open ♔ winter castle socialization (jan thru march )

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, Andres, etc!
WHEN || Any time in January/Feb/March
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of these few months. Because not everyone is into parties, ok.   

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. WE ARE BIG ON THREAD-JACKING HERE. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt.]

On this log:

Cheryl @ the desk
Felicity @ the desk
Des @ London/firing range
Andres election results @ Andres
Faith L. @ Bars/museum
Thea @ training / castle grounds/ various
Vi @ her room
Malina @ London/TV room
Alex & Eric | closed
Lila @ Library /kitchen/firing range/magic library
Mark @ Andres
Thea & Felicity | closed
Kali @ training room / kitchen / TV Room
Hasmed & Neal | closed
Dante @ training room & old man bar
Grammy Reactions @ TV room
Alice & Will | closed
Neal @ Various
Andres porn party @ TV room
Bo + Gatewood family | closed
Gus @ NYC
Felicity & Thoster | closed
Lila & Astrid | closed
Malia @ Various
Zoe @ Training room / kitchen
Regina & Snow | closed
Hook & Emma | closed
Willow & Buffy | closed
Rose & Dean | closed
Myri & Mark / Myri & Buffy | closed
Abigail & Stiles | closed
Rose @ training room / TV room / the bar
Myri @ kitchen / courtyard / dragon's light wing
Helen @ library
Stiles @ halls
Elena @ training room / bar / front desk
Shawn @ various
Des, Helen, Ashley | closed
Vi & Nyna | closed

Comments

[unhand]

[He sticks out pretty well to certain pirates. It's been a long time since Killian saw Baelfire, but there are some faces he just doesn't forget. That young boy, who managed to squirm into an old pirate's heart when he was at his most villainous is one, though he can't remember why he'd become so fond of the boy. Nor why the boy had turned on him, decided to leave his crew.

Killian does remember betraying him. He remembers, and regrets, but it's not enough to stop him from approaching. After all, he's missed the boy. Even if "boy" is no longer such an accurate term.]

Baelfire?

[Hook's changed too. With his two hands and the newer, more modern clothes... he hardly looks like the same man he once was.]

[fuckingneal]

[He freezes at that name, that voice. It's like a page of his past, leaping into reality. He had been distracted, head down and walking through the Slowly, he slows his steps and raises his gaze to meet Hook's.]

What are you doing here?

[There's no warmth to the tone, and he definitely remembers him- but as the pirate that sold him out to Pan and the Lost Boys.]

[unhand]

I live here. I'm a knight. [The words sound hollower than usual. He still sometimes wonders what he's doing. If this is all just play-acting. He's a pirate, not a knight. Faced with Baelfire again after all these years just reminds him of how villainous he can be.]

Have you joined the knighthood as well?

[fuckingneal]

[He looks dubious as fuck about the idea of Hook being a knight, but... doesn't feel like Hook is lying to him. Somehow. Still squinting at him so hard.]

Not exactly.

[He doesn't plan to go into the details. Telling Hook he has a son? Not on his list of priorities. Never trust a pirate with your child. So instead he will just turn to walk off.]

[unhand]

Wait. [Killian reaches out, catching him with his shiny new left hand.] I know things ended poorly between us, Baelfire, but I'm a different man, now. I know you've no reason to trust me, but please. Just give me a chance.

[fuckingneal]

[The touch of Hook's hand makes Neal tense. It's only then that he even cares to notice the addition of a hand where a hook should be. There's a question in his eyes about it, but he doesn't voice it, doesn't want to seem like he cares enough to inquire.]

A chance? You've got to be kidding. And don't call me that. Baelfire was the boy foolish enough to trust a pirate. It's Neal now.

[unhand]

Neal? [Killian's no stranger to changing your identity. He's never hidden his former name, not exactly, but he also hasn't always been upfront about the man behind the fairy tale.] Then you ought to call me Killian. Hook no longer seems so appropriate.

[He wiggles his fingers a little, a slight smile on his face, as though that's what's changed. It's hard, knowing how much of the change he can own. How much of it will stick, and how much of him is still the man that so utterly betrayed Baelfire when he was a boy.]

