(1803) Spring Coronation

[Ingrid]

The Spring Court hollow was kitted out like a tavern of old, or of fantasy. A place caught somewhere between an Irish themed pub, the Green Dragon of gamers lore, and the Prancing Pony envisioned by Peter Jackson's Tolkein opus. This tavern was all warm woods, basking in the healthy glow of fire and lamp; and thanks to the Vernal Sovereign's industry there would at least be drinks for all, mostly alcoholic - but unrefined, mind! No cocktails of expensive wines here! Ingrid's resources only stretch so far, but at least there are ales and spirits and beers and lagers and strange bottles filled with colourful fluids of her own devising...

And probably the adventurous as Ingrid had no knowledge of brewing, let alone mixing, and who knew what she had poured together. Or, indeed, when. Ingrid certainly isn't telling.

Ingrid is out in force, of course. Behind the bar and dressed in an ensemble better suited to Oktoberfest (having decided that her long trained, formal, gown would not do when she has to man the bar herself!). At least her attire comes with a bodice and a suitably low neck line.

The Darkling waits for the Freehold, smoking one of her long and ghastly cigarettes. And admiring her rack (of glass-shadow antlers) in the mirror behind her. The expression of her mantle, confirming her place as Vernal Sovereign, is still new and very much a novelty to the Palewraith.

Come one, come all! The Spring Coronation is here!

NOTE: Unless you want to trudge through the Hedge to find the tavern's front door the most obvious entrance is through the Wishing Well in the Funderland theme park itself.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Entering the Spring Hollow as she had last time via the Wishing Well, Mhairi Ankaa Dread Queen quickly enters the faerie tavern that Sera and the Vernal Sovereign Ingrid carved and tamed the Thorns into.

The sight, as always, takes her breath away. Which turns into a gasp at the sight of the Antler Crown manifested upon her friend's crown. "Hail the Emerald Queen," Mhairi doesn't bow, but she dose duck her head in deference. One Queen acknowledging another.

The hem of her dress sways against her leg as silver-gold, spring themed heels click against the wooden floor as the Wisp approaches the bar, and nd the Queen turned barmaid behind it, "Have you any mead?" thinking it appreciate for the event and the venue, just as she chose her heels to speak of the Season of Renewal, and the sexy little black dress to speak of the Court of Desire.

[Ingrid]

Ingrid artfully lifts her cigarette from her lips, grinning wickedly at the first arrival.

"Well. Look at you..." The Darkling purrs, looking the Autumnal Elemental up and down.

The grin stayed upon the Palewraith's face until the mention of... mead. Ingrid blanched, if such a thing were possible. The smile remained stuck to her face like an unsightly mole.

"Mead! Mead? Ah... Sure! There is mead. Somewhere. In the world. Uhm... Maybe here?"

Ingrid ducked under the bar, rattling bottles and cartons. Squirming, she turned to the array of drinks behind her with jerky movements.

"Uh. I got no horns. Will a chalice do?"

The Spring Witch had stocked up on chalices, it seemed.

"Ah! Mead! Oh yes! Ah! Fairy mead. From a secret recipe handed down from one Emerald Courtier to the next..."

Ingrid found... something. And poured it into a plain pewter chalice. That she presented to Mhairi. The liquid didn't quite look like mead; and it certainly didn't smell like mead.

Ingrid beamed helpfully, even as she leaned back...

[Seraphina]

It was Springs turn.

And while Sera was a little disappointed they wouldn’t be throwing an amazing and lavish party to show up Winter, there wasn’t much she could do.

This was Ingrids time, and if she didn’t want a huge party, so be it. But that didn’t mean the Nix wasn’t formulating one to throw anyways. They just simply could not be overshadowed by Winter. She wouldn’t have it.

In keeping that in mind, she decides on a white pair of dress pants and a leather halter top she had recently found. It was snug and showed off a well-toned stomach and trim arms. She swept her long hair into a slicked back low ponytail and had sparkly heels on that peeked from the pants. Her lips were a show stopping red and the rest was minimal. Not that she needed the makeup anyways.

Hoping into the well, she straightens her top and smooths her pants before walking in. Lights playing off the glimmer of exposed gilded skin.

A wide smile was on her lips as she spied who was there.

And Ingrid had her crown!

Her head dips low, “That crown is truly befitting My Queen.” Greets the Nix.

She then looks to Mhairi, “Hi Mhairi, good to see you. And I love those shoes!!” she gushed.

“How are you both doing?”

[Ingrid]

"Well. Look at you!" Ingrid purrs, using the arrival of Seraphina and John to escape the awkward situation of her own making.

"Thank you. Thank you. As you see - we have alcohol! Sorry about the lack of food but our funds only run so far."

