Empress Joy!
Dec. 23rd, 2021 06:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breezeshadowStill migraine-y but I Made it to my mother's so whatever. Here's a scene from... Two NaNoWriMos ago? In which an unexpected person is a guest star. I actually thought up a second scene for her on the drive down so she'll get another chance to shine and terrify everyone.
They stayed in tense silent for what felt like centuries. Gareth began to pace again, though he was utterly silent — Rose May found it more unsettling than the ranting.
His silence was broken when the door opened. “It’s about—”
His words died abruptly, and Rose May soon discovered why as she turned around.
A tiny woman had entered the room, closing the door with a dramatic movement — she couldn’t be more than 1.4m tall, and Rose May suspected that her blond hair, done up in an impressive, intricate braided up-do, was likely longer than she was. She wore a beautiful emerald green dress with a snow leopard neck and sleeve ruff, silver lacing forming a tight bodice on the front; the dress had a small train also ruffed with snow leopard. But what caught Rose May’s breath was the woman’s eyes — bright, shiny green.
A mage.
Gareth’s words caught in his throat, and he cleared his throat. “Your Highness—”
“Please. Call me Joy, if you please.” She smiled with white, perfect teeth, and Rose May suspected she would not please. “I hear you are interested in one of our supernatural subjects.”
“We are interested in representing her in court, Your Highness.” Apparently even Gareth could not get informal with the Empress herself.
“She will not be going to court, Mr. Haeden.” Empress Joy kept her smile as she circled Gareth.
“Your Highness…” Gareth took a deep breath. “By law—”
“I know the law, Mr. Haeden. And it will be a relief for you, I’m sure, that we are not breaking it.” She stopped moving, facing Rose May and Gareth. “She confessed to the crime.”
“Pardon my asking, Empress,” Rose May began, finally finding her voice. “But would that not mean she would be in jail?”
The Empress turned her full gaze on Rose May — she was fairly certain only Mahli had brighter eyes than her. “She is. But due to her power, it has to be a restricted jail. One where we can ensure that she will do no harm, and where she can be studied.”
Something about the way the Empress said the word made Rose May shiver. “May we inquire into what these studies shall be?”
“I do believe that the name of the department makes it obvious.” The Empress apparently used the same sweet, happy tone whether she was explaining things or insulting people. “She has powers that are of interest.”
Outside, something rumbled, and Rose May felt the floor beneath her shift. Gareth’s eyes widened, and at the sound of something massive cracking, Rose May turned around to watch something rising up from the ground.
No, it was the ground — Rose May could just make out dirt and roots and pebbles within the mass. As it rose to window level, it slowed down, and the mass began to take on a shape, swirling into a cylinder. Soon a serpent made of the earth was staring into the window, eyes made of circular piles of rocks, dirt falling from exaggerated soil scales.
“I take an interest in those who can nearly rival my talents, Ms. Pursa.” The Empress smiled as Rose May jumped; the woman had walked a mere two feet away from her. “But because of her crime, she cannot be observed by normal means and be allowed to roam free.
“So you see, Mr. Haeden,” Empress Joy turned away from the window, walking back towards a slack-jawed Gareth. “You needn’t concern yourself here. The vampire has confessed, her punishment is being enacted, and all while she serves science.” She stopped near the door. “Any questions?”
Rose May looked at the serpent staring through the window, and words tumbled out without her authorizing it. “Does it have a name?”
Empress Joy laughed, high and child-like, with more than a tinge of madness. “Emerald. It is formed anew each time, but I like to keep the name consistent. It helps us all… Pretend.”
And with that she opened the door, and as it closed, the serpent outside disintegrated, earth rushing back down with a thundering hiss, leaving only freshly tilled dirt to signify its creation.
Gareth stared out the window, face white; Rose May was not certain he realized that the Empress had gone. “Great Fucking Mother Fucking Dragon.”
They stayed in tense silent for what felt like centuries. Gareth began to pace again, though he was utterly silent — Rose May found it more unsettling than the ranting.
His silence was broken when the door opened. “It’s about—”
His words died abruptly, and Rose May soon discovered why as she turned around.
A tiny woman had entered the room, closing the door with a dramatic movement — she couldn’t be more than 1.4m tall, and Rose May suspected that her blond hair, done up in an impressive, intricate braided up-do, was likely longer than she was. She wore a beautiful emerald green dress with a snow leopard neck and sleeve ruff, silver lacing forming a tight bodice on the front; the dress had a small train also ruffed with snow leopard. But what caught Rose May’s breath was the woman’s eyes — bright, shiny green.
A mage.
Gareth’s words caught in his throat, and he cleared his throat. “Your Highness—”
“Please. Call me Joy, if you please.” She smiled with white, perfect teeth, and Rose May suspected she would not please. “I hear you are interested in one of our supernatural subjects.”
“We are interested in representing her in court, Your Highness.” Apparently even Gareth could not get informal with the Empress herself.
“She will not be going to court, Mr. Haeden.” Empress Joy kept her smile as she circled Gareth.
“Your Highness…” Gareth took a deep breath. “By law—”
“I know the law, Mr. Haeden. And it will be a relief for you, I’m sure, that we are not breaking it.” She stopped moving, facing Rose May and Gareth. “She confessed to the crime.”
“Pardon my asking, Empress,” Rose May began, finally finding her voice. “But would that not mean she would be in jail?”
The Empress turned her full gaze on Rose May — she was fairly certain only Mahli had brighter eyes than her. “She is. But due to her power, it has to be a restricted jail. One where we can ensure that she will do no harm, and where she can be studied.”
Something about the way the Empress said the word made Rose May shiver. “May we inquire into what these studies shall be?”
“I do believe that the name of the department makes it obvious.” The Empress apparently used the same sweet, happy tone whether she was explaining things or insulting people. “She has powers that are of interest.”
Outside, something rumbled, and Rose May felt the floor beneath her shift. Gareth’s eyes widened, and at the sound of something massive cracking, Rose May turned around to watch something rising up from the ground.
No, it was the ground — Rose May could just make out dirt and roots and pebbles within the mass. As it rose to window level, it slowed down, and the mass began to take on a shape, swirling into a cylinder. Soon a serpent made of the earth was staring into the window, eyes made of circular piles of rocks, dirt falling from exaggerated soil scales.
“I take an interest in those who can nearly rival my talents, Ms. Pursa.” The Empress smiled as Rose May jumped; the woman had walked a mere two feet away from her. “But because of her crime, she cannot be observed by normal means and be allowed to roam free.
“So you see, Mr. Haeden,” Empress Joy turned away from the window, walking back towards a slack-jawed Gareth. “You needn’t concern yourself here. The vampire has confessed, her punishment is being enacted, and all while she serves science.” She stopped near the door. “Any questions?”
Rose May looked at the serpent staring through the window, and words tumbled out without her authorizing it. “Does it have a name?”
Empress Joy laughed, high and child-like, with more than a tinge of madness. “Emerald. It is formed anew each time, but I like to keep the name consistent. It helps us all… Pretend.”
And with that she opened the door, and as it closed, the serpent outside disintegrated, earth rushing back down with a thundering hiss, leaving only freshly tilled dirt to signify its creation.
Gareth stared out the window, face white; Rose May was not certain he realized that the Empress had gone. “Great Fucking Mother Fucking Dragon.”
