Wrap up (Various)

[Ebiris]

Afina glances over at Jaela and furrows her brow a little. "I can't tell if that was deliberate or just remarkably poorly timed," she says, before giving the snow weird a smile. "Greetings," she says in Auran. "My name is Afina Devilsbane. My companions and I have come to learn the wisdom of Ice."

[Corwin]

"We all try to learn the wisdom differently?" Jaela muses with an apologetic shrug, smiling at the spirit herself. "Hello."

[Anastasia]

Mirajane steps forward and starts to speak, then stops.

The snow weird nods and smiles.

Mirajane smiles as well.

The snow weird chuckles.

Mirajane goes, "Hmmmm," and then nods once. "It was good talking to you."

The snow weird then speaks aloud, "Afina, Jaela, Mirajane, Hanna. I am Snowflake. Afina, this is your quest? Tell me why you seek Absolute Zero, in your own words."

[Ebiris]

Afina's head swings back and forth between Mirajane and the Weird as they... converse. She'll just let it slide, she thinks.

"Well met, Snowflake. I come to better myself - I embody all four of the elements, and in attaining this state I had to reconcile within myself how to accept clashing opposites. The hatred of Fire and Water, the impossibility of Air and Earth. But I've neglected the places where those elements naturally merge, where Smoke, Ice, Ooze, and Magma come to be.

I can never fully master one element - there will always have to be a balance within myself. The fire and earth inside of me sets me apart from the usual pilgrims seen here, and I cannot - will not, eschew them. But by learning from those who do fully embody their elements, and reflecting on those lessons in places of power such as this, I believe I can find better harmonies in my own elements."

[Anastasia]

"You are not my enemy, then," Snowflake steps aside, "Others within may not share that, no matter what words you weave. The presence of fire and earth within you will drive them to a murderous rage. Be prepared."

[Ebiris]

"I'll avoid expressing those elements, but I have few ways to quell a murderous rage beyond murder of my own," Afina says. "Thank you for your warning, Snowflake. Before we continue, would you favour me by saying what Ice is to you?"

[Anastasia]

"Ice is my husband. I have given myself to Ice, and one day Ice shall give me a child." She smiles serenely, hands to her belly. "Destiny shall be thick around this child."

[Ebiris]

"Destiny isn't what it's cracked up to be," Afina offers. "But congratulations," she glances down at Snowflake's stomach, wondering exactly how that would work out. Well, it's probably not a type of wisdom she can employ for herself.

[Anastasia]

"Thank you," Snowflake replies, "Be well, Afina Devilsbane. Come again, Mirajane."

Hanna watches all of this calmly, following along with the others after.

"I will try to, but destiny will lead where it leads," Mirajane says, "My future is not yet decided."

[Ebiris]

"Farewell," Afina says, flying on past Snowflake now. "Better to decide your future for yourself than have it decided for you," she says to Mirajane on that note.

[Anastasia]

Mirajane nods. "Mother, she was flattered by your copying her snowflakes. We had a long conversation like that. She's sweet for a snow weird."

[Corwin]

"Really?" Jaela asks with a grin. "Happy to hear it. I hoped it would look nice, and it did, clothing mishap aside. Did she have any ideas for other designs? Perhaps for you?"

[Anastasia]

"We didn't talk about that. We did talk about other things, like my first kiss," Mirajane smiles at that, "Also about Afina's chances and how wonderful it is to have a conversation without speaking. You can say so much more when you're both seeing the future possibilities rather than following present time."

[Corwin]

"First kiss?" Jaela takes the bait with gusto. "Is that a real kiss or a Seer conversation type of kiss?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Mirajane merely says as you head along. The passage narrows, the floor growing icier. Walking's tricky now, your balance tested. Ahead are icy stairs going further down.

From now on, note that the terrain is difficult terrain. Takes double movement to go through a square and Balance checks are required. Obviously, flying negates this.