#relationships ;; cora ( regina )

[thegrantwater]

got stoned and rewatched mother [ouat 4x21] again and holy shit that scene when regina drinks the potion to become barren is fucking painful. i don't even have words to describe this right now other than i love regina mills so much and she deserves the fucking world. this poor woman went through so much and i think that particular trauma isn't talked about nearly enough. it also, at least to me, adds even more depth to her relationship with henry than we had before this, because we always knew regina never wanted to be like cora with henry and actively fought against that but then we see even before she had a child of her own regina wanted to protect anyone she'd love from cora at all costs - even if it meant her own chance at happiness. god i wish adam and eddy treated their characters with care and emotion and depth like they deserved instead of making major character points that explain so much of their actions and motivations into throwaway b-plots for one episode a season.

[unbeleveable-archive]

Cora lives in a constant state of guilt after getting her heart back regarding both of her daughters. A little more so for Regina, though. Mostly because while she abandoned Zelena (twice) and feels horrible about it, she doesn't consider herself as actively abusing her like she did Regina. Therefore she's less responsible for how her life turned out.

[stabbyapologist]

Regina : You wanted me broken...

Cora: Receptive.

[drghostwrite]

Until my Last Breath

Okay so this one didn't win the vote but per special request by @maiveeetheone I’m going to write it! Hope you enjoy! xoxo

Pairing: Regina mills x pregnant!reader

TW: mentions of blood, almost miscarriage, kidnapping and minor torture.

Summary: Regina’s mother, Cora, returns and tries to turn her dark again but Y/N, her wife, has given her everything she’s ever wanted: true love, family, marriage, power and now a baby. What happens when she stands in the way of Cora’s sinister plans.

******************************************************** You sat across the conference room table as Regina conducted the meetings, it was for the town so Sheriff Swan, along with David and Snow, Mr. Gold, Regina the mayor, Zelena, a couple others and you, now you weren’t only married to the mayor and carrying her child but you helped run the hospital. You were Chief of surgeries after Dr. Whale had that taken away with the Daniel incident.

“So right now we’re using funds to help with remodeling of the school, so…” Regina was doing a funds recap and taking with Snow about what would need to be done and you started to drift off staring out the window. You ran your hand over your swollen bump feeling your baby kick and knowing that Regina’s voice was soothing to your unborn child even though she was talking finances for Storybrooke. You began to daydream about mornings where she would wake up with that slow morning growl, it made you feral for your wife and she knew it.

“Y/N…Y/N?” you heard her calling your name and it snapped you back to reality, back into the conference room with its white walls and black and white modern decor. Regina was looking at you amused, she could only imagine what had stolen your attention but had a good idea it was her and the baby.

“Oh yea, so as of right now we’re okay, we thought of possibly coordinating with the schools to give more volunteer opportunities to the kids, but we also have to discuss my leave, due to the Dr. Whale situation we’ll have to find a replacement for my maternity leave.”

“Well how about Zelena?” Regina asked, her relationship with her sister had grown tremendously, in fact that’s the only other person besides Emma and the Charmings that she’d trust with her life and family’s life.

“And what use would she be?” Asked the skeptical Mr. Gold.

“Well I mean she is a trained midwife.” Snow suggested.

“Because of a curse,” Emma reminded.

“And I’m a trauma surgeon because of the curse, Snow you’re a teacher even though it was a curse it created a version of us, a true version of us with all the training and skills," Regina watched you a grateful look in her eyes, “All I’m saying is that we give her a chance, I can set her up to assist Dr. Whale and keep him in check while I’m out and I can have Blue and the other fairies or nuns, whatever, check-in and help with outpatient care.”

Everyone exchanged looks and Regina mouthed a thank you, they then agreed that you were right and that’s the plan they’d go with. You discussed a few more minor things and then decided that it was time for everybody to go home after a long day, you stayed in the conference room until everyone was gone and then retreated to your office. You have an office at the hospital but it's in a secure part due to dealing with patients and HIPAA info so days like this Regina converted one of the old conference rooms into an office for you. It wasn't as big but she made sure to have the comfiest chairs and couches, it was decorated very modernly like her office with contrasts of vibrant forest green instead of the complete black and white, she had your favorite flowers on the desk, orange hibiscus flowers with a towering monstera plant in the corner both enchanted to never die. You had couches and chairs with a large rug on one side like her office and you had a bookshelf wall and a built-in mini-bar that quickly turned alcohol-free when you found out about the pregnancy, there was also a portion that pushed into a secret room like her vault allowing you to keep sensitive information. She wanted to make sure that you were comfortable, in your office and that it could be an escape for you considering what you did on a daily basis and the fact that she got to be closer to you during the workday, able to visit whenever and for whatever she wanted.

You finished some reports for the day and made your way down the hall to her office, you knocked and heard her call for you to come in. You walked in and before you could shut the door you felt arms wrap try and wrap around your waist but instead your bump blocked the little arms.

"Y/N!!!" you reached down and ruffled Henry's hair, and then ran a hand on his back looking up to make eye contact with Regina, she watched the interaction and her heart swelled, Henry loved you but he didn't take the idea of a third mom the easiest at first. Now don't get me wrong he was great and excited about a sibling but he had a hard time, with the whole new mom thing, he never called you mom he always said his mom's wife or your name, and he also wouldn't ever come to you either he went to Regina or right to Emma one time he even went to Snow before you knew. You wanted nothing more than to let him trust you so ever since the wedding you've been earning his trust, so it meant the world to Regina to see him so excited to see you and she knew it meant the world to you.

"Hey buddy, you have a good day?" you glanced down at him as he looked up at you.

"Yea we had a field trip today and then David offereed to take me to the stables to go riding."

"Oh really?" you smirked, looking back up to Regina as she just shook her head. "Well, then does my brave knight need me to drop him off?"

He laughed, "No, he's here, I just wanted to come in and see you before I went over, so I made him stop."

"Well in that case have fun, be safe, and take some pictures so I can brag to the nurses at work." you leaned down and kissed his hair as he hugged you tighter, he then ran back out of the office, but before the door closed you heard him yell back, "Bye, Moms!" You tuned looking at Regina, she got up walking over to you, a tear rolled down you face and she swiped it away letting her hand linger on your cheek and you leaned into the touch, she had her other hand holding yours running her fingers over your wedding ring.

"He really does love you." her coffee-brown orbs looked into your emerald green ones, as more tears ran down your face for her to swipe away.

You laughed, "God these pregnancy hormones are killing me."

“Darling, I…”, all the sudden you heard a crash outside, Regina turned and moved to the window. You held her hand in both of your as she reached to move the curtain.

“What the he…” that’s when she heard the moving of a cloud of smoke behind her and no longer felt the warmth of you hand, she spun on her heels and spotted the figure across the room.

“Mother? What’re you doing here?”

“Ahh sweet girl I’m here for you.”

“Where’s Y/N, What did you do with her?”

“You mean that peasant you call a wife,” she laughed at her daughter in front of her waving her off, “she’s in a safe place or at least it’s safe for a normal person, but not sure about her and the bastard child of yours.”

“No Mother that’s my wife and my baby, biologically both me and Y/N. She has more heart and passion and power then you’ll ever know and she loves me, truly loves me and Henry and I’ve never doubted her for a day, I LOVE her.”

“Oh darling you just live the idea of her.” Regina was done talking she whirled a fire ball, grabbing the spare dagger from the sheath attached under the desk, courtesy of you, and whirled it in that direction. She watched as smoke cleared and the dagger was no where to be found she prayed that she at least stunned her mother.

