Clear skies and mild weather accompanies the settling nightfall over Chicago and, by extension, Six Flags Great America this night. Only a spare few clouds scuttle across the darkening horizon as the usually packed park shuts down its operations for the evening, and opens its doors to the Lost of the city. Here and there, they filter through the winding alleys of the amusement park, past silent attractions and locked up gift shops as they slowly converge on the Old Haunted House.
Within they gather in twos and threes at the 'Banquet Hall Scene,' their venue of choice when it comes to these monthly meetings weighted with such import. A motley cast of characters is already assembled at the long table in the center of the room, but it less than it was at their previous meeting. Rook, the towering Lost of carved obsidian watches the comings and goings of the hall with a quiet, simmering glower, his massive arms cross over his granite chest. Thomas, the majordomo and third in command after the Queen herself scratches at a stack of paperwork with an old fountain pen, largely ignoring the rest of the room and its occupants. Finally, beneath the table lurks a shadow with teeth, cat-like eyes bright, round, and blue as they peer out between a chair no one has yet been brave enough to occupy and stare unblinkingly at a banquet table that is slowly filling with potluck-style offerings.
Solomon is dressed in his Court finery - which, in this case, means a better-tailored black suit and a tie with an embroidered, gold scarab. He also brought snacks, once more. This time, several large catering trays with cake shakes and hot dogs from Portillo's, a Chicago staple. All the sugary goodness of milkshakes, blended with rich chocolate cake, and then the dogs just to make sure there's absolutely no calling this 'healthy'. And, proving that he does learn from his mistakes, he makes sure to grab a shake and hot dog for himself, before the swarm descends.
Then he moves to get a decent seat, with a clear view of the leaders of the Court. It's possible that the reason he takes a seat closer to where Rook glowers is showing solidarity with Autumn. Or maybe he's just keeping an eye on the hulk of a man.
Miel is shy. That is, it's not a defining characteristic, but tonight, blithely gifted with an invitation to come and find //people like us//, he is doing so, but the aspect of his marble and mica skin loses some of its allure, muted beneath the sweatstained collared shirt and shabby skinny jeans, and he's taken the pageboy off to mangle it in his hands, so his starlit eyes and dark hair are free of guise as he -- lurks. The food is absolutely drawing his attention, but someone already made sure he ate today, so he's not immediately swarming Solomon's tray like a starving man. He still seems fascinated, maybe by the base concept of cake shake. It's strange, when you think about it, isn't it?
Elias wanders his way into the banquet hall, his guitar case strapped to his back and a large tupperware container held flat in front of him. He's dressed as is usually when he's feeling casual, a dark black tee and a pair of tan cargo shorts. New hiking boots, though, unmarred and unscuffed. The tupperware lands on the table and he peels back the lid to reveal barbecued ribs and wings, a little jumbled from their trip, but still warm.
He also doesn't repeat the mistake of last court, and immediately grabs himself a plate which he loads down with food, some of what he brought and some of the other offerings spread about. As well as one of the shakes. Then he's turning to scan the crowd, and makes his way to take a seat near at least one somewhat familiar face in the form of Solomon. "Doc." He says cheerily as he goes through propped his guitar up before sitting with his meal for the evening.
Fancy clothes for the Fae-Touched, just a skateboard, some cut offs with frayed edges, and a lightweight hoodie with a tank top beneath it. Kicking the board up, the tiny terror tucks it up under her left arm and heads to join the gathering numbers. For now, Delilah is contented to find a spot to wallflower a bit, nodding to a familiar face here and there, and lifting a hand to Solomon in a half wave.
Everyone knows those really bad sugar cookies with the super fake artificial frosting where you can get two packs of a dozen for five dollars when they are on sale, right? Well, guess what's on sale! Enjoy!! Ji-Ho deposits his finest offering and then takes someone else's really better offering as he grabs a hot dog and a seat. He's side-eying the table like he's gonna go back for seconds if anyone leaves him alone with the good stuff as he lurks like with an air of studied quiet and aggressive unobtrusiveness.
Light and the subtle warmth of high summer filter and refract through faceted glass that retains an unnatural fluidity as Jacob enters. A respectful dip of his head is offered to the Summer Queen, held a moment before he shifts, captured light glinting once more as motion takes him and he makes his way further into the venue. Seaglass eyes of blue and green flit about, taking note of those who have arrived and continue to do so, his attire modest in the face of some of the more striking attendees.
Maya arrives! And while the button-up black top french-tucked into those jeans are quite nice and all, it's still jeans and boots and a somewhat nice top. Still, there's actual product in her hair, making it look extra damp today, and her general casual confident attitude pulls the look somewhere into 'acceptable.' A crossbody bag holds what looks like a sizable water bottle - at least 2L - and has a little zipper from which two drumsticks peek out. And even as she walks in and looks around, at least half of her attention is spared for leaning towards Lyra, who she walks in with, and saying in a not-quite-whisper, "Think it's way more crowded this time. Think it's because people are less terrified-- wanna risk getting close to the table before the horde snaps it all up?" She wonders. There's half-grins and hands raised in greeting for any who look her way.
Having taken some time before night fell to watch over a looming ferris wheel, and, at some point between then and now, having managed to find a source of cotton candy -- blue being the color of choice, the lump of spun sugar nearly the size of his head - Isaac arrives at the court, brass fingers staying away from the sugar that might clog them as he hovers near the entrance, the recluse looking for any faces he might find familiar as the first pieces of conversation fade in. He made an effort -- his hair has been brushed, and he's put on a blazer, despite summer heat.
