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suseagull04 · 4 months
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2023 Writing Round-Up
Huge thank you to @hgejfmw-hgejhsf for the tag- sorry it's so late! I've also done a bunch of drabbles for the Wednesday 100 and the weekly brownstone server drabbles, but I'm only including things that are longer than 100 words. All of these works can be found on my AO3, which you can find here.
January:
The Holiday chapter 4 (OUAT)
February:
Picture Perfect chapter 7 (OUAT)
Missing You chapter 2 (OUAT)
March:
Six of Foxes chapter 7 (crossover fic- The Magicians and OUAT Six of Crows AU)
Better Than I Dreamed chapter 2 (OUAT)
April:
The Holiday chapter 5 (OUAT)
Pride and Prejudice chapter 8 (OUAT)
Missing You chapter 3 (OUAT)
Learning to Love Again chapters 1-5 (OUAT)
The Football Flip ch 1 (Ted Lasso)
May:
A Whole New World chapter 5 (OUAT)
The Football Flip chapter 2 (Ted Lasso)
June:
Stroke by Stroke chapter 3 (OUAT)
July:
Mills Girls chapter 5 (OUAT)
Be Careful What You Wish For chapter 7
August:
The Beauty Within chapter 1 (RWRB)
She's the Man chapter 1 (Ted Lasso)
27 Bowties chapter 1 (Ted Lasso)
What a Girl Wants chapter 1 (Ted Lasso)
Say Anything (Ted Lasso)
999 (Ted Lasso)
You Belong with Me (Ted Lasso)
Lost and Found (Ted Lasso)
The Beauty Within chapter 1 (RWRB)
September:
The Beauty Within ch 2 (RWRB)
Just a Little Monteverde Misadventure (RWRB)
Muñequita Linda (RWRB)
Fall From a Shooting Star (RWRB)
Royally Yours (RWRB)
October:
In Memoriam (RWRB)
The Beauty Within chapters 3-4 (RWRB)
November:
Trading Traditions (RWRB)
Fall Fun (RWRB)
Magical Mishap (RWRB)
An All Hallow's Eve Miracle (RWRB)
The Beauty Within chapters 5, 6 and 7 (RWRB)
An Impossible Choice (RWRB)
December:
A Glimmer Through the Dark (RWRB)
But Only in My Dreams (RWRB)
I know I'm really late to this, but tagging @heybuddy-drabbles @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @daisymae-12 @zwiazdziarka @celeritas2997 @rockyroadkylers @tintagel-or-cockleshells @14carrotghoul and @myheartalivewrites just in case you guys haven't done it yet and want to!
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A Royal Affair
Summary: Queen Regina of Mist Haven is slowly losing hope that she will ever be able to marry for love. Almost every aspect of her life is controlled, especially when it comes to her friends and possible love interests. It also doesn’t help that the media portrays her as an Evil Queen who only cares about herself, focused more on living lavishly than caring about her people. She finds the only men willing to date the Evil Queen are more interested in her crown than her. And then Robin Locksley becomes her new assistant and she believes in love at first sight, wondering if maybe her happy ending is possible after all.
Robin is grateful for his job at the palace even if it means working with the Evil Queen herself. His plan is to work as her assistant for a year to prove himself and then transfer to another department within the palace. But his worldview is shaken and he realizes that things aren’t always what they seem, especially when it comes to Queen Regina. As he starts to see her for who she really is, his feelings for her deepen into something dangerous.
Intrigue, romance and danger swirl around Robin and Regina as they fight for their happily ever after.
Chapter 1: FFN | AO3 | Wattpad
Chapter 3: Summer Arrives
FFN | AO3 | Wattpad
Excerpt:
Summer arrived in Mist Haven and everything seemed to slow down. Businesses started their rolling closures throughout the summer months so their staff could enjoy holidays and rest before everything picked up again when schools reopened in September. The government was no different except for Regina. Queens did not take holidays. Instead, they went on state trips and stole some moments here or there to relax.
"So, where do you want to go this summer?" Tink asked, joining Regina on her balcony overlooking the royal gardens. "France? Italy? Spain? The States?"
"You know I don't pick my state visits based on where I want to go," Regina reminded her chief of staff, pouring her some lemonade sent up by the kitchens. She handed the glass to Tink. "I go where I need to go and when I need to go."
Tink sighed. "No, you go where and when your advisors want you to go. It's your life, Regina, and you're allowed a holiday, no matter how much you don't think so."
"I know you worry about me, Tink, but I'm fine," Regina replied, sipping her lemonade. "I grew up doing these state trips."
"And you mean to tell me that your father never took you and your mother on vacation without any matters to also deal with?" Tink asked, raising an eyebrow.
Regina paused, recalling winters spent in their mountain chalet and summers spent in a seclude villa in Italy. They had a reduced staff there – and really only for her mother, who refused to do anything for herself since she was a queen – and they were almost like a regular family on holiday. She had enjoyed those escapes and her father always looked more relaxed when they were there.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. That Shakespeare quote rose up unbidden to her mind yet again. It was always there, ready to remind her of the gravity of her responsibilities as Queen.
"That was different," Regina replied. "And maybe it will be different once I have a family."
If I ever have a family.
"Maybe," Tink said, looking unconvinced. "So, if you are able to go somewhere, where would you go?"
Regina shrugged. "Maybe I'd spend some time visiting towns in the country. I haven't done that since I was Crown Princess."
"True," Tink agreed. "It might get some positive press."
"Maybe," Regina replied. "But we both know the media will find some way to turn into a big scandal."
Tink sighed. "They are exhausting. I wish you would really start letting us push back against some of the claims. Or at least give us more control of your image in the press. The Windsors do."
Regina hummed. "The Windsors have their own issues."
"All royal families do."
"I suppose so," Regina replied with a shrug. "But really, the press here is harmless."
Tink frowned. "Your people think you're some evil queen who cares only about money and power and not them. In short, they think you're your mother."
Regina shifted in her chair, knowing that Tink had a point. "They aren't storming the castle demanding my removal."
"Yet," Tink replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if someone did manage to convince them to do that. And my money would be on Sidney Glass."
"That would probably be a good bet," she said, thinking of their short relationship. She had ended it when it was clear he desired power more than anything and had a vindictive nature that terrified her.
And she knew he had turned it toward her.
"You need to stop Sidney," Tink told Regina.
"I can't," Regina replied, feeling helpless. "If I attack the press, we could attract the wrong attention and could damage our chances at joining NATO. I can't risk that."
Tink sighed. "It's not censorship when the press is telling lies about you. Don't you care about that?"
"You know I do," Regina said, hurt that her friend would even ask that. Tink knew how much pain she felt when every good deed she tried to do was twisted into something nasty and malicious. It was draining and soul-crushing.
"Then stop it," Tink pleaded. "You can do it."
Regina shook her head. "We both know there's only one way to really stop it and I told you why I don't want to go that route. I have our communications department working to counter the negative stories as best we can."
"You let the narrative get away from you," Tink replied.
"Maybe," Regina agreed, "but control of the narrative doesn't belong to just me exclusively. We keep arguing about this and we always end up in the same place."
Tink nodded. "We do. I argue that you've ceded too much control of the narrative and you insist everything is fine. We agree to disagree and drop the subject for a few months before doing this all over again."
