Further proof that I can ship virtually ANYTHING if I put my mind to it
Title: Misery Loves Its Company
Fandom: Alcatraz/Once Upon a Time AU crossover
Pairing: Rebecca/Regina
Rating: PG
Summary: A brief look at what happens when Rebecca Madsen and Regina Mills meet in a bar.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. I'm just borrowing things from ABC's and FOX's toy boxes for fun.
"Is this seat taken?"
Without even looking up from the swirls she's been making in what remains of her bourbon with a cocktail straw, Rebecca simply shakes her head. There's the rustling of fabric as someone removes their coat and takes a seat on the empty bar stool to Rebecca's right.
"Hello, Ruby," the newcomer says to the young woman behind the bar. Her voice is soft and warm, with a slight husk to it that makes Rebecca's ears perk a little at the sound of it. "I'll take the usual," she adds.
"Sure thing," Ruby responds.
A moment later, she sets a napkin down on the counter and then places a tumbler filled with amber liquid down on top of it.
"Thank you, Ruby," the woman says.
"No problem," Ruby says with a smile. She turns to Rebecca then and reaches for her glass. "Hey there, honey. Can I get you a refill?"
Rebecca lifts her head a little and nods once, then watches as Ruby makes her way down the bar in search of the bottle of special reserve she keeps on hand for when one of her customers has had a particularly rough day.
"You must be new in town."
Rebecca turns slightly at that, and faces the woman sitting next to her. She's older than Rebecca, though not by much, with dark hair and alluring brown eyes. She smiles warmly at Rebecca and holds out her hand, and Rebecca merely arches an eyebrow at her. She's not quite sure what this woman's intentions are and she's not so sure she's game to find out.
"Regina Mills," the woman introduces herself, reaching out a little further.
"Hi," Rebecca replies simply, and she finally reaches out to shake Regina's hand briefly. "Rebecca Madsen."
"Well, Rebecca, you look like you've had a pretty rough day," Regina says, just as Ruby comes around with Rebecca's drink.
"The worst," is all Rebecca says. She picks up the fresh tumbler of bourbon and tosses it back with one gulp. It burns all the way down, which only fuels her request to Ruby for another.
Ruby pours another shot of bourbon into Rebecca's glass, but fixes her with a worried look.
"Maybe you should slow down, honey," the tall brunette says, all concern and big blue eyes.
"I'm sure Ms. Madsen can handle herself, Ruby. Leave the bottle," Regina tells her. When Rebecca looks up at her in question, she adds, "It's on me."
Ruby just shrugs, sets the bottle down on the counter between Regina and Rebecca, and then walks off.
"You didn't have to do that. This stuff is kinda expensive," Rebecca says, after she's tossed back another shot.
"Oh, I know," says Regina. "My father used to drink this particular brand. He was quite fond of it. Its effects are a bit unpredictable if you aren't used to them, or so I'm told."
"Unpredictable, huh?" Rebecca asks, her voice slightly muffled as she raises her glass to her lips again.
Regina hums in confirmation. "It's been known to knock grown men, large men, on their asses when they least expected it."
Rebecca nods as she pours herself another shot. Before she has time to drink it, though, Regina has reached forward and taken her glass from her.
"Excuse me," Rebecca says, clearly not in the mood for games. She fixes Regina with her best glare, but the other woman simply stares back at her, dark gaze unwavering. "I'd like my drink back, please."
"In a minute," says Regina. She picks up Rebecca's glass and brings it up to her nose, sniffs a little and grimaces. "This smells like embalming fluid," she says.
"Well, it tastes just fine," Rebecca says, still clearly annoyed.
"It would seem you're trying to pickle yourself. Now, why is that?"
"Seeing as we've only just met, I don't think that's any of your damn business."
With that, Rebecca reaches out and takes her drink from Regina's hand. She knocks back the shot, savoring the burn as the bourbon makes its way down her throat. And then her vision blurs, things growing hazy just slightly around the edges, and Rebecca frowns. She sets her glass down on the bar, but doesn't pour herself another shot. Her vision clears after a second or two, much to her relief.
