Gura has no desire to be deceptive; not towards the Empress at least. This decision is arguably not even that deceptive or egregious, but it makes her uncomfortable either way.
Legally speaking, every member of the military is a member of the royal guards. It's usually a formality relegated to the induction ceremony of new soldiers, and her personal guard have an additional rank on top of that… but that wording, that all soldiers are royal guards, is a quirk she can take advantage of.
She probably doesn't need to take advantage of it considering High Command isn't going to fuss about the details quite as much as the council would, but it's always nice to have some legal backing to her actions just in case the council takes issue after this is over.
This is a very long-winded way to say that General Gwight is not a member of her personal guards, but he is technically a royal guard, and so she has an excuse to ask him to come along. While the council can try to say the wording of High Commands conditions imply she was to take the royal guards, Gwight is legally a royal guard, and outranks even the captain of her guards.
Besides, if there's one person she trusts to catch what she might overlook, it's Gwight. He'll be her eyes and ears when she's too busy being distracted by the Empress.
Gwight, of course, is fully onboard with this plan. While the council might be 'too good' for the surface, Gwight is not going to pass up a chance for reconnaissance. He's a professional through and through.
For most of her guards, it's their first time being on the surface since training. It's amusing to watch them fumble for a second as they remember to use their lungs rather than their gills and adapt to being forced to walk and carry their full weight.
To be fair, she has somewhat of the same experience. Her first few steps are quite shaky while she gets her feet under her, but she's far more used to walking than most atlanteans so she regains her composure well in advance of her guard.
It is only through the power of aquakinesis that they managed to cross the 750 kilometers between Atlantis and Gibraltar in any decent time. A boat, according to the Empress, would take seven hours each way at best and that's simply not practical for what High Command has dictated for her terms. It still takes two hours, and is probably a gross misuse of the mage's academy's abilities, but there's simply no other way she's getting to Gibraltar in a reasonable amount of time in a way High Command will tolerate (because they will certainly not allow her to be teleported by the Empress).
The docks of Gibraltar are not a small affair as there are all sorts of ships docked, leaving, and entering. She wasn't quite sure where she should be going, as the Empress' only instructions were 'enter through the docks', but thankfully the Empress thought of that… or simply has very good eyesight, because the Empress is there to greet them within a minute of them pulling themselves up to the docks.
(That's probably a good thing too, because the dockworkers look rather startled.)
For once, the Empress has an entourage. A dozen figures clad in deep purple robes stand in two lines behind her. The hoods of the robes are large enough that the faces underneath are mostly obscured, and what little is visible is obscured by a metal mask (varying from bronze to silver to gold depending on the individual) styled as an octopus.
The other humans don't have those masks. Maybe it's a military tradition? Seems impractical, but that's the nature of some traditions.
"Your Highness." The Empress greets with a polite bow of her head. "You honor us with your presence."
Gura wants to roll her eyes. Now that there's an audience the Empress goes formal, hmm? "And you, us, Your Majesty."
"I do hope you have not eaten too much today." The Empress says, instead of continuing formalities right away. "For the first thing on our agenda is a time-honored staple of breakfast."
The place they get taken to is a small restaurant off the side of a main road. It's no grand affair, which is just as well for Gura because it means fewer eyes on them.
Though it's probably a bit odd to people walking by to see a hooded figure and an Atlantean guard standing outside a random restaurant, and stranger still for the other customers to have guards stationed all around the room as they eat.
Even just the barest sampling of breakfast introduces Gura to at least three new types of food, though they rest strangely on her tongue. They're not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it's hard for her to say she'd want them over what her own kitchen prepares.
Still, this meal could have been horrible, but it ended up being enjoyable. Strange, but enjoyable enough.
(She notices an octopus symbol detailing the ledge of the wooden counter where meals are placed for pickup, as well as being subtle decoration in all corners of the room where the ends of the baseboards meet, with the tentacles themselves melding into the baseboards' design.)
