Most Likely A Refuge

[whatamithinking]

It was probably safe.

The bar was...unusually reticent, in the lower layers of her mind (and she hadn't pried further; she wasn't sure if she'd be noticed; she wasn't sure if offending would get her kicked out, and regardless of whether it was actually safe it was safer than anywhere else she'd been for the past...three years?) so she couldn't be sure this place wasn't really a trap of some kind, but the higher layers gave a plausible explanation that didn't involve being a trap, and whatever else it was warm and dry and had food. Her guard was probably a full 25% down. Positively trusting, these days.

Comments

[onceandforall]

"Sure." Haul haul.

[whatamithinking]

And once it has been confirmed that this is all of it she returns to her world to invite extreme prejudice upon some Sentinels.

[onceandforall]

And Bella sits back down next to Not-Thorny Edie.

[whatamithinking]

"Regardless of whether or how much her actions ought to obviate any sympathy for her, I feel really sorry for her version of Mom and Dad."

[onceandforall]

"Yeah."

[whatamithinking]

Hugs?

[onceandforall]

Hugs.

[whatamithinking]

"Maybe I should hang around for a significant chunk of time, in case of more persons who could use my world's magic productively."

[onceandforall]

"Not a bad idea."

[whatamithinking]

"And I certainly don't object to spending more time with you."

[onceandforall]

"I'll probably stay at least a few days."

[whatamithinking]

"Then I shall probably also stay at least a few days!"

[onceandforall]

Giggle.

[whatamithinking]

"...I like you a lot. And I wasn't strongly expecting to see you ever again, last time we parted ways, and it was a very pleasant surprise."

[onceandforall]

"Yeah, likewise. We - still can't expect to cross paths regularly. I get doors whenever I want to fly to Buffalo, I guess, but you're stuck with random."

[whatamithinking]

"I'm going to see if I can get a spell to get doors. I don't know if it's even possible, technically, but there's no harm in trying."

[onceandforall]

"That would be cool. But any amount of time could still pass in my world while you were here and vice-versa. So that would enable leaving letters for one another in my room - which you may stay in, Bar, she can use my room - but not guarantee anything else."

[iamnotpolaris]

The door opens again.

An Emily walks through.

She takes one look at the two of them and looks extremely confused.

[onceandforall]

"...Hi."

[iamnotpolaris]

"If this place pauses time and Edie's already here how did I get here?"

[onceandforall]

"Are you sure this is your Edie? There was a different one in here a few minutes ago."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Well, I recognize you too. I held the door for you to get our kind of magic because Edie was in the cells for distracting the General?"

[onceandforall]

"Oh. Then this one is yours. I have no idea. Hello again."

The time pausing feature is only usually reliable.

"Bar says the time pausing feature is only usually reliable."

[iamnotpolaris]

"Hello again. This is slightly inconvenient, then, if time isn't paused. At least we have a back door, so I don't have to go out a window if I decide to leave the house before you're done in here."

[whatamithinking]

"What typically makes the timepausing unreliable?"