Isibel likes being able to ask at any time that a mirror of herself, from another world but with the same soul, visit her and speak with her. She doesn't do it too often, not even every day, but it is soothing to have the other Bells behind her on the long and arduous project of figuring herself out again so that she can do as Bells are meant to do.
She asks Jane to send her whoever is taking their turn, one day, and Jane does not respond.
She broadcasts this information, and her alarm, to her beloveds.
Generated:
Post last updated:
where have you gone?
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
...
endragoned
The demon teleports to her and hugs her.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Hugs.
At least they have been given the magics considered appropriate for Bells. Isibel will just - have to put herself back together alone. And cannot retrieve anyone who may die, or has already died.
At least they have been given the magics considered appropriate for Bells. Isibel will just - have to put herself back together alone. And cannot retrieve anyone who may die, or has already died.
...
endragoned
"My love, my love," he murmurs, hugging her. "Will you be all right?"
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"Better than I would have been if I had never met them," Isibel says. "I can work on myself by myself. It will only be a little harder."
...
endragoned
He kisses the top of her head.
"Good. I want you to be all right."
"Good. I want you to be all right."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I am a little better every day."
...
endragoned
Snuggly huggly smiley hugs.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I love you. You are such a comfort to me," murmurs Isibel.
...
endragoned
"I love you. I'm glad," he says. "I want you to be safe and happy and okay forever."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel presses her cheek to his cheek and smiles.
"I wonder if we do have soul-sympathy," she murmurs. "Or, if I have with you - it is an elf phenomenon, and might be asymmetrical. I should look harder to find out."
"I wonder if we do have soul-sympathy," she murmurs. "Or, if I have with you - it is an elf phenomenon, and might be asymmetrical. I should look harder to find out."
...
endragoned
"I hardly know what it is," he admits.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"It has never been explained clearly to me," Isibel admits. "And I have no idea if it may be obscured by the dragonbond. We are in many ways unprecedented."
...
endragoned
"Many," he agrees, hugging her.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"It is supposed to be recognizable, though. Most elves do marry eventually, and it is not done without this - feature."
...
endragoned
"Then perhaps you should find out what the feature is."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"It may be past time I visited my parents," muses Isibel. "...I don't believe they know about you at all. I am sure someone would have done them the kindness of explaining my absence, but it does not seem likely that they received that much detail."
...
endragoned
"Visit your parents, then, my love."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"You could accompany me if you wished. Perhaps hanging back to a safe distance until I have explained you. Although the dragon could come nearer without prior explanation."
...
endragoned
He laughs.
"We'll fly you there," he says. "And I will hide, until you have explained me."
"We'll fly you there," he says. "And I will hide, until you have explained me."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel nods.
"I do not know how difficult it may be to explain you," she adds. "I have not often spoken with either of my parents about our ancient enemy."
"I do not know how difficult it may be to explain you," she adds. "I have not often spoken with either of my parents about our ancient enemy."
...
endragoned
"I am very patient," says the demon, and he kisses the top of her head.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I know you are." She would have had staggering difficulty living on an uninhabited island for ten thousand years and retaining her sanity.
...
endragoned
He grins.
"Do you want to go now?"
"Do you want to go now?"
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel looks around her home. It is quite devoid of anything that requires her ongoing attention.
"Yes," she says.
"Yes," she says.
...
endragoned
Whimsically, the demon picks her up and carries her outside. The dragon meets her there, and conjures himself a saddle and so on so that she can climb aboard and fly in comfort.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel sits quite happily, and thinks them the way to Silverbranch.
...
endragoned
They fly.
The demon turns himself invisible for the trip; the dragon does not.
The demon turns himself invisible for the trip; the dragon does not.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
And there is Silverbranch. It is not so far, on dragonback, only a few hours.
...
endragoned
The dragon finds somewhere convenient to land.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isabella kisses her invisible demon-beloved goodbye and hops off of her dragon-beloved and kisses him too and heads through the village in search of her parents' home.
Eventually she comes out again, with a single elf who strongly resembles her following.
"Beloved, this is my mother Rania," she says.
