Log:Autumn Breakfast

Autumn Breakfast
"Bacon?"
Participants Allen, Ashe, Byron, Poppy	2017.09.03 Ashe is making breakfast for any members of the Autumn Court that wander in.
Location The Caretaker's House
It's just a bit after one in the afternoon at the Caretaker's House and there's the smell of bacon that leads one back through to the meeting room. The doors are open of course. So that helps the smell escape out into the house. The door to the small kitchen is propped open and Ashe is standing at the stove with a fork in hand as she watches the bacon. Uvall is perched in her hair like a bow and he's chittering quietly to her. She's in jeans and a sweater that's a few sizes too big for her, but cooking bacon is dangerous so she's not going to be burned today. One siren comes wandering in from the graveyard and down the hallway, perhaps summoned by the smell of bacon, stilettos clicking on the wooden floorboards. Reaching the doorway to the kitchen, Poppy leans up against the doorframe in an unconscious pose. "That up for sharing or are we appeasing the resident asshole?" When Ashe hears the stilettos there's a look towards the door and a smile, "Hello, Poppy." she states. "And nah, bacon is for everyone. He can't eat it as it is." she muses. "Do you like yours chewy or crispy? Making a bit of both." she tells her as she flips a few pieces over. A rather lazy shrug greets the comment about spirits not eating. "I'm pretty sure that if a spirit is in a demanding kind of mood they don't give a shit about things like whether they can actually eat." Then Poppy grins sharply. "Bit of both works for me, since you're sharing." Pushing herself off the doorframe, she slinks over to peer over Ashe's shoulder. "That is also true, though if he gets too uppity I'm not afraid to banish him to the graveyard for a day where he can ponder his temper." Ashe chuckles to that. Then there's a nod to that, "Got that coming right up. There's plates on the counter if you want to grab one. There's scrambled eggs and potatoes as well." she points to the other skillets. "Have you been settling in alright?" she asks her. Another sharp grin greets that frank assessment by Ashe, then Poppy moves to retrieve a plate as directed before helping herself to eggs; potatoes, it seems, are not of interest to the siren. At the question she nods. "Pretty well. Like I said, I've got a place to sleep and work, and music, so I'm set. Still haven't had anybody puke on my shoes, so I'm still winning." A laugh Is it the smell of bacon that brings Allen to a place that he's rarely been? He would certainly deny it, but he almost always finds a way to around others of his kind when they're making food. Anyway, it's the the way that's important, it's the who and the what. Allen walks into the Caretakers' House, tentatively, like he's afraid someone will be alarmed at seeing a giant, gray-skinned ogre dressed in leathers and carying a ledgehammer on his back. "He... Hello?" Ashe gives a laugh at that, "Hey, if no one's puked on your shoes yet then it's a good start." she tells her. "And good, I'm glad things are going well for the moment." she nods to that. Her head turns and her black eyes lock on Allen, "Hello." she states with a smile. "Come on in, grab a plate. Just finishing up bacon." she tells him. "We can just take plates and sit on the table. Don't think we all need to stand around in here." she muses. "Shoes are important," Poppy informs the Shadowsoul gravely, then laughs musically. At the sound of footsteps, she turns, black-rimmed eyes curious. "Hello, I'm Poppy." A glance down at her hands filled with skillet and utensil, then sets them down before offering him a hand, apparently unconcerned about the potential for crushing. "Nice to meet you." A sideways glance at Ashe's comment about standing, then she smirks. "I will have you know I'm a fucking heathen who stands while eating." The Ogre doesn't need to be told twice. The presence of delicious smelling bacon pushed his usual shyness to the side, at least for now. He takes a plate, adding many crispy pork strips to it and popping the last one he takes into his mouth. "Fank oo," he mumbles to Ashe between chews. Allen's hands are a touch greasy, so he wipes it on his pants before grasping Poppy's. "I Ayyen," he swallows. "I'm Allen. Nice to meet you." He looks between Poppy and Ashe for a moment, taking it in. Is he withdrawing already? There's still so much bacon to eat! Ashe live bat bow waves a wing at Allen, "Nice to meet you, Allen." the bat chitters out. The he goes back to posing. Ashe gives a chuckle to Poppy, "I don't mind if people stand either." she muses. Then there's a look to Allen as he eats and there's a smile, "Nice to meet you. I'm Ashe and the bat is Uvall." she tells him. "Are you new to the area?" she asks