(16 AE) Coronation Autumnal Equinox

[Morgan Bellanar]

Morgan had chosen to wear the red cheongsam with slit legs that was starting to become her formal wear, especially since the thigh holster didn't clash with it. She'd even managed to find (mostly) red buckled sandals that matched the shade of the dress. More important to Morgan, the sandals and spats she'd found were good enough to run in. The pendant she had from the Queen of Summer shined against the crimson fabric.

Unlike the guests, Morgan had arrived from within the Commons. Having to "maintain security" with all the food present was her excuse. A norman would've found it odd having someone come out of the shed, but given her attire they might figure she was dressing up as a ninja or something.

She perked up at the sounds of the gathering, "Ah, heh, we hath guests already Mhairi?!" she shouted into the Boarding House, a grin on her face as she walked up to the back door.

Opening the door, she is surprised at the large gathering that has already arrived, briefly tilting her head in surprise. She then joins the group discussion, "Tis great job Mhairi, heh, ye hath done with the place. Tis spookier then I could hath managed, heh. And, heh, noobs, oh, apologies. Ye shant ken the club speak yet. Ye new arrivals, heh, art welcome," she gave a little head bow in the direction of Bronson and then to Scampy, "I am Morgan Bellanar, heh, the Scrivener for Autumn, heh, here."

"And of course tis joyous to see our allies of Spring and Winter," she waves to Cosima and L'Aire, respectively, "Art, heh, here too. Cosima, L'Aire I heh, hope ye art both well today...certain ye art both better dressed, heh, then I, heh." The other courtier ladies looked ready for formal outing. Morgan looked like she was almost trying to do cosplay (which she wasn't intentionally).

She gave Rick a wide grin at his presence, "And Rick, tis wondrous joy to see ye, heh, here for the event. Um..." her eyes darted to Bronson and Scampy. She sidled over to Rick, leaning in to whisper: "Art, heh, we hath them to swear oaths a'fore entry to the Commons? I recall the sprites nay reacted well to unsworn a'fore."

Cosima might be a little surprised to get some curious looks from Morgan. Morgan didn't know if Cosima knew about what had happened to Ava or not. It should have made the news but she didn't have Cosima's phone number to let her know about that accident.

[Benji]

Bronson sighs, pleased that he was the fairest of them all but mildly annoyed at the fact that a perfect stranger was already trying to turn him into his wingman for the evening.

"I don't know what you want me to do for you, Scamp." Bronson says, knowing exactly what Scamp wants him to do. "You're part of Spring, pay the Twilit Page a complement if you want to express your interest. Complement her fashion sense or clever choice of accessories. Or her sense of decor. Or her welcoming personality. Or her bravery for not flinching at the sudden appearance of two strangers." He tisks, mostly to himself. "Pick something. In a pinch, you can complement her beauty, but that shows either a lack of creativity or confidence on your part. Whatever you do, don't compare her to a night's sky or anything similarly banal, she probably has dozens of admirers that have already tried to pluck that low hanging fruit and you want to stand out from the crowd." He pauses, looks scamp up and down and finally adds, almost reluctantly, "and don't be a boor, though that should go without saying."

He hands the bottle to Mhairi, with a dazzling smile. "How eminently practical, Page Ankaa. The Freehold is lucky to have a place like to help its less fortunate members reassemble their lives. I can only imagine the attention to detail managing it requires."

He returns everyone's greeting in turn, remaining satisfied at his standing in the Appearance Hunger Games. "A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Bronson Keeley, recently arrived and wishing to swear to the Freehold."

[Malcolm Green]

Green appears: a titan; a giant; a mountain made like a man. One moment his immense shadow spills through the open Gate, and the next he is ponderously squeezing his titanic form through the opening. Slow, yes, but this mountain has spent long years perfecting the art of slipping his hulking bulk through a gap only so big.

It looks like Green has a new suit, too. Cheap, maybe a little out of fashion - but this time by years not decades. The shoes have been scuffed and the shirt is a open at the collar to accommodate the mountain's thick neck. A gold chain hangs taut there - the first time the mountain has worn anything approaching bling since... well, ever! The gloves though - blue plastic, meant for cleaning not social events. But are you really going to question an Elemental whose head brushes the ceiling?

