Checking her phone as she makes her way up the stairs to her bedroom, Regina sighs as she spies no new messages. She supposes it would be a little out of character for Emma to message her to update her on events regardless of how things have gone and considers simply sending the blonde a text to ask, before deciding to wait a little while longer. The last thing she wants is for Emma's phone to light up with her name in the middle of the younger woman's conversation with Hook to add further insult to injury.
Well... Sort of.
She shakes her head with a self-deprecating smirk at her own cruelty and moves into the doorway of her bedroom to survey the scene.
Wrinkling her nose at the charred ruins of her bedsheets, she debates using her magic to try and salvage expensive linen before deciding to simply strip the bed and throw the whole lot out; wishing to be rid of any reminders of the last few days, and seeing it as an opportunity to treat herself to something new.
You're not so anxious to expel all memories of the last few days...
She thins her lips as she tugs the sheets from the bed; recalling black leather and choked pleasure rather more favourably than she imagines she would if she weren't once more in possession of her darkness. Recalling anger, fear and pain with something other than total and complete distress over her brutality to cause such reactions, and recalling her outrage and unease in the face of the blonde's retribution with a small shiver.
Her indulgent perversion quells itself sharply when she finishes her task and her attention falls on the bloodied streak colouring her carpet. As she had confided in the younger woman sharing her bed this morning, her feelings about her use of the knife are complicated, but as she stares down at dried gore, she finds herself very much swayed to one side; troubled by what might have happened if the blade had pierced deeper - if she'd plunged it in all the way while falling through the glass - and how the resultant injury might have stopped them from doing what needed to be done. It had been close as it was, and she feels an obscure ache centre itself in her skull as she experiences a wave of distress at the thought of gutting the Sheriff beyond being able to save her and a conflicting pang of regret that she might have let such an opportunity slip through her grasp. The former wins out, but the latter... The latter exists, and she sighs.
Turning away from the bloodied pile, she considers the maroon smear bordering her mirror with an equal feeling of disquiet. Shaking herself from her thoughts briskly, she bundles up the ruined sheets and takes them downstairs where she throws them directly into the trash outside. Heading back into the warmth of her house, she collects a selection of cleaning products and a bowl from the kitchen and makes her way back up to her room. Filling the bowl with warm water in her bathroom, she adds some vinegar and baking soda and gets to work scrubbing the carpet, before turning her attention to the mirror and cleaning the frame thoroughly. Once done, she collects the bedding from the spare room and dresses her bed for temporary use while debating potential colour choices for its eventual replacement.
With her room once more in order, she checks her phone again, although she supposes she's really not that surprised that she hasn't received any news. Deciding to head out for some food rather than dwell on the matter further, she takes the bloodied water and cleaning items back downstairs before heading out into town.
"Another to go?"
Granny asks, pointing to the Mayor's empty coffee cup, and the brunette nods, before changing her mind.
"Make it two. One of the same, one black with sugar."
"Anything else?"
"No, that's fine, dear."
Regina replies distractedly, handing over a couple of bills as she waits, before taking the two paper cups handed to her back to her car. Sliding behind the wheel, she contemplates the time displayed by the car's clock for a moment before pulling out her phone; deeming four hours to be more than enough time for Emma to have told Hook to back off.
"That's not fair, I shouldn't put it like that."
The blonde had frowned this morning when she'd worded the upcoming discussion in a similarly flippant manner, sat in bed beside her, clad only in a pair of shorts, and the Mayor sips at her cappuccino as she brings up speed dial; allowing Emma her thoughts on the matter while permitting herself similar liberties as she personally sees no issue with her internal way of wording things.
The phone rings five times before she gets put through to voicemail, the multiple chimes indicating that the younger woman at least has her phone on today. Waiting out the pre-recorded message, she makes a swift decision and speaks after the tone.
"I'm about to head over to yours. If that's not alright, let me know."
Deciding that she'll let fate play out, she reasons that she doesn't see any point in allowing the Sheriff's coffee to go cold and cruises slowly in the direction of the younger woman's house, hoping that she'll find her alone.
Pulling up the Benz, Regina spies instantly that Emma has company; the blonde and Lily sat out on the front steps of the old house in spite of the winter chill. She presumes their choice to brave the elements is either down to the cigarette hanging from the young brunette's lips, or the Sheriff's grim expression that suggests she's ready to break something. The latter seems not to have progressed to smashing the beer bottle she clasps between her hands, and the Mayor decides she's probably safe to exit her vehicle.