———time jump———

You were slumped forward and felt the restraints digging into your wrist and ankles as they were tied to the legs of the wooden chair. You were quickly jolted awake by Cora grabbing your chin and forcing you to look at her. Ugh, she let out a disgusted sigh and shoved you face away turning back, you watched as she walked out of the room into a smaller side room, looking around you realized you were in an older cabin, wait this was the cabin that’s hidden in the woods the enchanted cabin that… you heard heels coming towards you and turned your head, Maleficent and Cora both stood looking at you. Maleficent knelt down in front of you studying your features, she stared at your bump deciding whether or not to touch, as if it wasn’t real, you thrashed in the seat and she looked into your eyes, she ran a hand over your bump feeling your baby move.

“Cora, this is not the way to do this.” Maleficent spoke out but kept eyes trained on you as you gave her the smallest most gently terrified look you could.

“I decide how I do things, you’re just here for support on getting her back.”

“But her wife and unborn child?” Maleficent stood going to Cora.

“If they’re gone nothing will ever stop her from going back to dark and staying there.”

You started yelling into the gag and thrashing in the seat. Cora moved over to you and you felt as she slapped your face the sting of her fingers meeting your skin and the ringing in your ear her ring sliced into the skin of your cheek and you felt the blood run down, you knew you would have a black eye. She then grabbed the gag sliding it from your mouth.

“I swear if you lay a finger on Regina or my baby… so help me God.”

“Oh darling, I see why my daughter loves you.”

“My WIFE will be here before you know it and when she gets here nothing will stop her or me from destroying you!” You yelled at the woman in front of you. She bent down getting in your face, “nothing will stop me from getting my daughter back.”

“She’s not your little play toy anymore.” Again you felt a slap this time blood ran from you lip. You looked up and saw a shadow go by the window, Cora walked back over to Maleficent and retreated into the other room as you sat there hearing them argue. You watched as the shadows moved towards the door and then the door cracked, revealing Snow and Regina was right behind she pushed past the other woman and rushed to you, she ran her fingers over the cut on your lip.

“God what did she do to you?” Regina undid the restraints pulling you up into a hug.

“I’m okay…” you trailed, she pulled back placing a hand on your bump and running it over your large 8 month swollen stomach, “the baby too, we’re both okay.”

“Regina!” Snow yelled before being thrown against the wall by Cora, she used her body to shield you from her mother, taking her stand.

“My brave girl, protecting the mother of her child, but I ask who protects you, who truly keeps you from falling back into darkness.”

“I do.” You spoke up moving to stand next to her. Cora laughed out loud and Maleficent moved to check on Snow who was waking up, “Maleficent, what’re you doing?”

“This is wrong Cora.”

“And who are you to decide what is right and wrong, you destroyed villages and kingdoms with a single breath during your dragon days.”

“Mother my reign of terror and bloodshed is over, I’m never turning back.”

“Oh shut up stupid girl, I’ll show you terror.” She flicked her wrist and you felt a pain rip through your abdomen, it was so hard it brought you to your knees and you reached grabbing Regina’s arm as she turned to you.

“Oh God… Oh God the baby.” You let out a moan as tears started to fall, you felt the pain coming and going in waves, you looked down and saw a small stream of blood running down your leg.

“Mother, Stop!” Regina shouted and you watched as her magic collided with her mothers. You fell forward now on hands and knees as another pain tore through your body, you felt hands come around your sides and Snow tried getting you up.

“We need to get you out of here,” she let you lean into her and tried guiding you out the door. You reached a hand down brining it up coated in blood, again wincing in pain.

“But…but Regina,” you stuttered out in pain, letting out another moan. Maleficent placed a hand on your shoulder rubbing your arm as you tried breathing through it, “Let me save her for once you get out of here and get help before we have an injured Regina and a premature baby on our hands.” You looked into her eyes and saw she genuinely wanted to help, you slowly shook your head in agreement.

“Please get her back to me, please.”

She shook her head not breaking eye contact, “I promise, on my life.” Snow quickly turned taking you to the car as Maleficent threw her the keys,”I need to call Zelena we need to get you to the hospital.”

“No…” you struggled through another contraction.

“Y/N you’re in premature labor, there’s to much blood.”she tried reasoning with you.

“Snow if you take me all the way there…” you stopped breathing through another searing pain, letting out a low groan. “If we wait this baby won’t make it…God Snow… I won’t make it.” You said through gritted teeth.

“Okay just hold on.” You felt the car lurch forward as she pressed the gas harder.

She quickly rushed you back to the loft and called Emma filling her in, she reached over reassuring you again as you tried breathing in the passenger seat every wave coming stronger and faster. Once in the loft you were laid on Snow and David’s bed, Zelena and Emma quickly ran in the door, Zelena made her way to you. Seeing the blood on your thighs staining the white sheets red as you white knuckled the blankets, Snow brushing the sweat coated hair out of your face.

“What happened?”

“I…” you moaned, quickly being cut off by another pain.

“It was Cora she cast a spell and quick flick of her wrist and then Y/N was bent over in pain and the bleeding started.” She started to explain.

“Oh please don’t let her miscarry.” Snow said worrying.

“Don’t let me lose this baby.” You spoke out through another sharp pain.

“Labor?” Asked Emma looking to a very concentrated Zelena.

“Sort of, by the looks and sound of it mommy dearest used a pregnancy acceleration spell, if done right can work for mother and baby but if done wrong can cause a lot of problems.” Zelena explained, she lifted you shirt and felt your stomach pressing down in a few spots and releasing pressure as she felt the muscles tighten.

“Can you reverse if?” Snow asked concerned.

“I can I need to do it fast, and it will hurt like hell.”

“Will the baby be okay?”

“Y/N but you…” Snow started.

“Will the baby make it?!”

“Yes. I’m not sure the toll it will take on your body.” Zelena explained.

“I don’t care about me, you save this baby, whatever it takes you save my baby, our baby.” She slowly shook her head as you laid back against the pillows, Snow held your hand tightly understanding what could happen, Emma quickly gathered supplies and then came around to your other side, you felt Zelena swirl her hands on your bump, positioning them, you breathed through another pain.

“5 count?” She asked.

“Surprise me.” You let out a nervous breath as she nodded.

“Okay, 1…2…3…” she started before 5 not giving you much time to adjust, the last thing you heard was a bloodcurdling scream, realized it was you and then everything went black.

——— time jump———

You felt lips on your forehead and a hand holding yours, you felt tears as they landed on your hair. Slowly blinking open your eyes you realized it was your wife, she looked unscathed from events earlier. You quickly shot up on your elbows allowing the blanket to fall away revealing your bump, Regina was sitting next to the bed and laid an arm across you lap as you scooted up against the pillows resting her hand on your bump. You let out a small moan feeling the soreness in your muscles.

“Hey,” she spoke gently.

“What happened? Are you okay?” You slid your hand onto her cheek watching her eyes, she leaned into your hand.

“Well Zelena told me what happened, she told me though that you blacked out during the reversal spell.” She avoided the question.

“What happened with your mom?”

“Cora, I don’t consider her family after she went after you like that, Maleficent helped me and she pushed her back through a portal, she fell through with her though, I owe her my life.”

“Me too, how long was I out.”

“Two days, everyone has been asking about you.”

“Mmm, where’s Henry?” You rubbed at your eyes.

“With Emma and Snow and David they went out. Y/N I almost lost you, my love I’m so so sorry.” You watched as tears started to fall and you placed your hand back on her cheek, wiping tears with your thumb, she embraced the touch. You both let tears fall for a moment before she leaned forwards placing a kiss to your lips and then allowing you to lay your forehead against hers, “Y/N I will always fight for you, until I draw my last breath, I love you more than anything and I can’t wait to watch our family grow and I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

“Regina Mills you make me the happiest woman alive, don’t for a minute think that I’ll ever leave you, I love you, besides the ring is already on so it’s going to take a lot more than that to scare me away.” You both chuckled.

Zelena walked down the stairs and turned coming up to you and sitting at the edge of the bed, “So mama, looks like everything went okay, you’re gonna be sore for a little while, and as of yesterday you are officially on bedrest aside from coming in to visit.”

“Thank you Z, for everything.” You gave her a gentle smile.

