Who is that girl I see staring straight back at me?

[umbrastaff]

who: Lup, the IPRE gang + friends
what: Finally stepping into vat and getting a hot new bod.
when: Backdated to the end of February
where: Casa del Taako
warnings: Weird necromantic shit, very quick nudity.

For Taako

Alright, alright. I'm.... I'm doing it. Just.... give me a sec?

[Lup's voice is a little harsher than she meant it to be, and a quick look back at her brother makes her feel bad. It's not his fault that she's being so nervous about this whole deal. It was her own worries that kept her stalling for longer than needed.]

Sorry. It's fucking weird, that's all.

[Hovering in front of the tank in the spare room in their house, the skeletal form of Lup's lich self was reflected in the strange membrane and murky water. Her body was in there, a living, breathing one with a heart that actually beat and everything. Loki's vessel was amazing, but she never got tired, never even got a bruise and it always required a bit of awareness to keep on, like when you walked in very high heels.

With time, her tactile senses has also grown more and more dull, a disconnect between herself and the Lup -shaped sock she had inhabited for more than 120 days.

It was long past the waiting time now, but here she was. Still hesitating.

Barry had done this several times, she reminds herself. He was still his nerdy, sweet self. Nothing had cocked up when he had done it, so she shouldn't be afraid - and while Taako was no necromancy specialist, he was the (second) best wizard in several multiverses, and she trusted that he had pulled this off right.

Everything in there was fully Lup... but was she still fully Lup? (A decade in an umbrella.)

She couldn't stall forever.]

Do you have that towel, Koko?

[Her voice isn't the steadiest, but she's floating even closer now, bony hands reaching into the tank.]

For IPRE and friends

HEY BITCHES, I'M BACK!

[The door is thrown open, and while her hair is still wet, Lup is dressed and very lively. Her heart is beating so loud that its making her head hurt a bit and she's intimately aware of all the motions and happenings a real body has, and it's exhilarating and tiring at all once.

She was gonna take a nap for a DAY after this.]

Gonna take up the title of hottest twin again~!

[It had just been a quick text to people that she was gonna go corporeal, and then... well, it might have taken a little longer than she intended, so she had to make it up to everyone.

Hugs were in order.]

Comments

[umbrastaff]

Mmm, can't argue with that.

[ Lup leans a little against him and smiles. ]

I feel... a lot? Like... it's super weird, I know it's just been a few months since I had flesh, but at the same time it's been twelve years? And I'm just... loud.

[ She touches her chest, a little amazed. ]

I'm alive.

[spellslots]

I get it.

[He doesn't, really, but he understands that it's difficult and probably a little confusing, reconciling the time alone compared to the time here.

He has no plans to move, so he just keeps Lup wrapped up while she comes to terms with the whole bodies and feelings thing.]

You're gonna have to be a bit more careful with yourself now, huh?

[umbrastaff]

Oh yeah, definitely not getting myself killed in at least a month.

[She gives her brother a little kiss on his forehead, and then ties her bathrobe closed so she can try to stand up.

It's a little unsteady at first, but Taako is a good crutch and Lup is stubborn. Well on her feet, she laughs again and wiggles her toes.]

All me.

{Pardon her, real hugs coming through.]

[spellslots]

[Taako rolls his eyes as he helps Lup to her feet.]

So like, I better start you on a new body already, huh?

[But it's a relief to be able to hug her properly again, knowing it's Lup, not just a facsimile with her soul tucked inside. This is so much better.]

[umbrastaff]

[ She stays in that hug for some time, just drawing strength from her brother and the way they mirrored each other. This was a real, living body, just like his. Same skin, same hair, same eyes. One with blood and feelings and ability to do dumb things in.

Like sleep. Fuck, she was gonna nap for days. ]

Ugh, lets not. It's gonna be weird enough with the vessel around... I should ask Loki if he wants that back or something. It will be like a Lup doll and that's just freaky.

[spellslots]

Oh shit, wait.

[Taako leans back a little, takes Lup's face in his hands so he can kiss her on the forehead and then - drops.

Magic jar is a spell he's cast before, but this time instead of reaching for Magnus, he slides on over into the Lup vessel. He sits up and flashes her a big grin.]

Hey! We're twins!

[Taako you fucking idiot.]

[umbrastaff]

[ Her brother, everybody. ]

Taako, what the fuck.

[ She gives him a deadpan look, but there's a little twitch at the corner of her mouth that reveals how she really feels about it. ]

Does it feel weirdly numb for you too or was that some lich bullshit?

[ ....and there's the nerd side. ]

[spellslots]

[She thinks it's funny and he knows it, but he'll indulge her nerdery.]

It's uh, it definitely isn't feeling like a body.

[He hasn't cast this a lot, because it's such a risky spell if shit goes south, especially when possession is involved, but he knows what someone else's body feels like and the vessel is.... different. A little off, like he can tell that it isn't real flesh and blood.]

[umbrastaff]

[Lup 'hmmms's and then goes to poke her vessel in the stomach.]

How does that feel? Normalish or dull?

[This is the weirdest and funniest fucking thing but she's gotta science a bit. Just to make sure.]

[spellslots]

[Taako bats at her hand mostly out of instinct, because - yeah.]

Dull, for sure. Guess that's what happens when you make a body outta magic instead of nerves and shit.

[Clone might be a magic spell, but it grows a real actual body. That's why it takes so long.]

[umbrastaff]

I suppose. I still think it saved my sanity over these months, though.

[ She shrugs and then pokes him again. ]

Now get out of there before you get stuck or something.

[spellslots]

[Taako's glad that she had the body, but while he could make a comment to that effect, he grins instead.]

What, you don't want me running around the city ruining your reputation?

[umbrastaff]

[ Lup huffs at that and shoves him. ]

Don't you dare, I've spent a lot of time on my 'good twin' schtick!

[spellslots]

[At the shove, Taako lets the body drop, his soul floating up and back into his own body. He sits up from where he dropped, grinning at Lup.]

No one in this fucking place is stupid enough to believe that you're the good twin.

[umbrastaff]

I'm not the one that threatened to take over Riverview, darling twin.

[She crouches down before him and gives him a kiss on the forehead.]

Now I'm gonna go take the longest shower. I... again, thank you for this, Koko.

[spellslots]

I'll give you that.

[He did threaten to take over the Quarantine, that's a valid criticism.

His smile softens at the kiss, warm and fond.]

You know I've always got your back, Lulu.

[umbrastaff]

....and I always got yours, Koko.

[ Ruffling his hair affectionately, she then hops off towards the shower with a big smile, just enjoying something as simple as living. ]