in between moments

[she_sells_seashells]

Shell Bell has not found Milliways by herself since the occasion on which she first met Sherlock.

Today, after eight months, she does.

She makes sure that Sherlock and Tony are both awake, finds that they are but do not want to join her in the bar today unless she finds something interesting, checks her coin supply and finds it sufficient, and steps through.

Comments

[pythbox]

He laughs. [My friends all have real phones.]

[she_sells_seashells]

[This is more convenient. You can't lose it, it works underwater and in loud environments, and it's free. But as you like.]

[pythbox]

"See," he says, "I'd have to explain it to my friends."

[she_sells_seashells]

"You got the idea quick enough," she points out.

[pythbox]

"The mechanics aren't the problem, the backstory is."

[she_sells_seashells]

"Darcy's not bored yet. I could help."

[pythbox]

"Help how?" he inquires.

[she_sells_seashells]

"Appear to them - now with new and improved anti-nudity algorithms - introduce myself, ask them if they want brainphones?" she shrugs. "Is there some non-obvious other way I could be of help?"

[pythbox]

"Well, Pepper's still asleep," he says, waving a hand in the direction of the bedroom. "And God knows where Rhodey is, probably in a plane, he's been known to fly those."

[she_sells_seashells]

"It's not like I can't teleport onto a plane," Bell points out. "Pepper? That's a cute name."

[pythbox]

"Says a woman named Shell Bell," Tony snorts. "You rhyme."

[she_sells_seashells]

"My real name is Bell. The shell part is a nickname. Remember how I was bringing shells into Milliways since I was six? It doesn't warn me when it's going to give me a door, and having shells on my person or not was the difference between staying three days, starving, or staying three weeks, getting a reasonable meal every day and more time to learn things and look for some magic or tech I could take home and be that little bit safer. I left bags of clamshells near every door I ever went through and pitched a fit if someone moved them. The rhyme just made it even more obvious."

[pythbox]

"...Yeah," he says, "I mean, I figured? Pepper's a nickname too, her real name's Virginia."

[she_sells_seashells]

"How is Pepper a nickname for Virginia?" asks Bell.

[pythbox]

"That is a very good question," says Tony, "and I came up with it, so I should know the answer."

[she_sells_seashells]

"...But you don't?"

[pythbox]

"Nope."

[she_sells_seashells]

"Huh. Anyway, do you want me to go see about talking to your friend who might be on an airplane?"

[pythbox]

"I guess," he says. "I should probably call him first."

The friend in question does not pick up.

[she_sells_seashells]

Shell Bell waits for this result to be interpreted in the form of a should or a should-not.

[pythbox]

"He's probably doing something important and military," says Tony. "Or sleeping, he could be sleeping. Better not."

[she_sells_seashells]

"Okay," shrugs Shell Bell.

[sailorheavymetal]

[Soooo,] says Darcy, [can you put Heimdall on the brainphone from where you are?]

[she_sells_seashells]

[Yeah, sure, does he want in?]

[sailorheavymetal]

[Yep!]