Post by The Mad Hatter on Apr 3, 2014 14:05:01 GMT -5
The sun had barely peeked its orange-pink head up over the horizon by the time he was walking the last few steps down to the dock, glancing over his shoulder every few moments. He had bundled himself tightly up against the cold; a gray pea coat (he wasn't much into colors these days), black leather gloves, dark pants, boots and that signature red scarf all helped to fight against the cold morning air, though still his cheeks stung and little bits of icy dew clung lovingly to his hair. The town was quiet, though, which made his early rising worth the added discomfort of a sunless sky and brusque morning winds. He couldn't afford any run-ins with his three-decade-long neighbors. Most of them were frantic, up in arms with the lifting of the curse.
He hoped Regina was burning at the stake presently. But he doubted she would have let herself get caught so quickly and, more than anyone else, he was hoping to avoid her along his way down to the ocean-side. If she caught up to him before he could get to his...appointment, one might call it, complications would doubtlessly arise. If she hadn't figured out he was the one to send Belle in Gold's direction, she would soon. And she wouldn't be happy about it. Before, when there had been no magic, her threat was less. But now he had Gracie back and Regina had her power back, which meant there was something to be lost if fortune did not sway in his favor.
He avoided the sand, stepping instead out onto the creaking wood of the pier and kneeling. He glanced over his shoulder one last time, reached into his pocket and withdrew a single strand of small black pearls. He held them over the water's edge, watching them dangle, remembering how they had looked once, long ago, around a woman's delicate porcelain neck. He squeezed the end that was in his palm, feeling the smooth round structure of the spheres before he dropped the string into the water and watched it sink. If she had reached his message (and it was an off-chance that she had, as cross-world communication was always an unreliable business), she would come. Don't emerge for anything but a single string of black pearls, he had warned her because, contrary to popular belief, Jefferson did, occasionally, care about the well-being of others. That's how you'll know it's me.
"Please," he heard himself murmuring, the sound muffled by the rush of the wind around him and the upturn of a corner of his scarf, slightly askew across his mouth. "Just...please." It wasn't safe for them here anymore. It never had been to begin with, but matters were worse now and Jefferson did not intend to stick around and wait for someone to come after them. They had spent too long in this accursed land; it was time to pick up and move on. He didn't care where they went, even, just so long as it wasn't here. And with no real functioning hat, and no bean nor portal to travel through, he was, for the first time in a very long time, at the mercy of another's goodwill. The mermaid had no real need to be here, no cause to come and save him. He couldn't offer her much, in way of trade. Just gratitude and a promise that, if ever the chance arose in the future, he would of course return the favor.
In the world they lived in now, that was rarely enough of a bargaining chip. But possibly, it might be enough for her.
Ariel
He hoped Regina was burning at the stake presently. But he doubted she would have let herself get caught so quickly and, more than anyone else, he was hoping to avoid her along his way down to the ocean-side. If she caught up to him before he could get to his...appointment, one might call it, complications would doubtlessly arise. If she hadn't figured out he was the one to send Belle in Gold's direction, she would soon. And she wouldn't be happy about it. Before, when there had been no magic, her threat was less. But now he had Gracie back and Regina had her power back, which meant there was something to be lost if fortune did not sway in his favor.
He avoided the sand, stepping instead out onto the creaking wood of the pier and kneeling. He glanced over his shoulder one last time, reached into his pocket and withdrew a single strand of small black pearls. He held them over the water's edge, watching them dangle, remembering how they had looked once, long ago, around a woman's delicate porcelain neck. He squeezed the end that was in his palm, feeling the smooth round structure of the spheres before he dropped the string into the water and watched it sink. If she had reached his message (and it was an off-chance that she had, as cross-world communication was always an unreliable business), she would come. Don't emerge for anything but a single string of black pearls, he had warned her because, contrary to popular belief, Jefferson did, occasionally, care about the well-being of others. That's how you'll know it's me.
"Please," he heard himself murmuring, the sound muffled by the rush of the wind around him and the upturn of a corner of his scarf, slightly askew across his mouth. "Just...please." It wasn't safe for them here anymore. It never had been to begin with, but matters were worse now and Jefferson did not intend to stick around and wait for someone to come after them. They had spent too long in this accursed land; it was time to pick up and move on. He didn't care where they went, even, just so long as it wasn't here. And with no real functioning hat, and no bean nor portal to travel through, he was, for the first time in a very long time, at the mercy of another's goodwill. The mermaid had no real need to be here, no cause to come and save him. He couldn't offer her much, in way of trade. Just gratitude and a promise that, if ever the chance arose in the future, he would of course return the favor.
In the world they lived in now, that was rarely enough of a bargaining chip. But possibly, it might be enough for her.
Ariel