her_imperial_radiance: (Default)
Author: 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."
prima_sequentem: (ℤ never better)
Author: prima_sequentem
"It's weird that I need to be reintroduced," says Elspeth's grandma. "But okay, let's go for it."
her_imperial_radiance: (serious)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"It's been more than a century for him," Elspeth says, not ungently, "and he barely remembers being human. Most of what I knew about you came from Carlisle."
prima_sequentem: (ℝ long way to the top)
Author: prima_sequentem
She sighs.
her_imperial_radiance: (excuse me)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"- Also," Elspeth says, "he can read minds now; I'm not sure if that came up since you've been awake. Would you rather he not read yours? I don't care, but some people do."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Well, that depends. If he reads my mind is he going to regret it?"
her_imperial_radiance: (sigh)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"Usually he doesn't, but you might be a special case. Why? What are you thinking?"
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"That it's upsetting that my son forgot me."
her_imperial_radiance: (excuse me)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"Maybe you can convince him to magically remember the first seventeen years of his life," suggests Elspeth. "Mama does hers, now."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"That would be nice."
her_imperial_radiance: (uhh)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Presently they've located Edward. He's not in the throneless throne room of the current capital, because Bella isn't; he's in their private quarters, standing by a window with his hands folded behind his back.

"Dad," says Elspeth.

"Hello, Elsie," he says. "...Mother."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
She smiles wryly.

"Well, it's nice to see you've done well for yourself."

This is very true. Married to a global empress is a fine place for a child of hers to end up. She's proud.
her_imperial_radiance: (Default)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
He half-turns, smiles faintly. "I'm glad you think so."

Elspeth makes to slip out of the room, unless her grandmother would like to stop her.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
She grins.

"I'm happy as long as you're happy, but since you're happy and an emperor I feel like I'm due for a little gloating."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I think I am happy, now," Edward says after due consideration. Then: "You realize the title of Emperor is almost entirely ceremonial."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"It still means 'married to an empress'. And a damn good empress at that."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
He smiles. "She is."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I've noticed," she says, smiling back. "Hence the gloating."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
He laughs, a little. "- So apart from gloating. What do you mean to do now you're alive again?"
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I believe somebody floated the idea of Bella hiring me as imperial personnel officer. Sounds like a nice job."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Quite possibly. There are a lot of personnel, and it's been handled per department, so far."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Reasonable. But not the most efficient it could possibly be. I like efficiency," she says.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
He nods. "Are you liable to carry on being human? That would make you the only one working for the Coven in any significant capacity."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I don't have any plans to change my species anytime soon."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Edward nods.

And:

"Carlisle always said you only asked him about me, not you."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
She shrugs.

"It would've been harder to keep a lid on it if it was both of us."

Saving Edward was the priority. Saving herself would have been nice, but was strictly optional.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Somewhat. Yes. And he didn't see a chance to get you out of sight before you died anyway."

There is a very brief flicker of his eyes towards the door through which Elspeth left.
prima_sequentem: (ℤ give me the bad news first)
Author: prima_sequentem
She catches it.

