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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]

[Thank whatever god is listening she takes direction, because Taako doesn't have the emotional capacity to freak out right now. In fact, he tries not to have the emotional capacity to do it ever, which is difficult when his body wants to throw up his heart at the sight of Lup still and quiet. His mouth is flat and lacks his usual splendor, and even though his body still glitters and his hair still flows, it looks almost muted on it's own. He, too, loses something without her smile.

So they're quiet a minute, until Ianthe speaks, and Taako wastes no time in replying.]

Well don't be good to them on my account or anything.

[Aka, you can go further than that, because it's what he's going to do. He brings his hands down to the incisions, to the marks, trying to puzzle out what he can. His ears match hers, back and low, as the slits in his eyes flick between details.]

This is close range. She'd never get sniped. Has to be someone we know.

[gildedsaint]

[Death is too quick. Death is too good. She wants them to suffer. Like Lup, did, like they are suffering right now - selfish, she is selfish and greedy and cruel, but at least she can turn her fury in the right direction.

She takes a slow, controlled breath. Nods, once.]

I thought the same.
But - do you keep company with anyone who would - do this, to her.

[She reaches, hooks one claw over the hem of Lup's neckline, tugs it very slightly aside to better show the stitching. Speaks in a low, clinical tone.]

...This is not a frenzy. There was intent and focused follow-through.
This would have taken at least two hours, uninterrupted.
More, to transport the body to and from a secondary location.

[Which would have been absolutely necessary, because there is no way someone did all this on the street. Maybe if it were just the incisions and stitching, but - the body has been washed. She does this, at work, every day. If she were more self-centered she would suggest this is some kind of taunt to her specifically, but really, Lup's been established here much longer than Ianthe - and as abrasive as she can be, she doesn't think she's upset anyone who has the capacity to do this to a bystander just to hurt her.]

...Most of the monster population seem very squeamish, for a bunch of obligate cannibals.
I don't know many with the capacity for this.

[Save her coworkers. One of whom has a very steady hand for stitching. But that's a thread to follow later.]

[pocketspa]

[He too is selfish, greedy, and he wants to tell her to stop touching Lup like that, that she hasn't earned it like he has. But he knows that wouldn't make Lup happy, so he has to swallow this and try not to be the biggest bitch imaginable for a few minutes. Besides, Ianthe doesn't get to see him freak out, not for real. He's fine. He can make it fine.

Still, he huffs at the assumption, pushing down rolling his eyes slightly.]

Look, like, six fuckbillion people have beef with us at some point or another, it's nbd. They just haven't been stupid enough to try shit.

[And the question remains still, burning in his chest, why her? Why not him? Why not both of them, that's only right.]

Probs used magic or something. Had her get close and then sprung some kinda trap. Knows she's too fuckin' nice sometimes. And then put it somewhere I'd fuckin' check to be a turbo-dick.

[It was too close to Hyacinth for his liking, for this not to be a direct at them both-- but maybe that's just him, assuming it's always a them and not an I.]

[gildedsaint]

[Meanwhile, Ianthe is almost certain it is a taunt to her, specifically. Leaving the body to be found at all, necessitating a call to her workplace, the manner in which it has been preserved - anyone handling her lover's corpse at all is an unacceptable insult. They're both quite self-centered, it seems. Though even she can admit Taako has been here much longer and thus has had more chances to develop grudges with other residents here, even if he doesn't seem as abrasive as she can be.

The hypothetical strategy, at least, she can agree on. Carefully, she adjust Lup's clothing back to its proper place, giving another little nod.]

Several monsters have some sort of shapeshifting or powers of deception.

[Pookas, certainly. Slimes, to a lesser degree. And any number of individuals who had decided on it as part of a Mana- or god-purchased toolkit. It is infuriating having so little information to go off of, but that is a problem she can solve eventually. She sighs, blowing strands of hair from her face.]

...Regardless. I will drive the both of you home, whenever you are ready.

[She's fairly sure that Taako wants Lup at the farm, not held in the morgue.]

[pocketspa]

[She's right on that last bit, for sure. Taako watches carefully the way Ianthe handles Lup, examining every movement, if something was done with enough care. It's not that he doesn't trust her-- well, no, it is that, but it's more he trusts she didn't do this, despite having the skills and being a monster that could lure Lup in. There's just no motive, unless she's far, far crazier than Taako pegged her for.

With a small sigh, he nods.]

Fine. Where's your rat car or whatevs. Gonna take time to get her in so she doesn't bruise worse.

[Nevermind that she might not have blood anymore or anything. He's not super concerned there.]