semiautonomous kitchen

[thaumobabble]

The remaining two days of the walk are much more affectionate, and also much more free of wizards and snakes than the first two days were. Somehow, all three travelers manage to not realize that Bella has not yet produced her name, even though on at least one occasion it would have been convenient for Tony to have.

And there is the castle, and there is the -

"Skyvault," sighs Bella, diving into her hat for her specs.

Comments

[thaumobabble]

"Mow."

"If that were what 'getting to know' meant, I certainly would not tell you."

"Meeeeow!"

"If you're just going to make dirty jokes, then this call is over," says Bella firmly.

"Mowww."

"Apology accepted."

"Mew?"

"There's knowing someone well enough to be sure you want to keep them and then there's knowing them really well. You should know that, you'd decided I was going to be your witch - after a fashion - when you were five weeks old and had spied on me talking to Sanda for about ten minutes."

"Mew."

"Yes, you were very clever about it, but that didn't mean that you had nothing new to learn at the time I was convinced and brought you home, did it?"

[calendarofcrime]

Sherlock grins a little.

[thaumobabble]

"Meooow?"

"In this metaphor neither I nor either princess is a cat. It's not a direct metaphor like that."

"Mew."

"You'll just have to live with it."

"Mwow."

"No, we don't have a wedding date set."

[calendarofcrime]

[thaumobabble]

"Mew."

"I will certainly not name my firstborn after you."

"Mew!"

"I don't care if it's unisex. I'll probably only be able to produce daughters anyway."

[calendarofcrime]

...Sherlock giggles.

[thaumobabble]

"Meow meow."

"Thanks, Cricket. I love you too."

The mirror goes blank.

[calendarofcrime]

"Shall we come up with a wedding date? Or would you like to make more calls first?"

[thaumobabble]

"More calls will probably be to people who also want a date," Bella says, leaning her head on Sherlock's shoulder. "So we should probably pick a day. Hmmm."

[calendarofcrime]

"Anytime within the next year would be likely to satisfy Mother."

[thaumobabble]

"Late summer? Maybe mid-Umber."

[calendarofcrime]

"Entirely acceptable."

[thaumobabble]

"And Ranata won't have to take off work then either, although Charlie will no matter when it is. Umber fifteenth." She kisses Sherlock on the cheek and beams.

[calendarofcrime]

Sherlock grins back.

[thaumobabble]

"I will probably have to wear a dress to be proper about it, won't I," muses Bella. "Oh well."

[calendarofcrime]

"You may wear whatever you like, as far as I'm concerned."

[thaumobabble]

"There's also your mother who may have concerns," Bella points out. "And however many guests who'll be scandalized anyway but could be slightly placated."

[calendarofcrime]

"Ha."

[thaumobabble]

"I'll wear a dress," shrugs Bella. "It's not a big deal. I admit I'm having some trouble picturing you in a dress, though."

[calendarofcrime]

"I do not wear them."

[thaumobabble]

"Well, you're the one who's royalty to begin with, you've probably got more social leeway than I have."

[calendarofcrime]

"Likely yes."

[thaumobabble]

"I know I said politics sounded fascinating but I haven't actually studied it, since I didn't expect to get to do any... am I likely to get an official crash course or will I wind up picking things up as I go?"

[calendarofcrime]

"You may ask Mother."

[thaumobabble]

"Will do. Should I also ask about the sword or should that wait a bit?"