(2105)A stone between friends

[Seraphina]

Sera leads Worm into one of the administrative buildings, where the Wyrd Stone was kept unless needed at a Coronation.

The office door was unlocked, a light turned on, and she walks in. Sitting on a pedestal is the Wyrdstone of Sacramento.

‘Always rushing, moving, twisting, but still. Moving like blood and stone, the red of the moving mass, mesmerizing in contrast to the black-green of the solid rock grit binding it.’

“This is the Wyrdstone, obtained by myself, Dread Lord Rhodes, and Circe. Ever since I’ve been in the Freehold, a Freehold wide Oath has had trouble sticking. You can say the words, but they don’t bind. So we learned of this,” a gesture to the stone, “and got it. All you have to do is expend a bit of your Glamour when you touch it. I assure you, it won’t hurt you, it just seems to absorb the Glamour and provide you with a sense of,” pausing, “belonging. It also lets the Freehold know that you are not a threat, a Loyalist or Privateers. We cannot be to careful and this is an added sense of security.” Sapphires look to the Summer, “Do you have any questions about it?”

@Colonel Worm

[Colonel Worm]

Worm follows Sera into the building and is immediately struck by the appearance of the Wyrd Stone. As she speaks, he approaches the object cautiously, watching as it seems to move in place without moving at all, the red glow reflecting off his red face.

"I...uh..." he starts, still mesmerized by the sight before him, "I mean, yeah, I've got questions," a glance to Sera and then back to the stone. "But they can wait until after I do what needs to be done, I think." Better to take the plunge before asking anything further.

Worm is brave, perhaps to the point of foolishness, so he does not hesitate any longer. He reaches out and touches the stone. The feeling is indescribable. It's like the stone has reached out and touched him, not the other way around. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and offers up some of his glamour as instructed.

The Colonel opens his eyes, removes his hand, and smiles at Sera, feeling a strange warmth spread through him, a kind of belonging. "Wow..."

[Seraphina]

His reaction to it was normal, common. The stone was a weirdly unique thing, maybe even living in some way. Knowing how it worked would be fascinating, but she wasn’t even sure how to go about such a task.

A nod when he mentioned he had questions, but wanted to touch the stone and do what he needed to do first.

The smile was returned, “Amazing and fascinating thing.” She says softly, also feeling the sense of belonging. “Welcome to Sacramento.” A true welcome as the Stone brought him into the fold, told them he was a friend, someone to trust. “The others of the Freehold will sense the same, that the Wyrdstone welcomed you, and that we can trust you.” Another smile, this one warmer. “Your questions?”

You can increase Freehold status to one

[Colonel Worm]

The Colonel steps back from the Stone, clearly still trying to process what's happened.

"Glad to be here," he replies. Cracking a joke, but sounding thoroughly mystified.

"Yeah, questions...Uh..." He rubs the back of his head. Where to start?

"What is this thing? I mean, is it really a stone? And where did you find it?" You don't just trip over this kind of 'rock' in the street, after all.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie was suddenly at the door, leaning on the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. The Claviger wasn't about to let her Queen out of sight... not when she was with an unsworn 'Ling. Fugly sat on the floor next to her, watching the Fairest and the Wizened with an expression as curious as his owner's.

"Congrat-ulma-lations, Captain Worm!" she chimed in. "Now I don't have to be constantly ready to kill you for being too close to Sera!" The Beast paused and blinked, "That sounded like I was jealous or something. I meant that in a professional bodyguard capacity."

[Seraphina]

“We learned about it through the Dread Lords research. He had been dedicating months to finding a way to get the Freehold Pledge to hold, and found the Wyrdstone. It was to be up for Auction in the Hedge, and the three Monarchs took it upon ourselves to go get it. We were outbid, but thankfully, the one who won it was willing to trade for it.” Looking at the Stone, “I’m not sure if we know exactly what it is or how it works. The Dread Lord would be the best one to ask those questions. But I do know it is our own version of a Freehold Oath, giving us all that sense of security and safety we all seek.” Not really a good answer.

Spotting Sonnie, a warm smile was offered.

And she laughed, “Aww, not sure if I should be hurt.” She jokes as a translucent hand was placed on her chest.

[Colonel Worm]

Worm scratches the back of his head, quizzical. His face is an open book: confusion, interest, a little bit of apprehension, all warring there. Most of all, he's just astonished.

"Well, it's a pretty miraculous hunk of whatever," he replies. "Works like a damn charm too."

Worm's no academic, clearly, but he knows a rare thing when he sees it.

The Claviger appears and offers the Captain Colonel a proper welcome. Complete with a playful threat. Worm's favorite kind.

He gives Sonnie a bow and pops back up with a dashing smile, "Too be killed by you would be my pleasure, Mistress Bodyguard. I hope you know I'd put up a fight." If only to prolong their dance.

"Alright. Question time round two," turning back to Sera. "What's the deal with all this," throwing out his arms to indicate their surroundings. "Funderland, I mean. Don't get me wrong. I like it. Love it. My kind of spot. But how'd you folks get your hands on it? And how does it all work, you know?"

The Lost running their own amusement park. Cool shit. But also like really ...say what?

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie giggled at Sera. "Okay, maybe a smidge jealous." Even the nicest Fairest liked having their egos fed, right?

She grinned at Worm's response, "Fighting can be fun. Especially when you win." While she lacked the internal rage necessary to be a Summer, the Beast had more than enough passion and hunger for thrills to enjoy a good melee. The Spring Court had it's share of adrenaline junkies.

"Oh, so you're a masochist, huh?" She might have said more, but Worm seemed to want to keep inquiring about the Stone. So, she left her comment at that.

[Seraphina]

Smiling with a soft chuckle, “It truly is! It has really helped the Freehold.” Whatever it was.

Then a slight frown, “When I first arrived in the Freehold, they were battling a Dragon, Fairweather. He had leveled the previous Freehold, a hotel called the Four Seasons. Many were lost in that attack, our numbers very small. But, we pulled together and were able to defeat him, and then found Funderland. It presented us with what we needed to rebuild the Freehold. It brings in a source of income, and gives us a safe place to gather and for Seasons to have their Hollows. As to how we got our hands on it?” a shrug, “I’m not completely sure. I was only here for a few months when the Dragon was defeated and Funderland acquired.” Truth be told, she never asked the questions. Back then, she wasn’t sure how long she’d be here. “It works as a functional amusement park, and a safe place for the Courts and Lost alike.” She probably didn’t answer his question, but, she worked with what she had. She had not been a Monarch at the time.

A smile and giggle to Sonnie.

Then the back and forth, it was cute. “Sorry to say, but my money would be on Sonnie. I’ve seen her fight and she has some serious skills.”

[Colonel Worm]

Worm likes this monkey lady. Likes her style, the way she thinks. Her looks don't hurt either.

"Fight to win or don't fight at all," he says. "And if you can't win, take as many as you can with you."

Masochist? Sadist? Top? Bottom? Dom? Sub? Just check 'all of the above' when it comes to the Goblin.

"I can be anything you want me to be, ma'am," lifting his right eyebrow devilishly. "Just say the word."

Back to Sera: "No need to perform an audit, just curious is all. Never seen anything like it. It suits me...us, I think."

Worm's white within white eyes narrow a bit at the Spring Queen's mention of an attack on the previous freehold: "Dragon sounds like a real bastard, though. Hope it hurt when they put him down." Unconsciously, the Colonel cracks his neck, as if readying himself for battle.