#oqfixitweek

Day 6 of @oqfixitweek - Roni day

She's known him – known of him anyway, since the beginning.

He's head of the Parks department, and she's the Mayor, she could never have not known him; he works for her.

And yes, of course, she had noticed early on the dimples, and the scruffy bearded jawline, and that ridiculously attractive lumberjack look of a man who spends all his days dealing with the ins and outs of the Storybrooke wilderness.

But there'd always been one problem, and that's that he's insufferable.

A smirky, snarky, entirely-unintimidated-by-her, arrogant… ass.

And then there was the matter of that tattoo.

She'd seen it the first summer here, the first warm day, had zoomed in on it with an almost comical, movie-esque precision as he'd held his son's hand on Main Street, a drippy chocolate ice cream cone in the other.

Her heart had thudded so hard she'd thought Ruby would hear it from four feet away, but the waitress had only sidled up to where Regina was standing gobsmacked in the entrance to Granny's outdoor seating, and followed her stunned gaze.

"I know, right?" the younger girl had sighed. "I wanna climb that man like a tree."

The possessive anger that had had Regina imagining the satisfying crunch of Ruby's neck as it wrenched too far around with a well-placed flick of the wrist had been… surprising. She'd had just one thought – Mine. Okay, maybe one more: Back off, bitch.

And then she'd had to remind herself – she didn't choose him, she chose this. Her curse. She'd walked away in favor of vengeance and her own happy ending (so then shouldn't she have this now – him – her soulmate? Is that why he's here?), and it's not as though channeling Ruby's more… animal instincts into lust rather than murder hadn't been built into said curse, so she couldn't hold that against her, she'd supposed.

Still, she'd glared, murmured, "Private thoughts, public place," to the girl a mere thirty seconds before the head of her Parks department had passed with his boy. He'd smiled at her, nodded his head, had Madam Mayored as usual, except this time it had made butterflies erupt in her stomach. Her smile in return had been practiced and stiff, her limbs melting.

It was stupid – she'd known him for months.

He was an ass. An arrogant, smirky, irritating… ass. (He had a great ass…)

She doesn't like him. This isn't… this isn't what a soulmate should feel like. (He gets under her skin, always; she looks forward to seeing him as much as she dreads it, but well, Graham isn't the only eye candy in town and sometimes she likes a guilt-free fantasy to occupy her lonelier nights – she can kiss that goodbye now that she knows who he really is, she supposes.)

So no, no, she doesn't think this is… Well, it's just not the right time. She has her town, she has her job, she has the beginnings of calm, the dregs of night terrors, the vault of potions, the hollow echo of magic in her bones, in the streets. She has anger, still, and pain, and not much else. She'd be no good for him like this, she needs more time.

And besides, she doesn't like him anyway.

@oqfixitweek Day 6: Roni Day

Uses the following prompt: Roni gives a homeless person (Robin) a job in her bar

           She discovered him sleeping in his car in the alley when she went to throw out her garbage one chilly Seattle morning. It was a beat-up piece of crap she believed was once green but now covered in dirt and mud. A person’s whole life appeared crammed into it—pillows, blankets, clothes, knick-knacks—and sleeping in the middle of it all, a man about her age. He had matted blond hair and a matching beard. She couldn’t see much more as he had wrapped his blanket around him like a cocoon to stay warm.

           He wasn’t the first homeless person she had encountered living in Hyperion Heights and she tried to help out those she could with a dollar here or there, but he was the first one she felt really drawn to help. It almost felt like they were meant to meet and she was supposed to give him a second chance.

           Not that Roni would ever admit it out loud. She didn’t believe in things like fate or that spiritual junk.

           But she tapped on the window, startling the man awake. He blinked open beautiful blue eyes and she almost felt like she had once drowned in them before. She shook the feeling off as she motioned for him to roll down the window so they could talk.

           He sighed, leaning over to lower the window and immediately launched into a spiel he must’ve been used to giving. “Sorry. I’ll move the car so I won’t be your way anymore. Just give me a couple minutes.”

           Roni was surprised to hear him speak with a British accent and wondered what brought him to Seattle. But she figured she’ll find that out in good time. For now, she had something else to ask him: “Do you need a job?”

