self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
The guest list winds up being pretty huge.

To start with, there are now eight Bells. Pattern isn't bringing anyone besides herself, and Aegis no one besides herself and her Whistle, but everyone else -

Between Alice, the Joker, the rescued Queenie, Kas, Micaiah, and Sue, plus Ghosty who Amariah picked up on her way home, that's seven Whistles. (Stella thinks ahead: there is a soundproofed orgy chamber away from the main party awning. With a few nodes off of it in case more than one orgy forms; she can think of at least two other likely ones.)

There's an equally absurd number of Sherlocks and Tonies if you count them together. They have Juliet's matched set, Shell Bell's matched set, two other matched sets from Bell-less worlds (one with souled vampire, one both human), a stray Tony, and a stray Sherlock from Downside.

Amariah grabbed a random Libby on top of the random extra Whistle, but at least she's not incorporating anyone from home.

Golden's bringing much of her family and many of her friends - although Edward is staying home, that still leaves Elspeth and Jacob, Alice and Jasper with little Brandon, Rosalie and Emmett and little Henry, Nathan accompanying his mate and their child Kerron, Esme and Carlisle and their Lily, Addy, and Elena who'll get to see her brother. Golden claims that this is a conservative list and she could easily have produced another twenty enthusiastic guests. Stella doesn't doubt it. She puts up a few signs reading Please Conduct Adult Conversation Only Via Brainphone. Little Half-Vampires Have Good Ears And Perfect Memories. As a last-minute surprise, Golden has taken Elspeth's suggestion to bring Edward's deceased mother Elizabeth, too.

Juliet has, on top of her boyfriend and his - progenitor? - her tiny Libby, James, a tagalong thereto called Virginia, and a ghost called Minnie, plus Giles.

Angela's list is more modest: her, her husband, and their friends Alleluia and Caleb.

Shell Bell is responsible for half the Sherlocks-and-Tonies all by herself, a tagalong called Pepper, and also someone called Darcy and also Matilda. (Shell Bell is also the reason Angela is not inviting her brother-in-law.)

Stella herself is responsible for inviting Libby, Orfeo, Chris, Mary, Anna, Sandy, Eights, Chainsaw, Lazarus, Kolya (who is informed that it would be awfully inconvenient for a majority of Bells to all have to coordinate on pretending he doesn't exist when only one of them has even met him to be able to identify him in the first place, so he can simply stay home if he's planning to be hidey), and Bridget.

Stella sets up a name tag system. Everyone will have a tag stuck to them. Solo persons - a minority - will just have their names. People with template names and nicknames will have both stamped on automatically. ("Hi! I'm a Bell, and you can call me Stella!"; "Hi! I'm a Whistle, and you can call me Alice!" "Hi! I'm a Sherlock, and I don't have a distinguishing nickname yet but as soon as I pick one it will appear here!")

She conjures up a nice buffet of food and beverages which will stay its correct temperature until consumed, and assorted synthetics for the vampires (labeled not for human consumption), and dishes and flatware (all glass; even some of the food-eating guests might dissolve anything else) and fusses with the awning opacity until it lets in just the right amount of sun, and, what the hell, she throws in a stage in case Angela wants to sing or she decides to play the flute or someone decides to pentagon some other performative skill to entertain the crowd. She makes sure there are enough bathrooms for all the people who still need bathrooms.

She puts out a few tables here and there with little bowls of squares and triangles - a mix of her glowing red and Alice's shifty black - in them for everyone's convenience. She accumulates coins in those sizes faster than she generally uses them and has a great many, so there are plenty for anyone to dip and wish if something comes up. She double-checks to make sure the Martian ground rules prohibit any misuses available for those size coins.

Jane gets one of those high-tech holographic projectors, on wheels, which she promptly manifests in, drives around the floor, and makes faces through.
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
Addy wants to talk about magic! There, that Bell has magic that isn't just minting - that random girl over there does too - there's Lazarus! Addy herds them all into one place with vague fluttering about magic and then grins broadly.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"So, hi! I remember you," to Matilda, "but not you," to Lazarus.
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
"I'm Lazarus," says Lazarus, despite his nametag.

