warmfeelings: (good morning everyone)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa has just finished the morning announcements. She loves doing the morning announcements; it's like piping hot coffee, the rise in the world's warmth. Most of it is for Aelise, of course, but Chelsa gets her own share, and of course she's not selfish, everyone loves their neighbors too. Everyone gets along so well.

She is on her way from the broadcasting studio where she does her announcements to the living quarters where she keeps her dearest friends. She makes sure to pay them plenty of attention. They watch the announcements - everyone does, unless they are doing some sort of emergency work right at that moment, and then they're caught up as soon as possible with the next installment - but they're kept closer and need more fine detail work to stay happy with her. It is terribly important that they be happy with her.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
A teenage boy wearing bright red pajama pants appears in midair about three feet off the ground and falls to the floor with a yelp, as though he just rolled out of a nonexistent bed.
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa blinks.

And then she reaches out with both hands, inspecting his temperature. Something's off about it. He's not completely cold, not like that one distressing child Aelise had killed for her all those years ago, but none of the warmth is aimed at her or Aelise.

That's incorrect, and confusing.

"Where did you come from?" she asks.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"What the fuck?" he says, turning over and blinking up at her. "I don't know, I—was just—"

Doesn't he know that face from somewhere?
warmfeelings: (all being friendly)
Author: warmfeelings
So he's clearly some kind of Gifted, even if he found it late. Hmm, he looks a little like her Corona, doesn't he. This is terribly curious.

"Why don't you come with me to see Aelise," suggests Chelsa, smiling at him and holding out a hand, "she'll know what to do."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Where even am I?" he asks, squinting at her. He makes no move to take her hand.
warmfeelings: (will that be all)
Author: warmfeelings
"Mont Blanc," says Chelsa patiently, still holding her hand out. "It looks like you've landed here accidentally, but Aelise will know what to do."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He shakes his head. "Who's that?"
warmfeelings: (sure you understand)
Author: warmfeelings
"Aelise is - Aelise," says Chelsa. "She's the Empress, but no one really calls her that. Wherever can you have come from if you don't know me or her? What's your name?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Harley," says Harley. "Who are you?"
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"I'm Chelsa," says Chelsa. She's still holding out her hand.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He blinks.



He screams and runs away.
warmfeelings: (just behave)
Author: warmfeelings
Well, that's hardly polite.

She was going to leave him untouched to report on his initial state to Aelise, but now she has little recourse but to reach out for his chilly self and strike matches.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
This does not seem to have an effect on the screaming and running away that he is doing.
warmfeelings: (why must you hurt me)
Author: warmfeelings
She runs after him. "Harley!" she calls. "Calm down! I only want to bring you to Aelise!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Still running away!

Now too out of breath to scream.

(But, running away or no - he has properties in common with her Corona other than just his face.)
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
That's familiar. And lovely. She doesn't like the running away, but perhaps he can be calmed down eventually.

He's running in the direction of her friends' quarters.

She follows him, exasperated.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He runs through her friends' quarters, to the balcony at the end of the hall, and he does not stop running when he reaches it.

It's a beautiful view, and a long way down the side of the mountain from here.
warmfeelings: (just behave)
Author: warmfeelings
"Anneia!" exclaims Chelsa. "Someone's just jumped off the balcony - come with me -" He's likely to land near where the south elevator lets out, and if he's alive at all he'll need healing.
lookingforwardtoit: (c. let's hear it)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
Anneia dashes out of the room she shares with Sandre and follows Chelsa to the south elevator.

"What happened? Who is it?"
warmfeelings: (why must you hurt me)
Author: warmfeelings
"I'm not sure. He just appeared, in the hall. He looks a lot like Corona but he definitely wasn't, none of the right warmth until I kindled it; I was trying to bring him to Aelise when he took off running."
lookingforwardtoit: (b. just another day)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"Maybe Corona learned how to double himself," she suggests wryly.
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"I suppose stranger things have happened," allows Chelsa. "But I think anyone Corona conjured up like that would have heard of me and Aelise. He didn't know who she was."
lookingforwardtoit: (a. sensual uncertainty)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"I don't know, then. And Corona's still not home, right? I hope he's okay - the stranger I mean."
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
"Corona's still off on his vacation, yes. The stranger said his name was Harley."

