Clean Up Aisle 12

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Holiday cheer was upon the city. Lights were bright, merry and decorative. The unending Christmas music permeated the air, and while the carolers were nearly on key, it was the music spewing from the overhead speakers that Mhairi was having a problem with.

There were many bodies, moving rushing their arms laden with packages, and varying trinkets they'd gift when the merry morning dawned. But it wasn't those the arms that Mhairi's fell-flames drifted to, but to the unwatched, unguarded pockets. And in the hustle and bustle of the store, just who would care if someone bumped into another. Especially around Christmas...

Every since her revelation, Mhairi had realized that she'd completely forgotten where she'd come from. She'd gotten A Job. Cleaning toilets, and other people's mess. She hadn't even had the chance to exercise her quick fingers in months!

This just couldn't stand!

So Mhairi kept walking, drifting in and around the other shoppers, waiting for that perfict mark...

[Seraphina]

Giving that it was a new city, it was perfectly reasonable for her to be out and exploring. After all, she needed to know where the people were and where they were, she wanted to be. Always best to know the layout of a city.

So out she was, in jeans and a white tank top under her leather coat. It was a little chilly, but once you got moving around, and with the crowd, you soon warmed up. Her long hair had been braided off to the side.

Sapphire eyes take in all the lights and decorations around her, a smile on her face. It was hard not to feel festive in this crowd. Part of her enjoyed catching glimpses of the festive lights twinkling off her gilded skin in the shop windows. Oh how pretty it looked!

Though part of her knew she was becoming the thing being stared at. While she still enjoyed the attention, there were times she wished she could blend in.

And then she pauses, eyes picking out someone a little different. Someone like her. Well, different flavor, but same in some senses. The important ones at least.

The mesmerizing eyes are the first thing she notices, well, that and the fire that seems to escape them.

Now that’s cool, she thinks as her smile turns into a grin.

Making her way closer, a hand is brought up in greeting,

“Mind some company?” asks the angelic voice of the Nix.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Mhairi focus was upon those oh so very tempting pockets, and dangling purses, until a magnetic pull drew her fell-flames up-up-up to see some one that had her swallowing in remembrance for another drop dead gorgeous women, a slight flush crawled it's way up her neck and drifted towards her cheeks, as the memories of the blond; Vanessa and all that they did took hold.

But this wasn't Vanessa, and this wasn't the Asylum.

The Enthralling vision in front of her, a Fairest; no doubt about that. Gilded and glorious. A Dragoness with a voice that would make angels green with envy.

"No." says the Wisp, as she tries to find a place to fell-flames to land. Not to the purses, and unguarded wallets. It wouldn't do for this new 'ling to find out about that, especially since she's the Autumn Queen. And Mhairi was afraid if she let her eyes linger, on the gilded dragoness, it might send the wrong signal.

It took the Elemental a while to realize that her clipped word might be taken wrong. "I don't mind." she finishes as her bitter and menacing winds, sweep up the fragrance of the Dragoness' flowery Spring Mantel.

[Seraphina]

he had to admit, for the beauty that her silver and gold spun hair held, it paled in comparison to hers. Her eyes taking in by the galaxy that seemed to unfold in Mahairi’s hair. It was stunning.

Mantles always amazed the Nix, the way each one was different and unique, each attuned to the Changeling it was part of. This ones was no less impressive, it’s menacing winds a stark comparison to her own gentle dew covered blossoms. Yup, this chick was cool.

“Sorry if I disturbed you, but I had to say I love your hair.” Which was true, and would sound mundane to those around them. “And how rude of me,” the gentle smile returned, “I’m Sera, new to town, which is probably pretty obvious.” the Nix laughs with a shrug.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

"It's alright, and thanks." Says Mhairi, no one had every commented on her hair. Before it was a blanket of the blackest void, and now as the Wyrd grew the twinkling stars hadn't gotten a comment. Normally it was the eyes, or the fingers that got the comments. So this was nice. "Your's is too." The Dragoness' hair was indeed very shiny. Distracting, Mhairi from the possible shinnies within those pockets and purses.

"Hi Sera." Mhairi smiled as she waved. "I'm Mhairi. And just a little bit. I know all the faces within our community so your's does stand out. More. Since you're very, very pretty."

Change was in the air. There's been more new faces around then there'd been in a long time....Mhairi wondered if it spoke for good, or ill.

[Seraphina]

A hand absently reached for the locks of spun gold and silver, “Thank you!” how weird was it to be complimenting each other on how their hair looked?

“Pleased to meet you Mhairi, and hearing about their being a community here is wonderful news!” she hadn’t been in the city that long, but she had been looking for the telltale signs of Changelings.

Grinning with a chuckle, “Thanks. I have to say, you have quite the mesmerizing eyes, I’m sure you draw quite a bit of attention.” She was used to it, the looks and the sweet words.

“Tell me, was it the beautiful lights and decorations that brought you out tonight? Not that I’m complaining, cause I’d like to settle here for a while and all that. So being lucky and finding someone I have things in common with is great!"

[Mhairi Ankaa]

"Of course there's a community here." Mhairi says, oblivious to any other subtext. "There's signs up..." Mhairi says, there was still posting about The Blue Note, Edna's and the Quicksilver Gate...but maybe the Spring was trying to look for...Mhairi frowns, she didn't know what the Spring would be looking for when she sought out 'community'. The Rose Garden wasn't...and Coco's karaoke place flopped without Coco...and, well after Bronson and Scampy's leaving, Sera was the first Spring to be seen nearly all Autumn. "Sorry. I'm sure you've been looking for a place to party. But. For us, there hasn't been anyone around to spearhead something like that...in a while." Mhairi offers the Dragoness an apologetic look and a shrug.

