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

[subtly_artistic]

Picnicking, picnicking! "So apparently I've been demoted from Princess to Screaming Girl. How do her nicknames work?"

[pythbox]

"Whim," he shrugs. "I've been Fucktoy since she met me, but these days I know she's using it ironically."

[subtly_artistic]

"Which you can tell how?"

[pythbox]

He grins. "Because I know her."

[subtly_artistic]

"I'd say something like 'you poor soul', but except for being infuriatingly hinty at me she has been a useful force in my life."

[pythbox]

"She's nice like that," he says. "In the nastiest possible way."

[subtly_artistic]

Bella nods. "I hope you don't object to having your class interrupted too much."

[pythbox]

"Nah, I like picnics," he says, smiling at her.

[subtly_artistic]

"Me too."

[pythbox]

He giggles.

[subtly_artistic]

"This is really good, did you just make it all and put it away for a - sunny day?" she asks, gesturing at the clear sky. She is currently working her way through a stuffed grape leaf.

[pythbox]

Celo giggles again.

"Well, a lot of the time when I make something I'll just grab a little to have on hand in case somebody's hungry. And I usually only grab stuff that's easily grabbable. So I guess I just end up having a picnic socked away in case of sunshine. That's adorable, by the way."

[subtly_artistic]

"You can't exactly save picnic gear for a rainy day, so," Bella grins.

[pythbox]

Celo giggles again. "Yeah," he says, and he looks at her, and he smiles.

[subtly_artistic]

Mmm, dumplings. Bella pops an entire one into her mouth and leans back, arms straight out under her shoulders.

[pythbox]

Celo watches her with a big, happy smile on his face.

[subtly_artistic]

"You're in a good mood," observes Bella.

[pythbox]

"I like you," he explains, as though that's all there is to it. Maybe it is.

[subtly_artistic]

"Good. I like you too."

[pythbox]

Celo beams.

[subtly_artistic]

"I've been largely cured of the habit of starting sentences with I wish," says Bella, "but, apropos of what I just said, it must be so cool to be able to carry everything around unobtrusively like that. Totally a good tradeoff for no pockets."

[pythbox]

He giggles.

"Fuck, you're cute," he says fondly.

[subtly_artistic]

"Thanks."

[pythbox]

"And you're right," he adds, "it's awesome."

[subtly_artistic]

"Anything else squirreled away for amenable weather conditions?"