Solomon's grumpy expression lightens when he sees Elias. "Hey. Going to play us a song when things get boring?" he asks, not //quite// sotto voce. He offers Delilah a smile and a wave, then looks her over. "How's the kitten?" As he notices Maya, there's a quick wave in her direction, as well.
"A lot of new faces. Or else ones that didn't come out last time." Elias observes as he takes a scan around the room, picking up a wing and quickly de-meating it, those bird of prey eyes never stopping in their scan of the various faces. "Maybe." He says to Solomon as he drops the bones on his plate. "We'll see if I get banished from the court for doing so."
It's impossible to know if Razi is dressed for the occasion or not; he is in the sort of role where businesswear is the norm, but, on the other hand, the three-piece suit he wears /is/ nicely tailored. His smile is polite for those already in attendance, whether he knows them or not, and he foregoes the spread of food as he takes a seat.
It's impossible to know if Razi is dressed for the occasion or not; he is in the sort of role where businesswear is the norm, but, on the other hand, the three-piece suit he wears /is/ nicely tailored. His smile is polite for those already in attendance, whether he knows them or not, and he foregoes the spread of food as he takes a seat.
The warmth of summer means shorts and a simple tank top paired with some sandals for Lyra this time. Her curls bounce freely at her shoulders as she walks at Maya's side, a warm smile curving the bow of her mouth pleasantly as she looks to those Lost gathered, giving a nod here and there to familiar faces. "It does seem that way, huh?" she says with a lean toward Maya as her amber eyes flick toward the table. "You can go ahead if you want. I had way too much pasta salad for dinner." Her ever-present umbrella remains closed, tucked close and careful to her body as she allows Maya to steer their direction for now.
As more and more food offerings begin to people the banquet table, Miel has slowly adopted a new mask: that of the person who came to the potluck without any food, and is now internally plagued about the etiquette of eating. He catches murmurs of conversation around him that sound amazingly - distressingly? - normal, and he drifts along the edges, trying not to get too close to anyone for the simple reason that he's hyperconscious of what his shirt probably smells like. His eyes are definitely scanning for signs of the familiar, or maybe -- just... scanning.
Solomon snickers to Elias. His voice is low but not inaudible as he says, "You ever heard of how penguins test the water for killer whales? They all press up to the edge and push each other around until a few fall in. If those don't get eaten, then everyone comes out. After what happened, I'm sure some people wanted to see if a Court could happen without people getting chomped." The feelers at the corners of his mouth twitch and dance with the amusement in his tone.
Well, there's a face that he can recognize. With that, Isaac walks in the direction of one Lyra and one Maya, falling beside the former as they look for seats and nudging at her with an elbow without actually looking at her, making a point to take just that moment to take a bite of cotton candy so that the blue fluff disguises his features.
"I knew you couldn't trust penguins. It's always the cute ones that end up being evil. Like dolphins." Elias does raise a hand to wave at Maya, but doesn't call out across the room to her. He does raise his voie a bit though. "Those of you eyeing the food might want to grab some, it has a nasty habit of vanishing without a trace." Then back in a softer tone. "No need to be mean, after all." He says as an aside to Solomon, taking a slurp of his shake.
Ji-Ho, perched near enough to Elias and Solomon to catch a few words here and there reveals his eavesdropping in an obnoxious manner: "Maybe you just didn't notice," he says through a mouthful of Solomon's own hotdog. NO MANNERS. "Notice I'm sitting behind you, though, just in case."
Zachary idles around the edges of the room. He wears jeans with enough holes in them to functionally be shorts, but - possibly fashion? A couple loose shirts layered, with just a few feathers sticking out at his collar, but his belt and boots are nice. He catches sight of Miel and watches. He's been before, of course, but not enough to be much of a presence.
After momentarily taking his fill of inspecting those present, Jacob finds a seat, settling in next to Razi as he offers the autumn wizened a smile, "Mind if I sit here?" He's already seated, but his words are polite as the smile turns playful, "Thanks. You've been good? It's been a minute. Maybe even two."
A sound like stone scraping against stone emanates from Rook as Solomon takes a seat near him, and it becomes obvious after a few seconds that it's supposed to be a grunt of greeting. Despite this outwardly 'friendly' gesture, his countenance doesn't change from that darkly cast frown that he turns on everyone at least once when they step foot into the room. Meanwhile, Thomas' attention is still stuck firmly on his paperwork as he largely ignores the gathering crowd with a serene indifference, paying only the slightest bit of attention to polite trivialities that are sent his way while his focus remains ever on that dwindling pile of parchment.
Then, with a quiet signal, Rook unlaces his arms from over his chest, Thomas sets down his fountain pen, and both rise to fix their eyes on a side door near the head of the filling table.
After a few seconds, the door opens and in sweeps the marbled Summer Queen Marybelle, dressed in a gown of flowing silk that just barely reaches the floor as a bright and shining smile graces her face. There is a blissful ignorance in her gaze, a faraway look of happiness mixed with a lingering confusion that she sweeps over the gathering crowd. Following in her wake just a few steps behind is the mouse-eared Real, her chin turned slightly upwards as she dips a quick nod to Thomas and Rook and moves to take a place by her Queen's side when she arrives at her throne.
