Tumbl'd 3: Forever TAZ - Chapter 24 - InterNutter - The Adventure Zone (Podcast) [Archive of Our Own]
In this chapter: The twins taking the entrance exam to get into the IPRE
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 2]
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She was clad all in black from tip to toe. Most was a black so dark that it was nearly impossible to tell shape and form within it. She wore a white porcelain mask with a carmine bow of painted lips. She was unreal. She was real. She was the goddess to whom all must answer.
She was Death.
She was not taking her sibling if Sno could fucking help it.
“You can’t take him,” she argued. “He’s not dead.”
The thing that looked like a woman tilted that unearthly pale mask that could have been her face. “He is close,” she whispered. The spectre of Death never has to shout. It has never needed to. “He lives… only because it is too much bother to die.”
“True,” said Koko, held safe in her arms.
“You’re not helping, baby bro,” said Sno. “We’re fighting for your life, here.”
The man known as Kravitz, lately revealed as a Reaper stood between them. “My Queen. Please. He has paid enough and more than enough for what he has wrought. What would taking him to the Eternal Stockade remedy?”
“He has disrupted the flow of life and death,” she whispered.
“Rearranged,” said Koko. “I rearranged it.”
The white mask turned. Its empty eye holes failed to intimidate. “You. Dare?” she whispered.
“Yeah. You got it wrong, there, birdie.” Only someone who had no emotion could dare talk to the Raven Queen like that. He could not fear because he had no love left. Not for his life, not for anyone else’s. “I rearranged the flow. Like. Weirs, dams, and canals kind’a thing. Listen. Everyone alive still has the chance to donk things up so bad they beef it. Meanwhile, if they look after themselves, they could live as long as an Elf. It’s not immortality. It’s… It’s making everyone’s race the same distance.”
The living shadow moved, and Sno flinched him away. “He’s only thirty. He’s practically a baby! If you take him before he dies, you’re just as bad a criminal as you say he is!” Sno took out her wand. She’d seen what had happened to all the others who tried to use their powers to fight the Raven Queen, but she took it out anyway. If this bitch was going to take Koko, it was going to be over her dead body. “Back. Off.”
“Why’re you even fighting for me?” said Koko. “It’s not like I could ever be happy anyway…”
There was the sound of knitting needles…
Another figure was present in this space. A figure of veils and rainbows and eternally clicking needles that ravelled together the threads of fate. If she had eyes, none could focus on them, yet she saw all.
“Do not snap this thread, Raven. My weave has changed. So many paths are altered. He is the crux.”
Those who were conscious there all said, “What?” in turn. That included the Raven Queen.
“He has forestalled the end of the world. He has reversed the path of the great ruin. We must help this child.”
“What?” said Koko.
The bristle of onyx feathers around the Raven Queen’s collar flattened and the gigantic shadow shrank. “You claim him as yours?”
“I do,” said Istus.
“Then we shall see the echo of the wound in his soul,” whispered the Raven Queen. “We shall see what can be done… to heal it.”
Sno still had her wand aimed at the black figure. “You hurt him, I kill you.”
“You… may certainly try…” She had long, black talons instead of hands. “I will not harm him. I will not take him. You have… my promise.”
Istus said, “I shall keep him safe.”
Of the two, Sno trusted Istus a little more. She lowered her wand, and relaxed her guard on Koko. The kid remained where he was, as apathetic as he had been for five entire years.
Threads sprang out of both Istus’ knitting and Koko’s body. Beautiful things of every hue, in a tangle that was impossible to follow with a mortal eye. Long black talon and elegant finger both traced the knots. A discussion occurred in a language Sno could not comprehend.
They were… bickering? It was certainly an animated huddle. Fingers pointed to one crucial spot, just as Lulu recovered enough to shakily sit up. Istus summoned something that looked almost like a crochet hook and made a few deft moves.
“What’re you doing to my baby brother?”
The threads returned to their origin point. Koko was weeping. “Lulu… Lulu, you’re okay?”
Lulu launched herself at him. “You’re back! You’re back, I can feel it! You’re back…”
“I’m back,” he said. “But… the spell? Did you break it?”
“No,” whispered the Raven Queen. “Your work is intact.”
“All I did was stop the source now that it’s no longer needed,” said Istus. “Mortals. You all think it’s all or nothing with things. Don’t. Remember that you need to stop and breathe.”
Kravitz was murmuring in the Raven Queen’s ear. Or maybe the side of her head. It was hard to tell. “Yes,” she breathed. “You have not had any time for yourself… you may go, though I may call on you if I have need.”
Koko breathed. Shaky, uneven breaths. Loaded with emotion. His mismatched eyes were heavy with tears. His face didn’t know what to do. “Mom… Mama… Mags… Everyone… Is everyone okay?”
Sno almost crushed him in her hug. Lulu was right. He was back. Back to the sensitive, caring, loving kid he had been when he became so upset with mortality that he wanted to change the entire world.
