welcome to the chessboard

[self_composed]

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.

Comments

[self_composed]

I've already had the "sinister" argument with Bridget, I guess.

Why do you run this thing?

How many is a lot?

What do you want?

[prima_sequentem]

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.

[self_composed]

So talking to you is not actually a very effective way of finding out what's going on, then, is it.

[prima_sequentem]

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.

[self_composed]

I did ask you what you wanted.

[prima_sequentem]

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.

[self_composed]

My next school break is Christmas and I've promised it elsewhere, even if my bank account could accommodate plane tickets across the country. What's the added benefit of putting me in New York?

Maybe Libby knows Bella can fly under her own power, maybe not, maybe she knows she can magic door, maybe not. Bella doesn't need to tell her just yet.

[prima_sequentem]

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.

[self_composed]

I can take a long weekend if you're buying. I'm ahead by enough in my Monday classes.

[prima_sequentem]

Sounds good to me. Let me know your preferred travel times and I'll arrange tickets.

[self_composed]

Heh. Bella doesn't need to sleep anymore and by the same token can sleep at will. This will make plane flights different.

I'm flexible. Eastward Friday night, westward Sunday night or Monday morning?

[prima_sequentem]

Sure.

About ten minutes later, Bella is forwarded plane tickets for a round trip to New York.

[self_composed]

Interesting.

[Hello folks,] Bella says to Alice and Lazarus. [This Friday I will be flying to New York to meet Libby.] Pause. [In a plane.]

Thanks.

[prima_sequentem]

No problem.

[nonbird]

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.

[edgeofyourseat]

[Why the plane?]

[self_composed]

[Because Libby doesn't know I don't need planes to get around, and she's buying.] She leaves the message with Lazarus's brain answering machine.

[edgeofyourseat]

[Well, that makes sense, I guess.]

Bella may or may not want to be reading Alice right now, because he is in his lair, doing what you would expect Alice to be doing after a whole night of churning out hexes.

[self_composed]

Indeed Bella is presently declining to supervise - it's not unpleasant as a spectator sport, she's just used up her interest for the time being. [You probably shouldn't come along. Native powers trump wishes, and some people's native powers are seeing stuff.]

[edgeofyourseat]

[Okay,] he says cheerfully. [Have fun.]

[self_composed]

Where will I meet you when I appear at LaGuardia?

Bella asks, after her class is over and she's back in her dorm.

[prima_sequentem]

I think it would be simplest if I met you at the airport. I'll find you, don't worry.

[self_composed]

How am I to recognize you?

[prima_sequentem]

Her reply contains no text, just a picture.

[self_composed]

Well, that works. That's actually more information than she had to supply to fully answer Bella's question, which is just about the first promising thing that's happened.

See you there.