"I think she'll get the jist of it from just that."

"Yeah. I mean, strictly speaking, you do not have a list of the things to provide to her, so it'd have to do anyway."

"What?"

"Now he's thinking about it and he's embarrassed."

"Was he not already?"

"I was trying not to," says Max plaintively.

"Your entire template is prudes," announces Ice. "Easily flustered prudes. The poor things were separated for a very long time. Imagine if you had to do without Phix for that long."

"I take it I'm not allowed to comment?" says Prime, faintly amused. "Considering."

"Yes, I assume that if all Bells of your acquaintance evaporated you would make some businesslike attempt to retrieve us for practical reasons, and if that didn't work you'd make sarcastic comments and move on without incident."

"It's like you've met me."

"... It would be a genuine attempt, right?"

"Yes, of course," sighs Prime.

"We are after all so useful."

"You are. Resurrecting the dead and curing all diseases with a touch, and all."

"And making ships that go to the moon in minutes flat and who knows what Phix will be able to do when she's fully explored her talents and all of Katydid's cunning spellbinding."

"Yes. Those, too. Also, if I'm not mistaken my alts would be incredibly distressed at the mysterious disappearance of all Bells."

Max makes another sad sound.

"Correct," says Cypress, moving to cuddle his wife.

Spring pats Max on the shoulder. "There, there, I do not expect any of us to disappear."

"I mean, I agree, but it's still kind of distressing."

"Sorry."

"Not your fault, thank you for the - shoulder pat."