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jumpscares2015-07-09 11:52 am
monstermasher) wrote in jumpscares2015-07-09 11:52 am
Entry tags:
( OPEN ) GAME START.
▶ WHO: Everyone.
▶ DATE: July 9th, 2015 (Day 1)
▶ WARNINGS: Blood, violence, general zombie horror.
▶ SUMMARY: You've met with a bad... however that line goes. Welcome to Earth.
▶ DATE: July 9th, 2015 (Day 1)
▶ WARNINGS: Blood, violence, general zombie horror.
▶ SUMMARY: You've met with a bad... however that line goes. Welcome to Earth.
GOOD MORNING!
Please try and ignore whatever it is that you just heard. It should only last for up to a minute... maybe.
It... it is morning, right?
There are no windows.
There's a light, but it's barely considered one. The compound runs on a solar generator, but that doesn't mean it has a lot of power. The light seems to be hanging from the ceiling, swinging precariously. That's when you might actually start to wake up, sit up, find the things that are familiar to you... and then some of the things that aren't. It'd be wise to explore the small room you're in before leaving through the steel door, but there's nobody around to tell you that.
Outside is a tightly knit compound, just as dark and metallic as the room. The hallway you're in houses dozens more doors identical to yours, and if you're unlucky there may be more people poking their heads out through them, just like you. There's a dull glowing sign that reads MEDICAL BAY but not all of you remember being hurt. Some of you may be just fine, apart from the memory of the sound you heard when waking up.
The Medical Bay is stocked with enough medicine to last a couple of months. There's almost everything that can be found in a hospital. Somebody was thinking ahead.
Outside of the Medical Bay are more doors, some are even locked—many aren't. There are living quarters, a food storage, a kitchen, some laboratories; even a room full of computers and nothing else, all with a screen asking for a password. There's only two doors out of the compound, a vehicle bay with what appear to be a few military jeeps and trucks, and the front doors. It's on the inside of the front doors that something is painted in bright red, flecked with what smell like blood:
DO NOT GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT A GUN AND WATER.
GUNSHOTS ATTRACT THEM.
HOLLOWS IS 1.3 MILES NORTH OF HERE.
GOOD LUCK.
And on the outside of the doors, if you choose to open them:
THE WORLD ENDED JULY 3RD, 2015.
Now... how long ago was that? And where is this place? Luckily for you, Hollows is a small town that can be raided. It hasn't been too long since the apocalypse—surely you'll be able to find something there. Batteries, food, weapons, maybe some people—and what you're guaranteed to find. Them, whatever that means.
Outside of the compound there's a fence with a single gate. Nothing can get past this unless you let them in for tea, so be careful. There's a shooting range and a large shed full of weapons and ammo, enough to last two months if you're careful. Guns, knives, anything that would be used by the military and police is hidden away in the shed. There are even a few hunting bows with arrows.
If you climb up the ladder to the top of the wall, there's enough room to walk along the top. There's definitely something moving in the distance, something you should definitely be worrying about. Maybe it's time to get a good look with a sniper rifle...?
Oh.
It's gone.
Maybe it was just a trick of the light. Regardless, it's impossible for everyone to stay in the compound forever. There are nefarious things at work! The choices are to go to Hollows, stick around, or go somewhere else. Really, the world is almost a blank slate. Maybe more of a used slate, but still yours to explore.
When the night comes, you should be hiding. The screamers, the ragers, whatever the hell they are, are running full tilt through the streets and across the landscape, running through anything in their way, ripping apart anything alive. If you don't make any noise, they won't notice you. Especially since they're stuck listening to each other. But if you get noticed by one, it won't be long until a horde forms... you might be able to outrun one for awhile, but they don't seem to let up on their breakneck pace. Maybe someone should have told you how to kill them.
Please try and ignore whatever it is that you just heard. It should only last for up to a minute... maybe.
It... it is morning, right?
There are no windows.
There's a light, but it's barely considered one. The compound runs on a solar generator, but that doesn't mean it has a lot of power. The light seems to be hanging from the ceiling, swinging precariously. That's when you might actually start to wake up, sit up, find the things that are familiar to you... and then some of the things that aren't. It'd be wise to explore the small room you're in before leaving through the steel door, but there's nobody around to tell you that.
Outside is a tightly knit compound, just as dark and metallic as the room. The hallway you're in houses dozens more doors identical to yours, and if you're unlucky there may be more people poking their heads out through them, just like you. There's a dull glowing sign that reads MEDICAL BAY but not all of you remember being hurt. Some of you may be just fine, apart from the memory of the sound you heard when waking up.