"Exactly," Regina said. "Maybe we can stop this cycle and not pick it up again ever?"
"I can't promise that. I will never stop trying to protect you, Regina," Tink insisted. "I only have your best interest at heart."
Regina reached out and took her hand. "I know."
Tink gave her hand a squeeze. "And that's why we all keep pushing this. We don't want to see you get hurt."
"I know," Regina replied, knowing who Tink meant by "we all." Several of her longtime staff members as well as the few friends she had been able to retain since becoming queen also often brought up how the media treated her. They all suggested ways she could counter it but Regina insisted everything was fine.
Though sometimes she did wonder if they were right and she should be doing more to take control of the narrative about her. But her advisors would then assure her that she was doing the right thing and not to worry.
She had to trust them.
"I guess this is the point where we agree to disagree?" Tink asked, giving her a small smile.
Regina nodded. "It is."
"Alright," Tink said. "Until next time."
"I hope there isn't one," Regina replied, hoping her friends finally stopped interfering and understood that the media coverage didn't really hurt her.
Tink nodded as someone appeared in the garden below. Regina leaned forward as her heart skipped a beat, recognizing Robin even from the back of his head. He took off the tan suit jacket he wore before rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt to his elbow. Draping the jacket over his arm, he began walking down a path toward the fountain. It seemed he was enjoying the beautiful weather on his lunch break just like her and Tink.
"You're ogling your assistant," Tink teased her.
Regina glanced over at her friend and chief of staff, seeing her smirk. Scowling, Regina said: "I'm not ogling. I'm just observing."
"Please, you're practically drooling," Tink teased her.
"I am still your boss," Regina warned her, though there was no real heat or threat in her words.
Tink smirked. "I'm off the clock right now. So I'm your friend, not your employee."
Regina sighed, turning her attention back to Robin as he admired some of the flowers near the fountain. "Then as my friend, can I tell you how handsome I think my assistant is?"
"You can," Tink replied. "Though I figured it out already."
"I've never been this attracted to anyone before," Regina admitted. "And it's a little scary but also exciting."
Tink chuckled. "Crushes usually are."
"I don't know," Regina said. "It feels more than a crush."
"Okay, infatuation then."
Regina frowned, not sure that was the right word. She shook her head. "This feels deeper, Tink."
"Deeper?" Tink frowned now. "Regina, he barely talks to you."
"I know." Regina covered her eyes as she groaned, leaning her elbows on the table. "I'm a mess."
Tink sighed. "You're not a mess."
Regina was about to protest when she noticed that Robin was walking back to the palace. Seeing a chance to talk with him, she stood and approached the railing. Looking down, she called out: "Out for a walk?"
He paused, looking up at her. Shielding his eyes, he answered: "Yes, Your Majesty. It's my lunch break."
"I'm glad you're enjoying the gardens," she said. "And getting a little fresh air. It always helps to get through the rest of the afternoon, right?"
"I suppose so," he said, shifting his arm and revealing some ink on his wrist.
That intrigued Regina and she leaned closer. "Do you have a tattoo?"
"Oh." He lowered his arm and looked at his wrist before rolling down his shirt. "I'm sorry. I usually keep it covered."
"That's okay," she replied, wanting to ask more about it. "I was just curious that's all."
He nodded. "Well, I promise you'll never see it again. I'll get back to work now."
Disappointment flooded her as he disappeared beneath the balcony before she could say anything else. Regina returned to her chair as she sighed. "Is it me?"
"What?" Tink asked.
"He is so clipped and abrupt whenever I try to have a casual conversation with him," Regina told her. "And he is always so eager to get away. It's me, isn't it?"
Tink sighed. "I think it's probably more the media coverage of you than you."
"How can I get him to see I'm so much more than the Evil Queen I'm portrayed as by the media if he won't even have a conversation with me?" Regina asked, wondering if it was best if she tried to get over her crush on him. Maybe then it would hurt less.
"I don't know," Tink replied. "Do you want me to ask for a new assistant for you? I'm sure we can find a good assignment for Robin within the palace."
Regina shook her head, her stomach twisting into a knot. "No, not yet. Letting him go would probably just reinforce all his negative beliefs about me. I think I just have to readjust my expectations."
"Alright," Tink said. "But if you change your mind, just let me know."
"I will," Regina replied. "And maybe you can find out what I'm doing wrong? See if there's any way to get through to him?"
Tink nodded. "I'll see. I can't promise anything."
"I know," Regina said, taking her friend's hand. "I appreciate it."
Checking her watch, Tink sighed. "I need to head back to work myself. I'll see you later."
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iamstartraveller776 · 9 months
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A/N: In jest, @averbaldumpingground challenged me to write all 20 prompts from this fake dating list. Well, joke’s on my friend, I accepted the challenge. I’m doing 500-word ficlets for each, using different fandoms/ships.
Modern Non-Magical AU.
6. “You know we’re not actually dating, so why did you propose to me in front of my family?” “I’m sorry, I panicked.” —OUAT, Outlaw Queen (ao3)
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DISASTER AVERTED
“What the hell was that?!” Regina hissed once they were far enough away from the cabin.
“I don’t know! I panicked, alright?” Robin ran a hand over his face.
This weekend was turning into an unmitigated disaster. A little voice warned him that it would be, but had he heeded it? Of course not. He was an unadulterated fool when it came to Regina Mills, especially when she’d been so earnest and vulnerable, begging a favor from him of all people.
The plan was simple enough: act as her longtime beau during a short holiday with her estranged family. Cora was the viper that Regina warned her mother would be, but it was Zelena who had gotten under his skin. Every word that fell from that abominable woman’s lips was either a passive aggressive insult against her sister or a tawdry invitation for him—the latter given in private. Her hand on his thigh during dinner had been the final straw.
He shot out of his seat and toasted Regina. One moment he was revering her best qualities and the next, he was kneeling, asking her to marry him. Her eyes rounded in horror, but she recovered quickly, accepting his proposal with a wide, fake grin. He made the debacle even worse by embracing her enthusiastically and kissing her.
Actually, that last bit hadn’t been so bad. It was rather glorious, and he wouldn’t be opposed to doing it again. And again. And—
“Hello?” Regina snapped her fingers in front of his face.
Right, right. Not the point. He tore his eyes away from her full lips.
“I don’t even know how to fix the mess you just made. Have you completely lost your mind?” She threw her hands up in the air with a huff.
He laughed abruptly. Because yes. He’d gone a little mad the first moment she knocked on the door to his flat a little past nine o’clock at night and shoved a copy of the noise ordinance at him with a fetching sneer. He’d opted to finish hanging his pictures the next morning.
“My mother is planning our wedding as we speak.” Regina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. She was absolutely breathtaking, and he was tired of pretending he didn’t notice.
He closed the short distance between them, catching the apprehension that flickered across her beautiful features.  “Let her.”
Her gaze turned flat. “Robin—”
“Tell her we want a year-long engagement,” he spoke over her.
She seemed to consider it. “Then we can call it off after a couple months.”
“No.”
She stared at him. “No?”
“No break-up.” He sucked in a breath and told her the truth. “I want to give this—us—a go.”
“You do?” There it was—that fractured vulnerability beneath her biting veneer.
He nodded. Before he could utter another word, she grabbed the lapels of his coat and planted her mouth over his.
He’d laugh if he wasn’t too busy deepening the kiss.
