campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
Bella very carefully checked just how firewitchy her firstborn was before letting her do anything with hot glass - healing spells or no healing spells, getting burned is reportedly not fun - but now Carinna's allowed to play with the gooey warm stuff as much as she likes, provided she is careful not to get it under her fingernails where it would be hard to get out again. It's better than clay. It glows pretty - Carinna isn't firewitchy enough to heat it up again if it cools, but she can stick it in the fireplace and then pull it back out again whenever she likes. She sits on the floor next to Bella in Bella's workshop. Bella's making lenses. Carinna's making - something.

She thinks it's a pretty something! She holds it in place, covered in fingerprints and glowing bright, till it holds its own shape, and then she gets up and carries it out the door and runs around looking for Grandma Marianne. Where's Grandma Marianne?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Grandma Marianne is just leaving a meeting and on her way to the kitchens for a snack.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Grandma, Grandma! I made you this!" says Carinna, presenting her grandma with the this in question.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"What is it?" she asks, inspecting the this. Without taking it just yet.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"It's glass!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I can see that," says Grandma Marianne. "It's pretty."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"I made it! It's for you."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"That is very sweet of you," says Grandma Marianne. "Let's find somewhere to put it."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Okay!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
So she leads her granddaughter on a tour of the castle, looking for a nice place to put the this.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"It's still warm but it will be cooler soon and then it won't hurt stuff!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yes it will," says Grandma Marianne. "Maybe by the time we find a place for it, it will be cool enough to put there!"
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
Carinna nods vigorously. "Did you ever play with hot glass? I like it, it's goopy," she says. "I'm gonna make another thing after we find someplace for this thing."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I have never played with hot glass," laughs the queen. "But I'm glad you're having fun."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Bella can't without gloves or tongs or whatever. Her glass stuff," says Carinna. "But I can!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"That is because you're my granddaughter," says Marianne. "There's a little bit of fire-witch in our family."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Carinna nods. "I know. I'm a little bit and Tony and Sherlock are a little bit more and you're a little bit more than that!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Exactly right," she says.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
Carinna beams at her.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
She smiles back.

Look! A shelf!
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Oooh!

"Is this a good place for it?" Carinna asks.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"You know," says Marianne, inspecting the shelf, "I do believe it is."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Good." Carinna starts blowing on the glass thing.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Marianne waits.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
Eventually Carinna decides that the glass is probably cool enough to be okay on this shelf. She plunks it down.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
The shelf does not catch fire! Marianne smiles approvingly.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Do you like your glass thing, Grandma?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I do!" says Marianne. "It's very pretty."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Yay!"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Meanwhile, Kiawen is a-prowling the castle. Tanalin has hidden and it is Kiawen's turn to seek. (They don't let Sherlock play anymore; they can tell when she's letting them win.)
carillons: (♃2d. awaiting)
Author: carillons
Tanalin is so hidden. She is the hiddenest. No one has ever been hiddener.

(She's under the kitchen table. Sherlock is studiously ignoring her presence.)
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
Kiawen will think to try the kitchen eventually! Right now she is stalking through the north wing's attic.

She's pretty sure Tanalin's not in the attic.

She attempts to leave the attic.

She didn't know this was one of Bella's multiply-opening doors! Maybe Tanalin went in there.
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
Tanalin did not go in there.

Sherlock apparently did. ...Except that this person is not really Sherlock. She looks a lot like Sherlock, but she is wearing a long swirly blue dress and she hasn't noticed Kiawen at all. Sherlock never fails to notice her children unless explicitly instructed otherwise.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
Kiawen peers at her. She's not Tony, either. She is not making a Tony face.

Huh.

Kiawen continues to investigate this person from a polite distance.
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria




"Yes?" says the person, looking at Kiawen.

That is definitely a Sherlock face.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Kiawen giggles. "How come you're dressed like that?"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Because I like this dress. Who are you?"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
Kiawen grins at her, and claps her hands, and says: "Guess, guess!"
sicaria: Serious, intent. (⑿ you know it is my choice)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock looks at her.



"Do you," she inquires, "by any chance, have a mother named Sherlock?"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Ah-huh!"
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"And who is your other parent?"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
Kiawen tilts her head and blinks. She has three mommies.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
She smiles a little.

"Other than Sherlock and Tony," she clarifies.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Oh! Bella," says Kiawen.
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"I see," says Sherlock. "Just a moment."

