The Conventional Way
- Thread starter Blizzard
- Start date
Elizabeth stepped out through the door, glad that, wherever he had come from, he knew basic manners. Her heels clicked as she made her way elegantly down the stairs, careful not to step on her dress. She stepped into the shiny, black Bentley that waited at the front of the complex, passed by a few workers that were already working on restoring the facility, like ants building back up their hill.
The chauffeur would hold the door opposite Elizabeth open, granting his master's feline companion entrance to the car. If and when he entered the vehicle, he would close the door gently behind him, before stepping behind the wheel. Elizabeth quickly rolled up the window that separated them from the driver, an action that did not surprise the chauffeur. She did this quite often, as she was rather secretive.
"So, tell me, what exactly made you want to come to earth?" She asked politely.
The chauffeur would hold the door opposite Elizabeth open, granting his master's feline companion entrance to the car. If and when he entered the vehicle, he would close the door gently behind him, before stepping behind the wheel. Elizabeth quickly rolled up the window that separated them from the driver, an action that did not surprise the chauffeur. She did this quite often, as she was rather secretive.
"So, tell me, what exactly made you want to come to earth?" She asked politely.
Addaiel shrugged.
"Well, after spending the last seven hundred thousand years of my life exploring all that Andromeda had to offer, I began to succumb to existential ennui. I became... you'd say... a 'broody' immortal. You know the type, right? Always acting 'aloof' and 'outside of this world'?"
"So, after about a hundred thousand years of that, I decided to make the trip to the Milky Way at the incessant urging of my secretary. I started my journey at the opposite arm of the galaxy and began slowly making my way over here for a few thousand years, and the closer I got to the Orion Spur, the more I'd begin to hear rumors and hearsay about a little blue marble where people shoot lightning from their hands, werewolves roam free, etcetera. Now, in all my time, I've seen some magic, but never so concentrated like this. So, out of pure curiosity and the thrill of adventure, here I am."
"Well, after spending the last seven hundred thousand years of my life exploring all that Andromeda had to offer, I began to succumb to existential ennui. I became... you'd say... a 'broody' immortal. You know the type, right? Always acting 'aloof' and 'outside of this world'?"
"So, after about a hundred thousand years of that, I decided to make the trip to the Milky Way at the incessant urging of my secretary. I started my journey at the opposite arm of the galaxy and began slowly making my way over here for a few thousand years, and the closer I got to the Orion Spur, the more I'd begin to hear rumors and hearsay about a little blue marble where people shoot lightning from their hands, werewolves roam free, etcetera. Now, in all my time, I've seen some magic, but never so concentrated like this. So, out of pure curiosity and the thrill of adventure, here I am."
Elizabeth nodded in understanding. Immortals did seem to have a sort of life cycle themselves, though she herself had not been subjected to this phenomena just yet. She was still fairly young for one of her disposition, having barely lived past a full human lifespan. Her only sister was still within recent memory, and her father had definitely not been forgotten. Her acquaintance's mention of his interest in magic was what brought Elizabeth back from her inner thoughts and reflection.
"Magic, eh?" She asked, her lips curling into a thin smile. "I can certainly affirm that you've come to the right place." She said, knowingly. The Lich glanced out of her window as the car following them came round. Personal experience had lead her to always venture out with armed guards, though her safety was not a major concern, the extra firepower tended to diffuse bothersome conflicts. "I'm surprised word of us has spread so far. This Island is the best-kept secret of Earth."
"Magic, eh?" She asked, her lips curling into a thin smile. "I can certainly affirm that you've come to the right place." She said, knowingly. The Lich glanced out of her window as the car following them came round. Personal experience had lead her to always venture out with armed guards, though her safety was not a major concern, the extra firepower tended to diffuse bothersome conflicts. "I'm surprised word of us has spread so far. This Island is the best-kept secret of Earth."
"Of Earth, Ms. Carnegie," Addaiel reiterated with a wry smile. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this place has a spaceport. Never use spaceports myself. It's always difficult to get AVA through customs."
[No one seems to understand that AIs are not "exotic animals".]
"My point exactly. But back to what I was saying, Manta Carlos is only secret to Earth's inhabitants. It's actually a pretty popular tourist attraction, like... uh..."
[Rome, sir.]
