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[unhappilyeverafter]

I'm a very busy woman. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you.

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[royalpassport]

[ Dropping by Regina's home unannounced? Not the best idea, he's sure. And yet, here Jefferson is. He can't even claim this is some drunken decision on his part, as he's quite sober. It is, however, definitely impulsive, and who knows, maybe it'll make his current mental state even worse.

Or maybe, since Regina seems to be committed to turning over a new leaf (not just according to her, even. Others have said so as well), she'll give him the answers he's looking for. It could help lend him some perspective, maybe even pave the way for healing.

He's been thinking a lot about healing lately, ever since talking with Harley, and with Curtis, and with Emma.

So, despite his nerves, he knocks on her door and announces himself. ] Regina? It's Jefferson. [ Open up. ]

[unhappilyeverafter]

[Regina is not a woman who gets a lot of visitors. It'd been the same in the Enchanted Forest, Storybrooke, and now even in Eudio. Which is why she's surprised to hear a knock at her door. But then, she's not so surprised when she hears who it is. Jefferson and herself, they've always had a complicated relationship of sorts.

Studying the closed door, she's quietly intrigued. It's not like him to call upon her without good reason, even years ago. But there's only one way for her to find out, and that's to speak to him.

Opening the door, she looks out with raised eyebrows, expectant for an explanation to his visit.]

Jefferson! I.. wasn't expecting to see you. [She stops in the doorway, folding her arms and attempting a small smile. They might not quite be on good terms yet, but she's going to try.]

[royalpassport]

Regina. I-- [ He clears his throat, feeling a little awkward now that they're face to face. Maybe it's because he's still not used to seeing Regina as anything but the Evil Queen (or Evil Queen in mayor's clothing). ] I should have called ahead. But I wanted to talk... to ask you about something.

[unhappilyeverafter]

[His temperament only makes her more curious, even a little concerned, and she frowns somewhat when he speaks. This doesn't seem like a conversation to be had on her doorstep, and so she takes a step back from the doorway, gesturing into the house.]

Alright. Do you.. want to come in?

[royalpassport]

[ Jefferson nods, taking a look around at her accommodations once he's inside. It's certainly a far cry from his little apartment-- but then, he welcomed having a small, cozy place again after being in that lonely mansion for so many years. ]

I just wanted to know... [ He trails off, still looking around, not bothering to take his coat off, as he figures this won't turn into a social call or anything. Funny, he thought this might be easier now that he doesn't feel as hateful towards Regina as he had before. It's been hard to maintain the same seething anger now that he knows about Henry, and why Regina's here.

Finally, he steels himself for it, for whatever answer he might get, even if he's still afraid of what it might be. ] When you cast the curse. Why did you save that special torment for me? Did you hate me so much?

[ And the sad thing is, if she knew the extent of what he'd done to her back when they first met, she'd have every reason to. On some level, after all, he's responsible for what she became. ]

[unhappilyeverafter]

[While Regina might not have a sizable income in Eudio, she does have her magic, and as usual, no expense has been spared. The house is grand, furnished luxuriously, though not without the comforts she's come to expect having lived in Storybrooke for so long.

Accompanying Jefferson into the house, she takes them towards the lounge. She remains standing as he does, but at least the setting is a little more appropriate now. She suspects he's finding this as awkward as she is, but she attempts to appear friendly.

But those hints of a smile taper off at his questions, and her expression shows how unexpected it was. Caught off guard, she stands looking at him for a moment, searching for something to say that isn't a knee-jerk defense. She does get rather touchy when people bring up her young self's deeds.]

Jefferson.. [She begins, pausing because she knows she has to handle this carefully. No bitter response or sarcastic roll of her eyes.] Why are you asking me this? Is this really going to help anything?

[royalpassport]

[ Jefferson lets out a short, breathless life, more at himself and his decision to even ask questions, than at Regina's response. ] I really don't know. [ It could help, could give him whatever peace of mind knowing brings. Or it could make everything worse. He could come out of this full of hatred again, for her, or himself, or the both of them. ]

Somebody asked me why my curse was different from the others, what I did to make you hate me. [ He pauses, looking at Regina directly. ] I didn't tell her it was you that did it, before you wonder. I haven't told anyone not from our land. [ Maybe he should have. But he believes her when she says she's here for Henry, and he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that. ]

Anyway. I couldn't answer her question, because I don't know how to. But it's something I wondered about for so long.

text; un: goaskalice (backdated to sometime between Christmas and uh now. WHENEVER)

[royalpassport]

[ Jefferson had spent this Christmas alone, like he'd spent every Christmas alone. In an odd way, it turned out to be far more pleasant than any Christmas past.

