universal template sweep!

[incanted]

Bella's checks for templates other than herself, Brilliance, Matilda, Libby, and people attached to them like her and Lexi's parents or Libby's Chris turns up nothing - no friends, no villains.

Before Libby contacts her, she gets visitors.

"Shell Bell! Juliet! Wow, how long has it been for you guys?"

"At home, no time," says Shell Bell.

"Longer for me. I can get to Milliways anytime, but Jane is really fucking broken," says Juliet. "Not years, though, just a few months, and for a while nothing I urgently needed offworld help for came up. I finally had to force the door to Atlantis to get Shell Bell so we could go to Yggdrasil - the Jarvis there lost connection - and then we swung through all the other Jarvised worlds to quarantine a certain transmissible spell from Sunshine, and then we figured as long as we were together and Shell Bell can door near anywhere we'd stop here. For your charming company and also coins. Next is picking up Glass and trying for the world where Aegis went."

"Yeah, sure," says Aurora, "you can have coins, no problem - I'm not down much time, more than before but only about a week. It turns out I have a Matilda and also a Libby, but my Libby is less than impressed with me, I think, Juliet, can you run and get yours?"

"Working with Shell Bell's doors instead of Jane means the best way to do that without losing any time is going to your Libby and opening a door there," says Juliet. "Will she be up for that?"

"She said she'd call me today when she wasn't busy, I can bring you guys," nods Aurora. "If you don't mind waiting around a little."

"Well, in the meantime we could maybe meet your Matilda? Is she busy?" asks Shell Bell.

"I'll check."

[Hey, Matilda! Guess who's here!]

Comments

[cross_and_bow]

Juliet laughs, and starts explaining to Aurora about Soph.

[withmypowers]

The Matildas have a short discussion that ends in Agent Honey levitating while she reads up on the local magic system using a conjured laptop. Adularia shimmers contentedly.

[incanted]

"Since we're going to be here a while anyway, can you get me and Juliet too while you're at it?" asks Aurora.

[cross_and_bow]

"Yeah, even if we don't all get it sticking at the same time it'll shorten future attempts, right?"

[withmypowers]

"Sure," Matilda says agreeably. Aurora and Juliet also begin to levitate.

[cross_and_bow]

"Thanks." Juliet finishes her Soph-summary, then conjures a large onionskin-page grimoire and finds her spot on page 344.

[incanted]

Aurora conjures a book about Rainbow magic and starts at the beginning.

[withmypowers]

Book-reading levitation party!

[incanted]

Yep!

[withmypowers]

After half an hour goes by, Matilda says, "Congratulations, alternate me!"

Agent Honey floats down to the ground. And then floats back up.

"Ooh, I like it," she says.

[cross_and_bow]

"Anything sticking to me or Aurora?"

[withmypowers]

"Not so far. Do you want to keep trying?"

[incanted]

"Later," says Aurora. "Unless you want to come to Rainbow with us."

[withmypowers]

"Nah," says Matilda. "You guys go have your fun."

"We will," says Agent Honey.

[cross_and_bow]

"Actually, is it contagious if anyone does the levitating? Can Agent Honey do it now?"

[withmypowers]

"...Yes," say both of the Matildas simulatenously. They exchange a glance, then giggle.

[incanted]

"Cool, maybe next time we talk you just float me the whole time?" suggests Aurora.

[cross_and_bow]

"And me too, especially if you come along to meet Rainbow Libby."

[withmypowers]

"Deal," says Agent Honey.

[she_sells_seashells]

"Am I taking you back to Rainbow right now, or do you want to hang out a bit more?" asks Shell Bell of the Matildas.

[withmypowers]

"I'm good to go," says Agent Honey.

[she_sells_seashells]

"Okay." Shell Bell reaches for the nearest door, flares, turns the handle.

[incanted]

In Milliways, Aurora opens the door back to her own world.

[prima_sequentem]

And the local Libby brainphones her.

[Hi.]

[incanted]

[Hi! Guess who showed up!]