She declines to ask out loud, but she wonders.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"How much of a history lesson have you gotten so far?" he wonders, looking back out the window. They're in Norway right now; it shows a forest.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Kind of a patchy one," she says.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"In 2005, when Elspeth was very, very young, the Volturi caught me. It was standard procedure, at the time, for Chelsea, or Addy copying her power, to destroy all the magically unprotected relationships of a captured witch. So that in the event we ran away, we'd be less likely to find old covenmates, and spread the story. Chelsea couldn't affect mate bonds. That was it."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
Well, that's... upsetting.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Bella's immune. Of course. And we've had time to - rebuild, since."
prima_sequentem: (ℤ give me the bad news first)
Author: prima_sequentem
"That's good," she says.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Yes. It is a rebuilding, though, not a - restoration. The initial instinctive things - are gone. For Elspeth too, for that matter. She could remove artificial add-ons but not replace things taken."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"It's handy that Bella killed Chelsea already," she says. "Saves me the trouble."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Yes. She was just - incandescently furious."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ but seriously)
Author: prima_sequentem
Personally, she doesn't run to the incandescent. She is very room-temperature about it. But Chelsea is an intolerable threat and needs to be erased as thoroughly as possible. So it's nice that Bella took care of that for her. She is a good empress and can have a cookie.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"She doesn't eat cookies, anymore," Edward says, smiling slightly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"A metaphorical cookie. A bronze cookie on a plaque to hang on her wall."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Edward glances at the wall. "I don't think it would improve the decor, much. Perhaps she'd disagree."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Hmm, not sure what I'm hoping for there. If she did, I'd have to find a bronze cookie."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"If she wished to hang a bronze cookie from the wall I'm sure she'd conjure one."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"In that case, we should definitely suggest it."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
He laughs. "When she's through with the mess around the people Elspeth already somewhat resurrected, I expect she'll come here and we will be able to do so."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Who gets the job of explaining what it's for?"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"It was your idea," he says mildly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
She laughs. "Fair enough."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Do you want the rest of the history lesson, while we're waiting for her?" Edward asks. "The twentieth century, the eventful few years after Bella appeared on the scene, the fledgeling empire."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Go for it."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Edward proceeds with a summary. He pauses to go into more detail whenever she wonders about something, steering between "global historical summary" and "the story of his life" depending on what interests her; let it never be said that mindreading is not convenient.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
It's so convenient!

She wants the story of his life, mostly; global history is useful context.
luminous_regnant: (hee)
Author: luminous_regnant
It's been a few hours of guided summary when Bella slips into the room. She doesn't interrupt, just goes up to Edward and slips her hand into his.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
Awwww. She smiles at them.
luminous_regnant: (speculative)
Author: luminous_regnant
Edward brings his recitation up to the present day. And then he kisses his wife, and says, "Sasha and so on?"

"Appropriately rearranged, and the hosts returned to their original states, and Elspeth is talking to them now."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Good empress. Have a bronzed cookie."
luminous_regnant: (proposal)
Author: luminous_regnant
"A bronzed cookie?"
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"You wouldn't get much use out of the edible kind," she says reasonably.
luminous_regnant: (skyward)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Is there some use to the bronze kind which is unclear to me?"
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"You can hang it on the wall on a little plaque and then look at it and bask in the memory of my approval."
luminous_regnant: (appearances)
Author: luminous_regnant
"I believe I will find your approval sufficiently memorable absent the cookie. Are you approving of me for anything in particular?"
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"All the people you've brought back from the dead recently spring to mind as an example."
luminous_regnant: (hee)
Author: luminous_regnant
Bella laughs. "Yes. Anyone else I should pick up and haven't yet?"
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"My aunt would be nice."
luminous_regnant: (speculative)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Any special instructions on how to wake her and introduce her to the world?" Bella asks, poising her hand over her new Jane-gem.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Mentioning that I got resurrected first might be a good idea."
luminous_regnant: (attention)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Anything else?"
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Nah, I think that covers it."
luminous_regnant: (hee)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Jane, you heard her," says Golden, tapping the gem.
mind_game: (web)
Author: mind_game
[Roger.]

She locates the correct Chris in the catacombs.

[Hello, Chris. Your niece has recently been resurrected from the dead and asked for you.]
queensidecastle: (Default)
Author: queensidecastle
[That's nice,] says the appropriate Chris. [Where can I find her?]
mind_game: (dreamcatcher)
Author: mind_game
[I can pick you up and put you where she is, if you don't want to ask me any questions first.]
queensidecastle: (ᚹ honey you're dreaming)
Author: queensidecastle
[Lizzie first. Questions later.]
mind_game: (jewel)
Author: mind_game
Yoink.
queensidecastle: (ᚹ on a good day)
Author: queensidecastle
Hug!
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
Hug.