To Matilda, he adds, "You're shiny!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I am!" she agrees.
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Lemme try?" Addy asks winningly, holding out her hands in Matilda's direction.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"Do you copy skill or just power?" Amariah asks.
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Power and instincts, not finesse or techy stuff."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Matilda gives Addy an assessing look.

Then she shrugs and holds out her hand.
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
Handclasp!

"Huh, that's odd," says Addy after a moment. "I can taste it but I can't take it."
dark_light: (frowny)
Author: dark_light
"...Should you have a warning label?" Amariah asks. "I'm going to ask Golden if you should have a warning label."

A moment later, Addy's nametag is revised with a warning label: Do Not Feed Excessively Powerful Magic To This Amoral Vampire Who Is Kept In Check Mostly Via Magic Related Bribery, Please.
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
"It's okay, I can't take it anyway," laughs Addy. She has not let go of Matilda's hand. "It's just tasty, not useful."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Matilda laughs, and takes her hand away.
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
Addy lets her. "Tastes like everything," she says. "You're an entire grocery store!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"That's me," says Matilda. "Full of magic groceries."
nonbird: (c. excusez-moi?)
Author: nonbird
"...That is a really strange mental image," says Lazarus.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"If you get no technical finesse it's probably safe for you to try mine," Amariah says. "You'd have to know a spell to cast one, and it's not that powerful anyway without stuff you don't have."
luminous_regnant: (Default)
Author: luminous_regnant
Addy requires no further invitation.

"Can't even taste you," she sighs. "Probably 'cause yours is species-based."

She pats Lazarus on the arm and then stares intently at Amariah and Matilda both with his power instead.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Matilda thinks of something, and brainphones Stella.

[Do you mind if I do a lot of my contagious magic here? It won't spread to individuals I don't do magic to, but it might spread to the universe and start popping up in natives.]
self_composed: (disquiet)
Author: self_composed
[Ah, hm. Need details.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[What kind?]
nonbird: (Default)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus is also peering at Amariah.

