she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
The following morning, Bell hears what sounds like a fire alarm. It's not in their building - it's at least a block away. From her window, she can clearly see the house that's caught, near the train station, and just as clearly see that there isn't any bucket brigade handling it yet.

She seizes her wand from the nightstand and assumes control over the fire; if there's anyone in the unburnt part of the house they'll be able to get out. "SHERLOCK! TONY!" she calls.

Bell wants a second opinion before she snakes this fire down the corner of the house and over the grass to destroy the train station.
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock is at her bedroom door in three seconds.

"Yes?"
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"House caught fire all by itself; I'm keeping the damage confined in case there's anybody in there. Good or bad idea to snake it down the trellis and across the grass and torch the train station? Capitol, not District, pays to rebuild those, and I don't have any practical experience on targets yet." She keeps her eyes focused fixedly on the fire. "I think I can make it look natural."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock considers this question for a short moment.

Then: "Do."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
The fire spits and crackles and lurches down the trellis, spreading along it in a very unpurposeful-looking way. It picks up speed at the base, racing along dry winter grass and sending the whole empty lawn up in smoke, but encountering the natural firebreak of the surrounding paths -

And the train station.

There's a bucket brigade at the house now, passing water up a ladder leaning on the unburning part of the original building and pouring it on the smoldering corner. They make perhaps more progress than they should - but this might be visible only from a distance, as Bell shrinks that fragment of the conflagration to focus on - and warm - the part that's currently eating away at columns and twisting tracks into useless wrecks. (And leaving the station attendant a clear path to flee, which he does, right before his booth is swallowed up.)

The fire brigade is permitted to succeed completely at putting out the house fire. Bell lets the lawn go out, too, now that she doesn't need the connection to minimize house damage and manage train damage; it smokes.

She lets the flames heat up, now that they're only touching things she wishes to destroy. The color changes. The spread speeds up. The station is burning brightly, and the fire brigade can't even get close enough to it to throw water on it, not that Bell would let it do any good.

When she has reduced the train station to a ruined hulk pouring black particulates into the air and collapsing onto itself, she gradually shrinks the fire to a smaller, cooler piece in the middle, releases control so it will behave as naturally at the end as it did at the beginning, and watches it burn itself out on what used to be the sign reading WELCOME TO DISTRICT THREE.
sicaria: Smiling. (⑶ you charming creature)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock watches.

She is not fully aware of her own fascination until the spectacle is over and she turns that same fascination on Bell instead of her handiwork with the fire.

"That was—masterful," she says, a little breathlessly.
she_sells_seashells: seacreature (seacreature)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell licks her lips and wipes a thin sheen of sweat from her forehead. "Thanks," she says, breathing a little hard herself. Using the wand isn't directly tiring, but concentration is, and she has to concentrate to keep any significant amount of fire hers. "Okay. So now I know I'm as good with this thing as I think I am." She twists her hair up and sticks her stick through it. "That's good."
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria






"I have become attracted to you again," Sherlock observes.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell looks at her. "...Because of the fire?" Beat. "Um, do you want me to do anything about that? I..." She hesitates awkwardly. "Probably could now, I think, if I tried. Because darts. Supplied an example. Of how to arrange my brain in the relevant way."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"I believe the relevant question is, do you want to do anything about that?"
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell thinks.

"I have no idea how long it's going to take to complete the revolution," she observes. "If we manage it at all." Pause. "The whole I-don't-dare-risk-having-children thing has to be the least romantic reason to consider adjusting my sexual orientation for a specific person, ever. But I mean, I do also like you."
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"I also like you too," says Sherlock. "And I am not a particularly romantic person."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell sits on her bed. "I've never been with anyone of either gender. So all my concepts are influenced by the media, which is mostly dominated by depictions of romantic people. What is dating a not-romantic person like?"
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
"I do not know," says Sherlock. "I have never tried."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Huh." Bell looks at her hands, folded in her lap. "I think I need at least a few hours alone with my recorder to come to a decision. It would help if you were less neutral about it, though."
sicaria: In bed, not sleeping. (⒀ no rest for the wicked)
Author: sicaria




"...I am... not neutral," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Can you tell me anything else about your feelings on the matter, though?" Bell asks.
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
She shuts her eyes.



"Despite evidence to the contrary, I do not believe I am a worthwhile partner. I expect you to decide as much and then I expect to be very upset."
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell blinks.

And then she hugs Sherlock. (Platonically.)

"I'm kind of selfish," Bell says. "I'll wind up deciding to do whatever I think I'd like to do overall. And I don't know what I'll decide yet. But why would you expect it to go that way?"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock hugs back.

"Because I don't like myself very much," she says softly.
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Why?" Bell says. Her face is right near Sherlock's ear. She whispers.
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
A momentary quiet, and then,

"I don't know."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell lets her go and sits back, making eye contact. "You are a perfectly likeable person," she says. "I suppose it doesn't help that much for me to tell you that, though? Since I've said equivalent things before."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"I may need some time to get used to the idea."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell nods.

She pulls out her recorder and looks at it. "It often helps me make decisions when I have a good picture of what it'll look like after I make them. I don't know what it looks like when you're upset about being turned down - and I don't know what it looks like if I tell you 'well, I have hacked my brain with regards to the template supplied by holiday darts' - so that would also help if you could tell me that."
sicaria: Annoyed or distant. (⒁ belongs to no one)
Author: sicaria
"...I am not sure, in either case, what kind of answer you are looking for."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What will you do? What will happen? What states of the world do I now have it in my power to cause with this choice?"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"I think me being upset is fairly self-explanatory," says Sherlock. "I will be upset. Experience indicates that no one besides Tony can tell the difference unless I mention it to them, but I have already mentioned it to you. As for the other, I do not know."
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Oh." Bell resumes her prior sitting-on-the-bed position and bites her lip a bit. "Well, I guess I can work around some informational limitations."
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
"Should I leave you to it, then?"
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Unless there's anything else you can tell me."
sicaria: In bed, not sleeping. (⒀ no rest for the wicked)
Author: sicaria
"I don't believe so."

She goes.
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell closes the door.

She sets up a locked entry.

And she talks to herself.

At length, she marks the end of the locked section, pockets the recorder, and goes looking for Tony.
ferratus: Pensive. (⑹ hrmmmm)
Author: ferratus
In the basement, continuing to make friends with that generator, where else?
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Hey. Are you interruptable?"
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Yeah, what's up?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I burned down the train station. The original fire started all by itself, on a house, I made it look like a natural spread. And Sherlock was there when I did it and now she says she's attracted to me again. And I think that since the holiday drugs thing, I know enough about what it's like to be attracted to her that I could do it again purpose? And if I don't she'll be upset. And I don't know anything much about what will happen if I do. So I thought I'd ask for your advice. I hope that isn't weird."
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
"...okay," he says, "as much as I love Sherry, if 'she'll be upset if I don't' is your only reason it's probably a pretty bad reason. And I'm not sure that me thinking you guys would be cute together is a much better one, but for the record, I totally think you'd be cute together."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That's not the only reason I have, just the only thing I know about the results," Bell says. "She wasn't a lot of help with making detailed predictions about either possibility."
ferratus: Thoughtful or uncertain. (⑼ debatably)
Author: ferratus
"Well, yeah, of course not," says Tony. "She's terrified of thinking about it."
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"A significant factor in the con column is that she seems like she'd be emotionally high-maintenance," confesses Bell.
ferratus: Calm, possibly with effort. (⑿ not a whisper not a word)
Author: ferratus
"She... is and she isn't," says Tony. "Depends what you mean."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What do you mean?"
ferratus: Holding a blanket. Watchful or hiding upset. (⒁ turn the lights off carry me home)
Author: ferratus
"It can be pretty rough, caring about somebody who's so... not okay with herself," says Tony. "But she knows that, and she tries not to make it any harder than it has to be."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Good to know." Pause. "Oh, um, I've been recording this, is that okay? I usually don't ask, but I'm usually not trying to form long-term working relationships."
ferratus: Slightly impatient. (⑸ because you're wrong is why)
Author: ferratus
"Yeah, that's fine," he says agreeably.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Thanks." She smiles faintly. "You think we'd be cute together, huh?"
ferratus: Smiling uncertainly. (⑶ not sure you caught that)
Author: ferratus
"Adorable."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell sits and leans on the wall. "I'm not sure what to do. I've been talking to myself for a few hours now and I'm still not sure. It doesn't really help that I don't think I can just will myself back into holiday-drugs-mode, I think I'd have to playact at it a bit to start, and there's a chance that it wouldn't work and that would probably be hurtful."
ferratus: Pensive. (⑹ hrmmmm)
Author: ferratus
"...Well, I'd tell her that part first," he says. "But I dunno. How's the talking to yourself been going?"
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Except for the fact that it trailed off without coming to a clear conclusion, about like normal. Why?"
ferratus: Questioning, skeptical. (⑾ are you fucking with me?)
Author: ferratus
"Because maybe I missed it, but I don't think you've mentioned an actual reason yet."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"A reason to, you mean?"
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Yeah, that."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
The recording is locked. It will not get any less locked if Bell summarizes some highlights from memory. Okay.

