(ES1704) A Court without a Crown

[Morgan Bellanar]

"Oh, heh, sup Alexander? Um," Morgan gets uncomfortable at the mention of good health, looking down at her chest and poking part of herself. "Uh, heh, good health, heh, now. Fortunes tis undetermined yet, heh. Heh hope tis an upturn tonight." She'd met the chivalrous man before, and she did hope his fortunes didn't run as bad as her last adventure had.

"Green, heh, I tender ye my thanks once more, truly I do," Morgan sounded grateful and apologetic at the same time somehow. She'd not interrupt Green's conversation with others but she still felt she very muched owed her pack--erm, friends a great debt.

Morgan blinked at Lucian before accepting his hand with a shake. If Mhairi knew him he shouldn't be a threat. She gave a weak smile and shook her head, "Nay, I don't. Tis good armor though, heh, that don't freak out normans. Good for parkour too lo I nary ken heh how to drive a car," she tilted her head and purred thoughtfully, "Mayhaps that should be amended, heh-heh. Or better armor," she grimaced as she recalled what happened to her last jacket, "Yay, it tis shit against swords. Better armor tis a solid investment."

Morgan forced a smile on to reassure Mhairi, "Still ye both hath mine thanks. I am...healthy. That much, heh, new flesh growing in feels...nary ken the right word...funky? Nary the smell just...heh, wierd feeling. Thaaat and aught I eat tastes of blood," the smile turned genuine as she chuckled, "And heh heh I'd first thought blood oranges were aptly named, heh heh."

And the queen of Winter was here too! "Good evening to thee Sasha. Tis a fine evening, yay?" And Morgan remembered to breath again at this point, having wheezed out her last question. She had to be nervous to have forgotten how to breath and talk at the same time again.

[Malcolm Green]

"Behind the scenes huh?" Green rumbled but did not press the matter. "You come to see what happens now we got no Vernal Sovereign, yeah?"

Green accepted Alexander's hand shake then moved off to take possession of a seat. He was still trying (and failing) to fit around the table when Cynthia and Lucian made their entrance. He eyed them flatly for a moment, before catching L'aire's eye and paying his respects.

"So. What does happen now?" A blunt Elemental is blunt. Green's gemstone eyes return to scanning the gathering, alighting with especial weight upon those who bore the fresh mantle of Spring. "Anyway, we got news to share. I'd be happy to share it if someone gets me a beer."

[Seraphina]

The Nix wondered what had the raccoon jumpy, but supposed she would share if she wanted to.
“Hi Morgan.” She greets with a smile. "You ok?" the smile faded to show concern.

Then a new face entered, a barely noticeable warm summer breeze coming with him. A summer perhaps? She guess with a smile.

Lady? That was kinda new, she hadn’t had the term used with her name in quite some time. Though she does allow him to kiss her hand, it was sweet and not something you experienced a whole lot.

“Pleased to meet you, is Alexander ok to call you?” comes the angelic voice, the smile following it warm. Some people had specific ways they liked to be referred to, and it was always best to ask. “You can just call me Sera if you like.” Though she was curious where the Lady tied into her name.

The imposing Green got a smile when he joined them. She had to wonder if there was more to him aside from being big and imposing, he didn’t talk much. And that got her curious about him.

As her fellow Spring appears, she smiles, “Lucian, good to see you again! That is an amazing coat!” it seemed this Spring had an eye for fashion and flair. Which was great in her opinion.

Sapphires flicker to Mhairi, “Oh, well, um,” she pauses, how to put it, frowning “Not really. We found the Mistress of Ink, and were invited in to share tales with her. Needless to say Alex left, I’m not sure why, as did Pippin.” She looks disappointed, “I wasn’t able to gather anything useful, I’m sorry.” She hated failing at something, especially when she tried and those around her left her holding the bag.

As Sasha entered, the smile returned, “That is one of the most beautiful dresses I have seen! You and I have to go shopping sometime. You look radiant!” it was hard not to notice how amazing the Fairest looked.

Now the other new Lost, well, she stood out for another reason. Her clothes, which looked well-worn and a little dirty. She had to remind herself not to judge the woman based off her clothes.

The warm dry wind that she brought made Sera think she was Summer. She had a brazen presence and an intense look to her,

“Hi, I’m Seraphina.” Comes her angelic voice with a friendly smile. “But Sera is fine.” She wasn’t formal unless she had to be.

Looking to Lucian, “I can help you get the drinks if you like. I’ll just take a water.”

[Mhairi Ankaa]

"Sasha, hello!" Mhairi chirps as the Onyx Sovereign makes her appearance, Autumn's wisp takes in the Dancer's dress. It was beautiful, and the symbolism - if Sasha was doing the same with her dress as Mhairi had hers for the change over from Autumn to Winter - was doubly perfict. "A beautiful gown Sasha, did you have to custom order it?"

Under the winter chill that both Sasha and Green gave off, Mhairi could feel a subtle touch of warmth, which heralded an Ogre's arrival. Mhairi lifts her arm and gives the Bloodbrute a wave with her quicksilver coated and ever dripping fingers.

Turning to fully face her Paladin Mhairi gives Morgan a very serious looks, her hands reach for the Steepscrabler's shoulders, "I am very glad you have new flesh. Even if it itches." taking a moment to linger, fell-flames dance as she tries to make sure Morgan understood how important she was to Mhairi. Abruptly the hands drop and Mhairi's brow furrow, :"I'm sure there's a way to fix that bloody taste, we might need a different goblin fruit, or maybe just some normal food....maybe it'll leave on it's own...but considering how it came to be, I doubt it."

