arenaria: (Default)
Bell Swan ω "Shell" ([personal profile] arenaria) wrote2013-03-07 03:50 pm

downside

Voice lets her go.

Shell doesn't know how long it's been. She doesn't know where she is. She doesn't know how to get home, or if she has one.

She stands on Voice's doorstep. She blinks slowly at the brightness.

She walks in a random direction.

Downsiders aren't big on charity. It's not like it's going to kill her if she doesn't get help. It's not like she's unfamiliar with the effects of dehydration and hunger; Voice didn't always remember to take good care of the pet in the basement. Shell walks, and when she's tired she lies down on the ground and sleeps, and when she wakes up she walks, and every few days she curls up on the ground, waits to torch from thirst, and then gets up and goes on.

She doesn't count the number of times this happens. It doesn't matter.

She walks. She has nightmares. She walks.

On an unremarkable day on an unremarkable street after unremarkable stretches of years, she feels herself cross a telltale threshold of dizziness and headache: she cannot make significant forward progress towards Not Where She Is Currently Located until she torches or (less likely) someone gives her a lot of water. It's possible she'll be able to sleep through this torch. She sits. She leans on a wall. She should probably pick up the next sharp object she finds. Maybe a piece of broken glass will present itself. Then she can skip these parts.

She sits, and she closes her eyes, and she waits. If the buildings around her would ever have seemed familiar, they don't now.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
After mind-reading, this is just about the best way Sherlock can think of to say 'I love you'.
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Sherlock observes these messages, to some extent at least.



She hexes herself telekinesis, and commences making muffins.
sicaria: Smiling. (⑶ you charming creature)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
They will eventually need to stop making out in order to eat the muffins. But that time has not yet come.
sicaria: Grinning, perhaps smugly. (⑴ I always know)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Kisses kisses kisses lovely lovey kisses.
she_sells_seashells: (f ~ becalmed)

[personal profile] she_sells_seashells 2013-03-09 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Sherlock will probably notice periodic gentle brushes of Bell's mindreading, but that is the extent of the intrusion on this moment.
sicaria: Sitting on a log. (Default)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
That is just fine by her.



Eventually, she announces, "Muffins."
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
She calls one into her hand, triangles it warm-but-not-too-hot-to-eat, and presents it to Shell.
sicaria: Smiling slightly. (⑸ smiling as she falls)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"I did," she agrees. "Because I love you."

Nom nom.
sicaria: Grinning, perhaps smugly. (⑴ I always know)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Sherlock observes Shell's appreciation.

Sherlock beams.
sicaria: Dressed up. (⑺ primarily innocence)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Sherlock kisses the attempt.
sicaria: Reaching for something. (⑽ just a touch)

[personal profile] sicaria 2013-03-09 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Kisses! Mmmmmm, kisses!