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darthkitten · 1 year

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Legilimency of the Heart

Description: A story that delves into the life and regrets of Severus Snape, following his childhood and subsequent fall to the Dark Arts and Lord Voldemort.

Chapter 1: The Flowers Near Spinner's End

Severus had tried to ignore it. The signs were mere hallucinations of his longing to return to his world. She was just a girl, another girl. No, he told himself glumly; there were no other wizards in this town, save for himself and his mother. No one else shared their gifts, their inherent oddness, their magic.

Except, that day shoved all doubt from his mind.

He had been walking down his street, Spinner's End, with no particular aim in his wandering. That is, perhaps why they called it wandering. Cokeworth was, after all, nothing more than a large industrial town; its inhabitants were mostly factory men, working merely to put bread on the table, not wanting much beyond that. Its streets were lined with mortar and brick houses, once handsome and proud, now dilapidated and deserted.

In other words, it was a Muggle hovel.

Severus trudged up the lane, pulling at the collar of his shirt nervously. No matter how many times his father instructed him in the manner, he never quite got the hang of dressing as a Muggle, least of all with a limited selection of outfits. His ratty trousers and buttoned shirt seemed to work today, however, as most of the passersby didn't look back.

He entered the main road and looked up and down the street; it was the end of another long day for the Muggle workers, as they shuffled out of their factories to head back home. Unwilling to get mixed within the bustling crowd of laughing and jeering men, Severus made to turn back home, when he heard a distinct boom of laughter emanate from the crowd.

'Oh Lord, Biggins! You need to come over for supper more often, the wife would certainly love to hear that tale!' roared a man walking on the sidewalk. Unlike the men that preceded him outside, he didn't wear grimy overalls and thick woollen caps, but a handsome, black, tailor-made suit that was probably worth a year's wages from the men he employed. Severus' heart skipped a beat as he recognized the manager of the factory: John Evans. He'd seen him walking with her and another girl, buying trinkets from local shops, laughing with the lot of them. He was her father. The girl who flew from the trees.

Severus had to think quickly. It was around eight o'clock, his father worked a late shift, however, so he'd be home by nine. His mother didn't give a Kneazle's arse as to where he was. He had an hour before consequences struck.

He started sprinting.

Most men of Evans' status would use cars, but fortunately, he seemed to live close enough to the factory that he deemed it was walkable. He continued up the lane, merrily chatting with his co-workers in similar suits of varying shades until her turned a corner and bid them farewell. Severus followed him discreetly. The pair had finally reached a neighbourhood that screamed wealth and prosperity; tree-lined streets leading to large Tudor-style houses with expansive yards behind them. Evans had reached the last house on the block and walked in. Swiftly, Severus found a bush right outside a window and crouched, watching, waiting.

He could hear indistinct voices within the house, a grown woman's and a girl's. Peering behind the leaves, he saw a girl with short black hair and an unusually long neck setting the dinner table, while the woman with red hair and a round face (who Severus assumed was her mother), brought out dishes from the kitchen and set them down on the table. Next, John Evans walked in, his suit replaced by a t-shirt and trousers. They had all sat down, prepared to eat when they noticed they were a member short. Her mother hollered up the stairs (or he assumed she did, as he couldn't hear anything), and there she was. The girl.

It was hard to decide why he felt so drawn to her. Perhaps it was her wavy ginger hair or her silky sundress. But Severus' focus landed on her eyes. Even from such a distance, he could see their striking green pupils, reminding him of forests and nature and places he wished to escape to. They danced with laughter, each so distinctly hypnotizing that he almost exited the bush to watch closer, but chided himself into staying within the confines of his hiding spot.

Watching the family eat dinner was a rather mundane show, but he'd sat there, waiting patiently, to see even a sliver of magic escape from her. Severus didn't know how much time had passed; he had no watch, no need of one really, because he never needed to be on time.

He saw them finally finishing their pudding, and getting up. Suddenly, he notices the girl and her sister pulling at their mother's dress, obviously begging for something. She sighs, and responds. Delight spreading across their faces, the girls run out of the dining room. Curious, Severus creeped out of the bush and flitted to the other end of the yard. Craning his neck, he could see both girls running outside, one chasing the other. He hid behind the tall fencing and watched.

"Can't catch me Tuney!" yelled the girl. Tuney. Her sister's name.

"Get back here Lily!" her sister yelled back, panting as she tried to keep up with the pixie-like girl.

Lily. Severus tried the name on his tongue. Lillllyyy. Lillllyyyy Evaaaannssss.

It was beautiful.

Then, he heard Tuney scream. Whipping his head, he saw Lily running fast. Very fast. Faster than any normal person could run. And then she was flying. She ran so fast that her legs carried her off the ground and she ascended into an ark, gracefully landing on the roof of their deck.

"Get down from there Lily! You'll get hurt! Mummy said no!" Tuney screamed at her.

"You just want to tag me don't you?" Lily countered, giggling madly.

"Get down or I'm calling daddy!" Tuney hollered back. Apparently, this was a larger threat than Severus first thought, as Lily, poutingly, jumped back down to the ground, smooth as a dandelion. Ignoring Tuney's look of mixed rage and horror, she stalked back into the house. Fuming, her sister followed her.

That was it. The proof. She was one of them. a witch. A witch who had surprising control over her powers, considering where she came from. Severus couldn't stop grinning. He glanced back at the house, realised that he probably won't see her again today, and started the walk home, a little bounce in his gait.

***

It was dark out by the time Severus reached the edge of Spinner's End. Streetlights flickered feebly above him as he walked down the lane to number 56. He hesitated. He didn't know what time it was, though, by the sky above him, it was clearly late. Not wanting to risk it, he ran to the side of the brick building and unearthed a rusty, ancient ladder. Carefully propping it against the wall, he carefully climbed the rungs, skipping the ones that squeaked and creaked, until he reached the window of his room. He slowly raised the glass, his lean, malnourished frame easily slipping in.

Severus had just sat on his bed, humming to himself (which, were it not for the circumstances of that day, would have been extremely abnormal), removing his trainers, when a woman Apparated in front of him.

Were it not for the fact that this had been a regular occurrence since his birth, Severus would have screamed in terror. Regardless, he flinched as his mother glowered at him.

"Do you have any idea," she hissed through gritted teeth, "how late you are, Severus?"

Severus looked at her, unmoving. He had long since stopped trying to please his mother, and today was no different. He looked back at his feet and started to peel his socks off.

Her eyes narrowed to slits, before she slipped her wand out of her gown and flicked it to the door, muttering "imperturbus". Severus gulped. He knew what was coming now.

"DO YOU HAVE THE FAINTEST CLUE WHAT TIME IT IS?" she screamed at him. She flicked her wand again and light blazed through his cramped room, illuminating the clock hanging above the door. Eleven-thirty. His heart was hammering now.

"WHERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN YOU DIM-WITTED IDIOT?" she screamed again. Her bosom was heaving. Severus glared defiantly.

"I fancied a walk," he said. He knew it was stupid, but he was too tired to make a believable excuse. His mother looked at him, anger and disappointment dancing in her eyes. Then, she let out a long-suffering sigh.

"No dinner. Brush your teeth and sleep. And you're grounded for the rest of the week."

Severus didn't argue. It was, by a large margin, more mercy than she ever showed him. He looked at her shrewdly.

"Dad's drinking again, isn't he?" he asked. His mother gripped her wand tightly, her fingers whitening over the black wood.

"Brush. Sleep."

Then, a loud banging emanated from the thin wall of his bedroom. His mother's face paled, and a moment later his did as well.

"Ellie? ELIIE? OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!!" a man screamed from the other end. Severus knew he just tried to ram himself into the door, but his mother's Imperturbable Charm was too strong, and he heard him knocked down, cursing loudly. His mother, looking petrified, muttered something and flicked her wand to the door again. She lifted the Charm. Severus looked at her, betrayal etched on his face. But she didn't notice; she only had eyes for the man who just blasted his way into the room.

He had greasy, unkempt black hair, which hung over his face like a veil. His large nose and seedy black eyes completed the look of a man who looked dangerous when provoked. Severus could see a bottle in the man's left hand and cursed silently

"You," Severus' father drawled. Severus scurried to the corner of his room, his fists bared in defense. It was pointless, however, as his father took a fistful of Severus' hair and slammed him into the wall. Severus saw stars circling his head.

"Shoulda dropped you off at the firehouse when I had the chance!" he roared into Severus's face, spittle coming out of his mouth, "Where were you, freak? Where were you?!

"Not at a friend's, surely," he said with a wide grin, "Made sure of that didn't you Sevvie? Made sure you were dirty and rude and quiet, made sure my lot never saw you as nothing more than an insolent little brat. So I ask again, where were you?"

"B-B-Burbury Lane," Severus stammered, eyes still wide on his father.

"Burbury Lane," his father slurred, trying to process it, "You went 6 kilometers from Spinner's End in the dead of night, to what? Watch the daisies bloom on those mowed lawns?"

Severus didn't say a word. His mother looked at him, her eyes boring into his, like she was trying to view his soul. Her eyebrows raised a bit, but she didn't speak.

"All right. I've had enough of this," his father said. He dropped the bottle with a clunk and unlooped his belt. Severus blanched. His mother made a strangled move towards his father but he gave her a look. She backed away into the wall.

He looked at Severus, eyes burning with hate, before he whipped his hand and sent the belt at Severus' cheek. He yelled and brought his hands above his face. Then a scream echoed across the room.

It wasn't Severus.

He opened his eyes to see a shallow cut across his father's cheek, red dripping from it. Severus stood there, unharmed. His mother's eyes darted between them in shock, her wand nowhere to be seen. His father looked murderous.

"You dare use those freak abominations against me boy?" he asked in a deadly tone. His mother finally spoke up.

"T-Toby, I told you he can't control it. No wizard or witch-"

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT USING THOSE WORDS IN MY HOUSE?" Severus' father roared, and he slapped his mother hard across the cheek. She stared at him, tears welling in her dark eyes.

"But, if you're so proud of it Ellie," his father drawled, a maniacal, drunk gleam in his eye, "why don't you show us how witches and wizards punish their children."

Severus didn't seem to understand. No more, it seemed, than his mother.

"Dear?" she asked tenatively. Severus' father walked towards her, with an almost tender grace. He twined his hand into hers, and pulled out her wand from a pocket in her dressing gown. With his hand still twisted in hers, he pulled the wand up and pointed it at Severus. His mother gasped, and started violently shaking her head at him.

"No, NO Tobias I won't!" she cried. He looked at her appraisingly.

"You won't, Ellie?" he said dangerously. With one hand, he casually wrapped it around her neck, and gently squeezed, "You won't?"

Severus' mother looked like she was about to cry. Her hand shook, and she looked Severus dead in the eye. It wasn't a look of apology, or fear. It was resignation. She couldn't help it. She had to do it. For them. For him.

