Late Mornings at Steamers (Open Social)

[Withers]

The Winter had been slowly eating as the conversation, in no hurry to finish as the two exchanged pleasantries. Still, they had been speaking for some time and much of it was gone, causing the Winter to pause and nurse his coffee after the server swung by to fill it up. There was no need to empty the plate when there was still conversation to be had and the old Darkling needed to let his stomach sit with it for a moment before continuing.

"True enough," he said as Kray spoke of the inevitability of misunderstandings, "It is my hope our contemporaries see the value in our own methods. Compromise is what drives society forward, after all."

A subtle nod occurs as the Ogre confirms that there were indeed some things that could benefit from his involvement.

"There is no rush, I merely wanted the offer to be heard," he affirmed.

As the conversation turned back to poetry the Antiquarian smiled, the usual background somberness of his expression lightening a bit to grant a greater measure of warmth. Clearly, poetry was a source of passion for the withered Winter.

"Indeed. I can understand why such a thing would resonate. Poetry can be helpful in understanding the complexity of our world, I think," he said, "It represents the very idea that most things have a tendency to be more or less than what they seem. Rarely is anything truly as it appears. And that, my friend, is the true danger of perspective."

The Lost knew that better than most.

"Might I suggest Maggie Smith?" he offered after a brief pause, "I find her work to be particularly imaginative. Good Bones is a favorite of mine, both the poem itself and the collection it resides within."

[Kray]

After the winter gets his refill. The server gets a heavy look and toothy grin, it wouldn't be as bad for her only seeing his mask but the image still can't be pleasant. "Ah. Just tea thank you." The deep voice rumbles out. He watches them go. Would they be back with tea, it would be nice but wasn't necessary. Attention back to the old darkling. "Ah. From what I've experienced." A shrug. "They understand only so far as methods conform to their allowances. There are things I've been explicitly told not to do." But he seems nonchalant about that, maybe because the list of restrictions he would abide are his own. "Eh. Regardless like I say it isn't my job to be liked." Bulbous yellow eyes narrow into a nasty squint. "Hm. Besides. There are something that simple should not be compromised. Not if if a person want to remain true to their convictions." Fake cobwebs and high pitched laughter had grown old very quickly.

Leaning back the shadow passes from the Ogre as much as his ever threatening presence can be considered relaxed. "But. Enough of all that talk." It didn't to to dwell on that which still had plenty of time left to mature. "Hm. The offer is heard. So. You reckon you'll get into the company garden much? I understand the there's a bit of a problem with a new species of weed cropped up." Might as well try and put the the other lost on the right track.

Eyes fall to the empty plate a little rueful he had consumed it all so quickly. He considers ordering pancakes or waffles or maybe some French toast but that wasn't as sweet which is what he was really craving. But the winter really grabs his attention and the corners of his mouth twitch up, the smallest of variations in his toothy grin, but noticeable to the observant. "Ah. I have heard wisdom comes with age, it must be true. All the elders I have met worth respecting say the same. Things are not as they appear." He didn't feel as comfortable with the darkling as he had the Autumn king to point out the obvious, not so openly, so instead a game. "Now. That does make me wonder, a test if I may. Low stakes, no repercussions." Anatole had cottoned on near immediately, Circe had said things that suggested she had realised something, he and the winter had only met a scant few times but still curiosity had him now. "What kind of read do you get from me?" What was life if not that which poetry would be written about after.

A nod that is interrupted by a look of confusion? "Uh. The dame? I didn't she did poetry as well as acting." Not surprising she was very talented. And something that had been a nice stable to find still around when he got back, even short lived as that had been.

[Withers]

The gnarled fingers of the Darkling tent themselves lightly as Kray speaks of others imposing restrictions upon him. Withers naturally presumes he speaks of the other Sovereigns, which draws a quizzical look from the Antiquarian.

"Interesting... do you think they believe they know better?" he asked. What did the Courts of Desire and Anger know of Fear?

Then a nod.

"I agree. Our convictions define us," Withers offered, "They must. And I believe it is important to concern ourselves with the convictions of others only insofar as to seek some measure of understanding... I would not presume to influence you in your affairs just as I would expect you to leave me to mine in turn. There is a reason each of us rests where we do."

Perhaps that was the Winter in Withers speaking. It was not like the Silent Arrow to intervene in the efforts of the other Courts. Not so openly as to suggest influence anyway.

"I will in time, I suspect," he answered as Kray referenced the Hedge, "I might be able to provide some insights on the matter. More than that, not even I can hide forever. I'll want to plant a bit there for myself given time."

