the history channel

[her_imperial_radiance]

It's something of a truism that "it's not like the Empress is going to make a speech or anything" when the Masquerade folds up. Regardless, there comes a time when the incessant requests to be allowed to make a documentary about the Golden Coven are met not with "absolutely not", but instead, "let's talk".

Elspeth does a fair amount of the negotiating for this - she does run PR. Harley, presently thirteen, is allowed to sit in on a few of the storyboarding discussions - the documentary will not be fictionalized, but they still have concern for narrative flow. It's going to be very long, after all.

Significant portions of the documentary will be conjured recordings of events, from outside or even first-person perspectives, but an entire segment is devoted to personally profiling members and peripheral associates of the Golden Coven, one by one. Harley's not on the list - it's mostly a history documentary, with younger generations present almost entirely for 'where are they now' color, and he's not, technically, her son - but Elspeth and most of her family is. And Harley is permitted to lurk around the studio setup while various people prep with their interviewers, or eavesdrop, or - if they are sufficiently non-vampiric to allow makeup to stick - get that applied. It's a big production; the supernatural community would have found it just as convenient to spread it out, but the film people want everything taken down, edited for a consistent look-and-feel, and released according to schedule within a certain time frame.

So there are a lot of people around. Mostly vampires, but plenty of hybrids - there are most of Emmett and Rosalie's kids, over there, with the proud parents themselves - and wolves; Jacob is over with Elspeth - and even a few humans, ranging from imprints to Lizzie who's with Carlisle, Esme, and Lily, and also Alice and Jasper and their son Brandon. People not normally seen around the Golden Capitols have been hauled in. There's Marcus, no longer as craquelure thanks to magic, and Didyme at his elbow, literally radiating happiness. (Bella rendered her power opt-in along with several other mind-affecting abilities that can't be turned off, but it's very inviting, so people usually do so opt.)

And of course Bella and Edward themselves are present, flitting around, mingling. Their interviews aren't until later.

Kerron waves to Harley when he shows up.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

"I would rather like to meet another of me, I think," says Lily.

"Not me," says Brandon.

"Well, it's academic, Peace doesn't have an Alice and there haven't been copies of Mom and Dad found anywhere."

[pythbox]

"I wonder what makes there be piles of some people but one each of everybody else," says Harley.

[alicornucopia]

"No idea," says Lily.

"Glass was the best hope of figuring it out and we can't get at her now," sighs Alice.

[pythbox]

Harley shrugs.

[alicornucopia]

And then it's Brandon and Alice and Jasper's turn to be interviewed, and off they go, and Lily says, "Well, Mom, Dad, I'll see you Thursday, I'm going to hop home, I'm meeting Solana in a few," and she hugs Carlisle and Esme, and ruffles Harley's hair - she remembers when he was a baby - and teleports away.

[pythbox]

Harley giggles. His hair is very ruffleable! He understands why people ruffle it. If he were somebody else he'd ruffle his hair too.

[alicornucopia]

"It's so nice to have this sort of thing finally happening. No more hiding," says Esme.

Carlisle nods. "It's been a long road."

[pythbox]

Awww.

"I'm gonna go find somebody else to pester," says Harley, and he hugs them both and wanders off.

[alicornucopia]

"Off" takes him in the direction of Marcus and Didyme, who are not talking to anyone else right now, just quietly smiling at each other and their surroundings while they wait. They are holding hands; they are rarely seen doing otherwise.

[pythbox]

Harley beams at them.

"Hi! You're adorable," he says.

Of course he opted in to the aura of happiness.

[alicornucopia]

"Thank you," says Didyme sunnily. "I believe you're called Harley, is that right?"

[pythbox]

"Yep!"

[alicornucopia]

"We've been somewhat withdrawn from Imperial affairs, since I'm no longer asked to help newborns settle in with other sorts of magic available; what is your story?" she asks.

[pythbox]

"I'm a Joker," he says. "Elsie took me from another world 'cause she found me when I was a baby and Jokers have really nasty parents, so now she's raising me instead. I love Elsie, she's great."

[alicornucopia]

"She is," agrees Didyme warmly. "She was a great help to Marcus and I, in the aftermath of the revolution."

[pythbox]

"I kinda sorta heard about that!" says Harley.

[alicornucopia]

"I would imagine she'd be an excellent storyteller if she so chose," laughs Didyme.

[pythbox]

"She iiiis," he giggles.

And then looks at Marcus, and wonders, "Do you talk?"

[alicornucopia]

"Not frequently," says Marcus.

[pythbox]

Harley laughs. "Okay. Why not?"

[alicornucopia]

Marcus shrugs. "I rarely have anything to say that has not already been said."

[pythbox]

"Huh," says Harley. "Why'd you take over the world?"

[alicornucopia]

"I was not much of an active participant by the time takeover was attempted," Marcus says dryly. "It was easier to do as Aro and Caius asked than to attempt to gainsay them, and I was much drawn to ease after my mate was killed." He lets go of her hand and puts his arm around her shoulders; she pats the back of his hand. "Aro feared the coordination humans were capable of in the face of vampire fractiousness - it was why he was so pleased to find Chelsea, and to have me to abet her - and Caius desired power."

[pythbox]

"I'm really glad you got brought back to life," Harley says earnestly to Didyme.

[alicornucopia]

"So am I," says Didyme. "And glad too that Paola did not have to be permanently displaced for it."