spellslots | riverview; ic contact & friendr

You know me so well. Come over whenever, I'm not going to clean for you anyway.

[It doesn't take him too long to get himself ready and make his way to Thor's. Usually when things are shitty for Taako, he puts effort into looking even more put together than he usually does but he just - it's Thor, who's likely feeling just as awful, and he doesn't feel like doing the whole fucking make up and outfit rigmarole.

'Dressed down' still means an overall dress thrown over a t-shirt and he still makes sure his glamor is in place before grabbing the bottle of Asgardian liquor that Loki gave him and a container of brownies that Lup whipped up earlier.

Rather than knock, he teleports just inside the front door]

It's ya boy, I got offerings.

[The minimal effort route is about the only route Thor is taking for the foreseeable future. He hasn't shaved for a hot minute, his hair is messy and unstyled and he's wearing board shorts, socks and a dressing gown. None of which match.

He peers around the doorway from the hall when he hears Taako call out from inside the house. His brows furrow, but he's not bothered by the fact that Taako cut out the middle man and just came inside.]

I already got us started.

[Which means he pre-gamed this drink off. He jerks his head toward the doorway, gesturing for Taako to follow him.]

[That sure is a look, but Taako isn't about to judge, he just follows up Thor.]

Smart move, gonna take you longer to get fucked up. I've got the actual Asgardian shit, too, didn't know if you had any.

[He's fairly sure Loki got his from... Loki, who could presumably also hook Thor up but who knows what the supply chain looks like.]

I have some stashed away for special occasions like this. [With that, he stops in the doorway of the lounge room. It definitely isn't the beautiful, aesthetically pleasing room it once was. It's cluttered with empty bottles, empty food packets, magazines, cacti and clothing.

But the couch is clear, and the coffee table in front of it has a couple of full bottles of varying sizes and colours.]

Some of it is good, some of it is rubbish. Strong rubbish. [Thor nods, sagely. He sweeps up an open bottle and moves to the couch with it, patting the empty cushion next to him.]

It's been a long time since we talked. How are things with Taako? What's happening for you?

[Look, he gets it, he definitely gets it, but he likes Thor enough that it twinges a bit of worry in Taako, so he waves a hand to cast unseen servant, instructing it to start cleaning up.

That done, he drops down onto the couch beside Thor, setting down both the bottle and the cookies on the coffee table.]

Well, shit, Rin is gone? So that... sucks, and then a dude from home showed up who's in love with me, according to him we've been together like a year? Anyway turns out he was one of those holograms and now he's gone too.

[He says it all like wow that's wild and not I'm barely coping.]

[Thor raises a brow when the room starts to clean itself, but he knows damn well it was in dire need of some help. Or he was in dire need. He doesn't need to think about it.

His expression softens at Taako's explanation and he doesn't know what to do other than pressing the bottle into his hands instead.]

You need this. [He says, in lieu of something more helpful. He needs to think about it.]

You know, on the surface this seems like such a happy place, but it's actually the worst. It's like an emotional spring trap.

[Alcohol has been pretty much the coping method of choice, after hugs from Lup, and he knows that pretty soon he's going to have to get his shit together to stop, but... this is a social thing as much as anything.

So he takes a drink, blinking a little at the strength of it, but he can handle it.]

That's what I've been fucking saying! It's like, sure, cool, you get to go to rad parties and no one's trying to end the world or whatever, but we are gonna drag up all your shitty trauma and find ways to make it worse somehow.

I suppose I was still basking in the glow of all the perks up until now.

[Thor's shoulders slump, and he eases down so his forearms are resting on his knees.

It hasn't been sunshine and rainbows all the way, but he can't deny he settled very easily into a comfortable, domestic routine while knowing everything could go to shit at any minute.]

Now it's hard to imagine they aren't playing a little game with us all.

[There's a second of internal faltering, as Taako struggles to figure out what to do, before he just commits to leaning against Thor, offering a little bit of physical comfort.]

Maybe it's like-- I dunno, part of the whole quarantine shit? Put us through the ringer and see how we come out on the other side.

[The physical comfort means as much to Thor as any verbal reassurance. He lifts an arm, wrapping it around Taako's shoulders.]

Just a month ago I was telling everyone I thought this was a vacation. [Thor scoffs.]

