Anatole finishes off a hunk of buttered bread with a thick layer of preserve on top. He licks his thick fingers, eyes swivelling lazily to Vincent when the Flamesiren speaks.
A faint smile creases his beard (eyes flash at Sonnie Wu exuberance).
"Oh I am all for the horror. Fear has a place - and a powerful one at that! - which I truly love: the brutality of it; the majesty of it when done properly... The justness of it - again when it is brought forth for the right reasons. That is what the Ash says to me at least."
He pauses, absently licking his teeth.
"There is an unbridled grotesquery to Autumn as well. And it can be such catharsis to let rip and cast aside all propriety, morals and even social mores to bring out the Fear."
"But there is another side to Autumn - hearth, home, harvest. The gathering in before Winter sets in. Tacking stock and simply enjoying the fruits of one's labour. I particularly enjoy that aspect. To be honest, its a simple little emotion that doesn't get enough time to shine and gets lost in all the Horror to come. No other Court quite brings it to the fore..."
A quick glance to Seraphina.
"The Emerald takes hold of life and squeezes it for all it is worth. This is an active passion. This is taking not gathering in. The Onyx miss the point as well. They wallow in their sorrow and their wintry isolation; they contemplate but this isn't enjoying but mourning and there is a big difference...."
He reached for a bunch of thick, juicy, grapes. His face tracks to Circe.
"Summer doesn't touch it either. Summer is about the heat and the ripeness of the season, certainly. But this is the final growth and the anticipation of what is to come. This is not reaping, gathering in. For you Crimson, I am sure you only see the fruit of your labour in the actions you take and the deeds that you accomplish... Not quite in the things you have collected and amassed for your stores."
Turning back to Vincent.
"I stand for Fear, but not so much for spookiness. The muggles have made a game of Fear because they are too scared to face it. They make it 'safe' and 'play' with it like a child splashing in a puddle. Fear is deeper than that; and it is no plaything. Coming close to Fear involves facing that which has broken you the most. It is not done lightly for even a brush with It can leave a scar on you."
And then he cannibalised the grapes.