lifeaftr | live mas

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live mas

Who: Taako, otawg (open to all w goods)
What: 'i can't believe Taako invented wal-mart'--Zero
When: 8/16 and on? if you want the full inventory
Where: The ruins
Warnings: Spicy

The meeting with the shitty god-rabbit had clarified not a whole lot, if Taako is being honest. But one thing is clear, they (this entire island of randos) are in it for awhile, so they (Taako and Lup) need to be in it to win it. And on this island, winning it means selling anything you can get your hands on for anything that might be useful. Their ice cream social had been moderately successful, and the horrible hustle elves are doubling down on their established niche, now that they realize the full stakes.

To that end, you can peruse an up-to-date inventory here. During daylight hours, there is a very good chance you can find a makeshift setup of warez, with the tired but socially effervescent elf responsible close by. There's existing stock, in very limited quantities, of small things. There's a list with everything else. The wood sign just says 'Got Stuff?' as kind of a preliminary; the argument re: naming convention is ongoing and bloodshed may be imminent. Bring your A-game hagglewise, and remember that a neutral feedback is the same as a negative.

[I should clarify, you can thread with both twins but the default setting is Taako unless otherwise specified! Up 2 you! Not fussy!]

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The Kid's had a few days to start a collection. The abandoned farm plots near the Ruins have quite a few mature plants left, and the Kid is working on figuring out how to turn those plants into more plants. You have to get seeds and then plant them and then...do stuff to the soil to make it good, and a lot of that is kind of lost on him.

He knows you're supposed to haggle in these situations, but frankly he's been looking to foist off this baking soda since he found it in his pack. He knows it has lots of practical uses, but in his hands, it'll probably just end up going bad after awhile.

"Two carrots an' a tater good?"

He sets the vegetables and the baking soda on the counter.

"What about th' flint? Been rubbin' sticks t'gether. Gets old."

And cold, also.

"Find all this yerself?"

That's not many vegetables, but the baking soda probably makes up the difference. Come to think of it, making honest deals is not actually Taako's greatest specialty. He nods like it is anyway and pushes a coil of rope front and center. It's honestly worth more just to know that those vegetables are a possibility.

"The flint's on hold, sorry." Since it's turned out to be such a popular item, Taako guesses he should look into some other kind of firestarter, something he could actually make. "What about a bow drill, you into that?" Dude looks like he knows how to use one. "I can make that. My spécialité is transmutation. That's where I'm getting most of this loot. My new island buddies bring me materials, I make the goods. Circle of life."

The Kid is being very careful with rations. There's several dozen people on this island now, and probably limited resources. It's like back during long tours of the Wall, rationing your supplies as best you can to make it to the next outpost. Sometimes there's no choice but to go days without eating.

He nods. "Fair 'nuff."

Flint is going to be hard to come by, he knows. Rubbing sticks together works just fine--it's just tiresome. He takes the rope and sets it in his pack.

"Bow drill'd be fine." He pauses, squinting slightly. "Wha's...trans-mew...what ya said?"

What a great set up that Taako unfortunately cannot take advantage of at all. This cowboy would be getting the show of his life, if only the magic wasn't broke as hell on this stinkbeach. "Magic, my man. I make things into other things, in layman's terms." Pretty cool, right? "Not a lot to work with here, which is a real shame." He doesn't mention the whole magic limitation issue. No reason to advertise that.

"A bow drill is faster than sticks, anyway." He really should have thought to have those on offer to start. In his defense, making fire has not, historically, been so much of an issue. Even when his fire starter was an umbrella. "Unfortunately, there'll be some turnaround on that," he says with retail-quality distaste. He's not gonna sit here and struggle with a level four spell in front of a stranger like a jackass. "Say, tomorrow? You just gotta bring me all the dry grass you can carry. You look like you can carry a lot," he says, just to establish clear expectations.

"Y' kin do magic?"

That's incredible. And a little unbelievable. Magic isn't really real, he's pretty sure--it's just tricks meant to charm children. At least that's what he always thought...but being out in the Wilds and going up against the Ura made him realize just how little he really knows about the world and the sort of powers it contains.

There's also the fact that he's in a whole other world right now.

He stays quiet as he listens to the instructions. It must be some kind of magician thing. Turning one thing into another...so maybe this fella is gonna turn a pile of dry grass into--a bow drill? He's not sure he's following that correctly.

He is, however, very good at following instructions.

"Dry grass. I kin do that." He pauses. "I kin throw in more veg, fer the trouble."

And now the dude is just, volunteering more vegetables, that's so...folksily honest? Good? One of those types of descriptor or other. Taako looks almost pained at the unexpectedness of it, though he very quickly recovers. It's just in everyone's best interest to do the most for them, since they're doing The Most for this dang island, clearly. It probably wasn't a specifically nice gesture.