"I like her. When I was darted I thought she was - pretty, I mean of course she's pretty but relevantly pretty - and finding people pretty is nice. I don't think the dart gave me enough material to hack myself about anyone else, and even if it did, there are no other relevant girl prospects around. Girl is relevant because any risk of having children under the current government is intolerable to me. And I don't want to be alone for - as long as it could conceivably take to overthrow the Capitol, or to decisively fail and decide to flee the world." Pause. "And that was really good risotto. Although I imagine she'll go on cooking regardless of whether I date her."
ferratus: Thoughtful or uncertain. (⑼ debatably)
Author: ferratus
"...It's, uh, it's possible to date a guy and not have kids with the guy," says Tony. "I mean. I'm just saying. There are options."
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"When I say any risk I mean any risk. I'm not trusting that nasty-smelling tea the - well, I don't know what you have around here, but in Four it was nasty-smelling tea, and I have observed women who habitually smelled of it to fall pregnant. I don't mean to denigrate your entire gender or anything, I just don't think most people-in-general feel as strongly as I do, so agreeing on which precautions are necessary would be hard."
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
"Uh, okay," says Tony.
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Awkward topic," observes Bell. "Anyway. Reasons. They exist."
ferratus: Thoughtful or uncertain. (⑼ debatably)
Author: ferratus
"They're pretty good reasons," he says.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yeah. I'm just unfamiliar with decisions of this form and don't know how to weigh them against the others."
ferratus: Holding a blanket. Watchful or hiding upset. (⒁ turn the lights off carry me home)
Author: ferratus
"Well. Anything else you wanna know?"
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"No. Thanks." She gets up. "Bye."
ferratus: Pensive. (⑹ hrmmmm)
Author: ferratus
"See ya," he says. "Good luck."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell goes and sits in her room. She listens to her locked-up musings and her conversation with Tony over again, at 3x speed. She thinks.

She goes looking for Sherlock.
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
Living room. Book.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell sits. She's not sure if Sherlock's interruptable. She will wait for Sherlock to notice her.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Hello," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Hi. I have what could be called a contingent decision."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"...Yes?"
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I have never tried to edit my brain in quite this way before, but any change on this scale usually requires what I am going to call pretending, to start with. I had to pretend not to care about my grades before I could really stop; just knowing that passing the wrong test would get me effectively kidnapped and stuck in a different District didn't do it. I had to pretend to be way more obsessed with shells than I actually am before it came readily to me to throw a tantrum if someone moved a bag of them that I'd been keeping near a door in case of Milliways. And I think that in order to slip back into what I'm calling holiday-drugs-mode I will have to first pretend. And it might not work. And that could easily be unpleasant on your end."
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria




"Describe pretending," Sherlock requests.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"More snuggling, probably. Kissing you while still pretending might or might not be necessary but wouldn't hurt. Generally acting and talking like I am your girlfriend."
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"I am thoroughly in favour of more snuggling," says Sherlock. "Independently of other concerns."
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Snuggling independently of other concerns would be nice," agrees Bell, squirming a little in her chair.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"...Would you like to snuggle?" says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell transfers herself to Sherlock's sofa and leans her head on her shoulder.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock closes her book and snuggles up.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You don't have to decide on what you want me to do about the pretending right away," Bell says.
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria
"I do not know what to decide or how to decide it," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Then it's good that you don't have to figure that out in a hurry, isn't it?" Bell maneuvers through the snuggle to wrap her arms around Sherlock's middle and press her face into the back of her shoulder.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Yes."

Also, snuggles.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Can I help?"
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"Possibly," she says.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What do the gaps in knowing-what-to-do look like?"
sicaria: In bed, not sleeping. (⒀ no rest for the wicked)
Author: sicaria
"I am not very good at wanting things," she says. "I don't have much practice."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You don't? Want things? What, in general?"
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
"Not easily," she says. "I have priorities but they largely revolve around making sure Tony is alive and happy. I enjoy things but I don't often make significant decisions based on what I anticipate enjoying."
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Why don't you make significant decisions based on what you think you'd enjoy?" asks Bell, puzzled. And snuggled. "...What's the threshold for significance you're using?"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Decisions on the level of what to read or make for lunch are not significant. Decisions on the level of whether to take over the world are. I am not always sure about the range in between."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That reminds me. If we manage world takeover, do I get to be Empress? Like the other mes?"
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
"I see no reason why not," says Sherlock. "Provided you are a good one."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"The people I've talked to seem to think that other mes are. I don't know how much like them to expect to be. Do you not... I don't know. This is probably an ill-advised example, but you wanted the surgeries from the Capitol, didn't you, even if they were inflated by your terrible ex-friend? That doesn't seem very much about keeping Tony alive and happy." Pause. "...I don't suppose that's why you have hangups about wanting medium-sized things? Because your terrible ex-friend used that one to do terrible ex-friend things?"
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"...yes," she says. "That seems likely. And I was a child at the time. I was able to articulate what I wanted but not to measure its cost."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Is your terrible ex-friend still around in some capacity such that you still actually need to worry about him?"
sicaria: Annoyed or distant. (⒁ belongs to no one)
Author: sicaria






"My terrible ex-friend is President Snow."
she_sells_seashells: (run)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Kraken."
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
"Yes," says Sherlock. "Quite."
she_sells_seashells: (run)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That is terrible. Wow. Okay, so he's worth worrying about - do you think he's still motivated to be terrible at you? Is he still occasionally terrible at you?"
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
"He is frequently terrible at Tony."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Eegh. Do I want to know? Can it be helped on net by the cunning application of fire?"
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"You probably don't. I would have killed him already, but he made sure to let me know that he has made arrangements for Tony to be killed if I do. I am not sure whether setting him on fire in a cunning way would qualify."
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Internal burns would look very strange on an autopsy report, but they would not look like a stab wound or a broken neck," says Bell. "I'll try it if at any time you determine it's a good idea and you can get me in range."
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"Thank you," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You're welcome." Nuzzle. (Platonic nuzzle.) "Can you think of other reasons to have hangups about medium-sized wants?"
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"If there are any, they are not so obvious nor of such magnitude."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Do you think... President Snow..." It's weird talking about him like he's just a person, who has ex-friends and so on - "cares who you date?"
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
"Not particularly."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Can you convince your brain of that enough that it will try figuring out how to want stuff on that subject, then?" Pause. "This is hard to talk about, everything I know about it is in note-to-self format."
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"I am not sure the causality is so direct."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"No? Tell me about it?" (Nuzzle. This is comfy.)
sicaria: Serious, intent. (⑿ you know it is my choice)
Author: sicaria
"Despite obvious evidence, I am on some level convinced that wanting things inevitably leads to calamity."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That almost sounds like some kind of anxiety disorder." (Bell has read introductory-level books on psychology, at Milliways.)
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"I am not sure that's the best fit, but it is a reasonable analogy."
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Would it be preferable if - I don't know, if I flipped a coin? No, that would be silly, the reason my results are contingent is because I don't want to hurt you, if you wanted me to flip a coin that would just amount to saying you're up for the risk..."
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria
"...When you put it like that..." says Sherlock,

"I think I am up for the risk."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell nuzzles.

Less platonically.

"Pretendy-style cuddles," she announces comfortably.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria


"I am fond of these cuddles," Sherlock observes.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell laughs. "That's good! I am too."
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"How convenient."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"It is." Pause. "We are adorable. Tony is smart."
sicaria: Grinning, perhaps smugly. (⑴ I always know)
Author: sicaria




Sherlock laughs.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I asked for his advice when just a few hours with the recorder didn't get me to a decision. Pretty much his input boiled down to 'you'd be cute together,'" Bell says, sort of speaking into the side of Sherlock's neck.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"He is correct," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Mm-hm. Hey, do you bake, or just cook?" Bell wonders.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"Yes I do. Why, did you want something baked?"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yeah, I've gone and become self-indulgent over four and a half months of Milliways with access to money and appear to be in the mood for cake."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"I will bake you a cake," Sherlock says gravely.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You're so serious about it," laughs Bell. And she kisses a tiny little kiss right on the side of Sherlock's neck where her face happens to be.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria


Sherlock blushes.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell is not in a position to notice. "How long do cakes take?"
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"Just short of an hour, generally speaking."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Hmm. I do not require cake urgently." Bell makes no move to let Sherlock go.
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"There is some waiting involved in the last stage of the cake process," Sherlock observes.
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That's truuuue," muses Bell. "Do you want to get up right now?"
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"I would like to bake you a cake," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Okay." One more itty-bitty neck-kiss and Bell lets her go, smiling.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock's blush becomes more obvious after they have disentangled.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You're blushing, that's adorable," says Bell, clapping her hands over her mouth.
sicaria: Grinning, perhaps smugly. (⑴ I always know)
Author: sicaria
...She grins, ducking her head slightly.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What kind of cake do I get?" Bell asks, getting up to follow Sherlock into the kitchen.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"There are many options," says Sherlock. "What are your opinions on the relative merits of chocolate and lemon?"
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Chocolate is better," says Bell contently, sitting at the kitchen table.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"Then there will be chocolate," says Sherlock.

