Two best friends say hello and shots are fired

[empress_without_a_throne]

[video]

[It's time for someone else to make a formal introduction.  Or rather, two special someones!]

Couldn't keep putting this off now could we?  At any rate, it's been nice to meet all of you so far.  My friend here is Sara Harper, director of the Solaris orgnization-

And my friend here is none other than Mizuki Onodera, the Abyss Empress herself!  Sworn enemy of all beings who live on this-



S-SARA!

[We apologize for the technical difficulties that ensue, but when the video comes back, Sara's off in the corner laughing uncontrollably while Mizuki does her best to do damage control.]



Sorry about that.  Sara and I go way back, and you know how things get with longtime friends.  But as I was going to say, if you're not familiar with Solaris, that's just because the organization hasn't been very relevant for the past ten years or so.  We came here to help Solaris get back on its feet again, even if its glory days are long past and it'll just be supporting the Unity Group.  So long as people'll be able to afford college tuition for their kids and have pensions come retirement we'll be happy.

As for me personally?  Well I'm "The Abyss Empress".  An empress without an empire.  A potential enemy-turned-ward for Solaris who's all grown up now and just wants to do what she can to repay the people who decided to take her in rather than kill her when they had the chance.  Anyone wanting the full story's welcome to it if they ask.

Comments

[a_linear_mind]

So, should I address you as Abyss Empress Mizuki?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Just "Mizuki" is fine. The only people who bother with the "Empress" part are my parents, and that's just when they forget they stopped being retainers when, well, everything fell apart for us.

[a_linear_mind]

Wow, that's pretty evil though, making your parents your retainers.

[star_of_sad]

You are what?

[A shocked Setsuko is shocked.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

We've just met a giant Egyptian cyborg alien bug lady and a very bitter giant robot and you're shocked at what I am?

[star_of_sad]

Ah! My apologies if I have insulted you! I didn't mean to.

It's just...

AIs and aliens are things I know that exist. But, well...
[Setsuko is trying to find a way to say "demons" politely and failing.]

[also video]

[anewmachine]

...Okay, you win.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Win? Win what?

[anewmachine]

I thought I was going to have to deal with some awkward questions and confusion about my whole deal, but you've got me beat. Congratulations, I guess.

...So what's your whole deal? I'm confused and have awkward questions.

[abugslife]

You look very young for a dethroned evil tyrant.

[empress_without_a_throne]

"Dethroned" is a bit too generous. Long and short of it, I was literally being made when my creator was destroyed. Kinda hard to be a ruler when the only part of your empire that was actually made were two people who took up parenting duties.

Nice to meet you too, He-



Hetepheres.



Hetepheres. Sara's already told me a little about you.

[abugslife]

And here I thought my title of Ambassador is purely ceremonial.

Well met. Can you tell me more about your creator?

[smileys]

Being honest is one thing, but are you sure you should be sharing all of that so openly?

I mean, your case is a little...different from Hetepheres'.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Honestly I'd have to give this explanation at some point. My machine and my body have a couple of odd properties. The one lady from the GHQ's already seen the former and she took it in stride, but I'm not sure how many other people will.

Best to get things out of the way now.

[smileys]

I can't deny that it's one way to go about it.

How odd is odd?

[keep_your_dignity]

[Kagura listens quietly, taking it all in]

GOOD.

[And that's all she says. Wait, no questions, nothing? It can't be often that Mizuki meets with someone who doesn't at least ask, or show curiosity, or surprise, or something]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Hear that? Pay up.



Right, right.

[Indeed it has been a while, but then again not many people know Mizuki herself. So now she's handing a few bills over to Sara because blargh.]

I heard your broadcast before too. Sorry you have to deal with so many people making that mistake.

[keep_your_dignity]

WHAT WAS THAT BET ABOUT?

[way_of_vengeance]

How fitting. Often have I wondered if the mistress is not also the sworn enemy of all mankind.


...who turned good and is now an ally of justice, RIGHT?

[Sayo says nothing.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

Oh? Is your mistress a Void being? Or an alien? Maybe an extradimensional conqueror?



Her maid's probably just joking around. I saw her earlier when I was walking around the Alhambra base, Sara. About the weirdest thing about her is she's pretty tall.

Says the japanese woman who's over 170cm tall

[way_of_vengeance]

That would make sense, wouldn't it.


I'm not that tall...

[break_the_nine]

Do you have a jester? Does he make jokes about darkness and stuff? Or are you one of those really gothic types of royalty with the beheadings and executions?

Do you have a castle? Oh.. oh no wait! Is it a giant skull fortress? Is it built into a volcano?!

[empress_without_a_throne]

One at a time, please.

And no, I don't have an empire or throne or anything like that. I do technically have a general and a grand vizier, but they've been doing parenting duties for the past ten years and it wouldn't feel right trying to order them around.

[fire_dancer]

"So an Empress? Now this is I think the strangest thing I think I have ever encountered before. That's quite the title but if your not going to helping, welcome aboard. I just do hope we're not going to need to be bowing all the time."

[empress_without_a_throne]

... It's not really a title with any real meaning. Like I said, I'm an empress without an empire.