The brunette glares at the couple that hurry past her, inwardly damning their rudeness as they veer to the far side of the sidewalk so as to avoid her. She bears no concern for the fact that they feel the need to do so, but she dislikes the way untrusting eyes roam over her with distaste. Sighing, she lets such nuisances go and continues up the ice-ridden path towards the Station. She carries twin paper cups in her hands- an order which the ditzy little waitress had found most perplexing- and as she nears the turning towards the Station, she sips delicately from the coffee held to her right.
She feels much better than she did this morning, free from the liquor that had seemed to course nauseatingly through her system until lunchtime. Henry's actions over breakfast have left her in a peculiar mood; elated and oddly humbled. She had been surprised to find out that the blonde had taken it upon herself to have a conversation with the boy, and feels a little guilty that her initial reaction- her primal reaction- had been a terrible sense of instant anger. Still, she reassures herself that such a response is to be expected after their turbulent past few months, and the fury at her son's admission had quickly dissipated into curiosity.
In truth, what she has managed to piece together of the Sheriff's actions the previous evening has left her feeling rather touched.
She doesn't feel a sense of nervousness seeking out the younger woman after the events of last night as she is simply not one to react in such a way. She imagines, if anything, Emma will be the one to harbor a small amount of awkwardness, but then this is again a mere facet of the Sheriff's character.
At the back of her mind, she allows for the fact that this all feels a little surreal; she has visited the blonde often enough, but stopping by for a companionable drink is most definitely a first. She reasons that work at the office is currently slow- negating to attribute this fact to the way the town's Mayor and Sheriff are currently not working to screw each other over- and suspects the ongoings at the Station are much the same. Storybrooke is on the whole a quiet little town, and as much as it may pain her to admit it, Emma does a fairly decent job of keeping on top of things her end.
Turning the corner onto the path that leads to the Station, she spots the younger woman instantly and adopts a small smile despite herself. The Sheriff sits on a weathered bench outside the Station with her legs crossed up on its surface, her leather jacket appearing strangely bulky due to the thick hoodie she wears beneath. For a brief moment, Regina is under the impression that she sits outside smoking, but further scrutiny allows her to deduce the wisps of fog emanating from the younger woman are simply clouds of misted breath due to the cold. Emma appears to be staring at nothing in particular down to her left, a half eaten cookie held forgotten in her hand.
Berating herself irritably for the peculiar surge of emotion this simple vision brings, the Mayor shakes her head, as though trying to corral her thoughts back into place. She stalks over to the blonde's bench gracefully, smiling when the younger woman glances up as her shadow crosses the frosted ground; long and wasted in the winter sun.
"Good day, Miss Swan."
"Hi..."
Green eyes glitter up at her curiously and the brunette takes a seat primly on the gnarled bench beside the Sheriff; her suit clad leg resting gently against the blonde's knee but neither woman seems to pay this any mind. Handing Emma the untouched cup she holds, the Mayor rolls her eyes with hidden amusement as the younger woman sniffs the proffered beverage curiously.
"I assure you it isn't going to kill you."
Oh, what a choice of words.
Grinning sheepishly, the blonde takes a sip of the cream laden hot chocolate, licking her lips appreciatively as her eyes sparkle with good humor.
"Always better to be cautious."
"Yes... I imagine you're right, dear."
"...How are you feeling?"
"Better than I deserve to feel, I suppose. I felt a little delicate this morning, but the tylenol you left me must have been of extra strength; it took care of my headache wonderfully... Thank you."
"Ah, it wasn't tylenol..."
Blushing slightly, Emma leans to the side so as to access her back pocket- consequently pressing her shoulder against the brunette as her long hair tumbles lightly into the Mayor's lap for a moment- and pulls out a small crumpled packet with a faded sticker bearing her name.
"Percocet?"
Regina raises an eyebrow as she takes the packet from the blonde for inspection. Emma clears her throat, playing with her hair nervously.
"It was all I had... I wasn't even sure they'd still work. I got prescribed a course of them about three months before I came here, but never took them... I didn't think they'd do any harm if you just took them once..."
"So you tried to drug me..."
The blonde shakes her head hastily but the Mayor passes her back the packet with a smirk, her tone purely teasing.
"It's a bit of an odd thing to walk around with in your pocket, don't you think?
