open ♔ september castle socialization

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, etc!
WHEN || First half of September, any time between the September squiring ceremony and the War announcement on September 18th
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of the first half of the month.    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:
Drax @ the desk
Kate Bishop @ the desk
Sam @ the desk
Henry @ the desk
Kate Bishop @  roof/dining hall/library/grounds/bathrooms/desk/Dragon's Hoard/etc
Abigail @ Movie theater / library /firing range / training room
Francesca & Val'drin | closed
Penelope & Sam @ the woods
Emma Frost @ the library
Spike @ rec room
Lydia, Stiles, Astrid, Adam | closed

Comments

[uncurse]

[ Somehow, the identification of Hook's feelings, which would usually disarm her, hardly compares to the son standing in front of her, spouting all this familiarity while she grapples for any sort of point of reference.

She can't simply approach him like she approaches Faye and Lila. They have bad histories that Emma wants to fix, but Emma is responsible for Henry's. It's different. As a result, she flounders, swallowing thickly. ]

I—Yeah. But it was a bust. Some psychotic AI locked up in a quarry. [ Which makes about as much sense as it sounds like it would. ]

[wanttobeahero]

[ The hardest thing is quelling the urge to reach out and hug her, even now, even after they've been talking for a little while and he's fully aware this isn't easy for her to swallow.

He hasn't completely divested himself of the eagerness and unbridled happiness he felt all those years ago, standing at the threshold of her apartment and meeting her for the first time. It was enough, even then, just to know she was right there.

And it's a lot to take in all in one day, so he holds back. And it has to be enough again, just to be here with her. ]

We'll get him back.

[ As if he has any right to be so certain. But...he just is. ]

I know this is...a lot. So, I just wanna say that I want us to know each other again, but I'm not in any kind of hurry.

[uncurse]

[ Optimistic. The smile that wrenches at her lips hurts, in a way. He certainly didn't get that from her. ]

Look, I—I know you probably have questions. [ Her brow furrows. ] Or maybe you don't. I don't know which is weirder. But there are things that I don't—I can't—[ Revisiting Neal to explain him to Henry feels too painful. The very thought turns her stomach. ]

I want you to have me in your life, if you want me there. But I—I don't know that getting to know each other is really … [ She grows more determined, stubbornly so. ] Believe me. There are some things you don't wanna know.

[wanttobeahero]

I'll always want you in my life, Emma.

[ It's so hard not to call her Mom when he says that, in particular, but he's trying to be mindful of what she needs right now. ]

And I might know more than you think.

[ He doesn't know all the terrible things that he imagines must have happened to her when she was young, but he still has the vivid memory of hearing that a family gave her away when they had their own kid, and it still makes his heart hurt for her. ]

Even if I don't, we could start with just spending time together? Getting burgers and milkshakes sometimes, training together. Anything, really.

[uncurse]

[ She waffles, resistant only because she doesn't want to give him some kind of hope that she can't follow-through on. Letting Lila and Faye down means one thing—letting the kid she'd already given up down all over again? That's something else entirely.

But looking into those big brown puppy eyes of his, she finds herself relenting. ]

… I guess we could … try milkshakes. [ She jumps to the defensive as soon as the words are out of her mouth, qualifying it with a quick, ] Maybe! [ Implying, 'Don't get your hopes up.' ]

[wanttobeahero]

[ He'll try to be one step ahead of her as much as he can, making it clear that even just an hour out together getting milkshakes or even seeing a movie sometime is okay for a while.

In his mind, she can't really screw up with him, no matter what she thinks. It won't be easy, and they'll probably stumble through this for a lengthy period of time, but it'll work somehow. ]

Maybe in a few days?

Probably too soon to join a bowling league together for fun, I'm guessing.

[ He's just...trying to lighten the mood??? ]

[uncurse]

[ The joke earns an awkward laugh from her, and while Emma doesn't meet his gaze, she at least does seem to understand that he's kidding. That's something. ]

Maybe save the flier for another time.

[ Her expression remains tight, but she fights her way into more casual discourse at least, finally looking back at him and nodding. ]

A few days.

[wanttobeahero]

[ If she doesn't make good on the promise - and he takes it as a promise - he'll just find her. She's not gonna get out of it that easily. Besides, milkshakes don't require emotional vulnerability on her part, he's pretty sure she can manage that, at least. Hopefully.

Smiling softly, he once again resists the urge to hug her. ]

I'm looking forward to it then.

[ Thanks for coming back to me. ]