Raising a hand, she's surprised when it's Lily who greets her; the young woman pushing herself up and stalking down the path to meet her, taking care to blow smoke to the side rather than in her face.
"I guess lending an ear and consoling words is your job now."
Lily muses with a jerk of her jaw in the blonde's direction, and Regina frowns as she strives to decide on an appropriate response.
"I suppose."
She replies in a clipped tone, and the brunette nods, apparently taking this as her sign to leave, before glancing over her shoulder and accusing the Mayor bluntly
"And you said you were confused about Em's mannerisms and apparent flirting at your expense? Claimed you had no idea what that was all about! My ass!"
And Regina opens her mouth to bite back, before finding herself entirely caught off guard when the young brunette offers her a smirk before heading off home.
"What's got you so tickled?"
Emma asks gruffly as Regina makes her way over with a twitch to her lips, and the darker woman shakes her head as she takes a seat on the steps beside the Sheriff; plucking the blonde's half-empty beer bottle from her grip and replacing it with steaming black coffee.
"Nothing. I just don't think I've ever seen Lily smile before."
The Mayor muses, and the younger woman snorts as she takes a sip from her cup and warns
"I wouldn't get used to it."
"Hm. A little hypocritical coming from you, dear."
"I smile all the time!"
"You didn't use to. Not that I ever saw. Not when we first met. The best that I could hope for was an infuriatingly sarcastic smirk."
"I wonder why that might have been?"
Emma rolls her eyes, and Regina chuckles lightly as she assures the blonde silkily
"I have absolutely no idea."
"Mm."
The Sheriff shakes her head, contemplating her coffee, and the darker woman sips at the remaining dregs of her own as she considers the grey gloom of dusk; darkness fast approaching in spite of the relatively early hour to welcome them deeper into winter.
"So, how did it go?"
She asks finally when it seems as though Emma has no intention of broaching the subject herself.
"Pretty much how I thought it would."
The blonde replies, tipping back her cup before scrunching it in her fist and reaching back for her beer.
"Care to elaborate?"
Regina prompts, and the younger woman sighs as she nips at the mouth of the bottle and watches a large crow swoop from the boughs of an old oak to peck at the sparse tufts of grass lining her driveway.
"Not really."
"Oh."
"Not because I don't trust you to listen, or fear you won't understand, just... Everything that was said today has already been said. It's already been discussed between the two of us; you and I. Some of it in Daniel's cottage, some - to my dismay - at the sole demand of the Queen, some long before any of this even happened; when we would sit in the station or in your kitchen talking about life, while never mentioning what it was that we were really thinking or feeling. I didn't express anything new today, and Hook didn't act as though I did... If he had, maybe that would have been different. I'm not sure if that would have been better or worse, but it would have implied that perhaps there was something I hadn't considered when making my decision... There was none of that. No shock or surprise, only frustration and irritation that I'd lied all those times I'd insisted I had no clue what he was on about when he'd question our time spent together and why I was so insistent on letting you in and keeping you close when he was more than willing to take up that role and more... The only shock he expressed was in response to my admission that my interest in you was no longer based entirely on fantasy, but rather on fact. Understandably, that particular piece of information wasn't taken all too kindly, and I never expected it to be, but I felt it was only right to tell the truth. Else he might have tried to argue that I was confused, or acting out, or finding an excuse to pull back in terms of moving in together. I didn't want that. I felt it was kinder to be harsh- truthful- than suggest that I hadn't yet tasted the prize and made up my mind without room for argument."
"Tasted the prize?"
Regina murmurs quietly, her lips spreading into a slow smile as she watches busy fingers peel at the label of the blonde's beer bottle.
"Mm. I didn't word it quite that way. I'm not a total bitch."
Emma mutters, and the darker woman chuckles softly as she muses
"But it sounds as though it was implied."
"It was implied, and, based on several comments thrown my way, it was understood."
"I see... So what now?"
"How do you mean?"
"How did you leave it?"
"Awkwardly, but not awfully. It was a shitty conversation, but it wasn't an argument, not from my side, anyway. I have no ill will or anger or discontent. None of that. I just came to a realisation, and should maybe have been a bit quicker about getting there according to pretty much every comment anybody's made on the matter lately."
Emma sighs with a self-deprecating roll of her eyes.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. It took me a while too... Well, sort of. It turns out that when lacking any sense of conscience or morality, I was a little less confused."
Regina laughs quietly.
"Mm, that's putting it mildly."
"Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it!"
"I could have done without the worrying about the other half of you part, but on the whole, it was... Enlightening? Is that what we should call it? Fucked up, and I did wonder a couple of times if I was going to die, but... Enlightening works."
