(2312) Winter Solstice

[Vincent Black]

Vince kept up the energy, waving to his friends. "Hey Sonja, have some EggyNog it is delicious." Then addressing Circe "Yeah I have been too much of a wallflower plus the Solstice has me in a mood."

It was true, the season between seasons had him feeling in a mood. But the court also had him feeling desperation. The desperation from the loss of friends, and from the lack of a Winter court. He was glad that Seraphina was able to use the Wyrdstone to keep the protection, but he would have to talk with her and let her know that next time he would be happy to also take hold of leadership. That is what his court is meant for. But he felt some relief as the protection lay over them.

But the air hung low with the reduced numbers. "Jasper where did you go bud?" Vincent thought. Well he hoped that the Winter season would hold some better news. As he walked up and wrote on the paper:

Loneliness: For those missing loved ones, whether lovers, friends, or chosen family.

He tossed the paper into the water.

After a brief moment of reflection he turned around and went and offered hugs to all his friends old and new. Maybe it was the booze, maybe it was the Solstice, but he felt that he needed to share his love as he went to all the attending members and offered a hug.

[Kray]

Kray listens as Sarah give her speech; it was a good speech as speech’s go. To the point and not to long. If she’s half as caring as she came across in the park any freehold would be lucky to have her in charge. Then the feeling.

The sensation was a new one. A calm mix of assurance and safety without needing to have first built trust with those he now felt safer with. And to think three of them spent time with me without this? I’m surprised it doesn’t make it harder to engage with those without.

Fortuitously he his pulled from the deepening thoughts of trying to understand this new thing, by of all things a hug. Surprised somewhat, but not inherently opposed. Kray looks down, momentarily unsure, then wraps a one massive arm around Vincent's shoulders in return. The restraint in his twisted muscles can be felt as once more Kray employs a practiced delicacy, having no desire to crush the guy.

‘Uh. Well, this is one way to make an introduction. I’d say buy me dinner first, but it looks like Anatole beat you to it.’ Grey hand pats the shoulder a few times before Kray releases his side of the hug. ‘Kray, good to meet you.’

But before dinner as everyone else has to he will meander over to the table by the fire. Deepest sorrow in one word? How do you say hurting those that didn’t deserve it in one word? After a bit of thinking he pens the word. Unjust. Looks at it, and lets it go into the flames. Turning now to amble over to the food.

[Sonnie Wu]

The Beast snickered at the Spqing Queen, "Well, I am an expert on such things. I named my dog Fugly, after all."

"I agree," she nodded to Anatole, then took on a musing expression, "I wonder if Valentine's Day has ugly sweaters..."

Somehow, Sonnie had not noticed Vincent's own Ugly Sweater until just now. "Hey! Twinsies!" she laughed.

"Egg nog?" She made a gross face and shook her head.

Wait, was there a food item that Sonnie Wu wouldn't want to devour???

[Seraphina]

The artificialness of the Winter feeling was…unsettling. It was something she would never get used to, and hoped a Winter would arrive soon to take it over. Sure, it kept them safe, but it also felt wrong. But she would do what she had to to keep everyone here, and the Freehold, safe.

Walking away from the stone, she rejoins the conversations. “I agree,” a nod to Anatole, “and maybe we should have a party celebrating them!” cause why not!

When the hug was offered by Vincent, she politely declined with a smile and shake of her head. She liked the sentiment, but wasn’t in a hug type mood.

Laughing to Sonnie, “I’m sure we can make a party for any type of ugly sweater!” and sounded like she was going to make it happen.

Chuckling as Sonnie refused something, she walks over to the table and writes her own thing on it. Then holding it in her hand for a moment, she places it into the salt water, content to watch it absorb the water and fade away.

Then, she grabs herself a drink and something to eat.

[Anatole]

"Self reflection?"

Anatole allowed an eyebrow to rise when Circe addressed him.

"No. Not today. You might say... acceptance at those friends now gone. A drink? Why not."

He made to move over to the drinks and was held up when Vincent Black ragnarokxg swung by. The Flamesiren received a warm smile and a shake of the head as the Wizened took a step back. There was a pause before the Burned Dwarf responded:

"Not for me. The sentiment is much appreciated, though. Thank you. Enjoy the spread, eh?"

Finally reaching the drinks and victuals, he turned to Circe

"What makes you think you screwed up, may I ask?"

