fourth spell [video]

[pocketspa]

[For the first time in Hadriel History, Taako is appearing on the main feed without his sister. He actually looks a little bit serious, seemingly sat down at a desk with his fingers laced in front of his face like some fantasy Gendo Ikari. Without the glasses it kind of loses the effect, but hey, what can ya do.]

So, listen. There's been like, a toooon of posts lately about like, magic, and learning it. And don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's other people that know magic here. But if this is where we're goin'... wouldn't you rather learn from the master?

[He shoves his chair back from the desk and opens his hands by his face, giving them a shake as the words Taako's Awesome School Of Magic appear over his head in sparkly bubble font.]

Not to flaunt my resume or anything, but uhh, I've been bomb ass fantastic at magic for over a hundo years, I'm a transmutation expert, and, oh yeah--, I already have my first student who can speak to my incredible teaching style.

[Just because he's really showing the fuck off, a spectral hand appears in the air by him and floats offscreen, only to return about a second later with another network device. It presses a button and the voice of a certain boy detective can be heard through the playback.]

Taako is a good teacher, and I've really learned a lot from him, magically speaking! If he threatens to utterly destroy you should you ever surpass him in magical ability, that just means he thinks you're making good progress. Probably.

[It very abruptly cuts there as the magic hand disappears, the device falling into Taako's open palm.]

Really, it's a no-brainer here. You could go with somebody who wants to teach you some light tricks- don't get me wrong, you gotta start somewhere- but take it from the guy who can teach you how to be a t-rex, there are sooooo many better magical tutors out there.

[He looks very, very smug.]

Make room for chaboy, Hadriel, that's T double A to the K-O, because I'm the knockout you need.

[A wink.]

So call me.

Comments

video;

[storyseeker]

Sign me up.

[No, she's serious.]

[restinglichface]

I can't believe you've betrayed me like this.

[storyseeker]

[She laughs.] You could have offered yourself. I didn't know you were interested in teaching.

[To be fair, she wouldn't have expected it of Taako, either.]

[restinglichface]

I never knew you were interested in learning!

[storyseeker]

[She looks a little sheepish now.]

I didn't know if I could learn, but it's something I've been thinking about. Nate and I talked about it a little. We're capable of looking after ourselves, sure, we've both kicked a lot of ass, but we're at a disadvantage here and we know it.

[No powers, limited ammo, etc.]

[restinglichface]

I guess that's fair.

[HUFF]

For what it's worth, he is a pretty dope teacher.

[storyseeker]

[And it must cost a lot for her to admit that.]

Yeah? What about you?

[restinglichface]

[Elena has no idea.]

Doper, obvs. Who do you think taught him?

[storyseeker]

Aren't you guys the exact same age? Kinda goes with the twin thing. I figured you learned magic together.

[restinglichface]

Oh no, you totally have that right. We did learn magic together.

I just learned better.

[storyseeker]

Ouch. Have you said that to his face?

[Probably.]

[restinglichface]

Mm, one sec.

[Lup shifts the phone just barely away, so she can cup a hand around her mouth and scream at full volume.]

TAAKO. DID YOU HEAR THAT? I LEARNED BETTER!!!

[pocketspa]

[His voice comes through from a bit away, but clearly understandable through the phone.]

I can see every fuckin' talk you guys are having! On my broadcast! Don't make me tell the whole city about how many times you've set yourself on fire learning shit!

video;

[pocketspa]

[He grins wide, looking plenty hype even if he should be semi-professional here.]

So what was it that impressed ya? Was it all my kitchen hands, or just because I'm rad? This is phase one of payment here sis, cough up.

video;

[storyseeker]

What, it can't be all of the above? The kitchen work was pretty impressive, and considering all the bullshit we've seen here? I don't want to learn how to make a subpar fireball or something.

[She's absolutely buttering him up because they all know the size and quality of his ego, but he's right; that is part of the payment, unless Lup poaches her away.]

video;

[pocketspa]

Well allright gal, you sure know what payment means.

[He clicks his tongue and winks, which would probably be creepy if he hasn't made it clear he's not flirting. It's still probably a little weird.]

I mean, if you're going for fire, I'm gonna rope in Lup-- not because I can't kill it, but you know she's the specialist for evocation. But listen, you come to us, and we're gonna set you up, natch. I can draw up a contract for ya and we can do your consultation like, whenever you've got a free minute. Get you in the screening and application process.

video;

[storyseeker]

[Elena is more than used to a little weird in relation to Taako, but she's not bothered.]

Well, it's not like I've got a day job here. [Which actually sucks a lot more than most people would guess.] I think I want to focus on whatever it turns out I'm good at. Whatever let's me be of some use.

[Ugh, vulnerable honesty.]

video;

[pocketspa]

[He laughs at that, but not in a way that feels biting. It's a feeling he understands. His magic is versatile for the same reason; always make yourself useful.

He won't dwell on it, for her sake.]

Okay, but also, magic should be something you like. Part of what's up with magic is you gotta feel it. As much as you can read stuff, it's gotta be something you want. Here-- if you could do anything. And I mean aaaanything. What would it be? C'mon, lay it all out for ol' Taako.

video;

[storyseeker]

[She gives it some honest thought. Her answer may or may not surprise him.]

It wouldn't be terrible to do something with fire, in a controlled burn sort of way.

video;

[pocketspa]

Pssh, of course you do. Eeevrrybody's into throwin' fire. 'Ss cool, cool, I got that on board. Though I'm sure you'll get Lup on board for some of that.

[It is like, her thing. But regardless...]

Any other requests?

video;

[storyseeker]

Hmm. I'd ask how to blow something up with magic, but that seems more like Nate's department. Then again, maybe he's good enough at it already that he doesn't need the magic angle.

I don't know, are there protection spells or something?

[She is well aware they are squishy.]

video;

[pocketspa]

[He snorts, because wow, that's true.]

All kindsa stuff, babe. Shield spells are like, a whole division. Literally an entire specialty of magic. Though I will say in all and total fairness that I can't teach you healing magic. Trust me, I wish I could, but you gotta have a god connection for that one and that's not how chaboy rolls.

video;

[storyseeker]

Mmm, don't worry about that. I don't doubt we'll have need for healing, but I'd rather help avoid getting to that point.

[Elena's no white mage, or cleric, depending on the gaming metaphor being used.]

video;

[pocketspa]

[Taako just chuckles.]

See, there you go. That's wizard thinking. End the battle before it starts. Peeps can be as strong as they want, when you can zap 'em into dust with a finger it's no contest. But yeah, shields, got it. We gotta start you out on the easy shit, though, ease up to it. I promise, it'll all be useful.

video;

[storyseeker]

Okay. I trust you, Taako. Which is a terrifying sentence to speak out loud.