[Above all else, Taako enjoys being a little shit.
It's so, so easy to tool with humans- a shove to a rowboat here, putting fun things on their fishing lines there, chucking skipped rocks directly back at people who think they're alone all over the place. It's fucking hilarious. Others have warned him plenty of times not to get too cocky, too close- humans are still dangerous, and hurt what they don't understand. But between him and his sister, there's nothing that's going to get the jump on them. The shimmering pale blues in his tail blend in perfectly with the water, long pale hair braided back with pearls and shimmering rocks to show off long, pointed ears. He looks more like a ghost than a merman most of the time; nothing's going to mess with him. Nothing would dare.
On this instance, he's by himself, Lup promising to catch up with him later, just his torso peeked out of the water by the beach. He's looking for a target, but don't worry. You'll be fine.
That rumor about mermaids wanting to drown people for fun are just rumors. Right?]
ii. fae au
[Depending on who you ask, Taako is either the best or the worst fae to ever exist.
Objectively, he's confusing and tempting; eyes just too bright, tongue too quick, charming in a way that makes people give up things precious to them. It's seldom a night he spends in the mortal realm that he doesn't return with a name, a heart, a lover trailing through the wood to get lost for all eternity, and there's always entertainment in the courts to figure out just what he's doing at any given point. Taako isn't as malicious as others could be, not in the way that he means to cause harm- he just doesn't care when he's done it. He's confusing even to fae folk, and his allegiances can only be tracked truly to his sister. But he's funny. He's funny and keeps his place and only ruffles the feathers that please the court, not the ones that could be done with him.
But tonight, he's over again on the human side of the world, stepping with the click of heels through a dark bar with the music pounding, long hair left free and shimmering when the lights hit it, with his too-bright eyes and his too-sharp smile. And it seems, tonight, he's picked you to saddle up to, those too-bright eyes meeting yours in a flash.
And he waves. Smiles. Let's see what he can get tonight.]
iii. modern au
[The show has been going incredibly well lately. Taako knew that he and Lup were always made for TV, but it was only a matter of time before they were finally noticed. Sure, their cooking was slamming, and their faces more so, but the real talents were in their quick tongue and their incredible ability to bullshit. So when they skyrocketed to youtube sensations for their 'totally haunted' tours for ghosts in abandoned buildings, bigfoot hunting in the woods, and how to end a vampire with thirty garlic clove chicken, it was only a matter of time before they were offered a deal to produce for their first webseries. The promo they aired had been a hit, and now, halfway through filming, everything was going impeccably well.
Of course, it was all crock. There's no such thing as monsters-- they knew that. They were basically getting paid to bullshit online, which in Taako's opinion, was the best kind of bullshit.
They needed to find a location for their next episode, and Lup and Taako had broken off to different sides of the small town they'd found themselves in, Taako currently sliding into a (possibly) abandoned building right at the edge of the woods. Perfectly spooky. He's got his phone out, snapping a selfie or two by the busted door for ambiance, poking around to see if there's anything he could set to really freak her out.
But y'know, it's empty in here. He's got time. Right?]
iv. WILDCARD
[hit me with fucking anything, a prompt, an idea, more monsters??????? FUCK, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T CARE, I WANT IT]
(Not so abandoned as he might think, but does a lonely ghost count for much?
Lucretia's lived in this house for as long as she can remember, and she's more or less always been alone. Something things that come in here have noticed her; mostly animals. Enough people that her house has a light reputation for being haunted and is kept away from. Every so often somebody will come to investigate but Lucretia has found over time that fewer and fewer people are able to see her at all. It's made for a pretty bleak existence, all in all. She spends a lot of her time with her consciousness spread out across the house, living through it in a way. Living in the little plants that grow up through the rotting floorboards, living in the spiders and the webs they make in the corners.
She's ebbing this way in the flow of the house when somebody comes to pay her an unexpected visit. Lucretia draws herself up out of the fireplace from where she'd been settled amongst the rotting logs and stretches out aches that don't exist. There's a person at the door, and he's taking snaps with a phone. Lucretia's seen it all before.
Though she doubts he can see her, she still does a quick rush by in the background. If Taako were to look back through his camera roll he might notice in one or two pictures there's a blur of unexpected motion behind him, maybe even something that looks like a face...)
[Oh, he finds it. He's flipping back through the pics, trying to pick which one to send Lup, and his finger stops. What... is that? He clicks the screen off for a second, wipes it on his sleeve, but when he pulls the picture back up it's still there. He flips left, right, and-- no, not in these.
He narrows his eyes, finally tearing them from the screen to look around the room. Alright, there's only one explaination for this, and he swings his hands to his hips impatiently.]
Alright Lup, haha, lie to your dear sweet brother for the sake of a goof, I see how it fuckin' is. You can come out with your whatever the fuck you just did.
