Dude. I'm part way through season 6 of Once Upon a Time, and Episode 15 has me going FERAL. I CANNOT GET THIS SCENE OUT OF MY HEAD.
This scene at Aesop's Tables. The pure and tender compassion in Regina's tone when she's asking Emma what she needs, forgive me if the quotes are completely accurate, "Do you need to throw things? Or.. cry your eyes out?" The way that Regina asks Emma what she needs. She's patient and careful with her already delicate feelings, knowing that pressing for a reaction could cause Emma to close off completely. She's aware that, with Emma, it takes time for her to bring her guard down, even with those she's close to and trusts the most. She knows that, Emma being in such a vulnerable position, she needs to give her the patience and let her take the reigns in the interaction. She gently asks what she needs, gently asks her to open up to her and talk to her, and shows that, should she choose to do the latter, she's here to listen.
And Gods, can we talk about how softly she says that? "Or.. cry your eyes out?" Regina is aware of how fragile Emma's state is, and so she treats her with that same care and consideration, knowing how badly she needs it, even if she won't admit it verbally. And it's soft in a way that almost suggests that the prospect of Emma "crying her eyes out" is painful to Regina, that the thought of her being in such a bad place emotionally is too much for her to bear.
Also, let's not overlook this little parallel, either. Back in season 4 episode 12, 'Heroes and Villains', riiiight at the end of the episode. Regina is sat at the counter in Granny's, having just sent Robin, Marian and Roland across the town line, and miserable. Emma approaches her, and, after denying Regina's assumption that she's there to give her a hope speech, replies, "Besides, you don't need a hope speech, you need a drinking buddy. Shots?"
Emma's comfort to Regina isn't to try and give her hope and tell her it will all be okay, because she knows her. She knows that Regina won't listen to that. So instead, she offers to give her company and do shots with her. And goes on to make her feel better by telling her that Rumple was miserable too, yet another thing that Emma knows will elicit a response from Regina.
The interaction at Aesop's Tables just goes to show how much the brief interaction at Granny's actually meant to Regina, despite the fact that they never actually get to take the shots due to Henry's interruption. It remains in her mind, and when the moment presents itself that she can return the favour, she does by taking her out for a girls' night to Aesop's. And while both had their own unique ways of comforting the other, that just proves my point. They know each other, they know what works for the other and what doesn't. It's not a "one shoe fits all" approach, they know what they're doing going into these interactions.
I actually can't, they're so adorable my heart is melting 😭🫶
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