"They were in my jacket; must have been in there for months, but I never thought to take them out... When I took you upstairs last night I noticed them when I took my keys out my pocket... I figured it was worth a shot..."
"Worth a shot to allow me to unwittingly ingest high grade pain-killers..."
"Well, they clearly worked, you said you were feeling better!"
Emma grumbles hotly, the flush at her cheeks suggesting she feels a little ashamed of what she now realizes was a rather risky course of action. Smiling at the younger woman kindly, the brunette shrugs and rests her hand on her jean clad knee.
"Indeed I am... And I want to thank you for last night... I assume Henry called you?"
"He did... Please don't be mad at him, he was just worried about you... I know he said he-"
"-It's ok... We had a little talk this morning actually..."
"You did?"
Dark eyes flicker sideways to study the blonde as Emma keeps her tone purposefully casual.
"We did... And I suppose I should be thanking you for that as well."
"...Henry told you?"
"That you suggested he mind his manners a little more around me?... Something like that... I'm... I'm grateful that you feel that way, Miss Swan."
"Emma."
"Sheriff."
Regina chuckles huskily as the younger woman groans and shakes her head in burlesque display of despair, watching in amusement as Emma tosses the remains of her unwanted cookie expertly into the trashcan to their right.
"Impressive."
"Well... You know..."
The blonde straightens her jacket with a theatrical show of nonchalance before breaking into a sly grin; the tip of her tongue poking impishly through neat white teeth. Rolling her eyes, the Mayor crosses her legs primly one over the other- this new position subsequently pressing her leg and shoulder lightly against the Sheriff's own- and sips thoughtfully at her coffee while Emma does the same.
"Aren't you cold sitting out here?"
"A little... I needed to think though, and sometimes the fresh air helps."
"Yes, I imagine you need all the help you can get, dear."
A soft nudge in the ribs.
Scarlet painted smile in return.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Mr Gold."
"Oh? Something I should know about?"
The Mayor's tone is silky- playful- but she is only just able to mask the scowl that threatens to settle over her refined features.
"I don't know."
"...What do you mean you 'don't know'?"
And, just like that, the pleasant mirth lacing the darker woman's sultry tone is gone as she turns to face the Sheriff with a frown.
"He came up to me in the Diner earlier to talk to me."
"Oh?"
The brunette's frown lingers, but it evolves into an expression of wary concern rather than simple possessiveness.
"...He saw my car outside your place last night."
"... I see. What did you tell him?"
"Nothing, just that it was none of his business."
"...Everything in this town is Gold's business, or so he seems determined to make it..."
Emma sighs, regarding the older woman apologetically. Regina's frown deepens as she can't quite find it within herself to berate the blonde for her carelessness. She imagines that doing so will make herself feel much better herself, but she finds she has no wish to place blame on the Sheriff.
Well that's new...
Running a finger thoughtfully over the seam of the blonde's jeans, the Mayor carries on in a contemplative tone.
"The man is a snake, dear... I suggest you simply strive to avoid him. He will most certainly endeavor to make you think he holds you at his mercy, but if you told him nothing, then nothing is all that he knows. Let what he imagines to be the case remain a simple inkling... And who's to say he doesn't simply suspect the truth? That the Sheriff was responding to a distress call?"
"... I guess..."
"Just be more careful next time."
"I'm sorry."
"... There's nothing to be sorry for. Just a word of warning, Miss Swan."
"Oh, I'll take it to heart, believe me!"
Smiling in amusement at the hard venom in the Sheriff's voice, Regina swallows the last of her coffee and rises from the bench; stiff with cold. She is warily perplexed at the sense of gloom she feels at the imminent loss of the younger woman's company, and forces herself to smile so as not give such peculiar emotions away.
"Well, dear, I'm afraid pneumonia is not high on my list of desires, so I think I will retire someplace warmer. Take care of yourself... Emma."
The blonde smiles pleasantly, thanking the Mayor for her hot chocolate and stretching to move inside herself. Watching the brunette's retreating form as the darker woman struts authoritatively back down the path to the main road, she gives in to sudden impulse and yells after her.
"Regina!"
"Miss Swan?"
Emma jogs over, stopping to stand before the older woman who regards her with a cocked brow.
"Have you, uh... Have you spoken to Sydney?"
"... No."
Regina's tone is laced with ice as her lips pull back in distaste.
