oh, it's amazing that you're here

[madehervows]

Who: Regina Mills & You
Where: outside + inside
When: December 8th
Rating: PG at most
Summary: Regina's been home, lived a lot of years, time traveled to before she lived out those years... time to come back to Wonderland again
The Story:

[And yes, there will be more loss, because that's just a part of life. And in the end, we can get past it all... with hope.

That last word leaves her mouth and everything changes in an instant. One second, she's at her coronation in a fabulous dress, having just been crowned and given a speech. The next, she's in Wonderland with years of memories slotting back into place.

Henry and Ella have gone home, where they can finally be happy and together without something standing in their way. It's going to be hard being here without Henry, when he was here almost as long as she was, but she can do it. She has no choice, after all.

Taking a breath, she hikes up her dress and begins heading from the checkerboard hills to the mansion itself. Sure, she could teleport but the walk will give her head time to settle, time for memories to slot firmly into place. When she reaches the gardens, she stops by the fountain to take a breath, mentally sorting through information and memories and everything else.

The climb to the eighth floor takes a while, so she's easy to disturb there, too.

Later, after she's seen Michonne and spent some quality time with her, she dresses a bit more normally - sensible pantsuits and all - and heads to the diner in an extremely good mood. For a while, she sits with a coffee and looks at the crown, lost in thought. Eventually, it gets poofed back to her room and she invites someone to sit with her if they look a little lost.

Later still, she has a book clutched under her arm, she can be found anywhere people tend to congregate. Chances are, you might get approached because she has a goal in mind - a legacy, really.]

Excuse me, we haven't met, but can I ask you something? [Or, if she does know you, instead you'll get greeted with:] I need a favour.

Comments

closed; for michonne;

[madehervows]

[Returning to Wonderland after a trip home is always hard. So many things happened that could complicate things, complicate personal relationships, destroy them even... but... not this time.

Facilier might have been someone she loved, but she lost him too. And truthfully, if she had to choose between him and Michonne? It's a no-brainer.

When she makes it back to their room, instead of barging in, she knocks on the door. When Michonne answers, she twirls, dress and all.]

How do I look?

[thesamurai]

[ There's no telling where Regina will reappear, but the one place Michonne knows she'll go is their room. She's stayed there all day, waiting, definitely not expecting a knock.

Her plan is to tell whoever it is to go, that she's not up for company, but then it's Regina on the other side, dressed in something incredible that Michonne would take the time to appreciate in another other circumstance. But right now, after knowing the way Regina's life goes, after all the chaos of Wonderland sending people home lately, all she can do is pull Regina in, wrapping her arms around her and kissing her very, very soundly.

There's time for outfits and modeling them later. Right now she needs to know that Regina is safe and happy and still her Regina. ]

[madehervows]

[That's about the reaction she was expecting, and she smiles into the kiss, returning it with as much love and affection and reassurance as she can muster.]

I'm back, I'm still me.

[thesamurai]

[ It's habit maybe, to check to really check because of home, and Michonne's hands go to Regina's face, searching her eyes for any hint of discomfort or hurt. Then, as her eyes travel down her body does she realize what exactly she's wearing, and Michonne takes a step back. ]

Henry said...

[ She shakes her head, trying to come up with a question. ]

It's still good? Everything's still okay?

sorry you get me again

[beautifullies]

[ Claire looks up from where she's sitting, trying to knit because dammit her husband will not be better at this than she is. She recognizes Regina though they've never spoken. ]

Of course. Anything to distract me from how awful I am at this.

[ She puts the knitting needles down, offering a friendly smile. ]

like that's a bad thing???

[madehervows]

[Likewise, she recognises Claire because honestly, who wouldn't at this point? But she can tell there's a story there, and that's exactly what she wants right now.]

My son was the -- an author, and while he was still here in Wonderland, he was writing about our lives here. I wanted to continue that, but since I've been here almost five years now... I'm sure you can imagine how many people I've seen come and go.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire's eyes widen at five years, and Regina has her full attention now. ]

My husband would be wonderful at this, he's a natural born storyteller.

[ Most Scots are, and while it could seem long-winded, it's so animated and fraught with dramatics it's intriguing. ]

What is it you'd like to know? I'm happy to share. I haven't been here quite as long as you, nearly two years.

[madehervows]

I'll have to talk to him later, then.

[A genuine smile, because she's fully been expecting people to not be interested. Wonderland can invade their privacy on a whim, so sharing when they don't have to probably isn't appealing to most people.]

Anything you feel comfortable sharing. Who you are, where you came from, what Wonderland has done to you.

[emojis]

[Regina is asking her for a favor and part of her is just ... surprised, honestly. She knows that things worked out in the end and that Regina went home, but she doesn't know how far home she went, so ... she's taking this with a small grain of salt. At least for right now.]

From me?

[madehervows]

[She'd been wondering how to approach Drizella - things, ultimately, are okay with them now, after all. As much as they'll ever be.]

