i am the oncoming storm

[autokinetic]

There are three Bells in Milliways.

They want a fourth. A fifth. A sixth. A seventh.

And then Downside is going down.

Comments

[nowait_letme]

"What," he inquires, "does Stella employ Sandy to do?"

[temporal_affairs]

"The Bella contingent has serious magic, with the little wrinkle that it is made out of pain. I think from how Stella was phrasing things that her Anna and Sandy share a job description with the Joker back in my world. Him you met. Actually, you managed to kill him."

[nowait_letme]

"I remember the Joker," says Chainsaw with a fondly reminiscent smile. "And no, I don't wanna do anything but watch."

[lookingforwardtoit]

"Although if you guys ever wanna go on a double date," Eights puts in, "I know I'd be game."

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan laughs. "Noted. You wanna say when, Eights, or you want a surprise?"

[lookingforwardtoit]

"I like surprises," she says brightly. "Your Joker and I have that in common."

[temporal_affairs]

"That you do."

Do tell, Timer's timer, when is it time to sink in his teeth?

[lookingforwardtoit]

The optimal moment, on a scale of minutes, is...

...now.

[temporal_affairs]

He doesn't have to be any gentler with Eights than he is with the Joker, does he? She's probably gonna break a bone when he grabs her arm.

Nom.

[lookingforwardtoit]

He doesn't have to be any gentler with her, no. And she is just as appreciative when he isn't.

That is to say: very.

[nowait_letme]

"Oooooh," says Chainsaw. "Nice."

[temporal_affairs]

Nathan's not overwhelmingly thirsty and Eights isn't magically delicious. He's a little delicate about it, makes an effort not to stain her shirt, the venom can burn a little before she torches.

[lookingforwardtoit]

It is fun.

And when she does torch, she comes back giggly and leaning on him in a snuggly-affectionate way.

[temporal_affairs]

He ruffles her hair. "Fun times?"

[lookingforwardtoit]

"Mm-hmmmmm," she says happily, and hugs him. "We should definitely do that double-date sometime.

And she kisses his cheek and goes back to her pancakes.

[temporal_affairs]

"Sure thing."

Pause. "Her Majesty and company are making a deal with the admin."

[lookingforwardtoit]

...She blinks.

"I did not expect that," she says around a mouthful of pancakes.

[temporal_affairs]

"Neither did I, I was somewhat surprised that the end result didn't involve one party curbstomping the other. Apparently the admin is 'surprisingly reasonable for the literal inventor of Hell'."

[nowait_letme]

Chainsaw snickers.

[temporal_affairs]

"They're talking details now. I can relay design input if either of you have any after all."

[nowait_letme]

"Not me," snorts Chainsaw.

[lookingforwardtoit]

"What kind of details?"

[temporal_affairs]

"Oh, they want people who died only recently to be able to go home if they want, like I did, they want to handle duplication problems like the one I had, they're going to get a building, I think they've already rendered both of your jobs redundant, that sort of thing."

[lookingforwardtoit]

"I'm all in favour of making my job redundant!" says Eights.

[nowait_letme]

"But then what will I do for fun?" says Chainsaw.