driftfleet | Naviadna Mingle

[Oof, that was a major oopsie on his part. Taako winces as the trunk slams into the ground, bouncing a little, but misses causing any real damage to Vash.]

My bad, homie, but that was not entirely me and you're fiiiine. It didn't hit you.

No, I'm pretty sure that was all you! What the hell, man?! Why are you going around throwing trunks at people?!

Unless you ran the most amazing Arcana check without me noticing? No, it wasn't all me.

[Taako huffs and crosses his arms over his chest, frowning.]

I wasn't hurling trunks at people - who does that? No, don't answer that, I'm sure it's some weird ass thing that happens to you all the time - it was the planet making my spell go haywire. S? Not. Me.

A what-a-check? I mean u looked around and saw you standing around so maybe I did.

You know what? So far I haven't seen one of your spells work without it nearly killing someone.

[Taako rolls his eyes and tries to remain calm as the guy who thinks looking like a broom is the height of fashion deigns to question his magical prowess. He might be an idiot, but he's not stupid. Sometimes. Mostly? Mostly. Definitely mostly not stupid and actually not stupid at all when he cares to think about something for more than 10 seconds. It's not his fault most things don't warrant more than that amount of brain power.]

Your shitty luck is rubbing off on me and that's gross in so many ways.

But if you want to see a spell? Fine.

[He snaps his fingers and casts Blink, disappearing from Vash's sight. A moment later, he reappears without a sound next to Vash crouched down next to the chest that nearly flattened him.]

That one, or, y'know, the fact that I've been transmuting donuts for you for, uh, how long now and you haven't died of poisoning yet?

[Vash jumps. Flying back nearly two feet when Taako finally reappears. The last time someone had "blink" around him they had followed the teleporting up with shooting at him. Vash takes a better safe than sorry approach by dodging the attack that doesn't end up coming. Vash opens his mouth as if to shout angrily again.]

[And then Taako mentions the donuts and his expression completely changes. Suddenly looking at Taako as if he was a benevolent god.] And I am eternally grateful to your amazing skill with magic! The very best magic user I have ever had the gracious blessing to have met!

So, what do you think is in there?

[The complete 180 on his attitude makes Taako roll his eyes so hard his entire head almost follows the motion. Vash's priorities are so transparently obvious even Taako knows it's an act sometimes. But whatever, it benefits him, so he'll allow it.

Still crouched by the chest, he tests the lock and raps on the lid. Water is still draining out the bottom, but otherwise it seems sealed.]

Who knows. The last time I had some freaky planet try to sing me a lullaby, I got my Pocket Spa though. So I'm hopin' for the Hole Thrower or, uh, I dunno, an Immovable Rod? Cloak of the Manta Ray?

[Whatever it is, it'll be wet, that's for certain. He lightly raps on the lid again and a loud knock resounds around the area as the lock pops open.]

You get anything from this place yet?

What's a manta ray? [Ocean creature is lost on the desert boy.] Ah, yeah, actually I did. [He reaches into his jacket collar and pulls out a necklace.] I found a chest and pulled this out. It belonged to someone very important to me back home.

Fuck if I know - some kind of sea thing, I think? It looks flat? I guess?

[He has also never seen a real manta ray, but he assumes it has the same-ish shape to his cloak. He glances over at the necklace and nods briefly. If it's important to Vash, he probably shouldn't mention how plain it looks. Sentimentality doesn't have to match with fashion sense and if Vash is already wearing it? Had to be super sentimental.

He flips the lid of the chest open with a huff and then makes a disappointed sound as he sees nothing like a slingshot or a cloak inside. There's just a little flask of dark, blackish liquid sitting at the bottom amid the rapidly draining water.]

Yeah? Looks like you won out with the jewelry then because Taako got a big ol' dud.

[Gingerly, he pulls the flask out and stares at it, swishing it around to see if the liquid inside is anything useful.]

Huh. [Vash leans forward and watches as the liquid swirls inside.] You mean it's not some sort of magic potion or something like that from your world?

I mean, obviously it has to be a magic--

[Taako was in the midst of rolling his eyes at Vash's suggestion, when he remembers something and takes a second look at the vial. The black liquid inside has the same viscous slide to it as it swirls around, the same gross sheen, and (probably) that same GoGurt-like texture. He squints his eyes and then, after a moment's consideration, glances over at Vash.]

Hey. Quick notice from me to you: if I die here, A) don't touch my stuff and B) don't let Lup steal my good skirt.