           “What?” he asked, blinking in confusion. He then stared up at her, making her fidget.

           She barreled on, hoping she wasn’t making a fool of herself. “My custodian quit on me the other night and I could use with someone who can help me keep the place clean. The pay won’t be so great and I can’t offer you benefits, but I can give you a lot of hours to come up with something resembling a decent paycheck. If you want it.”

           He stared at her. “Really? You would just hire me like that?”

           “Consider me desperate,” she said, trying to play it cool. “So, you want it or not?”

           “Yes, yes. Thank you,” he replied, gratitude and relief in his eyes. “I also have my own tools in here so I won’t need those. And I promise I’m legal. I can work in the States.”

           He then held out his hand to her. “I’m Rex, by the way.”

           “Rex?” she asked with a snort, unable to help herself. “Isn’t that a dog’s name?”

           “I had strange parents, what can I say?” He shrugged before giving her a little smirk. “I trust that won’t keep you from hiring me now.”

           She shrugged as well. “I guess there are worst names to have.”

           “And may I ask who I am working for?” he asked, eyes sparkling as he looked up at her.

           “Roni,” she said, finally shaking his hand. “Named the bar after me, so you’ll be able to find it. I’ll see you at three?”

           He nodded. “I’ll be there. And Roni? Thank you.”

           “No, thank you. Really saving my life here.” She gave him a wink with both eyes while stepping away from his car to head back inside as she ignored the way her heart wanted to beat right out of her chest.

For @oqfixitweek, Day 2: fix the Zelena baby situation.

Everything reminds him of her, here in this city that never shuts off – and neither do his thoughts, it seems, always searching for her, finding her wherever he can: in Roland’s pleas for more mint chocolate chip, in those spiced cider candles that Marian can’t seem to stand, even in the little black raven that’s made an unlikely home of their windowsill.

Regina is everywhere to him and yet nowhere at once, at least not where it matters – not in his arms, smiling that smile that he’s helpless to kiss, not in his bed where a wife he can’t recognize lies beside him instead, and even if he hadn’t begun to guess at her secrets (a terrible strangeness, a simmering unease), he’s no way of making it back to Regina, of letting her know that he’d left his heart at the town line with her.

Robin is cursed to work for Victoria Belfrey. But he comes into Roni’s bar regularly to drown his woes in whiskey. She can’t stand him. Or so she tells herself. Except for when he flirts with her and she can’t help the pesky butterflies in her stomach.

A/N: A little drabble in this verse I‘m considering for Day 6 of @oqfixitweek Roni day!

It’s after one o’clock in the morning when she hears the ding of the door opening and closing unexpectedly. She’d kicked everyone out at midnight after all, and even though she’s technically open for another hour, Roni hadn’t been anticipating any customers.

When she catches a glimpse of who it is, she can’t help but roll her eyes.

“I should have known she'd send you.” Roni comments idly as Grant takes a seat on what's quickly become his regular barstool. She doesn't even look up from the glass she's polishing as she tells him, “You might as well turn your Armani self around. I'm not changing my mind. Victoria Belfrey is not getting my bar.”

He surprises her when he replies, “I'm not here about that, Roni. Just a man looking for a decent glass of whiskey. Thought you might be able to oblige a fellow.”

Dark brown eyes lift hastily at that, meeting cool blue, the color of the ocean on a warm day, and for a moment the pair of them stare at each other. Roni’s expression puzzled, Grant’s amused while he waits her out. Seems Mr. Hawthorne isn't entirely Victoria’s lap dog. Huh. Interesting.

Curiosity peaked, Roni smirks. Barely. A hint of a smile playing over the corners of her mouth as she tosses the rag down and trades the pint glass for a lowball, reaching for his preferred Laphroaig and pouring two fingers of it into the glass she places in front of him.

“Rough day at the office?” She asks, serving the friendly neighborhood sounding board that comes with the job, some of their usual banter returning to her tone. Grant chuckles, fingers the glass for a moment before knocking back a portion of it, Adam's apple bobbing with the action. It's more distracting than she'd like it to be, the subtle ripple catching her attention, igniting a few of her glands that have been sorely neglected for far too long. Still, he's the enemy. Helping the witch take over this community bit by bit, driving out the uniqueness that makes Hyperion Heights special.