"Had enough?" Regina asks.
Rebecca glares at her again. "What the hell is your problem?" she asks.
"Oh, dear. I've offended you."
"Damn right you have. I thought you were being nice, at first, introducing yourself, offering to buy me a drink, making conversation, but now I see that maybe you're not so nice after all. You're a bit annoying, and I'm not in the mood to play games. You don't know me well enough to tell me when I've had enough to drink. You don't know what kind of day I've had. You don't know anything about me," Rebecca says, her voice growing just loud enough to catch Ruby's attention again.
The young bartender makes a move toward the two women, but Regina shoots her a look that clearly tells her to back off and Ruby complies without even the slightest hesitation. Regina turns her attention back to Rebecca, who's glaring daggers at her now, seething in anger. Regina can't resist the urge to smirk then.
"My, what a temper you have," Regina says coolly. She doesn't even bristle; doesn't falter, not even a little bit.
"I just don't like being told what I should and shouldn't do by complete strangers," Rebecca says.
"Well, then, I guess we'll just have to get to know each other a little better, won't we? After all, misery does love company."
"What makes you think I want to know you? I've barely spoken to you for fifteen minutes and I already don't like you."
"Perhaps a peace offering is needed, then," Regina says. She slides her drink across the counter and continues, "Here, try this. It's quite a bit milder than what you've been drinking. Don't chug it. Sip it. It's meant to be enjoyed."
Rebecca reaches out tentatively for the proffered glass. She takes a small sip of the light amber liquid and enjoys the warmth it brings, sans the swimming head. She's quiet for several long moments, takes another sip of Regina's drink, and then she turns to the other woman and says, "Look, I wasn't trying to be rude. Just a minute ago, when you asked me why I was trying to drink myself into oblivion--I didn't mean to sound so bitchy. I just--I don't make a habit of telling all my business to strangers."
"It's quite alright. I can assure you, I didn't mean to offend you. I wasn't trying to pry. I was just curious, is all. We don't get very many strangers here in Storybrooke and you seem to have a story to tell. Whatever is bothering you, it must be pretty terrible if you're trying to drown your sorrows in a bottle of that jet fuel."
"Hey, you're the one who told Ruby to leave the bottle. Not me."
"I did that simply to save her a few trips."
"So you were being a good samaritan?"
"I guess you could say that. In my defense, when I told her to leave the bottle, I didn't expect for you to try to drink it all down in a matter of minutes."
"Guess I got a little carried away," Rebecca admits, and Regina just hums in agreement.
The brunette reaches out a hand for her drink. She takes a few sips, her eyes never leaving Rebecca, before setting it down on the bar again.
"So," Regina begins, "would you like to tell me why you're here, in our little town, trying to drink away your unhappiness?"
"I don't really wanna talk about it."
"I think you need to talk about it, Rebecca. Otherwise, it's going to eat you right up. From the looks of things, it's already started to."
"What's it to you?" Rebecca asks.
"Can't one stranger show compassion to another?"
"Sure, but it doesn't happen very often. At least, not where I'm from."
"Where are you from?"
"San Francisco."
"Long way from home, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Rebecca says, nodding slowly. Her voice is quiet, reserved, and Regina finds herself leaning in to better hear her next words. "I had to get away from there. It was just--it was too much. I couldn't stay."
Regina nods sympathetically. "Family troubles?" she asks, as she takes another sip of her drink.
"Uh, no, not really."
"Relationship troubles?"
"Ha, definitely no."
Regina takes a moment to study the woman before her, the way her clear blue eyes seem suddenly cloudy with emotion, the way her shoulders sag beneath the leather of her jacket as if the weight of the world itself were bearing down on her. And then a thought occurs to her. "You lost someone close to you, didn't you?" she asks.
A little stunned by the accuracy of Regina's words, Rebecca just nods slowly. There's no use denying it; Regina's hit the nail right on the head. Apparently, she's more intuitive than Rebecca gave her credit for. The blonde looks a little disappointed that she's been, in a sense, defeated, but there's also a look bordering on sadness that passes over her features. It's fleeting, but it doesn't go unnoticed.
