[Sakaar is a deeply shitty planet, but it's one that presents lots of opportunities for people willing to take a few risks and get their hands dirty. Lup and Taako cover those two bases respectively, and while they didn't exactly intend to be here, they're doing their best to make it work before they find a way off the damn planet.
That mostly means a lot of scrapping, but while Lup focuses on that, Taako gets himself work as a chef for the more important people on the planet, and that gives him access to things like the arena. And the arena has places to gamble.
Taako doesn't fuck around with bets on the champion or the other fights, that's all based on how other people perform and he'd rather hold his fate in his own hands. Card games, dice, all that shit is a lot easier to mess around with, and that's exactly what he does. Most of the folks here don't seem to be very familiar with magic, meaning a few simple illusions rake him in plenty of money.
And then someone new turns up, which - fine, whatever, new people show up all the time and normally Taako doesn't give a shit, but a few days in, he realizes that the guy keeps casting the occasional glance his way, at the little illusions that Taako is casting, and he thinks:
fuck.
If new guy can see through his illusions, that's a potential problem; cheating is harshly punished and the last thing Taako needs is someone ratting him out.
So as soon as the game is over, he extracts himself from the table despite complaints (they want a chance to win their money back) and makes his way over to Loki, doing his best to look casual.]
Can I buy you a drink, darling?
[It's an offer of more than that, but he's not about to outright ask what it'll cost for Loki to keep silent about the cheating.]
[ No one leaves Sakaar. That's what everyone says, but everyone underestimates Loki. Still . . . where would he go? Thor was most likely dead. Asgard would be taken over by his terrifying older sister —
(and doesn't that make him shudder? How many things had Odin from them? How many lies, how many secrets had he buried? Loki never held any illusions about his adoptive father, but even he stood in shock at what was hidden)
— and he was here, the junkyard of the realms. A bit of flattery here and there, a few well-placed illusions to help cement his relationship among the others. Catching the Grandmaster's eye had been . . . well, flattering. A bit uneasy, considering he could melt people but Loki has played with higher stakes. And unlike his brother, the Grandmaster was receptive.
Loki could work with that.
But there was someone else here. Skilled in illusions as well, though Loki still believed he held that edge. He watches the man approach, his gaze roving over him. He glances at the Grandmaster to see his attention was caught elsewhere before replying smoothly. ]
[Thank god for a positive response; this could've gone south very quickly if tall, dark and handsome hadn't been receptive to working out some kind of deal, especially because Taako isn't stupid enough to start a fight with the Grandmaster in the room. He's done his best to not get that particular man's attention, he knows when things are over his head.
So - this is definitely a good start, and a little tension eases from Taako's shoulders.]
What's your poison, or do you wanna put the start of your evening in my hands?
[He's flirting for the sake of flirting. It's not that Loki isn't handsome, but right now his focus is on making sure nothing gets fucked up.]
Well, that depends on what kinda reputation we're talking about.
[Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a joke and a call out, but maybe it's both, and either way Taako can buy this dude a drink and see where it goes.
He makes a point to lean forward over the bar (he has nice legs and he knows it), and there's a familiarity in the way he talks to the woman serving up drinks, more than that of a customer, but he doesn't drag the conversation out before turning his attention back to Loki once she's started on their drinks.]
I'm Taako, by the way. [He offers one of those "reputable" hands, carefully manicured, littered with cheap rings that almost hide the telltale scars of a hard life.] Hail and well met.
[The name means nothing to him, but that's fine, it's still a name, and he winks as Loki shakes his hand, giving the question a moment of consideration.]
I think there's just two. The boring kind, which isn't my jam at all, and the fun kind.
[Two drinks are placed in front of him, and Taako neatly picks them both up, offering one to Loki.
It's the closest thing to a martini he can get on this shitty planet.]
[None of those things, but Taako thinks they both know that, which was the point of his comment in the first place. He's decent at talking around things and being vague, but really this shit isn't his forte. Still, he's learned to be careful.
If Loki is more than just someone swept up in the Grandmaster's nonsense, then Taako will have more to offer him, in exchange for not ratting him out.]
If you want better music, there's a lotta places to go.
[He bites his lip to hide a laugh - honestly, the music doesn't bother him that much, but he can understand why it would be annoying - then quickly finishes off his drink.
The big fight, as it were, is still far enough away that they can slip in and out before anyone really cares, so he starts weaving through the crowd towards the exit, assuming Loki will follow, since he agreed to.]
Are you putting yourself in my hands again, or do you wanna give me some preferences?
[There's only a hint of bitterness in his tone, but enough to be heard. Still, he doesn't dwell on it too long, because they've arrived at their destination, an unmarked door down a side street, where Taako draws an invisible pattern on the metal and something inside unlocks, the door swinging inward.
The bar is dark and smoky, though the starkest contrast to the Grandmaster's set up is the music, because it's being sung by a person instead of blasted electronically. It's soft, a little jazzy, and Taako lifts his chin in something like pride as he looks at Loki.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
i told u i was gonna do a thing
That mostly means a lot of scrapping, but while Lup focuses on that, Taako gets himself work as a chef for the more important people on the planet, and that gives him access to things like the arena. And the arena has places to gamble.
Taako doesn't fuck around with bets on the champion or the other fights, that's all based on how other people perform and he'd rather hold his fate in his own hands. Card games, dice, all that shit is a lot easier to mess around with, and that's exactly what he does. Most of the folks here don't seem to be very familiar with magic, meaning a few simple illusions rake him in plenty of money.
