[video]

[storybrooke_savior]

[ The woman in the image looks equal parts harried and resigned, like, this is not ideal at all, but also, it might as well happen, as things tend to, whether she wants them to or not. ]

Since I'm guessing a hat portal home is out of the question, where's the best place to get a drink?

Comments

[fondofapples]

[ Regina's not sure what or who is in charge of destiny here, but it doesn't feel like the Author. This is becoming...comical. ]

If it isn't Miss Swan. Will it be threats or hugs this time around?

[storybrooke_savior]

Regina?

[ ON THE ONE HAND: Regina's here! The less scary, sensible pantsuit, Storybrooke Regina, not black widow chic on Narnia's runway Misthaven Regina. Maybe the situation isn't as hopeless as it once seemed. If recent history has proven anything it's that they can work well together when the chips are down.

On the other hand: shit. If Regina's here too, then Henry is short both moms and that doesn't sit well with Emma at all. ]

Um. I don't know. Neither?

When did you get here? Is Storybrooke--are my parents okay?

[fondofapples]

[ She'd already begun to enjoy being Emma's best friend, godmother to her daughter, confidante of her husband in her short stay in New Dodge, but Regina cloaks her disappointment with practiced ease. If this is not the Emma who'd named her child Hope Regina yet she may someday be, and she is still Henry's mom. ]

Shots and no hope speeches, then.

[ Her questions, though, Regina finds those harder to answer. Neither of them really wants to hear that she doesn't know and she ran out of snarky quips a month ago. ]

Still there. Still debating a second chance for the Queens of Darkness and not missing either of us, so far as I know. Some claptrap about different timelines and alternate universes that sounds like an excuse for Henry's book. I assume it's a curse realm, but it's remarkably mild as those go.

[storybrooke_savior]

[ It feels a little disloyal to say it, but... ] I don't think either of us have ever been a fan of the hope speeches.

[ Of course, now Emma is just confused. And she scoffs a little, softly. ] I'm sorry--the Queens of Darkness? Did someone start a death metal band while I was gone?

The timeline is kind of what I was worried about, with Zelena's spell, the portal...I mean, the book made it look like everything was restored, but...

[fondofapples]

[ At the mention of the portal, Regina's memory of how to be sharp with Swan is forcibly returned to her. ]

You say restored, I hear destroyed. [ Tomato, tomahto. Marian. Maybe she's forgiven Emma, but the wound is still fresh. ]

video:

[blueberryprincess]

[ Evie refuses to stay in the Commonspace for too long, so she's outside today, seated under a tree in some park somewhere with a notebook on her lap and a recipe book or two open and bookmarked. ]

I'm afraid I can't help you in regards to a drink, or a hat portal home. But let me welcome you to town. I'm Evie Grimhilde. Hello.

video:

[storybrooke_savior]

Thanks.

[ Emma's smile is tired--it's been one hell of a 24 hours--but warm. ]

I'm Emma.

Great hair, by the way.

video:

[blueberryprincess]

Thank you.

[ Just gonna...toss that fantastic hair over her shoulder with her best grin. ]

One of my best friends from home did it. And it's a pleasure to meet you, Emma.

video:

[storybrooke_savior]

You too.

So, uh...any tricks and tips you can share for a newly arrived kidnap victim?

Re: video:

[blueberryprincess]

Find a job quick so you can get out of the Commonspace. I've only been here a week and a half and I already know that ten by ten room isn't for me.

Video;

[hattastic]

While I can spot you a cup of tea, I feel that might not be what you're looking for.

Video;

[storybrooke_savior]

Not a big fan of tea, if I'm honest.

[ This can happen when crazy men use a nice hot cup of tea to drug and kidnap you. ]

I wouldn't say no to some hot cocoa.

Video;

[hattastic]

Not a big fan of tea? [ SHOCK AND HORROR. ] Now that's about the saddest thing I've heard all day! Though I will agree a nice cup of hot cocoa isn't too bad.

Video;

[storybrooke_savior]

Sorry. Guess I'm more of a coffee and cocoa girl. No offense.

Uh, sorry. Emma. Emma Swan. Pleased to meet you.

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[hattastic]

I'm hearing that a lot today. I've never seen so many coffee lovers in one place, it's absolutely mad!

[ She laughs a little and tips off her hat to Emma. ]

The pleasure is all mine, Emma! I'm Madeline Hatter, but everyone calls me Maddie.

[private video]

[offwithhishat]

If that worked I would have figured it out by now. [ He wasn't entirely sure what to think about seeing Emma. There's both an edge and a hesitation to the way he's speaking. Jefferson had changed a lot since the last time they met, but he couldn't pretend he didn't hold any form of resentment towards her. It was probably mutual. ]

Didn't expect the beloved Savior herself to show up. [ Again. Not that he'd interacted with the last Emma who had been here. He'd avoided her like the plague. He wasn't entirely sure why he'd responded to this one. Maybe it was some sort of subconscious decision that he couldn't avoid. ]

[private video]

[storybrooke_savior]

[ Ho, shit. That's not a face Emma expected to see...well, ever again. Her mouth drops open, and she stares and blinks for a few seconds before-- ]

Jefferson?

[ Not so much resentment, but there's definite caution on her face when she collects herself. You did kind of drug her and kidnap her--but you were also a hundred percent right about everything, so maybe it should be water under the bridge. ]

I gotta be honest--showing up here was not the plan. Is this where you've been all this time?

[video]

[hellorhighwater]

There's a couple of places in Genessia City that serve a good single malt. Beats the hell out of beer.

[Which, as Neil Blair has come to remember from his childhood, tastes like piss. The sentiment flickers across his handsome features for a second with a wrinkled nose before he focuses on the other part, the one that reminds him of home.]

But go back to the hat portal. [Scratching the bridge of his nose absently, Neil regards her image on his smart phone curiously. He looks almost as normal as he sounds, someone that could be from Emma's world--just built like a soldier with the way he fills out a t-shirt, and a heavy beard that could probably stand a trim.] Never seen one of those...you mean an actual hat that's a portal between worlds?

[The hat part is the biggest point of interest, of course.]

[video]

[storybrooke_savior]

I haven't decided yet if it's a beer or whiskey kind of day. Hot cocoa might work.

[ She smiles a little, tight and wry. ]

I think it's less the hat and more the magic that made the hat, but...yeah. Hat portals. Between worlds. Crazy, right?

[ Honestly, not really. Not so much anymore. ]

[video]

[hellorhighwater]

Oooh, cocoa. Goin' for the hard stuff, then. Man, that'll put some hair on your chest.

[The smile she gets in return is more relaxed, more amiable, but no less wry than her own.]

Seriously, though. Portals between worlds? Not so weird. Hat portals? Yeah, that shit's nuts. I've seen shadow, water, and storm portals, but never one in a hat. And I've only ever used a shadow portal, one time when I was fourteen. All in all? Not a bad way to travel between worlds, y'know?

[video]

[storybrooke_savior]

Or a few inches on your waistline.

I'm not a huge fan of any portal between worlds, and I've had to jump through a few. But I guess they beat out curses as a method of travel.

[quick_clean_pure]

The bar at Fortuna Palace is nice, but a warning: I'm biased because I'm one of the bartenders.

[storybrooke_savior]

Hey, a nice place is a nice place.

I think I just talked to someone who works there as a chef.

[quick_clean_pure]

It is a pretty sweet spot. And it's a casino, too, if you're into that sort of thing.

[storybrooke_savior]

Never been much of a gambler, but the atmosphere can be contagious. I'll have to stop by.