your head dips with a kind of cordial attention paid to her majesty. though this majesty is not yours, as you are yourself and yourself alike, and regina stresses as each day passes that you do not belong to her. this a mutual inclusion of desire, something you are learning, because the part of you born alana, practicing psychiatrist, feels independent, and the part of you christened alana by her, but born alhertine, does not. “i think it is strange and discomforting either way, though i have never known snow white to be one with a level head and a decisive thought process. she’s arrived at this conclusion. i don’t even know why at this stage of their lives with a grown daughter they’re choosing to restart, but to each their own, i suppose.” there’s a tooth when you smile at her, just one, a settled, vicious curvature in the back of your mouth. it meets her grin charmingly, lovingly. “flummoxed. i. am flummoxed, majesty.” old habit, yes, but something of a gentle flirtation from the handsome boy you are.

had they not been in public, regina may have explained that she wasn’t entirely sure david wanted this, but it wasn’t the time, nor the place. not to mention it wouldn’t shock alana. he had already gotten the speech about how much it must have hurt emma.  ‘  no one else believed me.  ’  words whispered with a cheery tone, fake smile complimenting it as the princess in question looked their way, a small wave of her fingers to acknowledge her.   ‘  she’s something else.  ’  regina would know, after all.