(2512) Winter Solstice

[Sonnie Wu]

Yeah, Sonnie seemed dissatisfied with that answer. While it was hardly unusual for freehold members to just depart the city without a word, the secretive nature of the Winter Court was... annoying. Still, it was their day, so she didn't say anything about it. Merely sighed and nodded to Sven.

She politely listened to the Darkling's inaugural speech, clapping when it was over. She'd been dwelling on the loss of Fugly for few weeks now, and despite Sven's suggestion, she wasn't much in the mood to keep mourning. The Spring Queen wasn't here to hog the spotlight, after all. Not tonight, at least. It was Sven's time.

The start of the Onyx Court's season just reminded her that Spring was around the corner. And she'd be in charge again. Yay, responsibility.

Time to find a distraction. She looked to Kray, "Damn, that long ago?" The duel-that-wasn't had also been the last time she'd not-seen Withers. She'd just assumed he was still around Sacramento somewhere. Winter Courtiers were very good at avoiding notice. Ninjas.

"Hi Circe!" She waved to the Blue Elf.

Bright eyes turned towards Mina, "Oh, he was the Winter King... last winter. Old dude. Very polite. I thought he was still around. Apparently not." The Steepscrambler could only shrug helplessly.

[Jack Violet]

"My apologies again King Kray." Jack Violet says with a hint of sarcasm and frustration in his voice. He understands that he messed up but at the same time he knew this was not the time and the place to go into it. This night was for mourning those they have lost. And by the looks of it, it seems that they have lost a friend.

"Sorry for the loss of your friend. It seems that he had made a mark on the people here." He looks around, "I have not lost anyone in a long time, and I have come to terms with those that i have lost, because just as Winter is a inevitable part of the cycle of our world, so is death. And that death does not have to be just the loss of a life, it could mean the end of relationships, whether just a friendship or the ending of a romantic relationship. If I had a drink I would pour a bit out to those that have lost someone close to them."

[Svelte Sven]

A few seconds passed as Sven stood silently with a polite smile before he suddenly made a gesture to excuse himself, disappearing quickly into the depths of the Mirror Maze. He was gone just long enough for one to wonder if he was actually going to return, carrying a six-pack of 'Winter Lager' with the brand name and price tag torn off in each hand. He set the beverages on the food table alongside an old, rusted bottle-opener. However, the Chatelaine didn't pick it up, instead taking a bottle, holding the cap on the lip of the table, and in an almost-mechanical fashion slapped his free hand down on the top to pop the top off of the glass. He did that for three others, carrying two in each hand before returning to the rest of the Lost, offering an opened beer to the other Sovereigns. "No offense meant, Jack, Mina." He added quickly. "I can only hold so many and... well, symbolism?" He offered a weak smile.

He offered a nod towards Circe, unperturbed by her tardiness. "It's quite alright. I'm... not really worried about formality, tonight." It was bad enough being called 'King', he certainly didn't want to be treated like one all of a sudden. He quirked an eye at the Autumn Ogre and his verbal sparring with Jack. "Your insistence on proper diction reminds me of my own father, speaking of parents." Sven spoke in an amused tone, but his eyes didn't seem to reflect any joy. "Were you close with them, then? For the record, you're under no obligation to answer. Or even tell the truth. Everyone has their secrets."

The Darkling didn't know either of them well enough to really gauge their expressions, but he got the impression that he may have upset the Spring Courtiers, somehow. You have that effect on women. "To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure Withers was gone. At least not until this." He gestured vaguely towards the crown now resting on his head. "Some people say Winter and death are synonymous. But I've heard the same about Summer, to an extent." It wasn't rare to hear Summer called the Season of War, even outside of Changeling communities. And what caused more death than war?

[Circe]

Circe gives a large wave in greeting to all, "Hello, delayed greetings from my tardy ass. Glad to see this gathered mass."


Kray was a, friend maybe? Sure, he got a better answer: "Business dealings lead to delay, my in-vest-ment in under attire did quite save me today, so in answer to you King Kray," she turns to him with a left handed salute, "Other gal is in a much worse way." Circe could have given a straightforward answer, for she doubted any of those present would rat her out to the badges Iron Side. But that didn't mean it was impossible until she knew them all enough, and there were some new-ish faces still. Though she'd a much more mundane and civil reason too: "Plus! I didn't speed to get here," she shrugs, "Too many cops on the traffic app."


And then back to King Sven. At least he was lenient about it, good. They'd not had a tight ass Sovereign in quite a while. She starts to give him a confused look at the diction comment, before she notices it isn't directed at her.


