(Private)Monarchs Gather

[Seraphina]

Garden Grounds had a sign on the door stating it was closed for the night for a private event. Drapes had been drawn on the windows, though soft tea lights glowed behind them.

Once inside, the other Lost would find it look as it usually did. Though expanded with new seating offerings and a gentler atmosphere.

One of the tables with comfortable look chairs around it had been setup with coffee cups and a fresh pot of tea. She remembered that Gerrit usually preferred tea and wanted to have it ready. To be honest, she had just been going through the motions with out many emotions. Her body knew the steps to take to prepare things, but her mind was blank.

She was very casual in jeans and a black long sleeve shirt. Her hair was messy, her face makeup free, and she wore no wedding ring. Though on her right ring finger was her engagement ring, with the sapphire stone that matched her eyes. The Nix looked a bit thinner and tired, but was ready to be hostess and do what was needed for the Freehold.
Circe Origins Gerrit Aeolus

[Circe]

Circe was differently dressed than her usual self. The suit jacket was hung over her shoulder, leaving her new vest visible. This was accentuated by the brooch pinned to the vest, her choice to dig out the fingerless red leather gloves, and her shoulder holster that was full.


Her Mantle was probably the most quickly noted thing. Circe was irked with another monarch form recent events. Not Seraphina, no. Her friend didn't have her ire, but would have felt the Summer Heat before seeing Circe.


Any of her usual attempts to scan the room fail upon spotting the disheveled Seraphina. Disheveled Seraphina. That. That really doesn't compute. The Mantle cuts out. "Sera?" Circe closes the door and quickly moves over to Seraphina. "Porca puttana. Questo è uno spettacolo strano. Are you alright?" Her accent is pure Italian right now, and full of concern.

[Circe]

ooc: Forgot to mention Circe has her laptop back. Which she will have dropped along with her coat, to rush to check on Sera.

[Gerrit]

Gerrit arrived a few minutes later than they had agreed on. Even if he were the guy to dress up for the occasion, since he came directly from doing some paperwork at Rosie's he still wore his usual work-attire: sturdy blue jeans and a dark grey button up shirt. The windbreaker made way for a lighter jacket ever since the temperatures got warmer.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-04-24 03:32:42	Gerrit rolls 5 to notice Seraphina's mood (Wit 3 + Emp 2) (10 Again)	4, 8, 7, 6, 4	1 success

He was unsure what to expect from this meeting - or rather, what was expected of him - but he did not get to ponder on that question for too long. The beautiful interior of the café could not hide that something was wrong with the Seraphina. In fact, the contrast made it stick out even more. Unknowingly he echoed Circe's instinct and made a beeline directly to the Nyx after closing the door behind him. "Seraphina? What happened?" He looked at Circe - dressed sharply and armed - and back at Seraphina. His calloused face hardened, brows furrowed deeply. A suspicion took root. "Where is Rhodes? He did not reply to my text."

Saber Sloth asked me to tag them once we got this scene going.

[Seraphina]

While the appearance of Circe didn’t surprise her, the reaction did.

Looking surprised at the quick movement and the drop of the bag, “Circe, hey, it’s ok.” Putting the cups down and picking up the dropped bag. Holding it out to the Summer, “I’ll talk about what’s wrong when Gerrit gets here.” She didn’t like people worrying about her, but she knew she looked off. Lack of sleep and learning to navigate life alone and rebuild was taking its toll. Picking a cup back up, “Here, made just the way you like.” Did she want to get into this? No. It was like reviving the pain, but she knew Circe and Gerrit needed to know. Time to accept she would be asked about and just had to deal with it.

Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long. Before she could welcome Gerrit, he was asking questions.

A small smile was offered, “Hi Gerrit, please, have a seat, I prepared the tea you prefer. As well as coffee should you want.” Gesturing to the table before offering to pour him some tea and seating herself.

The Nix takes a deep breath as she sits, pulling a cup of coffee towards her and wrapping her hands around it. “To answer your question,” she begins, looking at the cup, steeling herself, “Rhodes is,” another pause, she could do this, “he is gone.” The tears threatened to come, but she fought them, not wanting to do that here. “Before you guys ask, no, I don’t know where he went or when he left. I don’t know where he is.” And there it was. Her husband was gone, left.
“So Autumn is without a Monarch, and we don’t have a Director, and I hope we can get the Director position figured out tonight.” Was she trying to avoid talking about Rhodes? Yes. Because the pain was still fresh and she didn’t want to cry.