If you're interested. [A beat.] Before he left, Henry was writing about our lives in Wonderland. Now that he's gone home, I want to keep that going.

[emojis]

[She straightens a bit at that, because admittedly she doesn't have much of a life to write about. But the fact that Regina was offering means something, at least.]

So kind of like a journal project? Sort of?

[madehervows]

Something like that.

[She's not a writer like Henry, so she can't turn everything she's told into a proper story, but she can at least give it all the respect it deserves.]

I think we both know that some stories are best left forgotten, but there's a lot of people in Wonderland who deserve to be remembered.

Library (anywhere people tend to congregate)

[mourning_ghost]

A favor?

[Nageki remembers Regina from the room with the paintings, but he doesn't know anything else about her. What favor could he grant?]

[madehervows]

[Regina nods.]

I understand if you would prefer not to, but while my son was here in Wonderland, he wrote about the lives our family here. I'd like to continue that, but with as many people in Wonderland as I can.

[mourning_ghost]

Ah. Then you want me to tell you what happens to me while I'm here?

[Just to be sure he understands what's going on. He doesn't really have a reason to refuse this request.]

[madehervows]

Anything you're comfortable sharing. Mostly I just want to make sure that people aren't forgotten when they leave here.

[ssmisery]

["Congregate" might be a strong word, but the mansion's roof is easily accessible and a common enough haunt for plenty of folks. Besides, that sort of setting is a favored habitat of recluses and brooding loners, and if you're looking to meet new people, clearly you want to find ones that don't socialize in the first place. Perfect!

Anyway, Lapis has been stuck in close quarters with a mansion full of people for almost two years now, and she still looks vaguely surprised or confused about being up and randomly talked to. Some people are just like that, though. What could anyone possibly want from her?]

What is it?

[madehervows]

[The key thing Regina's looking for is stories, and sometimes that means looking in places that aren't so obvious. That, and she also likes coming to the roof sometimes because as much as Wonderland is terrible, the view can be quite nice.]

While my son was in Wonderland, he was keeping a record of our lives here. I wanted to keep that going, but with as many people as I can.

[Which isn't a question.]

Would you be willing to help?

[ssmisery]

[Huh. In some ways, Lapis is a pretty decent choice to ask that; she has her own concerns about the ephemerality of the Wonderland experience, and thoughts about the stories made, and about memories and the telling of them in general. It is sorta partly in her jurisdiction a bit.

In other ways she's a lousy choice because she's a private person and doesn't really like talking about herself, and, for that matter, kinda doesn't do much in the first place. Also, some of the reasons she has opinions about all that stuff just tie back to personal issues. Still, she's not outright put off at least.]

What, you want a record of me? [EXTREMELY DUBIOUS.] Or of life here, in general?

[oneagainstall]

[Gren isn't a fan of the more public areas of the mansion- but with Shawn's bar closed for the season, he has to go elsewhere for his food and suchlike. He eventually finds a tearoom that's about as close to quiet as he can get, a decidedly Irish coffee sitting in front of him.

He glances up with a scowl as his peace is interrupted, his eyes drop to the book, before flicking up to Regina. ]

Pretty sure that already fuckin' counts as asking me something- but sure, whatever. Waddya want?

[madehervows]

[To her credit, she does flash an apologetic smile once it's clear she's interrupted something. But. She's a woman on a mission and a little grumpiness is hardly going to deter her.]

How much do you care about stories?

[She takes a seat opposite him, the book being set in her lap.]

[oneagainstall]

[That's...quite the question, and Gren's eyebrows raise once she asks it.]

Seriously?

[It's not like back home, here- he's been considerably freer, in being honest about who he really is. But it's still generally something only a few people are privy to. ]

...Did Shawn or Snow or someone send you to talk to me?

[He's guarded, suspicious, but for once not hostile. There's a curiosity there, too. That books of hers is suddenly looking a lot more interesting. ]

hello did you ask for me nearly 3 weeks late

[mandrakes]

A favour?

[Regis looks at her with undisguised curiosity, a basket half full of something covered but sprouting dark, thick leaves hung over one arm. He's relieved to see her back, though will be disappointed to know he missed her dressed in a way that would have been amusingly familiar to him, and smiles warmly when she approaches.]

I feel that saying 'anything' may be flirting with danger, but what is it that you need?

only if you asked for me nearly a month later

[madehervows]

[If he asks nicely, she might put it back on for him later.]

Nothing quite so worrisome. [She smiles, and holds the blank book up.] My son kept a record of our time in Wonderland before he left, and I wanted to keep it going. But for as many people here as I can, because there's a lot of people who deserve to be remembered.

mwah

[mandrakes]

Mm... you're right.

[He glances briefly at the book, then back up to her with a small smile. Regis is aware of certain records in the library, but he doesn't know if Sunburst has been keeping them going since Evelyn's departure.]

What was the favour you wanted?