~FIN~
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wflower80 · 4 months
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Vino 23
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When the man she's crushing on asks her sister out, Regina thinks she's lost her chance. But when Zelena plays hard to get, Regina is presented with another opportunity to approach him. Will she take it or miss out a second time?
Happy Holidays OQ Fans! This isn't a Christmas story, but I wanted to publish something as a Christmas present so I finished up this story I had hiding in my Google drive. Hope everyone enjoys it!
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daggzandarrowsnew · 7 months
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Clearing out my drafts - this one was started from a prompt on my original Daggzandarrows Tumblr account (which I stupidly deactivated *cries in soooo many lost fics*)
“Baby Peanut’s magic”
————
“If we suppress it, it will only hurt her in the long run.” Regina explained, her patience running thin because they'd talked about this for so long now and, as much as she loved Robin, he just wasn’t getting it. “She needs to learn to control it now, while she's young lest she lose control and, god forbid, kill someone.”
“She wouldn't.”
“Not on purpose, Robin,” she amended on a tired sigh. The kids were due home soon and the chance to speak so openly with him was quickly dwindling. “You know her temper. At least if she understood what it was, she'd be prepared.”
He shook his head, still pacing in front of the window as she watched from her place on the sofa. “I just…” he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, “I don't want her to turn out like-”
“Like me?” It stung, penetrated deep and flooded her veins like acid.
His pace slowed as he turned his head to look at her, a look of horror on his face, “What? No! That's not-”
“Magic is in her blood just as it is mine, Robin. Regardless of who birthed her, Mills’ blood runs through her veins. You cannot condone my magic yet condemn Zelena’s because they are one and the same.”
“Regina, I-”
“If you'll excuse me,” she interrupted briskly, swallowing thickly as tears glistened in eyes that wouldn't lift to look at him, “I need to make a start on dinner.”
————
“Is Mom sick?” Henry frowned as he watched Regina walk from the room, the plate of food in her hands barely touched unlike the children's empty plates she’d stacked beneath her own.
Robin swallowed guiltily, his own food inedible with the way his stomach was knotted. She'd barely looked at him since before dinner and had immersed herself in the children when they'd bounded through the front door, full of joy and caked in dirt having spent the afternoon in the forest with Robin’s men.
He felt awful.
“I think she's just a little tired, Henry.”
“She looks sad,” Scarlett frowned worriedly with eyes still on the door through which her mother had walked, “do you think she'd like a hug, Daddy?”
He couldn't help but smile with absolute affection at his daughter’s words, nodding his head as he replied, “I think she'd love that, darling.”
————
Her shoulders shook with her silent sobs as she pressed her face harder against her legs, wrapping her arms tighter around her knees and berating herself for getting so worked up over something she knew Robin hadn't meant.
He loved her, loved every single part of her - he'd spent many years now reaffirming that belief in her - and she knew that included her magic, he was just worried that it would corrupt their girl like it had done Zelena and Regina both and his fear wasn’t irrational...it was just unnecessary.
He didn’t understand how frightened Scarlett would be should she feel that first surge of power without knowledge of what it was or where it came from. There’d been many a night in which Regina had stood watching in the doorway of their daughter’s room as her dreams had been magically projected onto the ceiling, chuckling softly as her teddy bears had danced about the room in a way that had been strangely elegant.
It was beautiful, their daughter’s magic, but it could change and Regina wanted her to be prepared for that in a way that she herself hadn’t been.
There was a tug on her fingers that startled her, eyes wide as she lifted her head to blink wetly at the very person she'd been thinking of staring concernedly back at her.
“Why are you crying, Mama?”
She’d inherited magic from Regina’s side of the family but had most certainly inherited Robin’s ability to move silently when he wanted to. “Oh, I just stubbed my toe, sweetheart,” she replied and she hated lying but this was not something she was ready to discuss with their daughter yet, not until she and Robin were agreed on the best course of action. “It really stung.”
Eyes as blue as her father’s but as expressive as her own blinked back at her, a shadow of suspicion there as Scarlett looked to her bare feet and back again.
She changed the subject - or at least her daughter’s train of thought - by holding out her arms to Scarlett and asking, “Can Mama have a hug? It’ll make me feel much better.” And that was no lie.
Dimples dented chubby little cheeks as Scarlett nodded and reached arms up towards Regina, giggling wildly when she tickled at her sides as she lifted her onto the bed and placed her in the gap between legs now crossed, folding her arms tight around her daughter’s waist as small arms wrapped around her neck in turn.
Regina threaded her fingers through strawberry blonde curls and held Scarlett’s face to her neck as she cried quietly, trying to keep her shaking to a minimum. Their daughter was good in spite of her conception. Inherently good and that wasn’t only because of Robin but because of her too. She knew that even on her worst days.
They’d raised her in the right way - Zelena’s visits were still supervised even now and they’d never heard anything to be cautious of but it would remain that way lest she even dare think she could corrupt the goodness in Scarlett’s heart - but Regina knew the lure of dark magic. Knew how it could whisper in your ear and wrap around your heart.
It was a chance they weren’t willing to take where Zelena was concerned despite Regina’s own desire for a change in her sister much like her own. There was simply too much to lose.
“Can I sleep with you tonight, Mama?”
Her heart ached in her chest as she stroked her fingers through Scarlett’s hair and nodded, “Of course you can, my darling.”
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She wasn’t sure of the time nor how long she’d been asleep but when she blinked open heavy eyes, she found Robin to be sitting in the armchair in the corner of the room watching them sleep. He looked exhausted and completely guilt-stricken. It was automatic and instinctual for her to lift a hand from Scarlett’s back and hold it out to him.
Robin didn’t hesitate to cross the small distance to the bed and slip carefully beneath the covers, instantly leaning up and over their daughter to press a kiss to Regina’s lips. “I am so sorry, my love.”
Regina shushed him gently, accepting another lingering kiss from him before she lay her head back down onto the pillow and watched as he did the same after dropping a kiss into Scarlett’s sleep-mussed curls. They lay in silence for a long moment, just soaking in the tiny child in their arms and the joy she brought to all of their lives much like her brothers before her. A child not born of Regina, much like the other two, but just as embedded in her heart.
“She may be Mills by blood,” Regina began quietly, shushing him gently when he moved to apologise, to tell her he hadn’t meant that. “But she’s also a Locksley by heart and soul. She’s so good, Robin. Much of the darkness in both Zelena and myself was out there by years of neglect. We chased that with a need to be loved by people who didn’t have the capacity to and that in turn bred abuse and an acceptance that that was what we deserved…until we couldn’t stand it anymore.”
“That dark path was a choice both Zelena and I took. I was simply lucky enough to find people to pull me back from that, to make me realise that there was so much more for me to find in the light.” She pressed a kiss to Scarlett’s temple when the girl snuggled deeper into her hole without waking before continuing. “One day Zelena might realise that too - maybe she’s already leaning that way, only time will tell…but Scarlett will never have to wonder if she is loved because we show her everyday. She will never feel alone because she has a whole army of people behind her. And she will never feel scared because we are going to tell her the truth.”
