bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
Here is Bella, catching up on her email, trying to come up with a reasonable mathematical approximation of the known abilities of evils versus arrows to guess how many dead people she can bring back with one of the latter, trying to come up with a prioritization scheme for putting her waiting list in order.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
[You have an anthem!]
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
[Oooh! An anthem! What is the best way for me to hear it?]
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
[You could come by and I could sing it for you,] he suggests. [And then you'll be one of very few people who's seen me sing while wearing a shirt.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
[Somehow I doubt this particular distinction is one that would make me the envy of the fandom, but sure.] She pops down. She knocks.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
Laughing, he opens the door.

He is indeed wearing a shirt! And jeans! What a marvel.
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
Shirted people! Two of them!

Bella makes herself comfortable and waits attentively.
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
Ripper fetches his acoustic guitar and sits down and sings.

It's a good anthem. It's a good song, for that matter. Simple and singable and pretty and heartening.

"No title," he adds when he's done, "I'm shit at titles, it's my major failing as an artist."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"It's beautiful, I love it," beams Bella. "How about 'Song of Saturn'? Can you orchestrate or should I find somebody else for that part?"
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
"'Song of Saturn'. Sounds like something out of a video game," he laughs. "It's perfect. And yeah, I don't exactly have a lot of experience with orchestras."
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"Well, Slipstick'll find me somebody or I'll arrange it myself," shrugs Bella. "It's gorgeous, it's my new favorite song, want to record a version to put on the website?"
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"Sure," he says cheerfully. "Know where I can borrow a decent studio? Or can you just conjure one up?"
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"Tell me what you need and I can conjure one, no problem."
tearingup: (⑥ consider caution)
Author: tearingup
Ripper names the virtues of a good recording studio, chief among which are equipment and soundproofing.
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"You want me to set it up here or on Titan?"
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
"I'll probably get more use out of it here. You might get more use out of it on Titan."
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
"If I find another use for a recording studio I can always put one there too. I'll just stick it in the corner." She pentagons up an appropriate studio, with magic handwaving the functions of a technical crew.
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
"Thanks. You're a very convenient friend to have."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"I am, it is true! And you are welcome."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
He grins.

"I'll let you know when I've got something worth releasing."
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"Awesome. It's a beautiful song, I'm so glad I asked you - can I hug you?"
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
"Yes you can!"
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
She does! Hug.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
Unexpected but delightful hug!
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
When it's over, Bella hops into the air, does a bit of a twirl, and disappears.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
Well, that's adorable.



A few days later, he emails her the final version.
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
She thanks him and puts it on the Internet with appropriate - ahem - fanfare; she has already asked Slipstick to keep an eye out for someone who could orchestrate it.
yourheartstrings: (⒀ a magnifying glance)
Author: yourheartstrings
A few days after that:

[Bella,] says Queenie, [did Ripper from Wretched write the Saturn planetary anthem?]
bellfounding: (quizzical)
Author: bellfounding
[...Yes?]
yourheartstrings: (⑽ but i better not touch)
Author: yourheartstrings
[You know him?]
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding
[...Yes. You're a fan, I take it?]
yourheartstrings: (⑵ 'cause they found new toys)
Author: yourheartstrings
[Are you kidding? He's gorgeous, and that voice—! Ooh, do you think you could introduce us?]
bellfounding: (reading)
Author: bellfounding
[Lemme ask him.]

[Er, Ripper?]
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
[Yeah?]
bellfounding: (pealing)
Author: bellfounding
[So, turns out Queenie is familiar with Wretched, and she heard the anthem and recognized your voice, and wants to be introduced.]
tearingup: (⑨ ask again)
Author: tearingup




[Seriously?]
bellfounding: (bored)
Author: bellfounding
[Aaaaayep. Also she describes you as gorgeous.]
tearingup: (⑥ consider caution)
Author: tearingup
[...So she wants to be that kind of introduced, huh?]
bellfounding: (inhale)
Author: bellfounding
["That kind of introduced" is pretty much always an option with Jokers.]
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
[Wow,] says Ripper. [This is not how I expected my morning to go.]
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
[Well. Congratulations on an unexpected morning. What d'you want me to tell her?]
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
[...Part of me says 'hell yeah, bring it on', part of me is still sort of terrified, part of me thinks that I will lose all chance of ever flirting with you again if in addition to handing me a subscription to the magic Joker porn channel you also set me up with one.]
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
[You make it sound as though flirting with me is of supreme importance.]
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
[Good, I'm glad you picked up on that.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding



[Meeting Queenie and conducting yourselves however you like will not interfere with that significantly.]