Severus' father tightened his grip on her neck, and she closed her eyes, and muttered something under her breath. A bolt of yellow light shot from her wand onto Severus' face. He roared in pain as his face burned and swelled, making him look bloated and unnatural.

"Good girl," he heard his father croon. He couldn't see a thing, his large cheeks obscuring his vision. A Stinging Hex. He heard loud, racking sobs from his mother. The sound receded as presumably, his parents left the room. The light in his room was also extinguished.

Severus stayed on the floor like that for at least ten minutes, before resigning to the fact that his mother wouldn't return to un-hex him. He stood up, and felt his way to his bed. Without undressing, he fell on the covers, and sobbed till daybreak.

#harry potter #severus snape #snape #lily potter #lily evans #lily #severus #half blood prince #the prince's tale

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abrahumshlabu · 3 years

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Story #1 - Abrahum Shlabu

Đây là kênh chính chủ của Hoàng John Chang Chang Tv. Các bác hãy ủng hộ bằng cách đăng ký kênh, nhấn like videos và để lại những bình luận nhé. Cảm ơn các bác rất nhiều. Trân trọng.

This literary work was written and published on January 4, 2021 Copyright owner: Abrahum Shlabu The poet wrote the work: Abrahum Shlabu Copyright contact email address: [email protected]

I, Abrahum Shlabu, am the author of a literary work titled "Story #1 - Abrahum Shlabu". I would like to announce that this work is protected by intellectual property rights.

I certify that I am the creator and sole owner of this literary work. This work has been created by my personal credit and creativity, and it has never been published or distributed before.

I place my trust and hope in respecting and enforcing the copyright protection rights of this work. This includes not to copy, distribute, reproduce, redistribute or otherwise use this work without my permission or without my prior written permission.

I would also like to announce that any copyright infringement will be reviewed and pursued in accordance with applicable copyright laws. I intend to protect the legitimate rights and interests of this literary work.

If anyone wants to use the work or have any requests, please contact me directly using the information below:

Abrahum Shlabu 39 Gloddaeth, Biggin Hill, TN16 0AD, United Kingdom +44 077 1238 1942 [email protected]

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fuzzysparrow · 2 years

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Which Roman emperor was played by Christopher Biggins in the British television series 'I, Claudius'?

Based on Robert Graves' 1934 novel 'I, Claudius' and its sequel, 'Claudius the God', 'I, Claudius' (stylised as I·CLAVDIVS) is a BBC Television series that was released in 1976. The show is set in the early Roman Empire from the year 24 BC to AD 54. Several historical characters feature, including Emperor Nero, played by Christopher Biggins (born 1948).

'I, Claudius' covers the reigns of the first four Emperors of Rome, ending with the appointment of Nero, the fifth Emperor. At the beginning, Emperor Augustus, played by Brian Blessed (born 1936), is trying to find a suitable heir. On his death, his step-son Tiberius, played by George Baker (1931-2001), becomes Emperor. The show continues to follow the historical accessions of the emperors with John Hurt (1940-2017) as Caligula and Derek Jacobi (born 1938) as Claudius, who also narrates the series.

Christopher Biggins was chosen for the role of Nero after starring in an advert for Heineken, in which he played the same Emperor. Nero (37 AD-68 AD) was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He was the adopted son of his grand-uncle, Claudius, and became Emperor in AD 54, after Claudius died.

'I, Claudius' initially received negative press but went on to become a big success. Derek Jacobi and Siân Phillips (born 1933), who played Livia, the wife of Augustus, won Best Actor and Best Actress at the 1977 BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts).

#Trivia #I Claudius

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moviesinfocus · 3 years

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Notebook Reviews: CIRCUS

Rob Walker – 2000 Circus is a well made British thriller which has all the elements to be a good thriller – except the script. A better storyline was badly needed to make this work. The soundtrack is awful as well – it’s way too loud. John Hannah and Famke Janssen make for engaging leads but the story here is too far fetched and much too over-blown. Rob Walker’s film features a very strange…

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#brian conley #christopher biggins #circus #eddie izzard #famke janssen #fred ward #john hannah #notebook review #peter stormare

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hjmarseille · 5 years

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THE ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945

Officers and guests celebrating the first anniversary of the arrival of No. 92 Squadron RAF at RAF Biggin Hill, September 1941.

The group includes, in the front row, (left to right): Wing Commander John A. Kent (Kentowski), Flight Lieutenant Anthony Bartley, Mrs Wade, Flight Lieutenant Robert Holland, Pilot Officer Trevor Wade and two unidentified ladies. And in the back - Pilot Officer Sebastian Maitland-Thompson, Flying Officer Tom Weiss (Intelligence Officer) and Flying Officer Geoffrey Wellum.

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c86 · 7 years

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John Inman and Christopher Biggins

#john inman #christopher biggins #jumpers #knitwear #fashion #80s

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airmanisr · 2 years

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flickr

de Havilland DH112 Venom FB.50 ‘WR470’ (G-DHVM / J-1542) by Alan Wilson Via Flickr: c/n 752 License built in Switzerland during 1954 for the Swiss Air Force, with the serial ‘J-1542’. Now fitted with a standard Venom nose and painted to represent a Venom FB.4 of 208 squadron, Royal Air Force. Part of the Classic British Jet Collection, she will eventually become part of a new museum being created here. Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, UK 8th August 2021 The following information on G-DHVM was copied from the Classic Air Force website back in 2015:- “The first of Classic Air Force’s Venoms was built in 1954 and constructed in Switzerland by Pilatus, under licence from deHavilland. It bears the construction number 752 and was assembled by F&W at Emmen. It was given the serial J-1542 and entered service with the Swiss Air Force on high level photo-reconnaissance duties, later being transferred to the reserve forces for training purposes within the same role. Like all Swiss Venoms, the aircraft was fitted with a pointed front fuselage, which was often referred to as the ‘Pinocchio’ nose. It remained on charge with the Swiss Air Force for almost thirty years and was finally retired on 3 May 1984. By this time it had flown a total of 1,735 hours. It was then acquired at auction by BAe test pilot John Davies and Channel Express founder Philip Meeson in 1984. The aircraft was then ferried to the UK and delivered to Cranfield, Bedfordshire. J-1542 was subsequently registered with the CAA as G-GONE and painted into RAF markings to represent WR470, and FB4. It was re-registered as G-DHVM on 26 November 2003 and retains the FB4 serial and markings. Based at Bournemouth, under the care of Hunter One and later Jet Heritage Ltd., the Venom was a familiar airshow ‘act’ during the 1980s and early 1990s. Ownership transferred wholly to John Davies in 1991, with the aircraft eventually being ferried to Hawarden, Cheshire in 1995 for storage. G-GONE returned to Bournemouth in 1998 and was registered to Glen Lacey and later Gwyn Jones. Gwyn took the opportunity to remove the Swiss style ‘Pinocchio’ nose on 2000 and replace it with a standard Venom nosecone. He also repainted the aeroplane with an all yellow colour scheme and added the Welsh flag to the tail. Operated alongside Gwyn’s SEA Vixen and Vampire the aircraft appeared at a number of events in 2001 but it suffered a wheels-up landing at Biggin Hill Air Fair on 2 June. It was soon repaired and flying again and was sold to Aviation Heritage Ltd. (part of the Air Atlantique Group) in 2003 and was re-registered as G-DHVM. It currently flies in the markings of ’WR740’ of 208 squadron RAF in the 1950’s. This aircraft was kindly donated to the trust by Mike Collett and Air Atlantique.”

#de Havilland Venom #DH.112 #aircraft

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alackofghosts · 3 years

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i got tagged by @crackinthecup - thank you friend, this was exactly the kind of work distraction i needed! <3

i’m gonna tag @spectralbiology, @fatalism-and-villainy, @jul-likes-magpies, @gloriousmonsters, @andtheirlovewasrenewed and @hong-ara if you guys fancy a go at this!

Favourite colour: purple. and orange. and green and baby blue and-

Last song: something off of who will survive, and what will be left of them by murder by death, because i was listening to that album on repeat when i last listened to anything

Last movie: ...i wanna say knives out, whenever that came out. i might have watched something since then, but i honestly cannot remember? i desperately want to, though, but sitting still and paying attention to one feels like a Tall Order

Last series: not a series i have finished (and in fact in the year or so since i started, i have managed about 12 episodes of it. one third of the way through now, yay?) but: my roommate is a detective. saw a complete stranger mention it once and instead of picking a chinese drama that everyone else likes, i decided to spend my limited attention span on this instead, because i saw roommate and detective and it activated the holmesian part of my brain. it's not actually holmes flavoured, nevertheless i like it, the characters are delightful and i particularly love the 1920s shanghai setting

Sweet, sour or savoury: i usually crave savoury things, but i am far less picky about sweets

Craving: some goshdarn time off from work, it's been a 6 work days kind of a week

Tea or coffee: coffee, unsurprisingly

What I'm currently working on: i uh still daydream of drawing what will undoubtedly be my Magnum Opus and i do lowkey keep an eye out for appropriate references, but frankly i'm not sure how to brave actually drawing it (or pull myself together to sort out the dang usb cord woes with my tablet)

The last book you finished: a sailor of austria by john biggins, which i loved! the writing is impeccable, with subtle humour weaved throughout and without ever feeling dense. before starting, i expected to be in for a much for outright comedic time, but while there were a few funny episodes, it ultimately felt very grounded and it was not without its heartfelt or harrowing moments - but that was not to its detriment, in my eyes anyway

The last book you couldn’t finish: i haven't dnf-d anything for a while, to be honest, but the last book i read that i was constantly thinking about dropping was radiance by catherynne m. valente, for which, prior to reading, i had high hopes, but while i appreciated the style and structure of the novel, it was all in service to plot and characters i did not care about at all. i thought it might be worth it in the end, but nah

#meme tag

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

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Surveys #431-432

two biggins’ in one, beware the long post.

