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]

"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?"

[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.