“Within reason,” Robin laughed softly, and she breathed a laugh in return because yes, some things she didn’t need to know just yet. But others…
“I suspect she already knows she can do special things or at least sense it, I began to suspect at her age,” she smiled down at the angelic features so relaxed in sleep, reminded of Henry at that age and Roland too, not yet aware of how dangerous or scary the world could be. “I just don’t want her to fear what is a part of her. I don’t want her to resent her magic, not when we can prepare her for it, when I can teach her to wield it properly.”
“I know,” Robin moved forward to capture her lips in a kiss that said so much more than he could. It was full of apology, of compassion and of promise. She was not alone. He stayed close when he allowed the kiss to break, stroking a hair through Scarlett’s curls. “I don’t want her scared either. I want her to feel confident in who she is, to know she can be whoever she wants to and we’ll always be there to catch her if she falls…it’s just…”
“Scary?”
He nodded, relief colouring his features that he was finally communicating what he’d been trying to say earlier. “I have absolutely no doubt that you will keep her safe, Regina. I trust you implicitly.”
She smiled tenderly at him, eyes moving over his face for a long moment before she admitted, “It scares the hell out of me too, Robin…” and then, “but the thought of Scarlett disliking or even fearing any part of herself scares me more.”
Robin leaned in once more to press a kiss to her forehead, cupping the back of her head as he moved in closer to hold his two favourite girls as he pressed his forehead to her own and promised, “Then her lessons start tomorrow. Let’s show our daughter another of the beautiful things about herself to love.”
And with those words, another dark shadow began to fade from Regina’s bruised heart as she closed her eyes and cuddled close to her family. Her world.
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audreysl0ve · 2 years
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From @somewhereapart’s writing challenge, here’s 100 words of OQ, this was very hard, and i now have two AUs over 500 words which i definitely don’t need considering i have too many WIPs as it is. :)
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“Are you marrying dad?” Roland asks innocently and completely without warning. Regina is watching while his father works late. She isn’t prepared for such questions.
Her heart knocks hard as she sweeps her hands through Roland’s curls.
“That’s a very grown-up question for such a little boy.”
“If you don’t marry him, do you keep it?”
Before she can ask what he means, Roland pulls a little black box from the credenza.
“It’s the prettiest ring!”
Robin comes home, interrupting the moment, briefcases crashing down, jaw dropping open.
Tears blur her sight as she meets Robin’s eyes and nods.
“Yes.”
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gray-autumn-sky · 1 year
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It’s been forever since I’ve posted fic here, but I updated When the Heart Wants to Hold On (the sequel to When Brightness Dims).
Read chapter 17 (and those that came before it) here.
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fiadorable · 1 year
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for the north woods - an oq oneshot
I found this completed outlaw queen fic in my google drive when I was cleaning it out. If anyone's still reading OQ, enjoy some missing year angst.
for the north woods 📖 She hates him, hates what he’s done for her, the stupid nobility and selflessness he flaunts as though it never occurred to him to worry for his own safety in the first place. Most of all, she thinks as she sits, hard, knees splaying out as her hands drop between them, she hates that she saw that blasted tattoo all those weeks ago. 🤝/❤️‍🔥 Outlaw Queen Missing Year (are they friends? enemies? lovers? who cares!) 🎬 Rated F for fire, B for blood (sword wound, not a papercut), and M for the missing year 📏 1514 words 🏷️ Missing Year (Once Upon a Time), Blood and Injury, i think this was a prompt at one point, can't remember who it was who prompted me, regina is an angry ball of fiery pain, robin has bad timing with his declarations of love, good god the missing year was the most amazing thing once ever gave us
🔥Read it on AO3 🔥
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tbuddahh · 2 years
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She’s the woman in his ear, his guardian angel, a savior to his soul.
He’s never met her, has no idea if she’s blonde or brunette, beautiful or plain, but it doesn’t really matter because with each passing encounter, each successful mission he finds himself dreaming of this woman.
She’s faceless. A ghostly silhouette, but her voice rings clear, and he can actually feel the caress of her hand. Then she’s gone, and he wakes up with a faded glimpse of what his mind’s eye has created, a blurry haze just out of reach.
Every morning the same. Everyday he wakes from a world where he can almost touch her, a place where she’s just a breath away from tangible, and it would be miserable - facing the waking world without her - but then he doesn’t have to. Not completely.
He makes it to his office just after eight in the morning, sips at an extra hot double espresso while sinking a small speaker into his ear, and he can’t hide the smile in his voice, doesn’t even try to mask the the way his lips curve when he hears her.
“Good morning, Agent Locksley.” Her voice is one of pure velvet and honey, deep and warm in a way that makes him want to curl up and never stop listening. “I trust you slept well.”
“As always, Regina. And you?”
This is their routine, their everyday ritual before more important tasks beckon, and he cherishes the few minutes he has to actually hear her. This short span of back and forth that allows a little of Regina the woman to shine through the strict business that replaces her. She’s an excellent agent, one of the best, and he doesn’t know why she isn’t in the field. She’s never shared what he would like to know, never confided in him with any personal information beyond her name, but he keeps trying. He can’t help himself.
“Quite well. Thank you. Now-”
“Let me guess.” He interrupts. She hates when he interrupts. “You spent the evening curled up with a good book? Or perhaps you went out with friends? A boyfriend?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” He can hear the smirk behind her words, the grin that so quickly disappears, her manner shifting to business in an instant. “Are you ready for your mission coordinates?”
He sighs. It’s the same old dance, and he never seems to get any closer to her for all his effort, but something tells him she’s worth it, and even if she weren’t he doesn’t think it would matter. He wants to know her.
“Yes, Regina.”
“It’s Agent Mills, Locksley. Now head to the coordinates I’m sending through now.”
His watch beeps. A quick glance down and he’s swigging down his last sip of espresso before heading through the door.
“Your glasses.” She reminds, and she must get frustrated being behind the scenes, unable to see until he allows, but if she does it never shows, never sounds in her voice. Well, that’s not entirely true. Sometimes he can easily hear the frustration tainting a thinly veiled insult thrown his way, but that’s only frustration with him, irritation at the way he seems to push all her buttons, and whether or not she admits, he thinks she likes the way he challenges her.
“Of course,” he slips the frames over his eyes, nonchalantly powering on the internal camera, “wouldn’t want to head in blind.”
“Wouldn’t want to head in talking to yourself either, Locksley. Now shut up and listen to your assignment. This is strictly intel. You will enter a tiny cafe to your right off of 23rd Street. Inside you’ll find Zelena Polachek, daughter of suspected terrorist Petrov Polachek. Tail her. Due to an informant we think she might lead us to her father. Do not under any circumstances make contact. Do you understand, Locksley?”
He clears his throat once, a simple signal that works well between the two of them.
“Good. I’ve got your back.”
He bites his lip to hold back the smile that’s fighting to surface, and he settles back into silence of his own mind. Another chirp from his watch has him staring at his wrist, a grainy picture of Zelena Polachek lighting the small screen.
“That’s your target. She should be entering the cafe approximately three minutes after you arrive then-”
Robin nearly topples over when he collides with another body, and he can only roll his eyes and bite his tongue at Regina’s unamused response.
“Well done, Agent. I’m sure you’ll be very inconspicuous with a gallon of coffee staining your jacket.”
He’s just now beginning to feel the burn of the liquid soaking through his clothing and hear the mutterings of apology from a woman he seems to be bracing with both palms.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he assures, releasing the woman’s arms now that they both seem to be on steady footing, and it takes him another second of staring down at the coffee soaking into the gray of his jacket before he lifts his eyes to find a quite lovely looking redhead he recognizes.