The proprietor of the establishment never seems to open their eyes, much like the Empress, and Gura has to wonder if galaxy-eyes are more common than she'd assumed, and how exactly they're obtained.
"I will admit, organizing some sort of schedule today was not the simplest thing." The Empress murmurs as she delicately crosses her utensils on her plate. Gura mimics the action, having finished eating well in advance of her. "I am far more familiar with the facilities of the palace you see."
"Understandable."
She can see Gwight raising an eyebrow at their interaction. He's stationed where she can see him behind the Empress. A royal so casually admitting their own faults must seem insane to him. At least, she assumes so. Perhaps his general political experience differs from her.
"That said… there are certain things that could be considered standard in the Empire- albeit less so in distant holdings like Gibraltar." The Empress hums. "The Empire- at least, the British Empire before it became the Empire of United Kingdoms- was very proud to take its culture wherever it went, for better or for worse."
"I see."
"...usually for the worse, if I am being frank." The Empress sighs. With a flick of her hand some coins and parchment(?) appears on the table. Currency, maybe? But what is the parchment for? "But still, there are some benefits, and I plan on demonstrating just that."
There was no standing plan for her visit to Gibraltar like there was for when the Empress was due to visit Atlantis… or at least, Gura was not informed of any such plan.
Stepping out into the roadways once more, Gura finally notices just how many eyes are on them. Both she and the Empress are subjects of fascination for the locals, who must not be accustomed to seeing their Empress all that much. The hooded guards are also given a wide berth, and so they end up with an entire half of the path all to themselves.
"As you might expect from a colony, the locals are less used to a royal presence." The Empress explains as they walk. "The fact that the Empire has not been a kind overlord in the recent past is still very much on many of their minds. It is something I intend to rectify, but as with many things, it will take time and knowledge that I do not yet have."
Gura can sympathize with that. She remembers her parents telling her before that one of the worst parts of being a ruler is knowing that you can solve a great number of problems, but not all at once, and so some group will always end up neglected. Being a queen is an exercise in constant, painful, failure; if you're doing it right that is.
A bit dramatic, but at least in part Gura has found it to be true.
Their destination is a largely empty building filled with dozens, maybe hundreds, of chairs arrayed in a semi-circle around a stage. Gura recognizes a theater when she sees one.
She can get behind this… even if, she realizes now, she won't be able to understand anything being said. The Empress might know how to speak Atlantean, but she doesn't know how to speak English.
Thankfully theater is more than just speech or this would be an entirely pointless event to attend.
Very quickly Gura realizes she underestimated the Empress again.
Yes, this is a play. A play without speech; or at least, without recognizable speech. All vocalizations seem intentionally gibberish, and much more priority is given to action and tone and music than what is(n't) being said. The Empress did not choose what they would be viewing without due consideration.
The exact plot of the play is… confusing? Gura figures she must be missing some cultural context, because she doesn't quite understand the significance of the constant whispering that occupies the start of the play. It doesn't seem to be coming from any specific character. It's background noise, even in scenes that are very clearly private. Beyond that the story focuses on a young girl- a priestess of some sort if Gura is interpreting things right- who apparently spends most of her time tending to a shrine that (judging by the choice of props) is near a mountain but inside a forest, and it's rare that any other character enters the scene.
The grove is perpetually cast with shadows on the stage. The edges of the stage are always lighter than the center, and the priestess rarely leaves the center of the stage. Her face is constantly cast in shadow thanks to lighting or a long bowlcut, with the eyes never visible.
The whispers grow more intense as the play continues, and Gura also notices that the priestess never speaks. She gestures, nods and communicates through motion, but she has no babble like the other characters, not even with (what Gura assumes are) her parents.
And then… it happens. What 'it' is Gura doesn't quite understand. The lighting glows purple, the other characters are all kneeling, and only the priestess moves. She moves away from her shrine, moving through rocky terrain, to some sort of cave. The whispers are intense, growing ever more so as the girl approaches until-
The lights in the theater are snuffed out (it only occurs to Gura then to ask how the lighting is being done with such precision) and the whispers abruptly stop. Only the slight movement and whispers of the crowd are audible.
