topcoat and stands, moving over to Taako as a silence settles between them. He holds his hand out and Taako huffs as he thinks. After a few moments, he waves his hand toward his head.]

Hair accessory. No one'll think to look twice at it, it's always with you, and you won't need to "carry" it anymore.

Now there's a thought.

[She can't run her hands through her hair while her nails are still drying, so instead she stretches her limbs out, hands spread in front of her as she examines the finished job. Yeah, looks pretty nice overall.

As for his suggestion: a hair accessory... like a hairpin, maybe, or a ring attached to a tie? That might be cute, and if she needs it for spell gestures she could make something detachable, like a miniature wand... hmm.]

...Unless that's just a sneaky way of getting me to make sure I do my hair properly every day.

[He gives a short bark of laughter and shakes his head.]

If I thought I could get you to do your hair properly every day? I'd be suggesting a lot more than just "hair accessory" and leaving it to your imagination.

[At least she's joking again. They're back off the nasty topic of the Relics. He honestly wishes he could ask her about because those things were insane, but seeing her reaction marks that entire section of history as determinedly off limits.]

For all I know, you'd make it a hair scrunchie and wear it around your wrist.

[She laughs right back, giving her head a shake, a tail of hair sliding over her shoulder. She'd done it up neatly to come and visit him, but it's still hit-and-miss how fancy it ends up on a daily basis. It's never looked rats-nest worthy as it had the first few days (she'd still been adjusting to having a body again, so she has an excuse!) but she still likes it best in a quick and simple ponytail.]

Oh shit, you read my mind! I actually considered doing that for a minute there. It would be rad, right? I could fling spells at stuff like the most fabulous slingshot.

It's still a scrunchie, Lup. It's basically the lazy-man's fashion accessory.

[He is unimpressed, but then he is more than happy to spend a good fifteen minutes a day weaving beads into his locks or doing a fancy braid when he had the time. When he was adventuring on the regular, he'd rarely had the time he wanted to preen what with the other two always on his ass about something or another.]

Please tell me you'll do something other than a scrunchie.

Awww, but it would be such a unique focus! No one would forget the fearsome Scrunchie Wizard.

[She sticks her tongue out at him. She's not married to the concept - it's true, a scrunchie would be incredibly lame and not at all intimidating - but it's more fun to razz him instead of thinking about what would be better to use. Mostly because she keeps thinking about how fucking cool a fire gauntlet focus would be and how much it irritates her that she couldn't handle wielding it regardless. Damn Taako for making her think of it.

Maybe something along those lines, though… some kind of light armor would be rad.]

Yeah, they couldn't forget because they'd be too busy laughing at you until the end of time.

[He rolls his eyes and his head follows. He knows she's just teasing, but there is no way he can risk people mistaking him for her if her dumb focus becomes a damn scrunchie. He has standards and that goes against them. He can use a scrunchie. He can wear a scrunchie. But he is not allowed to be seen using a scrunchie as his magical focus. Even if it isn't him, but her doing it. If Lup has his face, she has to uphold his standards.]

Even a charm bracelet would be better than a scrunchie.

Hmmm. That would be cute I guess, but it wouldn't annoy you nearly as much.

[To the surprise of probably no one, that's her main motivator now.]

But don't worry. I'm sure some amazing inspiration will strike me one of these days, and then I'll have the most rad and fantastic focus you've ever seen.

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