Do you own any Funko Pop! figurines? No. How many cats and dogs have you had as pets in your lifetime? I couldn't possibly count the cats. A lot. We've had I wanna say eight dogs through my entire life. Can your mom and/or dad play any instruments, or how about anyone else in your family? No. My older sister played the clarinet in school, though. Have you ever colored in an adult coloring book as a stress reliever? I have, but they don't really affect my stress level. Can you crack crab legs without a tool? UGH EW I hate crab legs. So mushy and just... ew. I don't think I've tried to without a tool. How many light sources are in the room you’re in? Excluding the natural light out my windows, three. What’s your favorite thing to put on bagels? Just your usual cream cheese. Who’s your favorite director? Tim Burton. I love his style. Bats: cute or gross? Bats are SO goddamn cute. What was the last really intense pain you felt? I had a sudden pain in my chest the other day that scared me quite a bit. Would you rather vacation by a beach or a lake? A lake, for sure. How would you feel about traveling abroad alone? I'd be way too lonely. What is your father's middle name? John. Where did your last kiss take place? The airport. Which movie villain do you find the most terrifying? Probably Jason. A masked guy just casually pursuing you with a knife is horrifying to me. If you married your favorite celebrity what would your last name be? Fischbach alskdfla;wer;lkwera;wle Do you stick your tongue out often in pictures? No. Which one of your family members are you closest to? My ma. Would you rather have name brand shoes or name brand clothes? Shoes. It's very important for them to be comfy for me. Are you a good liar? Yes. :x Are you proud of your parents? Yeah. If you could get backstage tickets to ANY concert - which would you pick? If Mom was with me, Metallica. She would actually fucking die if she met them. Like she cried and laughed with joy when she found out about the concert in Raleigh some years ago, and we thought we were going to go, but yeah, money. Which is better: orange or grape soda? Orange cream soda. Grape soda is so gross. Was the last thing you ate hot or cold? It was room temperature. Who was the last person in your house who isn’t family? Our landlord/family friend. I think. What color was the last swimsuit you wore? Black. Can you remember the last song you listened to? I'm listening to "Thoughts & Prayers" by Motionless In White right now. Have you ever been dumped really harshly? Ha, that is a colossal understatement... Can you do a back flip, or anything else of that sort? Definitely not. I couldn't even do stuff like that as a kid. Do you have any exes you can’t stand anymore? No. What happened to cause you to feel that way about them? ^ Are you more of a phone or a computer person? Computer, for sure. Do you have a job, and if so, where do you work? No. If not, do you want one? Not right now. I want to focus on the gym and getting in shape. Do any medical afflictions run in your family? A whole lot. What’s your favorite Mexican dish? Shrimp quesadillas. Or rice with cheese sauce. Have you ever been to a professional sports game? Yeah, hockey and baseball. Do you prefer pads, tampons or something else? I'm actually conflicted on this right now. I use tampons, but there are reasons I don't really like them and am considering something else. Have you ever ordered a specially made cake from a cake shop? Not me myself, but Mom has. What months were you and your siblings born in? My two immediate sisters were born in April and June. What did you have for dinner last night? Uhhhhh... I want to say I had a chicken pesto bowl? Have you ever had sex in/on a vehicle? No, that sounds so uncomfortable. Do you do anything to groom your eyebrows? No. I don't care about that anymore. Has your town ever flooded? Oh, for sure. Hurricane Floyd from when I was... I wanna say two or three WRECKED my area. Have you ever played at the McDonald’s play place? Yeah. That was a blast as a kiddo. Have you ever taken a picture of snow? Yeah. Do you cry easily? Very. Are you happy with where you live? No. The suburbs suck. I miss living in the country so much. Do people ever mistake you for being a different race? No. Do you hate the last person you kissed? No, she's my best friend in the whole world. What genre is your favorite movie? I actually don't know what it's considered? It's a kids movie, though. Who was the last person you were in a car with? My mom. Do you like the picture on your license/I.D. card? My permit picture is fucking hideous. When was the last time somebody hit on you? *shrug* Was the last person you met a male or female? A guy - my personal trainer. What brand is your underwear? I'm in my pjs, and only a madman would wear underwear to bed. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food? Just the rolls, really, lol. I'm not a big fan of Thanksgiving foods at all. Do you have a TV in your room? No, because I don't watch TV. Are any of your electronics charging right now? My laptop always is, though I know you shouldn't do that. I need to charge my phone, too. What was the last video game you played? Video game, not computer, I want to say uh... The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon? What’s the biggest promise someone’s ever made to you? Did they keep it? To never leave me. He didn't. Google, Bing, or Yahoo? Google. What was the last song you had on repeat? The song I mentioned earlier. Who is your favorite person to watch on YouTube? Markiplier. :') How many college degrees do you want? It'd be nice to have a Bachelor's in SOMETHING, but I'm not returning to school. Three tries was enough money down the drain. Can you wink? Yeah. Do you own any jerseys? No. Have you ever tried to snort Pixie Stix as a child, or even an adult? Uh, no. Do you like going to baby showers? Do you go only for the cake? No. The last time Jason and I hung out in any capacity was his brother's wife's baby shower, and it's a bad memory. As well, it just reminds me of what I once wanted with him. I'll go to them and be okay, but definitely not thrilled. Has there ever been a time in your life, you felt sexually undecided? Yes, especially in the I want to say 8th grade. I had an inescapable crisis that literally lasted a whole week (or maybe more) forcing myself to believe I was straight, despite already showing but denying bisexual attractions. I was religious back then, so believed if I wasn't straight, I'd go to Hell. Then I came out as bisexual in uhhhh... 2018 I wanna say, and that was a long examination of my feelings. It felt like a massive weight off my shoulders when I accepted it. I felt legit happy. Do you think tattoos and piercings are sexy on the opposite sex? ugggghhhhh yes Do people ever ask you to do things they’re too short to accomplish? No. What color are the headphones you have at this moment in time? My earbuds are pink and white. Ever choked severely on something during lunch at your school? No. Do you eat more vegetables or fruits? What’s your favorite fruit/veggie? Fruits, for sure. My fave is strawberries. What would you say is the color of your favorite bra? I have a pink and black lacy one that is super cute, but it's too small for me right now. It just stays in my drawer. Is anyone in your family a firefighter? Who is it anyway? No. What do you usually buy when you go to the dollar store? If I'm stopping there for a snack (which is usually the only time we stop by one), I tend to get a honeybun. Ever peed in the pool? Be honest! No, that is so gross. When you’re older, what kind of house do you want to live in? I want a medium-sized house that's semi-isolated in the woods. I'd love a nice path to walk down and take photos, a catio for Roman or whatever cat I may have in the future... stuff like that. I need lots of nature. Where do you want to get married? In some sort of gothic building, though I'm sure that would be a WILDLY expensive venue, so I doubt that'll happen. Realistically, either in the woods or even a massive flower garden. Do you plan on having both your parents at your wedding? Yes. What is your favorite childhood TV show? Pokemon. Honestly, do you like school? No, I didn't. Last thing that made you cry? PTSD. Honestly, are you keeping a big secret right now? No big secrets, no. Last person you took a walk with? Sara, years ago. Have you ever liked someone who didn’t like you back? Oh, have I... Who was the last person to actually pick you up in the air? Probably Jason, honestly. Does any part of your body hurt? My non-existent abs are killing me from exercising yesterday. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to change a regret what would you do? While it's tempting, hand me the cash. Can you keep a secret? Absolutely. You tell me a secret, you can guarantee I'll be keeping it between you and me. Your favorite romantic movie? The Notebook. How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? I honestly like it. I love the aesthetic of it, and I know people say "well you should celebrate love every day," and while that's right, what's so wrong about nationally designating a specific day to appreciate it? I think it's a very cute holiday. Who was the last person you took a picture with? My sister Katie. Do your jeans have rips, tears, and holes in them? I haven't worn jeans in yeeeeaaaarrrrssss. When I did though, I loved jeans like that, especially for skinny jeans. Do you celebrate 420?No. Have you ever kicked a vending machine? No. How do you eat Oreos? I prefer to just dip them in milk. If that's unavailable, I separate the two parts, eat the cream, and then the two cookies. Do you wear your shoes in the house? No. Would you survive in prison? Absofuckinglutely not. It's dark, but just to be entirely honest, I'd probably find a way to kill myself. Ever been to Georgia? I've been through it. Do you get your hair cut every month? Not every month, no. It needs a trim right now badly, though.