"You're fascinating," he says.
self_composed: (annoyed)
Author: self_composed
[What would pop up, in whom, how does it interact with my stuff if someone unfortunate should obtain the magic?]
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"Do tell!" Amariah laughs. Path preens.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[There's no clear set of rules about who can do magic and how and why. I could give you a good guess about whether or not someone might pick it up easily, but I couldn't tell you exactly why, and I'm not always right. But it works according to patterns. The practice in my world has been overwhelmingly benevolent for years, so spells that accomplish positive effects are easier to learn and create, and spells that accomplish negative effects are harder. Unless you get a lot of people very determined to wreck things, it should be the same way here, and even if you do it'll take a while for the balance to shift.]
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
"Well, you're all... together," he says. "You coordinate. Except the minting, but even your coin colour ties back in."
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Huh. I'm not sure I understand," says Amariah. "You mean just because the coin color is like cloudpine?"
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
[Okay. What do you do, or would it be more productive for me to ask Lazarus?]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[I do magic,] she says dryly. [I have no idea how much Lazarus can tell you, but Shell Bell read up on it once. It's a little much for me to summarize all at once.]
nonbird: (b. contemplative gaze)
Author: nonbird
"Coin colours are different to my power than to actual vision," he says. "To my power, your coin colour looks like your... witchiness."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"Huh," says Amariah. "What does Path look like to you?"
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
[I'll talk to Shell Bell and get back to you.]
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
"Like... you," he says. "But not the same as you."
dark_light: (path)
Author: dark_light
"I am her but not the same as her," Path points out.
nonbird: (9. that's how it is)
Author: nonbird
"That is probably why."
dark_light: (path)
Author: dark_light
"What can you tell about me just by looking?" Path asks. "What do you know about daemons to begin with?"
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
"I don't really know very much about daemons. You look like... like you're inside-out," he says, struggling with words the way he frequently does when trying to describe new magic things. "Like you're a part of her that belongs on the inside, belonging on the outside instead."
dark_light: (path)
Author: dark_light
"I can go inside, now," Path volunteers, "but we had to wish it."
nonbird: (Default)
Author: nonbird
"Yes," he says, "that's interesting too but I'm looking past it, it's not really about you. I don't think it's an ability you could've developed naturally."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Sue and Ivy have it unwished," Amariah volunteers. "If you come into Alethia without explicitly wishing against it you get a daemon, and he did this while he was dreaming, and this led to her going in and out."
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
"I think I've caught a glimpse of Sue," he says. "He's one of Alice's alts, right?"
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"He's a Whistle," says Amariah. "There's two people named Alice here who are not alts of each other - the other's Golden's precog. I bet Kas and Petaal would make a good control for looking at Sue and Ivy to see what's just them and what's the results of the dream, too."
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
"I am from this world. When I say Alice, I generally mean the one who keeps hugging me."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Whistles are like that," laughs Amariah. "I'm fond of Whistles. I might go join them if they don't emerge on their own in a bit."
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
"I'm fond of the one I know!" says Lazarus. "But I don't think I'm quite ready to dive into a pile of them."
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"But it'd be such a snuggly pile!"
nonbird: (8. nor little nor a bird)
Author: nonbird
"It would," he agrees. "It would be a very snuggly pile. And probably also very naked."
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"Witches don't care about nudity," shrugs Amariah. "I don't really get caring about it, although I know how to act around people who do."
nonbird: (c. excusez-moi?)
Author: nonbird
"...Witches don't care about nudity including in the context of cuddlepiles?" he clarifies.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Nudity is not a meaningful thing by itself except where there is actual practical reason for it to be," Amariah says. "If I'll cuddle with somebody I don't care if any combination of us also happen to be naked."
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
"I tend to squeak," Lazarus admits ruefully.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"That sounds adorable, can you do it on command or would I have to take my clothes off in front of the non-witch adorable little children which I probably shouldn't do?"
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
"I cannot do it on command, but it's not that infrequent. Please do not take off your clothes."
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Not out here, anyway, I don't think they'll last long if I go hang out with a heap of Whistles. You don't sound likely to join me at such a pursuit."
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird


Lazarus ponders.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Or are you?"
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus blushes!
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"That's cute, you're cute, does Stella ever tell you that?"
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Stella reports to Matilda: [I don't want to introduce your magic at this time, but I'd like to revisit the issue in a few more years when my empire's more entrenched and has more than a few million people in it and Earth is a nicer place to live. Jane's got a node in your world so I can contact you anytime, right?]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[Yep!] says Matilda. [Sure thing! By the way, Amariah is flirting with Lazarus and it's adorable.]
nonbird: (1. quantities of fluff)
Author: nonbird
"Many people frequently tell me that," says Lazarus, "Stella included."
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
[That is kind of adorable.]
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Good. Cute people should be told that they're cute," Amariah asserts. "I bet a lot of Whistles would be happy to reiterate the sentiment if we visited them. And then I'd get to see this eeping I have heard so much about."
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
"You know what," says Lazarus, "sure."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah smiles at him and meanders thataway.
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus follows, blushing preemptively.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"So cute. Does Stella not even hit on you? I'm all the way on the one end of the spectrum, but it's not like she's Golden, and it's not like we're constitutionally incapable except for me as the lone exception, Shell Bell's got her set of twins..."
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
"I don't... think Stella hits on me," he says. "If she does, she does it very subtly."
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"Would you find it unwelcome in some way that she knows about?" inquires Amariah, pushing open the first door of the privacy airlock. "And that I clearly don't so you should tell me if you want me to stop."
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
"I don't know, really," he says, following her into the airlock. "I do tend to eep, but as you can see, that's not always something I try to avoid..."
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
Amariah giggles. The first door closes, the second opens. She peers through, looking first of all for Kas.
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird




Lazarus eeps.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"How'd you get him in here?" giggles Alice, climbing out of the pile and coming over to give Lazarus a hug and ruffle his hair.
truthwright: (⑺ have things my own way)
Author: truthwright
Kas is busy making out with Micaiah, but Petaal is being an angel and she waves from where Ghosty and Queenie are snuggled up in her wings.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"Insinuated nicely," says Amariah, waving back at Petaal. Path tucks away; it's safer in a room with this many bodies, and he, unlike Petaal, can't touch a majority of the attendees. Also, it is clearly unwarranted for her to wear clothes here. She stops!
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice lets go of Lazarus and hugs Amariah next. He has been being squishy, so it is not a vampire hug.

