umbrastaff | IC Inbox @lightemup

[She's right, it's the same way he's feeling right now, and it sucks. It'd be easier if there was someone to hate.]

I had to drag it outta him.

[That, at least, he can be a little frustrated about. That Taako had to bring it up to get any kind of explanation for why Eddie had been acting a little weird.]

[Well. That part does suck, and she hands him a spoon to go with his big bowl of ice cream topped with whipped cream and chocolate flakes.]

Well, fuck him. You deserve someone that plays on your level.

[Taako carefully tucks the canister against the arm of the couch so he can free up his hands for the ice cream.

After a significant spoonful:]

Pretty sure I'm gonna give any future bullshit a hard pass. Taako's good out here.

[Dating is for other people.]

We can both be lonely spinsters in this place.

[She shrugs a bit and takes a spoonful of her own serving, tapping the empty spoon against her lips.]

Not for all eternity, right? I bet Death wants another date or something.

[Cops or the grim reaper. Her brother has interesting taste, okay?]

I dunno. [He'd like Kravitz, that much isn't something he'd lie about, and he'd admit that the whole... already dead thing is appealing, since it means he doesn't ever have to worry about losing him. But...] I get you're all like, lovey dovey and shit, but why do I need to fall in love or whatever to be happy?

Oh, come on Taako, I didn't say that!

[She sighs and point her spoon to him.]

I know my deal it's not your deal, and that's great. You don't need a relationship to be happy. I mean, shit, I miss Barry like crazy, but he's not all of me, you know?

[Lup returns her spoon to her mouth after grabbing some more ice cream from her bowl.]

I just meant that when we go back, there's options. You don't have to feel like swearing off dating for fun.

I know, I know.

[He gently waves her explanation away, not dismissive, just... that isn't quite what he meant, either.]

I'm just saying, it's not a big deal and I don't think it's ever gonna be, not to me. Maybe I'll give the whole dating thing a shot, maybe I won't, but you don't have to worry about me being happy. I already am.

Good. That's all I hope for you, Koko. You deserve so much fucking happiness. A million times more so after all this shit that's been going on.

[To be fair, she never really imagined them in any stable relationships ever, but things changed. With her and Barry being a thing, she didn't want her bother to be left out.

...but Taako was Taako, and she did understand him.]

I still can't believe you dated a cop.

[That's a whole lot of emotion, right there, and he isn't quite sure what to say in response, so he just presses a kiss to her cheek in silent thanks and understanding.]

A cop and the grim reaper back home, I got a thing for lawful types, a-fucking-pparently. Who'd have guessed?

[She makes a little face at him as he kisses her cheek, but it's all in jest. Then Lup leans back a bit to take another spoonful of ice cream.]

It's almost as if you need something to weigh up all that chaos.

Or maybe I just wanna see if I can corrupt up.

[It's a joke, but there's not as much energy in it as he might usually have, just because he's a little somber right now.

Which means he definitely needs some of that wine.]

[Lup snorts at that, smiling as she reaches for the wine bottle and casts mage hand inside the damn thing to pop the cork out. Who needs corkscrews, after all?

Then she pours them both wine and uses the mage hand to turn the lights down before casting rose-colored dancing lights in their slight blanket fort.

All to maximize the coziness.]

Remember my first boyfriend?

[Taako watches her finish off this little production with a fond smile, humming happily as he settles against her.]

Fuck, barely. [It's been a long time.] The half-elf, right?

[She rolls her eyes a little bit, taking a sip of wine.]

Gods, yes. What a tool. I'm so glad I threw up on him.

That's why I've like, never fucking dated. You were a bad role model.

[He's just playing.]

Fuck you, I was the greatest role model. I invented the best way to break up with someone.

[She grins.]

Get shitfaced and throw up on them.

Or you can skip the whole boyfriend part by getting shitfaced and throwing up on the first date.

[Which he's definitely done.]

Then you don't get laid, doofus.

[Yeah they're such gems.]

I've spent like decades not getting laid, I can deal.

[Take that.]

Don't I know it, you always took foreeeever in the shower.

[Hah.]

[He shoves her, but there's no force behind it.]

Okay, dipshit, that's enough of that. Should I open this thing or what?

[The canister. The future.]

[She nearly spills some wine at that, and takes a moment to put their bowls and glasses on the coffee table just in case there would be more shoving (or more likely, emotions) later.]

Alright. Go for it.

Cool, cool, cool.

[Taako moves away from Lup, just so he can sit up properly, legs crossed with the canister held loosely in his lap. When he closes his eyes and exhales, it almost looks like he's preparing a meditative nap, but then he opens the canister, and goes still.

On the outside, it doesn't seem to last long, but for Taako almost twenty four hours pass and he sees... a lot. Feels a lot. He sees Barry, back in a body, Magnus back in his. He sees Lup, phantasmal and resplendent, destroying the Hunger's tendril.

He feels his fury and hopeless as he points the umbra staff at Lucretia, and his sheer relief at Lup's return.

The last thing he sees is the circle of black glass as he leaps off the base, Lup and Barry falling below him, and then he's back.]

Fuck. [That was.... indescribable, but as soon as he looks at Lup again he grins.] You fucking idiot, you got your stupid lich form trapped in your own magic umbrella.

[He's laughing, suddenly, because right here and now he has time to process his relief in a way he didn't, back in Fearun. And god is he relieved.]

You've been with me the whole time, Lulu.

[She's not sure what to expect when Taako opens the canister - some kind of spark or smoke or even a light? Nothing really shows up, though... just emotions on her brother's face.

Everything from pain and fear and relief. Lup desperately sticks to that relief, hoping that this is something good. Then Taako opens his eyes again and she bites her lip.

What he says kind of stumps her, though, and she gives a confused laugh.]

I... w-what? I've been... I'm in the staff?

[She scrambles from their blanket nest and mage-hands over the (awesome) umbra staff. As soon as she puts it in her hand, it feels... right. Like it belonged there.]

I've been with you the whole time.

[Sinking back into her seat, she hugs the stupid magic thing and leans her head against Taako. It's a weird mix of joy and sadness at once, and it's... soft. Like a long nap, or a breakfast full of carbs.]

That's pretty rad, bro.

[He lets her go with another laugh, watching her reclaim the umbra staff and trying not to kick himself for not figuring it out sooner, even if he'd had a suspicion.]

You're still saving my ass, even when I couldn't remember you.

[When she leans against him, Taako wraps her up in a hug. This is a lot to process, and he'll need to talk to Lucretia, at some point, but right now he just wants to focus on this.]

I dunno if you're like, in it here, the portal isn't great with pocket dimensions.

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