dear_mun | (no subject)

An over-hyper or excited Mundane on your hands?

Something like that.

Over-eager I'd call it, I think. She has no idea what she's getting into, and since she doesn't, neither do I.

[It's like a crucial part of her is missing, and if that's not foreshadowing, well...]

That would make two of us...a bit frightening isn't it? I wish my Mundane would have more patience, but when she wants something she does go for it.

It's funny. Ordinarily, I would support that kind of initiative -- with your mundane or mine -- but there's an exception to every rule.

She's got a bad habit of not letting me know all the things she does know for certain already too. Just keeps wondering, I quote, 'where everyone else is'.

[ Snow imagines where they belong is the answer, but she picks her battles and that's just not going to be one of them. ]

I suppose it is funny, though it will be an adventure to be somewhere else and be around others from different places.

[A puzzled look appears on her face.] 'Where everyone else is?' Do you mean from your circle of friends or where they could be in 'games?'

Adventure would be fine with me. I just wish I thought she had a better idea of what she's doing. I guess I should have a little more confidence in improvising though.

[ Snow pauses, blinking once, shoulders shrugging. ] Well. I'm not exactly sure. I think she means in general - whether they exist here or not.

[ She frowns at that, however, disturbing a thought as it is - to not exist, even if by all rights this is not the place any of them are 'meant' to be. ]

Yes, they're quite eager, aren't they?

It'd be flattering if I hadn't heard all the complaints from her other 'muses' already.

I suppose running around is more interesting than just taking up space in their heads, though.

Jealousy already? My my. That's rarely a good sign.

[ There's a grin, an almost chuckle. ]

Yes, I suppose so. An outlet is a useful thing, while they wait for the months to pass and season's end to come.

Provided, of course, that they wait. My own mundane required some persuasion.

[ Head canting to the side, she rolls her eyes, snorting. ] Not exactly the word I would go with.

[ She shifts her weight, arms folded, exhaling with a frown. ]

If it was me, I'd rather know the whole story first. At least they have this place - wherever this place even is - and 'memes' to kill time.

What kind of persuasion did you use anyway?

Oh? And word would you use?

[ Lines deeply furrow his brow as his expression turns curious. ]

As it is I doubt we'll know the whole story any time soon. They'd have no tales to tell come next year, were that the case.

[ The corner of his lips twitch upwards briefly. ]

The compelling sort. Best to leave it at that.

[ A punctuated thought, she shrugs as if it's not important, though it is. ] Not really sure. Ambivalent? Something like that.

[ Her mouth open to add onto that, she pauses, head bowing a little in acknowledgment that yes that's quite true, though that puts her even more soured towards the idea of being 'played'. Not that it's the best situation, period. ]

Compelling, huh? [ Eyes narrowed, scrutinizing him, she can take a few stabs in the dark as to what that means. ]

Do you plan on ....'compelling' her to continue waiting beyond the end of this 'season'?

Mine's not having any of it.

[ He straightens, grip adjusting on his cane. ]

Oh no. I do intend to find myself a more permanent home before the fall. Having to omit certain points in my history isn't going to trouble me a bit.

Where would the fun be without a little mystery?

[ Oh, that deadpan. ]

[ This time she pauses and there's something more weighted to it, a flicker of vulnerability she dislikes enough to stifle it quickly under the usual veneer of casualness, sharpened by a pointed look. ]

You intend or the mun intends? Are they looking somewhere specific?

[ As to mystery, well she glances away at that, the flat tone not lost on her. ]

More reliable, probably.

[ Under her breath, she admits more to herself: ] A little boring.

My mundane will send me where I see fit. That part of our terms was non-negotiable.

[ He's studying you, Snow, even as he smiles and lets his gaze shift about carelessly. Don't doubt that all those little looks are being put to scrutiny.

Regina wasn't utterly wrong in calling him a snake. Takes one to know one. ]

I don't plan on waiting for things to conclude themselves before seeking my freedom, however convenient that might be for some.

And what of you, miss...?

Of course. Because it's always so simple.

[ Some bitterness there? Maybe. Still she treats it carelessly, a contradiction of behavior that unfortunately sometimes proves more transparent than the outright truth.

This person reminds her of someone she's met before, someone whose deal rendered her a draught that she carries around with her like she actually intends to use it. Unbeknownst to her, she already has in another timeline, but that's for later.

At the moment, having paced beyond the stranger who reminds her of a man not-quite-a-man anymore, she turns back to face him, brow arching, an answer impulsively on the tip of her tongue. ]

I'm S-- [ She stops herself just in time, kind of. ]

Sorry what?

[ Granted, she's not the best liar, so if she buys herself a bit of time, well, that's probably her best option. Maybe in this nebulous place it doesn't matter who she is, but better safe than sorry. ]

It's as simple as you allow it be. It's best to keep in mind that they can't have their fun if you don't allow them. It would be a pity, for example, if they were to spend a great deal of effort cultivating a muse for their amusement only to have them suddenly disappear, leaving them unable to write.

[ He cocks his head, and it looks as though he might believe the shoddy cover-up...or at least be willing to play along. ]

Your name, dear. Or whatever you'd like me to address you as.

Nice in theory. Not sure that's how it works, but I'm imagining we're bound to find out sooner than later - how much clout we have compared to them, that is.

[ Honestly she could kick herself, does so mentally. It's happened only a handful of times, but she should be more on her game than this. She keeps the almost careless smile about her though, something falsely detached there. ]

Mary. [ Might as well stick with what she told Red. Something about continuity of lies. ]

And what should I call you?

[Belle's puzzled look turns into a pensive one.] I would hope they exist here, who else could we talk to that understand where we come from. Even those we have left behind would be nice to see again.

[Like her father, maybe even Gaston or...no, no she won't run into him. He wouldn't want to see her anyway.]

But, maybe we should give our Mun's more faith. Thus far mine hasn't done anything that would make me doubt her. Though there is some room for improvement.

[Like getting started on that application for starters.]

Mary.

[ His smile is every bit as sincere. Which is to say, it might be meant well, but there's some essential part of it missing. Warmth. Something. It's just a little off. ]

My name is Mr. Gold. It's a pleasure, Mary.

Now...you seem like a headstrong young woman. Surely you have your own ideas as to where you'd like to go?

The whole story? Still wishing for happily ever after, Snow?

[When she exhales, hair flies up out of her face before settling back in her vision, which means she has to tuck it back behind her ear.]

Faith? Faith has to be earned. She hasn't given me any reason to grant her that.

[Arms crossed, she glances around.]

Has yours? Making plans or something?

Pleasure.

[ It's a touch closer to deadpan than anything else, but the wryness colors it a little, the echo of the word hanging between them.

The smile thinning a little, she tilts her head again, as if considering something, measuring by eye the use of a tangible thing though really she's not looking at any thing, just the point beyond Gold's shoulder. ]

What I'd like, is to get on with my life.

If you can call it that.

Kind of hard to do that if I'm being dragged to some 'other world'...or what-have-you.

[ On guard is an understatement around Her Not so Serene Highness. Snow bristles. Fairly. ]

Just hoping everyone gets what they deserve, your Majesty.

[ Hardly sincere but then, that's why she uses the title at all of course. ]

I see. You have a home to return to.

[ He tilts his head thoughtfully. ]

That does change things considerably. If you had no home to return to, then traveling to another realm might be exactly the sort of fresh start a young woman might need.

[ He shrugs. ]

Ah well. If that isn't the case then of course you have every reason in the world to be upset.