Steady rain is one of the more tangible factors in making this Monday evening especially dreary. Exhausted from the weekend and not wanting to be out in the weather, the streets and stores are even less busy than normal. The main area of the Crossroads Cafe is hardly bustling, but the back room is another story entirely, if not an opposing one.
The back room of Crossroads Cafe has been reserved for a private party for a book club. The book for today's meeting is Chicken Soup for the Soul. Inside the windowless room are posters of the book, Jack Canfield, and Mark Victor Hansen. Round tables have been pushed together as best as possible, and the president of the book club--Ian Percy Freely (also known as Cornelius Rex)--is sitting at the table with a pad of lined, yellow paper, a well-read copy of the book, and three sharpened pencils. A pair of generic reading glasses are hanging from his collar. He glances at his pretend watch, claps his hands together, and nods his head. "Showtime." Getting up, he moves to the door and opens it wide while clutching the book to his chest in the other hand. There is an eager, childlike glee in his eyes and a nerdy expression on his face.
Not usually the one to be fashionably late, Darby shows up not long after the energetic book club wrangler opens things up. Wearing a lavender sweater, some peach-hued ankle pants, and flats, she could be the poster child for frugal, second-hand store shopping. Her hair is up today, a dried bloom matching her sweater is tucked behind one ear. To top it all off, a billowing scarf loosely circles her neck a few times but still trails nearly to to her knees. Over her shoulder and diagonally across her chest a small purse hangs low against one hip. Darby steps into the room and looks around at the empty tables with something of a wry expression touching at her brown eyes. Cornelius earns her gaze, finally, and she takes in the be-spectacled look, even if he isn't wearing the things. "Rex." is her simple greeting as she stirs to movement once more and heads over to where he is busy-bodying. http://7wallpapers.net/wp-content/uploads/10_Alicia-Vikander.jpg
There is one small figure bounding in from out of doors, seemingly already damp and soaked through with rain. The girl is barefoot, wearing a very long hoodie over a pair of biking shorts as if it were a dress. Well, she looks like a girl to most eyes, in fact running along quickly on clawed feet towards the back, arms wrapped over her middle.
To one of the servers in passing, Ziv calls out a familiar and quick, "Sorry!" as she goes. As she pushes past Cornelius into the back, she calls out a quick series of, "Sorry Cornelius, hi!"
"Ms. Nash. Ms. Girl." Each of the turnouts are given a formal greeting with a respectful nod of the head. "I'll have you both know," Cornelius says as he puts on the reading glasses in a stuffy manner. "I am Ian Percival Freely II." It is a correction made purely to make corrections, as there is not another soul within earshot. "Please enter. The meeting shall begin presently." He sniffs as he lifts his chin high. The door is held open wide to usher them both in, then closed behind them faster than a gate closing a protagonist into a boss fight. It is closed quietly, however. "Please make yourselves comfortable. There are refreshments on the corner table." A tube of Pringles and a pitcher of some ambiugous red drink.
Darby quirks an almost-smile and moves to take a seat somewhere near where Cornelius left copies of the book and the legal pad. She's not one to crowd, however, if someone arrives who didn't read the book, why should they get to listen in? "My soul got tired of chicken soup. I hope you're serving something else for the meeting." She starts to unwind her scarf but stops to watch the petite figure fly through with apologies and disappear from sight before resuming the task and neatly folding it into a square. After crossing one knee atop the other, Darby lays the neatly folded material atop her knee and drops the knuckles of one hand into the palm of the other upon it all. "I hope Hazel and Six are planning to attend, this evening."
Ziv actually ran from the entryway to the Crossroads, into the backroom, and now stands catching her breath slowly with her arms still folded around her middle. She blinks, owlishly, at both Darby and Cornelius and then rotates one ear off to the side, before picking a chair and sitting in it. Something moves about even with her chest, as if her breasts had a mind of their own, but then soon stills. Reaching up a wing-hand, she sweeps some of her soaked hair out of her face, and then says to Cornelius, "Apologies. I had to..." She doesn't finish the thought, but instead gives a nod with Darby. "So do I. I don't believe I've um... met Six, though?"
"Thank you for coming, everyone," Cornelius states as if there are more than two other people present. "We are going to start with a quick introduction of ourselves. I'll go first, and we'll just go around the room from there." He takes off the reading glasses, drops them onto the table, and thumbs himself in the chest. "I'm Cornelius T. Rex, and I'm new to the area, new to this freehold, and new to hosting meetings of this sort. I'm a Pisces, I'm fair to middling about long walks on the beach, and I'm pretty damn amazing at hopscotch. I'm a Knight of the Dragonslayer, my favorite color is yellow, but I prefer red drink over purple drink, and purple drink to lemonade. He points at Darby. "Take it away." He has a seat and immediately leans back on the rear two legs.