There is a dignified pause that hangs heavy in the air as Queen Marybelle stops in front of her seat, looks about the room, then suddenly plops down into it with a child-like lack of grace and a soft laugh. "Hello everyone!" she calls out, waving quickly before she catches the look from Real and has the good grace to look admonished while she settles quietly and the mouse-eared attendant steps forward. "Thank you all for coming," she starts, "Please take your seats."
With that, Thomas and Rook settle back down as Real begins the proceedings with a simple question: "Before we begin, does anyone have anything they'd like bring to the attention of the court?"
Does Solomon nearly jump out of his chitin when that voice happens right behind him? Oh yes. There's a muffled curse - that turns to a //not muffled// curse when he notices that his hotdog is gone and Ji-Ho has taken it. He turns around and glares. "That was //mine//." His teeth bared with irritation, he might be about to escalate this--
But Court is formally in session, and he just gives Ji-Ho that 'I'm watching you' gesture before turning his faceted eyes back up front. His drink is coddled in both hands; no one's getting his cake shake. There's a sniff, and a shake of his head at Real's question.
Lenny grabs a seat near the back; dressed in jeans and a dark blue vest and a white t-shirt. He arrives seconds after the Queen starts talking, which seems like a good reason to just quick find his seat, like the proverbial kid who arrived late to class.
Maya gives a little half-grin at Lyra, brushing her hair back as she looks - with open curiosity and zero subtlety - towards the more unfamiliar faces. But her footsteps lead her to the familiar - where Solomon and Elias are standing. Her grin widens as she approaches, hands in her pockets, and there's that occasional, subtle glints of shine as she walks closer - a shimmer down her hair, a glint along her brow. And then she's bumped, and she looks in that direction, frowning - but then there's just cotton candy, "Whoa, dude, better be careful. Lucky it's me." She says with a grin, before looking at Lyra, opening her mouth-- but then there's things /starting/, and she just looks around to go sit any old place that's convenient, sinking in her seat with fingers laced over her stomach, lest someone call on her or something.
Gabriel is trying to make new friends. It’s not that he has trouble making friends, but he hasn’t branched out to others like himself. So Lenny suggested they attend court, and he reluctantly agreed. Of course that means dressing up, which he isn’t against. He’s in a pair of dark slacks, and a grey vest, with a clean black t-shirt underneath. He has a large round black hat over his equally dark hair and carries a large tray of cupcakes from the Chateau of Lovely Tarts. After depositing them on the food table, he’ll quickly find a seat before things get properly started. He is the late kid to the class and takes a spot in back.
Miel takes one of the milkshakes. It's probably the least nutritious offering here, but he's fascinated. He looks up again, and catches Zachary's eye, trailing him, across the room. He smiles sheepishly, and it is this aspect that trails him as the proceedings are actually called to order. He has no time for decision paralysis, he just claims a seat that no one else is sitting in and tries not to jiggle his foot too noticeably as he hunches like a stone vulture over his cup, wide-eyed and uncertain but clearly interested. Oh, is this near the front? That seems bad, but he's committed now. He wiggles his cup at Solomon because they match. Same drink! Like same hat! Not same hat, though. Miel's hat is in his lap.
Razi actually makes the mistake of opening his mouth to answer Jacob, but it doesn't matter whether he accepts the request or not; Jacob is already sitting. He then makes the mistake of starting to say, "Well--" as if to answer the /next/ question, when Rook and Thomas both rise to their feet, and he reflexively rises as well. Of course. Watching the Queen's entrance with respectful attentiveness, tracking her journey all the way to her seat before he finally sits back down.
Elias looks behind him at Ji-Ho, grinning just a little and about to say something, but court is soon beginning. Instead he holds his plate out towards Solomon, since set among the other things he grabbed is a hot dog, should the professor want it, since Elias gives a nod of assent. There's a look around the room as Real calls for any business, and for a moment he actually seems about to raise his hand.
Ji-Ho's eyes go real wide in a look of absolute innocence that would work better if ... he had eyes ... and not an unsettling void space of nothing. He crams the hot dog in his mouth before anyone can take it from him. He settles super casual in his seat, the absolute opposite of someone who would like to bring anything to the attention of anyone as his gaze roams and searches those present.
Zachary gets distracted watching a void cram an entire hot dog into its void, but he has no business so that is no loss to anyone.
Real lets a few seconds of silence hang in the air after her question, eyes flitting quickly around the room as she waits for anyone to take that opportunity to step forward and bring forth business that concerns the court. As no one steps forward, her gaze flicks back the other way and she gives a quick nod of acceptance as if checking off a mental box. "Very well. I have an announcement then, that concerns a venture brought to the Court's attention by the Summer Courtier, Rachel Cohen," she continues, lifting a clipboard she holds in her hand so she can read the contents of the top page out: "In an effort to protect the metaphysical holdings of the Chrysanthemum Freehold, she has expressed an interest in organizing patrols into the Hedge in order tame the local surroundings as best they can be tamed, and to look for evidence of any of our lost brothers and sisters. She seeks volunteers to accompany her on this noble quest which has been endorsed by Queen Marybelle herself." With that, she glances up from the clipboard and once more scans the room.
"Will any step forward and pledge their aid to this undertaking?"
Jacob is quick to rise from his own seat, following Razi's example. However, as his queen plops herself down in her seat, a sympathetic glance is cast in Real's direction as the summer elemental swallows a small, but never-the-less amused, sigh. A quiet aside is offered to Razi as he settles once more, bright eyes capturing the light of the room, "Were you always a man of so few words?"
