bakerstreet | the picture prompt meme.

[Look, he gets tired.

Not the same kind of tired mortals get. He sees that happen, especially during chases. When their bodies become less cooperative, when they're unable to keep their eyes open to peer into the darkness, hoping to spot him before he can catch them. He knows when they get tired that things come to a standstill. It's vital that most species get some sleep, some rest, to ward off that exhaustion.

The thing is-he's not that kind of tired.

He's the pleasant kind of tired that usually follows an outing with Taako. When he's thrown off kilter and his mind has gone in 20000 directions in ten seconds, making it impossible to keep a hold any situation. All those spontaneous actions culminating to wear him down in a way that he expects, and loves, no matter what he might say aloud. It gives him an opportunity to rest in a way that felt impossible before and it's only in the presence of the man he loves, but today-

Today, he's sitting nearby wherever Taako is, taking the opportunity to relax before his next bounty and boy is just. Here. Taking it. Looking almost jovial, despite his skeleton face, because this break means he can practice-]

Good afternoon [Changing the pitch to be much, much deeper-] I've come to take your- [A bit higher, a little more accented to. To what. No one knows. He's doing his best.] soul? Soul. [Deeper] Soul. [DEEPER DEEPER DEEPER STILL. This accent eludes him. WHY.] I simply can't get the pitch right. How does this sound?

[Part of what keeps Kravitz so interesting is that he always has something to say. Not that Taako isn't appreciative of some comfortable silence, but it's impossible for him to stay quiet for too long, and Kravitz is constantly in a state of wanting a conversation. They can babble for hours about the craziest shit, and no matter what Taako throws at him, he recovers with something that makes him laugh or his heart flutter in that way that he won't acknowledge in anyone else's presence.

Even now, as his skeleton boyfriend sits on one side of a bench and Taako drums his fingers on his chin in a state of apparent thoughtfulness does his mind still rest on this. But as always, he will give an answer. He's always got some kind of answer.]

I mean... mostly it just sounds like a dork trying to change his voice.

[He leans forward and gives him a little peck on his cheekbone regardless, as if somehow that covers up the fact that he just insulted him.]

Isn't your bod just like, a construct anyway? Can't you just change your voice or whatever? Like, talk to me about what you're goin' for here, because if we're designing a horror show that's one thing but I dunno what page this is if that's the goal.

You can't take all shortcuts simply because they exist.

[The kiss doesn't make the insult go away TAAKO, but that's fine-this is a learning experience. And he's more than happy to make the case for his dank hobby. He could, theoretically, change his voice, but it's like learning another language or trying to play an instrument. Also, leave him alone. It's not like he gets wifi in bird hell.]

I'm trying for-let me see. I'm thinking Underdark with a dash of, oh, I can't describe it. I heard someone speak it once and have been trying to replicate it since. I should've talked to them a bit more before I threw them into the Astral Plane.

[So what they're going for? Is all in Kravitz's mind, but regardless-]

Changing accents requires a bit of, oh, skill I suppose. Here, let me just-

[And much like a magical girl without all the pizazz and fanfare, his skeletal form fades away until there's just a Man sitting there.

And if Taako doesn't move away, he's going to press a finger against his shirt, right near his bellybutton and slide it slowly up to his throat.]

You have to adjust your pitch from down there and work your way up-almost like singing. It requires more effort than you'd think. [A pause, and then-] But I imagine you'd be good at it, if you gave it a try.

[Damn boi we'll get you set with some fantasy broadband, how are they supposed to watch queer eye without a good netflix hookup, gosh.

If anything, the change makes him lean closer, a grin playing off his lips. But the motion does surprise him enough, feeling his heart miss a half step as Kravitz touches his chest. Damn, he did not used to be this easy, what happened to him, fantasy christ. Taako follows the finger up before he raises his eyes to meet Kravitz' again, his standard sly little grin on his lips.]

Oh yeah? You think I'd be good? I mean, not a bad assumption, seein' as I'm good at basically everything.

[And as always, he already knows how to cheat if it comes to it. Like a mess. Kravitz may not enjoy shortcuts, but Taako sure does.]

Alright, alright, so you're going like-- drow, but what kinda drow? Is it like a menacing echo dealio, a more uh, more cold and calculating, tell chaboy what you're tryin' to evoke here.

You know, menacing and cold. Something that will really strike fear into the heart of whoever listens and make them stop running.

[He wants to be the spookiest he can because if he had a fitbit, it would explode at all the floaty steps he gets in during the week. Honestly. Someone save him.

He continues to draw that invisible line up Taako's throat, letting his finger rest towards the middle of it. Showing is better than telling, after all. And if he wasn't so determined to explain his super cool, super impressive hobby, he might notice that smile on Taako's face. But as it stands, he's just trying to focus. Let him lIVE.]

