Spring, Movies and Coffee!

[Seraphina]

With Spring in full swing, and her schedule not as busy, Sera decided to have a charity event at her coffee shop! This year, the charity she was raising money for was the Humane Society! Where Sonnie got Sir Fugly! She donated year-round to the women’s shelters, so it felt right to branch out.

For a charity night, she would give one hundred percent of her proceeds to the charity, no strings, no questions.

The flower arrangements had been swapped to fresh Spring flowers. But not too many, just a few placed here and there to draw the eye, but not overwhelm. She had a tendency to overdo it sometimes, and was actively working on not doing it.

As something different, she cleared out the patio of moveable furniture, and laid out super soft blankets, bean bags and other comfy outdoor seating. She was trying an idea that had been passed around a bit, an outdoor movie! The movie picked was something family friendly, from the 80’s and a comedy. If it went over well, she would try something similar for Halloween. The Nix had even rented a popcorn machine!

The evening had been busy! With numerous loyal customers coming in to donate! She would call it a success, and hoped the success would continue and maybe she’d see some familiar faces.

Tonight, she wore a bright yellow dress! There really wasn’t a color she couldn’t pull off wearing. But it fit the atmosphere and her mood for the night. Plus, she liked how her legs looked in the skirt. Long hair had been tied in a messy, low ponytail, plenty of pieces left out to frame her face, which was sans makeup.

[Gerrit]

When he heard Seraphina was throwing an event for charity Gerrit knew he had to show up. He liked the Queen of Desire's sense of aesthetic, her willingness to help others and the passion she put into her projects. He also thought that it would do him well to show his face around the other Monarchs of the Freehold.
Not like he wanted John and Cassandra to leave town, but the Ice Law clearly asked him to be prepared for anything. Staying in the good graces of the other Courts was a part of that, after all.

He arrived at Garden Grounds dressed in a low-key ensemble of sensible work pants and a dark blue button up shirt.
It was hard not to notice Seraphina, so he immediately homed in onto her. An awkward smile and wave was all he offered as he moved to her radiant beauty. "Hello Sarah, this is lovely. Congratulations on this! I hope I'm not too forward when I say that you look stunning!"

[Seraphina]

While some might find Gerrit easy to overlook, the Nix didn’t. But that’s because she liked Gerrit and was always observing the room and those within.

A warm smile spreads across her lips as the wave was returned, “Gerrit! Wonderful to see you!” her voice just as warm as the smile. “Thank you! I always enjoy these nights.” Everyone was usually in a good mood, and she usually raised a lot of money. The smile widens, “And not too forward at all! Thank you!” maybe yellow was a good color. “That’s a great shade of blue on you.” It was good to see Gerrit out.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she asks, “How’ve you been, the shop doing well?” her focus shifted to him.

[Gerrit]

Gerrit actually smiled faintly when she mentioned his shirt and broke eye contact with the Fairest. He had become good at looking like he secretly enjoyed compliments lately. "Uh thanks. I'll have a Rooibos tea and some cold milk with it, please." If Seraphina had to move somewhere to get it Gerrit would follow her to keep the conversation flowing. So far hat hadn't noticed anyone else he knew, so it was either sitting somewhere alone or talk to the Nyx while she was not busy otherwise.

"I'm going well, thank you. The shop is running smoothly - I have wondered whether the clientele of the former owner would stay true to the shop or whether I would have to find a new stock of costumers, but it seems like there is enough loyalty going around to keep me in business." He might be downplaying it a bit for humility's sake.
Or maybe he was just keeping his own expectations low.

"What else have you been up to lately? I know that this season is always particularly busy for you, but I hope you got through it well enough. And how is Maxwell?"

[Seraphina]

A single nod, “You got it.” And moves behind the counter to get the order made. She might own the place, but she still loved being hands on. The tea cup was set down in front of Gerrit, while she poured herself a coffee and came back to the front of the counter. Spotting a table close to counter open, she’ll walk over to it, placing her cup down and going back to grab a plate of various pastries for her and Gerrit.