him. Poppy seems equally unconcerned about grease, giving Allen a cheerful, if sharp-toothed smile. Retrieving her hand, she takes up her plate before adding bacon to the eggs; finding a clear expanse of counter, she parks herself against it, happily stuffing a piece of bacon into her mouth. "Glad you agree," she says to Ashe once she's swallowed the bacon, eyes sparking with humor. At Ashe's introduction to Allen, she peers at the bat, then waves a greeting at it. "Poppy." Apparently now she's introducing herself to the bat. That bat just talked at Allen. That's something that doesn't happen often to him. Or at all, really. After a moment of processing that little interaction (and eating another bacon strip), he turns back to Ashe. "Yes? I mean, I've been here for a few weeks, I guess." He grins crookedly. "I'm still learning my way around and figuring out who's who." So that's the secret: Ply Allen with food and he interacts with people like someone who knows how to interact with people. Important care and feeding tip. Uvall waves a wing to Poppy, "Hiya!" he states. Then there's a wing slapping the side of Ashe's face before he goes back to being batbow. Ashe gives a chuckle and reaches up to pat her bat, "He's so happy to see more new people." she tells them. "Welcome to Fate's Harvest. A more formal introduction since we've not met. I'm Ashe Whelan, Custodian Elect and Barrow-Tender to the Autumn Court. I'm a Legate with the Legacy of the Black Apple." she gets that lengthy thing out of the way. "We've got some fun Autumn projects going on, so you guys got here at just the right time." she grins to that. The siren hums idly as she takes up a forkful of eggs, the vibrato to the sound a bit distracting; thankfully, it's broken up by her needing to intermittently swallow bites of food. Ashe gets an interested look at the formal introduction, although Poppy doesn't stop eating. She does pause long enough to add to Allen, "I'm pretty new to town myself." "I don't really have any titles or anything like that," the Ogre admits to Ashe, shifting his feet a bit. Learning that he's not the only relative newbie in the area seems to pick up his spirits a bit, though. He bites into his third and fourth pieces of bacon. "I do have a job, though! So I guess I should find a place to live next." Where he's been staying in the meantime is left unsaid, obviously. Ashe gives a look to Poppy and there's a smile to the Siren, "See, lots of new faces." she nods to this. Then she looks back to Allen as he talks and she nods, "We've got rooms here that you can use until you find a place if you like, or there's the Wayhouse as well." she offers. "What do you do for work, Allen?" she asks him. Poppy grins at Allen. "Hell, no title here yet. We can start a club." She laughs at that before eating another piece of bacon with obvious enjoyment. Om nom, carnivore. "Yeah, what kind of job?" she asks curiously. "Construction," Allen replies, "I think they just hired me because I'm... well..." he indicates himself with his free hand. "Big." He clarifies. "I don't really have any experience. I just make jewelry and little statues. Mostly for myself." OH shoot, Allen's bacon plate is sadly bereft of bacon. Ashe chuckles a bit, "You guys are Twilit Pages. It's the title for most of the Autumn Court that don't hold Freehold positions connected to Autumn or other things. So there. Now you have a title." she grins. "Not that you have to use it." she adds. "We try not to divide non-Freehold and Freeholders. So I tend to make meetings for both and things of that nature." she admits. When Allen replies with construction there's a smile, "Very nice." she tells him. "And hey, we all have to start somewhere. So cheers to getting experience." she states. "Hmm. Do you make rings by chance?" she asks him. "There's more bacon if you want some." she offers after a moment. A shrug. "If you can do the fucking work, there's no reason to be down on yourself for it," Poppy says frankly to Allen. "Might as well take advantage of all of the shit that's happened in the past." She finishes off her eggs, then blinks, apparently finally registering the ogre's last comment. "What kind of jewelry and little statues of what?" A sideways glance at Ashe's statement about titles, then she shrugs bonelessly, apparently less concerned about specifics. At Ashe's prompting, the giant takes enough bacon that he's plate is full to his likely without taking all of the remaining bacon. He doesn't immediately start stuffing his face, though, since that would be rude. Questions have been asked and need to be answered. "I make rings, sure," he offers, "and little statues of, like, stone," he replies. "I honestly just carve the wrong pieces of stone away from the statue that's already there." He shrugs. "I like working with