(2504) Eternal Seasons

[Svelte Sven]

If Svelte Sven was upset or tired from doing behind-the-scenes work for the Spring pizza party, it certainly didn't show. While that was partly down to his naturally unexpressive features, he was also strangely enjoying himself. He had gotten up early that morning so that he could inspect the venue space, make sure there were enough chairs and table in storage, set up furniture and decorations, ensure that there were no missing or frayed cables in the sound setup, and several other miscellaneous tasks.

Perhaps it was the desire to fulfill his end of the Pledge, perhaps he had really just been that eager to help make the party a success, but the Darkling had gotten a little in over his head... He'd realized that there were a few extra plastic tables in the corner that were just taking up space and he had resolved to take them back to storage on his own. That had been about an hour ago. Did anyone really care that there were three folded-up tables in the corner of the room? Maybe not. Would anyone else in the Freehold have taken this long to complete the task? Almost definitely not. Sven had been slightly winded after the second table and forced himself to sit outside the party to regain his breath and composure. He was only now actually joining the festivities.

"Apologies for the delay, Queen Sonja. I'll be manning the food table." The Chatelaine was dressed in his usual attire, opting not to wear the Hedgespun Raiment that Sonnie had just made for him. Partly it was because it didn't feel proper to be flaunting his reward for a Pledge that wasn't yet completed, partly it was because he was deathly afraid of the idea of greasy pizza sauce getting on his brand-new enchanted coat. True, his usual jacket was also at risk, but it was easier to clean and replace mundane cloth. Sven had no idea how one went about cleaning a coat made of frozen waterfalls and he didn't intend to have to find out anytime soon.

"Hello, Vincent." As he passed the Beast, Sven gave a courteous bow and a smile. He offered the same to Mina, though addressed her simply as "Miss." He also made a point of performing the same bow for Sonnie's dog, smiling a little wider. "And warm greetings to the fabled Hound of Spring, Sir Fugly." And of course, he couldn't neglect to greet the man who was handily consuming a whole pizza by himself. "Hello, King Kray." A smile, but no bow. The Ogre was apparently uncomfortable with the gesture. Having finally greeted each guest, the Darkling set up at the food table, making sure that the pizzas were separated by topping and that there were plates and cutlery available. He would happily start serving drinks if requested, but he felt it was poor form to take the gifted bottles of rum and brandy without invitation. I am, after all, merely 'the help' right now.

[Withers]

The King of Winter hobbled into view without fanfare, sporting tweed slacks, a gray polo shirt, boat shoes, a flatcap, and an off-white cardigan. Naturally, Withers' usual cane and glasses were present as well. Offering small nods to the assembled, the Darkling made his way to the food table, beholding the food before him and eventually grabbing a slice of pepperoni. He does not move off just yet, standing near his courtmate.

"Afternoon, Sven," he offers, his voice slightly raspy before he clears his throat and observes the greater gathering.

Thereafter, the Darkling began to eat his pizza slice as he mulled over how he wished to engage the others.
He notes the Springs and the dog, the Courtless wolf, and, briefly, the hulking form of the Ashen King.

[Vincent Black]

"Well I am glad all is going good Prince Fugly. it looks like you are getting all the attention. Do you want anything, I could ask your mom if you do?" Vincent then notices the others have shown up. "Hey Kray. How goes everything? Glad you could make it, and you came hungry. Which is good there is plenty of food." Then turning to Sven and later Withers, "Hey fellas, glad you guys showed up. Don't mind me I am just talking to Prince Fugly here."

Vincent the stood up and grabbed himself some pizza slices and sat next to Withers, "I know you are concerned about me being a courtless, but I am not necessarily courtless" He pauses unsure how he would bring it up, it was easier when he told Sera and Circe. "I am a member of the Solstice Court, unfortunately the Freehold does not see us as a full-fledged court."

[Sonnie Wu]

"Hi Kray! Glad you could make it!" Sonnie waved to the giant, then gestured towards the cooler box full of ice and drinks. "Um, that's the drink center. I... don't know if that should be chilled. So just set it on the table, I guess?"