“Don’t mention it just promise me that you’ll rest up and come back to show me the ropes before you have my niece or nephew.” She winked, patting your leg.

You heard the lock click and watched as the door swung open at first everyone moved in slowly until they saw you, they stood shocked until Henry came running around the corner and jumped on the bed hugging around your neck the best he could with your bump in the way. Zelena took her leave joining the others in the kitchen.

“Mama I thought I lost you!” You hugged him with one arm as tears rolled down your cheeks, Henry has never actually addressed you as mom before. You felt as Regina squeezed your hand and gave you a look, you closed you eyes living in the moment.

“Henry, love you’ll never lose me, I love you little man.” He wouldn’t let go of your neck and then you realized that he was crying, Regina reached around rubbing his back, “Baby it’s okay.” She reassured him.

“I…I…I just thought I lost you, I can…can’t lose both my m…moms, or my little sister I can’t wait to meet he…her” He said through sobs. You both smiled gently at him as he clung around your neck.

“Henry love what if you got a little brother?” Regina asked gently.

“No, I think it’s a girl.”

“Oh okay.” She chuckled looking at you as you held him and rubbed his back.

“I’d say someone agrees with that.” You let out a smirk, Regina looked at you hopeful.

“Really?” You nodded and she moved her hand down feeling as your baby kicked, a tear rolled down her cheek and she leaned up to kiss you.

“I wanna feel.” Henry said turning his head and placing a hand near Regina’s feeling the baby move. He let out a toothy grin making you both laugh at your sons reaction.

He pulled away but only to curl into your side holding Regina’s hand that was spread across your bump, he started talking to the baby, you sat there content knowing that no matter what you were all loved and that you finally had the family you always dreamed of.

[swanqueenffprompter]

Regina Mills is trapped in a life she never wanted. At 33, she works tirelessly for her mother, Cora, at the family’s powerful company—a position she loathes but feels obligated to uphold. Her relationship with her mother is strained at best, and her thoughts often drift to the father she hasn't seen in 28 years. Henry Mills, her beloved father, disappeared from her life when Cora took her away after their bitter divorce. He left for South Africa, where he built a new life running a safari, and she hasn't heard from him since.

One day, Regina receives an unexpected letter from a South African lawyer. Her father has passed away, leaving her his pride and joy: the safari. The news shakes her to the core. Despite the anger and resentment she feels for being abandoned, something compels her to pack her bags and head to South Africa.

Upon arrival, she is greeted by the wild beauty of the African savannah—a stark contrast to the cold, sterile world she's used to. But as soon as she steps foot on the safari, she clashes with Emma Swan, a fiercely independent and stubborn worker who has been with the safari for years. Emma isn't thrilled about Regina's sudden appearance, and they quickly butt heads over how things should be run.

As the days pass, Regina begins to uncover secrets about her father and herself that she never imagined. Meanwhile, despite their initial animosity, the chemistry between Regina and Emma becomes undeniable. Sparks fly, and beneath the tension, an unexpected bond forms.

But with Cora trying to pull Regina back into the corporate world and Emma wrestling with her own past, they’ll need to navigate more than just the wild terrain to find a path forward—both for the safari and for themselves. Will they give in to the passion growing between them, or will their differences tear them apart before they even begin?

[dani-luminae]

"Descendants ripped off Ever After High because EAH came first!"

Really? By that logic, EAH ripped off Once Upon a Time:

Focused on a blonde daughter of a Queen Snow White with a contentious relationship with her mom for many reasons

A main character dealing with growing up with an abusive, magical mother (Regina had Cora, Raven has her mom)

All the kingdoms are present to some extent with a myriad of characters from many famous stories, even Wonderland

An Evil Queen character being the reason most of the Plot happens, including powerful curses meant to ruin the home realm of some characters

Questions the nature of the perceptions of Good and Evil

Red Riding Hood is part wolf

[horsetailcurlers2]

i mentioned this in this post i made a while back about how i think regal believer is the most important relationship in OUAT, but i can’t stop thinking about how the thesis of the show is about the sacrifices parents do or do not make for their children.

like think about it: cora sacrificing regina’s safety and happiness for her own ambition, henry senior never being strong enough to protect his daughter until she is too far gone and he dies in the name of her rage, snow and david’s decision to send emma through the wardrobe and how it is so complex because they were giving her her best chance but they were also sending their baby alone to a strange world so that she could one day save them all, emma giving henry up to give him *his* best chance, rumple losing his humanity to gain the power to protect his son only to then lose his son to protect his power, and then committing unspeakable evils to be reunited with him, malcom/pan abandoning his son to stay young and powerful forever, milah leaving her little boy to be raised by a man she did not respect so that she could live her life, jefferson sacrificing his sanity just to see his daughter again, granny trying for years to shield ruby from the truth, snow and david sacrificing maleficents child for the sake of their own, cora abandoning zelena in the woods so she herself could have “her best chance”…… ugh. i could go on and on and on.

and don’t even get me started on regina and henry. first, her trying desperately to hold onto him through any means, then realizing that she can’t have him and sustain the curse at the same time. doing everything in her power to redeem herself in his eyes, even holding back a fundamental part of herself. then when she was going to sacrifice herself to save the town (that was for *him*, not for storybrooke), and then giving him up to make things right and to keep him safe and happy even if it meant him forgetting her forever.

[snowivyimconfusi]

Hi! I'm SnowIvy, you can call me Ivy if you'd like 🩷

I write for Once Upon a Time, mostly SwanQueen but I love and write for other ships (see below😅.)

I guess I should do an about me section? Idk I'm not very internet savvy, but anyway:

Age : mid 20's

Timezone: Central Europe

Pronouns: she/her or they/them (irl it's she/her but you know I have a job so idc. (I don't actually have a job that's just a quote))

Oh yeah I'm bi in a straight relationship, so everyone thinks I'm straight (would they be shocked if they saw this blog and my ao3? Oh yes) I'm in the proverbial closet, everywhere except here.

I don't like DNI's. Interact with me, just be nice about it or you'll hurt my feelings. Thanks.

OUAT ships and my ratings :

Canon:

1.OutlawQueen - 8/10 - I liked it, it was good, it had potential. It didn't fully realize its potential. And Robin's death killed me.

2.CaptainSwan - 1/10 - sorry it's just one of those I don't see, I just didn't see any chemistry between them, which is sad because I like Killian.

3.CharmingSnow - 10/10 - I do love them, they're so sweet and wholesome. Yes.

4.Rumbelle- 0/10 - Boring. Toxic, and not in the fun way.

5. Rumple/Cora (Goldenheart? Idk) -8/10 - THEY BROKE ME. Such a good storyline, Cora's decision to rip her heart out, Rumple's heartbreak, how that makes him harder and more ruthless. Then of course how that influences his behavior towards Zelena and later Regina. Ugh. Doomed love is so good. And they are doomed by their own characters!! God.

Kinda canon I guess? :

6.GoldenQueen - 11/10 - I like this ship in all its iterations, Rumple and young Regina, Mr.Gold and Regina, Rumple and the Evil Queen, Roni and Weaver. It's so good. The potential is *chef's kiss*

7.DragonQueen - 9/10 - this is kinda canon. Fight me. I like it as a past relationship for Regina. It's good.

8.CaptainQueen (Killian/Regina) - 8/10 - yes. Tell me they didn't give "we fucked" vibes?? Tell me that.

Not canon:

9. SwanQueen - 100/10 - perfect. Amazing. Incredible. Meant to be. I could go on.

10.GoldenCaptain (Rumple/Killian) -6/10 - It's cool, it's not something I think about, but in theory it's not bad.

11. Killian/Belle - 9/10 - YES. this would've been so much better than CaptainSwan 😭

12.GoldenSwan - ?/10 - I have never thought about this ship, it just literally never crossed my mind.

