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

[subtly_artistic]

That is very considerate of him and she appreciates that and also all of the other things he does.

[pythbox]

He does many appreciable things! And he intends to do as many of those things for Bella as she wants.

He loves her so much.

[subtly_artistic]

Eventually she is worn out and just wants to cuddle. She might want to cuddle overnight and sneak back to her room in the morning.

Although apart from being exhausted she feels pretty damn good. Not in the obvious way. She also had a kind of a sore throat this morning and it's gone. Huh.

[pythbox]

Celo is delighted to cuddle her. He loves cuddling, and he loves Bella, so naturally he loves cuddling Bella.

[subtly_artistic]

Excellent, that works out nicely.

I feel like I walked through a healing ward and they hit me with everything they had except a spell to remove tiredness. Is that usual?

[pythbox]

Yeah, he says comfortably. Didn't I tell you? It's not just tasty, it's basically - healing essence. My first landowner was plain human and he lived for eighty years on it, and by the end you couldn't tell he was a day over thirty.

[subtly_artistic]

Perk, comments Bella, snuzzling him.

[pythbox]

Snuzzly!

No shit, he giggles. I could've sworn I told you. Maybe I just forgot I hadn't.

[subtly_artistic]

Or I forgot it. Well, now I know.

[pythbox]

He kisses the end of her nose.

"And you can have as much as you want," he promises, grinning.

[subtly_artistic]

My life is awesome, Bella asserts.

[pythbox]

You're awesome, he says, snuzzling her.

[subtly_artistic]

I am! And you are too. So much awesome.

[pythbox]

He giggles softly.

[subtly_artistic]

Bella is tired. And they have been here for a while.

Can I stay the night and not have to get up, or do you need to go do something nourishing? She's currently flopped onto him and would have to move if he needed to go do something nourishing.

[pythbox]

Nah, I'm good for tonight, he says, kissing her cheek.

[subtly_artistic]

Good. I'm comfy.

[pythbox]

Love you, he says contentedly. G'night.

[subtly_artistic]

Sleeps are slept.

In the morning, Bella tucks herself into yesterday's clothes to slip across the hall to her own room and prepare for the day.

Instead, she finds Milliways.

Hey, [name], wake up, I found the bar.

[pythbox]

Oh, cool! he says, waking up immediately. Are they on sexy holiday again?

[subtly_artistic]

Nnnnno, looks like everyone has pants on.

[pythbox]

Celo giggles.

Man, fuck pants.

[subtly_artistic]

Well, I can go in without you, if you'd rather.

[pythbox]

Yeah, go for it. You can always open the door again if you meet anybody interesting, right?

[subtly_artistic]

Yeah, but what if they don't want to come visit? They can't count on finding the door again on a schedule that suits them.