Regina must identify the woman at the same moment, her voice stern in his ear not a second later, “Abort mission, Locksley. Abort.”
He ignores her, smiles politely at the object of his mission across from him before saying, “It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”
She grins in response, takes a step closer, concern lilting her voice when she asks, “Are you sure you’re alright? It was quite hot.”
“More of a burnt ego than burnt skin. I’ll recover,” he pauses, observes, and he knows Regina will have him deaf for this in a few moments, but he can’t let this opportunity pass, “but at least let me buy you another.”
The redhead laughs, more of a cackle really, and it rubs him the wrong way, but she’s flirting, she’s receptive, and-
“What the hell are you doing, Locksley? Abort now!”
“I don’t see how I could let you buy me another coffee if you won’t let me replace your jacket.” Her manicured nails reach out, coast from his shoulder down to the brown marring the fabric.
“Ugh. What a sorry attempt to get you to remove your clothing. Do you hear me, Locksley? Abort this mission. You were not to make contact with the target. Abort.”
He swiftly removes his jacket, folding it over his left forearm while offering the woman his right, and he does his best not to wince at the not so beautiful voice berating in his ear while the redhead introduces herself, “I’m Zelena.”
It hadn’t been a mistake, not in the end, because after a miserably boring impromptu coffee date with Zelena he has a way in, a way to get to Petrov. She’d taken him shopping as promised afterward, but he’d refused to allow her to purchase his jacket, had instead insisted she honor him with lunch and an afternoon stroll to which she’d excitedly agreed.
He almost regrets turning off his ear piece, but how could he carry on a conversation with the self-centered redhead with Regina’s angry voice spouting in his brain the entire time. He’d left on the video and mic feed, had remained in visual contact with the agency the entire time. Even now, as he casually strolls back to his apartment, dusk just beginning to paint the sky a dark blue, he still wears the glasses, still allows Regina her view.
He twirls his keys as he walks, takes the steps up to his building leisurely, not a care in the world, but really he’s postponing the inevitable, procrastinating, because he knows as soon as he steps into the comfort of his own space he’ll have to contact the agency. He’ll have to contact her.
He stands by his decision, mentally working his argument through his mind as he turns the key and steps through the door, but the next thing he feels is a hard shove to his back, a hand gripping tightly and lurching his arm back and back until he knows from experience his shoulder is nearly ready to burst from the socket. He calculates, contemplates, catalogs each weapon he’s carrying and how long it would take to reach his gun. His attacker is small. Fast and agile it seems, but shorter than him, and strong but not overly so.
Robin chances it, thrusts his other arm back, his elbow landing squarely into the solid body behind him, and at the sound of a low grunt he turns, manages to reach down and grab his assailant’s leg flipping them to the floor. He spins, faces them while pulling his gun, but he wasn’t entirely prepared for the beautiful brunette that stares up at him, or for the contempt coloring her face. He’s not certain what he did to earn that particular level of emotion from her, that is, until she opens her mouth.
“What were you thinking, Locksley?”
He’d recognize that voice anywhere. The husky undertone, smooth and warm, and his shock is enough of a distraction for her foot to lift, a stiletto lodging itself up against his inner thigh sending a shooting pain up through his groin.
He doubles over, and she rises, shades of black moving gracefully as if she hadn’t just been lying on the floor. It reminds him of his dreams. She reminds him of his dreams. Dreams of her, a faceless and dark silhouette moving like a dance, but she’s more than he could have ever imagined. Her hair is a dark chocolate and it flows down to her shoulders, smooth and soft and he swears it looks like not a piece could ever fall out of place. He wants desperately to touch it.
And then there’s her eyes, and her face, and vivid red lips, and oh how he wishes that mouth was smiling, how he wants to see her smile, wants to hear her laugh and actually get to see the picture of it happening rather than some poor imitation his mind conjures.
“Well?” She interrupts his examination, hands settling on her hips as he meets her eyes and rises to a stand, “Answer me! What were you thinking?”
Each word is punctuated, spoken as if to an ignoramus rather than a peer, and suddenly Robin can’t help but answer her wrath with his own.
“Are you serious right now?” He asks and her brow lifts, her chin tilting down slightly. He wants to memorize every movement. “What were you thinking attacking me?”
She steps closer, and he can’t stop his eyes from shifting down and back up, watching the way she moves, the shifts and bends of her body so easily discerned beneath the tight black fabric of her dress, the deep v that gives him a hint of what’s below, and she is stunning. Truly and incontrovertibly exquisite.
She's close, so close when she whispers, “If I had "attacked" you, you wouldn't be standing." She shifts back, further away, her arms crossing her chest, "For all I’d known you could have gone rogue. You did cut my communication.”
He steps into her, leaves hardly an inch of space, and she smells like vanilla and spices with a hint of something floral but exotic. His own frustration fizzles as she glares into his eyes because he knows her whether or not she likes to admit it. He’s spent day after day with her in his brain over the last three years, and right now she’s angry, down right pissed, but there is an edge to her voice, something niggling on worry rather than indignation.
“Regina, I’m fine. I continued the video and mic feed, but I couldn’t continue audio with you shouting obscenities into my ear.”
“Obscenities? Obscenities like abort mission? Like that? What was so difficult to understand, Locksley? You could have gotten yourself killed!” She’s fiery, brown eyes flashing, eye brows furrowing, and he loves it all, loves the fact that he can finally witness the way her lips move and form around her words.
“But I didn’t.” He sighs lifting his hands to grip lightly at her shoulders. She’s shorter than he’d expected, and that’s with the heel he’d so recently felt the length of stabbing into his thigh.
She breathes deep, her chest rising and falling in something resembling relief when she states, “No, you didn’t.”
She softens under his touch in a way he hadn’t quite expected and for a moment the oddness of the situation hits him. He’s never met this woman, never laid eyes upon her face, but she’s been the one constant over the last few years, the one voice of reason through everything.
He isn’t certain how long they stay like that, but eventually she stiffens again, her back straightens and her demeanor changes. She turns away then, takes a step toward the door and for a terrifying instant he thinks she’ll leave, but she shifts back, narrows her eyes in scrutiny of him and says, “The agency sent me. They are changing your mission.”
He’d figured as much, had assumed once the agency saw the connection he’d made with Zelena they wouldn’t pass up the chance for an operative to infiltrate one of the largest suspected terrorist rings in the region, but that still doesn’t explain why Regina is here, why they sent her personally.
“And why send you?”
She scoffs, rolls her eyes before walking past him, and for an instant he wonders if he should follow her as she moves through his home like it’s her own, but then he thinks he’d follow her just about anywhere. She heads to the den, pours two lowball whiskey neats before handing him one as she settles into the chaise at the corner of the room.
“I wasn’t always a shelved agent, Locksley.” She sips, red staining the transparency of her glass. “The agency sent me as your backup.”
“Backup? I’ve never needed backup. I can handle myself on a mission.” And it’s true. He works alone. He’s always worked alone. Well, with one exception - Regina is always there in his head. She is his exception, she has always been along for every mission, so why send her here in person? Why put her in needless danger?
