Taph's Links
He was always better than them at everything... but they didn't mind. He always cared for them well and wanted to share his knowledge, and almost always their maths homework was done by him, and he was great! ...While he still was. And they have to admit, they were.. angry at him. After he died. They KNEW he, of all people, could defend himself against nearly everything. So why DIDN'T he? Against a demon? HOW? What did that thing do that overpowered HIM? Made him leave them and mother? Does he know that mom died because of him? Dick.
...They miss him an awful lot. And need answers an awful lot, too.
His lil' sis! Born when he was 10, yeah, so he had to wait quite a while for her to grow up so he could play with her, but still. Dad was not there. So he was dad instead! And he probably did a good job? She liked him! And he loved her too, she made mom so happy. Perhaps she wasn't as bright at school as he was, but nonetheless she was his little sister and their mother's little daughter. ...A shame they both sort of.. died off, and left her alone. It certainly made her more bitter. It worries him. He doesn't want the potential in her affected by that bitterness.. all he can do is rely on their family to keep Taph in check.
Sam is maybe a bit too hyperactive for Taph's tastes, but she's a cool cousin nonetheless, and they can't really say a bad word about her. It's kinda funny to hear the voice from the radio in real life, too. Sam is probably one of the few people Taph can call a friend. ..Cause family can be friends too, right? That probably counts. They know they can trust Sam - that's what matters to them in a friend.
WHOA LOOK AT LITTLE TAPH ALL GROWN UP. Okay, so what if sh- er, /they're/ older than Sam? They're still the smaller one in her eyes! Okay, real talk, but as much as Sam likes Taph, and likes trying to... give them some excitement in their lives, she sometimes feels like Taph's just pushing her away. Maybe so, maybe not, but it's really hard to get this one to... try new things! Mainly bonding through snowboarding and skydiving! That's the BEST way to bond, and they're missing out! Taph there has a big heart, they just need to learn to express it, cause Sam definitely wants to see it in action! And actually, well, see them smile! PROPERLY smile!
Now aunt Willow on the other hand is a lot like Lilac. But at the same time she's entirely her own person - it always kinda amazed Taph, to be honest. They feel more at home with aunt Merlyn.. but aunt Willow is someone to look up to. Cool ass powers and a cool ass job.. maybe she's just.. a little too loud for Taph's taste. But uh, they shouldn't really complain, probably. Taph will possibly never admit that, but working by aunt Willow's side at some point to help with her investigations - that's like, the job of their dreams.
Taph is... interesting! And she loves them! She feels sorry for this kid, she really really does I mean, considering all the death in their family, they're...well, they're taking it well. But it's maybe hardened them a bit, and sometimes Willow just wants to give them a hug for a bit and tell them its okay. But that'd make them feel awkward. But she swears half the time, it's like Taph needs it. They just need someone to help them, they need to get out there and make friends. Grades don't matter, cause she thinks Taph is brilliant in their own right, but she just wants to see this child... bloom, and get out of their shell...
Aunt Merlyn is.. nice! Quiet. But, despite that, very sincere in her silence. Always doing those knitty things (Taph thinks they look pretty nice), and always had time to just. Be quiet with Taph. Even though they know very little of aunt Merlyn, they're glad she's around. She.. kinda reminds them of mom. It kinda helps to feel more at home when Taph's with Andre's.
...They understand her. They're nice too..
26 'shots'. If it was something other than mulled wine, they'd probably be close to drunk. That happened only like... twice in their life. Amazing. Outstanding. They hate his guts.
Who just comes up to a stranger and asks for a lifestory? And additionally doesn't understand the easiest of hints and instructions? And this guy's an idol??? But he didn't even act it. It was like an awkward mix of acted modesty and trying to be cool at the same time. Why are people like him getting higher education in MUSIC? How can you get HIGHER EDUCATION in music, anyway? They must tell Sam of this guy.
Cute attempt to psycho-analyze. If any, Taph just seems like they need some help themselves and stop being some edgy child who think they know how the world works. The only thing they seem to realize is how the world from the TV works.
Normally they'd be sorry, I mean, holy shit, repeatedly getting raped, that's awful and traumatising
But this person is a fucking moron and they're close to believing they deserved that. Spilling the beans to a complete stranger, not even attempting to ask for help someone, ANYONE, who would be some sort of authority, and trying to fight someone off with your own muscles? Who cares your muscles are big? The guy's got fucking sentient tentacles at his command, you absolute idiot!! ...They did say they'd help, though. So they're gonna, probably. In some way. Though it sounds like a helpless case. They don't even look traumatised. They don't even act traumatised. This is absolutely bonkers.
