Nymph interlude (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"My travels to the para-elemental planes are no secret, the devils probably saw an opportunity to poison the well before I got here," Afina comments after Bwimb vanishes, reaching up to wipe the stinging slime off her face. "So I can expect the same when I visit Magma later as well."

[Anastasia]

"I'm so sorry!" Bwimb II slumps down into a little puddle of bubbling ooze, "I should have talked to him better and calmed him down before. He only really gets angry when I don't do it right." She sounds despondent, voice heavy.

[Ebiris]

"That's nonsense, there's no one to blame for his behaviour but him," Afina turns on the younger Archomental. "You're not his keeper, Bwimb II. Don't ever blame yourself for what he does, and don't let him palm the blame off onto you either."

[Anastasia]

In your mind you hear, 'That's remarkably unhealthy. She's being abused.' Canderella sends.

Bwimb II just slumps, "But I am. I can make him act nicer, so I stay here and do that. Otherwise everyone will think Ooze is evil."

[Ebiris]

She gives Canderella a slight nod, matching her thoughts. "I'm not sure that's the right way to go about it," she tells Bwimb II. "It's clear he takes you for granted, and he didn't even register you when he came in to throw his weight around just now. I let it go after I raised the subject before, but after seeing that... Bwimb II, I truly think you need to get out of this fortress, out from under Bwimb's shadow."

[Anastasia]

'That, or we play the most dangerous game and attempt to put the bastard down,' Canderella remarks in your mind. 'If we could get Bwimb II to help us, just maybe...? That and the reward we could get would be unfathomable.'

Bubbles frowns deeply, "I think she's right, dearie. That man...ooze...thing is a brute."

Bwimb II slumps even smaller on the ground, "But he'll treat Muck badly without me, and what about all the elementals I'm helping find more out about Ooze? Father won't care about that. And and and what about the guests who come and...it would be my fault," she says in a quiet voice. "It's always my fault when something goes wrong."

27 comes up and nuzzles Bwimb II and says, "You don't know anything else, do you? All the power one could want and you know nothing but this place. Evil always repeats itself, just like how Lifasa is in chains, you are in chains."

[Ebiris]

'Killing an archomental isn't something we can just do on a whim, we'd need to prepare and come back,' she replies mentally to Canderella.

Aloud she says to Bwimb II, "It's not your fault, that's just what he's convinced you of because he won't accept responsibility himself. If you left here you could still help elementals that come to visit you, you'd be able to have guests visit without them being afraid of Bwimb, you could even take Muck with you. You're his daughter, but you're not his inferior."

[Anastasia]

Bwimb vibrates all about, rolling in waves. "B-but....I'd still not help anyone who comes here. I have to stay here, for Ooze."

[Ebiris]

"What about everyone that comes to Ooze but stays away from here because they're scared of Bwimb?" suggests another perspective on that argument. It's cruel but considering the story of that bard she has to follow with, "What about the people that come to visit you and only get killed by Bwimb?"

[Anastasia]

"You can do more good away from that brute, love," Bubbles says, "There's so much more that you can be."

Bwimb II flattens again, "I..I can't," she says, weakly. "I just can't leave."

[Ebiris]

"It is a big step," Afina concedes. "But why don't you just try it for a little while? Take a tour of Ooze, visit places that deserve an archomental's attention and get to know the rest of your subjects? Even a little time away from here might do you some good, Bwimb II."

[Anastasia]

"I'll think about it," she says, voice barely audible as she's little more than a shrinking puddle of goo now.

[Ebiris]

"I'm sorry, Bwimb II," Afina flutters over and crouches down to pat the puddle. "I know this is hard, but we only want you to be happy. We'll go now to let you have a think, but I'll come visit again," she promises.

[Anastasia]

"O-okay..." Bwimb II stays like that, as Canderella gently sighs and rises.

"You'll endure," she says, "We'll bring someone who can sing next time, too."

[Ebiris]

"Oh yes, I know some very good singers. I could even show you a dance too," Afina agrees to try and give Bwimb II something to look forward to. "Thank you again for all your help, it was really nice meeting you." She steps back away from the sad little puddle of para-elemental might before opening a Gate back to Aurora on Elysium.