(2609) Autumn Equinox

[Isabella Rossi]

Isabella regarded the Wyrdstone with a thoughtful tilt of her head, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly as she examined the object in King Kray's enormous hand. For a moment, she seemed to be waiting for something to happen. When nothing did, she reached out and tapped the stone lightly with one manicured fingernail.


“Is this thing on?”


The question escaped in a quiet, almost conspiratorial murmur, as though she suspected the stone was less an ancient instrument of Freehold magic and more a temperamental piece of equipment that had been forgotten in a cupboard for a few centuries.


King Kray's earlier threat to eat her still rang rather vividly in her ears. Isabella was making a valiant effort not to dwell on the prospect of becoming an appetizer at her own introduction to Sacramento's Lost. It was, she decided, a terribly inconvenient way to begin a new chapter of one's life.


She offered the crowned Ogre a careful, if somewhat strained, smile before placing her palm against the Wyrdstone.


“Well, all right. Let's make this official, shall we?”


Beneath her fingertips, the stone felt cool and ancient, heavy with the accumulated resonance of those who had touched it before her. Isabella drew a slow breath, letting her nervous humor settle into something more deliberate. She reached inward, toward the bright, restless well of Glamour that sustained her, and coaxed a single point of it to the surface.


The magic stirred through her like the first warmth of spring sunlight after a long winter. It carried the scent of fresh earth after rain, the promise of green shoots pushing through dark soil, and the irresistible urge to create something beautiful simply because the world had not yet finished surprising her.


She let that essence flow from her palm and into the Wyrdstone.


For one brief instant, the gold woven into the midnight-blue and plum of her gown seemed to catch the light more brilliantly. A subtle warmth passed beneath her hand, and Isabella felt the answering tug of the Wyrd as her Glamour settled into the stone, marking her presence and binding her to the Freehold.


Sacramento, then.


A new Court. A new family, perhaps. A new set of dangers, peculiar customs, and people who apparently considered eating newcomers a perfectly reasonable conversational possibility.


She lifted her hand from the stone and examined it with exaggerated care, as though checking that all her fingers remained attached.


“There. Glamour, duly delivered.” Her gaze flicked toward King Kray's toothy grin. “And I do hope that constitutes my contribution to the Freehold rather than some sort of down payment on my continued survival.”


The corners of her mouth lifted into a playful smile, though a trace of caution remained in her eyes.


“I should very much like to belong here. Being eaten by the welcoming committee would rather defeat the purpose.”

[Isabella Rossi]

Expenditure for Glamour since the site hates me.

[Kray]

Most people would shudder at knowing a cannibal had claim over one of their limbs, the conclusion did no require to much working out. "Oh. Do you now well I guess we'll see how long I let it stay in place. One of these nights I'll get hungry enough to come calling for what was bargained to me." He had to wonder if Circe had made that agreement thinking he wouldn't come collecting? The very notion tempted the ogre to claim Jacks arm hear and now. But no a little waiting, a little anxiety living knowing he could lose it at any time utterly out side of his control would in the ashen king's view do the beast some good. But he has been taunted into action, to engagement which was well something. "Hm. Like I said to Jasper, nothing but yourself to face hanging from those trees." Which could be plenty terrifying enough. The paper slips nothing more then opportunities.

When Jasper tries to reinforce his brazen threat the ogre leaves no room for confusion. "Uh. I'm not joking at all." Not even a little bit. "Hm. When a cannibal says he is going to eat someone best take it seriously." It was one of those threats that really should not be taken lightly. The Spring beats however marks the second lost to engage with the orchard which is very promising.

Mina seemed to be taking the prospect of the ogres darker impulses seriously which was wise. "Ha. It would depend how badly I am offended." Last time it had been serious he had been good and set up a duel to resolve the matter, with promises of it being none lethal. "Hm. Which by you I am not at the moment." Mina was by a rule very polite, respectful and the ogre thought well of her for it.

Circe to quick to follow her courtier into the orchard and what snippets of words did drift back sounded oh so very interesting. Something that promised to be fun might soon be at hand and that, that was something to look forward to. But his attention is duly grabbed as the darkling staggers into the orchards clearing. "Uh. King Sven?" He had never seen the winter sovereign in such a state or such a get up, the great head sweeping round as the words drift to him out of no where before he cottons on. The ogre own voice is deep and carries. "Uh. No you have not offended King Sven, all of the freehold are welcome here tonight." But apparently the party had started early somewhere else. "Uh. Has the seasonal depression kicked in early this year?" That drove people to drink right and sorrow being winter's emotion maybe that was what was happening?

Yet of the many things that pulled at his attention he has to refocus as the newcomer Isabella tries again, her neck very much on the line. And this time the glamour takes, the feeling extends and the ogre looks ... disappointed. "Bah. If you turned out to be loyalist or privateer I don't think any amount of wanting to belong would have spared you from being added to the menu." His outstretched arm comes back, the thought reminds him there may well be another person he needs to check on in that regard. "Hm. But your not, so for tonight you are welcome here at Edna's." But it still seemed to have dashed the prospect of him eating anyone tonight and he had gotten his hopes up. "So. Help your self to food, drink and take a wander in the orchard see what fear of yours you can find, what new chapter you can write." His task was done, the newcomer had tithed and was now bound, if she stuck it out or not was yet to be seen, for now she had the same as the rest of the freehold.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie applauded as Isabella added her Glamour to the Wyrdstone, binding herself to the rest of the freeholders. "Yay! Good job!" One must be supportive of one's Courtiers when one is Queen (or King, or Monarch). "I agree. Like Mina said, first Coronations are a little scary. You want to put your best foot forward." Perhaps unconsciously, one of her feet shuffled forward a little.

Sven arrived, and... the Beast blinked in surprise at the odd state of the Winter King. "Ummm... what?" A tilt of her head, curious, "Sven? Are you drunk?"

Nostrils flared. Yeah, she could smell the booze. "So much for best foot forward..."