"Are you alright, dear?"
Regina inquires with a smirk as she waits outside the bathroom door.
"Fabulous..."
Comes the disgruntled reply, as the sound of running water replaces weak coughing, before the Sheriff emerges back into the bedroom; pale and a little shaky.
"I do not like that shit!"
Regina chuckles rather unsympathetically; dark eyes shining with amusement as she watches Emma take a seat at the foot of the bed.
"The pretty green tinge to your complexion somewhat gives that fact away..."
The blonde shoots her a poisonous look, before sighing and adopting a small grin of her own.
"Oh well... I guess I can still beat the vast majority of people out there in the fact that I've apparated twice now!"
"I beg your pardon?"
"It's like wizardy teleportation."
"... I see..."
The Mayor sighs with a roll of her eyes; having been force-fed more titbits concerning a group of fictitious, misfit teenagers- and their inane 'magical' dilemmas- in the week since the curse has broken then she feels she perhaps deserves. She is brought back from her inner weary grumbling as Emma suddenly cocks her head to the side and addresses her curiously.
"Hey!... How come you didn't just teleport us all the way from New York? It would have saved so much time!"
"Because, what I successfully manage is not 'teleportation', nor any other such fanciful delusion from one of your mindless science fiction novels."
"Right... It's magic..."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Only a lot..."
"Hmm."
The brunette offers with an arrogant sniff, as she goes about putting away her things. Boring of grinning smugly, Emma toes off her boots and folds her legs up beneath her on the bed; watching the Queen thoughtfully.
"But I was actually interested... How come you can magic us from outside the town line, but not from New York?"
Thinking Regina genuinely offended when the darker woman fails to look up or offer an answer, the Sheriff shifts her weight on the plush mattress awkwardly, but when the Mayor moves to hang up her jacket in one of the slick, built-in wardrobes that line the far wall, she speaks softly.
"Displace us."
"Huh?"
"It's the term most frequently used back in that other land. I 'displace' us... Not 'magic' us."
"Oh."
"And it's not that I couldn't have done it from New York, but simply that I shouldn't have... Magic requires years of study if one wishes to master it, and-"
"-and it always comes with a price?"
"Well, that too-" the brunette agrees with a fond smirk,"-but what I was going to say, is that it can be elusive even when it has been mastered. There are two reasons it would have been foolish for me to attempt to displace us from New York, although I'm sure I would have managed just fine. The first is my lack of knowledge as to the geography of this world... It is difficult for me to comprehend the distance and power needed when I have little clue where I'm going. It was fairly straightforward to have us end up here when working from just outside the town line where the bus stopped, as I more or less understand the lay of the land in the surrounding area."
"You can't just visualise the place you want to end up?"
"No. An image or understanding of the desired destination is part of it, but magic is a little more complicated than simply closing your eyes and making a wish, and this is especially true when one has to accommodate for any additional factors."
"How do you mean?"
"You. You're my second reason. For me to take you with me is both risky, and challenging. Inanimate objects pose less of a problem- clothes and possessions merely bend to the will of the one commanding them; they have no aura- but when trying to travel with a companion, you need to allow for their power as well as your own."
"My power?"
The younger woman asks with a look of surprise, and Regina smiles as she shuts away her final bits and pieces and regards the blonde pensively.
"Oh, everyone has a certain amount of power, dear. It's not something that lies dormant- you either possess the ability to nurture it and utilise it or you don't- it's simply apparent in any born of that other world in the form of what most practitioners call a 'glimmer'. Well... This is what I thought to be the case, anyway..."
"... Okay?"
"... It's strange... You're strange-"
"-Yes, you've told me you think so plenty of times, thanks-"
"-Your glimmer is different."
"Oh good! Yet more magical mayhem for the Saviour!"
"Oh, please, you don't need some fancy title awarded to you by Gold to incur mayhem, Miss Swan; I imagine you are more than capable of achieving any variety of chaos all by yourself... And I didn't say it was a bad thing... Simply that it's strange. I felt it when I took you with me back in that horrid apartment, and I felt it now... It's like your glimmer is curiously intense. It's... Well, it's almost as if your power is simply lying dormant... Such an idea is absurd- fear not- you simply pose as an inconvenient travelling companion. I imagine that's what's caused you to feel nauseous each time- I have felt a little delicate as a result myself- ... It's not a common side-effect, but the mixture of different breeds of power does not always make for a harmonious occurrence. It can play unpleasant games with one's senses."