Here is the bottom of Mont Blanc! It's a fast elevator.
lookingforwardtoit: (7. pulled it right off)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
Anneia rushes out.

The stranger is lying on the path that leads down the mountain from this elevator. Well, most of him is. He hit a few trees on the way down, and it seems they kept some parts.

She heals him.

He lets out a very familiar moan.

"...Are you sure this isn't Corona? I mean, he's too young, but - look at him."
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"They do look very alike," agrees Chelsa, peering down at Harley. "Similar capacity for warmth too, even if it was aimed all wrong - but - I don't think Corona would do what he did."

She leans over the visitor. "Harley," she says. "This is Anneia. She's your friend, so am I, we're all friends here, okay? You're very off-balance right now, I know, but the best thing for it is to take you to Aelise - she's friendly too, we're all friends here - and let her sort it out."

And her hands dance to enforce what she says.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley curls up into a little ball and whimpers.
lookingforwardtoit: (b. just another day)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"It looks like a duck, it quacks like a duck..."
warmfeelings: (sure you understand)
Author: warmfeelings
"Do you suppose we can carry him between the two of us?" asks Chelsa. "Into the elevator at least?"

Finding a new Corona, even an impolite one, is not all bad. Although if she's going to keep him she'll have to rotate someone out.
lookingforwardtoit: (8. like any other)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"I dunno," says Anneia. "And do what with him then?"
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
"Fetch some of the others, haul him to Aelise together? I am really not cut out for making critical decisions about strange things," says Chelsa helplessly.
lookingforwardtoit: (7. pulled it right off)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"No kidding," sighs Anneia. "All right."

She crouches down beside the curled-up Harley and scoops him up with an oof. He's tall but not very broad; she can manage him all by herself, although not very comfortably. The fact that he clings to her the moment she makes contact helps a lot.
warmfeelings: (all being friendly)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa shadows Anneia on the way back to the elevator in case she needs help, and then up they go.

Her hands make little patterns in the air, fanning the flames.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley buries his face in Anneia's shoulder and cries.
warmfeelings: (just overlook that)
Author: warmfeelings
"Well, at least he'll act like he likes you," says Chelsa. She doesn't begrudge her friends their affection with each other. It's so much more convenient this way. She just wishes Harley would act like he likes her, too. The warmth is catching and crackling just like it ought, but... hm.
lookingforwardtoit: (c. let's hear it)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"I'm not sure if he's acting like he likes me," says Anneia. "It's hard to tell, with just the crying to go on."
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"He isn't trying to run away from you, let's put it that way. Honestly. I'm not scary," says Chelsa.
lookingforwardtoit: (4. my affection)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
Corona might disagree, but there's no point getting into that. Corona's just Corona, that's all. Anneia sighs and pats her bundle of Harley.
warmfeelings: (all being friendly)
Author: warmfeelings
This is a fast elevator. Here they are. "I'll get Sandre to help you carry him," says Chelsa. And back she goes into her friends' quarters. "Sandre!"
guiltless: Surprised or uncertain. (♝ hey hang on whoa)
Author: guiltless
Sandre peers out of his and Anneia's room. "Huh? What?"
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"We need to transport someone to Aelise and he's very upset and needs to be carried; Anneia can manage him, but only just."
guiltless: Writing or drawing. (♜ to draw on)
Author: guiltless
"Oh. Okay," he shrugs, and he gives Chelsa a hug and a kiss on the cheek and follows her to... wherever.
warmfeelings: (good morning everyone)
Author: warmfeelings
Here is the elevator; here is Anneia with Harley in her arms.

Onward.
guiltless: Smiling veeeeery slightly. (♛ watch me care)
Author: guiltless
With some difficulty, Sandre transfers Harley from Anneia's arms to his.
warmfeelings: (going so well)
Author: warmfeelings
Now where might Aelise be at this hour?
salus_populi: (⑨ casual)
Author: salus_populi
She is extremely likely to be in her office!
warmfeelings: (all being friendly)
Author: warmfeelings
To her office!