Somewhere in the exchange he managed to throw Sonnie Wu an encouraging smile as the Monkey mused about the possibilities of other holidays and other Ugly sweaters ....

[Circe]

"It happens, I just mostly have the same reply," she answers Anatole.


Circe smiles as Seraphina's suggestion for long gone friends was so very spring. "Sera," oh Anatole beat her to it. "Later indeed," she agrees with a nod. Anatole it right, it wouldn't be respectful to the season's emotion. Too exposed for Winter. Circe follows Anatole to the drinks and food.


Circe retrieves a sampler and gets a drink, taking something non-alcoholic for now. That'd probably come later.


"Ann's reign of terror could've been blocked if I had garnered then used a bazooka in San Fran," she bluntly says to Anatole. Though that wasn't what she had written down. She'd not mention that one in the nearby company. Tact, she could have it at times. "More recent times it has happened as well. The truck, the outlet. I know," she tries to hold up her hand in a stop motion, but she had a drink in it. Eh, she sips. Hint of Allspice? How wintery. "A Fairest is supposed to claim perfection. I make mistakes. I just try to learn from them."


The somber talk is distracted by Sonja Wu being her happy monkey self. Ugly sweaters on other holidays? "Try Arbor Day," The Groundskeeper suggests to the Clavinger. It would have fascinating results if the Beast followed through on the attempt.

[Vincent Black]

Vincent hugged those that accepted and those who did not want a hug, he respected their decision. Feeling the apprehension from Kray "Do not worry about breaking me, I am a lot stronger than I look." He then went and got some food and grabbed a cup of eggnog and found a place to sit. He listened to everyone talking as he sat and enjoyed his food and drink, absorbing the energy of the Solstice.

[Kray]

Despite several having made there way over to the food, the conversations he could pick up on were about loss, friends of time past. I wonder if any thinks of me in other places in the world tonight? and regrets. All very appropriate, but also talk between close friends. And butting in when he didn't know the events of people being remembered just didn't feel right when such was the conversation. Who knows maybe in a year from now I'll be more able to share in such.

For tonight then he loads up a plate with anything that contains raw beef, that was probabaly meant for cooking. But his stomach prefers it as it is and wonders over to the other person who doesn't seem as involved in the talk. The huggy one.

'Uh. Vince was it.' Circe had called him that. 'Mind if I sit?'

[Sonnie Wu]

"So be it!" she proclaimed excitedly, "Ugly Sweater Party for Valentine's Day!"

Sonnie paused, realizing how loud she was being. She cleared her throat and spoke more softly. "Sorry, it's Winter. I'll calm down." You got to be somber or whatever to respect the Season, even if it had no Monarch... or any Courtiers whatsoever.

"Arbor Day?" she mused on Circe's idea, nodding, "I do support re-forestation." The Beast then gave the Summer Queen a quizzical head tilt. "Are you suggesting Arbor Day because I'm a monkey?"

Meanwhile, Sonnie had managed to load up a plate with an impressive about of party foods. A bit of everything offered, really. It was a balancing act to get it all on one plate.

[Seraphina]

Hearing Anatole’s words, there was a quite nod, accepting those that are gone. Would she ever accept it? Would she ever stop looking for Rhodes and answers to his disappearance? No, she wouldn’t. She couldn’t. But she could take steps towards accepting it and moving on with her life. So a drink to those gone? Even if she wasn’t sure that was how the dwarf intended his words, that’s how she was understanding them, raising her glass then taking a sip.

Sapphires turn as Circe says her name, but then decides later? Walking over to her, lowering her voice, “Everything ok?” the concern evident on her gilded and cracked face.

When the talk turns to Ann, “But Circe, in the end, it was you that ended her reign of terror. In a way and fashion no one else could! Freeholds and Lost in the world owe you a debt for your heroics, never forget that.” Raising her glass to the Summer. “A Fairest may claim perfection, but it is often never achieved, and who wants to be perfect anyways, sounds boring to me.” But deep down, there was part of her that was pushing for that perfection.

“Let it be known, Ugly Sweater Party for Valentines!” she declares with a smile, which then turns into a warm one has the Beast reigns herself in. It wasn’t something she liked to see, quite enjoying how loud and exuberant Sonnie could be. It was infectious and it was just who she was. But it was Winter and they needed to respect the Season.