Onyx Matters

[Gerrit]

The invitations have been sent, a date was agreed upon and the day has arrived. With their Motley Pledge running out there was nothing really keeping Cassandra and John from abandoning Gerrit as well. Who knew, they could run away together, or just decide that the Ogre was more trouble keeping around than he was of use. Unlikely? Sure, but then again many people have told Gerrit that Vivian wasn't likely to hurt him either.

You just had to make sure, and a Pledge would at least make them think twice before skipping town.
Of course there were other matters to discuss too - their findings in the Hedge, recent developments and the not so distant Winter Coronation - and it was usually nice to spend some time with his friends and just chat. Would he be able to partake in their lighthearted fun without showing them how broken he had become? Should he just give them half the truth, the facts? He didn't want their pity, but he didn't want to lie to them either. Maybe it was best to play this one by ear anyway.
As always he arrived early to the meeting and for now the Stonebones busied himself by reading the book about Goblin Fruits they've found in Oliver's library. It beat overthinking everything.

Even though the Sacramento summer hasn't quite left, the Winter Hollow was chilly and calm. A perfect spot to talk Court.

Cassandra Reeding James Turner
Shenanigans Shane

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra arrives at the Winter Hollow at the specified time. The Summer is slowly turning to Autumn and her outfits are beginning to reflect that. Today, she is wearing a dark red calf-length skirt, a cream colored blouse, and a pair of dark brown sandals. Her hair is down in loose waves and one has to wonder how with the wind today it isn't far messier and knotted.


Things have been busy, but they've been wonderful all the same. Well, almost. Given everything that's gone on with the patrol, there are lots of things to be discussed and lots of things to be worked through. She still got to talk to John more in depth about Oliver and what she knows. And she's still got to go through that journal.


She is, of course, keeping her mind on all of these more important things instead of the fact that she and Gerrit haven't been as close as they used to be. Ever since their conversation it seems like everything has gotten into an awkward state. Especially after Vivian left. She wonders if the fact that she's with John makes it worse. Is there jealousy? Or maybe she and Gerrit just weren't meant to be that super best friends kind of close.


"Hello?" She calls out as she enters the house, quietly closing the door behind her and looking around, curious if anyone had arrived before her.

[Gerrit]

Gerrit perked up and put the book back on the table as he heard Cassandra's voice. He had been distancing himself lately and now was pretty much the first time they really had the opportunity to talk - if John didn't arrive with her, that is.
Why did things between become like this? He was hurting, and he really didn't want to be on the receiving end of their pity or their well-meant words of advice. He had heard them all before and there wasn't really anything that could change the situation or how he felt, so avoiding her felt like felt like the safest option. Since his.. meeting with Ram and the Colonel he hasn't really cried about it either, so this probably was the healthiest course of action.

And it really had nothing to do with Cassandra's and John's happy relationship.
At all.

"Hello Cassandra." He answered her call and got up to meet her. He thought about putting on a warm (albeit fake) smile, but decided against it. For now a stony composure greeted the Fairest - not radiating the warmth they might have grown used to, but not off-putting or unfriendly either. And most importantly: not running into the danger of breaking down.

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra is alone this time, not having brought John with her given she'd just come from orchestra rehearsal. She has her cello strapped to her back and as she walks further in, she sets it down, leaning the case up against the couch. After a short moment, she takes a good look over Gerrit, trying to judge how he is doing.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-07 10:02:12	Cassandra Reeding rolls 5 to How's it going, Gerrit? (Wits + Empathy) (10 Again)	9, 6, 3, 4, 7	1 success

It feels a little awkward standing there, given everything that happened before. "Hey, Gerrit." She greets in a relaxed tone. This is her brother, her motley mate, she needs to get over it. She wants to ask how he is doing, but for some reason, she decides against it. Maybe Vivian leaving didn't really affect him all that much, but for all she knows, he's completely gutted about it. Maybe best to just leave it for now.

"What have you been up to since the patrol let out? Is that one of the books we brought back?" She asks curiously, trying to engage in conversation that has a business to it while also being friendly.

[Gerrit]

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-09-08 14:40:51	Gerrit rolls 6 to keep a poker face (Man 2 + Subter 2 + Mantle 1 + Spec 1) (10 Again)	8, 4, 4, 4, 3, 1	1 success

There isn't much going on in the Stonebone's features. Indeed, it almost seems like there is a newfound form of calm with Gerrit. And after a few beats of awkwardness a smile actually appeared on his lips. "Oh you know. Mostly work. I've met up with Rhodes about Ann, but that was even before our Patrol." He was somewhat grateful for her not asking about his mood. He could talk about work and things that needed fixing. He pointed at the book on the table. "Yes, it is. Some interesting things in there, I think I might be able to try and cultivate some new Goblin Fruits with that."

Another slightly awkward second, then Gerrit went and sat down again. They should be comfortable with each other. They were friends. "How about you? Did anything interesting happen?"