"And stomach."
Emma gripes, but the Mayor concludes that she looks suitably impressed by her explanation, and feels momentarily a little flushed.
"So it seems."
She agrees, before her attention falls upon the Sheriff's bag; the worn fabric bulging slightly due to the fact it contains everything the blonde had brought with them. Emma follows her gaze and nibbles her lip shyly.
"I... I don't know when you meant you wanted me to like... You know... Stay here and stuff."
"Well, I imagine that's up to you, dear. So far as I have seen, the majority of your possessions remain conveniently boxed up, and- unless you have been storing the excess cunningly away- will fit with little trouble in the wardrobes and cupboards."
"No, that's all of it. Well, and some books..."
"I keep mine in the drawing room as you have seen, but if you had other ideas, such things can be discussed."
Emma smiles and shrugs.
"Oh, I'm not fussy."
"No... No, dear, you are many things, but I agree in that respect- you aren't fussy- and I'd hazard a guess that this is a good thing... So yes, just tell me what you want to do. I had said that you were welcome to spend Christmas with Henry and myself, but if you wish to spend it with your parents, I would understand... Just don't get any fanciful ideas of combining the two."
The blonde chuckles, and shimmies a little further back on the bed, playing with a section of long hair idly through her fingers.
"No... I may be a ravishingly wise fool, Your Majesty, but I'll bet you'd agree with me when I say I'm not a romantic; I hadn't planned on requesting to play mediator. Not counting a bottle of Wild Turkey, some festive tootsie rolls and a pair of expertly hand-crafted paper crowns donned while huddled in a car with a busted air vent, this will be the first time I've really acknowledged the holidays. I can think of better ways to spend them than ducked under a table as you and Snow White chew each other out... I joke about it, Regina, but I do know it's hard for you that you have to see them everyday."
"...Well... I brought them over here..."
Regina sniffs irritably, but she is inwardly thankful the subject has at least been acknowledged.
"True... When you wanted them to suffer. It wasn't because you fancied them to be excellent neighbours... But to answer your question, I, uh, well I guess I'd like to accept your invite... I feel a little guilty, but..."
"You should do what you want to do, Emma."
"I know, and I am... It's just Snow White is also Mary Margaret, and I never got much time after things all went crazy to explain things to her. Until I went missing, she had no clue I was into you. She's been good to me, Regina, ever since I got here, and I feel like maybe she won't quite understand... She should, I mean, even Neal brought up the fact that there is little room for argument in the face of True Love, but I just feel like deep down we're still just Mary Margaret and Emma, and, while I can't feel guilty for being a bad daughter- I just can't- I do feel bad for not always being the nicest housemate..."
The darker woman nods in understanding and sighs, before raising a brow in surprise as the blonde chuckles quietly and speaks with a little more humour.
"It's still quite a simple choice to make, though..."
"I'm flattered."
"Oh, so you should be, but before you let your ego get too out of control, I will also raise the point that- all guilt and empathy aside- I am still me- still Emma- and the thought of a sickeningly perfect Christmas dinner while watching Snow White and Prince Charming suck face is just about enough to send me running back to the bathroom."
Regina laughs richly at this before stalking a little closer to the bed, regarding the Sheriff dangerously.
"Are you implying you have doubts as to the perfection of my Christmas dinner?"
Pink tongue flashing swiftly between sharp teeth.
"I wouldn't dare! I just don't foresee festive sweaters and a round of carols in my future with you!"
"You sound so sure..."
The younger woman's grin falters ever so slightly, and the Queen smirks victoriously, shaking her head.
"No, dear, I believe in that respect you're safe. I may enjoy a little well-meaning abuse and torment, but I imagine suffering through your rendition of carol singing would be a punishment unto myself also."
"Hey!"
"Just an inkling."
Emma rolls her eyes and sighs dramatically, as the brunette closes the distance and perches on the bed, regarding the younger woman seriously.
