05-21-2017, 01:42 PM
((So apparently, when I said that I'd 'reply soon' I was horribly mistaken and ambitious. Sorry about that.))
Evelyn knew that accepting Ascendancy's offer would cause a stir, but she clearly hadn't fully realized exactly how much excitement would result from it. She was somewhat baffled by the response at first. Every reporter in the press corps was desperate to get a quote from her, each one gushing on and on about how unprecedented it was, or just how beautiful the dignitary quarters were rumored to be.
And they certainly lived up to their reputation. Evie had seen pictures of places like Versailles and the Munich Residence. In such palaces, opulence was a sign of power, after all, and housing dignitaries there was both a way of flattering visitors as well as intimidating them. However, Ascendancy's guest 'rooms' outdid them all. Evelyn thought of them as 'quarters', since she wasn't limited to a room. Her suite contained an enormous bedroom, attached to an even larger 'sitting room', what could only be a smaller tea room meant for entertaining guests, and of course a private bathroom complete with both a shower and a claw-footed bath tub. Furthermore, the rooms were filled with enough priceless art and antiques to fill a museum exhibit. These were clearly lodgings fit for a princess.
Then suddenly it occurred to her just why the reporters had been so breathless with excitement. Nikolai Brandon was not young, technically speaking, however he had the youthful and handsome appearance of a man in his thirties. That, coupled with his power both literal and metaphorical, made him easily the most eligible bachelor in the entire world. There were entire publications dedicated to gossiping about his (as yet nonexistent) love life. And of course, Evelyn was not ignorant of her own beauty. She was quite a catch in her own right, and her career had suddenly skyrocketed. There were already quite a few whispers of her potential to someday return the Democratic Party to the Oval Office. Additionally, she was quite possibly the most famous and highly-placed female channeler.
Evelyn berated herself for not seeing it sooner. There had likely already been all sorts of gossip about her meeting with Brandon. They were like Romeo and Juliet except so, so much more powerful and influential. Maybe a better comparison would be Helen and Paris... or Hades and Persephone. The mere intimation of a relationship between them must have gossip rags salivating... and then Nikolai had offered to put her in the Princess suites, and she had accepted.
All of that flickered in her mind as she prepared to meet Ascendancy. She tried to calculate whether it would be good or bad for her political fortunes to have such gossip circulating. She wanted to arrange for the US to have closer relations with the CCD, but if she went to far she could risk losing the moderate support she would need in the future. And yet, despite all her political acumen and her shrewd mind, she couldn't help but feel like a wide eyed girl when she finally met him.
Evie's breath caught as the grand palace doors opened of their own volition, and her gaze was drawn inexorably down the hall, where Ascendancy stood in wait. The brunet found herself almost overwhelmed by the grandiosity of the moment. This was a chamber that had seen kings live an die, empires rise and fall. The man before her was in his own way both a king and a father of an empire... and his sights were set on her and her alone.
Evelyn had never been able to grasp hold of the Power except in prayer, but surely this must be a religious experience, because it seemed to come to her almost instinctively, reflexively even. As it filled her, all of her senses became more acute. She could see the minute patterns on his tie, could even smell his cologne. The ecstasy was almost overwhelming, but it also helped clear her mind. Ascendancy was an agent of God; of that she was now certain. However, she was as well. Her power assured her of that.
With a brief flicker of will, God granted her the Power to close the doors behind her, just like Ascendancy had opened them in front of her. Evelyn bowed her head briefly: an acknowledgement, not a supplication. "Good evening as well, Ascendancy."
She could feel her pulse quicken and her chest tighten in anticipation. Never before had she met with another of God's agents alone like this before.
Edited by Evelyn, Dec 17 2017, 09:08 PM.
Evelyn knew that accepting Ascendancy's offer would cause a stir, but she clearly hadn't fully realized exactly how much excitement would result from it. She was somewhat baffled by the response at first. Every reporter in the press corps was desperate to get a quote from her, each one gushing on and on about how unprecedented it was, or just how beautiful the dignitary quarters were rumored to be.
And they certainly lived up to their reputation. Evie had seen pictures of places like Versailles and the Munich Residence. In such palaces, opulence was a sign of power, after all, and housing dignitaries there was both a way of flattering visitors as well as intimidating them. However, Ascendancy's guest 'rooms' outdid them all. Evelyn thought of them as 'quarters', since she wasn't limited to a room. Her suite contained an enormous bedroom, attached to an even larger 'sitting room', what could only be a smaller tea room meant for entertaining guests, and of course a private bathroom complete with both a shower and a claw-footed bath tub. Furthermore, the rooms were filled with enough priceless art and antiques to fill a museum exhibit. These were clearly lodgings fit for a princess.
Then suddenly it occurred to her just why the reporters had been so breathless with excitement. Nikolai Brandon was not young, technically speaking, however he had the youthful and handsome appearance of a man in his thirties. That, coupled with his power both literal and metaphorical, made him easily the most eligible bachelor in the entire world. There were entire publications dedicated to gossiping about his (as yet nonexistent) love life. And of course, Evelyn was not ignorant of her own beauty. She was quite a catch in her own right, and her career had suddenly skyrocketed. There were already quite a few whispers of her potential to someday return the Democratic Party to the Oval Office. Additionally, she was quite possibly the most famous and highly-placed female channeler.
Evelyn berated herself for not seeing it sooner. There had likely already been all sorts of gossip about her meeting with Brandon. They were like Romeo and Juliet except so, so much more powerful and influential. Maybe a better comparison would be Helen and Paris... or Hades and Persephone. The mere intimation of a relationship between them must have gossip rags salivating... and then Nikolai had offered to put her in the Princess suites, and she had accepted.
All of that flickered in her mind as she prepared to meet Ascendancy. She tried to calculate whether it would be good or bad for her political fortunes to have such gossip circulating. She wanted to arrange for the US to have closer relations with the CCD, but if she went to far she could risk losing the moderate support she would need in the future. And yet, despite all her political acumen and her shrewd mind, she couldn't help but feel like a wide eyed girl when she finally met him.
Evie's breath caught as the grand palace doors opened of their own volition, and her gaze was drawn inexorably down the hall, where Ascendancy stood in wait. The brunet found herself almost overwhelmed by the grandiosity of the moment. This was a chamber that had seen kings live an die, empires rise and fall. The man before her was in his own way both a king and a father of an empire... and his sights were set on her and her alone.
Evelyn had never been able to grasp hold of the Power except in prayer, but surely this must be a religious experience, because it seemed to come to her almost instinctively, reflexively even. As it filled her, all of her senses became more acute. She could see the minute patterns on his tie, could even smell his cologne. The ecstasy was almost overwhelming, but it also helped clear her mind. Ascendancy was an agent of God; of that she was now certain. However, she was as well. Her power assured her of that.
With a brief flicker of will, God granted her the Power to close the doors behind her, just like Ascendancy had opened them in front of her. Evelyn bowed her head briefly: an acknowledgement, not a supplication. "Good evening as well, Ascendancy."
She could feel her pulse quicken and her chest tighten in anticipation. Never before had she met with another of God's agents alone like this before.
Edited by Evelyn, Dec 17 2017, 09:08 PM.