"I'm Gonna Buy This Place & Burn It Down."

[redbrunja]

Fantastic Regina vid:

Also, this photo makes me want to read an AU where Regina doesn't blame Snow White for Daniel's death (or decides to punish her in a different way) and Snow becomes Regina's protégé and all shall love them and despair.

And finally, a fantastic cover of L'il Red Riding Hood:

Comments

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

That is an absolutely gorgeous cover by Seyfried.

It's too bad every idea fandom has for/about Regina and S2 sounds better than what the show has come up with or likely will come up with.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I watched the finale and was like, 'well fuck. Season two is just going to suck, isn't it?' Which was something I was sensing even in the middle of the first season.

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

THAT COVER. I'm still reserving judgment on whether or not she has the right voice for Cosette, but she has such great control. /puts on repeat

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I didn't know she was going to be Cosette! Cool.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Oh, that'd be awesome. A story where Regina goes "My mother is the one at fault. Snow is a fellow victim. I shall train her to resist future manipulation and recognize my mother's evil. We shall unite and destroy her." and then they're badass together.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I just fan that fic so much.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

It'd end up better for everyone in the world if they united. Sure, they might be a bit evil, but there'd be no reason to pick on people for being happy. Snow and Charming could've even gotten together legitimately (because if robbing him wasn't a detriment to starting the relationship, I can't see a bit of evil getting in their way). Hansel and Gretel would be left alone; no reason to pick on a single parent. Hard to say if she'd leave Belle alone; Gold would still be a rival. Sydney . . . nah, that part would probably stay the same.

. . . wait, are you saying that there's already a fic like this? Because it simply needs to exist.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

No, unfortunately that was a typo - I meant to say I WANT that fic so much.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

I think the biggest sticking point would be the death of Snow's father. I mean, he and Regina clearly did not have a loving relationship, so I can see her wanting to kill him anyway . . . but he's still Snow's father.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Don't under-estimate Regina - she is clearly her mother's daughter, in some ways. I can see Regina either poisoning Snow against her father and/or killing Leopold in a way the keeps the blame off of her. (I mean, imagine if everything with Glass happened the same - but she spun it that he was obsessed but she never reciprocated, and Glass still killed Leopold to get him 'out of the way.' Then, public execution of Glass, all the witnesses are gone, and Regina plays the grief-stricken queen to the hilt.)

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Ah, true -- now I recall the funeral, with Regina holding Snow and Snow clearly being unaware of her stepmother's role in the death . . . and if she were raised by Regina, she'd have little reason to doubt the woman she loves like a mother.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I can see Regina either killing Snow's father and then lying about it or turning Snow against her father.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Seems easier to cover it up; from what we saw, Snow didn't really seem suspicious about her father's death until Regina tried to kill her, too. And her father was perfectly nice to everyone except Regina, so it would be a tricky business.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

You know, that's what 90% of fandom believes Regina should've thought (er, the first part about blaming her mother), and yet...I just watched the ep and I still really wanted to shake Snow for giving up the secret so easily. I mean, yes, she's a a child, easily manipulated and all, but the ONE THING that Regina (the woman who saved her life- well, maybe not really, but Snow thought so) asked her NOT to do, she goes and does? *head!splodes*

I like to believe I'm sane and well-adjusted and I would def not go on a murderous rampage, but I would still blame the hell out of Snow, even if objectively she's not at fault. I mean, double whammy of losing Daniel because Snow told on her and then being forced into a loveless marriage because the king was impressed by her looking out for Snow...I'd hate this kid, too.

Er...back to your comment, though, I would love to read a fic about Regina bonding with Snow and being badass, but I don't see how it would be possible with her knowing Snow spilled her guts to Cora. That's the point of no return, imo, Regina can't find out that Snow told if there's any chance of their relationship making it.

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Okay, so, how about this: What if Snow resisted the manipulation, but was magically coerced into spilling the beans. When Snow confesses, she's clearly distraught about telling(because from her end, she has no idea why she went from upholding her promise to spilling the beans in seconds), causing Regina to ask for enough details to recognize the magic that was at work. Same result, but allows Regina to accept it wasn't really Snow's fault.

(and fwiw, I do take issue with Leopold -- his characterization is pretty odd, ranging from declaring that he wants everyone in his kingdom to be happy to reading his wife's diary and being pretty open about not caring about her. The only interpretation I can think of that unites the two aspects is that when he asked for the guy he thought Regina loved to be brought to him, it was to tell the guy he was fine with the queen having someone on the side if it made her happy, just to keep it quiet 'cause that sort of thing tends to look bad.)