The waggle of Miel's cup gains Solomon's attention for a moment, and he gives Miel a narrow eyed stare for a moment, before there's a cautious nod of greeting. Elias' offer is blinked at, and his expression softens even as he shakes his head. "That's yours. Just be sure to guard it well," he adds, with a jerk of his thumb back to the oh-so-innocent voidface of Ji-Ho.
When Real speaks he quiets to listen. Then, raises his hand. "I'd be happy to help with patrols and information gathering."
Miel sits up straight, his foot scraping against the floor. Curious, he bites down hard on the curve of his lower lip, and raises his hand. "I think I could help," he says. His voice has less volume behind it than he intended, a low murmuring of falling leaves and dying wind falling from his mouth, but his jet-threaded fingers are there, putting himself forward anyways.
Elias shrugs as Solomon refuses the hot dog and settles back into happily eating as he listens to the proceedings. Oddly, he does seem to relax a little as the first order of business is brought up, then after a moment's thought he raises his hand shortly after the man seated next to him. "Might as well."
Namdi, for his part, arrives with just as little fanfare. The Ogre's dressed in a black button down, blue jeans, and dirtied up black tennis shoes. His gleaming gaze goes over the group as he takes his own seat, and quietly sets himself down. It's when the question comes from that he lets out a sigt through his nostrils, and quit literally steps forward after standing back up straight again. "I would commit myself to this as well."
Ji-Ho twi-i-ists upon his seat, as if caught by a hook of curiosity that might very actually bring him to his feet. In the end, it just tugs his hand, which is raised to flag his interest.
"Hm?" Isaac asks Maya as he pulls the cotton candy away from his face, seeing Maya and blinking, holding a hand out to her in greeting as he realized he bumped the wrong one. "Don't think we've met. Isaac," he says, then takes a seat with the others as he listens. Numerous other volunteers have already spoken up for the Hedge, his own hand now rests on his lap.
Lyra's focus rests firmly on Maya as she follows her friend's lead toward Solomon and Elias. There's a look of recognition at Elias during the approach but that nudge from Isaac distracts and she stumbles in her steps. "Oh, I'm sorry--" The apology is automatic as if she were the offending party before her head turns, and she realizes who it is, her smile brightening further. "Hi, you. I'd say fancy meeting you here, but--" she gestures to the assembled crowd of the Lost-kind but then gestures for him to follow as she moves to claim a seat, falling quiet as Court starts.
And then she raises her hand. "I can help, too."
Lenny lifts his hand in the back, and stands as well, though doesn't speak up. Willing to help, but for the time being feeling a bit taciturn, he nevertheless offers a quick smile.
"On the contrary, I have a very large vocabulary," Razi replies to Jacob in a lower undertone, so as to not interrupt the meeting. /Deadpan/ is not exactly the right word for it; rather, the humor is so subtle as to be all but imperceptible. The question posed does have him pausing. Considering. "I don't know if my strengths would lend myself to the endeavor, but if there /is/ assistance I can offer, I'll do so readily."
"On the contrary, I have a very large vocabulary," Razi replies to Jacob in a lower undertone, so as to not interrupt the meeting. /Deadpan/ is not exactly the right word for it; rather, the humor is so subtle as to be all but imperceptible. The question posed does have him pausing. Considering. "I don't know if my strengths would lend myself to the endeavor, but if there /is/ assistance I can offer, I'll do so readily."
With others near him volunteering, Isaac lifts up his own brass hand, motioning down at himself with a little nod that he, too, will be included in the Hedge roaming.
Look at Lenny raising his hand and standing to volenteer for something. Gabirel? Keps his hands to his side and his ass on his seat. Nope, he was there once, that was more than enough.
Phrases like "noble quest" and "Queen Marybelle herself" sink their teeth into Jacob's attention, his light banter with Razi falling away as he rises once again, right hand finding its way to his heart as he offers an actual bow, "My sword for my court and queen." He holds his position for a long breath before his back straightens, his hand falls away and he seats himself once more. He doesn't turn to look to Razi, but there's a very slight rose-tint to the sculpted glass of his ears.
Maya doesn't look particularly interested in the Hedge or its travels, though when Lyra volunteers, Maya straightens in her seat and looks towards her with a thoughtful look, one hand brushing her hair back. "Huh?" She says, distracted as she looks back towards Isaac, "Oh, yeah sure man, no big-- wait, YOU'RE Isaac?" Regardless of the very noble volunteering and brave questing going on about her, Maya instead focuses on Isaac with a large grin, "Dude. I've so wanted to meet you, man. I'm Maya." She tries to keep her voice down, at least. "It's so cool that you're doing the hedge thing, man." Her attention goes between Lyra and Isaac, "Both of you." Sure, others are around, but she's chatting with these two. There may also be a long, pointed look at Lyra, with brows raised, trying for some sort of psychic communication.
As Solomon's hand goes up, Real nods once to him, then again to Thomas whose fountain pen hasn't stopped scratching across a pile of parchment since Real bid them be seated. Clearly, the Notary is taking notes, and as more and more voices offer their aid, each name is recorded in the Wizened's tight, neat scrawl upon the page. Rook, in the meantime, makes another grunt that sounds like stone scraping upon stone which draws an annoyed look from Real but doesn't break Thomas' concentration for even a second. Seemingly swept up in the outpouring of volunteers, Queen Marybelle beams brightly at the rest of the Court and is halfway out of her throne with the words: "I volunt-" dying on her lips when she catches yet another sharp look from Real. With a slight harumph and sigh, she settles back down and returns to silence as the voices of the Lost continue to call out their support.