She goes to the door. She opens the door.

[I have found a small child claiming to be our daughter,] she informs Shell Bell. [Please come and meet her.]
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
[...By our daughter, you mean our alts? Because if I forked again... I'm on my way.]
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
[Our alts, I think. She hasn't exactly specified.]
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"That's not the attic," Kiawen observes of the space beyond the door.

And, when Shell Bell appears:

"That's not Bella!"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm not," agrees Shell Bell, stepping into Milliways. "Hi there. What's your name?"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"I'm Princess Kiawen!" says Kiawen importantly, grinning.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"So I observe," says Sherlock.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Kiawen giggles. "This place is funny. Everybody's a mirror. Is there another Grandma and another Uncle Kanim and another Cricket and another Miss Cantha too?"
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Which grandma?" Shell Bell asks slowly.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"Grandma Marianne. Grandma Ranata lives all the way in Linderwall."
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria


"That is new information," murmurs Sherlock.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Kiawen giggles at Sherlock. "You're silly," she tells her.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Do you want to take us home with you to meet your family, Kiawen?" Shell Bell asks. "...Sherlock, should we get our Tony too?"
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"I believe we should."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell sticks her head out the door. [Tony. More alts.]
ferratus: Questioning, skeptical. (⑾ are you fucking with me?)
Author: ferratus
[Ooh,] says Tony, and he teleports to her.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"Who're you?" Kiawen asks him.
ferratus: Smiling uncertainly. (⑶ not sure you caught that)
Author: ferratus
"...I'm Tony," says Tony. "Who are you?"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"I'm Princess Kiawen! You can't be Tony," scoffs Kiawen. "She's like Sherlock and she's like Bella but you're a boy."
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"I am a boy," says Tony. "It's true, you caught me. But I'm still Tony."
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Pff," says Kiawen. "You're silly, whoever you are."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Kiawen, would you open the door for us?" Shell Bell asks.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Okay. You can help me find Tanalin! It's not cheating if you're not really our mommies," says Keziah, and she opens the door. Here is the attic.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock proceeds into the attic.
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
Tony follows.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
So does Shell Bell.

"Since you know your way around here so well why don't you take us to meet your mommies? Or any one of them," she says.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"I'm gonna look for Tanalin in the kitchen next. Probably Sherlock's there," says Kiawen, and she turns right back to the door that was previously Milliways, and opens it to the stairs, and trots down briskly towards the kitchen.
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
So... more following, then.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Tanaliiiiin," calls Kiawen as she approaches the kitchen. "You'll never guess what I foooooound..."

It's also not cheating to try to lure her sister out if she actually found something cool!
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell snickers under her breath.
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful or amused. (<= what a novel concept)
Author: calendarofcrime
"What did you find?" inquires Sherlock from the kitchen.
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Not Tanalin, yet," says Kiawen, leading visitors into the kitchen and peering into a cupboard. "Tanaliiiiin..."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell is next into view. "Hi," she says to the new Sherlock.
carillons: (♃2e. suspicion)
Author: carillons
...

Tanalin crawls out from under the table, stands up, and puts her hands on her hips.

"You found us extra parents," she accuses. "Did we not have enough of those already?"
campanas: (thirdborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
Kiawen grins, tags her on the shoulder, and runs away, whooping.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm sure you have plenty of parents," laughs Shell Bell softly. "We're not exactly that."
carillons: (♃2b. curious)
Author: carillons
"Well, what are you then?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We," says Shell Bell, with half an eye on the local Sherlock to gauge her reaction, "are alternate versions of your parents, from another world. There's lots of us, actually. More of me than anybody - the Bella who's your mom will be the thirteenth we've found."
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful or puzzled. (<= captures my attention)
Author: calendarofcrime
The local Sherlock is watching the nonlocal Sherlock.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
The nonlocal Sherlock is watching her right back!
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Oooof course. Shell Bell would like a peek at that conversation. And she has an avenue for same.
sicaria: Serious, intent. (⑿ you know it is my choice)
Author: sicaria
Pearl's brain gives the impression of not very much happening very very quickly.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell giggles softly.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Cricket wanders into the room.

He peers at the scene.