Sno had never been so happy to have that Koko back.
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 3]
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Tumbl'd 3: Forever TAZ - Chapter 20 - InterNutter - The Adventure Zone (Podcast) [Archive of Our Own]
In this chapter: Don’t give underaged Elves processed sugar.
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 3]
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The Stone in her hands said, “Hello, sirs. Hello ma’am.”
Aw shit. It was the baby nerd from the train. Wait. If he was here, what had happened to her mother? Noth that she actually cared that much, but… There had been a few moments, in-between fighting like Orcs and Elves, when Minmin actually showed that she cared enough about Nono to make sure certain things happened.
Like… not telling anyone that Minmin was Nono’s mother. Or that they were both underage.
Nono’s concerns had answers in less than a handful of seconds, because a door opened for the big reveal. The baby nerd was there, of course, in his fancy lad clothes, and behind him was Minmin. She was using the name La’ming as part of her ruse, the same way Nono was trying on Salat’krou for size. It was too complicated… and too late to change it now.
On one hand, she was relieved that her mother was still alive. On the other hand, those were fading bruises on her blue face, almost blending in there, but still perceptible. Thirdly, though, she was here. Nono didn’t know whether to be happy, upset, or furious.
From the looks of things, Minmin didn’t know whether to be happy, terrified, or furious, either.
The air started to crackle with the energy between them as they decided on a common emotion… and it wasn’t ‘happy’.
*
It had taken some time for Angus to become friends with Salat’krou, the mysterious Druid/Rogue accompanying the Reclaimers on most, if not all, of their missions. She was vulnerable to the Thrall of the Relics, but also smart enough to stay well away when it came time to scoop them up for retrieval.
There was something… off about her. Something all the Elves and half-Elves in the Bureau knew and carefully did not talk about. A conspiracy that Team Sweet Flips was somehow also in on. Angus tried training with them to see if he could work it out, or at least glean something involving a clue from their collective behaviour.
What he got was… some very good training.
There was always an Elf or a half-Elf in the stands. Watching. Supervising. Like Madam Director or Taako would watch him when it was his turn for the rough and tumble. Almost like…
…Oh…
Like a wary guardian making sure their kid didn’t get hurt.
Like La’ming was always there, always lurking out of immediate view, watching and flinching like a parent forbidden access to their child… but watching from afar…
But. Wait. Both La’ming and Salat’krou claimed to be one hundred and one years of age. Angus knew it was a lie in the case of La’ming, because he’d found her out on the train. The paperwork had a few subtle errors that most people would miss…
She and Sal could almost be sisters…
But La’ming was a Sea Elf and Sal was a Beach Elf. You only got a Beach Elf if a Sun Elf and a Sea Elf…
The clues slotted into place inside Angus’ dome piece with a click that should have been heard across the entire moon. Not sisters. Mother and daughter.
There had to be some hinky stuff happening - what, sixteen, seventeen years ago? Because La’ming would have been seventy-one when “Salat’krou” was born.
Angus decided that, for the sake of everyone present, plausible deniability had to be the order of the day. He could keep a secret just as well as anyone else on this base. Heck, he was certain Madam Director knew and didn’t say because otherwise those kids would be out in the gutter or worse.
He decided on being friendlier. Trying to give “Sal” a few more chances to act her age. Therefore, he invited her to show him some moves on the ‘agility obstacle course’ that the Bureau had set up. What it really was was a play gym and everyone knew it, but nobody said.
He waited until she was laughing with him and having fun before whispering, “So what’s your real name?”
“You know my name,” she evaded. “Salat’krou. Everyone knows.”
“No, I mean, your real name. The one that isn’t fake?”
She glared at him. They were both hanging upside-down by their knees and, for an instant, the beanpole of an Elf looked like she was considering murder. “Of course you worked it out. World’s greatest detective.”
“To your credit, it was everyone else that eventually gave it away.”
She righted herself, and said, “You going to do anything about it? Make it official? Tell the director?”
Angus flipped up to the vertical as well. “Miss? I haven’t even told Davenport.” Which was next to pointless since Davenport didn’t say much past his own name. “And I promise I won’t, either.”
There was a long moment in which Angus felt like he was being weighed in thee balance and calculated as to his worth by the ounce. Or, perhaps, the karat. She took a deep breath and whispered. “Nono.” A sigh. Another deep breath. “Nono… Ton.”
It was the best-kept secret on the moon. One never spoken, even by those who were in on it. Angus was proud to be a member of the conspiracy.
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 3]
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The Lonely Hearts Cantina…
“Say, are there any teens here?” said Merle.
“You really aught’a not say that,” said Nono. “You’re giving off like a million creepy vibes.”
The Elf in the corner transmuted his table into meat. “DAMNIT!”
