032.6 Afina

[Corwin]

[19:52] <Kotono> Finding Drena isn't hard - he's outside as usual. Finding Kascha takes more work. She's sitting in the library by herself, drinking a rather foul sort of tea. There's a hint of an alcoholic scent to it, as she sips. "Oh, Afina! Drena!" she says with a big, happy smile. "Hi!"
[19:53] <Afina> "Hello Kascha... is this a bad time?" Afina asks, thinking that smile's just a little bit too big. Perhaps they have something in common when inebriated?
[19:55] <Kotono> "Oh, it's a great time! By Seira's gold, it's a perfect time!" With a contented smile, "The headache's fading! See, more whisky  is more effective once you don't have to read any more!" Giggling, and reaching to the side of her chair, Kascha pulls up a half empty bottle of brown booze. Downing her glass andputting that aside, bottle in hand, she stands up. "Heeeey, wanna have a drinkie too?"
[19:58] <Kotono> Drena watches, "Ah, a party of one is hardly a party," Drena comments, "Inebriation is a group activity."
[19:59] <Afina> Admittedly she could do with one after the day she's had, but better to abstain. "Actually I was hoping you and Drena might be able to use your associations with Seira and Chan to help with a problem I've run into..." she looks more at Drena since he's more likely to remember what she wants and can fill in Kascha himself later. Then Drena's words make her think more about Kascha's situation and
[19:59] <Afina> she regards the angel, "Were you feeling bad before you started drinking?" she asks carefully, hoping she doesn't have to deal with more emotional trauma today.
[20:01] <Kotono> "I had a headache," Kascha sniffles, "That book is mean! It's all insanity and it gave all three of us a headache! We were drinking just a bit to help with the headaches, but afterwards I thought more would help more!" Coming over to Afina, Kascha suddenly gasps. "Lady Honeydip," she drawls, before blink-blinking. "Oh, Afina! Wow, you sort of look like her for a moment-like."
[20:02] <Kotono> Drena clears his throat, a gusty sound like a snapping wind, "Easily enough done. What's the problem?"
[20:09] <Afina> "Hmph, I'm no lady," Afina retorts, still somewhat amused. "Anyway, the problem is Zaaman Rul. You know how we'd been investigating ways to wield the Blade of Endings? Well one way comes in using a special material called Quilium - but the only armour we know of made of it eventually ended up in Zaaman Rul's hands. When we went to his realm, though, the guardian took exception to Annalise and
[20:09] <Afina> we had to leave in a hurry. With your connections I'm hoping you two might have more success."
[20:11] <Kotono> "I wish. Lady Honeydip's fun! She has a gingerbread house!" Kascha gasps with wide eyes, "She can make a balor wet itself, too!" Meanwhile Drena shakes his head, "That sort of diplomacy can certainly be done. I'll want to coordinate it with Morniel as well, he's good at that."
[20:12] <Afina> "Good idea," Afina approves brightly. "Give Kascha some time to sober up, perhaps set out in the morning?" she suggests, smiling at Kascha's description. "I hope to one day induce the same reaction in pit fiends. She sounds like someone worth knowing." Sure it stings a bit that she'd prefer this Honeydip over Afina, but she knows well she's not the best company.
[20:18] <Kotono> "Oh yeah," Kascha says cheerfully, taking a swig from the bottle, "Seira likes her a lot, too. So does Alicia, Antenora, Donald...though he did try and hit on her that one time..." Trailing off with a fuzzy frown, "She ran the forces of Androlynne for a long time, and helped liberate it. Plus that house!" Giggling again, "You know how nice a candy house is?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "Yes, that seems prudent," Drena finally agrees, eyeing Kascha.
[20:21] <Afina> "I saw a few in the Court of Stars, they looked... nice enough," Afina allows. "I met one of the children of Androlynne there, too. She was very kind to me and Crystal."
[20:25] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm. Whenever any of us go to the Court, they treat us like royalty," Kascha drawls on and on, "Or they set it up so we can visit Evergold, or take us to see the Tree, or show us things from the Fourth."
