AU verse [locked to Regina]

[themaniwanttobe]

Madness. This was utter madness, he was sure of it. But madness or no, he was here.

Here in the worst place possible, somewhere he never thought he'd end up, but doing something he had to try, for the sake of everyone.

He had to try and talk to Regina. There was so much at stake, with the constant fighting, that he had to take the risk. Deep down, he doubted that he would be able to do much to get through to her, but if he didn't try, he end up regretting it for the rest of... well, however long they lived.

Flying up to her castle, he pushed down the stab of fear he felt. Regina was not to be trifled with, and he knew she wouldn't like his words. But still he flew up to an open window. The advantage of being a cricket meant that he could sneak past her guards. The feel of magic all around him made his teeth itch - or it would if he had any.

He'd struck lucky. Regina was alone in the third room he checked, and he hovered uncertainly for a moment, trying to work out the best way to approach her without getting swatted.

Comments

[unhappilyeverafter]

Evidently not well known to her. Perhaps her own arrogance had a part to play in her numerous defeats.

But Jiminy's vague words were not enough for her, Regina wanted answers, now more than ever. And fresh from another loss,, she had no patience.

"Who?" she demanded, thrusting her hand higher, shaking him for good measure. "Who dares speak of my movements?" She glared into the cricket she held, again overcome with an urge to turn him to dust. But she withheld her murderous desires, because he was still useful, and useful was what kept people alive around the Queen.

[themaniwanttobe]

"All sorts of voices," he shrugged. "Your movements are always watched, your Majesty, by all sorts of people."

He could see an opportunity to escape when it was in front of him, and he could twist it enough to use it. Not lie. No, he'd never lie, but he could... manipulate it. He'd watched his parents doing it for years, he'd learned from the best, after all.

[unhappilyeverafter]

"I want their names," she then instructed curtly, levelling her eyes on the cricket in clear and dangerous threat. "And you're going to get them for me. Because if you don't. If you defy me, I will crush you like the insignificant little insect you are."

[themaniwanttobe]

"The names of those who would tell of your movements?" He looked shocked. She believed him... But he couldn't just tell her bird names and her not crush him. No, he had to be believable to get her to trust him. And it was only by a modicum of trust that he could get close enough to try and figure out just what was behind her vendetta.

[unhappilyeverafter]

She mistook his shock for fear and she slowly smiled, as though her threat had never been uttered. "That's all I ask," she said simply, almost sweetly, as though he would enjoy such a task. She turned then, walking towards the balcony and holding her hand out into the open air.

"Return to me at dawn with the names I require. And make sure you do, bug. Because if you don't, I will find you. Snow's not the only ones with spies."

With that, her hand finally loosened on him. "Off you go."

[themaniwanttobe]

He was a cricket. One cricket out of millions. How was she going to find him. But it helped him to help her. He could use that just to get this little bit closer. He flew out of her hand, straightened his jacket, then nodded at her. "Dawn, then."

With that he simply turned, flying out of the window.

It only took him a few minutes to find a stable surface to stand on, and gather his wits. He'd taken on Regina verbally, and got away with it. He was here now, a step closer to actually getting somewhere. Not that he thought it would be easy to get information out of her, but it was a start. Now if he could get his legs to stop shaking...

***

He'd flown around, caught some sleep, and now it was approaching dawn. Although running away, not going back to Regina was appealing, he knew what he had to do, If there was the vaguest chance he could stop this war before it started, he had to follow it up. And so here he was, in Regina's bedroom of all places, hovering uncertainly over her bed. It was coming up to dawn, and that was when she'd demanded his presence, but... here? Really?

Perching delicately on the pillow next to her, he simply sat and waited, chirping gently to himself.

[unhappilyeverafter]

It wasn't often that the Queen slept soundly. Sometimes, there were simply too many horrors in her memory that kept her awake. It meant that by morning, she had only just settled and was lost to a deep sleep when Jiminy flew back into her palace.

There was something less threatening about Regina when she was asleep. Her expression lost its harsh frowns, and gone were the dark palettes of make up that made her look all the more severe. But it was a peace that wouldn't last for long, for as the gentle chirps filled the room, Regina began to slowly stir, for a moment not quite realising who was sharing her bed.

But then her bleary eyes focused upon the insect besides her, and, unsurprisingly, she let out a sudden gasp, sitting up in a bid to put distance between herself and the shock. It was not the most pleasant wake up call.

"What are you doing in my bed chamber?" she snapped, her tone not inflicting quite as much damage as it did so soon out of sleep.

[themaniwanttobe]

He'd noticed the difference when she was sleeping. It was hard not to. There were glimpses of a much younger woman in there.

But that was lost as soon as she woke up, and the Evil Queen returned. "F-following your orders, your Majesty," he replied meekly, not wishing to upset her any more.

[unhappilyeverafter]

As the sleepy haze ascended, she remembered her instructions, and when she looked to her window, she saw the first light of dawn peek over the horizon. He had indeed followed her orders, almost a little too well, seeing how patiently he had waited besides her.

Slowly, she began to smile, pleased before she even heard of his information. She was pleased because he had obeyed her. He had listened to his Queen.

"That you are," she said, slowly twisting herself in the bed, looking down at him as he perched upon her pillow. "And did you get the information I require?" she asked, moving her hand down to the pillow, her palm open, expecting him to step into it without force.

[themaniwanttobe]

He paused, feeling like he was about to walk into fire. She wouldn't like his answer, no matter the truth of it - and it was. It just wasn't necessarily the answer she wanted to hear.

But truth it was, and only by the truth could he begin to gain her trust, and hopefully prevent this war from going any further. "I did, your Majesty," he said, stepping onto her hand daintily.