Current relationship in detail. I'm single and should be. If you were kicked out of your house, who would you call/go to? My dad. List things you spend money on in an average week. Nothing. Rate each of your sexual partners (if any) from 1-10. He was honestly a 10 lmao like I don't have a lot of experience at all, but yeah. Post the last FB group/page that you joined. I actually don't remember because I've been on break from Facebook for around a month. Would you parents be mad if you were in a relationship? No... Think of the last person you had sex with. Do you think they’ve slept with anyone else since they last slept with you? I'm sure he has. He dated someone right after me for like... eight months or something? Is there someone that you believe you will always be attached to? I think that's very obvious by now. What board games are you good at? Idk, I don't really enjoy board games. Is there a sport/hobby you keep thinking about taking up, but that you’ve never quite gotten around to starting? Definitely no sports, but I've been wanting to get back into video editing. I just... haven't, even though I have the software. Do you think pranks like egging/toilet-papering someone's house are funny or immature? They're incredibly immature. I see zero humor in them. Do you think “sleeve tattoos” are a good idea? They're hot as fuck, man. Is there anything in particular that your parents argue about? What? I'll just say they're divorced for good reasons. Do you ever actually read the “Terms and Services” when you sign up for websites and such? No. If you have a handheld games console (a DS or GameBoy, for example), how often do you use it? Almost never. Your phone is ringing. It’s the person you fell hardest for, what do you say? Realistically, I wouldn't answer because I don't answer numbers I don't recognize. Hypothetically, if I knew it was him, I'd probably say something along the lines of, "Hey J, are you okay?", because something must be seriously wrong if he wants to talk to me of all people. If your best friend was kicked out, would your parents let him/her live with you? Mom absolutely would. Are you afraid of falling in love? I'm terrified of it. Is there anybody you wish you could be with right now? I wish I didn't. Have you ever kissed someone & wished you didn’t? Yes: Tyler. Did you get kissed last night? Haven't been kissed in years. Do you enjoy going through a carwash? Bring out the rainbow soap and it's hype lmao. How did you get most of your scars? My cat, ha ha. He sometimes plays way too rough, and I just scar very easily. Ever had to take an inkblot test? Yes, when I went to a psychologist. Have you ever been in trouble for something you honestly didn’t do? Maybe? Have you ever seriously slapped someone in anger? My sister as a kid on her arm. Safe to say I got in trouble for it. What/who woke you up this morning? Just my body. Who was the last person to be in your bedroom besides you? Mom. What’s one of your locked text messages? da;lsd;fakwer I have one locked from Sara that says something like, "You are so beautiful." I cried. Have you ever finished a game of Monopoly? I think? Jason and I used to play the digital one you could download on the PS3. Is there anyone you know who’s in any way paralyzed? No. I mean, I know of a girl who went to my school who was paralyzed from the waist down in an accident, but I didn't/don't know her personally. She was a MASSIVE deal in my education community. Like you would see "prayers for (name)" on school and church signs. The truth all comes out when someone is drunk, true? Usually true. I sometimes think back on the one time Jason was drunk, and he just told me in the most adoring voice, "I love you, Brittany." It's painful as fuck to remember. I really do wonder if he meant it, given this was in the later half of our relationship. When was the last time you felt disappointed in yourself? Constantly. How about feeling disappointed in someone else? I dunno. For you, do you commonly feel more jealousy or envy? I definitely experience envy more often. Do you rely on the heads/tails flipping of a coin sometimes for decisions? No. Do you have any specific chores you do around the house? I'm supposed to empty the dishwasher in particular. For you, does comfort or fashion come first in dressing? Comfort, 100%. Have you had two friends that absolutely hated each other? No. Do you like Laffy Taffy? I do. That sounds pretty good right about now. Do you prefer electric or manual pencil sharpeners? Electric. Are your biceps at all noticeable? Yeah, no. Have you ever seen a walrus? Yeah, at SeaWorld as a kid. Did you ever have one of those Easy Bake ovens as a kid? Yeah. My little sister in particular was obsessed. Does your bathroom have a theme to it? No. From inside of your house, how many doors lead outside? Two. Are there a lot of trees in your yard? No. :/ I miss that. Have you ever liked someone that treated you like crap? No. Have a best friend? Yeah. :') Does it bother you when your best friend does stuff without you? That is so childish. Everyone needs space sometimes. But to answer the question, considering she lives many states away from me, obviously not. Is there a secret you’ve never told your parents? Yes. Does anyone hate you? I wouldn't at all be surprised if Jason does. Colleen might, but I really don't give a shit if she does. What’s the one thing you regret more than anything? The way I spoke to Jason after the breakup. If only I could take those letters back. Do you remember important dates? I am VERY bad at dates, doesn't matter how important they are. What’s some lyrics from a song that means a lot to you? "For such a little thing, you sure are in your own way" from a Mother Mother song. Who gives the best advice? Sara. Who do you usually see in your dreams? :) Jason is nearly a permanent fixture. Jeez, I'm bringing him up a lot in this one. I'm surprised my PTSD isn't dragging me into a pit for it. What type of cake did you last eat? Uhhh I wanna say double chocolate? Mom got two slices from the store for me and herself a long time ago. How many of your friends are gay or bisexual? A large number. I don't feel like counting. What’s your favorite type of sandwich? Just your usual peanut butter and jelly. When was the last time someone asked you out? Did you accept or decline? Years ago by Girt. I accepted. Do you like The Offspring? Sure, I like a handful of their songs. One pillow or two? I sleep with two. Do you like Mad Libs? Sure, they can be funny. Are you suicidal? Well damn, just throw that in there. Anyway, no. I'll admit I've had very brief, passive thoughts very rarely as of the late, just wondering if there really is a point to me being here, but I'm not actively suicidal at all rn. Where do your grandparents live? They're dead. When alive though, they lived in Florida and Michigan. Do you cut yourself? And this one? No, I haven't in many years. What is your pet’s name? Roman and Venus. Have you ever been to Canada? No, but I'd love to visit. Aren’t babies overrated? "Overrated" is definitely the wrong word... I don't particularly find a lot of babies cute and I don't want my own, but they're not overrated. Have a built-in pool in your backyard? Never have. Ever won yourself a stuffed animal? Yeah. Ever had someone else win you a stuffed animal? Yes. Ever been to a circus? No. I wouldn't set foot into one. Ever shot animals? I never, ever could. Do you consider yourself intelligent? I USED to. I think I'm dumb as shit now. School knowledge did not latch onto me well, I guess. Have you ever run away from home? Yes. It was so overdramatic. I came back hours later because I had my phone and Mom texted me threatening to call the cops. Do you put family first, friends, relationships, school, or something else? I will never put my mental health behind anything/one again. What’s something you’ve stood up for in the past? When Colleen and I were friends in middle school, we both spoke before the class in absolute disgust at how our classmates were treating our poor substitute teacher. Colleen had AT them, while I was more tame about it but still wanted to bash into their heads that they were all being absolute trash to the poor man. What’s something you worked extremely hard to get? My mental wellbeing. Granted, I'm not exactly "well" now, but once upon a time I was living in the deepest ocean trench as far as depression goes. Are you satisfied with your body image? Hell no. I really, really, really hope loyally going to the gym will help me with that. Have you ever been labeled negatively or otherwise been called something extremely derogatory? Not that I know of. Have you ever seriously taken advantage of someone or been taken advantage of? No. Have you ever been seriously ill? Mentally, immensely. Physically, not really. I've had some nasty stomach bugs, but nothing truly severe. Have you ever befriended a former enemy? Ha, it's funny, I used to hate Jason's first ex/heartbreak for how badly she hurt him. Like she could've been falling off the face of the earth with only me to save her, and I'd let her keep falling. I hated her. Yet now we're Facebook friends and comment on each other's stuff like it's nothing, ha ha. She reached out to me a few years ago to apologize for high school stuff (she also hated me for Juan - her ex or something along those lines - being interested in me instead of her), we chatted a bit, and now I think she's great. If you’re not religious, would you ever pray as a last resort? If you are religious, do you often pray for other people? I don't pray anymore. That's all I'll say to keep this from becoming potentially very offensive. Have you ever dated someone, then after you dated they came out of the closet or switched (for lack of a better word) sexual orientation? I'm pretty sure my middle school boyfriend Aaron is gay, but I'm not certain. He vanished from Facebook a long time ago. Has a boy/girl ever walked a ridiculous distance just to see you? How about vice versa? I tried doing that the night of the breakup. By car, I know it was a seven-minute drive, but walking there, never mind at night, was ludicrous. I only didn't manage because after a few minutes, Mom came after me and kept cutting me off with the car. When was the last time you felt really uncomfortable? Right now. My abs REALLY hurt, and I'm also cramping like a motherfucker after not having a period for 3+ months because of TMS therapy. I'm still pissed about how it had a physical effect on me, but didn't mentally do what it was meant to. Is there anything that your mom is really known for as to how she is as a person? She is very, very loving and lives to help others. Who have you been talking to the most today? Nobody, really. I've spoken with Mom obviously, but for the most part, today's been quiet. Are you nosy? I can be pretty damn nosy, yes. What’s the meanest thing you have done to a friend? Consistently flirted with her boyfriend behind her back. I was 12, okay? If your ex called you crying, what would it most likely be about? THE ex, I have no idea. I don't know what's going on in his life, besides his mother dying quite a few months ago, but I don't see why he'd contact me about that. Who was the best kisser out of all the people you have kissed? Jason. Have you ever been told that you have an annoying laugh? No, but I think I do.

#survey #surveys #random questions

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blithe--spirit · 3 years

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ANTI-CYCLING “CELEBRITY” ARSEHOLES

Every now and again I’ll be reporting on those in the public eye who have expressed an opposition to cycling, or the provision of facilities for cyclists.

No 3: Christopher Biggins (not so much a has-been, more of a never-was; "showbusiness personality” nobody outside the UK has ever heard of; appeared in I, Claudius about a million years ago, a minor character in the BBC seventies sitcom Porridge, eternal panto dame and one of the extras in The Rocky Horror Picture Show).

“Biggins”, as he likes to be “known”, reckons cyclists are responsible for the traffic jams and pollution in Central London. Yes, really. Bike lanes = less road space for drivers. "And all this while drivers pay tax, insurance and carry licence plates that mean we face fines if we break the rules. Cyclists? None of the above. Apart from the breaking the rules bit, which we see them do every day. So have the people who run London declared war on motorists? It’s a yes from me.”

Biggins, who has been described as a “prat”, “twat” and “fat fuck” on Road CC’s FB page, declares that if he were to be elected Mayor of London, he would “get rid of all the bloody bike lanes. They drive me mad.”

Of course, he chooses to vent his spleen in the bitter, hate-filled pages of the Heil On Sunday.

Of course, the wretched aficionados of this outraged, intolerant organ lap up this rhetoric like a slobbering rottweiler on an XXL bowl of Pedigree Chum.

“Biggins”, who has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother (during the launch of which he stated that he would like to “get rid of all cyclists”) and I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, will only tolerate cyclists if they’re male and he can drool over their tight little bottoms. Perhaps not surpisingly, he’s also an anti-Semite and biphobe.

A thoroughly nice and reasonable bloke. I hope he chokes on his road tax.

NB this will be the last of the “Celebrity Arseholes” thing. I just can’t be arsed to read any more depressing Daily Mail articles. You know who the arseholes are. In case you don’t:

Woody Allen, unwatchable film director who had sex with his daughter (I don’t want scruffy bicycle lanes spoiling the look of my neighbourhood);

Elaine Paige, ancient doyenne of British musical theatre (cycle lanes, road tax blah blah fucking blah);

James Martin, fat TV chef ( "I stepped on the gas, waited until the split second before I overtook them, then gave them an almighty blast on the horn at the exact time I passed them at speed. The look of sheer terror as they tottered into the hedge was the best thing I've ever seen in my rear-view mirror");

Janet Street-Porter, toilet-voiced “journalist” (all the usual cliches);

Tom Conti, chick-flick teddy bear and Friends soul-seller (cyclists cause pollution, and, guess what, fucking road tax yet again);

donald trump, bouffant former TV host who once almost destroyed the world (some incoherent blathering about John Kerry);

Nigel Havers, talent-free, right-wing thespian and Coronation Street lothario ("Pomposity and selfishness runs through everything committed cyclists do. Unlike motorists, who individually pay hundreds, even thousands, of pounds a year in road tax and petrol duty, sustaining the upkeep of the network, cyclists get free use of our streets." Yeah, he’s that fucking dense.);

Shane Warne, victim-blaming former cricket twat (“You don’t own the road! Get out of the way!”) and his up-her-own-arse bird Liz Hurley, too;

and Jeremy Clarkson, pig (well, duh)

to name but a few.

Not to mention the several Daily Mail, etc “journalists” who think it’s acceptable to advocate using cars to kill or maim us and call for us to be decapitated.

#cycling #bicycle #cycle #cyclist #bicycling #biking #bike #biker

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wistfulcynic · 4 years

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Their Way By Moonlight: The Magic (Chapter 17)

In which the last of the curse is swept away and Zelena gets what’s coming to her.

This chapter took me sooo loooonnggg to write. Partly because of writing other things, partly because I’m struggling to focus during the lockdown. Normally I spend at least one afternoon a week writing at a local coffee shop but of course that’s not possible right now and it’s wreaking a bit of havoc with my productivity.

BUT! There is now a chapter count for this story! It will be 18 chapters in total, this one and a final one to wrap things up. Thanks to everyone who’s stuck with it for the past *gulp* more than a year. I love you all, but especially @thisonesatellite @ohmightydevviepuu and @katie-dub whose enthusiasm and support means the world to me ❤️❤️❤️

SUMMARY: A new curse has fallen on Storybrooke and this time Emma is trapped inside it, deliberately separated from Henry and anyone else who might help her break it. But what no one knows –including her own cursed self– is that she and Killian have the ability to share their dreams, and are working together in secret to find a way to break the curse and free everyone from a new and dangerous foe.

Rating: M

AO3

The Magic:

Snow White had heard the expression ‘earth-shattering orgasm’ before, of course she had, but like any sensible woman with a realistic perspective on men and their limitations, she’d never taken the phrase literally.

Until now.

