(2019) Wall Flowers

[Fawkes]

Fawkes would have missed the Monarch's approach if not for her intense devotion to the Season. His eyes as glazed as he listens to Freya play, before blinking in surprise at the sudden glow of lights dancing off the walls of the Tavern. Her friendly greeting allows his shoulders to drop a bit.

"I hadn't noticed, Onyx Sovereign" he admitted, dryly mirroring her chuckle. He offers a small bow, noting in this Freehold displays of deference were unpretentious, even to a Queen of such high standing. The cigarette tin disappears back into his pocket. She had a vibrancy to her that created such a unique Mantle for the Court of Secrets, and threw off his expectations. "I'm not good with chaos. But I think that's common enough that it doesn't count as a quirk... Thank you for the service your Court hosted. I don't often reflect."

Cobalt stare locks onto the swift movement of Exegesis spinning Cole into an awkward dance. Probably a good call, the Elemental had been shown to be un-socialized on multiple occasions.

"Do you dance, M'am?" he asks, drawing from the commotion to produce a conversation topic.

[Fawkes]

Fawkes slowly blinks, covering his mouth as he laughs quietly, "Ah. I didn't do my homework. Do you own a studio?" he asks with the natural progression, understanding falling into place. A Fairest not wanting to be in the limelight unless she controlled the nature of attention was something he added to his understanding, picking it apart in the usual way. Possibly forced to perform. Now she gets to decide who she caters too. Empowers herself.

The request for just her first name threw him off further. She was obvious in her beauty, standing out as closest to the classical folklore of the aes sídhe that he has seen in a while,

"Many artists appeared to have congregated here," he muses, "Artisans, singers, and musicians...surprised at the lack of Wizened. It looks like there's a pattern of turning gifts into entrepreneurial pursuits. I'm jealous." It's out of the mannequin's mouth before he realized it, surprised he was finally able to put a word to the feeling after hearing the phrase repeated over and over as a light-hearted compliment.

[Richard Price]

”If people have knack for turning talents into success it really makes me wish I had a talent worth anything.

Rich, despite being tall and having a fair presence, was able to drift about in this room full of big personalities. He could have been more outgoing, but the last week or so had been taxing so familiarity seemed to be a safer bet than diving headfirst into the happy throng. More power to them though, it seemed Cole was going to get the full Spring treatment.

”I don’t even know how long I have been here and it feels like I have been tapping my feet for a couple of hours. But I couldn’t resist the chance to ask what kind of dance class do you think we could get Fawkes enrolled in.”

He placed a hand on Fawkes shoulder, and looked the man up and down, his joville face going serious for a moment as he examined the suit. Quickly his smile returned.

”Did Nancy give you any shit when you went in? If not, you are missing out on the experience.”

He gave the Iron Spear a firm pat on the shoulder.

”Looks good though, worth every penny. We can only brag so much, you look lovely Sasha, a lot better than this little diddy I had sitting in my closet. And I hope I am not intruding, if so just shoot me a wink and I can shuffle along. I never was very good at Spring Shindigs but didn’t want to be rude.”

He took a note from the words that hung in the air to use her name, it was Springs season now, so the other sovereigns could have a sigh of relief for a moment. If they would have him he would stay until the flow of the party took hold, or if they needed a moment he was sure he could find somewhere to mingle.

[Fawkes]

Fawkes ponders the question that the Winter Queen asked of him, "I don't know. I lost a lot to the Thorns," he answers plainly, "John suggested I make something," he looks at his hands as he flexes the pale articulated joints, "It doesn't appeal to me, but I'm willing to do it. Call me curious."

He looks at Richard in askance, self-conscious that the Elemental was lacking in interesting social avenues among two Sovereigns. The Iron Spear's attention automatically drifts back to the center of commotion where the Emerald Courtiers have tried to take back control of the bar. Abraham Norton was the only figure that posed a physical buffer.

"Should I get rid of them?" the mannequin asks as his hand drifts idly from his side.