"Nice..." Green comments.

And then his eyes fall on Bronson and they grow wide. No - Green is not smitten with lust. No - its not anger either. However, it has been an Age since the mountain had to deal with the terrible beauty of the Fae. And here is a newcomer with the power to channel that beauty, standing in their midst. Bearing a gift. Green simply stops dead in his tracks.

Wide eyes narrow. Charlatan? Fairest (well, yes). New Sovereign? (No. Rick is here endowed with Autumn's Crown and the newcomer bears not the mantle of Autumn). Envoy (possibly with that terrible beauty. But from whom and why? And why was he not informed before...?)

He inclines his head, first to the newcomer and then to Rick and L'aire. "Well I guess your welcome then. Who is this guy?"

Staring as he is, he kind of misses Morgan, Scamp, and Mhairi.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Fell-flames turned to Scamp, the twist of her lips showing her confusion. 'Miss Ankaa' 'Lady of your stature' Huh? She was just shy, stammering Mhairi. None of that applied to her...did it?

"Maybe later." she says in reference to Scamps' want to take her picture. 'Like maybe after you've been sworn in.' Mhairi didn't want to know what sort of magic might be cast using her image. Best leave it until the Wyrd itself could be called on to punish any wrongs that could befall the wisp and the 'hold.

A vision in velvet appears and Mhairi couldn't help but grin, "Coco! the wisp moves to embrace the wasp, before pulling away to look her friend up and down, "How is it that-ah you can make anything look good? turning back to the fox faced Spring, and the Cobalt Adonis, though fell-flames trace the Fairest's lean lines more then would be polite. "New arrives I-ah-assume. I did up the back garden too. More-ah-more room. It's more harvest then-ah-then horror..."

The Onyx Queen glides through the door and Mhairi knows she staring. The subtle glow of the aurora borealis her mantle has grown into, "L'aire, you-ah-you look gorgeous." Mhairi says, deciding it would be best not to name her or any of the other Monarchs in the presence of the new faces. She didn't want to be the one to put a target on their backs.

Then the Storm Winds herald the Dread King's arrival, and Mhairi feels the slight bite of her own mantle on her back as an inadequate, pitiable thing. "Rick, I'm-ah-I'm glad you-ah think so!" but it seems Mhairi wasn't the only one to dress up. All the dresses and suits....it felt nice not to be so out of place.

Morgan's distinctive voice calls, and Mhairi answers, "Indeed! And-ah few new faces as-ah-as well." seeing Morgan in her cheongsam Mhairi smiled, thinking back to the last time she saw that look. Hadn't the Lady Scrivener been wearing her riding jacket over it? "Thanks! I wanted to get the-ah spooky, but not the gore-y. I think i managed." Mhairi smiles her patented crooked grin.

"Oooooh the sprites...yeah they-ah-they get loud!" Mhairi says, nodding sharply in agreement.

The Shadowsoul speaks, and Mhairi (and most likely the rest of the room) listens.

Mhairi doesn't know how to feel when Bronson chides slash give an impromptu lesson in complementing her. Then turns around to complement her. It's that smile and it's intensity turned upon her that has the wisp flush, and stutter out, "Th-thanks."

The Mountain moves and Mhairi thanks his silent presence, and gravely voice. If not for him, she knew she'd be staring. Well she was already staring, but it would have moved from staring to full blown ogling. Though with the massive bulk of the Mountain made Man, Mhairi in definitely in favor of them moving outside. Or Maybe shuffling around a bit...if that happens, it wouldn't be her fault if she just happened to inch closer to the shadowsoul.

[Nathan Griffin]

A forceful wind, a bit more intense than was usual, came in first. The last Autumn Courtier was at his most fanciful in a while, with a clean-cut black suit adorned with an onyx and silver tie, which in turn rested on a smokey grey shirt. There is such a thing as being fashionably late, or so he had been told by those with a much better fashion sense than himself. By this point, the habit seem as intrinsic to him as his feathered profile, so he had determined not to further apologize for it until it was called for. Even then, well.

"This," he looked around, "is very impressive, Mhairi. I'm sure everyone's said it already... but congrats anyway."