And there is chocolate.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Mmm." Bell inhales the scent of nascent cake. "You are good to have around."
sicaria: Grinning. (⑵ tell me you saw that)
Author: sicaria
"I create cake," Sherlock agrees. "Cake is good."
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"So good," agrees Bell. And when it goes in the oven, she says, "This must be the waiting period I've heard so much about!" and she trots sofaward.
sicaria: Smiling. (⑶ you charming creature)
Author: sicaria
Laughing, Sherlock follows her to the couch and resumes snuggles there.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
The snuggles, they are snuggly.

Bell wonders what will happen if Tony is lured upstairs by the smell of cake and spots them. Probably he will go awwww.
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus






Bell is correct!
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell giggles.
sicaria: Grinning. (⑵ tell me you saw that)
Author: sicaria
"We are cute," Sherlock decrees.
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"You are cute," says Tony. "What'd I say?"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You said we'd be cute!" chirps Bell. "You are smart." (Nuzzle.)
ferratus: Smiling uncertainly. (⑶ not sure you caught that)
Author: ferratus
"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww," says Tony.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"And she baked me a cake," Bell says. "I will let you have some."
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
...For some reason, that makes him giggle uncontrollably.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell grins impishly at him, then readjusts her snuggling position to compensate for any drifting that may have occurred.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
Snugggggggggle.
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"You are even cuter than I thought," says Tony. "I did not know that was possible."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm possibly overdoing it during this part," Bell confesses. "It may settle down after I'm no longer continually polling my brain for 'what would Drugged Shell Bell do?' and then doing that."
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"Well, it'll be fun while it lasts, then," he says. "I want to hug you guys. Can I hug you guys?"
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I don't see why not," says Shell Bell.
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
In that case, Tony hugs them!
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell is pleased with this arrangement.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
So is Sherlock.
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
Hugs for everyone!
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Presently cake becomes available. Shell Bell shares. Parts of it cease to exist, quite enjoyably. Sherlock gets a kiss on the cheek for her trouble.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
This event produces a blush.



And as she is leaving the kitchen, Milliways appears.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Ooh," says Bell. "We can go see if anyone we were hoping to see again is there."
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria
"Let's," says Sherlock.
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Yeah!" says Tony.
she_sells_seashells: seacreature (seacreature)
Author: she_sells_seashells
And in they go. Bell takes her usual first-walking-into-the-bar inventory. Any familiar faces...?
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
Yes!
toblameforit: Thoughtful, perhaps mischievous. (+= pretend we're twins)
Author: toblameforit
A
bitofafiction: Looking up. Considering or evasive. (<= I know it sounds absurd)
Author: bitofafiction
few.
passforsympathy: Smiling very slightly - smug. (▅ anything I want)
Author: passforsympathy




Four.
she_sells_seashells: (run)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell smiles when she sees Libby, and then she looks amusedly at the other Tony and Sherlock -

And then she screams and draws her wand on the fourth of the party.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"What did I tell you," says Elizabeth.
passforsympathy: Thoughtful or condescending. (▅ I won't tell)
Author: passforsympathy
"You could have mentioned your reasons," Obadiah says mildly.
prima_sequentem: (ℝ you were saying?)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I didn't have specifics, I just know a bad idea when I see one."
bitofafiction: Looking straight ahead: calculated neutrality. (>= with his dignity on maximum)
Author: bitofafiction
Meanwhile, Sherlock has shifted posture just enough to emphasize to the other Sherlock which side he is on.
toblameforit: Hands over face. (/= have I been a bad clone daddy?)
Author: toblameforit
And Tony is giving Obie a look of semi-affectionate despair, 'I can't take you anywhere' flavour.
sicaria: Annoyed or distant. (⒁ belongs to no one)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock is in full-on bodyguard mode.
ferratus: Uncertain, wary. (⒀ keeping watch)
Author: ferratus
And Tony is... pretty much frozen.
she_sells_seashells: seacreature (seacreature)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell has now slowly begun to realize that this is not their version of this man. While he could easily be bad news, the fact that he has seen their recognizable selves, in Milliways, does not mean that they are all now going to die unless they can kill him and run off to another world to escape deadman-switch reprisals. She lowers her wand arm.

(But her wand doesn't leave her hand. It doesn't actually need to point at her target. It just needs to be in her hand.)
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I'm pretty sure I can handle this," she adds.
passforsympathy: A glass of whiskey resting on a piano. (▃ Crown Royal)
Author: passforsympathy
Obadiah looks from his fiancee to the other Tony (and that must be another Sherlock, what an interesting design choice) and accompanying terrified stranger.

Then he says dryly, "Have fun, dear," and heads out his door, which thanks to the convenience of Milliways topology is on the other side of the room.
toblameforit: Double-take or sarcasm. (-= seriously?)
Author: toblameforit
"Aargh," says Tony.
bitofafiction: Mostly out of frame. Pensive. Hands. (== a tolerable activity)
Author: bitofafiction
Sherlock pats his arm.
she_sells_seashells: seacreature (seacreature)
Author: she_sells_seashells
With him gone, Bell is content to put her hair back up again.

"So," she says to Elizabeth. "That's your fiancé, huh?"

And her voice shakes only a little bit.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"That's my fiancé," Elizabeth agrees.
bitofafiction: Looking off into the distance. Thoughtful, possibly amused. (<= one point eight seconds)
Author: bitofafiction
Sherlock looks at Sherlock, then both Tonies, then Sherlock again.
sicaria: Annoyed or distant. (⒁ belongs to no one)
Author: sicaria
She nods.
bitofafiction: Outdoors at night, in the middle distance. (== should like to take a walk)
Author: bitofafiction
He raises his eyebrows slightly.
sicaria: Serious, intent. (⑿ you know it is my choice)
Author: sicaria
She shakes her head.
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell peers between the Sherlocks. "I suppose you don't want to share with those of us who aren't observant enough to pretend we're telepathic."
sicaria: In profile, looking down. (⑾ time to go home)
Author: sicaria
"He offered to help me assassinate Snow. I declined."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Oh." She turns to the other Sherlock. "That's very kind of you, though."
bitofafiction: Mostly out of frame. Pensive. Hands. (== a tolerable activity)
Author: bitofafiction
"It seems necessary."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell turns to her version of Tony. "Are you okay?"

Because Sherlock mentioned Snow is regularly horrible to Tony. And freezing isn't necessarily a less terrified reaction than screaming and drawing a weapon.
ferratus: Calm, possibly with effort. (⑿ not a whisper not a word)
Author: ferratus
"...Let's go with yes," he says uncomfortably.
toblameforit: Skeptical or questioning. (-= poking your head out of Baker Street)
Author: toblameforit
The other Tony raises his hand and waggles it a little.

"Does... anybody want to tell me what the fuck is going on?"
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"What all did Elizabeth tell you about our world and how it's shitty?" asks Bell.
toblameforit: Drinking orange juice from the carton. (+= endeavouring to make breakfast)
Author: toblameforit
"That it's shitty. And we should talk to you about how shitty it is."
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yeah. Well. That guy's alt is President of our shitty world. If our actual President showed up here he would need to be made dead, consequences of outside grudges brought into Milliways be damned, because we're all three of us recognizable to every person in our country and it would not be smart to take a chance on him deciding that people with reason to hate him having access to Milliways is fine and dandy."
toblameforit: Thoughtful, perhaps mischievous. (+= pretend we're twins)
Author: toblameforit
"Ooh boy," he mutters.