[unhappilyeverafter]

This was almost too easy, to have one of Snow's allies so easily under control. Well, it certainly made a change from ripping out their hearts.

She smiled all the more when he stepped up into her hand. "Oh, you are going to be very useful to me, indeed," she declared cheerfully, sweeping to her feet and carrying him along with her. She lifted her hands up in front of her, laughing as she watched his tiny little form so vulnerable in her grasp. In her cruel delight, she brought him closer to her, adding mocking insult to injury as she leant down to press a feather-light kiss to the side of his head, like he was a most prize possession.

Perhaps he was.

[themaniwanttobe]

To say he was terrified was an understatement. Here he was, voluntarily stepping onto her hand - into the belly of the beast if you liked. She was never going to like what he said - if she thought he was working with her, it was because it was the only way to get close to her.

What he didn't expect was the kiss he got, or the reaction. He fell backwards off of her hand onto the bed, every part of him feeling like he was on fire. He shuddered a few times, blinking up at Regina. Things seemed... closer. Odder. Smaller.

With a shuddering breath he looked down at himself. He was... human again. How?

[unhappilyeverafter]

It wasn't until Regina pulled her head back that she realised something was happening. She could feel it in the palm of her hands, she could feel magic, and in her fear, she quickly tossed him away from her, watching as he fell backwards onto the bed in front of her. She was about to demand an explanation, but there was no time, because before her eyes, and in a cloud of magic dust, he was changing.

Stunned, she took a hurried step back, staring as she watched the cricket shift and change and grow into ... a man.

There was utter silence as she stared at him, at what was now a human being, sat on her bed, looking as confused as she felt.

"What just happened?" she demanded nevertheless, because she was well aware what had just happened, but she refused to accept the implications of what she had just done.

[themaniwanttobe]

Jiminy was totally confused. His mind was in turmoil. What would happen to Geppetto and Pinocchio now? Geppetto accepted him as a cricket, but as a human, the same human who killed his parents? That was going to be a different matter. He was so focused on that, he forgot about Regina for a moment.

But her insistent question brought him back to the present, and he stared at her. "I... I wasn't always a cricket?" he offered as a lame explanation. "I don't know what just happened." He never even considered any implication about it.

[unhappilyeverafter]

Regina maintained her distance, looking him over, as though there might be some visual clue that she had missed. She most certainly hadn't triggered this, at least, not willingly - and it took more than an accidental slip-up of magic to turn somebody back into a man.

"You were cursed?" she ventured uncertainly, her eyes snapping back up to his, to the normal human eyes that were suddenly present.

[themaniwanttobe]

One thing was certain - Jiminy had not triggered this. He was content with his lot as a cricket, it extended his life to be able to help as needed. He had almost forgotten than he'd been a man once, a long time ago.

"No, not cursed. It was a gift," he explained, knowing how odd it sounded. Most people wouldn't chose to be an insect.

[unhappilyeverafter]

She scoffed disbelievingly. "A gift?" she asked, pulling her head back somewhat. "Why on earth would anybody choose to be a bug?" she continued scathingly, her tone rather insulting. But then, manners had never been her strong suit.

[themaniwanttobe]

Jiminy had no intention of telling Regina why he chose to be a cricket. "Not everyone has reasons you might understand, your Majesty," he said, almost haughtily as he peered at her through his glasses. "I had my reasons, and it suited me at the time."

[unhappilyeverafter]

There was a slight wrinkle of her nose and a doubtful once over. "You can spare me the details," she then said, lifting a hand as though he had been about to tell her something unsavoury. As far as she was concerned, he had issues, which was ironic considering what he would one day become.

"Well. Whatever those reasons may have been, it's clear you changed you mind."

Because that had to be it. Simply a coincidence. The magic had wore off.

[themaniwanttobe]

Jiminy frowned at her, then looked down at himself. "No, your Majesty. I was perfectly happy as I was, and would prefer to be changed back, if you please." Because Regina had to be the one to change him. He hadn't wished it, nor had he even given it any thought. Why would he? He was content as he was.

[unhappilyeverafter]

"Changed back?" she repeated, her head turning suddenly at his request. This had been nothing to do with her, and it most certainly hadn't been her magic. But... she didn't have to tell him that. Not yet. If he thought she could do something for him, then perhaps it would keep him onside a little longer.

With a slow smirk, she began to turn away from him, pushing the layers of her nightdress aside like it was one of her royal gowns. Even barefooted, she managed to carry herself with that same regal stance - arrogance and power all rolled into one.

"Now why would I want to do that? You haven't even helped me yet."

[themaniwanttobe]

Jiminy turned away from her, flushing slightly as he realized how their situation looked. He in her bed, her in her nightclothes... The fact that he was fully dressed would be neither here nor there to any guards who would gossip.

"I... I'm not sure I can help you, your Majesty."

[unhappilyeverafter]

Stopping in front of her mirror, Regina levelled her gaze upon her reflection, her smile almost congratulating herself for concocting such a plan so quickly. But when his words drifted over, she quickly snapped her head towards him, the smile falling from her lips.

"What do you mean?" she asked, picking up her dress hem off the floor as she took several silent steps towards him. "You came back. You did what I asked!"

[themaniwanttobe]

He could be forgiven for being somewhat rattled. It wasn't every day one changed form to become what you used to be.

"Oh. That. Yes..." Well, this would be even more awkward, as he was going to twist the truth slightly. Before the worst she could do was kill him outright. In this form... who knew?

[unhappilyeverafter]

Reaching him, Regina stopped, her glare fixating on him as awaited his answer. "Well?" she demanded sharply. "If you wish to be changed back, tell me what you found." The truth was, she wasn't sure if she could do such a thing at all, but that was of no matter so long as she got what she wanted.