Darby reaches out a hand once their impromptu leader has begun speaking and steals away his pad and pen or pencil. She glances over to Ziv to offer an introduction. But Cornelius begins to speak, so she closes her mouth and offers a formal-looking nod of greeting and the familiarity that comes with sharing an acquaintance or two in common that isn't so cold in her brown eyes before turning her gaze back to the horned knight wearing glasses. The mention of 'everyone' has Darby flicking a glance to the doorway from the main rooms briefly. But Cornelius' autobiography-slash-horoscope regains her attention yet again. It's good to be the facilitator. If one likes attention.
The visual passing of the talking-stick her way as if they were running an AlAnon meeting sketches Darby's brows up again. "Darby Nash," she replies in a voice that sounds as though it has that edge of a rasp idiosyncratically rather than by nature of a cold or an old injury. It's not so very unpleasant, after all. Some might even call it melodic in its own way. "I've been here nearly six months to the day. My last meeting was in Summer. I make a good cup of coffee in most of its manifestations. I have not signed my contract with the Family Business, but if tonight goes well enough, I might consider it. I'm allergic to technology, or it is to me, depending on how you consider such things. And my favorite things include Italian food and causing hurricanes." She adds, "I work part-time at the University Athletic Center." Most of this is spoken in Ziv's direction, Darby's gaze bordering intrusive in the visual inspection of the slight creature.
Ziv's ears shiver and twitch as she listens to the introductions of the two, though a sly, sideways glance is given to Cornelius with his introduction. She still, politely, listens to the other two and nods along in indication of listening - as if the constant perk of her ears wasn't enough. When Darby keeps eyeing her, though, she starts to do so back - regarding her intently.
Then, the focus breaks when the next speaking slot is passed her way - as if there were anyone else to fill it other than the batling. "I'm Ziv Allendale," she introduces herself, in a melodious voice that's now less shrill when she's not rushed. It's still a bit high-pitched, though. "I um, don't know what my Zodiac sign is... and my favorite color is green... I'm uh, with the Custodians in the Freehold; but I don't belong to any outside groups... work as part of the collective at Cat-22, in Fort Brunsett..."
"...And I've been out of the Hedge about three or four months now," Ziv finishes that thought, maybe feeling it's important. "Been here a month... two?"
"Darby and Ziv--seriously guys--thanks for coming." This is the more sincere manner of speaking that Cornelius uses; casual yet inappropriately warm for a Winter at a court function. "A few notes!" He snatches back his pad of paper from Darby, pulls out a sheet folded behind the last page, and gives the pad back to her once more. "Our next meeting is slated to take place in our actual Court, so make sure you've done your swearing to the Freehold. Contact the monarch--AKA Stitches AKA Big Grins AKA Oogy-Boogy--to make that happen. You can get a hold of her through the Wayhouse."
"Also!" Cornelius refolds the paper, "We're going to vote some people into vacant court positions like... right now! So." He folds the paper into an airplane faster than most people could crumble it up. "The current unfilled roles are Archer of the Lonely March, Lord of the Inhospitable Chamber, and Sun Banisher. None of these are roles that can only be held by one person, but..." He makes a wincing face as he nods. "It'd kinda be good to have at least one person in our traditional roles slash sacred duty positions, right? Opening the floor to nominations. For purposes of brevity, give all your nominations at once should you have any. We'll vote at the end. I'd like to start by nominating Selina Navarra for Sun Banisher."
The particulars of Ziv's ears -- and the rest of her form for that matter -- holds Darby's attention until the pad is stolen away. She flickers a look of either irritation or amusement at Cornelius, then regains the pad with a pleased expression. It looks as though she is doodling idly as she listens. "And thank you for calling the meeting, Rex." It seems like the appropriate moment in the courtly liturgy for a response. And it's better than 'And also with you'. She doesn't seem particularly bothered by the return regard: perhaps she even approves of it. Mention of a vote tugs an almost smile to her lips once again. At least they are an odd number. And there are nearly enough of them to fill all the positions, if we're not counting the Councilor position. "Are there any not present who are suited to the roles?" Darby inquires with a strange bit of formality to her words, though she doesn't look as if she's intending to sound that way or putting on airs. "I fear I will have to abstain from voting. I have net Selina Navarra." A glance to Ziv once again.