“Really?” She questions, brows shooting up, and he wonders if she’s always so expressive, if this is what he’s been missing out on for so long. “Like when you neglected to follow direct orders to abort mission not six hours ago?”
She has him there. He certainly broke from protocol when he took this mission into his own hands. Of course they’d want to send in a babysitter, someone to infiltrate the organization along side him, but it still doesn’t explain why they sent her.
“Why you then?” He asks, and Regina blinks, brown eyes dropping for a second before settling back to his face.
“Why not?” She shrugs, swirls her drink, and he’s hurt her. He can see it behind her carefully guarded mask.
He’s unintentionally insulted her by implying that she is a poor choice for the mission, but that’s not what he’d intended so he moves to the chaise, settling down beside her when he continues with, “We work well together. At least, I think we work well together.”
She seems to understand then, her expression a dawning realization that he doesn’t like the idea of going into this mission without her in his ear. “And we’ll still be working together. I’ll infiltrate the organization along with you rather than inside your ear.”
She smiles, and he loves it, can’t help but stare until she clears her throat and takes another sip from her glass.
He nods, swigs down a bit of his own drink to mask the concern that has no place clawing at his features, but he still can’t quite wrap his mind around this decision. “But why put you back in the field? Why not send someone else?”
She sighs, exasperation painting her cheeks a warm tint of red, and her body tenses a bit at his question. “It was my choice to leave the field.” She’s downs the last remaining liquid in her glass and places it firmly on the end table beside her before finishing with, “And it was my choice to come here.”
She stands then, meticulously smoothing out creases in her dress with perfectly manicured hands. “Now, if you’re quite finished,” she gestures toward his whiskey which he gulps down before rising himself, “let’s get down to business.”
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postsofbabel · 8 months
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agox · 1 year
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Last night I got high and wrote a program to find all of the unused elemental symbols. It turns out there’s 585 of them and it’s much less interesting the next day.
One interesting finding: I couldn’t be bothered to generate all possible one and two letter strings, so I asked ChatGPT to write me code that would do all that for me. It worked surprisingly well!
['a', 'd', 'e', 'g', 'h', 'j', 'l', 'm', 'q', 'r', 't', 'x', 'z', 'aa', 'ab', 'ad', 'ae', 'af', 'ah', 'ai', 'aj', 'ak', 'an', 'ao', 'ap', 'aq', 'av', 'aw', 'ax', 'ay', 'az', 'bb', 'bc', 'bd', 'bf', 'bg', 'bj', 'bl', 'bm', 'bn', 'bo', 'bp', 'bq', 'bs', 'bt', 'bu', 'bv', 'bw', 'bx', 'by', 'bz', 'cb', 'cc', 'cg', 'ch', 'ci', 'cj', 'ck', 'cp', 'cq', 'ct', 'cv', 'cw', 'cx', 'cy', 'cz', 'da', 'dc', 'dd', 'de', 'df', 'dg', 'dh', 'di', 'dj', 'dk', 'dl', 'dm', 'dn', 'do', 'dp', 'dq', 'dr', 'dt', 'du', 'dv', 'dw', 'dx', 'dz', 'ea', 'eb', 'ec', 'ed', 'ee', 'ef', 'eg', 'eh', 'ei', 'ej', 'ek', 'el', 'em', 'en', 'eo', 'ep', 'eq', 'et', 'ev', 'ew', 'ex', 'ey', 'ez', 'fa', 'fb', 'fc', 'fd', 'ff', 'fg', 'fh', 'fi', 'fj', 'fk', 'fn', 'fo', 'fp', 'fq', 'fs', 'ft', 'fu', 'fv', 'fw', 'fx', 'fy', 'fz', 'gb', 'gc', 'gf', 'gg', 'gh', 'gi', 'gj', 'gk', 'gl', 'gm', 'gn', 'go', 'gp', 'gq', 'gr', 'gs', 'gt', 'gu', 'gv', 'gw', 'gx', 'gy', 'gz', 'ha', 'hb', 'hc', 'hd', 'hh', 'hi', 'hj', 'hk', 'hl', 'hm', 'hn', 'hp', 'hq', 'hr', 'ht', 'hu', 'hv', 'hw', 'hx', 'hy', 'hz', 'ia', 'ib', 'ic', 'id', 'ie', 'if', 'ig', 'ih', 'ii', 'ij', 'ik', 'il', 'im', 'io', 'ip', 'iq', 'is', 'it', 'iu', 'iv', 'iw', 'ix', 'iy', 'iz', 'ja', 'jb', 'jc', 'jd', 'je', 'jf', 'jg', 'jh', 'ji', 'jj', 'jk', 'jl', 'jm', 'jn', 'jo', 'jp', 'jq', 'jr', 'js', 'jt', 'ju', 'jv', 'jw', 'jx', 'jy', 'jz', 'ka', 'kb', 'kc', 'kd', 'ke', 'kf', 'kg', 'kh', 'ki', 'kj', 'kk', 'kl', 'km', 'kn', 'ko', 'kp', 'kq', 'ks', 'kt', 'ku', 'kv', 'kw', 'kx', 'ky', 'kz', 'lb', 'lc', 'ld', 'le', 'lf', 'lg', 'lh', 'lj', 'lk', 'll', 'lm', 'ln', 'lo', 'lp', 'lq', 'ls', 'lt', 'lw', 'lx', 'ly', 'lz', 'ma', 'mb', 'me', 'mf', 'mh', 'mi', 'mj', 'mk', 'ml', 'mm', 'mp', 'mq', 'mr', 'ms', 'mu', 'mv', 'mw', 'mx', 'my', 'mz', 'nc', 'nf', 'ng', 'nj', 'nk', 'nl', 'nm', 'nn', 'nq', 'nr', 'ns', 'nt', 'nu', 'nv', 'nw', 'nx', 'ny', 'nz', 'oa', 'ob', 'oc', 'od', 'oe', 'of', 'oh', 'oi', 'oj', 'ok', 'ol', 'om', 'on', 'oo', 'op', 'oq', 'or', 'ot', 'ou', 'ov', 'ow', 'ox', 'oy', 'oz', 'pc', 'pe', 'pf', 'pg', 'ph', 'pi', 'pj', 'pk', 'pl', 'pn', 'pp', 'pq', 'ps', 'pv', 'pw', 'px', 'py', 'pz', 'qa', 'qb', 'qc', 'qd', 'qe', 'qf', 'qg', 'qh', 'qi', 'qj', 'qk', 'ql', 'qm', 'qn', 'qo', 'qp', 'qq', 'qr', 'qs', 'qt', 'qu', 'qv', 'qw', 'qx', 'qy', 'qz', 'rc', 'rd', 'ri', 'rj', 'rk', 'rl', 'rm', 'ro', 'rp', 'rq', 'rr', 'rs', 'rt', 'rv', 'rw', 'rx', 'ry', 'rz', 'sa', 'sd', 'sf', 'sh', 'sj', 'sk', 'sl', 'so', 'sp', 'sq', 'ss', 'st', 'su', 'sv', 'sw', 'sx', 'sy', 'sz', 'td', 'tf', 'tg', 'tj', 'tk', 'tn', 'to', 'tp', 'tq', 'tr', 'tt', 'tu', 'tv', 'tw', 'tx', 'ty', 'tz', 'ua', 'ub', 'uc', 'ud', 'ue', 'uf', 'ug', 'uh', 'ui', 'uj', 'uk', 'ul', 'um', 'un', 'uo', 'up', 'uq', 'ur', 'us', 'ut', 'uu', 'uv', 'uw', 'ux', 'uy', 'uz', 'va', 'vb', 'vc', 'vd', 've', 'vf', 'vg', 'vh', 'vi', 'vj', 'vk', 'vl', 'vm', 'vn', 'vo', 'vp', 'vq', 'vr', 'vs', 'vt', 'vu', 'vv', 'vw', 'vx', 'vy', 'vz', 'wa', 'wb', 'wc', 'wd', 'we', 'wf', 'wg', 'wh', 'wi', 'wj', 'wk', 'wl', 'wm', 'wn', 'wo', 'wp', 'wq', 'wr', 'ws', 'wt', 'wu', 'wv', 'ww', 'wx', 'wy', 'wz', 'xa', 'xb', 'xc', 'xd', 'xf', 'xg', 'xh', 'xi', 'xj', 'xk', 'xl', 'xm', 'xn', 'xo', 'xp', 'xq', 'xr', 'xs', 'xt', 'xu', 'xv', 'xw', 'xx', 'xy', 'xz', 'ya', 'yc', 'yd', 'ye', 'yf', 'yg', 'yh', 'yi', 'yj', 'yk', 'yl', 'ym', 'yn', 'yo', 'yp', 'yq', 'yr', 'ys', 'yt', 'yu', 'yv', 'yw', 'yx', 'yy', 'yz', 'za', 'zb', 'zc', 'zd', 'ze', 'zf', 'zg', 'zh', 'zi', 'zj', 'zk', 'zl', 'zm', 'zo', 'zp', 'zq', 'zs', 'zt', 'zu', 'zv', 'zw', 'zx', 'zy', 'zz']
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suseagull04 · 5 months
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Fandom Holiday Gifts
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Day 1: Reread a Comfort Fic
(Note to RWRB friends: there are already a bunch of fics in the fandom I'm sure I'll reread eventually that would be contenders for this, but I'm still so new and things come out so quickly and life is so busy that that hasn't happened yet. Someday, though!)
