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

[she_sells_seashells]

"That's a good idea," says Bell. "I will." She does, and nods to herself.

[pythbox]

"You probably don't want to teleport into anybody's bathroom while they're using it, either," Tony muses.

[she_sells_seashells]

"I haven't actually had that problem because of the way the teleporter interprets 'where so-and-so is' - I mean, you would have noticed if I'd appeared literally on top of you, and bathrooms are usually too small for me to show up in one with a person," Shell Bell says, "but it's probably worth installing anyway, in case I'm ever hunting for somebody with unconventional architecture."

[pythbox]

"...I am suddenly really glad you didn't come looking for me two hours ago," says Tony.

[she_sells_seashells]

Bell laughs. "Do you have," she asks, "an enormous bathroom?"

[pythbox]

"Yes," says Tony. "Yes I do."

[she_sells_seashells]

"Then I am also glad I did not appear two hours ago. I apologize for not having added all these tweaks to my teleportation power before. I copied it directly from Stella and I have the impression that she usually knows plenty about where she's going and doesn't need this installed on the magical level. And is only visiting people she's already put on the brainphone network so she can call ahead anyway."

[pythbox]

"Brainphone...?"

[she_sells_seashells]

"Telepathic phonelike thing?" says Shell Bell. "It's very handy, do you want in? I've already added Jarvis to announce myself when I first arrived, you could talk to him wherever without making a sound."

[pythbox]

"Gimme," says Tony. "That would be very useful."

[she_sells_seashells]

[Behold!]

[pythbox]

[Ooooh,] says Tony.

[she_sells_seashells]

[It also does text channel. And busy messages that pop up according to arbitrarily complicated algorithms, although since in this world I've only added you, Jarvis, and Darcy, I don't think you'll need those unless you want me to throw a dozen of your friends in too.]

[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."