inbox

[cwene]

You have reached Her Most Royal Majesty Nima, by the Grace of the gods, of Eros and the Sea of Samorrah and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Defender of the Faith.

It is common knowledge that the queen enjoys casual correspondence by mail and will answer most letters of substance that come across her desk.

Specify your means of contact in your header!

Comments

[cwene]

[Ahtem delivers the reply because Regina is afraid that Maggie will be accosted in the halls, and his expression is one of visible upset. It comes hours later instead of promptly, as her replies usually do, and is written on plain white paper (though still sumptuous and expensive) instead of one of her usual cards. Unlike the other notes Venom has likely received from her in the past, her handwriting here isn't the bold, architectural script. It's a looping, curling, elegant cursive that speaks of years of practice at penmanship.

And if her words are distant, even cold, it's because they are. A noticeable difference. Something isn't right.]

Venom,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful gift. I am quite touched.

It pleases me that you've befriended a wind elemental. I had every confidence that you would.

Do not worry yourself on my account. I am well. [Blatant lies.]

Sincerely,
Regina

[Even the closing salutation is a departure from the norm. All her letters are signed "fondly" or "yours." Never "sincerely."]

email

[strikingtwice]

Regina, I was wondering if I could ask you more about the gods, since you helped me with learning more about them before.

Your world's gods remind me a little of the ones my people worship, in that they have different roles and aspects, but from what I've been reading, some of them seem linked more to the elements here?

[cwene]

[The response is delayed in coming, riddled with autocorrected typos from her phone.]

Melon,

Four of the firstborn are linked to elements yes.

I'm sorry. Now isn't the best on times. I wood be happy to tell you about the gods perhaps later in the week.

Regina

[For someone who is effusive even in email, this is a strangely abrupt response. Pick at it, Meallan. Pick at it.]

[strikingtwice]

[He's not sure what to make of the first mistake, unsure if it's because she might not have seen it written down, but the second makes it clear that there's something else going on.]

Is everything alright, Regina? You seem... distracted I suppose.

Should I stop by instead?

[cwene]

[This response comes more quickly.]

I'm fine I promise

Pleas dont come by not right now.

[cwene]

[And then, a few minutes after that (because she's close to Meallan and it would be easy for Evelyn to use him as a weapon against her, too, as easy as it was for Evelyn to use Sephiroth):]

Meallan I trust you I do but I dont want to see anyone else hurt because Ive made a mistake

[poolhall_killer]

[Part of Venom wants to comfort the guard, but he doesn't out of respect for his employer. He reads the letter over, sensing the cold that somehow emanates from the writing. And the way she ends it...

He writes back as soon as possible.]

Regina,

I get the feeling that something isn't quite right. Forgive me if I'm incorrect, but are you sure you're okay? If you need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am willing to lend you my services if need be.

-V-

[services as in assassinations]

[cwene]

[Her reply is, again, delayed. And dances around everything while saying nothing.]

Venom,

I'm well enough. Please, don't trouble yourself on my account. Rest assured, whatever small troubles I may face are indeed small compared to those of others, and I would never wish to inconvenience anyone with presumptions regarding my own self-importance.

It's best to keep your distance.

Sincerely,
Regina

[poolhall_killer]

[Her response troubles Venom greatly, but against his better judgment, he chooses to accept the answer.]

Regina,

I understand. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you do need assistance. Take care.

-V-

[strikingtwice]

[Now that's a worrying answer. He can't help but think something terrible must have happened for her to react like this. He remembers all the locks on her door, after all.]

Why would you think that might happen just from my wanting to see you?

What happened, Regina? Are you all right?

[cwene]

Because its happened already.

[Because she trusts you Meallan.]

I made a terrible mistake and Evelyn punished me for it. I dont want to see you hut like this too meallan please trust me with this. Its bad enough to see him like this

[strikingtwice]

Are you all right?

[Wait, the way she's talking... suddenly he realises with a cold feeling that Regina probably means someone else was hurt instead of her, which makes so much of this click into place.]

Or... should I ask after the 'him' you mentioned? Is there something I can do to help?

[cwene]

Hes fine please trust me he'll be fine. Im making sure he gets the care he needs but I cant tell you anything more. Not right now not about that

Im sorry. You wanted something? About the shavaeshri?

[strikingtwice]

No, no, Regina. I'm sorry. I shouldn't pry into something that's clearly upsetting you.

Forgive me.

[And he'll leave it at that, feeling bad enough for the motives behind why he'd originally contacted her now.

But not bad enough to change his mind on his plans either.]

10/4 - email

[angelicreation]

I did something stupid.

-J

[This was sent early morning, before breakfast, and a complete deviation from the way she normally emails Regina.]

[rowancrowned]

[ written on the back is a short note. ]

Rabbit,

Are you well?

Yours,

Thranduil

( so, this is the invitation for housewarming party for thranduil’s new flat. the invite itself will appear on the tenth, and i should have a mingling log up on the thirteenth or so. i wanted to seriously forward date this stuff. feel free to bother him with questions about the event. i just wanted to make a pretty invite so bad. )

10/4 - email

[cwene]

[Her email comes several hours later, riddled with autocorrected typos and not at all like the usual, lengthy correspondences she sends.]

Please be careful Jury. Evelyn is very angry and wont like any foolishness so be careful

Im sorry. I hope everything is alright please be safe

Re: 10/4 - email

[angelicreation]

I don't care about her. I care about what just happened to me. I drank the wrong potion. Can you come over?

[cwene]

I cant not now Im so sorry

[angelicreation]

When? I need you.

[cwene]

I dont know. I cant Im so sorry Juri I cant

[angelicreation]

[And she was doing so well trying to keep herself together over this, but that made the tears start.]

Dont do this to me. Dont abandon me. I need you. I hate this.

[cwene]

[Her reply is several hours in coming. This one comes from a computer, and is carefully crafted. She doesn't want to reveal the identity of the person she's talking about, nor the depth of harm done to him.]

Juri,

If I could be there for you, I would, but someone else needs me right now. Leaving this person would mean their dying. I'm not abandoning you, but I cannot leave. I can't have more blood on my hands.

Earlier was... there was so much blood. It wouldn't stop. I thought we'd drown in it. But it's better now. I can't go, but I can talk like this, for a little while. We're resting. Maggie is bringing broth. We can't eat anything else.

Regina

[angelicreation]

[During those interim hours, Juri managed to have herself a good ol' teenage breakdown. The last time she'd had one, the Maeve had auctioned off her virginity to the highest bidder, but this one was arguably worse given she'd voiced her feelings to Regina. During the time between correspondence, she did think she was being abandoned at a time when she felt incredibly vulnerable and uncomfortable. Thoughts that never went through her mind were contemplated, enough that she'd gone and sat underneath her shower until the water ran cold... and then some.

But the email she saw, after she'd finally cried herself out and cleaned up shards of broken mirror, when she went to go send some other correspondences mollified her a little. She supposed her predicament was fairly petty in the face of someone's life being in danger; her condition was only temporary, even if it may be the worse single week in her existence.]

Regina,

I have regeneration potions I can send over.

I'm sorry. What you're dealing with is more important than this. I know it'll go away eventually. I just want to see you as soon as possible.

-Juri

[cwene]

Juri,

The potions won't work. I've tried. But thank you, that's kind.

I don't know when I'll be able to. This... Being friends with me is what caused this. "Come see your birthday present," Evelyn said, and I went, and if we'd never met, never become friends, she wouldn't have been able to do this. I can't let anyone else be hurt this way because of me. I can't.

Regina