So I didn't have time to actually reread any of it today- but I'm sure I'll read it later this month, if not early next year! Breaking In by @somewhereapart is one of my all-time favorite comfort fics! It's the longest fic I've ever read (595k and counting!). There are so many reasons why I love it, first and foremost being the slowburn (they're still not officially together, even though they kind of are at this point). The other best thing about this fic (but by no means the only other one!) is the complexity of the plot and exploration of relationships other than the main romantic relationship. Outlaw believer will forever be one of my favorite things about this fic, the exploration of what we didn't get to see on the show, even in AU form, is amazing. If you like Once Upon a Time at all, especially Outlaw Queen, this is one of the first fics I'd recommend every time!
Want to read it? You can find it here:
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One Night Stand
Summary:  When Regina is dared to kiss the cute blond man she has been eyeing all night, she gets a lot more than ever thought.
Chapter 1: AO3
Chapter 3: The Second Encounter
AO3
Excerpt:
"Good morning, Regina." Tink, her assistant, greeted her as Regina approached her office. "Have a good weekend?"
"Yes," Regina replied, grinning. "I had a very good weekend."
Tink raised an eyebrow. "Care to tell me about it?"
"Maybe later," Regina said, unlocking her office. "We have a field trip coming in soon and I don't want little ears to hear about it."
"Oh, you really have to tell me," Tink said, looking intrigued. "What happened that you don't want little ears to hear?"
Regina just winked in response before entering her office. As she placed her bag down on her desk, Tink called out: "You're evil, Regina Mills!"
"It's only a few hours," Regina told her. "You'll live."
She then sat down and started her computer, leaning back in her chair. "Have we heard from Mal?"
"No," Tink said. "But you know her. She'll show up five minutes before the kids arrive and absolutely dazzle them."
"I hope," Regina replied. Mal was her best instructor and had a special way of keeping students entertained. The only downside was that she sometimes didn't show up until the last minute, leaving Regina to panic for hours.
Her computer finished booting and she opened her email. She saw one from Mal and her stomach sank as she opened it. Cursing under her breath, she stood and moved toward the door. "Mal's not coming," she told Tink.
"What?" Her assistant twirled in her chair, facing her with a frown. "What do you mean?"
"She sent an email saying she needs to help her daughter with an emergency so she's going to be out of town," Regina replied, her heart speeding up. "Who can we call up last minute?"
Tink turned back to her desk. "Let me see if I can get someone."
"Thank you," Regina said, hoping someone would come in. "Let me know when you get someone."
She returned to her office, sitting at her desk as she continued checking her emails. Regina then pulled up the grant proposal she had been working on for the past week. If she managed to get it, they could complete much needed renovations to the museum and modernize their exhibits. Hopefully that would entice more people to visit so they wouldn't have to survive on just school and camp trips.
Knocking interrupted her and she looked up. Tink stood there and her dour expression made Regina's stomach sink. "Nobody is available, are they?" she asked.
"No," Tink replied. "They're all busy. Sorry."
"Great," Regina groaned. "Now what am I going to do?"
Tink hesitated before saying: "You could give the tour."
Regina wondered if she had misheard her assistant. "Me? I normally don't do tours or demonstrations. I'm more administrative."
"Yeah, but you can do them," Tink insisted. "I've seen you, Regina. You love all of this and I have no doubt you'll excel at both. You just have to give yourself a chance."
Glancing at the clock, her heart sank. It was too late to cancel with the school as the buses were about to arrive. She had no choice except to do the tour and pray she didn't ruin it. Nodding, Regina stood. "Alright. Let me go change into a lab coat."
"You know where they are," Tink said, grinning. "I'll go make sure everything is set up for you."
Regina nodded, taking a deep breath as she remained at her desk. "You can do this," she told herself. "You're just as qualified as any docent."
She stepped away from her desk and walked toward the closet where they kept the lab gear. Regina found a coat that fit her and located some safety goggles. After locating the gloves, she closed the closet door and started to walk toward the front of the museum. Through the door, she saw the first yellow school bus pull up, filled with children who were eager to enjoy their field trip.
It was showtime.
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sorrowfulsoul · 1 year
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wflower80 · 4 months
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Another update finally!
Robin and Regina go on a date...
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daggzandarrowsnew · 7 months
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Let’s go on Dreaming
Every time I listen to the song So Close and think of the scene it is from in Enchanted, I think of Outlaw Queen during that bloody painful Frozen arc and I HAVE to write something.
So we’ll pretend that Marian was really Marian and after she gave her blessing to Regina, nothing else happened in the town of Storybrooke. There was no Zelena issue to resolve but our Regina wasn’t quick to forgive Robin for things that happened during that time.
I’ve left descriptions of clothing etc. out of it purposefully. When I’m reading a fic, I usually like to visualise some of my favourite characters looks and just go with that so when descriptions come into it, it either muddles my brain or I just ignore them 🙈 that is only me though! If you prefer descriptions, let me know and I will include them in the future.
—————————
“I’m fine right here, sweetheart,” Regina smiled at Henry. Waving him away when he attempted to lead her to the table that Emma and her parents were sitting at. “Go have some fun.”
She had only agreed to come because Henry had refused to go without her.