Hollows were common among the Lost and Withers had been without one for some time. The time was coming to change that.

"Age alone is not enough. Ignorance stalls the wisdom of the old just as well as the young and experience does not denote mastery in life," he offered, "All must learn to understand the lessons of life, not merely survive them."

At the Ogre's challenge, the Darkling's black eyes rested on his stony visage, considering for a long moment before his fingers find his coffee yet again.

"I see cunning," he answered, "An intelligence and acceptance of what oneself is that is tempered by the Duty you feel. You tread the path you do because you are assured to your core at the wisdom in it and you have accepted all that comes with such a choice, even should it cause discomfort in others. You have chosen to view such discomfort as necessary to your task. Moreover, I see a Burden in you. A weight you feel you must bear alone. For the moment, at least, until others come who are capable of shouldering it with you."

Kray was a court of One for the moment and Withers sensed the responsibility of the Ashen Court was fresh in the brute's mind.

"Ah, no. Not the actress, may she rest in peace," Withers said of the poet, "The Maggie Smith I speak of is American. She's a poet and freelance writer from Ohio. Columbus, I believe."

[Kray]

Its a curious question, and subdued state of Autumns abode forced into a state of compliance to fit in the Ogre has some thoughts on that matter. But most of those are for ashen ears alone. "Ah. the head of security doesn't seem to like some the habits my department is known when it comes to how we operate." He had no problems with the summer monarch, thinkers rather highly of her in fact but his court came first over any instructions handed down from on high.

Wondering where his tea had gotten to if it was at all even coming as he nods once to the old winters point. "Hm. Agreed on that point, each of us knows us and ours best and better left to tend to our own on that front." One thing however. "Uh. I do recognise however our company is rather small to cover as many purviews as it does. So, an offer of aid is open if its ever needed." A freehold was meant to be at least loosely supportive its members and if other courts did need a helping hand he was not above giving it.

As he had on occasion when he had been in public with Anatole the strangeness of the pair suddenly hits him, the hulking giant and the frail pensioner, quite the combination they must make to mortal eyes. And discussing work and gardening of all things. "Ha. Yes I do find a spot of gardening to be good for general wellbeing." And much more besides of course but that need not be said here.

That is a fair point. "Huh. Well said. But Age does give you more time to rectify those issues then those without it." Which is probabaly what the saying is based in if the Ogre was going to guess.

Leaning back in his seat he picks as the debris left from his meal caught in the terrible teeth with a blackened nail. "Oh. is that so." How interesting. Normally its the other half that's missing. "Ah. And after how we met I was sure I had sold the image of thuggery so well." But no matter if that's the side people want to undervalue it works all the same. As for Wisdom and duty of his path well that could apply to any courtier, its not a commitment made lightly. Sure some swap here and there but then the logic applies again. As a descriptor goes it has more the air of someone blowing smoke. "Now. Isn't that true for us all. The duty part. I have done mine of late well enough. I take it you didn't make it to the fantasy book party?" He had not expected everyone to come that any had was good enough the tickets had done what he needed them to regardless. As for discomfort well fear was not comfortable it was never meant to be. "Hm. Alone for the moment. It was not so now it is. That's the state of the board as it were, and well outside of my control." When the dealer flips an unfavourable card there's nothing to do but fold or press on, and giving up just wasn't in his nature. But this was interesting, the answers more so then if they were truth or lies. "Hm. Here's the fun part, are you just telling me what you think I want to hear?" He is at play now it is apparent, what is less so is if there is even a goal to this game.

A tick up of the head acknowledges the current. "Ah. I see. I'll have to look her up then." No shame for the mistake it was an easy enough one to make in his mind given the duration and prominence of the dame's acting career.

[Withers]

"Unfortunate," Withers said of the Summer Queen's attempt to control Fall, his lips pursing to subtly relay his disapproval.

The offer of support is answered with a nod of thanks, the bushy eyebrows of the Darkling creaked upward, further wrinkling his already ancient complexion.

"The same is extended to you," he said, "If what I suspect is true, it will serve us help one another to counter this... differing ideology held by those of a sunnier disposition."

Remembering his meal, the Antiquarian's gnarled, ink-black tipped fingers find his cutlery once again as he begins to return to his meal, though he does chuckle as Kray speaks of thuggery. At the question of whether he had gone to a book party recently, the Darkling answered honestly, shaking his head as his black eyes return to his hulking companion.

Another brief pause follows as the Ogre gave his question.