Ziv's ears are ever in motion, and she somewhat narrows her eyes at Cornelius as he calls for a vote. She doesn't seem entirely thrilled by the idea, but soon blinks a few times, perhaps debating. An uptick of her chin, then, and she says to him, "I think we should propose nominations, but perhaps leave it... um... an open vote for a week or so. Since... not very many of us have made it. This is the first Winter meeting I've... been here, too, and I've only recently... started to meet other Winters." Her dark eyes slide over to Darby then, and she sniffs the air a few times, before focusing back on Cornelius. "I know... the call was put out a while ago; but it would still be better to get the rest of the Court involved. As we may."
Speak of the devil, and she doth appear. While she's late, Selina doesn't seem to be in any particular hurry as she slides out of her black raincoat, leaving it somewhere near the door. The woman's dressed in a pair of knee-high combat boots that have dark wash jeans tucked into them, a shortsleeved tee of black with a neckline that gives glimpse to the tattoo on her chest. Dark hair flows, and golden eyes flick this way and that, like she's casing the place. There's no smile of greeting - maybe because she has no mouth. But there is a dip of head, a flick of ear.
Nathania walks into the meeting late behind Selina, dressed in a sweater of slate grey that match her eyes and blue jeans. She brings a plate of home-baked cookies and sets them beside the pringles and red drink, politely. And then she nods to Ziv and Darby--the familiar faces--with a warm, dolly smile, before looking to Cornelius and Selina inquisitively. "No... Hazel or... Six?" she asks in her slow, hesitant way, voice soft. She seems disappointed.
Cornelius looks at Ziv with not even the slightest bit of offense taken at being second guessed. "While I understand your sentiment, I want to point out that Winter is Coming." He pauses just a moment there for dramatic effect. "Once it is here, our monarch can freely remove or assign volunteers from these roles. This voting is an emergency measure. We have less than a season to prepare. Waiting a week for others to vote is far too long. Ideally, these people would have had a year to prepare for winter. Now they have scant weeks and I will not deny them another. This, I feel, is a situation where it is better to ask for forgiveness over permission."
Seeing the door open, he looks over to give a welcoming nod to Selina and Nathania in turn. "Hey, Selina. You've just been nominated for Sun Banisher." To both of the new arrivals he adds, "We are giving everyone a chance to nominate people to currently unfilled roles. Archers of the Lonely Wastes, Lords--and Ladies, too, of course--of the Inhospitable Chamber, and Sun Banishers. Please introduce yourselves and give nominations."
Darby looks up from the legal pad she's, apparently, sketching on as the meeting progresses. One seat is between herself and Cornelius as he rocks precariously back on two legs on and off. Three seats of the ten-seat table are between herself and Ziv on the other side. "I agree --" she begins when Ziv speaks. "-- to both the sentiment of a representational vote and the urgency of its conclusion." Whatever she might be about to say next is pre-empted by the arrival of Selina and Nathania. "However, the problem may have solved itself."
Ziv is settled in her chair, leaning forward in it now with one clawed foot on the floor, keeping pressure off her tail bone. At present, she looks bedraggled - wearing an oversized hoodie like a dress, over biking shorts, and no shoes. The dampness she had earlier has turned into frost in her hair, freezing in her mantle for now. As she readjusts, the portion of hoodie around her chest... -moves-. What, are her boobs waking up? A wing comes up to stroke that part.
"Oh, hi, Nathania... and um... hello," the latter is said to Selina, of course, but then she bobs her head when Cornelius mentions she was nominated for something, "Hello... Selina... and that is fair, you're right. I, um... for Lord of the Inhospitable Chamber, I'd like to... tent-t-tativerly put forward... Count, maybe? I don't know him personally, but he... might be suitable." Her eyes slide to Nathania, as if the ragdoll Fairest might help.
"Cornelius," the coyote greets, as she turns to look at the one who is coming up behind her, sharply on heel. Eyes zip over her, taking Nathania in, before she slidles over to a place that still gives her good vantage of the exits. "Selina Navarra," she offers. "Knight of Utmost Silence, most recently of Chicago." Her voice holds no accent. "Taurus, and I'll take moonlit walks in the forest over ones on the beach. I'm bribed by good scotch, steak, and pretty shiny things." Those golden eyes flash, and she dips her head once more. "At your service, of course. I just got here recently, and I've hit the ground running so I've not had the chance to play meet and greet beyond my run-ins with Cornelius. So I don't have anyone to nominate but myself, for Sun Banisher. Cornelius, of course, would make a fantastic Archer. I've not experienced his interrogation abilities to nominate him for other."
