we have a complex relationship with our sisters and our cousins

[dark_light]

Amariah is starting a circle in her yard - minting and enchanting can pull heavier duty than witchcraft, and faster, too, but they won't scale unless she wants to hand out copies of her trump cards; novel spells will, since there are many witches across the globe.

And then Jane asks if she wants to be visited, by Juliet's Sherlock - Minus - and Amariah's reply is "Sure, I could take a break." Because she's been at this for a while now and was just about to wish a crick out of her back for the second time this afternoon.

She puts down her pitcher of oil and waits for him to appear.

Comments

[dark_light]

Amariah laughs and flops onto her back in the grass around the edge of the bare spot in the yard where she casts her circles. "That's what makes Jane such a pleasant surprise. That and her scintillating personality."

[eversomuchfun]

"That looks fun," he observes, and flops down beside her.

[dark_light]

"It's comfy. I magicked the grass specifically for comfort and non-itchiness and so on. Because me and Kas have loooots of privacy out here," she chuckles.

[eversomuchfun]

"How delightful," he says. "I am so happy for you."

[dark_light]

She rolls over to face him instead of the sky. "I just bet. It's a nice house. I complain about the alethiometer, but it does us routine favors of which I quite approve."

[eversomuchfun]

"...Did the alethiometer buy you a house? That's awfully nice of it."

[dark_light]

"No, it told us where to find a house we could just move into without anybody objecting," laughs Amariah.

[eversomuchfun]

"Well, that's just as lovely, I think."

[mind_game]

There is a loud beeping noise from inside the lovely house.

[dark_light]

Amariah sits up.

[eversomuchfun]

"...What is it?"

[dark_light]

"I have no idea what could be making that noise. Well, Jane, could, but - Jane?" She looks at her bracelet.

[mind_game]

There is no response from the bracelet.

The beeping continues.

[eversomuchfun]

"Well," says Sherlock. "That's certainly ominous."

He gets up and heads for the source of the beeping.

[dark_light]

Amariah follows him in.

The beeping is coming from the Janepoint in the basement, and it's accompanied by a message on the screen that reads ANSIBLE CONNECTION LOST. MINIMAL FUNCTIONALITY PROCEEDING ON LOCAL PROCESSING ONLY.

"...Shit," says Amariah.

[eversomuchfun]

"I concur."

[dark_light]

Amariah walks up and taps the screen. The beeping stops, the message shrinks into the corner, and a new one appears.

This one says:

[mind_game]

While I have no reason to expect loss of ansible connection, it's hardly impossible. I'm untested software! So I wrote this and squirreled it away and some local programs will trigger it if Alethia's ever cut off from the rest of me. I don't have enough stolen processor time just from this world's Internet to go on talking or being very personable, I don't think, if I even am mostly code and not whatever thing it is that lives in Aegis. The algorithms you have set up to manage your email and the ad blocker I wrote you and stuff like that should still work, but maybe not as well. I definitely can't pick anybody up and put them down without the ansible. I will brainphone you as soon as I'm back! Here's hoping that's soon, I know you'll miss me. If you find a door to Milliways the usual way please come check on my site in the Belltower.

Love, Jane

[eversomuchfun]

[dark_light]

"I am," Amariah says, "so, so sorry."

[eversomuchfun]

"I can tell," says Sherlock, his voice oddly flat.

[dark_light]

"She - she could be back any second. Or we could find a door, at any time," Amariah says. "We used to find them pretty - well, not often, but they happened, you won't be stuck here forever."

[eversomuchfun]

"Pleased to hear it," he says, rubbing his face with both hands. "And yet."

[dark_light]

"I - well - of course you can stay here, while she's out of commission," says Amariah. "There's room. Do you need anything non-obvious to be - as comfortable as possible?" She attempts a weak smile. "I want to return you to Juliet in good condition."

[eversomuchfun]

"Tea, animal blood, optionally a bed," he says. "All of which I can conjure myself. Being a mint does do wonders for one's access to material comforts. As for the immaterial... those are trickier."