It just never gets old when people are impressed by magic as like, an entire concept. A blank canvas, as it were. Oh, the fun he could be having. Still pretty good, even considering. "What, don't I look like I do magic?" He looks appropriately smug, basking in the incredulity. Taako is visibly wizardesque the way spiny fish are visibly venomous, c'mon. "More vegetables would definitely make you a store favorite. Wizards still gotta eat, and my sister would love a break from digging in the dirt."

The Kid's mostly just thinking about it logically. He can't possibly eat all the vegetables growing in the plots behind the ruins all on his own, and it would be unconscionable to do so. Better to share the wealth, especially since there might be someone out there who knows more about farming than the Kid does. Plus, this pointy-eared fella might be offering a bow drill, but he probably still needs to eat. Probably.

He shrugs a little.

"S'pose. Don' think we have much real magic, back home. Magicians...sleight o' hand stuff. Makin' cards disappear."

He sort of thought about going in for that once, when he was a kid. Figure out how to make coins disappear and make some money on the street. Turned out his hands were better with tools and weaponry than with delicate things like that.

He nods. "You 'r yer sis know anythin' 'bout farmin'? Some abandoned plots in th' jungle. Was thinkin' folk could expand 'em an' plant stuff, but I don't know how t'get th' seeds."

With carrots and potatoes, he's not even really sure where the seeds are.

Taako straightens up a bit from his casual counterward slouch, realising with some surprise that he actually does know some things about farming. Lup too, no doubt. Apparently more than this dude, which is its own mild surprise. You can't spend a hundred years visiting new planes and meeting various civilisations without getting at least a little acquainted with how the other half lives. Assuming that in this case the other half is 'agricultural communities.'

Unfortunately, all the knowledge-by-osmosis in the world isn't gonna make them into farmers, hahaha can you fuckin imagine. Can't wait to run that one by Lup later. They want to be invaluable, yes, but there are limits. Plus there's a lot to it, that he definitely did not pay attention to when magic wasn't at this much of a premium. Timing and lighting and shit. "Listen, I'd love to help with some kind of farming project, but I'm too magical for hard work, and my sister is a compulsive arsonist. We would only be an agricultural liability." He smiles apologetically. It's truthful-esque.

"But I do know how to get the seeds, at least. Potatoes are easy, you just want the eyes, with plenty of potato around 'em. Carrot seeds," he knows this, hang on, "make flowers, that make seeds." There, see? Helpful and knowledgeable. Why does he still feel a little bad for swearing off farming right out of the gate? "I guess I could also make tools, though not metal ones."

He raises an eyebrow at Taako. Too magical for hard work? Sounds like all those posh folk back home who lived in the fanciest districts and probably didn't know which end of the hammer you're supposed to hit things with.

Ah, well, you can't really judge people in survival situations.

Also, he doesn't know what "compulsive" means, but he thinks he knows what an "arsonist" is.

"Like magic arson?" If you can just magically summon fire, well, damn. That's a very handy talent.

He nods, taking mental notes.

"Tater eyes...an' carrot flowers. I'll see 'f kin find 'em."

Tools would also be good, and while Kid would be content to use wooden or stone tools, something occurs to him.

"Ya kin magic things into other things, yeah?" He says it slowly, trying to see if he's getting this right. "Well, some folk've found metal salvage. Might be more 'round th' island. Could ya do somethin' wi' stuff like that?"

Kid is no stranger to turning junk into tools, so if this guy can't just magic up something like that, he could probably figure it out on his own.

Hey, he's being legit, you ever see a buff wizard? And you never will. Them's just the breaks, kid. Even Lup is only like, honorary buff. "Yeah, it's usually magic arson. That's her deal, evocation. Which technically doesn't just mean making things be on fire, but maybe she skipped that day of wizard school."

Ragging on his poor defenselessly absent sister aside, the metal is an interesting proposition. "Could I do something with stuff like that," he repeats back very slowly and distinctly, then makes some thinking noises, kinda stalling for time. The ol spellbook is lookin a little sparse these days, he's really pretty much a one trick pony at this point, unless you want ice cream. But it's worth a shot, he decides. "I mean, it probably won't be pretty, but I can try to whip something up. Failing that, maybe Lup can stand in for a forge, if someone else knows some metalwork. We'd work something out, for sure."

Wizards must be like Mancers. They've got the same sort of high-falutin', self-important air to them. Though at least Taako isn't being condescending, at least not very much. And he's not lording his smarts over Kid, so that's a plus too. Everyone's got different uses.

"All sounds real interestin'."

He's not being sarcastic, either. Magic sounds utterly fascinating. But it's fascinating in the way that things you can't understand are. He'd love to learn more, but he knows he wouldn't be able to wrap his head around it.

Taako repeats the question back and makes a show of thinking hard. Kid knows haggling when he sees it. The guy is probably going to want to be compensated with something else. Maybe more vegetables.

Kid nods when he answers.

"I'd 'preciate th' attempt, even. Don' need t'look pretty." He pauses again as something else occurs to him. "What 'bout nails? Regular nails."