"I See you," says Rania to the dragon. "But - not all of you, if I understand rightly." She looks around.
Eventually she comes out again, with a single elf who strongly resembles her following.
"Beloved, this is my mother Rania," she says.
"I See you," says Rania to the dragon. "But - not all of you, if I understand rightly." She looks around.
...
endragoned
"That is true," the dragon says gravely. "The rest of me is waiting until he might be made welcome without alarming anyone."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"Isibel has been unharmed this long," says Rania. "I will not be alarmed. But perhaps it would be prudent to travel farther from the village," and she indicates a direction.
...
endragoned
The dragon nods, which is something of a momentous event considering the size of the dragon's head, and he ambles off in the indicated direction.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel and her mother follow.
"We will be unobserved here," Rania eventually says.
"We will be unobserved here," Rania eventually says.
...
endragoned
The demon appears.
He has neglected to put on pants.
He has neglected to put on pants.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
A blink is startled out of Rania.
"It is more startling to see with my own eyes what I had previously heard only as a story," she murmurs. (She resolutely keeps her gaze above the waist.)
Isibel goes to her beloved and puts her head on his shoulder. She thinks that her mother would prefer it if he were wearing pants, although Rania would never dream of drawing attention to the fact that he is not.
"It is more startling to see with my own eyes what I had previously heard only as a story," she murmurs. (She resolutely keeps her gaze above the waist.)
Isibel goes to her beloved and puts her head on his shoulder. She thinks that her mother would prefer it if he were wearing pants, although Rania would never dream of drawing attention to the fact that he is not.
...
endragoned
He shrugs and stretches his wings and conjures himself a pair of comfortable trousers with a hole for his tail.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Rania does not visibly relax - that would be impolite - but her eyes move about more freely.
"I am told that you have no names," she says to the demon and dragon.
"None have been needed among ourselves," says Isibel.
"I am told that you have no names," she says to the demon and dragon.
"None have been needed among ourselves," says Isibel.
...
endragoned
"It might be convenient to have some, now that we know more people," says the demon, "but we haven't thought of any that we like."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I am most likely to think of elven names," says Rania, "were I to propose ideas."
Isibel can tell, and shares with her beloveds: Rania would just love to name them.
Isibel can tell, and shares with her beloveds: Rania would just love to name them.
...
endragoned
"We would not object to elven names," says the dragon.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I have always liked the names Aianon and Ansharil," Rania offers.
Aianon
endragoned
"Aianon," the demon murmurs.
"Ansharil," the dragon says thoughtfully. "Yes. Those will do."
"Ansharil," the dragon says thoughtfully. "Yes. Those will do."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Rania beams. Isibel laughs softly. In her mind her beloveds will always be her beloveds, however they are introduced to others. She tells them so.
"I never expected you to Bond with a dragon even given the chance, Isibel," Rania says to her daughter.
"Nor did I," Isibel murmurs. "There was great need."
"I never expected you to Bond with a dragon even given the chance, Isibel," Rania says to her daughter.
"Nor did I," Isibel murmurs. "There was great need."
Aianon
endragoned
The demon smiles and hugs his Isibel.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Rania wants to see magic; Isibel does some tricks for her.
Aianon
endragoned
The demon can do tricks, too! If anyone wants him to do tricks.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel prompts him to go ahead and do so when Rania's hints are too subtle.
Aianon
endragoned
He touches his fingers to the ground and grows a little tree with a slender silvery trunk and thin drooping branches, which produces little round pink fruits when it is not quite as tall as he is. Its thin pointed leaves make a very pretty rustling sound when he brushes past them.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel picks a fruit and wonders if she can taste it; she likes fruits her beloved invents.
Aianon
endragoned
"It will be good," he assures her, smiling.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel eats it. She offers one to her mother. Rania takes it and smiles brilliantly. "This is delicious," Rania asserts.
Aianon
endragoned
"I like making things that are good to eat," says the demon, patting the tree fondly. "When my love and I lived on our island, I made many things for us to eat."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"It might otherwise have been hard to keep the both of you fed," chuckles Isibel.
Rania takes another fruit.