Now she lay sprawled and trembling in her once-lonely bed, panting harshly wondering if the world had always spun so damned fast. She chuckled breathlessly against the sweat-slicked skin of David’s shoulder.

“Damn, Charming, you’ve always been good but I’ve never felt the earth move before,” she teased.

David rolled over and grinned at her, his hand trailing down her side and over her hip. “What can I say? It’s been a long time and I was highly motivated.” He leaned in to nuzzle her neck as his words echoed through her mind.

It’s been a long time… a long time… long time…

Snow gasped as realisation struck, just as David pulled back with a start and she could see he understood as well. “The curse,” she exclaimed. “Is it broken?”

“I think it is,” he replied. “I remember…” His eyes filled with regret and he pulled her close again. “Snow. I remember.”

Snow wrapped her arms around him and they held each other in silence for a moment, far too tightly for comfort and still not nearly tight enough as their cursed memories washed over them. Everything that had happened over the past year, the wretchedness of it, living together and feeling nothing for each other. It should have been impossible, Snow thought, they were True Love. She could certainly feel her love for him now, surging up almost indignantly as if it resented having gone un-felt for so long, and yet she remembered looking at him with pure indifference. She shuddered and David’s arms tightened still further. She knew he was wondering the same thing she was. Who, what, could possibly have done this to them?

She tried to sort through the memories, of Regina—as their maid, of all unbelievable things—and Zelena—wait, who exactly was Zelena?—and Emma, and—

“Emma!” she cried, jerking her head back so abruptly it narrowly missed a collision with David’s chin. “David, she’s here in Storybrooke! How is she here?”

“I was just wondering that,” he said grimly. “What do you say we go find out?”

“We should go to Granny’s,” suggested Henry. “That’s where everyone went when the last curse broke. I bet they’ll go there again.”

“Good thinking.” Emma nodded in agreement but Killian shook his head.

“What about Zelena?” he asked. “Do we know how the curse breaking will affect her? Perhaps we should stop by the sheriff’s station first.”

“I think Zelena will be okay in her cell for a bit longer,” Emma replied. “She’s still behind that shielding spell I put around her.”

“Nevertheless I’d feel better if we checked,” said Killian. “Not that I don’t have every faith in you, Swan, but we should err on the side of caution. Zelena is nothing if not unpredictable.”

“Hmmm, yeah that is a point. And she has been one step ahead of us for most of this.” Emma’s expression turned thoughtful. “Okay, we can go to the sheriff’s station, but I’d actually kind of like to go find my parents first.” She shrugged. “Just to see them, you know. Before we get caught up with the rest of the town.”

Killian smiled. “Of course, love.”

“And, um, actually, can I go to Regina’s?” asked Henry. “I want to make sure she’s okay, and I can tell her about the plan to meet at Granny’s.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” said Emma. “The rest of us can go to my parents—”

“It might be better if you did that without me,” Killian interjected. “Your father and I were still on rather shaky terms when I saw him last and my presence with you would likely raise some questions best kept for later.”

Neal snorted, then shrugged when the other three glared at him. “What? He’s not wrong.”

“So where will you go?” Emma asked.

“I was thinking I could stop at the sheriff’s station by myself. If Zelena is as secure as you think then you needn’t come along unless you wish to. I can check on her quickly then head to Granny’s and meet you there.”

“Okay, that sounds like a good plan,” said Emma. “Henry goes to get Regina—”

“And Robin, they have a date tonight so he should be with her.” Henry’s eyes lit up. “I bet Robin Hood will be useful in—well, in whatever comes now.”

“Yeah, okay, so Henry goes to get Regina and Robin while I go to find my parents, and Killian will go to the station to check on Zelena. We’ll meet back at Granny’s as soon as possible. Everyone okay with that?” They all nodded except Neal, who still stood in the corner with his arms crossed. Emma fixed him with a glare and he scowled in reply. “Neal?” she said in a warning tone. “What about you?”

Neal swept the room with his scowl and shrugged again. “I’ll go with Hook,” he said. “Check on Zelena then meet you at Granny’s.”

“Really?” Emma demanded. “That’s what you want to do?”

“Hey don’t forget I worked for Zelena under the curse. I saw what she’s capable of, and that was without magic. If she’s even a little bit free then trust me, the pirate’s gonna need backup.”

Emma looked questioningly at Killian. “I wouldn’t mind some backup, actually,” he said.

“And you’re sure you’ll—be okay?” Emma asked, turning to Neal again.

“If you’re asking can I go half an hour without punching your husband, yeah I can,” he replied with a sneer. “But those questions your parents are gonna have? I’ve got them too. Just as long as both of you remember that.”

“Once we’re sure the town’s safe we will tell all of you everything,” Emma assured him. “We promise. Just behave yourselves until then. Both of you.”

Killian and Neal exchanged a long look, then nodded stiffly to each other.

“Fine by me,” said Neal.

“Aye, and me.” Killian tightened the arm that still rested around Emma’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Be careful, love,” he murmured in her ear. “We’ll see you at Granny’s.”

Emma tightened her hold around his waist and quickly checked the protection spells around him. They were still firmly in place, and as strong as ever. Even if she somehow managed to gain control of the curse magic, there was no way Zelena could use it to harm Killian. Emma drew a deep breath and told herself to relax. Killian was safe, thoroughly protected, and there was no reason for him to know that she’d never let him go alone to face Zelena unless she was certain of that.

She gave him a final squeeze and then released him, stepping back and gathering her magic.

“Everyone ready?” she asked.

“Just one last thing.” Killian disappeared into their bedroom and returned a moment later, tightening the straps of the brace that held his hook.

“Just in case,” he said, as he tugged the sleeve of his sweater down over it and Emma nodded. “Ready when you are, love.”

She poofed Henry first, sending him straight to the living room of the loft. Killian and Neal she directed to a safe corner of the sheriff’s station, then took herself to the doorstep of the house where her parents now lived.

The Rabbit Hole was silent but for the low drone of the dwarves’ conversation across the room. The Merry Men sat in a circle, beer mugs clutched in white-knuckled grips, every ear turned to the large man standing at their centre.

“And that,” concluded Little John, with one final flourish to his rapt audience, “is how I reorganised the entire filing system at the library!”

The Merry Men erupted into cheers, pounding on their tables or leaping to their feet to clap the hero Little John on his back in hearty congratulation. All but Will Scarlet, who sat back in his chair with his arms folded and a scowl on his face.

“Pah,” he scoffed, once the furore had died down.

“What’s that, Scarlet?” said Little John. “Did you say something?”

“Pah, is what I said,” Will replied. “You’re always biggin’ yourself up, John.”

“Oh? You think you could do better?”

“I’m the bloody town records clerk, mate, of course I could do better. Let me tell you about my filing system—”

Alan-a-Dale took a deep swig of his beer and shook his head fondly. “I never thought I’d live to see a day on which Will bloody Scarlet boasted about his filing system, eh, Stutely?” He elbowed the man sitting next to him. “I could see you doing that perhaps… but...” his words trailed off as he realised what he’d said.

Scarlet... Stutely... filing systems...

The curse.

At the bar, Grumpy was having an epiphany.

It hurt a bit.

“Dopey,” he growled. “Did you… talk?”

Dopey’s eyes went wide and he slowly nodded his head. His mouth opened but no words emerged, closing and reopening again in increasing confusion, his expression shifting to one of panic as he felt in his pockets for his notepad.

“Here.” Doc fished a piece of paper and a pen from his own pocket and handed them to his brother. Dopey took them with a grateful smile and wrote a single word.

How?

“I’ll tell you how,” said Grumpy. “The curse.”

“The curse,” his brothers repeated, exchanging nods amongst themselves.

The curse? wrote Dopey on his paper.

“It’s broken, you idiots,” growled Grumpy. “THE CURSE IS BROKEN!”

Comprehension dawned on the Merry Men’s faces as Grumpy’s words rang through the bar. They turned to each other in delight and began slapping backs and shaking hands once again.

“Will Stutely, as I live and breathe!” cried Alan-a-Dale.

His companion’s face broke into a wide grin. “Alan-a-Dale, well met indeed, my man! Has it been you all this time?”

“It has!” said Alan, laughing and clapping his friend on the shoulder as they hugged, observing from the corner of his eye Will Scarlet almost lost in the bear-like embrace of Little John. “The devil’s own curse, this was. I wonder who cast it?”

“Who else?” snarled Grumpy as he and the other dwarves approached. “The Evil Queen. She did it before and she’s done it again, and this time she’s not getting away with it.”

“What do you mean to do?” asked Little John.

“We’re going to find our axes and do what we should’ve done the last time. Make certain the Queen can never hurt us again. Now, who’s with me?”

Regina was too distracted to notice the curse’s magic begin to shift and creak but she felt it shatter. She gasped as the razor shards of it prickled against her skin, jerking backwards and breaking her kiss with Robin. His arms were still tight around her, stopping her from stumbling, but his forehead wrinkled in confusion and she watched with her heart in her throat as he shook his head and blinked rapidly, and an expression of apprehension crept across his face.

“Your Majesty,” he said cautiously.

Regina refused to feel hurt, reminding herself that he probably thought she’d been under the curse as well and things hadn’t exactly been friendly between them in the Enchanted Forest. Of course he’d be concerned about her reaction to finding herself kissing him.

“It’s still Regina to you,” she said softly.

“Er—” his frown deepened. “Is it?”

“Yes. Robin—” she reached up to touch his face and he flinched, his muscles tensing. Fear made her heart pound as she let her hand fall to his shoulder and groped for the best words to explain. “You were cursed.”

“I remember. It was—wait, why do you say I was cursed? Weren’t you as well?”

“No.”

“But you—er, we—”

She nodded. “I had quite a lot of time to think this past year, with everyone else in town under the curse and with my son gone—” her voice broke and she paused for a moment to get hold of herself. “And I realised how much I regretted not being more… receptive to you in the Enchanted Forest.”

“‘More receptive,’” he repeated. “That’s an interesting way to phrase it.”

She felt herself flush. “I was a bitch,” she said flatly. “And I’m sorry.”

His eyes widened at this blunt statement and then a smile tugged the corners of his mouth. “Not a bitch,” he said. “Forceful. Determined. Prickly, perhaps.” His arms tightened around her, and her heart fluttered when she realised he’d never removed them. “Fascinating,” he murmured, his voice dropping lower.

She caught her breath then slowly lifted her hand again and laid it flat against his cheek, stroking her fingers across his cheekbone when he didn’t flinch away. He leaned closer and her hand curled around the back of his neck as his lips claimed hers.

Regina sighed into the kiss, shivering at the electric frisson down her spine as his hand slid up it and into her hair. Her arm wound around his shoulders and his tongue slipped into her mouth and then a cloud of white swirled up from the living room floor and Henry appeared.

Emma took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock on the door but before she could it swung open to reveal Snow and David, looking flushed and mussed and very surprised to find her standing there.

