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[pocketspa]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, TAAKO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 420.87.169.02 *** coolertwin has joined 420.87.169.02 <coolertwin> wait <coolertwin> waaaaait <coolertwin> waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait <coolertwin> made ya look lol

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[pocketspa]

Why wouldn't it be?

[He doesn't quite look at her, not the full sort of eye-contact stare people might when they're serious, but that's not them. Instead his head just sort of points her direction, looks at the whole of her instead of a specific piece.]

'Ss about what you like, babe. I mean, as long as she's not lame but if you went lamer than Barold for this dip I'm gonna have questions about where you're, uhhh, finding these weirdos.

[A pause, to let the bullshit settle, and then--]

What did it, this time? Like, what's... what's the thing, for her. Y'know.

[restinglichface]

Like Skeletor isn't just as fucking weird, c'mon.

[She worked with the guy, Taako, you can't hide that shitty accent from her.

But naturally, he asks and Lup answers freely. She doesn't need to be careful or thoughtful with her words with him, she can just talk and he'll understand everything she's left unsaid. Taako always does.]

I caught her on a bad day. [Understatement of the century, but Lup doesn't need to say that. They've experienced Ryslig long enough to know what that means.] She was trapped in this hallucination and just - She needed someone and I was there. And after we talked. A lot. She told me about her sister and their background and we talked for hours about how magic in her world worked - it was just really nice, Taako.

[pocketspa]

At least he's hot.

[But y'know, he doesn't give further horseshit on that front... for now. Instead, he listens, rolls his thoughts in his head in a much more charitable way than he'd give anyone else.]

Jeez, that sounds like it'd be fuckin' catnip to you. No wonder.

[She still knows how to be vulnerable with people. He purposefully hasn't.]

Lemme guess, she looks like a drowned rat but crazy and you're just aaaaall over that biz.

[restinglichface]

[Hey, given everything that Taako had to navigate the memories of an entire life without Lup, she could never blame him for that lack of vulnerability with others. Even with all that Lup did go through, she went through it with the memories of her brother and their friends still intact. Being made to forget all of that, to suddenly be subject to the awfulness of the world without any of the comforts of family, she can't even begin to imagine how deeply traumatizing that would be.

She sees flashes of it with Taako, more than he'd ever let on with anyone, but even she knows that so much of it he keeps hidden from even her.

Without warning, her touch goes gentle against Taako's cheek, before she's twisting up to press a kiss there, just because.]

You're such an ass. [...] But yeah, like a fucking hot drowned rat.

[pocketspa]

[It's a practice of unlearning and learning in small ways, and sometimes the weight of it is just too much. The decisions he made, the cruelty he gave, so much of it feels wrong and like he'll never be right. For all the bullshit they give about elf years, 10 is a long time for anyone when you're living it. 10 is a lifetime ago.

But he smiles at her touch, laughs just enough to shake his shoulders.]

Gods you're predictable. But fine. I'll meet her and judge her maybe not as harshly as everyone else. For you.

[restinglichface]

[For what it's worth, Lup sees the steps he's made, is proud of every single connection he allows himself in this place. He may never be as gregarious and trusting as Lup, but he isn't the same elf who first showed at the Bureau all these years ago either.

Taako doesn't even need to see Lup's face to know she's beaming up at him.]

You're the best. [said without any of the tease or sarcasm that she'd normally speak those words under] I don't know how I'd do any of this without you.

[pocketspa]

[It's so much easier to be gentle when it's just the two of them, no prying eyes or annoying ears, and she lets herself relax. It makes his shoulders loosen, his smile edge up, a sigh escape his lips that feels real instead of exhausted.]

Babe I know it.

[And then a little laugh, actually playful, actually at himself.]

You know it was bad when you weren't here. I don't give a shit if we're stuck in Foggie's bullshit coaster, 'ss long as it's us. If you're there... it's fine. Y'know?

[restinglichface]

[his little laugh draws a snort out of her, Lup's fingers tangling in his hair from where she's flopped all over the floor.]

Hey, you don't have to remind me. Don't forget whose ass dropped into this place first. You kept me waiting for a long ass time, 'Ko. [Idly, her fingers leave messy braids in his hair.] It got so much better the second you arrived.

[pocketspa]

Yeah, yeah, blame Foggie on that one. She ordered a bad ripoff Taako. Had to go back for the real deal, and lemme tell you, getting me is a real feat. Took some time with my agent n' all that.

[He jokes, they both do, but those times are behind them if he has anything to say about it. He's here. She's here. That's all they need.]

Alright, lemme know when you want me to meet your new nerd. Better be fun in case she sucks though.

[restinglichface]

Dope. I'll set something chill up for us.

[And that's that. Lup sits up, leans in close to press a quick kiss to her brother's cheek, before she's already bolting for the door. But just for one quick second she smiles back at him.]

Love you, dingus.

[pocketspa]

[He just gives her a lazy little smirk.]

Love you too, goofus. Call me when there's plans.

[And he will return to hanging, as he does.]