[And then he flicks the top off the vial and downs the entire thing in one go.]

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! [Vash shrieks as he watches Taako with horror. Clearly staring at him like he's about to die of a heart attack here on the spot.]

Because I have questions--

[It hits him like a brick wall, speeding through space at hyperspeed straight into his brain. Taako grabs his head in his hands, grunting in pain as it slams into him. The potion was exactly what he thought it had been and as the first wave of memories rematerializes out of the static, he knows he was right. The voidfish's ichor peels back time and, like a dam, the memories flood in.

He drops to one knee, eyes squeezed shut and he remembers.

He remembers everything.

He remembers walking the long roads between his relatives' homes, once alone in his memory and now holding Lup's hand. He's holding his sister's hand. He remembers cooking with her at his aunt's house - their aunt's house. He remembers studying with her for the IPRE. Holy fucking shit, he remembers the IPRE. A hundred years in between the launch of the Starblaster and arriving on Faerun. He remembers everything Magnus and Lup said.

And now he knows what Lucretia did to him, to all of them, and he feels anger bubble up in him all over again. She stole his memory, his life, his heart and soul from him, left him a shell of who he'd been, all the veneer with none of the substance.

He has just enough clarity as the slog of memories press in around him like water around a drowning man to hold a hand out to Vash in an attempt to assure him. He's fine. He's better than fine because even if he's incensed and mired in his own mind, he has one powerful truth back, the part of himself that's been aching for as long as he's been alive. Lup. His sister. His heart.

Taako cracks an eye open, voice hoarse with barely contained emotion as he realizes what he needs to do.]

Holy. Fuck.

[Vash rushes forward when Taako grabs at his head. Gripping his shoulder tightly as he then drops to his knee.] TAAKO! [He shouts his name as he stares in nervous terror. He had no idea what he should do.] What's happening?! What should I do? Should I call someone? Get you to a ship? [It's a good thing he holds a hand out as Vash was just about to pick Taako up and carrying him back to his shuttle before that.]

What was it? Are you okay?

No- I'm--

[His head is splitting open as two completely different lives led vie for dominance in his mind and he waves Vash off weakly. He was alone, but he wasn't. He was an only child, but he had a twin. He'd traveled the world, but also the stars. He'd never had a family, but he had seven people in it. The contradictions are horrendous, like being pulled apart in a riptide and he closes his eyes again, trying to let the current take him to the truth.]

-Just...give me a moment. Pretty sure-- I'm. Fuck. FUCK. [He spits the expletives out along with the taste of the voidfish's ichor as he remembers how small Fisher used to be, compared to how large he was on the moon base. Godsdammit, Lucretia, you stupid stupid smart person.]

I'm fine. I'm just getting- my entire memory back.

Sounds... rough. [He doesn't know what else to say or how to help. All he can do is gently place his hand on Taako's shoulder. Kneeling down and waiting for this to pass or to figure out what more he can do.] Breath? That could help? Deep breaths.

[He recoils instantly from the hand on his shoulder, one hand still holding his head while he uses the other to keep Vash at bay. It isn't his fault, but Taako can't stand being touched right now. He knew - he knew - what the Director had done. Magnus had told him enough that he could pull the logical threads together, but knowing and knowing are too different things. And now he understands the weight of what she stole from him.]

'm fine. It's-- No, it's super fucked up, but--

[Taako takes a deep breath as suggested and lowers his hands, opening his eyes carefully.]

I can't- I can't do anything about it right now. Fuck! That-- I swear to the gods I'll kick the shit out of her the next time I see her face.

[Vash pulls his hand away when Taako recoils. Waiting nervously, but watching to make sure that if there is anything he can do to help that he was there.]

Is this her someone in the fleet?

If she were, I wouldn't be swearing to do it, I'd just be doing it.

[He needs time to cool down, time to think, time to move past the initial blinding anger at all that she's taken from him. He doesn't know if he'll ever be able to forgive or move on, but he knows right now? Not the best time to consider it.]

It's-- someone from my- [Shit, he can't even say "home world" anymore.] -the place I was before.

[Well, at least Vash doesn't need to worry about Taako going off and murdering someone right away.] And you said it was about your memories?

[He sighs, massaging his temples and nods.]

Yeah, and the once lack thereof. I know what she did now and what she took from me - which is everything.

How? How did she do that? Because if you don't know then you won't be able to stop it again when you go back.

Naviadna Mingle

I'm sorry this took me literally forever holy shit

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