Hot Potato Issues

[Seraphina]

The Treasured arrived on time, wearing a white sweater dress and leather boots. The weather was starting to get a bit colder. Which meant the fall clothes came out. But the black leather gloves were new, and it certainly wasn’t that cold out.

She noticed the smells, pausing to enjoying them.

Beaming, “Abraham, it smells amazing in here!” she compliments walking over to the table, placing a box on the table. “I know it won’t be as good as what you’ve made, but I brought some apple pie and pumpkin pie. I wasn’t sure if you liked either of them, so I got both, and if you don’t, I’m sorry.” But it was apple pie season. Maybe she’d learn to make one. That’d be something!

Taking a moment, “You’re….different.” She observes.

[Seraphina]

Beaming, “Glad I brought them then!” sitting down. “Ew, rotten meat? Just thinking about that makes it obvious I wouldn’t last that long.” Rotten meat? No thanks.

She gets herself a potato and pie, curious to hear what his answer would be. So he’s been in the Hedge. “Oh wow! Congratulation’s! That’s quite an accomplishment! Is joining them something you’ve always wanted to do?” she was clearly very interested in this new development for him.

At some point, she knew it would come up. Following his eyes, she shrugs, “Seems we’ve both been growing and changing. You with the Hedge Wardens, me with, well, my own.” Though hers didn’t give her cool metallic shines. Removing one of the gloves, she reveals what they were hiding. Her hand was semitransparent. “I’m still getting used to them, so the gloves help.” She wasn’t lying, “But I didn’t want to distract from our talk.” The glove is put back on. “I wanted to focus on you.” No deception, she honestly wanted to talk about him. She might be a Fairest, but she was one who cared more about others than herself.

[Seraphina]

She listens with obvious interest, “That is really great!” it sounded like something that made him happy, and that’s what mattered to her. “Oh, so that’s tied into the whole rotten meat thing? I’m sure that has to come in handy if you spend a lot of time in the Hedge.” Sapphires look to the coat, “It is a nice coat, and a color that looks good on you.” But how funny that they both found Entitlements, seems Spring really is flourishing.

Laughing, light and musical, “No, nothing as exciting as that.” She teases, “I wanted to talk about you wanting the Crown. You expressed a strong desire for it. And with the others being against it, I was wondering if maybe we could work on it?” she asks, “Sonnie’s issues were understandable, and seemed like something you and her had worked on. But I’m not sure about Titania. But if you truly desire the Crown, I want to help you.” She wasn’t joking, she was serious.

A single nod, “That’s fair enough, I can agree to that.”

[Seraphina]

Complicated? She didn’t think it was complicated, but keeps quiet, curious to hear what he would say.

“The Crown is complicated for me as well. Monarch is something I never inspired to be, I’m not a leader.” At least she didn’t see herself as one. “But the way you spoke of wanting it, it sounded like something you Desired, something I always strive to help others fulfill. And as such, was going to help you form better relationships with our fellow Springs, build up some trust with them.” That was her whole idea behind the meeting. “It wasn’t a matter if not trusting you, it was me being uncomfortable with how you handled some past issues. And I couldn’t put my support behind that. But I would have been willing to work with you on it.” Meet in the middle type thing.

“I won’t pretend to know a lot about the Wardens, so I thank you for what you’re sharing. And while it would be a loss to the Freehold to have you called away, I understand. Well, I don’t think you’re a hypocrite, and I’ve never heard anyone refer to you as that. You’ve always struck me as someone very dedicated to his work and protection of the Freehold.” No one could ever deny he always tried to protect the Freehold and its members.

Smirking, “I always welcome advice.” Just like the other Lost, she was still figuring things out. “And your advice is sound and good. I only want what’s best for our Court and to see us all succeed. After all, we are Spring.” The best Season.

“But I don’t want there to be any bad feelings between you and I. And I also don’t want you to ignore your Desires.”

[Seraphina]

And it begins.

“If they had such a good opinion of you, why was their support not offered to you to wear the Crown?” valid question to her. “My opinions are formed based of what I’ve observed. From the incident in my coffee shop to the way you called the first meeting of Spring. Calling a meeting without reaching out to the Current Monarch and sitting at the head of the table raised my suspicions of you and what your motives were. I won’t deny it.” She had nothing to hide about that. “So you feel that others see you as background noise because they don’t sing your praise? No one is helping you if they're always singing praise about you. You need to know where you need to improve.” Circe not being a Spring didn’t mean anything to Sera. She didn’t know the type of relationship he had with Circe.

“Hold on a second, Rhodes is quite capable of forming his own thoughts and opinions on others. I hold no sway over that.” An edge creeping into her voice. Her Mantle flaring slightly as the wind stirs up the blossoms. “And quite frankly, that’s very insulting to him, making it sound like he cannot form his own opinions. Maybe you should discuss it with him, or are you worried your weak accusation won’t hold any water? But his assessment is right. Using threats to get your way put you at odds with Sonnie. Which you both seemed to have worked out, which is great. Calling the meeting without reaching out to Ingrid put you at odds as well. The way you spoke at the Winter Coronation put you at odds with others as well. So before you go and attempt to say I influence the thoughts and opinions of others, you better have more substantial proof. Because your actions speak for themselves.” The Mantle finally dies down as she calms herself.

“If I thought differently, I would have said. While you have done things I question, I do tell others how dedicated you have always been to the safety of this Freehold and its residents. Because that is the truth. I’m sorry if that’s not up to some weird standard you’ve developed." this wasn't going how she wanted. She wanted to help him, and this was doing the opposite.