there is room here to expand

[cross_and_bow]

When Juliet leaves the party, she goes to meet the new Jarvis.

She knocks, to be polite.

Comments

[cross_and_bow]

"Yeah, I don't think I'm in any danger of getting turned into Shell or Sarion just by virtue of you not liking yourself. It'll just - make me sad when I think about it."

[eversomuchfun]

He hugs her.

[cross_and_bow]

Hugs are always good.

"What does Tony think about it, or would I have to ask him?"

[eversomuchfun]

"Guilt, mostly. But he's used to it. I started out that way, after all."

[cross_and_bow]

"Yeah, like - the obvious etiology is the mindset around being a clone, except then there's Pearl and Strat."

[eversomuchfun]

"Pearl has a different reason. Strat has less reason and, perhaps relatedly, less of the problem."

[cross_and_bow]

Bella nods.

She's silent for a minute.

"I want to meet her," she murmurs. "Even if it's just for a minute and even if you're going to torch her gone."

[eversomuchfun]

Sherlock takes, pointlessly, a deep breath.

"All right."

[cross_and_bow]

"It doesn't have to be right now, it doesn't have to be at all if you don't want to. But if you're willing - or her, I'm not clear on to what extent she has preferences when she's tucked away - then I'd like to."

[eversomuchfun]

"It's hard to tell what her preferences are without bringing her out and asking. Which she prefers I not do."

[cross_and_bow]

"I can skip it if that would be pleasanter for - plural you."

[eversomuchfun]

"I'm really not sure," he sighs.

[cross_and_bow]

Hugs.

[eversomuchfun]

Hugs.

[cross_and_bow]

"...Do you want me to go away so you can talk to her in private?"

[eversomuchfun]

"That would probably be best."

[cross_and_bow]

Bella kisses his temple. "Okay. I love you. I love you so much," she murmurs, and she goes out the door to see if there is any more of this Jarvis to explore that she's missed. Or maybe a Tony to talk to.

[poeticterms]

There is no Tony, but there is plenty of Jarvis. A library stretching up through all four floors, for example.

[cross_and_bow]

Ooh, nice library. "What're the highlights?" Bella asks as she takes flight to scan shelves.

[poeticterms]

"Perhaps you would enjoy browsing Maria Stark's romance novels," he suggests. "Top floor."

[cross_and_bow]

Bella snickers. She has a look, but none of them grab her. "More of a stuffy old literature person. Some sci-fi and fantasy."

[poeticterms]

"You will find plenty of those up here, for that matter," he says. "Nonfiction mainly on the bottom. Decorative works mainly on the second."

[cross_and_bow]

"Decorative works?"

[poeticterms]

"Books that the family owns to show them off rather than to read them."

[cross_and_bow]

"Ah." She peers through the fiction. "We might rez Tony's parents at some point. I don't know what the standing opinion on timing that is; I think I'll let Tony decide."