[He looks back at his phone, checking his settings quickly to be sure AirDrop is off. Would not be the first time she ganked something from his camera roll to put something dumb on it, though it was... uncannily fast.
Best not to think about that right now. Still, he walks a little further in, eyes scanning around carefully.]
I'm fuckin' serious Lup, I'm out here doin', uh, serious work and you're giving me shit! That's shitty and you know it!
(Usually, she would sag back into the house and declare that the end of it, but she pauses to watch the boy flick back over his photos and... wait!
A surprised laugh leaks out of Lucretia, rusty from disuse. It sounds more like a door creaking, than a laugh. He sees her. He's caught her on his camera! She can't remember the last time she'd been visible to anybody. Feels like years, feels like decades.
She hides in the ceiling and watches him stalk from room to room, searching for a sign that somebody is pulling a joke on him. While Lucretia would love to stay here and mess with him a bit more, she's hyper aware that pulling anything on a paranormal activity-esque level may scare him right out of the house never to return, and she's aching to be noticed, for somebody to talk to.)
You can see me, (she sighs, her voice light like wind, like a draft. While Taako scans the room, she drifts down from the ceiling and draws herself solidly together, more so than she's done in a while. She resembles a woman in her mid-twenties; she has on a jacket and jeans, with holes in the knees. The jacket was red once but Lucretia can't remember how to make parts of herself colours any more. She's transparent, devoid of colour though not of features. The outlines of her are bright as anything.
She has so many questions for him she's nearly vibrating with excitement. Maybe for now, it's best to stick with the basics.) What year is it?
[Really, Lucretia? This doesn't count as paranormal activity? Because uh, it sure does to Taako.
He spends easily five minutes ducking around corners, jumping around doors, just waiting to maybe scare her or get punk'd, but nothing ever comes. He's on the verge of giving up when he hears the voice and whips around, heart beating maybe a bit too fast in his chest. Okay, this is some next level shit. Maybe this isn't Lup. Did he walk into someone else's TV show? One of his rivals or friends from the show circuit set him up? Oh haha, what a laugh, let's catch Taako unawares--
And then the real impossible happens. Lucretia manifests and Taako embarrassingly lets out a shout, clapping a hand over his mouth and taking a sharp step back into the nearest wall, letting his brain struggle to keep up with the rest of him. She just-- appeared. Just formed out of nothing, smoke, totally see-through, right in front of him. One part of him, as is written on his face, looks fucking horrified. Another part is utterly delighted. Right now it's mixing into something like disbelief and a little bit of panic.]
Holy shit.
[Very eloquent, good job. Taako shakily pulls himself back up properly, coughing a moment to try and shake off how absolutely terrified he looked just then.]
You, uh... you just kind of. This isn't a joke, right?
[He can roll with this. He can so roll with this. Don't freak out, man, hold it the fuck together.]
His surprised shout makes her laugh, and when she does her form shimmers and flickers like fire. Her laughter echoes through the house, like its coming from the cracks in the walls. She's so closely tied to it that, honestly, she's forgotten where she ends and the house begins.)
No, (she says, after she manages to stop giggling. She's smiling even in the wake of his obvious distress. Perhaps she should be a little more sensitive right now, as he's clearly never seen anything like her before; and how strange, considering he seems to seek out these kinds of encounters! Who exactly does she have here? If he's come looking that means he has knowledge about this place, and Lucretia wants that very badly.)
Sorry, I– uh, I'm not used to people being able to see me. (She waves her hand cheekily in front of his face.) What year is it? What are you doing here?
[DON'T TELL HIM THIS IS TAME HE'S BEEN FAKING LESS SHIT THAN THIS FOR LIKE, MONTHS, FUCK.
He can't help the flush of embarrassment that runs over his face when she-- god, the whole house, she's the entire fucking house-- laughs, moving over the dark skin on his cheeks and out to his ears. Taako lets out a sharp exhale, a little huff, but swallows it down when she starts speaking in earnest. Okay. Okay, so he's been punking the internet and ghosts are real. Fuck. Maybe it's not-- maybe she's not actually a ghost. Maybe this is something completely reasonable, like a projection or an animated gif or some shit, who knows. Maybe this is Miku Hatsune on steroids for the express purpose of making him piss himself. It's a toss-up at this point.]
It's, uh... 2018. Do you not... know that?
[Guess there's no calendars in here. Not that it'd help much if you didn't have hands.
God, why is he just accepting this could be a real ghost. Why is he just okay with ghosts existing. Is he in shock? He might be in shock. What if he's dead now too? Fuck.]
Do, uh... people not... see you? Normally? Is that because you don't want them to or because I'm the new fuckin Jennifer Love Hewitt or something?
Taako's near the beach, sticking up out of the water, probably flipping his long hair around to lure some idiot human in for entertainment. But before he can find a new plaything, Lup's swimming up from behind him to grab him around the waist, dragging him under the surface with a laugh.]