If there was one thing Snow White loved, it was a victory party. She almost found herself wondering how many had been thrown over the years she’d attempted to kill the girl but decided not to take herself down that path tonight. They were in an extremely healthy place now. They’d never be the young princess and her kindhearted rescuer again, too much had happened. But they’d become something of a family once more.
She smiled over at the woman in question, shaking her head when Snow frowned at her resistance to join them.
Almost subconsciously, her eyes drifted to where Robin stood with his back to her and his eyes trained on his whiskey glass at the bar. When she looked back to Snow, she found sympathy there but no pity and for that, she was grateful.
She and Robin hadn’t spoken much since Marian had given her blessing. Regina hadn’t seen much point in it. They’d missed their time many years ago in a land far different than this one and they’d been fools to think otherwise. She’d been the biggest fool of all.
Darkness hadn’t yet touched her heart when she’d first laid eyes on him in that tavern. Sure, she’d had the first suggestions of darkness shrouding her thoughts but her heart had still been pure, much like Robin’s was. But now…she was the furthest thing she could have been to what he deserved. How she’d ever believed it could work was ridiculous. Of course he’d choose another over her. Of course he would.
It was a deep ache that threatened to steal her breath entirely every time she allowed herself to think too much into it. Tonight wasn’t about that though. Tonight was about spending time with her son and the people he loved and who loved him, even if they didn’t all love or even like her. So she took a deep breath and swallowed against the lump in her throat. She’d weathered the storm before, she would do so again with the help of Henry this time to keep her on the right path. On the only path she wanted to be on.
When a glass was placed in front of her, amber liquid swirling within, she took a deep breath, readying herself to look into shining blue eyes and refuse the offer of a drink only to release it swiftly and in no way subtly when she found Granny to be standing before her.
“Knock it back quick, girl.”
Regina frowned up at the woman before realising how she was standing right in front of her, her bulking frame hiding Regina from view of any who may be looking over. She smiled gratefully before picking up the glass and tipping the whiskey into her mouth, swallowing like she was a dying woman and this was the elixir of life. “Thank you,” she coughed lightly, placing the glass in Granny’s hand.
“Atta girl.”
And with nothing more than a comforting squeeze of her hand around Regina’s, she was moving off towards the bar once more.
——————
A short while later, Regina found another glass in front of her. This one easily identifiable by the smell that reached her instantly. Tequila.
“Miss Swan, I’m-“
“You may look fine, Regina,” Emma interrupted as she lowered herself into the booth opposite her, her own shot glass in her hand, “but I know I’d prefer a friend in this situation.”
Robin had since moved from his place at the bar to sit beside his (now) ex-wife and son. Their gazes had met a couple of times, holding only for one painful instant before she was looking anywhere else but at him despite the feeling of those eyes still on her.
“It’s been a hard few weeks for everyone,” she continued, her fingernails tapping at the glass in her hand now resting on the table in front of her. And Regina blinked.
Though she’d initiated the search that had helped stop Emma from relinquishing her powers - a ridiculous notion that the Charmings had somehow entertained for a terrifying moment - she’d been too wrapped up in her own issues with Robin to remind Emma that magic was in the very fabric of her being. So she nodded and lifted the shot glass in front of her, smiling when Emma mirrored her and knocked them together with a satisfying clink before they were sinking the tequila without so much as a grimace.
Emma’s eyes moved back over to her family and Regina studied her for a moment. Here was a woman who’d finally found everything she wanted - the son she’d been too afraid to keep, the parents she’d always searched for and the love she’d always craved from other partners but never found. Yet, much like Regina, she’d been unable to accept it and had tried to change herself.
Regina shook her head, knowing that she too should be accepting that she was simply enough as she was despite her past but it was so much easier to give advice rather than take it.
“If ever you should need my help with anything, Emma…” she began tentatively, lifting her eyes from the table when the blonde turned her attention back to Regina. “I may not be the most approachable, but I am always here…whenever you need.”
Emma nodded gratefully before chuckling softly to herself and eliciting a frown from Regina. “You may not have been approachable when I first got here, Madame Mayor,” she grinned, able to laugh at their initial rivalry now despite how both were nearly killed numerous times during those first couple of years, “but you’re most definitely not as scary now as you were then.”
Dark eyes flashed with a dangerous humour as a perfectly tweezed brow lifted. “You think I’ve gone soft, Miss Swan?”
“Okay, no,” Emma laughed, lifting herself from the booth. “Let’s leave the Evil Queen in her cage, shall we?”
Regina merely shrugged in response as Emma began backing off with a much easier smile than when she’d first sat down. “The night’s still young.”
“Yes,” Emma nodded, that smile softening as she cocked her head towards where Robin now sat alone, “it is.”
——————
She was on her way back from the bathroom, weaving slowly through those who’d chosen to get up and dance - Henry and Emma among them, she noted with a smile - when small fingers curl around her hand suddenly.
“Dance with me, R’gina!”
“Roland, use your manners,” Marian’s admonishment came instantly as Regina turned to find the two behind her.
“Dance with me please, R’gina!” he amended adorably, Regina’s heart growing two sizes as she crouched to his level with a warm smile.
“By the looks of your rosy cheeks,” she tapped at the side of his face, eliciting a shriek of laughter from him, “I’d say you’d already been dancing.”
He nodded before reasoning, “But I haven’t danced with you yet!”
“You can’t just abandon your mama,” she replied, not wanting to step on Marian’s toes with their checkered past. “Who will she dance with?”
The woman in question laughed easily, shaking her head as she explained, “You’d be doing me a favour,” she raised a hand to her forehead for Roland’s benefit as she added, “I’m all danced out, I’m afraid.”
Roland looked from his mother and back to Regina excitedly as she looked up at Marian with her eyebrows raised in question, asking if the woman really was sure. When she merely smiled wider and nodded, Regina looked back to Roland.
“Well I guess that’s settled then.”
And with that, she hefted the giggling toddler onto her hip and began turning them in circles, revelling in the same excited shrieks this kind of dancing had once pulled from her own son when she’d twirled him around the kitchen as a child.
—————-
She was almost out of breath and quite ready to call it a night. Roland had allowed her a moment of reprieve, running to his mother to ask if she’d been watching their two, three, four different dances (which, of course, she had). She was about to turn and start making her way back towards her table when she felt it. She felt him. Standing behind her.
“May I have this dance, milady?”
Regina turned slowly on the spot, quite sure at least four pairs of eyes were on them already as she finally locked a steady gaze on the man she’d been unable to look at all night.
His smile was so earnest, so full of hope as he stood before her that she found herself automatically nodding despite the lump rising in her throat.
Robin gave her a long moment more to change her mind before he was slowly and tentatively stepping into her space with his hands held up palm outwards.
She shouldn’t, Regina knew she shouldn’t but somehow, her hands lifted of their own accord. One found its way onto his shoulder, curving over the muscle there as she felt him cup her waist, while the other laid gently atop his waiting palm.
There was a moment in which their eyes locked once more. One filled with every single word they’d never been able to say to one another, never been brave enough to voice in these last few heartachingly awful weeks. And then, without any more thought to it (because what needed to be said right now, here in this frozen moment between them) they pulled one another closer and began to move, feeling for the first time in a long time that perhaps things wouldn’t have to be so difficult anymore. Perhaps for once, things could be easy.
Just this once.
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