The Ash in Summer

[Anatole]

At the height of summer the afternoons are almost timeless: the day lingers on and the dusk does not come; the heat remains but its bite is lessoned. This almost timeless space encourages peace and reflection, stupor and contentment. Even after the gates at the little theme park officially close, the day only feels half done.

Enter Anatole.

The dwarf is waring a pair of light grey slacks and worn, comfy shoes. He has a light shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his gnotty elbows. Today, in addition, he sports a quaint red-and-white neckerchief.

He has the key's to old Edna's house.

He opens up. Spends time going through the hoary old building's many rooms and opening up the windows, airing the ungrateful chamber's with summer's light and summer's scents. Then he goes back to the kitchen, props open the back door and puts on a kettle.

The Season is all Summer's. But Autumn is coming soon and so it is fitting that the seat of Ashen rule be opened for those that seek it.

Open a little social scene for anyone interested.

[Titania]

A breath of fresh air in the otherwise suffocating weather of Sacramento's summer.
It's been a while since she's visited the Autumn Hollow, courtesy of her friend Anatole, but she finds herself welcome here.
And indeed, she likes the house too, it's a layer of antique and tradition in this new new world.
She rings the doorbell, carrying a box of chocolates, dressed impeccably for the night in an elegant dress and with makeup to match.

[James Turner]

James was burning his candle from all ends, it was still Summer Semester for the moment though that was coming to a close, things should get better come fall. Or so he hoped. This is what he gets for cramming more work into time he can’t afford to spend but he knew once it was all said and done he’d breathe a little easier and have something to show for it. He had his backpack, filled with books mostly weighing heavily on his back, his black slacks, and today’s tee shirt was for Bauhaus, figuring he might as well go with the classics. Seeing the windows open and Titania standing out front he thought he should visit, he was awake even despite the sun’s glare after all. He made sure to keep his distance respectable though noting the gift in her hands he wondered if he was interrupting a planned meeting. “Been too long, I hope you’ve at least been well?”

[Anatole]

Anatole's hairy head bursts from an open window. His eyes widened and a smile cut through his beard at the sight of Titania. He bobbed a nod of greeting for John.

"Back door is open friends! Come around the back to the kitchen. I've got the kettle on, and I suppose Rhodes won't mind if we raid the pantry!"

He chuckled. Then paused as he noticed the gift box.

[Roshon]

It was hard to put down roots, but there was only so much comfort the endless river of asphalt and strangers could provide. Fact was, Roshon was lonely. When she'd first moved in, she'd felt a little smothered. Wasn't anyone's fault. Seraphina had been more than generous giving her a place to stay, free of charge. The walking storm, whatever her name was, had also been a good bud buddy, but at the end of the day, it had felt like she'd went off the high dive when she should have just waded in the shallows.

Maybe she was just a coward. She had run away, after all. Did that make her a coward? Probably. Roshon didn't really know. After what she'd been through, fear didn't really seem to mean much. It was like getting tickled by a taser powered by a potato. But then, if that was true, why had she left without so much as a word?

Roshon had some 'splaining to do. Had some fences to mend. That was the thing neighbors did, yeah?

Still, getting a little insight from the people that had cornered the Fear market seemed like a good idea. So, there she was, walking up to Edna's with a blunt hanging from between her lips and her phone in her hands.

She tapped a quick message out to the woman she'd been told was the Summer Queen, only pausing to look up as she stepped up onto those creaking floorboards.

"Oh, shit. It's An -- Anton? No. Um...Anatooli?"

Maybe she'd been smoking a little too much.

"We met that one time? I ate all your wedges?" she tried again, fangs appearing in a sheepish smile as she plucked the blunt from between her lips.

She turned to the others, taking in Neil De Grasse Tyson's wet dream and Mr. Spooky.

"Yo. Roshon. I think we met. Kinda. I threw some weed at you, then kinda zoned out and left. I think. Anyways, what's good?"

[Titania]

She didn't expect the kitchen of Edna's to be so homely. Still, appearances can be deceiving.
She steps inside with a smile, greeting her friend with a hug, before immediately settling on one of the free chairs.
James too gets a nod of greeting, as for Roshon... "we meet at one of the freehold's celebrations, didn't we? It's a pleasure"

[James Turner]

John didn't know if it was the sudden move around, Roshon's sudden and exuberant appearance or his own curse to why his words melted in the wind. He followed along quietly as they all entered into the kitchen a smile coming to his face as he saw his friend. Falling into old habits and patterns he took leaning up against a wall where he could see as many exits as possible.


"Tea will be just fine, what are we brewing?" Those dark shadow pits shifted over Roshon's way, that smile turning up at one side shadows spilling from the seem. "Oh yea. You definitely made an impression. Luckily I partake from time to time, so thank you." He chuckled softly shaking his head in amusement. "It's good to finally meet you Roshon, I'm John. It's good to see you back and well. So what brings you to Sacramento?"

[Anatole]

Anatole hustled from the window to the back door so he could let the guests enter, one after the other.

He squints at Roshon

"Ah! Yes! Yes you did. Haven't seen much of you since then. I am honoured, then, that you have reached out to the Ash. Tea or coffee?"

He simply smiled as Titania flowed passed and again inquired "Tea or coffee?"
James Turner received a quiet murmur of welcome and a bob of the head.

"Tea it is, then. Let me see... English Breakfast. Irish Breakfast. Stockholm Blend. I think I hid some Chai somewhere... Ah! Here!"

He turned to the little gathering as the kettle started to boil.

"Now then. Are these social visits... Or is there something you seek from the Ash?"

His voice wasn't in it. Neither, really, was his heart. For business with the Ash that is. As he spoke his eyes landed on Titania and dropped to the box of chocolates.

The table was big enough for them all to fit around comfortably and without invading each other's space. The old kitchen wasn't particularly large, but not so small as to put pressure on their little gathering. It was cosy. Homely. Like a memory of grandmother. Edna had been grandmotherly as much as she had been terrible.

"Meh. Forget the Ash. Let's just talk."

The kettle started boiling behind him and he reluctantly turned to attend to it.

[Roshon]

"Mhm, same," Roshon said to the hypnotically beautiful collection of galaxies. She really, really wanted to stare, but she knew that would get taken the wrong way. She was more interested in the cosmic phenomena than that cosmic body, though that probably wasn't the case for most.

"Irish Breakfast sounds great to me, thanks," she said, next, turning to look at the grandfatherly dwarf. Hopefully, at some point, someone would say his name and then she'd be able to remember what it was again.

"Speaking of partaking, anyone mind?" Roshon added, holding up the spliff. "I'm happy to share. Usually leads to interesting conversations, besides. Like, um, what's your thoughts on collective unconsciousness and the Hedge and stuff?"

[Titania]

"Irish for me as well. Thank you", she says before sliding unto one of the chairs. A pleasant smile meet's Roshon's stare, as the Fairest takes her time to ponder deeply on the question.
"I'm Titania", she introduces herself again, imitating John's, who at same time is acknowledges with a polite nod.
"The Hedge?", she says, "Over the years I've formed the opinion that the Hedge is a psycho-reactive place"