We always knew, Bryn and I, that we'd have to go our separate ways eventually. I just thought it would be months from now, years even.

[Taako rolls his eyes at the vacation comment even if it's pointless when Thor isn't looking at him.]

That's-- yup, hard fucking same on that one. I never pushed like, all the secrets cause I thought we'd have more time to figure it out.

[Now he regrets it a little, the idea that he could've known Rin better than he did, instead of wasting time.]

[Thor raises a brow at the term secrets, but supposes he shouldn't think much of it. Taako is just That Kind of Elf.]

No. Bryn and I never rushed. I thought taking it slow would make it less painful, I've rushed into things before and.. [He trails off, with a shrug.]

Maybe a couple of mysterious, handsome people like you and I just aren't meant to be tied down.

Edited 2018-02-24 12:59 (UTC)

I dunno, seems like you've uh, you've got a pretty big heart.

[Is that the sort of thing that's appropriate to say? He's kind of past caring, obvious by the way he takes another considerable drink of whatever was in the bottle Thor handed him.]

You'll figure it out. This place is just shit for romance.

This place is shit for everything. [Thor retorts, rather than acknowledging the fact that he's a softie.]

I don't think home is going to be ideal for romance either. I think I'm going to have to tap out of the game for a long while, now.

Hey, at least you've got time, not like you're gonna get old soon.

[Honestly, he has no idea exactly how long Asgardians can live, but he's sure Thor has at least a handful of centuries left.]

I'm thinking about killing the assholes who pulled that stunt with the holograms, is that a bad idea?

[It'd be cathartic, if nothing else.]

I think the chances of me dying of old age are slim. [He lives a hectic life, Taako.]

And I think you'd regret that. Sorry, but on a scale of reasonable to Loki, that's a Loki idea.

Oh, for sure, but still.

[There's still a difference between someone like Magnus, who is human and will likely die in battle within the next couple decades, and Thor, who's Asgardian and might die in battle within the next couple centuries.]

I wouldn't like, get caught, I know how to kill some thugs without getting caught.

I am not in a frame of mind for good advice, but I think that even the great and powerful Taako might have some trouble inconspicuously picking off the brilliant scientists of Riverview.

[Although he very vividly remembers almost having his ass kicked, so..]

I think we should both just do whatever makes us happy, but I don't think murder makes you happy long term.

[He seems to consider it as he takes another drink.]

Someone would probably notice 'em going missing.

[The happy thing is far more complicated, Taako knows what makes him happy but shit is rough right now. He decides to turn it around on Thor because he's a bad person.]

What makes you happy, bubbale?

Well, I could say food, or fighting, or drinking, or sex. And I wouldn't be lying.. [Thor ponders. He's aware that Taako is turning it back on him, which presses him to give a more sincere answer.]

Making other people happy, mostly. Starting to think my life revolves around it more than anything else, actually.. Everything else I enjoy is secondary.

That's kinda shit.

[It's not judgement or pitying, just sort of a statement of fact, from Taako's perspective. There are a few people he cares about enough for their happiness to impact his own, everyone else can choke.]

I guess that's like, what a king is supposed to do or whatever, but relying on other people for your happiness is never gonna end well.

Being selfish didn't make me particularly happy either. [He's not defensive, but he explains.]

You'd be surprised what satisfaction I can gain from it. [Loki makes him happy every day for it, but he knows it's a little tenuous and that's really what Taako means.]

Are you going to answer the question now?

Can't relate.

[A joke! But also the goddamn truth because sure, on a small scale it makes him happy when Lup is happy, or when the rest of the IPRE are, or even Angus, but he can't imagine applying it on a grand scale. He's still selfish, his selfishness just happens to include a handful of people.]

I dunno, pumpkin, I spent five years famous and lonely then fives years on the run and fucking lonely and miserable. Most shit's better than that.

[It's a surprisingly honest answer, which is why he didn't want to give it, but whatever, he's here now.]

[Taako can put on the whole I'm a cool, aloof badass front all he wants, Thor still finds him to be warm and generous.

But he pointedly sees the best in almost everyone.]

So not being lonely makes you happy. [Thor says, blandly.] It's natural to want company, you don't need to fight it. They force us all together here, we might as well embrace it.

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