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[swiftasadeer]

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[fondofapples]

[ After she texts Neil directions to the boardwalk, Regina's hit with a brainstorm involving Charlie, Arya, housing, and gratuitously seeing Neil this evening. Henry'd probably call it Operation: Fire Drake, or something similar, which makes her smile. If it weren't going to be delicate with the kids, Regina'd call Swan and invite her on the principle that Henry would want her to, but kids first and she doesn't need Henry's desires to guide that.

First things first though, so she sits down at the dressing table to refresh her makeup and dials a by-now very familiar number. ]

Hello, Arya. It's Regina.

[swiftasadeer]

[ It takes Arya a second or two to figure out the phone. ]

Hello Regina...can you hear me? Am I doing this right?

[fondofapples]

[ Regina smiles at the sound of Arya's voice, but it does remind her, she needs to spend a little time teaching her the practicalities of contemporary life. Hopefully tonight will make that easier. ]

I can hear you, honey. [ A beat. ] How are you tonight?

[swiftasadeer]

I'm okay.

...It's nice, having somewhere safe to sleep every night.

How are you?

[fondofapples]

I'm all right, thank you.
I'm going to the boardwalk to get some ice cream, and I thought you might like to join me. Would you?

[swiftasadeer]

Okay.

[ A beat. ]

What's ice cream?

[fondofapples]

[ Right. Roland hadn't known either. There's a pang in her chest at the memory of another precious little face. She drums up a smile for Arya; Roland is fine with his mother and father. ]

Flavored sweet cream served frozen. It's one of Henry's favorite treats.

[swiftasadeer]

[ Considering how much snow and ice the North has, it's surprising they haven't invented something similar. ]

That sounds good. I'd like to try it.

[fondofapples]

We'll choose a place where you can sample different flavors.

I'll come get you and we can talk about my friend on the way.

11/18 - Late Afternoon [TEXT]

[fondofapples]

[ Arya is easier than Charlie, because Arya will trust Regina. And she lived in a world where illnesses killed, so she'll know that Regina's worried without her having to say so. Even so, she keeps it to text, because she doesn't trust her voice. ]

Neil has a fever. I'm taking care of him at an inn. We'll be home when he's well, and I'll let you know how he's doing when I can.

Emma and Evie will be at the house. Please don't run, love. I promise, I'm coming home.

[swiftasadeer]

[ Arya does know what sickness can do and it is scary. ]

i promise I won't run.
do they have maesters here?

[fondofapples]

[ Regina wishes Arya didn't understand this as well as she does. She wishes she could protect her from it enough that she could start to forget, instead of relying so much on Arya's firm grasp on how awful the world can be. ]

Thank you, love. 
There are doctors here. I think that's what you mean by maester. But Neil's sickness
is magical. The magic healers won't have any more skill with it than I do.
He should be all right in a few days. Think good thoughts for me.

[swiftasadeer]

maesters heal people when they're sick or injured, and they teach the children of lords their letters and sums and the histories of the seven kingdoms. Robb used to tell me they studied old magic too and that maester Luwin would put a curse on us if our letters were crooked but mother said that was nonsense.

can you fix it? Can you fix magic with magic?

[fondofapples]

I would side with your mother on that one. 

I can't fix it, but he's survived this fever before and this time he has my help.
 
I can't promise, because I won't lie to you, but I will do my best.

Pray for me that it's good enough?

[swiftasadeer]

I will. To the Old Gods and the New.

[ Which is quite a lot for Arya, since her faith died with her father. But it might help and Regina asked her to. ]

[fondofapples]

Thank you, darling. 
I have to go now.

[ She wishes she could hug Arya, badly. But Neil needs her now. ]

[swiftasadeer]

okay

i love you

Video; morning of 11/22

[hellorhighwater]

[The face on the network is a little haggard, but very much alive—nothing a few more hours of sleep can’t fix. He offers a tired smile and a wave as he speaks.]

Hey, shortcake. I know Regina sent word I was sick, but I’m doing a hell of a lot better. We’ll be home in a little bit, but Regina’s exhausted from looking after me. I’m tryin’ to get everyone to help me make sure she rests—you know how she can be, tryin’ to take care of everyone no matter how she feels.

Think you could lend a hand with that?

[swiftasadeer]

I'm glad you're feeling better. I was worried.

What can I do?

[hellorhighwater]

Well, I asked Alice if she'd get real affectionate--curl up in bed with her so she wouldn't wanna get up, but that's just 'cause she's good at that stuff.

What are some quiet things you like to do? Maybe you guys could read together, or you could sit with Regina while you sharpen your sword--hey, do you know how to sew? I could teach you how to work with leather--it's hell on your hands, but it makes your fingers strong and develops calluses. Plus, custom sheaths for your daggers are cool as hell.

[swiftasadeer]

[ There's very little Arya likes to do that's still and quiet, but. ]

I learned needlepoint from my septa but I was never very good at it. My stitches were always crooked. My sister was always better at it.

[hellorhighwater]

Needlepoint? ...huh.

It was embroidery for me. [This he admits with a rueful grin.] My uraidh--teacher, guess it's kinda like your septa?--he said it'd help me learn focus, improve my dexterity, and give me a sharper eye.

Could you teach me how to do needlepoint? We'll let Regina watch so she can laugh at me when I mess it up.

[swiftasadeer]

Septas are women who worship the Seven, they usually serve at a lord's house and lead services, but she was our governess too. She taught us things ladies are supposed to know.

[ The face Arya makes, makes it pretty clear what she thinks of that. ]

I'm very bad at it...that's why I named my sword Needle. Sansa and Septa Mordane can keep their needles, I've got a better one.

But I can try.

[hellorhighwater]

No kiddin'? That's kinda how it is in my world, at least among the common folk. My king was my uraidh,, but if I hadn't been brought to serve at court I'd have taken my lessons from a priest or priestess of the Thousand Ancients. But, uh...

[He trails off, making a distasteful face.]

Yeah, ladies do more 'n just sew and shit. Well, whatever you know? I'd like to learn. That thing with naming your sword, too...they don't do that in the Five Realms. Maybe some time, you can help me figure out a name for mine.

[swiftasadeer]

My brother Jon said all the best swords have names. Yours should have one, too.

[ Arya falls silent for a moment, biting at her lower lip. ] I prayed really hard you would get better. I don't know if the gods listen to me anymore, because I don't know that I believe in them anymore, but I tried.