Finally, Real raises her hand to silence any more volunteers and call out over the crowd: "Your commitment to the safety and prosperity of the Freehold is noted and appreciated by the Court and the Queen. If any more wish to volunteer who have not already done so, please let Thomas know after Court."
With that concluded, Real then sets aside her clipboard on the table and continues, her face now taking on a more serious color as she steps out from beside the Queen and begins to slowly pace down the length of the table. "On to our next business... In the same meeting where Rachel expressed her interest in patrolling the Hedge, it was brought to our interest that she, along with several others, were confronted the other night by one of our own who had returned after a long absence." Her gaze flicks over to Elias and Lyra, lingering on both a moment before she continues: "Apparently, this lost brother managed to escape the attack on our Freehold some months ago and has recently reemerged from the Hedge after being taken captive. His mental state is apparently... degraded, and it is the Court's belief that he is a danger to himself and others. He has also, apparently, been propagating the notion that there may be a traitor among us, and is known to have joined the newly arisen Freehold in the South."
And so he confirms, "I'm Isaac," with a grin and a wan smile, nodding his head. "Lyra mentioned you, said you're a musician of more than one stripe?" Keeping his voice low to try not to disturb the rest of the Court too much, he says, "I like to poke my head in, now and then, anyway. Might as well do something for the Freehold while I'm at it," though a sense of a cool wind howling accompanies his words. He might be about to say more when Real's attention turns to one of his conversational partners, and he's smart enough to catch that, his eyes whipping to her as he leans back in his seat, taking another bite of the cotton candy as he listens.
Ji-Ho leans forward as Real's gaze lands on Elias. He avoids Solomon's gaze as he looks sidelong at Elias and hisses, "I'll trade you two cookies for that story sometime." It's not a good deal.
Solomon makes a thoughtful noise, his attention now fully on Real. "It does seem to be a reasonable suspicion," he admits. "For the Freehold to be attacked as we were, at a moment of vulnerability, suggests inside collusion. And we know it's not impossible. Have we been able to talk with this person, see if he's willing to share any details or evidence? For that matter, talking to the southern Freehold for additional information."
Miel's voice was more quiet than he intended before, but now his straw is more noisy than he intended. Traitor shake. He sinks lower in his chair and gnaws on his lower lip, eyes flickering. The word 'traitor' is never not worrying.
Elias meets Real's gaze as it passes his way and gives a solemn nod. Well, as solemn as a nod can be with a hot dog in your mouth. Court etiquette is simply not for everyone. But he frowns a little as he chews, thinking things over. After a moment. "We did encounter him inside the park as well, so he's aware of the Freehold's location as well. Damn good fiddle player, though."
Razi's brows inch upwards at the news of a Lost brother and his claim of a traitor amid the Southern Freehold. His lips thin, but his gaze is thoughtful as he glances to Solomon for his contribution. "I do have some talent from parsing truth from lie," he offers. "Although /truth/ can simply be what someone believes. If this lost brother of ours is /impaired/, then it may very well be /his/ truth."
Zach's feathers fluff up along his shoulders at the talk of a traitor, bristling out past the neck of his shirt. He folds his arms around himself, following the discussion with nervous interest.
Jacob casts a glance at Razi as truth becomes philosophical and his brow furrows. In this discussion, however, he remains silent, listening to the more thoughtful considerations of others of the Freehold.
After a moment, Lyra remembers to put her hand down, fingers squeezing the handle of her umbrella once more. A glance is spared so she can look between her two companions as they exchange pleasantries. Still, her long ears twitch and turn to catch the conversation outside their little grouping. The laughter that wants to bubble free from Lyra remains suppressed as she bites down on her bottom lip, but nods emphatically at Maya as Isaac answers the question of whether or not he /is/ in fact, the Real Isaac. Her smile falters only when Real's gaze flicks toward her, followed by Isaac's, but the rabbit-eared Lost nods solemnly. There's a wince though at Solomon's words as she turns then to look toward the professor. "Some of us have spoken to him," she says softly but then nods at Elias's words about the encounter. "But while it seemed to be in riddle, or madness, he spoke in, there must also be glimmers of truth to his words." A sigh there, sadness in her amber eyes. "Games within games."
When Miel comes to understand that the treachery in question is specific and attached to a person in particular, the tension that drew his statuesque frame taut eases off almost entirely. It is possible that somebody was expecting a much more //random// accusation of treason, based upon experiences that were, unfortunately, rather recent. He stirs his milkshake around, listening with curiosity now in lieu of other anxieties shadowed out of memory.
Solomon makes a thoughtful sound as various people speak up. He considers those in the room, and nods, slowly. "I see. Of course, riddles and allusions are also means by which to stoke suspicion and mistrust, as they are so easily read into." His gaze flicks to Elias, then Lyra, and there's a rueful twist of his mouth. "I don't supposed he had any handy signed confessions or taped negotiations with Privateers on him?" His tone is light, but just a touch bitter, as well. Traitors are never //convenient//.
"Well, he did admit to making a bargain to escape captivity, which according to him was, from what I can tell, some of his sanity. So, how much we can trust him?" Elias just shrugs and takes a sip of his shake, the slurping through the straw a bit on the audible side as he looks over to Solomon, then back to Real. "I'd just avoid any haunting sounding fiddle music unless you're in a group for the time being."
