cake and ice cream

[self_composed]

Bella finds Milliways next, too, on New Year's Day, and calls in Alice (he's not coming to Goldenworld even if they find a person who can take them there, but he might find someone interesting to talk to in the bar) and also Lazarus. She mentions the door to Libby, too, in case she and/or her wolf want to take an excursion and see if his friends and family back home can be visited.

Comments

[her_imperial_radiance]

The door opens. A hybrid girl with almost glowy golden skin and shiny black hair and huge brown eyes opens the door. "...Can I help you?" she asks.

[nonbird]

Lazarus looks helplessly at the other two.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Hi, Cori," says Addy cheerfully. "This is a witchy person from another world and his Empress. I've borrowed him and we're staring at your dad through the walls. No hospitality is necessary."

"...Okay..." says 'Cori'.

[nonbird]

"Your dad's power is really cute," Lazarus volunteers.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"It's cute?" Cori asks. "Eleazar has never said it was cute."

"Eleazar doesn't think anything's cute," says Addy dismissively. "Oh, we should probably pay him a visit next, come to think of it. And look at Kate while we're there! I bet she just sparkles."

[nonbird]

"It's cute," Lazarus confirms. "Although I still think Alice's power snuggling with his mate bond wins the cute contest. Sure, let's go visit Eleazar."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"His mate's not a witch, so I imagine they don't interact, but Eleazar himself should be interesting," says Addy.

[self_composed]

"My destination is what, please?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Second Denali coven house," says Addy.

[self_composed]

And they're off!

[nonbird]

"...Huh," says Lazarus. "That's weird. It's like my power's cousin, or something. Great-aunt."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Eleazar!" calls Addy. "C'mere!"

Eleazar emerges presently, and double-takes at both Bella and Lazarus. "...Hello," he says.

[nonbird]

Lazarus beams.

"Hi!"

[her_imperial_radiance]

Eleazar dispenses with further attempts at politeness and just stares at Lazarus. Addy, meanwhile, begins humming to herself and switching between both men's powers every minute or so and then staring around her.

[nonbird]

"You can translate," Lazarus says to Addy. "What are the differences like here? Ooh, I bet you can't see coins," this to Eleazar. "You don't look like you can see coins."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"...If they're invisible, then presumably I cannot see them, but my eyes do work perfectly well," says Eleazar slowly.

"Try harder," Addy says, swatting Eleazar gently on the back of the head. "I bet you can see some of their magic, even if you can't before it's been used."

Eleazar looks at her witheringly and focuses on Lazarus again.

After a moment, he says, "You are the most paranoid, polyglottal human I have ever beheld."

[nonbird]

"One of those actually wasn't me," he says. "Do you see differences that subtle? It's hard to tell. Actually," this to Addy, "can you see who wished things? It's trickier, it's not an inherent property, you kind of have to get to know them. Libby's and Bella's are always really obvious; everyone else is case by case, maybe because I see so much fewer of them."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Addy boops Lazarus's nose and frowns at him. "I can tell which ones were your Bella," she says finally. "I think that's only because I know mine reasonably well."

"I can't tell anything like that at all, but then, I don't know either Bella particularly well," says Eleazar, peering intently. He glances at Bella. "Oh. You are more paranoid and polyglottal with a smattering of other talents to boot."

[nonbird]

"Yes," says Lazarus. "She's rather spectacular, isn't she?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"That's a word for it," says Eleazar.

"Bella is shiny," says Addy cheerfully.

[nonbird]

"Shiny is also a word for it," says Lazarus.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Is Kate around?" Addy asks.

"Hunting with Garrett. She'll be back soon," says Eleazar.

"Let's wait for her," declares Addy. "But while we're waiting..." She pokes Lazarus in the chest. "I want you to see if you can see her from far away. I bet you can. If you try."

[nonbird]

Lazarus sighs, and closes his eyes.

"...That's odd," he says after a moment, frowning a little. "That's... very odd."

He turns in circles for a few moments, eyes still closed.

Then, tentatively, he points.

"Is that your sparkly friend?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

Addy squints in that direction. "Yes! Yes, that looks like her. How lovely. Everything's so pretty the way you look at it. Eleazar gets no aesthetics at all."

Eleazar huffs a long-suffering sigh.

[nonbird]

Lazarus flaps his hand at her in mild disapproval, still frowning to himself.

He turns a few more circles, counterclockwise this time.

Then he says, "And there's Chris and Libby! And your empress and everyone!" Opening his eyes, he adds, "Your world is so blank, it's like looking through vacuum."