(2312) Winter Solstice

[Saber Sloth]

With no one to tend to the Mirror Maze and Winter's Hollow, a new location was needed for this years Solstice. Away from Funderland, the Lost are invited. Midnight, upon the longest night nestled within the confines of Granite Park, a small fire burns, the only light source offered, besides the moon, and stars (and distantly the park's and city's lights) food's been provided, things they can cook upon the fire, things that don't need to be. Some drinks, acholic and not, have been arranged upon a picnic table, an appropriately wintery table clothe has been used, and there seems to be sprigs of holly laid artfully around the refreshments.

Near the campfire is a smaller table with a stack of quality card stock and glass pens, and open inkwells, with a beautifully written note propped up to announce the activity.

'In remembrance to a Winter Queen of years ago,

Tonight, we reflect upon our past tragedies. Take a piece of paper, and dip your pen into the ink well. On the paper, write one word that is most associated with your deepest Sorrow that you can remember. You do not need to share this memory. Just take time to remember what happened and how it affected you.

When you're done, keep your Sorrow or cast it into the fire.'


Between the Fire and the food rests the Wyrdstone currently hidden under a cloche, still thrumming in time with Circe's heartbeat, ready for the Season to Change.

As we have no Winters, but we do have a Director, Seraphina it come to you to facilitate the Changing of the Seasons. After you feed Glamour into the Wyrdstone @me so I can do some narration

And remember un-Acknowledged Lings or Courtless lings need to feel 1 Glamour into the Wyrdstone to gain/keep Freehold Status 1!

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie Wu showed up, dressed in jeans and an ugly Christmas sweater featuring the face of a reindeer deep in the uncanny valley. She hadn't been sure what to expect here, but curiosity abounds, and so here the Monkey was. The place was empty.

Figures. Why do we have so much trouble keeping Winters around?

Heaving a sigh, the Claviger wandered about, examining everything. The food was tempting, but she decided to wait until the others arrived. Instead, she went to the table and read the note. After a moment of thought, she picked up a card and scribbled a short sentence.

I miss Titania.

Then she folded the card and tossed it into the flames. And she watched it burn as she waited for the rest of the Freehold.

[Kray]

The instructions had been unexpected, for the Orge had reckoned on the event taking place at the park he had heard about, but Anatole had mentioned that Winter was rather absent so maybe this had something to do with that. Either way given a decent number of unknowns involved, trusting in something as unreliable as his car starting was not something Kray was willing to do and so had walked.

Red leaf hat upon his head, Hatband of sackcloth scarecrows swaying in the breeze, the fedora itself held in place by his horn nubbins poking through the holes made for them. For the rest he had busted out his best this was meant to be important after all. Shoes recently shined. trousers and Shirt fresh and creaseless. Held up over the obese belly by A well tended belt and suspended over massive shoulders. His longcoat serving to brace against the chill. Well aware he’s tramping through a park at night in what easily equates to a month of savings.

Approaching the fire he makes no attempt to hide his presence, not that those over seven feet and weighing in at what must neatly exceed three hundred pounds would have much to do, even if he had wanted to hide.

Seeing someone he hasn't meet yet, Kray will step into the firelight before stopping, making sure he can be seen, the orange light bringing the grey of his skin into sharper relief. ‘Hi.’ The depth of the baritone voice fitting the great size, the clear pronunciation perhaps a surprise for the mouth it comes from is forced to be ever open by a chaotic array of protruding stone shards that serve as his teeth and on appearance look capable of little more than emitting rough and savage words. ‘Just to check, this is the place I'm supposed to tithe to this Wyrdstone I've been told about and join up right?’ Cause if not, and I've just stumbled on some random lost having a party, oh boy.

[Seraphina]

You could feel it in the air, the comfortable Autumn chill had changed to the crisper, chillier Winter air. Which meant it was time to gather as a Freehold and observe the passing of the Crown, make sure the Cycle remained intact.

Except this year, she wasn’t aware of a Winter in the Freehold, and if this remained true, it fell to her hold the Cycle together. Something she had seen Rhodes do in the past, something that now sat on her shoulders. She didn’t mind, at the end of the day, it was about the Freehold and their safety, that mattered above all else.

Knowing it was outside this time proved a bit of a problem for the Nix, who usually went all out with her Hedgespun dresses. A dress seemed inappropriate for such a gathering, so she went a bit different. Well, different for her anyways.

A pant suit, designed and sewn by her of course. And being a Fairest, she added a bit of magic to it. Because, why not? So she sewed the very light of the stars from the first night of winter. They weren’t too bright, but when her Glamour was added, there was a soft, warm twinkle across the corset top. Nothing over the top, something that respected the Season but also let Sera be, well, Sera.