Isibel laughs and conjures her a basket. "Cariel might like them, however unsure he was about his ability to be civil about my beloved."
Rania takes another fruit.
Isibel laughs and conjures her a basket. "Cariel might like them, however unsure he was about his ability to be civil about my beloved."
Aianon
endragoned
"I hope he does," says the demon.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I will take him some," says Rania. "We would prepare you a house for your use here, in spite of your absence, if you need one."
"I think I will continue to live where I have been living. It is not such a long trip," says Isibel. "But I thank you."
"I think I will continue to live where I have been living. It is not such a long trip," says Isibel. "But I thank you."
Aianon
endragoned
"I love to fly," says the dragon. "It is no hardship to bring our Isibel here when she wishes to go."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"It would please us to have visits more often than we have in the past year," Rania says.
"I think you will be pleased, then," says Isibel.
"I think you will be pleased, then," says Isibel.
Aianon
endragoned
The demon hugs his Isibel again.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Eventually the visit concludes, and the trio of Bondmates flies home.
Isibel uses magic slowly, as it occurs to her.
Her assistive wish wears off as intended, slowly, gently. She relies less and less on prompted memory, more and more on novel thought.
Jane has been offline for nearly ten moonturns when Isibel thinks of something properly creative, and proposes it wordlessly to her beloved. Something she could enchant for her aura, that will be interesting and fun - if they'll channel for her.
She would like to make an enchanted village-of-sorts, hidden in the way that elf villages always are but bolstered by enchantments, taking up little space corner to corner but containing as many subtle nooks and crannies as she can invent, rearranging themselves to suit her and her beloveds as need be. (One of the things enchantment will be able to do is enable the dragon to go in and out as he pleases, size disregarded.)
She would like to put it on their home island, which is being colonized but not so rapidly that there is no available space left.
Isibel uses magic slowly, as it occurs to her.
Her assistive wish wears off as intended, slowly, gently. She relies less and less on prompted memory, more and more on novel thought.
Jane has been offline for nearly ten moonturns when Isibel thinks of something properly creative, and proposes it wordlessly to her beloved. Something she could enchant for her aura, that will be interesting and fun - if they'll channel for her.
She would like to make an enchanted village-of-sorts, hidden in the way that elf villages always are but bolstered by enchantments, taking up little space corner to corner but containing as many subtle nooks and crannies as she can invent, rearranging themselves to suit her and her beloveds as need be. (One of the things enchantment will be able to do is enable the dragon to go in and out as he pleases, size disregarded.)
She would like to put it on their home island, which is being colonized but not so rapidly that there is no available space left.
Aianon
endragoned
Her beloveds think that would be beautiful. They would love to help her make it.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel would like to be sure that they are sure that they would like to help. The other Jokers are what they are, but the other Jokers do not have quite her beloved's history with pain. Isibel can think of nothing that she would like less than to connect herself with the people who hurt her love earlier in his life.
Aianon
endragoned
The demon loves her very much. Very very much. Especially when she thinks things like that at him.
And yes, they are sure that they are sure. They have had ten thousand years away from Shadow Mountain. Time enough and then some to learn that they can like to hurt.
And yes, they are sure that they are sure. They have had ten thousand years away from Shadow Mountain. Time enough and then some to learn that they can like to hurt.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
To the island, then.
Isibel turns over the design of the first enchantment in her mind. She will begin with something medium-sized and useful on its own in case her loves change their minds on experiencing the reality.
The chosen section of forest will helpfully conduct travelers where they wish to be. If left at that, it will just be a patch of helpful trees. If expanded on, it will be the foundation of the entire navigational enchantment for her twisty hidden village.
Isibel turns over the design of the first enchantment in her mind. She will begin with something medium-sized and useful on its own in case her loves change their minds on experiencing the reality.
The chosen section of forest will helpfully conduct travelers where they wish to be. If left at that, it will just be a patch of helpful trees. If expanded on, it will be the foundation of the entire navigational enchantment for her twisty hidden village.
Aianon
endragoned
"It will be beautiful," says the demon.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
They find a suitable uninhabited bit of forest.
Isibel takes her demon's hand in hers, and reaches for their shared mindscape.