Nathania shrugs. "I know... Count. He might... do well in a position... like that." She sinks into a nearby chair with a cup of red drink and nothing to eat. No pringles, not even a cookie. She looks around. "There's a local... position. Moirologist--it's... basically supporting... the Sun Banisher or Banishers... in their role, but also... holds the funerals... for the Freehold." She tilts her head. "I'd like to put.... myself forward... for consideration." She flushes. "But of course," she murmurs, after listening to Selina's intro. "I'm... Nathania Winters. My birthday... is coming up, but I don't... know my sign. I've lived... here for a few months, and before that--Aleswich, Maine." She shrugs. "I'm married, like.. to knit, and... read a lot."
"Three nominations have been put forth?" Cornelius sounds as if that is a question as much as a statement. He wants to make sure he does not skip anyone. After a glance around, he stands up. "Selina Navarra was nominated for Sun Banisher. Count was nominated for Lord of the Inhospitable Chamber. Nathania Winters--super appro-pro surname--was nominated for Moirologist. Miss Nash," he looks at Darby, "Please track the votes." He looks over the room, "We have more important things to worry about than hurt feelings. Let us vote openly. You can give a reason if desired, but can abstain or vote without giving reason. You can vote for yourself. There are five people here. Three votes secure a position." He looks at Darby once more. "I vote yes to Selina for Banisher, no to Count for Lord because he is not here, and yes to Nathania for Mor- Mori- Moir-o-lo-gist. Damn, gotta practice that one."
Darby flickers a glance up over the makeshift sketch pad in her hands at Cornelius. Does she -look- like Miss Moneypenny? Well, perhaps she does. But still. The sketching motions shift to marking that could easily be writing. Lines drawn. "Bearing in mind how little we know of one another, if there is recourse for removing individuals from positions should they prove ... unworthy, I second the nominations as they stand. And if there is no Councilor, I put your name forward, Rex, as such." She doesn't -quite- agree with Cornelius, seconding the vote for Count on Nathania's word. But should others agree to give him the leading role, then she's superceded her own vote in at least one case. Now Nathania receives a warm enough nod and it's Selina who earns the longer span of visual inspection from across the table, given that Darby's back is indeed to the door.
Ziv is quiet for a while, mostly listening to the others but every so often -watching- Darby with dark eyes. She blinks several times, afterwards, and then flicks her ears before noting with a, "I... -think- we might have a Councilor." It is one of the things she'd know; she's been to Court and all of that. A few times. "I'll... second the vote for Selina, I believe, but also vote for Count because I trust Nathania's word, and I think Nathania would be a good choice to be moir....rrrologist. Are we going to be able to fill these positions, later? I'd... well." She hushes, and then lets the vote go on.
"We do have a Councilor, yes. Charlie O. He reached out to me, a few nights ago. I have some nibblits from him, for after this," Selina speaks up. "I, of course vote for my nominations of myself and Cornelius. Nathania, I support in her request for ...high wizard supreme as I am shit with all that real-world occulty stuff. Rock on. Count, I agree, isn't here. If he wishes the position, he can come forward. Ziv, you'd what?" A questioning look of golden eyes, before they swing around the room once more. They don't seem to focus in one place for very long.
Nathania nods. "I agree... with Cornelius. Selina is yes for... Sun Banisher, and I... obviously vote... for myself. Count can show up... if he wants... a position, I think." She flushes a little as she does this, though. "Thanks," she murmurs to Cornelius at the compliment to her last name. "We have... a Councilor. His name... is Charlie O," she murmurs softly, gently to Darby. She nods at Ziv. "Yep. He's... a busy guy, but we... have him." She flushing at the trust to her word, but, eh. She blushes easily. She smiles at Selina and nods. "I look forward... to getting... to know you, Selina, and working.. with you... closely."
"If my math is correct," Cornelius begins with quite the unsure expression. Math is apparently not his strength. "That makes more than three votes for Selina, myself, and Nathania. Count got two, so if he shows up at the next meeting I'm certain he'll be voted in if he wants it." He looks around as if seeking confirmation. "Any alibis?" As soon as he asks, he gives Ziv a most pointed look. "Any alibis, Miss Allendale?"
Darby doesn't speak up as Cornelius confirms the vote or inquires about alibis. Some hashmarks are made on the paper and the strokes of the pen seem to return to more 'sketchy' forms.