13. SnowQueen - 2/10 - no. Sorry. (I'm thinking about it)

14. WickedQueen - 4/10 - I guess...whatever floats your boat? Not for me, but I get it.

15. WickedSwan - 7/10 - I get it. I'm not into it. But I get it.

I FORGOT SEASON 7

16. StepQueen (Ivy,drizella/Regina) - 10/10 - Give me all the master-pupil dynamics, and all the Evil to Good teaching Evil trying to make her good 😭 I want more fics of these two tbh.

17. Alice/Robin - 10/10 - I love them. No notes.

18. Ivy/Henry - 9/10 - they had so much chemistry!!! And it would've been so fun to see Henry fall for a villain 😭

19. Facilier/ Regina - 8/10 - you know I love any ship with Regina (if that wasn't obvious) I just wish we'd known a little bit more!!

I'll be updating this with all the ships I think of 😂

~~~~~

You can find me on AO3:

[ouatsqincorrect]

do u have any regina and snow headcanons?

yeah!

regina is one of the few people who can actually handle drunk snow white, and this leads to them having “girls night,” as snow calls it, every couple of months (regina has plenty of blackmail from those nights that she would’ve already used had she not turned over a new leaf)

snow is one of the few people to call regina “sweetie” and live to tell about it

she’s also called her reggie a couple times but mentioning that one might get her a fireball to the head

snow makes regina a casserole on bad days not only because it’s regina’s favorite meal that she makes but she also knows regina won’t eat if she isn’t handed the food (and yeah, emma’s there, but snow thinks its one less thing either of them have to worry about)

that maternal instinct snow feels for regina came around sometime during that year in the enchanted forest and it’s never gone away

and they have an unspoken agreement to never mention that regina used to be her stepmother because really, that’s just not what she is anymore and it’s never what she should’ve been in the first place

(and when snow actually does find out the extent of regina had to go through back in those days, she is careful not to mention her father in front of regina)

it’s nearly 2am one night when regina has an existential crisis because she realizes that snow white of all people has turned into her best friend and also somehow her mother figure??

but snow is there for her in all the ways cora never was and even if she doesn’t talk about it out loud, regina is fully aware of this

the first time she tells snow she loves her, it’s purely by accident and snow refuses to let her live it down

regina really does love snow, but it takes a long time for her to feel comfortable saying those words to people other than henry and emma—and snow actually understands this

respecting people’s boundaries has always been hard for snow but by having regina in her life (regina, who will call her out if she crosses a line), she’s getting better at it

and regina calling her out when she’s in the wrong is why snow isn’t afraid to do the same, but neither of them get mad at the other when this happens—it’s actually one of the things they appreciate the most about their relationship

they’ve learned how to be honest with each other and it’s been a game changer, but that’s also not to say there aren’t any arguments here and there

they are two very different people and still get on each others nerves sometimes

but they’re still, to regina’s dismay (not really), family in way neither of them saw coming

[brucethegirl]

Fave season of ouat. And y. Go. (Mine is 3 bc that’s when you see hooks softer/ but still flirtier side and the relationship growing). Although 5-6 come very close bc they are stronger and the proposal and wedding. Ahhhh. But omg when he asked for David’s blessing. That ep had me. But all the kissing in season 3. Oh wait, there’s other people other than hook and Emma in ouat? Nah.

Oh gosh.... (edit: i wrote like two paragraphs of this before realizing you just asked general favorite season, not favorite CS season, but I still turned this into a CS post.)

Season 2 is not bad. There's so much there for background to understand where emma was coming from, versus season 1 which was mostly us as viewers learning who everyone was in the enchanted forest and how the story we know was being reinterpreted. Now it was learning where Emma was coming from, where Killian comes into the picture and some of his background, where Cora comes from which lays the groundwork for how she raised Regina and where she is coming from. How they became the people they became today, the steps of their recent history. The continuous choices and situations that led them to where they were when they all came together. I love straight up evil Killian. It's fun. Him trusting her immediately, him being sassy flirty, him saying "just a I'm done with you" (pssh, okay my guy). but at the end, despite it being good writing, I'm just okay about it. I mean yea its got Tallahassee.... but I also am not a fan of how they handled the neal/emma relationship when they were young. Michael Raymond-James is NOTICEABLY an older man well into his 30s, and I could buy him being a rough 20 something, but Emma is VERY MUCH meant to be late teens and that entire casting situation and its implications followed by the pushing in later seasons for her to be with Neal by her family just makes me so very uncomfortable.

Three is honestly such a fair choice. I love season 3 with Hook starting to realize he needs to change and wants to change. But also still actively having to purge his villain tendencies. Rolling his eyes while volunteering to help Belle research. His snarky comments constantly that no one laughs at cause they're a little on the meaner side. But also the way he and Emma so automatically can read each other. She just has to tilt her head or nod and he knows what she wants him to do. The longing looks, the declarations. Nothing beats "when I win your heart, and I will win it. It will be because you want me" NOTHING. "I'm in this for the long haul" after saying he'll back off to give Henry the chance at a family, and won't inject himself into that. But also knows Neal will mess it up, knows he'll be on the sidelines for the second of an oppertunity. Knows that he DOES stand a valid chance if he wanted to fight. Like, just fuck me up. The shift in Regina's character and how she learns to become good, how that is different from Hook's journey but they both recognize it being the same journey. Her teaming up with Rumple to fnd Henry and it markedly NOT being villains teaming up, but her willing to do anything to save her son and the second she realizes its no good, she's gone. Learning more about the emotional backstory and early character moments in their lives, Hook, Emma, and Regina especially. Learning the complicate pasts, and seeing the steps they took to get here. I feel like actual writing wise- its the strongest season for them. Its also go the best lines. Like Regina and Robin also is SO GOOD in the flashbacks and I forever regret not getting more of them in that weird flirty hate each other stage but what we did get was SO GOOD. "Where you come from, they bath in the river and use pine cones for money" Lana... ma'am.... that is THE BEST LINE in the entire show for me. This season had all the potential, and for that it gets a lot of points. A lot of what was built didn't get delivered on as well as it should have, but that's not the foundations fault. And this season was the foundation.

Season 4 is prime them in love. I love the relationship part of most shows when they handle it well, and I think THAT aspect was handled well. Him obviously in love, her coming to terms with what that means. So much angst in a good way of him being the reason for some of the problems she has. Of him not having his heart. Of him realizing he can't keep making the same villain mistakes if he's going to be with her, if he's going to change. If he's going to be a better man. This is a great season just like... FOR him. You see the realizations that he's made these mistakes and he can't even blame his past self. His current self did this to himself. You see the beginnings of his self-loathing and how that builds the reasoning for the choices he makes. He's had his hook for centuries, he's learned how to work with it and around it. But for the date, the internalized ableism got the better of him, and he thought in order to be a better man, and the man she deserved, he needed to be 'whole.' Which is IMMeDIATELY disproved when she doesn't even realize he had his hand until its pointed out, and also doesn't notice its a hook again later because she loves HIM she sees HIM. Those outward shifts and changes are not important. She notices his clothing change because it represents so much more about him embracing this weird strange land and showing he's sticking around. But his hook? Well thats just part of him that she accepts because its part of him so when he changes it its not something she notices. (sorry, i have a LOT of feelings about this episode) And then the whole darkness inside him and the hand and him being a villain and being afraid of losing his happy ending. 4b is weak we all know that, but the emotions of it are so strong. "Don't you know Emma? It's you." MY GUYYYYYY. The kisses we got this season, the emotional leaps and bounds. Him admitting having her in his life is what keeps him on the side of the heroes. Him saying he hopes its his job to protect her heart even when no one is actively trying to steal it. Her discovering more about her past and really starting to share her history with someone, showing her past and being vulnerable with someone and allowing them to scale the fortress she's put up to protect herself. Learning that someone is there begging to be let in, and isn't going away, and even when she ignores him he says basically that he's not deterred so easily, she's worth it, he recognizes that, and he'll just wait patiently for her to be ready. He will always put her first. Will put her family first. Often at the expense of himself.

