Milliways Again

[her_imperial_radiance]

It lurks. Oh how it lurks.

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[her_imperial_radiance]

"This way," says Elspeth, and she and Jake show them through some more halls, down some stairs, and through a tunnel, then up a spiral ramp to a pleasant little cluster of houses and small nonhouse buildings, with well-cleared paths between them through the snow.

"If the cold bothers you, don't worry - the houses we use for humans have heating," Elspeth assures them. "And there are coats and changes of clothes in a few sizes you can use if you like."

[prima_sequentem]

"Comfy," says Libby.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"We've had a while to think of stuff," Elspeth says. "Jake, you wanna tell everyone?"

Jake wades into some snow and hangs a right, presumably for modesty purposes; presently he is replaced with a big, brown-furred wolf, who does apparently nothing before changing back, getting dressed, and walking back onto the path again. "The welcoming committee is Elena today, she's on her way," he says.

[prima_sequentem]

"There's a welcoming committee?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Well, no. Just Elena," says Jake.

Elspeth says, "There's usually someone around in wolf form waiting for telepathic notices from whoever, and when something little like this comes up, that wolf tags the next in line to take over and comes and handles it. We know our way around here, but we don't live here - in some capitals we stay in the wolf village but Lisel isn't one of them. So Elena is going to show you around and get you settled in and explain you to everyone."

[prima_sequentem]

"You know, I really appreciate how organized this empire is," says Libby.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Thanks!" says Elspeth.

A lady who looks twenty-five (which just means: activated wolf) and also looks vaguely-not-quite-white in some unspecified way trots up to them, barefoot and wearing just one of those magnetic wraparound uniform things. "Hallo, Jake, Princess, Libby, Alternate Universe Bella," she says smartly, saluting.

[self_composed]

"You have to have dealt with name collisions before," says Bella, amused. "You can just call me Bella. I bet everyone will know who you're talking to from context."

[prima_sequentem]

"Hello, Elena."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Well," says Elspeth, "I'll see you around. I can send this far from anywhere in the main part of the capital and I'll let you know if I find Milliways again. It's most likely to be me; if it's someone else Dwi will tell you - or someone who can tell you in person if he doesn't work on you like Mama. You'll probably get a note within an hour or two about a formal meeting time for tomorrow when there's more flexibility in the schedule, to talk about trade and stuff. Bye!"

She and Jake go back down into the tunnel.

"You want the blue house, the green house, or the white house?" Elena asks.

[prima_sequentem]

"I like blue," says Libby. "Blue's nice."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Blue house it is. Follow me," Elena says. "HEY GUYS!" she shouts as they meander through the village. "We got human visitors! Their names are Libby and Bella! They're from the princess's funky alternate universe bar thing!"

Heads poke out some of the windows. There are waves.

[self_composed]

Bella waves back, finding the whole thing terribly charming.

[prima_sequentem]

Likewise Libby! Elspeth's entire universe is kind of cute, apparently.

[her_imperial_radiance]

A door bursts open. Someone trips throwing himself out of it, then quickly rolls over and stands up and makes it down the porch steps to approach rather near Libby and stop there and stare at her.

"Hi," he says.

"...Orfeo," says Elena. "Orfeo. She's not even from here!"

[prima_sequentem]

"...Hi."

She laughs. She can't help it. One, the coincidence is hilarious, and two, all of a sudden she is in an inexplicably great mood. Does this guy have a witch power? That is an awesome witch power. It's like the universe is giving her a hug.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"I'm Orfeo," he says, grinning at her. "I guess you're Libby? It's really nice to meet you, Libby." If he had a tail right now, boy would it ever be a-wag.

"Orfeo, she's not from here," hisses Elena. "She doesn't live here."

[prima_sequentem]

"It is very nice to meet you too, Orfeo. In fact I suspect it's magically nice."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Yeah. I'm not an especially useful witch but I'm kinda a witch," Orfeo says, ignoring Elena.

"Orfeo, if you try to go with her, you won't have a pack," sniffles Elena. "You can't do that, that's not how we work. Quitting takes years to get all the way done. What are you going to do?"

Orfeo looks up at Elena briefly. "Bring you?" he asks hopefully.

[prima_sequentem]

"Thih seems to be a logistical problem," says Libby. "And it's a problem I'd rather solve indoors."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"...Blue guest house is this way," says Elena, and she leads the group off through a silent final minute or so of walk.

The blue house is blue. It's a cute little bungalow sort of a thing, and not locked; Elena holds the door for everyone.

[prima_sequentem]

Libby spends the walk smiling at Orfeo, and when they reach the house, she steps inside and finds somewhere to sit.

[her_imperial_radiance]

There are chairs, and couches; Orfeo is faster than her and picks half a love seat, not expectantly, just in case. Elena throws herself into an armchair exasperatedly.

[self_composed]

Bella, not involved much in these proceedings, decides to scope out the kitchen.

[prima_sequentem]

Libby takes the middle of a different couch.

"So," she says. "There was a pamphlet, but it didn't go into the kind of detail I'd like. Does someone want to explain the situation?"