[Well, she's right. Taako is entirely unsuspecting of her, sunning his more human looking half on a rock and letting nearly dry hair cascade over his shoulder that he runs his hand through as soon as he locks eyes with someone attractive. Of course, before he can get any further, Lup drags him under and he squawks absolutely ungraceful and ugly, just barely missing smacking his chin directly into the stone face as he goes under.
He whips around in her grip, but he knows it's her before he's even halfway. But he does put his hand directly in her face for good measure.]
Fuckin-- rude, Lulu! I was working. Had 'em hook line and sinker, and now I gotta start all over. What the fuck.
[He's not actually mad, as evidenced by the way his tail curls around hers, arms loosely around her neck. There she is. That motherfucker. His family, whom he loves and is going to noogie to death. Yes.]
[Taako's palm is thrust right into her face in retailiation, but Lup's already cackling anyway as she drags him close, their powerful tails intertwining as her own arms slip loosely around his middle. It never matters how short their time apart actually was, she's always filled with the same sense of peace whenever they come back together, a rightness in the world that no one can take away from them.]
C'mon, Taako.
[And being a loving sister, Lup gives Taako's side an affectionate pinch. (It still hurts. The affectionate part does nothing to stop the pain.)] You do that shit on the daily. How many men do you need to make fall in love with you? Can't you take an afternoon off to hang out with your favorite big sister?
[He lets himself make another noise that's unpleasant and sharp, baring some too-sharp-to-be-human teeth at her playfully. It's always better when she's around, even when she's jabbing fingers into him and teasing his hobbies. Everything feels better when she's here.]
We're twins, goobus. You don't get to be a big sibling when you're twins.
[He pinches her back, going for her cheek.]
And you should know that the answer to that is literally every man. Not saying humans are like, always the cream of the crop, but come on. Can't I have literally any fun. Any at all. Gosh.
[Anytime that they're together the world feels so much righter.
Taako makes a move for her cheek and Lup playfully bats his hand away, her tail unfurling from around his own so that she can swim just out of reach. She twists through the water with ease, shooting a sharp, teasing grin over her bare shoulder at her twin. The woman gives an exaggerated roll of her head, but can't do a damn thing to hide her smile. She can't help it. She loves the doofus.]
Ugh, you're so boring. I mean, I admire your whole dedication and shit, but c'mon, let's go fuckin' flip some boats or drag some idiots down with us. Gotta be more to life than flippin' your hair and batting your eyes at any dude in tight pants who sails on by.
[He wants to be mad at her, give her some sort of pout or pretend his displeasure, but he can’t hide it with her. Immediately, he laughs, chasing into her personal space effortlessly as he grabs for her hand. There’s no place he’d rather be.]
Alright, alright, you fuckin’ disaster. You know where there’s a good batch of ‘em today? Beach is pretty sparse but there’s gotta be some idiots with poles out by the rocks that are gonna looooove being wet.
[The handsome- sorry, ethereally beautiful, what the fuck- stranger waves, and Kravitz looks to his right, assuming someone has taken a seat next to him in the past ten seconds and he hasn't noticed, because there's no other explanation for what is happening right now.
He's two drinks in. Not yet drunk enough to enjoy the thumping music or forget about his shitty day-week-month, but also not sober enough to be subtle. He narrows his eyes at Taako, confusion evident on his face, and points questioningly at himself. His finger jabs sharply into his own chest, and he mumbles 'ow' to himself.]
[His smile only grows wider as the other man just looks befuddled. Ah, perfect. He needs someone here by themselves, someone looking a little out of the crowd. Someone who might be willing to follow him out of this dark place, to somewhere he doesn't remember, and somewhere he won't be found. He raises an eyebrow across the floor, but starts to approach regardless.
It's hard to place, as he moves, because it's easy enough for Kravitz to write it off as the lights, as the sound, as the alcohol buzzing through his system, but something us undoubtedly off about the man crossing the floor. Something about him just catches strangely, in the pull of his smile, to the curve of his wrist, to his eyes that always seem to shine.
Before Kravitz knows it, the man has pulled up next to him, slid into the empty seat next to him at the bar. His hair falls over his shoulders, soft and inviting, moving down free to just past his waist. He reaches up and tucks it behind one of his ears as he smiles that too sharp smile directly at him.]
Yeah you, goofus. Wanna buy me a drink? You look like you could use some company.
[Watching him move closer through the gathered crowd is like watching something iridescent slip through water. He is so clearly different to all those around him, but simultaneously so hard to pin down. Kravitz feels like his eyes won't quite focus. It would probably be more disconcerting, if not for his pleasant buzz. Instead, it's captivating. Entrancing.
He's leaning a little too far to the left. He always was a lightweight.