The Medical Bay is stocked with enough medicine to last a couple of months. There's almost everything that can be found in a hospital. Somebody was thinking ahead.
Outside of the Medical Bay are more doors, some are even locked—many aren't. There are living quarters, a food storage, a kitchen, some laboratories; even a room full of computers and nothing else, all with a screen asking for a password. There's only two doors out of the compound, a vehicle bay with what appear to be a few military jeeps and trucks, and the front doors. It's on the inside of the front doors that something is painted in bright red, flecked with what smell like blood:
GUNSHOTS ATTRACT THEM.
HOLLOWS IS 1.3 MILES NORTH OF HERE.
GOOD LUCK.
And on the outside of the doors, if you choose to open them:
Now... how long ago was that? And where is this place? Luckily for you, Hollows is a small town that can be raided. It hasn't been too long since the apocalypse—surely you'll be able to find something there. Batteries, food, weapons, maybe some people—and what you're guaranteed to find. Them, whatever that means.
Outside of the compound there's a fence with a single gate. Nothing can get past this unless you let them in for tea, so be careful. There's a shooting range and a large shed full of weapons and ammo, enough to last two months if you're careful. Guns, knives, anything that would be used by the military and police is hidden away in the shed. There are even a few hunting bows with arrows.
If you climb up the ladder to the top of the wall, there's enough room to walk along the top. There's definitely something moving in the distance, something you should definitely be worrying about. Maybe it's time to get a good look with a sniper rifle...?
Oh.
It's gone.
Maybe it was just a trick of the light. Regardless, it's impossible for everyone to stay in the compound forever. There are nefarious things at work! The choices are to go to Hollows, stick around, or go somewhere else. Really, the world is almost a blank slate. Maybe more of a used slate, but still yours to explore.
When the night comes, you should be hiding. The screamers, the ragers, whatever the hell they are, are running full tilt through the streets and across the landscape, running through anything in their way, ripping apart anything alive. If you don't make any noise, they won't notice you. Especially since they're stuck listening to each other. But if you get noticed by one, it won't be long until a horde forms... you might be able to outrun one for awhile, but they don't seem to let up on their breakneck pace. Maybe someone should have told you how to kill them.
OOC NOTES.
There will be zombies in Hollows. Whether you meet them on the way there is up to you. Apart from the undead and the animals (maybe somebody should let those poor creatures out of their houses) the town is completely deserted. In fact, the closest thing you can find to a human are the bodies of those who died without being bitten, and there's even few of those. You can find anything you'd find in a normal town here, and are free to loot and raid the houses and stores—the cops won't be coming, after all. The power is OFF apart from what you can find that is solar powered or still has a charge. If you're lucky and find another town while exploring the first few weeks, you might find an area that still has power—thank hydroelectricity.
Just keep in mind travel time... and travel expenses.
You have creative freedom over everything else. The world is open. The only stationary places are landmarks and cities—if you want to go to Texas and talk to the poor astronauts stranded up in space, it's there. (Might be a long trip, though...)
If your character can figure it out by geography before getting to Hollows, the compound is located a few hours from the west coast, in California.
The way to kill a zombie is blunt force to the head. The head doesn't need to be removed, but significant damage needs to be done to it. This does not include the throat—it needs to be a headshot.
There's also a glaring hint. The computers in the compound, asking for a password. It is impossible to hack at this time. There will be more on this later!
Finally, if your character is exploring outside of the compound (or extensively inside of it) there's a comment here for linking me the thread. You can also PM me! I'll be ducking in with what your character may or may not have found, via a response to the actual RP thread.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS please direct them here!
There will be zombies in Hollows. Whether you meet them on the way there is up to you. Apart from the undead and the animals (maybe somebody should let those poor creatures out of their houses) the town is completely deserted. In fact, the closest thing you can find to a human are the bodies of those who died without being bitten, and there's even few of those. You can find anything you'd find in a normal town here, and are free to loot and raid the houses and stores—the cops won't be coming, after all. The power is OFF apart from what you can find that is solar powered or still has a charge. If you're lucky and find another town while exploring the first few weeks, you might find an area that still has power—thank hydroelectricity.
Just keep in mind travel time... and travel expenses.
You have creative freedom over everything else. The world is open. The only stationary places are landmarks and cities—if you want to go to Texas and talk to the poor astronauts stranded up in space, it's there. (Might be a long trip, though...)
If your character can figure it out by geography before getting to Hollows, the compound is located a few hours from the west coast, in California.