"So, alright, you're going to spend Christmas with Henry and I... What about the next three days?"
"Well, I... Do I have to decide now?"
The Mayor offers her companion a stern look and sighs wearily; batting the blonde's hands away as they work at plaiting a section of her long hair so that she receives her full attention.
"You can't always wait for 'tomorrow', Emma. I've expressed that your decisions are your own, and while it makes little difference to me whether you move in now or at a later date, I imagine it will make quite a difference to your mood if you have the inevitability of that particular discussion with Mary Margaret hanging over you... And, as much as I'm sure the resultant sex would be sublime, I don't fancy dealing with you the rest of the time as you fret over such things."
"... I'm going to have to tell her, aren't I..."
"Well yes, I imagine she will eventually clue in on your absence, dearest."
"Crap."
Regina smirks, leaning forwards and gently unraveling the messy braid so recently interwoven into golden tresses.
"I suggest you two- three, if you count the oaf- sit down and chat when we go and collect Henry."
"We?"
"Oh, I'm just coming along to pick up my son, don't get ideas."
"Right. So while I have the discussion from hell with the Charmings, you and Henry get to frolic off back home laughing. I'm your girlfriend, I thought you were supposed to be all empathetic about that kind of shit."
"Yes, and my thoughts will be with you as I cook up a splendid meal and enjoy it with my son in your absence."
Full lips smirk widely, as glittering green glares up into brown incredulously. Pushing against the younger woman's shoulders to back her down gently onto the mattress, the Mayor's smirk evolves into a seductive smile as she moves up the bed so that she bares down on the blonde; regarding her with fiery coals.
"... And what did you just call yourself?"
The playful fury shining up at her darkens lustfully, and Regina shakes her head when the Sheriff purposefully clamps her mouth shut with a telling pull to her lips.
"No, no, you're not getting off that easy, sweetness... Say it."
She growls throatily; her hand disappearing beneath the warmth of the younger woman's sweater. Emma shakes her head- only just able to hide an impish grin- and the darker woman scrapes her teeth warningly over the vulnerable tendons at her neck.
"Say it, Emma..."
"...I'm your girlfriend..."
The blonde replies huskily, running her nails up the soft material of the Queen's shirt with moderate force. Regina rewards her obedience wetly; breath coming a little heavier for both of them as hands begin to explore and need starts to rise.
"Correct; you are... Now let's explore why... Then tomorrow, you can go and talk to the two idiots. You're mine- and mine alone- for what's left of the night..."
"Ugh, seriously?! You had to go bring them up again? Way to ruin the mood, Madame Mayor..."
The Sheriff grumbles, as the darker woman busies herself tasting the flesh she has just uncovered by shucking up the dark fabric of the former's sweater. Regina chuckles into the smooth dip created by delicate ribs, before sitting up to eye the younger woman humorously.
"My apologies, dear... Let me fix it..."
A swift sweep of her hand, and the candles that rest atop the twin bedside tables- and those that line the windowsill- flicker cosily to life, casting distorted shapes and shadows onto the walls. A second small movement, and the overhead light is extinguished, leaving them bathed in a warm, golden glow that highlights the brunette's lustful smirk dangerously. Emma's resultant intake of breath casts shadow down her lithe frame, and the Queen drinks in fluttering bone and illuminated flesh hungrily, moving her hands to rest at the button to the former's jeans.
"Better?"
"Hmm..."
The Mayor sighs irritably, causing the blonde to smile and pull her back down; momentarily sweet as she plays her fingers gently through dark tresses and murmurs softly into the Queen's ear
"Much better... You always make things much better..."
Before she slips a hand down between them and slides her fingers between hot flesh and luxurious wool.
"Again... Tease..."
Regina admonishes as she spreads her legs to splay across the younger woman's hips and allow pale fingers easier access to the wetness she can already feel saturating expensive silk.
"Nuh uh... It's not teasing when you know full well you can have exactly what you want, any way you want it..."
The blonde purrs, and the Queen's breath catches in her throat as she raises a brow and regards the fair woman lain out beneath her darkly.
"... What did you say...?"
"You heard me."
"Say it again..."
