in which nymphs are good for more than one thing

[subtly_artistic]

At least four people conclude that Bella and Celo have had sex and mention this to Bella. The fact that the door was open the entire time he spent hanging out in her room is apparently immaterial (since she wouldn't have been breaking any rules if she'd had sex with him that way, and no one was loitering in the hall supervising them the whole time). She contradicts them on this. Three people don't believe her. Miki does, and is immediately promoted to Bella's favorite out-of-class friend.

In Intro Psych for Subtle Artists, there's a discussion of what subtle artists do with their own minds, and how this differs from everyone else. Bella has already talked to all her subtle arts professors about her own peculiarities, and Professor Murray has her talk a bit about how she's used lucid dreams for introspection, self-modification, and memory boosting. Professor Murray then explains that people who aren't subtle artists can only rarely lucid dream, and even those who can don't find it an effective jumping-off point for any heavy-duty self-searching.

One of the elves in the class looks at Bella oddly through her little talk.

But she doesn't say anything, so Bella ignores her.

Comments

[subtly_artistic]

Bella shifts uncomfortably in her chair the way she usually does when divinities are brought up. Mama Kh may or may not care what Bella thinks of her morals; she may or may not have the power in her portfolio to read minds through subtle artist shields given that her focus lies elsewhere; she might or might not be in a punishing mood on any given day. Bella's task is to avoid finding out.

[pythbox]

Celo shrugs. "But, you know, I'm a nymph who's majoring in martial combat, so I guess I can fuck around with that shit a little."

[subtly_artistic]

"Hasn't bitten you too badly yet?"

[pythbox]

"Nope."

[subtly_artistic]

"That's lucky."

[pythbox]

"Enh," he says. "Don't get me started on it."

[subtly_artistic]

"...Okay."

Flashcard.

[pythbox]

Pillow-crush.



"...Hmm," he says eventually.

[subtly_artistic]

"Hmm?"

[pythbox]

"Hmm," he repeats. "Think I've got something. Gonna go find out."

He gets up, tossing the much-abused pillow down where he was sitting.

[subtly_artistic]

Okay then.

Flashcard, flashcard. She's out of cards. She starts going through the deck another time.

[pythbox]

Celo is out for a while. He doesn't seek her out immediately when he returns.

[subtly_artistic]

She notices his mind when he comes back, but doesn't follow it into any detail. She's through with her flashcards and she's brainstorming essay topics.

[pythbox]

He pokes his head into the lounge. Bella is the only one there.

"By the way," he says, "if you were ever gonna - don't get in water with a mermaid."

Then he continues the few steps down the hall to the door of the adjoining kitchen.

[subtly_artistic]

What? Why?

[pythbox]

Since she's in his mind and all, he shows her what mermaids really look like.

It comes with a vivid, and shockingly pleasant, sense memory of being eaten alive - not euphemistically - by a needle-fanged fish-creature. He did not entirely mean to transmit that part, but it makes his point pretty well.

[subtly_artistic]

I did not know that was a mermaid thing.

[pythbox]

Yeah, neither do most people. I've done it a few times, but the mermaids didn't always know I was into it. So, you know, be careful. I just thought of it while I was out.

[subtly_artistic]

Uh, thanks for letting me know. Why is this not common knowledge?

[pythbox]

My guess? It'd fuck up the mers being classed as part human or whatever if people knew their top halves go scaly and they eat people, and they don't want that. And, you know, most of the people who find out don't get a chance to tell anybody.

[subtly_artistic]

Is there anything stopping you from, like, telling an investigative reporter?

[pythbox]

Some of the girls who ate me did know I was into it, and I don't want them torn apart by angry mobs?

[subtly_artistic]

There are other anthropophagic species on campus who aren't torn apart by angry mobs. I don't want anyone to die, and the revelation probably would lead to unrest for the first while, but there are a lot of mermaids, only a handful of them are currently in mob range, and there are a lot of other people around, and a lot of other people who don't exist yet but will in the future, who could save their lives knowing what you just casually told me.

[pythbox]

Okay, he says. Be my guest. Send somebody an anonymous tip. Bet you my title deed it all blows up.

[subtly_artistic]

I'm not saying it wouldn't blow up, I'm saying on balance it would probably be better for a greater number of people to have the information known. I'm also not sure anyone will believe an anonymous tip.