undergrounds | Litha Feast (Open to all court members and human guests, dated for the 21st)

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Litha Feast (Open to all court members and human guests, dated for the 21st)

The grounds were brightly lit and festooned with decoration: trees covered in sweet-smelling dew, leaves of gold and red, vividly-colored streamers woven with thread finer than spider's silk. All around, the tables were piled high with all the food and wine one might expect of a grand feast. (Apparently, the fae had spared no expense.)

The Seelie King and Queen were present, though distanced from the rest of the revellers -- and quite a few revellers there were. Men and women with petals in their hair, clothes of vibrant silk and satin, and a rainbow of rare feathers and gems. Some looked human, some looked animal. Some, such as in the case of a well-dressed gentleman with skin like birch bark, looked like none of the above.

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"Near every year since I was a child," she says calmly, giving the girl in the dress (a beautiful dress it was, too) a small smile. "It's a sort of tradition, I suppose." Fagin didn't really give her an option. And he was the one that kept her in her apartment, working some of his own magic to allow her a better life than she would have otherwise. But just a bit, he was still a miser. You'd think with all the wealth he'd acquired over his centuries...

"And this is your first time- so you're not fae. What brings you here, then?" Names could come later. She was mostly curious.

"That young man who is pouring himself a glass of wine," Abigail murmured, nodding her head to his discreetly, "is hoping to win favour with the Seelie King, from my understanding."

She smiled just a little, though there were definitely nerves under it.

"I've heard of fae parties before, but I've never been to one."

"That explains it," she said faux-sagely. "I should have guessed- I helped win for my foster-father years ago." Hazel eyes glanced towards the crowd, hoping not to see him. He was better off picking pockets of those in the crowd, sniffling up to the most important lords and ladies of the court. He was vile.

"It's a great time. I'd say it was better if we could eat and drink, but..." This was her cue to reach into her small bag and pull out a flask. Uncapping it, she offers some to the girl.

Abigail considered the flask carefully. After all, the girl couldn't be fae. No fae were competing, and if she had once, that meant she was human. Yet, there was no proof she could leave the Other Realm. The flask might well contain the same things as the offered food and wine. If she wasn't fae, that meant she could lie.

The conflict no doubt showed on the girl's face before she asked, quietly, "Is it safe?"

"Perfectly," she said, and took a swig of the liquid herself. Gin burned down her throat, and she closed her eyes against the potent taste of juniper. Delicious.

"It's Hendricks. Poured it in my flat myself." Best part? It never ran out of juice. At least, until the whole bottle she'd poured in the small flask ran out. Bigger on the inside.

It was tempting. Very, very tempting. But there were a lot of unknowns. So, Abby smiled just a little. "Maybe in a bit. I have a feeling I'll probably need it." Because this? Well. This was going to require alcohol to cope with, even just after it was all over. Until she was away from the fae, though, taking anything food or drink seemed dangerous. Even if offered by another human.

"Where abouts is your flat?" A simple enough question, not too personal. "Mine's right near Waterside Park."

Fair enough, she wouldn't blame her for it. "Whenever you want," she said confidently.

"I'm off in Bexley," Nancy admitted. "Nothing too fancy."

"My flat's nothing fancy either." Of course, Abby's idea of 'fancy' was probably a far cry from Nancy's. Then, she offered her hand. "My name's Abby."

Nothing formal, no full names here. Even if the fae could probably find it out quickly, she'd rather not announce it fully.

Thank goodness for middle names. And the fact that Nancy's birth last-name was unknown to her. Only Fagin knew it.

"Nice t'meet you, Abby. I'm Nancy." She shook the other girl's hand.

If Nancy was here, that meant she knew about the supernatural, whether she was part of it or not. Which let Abby speak a little more freely.

"The only thing that really bothers me about all this -- I mean, other than the kidnapping and beauty pageant thing -- is that I can't do anything for Midsummer."

"Why not?" She asks curiously. "I'm sure you could do something once we all get back." She should have been doing something, sure. But this was always the deal for her. Fae holidays were more important than anything else.

"The pageant isn't that bad."

"Sunrise is the most potent time, but that's passed." Still, it wasn't something that couldn't be done next year. It was just disappointing to have missed it. "And it's not. It's just... strange."

Very, very strange.

"I've never seen so many fae before."

"I miss it near every year." So if that makes you feel any better?

"No, but that's what you get for coming to one of their parties. It's astounding, really." So many different sorts.

"You celebrate it?"

That says one thing to Abby: witch. Which means she's in good company. Though then there's the question of which circle the girl belongs to... but she can worry about that later. There is, at least, another witch here to keep company until her escort wants her back on his arm.

"'course. Only just started." it'd hadn't been too long ago that she was just convinced she was a fae of some sorts, who couldn't control her powers. She'd been raised on a diet of Fae and Jewish holidays.

"Only just?" She couldn't help but be curious. Then again, she knew the powers could come at different times, but it was always nice to meet a fellow witch. She hadn't met nearly enough. "I... I hope I'm not assuming too much. Thinking you're a witch."

"No, no, I am. It's just complicated, is all." She's just met the girl and doesn't particularly feel like sharing all the details of hardships in her life. Or her family tree.

"I understand," Abby says with a small smile. After all, she knows her own story is complicated and not a topic for easy discussion. The other question, though, is far more delicate. "What coven do you belong to?"

An easy enough way to begin it.

Alright. She can tell what this girl is really asking.

"Midnight." Was her quick response. "I like the freedom." She liked to think of herself as a decent person. She never wanted to intentionally harm anyone- except perhaps Fagin- but Daybreak was so rule-oriented. It didn't fit well for a thief like her.

Abby smiled a little, nodding her head just a little. It's slower for her to say, but she still finds the words.

"So am I. Daybreak... just isn't for me."

"I'll drink to that," Nancy says, as she raises her flask towards Abby and drinks.

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Litha Feast (Open to all court members and human guests, dated for the 21st)

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