(Private) The Coat Factory

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie smiled as the Winter Courtier suddenly had a bunch of details to add to his order. "Of course you want pockets! Pockets are the best!" She nodded firmly, for this was a fact. "I... got no bones. But sometimes the Wyrd provides." Ivory being unethical was a bit of a sticking point for the Beast, indeed. Probably why she didn't mention it. Of course, Hedge ivory might come from anything. "Got a bit of a Frosty fetish?" she teased.

She raised an eyebrow curiously, "It's a pizza party. You know, pies, drinks, music. Fairly simply. I just want to keep a steady stream of social functions for the freehold during my... tenure." The Spring Queen gave a slight shrug, "Tea parties have never been my speed. I wouldn't know which pinky finger to stick out. My events are more focused on fun than fanciness. Sera wasn't much different. We had pool parties and such when she was Queen."

Sonnie clapped her hands together and looked at the supplies on the table. "So, shall we begin? The ice is gonna melt if I wait much longer." There was a laugh, "So, my process is to tell a story about the hedgespun thing. I feel that encourages the Wyrd to participate and help me craft the item. I got an idea as to the story here, unless you have some input?" It was going to be Sven's coat, after all. The story should suit his tastes.

I'm not too worried. We may likely have this done before the pizza party scene starts, or very close.

[Svelte Sven]

There was pause that lasted the better part of a minute as Sven tried to process the phrase 'Frosty fetish' and return with a suitable response. Evidently, it was a difficult task for him. Eventually, he managed to mutter, "Not really." He had a rare, irritated expression as he struggled to keep his face from flushing. The Darkling abruptly cleared his throat before moving the conversation forward.

"Pizza party. Got it." A very small part of Sven was disappointed that he wouldn't have to use his talents for etiquette, but it was just as well. He would be there to facilitate whatever the host desired, not to offer his opinion. "I rather like the idea of hosting regular social functions." He said, his features resolving into a slightly warm smile. "It seems like a good way to keep the Freehold together. I'll be looking forward to it."

"Tell a story?" Sven had basically no experience when it came to Hedgespinning, so this was all new to him. "I... might have ideas. If I understand you correctly. Like... 'there was a weapon that could only be wielded by the worthy' for a sword or something?" He sounded genuinely unsure.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie wasn't going to tease Sven too hard, so she let it go after he looked uncomfortable. Moving on, she smiled, "Yeah, I feel it's the Spring Court's duty, you know? Keep the freehold's morale up? Sera did a great job of it and it's a tradition I want to continue." A nod, "So, just arrive beforehand to help me set up, and stay after to clean up, and we'll be good." The Spring Queen wasn't going to be a slave driver about the Darkling's end of the deal, so long as he held to it.

More nodding, "Right! Stuff like that! Like, with my staff, I told the story of how Sun Wukong got his mighty staff! As I recited it, all the pieces came together and I had my own version. The Wyrd likes stories, I believe." She untied the bag and dumped the ice onto the table. Cubes slid around, some dropping to the floor with a clatter, but most stayed in a pile. The Beast didn't seem to care about the cold mess. "How did your jacket come to be the way it is... or rather, how it will be? Give me your input and I'll work the Glamour."

[Svelte Sven]

"Believe it or not, despite Winters being called 'wet blankets', I think it's good for Spring to spread the joy around. Every Court should know its duty, and raising spirits is part of what the Vernal Court is meant for." It's hardly 'warm', but a sincere smile creeps its way across the Darkling's face before he gives a small bow. "I will do my utmost to ensure this will be a pizza party par excellence, Queen Sonja."

Sven's expression softened for a moment as he gathered his thoughts about the origin story of his coat-to-be. "Let's see... there was once an old woodsman in the frozen forests of the North." The Whisperwisp realized he'd probably be cannibalizing a few different folk tales, but what was the harm? The Brothers Grimm weren't likely to come after him. "He wore an old, battered coat to keep him warm as he worked through the long winter nights. It had been passed down in his family, but without children of his own, he didn't worry about patching it up so much. One day, he heard a cry in the woods and found a lost girl. The closest village was over about a full day's trip from his cabin, but in the dead of winter it wasn't safe to try to make the journey."