Her floor length hair was done into an intricate braid down her back. The green and brown mixing perfectly. Her delicately webbed ears on display, a shimmer of pearlescent colors. She wore no makeup, it wasn’t needed. Her translucent hands and jagged cracks in her gilded skin were not hidden. On her right ring finger, she wore her ring, the one with the sapphires that matched her eyes and the gold band that matched her gilded skin.

The white jacket she wore flared out behind her, a mix of her Mantle and the winter air. She see’s Sonnie, someone she is always happy to see. But also, see’s John! It was hard to miss him, given his sheer size, but she was still glad he made it. Maybe now he could interact with the stone and get that all taken care of.

Walking over, “Hey Sonnie! Love the sweater! I’ve never had much luck finding a Christmas sweater I liked.” Maybe she was just shopping at the wrong places. The crackling fire reflecting off her golden and silver scales. "That's it, I'm dragging you out for shopping and lunch!" smirking to her best friend.

Next, “Hi John, so glad you could make it.” Her smile warm and friendly, “How’ve you been?”

[Anatole]

Anatole is certainly incognito tonight. His usual suit is gone and instead he wares tough jeans and a heavy, turtle-neck sweater. His hiking shoes are muddy. The sweater is from an op-shop, stained and shapeless. Twinned with his wild hair and effusive curls, he looks like someone's grandfather, who has made a break from the family festive fun (and obligatory grandchildren).

Free range grandpa.

He merges from the shadows and in the gloom looks far more sinister as his Mantle flickers and kicks into gear.

"Welcome. Welcome. I am glad you found the place. It seemed fitting."

He moves over to where Sonnie Wu has formed the locus of the group. Teeth flash in his beard - a smile for Seraphina . His eyes skim over the Vernal Sovereign, fix once (only once) on her ring.

"Kray. It is good to see you here."

[Circe]

Winter was absent, the backup plan was still in effect. Not unexpected, but not pleasing to the Groundskeeper either. The semi-privacy of Granite Park was useful though, emphasized the lack of presence and probably something about unity too. The notary nod to Winter felt respectful.


Circe had thought of going all out for the season, noobs present and all. But the attempts to use starry sky to make a dress had resulted in, well, non-Euclidean patterns with some slight vertigo affects. Freehold parties always had booze, thus she ditched that, opting for more practical attire. Jeans, black turtleneck, and a blue-ish leather trenchcoat instead.


That and it had pockets of just in case for some mundy stumbling into their party. A factor in why she was trailing behind Seraphina. So she got to hear and see what is up.


Sonja was showing her respect for the seasons as Sonja does. Kray was dressed to the nines, first impression seems his goal tonight. Seraphina was a fey fashionista queen, not surprising. The Springs still being themselves was, well, pleasing.


"Oh?" She says as she walks in behind Anatole, "Well met all!" continuing in to put herself to the Nix's right, "I only knew Kray's nickname Sarah. Nice jacket bee tee dubs. Sorry I wasn't here. Had to deflect somebody, no problems." Turning her head, Circe is facing the Ogre, "Glad you made is John, dressed to the nines." She nods to Sonja, "That is a horridly ugly sweater Sonnie." Circe eyes go from Sonja to the buffet. Untouched? Right eyebrow and ear are raised, then lowered as she looks back to Sonja. Circe gives her a thumbs up, "Well done."


The notes would have to wait. She'd have a few things she could write, though some she felt vindicated.

[Sonnie Wu]

Thinking about absent friends, the fire was kind of mesmerizing. Still, her bestial senses were not dormant. She was aware of the Ogre's arrival, and she watched him curiously, craning her neck upwards as he got closer. Sonnie was not the tallest of women to begin with, and Kray would obviously tower over her.

"Uh, hi." She blinked, then nodded in a particular direction. "Yeah. Stone's over there. Welcome to the Winter Coronation... without the coronating." It was an amusing concept. She could even joke about it, since the freehold had a contingency in place for the lack of Onyx Courtiers. The aforementioned Wyrdstone. "I'm Sonnie Wu, Claviger of the Spring Court." As if her strong mantle of scents, fruit and flowers, wasn't a clue.

She relaxed more when Sera arrived and clearly knew the mystery Ogre. So his name was John... or Kray, apparently.

The Beast smiled brightly at the Fairest. "Hey! Thank you! Ugly Christmas sweaters are a passion of mine!"

"Hi Anatole. I see you already know the new guy." She nodded to the Autumn King.

She grinned at the Iron Spear, "Thanks! The uglier the better, right?"

[Kray]

Kray grins, not a pleasant sight despite best intentions, in a more informal greeting. 'Ah. Good to meet you Sonnie. Your reputation precedes you, apparently I should challenge you to eating contest.' Nimble as she looks I don't see how she could out consume me, short of magic?

