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It's Spring, so the Spring Monarch makes themself available. The partly-cloudy day in the mundane world carries over to the Hedge, though the wind bites a little bit more than the wind rushing up the urban canyons of Center City. The chilly, slightly-damp wind means that when Ari sits outside the Spring Monarch's cabin, they're wrapped in a massive, hand-knit fringed shawl, done up in intricate patterns of spring greens and pastel flowers. This one's new, and Ari seems content enough, sitting in the Adirondack chair built specially for the Elemental's broad frame. Cradled in their large hands sits an earthenware mug, the heavy sort usually made by women with dangly jewelry sitting in front of pottery wheels at their weekly beginner's class.
You know, the sort of "rustic" mug which doubles as a bludgeoning weapon.
Anyway, whether Ari is specifically waiting for someone or just relaxing, they remain settled contentedly in the chair, their strong Spring Mantle rolling out little carpets of tiny white flowers, the scent of lily-of-the-valley, and an earthy, loam-like undercurrent, like death giving way to new life, but present all the while.
Alex has known how to make her way to the Freehold Hollow for years, though for a long time she wasn't capable of making the journey, even if she knew how it was done. And yet, today, here she is, stepping through the Hollow's entrance. During the day. Evidently no worse for the wear, despite not being nearly covered up enough to keep the sun off of her. It might be cloudy, but there's still sun!
Isn't she a vampire? How is she even able to open the entrance into the Hollow? Good questions!
Inside she looks around and then cracks a smile. As she starts walking toward the Spring Monarch's cabin she seems to relax with every step, like someone who has been a long time from home and is finally back.
Looking just a bit underslept, Artie's normally pale face has soot-like black bags beneath his eyes. The molten orange of his red hot veins a tad duller than usual.
He's dressed simply in a zip up hoodie, and gym shorts as he approaches the cabin with a yawn. "Hello um... Ari sir?" He says slowly, the smallest twinge of nervousness in his voice. The sudden realization that he'd never actually spoken to the Spring monarch directly before. How did they like being addressed?
Not to mention he had a sneaking suspicion he was gonna get in trouble though he didn't know why just yet.(edited)
Lux had come along with Arthur when asked, showing up on their own, just a few minutes behind schedule--cause Lux is never fully on time for anything. They come in through the Winter door, trotting along cheerfully towards Ari's cottage--then stops and stares as they see Alex, glowing eyes going wide. "What the fuck... Alex???"
"Never gendered address," Ari begins, gently, to explain to Artie -- but then, Alex. The Spring Monarch has largely the same reaction to Alex's arrival as Lux does, but with less cursing. "Alex!" There's a note of alarm in their voice, followed by, as they realize Alex is not burning up, a wary, curious, "That had better be you, kid."
That, rather unusually, almost sounds like a threat.
Their hands tighten slightly around their mug, and there's a tick tick tick sound of the Gristlegrinder's massive claws against the clay. Sometimes it's possible to forget the gentle genderfluid giant even has those claws. They make a sort of 'one moment' gesture toward Artie with one hand, rolling up to their feet and still holding the mug in the other. It could be a bludgeoning weapon, after all.
When Alex hears Lux's voice and looks that way she looks briefly surprised, then lastingly delighted. "Lux!" she says as she cracks one of her achingly beautiful smiles -- the sort that even the world's best cosmetic dentist couldn't do anything to improve. "Lux!" she exclaims in return, and then her attention shifts over to Ari and she makes a playful bow, a familiar gesture. "Ari," she says as she comes closer. "It is me, yes. I learned a new trick, and it had... unexpectedly nice side effects, due to my background. It turns out that if you were Fae-Touched before someone turns you into a vampire, and you find a way to temporarily return to being human, you return to being Fae-Touched again. For a while. Sadly, it doesn't last."
She grins at Lux. "Ta da! The results of some of my locking myself in the basement for days and studying and experimenting."
"Ohmygodthisisawesome!" Lux squeals, and goes running towards Alex to scoop her up into a tight hug, complete with a spin around before setting her down. "I'll have to show you my hollow sometime. I think you'd like it." They look to Ari then, upnodding, then the same to Artie. "Sup?"
"Oh um ok. Sorry." Arthur offers pulling an embarrassed face.
Then the others react oddly to the stranger. Artie just looks around with bewilderment. Why was this Alex person weird to see? Especially if Lux and Ari knew them?
The wizened tried his best not to frown. He didn't like being left out of the know. Then... Oh. A vampire he supposed?
"You're a vampire... Fae touched? That can happen?"
