Spring Coming Together

[Titania]

"Thank you, I took a short vacation", she brews herself a cup, patiently waiting for Sonnie to finish reading the letter. As her eyes quickly dart form line to line, her hands can't help but shake lightly. "I wonder what prompted her to leave so abruptly", alas the shock didn't set in, for something even greater and possibly more terrifying had made itself visible.
"D...daddy? What?", she gave a light yelp, jumping back a few meters if possible, transfixed by fear and amazement. Her wisps came to her rescue, assuming a protective stance. Were they under attack? "W-what's that? She shaked her arm toward the thing"

[Seraphina]

The Treasured remains quite for a few seconds, sipping her tea and thinking.

“I,” she began, then frowned, “I just don’t think I’m the best choice. I never saw myself in the role of Monarch, I’m not a leader.” She’d never been a leader, not once. “Either way, we need to come together and work on the Tavern. With Ingrid gone, it’s going to start to fall apart, so we need to invest in it.”

She watches Abraham with curiosity. The sound was concerning, but when the head appeared in the window, she finds herself blinking. A few times. What the actual hell?

“Bree?” he looks in the Hedge for Ingrid and comes back with a Bree?

It took her a few moments to realize Sonnie was saying something. Looking to the Beast, “I have no reason to question it. It arrived at Garden Grounds, and it was a few days after I tried calling her.” Shaking her head, “I can’t think of a time I saw her handwriting, but it sounds exactly like her. We could error on the side of caution and doubt if it’s really from her. But what do we have to go on? No one’s seen her, her usual hangouts haven’t seen her, she’s not taking calls, there are no clues to any foul play.” She shrugs, “I don’t want to believe it, but we know how we can be, moving from Freehold to Freehold on a whim.” They had nothing else to go off from.

Then came the comment about Titania’s baby daddy and Sera almost choked on her tea.

When Titania spoke, Sera composed herself, “I wish we knew. But with how secretive she was, it’s no surprise that we didn’t get a heads up.” Maybe Sacramento did have what the Darkling needed?

[Sonnie Wu]

The Beast watched the griffon in wonder... from a safe distance. This was a predator, after all. A predator made out of two other predators! The animal in her was cautious of the talons and hunter's eyes, and thus Sonnie did not approach. Instead she sat in one of the chairs at the main table and gazed at Bree from over the chair back.

"What's he eat? Does he bite? Where does he sleep? Can we got for rides?" Full of questions, was the curious monkey.

Full enough to avoid answering the most important question of the moment. She listened to both Seraphina's resignation and Abraham's announced candidacy, but she did not say anything just yet. Mulling it over, perhaps. The Steepscrambler seemed deep in thought.

After a minute, Sonja responded to a different topic, "We need the Tavern. Can't let this go. It'd be embarrassing for the Court to lose it, right? Plus, I like the easy access to the Hedge. So I'll be helping with the upkeep. Do we need, like, pruning sheers and a lawnmower? Is that how we keep the thorns at bay?" She glanced towards the skybed, "We've added to it before. Maybe for now we maintain, then look towards expanding during the winter, so we got an even cooler Hollow to show off in the spring?"

[Seraphina]

With a smile, “I hope he serves you well. And you freeing it is very commendable, I’m sure he will always remember.” Animals were like that, including Hedge Beasts.

“I don’t think we need to change it, but I think we should all put our own personal touch on it. I’m not sure what that is yet, but I think it needs to remain a place that embodies Spring.” Her two cents on it.

Then he makes his desire to wear the crown known. “If I can be honest, I’m hesitant to support your bid. What happened in my coffee shop makes me question your temper and your ability to control it. I don’t believe a Monarch should rule with threats. No one can question your dedication to the Season, but I have my concerns. I won’t support a Monarch who throws out threats to his fellow Couturiers. You had also spoken against a Freehold Oath. Will you not swear new Springs to simple Pledges to help assure our safety? What is your stance on that?” asks the Treasured. “And the way you approached the last meeting, without even reaching out to Ingrid beforehand, it raises many questions and concerns.” They were her concerns and she would have them answered and dealt with before she supported his bid.

Nodding to Sonnie, “It would be quite embarrassing. And thank you! Ingrid and I spent many hours in here, and I look forward to working with you in here. Well, Ingrid and I used our hands, and the Wyrd.” She already missed the Darkling. “And I think expanding it would be wonderful! What were you thinking, any exciting ideas?”

[Titania]

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. Amend that maxim, because all the Telluric needed were 3 seconds. The time required to wiggle a brow at the Griffon - now she knew what Abe had really been doing in the Hedge - and to realize how uncouth of a powerplay was the one they were witnesses to. The Bird was totally banished from her thoughts.

