(2006) Summer Solstice

[Bugul]

Bugul rolls his shoulders as he looks to the Wyrdstone, his abundant, thick vine creaking roughly against each other as his horizontal pupils rest upon the Freehold's newest boon in an obvious sense of contemplation.

Then the Goatman begins his approach in his usual, meandering fashion, unhurried as he listens to those around him speak of the stone. Yamiyo's greeting and subsequent peace following the lighting of the Wyrdstone's life is noted and he even grants the devilish woman a nod, but aside from the smile, his features slowly turn vacant. Then his eyes return to the great phenomena that he approaches, his eyes carrying his distant stare as he finally stops within an arm's reach, his posture almost freezing as he looms beside the object of the Freehold's current interest. The smile fades as the Goatman's usual aloof nature resurfaces.

He listens to Coco and then Rhodes. However, it is not the concern of the Wasp that finally gets the Goatman's lips to part, but the explanation of the Dread King.

"I feel nothing," he offers, the words spoken with a certain roughness, as if he hasn't spoken in days, "Not yet."

Then the Beast extends his bandaged hand, his palm coming to rest lightly upon its surface. Then came a pulse of glamour from within Bugul himself, entering the Wyrdstone to willingly bind himself in its recognition alongside those who dwelt within the arms of the Seasons.

His hand remains upon the stone for a long moment before returning to its previous place, grasping the box. A pleased hum emanates from the Beast's throat.

The Woodwalker then shifts in his place, turning his attention to the small Queen of Summer, his gaze resting upon her for a long moment as his expressions settles somewhere between recognition and warmth. A slight smile returns as Bugul's arms extend, offering the box to the blue elf.

"A gift for your ascension," he says, "It has been well-cleaned. The Scepter passes, we look to your wisdom as the Sun fuels the Season. May the spirit of the one who bore this steel you against those who would threaten that which you are now charged to protect."

Should Circe make the decision to open the gift before her guests, she will find the sun-bleached skull of a domestic dog sitting amid newspaper used as packing paper. Appropriate to Bugul's claims, the skull does not smell of rot and there is no flesh to be seen.

[James Turner]

James made no attempt to move from his station at the buffet, glad to eat and drink idly as the Monarchs go into what was involved with the Wyrdstone. A good work around since the freehold oath couldn't take hold here, he wondered how it worked. Perhaps ties of glamour was the thought as he felt that warm sense of community and belonging roll through him.


Except it was false. Winter was cold, winter was solitary. You hunkered down and hid with those you could trust. Those he could trust were approaching zero if not the sum itself.Mind slowly contemplating as he kept his eyes and ears open to the proceedings


He took a bite of food, his body still by nature. He watched as Circe got her gifts for the season and filtered out all the talk of a sleepover as they were all bound together under the stone..At least he'd managed to get some entertainment in but that was enough for now, couldn't push it too far.

[Angel]

A fair explanation from the queen of summary, and she is given the attention she is due.

Angel is hesitant at first. Any claim of good deed without need for payment is a gentry lie, who could be so foolish to believe it. They watch the beast pay the toll. Perhaps, the glamour was a significant payment.

A perfect finger rests upon the stone, ice colored eyes shining, as the treasured pays their toll.

Angel raises the finger and steps back, turning toward John their long legs cover the distance between them quickly.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

[Saber Sloth]

Angel Mark you didn't need to pay the Toll, only the Ascendant Monarch/Director needs to, to cover all of the Courts, and the Courtless Changelings need to pay as well as they do not have a Court.

If there's any questions regarding the Wyrdstone <---- check the wiki, or the OOC Changeling posts made about the Wyrdstone

[Coco]

"So, I reveal that I don't like being bound with magic and you immediately suggest that I bind myself with magic? How tactful. I'd expect nothing less of the blueberry, but I suppose being tactless is in the spirit of this season now, isn't it?" Coco quipped, no doubt ingratiating herself to everyone in the freehold. Though, you know what they say about sticks and stones, and crowns softening all blows.

No? Ok, well, that was her little twist.

To say she wasn't a fan of the crowns was an understatement. Sera being the notable exception, though it was moreso the concept than it was the people. For a community of former slaves, a monarchy seemed like the absolute worst way to organize their society, but then again, it wasn't like they had a choice. That was just another lovely condition imposed on them in their lives beyond the Thorns.