"If I desired to tell you what you wanted to hear, I suspect I would have called you a terror," he offered lowering his already quiet voice to a low whisper as his frail form leans forward to provide more ease of communication, "Make no mistake, my friend, I think you are quite skilled in that regard, but does that come to my mind when I look to you? No. I think what defines you is not the fear you can grant to others, but the fear you possess within. Hence, your wisdom."

[Kray]

A shrug from the Ogre denotes his views on the matter. "Ah. It's a case not understanding. And she has a job to do. Who knows could have just been ticking off a box." From what he knew of the groundskeeper that was unlikely she took the job seriously. "Hm. The point is it was said and is something that has to be kept in mind." His tea arrives prompting to him to shut up for a moment. "Oh. Uh Thanks." He will have to leave a tip for the waitress willing to do her job inspite of him being well himself. Once their is some distance again he continues. "Uh. Now stating the obvious a bit but the very name of compony HQ should have told you there is a certain... " Toying over the word choice. "Bias towards some over others." Funder land was well an amusement park and the name was rather in your face about who it really served. "Uh. And I find it as a whole restrictive." Pausing to blow on the hot cup. And the laughter of children as they trampled through the boarding house hoping for spooks and jump scares was becoming grating. "Hm. The previous head of my department thought so as well." Taking a sip and wincing it was still to hot after all.

He breathes heavy for a few moments trying to cool his tongue. He should have known better. "Ah. Appreciate it." The courts of fear and sorrow did archetypically work well together. "Hm. Counter is less what I think of, that implies contest or opposition. I don't think that's needed just a balancing of the scales so to speak and for that all we need must do is what we do." In his mind the best way to handle it was simply to make it known the court of fear and well in Withers case the court of sorrow was alive, well and active. "Without asking for permission for everything we do. Remind them that they are not us." And brick by brick, move by move things were slowly sliding into place for exactly that.

A shrug about the fantasy masquerade it confirms the scrawny mask he had seen had been Sven so that was something.

The giant leans down almost conspiratorially as the winter goes quite and leans forward, the inevitable state of fact means that those terrible teeth of his come the closest they have ever been. "Oh. Now that's touching." But I'll have to try harder to be scary then. "Hm. What most people think when they see me is what did I do to end up with teeth in this state." Not a comment that would arose suspicion. His mask was in serious need of dental work with broken and splintered teeth of its own, looking more like he had taken many blows to the jaw then anything overly predatorial though. Still intimidating in its own right just mildly different context. "Hm. Now what do you think I hold within myself?" Bulbous yellow eyes have crinkled in amusement he is rather enjoying himself now.

[Withers]

Withers finds himself nodding as Kray speaks of bias.

"That's understandable... With a little time perhaps we can help them see reason," he mused, "I'll admit I am not enthused at the expectation to... 'check in', but time will tell if it chafes too much."

Then the Ogre continued his questions, causing the Darkling's dark eyes to narrow, his expression going quizzical. However, he saw no reason to deny Kray his viewpoint.

"Fear, as I said," he reiterated, "alongside pain and I'd wager a sense of Loss. However, the finer details of which are not for me to know. Nor anyone else. Not without your engagement of course... It is your story to tell, not mine to seek "

The breakfast was finally finished and the coffee near empty.

Withers' ink-black fingers rummaged idly in his pocket, eventually retrieving a weathered bill fold.

"I've enjoyed this chat," he admitted, "I would like to pay for your meal if you're willing... I'm also fancying a stroll in the neighborhood if you would like to join me "

good to close! Great scene!

[Kray]

A mighty shrug accompanies a unbothered look. "Ah. Not had to check in you. And wont if I told its expected. One way or another they will learn." And of course it could have something else factored, "Hm. And to boot you don't exactly carry the same stigma I do." Flashy the terrible teeth the blessing of the cannibal kith. Besides let them think as they will it suits me all the same.

Some nice and general points that anyone would have guessed, applicable to any lost of the ashen court. And woefully missing in detail and range. Which is what it is, and what I aim for, "Hm. You missed Hunger. I feel hunger inside a lot." And kept the worst of that drowned in a torrent of many food stuffs as best he could manage, never did quite scratch the itch though.

A shake of the head as a wallet comes our. "Uh. Thanks but no. I pay my own way, no owing anyone, no debts intentional or accidental." The wyrd and a careless word could be damming when it came to debts. Even without a pledge. "But. A walk is far more palatable." Putting money plus a generous tip for his meal. Not offering to cover Withers, a deal wasn't on the cards today. Then standing and waiting for the older to make his way, in no rush at all.

Indeed it was thank for it! had a blast. Withers Stray