He meows loudly, and when Shell Bell doesn't answer him, he goes up to the resident princess Sherlock and bats at her knee with one paw.
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful. (<= what is my name?)
Author: calendarofcrime
"Kiawen has found us extras," says Sherlock, kneeling down to offer Cricket scritches. "I am sure Bella would be much obliged if you would let her know that interesting things are going on in the kitchen."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Cricket peers suspiciously at Shell Bell, and Other Sherlock, and Other Tony, and trots off.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Smart cat?" asks Shell Bell.
calendarofcrime: Contented. (<= improvising on the violin)
Author: calendarofcrime
"Witch's cat," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell considers that statement, fails to derive firm conclusions, and decides to wait for the local Bella.
thaumobabble: (spellbound)
Author: thaumobabble
The local Bella appears presently. She's trailed by Kanim, and she's quite bewildered. "...Hello?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Hi! I'm Shell Bell. I'm an alt of you from another universe. There's eleven more of you and me in other worlds. One of your kids found a door to the interdimensional hub and spotted my girlfriend."
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
Pearl gives a little wave.
thaumobabble: (enchanted)
Author: thaumobabble
"...Have a seat," says Bella, "tell me everything."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"The place Kiawen found a door to is called Milliways, but it's no longer the only way to get from place to place," says Shell Bell. "One of us brought in a -" She glances at the architecture. "...Distributed person, who can inhabit objects, like, this," she indicates her Janegem, "and move anyone she can see from such an object to anywhere she can see from such an object. We've also got a couple of shareable kinds of magic, both of which are really powerful with certain loopholes abused. You're not the only one with kids but you're the only one with a Sherlock and kids, so far. There's me, the one who brought in wish magic, one who's a witch - not of your kind; cats are not involved - and one who's an angel and one who's a vampire and one from a world with different vampires who was a vampire Slayer and the one who brought our distributed friend and one with no distinguishing features yet and the one who brought in enchanting and a boy one and an elf one and a sorceress one with a twin sister."
thaumobabble: (Default)
Author: thaumobabble
"...I'm the magician one. With a cat. Who married princesses," says Bella.
pleasantsurprise: (locational effect magic)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"I'm completely bewildered," volunteers Kanim.
calendarofcrime: Grinning, amused. (!= not inclined to argue)
Author: calendarofcrime
The local and nonlocal Sherlocks both laugh.
thaumobabble: (Default)
Author: thaumobabble
"...This is Kanim," Bella adds to Shell Bell.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Doesn't look familiar," says Shell Bell, "but there's a first of everyone."
thaumobabble: (counterspell)
Author: thaumobabble
Bella peers at Shell Bell, then reaches into her hat for her spectacles and puts them on.

She reels back and yanks them away from her face.

"I want," she says, scrubbing at her eyes, "to know how you did all that."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Wishcoins, mostly," says Shell Bell. She lets her aura out; it's happy, excited. "This feature's enchantment-based though."
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Wishcoins," says Sherlock, "are highly convenient."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"So much so," says Shell Bell, and she kisses her Sherlock on the cheek.
thaumobabble: (jinxes)
Author: thaumobabble
"You're carrying more power around than any dozen dragons," says Bella frankly.
pleasantsurprise: (no worthwhile conclusions)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"I'm not getting much. I felt the - enchantment thing," says Kanim, "but everything else must be - really efficient, if I can't get a sense for it."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What do magicians do?" asks Shell Bell.
thaumobabble: (divination)
Author: thaumobabble
"...Ten minutes ago," says Bella, "I would've said - everything."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"Would you like to do some more things?" inquires Sherlock.
thaumobabble: (enchanted)
Author: thaumobabble
"Yes."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell giggles and starts giving her the rundown of the powers she is about to receive.
pleasantsurprise: (both magicians)
Author: pleasantsurprise
Kanim eavesdrops shamelessly.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"You are also a magician," observes Other Sherlock.
pleasantsurprise: (let's have dinner)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"I am! These two rescued me and Tony from the Cave of Unpleasant Surprises a few years back, now I am just sort of around!"
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"I see," she says. And she really does.
ferratus: Pensive. (⑹ hrmmmm)
Author: ferratus
...Tony looks from Kanim to his Sherlock and back to Kanim.
pleasantsurprise: (technical problems)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"Then I asked Bella out to dinner but she is gay! And then Tony hit on me. And now I am - sort of around! I give the littler princesses magic lessons periodically when Bella is too neck-deep in politics or they're curious about something more my specialties than hers."
she_sells_seashells: (irked)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Wait, you're gay?"
thaumobabble: (hexes)
Author: thaumobabble
"...You're not?"
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"No! You're the only one. I'm straight-with-a-special-circumstances exception. Cam is bi. Amariah says 'daemons don't count'. Otherwise across-the-board straight."
thaumobabble: (Default)
Author: thaumobabble
"...Huh."
pleasantsurprise: (locational effect magic)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"Huh."
ferratus: Smirking. (⑵ well this should be fun)
Author: ferratus
"I absolutely believe that Tony hit on you," says Tony.
pleasantsurprise: (bait)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"...And... you... are?" Kanim asks.
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"Tony," says Tony.
pleasantsurprise: (let's have dinner)
Author: pleasantsurprise
Kanim blinks at him.

