Ready to roar

[Anastasia]

Gulp! Down that wine goes, Emily draining her glass in one long drink and going for more.

Amaryl merely holds her position now, waiting.

Really waiting on an Iddypost here.

[Corwin]

Seira tries the roast, switching Emily second glass with grape juice and giving her daughter the gimlet eye once she realizes the swap.

[Anastasia]

The roast is excellent, as are the potatoes and vegetables with it.

Emily has a sip and gives you a resigned, annoyed look.

[Corwin]

Seira smiles, rather pleased with herself. "Agathaiel, would you like to share a few stories from Kesse?" she suggests, in the hopes that Emily would be happy with the subject.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Not to be combative, but I feel they do align. Politeness and propriety as a guest do impose weight of decorum for a guest, but also for the host. Since we began this line of conversation you've told me that I'm embarrassing and all but called me foolish for acting within the bounds of the Order I've sworn myself to simply because my level of power would allow me to take control. To me, this is quite insulting, even if you did not mean it to be so.

You've also insinuated that I've been very slow in becoming accustomed to my power, yet nothing like this has ever happened before. Jumping into pools of power sourced from a being like Io is usually quite fatal in my experience. You've blatantly insulted one of the core magical practices of my Order based on the magical ability of myself and Emily, yet every single other person in my order has no choice but to rely on it to reach past a certain level of power. It's what allowed us to establish our Spellpool, a thing your representatives commented on as being impressive and requiring massive resources otherwise.

You've told me nothing I've done that you describe as insulting is worth acknowledging as such for no other reason than we have no value to you, which is a rather blatant slap in the face insult. You've also nearly flat out told me that my desire to explore is foolish, yet that is a core tenet of my faith for Shaundakul, which hits very close to my heart.

You've told me I've ignored diplomacy, but I've found almost all of your comments on nearly every facet of my life, which has led me to this point, rather rude. While my response was rude in kind, you refused to even acknowledge your own comments as rude, which is rather out-of-hand dismissive. Those are all things I place value on, and you have imposed your own assumptions as hard fact as to my motivations. You have been far more personally insulting, even if only through thoughtlessness to the value of those things, to me at nearly every turn than anything I might have implied could ever be."

[Anastasia]

"I do," Agathiel murmurs, "But ah, it may not be prudent to begin."

Emily groans, a hand going to her face. "Can you two apologize if you're bickering and get along? Please? I really don't want you to argue."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I'm quite willing to chalk this up to a difference of philosophy and an intellectual exercise and move on to this lovely meal."

[Corwin]

"You're using my rudeness as an excuse to dismiss my advice and warnings," Seira tells Alyssa, giving her a polite elfin smile. "Misrepresenting my stated opinions as insults was unfortunate, but I will apologize for the unintended slight. Unintended, by the way, because I believe I am quite direct when I wish to say something and see no need to resort to backhanded compliments or insinuations. Why, you could ask anyone at this table! If I want to let someone know of my negative opinion of them, I will do so, from a prepubescent child to a Lord of Hell, and not in a coy fashion either."

Turning the smile at her daughter, Seira tells her, "Emily, I'm willing to drop things, but I would be saddened if you misunderstood. Arguing is healthy and important, as the worst place you could find yourself in is an echo chamber. Only when things turn mean-spirited does the value in it disappear."

[Anastasia]

Emily sips at her grape juice tiredly, "I understand, Mom," she says, "How about we just focus on the meal now?"

[Corwin]

"If you wish."

[Anastasia]

I'm mostly intending to skip us along now. Any objection, you two? In the meantime since Iddy's at work, enjoy a story in the next post, unless you two rapidfire post back.

[Corwin]

My one concern was to ensure the argument wasn't personal. Assuming it hasn't turned that way for Iddy I have no objections to a skip.

[Iron Dragoon]

Nah, not for me. I do have a couple points to bring up OOC once I'm not on a phone, but I didn't take anything personal. I sorta expected it once we got on the topic since it was NG vs CN. I think a bit of it might have been us talking past each other, but that's part of the OOC stuff I mentioned.

[Anastasia]

Thus the dinner passes nicely enough. It's a good meal and stories help change the subject.

Once dessert is served, a rich cake drizzled with chocolate and berries, "So," Emily says, "I'm going back soon. I just want to say I'm sorry about the whole ring business, I really am."

[Corwin]

"Do make sure to recompense Waukeen for the loss," Seira tells her. "That is one thing I will not aid you with. That said, Amaryl and I will be there if you need us, even if it's not a matter of life or death."

To Alyssa, Seira says, "I intend to have Agatha available for Emily, as I said earlier, to keep her safe for the duration of the crisis. Would it be possible to impose on the Order for living space, or do I need to make other arrangements? I believe her considerable knowledge of dealing with a land infested with Shar's cults alone will be suitable recompense for the imposition."