[fuckingneal]

[Again, he glances down at the new hand and has a lot of questions, but he's just going to give Hook a dead eye stare.]

Just because you've gotten your hand back, doesn't change the pirate you are, the one you'll always be.

[unhand]

[Killian drops his hand, shoulders slumping a little.] I'm not asking for your trust, mate. I know I've given you no reason to think I deserve it. [There are some who might vouch for him. But Neal would hardly believe the words of strangers like Emma or Henry.] But I never thought I'd see you again. This world is one for new starts, second chances. While you may not wish to go so far as all that... I can't let you slip out of my life so entirely again.

At least, not while you're living in the same castle as me.

[fuckingneal]

Yeah, well-- this is just temporary. [And then something clicks.]

Wait, you're a knight? Here? With my father?

[unhand]

Your father? [Killian blinks tilting his head.] Your father's here? Who... is your father?

[fuckingneal]

[He botched a wisdom check to remember that Veilnesia is a thing.]

What do you mean 'who is my father?' You've only been out to kill him for hundreds of years. And it's not like too many people have the name Rumplestiltskin. Or maybe you've run into him with the new and improved name of his. Mr. Gold?

[unhand]

I know who Mr. Gold is. He's your father? [This is brand new information. Killian grimaces a little. He doesn't like Mr. Gold. But it's not nearly the level of repulsion he ought to feel.] I don't... I don't remember him. This lass from our world, Emma, she told me what he did, that I want to kill him, but I don't remember it. And I certainly didn't know he held any relation to you.

[fuckingneal]

You don't..? [Neal takes a step back to process this.] I'm guessing he doesn't remember you either if you haven't figured it out by now.

[Which is probably good right?]

Yeah, he's my dad. It's... Complicated.

[unhand]

He doesn't remember being from the Enchanted Forest at all, from what I've heard. I don't know how much he's been told of the truth. I certainly didn't rush to elucidate him. Not when I only know what I've been told myself.

[And the fact is true hate runs deep and not having his memories hasn't made him like Mr. Gold even a little bit more than he would have otherwise. He just... hasn't been trying to kill the guy.]

[fuckingneal]

So you don't remember him at all?

[This is so weird. THIS IS SO WEIRD.]

[unhand]

Only what I've learned of him here. [He absentmindedly touches the tattoo on his arm. The man has a crocodile that shares the name written on Killian's arm. The name of the woman he supposedly killed.]

[fuckingneal]

Which is... what, exactly? [He's not going to say a damn thing more about him until he sorts this out.]

[unhand]

That he killed the woman I loved, that I wanted to kill him for it. [He rolls up his sleeve, glancing at the tattoo on his arm.] Milah. I don't remember her either. Nor does he, apparently, though he remembers enough to name his crocodile after her.

[That's another sore point. Not as sore as it could be, perhaps, but he can still tell that he should be offended and that in and of itself is enough.]

And he uses magic.

[fuckingneal]

[The mention of Neal's mother causes him to look down, as a shitastic will save makes it impossible for him to hide the reaction. It's really her name that knocks him off balance.]

Yeah, she... [He lets out a long breath and closes his eyes briefly.]

She was my mother. She left him for you. Left me.

[unhand]

[That.... is new. Killian inhales sharply, looking at Neal with renewed interest. He knew he cared about Neal, but... his mother was Milah? He tries to see her in the curves of his face. Does he resemble her at all? Did that matter to Hook once? Should it matter now?]

Emma... didn't tell me that part.

[And then the other part of Milah's face jolts through them and he straightens, looking suddenly angry.]

She left him and he killed her for the offense?

[fuckingneal]

Yeah. [He's not going to try to justify his father's actions. And his lessons with Hasmed have taught him enough to stop blaming the magic rather than the man.]

It was a long time ago.

[unhand]

I suppose it must have been, if it was before I met you. [That was centuries ago.]

[fuckingneal]

Not long before that, but yeah- another life.

[unhand]

Another life. [A lot of things are different about this new lifetime. Killian offers Neal a slight smile.] I won't press you, mate. I know I've a lot of amends to make. But if you ever wish to share some rum, or maybe take the Jolly Roger out for a spin for old times sake... [He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone.] Do you know about these clever devices? They're rather useful for reaching people over great distances.