Taph is somebody that Red is still learning about, learning and trying to understand just how they tick. There is something she respects a lot with just how blunt they are and how little they seemingly give a fuck about a lot of things. It was just that vibe and how straight forward they were that caused Red to open up about what plagued her at the time. She does appreciate that Taph sometimes hangs with them and it gives conflicting feelings. A flutter of wanting to get to know them better, closer. But also the feeling that maybe Taph generally doesn't care or would care about that. All in all though she is not gonna push her luck.
Do you know what's one of the worst things about old people? They don't realise they are old. They don't realise their KNOWLEDGE is old. Perhaps not everything has an expiration date but holy shit this guy sure does and passed it a few years back
He seems to've been overthinking like, every sentence they uttered - and they overthink a lot, so for someone to outdo Taph in that is an achievement. ...the books he recommended are alright but other than that fuck him and his human-like face. They don't know how smart he really is, but they WILL be better than him eventually, so he better suck it up. YOUTH FTW
...What a peculiar little child. They both bore him, and interest him. They're... predictable. They think they're above others, think they're smarter, like to outwit, and impossible to converse with. Even someone as socially inept as himself can see that this child has very few, if any, friends. And while he refuses to partake in a child's game of one-up, there is something about them that has him drawn to them, waiting to see what garbage spews forth from their little mouth. Perhaps it's because they remind him of himself when he was younger.
There's two types of people Taph absolutely hates - fake people and old people. And Noah's at least one of those.
What kinda person do you have to be to get invited over to a table, act like everyone and everything's disgusting (but still keep a nice smile on) and then fuck everyone over with a power show?
...Though the powers were cool, and they. Got shit right. All the WRONG shit but, what can you do.
..But outside of that, they were.. o f f and it pissed them off. Please don't come up to them anymore.
Jesus christ never go back to being a detective. Please stay a politician - it fits your flat face with that 'judging' gaze desperately used to make you look clever and that fake smile that's so fake that you can barely stop yourself from wiping it off his visage with a fist. They bet that he's just as corrupted as the rest of their lot, and as a detective they'd be the same. But you can't convince people like that that they're wrong, in anything. Especially not after a certain age. Cause they're certain that he's the kind of person to pull the 'I'm older and more experienced' card on you.
Loud, and petulant. Whilst he is sympathetic towards the events in their past, it does not excuse the childish and rude behaviour they have displayed so far. Perhaps spending more time with their… aunt? Will help fix that.
This was a big bear they were kinda scary. At first. That is. Then they seemed.. uh.. well - interested in Rosalind's boobusiness I mean, obviously. And then they also felt.. nervous. Which Taph found interesting. Though.. they're not sure if it was HIS nervousness, or maybe.. the crowd was just making THEM nervous.. could their powers counter their own feelings back at them..? ..Well, anyway. They're glad they weren't alone with that guy and instead Willow was there too. They wouldn't wanna question him alone, no matter how much of a pussy he actually is.
Oh! Her! The... person. Who was with the Detective. The... other Detective? Maybe? Detective-in-training?
She was... kinda weird. Spent a lot of time staring at nothing. Like, it seemed odd that a lot of the time she wasn't watching what was going on, despite the fact she seemed to be being trained up. Though it didn't seem like they weren't paying attention... Instead, it seemed that they were extremely focused on, uh, nothing. Very focused.
Weird kid.
Oh hey look, another pretentious edgy fuck to the collection of people who think they're intimidating. First takes over their table and then walks into the bar and tries to quiet them down like it's their place, yeah, sure, good luck with that.
But it's not Taph who's hiding under a shaman cosplay and avoiding to reveal their gaze under the mask as they fail to utter even one sentence of their own and instead just repeat what others say and whine when things aren't convenient. Holy SHIT Taph HATES those people. They wonder if Sere is driven by fear, or purely the intention to be """""original"""""".
What is your problem? Absolutely bitter toward everyone and generally the entire world. How do you live that way because geez you are just as abrasive as nails on a chalk board.
Very rude, does not want to run into this person again.
-
This child, they lost their way!! It worries Mini.. Lilac's blood runs in their veins, yet they're so different, and they don't believe they can achieve anything without Lilac by their side. A lie! A lie!! ALL his children are strong, no matter what!! But this one.. turned away from their purpose. Instead of teaching others to open up and search with them, they closed up completely, and learn on their own. They're interested in people, but they decide to unearth their flaws and wrongs without helping fix them. But! They're young. They will learn. They ALL learn!! And once they do, he'll be HAPPY!!!
Owe up to your own words, you pretentious piece of shit. It's like anytime he said something slightly problematic he just had to back off to this normie fucking curtain of 'tiredness' and 'alcohol' and try to make things better through casual conversation with strangers in a BAR at 2 AM. And by casual conversation they mean just repeating whatever anyone said but in Fancy Words. If you know it's not good for you then drink your fucking wine at home, in front of a fancy fireplace, burning wads of cash, away from mean, criticising people. It'll be better for both sides.
