where have you gone?

[small_magics]

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.

Comments

[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.

[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.

[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.

[endragoned]

"It will be beautiful," says the demon.

[small_magics]

They find a suitable uninhabited bit of forest.

Isibel takes her demon's hand in hers, and reaches for their shared mindscape.

[endragoned]

Her demon smiles.

[small_magics]

Isibel reaches for the power of the earth below her, and pours it through her spell and her channel.

[endragoned]

Her demon shivers.

He likes it just as much as he thought it would.

[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.

[endragoned]

They can channel another spell now.

[small_magics]

And so they do.

Isibel stops to ask after each, if they want to go on or to pause.

[endragoned]

They want to go on.

They go on wanting to go on.

[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.

[endragoned]

"My love?" he inquires, smiling a little.

[small_magics]

Isibel squirms.

"You are making faces."

[endragoned]

"They are happy faces," he says. "Do you not like them?"

[small_magics]

"I do like them," blushes Isibel.

[endragoned]

Her demon hugs her. "That is good. I am glad that you like them."

[small_magics]

Isibel hugs him.

She lets him have just a little peep at the way in which she likes them.

[endragoned]

In that case, perhaps she would like a little peep at the way her beloveds like enchanneling.

[small_magics]

She looks.

She squirms.

[endragoned]

He grins.

[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.

[endragoned]

...

He wraps her up in a many-limbed hug, arms and wings and tail.

[small_magics]

Hugs. Hugs and love.