"Yes, yes, very well. I understand. Absolutely- I agree. Yes. Of course, thank you for your time." Putting the phone down, Jackson Lawson blows out a breath that everyone in the room was holding.
"And?" My mother asks in a tone that can only come from an absolute boss babe. I mean, she's a queen but DANG! Sometimes I forget just how powerful and multifaceted she is. No wonder my dad couldn't keep her locked down.
"And… Madam President will be in attendance for both the meeting and the subsequent coronation. It seems she was quite moved by Lily's speech and feels that she will be the glue that holds paranormal/human relations together. Lily you might have started a revolution within the paranormal world- but you may just bring peace with humans for the first time in over 2000 years! Congratulations!"
The room explodes with applause. Everyone is clapping except Professor Douche-Canoe. Is this a new eye twitch? Or was it still twitching from our conversation half an hour ago?
"So what's the next step? Where do we go from here?" I ask humbly. I don't like all this applause and attention. It feels uncomfortable to be receiving all this praise for doing something that feels like common sense. I honestly don't understand why it's been this long. Even humans have managed to evolve enough to include all of their minority groups in areas of representation.
"Well, I think it would be wise to finalize the genetic lists. Each supernatural being will fall under specific biological groupings, just as the all other species do. When we can narrow those down, as humans have done with all other living organisms, we should be able to appeal to the masses better- and win over the remaining board members. As it stands, there are mixed understandings of this morning's events. Some have surmised that there would be some type of organized hierarchy to manage things moving forward, while others think every fruit pixie will have their own seat at the table. If we can put the board at ease, ensuring they understand not much will change, while also appealing to the masses who have remained without fair representation for two millennia, maybe we can win this battle, and do so quickly."
Why can't DC be more like his dad. I mean wow. This man is extraordinary. And at 57 he still looks like an underwear model. I guess DC has that going for him- he is the spitting image of his father. Maybe it's a gargoyle thing just to stay sexy once you reach a certain age. I don't think I've ever met a gargoyle who didn't look good up until the day they died. Almost like they reach optimal physical appeal and then their looks are set in stone- even when in their mortal form. Well, I have only met two other gargoyles- Mr. Bartholomew Lawson- Jackson's father who passed when I was 16, soon after I met DC; and DC's older brother Lance. He is also a lawyer at the firm, though he mainly works in the London office. I have only met him once when I went to one of my mother's fashion week shows in Paris.
We don't know much about gargoyles; they keep their secrets locked tightly to themselves. But they are rumored to be in the top 5 most powerful supernatural groups. If the board were built on power alone, they would belong in place of the wolves. Wolves earned their place not only by brute force, but by their numbers. There are more wolves than any other supernatural group. And since the gargoyles keep to themselves, and we know so little about them, it makes sense that they have not fought for their rightful place.
My mother's elbow strikes my side and I realize I am drooling and staring at him like a crazed fan girl. "And has Dr...." I stammer. What is this dude's name?
"Jeffries…" my mother offers. Thanks mom.
"Dr. Jeffries, of course. Sorry about that… has Dr. Jeffies been able to identify the paranormal kingdoms?" I ask, trying desperately to recover from that slip of memory. Not only am I bad at names but I can't even tell them apart! Names are hard enough as it is, then add in that they're all but conjoined twins. One female and one male, who look exactly the same, and while they are not actually conjoined when in their mortal form, they operate as though they were. Their body movements are in sync and they either speak together as one, or one speaks and stops midsentence for the other to pick up the thought. And I never remember who is who or what they do.
Trying to tell them apart feels like a fun bit of "who's on the base" or how ever that comedy skit went. Who was that? Rabbit and Castile? No that's a soap… is that a throat clearing again? Crap.
"Ah-hem. Yes, as I was saying- Dr Jeffries was able to complete the paranormal taxonomy, although we will not use the full diagram in our workings, and handle only a simplified version. But we have Madam President's approval to bring to the world leaders the concept of a fourth domain called 'Supranatura' which would encompass all supernatural beings. This will put us at a great position of unity with the humans by adding us to their biological discussions in a positive way. Soon human children will be taught the truth about supernaturals rather than the lies brought forth through the fairytailes." Jackson scoffed that last bit. He is definitely not a fan of Halloween.
"The simplified taxonomy will allow all paranormals to be more easily classified in broader groups, which should make the transition easier. Since the dawn of time paranormals have never grouped themselves together in this way. Imagine telling a werewolf they are very close to a pegasus or dragon biologically." Scoffs and growls sound through out the room. I think I am the only wolf not growling. I think that makes sense, actually. "Folks will not be pleased to be grouped but it will allow for more equal representation. And though it will change who are majority seat holders, and increase the number, it would open up more representation with out creating too many seats." He finished that will his chest puffed up. I know he has been working on this project for decades. I'm just not sure why it is all coming to fruition now.
He really is something though… his voice is like that of an angel, could he possibly be part angel? I could listen to him speak all day. And watch him. The way his lips move, the way he licks them. Those perfect teeth, that dimple on one side. The barely visible crows' feet at the corners of his eyes…