st_oriedqueen: (the light I chase)
Regina Mills ([personal profile] st_oriedqueen) wrote in [community profile] strangetrip2019-03-15 04:39 pm

Check-In Day: Around the Inn

Finished with self-imposed paperwork and emergency planning for the week, Regina permitted herself a leisurely ride on this absolutely gorgeous spring day. After a good gallop, Grace was content to walk, cropping at dried scrub and new shoots when Regina gave her rein. Regina steered the mare gently toward the west; she could teleport, of course, but she appreciated the quiet of riding toward the beach. She found, in the wake of Henry's Christmas visit, she more often craved the scent of the salt air and ocean breezes. Of course, the Pacific never quite smelled like the Atlantic, always warmer and less bracing somehow, but it soothed the wildness in her just the same.

Back at the Inn, Kitty busied herself with stocking the pool bar and generally setting up for the warmer seasons. The pool had been skimmed of winter detritus and chlorinated by the staff-spectre she rarely if ever saw, and there were fresh towels set out like a proper resort. Since the choice of music was hers, the air around the bar filled with dance beats, Afro-Caribbean today, and Kitty moved right into it. She didn't usually dance at work, but she felt bright today and maybe Lara would come down and work with her and they could goof around Cocktail style.

Sam passed through the Copper Cafe in search of a cup of coffee and a salad, or one of the two gorgeous women he'd somehow wound up involved with. His brow scrunched like a caterpillar hurrying away from a predator while he semi-consciously outpaced thoughts about babies and brothers, and possibly babies and girlfriends. His mild scowl wasn't helped by the pack of spirits trailing him and chatting at him about the lives of his family members. He'd asked them not to gossip about people he wasn't close with, but as a consequence, they talked rapidly and often about River's most recent oddness or his mother and Hathaway acting like...well, like him and Molly and Bo, and no thanks. Ditto on Dean and Jane. For all that he looked a little bothered, there wasn't anything menacing or aggressive about it. If anything, the slight tilt of his head as he strolled through the Inn looked thoughtful, as though he listened to something somewhat distant.

Lillith had come to a bit of a routine for arrival days, and around noon, she sat for tea with River Song. They spoke little, and it was difficult to tell whether the women even liked each other. But for all that, Lillith was content with the ritual. If Curnen sang, she would go out to the lawn next and listen. In fact, on such a sunny day, she would undoubtedly flop on the lawn with a sketchbook and a practice notebook, letting her mind float between image and spellcraft as it would. Out here, she would quickly veil herself at the approach of anyone new, but she often was distracted enough that they might catch her in her true form with her all unaware.

Around them, the Inn hummed and buzzed with the happy energy of winter giving way to spring. The most patient and subtle would undoubtedly note the undercurrents of tension, fear, frustration, and boredom that built up over time. But for day, at least so far as this four were aware, the worst of it had been suspended, in favor of enjoying warm sun and the company of friends.

[OOC: GP. It's a gorgeous day. Come and play! All four of mine can be available. Ping me if you're inspired to tag. <3 Welcome, Carol, Toby, and Number Five!]
st_ockandbarrel: (Default)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_ockandbarrel 2019-04-02 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)

Percy didn't appear to notice the hesitation and took the compliment as Elaina's obvious due. "I'm told that she'll grow quickly and that I should treasure this time. I have to admit, I don't remember thinking any of my younger siblings were especially interesting at this age."

st_andingtall: (bitchface)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_andingtall 2019-04-06 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
"I've heard people say--" On television. "That once they start crawling your life is never the same. But I'm pretty sure that happened when Vex got pregnant."

Sam would've been scared to death the baby would come out half demon or something with the pacts and blood taint and all. "She, uh, hasn't shown any demonic tendencies...?"
st_ockandbarrel: (Default)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_ockandbarrel 2019-04-06 07:17 am (UTC)(link)

Percy lifted his eyebrows. "I must admit, I didn't look at the fine print when I made the deal but I don't believe a broken pact is hereditary." He paused, looked down at Elaina who was the most perfect child to have ever existed. "She does spit up goo rather often. Mostly she seems to be taking after her mother. Shiny things are an endless source of fascination."

Elaina burbled something, shifting against Percy's chest then settling down again with a sigh. He smiled.

st_andingtall: (talks to angels)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_andingtall 2019-04-06 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe not in your world. His family was suffering the effects of pacts to the nth generation. Or something. He still wasn't sure what they'd done and who they'd dealt with that he and Dean ended up vessels for Lucifer and Michael. But since he really didn't want to talk about that today, he kept it to himself.

"Unless the goo is black, bloody, or neon green, you're probably okay," Sam offered wryly, and then after a beat, "So how's it going? I mean, it's pretty huge, having a baby."

Probably a stupid question, but Percy was a friend. He'd probably forgive one stupid question. Maybe two. But three was right out. Sam cracked a small grin at his own joke. Fortunately, he hadn't said it out loud either. Because explaining Monty Python never worked out.
st_ockandbarrel: art by shalizeh (Ribbons // Vex)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_ockandbarrel 2019-04-14 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
Percy shrugged, indicating that it was anyone's guess. "I think it's going well? They don't come with instruction manuals and the ones that do exist contradict each other rather severely. She sleeps a great deal, cries when she's not sleeping and eats when she's not crying."
st_andingtall: (hands)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_andingtall 2019-04-17 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
"That's...yeah, pretty normal for a baby." At least as far as Sam knew. "But how are you doing? Do you...worry about screwing her up?" Sam would. His mom said she had. It was probably universal, but he and Percy had more reasons than most people to worry about that kind of thing. They weren't exactly paragons of good judgment.
st_ockandbarrel: by Vladimir Nocturne (Sharpshooter)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_ockandbarrel 2019-04-17 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Only every minute since we realized Vex was pregnant," Percy said wryly. "And when I'm not worried about screwing her up myself, I'm trying to figure out how to avoid her uncle teaching her terrible habits. Between Vex's broom and Vax's wings, I'm wondering how soon I should start building crash pads. Experiments in flight seem both inevitable and the least worrisome of options."
st_andingtall: (Default)

Re: OTA

[personal profile] st_andingtall 2019-04-25 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
The corners of Sam's mouth quirked, not quite a full smile. "You probably have at least until she can say the magic word for the broom. But you might be screwed as far as Vax goes. Apparently aunts and uncles are known the world over for undermining parental discipline."
Edited 2019-04-25 04:22 (UTC)