use it or lose it

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth isn't sure till she says it, but when she says it, she's sure.

[My particular affinity for Milliways doors is gone. I went too long without using it when we had Jane, and if it comes back at all it will take a long time. Someone may still find one, but we can't expect it to be me or soon.]

She fields some questions - not that many; people tend not to ask Elspeth for clarifications or restatements.

And then she settles Harley on her lap.

"We're stuck in Aurum for a while," she tells him.

Comments

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Yep."

[pythbox]

Harley wriggles out onto the sand and rubs his whole back against it.

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth giggles. "I can wish the itch away, if you want."

[pythbox]

"Nahhhhhh," says Harley.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Okay."

[pythbox]

Wriggle wriggle.

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth doesn't need to take a picture; she can show people her perfect recollection of Harley's entertaining childhood whenever she likes. She just watches him, smiling slightly.

[pythbox]

His skin is indeed peeling off in places.

"Icky," he giggles.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"That seems to amuse you."

[pythbox]

"Yeah!"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"All right then," she chuckles.

[pythbox]

Harley giggles and rubs at his sunburnt, sand-covered arms.

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth reads to herself.

[pythbox]

Eventually, Harley and his sand and peeling skin all flop onto Elspeth.

"Fix it?" he yawns.

[her_imperial_radiance]

Square. Healthy not-too-pink skin. "There you go. Do you want to develop another one?"

[pythbox]

"Nah."

Cuddle.

[her_imperial_radiance]

Another protective square, then. Cuddles. Also cuddles.

[pythbox]

Cuddles!

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Are you done being at the beach?" Elspeth inquires.

[pythbox]

He nods sleepily.

[her_imperial_radiance]

She teleports them and the conjured objects back to her quarters in the current capital, wishes the lingering grains of sand away from Harley's person, and arranges him with his head in her lap on the couch and continues to read.

[pythbox]

Harley goes to sleep.