She still did not know how Quick had organised, let alone paid, for the Winter function.

"Now, what will it be?"

Her voice trailed off slightly as her eyes fell on John Doe and noted the little gesture. The Vernal Sovereign said nothing in response but her eyebrows rose quixotically.

[Quick]

Quick, entering through the Wishing Well entrance, is decked out in a pretty darn fancy getup. Leather jacket, dress shirt and slacks that are all a teeny bit fancier than the Freehold is used to seeing him in. Call it a Winter thing. Being sad. Attending his first Seasonal Coronation - of his own season - and throwing a killer party afterwards leaves him, well, sad. Seasons are too short. Which also means time is passing. And he's getting older. Not much older, but still. Older. Back in school, every day felt like an eternity and now the seasons are spinning by like nothing. He can't help but wonder if it's just his Elemental nature, making everything feel so much faster.

Pushing his sorrow aside, Quick smiles pretty for the Sovereigns and Freeholders in attendance. Ingrid, in particular, gets a little extra attention. He makes a short, comical bow. The kind that could just as easily be a joke, but is done out of affection. Mhairi gets a wink and a wave. And Sera? Quick rushes forward and gives her a one-armed hug.

"Hey! Good to see you! Your Season's time to shine, huh? Love your outfit." He shifts away after enough not to completely kill her conversation - looked like she was talking with people when he showed up. Like, um, John? Getting awfully close and comfy, isn't he? Quick isn't the kind to be protective, of course. Sera's an adult who can make her own choices. If anything, it's cute. Also telling. Guess quick-silver Johnny is into girls. Probably better off. Because, again, the guy is an upgrade to Alex's neutral appearance.

[Coco]

Truth be told, Coco had been dreading this event. True, she had planned her return to coincide, somewhat, with the coming of Spring, and true, she was glad that it was once more the Season of Desire, but when it came to Coronations, Coco had nothing but bad memories. Not all of them were from Sacramento, of course, but the fact remained that, when the Freehold gathered, shame, humiliation, anger, and thwarted desire followed...

Of course, things had changed. There was no Empty Orchestra, there was no Four Seasons Hotel, there was no Rose Garden, there wasn't even Edna's Boarding House. They all had all faded into the mists of time, and so, perhaps, that was proof enough the no matter what endured, it could always be transformed. This was the Season of Renewal and Rebirth, after all...

So it was that the Wasp strode through the doors of the tavern, a shining suit of emerald green silk elegantly swathing her lithe figure, the silver head of her cane shining, and a matching velvet trilby resplendent with peacock feathers graced her brilliantly orange locks. She paused for a moment on the threshold, striking the pose of the wanderer as she surveyed the...five people that had already arrived.

So much for being fashionably late.

"Fear not!" She loudly proclaimed, striding towards the bar. "For the Party has arrived, and it shall never stop!"

So saying, she strode over to the bar, doffed her hat, and swept an extravagant bow before Ingrid.

"Your majesty. Coco Tascioni, at your service! Ask, and I shall swear to you!"

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Mhairi laughs, "It's all good, whatever you have behind the bar is fine by me,"

Quickly after the bar is filled with bodies and boisterous voices, Mhairi's fell-flames flicker and dance over everyone's outfits, complements escape her as she audibly oohs and awes, over everyone's efforts.

"Sera! ohmigawd! that's an amazing top!

"John! Love the jacket!

"Quick! Looking snazzy!

"Coco! Resplendent in velvet as always!"

The wisp picks up the drink Ingrid-Queen Ingrid made her and sips on it.

"Good booze and better dancing!" Mhairi laughs, hoping for a party. It was Spring's night after all.

[Seraphina]

Her head turns as she hears John, a smile on her face, “Hey John!” greets the Treasured, “Still loving that coat on you!” it was a nice coat.

She felt the tap, and her eyes briefly look down, mind quickly working things out. When she thought about it, she couldn’t remember the last time a guy had wanted to hold her hand.

Why not. So her hand opens and accepts his own, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“I’ll just have water.” A small smile. “As to food, we can work on that for next time, I have some money to invest in that.” She wanted to see her Court be successful.

And the Quick was there giving her a one-armed hug, she returns it.

“Hey yourself!” she greets. “Thank you! Saw the top and I had to buy it! Looking quite striking tonight.” They had to go shopping sometime.

Now the next person to show up, made quite an entrance.

Coco. Interesting name. And she was very vivid, the green a striking color on her.

But another Spring was always a good thing. “Hi Coco!” comes the angelic voice, “I’m Seraphina, or just Sera. Whichever.” She greets, her tone friendly.

The smile then turns to Mhairi, “Thank you! One of those time you see a top and just have to buy it! But was waiting for the right event to wear and show it off.”