Fugly, meanwhile, barked excitedly at Mina. Vincent would hear: "Pet me! Pet me! Belly rub!" On cue, the pooch rolled over to show her his belly! The Spring Queen smiled at the Elemental, "Um, about six years now. He's a rescue." Quite literally. She had stolen the dog from an abusive owner. "Games? No, but there's stuff to do here at the park. The rides are active."

"Hey Sven! I was wondering where you were at!" She nodded agreeably to the young Darkling. "No new coat?" she asked slyly.

"Hi Withers. Nice to see you!" Sonnie gave the Winter King a little wave, a touch surprised he came. His presence was not unwelcome, of course.

The canine stared blankly at Vincent, most of what the lupine Beast was saying going right over his little skull. Did he want anything was understood, though. "Yes! Foods!"

[Kray]

His terrible teeth in his terrible jaw work to dismantle the pizza like it was effortless they had been shaped from doing much worse after all. Swallowing down the mouthful. "Oh. Hey Mina." The odd way her arm moved caught his attention it wasn't so far from normal but the ball joint just made it slightly off. I wonder how mortals perceive that? "Hm. Well enough all in all." Nothing all that exciting, nothing he cared to make known yet anyway. going on. "Uh. And yourself? How's things settling out?" She had probabaly been asked alot but it was part of proper manners of to ask so she would need to bare it being asked at least this once more.

The really interesting lost of the day arrived. The darkling did the rounds of greeting. "Hm. Hello Sven." The toothy smile of the ogre smeared with tomato sauce, not a far cry from imagine blood stains. "So. They been working you hard today?" This first pledge within the freehold really had his interest.

The arrival of the older looking darkling, because well looks and age can get a little muddled was a surprise. They might not at odds but a certain level of pomp and pageantry was called for even if it was just acknowledgement. Grey grey fingers tip that in the old winters direction. "Ah. King Withers." The bare minimum but it was given and more then he had got, rudeness was a risky business among the lost, forces unseen existed that didn't take it well.

The Vincent states the obvious pulling his attention. "Oh. Vincent I'm always hungry." And the glutton the best attempt to stave off the craving that made his belly growl no matter how full or his tongue salivate no matter how saturated.

At the spring queens instruction of where was okay to put what the Brandy was placed in ice. "Oh. Yes you chill brandy. Not to much. But some." And so into the ice it goes, for now at least.

[Mina]

Wait, Sven was here?! When did he get here?

“Hey Sven! The pizza is great, come have some!” inviting him to join them. Totally missing any social cues that maybe he was being shy or wanting to be by himself.

Then the older guy from the Coronation, whos name she didn’t know, but seemed like one to keep to himself as well. So she wasn’t sure how to approach that one.

Vincent was still talking with Fugly and the other two who just showed up, which worked for her.

But the excited bark from Fugly caught her attention and she looked at him only to see him roll over and show his belly, laughing, “Oh!” and proceeded to rub his belly. After all, that’s the only thing it could mean! “Awww! How wonderful that he’s a rescue! I’ve heard they make the best companions!”

No games kinda sucked, but, she should have brought some if she wanted games. Lesson learned.
“Then rides it is! After some food of course. Have to live a bit dangerously of course.” She jokes.

Taking a bite of pizza, then looking to Kray, “Really good thanks! Settling in good as well. Unpacking is well, a nightmare, but when isn’t it.” Chuckling, “But enjoying the city, found myself a studio I like, so I pretty good.” A happy, ish, smile. The studio would take some time to get settled into, but it gave her a creative outlet, which she needed.

King Withers? So the older man was a King. Winter perhaps, because Kray was Autumn, Circe Summer, and Sonnie Spring. Winter made sense, the guy was quiet, seemed to keep to himself.

[Svelte Sven]

"My King," Sven addressed the Sovereign of Winter with yet another bow and smile, though his expression looked a touch more earnest this time around. Withers may have only offered a clipped greeting, but it meant more coming from the Lost bearing the Crown of the Silent Arrow. He's certainly more confident about keeping his outfit tidy around messy food, I have to say.

Sven was prepared to respond to Sonnie's question from the food table, only for Kray and Mina to both address him before he had a chance. It didn't seem proper to basically yell across the room when he wasn't even occupied with serving anyone at the moment. Even with the music, it's not exactly polite... Thinking of a quick solution, the Darkling took one box of cheese pizza and one box of pepperoni and folded the lids backwards under the bottom. It might put him in closer range of food-stains, but his duties came first.