And then someone new turns up, which - fine, whatever, new people show up all the time and normally Taako doesn't give a shit, but a few days in, he realizes that the guy keeps casting the occasional glance his way, at the little illusions that Taako is casting, and he thinks:
fuck.
If new guy can see through his illusions, that's a potential problem; cheating is harshly punished and the last thing Taako needs is someone ratting him out.
So as soon as the game is over, he extracts himself from the table despite complaints (they want a chance to win their money back) and makes his way over to Loki, doing his best to look casual.]
Can I buy you a drink, darling?
[It's an offer of more than that, but he's not about to outright ask what it'll cost for Loki to keep silent about the cheating.]
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(and doesn't that make him shudder? How many things had Odin from them? How many lies, how many secrets had he buried? Loki never held any illusions about his adoptive father, but even he stood in shock at what was hidden)
— and he was here, the junkyard of the realms. A bit of flattery here and there, a few well-placed illusions to help cement his relationship among the others. Catching the Grandmaster's eye had been . . . well, flattering. A bit uneasy, considering he could melt people but Loki has played with higher stakes. And unlike his brother, the Grandmaster was receptive.
Loki could work with that.
But there was someone else here. Skilled in illusions as well, though Loki still believed he held that edge. He watches the man approach, his gaze roving over him. He glances at the Grandmaster to see his attention was caught elsewhere before replying smoothly. ]
You certainly can.
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So - this is definitely a good start, and a little tension eases from Taako's shoulders.]
What's your poison, or do you wanna put the start of your evening in my hands?
[He's flirting for the sake of flirting. It's not that Loki isn't handsome, but right now his focus is on making sure nothing gets fucked up.]
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Why not? They seem like reputable hands.
[ A jest. No one's hands here were reputable by any means, but Loki was always a fan of irony. ]
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[Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a joke and a call out, but maybe it's both, and either way Taako can buy this dude a drink and see where it goes.
He makes a point to lean forward over the bar (he has nice legs and he knows it), and there's a familiarity in the way he talks to the woman serving up drinks, more than that of a customer, but he doesn't drag the conversation out before turning his attention back to Loki once she's started on their drinks.]
I'm Taako, by the way. [He offers one of those "reputable" hands, carefully manicured, littered with cheap rings that almost hide the telltale scars of a hard life.] Hail and well met.
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[ Because in the end, there is only one. But Loki takes his hand firmly all the same. ]
Loki. Well met indeed.
[ Prince? Asgard? None of those matter. And he's not keen on advertising himself from there either. ]
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I think there's just two. The boring kind, which isn't my jam at all, and the fun kind.
[Two drinks are placed in front of him, and Taako neatly picks them both up, offering one to Loki.
It's the closest thing to a martini he can get on this shitty planet.]
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I do not believe Sakaar makes room for the boring kind.
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[Not technically true, but it may as well be, considering the general atmosphere.
Taako lifts the drink to this lips and drops his voice, just quiet enough for Loki to hear.]
Helps to keep people distracted.
[He's perceptive.]
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From what? The constant lawlessness, the slavish gladiatorial fights or the Grandmaster's taste in music?
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[None of those things, but Taako thinks they both know that, which was the point of his comment in the first place. He's decent at talking around things and being vague, but really this shit isn't his forte. Still, he's learned to be careful.
If Loki is more than just someone swept up in the Grandmaster's nonsense, then Taako will have more to offer him, in exchange for not ratting him out.]
If you want better music, there's a lotta places to go.
[aka: not here]
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By all means, lead the way.
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The big fight, as it were, is still far enough away that they can slip in and out before anyone really cares, so he starts weaving through the crowd towards the exit, assuming Loki will follow, since he agreed to.]
Are you putting yourself in my hands again, or do you wanna give me some preferences?
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[ Loki curls his fingers around Taako's hand, raising it to his lips with a twinkle in his eyes. ]
Is there a problem with that?
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You're the one wandering off with some strange dude, you tell me.
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[ He releases his hold gently. ]
But I've always been fond of a good trick.
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[With a wink, he catches Loki's hand before it completely drops away, and uses it to gently lead him away.
Taako does actually have a bar in mind, one that isn't too far, but:]
I'd offer a teleport, but I'm trying to keep that shit on the downlow.
[That shit being magic.]
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So it is magic. What would a mage be doing here?
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[They got lost, they ended up here, and now they're stuck until they can find a way to escape.]
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No one leaves Sakaar.
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[There's only a hint of bitterness in his tone, but enough to be heard. Still, he doesn't dwell on it too long, because they've arrived at their destination, an unmarked door down a side street, where Taako draws an invisible pattern on the metal and something inside unlocks, the door swinging inward.
The bar is dark and smoky, though the starkest contrast to the Grandmaster's set up is the music, because it's being sung by a person instead of blasted electronically. It's soft, a little jazzy, and Taako lifts his chin in something like pride as he looks at Loki.]
First impressions?
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You and the room? A vast improvement.
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[But he's amused and pleased, grinning as he leads Loki towards an empty booth; Taako makes himself comfortable on one side.]
Should we get down to business, now we're away from prying eyes?
[Even with the compliments, he's working on the assumption that Loki is playing along until they can talk money.]
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And what business would that be?
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[The problem with a world like this is that everyone is desperate, and that leaves no room for kindess.]
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