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

[detectiveofthewest]

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.

Comments

[rules_winter]

Sometimes such a thing was known to happen. It was where the term faerie godmother originated. When Abigail didn't recoil, Mab's fingers picked up a section of the girl's hair, nothing to write home about but lovely in it's imperfections. "Such a pretty thing." The compliment was offhanded. She let the hair fall through her fingers as though dismissing it completely. "Your fae guardian has taught you well, it would seem." So young and full of potential.

"What is their name, child?" Someone to keep an eye out for. Someone with the foresight to shape a witchling to his own expectations. Her hand fell to her side, no longer a threat for the moment.

[acrookedchild]

"Unthank."

She'd been taught to invoke his name if she needed to in the presence of the fae. He'd been away from the court for a long time, bound himself up in Geap Manor. It stood, and he drew strength from it. He lived, and its occupants were safe. Where fae ended and house began was something she couldn't imagine. She only knew that his life and his power were tied to those timbers, to the house that stood for all her family was. All the years they'd survived, despite the threat looming over them all. He protected their children, and their power furthered him.

"My family has a history of contracts with fae. He makes sure we understand the consequences if we do not word it carefully." She paused, giving a small cant of her head, as if to acknowledge some unspoken argument. "Some generations learn better than others."

[rules_winter]

Unthank. The name is unfamiliar to her which is not terribly surprising, she knows few of the seelie and even less of the outcasts. Even her knowledge of the Unseelie was incomplete. The problems with coming back after a long time away.

"Ahh, I see." Well, it was good to know her family openly dealt with fae. Unthank would likely dislike interest Mab showed in his young witch. Not that that concerned Mab in the least. He did not stop her from coming here.

The last sentence makes her smile. "Yes, so it is with most humans." Her expression went curious, "And how did you come to find yourself here?"

[acrookedchild]

"I remember falling asleep in my flat, having some strange dreams, then waking up here with that gentleman," she motions briefly to the fae who'd brought her here, "telling me I was to be his guest for the feast."

It was a delicate position: wanting to see more of the world (even just of London) but also knowing she wasn't truly safe unless she was in the house under Unthank's protection. Still, she wouldn't contract if she remained there, and finding a husband or lover to carry on her family line would be almost impossible if she didn't remove herself from the house frequently.

[rules_winter]

The gentleman in question glanced their way, started for a moment at the sight of the Unseelie Lady but after a long stare from her he went uncomfortably back to his conversation. Likely more afraid she'd commandeer his entry as her own than that she might do harm. The Summer King and Queen were overseeing things after all, and the Queen especially was not the type to allow breaking of oaths. Mab was known for keeping them as well. It was interesting the young seelie seemed to have taken her from her own home. Perhaps he'd lured her outside with something while she was still mostly asleep.

"This situation agrees with you." In other words, she was faking it like a pro. There was something like approval in Mab's tone.

[acrookedchild]

"He seems strangely sentimental for a fae. According to what Uncle always says about them, I didn't expect someone like him."

There might be a bit of fondness to her voice. The tone of a young girl. Not even a grown woman, no, but someone unused to such attention, even if she knew she ought to be careful. Not, perhaps, unlike the mortal story of Little Red Riding Hood. Though, thankfully, it was a Seelie fae who'd given his word and bond, not a wolf.

At her remark, she smiled just a little. 'Grace under pressure' ought to be the Widdowson family motto. Always holding their head up despite tragedy. This, at least, was a situation she could navigate without a great threat, she hoped.

[rules_winter]

Summer tends more toward sentimentality than winter but he might also have more interaction with humans. Mab's gaze rests on the young Sidhe, thoughtfully. Of course, he could be good at faking it too. Mab could superficially show more human emotions.

She looks back at the girl and smiles a little. Even with the dire warnings from her fae godfather she is drawn to a fae. Interesting.

"Take care, mortal child, I look forward to seeing you compete."