The way to kill a zombie is blunt force to the head. The head doesn't need to be removed, but significant damage needs to be done to it. This does not include the throat—it needs to be a headshot.
There's also a glaring hint. The computers in the compound, asking for a password. It is impossible to hack at this time. There will be more on this later!
Finally, if your character is exploring outside of the compound (or extensively inside of it) there's a comment here for linking me the thread. You can also PM me! I'll be ducking in with what your character may or may not have found, via a response to the actual RP thread.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS please direct them here!
emma swan | once upon a time | ota
[She's not in the Enchanted Forest anymore.
The sound of a fire crackling would fit with where she just was, but not the room she wakes up in. It's cold, dark, and empty, and most importantly it's modern. The light in the room barely works, but it illuminates the space around her enough for Emma to be sure that she's not in the right place. This isn't some strange corner of Storybrooke she's never seen before, it's something else. Somewhere else. It's not how this was supposed to go. She was there, she saw Henry set everything back to the way it was. They should all be at Granny's right now having another victory party, except she's here and she doesn't even know where here is.]
Killian.
[If they didn't go back, what happened to him?
She bolts upright to get a better look around, getting to her feet immediately while she searches for some kind of weapon. Under the bed, she finds a gun that looks like more of a toy than a weapon, but it's all Emma has, so she takes it and hopes it works (it won't). There's no time for her to search the empty room. She needs to find Henry, Hook, and her parents. If she's here, that has to mean they're all here, right? All she has to do is find them.
David always insists that family finds each other, she's hoping that kicks in here.
Stepping out into the hallway, there's no shortage of potential rooms to find them in. It'd be smart to keep her mouth shut, get a sense of her surroundings, maybe see what's around the corner and behind each closed door before she announces herself, but there's no time for rational thought. Emma knows better than to call out when she doesn't know what the hell she's walking into, but that's exactly what she does, going in order and poking her head into the room nearest to her, finding it empty, and moving on to the next one.]
Henry? Hook? Where the hell is everyone?
no subject
he's figured out where he needs to go and that it's far from here, but he still needs a map. even if he steals a car he doesn't know how to operate, he needs to know where he's going. fate drawing you to the person you love is securely for optimists like the Charmings; Hook suspects he needs an idea of where Maine is if he's any hope of getting there before it's too late. it's not like he'll just run into Emma on accident. he'd hoped he could summon her with the dagger but it doesn't work, and his feverish mind tells him that there was no magic here, and the dark one can't exist without it.
her name is still on it. she has to be out there, somewhere. which means he has time to find her, so long as he gets back to Maine.
he's back to rifling through rooms, trying to find something that will help navigate him to where he needs to go, when he hears a voice that he shouldn't hear. he tries to dismiss it as fantasy, and yet he's peeling from the room he was searching in on the slimmest of chances it wasn't imagination. he'd rather search and be wrong than risk the possibility he's not. he turns a corner and he only sees the back of a blonde head and what she's wearing is wrong — it was a white sweater, those jeans she's always in, and no jacket — he doesn't care. )
Emma? ( it's the only warning she gets before he's closing the distance and fast, forgetting about the hook that might cleave her a little as his arms vice around her and his heart threatens to beat out of his chest. there's a flood of relief at the scent of cinnamon and something distinctly her, even in the strangeness of this place. there's pure panic and fear in his eyes when he finally pulls back to look her in the eye, eyes roving over her for signs of the curse she's taken on for a woman that doesn't deserve it, trying to place if she's really with him or if his head is giving him what he desperately wants. in the end, he must decide he doesn't care. she might not be real but he can't help himself. his hand curves into the wild blonde behind her ear to force her eyes to his. ) I love you. ( his voice breaks on one of those words but he has to say it, has to say it before she's gone and he won't get the chance. he almost thinks that she'll disappear before he can, just like before. she'll slip away like she was never there, because she wasn't. his grief and exhaustion have pushed him into madness and his head is punishing him, and he doesn't even care because that means he gets to see her again.
but she doesn't disappear and she feels so real beneath his touch. he doesn't talk again, kissing her instead, the dagger bearing her name burning against his side where he has it hidden in a pocket inside his jacket. the kiss feels real, even if his weathered heart isn't willing to believe she is yet. )
no subject
Everything about it is foreign, minus the pirate making his way toward her - the one who she rushes up to without any concern for the hook or the slight tug of it against the leather of her jacket. Wherever here is, he's with her, alive, the way she remembered him. It's hard to care about the rest of it in the moment. Whatever this place is, they'll figure it out together. It's not the first time they've stumbled through a portal and had to find their way home.