Blushes are not conveyed over the brainphone, but one is happening.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
[In that case, yes, introduce away.]
bellfounding: (reading)
Author: bellfounding
[Ripper says he's willing to be introduced,] Bella reports to Queenie.
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Ooh, goodie,] says Queenie, in a slightly different voice. (That happens sometimes.)
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding
[I'll fetch you to his place; he has this thing about knocking.] She pops to wherever Queenie is.
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
Queenie is in the latest of many little apartments in Gotham, wearing a beautiful long silky red dress; Ghosty is not visibly present.
bellfounding: (pealing)
Author: bellfounding
"He signed up for one of you, not two, so if Ghosty wants to join the party, ask first," Bella advises, and she pops them into the hall outside Ripper's place and knocks.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"It's nice how you're getting the hang of that," he says as he opens the door, and then he catches sight of Queenie. "Oh, hello."
gunpowdergelatine: Laughing. (♠1/you live for the fight)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
"Hi!" beams Queenie. "I think you're really cute, wanna fuck?"
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
Ripper (glances at Bella and) grins a very affirmative grin.
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
"Well, I guess actually introducing you will be unnecessary," chuckles Bella, and out she pops.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup





The next morning, Ripper brainphones Bella to say dazedly, [So that worked out well. Thanks for the introduction.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
[Heh. No problem.]
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
[And now I'm going to sleep.]

His busy message is, [mmmmmmmmmmmm.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
Well, that's kind of adorable. It's so nice to make - er, nightmares - come true.
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
A few minutes later, Queenie brainphones her, too.

[Thanks for dropping me on Ripper,] she says brightly. [He's scrumptious.]
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
[I'm glad you guys had fun.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smirking faintly, touching thumb to lips. (♣5/don't want the devil to)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[He mentioned something about flirting with you. You gonna get any?]
bellfounding: (Default)
Author: bellfounding
[Flirting has been happening. Nothing beyond that has been particularly suggested.]
gunpowdergelatine: Laughing. (♠1/you live for the fight)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[I could make a few suggestions,] she says, giggling.
bellfounding: (right)
Author: bellfounding
[I would not put it past you for a moment.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Well, do you like him?]
bellfounding: (Default)
Author: bellfounding


[Yeah.]
gunpowdergelatine: Reclining, posed in a vulnerable, sexually suggestive way. (♣6/start me like a motor)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[You're adorable,] Queenie says fondly. [I think you should make out with him! Well, I think you should fuck him, but if I tell you to make out with him you might actually try it.]
bellfounding: (bored)
Author: bellfounding
[Had I dreamed of doubting the availability of your advice, I would now be thoroughly assured of my mistake.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
She giggles.