"Come snuggle everybody," he invites.
nonbird: (b. contemplative gaze)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus... sort of hangs around nervously.
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
Amariah goes and snuggles everybody!

"You okay, Lazarus?" Amariah asks.
nonbird: (e. something is wrong here)
Author: nonbird
"Mostly?" he says, leaning against a wall.
yourheartstrings: (⑷ i wanna hold you)
Author: yourheartstrings
Ghosty unravels herself out of the middle of the now Amariah-centric cuddlepile, re-coaelsces next to Lazarus, and gives him a big warm snuggly hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"You're cute," she says fondly. "Wanna cuddle with everybody? We don't bite. Unless you're into that."
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"It's very cozy," Amariah volunteers.
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
"I can tell about the coziness," says Lazarus. "The coziness is apparent to me."

He hugs Ghosty back. (She's pretty cozy, too.)
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"What's the hangup, then?" Amariah asks.
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
"I'm not sure, really."
yourheartstrings: (⑹ listen baby)
Author: yourheartstrings
Ghosty hugs Lazarus some more, but doesn't try to pull him cuddleward.

Queenie, nearest to Amariah in the pile, snuggles up and inquires, "Wanna make out?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Nah," Amariah says easily to Queenie.
yourheartstrings: (⑶ we got no principles)
Author: yourheartstrings
"Mmkay."

Instead, hugs!
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
"That does look awfully cozy," Lazarus murmurs, absently leaning his cheek against Ghosty's hair.
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"So cozy!" Amariah says. "And as I have just demonstrated you don't have to make out with anybody you don't feel like making out with."
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
"Yes, I can see that," he says.

And he shrugs, and proceeds into the pile. He is the only one there wearing clothes, but no one else seems to mind.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah sure doesn't!

"Anybody in this pile you do wanna make out with?" she asks brightly.
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
"I could ask you the same question," says Kas, although he is probably not volunteering from all the way over there and mostly underneath Micaiah.
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus's answer, apparently, is a blush and a quiet, amused "Eep."
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"I continue to be straight," Ama says. "I think within this pile that's my only constraint."
nonbird: (1. quantities of fluff)
Author: nonbird
"...Well," says Lazarus, blushing some more.
yourheartstrings: (⑷ i wanna hold you)
Author: yourheartstrings
"Awwwwwwwwwww," says Ghosty.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
Amariah raises an eyebrow at him. Bells all do the same eyebrow thing, so it may be familiar.

"You're really very cute," she tells him.
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
"Thank you."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"You're welcome," she says contently.

Well, he doesn't seem to be biting far as she can tell. What other people are unoccupied in this pile and do not create problems what with this inconvenient straightness thing Amariah has going on?
yourheartstrings: (⑼ hello hooray)
Author: yourheartstrings
Well, there's always—
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning broadly. (♠2/lovin' every minute of it)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
—Ghosty, who comes in variable shapes.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Ah yes, Amariah actually has fond, recent memories of Ghosty's variable shapes!

Kisses?
gunpowdergelatine: Reclining, posed in a vulnerable, sexually suggestive way. (♣6/start me like a motor)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
Kisses! Cuddly kisses.
yourheartstrings: (⑵ 'cause they found new toys)
Author: yourheartstrings
While that's going on, Queenie snuggles up to Lazarus.