Gura can't help but notice that while she can hear her own movements, the chair next to her, the Empress, is entirely silent.
She can imagine her guards are getting antsy about this. Killing a foreign queen in the darkness when no one can see during a diplomatic visit? It's just far too obvious… which is exactly why Gura is sure it's not going to happen.
The lights slowly rise once more to reveal the scene has been changed to that of a town; something that was only used at the beginning of the show until now. The other characters are still kneeling, but that all changes when the priestess, now dressed in a very familiar outfit, enters the scene and all heads turn to her and go from kneeling to a full-on bow… that the priestess seems rather bashful of and tries to get people to stand, which they do not.
Gura also notices that the priestess now carries a familiar book with her, but that's quickly the least of her worries after the priestess finally 'speaks' (in the same gibberish as the rest of the play) and the whispers from before layer over her voice, giving it an eerie echo.
(A quick look beside her confirms that the Empress is indeed still there. The priestess on stage is still the actor. The Empress tilts her head in Gura's direction, clearly knowing that she's sneaking a glance, and smiles at her.)
Shrewd. Very shrewd. This was not merely a play. This is clearly a way to show her the narrative the Empress wants her to see before anyone else can influence her. Gura can't fault her for that. PR is a nightmare, and political relationships are doubly so.
She knows Gwight will have some thoughts to share about this when they get back to Atlantis. She's curious what he'll have to say because while politics self-admittedly isn't Gwight's strongest suit, he's not incompetent at it. You don't get on the council without some aptitude for it (even if that aptitude is mostly avoiding bullshit rather than using it yourself).
Gura applauds politely along with the rest of the crowd. It's not much of a crowd admittedly, the theater is only about a quarter full, but that might have something to do with the guards all around the room.
The Empress patiently waits for most of the theater to empty out before standing and extending a hand to Gura. She takes it of course, but is surprised when instead of leading her out the Empress leads her toward one of the doors to the back of the theater, with Gura's guards hastily moving to join them.
"The group was very eager to act for foreign royalty." The Empress says serenely, and pushes into the back room. "They were one of very few willing to come all the way out here to perform on such short notice."
Ah, so this isn't a local group. Interesting.
The group turns out to be rather small; barely more than a dozen people. They all bow and scrape with obvious eagerness; first to the Empress, then to Gura, babbling away at her in English after Ina gestures for them to stand and Gura just has to stand there smiling and pretending she has any idea what's going on.
Still. It's nice to interact (as much as nodding and being confused counts as 'interacting') with humans that aren't royalty. She can't place their ages, but even with a couple of them looking borderline elderly it's strange to know she's assuredly older than all of them.
Their excitement is endearing if nothing else. The actors absolutely insist on shaking her hand for some reason, which she accepts with great amusement.
"They want to know if you enjoyed the show, my Queen." The Empress murmurs, after a particularly intense round of babbling from the humans.
"Of course." Gura nods. "The main actor captured your likeness well, my lady."
The Empress smiles and (presumably) conveys this to the actors.
She really needs to learn English as soon as she can so she can understand what they're saying. There might be a translation spell for all she knows, but she doubts High Command would let herself be subject to a spell from a foreign power.
If only trust were an easier thing. Progress could have already been made, she imagines. Probably. Maybe?
She shouldn't make assumptions.
With their visit(?) backstage complete and the actors pacified, the Empress leads them further on into the town. "Now, I do want to show some of the new technology the Empire has made in recent years, but most of it is located back in Britain. That said, some of it has made its way down to Gibraltar. Are you familiar with electricity?"
"Not beyond what you've told me."
"Then this should be enlightening." The Empress hums, and guides Gura over to a tall, stately, unfamiliar building. The Empress strolls right in, so Gura does the same (though not before allowing her guards to pass through first). "Welcome to the Colonial Office of Gibraltar; the building, I mean. Not to be confused with the office as a group."