When he starts looking her over, Emma does the same to him. While she's searching to be sure he's okay, she isn't sure what Killian is looking for. She wasn't the one who made the sacrifice, he was.] Don't ever scare me like that again. [They came so close to losing everything that she's still shaken by it, her own voice wavering while she rests her head against his shoulder and her hands against his back. There are words she wants to say, but now that he's back and they have something new to deal with, it feels like tempting fate.
Is she going to lose him again if she says she loves him? Previous experience tells her something terrible will happen if she says those words aloud. Words complicate things; they have power. If she puts it out there, is she putting a target on his back?
... And then he says it first, voice choked in the emotion that Emma was already feeling, holding on to her like she's his lifeline. He loves her, she knows he does, and not just because he said it. The words weren't needed, she knows. She's known, because for the first time in her life, she has someone who has refused to leave her side, no matter what the cost. His ship, his life, he's given everything he has to be with her.
The least she can do is be brave enough to say it back.
She knows she doesn't have to. Killian has never pushed for more than she was ready for. He's not saying it to coax a reaction out of her, and he didn't tell her with the hope that he'd hear it back. Somehow that makes it more important. It's how she feels and he should know that. He should hear it. It doesn't matter what they're about to face, because how she feels about him isn't going to change.
When she pulls back, it's just enough to speak, lips hovering close to Hook's and her nose bumping against his, eyes closed to savor a few good seconds before they blink open and she smiles, nervous but still certain. This is the step she wanted to take, everything she was too scared to say. She's still scared, but she can't let that stop her. It feels a little like he is, too. Like in this situation, they have a right to be.]
I love you, too.
no subject
he's not likely to ever make Emma think that way, granted, but it's equally impossible to change his mind.
there's some bitter irony that she's worried about him when not even hours ago she brokenly told him she loved him—something he's been waiting for, hoping for, something that should have been the best moment in his miserable life—and took on the curse to save them all. it's undeniably her, and he can't resent her for doing what she did. Emma will always put the happiness and safety of others before herself, it's beautiful, admirable, remarkable; it doesn't save him from being terrified what might happen, now that she's set to be poisoned by the darkness tethered to the dagger. he wants to have faith she can overcome it, but it's impossible to know when he doesn't know where she is.
he's searching for stains of that curse, confusion marked in his expression. just because it hasn't changed her appearance, doesn't mean she's safe. still, the heat of the moment requires more than just staring, and luckily for him Emma doesn't seem to mind. they're both a bit overwhelmed by the panic of losing someone, a harrowing threat that seems to constantly hang over their head. he had refused to try to love again after Milah, certain he couldn't take another loss. he'd lived for centuries that way, squandering in a darkness of his own making until she'd burst into his life like a light he couldn't ignore, drawing him forward. Emma has shown him that everything they have is worth too much not to fight for it. it's like not living at all, to close a heart to love. now that he's found it again he's not going to let himself be afraid of it.
his forehead presses to hers, just drowning in the fact that she's here and more or less, seems all right. he doesn't expect anything after the fumbled exhale. he already knows, he knew before that moment when she looked at him with tears in her eyes and the dagger clenched in her grip. he knew it on the bed, could see it in her eyes and her smile and that was enough until she was ready. it aches a little, that she told him only when everything fell apart, that she was ripped away before he could say it back, but he's righting that wrong now. when his eyes manage to open he sees that smile again, that same one that was playing on her features as she pinned him against mattress, and he doesn't need her to say what he already knows...
but that doesn't lessen the impact of hearing her say it in a happy breath, instead of a tortured one.
he smiles back, he can't not; it's just a boyish twist of his lips before he kisses her again, heart still pounding a bit painfully. he's learned long ago love isn't enough to keep someone safe. loving him especially just seems to be a death sentence. he still wants to drown in that fact for a bit. Emma Swan loves him, they've crossed that hurdle he wasn't sure they ever would. it may not be perfect and it may not be true but love was more than enough for him. he kisses her like he bloody well might die without it, like there's a ship sinking around them and this is their last chance, and then he kisses her harder because it's not their last chance, he won't let it be.
when he pulls back, it's because he needs to focus. it's always too easy to drown in her, he just can't afford that temptation when even now, standing before him, she could be in danger. )
Emma, the curse— Do you feel differently? All that darkness, and then you disappeared, I thought— ( his hand curves over her cheek, and looking in her eyes it seems very much like she's perfectly well, but he can't believe even that. ) You disappeared, did it bring you here? ( why on earth would it do that? )
no subject
They do alright most of the time. Neither one of them has the best luck with love, and they both struggle with what that means for their relationship. They have every reason to turn and run if they wanted to, but they haven't. And she's at the point where she believes they won't. She never expected to find love again after Neal left. She didn't want it, she didn't believe in it, and she definitely didn't believe she was capable of having it. He might have heard her say it before, but to Emma it's a first; and a damn good one, too.