stone. It's... easier." Easier than what? He'd rather take another bite of bacon than clarify. Ashe nods in agreement with Poppy, definitely take advantage. She doesn't comment on the shrug about titles. Then Allen is explaining things and there's a smile, "Excellent. I will have to see if you can make a few." she tells him. Then there's a nod to the comment on stone. "You and Byron will get along well I'm guessing. He's another Autumn." she offers to him. Allen's description about his carving is met with a rather speculative look from the siren. "How do you feel about an audience while you work? Because that sounds pretty damn interesting to watch." If she has thoughts on that 'easier' she keeps them to herself. "Byron is pretty much a gargoyle," Poppy says frankly, then grins cheerfully, helping herself to another piece of bacon. Allen pauses mid-chew at Poppy's question. "I've... I've never really had one before," he admits, casting his eyes downward for a brief moment. "I'm.. not sure how that would work." Signs point to him that relishing the idea, but who can say for sure? Mention of the other gargoyle... um, of Byron seems to pique his interest. "Does... does he make statues, too? I had to make a lot of statues," he continues, then stops. Maybe that's not a conversation he wants to start. Ashe gives a chuckle when Poppy asks Allen about having an audience. "I think it would be fun. You guys should do that." she states with a smile. "And yes, Byron is a Gargoyle. His wyrd got stronger and we had to start cutting t-shirts and things for his wings now." she muses. "He is part of the Custodians and a Hedge Warden. He didn't make statues though, no." she shakes her head. The ogre's obvious embarrassment is met with a wry look from the siren, and Poppy seems content to leave the subject alone for the time being, despite Ashe's additional comment. She takes another bite of bacon, chewing contentedly and listening for the moment. "Oh, well, okay," Allen chews thoughtfully then seems to decide, "I guess I'd like to meet him. At some point," he adds quickly. Assuming that Byron isn't hiding in some closet somewhere waiting to be introduced. "Maybe I can help, or whatever." Ashe gives a smile to that, "I'm sure we can arrange that." she nods. There's no Oprah cameras waiting to unveil a large man at least! Then there's a look between the two of them, "Do you guys have any goals or plans that you have? Anything that the Court can help with?" she asks. "August has been a bit busy, but if you need to speak with him we can make that happen as well." she adds. "Are you good at killing things?" Poppy asks Allen curiously, with a glance towards Ashe. "I've heard Hedge Wardens have a lot of things they end up smashing the hell out of on a regular basis, depending on how...active...the Hedge is." At the Shadowsoul's question, the Fairest gives another one of those sinuous shrugs. "Yes and no. Now that I've gotten the basic, pain in the ass shit sorted out, I'm looking to meet more of our people and see what's up. You'd mentioned a freehold last time, I think?" "I.. well..." The Ogre's fingers on his non-bacon-plate-holding hand twitch reflexively. "I mean, I don't really like doing it, smashing things, but, you know," he shrugs, "I'm good at it, I guess." He lets Ashe go on about the Freehold, then adds, "I think I just want to build things. And protect others who need protecting. If I can do both, that would be make me happy." He pauses a bit, then mutters something about masonry or bridges or something. "Always a good question." Ashe nods to Poppy as as she relaxes against the counter and munches on a piece of bacon. "And lately the Hedge has been real active. Hob armies and all." she frowns at that. Then there's a nod, "Yes, Fate's Harvest is the Freehold. It was founded last year." she tells them. Then there's a look to Allen, "I think we can help you with building projects and things." she tells him with a smile. "We don't necessarily get to choose the shit we get to be good at," Poppy says, the harmonics of her voice momentarily harsh, suggestive of a stormy sea. Then with a rather mercurial shift of mood she says, "And there's nothing wrong with taking pride in the things that you /can/ do." His mutterings about masonry and bridges is met with a thoughtful look. "There's always the Bridgemasons. If you want another title." She looks towards Ashe, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "And the hold's involved in figuring out why the hell there are armies, I assume?" Poppy's tone shifts get Allen's attention, but he seems to get the point behind the words. He nods at "Bridgemasons" and titles. "That sounds cool," he admits. And now that part about sharing knowledge that Autumns like so much, especially when it's something might not be so widely