"No. Tell me what you want."
The brunette bites her lip as she stares down at that ever lazy smirk forever hiding at the corners of the younger woman's mouth, and she circles her hips as she runs a finger- featherlight- over the lace centre of the latter's bra and down the bare skin of her abdomen.
"I just did..."
"...True... But why? Why do you need me to tell you you can have whatever you want from me- do whatever you want to me- when you know this already? I mean, you do know... Don't you?"
Regina swallows, striving to keep her voice level; to maintain control.
"Of course I do... I could make you do whatever I wanted, I have-"
"-I'm not talking about magic..."
Comes the low response, and the Mayor stills; her finger coming to rest within the divot of the blonde's navel.
"... I see."
Regarding the Queen with an unreadable expression, Emma remains momentarily silent, before slowly raising her arms and holding them out behind her head with her wrists resting against the bedposts.
"Do it... I know you can conjure them..."
Regina frowns- perplexed- shaking her head.
"Conjure what?"
"Cuffs... Handcuffs... Do it..."
The younger woman instructs with a slight waver to her words, which are followed by a heavy silence as the brunette studies her intensely.
Finally, after holding the blonde hostage for what seems like minutes with her dark stare, Regina lifts her hand from alabaster flesh and makes a slow movement with her fingers.
"...What... Wh-what are you doing?"
Emma asks with a frown, looking up behind her to observe soft, purple silk wind itself slowly around her wrists to bind her submissively to the bed frame. The darker woman keeps her silence a moment longer, before leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on confused-parted lips.
"I'm not cuffing you to the bed, Emma. Not now, not ever..."
"But... I said you could have whatever you wanted..."
"I know... But why would I want such a thing?"
"Well, I just thought... I mean, before, in your study..."
"That was different..."
"Well, yeah, I know...But you enjoyed it... Didn't you?"
Arched brows furrow childishly, and the Mayor runs her palm softly down through tousled curls to cup the younger woman's cheek.
"I did... But I didn't know you then like I do now... Emma, I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do... I would have hoped you'd know that by now..."
"Well... Yeah... I just thought... I was trying to show you that I'd give you whatever you wanted... I mean... I know you'll never actually hurt me- not in a bad way, anyway- so I just... This is sex, so..."
To her surprise, Regina laughs gently at this; shaking her head so that her dark hair glimmers magnificently in the candlelight.
"This is sex... Yes... But I'm not going to hurt you..."
Leaning forward- letting out a pleasured sigh as this shift of her weight presses her core deliciously deeper against the Sheriff- the brunette works her slim fingers between Emma's compliantly limp ones; grasping the younger woman's hands and baring down heavily so that her hair spills down and her delicate features loom dominantly over the blonde's pale face.
"Not like that, anyway... But... Do you want me to?... To hurt you, I mean?"
"... If you want to..."
Regina smirks and flashes her teeth, before licking her lips.
"You're being coy... But you...You like it when I bite you... When things get a little rough... You enjoy the pain?"
"... Yes."
"Why?"
"You feed off of it... I like that."
"How so?"
"Because I'm yours... Before, I liked it because there was this subtext of hate and anger to our relationship, and it turned me on, just as it turned you on to inflict it... Now... Because I'm yours... You do it because you like my reaction to it, and the power it gives you over me..."
"... I'd not have taken you for a submissive... Or- rather- I'd not have foreseen you admitting to the notion..."
"There's a difference between masochism and submission... But for you, I'd offer up both."
"...After all that you know; who I was. What I did... You'd give me such power?... Complete power?"
"It's never complete... The masochist bullies the sadist into action..."
"An interesting take... You think I'm a sadist?"
"I think you like it when I squirm..."
"... True."
Regina nods; eyes glittering predatorily in the candlelight. Slipping her fingers from the blonde's, she sits back and regards her with a slow smile, running her tongue thoughtfully over her bottom lip, before seeming to come to some elusive decision; her tone suddenly rich and dangerous, and free from any uncertainty.
"True, dear. I enjoy it immensely..."
And with that, she moves gracefully down the younger woman's slender frame, so that she straddles her thighs rather than her hips, and makes a brisk downwards motion with her hand; full lips spreading to show perfect teeth as the Sheriff lets out a surprised yelp and pulls involuntarily against her restraints.
