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

[mourning_ghost]

[He thinks about it.]

It's fine to make that publicly available.

[The events leading up that are a touchier subject for Nageki, but if it becomes necessary to explain that part of his life he'll just tell Regina that he wants to keep that private.]

[emojis]

[Drizella exhales.]

At least she did right by Lucy. That has to be worth something, right?

[mandrakes]

[And as she laughs, he smiles.]

No, I suppose not. Why don't you just let me take a look at it when you're finished?

[madehervows]

[Regina nods.]

His name is Henry. [Reaching for a cup of tea, she takes a sip.] He's almost thirty.

[Just... let that sink in given she in no way looks old enough to have a thirty year old son.]

[madehervows]

[Regina simply squeezes Michonne's hand with her own.]

We can stay here as long as you want.

[madehervows]

It doesn't count for as much when she's the reason it had to be done in the first place.

[A low exhale of her own.]

But when it came down to it, she made the right choice for Lucy. And for you.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire does squint at her for a moment. ]

...You don't even look nearly thirty.

[ Says the woman who's supposed to be 53. ]

[thesamurai]

Can you get out of that dress? Great as you look in it, it'll take up our entire bed.

[emojis]

[Yeah, that's still an uncomfortable idea, if Rapunzel doing anything for her out of any kind of love.]

Kind of hard to believe, honestly.

[madehervows]

Some people will always find a way to surprise you. [A beat.] Whether you want them to or not.

[madehervows]

I can do it the quick way. [A smirk.] Or we can do it the way where you get to peel me out of it.

[madehervows]

Why thank you.

[A smile.]

But if you do the math, I'm technically almost eighty.

[emojis]

I guess.

[She also knows it can swing both ways, so she's still not sure how she feels about it.]

Maybe I'll go home and actually live it one day.

[thesamurai]

[ Michonne stands, reaching out a hand to help Regina up as well. ]

Don't get mad now if I damage it. Turn around.

[beautifullies]

I suppose technically I'm a hundred, but...time travel is my excuse.

[ Claire considers Regina, raising an eyebrow. ]

Magic? I'm assuming either you've been here that long or something about home is vastly different than mine.

[madehervows]

I hope you do.

[She actually means that.]

Having to live with the knowledge of your future is one of the worst things Wonderland can do to a person.

[madehervows]

[Turning around, Regina looks back over her shoulder.]

Tear it off if you want. I don't even know where it came from.

[madehervows]

You look marvelous for your age.

[A teasing smirk.]

Magic. First I was frozen in time for twenty eight years, and then there was time travel, and more time travel and honestly? I could not tell you what year it is at home.

[emojis]

Just like a looming axe hanging over your head? Yeah, I'm really not a fan.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire accepts the compliment with a quiet laugh before regarding Regina. ]

Frozen as in when we're here time doesn't move at all? At least not in a way that ages us.

[thesamurai]

[ Michonne's careful even with the note. Mostly because as she unzips, she can kiss skin. A nice tease.

And fade? Because this is just going to be smutty smut smut. ]

[madehervows]

Exactly like Wonderland. And considering Wonderland exists in my world as well - two different ones, actually. There might even be more... [She trails off and smiles, getting back to her original point.] It wasn't too hard of an adjustment, showing up here.

[beautifullies]

Christ, I imagine not. I gave up trying to wrap my mind around my own experience. Once my husband believed me, it didn't matter much to me what else there was.

[ She can't imagine a life where it was all so commonplace. ]

Still, this Wonderland isn't home. I'm sure you'd like to go back for good at some point?

[ Unless home is a trash fire. ]

[madehervows]

I'll admit, I've been luckier than most when it comes to things like this. Portals, magic, it's all been part of my entire life.

[Regina nods.]

I would. I have duties to attend to, but... I just miss my family.

[beautifullies]

[ At that, Claire gives Regina an understanding nod. ]

I'm lucky that my husband and daughter both arrived within a few weeks of one another. But I know others aren't quite as lucky. And even so, this isn't home.