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

[self_composed]

"Shell Bell? Oh my word that's precious," laughs Bella. "Belltower? Is it a literal tower in the backyard or something? Because that's what I would do, assuming I could get Bar to give me the local equivalent of a building permit."

[ferratus]

"Nope, it's a room upstairs," he says. "The Bells are kinda strapped for cash so one of my alts is paying for it."

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice, meanwhile, is looking at Sherlock.

[sicaria]

And Sherlock is looking at Alice.

[self_composed]

"Well, that's silly, if it's a Belltower then a Bella should be covering it. Bar takes imperial asters, I'm not going to run out any time soon," says Bella, grinning. "Let's see the place and I assume it'll convince me to fund it."

[sicaria]

"This way," says Sherlock.

[ferratus]

Tony bounces along after her.

[self_composed]

And Bella follows.

"Well, this is cute," she says. "Very cute indeed for a limited budget. ...That looks like Forks," she adds, peering at one of the landscapes. "Which one put that up, your Shell Bell or the other?"

[ferratus]

"I think Bell said something about the other one doing the decorating, Sherry what's her official nickname—"

[sicaria]

"Amariah," says Sherlock. "And I am Sherlock, and this is Tony."

[self_composed]

"Sherlock? That's a girl's name where you're from?" blinks Bella. "Oh, a guestbook." She picks it up, reads it through lightning-quick, and then picks up the nearby pen and fills it out equally lightning-quick.

[sicaria]

"Not traditionally. Would you be at all interested in helping Bell take over our world?"

[self_composed]

"Is she having trouble with it?" Bella asks.

[sicaria]

"Considerably."

[self_composed]

"I can fix that," says Bella confidently. "I am extremely magic."

[sicaria]

"Excellent," says Sherlock. "She will be along in her own time. Would you like me to catch you up on the situation meanwhile? She summarized our troubles in her Bellbook entry, I believe, but I expect you will have questions."

[self_composed]

"Yes, please do," says Bella, taking a seat and clasping her hands over her knees.

[sicaria]

"Where would you prefer I start? I don't know how much detail her summary gave you."

[self_composed]

"You haven't read it? It says your government is lousy and she doesn't have any of her own magic, basically, but I don't know what in particular you're going to need. I can just visit and handle stuff magically myself once I scope it out, but I think she'd probably rather have her own supply. There is a slight complication to magic the way I do it, though," she adds, glancing at Alice.

[she_sells_seashells]

Shell Bell chooses this moment to walk in. "Hi Sherl- oh wow! Hi! I'm Shell Bell!" she exclaims when she spots the other her.

[self_composed]

"Hi!" replies Bella. "I've nicknamed myself Stella in your little book. I was about to ask - do you happen to know a cooperative masochist?"

[she_sells_seashells]

"...That's a weird question," says Shell Bell. "I don't think so..."

[sicaria]

"Ah," says Sherlock.

[self_composed]

"...Ah?" says Stella-Bella inquisitively. "I ask because my magic system, inconveniently enough, involves turning pain into wishes. I can be the sorceress-empress of the stars with a moon palace and all that good stuff because I have him." She gestures at Alice; the gesture turns into a grab and she kisses his cheek. "Unfortunately, one of the very short list of things that I cannot wish for effectually involves changing the rules about where wishes come from."

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice beams and hugs her.