Spring Meetings!

[Yamiyo Lillich]

Turning over to Sonnie, looking at her with cold dead eyes, a grin on her face.
"The cemetery is my home, the sun is my enemy, my wardrobe black as" not being able to keep the charade up bursting into laughter.
"I did date a goth chick once though." Not that she knew if Sonnie cared about that at all nor did she really it was just a memory.

Drinking her aloe water ahh it was good.

Her eyes quickly drawn to the unknown face, studying Titania carefully, this was the first time she had truly seen her, a warm smile and an easy wave, trying to show herself of as friendly but she were still a bit on the fence about her, she had seemed to wear a lot of inner turmoil or negativity during the coronation so better to play it safe with her.
She was a beauty and drew her eyes with ease that were true but then again this room might just as well have been like her own little heaven, mostly filled with beautiful women everywhere the one whom wasn't a fairest were still adorable and they were all women, not a single man anywhere. She had daydreamed of sights far less than this.

A giggle at Coco's words.
"And how old do I look if you do not mind me asking?"

A warm smile at her Queen.
"If the darkness is what anyone is drawn towards over the beautiful child I am not one to oppose it ohh fair Queen."

Looking happy.
"Be careful, I have a tendency to drink far to much of this stuff. I am glad that you enjoyed it as well."

Walking around, looking the place over, trying to learn its design and take as much in as possible, not seeming to have a goal in mind, her hands softly caressing and touching everything she feels ok to be touched wherever she goes.

[Sonnie Wu]

"Starlight!" she greeted the Bright One with her usual nickname, smiling and waving. "Scones? How very thoughtful of you! How's it hangin'?" As it turned out, Sonnie had chosen a sandwich to start the meeting with. The scones would have to wait a minute or two.

"So you've been in Sacramento before?" Innnnnteresting. The Beast's attention, while she munched on bread and ham and mustard, was focused on Coco's antennae with laser-guidance. Her vivid eyes tracked every little twitch and wobble they made. "We had a Rose Garden? The Tavern's been here longer than me." She smiled widely, "Sera just became our Queen. Before her was Ingrid. Did you know her, Coco? A Darkling? Shadows clung to her like a fake spray tan? Enjoyed artisanal pizza?"

Her eyes still flickered back towards the Wasp's head appendages with regularity.Her fingers flexed.

"Jester?" Sonnie pondered this, then nodded sagely, "I suppose. That makes me jester and Claviger... Jestiger?" It sort of worked? "Oh, should I get one of those hats with the bells on it?" Where did one get the outfit of a medieval stand-up comedian?

Damn, the antennae were still out of reach.

"Right?" Her head bobbed up and down with confidence. "I will not be outdone by an overgrown smurf. I am the Queen of the Pun Court! We're in session now! All rise!" She rapped her knuckles on the tabletop. "Hmm, I need one of those tiny hammers. Maybe a powdered wig." It would go great with the jester hat.

Antennae? Nope, still not close enough.

The Monkey burst out laughing at Yamiyo. She pointed at the Romancer, "Did she listen to the Cure? Did she call everyone else conformists, but she was unique just like all the other goth kids?"

Soon, antennae, soon.

[Titania]

She smiles at the "lovely". She was much more than that. Perhaps it was time to upgrade her description.
"Thank you for the Tea", she says, sitting on one of the chairs and crossing her legs at the ankles.
Jester? She has to supress a smirk lest the tea come gushing from her ears. Awfully perceptive of the bee. Was it a bee? She stung alright, but did the sting fall off?
"Pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Coco", Chanel.

[Coco]

Coco stared for a moment at the glass of scotch and the glass of ice before her.

"I don't believe I've ever been served by a Queen before," she murmured, returning to her seat, though this time, she rudely didn't doff her hat, but kept it on, tipped so the brim would help shield her eyes from the twin celestial bodies that kept trying to snare her eyes.

"Thank you, your Majesty," Coco continued, picking up the scotch and taking a sip. Mm. Swirls of toffee and vanilla, a hint of fruit, of spice, and fire. Delicious.

"You know, you're quite lucky, Jestiger. I held your post for some time when I'd first arrived. A few years ago, I suppose. No, perhaps more like half a decade, which is what, a quarter of your life, Yamiyo, dear? The point, though, you glorified security guard, you," the Wasp continued, looking to Sonnie Wu , "is that it was a position that was not unlike what one would be forced to hold beyond the Hedge. Too many who wear the crowns are nothing more than petty impersonators trying to mimic the Others, so you're very luck to have Seraphina holding your leash. If she's willing to serve her courtiers, then clearly she is an exception.

