milliways lurks

[her_imperial_radiance]

Milliways lurks.

Comments

[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."

[prima_sequentem]

"As far as I know, the bar is just fine with letting people carry product home," she says. "Although I don't do a lot of it myself. This place tends to catch me at the oddest moments. Halfway out of a cafe, for example."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Is that where it got you today? I found it in my office closet when I wanted a new - um, 2005? - a new... memory chip."

[prima_sequentem]

She laughs. "Technological advances beyond my comprehension, huh?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Yes," says Elspeth apologetically.

[prima_sequentem]

"That's okay. I'm sure I'll get there."

She looks at Elspeth's companion.

"And I don't think I got your name."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Jacob Black," says Jacob.

"He's my wolf," Elspeth says. "I have pamphlets about that too, if you're curious. You can think of him as my bodyguard."

[prima_sequentem]

"'Can think of him as' implies that you aren't," says Libby, still looking curiously at Jacob. "Is there a whole pamphlet's worth of explanation behind that?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"I am her bodyguard," Jacob says. "I think the business cards collecting dust in a drawer somewhere have a line that says that."

"But you don't have wolves, his kind I mean, so the rest of the explanation wouldn't make sense," Elspeth says. She digs out and proffers 1B, "Introduction to Werewolves". "Skip to section three unless you're interested in how he can become enormous and furry, and how he's telepathic," she says.