[20:28] <Afina> "My, aren't you well regarded?" Afina smiles slyly. "I can only hope such esteem carries over from the outer to the inner planes. Anyway, is there anything else you'd like to know about this task, Drena?" she asks the more sensible of the two.
[20:31] <Kotono> "I do have some questions, but most of them can be answered by-" An interruption. Namely, Kascha sweeping Afina into a big giggly hug, "Gotcha!" she carols, smelling of the booze that leaves her so disarrayed. "So cute with that crazy hat," she giggles, "Is it candy too?"
[20:35] * Afina endures with good grace, though she gives Drena a put upon look. "Please don't bite it to find out," she pleads, at least somewhat charmed by Kascha's cheerfulness. It's a nice change of pace from all the doom and gloom the day's had. "And what did you mean 'too'?"
[20:38] <Kotono> Drena doesn't hide his amused smile as Kascha giggles, "Well, I bet pixies taste like candy! Donald says so!" Giggles follow, "Though he's not always right..." Blinking a moment, "Oh Afina, can I find out?"
[20:40] <Afina> "I've heard of big folk madly pursuing pixie dust for their concoctions but this is ridiculous..." Afina blushes, "No!" she wriggles in the hug to better face Kascha, reaching out and poking her nose. "No biting the pixies!"
[20:44] <Kotono> "But I wanna!" Kascha blushes, "I mean, just a lick?" With doe eyes, and in a low voice, "We can do it with a kiss, and in front of the boooys to make them like us more!" Giggling yet again, "It always works!"
[20:44] <Kotono> Drena clears his throat at this point, pulling one of Kascha's arms off Afina.
[20:48] <Afina> "Thank you!" Afina blurts out, moving so fast as to be a blur as she flees around to position herself behind Drena's shoulder. "I'm happy with not being liked anyway!" she protests now safely away from the overly amorous ghaele. "Anyway, if you have any more questions about this mission, come and see me tomorrow before you leave. I need to go and make a... thing," she ends, floundering a bit
[20:48] <Afina> before zipping away.
[20:53] <Kotono> "Wait!" Kascha is heard as Afina flees with all due haste, quite loud as she calls, "Afina, I just want to see if you taste like candy!" But fortunately Afina makes her getaway!
[21:03] <Kotono> The next morning is quiet. News of Jaela's condition filters to Afina at breakfast. As she listens to it and eats her meal, before she has a chance to react, "Ah, Afina?" It's Kascha, coming up, "Can you spare me a moment?" her head is down, a fierce blush already on her face. "Before I leave on that diplomatic trip, I wanted to apologize."
[21:05] <Afina> "Don't, really," Afina holds up a hand, smirking slightly. "I can... see the funny side. And after the day I had yesterday you were a breath of fresh air... stinky boozey fresh air, at that. Just ah, use your imagination as to what I taste like, please."
[21:07] <Kotono> That does get a few glances the two's way, "Oh, okay," Looking down, "If it makes you feel any better, if you were a boy pixie, I'd think you're really cute and have a crush on you." Kascha says quickly, before turning and fleeing away.
[21:09] * Afina has a good little laugh at that once Kascha's well away. It's amusing to see that desire for those of radically different sizes isn't just a pixie ailment, and she can admit to being a bit flattered. Still, though, she'd better go check in on Jaela. Finishing the rest of her breakfast, she gets up and flies over to portal to the hospital.
[21:10] <Kotono> As you reach the portals, you find Hanna emerging. "Oh, Afina!" she calls, "Are you busy?"
[21:11] <Afina> "Nothing that can't wait. What is it?" Afina asks, drawing to a stop.
[21:12] <Kotono> "Jaela could use some visitors to cheer her up. She's still weak from what happened to her and she's also heartbroken and hurt." Hanna says, "Are you up to it?"
[21:13] <Afina> "Oh, certainly," Afina nods, deciding not to say that doing so was the exact thing she was willing to put aside. "Terrible business, all of it."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Yes. Go. She's alone right now. I'll send others as I find them." Hanna says.
[21:15] <Afina> Nodding, Afina resumes her original journey!