He looks at Bell's Tony.
ferratus: Thoughtful or dubious. (⑽ it's never that simple)
Author: ferratus
"If you can't guess the rest, you don't wanna know it," he says. "Maybe yours is different."
bitofafiction: Looking up. Considering or evasive. (<= I know it sounds absurd)
Author: bitofafiction
"Not by much," says Sherlock.
toblameforit: Double-take or sarcasm. (-= seriously?)
Author: toblameforit
"...I'm pretty sure Obie isn't an evil dictator?"
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"They could easily be different in any number of ways. I happen to know that I come in vampire, for instance. But frankly I'd rather not involve your - his name is Obie? There's a difference, ours is called Coriolanus Snow - in anything that would put us in the same room again. At all." Pause. "Unless he's good enough and a good enough actor that assassinating ours and replacing him with yours to avoid triggering deadman switches would make any sort of sense? Probably not, but it's worth floating...?"
toblameforit: Thoughtful, perhaps mischievous. (+= pretend we're twins)
Author: toblameforit
"No," says Tony.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"No," says Elizabeth.
bitofafiction: Impatient, sarcastic, or annoyed. (>= not terribly surprised)
Author: bitofafiction
"Definitely not," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Didn't think so."
toblameforit: Skeptical or questioning. (-= poking your head out of Baker Street)
Author: toblameforit
"...Also, back up, vampire? Good vampire or bad vampire?"
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I haven't met her," says Bell, blinking. "I haven't met any of me. Milliways and I have this inconvenient relationship where it's willing for me to come here sometimes but it's not nearly as convenient to my wants as other people seem to find it. But I met a friendly werewolf who lives in the world that vampire-me sort of secretly rules. And he seemed to think she was fine, or at least an obvious improvement over the previous secret vampire rulers of that world."
toblameforit: Thoughtful, perhaps mischievous. (+= pretend we're twins)
Author: toblameforit
"Huh, okay," says Tony. "We have vampires in our world but they are, like, all assholes. Pretty sure they don't secretly rule anything, either."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I think my vampire alt was notable for not having eaten any humans, but she still had not eaten any," Bell says. "According to the werewolf I met. If the ruling things is secret how would you know if yours do?"
toblameforit: Striving for innocence. (+= wanna do my homework for me?)
Author: toblameforit
He points at Sherlock.
bitofafiction: Smiling: fond amusement. (!= that was Victorian)
Author: bitofafiction
Sherlock smiles faintly.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell shrugs. "Reasonable answer, I guess, I don't have a lot of detail about how secret the secret is. So. You wanna help us?"
bitofafiction: Looking straight ahead: calculated neutrality. (>= with his dignity on maximum)
Author: bitofafiction
"Yes," says Sherlock.
prima_sequentem: (ℝ long way to the top)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I think I'll leave you guys to it and go placate my future husband," says Elizabeth.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You didn't want your entertaining advice first?" Bell says.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Later," she says cheerfully.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Okay. Thank you for bringing help," says Bell earnestly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"You're welcome."

She goes.
bitofafiction: Looking up. Considering or evasive. (<= I know it sounds absurd)
Author: bitofafiction
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell pulls out her recorder. "I have the explanation of Panem I gave Elizabeth recorded, if you don't have specific questions lined up and she didn't tell you much," she offers.
bitofafiction: Standing straight. Faint smile. (<= brilliant innocence)
Author: bitofafiction
"By all means," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell maneuvers through her record.


""Let me put it this way: the government we're planning to overthrow hasn't encountered a hiccup of significant-scale resistance from the parts of the country where we live in the last seventy-two years despite routinely kidnapping kids our age and younger and killing most of them for the entertainment of the viewers back home."

"Harsh."

"Yes. Rather. And of course there are the other effects of malicious totalitarianism - the only reason I'm reasonably confident about the lack of rebellion is that Bar will loan me archives of Capitol newspapers, not just the District Four Gazette, and there aren't any prolonged, suspicious 'resource shortages' that I'd expect the media to cover for unrest with even there. You can see why we'd like the Capitol in question to go away."


Bell then decides that this isn't actually her best summary and skips backwards to the one she gave Darcy.


"I... live in a pretty shitty world."

"...What kind of shitty are we talking, here?"

"The part that gets most people's attention is the fact that, annually, two dozen disadvantaged teenagers are forced into an arena with some combination of environmental hazards, genetically engineered animals, and other variously lethal props to fight to the death on national television," says Bell. "But more people - including more kids - tend to die of various other problems related to economic inequality and the side effects of totalitarianism. The only reason I look reasonably well-nourished is because I have been coming to Milliways since I was six and trading byproducts from the job I've been working since age eight for nonperishables to bring home with me. The only reason I didn't have to try my luck on the TV show is because my District has a system to train selected kids for the games and arranges for them to volunteer and spare whoever gets picked in the lottery."
bitofafiction: Looking down, pensive, unsure or regretful. (== come all the same)
Author: bitofafiction
"Oh, do let's fix that," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Do let's," agrees Bell, pausing the recording. "We don't have a plan yet. We're working at enough of a resource disadvantage that we have to plan around what resources we can get. So far we have what you see, and Tony's got a fancy generator I snagged for him at home, and some progressively less useful things."

("What you see" includes the stick in Bell's hair, and the amulets - since she never leaves the house, she's traded for the flashier one, and Tony's got the less obtrusively girly-looking lump of glass.)
bitofafiction: Mostly out of frame. Pensive. Hands. (== a tolerable activity)
Author: bitofafiction
"What manner of deadly weapon have you got in your hair?"
she_sells_seashells: seacreature (seacreature)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"It is my stick," says Bell. "It does fire. It takes practice, don't try it, I'm alive because my practice location happened to be a beach."
bitofafiction: Looking off into the distance. Thoughtful, possibly amused. (<= one point eight seconds)
Author: bitofafiction
"I was not planning to," he says mildly.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yes, I just disclaim that whenever I explain what it is."
bitofafiction: Looking up. Considering or evasive. (<= I know it sounds absurd)
Author: bitofafiction
"Reasonable," he acknowledges.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Have you figured out what the necklaces do?" she asks curiously. (It doesn't seem like a significant possibility to her that he doesn't know that the necklaces do something.)
bitofafiction: Looking off into the distance. Thoughtful, possibly amused. (<= one point eight seconds)
Author: bitofafiction
"I'd give good odds that they are protective in some way," he says.
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Nicely done," smirks Bell. "They're not heavy-duty. Mine is mostly to minimize the damage when I inevitably trip over something imaginary and fall down the stairs. But yeah, magic protection amulets. Fire wand. Fancy generator and whatever Tony can put together out of parts we can get. Versus the Capitol. What're you guys bringing to the party?"
toblameforit: Striving for innocence. (+= wanna do my homework for me?)
Author: toblameforit
"Me," says Tony. "And whatever Stark Industries stuff I can fit through a door." He looks at Tony. "You and me should go have a serious technical conversation," he says. And then, because he is Tony, adds: "And probably also make out a little."
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"Good plan," says Tony. "Let's go."
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell blinks. She was not really expecting that. She tilts her head as they depart.
bitofafiction: Straight on, slight smile. (!= quintessentially Stark)
Author: bitofafiction
Sherlock looks at Bell, then at Sherlock.
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock looks at Sherlock, then at Bell.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Well, I guess he's not the first person I've heard of who - oh." Bell puts her hand over her eyes. "Oh. Is it time for a quick are-we-monogamous conversation, Sherlock?" She's addressing hers.
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)
Author: sicaria






bitofafiction: Impatient, sarcastic, or annoyed. (>= not terribly surprised)
Author: bitofafiction
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria
bitofafiction: Looking off into the distance. Thoughtful, possibly amused. (<= one point eight seconds)
Author: bitofafiction
sicaria: In bed, not sleeping. (⒀ no rest for the wicked)
Author: sicaria
"Apparently so," says Sherlock.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"It's like you're telepathic," remarks Bell. "Okay, normally I'd say I wanted some time to think about it, but I'm pretty sure I know what the answer after my thinking about it is, because the other person I've heard of in this situation, who I mentioned, said he slept with his alt who was my alt's boyfriend. So I'm pretty confident I'm equipped to come down on the side of 'okay' and there's no strong reason I have to do all the steps of that beforehand. Have fun. If you can get pregnant, please don't do that."
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"I cannot get pregnant without significant medical intervention," says Sherlock. "Thank you, we will."

She leads the other Sherlock... out to the lake, for some reason.
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Well.

Bell knows how to occupy herself unaccompanied in Milliways.

She starts talking, systematically, purposefully, to each person in the bar.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
How about this girl? Sitting in an armchair by the fire which she has turned to face the Window, manipulating what appears to be a laptop computer with a holographic projector instead of a screen. The image it currently projects into the air above her lap is of a complex and very spiky-looking three-dimensional shape.

Also, there might be something slightly familiar about her.
she_sells_seashells: seacreature (seacreature)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Do... I know you...?" Bell asks the girl. It's not her usual introduction. She launches into that. "I'm Shell Bell. I'm from Panem, Earth, year 72 by our reckoning and something I don't know by everyone else's."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"...Um. I'm Matilda," she says. "I think we've met. About twelve years ago, my time."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That... sounds right, yes, are you the one who can float things and who I lost in my panic about the squid in the lake outside?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"That's me!" agrees Matilda. "Is your world still horrible? It turns out mine does have magic."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"My world is still horrible! I am collecting magic so me and my girlfriend and her brother can make it not-horrible. What kind do you have?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"The contagious kind!" says Matilda. "Or, sort of contagious. Sometimes, if I use a bunch of magic on somebody, or even a little, they end up able to do magic themselves. Sometimes nothing happens. And since I started doing magic, of which the floating things was some, more and more people in my world have been able to do it too even though I've never met most of them. It's a fascinating system. I wrote three papers on it and now I have the world's first PhD in thaumatology."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell stares at her. "Contagious magic? Can I have some? And my girlfriend and her brother too when they finish what they're doing?
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Ye-es," says Matilda. "But I'd rather give you the operating manual before I give you the magic. Or try to, because again, sometimes it doesn't work and I don't know why. Um, one sec."

