"I See you," says Sarion. "And am hugged by you, as well."

"Yep," says Queenie, releasing her from the snuggliest of hugs. "Hi! I saw you before, I'm glad you're feeling better now."

"I am much improved," Sarion agrees.

"I can tell!"

"I hope my beloved is also recovering from the mishaps before a solution was found."

"Your sweeties are fine," Queenie assures her. "I was snuggling the little one a minute ago."

"It seems that this is one of the more soothing things that could have happened to him."

"I have an aura of cuddle," beams Queenie. "It's the best. Wanna hug?"

Queenie envelops her in snuggle.

"I'm the snuggly one," she says cheerfully. "Which is why the aura, not because of the aura. The aura does things other than cuddly. Did anybody tell you about Voice?"

"I have - heard the name. In connection with Shell Bell. I do not know the story."

"Sometimes Jokers have brothers," says Queenie. "They tend to turn out pretty fucked up. Voice is mine. He was a serial killer when he was alive, and when he died he took to keeping people in a box in his basement, one at a time. He got Shell Bell, and then a while later he got me."

"Probably," she agrees. "I'm not broken like Shell Bell was, but it fucked me up pretty bad. It's better if I touch people a lot, so - cuddly."

"I am happy to help."

"I was not kept in a box. It seems unlikely that my form of breakage is the same as Shell Bell's."

"I dunno exactly how she broke," says Queenie with a snuggly little shrug.

"Perhaps we are simply the only two Bells who have broken at all, and there is more than one way to do it."

"Sounds about right."

Sarion considers for a long moment, then says, "I do not think I am irreparable."

Queenie snuggles her. "That's good."

"Aww, sweetheart," says Queenie, snuggling her some more.

"I was there when they fixed you; I caught a bunch."

"You love your sweeties," Queenie points out. She has spoken to the sweeties in question. She knows.

"Yes. Of course, always."

"So what's the difference? Sex?"

Sarion blinks. "I - do not know about other races, but elves can - recognize a connection, soul to soul. I do not know if I have it with my beloved - it is - muddied."

"You've got time to figure it out," says Queenie, patting her on the back.

"Yes." She shrugs. "He has not thought of me in that way. Beyond a single vulgar remark, once."

"He'd fuck you now, if you wanted," says Queenie.

"Perhaps. I do not think it would clarify the question. It does not seem to be a distinguishing characteristic of mine."

"A - a clarification of that would make good hearing."

"It's weird that there's only the one word," says Queenie, "when there's more different kinds of love than there are people. But the way your sweeties love you is a little like the way they love each other, and a little like the way we all love each other, and a lot like the way we love our sweethearts - those of us who have 'em."

"I have not previously heard the assertion that loves are more numerous than lovers," observes Sarion. "Nor am I familiar with attempts to compare the kinds to one another."

"Yeah, and?" says Queenie.

"And so my puzzlement has not been much clarified."

"If I knew what you were puzzled about, maybe I could help."

"If I am told that I resemble my mother, and also my father but less so, partial lists of the resemblances are often forthcoming."

"Can't really help you there. Just 'case I know what it feels like doesn't mean there's words for it."

"Oh."

"You could always ask your sweeties."

"I know how they love me. They've shown me. I do not know what else this should tell me. Perhaps nothing."

"But they know how the rest of us love our sweethearts, and unlike me, they can show ya."

"Oh. That is true. Perhaps it would be instructive."

"Could be," Queenie agrees.

Snuggle.

Snuggle-hug!

And Sarion's sweetie emerges from the orgy chambers.

Sarion decides it is time to try her new and much improved connection to them. She broadcasts a greeting to him, and a summary of her conversation with Queenie so far. And she opens up her listening.

"I love you too," he says, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head.