Warm Welcome

[Circe]

"No no no Cass," Circe corrects her, "That's a reflection of the Iron Side on the Hedge. Like Jersey Hegde looks dystopian. Erm, wait, I meant Chernybol probably does," Circe recalled how nasty her brief visit home had been and San Fran was so much better save for the cannolis.

"That is Tokens fer ya Ram, a physical manifestation of the Wyrd making reality its bitch." She agrees with him, "However I have done occult investigations and have another theory which is why I prefer Colt pistols," she lectures, "Stories have power with the Wyrd. So if a model of gun is famous round the world," she waves her pizza slice for emphasis, "Might work well in the Hedge. Or in the case of AKs probably because they're just that reliable."

"Glad yer okay Gerrit," she gives him a thumbs up. Then smiles at Yamiyo's gratitude. "Oh ain't that the truth fer everything," she cheerfully agrees with the Spring, "Everything can be learned with practice."

"Oh, ALS is sign language? Huh," she nods, "That might be helpful in battle ta know," after a moment humming in thought the Summer Queen adds, "Or many other kinds of adventures too."

It was often convenient to have a way to communicate without those around you understanding you.

[Cassandra Reeding]

"Huh. Now you've got me curious, Circe." Not that she ever wanted to go into the Hedge without necessity. She'd never admit it out loud, but she absolutely hates the Hedge. Hollows were one thing - they could be warded and protected. The Hedge as it is is a jungle of waiting death. "It is interesting how certain areas of the Hedge take on different looks."

The Polychromatic takes another piece of pizza, taking a bite as she looks over at Gerrit, her brows somewhat furrowed. She gives him this silent look of 'You okay?'

[Ram]

Ram didn’t seem entirely satisfied with Jameson’s response. He still seemed nervously stiff. Though he supposed, that was normal for a Stonebones. Ram wasn’t exactly the picture of fluid movement himself.

Thinking of which, Yamiyo took his hand and tried to make it relax enough to form signs. Which he imagined felt as wired for him as it did for her. His fingers attempted to naturally curve back into a familiar fist. Just crossing his fingers to make ‘R’ almost hurt. Like trying to the splits on a small scale. The sounds of battle seemed to grow for a moment. Gunpowder trying to fight against the smell of vanilla. But the Render pushed past, tried to remain calm and was happy to fell Lilich finally push his fingers into place with a cool touch.

“Practice,” he repeated with an unsteady grin as she took hi through A and M with less difficulty. Modified fists were much easier for him to get.

He followed her with his eyes as she went over to Gerrit, even while absently working his hands to try and form the signs again. While it was good to see her trying to help, he also didn’t like that it was putting his fellow Ogre on the spot. Though Ram only had himself to blame. He shouldn’t have said anything. And he felt guilt at bringing the spotlight on Gerrit’s discomfort. Should have been more careful. His eyes fell on the broken pizza box as he stood. Yet how could he do anything else. He was made to cause damage.

“Uh, yeah,” he answered his Queen absently, still more focused on the pain he’d accidently caused “American Sign Language anyway. There are others.” Though he couldn’t name them, more he just knew they existed.

[Gerrit]

All the noise, the other topics and discussions turned into white noise. Weapons, violence, strategy - Gerrit didn't care for it on good days and this meeting turned out to be anything but.

Truth was: he was never really used to being pitied or cared about. It made him uncomfortable.
He hated violence. This has always been this way, for as long as he could remember and his time over there did nothing to change that.
Most of all, he lost his wife to an impostor. He lost his life and he tried his best to deal with this fact every day.

So who could blame the Ogre when he just snapped as Yamiyo, wearing the face of his wife, tried to comfort him amidst a jovial war-room meeting?

"I said. I'm. Fine." Violently jerky steps tore him apart from the Succubus and away from the group, a dark red string of spit clung to his chin and the bruises around his cheeks darkened with agitation. He looked at the gathered Changelings, eyes bloodshot and wild for a moment. You fucking want me to destroy, don't you? You wanted me to learn that violence was the way the world worked and that only suckers get beaten time and time again without retaliating? He could do it, or die trying. What was it to him? He knew pain, nearly all his life has only been pain so he could bear it. He would pass on the lesson gladly.

The moment passed and anger gave way to disgust, mostly for himself. A shaky hand wiped away the bloody saliva and covered his mouth for a moment. No, I'll never be like him. His hand dropped and revealed a grimace of scars and hatred. When he spoke again, his voice was raspy, as if something had ripped inside his throat. "I'm - thanks for the invitation. I have to go." One forcibly thrown shake of his head towards Cassandra and Ram hopefully shattered any notion to follow him.

He needed some time to clear his head.
The gentle giant left the building.

[Yamiyo Lillich]

"I have always wondered about that, does stories really have power with the Wyrd or is it the other way around? We know it's influence is in this realm so are stories it's way of slowly growing a tighter grip of this realm?" Perhaps a bit of overthinking.

Smiling towards the Queen.
"Yes we are lucky to have such a sweet Queen as you guarding us." Shivering a little "I would be quite afraid to be on the opposing side when your mood changes though." Shaking her head toward her and Ram. "ASL is the most common sign language here and in some parts of Canada, it's just one of 138-300 though and the biggest is PSE."

Giving Ram a sweet smile as his hands slowly adapted to each sign.
"It's hard in the beginning for us all, don't we will have you signing in no time you're capable of anything you set your mind to." A warm look. "We will take it in a tempo that feels just right for you."

Jumping back as Gerrit spoke, getting a bit scared. Eyes following him carefully with a worried and concerned look until he finally walks away, slowly raising her hand after him but soon just sinking down feeling how she had pushed him away. Sigh that she could never learn to let people take the space they needed.

