driftfleet | Huntress Mingle!

[Evidently there really is no escaping that nickname... drawing attention to it will only make it worse, though, so he rolls his eyes and ignores it. Instead he ventures over and starts adding the ice cream to the mugs. He's made milkshakes plenty of times before - only the alcohol part is new - so at least this is familiar.]

I don't actually have that much party experience, believe it or not.

[As Mikleo loads the cups with ice cream, Taako holds a hand to his chest, trying his best to put on a semblance of shock. Which he thinks he does a pretty good job with!]

Say it ain't so, Ghosty-boy! I never would have guessed!

[Except for the part where he can't keep the mockery out of his voice.

It was a good try.

With the main ingredient in, he grabs the blender and gives each one a quick shot through to mix it, but not enough to thin it out. The thick consistency is going to be important for maximum fry dippage.]

We'll just have to change that. Maybe I can get you to chug it straight out of the bottle even.

Is being drunk just an excuse for acting irresponsibly?

[Because if so, no wonder Zaveid was such a fan of the stuff.]

More like a direct cause of having fun?

[And yes, acting irresponsibly.

He pulses the blender a few more times until he gets the thickness he wants, then pours them into the waiting mugs, determined not to waste a single drop.]

And I need some fun. [And, more importantly, Mikleo needs it.] This whole thing has been absolutely shitty from beginning to end and I'm done with it.

[Taako slides a mug toward Mikleo and raises his with a grin.]

So? Here's to not thinking today.

[Mikleo hesitates, then raises his own glass in solidarity.]

Not thinking... that would be nice, yeah.

[Then he takes a long sip! ...And his lips immediately curve into a slight grimace, leaning away. The milkshake helps with the taste, definitely, but...]

Is it supposed to burn like that?

[Taako takes a drink and laughs at Mikleo's face.]

Have you never had alcohol before? Of course it burns a little. I made these strong as fuck on purpose.

I don't, um. I haven't had much opportunity or reason to... I'm not very old, actually.

[Tentatively he takes another sip and- augh, burns just like the first time. And this is good??]

Oh shit.

[Taako stops suddenly, looking at Mikleo. He could have sworn...???]

Did I just commit some kinda felony by giving alcohol to a minor?

I'm not a minor!

[Practically as an act of rebellion, he takes another swig of the milkshake.]

I'm... probably 20 or 21 by now. I just mean I'm not old for a seraph.

Oh thank the gods. The last thing I need is that on my conscience.

[It already suffers so much on its own.

With the mugs filled though, Taako pops back off the counter and starts wandering back toward the lounge where they left the fries. He tucks the bottle of booze under his arm as he continues the conversation while he walks.]

Didn't realize seraphs could be babies. What's going on with that?

[Mikleo is quiet for a long moment, leaning against the counter and nursing his mug as he stares down into it. Maybe alcohol really does loosen one's lips- normally he'd prefer to dance around the topic, but today's been weird enough already. What does it even matter anymore?]

Depends on how they're born. Most emerge from their element as adults, or close enough to it to survive on their own. On rare occasions, humans who die are reborn as seraphim, as whatever age they died.

[He's halfway out of the kitchen when Mikleo goes and lays that on him. Judging by how old Mikleo is and the whole "I grew up with Sorey" thing?

Yeah, he can guess which one happened to him and it brings Taako to a full halt, his mug halfway to his mouth.]

...Uh...didn't expect you to lay the truth down like that. I guess, sorry? To hear that? I mean, you got a second chance, so not really all that sorry, but uh....yeah?

No, it's fine.

[Another swig of milkshake, followed by a long sigh.]

It's not as if I remember it. I only found out about all of that kind of recently, though, so it's still... weird... to talk about. Like telling a story about someone else. [a beat.] I guess it is. Whoever human Mikleo was would've been a lot different from how I am.

[Fuck, as if that isn't familiar suddenly. Taako rubs a hand on the back of his neck, pulling his braid forward over his shoulder.]

Y-yeah, weird when you have to talk about things you don't remember, huh?

[Really, really weird. He stops for a moment, then takes a big gulp of his milkshake and lets out an aggravated squeal as he presses his free hand to his forehead in an over-exaggerated display.]

FUCK! Do you get brain freezes? Because SHIT I hate them!

[...Okay, that actually makes Mikleo chuckle a bit, which is a hard thing to accomplish the last few days. Congratulations?]

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who likes them... but no, I've never had one. The cold doesn't bother me.

[Oh? Was that a smidgen of mirth he just heard?