She closes out of the file she was viewing and brings up what seems to be a kind of directory structure, with labelled folders and files as nodes in a three-dimensional graph. At dizzying speed, she navigates this maze until she finds a folder labelled HOW TO MAGIC.

"Do you have a computer on you?" she asks, selecting the folder. It sprouts a forest of subdirectories and text and video files.
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"No. Nor at home."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Would you like one?" she inquires.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"There is not enough yes in my vocabulary for this question."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Matilda snaps her fingers. A duplicate of her laptop appears, hovering in the air in front of Bell.

"I designed these myself," she explains. "One of the limiting factors of my world's magic is that it's harder to conjure an object the more complicated it is, unless you know its underlying structures really, really well."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...If you can just appear them out of nowhere, any chance I can get one for the girlfriend and one for her brother too? And maybe one for said brother to take apart and turn into nifty things? He's an engineer."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Sure!" she says. Another snap of her fingers, and five more laptops appear stacked neatly under the first one. Then she does something to hers that causes the top three on the stack to blink small blue lights in their upper left corners. "And now you've all got a copy of the magic manual."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You're awesome," declares Bell. She finds a place to sit. "Should I just start reading it now? In case I don't run into you again for another twelve years and since it's a contagion prerequisite?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Good idea!" says Matilda. "Let me know if you need help figuring out the interface."
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell is not mystified by computers. She's borrowed them from Bar. This one is unfamiliar, but nicely designed, and Bell only has a couple questions on her way through the directory tree to the manual. She reads it with a ferocity normally reserved for starving people presented with food or drowning people presented with air.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
And in fact, two of the listed common spells are 'conjure food' and 'breathe water'.

All in all, it's a very tidy system, although it has a few quirks once you move away from the basics. And the document on how to get magic is not terribly promising.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell looks grimly at Helpful Graphs.

"If it takes days," she says, "to get to the might-as-well-give-up point... can I get you to spend days on us? I cannot overstate how much this would be amazing for de-horribling the world."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Sure!" says Matilda.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Thanks! The statistics are at least encouraging that one of the three of us will get something workable. I hope it's me, but I could work with it being Sherlock or Tony."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Want me to give you a first try before you go and find your friends?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"They're busy now anyway," Bell says, nodding. "They met some alternates of theirs. Sherlock's is a boy, which is kind of weird."

(She doesn't specify what they and their alternates are doing.)
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Okay. Mind if I levitate you a few inches? It's easiest."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"That's fine," chirps Bell. "More than fine. I'm so glad I found you."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Bell levitates a few inches off the ground. Matilda opens up the thing she was looking at earlier again.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell reads more of the manual, after the part with the helpful graphs. She's a little less manic about it now that she is floating.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
There is a lot of technical detail available, including descriptions of every common spell. With variants.

When Matilda said she wrote three papers on it, she apparently meant more like thirty. Unless only a few of these count as papers the way she meant. She's credited as an author in every single document that credits authors.

Also, for some reason a disproportionate focus has been given to the subject of conjuring food.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell is very much in favor of the subject of conjuring food.

She reads all of it.

If it seems like Matilda is open to being talked to, she makes remarks about it as she goes, but she is also open to just... reading. About magic. This is the most technical magic description she's ever gotten her hands on. (Reading about any other system has always seemed needlessly tortuous. She couldn't have them.)
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Matilda is very open to being talked to! Don't tell anybody, but she's kind of a nerd.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell is not a nerd about most things.

She is absolutely a magic nerd.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Then she has found the right person to talk to.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
After Bell is finished with the entire manual - and has reread the interesting sections - she says, "I think it's probably a good idea for me to go find Sherlock and Tony now. You won't go anywhere, will you?"

(And she's going to stash the new computers in her room, just in case, because sometimes fucking Milliways earns its name.)
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I will not go anywhere," Matilda affirms. "Unless you're gone for six hours and I really need to pee."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Well, if that happens, we can leave each other notes at the bar and try to catch each other again? I'll be here more frequently than I used to. Tony can sometimes summon the door and Sherlock runs across it more often than I do. Anyway, I'll try not to take six hours!" She scoops up the laptops, stashes them, and goes Stark-hunting.
toblameforit: Smiling a little bit. (*= you jerk! :D)
Author: toblameforit
All four of them are in Bell's pair's room, to which Bell has a key.

They are all snuggling. The Tonies are discussing technology.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I found someone with contagious magic," Bell says loudly and without preamble.
sicaria: Looking up, thoughtful. (⑼ a brief and thoughtful moment)
Author: sicaria


"Where?"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Downstairs. She's called Matilda. I met her when I was six and then never found her again. She has to do magic to whoever she's trying to be contagious at. Come on, come on!" Bell can't contain herself; she races down the hallway to the stairs again.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
Sherlock follows immediately.
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
Tony takes a minute, because first he has to put on pants.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell finds Matilda again, and on the way down the stairs, she chatters: "And she can conjure stuff out of thin air - I got us laptop computers, and extras for Tony to take apart - and her magic system can do just about anything if you understand it well enough and the contagiousness thing doesn't work perfectly but the odds are good it'll work on at least one of us, and," breath, "there she is! Matilda, this is Sherlock! Sherlock, Matilda!"
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"Hello," says Sherlock.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Hi!" says Matilda. "Would you like to be levitated?"
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Yes, please."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"And me again too, please."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Floating ensues.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell giggles uncontrollably and plants a delighted kiss on Sherlock's forehead.
sicaria: Grinning. (⑵ tell me you saw that)
Author: sicaria
Giggling right back, Sherlock hugs her.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Matilda awwwwwwwws.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
When Tony comes down the stairs, Bell waves him over, hopping up and down as effectively as she can when suspended in midair.
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
Tony beams at all of them.

"Hi! You are floating," he says to Bell and Sherlock; to Matilda, "Hi! You are magic."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I am magic! Would you like to be floating too?"
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Yes I would!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Now he is floating.
ferratus: Smiling uncertainly. (⑶ not sure you caught that)
Author: ferratus
"I'm floating," he declares.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"She made us computers! I solicited extras to take apart!" Bell repeats for Tony's benefit. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Sherlock gets another forehead-kiss.
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"You are adorable," says Tony.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"We've established that," laughs Bell. "Matilda, how do you tell if we're getting magicked? Does it perchance involve magic?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I can tell," she says. "It's a specialized skill; not a lot of people have it. If I see any sticking, I'll let you know."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Excellent."

Bell decides that the waiting period is best spent having levitationy snuggles with Sherlock. "Was talking engineering with the other one of you educational?" she asks over Sherlock's shoulder to Tony.
ferratus: Smirking. (⑵ well this should be fun)
Author: ferratus
"Extremely!" says Tony. "Some of the stuff he's working with is kinda primitive by Capitol standards, but not all of it is."
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
Snuggles!

On close inspection, Bell may notice that Sherlock has a few scratches and bruises that she didn't last time they spoke.
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...What happened to you?" Bell asks, picking up Sherlock's hand an examining a little cut over one of her knuckles.
sicaria: Smiling. (⑶ you charming creature)
Author: sicaria
"Sherlock and I wanted to know which one of us would win in a fight," she says serenely. "The answer is me. Damn close, though."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...It was close? Damn."
sicaria: Smiling, perhaps angrily. (⑷ consider yourself murdered)
Author: sicaria
"It was fun," she adds.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Well, I did tell you to have fun, I guess. Do you decide to see who would win a fight between you and sufficiently interesting-looking people in Milliways on a regular basis, or just Sherlocks?"
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"This has been the first such instance."
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"First of maybe-several?" asks Bell, raising an eyebrow. "Since it was such fun, and all."
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)
Author: sicaria
"Hmm, potentially."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Good to know." And she plops her head onto Sherlock's shoulder.

Hmm. Matilda said she'd let them know if any magic was sticking.

It's still worth trying even if it takes days, but there is a sharp drop in expected magicalness if it takes even as long as an hour...

She decides not to worry about it for the time being. "So what all cool stuff can you build or get hold of now that you couldn't before?" she asks Tony.
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Lots!" he says excitedly. "He doesn't just have gadgets, he has money. And he says he'll take me through sometime to check out his workshop and meet his house."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Meet... his house...?"
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
"Yeah, his house has an artificial intelligence named Jarvis. He sounds pretty cool."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Wow. Okay, that is pretty cool," says Bell.
ferratus: Giggling. (⑴ ehehehehe)
Author: ferratus
"And apparently Jarvis can open a door to Milliways anytime he wants, so I'm not gonna get stuck or anything."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Can I come along, then?" is Bell's next question. "And meet the house and see the cool stuff and - I've never been in a world that wasn't Panem before. Only as far as here. I've always been afraid I'd get stuck. But I really want to."
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Sure!" says Tony. "I mean, I'll ask him, but the answer is totally sure."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell laughs.