"My uncle," Rebecca confirms softly, and there are tears in her eyes that she fights to blink back.
"I can see the two of you were very close. I'm so sorry for your loss," Regina says. She lays a comforting hand over Rebecca's on the bar and squeezes gently, offering a small smile.
"Thanks. I'm sure things will get better eventually. I just hope I didn't do the wrong thing by leaving, you know?"
"I don't think you did. Sometimes starting over, somewhere completely new, is the only option you have."
"Maybe," Rebecca says. "Anyway," she adds a moment later, more than eager to change the subject. She's well aware of the fact that Regina's hand still lingers over her own, and the other woman's thumb is stroking slowly across Rebecca's knuckles. "How about I get us another drink, huh?"
"Ah, perhaps some other time. I've just realized that it's getting rather late," Regina says. She glances up at the clock on the wall behind the bar, which reads half-past ten.
The look of disappointment on Rebecca's face is unmistakable. "You're leaving?" she asks.
"I'm afraid so," the brunette says, as she scoots off her stool and stands before Rebecca. "My day starts early tomorrow."
"Oh."
"But, that doesn't mean you can't join me for drinks at my place. That is, if you're up for it," Regina continues, as she slips into her coat.
There's a mysterious glint in Regina's dark eyes when she looks at Rebecca then, and it sends an involuntary shiver down the blonde's spine. She wants to say yes, for reasons she can't quite put her finger on, but there's something that makes her take a step back. "Wait. Were you trying to pick me up this whole time?" she asks.
"What makes you think that?"
"I dunno. I kinda got the feeling just now that this whole thing, chatting me up, buying me drinks, asking about my problems, was a ploy to get me to go home with you. Was I wrong?"
"Not entirely," is Regina's simple answer. "But it's not like that matters to you, is it?"
Rebecca shakes her head.
"I didn't think so. So, care to join me?" Regina asks again.
Before Rebecca even has a chance to think better of it, she hears herself say, "I'd love to."
Fandom: Alcatraz/Once Upon a Time AU crossover
Pairing: Rebecca/Regina
Rating: PG
Summary: A brief look at what happens when Rebecca Madsen and Regina Mills meet in a bar.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. I'm just borrowing things from ABC's and FOX's toy boxes for fun.
"Is this seat taken?"
Without even looking up from the swirls she's been making in what remains of her bourbon with a cocktail straw, Rebecca simply shakes her head. There's the rustling of fabric as someone removes their coat and takes a seat on the empty bar stool to Rebecca's right.
"Hello, Ruby," the newcomer says to the young woman behind the bar. Her voice is soft and warm, with a slight husk to it that makes Rebecca's ears perk a little at the sound of it. "I'll take the usual," she adds.
"Sure thing," Ruby responds.
A moment later, she sets a napkin down on the counter and then places a tumbler filled with amber liquid down on top of it.
"Thank you, Ruby," the woman says.
"No problem," Ruby says with a smile. She turns to Rebecca then and reaches for her glass. "Hey there, honey. Can I get you a refill?"
Rebecca lifts her head a little and nods once, then watches as Ruby makes her way down the bar in search of the bottle of special reserve she keeps on hand for when one of her customers has had a particularly rough day.
"You must be new in town."
Rebecca turns slightly at that, and faces the woman sitting next to her. She's older than Rebecca, though not by much, with dark hair and alluring brown eyes. She smiles warmly at Rebecca and holds out her hand, and Rebecca merely arches an eyebrow at her. She's not quite sure what this woman's intentions are and she's not so sure she's game to find out.
"Regina Mills," the woman introduces herself, reaching out a little further.
"Hi," Rebecca replies simply, and she finally reaches out to shake Regina's hand briefly. "Rebecca Madsen."
"Well, Rebecca, you look like you've had a pretty rough day," Regina says, just as Ruby comes around with Rebecca's drink.