Kravitz rights himself as Taako slips in beside him, and he thinks maybe the sound of his heartbeat is louder than the music that surrounds them. His eyes follow the movement of fingers that tuck hair behind the curl of a perfect ear, and now he's staring at a strangers ear far too long to be comfortable, and why is this happening to him?]
Hm?
[His voice is nothing like any voice Kravitz has ever heard before, and the tune of it, something lilting and playful, is next to capture his apparently short attention span.]
Oh! Oh, I don't mind coming here alone, it's quite- [dumb!! dumb dumb dumb!! that was a flirt! that was flirting!!] I mean, yes! Yes, I- sorry. Your company is very welcome. What would you like?
[He snickers a little bit into the back of his hand as Kravitz speaks, the way he struggles for his own posture. Sucker. Helps he’s actually cute, though, not like some of the guys where Taako’s had to pull this stunt. The trick is to find someone without confidence, and a lot of time, that’s not the attractive ones. But tonight, tonight’s a night for fun. He does need the company, anyway— Lup is off doing something stupid with her fluffy faun of a boyfriend and Taako thinks if he sees them do something saccharine one more time he’ll be absolutely sick.
He doesn’t bother glancing at the menu, keeping his eyes locked on Kravitz.]
Mm, something fruity with a hard liquor has never done me wrong. Coconut rum and pineapple?
[Easy, simple, and won’t get him called out. If this was someone he didn’t like, he’d play a little trick here, ask to have their name and keep them to contract later. But he thinks he can get more here.]
What’s your name, handsome?
[Lesser fae come back with names, faces, memories. Taako sets himself a slightly higher bar.]
[He nods and raises a hand for the bartender, parroting Taako's order and... requesting a water for himself. Kravitz is already making enough of an idiot of himself as is, he doesn't need more alcohol helping him do that.
Handsome he says, and Kravitz loses control of his tongue.]
Hah. Handsome, I- hardly, when you look, you look very- [Your name, idiot.] Oh, pardon me. I should have- Kravitz. It's Kravitz.
[He stretches out a hand to shake Taako's, as if that's entirely appropriate.]
[Hmm, self-aware boy. This might be harder than he thinks. But from the way Kravitz already looks at him, Taako things he has this in the bag.
He reaches out, slipping his hand into the grip, still grinning. His skin is soft like honeysuckle, and he takes the opportunity to lean forward, the movement lets some of his hair fall over his shoulder like water. The charm is turned up to eleven, and while on most people that would be figurative, Taako has magic. So it's not.]
Call me Taako.
[He tugs Kravitz forward, bringing their faces closer.]
So what're you doing out here by yourself? Get stood up on a date or somethin'?
He likes living out here. It's peaceful. Quiet, most of the time. Kravitz is just far enough down the beach to avoid the most touristy spots, but close enough that his cottage is only a five minute walk from the sand. He likes to think of the ocean as his neighbor. A neighbor that never makes too much noise, listens to him as he vents his annoyances in the early morning, and gives him inspiration late at night when his writers block is at it's worst.
Alright, so he could probably use some real friends. But that's tough when you've moved to a new place and you're a recluse whose only hobbies don't exactly lend themselves to socialization. But that's fine, he's okay with that. Perfectly content, really.
Kravitz was expecting another quiet evening with his perfect little spot to himself, but apparently that's not in that cards today, because there's someone else here. 'Someone' does not do them credit, but he's a little too dumbstruck for anything more descriptive.
Feet bare and pants rolled up past his ankles, Kravitz stands on the cool sand and stares. He's not sure the man he's seeing is even real.]
[Taako's careful, whenever he does this, to only sunbathe so much so that his top half is shown, his tail tucked neatly behind the rocks near the shore. It's absolutely something he shouldn't be doing, of course- not safe for merpeople to expose themselves to humans, not when humans knowing about them on such a grand scale would mean anything but death. They're not magic, per se, but humans are nosy, greedy little creatures. Always wanting more.
Taako could pretend, in some sort of justification, that this is the reason he's doing this. To get back at humanity, to mess with them for everything they've done. But really, Taako just finds it hilarious. Human men are so simple, so easy to please- and Taako likes being pleased. Likes being ogled from afar, capturing hearts and minds with a flick of his wrist, a twirl of his hair. It's enticing. Exquisite.
And today, he's caught another. Look at him. The boy fishing pro.
Taako pretends he doesn't notice, at first, rolling a shoulder so he can lay himself across the rock a little more, stretching hands above his head to show off bare chest, lean body, hair that always seems to glitter. And in that arch of his back is where he meets Kravitz' eyes, and lets himself smile.
Are those teeth just a little pointier than you usually see, Kravitz? Must be your imagination.]
[It works as well as Taako could have hoped, and then some.