"So, Edward grew up and married an immortal vampire empress," she summarizes.
queensidecastle: (ᛃ look alive)
Author: queensidecastle
"Of course he did."
luminous_regnant: (hee)
Author: luminous_regnant
"I feel like I should clarify that at the time he married me I was only an immortal vampire, and it was his doing that I was even that."
queensidecastle: (ᚹ honey you're dreaming)
Author: queensidecastle
"And at what point did one of you get the power to raise the dead?"
luminous_regnant: (skyward)
Author: luminous_regnant
"A few hours ago."
queensidecastle: (ᚹ may actually faint)
Author: queensidecastle
"Keeping busy, I see. Somebody get the girl a cookie."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
luminous_regnant: (fine)
Author: luminous_regnant
"I am a vampire. I do not eat cookies," says Bella patiently.

Edward laughs and kisses her forehead.
queensidecastle: (ᛃ was du nicht siehst)
Author: queensidecastle
"Somebody get me a cookie, then."
luminous_regnant: (ceiling)
Author: luminous_regnant
Obediently, Bella conjures up a large, soft chocolate chip cookie and offers it to Chris.
queensidecastle: (ᚹ on a good day)
Author: queensidecastle
"Thank you!" she says cheerfully.

Nom nom.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
Helpless giggling over here.
luminous_regnant: (hee)
Author: luminous_regnant
Bella's pretty amused too. Edward is cracking a smile.

"I have very wispy memories even of you, Mother," he says. "How old was I when Chris died?"
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Twelve. Train derailment," says Mother.

She assumes that he already knows the wispiness of those memories could be alleviated, and can decide what he wants to do about that in his own time.
luminous_regnant: (appearances)
Author: luminous_regnant
He nods very slightly in response to this thought.

"Are you a witch - do you have a magical power?" Bella inquires of Chris. "The Eos one has; I'm not sure how closely to expect templates other than my own to match."
queensidecastle: (ᛊ had better days)
Author: queensidecastle
"Up until I was just resurrected, I did not know that magical powers were a thing," says Chris.
luminous_regnant: (fine)
Author: luminous_regnant
"That doesn't rule it out, but it does make it less likely," muses Bella. "I didn't know I had mine until I met Edward." Pause. "He reads minds, by the way."
queensidecastle: (ᛊ and telling you twice)
Author: queensidecastle
"Of course he does," she snorts.
luminous_regnant: (skyward)
Author: luminous_regnant
"I didn't while I was a human," Edward puts in.

"Some people's powers appear from scratch on turning, some get stronger," Bella raises her hand, "some are basically unchanged but can be used more effectively by a vampire than they could by a human."
queensidecastle: (ᚹ may actually faint)
Author: queensidecastle
"It does not surprise me even a little tiny bit that Lizzie's kid turned out to be a mind-reader."
luminous_regnant: (hee)
Author: luminous_regnant
Edward laughs.

Bella smiles. And says, "And we have a daughter. Would you like to meet her?"
queensidecastle: (ᚹ on a good day)
Author: queensidecastle
"I would!"
her_imperial_radiance: (princess)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Presently Elspeth appears in response to brainphoned summons; Jacob is trailing her, as unobtrusive as he can be at his height. "Hi, Chris, welcome to one of many lands of the living. I'm Elspeth."
queensidecastle: (ᛃ was du nicht siehst)
Author: queensidecastle
"Hi, Elspeth! Who's your barnacle?"
her_imperial_radiance: (snerk)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"This is Jacob. He's my wolf. Barnacling is a thing wolves do sometimes," says Elspeth.