Now season 5. Look. Do I think its strong? No. It's some of the saddest writing (season 6 is the worst in my opinion) in that it had SO MUCH POTENTIAL. But it Never delivers it. Season 4 was their love story, so there's no need to focus so heavily on them in season 5, sometimes having them not even interact in scenes that make NO SENSE for them to not interact. Despite the fact that she's just told him she loved him before being taken over by the darkness and saying she trusts him to be able to reach her and save her. Despite the entire ARC being ABOUT THEM for BOTH HALVES, the actual day to day episode to episode is not about them at all. So little focused on them, on them interacting, on their story. It was such a mess. So much promise with so little delivery. Nothing was allowed to breath, nothing was allowed to sit, no one was allowed to have a single thought to work through what they were going through. He's evil for what? a single episode? and in the middle of it there's this entire hour about a character we don't know, with no one we care about, about something never mentioned again that holds zero bering on ANYTHING that happens or has happened. So much wasted time. I LOVE what 5 could have been. I LOVE the implications, and the shifts in narrative and expectation. I LOVE the discovery and acceptance of their relationship and the confirmations we get. I HATE nothing is ever discussed on screen. Everything is implied to happen off screen "like I told you" Did you tell her when the cameras were off? We're given nothing we should have. Everyone else is just set dressing, and yet have all the focus. Its disjointed and just lazy, and its only saving grace is whoever had the initial idea on the brain storm board and then the acting itself. But damn if this season doesn't give me inspiration.

Finally, season 6.... I'll leave at saying when its good, its great. All three singular scenes that are good. There's no follow through from whats already happened to these characters. There's no acknowledgment of their past selves, their past experiences. Hook is GENUINELY shocked that Emma understands why he didn't toss the shears knowing she'd hate him for doing 'the one thing that could save her' WHEN THAT WAS THE ENTIRE CLIMAX OF 5A!

All of this to say, I guess 3?

[rems-writing]

The bear & Mingi's beloved

》 Pairing: student!Jongho × student gn!reader (platonic)

》 Genre/AU: Fluff/college AU

》 Wordcount: 1,609 words

》 Rating: pg-13

Nets: @mirohs-aurora-society @othersideoutlawsnetwork @illusionnet

The first time Jongho heard about you, it was through stories that San, his older brother, had relayed to him whenever they would videochat with each other while Jongho was still in Korea. According to him, your relationship with Mingi was tumultuous. You two were dating for a few months and Mingi was in love with you. Things were going great until you found out that Mingi was actually married. At first, Jongho was upset that Mingi was seeing while he was bound with this Ingrid girl through a ring and a certificate. However, once San explained that it was an arranged marriage and Mingi never really loved Ingrid, Jongho immediately felt bad for him. From the sounds of it, Mingi’s life was hell after you broke up with him. His patience wore thin, his anger issues worsened, and he became stricter during his classes. Then one day, Mingi had enough. He made you stay after class so you two could talk things out with him. One thing led to another and you two were now back together. Within that same day, he went to Cora, Regina and Zelena’s mother, to inquire for guidance on how to settle a divorce properly since he knew that Ingrid would throw a fit. Once the divorce was settled, Mingi was free. 

“Sounds like a typical k-drama, but without all the theatrics.”

San and Jongho giggled at the bear’s comparison and the both of them continued to talk for hours on end until they both had to leave. The next time Jongho would see San, he would land in Maine and officially be a student at Storybrooke University. 

---------------------------------------------------

The second time Jongho heard about you, it was when he jokingly confronted Robin Hood about the pens the archery major stole from Hongjoong, Yunho, and Mingi. Granted, he already saw you, but for a brief moment since you went with Regina and Zelena to the bathroom. From there, he heard that you three were full-on simps for him. To say he was shocked was an understatement. After his brother and friends paid for dinner and left the diner, the baby bear ran after them. Luckily, they were only just walking around the quaint town, breathing in the crisp air of autumn and tugging their coats over their bodies to avoid getting cold. Jongho caught up with Mingi and decided that now was the time to talk about you. 

“So… I saw Y/N. But only briefly. That Robin guy told me that they, along with his girlfriend… uh… Regina… and her sister… uh… Zelena, were simping for me?” 

Mingi chuckled deeply and nodded in confirmation to Jongho’s confused statement. 

“Yeah. Y/N, Regina, and Zelena would not shut up about you when San first introduced you to his class. They only heard stories about you so it’s normal for them to feel like this since they’re probably shook to the core.” 

Jongho felt the tips of his ears go red upon this revelation.

“Well damn…”

“Damn indeed. However, it’s all jokes at the end of the day. Y/N’s with me, Regina’s with Robin, and Zelena’s finally with Yeosang.”

“Oh yeah! You have to tell me all about that when we get home.”

“For sure.”

---------------------------------------------------

He slowly stopped typing on his laptop and grabbed his phone slowly before clicking on the notification. He unlocked his phone and it soon took him to his IG page. A baffled expression was on his face as he saw the name of the group chat Robin invited him to. 

The first time Jongho officially met you, it was through a group chat on Instagram that you had made with your friends. Yeosang and Mingi were added before him and soon, he would be the latest addition. He gave Robin his IG handle, but he somewhat regretted it when he was added to the group chat on a random day. He was studying for an upcoming exam in his math class when he got a notification on his phone. 

An amused smirk was on his face as the rest of the guys let the chaos happen. It soon turned into full blown laughter when you texted your refusal in this escapade, knowing full well you’ll dig your grave even further if you entertain this chaos. In the end, you and Mingi went offline, along with Regina and Robin. Zelena was the only one left and Jongho messed with her a bit before she went offline as well. After Yeosang gave Jongho everyone else’s IG handles to him (Jongho only got Robin’s handle to his private IG), he went offline. Jongho shook his head and continued studying for his math exam. He was smiling from ear to ear, replaying the chaos in his head. 

Shrine of Jongho

---------------------------------------------------

Jongho finally saw you in person and he let out an endearing belly laugh when he saw you try hard to stand up straight. It seemed as though Mingi did a number on you. He saw you sit down next to him and he had the audacity to ask you if you were doing ok. 

“Jongho, I can barely walk! Of course I’m not ok!”

Jongho laughed some more when you tried to hide your face behind your hair, but it was short lived since he saw Yeosang, Mingi, and Robin walk towards the five of you. Mingi called out to you and wedged himself between you and the bear before pulling you onto his lap. You didn’t have time to protest since Jongho spoke up. 

And boy did you almost cry. 

After Jongho finished speaking, Regina then spoke what everyone else was thinking. And you agreed with every single word. When Regina finished speaking, the five of you hung out some more before you went to class. 

---------------------------------------------------

You and Jongho shared three classes together. Photography with Hongjoong, history with San, and English with Mingi. Regina also shared San’s history class and Mingi’s English class with you two, but instead of Hongjoong’s photography class, she shared Yunho’s dance class with him. Zelena only shared Yeosang’s soccer class with Jongho while Robin shared no classes with him. Jongho would have to wait until the next semester to take Wooyoung’s philosophy class since the enrollment capacity was full. You two were currently working on another portfolio project for Hongjoong’s class. As you two were in the cafe discussing what theme you should make the portfolio, Jongho asked you something. 

“How’s everything with Mingi?”

“It’s been going well. I’ve never seen Mingi so happy.”

“He truly loves you, y’know?”

“Yeah…”

Jongho sensed some hesitancy in your voice, which was understandable considering that you still had some lingering doubts in your mind. One thing is for certain though. You two were inseparable. Mingi worked hard to make sure you were back in his arms and he’ll never let you go again. It’s something that Jongho admired about Mingi. When it comes to his passions and the people he cares about, he goes above and beyond to make sure you are safe and loved. 

So why were you down?

“Come on. Talk to me.”

“I don’t know…”

