milliways lurks

[her_imperial_radiance]

Milliways lurks.

Comments

[prima_sequentem]

"Yeah, that sounds reasonably like me," says Libby. "If there was an unusually ethical vampire hanging around and I had a terminally ill son, you bet I'd figure it out and point the one at the other."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Sending pictures to humans has been demonstrated safe. Do you want to see her?"

[prima_sequentem]

"Sure."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth picks out a series of images - one blurry, unclear one from Edward's childhood, where the ages would be more closely matched, and three from Carlisle's observation of her. And a picture of Edward, before he got so sick, when he was still human, for kicks.

[prima_sequentem]

"Cute kid," she remarks. "I could believe we're related. He looks a little like my mom, actually."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"So maybe you're going to help your counterfactual-daughter-in-law take over the world," giggles Elspeth. "Here's my dad's biological dad. It's not a great picture since he died of the flu the next day, but I dunno, do you think he looks like husband material?" A picture accompanies.

[prima_sequentem]

"First I have to imagine myself getting married," she says, "but turn of the twentieth century, I guess it's not impossible. Did he have any notable features other than looks, or do you not know?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"He named my dad after himself?" Elspeth suggests. "...Dad's lingering impressions of him were that he was smart and authoritative and principled, the sort of person relative to whom Grandpa Carlisle's fathering would seem like an improvement but not a completely different sort of relationship?"

[prima_sequentem]

"Well, smart is always a plus. Authoritative not so much."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"This was how he came off to Edward, I have even less about how he was with his wife," Elspeth points out.

[prima_sequentem]

"True. Well, I'll buy it."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"All right. Hallo, Grandma," says Elspeth. It sounds a fair bit less true than most of what she says, but not overwhelmingly so.

[prima_sequentem]

"You are now officially my favourite grandchild."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth giggles. "Aww. You've got more competition for favorite grandma, I'm afraid."

[prima_sequentem]

"I can live with that," she says.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Grandma Esme is the sweetest person. If she met you she would probably decide it was appropriate to ask you to accept on your counterpart's behalf her sincerest thanks for bringing up her adopted son."

[prima_sequentem]

"You know, Elspeth, you've got a pretty great family."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"There was a period where my dad was a total jerk, but that was pretty much due to circumstances beyond his control, even if he could have handled those circumstances better. And he fixed them as best he could and we're okay now."

[prima_sequentem]

"Well, that's good," she says. "I think 'okay now' is the important part."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth nods. "Man, it would be weird if he met you, he would have no idea what to do about it."

[prima_sequentem]

"Would it be easier just to save him the confusion? I can be your grandma without being his mom."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Yeah, he never comes here anyway. I'm not sure if he's ever even seen a door."

[prima_sequentem]

"There you go then."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"What're you going to tell your version of Mama when you go back?"

[prima_sequentem]

"I'm really not sure," she says. "Any advice?"