Lost and Found

Dec 2nd, 2018 09:19 PM

There could not be a greater silence from Lydia as the group returned to their haven. The entire time she walked, she clutched her coat tightly to herself, trying to keep what remained of her shirts from falling out. Her eyes were down to her feet, and any answers they tried to pry out of her were replaced with either, "Aye," or, "Nae." The presence of the others was a comfort, at least, in that they genuinely wanted to help her get decent.

(The gift of rejuvenation from Titania had not gone unnoticed. The radiant woman possibly had a life-friend in the Airtouched - calling on the Wyrd to aid another was a deed Lydia thought highly of. She quietly vowed to somehow repay the gentle, beautiful creature, and the others as well. The seeds kindness plants run long and deep, blooming in the unlikeliest places like a rare, precious flower.)

Wherever the motley went, Lydia went with them as well. She trusted them now, even with a part of her still wary and ready to run. Lydia felt this was natural: paranoia could be the mind-killer, but caution kept her from stepping into a trap. Already her Seeming gave her a gale's speed, so it wasn't as if fleeing was beyond her capabilities.

OOC: Keeping this open in case anyone wants to join. Rhodes , Titania , Circe , Sonnie Wu , feel free to hop in.

**Sonnie Wu** · Dec 2nd, 2018 11:22 PM

Silence? There was no silence with Sonja Wu around. The monkey Beast jabbered on endlessly as they walked towards the amusement park, assaulting Lydia with barrage of curious questions. Well, maybe the others walked. Sonnie sort of skipped and hopped along, jumping atop the occasional bus bench or fire hydrant they passed, just because she could. Low energy, the girl was not.

"So, is your hair made of smoke? How do you wash it? Do you give yourself allergies? Are you really Scottish? Have you seen Brave? Did you like it? How about Trainspotting? Do you know David Tennant? He's the voice of Scrooge McDuck now. Do you like Duck Tales? The new one, I mean? Are you homeless? Do you want a snack? I got peanut M&Ms. You like those?"

Honestly, her questions were so rapid-fire, it was like she wasn't even listening to the curt answers. To her credit, however, she did remember to offer the Elemental some of the aforementioned candy, holding forth the small bag with a smile.

**Titania** · Dec 3rd, 2018 09:00 PM

She tailed the group a few feet behind, lest somebody trip and fall over her moondust trail, quiet but bemused by the antics of her fellow Emerald. Could be that her wisps had finally found a playmate? The other woman, they'd have to outfit her, something respectable. She had seen something fitting in one of her magazines. Yes, there was plenty to try.
It had been a fruitful evening and there was much to ponder about. As she thought that, she sneakily peaked a the Autumn King and shuddered.

**Rhodes** · Dec 4th, 2018 04:29 AM

The endless chatter of the Monkey has Rhodes lapse into a dignified silence as he leads the way back towards Funderland, his Mantle whipping strongly around him leaving a trail of tiny leaves in his wake. He points out one or two important features - the individual Courtly holdings in the park, the Spring Tavern entrance through the quaint wishing well - before ending up before the large structurer of Edna's.

"And here is the Ashen holding. Welcome to my humble abode," the Dread Lord announces with a smile. "It used to be a boarding house, many moons ago," he describes as they begin ascending the steps. "Recent studies of it's history tell me it was the site of several murders in the early 20th centruy, and one of my predecessors bought and transferred the entire building here a few years ago. It has served as the haunted house in t he intervening time... I still need to figure out what it is I intent to do with it, though I would quite enjoy it to be both. If I can make the time."

He hakes a pair of keys from his pocket and unlocks the door, opening the door and offering it to the ladies. "Don't be shy. I'll forgoe any dramatic entrances this time." The Fairest chuckles to himself. It's hard to tell if he's joking or serious.

**Circe** · Dec 4th, 2018 07:06 AM

Circe caught up to the group with a cardboard cup holder full of a quartet of warm coffees, plus a fifth in her hand. "Wait wait wait," the tone implied this was important as Circe looked at Sonja, "I thought Tennant was Doctor Who. He's a duck now?" Circe focused on the strangest things.

She snorted at the mention of the changes Edna's had gone through, "Lots of work for me helpin' with that. Then I got the crown," she put on a false smile, "And kept havin' ta do the work even after a grand, grueling duel for it." Circe shakes her head with a chuckle as she held out the coffee tray towards Lydia, "Ya want first pick?"

Dec 5th, 2018 01:33 AM

"So, is your hair made of smoke?"

"Aye."

"How do you wash it?"

"Uh..."

"Do you give yourself allergies?"

"Nae."

"Are you really Scottish?"

"Aye...?"

"Have you seen Brave? Did you like it? How about Trainspotting?"

"Nae...?"

"Do you know David Tennant? He's the voice of Scrooge McDuck now. Do you like Duck Tales? The new one, I mean? Are you homeless?"

"...Uh...."

Wait, food? Lydia could understand food. "Aye, please," she said politely, her eyes constantly trying to follow the monkey-Beast's movements. She was starting to wonder, from all her clambering and jumping, if the Monkey was some sort of Steepscrambler. The one from her old motley had a habit of crouching on, jumping off, and getting back on chairs and sofas when thinking. At least this one wasn't randomly bounding up them in fright - yet.

The Ashen Holding. Lydia didn't notice it until they came to its foreboding entrance. The building loomed like a black mountain, surrounded by silhouetted trees that whispered in a faint wind. Lydia was starting to reconsider their offer, as they had first brought her to Autumn's lair and not...not Winter's. Why? Was it that the Court of Secrets was hidden beyond their reach? Did the Other Seasons have to ask permission before entering first?