"I bet you wanna kiss her," she murmurs.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
Amariah doesn't interrupt kissing Ghosty to indicate this, but she listens curiously.
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
"Um," says Lazarus. "Well. Yes."
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Ooh," says Amariah between kisses. "See, I couldn't tell."
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
"I wasn't really advertising it!" he says, grinning a little.
yourheartstrings: (⑶ we got no principles)
Author: yourheartstrings
"I figured it out," Queenie says smugly.
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"You're very perceptive," Amariah tells Queenie. She kisses the end of Ghosty's nose and adjusts her position to peer invitingly at Lazarus, one hand extended in his direction.
gunpowdergelatine: Grinning. (♠3/I'm all love)
Author: gunpowdergelatine
Ghosty giggles.
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus blushes some more.

Then he takes Amariah's hand, and wriggles a little closer in the pile.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
He gets a kiss for his trouble!
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
He kisses back. Shyly, but with definite enjoyment.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Awww, shy kisses, that's cute. Amariah's kisses are not shy but they are also enjoying!
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
Kisses kisses!

There is definitely something to this cuddlepile business. Kisses are extra fun when they happen in a pile of cuddles. This he is discovering.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
Amariah is so pleased to have had the opportunity to enlighten him!
nonbird: (b. contemplative gaze)
Author: nonbird


"So," he says slowly, after some amount of kisses, "wait, are you - are you test-driving me for Stella, or something?"
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"Uh, she didn't ask me to, and if you don't want me to recommend you to her later I won't," Amariah blinks.
nonbird: (Default)
Author: nonbird
"Well... I don't really know," he says. "It just occurred to me that you asked me if she hits on me and calls me cute and things."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"I did ask that. I wanted to know, is why," Amariah says. (Kiss.) "Because you are cute and worth hitting on and she's the one of us who has non-party-related reasons to encounter you."
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
"Well," he says, "I guess you can ask her why she doesn't. And then at least one and possibly both of us will find out."
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"I dunno, have you got a significant other who is not known to approve of you kissing Bells?" Pause. "Or who actually doesn't approve of you kissing Bells, in which case we should stop."
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
"I have a, um... no one matching that description is going to disapprove of me kissing Bells," he says.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"But does Stella know that? Or does she just know that you have an um whose lack of disapproval is an unknown quantity?"
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
"...I suppose she does know," he says. "About the um."
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"Goddesses all you're cute." He gets a kiss. "Do you want her, because I totally can go recommend you to her, it wouldn't even be my first, what'd you call it, test drive."
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
He giggles softly.

"I think I... wouldn't mind being recommended," he says.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"I shall have a chat with her when I'm all through," kiss, "collecting data!"
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
"Okay," says Lazarus.

And he kisses her some more.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
Yaaaaaay test driving other Bells' potential boyfriends is fuuuuuuun!

Brainphones exist. She does not have to interrupt the kissing to say, [D'you want to be recommended solely for being a good kisser?]
nonbird: (1. quantities of fluff)
Author: nonbird
[Well, presumably you're also going to mention the cuteness,] he says. [Even though she already knows about it. Because I already know about it, and you keep mentioning it to me.]

This is the opposite of a complaint.
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
[Yes. Kisses and cuteness, both on the list.]
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
[So...?]
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
[So, do you feel like qualifying me to recommend you for any other properties you might have? Among the Whistles or not, there's other rooms in here.]
nonbird: (b. contemplative gaze)
Author: nonbird
[...I'll think about it,] he says.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
[Okay.] Amariah's not in a hurry to move on from kissing. Delicious Lazarus om nom nom.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice is totally watching them and beaming.
nonbird: (Default)
Author: nonbird
...It is kind of adorable.

Lazarus glances speculatively at him between kisses.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
Amariah giggles at him doing this between kisses!
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
"I am having a very adventurous day today," says Lazarus. "Alice, would you like to kiss me?"
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, maybe licking lips. (⑴ you say bark I say bite)
Author: edgeofyourseat
"Yeah!" he says, and pounces gently.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Awwwwww."
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, conspiratorial or challenging. (⑷ wanna try?)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Mmmm kisses.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Well, now Amariah's unoccupied. Anybody looking speculatively at her now?
manofmyword: Conspiratorial or condescending. (⒁ they'rrre cheap)
Author: manofmyword
Ghosty and Queenie are cuddling close by. Petaal has her wings draped over Kas and Micaiah, who have progressed past making out. Alice is, of course, busy.