Jongho leaned in more to indicate that he was listening tentatively to you and would make sure he’d say what he needed to say after you finished explaining everything to him. In the time that he hung out with you and the rest of your friends, he found that he was closer to you than the rest of the gang. He felt protective of you. He grabbed your hand in his and stared into your eyes patiently. 

“What are you so afraid of?”

There it is. 

Jongho listened as you explained everything, albeit slowly and hesitantly. You explained that even though Mingi is devoted to you and you only, you fear that one day, Ingrid might come back and steal him away from you. You explained that you felt like you weren’t enough for him. Lastly, you feared falling out of love with him. After you explained everything, Jongho spoke. 

“First things first. Mingi went to this Cora woman to make sure that the divorce went smoothly and to make sure that Ingrid doesn’t do anything drastic, unless she wants a restraining order. I heard that Cora is a powerful woman so if he’s got her on his side, no one will steal him away from you. As for the second thing, you are more than enough for him! Your dedication to your major, the love you have for your friends, and that soulmate like bond between you and Mingi is unbreakable. You are Mingi’s everything. Lastly, I cannot say for certain if you’ll fall out of love with him or not. I’m not a psychic. I am, however, your friend. And trust me when I say this. You and Mingi have something that no one else will have. If you honestly think that you’ll fall out of love with him, keep one thing in mind: communication is key. Communicate, spend time with him, and most importantly, reassure your loyalty and love to each other. Do those things and you’ll stick with him for a long period of time.”

By the time Jongho finished speaking, you felt a weight lift off your shoulders. You found a sense of clarity and peace thanks to Jongho���s theraputic words. You thanked him endlessly for the advice, to which he shrugged it off playfully before displaying his precious gummy smile. 

“No need to thank me. Just remember. I’m here for you.”

With that, the two of you left the cafe with a portfolio theme in mind and a bigger bond than ever. 

[izzythehutt]

Rumple and Cora had the best chemistry in OUAT change my mind!

Of his romantic relationships in the show, she was my favorite. It was the dynamic where I "bought" the attraction between the characters the most (no offense Belle.) In the present day storyline you felt the history between them (and it added a complicating factor to Gold and Regina's dynamic.)

Rumple and Cora had similar backgrounds, and I liked the tragic irony that the empowerment he gave her by teaching her dark magic is what ultimately led to her choosing power over a life with him. But then him wanting to know the truth and her admitting it right as she was about to kill him to take his power was just...perfection.

The Miller's Daughter is honestly where the show peaked.

[slunatic]

Also on FFN: Chapter 26: The Incredible Journey.

*THIS IS THE END!!!*

Summary: This is the sequel to New Tricks. Regina and Emma continue their relationship with Emma being Regina’s pet, but things slowly evolve as their lives change.

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category: F/F

Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV)

Relationship: Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Emma Swan

Characters: Evil Queen | Regina Mills, Emma Swan, Maleficent (Once Upon a Time), Red Riding Hood | Ruby, Snow White | Mary Margaret Blanchard, Prince Charming | David Nolan, Mulan (Once Upon a Time), Rumplestiltskin | Mr. Gold, Queen of Hearts | Cora, Tinker Bell (Once Upon a Time), Nova | Astrid, Marian (Once Upon a Time), Robin Hood (Once Upon a Time)

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Romance, Drama, Angst, Domestic Fluff, Developing Friendships, Master/Pet, Bisexuality, Alternate Universe - Non-Magical, Friendship, Self-Discovery, Lesbian Sex, Sexual Content, Praise Kink.

[swanqueensalad]

i’m not sure if you’ve already done something similar but i was wondering if you had any hc for regina’s relationship with clothes? i just feel like there’s so much to dig into with all her mother’s bullshit and how she was raised to value appearances, how performative a lot of her outfits were as the evil queen, the shift in how she dresses after the curse breaks, her and emma’s opposite approaches to how they dress themselves. idk i just feel like if anybody else would also have thoughts on this, it would be you

anon i am literally in love with you for sending me this ask. honestly why have i never done a post on this before!!! this is SO interesting to me!! clothing is definitely a hugely important part of regina's character and journey over the course of the show.

PSA: this turned into a literal play by play biography of regina's life through clothing. ur welcome. also this is totally unedited, we die like men

I think clothing means a lot of different things to Regina. I think she both revels in and resents the glitz and glamour, uses it as her shield, weaponry and armour but also it can be very vulnerable for her... it's a lot

and I agree that, unfortunately like many things with Regina, we have to start by tracking back to her childhood and how Cora raised her

Regina is a young noblewoman in the enchanted forest, and much of her 'value' to her family would lie in making an advantageous marriage. Layer on top of that Cora's absolute single minded determination for success, social climbing and for Regina to become queen one day and you just KNOW appearances were a huge deal when Regina was growing up (we see this threaded through canon too, in Cora magically changing Regina's clothes/hair/makeup for her)

to Cora, Regina's beauty was always a valuable tool she could use, but her brutal ambition would have led to absolute perfectionism.

After all, sweetheart, queens have to be perfect.

I think even when Regina was a very young child, a huge amount of weight was put onto her clothing and how she was presented.

I can imagine Cora choosing elaborate outfits for her infant daughter, dressing her up like a doll and making sure the ribbons in her hair matched exactly, being absolutely critical of everything to ensure her child was the best dressed, the most perfect

And I think this hugely impacted Regina's childhood. Cora would have allowed Regina very little freedom, partially because she was conditioning her to behave like a queen (or just like an obedient pawn for her to do whatever she wanted with) but also partially because Regina literally could not risk getting messy or dirty.

Image is everything, darling.

As child, Regina couldn't really play because she would ruin her dress, or her hair, or scuff her shoes. She had no choice but to occupy herself with the 'proper' pursuits that her mother approved of, because she physically couldn't do anything else. No running, tree climbing, flower picking etc for tiny Regina. Lots of sitting quietly and looking pretty, even as a child.

I can definitely see Cora showing Regina off from an early age, dressing her up like a doll, inviting other noblewomen for tea and dressing Regina better than any of their children, making her sit nicely and quietly.

If Regina were to be 'bad' and accidently dirty her dresses, mess up her hair etc. I think Cora would definitely punish her quite severely. because from day one, Cora was drilling into Regina that her appearance was one of the most valuable and worthwhile things about her. Queens have to be perfect.

And of course, little Regina doesn't want to be a queen, she just wants to go play in the meadow with the other children, but she wants to be a good girl more than anything, because mother hurts her when she's not.

As Regina grows older, I think Cora becomes far more critical of her appearance. A doll like, cute child is far easier to keep 'perfect' than an adolescent girl, and it's also all a huge control tactic for Cora to keep Regina affection starved and desperate to please her. So there would be backhanded comments, the constant pressure to be more beautiful. The feeling started to grow in Regina that she was pretty, just not pretty enough, never enough.

Ik I've talked about this before here (TW for EDs) but I headcanon Cora as absolutely fucking up a young Regina's body image and relationship with food too, controlling/restricting her diet. So I can imagine that dress fittings became a source of enormous stress and pain for an adolescent and teenage Regina.

In the enchanted forest, as a noble, all of Regina's clothes were likely hand made from expensive fabrics. Cora would spare no expense for making her daughter the most fashionable, beautiful, ideal young lady. So there was enormous pressure on Regina to 'wear the clothes well' and to keep them pristine. But these fittings would have been hell, because Cora definitely was stood in the corner, never ever asking Regina's opinions or how she feels in the clothes, but only ever criticizing the fit, asking if her corset could be laced tighter, and despairing over tiny mistakes.

Despite all this though, I do think a young Regina enjoyed clothing and fashion in a way. As much as her mother made it absolute hell, Regina really did like the few dresses she was allowed to have a say in and I think she always liked pretty things, she just wished she was allowed to like them on her own terms.

I think the white dress we see her wearing in a lot of her early EF flashbacks was one of her favourites because it's pretty but also simple and comfortable, something she would have chosen herself and just luckily happened to be considered suitable by her mother.