[That a no?]
bellfounding: (inhale)
Author: bellfounding
[I don't know. I can't tell how serious he is. I mean, he seriously wants to flirt with me, but anything else, I don't know.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smirking faintly, touching thumb to lips. (♣5/don't want the devil to)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[He thinks you're precious,] says Queenie. [Trust me, I can tell.]
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding
[Okay - and? I'm not Amariah.]
gunpowdergelatine: Leaning forward, hands together, elbows on knees. (♥8/traces of me in your veins)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
['And' what?]
bellfounding: (apprehensive)
Author: bellfounding
[And I don't want to make out with somebody who just wants to make out with me and that's it.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[And he doesn't just want to make out with you. Like I said: he thinks you're precious. Cute. Dare I say, dateable. Not that he actually told me any of that, but I can kind of tell, you know?]
bellfounding: (Default)
Author: bellfounding
[How, pray tell, can you kind of tell?]
gunpowdergelatine: Reclining, posed in a vulnerable, sexually suggestive way. (♣6/start me like a motor)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[He gets this look.]
bellfounding: (quizzical)
Author: bellfounding
[Huh?]
gunpowdergelatine: Smirking faintly, touching thumb to lips. (♣5/don't want the devil to)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[We did some talking in between all the sex, and he gets this look when he talks about you. It's really cute.]
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
[...Really.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Yes, really.]
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
[...That is cute.]
gunpowdergelatine: Partial face, one eye and one hand visible. Sultry. (♥9/knows what she wants to be)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[What'd I tell you? So you should make out with him,] Queenie says firmly. [I'll even quit fucking him if you think you'd get jealous, and I do not say that lightly, because he is extrrrrremely fuckable.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
[Uh, wow.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
Queenie giggles.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
[Only now I don't know what to actually do.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Take him to dinner somewhere fancy. Tell him I think you guys should make out. Take him home again. Do I have to give you detailed instructions from there? 'Cause I can.]
bellfounding: (inhale)
Author: bellfounding
[There are steps missing from the beginning of this plan. I think if I just kidnap him and appear him at that seafood place somebody opened in the Arkady Bubble he will drop his tea.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Awww, you,] Queenie says fondly. [Call him up, ask him if he wants to get dinner sometime, he'll say yes, suggest a place...]
bellfounding: (Default)
Author: bellfounding
[I dunno, I'm not as confident as you seem to be.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smirking faintly, touching thumb to lips. (♣5/don't want the devil to)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Or I could call him and tell him you want to date him but you're getting all shy about it.]
bellfounding: (quizzical)
Author: bellfounding
[...Is that an offer or a threat?]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[It can't be both?]
bellfounding: (bored)
Author: bellfounding
[I suppose the key difference is whether you're planning to do this whether I want you to or not.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[I won't do it if you really don't want me to. If you're kinda-sorta-not-sure and not planning to ask him out yourself, I totally will.]
bellfounding: (right)
Author: bellfounding
[...What if I conspicuously refuse to tell you which of those it is?]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Then I conspicuously refuse to tell you what I'm gonna do about it.]
bellfounding: (bored)
Author: bellfounding
[I probably should've guessed that.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
She giggles unrepentantly.
bellfounding: (inhale)
Author: bellfounding
[This is reminding me of that time Aurora went to everybell except me and Golden and asked them how they dealt with polyamory and concluded that everybody had special circumstances and she was on her own. I don't know how to do this and I want to copy somebody because that would be comfortable and I can't.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smirking faintly, touching thumb to lips. (♣5/don't want the devil to)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[It's cute,] says Queenie. [You should let me play matchmaker, I'll fix you up good.]
bellfounding: (right)
Author: bellfounding
[I have a sneaking suspicion that if I do I will wind up blushing beet red wondering why I ever invited you to move to my universe.]
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Only a little bit,] Queenie promises.
bellfounding: (bored)
Author: bellfounding
[What is that supposed to mean?]
gunpowdergelatine: Half in shadow, looking up; sincerity, vulnerability. (♣7/got me on my knees)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[It means I think you guys would be cute together so I'm not gonna get too awful about it because I might make you really uncomfortable and that would be sad?]
bellfounding: (right)
Author: bellfounding
[...Okay, I'll buy it.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Good!]
bellfounding: (bored)
Author: bellfounding
[Yes, heaven forfend I dither for a while like a nineteen-year-old girl who's never been on a date before instead of sending a staff member to tell the guy I like that I like him like a third-grader. I mean, like a dignified magical space empress.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Awwwwwww,] giggles Queenie. [Well, if you wanna dither, nobody's stopping you.]
bellfounding: (Default)
Author: bellfounding
[I don't assign intrinsic value to dithering, I suppose.]
gunpowdergelatine: Laughing. (♠1/you live for the fight)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[So you should ask him out,] Queenie concludes. [Or conspicuously not tell me not to ask him out for you.]
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding


Bella is conspicuously silent.
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
Queenie giggles again.
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
[Shush,] says Bella, squirming, not that the squirming is visible.
gunpowdergelatine: Half in shadow, looking up; sincerity, vulnerability. (Default)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Okay,] Queenie says merrily. [Talk to you later!]
bellfounding: (reading)
Author: bellfounding
[Later.]
tearingup: (⑥ consider caution)
Author: tearingup




A week later, Ripper brainphones her.

[So, a little bird told me it might not be a bad idea to ask if you wanted to get dinner sometime.]
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding
[Of all the ways you could have reported this to me, this one is not a way that tells me whether to regret talking to the little bird.]
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
[Were you expecting to regret it? I don't regret it. Well, not if you say yes.]
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding


[Yes.]
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
[I'm just going to take that as a 'yes Ripper I will get dinner with you' and not a 'yes I was expecting to regret letting Queenie be the messenger here'. Mostly because, on second thought, the second one goes without saying. She also said she would make us both, and I quote, 'nice clothes you won't mind being on a date in', which is sweet of her. And apparently the Jokers are getting together and making both the dinner and the place we'll be eating it.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
[That's very nice of them. Queenie actually makes most of my clothes even though that's not her job, but I guess this calls for a per-occasion outfit.]
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
[I guess it does!]
bellfounding: (pealing)
Author: bellfounding
[Did they also schedule it for us?]
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
[Nope, that part they're leaving up to us. When are you free?]
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
[Assuming by "dinner" is meant "something around dinnertime in the Cronian time zone" - tomorrow at six.] Saturn has ten-hour days and the habitats are under sufficiently dense cloud for natural sunlight to be irrelevant; the bubbles obey a cycle of light and dark that corresponds to Greenwich and matches the length of Earth days.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
[It's a date.]
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
[I suppose I shall swing by your place to pick you up? I'll remember to knock.]
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
[It's not like I can pick you up from wherever you spend your time when you're not empressing. Do you want to tell Queenie so she can have everything ready on time, or should I?]
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
[I can. And I spend my intermittent odds and ends of not-empressing time in the palace you saw, but there aren't that many.]

[Hi, Queenie. Thanks. We picked a time. Tomorrow, six, Saturn time.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Got it,] Queenie says cheerfully. [We'll have it all set up for ya. Swing by my place first to pick up your outfit, 'kay? You'll like it, it's pretty.]
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
[I'm sure it'll be gorgeous.]
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
[Damn right.]
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
Bella shows up at Queenie's a little in advance of six to collect her dress.
gunpowdergelatine: Smirking faintly, touching thumb to lips. (♣5/don't want the devil to)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
Queenie provides the dress.

It is, as promised, pretty.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
It's exquisite. It doesn't even have a zipper; Bella has to triangle herself into it lest she tear it trying to shimmy into the close fit, and she peers into the mirror; she's like a stroke of midnight-purple ink against the background. It's sleeveless and floor-length with a high mandarin collar showing just a narrow line of throat and sternum, and the folds of the skirt have lazy swirls of ruby beads creeping over them; when she twirls and the skirt leaps out they shine. "I love it," she says, and she sets her crown to hovering where it belongs and it picks up the color, violet striped red.
gunpowdergelatine: Smiling faintly, touching finger to lips. (♠4/what he used to make it talk)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
"It's almost as pretty as you are," says Queenie. "Go on, have fun."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Bella grins, and teleports to pick up Ripper.

Knock, knock.
tearingup: (⑥ consider caution)
Author: tearingup
Ripper answers the door wearing black silk trousers and a white silk shirt, the former pinstriped, the latter pleated; on close inspection, the shirt turns out to have decorous little hints of lace tucked away here and there.

"Aren't you a vision," he says admiringly.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"You don't look bad yourself," she grins. "Shall we?"
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
He grins and takes her hand.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Pop! She has no idea where they're going, but it's still a unique location.
tearingup: (⑪ make a change)
Author: tearingup
And:

They are standing on a flat wooden floor, next to a round wooden table that seems to be all of a piece with it, and not as though they were carved that way but as though they were grown into that shape. The surface of the table is flat and smooth, but not polished. Each of the twining wooden limbs that makes it up just independently happens to flatten out at exactly the same level as its neighbours, and join up snugly with them on every side.

The branches or vines of the floor also reach up and out around the edges of the circular chamber to make, not walls, but a kind of loose leafy lattice; distant stars, none familiar, show through the wide gaps between them. Here and there, a leafless branch leans in to wrap around the base of a candle, all pointing upright and flickering merrily. There is one burning in the very centre of the table, too, between the two empty place settings with their two comfortably cushioned chairs (which do not grow out of the floor, because that would make them hard to move around). Either the leaves or the candles or something else entirely is releasing a pleasant, subtle foresty scent.

And up above, where the branches spread outward without bothering to approximate a ceiling, leaving the view in that direction unobstructed...

"Is that the fucking Milky Way," says Ripper, staring.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Bella looks up.

"It sure looks like the Milky Way," she laughs. "I guess growing us a little gazebo somewhere in Saturn or orbiting Jupiter wouldn't have cut it. This is cute."

And she takes a seat.
tearingup: (⑩ see in the dark)
Author: tearingup
Ripper takes... another moment to stare.

Then he also sits.

Their plates fill up with delicious-looking, delicious-smelling, slightly mysterious food.

"I don't think 'cute' is the first word that comes to mind," he says. "'Stunning', maybe."
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"It's also that," she agrees. "The sentiment behind it is cute, is more what I meant." She commences cutting a bite of mystery food.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"All right, I'll give you that."