“Um,” said Snow, blinking in confusion, and then joy broke across her face. “Emma!” she cried, throwing her arms around her daughter. “Oh, Emma!”

Tears welled in Emma’s eyes as she returned the hug and they rolled freely down David’s cheeks as he wrapped his arms around them both, cradling the back of Emma’s head in his hand in that fatherly way he had that always made her choke up a little.

“I’ve missed you guys,” she said, sniffing and blinking rapidly.

“We—well, we didn’t actually miss you, but oh, I wish we had,” cried Snow, hugging her harder, and Emma and David both chuckled though their tears.

“Is it bad that I know exactly what she means?” David mused.

They clung to each other for another minute, a sniffling mess of limbs, then Emma pulled back. “We need to go to Granny’s,” she informed them, wiping her eyes.

“Yeah,” David agreed. “We had the same thought. That’s where people will congregate and they’re going to want reassurance. And honestly probably some vengeance. They let Regina go the last time but now—”

“Regina didn’t cast the curse,” Emma interrupted.

David and Snow exchanged confused looks. “Didn’t she?” David asked.

“Don’t you remember?”

“All I remember was that the curse came on so fast, almost out of nowhere,” said Snow. “And Regina had been working on finding a way to get back to Henry. I guess I just assumed.”

“Mom, she was cursed as your maid. And Henry wasn’t even here. She was miserable. Do you really think she’d do that to herself?”

“Good point,” Snow conceded. “But if Regina didn’t cast the curse then who did?”

“Zelena,” replied Emma grimly.

“Zelena!”

“Yep. Oh, and she’s the Wicked Witch of the West.”

“The Wicked—”

“But we don’t really have time to get into that now,” said Emma. “We need to get to Granny’s in case there’s another mob like when the last curse broke. We’ll need to give everyone that reassurance.”

David nodded in agreement but Snow had clearly not been listening. “But Emma,” she said, “weren’t you cursed too? How do you know—”

“Look, I promise I’ll tell you everything, but we kinda do have to hurry.” Emma tried to keep the impatience from her voice. “I can transport us with magic—”

“You can?”

“Mom!”

“Sorry, I just—this is a lot to take in.”

“Well, take it in at Granny’s. Can we go now?”

Her parents nodded but before Emma could gather her magic, her phone buzzed with a text. A scowl darkened her face as she read it. “Change of plans,” she said, tucking the phone back into her pocket. “I’m sending you two to Granny’s now, and I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”

“Where are you going?” David demanded.

“To the sheriff’s station,” said Emma grimly. “And I’m going in hot.”

White smoke swirled and dissipated, leaving Killan and Neal in the sheriff’s station, just around the corner from the main room and out of sight of the cells. Neal started to move forward but Killian held out his arm to stop him and gave a small shake of his head. He pulled a mirror from his pocket, the same half of a broken compact that he had used to signal his location at Zelena’s farmhouse to Regina. It was just a mirror now, as far as he knew, the enchantment on it lifted or possibly expired, but a mirror was all he needed.

He flattened himself against the wall as close to the corner as he dared and carefully angled the mirror until it reflected the image of Zelena in her cell. She was reclining on the cot with her legs tucked beneath her, examining her fingernails. Everything else appeared normal.

Killian slowly released the breath he’d been holding and returned the mirror to his pocket.

“Looks fine,” he whispered to Neal. “I’m going in.”

“Wait.” Neal kept his voice low but the urgency in it was unmistakable. Killian turned to look at him, carefully holding on to his patience.

“What?”

Neal shifted his feet, grimacing slightly. “Look, man, I—I need to know something before we go in there. If I’m gonna trust you to have my back I need to know.”

“Know what?”

“Why you married her.”

“Neal—”

“Yeah, yeah, now’s not the time, curse is broken, gotta save the town, I get it. We will. But I need to know why.”

Killian sighed. The timing wasn’t great but he would prefer to have this conversation with Neal alone, with no David around to bluster or Snow to cluck. He reminded himself that Neal still didn’t know about the connection Killian and Emma shared, or what had happened between them over the past two years. Their last conversation had been in Granny’s, when Killian had promised to back off. Finding him married to Emma now must surely look to Neal like blatant betrayal of that promise. His anger, however inconvenient, was understandable.

“Because I love her,” Killian replied. The simplest explanations were always the strongest, and there wasn’t time right now for nuance. “I love her and she loves me and we want to spend our lives together.”

Neal’s scowl softened and some of the tension left his shoulders. He gave a small nod. “Okay.”

Killian nodded in return and together they moved towards the main room of the station. Just as they turned the corner a rush of magic struck them, with the strength of a storm surge on an angry sea. It flung them both off their feet and sent them flying backwards to land in an undignified heap in front of the door.

Killian shook his head to clear the ringing from his ears then realised that it wasn’t ringing at all, but a shrill cackle proceeding from the direction of the cells. He ground his teeth, even as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, grabbed his phone from his pocket and thrust it at Neal.

“Text Emma,” he snarled. “Tell her to get here right away. Then stay out of sight until she arrives.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Stall the bloody witch until Emma can deal with her. Now hurry!” He scrambled to his feet and rounded the corner again, pushing his way through air made thick by magic. It resisted him, no longer a storm surge but a fen, the magic clinging to his clothes and sucking at his feet as he fought his way forward towards the cell where Zelena was still lounging, her pose ostentatiously casual and her expression far too pleased for Killian’s liking.

“Mom!” Henry cried, not seeing them at first. “Mom, you—whoa!” His eyes bugged comically and he clapped his hand over them. “Bloody hell!”

Regina leapt back, shoving at Robin’s shoulders until he released her and smoothing her hair. She knew she must be blushing furiously, and Robin’s amused expression only confirmed it. “Henry!” she exclaimed. “What—what are you doing here?”

“The curse broke,” said Henry. He peered cautiously through the gap between his fingers then seeing them standing a good foot apart removed his hand. “My mom and dad—er, both my dads are gathering everyone at Granny’s to figure out what happens now,” he explained. “I said I’d come here to get you, but I wasn’t expecting—I mean, I knew you weren’t alone, but—I thought people kissed at the end of dates!”

“They do, but… well…” Regina looked helplessly at Robin.

“But it’s not every day that a curse breaks in the middle of one,” concluded Robin smoothly, stepping forward and offering Henry his hand. “Hello, Henry, it’s good to meet you properly,” he said. “I’m—”

“Robin Hood,” interjected Henry with a wide grin, shaking the proffered hand enthusiastically. “I know. That’s so cool.”

Robin chuckled. “I’m pleased you think so,” he said, with a teasing glance at Regina. “Your mum was somewhat less impressed.”

Regina rolled her eyes dramatically, but she couldn’t quite suppress her pleased smile. “What do you want from me?” she huffed. “I said I was sorry.”

“So you did but I’m not sure I’m quite convinced—”

“Look, this is great,” said Henry, with a smirk and an eye-roll of his own. “I’m glad you guys are, you know, bantering or whatever, but the thing is we’ve got this curse that’s just broken, and—”

‘The curse!” Regina’s smile evaporated as a thought struck her, and she snatched up the flowers Robin had brought, scowling as she examined them.

“Um, yeah,” said Henry. “It is broken, right? Emma said—”

“Yes, it’s broken.” Regina plucked one of the flowers from the vase and peered at it. “Shattered, actually.”

“Shattered!”

“Yes.” Regina shivered. “It was always unstable and with all the pressure you’ve been putting on it lately, bringing love back, it was only a matter of time before the cracks burst open. Which leaves us with a new problem. That curse was made with magic from several different realms, and now it’s loose in the air and sort of—fighting with itself. Can’t you feel it?”

She looked up to find two pairs of concerned eyes on her. “I—maybe?” said Henry. “What does magic feel like?”

“Different magics feel different but this is like… well, to me it feels like shards of glass but for you it would be more like pinpricks all over your skin.”

“Shards of glass?” Robin exclaimed as Henry nodded.

“Yeah. I think I feel it.”

“As do I.” Robin put his arm around her, running his hand up her back. “Are you all right?”

She smiled, more touched than she could express by his care. “I’m fine. But we have to get rid of this magic. Storybrooke isn’t big enough to hold it all, and the longer it stays here the more dangerous it will become.”

“How do we get rid of magic?” asked Henry.

Regina looked again at the flower she held. “I think I might have an idea.” She looked up at Robin. “This flower,” she said. “Can you show me where you picked it? The exact spot?”

He nodded. “Yes, I remember it perfectly. But it’s deep in the forest.”

Carefully Regina probed at the magic swirling around her. Most of it had been loosed by the curse, far too sharp and dangerous to use, but there was enough of Emma’s light magic remaining in the loft for what she needed. “I can take us to the start of the footpath by magic, we’ll walk from there,” she said. “Henry—”

“I’m coming too,” Henry interrupted firmly, already on his phone. “I’m texting Emma now, so she’ll know where we are.”

“Good idea.” Regina looked again at Robin, who was watching her intently with a small smile on his face. Her belly gave a little flutter. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“I am.” He curled his hand around her shoulder as Henry tucked his phone back into his pocket. “Though I wish I had my bow. Unfortunately I’ve no notion of where it may be.”

“Oh, hey, I do!” said Henry said brightly. “I saw it at the pawn shop!”

“Do we have time to stop there and fetch it?”

“No,” said Regina. “But Henry if you tell me exactly where it is, I can summon it as we transport.”

“It’s in the back, hung on a mannequin in the far left corner.”

Regina closed her eyes and did her best to envision the back room of the pawn shop. She gathered all the magic she could touch and wrapped it tight around the bow, and the three of them. “Okay,” she said. “Here we go.”

“Well, hello, Captain,” Zelena purred as Killian struggled up to the bars of her cell. “What an interesting situation we find ourselves in.”

“Do we?” Killian kept his expression bland, carefully not revealing either the effort it took to hold himself upright against the crushing force of the magic in the room or the little details he observed, such as the fact that Zelena’s cell was still securely locked and the catlike smugness in her smile.

“I’d say we do,” she replied. “You must have noticed that the curse is broken.”

“Aye, that I did. The curse you told us we would never break. I suppose that is interesting.”

Irritation flashed across Zelena’s features, just for a second but he was watching too closely to miss it. “Yes,” she said. “You’ve done me quite a favour, you and your wife.”

“Have we? Things seem to have changed remarkably little for you.”

Zelena’s smile slipped again, for longer this time. “Breaking the curse released all its magic,” she spat. “It’s free now and it’s everywhere. There’s no escape from it.”

Killian fought to keep his own face from revealing anything. That was exactly what Emma had said. Its magic is everywhere.

“And yet, you’re still in a cell,” he pointed out.

Zelena snarled and he felt the air surge again. This time he was prepared for it, with his feet well-braced. It was rather like standing on the deck of a ship in reverse, he thought. On a ship the sea moved beneath him and here the air moved around him, but the rolling waves and the importance of keeping a wide stance with one’s feet firmly planted remained the same. Zelena’s lip curled in a snarl when he teetered but did not fall, and when the air ceased moving a moment later she fell back against the wall with a little huff.