known. "Yeah, so, about those hob armies or whatever." He takes a bite of bacon and continues. "I had to fight against some hobs in a tank thing. They had some sort of briarwolves with them that would put 'people' to sleep." He shrugs. "The battle motley or whatever that I was with needed something that could stop that, so I helped them gather up some Jarmyn in the Hedge and made a cola elixir thing." He pauses. "Do you think that's something we should put more work into?" Ashe gives another nod to Poppy's words, "Sadly we don't. So there's no shame in using things from the past." she states. "Just as long as we aren't chucking people into Arcadia." she adds. There's another nod to Poppy, "Yes. I know there's more than a few people working on it." she tells her. Then there's a look to Allen as he explains things and there's a curious look. I think I need to get out there sometime and look around." she admits. "And that concotion sounds like a good idea really. So yep, I'd do it." she tells him. "It sounds like something you'd possibly be a good fit for," Poppy says. "If that's the kind of shit you'd like." At Allen's description of fighting in a tank, she gives him a puzzled sort of look. "Cola...elixer...thing to keep briarwolves from putting people to sleep?" A pause. "...the fuck? Fucking useful," she agrees with Ashe. Then she gives the shadowsoul a thoughtful glance. "Have to be part of the Freehold for that?" Allen smiles big and wide. He has something to do! "Okay," he replies to Ashe, regarding Jarmyn Cola replication. He seems to have forgotten about his plate of bacon for the moment. Apparently there's a breakfast party going on in the kitchen. Ashe is easy to spot as Uvall is playing the part of adorable batbow again. The Shadowsoul gives a look to Poppy, "It does." she agrees with that. "Especially if Briarwolves are putting people to sleep. Not the greatest way to go." she shakes her head. Then there's a look to Poppy and a hrm, "Not sure that you have to be. If you have interest in helping I'm sure they'll take it." she points out. Then there's a look to Allen and a chuckle, "We'll hopefully get to see how that goes." she tells him. Poppy grins at that smile, then finishes off the last of her bacon, contemplating her empty plate absently as she chews. At Ashe's comment, she looks up again. "There's something to be said for not being awake while having your fucking legs ripped off, but yeah, better if they can't get you in that position to start with." A nod at the invitation to help, followed by a wry smile. Byron might be a little late. Okay, more than a little late, since he probably told Ashe he'd come by after a walk through the Hedge. Either way, he can be heard well before he actually appears in the doorway, with those big feed thudding across the floor. The obsidian figure still in MIT sweats pauses to take in the three figures, shooting a more surprised look at Allen, and completely deadpan, offers in his low, deep voice, "Like finding a sock you didn't know you lost. Hello." For his part, Allen seems to be doing a good job of making sure that everyone can see that he's trying not to react to Byron's Mien. "Hi," he offers, looking up at one of the few people in town (in Vermont? In this realm?) who might actually be taller than him. The sock reference seems completely lost on him, but he smiles at the other Ogre anyway, sticking out his hand. "I'm, uh, I'm Allen." Titles? Titles. "Twilit Page." Ashe gives a look to Poppy, "For real though, no leg ripping off while I'm conscious." she grimaces. Then there's a look when she hears the heavy footsteps and Uvall awakens to start swatting lightly at her face in excitement when the Gargoyle comes into view. "Hello darling." the Shadowsoul states to him with a smile. Then she quiets to watch Allen and Byron for the moment. Since they were just discussing them meeting. "Is it the kind of sock that isn't quite a match for its mate?" Poppy wants to know of Byron, apparently distracted from her lack of food by the meeting of the two ogres. The siren is lounging against one of the counters, not blocking access to any of the skillets filled with remnants of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Byron bows his head lightly at the greeting from Allen, "Byron. Ranger of the Thorns and Hedge Warden. Blunt instrument recommended for Hedge trips, more or less." He even smiles a little at that before stepping further into the room, "Poppy. Should I be concerned that I walk in to hear you all talking about ripping people's arms off?" The question finishes in a raised brow and a smile as he stops in front of Ashe, leaning in to try and steal a kiss from her while giving the bat perched on her a light scritch, "I think I could smell the bacon all the way back at the paper." Oh, right, Allen