Yearning for liberation (Afina)

[Anastasia]

"Dearie," Bubbles says with a wry smile, "You're strong enough to be a fey queen if you wanted to be. With your reputation, making your own court would be trivial. That's not being grandiose, that's being humble."

[Ebiris]

"Until I actually have a court behind me it's just empty boasting though, isn't it?" Afina retorts. "For all my personal strength, people follow me as a military leader more than anything else." That gets her to hum in thought for a moment as she considers the ramifications of that. "I should try wearing a beret sometime, on that note."

[Anastasia]

"As if royalty doesn't often spring from might of arms," Bubbles retorts with a smile, "A beret? Really? I could see it. I think you're better off with either bigger hats or eschewing them, as a beret would be in a strange middle zone for you."

[Ebiris]

"You might be right, I do prefer having the weight of something substantial on my head, and it presents a more visually arresting silhouette," Afina nods, accepting Bubbles' fashion advice. "So what are you thinking of wearing?"

[Anastasia]

"Something like yours, only more feminine. More foofy, something that makes me look like a counter part to you. If we're to fight together, I think it's only fitting," Bubbles leans forward, "Even if it will be a little annoying to fight in, it makes a tremendous fashion statement."

[Ebiris]

"Whatever hindrance it gives in the heat of battle will be repaid in your future reputation," Afina reassures, similarly leaning towards Bubbles. "Being memorable and having your fame spread is a power all of its own."

[Anastasia]

"Really?" Bubbles leans back and pats her lap, "Why don't you get comfortable and tell me all about it? What is it like to be so well known?"

[Ebiris]

"Honestly I thought you'd grasp it intuitively," Afina admits as with a little hop and a flutter she carries herself over to land on Bubbles' lap, sitting side on with her legs dangling off the side. "Being such a fashionably powerful nymph and all. Or is this just an excuse to hear me indulge in some self aggrandisement?" she smiles teasingly.

"It's nice," she begins, straightforwardly enough and leaning her head against Bubbles' upper arm as she reflects. "My name is enough to gain respect from potential friends - dragons excepted, and give pause to enemies. My presence on the battlefield is a threat impossible to ignore. It compels me to act openly and flagrantly, rather than as the subtle assassin I trained as. Which I confess I enjoy a great deal. Moreso since I became a prismatic pixie... something about my nature just makes me want to show off."

[Anastasia]

Bubbles starts to brush your hair with a tiny bit of magic, gentle strokes once she takes your hat off. "I understand, but I still want to hear it."

Once you finish Bubbles says, "Honey, I think you find out that you're meant to be a queen instead of an assassin. It merely took you time to grow into the role."

[Ebiris]

"I do feel like Baroness is a bit too lowly a title for how far I've come," Afina admits, humming contentedly as her hair is brushed smooth in its (of course) pixie-cut. "But I don't have the sort of contacts in the grander courts that I'd need to elevate myself beyond what Queen Ilsenine grants me."

[Anastasia]

"Then have Queen Ilsenine grant you something more," Bubbles says, "Have her make you a Duchess." She keeps the brushing up, slow. Mmmm. Relaxing. "I'd think she owes you more than that for saving her! I got the details on that little story."

[Ebiris]

"I'd still only be a Duchess of our little court here," Afina observes the flaw. Though to be fair she doesn't know how much influence Ilsenine holds in the greater courts that she herself is a member of. "I'd like a higher place in the courts of Summer or Seelie. For that matter I feel like I have a good claim to just outright take over the court of Rainbows. But I'm just not fully up on sylvan politics, and my non-fey nature presents a handicap."

Though of course Titania would understand about that last thing.

[Anastasia]

"Well then," Bubbles smiles, "I think I have a project. How about I go visiting the Seelie Court and find out? We still have a few days, that should be enough to dig up some details."

[Ebiris]

"You'd do that?" she cranes her neck up to look her lover in the eye. "Thanks. I'll make use of whatever you learn after we conclude our upcoming sortie."

[Anastasia]

"You're welcome," Bubbles smiles, a calm expression as she keeps brushing your hair. "You'll pay me back when I have the money to have you make me all sorts of useful things, too. This is no great thing, Afina. You deserve better."