Around here is where you have to, you know, change it. Your voice, I mean. And posture is important too, while you're practicing. Now listen and tell me if you're thoroughly terrified.

[But that doesn't fully describe what he's trying to do and it doesn't help the process. How do you explain where to breathe in, where to change your pitch and, ugh-

Doesn't matter. He's gonna look into Taako's eyes and get this accent DOWN.]

Taako, you have been charged with-[Well, this is familiar. Maybe too familiar. And unfortunately there are just so many crimes that have a ring of truth to them and he has to think of one that doesn't]-Some type of new crime. A different crime. One I don't need to get involved with, however-

[This got off track so fast. He tries to get his terrible unpitched beefy accent back.]

Ahem, yes, a bad crime. You've done it now.

[TERRIBLE. And he drops the voice.]

Better?

[Yeah sure, showing is better than telling, so you're showing him that you wanna touch him all over instead of saying it. Sure. Okay. Taako is interested to a certain point, wherein that what Kravitz has to say is usually interesting, but he has to play like he isn't super into the whole experience.

So when his eyes flick up to Taako's, he keeps it serious. Or well... serious-ish. He tries until Kravitz can't come up with a crime and then it just becomes a big grin as he tries not to lose it.]

Better at being a big ol' nerd? Oh yeah, for sure, I'm supes scared my man. Voice is good, though, really draws you in, and you do trap more flies with honey.

[Because Taako saw him for the first time and wanted to keep listening, wanted him a little closer, made the joke that he would actually go to ghost jail if it meant cuddling up onto him. He stands by the idea that if the grim reaper showed up in only a jockstrap, souls would be like, way more willing to go to the afterlife.]

Also, you seriously couldn't think of a crime? For me? Here, here-- you want me to try? If you think I'd be soooo good.

[He's heard the voice he tired, and now he's ready to do something ridiculous right back.]

[The problem is he thought of so many it was impossible to settle on a singular criminal act for this man. But hold on, he's too distracted by the semi-compliment and he looks far too proud of himself. It's rare that people are around to practice with, let alone get some praise for his work. If one could consider being called a big ol' nerd a praise. Coming from Taako, it is.]

Oh, please do! Just remember-posture, throat, and visualize how you want to sound.

[Don't look at him-he's excited. Let him live. Or remain dead. Whichever. He's ready to be just so proud of Taako, except for the pit in his stomach that knows something else is about to happen and that surprise may not be the accent.]

I'm ready. 'Hit me with it,' as they say.

[Don't make him explain that being a nerd is a compliment, he only has so much ability to show emotion in his entire life.]

Yeah, yeah, I got you. Here, one sec, wanna be sure I've got fresh breath for this one.

[He reaches into his pocket and slides a quick piece of gum into his mouth. A piece of the Mockingbird Gum, that is. He chews it a bit and then sticks it under his tongue, straightening his back.

And because, you know, magical cheating, his voice comes out sounding exactly like Kravitz' last attempt.]

By the order of the Raven Queen, you, Kravitz, are charged with being a super nerd who does accents and also laughs in his sleep. How do you plead?

[He's getting into it too. There are arm movements and Phoenix Wright tier pointing. It's ridiculous.]

[He's not sure whether to be more upset at his perfect attempt, or hearing what he sounds like, or the fact that he's not a super nerd that laughs in his sleep!!! Where does he start?? It doesn't occur to him Taako is cheating with gum, though he's 100% sure some wizardy is afoot here. What spells change voices?? He can't remember. God!!

He presses both of his hands against Taako's cheeks, staring into his eyes like that's going to tell him what's happening here. Confess to your criminal crimey crimes!!!]

I-I plead not guilty! I mean, not that I-I don't laugh in my sleep. I'm not guilty. In general. Ever.

[Also how is he doing this??]

Are you-is this some kind of spell? Did you burn a slot on this? Not that I don't doubt your ability to copy voices, it's just-

[He did it SO WELL the firST TIME.]

What else is in your mouth?

[Obviously the spell is "fuck you Kravitz" and Taako invented it specifically to throw his expectations out the window. Kravitz grabs onto his face and he laughs in the high pitched tone he usually does, but it comes out at the previous voice instead, which is probably a dead giveaway it's some kind of spell.]

Oh, you're super guilty. Confessions, confessions, I see your game.

[He shoves the gum back under his tongue for safety, still grinning.]

Nothing! Nothing's in there. I'm just talented 'ss all. See, still doing it.

[If Kravitz attempts to get his fingers in there or actually open his mouth though, he'll activate Taako's TRAP CARD. Or more accurately he'll cast blink, get out of this hold, and reappear 10 feet away running away and laughing. Come get him sucker!!!]

[I'M SORRY DO YOU THINK HE WON'T CHASE YOU???

