To make the glass full (Afina)

[Anastasia]

Afina's getting her things together, preparing herself for her trip to the Cauldron. The power of earth beckons her, and with it one step closer to completion. She's sorting through her closet, checking possessions and generally taking a quiet day to get life in order.

It's then that there is a knock on her door, disturbing her preparations.

We'll get your elementalism quest going shortly, Afina.

[Ebiris]

Closing the closet and turning towards the door Afina calls out, "Come in."

[Anastasia]

It's Mei. She comes in, something in hand. It's a simple stone, a brown fieldstone. She smiles and comes forward, pressing it into Afina's hands.

[Ebiris]

Afina accepts the stone and holds it against her breast, the meaning behind it obvious. While acclimatisation towards Earth won't be as necessary as it was for Water, where she already had the conflicting impulses of Fire within her, it's still important to have an appreciation for the element she hopes to soon take within herself. Speaking of, she floats down to rest her feet on the ground rather than take her usual posture of hovering at eye-height for whoever she's dealing with.

"A thoughtful gift, you have my thanks Mei," she says to the mute elf. Of course fey standards of behaviour dictate that any gift be reciprocated at the soonest juncture, a potential problem given Mei's attitude towards worldly belongings. Also she really doesn't have much to spare herself right now. Then again as a master craftsfairy all she really needs is material. Walking over to her nightstand she takes a glass vase and empties the flowers out of it, casting fabricate the fashion it into a glass sculpture of a female elf in modest robes, her eyes closed and her posture one of prayer. That should appeal to Mei's religious sensibilities.

[17:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+35 craft sculpting
[17:55] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 49 > [d20=14]

It comes out quite well too, in Afina's opinion! Probably worth a fair copper, but if it's a problem Mei can surely sell it and donate it the proceeds to a worthy cause, or just let it decorate that temple Jaela established. Walking back over she presents it to the elf. "Among the fey a gift must always be answered with another."

[Anastasia]

Mei takes the statue and examines it, before smiling. She goes to Afina's table and puts it there, then goes back to Afina and sweeps her into a hug. A rather long one, before she lets go and kisses Afina's forehead.

[Ebiris]

Ahh yes, that whole thing about looking like a child to big folk. Afina submits to the hugs and kisses without protest. Really it's not bad to be shown some affection now and then. "I'll be visiting the Cauldron shortly for this," she holds up the brown rock in her hand, "With Kascha. Would you like to come along?" she invites since Mei's taking an interest.

[Anastasia]

Mei nods to that, quite quickly.

[Ebiris]

"Then you're very welcome to come," Afina says, glad for the company. "We haven't spent much time together so this is a good chance to get to know one another." The interesting thing about talking to someone who's mute is that she ends up talking more herself to give Mei's expressiveness something to work with. Crystal would surely be proud. "The Cauldron makes for a pleasant visit, and there were lots of impressive elemental effects when I took Water into myself."

[Anastasia]

Mei nods and smiles, spreading her arms wide. She looks interested, tapping her chest with a finger. Right over her heart.

[Ebiris]

"You want to have a heart to heart?" Afina asks, amused. "Well, we have time before Kascha's ready. Why don't you pick somewhere we can go and... if not chat then at least try to understand one another?" Having a normal conversation isn't the easiest thing under these circumstances so letting Mei pick the setting at least makes sense to make up for her lack of verbal communication.

[Anastasia]

Mei nods and leads you along. To a portal and to the baths. You can already hear the sound of conversation from ahead, female voices not quite distinct to your ears. Mei quickly puts aside her robe and heads within.

[Ebiris]

It's not a bad spot, for all that it feels a little superfluous here on the elemental plane of Water. But everyone loves the baths.

Except Simmer.

She'll have to do something nice for the pyrodryad later, it was her idea to come here after all. Taking a little longer to peel off her own rather more involved getup, Afina walks after Mei into the baths proper. Her clammy pink skin won't stand out as much here at least, with the steam from hot water having its effects on everyone.

[Anastasia]

Inside are several women - Ebony, Canderella and Misalea. They're chatting away, floating wooden trays drifting between them. Drinks and snacks are on the tables, little cakes and sweet things joined by amber-colored wine.

"...and I'm glad I wasn't hungry for fish," Misalea says, as Canderella snickers.

Mei quickly slips in, "Oh ho," Canderella says, "More for the party! Elena, get someone to bring us some more food and drink!" She smiles warmly, taking a glass of wine and starting in on it.

Ebony glances your way, "Hello Afina, Mei."

[Ebiris]

"Hello you three," Afina nods in greeting to the other three ladies, slipping into the water and bobbing about easily as she sticks close to Mei. Does she want the others around to help fill in any awkward silences? It's not a bad idea, she supposes. "So, anything in particular you're curious about?" she asks the knight of the triune, trusting she can pantomine enough for Afina to make sense of her desires and work from there.

[Anastasia]

Mei points at the steam rising up, then at Afina, then taps the stone floor just outside of the tub.

Meanwhile Misalea goes on, "Hi, you two. But anyway, no one was seriously ill after the healers came. It did ruin all of our nights..." she trails off, "Mei, are you trying to say something?"

Ebony nabs a little bit of chocolate cake with two fingers, popping it into her mouth. She smiles slowly, sighing in contentment. "Steam, Afina, stone. It seems to be an elemental question?"