[And that is precisely why Lup has zero intention of bringing up either Barry or Kravitz while Taako is this age. Attempting to explain that whole situation just sounds like a headache waiting to happen. If the idea of living with friends baffles the boy right now, the idea of boyfriends, men that the two of them actually loved and trusted with their whole hearts, was not going to be taken very well.

But that's just fine. Lup will give both of the men a head's up beforehand. Just be cool, guys.]

Thanks, Taako. You've always got my back.

[She doesn't bother telling him that she'll handle it all herself. Lup remembers their childhood like it was yesterday. They'd always split everything between them, always taken such pride in watching out for the other. She couldn't take that away from him. So if Taako wants to spy on Merle while he wiggles around in the vents for her, she'll turn an eye and let him.]

Somethin' like that. The nice thing about this place we're in, Hadriel, is shit's pretty free. We don't have to work for anyone but ourselves. Sometimes we'll trade spells for favors, if we can trick someone into doin' crap for us, but we mostly only cast the spells we wanna. Same goes for food. We just cook for ourselves now.

We're really livin' the life.