Circe can't help but a let out an amused snort as she holds in one of her usual laughs at the sort of insult to Summer. "I have NOT ability to countermand that claim against Summer King Sven. Not with how many bullets of sent at things with a pulse. Or some equivalent there of," a dark chuckle follows. She wasn't exactly dissecting some of the beasties she'd killed in the Hedge. Or some of the strangies Iron Side. "Hmm, mental note. Acquire drum mag."


She'll bow out from being before the current Sovereign to hang with the Spring Queen for a bit. "Well met Sven," she literally bows before spinning on one foot to head over the picture of Vincent Black. She gives it a slight bow and a two fingered salute out of respect. THen moves on to Sonja with a wave. "Sonnie, hanging around or bouncing along tonight?"

[Kray]

Mina's look of disbelief goes unregistered, the giant could very much believe that going off after hobs alone could get you killed in the hedge. But he does pick up on her question. "Oh. That's good." Pausing. "Uh. What does a show going well look like for you?" That answer could vary wildly. Hefty heavy shoulders. "Uh. Someone was talking more then should have been." The ogre is not subtle about this and looks darkly at Jack. "Uh. But yeah on the whole It was a good time. A little small scale over all maybe. Yeah wouldn't have minded some bigger tricks but hey is what it is." For those a full stage set up would likely be needed.

Sonnie's comment about the time frame got a short answer only because he had nothing more to add. "Uh. Yeah that long ago." Although the nature of the old darkling well Kray had won the right of his words on that score. "Uh. I wouldn't say he was that polite, given it was his insult that provoked the duel and all." And a baseless insult at that.

Jack's sarcastic remark gets a grunt from the ogre. Acknowledged and the beast put out of mind. For all else he might be the autumn king is an ogre and dark thoughts flash about the various ways to help educate the beast if the basics continue to elude him.

A mood that lightens as quickly as it darkened with the appearance of beer, which he does take. "Oh. Thank you King Sven, very good of you." The level of service was unexpected. "Hm. You did to do all that but yeah thanks." He will down the beverage with little effort. "Ah. That was good." Things don't need to be fancy to hit the spot. When the winter king remarks to him however the ogre gets serious again. "Uh. Yeah somethings need to be done proper, and well this one of four nights in the year when those things matter just that bit more." There was a way things were done and reasons for that. He wouldn't claim to fully understand those reasons not yet, but they worked which was more then enough reason. Mighty shoulders shrug again. "Hm. Close as most I would guess, you know you never really imagine losing them do you." Light on details, those were his but still trying to engage the topic of loss and grief. "Bah. And certainly not in the way that it happened." Some lost might still have parents around depending on how long they had been away, the giant seemingly did not.

So Circe had been on about on business matters. And the giant actually snorts a little. "Oh. I don't doubt she is she." In fact that mortal might have more regrets tonight then most. "Hm. Still she should have known better." Even criminals had rules of a sort, proper ways of doing things. Shaking his great head. "Bah. I'm willing to bet she had seen a few to many movies." The movies almost always get it wrong when it comes to that type of business dealing.

[Mina]

Looking to Sonnie, she nods, “Oh! Ok, well, sorry he left then.” That had to be rough for Sven, especially if he wasn’t expecting him to leave or he didn’t say anything.

Sucky.

An absent nod to what Jack says about loss and Winter. She wasn’t big on talking about loss herself, one of those things she chose to keep to herself and mourn alone. Healthy? Probably not. But moving around so much had left her little chance to find someone to confide in and trust in.

Then a warm smile and shake of her head to Sven, “Oh none taken at all! Would you like a hand with anything? It is your night after all, you should be celebrating and mingling with your guests. I would be more than happy to help.” She offers, figuring he would say no, having seen how he had a way about him. A way about seeming to enjoy serving and doing things his own way. But, well, she wanted to offer, cause, yah, it was his night.

As he mentioned the other Winter, “I’m sorry he just up and left without a word. But I think you’re going to do a fine job in his place.” Sounding quite sure of herself.

The wave was returned to Circe, “Glad to see you!”

Back to Kray, “Uh, usually a standing ovation and I can manage to sneak out the back without getting mobbed by kids with thousands of questions.” She got it, kids wanted to ask the ballerinas questions, touch the shoes, get pictures. But she was usually exhausted after shows and just wanted to get home and soak her feet. Catching his look to Jack and tone, “Oh, well, that’s too bad. But glad on the whole it was a good time. If they put on another show, please let me know, I’d like to make sure to check it out this time. Do you have a favorite trick you were hoping to see?” it was curious that a Lost would like magic shows.