Real continues, her pacing still taking her slowly down one side of the table before she loops around the end and begins slowly walking back up towards the head. "As was mentioned the last time we met," Real notes with a nod to Solomon, "The possibility of a traitor was considered. However it is now the position of the Court that such rumors are being spread by the Southern Freehold in order to destabilize our unity and spread doubt and paranoia through our ranks." Her gaze then flicks to Elias, then Razi, nodding to each in turn at their contribution. "There is a possibility he himself is being deceived by another. However, due to his abilities and talents, we believe it would be unsafe to approach him."
It began so subtly and so softly that it's hard to discern exactly /when/ Real's words gained the enhancement of a dancing, twisting violin solo, lifting and spinning with her emphasis and drifting down into soft valleys of near-silence with her lowered tones. Even she herself seems to be unaware of it at first, as it begins to turn her words to the more fanciful and dramatic, and she almost seems to be giving a speech before an assembled army before she even realizes what she's doing.
When finally she notices, the mouse-eared Lost stops in her tracks so suddenly that her foot is literally still hovering above the floor, mid-stride as the haunting violin begins to increase in volume and pace as if panicked now that its been discovered. A murmured curse slips from Real's lips as she moves back towards the head of the table and Rook slowly rises from his chair to look about the room. Each note hangs heavy in the air, lingering long after it should have faded as the music reaches a hauntingly somber crescendo, and the door suddenly opens to emit a man made of glass and captured wind. Through translucent skin etched with fanciful notes, a howling gale blows up and down his limbs. He wears a harlequin tuxedo, discordant colors of purple and red and blue meeting in odd places all over the elaborate tailed outfit. Tucked beneath his chin, he plays a violin formed from captured moonbeams, its strings liquid crystal as he draws his bow across them and summons forth that haunting song.
At his appearance, Rook steps out from the table and takes a sudden step forward, but the new arrival takes an immediate step back to maintain the same distance, yet he turns it into a spinning, elegant bow as he completes his song and thrusts his arms out to either side of himself in a flourish. "Ladies and Gentlebeings of the Chrysanthemum Court... It is my absolute pleasure to see you all once again!" he tells the floor, his body still bent in half in that absurdly low bow that he slowly rises out of, shining a smile as bright as the sun upon everyone in attendance as Queen Marybelle suddenly begins to clap furiously in approval.
Ji-Ho leans forward to ask Elias in a hushed, hasty whisper: "Just checking, two questions. One: is that the haunting fiddle music? Two: does court count as being in a group?"
Miel very carefully puts his milkshake down on the floor next to his chair. He's not sure what to do here, but he's pretty sure that cake isn't going to be high on his priority list for the next few minutes.
Sitting on the outer edges, Zach jumps up and scrambles away from the sudden bursting door, all the way across the old tracks. This could possibly be taken as a disagreement with the violinist's idea of pleasure.
Solomon goes tense as that haunting music is heard. His fingertips with their sharp, serrated ends curl as his eyes dart this way and that. His little feelers draw into nubs, as if trying to protect themselves from getting cut off. When the violinist arrives, he rises to his feet and falls into a defensive - very nearly //offensive// - stance.
"Huh. A+ Foreshadowing, 5 out of 5 stars," Lenny murmurs, arching his eyebrows as Elias' 'stay away from the haunting violin music' becomes: hey, check out the grand entrance of the person we're apparently worried about! The serpentine fellow exchanges a wry look with Gabriel, then settles back in his seat in a way that looks deceptively relaxed. But the flickering blue gas stove flames of his mantle certainly do leap briefly to life.
Seeing the new figure come in, his eyes sweeping over the coat, the glass skin, and that violin, Isaac's skin goes a little paler as he lowers the cotton candy from his face. What was once a general sense of mirth about him has fallen away, his grip a little tighter on the paper stick he holds, studying the violin as if trying to find an answer to a question he won't speak aloud.
"It would be the smartest way to spread a lie like that," Razi says in agreement with Real, when she notes the possibility that the Lost in question might be being deceived himself. "Avoid the sorts of magics that would spot a direct lie--" And then he, too, stops, brow creasing at the rise of violin music; by the time the newcomer bursts in, the line of his spine is noticeably and /excessively/ tense.
"That would be it, yes." Elias hisses in response to Ji-Ho's question, every feather on his head and arms sticking out in annoyance as his tail lashes behind him hard enough to make an audible smacking noise against his chair. He flicks open the lock on his guitar case and pulls out the instrument. Readying to start playing against any more violin music. Who knows if it would even work, but he seems intent on trying should it be needed.
Jacob shoots up as well as the melody begins to flood the venue, hand extended briefly as the sound of glass stretching, pulling and taut, begins to build from his hand. He is halfway over his chair and moving toward the figure before the Queen claps. The sound of her approving response halting his forward advance, the faceted light and glass that had almost come to hand, fading. He looks in Real's and then the queen's direction, seeking guidance.
Maya's been listening, looking at each speaker in turn, brow furrowed as she follows the questions and responses and options. Her head tilts when she notices the music, looking towards Real with open curiosity... then towards Elias, leaning to see if he's doing it, then looking around 'furtively' (she's not very furtive) for who might be playing. Then, of course, there's that sudden entrance, and she jumps a little in her seat, before she stands up and looks over - openly curious, not yet worried. She looks back towards Isaac and Lyra, "See again? I haven't seen him before. You guys?" She asks, only half-whispering. "Neat instrument, though." Her hand casually rests on her crossbody bag, fingers tapping lightly against it.