He starts to head in the indicated direction, but stops very quickly as an image of beauty arrived and rendered him a little dumbfound. More than that she knew his mortal moniker. Brain takes a tick to catch up with the situation. I only told that to two and Anatole doesn't use it. 'Uh. Hi Sarah, been, been well thank you, yourself?' Good thing she was masked in the park otherwise I might have thought she was one of them. 'Oh. Right, John's on my documents and such, nice and common place, in good company I choose to go by.' Stopping short at the Harvest kings arrival to appreciate the appropriate flair.

Pointing at Anatole '...By Kray.' He finishes, before turning fully to the sovereign of his court, Kray fully doffs his hat, same as when they had first met under the bridge. 'Anatole, hello. Good to see you, keeping well? I wasn't going to miss it.' Hat goes back on with a minor chuckle. 'Am I good to get myself signed up?' Gesturing now in the direction Sonnie had indicated.

Then addressing the next in the flurry of arrivals and greeting. 'Hi Circe.' He wasn't going to repeat the name part, his deep voice carried in open space well enough she had probably heard it. 'Uh. Well its a important night .. so I ..' Gestures a hand up and down his hulking frame. 'Thank you.' not super sure what to do with the compliment. Anatole wasn't kidding to say small there's more sovereigns here the not at the moment.

[Seraphina]

It took her a second to recognize Anatole, but she does, and smiles.

A bow of her head in respect, he was the Autumn king after all. His entrance reminded her of another Autumn, and it takes her a minute to push the memories aside and focus on the here and now. “Good evening, hope you’ve been doing well.” Then a nod, “It certainly does, I can’t remember the last time we had a gathering outside Funderland for such an occasion. An excellent idea in my opinion.” But without a Winter to take the crown.

Mental note made of the name he called John, Kray.

Seeing Circe arrive, Sera knew she had overdressed. But she was ok with it, as a Spring and Fairest, plus the Spring Monarch and Director, it was fitting she dress up. Coronations were always a good excuse to look her best. Plus, she loved the suit.

“Hey Circe! Looking good!” ok so Circe knew John, eh, Kray as well. Good! Made things easier.
Back to Sonnie, “My statement still stands, we need to go shopping and find me one. You truly have the perfect sense for them.” Taking a moment to appreciate Sonnie and where she was, a strong ass Mantle and a bad ass fighter. She was truly a blessing not only to the Freehold, but Sera as well. The perfect holiday gift must be found.

A smile turns back to Kray, “I’ve been doing pretty good, thank you for asking.” It was good to hear he had been well, it was always a toss up when someone knew arrived. “Good to know Kray. Sarah is my outside of the Freehold name, Seraphina is what I usually go by, or just Sera, or Sarah, I’ll answer to all of them.” A light musical laugh, she knew her mortal id and name were similar. It was done on purpose because you always had someone screwing up names around mundanes. “That is a nice color on you.” Complimenting his shirt, her words sincere.

Sapphires look at the fire a moment, realizing this was almost all of the Freehold. No Winters, and small numbers. Remembering a time when this place would have been overcrowded with Lost, a sad smile touching her lips. But it didn’t last long as she looks back to those gathered, a smile appearing.

[Circe]

"Well ya dappered up Kray," Circe assues him. And formal introduction from Sonja Wu? Okay, Circe will have to do the same. "Formality Sonnie? I shall follow," she assures and looks to Kray with a small bow, "Queen of Summer and Head of Securityy, Circe. Sometimes Mary, as I need not have the same mundy name ta be contrary. If ya find a problem for our club," she gives Kray a pair of finger guns, "I'll kneecap until the best solution is found."


Circe thinks on it and then shrugs, "Aside from giant enemy crabs. Too many kneecaps. Buuut tasty. Really, try the crab legs," she points to the table at something tubular, red colored, and with a hard exterior. Rather large for mundane crab legs. Not the rainbow ones, those she didn't trust.


She nods to Seraphina at the compliment, "Good thing its Groundskeeper and not sheriff." She chuckles, "Otherwise I'd hafty get a hat. Plus conflict with my profession, oh ho ho ho!" THen looks to Sonja Wu, "Sera my dear. If she refuses to go, I am quite willing ta help drag her along. Such fun!"


And she meant it. Sure she liked Sonja, but she was a Summer with that idea of fun. Unlike Seraphina, Circe isn't disappointed by the lack of Lost. She has gotten used to it for Summer, so no suprises for Circe.


"Right-o. Kray and those not new are most welcome to Winter's not coronation, lest we have a surprise guest," she turns to look at the entrance. Hoping a jinx would help draw in one of their old Winter companions. Not much hope, but might as well chance it. Some Lost are just so dramatic at times.


Like herself. She'd admit to being a drama AND Summer Queen.