milliways lurks

[her_imperial_radiance]

Milliways lurks.

Comments

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Humans don't. Neither does he," she says, elbowing her friend, who chuckles and elbows back. "Just vampires and their relatives."

[prima_sequentem]

"Hmm. None of those in my world, last I checked." She smiles. "Libby Kirsch. New York City, Earth, 2005. You?" she asks, with a glance between the pair of them.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Elsp-"

"Elsie," says her companion. "People keep being annoyed with you for not saying upfront."

Elspeth rolls her eyes. "Princess Elspeth Cullen of the Golden Empire, 2030. We're in Safesun, Florida this month. Earth."

[prima_sequentem]

"Golden Empire? That's a new one," says Libby. "Care to explain?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth shrugs. "My mom took over the world. Well, the vampire world. Humans we're handling a little more gradually. That's what she called it."

[prima_sequentem]

She raises her eyebrows slightly. "Your mom, then, being the... Queen? Empress? Should I be worried for my future? I guess the vampire part makes it less likely we're from the same world."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Empress," Elspeth says. "Are you the sort of person who'd know about vampires if you had them? There were plenty around during 2005, just not quite so organized. But they were hiding, and you're not a vampire, so no one can tell you without risking getting killed if you have the same kind and the same previous government and stuff."

[prima_sequentem]

"If they're hiding, then I guess not," she says. "I mean, I like to think I'd notice, but everybody likes to think that. Are they going to un-hide at some point?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Gradually," Elspeth says. "Under the Golden Empire people who know things can tell individual other people - not shout it from rooftops or anything, but they can tell anyone they want, and people can come to any of our capital sites and get pamphlets -" She seems smug about the pamphlets - "and apply to get turned, if they like. The idea is we don't want a traumatic overnight revelation, just people going about business as usual plus vampires as vampires become relevant to them. Would you like a pamphlet?"

[prima_sequentem]

"I would love a pamphlet," says Libby.

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth looks into her bag and produces Pamphlet 3-A, Introduction to Supernatural History.

A familiar, if crowned and gold-eyed and chalk-pale, face is printed on the front.

[prima_sequentem]

She looks at the face.

She looks at Elspeth.

"And this would be the Empress in question?" she guesses.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"That's my mama," agrees Elspeth.

Indeed the caption says, Her Imperial Majesty Isabella Marie Swan Cullen, Empress Regnant, reigning 2011-Present.

[prima_sequentem]

This is definitely starting to look like a sixty-percent conversation.

Libby opens the pamphlet.

[her_imperial_radiance]

The pamphlet opens with descriptions of what is remembered of early vampire anarchy, followed by the reign of Stefan and Vladimir (currently retired to an Alp), followed by the takeover of the Volturi. It refers frequently to earlier pamphlets in the series - "I have one of each with me," Elspeth says, "if you want to read the background information, but this seemed most likely to interest you."

Bella's initial false start and ultimate success is described next, and it refers the reader to Introduction to Supernatural History, Part II for a description of how the Empress cemented her reign and what events have occurred in the supernatural world since then, as well as more historical tidbits about the two kinds of werewolves.

The pamphlet is concise, readable, very attractively laid out and lavishly illustrated with photorealistic drawings and photographs (distinguishable by caption). If Elspeth made it she has much to be proud of.

[prima_sequentem]

"This is quite the pamphlet," Libby says approvingly. "And, all in all, definitely the nicest world conquest I've heard of."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth nods happily. "Have you heard of many?"

[prima_sequentem]

"All right, you got me," Libby admits. "Not as such."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Didn't think so. But Mama was very nice about it, yes, as much as she could possibly be."

[prima_sequentem]

"And why's that?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Why was she nice?" Elspeth asks, confused.

[prima_sequentem]

"Well, yes. 'Nice' and 'world conqueror' aren't personality types with a lot of overlap."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"The previous rulers of the world ate people," Elspeth points out. "I think Mama would say that not taking over the world would not have been very nice of her. Especially since her witch power made her the only person immune to their best weapons."

[prima_sequentem]

"Interesting way to put it," says Libby. "Your mother sounds like an interesting woman in general."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"She is," agrees Elspeth. "She doesn't come here much, even though this stuff is great, though." She raises her bubbly golden beverage. "I should bring home a case... assuming the bar'll let me... maybe R&D can work faster with something to reverse-engineer, and it'll be nice for the Golden Day party."