where shall i begin?

[small_magics]

Isibel is without her loves, her mints, her enchannels.

She does have a coin stash. A reasonably large one, in her beloved's shifting geode colors, and a few in the higher denominations imported from Rainbow; she can make small ones herself. And she is still linked to her beloveds - she can still access Ansharil's magic, is still a functional elfmage.

And unlike any other Bell cast adrift without her convenient masochist(s), Isibel can enchant alone. It's the simplest application of hyperfocus: contemplate her spell and wake up again with it complete. Channeling through oneself leaves no lingering discomfort after the initial burst, and she can fail entirely to attend to that initial burst.

And -

She is reasonably well recovered from her earlier breakage.

It seems to her that it is time to do some... Belling, although she has not yet decided how to start.

She teleports from her folded-in-on-itself enchanted village to the town in which Magania resides, and there she looks for the other elf, who has given such good counsel in the past and already knows of the features of Bells.

Comments

[pythbox]

Their host enters the pavilion while Liselen is still eating small cakes out of Isibel's hand.

"I See you," says Andoreniel.

"Mmf!" says Liselen, agreeably.

The king of the elves smiles.

[small_magics]

"I See you," agrees Isibel, and she sits down as soon as her hand is empty of cake and cleans off the sheen of sugar from her palm with a triangle.

[pythbox]

"We will take tea," says Andoreniel.

He sets about making the tea.

[small_magics]

"While we are taking tea, I hope that we can discuss some of my planned projects. I do not know which Magania may have told you about in advance of my visit."

[pythbox]

"Magania mentioned to me that you plan to bring true immortality to the elves, if the Wild Magic wills," says Andoreniel.

Liselen swishes his tail.

[small_magics]

"To everyone, eventually, but most relevantly to you, elves. Yes. I can do this individually and in person, easily, in one way - the way I now possess for myself - but there is other research I have recovered which would propagate more readily without my personal supervision if allowed to do so."

[pythbox]

Andoreniel contemplates this.

"The other research is from the guy who almost brought the Dark back, but it's not all Tainted, and I'm going to be there so I can tell if she puts her nose in the wrong book," Liselen says helpfully.

"To know this makes good hearing," the King murmurs.

[small_magics]

"It would also make good hearing if I could be assured that you would not leap to your own conclusions before seeking Liselen's statement on this, or any other, matter that is of particularly grave importance," murmurs Isibel.

[pythbox]

Andoreniel regards her impassively.

[small_magics]

He knows why she might say that. She regards him impassively right back.

[pythbox]

The tea is ready.

He pours it.

[small_magics]

Isibel drinks some tea.

[pythbox]

So does the king.

Liselen swishes his tail and eyes the tray of cakes.

[small_magics]

Isibel offers him another cake.

[pythbox]

Liselen noms it.

[small_magics]

"By matters of particular importance I primarily mean large magical projects or suggestions that anyone's loved ones be put to death. I have no particular complaints with your day-to-day governance," Isibel clarifies after a silence.

[pythbox]

"Large magical projects are a matter for the Wild Magic," says Andoreniel. "As, it seems, are your loved ones."

[small_magics]

Isibel smiles thinly.

[pythbox]

Andoreniel sips his tea.

[small_magics]

Ah, tea, that indispensable social lubricant.

[pythbox]

"I will," he says, "consider all that you have told me."

[small_magics]

"That is good to know. Since," she adds magnanimously, "the dragons presently reside within elven borders, perhaps you would like to know that I mean to offer their population and their Bondmates both the kind of immortality I already possess, and a means of addressing some of their population constraints."

[pythbox]

"I am sure," says Andoreniel, "that the dragons will be pleased."

Liselen swishes his tail.

[small_magics]

Tea. Sip sip.

[pythbox]

Sip sip.