Taako makes a grand display of pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to simultaneously wave his free hand while not sloshing his milkshake everywhere. It's a delicate balance that he barely manages to maintain.]

You have to give me your secret. I mean, boozy milkshakes are meant to be chugged you know? But poor ol' Taako's got such a sensitive disposition! It's a tragedy really.

I assume my secret is just- be a water seraph.

[Which... might be beyond Taako's capabilities, but who knows when it comes to magic.]

Barring that, maybe you should slow down a little?

[Taako whips around, a hand held to his chest, his face a mockery of offense.]

How dare you suggest that to me? We all know only the best go big or go home, Mickey. And I am most definitely the best.

[Even if he has a damn brain freeze, he is NOT going to stop chugging his booze. Won't stop, can't stop, save him 2kwhatever year this is.]

Honestly, you need to learn to keep up.

Keep up, huh...

[Mikleo stares down at his mug silently for a long moment, considering his options and the contents within. He's not an irresponsible person, not one to immediately act when he's been issued a challenge. Just because he can do something doesn't mean he should. ...This week has sucked, though, and he's tired of feeling like hot garbage about it.

He's tired of thinking about Sorey, and how much he loved ice cream and milkshakes and everything Mikleo made for him, and how different this conversation would be if he were still here.

So finally, with a shrug, he throws back the cup and chugs the entire rest of the milkshake in one long, dramatic go. And when the mug is empty he leans back down, pats politely at his mouth to catch any lingering froth, and shoots Taako a defiant glance, completely unbothered by the chill.]

Like that?

[Ho

Ly

Shit

Taako watches in plain and open shock as Mikleo chugs his entire drink like he's the star quarterback at the homecoming dance's illegal kegstand and the cops are showing up at any minute so he has to destroy the evidence. And then he has the gall to pat at his mouth like he's at some kinda fancy high afternoon tea and Taako loses it. He doubles over, laughing, hand over his eyes, forgetting that his drink is only half gone as it sloshes around in his cup.]

Holy fuck! That was amazing - like, holy shit, you've been holding out on me, Mickey! I-

[He dissolves into giggles again before taking a deep breath and straightening up, wiping at his eye.]

Fuck! We gotta get you another one now, nerd. You can't dip fries into an empty cup.

[Huh. Weird... even if the taste is still kind of foul, it feels almost nice, in the aftermath of everything. The sound of laughter after wallowing so long in the gloom is a breath of fresh air.

Mikleo smiles, small and thoughtful, and sets his mug down, getting another couple of ice cream scoops to start up a second milkshake.]

Right, you still have to show me how exactly that appealing.

That you still doubt my culinary choices wounds me to the very soul, Mickey.

[But he wanders back into the kitchen, too, unscrewing the top of the chocolate liqueur again to pour in a healthy (or rather, unhealthy) amount of booze into the concoction. The little smiles, while not as satisfying as seeing someone laugh and brighten, are still a victory. He'll take what he can get and just cross his fingers that Mikleo isn't a weepy drunk.

The blender is brought back out and once Mikleo has the ice cream and milk measured, Taako blasts it again to the right consistency.]

I'm gonna get you to come around to my way of thinking one day or another.

[Even Mikleo doesn't know if he's a weepy drunk, so fingers crossed. He accepts his mug back once the shake is finished, lifting it in a quasi-salute towards Taako.]

Well, first you've got to show me. You just- dip it? The fries?

[Because that's how he made it sound but it also sounds like a salty mess...]

Yup, just give it a dunkaroo right into it, get some of that milkshake goodness right up on it and pop it right in the ol' gob.

[He motions for Mikleo to follow him and heads back to the lounge, eager to start eating before the fries lose their crispiness. Soggy fries are the literal worst and these were hand-fried and hand-cut by Taako. Letting them get soggy would be a crime against the culinary world.

Once they're back, he flops onto the sofa and rips the brown paper bag open, taking a deep breath of the golden brown crinkle-cut potatoes inside.]

Get ready for your world to change, my dude.

[Then he plucks two out of the pile and pushes the bag toward Mikleo.]

[Mikleo can't help but give the bag a dubious look, but... well, what's the harm? It's not like he'll die. He sits down on the opposite end of the couch and picks out a fry, dips, and bites.

....]

That's... huh.

[It's not??? bad??? honestly he expected it to be bad. And he knows Taako is a good cook, which is why this seemed like such a weird combination.

But yeah, not bad. He tries it a second time.]

Huntress Mingle!

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