Shrugging overdramatically, Coco walked away from the other Lost and strode up to the Wyrdstone, with its disconcerting thrumming, and casually slapped a palm down atop it. She half expected to get burned, or to feel it siphon blood out through the very pores of her skin, though it seemed she was fine. After a brief moment standing there, unsure of what else she should do, she moved away, the head of her stuffed unicorn bobbing as she moved over to the buffet.

Surprise, surprise, she went straight for the hard liquor. She just grabbed the bottle.

[Circe]

Circe accepts the box from goat man, "Thank ya Bugul. I will try ta share my wisdom though it's mostly that I know that I don't know things, so I ask others," and does indeed open the box. "Huh," she lifts up te skull to hold it aloft. It is very clean, "Neat. A battle trophy Bugul?"

It was a dog's skull, so maybe it tried to attack him? Or a reminder about the stupid talking mutt incident? "Thank ya Bugul. Spooky gift but I ain't lookin' it in the mouth. Don't have one," she smirks at the joke, "How are you doing lately anyway bro?"

Then to the crowd, "So that was the biggest announcement fer this party! Now gorge yerselves upon the buffet, socialize, and ask me questions about combat if yer looking ta learn." Then points at Coco, "I am plenty tact-ical when I need ta be. I'm just really rude, thank ya very much," she bows to the bug as the woman walks away from the stone towards the booze. Circe then holds up the skull to look at it and ask it, "Did she seem as abrasive as Maitre' ta you too?"

Circe makes the skull nod with her hand. Oh she could have fun with this for the night.

[James Turner]

His eyebrow cocked and eyes turned to Coco as she joined the party at the buffet. A lot of thoughts were running through his head as he let the trio of Monarchs commiserate around the Wyrdstone and he filtered out the noise trying to focus on pieces and snippets of conversation he could that held some level of import to him.


Part of that was why he'd been distracted as Angel approached, he cock his head to the side and then nodded. "Sure, what's on your mind?" Casual, colloquial, familiar in case any eavesdroppers wanted to read anything more between the two than there might be there. That aside he wasn't quite sure what was about to be asked but he was curious to find out.

[Saber Sloth]

7 Days Left folks!

[Seraphina]

As the Stone was explained and various other Lost touched it, it seemed like the official business was done.

A smile offered to Bugul as he gave Circe a present, “I hope you’ve been well.” He was still an unknown. And that was her fault for not reaching out to him. Maybe after the Coronation.

Glancing to the Summer, a sly smile appearing on her lips, “Well, Queen Circe, do you think you can play laser tag in that dress?” was that a challenge? Sure sounded like it. “Because I’d like to see if I have a chance to play against you and maybe win.” Was she going to play in her dress? She was. The dress might not have had the effect she wanted, but she was still going to have fun in it!

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord gives Sonnie a thoughtful look, before nodding. A membership list was close. "Kind of, yes. It just removes the red tape with so many comings and goings. But it doesn't talk."

Sera, lovely Sera, is given a small smile. She was so modest, some times. A puzzle among Fairest.

An amused eyebrow is raised as Coco's nature flares again. "I suggest only what, in my experience, our kin find agreeable to minimise decptions and wrongfooting. Of course, you are not the only one here, Miss Chanel. My offer was to all." Fairest were so often in their own worlds, and the Flowering was no exception. But the community was a useful barb, when it served it's purpose.

So much the same, little flower. Perhaps this is a garden of your own, of steel and mirrors, hmm?

Rhodes closes his eyes and takes a long breath. She had never said those words, but she was the voice always tempting. Now it would rise after the fact, pointing out where and when he would do what She would have done... or how he was only a few chapters behind.

The Director looks over the Freehold and sighs quietly. Moving over to the Stone, he runs the tips of his fingers over it's surface. Cold, yet not as cold as one might think. Edges not as poingent as they look. He felt a tiny conection to each of the Changelings here - not where, or any other idea, only that they were. That they were here, and a part of the city.

Quietly he slipped off to the side, watching. Observing. For some reason he suddenly felt less in the mood for frivolities.