still has a plate of bacon in his hand. He takes the remaining strips and, seemingly without shame, stuffs them into his mouth. Cold now, but still salty and crunchy, which is what really matters. He chews happily, listening to the others for now. "We were speaking on the crazy Hob army that's been on in the Hedge. Not to mention something came up about the Silver Tree last night." Ashe frowns at that. "I'll explain more on that later." she tells Byron. When he stops in front of her there's a smile and a kiss in return, "There's more to cook if there's not enough already." she tells them. "Legs," Poppy corrects Byron. "We were discussing briarwolves in particular." A grin. "But, hey, if you want to think I can rip someone's fucking arms off, I'm not going to stop you." She finally leans over to see if there is any more bacon, and if there is, helps herself to another piece. Ashe's comment about the Silver Tree is given a curious look. "Need to know?" If the last hasn't been taken, the obsidian one is not above reaching out to snag a piece of bacon to munch on, and takes a step back to settle down, crouching back on his haunches where he can rest his shoulder and a wing against the counter, close by where Ashe is busy, "Apparently I missed a few things...will have to catch up. Someone was saying Briarwolves are putting people to sleep? I havent seen any on the last couple of trips, maybe they've just been looking for smaller targets." A Silver Tree is something that Allen's not familiar with yet, so he simply listens for more info on that (if any is forthcoming). He knows about the briarwolves (he brought them up, after all), so he repeats the brief story from earlier, adding "It sounds like the Jarmyn-Cola elixirs would be a big help for any other trips to the Hedge, when we deal with those briarwolves at least." He shrugs. "I need to write up a recipe so anyone can make it if they want. Would that be a good idea?" "It's the name of the former Freehold. There's not been one here for sixty years. Everyone in the one sixty years ago was murdered." Ashe states with a shake of her head. "We're still gathering information on it. But last night we had a breakthrough and we had some...not so stellar moments." she grimaces. Then there's a look to Byron, "That Hob army has something to do with the modified Briarwolves, but yeah..." she nods. Then there's a look to Allen and a smile, "That would be lovely. If you want I will add it to the Freehold library so there's references to it as well." she offers. "That sounds like quite the body count," Poppy murmurs thoughtfully at Ashe's response. "Any breakthrough involving a body count sounds like a potential shitshow; my sympathies." Another thoughtful look. "How many libraries are in the area? I assume there is one here." The siren grins. Byron mmms softly and nods at the discussion, "I'm sorry I missed the fun then, but I will make sure the Court and the Freehold know I am available when someone wants to go looking for further trouble...and it sounds like I had better make sure the axes are sharp if hobs are messing with the Wolves. That's not a good sign at all." Munch, munch, munch. The question about libraries draws a curious look up and over at Ashe. Byron just looks like he should be adorning a library, not educated on them. Something of Allen's in a library? Alright then. "Okay," he replies. The info about the former freehold sounds... not so great. "Maybe I can help?" he offers, looking from Ashe to Byron and back. His fingers twitch again, so he clasps his hands together. "Sadly it seems like it was. I've not gotten a number count past the newspaper article that we found." Ashe frowns at that. "There's one here. The Freehold Library which the Custodians manage and a few others. So lots of places to research if needed." she grins. Then there's a look to Byron, "You don't need to apologize. You had other things going. It's understandable." she smiles to her fiance. Then back to Allen, "Absolutely. August actually put out a call for help as well on things. So if you could contact him as well that would start things off." she tells him with an appreciative look. It seems the siren's finally finished with the bacon, setting her plate aside; she isn't beyond licking her fingers, however. It isn't Allen's offer as much as his finger-twitching that gets her attention, opalescent eyes watching his hands for a long moment before she comments, perhaps somewhat non-sequitor, "You need one of those fidget spinners that kids are taking each other's eyes out with nowadays." Poppy then looks to Ashe, tilting her head. "'Custodians?'" she clarifies. "And I appreciate the information." Byron nods slowly and rolls his shoulders, turning his attention to Allen to offer, "If you find yourself stuck or need some