Jonte and Keela got themselves sat down in the coffee shops, each with a warm cup of coffee and a sandwich. Keela predictably has gone for cheese and was already nibbling away at one corner, her nose twitching in a manner that reminded Jonte of a squirrel.

Jonte took a sip of his coffee casually before leaning back in his chair. "So," he said. "What brings you down here? Not like you to visit me unannounced."

Keela smiled over her sandwich but took her time chewing, possibly to purposively make him wait for an answer. After a loud swallow, she smiled softly as him. "Mother told me you weren't coming home for the Spring Festival," she said. Jonte's smile faltered and she averted his eyes from her for a moment, instead glancing around the coffee shop, barely hiding a guilty expression. "So I thought I'd come and spend the festival with you," Keela said. "We are family, after all."

"You didn't have to."

Keela shook her head. "I wanted to," she said hastily. "Jonte, I miss you! Mother misses you, Turlough misses you. Heck, I think even in their own ways, Father and Garret miss you."

"Hmm," was Jonte's only reply and he took a sip from his coffee.

Keela sighed. "This isn't right, I didn't come here to nag you," she said. "I just... wanted to see you."

Jonte still wasn't looking at her, instead staring down into the swirling liquid in his cup. "I'm happy you came," he said after a moment. "I really am. I just wish you had told me first."

"Well, it was kind a spontaneous decision, really," Keela admitted. "Things are... difficult back in the Summer Court."

"Really?" Jonte said, with only faint interest.

Keela nodded. "Politics," she said with a wry smile. "You know."

Jonte looked up at her and returned the smile. "No one really understand politics," he said. He took a sip of his coffee. "Sometimes I think people purposively make politics confusing."

Keela laughed, and Jonte was able to relax once more. "You're right about that," she said. 

Jonte leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. "So, how is everyone?" he asked. 

Keela shrugged. "Fine. Mother is holding up okay, though I think she's starting to get upset with Father's constant tantrums. He's been highly strung all Winter, complaining about the cold, arguing that they should strike now. I think he's actually starting to make a nuisance of himself within the court. Turlough himself is doing okay. He's gotten a lot of respect of recent for his efforts."

"Good old Turlough," Jonte said with a sigh. "And Garret?"

Keela sighed deeply. "Don't ask me," she said. "Garret's... cut himself off from the rest of us. He's still participating in the efforts against the Winter Fey, but he's grown distant/ Doesn't even live with us anymore. Won't even speak to me, or Mother. Not even Turlough."

"But Father still talks to him?" Jonte asked.

"Yeah," Keela said. She glanced down at her half-eaten sandwich wistfully. "But I'm starting to worry about him. He's gotten so secretive of recent."

Jonte raised an eyebrow. "He was never an open book, Kee," he said.

"I know, but I can't explain it," Keela said. "He just seems colder than normal."

Jonte frowned. "Maybe... he just needs some space," he said. He reached over a hand and placed it on Keela's shoulder. "It'll be alright."

Keela smiled back, but it didn't reach her eyes.