"The worst," is all Rebecca says. She picks up the fresh tumbler of bourbon and tosses it back with one gulp. It burns all the way down, which only fuels her request to Ruby for another.
Ruby pours another shot of bourbon into Rebecca's glass, but fixes her with a worried look.
"Maybe you should slow down, honey," the tall brunette says, all concern and big blue eyes.
"I'm sure Ms. Madsen can handle herself, Ruby. Leave the bottle," Regina tells her. When Rebecca looks up at her in question, she adds, "It's on me."
Ruby just shrugs, sets the bottle down on the counter between Regina and Rebecca, and then walks off.
"You didn't have to do that. This stuff is kinda expensive," Rebecca says, after she's tossed back another shot.
"Oh, I know," says Regina. "My father used to drink this particular brand. He was quite fond of it. Its effects are a bit unpredictable if you aren't used to them, or so I'm told."
"Unpredictable, huh?" Rebecca asks, her voice slightly muffled as she raises her glass to her lips again.
Regina hums in confirmation. "It's been known to knock grown men, large men, on their asses when they least expected it."
Rebecca nods as she pours herself another shot. Before she has time to drink it, though, Regina has reached forward and taken her glass from her.
"Excuse me," Rebecca says, clearly not in the mood for games. She fixes Regina with her best glare, but the other woman simply stares back at her, dark gaze unwavering. "I'd like my drink back, please."
"In a minute," says Regina. She picks up Rebecca's glass and brings it up to her nose, sniffs a little and grimaces. "This smells like embalming fluid," she says.
"Well, it tastes just fine," Rebecca says, still clearly annoyed.
"It would seem you're trying to pickle yourself. Now, why is that?"
"Seeing as we've only just met, I don't think that's any of your damn business."
With that, Rebecca reaches out and takes her drink from Regina's hand. She knocks back the shot, savoring the burn as the bourbon makes its way down her throat. And then her vision blurs, things growing hazy just slightly around the edges, and Rebecca frowns. She sets her glass down on the bar, but doesn't pour herself another shot. Her vision clears after a second or two, much to her relief.
"Had enough?" Regina asks.
Rebecca glares at her again. "What the hell is your problem?" she asks.
"Oh, dear. I've offended you."
"Damn right you have. I thought you were being nice, at first, introducing yourself, offering to buy me a drink, making conversation, but now I see that maybe you're not so nice after all. You're a bit annoying, and I'm not in the mood to play games. You don't know me well enough to tell me when I've had enough to drink. You don't know what kind of day I've had. You don't know anything about me," Rebecca says, her voice growing just loud enough to catch Ruby's attention again.
The young bartender makes a move toward the two women, but Regina shoots her a look that clearly tells her to back off and Ruby complies without even the slightest hesitation. Regina turns her attention back to Rebecca, who's glaring daggers at her now, seething in anger. Regina can't resist the urge to smirk then.
"My, what a temper you have," Regina says coolly. She doesn't even bristle; doesn't falter, not even a little bit.
"I just don't like being told what I should and shouldn't do by complete strangers," Rebecca says.
"Well, then, I guess we'll just have to get to know each other a little better, won't we? After all, misery does love company."
"What makes you think I want to know you? I've barely spoken to you for fifteen minutes and I already don't like you."
"Perhaps a peace offering is needed, then," Regina says. She slides her drink across the counter and continues, "Here, try this. It's quite a bit milder than what you've been drinking. Don't chug it. Sip it. It's meant to be enjoyed."
Rebecca reaches out tentatively for the proffered glass. She takes a small sip of the light amber liquid and enjoys the warmth it brings, sans the swimming head. She's quiet for several long moments, takes another sip of Regina's drink, and then she turns to the other woman and says, "Look, I wasn't trying to be rude. Just a minute ago, when you asked me why I was trying to drink myself into oblivion--I didn't mean to sound so bitchy. I just--I don't make a habit of telling all my business to strangers."
"It's quite alright. I can assure you, I didn't mean to offend you. I wasn't trying to pry. I was just curious, is all. We don't get very many strangers here in Storybrooke and you seem to have a story to tell. Whatever is bothering you, it must be pretty terrible if you're trying to drown your sorrows in a bottle of that jet fuel."