If they're supposed to be concerned with the situation they're in, that will have to wait. She lets herself get lost in that kiss; having him near, knowing he's safe, feeling loved and realizing her feelings are out in the open. It's not perfect, but it's strong, and real, and worth fighting for. She kisses him like it's the start of something better for them because she thinks it is. There's no hiding her feelings from him anymore, no being afraid that the truth will be too much to take. She's not waiting for him to walk away, or to decide it's too much. Part of her will always be afraid of losing him, but that means she'll have to fight that much harder to make sure she doesn't.
Things are going well until he pulls back, which forces her to remember where they are, and how few answers they have. She'd start to lay out the questions she has about the building, but Killian's quicker at putting words together - the last ones she was expecting him to say.] The curse?
[There's no curse. They've dealt with plenty of them, but this isn't one. And she didn't disappear. There was no darkness, at least not in the way he seems to be asking about it.]
Killian, what curse?
[She frowns, brow lined and heavy, head tilted to meet his gaze.] I think I'd remember disappearing.
no subject
she might think she'd remember, but just looking at him has to be indication that he's not imagining things. he's just lived his greatest fear, one he's had to survive twice now, three times if one counted a boy he practically begged to be his family once upon a time. he used to be good at covering this sort of bold emotion, but Emma always managed to see through it anyway. right now there's no attempt to hide the sheer terror that he'd lost her for good, even with proof that she wasn't entirely gone burned onto the dark one's blade. )
The Crocodile. That... idiot apprentice tried to save him by sucking his darkness out of him, into the hat. It didn't work, it ran rampant through town. ( he isn't sure he wants to recount this story, not even to Emma. it still too new and too raw, and he can remember it all falling apart when he closes his eyes. he doubts he'll be sleeping for awhile. he presses his forehead to hers and his palm over her heartbeat like he needs proof that it's there before he can keep going. )
That darkness needs to be tethered to the dagger, or it will destroy whatever it touches. It was after Regina, and you had the dagger and... ( he leaves out broken promises of love that he didn't even have a chance to give back, but that doesn't make the last part of the tale any easier to say. ) You tethered it to the darkness, and yourself, and then you were gone. ( she may not believe him, but he's got the proof tucked in his coat. he can't honestly explain why she doesn't respond to it or she doesn't remember, he just knows it happened. )
no subject
Was it the right thing to do? Yes, she needs to stand by that. If it happened the way he says it did - and she's hoping it didn't, that it was some kind of a trick - then it was still better that it was her. Regina has had to earn her happiness back piece by piece, and she didn't deserve to have it ripped out from under her now. She's sacrificed herself for them, stepped up when she didn't have to, broken curses and learned what it is to love someone. Killian doesn't deserve this either, and Emma knows what this is like. She watched Neal sacrifice himself for Storybrooke, held him knowing all she could do was let it happen.
It's not as final as that, if all she did was disappear. That means they can find her, they can fix it. All she wants to do is find a way around it, but it's hard to connect that far when he's talking about something he's experienced that she can't even grasp. Hearing about it makes her feel like this happened to someone else. Like they'll find a way home and work on a way around it, when in his mind she already vanished.]
Are you sure? [Is he sure this place didn't do something to do him, or change things around like the author of one of those books? This isn't their world, who knows how they could have been manipulated?] Are you sure it isn't some kind of trick? Like a fake memory, or, I don't know - a hallucination? [She was out for a while, he could have been, too.
But deep down, she knows better than to think it was some kind of made up scenario. He's still shaken from it, and she can't even apologize for doing it if taking on the curse protected Storybrooke from the darkness. Her eyes find his in the moment when she leans back, not far enough to break away, just enough to get him to look at her.] ... If it is true, we'll figure it out. Think of how many things we've faced together.