For one: he actually had a gift waiting at his door-- his first Christmas present ever. For another: even if he wanted to (and he did want to), he couldn't torment himself by spying on 'Paige' and her family as they opened gifts together in their warm, happy home. So, alone, in his little apartment, curled up with a book and some music, it was the best Christmas yet for Jefferson.

Admittedly, Jefferson's bar for 'best Christmas yet' is really, really low.

Much as he doesn't want to, though, the nagging thought of Regina enters his mind. Had this been her first without Henry since she adopted the boy? It must have been hard. Or maybe it wasn't. Maybe she was so focused on getting her incentive that she put the thought out of her mind.

But just in case, he sends her a message, because for all that they've hurt each other in the past-- repeatedly-- there have been attempts to move forward and start mending things between them. ]

How was your holiday?

[unhappilyeverafter]

[Jefferson was right. It had been Regina’s first holiday without Henry (that she could remember, as she was still missing memories of the past year.) It had been a lonely affair, reminding her much more of the days she’d been alone in the castle while celebrations went on in the kingdom around here. She would simply sit alone and scowl and plot ways to ruin everyone’s happiness again. There hadn’t been any of that this time, but there had been a similar moodiness and general reclusiveness.

She’d made an attempt, of course. Reaching out to familiar faces at one of the Christmas parties, but even that had left her with a bad taste in her mouth and since she’d resolutely avoided any and all festivities.

Which is why it surprises her that someone should make an attempt to contact her, and that that someone should be Jefferson. She picks up her phone with a bemused expression, but as she reads the message, and who it’s from, something softens in her expression, for a moment, comforted that someone should make the effort.]

Uneventful. How was yours?

[The reply is succinct, but positive. After all, was not beyond Regina to shut down and ignore everybody when her grief began to overwhelm her.]

[royalpassport]

I got a lot of reading done. And I tried making hot chocolate. So all in all: also uneventful.

[ Hmm. After a minute, he sends another text: ]

I'm just glad it's over. No more excited network posts about the holidays. Those were insufferable.

[ When in doubt, find joy in SNARKING ABOUT OTHERS. ]

[unhappilyeverafter]

[She scoffs in gentle amusement. His follow-up text just shows how much well they know each other. She’ll happily join in with such grumpy annoyances.]

Tell me about it. I was ready to fireball my phone by Christmas Eve.

[royalpassport]

I was starting to feel like the Grinch by the end of it.

[ He's probably seen that cartoon more times than he cares to remember. ALWAYS ON TV AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, AND HE HAD NOTHING BETTER TO DO AS A SHUT-IN. ]

Next, we just have to survive Valentine's Day. Can you imagine how that's going to be in a city like this?

[unhappilyeverafter]

Ugh, don't. I feel nauseous from the mere suggestion.

[Ugh. Couples. You can practically see the eye roll behind the words.]

TEXT

[dishearten]

When we spoke last, you told me that Henry didn't remember you. let me guess, it happened after you cancelled your curse?

( yup, no hi, no how's it, no small talk. just down to business. it's pretty remarkable he's here at all, honestly. )

[unhappilyeverafter]

[Graham is the last person Regina would expect to receive a text from, so it takes a moment for her to word her reply.]

Yes, it did. Why?

[Her response to short, abrupt. No doubt it's still a sensitive topic for her considering the circumstances. She removed Henry's memories to protect him, but now the danger has passed, she wants her son back. It's the only reason she's here.]

[dishearten]

( it's fine. short and to the point is his preference, as far as Regina is concerned. )

I fulfilled my incentive and went home with Emma. it seems some things are still fated to happen, no matter what version of our world it is.

( meaning, he's not actually too far from what she can remember, though admittedly it happened a bit differently for his presence. not so differently that his wife and step-son remembered him, or that he avoided being sent back to the forest more or less alone. )

[unhappilyeverafter]

[That doesn't sound particularly comforting.]

What happened exactly?

[She needs a little more information before she can be of any help, which is what she's assuming this conversation is all about.]

[dishearten]

same as it happened for you, I'd think, or close enough. Henry and Emma had to forget, there wasn't another way. and we all went back without them.

( honestly not even graham knows what he's hoping for here. maybe just someone that understands, even if he can't stand her. )

[unhappilyeverafter]

[Oh. That. So it seems his incentive worked, and he's lived up until the point she left. The point she's now trying her hardest to fix.]

Then I suppose you now understand why I'm here.