"That's unnecessarily confusing." Gura says bluntly.
"I am well aware." The Empress says with a dry smile. "I had little say in the naming even though I approved its construction."
The office is not the largest building. It's made of some sort of pale stone with red roofing and glass windows and a simple, but well-maintained wooden door. The inside is formal, with a waiting area and a front desk manned by a closed-eyed, smiling man who doesn't even speak when the Empress enters and merely gestures to a doorway.
(How many closed-eyed humans are there here? Atlantean records never mentioned anything about this. Is it some sort of mutation? Evolution? Subspecies?)
While the whole situation is very strange, what's inside the room is interesting in a much more genuine way. A small, unfamiliar dark box sits in the middle of a large table, surrounded by various other unfamiliar items like a tear-drop shaped piece of glass with a coil of wire in the middle or a pair of… she doesn't even know what to call them. It has a palm-sized wooden base with several delicate-looking metal adornments.
"I shall save the more technical explanations for another day, and preferably recounted by an expert." The Empress says, and moves to the other side of the table. "In the simplest terms, this box-like thing you see here is a battery, and through it we can make use of all these other devices you see here."
"Like a magical device needing a mana crystal as a power source?"
"Yes, though with the benefit that it requires no magic at all. Such devices are not restricted to mages."
And so begins the demonstration. Electric lights, communication through clicks (telegraphs they're called), and a few other minor items that, frankly, go far over Gura's head. They seem to mostly be intermediary pieces that make other devices work and while Gura has no doubt they're important it's not really something she can understand without full context.
Still those the lightbulb and a telegraph alone… she can see how that would be revolutionary. No need for fire to create light, communication over long distances even through code, and all without the need for magic! The mages won't be happy to have their jobs infringed on, but the public benefit of simple items like these are immense.
"Of course, I did not bring you here simply to show you a few electrical trinkets." The Empress says with a smile Gura would call smug. "Electricity is not the only innovation we have happened across in recent decades. We've also been experimenting with the advent of steam power."
The Empress gestures to yet another room beyond the one they're currently in, and Gura can admit to eagerness, and she's not disappointed. Using steam to power movement… the engine itself doesn't do anything but generate force, but Gura is giddy at the mention of steam powered boats and other forms of transportation, and the mention of water pumps… surely they could use that for something. The need for fire is annoying, but there must be a way they can make that work.
"Getting electricity to work underwater would be far simpler than steam." The Empress admits while Gura walks around the engine, inspecting the moving parts. "Running a covered wire should be enough, even if it would be slightly expensive. Steam power would be trickier, though I do believe the ocean floor has hydrothermal vents which may be able to work similarly, albeit in a stationary capacity."
An interesting idea… if their thermal vents weren't already busy providing heating. Still, something to keep in mind.
"There are far too many new fields of science opening up or being expanded upon for me to keep up with." The Empress muses as Gura continues to inspect everything, taking as close a look as she's allowed. "We are still expecting much progress in the coming years, if not decades and centuries. We suspect we are breaking new ground entirely."
The Empress didn't need to say so much, Gura is already sold. She wants to go to London just to see more inventions at this point. Imagine what could be learned…
(From the corner of her eye she can see Gwight eyeing the engine with similar interest. He understands the potential magnitude of this.)
"Waterproofing our inventions is not the priority of most our workers, but in the case Atlantis wishes to obtain some of these technologies, it could be managed." The Empress says slyly. Gura knows what she's doing. She's trying to prompt a sale, and it's working. Gura is sorely tempted to demand some of these items as soon as possible, but she restrains herself. She can't think of a practical application at the moment. Patience, Gura, patience…
"These are intriguing indeed." Gura says, and takes a moment to compose herself. She shouldn't be staring like an awed schoolgirl. She has an image to maintain. "Though I cannot make any comment here and now about a purchase. The practicalities of underwater life have nuances quite different from the surface."
