Gossiping (Afina)

[Ebiris]

That's a fair argument, and if she doesn't like it she can always just buy new clothes. "I'll keep that in mind," she nods, starting to flutter along more purposefully towards a portal. "Lets go visit Azuril's shop and see what's on offer?" Everyone always likes going to Brightwater for their shopping sprees but it's important to support local establishments!

[Anastasia]

Like this, a shopping spree is begun. Azuril is all too happy to have you, taking measurements and fitting you into this and that. Hours of chatter and fitting pass, Crystal even going and getting a light meal for the two of you while you try on another combination. When it's all said and done, you have several article ready to wear, and a promise of more being delivered soon. Crystal goes up to Azuril and passes over a good deal of gold, "I have this, Afina. My finanical fortunes have a last rebounded, for the affair int he Astral passed a magical token of great value into my possessions and lead to enhanced prosperity."

Loot post for Crystal.

[Ebiris]

With Crystal she doesn't have to be too strict about paying back debts so she accepts the gift in good spirits. Leaving her hat and cloak behind to be dyed and redesigned according to her specifications she flies out of Blazing Fashions dressed in a clingy silvery-white dress with short sleeves and skirt that billows just a little around her slender hips, though it comes up to her neck at the front it does require a shorter cut at the back to allow for her wings. It has a simple design built in two blocks, the right side having red horizontal stripes atop the white background while the left side is predominantly blue with cutouts for little stars scattered across it. Her leggings are of the same material with similar designs but crossed over so stripes adorn her left leg and stars coat her right.

Given it only has three colours and that's if you include the white it's fairly conservative by Afina's standards, but she seems quite pleased with it.

[Anastasia]

Crystal's flying along, smiling smugly as you come out. "You're ready to break some hearts in that," Crystal advises, "Bards will sing of your rampage and male pixies and courre will lament the day they saw the impossibly beautiful, lovely and captivating Afina, for after that they could love none other as freely and wholly as her."

[Ebiris]

"Laying it on a little bit thick aren't you?" Afina smiles indulgently. "Still, I'm definitely keeping this one in my rotation. It's good day to day wear."

[Anastasia]

"Well yes, but you still need romance," Crystal says, waggling a finger, "Now I know the maiden plays innocent, but the truth is that you do. You just don't know it yet." Smiling now, "But dress like this and you're one step closer."

[Ebiris]

Well Crystal did just buy her clothes so Afina will consider it fair recompense to listen to this sappy nonsense. But the first chance she gets she's going to foist her off onto Jaela's evil item rehabilitation program. "I'll be sure to thank you properly if these clothes bring me love," she says deadpan. "Now do you want to help me with the sensual delight of scraping dust off my wings?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes yes, I suppose the mundane must be seen to." With a teasing smile, "I wonder if Her Majesty is having Moore help her with that. In all truth she seems to be adapting, yet one can still see the sighs, she has a hopeless crush on him, as strong and potent as the headiest wine."

[Ebiris]

"It's bizarre is what it is, I've never seen her like that," Afina says as she starts heading towards her quarters now, with a quick detour at the lab to grab a glass vial she can store any collected dust in. "I suppose it's the strongest evidence for her change in temperament not being mere affectation."

[Anastasia]

"Afina," Crystal says gently as they reach her quarters, "It's not bizarre for her to fall in love. Her heart beats as surely as ours, not cold ice nor unfeeling stone. Perhaps as much as anything it's surprised her, an unseen thief in the night taking her heart away."

[Ebiris]

"While not as exalted as knights or nobility, my position back on Lifasa kept me very close to her Majesty, and I've seen a great many of her 'romances' over the years," Afina tells Crystal, going to grab a blunt knife before she settles on the window-ledge. "Every one of them was artifice that strengthened her position and weakened her enemies, and ended in blood for her paramours. Blood drawn by me."

[Anastasia]

Crystal takes the knife and a small basket, beginning to work on Afina's wings. "Perhaps none are unchanged by the planes," Crystal muses, "Those wiser than I have said these planes are something mortals, and even our kind, are best kept away from. Through all the loss, pain and misery we have suffered, has she rekindled her heart's passions? I know not, but after her captivity, would she deserve anything less than a chance to find happiness?"

Crystal's voice is soft and gentle as she works, "I love Lifasa so I battle for it. I love you as a friend, so I am here for you and will lay down my life should you need it. There is little love cannot overcome, Afina. Not even a heart such as Her Majesty's." She then laughs, "Ah, I sound more a celestial preacher than a pixie. But I choose to believe this than to think she will use Moore like a rag and cast him away once done."

[Ebiris]

"I don't think she will. Like I've been saying her behaviour is too unlike what she displayed in the past for her seductions," Afina says, twisting a little so she can scrape dust off the wing Crystal isn't working on. It feels a little uncomfortable but the steel knife can't damage her wings any at least.

"I wonder if there's a better way of harvesting this stuff. Do you think wizards have special pixie dust catching tools?"

[Anastasia]

"We could ask Tepen," Crystal suggests, "He could create a spell for it." As the two work Crystal remarks, "Then that's good. Then why keep calling it bizarre..." she trails off, "Afina, do you resent Moore?"

[Ebiris]

"I don't resent Moore in the least," Afina answers stiffly. "Now let's discontinue this conversation."

She's not going to spread sedition but Crystal's a smart girl, nothing more need be said.