“There you are Sir,” Angus found his mentor in magic working on a new recipe. He’d been trying to find Taako since he’d woken up..
“Ango, my boy, you’re up early.” Taako grinned. “You look different today? new haircut?”
“No, Sir, the hair’s the same as it’s ever been.” Angus arched an eyebrow.
“Really, I could swear there’s something different about you.” Taako grinned.
“Might it be these,” Angus gestured to the long ears that had replaced his human ones.
“You know, I think you’re right. You really are the greatest detective.”
“Which is how I know there’s only one wizard here skilled enough in transmutation to cast True Polymorph.” Angus crossed his arms and tried to look stern. He was used to the japes the three would play on him, but waking up as a different species was taking it too far. Especially as it had been more than an hour, which means Taako had taken the steps to make it permanent.
Taako waved him off. “Well you’re right about the skill, but weird stuff happened all the time around here. Who knows what could have caused it? A Mysterious relic, a strange random side effect or drink Voidfish ichor, who really knows?”
You do Angus wanted to scream, but knew that wouldn’t get him anywhere.
“Besides, it’s not like being an elf is bad right? Bet it’s easier to spot clues with darkvison, right? And you’re so proud of being a Boy Detective, so now you can hold on to that title longer.”
There was a slight desperation in Taako’s tone for the last one and suddenly it clicked for Angus, the discussion he’d overheard yesterday must have been the reason.
I’m getting to old for this.
Come on, you’re what? Sixty?
That’s old for a human
Old for a human, but not even fully grown for an elf. Having that disparity brought to mind must have made Taako realize how fast his was going to lose his human friends.
And the first thing he did about it was a spell to increase Angus’s lifespan seven fold, if not reversed. He felt a tightness in his throat at how much Taako cared for him, even if he was crap at saying it. “Only needing four hours rest does give me much more time for reading, Sir.”
Taako beamed. “That’s the spirit!”
~~
Magnus groaned as he woke up from the trance that had started as sleeping.
He knew this was going to happen. Every once in a while Taako got a bee in his bonnet about human lifespans, panicked, and Magnus would wake up as an elf. Taako always denied it was him, but Magnus usually gave it a day or two for his friend to get whatever fear he had out of his system before making Taako turn him back (occasionally taking a third day to convince Taako to use the spell slot).
But after yesterday, there was no stopping it. Magnus knew his would happen the moment they got word. In fact, he was only surprised it took Taako so long. The ceremony must have been the final straw.
Yesterday had been Lucretia's funeral.
You’d think being the significant other of the Grim Reaper would make the death of those around you a little less intimidating, but as much as Magnus didn’t think Taako had ever completely forgiven her, her death hit him hard. She was still one of the Seven Birds, and the first one of their group to die a final death. It wasn’t much of a stretch to see Taako projecting that over his remaining family.
Magnus sighed as he got out of bed. Might as well get somewhat used to this body. He had no intention of living as an elf; he was human and when his time came, it came. Julia was waiting for him, after all. And honestly he hated not having a beard, or the fact that he had a slimmer build, though he was no weaker than he had been. But he had a feeling it would take more than a day or two for Taako to get over this one.
Maybe he could talk him into trying a dwarf form during these episodes? Merle might like that. Shorter might just as weird, but at least he’d still have a beard.
Still, maybe he should start planning something for Taako when he did die. Maybe Kravtz could arrange visits? He’d have to ask. Maybe Lup would have some ideas. And hopefully those idea didn’t involve becoming a lich because...no, just no.
He went to the living room and found Angus reading., a pen behind his own now-pointed ear.
“I’m sorry, Sir. I know I should have stopped him, but-”
“He needed this,” Magnus understood. “And right now he needs us.”
Angus looked towards the kitchen. “He does, Sir. I think he’s needs us a lot.”