She wants to meet one of her, and be nigh-telepathic...
dark_light: (seriously?)
Author: dark_light
Speak of the devil.

Someone who looks like Bell, only with a sleeker build, windblown hair, a weird ripped black outfit, and a branch of some kind in her fist, walks into the bar.

And immediately says, "Yambe Akka take the stars, they're zombies!"
she_sells_seashells: (run)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Oh my," exclaims Shell Bell, releasing Sherlock on hearing her own voice - not as it sounds in her head, but certainly as it sounds on her recorder - and realizing that she doesn't know how to run across the room while she's levitated several inches into the air. "Uh, Matilda, can you let me down - I have to go talk to her!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Sure!" says Matilda. Bell settles onto the floor.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
And she's off, running and tripping and catching herself and making it to stand in front of Isabella. "Hi," she says breathlessly.
dark_light: (seriously?)
Author: dark_light
Isabella opens her mouth.

She closes it.

"What's going on?" she asks, finally. "Why is there a skinny zombie double of me in a magic bar?"
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm... not a zombie?" tries Bell. "I'm just a - human." She was about to say person but that doesn't seem politic in Milliways. "And we're doubles because we're from different worlds but based on the same... template... thing! I'm from Panem. I'm called Shell Bell."
truthwright: (⑽ something inexpressible)
Author: truthwright
"Why do you keep saying zombie?" wonders Kas. "I mean, I don't see any daemons, but—" he gestures at Isabella.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"Can't you tell? They're not just separated. There's a difference. You really can't tell? Look. Shell Bell." Isabella reaches up to her shoulder; Path steps onto it. "Have you got one of these hiding somewhere? If you're not a witch maybe he's not an owl. Firefly? Tiny dragon? Any sort of creature - do you have a daemon?"
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"No?" says Shell Bell nervously. "I... don't know anybody who does. He's very cute, though?"

(It's fortunate that she keeps her hands to herself.)
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright
Kas shrugs. "Maybe we're looking at different things," he says. "I just see a bunch of people being people."

The king cobra wrapped loosely around his shoulders changes into a fennec fox and nibbles on his ear.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell startles. "So... daemons are... shapeshifting... pets...? That people who aren't zombies have where you come from?"
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"I'm not a pet," protests Path.

"He's not," agrees Isabella sharply. "And yeah. But... okay, Kas is right, you aren't acting like a zombie. Maybe your equivalent of Pathalan doesn't... have his own body. Or something. Sorry about that." She sighs. "I'm Isabella Amariah."
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"I'm Kas," adds Kas, because why not.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Okay. Well, this place is Milliways. It's a restaurant-slash-bar at the end of the universe." Bell waves at the window. "If you go out the door, you'll be right where and when you were when you came in, so you can stay as long as you want and it doesn't matter. Doors appear according to different patterns for different people - I find one only about once or twice a year, but my girlfriend runs into one twice a month, her brother can summon it one in three tries, and his alt's house can open one at will. Speaking of which, can I get you to come meet some people?" she pleads. "And tell us about yourselves and your world?"
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"Okay," says Isabella slowly.
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
"Sure!" says Kas.
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"This way," says Shell Bell, glowing with excitement. "Sherlock! Tony! Matilda! Look who I found! This is Isabella Amariah, and her friend Kas, and I have reassured her that we aren't zombies just because we don't have owls or snakes or anything following us around."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"Hello," says Isabella reservedly.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
Petaal waves a paw.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Hi!" says Matilda. "You're very magically interesting, has anyone ever told you that?"
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Aww, you found another you, Bell! Congrats!"
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"I am a witch," Isabella tells Matilda. "...Are you? You're not dressed like one, but clearly the usual patterns don't apply here."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Arguably I am, but I don't think I'm a witch like your world does witches," says Matilda. "You're all... glowy. And so are your little friends."
dark_light: (path)
Author: dark_light
"We're daemons," says Path indignantly.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I don't think that word means the same thing to you that it does to me," Matilda says placidly.
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"He's my soul?" tries Isabella.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yes, that sounds about right."

To Bell, she says, "Want to be floaty again?"
she_sells_seashells: (skyward)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yes, please!" says Bell. "So, what's your world like? It has witches, apparently?"
dark_light: (neutral)
Author: dark_light
"And daemons," says Isabella insistently. "I don't know how you do without your own Pathalan. How do you get honest information about what's going on in your head without a daemon who can look at it from the inside and outside at the same time? And... do you only have humans where you're from? We also have panserbjorne," she shrugs. "Armored bears."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Bell resumes floatiness. Matilda listens in fascination.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I have to do it myself," Bell says. "I guess having a daemon does sound useful, but I think I get good results just talking to myself. I have an audio recorder I talk to - what's technology like in your world?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"It's 2013?" says Isabella. "Um, I have a phone?" She pulls out her phone from the little bag that always sits between her shoulderblades. "It's fairly new, so, this is where we're at. Why is Matilda floating you three?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Her form of magic is contagious," explains Bell. "Our world doesn't have any, so we're trying to get some here. Can you teach yours?"
dark_light: (seriously?)
Author: dark_light
"You don't have any magic?" exclaims Isabella. "That's terrible! But - I can only teach witch spells to witches. Even if Kas's daemon turns into a witch shape she can't cast them; we tried it. Although she can fly cloud-pine and feel celestial light just fine."
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
"Celestial light is sexy," says Petaal.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell looks quizzically at Kas, and says to her alt, "But you can still do magic. What kinds?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"All kinds, as long as it's okay if it takes me a couple tries to work out the kinks in a spell," shrugs Isabella. "Witchcraft is better at natural things - people, daemons, plants, animals, weather - than at anything to do with machines or whatever, although I can work with those - it's more fun to spend an afternoon figuring out a verse to make my phone behave than to fly to the store and get them to do it. Uh, specifics. I can heal, and call animals, and find out things about anything that'll sit in a divination circle for me, and my teacher keeps bothering me to curse somebody but I don't know of anyone who really deserves to be cursed, and besides, I think as soon as she talks me into that she'll be bothering me to try killing somebody because she thinks I can get away with it because my dad's a cop. Some older witches are kind of cavalier about that kind of thing."
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"From what I've heard about your dad, I'm pretty sure that makes you less likely to get away with it," comments Kas.
dark_light: (la la)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah, I know, right? Part of my apprenticeship agreement is that I don't have to do anything I sincerely consider unethical. So that's nice. Even if she's always going on about how the fulness of witchcraft requires trying everything."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Can you curse and/or kill people from a distance?" Bell asks.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Well, I don't know if I could do it between worlds, but within one, distance isn't a factor. I just need a focus - something the target owned, or someone they met, or someplace they've been or ideally all of those. Why?"
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Do you want a deserving target?"
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
Isabella blinks.

"Your world doesn't have witches. No one will have any idea what's happening, will they?"
sicaria: Smiling. (⑶ you charming creature)
Author: sicaria




