self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
Bella stockpiles hexes.

She already has a ridiculous number, but she wants so many that if it seems most expedient to individually do some manner of hex-magic to every cubic inch of space in her dorm room, she can and still have a ridiculous number left. She wants enough that if Libby turns out to be a particularly dab hand at extortion, to the point where paying up is her best bet, Bella can keep gritting her teeth and handing over tribute up until the point where even this person will believe that this is all there could ever be - and still have a ridiculous number. She wants her ridiculous numbers to have ridiculous numbers.

What does she have?

An Alice. She has one of those.

And she can use what she has to get what she wants, late into the night, hexily disassembling her body's dependence on sleep, and till she should start thinking about catching up on the internet and heading to class.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Her Alice, naturally, does the opposite of complain about this.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)
Author: prima_sequentem
At about seven in the morning, Bella gets an email from someone named E. Kirsch.

It says only:
You wanted to talk?
self_composed: (cold)
Author: self_composed
With an introduction like that, it could be spam. Or not.

I want to know what's going on.
is Bella's reply.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
Don't we all.
self_composed: (disquiet)
Author: self_composed
I was told that the only way to find out what's going on was to talk to you.


Bella takes her laptop to class. She can ramp up to 2x or more and sit in back.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
Probably true. Any other ambitions I can help you with while we're at it?
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
I am half concerned that if I announced a desire for a pony, one might actually appear, and I do not actually want a pony.

So. What's going on?
prima_sequentem: (ℝ you were saying?)
Author: prima_sequentem
I'm hardly going to waste resources giving an obviously facetious pony to someone I barely know.

You're going to have to ask much more specific questions if you want useful answers.
self_composed: (cold)
Author: self_composed
How does the vaguely sinister organization Bridget speaks so highly of work? How big is it? What can it do? What does it want, what do you want, to what extent do those differ?
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)
Author: prima_sequentem
Vaguely sinister organization? Really?

I know a lot of people. Some of them have magic. Some of them have other useful talents or circumstances. Sometimes I ask them to help each other, or me. I generally try to see to it that everyone gets along and nobody has too much trouble with anything. I don't think any of that qualifies as sinister, vaguely or otherwise.
self_composed: (disquiet)
Author: self_composed
I've already had the "sinister" argument with Bridget, I guess.

Why do you run this thing?

How many is a lot?

What do you want?
prima_sequentem: (ℤ give me the bad news first)
Author: prima_sequentem
You haven't had it with me.

I don't currently trust you enough to tell you any numbers, and I don't know you well enough to answer the other two.
self_composed: (cold)
Author: self_composed
So talking to you is not actually a very effective way of finding out what's going on, then, is it.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)
Author: prima_sequentem
On the contrary, I think you'll find it's the best way there is.

Unless you want me to tell you everything you want to know in exchange for absolutely no personal or logistical investment whatsoever, in which case I am not at all sorry to disappoint you.
self_composed: (annoyed)
Author: self_composed
I did ask you what you wanted.
prima_sequentem: (ℝ long way to the top)
Author: prima_sequentem
From you?

If you have the time, I'd like you to come to New York and have a chat with me about your goals in life.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
My next school break is Christmas and I've promised it elsewhere, even if my bank account could accommodate plane tickets across the country. What's the added benefit of putting me in New York?


Maybe Libby knows Bella can fly under her own power, maybe not, maybe she knows she can magic door, maybe not. Bella doesn't need to tell her just yet.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)
Author: prima_sequentem
I can cover plane fare if that's a problem.

I'm much better at figuring people out in person than by email. You want to know a lot of things I don't usually tell people. I want to know that you're not going to use that information in any way I wouldn't like.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
I can take a long weekend if you're buying. I'm ahead by enough in my Monday classes.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
Sounds good to me. Let me know your preferred travel times and I'll arrange tickets.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Heh. Bella doesn't need to sleep anymore and by the same token can sleep at will. This will make plane flights different.