On the opposite end of the pile from Kas, the Joker is curled up with his arms wrapped around Sue, and both of them are looking at her. Hard to tell if 'speculative' applies.
dark_light: (cool)
Author: dark_light
"Where's Ivy?" Amariah wonders.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
A small white fennec fox pokes her head out from between the pair of them and waves a paw.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah waves. "Thanks for teaching me that hiding trick. I would not be nearly as comfortable walking into a room this crowded if Path had to be out. He'd wind up waiting outside being disgruntled."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"And that wouldn't be near as much fun," says Sue. Ivy climbs over him and into his arms, and he cuddles her and kisses the top of her head.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"It wouldn't. Anything much in this vein with an unoccupied, disgruntled daemon is just kinda bleah." Amariah waves at the general contingent. "Hey - Aegis identified you as her 'best friend'. Just because she's fifteen or what, d'you know?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"...I dunno," says Sue, shaking his head. "I used to flirt with everybody and she didn't want me to flirt with her 'cause she wasn't there yet, but that was a year or something ago."
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"I wonder if you're all... Westermarck effect, that's it. Well, her, anyway."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I'm not," he says, grinning.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah, that doesn't seem like the sorta thing that'd apply to you," laughs Amariah. "You want me to ask her?" Pause. "You want to get 'test-driven'?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Brightly: "Sure!"
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"To which question?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Both of 'em?" he laughs.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"In which order?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I dunno, does it matter? I mean, if you ask her if she's interested and she says no does that mean you won't fuck me either?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Not hardly." Amariah wriggles her way out of her current pile. "Minor logistical issue - if Path's gonna be out to occupy Ivy I don't want to be in a room this crowded."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I think one of the other rooms is still free!" he says, grinning.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah gets to her feet and holds out her hand towards Sue.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He takes it, and Ivy follows them as a hummingbird.
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
Path emerges as they cross the threshold. [Hey Aegis,] Amariah asks, setting up her, Sue, their daemons, and Aegis all in a conference call, [you don't mind if I borrow your Whistle for salacious purposes?]
autokinetic: (evaluating)
Author: autokinetic
[...You want to - wait - Sue, are you not gay?]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[...The fuck?] he says, actually stopping in his tracks. [No, I'm not gay, why would I be gay?]
autokinetic: (explain)
Author: autokinetic
[I hope you weren't expecting me to draw conclusions about your sexuality from the fact that you were willing to flirt with a thirteen-year-old girl, and besides that it sure looked like it to me!]
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
[Oh, you poor things,] laughs Amariah. [If alts ever vary in who they're attracted to we haven't seen the phenomenon yet. Shell Bell's special circumstances. Whistles are - Whistles.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[There weren't any girls around who wanted to fuck me!] he says. [Until now, anyway. But I've had the hots for you since ages, did you not know that?]
autokinetic: (unclear)
Author: autokinetic
[I did not know that! Because you didn't tell me! And even guys who're just space-gay talk about girls.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[I guess I just got used to not flirting,] he says. [And I'm not 'guys', I'm me.]
autokinetic: (edible)
Author: autokinetic
[I know you're you. I just didn't know you weren't gay.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[Well, that's weird,] he says. [But now you do.]
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
[Yeah. Um.]
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
[I'll bow out if you want, Aegis,] invites Amariah. [Or I can test-drive him for you.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[I'm looking forward to the test drive,] says Sue.
autokinetic: (edible)
Author: autokinetic
[...You have fun, I need to think.]
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
[I'll have a nice informed review along in a bit,] Amariah says.
autokinetic: (sunlit)
Author: autokinetic
[Thanks, I think.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Sue giggles, and drops the call, and hugs Amariah.
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
Amariah hugs him back.

Path moves to a part of the room that's out of the way and hoots at Ivy.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Ivy becomes an angel, and goes to Path, and hugs him and pets him and kisses his fluffy feathers.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
Amariah takes him for a test drive.