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

I really like that idea! I think it makes sense- Cora's def the type who wouldn't react well to someone being strong-willed and resisting her, and she does like magical coercion. *shudder* If Snow was with-holding crucial info that was relevant to her plans for Regina...yikes...

I actually think this would be a great way to have Regina go down an alternate path- I mean, I love her the way she is, damaged and malevolent and all, but if we're talking AUs here, I think having her mother use magic on an innocent little girl could push her to oppose her at last. Sure, her mother was obviously abusive towards her and yes, she killed her true love and Regina just took all of that, but possibly because she blamed herself and because she still loved her mother and believed the lines she was fed about doing it for her own good- but seeing Cora start to manipulate another helpless young girl and the threat of her influence over Snow could be the impetus to make Regina fight back for good, instead of evil.

Even without that aspect, though, your idea really works for me, it's such a simple change (and perfectly plausible, who's to say it DIDN'T happen that way? It was all ~magic) and allows me to believe that relationship could happen!

(Good point, he makes no sense. O.o I blame the writers, tbh. They have all these ideas that could be so amazing, but they rush through plotlines that are half-baked and barely realized instead of taking the time to develop them properly or ground the characterization in anything remotely relatable. Why didn't Leopold just ask Regina to babysit for Snow, since he had no interest in her personally? And I don't even want to think about them consummating the marriage, because ugh)

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

*nod* I do get that Regina's upbringing and circumstances lead her to a mental place where it made total sense to blame Snow, but still think it'd make an awesome AU.

Oh hey, did you read that one where Cora died while Regina was still a kid?

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

There are just so many fascinating ways to explore her character, I wish the fandom (or the show, but lbr, they aren't going to give her the complexity she deserves) would delve into those possibilities more.

Ooh, no, I haven't! I never thought of that possibility, Cora seems so intrinsic to Regina's character that I hadn't stopped to consider what'd've happened if she wasn't around! Can you please link me?

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

It lets Regina be who she wants to be (http://archiveofourown.org/works/446480).

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I viscerally understand Regina blaming Snow –simply because Regina has clearly been taught over and over that there isn't anything she can do to stand up to her mother.

That's the point of no return, imo, Regina can't find out that Snow told if there's any chance of their relationship making it.

The key for me, is having Regina focus her hatred on Cora (who actually did kill Daniel, manipulatively, in front of Regina's eyes). I strongly suspect that regardless of her hatred of Snow (which I think continued largely because Regina had very little else in her life), Regina killed her mother in retaliation for Daniel death. So I can actually see Regina focusing her hate on Cora instead of Snow quite easily.

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

That is an amazing vid, I love it so! Thanks for posting. ^_^

And ugh, I just watched the stable boy ep (I gave up on the show halfway through the season, but since Australia's airing the series now, I decided to watch a few eps) and it KILLS ME how adorable Regina and bb!Snow are. I so wish they had a chance to develop that relationship with Cora and the King ruining things. >_<

(yes, Cora is the evil witch who kills Daniel, but it defies belief how people don't have a prob with Leopold. What reasonable guy expects her to marry him pretty much sight unseen with absolutely no bond between them and no significant or even insignificant interaction prior to his marriage proposal? And it's not like it's that easy to refuse the king, so what choice did Regina really have? Couldn't he do her the courtesy of courting her first?!)

Anyway, so unforch, there are no fics that I've come across that have Regina taking Snow under her wing and acting as her mentor (I WOULD DIE IF SOMEONE WROTE THIS, DIE FROM SQUEE), but there's a short banner picspam here (http://solarbaby614.livejournal.com/105500.html) with that theme (although it's more dark!Snow/Charming than Snow&Regina, but still, I like dark!Snow very much)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

What reasonable guy expects her to marry him pretty much sight unseen with absolutely no bond between them and no significant or even insignificant interaction prior to his marriage proposal? And it's not like it's that easy to refuse the king, so what choice did Regina really have? Couldn't he do her the courtesy of courting her first?!

VALID QUESTIONS.

Anyway, so unforch, there are no fics that I've come across that have Regina taking Snow under her wing and acting as her mentor (I WOULD DIE IF SOMEONE WROTE THIS, DIE FROM SQUEE),

If I had anything in mind beyond the basic idea, I'd take a crack at it.