DO YOU THINK?? HE WON'T??? CHASE YOU DOWN??? You can't BLINK away from the GRIM REAPER. And really, he knows it's got to be something at this point. Where's his detect magic? There's no way he's holding down that accent so perfectly while he's pushing his cheeks together and having him blink-he just blinked away!! In this presence!! Proves it.

And honestly, he doesn't care. (He does) It's just the principle of it all. He has to know.]

Taako-hey! Get back here!

[This maniacal little elf is going to have someone on his tail in 0.2 seconds, hellbent and determined to GRAB HIM. He hunts down goblins like him for a living-get ready!!! ]

[The POINT was for him to be chased, gosh! He wants it! He craves that mineral!! For once it's a sport they are both basically pros in, so he doesn't have to hold back and neither does Kravitz-- well, short of actually killing him, that is. Taako lets out another shrill, weirdly sounding laugh, the six seconds he has counting down until he blinks again for another six. It's like watching Fantasy Nightcrawler pop in and out of dark space, except he's laughing like a goblin and also an elf. So like, basically the same thing, right? Right.]

Well you better work for those arcane secrets, Kravvy-boy!

[Is it arousing, annoying, or horrifying that he still has the Scary Voice on? That's up to Kravitz to decide. All Taako knows is it's pretty likely he's appropriately Ruined this one for Kravitz to use in public from here on out.]

[It's fun.

And among the multitude of reasons he loves Taako-the seemingly endless stream of reasons he can come up with whenever this man looks him, he's fun is at the forefront. Fun used to be limited extraordinary bounties that gave him a run for his money, though it was few and far between, because he had to come up with new methods for disposing of them.

But this is a different kind of fun. One that's been difficult for him to deal with over the years, but comes easier with time. It's absurd, almost, this whole situation and he can't help to laugh in between blinks and dimension hops.]

Don't I get another prize for catching you? You're an especially tough hunt-it needs to be worth my while.

[See, this is what living means Kravitz. It's finding fun in things that aren't just murder. Besides, he gets the bonus of listening to the reaper laugh, which sends a bubble of joy through his own chest. Damn, why does it make him so happy to see him smile, this is illegal.

(He knows why. Oh, he knows. But there is no time to dwell on that now.)]

Is finding out my secrets not enough for you? I thought that was why you were chasing in the first place!

[He takes a quick chance, and when he blinks next, he actually doubles back to just behind Kravitz before he pops back in.]

Or are you looking for something more intimate?

[He could literally spit out the fucking gum in the ethereal plane and yet he refuses. It's so much funnier to see Kravitz fluster and try to figure out his secrets while also giving chase. Lifehack- if your boyfriend is too fucking smart but easily overwhelmed, overwhelm him. Foolproof way to get away with anything.]

[Don't @ him Don't @ him oh my god Don't @ Him.

He's trying to be smooth and composed over here. Like, he understands the words he said and he was trying to be flirty and coy and whatever, but he didn't expect him to just Do That-blink directly behind him. And suddenly it's just. He's out of his league. 100% failing this competition. Taako was always the winner and he was a damn fool.]

I wouldn't be, you know, opposed to a, um, reward of that nature.

[That accented voice is throwing him off though-hearing himself like that and he swivels around to see if he can just. Grab that blinky boy. Just pull him into his arms before he nyooms off again.]

[OH HE GONNA AND HE IS

This is all part of his plan anyway; Kravitz' hands do land, with just enough time for Taako to give a little kiss to his arm... and then blink out again. Poof, he's gone, taking Kravitz' sanity with him. He takes a second to laugh as he gets a few steps back, enjoying this wayyyyy too much before reappearing 10 feet to his right.]

C'mon babe! This how you beat necromancers? I'm runnin' magic circles around you! At this rate I coulda scrawled down a banish undead spell natch.

[It's not often Taako has an interest in playing rough, but he enjoys a challenge as much as Kravitz does. So own up buddy!! What's it gonna be??]

[It was stupid of him to think Taako would stay still after being caught, what with all his funky wizard powers. But he really, truly, thought that would be the end of it, and then he starts challenging him, his arm gets a little peck and suddenly-

You know what??

You know what????

That's fine this is fine because he needs the practice and honestly, there's no one more wiry or wild around. There's a couple enticing rewards in the near future that he's fairly certain he'll get. It's really a win-win situation. But first-]

If you insist.

[And like that, his body dissolves into a ball of blinding light and vanishes into the ceiling, or so it appears.

Where did that reaper boy go??? What a mystery!!]

[Oh, shit.

Something in Taako's posture locks when Kravitz actually calls his bluff, caught between some kind of weird pride and his mind rapidly recalibrating the circumstances. This is fine. This is so fine, actually, because he's beaten more things than Kravitz for sure. Besides, if the other man is going to go hard, so is he.