"That's one word for it... And you're sweet."
"Shut up."
Emma warns irritably.
"Make me."
The brunette purrs, catching the bemused look the younger woman throws her and chuckling appreciatively before pushing herself up and dusting off her jacket.
"Come on, it's freezing out here, and while I appreciate it may be mildly atmospheric given the day you've had, I have no interest in catching a cold off of you so early into exploring where this might go."
"Might go?"
The Sheriff frowns, and Regina smirks, offering her hand to pull the blonde to her feet.
"Well, let's see, shall we? I believe you started something this morning that I expressed my desire you finish... If you're in the mood, that is."
She tacks on in a softer voice, aware that she's setting a particular tone and laying it on thick with her suggestive remarks, but she's known Emma a long time and doubts the blonde has much more she wants to share about her conversation with Hook. And, so, rather than express sympathy and caution that she doesn't believe will be well received, she makes a point of reminding the Sheriff of the perks of her choice. Of offering the younger woman her prize, as she had put it.
"I could be swayed."
Emma admits as she lets them in and takes off her jacket, holding her hand out in a request that the darker woman does the same.
"Could you indeed? Well, let me see what I can do. Two things first, though."
"Hmm?"
"One, I told Henry we would have dinner together tonight. Nothing to do with your choice, excellent though it might be, but rather to dispel any concern he still has that you're angry with him."
"Why would I be angry with him?"
The blonde frowns.
"You wouldn't, but when the Queen visited us wearing your guise, she was... Well, she was herself while wearing your face, dear, and I'm sure you can appreciate how disconcerting it was for Henry to have you snapping at him for his posture and manners."
"Oh god."
"Quite, so I figured it might be wise to remind him that you're entirely clueless when it comes to either of those things."
"How thoughtful."
"I am. Secondly, your mother and I had a discussion about what should be done with Hyde, and I shared some of my thoughts with her. Those thoughts can wait, and I'm more than happy to talk them over with you before we all sit down and have dinner together tomorrow."
"Wait, who's we?"
"Your parents, you, me, Henry."
"Regina!"
"What? It's not as though I suggested a double date or anything so ghastly. There are loose ends beyond my own fractured being to consider when looking at the bigger picture of how this all came about, and we've learned many times over that things go much more smoothly when those loose ends are tied up and dealt with. Think how much easier this would all have been if you'd pushed the pirate down the beanstalk rather than played mouthy little damsel and let him get away."
"Regina..."
Emma warns once more, and the brunette sighs as she offers an apologetic shrug of her shoulders, musing silkily
"You could make a similar remark about Robin, but I know you won't. I'm sorry for what I said, I just-"
"-Maybe I will."
The blonde interrupts, and the Queen raises a brow - genuinely surprised - and demands
"Oh, yes?"
"Yeah. After all, it was thrown back at me earlier, and maybe it's time I throw it at you. I know it won't change anything or do any good, but that doesn't mean I'm not still a bit pissed off about it."
"What did Robin do?!"
Regina frowns, unable to even attempt to guess what Emma might be referring to, and rather thrown. Glancing up at the stairs with a wistful sigh as she had hoped they might move on to more enjoyable pastimes, she splays her palms in demand of an answer.
"He butt in."
The Sheriff growls.
"He 'butt in'? My dear, as we've already discussed, you were with Hook, and-"
"-That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you trying to figure out who you could trust, and leaving your heart with a dude you barely knew at the time when you knew full well I would have taken it for you and made sure it was safe."
"My heart? I-... Oh! Well, I just-"
"-You just passed me over completely and it hurt my feelings."
"Did it really?"
Regina replies, openly marvelling at the fact, and the blonde sighs.
"Yes. And, apparently, bringing the fact up now and then while out for dinner wasn't especially appreciated, but I was annoyed. I just thought you had a higher opinion of me by then."
"Well, I certainly think more of you now. You were very much part of what happened with my heart up in my bedroom."
"I know, and I'm not saying I'm actively upset about something that happened several villains and near-death experiences ago, but you baited me with the suggestion that I say something about your relationship with Robin other than that I feel bad for you and that I'm sorry for his loss and all that, so... There."
"I see. Noted."
The darker woman nods with a small smile, before chancing a snide remark to lift some of the tension between them as she smirks
"Wow, you really did talk about me a lot, didn't you?"
"Regina..."
"Yes? You keep saying my name, but not in the tone I'd like you to..."
"Keep this up and I'll quit saying it at all..."
The blonde warns irritably.
"Hmm. That could work."