"Unfortunately not," Lyra says softly to Solomon, "that would've made things much neater." She doesn't add anything to counter Elias's words, her smile no longer present as her mouth twists into a frown. Still, that sadness lingers in her gaze until she looks away back toward Real as she addresses the Court once more. The music perks those ears and sends them turning and flicking this and that way as she looks around for the source, only to give a little gasp when the man makes himself known. "Barnabas." Her gaze shifts then to those around her who are moving and shifting as tension begins to fill her slight frame, a hand coming to rest on Isaac's, gently, if the other Lost allows, before she looks to Maya, worried.
"Barnabas," Rook snarls like a curse as he fixes the Elemental of glass and wind with a look that might have shattered the other man if it had a physical force to match its intensity, "You've got a pair on you if you think you can just barge in here." He steps forward again, and again Barnabas steps away, though this time he angles it so he's moving diagonally away from the table and not back out the door he just entered through. "Hold on there, Rook," Barnabas calls out with a sing-song voice, clearly attempting to be placating as he holds up his hands in surrender, "I'm more than happy to take requests. There's no need to get all excited." His eyes flicker over the very tense atmosphere his sudden arrival seems to have made, and he even steps back again as Jacob starts to advance as well, before he too stops.
"Capture him," Rook snarls at all the Lost near Barnabas who seem ready and willing to do violence, but the Queen's voice suddenly cuts through from the back where she's been arguing quietly with Real -- until now, at least -- "Don't! Let him play some more!" Real calls out a tense: "Queen Marybelle, please..." but the Queen simply shakes her head and gains a firm note of command that makes her sound more like a child making a demand than a figure of leadership. "I said /don't/. I /like/ Barnabas."
With that 'announcement,' Barnabas straightens up and smiles brightly once again, "Ah! A fan! Allow me, my Queen, to sign an autograph for you." He takes a step forward, but Rook's glowering presence forestalls him after a single stride. "Well..." the musician starts with a cough as he meets Rook's gaze, "Perhaps another time..."
With another cough, this one meant to clear his throat and draw attention towards him, apparently oblivious to the fact that almost every eye is on him already, Barnabas brightens again and strikes a pose. "My fellow Lost, I come with great news! Your leaders..." He pauses, letting silence hang in the air for a moment in what is very clearly an attempt at heightening the drama of the moment.
"Are lying to you!"
When Barnabas takes that step towards the Queen, Solomon skitters to the side to ensure that there are bodies between the fiddler and the monarch. He twitches through various levels of hostility between Rook's command and the Queen's, and finally settles on something tense and coiled. His cake shake has been abandoned. Very sad. And on that dramatic declaration, he raises an eyebrow. "...about?"
At least he seems willing to listen?
Like the penguin from behind, Ji-Ho is all set to poke Elias and Solomon and go, "Ask why--!"
But Solomon is already doing it, and Ji-Ho resists his urge to push anyone into the water, when they are willing to so bravely dive in headfirst.
The giving of a name to the being in front of them seems to ease Isaac some, and when Lyra places her hand on top his, he lets out a breath he had not realized he was holding for quite some time, before shaking his head at Maya. "No," he says softly. "I haven't seen him before. Was just checking to make sure --" he starts to say, but then the being is offering his pronouncement, and the Queen is ordering him to keep playing. The announcement that they're being lied to has him blink once, though her remains a little tense as he watches what's playing out in front of them.
Miel rises from his seat, rolling his shoulders back. He pretends away the sweatstained shirt and shabby shoes, at least for the moment letting himself imagine they don't matter any more than any detritus of older mortal shame. He stands straight and tall, stance widening, eyes bright with a captive glimmer. His fingers flex and curl at his sides and his weight shivers between his feet, not quite settled. "Everybody lies sometimes," he says, "especially to themselves." He glances behind at Ji-Ho, his glance stuttering on the fathomless void.
Elias moves as well, putting himself facing one of Barnabas' sides, maybe starting to try to box him in along with Solomon. His talon-tipped fingers already on the strings of his instrument, as those avian eyes stay fixed on the intruding elemental. He doesn't begin to play, but his fingers twtich, ready to start should Barnabas bring up his bow. No words come from the winter, though, just an icy silence.
Maya also follows the interplay between the three speaking head honchos-- andthen when Solomon asks the question they're all thinking, she points at Solomon, before looking at this Barnabas guy. The 'what he said' is obvious.
On the one hand, the Queen has said to leave Barnabas be, on the other hand, he has accused her of deception. Jacob is conflicted, but appears to lean toward loyalty over punishment, though the hand at his side clenches in anger as the heat of summer begins to radiate a bit more strongly from him.
"Anyway, that's all I had to say. Take care!" Barnabas calls out, as he turns on his heel and starts whistling his earlier violin music as he starts striding towards the door. Rook and Real seem too stunned to reply while Thomas continues to furiously record notes. The toothy shadow beneath the table just watches in silence, and Queen Marybelle herself seems more disappointed that Barnabas isn't playing anything else.
"Dude, seriously?" Maya looks apalled. /Apalled/. "The fuck. I've had /questions/ with more details than that!" She complains.