He shakes his head and tries the food.

It is delicious.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"Mmm. Designer organisms." Because that definitely isn't chicken, but whatever it is is yummy.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"I have no idea what this is, but I want to eat it more often," says Ripper.

Behind him - all around them, in fact - buds are forming on the vines that make up the loose weave of the walls, and blossoming into flowers. Big, pretty flowers with many layers of soft petals, all in shades of purple that match or complement Bella's dress.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"It was probably invented specifically for the occasion. Make up a name for it and the dining enchantment on your apartment should be able to produce it; enchantments are good at that kind of thing." She reaches out and strokes a flower petal.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
"...The flowers match your dress," he observes. "The flowers match your dress."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"Queenie made the dress, so there was a chance to set that up, although it could also be the same kind of enchantment on my crown," giggles Bella. She picks a flower and tucks it into her hair.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
The flower nestles securely there and starts to glow.

Ripper giggles helplessly.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"So yeah, this is the kind of thing that amuses Jokers when they aren't busy antagonizing bat ladies."
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
"Wow. Yeah, Queenie was a lot - I don't know, cuter? Than I expected, but this is something else."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Om nom nom designer organisms. "So the anthem's been well-received, I don't know if you've seen the buzz or been getting heaps of fanmail about it or what."
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
"Nah, haven't been paying attention. There was buzz?"
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"Some. I don't have comments sections on my own websites, but there are unofficial fora, and J pokes around for interesting articles of relevance, and there've been a lot of hits to the page. People like it. And the orchestration's in progress."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"Well, that's nice."
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"I think so. With any luck one of Saturn's entrants will win an event and it will get public airtime. What have you been doing besides songwriting since you moved?"
tearingup: (⑥ consider caution)
Author: tearingup
"Things," he says vaguely. "It's been mostly songwriting, honestly; I've barely even gotten out to see the rest of the bubble."
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
"Oh, that's a pity, you know if you never leave the house you don't get to see what bubbles have come to visit yours."
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"We did get an ice skating rink a while back. That was interesting."
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"And did you skate?"
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
"Not very well."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Bella laughs. "Well, perhaps it will drop by again and you can have another try."
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"And fall on my face some more!" he says brightly.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"I didn't dare skate when I was a kid, I'd have gotten myself killed earlier than I actually did. I was the clumsiest little girl - Bells all are, without magic or in one case assistive tech. I've only tried it once since, but it was fun."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"Maybe we should go ice skating sometime," he laughs. "You can watch me fall on my face."
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"I could hold your hand and you could not fall on your face," she says, blushing.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
"Even better," he says, admiring her blush.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Bella completes her first course and sets down her fork.
tearingup: (⑨ ask again)
Author: tearingup
The contents of her plate vanish, to be replaced by an entirely different kind of mysterious food.

Ripper busies himself finishing his own first course, and when he succeeds, his plate does the same thing.

The original set of purple flowers is joined by a set of black ones, with their petals edged in white.

"...Are we going to get new flowers every time we get new food? They really went all-out with this, didn't they."
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"It was probably the most fun they've had all week, barring things I am disinclined to speculate on." She plucks a black flower and tucks it behind his ear for him.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
The flower snuggles up, arranges its petals nicely, and starts to sparkle with gentle little sparkles like a dusting of tiny stars.

Ripper grins.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Mystery food time! Nom.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
This round of mystery food is even tastier than the last, or at least Ripper seems to think so, judging by the way he's devouring it.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"Aianon makes the best custom food."
tearingup: (Default)
Author: tearingup
"I can tell!" he says, with his mouth full.
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
Om nom nom. "I wonder how many courses they set up."
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
"I'm not full yet," he says logically, "so there's probably more."

And indeed there is! This time the accompanying flowers are small and red, matching the beads on Bella's dress. Ripper picks one and offers it to her.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She tucks it into the dip of her collar.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Where it nestles happily, blooms a little bigger, and glimmers with blood-red light.