Isibel takes her demon's hand in hers, and reaches for their shared mindscape.
Aianon
endragoned
Her demon smiles.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel reaches for the power of the earth below her, and pours it through her spell and her channel.
Aianon
endragoned
Her demon shivers.
He likes it just as much as he thought it would.
He likes it just as much as he thought it would.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
That is good. She doesn't want to do anything to them that they don't like.
They could channel another spell now, or wait for the lingering effects of this one to wear off.
They could channel another spell now, or wait for the lingering effects of this one to wear off.
Aianon
endragoned
They can channel another spell now.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
And so they do.
Isibel stops to ask after each, if they want to go on or to pause.
Isibel stops to ask after each, if they want to go on or to pause.
Aianon
endragoned
They want to go on.
They go on wanting to go on.
They go on wanting to go on.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
After a few spells, not only has Isibel mastered Rose's trick of casting with her eyes open, but the lingering-pain has built up to a point where, between spells, there is still evidence of it on her demon's face.
...Interesting evidence that provokes a blush and a heart-flutter.
...Interesting evidence that provokes a blush and a heart-flutter.
Aianon
endragoned
"My love?" he inquires, smiling a little.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel squirms.
"You are making faces."
"You are making faces."
Aianon
endragoned
"They are happy faces," he says. "Do you not like them?"
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I do like them," blushes Isibel.
Aianon
endragoned
Her demon hugs her. "That is good. I am glad that you like them."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel hugs him.
She lets him have just a little peep at the way in which she likes them.
She lets him have just a little peep at the way in which she likes them.
Aianon
endragoned
In that case, perhaps she would like a little peep at the way her beloveds like enchanneling.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
She looks.
She squirms.
She squirms.
Aianon
endragoned
He grins.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I - I don't know if -"
But then she does know if. She knows exactly if. She knows that.
"Oh," she murmurs, and she shows him, soul-sympathy pointing with blinding obviousness: there, this one, this is forever. She is really not clear on how she missed it. Supposedly it can hide until it is too late to avoid; she doesn't know if that or the immediate circumstances or her own slow healing were operative, but now it is there, now it is clear.
But then she does know if. She knows exactly if. She knows that.
"Oh," she murmurs, and she shows him, soul-sympathy pointing with blinding obviousness: there, this one, this is forever. She is really not clear on how she missed it. Supposedly it can hide until it is too late to avoid; she doesn't know if that or the immediate circumstances or her own slow healing were operative, but now it is there, now it is clear.
Aianon
endragoned
...
He wraps her up in a many-limbed hug, arms and wings and tail.
He wraps her up in a many-limbed hug, arms and wings and tail.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Hugs. Hugs and love.
Aianon
endragoned
Hugs and love.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel loves him and loves how he loves her.
Aianon
endragoned
That is good!
"Does this mean—" the demon murmurs, and he reminds her of some of the things he said to her when they first met. The ones Magania refused to translate.
"Does this mean—" the demon murmurs, and he reminds her of some of the things he said to her when they first met. The ones Magania refused to translate.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel blushes very dark at that.
"Maybe."
It would be unkind to leave it at that word with no explanation. She broadcasts a little: while she has never exactly envisioned herself a lifelong Unicorn Knight, one of the first things to shrivel up when she was breaking was any impulse to render herself unfit for unicorn company. It has not, till now, been a priority for rebuilding, because she was waiting for soul-sympathy, and - now she has it.
"Maybe."
It would be unkind to leave it at that word with no explanation. She broadcasts a little: while she has never exactly envisioned herself a lifelong Unicorn Knight, one of the first things to shrivel up when she was breaking was any impulse to render herself unfit for unicorn company. It has not, till now, been a priority for rebuilding, because she was waiting for soul-sympathy, and - now she has it.
Aianon
endragoned
She does has soul-sympathy. And she has it with her demon. Her demon who is touching her.
It occurs to him - and he broadcasts, by way of asking - that the spell for finding out what sorts of things are good for someone to eat could, with a little work, be adapted to find out... other things. If she liked. Perhaps she would rather find out those things about herself the long way around.
