(2209) Autumn Coronation

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie smiled and watched as King Rhodes took the stage to address the freehold, and she waved at Anatole as he greeted her (amongst others). This was Autumn's night, and she could feel the chill in the air, even if they were in California.

Seraphina's reassurances were helpful. The Beast could relax a bit. Complete relaxation came once they bound themselves to the Wyrdstone. With the mystical safety net in place, she could focus on just enjoying herself tonight.

Anyway, time to help herself to some FOOD! Sonnie made her way to the tables laden with tasty morsels, "If I die tomorrow, it'll be from a bellyache," she chuckled as she picked up some sort of cake.

[Anatole]

Anatole mutters darkly to himself as he rummages around for a napkin. The quest is aided by the Summer Sovereign who follows him and it she Circe who finds one for the flustered dwarf.

"Ah! Thank you! Ah ha! Mercy me! I thought I saw Meg."

He tried to laugh it off but failed, his face too flushed and glowering to pass off the ruse.

"Flash backs. Tis the season for it."

He adds bitterly. At least he manages to snatch a thankful nod and direct it to the Spring Sovereign whose soft words flow behind him.

His hand is bloody but the wound is surprisingly superficial. The burned dwarf grimaces. His eyes fall on Mara again. He chin juts in the Ogre's direction and gives Circe an enquiring look.

"She is new, I think. Have you met her yet?"

[Circe]

Circe is confused by that answer from Anatole. Then puts it together. Mara and Meg were ogres. Though Circe had a LOT more experience with Meg and saw much more differences. "Ah," she nods as she gets Anatole more napkins to help him. And will physically help him with his hands if he doesn't object.


"Cool, cool, cool," she tries to be helpful. "Similar Kith, yeah that tracks," she nods. Flash backs were messy and Wyrd to her. "I mean, probably not fer me because I've met the cannibal bitch more, so I guess I see way more differences between the noob and the cannibal." Then she blinks and her eyes widen. "I'm sure it'll be the same fer ya. Meet the noob a few times, you'll see more differences than similarities. That or the googly eye swatter really threw me off my paranoia. I've got no bad memories involving googly eyes, kind of like having bad hamster memories."


As for the question of prior meetings, Circe shook her head. "Oh, uh. Nope. I was busy with, uh," then smiles as she laughs, "Oh ho ho ho ho! Cazzo ya know my job. Was doing a sale, buyer had a nice puppy that tried ta eat my phone whilst Seraphina was meeting welcoming these noobs."


She shrugs with both hands up. "Don't worry. They swear in or I get ta defenestrate them." Circe gives him a confident smile, "After I find window."

[Mara]

Speak of the Devil. Mara makes her way to Circe and Anatole. She grins "Don't worry. I used to do that a lot. Breaking glasses. When I came back. You get used to your own strength after a bit. And then you don't do it by accident anymore. You can do it to scare boys in the clubs tho. If you don't flinch. I never flinch. Look at em right in the eyes when you do it too." She asks Anatole "Do you like boys too? It's okay to be gay now. Plenty of my new friends are. I like em just the way they are. They're born that way, did you know?" She tilts her head "If you want I can get you a new plate of food so you don't get blood on anything. Most people don't like blood on their food. Except like... steak, I guess? But that's not the same thing..."

[Rhodes]

Rhodes inclined his head at Gerrit's greeting. He appreciated the Winter's formality on this day in particular. "Most kind, Gerrit. I hope we see more of your courtmates before too long." Both John and Casandra had been away for some time. Ideally it wouldn't be serious - the Winter Court had been the most changable of late.

Circe was given a small wink, the serious demeanor breaking for a moment. "Naturally. Should you expect anything less?" He smiles and nods as the Summer Queen reaches the peak of her formality. "Thank you, Circe. We woun't keep you to seremony any further. Please, enjoy." The glass tinkling also draws a concerned eye to the Paladin of Shadows, but it seemed he was swarmed with concern already.

A small smile is offered to Liam, though the furrow of conern is not wholey banished. "Thank you. I hope so too." A smile tugs at his lips. "Ah! Excellent. I wish her well also. Perhaps we should meet together again, if you are willing. She was a most fascinating creature."

He takes the offered box and opens it, smiling. "Elegant and practical. Thank you." An eyebrow arches wryly. "What was that about you needing even more closet space?" A small chuckle. "And did I hear you had done the basics with these new members?" He looks form Sera to the small group of Mara, Jasper and Flickerwhisp all making themselves known in different ways. Emerald eyes rested on the last of these for just a moment.

Listening to the conversations around, the Dread Lord calms a little at Anatole's explanation. Fear of Meg would only be rational. Just because they were Autumn, they did not long for fear, they simply accepted it. You already know the truth Anatole. There is no shame in Fear. The thought was there, but the words were not right for the time. The dwarf would want his space, not to be harassed when exposed.