"Of course, my Queen." The Empress says teasingly. "You will have to educate me on these 'nuances' sometime."
Somehow that nickname is more embarrassing knowing that Gwight is listening; especially when the Empress puts the slight purr in her voice.
"However-" Oh Poseidon there's more? "-there is much more I can show you on later dates if it becomes possible for you to visit London. Trains, for one, but we have other inventions entirely unrelated to steam power and electricity. The printing press has been revolutionary in many ways, and its only real function is the dissemination of information to the public through papers."
Gura can only imagine how useful that would be. No need for criers and hoping people have time to spare to listen; instead you can simple deposit something on their doorstep for them to read whenever is convenient. For Atlantis the issue is that writing surfaces are not simple to make and written texts need to be copied by hand (or magic, but there are precious few mages which can manage such a thing), but if even one of those things could be improved… "Rest assured I shall make every endeavor to visit you. Your home, that is."
"I eagerly await such a time." The Empress says. "Because unfortunately, I do not have much more to show you in the form of technology, unless you wish to go to the docks and find a steam boat."
"You have some in the docks?!" Gura shouts, and then realizes a moment later how unprofessional that was. "I mean, uh-"
"Yes, we do, my Queen. I'm sure one of the captains would be more than happy to show you." The Empress says with a wide grin on her face. "Shall we go?"
Gura doesn't know what the best way to salvage her dignity here would be. She coughs into her hand. "Er, yes. Thank you, my lady."
(Gwight raises an eyebrow at her and Gura studiously ignores it. She swears she can hear someone stifle a laugh.)
That solidly decides their next course of action. Gura complies when the Empress extends a hand to take, though the subsequent tug and looping of her arm through Gura's feels like mockery at this point with all the eyes on them.
"I would not figure boats were all that much of interest to you, my queen." The Empress murmurs. She's subtly leaning into Gura's side as they walk, and her voice is low enough that Gura isn't quite sure who is supposed to hear it or not. "A personal interest, perhaps?"
"Atlantis used to have a fleet, way back in the day." Gura responds. "Back before our isolation. They were all traded off or eventually scuttled. We still learn about the basics of ship combat during military training."
"That seems unnecessary."
"Yep." Is Gura's only response.
"Hmm~" The Empress hums. The sound curls pleasantly in her ear. Gura refuses to twitch or shudder. Not in front of everyone. She's being baited, she knows she is. "Have you ever worked on a ship yourself? Captained one?"
"No. They were before my time."
"Shame. Boats can be quite majestic if you can handle the swaying of the deck." The Empress muses. "I will have to treat you to a cruise at some point."
"I don't think either of our schedules will be that flexible." Gura says honestly; unable to keep a note of exhaustion from her tone.
The Empress is quiet for a moment. Her hand strokes the back of Gura's. "Perhaps. Still, if the opportunity ever arises, I shall be sure to exploit the chance to the fullest."
That sounds slightly sinister if anything. Then again, so many things about the Empress and her empire are slightly sinister. Gura wonders if that's an intentional diplomatic tactic, or simply coincidence. "Careful my lady. Phrasing like that might lead someone to assume you're planning something less than polite."
The Empress smiles and doesn't say anything. Gura finds herself the one looking away.
(She ends up looking at Gwight, whose gaze is flat and unimpressed. Gura cringes a bit. She's not acting the part of a queen at the moment, is she?)
Gwight inclines her head slightly towards the Empress and raises an eyebrow again. A ghost of a smile twitches on the corner of his mouth.
Great, now one of her generals thinks she's more funny than professional. Still, at least it's Gwight and not someone else.
"Something wrong, my queen?"
Gura stiffens as the Empress' voice tickles her ear; she must be only a few inches away. Gwight pointedly looks forward, away from her, and Gura groans internally. Maybe it was a bad idea to have him along. She should have known the Empress would make fun of her. She doesn't mind the flirting necessarily, but they have an audience. "Nothing at all."