[James Turner]

John knew he'd been distant, unavailable, his work-work balance had been disturbed by the addition of school. He'd not had as much time for everyone as he'd had before and it had made him feel guilty. This was another time that he was late to a meeting, a frown tugging at his lips as he stood at the border looking over at the hollow and around at the hedge. Nothing to be done about it now, what was done was done.


He swallowed his pride and walked over to the door giving it two soft knocks before the knob turned and he stepped into the room catching Gerrit and Cassandra mid conversation. "Liam seems to have a keen interest in fruits as well, a green thumb's never really been my specialty. Sorry I'm late..." He thought about adding on to that but anything that came after would just be an excuse and he couldn't excuse himself or his behavior. They were his to own. "I've been buried in school, anything I've missed?" That was evident enough by the disheveled state of his work clothes, his hands not even bothering to smooth them out anymore.

[Cassandra Reeding]

"Oh how cool," she starts, thinking a little about what kind of Goblin Fruits she actually knows of. She is about to answer his question about what she's been up to when John walks in. It wasn't as if she really had anything too interesting going on aside from more performances.


"You're fine, John," she says in response to his apology. He has nothing to be sorry for. He may be chronically late recently, but he's doing something difficult and she's proud of him for it. "You haven't missed anything, just getting a little caught up with Gerrit." Although they hadn't really gotten anywhere with that and it makes her wonder what all he'd been up to. Even more so, she wants to know what's up with him since Vivian left, but best not. Not right now.


Cassandra finds her way to a seat in the living room and relaxes, "Winter coronation almost feels like it's around the corner," she mentions.

[Gerrit]

John interrupted their little talk, and Gerrit wasn't sure whether to be irritated or glad. What are you thinking? John is your friend too. He clenched his hands to fists, stuck them into his pockets. He needed to stop expecting the worst, stop this negative vicious cycle. At least with them.

So John was also given a smile - not wide enough to scream 'fake', but with some visible effort. "Hello John. Don't worry about it - I was also early so it evens out." The smile stayed for a second longer to acknowledge the weak joke, then Gerrit's face turned more neutral again. "And thanks for the heads-up about Liam." Seemed like every other Lost in the Freehold that knew about Goblin Fruits belonged to Spring. What a joy.

He listened to Cassandra and nodded, before turning back to John again. "Cassandra is right. There is also some things we need to talk about concerning our last Patrol. I don't know-" if Cassandra has already told him? Yeah, most definitely. But it was a matter of the Freehold and their Court, so it wouldn't hurt to talk through their findings together. The Ogre cleared his throat with a wet rasping sound and continued. "Maybe you've already heard, but we should get on the same page regardless. Plus, we should probably renew our Motley Pledge." As far as he was concerned the official part of their meeting could begin. He shot Cassandra, then John an expectant look.

[James Turner]

He knew they were his friends and they'd understand but he still couldn't help but feel guilty, feel absent. The reminder that he hadn't had much time to catch up with Gerrit and that he'd not had as much time for Cassandra couldn't help but eat at him. His stomach churning and twisting as he offered a small half smile and nod. John knew they were just trying to help but each reassurance just made him feel lousy. Maybe it was a Winter thing.


"I find out what I can and then inform as best I can." He really wished he had the Fairest's talent there, he always seemed to have a way to say the wrong thing or the right thing in the wrong way. He gave a tired sigh and nodded shifting position to sit next to Cassandra, taking the opportunity to get off of his feet for the moment.


"The findings or something else? Those are all good topics. Let's start with the Motley pledge since that's probably the easiest to hash out first. Are we ok with the terms and conditions of the last one or are there changes we'd like to make?" He looked from Gerrit to Cassandra, there seemed to be a strange tension an unease there. It could have just been from missing the comfort the pledge had brought. But he trusted them both still, his feelings hadn't shifted drastically in this so he saw it as a simple matter.

[Cassandra Reeding]

The Fairest purses her lips a little before letting out a little sigh and setting her hand on John's knee for a moment to give it a little squeeze before bringing it back into her lap. She won't admit it out loud, but there is a part of her that is a little bit lonely. Just a little bit, but perhaps that's part of what makes the time they do get to spend together so much more magical and relieving.


There is a lot they can talk about, especially concerning the patrol and what they should consider doing to help Oliver or what they've found in general, but the motley pledge certainly comes first. It's felt... maybe that's part of what feels wrong, what feels disconnected. Maybe it will help reinforce and tighten it.


"Well, if we're starting with the motley pledge, how do we feel about the duration?" She asks, looking between the two for reaction. They've done well a Season. Do they want to do another Season or do they want to go for a year and a day? Duration always seems to be the difficult one. It does put butterflies in her stomach as her mind tugs to the short month they have until her pledge with John ends. "I'm fine with another season. I'm also fine with a year and a day. You're my family and I trust the both of you." She smiles and even though she feels she and Gerrit cannot connect on that best chick friend level like she'd hoped, it doesn't change that she loves him as family. It doesn't change the bond they share as a motley.