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]

"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?"

[pythbox]

He shrugs.

"You know, I think the one major downside is that I tend to kind of forget what's in there until something reminds me," he says. "Nothing else as weather-dependent as the picnic blanket, though." With a wry smile, "Unless there is."

[subtly_artistic]

"You could maintain a list," she suggests.

[pythbox]

"Sure I could," he snorts. "And by sure I mean like hell."

[subtly_artistic]

"Not your style, huh?"

[pythbox]

"No way I'd remember every time." He grins. "Besides, I like the surprises."

[subtly_artistic]

"Like finding silver pieces in the couch," suggests Bella.

[pythbox]

"Exactly! It feels like you're getting a present even though it is a present from your own ability to lose things," he snorts.

[subtly_artistic]

"I'd just as soon not lose the things in the first place, but I get the appeal, sorta," laughs Aether. "Keeping lists is definitely my style."

[pythbox]

"I know," he says fondly.

[subtly_artistic]

Om nom nom, candied orange segments.

[pythbox]

Celo is giving her sappy looks again.

He takes a candied orange segment. He nibbles on it. He gives Bella a sappy look. He looks back down at his candied orange segment.

[subtly_artistic]

"You're giving me funny looks," Bella remarks.

[pythbox]

"Are they funny?" he asks, with something not quite exactly like innocence.

[subtly_artistic]

"As in peculiar."

[pythbox]

"Oh." He studies the candied orange segment. "Well, maybe I am."

[subtly_artistic]

"Are you gonna tell me why?"

[pythbox]

"...Because I like you?" he says, oddly shy.