"I'll be there." There's no hesitation. He wants to be aware of what's happening, although perhaps for different reasons than his father. Not that he'll be able to do anything about it if things don't go the way Gold wants, but at least he'd be there.
"Thank you." And because he didn't want the subject to stop the entire morning dead, he immediately busies himself with more that needs doing in the kitchen before serving himself. Things that can be put away, cleaned.
"Yes. Something to keep me busy." And he certainly has been, especially when he was snowed in on his initial arrival. No other way to keep himself focused but to find things to do.
Even if he had access to a spinning wheel then, he hadn't quite gotten to the point where he wanted to.
"And made connections with people, too." He knows this is the hard one for his father, but he must have put some effort into it if he's got people who can help with healing his ankle.
"Everyone here is in the same boat; it pays to know a few and keep up with what is going on." It is easy for him to brush it off as mainly business. "...Of course I have gotten to know a few people. People I work with. People I might have known of already. Maybe even a friend or two."
Avoiding the F word, they are both comfortable around one another, Gold taking to his company quickly because his manner was very reassuringly familiar. The sort of person, for better or worse, that the Dark One would be comfortable around because they spoke a very similar language.
"Several members of the council, familiar names. Many of the princesses here -- and there are a surprising number of them gathered in one place for anywhere that isn't Storybrooke -- I don't think they are from our world but some iteration is. Webby is...Webby. And will make your acquaintance whether you like it or not."
Delivered with a thousand yard stare.
"There are several people who were once denizens of at least a version of Hell. World Without Magic-Hell, specifically. That is not a warning. I can hardly claim to have met them all, but the ones I have are just...people, at the end of the day."
"That's how it is in most places." People are just people, in Neal's experience, and what varies is how the people interact with each other. Something that works better for some than it does for others. "And some of these people have...abilities, of some sort?"
"Probably safe to assume they all do, or did." This place being what it is. "I'm...friends with at least one. Stolas." There's something a little softer there. It's probably why he feels comfortable saying it so plainly. "Some of the cuttings that are about ready to transfer come from him. He's quite skilled with plants."
A friend. That's a comfort. He knows how hard it is for his father to make friends. "I'm glad to see you're making the best of the situation. Making a new start."
But what else was there to do, in agreeing to be here?
But unexpected, yes. How certain people he looked forward to seeing. Who even the sight or sound of there is a sudden rush. The desire to be in their company. Elation that they are there.
"Those are the best experiences sometimes." But not always. He's had unexpected things happen to him that had been far from good. "I'm glad you're not shutting yourself away."
"And what of you?" he asked. It occurs to him he hasn't bothered to ask. But it isn't quite right: a youth encouraging the older to live while standing back and watching. "Who have you met so far?"
"A lot of people who turned out to know you, actually." Or they had approached him because he had mentioned Gold in the information he put out. "Loki, the Doctor, it wasn't in person but I did chat with someone named...Belle." He perhaps hasn't gotten out as much as he should have, but at least he's not a hermit.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-06-24 12:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-24 02:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-27 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-28 02:23 am (UTC)Even if he had access to a spinning wheel then, he hadn't quite gotten to the point where he wanted to.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-01 12:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-01 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-07 11:19 pm (UTC)"Which ones are those?" He's met a couple of people already who know Gold, even if only over text.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-08 12:14 pm (UTC)Avoiding the F word, they are both comfortable around one another, Gold taking to his company quickly because his manner was very reassuringly familiar. The sort of person, for better or worse, that the Dark One would be comfortable around because they spoke a very similar language.
"Several members of the council, familiar names. Many of the princesses here -- and there are a surprising number of them gathered in one place for anywhere that isn't Storybrooke -- I don't think they are from our world but some iteration is. Webby is...Webby. And will make your acquaintance whether you like it or not."
Delivered with a thousand yard stare.
"There are several people who were once denizens of at least a version of Hell. World Without Magic-Hell, specifically. That is not a warning. I can hardly claim to have met them all, but the ones I have are just...people, at the end of the day."
no subject
Date: 2024-07-08 02:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-08 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-17 01:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-17 04:05 am (UTC)But what else was there to do, in agreeing to be here?
But unexpected, yes. How certain people he looked forward to seeing. Who even the sight or sound of there is a sudden rush. The desire to be in their company. Elation that they are there.
no subject
Date: 2024-07-20 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-20 12:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-31 01:12 am (UTC)