I'm flexible. Eastward Friday night, westward Sunday night or Monday morning?
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
Sure.
About ten minutes later, Bella is forwarded plane tickets for a round trip to New York.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Interesting.

[Hello folks,] Bella says to Alice and Lazarus. [This Friday I will be flying to New York to meet Libby.] Pause. [In a plane.]

Thanks.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
No problem.
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
She reaches Lazarus's busy message, which says, [I'm sleeping?] in a tone of voice that indicates he is perhaps not totally sure of that.
edgeofyourseat: Hand to back of head, uncertain. (⑾ whatcha doin' tonight)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Why the plane?]
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
[Because Libby doesn't know I don't need planes to get around, and she's buying.] She leaves the message with Lazarus's brain answering machine.
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Well, that makes sense, I guess.]

Bella may or may not want to be reading Alice right now, because he is in his lair, doing what you would expect Alice to be doing after a whole night of churning out hexes.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Indeed Bella is presently declining to supervise - it's not unpleasant as a spectator sport, she's just used up her interest for the time being. [You probably shouldn't come along. Native powers trump wishes, and some people's native powers are seeing stuff.]
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Okay,] he says cheerfully. [Have fun.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Where will I meet you when I appear at LaGuardia?
Bella asks, after her class is over and she's back in her dorm.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
I think it would be simplest if I met you at the airport. I'll find you, don't worry.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
How am I to recognize you?
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
Her reply contains no text, just a picture.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Well, that works. That's actually more information than she had to supply to fully answer Bella's question, which is just about the first promising thing that's happened.

See you there.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
Yep.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
That's the end of the email conversation, Bella supposes.

She tries Lazarus again. [So, meeting Libby this weekend. Any progress or willingness to make further attempts at progress on star power?]
nonbird: (c. excusez-moi?)
Author: nonbird
[Good morning,] he says sleepily. [Who invented mornings?]
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
[Astronomy?] suggests Bella. [I don't need to sleep anymore. Does that sound appealing?]
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
[..Yes, actually. Did I see that one already? I forget.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[Nah, it's new. I wanted to pull an all-nighter and I'd been thinking about it for a while. I can sleep normally at will and wake up under circumstances when I would normally have woken up, or at a predetermined time. Otherwise I always feel like it's about ten in the morning after a good night's rest and a cup of coffee.]
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
[That's very well designed,] he compliments, yawning. [I want one.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella adds a hex to his little cloth bag. [Consult your stash of coins.]
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
[Aww, for me?]

He yawns again, pauses a moment, and then comes back sounding much less mumbly.

