[TAZ] i know i like to draw that line when it starts to get too real

[monstertea]

The problem isn't that the kid is too young to walk himself home, it was the neighborhood. Taako doesn't live in the slums, but his neighborhood isn't really a place for kids to wander around alone, either. Especially a boy detective who does't know how to keep his nose out of other people's business. That's why he's stuck with the kid in the first place, or so he reminds himself when his brain starts to think too fondly of him.

He walks at a languid pace next to Angus, knowing but not acknowledging that he's in no hurry to go home. "You keep working on that mage hand," he says as they walk through a neighborhood much nicer than Taako's. "Just don't go trying anything fancy on your own, little dude." It's a historic area where buildings have been converted into homes and quickly filled by the hoity-toity type of people who like white picket fences and employ other people to take care of their homes. It's easily the nicest foster home Angus has been in yet. So Taako could have dropped him off at the corner, it isn't a neighborhood that sees trouble. He tries to avoid run-ins with Angus's family, but he always has an excuse to see him to his door. At least with this neighborhood he has the easy excuse that it's just interesting to look at the houses, to answer Angus about what each building used to be. Yeah, he knows shit, too. He's just trying to remind the kid that he isn't smarter than him, he's not trying to impress him.

Comments

[monstertea]

Taako waves dismissively at Angus' chiding–he's always trying to correct Taako's manners, as if he has none. He knows how to read his audience. "Nope, just doing our civic duty of lich hunting!" He steps aside, giving an exaggerated bow while motioning for Kravitz to step outside and then heading down the walkway ahead of him. "Just don't engage the kid, if he starts asking questions there's no stopping him and you'll never shake him."

[solarisirius]

It feels a little bit...odd, to be exiting his house and going about his business with unexpected company on his doorstep, but working as a mortician gives one a unique ability to adapt to pretty much anything. Stepping out the door, Kravitz turns to lock up, making triple sure that everything is secure (not that he thinks the elf and the boy are going to rob him, but....people are unexpected) before following Taako down the walkway towards the street where his car is parked. "So if I'm a lich, does that make him a leech?" he asks.

Angus laughs, although really it's more like a hysterical giggle, edging out of the way of the totally normal looking black vehicle he was standing in front of. "G-good one, sir! Um, so sorry to bother you, I hope you have a pleasant day and your appointment goes well!"

[monstertea]

Taako barks out a laugh at the leech comment. "That's exactly what he is," he says and throws an arm around Angus's shoulders to give him a squeeze. "You catch on quick. I'll get this leech off your back so you can go on your way."

Arm still slung over Angus's shoulder, he turns them back towards the boy's house but they're barely two feet away before he stops. "Hey!" he calls out to the man. "Yo, thug! Let me get your name."

[solarisirius]

Walking around his car to get to the driver's side, Kravitz was really expecting the conversation to draw to a close with the boy's comment, but really, with how much the elf has been talking, it shouldn't surprise him that there's more yet to be said. "It's Kravitz," he answers, looking a bit perplexed at being addressed as "thug" when he's literally wearing a suit and has his hair tied back properly and everything.

"Taako, Angus," the boy says, pointing to the correct person in conjunction with their names, before turning and starting to walk away, more or less dragging Taako with him considering that the man still has his arm slung over his shoulders. "Okay, introductions are done, time to go! Go time is now, c'mon sir!"

[monstertea]

Taako lets Angus drag him along if only because it really is clear that he should let Kravitz go. "Catch ya later, Kravitz!" He turns with Angus, waving over his shoulder with a smile. He's found another reason to walk Angus home, because boy does he love himself some eye candy.

"See, not a lich," he says as they walk away. "Or, at least, a lich with a good cover."

[solarisirius]

With a bit of a bemused wave, Kravitz unlocks his car and slides into the driver's seat of his car, taking a precious few moments he really doesn't have to collect himself. Not only does he not do well in unexpected social situations, but apparently he does even worse when in unexpected social situations involving very cute elves and their not-son. Bother.

"You're going to embarrass me into an early grave," Angus groans, poking Taako hard in the side with one of his bony fingers. "I mean, I'm really, really glad to know that he's probably not a lich, but still! Ugh!"

[monstertea]

"Somebody's gotta teach you some social skills." Taako lets Angus go to give him a pat on the back that's more of a smack. "Gotta be able to talk to all types, pipsqueak." He believes that Angus needs the social skills lesson; he's not completely shy or impolite, but in Taako's book he definitely could use some charisma. "Can't say a single thing went wrong there."

[solarisirius]

"If these are my options, I think I'm going to stick to my books," Angus says resolutely as he tries to recover his balance from that rather powerful smack to the back. "We'd be here all day if I listed all the things that went wrong, but I have homework to do, so I'll save myself the trouble."

[monstertea]

Taako makes a face at the suggestion that anything went wrong. That was a primo interaction as far as he's concerned. "Nobody can ever say I didn't try," he says, stopping at the edge of the yard to Angus's house. "Go do your homework like a good little nerdling."

[solarisirius]

"Thanks for walking me home," Angus says with a sunny, sincere smile. Their encounter with the not-lich notwithstanding, it's been a good afternoon, and of course he always enjoys any time he spends with the great Taako. "Same time next week?"

[monstertea]

"Same time next week," he confirms, saying it like it's a chore and rolling his eyes. "I mean, providing the lich lets you live that long."

[solarisirius]

"Ugh, go away," Angus groans, shoving at Taako like he's trying to push him down the street. "I hope the lich comes back and hits you with his car, only I don't actually wish that, I'd be really sad. So be careful on your way home." That said, he turns and opens the gate to his house, carefully closing it behind him (the dog will try and escape otherwise) before heading to the door proper.