The mystery of Benfal (Moore, Tryll)

[Nephrite]

"I'm not sure I'm so important that I need Sir appended to my name yet." Moore says with a chuckle.

[Anastasia]

"You're Queenie's beau," The pixie giggles again, "You're like a General Afina or a General Crystal, really important! I bet you even hang out with them when you aren't killing devils!"

[Nephrite]

"You could hang out with any of them if you wanted to, you know. They're not nearly as unapproachable as you probably think." Moore explains. "Besides, Afina and Jaela have earned their titles -- I'm just good at talking."

[Anastasia]

A scandalized giggle follows, "Oh, I bet you're good at using your mouth!"

[Nephrite]

"I really walked right into that one, didn't I?" He says with a sigh.

[Anastasia]

"Yeppers!" Ellie says with a little waggle of her finger, "I hope you're good at that for Queenie's sake! She's so serious, she needs to have some fun!"

[Nephrite]

"I endeavor to help her be herself, rather than the Queen of the Lifasan Court." Moore says with some honesty.

[Anastasia]

Ellie laughs and goes off with a little wave, and just in time. Ilsenine enters just after she leaves, the Queen coming over to you, "Moore," she says, "I am heartened to see you well."

[Nephrite]

"Your Majesty." Moore says as he bows and then kneels as is proper. "Please, forgive me. I told you when we spoke for one of the first times that if you wanted to be yourself, rather than Queen, I would try and help you. I've been remiss the past few days in not keeping that promise. I continually find myself at odds with how I should behave to save you effort and reduce the whispers you have to deal with, yet I never once actually asked you. So allow me to apologize for not treating you like... Illsenine and too much like Queen." Moore says with an apologetic smile.

"It's something I will rectify going forward."

[Anastasia]

Make a Diplomacy check here to see how high and deep you pile it.

[Nephrite]

10 for 65!

[Anastasia]

Full disclosure: That was 100% the right tack to take here. Normally that wouldn't require a social check, but in this case I wanna see how well you sold it.

"Oh..." Queen Ilsenine has a blushing, stricken look for a moment, but it's quickly pushed aside. She goes from softly murmuring oh to a calmer, "Thank you, Moore. We-ah. I am grateful for your attention." Her cheeks are still red.

[Nephrite]

"I'm sorry, really. I think too much of the stories of the pauper who romances someone of royal blood and how it makes them look weak to consider them." Moore says as he looks like he's relaxing a bit more as he stands up.

"I need to keep in mind that if that were a problem, you're more than capable of handling it. Aurora is a rather unique situation all things considered and... truth be told, I think I've earned my spot in its ranks, as well as within the Court, so if anyone has a problem with me... they can take up with me." He clears his throat after that. "Anyway, now that I've ruined the mood a little, would you like to hear the report on Benfal?"

[Anastasia]

"Please," Queen Ilsenine smiles, "I am ready to hear your report."

[Nephrite]

Moore clears his throat and will retell the story of his adventures with Adrian, including meeting the assassin and the devil... whatever it was. His antics of supporting the troops from hundreds of feet away!

Take 10 for 65 again here.

"I've left this part out of most of my explanations, but... Let me ask you something, Your Ma...ahem, Illsenine. Were you present in Benfal at all? Did you hear or see what happened right before it was uplifted?" Moore asks.