self_composed: (e ~ fascinated)
Isabella Marie Swan ✴ "Stella" ([personal profile] self_composed) wrote2012-12-17 07:03 pm

welcome to the chessboard

Bella stockpiles hexes.

She already has a ridiculous number, but she wants so many that if it seems most expedient to individually do some manner of hex-magic to every cubic inch of space in her dorm room, she can and still have a ridiculous number left. She wants enough that if Libby turns out to be a particularly dab hand at extortion, to the point where paying up is her best bet, Bella can keep gritting her teeth and handing over tribute up until the point where even this person will believe that this is all there could ever be - and still have a ridiculous number. She wants her ridiculous numbers to have ridiculous numbers.

What does she have?

An Alice. She has one of those.

And she can use what she has to get what she wants, late into the night, hexily disassembling her body's dependence on sleep, and till she should start thinking about catching up on the internet and heading to class.
edgeofyourseat: Grinning, friendly. (⑵ extraordinarily nice)

[personal profile] edgeofyourseat 2012-12-18 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
Her Alice, naturally, does the opposite of complain about this.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
At about seven in the morning, Bella gets an email from someone named E. Kirsch.

It says only:
You wanted to talk?
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
Probably true. Any other ambitions I can help you with while we're at it?
prima_sequentem: (ℝ you were saying?)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
I'm hardly going to waste resources giving an obviously facetious pony to someone I barely know.

You're going to have to ask much more specific questions if you want useful answers.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Vaguely sinister organization? Really?

I know a lot of people. Some of them have magic. Some of them have other useful talents or circumstances. Sometimes I ask them to help each other, or me. I generally try to see to it that everyone gets along and nobody has too much trouble with anything. I don't think any of that qualifies as sinister, vaguely or otherwise.
prima_sequentem: (ℤ give me the bad news first)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
You haven't had it with me.

I don't currently trust you enough to tell you any numbers, and I don't know you well enough to answer the other two.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
On the contrary, I think you'll find it's the best way there is.

Unless you want me to tell you everything you want to know in exchange for absolutely no personal or logistical investment whatsoever, in which case I am not at all sorry to disappoint you.
prima_sequentem: (ℝ long way to the top)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
From you?

If you have the time, I'd like you to come to New York and have a chat with me about your goals in life.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
I can cover plane fare if that's a problem.

I'm much better at figuring people out in person than by email. You want to know a lot of things I don't usually tell people. I want to know that you're not going to use that information in any way I wouldn't like.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
Sounds good to me. Let me know your preferred travel times and I'll arrange tickets.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)

[personal profile] prima_sequentem 2012-12-18 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Sure.
About ten minutes later, Bella is forwarded plane tickets for a round trip to New York.
nonbird: (7. I've got a theory)

[personal profile] nonbird 2012-12-18 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
She reaches Lazarus's busy message, which says, [I'm sleeping?] in a tone of voice that indicates he is perhaps not totally sure of that.

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