I'll stick around and tell them stories, volunteers Ghosty.

You sure? If it takes us an hour - and that could be too optimistic - you will be here for almost a solid year of subjective time.

Yeah, and?

Just checking that this is okay.

It's fine, she says serenely.

Okay. Let's all coordinate on teleporting back to the house so we don't rack up more asynchronicity than we need. Sue, if you'll count us down?

Everyone reconvenes at the house, where Sarion is lounging on the larger of her beloveds drowsily.

The smaller of her beloveds snuggles her and kisses her hair.

Snuggles!

"I think," says Shell Bell, "that I should probably go home rather than try to go help fight angels."

"Yeah, I agree, but thanks for coming out to start with," says Amariah.

Sherlock hugs Shell Bell. "Let's go."

Shell Bell taps her Janegem. She and Sherlock and their daemons disappear from Alethia.

"Who else is coming along to the mountain, who's staying here, and who's going home?" Amariah asks.

"I'll come if you want me to - I'm not a physical combatant by any stretch of the imagination but if we're going to try negotiation I might have an advantage at it. Jokers get along better with harpies but we don't know about angels."

"I am coming," says Aianon.

"Me too," says Kas.

"I'll stay here," says Sue.

"Beloveds, I would not want to unduly distract you in your possible fight against angels," says Sarion.

"Would you rather go home, then?"

"Only if you will find me distracting. I am perfectly comfortable."

"Not such a distraction that I couldn't kill an angel if I had to," he says, kissing her on the cheek.

"You must let me know if I should move, of course," she says, running her hand through his hair.

"We will," rumbles Ansharil.