I've written about it in this fic but I also think Cora would have been actively sexualising Regina from a young age, trying to make her as appealing to suitors and other noblemen as possible to get more power and advantage. This would make Regina very uncomfortable, and I think at this point she really resented all this elaborate clothing and heavy jewelry.

There's also something really interesting in canon ouat costume design I want to discuss because I've never seen it discussed before: in 2x015 The Queen Is Dead, we get a glimpse of the fashions in Leopold's kingdom around the time Regina and Snow were about to meet for the first time. We see Queen Eva, clearly an empowered adult woman, wearing a tightly fitting deep red dress covered in jewels. Meanwhile the ten (ish?) year old Snow White wears a more appropriately girlish frock with puffy sleeves, a simple bodice and full skirts. Around this time, we mostly see Regina dressed in the latter style, implying she is still being dressed and presented more as a young lady/maiden than an adult. The blue dress Cora puts her in to meet King Leopold is a very similar design to Snow's, with full sleeves and skirt; her riding coats are also loose and puffy sleveed; the dress she wears at dinner when married to Leopold is full sleeved and skirted too; the white dress we see her in several times is the exception, but looser still than Eva's style.

I believe the earliest we see Regina in that adult style dress is in Fruit of the Poisonous Tree, when she's years into her marriage and about to kill her husband and seize power. This is a moment of empowerment for her shown through costume, and a clear shift she's gone from girl to woman, which is actually disgusting considering this is at the end of her marriage to the elderly king.

My point here is that I think throughout her marriage the world still saw Regina as a child to a degree, a poor replacement for Eva, and Regina was still very much a young woman, who did not feel any older or freer. Her marriage kept her trapped and unempowered, just like her mother had.

She always had to be beautiful and perfect, and this pressure was amped up even more as queen. I can see a newly married Regina trying so hard in the first few years to always be perfect, constructing elaborate outfits, hair and makeup just like Cora taught her, to try and be good enough for Leopold, to make him more kind to her, to make anyone at court notice her at all, but it never works. She is still only ever objectified or sidelined or both.

When she begins training with Rumple, we start to see Regina developing a new sense of style: she begins wearing darker colours, to mimic her mentor in a way. I think this is very indicative of her mental state, how easily influenced she was, how much she wanted to latch onto this one source of potential hope and power in her life.

But this was of course a transitional period, and I do think it's interesting that we see her in 1x11, seducing Sidney and killing her husband finally wearing one of the long, tight, elegant 'adult' dresses Eva wore as queen. This is when Regina really steps into her own power.

Once again to refer briefly to the same fic I think in the few years leading up to this (remember, as I love to remind everyone, her entire horrific marriage was probably around 8 years at least), Regina began to learn more of her seduction politics, and started to understand how she could manipulate the way men behaved towards her. She started to fully understand what her mother meant, how to choose a dress for the right situation, how to choose a neckline, a lipstick shade, a way of walking and talking.

I think this took her a while to stop feeling disgusted by. At some point, the rush of even this tiny way of grabbing power was exhilarating, long overdue. At some point, that stopped making her skin crawl.

Starting to wear darker colours was I think a way of rebelling against her past self. I really think throughout her reign as the 'evil queen', Regina had to loathe her younger, innocent self because that was the version of her that got hurt, used, raped, manipulated, brokenhearted. It was easier to hate that version of herself, to blame herself for being weak and stupid (Mother's voice in her head, always) than to fully feel the pain she was still in. So the pastels and whites of her youth were completely gone. She buried them, and the girl who loved them, as far as she could.

It also seems like pastels were commonplace in the Enchanted Forest based on every extra in every ballroom scene ever, and at this point Regina was so reliant on her attractiveness as a form of power that wearing dark colours and deep jewel tones was a way to ensure she always stood out, always caught the eye.

As her reign grew, I think the Evil Queen costumes grew more and more extravagant as a show of wealth and power to dazzle the commoners and intimidate all the nobles. Regina was showing them with her style choices that she was in a league of her own. And the more she leaned into it, the glitz and glamour, all the diamonds and makeup, the things she hated as a young girl, the safer she feels. The more hidden. The more superhuman.

The Evil Queen was a physical symbol as well as an idea of who Regina was. I think of it almost like how celebrities have public persona, sexualised and stylised, instantly recognisable and fastidiously designed. I think this made Regina, a physically small woman, much smaller than all the other older, male leaders and rulers, feel protected, confident and powerful.

(I think it's also a defense against the fact that as a very young girl Regina was sexualised by her own mother for a much older man, for his whole court I suppose. Regina has always been taught, through her mother's words and actions, that her beauty and attractiveness correlate to her worth, power and usefulness. And now she sort of enacts that on herself to keep herself safe. Because they can't sexualise her if she's sexualised herself first, they can't be using her if she's letting them and using their lust for her to her own ends. Her beauty keeps her safe. Queens have to be perfect, Regina.)

When we get to Storybrooke, I think it translates somewhat. In this world, political figures are the power symbols, and unfortunately in this world too, female politicians are more successful if they are polished and beautiful. Or so Regina would see it.

Queens have to be perfect, sweetheart.

She upkeeps the Evil Queen thing where she has a recognisable image, this polished perfect professional thing. Though this world is on a much smaller scale, Regina's mindset is not at all. She would never be seen out of the house without a perfect face of makeup, without perfectly done hair, manicured nails, the right outfit, the right shoes. Because queens have to be perfect. You can't show them a single crack in your armour.

It isn't all a chore though. I think Regina really does enjoy her own style, especially in Storybrooke as it is so different to anything Cora or Leopold would have had her wearing, and because it's part of a world she made for herself, there's more of a sense of independence and ownership of her own style. I think she has a really nice sense of routine in doing her makeup and hair, which is good for her too.

But still in Storybrooke, we see Regina using her attractiveness, using seduction as a often reached for tool in her arsenal.

And on the other hand we have Emma.

Now, this is a Regina post but the ask did specify and I do find it interesting and want to discuss, so I'll give a much briefer overview of my headcanons about Emma and her style.

Off the bat I'll say I consider 'Emma's style' as season 1 and 2 Emma. (I'm not going to analyse the straight-girl-style-ification of Emma Swan in the later seasons bc that's another story and also just Bad storytelling imo)

Skinny jeans, boots, tanks, plaid, leather jackets, beanies, baseball shirts. She's mostly casual, can be a bit edgy, a bit lesbian swagger, a bit teenage boy (at times). Sometimes she does a winged liner, sometimes nothing. And she dresses with nothing else in mind but what makes her feel confident and cool and herself.

Because Emma as a kid never really had the freedom to pick her own clothes. The homes got a lot of donations, and sometimes there were cool things she could grab a hold of if she managed to beat the older kids to it, but a lot of the time she was just in whatever hand me downs she could get. Not ideal for a young queer girl trying to work out her identity.

So when she started to establish a life for herself, the first time she buys her red leather jacket etc, these moments are really meaningful to Emma because it's more about being able to own her sense of self and stand on her own two feet in a stable way rather than just being about the clothes.

Which is so beautiful, because it just goes to show that once again Regina and Emma are complimentary opposites. Clothes were never important in Emma's life, so when she gets the chance, she just likes being able to wear whatever the fuck she wants, to never really worry about it, and to feel good. To Regina, clothes were always enormously important and so a great deal of thought and preparation goes into everything she wears.

I think it is interesting the way they interact in this case, because they are so different, and they both find the other one so hot, and I think they also both admire how different it is for the other.

Regina in denial would definitely consider Emma's casualness to be improper and lazy, but deep down, and eventually openly once they grow closer, she knows she admires her freedom and fearlessness.