They stand there very still for a moment, frowning mildly. "Tell me about the first time we met," Ari prompts with that same gentle voice.
"It can happen," they answer Artie quietly, and while it's hard to tell where exactly the Spring Monarch is looking, because their solid black eyes don't lend much ability to tell where they focus, at the moment, it seems clear that they're looking at Alex. "Fae-Touched are essentially human, and vampires, when they make other vampires, the Embrace works on any human. Not us, not Mages, not werewolves. If we're fed on too much, we just die. Alex can tell you more about her situation."
Once she answers me remains unspoken.
Alex returns the hug and laughs as she's spun around, then kisses Lux on the cheek once her feet are on the ground again. "I would love to see your Hollow," she says. "One reason I pursued this line of study was the opportunity to be more a proper part of a motley, and not feel like just a hanger-on. Not that anyone ever tried to make me feel that way, but..." she shrugs, then turns to address Artie, who gets another of her glorious smiles. "I was Fae-Touched, and now I'm a vampire, yes. I used to be a member of Ari's court, when I was still alive. It turns out that when Fae-Touched get embraced, they're able to maintain some connection with the Wyrd, so I can still make oaths and I'm pledged to the Freehold, again. And a motley," she adds with a widening of her grin.
And then the serious business, she turns back to Ari and answers their demand. "The first time we met I was extremely suspicious about all of you, and was fairly well convinced that the Lost had something to do with my brother's disappearance. I said a few things I regret now. Do you need me to repeat them? It's kind of embarrassing."
"I'd say this will be a good step, but you were already a part of the family, Alex. This is awesome, though. I'm proud of you." Lux steps back, hands burying into their hoodie pockets, falling quiet as they look between Ari and Alex.
Artie simply nods at Ari and Alex's explanations, processing these new facts.
"Oh. That's really cool and good to know. Cuz of the Oath." He says, returning the smile cheerfully.
Then looking between Ari and Alex, he focused on Ari and quietly put a hand over his own mouth, realizing he was interrupting.
That recounting of their first meeting makes Ari's stance relax; their shoulders slowly drop, and they reach to adjust their very pretty shawl. "No, you don't need to repeat them."
The Spring Monarch offers a much more relaxed smile to both Lux and Artie, then, and gestures toward their cabin. "Please, come inside so we can get down to business. I have drinks and food." They open the door, holding it open for everyone.
"Good, good," Alex says with a soft laugh. "I hate being wrong, and I was really wrong, then." She looks over at Artie and Lux and then back at Ari. "If you all have business to talk about, I can leave you to it. I didn't really have anything important to do except stop in and say hello."
Lux shrugs at Alex. "Up to them," they nod to Ari and Artie. "I don't mind." They make their way inside, finding a place to settle in.
"Uhm... Well I'm fine with it. Plus I think we're gonna talk about stuff that kind of does concern vampires in a sort of loose way." Artie points out.
"Plus you came all the way here... But it's Ari's cabin so itcs really up to them." He shrugs and heads for the door.
Ari gestures Alex through. "I invited you in." As if that covers everything that needs to be covered.
Once all their guests step through into the cabin, Ari goes to fetch the kettle hanging over the fire and make up a teapot; they ask, "Does anyone want hot chocolate or beer in preference to tea?" as they do so. A set of comfy chairs has been arranged around the fire, near to Ari's massive custom-built chair. "Please, make yourself at home, and -- whoever is in charge of the effort -- bring me up to date on your plans."
"I'll take some hot chocolate," Lux says, then looks towards Artie.
Alex shrugs and steps inside when invited by everyone. "I would love some hot chocolate. I did figure out how to pretty much always be able to eat or drink while I'm still a vampire, but none of those things are as enjoyable when you're dead. Having hot chocolate again when I'll actually fully enjoy it? Sounds great to me. Thank you." Then she looks around at everyone. "What business is it that we're all discussing, anyway?"
"Oh tea is fine with me. Unless... Do you have marshmallows?" The smith queries hopefully.
Then as Lux looks to him, he realizes that 'whoever is in charge' somehow meant him.
"Oh uhm.... Yeah. Right. Well one of us, Petra, got knocked into a coma probably by too much assaulting her clarity. So basically the other week two freehold Summers, Doll and Peter Wood, were attacked by a weird mage person in an iron mask."
Artie grabs a few mugs to demonstrate. "Petra got called in as an EMT and a few others of us were close by and saw on the news cuz some humans recorded it. Another mage who is a cop was there and he rewound time so we undid the attack and captured the iron mask mage. Weird fight. But so the next day Petra just... Never woke up according to Guy. He's also a vampire and her boyfriend."