Kravitz's eyes follow the line of Taako's back as it forms an curve over the rock, linger on the place where his hair drapes over it like a curtain, glistening and reflecting the sun (because that's what it has to be, that's why it's shining like that) and then drift back up to study his face. It's hard to get down the finer points from a distance- the teeth, for example, look like small icicles, sharp and ethereal, a trick of the light- but Kravitz is positive that even up close, he must be so incredibly beautiful.
He's disconcerting, too, though. Like a triptych, one painting tilted just slightly to the side. Kravitz isn't sure why.]
I- well, it's, it's hardly my place. Although I've never seen you here before?
[He waits until Kravitz speaks to roll onto his stomach, moving a hand to flip his hair up and over his head. It falls down from the movement over his shoulders, to the sides of his waist, and he tucks a bit behind his left ear to stop it from obscuring his eyes.]
I mean, not many people end up out here. Figured if somebody came by, they might’ve been thinking it’d be quiet.
[He brings up his right hand through the hair falling over that shoulder, twirling a finger into a stray lock of it before meeting Kravitz’ eyes again.]
Guess there’s enough room to share. If you’re, uh, really attached or whatever. I mean, just a lil corner of the ocean. What’d you come out for?
[Something that’s immediately going to become less important than him, he thinks.]
[Good god this hair. How does it look so soft and inviting, even when it must be wet with sea water? It's getting harder by the second to blame all this stuff on distance, on light. Is he dreaming? Did he trip somewhere, hit his head on a rock, and now he's passed out on the sand?
Oh. The beautiful man is talking again.]
You're right, I- I thought it. It'd be quiet. [Is there any point in pretending he's not staring at this stage?] But I was only here to, er, get away for awhile, I suppose. I truly don't mind some company.
[This is why it pays to be a sea creature. Taako's hair would be much coarser dry, but wet it looks beautiful and flowing.]
Well, it's quiet 'cept for me. But I bet you'd be happy to hear me loud.
[He laughs with a bit of a head tilt, peals of it just south of being human, something that sounds like it would ring with the crash of the waves.]
So what were you gettin' away from? Got somebody lookin' for ya? Or is it really just sooo stressful back in that little town? Personally, I find comin' to the shore really smooths out those worries.
[He's just coming from the other direction, but shhhh.]
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taako | ota | seriously hit me w ANYTHING
[Above all else, Taako enjoys being a little shit.
It's so, so easy to tool with humans- a shove to a rowboat here, putting fun things on their fishing lines there, chucking skipped rocks directly back at people who think they're alone all over the place. It's fucking hilarious. Others have warned him plenty of times not to get too cocky, too close- humans are still dangerous, and hurt what they don't understand. But between him and his sister, there's nothing that's going to get the jump on them. The shimmering pale blues in his tail blend in perfectly with the water, long pale hair braided back with pearls and shimmering rocks to show off long, pointed ears. He looks more like a ghost than a merman most of the time; nothing's going to mess with him. Nothing would dare.
On this instance, he's by himself, Lup promising to catch up with him later, just his torso peeked out of the water by the beach. He's looking for a target, but don't worry. You'll be fine.
That rumor about mermaids wanting to drown people for fun are just rumors. Right?]
ii. fae au
[Depending on who you ask, Taako is either the best or the worst fae to ever exist.
Objectively, he's confusing and tempting; eyes just too bright, tongue too quick, charming in a way that makes people give up things precious to them. It's seldom a night he spends in the mortal realm that he doesn't return with a name, a heart, a lover trailing through the wood to get lost for all eternity, and there's always entertainment in the courts to figure out just what he's doing at any given point. Taako isn't as malicious as others could be, not in the way that he means to cause harm- he just doesn't care when he's done it. He's confusing even to fae folk, and his allegiances can only be tracked truly to his sister. But he's funny. He's funny and keeps his place and only ruffles the feathers that please the court, not the ones that could be done with him.
But tonight, he's over again on the human side of the world, stepping with the click of heels through a dark bar with the music pounding, long hair left free and shimmering when the lights hit it, with his too-bright eyes and his too-sharp smile. And it seems, tonight, he's picked you to saddle up to, those too-bright eyes meeting yours in a flash.
And he waves. Smiles. Let's see what he can get tonight.]
iii. modern au
[The show has been going incredibly well lately. Taako knew that he and Lup were always made for TV, but it was only a matter of time before they were finally noticed. Sure, their cooking was slamming, and their faces more so, but the real talents were in their quick tongue and their incredible ability to bullshit. So when they skyrocketed to youtube sensations for their 'totally haunted' tours for ghosts in abandoned buildings, bigfoot hunting in the woods, and how to end a vampire with thirty garlic clove chicken, it was only a matter of time before they were offered a deal to produce for their first webseries. The promo they aired had been a hit, and now, halfway through filming, everything was going impeccably well.
Of course, it was all crock. There's no such thing as monsters-- they knew that. They were basically getting paid to bullshit online, which in Taako's opinion, was the best kind of bullshit.