"... But I don't need handcuffs to watch you do so..."
She purrs, as she plucks away the perfectly slit fabric of the blonde's bra, and traces the hair-thin superficial graze that leads to the brass button of her jeans. Raising her gaze to find Emma's own, she shares the Sheriff's sinful smile as she undoes rough denim and drags down the stiff zipper deliberately slowly.
"And I'm only doing it because I love you... And I know you want me to..."
"I know... It's a good thing I know you want to do it, too..."
The younger woman replies breathlessly, and Regina laughs softly, leaning down and claiming a slow, experimental kiss. She runs her hand blindly over the soft flesh exposed beneath her- scratching and kneading here and there- as the blonde begins to move restlessly; her hands flexing and closing to better feel the burn of the purposefully soft silk.
Gaging the swift increase of heady arousal that cloaks the room, the brunette smiles as she nips at the Sheriff's tongue, before pushing herself back up. She knows that the possibilities are close to endless given her powers, and she imagines that with time, there will be a great deal of experimenting undertaken in this respect- the thought serving to make her grind gently against the younger woman's thigh- but for now, she feels she is done with using magic to play with the blonde. So far- save for her demonstration of her power following her explanation of how things went the way that they did- their exploits before today have been natural.
Real.
Raw.
And this has suited each of them just fine.
As such, she gives a final, firm drag of her palm between pert breasts and stacked ribs, before leaning to her side, and plucking one of the flickering candlesticks carefully from the nightstand; cradling its holder delicately. Catching the knowing glitter in blown green eyes, she takes her bottom lip between her teeth, and moves so that she straddles the younger woman in such a way that one of the latter's thighs offers much needed pressure to her need.
Holding the Sheriff's lust-blackened gaze, she raises the candle to be level with her own breasts- careful to allow just enough distance between flame and flesh to avoid scalding- and tips it purposefully.
Red wax- liquid crimson with heat- drops down to speckle the blonde's sternum; the vibrancy fading ever so slightly as it hardens over pale flesh so startlingly white by comparison.
Emma hisses quietly and closes her eyes. Regina watches globed flesh rise and fall with familiarly shallow breaths and steals a swift kiss; moving against the younger woman's thigh wantonly.
Lifting the candle once more, she repeats the process with heightened aim; letting out a low moan to match the Sheriff's as red wax dapples and coats the latter's left breast.
Then the right.
Then the welcoming expanse of her stomach.
By now the blonde's breathing is ragged, and her fingers tremble slightly as she pulls against soft silk uselessly; her eyes all but black when she finally opens them to regard the Queen straddling her.
Regina returns her gaze from beneath hooded lids; her own cheeks flushed and her pulse racing, as she feels her inner muscles clenching desperately with an almost nauseating sense of desire.
Her hand trembles slightly as she dips the candle for the final time; watching as scarlet wax splatters down onto the bare flesh exposed between the ragged wings of the younger woman's opened, and lowered jeans.
The resultant noise Emma offers is purely guttural, and the Mayor lets out a harsh, shuddering breath, before blowing out what remains of the candle and placing it frantically back on the nightstand; making an unsteady movement with her hands which has the younger woman's silk bonds vanishing instantly to nothing but smoke.
Dark denim is ripped ruthlessly the rest of the way down slim legs, as rich wool is rendered just as useless. Soft silk is wrenched open and ruined, as sodden lingerie is pushed roughly aside.
Down below, attentions are frantic, needy, brutal, but through it all- until the Sheriff's hissed expletive and the brunette's muffled scream as she buries her teeth into the blonde's shoulder- hot breath is exchanged passionately as soft lips crash against one another.
Finally, they lie still; the darker woman lying on her side with her eyes and legs clamped shut as she rides out the euphoric tremors of aftershock, while Emma draws slow lines carefully across her back.
"... I love you, too..."
"Hmmm?"
"That's what you're writing, no?"
In place of a verbal response, the Sheriff draws a large, slow check-mark, and the Queen smiles as she feels herself begin to dose off blissfully as the remaining candles slowly burn down to darkness.