Yeah, in someone else that would have been a sarcastic response, but this guy is just too folksy for that kind of shenanigan and that's...appreciated. Though to be fair, magic arson does sound pretty objectively interesting, he assumes, even to folksy non-magic sorts.

"I think I could manage regular nails. And I'm not gonna charge you if I don't." Nails aren't exactly a feat of modern engineering. That could probably be accomplished? What, is this guy gonna just straight up build a fuckin house? That's...not implausible, houses sure come from somewhere, like historically. Man, practical concerns, right? Who needs 'em. "What are you gonna do with nails? That sounds like a dumb question, huh." He grins and doesn't seem embarrassed by asking it at all. What kind of folksy nonsense is he about to trot out, go on.

Magic arson has multiversal appeal, it's true.

He nods, pleased that nails are starting to look almost like a reality. Here he was thinking he might have to start building stuff without any nails, and that's pretty dang hard when you also don't have access to any kind of cement or mortar. Plus, hammers and nails go together like...well, hammers and nails.

"Figger 'f we're stuck here awhile, folk're gonna need more'n jus' the Ruins an' lean-tos t'live in. With all the forest 'round 'ere, I could build a few shacks an' such no problem. Jus' might take awhile. 'll be a lot easier with nails."

Yep, that was pretty folksy, alright. Go on, say reckon, let Taako win at this game of bingo he's playing internally. "That's about what I thought you'd say, yeah, no surprises there. Let me know if I can help," he surprises himself by offering. Even more surprising, he thinks he actually would? What is the world coming to.

"With anything but farming, I mean," he clarifies. Because there are still limits. "Or heavy lifting. Basically just magic or cooking, actually. If you want a lot of trees turned into wood, that might save you some time." He hopes he can do that without it being some kind of disaster. "You can't watch though. Wizard rules, kemosabe."

Kid absolutely says reckon, he just hasn't had a reason to yet.

He nods at the offer. He appreciates it. He's glad that everyone on the island seems pretty cooperative and helpful, for now. He's sure that eventually people will start getting selfish. They always do.

"Kin bring ya any metal I fin'. An'...turnin' trees straight inta usable boards n' such would be real helpful. Real time saver."

He snorts a little at the order to not watch. He knows all about trade secrets.

"Sure. Wouldn' want t'get cursed or nothin'."

Hahaha he bought it, 'wizard rules,' Taako is narrowly suppressing any outward signs of the hilarity. Remembering why he's being so cagey in the first place helps. "Absolutely a thing that could happen, yeah, best to avoid it," he says, nodding seriously, because he's nothing if not committed. Oh man, what can't be a wizard rule if he sells it well enough? This'll be great.

"Well, it seems like you've got some questing to do, my dude. Pick some trees you're not gonna miss, let me know and I'll handle it." His dazzling act of quest-giving is interrupted by a sudden thought. "Make sure you're getting the right twin, Taako, that's me. If you ask Lup you'll only get fire." Is it slander if it might be true? "What's your handle, cowboy?" Go on, he can't wait to hear it.

It occurs to Kid too late that this probably means "curses" in all three senses of the word. He was thinking along the lines of actual magical spells that could turn him into a toad or something, but it's probably also a luck thing. It's bad luck to witness another guild's trade secrets.

And there would probably also be a lot of swearing involved, since there usually is when trade secrets are involved.

"'M sure I kin find plenty trees."

This whole island could use some clearing out. It'd be helpful to install some paths across the island, so people don't have to go bushwhacking all the time.

"Call me Kid."

It works well enough, even if people around here have been kind of amused by it.

You know, Taako had been internally mostly joking about all that cowboy stuff, no need to lean into it, there, 'Kid.' He does at least keep his amusement to a bare, plausibly deniable minimum of a smirk, out of respect for what has been actually a pretty pleasant exchange. Find plenty of trees, is that dry humour, is that just how he is, what a bandanna-wrapped mystery.

"Yeah, that sounds about right." It sounds about fake, but that's fine too, he gets it. "You should probably skedaddle before I think of something else for you to bring me." He kids, he kids, Taako isn't gonna play quest-giver forever ~~unless it keeps working~~. Can he get away with a 'y'all come back now, y'hear'? That would probably cross a line, huh, but he's grinning outright now, anyway. Man, sure hope nothing just pops tf off on this island, putting all this peaceable, constructive planning kind of on a back burner, that would really suck.

He snorts again. He thinks he likes this Taako guy. He's got a real sense of humor, and that's going to be a real godsend if things ever get worse. Which they almost certainly will.

"Alrigh'. Then I'll see ya roun'."

And with that and a parting nod, he takes his leave.

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live mas

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rustic hospitality

how dare you

:3

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but taako can you curse a real sword

GET OUT OF MY HOME

never

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CURSED

cursed thread

cursed bc im A BUTT and haven't WRAPPED THIS THREAD

i will backtag until the heat death of the universe my dude