  3 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-03-31 15:45:40		Fawkes rolls 10 to Control the Elements (Manipulation + Wyrd + 1 for amount of glass in the bar) (10 Again, WillPower)		4, 7, 5, 7, 10, 2, 1, 7, 3, 6, 10, 9		3 successes

There is a low hum, slowly rising in a crescendo as the glasses and bottles in the bar begin vibrating, the lighter pieces beginning to float as the Elemental raises his arm.

Fawkes looks to Queen Ingrid, and then back towards the Hobbes.

[Richard Price]

”Thank you, Sasha. It isn’t often I get the chance to wear something so loud so I figured I would throw caution to the wind and just go with it. What is the point of owning something a little outside of the box if you never get to wear it.”

He gave her a kind smile, she was a sweet woman. To know why turned to the court of sorrow is something he is frightened to ask. There was another matter, however, that of the elemental taking up a defensive position. The Queen however…

  failure

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-04-02 21:23:07		Richard Price rolls 3 to Read the Spring Queen (10 Again)		5, 7, 3		failure

She seemed to be taking the matter in stride, Rich would assume she has dealt with such before. Bubbly and stoic was an odd combination but not unheard of. However, he was not about to let Summer be the penny that derailed the spring party as the elementals actions were already creating a reaction.

”That is enough, Fawkes. We are in good company. I believe the Queen of the Emerald court would not thrust herself into the jaws of unknown hobbes.”

The Ogre placed a hand casually on the hand of the elemental, not a hard grip but a more reassuring one. It was a subtle cue however that he was going to need to cut the contract now.

  4 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-04-02 21:32:09		Richard Price rolls 13 to Persuade Fawkes there is no need for this (Man + Per + Mantle) (10 Again)		3, 2, 3, 1, 10, 10, 7, 3, 4, 6, 6, 8, 10, 4, 4, 7		4 successes

[Fawkes]

The mannequin was ready to do the job he always did. Bullets and knives were a matter of course, but not the barrage of social ques.

  1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2019-04-03 12:45:43		Fawkes rolls 4 to read the room (Wits + Socialize, No Reroll for Seeming Curse)		4, 10, 7, 5		1 success

He can almost track the ripple effect through the tavern. The intense hawkish eyes of Freya was watching him, he would have missed Maxwell Pierce quirking an eyebrow in askance; lost to the other personalities in the room. The most telling was Queen Ingrid ,

"My mistake, M'am," he says, blinking. The Darkling's attention would have noted, for just a flicker, the glass around the Hobbes sharpening.

Cole is motioning for him to go outside, and Fawke's attention clicks to the momentary distraction, and now John of all people has a sudden surge of confidence that would have made anyone look twice. Apparently Spring was in full effect.

He opens his mouth to respond to the Mirrorskin, and suddenly Circe is in his face as the nimble thief glides across the room with grace only known to Fairest.

Somewhere in the background Abraham Norton is cursing and waving him over to the bar as well, and he misses Titania 's death glade when the striking Summer is asking if he's having fun. Another attempt to talk.

Circe would note that despite his placid expression, the rapid eye movement and silent stammering is clearly the social anxiety and confusion of an Elemental being overwhelmed.

A massive hand comes down on his shoulder and he jumps, the glass around his immediate area falling as well. He catches a few at the last moment, but he can't deny the second round of explosions is hits an inherent vice that satisfies. The Summer King's insistence prevents the instinctive twitch of his arm to instigate a grapple.

An inhuman thrum starts in the back of his throat as he noticeably shrinks. The glass around him is collected in a dazzling swirl, and using Cole as his model for behaviour, he reforms it into the amalgamation of rose centerpiece with feathers that match Exegesis' pretty mask.

He detaches from the two Sovereigns to briskly cross the room.

Fawkes returns to the Main Thread

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord sweeps over to the pair on Sovereigns, the icy winds of his mantle heralding his arrival.

"Lady Sasha," he says with a smile and a bow. "Looking radiant as always. And Mr Price.... Or Lord, I should say. I hear congratulations are in order, taking over the mantle of King of the Iron Spear. I hope we can work together as well as I did with your predecessor. It certainly seems like she has no regrets at the change," he says, looking over to the bouncy form of Circe.