Sherlock smiles.
truthwright: (⑽ something inexpressible)
Author: truthwright
Kas blinks at her. Petaal's enormous ears perk up.
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"Yeah. I'll take a deserving target. Really deserving, I mean, but in a world with no witches there probably are some - I mean, in my world, anyone who's publicly awful doesn't last long without an allied clan casting protections, but in yours..."
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Excellent," crows Bell. "And Sherlock, Tony, you guys have met Snow and probably any number of other unpleasant people we'd like to die of - what will it look like, Isabella Amariah?"
dark_light: (skyward)
Author: dark_light
"A long-distance death curse? Easiest is probably to just amp up the non-death one that causes the flulike symptoms until they die of dehydration, or maybe suffocate from congestion, or cook themselves in fever," shrugs Isabella. "I can layer it as much as you want so it takes a satisfactory amount of time regardless of whatever medical care is involved. You do have to convince me that the person is bad news, though."
sicaria: Serious, intent. (⑿ you know it is my choice)
Author: sicaria
"We can provide something he has owned, somewhere he has been, and someone he has met," says Sherlock. "As for how bad he is, would you like the personal reasons or the political ones? He is both an old family friend guilty of a litany of betrayals and the president of our viciously unpleasant totalitarian government."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"If I'm going to kill this guy I need the whole story. If you just want him to be hospitalized for a couple of months either will do."
sicaria: Looking over shoulder. (⑹ look what the cat dragged in)
Author: sicaria
"Bell, perhaps this would be a good moment for your summary of the Hunger Games."
she_sells_seashells: bitey (bitey)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell produces her summary of the Hunger Games.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"And you want me to kill your... king? dictator? the guy who invented this sadistic excuse for entertainment except it's apparently been going on long enough that a human would already be dead?" asks Isabella.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria
"President," Sherlock reiterates. "He did not invent it, no, but he does take a significant personal interest."
ferratus: Holding a blanket. Watchful or hiding upset. (⒁ turn the lights off carry me home)
Author: ferratus
"And when you win, he puts you up for auction to all his rich friends and threatens to kill your family if you don't fuck the winner," says Tony.
truthwright: (⑺ have things my own way)
Author: truthwright
"Well, I think you should kill him," says Kas.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
Isabella looks like she's considering asking Tony a question, possibly how do you know that, but instead she says, "If the Hunger Games part is all on TV I assume you'll be able to produce more evidence than your word, and if it corroborates, I will be happy to present you with a dead president deceased of a mysteriously infection-free flu. Over any time period you like. I'm not philosophically opposed to well-targeted revenge."
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (⑻ who sits by herself)
Author: sicaria
"There is plenty of evidence, yes."
dark_light: (fascinated)
Author: dark_light
"All right then. And I hear that one of you can open a door to this place to send me home with reasonable reliability?" she asks. "I can wait around a bit for you to see about magic contagion, if it'll really be the same time when I go home again."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"It's not perfect about that, but it's close," Bell assures her. "So, have you taken over your world yet?"
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"How did you know I'm going to do that? I haven't yet. I need something that I have not yet found, but I was in the middle of a spell to locate it when Kas found the door."
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
"She's you," Kas points out. "Why wouldn't she know?"
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"Well, I don't think I'd be doing it any time soon if it weren't for the existence of alethiometers," says Isabella. "It'd certainly take me a few decades, maybe even centuries - witches have specialized in magic before and not wound up accumulating the kind of power I'd want before I'd be comfortable making an open bid for world domination, you know?"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You're the first one of our template I've met," says Bell, "but I've been recognized in here before, and we frequently take over the world."
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
"That's awesome," says Kas.
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"As far as I can tell we do need a magical edge of some kind to do it, which is why Matilda's floating us," Bell explains. She then peers at Kas. "...I might have met one of you. But I'm not sure. He was older and had a lot of scars and my recorder only does audio."
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"Well, tell me about him," says Kas. (Petaal nibbles his ear again.)
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell shrugs and directs her recorder to the relevant conversation.
truthwright: (⒀ and an old man's heart)
Author: truthwright
Kas closes his eyes and listens; Petaal does the same.

It's Petaal who first says, "Yeah, that's us."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Well, he didn't have a daemon," Bell says. "So I don't know if he's you both. I'm not sure how that works."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"You've either got a Pathalan curled up asleep inside you somewhere, or you're not one of me," says Isabella. "That's how it works."
truthwright: (⑾ my heart belongs to no one)
Author: truthwright
Kas shrugs. He isn't sure his take on the matter is exactly the same as Isabella's, but he's not sure what his take on the matter exactly is, so he's not going to get into it.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell quits the playback. "You're good with natural things, right?" she asks Isabella. "One thing I'm worried about is the population of the Districts being able to feed themselves if the Capitol attacks that way - and it's likely, controlling us with hunger is their style, they named the Games after it. I'm wondering if you can do some sort of magic to various crops that will let them spring right back up if they're bombed or burned or something? Can you do that from a distance too?"
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"That sounds... large-scale. Given enough time and a few tries and a whole hell of a lot of honey, I could definitely do that to a farm. Learning how to scale up spells in general is still on my to-do list," says Isabella regretfully. "I'm sorry. I mean, once I figure it out, if you still need it, I'll totally make another trip."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"If you need a large supply of food," says Matilda, "I can do that. I mean, assuming I see you again before another twelve years have gone by."
she_sells_seashells: tricky (tricky)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I don't think we have a place to put a large supply of food - correct me if I'm wrong," she adds to the Stark twins. "Can you make a..." She gestures vaguely. "If we don't get magic so we can conjure our own food for everyone, can you make some kind of cornucopia?"
ferratus: Pensive. (⑹ hrmmmm)
Author: ferratus
Tony shakes his head. "We've got nowhere near the storage space."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Well, I'd have to invent one first," says Matilda, "but I'm good at inventing."
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I know! I read your papers," says Bell delightedly. "...There should really be some more effective way to network through Milliways. I wonder if Bar can tell who's an alt of who? Hand out keys to a shared room based on that? There should totally be a..." She snickers. "A Bell-tower. With a guestbook that asks for species and unique nickname and stuff."
truthwright: (⑵ talk about cut of meat)
Author: truthwright
"That's adorable."
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"That is adorable."
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
Kas cracks up.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Since you're occupied with floating, I can go ask, if there's... someone to ask?"
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Oh! The bar herself is sapient. Just go up to it and talk and you'll get napkins with her reply written on it," says Bell.
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"Oh...kay," says Isabella, and to the bar she goes.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
"Hey," says Kas, "can I hear some more of you talking to other-me?"
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Uh, some more, sure, I'm not sure if you want the... whole thing."
truthwright: (⒁ give me a break)
Author: truthwright
"...Why wouldn't I?"
she_sells_seashells: (preoccupied)
Author: she_sells_seashells
Bell sighs. "Well. A ways in he handed me a shotgun and asked me to shoot him with it. It was pretty weird."
truthwright: (⑵ talk about cut of meat)
Author: truthwright
"...Are you kidding," Kas says disbelievingly, "why the hell would I not wanna hear that?"
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Right, what could I possibly have been thinking," says Bell, rolling her eyes, and she presses play again for his benefit.
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
He listens, gleefully enraptured, nodding along to the part about jelly beans.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
And right at the shotgun part of the recording, Isabella returns to the group, a stack of napkins in her hand.

She listens.

"This place is strange," she observes. "And full of strange people. Who may not be zombies but are, I reiterate, strange."
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
Kas hugs himself and beams some more.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"That was more of the alt of Kas who our alt put on the asteroid?" Isabella clarifies.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yep," says Bell, pausing her recorder again. "What did Bar say?"
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
Isabella reads from the series of napkins. "Why yes, I can distinguish between you as well as anyone else. Would you like something to drink? The first is on the house." Next napkin: "Your cranberry soda. I see no reason why you couldn't share a room and distribute keys that way, if you'd like. I won't settle your arguments about who is obliged to pay the rent on it." Next napkin: "I don't think you want to leave up to me the determination of which allies of Isabellas are to be permitted entrance. But I can give any of you as many keys as you ask for to hand out to anyone you like."
truthwright: (⑼ and i'm still on my own)
Author: truthwright
(Kas practically bounces, waiting for Bell to unpause. Petaal, sitting on his shoulder, actually does bounce.)
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Awesome!" says Bell. "Er, my finances are currently not my own, though."
dark_light: (neutral)
Author: dark_light
"Don't look at me. Witches don't have money. I don't even have that credit card I was borrowing, anymore."
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
"...Can you unfloat me for a sec?" says Tony to Matilda.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Sure!"

She does.
ferratus: At a distance, walking. (⑻ step inside)
Author: ferratus
"Other Tony is loaded," he explains. "If you guys want, I can go ask him if he minds covering your room until you find a rich alt."
she_sells_seashells: (smile)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yes please!"
dark_light: (collected)
Author: dark_light
"I can chip in a favor for him, too," says Isabella, "if he wants - that's what we do instead of money, is favors."
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
"Cool," says Tony. Off he zooms.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I'm so glad I met you," Bell tells Isabella. She glances at Kas. "Oh, you want to hear the rest of this? He doesn't have a whole lot more to say at this point. I'm not actually sure if he's alive, the gun was loaded with something weird." She presses play.
truthwright: (⑴ my troubles  will be few)
Author: truthwright
"Yes please," he beams.

The recording continues. Kas's alt gets shot.

Kas sighs dreamily. Petaal becomes a linsang and curls around his neck, nuzzling under his chin.
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"You can express your gratitude for meeting me by not shooting this one. He has a skill I will be very inconvenienced without," Isabella says.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"By default I do not shoot people," says Bell agreeably.
truthwright: (⑷ sweet sweet thing)
Author: truthwright
"You're nice," Kas says to Bell. "That was nice."

He leaves it quite open whether the nice thing he's referring to is shooting his alt or letting him hear it.
she_sells_seashells: engaged (engaged)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"...Thanks."
ferratus: Quasi-innocent. (⑷ maybe a little)
Author: ferratus
Tony comes trotting down the stairs with Tony following close behind.

"Float me please," he says to Matilda.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Sure."

Ker-float!
toblameforit: Smiling a little bit. (*= you jerk! :D)
Author: toblameforit
"So hi!" says Tony. "What's this about favours?"
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"I am a witch, as opposed to a z- as opposed to being not a witch, like my alt who assures me she's not a zombie," says Isabella. "I can do magic. Witches trade favors, instead of currency, so I don't have any currency, and neither has Shell Bell for what I imagine are different reasons. If you want to fund a Bell-Tower until we locate an alt with deep pockets -" She glances at Bell's wader pants, which have no pockets. "With pockets at all, to take over the payments, I will be happy to do you a favor. Nothing too unethical, please."
toblameforit: Thoughtful, perhaps mischievous. (+= pretend we're twins)
Author: toblameforit
"Sure, okay," says Tony. "What kind of magic, though?"
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"...Witch magic. Shell Bell, can your cunning device repeat my description so I don't have to?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Yes, it can."