"Hey, you're the one who told Ruby to leave the bottle. Not me."
"I did that simply to save her a few trips."
"So you were being a good samaritan?"
"I guess you could say that. In my defense, when I told her to leave the bottle, I didn't expect for you to try to drink it all down in a matter of minutes."
"Guess I got a little carried away," Rebecca admits, and Regina just hums in agreement.
The brunette reaches out a hand for her drink. She takes a few sips, her eyes never leaving Rebecca, before setting it down on the bar again.
"So," Regina begins, "would you like to tell me why you're here, in our little town, trying to drink away your unhappiness?"
"I don't really wanna talk about it."
"I think you need to talk about it, Rebecca. Otherwise, it's going to eat you right up. From the looks of things, it's already started to."
"What's it to you?" Rebecca asks.
"Can't one stranger show compassion to another?"
"Sure, but it doesn't happen very often. At least, not where I'm from."
"Where are you from?"
"San Francisco."
"Long way from home, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Rebecca says, nodding slowly. Her voice is quiet, reserved, and Regina finds herself leaning in to better hear her next words. "I had to get away from there. It was just--it was too much. I couldn't stay."
Regina nods sympathetically. "Family troubles?" she asks, as she takes another sip of her drink.
"Uh, no, not really."
"Relationship troubles?"
"Ha, definitely no."
Regina takes a moment to study the woman before her, the way her clear blue eyes seem suddenly cloudy with emotion, the way her shoulders sag beneath the leather of her jacket as if the weight of the world itself were bearing down on her. And then a thought occurs to her. "You lost someone close to you, didn't you?" she asks.
A little stunned by the accuracy of Regina's words, Rebecca just nods slowly. There's no use denying it; Regina's hit the nail right on the head. Apparently, she's more intuitive than Rebecca gave her credit for. The blonde looks a little disappointed that she's been, in a sense, defeated, but there's also a look bordering on sadness that passes over her features. It's fleeting, but it doesn't go unnoticed.
"My uncle," Rebecca confirms softly, and there are tears in her eyes that she fights to blink back.
"I can see the two of you were very close. I'm so sorry for your loss," Regina says. She lays a comforting hand over Rebecca's on the bar and squeezes gently, offering a small smile.
"Thanks. I'm sure things will get better eventually. I just hope I didn't do the wrong thing by leaving, you know?"
"I don't think you did. Sometimes starting over, somewhere completely new, is the only option you have."
"Maybe," Rebecca says. "Anyway," she adds a moment later, more than eager to change the subject. She's well aware of the fact that Regina's hand still lingers over her own, and the other woman's thumb is stroking slowly across Rebecca's knuckles. "How about I get us another drink, huh?"
"Ah, perhaps some other time. I've just realized that it's getting rather late," Regina says. She glances up at the clock on the wall behind the bar, which reads half-past ten.
The look of disappointment on Rebecca's face is unmistakable. "You're leaving?" she asks.
"I'm afraid so," the brunette says, as she scoots off her stool and stands before Rebecca. "My day starts early tomorrow."
"Oh."
"But, that doesn't mean you can't join me for drinks at my place. That is, if you're up for it," Regina continues, as she slips into her coat.
There's a mysterious glint in Regina's dark eyes when she looks at Rebecca then, and it sends an involuntary shiver down the blonde's spine. She wants to say yes, for reasons she can't quite put her finger on, but there's something that makes her take a step back. "Wait. Were you trying to pick me up this whole time?" she asks.
"What makes you think that?"
"I dunno. I kinda got the feeling just now that this whole thing, chatting me up, buying me drinks, asking about my problems, was a ploy to get me to go home with you. Was I wrong?"
"Not entirely," is Regina's simple answer. "But it's not like that matters to you, is it?"
Rebecca shakes her head.
"I didn't think so. So, care to join me?" Regina asks again.
Before Rebecca even has a chance to think better of it, she hears herself say, "I'd love to."