in which the narration is suggestive, yet vague

[subtly_artistic]

Neckrubs become a more regular part of Bella's life. And she does not tell him to stop until she is good and done. There is hugging. There is snuggling. There is kissing. There are some impressively sappy looks from his end, some fascinated mindreading from hers. The semester wraps up, Bella goes home for a week, and she comes back (now signed up for Utility Psionics 2, Intro to Mental Healing, Arcane Defense, Intro Cognition, and her survival credit, a lecture entitled "Wilderness Triage" (subtitled: Quick And Dirty Mechanisms For Identifying The Lesser Of Several Evils).

She missed Celo! She seeks him out at once. Hugs.

Comments

[dark_light]

"I take it you've already worked out the non-monogamy thing to your satisfaction."

[subtly_artistic]

"Monogamy was never on the table. He would literally die."

[autokinetic]

"I guess that's one way to handle it," snorts Aegis.

[pythbox]

In the following days, Callahan shoots Celo a smug look or two during class, which information he does not volunteer in case it encourages somebody into doing something stupid.

[dark_light]

That's okay, they're gonna get impatient all by themselves.

They hold out three days, and then Cam and Amariah talk, and determine that while Cam might be "the diplomatic one" (as Bells go), this is reasonably likely to come to violence or at least a pissing contest, and Amariah's credentials there are better.

And, it goes unsaid but acknowledged - Amariah has done the great work on her world. Her people are, in the main, taken care of. Jane doesn't metaphysically depend on her, either.

Amariah could - if it came to it - be most easily spared of the available Bells.

Path is left in Aether's room. And Celo is asked for an introduction.

[pythbox]

Celo leads her to Callahan's office, knocks on the door, and enters at the "C'mon in."

Callahan's office has a desk, upon which she has put her feet, and a comfortable-ish chair, upon which she has put her ass, and four walls, upon which she has put an impressive array of implements for causing people to die in battle.

[dark_light]

Amariah steps into the office, and revisibles herself.

[pythbox]

Callahan points at the door. Celo closes it.

"So you found one," she observes, smirking.

[dark_light]

"Hi," says Amariah. "I'm Isabella Amariah."

[pythbox]

"Heh," says Callahan. "And I'm Jill. Want to tell me why you're in my office?"

[dark_light]

"I think you may know something I'd like to know."

[pythbox]

"You bet I do," Callahan agrees. "What do you plan on doing about it?"

[dark_light]

"I had some hope that you'd tell me if I asked you nicely. Will you please tell me what it is that you know about - us?"

[pythbox]

"Nope," Callahan says promptly.

[dark_light]

"Why not?"

[pythbox]

"Because you can't make me," says Callahan, "and you'll do what I want eventually whether I tell you or not."

[dark_light]

"What is it that you want?"

[pythbox]

Callahan just smirks again.

[dark_light]

[Any suggestions?] Amariah asks Celo. [I mean, she hasn't tried to behead me yet.]

[pythbox]

Celo shakes his head and doesn't answer by brainphone.

He does say: "What if I already knew?"

"Bet you don't," says Callahan.

"I might," says Celo.

[dark_light]

Amariah will let him take it from here for a bit.

[pythbox]

"You really don't," says Callahan. "But let's hear it. What's your guess?"

Celo glances reluctantly at Amariah. Then he says, "I think you knew they were coming somehow and you want them to kill a god. Maybe a bunch of gods."

Callahan cracks up.

[dark_light]

"The local Bell was very clear on considering annoying local gods a bad idea."

(She was also clear on considering talking to Callahan a bad idea, but.)

[pythbox]

"Yeah, she would be," says Callahan. "But I have faith that something's going to come along and kick her in the ass one of these days."

"So I was right," says Celo.

"Nope," says Callahan.

[dark_light]

"This isn't a good place for a Bell. It's stunted her growth. I don't think she's going to do anything interesting without help. She's met more of her now and she's still - showing up to classes, talking about being a mental healer when she grows up."