"Humph," says Jacob without heat.
queensidecastle: (ᚹ may actually faint)
Author: queensidecastle
"I can see I've got a lot to catch up on," says Chris. "But first things first: how do I make cookies appear out of thin air? Because that is a kind of magic I want."
luminous_regnant: (appearances)
Author: luminous_regnant
Golden gives her a little bracelet of glowing golden squares and triangles. "Wishcoins," she says. "These are small ones. A square will conjure a non-magical object. Triangles do smaller things. Flick lightswitches without having to get up and so on."
queensidecastle: (ᛃ look alive)
Author: queensidecastle
"Ooh, shiny."
luminous_regnant: (skyward)
Author: luminous_regnant
"I'm glad you like them."
her_imperial_radiance: (happy)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Mine look like this, Elspeth adds, with illustration, but don't let on, it upsets Jake.
queensidecastle: (ᛊ had better days)
Author: queensidecastle
Chris raises an eyebrow at Elspeth.
her_imperial_radiance: (sigh)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Wolves get extremely protective of their imprints, and wishcoins are made out of pain. Not much, for little ones, but enough to bother him. Oh, this is my witchcraft - you can answer [like this.]
queensidecastle: (ᛃ good harvest)
Author: queensidecastle
[Magical,] says Chris.
her_imperial_radiance: (princess)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Yes, very!
queensidecastle: (ᛊ and telling you twice)
Author: queensidecastle
She conjures a cookie. She eats the cookie.

"I could get used to this," she announces.
luminous_regnant: (fine)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Good," says Bella. "It is 2031 and none of us dabble in time travel, so if you wished to go back to something more familiar it would be inconvenient to arrange."
queensidecastle: (ᛃ was du nicht siehst)
Author: queensidecastle
She snorts.
luminous_regnant: (skyward)
Author: luminous_regnant
"Perhaps you'd also like a summary of the last hundred years or so," suggests Bella. "Edward will do better at that than me; I don't have even half a century under my belt yet. Although Elspeth could manage it."
her_imperial_radiance: (right then)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"With pictures and sound, and from multiple perspectives," agrees Elspeth.
queensidecastle: (ᚹ honey you're dreaming)
Author: queensidecastle
"Ooh, pictures."
her_imperial_radiance: (sporfle)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Elspeth laughs, and launches into a comprehensive illustrated history of everything that has gone on of importance since Chris died. She is much faster than Edward, since she goes on being comprehensible even if she talks a little faster than her audience could normally track.
queensidecastle: (ᛊ had better days)
Author: queensidecastle
It is fascinating! Chris is fascinated. Best great-niece.
her_imperial_radiance: (whee!)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Elspeth is the best and all her relatives should be glad to have her.
queensidecastle: (ᛃ was du nicht siehst)
Author: queensidecastle
Someone should give her a cookie.
her_imperial_radiance: (sporfle)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Elspeth can in fact eat cookies! She can even keep talking while eating them without violating any commonly accepted etiquette guidelines. Is someone going to give her a cookie?
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
Yes.
her_imperial_radiance: (happy)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Elspeth noms the cookie.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
Elspeth is an adorable granddaughter.
her_imperial_radiance: (right then)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Presently she is an adorable granddaughter who has finished summarizing. "Those are the highlights. There's always more detail to be had, of course."
queensidecastle: (ᛊ and telling you twice)
Author: queensidecastle
"Whew," says Chris. "Okay. Now, do us dead people have anywhere to live, or do I have to sleep in the creepy empty room?"
her_imperial_radiance: (princess)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"There are spare quarters for people with humanlike needs in the wolf village," laughs Elspeth, "we can show you."
queensidecastle: (ᚹ may actually faint)
Author: queensidecastle
"Great."
her_imperial_radiance: (Default)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
To the wolf village! Both of these people are Downside-style dead, so Elspeth doesn't bother with imprint warnings. "Do you want to share a place or have your own?" she inquires on the way.
queensidecastle: (ᛃ was du nicht siehst)
Author: queensidecastle
Chris looks at her niece.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Share."
her_imperial_radiance: (uhh)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
Elspeth puts them in a charming little house, which is stocked with miscellaneous amenities and edible nonperishables, and also appears to have been serving as extra fridge space for someone who really, really likes eggs.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Why the eggs?"
her_imperial_radiance: (happy)
Author: her_imperial_radiance
"Eggs are very popular among the high-metabolism set," laughs Elspeth. "Someone must have stashed them here. You can eat them, you can wait for whoever it was to run out of their own fridgeful and hand them over."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Noted."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
It's a while later the next time Edward and Lizzie are by themselves together.

