we are invariably pleased to welcome tourism

[cross_and_bow]

Sherlock is usually very puncutal. He's only one minute late, but that's still not quite as punctual as usual. Bella peers out the window, not yet allowing herself outright concern.

Comments

[she_sells_seashells]

"Is it strange?" asks Shell Bell dubiously.

[cross_and_bow]

"A little, yeah - I keep forgetting you have a funky cultural background, you seem to keep up pretty well."

[she_sells_seashells]

"I've picked up some things. I've been going to Milliways since I was six and staying as long as I could and talking to everyone and watching and reading stuff from all over. But it's an irregular cross-section," agrees Shell Bell. "And sometimes I'm not sure if something I've learned is an Earth standard or if it's someone's oddball world's thing."

[toblameforit]

Tony saunters back into the room.

"Backup's running," he reports cheerfully. "You guys doing okay? Anybody want something to eat?"

[luminous_regnant]

"I'll be fine for the next five days," says Golden.

[she_sells_seashells]

"I'd take a snack if there were one in the room but don't get anything on my account."

[cross_and_bow]

Juliet yawns. "If I stay up much longer I'm going to be in midnight-snack territory, so if something's on offer I'll eat."

[eversomuchfun]

"I expect I am more capable of finding my way around your kitchen than you are," says Sherlock, patting Tony on the arm. "Shall we investigate, dear Juliet?"

[cross_and_bow]

"Yeah," agrees Juliet.

[she_sells_seashells]

"You probably know at least as much about what I eat as I do," Shell Bell calls after Juliet.

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock directs Juliet to the kitchen, which he does indeed know his way around. While he's there, he makes himself a cup of tea.

[cross_and_bow]

Juliet inspects the availability, and gets herself a bowl of grapes to split with Shell Bell, and a slice of bread to fold in half around a couple slices of salami for herself, humming.

[eversomuchfun]

As soon as Sherlock's tea is poured, they head back toward the living room.

[passforsympathy]

Someone else gets there first.

[eversomuchfun]

Halfway there, at no apparent signal, Sherlock drops his tea and bolts forward.

[luminous_regnant]

A hand grabs him and holds him in midair by the back of his neck, like he's a kitten.

"What are you doing?"

[she_sells_seashells]

Shell Bell looks uncomfortable with the newcomer herself, but she murmurs, "Sherlock, this one isn't yours or mine."

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock appeals directly to Tony, and what he says is, "He had you killed."

[toblameforit]

Tony glances between them uncertainly.

[luminous_regnant]

"Let me know if at some point I should put him down," Golden tells Tony. (It's not like her arm is getting tired.)

[she_sells_seashells]

Shell Bell cannot bring herself to appeal any more on a Snow-alt's behalf.

[cross_and_bow]

Juliet comes back from the kitchen with half her sandwich and the bowl of grapes, which she hands to Shell Bell. "Uh, what's going on? Golden? Sherlock?"

[passforsympathy]

"I always knew it would happen someday," Obadiah says dryly.

[toblameforit]

"No," says Tony, pointing at him, "no, you, shut up, no."

Then he turns to Sherry.

"Don't eat Obie, I like him."

[eversomuchfun]

"While I am listing his faults, he also had your parents assassinated," says Sherlock. "And that one I expect is common to our worlds. I am not going to eat him; I would rather starve."