in a heap of people

[she_sells_seashells]

They go home after a couple of days, without incident. The colors in Bell's hair are fading, albeit incompletely.

A bit later, when there is not the question of whether Sherlock can accompany her unnoticed, Tony finds a door and in they go.

Other Sherlock - whether this is their other Sherlock or some other other Sherlock, Bell cannot be immediately sure - is in the main bar area. Bell waves!

Comments

[bitofafiction]

He recognizes Bell and waves back with a smile, so it is likely to be one that she's met, yes.

Also he comes over to distribute hugs to all three of them.

[she_sells_seashells]

Hugs are nice and Bell approves. When her hands are free, she catches one of her Sherlock's with one of hers, because handholding is also nice. "How're you doing?" she asks Other Sherlock.

[bitofafiction]

"I continue to breathe," he says lightly, stepping back and looking between her and Tony.

"...Sorry," he says, blinking, "is there a reason you're not having sex yet?"

[ferratus]

Tony blinks right back.

"Because... she doesn't... want to...?" He looks at Bell. "Wait, do you?"

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell makes a sound that resembles, "Asplughflnnn?"

[ferratus]

He looks at Other Sherry in mild dismay. "That was mean."

[bitofafiction]

"I'm very sorry," he says. "Overly personal question. I ought to've known better."

[sicaria]

Meanwhile, Sherlock squeezes Bell's hand, attempt-at-comfortingly.

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell puts her forehead on her Sherlock's shoulder. "Well," she says.

[ferratus]

"Help me out here," says Tony. "Is this a conversation we should be having, or should we all forget it never happened and go get hot chocolate?"

[she_sells_seashells]

"Well. I don't know. Do you want to have the conversation?"

[ferratus]

"...Yes?" he tries.

[she_sells_seashells]

"Okay then. We can have it. Hot chocolate also sounds really good though."

[ferratus]

"Great," says Tony. "Other Sherry, I love you very much, but go away."

[bitofafiction]

"I am going."

He goes.

[she_sells_seashells]

"So, this is awkward," remarks Bell, squeezing her Sherlock's hand hard and making no eye contact with anyone.

[ferratus]

"Yep," Tony agrees. "I think we should all get hot chocolate and then go somewhere. Like back home. Or somebody's room."

[she_sells_seashells]

"My room's closest," says Shell Bell.

[ferratus]

"Cool," says Tony. "Hot chocolate first."

They get hot chocolate. They go to Bell's room.

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell sits on her bed.

She looks at her mug, and takes a sip, and then pulls her recorder out of her pocket and mutters an authorization to it and hands it to Sherlock and looks at her mug again.

[sicaria]

Sherlock plays the appropriate recording.

[ferratus]

"...Oh, man," says Tony. "I wanna hug you. Can I hug you?"

[she_sells_seashells]

"Yeah," says Bell, putting her mug on her nightstand.

[ferratus]

Tony hugs her.

"So, you probably know this by now, but I really like you," he says.

[she_sells_seashells]

"I like you too," she murmurs.