(1902) Around the Bonfire

[Fawkes]

The flames carried higher and higher as more of the Lost gathered around the periphery of their Ascended Queen of silence and sorrow...

@Seraphina

[Seraphina]

A friendly smile was offered to the uncanny guy, “Hello yourself.” Greets the angelic voice. The bow was….weird. Then a shake of her head, “Not really. I think maybe Winter likes to throw an extra party a little less formal and more relaxed then the Coronation. But I could be wrong, don’t quote me on that.” She says with a laugh.

Out of the corner of her eye, she catches the motion from Sasha, “Excuse me one second.” She walks back over to the Dancer.

A hug? Sure. She accepts the hug, feeling her skin goosebump through the thin material of her dress. While she wasn’t sure what to make of the hug, she enjoyed it. Maybe her and the Queen were closer than she thought.

“Sure! Those sound great. I was just getting to know a new face over by the fire.” She gestures with her head towards Fawkes, and moves back toward him.

Another smile, "Sorry about that." she says, "This your first Freehold event?"

[Fawkes]

Fawkes watches the interaction with alien interest, brightening a bit when Seraphina returned. "This Freehold," he clarified.

"New structure means new algorithms. I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing," he admitted. "I've greeted the Ascended Monarch. I've greeted the Iron Spear that claims she's Sovereign of my Court. I've met the Groundskeeper. There's no Freehold Oath; does this mean I'm...just welcome?" He speaks in the usual monotone, but the way his gaze keeps clicking to each of the Lost, there's an air of excited nerves.

[Seraphina]

Claims she’s Sovereign? That was unexpected.

“Well, what do you want to be doing? I don’t think there is anything we’re supposed to do expect keep an eye open for threats and defend when needed.” Unless she missed something.

Ah, the Oath. “You are correct, there is no current Oath, but I think the current Monarchs and Director plan to talk about it. There has been a lot of interest in putting one back into place, which I support.” If it mattered. “And yes,” a soft smile, “it means just welcome. Though I do understand feeling unsure.” she was trying to be reassuring. "What do you enjoy doing?"

Out of the corner of her eye she catches Rhodes return, and the smile. The butterflies returned to her stomach and she returns the smile.

[Fawkes]

Fawkes sips the cider. What did he want to be doing? "Usually my function would be dictated by my Sovereign. The role of a Crimson soldier is establishing proper security measures to protect our Freehold. As there is no current Freehold, and no communal Motley Pledge, that means the function of my Oath still stands to fill those holes."

He notes the feeling of distance that the demeanor of nature is creating, "I'm glad you understand the potential of the situation." her question at his hobbies wasn't surprising. She was trying to establish common ground, like those at the Shady Lady.

"I like..." he has to pause to think, "going to the shooting range, music...walking, training, and reading," he cocks his head, "Do any of those topics work?"

[Seraphina]

Crimson soldier, sounded badass to the Nix. “Have you considered entering into a Pledge with your Monarch? I’m not sure when the Monarchs as a whole will be meeting, but surely there is a way to fulfill your role until then? It must be frustrating.” And she didn’t know how to help fix it.

A nod, “Oath’s are important, and a Freehold without one can be dangerous. And with the increase in our numbers lately, an Oath would be a nice fit.”

She listens with interest, “Shooting range? Guns? I believe your Monarch is really into those.” Like, really into them. Then a laugh, light and musical in quality, “Work? Of course they do! I just like getting to know people. I’m an avid reader myself, music kind of goes with who I am.” A shrug with her smile, “And I train as well, though I’m not sure if it’s the same or not. I’m trying to learn boxing at a local gym, to pair it with my fighting skills.”

[Fawkes]

"Your voice is lovely," Fawkes agrees with a firm nod, "I don't have any professional martial training beyond my grappling skills. Maybe you can teach me what you've learned." The Iron Spear to admire the Lost that learned to defend themselves on their own time. She's great.

"I haven't sworn any Pledge to Circe," Fawkes corrected, "She is just a rank above me, and I will respect this. After speaking with her, I would defer to her in manners of battlefield engineering as an artillery jockey. I appreciate her service, but don't trust her to lead me in a war zone," he said bluntly without hesitation. It was easy to talk to the siren.

"She, however, apparently thinks you're the Vernal Sovereign," He cocks his head with a click, "Did I miss something?"

[Seraphina]

“Thank you!” she gushes with a grateful smile. “I love sparring with others! I’ll let you know the next time I’m at the gym and you can join me. But a fair warning, getting frozen yogurt is kind of a tradition after.” She says with a laugh. “My go to training is Kung Fu, so boxing is still new to me and I’m not very good at it. But I have fun learning.” A bright smile. Though she missed Quick, he was a great sparring partner.

Well, that was that then. “I hope there doesn’t end up being a warzone, but I’ve fought beside her in the Hedge. Not like, a real battle or anything, and she was quite impressive.” Maybe it was a Summer thing?

“Yeah, I heard that.” There was a shake of her head, the silver and gold spun hair reflecting the fire, “If you missed something, then I did as well.” She jokes, “My Sovereign is Ingrid, who is also our Director, and I have no intent to hold the Vernal Crown. Being Queen just isn’t something I see myself doing, though maybe I should be flattered?”

[Fawkes]

"Fair warning: my kinesthetic learning is garbage." Being taken apart for a length beyond time, only to be bound back into a body was always a dissociative experience for his kin. The woman was so animated and he was beginning to unconsciously mirror it,

"I'm glad to know she can fight. But that is only a single aspect to being Sovereign of any Court, M'am. Qualities of a military leader have a specific set of skills," he looks at his fingers as he lists off pillar principles,

"Know yourself and seek self-improvement.
Be technically and tactically proficient.
Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates.
Make sound and timely decisions.
Set an example.
Know your people and look out for their welfare," his gaze flicks back to Sera as one of those examples was just recently highlighted with mistaking such an important office.

"Keep your people informed.
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.
Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
Train your people as a team.
Employ your team in accordance with its capabilities."

Fawkes runs out of fingers and actually chuckles quietly, "This probably is boring. Is there anything special about this bonfire?" He was a little proud of remembering things like topics of interest. The positive feeling is half-remembered and surprising.

Re-involving himself beyond interacting with gangs apparently did have some positive effects; socializing could have more than just the outcome of communicating. The Spring Courtier apparently was fulfilling her role without realizing it.

[Seraphina]

Smirking and waving a hand, “You’ll be fine. Boxing is fairly easy to pick up on and I think you’ll nail it. But even if you don’t, we all start somewhere and I found myself knocked on my butt more times than I care to admit.” She clearly found her own short coming funny.

From her face, she was listening, “My apologizes, I don’t know a whole lot about how that works in your Court.” And as he listed them off, she once again listened, then shakes her head, “Not boring at all!” she exclaims. “Those are all important qualities to have in a Sovereign, especially setting an example. Our Sovereigns should be someone we can look up to and strive to be like, someone who embodies our Courts.” But if he had an issue with Summers Queen, that was on them.

Looking at the bonfire, she shrugs, “If there is, I haven’t heard Queen Sasha say. Though she did instruct Winter to keep the fire going. Maybe it has something to do with Sorrow?” she shrugs, “I know at the Coronation, they had a salt well, where we could write one word associated with our deepest sorrow, and then place it in the water. Never seen anything like it, but it did force you to reflect in a way. So maybe the bonfire is a way to reflect in some way.” She had no clue, she was only guessing.