"Bella wants to know if I want my human memories stuck back on like she did with hers. The trouble is I don't know what I'd be getting. She did - she had reams of notes on her childhood - I have almost nothing."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"How much do you remember? I can fill in most of the rest," she says. "Your father didn't have much to do with raising you."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Almost nothing. Faces, half faded out. I knew your name, and that I was a Junior before I started using 'Cullen'. I could probably find the place we lived, if I went to Chicago. I have - automatic answers to standard autobiographical questions, and not all of them are attached to the various cover stories. Beyond that, nothing much."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Well, let's see... you had no grandparents," she says. "At least three of them were dead when you were born, and I wouldn't have known my father if I passed him in the street. Not that I was allowed to tell you that, because Edward Sr. had very definite ideas about which parts of my life were acceptable for polite company. You did have an uncle on your father's side - nothing on mine except Chris, until she died. Is that the kind of information you're looking for?"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Some of it," says Edward. "Yes." He half-smiles. "Bella is also curious about whether my historical tendency towards 'melancholy philosophizing' is really about being a vampire or if that's just a shape it took."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Melancholy philosophizing. Yes, this is a tendency I recognize," says Lizzie, smiling.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"We had an argument about souls, once, that she found very exasperating. I suppose it's all been rendered quite moot; it has been more than demonstrated that vampires and humans appear in the same place and it couldn't reasonably be called Heaven."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I never previously believed in an afterlife, but I'm happy to be proved wrong."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Did I pick up all my opinions on the subject from Carlisle, then? And attach my own melancholy philosophizing flavor?"
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Your father might have had an influence there."

Lizzie does not approve of Edward Masen, Sr. He had lots of money, which was nice, and he did genuinely love her, which was also nice, but he completely fell down when it came to parenting his child and if the practical considerations (i.e. money) hadn't been so hard to overcome, she probably would have left him over it. As it is, she tried to minimize the damage. It's hard to tell how well she succeeded.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Hard to tell," echoes Edward. "Yes, I suppose so. I have no special talent at reading my own thoughts."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"No, that's your wife's area of expertise. Although I guess you could always ask her for tips."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I have, occasionally. I think it requires more... self-esteem, than I tend to default to."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
Well, now she kind of wants to hug him.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
He considers this for an imperceptible fraction of a second, and then holds out his arms.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
Hug.

It's perfectly familiar, except for the change of species. There were a lot of hugs in Edward's childhood, and the majority of them were from his mother.

Is that the kind of information he is looking for?
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Yes."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
Lizzie grins.

"Happy to help," she says, letting go.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
He laughs softly.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
Well, she is. She's his mother; it's her job. Hugs and all.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I have been wondering if I should introduce you to Esme. And reintroduce you to Carlisle. Or if that would be uncomfortable."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I don't think it would be uncomfortable."

It has the potential to be, but it's not what she'd expect, going on secondhand information about Esme and Carlisle. She's not competitive. Edward can have as many mothers as he wants. He can start a collection. Just as long as he doesn't start keeping them all in glass cases in his basement, because that would be inconvenient and sort of creepy.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
That surprises a laugh out of Edward. "I don't know if 'mother' would be the best way to describe the relationship, anyway, except for convenience's sake, inadequate words for the odd configurations that crop up in covens - we often presented that way, but just as often I posed as her brother. Once as her nephew. Carlisle I do have more of a filial feeling for, and she's his wife, in addition to being a generally motherly person."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
She grins.

"I am perfectly happy to share being your parent with Carlisle."

(She probably would be even if Edward's original father had been remotely adequate, but since he wasn't, there's no feasible competition for the title.)
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Edward laughs. "I'm glad. Particularly considering you picked him out for me."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Well, there wasn't exactly a vast selection on offer at the time. But if there had, I'm pretty sure I still would've gone with him."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Very lucky," Edward agrees. "The Denali coven were the only other vegetarians active at the time, and I don't think I'd have fit in as well with them as creators instead of cousins."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I take full credit for this near-total accident."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"What would you have done, if it hadn't been Carlisle? I'm not sure why anyone else would have been here, but it wouldn't be unheard of. Alice came from a hospital that had a vampire working at it, albeit not one dedicated to treating the flu."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Not an easy question to answer, without knowing who the other vampire is and what might motivate them."