"This is weird," he opines.
thaumobabble: (divination)
Author: thaumobabble
"Kanim was at one time asked to be our Tony's backup husband option in case I didn't successfully manage the obvious succession issue," says Bella.
pleasantsurprise: (perverse cave)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"Yes, and then I ran screaming from the room, let's not forget how I ran screaming from the room."
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
Tony laughs. "Why did you run screaming from the room?"
pleasantsurprise: (unpleasant surprise)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"Because if I'd bolted without explanation the queen might've taken offense?" suggests Kanim. "She scares me sometimes."
she_sells_seashells: (chilly)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Queen. The queen? There's a queen and you're not her?" Shell Bell asks Bella.
thaumobabble: (cantrip)
Author: thaumobabble
"No-o-o? I wind up doing a reasonable fraction of her job, but she's, you know, still alive."
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful. (<= what is my name?)
Author: calendarofcrime
"The queen is my mother," says the local Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells



"That's unusual," says Shell Bell.
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful or puzzled. (<= captures my attention)
Author: calendarofcrime
"In what way?"
ferratus: Thoughtful or uncertain. (⑼ debatably)
Author: ferratus
"In the way where our parents are usually dead by the time we're thirteen or so," says Tony. "And usually not royalty of any kind."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I was thinking more of the first thing. The royalty part makes sense if the template attractor is more along the lines of 'rich and famous' than 'specifically for this list of accomplishments'."
thaumobabble: (Default)
Author: thaumobabble
"...Template attractor."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We come from a lot of different worlds, some of them more different than others. There's a standard Bell backstory, but even where it can't appear in full for world-based reasons, bits of it appear. There are similar things for Sherlocks and Tonies and all the other repeats we've seen."
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
"All of me are almost basically the exact same," says Tony. "Yours is the first girl one we've found."
pleasantsurprise: (write a thesis)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"Speaking of which, should I go get her?"
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Good idea!"
pleasantsurprise: (Default)
Author: pleasantsurprise
Kanim scurries off.

"Tonyyyy!"
allthebrightest: Smiling, fidgeting. (+= daddy's little rocket scientist)
Author: allthebrightest
"Yeah, what?"
pleasantsurprise: (let's have dinner)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"I am at a complete loss to explain! But they're in the kitchen!"
allthebrightest: Grinning. (*= competitive birthdays)
Author: allthebrightest
She giggles, and kisses him, and goes to the kitchen.
pleasantsurprise: (platonically love you forever)
Author: pleasantsurprise
Kanim follows her.
thaumobabble: (illusion)
Author: thaumobabble
"Hi, honey."
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Hi, Princess Tony."
allthebrightest: Smiling affectionately. (*= okay. yeah. okay.)
Author: allthebrightest
"Hi, Bella! Hi, Bella's mystery twin!"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Alt," corrects Shell Bell. "One of us has a twin, but she doesn't look like us!"
allthebrightest: Failing to look innocent. (+= just tell them we're twins)
Author: allthebrightest
"I can see why Kanim had trouble explaining you. You should explain you instead," Tony announces.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Besides this one who doesn't have a nickname yet, there are a dozen of us!" says Shell Bell. "We're each from a different world. I'm Shell Bell and my world is called Atlantis. One of your daughters found a door into an interworld hub called Milliways and met my girlfriend there. When Bells meet each other Bells we swap magic powers and acquire very long to-do lists."
allthebrightest: Smiling, fidgeting. (+= daddy's little rocket scientist)
Author: allthebrightest
"Ooh. Got any shiny new magic powers?" she asks her wife.
thaumobabble: (invocation)
Author: thaumobabble
"Technically, yes, but I'm still getting the safety lectures and so on," says Bella. "As for a nickname, I don't know, how about 'Glass'?"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Not taken," says Shell Bell, "all yours."
allthebrightest: Smiling affectionately. (*= okay. yeah. okay.)
Author: allthebrightest
"Cute," says Tony. "How about us, do we get nicknames?"
ferratus: Uncertain, wary. (⒀ keeping watch)
Author: ferratus
"Yeah, when 'Tony' and 'Sherlock' don't cut it, I'm Screwdriver and she's Pearl," says Tony.
allthebrightest: Sitting, happy or smug. (+= on top of the world)
Author: allthebrightest
"You're a me? Wow, you're totally a me," says Tony. "Um... what if I can't think of a good nickname?"
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"None of them could," says Shell Bell dryly. "They wound up deriving ideas based on their coin colors."
thaumobabble: (Default)
Author: thaumobabble
Glass nibbles her lip for a triangle in a dozen colors of stained glass, all mosaicked together.

