[GP/EP] Check-In Day

[st_oriedqueen]

Why Caroline had needed her to help with Check-In Day she hadn't bothered to say. Just, "you said you'd help," and when Regina protested she wasn't good with people, "aren't you a Queen or a Mayor or something?" complete with shooing gestures. While Regina found Caroline more exasperating the terrifying, she did have a point.

So Regina suited up--literally, gathered her files and folders, coffee mug, pens and pocketed the wooden carving of Henry/Roland Robin had made for her, then headed for the cafe. If, polished and politic and patently Busy, she didn't offer newcomers the brightest or warmest smile when they arrived, it was nevertheless confident and quite possibly reassuring.

Caroline did friendly. Regina...did knowledgeable and polite. Dot and Ignis had been asked to provide finger food on catering trays. The still-grieving Miss Pryde had been tasked with samovars of tea and coffee and ice chest of soda and beer. Caroline's welcome baskets sat on the table beside Regina's for easy access. And though she didn't when she was alone in the office, Regina spent the magic to fix her eyesight so she didn't put glasses between her and new arrivals.

Madame Mayor was in.

Comments

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_illsabrae]

"That would be lovely, yes," Merrill said, smiling as she stood smoothly, brushing off her thighs out of sheer habit and following Rey back outside again.

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_reyofsunshine]

Rey leads the way, pointing out more minor landmarks as they walk through the hallway; the few people whose rooms she knows she points out as they make their way to the exit.

The pool is large, flanked on all sides by neat rows of outstretched reclining pool chairs. A few oversized red umbrellas provide shelter from the sun.

To one side stands a green-roofed gazebo; near it, another building stands alone.

"That's the bar," Rey says gesturing to the building. "Kitty works there most of the time." Or at least, Kitty's the only person she's ever saw manning the bar. "She serves more than just alcohol, though."

As they pass the pool, Rey kneels down to dip a hand into the water. It's lukewarm.

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_illsabrae]

There's something odd looking about the pool, but Merrill supposed that it was just another one of those almost Orlesian things.

"Why does it smell like that?" she asked, swearing she could practically taste some kind of chemical in the air.

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_reyofsunshine]

"They say it's chlorine," Rey says. She was just as unfamiliar as Merrill with the smell when she first came here. "It's supposed to help keep the water clean."

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_illsabrae]

"Well, it certainly doesn't make it more inviting," she said, wrinkling her nose. She dipped her toe in a little, just wanting to see what was like. She was half expecting it to burn a little.

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_reyofsunshine]

"Maybe that's the point. Keep the pool clean by keeping people out of it." Rey offers Merrill a little smile, then crouches down by the pool's edge.

"They didn't have pools where I came from, either. You do get used to the smell after awhile."

Re: Merrill - Assigned Threads

[st_illsabrae]

Merrill laughed, finally crouching down to touch the water as well. "Pools to us are usually just natural things you find here and there. I wasn't expecting something intentional like this."