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[disheartening]

This is disgusting -

[ a voice that's rich in sarcasm and annoyance is heard and then a loud thud as a book slams against a table. a moment later regina mills comes to view, white silken blouse, black woolen coat, dark pants, impeccable hair given the situation and an expression that reads that she is, without a doubt, 120% done.

She stares at the book as if it had personally offended her and with a flick of her hand it goes flying across the room. ]

To those who call themselves the High King and Queen -

[ there is poison on the very way she pronounces those words. ]

Expecting me to fight for you is about as stupid as you interfering with the very weapon I would need even if I had wanted to. I have little to no idea what you or this misshapen world had done to magic.

[ or why as this makes no sense to her. ]

But I want it fixed.

[ and then she looks around her in distaste and mutters to herself ]

Looks as if this place is managed by farmers if to judge by this inner decor.

Comments

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[cinnamoned]

[Her lips purse before she nods. That makes sense. Each of them doing what they can in their own Court. At least in the meantime, until they can figure out possibly arranging to meet in person.]

I can try. But I won't promise anything. I doubt it would be so easy. Still, it's worth a try.

[There's a pause as she considers. Knowing Regina and what she herself last recalls, the other is also bound to be hurting. Being separated from Henry and knowing he no longer recalls her, any of them. But there's little she can do to comfort her like this.]

I heard there are some more neutral areas that aren't involved in the fighting. We're not the only family in opposite sides with this. There are others that chose to leave the castle and go to more neutral ground. Or ask to be reunited at the other Court to be with family. Though I'm not sure how often that is granted.

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[disheartening]

It's never that easy but I won't let anyone say we didn't try for the obvious.

[ her eyes turn less sharp again at the mention of 'family'. a reminder that snow sees her as that. regina had lost her family, one after the other and was left with nothing. the last loss was her own choice, to keep henry safe and happy.

still, snow says 'family' and regina sucks in a breath. ]

How often do I ask for anything? we need maps. once we find out where this neutral ground is, we'll head there.

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[cinnamoned]

I assume I don't need to say we're likely hardly the first to try. But that won't stop me. Even with--even with things back home being as they were, there are still people waiting for us. And if we can't get back I am sure there are other ways we could find to help that won't involve attempting to kill each other.

[Regina might not be related through blood, but she is family all the same. Regardless of all the other might have put her through in the past. That was behind them now. They've both suffered loss at the hands of Cora.]

Maps I can ask about. And I'll let you know once I figure it out. Or if you find one before me. Though even meeting halfway or so this could take a while. I'm not sure how much quicker it might be with those fairy rings, but I haven't used them yet.

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[disheartening]

Unless you want to be even more obviously obvious than you already are and please, don't.

[ but at the next sentence she laughs, bitter and low. ]

Don't fool yourself, Snow. Nobody is waiting for me and you know it.

[ Henry is all she had and he is lost to her forever. ]

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[cinnamoned]

Regina....I know that must have been hard. But we were giving Emma and Henry their best chance. And back in the Enchanted Forest of course there is magic, if we get back we could find a means to get back to them if we have to. Like I said, we're family and you've helped the whole town more than once when it came down to it.

[Snow knows these things take time, however slow the progress it takes time to change people's opinions after everything. But she isn't going to give up on Regina. Trying to reassure her when Snow simply assumes Regina to remember about as much of the situation back home as she does. There's nothing to prove otherwise, and Regina is clearly no longer so determined against her.]

Charming would wait for both of us. Even here, you're not alone, Regina.

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[disheartening]

Don't.

[ sharp, almost angry. ]

Charming would wait for you. He would look for you. He cares nothing for me, none of them do. I am still nothing more than the Evil Queen.

[ rumple had reminded her of that a long time ago. ]

There is no way back, Snow. I've lost Henry and he was the only one who cared for me in this world, in any world.

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[cinnamoned]

[She probably should have expected this. Of course Regina would be upset and hurting after that. Sending Emma and Henry away, erasing their memory of their time in Storybrooke and all connections to it. To keep them safe. She can't entirely deny that there might still be some if not most of the town that still considers Regina as such, but she herself as seen the changes over time.]

There is always a way. For now, at the very least we know Henry and Emma are safe. Everything else....we can deal with that when the time comes and we have a better idea on the situation back home.

[Not that Regina could or would harm her through the lockets, but Snow knows enough that Regina is hurting and lashing out, so she won't push too much. Not now. Not when they at least know they're not alone in this.]

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[disheartening]

[ Regina looks at her before nodding shortly, regaining her lost composure. at the very least she is not trying to convince her that she will be missed anymore. ]

The maps there. search your library, I will search mine.

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[cinnamoned]

I will. I know a couple of places were mentioned by another in your Court I can look into.

[She bites her lower lip, unsure if she should ask again about the magic. Regina said she was fine, but she can't help worrying. Of course Snow knows no difference when she herself doesn't use magic.]

I'll get there walking if I have to, once I know the direction to head in. I'm not sure how reliable to fairy rings are if we were to use those. I imagine you could probably teleport with magic, depending on how much that's been affected or restricted, but I'll take a bit longer.