The blink spell is dropped and Taako slides his hand into his pocket, gripping around for components for a moment and whispering something under his breath. His free hand goes up to his eyes, two fingers extended as if he's putting in fantasy contacts, and as his fingers get right up to them they suddenly flash a bright, bubblegum pink.

It's true seeing time, baybee. He doesn't know if Kravitz even uses the ethereal plane, but he intends to find out wherever the hell he's coming from first. So let's go, reaperboy. Your move.]

[True seeing might help Taako, if he can catch the glimpses of blinding soul jumping from random item to item, like he's taking turns possessing different things. As if he's trying to leave a trail to be followed, to distract him, to give him time to stop him from casting blink so he can-

Possess a blanket and, if Taako doesn't move, he's gonna be enveloped in this ridiculous ass trap and be forced to become a blanket burrito.]

[See, the real question here is how hard Taako wants to go with this. Because on one hand, he has the logical capacity to know this is for fun, and there's nothing lost in letting him have his fun. On the other hand, he wants to fucking win and if Kravitz is playing hardball so is he.

So Kravitz absolutely gets to the blanket, and this leads to the only logical progression here.

Taako sets the blanket on fire.

It's not a high level spell, a quick fire of scorching ray, just one bolt to hit dead center. But it is like... very much on fire, and then he's just gonna turn and run the opposite direction. Byeeee.]

[HE SOMEHOW DIDN'T EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN.

WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK???

He can feel his HP actually DECREASE and whatever pride is building in his dark, dead soul takes a pause as he reappears in a skeletal form, patting down his cloak like he's actually on fire. But nah, it's the blanket and he does stomp it out before the HOUSE GOES AFLAME.

And now he has to win??? Absolutely needs to catch this spicy elf because holy shit.

He's opening a goddamn rift and he's gonna attempt to just appear right in front of him.]

[Respectfully, Kravitz, how did you not expect this to happen.

Taako's just full tilt running at this point, brain thumbing through anything he has that might assist with this, and he thinks he finally gets it as soon as Kravitz appears. He sidesteps him with a flip wizard twist, trying to head for the door, and Kravitz maybe has a moment where he can lay down some capture.

Otherwise he's gonna cast expeditious retreat and practically go flying out of there. He's still laughing in that deep voice he's making through god-knows-what, obviously deeply enjoying himself.

Nerd.]

[GUESS WHAT PUNK

He uses his fucking mind powers to just slam that door shut the moment he makes eye contact with his goblin, shoving all kinds of items in front of it like he's trying to barricade the home from a zombie apocalypse. It's straining to move so much at once, but ya know. Ya know. Sometimes?? Yeah.]

I was going to ask you to surrender quietly until I figured out what you did, but-

[He doesn't want to admit he's gonna lose, but this damn wizard. Goddamn.]

I have a new proposition for you. How about a different kind of game?

[Okay, admittedly, that was a good move. Taako's got the spell on his fingertips, but the door shuts and the extra second he's going to need to re-open it just isn't gonna cut that one-- especially since this now looks like more of a barricade, and he has to choke down more hiccups of laughter in absolute glee of how hard Kravitz is taking this. Fucking incredible. This is the best thing he's ever done.

So instead of trying to dig through, or dimension door-ing outside, he decides to flip the script again. While his back is turned to Kravitz, he quickly spits out the gum and tucks it behind his ear as he turns into a fake swoon across the various furniture now being pressed against the door. When he speaks, his voice is his own again.]

Oh, looks like I've been trapped. What kinda game you thinkin', boyo?

[His smug face says he absolutely knows Kravitz is going to notice and get all up in it again, and he's just waiting to revel in it.]/small>

[This is the most baffling situation and granted, he can't look through 2000 spell cards or raid Garfield's Costco to figure out what the hell is going on, but he's sure as shit this man's cheating. And now his voice is his own again-one he vastly prefers.

He doesn't mention what kind of game. Not yet. It's pretty easy to figure out though, because he definitely gets very up close and personal to this special, special man.]

Oh, I think you'll like this one much better. I know I do.

[And he leans down, closer and closer. Trying to entice him long enough to keep the wizard from blinking away at a moment's notice. He lowers his voice a bit, running his hands up and down his arms in a very gentle motion, gliding them up his neck and down his chest and-]

the picture prompt meme.

for pocketspa

ilu omg

i L U

ILU MORE AHHH

IMPOSSIBLE

just try me

i will & ill win every TIME

>:3c

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

(no subject)

(no subject)

1/??

(no subject)

end

i love him so much

this is tERRIBLE

THEYRE IN LOVE

TERRIBLE LOVE

THE BEST WORST BOYS

(no subject)

(no subject)