[Circe]

Circe takes the bag, though her eyes are narrowed to scrutinize Seraphina. Concern is an odd look for Circe to pull off. She did take her bag and the coffee, "Alright." and put the back down on an empty seat.


She sips the coffee as Gerrit arrives and takes her own seat. Circe listens as the Nix and it is a good thing she doesn't do spit takes. Rhodes was gone? Sure, he'd disappeared after the tear gas, but gone? "If Ann had anything ta do with it," she says coldly, "She is dead. I was thorough." Suspected meth and tear gas mix accident. "But cazzo Sera, ya need a thing? Yer gettin' it."


No Monarch was something they could handle. Others may step up or the Wyrdstone would do its thing. No director was a problem. As for her own position, Groundskeeper? "I have a bunch of Summers. Not sure if they are here ta stay, really not Sure R'Lyeh has the confidence fer it yet, but I could promote one of 'em ta Groundskeeper if yer wanting me ta step up."


Logistics and coordination on that scale weren't her specialty. Smuggling, armoring, and violence were. She'd do it if none were able, but she didn't sound confident about it. "Not gonna lie, I AM sure I'm not the most diplomatic enough fer it. That and I'll certainly just throw guns at a problem."

The possibility of feds raiding them for guns was higher without someone to whack Circe with a, mostly, metaphorical newspaper whilst saying no no no, bad gunbunny.

[Gerrit]

Gerrit took the cup of tea Seraphina handed him and grabbed the hot cup tightly as she spoke. There was a lot of emotion boiling inside him - remembered sadness, pity... and even a hint of schadenfreude - and the pain pulsing from his hand up his arm was a welcome distraction. His face remained stony and neutral as he processed the information. Could Anne be behind it? If so, then dealing with her was an even higher priority. But more importantly: was there anything he could do or say to make Seraphina feel better. Do I want to make her feel better?

Finally, he led the cup to his mouth to take a sip and removed the ever so slightly shaking hand. "I am sorry. Like Circe said: if you ever need something, don't hesitate to ask." He fell silent for a brief moment, then added: "I could also try using one of Winter's Contracts to try and ease the pain momentarily." She moved on quickly to the matters of the Freehold - either she wanted to ignore her Sorrow, or she needed a clear head anyway.

Blame it on the flurry of emotions already kicked off, but when Circe mentioned appointing one of the new members of the Freehold as Groundskeeper Gerrit almost grunted in frustration. That moment passed. "I am firmly against that idea. Even with the Wyrdstone vouching for them, I think such a position should not be granted lightly. Two of them only got here." And he didn't want to talk about the historic shelf-life of Summers in the past few months. R'lyeh, on the other hand.. "Circe, confidence aside: how capable a fighter do you think R'lyeh is? Because apart from her, Anatole is one of the oldest members and an appointed Paladin of Shadows." His voice suggested constructive curiosity. He shot Seraphina a glance to signal her that she was still in this conversation, but maybe getting this over with was exactly what the Nyx wanted right now.

Which led to the next point of business. "Circe, if the situation escalates further, maybe your kind of diplomacy is exactly what we need right now. Unless," he cleared he throat and reached for his cup again, "we think that we should ask Sonnie, there aren't many members of the Freehold that are held in generally high regard." Frankly, neither of those options were exactly ideal. Then again, the current Dread Lord just disappearing wasn't either.

[Seraphina]

There was a weak shrug, “I don’t know if Ann had anything to do with it. I wanted to apologize Crice, I meant to call you once I got out of the Hedge to see what happened. But with not having a call or text from Rhodes, I panicked and went to the Tavern to get into the Dreams. I was worried him, or both of you were hurt and couldn’t call.” There was a pause, “I should have tried calling you as well, I’m really sorry.” Her brain had been so focused on Rhodes, she neglected to call the blue elf. The nod that followed was half assed, “Thank you.” A small smile offered as she finally looked at her.

Frowning, “No offense Circe, but I’m not sure if I trust Lost who just arrived in the Freehold to, well, defend it if called upon. It’s not that I don’t trust you, you’ve never let me, or the Freehold down, I would just prefer to work with them to make sure they are willing to do what needs to be done. Now you? I trust you with my life and the safety of the Freehold, you are one badass elf when called on.” A fuller smile offered that time.

A glance at the coffee again, transparent hands gripping the cup for dear life. She had this. She could do this. She was strong.

“I am also willing to step into the position if no one else was. I like to think I’m good with diplomacy and getting along with others. Though maybe that tendency to get along with everyone would make me a bad choice.” Shrugging, “But I am willing to do it.” Truth be told, she had been willing to do it before Rhodes stepped up. And she liked to think she was better at helping people get along then he was.

