Adagio for Springs

[Titania]

The Fairest enters the tavern sporting a big radiant smile and a platoon of cubic shaped lights in her wake, clad in a pair of light blue denim more fitting of a shopping stroll than a "business meeting".
"Good morning", she announces cheerfully, punctuating her words with a wave of her hand. "Did I miss anything?", of course she was right in time, her inner clock never failed. She goes to drop her tote on one of the stools.

[Freya]

Freya briefly broke her steely look towards Abe to glance at Sonnie. "We should," she said, her visage a little softer when regarding her fellow Beast, though it still bore a serious edge, "We'll talk soon."

Turning her head back to the Flowering, Freya speaks. "I am of a mind with Sonnie," she said, "You speak of a want to serve the Court, but Spring does not favor you as heavily as Sera. By that alone, it is she that embodies the season the most. It is... a comfort to hear you understand that, but I am more concerned at your lack of care. You've been dismissive of Ingrid's safety and I will not bow to any monarch who lacks compassion. No matter how effective they think they are. This is not the Middle Ages and you aren't even the most favored by our season. So tell me again how this isn't a power play?"

She let that one stick. Nice or no a move to the throne remained a power play nonetheless and Abe had already tried to put himself forward as a candidate, perhaps even the candidate by taking Ingrid's seat.

"By that reason alone, you wouldn't be a monarch. Not really anyway," she says, "It's best to wait for Sera. If Ingrid is truly gone, she deserves the chance to seat herself. If she declines, then we can speak about a new leader. I propose a Regent to seat themselves until the next Spring Coronation when the Antler Crown can pass along the right way. That will give you the time you and anyone else might need to prove themselves worthy as our season's greatest representative, but I will not call any my King or Queen unless they are truly favored. This way we retain strong leadership without appearing weak to the other courts."

Unless someone proved they boasted a greater Mantle than attending Lost, they simply weren't as qualified in Freya's eyes.

Then came a sweet voice she had not heard in some time. Lovely Titania. Though her gaze remained Abraham alone, but it softened a bit. The cheerful little Fairest had always been kind and seemed to lack the fear that Abe and Sonnie had displayed when first meeting Freya. To Mother Talons, that held a special place in her heart.

[Seraphina]

Somewhat defeated, she reenters the Tavern. Spotting Titania, she puts a smile on,
“Hey Titania! Good to see you.” She greeted.

“So I wasn’t able to get a hold of her.” She says to group with a frown, “I tried a few times, hoping I got the number wrong.” But she didn’t. If she knew where the Darkling lived, she’d head over there.

Sighing, “How did we want to proceed?”

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie merely shrugged, already so over the whole seating arrangement situation. Her concerns right now were centered on Ingrid's safety. Holding the cereal box in her lap, she stuck her tongue out at Abraham, "Oh, right, sorry. Knights, baristas, house moms, delivery girls, whatever the heck Titania does for a living. Hiya Starlight!" Sonnie waved to the Bright One as she arrived.

"One way or another, we are going to find Ingrid. We'd be a pretty sucky Court if our Monarch simply went missing and we never bothered to look. Anyway, hopefully Sera will get her on the horn and we'll know for sure."

Speak of the devil. The return of Seraphina at first had her with a hopeful expression, but that was quickly dashed by the Nix's response. Then Abraham fired off the Big Question, and the monkey Beast could only look to her friend and await the answer with baited breath.

[Freya]

Titania

[Titania]

A warm smile is reserved to Seraphina. An even warmer and dazzling one is exchanged with the Hen Mother. As for the monkey, "I currently find myself unemployed" she replies in what could have been a hiss, had she been less dignified.
From what she could gather, the Knight Errant was bringing to their attention - in a most inelegant manner - the crucial and rather thorny issue of succession. Inelegant, because as fate would have it, they hadn't even found out about their Queen. Wholly preposterous and if anything, quite hazardously premature.
That killed off the mood... instantly.
"Hasn't the Wyrd made its preference for Queen Ingrid clear? And if so, what right do we have to overturn that decision?", it was hard to miss that her question was wholly rhetorical. "Furthermore, our Queen belongs to that peculiar genus of us, that is not stranger to lengthy periods of isolation. We should confirm her whereabouts before committing ourselves to a hasty decision", she paused to give Seraphina an apologetic smile. "Not that I would object to Sera's ascension. But first we have a duty to our current Queen, as friends"

[Freya]

Freya listened as the ambitious little knight offered his rebuttal. He made some good points, but Freya's stern demeanor showed she was not wholly moved by his reasoning.

"It's interesting to hear you talk about sacrifice when your actions here best illustrate negligence," she says, "No one is saying we should look everywhere or chase every clue that comes our way. You are right that we need to move on if Ingrid is indeed gone, but you are very wrong to assume that we should abandon the search after a simple phone call. My fellow Beast is right. Only a weak court would abandon the search without even beginning."

Amber eyes soon find Sera.

"I will accept you as Ingrid's successor, Sera, but I feel I should caution you," she said, "Fate is a fickle thing, I think our kind knows that better than most. Despite the hasty proposal, I feel its best to look for Ingrid before you take the role. I also disagree with the use of a title until the next Spring comes to pass. Abraham seems intent on bucking traditions. I am not. They exist for a reason... but, if we cannot find Ingrid, I don't see how we have another choice beyond the establishment of a Regent until the right time comes."

Finally a nod to Titania.

"I agree," she says, "We owe Ingrid that much, even if some feel differently."

[Seraphina]

Hands were held up in front of herself, “Whoa, lets slow down here and examine the facts. Our Queen appears to be missing, and that needs to be addressed first and foremost. We owe it to her and our Season to take the time to look for her.” That was most important.

Nodding to Titania, “She is right, we have a duty to Ingrid, and I won’t see it ignored. She would do the same for any one of us.”

Looking to Freya, “Thank you, but I actually don’t want the crown. I never have. And this will be the third time I’ve turned it down. I’m no leader, I’ve never wanted to be a leader. I get immense happiness as Joyex, and would rather continue to fulfill that role.” It was the truth. “If we need someone to step forward until we can either find Ingrid, or until the next Spring Coronation, I’m willing to do that. Just as someone to mediate between members and other Courts. Though if we don’t feel we need that, that works as well.” They were a Court, and as a Court they would decide.

“But Abraham, surely you must realize how it looks to others right now. You call the meeting, and we find you in the chair usually reserved for the Queen. Appearances can be deceiving, and wrong, yes, but it still sets some on edge.” She wasn’t trying to start anything, just point out the obvious.

“But I think we need to come together and look for her. We gather the facts we know about her, and follow them.” Sometimes they just moved to a new city, but sometimes it was more serious. And they needed to know.