"Hmm…"
She could really do without the Empress stroking her arm. It's very distracting, and she knows her guards are still watching.
Gura inhales sharply when the Empress rests her head on her shoulder. "Good."
Uhhh…
This is what she gets for entering the Empress' domain. She should have known she'd be ambushed like this. Even worse, there are eyes on them; not just their respective escorts but also the public. It's like she's being paraded as an example of the Empress' control…
…or she's reading too much into this. It's hard to tell. This is why she hates politics.
"I would hate for such a lovely lady to be stressed with my company." The Empress purrs directly into her ear, quiet enough that no one else can hear. "My beautiful queen."
Gura doesn't say anything, but that's mostly because she doesn't trust herself not to stammer. How can the ruler of an empire be this audacious? This forward? What's her angle? How is she supposed to respond to this? How does she want to respond to this?
"Just let me handle everything."
For just a moment Gura is sorely tempted, but that's enough to kick some sense into her. She's being toyed with again, and she's not fighting like she should be. She needs to strike back!
"No need, my lady." She murmurs in return, and not-so-subtly tugs the Empress's arm to pull the lady flush against her side rather than merely twining arms. "It wouldn't do for me to be an ungracious guest and impose on my wonderful host, hmm?"
The Empress' smile is a bit too wide for Gura to think she managed to strike back properly. If anything, Gura thinks she might have made a mistake by keeping the Empress so close because now she has to suffer through the Empress pressing herself into Gura's side constantly.
Gura endeavors not to dig her grave any deeper as they progress towards the docks. She also endeavors not to look at Gwight, or any of her guards, and ends up staring mostly at the ground a few meters in front of herself as she walks.
It's a relief to get to the docks and finally have some attention redirected from her bumbling around the Empress. The dock workers look plenty surprised at seeing them return so quickly, and Gura doesn't know if it's a relief or worrying when the Empress doesn't detach herself from Gura's arm to address them and ask for the dockmaster.
"I guess I'm stuck like this for now." Gura thinks while the humans chatter away in English and the Empress (presumably) tries to organize a tour of one of the steam boats. Gura silently hopes they aren't imposing like this. It wasn't part of the plan, and while she has no doubt that at least one captain will allow their Empress to tour for a moment, that might be purely due to status rather than any sort of practicality.
Either way, it takes only a few minutes for someone to come up to them and lead them down the docks. The man leading them has some sort of hat on, speaks loudly, and looks rather excited. Only Poseidon can tell if the excitement is genuine.
Her skepticism is quickly forgotten when they actually get on the ship. She's seen ship designs before in military history class and a few from a distance while on surface patrol during her time in the army, but this is her first time stepping on one and trying to see how her knowledge matches up in practice.
The first thing she realizes is that her knowledge is severely outdated, and not just because of the steam engine. For one, the ship is made primarily of metal and not wood, and rather than being almost an entirely open deck there's some sort of sheltered area at the front for the steering wheel, not to mention all the subtle alterations on the hull and the use of screws and such…
More than ever, Gura wishes she could speak English so she could grill the captain about every part of his ship, but she has to settle for what she can learn through the Empress' translations.
She still ends up asking far more questions than she probably should, and the Empress translates with good humor even while Gura stretches out the tour to nearly two hours asking in-depth questions about everything she can with their limited communication.
It's probably quite unprofessional of her, but this is a valuable chance to gather information!
(That's her excuse and she's sticking to it.)
If the Empress is disappointed by the turn this visit took, she doesn't show it. Gura's trip back will take eight hours with no water mages to speed it up, which means this visit is tragically short.
"You will have to come back soon, hmm?" The Empress whispers while releasing her arm after the end of it all. "I still have so much to do with you."
Interesting phrasing. "If schedule permits, I will be at your side in an instant, my lady." She murmurs back and, feeling a bit audacious, she raises the Empress's hand and presses a kiss to it.
(She ignores the ways Gwight's eyes burn into the back of her head the entire return swim to Atlantis.)