her_imperial_radiance | Milliways Again

her_imperial_radiance

It lurks. Oh how it lurks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

prima_sequentem

"Has there been any progress on analyzing the stuff you brought back last time?" inquires Libby.

From:

her_imperial_radiance

"R&D's working on it," Elspeth says. "So far they know... it's carbonated." She shrugs. "I really doubt that's an essential feature, that's just what the bar gave me." She explains to Bella, "Blood substitutes. Major research interest for us."

From:

self_composed

"I'd imagine. I don't have that problem," says Bella. "Are drinks just free here? If not, can I pay for them in imperial asters?"

From:

prima_sequentem

"They're not, and I would love to know the answer to that question," says Libby.

From:

self_composed

Bella looks around and fails to see a bartender. "How... does this work?"

From:

prima_sequentem

"The Bar is magic," says Libby, pointing. "And sentient, and female. You ask her for things and she gives them to you, within fairly reasonable constraints. There is a magical tab board that may or may not be visible at any given moment, which records how much you owe. I've never actually seen somebody get collected on, but I like to pay it off once in a while anyway."

From:

self_composed

"Can she," Bella says, "answer questions, such as 'can I pay in imperial asters'?"

From:

prima_sequentem

"Yes she can!"

From:

her_imperial_radiance

"She gives out napkins," Elspeth says. "Sometimes they have writing on them. The writing is what she has to say. Just go up to the bar and ask."

From:

self_composed

"Hello, Bar," Bella says, walking up to an empty space at the bar. "Can I buy a virgin piña colada in imperial asters?" Come to think of it she's not even sure if the bank system extends here. Can she check her balance? Yes: it's zero, because she's still just making asters exist on an as-needed basis. Can she make more? Yes, she can.

The beverage and a napkin slide up to her. The napkin reads in pretty, ladylike handwriting, Why, I don't see why not.

"Thanks," says Bella, making the Bar an account so she can pay off her tab later. That'll be fun to explain to Mary.

From:

prima_sequentem

"Well, that's convenient," says Libby.

From:

self_composed

"Quite," Bella agrees.

From:

her_imperial_radiance

"The Golden Empire doesn't have its own currency," says Elspeth. "We just work in the currencies that already exist on Earth. It contributes that we moved into a power vacuum after removing the previous vampire rulers."

From:

prima_sequentem

"Also you probably couldn't design and implement a magical currency system," says Libby. "Which is a pity, because watch."

She withdraws a *500 bill from her account and says, "Fold, please." It folds itself into a tiny, perfect origami swan.

"This is hands down my favourite anti-counterfeiting measure."

Edited Date: 2013-01-11 01:04 am (UTC)

From:

her_imperial_radiance

"That's adorable!" exclaims Elspeth. "Oh my word. What kind of magic do you have that you can do that? It's an anti-counterfeiting measure? Do they just all do that?"

From:

self_composed

"Wish magic," Bella says. "Very comprehensive stuff. They do all do that - but different denominations make different birds. The coins just glow in assorted colors."

From:

prima_sequentem

Libby deposits her swan, withdraws an ostrich, and repeats the request.

"See?"

From:

her_imperial_radiance

Elspeth claps her hands. "That's really sweet." She pauses. "It's more... whimsical, than my mama."

From:

prima_sequentem

"I wonder why that is," muses Libby. Although she has some guesses.

From:

her_imperial_radiance

"How old are you?" Elspeth asks Bella.

From:

self_composed

"Eighteen. As of not terribly long ago," Bella says.

From:

her_imperial_radiance

"...I'm older than you," Elspeth says. "Even just chronologically. Oh, this is strange."

From:

self_composed

"Did your mom become progressively less whimsical over time?" Bella asks.

From:

her_imperial_radiance

Elspeth thinks. "I don't think so - not so I'd notice," she says. "But all the memories I have of her, even the ones that don't belong to me from before I was born, have her dealing with vampires. Maybe vampires are more... serious? Than whatever you've been doing?"