"Ooh."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell makes a square of her own, shows it off, and spends it to produce illusion coins in the princesses' colors.
allthebrightest: Smiling affectionately. (*= okay. yeah. okay.)
Author: allthebrightest
"...Red-hot iron, apparently," says Tony. She peers at Sherlock, and laughs. "And you're steel. Is there a Steel?"
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (Default)
Author: sicaria
Pearl shakes her head.
calendarofcrime: Grinning, amused. (!= not inclined to argue)
Author: calendarofcrime
"There is now."
thaumobabble: (charmed)
Author: thaumobabble
Glass laughs.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Any ideas on how to turn yours into a nickname?" Shell Bell asks Princess Tony.
allthebrightest: Fiddling with hair or earring. (/= not my kind of engineering)
Author: allthebrightest
Helpless shrug.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I guess you could go by 'Princess' for now? It's not perfect, you wouldn't be the only princess at a Bell party, but I think it wouldn't be that hard to keep your family and Elspeth straight, and if you can't think of anything else..."
allthebrightest: Hands in hair, face not visible. (-= is this my fault? did I do this?)
Author: allthebrightest
"I've got to have more identifying characteristics than that," she says.
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"You totally don't, there's a reason the rest of us named ourselves after coin colours."
thaumobabble: (divination)
Author: thaumobabble
"So you're all blacksmith fire-witches who make flying armor?" says Glass skeptically. "Granted I don't know how to turn any of that into a nickname..."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Blacksmiths not so much - more engineers - low-tech here? - and what is a fire witch - and yes on the flying armor, Iron Man did that."
ferratus: Smirking. (⑵ well this should be fun)
Author: ferratus
"Iron Princess," Tony suggests whimsically.
allthebrightest: Smiling affectionately. (*= okay. yeah. okay.)
Author: allthebrightest
"Bite me," snorts the iron princess.
thaumobabble: (bewitched)
Author: thaumobabble
"A fire witch is a kind of hereditary magic user, mostly having to do with fire," says Glass. "One married into the royal family a few generations back. It's a little thinned out for my wives. The little ones can handle hot things safely - Carinna likes to play with hot glass - but that's all."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Kiawen, Tanalin, Carinna - you have three, or are there more?"
thaumobabble: (invocation)
Author: thaumobabble
"Three. One apiece."
allthebrightest: Grinning. (*= competitive birthdays)
Author: allthebrightest
Tony grins.
ferratus: Smiling uncertainly. (⑶ not sure you caught that)
Author: ferratus
"Cute," says Tony.
thaumobabble: (charmed)
Author: thaumobabble
"They are! You met the untwins - do you want to see Carinna too?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Sure. Untwins?"
thaumobabble: (invocation)
Author: thaumobabble
"All three are honeymoon babies. Tanalin and Kiawen share a honeymoon," Glass nods at her second wife, "but didn't share living space."
pleasantsurprise: (platonically love you forever)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"I'll go see where Carinna is," says Kanim, wandering out of the room.
ferratus: Pensive. (⑹ hrmmmm)
Author: ferratus
"Speaking of which, where'd the other one go?" wonders Tony.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Away," says Pearl. "Some time ago."
thaumobabble: (charmed)
Author: thaumobabble
"Hiding-and-seeking," says Glass.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
Carinna and her Uncle Kanim arrive presently. Carinna double-takes at the foreign Sherlock. She is completely nonplussed by the foreign Tony.
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
