how are you feeling?

[small_magics]

[It seems that perhaps we should speak,] Isibel says to Lycaelon. She wishes him a cup of tea, wherever he is, hovering in the air waiting for him to take it. [Though I confess I do not know where to begin.]

Comments

[pythbox]

She thinks about it, curling her long scaly tail around herself where she sits.

Then she says, "Isibel Sarion. And Kareta's son."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth tilts her head, and calls up Sarion, and also Liselen: [Liselen, Sherlock-dragon doesn't buy it that I can only say true things, can you come confirm for her?]

[small_magics]

Isibel appears.

"Hello. I can confirm that Elspeth's magic does not cooperate with her on the vanishingly infrequent occasions she utters falsehoods."

[pythbox]

"Thank you," says the glittery grey dragon.

Liselen appears.

"Hi!" he says. "Elspeth is unicorn-approved, promise." He prances up beside her and leans his shoulder on her a little.

"All right, I'm convinced," the grey dragon admits.

"Sherial," the other one exclaims, "you just made important people come here and tell us things! Why did you do that?"

"Well, presumably, if this person is here telling us things - " she points a single large claw at Elspeth " - then they're important things and it matters whether or not we believe them. And if she was here telling us nonsensical lies, I'd think the Bonded and the unicorns should be the first people to know, wouldn't you?"

"I guess," says the red-gold dragon.

[small_magics]

"I do not mind in the least," laughs Isibel. "I have some responsibility for you, after all, and your alts are friends of my friends. I would have come to speak to you myself if it were not more efficient for Elspeth to do so. I would have your advice on approaching the other three from your - batch, as their alts did not have particular advice."

[pythbox]

Sherial nudges the red-gold dragon with her foot. "Go find Elasirae," she says. "Tell him there's something interesting and he should come here."

"Okay," says the red-gold dragon, and she takes off.

[small_magics]

"Thank you." She sneaks a quick glance at Elasirae to confirm that the name matches the dragon she guesses - "His alt is already in this world, if it would be useful to have him present."

[pythbox]

"He might as well come here too," says Sherial. "Is he very enthusiastic about magic? They can be enthusiastic about magic together."

[small_magics]

"He is in fact very enthusiastic about magic."

[Sherial invites you to come here, where your alt will soon appear.]

[nonbird]

Lazarus appears.

He looks up at Sherial.

[pythbox]

Sherial looks down at him.

"You don't look very much like Elasirae at all," she observes.

[nonbird]

"Are you sure? Maybe you should wait until he shows up and you can compare us," Lazarus says dryly.

[pythbox]

"But you do talk very much like Elasirae," says Sherial, giggling.

[small_magics]

"One of my alts can see things about the sort of causality that produces alts. I can invite her here to confirm, and will probably do this sooner or later anyway."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"But the template sweep will have been perfectly accurate, so all she will be able to add is fine detail."

[pythbox]

"What kind of fine detail?" says Sherial.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"What template attractors you do and don't have, and any other ambient metacausality. She is better at it when she can compare things directly against each other - you with other Sherlocks, for example."

[pythbox]

"Will you be inviting more Sherlocks here, then?" she asks.

[small_magics]

"They are certainly welcome. Although none asked particularly to come when Jane inquired of them how best to introduce you to the news. If nothing else, there will in some days be a large party of my alts and our friends, including all of the Sherlocks who care to appear."

[pythbox]

"I've never been to a party before," says Sherial. "Dragons don't really have them. I don't think there are enough of us. And we don't easily all fit in the same place at once."

[small_magics]

"A sufficiently large place can be made," Isibel assures her. "Although perhaps this eventuality will make Amariah reconsider her offer to host in her new palace, which I do not believe was created with a population of dragon guests in mind."

[pythbox]

"If you say so," says Sherial, tapping her tail idly against the ground with a considerable thump. "Elasirae must be off somewhere. I'm less sure what to do about Sidanar and Arianna. Maybe Tianthonet will think of something; she knows them better."

[small_magics]

Isibel quickly checks the names against her pastwatching: Sidanar is the Darcy, Arianna the Anna. "Perhaps."

[pythbox]

"I'm going to guess that Amariah is one of your alts," Sherial adds. "That thing you do is magnificently useful, Elspeth."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Thanks!"