“There we go!” the shop wasn’t as busy as it had been during the day, the numbers coming and going.

“That’s wonderful to hear! Whatever the reason is, I hope it keep getting better. I know a few have asked about the plant you gave me, and I love directing them to your shop.” Small businesses needed to support each other.

Taking a careful sip, “I love having it busy, I don’t do well without something to work on. But lately I’ve been working on a jacket for a friend, which has required some trips to various fabric stores to find the perfect item.” And that was always exciting, she loved finding and haggling at Markets. “Oh Maxwells been busy with his own things. A lot on his mind.” But she was sure Gerrit got that, Ann. “Thinking of making him take a night off soon.” Cause everyone got on her about always working.

“Any exciting plans for summer? I was hoping to get everyone together for a bar-ba-que or something. Nothing fancy, just low key relaxing with some good food and drink.”

[Circe]

Seraphina was having an event at Garden Grounds. Was there any doubt that her number one coffee addict, er, connoisseur would b stopping by? Plus the power of friendship demanded her presence to support her bestest queen friend.


The only thing to give her pause, was what to wear and how to dress. Glasses and boots? Why certainly, these glasses were green to only a select few eyes but helped her to more easily change her look for the night. She saved so much on hair dye and contacts thanks to these spectacles.

4 suxx Subterfuge Disguise

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-05-27 21:36:34	Circe rolls 9 to I am totally NOT Circe (10 Again)	3, 9, 7, 3, 1, 8, 5, 1, 10, 8	4 successes

A good disguise, though the Summer Brooch on her belt might give her away to those with a sharp eye that knew her. It also meant nothing if one could see through the Mask, so she beefed that up for fun.

Humming in an abnormal tone for Circe, she spots the donation bin and donates. $300 worth of donates, whilst cheerfully smiling to go against her Goth attire. Then skips over to Seraphina, with all smiles and starts to talk. Her tone and accent are NOT Circe like at all. "So, like, wow is like, ya know, this where thuh dark poetry jam is ya know, like, takin' place? I rather do not like dark poetreeee," Circe is amusing herself.

The mysterious Goth girl then gasps covering her mouth with her left hand briefly. Her right is at her belt with the Summer Brooch as her left hand quickly points between Seraphina and Gerrit. "Oh my. I can dig thuh collar of that dress and those pants color. Do they come together?"

[Gerrit]

A small smile hushed over Gerrit's face when Seraphina talked about direction customers his way. "I guess I have you to thank then. Thank you."

It was fascinating to hear how much the Nyx did, how busy she kept herself. "Oh, are you talking about Anatole? I think I remember you mentioning this the last time I was here. I'm excited to see what you'll come up with." He gave her an understanding nod when she mentioned how Rhodes buried himself in work. He seemed to be prone to that. "Where are you planning on taking him, if you don't mind me asking?" Recent developments led to him looking for things to do with a date. Not that this was something he wanted to talk about here.

Then a peculiar looking woman joined them. It was not often that Gerrit interacted with such 'colorful' persons, even as a Lost. The Stonebones defaulted to his usual behaviour when faced with a remarkable new situation: draw back and observe.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-05-29 02:56:47	Gerrit rolls 5 to check out the new arrival (Wit 3 + Comp 3 - Clarity 1) (10 Again)	1, 7, 6, 5, 4	failure

He definitely didn't know that woman, although of course Seraphina might. Or maybe this was just a chance encounter, a gothy teen walking in on the wrong kind of event and asking for directions. Did Gerrit want to interject himself into that conversation now? On the other hand she somehow did compliment his attire. "Uh, no I suppose that is just a lucky coincidence." Yes, in retrospect he realized that she probably wasn't really thinking that the two articles of clothing were bought together, but when it came to meeting new people he simply wasn't the most witty. "I'm Gerrit, nice to meet you, uh..?"

