She stands on the fringe of the party, all elegance and poise, with her dress clinging to her hips and flaring about her feet; her eyes move with casual ease back and forth across the room, not restless so much as curious, as if she definitely isn't waiting for anything or anyone. He smiles at that - not outwardly, of course, but metaphorically - because it's been so long, he'd almost forgotten Snow White was still royalty.
The other guests have all relaxed, this late in the evening. They stand in pairs and in groups, chatting amongst themselves and laughing, but she remains alone. No-one has approached her since he arrived, and he'd bet good money on the fact no-one had bothered to try it before.
He stubs the remains of cigar out in the potted plant he's standing behind - not that he's lurking, it was just already here when he arrived - and runs a hand through his hair. Should he straight his tie? He risks a glance down, pats at his shirt, and grunts. Yeah, straightening his tie wasn't going to help.
He does it anyway. Then he shoves his hands in his pockets, waits a moment, and stalks into the open.
Her smell slaps him like a cold fish to the face, and there's an almost painful tang at the back of his tongue; it's a memory more than anything, but even if he hadn't been able to see her, he couldn't have missed her. He knew this for sure.
He'd already tried.
Snow glances up at his approach, and takes in his disheveled appearance with a single glance. He considers feeling self-conscious about her scrutiny, decides she's seen him looking worse, and gives her a once-over in revenge. It should have made him feel better, but it doesn't - probably because she wears the dress a hell of a lot better than he ever could.
His mouth is suddenly dry; he doesn't know how to greet her. She is blissfully unaware.
"Bigby," she sighs, in something close to relief, and the world starts again. He breathes out and her scent stops suffocating him, he remembers who he is and why he's there, and -
- and thank fuck for that. Gods alone knew what would have happened if she hadn't said something first.
He might have even embarrassed himself.