plotting to unnerve her

[self_composed]

Bella finds Milliways in the moon palace instead of one of her balconies.

"Huh," she says aloud.

Then, to Alice, Libby, Elena, and Mary, and Lazarus except he autoreplies with a busy message, [Hey folks, Moonstone Palace grew a bar that I don't remember putting in, come check it out.]

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

He beams and kisses her.

[self_composed]

Bella is quite pleased with this development!

[ignorable]

Kolya becomes apparent juuuuust long enough to laugh at them.

[nonbird]

Lazarus's blush kicks up a few notches, to catch up with all the blushing he didn't do because he didn't know Kolya could hear that entire conversation.

[self_composed]

Bella laughs hard enough that she can't even go on kissing Alice anymore. And she doesn't stop when he fades out, either, because she just doesn't have that much self-control.

[edgeofyourseat]

"...What? Who was that and why's he think we're so hilarious?"

[nonbird]

"That was Kolya, and he can speak for himself if he chooses," says Lazarus.

[self_composed]

"I don't know to what extent answering that question would violate my agreement," muses Bella.

[ignorable]

Kolya appears again, rolling his eyes.

"I've been here the whole time," he says, addressing Alice directly. "You just can't see me. I, however, can see you."

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice grins at him.

"Hi!"

[self_composed]

"That's funny, because Alice can see my alt's bodyguard who has a comparable power," Bella muses. "I really need to bring you there with me, sometime, Lazarus."

[nonbird]

"I would love to go! Let me know the next time you organize an expedition."

[self_composed]

"Will do! You can compare notes with the Imperial Factotum. There's a guy who just sees stuff, like you, but he doesn't involve himself with the empire - she does and she copies powers by touching the people who have them."

[nonbird]

"...Innnnnnteresting," says Lazarus.

[self_composed]

"She can't copy me, but she can't copy the other me either, and we didn't get a chance to try her on Alice," shrugs Bella, "and the other ingots we know haven't been along on trips, so we don't know if she works on ingots as well as witches."

[nonbird]

"I volunteer for experimentation," says Lazarus.

[self_composed]

"She'll get along with you. According to my alt all she cares about is securing experimental privileges," laughs Bella. "She gets them by being extremely useful."

[nonbird]

"Then I look forward to meeting her!"

[self_composed]

"All right. This is on the agenda for next time, then, whenever someone finds a door again."

[nonbird]

Lazarus beams.

[edgeofyourseat]

Isn't he adorable?

[ignorable]

He is so adorable.

[self_composed]

"I suppose we shouldn't impose on your hospitality anymore," Bella remarks, and she decides for no particular reason to leave via door and walk to Marspire.