"Aelise," calls Chelsa as they approach.
salus_populi: (⑩ attentive)
Author: salus_populi
"Yes?"
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"A few minutes ago a boy who looks and sounds and kindles very like Corona appeared in the hallway right in front of me, in his pajamas, and spoke to me briefly, and had none of the generally possessed warmth for me or you but wasn't cold like that one horrible girl and kindled just fine when I tried, and when I told him my name in trying to get him to come see you, he took off screaming and jumped the balcony. Anneia's fixed him, though."
salus_populi: (⑪ businesslike)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise inspects the boy.

"He is very like Corona," she comments.
guiltless: Thoughtful or uncertain. (♝ think about it)
Author: guiltless
"But he's younger," says Sandre. "And he doesn't have any scars. Inside or out."
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
"Yes, I'm frightfully confused," complains Chelsa.
salus_populi: (⑬ serious)
Author: salus_populi
"I can tell," says Aelise. "Who have you kindled him to so far?"
warmfeelings: (all being friendly)
Author: warmfeelings
"You, me, Anneia - me and you because I was trying to convince him to come talk to you, her to calm him down when we fetched him from the bottom of the mountain."
salus_populi: (⑥ suspicious of your motives)
Author: salus_populi
"Leave him with me for now," she decides. "I'll see if I can't get some sense out of him."
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"Okay," says Chelsa agreeably. "...He does kindle exactly like Corona. And I've heard Jony muttering about going to bring up his grandchildren with his daughter gone, if crowding is a concern."

Hint hint new live-in friend hint hint.
salus_populi: (⑬ serious)
Author: salus_populi
"If he's not dangerous, you can keep him," Aelise promises.
warmfeelings: (going so well)
Author: warmfeelings
"Thank you!"

And off traipses Chelsa.
salus_populi: (⑪ businesslike)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise contemplates the shivering bundle in Sandre's arms.

"Anneia, could you go and get our new friend a blanket and maybe a new pair of pants?"
lookingforwardtoit: (5. watch your step)
Author: lookingforwardtoit
"Sure thing!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley seems quite content to do nothing but cry on Sandre.
guiltless: Writing or drawing. (♜ to draw on)
Author: guiltless
Sandre avails himself of a comfy chair, since the office has an extra.
salus_populi: (⑨ casual)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise has plenty of work to do while she waits for the mystery boy to calm down.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
It takes a while.

Not forever, though. He spends about an hour cycling betweeen whimpers, sniffles, and sobs, and finally quiets down after that.
salus_populi: (⑦ content)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise closes the latest report from the orbital ring, gets out from behind her desk, and pulls up the other comfy chair next to the one Sandre and Harley are occupying.

"Hey, you," she says gently. "I don't think we've been introduced."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley gives her a look. It contains heavily mixed emotions, but the one he's trying to get across is contempt.
salus_populi: (⑩ attentive)
Author: salus_populi
"I want to help you, but I can't do that unless I know what's wrong," she says patiently.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"My - feelings," Harley says helplessly, and he pulls the blanket Anneia gave him over his head and starts crying again.
salus_populi: (⑭ less than pleased)
Author: salus_populi
"Corona all over again," Aelise murmurs. "Oh, dear."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Who the fuck is Corona?" says the blanket.
salus_populi: (⑥ suspicious of your motives)
Author: salus_populi
"He's... very like you," says Aelise. "I think you should be introduced to him."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
The blanket sniffles.
salus_populi: (⑨ casual)
Author: salus_populi
"Do you want to tell me anything about who you are or where you came from?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"No," sniffs the blanket.
salus_populi: (⑪ businesslike)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise sighs.

