in which bella does not have long to think of something

[subtly_artistic]

There are more elves now. They're impatient. They ran off Bella's escort with private whispers Bella didn't hear, Bella's subtle arts are jammed again, and they're faster than she is.

Where is she -

Celo's there, there are more elves now but maybe there's someone with him or he can put Bella where he puts his stuff or something -

And this is how Bella runs headlong into the outdoor session of Mixed Melee with seventeen armed elves chasing her, and spots Callahan, and has an even better idea.

"MY WARRANTY," she screams at the top of her overtaxed lungs, "IS AT RISK!"

Comments

[pythbox]

Callahan blows an ear-piercing whistle.

"Five percent term bonus per head for anybody who puts down an intruder!" she yells. "Screaming girl's mine, don't touch her!"

The students' weapons are mocked, but there are a lot more than seventeen of them. And when anybody takes a hit from one of Bella's pursuers, Celo is right there with his divine healing.

The coach doesn't even have to draw a weapon.

Until, that is, the seventeen elves are lying on the ground in convincing illusory death, at which point each one of them wakes up in turn to the sight of her standing over them with a mace. She points. They run. Repeat with next elf.

One or two of them might have put up a fuss even then, if it weren't for the fact that all of their weapons have gone mysteriously missing.

"All right, fun's over," she says. "Fucktoy, take Screaming Girl and get out of my sight. Everybody else, here are your bounties. Argue and I'll take them away." She starts listing demeaning nicknames.

[subtly_artistic]

Bella is more than happy to follow Celo out of Callhan's sight.

[pythbox]

"I got my knife back," he observes cheerfully. "You okay?"

[subtly_artistic]

"Just winded. And scared. I had somebody with me, they just ran him off somehow."

[pythbox]

"Sucks," he observes. "Need anything?"

[subtly_artistic]

"I need to not have large numbers of elves after me."

[pythbox]

Celo snorts. "Yeah, that'd be nice. Well, at least next time they come after you they won't be so well-armed."

[subtly_artistic]

"I'd reiterate that I'm totally taking Arcane Defense next semester, except I bet at least three of those elves are also wizards."

[pythbox]

"Maybe I should just follow you around all the time," he says wryly.

[subtly_artistic]

"We have some classes at the same time, and there are more of them now."

[pythbox]

"I didn't say it was a good idea."

[subtly_artistic]

"I appreciate the thought."

[pythbox]

"Anyway, though, it's good that Callahan's on your side," he says. "Where do you wanna go? Back to the dorm?"

[subtly_artistic]

"Yeah, that's where I was headed."

[pythbox]

Then he goes that way.

[subtly_artistic]

"Just need to grab my ID so I can get lunch," she explains. "If I dare. I might need to start - I don't know, having groceries delivered, using the kitchen more."

[pythbox]

"I'll cook for you," he offers cheerfully.

[subtly_artistic]

"What I really want to do is have a picnic like I used to do when I was a kid, but I don't know how long those elves are going to be running scared and I don't have any picnic stuff."

[pythbox]

"What, you mean like... food, picnic blankets...?" he inquires, smiling.

[subtly_artistic]

"Portable food, picnic blanket, yeah."

[pythbox]

"I have that stuff," says Celo.

[subtly_artistic]

"...Tucked away on you right now?"

[pythbox]

"Yep! And in case those fuckheads come back, I also have all their hardware," he says brightly. "Let's have a picnic."

[subtly_artistic]

"Okay," she beams.

[pythbox]

They are just passing by a nice grassy spot!

Celo moves his hands as though shaking out a blanket, and at some point during this motion, the blanket appears. He lets it waft down to the ground, tugs on it to smooth it out, and then sits down and starts appearing food items for Bella to choose from.