It occurs to him - and he broadcasts, by way of asking - that the spell for finding out what sorts of things are good for someone to eat could, with a little work, be adapted to find out... other things. If she liked. Perhaps she would rather find out those things about herself the long way around.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
...Isibel does not see much reason to prefer the long way around.
Aianon
endragoned
So he kisses the top of her head and hugs her and sends his magic through her body to learn of its functions.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
It has some! She is a physically healthy adult elf.
Aianon
endragoned
And now he knows - not in words, not in a way made for explaining, but in a way made for doing - what sorts of things are good for it in a new context.
He shares this knowledge with Isibel. It's her body, after all.
He shares this knowledge with Isibel. It's her body, after all.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel squirms some more and collects all the information. For reference.
One of the things that she could probably have predicted all by herself is that she will like it if she kisses her beloved. So she does.
One of the things that she could probably have predicted all by herself is that she will like it if she kisses her beloved. So she does.
Aianon
endragoned
Her beloved kisses back. In a way she will like. And he is careful of his fangs.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel melts into him. She does indeed like.
Liselen will even still be able to visit.
Liselen will even still be able to visit.
Aianon
endragoned
Although perhaps Isibel should not go among unmodified unicorns in the future. Even if they stopped right now - well. It's a matter of knowledge as much as anything.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel will be considerate of unicorn neighbors.
Later. When she is thinking about them again. She has stopped for the time being; she is thinking about her beloved instead.
Later. When she is thinking about them again. She has stopped for the time being; she is thinking about her beloved instead.
Aianon
endragoned
And her beloved is thinking about her, and he is thinking that he wants to do more things that she will like. Many more.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Tautologically enough, Isibel would like that.
Aianon
endragoned
Good!
In that case, they should do some of those. Right now.
In that case, they should do some of those. Right now.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Now seems like an excellent time.
Aianon
endragoned
And they have this lovely new village to go and be at home in, where they are very unlikely to be interrupted in the pursuit of liking each other.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
It would indeed be very surprising if they were interrupted.
And indeed,
they are not.
And indeed,
they are not.
Aianon
endragoned
They are not interrupted for a long time.
In fact, they are not interrupted until the demon discovers that he is tired, and should sleep soon. Which would make it... ah. A sennight and a half.
In fact, they are not interrupted until the demon discovers that he is tired, and should sleep soon. Which would make it... ah. A sennight and a half.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Isibel doesn't have to sleep! It is a standard feature of once-pealed Bells that they do not have to sleep.
Aianon
endragoned
Her demon is aware that she doesn't have to sleep. If she did, they would have paused somewhat earlier.
He decides that not needing to sleep is a fine idea, and gives himself the same power.
He decides that not needing to sleep is a fine idea, and gives himself the same power.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
Over the course of the next sennight, during which occasional - well, they could be called "breaks", but are more like "variations" - are spent enchanting, Sarion develops an aura.
It makes her elfier. If elves are ethereal and oddly perfect when observed by humans, she will now be ethereal and oddly perfect when observed by elves and something else entirely to others. (If there were anyone but her beloved here in her hidey-village to see her.)
And when she enchants, she notices her aura drawing itself around her mindscape - no longer a void of darkness, but full of motes of light - protectively, defensively. She can still send to her beloveds and they can still send to her. But if this aura had had the decency to bestow itself upon her earlier - it could have saved them all a lot of heartache.
It makes her elfier. If elves are ethereal and oddly perfect when observed by humans, she will now be ethereal and oddly perfect when observed by elves and something else entirely to others. (If there were anyone but her beloved here in her hidey-village to see her.)
And when she enchants, she notices her aura drawing itself around her mindscape - no longer a void of darkness, but full of motes of light - protectively, defensively. She can still send to her beloveds and they can still send to her. But if this aura had had the decency to bestow itself upon her earlier - it could have saved them all a lot of heartache.
Aianon
endragoned
Her beloved cries a little when he learns of it.
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"Oh my love," she murmurs. "I'm all right now."
Aianon
endragoned
"I know you are," he says, hugging her. "I'm glad. I love you."
Isibel ✧ "Sarion"
small_magics
"I love you too."