They needed to find a location for their next episode, and Lup and Taako had broken off to different sides of the small town they'd found themselves in, Taako currently sliding into a (possibly) abandoned building right at the edge of the woods. Perfectly spooky. He's got his phone out, snapping a selfie or two by the busted door for ambiance, poking around to see if there's anything he could set to really freak her out.
But y'know, it's empty in here. He's got time. Right?]
iv. WILDCARD
[hit me with fucking anything, a prompt, an idea, more monsters??????? FUCK, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T CARE, I WANT IT]
iii 👀
Lucretia's lived in this house for as long as she can remember, and she's more or less always been alone. Something things that come in here have noticed her; mostly animals. Enough people that her house has a light reputation for being haunted and is kept away from. Every so often somebody will come to investigate but Lucretia has found over time that fewer and fewer people are able to see her at all. It's made for a pretty bleak existence, all in all. She spends a lot of her time with her consciousness spread out across the house, living through it in a way. Living in the little plants that grow up through the rotting floorboards, living in the spiders and the webs they make in the corners.
She's ebbing this way in the flow of the house when somebody comes to pay her an unexpected visit. Lucretia draws herself up out of the fireplace from where she'd been settled amongst the rotting logs and stretches out aches that don't exist. There's a person at the door, and he's taking snaps with a phone. Lucretia's seen it all before.
Though she doubts he can see her, she still does a quick rush by in the background. If Taako were to look back through his camera roll he might notice in one or two pictures there's a blur of unexpected motion behind him, maybe even something that looks like a face...)
THANK FUCK
He narrows his eyes, finally tearing them from the screen to look around the room. Alright, there's only one explaination for this, and he swings his hands to his hips impatiently.]
Alright Lup, haha, lie to your dear sweet brother for the sake of a goof, I see how it fuckin' is. You can come out with your whatever the fuck you just did.
[He looks back at his phone, checking his settings quickly to be sure AirDrop is off. Would not be the first time she ganked something from his camera roll to put something dumb on it, though it was... uncannily fast.
Best not to think about that right now. Still, he walks a little further in, eyes scanning around carefully.]
I'm fuckin' serious Lup, I'm out here doin', uh, serious work and you're giving me shit! That's shitty and you know it!
no subject
A surprised laugh leaks out of Lucretia, rusty from disuse. It sounds more like a door creaking, than a laugh. He sees her. He's caught her on his camera! She can't remember the last time she'd been visible to anybody. Feels like years, feels like decades.
She hides in the ceiling and watches him stalk from room to room, searching for a sign that somebody is pulling a joke on him. While Lucretia would love to stay here and mess with him a bit more, she's hyper aware that pulling anything on a paranormal activity-esque level may scare him right out of the house never to return, and she's aching to be noticed, for somebody to talk to.)
You can see me, (she sighs, her voice light like wind, like a draft. While Taako scans the room, she drifts down from the ceiling and draws herself solidly together, more so than she's done in a while. She resembles a woman in her mid-twenties; she has on a jacket and jeans, with holes in the knees. The jacket was red once but Lucretia can't remember how to make parts of herself colours any more. She's transparent, devoid of colour though not of features. The outlines of her are bright as anything.
She has so many questions for him she's nearly vibrating with excitement. Maybe for now, it's best to stick with the basics.) What year is it?
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He spends easily five minutes ducking around corners, jumping around doors, just waiting to maybe scare her or get punk'd, but nothing ever comes. He's on the verge of giving up when he hears the voice and whips around, heart beating maybe a bit too fast in his chest. Okay, this is some next level shit. Maybe this isn't Lup. Did he walk into someone else's TV show? One of his rivals or friends from the show circuit set him up? Oh haha, what a laugh, let's catch Taako unawares--
And then the real impossible happens. Lucretia manifests and Taako embarrassingly lets out a shout, clapping a hand over his mouth and taking a sharp step back into the nearest wall, letting his brain struggle to keep up with the rest of him. She just-- appeared. Just formed out of nothing, smoke, totally see-through, right in front of him. One part of him, as is written on his face, looks fucking horrified. Another part is utterly delighted. Right now it's mixing into something like disbelief and a little bit of panic.]
Holy shit.
[Very eloquent, good job. Taako shakily pulls himself back up properly, coughing a moment to try and shake off how absolutely terrified he looked just then.]
You, uh... you just kind of. This isn't a joke, right?
[He can roll with this. He can so roll with this. Don't freak out, man, hold it the fuck together.]
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His surprised shout makes her laugh, and when she does her form shimmers and flickers like fire. Her laughter echoes through the house, like its coming from the cracks in the walls. She's so closely tied to it that, honestly, she's forgotten where she ends and the house begins.)
No, (she says, after she manages to stop giggling. She's smiling even in the wake of his obvious distress. Perhaps she should be a little more sensitive right now, as he's clearly never seen anything like her before; and how strange, considering he seems to seek out these kinds of encounters! Who exactly does she have here? If he's come looking that means he has knowledge about this place, and Lucretia wants that very badly.)