She can affect the magic, Killian thought, but she can’t properly use it and the effort tires her. That’s good to know.

But where the devil was Emma?

White smoke swirled up just behind him and Emma appeared as though his thoughts had conjured her, wearing the darkest scowl Killian had ever seen on her face. Another surge of magic waved outward from Zelena’s cell, quick as the lash of a whip and giving Emma no time to brace against it. She threw up her hands in a makeshift shield but she was not quite quick enough to block the whole wave and she stumbled backwards, just for a moment—before Killian even had time to react she had righted herself and spun about to face Zelena.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she snapped.

“Whatever do you mean, dear?” asked Zelena, outwardly calm once again.

“What are you trying to do with the curse magic?” Emma demanded. “How are you even touching it?”

“It’s my magic,” Zelena hissed. “Did you really believe you could just cut me off from it?”

Something flashed in Emma’s eyes and her lips curled into a smile Killian recognised as highly dangerous. “There’s a thought,” she said.

“Well you’ll have no time to think it,” sneered Zelena.

A startled shout sounded from the hallway and Neal appeared, sliding on his back along the floor as a force invisible to Killian’s eyes dragged him by his ankle. Killian darted forward to help him but the moment his balance shifted he felt the magic in the air grab him, felt a crushing pressure on his chest as he was hauled backwards and slammed hard against the bars of Zelena’s cell. Dazed and winded from the impact, he drew a wheezing breath and shook his head to clear it, only vaguely aware as seconds later Neal was flung against the bars next to him, choking and gasping for air, his fingers scrabbling uselessly at his neck.

When Killian’s vision cleared he looked up to see Emma charging towards him, fury snapping in her eyes as she used her own magic to push through the sucking resistance of the force that tried to hold her back. Their gazes met and Killian could read her intentions perfectly in her determined glare and the set of her jaw; he knew her far too well to think even for a second that she might do anything other than what she now intended. She meant to save him and damn the cost, but if she went for him first it would be too late.

Which was precisely what Zelena was counting on.

“No, Swan,” he gasped, “Neal! Save Neal!”

Zelena cackled. “You’ll have to choose, Saviour,” she spat. “You’ve no time to save both. But the moment you release me from your shielding spell, I’ll release them.”

Emma’s eyebrows drew together and she looked sharply at Neal, whose face had gone mottled purple as he struggled for air. As difficult as breathing was for Killian, it was plain to him that for Neal it was far more so. He was choking to death and had mere seconds left.

“Protection… spell,” he ground out, trusting that Emma would understand.

She did. Relief washed over him as she nodded and shifted direction, heading instead for Neal. Zelena snarled and Killian could feel the force around him shifting, the pressure on his chest lessening. Zelena couldn’t maintain such a strong hold on to him while also keeping Emma away from Neal, he realised, and he could see the moment the same realisation struck Emma. With a furious shout she sent a burst of magic from her hands that burned clean through the curse magic, blazing an open path to Neal.

Zelena gave a cackle, triumphant on its face but with desperation ringing through. “Careful, Saviour,” she hissed. “One wrong move and he dies!”

Emma was frowning in concentration. She appeared to be feeling with her magic, Killian thought, probing at the force that was choking Neal in search of weaknesses.

“You’re right,” she conceded, with what he considered to be remarkable calm. “I don’t know how you’re influencing the magic like this, but I can’t untangle it without killing him. This, though,” she held up her hand and the subtle knife appeared in a swirl of smoke upon its palm. “This can.”

Zelena screeched in fury as Emma held the knife out with its sharp edge pointing downwards and with a single strong, controlled movement slashed through the air, severing nothing that Killian could see but Neal fell to the ground in a heap, clutching his chest as he sucked in huge gulps of air. In the same instant Killian realised that the pressure on his own chest was gone, that the air had shifted again, shoring up the space between Zelena and the door of her cell as Emma slowly turned to face her.

Robin strode along the footpath through the forest, his pace brisk and his steps sure. His bow and quiver were slung across his shoulder and Regina had to admit, wanted to admit after having wasted far too much time already in denying it, that his whole ‘rugged outdoorsman’ thing really did it for her. She hadn’t felt such simple animal attraction to anyone since—she winced as a spear of something that felt uncomfortably like guilt lanced her heart—since Graham.

She squirmed a bit before she could stop herself, and though neither Henry nor Robin was looking at her she adjusted her jacket and smoothed its lapels, wishing she could smooth away her conscience as easily. The thing was a damned nuisance, always pestering her with reminders of the terrible things she’d done, and all she had to atone for. It would keep doing that, according to Killian, until she’d made an effort to redress her wrongs. Regina grimaced. Graham was one of those wrongs, she knew, and she knew that there were consequences she would have to face—wanted to face, she reminded herself, she was genuinely tired of being a villain—for killing him.

But not just yet. Right now there were more pressing matters that needed her attention.

The path dipped, steeply and without warning, and the light through the trees shifted. It shimmered along the description of a downward curve, as if reflected off the edge of a blade, and when its arc was completed they found themselves standing in a wide clearing where the sunlight was dappled through shifting leaves and the ground a riot of colour.

“This is it,” said Robin, gesturing. “This is where I picked the flowers I brought you.”

Regina knelt and plucked a blossom from the ground, the twin of the one she had selected from Robin’s bouquet. “A mist lily,” she said, examining the trumpet-shaped head with its soft blue-grey petals, bobbing atop a slender stem. “I thought it was.”

“What’s a mist lily?” asked Henry.

“Just a flower.” Regina stood again and offered it to him. “It has no special properties, except that it only grows in the Enchanted Forest.”

Henry’s eyes went wide. “The Enchanted Forest!” he exclaimed.

Regina smiled. “Yes. This is the Enchanted Forest. Well, part of it anyway. I’m not sure exactly where.”

The trees surrounding the clearing were densely set, tall and wide and with thick-leaved branches that formed a canopy above their heads. It was impossible to see beyond it.

“At a guess, I’d say we’re at the northwest edge of your kingdom,” said Robin, frowning at the forest floor and then up at the sky. “Where it borders the ogres’ land. About, oh, two or so days’ trek from your castle.”

Regina felt a flutter in her belly. “How can you possibly know that?” she demanded.

“Mom, he’s Robin Hood!”

“Indeed.” Robin’s smile edged into a smirk, one she would dearly love to kiss off his face. “I’m an excellent tracker, as you know, and the first rule of tracking is to know where you’re starting from.”

“So cool,” breathed Henry. “Can you teach me how to do that?”

“Of course, if you wish. Though I think before we attempt to track anything through this forest I’d like to know exactly how we got here.”

“Ah,” said Regina with a smirk of her own. “That is the question. I believe…” she turned back to the path behind them and peered closely at the way the light hung in the air. “I believe this is a portal.”

It was a thin, neat slice through nothing, no wider than the breadth of a hair and invisible at most angles. Approaching from the correct one, however, one could simply step through it, out of one world and into another.

“But how?” Henry frowned as he circled it, poked his head through then pulled it back again.

“Unless I’m very much mistaken,” replied Regina, “it was cut by the subtle knife.”

“The knife Zelena had!”

“The very one. This is how she got the curse magic from the Enchanted Forest and into Storybrooke. And,” she added, her lips curving into a triumphant, vicious smile, “it’s how we’re going to get it back out again.”

Emma unlocked Zelena’s cell with a wave of her hand and stepped inside, still moving with some difficulty through the magic-thickened air, but more easily than before. Zelena was weakening, Killian thought. Pushing against Emma’s shielding spell to manipulate the curse magic was exhausting her.

Emma halted a foot or two in front of the cot where Zelena still reclined. Her previously triumphant pose now much more closely resembled cowering, Killian remarked, despite her attempts at bravado.

“I wanted to give you a chance, you know,” said Emma. “A chance to change and redeem your mistakes. The same chance we offered Regina. The same chance everyone deserves, at least once.” Though she wasn’t looking at him, Killian felt her words powerfully, deep in his heart.

“But,” Emma continued, “you refused that chance, again and again, and now it’s obvious that you can’t be trusted not to keep trying to harm us, even when you’re behind a shielding spell. There’s nothing I can do, no magic I can use that will keep my family safe from you. You’ve made it so my only option is to kill you, and that I won’t do.”

“Because you’re weak,” snarled Zelena. “Too weak to do what’s necessary.”

“The fact that you think that,” said Emma calmly, “is your weakness.”

She raised the knife again and probed the air with it, feeling for something Killian could not perceive—but Zelena could. For the first time he saw genuine fear in her eyes as it began to dawn on her what Emma intended.

“No!” she cried, leaping up off the cot. “No… you can’t! You wouldn’t! You wouldn’t!”

An expression of grim determination settled on Emma’s face as she located what she had been seeking with the point of the knife. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I wish there was another way.”

“No—” Zelena’s cry was cut off as Emma made another slashing motion with the knife, a single short downward thrust. Zelena gasped, a heartrending sound of pain and unspeakable loss, then collapsed onto the floor, her eyes gaping wide in shock and horror.

The sucking resistance in the air was gone, Killian realised, replaced by buzzing noise that started low then grew perceptibly louder as the air itself began to vibrate. “Emma—” he began, but he was cut of by Zelena’s shriek of pure rage.

“What have you done?” she howled. “What have you done? My magic… my magic—”

There was sorrow in Emma’s eyes, and a deep compassion, but no remorse. “You’ll never touch your magic again,” she said. “I’ve cut your link to it forever. The subtle knife can cut anything, you know.”

“You’ve ruined me! You bitch, you—”

“I did what I had to do to keep the people I love safe from you,” snapped Emma. “You would never have stopped trying to hurt us. Now you can’t.”

“Swan.” Killian reached cautiously into the cell, dizzy and discombobulated by the increasingly frantic vibrations that surrounded them. He slipped his hook around Emma’s arm, holding tight to the bars with his hand. “Love—what’s happened to the magic?”

Emma allowed him to tug her out of the cell and closed and locked the door behind them. She turned to him and frowned. “What do you mean—oh.” Her eyes went wide and she gripped Killian’s arm. “Oh. Shit.”

The buzzing was deafening now and the vibrations frantic, pinpricks of magic crackling and snapping around them with electric vigour.

“You can feel that?” asked Emma.

“Aye, I think even my organs can feel it.”

“It’s like an army of chainsaws in my head,” groaned Neal, struggling to stand. Emma held out her hand to help him and Killian his hook, still keeping a tight hold on the bars of the cell to balance all three of them. “What is it?”

“It’s the curse magic,” Emma replied. “It’s sort of—untethered. But it’s been that way since the curse broke, I don’t know why it’s acting this way now.”

As she spoke purple smoke swirled and Regina appeared, flanked by Henry and Robin. “I think I can answer that,” she said, turning to glare at her sister where she lay slumped on the floor of her cell.