“Whoah,” said Magnus. “We should sign that wizard up! He just made the entire table be meat!” Aiming to at least hack off a slice and eat it, he rushed in to the corner… and recognised the Elf. “Taako? Oh my gods, it’s Taako… I loved your show, what happened?”
“…got cancelled…” he said. “D’ruther not talk about it.”
“Cancelled? But you were like the best! I still remember when you came to Ravensroost. You did this thing with the local cave slugs? Man, I never tasted anything so good…”
Taako seemed supremely disinterested. “Yeah, life goes in weird directions…”
“Okay, so… this job over here in Kreg’s List? It needs a wizard, a cleric, and a fighter, and… You could be our wizard.”
“What about the blue bean pole over there?”
“She’s a druid,” said Magnus. “Come on. It could be fun. It’s at least profitable. Last job you’ll ever need.”
The opposing party challenged them. “We got all the ones we need. How good are youse guys? I bet none of you ain’t shit.”
Taako stood up. “Oh, it’s on.”
*
“We only need the three,” Gundren complained. “Who’s the Druid?”
“She’s with me,” said Merle. “You want me, you get her.”
“Yeah, we’re kind of a BOGO deal,” added Nono.
“How old are you?”
Nono went for the default lie of every underaged Elf pretending to be an adult… I’m… I’m uh… I’m a hundred and…. one.”
Taako knew the lie well. He had used that exact lie in his own checkered past. What she needed was a grown-ass Elf to back her up. “It’s true,” he lied. “She’s a hundred and one.”
Nono opened her mouth to challenge him, then wisely shut it again. She would thank him later.
*
“…turns out Steven is a Rogue,” joked Magnus.
“I’ve got it,” sighed Nono, and busted out her thieves tools. She had the lock open in seconds.
“I thought you were a druid,” said Taako.
“I multiclassed.”
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 4]
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Tumbl'd 3: Forever TAZ - Chapter 14 - InterNutter - The Adventure Zone (Podcast) [Archive of Our Own]
In this chapter: Magnus gives Koko a panic attack, then guards his friendo from the local Bobs.
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 4]
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Tumbl'd 3: Forever TAZ - Chapter 13 - InterNutter - The Adventure Zone (Podcast) [Archive of Our Own]
Content warning: Horrible shitty orphanage, some gross medical stuff, implied child neglect.
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 5]
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Tumbl'd 3: Forever TAZ - Chapter 12 - InterNutter - The Adventure Zone (Podcast) [Archive of Our Own]
In this chapter: BB Magnus and BB Taaco Twins meet
The coffeepot in the fantasy percolator had been allowed to boil almost to dry. Merle stared as Taako refreshed the coffee grounds and filter, and filled the boiler with more water. It was nine at night, and Taako shuffled towards his bedchamber.
“Uh. You didn’t clean out the pot,” said Merle.
“Shyeah. Duh. I want some really strong fuckin’ coffee, my dude.”
“That’s gonna be almost boiled dry by the morning,” he warned.
“That’s my plan.”
He got up early enough to see Taako stumble out of bed and refresh the grounds and filter again before adding even more water to the fantasy percolator before re-crashing onto the couch.
“Just how many more times are ya gonna do that?”
Taako gave him the finger.
Snocoun Ton, rooming with Magnus for reasons, emerged from her bunk and busied herself with some seemingly random things. A middle-sized pot, some tea leaves, herbs and spices, a healthy chunk of lemon. All of that went into the pot and she added a lot of water.
She set that on the hotplate to boil.
“That’s… not how you make tea,” said Merle, feeling weak at the knees.
The fantasy percolator finished its current round and Taako rose from his near-coma. He stirred up the hellaciously caffeinated mess and poured the resultant thick, black mess into a large mug with the legend, Yes, I do need this much coffee.
Next, while Sno was poking herbs in her boiling water, he approached the sugar bowl. He extracted two lumps with the delicate tongs and poured the rest of the cubes carefully into his pitch-black mud.
Sno’s concoction was so aromatic that it offended the wallpaper, and she poured hers into an equally large mug that read, Warning: undertow.
Neither Taako nor Sno looked at each other as both raised their mugs to their mouths, and drank.
The world closed in as Merle’s legs gave out from under him. He never felt the fall. All he knew was that his head stung and Magnus was leaning over him. “You okay, old man?”
“I dunno what’s got him fussed,” said Taako from the kitchen as he put on a new pot of coffee for the same cycle all over again. “I’m just havin’ my coffee an’ Sno’s having her fuckin’ tea.”
“…the horror…” Merle gasped. “…the horror…”
[TAZ Prompts Remaining: 2]
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Tumbl'd 3: Forever TAZ - Chapter 9 - InterNutter - The Adventure Zone (Podcast) [Archive of Our Own]
In this chapter: more of the aftermath of the luume episode that made Taako a deity.
TAZ Prompts Remaining: ONE
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