[Seraphina]

The goth wasn’t unexpected per say, she saw a lot of different looks. But the smile went against the look, or, at least, from what she’s seen. Not one to be rude or judge,

“Hi! Dark poetry jam?” a shake of her head, “You’re in luck, because it isn’t tonight. You’ll see that more with open mic night which is on Thursdays.” Though she had yet to hear dark poetry.

Sapphires then look to Gerrit and back to the women, “I’m afraid not. But that would make for an interesting look.” Taking a drink of her coffee, “I’m Sarah by the way.” Always the polite one.

Back to Gerrit, “I can’t take the credit, your flower shop is wonderful! And I hear the customer service is great too, that always helps with business.” She just liked talking her friend up when asked.

A quick nod, “Yes! Him and I were able to get together and discuss what he was looking for and what I could do. I’m really excited to get it finished.” The materials had been a bit of a hassle, but worth it. “You know? I’m not sure. It can be hard to pull him away from his work once he gets going. Maybe something simple like a stay-cation, and plan for something away from the city in summer. It’s always easier to plan trips and whatnot in the summer.” Cause she wasn’t Monarch and he wasn’t. “Any suggestions?” she asks.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2022-05-30 10:57:46	Seraphina rolls 5 to Who dat?(Wits+Comp)-1 Clarity (10 Again)	8, 2, 8, 8, 6	3 successes

[Circe]

Gerrit doesn't see through Circe's disguise. Serphina? She can't either. But she does spot the Summer Brooch on the goth girl's belt.


Circe is smiling widely at her trickery. "Totally? That is like wow! awesum to hear, like totally glad it is ya know, like, just heavenly coffee Springin' about. Quite class to have it giddy up so much here."


As for questions on name, well she had to give the standard cover one, right? "Gerrit. Yer," she slipped back into her Italian accent again before going back to Valle Guhl, "flower shop is ya kow, like, awesum my friend. Naaaame? Well, like, wow you could call me Merry but that isn't super gothic is it? Man, that is like, ya know, who I am, fer shure don't you know. Like, course you know, so many memories."


The discussion of Anatole almost, ALMOST, causes her to break character before someone identifies her. Though she is talking with her hands and using her usual smirk. Not abnormal for herself really. "Anatole? Dude Sarah, like I would pay plenty to thuh entertain thuh dude who took on that bitch whore Meg like that dude did. Wish I had put more rounds into Meg so Anatole got less fucked up, man but you know carbines are not AKs."


"You could do Disney. Or for Summer, oh, baby a water park is ya know, like, always bitchin'. Or East. Rockies or Vegas. Just, like, wow remember Yard Sale rules in thuh Park often apply to Las Vegas for some reason, like, wow at least that is like wow! what I heard."

[Gerrit]

Gerrit looked at the goth girl with a slight frown. She apparently knew a lot about Seraphina and him and then she dropped the name he heard Circe use in the open before. Plus, the glimpses of accent were hard to mistake for someone else's. "Oh." So the Queen of Wrath could change her appearance, change it pretty thoroughly even. Good to know.. "So, if it's not Mary then what do you want to be called?" And did she want to continue this charade now? Better err on the side of caution.

He took a sip of his tea and glanced to Sera - she either played along or was none the wiser either. "So you dress up like this often or do you sometimes change it up?"

"Thank you." The Nyx' praise was nice to hear, although she tended to exaggerate things like that for other peoples' sake. "Oh, I don't have any suggestions, I wouldn't even know what Maxwell likes. He doesn't strike me as the outdoor-guy." Circe counted off a few other suggestions, but trying to picture the Dread Lord in Disneyland or a water park cramped the sore muscles around Gerrit's mouth as he stifled a smile. "I think those activities would be a bit too.. adventurous for my tastes. I think I'd rather retreat to a cottage in the woods or the mountains or something."