Who: Mary Margaret Blanchard and Pam Swynford de Beaufort What: A case of mistaken identity When: End of May Where: Coffee Shop Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Mary Margaret was trying not to think about her dreams. While most of the threats against them in the dreams had been awful, this one was possibly the worst yet. Yes, things had been pretty awful when Regina was dead set on ruining her life, but this was different. This could ruin Emma’s life too. With Maleficent alive again, her and David risked Emma finding out what they had done to Maleficent in the Enchanted Forest. The funny thing about the dreams was that while Mary Margaret knew they had done something to Maleficent to cause the witch to lose her baby, she didn’t know what they had done. In her last dream she had told Regina what they had done, but not how and if she was completely honest, it was a little nerve wracking. That they had done something to cause someone else to lose a child made her sick to her stomach. Her and David were supposed to be heroes. They weren’t supposed to hurt people if it wasn’t necessary and she couldn’t think of a single good reason for hurting Maleficent like that.
She knew that she had no reason to feel guilty over what her dream self had done, but she couldn’t help it so in order to try and take her mind off it, she’d thrown herself into her work. She was continuing to train her new assistant and planning events for the shelter. She was arranging another donation event as well and had signed up at an archery range in order to practice some place other than the woods. When she wasn’t doing all that, she was spending any time she could with Emma, Neal and Henry, helping them get ready for the new baby in any way that she could.
Today, she had spent the morning at the shelter then had gone over to the range to practice for a few hours and was now heading into a cafe for something to drink.
Victrola was doing quite well, but Pam was still adjusting to her sleep schedule because some nights went a lot longer than others. Today had been one of those days where she was running on little sleep and she was ready to snap someone’s arm off if they looked at her wrong. A twisted smirk appeared on her face as she imagined herself as the vampire from her dreams with the ability to do something like that. She wasn’t truly a violent person, but it was amusing to think that her dream self basically got away with anything that she wanted to.
The smirk was taken off her face when she entered the cafe and saw that there was a long line. An annoyed sigh escaped her lips as she made her way to the end of it. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who really needed their caffeine fix in the afternoon. Heels tapped across the floor as she took her place behind a short brunette and fished her phone out of her purse.
Usually Mary Margaret didn’t mind waiting a few minutes extra for her coffee, but it had been a long day so far and she’d gone without her morning coffee earlier in the day so she was slowly becoming annoyed at the long wait. Sighing, she crossed her arms over her chest as she started glancing around the cafe for something that she might be able to focus on while waiting. Turning her head slightly to see what was just behind her, the woman behind her caught her eye and she stiffened, her heart rate rising slightly.
It couldn’t be who she thought it was. It would be far too much of a coincidence after the dreams she’d had the night before. She had only caught sight of the woman in her peripheral so she was sure she was simply seeing things. Putting someone else’s face on a random person. Needing to know for sure, Mary Margaret took a deep breath and turned and felt her blood run cold as it was confirmed that the woman behind her was Maleficent.
Of course Pam wasn’t actually from this woman’s dreams and she hadn’t even noticed the tiny brunette staring at her until she looked away from the menu board. An eyebrow arched as she moved her cool gaze to the woman, “What are you looking at?” Friendly she was not and she was even a bit more prickly when people were staring at her for no reason. It was a little creepy inside a coffee shop, so hopefully this woman had a proper answer. Otherwise she was probably going to get a little more hostile.
It took Mary Margaret a moment to find her voice, but when she did, she straightened up a little as she spoke, “Oh, sorry. I’m sorry, I thought that you were someone else.” She obviously couldn’t tell the other woman that she had been staring at her because she was a villain in her dreams so that seemed like the best answer for the moment.
“Okay then…..” Pam still had a skeptical look upon her face because the woman seemed quite meek. It was strange to be looking at someone like that, but she didn’t want to question because one thing that she truly hated was making small talk for no reason. Her arms went over her chest as she tried to send off the vibes that she didn’t want to talk because this woman seemed like the type that still might try.
Of course Mary Margaret knew that there were other dreamers who resembled other people, but considering she’d just dreamt about Maleficent, it would be one hell of a coincidence if this woman wasn’t the same one from her dreams. At the same time, she was reminded of how things had gotten off on the wrong foot with Regina when she’d assumed the other woman would be just like she was in the dreams and Mary Margaret thought that she should possibly get ahead of the game, “I’m sorry, I’m being really rude, my name’s Mary Margaret. I didn’t mean to stare at you like that.”
Oh great, now the woman was introducing herself. Small talk was something she truly despised, but the woman wouldn’t be bothering her for long once this line got moving. Then she would get out of this cafe as fast as she possibly could. “It’s fine, just don’t do it for very long. My patience is very thin when I haven’t had enough coffee yet. I’m Pam.” No last name especially since hers was a little intense and very Southern Belle, so she usually just went by her first name and that was it. But this Mary Margaret creature seemed like she was unusually chipper and ready to be friendly.
It wasn’t so much that Mary Margaret was ready to be friendly, but if this woman really was Maleficent, it was better to get off on the right foot instead of the wrong one like with Regina. However, when she introduced herself, Mary Margaret felt a little more tension lift off of her and she breathed a small sigh of relief. Sure, she could simply go by a different name, but Mary Margaret didn’t want to start a whole conspiracy theory. She’d never rest easy again if she thought that way, “It’s nice to meet you, Pam. I’m sorry again about staring at you like that.” She’d have to at least tell Regina that there was a woman around who looked like Maleficent.
“Mmhmm,” she made a noncommittal hum of agreement because she honestly wasn’t sure if it was nice to meet this woman yet, but at least she had apologized for the strange staring. She reached up to brush some hair out of her face, “It’s fine. And look, it’s your turn to order, so at least that helped pass the time.” She wasn’t the type to wish anyone a good day unless she was close to them, but she knew they would be parting paths as soon as she placed her order.
Mary Margaret hadn’t even noticed that the line had been moving despite the fact that she had apparently moved along with it. She had been too focused on not!Maleficent to realize it. “Let me buy you drink for you. It’s the least I can do for acting so strangely.” She couldn’t help but want to make it up to the other woman.
“Oh,” Pam was honestly surprised that she would offer to buy her drink. She didn’t know this woman at all, but she wasn’t going to turn down a free drink. So, a shrug and a nod was offered, “Sure, I appreciate it.” Pam could be nice when she wanted to be and she wasn’t going to be a bitch to someone buying her a drink. She stepped forward to place her order once Mary Margaret had ordered hers.
Mary Margaret paid for both drinks then they moved to the side to wait for them. She was extremely relieved that this woman was not Maleficent; although she did have a similar sort of attitude, but since she didn’t want to take revenge on Mary Margaret, she could look past that. “It’s no problem at all. I like to help people however I can. One of many reasons I run a shelter.”
Oh of course this woman was a bleeding heart. Not that a shelter was a bad thing - it was important to the people that needed it. Pam may hate the world, but she never truly wished ill on anyone. “Well, that’s sugary sweet of you. And thanks again for the drink,” Pam stepped forward when their names were called and handed Mary Margaret’s drink over to her, “I better get going. Don’t go staring at too many other people.” She tipped the cup in Mary Margaret’s direction as she started to make her way out of the coffee shop.