Eugene should have gone in stronger. He should have brought up things that would remind her. Maybe he should have brought up dreams or lanterns. That would have worked. Why did he only think of these things after the conversation was over?

If he hadn't missed her so much, he could have done his usual routines. But he had rushed through every portal since the enchanted forest with little regard for quality. Still, he had to stay positive, if anyone remembered their old lives after one conversation then the curse would be over now.

A cloud of smoke interrupted his thoughts. Stifling the wave of panic, he remembered that smoke came out of the shiny carriages. Every time he thought he had gotten used to how the new world worked the tide shifted and his boat crashed. Only now if he didn't rebuild the boat in seconds he'd be labeled a lunatic and never see Rapunzel again. Maybe it was time for him to stop using that metaphor.

Luckily, he hadn't thrown himself in the face of the town immediately. Instead, he had started off in a far off town. Sure, they saw a lunatic trying to talk to the speakers, but he didn't care about them. Now he was in Storybrooke! They saw a slightly eccentric charmer instead of someone who deserved to be locked up for eternity.

Despite the obvious issues, Storybrooke wasn't a bad town. The houses smiled at him as most people offered at least a passing wave. Whatever 'hot dogs' were made of, they were going to be his favorite taste for an eternity. Besides, it was practically the same world. Birds still flew, grass still grew, and the sky was still blue. So what if he looked like a complete idiot every other day?

No, what really worried him was the lady who was always across the street. Going to a diner? She'll be watching. Want to talk to someone? She'll be in earshot. Need to use the bathroom? Guess who's right next door?

The worst part was that every time he got close, she bolted. Sometimes he wasn't sure it was physically possible to get away that easily. When he went to get a better look at her, she wasn't there. Just as he was wondering if he had been too obvious with his concern, the air thickened.

" Hello there."

" Gah!"

Eugene's soul must have left his body for a hot second when she came up to him. His attempts at speech fell a bit short of incoherent babbling. This provoked a smile, a vaguely evil smile, but a smile nonetheless.

" Well, they never told me our new resident was so jumpy."

" They? Who's they? Are you a spy cult?"

She let out a bitter laugh, maybe she was a snake.

" Regina Mills, mayor. I assume you're Eugene Fitzherbert?"

" Well not many people pronounce it right the first time, but yeah." She aggressively shoved a stack of papers into his arms, nearly knocking the air out of him.

" There are some things we like people to sign when they come to town. Try to get them in by tomorrow. My office is in the town hall. "

For most people this would be a simple task, however Eugene was not most people. Filling out the papers to rent a room required more lying and research than anything in his life. His neighbor thought he was crazy for not knowing his bank account number. Or having one.

" Is this a mandatory thing, or a courtesy thing? Because I'm not a paperwork guy." He said, with the full realization that he probably sounded like an entitled jerk without context. Yet, Regina's smile didn't waver. She leaned in close and lowered her voice.

" I suggest you stay on my good side, or else I'll send you back to Corona and you'll never step foot here again." She had context. Oh boy did she have context. " They didn't call me the evil queen for nothing."

With that she turned around and walked away, but not before Eugene gave her one of the worst death glares anyone had ever witnessed. Before she was out of sight he called out to her.

" I'll have them by tomorrow! You can count on that!" If she wanted to play, she had no idea what she was in for.