End of Summer BBQ

[Marcus Evan]

Marcus fires up his grill in anticipation of the day's festivities. It had been a while since he had hosted a backyard barbecue, and he was looking forward to hanging out with the rest of his court somewhere other than The Forge. After closing the lid, the elemental taps the keg and pours himself a beer before grabbing a seat and relaxing. He listens to the Eagles station on Pandora being pumped through the wireless speakers as he takes a drink and checks out his spread. The chips and pretzels are sitting next to the buns, condiments, and utensils on the picnic table. A cooler full of soda, gatorade, and bottled water sits next to the keg. As far as he can tell, he's ready for his guests to start arriving.

Eager for action and hot for the game...

[Changeling ST]

Close on the heels of Krumm came Duncan and he couldn't stop grinning the moment he saw Summer's Hunter lounging in his backyard. Carrying two cooler bags full of meat, he dropped them next to the barbeque and held both arms open.

"Marcus, you old bastard!" he cried out, still grinning, vapor flowing from the spiked icicles on his head, a sure sign of his Mantle. "Did it really need to be this long between burning meat?"

Crisp blue eyes turned to Krumm, a nod to his latest employee. "Howdy, Krumm. Ready for some beer-drinking and ass-kicking?"

Looking back to Marcus, he gave a wink to the Metalflesh. "Krumm's working at The Forge as security. Seems like a good guy." He walked over to the keg and poured himself a beer before getting Krumm one also, holding it out to the Ogre. "Anyway, I brought burgers, sausages, chicken and kebabs. Should be a perfect way to see out Summer."

Because he needed this. Summer needed this.

[Marcus Evan]

The elemental smiles widely as he stands and gives the ogre a firm handshake.

"Alright? I'm Marcus. Welcome. Let me know if there's anything I can get you."

When he sees the constable's open arms, the metalflesh bumrushes the snowskin and wraps him in a crushing bear hug as he momentarily lifts his frosty friend right off his feet.

"Duncan! At least I'm not an old fat bastard!"

After disengaging with a flurry of back slapping, Marcus helps Duncan with the burgers and bratwurst and starts laying out a few to be thrown on the grill as soon as it's ready. Smirking at his fellow elemental, he pinches at some imaginary fat around Duncan's waist as the beer is poured.

"You seem a lot heavier than I remember... Are you sure you don't want a diet coke instead?"

He walks back over to the newcomer with Duncan and lets a glimmer of mischief show in his normally steely eyes.

"Tell me the truth, Krumm... He just sits up in the mezz at The Forge all night drinking beer and eating cheetos, doesn't he? Probably hasn't been to the gym in months..."

Marcus couldn't say why he hadn't done this sooner. Sure, he'd been busy, but that was no excuse. Maybe he hadn't felt like hanging out much with the rest of summer. Or perhaps he'd just been spending a lot of his free time with Aaren. Then again, it might be that he simply didn't want to be reminded yet again of everyone who wouldn't be attending. Regardless, the elemental smiles as he drinks his beer. He had forgotten how much fun it was to take the piss out of Duncan. The metalflesh is really glad he decided to throw this little summer shindig. He hadn't realized how much he needed this.

[Changeling ST]

When he was hugged in Marcus' steely embrace, Duncan laughs at the camaraderie between the pair of them. They had been through shit together, and Marcus, along with Fu and Rust Mane, had saved his son. That builds trust and a favour that could never be fulfilled.

Then Marcus pinched some pretend fat around the Snowskin's gut and Duncan grinned while wrapping an arm over the Metalflesh's shoulders. "Ha ha! That's hilarious, ya know why? That is exactly what ya Momma said last night!"

Sipping some of his beer, still smiling, Duncan holds up a hand at mention of the Cheetos. "Now hang on there, bud, it was nachos. Get it right."

At least Krumm was getting in the swing of it. Duncan took another gulp of his beer, looking at his Summer Brother with a hint of mischief, playing the game. "So, you reckon our new Adjutant will show her face?"

[Dusan]

Justin had been marginally running late -- or overslept -- or something, but he did show up in a timely fashion and he did bring something with him. Such was the entrance of the Sentinel of Summer's Vigil and resident Elemental walking poster boy for social awkwardness.

Macaroni and cheese, plus several six packs worth of Killian's Red. At least he didn't commit the ultimate in social faux pas and hand over a platter full of green bean casserole or God help us all, fruitcake. What probably headed off that bad choice of picnic offerings was that it wasn't the time of year for such trope-ridden holiday culinary delights.

The Manikin was dressed in a pair of well broken in jeans and a t-shirt which had the patriarch of the Squidbillies clan ranting about literacy and what it didn't do for anyone emblazoned on the front. As far as Justin was concerned, the nasty little cuss would probably be right at home with Summer anyway. But then, according to some of the old stories that floated around the Summer Court they had their own version of Early Cuyler orneriness in the form of a walking shrub back in the day.

"Hey, what's up? Where do you want me to put this stuff?"

Oh, and new faces. Justin made a mental note that he would have to pull a meet and greet maneuver with the newbs -- it wouldn't be a good show of brotherhood on his part if he left people sitting on the bench so to speak.

[Changeling ST]

Not long after stepping off the bus at Amtrak Station, Tony had seen the signs. Some of them directed the Ogre to distinct hangouts around the Freehold and even though he should drop by to get acquainted, the BBQ flyers are really what caught his attention.

A chance to mingle with some Sacramento Summers? Oh, yeeeeah.

The address was easy when you have Google and Streetview was an awesome idea. Must have taken them years to go around all the streets. Tony was a little bit jealous. He could have made something better if he hadn't have been taken, which was the fault of that scumbag partner of his, stealing all his ideas, fucking Tony over.

The Troll could feel his ire rising at the thought of being screwed. It tasted like bitter defeat.

Picking up a bottle of Jim Beam Red Stag, the love-it-or-hate-it whiskey Tony had fallen for with his first sip, the Ogre made his way into the backyard, sauntering into the gathering with a rakish smile and hair flopping just so. Wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, v-neck lavender tee and open black shirt with the sleeves rolled up mid-forearm, a satchel was slung across his shoulder, distressed from years of abuse.

"How you doing? Tony Shine, literally just arrived," he grinned, a glimmer of his Mantle shining from his gold teeth. He took in those present; Two, no, three Elementals, and another Ogre. It was the heat haze from the Metalflesh that made Tony think he was potentially the leader around here.

"A small gift," Tony offered with a New York twang, holding out the bottle of liquor towards Marcus. "Not for everybody, I agree, but some would say the same thing of summer, correct? Its all about perception, I find."

Yes. Tony loved the sound of his own voice. Oh, yeeeah.

[Marcus Evan]

The metalflesh claps the ogre on the shoulder when he plays along, then snorts at his fellow elemental's comeback before letting out a genuine guffaw at the snack food correction.

Nachos... of course.

When Justin and the other new ogre appear, Marcus offers them both a hearty handshake and directs them toward the picnic table.

"Alright, Justin? Been awhile. Tony, I'm Marcus. Welcome. This is Duncan and Krumm. The keg is tapped, so help yourselves. Grill's almost ready, so we should be burning some meat real soon."