"Both of those things." Bella pecks him on the temple.

Awwwwww. Unique and beautiful and funny, too.

"And tasty," Aianon contributes.

"You know it."

Her beloveds miss her too.

"You've got that look again," says Ripper, and he hugs Aianon.

"I'm sorry. We could find a door any time," Bella sighs. "If you wanted we could try finagling something with the thing where Jokers can dream to Milliways, maybe, but it probably wouldn't even work and Sarion's not getting doors either anyway."

Hugs.

Hugs.

Isibel would just as soon speak of happier topics. She has heard what Pattern thinks of Ripper; what does Ripper think of Pattern?

Isibel was hoping for slightly more detail.

"I'm sure nobody wants me to start listing all the things she's amazing at, except maybe you," and he grins at Aianon.

That is fair.

Bella blushes and giggles.

"I am adorable and funny and also a magical empress. Apparently some people have decided Sarion is a saint," she adds.

"How's that work?"

Isibel is not intimately familiar with the human religion, but they apparently think she is an agent of the Light - deliberately or coincidentally - and the title puts her in company with Idalia, who died to defeat darkness more than two thousand years ago.

"Although," says Aianon, "they might change their minds if they knew about me."

Isibel has been planning not to make him generally known until she is better known and better trusted. It would frighten people; it would make it harder to do her job.

"Of course it would."

"Yeah, I don't put Aianon on the cover of the imperial newsletter either," says Bella. "Helpful though he is."