"They do." Mhairi nods, thankful that this Spring wasn't as rude as the last one who spoke about her eyes. "Thanks." she smiles, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, the last person she'd 'mesmerized' with her eyes seemed to Asa. Shaking her head. She tries to dismiss the hansom man from her thoughts. "You probably know. But you're very pretty too." says Mhairi. Wondering if it was because of her Durance, or if it's what lead to her Durance.

"No." Mhairi shakes her head. Knowing she's not offing up much to this new arrival, like she has to other in the past, but in the past, she wasn't Autumn's Queen, sworn to keep the Freehold she calls home safe. It only took one mistake. Trusting the wrong person, saying the wrong thing that could lead everything to ruin. "I...like to people watch." Mhairi says after a bit, ans while she won't admit to her hankering for some thievery, she would admit that. It was even true after a fashion. She has to people watch to find her mark.

[Seraphina]

A curious eyebrow was raised, “Oh, guess I just haven’t been walking the right areas. Or it could be I’m distracted by all the wonder of the city, or only being here a few days.” Either was a possibility with her. “Maybe you could direct me in the right direction then, I should really talk to a Club Director take care of some important business sooner rather than later.” She was pretty sure the Elemental would get what she meant.

There was then a frown and a slight deflate to her bubbly demeanor, “Huh, well, that sucks.” She chewed her lip thoughtfully, “But I guess I’ll have to make due.” She’s worked with less.

Yeah, she does know. Though admitting it out loud would probably, ok would be considered arrogant. “You’re being too kind! Thank you.” But the smile was one of someone who did know, and who heard it often. Though it didn’t get old to hear!

The sapphires look at the crowd, studying it for a moment, “Yeah, that can be fun. Especially this time of year, grab a coffee or hot coco, a nice bench and just watch people running around with insane looks on their faces. Stressing about finding that special gift.” She shrugs, Christmas had lost its meaning for her.

“So tell me, what else do you do for fun?"

[Mhairi Ankaa]

"Probably." Mhairi agrees, "But if you've only been around for a few days, that makes sense. Sacramento's a big place." Which was why the Lost had managed to stay as hidden as they have.

"I'm a Club Director." Mhairi says blandly. Feeling a little weird. She's never had to tell people she was a Queen, most of them just saw the Crown, or had been there when she got it. "We're having a Christmas Party on the twenty-first. If you haven't met everyone by then, it'll be the place to make sure you do. And you can put in for your membership for the Sacramento branch then too." Mhairi smiled, reminded that her stint as the Ascendant Queen was drawing to a close, and that it would be L'aire's time to shine.

The Cycle of the Seasons, sharing. Something They would never understand.

"Yeah. It does." Without a strong presence of Spring and Summer, how would the Cycle continue....? "But. We'll figure something out. We always do."

Mhairi just hummed and smiled as Sera beamed at her complement. Obviously the Dragoness knew she was a beautiful pillar a women, it was nice to that she wasn't conceited, or arrogant about it.

Mhairi hums again, agreeing with her over the state of the crowd rushing hither and yon.

"For fun?" Mhairi blinks, her fell-flames sputtering. Being Queen wasn't a walk in the park. Rituals to stave off Glamour over spill, the Dragon haunting her Dreams, "Dancing." she says eventually. "Shopping." she admits with a smile, "Sparing." she really needed to get in some practice with her warfans. It might relieve the tension knotting her shoulders.

Or maybe she just needed another night spent at the Asylum.

[Seraphina]

She was a little surprised at how blandly the Elemental admitted to being a crowned Queen. But, hey, maybe it was newly acquired or she just didn’t want the position. Either way, it wasn’t the Nix’s problem. “Really?! How lucky for me!” and it was, to find a Queen while out on a stroll.

“The twenty-first? I’ll make sure I’m there! And I love meeting new people.” which meant scraping together a few extra dollars to find something presentable. Surly she could plop down on a bench and start singing some festive music, that should get at least a couple dollars. Then it was all about the thrift stores, which pissed her off. After her endurance she was used to the finer things, but until she got settled and a steady income, it was all she had.

Nodding, “It’s what we do best. Figure things out and survive.” And becoming a member of the Freehold would help her survive. Well, at least for a bit, the world of a Changeling was a dangerous one.

Sapphire eyes sparkle, “Sparring! I’ve been looking for a good gym or place to get some time in myself. Have a good gym to recommend? I’ve been wanting to get into boxing.” Yeah, she might be beautiful, but she could throw down with the best of them. The shocked looks on her opponents was always her favorite part.

“Hmmm, dancing.” She says with a hum, “Can’t say I’m very good at dancing, but it’s always fun to get out with friends and let lose.” Maybe she could be a good dancer if she tried. It had just never really been a thing. Standing in one place, singing and looking beautiful was all she had known for a long time.

“What do you do for work? You strike me as either a model or some type of artist.” Which she thought was compliment, and hoped she wouldn’t offend. But, sometimes you can’t help those things, some people were like, super sensitive. “Sorry for all the questions, I just haven’t come across someone I have things in common with a little while.” There was a small shrug of her shoulders.