Solomon's eyes narrow as Barnabas drops that lyric bomb and looks to exit stage left. He bares his teeth, and it looks as if he wants to chase the man down, and his eyes twitch towards Rook, one barely-existant eyebrow rising.
Razi's gaze...narrows. There's a shift and whisper of power as he gestures, something subtle but precise, as magic settles and cloaks about him with a rustling of dry leaves. There. Much better. His chin lifts, and before Barnabas can disappear /completely/, he asks so very politely, "I don't suppose you'd mind repeating that?"
"Nope!" Barnabas calls back to Razi just before he disappears through the door.
Real and Rook exchange a quick look when they snap out of their stunned silence, then Rook nods and points to Solomon, Jacob, and Elias in turn. "You three, with me." Then he moves away from the table and rapidly begins to head for the door to chase after the retreating Barnabas. Queen Marybelle seems about to give another shout of protest, but Real just settles a small hand on her arm and calls out to the rest of the Lost: "As you can see, Barnabas' mental state has rapidly deteriorated from when he was a respected member of this Freehold. With luck, we'll be able to help heal his mind and set him to rights, but I urge anyone who encounters him from this point forward to act with caution. He is crafty, talented, and old, despite appearances. At one point he wore the Chrysanthemum Crown. Do not take him lightly."
She sighs and gives a shake of her head, clearly saddened as she offers in a quieter tone: "It is a true shame to see how far he has fallen." She then looks to Razi and nods to the man, saying: "Hopefully they will be successful in taking him into custody and you can help us question him."
Miel settles his weight back on his heels again, shoulders wilting from the ready poise of a moment ago. Slowly, he eases back into his seat, sliding one heel beneath the chair as he tucks himself down.
A curt nod and Solomon uncoils into movement, falling in with Rook. He murmurs beneath his breath, a soft chant; the sound of his Mantle increases, taking on a decided 'pissed off wasp nest' tone.
Ji-Ho is suddenly left without anyone to shadow as Solomon and Elias are peeled off from the pack. He lifts Solomon's abandoned shake (just helping keep things neat!!) and glances sidelong as he scopes someone else nice and solid to sit behind. Meeting Miel's gaze, he starts to head in that direction and ducks down behind him to watch the PR spin.
Elias seems almost stunned as Barnabas makes his proclaimation and turns to go, his lips pressing together into a thin line of clear annoyance. There is a moment of blinking surprise as Rook picks him out of the crowd, but he gives a single nod, his jaw set firm. He does shift the strap of his guitar so it hangs on his back rather than in front of him so he can fall into stride with the group more easily, shifting a silent look in Solomon's direction. Though as he does so he digs into his pocket and pulls out a white strip of cloth, tying it around his wrist as he mutters something under his breath.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Razi murmurs in respectful reply to Marybelle, although there is certainly a tension that lingers as he watches the more martially inclined rally to try and chase him down. There is a current of frustration at his spent magic not quite finding purchase, but at least now if anyone tries any /polite lies/ about the /snack selection/, //he'll know//.
Jacob looks quickly to the queen before giving Rook a nod and immediately moving to follow the other Lost, anger simmering in the warm light that fractures in the glass of his form.
With Court proceedings largely upended by Barnabas' sudden appearance, announcement, and then prompt departure, Real lets out a heavily weighted sigh before raising her hands for silence and attention. "That is all for tonight, I think. Thank you all for attending." With a gesture, she bids anyone who isn't already on their feet in outrage to stand before urging the Queen to stand as she resumes her quiet argument with the clearly frustrated Marybelle who keeps throwing glances towards the door.
Thomas, quickly attempting to recover some semblance of order as the ranking Lost still in attendance, starts calling out for any who still wish to volunteer for the Hedge Patrols to gather around so he can take down their names.
The toothy shadow beneath the table, it seems has disappeared in the chaos and confusion, as has a large portion of the remaining snacks and food left on the banquet table.
"Well then," Isaac says, finishing off the last of his treat before he stands up, a thoughtful frown on his face as he glances at Lyra and Maya to see their reaction, then back to the stage, his jaw set tight. "Dinner, either of you?" he asks. "I should probably eat something besides literally pure sugar."
Maya looks vaguely exasperated, one hand pushing her hair back and then flicking a wrist so the water collected dissipates into nothing. "What an amateur. He could've done a lot better with his staging." Maya seems more miffed than anything, and it takes her a moment to glance at Isaac and make a noncommittal noise, still distracted-- but then she double takes and perks, "Dinner? Yeah, sure, absolutely. Lyre was gonna invite you over to eat one of these days anyway. I'm Maya. Uhh, wait, you knew that. but yeah, we could eat." As if there wasn't a (admittedly rapidly disappearing) display of food on the table nearby. "I don't think anybody needs me for anything, we can just bounce."
Not a lick of that risen tension dissipates from Lyra as Barnabas makes his exit. It only grows as the order for pursuit is given, and she lets out a slow exhale of her own. Finally, she looks at Isaac, almost startled, before she gives a slow nod. And then pauses and shakes her head, "Not dinner, no. Coffee?" A flicker of a smile manages to come back to life with another nod, and the tension slowly drains away from her. "We should absolutely do dinner or something sometime," she agrees, with another look between Maya and Isaac before she rises to her feet. "But since it seems things are quieting down, I'd be at least happy to accompany you both somewhere." Whatever the choice, Lyra waits for the pair of Isaac and Maya to be ready before either following them out, or departing herself.
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