"Ever since, I just put out word she needed help and I've been watching her during the days while Guy sleeps. The hold up about dream walking to wake her is that... Well I dunno how to do it so I'm just waiting for people who do know to come forward." He shrugs. "I don't wanna mess it up."(edited)
"Very well," agrees Ari, and after setting their teapot next to their chair, steam rising from the spout, they trundle around the cottage, fetching mugs and hot chocolate mix. "I can see why you'd find that very pleasant, yes." They fill three mugs with hot chocolate, their onyx-black eyes shimmering in amusement, and digs around for a bag of mini-marshmallows, which they plunk a few of into each cup.
Alex gets hers first, and the Blessing of the Green briefly manifests on Ari's brow as they pass it over: a wreath of woven branches and tender, beautiful flowers which cascades over their broad shoulders and drapes to the floor in a flowing robe of blossoms. It remains only a moment, then fades once more. The other two get handed out without that happening again, for whatever reason.
Ari settles into their chair, removes the basket with the tea leaves in it from their pot and sets it aside on a little dish made to purpose before refreshing their mug with the newly-made tea. They listen, adding at the end, "Peter and Doll are well, by the way, Arthur, and thankful. Doll has been resting after caring for Peter's Clarity," since, after all, she's a Truebalm, "but can assist anyone else who suffered lesser damage than Petra. You'll pass the word for me." It's a statement, not a question.
"Great is the enemy of good. It is better to move quickly than to move perfectly -- too much time spent asleep can damage muscles, atrophy them, and the damage to her career will distress her also, should she not be woken soon." And then they sip their tea.
Alex was listening to all of this, but when Guy gets mentioned, some pieces fall into place in her mind. "Oh! This is Guy's girlfriend, we're talking about?" With a look at Ari, and a smile, she says, "he's someone who is ultimately pledged to my protection in a meaningful way." As if that's important, for some reason. Maybe it is, for her!
She takes the mug with a grateful smile, and takes a seat. "You know, one thing I don't miss about being alive is getting tired," she quietly complains to herself.
Lux accepts the hot chocolate, taking a grateful sip while listening. They frown, having clearly not heard the full story yet. "Damn. That's.. pretty fucked up. No wonder she's in a coma."
"Yeah. I've been worried about her job too. Guy has been deflecting the uh... Probes but it won't be infinite. Petra and I talked the night of the event and she was a little worried about how the timey wimey stuff would affect her. Cuz after the rewind she was never at work that day so... I dunno." He explained blowing into his mug.
Artie's eyes grew big at hearing the Woods were safe, a relieved smile splitting his lips and the light of the fire seeming brighter as his mantle perked up. "Oh thank gosh. I was worried about them. It was bad in the other timeline so I'm glad we made a difference."
"So you're the kind of vampire that Guy is? He kinda explained his vampire job is like my Summer job kinda." He asked Alex.
To Lux he added: "Oh yeah. It was wild. The assassin mage made it so all the bad stuff we did to them happened to Petra at first which... Coulda been real bad. So I'm not too surprised. Like... This was A LOT all at once. I didn't even know some of the stuff we did that night were things."(edited)
"Yes. So better quick than perfect. Have you had a chance to consult with Lux very much about how to fish people out of the dream-state which persists when one suffers that sort of damage?" Ari smiles mildly at the concern shown for the Woods, and sips their tea, but continues, "The Sage of the Onyx Mirror as a position focuses almost entirely on Oneiromancy and divination, so they are your best resource for moving forward expeditiously."
"Indeed, this is Guy's girlfriend," they agree with Alex. "one of many ties between our communities."
"Guy and I belong to the same organization, but he's in a part of it that's devoted to protecting the other members, while I'm more of a researcher," Alex explains, without giving away too much detail. Any more than she's allowed. "Which isn't to say he doesn't do research too. I'm a relatively novice member without the specialization, that's all. And I'm definitely no fighter." She laughs. "There's a reason why I was Spring."
They shake their head. "Not yet. But when someone gets trapped into a coma... At least in my experience, it combines the trauma of their durance with the trauma of whatever caused the coma. Having a loss of control, or replaying moments over again, mingled with feeling trapped in a place that is too close like their durance..." They shrug. "It can get nasty, but mostly you just need to convince them that their dreams aren't real. They'll probably be reenacting their trauma over and over again, so you gotta break the loop, ya know? I don't know much about her. Do you know anything about... like... her durance?"
Artie shakes his head to both Ari and Lux. "I haven't talked much about what we need to do and I don't know her durance well. It's never been a thing anyone really... Discusses much."
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