With the food exposed, he carefully balanced each container as a waiter would a pair of plates at a restaurant. "I didn't want to clash with the decor." He said half-jokingly as he approached the rest of the group with the open boxes. "And we agreed to exchange the coat for my services today. It wouldn't feel right to flaunt the rewards for a job that isn't done yet."

He chuckled slightly at Kray's question. "I wouldn't say so. Queen Sonja has given me a lot of leeway in setting things up." Sven only barely managed to suppress a smirk, though the corners of his mouth still twitched upward. "Now, whether I will be able to attend to the appetites of all of her guests is a different question." He knew that he shouldn't tempt Fate or the Gristlegrinder, so he left it at that.

The Whisperwisp smiled at Mina. "Oh, I'll have my fill when it's time. But I have to pull my weight first. Please, don't worry about me." And a butler never sits at the master's table, even when invited. Memories of Arcadia emerged alongside the dark thought. They were banished just as quick as they came, though Sven found himself staring into the distance for a moment. "Would anyone care for a drink?" He asked, looking at nobody in particular.

[Circe]

Rolling wheels herald the arrival of the late comer to the party.


Fashionably late was not what any would call the Groundskeeper of The Freehold at the moment. Certainly, the shorts and sandals showed off plenty of leg. Her Hedgespun Glasses looked quite smart, Mask or Mein. What was NOT fashionable about Circe however, was the bright orange and pink tropical shirt she was wearing atop her t-shirt. The Summer Queen wasn't showing off her torso yet, still having bandages and all, she'd no desire to appear weak. That'd worry everyone, so she does not.


The wheels was for a rolling cooler, glass clinking can be heard from within, with a stack of large party cups, napkins, some type of packed bags, and a pack of plastic spoons on top. What had she brought to the party? Mostly San Palligrino sodas of course, but there was some root beers too. Just in case the party included ice cream, she'd let them float their own mess.


Circe drops this off at the food table. Then retrieves a specialty beverage and a bottle opener shaped like a monkey.


The blue Larcenist approaches the center of the gathering: "Hail and well met to our ruling Queen and the cudliest knight this Freehold has ever had. Sir Fugly the Cuddly," she cheerfully greets her. "Got a surprise," she waggles the banana flavored soda at Sonja Wu.


"And no," she said to the crowd, "I've not forgotten everyone else due to Sir Fugly's adorableness. Hello Kings Kray and Withers. Well met Mina and Vincent. Sven! Hard at work I see, my thanks for helping with the setup here. See, I am not THAT easily distracted by Sir Fugly's power of cuteness."


Circe was glad she'd brought the baggies after hearing Mina shout about rides on the way over. Kray had brought brandy and she could spot some ice cream too. Pizza, ice cream, booze, and theme park rides.


Prep time was important, and Circe knew enough about Springs to realize that there was a chance for that combination. Thus, the waxed interior barf bags.

[Vincent Black]

Looking at Sven and Circe; "Hey Sven. Hey Circe, and that is Prince Fugly. His momma is the current Queen."

Vincent then turned to Sonnie, "Speaking of Prince Fugly, I am sure it goes without saying he really wants food. Do you want me to cut up some of the steak for him, or at least throw him a slice of pizza?" He then turns to Mina, "Yeah he is pretty much saying he wants more belly rubs, Mina."

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie beamed, ever proud of her doggo, "He is the best!" There was more nodding to Mina, "Yeah, don't go on the rides without a full stomach!" How else were you going to puke? That was the fun part! Sort of.

Looking over to Sven, the Spring Queen smiled and waved off his concerns, "I wouldn't mind if you wore it tonight, but it's your choice." It was his coat now, after all. "If you want something to do, I could use another slice of the meat lovers pizza!"

"Hi Circe!" She waved to the arriving Fairest. The Beast blinked in surprise and peered at the presented soda curiously. Then she gave the Iron Spear a droll look. "Really? Banana jokes?" Meanwhile, Fugly greeted Circe with a few barks. (Fang & Talon Translation: "Nice person! Hi hi! Has food?")

Sonnie laughed at Vincent, "I'll share some pizza toppings with him, no worries."