Midsummer's Yield

[Terri Nutkins]

With their fingers clasped throughout the remainder of the service, Terri's mind wandered between the words of Brother Lucas, if that was his title anymore, and the memories of those that had gone. Many of them had been good friends, some of which she had bled with in one adventure or another.

The life of keeping the Freehold safe was a neverending one, and would be a challenge she was more than willing to rise to.

Standing from her seat, Terri was forced to release Rick's hand as she did so. The warmth from his palm remained.

"I, Terri Nutkins, Bishop of the Blackbirds and former Dread Lady of Sacramento, swears to keep this Freehold safe and sound, to not reveal its nature to any that may harm it or to allow agents of the Gentry or the Gentry themselves to bring danger to the sanctuary it offers. If I should break this solemn vow, may I be cursed by the Wyrd that binds me."

Her voice was strong and true, ringing around the Forge without any nerves. This hadn't been her first swearing. Once she felt the binding of the pledge, she retook her seat and once again clasped Rick's hand.

-1 Willpower to take the pledge

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel stood as well.

"I swear to keep the Freehold's secrets and never knowingly aid it's enemies," he vowed.

[Forn Clakes]

I'll be moving the scene forward in 24 hours. Last call for those pledges

[TheMalkCat]

Grim takes to his feet when he hears Brother Lucas' cue. His vow comes a little behind the opening salvos of newcomers to the Freehold, while he deliberates on the pros and cons of surrendering a very useful sovereignty to the Courts. At last he makes his Oath. "I'm no friend to the Fair Folk. For a year and a day, l'll keep my mouth shut and my claws sharp as part of the Freehold. This I swear on my crooked-tail and blackened tongue." Any eyes on the Masked Cat's shadow can see the lazy whipple of a crooked tail from side to side.

[Forn Clakes]

Lucas Gregory

As those who wished to swear themselves to the Freehold did so, Lucas accepted each with a small nod of his head, his smouldering eyes gazing at each in kind. Finally, once it seemed all had stood and sworn the pledge, Lucas smiled warmly.

"My thanks, and welcome to the Freehold of Sacramento. The sermon has now finished, and Mrs Rosemary has kindly provided some simple refreshments," the Summer King gestured to a couple of tables ladened with sandwiches, cakes and non-alcoholic beverages, "Please, stay, eat and seek to speak with those who remember the fallen, for in memories, the lessons of the future can be learnt."

And with those words, the service was over. Lucas closed his Bible and picked it up, stepping down from the lectern and walked down between the makeshift pews, heading to join Mrs. Rosemary at the rear of the Forge, quite ready for some lunch.

Please break off to other threads for conversations

[Lesingnon]

Rick sat quietly as he listened to Brother Lucas's speech. It brought up memories of the past; speaking of events he'd seen or heard of, as well as Freeholders he'd once known. It brought up thoughts of the future as he spoke of challenges yet to be overcome, expressing certainty that a united Freehold would certainly be able to rise to meet them.

Through it all he remained acutely aware of the woman beside him, in no small part because her hand remained clasped in his. She was a bigger part of his past than any other individual who'd ever wandered through Sacramento, there was no doubt about that. And there now seemed to be reason to hope that the part she she had yet to play in his life would be as big as the one she already had.

Then came the swearing of the Freehold Oath, as he saw and felt the assorted changelings bind themselves to the community. Most of the bonds freshly forged, one particularly notable one forged anew.

He gave Terri's hand a soft squeeze as it found his again, head turning towards Mrs. Rosemary's repast as Brother Lucas mentioned it. "Shall we?"

[Terri Nutkins]

Satisfied that she had finally rejoined the place she loved more than she knew, Terri watched as Lucas finished the sermon and moved down between the congregation to where the buffet was. The gentle squeeze on her hand brought her attention back to Rick. A gentle squeeze in return.

"Yeah, sure."

Was this nerves she felt in her stomach? Butterflies? Oh, damn! It was! How long had it been since the (ex)Dread Lady felt actual nerves?

Too long. Maybe that was why it was right.

Standing, Terri made her way towards the buffet. Maybe that was what it was, hunger. Not nerves. Right?

[Swami M]

Rostam fixes himself a plate of food and seeks out Green, one of the few familiar faces here. Hopefully he can introduce some of the other Winters. It's reassuring that Summer in this city is a great deal more than the pack of roid-raging goons he'd come to know and loathe back in Redding, but if he's going to make a home here, he needs to learn more about his home Court's presence...

[Tally Benoit]

Tally gets up from her seat and heads for the buffet. She heads for the end of the line, waiting her turn, and one she has her hands on a plate, she makes sure to grab a fork before going down the line. With her items in one hand, she uses her free one to pick what she wants on her plate.

She then heads back to one of the tables.