"...Alibis?" says Ziv a bit dumbly in answer, apparently neither comprehending nor actually having an answer for that. At least, not at this very moment.
Selina's head dips, and she looks to Nathania. "I look forward to working together as well." There's a tone of smile in her voice, even if her face does not allow for it to show. "Fantastic. That's one order of business, out of the way. Well, two if we count some introductions." She finds herself walking about, just a shy of pacing. Maybe no one ever told her that meetings involve sitting.
"Apparently not!" Cornelius gives Ziv an upnod and asides, "We'll talk later, alright?" Less of a question and more of a statement this time around. He sits back down. "Next on the agenda...." He looks down at the paper airplane he folded, picks it up, and tosses it over towards the bin. It swoops right in and he gives a small yet victorious smile. Looking back, "We have Winter Market, Embers to Ashes, Nameless Mourning, and... maybe a Winter Masquerade coming up in the next handful of months. Nathania Winters, you're officially in charge of getting the ball rolling for planning Nameless Mourning. I need volunteers to start the preliminaries for the market, embers, and a possible masquerade. Do I have volunteers?"
"I will work with any who are interested in arranging Embers to Ashes." Darby finally speaks again.
Selina doesn't volunteer for anything, but she does glance to Cornelius in a certain way. "Not a people person," she reminds. "You'd be better handing that to someone else." A shrug of her shoulders, a sort of 'what can you do' feel to it. "As for Charlie O." Wait, wasn't this Corny's meeting to lead? "Like I said, he's reached out to me. The reason that he's not here is he's working on some stuff on the Dee-el. He asked me to express his concerns over people that are all talk and no action. I believe that he'll be pleased at what we've been able to accomplish, already, tonight. He also says to be careful who you trust. There's the group called the Soundless - we don't know a lot about them, but they seem to have some mild favor for Winters. So be on alert."
"Good to know, but..." Cornelius sucks in a breath and speaks more bluntly than he perhaps should. "Actions do speak louder than words. As do a lack of them. Thank you for sharing that," he tells Selina. Looking over at the notekeeper's doodles, he summarizes, "Winters for mourning, Nash for ashes... Rex for market and ball." He gives the group a wink. "Always did like markets and fancy parties. Alright. That covers the basics. The next meeting will be held in the Winter Court thirteen days and twenty-three hours after the beginning of this one." He opens his copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul and reveals that it is hollow. Inside is an old gavel, which he lifts. "Opening the floor. Does anyone have anything else to present?"
Darby pauses her sketching to mark a few things down that coincide with Cornelius' statements. "I'd like to know what in particular to watch for in regard to these 'Soundless'. Were you given anything other than a name, Ms. Navarre?" Darby inquires. She taps the top end of the pen against her cheek thoughtfully as she waits for a reply.
"They're the other Freehold in the area," Selina offers. "About 25 miles west of here. I don't know much beyond that. Only to be wary of them." She lifts that shoulder again. "I think that we're expected to do some of our own information gathering, there."
"I'll look into them," Cornelius promises quite casually. "But lone scouts are for books and video games. I'm going to need a hand so, I nominate Ziv Allendale to Archer of the (not so) Lonely March. If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your p-" He tilts his head thoughtfully. "Is it piece with an 'i' or peace with three 'e's? I think it's saying hold your peace, like hippy peace, rather than hold your piece like 'keep a hand on your gun'. Right? Right." Distraction complete he hits the table with the gavel. "Meeting complete."
Darby shoots a mildly irritated at the gavel as if it were the one to interrupt her questioning about the group. But Cornelius nomination-without-room-for-objection doesn't seem to bother the Runnerswift. She marks another thing on the pad between a growing denizen of sketches. "And that is that, hmm?" A little hum on the edge of her breath and she looks to Selina again. "You are familiar in some way I cannot quite place. But you pull off a certain ..." She lifts the pen in her hand to absently gesture her je-ne-sais-quoi. " ... shroud that I admire. What do you think of this city? And before you concern yourself with tact or alliances, know that I have none outside of this room. Not here." Nathania and Ziv head off to discuss something as Darby returns to her pen-to-paper, eyes on Selina now and again.
There's a not too delicate snort from Selina at Cornelius' declaration, and her nose shows signs of a scrunch. "Hippy peace," she offers. "Though I advocate the first as well." There's a flick of her eyes towards Darby, and the coyote's ear twitches a bit. "I'm not sure. Maybe we've run into each other on the street or in the woods. As for this city? I don't know enough to pass judgement, at least not yet. Soon, though, I'm sure that I'll be plenty judgey."
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