Sorry, I– uh, I'm not used to people being able to see me. (She waves her hand cheekily in front of his face.) What year is it? What are you doing here?
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He can't help the flush of embarrassment that runs over his face when she-- god, the whole house, she's the entire fucking house-- laughs, moving over the dark skin on his cheeks and out to his ears. Taako lets out a sharp exhale, a little huff, but swallows it down when she starts speaking in earnest. Okay. Okay, so he's been punking the internet and ghosts are real. Fuck. Maybe it's not-- maybe she's not actually a ghost. Maybe this is something completely reasonable, like a projection or an animated gif or some shit, who knows. Maybe this is Miku Hatsune on steroids for the express purpose of making him piss himself. It's a toss-up at this point.]
It's, uh... 2018. Do you not... know that?
[Guess there's no calendars in here. Not that it'd help much if you didn't have hands.
God, why is he just accepting this could be a real ghost. Why is he just okay with ghosts existing. Is he in shock? He might be in shock. What if he's dead now too? Fuck.]
Do, uh... people not... see you? Normally? Is that because you don't want them to or because I'm the new fuckin Jennifer Love Hewitt or something?
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i;
Taako's near the beach, sticking up out of the water, probably flipping his long hair around to lure some idiot human in for entertainment. But before he can find a new plaything, Lup's swimming up from behind him to grab him around the waist, dragging him under the surface with a laugh.]
YES
He whips around in her grip, but he knows it's her before he's even halfway. But he does put his hand directly in her face for good measure.]
Fuckin-- rude, Lulu! I was working. Had 'em hook line and sinker, and now I gotta start all over. What the fuck.
[He's not actually mad, as evidenced by the way his tail curls around hers, arms loosely around her neck. There she is. That motherfucker. His family, whom he loves and is going to noogie to death. Yes.]
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C'mon, Taako.
[And being a loving sister, Lup gives Taako's side an affectionate pinch. (It still hurts. The affectionate part does nothing to stop the pain.)] You do that shit on the daily. How many men do you need to make fall in love with you? Can't you take an afternoon off to hang out with your favorite big sister?
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We're twins, goobus. You don't get to be a big sibling when you're twins.
[He pinches her back, going for her cheek.]
And you should know that the answer to that is literally every man. Not saying humans are like, always the cream of the crop, but come on. Can't I have literally any fun. Any at all. Gosh.
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Taako makes a move for her cheek and Lup playfully bats his hand away, her tail unfurling from around his own so that she can swim just out of reach. She twists through the water with ease, shooting a sharp, teasing grin over her bare shoulder at her twin. The woman gives an exaggerated roll of her head, but can't do a damn thing to hide her smile. She can't help it. She loves the doofus.]
Ugh, you're so boring. I mean, I admire your whole dedication and shit, but c'mon, let's go fuckin' flip some boats or drag some idiots down with us. Gotta be more to life than flippin' your hair and batting your eyes at any dude in tight pants who sails on by.
Let's wreck shit!
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Alright, alright, you fuckin’ disaster. You know where there’s a good batch of ‘em today? Beach is pretty sparse but there’s gotta be some idiots with poles out by the rocks that are gonna looooove being wet.
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faeeeeeeeeEEEEE
He's two drinks in. Not yet drunk enough to enjoy the thumping music or forget about his shitty day-week-month, but also not sober enough to be subtle. He narrows his eyes at Taako, confusion evident on his face, and points questioningly at himself. His finger jabs sharply into his own chest, and he mumbles 'ow' to himself.]
YESSS
It's hard to place, as he moves, because it's easy enough for Kravitz to write it off as the lights, as the sound, as the alcohol buzzing through his system, but something us undoubtedly off about the man crossing the floor. Something about him just catches strangely, in the pull of his smile, to the curve of his wrist, to his eyes that always seem to shine.
Before Kravitz knows it, the man has pulled up next to him, slid into the empty seat next to him at the bar. His hair falls over his shoulders, soft and inviting, moving down free to just past his waist. He reaches up and tucks it behind one of his ears as he smiles that too sharp smile directly at him.]
Yeah you, goofus. Wanna buy me a drink? You look like you could use some company.
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He's leaning a little too far to the left. He always was a lightweight.
Kravitz rights himself as Taako slips in beside him, and he thinks maybe the sound of his heartbeat is louder than the music that surrounds them. His eyes follow the movement of fingers that tuck hair behind the curl of a perfect ear, and now he's staring at a strangers ear far too long to be comfortable, and why is this happening to him?]
Hm?
[His voice is nothing like any voice Kravitz has ever heard before, and the tune of it, something lilting and playful, is next to capture his apparently short attention span.]