Meanwhile Emma thinks Regina is the hottest woman on the planet (she's right) and appreciates how perfectly her gf puts outfits together, how good her makeup and skincare collection is.

But Emma can also see the other side of it for Regina too, is one of the few people (perhaps because of her own history with clothes) who can see the strain there. The control and obsession with her own appearance, the perfectionism.

And I think Emma is really good for her in that sense. Emma's own freedom and confidence is a good influence. Because gradually, as they get together and their relationship develops, Regina is able to let down a little more of that mask, bit by bit.

Letting Emma see her with wet hair, her natural curls straight out of the shower. Or in her robe with no makeup on in the mornings. And as they build their life together, Regina finds this immense relief in having someone who sees all of her in every state.

It's not as scary as it once seemed.

And Emma thinks Regina is just as beautiful in leggings and fresh faced as she is with makeup and an expensive dress. (Once again, she is right). This is groundbreaking to Regina, this idea that she can be loved and valued without upkeeping her definition of 'perfection'. That she could be enough as she is, for Emma.

That she is enough, as she is.

And of course, she doesn't always believe that. How can she, after the life she has lived? But she's working on it, and when these feelings of immense vulnerability and insecurity in herself arise, she is able to voice them to Emma (sometimes with a bit of struggle) and Emma holds space for her, listens without judgement, calls Cora a dumb bitch (sometimes) and assures Regina that she is the most beautiful person Emma's ever seen, but that her beauty is not why she fell in love with her, and it's not what makes her worthy.

And slowly, I think Regina starts to get back to finding more joy in fashion. More appreciation, in the way her younger self always wanted.

[crime-wives]

your turn. tell me about your wips 👀

oh lord... where do we begin. let's start with me meddison/grey's anatomy wips.

so you were never a saint, and i loved in shades of wrong. this wip is currently in progress, two chapters on ao3 so far. basically my take on an angsty s2 meddison. they run into each other constantly at joe's bar and are very sad.

hollywood au. my meddison hollywood au in which meredith is unwillingly dragged into the spotlight after finding out her boyfriend is a. married, and b. famous. she gets a guest role on the same tv show as him and his wife. things spiral from there.

dead derek s4 au. basically what the title implies. a 'what if' scenario in which derek died in s4, and meredith and addison connect over shared grief.

tedstina fic. this wip is if after owen cheats on her, cristina shows up, drenched, at teddy's apartment all 'i didn't know where else to go.' there is lots of sad, gay, pining.

now... we move on to my swan queen wips. there are a lot, be prepared.

sad regina mills fic #1. a very angsty wip about regina's relationship with food, set during s1 of ouat. she's not dealing very well with henry hating her, and she turns to one of her coping mechanisms, which may or may not land her in the hospital.

sad regina mills fic #2. set after cora's death, little snippets of regina reflecting on her mother, and childhood. some hurt/comfort, also hurt/no comfort so.

say don't go song fic. regina reflecting on herself and emma in the middle of the night, with the dagger, after emma's sacrifice post s4 finale. (also regina really misses emma and doesn't know what to do with herself.

s6 regina is sad about emma getting married fic. has this been done before, yes. but i want to do it. anyway, buckle up, this one is very sad. our favorite lovable idiots fight, and make up, there are 'i miss you' texts, and lots of lesbian pining.

camelot hurt/comfort au. a little ficlet, (which could spiral into something bigger if i'm not careful,) in which emma seeks comfort from regina on a day when the voices are really loud. there's bed sharing and cuddles, and also hook is thrown into a tree.

the hanahaki au. um well... this is exactly as it sounds. set like 4b-ish. regina starts coughing up flowers one day, and it slowly gets worse until she's almost dead.

there's bed-sharing in this one. after a fight with her parents, emma shows up at regina's place. there are feelings, angst, and surprisingly maybe fluff.

the road-trip fic. uber driver x runaway bride. that's all i'll say.

neverland rewrite. except swanqueen, and mentions of torture. two hurt women heal together and find their son.

there are more... but i'll stop there.

here are some ideas i've had, but haven't written yet:

regina on henry's birthday during the missing year

my hc that regina taught herself how to draw/paint during the first 18 years, and the people she paints as vignettes.

supercorp: lena knows kara is supergirl au, but angsty

my meddison fic after meredith grey almost drowns

oh, my star wars fusion swan queen fic

anyway... i'll end this here before i get too carried away lol (this took forever to type.)

[moistvonlipwig]

OUAT Week Day 6: Favorite plot twist

Snow White is a good person.

She has to be. That's the very last thing her mother asked of her -- to "hold the spirit of goodness" alive in her heart, so that Eva would never truly leave her.

Snow White is a good person, and that is why she let her mother die rather than take someone else's life. Snow White is a good person, and that is why she gave her child up, not once but twice, for the sake of her kingdom. Snow White is a good person, and that is why it is okay that she went to unimaginable lengths to ensure that her daughter would be too. It is vital to Snow White's psychological well-being, her very sense of self, that she is a good person.

But what if she's not?

That is the question both Snow and the audience are forced to grapple with after she tricks Regina into killing Cora in 2.16 "The Miller's Daughter." This moment is the fulcrum around which Snow's arc pivots, the point of no return after which her character will be irrevocably changed. Killing Cora in and of itself might not have been such a big deal, but playing on Regina's desire for a mother that loves her in order to manipulate her into unknowingly delivering the killing blow is a profound cruelty, one that Snow almost instantly regrets. Yet she cannot take it back. At the end of "The Miller's Daughter", Cora lies dead by her daughter's hand, and it is all Snow's doing.

This rocks Snow to her very core. By using the same candle to kill Cora that she had refused to use to save her mother, she has betrayed her mother's final request, and she is forced to truly confront the idea that she might not be good after all. She has briefly considered the idea before, but she has always been able to suppress the thought. No longer. Regina shows her her heart, and there is rot at its core, and it is spreading.

And yet -- despite the pain Snow's murder of Cora inflicts on Regina and Snow both -- it ultimately changes Snow for the better. In the immediate aftermath of Cora's death, Snow fears that her actions will be the beginning of her descent into villainy. But as Snow eventually comes to realize, she began that descent long ago, when she stole Maleficent's infant child. Snow's murder of Cora does not doom her to villainy -- rather, it gives her the chance to begin to claw her way out of it. To truly become a good person, Snow must first reject her obsession with being a good person, which up until now has defined her entire life. Thus, the psychological reckoning she endures after Cora's death at her hands is necessary in order for her to overcome that obsession and acknowledge her actions for what they truly are.

Without being forced to confront the possibility that she is not the person she thought she was, Snow never would have learned to truly empathize with Regina, and thus never would have healed that relationship as fully as she did; she never would have reached a place where she could look back at her parents' actions and acknowledge their flaws; she never would have been able to admit her wrongdoing against Maleficent and make amends for it. The good Snow does in the later seasons of the show would never have been possible without the evil she does in "The Miller's Daughter." Like so many other characters on the show -- Regina, Rumple, Hook, Zelena, et cetera, et cetera -- the hero Snow becomes is not despite her past villainy, but because of it; her past actions, and the lessons she has learned from them, inform her future choices for the better.

The brutal twist of Snow being the one to kill Cora is not just a turning point for Snow's arc, but also for the show as a whole. Prior to "The Miller's Daughter", OUAT did not spend much time interrogating the actions of its designated hero characters or questioning their status as heroes. The closest the show came to doing so was in episodes like 1.11 "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" or 1.21 "An Apple Red as Blood" when the narrative pushed back against some of Emma's attempts to take Henry from Regina. "The Miller's Daughter" changes all that. It is a declaration of intent, a metaphorical throwing of the gauntlet. If Snow White can become a murderer, anyone can become anything. Regina can become a hero; Emma can become a villain; even Cora herself can (posthumously) learn and grow as a person. Snow killing Cora opens up the door to nigh-unlimited storytelling possibilities, and in the process changes the very fabric of Once Upon a Time forever. Nothing, we the audience realize as Cora draws her last breath, will ever be the same.