001 - Arrival - ACTION/TEXT

[alandwithoutmagic]

Who: Neal Cassidy/Baelfire
What: Arrival & Freaking out
Where: Around HQ
When: 9/29 -ish and really any day after that.
Warnings: None

He wasn't expecting the sudden jump to another world. It was disorienting. He'd been in his apartment in New York and after the strange change he found himself in a bathroom stall. It'd taken him some time to puzzle out that he had just jumped from one location to another; luckily the strange old man came and explained some of it. Enough to make Neal wish he was anywhere but here.

He held the phone in his palm, feeling it's weight before pocketing it and heading out to explore. He really didn't want to just send a message to anyone and everyone but after wandering around, locating all the important parts of HQ and stopping by the hospital, he decides to send a text. With that done he slipped the phone into his pocket and continued to take a look around. This didn't feel like his New York and the longer he stayed the more he wished he wasn't here.

Neal can be found anywhere though he didn't stick out as someone who was new. He's good at hiding in plan sight.

TEXT

Anyone want to get a beer?

Comments

[iwasinphuket]

Neal catches August's attention not because he's new, but because he's someone August knows. Even if only briefly.

He's just woken up in this strange place himself and is heading off in search of more answers than the ones he already got. He hasn't even located his lodgings yet, so he still has his bag slung over his shoulder.

"Neal?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

His lips formed the words 'ah fuck' but Neal didn't say them out loud. He turned back towards August while running his fingers through his hair. He exhaled a slow breath as he studied the familiar man.

"Of course you'd be here." He wasn't happy to see August. He was a symbol of many of the things he ran from and a reminder that his father and his past could continue to ruin his life and steal things away from him. That anger seethed and boiled beneath the surface and as shallow as it felt at times August gave Neal a decent outlet for some of that rage.

Neal dropped his arms to his side before shoving his fists into his pockets. "What do you want now?" Last time he had asked for something. Neal only assume this would be similar.

[iwasinphuket]

"I don't even know where here is." So it's not like he sought Neal out, or came across him while looking for Emma.

"I just arrived. All I want is to know where I am."

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal rolled his shoulders in a shrug. "According to what I know it's a different world. That's it but.." His lips form a frown as he looked around. "They mentioned New York but this isn't my New York." He looked pissed and it took a lot of effort for Neal not to direct that anger towards his current companion.

He didn't like begin angry but Neal had a lot of it twisting and turning inside of him.

[iwasinphuket]

"There are a lot of worlds out there." They both know that, better than most. "Maybe there's more than one New York." He hasn't heard of anything like that before, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

"How long have you been here?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal exhaled a slow breath, running his fingers through his hair. "A few hours?" It hadn't been that long though long enough to pull himself out of the men's bathroom. This whole thing was ridiculous.

"It must be though there is one way to check." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Let's check out my apartment." Because he got a job and a place and was finally doing something with his life. He didn't have to keep running or keep waiting.

[iwasinphuket]

"Only a few hours more than I have then." At least, he doesn't think he's been here for a few hours yet, but he really has no way of knowing.

"Is there some way to know which one is yours?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal gave August a sceptical look. "I've lived in New York for a while now. I'll know." If it wasn't where he remembered then this was definately another New York.

The thought of that unsettled Neal but he tried not to dwell on it for too long. There would be time for panic later, they needed to confirm facts first.

[iwasinphuket]

"Let's go then." He has no idea what's going on here, but there's someone he knows, and that's a good start. Maybe they'll work on figuring it out together, now that Neal seems to have accepted that this has nothing to do with him.

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal ran his fingers through his hair before turning and heading towards what he prayed was the exit. He exhaled a slow breath. "Yeah."

He didn't like August but he didn't have too. He'd rather have someone he knew here than a complete stranger.

[iwasinphuket]

"So which one of these is your apartment?" Neal doesn't have to like him. He's just glad that Neal seems not to be angry at him anymore.

TEXT

[fatherwolf]

[If Bigby was honest, he wasn't too into some unknown organization giving him a phone and telling him to be a good boy.

On second thought, he didn't like anybody telling him to be a good boy. He had a reputation to uphold or something. That being said...]

Can't say I've found the beer around here yet.

TEXT

[alandwithoutmagic]

I was thinking outside of this place. We just need to go for a physical or something and then we can do whatever.

[At this point he doesn't care, he wants a drink and to see if he can find his apartment. If this isn't his New York then he has more problems than just seeing August and Emma here.]

TEXT

[fatherwolf]

That's what they said. I'm game. I don't think they're going to find anything weird.

At least not weirder than what they already have down here.

TEXT

[alandwithoutmagic]

Yeah, same. I'd lived in New York before this mess. I know of a few good places.

Depending on where the exits are. Let me know when you can meet up.

TEXT

[fatherwolf]

You know the odds of this being your New York are pretty low, right?

TEXT

[alandwithoutmagic]

Yeah but I have to check. I'll bug me until I do.

TEXT

[fatherwolf]

[He can't deny that point.]

So, how about we swing by, see the doc, and get out of here? I don't think I like tunnels.

TEXT

[alandwithoutmagic]

Sounds like a plan. I'm heading there now but I can't imagine it'd take very long. Meet you by the north exit?

TEXT

[fatherwolf]

I'll be there.

TEXT -> Action

[alandwithoutmagic]

[Neal is more or less human and the process of him being check out at the Hospital had been a quick one. With his phone map to guide him he finds his way to one of the exits and waits.

He doesn't know who to look for but considering there isn't much traffic going in and out right now he isn't to worried. He'll know when the guy shows up.]

[thesavior]

Emma didn't see Neal's text, because if she had, she probably would have run the opposite direction, but as it was she sat in the bar nursing a drink, not knowing that her life was about to be turned on it's axis... again. She didn't know that she was going to be coming face to face with her past both here, where ever here was, and in New York.

It was probably good that Emma didn't know that though. She sat peacefully on the stool, trying to figure out what to do.

[alandwithoutmagic]

When Neal walked in he didn't immediately see her. He bee-lined to the bar and quickly ordered a drink. His hands moved through his hair as he exhaled a slow and frustrated breath. This wasn't his New York. He knew that would most likely be the case but it sucked anyway.

His head turned and as he spotted Emma his beer was placed in front of him. Fuck.

"Emma?" When was the last time he'd seen her? Had she broken the curse? Why was she here?

[thesavior]

Emma turned at the sound of the voice, and blanched. She turned forward, and gripped her glass so hard that it broke in her hand.

"Shit!" She exclaimed, drawing in hand up, and grabbing the nearest napkin. She looked over at Neal, taking in the clothes, especially the hoodie. "It was you in New York wasn't it?"

[alandwithoutmagic]

Neal blinked a few times, his thoughts tumbling over themselves as she stared at her. How long had it been? Had the curse really been broken? She had no reason to find him here.

He swallowed nervously trying to find context to his words. "What- what are you talking about?" He hadn't run into her in New York however that was where he was currently living.