I love you too much to give up now, I'll keep fighting if you will.
no subject
it's true, even back then in that moment, she'd been bidding him with the task of saving her. the fact that it wasn't supposed to be forever doesn't manage to ease the sting of losing someone he loved all over again. he'll fight to save her, he'll go from this world to the next, he'll devote another three centuries to hunting the newest dark one if it means he can save her from that horrible fate. he's just aching from the loss all the same, even with her here and solid next to him, curved closer like just that could be a comfort.
is he sure? he'd like to follow her logic, he would. it sounds unreal, and he knows that, but he knows it happened. he watched it all fall apart in front of him, and he'd pushed through Robin of Locksley to be the first to pick up the dagger with her name burned into the wicked metal. the last fragment of her he had left, and no real indication of how to move forward and find her. she leans back to catch his eye and insist they'll find a way, that they'll figure it out and find a way back to each other. )
I'll never stop fighting for you. ( and he means that; but there's a broken misery to the promise, from being the one doomed to be left behind when the world needed her. he can't hate her for that, it just doesn't make it ache any less. he swallows back the unhappiness painted over every inch of him, because it won't help either of them right now. they're together, he won't let himself lose sight of that. maybe that future can be avoided; he'll do his damnedest to make sure Emma never has to face that possibility. ) I promise.
( his touch presses a little closer over her heartbeat, before he pulls back to pull something out of his coat. if she needs proof that it's not a hallucination, it's on the dagger he tugs from an inner pocket. wicked lines, grim and dark metal, and her name boldly written across the flat of the blade. ) It wasn't a hallucination, Emma. I wish it was. ( he holds the blade out for her to take. he thinks that she's the best keeper of it; Emma has always needed the ability to make her own choices, he won't take that from her now. )
no subject
She thinks she's prepared for everything. She's pretty convinced she's seen everything, and yet the sight of Emma momentarily knocks her breath out of her lungs. Regina also registers Hook's presence, but doesn't much care. There was never any love lost between them.
Last she saw Emma, she was being swallowed up by darkness. Willingly swallowed up by darkness, because of Regina.
Up to now, Regina had willed herself to not think about it. Not think about it at all. The only thought of home and before she'd allowed herself had been of Henry. Henry, because she needs to get back to him.
Everything else was yet too much.
And now here's Emma, and she looks just the same, just the same she's always been. Not dark at all. It could be a trick. It could be that Emma didn't change appearance, not this soon in the game. Rumpelstiltskin became the Dark One long before Regina was born, Regina doesn't know how this works, and that is perhaps the scariest thought in all this. For the first time in a long time, she's completely out at sea.
Well. This would be as good a time as any to test the waters.]
Emma?
no subject
They're searching for supplies when she comes across her second familiar face, and this time when Regina stops in her tracks, Emma knows why. The curse strikes again. She lets go of Hook's hand to take a few cautious steps forward, nodding in greeting with her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket. She's fine. They're all fine. Probably screwed, but when are they not? She'd rather take her odds on getting through this than deal with what's waiting for her at home - but she'd rather be home, if that means she's with Henry.
And she knows that goes for both of them.]
Regina, hey.
[There's no way to start the conversation they should really have, so maybe they should start small. They can work their way up to the rest of it later.]
Are you alright?
no subject
this place has dragged them here, skewed their fates. perhaps it can at the very least grant them a chance to change Emma's for the better. he knows she'll do it all over again to protect a woman he doesn't particular think deserves it and all of Storybrooke as well, he just hopes they can find the new answer before she has to.
he has roamed around a bit before he found Emma, so he's not expecting anyone else from Storybrooke. much less the woman that got them into this mess in the first place. all right, that's not fair; Regina wasn't responsible for the dark curse escaping the hat. the pirate is cross all the same, heart still beating a little crooked watching his happy ending sacrifice herself to save an evil queen from darkness when she'd intentionally drowned in it for decades. Regina had been the target of that curse for a reason, it wasn't Emma's responsibility to take on that punishment for the queen's mistakes. Emma hadn't wanted to tear the mayor from the love she'd finally reunited with, but he's not sure why Emma was willing to do the same to him. he's trying not to think about that part because Emma trusts that they'll save her, and he'll find a way if it kills him.
but all considered, it isn't entirely shocking he doesn't look pleased to see Regina. )
Lovely to see you too, your majesty. ( his tone indicated just about the opposite, but he figured the feeling was just about mutual. he crosses his arms, not pleased to be bereft of the attachment to Emma he had before she let go. )
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She supposes she'll have to figure it out. For now, Emma's concern is quite touching, and gods, she gets an urge to hug the woman, which she doesn't, of course. A small smile appears on her lips either way.]
I'm fine. How are you?
[Then there's Hook, next to Emma, of course. His words are cordial, but his tone of voice spells his displeasure plainly. Regina acknowledges him with a nod and a mild glower.]