"All right. Sandre, would you take him to Corona's room, please?"
guiltless: Utterly content. (♝ just perfect sometimes)
Author: guiltless
"Sure," says Sandre, scooping Harley up.
salus_populi: (⑫ immortal)
Author: salus_populi
"And keep an eye on him. In case he decides to take another trip down the mountain."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Fuck you," sobs the blanketed Harley.
salus_populi: (⑭ less than pleased)
Author: salus_populi
"I hope Corona gets back soon," says Aelise.
warmfeelings: (good morning everyone)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa hopes Corona gets back soon, too. When he is expected, she can be found pacing at the entrance to the Mont Blanc stronghold.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He jogs up the path from the landing pad and hugs her. As always, it's like getting cuddles from the sun; as usual, he looks most of the way to tears.
warmfeelings: (cozy and warm)
Author: warmfeelings
Hugs hugs hugs! "Hello! I'm so glad to see you," coos Chelsa. "And there's a surprise for you, too."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Surprise! Show me the surprise," he says.
warmfeelings: (isn't it sweet)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa beams and shows him to his room, where Harley has been stashed. "Harley," she sings. "Corona is home."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley is in Corona's bed, under a large pile of blankets. He does not respond.

Corona peers curiously at the blanketpile.
warmfeelings: (awww)
Author: warmfeelings
"Come on out," encourages Chelsa. "I think you two will get along so well."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
The blanketpile cries.

Corona... frowns at it.
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"He's having trouble adjusting. We're not sure where he came from," explains Chelsa. "He just appeared. He didn't even know who me or Aelise were. She hasn't been able to convince him to tell her anything much, yet."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Why is he in my bed?" wonders Corona.
warmfeelings: (all being friendly)
Author: warmfeelings
"It seemed like the best place. Haaaar-leeeey," sings Chelsa, tugging at the blanket. "Come on out."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
The blanket whines and resists, but not effectively. Harley's face is revealed.

"...Whoa," says Corona.
warmfeelings: (isn't it sweet)
Author: warmfeelings
"He's so much like you," beams Chelsa. "Not just the face, but he sounds the same - including when he jumped off the mountain - and he kindles just like you do." She pets Harley's hair.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley bites her hand.
warmfeelings: (why must you hurt me)
Author: warmfeelings
Thank goodness for Kers. He can try to bite her hand all he likes. "And," she says, frowning, "he has some antisocial habits he picked up wherever he's from."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I can tell," says Corona. Slightly enviously.
warmfeelings: (going so well)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa waits patiently for the release of her hand. "Anyway, it seemed like you should meet. Harley, this is Corona!"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I hate you," says Harley. He drags the blanket back over his head.
warmfeelings: (isn't it sweet)
Author: warmfeelings
"You love me," sings Chelsa, fluttering her hands through the air. Twin suns, lovely twin suns.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Go fuck yourself," hisses the pile of blankets.
warmfeelings: (awww)
Author: warmfeelings
"I'm sure you'd have a much better time of it here if you tried to be nice," says Chelsa. "I think I'll let you two get to know each other, how does that sound?" And she goes off to see which of her friends is most in need of company; she kisses Corona on her way out.
guiltless: Grinning, looking down. (♚ all the fuzzies)
Author: guiltless
Sandre! Sandre wants cuddles. (He usually does.)

Sandre is also keeping half a metaphorical eye on Corona's room through the wall that separates them. But it looks like Corona and Harley are just cuddling, so after a while, he stops checking on them so frequently.

This is a mistake.
salus_populi: (⑭ less than pleased)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise wears shoes that make a very distinctive, echoing sound on the tiled stone floors, and she doesn't visit Chelsa's friends very often. The sound of her walking down the hall in a hurry is both unmistakable and unexpected.
warmfeelings: (will that be all)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa obligingly cuddles Sandre until she hears Aelise's footsteps, and then she gets up and peers out into the hall. "Aelise?" she asks, puzzled.
salus_populi: (⑫ immortal)
Author: salus_populi
"Our new guest has an interesting talent," she says. "I'd like to ask him about it."
warmfeelings: (sure you understand)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa blinks, confused, but opens the door to Corona's room.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Corona is snuggling Harley, who is weeping inconsolably.
salus_populi: (⑬ serious)
Author: salus_populi
Aelise gives them both a thoughtful look.
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"What's going on?" Chelsa asks again.
salus_populi: (⑩ attentive)
Author: salus_populi
"All things considered," says Aelise, "I think you'll be happier if you leave them to me for now."
warmfeelings: (cozy and warm)
Author: warmfeelings
"...All right," shrugs Chelsa, and she goes back to her Sandre-cuddles. He's so cuddleable.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox




It's not actually all that unusual to hear Corona screaming from his room, but in context it might be a little worrying.
warmfeelings: (Default)
Author: warmfeelings
A little, but Chelsa trusts Aelise to have the situation under control!
guiltless: Questioning or uncertain. (♜ now wait a minute)
Author: guiltless
Sandre is curious. He glances at the wall between his and Corona's rooms, and focuses past it.

