☂ video; un: liches.get.stitches

[spellslots]

Hail and well met, my dudes.
 
[Despite not having much experience with this kind of video technology, Taako has adapted pretty quickly, mostly because he’s vain as hell and gets to take pictures? Of himself? It’s amazing. So the camera is centered properly, he’s got Disguise Self cast to look the way he’s supposed to, and his stupidly long hair is braided down his back. ]

I got a couple'a things I wanna ask, figured this is the easiest way to do it.

[He holds up a finger, to count the first question:]

So weird thing here, has anyone heard of this fucked up black oil that, uh, that destroys worlds, I guess? [He casts Minor Illusion and the oil, similar to what he saw in Palmon's prophecy, appears in his hand. It's thick and dark and kind of unsettling.] Listen, I'm not really sure exactly what it is, but it's bad. When I saw this stuff, shit was like it'd drowned everything in sight. And uh, the gods are gone, seems like. Which is weird as hell and might be related. This ringing any bells?

[That was the worst explanation ever, but in his defence it's a pretty confusing situation. He's trying his best.]

Second lil thing. [He holds up a second finger, dropping the illusion so the oil disappears.] What the hell are all you thugs doing for money, 'cause gotta admit, I haven't got a whole lot of marketable skills but I'm fast running out of that sweet sweet cash and would really love to not starve, you know? Toss some ideas at me, I'm all ears.

[Get it, because he's an elf.

Well at least he thinks he's funny, since he's chuckling as he clicks off the video.]

Comments

[causational]

[Eddie's smile falters a little at that, a furrow forming between his brows.]

Well, I mean, unless the saboteur is here with you, then it's pretty unlikely that's gonna happen again.

[spellslots]

Here's the thing, though, I don't wanna let anyone touch shit I'm cooking ever a-fucking-gain.

[Which would make it hard to like, work with other people? In a restaurant?

If he could do it alone that'd be fine, but he's not sure how to go about that.]

[causational]

That makes sense...

[A pause, and Eddie purses his lips, then licks them a little nervously, obviously lost in thought.]

I wonder if there's any way to make money off of magic, though. I mean, you were great on the wall. Maybe the Guard thing?

[spellslots]

I can teach it, any thug can learn magic if they want.

[There's no innate skill required for wizardry, it's all just practice and dedication, and a little bit of smarts.]

[causational]

Seriously? Like, even everyday non-meta-human type regular guys?

[Eddie looks more than a touch disbelieving.]

[spellslots]

Not a clue what a metahuman is, but yeah, sure. I wasn't like born a wizard! I'm self-taught.

[If Eddie knew anything about wizardry that could be a little alarming, but mostly it's fine. Taako is decent at what he does.]

[causational]

It's a human with some kind of super power. Like being able to teleport, or turn into a gas, that kind of thing.

So even someone like me then? I'm not even an elf or anything.

[Thankfully, he knows nothing about magic. He's still a little uncertain on it even existing. Despite having experienced it.]

[spellslots]

Oh, I can do both those things, no sweat.

[He waves a hand as if teleporting and turning into gas are very boring, mundane things.

Actually teleporting is fucking hard but he's figured the basics out by now.]

And yeah, for sure! Elves are a little bit better at magic than humans, but I know plenty of human wizards.

[causational]

With magic?

[Eddie's brows raise, and he exhales slowly, shaking his head.]

I'm almost tempted to ask you to teach me, but I'd probably just end up burning off my own eyebrows.

[spellslots]

Yeah, with magic.

[Obviously!! Eddie gosh.]

And you don't have to start with fire shit, that's evocation and conjuration anyway, you seem like an abjuration kinda guy.

[causational]

Okay.

[For a moment, he's just quiet, staring. Because this is way, way too surreal and plain weird.]

I'll bite. What's abjuration?

[spellslots]

It's your protection magic, basically, a whole lotta shields, some banishing spells, I think there's some buffing shit in there. We've got a cleric so I don't use abjuration all that much.

[causational]

You're right, that does sound like me. I think. Shields and banishing spells make sense, but what's buffing?

[spellslots]

Oh, like, making your team stronger? I got a spell called stoneskin which does exactly what it says on the tin, so it's a good one for your fighter if they're taking big hits! Hard to cut a guy with stone for skin.

[A vaguely horrifying spell in all honesty.]

[causational]

Oh my god. That sounds amazing.

[And Eddie is positively beaming when he says it.]

Do you really think I could do it?

[spellslots]

[Oh no he's cute.]

If I taught a ten year old, I'm pretty sure I can teach you.

[causational]

You taught a ten year old? Wow.

[A beat, and he's obviously holding his breath, trying to keep it cool...then...]

I mean, if you ever want, and you have time...

[spellslots]

Yeah, Ango's a good kid.

[It sounds way more fond than it should, so he's glad when Eddie speaks again and he can move on.]

I'll have to see if I can fit you into my fucking packed schedule. [so dry, because, yeah he's not that busy.] But I'm down, might be fun.

[He likes spending time with Eddie, that makes things easier.]

[causational]

[Eddie smiles brightly at him, abrupt and excited and more obvious than he'd really like.]

Really? Oh man.

[No point in trying to play it cool. Laughing softly and a little self-deprecatingly, he grins and lowers his head, glances up at the screen through his lashes.]

I would really love that. Seriously. Thanks for even, you know, thinking about it.

[The truth is, Eddie isn't convinced he could learn it. He's not exactly special, not the kind of special that gets to do cool, superhuman things.]

[spellslots]

I mean, it's not a big deal, it's cool.

[There's so much excitement there he's not quite sure what to do with it, especially since this whole thing makes him seem like, an actual nice person who does things for others.

Gross.]

Just buy me dinner sometime or whatever and we'll call it even.

[causational]

[Eddie's not really thinking much about whether or not Taako is a nice person, more about the incredible prospect of maybe learning magic. Still grinning, he nods a bit.]

Absolutely. It's a deal.

[spellslots]

Sounds like my kinda deal.

[Now he grins.]

I'll keep my phone on.

[Eddie's in charge of picking a place, then they can do their dinner and magic.]