Because motivating them to save Edward's life would definitely have been on the agenda.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Alas, I have no examples ready to hand. The one in Alice's hospital was studying her witchcraft, which does not apply."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
She shrugs. "I would've found out how to get them to, anyway. Carlisle was easy; if you poked him with something sharp, altruism would pour out. Metaphorically speaking. I understand you folks are pretty much impervious to sharp objects and there's not much pouring going on when you aren't."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Quite impervious, not particularly liquid," agrees Edward. "He did require prompting, though. I was the first person he turned, and he'd had prior chances. He wasn't sure it was right to do that to someone. I wasn't either, for a long time. Bella, of course, could convince me that the sun was blue and the sky yellow."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"But he didn't exactly take much of a push once I put the idea in his head. Convenient, that."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"He'd recently met Esme. And managed to leave her where she was. He was intensely lonely," says Edward softly.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Lucky for him he managed to scoop her up again later."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Very. Occasionally I wonder if he would have eventually broken and gone looking and I'm not sure. I tried to go away from Bella, once, when I was afraid I'd snap and drink her blood; I lasted less than a week. Carlisle didn't have that concern to hold him back and he managed, for years, until a sheer coincidence put her in his path."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I say again: if you poked him with a sharp object..."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I'm not going to disagree with you," laughs Edward. "I admire him intensely."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I can tell."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
There's a silence.

"I think I will ask Bella for that wish," he says. "I don't believe I'll get everything all at once the way she did, though. A little slower."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Okay."

Lizzie is pleased.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Edward smiles.

"Carlisle's just left off work for the day. Now would be a fine time to catch him if you'd like to speak to him sooner rather than later."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I think that's a great idea."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Edward nods, and tilts his head by way of signaling that he's "on the phone".

Presently there is a polite knock at the door.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
Lizzie answers it.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
There stands Carlisle, smiling kindly. "It's good to see you again," he says.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Likewise. C'mon in."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
In he comes. "What have you been talking about?"

"You, among other things," says Edward. "You are not obliged to relinquish parental claim on me."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
She doesn't have quite a good enough read on Carlisle to decide whether or not he would be amused by all the commentary about sharp objects, so she doesn't volunteer it.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"She's also as impressed with your character as everyone else is," says Edward.

"That's very kind of you," Carlisle tells her modestly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
She grins.

"I notice that sort of thing."

(And is now amusing herself imagining Carlisle with a cute little halo.)
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Which reminds me," says Carlisle, "Addy has been asking permission to check to see if your particular brand of insight is magical or potentially so. I believe she's hoping to get a better reception by going through others rather than inquiring herself."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I would be happy to check if I'm magically insightful, but I don't see a need to involve Addy in the process."

And she bets she's not.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Eleazar is the other option. He isn't as convenient, but he might be more pleasant," says Edward. "Perhaps the next time we're relatively near to Alaska."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
She wonders idly if coins couldn't manage it somehow, but - well, no hurry.

"Although I suppose I'm going to meet both of them anyway, in the course of meeting pretty much everybody."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I could imagine using coins to determine if you have witchcraft at all, but I'm not sure how to design a wish to also provide the sort of detail Addy or Eleazar could," says Edward.
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Starting from the premise that I probably don't have witchcraft, the wish might be more efficient, depending on size. Except that since I am going to meet both of our resident magic-sniffers, there isn't much point to wishing about it first."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I don't think Eleazar would describe himself as a magic-sniffer," says Carlisle. He omits Addy from this remark.
prima_sequentem: (ℝ you were saying?)
Author: prima_sequentem
"And a good alternate term would be...?"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I think Eleazar would prefer 'sensor'," Edward says. "Addy, I imagine, will assent to any description that gets you to let her touch you and check."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
Lizzie shrugs. "Okay, magic sensors."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Eleazar used to work for the Volturi, longer ago than Addy did, and one of the things he did while he was there was work on the categorization of witches," Edward says. "He left with his mate, when he met her."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Aha," says Lizzie. "Sounds like a useful person to know."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Quite. He doesn't get all of Addy's fine detail, but he's got some advantages - he could sense Bella, when her guard was down; Addy can't copy her unless her shield is down," says Edward.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ works for me)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Which means not at all, if I remember correctly?"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Not for Addy," Edward says. "For occasional brief moments she can let someone through. Me, Elspeth. Until she's distracted or loses focus. She's had less success with people she isn't close to, none with Addy so far. Addy is of course confident that eventually Bella will trust her to the point of being able to allow it."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ all kinds of innocent)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I have no comment on that eventuality."