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[disheartening]

Don't use the fairy tings before I see them. We don't know what sort of magic they are.

[ and snow wouldn't tell light magic from dark magic if it sat on her head. ]

I would - test my magic here, it is a much more...reliable form of transportation. I would not trust anything that came from those fairies.

[ or any fairies. stupid pixies. ]

Snow. Don't try to form the whole Hopes and Dreams brigade over there, some people wouldn't take kindly to the whole Wish Upon a Star parade.

[ in other words, be careful. ]

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[cinnamoned]

If you don't mind the likely longer wait for me. I'll go by foot or see if I can't manage to borrow a horse then.

[Regina is probably right to be cautious, of course. Snow doesn't argue on that. And of course she likely has good reason to worry over Snow given some of her past moments without Charming. But that doesn't stop her trying to reassure Regina all the same.]

I've not managed to evade you for years without picking up some measure of caution, Regina. I'll be fine.

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[disheartening]

If the - teleport would work, I could perhaps take you. But I would practice it beforehand. We don't want you to remain without a limb.

[ she rolls her eyes at the comment, bites back something which feels suspiciously like a smile. ]

Does that mean you are going back to frolicking in the woods dressed like a lumberjack?

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[cinnamoned]

Not sure if the teleporting right into the opposite court would go down so well if that is what you mean. But we'll figure something out.

[Oh, Snow can totally sense it even if Regina tries to hide it. The amusement and banter.]

Bandit. But no. Not yet anyway, I'm still staying at the castle until I get a better idea on the situation and decide what to do then. I've been to the woods for target practice, some hunting though. It's not so bad when there aren't traps or guards after you, really.

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[disheartening]

As if it ever stopped me. do remember your wedding.

[ pointed look. ]

I don't care for their courts and their rules I'm as much of an unseelie as I am half octopus.

[ don't ask. ]

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[cinnamoned]

I do. But that wasn't so much a war situation like this is, Regina. I just think you should be careful.

[Though the half octopus mention gets a raised eyebrow, but she debates whether to actually question such a comparison.]

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[disheartening]

Your concern is touching.

[ dryly but in truth, it does catch her unprepared. ]

Much like you, I've seen and survived many wars, Snow White. I can handle myself rather well.

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[cinnamoned]

Well, you mentioned your magic has been affected somehow, that's all.

[But of course she can't deny that. Regina is much more powerful than she is, so if anything it's more likely that Regina would be more worried about her than the other way around. Snow is well aware of how powerful and deadly her step mother could be, especially when crossed.]

But yes, I am aware of that.

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[disheartening]

It wasn't -

[ she lowers her shoulder, gives up her pride for the moment. ]

I cannot summon anything. not an apple or a sword or a proper dress or a hair comb. nothing.

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[cinnamoned]

Nothing? How could they do that though? You obviously still have some magic, it's not entirely gone, but...

[She frowns, biting her lip. Once, she would have been relieved at Regina's powers being stripped or restricted. Would have considered that an alternative to executing her if possible. But now? It worries her.]

Maybe it's just temporary? When you first arrive and they give you a moment so you don't turn on them? I don't know, I'd never heard of something like this. Stripping someone of their powers.

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[disheartening]

I can perform much more complicate magic, still, however.

[ which is even more stupid, when you think of it. ]

I can summon an apple from the kitchen but not make one anew, as it seems. This however.

[ she reaches a hand, a fireball appearing at her palm before disappearing ]

I can still do. they changed it. and I am going to find out exactly why.

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[cinnamoned]

[Well that is just. Confusing.]

I'm not sure how or why they would do anything about your magic if they're likely expecting you to use it in this war of theirs. It doesn't make sense. I met one woman and her magic seems to be fine. But then, I could be wrong, I don't use magic like you do. I'm not sure of there is anything I could do to help with something like this.

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[disheartening]

Perhaps they know that there is a possible chance that I will use it against them.

[ and if they suspected it, at least it means they have some common sense. ]

not that I know why they'd leave me with the ability to rip their hearts out, however.

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[cinnamoned]

That would be my guess as to one possible reason why they might attempt to restrict your magic, yes.

[But oh, yes. The hearts and how Regina could rip them from someone's chest. Snow remembers all too well when she'd gone to confront Regina after killing Cora. Seeing that black spot at her own heart.]

Perhaps they anticipate you attempting it on those of us in the Seelie Court? If they could gain control of us like that...it would help them with this war.

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[disheartening]

They are fools, then. Fools and fools again. stupid monarchs. There is only one heart I am interested in.

[ and it's not even theirs. she wants them dead but she knows better then to go and rip and crush their hearts. she promised Henry, hadn't she?

it's a tempting thought. ]

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[cinnamoned]

I'm just guessing, that might not be their intention of keeping that aspect of your magic, Regina. I could be wrong. Lets just take this one step at a time. Focus on the maps and figuring a safe place to meet and plan what we're going to do about all this.

[Tempted though Regina may be, Snow believes in her. Knows she wouldn't. Not after all the progress she has made. After her promise to Henry.]