Strange Trip

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!]

If the Madonna Inn had been designed for anything, it was Christmas. And the Dickensian addition of ghosts, including Killian's brother, had only made it more so. Of course Christmas meant families (to most people), and with Snow still skirting spaces Emma was in, that iced the Christmas cake of awkward in neurotic orange and purple.

Still, gifts had been exchanged, she'd helped Snow with the horses and now Regina sat tucked into a booth in the restaurant with a mug of mulled wine, watching the people of the Inn enjoying the holiday with a smile on her face. She'd sent Snow a message and asked if she wouldn't join her for a little while.

She hadn't been waiting long when hands reached from behind her to cover her eyes. It wasn't Snow. She didn't play like this. It might be Corbie, but she'd been tending Mildmay. Not Dyson, the hands were too small.

"Can't you guess?" said a young male voice.

Regina froze. The mug fell from her fingers. "...Henry?" The mug fell and splashed her with hot wine. "Sh--"

"Ow, mom. Are you okay?" His hands fell away and he peered over her shoulder.

Not even bothering to magic away the spill, she leapt out of the booth and flung her arms around her son. "Henry."

* * *
At the front of the restaurant, a weathered-looking man with dark hair and smiling eyes stood quietly watching that reunion. His reason for being here would arrive soon. Whistling, he walked into the bar and picked up a rag. No sense wasting time when there was always work to do.

* * *
"Stop staring, mom." Henry shook his head at her, but his voice was gentle and his hug tight when he reminded her, "I'm not going anywhere for a few days."

"A few days," Regina repeated. At least she'd stopped crying. That had taken the better part of an hour, and he'd let her tell him everything, even though he already knew. "There's so much..."

"It's okay, mom." Henry hugged her again and then stuck out a hand for her. "C'mon. I want to meet everyone." And see his other mom and Hook, but that would happen. They'd seen him more recently. Mom needed him first.


[ Backdated to Christmas afternoon. Henry is sticking around for several days. Bear is only here for Snow. If you're not tagged in the subject line, please ping before tagging Henry and Regina. ]

The formerly California air had grown crisp with winter moving in, but the sun still shone bright and the sky was clear. At the barn and in the pastures, the horses blew out their breath in playful snorts, shied and sidled playfully, prancing with their tails flagged. Grace, Regina's mare, gave a spirited whinny at her stablemates as Regina sprang up onto her bare back from the mounting block but waited patiently for her mistress, since there would be at least one long gallop in the offing. It didn't matter to Grace that Regina had an agenda for the ride beyond the gallops, as long as she got to run.

Inside the Inn, Kitty tended bar like any ordinary day, and Caroline's baskets had been freshened and set out for any new arrivals. Each one had a magic journal for "texting" and Sam had a stack of fresh ones set out on the same table in case anyone had used theirs up. The Inn had begun decorating itself the day after Thanksgiving, helped, of course, by Caroline, and Thor had brought in a lovely fresh tree that had begun to acquire a patchwork coating of ornaments, traditional popcorn strings, and hideous gleanings from around the Inn.

In short, it was an ordinary Check-In day with a little nip in the air, an extra sprinkling of glitter, and and an abundance of apple-based drinks and a few pies, compliments of Regina's harvest and her stress-baking. What there weren't were any of Emma's fresh pastries or any of her finer dishes, as she seemed to have taken the day off. Which meant that unless Sunny or Mary or one of the others stepped up, everyone was eating dishes with chicken or what they could make for themselves.


[ooc: Feel free to use for any threading purposes anywhere around the Inn. If you want Regina, Kitty, Sam or Lillith, poke me on Slack. Welcome Hook! Don't forget to tag your character's name if you tag the post.]