Democracy, how dare he. There was no basis for his candidature, even his concern over the destiny of their Hollow sounded counterfeit and made her even more furious. Besides, the quarrelsome Wordsmith's lack of involvement with the preparations of their Hollow on the eve of the Spring celebrations didn't pass unnoticed.
Now this man, one whose first thought following the disappearance of the previous Queen was the usurpation of the Crown, had made a move. He was asking for their support, when weeks ago he had challenged her to a duel. If anything, Seraphina's words emboldened her stance even more. The Siren was right!
"Absent Queen Ingrid, and following the abdication of Queen Seraphina. The matter of succession becomes an issue of grave concern, indeed. Shouldn't we honor both Monarchs and the Emerald Court by selecting our new Sovereign with a contest of the Arts?", she asked innocently.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonja continued to stare in wonder at the actual freaking griffon standing in the Tavern. She whispered, "I'll bring you peanuts next time, and we will be friends." A vigorous nod followed.

And then, the serious conversation. The monkey could hold important discussions. She simply cared not to, if she could help it. She could not help it here. With a sigh, Sonnie turned around in her chair and put her feet up on the table. Hands folded in her lap, her golden eyes gazed at the ceiling while she listened to the others state their cases on the matter of the Emerald Court's crown. Rather, who would soon wear it.

Sonnie's tail tick-tocked along to the beat of the conversation, until it seemed that a gap appeared for her to speak.

"We've had this talk before, Abe. I get your reasons for the... coffee shop incident. I still don't agree the ends justified the means. Not that any of it mattered in the long run, anyway. The Red Poppy Company, are they even still around?" She shrugged her shoulders, eyes still on the ceiling.

"You're right, though. The support of the courtiers is important, but it seems clear you still don't have it. Nothing has really changed from the last meeting."

Finally, her eyes descended from the rafters to look at Abraham, Seraphina and Titania.

"Three Fairest and a Beast. Interesting Court we got here," she chuckled.

"We're in a bind, huh? We need a monarch, and there's only the four of us to choose from. Ex and Freya seem to have taken off since last time. Sera's stepped down and Abe lacks the support, so... who now? Titania? You wanna do it?" She smiled at her Telluric friend. "Or are we so desperate that we need a Monkey Queen?"

Sonnie rolled up out of her chair and sat on the tabletop, facing the trio of Unicorns. "I don't want the job any more than Sera does, but someone needs to fill the position, at least until a better option... or a more popular one, comes along." The tip of her tail scratched an itch on the back of her head, "I know it's dumb. I just don't want to see the Court fall apart for lack of a choice we can agree on."

The Courser chuckled and laid back on the table, arms spread-eagled, her eyes on the ceiling once more. "So go ahead and laugh. Whatever. All I'll do is promise not to run the Court into the ground, and I'd happily pass the fancy hat off to that better option when he, she or they arrive. Basically I'm volunteering to officially keep the crown warm. I mean, if Circe can do it..."

[Seraphina]

She was expecting a more passionate offer from Titania, with how passionate she was last time.
“A contest of the Arts?” she asks, looking thoughtful, “That is always an option. Who would decide what the art would be, there are many different forms.” Singing, writing, storytelling, painting, the list could go on. “Or it can be decided at our next Coronation. Give the Freehold a show of sorts.” She offers.

“And I simply said I didn’t want it, not that I wouldn’t be willing to fill the role until someone else could be picked.” She would keep holding the Crown until someone worthy of it came forward.

“Too many moving parts?” so too complicated. “Its design is to keep us safe, though maybe a Pledgesmith could simplify it if needed.” Oaths were as complicated as you made them.

“Oh I remember the situation quite clearly. There not being ill will doesn’t matter, threats were made against members of our Court. The situation could have been handled more diplomatically, making us, as a Freehold and Court, look better and not like a bunch of children fresh from the Hedge. You took it upon yourself to make threats without trying other options. The poor guy was spooked, yes, but he wasn’t itching to run for the door.” Her eyes narrow slightly, “And I would face any danger thrown at this Freehold to protect those who reside within it. Not even a question. But I will not be ok with threats being thrown at fellow Springs.” Her gaze matched his, “Or do you think that just because I’m a pretty face I can’t defend this Freehold?” because that was a mistake one only makes once.

“Then you find yourself at a loss. The support clearly isn’t with you. And until it is, I will not step down. If you want to be Monarch, you need to earn the Courts support. Once you have, I will step down without a word.” But she would not let someone wear the crown who the Court didn’t want.

Looking to Sonnie, she shakes her head, “I haven’t heard anything. Maybe they moved on?” another shrug.

Smiling warmly to the Beast, “I don’t think the Courts going to fall apart, I think we all have to much pride in our Season to let that happen.”

But she asked a question to Titania, and Sera remains quiet on Sonnies offer until it was answered.