For a newbie, they're... ok. Reasonably awkward and scared, can't blame them. Taph was the same. And er. Still is. Most of the time. Still, the 'reasonable' part also applies - Res seems to have a mind of their own, though, that might still need verification, considering they've spoken.. about... half an hour. But Taph has hope! And they're on the same course - Taph genuinely wishes them luck, cause they are gonna fuckin' need it. ...But most of the time, it's chill. And Res is chill. 7/10. Could show about the campus.
Res.. enjoyed her short little time with Taph. They shared her humour, and they were even so sweet so as to warn her of creepy guys with white markings all over their body. ... Okay, so that creeped her out a little, but she couldn't sense any ill intentions, and they also were studying the same thing she was!! Maybe she could steal their notes or something, if she ever came across them on campus again.
The. Fuck. WAS. He? It's been bothering Taph ever since, and the fact that he'd just rather stay mysteeeerious about it doesn't HELP. Well. Other than that? It was a nice talk. Taph enjoys it when someone actually stays by their opinions and doesn't just admit to anything you might say so they don't OFFEND anyone, but aren't stubborn enough to keep their opinions unchanged forever. At least, that's what Boa seemed to be so FAR. And if he wants to know more about their powers, they're willing to cooperate, as long as he gives his body up for experiments after death or something. They'd like to see his brain, if he has one.
Uh, Sam's friend? They've met... Occasionally, and from these few meetings the general gist is 'Cool Kid TM', likes Taph and has earned Sam's trust.
Taph can't say they know much about Serra or that they... Care a lot, but they're on good terms. That is of course, unless Serra just puts on a smile and pretends to be ok with Taph just so Sam's not upset. Then she can go fuck herself - Taph doesn't need some popular person's pity over them NOT being popular.
Their meeting was uneventful, basic, brought nothing more than the usual daily disappointment into Taph's life and was, overall, forgetful.
What Taph did remember though was that this girl kept apologising, over and over, for things that didn't need apologies at all. An anxious mess she was, that is. Desperately needs some friends, and to not be a little bitch, and to get a hobby. Assessment done.
Oh yeah, Dione remembers this person. The library, right? They seemed so grumpy the whole time, and in all fairness, the wolf was slightly intimidated by Taph. She was also a little worried about them, though. Hopefully they're doing a little better now.
Does Taph feel bad about making a total stranger feel anxious and accidentally caught up in a brief argument between two other strangers?
....A little. But at the same time, not really.
Can't blame Taph for being curious about someone who's functioning on valves and pipes, goddammit.
Well, shit, that's someone Taph's seen more than once in their life, now. AND they seem to be thinking! Maybe barely. But maybe more than they let on. Who knows.
As much as it felt that in library Lia was intent on just teasing Taph, maybe she thought they were being stuck up or something (...well, yeah, for reasons, but, you know), in the beach bar she was alright. Pleasant company, even. A bit loud of Taph's liking, but Lia kinda reminds them of Iva, minus the 'reckless art student', I guess.
...Annoying kid, grew into a less-annoying-but-still-with-room-for-improvement teen. Very quickly so, by the way. Taph's convinced the first time they saw him he was shorter than them.
Still though. Growth. Always appreciated. Never enough.
...ALSO they have doubts about his story. It sounds tragic, enough that it also sounds made up. They shall be sceptical about it until proven true.
The squirrel is...really fucking judgmental and condescending, no way around that honestly. Things like that are not unexpected in the end now are they? Most adults seem to have that to them in the end. Though at least he didn't laugh at his stupid problem...Maybe Taph isn't as bad as they originally though?
Oh, god, sorry you little poor thing. Taph's all about judging people and letting them know they SUCK, but when they see people who are already more than aware of their own suckiness, even they know how much of an asshole you have to be to point it out and drive them even further in their beliefs. They hope they didn't make her feel uh, too much like shit.
This person kinda makes her feel like shit.
She knows she's shit, socially inept, dumb, stupid, pathetic, sad, an annoyance, a burden, all of that good stuff. Rag just wants to be left alone, but she knows she'll never get better unless she tries and socialises and steps out her boundaries.
It just hurts to have that attempt thrown back at you, regardless of your feelings. And Rag knows she's a sensitive baby, and no-one else should cater to her feelings, but it still stings!
Meeting these sort of people just make her crawl back into her shell.
But... whatever. Rag knows she annoys this squirrel so she'll just... do her own thing, and they'll do theirs. And they'll both sit there, and she'll sit in her seat and think about all the things she did wrong on a cycle until she dies.