(2512) Winter Solstice

[Saber Sloth]

After hours, when Autumn gives way to Winter, the Lost of Sacramento are lead towards the Mirror Maze. Along the twists and turns of the venue, there are several circular tables laid out with light refreshments, finger foods of all sorts, champagne, wine. With the refreshments there are several masks waiting for the lost to dawn them. Off to the side, but not quite out of the way lays the Wyrdstone, still thrumming in time with Kray's heart, waiting for Winter's King to claim his place in the cycle.

Across from the Wyrdstone, but not hidden from sight is a simple table, with photo of Vincent Black prominently displayed. Winter is Sorrow's Season, and when welcoming all that it will entail, the mind should turn to those that have been lost.

Okay! DamoclesImpaled Svelte Sven when you put 1 Glamour into the Wyrdstone, you can describe your Crown! Also @me when you do so I can do the Narration.

And for any new arrivals, or Courtless you need to spend 1 Glamour to Gain or Keep Status, but please do so after Sven's spend the Glamour and gained his Crown.

[Sonnie Wu]

Who should arrive but Sonnie Wu, Queen of Spring! Tonight, she was dressed for the height of Winter, though, in a cute snowman dress! Leave it to the vernal sovereign to be stylish! Golden simian eyes scanned about.

She hadn't seen the old man in months, but she had to assume the Winter King would be making an appearance here. He had, too, right?

"Hewwo?" she called out, before slipping over towards the refreshments. "Oh, what have we here? Don't mind if I do, thank you!" she said, to no one in particular.

[Kray]

The giant moves through the maze with as much care as he can, not wanting to break a mirror. He has made such an effort as to squeeze into a shirt, trousers and suspenders. Big and tall shop options are limited. In one hand his fedora of hedgesupun Autumn leaves, just waiting for the crown to pass, in the other a bottle of wine he had lifted from a table on his way through.

Seems he is not the first one here. "Oh. Hello Queen Sonnie." He raises the hand holding his hat to above his head and from their tilts it forward, an effort to show his usual mark of respect despite hands and head both being occupied. "Uh. Been a bit since I've seen you, been alright?" The two might rarely cross paths but it seems he cares enough to ask, or is making a particualr effort to be on good behaviour tonight.

[Mina]

Ok, it was Coronation time!

No mistakes this time. No out-dressing the Monarch, so no Hedgespun. Which means she had to go shopping and find something. Thankfully, Sacramento had an excellent selection of secondhand shops and after visiting almost everyone one, she found something. It needed to be altered and have some things added to it, but it would work!

The House of Mirrors was easy enough to find and she takes a deep breath before walking in. The twists and turns was fun, but finding her way past them and into the right room, with the tables, the food, and her Queen, was even better!

“Queen Sonnie!” she raises a ball jointed hand and waves, walking over dipping into a curtsy. Mismatched eyes scan the room, “How’ve you been? Love the dress! We missed you at the movie night.”

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie quickly spun around, as if she'd been caught doing something naughty. Admittedly, the Winters might look askance at anyone helping themselves to the snacks before the festivities actually began. "Hmm? Oh, it's you guys. Hi!" The Beast gave a little wave.

Her smile faltered slightly, "Um, I've been... busy. Or, well...not busy... just..." She seemed at a loss for words for a moment. "I had to say goodbye to someone. My, um, my dog, Fugly. He passed away." The Spring Queen had on a brave face, but there was still grief in her eyes.

[Jack Violet]

Jack Violet walked in. Dressed in a formal suit hoping to fit the theme of the season. He made his way through the maze, walking through he stops to get a plate of snacks when he notices a mask. Donning the mask he makes his way to where the Wyrdstone and the others are congregating. Looking around he notices the table with the photo. Taking a moment of silence to honor the fallen Lost even though he had never met him, he wanders to where the rest of the Lost are.

"Merry solstice to you all this fine evening." Offering a slight bow to the Spring Queen, "How are you Queen Sonnie," Jack says before noticing that she is a little more somber than usual. "Um sorry, did I miss something?" Jack looks around a moment realizing that Fugly the Queens pet is noticeably absent.

[Kray]

The giant is quite unashamed with his bottle of pilfered booze, if the winter court didn't want them to eat and drink, then they shouldn't have put the options out to be consumed. Mina arrives and quite ignores the giant in favor of her own queen still gets a surprised look, but her snippet about the movie night gives him a sneaky comment. "Huh. Seems quite a lot is getting missed at the moment, wouldn't you say Mina?." He could have grilled her worse, but the elemental had shown him respect in the hedge last they were there and that had meant something. "Uh. In fact missed you both and the magic show." That was just musing out loud while on the topic of things being missed.

Sonnie's news however was difficult, not because the giant cared for the dog himself, personally not a fan of pets. But because he did know the dog had meant a lot to the spring queen. "Uh. That, that is shame." Comforting is not something the ogre has ever been called. Instead he lifts the wine bottle. "Uh. Want a drink?" Food and booze can help many problems after all.

Jack's arrival and greeting of the spring queen makes the giant wonder if he has somehow turned invisible. "Ah. Think your forgetting some thing Jacky boy?" Not his day, not going to start something but recent experiences had doured his views of the newest Summer courtier, this does not seem to have helped.

[Mina]

Her head tilts unnaturally as Sonnie seems…off. Not her usual playful self, and the Elemental was worried. And as her Queen shares the news, her face falls, “Oh no, I’m so sorry!” a hand goes to reach out, then pauses, not sure if Sonnie would be ok with a touch or not. “He was such a wonderful dog, so gallant and so clearly loyal to you. How are you? Do you need anything?” the worry and concern for her Queen evident.

As someone else joins the small group, she turns to him, not quite sure his name, but she nods to him, a small smile offered, “Hello, happy solstice to you as well.” She has seen him though…right?
Then there was Kray, who clearly, she missed entering. How she missed him, she would never know. Cause the guy was a giant, he was huge, but he was also a Monarch! A social blunder that could cost her.

Dipping into a low, deep curtsy, which looks a bit odd with the style of her dress, “King Kray,” holding the pose for longer than she held the one to Sonnie, “My apologies, my mind has been scattered as of late. Not an excuse to have not shown you the respect you have earned within the Freehold, please accept my humble apologies.” As she looks down the frost that falls from her eyelashes drifts down towards the floor. Holding the pose until Kray says something, not sure if this was the right thing to do or not. He wasn't her Queen, but was technically the current Monarch until the crown passed.

[Sonnie Wu]

She smiled sadly, grateful for all the condolences, "It's... it's okay. He was old. I had him for a long time. He passed peacefully in his sleep one night. It was... just his time."

Sonnie blinked at Kray, confused, "Magic show? We had a magic show? Oh, a drink would be nice, thanks! Just a beer is fine."

Another smile for Mina, her only Courtier, "Thanks. Umm... a hug would be good."

The Beast Queen looked blankly at Jack, clearly not knowing who he was. Had she met him before? Probably, but Sonnie's memory was always a crapshoot. She gave him a nod of acknowledgement. "Um, hello. Nothing you need to worry about."

[Saber Sloth]

Sneaking in to remove my marble