Room 512: Thursday evening

[bookyeve]

Evie was sitting in the middle of her bed, staring at the two (very clean) mugs and the nice book of photographs on top of her desk. And trying to figure out what to do with them.

[for the roomie, but open to other friends' of Evie's too]

Comments

[irulan_atreides]

Irulan had an encyclopedic book on Roman history with her when she knocked at the door. "Evie?"

[bookyeve]

Evie opened the door, then brightened when she saw Irulan. "Hello! Did your hat ever turn back into a hat?"

[irulan_atreides]

Irulan looked woeful. "No, it remained as a blueberry pie but I've opened my doors for anyone who would like to eat it."

[bookyeve]

"Then I shall definitely have to stop by for some," Evie said, holding the door open. "Please, come in. Would you like some cocoa? How are your classes going this week?"

[irulan_atreides]

"Thank you," Irulan said stepping-in, "Classes have been interesting, revolution was certainly interesting but I'm currently trying to read-up on all the Ancient Earth monarchies, I wanted to learn what provoked their down fall so it won't happen in my rein."

[bookyeve]

"Oh, well I can help with that!" Evie looked happy, and bounced into a chair, and asked, "Would you like some tea? I can make some while we talk. How far did you get into the empire?"

[irulan_atreides]

"I would love some tea," Irulan said with a smile, "I was hoping you would know something about it since you knew so much of Nefertiri's empire. I have just began, actually. I have just finished the part where the senators assassinated Julius Ceasar."

courtesy of Rome the series!

[bookyeve]

"Ohhh, the Ides of March. Yes. A move seen as a blow against tyranny, but it really didn't work out that way." Evie poured them some Indian tea, and got out the creamer and sugar. "Of course, you might have more experience with that than anything the book or I could tell you, with all you told me about your bodyguards."

[irulan_atreides]

"Yes, it was familiar," Irulan looked at the book and placed it on the table. "It is disheartening that through all the millenias human nature has not changed. I take it, this event was the tipping point that turned the republic into an Empire?"

[bookyeve]

"It was tending that way prior to that, but it allowed for the idea to take hold, and Caesar's nephew managed to eliminate his rivals, eventually, and go on to take the laurels." Evie shook her head. "Mind, as republics go, it wasn't nearly as complete as the modern ones now, but still. A shame and a pity. Not that there's anything intrinsically wrong with empires," she added hastily. "I'm sure yours is very nice."

[irulan_atreides]

Irulan wouldn't go so far as call it nice, possibly mean, nasty and dangerous were better descriptors.

"I think," Irulan said carefully, saying aloud a thought that's been brewing since she left Kaitain and could now freely express it away from the prying ears of spies. "One of the main problems of my empire is that we rely too much on one resource."

[bookyeve]

"Oh? What one?" Evie took a sip of her tea, then dropped a sugar cube into it. "Is it an energy resource? Because from what little I've read on the subject, diversifying food and energy is very, very important."

[irulan_atreides]

"It is... a little of both," Irulan brought out a small pack of the Melange. "This is the spice, Melange. It enables long life and also, when taken in large doses, it enables people to see the future and make a path. That is how we do our space travel in my world. Without this spice, our pilots will be blind and all communication and travel with other worlds will ceasel. Civilization will fall. Suffice it to say, the spice is the single most valuable commodity in our world."

The spice must flow!

[bookyeve]

"That seems... rather narrow," Evie said cautiously. "To have a spice that is so versatile, and yet so vital. Is it a renewable resource? Or shall it be exhausted, eventually?"

[irulan_atreides]

"It is." Irulan agreed. "And it can only be found in one planet, Arrakis, Dune a desert planet. Out of all the planets in the universe, it is the only planet that produces spice. No one knows why, we have tried many methods in recreating conditions to produce the spice to no avail."

[bookyeve]

"Then shouldn't your empire be seeking to diversify? Looking into research for other methods of travel, and communication? That's entirely too fragile a system, from what you've just said."