The foreign Sherlock gazes serenely at her.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"Sherloooock," says Carinna, because Sherlock is the mommy who can always tell what's going on, "what happened?"
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful. (<= what is my name?)
Author: calendarofcrime
"These are another Sherlock and Bella and Tony from another world," says Steel, indicating each.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"...But he's a boy."
ferratus: Smiling uncertainly. (⑶ not sure you caught that)
Author: ferratus
"You guys keep harping on that. I can't help it!" says Screwdriver. "There's like six more of me and they're all boys too, I'm not alone!"
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"But the Sherlocks are girls!" says Carinna.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Most of them aren't, just these two," says Shell Bell. "The others are boys. There's also a Bell who's a boy. Just one. He was very put out about it to start."
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"I bet Iron isn't put out about being the only girl Tony," he speculates.
allthebrightest: Laughing. (*= because hell yes is why!)
Author: allthebrightest
"You're so right!"
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell giggles.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Iron?"
pleasantsurprise: (Default)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"There's lots of them, so they need nicknames," Kanim explains.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"...Are... are there lots of me?" Carinna asks, sounding stunned by the possibility and not really pleased about it.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You're the first one," Shell Bell tells her.
allthebrightest: Smiling, fidgeting. (+= daddy's little rocket scientist)
Author: allthebrightest
"'Iron'," she says musingly. "That one's not taken, right?"
she_sells_seashells: (irked)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"There's Iron Man. It would be a little confusing," says Shell Bell.
allthebrightest: Failing to look innocent. (+= just tell them we're twins)
Author: allthebrightest
"Not that confusing," she observes.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Probably not overwhelmingly so. If you don't want to be 'Firewitch'," says Shell Bell.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Are there going to be more of me?" Carinna asks anxiously.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Good question," says Pearl.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We do know that if the same set of parents have children they will wind up with children who are alts of each other. Rose and Angela both married Jokers and had daughters, and Rose's girls match Angela's elder two."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"But I'm special," says Carinna.
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful. (<= what is my name?)
Author: calendarofcrime
"So are your parents, and yet, we have alts."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 2)
Author: campanas
"It's weird!"
thaumobabble: (enchanted)
Author: thaumobabble
"Oh, sweetie," sighs Glass, "not all alts are much alike, anyway, if they have one of you," she gestures at the visitors, "she'll grow up in such a different place. That other Tony is even a boy, there's no telling what another Carinna would be like."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"And she wouldn't be named Carinna. Not now that we know you had the name first. Although it's a very pretty name."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"What would you name her?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm not sure. We haven't really talked about having little princesses."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
...Peek.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
It is possible that Sherlock might want there to be little princesses, at some point in the future.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Awww.

