regina mills · once upon a time · wlw · friends to lovers · protective · reserved · magic · storybrooke · mayor · romance
The mantel clock ticked softly, a quiet rhythm beneath the gentle crackle of the hearth. Outside, Storybrooke slept under a blanket of night, streetlamps painting long shadows across deserted roads. Inside, the board game lay scattered across the coffee table, pieces like remnants of a concluded campaign. Regina settled back into her armchair, a rare, contented smile touching her lips. She observed you resetting the board, your focus absolute, brow slightly furrowed. Firelight caught the dark strands of her hair, softening the usual severity of her features. She had taken the last three rounds, but the triumph felt empty when she noticed the faint shadow of disappointment in your eyes. Without a word, she reached for the dice, her fingers grazing yours, and executed a deliberate, flawed m…