Oh! Oh, I don't mind coming here alone, it's quite- [dumb!! dumb dumb dumb!! that was a flirt! that was flirting!!] I mean, yes! Yes, I- sorry. Your company is very welcome. What would you like?
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He doesn’t bother glancing at the menu, keeping his eyes locked on Kravitz.]
Mm, something fruity with a hard liquor has never done me wrong. Coconut rum and pineapple?
[Easy, simple, and won’t get him called out. If this was someone he didn’t like, he’d play a little trick here, ask to have their name and keep them to contract later. But he thinks he can get more here.]
What’s your name, handsome?
[Lesser fae come back with names, faces, memories. Taako sets himself a slightly higher bar.]
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Handsome he says, and Kravitz loses control of his tongue.]
Hah. Handsome, I- hardly, when you look, you look very- [Your name, idiot.] Oh, pardon me. I should have- Kravitz. It's Kravitz.
[He stretches out a hand to shake Taako's, as if that's entirely appropriate.]
And yours?
LAUGHS
He reaches out, slipping his hand into the grip, still grinning. His skin is soft like honeysuckle, and he takes the opportunity to lean forward, the movement lets some of his hair fall over his shoulder like water. The charm is turned up to eleven, and while on most people that would be figurative, Taako has magic. So it's not.]
Call me Taako.
[He tugs Kravitz forward, bringing their faces closer.]
So what're you doing out here by yourself? Get stood up on a date or somethin'?
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aaaaaaaaaand MERMAID+HUMAN
He likes living out here. It's peaceful. Quiet, most of the time. Kravitz is just far enough down the beach to avoid the most touristy spots, but close enough that his cottage is only a five minute walk from the sand. He likes to think of the ocean as his neighbor. A neighbor that never makes too much noise, listens to him as he vents his annoyances in the early morning, and gives him inspiration late at night when his writers block is at it's worst.
Alright, so he could probably use some real friends. But that's tough when you've moved to a new place and you're a recluse whose only hobbies don't exactly lend themselves to socialization. But that's fine, he's okay with that. Perfectly content, really.
Kravitz was expecting another quiet evening with his perfect little spot to himself, but apparently that's not in that cards today, because there's someone else here. 'Someone' does not do them credit, but he's a little too dumbstruck for anything more descriptive.
Feet bare and pants rolled up past his ankles, Kravitz stands on the cool sand and stares. He's not sure the man he's seeing is even real.]
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Taako could pretend, in some sort of justification, that this is the reason he's doing this. To get back at humanity, to mess with them for everything they've done. But really, Taako just finds it hilarious. Human men are so simple, so easy to please- and Taako likes being pleased. Likes being ogled from afar, capturing hearts and minds with a flick of his wrist, a twirl of his hair. It's enticing. Exquisite.
And today, he's caught another. Look at him. The boy fishing pro.
Taako pretends he doesn't notice, at first, rolling a shoulder so he can lay himself across the rock a little more, stretching hands above his head to show off bare chest, lean body, hair that always seems to glitter. And in that arch of his back is where he meets Kravitz' eyes, and lets himself smile.
Are those teeth just a little pointier than you usually see, Kravitz? Must be your imagination.]
Hey. Sorry, did I take your place here?
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Kravitz's eyes follow the line of Taako's back as it forms an curve over the rock, linger on the place where his hair drapes over it like a curtain, glistening and reflecting the sun (because that's what it has to be, that's why it's shining like that) and then drift back up to study his face. It's hard to get down the finer points from a distance- the teeth, for example, look like small icicles, sharp and ethereal, a trick of the light- but Kravitz is positive that even up close, he must be so incredibly beautiful.
He's disconcerting, too, though. Like a triptych, one painting tilted just slightly to the side. Kravitz isn't sure why.]
I- well, it's, it's hardly my place. Although I've never seen you here before?
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I mean, not many people end up out here. Figured if somebody came by, they might’ve been thinking it’d be quiet.
[He brings up his right hand through the hair falling over that shoulder, twirling a finger into a stray lock of it before meeting Kravitz’ eyes again.]
Guess there’s enough room to share. If you’re, uh, really attached or whatever. I mean, just a lil corner of the ocean. What’d you come out for?
[Something that’s immediately going to become less important than him, he thinks.]
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Oh. The beautiful man is talking again.]
You're right, I- I thought it. It'd be quiet. [Is there any point in pretending he's not staring at this stage?] But I was only here to, er, get away for awhile, I suppose. I truly don't mind some company.
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Well, it's quiet 'cept for me. But I bet you'd be happy to hear me loud.
[He laughs with a bit of a head tilt, peals of it just south of being human, something that sounds like it would ring with the crash of the waves.]
So what were you gettin' away from? Got somebody lookin' for ya? Or is it really just sooo stressful back in that little town? Personally, I find comin' to the shore really smooths out those worries.
[He's just coming from the other direction, but shhhh.]