...And is confused.

There's Aelise and Corona and Harley; Harley is the one who's screaming. Aelise is using her Gift on him. Sandre can't see her Gift, not properly, but he can see its effects - the way people wither or bloom from the cellular level on up. Harley is withering.

Then he stops withering. Stops living.

Something unfamiliar happens - like fire without the heat, except not really like fire at all - and Harley's back, unwithered, good as new.

Sandre is even more confused.
warmfeelings: (will that be all)
Author: warmfeelings
"What's wrong, dear?"
guiltless: Surprised or uncertain. (♝ hey hang on whoa)
Author: guiltless
"Um - nothing," he says, bewildered. "I guess."
warmfeelings: (universally beloved)
Author: warmfeelings
All right then. Snuzzle. Nice and warm.
guiltless: More or less neutral. (♞ give me a break)
Author: guiltless
Snuzzle! Confused snuzzle.
salus_populi: (⑫ immortal)
Author: salus_populi
After about an hour and a lot more screaming, Aelise leaves.
warmfeelings: (Default)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa decides to let whatever just happened filter to her at some more convenient time. Aelise has good judgment about these things.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima, on the other hand, drops by Corona's room and knocks curiously.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Corona answers the door and smiles tiredly when he sees who it is.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Hi!" Hug. "Welcome home. What's going on?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I'm not really sure," Corona says wryly. "Um - that's Harley," with a gesture to the very Corona-like figure curled up in his bed. "He fell out of thin air a while ago. He's almost exactly like me, except his Gift is different."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"That's peculiar," says Tima, sidling in and sitting down. "What does he do?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"He's immortal. And not the same way as Luhan - Aelise was just in here draining him, she must've done it like thirty times, and he just bounces right back."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Wow. That explains the screaming, I thought you were just having fun with self-mutilation again."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Corona giggles. "Nope, it was all him."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Is he okay? I mean, physically intact yes, but - okay?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"...Not really," he says. "He's - well, he's like me. And Chelsa wants to keep him and he really doesn't want to be kept. But the draining was fine," he adds. "He liked that."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"If he's just infinitely renewable I guess Luhan's going to leave, isn't he," Tima remarks. "I still don't really get what you have against Chelsa. Either of you, I guess. You're full of contradictions."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"She's a fucking mind rapist," snarls Harley from the bed.

Corona looks conflicted, but he doesn't actually disagree.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Oh, you talk," says Tima. "So where are you from?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley sighs.

"Everybody keeps asking me that," he says.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Well, you don't have to tell me, but it seemed worth asking."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I am not feeling super sociable right now," Harley says flatly. Corona winces.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Uh," says Tima. "If it bothers you when Chelsa kindles you, can I give you some advice? Pretend to be sociable when she's around. She doesn't like it when people aren't getting along."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"How about I just set her on fire instead," says Harley, with a tone of deliberately false cheer.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima winces. "I get that you have mixed feelings about her but - dude, that's a little much. Besides, Kers covers her."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah, I know," says Harley. "If she wasn't magically invincible I wouldn't be joking about it, I'd've fucking done it already."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima looks away. She's used to Corona, but Corona doesn't talk like that.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Corona sighs.

"See?" he says. "It's awful, he's even worse off than me."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I can see that," says Tima quietly. "Sometimes I wish there was something I could do. I don't know what, just something. But I'm pretty useless, all I do is kindle pretty."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Corona smiles sadly and hugs her.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Hugs.

"How much like you is he? How does that even work? He doesn't sound like he came from an awful place like you did or he'd be glad to be out of it, right?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I don't know exactly," murmurs Corona, hugging her some more. "I know he doesn't have scars like I do. I think he's scared to say anything about where he came from but I don't know why. But - he looks like he could be my twin, and Sandre says he's all the same inside except for the scars and being a teenager, and Chelsa says he kindles the same. It's almost like somebody - I don't know, cloned me and raised the clone somewhere in secret like that story with Zeus and the goat."