[Highly recommended,] she tells Aegis, with Sue conferenced in, when all is done. And then she pulls herself out of the call, collects Path into herself again, and wanders back into the main chamber.
autokinetic: (fold)
Author: autokinetic
[Huh,] Aegis says, now speaking only to Ivy and Sue.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[So, you do your thinking yet?]
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
[Some of it. I know I told you not to flirt with me back when I was thirteen, but you could've just told me straight out, you know. I didn't like it because I was thirteen and I thought it was part of Unhealthy Sue Behavior.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[I guess it was a little. But I liked you, too. I like you now. I love you.]
autokinetic: (tomorrow)
Author: autokinetic
[You're my best friend and I love you and I've thought you were not-potentially-dateable for a long time now,] Aegis sighs.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
[I still don't get that,] he says. [But maybe it's just that I don't even know what me being gay would be like.]
autokinetic: (explain)
Author: autokinetic
[Link me up, it's higher bandwidth. I'm not gay but I can push you what it's like to only like boys.]
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He links her up.
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
She pushes.

Girls just aren't labeled in her head as potential partners. Maybe not in the same sense that, say, chairs are - chairs are not people, among other important differences between them and girls - but in about the same sense that children or - or buggers aren't.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
That is really weird. Even knowing what it is like, Sue still can't envision it for himself.

He pushes back the complete picture of how he feels about Aegis.



He is definitely not gay.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
...ooh.

Aegis is not gay either!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Yes, she just said.
autokinetic: (c'mon)
Author: autokinetic
If you'd pushed that at me while you were, like, next to me, I probably would've kissed you, Aegis observes. But you're in the orgy chamber and I don't think I wanna be in an orgy chamber.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
I'm not in the main part! he says, laughing. Ama went back out, there's nobody in here but me.
autokinetic: (photo)
Author: autokinetic
I still have mixed feelings about entering an orgy chamber, though!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
It's just a room with a big comfy bed and a buncha pillows, he shrugs.
autokinetic: (evaluating)
Author: autokinetic
Nobody's likely to come in and start orgy-ing?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He giggles.

Not if we close the door!
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
If the door isn't currently closed, do please close it before I teleport in, I don't really want to witness an orgy any more than I want to be in one. I wonder why Amariah's so different.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
I dunno, he says, and shuts the door with a square, and indicates that he has done so.
autokinetic: (Default)
Author: autokinetic
Port!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Hug!

He did not put on clothes, should he have put on clothes?
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Meh. Hug!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Okay, awesome. He loves heeeeeer.
autokinetic: (tentative)
Author: autokinetic
I don't actually know what I'm doing past hereabouts, Aegis remarks presently.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Is there something you want to be doing? he asks cheerfully. 'Cause we could just snuggle if that's what you're after.
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
I don't know. We can start with that.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Snuggles! Big-comfy-bed snuggles.

Ivy instatiates as a very large, brightly coloured snake and coils over both of them.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Ivy-the-snake gets petted. Aegis closes her eyes and cuddles up. I do love you, you know, even if I've only been thinking about you as a friend for forever.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
I love you too, he says, snuggling her. You're the best.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Snuggle!

I do kinda want to kiss you. I don't think leaping immediately into metaphorical bed like Amariah is a me thing, though.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
So let's kiss, he says cheerfully.
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
Tentative little incompetent kiss? Yes, that.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
How about snuggly kiss?
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Snuggly too! Snuggly is good.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
In that case, more snuggly kiss!
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
The tentativeness is going away slowly! The incompetence is going away more slowly!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Sue is pretty content with this turn of events!
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Oh, good! Snuggles and kisses and Ivy-petting and some Sue-petting. These things.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Ivy, being currently a snake, does not make sounds when petted.