It does.
toblameforit: Striving for innocence. (+= wanna do my homework for me?)
Author: toblameforit
"Huh," says Tony. "Okay. I will think of something not-too-unethical for you to do, and in the meantime, you can have your Bell Tower. Which is an adorable name, by the way."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Well, 'Bell' seems to be the consistent part of the name. I'm just Bell, and I think most of the alts I've heard about go by Bella which is short for Isabella, and they share my surname but I don't think this one does. So, Bell-Tower. Besides, it was my idea."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"Witches don't do surnames. If you have the same parents - except for not a witch mother - you'd be a Swan?" guesses Isabella.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Bell Swan, that's me," confirms Shell Bell. "The shell part is just a nickname."
truthwright: (⑹ of all that you could see)
Author: truthwright
"An adorable nickname," says Kas.
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Thanks?" says Shell Bell, shrugging. She's not really clear on why two of her seem to have wound up with versions of Mr. Here's A Shotgun Shoot Me Please. Even if Isabella and Kas seem to be just friends.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"It'll probably serve as a suitable unique nickname for when there are half a dozen of us all together and we're trying to keep each other straight, anyway," says Isabella. "I'll go with Amariah, I suppose. Or everyone could just address Path instead of me if they're all z- persons with interior daemons."
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
Kas snickers. "You and your fuckin' zombies," he says affectionately.
toblameforit: Skeptical or questioning. (-= poking your head out of Baker Street)
Author: toblameforit
"I am missing something," Tony observes. "Buuuut that's not news."
she_sells_seashells: (becalmed)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"The small animals are their souls," Bell says. "Isabella is creeped out that we don't have them and says that I must have a version of her owl 'curled up asleep inside me somewhere' or we cannot actually be alts."
toblameforit: Thoughtful, perhaps mischievous. (+= pretend we're twins)
Author: toblameforit
"Yeah, um, some worlds have souls, some don't," says Tony. "Mine does! And if you take somebody's soul away, creepy unpleasant things happen. But I know there's a bunch of worlds where there is not even a thing like that at all and people get along fine."
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"How can you take someone's soul away if it's not outside of them, being a daemon?" asks Isabella quizzically. "Does it involve surgery?"
toblameforit: Surprised or wary. (-= how do you do that?)
Author: toblameforit
"Noooo," he says. "Souls aren't physical, they're just—um okay, so my world has vampires, and if you get turned into a vampire, you become a selfish people-eating asshole version of you. But the soul is still around in some kind of weird metaphysical way, and apparently there are a few spells that'll put it back, and then the vampire starts paying attention to stuff like 'eating people is bad' again."
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
Isabella shudders. Pathalan hops from her shoulder to her hand and she holds him to her chest.
toblameforit: Skeptical or questioning. (-= poking your head out of Baker Street)
Author: toblameforit
"Sorry," he adds.
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"I've heard of a vampire version of us, but I think she must be a different kind. At least, she doesn't eat people. I don't think she has an external Pathalan."
dark_light: (seriously?)
Author: dark_light
"Am I the only one with an external Pathalan?" says Isabella incredulously. "A handful of worlds with people who have no daemons is one thing, but it's another to find that daemons are the exception. Haven't any of you ever seen someone with a daemon in here before? You've been here before, many times, right?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I've been coming here for twelve years," says Matilda. "I've seen a few people who might've had daemons—they were glowy in almost the same way—but I never talked to any of them, so I don't know for sure."
dark_light: (unimpressed)
Author: dark_light
"Weird," says Isabella, shaking her head. "I wonder if your souls would come out and be daemons if they went to my world, that being how my world works?"
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Doesn't having your soul on the outside make it - him - vulnerable? What happens if something happens to him?" asks Shell Bell. "I'm not sure I'd want to risk it, even though having a daemon to talk to does sound useful."
dark_light: (pensive)
Author: dark_light
"Me and Path are the same person," says Isabella. "If something happens to one of us, it happens to the other. And of course nobody except other daemons can touch him, outside of extremely special circumstances that do not obtain. But - well. I guess if you didn't grow up with a Path of your own it might not seem worth it."
truthwright: (⑿ when all the world's asleep)
Author: truthwright
"If you live in a world with no other daemons, it's not worth it," says Kas.
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"You might want to mention the no-touching rule earlier when you talk to us zombie-types," says Shell Bell. "I didn't reach out and pet Path because it seemed like it would be rude, not because I was aware of any metaphysical reason not to."
dark_light: (squinting)
Author: dark_light
"...I will bring that up first the next time me and Path are introduced to someone without a daemon or with an internal daemon. Thank you," says Isabella. "Maybe I'll just leave him home. Only I'm not sure if separation will stretch safely across worlds, so perhaps I oughtn't dare... and of course Kas doesn't have that option at all."
truthwright: (⑼ and i'm still on my own)
Author: truthwright
Petaal shifts from linsang to snake.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)
Author: sicaria


"Why would it not be worth it?" asks Sherlock.
truthwright: (⑻ who i really am)
Author: truthwright
"Being a daemon in a world with no other daemons would be lonely," says Petaal. "And nobody would know not to touch you."
dark_light: (path)
Author: dark_light
"A lot of daemons don't even like to talk to non-daemons," Path says. "I don't mind, but Capasyllin does. That's our teacher's daemon."
truthwright: (⑽ something inexpressible)
Author: truthwright
"Yeah, I don't really understand that," says Petaal. "But it's true."
she_sells_seashells: (unsettled)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"So I guess we won't go to your world and see if it externalizes our souls?" says Bell.
dark_light: (neutral)
Author: dark_light
"That seems best, yeah. If we're waiting however long for magic to... infect?... you... is there a way I can go back and get my notebook or something so I can continue drafting my spell?"
she_sells_seashells: maybe (Default)
Author: she_sells_seashells
"Just get Kas to hold the door for you," Bell says. "And then you can come right back with whatever you grab."
truthwright: (⑺ have things my own way)
Author: truthwright
"Sure," says Kas. And, teasingly: "Try not to write on the tables."
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
"I'm not going to write on the tables." Isabella heads for the door, cloud-pine sweeping behind her and Path back in his place on her shoulder. She opens the door, confirms that it leads to her room, and makes the handoff to Kas.
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
Kas holds the door cheerfully enough.
dark_light: (Default)
Author: dark_light
Isabella goes and scoops up her notes, and jots down what she had on the wall that isn't duplicated in the book, too, and then back to the bar she goes.
manofmyword: From behind, in the suit, holding a knife. (⑻ nothing in his pockets)
Author: manofmyword
A man in a pale pink shirt appears out of thin air very close by, just as Isabella reaches the door.

He focuses on Kas immediately.

"Well aren't you precious," he exclaims, grinning a wide, irrevocably crooked grin.
truthwright: (⑵ talk about cut of meat)
Author: truthwright




Kas grins right back.
dark_light: (neutral)
Author: dark_light
"Uh, hi," says Isabella, reaching for the door to close it again. (Someone wandering to her world and getting a daemon who didn't want one would be problematic.)

"Don't touch me," Pathalan pipes up, in light of Bell's advice, "in case you didn't know."

"...Are you an alt of Kas?" Isabella asks, gesturing at Kas and peering at the newcomer's face.
manofmyword: Smirking. (⑷ coral is far more red)
Author: manofmyword
"Is that what they call you?" he inquires of Kas.
truthwright: (⑸ got no innocence)
Author: truthwright
"It's what she calls me," he says, smiling. "I like it okay. Are you the guy Bell shot? You must be the guy Bell shot."
manofmyword: Grinning, eyes nearly closed. (⑶ now i see the funny side)
Author: manofmyword
"I am the guy Bell shot," the Joker agrees. "C'mere, sweetie, let me look at you." He reaches out and puts his hands on Kas's elbows to draw him closer, avoiding contact with Petaal either by luck or by design, it's not clear which.
dark_light: (engaged)
Author: dark_light
"Why did you want Shell Bell to shoot you?" asks Isabella.
manofmyword: Smirking, pushing hair out of face. (⑸ well hello beautifulll~)
Author: manofmyword
"Mm," he says, "I figured if I was gonna give her all my guns she'd better know what to do with 'em."
truthwright: (⑶ anticipatin' fun)
Author: truthwright
Petaal becomes a tiny, tiny dog and perches higher up on Kas's shoulder. Kas rests his hands against the Joker's chest and gazes in absolute fascination at his scars.
dark_light: (why yes)
Author: dark_light
"Should I leave you guys alone?" asks Isabella, amused.