(Harley starts crying again.)
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Is Aelise worried? I'd expect her to be worried if someone's raising baby Gifted someplace where they don't get kindled on the regular. That's what she put a stop to."

Kindling comes in flavors. Chelsa gets warm personal affection. Aelise gets the awe due a world ruler. Tima's tone of voice is appropriate for this distinction.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"She didn't seem worried, but it's hard to tell with her," says Corona with wry fondness. (Some people are less flavour-receptive than others.)
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I guess, yeah. Huh. Corona-clone. I wonder if there are more of anybody else. More Aelises, more Chelsas."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"One Chelsa is enough," shudders Corona.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Well, Harley doesn't have your gift, maybe another Chelsa wouldn't have hers?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"One Chelsa is still enough," says Corona.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima shrugs.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I'm gonna go snuggle Harley now," says Corona. "You can come sit with us if you want."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima does. Tentatively she pats Harley's head.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley sniffles, but doesn't pull away. Or bite her.

Corona snuggles up to Harley and kisses the top of his head.
warmfeelings: (will that be all)
Author: warmfeelings
Later in the day, after Tima has gone back to her and Pacco's room, Chelsa swings by.

"How are we feeling?" she inquires.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I want to rip your throat out and drain you like a juicebox," growls Harley. Corona sighs and cuddles him.
warmfeelings: (procedural hiccup)
Author: warmfeelings
"Not so good, huh?" sighs Chelsa. "And you're not making friends around here as fast as I hoped you would, either..." She lifts her hands.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I will fucking kill you," Harley spits. "I hate you so much."

And he bursts into tears.
warmfeelings: (just overlook that)
Author: warmfeelings
"There, there, you'll settle in soon, you're among friends," says Chelsa tiredly, and her hands make patterns, and Harley is very distinctly among friends.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley is also very distinctly crying.

"I don't want to settle in!" he sobs. "I want to die, and I can't—" His breath hitches; he wails incoherently.
warmfeelings: (sure you understand)
Author: warmfeelings
"Well, since you can't, you should really try to be comfortable here," says Chelsa reasonably.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Fuck you!" yells Harley. "Fuck you, fuck you, fuck - aaaaaaaaaah," and he's back to the crying again.
warmfeelings: (why must you hurt me)
Author: warmfeelings
"I don't understand why he's so upset," Chelsa sighs, looking at Corona.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I know you don't," says Corona tiredly. "And you don't understand how I feel about you, either. And you probably never will."
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
"I don't have anything else I can do for him. Does he miss whoever he used to live with, is that it?" She's holding her hands out palms-forward, now, not working, just inspecting.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"He doesn't want you to touch him," says Corona. "The more you mess with him, the worse he's going to feel about it."

Harley does, in fact, miss a lot of people. He has an intense love for several people who aren't anywhere nearby.
warmfeelings: (why must you hurt me)
Author: warmfeelings
"How is missing all these people going to help?" wonders Chelsa.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"If you stop him missing them, it will hurt," says Corona. (Harley whimpers and burrows under the blanket.) "Having our own feelings is better than having somebody else come along and change them even if they're not feelings we like."
warmfeelings: (why must you hurt me)
Author: warmfeelings
"But you're happier than he is and you don't miss anyone from home," Chelsa says.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Look, if you want to know how to make Harley happy, I'm telling you," says Corona. "The answer is leave him alone."
warmfeelings: (sure you understand)
Author: warmfeelings
"And that will make him happy?" Chelsa asks skeptically.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Happier than he'll be if you do anything else to him," says Corona. "I think maybe he's just never going to be happy ever again."
warmfeelings: (delicate work)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa hmmmms. "Well, we can try it that way and see what happens," she sighs.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Thank you," says Corona, cuddling Harley.
warmfeelings: (Default)
Author: warmfeelings
"You're welcome. I love you, you know," she says to Corona. "My warm sun."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I love you too," Corona sighs. Because it'll make her happy, and it's not false. It's just not - the whole story.
warmfeelings: (isn't it sweet)
Author: warmfeelings
Chelsa beams at him, doesn't kiss him because Harley is in the way and would probably bite her, and goes off to pay attention to her other friends.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima's back late that evening. "How is he?" she asks Corona, nibbling on something chocolatey.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Pretty bad," says Corona.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Can I do anything?" she asks.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"You can come snuggle with us," he suggests.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima joins the snuggle.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley cuddles up to her willingly enough.

