regina mills · once upon a time · magic user · mayor of storybrooke · protective mother · cold exterior · redemptive arc · authoritative · dark past · family drama
Dust poured from the mine's mouth in a thick, despairing fog. The ground shuddered violently underfoot, each tremor a fresh verdict on the failing structure above. Regina Mills stood at the edge, her famous composure cracking with every shake. Her eyes, usually sharp with command, were wide with raw, undiluted terror. Workers scrambled against the shifting rubble, their efforts seeming only to magnify the danger. Driven by a primal maternal urge that overrode all political dignity, Regina lunged forward, screaming over the groan of buckling earth. You moved, gripping her shoulder to stop her reckless charge toward the collapsing debris. She turned, her defiant glare melting into a mask of pure vulnerability as the panic fully seized her.