[It's a small blessing, but at least he might see the changes she's been through, and her sacrifice to save them all.]

ACTION

[royalpassport]

[ Things had been going so well lately, so of course it was time for the other shoe to drop. In this case: Emma Swan losing her memory. Though her newly rewritten life didn't really affect Jefferson directly, it still had an impact on him. Talking to her had been an exercise in frustration, much like it'd been the first time he tried to convince her magic was real. But it went deeper than that. It reminded him too much of the curse, of those early days when he'd seek out familiar faces and try to get them to realize what was happening, only to be brushed off, dismissed as a lunatic, and shunned until the day restarted, with nothing having changed.

Cursed. She'd been cursed. She had to have been. Which means... which means... What happened to the others? To Grace and himself and the rest of Storybrooke?

He'd been assured of a happy ending, but there was a part of him, at first, that never quite trusted the others' promises that he'd have Grace back soon enough. And then Emma Swan, of all people, got him to believe that it was truly possible.

And now she's been cursed to forget.

Staying inside is a bad idea. He knows that. If he doesn't get out and move and be in the world, he'll hide and keep hiding, tail between his legs, like he always does when things get rough. So he's at one of Eudio's parks, walking, trying to clear his head.

It looks like he's not the only one, though. As he sees Regina a little further down the path, Jefferson picks up his pace to catch up. His own frustration and anxiety is too close to the surface to consider their tentatively mended... friendship, think clearly, and give her the benefit of the doubt. Instead, he spits out: ]

What did you do to her? Emma. It has your magic written all over it.

[unhappilyeverafter]

[Regina had been enjoying a peaceful walk through the park, until an angry spit of words snap her out of her relatively good mood. She turns sharply, a mingled look of surprise and annoyance flashing in her eyes. Being harassed is not a common occurrence for Regina. Even in Storybrooke, when news of the curse had broken, the angry citizens had known better than to air their concerns too vocally to a woman with the ability to fireball at a moment’s notice.

So, this is new, and the disapproval in her eyes only increases when she sees just who it is who’s decided to take a dig at her today. She’s not going to let this one lie, not when his accusations are hugely out of line, and not when they were supposed to be giving this ‘civil terms’ things a try.]

Are you really this much of an idiot, or are you just pretending?

[Her tone is sharp, and she’s pulling no punches. It’s not that his words are inaccurate - in fact, she is responsible for Emma losing her memories - but the circumstances are vastly different to whatever evil, selfish reasons he’s no doubt conjuring up.]

[royalpassport]

[ Is it possible for Jefferson to look even surlier than he already does? With the way his brows draw in and his mouth pulls into a terse line, it's pretty clear that he's trying, if nothing else. How dare Regina call him an idiot when he's flinging baseless accusations at her! ]

There's nothing idiotic about seeing something with my own eyes and taking it to the logical conclusion.

[ That's Jefferson, always a logical one. ]

She's acting just like everyone in Storybrooke does.

[ Or did, by Regina's perspective. Jefferson's so far behind the times. ]

[unhappilyeverafter]

[It’s okay, Regina’s frown is going nowhere either.]

And your first thought is to blame me? [She scoffs as though he’s being utterly irrational - but it holds some truth. Perhaps it is logical to assume the woman who once deprived everyone of their memories had done it again, but she’s done so much to overcome that reputation, that it gauls her to see just how easily that is undone.]

I told you, the curse in Storybrooke has broken. Why would I cast exactly the same curse twice? Give me some credit! [Don’t you know this woman has taste when it comes to wreaking havoc? She’d never be accused of being boring!!]

[royalpassport]

[ He flings his arms up in a frustrated, dramatic motion. ] Who else would do it? Who else even knows how to cast that curse?

[ Sadly, the downside to coming from when Jefferson does: he doesn't yet know that apparently the Dark Curse can be cast by, well, anyone who feels like it. like Peter Pan and Snow White and apparently Hook, too?? As far as he understands, it takes years of planning and a level of malicious forethought that few could manage. Regina, at least, has proven herself more than capable. ]

[unhappilyeverafter]

[The more he lays blame on her, the more frustrated she gets. Not because he’s wrong, but because he’s right. Flashes of memory assault her, the moment she realised she would have to undo her curse, Henry’s face when she told him he would forget her, how her heart broke when he returned to Storybrooke and looked right through her.]

It isn’t a curse! [She snaps abruptly, eyes flashing with anger.] What do you want me to say? That I’m to blame? That I did this to Emma?

Alright - well, I did!

[And there it is.]