[Well, that's interesting.]
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
[Do tell.]
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
[I'm not sure of this yet,] he says cautiously. [But it seems like when I make a wish, part of the magic goes into the wish, and part goes... somewhere else. The part that goes into the wish is most of it; the other part is much smaller.]
self_composed: (annoyed)
Author: self_composed
[Somewhere else,] repeats Bella slowly.
nonbird: (e. something is wrong here)
Author: nonbird
[Yes. And no, before you ask, I have no idea where or what it does when it gets there.]
self_composed: (disquiet)
Author: self_composed
[Do you think you could watch it go wherever it goes if you were on the lookout for it while making a new wish?]
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
[Maybe,] he hazards.
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
[Have you had more opportunity to consider perfect recall or any of the other possibilities for things-to-do-with-more-hexes? Would Kolya like to not need sleep, maybe?]
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
[Actually... what sorts of things could I do with a pentagon?]
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
[Learn to speak Swahili or play the oboe or kick ass at Ultimate Frisbee or cook like a deity or do awesome parkour tricks? Make a neat magic device like my bike, only please nothing conspicuous because I don't want it to be too blatantly obvious to Libby that I'm passing you coins?]
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
[I would like some pentagons, please,] he requests. [I'll spend them all on languages.]
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
Bella sends him twenty.
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
About thirty seconds later: [Can I have some squares, too, actually?]
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
[Are you out? Sure.] She gives him twenty of those too.
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
[Learning languages with magic feels like cheating,] he reports, after another minute or two. [And the amount of magic a pentagon spends on who-knows-what is the same as the amount of magic a square spends on doing its actual job.]
self_composed: (disquiet)
Author: self_composed
[That's interesting... does a hex send a pentagon-sized amount wherever-it-goes?]
nonbird: (9. that's how it is)
Author: nonbird
[I think so. I might as well take that perfect memory now; I seem to keep needing it.]
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
Bella sends him a hex, tapping her fingers on her knee with intent impatience.
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
Very, very shortly afterward: [Yes. And looking back at triangles, I don't think they spend any extra at all. But a square spends a triangle's worth of mystery magic.]
self_composed: (thoughtful)
Author: self_composed
[That's very peculiar. I wonder what the mystery magic could be doing.]
nonbird: (8. nor little nor a bird)
Author: nonbird
[I still can't figure that part out,] he admits.
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
[It's not contributing to the wish. Is it just... waste magic? Released to no effect at all? A natural inefficiency of the coining process?]
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
[I don't think so?] he says. [I do get a certain sense of... futility from it. But I'm not sure how reliable that impression is.]
self_composed: (thoughtful)
Author: self_composed
[Futility,] repeats Bella. [So it's... doing something pointless? Doing a tiny amount of work towards an astronomical task? Doing something that will be undone?]
nonbird: (9. that's how it is)
Author: nonbird
[I can't quite tell.]
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Bella hefts a length of her bandolier. She spends a pentagon to tell her what the rest of the pentagon is doing.

Doesn't go. Hex won't, either. Coins are not very good at directly learning information, or maybe they're not good at recursion.

[What would you need to look at to learn more?]
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
[I might need to watch more different people doing magic, in case it has something to do with the caster.]
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
[You can come lurk by the magic door and Alice and I can come up with stuff to do,] Bella suggests.
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
[Will do.]

But first, he should probably put on some pants.
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
[Alice, what fun things can you think of to do with coins of various sizes so Lazarus can watch magic do stuff?] Bella asks.
edgeofyourseat: Dancing wildly, grinning. (⑹ ride it where I like)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[...Define fun,] he says, giggling. Because he can think of lots, but the first ten or so items that come to mind probably aren't things Lazarus would enjoy watching.

They could always create a rain of jelly beans. Invisible jelly beans. And then clean them up afterward.
self_composed: (grin)
Author: self_composed
[Rain of jellybeans and subsequent cleanup is a couple pentagons. If you're low on fabric or anything this would be a good time to do some batches of conjuration. I think I'll add super-speed - to match my brain's version of same. And if we need something else I may want to gain the power to become insubstantial. And I haven't learned all the languages there are yet.]
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[I love you,] Alice says cheerfully, and makes his way to the appropriate magic door.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella meets him in the lair. [Ready when you are, Lazarus,] she says, including Alice in the call too.
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
[...What the hell...?] he says, sounding confused and vaguely affronted, as he trots down the stairs. [Oh. Why would you do that? Did you not know—? I guess not. Alice, you have a native power that protects you against mental tampering,] he says. [And it clashes horribly with the hex on top of it. Ick.]
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, possibly fake, mildly creepy. (⑸ playful as a pussy cat)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Hello to you too,] he says, giggling again.
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
[Like... half of my native power?] Bella asks, tilting her head. [That would explain why his didn't fail for redundancy like mine did, if it's only half. We can peel away the extra if it's bothering you.]
nonbird: (c. excusez-moi?)
Author: nonbird
[It is bothering me a lot,] says Lazarus. [It's like you took a pretty little decorative object of some kind and then covered it in glue. And I wouldn't say it's half of your power, exactly. They don't look at all alike.]
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, conspiratorial or challenging. (⑷ wanna try?)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Okay, sure,] says Alice, [let's make my powers all pretty.]

