(Private)Courtly Affairs

[Seraphina]

Jasper had mentioned joining Spring, so Sera had set aside sometime to sit down and talk with him. A message had been sent to both Jasper and Sonnie Wu , because she felt Sonnie deserved a say. Plus she might be able to offer insight the Nix couldn’t.

And of course, she went all out with food! There were various meats for sandwiches with condiments, cheese along with chips, numerous flavors. It was always good to give options. And for dessert? Ice cream sandwiches! Some vanilla, some strawberry, some a mix of both!

Maybe too much? Probably, but it was just what she did.

Sitting at the table, sipped from a tea cup, waiting for her guests. Today she wore a white fitted t shirt, tied off with a flowing bright yellow skirt. It might be summer, but she was still a Spring and she was the Monarch. Her long hair was off to the side in a fish tail style braid, it was summer after all, and the air was hot outside. And hair as long as hers was heavy.
Sonnie Wu Jasper

[Sonnie Wu]

The summer heat had Sonnie arriving in denim cutoffs, flip-flops, and a cropped white tank top, with sunglasses and a Sacramento Kings cap.

"What's this?" she asked, feigning shock, "A fine selection of delicious foods? Oh, Sera, you shouldn't have! I didn't get you anything!"

With a laugh, she twirled over towards the table, "You're looking stylish as always, my Queen!"

[Jasper]

Jasper arrives soon after. He's wearing what is likely becoming his usual clothing when people see him: jeans that have seen better days, not torn, but frayed in some places; a graphic t-shirt with a dog sitting at a table, drinking while the room around him is on fire; worn boots and his hedgespun leather jacket, the fur likely too warm at this time. It might be some of the only clothes he has, or at least the ones in best shape.

He perks up at the smell of the food and can't help but lick his snout with a hungry dog's look to his eyes. "Evenin', lasses," he says by way of greeting to Sera and Sonnie, smiling over at them before his gaze flicks to the food again. He looks back to them and flicks an ear. "You both look stunning tonight."

There seems to be a bit of... something... collecting around the tall Beast. It's almost like a bit of power or glamour collecting around him. He does feel a bit stronger than the two of you might remember sensing him as. This could be part of it, or something else.. Weird.

[Seraphina]

Waving when she spots Sonnie, looking ready for the summer heat, “Hey!” laughing, “Well, I did try and make sure I got what you liked. And seeing your smiling face is enough of a gift to me.” A translucent hand placed on her chest.

“Thank you! Wanted something not too restrictive, but regal too.” It was a fine line, and the Fairest figured she walked it fairly well. “And you look perfect for the warm temperatures of summer!” it was that time of the year after all.

“How’ve you been?”

As the giant that is Jasper makes his way into the Tavern, Sera smiles widely, a hand held up, “Hey Jasper! Come on in and join us!” gesturing to the table.

“Aw, thank you! Always figured it was best to dress for the Season, and look good doing it of course.” She was still a Spring after all.

One of her translucent hands picks up her tea cup and takes a sip, waiting for Jasper to sit, “And please, help yourself! Having something to eat while talking business is always preferred.” And most Lost won’t turn down a meal.

“I figured this would be the perfect time to ask more specific questions in regard to Spring. I really hate the double speak in public, but it’s a necessary evil.” Her cup set down, “I will say I am open to any and all questions and of course, concerns. I’ve always seen myself as an open book with my Court and those within in. Not all are like that, and that will be respected.” Just in case. "No one is required to answer anything they don't want to, no questions asked, ok?" she would enforce that fiercely, a fire in her eyes when she said it.

[Sonnie Wu]

"Yo! Wile E.! Catch that Roadrunner, yet?" She gave Jasper a playful salute as she crafted herself a sandwich of some sort. "And thank you for noticing!"

"I've been good!" Sonnie replied to Seraphina, stacking meat onto bread blindly, as it was hard to tear her eyes away from the Spring Queen (as usual). Fairest commanded attention, even if they didn't try. "I'm teaching adult classes now! Already had to floor two alpha males! That was fun!" The Beast giggled.

Her sandwich was looking more and more like something Shaggy would build up in one of those old Scooby Doo cartoons.

[Jasper]

The Coyote turns his shaggy furred head down to look at his own clothing and gives a small shrug. "You're not wrong.. I just don't have a lot of extra clothes."

He takes the offer to help himself to the food with gusto. His sandwich soon starts to mirror Sonnie's in size and variety though his attention is on it, for the moment, more than the Fairest in the room. Despite how magnetic and enthralling the Nix can be, a street dog's stomach is highest on his priority list. He grabs some chips and a bottle of water before coming over to join Sera at the table. He sets his plate and drink down before lowering his lanky bulk into the seat, trying not to bump folks along the way as he gets his knees bent beneath the table.

He snorts slightly at the other Beast's comment, "Nah, he keeps on painting a tunnel onto a cliffside."

He nods to Sera as she starts to explain why they're here now. "Yeah.. A place where we can be more ourselves is always good.." he says, grinning over at the Fairest. He nods at her request, "Yeah, of course. Not everyone wants to answer some questions. Figured that much.. Same with me. Some stuff I don't wanna talk 'bout." he says, giving a shrug. "We all have our secrets, not just Winters," he says, tone serious for a moment, before he cracks a grin and snaps into his sandwich for a moment.

After chewing it down he thinks for a moment, "We got any rules or requirements we gotta follow as a Spring?" he asks curiously, licking a bit of mayo off of his snout.

[Seraphina]

Laughing and cheering, “Way to go Sonnie!” nothing was said about how the Beast was making her sandwich. But she does grab a few pieces of sandwich meat and nibble on them.

A nod, “Exactly, I’m glad you understand and feel the same way. I just like to make sure everyone knows they’re not required to answer anything they don’t want to, make it like a safe place and all that.” It helped build trust in her opinion.