Tilting his head at her, amusement in his gaze, Grant replies, “You could say that. Boss isn't a joy when she's been bested.”

“Well I don't doubt that for a minute. Wish I could say I'm sorry but…” her voice trails off for a second, curls bouncing as she tilts her head and shrugs a shoulder, “I'm no liar.” She finishes, shifting to take another glass down from the shelf and pours herself her own helping of the amber liquid. Tonight's a celebration after all and with Grant her only customer at the moment she doesn't see one reason not to join him.

It’s not the first night the two of them have been in these exact positions and shared a glass.

He laughs out right at that and as much as she hates to admit it, even to herself, it's a gorgeous sound. Rich and rambunctious, and dammit, it makes her smile in return. This pesky fluttering of her heart when he’s around can lead to nothing but trouble.

“To fighting the power,” she offers, lifting her glass and waiting until Grant mirrors her pose, clinking his with hers in salute, before she tips her glass back and lets the whiskey burn deliciously down her throat, warming her limbs.

The war may have only just begun (and she’s certain Victoria will have some sort of retaliation up her sleeve), but she’s won this battle at least and she’ll sure as hell take the victory over the loss of everything she’s worked for.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this week! 65 participants created an amazing 305 entries. I am in awe of #OutlawQueen shippers right now!

If you haven’t seen all of the entries I’m sure the writers and artists who took part would love it if you could reblog, retweet, review or leave a message on them (if you get the chance). You can find masterlists for each day below:

Monday 23rd - Robin never died Day

Tuesday 24th - Fix the Zelena baby situation Day

Wednesday 25th - Quest to get Robin back Day

Thursday 26th - The events after 4A never happened Day

Friday 27th - Off-screen Day

Saturday 28th - Roni Day

Sunday 29th - Dark!OQ Day

And these people participated in all 7 days so have won a Roni button:

ouater YoungOutlaw23 DreamshadeIvy Inlovewithlanap Starscythe angry_fish CarolinaMR9 ourheroregina Sparkles21_ GlindaLoveShoes ankareeda willow1411 SweetonDreams BakerStreet_Me OQIsForever AEBrim FlaviaOttaviane jenningzzz teresaSortiz quiller_queen imnikkiheat QueenOfTheMM Lunatwilight07 @just-an-outlaw​ Wicked__Regal gotatheory ariestess69 sjcarter23 persnickets thequeensxthief RegalPixieDust verkaiking audreysl0ve SomewhereApart @thiefwithacode @4cullensandablack

Day 5 - @oqfixitweek - Regina spends time with Baby Isabella a.k.a. Peanut (which happens to be hers). I think it’s fixed! :

XOXO, 

For @oqfixitweek Day 2: Henry saves the day before Zelena gets pregnant. A little something that sprung into my head during 3 very long hours at the hairdresser. Unbetaed, all mistakes are mine.

You may be a teenage boy but you have lived with a single mom all your life, you know more about how women think and feel than most men ever care to find out. Your mom may be the strongest person you have ever met but heartbreak affects everyone one way or the other, and your mom has suffered through it more times than she will ever be willing to tell you.

When she comes back from the town line, after saying goodbye to Robin and Roland, you can see that something is different, a light has dimmed in her eyes, the smile she gives you is forced and strained, and she can’t keep up the charade for long. You don’t bother asking her how she is, you just stay close, and you pretend that you crave ice cream and hot chocolate and a movie, because that’s what your mom used to do when you were sick. When tears start falling along her cheeks halfway through the film, you lean your head on her shoulder and ignore the droplets, you just hug her and hope that for once she will let you be the strong one.

Robin calls her when they arrive at the apartment in New-York, but the conversation is short and awkward, and your mom takes deep breaths afterward that sound like sobs. They text a bit, but one day you see your mom look at her phone after it dinged and just put it down without replying, her eyes even sadder.