He wishes away exactly the part of the protective hex that is already covered by his native power.
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
[I'm defended against inspection and tampering, he's defended against just tampering - what's the difference beyond that?] Bella asks curiously. [Alice, please warn him before making wishes; we want him to supervise them carefully.]
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
[Ooh, that is pretty,] says Lazarus. [The differences are, um... I'd almost call them a matter of personality? Your power has that very distinctive exactness to it; Alice's is more, how do I put this, friendly. Or maybe friendly isn't the right word. It's close, though.]
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
Bella laughs helplessly. [Friendly! But - wait a second. I'm pretty sure an agony beam like mine would bounce off me, for tampering and not inspection reasons. How come it works on Alice if he's all natively-anti-tampering? Because it so, so does.]
nonbird: (e. something is wrong here)
Author: nonbird
[Um,] says Lazarus.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, maybe licking lips. (⑴ you say bark I say bite)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice cracks up.

[Aww, look, he's blushing.]
self_composed: (eyebrow)
Author: self_composed
[Well, I don't have another example ready to hand, I don't tamper with Alice's brain very often. In your professional opinion, what's going on there?]
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
[In my professional opinion, I have no idea,] he says primly.
self_composed: (eyebrow)
Author: self_composed
[Would it help you make a professional determination if you saw it done?] Bella asks. [You know, in a professional capacity. I'm really not trying to go out of my way to discomfit you even though it is entertaining, but it seems worthwhile to know how this works.]
nonbird: (9. that's how it is)
Author: nonbird
[Thanks,] he says dryly, [I'm glad you cleared that up. And okay, if you must know, I guess I can stand to watch. It probably would help.]
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
Without further ado, Bella hits Alice with some mid-pentagon-range (expecting smaller amounts to be indistinct), flavor: rattlesnake venom. She looks in Lazarus's direction expectantly, through the magic doors.
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice closes his eyes and smiles. Mmm, fun.
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
...Lazarus blinks.

And looks somewhere between fascinated and mildly uncomfortable.

And definitely blushes.
self_composed: (eyebrow)
Author: self_composed
Bella represses a sporfle.

She brainphones to Lazarus only. [You too, huh?]
nonbird: (9. that's how it is)
Author: nonbird
[I'm sure I don't know what you mean.]

He so isn't.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[Of course, of course.]

She resumes conference calling. [Professional insights?] she prompts, scritcheling Alice on the head.
nonbird: (c. excusez-moi?)
Author: nonbird
[My professional insight is that he likes it.]
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, conspiratorial or challenging. (⑷ wanna try?)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[No shit,] says Alice, leaning into Bella's hand with a reasonable approximation of a purr.
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
[No, I'm serious,] he says. [It makes a difference. Your power prevents mental tampering, but that's not, strictly speaking, what it's for. It's for...] He trails off contemplatively.
self_composed: (go on)
Author: self_composed
[Hedging out unwanted tampering? Unwanted classes of tampering, unwanted sources?]
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
[No, not quite. 'Unwanted classes' is closest, but it doesn't really get there. You might say that an anti-tampering power of the kind you thought he had is a 'look, but don't touch' power, and what he has is a 'touch, but don't change'. For our purposes, the agony beam qualifies as, uh, touching.]
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, maybe licking lips. (⑴ you say bark I say bite)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice grins.

[Oh, you liked it, didn't you.]
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Bella would be hypocritical to chide Alice for that, so she doesn't. Instead she says, [So he's immune to mind control, memory alteration, forcible unconsciousness, that sort of thing - but perhaps not to illusions in general, certainly not to any form of communicative power, and not to the agony beam.]
nonbird: (b. contemplative gaze)
Author: nonbird
[I'm not sure about illusions,] says Lazarus, choosing not to respond to Alice at all. [Illusions might be a borderline case. But yes, communicative powers and the agony beam will work just fine. Clearly.]
self_composed: (grin)
Author: self_composed
[Well, now we have a productive series of experiments for the use of further coins,] Bella says.
nonbird: (c. excusez-moi?)
Author: nonbird
[Joy,] says Lazarus.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice giggles.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella starts playing with pentagon-sized illusions, notifying Lazarus each time, and she gives the go-ahead for Alice to rain jellybeans.
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, conspiratorial or challenging. (⑷ wanna try?)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[Whee!] says Alice.