help getting adjusted, if you send me a text or look for me here, I will help wherever I can. I'm not so good with the research, but I might be able to help you find someone that can, or at least come with you to talk to August if you are not confident talking to them alone." August. Libraries. Recipes. Old Freeholds. There's a lot going on, which means there's a lot for Allen to catch up on if he's going to be of use. Honestly, it seems a little overwhelming to him. The Big Ol' Stonehones acknowledges the Siren's mention of fidget spinners with an head cock and then a nod. "I, uh, yeah, that might be a good idea." Of course, that just means his fingers twitch a little bit more, but at least he knows a thing that he can do about it. Maybe. Allen stands for a moment longer, and then puts his empty bacon plate down next to the other breakfast foods. "I'm really sorry, but I have to go," he says somewhat abruptly. "Thanks for, well, for everything. I hope I'll have more info for you when we meet again." He nods his head to everyone and then heads out the door. "The Custodians are a subgroup of the Freehold that I lead. We are collectors, protectors and keepers of knowledge. Or as some like to put it, keepers of super secret knowledge." Ashe muses a bit. "No problem. I'd rather you be a bit more aware of things than not." she states. Then there's a look to Byron and a smile as he talks to Poppy and Allen. And then Allen is leaving them. There's a smile to the other Ogre, "Be safe in your travels, Allen. We'll see you soon." she offers with a wave. Poppy nods, black-rimmed eyes interested. "It sounds like the kind of thing that I might like," she admits. "So I suppose there's incentive to join the Freehold." As Allen abruptly excuses himself, she gives him another curious look as he goes before turning her attention back to the others. "Seems nice enough," she offers. "May or may not be more broken than the rest of us, but." A shrug. "That's always been a shitty barometer." Byron rumbles, nodding once at Poppy, "Joining would make some things easier as a group, but those who choose not to are not 'difficult'. We just have to be careful what we can and cannot say around them, is all." The observation about Allen has the obsidian gargoyle looking after his vanished fellow stone figure, then curiously back to Poppy and Ashe, "He sounded functional enough, but I only just got here. He is okay so far?" "There are more incentives to joining the Freehold than just the added layer of protection. We have a lot of resources at our disposal. Of all kinds." Ashe admits with a bit of a smile. "He seems a bit shy. Or not sure how to act around so many people, but seems like he's a solid guy." she states. "That wasn't a pun." she adds quickly. Then there's a look to Byron and a smile as he talks, "I'll be right back. Need to check back with Garrett real quick." she tells them as she heads into the meeting room proper to grab her phone. "Could be shyness, could be nerves," Poppy adds with a shrug. "Hard to say; it's the first time I've met him." Ashe's inadvertant pun is met with a peal of laughter, and the siren shakes her head, even as she waves to the retreating shadowsoul. Byron snerks softly at the 'solid' comment even when Ashe says it wasn't a pun, instead just grinning at her and calling, "Uvall, bap her with a wing for that please, and there's jerky in your future." Who is he kidding, Uvall knows he's getting jerky regardless what he does. Byron instead winks at Poppy and asks, "You are doing well settling in, yes?" "Ow." can be heard from Ashe as the bat DOES whap her for that. She comes back a few moments later, "I need to run for a bit, but you guys can stay and talk and things if you like. I'll stop back in on my way home and see if you're still about, alright?" she looks to them. "As much as I can 'settle' anywhere, I am," Poppy says cheerfully, picking up her plate and carrying it to the sink. "'Settle' is a hell of a passive word." As Ashe returns, she nods. "Good luck with whatever it is," the siren says. "Hopefully it's uneventful." Byron grins at the soft ow and murmurs, "That's my boy." He looks up curiously when Ashe returns, and bobs his head, "Of course. Be careful, and I have my phone on me if something comes up and you need help?" With that said, he flashes a grin at Poppy, "Well, at least to where you have a haunt or two you do not mind, and a handful of people you believe will not be trying to stab you in the back for a pretzel." Interesting criteria the gargoyle has. "I'm hoping as well." Ashe tells them. Then there's a smile to Byron, "I'll call if we need anything. Just need to run through some things real quick." she states. "You guys be safe." she tells them as she reaches out to give Byron's hand a squeeze before she turns to head off.