The little rabbit or whatever he was — he felt a sudden craving for rabbit meat; cooking it would be preferable but ultimately optional — was a truly pitiable figure, next to his much more dashing companion. He ought to have found himself a much less daunting escort, one that wouldn't take everyone's attention away from him.

"You guys are new," he said, matter-of-factly. Then his lips burst into a smile, and his fangs shone for a moment. "I'm sorry. I'm not very fond of new people. But I'm sure we'll be the best of friends, given time."

Without further ado he moved on, paying his respects to Rick ("Y'know, I believe this is actually my first Autumn coronation.") and greeting Green ("We'll have to meet soon, decide on some stuff. Don't you think?") complimenting Morgan on her choice of attire ("I really like the color. It kind of goes with the season, huh?"), and naturally, he left the most important for last. "It's good to see you," he told Sasha, and there was nothing threatening about his smile this time.

"So, when does the eating part start? I'm starving," he joked, turning to Mhairi once more.

[Benji]

"Of course I'm right, Scamp." As if it had ever been in doubt. Honestly. "And it's noting less than the truth, Page Ankaa."

"Thank you all for the warm welcome. Oh and don't worry, my petal," Bronson says magnanimously to Nathan. "I'm used to that sort of deficiency in people. I'm sure you'll come around. Be sure to let me know when you do." Jealousy makes it's victims such ugly ducklings, but it was just another something for the disenfranchised to try and overcome. And once they did, well, they became swans. Not as good as peacocks, but then again what was?

"Now, Coco. May I call you Coco? Coco here," Bronson gestures to his fellow courtier, "has suggested that we disperse so that we don't clog up the room more than it already is. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm eager to see the garden." He hold his arm out to Coco for her to take, if she's in the mood to do so. "Would you accompany me? I'd love to hear how Spring is doing locally as people trickle in. Afterwards I can mingle."

Side thread Coco ?

[Morgan Bellanar]

Bronze beauty wants in? Excellent! Maybe swear before entry. Why--oh yeah. Wait, if false then can't tell or lose advantage, but nay tell and scares away bad too. Crud. Wait, they ain't that scary, no worries. Sure? Yes sure. Morgan's face went through a lot of expressions: happy, thoughtful, worry, confused, and then relaxed in fairly fast order. Her feet shifted in place several times, illiciting quiet crunches when they came down on the false dead leaves from her mantle. The Scrivener calmed herelf, shrugging shoulders before rolling her neck, popping it in the process. And saw Green.

The mountain man, not the color. Happy smiles were back, "Green! Always a joy to see ye, heh, friend. Nice to see ye and Nathan," she nods at her fellow Autumn, "arrivng together, heh. Good friends are excellent to find, heh." And Morgan quirked an eyebrow as Nathan complimented her attire. Well, throw in her grey and black fuzz, it was a good seasonal color combination. She quickly replies with thanks and compliments to Nathan: "(Thank ye Nathan. Thine own attire tis most dashing, heh, I'd say. Mine doth pale to the other ladies, heh, here but I prefer a dress I can run, heh, in.)"

And since formal wear to adventure had come up once, Morgan was standing by that belief unless someone gave her a token ballgown that provides better protection then full riot gear.

Mhairi's hugging of Cosima got a chuckle out of Morgan, for several reasons she'd not share. The noobs could form their own opinions of folks. And Morgan's paranoia about the new arrivals learning of the security system goes out the window as Mhairi just mentions them. Morgan's eyes bug in surprise but quickly narrow into indifference,"Yes, heh, they art loud. I hath kept the food safe from then, heh, though. Well," she raises her right hand with the palm facing down. She shakes her right hand in the "sorta" gesture: "Eh mostly, heh, bribed 'em with extra bounty, food nay Hedge type, to not, heh, steal any." She considered trying to whisper to Mhairi about not sharing the sprites function with the new arrivals.

But then she'd have to do the exact same with everyone else as the Tinkerbell lookalikes "alarm" was well known throughout the Freehold.

Sighing in defeat, the Scrivener faced Nathan: "Hmm..." she raise her right hand to scratch at her hair, "Well, tis a good question I suppose. And which food to consume tis the other query, heh."

[Lesingnon]

Rick, L'aire, Green, (and maybe Nathan and Morgan) continue here.