There was also a new scent on the air. Not the newcommers, but something... warm. Gas-like. Autumn King scanned the room, settling on Rlyeh, seeing where the cool air of his powerfull mantle broke into whisp of mist against a new, baking on and Circe's boast put the rest of the picture together. He watched her for a long moment, and smiled a little mournfully. "So. You made your choice, my dear. I will not say I am not disappointed... but you wear it well."

You could have had power, my dear. Such potential. Such a shame.

[Flickerwhisp]

Struck by a sudden realization Flickerwhisp moves over to the Wyrdstone. Slender fingers press against the strange object once again fascinated by it. Whisps of fiery glamour flow from ihim into the stone, and his eyes briefly glow like burning coals.

With the tribute given Flick blinks, eyes going back to their normal dark gray... which is when he realizes that eyes had been on him. The darkling looked up in time to see the Dread Lord's gaze leaving him. This was his evening. He probably shouldn't bother him... but he needed to meet him.

A moment of Hesitation. And then a determined nod directed at no one except maybe himself...

Flickerwhisp moves to join the Autumn King, giving a nod to R'lyeh before turning his attention to Rhodes with a bow... oh God why did he bow?!
"Good evening your majesty? Sir? I... I'm Flickerwhisp. Uhh... Lady Seraphina suggested I come to you seeing as how you know so much about the Wyrdstone, and I find myself fascinated by it..."

The poor boy attempted a look up at the King but stopped at the chin. That was close enough he thought.

[Anatole]

Anatole doesn't stop the Crimson Sovereign rendering her aid. Now that he has had a moment to compose himself him simply nods along with what she says.

"My thanks."

He tests the crude wrappings and nods.

Mara approaches and the burned dwarf lifts his gaze to meet the Ogre; he doesn't flinch this time. Instead a faint smile forms through the effusive curls of his beard. Teeth flash for a second.

"Yes! I know! I know! I have found my hands have... err... shrunk since my return. Much stronger too. Sometimes I forget myself."

Mara continues and he shakes his head slightly.

"No. Very much a ladies man, as I always was. Not that I had much time for companionship back then... Less now. For reasons - our patchwork lives are not exactly compatible with romance, unless it is with one of our own. Mundane folk simply cannot understand what we have become, and we cannot really be ourselves around them. It is a taboo for a good reason."

Mara continued again and this time, Anatole's smile spreads to his ears. His eyes lurch over to the food.

"Please! Be my guest! And thank you! Very kind. Very kind."

I have opened a side thread so we can keep the conversation going if you want Circe Origins Mara Overgoblin

[Mara]

Mara jumps over to fill up a plate for Anatole, giving him a generous portion of all of the best (in her opinion). She then comes back and offers it to him with a grin. "Eat up big boy!" She grins. She continues to chat, at a bit more reasonable tone with her small group.

[Gerrit]

There was a short moment of awkwardness when Circe asked him when he arrived here, but luckily the Queen of Wraths attention shifted to one of the many more interesting events and Lost. Take Anatole's strong reaction to one of the new faces, for instance. I wonder if someone sees something in Jasper to complete the trio. Then again, from what he'd heard about Iron Meg, Gerrit couldn't blame the Dwarf.

"Hello Liam." It was good to see the Spring Courtier still around. That hasn't been a given for some other Lost, which is why Rhodes' remark was met with a stone-faced polite nod. "Maybe." But most likely not. Would the Wyrd accept a King of Sorrow without a Court? Would the Freehold be vulnerable with the cycle broken like that?
Better not to dwell on that right now.

So the new Lost called themselves 'Strays'. Mara seemed.. pretty outgoing, and Gerrit was not too sad about her moving onto a separate conversation. Coronations were a lot, meeting new people only added to that. The other two seemed more manageable, if one could disregard Jasper's heavy accent and the haunting looks of the Darkling. "Flickerwisp. Jasper. Nice to meet you. How's Sacramento treating you so far?"

[Seraphina]

She watches as the others mingle, introductions being made and food and drink being shared. She loved to see it.

Then a smile to Rhodes, “More can be added to it later should you want some magic attached to it.” She had ideas, but wanted to make sure they aligned with his own. Then a wave of a hand, “Oh that’s nothing.” Eager to change that subject, though she knew he wouldn’t really argue with her about it. Each new piece meant an old one got donated. Or put into storage. Nodding, “I did, Jasper reached out to me and they all met with me here at the park. I had sent a message to you and Circe about it, a heads up.” Because, Monarchs and safety.

Now Flickerwhisp approaching Rhodes was a surprise. With how shy he was, she wasn’t expecting him to make the first move. Maybe he was growing more comfortable in the Freehold. Sapphires move from him to her husband and back with a warm smile, “Good to see you Flickerwhisp, I hope you’ve been settling in well.” Reaching out to gently squeeze Rhodes hand, “I’m going to see about finding something to drink,” then realizing something, “Can I get either of you anything?” and unless stopped, offers another curtsy to Rhodes, and moves to find a drink and give the two a chance to talk, not wanting to intrude. Unless of course, Rhodes wanted her to stay, but she never assumed, this was his night, and the questions directed to him.