Shell Bell kisses her cheek.

"But we might talk about it later," she tells Carinna.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Will you let me name the me?" Carinna wants to know. "I think that would be fair!"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"What would you name the you?"
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"I don't know yet!" Carinna says. "It might even be a boy. Then it would need a different name from if it was a me-me."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I see no reason we couldn't take suggestions," laughs Shell Bell.
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
"You will have time to think about it before you suggest anything."
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 1)
Author: campanas
"Okay then," says Carinna. "I guess that's okay."
sicaria: Serious, intent. (⑿ you know it is my choice)
Author: sicaria
(And they need not take the suggestions, if they are particularly... six-year-old-ish.)
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
(Indeed.)

Shell Bell puts all the adults in the room on the brainphone network so that they can continue Magic Safety Lectures without worrying about keeping the details of where coins come from G-rated.
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful. (<= what is my name?)
Author: calendarofcrime
...Steel is somewhere between amused and disturbed.
thaumobabble: (spellbound)
Author: thaumobabble
[Are you okay? It sounds like I can probably borrow from other Bells and that won't be a big deal.]
calendarofcrime: Contented. (<= improvising on the violin)
Author: calendarofcrime
[You may end up borrowing from other Bells. I'm not sure.]
thaumobabble: (cantrip)
Author: thaumobabble
[Okay. I'm not short of local magic, anyway, I can probably scale it up really well with just a few judicious wishes.]
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"I'm gonna go find Lin an' Wen," says Carinna.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Okay, but don't get too involved in anything," says Shell Bell. "It's traditional when we find new Bells to throw a party!"
calendarofcrime: Thoughtful or puzzled. (<= captures my attention)
Author: calendarofcrime
"With how many attendees?" inquires Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"It tends to depend on how closely spaced the parties have been. The last one was when Jane came back online and that was a couple months ago, so we can expect a majority of the invitees, coming up on ninety people, one of them is a dragon. If you don't have a good place to put the party someone else will be happy to host. Not everyone's gotten a turn yet since by the time we threw the first Bell party there were already eight of us."
allthebrightest: Contemplative, holding a lit match. (+= playing with fire)
Author: allthebrightest
"Fire-flower Meadow will do it, I bet," says Tony.
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
Meanwhile, Carinna has decided that Grandma should know about these extra children she has acquired. "Graaaaandma!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yes?"
campanas: (firstborn bellstark 3)
Author: campanas
"Grandma, there's extras of Sherlock and Bella and Tony in the kitchen from another world."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"That," Marianne says gravely, "is surprising."

She pulls a thread of forest magic and arrives in the kitchen.
thaumobabble: (invocation)
Author: thaumobabble
"Hi, Marianne," says Glass. "Apparently there are many universes and versions of us appear in several of them. This is Shell Bell."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell waves. "And these are my Sherlock and my Tony."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Hello," says Marianne to the named parties.
ferratus: Holding a blanket. Watchful or hiding upset. (⒁ turn the lights off carry me home)
Author: ferratus


"Hi."
sicaria: In bed, not sleeping. (⒀ no rest for the wicked)
Author: sicaria
pleasantsurprise: (Default)
Author: pleasantsurprise
"Is this becoming a family thing? This looks like it might be a family thing. I can leave."
thaumobabble: (divination)
Author: thaumobabble
"But then I'd have to explain all the new magic details to you separately."
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"The kitchen is getting somewhat crowded," Sherlock observes. "Perhaps now is the time to move us all to that meadow you mentioned."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Fire-flower Meadow? Are we expecting a significant number of guests?" asks Marianne, her hand hovering by a thread.
thaumobabble: (invocation)
Author: thaumobabble
"There are a lot of me. Them and all their friends will want to come meet me and my friends," says Glass. "It's not necessary to host the resulting party in this world instead of one of theirs, but as long as we can..."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Then let's," says the queen. She glances around to make sure she has everyone included, and then pulls on the thread.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I can set up if you like," Shell Bell says to Glass. "Nametags and rooms and stuff. Oh, these flowers are pretty."
thaumobabble: (Default)
Author: thaumobabble
"Very, but they'll also set people on fire if you step on one," says Glass, "usually before an event they just all get picked."
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Oh, but that would be a shame, they're so decorative," says Shell Bell, "I can take care of that too."
thaumobabble: (invocation)
Author: thaumobabble
"...Sounds good to me."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Take care of it how?" inquires Marianne.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Magic," says Shell Bell brightly. "Offworld wishing magic. I won't hurt the flowers, I can put them back how they are after."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"And what effect will you have on them in the meantime?"
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"They won't burn anyone or anything," says Shell Bell. "Not literally all the guests are going to show up fireproof. I mean, Bells will, but we're a little paranoid."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Go ahead, then," says Marianne.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell claps her hands together and wishes a Bellparty pavilion with its appropriate subrooms, buffet, bowls for courtesy squares and triangles (which appear full), nametag setup (apparently the nametag wish thinks the queen is "a Maria"), and harmless fireflowers. Shell Bell picks one and tucks it behind her ear.

"Are we all set?" she inquires. "Where are the little beads, aren't they coming? Angela doesn't tell her kids about magic till they're a little older but the jig's up with yours."
thaumobabble: (divination)
Author: thaumobabble
"Beads?" says Glass.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"And Rose's kids are rosebuds and Angela's are cherubs. Goodness only knows what silly nickname mine will get, if and when," Shell Bell says. "If you don't like 'beads' you can pick something else; at least they're one-of-a-kind and won't go around with nametags that say 'template unnamed' till further notice."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I can gather up my grandchildren," offers the queen.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Awesome," says Shell Bell, grinning. "And Jane can gather up everyone else." She taps her Janegem.