Glorious Home

[Nephrite]

Moore nods and takes a seat.

"Thank you for the hospitality." Moore says

[Anastasia]

Martan sits with you, "It won't be long. So! Cresiel, your mother mentioned you haven't settled down yet. Have you considered dating? I have a niece here - terrible incident, really, but she's recovered from her death nicely - who would get along with you like cats in Rapture."

Cresiel shakes his head, "Perhaps a companion to join my crusades, but not merely for the sake of it. Someone who looks towards Chronias as well, and is welcoming and unafraid of the great joy that awaits all who embrace it."

[Nephrite]

"I'm working on getting him to lighten up a little bit." Moore interjects.

"It's a work in progress." Moore adds with a grin. "But I'm sure he'll find someone suitable for himself in time."

[Anastasia]

Your discussion is interrupted. The neigh of horses. Pegasi pull a flying carriage, coming down to the roof steadily, landing just above it. A butler in fine clothing drives them, then hops off and goes to open the carriage door.

"There we are," Martan says, "That was a pleasantly short wait."

[Nephrite]

"Goodness, I wasn't really expecting all of this. I hope it doesn't seem like I'm trying to throw my self-perceived importance around." Moore admits as he gets back to his feet!

[Anastasia]

"Yes, Duke," Cresiel says, voice bone-dry. "You are not, but in a place where rank is expected, titles are meaningful."

[Nephrite]

"You -do- have a sense of humor sometimes." Moore says. "I'm learning all sorts of things today."

With another grin he goes to get inside the carriage.

[Anastasia]

"I have not yet developed a spell to remove it," Cresiel says, deadpan.

You rise, but it is too late. The door opens and a woman in a rich, red gown is inside. Within sits a woman, of lucious red hair and vibrant green eyes. For a second you are utterly overwhelmed by her, seeing the most perfect beauty of all time, but this passes after a second. She rises, wearing beauty as naturally as her gown.

In an instant Cresiel rises and bows, "Empress," he greets. "You honor us with this unexpected meeting."

"Come now, Villisa is a friend," Empress Sulia smiles, "Your mother always enjoys your company; as such, I have invited her. Now then, you also bring Moore of Aurora. Greetings, Duke."

[Nephrite]

Moore follows suit with Cresiel, offering a proper bow.

"It was not my intention to trouble you as such, Empress. I thank you very much for the opportunity to meet you personally, nonetheless." He rises afterwards. "Please accept my heartfelt thanks to the assistance you have given to Aurora in the past as well as the aid that I am sure they will continue to need in the future."

There was part of that that went by almost unnoticed... she invited Cresiel's mother, too?

Oh boy...

[Anastasia]

A laugh, a beautiful thing that thrills your hearts. "Why thank you, Moore. What aid was that in particular?" Empress Sulia asks.

Cresiel merely takes his seat again, offering no comment.

Martan rises and bows as well, "Empress," he greets.

[Nephrite]

"Ah, if you want specifics, I'd have to go back there and ask around." Moore admits. "However, I know Brightwater in general was a staunch ally to Aurora, it would be quite a surprise to me to find that you didn't have your hand in one particular piece of information or some subtle donation to them."

He pauses a moment. "I should note that although I do not officially work for them anymore, I do keep tabs on them -- it would be hard not to, after all they've done. Regardless, even though my focus is primarily Celestia now, I couldn't have managed to get where I am without Aurora to have helped me on my path. That's actually what brought me here to Brightwater." He explains.

[Anastasia]

"Oh really, do go on," Empress Sulia begins, "You've been a busy pixie to obtain ducal rank in Cele-" A pause, Sulia smiling.

"Cresiel!" The voice that speaks is melodious, that of a siren merely deigning not to sing. The woman that appears is a solar, ten feet tall and with six wings flaring out. She wears a wedding gown of white silk sans a veil, a red string wrapped around her right wrist. Her blonde hair is worn long, swaying as she comes over and half pulls Cresiel up into a hug. Then over his shoulder she peers at you, "Curious. That raises all sorts of questions about you, but if he makes you happy..."

Cresiel closes his eyes a moment, "Mother." A single word, loaded with meaning and a hint of exasperation.

"Yes, yes, I know Debonah has no dominion over you. But that's what shape changing is for, dear. You'd make a lovely woman - no offense, of course, Mr...?"

"Duke Moore of Celestia, the Duke of Songs and formerly of Aurora," Martan adds in, "Greetings, Lady Villisa."

[Nephrite]

This day.

Oh, this day.

Everything about this day is perfect in every way a day could be perfect.


Moore tips an invisible hat and offers a sweeping bow. "My introduction has been preempted, though the pleasure of meeting more of Cresiel's family is an honor." He offers as he stands back up with a beaming smile.

[Anastasia]

"Charmed," Villisa lets go of the embrace with her son and takes a seat, which grows to accommodate her. "Ah, so I presume you're working with Cresiel? Or was I right? Cresiel has had to take female form on occasion as a disguise, he makes a lovely woman. Don't worry, dear, I won't judge."

Cresiel merely keeps his expression calm and as stony as a mountain. "Mother."

"Oh, hush," Villisa says, "Smile! Act like your face isn't carved out of Moradin's stony ass. I'm just thrilled to see you, I heard about the work you did with Aurora. Excellent, excellent, all the lines of love destroyed by Taelfagn's schemes demanded nothing less than his destruction." Smiling herself as refreshments appear on the table in between the blinks of an eye, Villisa helps herself to tea. "I just want you to be happy, Cresiel. You're always off crusading along, fighting the good fight and being a role model for brooding, lonely paladins across Creation."

"Do leave time for love," Empress Sulia says agreeably, "Please excuse Villisa, she's...well, you see as she is. Attention flows to her like gold flows to Waukeen. I daresay she could entertain the dead so much they return to life."

"I'm happy crusading. Every time I see a soul freed, a life saved, that's my reward." Cresiel busies himself by having a glass of golden liquid, taking a long drink. "Also, don't."

"Don't what? Point out that saving them is only the beginning? That without making sure they're happy, the life you saved is empty and hollow. That without love, no more little mortals and no one to save?" Villisa says. "You're so focused on your crusades that you miss the bigger picture, Cresiel. You and your father both, but even he finds time for love if it smacks him in the face. Which I thought I might have to do, but he surprised me by taking the ini-"

"Mother." Cresiel closes his eyes a moment.

[Nephrite]

P E R F E C T I O N


"I can understand both sides of this, I think." Moore says, gently. "It's important to make sure people do lead fulfilling lives -- though if we stopped to ensure the happiness of everyone that we ever liberated, I think we'd... well, it'd be a laborious process. Not a bad one, of course, just..."

He smiles afterwards. "Regardless, I can only give you my word, Lady Villisa, that I'm taking good care of Cresiel. Ah... in a... platonic sense, I'm afraid. Perhaps in another life." He grins a bit at that before he continues. "Ah, I suppose I may as well take the opportunity to explain why we're here."

He clears his throat and straightens his posture a bit. "I wanted to introduce myself as working with Celestia. We've been given a missive to begin actively working against Shar and her agents across Creation. I know no one in Brightwater is a friend to Shar, so I thought it prudent to make sure our neighbors understood where we stand on that matter. I am not here asking for any investment of money or individuals, just ensuring that we are aware of each other, in case mutually beneficial information were to cross our paths."