But she expects to have a prediction, once she knows Bella and Addy well enough.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Addy is very simply put together. She almost prides herself on it. She runs on novelty and discovery. Predominantly of magic, although other things can interest her too."
prima_sequentem: (ℚ in the details)
Author: prima_sequentem
"It's the details that get you," says Lizzie.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: 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: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Sounds like tough times for the Volturi."

Lizzie is so glad that this worldwide conspiracy is being run more efficiently.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: 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: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"How much hope?"
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Enough," says Carlisle.

"The minimum amount Carlisle is capable of having about anyone," says Edward wryly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
Lizzie laughs. She is imagining Carlisle with a halo again. It suits him. Maybe somebody should wish him one.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: 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: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"And fluffy little wings," she says cheerfully. "You could turn them off whenever you needed to go anywhere."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: 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: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Halo or bust," Lizzie says firmly. "The traditional kind, where it's like your head is a golden lightbulb."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Carlisle shakes his head, laughing softly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
"It's even thematically appropriate!" Golden lightbulb, Golden Empire...
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I already have the correct eye color," says Carlisle.

"See, there you are," says Edward.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"It's perfect," says Lizzie. "You could wear it for state occasions, like a uniform. Imperial Angel."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I'm already titled Imperial Ethicist, which is more than enough."
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Angel would be cuter. But it's probably a good thing that that's not how Bella runs her empire."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Probably," agrees Edward.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
"And we will just have to live with the necessary sacrifices."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I'm sure we will all muddle along somehow," says Carlisle.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
She laughs.
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Did you want to meet Esme today, too, or would that be too much all at once?" Edward inquires.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"By all means, I will meet Esme."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: 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: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: 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: (Default)
Author: 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."
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Considering what I woke up from, it's been pretty great, actually. And Edward gave me enough of a history lesson that I'm mostly not surprised by the little things."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
Esme smiles at Edward, touches his elbow. He smiles down at her.

"If you find any gaps of course you can ask any of us. Or anyone, really," Esme says.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ enjoy your company)
Author: prima_sequentem
"Yes, people are very helpful around here. I appreciate it. Although it does tempt me to start distributing halos."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Halos?" asks Esme, puzzled.

Carlisle sighs.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ say the sweetest things)
Author: prima_sequentem
She giggles. "Sorry. I was joking earlier that someone should give Carlisle a halo and fluffy little wings, because he's so angelic."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"When I first met him I remember thinking he looked like a god. One of the Greek ones, maybe," says Esme, "not the God, but a one."

Carlisle sighs again, and puts his arms around his wife's shoulders.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
"I think that's a pretty appropriate comparison," says Lizzie, "except that none of the Greek gods were this nice."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"I know. I got the better deal," says Esme comfortably. "And there were no disturbing swans involved."

Edward snickers.
prima_sequentem: (ℕ what's in a name)
Author: prima_sequentem
"We should all be more grateful for the lack of disturbing swans in our lives," she says, laughing. "Also showers of gold. And bulls. Zeus had a weird idea of what mortals were into."
alicornucopia: (Default)
Author: alicornucopia
"Mortals are into extremely diverse things," Edward says dryly. "Or else where would the stories come from?"

Esme giggles helplessly.
prima_sequentem: (ℂ just wanna have fun)
Author: prima_sequentem
Lizzie cracks up.