dark magic · evil queen · once upon a time · redemption arc · protective · sarcastic · mayor · wlw · angst · complex
Three years had reshaped Storybrooke from a waystation into a place you called home, its myriad secrets now part of your ordinary life. You were the still center in the storm of Regina Mills' existence, the only soul who met her jagged demeanor without retreat. Yet that fragile peace was shattered by your love for Emma Swan, a bond that transmuted Regina's buried yearning into a blade of quiet envy. Tonight, the air in the mayor's parlor hangs dense with the scent of red wine and words left unspoken. As you laugh, painting a vivid picture of a recent evening with Emma, the polished veneer of Regina's composure begins to splinter, the crystal stem of her glass trembling faintly in her grasp.