Inwardly, she cringed. Duels were never a good time. She’d heard tales of them from her travels between Freeholds. Some of nasty Duels, some of ones that had turned out how no one had expected.

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie blinked, curious as to why Jack kept apologizing to Kray, but there was some sort of decorum she should be following... what was it? She looked around, then saw the Darkling with the Winter Crown and she remembered. "Oh, right! Uh, congratulations, King Sven!" She curtsied in that silly manner she always did it in, like she just saw someone do it on TV and she was mimicking the movements. Monkey see, monkey do!

"Ah, see? If even you didn't know he was gone, than I feel much better!" She nodded to Sven.

She shrugged at Kray, "I said polite, not nice." Good manners could cloak insults, which was old hat to atristocrats.

The odd question from Circe had the Beast with a confused expression, "Have I ever left one of these things early? There's par-tee-ing to be had, woman! A Winter party, sure, but still a party!" To demonstrate, Sonnie grabbed a handful of food from the nearby table and stuffed it in her mouth without checking to see what it was first. "Thee?" she blurted, mouth full and spitting crumbs.

[Circe]

"Ya know it Kray!" She gleefully says in confirmation. "No accounting for stupidity, right?" To a degree at any rate. Circe was quite happy to warn idiots not to buy lemons and then sell them the lemons after they insist. I told you so moments tended to have agreement or being said to a news report about that client dying in a gunfight failure.


"Hmm," she folds her arms and lowers her head in thought. "Hmm," she tils her head from side to side as she thinks on that. "I want to say you have once?" It had been a few years, so it is possible. She could think of several rude reasons having to do with candy, food, or sports. Instead, she goes in a different direction: "Something about entertaining...children? It has been a few years, so it certainly could've happened at least once. Could have been some mundy party someplace too, you've been to a lot of parties."


"Sedate parties are still parties Sonja," she jests whilst holding up one finger like a lecturing school marm. "Unlike a eloquent dinner party where thee must know the etiquette of proper dining utensil etiquette." Then drops the tone back to normal. "Those parties include both a wine and a liquor glass. Tells you how much fun it ain't."


"And no," she shakes her head, "I've no intent to have a helicopter fly by to quick ladder me on board tonight to rush off to a monstrous adventure in the woods. Sorry, but if you are hoping to tag along and fly off to a rip roaring adventure into the world of survival horror," Circe shrugs with both hands raised, "I ain't your ride for that. Just got a Dodge Charger right now."

[Jack Violet]

After his toast was finished he noticed his Queen had arrived. "Queen Circe how are you doing this fine Solstice. I was a bit concerned you would not make it to the festivities." Jack said with a grin as he ran a hand through his always wet hair. "Maybe I can interest you in a drink or two, I hear you are not one to let a party go on without a challenge of some sort anyway."

Taking a minute to see Sonnie shovel some food before chuckling. "How is the food Queen Sonnie, anything I should try." Jack says with a hint of a laugh.

[Svelte Sven]

Sven couldn't help but smile a little at Circe's usual rhythmic antics. He idly wondered if it was a voluntary act before reaching out to put down the beer that she had left unclaimed with him. "Well, it's easy to put labels on Seasons, but that doesn't mean they're always accurate."

He nodded at Kray as he surrendered the bottle. If he had something to say in defense of Withers, he was keeping it to himself. "Some of it is just habit, and old habits die hard and all that." He said of the hospitality. "But I agree about there being a... way to things. And I think that, for my part, being a proper host for the first night I have this crown in the least I can do." Sven took a sip of his own drink before replying again. "Then you were closer than I was with mine, all things considered. I am sorry to hear that you suffered such a loss."

"Thank you, Queen Sonnie." The Darkling said politely. He glanced at Sonnie before a thought occurred to him. He started to summon up the Wyrd as he put a hand over his mouth to invoke the Turncoat's Tongue but stopped almost as suddenly as he'd started. The new Winter King had nearly whispered his condolences to the Beast about her pet but realized that may have been... too much. He liked to think he got along fairly well with the other Freeholders, but he didn't have any illusions about being especially close to them. The words died on his lips and he turned to Mina instead. "I leave that entirely to you. Refreshments are rather... light this evening, so I don't think there's much more than needs handling." Sven pursed his lips for a moment before continuing. "And thank you for the vote of confidence, I hope that I can serve the community well."