(retroactive)

[her_imperial_radiance]

It is after the very first Bellparty.

"Dad never comes to these," Elspeth tells her grandma. "Too many strange Bells. If there were strange Edwards, Mama might have trouble with them too, but there aren't so far. But I can reintroduce you now, if you'd like."

Comments

[alicornucopia]

"Yes. The Volturi ought to have been able to control her, and didn't - she had blackmail on the one of them who understood her, and the other knew enough about that to take her out while he was gone, but not how to manage her."

[prima_sequentem]

"Sounds like tough times for the Volturi."

Lizzie is so glad that this worldwide conspiracy is being run more efficiently.

[alicornucopia]

"And Addy proved willing enough to work within Bella's rules," says Carlisle. "I have some hope for her developing beyond her original motives."

[prima_sequentem]

"How much hope?"

[alicornucopia]

"Enough," says Carlisle.

"The minimum amount Carlisle is capable of having about anyone," says Edward wryly.

[prima_sequentem]

Lizzie laughs. She is imagining Carlisle with a halo again. It suits him. Maybe somebody should wish him one.

[alicornucopia]

"If Carlisle had a halo, Mother, how would he ever leave the capitols without breaking the masquerade?" laughs Edward.

"A halo," snorts Carlisle. "I've never heard that suggested before."

"I have," says Edward.

[prima_sequentem]

"And fluffy little wings," she says cheerfully. "You could turn them off whenever you needed to go anywhere."

[alicornucopia]

"Wings," laughs Carlisle.

"Perhaps we should just transplant him to Angela's world and turn him into their sort of angel, so he could be appropriately revered by passersby," suggests Edward. "That setup does not, alas, include a halo."

[prima_sequentem]

"Halo or bust," Lizzie says firmly. "The traditional kind, where it's like your head is a golden lightbulb."

[alicornucopia]

Carlisle shakes his head, laughing softly.

[prima_sequentem]

"It's even thematically appropriate!" Golden lightbulb, Golden Empire...

[alicornucopia]

"I already have the correct eye color," says Carlisle.

"See, there you are," says Edward.

[prima_sequentem]

"It's perfect," says Lizzie. "You could wear it for state occasions, like a uniform. Imperial Angel."

[alicornucopia]

"I'm already titled Imperial Ethicist, which is more than enough."

[prima_sequentem]

"Angel would be cuter. But it's probably a good thing that that's not how Bella runs her empire."

[alicornucopia]

"Probably," agrees Edward.

[prima_sequentem]

"And we will just have to live with the necessary sacrifices."

[alicornucopia]

"I'm sure we will all muddle along somehow," says Carlisle.

[prima_sequentem]

She laughs.

[alicornucopia]

"Did you want to meet Esme today, too, or would that be too much all at once?" Edward inquires.

[prima_sequentem]

"By all means, I will meet Esme."

[alicornucopia]

Edward tilts his head again. "She's on her way," he reports presently, and Esme is there a moment later; Edward lets her in before she can knock.

She's all asmile. "Hello, Elizabeth. It's so good to meet you."

[prima_sequentem]

"It's nice to meet you too!"

It really is. Esme and Carlisle are the kind of people it is nice to meet.

[alicornucopia]

"How have you been settling in? I know it must be something of a startlement to wake up all of a sudden, so much later than you remember."