Thissae hopes thissae's not broken taboo. She followed the King in, walking in simply and avoiding any attention-grabbing antics. The oppressive atmosphere was thicker inside, and her plume drooped a little as she glanced around. So many dark corners, there were - and had he called it a haunted house?

"Thissae fears nothin' in here," Lydia quietly announced. Though probably useless if there was a specter, Lydia took no chances. She'd slept in dark forests, had been followed by cars at night, and stood in alleyways where hungry eyes watched for opportunity. Not only that, but she had been lost in the Thorns and thrown back out again, and lived on the back of Winter itself. There was no room for Fear. She would starve its Court as long as she lived here. "Nae even fear itself."

Coffee? Oh, coffee would be lovely. "Thissae thanks the Queen of Blood an' Fire," the Airtouched said, reaching to take a pick. "Thissae takes the blackest. Thissae asks nae much. Fates bless the Fiery Ae for the ae's kindness."

**Sonnie Wu** · Dec 5th, 2018 08:24 AM

The Beast seemed mildly interested in Lydia's answers, but was quickly distracted by the introduction of Edna's Boarding House. She looked at the old building in awe as Rhodes described it's history, golden eyes roaming over the exterior windows, as if she might spot a ghost watching them. "Murder house..." she said, softly. It seemed unclear if she was impressed or frightened, at least for the first few moments. Sonnie resolved the mystery by looking at the Autumn King and grinning, "Dude, you live here? That is awesome!"

Sonnie was distracted yet again by Circe and her bountiful gift of coffee. She happily bounced over to the Queen of the Iron Spear and sniffed at the offered to-go cups. Once the Elemental had gotten first pick, the monkey girl grabbed one that smelled sweet. If there's one thing this ball of energy clearly needed, it's caffeine and sugar. "Thanks! You are so thoughtful! I like that you're blue. It's a good color on you!"

The Beast swung by Titania with a smile, gently poking one of her floating lights with a finger and saying "Boop!" before quickly heading back to the entrance of the haunted house. Staff in one hand and coffee in the other, Sonnie bowed to Rhodes and headed inside, her curiosity leading the way.

**Circe** · Dec 5th, 2018 11:10 AM

Circe's smile widened to disturbing levels as she gave Lydia the blackest coffee there, "Oh ho ho ho, I like that one," fortunately gunbunny smurfette clarified, "Blood and Fire, I'll need ta work on the second to make the title not a liar, oh ho ho ho!" The elf was quite amused as she followed the group in. Though she did stop to glare at a chandelier next to a shelf. The work had been troublesome but the Christmas jokes were the real annoyance. And then Sonnie grabbed a coffee too, "I find red's a good contrast fer accessories. And yer tail is absolutely adorable!"

"Good on ya Lydia. No need ta fear when yer strength is near," she returned to the conversation. "Summers so I'm all for breakin' Their faces. And necks. Spines. Toes," Circe is chipper as she names random body parts before sipping her own coffee, "Ya know I ain't picky about how I stick it to 'em."

**Titania** · Dec 5th, 2018 09:24 PM

She had thanked her host for the invite.

The manor was befitting of the Autumn Court. Nevertheless, the aesthetics, apropos of the promise of a haunted house presaging a terrifying midnight jaunt, lacked that appropriate feminine touch that turned "places" into "homes". She was expecting the spirit of King Hamlet to materialize anytime soon.

Lost in her value judgements, she had estranged herself from the conversation until a wisp gently called her attention.
Yes, Scotland. Lydia was a fellow subject of her Imperial Majesty the Queen, not of Blood and Fire but of Great Britain and India. It was something they had in common.

Dec 6th, 2018 09:22 AM

It was the voice of her Sovereign that made her come down. It was his key in the lock and his dulcet tones that told her someone else had arrived. She really hadn't expected to have visitors, but then again, she hadn't expected to be here so late anyways. But she thought it important that an Autumn remain near their house of operations if they had the chance and she rather do her light reading here rather than at her cramped apartment complex. More space, more amenities, more shadows to call her own.

The voice of her Sovereign summoned her down the stairs, but what she neglected to pay attention to was the host of other voices accompanying him. Or rather, she had assumed there weren't as many as there were and that they were more likely to be aligned with Autumn. So she neglected to pull up her Mask and near froze when she reached the ground floor to find a large party of people in Edna's entryway. A couple of them unknown to her. For a brief moment, she considered putting her other face on anyways, but she figured the damage was already done, her first impression as the toothy demon lady couldn't be undone.

Befitting the chillier time of year, the Ogre had adopted a pair of jeans and puffy blue jacket. Had she looked normal, she'd just appear to be wearing fingerless gloves, but her Mien showed the openings merely to grant her overly large claws egress while keep the flesh of her hands warm. The red-skinned woman grinded her jagged, exposed teeth together as she tried to think of a proper greeting to all these unexpected guests.

"Rhodes! I did not think anyone would be here tonight. I was working on some stuff up the stairs. ...Who are your guests?" She would've offered to leave but... well, there were new people here. People of unknown motivations. While she was perfectly fine giving them the benefit of doubt, she WAS the Paladin of Shadows. She felt if nothing else she needed to be here just in case, as who else should be expected to protect him? Even if the Queen of Summer was here as well and very likely packing more heat than her. Speaking of which...

"Good night, Circe! Are these your people?" She couldn't really sense any Autumn mantles coming of them, but they could have less subtle Mantles than Rhodes' wind machine or the smoke rising from her mouth. "I was not expecting company, excuse me if I do not look good." Partially a mention of her lack of Mask, but then again, Circe was undeniably beautiful and Titania was one of the most captivating women she'd ever laid eyes on, so it was difficult not to feel a little outclassed by the pair of them.

Lost and Found

Steepscrambler

Telluric Bright One

Flowering

Steepscrambler

Telluric Bright One

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