“Hah,” said Zelena, with an attempt at her old sneer. “I’d love to see you try.”

“As would I,” said Killian. “Sooner rather than later, love, before we all turn to liquid.”

Regina shifted her glare to him, then began to explain. “We already know that this curse is not like the last one,” she said, and Emma nodded. “Zelena patched it together out of a hodgepodge of different magics, some of which should never have met. That’s what made the curse so unstable. And now that all of that disparate magic is loose it’s clashing and reacting, and that’s what we—what all of us, I guess—can feel.”

“So what are we going to do about it?” asked Emma.

“Storybrooke is too small to hold all of it safely,” said Regina. “It’s stuck within the boundaries of the town and there’s just too much of it. We need to send it somewhere where it has room to disperse, and the different kinds of magic can repel away from each other. We need to send it back to the Enchanted Forest.”

Killian scowled. “How the bloody hell do we manage that?”

Regina shot him another glare. “There’s a portal in the woods, one that Zelena must have used to cast the curse in the first place. One cut by the subtle knife.” She and Emma exchanged a significant glance. “Robin found it.”

“Stumbled upon it, more like,” said Robin.

“But what does that mean?” Killian pressed.

“It means we have an outlet,” said Emma, and Regina nodded. “We can funnel the magic through that portal and out of Storybrooke.”

“Exactly.”

“But then, how do we close the portal? Oisín said only the knife bearer can do that, and—”

“We’ll have to worry about that another time,” said Regina. “Once the magic is back in the Enchanted Forest it won’t be a danger to us anymore, and I can make a temporary patch to block the portal. It’s not a permanent solution but it’s the best we’ve got, and we have to move fast. The longer we wait the more dangerous the magic will become. We need to do this now.”

“Okay,” said Emma. “You go back to this portal, then. I’ll gather the magic here and send it to you, and you funnel it out. Does that work?”

Regina nodded. “It should.”

“Um.” Emma frowned. “How do we—do you have something, like a signal or something to let me know where exactly you are?”

“Take this.” Killian withdrew the broken compact mirror from his jacket pocket. “You still have the other half?” he asked Regina.

“I do.” Regina took the mirror’s twin from her own pocket. “These should work perfectly.” She waved her hand over both mirrors. “I’ve modified the spell so they’ll act like beacons. Once you have the magic under control, press your thumb on this mirror—” she handed Killian’s half to Emma “—and my mirror will send up a signal to show you exactly where I am.”

“Got it.”

“Okay.” Regina flexed her fingers. “Are we ready?”

“I’m coming with you.” They all turned to stare at Robin, who looked alarmed at the ferocity on their faces.

“I don’t think there’s much you can do to help,” said Regina.

“Perhaps not, but I’d prefer it if you weren’t alone,” he replied, and Regina’s expression softened to an almost girlish smile. Killian exchanged a glance with Emma, who just shook her head. Henry beamed.

“All right,” said Emma. “Regina and er—”

“Robin Hood.”

“Right. Regina and Robin, um, Hood will go to the woods and make sure the magic gets through the portal. I’ll collect it and send it to them and the rest of you—” she glared at Neal and at Henry, and finally at Killian, narrowing her eyes. “The rest of you stay out of my way.”

Flanked by his fellow dwarves and trailed by the Merry Men, Grumpy burst through the doors of the Rabbit Hole and headed down the street.

“We’ll go to Granny’s,” he said. “Gather a nice mob. Then we’ll hunt down the Evil Queen and this time she’ll get what’s coming to her.”

The dwarves chimed in a chorus of agreement but from the Merry Men it more resembled concerned muttering.

“A mob sounds like the wrong kind of justice,” said Little John. “Are you even sure it was the Queen?”

“Of course I am,” snarled Grumpy. “Who else would it be?”

“Well—”

“It was her,” Grumpy declared as they turned into Granny’s outdoor seating area. “It’s always her. Trust me.”

The door to the diner swung open with a cheerful chime of its bell and Snow and Charming emerged, she with a wide, delighted smile and he with his arms crossed firmly over his chest.

“It’s so good to see you all!” cried Snow.

“But you’re all going to need to turn around and go back home,” said Charming.

“Home?” growled Grumpy. “I don’t think so, Your Highness. We were cursed, again, and we’re going to make sure that this time is the last.”

“Oh we will make sure of that. But if your plan is to go after Regina I’m going to need you to rethink it. Regina didn’t cast this curse.”

“Ha,” said Little John, earning him a glare from the irate dwarf.

“Well then who did?” he demanded.

Charming’s expression was grim. “Zelena.”

“Zelena!” echoed Grumpy, as voices rose around him, dwarves and Merry Men all speaking at once.

“What, the mayor?”

“Ex-mayor.”

“Why would she curse us?”

“What does she get out of it?”

“Who was she in our world, anyway?”

“I don’t know, I don’t remember her.”

“She was the Wicked Witch of the West,” said Charming, raising his voice above the din.

“Like from Oz?” called Will Scarlet.

“How do you know?” Grumpy demanded.

“Emma told us,” said Snow, smiling proudly. “She figured it out.”

“Oh yeah? And where’s Emma now?”

“Dealing with the witch, we hope,” said Charming with a scowl. “Look, why don’t you all come inside and we’ll tell you everything we know.”

The magic snapped through the air, almost snarling in its growing fury. Emma focused her attention on it, clearing her mind as she concentrated on it, on feeling it and reaching out to it. Its jagged shards sliced at her, and though she knew the pain she felt wasn’t physical that didn't stop her feeling it. The others felt it too, she reminded herself, less acutely than she did but it still hurt them. She needed to get this magic gone before it could cause any real damage.

Closing her eyes, she stretched her senses as far as they could go, feeling for the magic as it spread through Storybrooke, catching it and gathering it together, weaving it securely into a shape that could easily be sent to Regina. It was not unlike trying to wrestle angry cats into a sack and though her attention was entirely focused on her task she was grateful for Killian’s calming presence, close beside her with his hand rubbing circles on her back. She reached out blindly and gripped his hook, clutching it to keep herself grounded as she pulled the last bits of the magic together.

“Okay,” she gasped. “I’ve got it.”

Killian handed her the mirror and she pressed her thumb against it. Seconds later it buzzed as the magic that linked it to its twin formed a connection. Not an especially strong one—a bit like two tin cans joined by a string—but strong enough tho show her where to send the magic. She pointed it in the right direction and then with a mental heave she flung it away, imagining the sack of angry cats sailing through the air towards Regina and becoming her problem.

She could feel the moment Regina took control of the curse magic and when she was certain it was not going to get loose again she let it go, stumbling a bit at the release of her burden and leaning into Killian’s arms when he caught her. He hugged her tight and stroked her hair as she breathed a heavy sigh into his shoulder.

“Is it done then, love?” he asked, his voice low in her ear.

She nodded. “It’s up to Regina now.”

Regina and Robin stood in Storybrooke’s woods, one on each side of the portal’s slender arc, waiting.

Robin had his bow in hand, not fully drawn but with an arrow nocked and at the ready. A gust of wind rose up, sending leaves swirling around them and he tensed, his eyes sharp on the path before them.

“You think arrows are going to help against magic?” sneered Regina, then immediately wished she hadn’t. The snarky attitude she wore like a cloak had become simple habit, born of anxiety and the need to appear strong, but she didn’t truly wish to be so nasty. Not to him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, and suppressed a smirk at his look of surprise. “I’m worried, and that makes me snappish. But I shouldn’t take my feelings out on you.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” he replied, with such earnestness she gaped at him. He smiled. “You forget I’ve seen your magic firsthand, Your Majesty,” he said. “I have no doubt you can perform this task with ease.”

His simple faith in her despite the hesitancy and uncertain tension that still hung between them warmed Regina to her very depths and made her wish that she were better at feelings. “Robin, I—” she began, and then felt the mirror in her pocket grow hot. “I—I think it’s time.”

She removed the mirror and pressed her thumb against it to answer Emma’s call. The mirror buzzed faintly in her hand as it linked with its counterpart and a moment later Regina saw the curse magic winding its way towards them from the direction of Storybrooke, woven into a tight and impressively tidy rope. Oisín had clearly met with more success in teaching Emma how to use magic than she herself had, Regina thought.

She reached out with her own magic, stable tendrils of it pulled through the portal from the Enchanted Forest, and took control of the rope. There was a moment of tension when both she and Emma held it at once, then Emma released her end and Regina stumbled at the abrupt shift. Instantly Robin was there, catching her before she could fall and keeping a steady hand on her arm as she wrestled the snapping and writhing magic through the portal.

As soon as the tail end of the rope had gone she released it from her hold and followed it, slipping cautiously through the narrow opening with Robin keeping a secure grip on her had from the other side, and watched anxiously to see how the magic would react to its new surroundings. For the space of several heartbeats nothing happened, but then slowly, almost cautiously, the rope began to unravel. It uncoiled itself, picking up speed when it met with no resistance, spreading out as far as it could, all the disparate magics skittering away from each other and dissipating into the atmosphere.

Regina exhaled in relief then drew a deep breath, full of the familiar scents of her homeland, and felt a tiny twinge of melancholy. Someday she should probably go back to the Enchanted Forest again, she thought, to fix the ravages her curse—and likely now Zelena’s curse—had wrought upon it. But not today.

She stepped back through the portal and wove a protection spell around it, to prevent anyone from stumbling through it by accident as Robin had.

If it had truly been an accident. Regina had some theories on that subject.

She turned to Robin, who was smiling softly. “Well done,” he said. “I knew you could do it.”

She felt herself flush under his praise. “I had help,” she replied with a small shrug, surprised to realise that the modesty was genuine. She would never have managed to defeat Zelena or break the curse all on her own. Without Emma and Henry, and perhaps most of all Killian—she would have been trapped forever in the special hell her sister had made for her. More surprising still was the realisation that working with them had been... nice. Nice to have people on her side, sharing her burdens, nice not to have to handle everything alone. Nice to have friends.

She shook her head at the foolish thought. They were far from calling each other friends, she and Emma and Killian—it was a long path to friendship from ‘reluctant allies,’ after all—and yet Regina had a stirring of a suspicion, a tiny fragile bud of a feeling, that someday this might actually become a reality.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a real friend.

“Speaking of which, we should get back to the station and make sure they’re all okay,” she said, taking up her magic again. “Are you ready?”

Robin nodded. “Always.”

@katie-dub @kmomof4 @teamhook @stahlop @mariakov81 @snowbellewells @thejollyroger-writer @jennjenn615 @tiganasummertree @lfh1226-linda @winterbaby89 @ultraluckycatnd @resident-of-storybrooke

#cs fic #cs ff #cs ff au #captain swan #cursed storybrooke #canon divergence #3b canon divergence #alternative 3b #background snowing #background outlaw queen #justice for Zelena #their way by moonlight

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