"Pretty," says Ripper. "Pretty and slightly disturbing. Just the way I like it."
bellfounding: (quizzical)
Author: bellfounding
"What's disturbing about a glowy flower?"
tearingup: (⑪ make a change)
Author: tearingup
"...The colour?"
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"It's red. It matches the little rubies."
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
"Yeah," he says, "and it kind of makes you look like you've been stabbed in the heart. But in a pretty, floral way. I don't know, something about the way it bloomed, or the light - it didn't look so gory on the vine."
bellfounding: (reading)
Author: bellfounding
She peers down at herself. "Huh. Stabbed in the heart in a pretty, floral way. Of course if I got actually stabbed it would bounce off my wards."
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"And it would not be so pretty and floral. Now I want one," he laughs, picking a red flower and tucking it into his own collar, where it spreads out its petals so that their increasingly ragged edges take on the silhouette of an open wound across the front of his throat.
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding
"Okay," she says, peering at it, "now I kind of see it. That would be an interesting cover image for a solo album, if you want to continue with the theme of you pretending to be dead."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"Ooh, tempting." He grins. "I like it."
bellfounding: (talkative)
Author: bellfounding
"Are you liable to do solo albums? I just made that up, I actually have no idea what your plans are post-band-dissolution."
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
"Well, now I definitely want to take pictures of myself rocking the 'sexy, dead, and covered in flowers' look."
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Bella laughs. "That will be interesting, I'm sure. But hardly answers my question; you could do a photoshoot and not attach music to it if you wanted."
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
"I'm gonna keep playing. And now apparently I'm gonna have brilliant cover art just begging me to use it. Yeah, I think I'll make a solo album."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"Awesome. How convenient that you have your own autonomous recording studio."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"Right? I should find some really, really nice way to say thank you."
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
"I can't wait to see what you come up with." She pops the last bite of the current course into her mouth.
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
Ripper also finishes his.

Their plates clear themselves away entirely, to be replaced by smaller, daintier plates accompanied by smaller, daintier forks, and each plate burdened with a single perfect piece of dark glistening chocolate cake.

All around them, white flowers bloom on the vines, unfurling delicate petals whose lacelike edges match the lace on Ripper's shirt.

"How about a kiss?" he suggests. "The real question being: before or after cake?"
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
"Well, I suppose that boils down to how patient we are and how important it is for kisses to be chocolate-flavored," says Bella. Her voice is even enough but she's blushing harder than ever.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"I'm not that patient, but I do like chocolate," says Ripper. "Hmm, compromise?"

He has one bite of cake. And then looks at her hopefully.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She looks at him, and squirms, and eats a bite of her cake too.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Leaning across the table would be awkward, small though it is; he gets up and goes around.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
She tips her face up, smiling, pink-cheeked.
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
He leans down and kisses her.

It is chocolate-flavoured. Also very nice.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Niceness! Chocolate niceness! That is good.

Pattern has no earthly clue what she's doing, but they're not on Earth, so maybe that is okay.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
They are very, very far from Earth.



Also, the air is full of drifting flower petals.
bellfounding: (right)
Author: bellfounding
When they break apart, Bella plucks a petal from her shoulder. "I should have expected they'd have something folded in to, er, celebrate."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
Ripper laughs and presses a kiss to her forehead.

None of the flower petals have landed on their cake, which is nice, but the floor is now covered in drifts of black-white-purple-red.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Bella plucks one of the newest flowers and puts it behind the unflowered one of Ripper's ears. And she smiles, and she blushes, and she takes another bite of cake.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
He grins, and kisses the top of her head, and smooths his hand over her hair opposite the flower.

And says thoughtfully, "You know, this 'sitting across the table' thing just doesn't seem like the best idea anymore."

His chair sidles around the circumference of said table and nudges the back of his knee. He sits in it and reaches for his plate, which scoots obligingly over in front of him. And then, because he is left-handed and Bella is right-handed and it's convenient that way, he holds her hand while he eats his cake.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Awwwww! Bella giggles helplessly at the encouraging enchanted-things and squeezes his hand and blushes rather a lot. She keeps peering at him out of the corner of her eye between bites of cake.
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
Eventually:

"Ye-es?"
bellfounding: (fretting)
Author: bellfounding
"Nothing?" says Bella unconvincingly.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"Suuuure."
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She blushes fiercely, but leans in his direction and kisses him again.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
Ooh, kisses. For this he will abandon cake.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
That's good. It's lovely cake, but it will keep.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
Yes. Kisses are a much higher priority.

Mmmmm. Kisses.

(The walls grow a whole new set of flowers to rain petals on them again.)
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
(Of course they do.)

Nummy chocolatey Ripper, om nom nom. Bella is getting the hang of this, she thinks. Also making thoughtful little noises in the back of her throat.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
He is both nummy and chocolatey, it's true! And kissable. So very kissable. Much like Bella.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
She finds the fact that he keeps kissing her very reassuring on the subject of her kissability, certainly.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Yes. Those things are very much related.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She rather suspected so!

