(1303) Coronation of Spring

[Wolven Pryde]

Locke is quite glad that he had not made that trip to the buffet for cake, just yet.

Because if he had been halfway to his mouth with a bite as this was all taking place, he might have stabbed himself in the face with a fork.

"Hear, hear," he echoes support for someone's loud, coarse cheer, without looking at them. The Ogre's tone, for once, is strangely quiet. He makes no effort to be heard, but his voice carries enough natural volume that he is not usually unnoticed.

In truth, this is not entirely unexpected. Violet has always possessed a powerful Mantle, and is no doubt an embodiment of Desire. If anyone deserves to have the crown during Spring upon Missus Rosemary's decline, it is the Fair LeBlanc.

The selfish part of the Witchtooth briefly wonders if this is a door opened to him, or shut in his face.

Nevertheless, if Warren Locke can momentarily catch the gaze of the reigning Sovereign, he will offer her one of his faint smiles in support. His left eye closes in -- what must be for him -- a positively congratulatory wink.

[Morgan Bellanar]

Morgan focused upon Jezebel's finger, before her gaze traced it to the target being pointed at. Mrs. Rosemary seemed to be contendly eating a cake. Should she have been on the stage? Morgan wasn't sure, as she had only been to two coronations before. The first, had gone poorly, and the second she'd been so focused on not causing trouble she'd barely noticed the proceedings. Were there problems in the Freehold? The Beast honestly couldn't think of anything wrong. She'd heard no rumors and the signs she knew for danger were not present: growls, snarls, bared teeth, absolute silence. The Beast tried thinking of possible problems, but thinking wasn't her strong point.

Thus, confusion was evident on her face and in her tone when she spoke. "Um, heh, I don't know about the, uh...crowning...process? I think she's eating cake." The Beast stated the obvious before realizing what she'd said. She coughed to cover herself before continuing, moving on to voice the only conclusion she could come to for the situation: "Maybe she, uh, just...wanted to make sure she got a piece?" It was unclear if her words were a statement or a question, even to the steepscrambler herself.

[CyledyrWyllt]

Marcus Evan simply looks back and forth in shocked silence between the stranger up on the dais and his beloved Mrs. Rosemary, contentedly eating her cake. After a while, his slightly critical gaze settles on Violet as she addresses the freehold.

Brilliant. Alice White all over again...

[CyledyrWyllt]

Three words run through Jack's mind as the reins of not only his court, but the entire freehold, are handed over, not to Mrs. Rosemary, but to a total and complete stranger. They escape from between his lips in a barely audible whisper.

"What the fuck...?"

The good doctor takes another healthy sip of his drink before answering Stripes.

"I have no idea. Who is she? I thought Rosemary was our queen..."

Jack looks at the obvious displays of the lovely woman's strong connection to Spring as he studies her and mulls over what had just happened. Had there been a power struggle behind the scenes? Did this woman have some dirt on Rosemary? Or had the weight of the crown simply been too great for the ogress? And oddly enough, he eventually finds himself wondering why the alluring woman looks so oddly familiar and seems at home on a stage. In the end, Jack decides that regardless of what political intrigues might have taken place, Spring has recognized Violet as his new leader and he would do best to acknowledge it. The old soldier finishes off the rest of his drink before turning a wry face toward Stripes.

"Surprise!"

[Doctor Jack]

Raising a glass of amber-tinted ice cubes in one of his blood-stained hands, the good doctor adds a hearty, if not heartfelt, compliment to Perry's exclamation.

"Hear, hear!"

Setting his empty drink down on a nearby table, Jack steps forward on fairly steady feet.

"Your Majesty, I am Doctor Jack, Claviger of the Emerald Court. I wish to renew my pledge of fealty to the freehold and offer my services to the Antler Crown if it so pleases you."

Those who know the normally plain-speaking wizened might wonder at his use of such flowery language. They might think that perhaps his new Queen's nature and bearing somehow bring it out of him. Of course, those who know Jack well would know that it probably has more to do with the expensive bourbon he's been drinking.

[Malcolm Green]

Green says nothing. Green's face, being a nearly solid lump of rock-flesh, remains impassive. He only blinks and sucks in a big draught of air.

What the...? Has there been a coup or something? Back room deal? I thought you had to be around longer than this to qualify for such a high... err... thing... office... whatever!

[Malcolm Green]

Green blinked. There was a visible and deep intake of breath. A blink. The mountain seemed locked in his own thoughts.

[Terri Nutkins]

And once again, the Season's change and so do the Monarch of Spring, Terri thought with an internal sigh as she observed yet another Sovereign from the Court of Desire take the crown. It was a shame, really. Terri honestly thought that Mrs. Rosemary totally deserved the title and had earned the right to lead Spring. However, the Dread Lady had to concede that she was by not exactly the best person to know about Desire, so she would not comment out loud.

However, if the new Sovereign of Desire made her feel like she had on that one occasion at the Four Seasons, Terri would certainly be having words.

It cuts both ways, sister.

Whilst applauding with the Freehold, Terri cut a glance towards Spartan , wondering just what he was thinking about this new development.

[Changeling ST]

Continuing to indulge the cake, the Gristlegrinder had been watching the crown’s passing with a wonderfully pleased look on her face. The expert chef was also pleased with how the cake had turned out. Beautiful, decadent and rich; just the way she’d always made them.

Seeing the Hunterheart approach, she barely finished the bite she’d just taken as she responded. “Why certainly Malory. Pleased as punch!” Then waving a thick hand at plate in her hands. “What do you think of the cake?”