Emancipation

[Anastasia]

"Yeah?" Donald smiles, "I knew there was a reason we get along!"

[Corwin]

"There's plenty of reasons we get along! We like to fight Sharrans together," she responds, counting on her fingers. "And there's fighting slavers, devils, demons, other fiends...."

[Anastasia]

A connection as Donald smiles, strong and vibrant, felt between the two of you.

"There we go," Donald's smile turns into a grin. "Feel that?"

Node update, go read.

[Corwin]

Yep

"There we go," Seira agrees with an easy smile. "How about you get Elle and Kascha? I'll bring Ranbar over, and we should be all gathered by then."

[Anastasia]

Donald gets up to do that - as Xera comes in ahead of the others, "Mother," she calls. "Are you well? The others are coming."

[Corwin]

Xera gets a hug of her own as she comes closer! "Yes, it's a pretty great and conflict-free moment for the Cauldron. I'm glad to see you so lively as well!"

[Anastasia]

A warm hug back, "Thank you. We've been hard at work this entire time - besides that one time in Hilesville." Xera replies. "How's Emily and Mother?"

[Corwin]

"Your mother has someone new around that she'll guide to a better life," Seira tells her daughter. Whether Bethany would become that apprentice and, with time, proxy that Amaryl had been searching for is up to the two of them, of course.

"As for Emily, you've just missed her. She was worried over a friend who suffered at the hands of Sharrans, so I told her to bring that girl over. It's not a strictly family dinner, after all, so a guest is welcome. And speaking of guests, how is Zariel?"

[Anastasia]

"She's doing well with a purpose. She's thrown herself into her task, often to avoid thinking too much about the choices she's made in my opinion," Xera admits as she goes to sit. "Or to think about them only in chunks she can deal with. Her load is a weighty one, and I believe she does not believe she can bear all of it at once, not yet."

[Corwin]

"It sounds like the two of you are on top of things," Seira muses. "I presume she's with Amaryl at the moment?"

[Anastasia]

"Amaryl and Kascha and Ranbar," Xera says, "Are they all coming to dinner as well, Mother? It sounds like Mother invited Ranbar at least."

[Corwin]

"Yes," Seira immediately affirms. "Although we'll have a family-only afterparty of sorts, past dessert. I got the feeling that you wanted to talk about something private, but it didn't sound very urgent, hence this setup."

Seira leaves the chance for Xera to correct her, of course!

[Anastasia]

"It's not," Xera agrees, as the door opens. Donald comes on back with Elle, Kascha trotting along with her. "Is it really going to be nothing but candy tonight," Kascha asks as they all come in, going ot sit down.

"The others are coming," Elle says, "Ranbar got to talking about games with Zariel." With an easy smile, "More for us, anyway."

[Corwin]

"That's a culinary mystery," Seira demurs. Vayley will without a doubt make all their favorite dishes, but even Seira herself is excited to see how the head maid will interpret them with candy as the visual theme.

Emily, do you need a gate back? We're about to start.

[Anastasia]

'She's being stubborn, I'll be a little while longer.'