Fun fact: She doesn't actually have to breathe. She makes a habit of it, but she can stop.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
...Well that seems handy.

Ripper, sadly, does have to breathe. But he is not inclined to let that deter him from kissing her a lot.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
That is good. He should kiss her a lot. She is definitely in a state of approval about this activity.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
Great, because he has no plans to desist anytime soon. Although if they keep on at this rate, they might end up buried in a mound of flower petals.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Bella can always vanish the excess petals, if that little foresight has been demonstrated.
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
They're definitely piling up, but there's no indication of whether or not they are set to stop eventually.

On the other hand, they are very soft and very light, and probably not all that difficult to dig one's way out of. And, as Ripper discovers when he removes one from Bella's hair, they smell nice when crushed.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Well, that's lovely. Also floral.

Bella pauses - tapering off from fascinated deep kisses to cute little ones, then looking at her plate and blushing and eating another bite of cake. It is really good cake.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
Ripper steals another cute little kiss after she has bitten the cake. It's slightly awkward leaning across the gap between the chairs, but as soon as he notices that, the chairs wriggle together and merge into a small comfortable couch.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Bella laughs, and pats the couch. "Enchantments. Convenient."
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
"I'm getting that!" says Ripper, scooting a little closer.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Bella decides that leaning her head on his shoulder and putting her arm around his waist is compatible with finishing her cake.
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
Ripper puts his arm around her shoulders and kisses the top of her head and finishes his cake.

And then they have finished their cake.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Snuggles and kisses?
tearingup: (⑥ consider caution)
Author: tearingup
Excellent plan!
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
She is pretty good at plans!
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
She's not bad at kisses, either.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Not anymore! And she has no point of comparison, but suspects that he is also pretty good at kisses.
tearingup: (Default)
Author: tearingup
He is.

Also, the couch seems to be changing its form for greater snuggability - the cushions becoming deeper and softer, the back curving outward and sinking down to give them more room.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Convenient cuddly couch. Lovely cuddly Ripper.
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
It is the most convenient of couches, and he is the loveliest of Rippers. And now that the couch has as good as told him to, he might as well curl up in it with her. And kiss her some more.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
That is good. She approves of plans involving further kisses.

She's not blushing any more, although he might or might not notice.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
He does notice! The blush was adorable, but he's not entirely sad to see it go.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
It does symbolize that she is less shy. Unshy enough to snuggle riiiight up.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
Ooh.

Yes. That is definitely an improvement.

Kisses? Kisses.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Kisseeeeeees!
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Lovely chocolatey snuggly kisses.

Also, increasingly-covered-in-flower-petals kisses. At least the petals mostly don't land on their faces.
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
[They may have overdone the flower petals,] says Bella wryly, without interrupting the kisses.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
[I dunno, I kind of like 'em,] he says cheerfully.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
They do provide an interesting sort of blanket. (Under which to snuggle.)
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
Mm, yes. And they are soft and pleasant to the touch. Which goes well with all the snuggling.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
The involved humans: also pleasant to the touch. (Bella is experimenting with this now.)
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
Don't tell anyone, but Ripper is a little bit ticklish around the ribs. It makes him wriggle charmingly.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
That is very charming.

Bella can keep a secret.

And exploit this knowledge all on her own.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
In which case he is going to be doing a lot of giggling and squirming helplessly.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
That is cute. It is not enticing her to quit, not one bit. Also when he squirms like that it draws attention to his neck. Might his neck be kissable?
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
His neck is extremely kissable! Observe how delighted he is when she kisses it.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Delight is had by all!

Snuggles and the careful mapping of neck with kisses.
tearingup: (⑨ ask again)
Author: tearingup
The geography is not wholly consistent, but there are definitely spots that tend to generate particular reactions, ranging from 'generally pleased' to 'melting like butter'.

And how about when he kisses her neck?
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She too has a "melting like butter" setting. It's really not hard to get at with neck-kisses.

"Mmmm."
tearingup: (⑩ see in the dark)
Author: tearingup
The flower in Ripper's collar is just getting in the way by now. He tries to extract it, but it doesn't want to go, so he takes his shirt off and tosses it into a pile of flower petals.

There, that's better. Back to melting Bella!
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Melt melt melt happy noises.
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
Very nice. More neck-kissing is definitely in order.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Bella is nnnnnot going to complain. She's going to sort of press herself against Ripper and make noises.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Awesome.