"Thank you, AVA. Yes, like Rome." said the snow leopard, who craned his neck to see the car. He let out a small laugh and cocked an eyebrow at the younger immortal. "Afraid that AVA's going to go ballistic again?"
[No one seems to understand that AIs are not "exotic animals".]
"My point exactly. But back to what I was saying, Manta Carlos is only secret to Earth's inhabitants. It's actually a pretty popular tourist attraction, like... uh..."
[Rome, sir.]
"Thank you, AVA. Yes, like Rome." said the snow leopard, who craned his neck to see the car. He let out a small laugh and cocked an eyebrow at the younger immortal. "Afraid that AVA's going to go ballistic again?"
Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, I've never really paid it much attention. Space travel doesn't seem as important when there's so much to be done on earth." She explained halfheartedly. It was actually quite surprising to her that she had never considered expanding her business operations beyond this world, but she was doing quite well as it was now.
"Yes, humans are quite distrustful of artificial intelligence. In fact, they're distrustful of most things. We can be quite a cowardly and superstitious lot." She said knowingly, peeking out the window at the following cars. When the older immortal inquired about it, Elizabeth shook her head.
"Not at all. It's just a precautionary measure. I have enemies who have taken advantage of my lax security in the past. While getting shot or impaled doesn't really do anything to me, it is quite an inconvenience when someone blows my car up or sets me on fire... Puts me days behind schedule and usually ruins a perfectly good suit." She said, looking warily at the AI at the mention of the suit.
"Yes, I've never really paid it much attention. Space travel doesn't seem as important when there's so much to be done on earth." She explained halfheartedly. It was actually quite surprising to her that she had never considered expanding her business operations beyond this world, but she was doing quite well as it was now.
"Yes, humans are quite distrustful of artificial intelligence. In fact, they're distrustful of most things. We can be quite a cowardly and superstitious lot." She said knowingly, peeking out the window at the following cars. When the older immortal inquired about it, Elizabeth shook her head.
"Not at all. It's just a precautionary measure. I have enemies who have taken advantage of my lax security in the past. While getting shot or impaled doesn't really do anything to me, it is quite an inconvenience when someone blows my car up or sets me on fire... Puts me days behind schedule and usually ruins a perfectly good suit." She said, looking warily at the AI at the mention of the suit.
Addaiel nodded in understanding. He'd employed security teams for himself eons ago, before he'd developed the Einherjar suit. Now, he spent his days walking around in a wearable tank, and found the notion of danger laughable.
AVA, still displeased at her boss' carefree attitude towards all of this, disappeared. She headed off into the world's networks. Public and private, and began to compile terabytes worth of usable information and data that may serve her employer in the future.
Addaiel grinned, satisfied that his secretary had taken the hint and left them alone for the evening. With the extra room, he spread himself out in a distinctly feline fashion, though still managed to retain his professional demeanor. Still, he had just arrived on a new planet. He could afford some leisure time. He mulled over his next words while gazing over Elizabeth with a predatory gaze that held a twinkle of playfulness behind it. He decided that he had nothing to lose by trying.
"I understand, Miss Carnegie. Hopefully this evening remains uneventful. It would be a... shame... if something were to happen to that dress tonight."
Unsaid were the words: such as it being unceremoniously tossed on the floor at the foot of a bed.
He smirked, satisfied with the effort. He didn't feel much for her, but she definitely exceeded his standards. If not her, then he could always find someone else later. The night was still young.
AVA, still displeased at her boss' carefree attitude towards all of this, disappeared. She headed off into the world's networks. Public and private, and began to compile terabytes worth of usable information and data that may serve her employer in the future.
Addaiel grinned, satisfied that his secretary had taken the hint and left them alone for the evening. With the extra room, he spread himself out in a distinctly feline fashion, though still managed to retain his professional demeanor. Still, he had just arrived on a new planet. He could afford some leisure time. He mulled over his next words while gazing over Elizabeth with a predatory gaze that held a twinkle of playfulness behind it. He decided that he had nothing to lose by trying.
"I understand, Miss Carnegie. Hopefully this evening remains uneventful. It would be a... shame... if something were to happen to that dress tonight."
Unsaid were the words: such as it being unceremoniously tossed on the floor at the foot of a bed.
He smirked, satisfied with the effort. He didn't feel much for her, but she definitely exceeded his standards. If not her, then he could always find someone else later. The night was still young.