First Audience ~ [ Video ] ~ true names, stopped clocks, wildest dreams

[fondofapples]

I. ticks and tocks from broken clocks - [ open ]

[ Regina looks up from whatever holds her attention on the desk in front of her. If you don't know her, then her expression seems perfectly pleasant, eyes clear, mouth shaped in a polite smile, shoulders even. If you do know her, you may be wondering who the fireballs are coming for, because those clear eyes are a little too wide and that smile is not the one she shows her family; in fact, it looks like it might hide rows of shark teeth behind her perfectly painted lips. ]

Thank you all for your concern. I'm truly touched.

Of course, you know I would never do anything so irresponsible as to sell black market curses. Or so utterly gauche.

[ A pause and her eyes brighten slightly (oh very dangerously). ]

However, for those of you inclined to think sorcery is inevitably evil: cursed objects are expensive to make, difficult to maintain, and can't possibly be sold for enough money to make dealing in them worth it.

[ Her tone shifts to something very nearly cheerful. ]

Oh, and if you're the Jack, I hope you'll say hello.

[ There's a pause long enough to let her return to work. ]

II. and I promise I'll keep trying even if I get tired - [ locked to family: Evie, Jack K., Arya, Emma, Neil, Charlie, Maddie; later others by suggestion/request of those already included]

[ About an hour after the previous message, Regina sends a private video message to those she considers her family. There's no trace of the danger that had been lurking in her eyes and smile before. Just genuine affection and a trace of something like excitement. ]

Evie, Jack, Emma - I've been running some calculations, and it looks like we should be able to put the first payments down on Witch's Island at the beginning of next month. Just to be certain, I'm looking into some possibilities for silent partners or loans.

Arya, Maddie, Charlie - I hope you'll consider this an invitation to come live with us. You won't need to pay rent or anything like that. Any money you make is yours.

[ There's a clear pause where Neil is free to imagine Regina very awkwardly not asking him to live with her on even a semi-private video, because that would be both gauche and embarrassing as hell. Instead, she's just going to assume that you know this invitation includes you because you're receiving the message and share her bed more often than not, thanks, but if it's not clear to you, well that's another conversation you can have later. And that's a hell of a long 'look' she's giving to read that much into it, but hey, she's a complicated lady. ]

On the other hand, castles are expensive to maintain. As I've discussed with some of you, I've been thinking that if we're going to make sure we can provide a safe, loving home for any children we decide to take in, we're going to need more money than we can make as individuals. We could open a non-profit, but that puts us at the mercy of the Board and the government restrictions on non-profits.

Since I'm not interested in Fayren regulating how I run my home and there will be inevitable crossovers, I've been considering opening the castle as a tourist/event destination. The rose and statuary gardens, ground floors, and parts of the grounds could be open for tours. We could run weddings and events, and convert some of the old staff buildings to guest houses. Evie, love, maybe you could put a boutique location of Bad Apple in? And Maddie, I know it's not precisely what you're destined for, but if you wanted, you could run teas or have a shop? Jack, I hoped you might help us with designing any new buildings and some of the interior decor?

If we do this, we'll need security for both guests and the family. Neil...I hate to impose, but would you be willing?

We're also going to need transportation to and from the island. We'll need a chef and event planner at very least, and I'd like to have both a doctor and a therapist on staff. Possibly a few tutors for the children...

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting or that I haven't thought of yet. Please, let me know? And if there's anyone you think would make a good addition to our 'team', let me know. While I'm at it, does anyone object to me including Steve Rogers? We were friendly in New Dodge. This isn't his world, so to speak, but he'd adapt well.

Comments

II - [VIDEO;private to Regina, with bonus]

[hellorhighwater]

[When he comes on the feed, he's dusting off his hands--and a tad breathless, like he just ran into the room. Either way, he's smiling.]

You do remember I'm the personal protector of the king, right? [He says it with a chuckle.] For the love of the Ember, yes. Least I can do what I was trained for.

[Meanwhile, the reason he's a little winded is appearing on her desk--a small scrap of paper, appearing within an orb of familiar, iridescent white light. On it, written in bold, masculine print, are two simple words.]

I'M THERE.

Re: II - [VIDEO;private to Regina, with bonus]

[fondofapples]

[ She smiles and tells herself not to wonder what has her man breathless that isn't her. If she needs to know, he'll tell her. ]

I remember. That's why I--

[ An iridescent orb of white light appears on her desk, explaining his breathlessness. Raw magic. She glances up to meet his gaze, brow lifting in question, but the orb flares, releasing a scrap of white paper. She reads it and, immediately, blushes a soft shade of rose. She'd planned to ask more privately, but she couldn't very well not communicate that he was welcome, even if she'd done it silently and awkwardly. ]

I'm glad. [ That's awkward and stiff. Why? It's private, she reminds herself. ] You'll have your own suite, of course. [ Still awkward. She's never done this before. ] For when you don't... we don't...

[ More blushing, but she's also smiling. ] I doubt you'll get much use out of it, but it seems right for you to have your own rooms, even if you're always welcome in mine, love.

Re: II - [VIDEO;private to Regina, with bonus]

[hellorhighwater]

[Neil raises an eyebrow at the stilted offer, but he's smirking under it.]