[Circe]

"Yes it is Cass," she agrees with her, "I tried popping a gate on the open ocean once," after a pause she continues, "I don't recommend it."

"Yamiyo," she says slowly taking a sip of coffee, "It is called the Wyrd fer a reason. It can be both and neither at the same time." She decided for the sake of the noobs to not mention the possibility it was Them hearing stories and forcing the Wyrd to comply. Famous gun models easily available are often famed for reliability. Unreliable models tend to be collector items.

The Queen sighs. They kept badgering Gerrit. Circe tries to be responsible, "Man says he is okay then," Gerrit gets triggered. Circe instantly puts her victuals down, fists formed, ready to rumble if the Winter lashes out physically. The tension drops as Gerrit goes from feral fighter to sad Winter. Circe relaxes as well. She waves at the departing Winter without judgement, "Alright Gerrit. Don't be a stranger."

When a 'ling you don't know well wants space, you give it to them.

She made a mental note, touching was a trigger for Gerrit. Or Fairests were. Wait. Red eyes dart to Yamiyo, the blue tinged girl. Circe thinks back to how much she'd wanted to play with a red skinned oni and suddenly Yamiyo looks a little pinker to Circe.

Well that was drama fuel in the making. Oh well, he was gone for now so deal with it when he was around. She made a mental note to bring a taser to future gathering until Gerrit calmed down.

"Okay," she claps her hands, "As the Groundskeeper and present courtly officer I guess this is a learning point fer noobs." Circe inhales loudly before exhaling loudly. A sad smile parts blue lips, "As I was trying ta say, if somebody tells ya they're fine then let it go. We are all crazy and all have triggers," the sad smile turns positively evil. Her eyes no longer looked like rubies on oil, but more like blood on night. That bad side Yamiyo feared? Yes she was letting it show, "And ya best know what happens when ya pull a trigger."

Smile and eyes turn friendly again, "But that isn't the only lesson fer today. If ya wants ta keep discussing, then keep on keeping on."

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra smiles and nods, again, a bit taken and happy when she is called Cass. It's an instinctual response. "Ooo, I can't imagine that ended up well at all-"

When Gerrit snaps, her eyes dart from person to person, particularly from Yamiyo to Gerrit. She knew Yamiyo had been somewhat of a trigger for him. She looks to Circe and then back at the other two, "You are right to a degree on that..." she pauses, gazing at the door. She couldn't just let him run off without making sure he is safe. Then again, he knows the area somewhat. It's the somewhat part that bothers her. It hasn't been much time since he arrived. Hell, it hasn't been much time since she arrived.

Gazing at Circe as she makes her statement about triggers, looking terrifying. She remembers her own. Don't touch me! Hissing and screaming, crying out in horror at the slightest touch. How long has Gerrit truly been out? I was feral for over a year...

She looks to Ram then for a moment, "We should have a sit down at some point with our friend," she says with a worried expression, her voice a whisper.

And suddenly she is just mad, her eyes gazing over at Yamiyo for a second. She sees those black eyes and her heart just shatters again. Stop looking like him. You're not allowed to have his eyes. She pauses for a moment. What does Gerrit see when he looks at her?

She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. She's wearing too much of her heart on her sleeve, and yet it is still somewhat masked by her ever changing colors.

[Yamiyo Lillich]

"That's true but still to try and understand it and us along with seeing the history of folk tales knowing what we know is quite interesting." It was so much more fun to try and see what type of stories they were behind than to just read the stories to analyze the times. "Whatever the truth is so is every view and test of interest at least to me."

Being a bit lost in herself feeling the sadness and shame of how she pushed Gerrit away, perhaps it would be better to stay clear of him in the foreseeable future and let him come to her if he ever wanted to. Missing the looks from Cassandra and the words from the Queen completely, taking a moment before softly speaking.
"Cassandra, Ram you both have some form of bond with him would you mind telling him that I am sorry for my actions here and that I will leave him alone from now on unless he comes to me first?"

Looking towards the Queen with a defeated look.
"I am sorry for sullying your warm get together, you had set things up very lovely here and this ruining is totally on me."

[Circe]

Well at least they were listening to her. Whether out of deference, guilt, or the fact that she was straight up correct. She nods in agreement with Cassandra, "Good on ya. Ya both do that. I'll treat him out later too, free dessert cheers folks up."

"And no," she says flatly, "Opening a gate onta a boat less ocean with sea monsters as not good."

"Most fortunate fer you Yamiyo," she retrieves her coffee to sip it again, "I have more a Thrawn then Vader view of mistakes. Learn from it and there will be no harm. Keep making the same mistake again and I will have issue with it."

Circe didn't say Yamiyo hadn't done wrong or made a mistake. Because Gerrit freaking out and running was clearly not good. The elf drains her coffee. "If ya want ta go full flagellant about it, the foam weapons are an option."

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra gives Circe a nod and then begins to realize the time. She has orchestra practice this evening and hasn't even practiced yet. "That would be good. He could use it." She says in a soft voice.

"Yamiyo, you don't need to avoid people. You haven't done anything wrong by existing as you are. He's," fresher, but she didn't want to give that away. That's obvious enough already, "He's just having a hard time." Even still, Cassandra will look at her face, but focus specifically away from the eyes. It's so subtle of a change, the Romancer's looks, but it is enough to give her anxiety. It makes her miss him. One day she'll meet her eyes and maybe she'll finally get over it. Is this what Gerrit is going through? She wonders momentarily.

"I have to go early to practice for my symphony rehearsal tonight, forgive me," She says in a polite voice, "I hope we can all hang out soon and Circe, I'll look forward to us eventually meeting up to talk guns and how to effectively use them." Her voice is a bit more hopeful at that. She knows she's useless in battle. She feels it constantly, always weighing her down.

She waves a goodbye before exiting.