Captain.
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If they've lived it, how is it possible that she hasn't?]
Fine.
[Bothered, by everything that's happened without her knowledge. Bothered that they're here, and that they don't know what's going on. It feels like another mission to fight their way back to Henry, but that's assuming - ]
Is anyone else here? My parents, Henry - anyone?
[Robin Hood, Roland? The list of people who matter to them keeps getting longer. She's already found Killian, that means there could be others out there. And if they are, what are they supposed to do? Look for a portal, find their way home?
Although there's one thing she hasn't had time to test yet.]
What about magic, how far is that going to get us here?
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it's more accurate to say he wants to be with Emma, though, if he can't have her in Storybrooke then he'd probably choose to never go back. luckily for everyone involved, he's not going to give in with that sort of plan any time soon.
as for magic, he can't help them there. he has the dagger and knows it has no effect on Emma as of right now, and considering the queen once had a scheme with her mother to take it over, he's not going to mention it. Regina has moved on since, yes; but power can be all to intoxicating to people tainted by the darkness. he doesn't trust himself with the dagger, not really, but he trusts himself more than he trusts the mayor. )
All sorts of people are here, seems that magic might not be unheard of to all of them. ( some of them, surely, but not all of them. )
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[It was about the first thing she tried, of course. Long-distance teleportation is difficult, but doable for a sorcerer of her skill. But when she tried, it was like she ran into her wall, her magic just fizzling out rather pathetically.
Which means she has an idea of what is going on.]
What I suspect is that this is a place that draws people in -- another realm. The strange thing being that I don't remember being drawn into a portal.
[No, she remembers standing in the street, unable to tear her eyes off the dagger with Emma's name on it.]
I just... woke up here. And then I explored for a while. I've met some interesting people and creatures and been informed that there are zombies as well as dinosaurs.
[She briefly rolls her eyes at this, because zombies? Seriously? The gesture quickly turns into a concerned frown and imploring eyes that she directs at Emma in what she hopes is a knowing mom-to-mom signal.]
So far, no one from home, but I haven't looked everywhere yet. Finding out if Henry is here is the first thing we need to do.
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[It stops her from thinking about home for about five seconds. Zombies. Dinosaurs. She's dealt with one, but not the other, and neither sound like a good time here. But if there's anything that's going to ground her in reality (if that's what this is), it's a mention of Henry.
Regina is right; if he's here, they need to find him. He can't be wandering alone with zombies and dinosaurs.
They all know that the first thing Henry is going to find here is trouble.]
Alright, then we need to look around.
[Split up or stay together? There's only three of them and the entire realm is one giant unknown, so she's going to go with staying together. She flexes her fingers, because everything's normal so far. They might be expecting the worst, but she doesn't feel any different. Wouldn't she know if her magic was dark now? Regina's not picking up on anything, that's a good sign.
And if they need it, she should know how much of it she has.]
Should I see if my magic works, too?
[Just in case, Emma thinks to add - ]
Hook has the dagger.
[He'll stop her, if he has to. If she loses control of herself, he'll be able to order her back in line. It's not that much of a comfort, but it's all she has to work with. He might wish he didn't have to, but he can handle this.
She looks back to Killian, giving him a small shrug, like she wants to know how he feels about it. Everything feels the way it always has, but it wouldn't hurt to check.]
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he nods to the idea of looking around, but if there's a split up that is going to occur then they're going to be saying goodbye to the dear mayor. he's not quite ready for distance yet. he's still not entirely confident that this is all real, that Emma is with him, and the idea of walking away seems too dangerous. she might disappear all over again, and he knows that using the dagger to try and summon her doesn't work.
as to the idea of Emma using her magic, well; Hook is a bit at a loss. her magic is not inherently dangerous, not in and of itself. she's the savior, she has a great deal of light magic at her disposal, and it very well might be helpful... it just seems like it might not be the wisest course, considering the precarious nature of the dark one curse. if she taps into her own magic, will she tap into the darkness tethered to the blade? he doesn't want her to infect her heart for no cause, not when they could find another way.
the problem is he can't quite tell if he's simply paranoid over losing her, or if it's genuinely a bad idea. )
It seems risk— ( his sentence deflates before it even finishes as Emma tosses out the last bit. honestly, the pirate wouldn't have mentioned that to Regina Mills. in a matter of strength, Regina is a better keeper of the dagger, but Hook doesn't trust her with it in the slightest. she's been tempted by darkness, bloody hell she and her mother tried to steal the damn thing and betrayed him to do it, so he has his reasons. she's too controlling not to think she's entitled to the task, though, which will make things ... awkward. ) Risky. Not even I know how this curse works, Emma, and I hunted the Dark One for centuries. Could be that using the magic while tethered to the dagger might invite darkness into your heart.
