“I don’t mind sharing yours,” Regina offered quietly, hoping she hadn’t somehow made Maleficent believe otherwise. The entire purpose of all of this was to HELP Maleficent, not be separated by walls and who knew what else. She had to admit, at least to herself, she was feeling slightly more apprehensive about this than she had when the offer had come tumbling out of her lips. She would not rescind it. She would never go back on her word, and especially not with someone whose approval meant so much to her already. But —- it wasn’t easy to forget that there were more complicated things between them. For instance, the way Maleficent had made it quite clear she had an interest in Regina that was far more than platonic. An interest Regina couldn’t allow herself to reciprocate in action, though there was some, impossibly unnerving reflection of it all, deep within Regina’s mind. Something she had no idea what to do with. After all, not only was she MARRIED to a king, and in love with a man who was not him ——— Maleficent was a woman. And Regina had never felt anything at all for another woman except for admiration, jealousy, and hatred. So this… attraction, that stirred in her gut was something she couldn’t understand, and thus desperately wanted to ignore.
Perhaps that quest was easier said than done, however, Regina realized, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink as she watched Maleficent unlacing her corset. She tried to look away, feeling as if she owed the woman some measure of privacy to do something so innocent, and yet, she remained distracted enough to forget that she’d been meaning to speak. Clearing her throat as her gaze cast to the floor, Regina slowly wandered further into the room, hands staying clasped together in front of herself. “I didn’t want to assume…” she gave in way of an apologetic explanation, not wanting to admit the reasons behind her hesitancy. To tell of how she’d never been free to enter rooms as she liked. Not as a girl, and certainly not now as queen. Her reign was a FARCE. But the burden of such complaints were not Maleficent’s to bear. Not now. Not when Regina was here to be the help and not the problem.
Her gaze snapped up when Maleficent spoke again, lips parting to speak, but the words were held back as she simply gave a smile and small nod. Maleficent was so… different, from anyone she knew. So commanding. Aggressive. She found it thrilling how simply she could speak her mind and her opinions. How she seemed nearly fearless in the face of reproachful scorn. She would give anything to be like the woman, in more ways than just the one. She watched as Maleficent disappeared into the adjoining room, curiosity leading her feet forward, positioning herself so that she could peek into the other room as well, without seeming like she was doing so. Idly, and without looking, her hand reached out to pick up an item from the dresser just near her, all while her gaze swept over the bathing room. It was larger even than her own at the palace, and twice as exotic.
Leaning more weight on her right foot, so she could crane and see even more into the room, Regina continued on in her gawking, not yet having allowed her gaze to settle on the woman inside, nor to be certain she hadn’t been caught in her staring. She somehow foolishly assumed the bauble in her hands would pose reasonable enough doubt as to her intent, and that if Maleficent were to see her, she would only assume Regina was doing just as she’d been told she was allowed.
After heating her bath to something just below a boiling temperature, almost like a means of making up for all the years she’d been left in the cold, Maleficent moved about the room bringing candles to life, forgetting herself for a moment as a smile eased across her lips at each new flicker-flame. She wasn’t taking it for granted these days, the impact her magic made was significant, and though she claimed no real care for anyone, she was more than thankful of this girl having walked in her to life, and helping to return what was hers. It was a piece of her so long missing she sometimes wondered if it was fitting properly. But every warming fire and every lighted candle seem to speak for themselves. And though her nights may have grown somehow more tormented than before, she wouldn’t trade back her power for anything. Not a thousand night’s sleep. She was nothing without her magic. Thin and frail and only her past deeds struck fear. She could spit threats but they were no replacement of fire, nothing was, and nothing would be. She would never love but she had this, and it was all she needed.
She felt eyes on her without even looking. Curious girl you would be dead by now if I wished it, she thought. But she did not wish it. Despite the rejection she’d unexpectedly faced she wished the girl no harm at all. It was a strange circumstance, a strange feeling to wish anyone no harm. There was always something, but not with her. And though Maleficent had no idea what she found so damn special about the girl, the feeling didn’t change. Without caring whether the eyes would stay on her or not, she began to remove her dress, leaving a billowing mound of fabric pooling on the floor before it was tossed atop a chaise. She moved to a vanity to pin up her hair, the locks having tamed just slightly with her magic’s return though she still didn’t put much effort in to what had once been a stunning appearance. Even now with her magic she was still not all she once was. Her skin lacked color, her full lips left parched and unkissed. All her mirrors were left in their murky state, for she did not want to see in a clear reflection just all she had lost in those years. She was no longer the beautiful young maiden with a dragon beneath her lovely bones. Whatever she now was, she would remain unaware.
Once she’d removed the rest of her clothes, her frayed lace and silks, she moved back to the bath, stepping in to the hot water until she was submerged up to the chest. “Is staring your way of saying you’d like to come in?” She called out suddenly, her gaze shooting to the doors that stayed cracked open, a smirk sitting on chapped lips.