Beloved? If you need your own space, I'll happily take any rooms close to yours. For your protection, and for...easy access.

However, if you give me my own room so that I can have personal space? I'm turning it into a gym and laughing in your face--all the way back to our suite.

[Fight him, Regina.]

Re: II - [VIDEO;private to Regina, with bonus]

[fondofapples]

[ That word sets up a soft, fluttery ache in her chest, immediate and undeniable. The blush hardly fades because of it; it can't, because of the warmth creeping over her arms and chest and face like a fever-chill, only infinitely more pleasant.

She dips her chin and smiles at him through lowered long black lashes. ]

I've never shared a room with anyone. This seems like something we should discuss without the distance of video.

[swiftasadeer]

You want me to come live with you?

[fondofapples]

Of course I do, Arya. [ A warm, maternal smile. ] I want you to live with me whether I have a castle or a tiny house.

[swiftasadeer]

Okay.

[ Arya is surprisingly easy to convince. ]

[fondofapples]

Is that what you want?

[ She doesn't want to coerce her, obviously. But she's reluctant to qualify too much with 'it's all right if you don't' because while it's all right and they'll accommodate it, it won't be all right with Regina. She loves this little girl. ]

[storybrooke_savior]

Funnily enough, "Regina would never do something that tacky" was my first thought.

So...a castle, huh?

[fondofapples]

And not, "She'd better not be"? I'm touched.

[ Despite the wry tone, her smile has an almost shy pleasure to it. They're making progress and she's glad of it. ]

It used to belong to a witch who murdered virgins to maintain her youth and beauty. She was tried and executed and it's been vacant since. Putting it to a good use seems appropriate.

[storybrooke_savior]

Nope. Didn't even enter in.

[ Progress! She definitely isn't one of the people that immediately thinks the worst of Regina. Also, she likes to think she knows her pretty well by now.

...Only maybe not. ]

...I genuinely can't tell if you're joking or not. Did it really? Like, full on Elizabeth Bathory? Yeesh.

text:

[thefirething]

I'll consider it.

Re: text: [Private]

[fondofapples]

I hope you will.

You don't have to answer, but I'd like to know what the cons are.

Re: text: [Private]

[thefirething]

I like where I am. I liked where I was before that. I'm pretty good with not switching places so much. Kinda wanna try 'living in one place for a while' on for size.

I - [video]

[awalkinthedark]

Ah, so you were the one those rumors were about. 'Tis good to hear thou art against the use of sorcery for ill after all, rather than enabling... costly mistakes.

Re: I - [video]

[fondofapples]

[ Regina blinks at the being on her screen. He, she thinks, is quite unusual. ]

I have the benefit of experience.

Re: I - [video]

[awalkinthedark]

[He nods. Yep, sounds like the usual with sorcery.]

Ah. A good teacher, if harsh at times.

I. Private

[noblecaptain]

Regina?

[In fairness, Steve didn't know Regina that well and he had not had much dealing with her before, but he could tell when someone was upset. She was acting weird and he wanted to make sure she was okay. His head tilted to the side and he watched her with concern.]

Wanna talk about it?

Re: I. Private

[fondofapples]

[ Blessedly, the video caller is Steve and not another hysterical mother calling about some trinket her child had acquired that most certainly wasn't a curse Regina had constructed. Her smile when she showed it to him was somewhat frayed around the edges, but genuine enough. ]

Steve.

It's nothing. Somehow a rumor got started that I'm dealing in cursed objects with someone named Jack. The only Jack I know here is Evie's boyfriend and he's terrified of my magic. I don't care about my own reputation much, [ Liar liar pants on fire ] but I can't disclaim a partner named 'Jack' without calling attention to him, which is the last thing I want.

[ She shrugs and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. ]

I'm fine. Just frustrated.

Re: I. Private

[noblecaptain]

That can be very upsetting. It's not a nice thing to have people saying things about you that aren't true. I'm sorry, Regina. That's not fair. I can defend you? I know you wouldn't do something like that.

[He's not really sure what else he can do.] We can try to find the person telling the rumour and make them clear your name?

Sounds like you need some distracting. Maybe a cup of coffee?

II - private: video (filtered to jack and mom)

[blueberryprincess]

I haven't gotten the chance to speak to Steve, but I'm glad he's here, even if we didn't talk much in New Dodge, either.

I like the idea of opening the grounds for weddings and parties. It might even give me the chance to open a small catering business, when the opportunities arise.

I do miss Bad Apple.

[ Decisions, decisions. ]

Re: II - private: video (filtered to jack and mom)

[fondofapples]

I'm sure he'd love to talk to you. [ A warm smile. ] Both of you. He has some friends from home, but they didn't come by way of New Dodge, and you know how timelines are.

I'm hoping to open this as an event company, which would include catering. You'd be welcome to take charge of that, or work at it when you liked.

I'd like to see you open Bad Apple. You're an immensely talented designer.

Video;

[hattastic]

Now wait just a tick tock! You... want me to come live with you? Truly?

Re: Video;

[fondofapples]

Unless you don't want to. I would understand, considering who I am.

Re: Video;

[hattastic]

I would absolutely love to stay if you'll have me!