"Nope," says Corona. "Not a clue."

Chelsa goes to Aelise next, wringing her hands.

"Yes?"

"Harley's gone. He's out of Sandre's range and Corona says he doesn't know where he went either."

"That is extremely unfortunate," says Aelise. "But unless he teleported again, I don't think he can have gone that far. I'll look for him."

"Thank you. I'm hoping he just needs a little longer to get comfortable here and start acting as warm as he is..."

"If that doesn't happen," says Aelise, "I might have to take him off your hands. If I can keep him, I can expand the circle of immortality by a lot... but only if I can keep him."

"Just... shut him up somewhere?" asks Chelsa, shivering. "I don't like that - it's so unfriendly - but if he's going to keep running off - I suppose."

"Not unless I have to," says Aelise. "But if I have to, I will. In the meantime, I'll call Demauri."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Off Chelsa goes to be loved by less problematic friends.

And Aelise calls Demauri.

He picks up. "Aelise!" he says warmly. "What's on your mind?"

"Lost little lambs," she says. "Specifically, the newest guest at Mont Blanc ran away from home. His name's Harley and he has an amazing resemblance to Corona. Think you can bring him back for me?"

"Sure. I'll drop him in your lap in - triangulating - call it two hours, he hasn't got far."

"You're a dear. Thank you," she says. "He might be difficult about it. Use your judgment."

"Do you need him all in one piece or is anything Anneia can fix okay or what?"

"He is amazingly immortal," she says. "Think Luhan, but the healing doesn't kick in until he's to all appearances dead. I'd prefer minimal damage, but whatever you have to do to get him here, you can safely do."

Harley is hiking determinedly away from the mountain.

"Who the fuck are you?" says Harley.

"Name's Demauri, and you're gonna have a much nicer morning if you want to just hop in the sidecar now."

"Um... get fucked?" says Harley.

Demauri sighs. "Look, Harley, I dunno what you think you're gonna accomplish, but Aelise wants you, Aelise gets you. This can involve violence but it doesn't have to."

"I don't," he says, "actually, think I'm going to accomplish anything. There's no way it was gonna be that easy. Nice bike, by the way."

"It's a very nice bike. You're gonna be riding in it. Prefer to spend the ride conscious?"

By way of answer, Harley bolts.

Demauri sighs, pulls his paralytic taser, and shoots.

Yeah, that was a foregone conclusion.

He hauls Harley into the sidecar, zipties his wrists and ankles together, and drives back to the stronghold.

It's not very comfortable.

"I'm so pleased," says Aelise.

Demauri puts Harley in a chair. "He'll be able to move around in another five, ten minutes," he says. "I found him hiking east. Do you need anything else?"

"Not right now," she says, smiling warmly. "Thanks."

"Love and loyalty," says Demauri, smiling at her, and he goes to retrieve his bike and head out.

"Naturally."

He snorts. "Shit, at least you're honest."

"I can afford to be," says Aelise.

"...If you don't ever, ever let her touch me again," he says, "then I won't run away." He shivers. "Not that you care, but I used to love some people. Now I don't love anybody. Except maybe Corona."

"I think Chelsa would disagree," says Aelise.

"I think I don't give a shit," says Harley.

"I'm starting to get that," says Aelise. "I'll see what I can do."

"Yeah? And in the meantime... what? Just go back and let her fuck with my head some more?"

Chelsa is with Amdon in their room. She has had Amdon longer than anybody; he doesn't kindle as warm as Corona, but in some ways he's her favorite.

"It turns out," says Aelise, "that he ran away because you doused him."

"I thought it would help," exclaims Chelsa. "I can't exactly go find his old friends for him, they aren't here."

"He is a very unusual person," says Aelise. "And he's more or less promised to keep running away as long as you keep interfering with him. It would be inconvenient if that happened."

"...Not even maintenance for the kindling? I won't douse him again, but..."

"Could you manage that?"

Chelsa squirms. (Amdon kisses her shoulder and pets her hair.) "It'll burn out so quick if I don't. If this is how he acts when he loves me..."

"I think he is doing his very best not to act like he loves you," says Aelise. "And doing a pretty good job. I'm sure it won't be hard to make sure he avoids you, if you're worried about upsetting behaviour."

"The point," Aelise reminds her, "is that with him in my pocket, I don't have to worry about how many of your friends I can safely immortalize."

"...Yes. I suppose there's that. It will be very tempting anyway, though - he gets so warm -"

"Don't douse him again," she says, "and try not to kindle him. And I'll keep him away from anyone he doesn't get along with."

"All right," sighs Chelsa, and she buries her face in Amdon's hair.