Being covered in flower petals, he discovers, is even better with his shirt off. They are so soft and nice! He begins to suspect that this is all part of a plan. But it's a pretty great plan, if so.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Bella is also developing plan-related suspicions, but she does not voice them. She is too busy enjoying neck-kisses. The collar of this dress kind of interferes but she's not sure she wants to take it off yet; she obliges it to turn down perhaps farther than the fabric would normally allow. With magic.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
The flower tucked into her collar is low enough to be out of the way for now, at least. Ripper busies himself distributing kisses to all available neck locations.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Squirm melt squirm happy-little-humming-sounds.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
Snuggle snuggle kiss. Nibble? Are nibbles a positive sort of thing?
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
Yessssssssss.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
In that case, nibbles!
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Oh lovely.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Bella, Ripper is discovering, is extremely nibbleable.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She is making every effort to be nibbleable, on the theory that this will yield nibbles.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
Her theory is sound. Nibbles are had.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Excellent.

She is also enjoying the fact that he is shirtless. She does not tickle him again, at least not on purpose - that might distract him from what he's doing - but she does investigate this fascinating phenomenon.
tearingup: (⑩ see in the dark)
Author: tearingup
He has many touchable areas! Some of which are covered in flower petals, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
But it is, a little, because they get in the way. Shoo, flower petals in the way of Ripper.
tearingup: (⑦ try it your way)
Author: tearingup
They are easily shooed!
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Good. Skin.
tearingup: (⑪ make a change)
Author: tearingup
Skin is good, it's true. Also touchable.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
And kissable.
tearingup: (⑤ deny mercy)
Author: tearingup
Ooh.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Yep. Bella is just full of clever ideas.
tearingup: (⑩ see in the dark)
Author: tearingup
So very clever! Mmmm.
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
She's abusing the collar of this poor dress. That will never do. She triangles the collar back where it belongs, and squares the entire dress off her person, folded up on some flower petals over there.

Snuggle.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
Ooh. Snuggle! Snuggly nuzzly snuggle. With lots of skin.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Yes. Considerable amounts of it. Also kissing.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
These are all good things!
bellfounding: (heh)
Author: bellfounding
Bella agrees! It is so nice that they are in accord about this.
tearingup: (⑩ see in the dark)
Author: tearingup
Yes. Yes it is.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Maybe they are also in accord about other stuff.
tearingup: (⑪ make a change)
Author: tearingup
It turns out that they are!



It also turns out that the flower petals are not quite done with them yet.

In the midst of discovering certain ways in which Bella is extremely touchable, they also discover that certain events cause the entire carpet of petals covering the floor to lift off and fly away in all directions, scattering through the gaps in the walls and out the lack of a ceiling.
bellfounding: (lipbite)
Author: bellfounding
Bella is a little distracted at that moment; she notices, but doesn't complete her thoughts on the subject until a breathless minute of kissing later, at which time she says: "If they come and check on this place I will never hear the end of it."
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
Ripper giggles.

"I wonder if it's just you, or...?"

More kisses! Petals continue to rain on them.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
[Wanna find out?] she murmurs.
tearingup: (① laugh it off)
Author: tearingup
[Yes.]

Kisses kisses.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Empirical testing follows.
tearingup: (⑩ see in the dark)
Author: tearingup
Turns out it's not just her!

Also turns out that Ripper gets really aggressively cuddly after petal-banishing. He wraps his arms around Bella and hugs her tight, nuzzling the side of her neck.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
Mmmmmmmcuddles. Bella is perfectly thrilled to cuddle.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
Cuddles! Happy snuggly squishy cuddles. And kisses. But mostly cuddles.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
She has a while before she has anything time-dependent to go and do.

Snuggles and kisses and snuggles.
tearingup: (④ welcome consequences)
Author: tearingup
Ripper pretty much doesn't have anything time-dependent to go and do. So he can just stay here and snuggle her on this extremely comfortable couch. That seems like a great plan.
bellfounding: (aww)
Author: bellfounding
It does!

"I like you," Bella sighs happily.
tearingup: (② chew on things)
Author: tearingup
"I like you too," he says, and he kisses her cheek.
bellfounding: (beam)
Author: bellfounding
Kisses! Cuddles! A successful dinner-date.
tearingup: (③ sweeten the pot)
Author: tearingup
Yes indeed.