(Open)Do you sing?

[Mable Wood]

Mable was sitting at the counter, watching the crowd. "That was great, Sera." She complimented her new friend, not knowing how awesome of a singer Sera could be. "Looks like John is back to circulating. I think the food you gave him helped." Mable smiled warmly.

[Freya]

Concern glints on the Hunterheart's face as she watched Sera grow upset, but it stays only briefly as the Joyeux soon shelves the feelings to go on stage.

That's better. Leave Sorrow for the Winters.

The thought was a little petty, but there was some truth to it. It simply wouldn't do to see a Spring give in to their grief and, with the evident power of Sera's Mantle, it seemed clear that the Treasured likely shifted away from such thoughts by instinct. This was good.

A warm, natural smile greets Fawkes as the impassive man approaches and, as he speaks, Freya would rest her hand on his shoulder in welcome, giving a gentle squeeze before letting go.

"And thank you for coming on short notice... I forgot about it until tonight so I'm sorry I didn't let you know sooner, but I'm glad you liked it," she offers. Fawkes' compliments were lacking the flair of others, but the Elemental had voiced his approval. For Freya, that was enough of a sign that he was enjoying himself, even if his face didn't show it.

Freya would let a pause hang, granting Fawkes the time he might need to acclimate to ALL of this before she pats a seat, "You can stay awhile if you like. I don't bite."

Then, as Sera returned, Freya's eyes would shift to her again, finally having the opportunity to speak regarding her suggestion to sing with her.

"It would be a rare pleasure, Sera," she offers, her voice genuine as her eyes lock on, "though I'll admit my voice pales when compared to yours. I think a little help from my fingers would be better."

Then a sudden realization. Her words sounded almost... lewd. Freya froze for a moment, thinking about what she could say to undo the unintentional faux pas.

"With... my guitar I mean," she said, her voice almost meek with her slight embarrassment as her cheeks got a little color.

The harpy woman cleared her throat and became extremely interested in the iced tea section of a nearby menu, avian orbs pointing down and away from the Joyeux.

[Circe]

"Ah I been there," was her response to the stage fright answer, "Ya mind if I give an irrational solution? I mean, we're drinking my current rational solution." She lifts her coffee mug for emphasis. "Just imagine everyone in their underwear. You too but," she holds up her right hand with the index finger extended, "Ya are heavily armed and nobody else is. I find that works wonders," Circe nods her head at the horrible advice she just gave. Sipping her coffee she manages out a "Hmphfl?" around the liquid as she looks towards where John was greeting.

Lowering the mug she shadows his greeting, "Oh hiya Fawkes, I think I really needed coffee not ta notice ya and Frey their hangin' out." Then she hears what Freya said, "Oh ho ho ho! Good one girl! Ya should be proud of that one!" she then turns back to John, "So yer eatin' Sera's pasty pastry right now? Darn," Circe faux pouts as she over acts slumping in her chair, "Here I was hoping ta get an opinion is Sera's stickers were better coverage then my lingerie." She waggles her eyebrows as she says this a little louder then necessary.

The friendly and familiar smile to John should let him no she is joking. It wouldn't let anybody else know though, for she loved to mess with people. John was just an exception.

[Fawkes]

The mannequin takes the seat that Freya indicates after noting the shift in mood from the others. He constructs a mental checklist to keep up with the sudden shift in social attention,

"Normally I don't bother artists. My demeanor usually makes them question themselves," he admits, "But I do really like this sort of thing." His fingers tap against the bench, unconsciously mimicking the tempo from one of the musicians that brave the stage.

He laughs dryly at Exegesis' question, covering his mouth to reduce the unnatural disconnect between the sound and his expression. "Most of the employees here seem to hang out outside of work despite departments. It's something Sacramento is really proud of," he nods to Circe. "I liked your story. Do you usually create things based around folklore or do you take inspiration from elsewhere?" The former Leaden Mirror had a wellspring of knowledge in that department.

He hears John's embarrassed greeting from across the room and watches the Mirrorskin look away from the newest Emerald Courtier with a hunch of the shoulders. He had perked up with reassurance. Fawkes points to the Gardhava, "That was pretty ballsy. You met Exegesis yet?" Ice breaking was easy. Fixed.

The host was burying herself in work, rushing from the stage to hiding behind the counter. Something had set her off.

Fairest problems.

It was fifty fifty whether reassurance would backfire, sometimes they were hungry for praise or rather got offended from compliments that felt hollow. He didn't know her well enough to have an accurate read, so decided to flip her spiral to a new task, "Sera. I don't know anything about cafes. I order the same thing every time. Wanna help?" He drops the honorific, noting no one else was using them.

The Summer's familiar laugh isn't forgotten. He shrugs, "I don't make a habit of gaining attention unless I want it. Don't worry about it."

Sorry if I skipped someone! I am having a heck of a time figuring out the current posting order.

[Seraphina]

A warm smile was offered to Exegesis, “Thank you! And I’ve always found her music to be relaxing and soothing. Maybe it’s her voice, but she is extremely talented!” she gushed.

Looking to Mable, the smile remained, “Thanks. Wish it was better, but I’ve been off lately, so yah.” She shrugs. Glancing to John, then back, “I hope so. He needs to get out of his shell more, I should have spiked it with extra sugar.” She jokes with a laugh.

“You have a wonderful voice!” she compliments Freya, “And I bet we could put on some amazing shows. Excellent live music can do wonders for a voice.” And it would be fun! Her next words? Well that brought a smirk to her lips, “Oh, well, you do seem to be good with your fingers.” She tosses back playfully. With the color in Freya’s cheeks, “Of course the guitar!” Sera wouldn’t have meant anything else. Would she?

Fawkes question caught her off guard, she wasn’t expecting such a question from him. But smiles, “Of course! What are you looking for? Tea or coffee?” she asks, “And are there flavors you don’t like?” cause that was a huge one. But she seemed quite happy to help with something.

[Exegesis Agarwal]

I was under the impression they posting order was supposed to be kind of loose, so apologies if I'm throwing off the pattern.

Speaking to Fawkes: “You know, I don't really set out to focus on folklore, but it has become something of a mainstay for me. Mythology and theology. There's no firm line between them. I've met a few of ours who have some issues with folklore, feeling themselves too close to it, and company opinions on religion seem either nonexistent or a wearying Byzantine labyrinth with very little middle ground.”

Responding to Sera's question to Fawkes: “Speaking of tea, is there a difference between Anise and Licorice? I can never seem to tell them apart.”

[Circe]

Circe smiled at John as she nodded, "Yup," completely shameless in her admittance. Then her smile turned naughty, "And I'm thrilled ta hear ya notice me when I walk around in my skivvies at our home."

She was distracted by John's misdirection. "True, she's mentioned her skill before, but first hand I ain't experienced," she smirked, "Youtube don't count," she rises from her chair and re-positions it so she is sitting beside John. Leaning back to watch Freya she asks John, "Think my irrational advise would help or hinder her?"

[Mable Wood]

Mable briefly clasped her new friends hand. "Sera, I wanted to thank you again for inviting me. The bubble tea was fun. I'm afraid I have to get going."