"Not that Ingrid was that terrible, of course," Coco added, "though she was obviously touched, so to each their own."

[Seraphina]

Laughing, “Well, drink all you like. I can keep it in stock for you.” It wasn’t expensive at all.

Shrugging, “When I arrived, we had nothing, the Freehold was just rebuilding. But a rose garden sounds amazing, maybe we can find some similar type flowers in the Hedge and plant them outside.” Maybe. Surely the Hedge had something.

“So you want a jester hat and a wig? Hedgespun or just from a regular store? Cause I’ve never made a Hedgespun hat.” She warns.

“You’re very welcome. I hope it’s brewed to your taste. How have you been?” they didn’t see Titania enough. That needed to change.

Laughing, “Well, get used to it. Especially if you visit my coffee shop.” Her tone upbeat. “And you’re very welcome.” Seemed like a good fit for the Freehold thus far.

“You were Claviger?” huh, interesting. “Do you plan on residing here?” she asks, sipping her tea, “If you are, then I’m willing to offer you a Pledge. Since I arrived, the Freehold Oath hasn’t held, so the Seasons have taken to swearing their own, and the Director can also swear others in if needed. But I would like to hear a bit more about you. You seem quite fascinating, with a killer fashion sense.” See what she says. But she seems like someone worth keeping around. “And of course, answer any questions you might have about the Freehold and those who currently reside within.” If she could. Some were more secretive.

“Sonnie doesn’t have a leash, and the position isn’t one I’ve forced upon her.” She replies, “And while I’m willing and able to defend myself, it seems there are those in the Freehold that are dead set against it.” A shrug. “I’ve always been willing to serve and help the Court and those within anyway I could. If it means serving tea and drinks? So be it, I’m not above it. I actually get great pleasure out of helping.” Though, if you asked Rhodes, she helped too much.

“Wait, you knew Ingrid?” now she was confused. Had she met Coco? If she had, why didn’t she remember?

[Yamiyo Lillich]

Still lost in her walking around, a glance as Coco speaks of age, gently nodding in response not that she had actually heard the actual words being said though.

Her eyes more ready to answer the monkeys words.
"She listened to various stuff I don't really know what though and she complained a lot about this and that, calling people various things, hanged in weird chat rooms and had a dark wardrobe. Weird books that would be odd to see even for a doctor but it gave me somewhere to sleep, some fun for the time being and some safety I was very much in need of at the time. She did not believe herself unique though she belonged to a group of people, I never did meet the group though but they were pretty much just all some wannabees stuck in their own fetishes I guess."
Looking back she never really did care to know more about people than she needed for the time, short lived connections had left her with many memories of a lot of different people but none that she had ever really gotten close to.

Taking her second bottle of aloe water, the first one long since empty.
"Thank you that is very kind of you."

Lightly fixing her hair, gently touching her ears, a quick shake of her head before walking on still exploring the place more carefully to get a proper feel for it, she had been to nervous to really take it in last time but now she had more time, there were fewer people around and she could touch anything with ease.
Keeping her eyes with her though, ready to look towards the lips if any person spoke with her.

[Sonnie Wu]

The Tavern was exactly what it sounded like, a middle ages inn. Like the Prancing Pony in The Fellowship of the Ring film, but nicer in quality and warmer in feel. There was the full service bar, several tables including the large one for meetings like this, and a comfortable fireplace. Just outside in the garden, was a skybed.

Sonnie, lounging sideways in her chair, legs dangling over one armrest, listened attentively to Coco reminisce while she ate her sandwich. Brushing crumbs off her shirt, the Beast smiled. "Wow! You were a Claviger? I bet you know all kinds of cool stuff! Teach me, sifu!" She glanced towards Yamiyo, then back to the Wasp, "Eh, more like four, I'd guess."

The Monkey's eyes went to Seraphina, though she still spoke to the Skitterskulk, "Sera's my best friend, even before she was Queen. She's always giving of herself to, well, everyone. She's a good bean! And she would be a terrible barista if she wasn't willing to serve others. She's the Coffee Queen!"

Gasping in delight, her attention was now full directed to the Nix, "What? You wanna make me a jester hat? Hmmm..."

That long tail snaked it's fuzzy way onto the table and snatched up a scone, then wound back along it's course, to where Sonnie waited with butter and a knife. "It's not that you can't defend yourself, Sera. It's just... you know... what kind of Claviger would I be if you had to? If you gotta fight for yourself, doesn't that mean I suck at my job?" Butter that scone, Sonnie. Awwww, yeah. Hot creamy action!

