You didn't think that was the end of the story, did you?

      “And what would i have to talk about?”

…Not the response he was expecting when she opened the door, but hey, he supposed there could be weirder ones.

“Uh…. No, I-I’m not here for a dress. I was… well..” Breathe, buddy. “I was looking to… help. With all the new VK, transfer students, stuff. Y’know, organizing things, class schedules… I figured you’d be the best person to talk to about it.” He smiled nervously. “Can I… come in? There’s a spider above your door that’s freaking me out just a little.”

Reagan wasn’t sure why he hadn’t thought to talk to Evie before the barrier went down.

Well, okay, he had thought about it, quite a few times. But he’d never had the courage to do it, for one reason or another. This wasn’t even probably an ideal time to do it now- a bunch of new kids had arrived and they needed all the help they could get. But, then again, maybe that was why now was an ideal time. He wanted to help. Maybe that would be a good way to get to know her. So, a few days after the gigantic engagement celebration, he went to her studio. Home. Area? He didn’t know what to call it. Either way, he was there, and he was ready to face this. Whatever it was gonna be.

Evie’s working on some new project or other, always keeping herself busy with her new-found business. She doesn’t expect any visitors considering Mal and Ben are travelling the globe to meet other Princes and Princesses so quite frankly she’s a little startled when she hears her door go. Nevertheless, Evie is always inviting though she does so with some caution, opening the door to a brand new face she’d never seen before. 

Well, that… was a little bit surprising. She had always known her mother to be mostly social, and Evie had blown her away with her friendliness. Maybe it was a bit of his father’s side in him. “Ah, I see. Well I shouldn’t bother you for too long.” She said, tone as disgustingly sweet as ever. “I just wanted to meet you. See how you’re adjusting to everything- I know new environments can be difficult to handle.”

Slowly, but surely, Snow could feel her tension melting away. No matter how strange a situation was, her empathetic nature always seemed to shine through rather quickly. “How is Evie? I haven’t gotten much of a chance to talk to her since the coronation.”

Were all of the royals like this? Because if so… Hazel might just go back to the Isle. The only sunshiney dispositions he could handle were of course Evie’s, and Dizzy’s, but only in small doses, and only because his sister loved her so much. “I’m adjusting,” he replied simply. “Everything’s very, ah, bright here.” Nearly constant sunshine, bright colors, everything endowed with a vibrancy they weren’t used to on the Isle of the Lost. 

“Wonderful! I think she has a fantastic eye for clothing, I’m very glad to hear that it’s paying off.” Snow beamed. Honestly, if it weren’t for the strange family tree, she’d consider Evie her own daughter. She still did, just a little bit. “And, I’m very glad to hear you aren’t adjusting too terribly. I can’t imagine it’s easy, of course, but if you have any of your mother in you, you’ll push through.”

Snow White wasn’t exactly sure what to think about the barrier being brought down. She agreed that the children of the Isle deserved a chance at a better life- she’d been siding with that argument from the beginning. But she couldn’t help but feel nervous. A lot of emotions tend to rise up when there’s a potential chance at seeing some… nastier faces from your past. She did her best to hold them down, though. Meeting with Evie had been smoother than anticipated- she almost reminded Snow of a younger version of herself. Humble, and kind. She held hope for them.

Which is why she sought out Hunter. She’d already made a good impression with Evie, it only felt wise to try and repeat that with the other child of her stepmother. Of course, the air was tense when they met. Snow wasn’t sure how to begin, and it didn’t seem like he knew either. But, to her surprise, he did. She smiled nervously, but kindly. “Hello there, dear. You seem nervous.” Hopefully she could find better things to say as the conversation went on.

“Not really nervous. . I don’t. .” Hazel frowned for a moment as he thought about how best to explain himself without coming across rude. “I don’t do well with most people. I really only get along with Evie.” He didn’t mention that he could feel the tension coming off of Snow White; Evie was the only one who knew about his sort of sixth sense about other people’s emotions, though he’d never even really explained it properly to her. 

Well, that… was a little bit surprising. She had always known her mother to be mostly social, and Evie had blown her away with her friendliness. Maybe it was a bit of his father’s side in him. “Ah, I see. Well I shouldn’t bother you for too long.” She said, tone as disgustingly sweet as ever. “I just wanted to meet you. See how you’re adjusting to everything- I know new environments can be difficult to handle.”

All his life, the only sister he’d ever known was Evie. Sure, somewhere in the back of his mind it had registered that Snow White was technically their sister, too–after all, their mother was her stepmother. He had just never thought much about the connection until now, when the woman was standing before him. Hazel wasn’t quite sure how to act or what to say to her. Sorry my mother tried to kill you? You’re just as beautiful as everyone says? I’m also the son of the man who nearly carved out your heart, then chased you into the deep, dark forest? 

He had to say something, he supposed. He could almost hear Evie chiding him for his bad manners, just staring at Snow White, not saying a word. Hazel sighed and scratched his head as he resigned himself to the conversation he was doomed to participate in. “… Hello.” It was a start. Not a great one, but it was a start.

Snow White wasn’t exactly sure what to think about the barrier being brought down. She agreed that the children of the Isle deserved a chance at a better life- she’d been siding with that argument from the beginning. But she couldn’t help but feel nervous. A lot of emotions tend to rise up when there’s a potential chance at seeing some... nastier faces from your past. She did her best to hold them down, though. Meeting with Evie had been smoother than anticipated- she almost reminded Snow of a younger version of herself. Humble, and kind. She held hope for them.