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Chelsa has just finished the morning announcements. She loves doing the morning announcements; it's like piping hot coffee, the rise in the world's warmth. Most of it is for Aelise, of course, but Chelsa gets her own share, and of course she's not selfish, everyone loves their neighbors too. Everyone gets along so well.
She is on her way from the broadcasting studio where she does her announcements to the living quarters where she keeps her dearest friends. She makes sure to pay them plenty of attention. They watch the announcements - everyone does, unless they are doing some sort of emergency work right at that moment, and then they're caught up as soon as possible with the next installment - but they're kept closer and need more fine detail work to stay happy with her. It is terribly important that they be happy with her.
warmfeelings
warmfeelings
"I'm sure you'd have a much better time of it here if you tried to be nice," says Chelsa. "I think I'll let you two get to know each other, how does that sound?" And she goes off to see which of her friends is most in need of company; she kisses Corona on her way out.
guiltless
Sandre! Sandre wants cuddles. (He usually does.)
Sandre is also keeping half a metaphorical eye on Corona's room through the wall that separates them. But it looks like Corona and Harley are just cuddling, so after a while, he stops checking on them so frequently.
This is a mistake.
Sandre is also keeping half a metaphorical eye on Corona's room through the wall that separates them. But it looks like Corona and Harley are just cuddling, so after a while, he stops checking on them so frequently.
This is a mistake.
salus-populi
Aelise wears shoes that make a very distinctive, echoing sound on the tiled stone floors, and she doesn't visit Chelsa's friends very often. The sound of her walking down the hall in a hurry is both unmistakable and unexpected.
warmfeelings
Chelsa obligingly cuddles Sandre until she hears Aelise's footsteps, and then she gets up and peers out into the hall. "Aelise?" she asks, puzzled.
salus-populi
"All things considered," says Aelise, "I think you'll be happier if you leave them to me for now."
warmfeelings
"...All right," shrugs Chelsa, and she goes back to her Sandre-cuddles. He's so cuddleable.
It's not actually all that unusual to hear Corona screaming from his room, but in context it might be a little worrying.
guiltless
Sandre is curious. He glances at the wall between his and Corona's rooms, and focuses past it.
...And is confused.
There's Aelise and Corona and Harley; Harley is the one who's screaming. Aelise is using her Gift on him. Sandre can't see her Gift, not properly, but he can see its effects - the way people wither or bloom from the cellular level on up. Harley is withering.
Then he stops withering. Stops living.
Something unfamiliar happens - like fire without the heat, except not really like fire at all - and Harley's back, unwithered, good as new.
Sandre is even more confused.
...And is confused.
There's Aelise and Corona and Harley; Harley is the one who's screaming. Aelise is using her Gift on him. Sandre can't see her Gift, not properly, but he can see its effects - the way people wither or bloom from the cellular level on up. Harley is withering.
Then he stops withering. Stops living.
Something unfamiliar happens - like fire without the heat, except not really like fire at all - and Harley's back, unwithered, good as new.
Sandre is even more confused.
warmfeelings
Chelsa decides to let whatever just happened filter to her at some more convenient time. Aelise has good judgment about these things.
"I'm not really sure," Corona says wryly. "Um - that's Harley," with a gesture to the very Corona-like figure curled up in his bed. "He fell out of thin air a while ago. He's almost exactly like me, except his Gift is different."