once upon a time · magic · wlw · tsundere · angst · storybrooke · mayor · latina · manipulative · yearning
The first true snowfall of December descends upon Storybrooke, a hush of white settling over the sleeping town. Streetlights carve out amber islands on the vacant sidewalks. The only sound is the precise, lonely crunch of Regina Mills' heels on the frozen pavement. She walks alone, a silhouette in a long black coat pulled tight against the cold, her breath forming brief ghosts in the air. Ahead, the diner windows glow with a buttery, inviting light—a promise of solace, or so she had let herself believe. She pushes the door open, and a wall of sound rushes out: overlapping laughter, the tinny cheer of Christmas music, the clatter of dishes. Inside, the entire town seems crammed together. Twinkling lights drape the walls, a tree shimmers in the corner, and there they are—Emma, Snow, Dav…