It turns out that visual illusions work on him just fine. Also, invisible jellybeans are still tasty.
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)
Author: nonbird
[Good to know you're having fun,] he says, amused. [Illusions look really weird.]
self_composed: (calm)
Author: self_composed
Bella cycles through some more illusory senses, including touch, since she's not sure if the agony beam is technically "illusory pain" or just disconnected "real pain". Alice gets "trapped in quicksand" and smells "lavender" and tastes "risotto" and hears "Beethoven's fifth". Bella can detect all these things herself, too, where applicable, but she thinks that's probably only because she's controlling the illusions: they originate inside her brain and are allowed to be there on a probationary basis. [Look weird how? Alice, illusion me something, let me make sure it's only mine I can experience.]
edgeofyourseat: Explaining or agreeing. (⑼ gotta be cool)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice illusions her a rain of cuddly pillows (visual and tactile), or tries to.
self_composed: (skyward)
Author: self_composed
[Well, I know what you did 'cause I can read your mind, but I don't see them or feel them,] Bella says, squinting at the ceiling.
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
[You are definitely buried in illusory pillows,] says Lazarus. [It's remarkably cute.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella shakes herself, chuckling. [Okay, but, what looks weird about illusions to you? Of pillows or otherwise?]
nonbird: (6. proving more intricate)
Author: nonbird
[They don't exist. They are very insistent about that. Absolutely no room for doubt. It's just weird looking at something whose most obvious feature is that it isn't really there.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella laughs. [I wonder if I can wish myself an illusion-detection power? I can imagine blundering into some problems by simply failing to note the presence of illusions when I hadn't been planning to advertise my native power. Then I can look at things that are Obviously Not There with you.]
nonbird: (3. you ain't seen nothin')
Author: nonbird
[I think that's a fine idea,] says Lazarus.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)
Author: edgeofyourseat
[I think you're adorable,] says Alice.
self_composed: (fascinated)
Author: self_composed
Bella turns over this notion in her head until she's satisfied with her design, then says, [Watch this, nonbird,] and wishes it.
nonbird: (8. nor little nor a bird)
Author: nonbird
[Fascinating!]
self_composed: (eyebrow)
Author: self_composed
[Ye-e-es?] Bella prompts.
nonbird: (5. better make it good)
Author: nonbird
[I may be anthropomorphizing these things a little too much, but I got the impression your native power went 'oh, all right' and let the wish through.]
self_composed: (grin)
Author: self_composed
Bella cackles. [I do like my power, but I won't hold with it being inconvenient,] she says merrily. [Are you catching any more interesting tidbits about stray magic?]
nonbird: (a. well hmm)
Author: nonbird
[Nothing conclusive. I might have to go away and think about it for a while in order to get anywhere. You're right about how convenient perfect recall is, by the way.]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[All right. I was going to do a super-speed power; I may as well do that now while you're here to see it just in case that's useful. Here goes.]

Bella decides to demonstrate her new speed power with extremely rapid solo dance moves, giggling all the while.
edgeofyourseat: Smiling, affectionate or amused. (⑶ your wish is my command)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice awws. Alice awws so much.
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
Bella comes to a halt with a flourish and curtseys.
edgeofyourseat: Dancing wildly, grinning. (⑹ ride it where I like)
Author: edgeofyourseat
Alice hugs her, because how could you not?
nonbird: (1. quantities of fluff)
Author: nonbird
Lazarus grins.

[I'll go review my data, then, shall I?]
self_composed: (Default)
Author: self_composed
[Yes please,] Bella says, hugging Alice back.
nonbird: (2. a baker's dozen)
Author: nonbird
Off he goes!