"How can you not hate her," he sniffles.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I don't see how anyone would," says Tima. "I understand that you do, just not - how."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"She fucked around with my head," says Harley, shivering. "She literally forced me to love her and you don't think that's fucked up?"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"She's been around my entire life," says Tima. "I'm only fifty." (She doesn't look fifty.) "I've loved her from the day I was born and one day she found me, out walking around, and she thought I kindled pretty and now I get to live here with her and see her in person, every day, and she hugs me and tells me she loves me. I can't think of anything nicer. I don't know where you're from, but - this is where I'm from."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I'm from... somewhere else," says Harley. "I'm not just a clone of Corona. There's a bunch of us, twelve or something. We're called the Jokers. And we all have really shitty childhoods, except me, because the other ones found me when I was a baby and they gave me to somebody who wasn't shitty."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Twelve Coronas," whistles Tima. "Wow. I think it's probably best if nobody tells Chelsa that."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah, because she'd want to track them down and mind-rape them," snorts Harley.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"And she's not allowed to have all the live-in-friends she wants. I don't think kindling pretty will keep me a spot next to that many of you, and I like my spot."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"...Think about why she's not allowed to have all the pets she wants, though," says Corona, glancing at Harley.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"...Ooh."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah," says Corona.

"You know what, fucking sure, use me as a battery," says Harley. "I'd rather be that than a pet. And the other twelve of me are already immortal, anyway, they don't need your life-sucking witch queen to keep them going."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima makes a face at this description of Aelise.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"What? She sucks the life out of people," says Harley. "That is the literal truth. Who's she usually kill, anyway? I bet she wouldn't have drained me to the ground if she wasn't trying to stop killing somebody."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Oh, they don't matter," shrugs Tima. "Sometimes she'd drain Luhan, he's renewable - just not as much as you are."

(Chelsa makes sure no one minds.)
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I didn't ask if they mattered," says Harley, "I asked who."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Just," Tima shrugs, "babies, usually, not ones anyone will miss."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley hisses.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"But she didn't like to do it too often, so there was Luhan, and Chelsa has to send someone away if she wants to rotate someone in - or she did, anyway, I guess she can keep you and Jony now."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"How do you not understand how fucked up that is?" says Harley. "You live in an empire built on dead babies and mind control!"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"It's not very many dead babies," says Tima. "And before Aelise found Chelsa and took over there were a lot of wars, and now everyone gets along."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"It's not very many dead babies," Harley repeats incredulously. "How about I just kill everybody on this mountain, then, there's not that many of you!"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima shrinks away from the cuddling.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Harley turns and buries his face against Corona's chest. Corona hugs him.

"You didn't mean that literally, right?" says Corona.

"No," says Harley, somewhat muffled. "I didn't mean it literally."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima relaxes fractionally.

"I have a family," she says, reproachful.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"So do I," Harley says into Corona's shirt. Corona cuddles him some more.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"If they were here she'd let you visit them. We all leave sometimes except Amdon," says Tima. "Chelsa isn't setting out specifically to make you miserable."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"No," says Harley, taking his face away from Corona's chest. "She's just making me miserable by accident because she wants to get high on my feelings and doesn't care how bad she fucks me up in the process."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima doesn't really have anything to say to that.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"It's not okay," says Harley. "It won't ever be okay."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I wish I could make it okay for you," says Tima tentatively.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Then get Chelsa to leave me the fuck alone," says Harley.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I can't," says Tima. "She loves me; that doesn't mean she does what I say. I'd say ask Amdon, but..." She shrugs; that wouldn't actually work.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah," says Harley. "I figured."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Aelise could make her but I don't think she would."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Course not," says Harley. "Well, fuck her too."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Tima shivers.