She missed him, and her heart ached. The distraction would be welcome.

A small smile was then offered to Gerrit, “Thank you. I would like to sit down and talk with you soon, I have some questions and need some advice.” At the offered of a Contract, “Very kind of you to offer, but I have a feeling I need to work through the pain to overcome it. But I’ll remember the offer if it gets to be too much again.” It was a kind offer.

Sounded like her and Gerrit agreed on the new Summers. “I don’t know R’lyeh as well as you do Circe, but I think she is just coming into herself. Just learn about what she wants and who she truly is. Which is not a bad thing, not at all, we’ve all been there. In time, I see her being fierce and a force to be reckoned with.”

A look to Gerrit, “Ask to what? Be Groundskeeper or Director? I could see her doing Groundskeeper, though as much as I love and respect her, she can get a bit flighty. Though in a fight, she’s dangerous and willing to do what needs to be done.”

[Circe]

Seraphina was standing strong solo? Or an act. Circe will respect her wishes to push forward, either way. Though if Rhodes came back, she'd resurrect that old 1980's schoolyard joke about Thailand's capitol.

Gerrit shoots down her idea as make the new deputy the sheriff so the sheriff can have the mayoral shash. Seraphina rejects it too. She sends them a smarmy smirk, "Well I didn't see it was NOT a shit idea. It is kinda my thing. I voice bad plans early so they get shot ta shit, ya know."


Being called a bad ass? Circe nods in agreement, "Tis true," with Seraphina. She'd effectively solo ran a boss battle and won. As for R'lyeh's combat skill? She didn't know to be honest. "I haven't really seen her in a real battle yet. Got her some Summer ninja armor, so at least she'll ambush and not Leroy Jenkins it," she sips her coffee then sighs, "Sera yer right. She is coming inta her rage and tempering it to a honed tool of wrath. She still needs ta figure shit out and learn what tool is best. As fer Anatole? Bro would have my vote as a replacement in a hearbeat. I'm biased."


"Yeah, well uh," she rubs the back of her head as her face purples. "Since I got total silence, I hit a bottle cause ding dong the bitch was dead. Heh heh heh and uh, apparently," she chuckles nervoulsy, "I am gluttonous drunk when celebrating vengeance victory. Lost track of a couple of days." She honestly didn't know what she did, save that someone in the know up north was thankful and pissed at her.


Sonja as like Director? Or Groundskeeper? Yes, most folks gave her props and she could be kind of diplomatic. Though part of Circe is still convinced that getting a large cardboard tube, Pixie Sticks, energy drinks, and Sonja would make a reusable anti-tank projectile. Seems sera was confused too. "Ummm, che cosa? Right, that." She nods to Seraphina before turnign upon Gerrit, "Like, which? Monkey maniacally mashes monsters most majestically, but her attention span," she shakes her head in the negative, "I honestly adore Sonja, but truth? She is easy ta distract than it is easy fer me ta be a bitch. I mean, it'd be amusingly explosiv, erm, fun? Fun with her as Groundskeeper. She'd probably keep asking me for fireworks or something heavier. I mean, okay. I could see her doing diplomatic," Circe makes air quotes, "Iron Side job in Funderland, probably already does, but at say a formal place like a wedding venue?" Circe decided to be bluntly honest as she gives a dry laugh, "I would pay to see the recording. Negotiations with hostile powers? I'd set up my Hollow as a bunker."

[Gerrit]

Gerrit solemnly nodded when Seraphina asked to sit down and have a chat with him. "Anytime." What was wrong with him? Of course he wanted to help her, she was his friend.

"If you are really okay with that, maybe you stepping up as the Director is the best solution." That way Circe could continue to do what she excelled at and they didn't have to settle for half-baked solutions. "While I respect Sonnie, I just wanted to throw her name out there since she is among the long-time residents here." A problem that started to feel familiar to him. A new kind of callouses. Bloodshot eyes looked for Sapphires. "I do think that you would fill that position the best. And you can count on our support whenever." With the Treasured's suggestion considered in earnest, it was on Seraphina and Circe to finally agree to it.
A nice side effect of this argument was that he heard Circe's assessment of R'lyeh at the moment. It was.. good to hear that Summer seemed to be the right fit.

He almost started the conversation about Rhodes again, but stopped himself by clearing his throat. It was not his place to start this particular conversation right now. He took another sip of tea and looked over to Circe, one eyebrow ever so slightly raised.