Sue does, though!
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
That's encouraging!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
They are encouraging sounds.
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
Aegis has decided that she definitely likes kissing Sue. She pushes him this information, since he has a door through her wall now and it's easy and she can.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Ooh. Sue likes kissing Aegis right back! He informs her of this in the clearest possible terms.
autokinetic: (Default)
Author: autokinetic
Do you usually link people in... bed?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Not all the time, but sometimes!
autokinetic: (c'mon)
Author: autokinetic
How's that work?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He laughs. Why, you want I should show you?
autokinetic: (explain)
Author: autokinetic
Not all multimedia. I don't wanna feel like I've slept with everybody you have. Just curious.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
It's nice, he says. My alts like it especially. And it's easier than talking for explaining some stuff.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
That sounds nice.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Mmhmm," he says, snuggling closer and pushing another dose of I-love-you-you're-the-best.
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
Aegis likes that and this time she is close enough to kiss him for it and he's close enough to hear her small pleased noise.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He kisses back, shining delight into her mind.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Kisses kisses kisses. She's less incompetent now!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
That is nice. This is nice. Everything is nice. Sue is getting all kinds of good feelings, and he sends her those too, all happy and shivery and lovey.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Aegis doesn't default to pushing at him, but she does when she thinks to; she's all comfortable excitement and enthralled affection.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Awwwwwwwwww that makes him happy. That makes him really happy. See how happy?
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
She is happy that he is happy! He gets squeezed. And kissed some more.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Mmmmmm kisses snuggles kisses love kisses snuggles.

(The squeezing is nice. There could be more of that.)
autokinetic: (c'mon)
Author: autokinetic
Then there is more of that. Aegis is quite obliging about squeezing.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Best! Best best best. Sue is very squishable. Alice has taught him as much. He had lots of fun finding out.
autokinetic: (photo)
Author: autokinetic
Aegis is not vampire-strong, so she isn't squishing him quite that much, but she's doing her best.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Sue tells/shows her how much he likes her squishing him.

It is a lot.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
"Mmm," sighs Aegis, tucking her head in against his neck and going on with the squeezing.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He hugs her back lightly and closes his eyes and loves her.
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
She loves him back! She pushes it. So there.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
She is the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeest.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
Yes. Yes she is. She laughs smugly.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"You are the best," says Sue. "You're my favourite Bell. And I love you and I kinda want to make out with you forever."
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
"I love you too. And I want to do some other things in the course of forever but there can be making out in there."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Well, yeah," he says, "you're gonna take over the world, too."

That also makes him happy. He loves that she will take over the world.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
She also loves that she will take over the world!
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Yeah, but she loves it differently. Because presumably she does not want to make out with herself. If she did, there would be many available opportunities.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
There would not! The other Bells are all straight. Even Shell Bell's special circumstances don't extend that far.

She doesn't want to make out with herself anyway. She wants to make out with Sue! Thiiiiis much.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
That is a lot of much!

Sue wants things, too. He wants to make out with Aegis, and hug her and love her and be close to her, and he wants her to squish him, and he wants -

He wants to hurt.
autokinetic: (rapt)
Author: autokinetic
?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Sue likes pain. All the squishing and the kissing and the being-turned-on are, in combination, reminding him of this. He would like to like some right now, if she's feeling it.
autokinetic: (photo)
Author: autokinetic
Huh.

She has an agony beam installed - it's standard issue, she got it stacked up right with everything else. She hasn't tried it yet. Or she could just dig her nails in a little where her hands are pressing into his back. Either, both, what's his preference?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Right now, his preference is for fingernails!
autokinetic: (edible)
Author: autokinetic
Pressing becomes clenching. She hasn't cut her nails in a while. They can go in quite a ways, and she might not have super-strength but she does have good muscle tone.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Sue gets all happy and squirmy, and sends happy squirmy love.
autokinetic: (good)
Author: autokinetic
He gets kissed and scratched and kissed some more.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmkisses. Happy squirmy lovey kisses.
autokinetic: (c'mon)
Author: autokinetic
Hmm.

She bites his lip. Not enough to bleed, but enough that she wouldn't at all like it if somebody did it to her.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He loves her.
autokinetic: (playful)
Author: autokinetic
Of course he does! It's 'cause she's awesome. She loves him too. Nibble nibble kiss kiss.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Sue wraps his arms around her and squeezes, not squishy-tight but with definite emphasis.

Kiss kiss snuggle snuggle!