( he's never considered the fact that the dagger is what made Rumpelstiltskin evil. it doesn't sit well on him, but just in case, it doesn't hurt to be careful. his expression is concerned, because he is. it's up to Emma, in the end, but he would rather know more before they make any rash choices. especially where she is concerned.
the glance he sends in Regina's direction is far less friendly. he's not giving her the dagger, she'll have to take it from him; hopefully the fact Emma has left it with the person she wants to have it will be enough to stay her hand. )
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He has the dagger?
[No, she doesn't think it's a good idea. In her opinion, Hook has yet to make himself particularly useful. Just this year, he has been under the Dark One's control -- and that was when it was still firmly tethered to a person who could, at least, be reasoned with. For all they know, the dagger without the Dark One might just be useless, but they can't be sure.]
With all due respect, but I think it should be me who has it.
[She speaks with crystal clear enunciation, making no effort to hide the contempt she feels. Hook could never hope to handle the dagger. Regina thinks back to holding it when she was freeing the fairies from the sorcerer's hat; how even then, she'd felt the darkness seeping into her, tugging at her consciousness. Anyone but an experienced magic user would be hopeless to keep it on them at all times.
Speaking of magic; she once more turns back toward Emma.]
As for your magic, I agree. It would be better if you don't try for now -- at least not without my supervision. And I'd prefer to have more information first. About how magic works here, about the Dark One's curse...
[She expels a loud, frustrated sigh as she combs a hand through her hair; a concession to her true feelings. Incredibly restless, upset about this whole situation. She can feel it brewing right beneath the surface.
Damn, she doesn't have time for this now, so she shoves her feelings down and straightens herself up again, emitting authority. Emma and Hook are confused and can be somewhat hapless altogether, so clearly it's on her to take the reins.]
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Fine, no magic - for now.
[They can start with that, because it's easier to deal with. If this is the land of zombies and dinosaurs, she'll be better off with a weapon than abilities she's still not entirely confident in. If and when things get worse, it's her magic, she'll decide for herself. There's nothing pulling her toward the darkness right now, and she's betting that means her magic is unaffected. Without having experienced it like Hook and Regina have, it's hard to jump in with the same level of caution. The immediate problem is this place, not the curse.
They need to look around and get an idea of what they're up against. If that eventually means taking a few risks with her magic, so be it.]
I know you think you should be the one to hold on to the dagger, but it has my name on it. That makes it my choice.
[He said he wanted to protect her heart, and he has. He's given everything he has for the two of them to be together, chased her through other worlds and helped her restore her family's history. When he heard she was in trouble, he outran a curse and convinced her to trust her instincts. There's darkness in his past, that's true, but Emma sees the hero in his heart. She's the one who sacrificed herself, the one who's putting him through all of this. The only thing she can be sure of now is that he'll find a way to set things right. They all will - but that involves working together.]
Look, I get that the two of you aren't exactly friends, but right now, all we have is each other. If we're going to get back to Storybrooke, we need to work on finding a way out together.
[She's not leaving either of them behind, that much is clear. But while Regina wants to assert her authority, Emma doesn't need a leader. She needs a friend; someone who she can share ideas with. Preferably someone who isn't going to try barking orders, because even without the Dark One's anger, that's not going to go over well.]
When we were in Neverland, I said we had to be who we are. You're both heroes now, so stow the dagger crap and start acting like them.
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Fine.
( he doesn't appreciate the lecture, and honestly, when has he ever? Hook doesn't care for being talked down to, not even from Emma. he didn't realize he was doing anything wrong by standing around as Regina made demands, but the fact is he's likely too reactive right now. it's probably impossible for him to not be bothered when everything seems to be splintering in his hands.
as long as Emma wants him to keep the dagger, then he will. if she wants it to go to Regina, he really won't have any place to argue, either. she's right, it's her name, and it's her call. as long as it's in his possession, he'll do whatever he needs to keep it safe. as much as he doesn't like Regina, he thinks she'd do about the same, but if it came down to Emma or getting back to Henry, he's not sure that Regina would do the right thing. there's not a great deal that will change his mind on that but time to know the queen has truly changed. )
Might as well keep scouting the place. There's a bay with those dreadful automobiles, might be we could take one of those to Storybrooke. If it's even here.