A shake of her head, “There are no rules per say, at least, not any I’ve been introduced to. I believe it’s important a Spring embodies the Season and what it means to them. One’s Desires are important and must never be forgotten, indulge in them whenever you can. But one should also be devoted to helping others seek and obtain their Desires.” Taking a sip of her tea, “What does Spring and Desire mean to you? I know it was touched on at the park, but now we can speak freely.”

[Sonnie Wu]

With her ridiculous sandwich completed, Sonnie stared at it for a moment, trying to figure out how to actually eat the monstrosity.

"Your Desires Are Your Own," she said distractedly. "Kinda our only rule, but it's got a lot of meanings. Sera already cited some of them. When I joined the Court in San Francisco, they stressed the importance of it." She paused to try and pick up her sammich, though cold cuts immediately started trying to slide out one side. "Eep!"

Attempting to repair the tower of meat and bread, the Steepscrambler continued, "Your Desires Are Your Own," she said, emphasizing the first word, "means to look after your own desires and not be judgemental of others'. Respect that everyone's got different passions."

"Your Desires Are Your Own," she continued, "means our desires are the only thing we have that are truly ours. Everything else we feel is put upon us by others, or just life. Our wants are the truest expression of who we really are."

Kneeling down, Sonnie eyed her culinary creation more closely, "Your Desires Are Your Own," she stressed the third word of the phrase now, "That one's a little tricky. Our desires just are what they are. We can't turn them off. They're with us, always. Don't pretend they don't exist, but don't let them control you, either. Your passions can die either way, and that's bad."

After standing back up, the Monkey tried to put a toothpick into the sandwich, to hold it together like they do in delis. However, the stack of foodstuffs was too thick to make the toothpick effective. She frowned and tossed the little piece of wood aside as she continued, "Your Desires Are Your Own is kinda the flip side to the first meaning. Just like your shouldn't be critical of the passions of others, don't be hard on your own. It's a be true to yourself sorta thing. Also, don't let anyone else shame you for what your enjoy. Be proud!"

"And finally," she said with a shrug, picking up the giant sandwich again, in both hands. Somehow she managed to keep it together for the moment, "Your Desires Are Your Own. Your desires are your responsibility. When you play hard, there's gonna be consequences, and you have to accept that. Don't blame others when what you do causes problems for yourself or anyone else. I love to eat, obviously. But I take responsibility for it. I exercise a lot. I gotta stay in shape, not just for my job, but for my responsibilities to the Court. Plus for bikini season. Point is, I don't let the downside of my appetite cause problems for anybody. Except maybe buffets."

Finally, Sonnie took a big bite of the sandwich. She happily chewed and swallowed, and grinned at the Fairest and Coyote, "Yum! Anyway, that's what I was taught."

[Jasper]

The Coyote nods as he listens to Sera for a moment, opening his mouth to answer her questions when Sonnie starts to speak. He pauses to listen, perking his ears as he starts to eat his own sandwich. He listens closely at the explanation. He nods after a moment, swallowing his mouthful.

"I had heard that phrase before but never had it explained like that, not fully anyway. That's a very interesting way of looking at things. It makes perfect sense too.." he says, contemplating it for a moment.

He turns back to Sera after that and shifts in his seat. "Well, I mean, everyone has different desires. I mean, I desire to eat this sandwich, and maybe another one.." he says with a small smirk. "I know I desire to help others. It feels good to do that. I want friends... Friends that won't.." he shifts for a moment. "I want company, I want to be safe and fed and loved and fucked and I want well.. Everything." he says with a small chuckle. "Not literally everything, just you know.. I don't have a lot so anything and everything is a good thing. As far as Spring itself goes, yeah, I love the season.. It's a time of growth and renewal and.. other things." he says, with a small smirk. "I was somewhat close with a couple of Springs back in our last city. They taught me some first aid and how to use a bit of the Spring contracts. I'd like to learn more. I like helping.." he says, giving a shrug and taking another bite of his sandwich again.

[Seraphina]

Sera was watching in a mixture of awe and amusement as Sonnie attempted numerous times to conquer her sandwich.

But her words touched the Nix. She rarely heard the Beast speak so well and with so much thought into what she said.

“That was very well said Sonnie, beautiful, better then what I had to say.” And yet she wore the Crown. Would Sonnie make a better Queen? A thought for another day. “Seems we each learned about our Court differently, and that goes to show the variety of Lost that are Spring.”

A nod as she listens to Jasper, “Sounds like a lot of great desires.” Laughing lightly, “The Desire that drives me is my need to help people. It’s who I am and what I do. It’s why I was chosen for my Entitlement and why I’m pushing to get a boarding house open again. Right now, all I can offer new Lost is a room above my coffee shop. But I have this deep drive to help those around me.” It was who she was at her very core. “A Spring Courtier should be devoted not only to their own Desires and fulling them elegantly, but also helping with the Desires of their fellow Courtiers.” She points out.

“I know you already have a friend with me. And I’m sure others within the Freehold.” Then a small sigh, “But we cannot promise or guarantee no one will ever leave. Because as much as we hate it and don’t want it to happen, it does.” Her sapphires darkening for a moment as she appears lost in her thoughts.

A gentle shake of her head, “Being part of a Court will help with some of those. There is something magical about belonging to a Court, knowing it has your back no matter what. Maybe there is even a sense of security with that.” Glancing around the room, “And as you can see, everything we do, we do with style and to spite Them and anyone who would stand in our way.” They even had the best Coronations, because Spring.

“Joining a Court requires a Pledge to the Season, and an expenditure of your very being, your magic, your Wyrd. Should you join and then leave the Freehold, you are still part of Spring, no matter where you end up.” Always a good thing to know because life happens.