"You probably should..."
"Sheriff, as much as I appreciate your kindness last night, I believe my interactions with Mr Glass are hardly any of your concern."
"Oh, I couldn't give a shit about your relationship with Sydney... Just... Uh... Whether or not you'd have anyone who could babysit Henry..."
Eyebrows raising in surprise, the Mayor offers the blonde a smirk as she cocks her head to one side and runs a slender finger thoughtfully over her bottom lip.
"Why the curiosity?"
"Well... Mary Margaret sent me a text earlier to let me know she was going to be staying with a friend tonight..."
Emma hesitates as the brunette's eyes flash darkly, wondering if Regina is thinking the same thing she is; that her housemate is in actual fact most likely visiting Granny's with David.
"Anyway, I kind of have the place to myself... If you wanted to stop by for a bit... Well, that'd be ok..."
Eyeing the blonde humorously, the Mayor breaks into a salacious grin as green eyes hold her gaze cooly despite the younger woman's ever awkward way with words.
"I'm sure I can sort something out."
"Ok... Cool."
"Cool."
Regina mimics the Sheriff with a smirk, raising her hand in farewell and turning to leave before the blonde sees the smile creeping across her face.
The young waitress trots eagerly towards the Sheriff's station. She has been given the rest of the afternoon off, and can think of no better way to spend it than teasing the blonde as the older woman goes about feigning irritation. Badly. She actually has some information she imagines Emma will find interesting. At least, she hopes so, as she wishes to cheer the Sheriff up after what had seemed to be a pretty shitty conversation with Gold earlier, and she suspects her news on Regina will do just that.
She had been surprised to see the Mayor enter the Diner in the first place; the darker woman only ever stopping by to discuss matters with an unsuspecting victim spotted inside. She had smiled nervously when Regina had made her way straight to the counter, and had fumbled slightly when writing down her order. The fact that the darker woman had wanted not one, but two beverages had been surprising in itself, but the fact that one of those had been a hot chocolate with extra cream had been most perplexing.
Until it had dawned on her that Regina was likely ordering for Henry.
And wasn't that nice? A sure first, but one she imagines Emma will find favorable. She wonders what the Mayor would think if she knew the drink she had ordered her son is the same as that preferred by the Sheriff and grins. She doubts Regina would be impressed.
Reaching the small turning that leads to the path up to the Station, she comes to a halt. Cocking her head curiously, she frowns as she regards the blonde sat on the bench outside the Station beside the Mayor. Noting the cup in Emma's hand, she raises an eyebrow in surprise.
She watches as the Sheriff says something to the brunette, speaking animatedly. The Mayor responds to whatever the blonde is saying with a telling shaking of her shoulders, and Ruby can't quite decide if her disbelief is directed towards the fact that Regina sits companionably beside the Sheriff, or simply at the sincerity of her laughter in response to the blonde's words. Before she can come to any sort of decision, her jaw drops comically as the brunette places a hand affectionately on the Sheriff's knee and mutters something which causes the latter to smile.
Shrinking back into the shadows as Emma tosses something effortlessly into the trashcan outside the Station, the waitress shakes her head slowly.
What in the actual hell... I thought they hated each other... I thought...
Stumbling slightly as she moves to retreat to someplace less confusing, Ruby strives to make sense of what she has just seen. She is surprised to see Emma behaving quite so amiably towards anyone at all, never mind the absurdity that she should be doing so towards the Mayor... And the fact that Regina had taken it upon herself to buy the blonde a drink. Hell, that she'd even known what to order her...
And then it begins to dawn on her.
The way Emma has remained continually evasive when questioned about who it is she could be going out to see. The way green eyes dart nervously around the room when teased about her mystery companion.
I didn't think you did dresses, either, but look who's suddenly all fancy! Seriously, you look like you should be hanging out with the Mayor!... Oh my god!
What?!
Ruby lets out a low gasp as she recalls the way the blonde had seemed to jump as if electrocuted upon misunderstanding her suggestion.
"Oh my god..."
Rubbing her temples distractedly, the waitress makes her way stiffly back to the Diner.
By the time she reaches the door, her traumatized expression has been replaced by a secretive smile, and she slips past Granny into the back with a flourish, shaking her head in bemusement at her friend's peculiar choice in company.
"What on earth are you thinking, Emma..."