"So, the woodsman gave the girl his battered coat and brought her back to his home. The quiet old man didn't have any words of comfort for her, but he shared his fire and his food and gave her the only coat he owned. He nearly froze to death, but he never complained in front of the girl and always let her have the larger portion of food. As the first signs of spring showed, the girl thanked him and assured him that she could make the trip back home by herself. To his surprise and confusion, the coat she gave him looked nothing like the same old worn, beaten-up coat he'd had for so much of his life. The girl smiled at him and said, 'Oh, it's the same coat, deep-down. But I showed it some of the love that you showed me. You took me in and cared for me, despite owing me nothing. Now, it's fit for a true gentleman, like you.' To his surprise, the coat felt like his old familiar one, except it was somehow warmer and more comforting... like he was being embraced by all his loved ones who had passed. When he looked up from the coat with a smile, he noticed that his door was open and the girl was gone, though there were no footprints. There was only a light, snowy wind blowing." He glanced at Sonnie, unsure if he was... well, if he was doing it right. He had borrowed heavily from existing fairy tales, in particular cobbling together a Japanese story about a snow maiden and the various traditions of miraculous children and rewarding those that unknowingly assist the supernatural. It was a much more positive story than he had expected from his own imagination.

[Sonnie Wu]

"I appreciate the support!" The Director gave a big thumbs up to the Onyx Courtier.

Sonnie nodded encouragingly as Sven started to tell a tale. It sounded like a good one, but rather than pay rapt attention to the words, she got to work. Her hands messed around with the cloth and thread and ice on the table, arranging and rearranging them in erratic patterns. There was probably a method to her madness, but it was hard to discern. Or maybe it she was just making random gestures and hoping for the best. One could never tell with this Monkey Girl.

Yet, as Sven continued his slapdash fairy tale, it seemed to have an effect. The ice cubes started to jitter of their own accord. The cloth scraps and tangles of thread slithered about. Sonnie was concentrating, unusually hard for the easily distracted Beast. Her deft hands moved faster and faster, with sharp exact gestures, like an orchestra conductor. The tip of her tongue protruded between her lips. Ice, thread, cloth, and Sven's words began to merge together in the air over the table. Steadily, the shape of a coat appeared. Details became more and more apparent, like a blurry image slowly coming into focus.

It was a fascinating process, Hedgespinning. The creation of a physical object out of nothing substantial. Metaphor and imagination combining with the ambient Glamour of the Hedge to forge some magical and unique. For all this place may take from the Lost, it could give something amazing back if they tried hard enough.

Something like this. It was complete, Sven's icy coat, hovering in the air over the table. When the story ended, so did the power of the crafting, and the coat fell. Sonnie, ready and waiting, caught it. She looked the garment over for a moment, checking her work, then handed it to the Darkling. The Steepscrambler beamed proudly.

"As per my end of the Pledge, here is your Hedgespun coat, good sir!"

I was going to roll for the process, but the site is being uncooperative. Rolling isn't necessary, so we'll just skip it. Go ahead and describe your coat, if you wish!

[Svelte Sven]

Sven had been paying as much attention to Sonnie's efforts as he could afford without losing his concentration. He almost regretted not being able to focus squarely on the actual hedgespinning process, but he knew that his role was to supply the story, not gawk. Still, the few moments he could catch were mesmerizing... It reminded him that, while Arcadia and the Gentry were the stuff of nightmares, sometimes literally, the Hedge itself was a little more complicated. For every unsavory thing lurking under a bridge or in the woods, there were moments of genuine beauty and joy.

As Sonnie proudly displayed the fruits of their collective, if not necessarily equal, labor, the Whisperwisp gingerly reached out to touch the Raiment. It was cool to the touch, as expected, but not uncomfortably so. Without further hesitation, he wrapped it around his shoulders and buttoned it up. Looking close enough, you might think that each thread looked like an individual waterfall frozen in place. But from another angle, it was just a very nice coat done in a striking white. Sven couldn't help himself as a grin formed on his face. "It's wonderful." Not only did it look dashing, but the coat also felt light and comfortable. Despite being made from ice, the inside of the jacket was surprisingly warm just like in his story. Like a mother's love.

The Darkling bowed again to the Spring Queen. "I will be more than happy to fulfill my end of the bargain. Thank you, Queen Sonja."

I have no skill for Photoshop and I can't find any pictures of a white one, but this is at least the same style of coat as the one Sven requested

[Sonnie Wu]

None of the supplies remained. All the cloth scraps and threads were gone. The ice, consumed. There were but a few tiny puddles where some melt off had been left behind. The Tavern was kept at a nice temperature of a sunny spring day, after all. In any case, the hedgespun coat had absorbed all the ingredients and formed a new composite entity. Sonnie looked it over as Sven donned it, nodding approvingly.

"Very striking! I like it! And I'm glad you do, too!" The Beast grinned, fangs prominent. "You're welcome, and I'm glad to hear it! I guess we're all done here. So, unless there's anything else you need, you can go show off your cool new coat to everyone! Make them jealous and let them know where you got it!" She clapped her hands together, "And I'll see you at the pizza party!"

The crafting is complete! When you make your XP request for the Merit, be sure to provide a link to this scene for Slothy's benefit!