The Summer Mirrorskin speaks and Mhairi's fell-flames narrow, motes of fire escaping and drifting upward only to disappear when they drifted to far from the Wisp. A spy. Someone without a touch of the Freehold Pledge binding him to the Freehold, so his claim to be a Freehold member rang false. He could have been an informant to anyone...or anything. Fear nudges, and coils within her chest, settling into a cold knot of dread...they needed to do something about him. She thinks to try and catch Green's gemstone eyes, but between the two of them, any silent speaking wouldn't do any good. She's have to call the Mountain after the party.

Her shoulders relaxes from their place by her ears when it seems like the Darkling's information is old. Morgan hadn't been Scrivener for half a year now.

Lucian passes her the box and she takes a peek inside, "Huh," she closes the box, and puts it into a pocket, "I will definitely have to get this looked at..." she trails off knowing that her words sounded weird but not knowing why. "Thank you."

Turning to the Nix, "It's okay Sera, with Alex and Pippin gone, I knew that your task was exponentially harder then it was when I gave it to you."

Taking her fell-flames off Sera, Mhairi's gaze fell between Green and Morgan. "Yeah we have a lot to talk about. What myself and a few others have been up to, and what do we do now since there's no Spring Sovereign." Stepping away from Sera and Morgan, she speaks to the unsworn newcomers. "You cannot Pledge to the Freehold because the Freehold has no Sovereign, but each of us," Mhairi points to herself, Sasha, Green, Morgan and Sera, "Can keep and bind a few Oaths. We don't know you are not our enemies. I suggest a Pledge of Good Intent, held for a Season."

Fell-flames flicker around the room.

"Swear for a Season, from Spring to Summer that you will not knowingly aid the enemies of the Freehold, whether they call themselves such or not, that you will not lead a freehold member to their doom, that you in fact enrich the Freehold by your presence. In exchange, for as long as your word hold's true, we will swear to offer you a place of safe harbor, and succor. We will protect you as you would us."

A breath, "I assume Lucian would wish to swear to Sera? Alexander to Green or Sasha..." he was a self admitted spy, and that fell under Winter's purview. Fell-flames turn to the Ogress, @Cynthia "Would you want to swear to me or Morgan?"

Suggested Pledge of Good Intent

Type: Vow
Task: Medial Alliance (-2)
Boon: Adroitness (minor +1 Skill)
Sanction: Curse(-1)
Duration: season (+2)

[Cayce]

Their host for the evening, Cosette, had only been able to give Mhairi a nod in return for the thanks, as not a moment later one of the Lost waitstaff bustled up to her with a status report, presumably on whatever was happening back in the kitchen without her. She was a short, thin woman, dressed in a black chef's uniform. Yet, everywhere not covered by the uniform's cloth, her flesh seemed to gleam in the light, as though it was covered in a very fine layer of grease, and her hair looked as though one might be able to dress a salad if they only grasped the braid going down her back and squeezed...

Like many of the Lost, she was quite disconcerting to look at, with jagged, sharp teeth and a long black tongue that only seemed to emphasize the grotesque oily sheen that covered her, and yet, a perpetual flush lived in her cheeks, adding a sense of joy and bashfulness that did quite a bit to soften her other features.

No matter her appearance, however, it was quite clear that she could cook, even if only from the smell of the buffet surrounding them.

And, eventually, her conversation with the waiter ended and she was able to turn back to the conversation between Sacramento's Old Guard, and the fresh faces new to the city.

"Excuse me," the chef cut in, "I don't mean to interrupt the swearing of pledges, but I wanted to let you all know that you're welcome to enjoy everything in the restaurant, and that we're all ready to listen whenever you're ready to share whatever news you might have. Also, Dread Queen, Dinbrane's offered to be your personal server for the evening."

The oily chef nodded towards the looming figure of Dinbrane, a pale skinned, dark haired woman with raven's wings sprouting from her back, who was apparently guarding one of the few empty tables left in the restuarant.

Cosette Boucher, Wizened Pamarindo, Knight of the Knowledge of the Tongue, Spring Courtier.

[Morgan Bellanar]

Morgan let out a dry laugh before raising her hand at Alexander's introduction of her, "Eh heh heh, actually Alex, Imma the Paladin of Shadows now, heh, promotion and aught like that, heh...heh no shining armor ever though, maybe armor though. Yes L'Aire, I am doing well now." she grinned nodded at the last reigning sovereign of the Freehold.

In answer to Green's question, Morgan wracked her brain. "Well Green, Chicago and some other heh holds hath had courts that nary give up power each season. Buuut their courts art dickish to each, ssssso that's robably nay for us. Uuuuh, royal committee? Or a Spring heh here gets a temp oath and crowned." She looked around at the Springs present, hoping that someone would follow Mhairi's example during he ascension. Like Cosette maybe? "There art a few heh here."

Morgan was briefly confused that Lucian didn't know club speak. Then recalled he was new, "Ye don't--oh, right, ye art new Lucian. We hath a club speak or, heh, slang we use when talking in public. I can give ye the low down later, heh. If ye art taking drinks, I shalt also favor water, won't taste aught anyway," she mumbled out the last part.

Morgan nodded at Sera, "Nary worry Sera," she jerked a thumb to Mhairi, "Liek Mhairi said, sword hole fully heh healed full. And nay worry Mhairi," she smiled at her queen, "It'll likely fade eventually. And I must grateful still, my queen." the smile was at least not forced anymore. "Yeah, swapping notes tis a good goal, heh."