(1906) Summers Ascent

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie could only shrug to Sera, having no idea of the motivation behind Summer's choice of activities. "Beats me, but hey, I'm game to go see this kitty-cat fountain. What do you think, Lady Sasha?" She asked as she looked to the Winter Queen.

The monkey girl's eyes widened in surprise as Penance arrived. Having not seen her fellow Chinese changeling in many months, the Beast was delighted at the Ogre's unexpected appearance. She grinned and waved, "Hi Penny! Where you been, girl?"

[Circe]

Things seem to be slowing down a little. It would probably kick start soon enough. Circe didn't have patience for more stragglers even if she still hoped that a few would have shown up that had not.


Like Sonnie, Circe also turned to look at Penance, "Very good question Sonny," she looks Penance up and down. When she spoke it was without sarcasm, "Ya know Penny? When I said blue could look good on ya, at least I can say I was literally right, oh ho ho ho ho!"

[Seraphina]

Wait, was that Penance? And was that her name? Was Sera remembering right?

Smiling warmly, “I certainly don’t see a problem with it, and it’s just Sera.” She says, still smiling and friendly. “How have you been? We’ve missed you.” She didn’t know the Autumn that well, but she had seemed nice. Quiet, but nice.

She then laughs at Circe, “And here I thought anyone could look hot holding a pellet gun. Guess I’ll have to try harder next time.” She jokes. “And I’m not worried about the dress, I just wasn’t sure if there was a dress code or something. Though I still might give it a try.” Why not? She’d probably not hit the mark, but it could be fun.

Nodding to Sonnie, “I’m game to see the fountain, sounds like something worth checking out. And it’ll give them a chance to talk about whatever it is they talk about.” Meaning the Monarchs.

Looking back to Penance, "I think you look great! Nice and comfortable, and the color looks good on you." she compliments. "Kind of wish I had gone that route myself." she adds with a grin.

[Reed Mills]

So, this is the it, Reed thinks, looking at the exterior of the Julia Morgan house, already feeling distinctly out of place.

He re-folds the crumpled bit of lined paper and shoves it into the pocket of his thrift-store khakis. Smooths the cheap, blue button up he’s selected for the evening. Touches the brim of his straw hat.

This is a mistake. But he knows it isn’t. Wishes he could strengthen the mask. Feels exposed. But tonight’s not the night for that. They need to see him. To know, this one time, what he really looks like.

He pulls a nip of Jameson from his back pocket. Untwists the top, drains it in a gulp and shoves the empty bottle back into his pocket. Takes a moment to admire the landscaping out front. Solid work.

Finally, he walks in.

And what does he do when confronted with the assembled Lost of Sacramento? Well, the only sensible thing: offers an awkward smile, takes off his ratty straw hat, and makes straight for the bar.

Reed moves here

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie smiled warmly at Penance, clearly happy the Ogre had returned. "I get it. We all get homesick sometimes, though my home isn't quite that far away. I'm glad you're back, though! Don't sweat the dress code, you're fine! The coming in your undies thing was for Spring, anyway." She giggled.

The arrival of the new face caught her attention, naturally, and the simian Beast studied the all-brown Wizened curiously. She made no move to greet him, yet, as she assumed the Summers would be on him pretty quickly, if they hadn't already vetted him.

She shrugged and looked back to Penny, Sera and the others. "Always seem to be new arrivals showing up at our parties. I guess this would be a good place to introduce yourself, huh?"

[Circe]

"Cool," Circe replied to Penance. An option she couldn't take thanks to her own evil twin that had a criminal empire at its back. "Hey I'm totally on fanculo dress codes. Ya got plenty of excuse. But generale is in charge of Summer so ya know," she giggles before sing songing out, "Red and gold on every Christmas Summer."

"Free food and booze is like the ultimate lure oh ho ho ho ho!" Circe laughs as Sonnie points out the new guy.

She then turns to Seraphina with a grin, "Well nobody likes pellets. But good point Sonny," she smirks at the small Spring, "I think Seraphina could pull it off wearing just lingerie," Circe waggles her eyebrows as she suggests this. She points towards the range, "Wanna give it a shot?"

Circe is willing to go to the range if anyone wants to try it.

[Seraphina]

Sapphires watch the unremarkable guy as he entered. His awkward smile was met with a friendly one and a wave. Cause that’s what she did, she was naturally friendly. But this was Summer’s thing, and the guy seemed set on the bar area, so she stays where she was.

She had to agree with Sonnie, arriving in your underwear was totally a Spring thing. “Maybe we should do that next year Sonnie.” Replies the Nix with a wink.

Nodding, “No better place than a Coronation. You get to see who is who, and pay the right respects.” Would there be any more?

A smirk appears at Circe’s words, “Think so?” she asks and poses with her hands on her hips.

Looking at the range, she nods, “Sure! I’ll give it a try. But I warn you, I've never shot one of those before.” And will follow Circe.

[Richard Price]

Distractions were the worst really, took all sorts of time to take care off.

Friendly nods were handed out, maybe a handshake if anyone insisted, but the subject matter of the call was an unfortunate one. In short time it would require the King to get on another plane with a black suit carefully folded in his carry on. As much of a party as it was a widow took priority - but it was time to get down to business here.

Having retreated upstairs the Ogre made his way back down, through the house, catching a glance at who was here - mostly everyone who needed to be and who was allowed to be more importantly, a few of the outfits were extra impressive, Sasha’s stood out to him. It was a beeline he made, to the open patch of grass.

”Well shit,”

The King said in a loud enough voice to grab everyone’s attention, shifting so he could face the whole ensemble (or at least the majority) including the bar, and patio and the ear and eye shot of the interior.

”Consider me embarrassed, I planned a special night for everyone and here I am getting pulled away. But there are things that need to be said and done and it was agreed that now would be the time to do it. So there's really no better time than the present to do so.”

“Summer is the Vanguard, the Iron Spear is pointed and ready to move in the name of the Freehold. Order, respect, and sacrifice are values we of the Crimson Court hold in high regard to protect us all from not only our greatest foes but from a descent into Chaos which can threaten the very fabric of Order, which keeps us safe.”

“What that means though - is that there needs to be systems in place, ones which better protect us and everything we hold dear. This is why the Monarchs of the Fours Courts have met, spoke, and crafted a formal Freehold Pledge for Sacramento. We shall legitimize ourselves in the face of the Wyrd.”

A speech, his usual choice of communication - it was off the cuff, but it was time to make sure it was known that this is where they were heading as a collective.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie, after popping another sauce-covered shrimp into her mouth, and chewing and swallowing it, laughed at Sera and Circe, "Oh, I was already planning on going that way, next year." Was she kidding? Hard to tell with Sonnie, she might mean it or she might not, or she might forget after a week. "And I agree, Sera could totally pull it off!"

And then King Richard Price addressed the gathered changelings. The Beast listened quietly. She even stopped gobbling shrimp as a show of respect.

She knew about the pledge already, having heard it was in the works. So the 'Scrambler was in no way surprised. Still, this was exciting. A monumental occasion for the freehold. A sense of officiality in the air.

Glancing at her plate of shrimp, Sonnie set it aside and straightened the hem of her dress. As presentable as she was going to get, the Grim awaited instructions.