She chuckled, "Killer bee fashion sense, heh heh."

"Ingrid was always nice to me. Just too bad she was always so..." she waved the butterknife in the air as she searched for the correct word, "...reclusive?"

The hot buttered scone was nom'd upon as she listened to Yamiyo, who was maybe underaged now or whatever? All the more reason not to make out with her, regardless of how much she resembled Jason Momoa. When the Romancer had finished, the Steepscrambler wiped some melted butter off her chin and cocked her head to one side quizzically, "Sooooo... this girl was in a cult?"

[Titania]

Of course, she didn't expect any new Spring to be as gracious and well mannered as little Yamiyo or herself.
There was, however, something deeply unsettling about how the newcomer was behaving. Did she say something wrong? No, of course, she didn't.
It had to be her, the ladybee.
She stares at the woman; a tea mug is raised to her lips, visibly hiding her twitching lips, and a scowl creeps over her delicate features.
Perhaps they too could sense her displeasure. The tug of war between emotions. Her glances are hard to miss, it's like she's aiming a floodlight.
She's at the same time Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. Those roles act in reverse too.
And don't forget Cheshire, that's who pained the grin she's wearing right now belongs to.
Alright, gloves off.
"Marvellous, I'm Lady Titania. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Lady Co-", a coquettish note louder, perfectly british, "co", she delivers with a smug.

[Coco]

"I'm a fucking Wasp, not a bee," Coco snapped, her eyes cutting to Sonnie in a glare that was as sharp as her tone. She held the innocently cheerful Claviger there on the point of her glare for a moment before her eyes dropped.

"I'm -- I'm sorry. I didn't meant to snap," she apologized a moment later, raising a hand to gently the point between her expertly shaped eyebrows.

"Please forgive me. This homecoming hasn't been easy. So I'd...I'd prefer not to pledge. Unless you fear for your safety. My duty to this Court has already made me a murderer, and I don't wish to be forced into a situation like that again. This was before Ingrid, of course, although I was only visiting when she was Queen. This time, I would like to stay, although I'd rather just...be."

Her faceted eyes shot another glare to Sonnie Wu , daring her to make a pun, before she turned her gaze back upon the Queen, Seraphina , and a brief flicker of anguish passed behind her eyes before her mask was firmly put back into place.

"Just a simple courtier. Though I'm far more a libertine than I am a lady."

The brim of the hat rose, and the Wasp's eyes cut to the supernova sitting at the table with her, the woman who had so provokingly pronounced her name.

"Perhaps you'd like to learn the difference? I'd be happy to educate you, and you do seem to already have a taste for my name on your lips."

Staring at Titania was like staring into the sun, but her blood was up, and meeting this challenge was far preferable to dwelling in the depths of her heart for the moment.

[Seraphina]

A smile offered to Yami as she seemed content to roam the Tavern. Which was fine.

Best friend? Sonnie really thought of her that way? And she gets lost in that thought for a few moments, a smile tugging at her lips.

“I’d be willing to try if you wanted a Hedgespun one. But since the dress I made was kind of a flop, you might be better off buy one until I can up my skills.” She really needs to work on that more. “Jewelry is more my thing, but give me a few months to get some things.” She’d try.

Laughing, “But even before becoming Queen it was an issue for some. But I don’t you could suck at your job.” The monkey was too dedicated.

Nodding, “She was reclusive, but she was dedicated to us and the Freehold.” No one could doubt that.

Then Titania. What was going on with her?

Eyebrows shoot up, as her eyes fixed on Coco.

“I don’t believe she intended to infer that you were a bee.” Her tone even. A glance to Sonnie, it was up to her if she accepted the apology or not.

Not Pledge?

“We always fear for our safety, and without a Freehold Oath, it’s what we have. I have no desire to force someone into murdering anyone. The Pledge is a simple one, one of not harming anyone of the Freehold and that you’re not working for Them. One for the Duration of the Season. We would love for you to stay, but a Pledge, even for the duration of the Season, is needed. I take keeping this Court safe very seriously.” And having an unpledged was a danger.

Could no one get along even for an hour?

Sighing, “Ok guys, what’s up?” looking from Coco, to Titania to Sonnie. “You two were upset about something at the Coronation. To the extent where I was getting asked about it. So, what’s going on? Is it something I can help with?”