A couple days later, Will Scarlet sits next to you at Granny’s and asks you how your mom is, Robin is worried, he says, she hasn’t been replying in a while. You understand how much your mom is hurting so you take it upon yourself to reassure Robin. You text him, and even call sometimes when you get a new comic book you want to share with Roland. The little boy loves his storytime with you, but you can hear how difficult it is for them all. Even through the phone you hear Robin and Marian argue, the way Roland’s breath hitch, and you can imagine him cuddling around his monkey and gripping the phone tighter. You feel for him, this little guy who has been dragged between worlds, whose dead mother suddenly reappeared, who has been separated from his honorary uncles, it’s a lot.

You ask him how life at home is, and when he tells you about the fights and the slammed doors, and ‘I don’t think Mama likes me very much’, it raises red flags. You plunge yourself back into the story book, and you read whatever you can find about Robin and Maid Marian, and it just doesn’t match with the angry, insecure woman who asked Robin to delete Regina’s number from his phone.

You don’t tell your mother about your doubts, you don’t want to give her hope in case you’re wrong, or to make her feel guilty that she let them go over the town line with an impostor. The timing is what worries you, that Emma and Hook found Marian so soon after Zelena’s apparent demise. Her magic was strong enough to reopen the portal and you wonder, you wonder.

When you hear a particularly vicious fight during another phone call to Roland, you decide to ask the Merry Men what Marian was like when they knew her, and nothing they say reassure you. So you share your doubts with your grandparents and the Blue Fairy, and though they are skeptical -their almost pitying expressions telling you that they think you’re grasping at straws-, what you found is a matter of concern. The Fairy concoct some sort of revealing potion to uncover magical disguises, enchants a map so that you can find your way into Storybrooke, and you also decide to bring the magic blocking cuff with you.

You tell both your mothers that you’re going camping in the woods with David, and for once you’re glad to have the support of an adult for one of your schemes because they both bring the full force of their inquisitive stares unto you, and you’re two seconds away from squirming before they nod and wish you a good weekend.

The two of you take off, and David’s expression when you reach New-York is priceless. You guide him around, and it feels so strange to be back here. You’ve always felt that this city was extraordinary, bigger than life, but after spending time in little Storybrooke with all its magic and fairytale characters, Big Apple seems rather normal.

You both observe the building where Robin and his family live, and wait until you’re sure that the former Prince of Thief is alone with Roland to go inside. They are shocked to see you, though Roland is overjoyed, jumping into your arms and talking a mile a minute, Robin pales and you can see that he is assuming the worst. You’re not sure if your explanations will soothe his fears.

He is glad to know that your mom is alright, well mostly anyway, but when you tell him what really brought you here, he is dumbfounded and upset. He doesn’t want to believe it, who would really? He has been duped, and he has to come to term with it. You tell him that you can give him proof, and you all wait for ‘Marian’ ’s return in tense silence.

The moment she walks through the door you throw the potion on her, and the dark-skinned startled brunettesoon morphs into a familiar angry redhead. David seizes her, and you put the cuff on her wrist, ignoring her protests, before turning back towards Robin and Roland. The boy is clinging to his horrified father and you feel sorry for them, they have lost Marian a second time and there is nothing you can say to make it better.

“I think it’s time to go home,” you tell them, and they look dazed as they nod.

They gather their meagre possessions and follow you to the larger car you borrowed from the dwarves.

Your mothers are waiting for you at the town line, and you’re not surprised, you knew it was only a matter of time, but it was worth it. Your mom freezes when she sees who gets out of the car, and her face turns ashen as Zelena appears. Roland runs towards her, and she embraces him tightly, Robin isn’t far behind. In any other circumstances their matching confused expressions could be comical, but not now, not when your mom and Robin are shedding tears, both, you suspect, in happiness at being reunited, and in grief at the tragedy surrounding it.

You join them, and your mom looks at you in wonder. “You brought them back to me, Henry. You figured it all out! How?” She asks you, and you smile at her.

“It didn’t sound right, none of it did, I had to be sure that your happy ending hadn’t been ruined for nothing,” you answer, and she engulfs you in her arms, and Robin squeezes your shoulder affectionately, and Roland is pressed in the middle of you all.