Onesto and the Imperial Family
Following Vella Crean’s return to the Nexus and the subsequent attack at the Warren, Mystic and Aaron visit Vella Crean to see what’s transpired
Mystic is shocked and horrified by the war that has gripped the world, and even more upset to find Naeodin in a coma
Aaron stays behind with Maramia while Mystic runs back to the Warren to retrieve a healer
She summons Onesto and, after a short conversation, the cleric agrees to spend a week at the Crean with the hope of restoring Naeodin
Onesto arrives at the Vella Crean with Mystic and brings Naeodin out of her coma
In the time they’ve been gone, Shy also returned
A conflict ensues between Mystic and Shy, which Onesto puts a lid on with a quick, calm emotions spell
Naeodin is pleased with the powers of her new pet cleric
Mystic leaves soon after, promising to return before the week is out to check on Onesto and Naeodin’s progress
Onesto is granted a room of his own with a garden and given a short tour of the grounds
While setting up his garden, he is accosted by Shiqinth (Imperial Court hatchling), who ends up befriending the cleric and declaring to Shy that he wishes to spend his time in the garden
Shy is irritated but bemused and doesn’t reject the opportunity to visit the new cleric more - he has yet to make up his mind about Onesto, but he has to admit that the man is easy on the eyes
Tea comes up in discussion and Shy offers to show Onesto a few of his own favourites
The following day, Onesto attends his first council meeting as Naeodin’s aid
He is quiet and unobtrusive - until dragged into a discussion between Naeodin and Mia regarding what to do about the Death Court
Mia and Onesto butt heads - Mia wants absolute eradication while Onesto cautions for a more peaceful end to the conflict
When the council enters, he listens to their own ideas of what the future should look like, then sympathizes with Naeodin regarding the lack of progress
Onesto suggests that there are other voices that need to be heard
Naeodin agrees and suggests he build a peace delegation
The next day, Onesto ventures into the labs to meet with Shy
They spend some time discussing morals and ethics, and eventually Shy concedes that maaaaaaaybe he could give up absolute control over his projects’ mental faculties. A few of them at least.
The tea is very good
A few days later, Onesto is enjoying some zen meditation in his garden
Maramia arrives and very proudly shows Onesto her prized possession - a staff with Naxi’im’s horn she will use to stab stab him with
Onesto, being a pacifist, is a little put off by the spear - he engages Mia in a conversation about war and the consequences there of, and ends up offering therapy sessions
Mia is wary of the offer at first, but eventually accepts as he’s the first person to not write her off as insane right away
They begin weekly meditation and therapy sessions in his garden
Mystic returns and there are Feelings
A week after waking Naeodin from the coma, Mystic returns to check on things
She brings a gift of jewelry that will let Nae summon Onesto from anywhere on the Crean
Nae is overjoyed by the gift - both of the earring and her lovely new attendant
Nae asks Mystic to be nicer to Shy
Mystic categorically refuses
Naeodin accepts that this rift will never close (though she won’t stop trying) and engages Mystic in a chat about the future of the Vella Crean
The plan to send a peace delegation to the Death Court, to try to make amends / reach a detente
Meanwhile, other riders from the Warren arrive as well, as Onesto sent a letter back ahead of time stating that he would need more of his belongings - he is intending to stay
Onesto reconnects with an old friend who volunteered to bring his things over
Onesto invites the old friend up to his room for tea and talking
Maramia arrives at Onesto’s door during this tea time. She has council documents she doesn’t understand and the attempt to parse them is giving her a headache. Onesto is much better at reading politics.
Onesto introduces Maramia to his old friend/former lover and recounts stories of the war on Tris’Hath
Mia is intrigued by the war stories (Onesto used to fight! With a hammer!) and curiously bothered by the chumminess of the former lover. She will figure out those feelings later.
Later, Maramia thanks Mystic for her assistance in driving off the Death Court
She would be more thankful if the Warren could maybe send some knights? Or even some stabby weapons?
Mystic gently reminds her that Lanutha cannot offer more aid than it has already done, and to maybe listen to her mother’s plans for peace talks
Onesto settles in
There are more attacks on the Vella Crean, but with Onesto’s assistance and the guidance offered by veterans of the hydra war (who just happened to be visiting the area and certainly are not there on Mystic’s orders to give the riders of the Vella Crean valuable knowledge of tactics), they mitigate most of the damage
Onesto’s esteem with the council goes up
Onesto’s esteem with the general goes down
Onesto attends tea time with Shy and discusses the morality of forcing creations to obey their creator
Shy does the unthinkable and opts to change his approach to creating his pets. He will provide suggestions instead of commands
There are plans for the first Court clutch in over five years at the Crean
Big problems
The more time Onesto spends around Mia, the more he can’t stop thinking about her
Naeodin doesn’t understand the concept of rest
Though Onesto tries to keep the aged Empress under control, she insists on blasting off into the Nexus to see all her old friends again - Onesto has no choice but to tag along
During their trips, he ruminates, he analyzes
Upon returning to the Crean and to the meditation sessions with Mia, Onesto has the heart-stopping realization that he likes her - like a lot
This is bad. This is job-ending, head-chopping levels of bad. One does not pine after the daughter of one’s boss.
Onesto loses his cool and runs to Shy to seek aid
Shy gets his signals crossed and thinks Onesto is coming onto him
Onesto corrects him that no, it’s Mia that’s got him all twitterpaited
Shy is not impressed, but offers Onesto advice nonetheless (see, isn’t he a much better option?)
Nae wants to go to the Flurry! And the Checkerboard Ball! And Tris’Hath! And! And! And!
Suddenly, the Empress’ travel itch doesn’t seem like such a bad idea
Onesto agrees to travel with her (and not because he’s running away)
Mia is left behind to stew
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