text; un: goaskalice

[royalpassport]

We're all stories. Tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine.

(Preferably over tea.)

Don't forget to start with "Once upon a time..."

Comments

[jolting]

Don't know. They just gave me one.

[his eyes spark a bit. It's been years, but he recognizes that playful look]

I heard you were in Storybrooke, but somehow we never crossed paths.

[royalpassport]

[ Now Jefferson's smile grows a bit sad, though it passes quickly. At least this is one reunion he can enjoy, and he'd like to have that for as long as he can, before guilt and trauma comes crashing down on him again. ]

I tend to keep to myself these days. [ A confession that's loaded with unpleasantness. So he moves on with another wry remark: ] Easier to avoid the sheriff that way.

[ BOTH CHARMING AND SWAN. ]

[jolting]

Yeah. That doesn't work so well when you're the only doctor in town.

[he says it in an almost fond way, though. Despite everything, he does like the Charmings. They're pretty much the only people aside from Ruby who seem to like him]

Speaking of them... sort of, I wanted to ask you something. What... what do young girls like? There's-- I'm sort of looking after a girl here, and... I'd like to have things here for when she visits.

[royalpassport]

[ Blink.

Blink blink.

WHAT. ]

You're... a child's guardian? [ His reaction, in fact, has little to do with surprise over Victor being a guardian, so much as ten thousand issues regarding his own fatherly status. ] Victor, what's going on?

[jolting]

Sort of. Emma's her guardian, but she'll be spending time here, too. She-- [Victor can't find the words to explain. "Assistant" is correct, but doesn't seem like a good enough word]

I sort of assigned myself to be her guardian when Emma is busy.

[royalpassport]

[ Oh dear god. Emma's here, too.

G R E A T. That won't be awkward. Jefferson sighs and rubs his eyes tiredly. ]

Stuffed animals.

[ That's what little girls like. ]

[jolting]

Stuffed animals. [he lets out a shaky breath. It's a good start. Now to change the subject]

Did they give you a job here?

[royalpassport]

Get me the materials, and I can make one.

[ He's made plenty for Grace, after all.

And boy does he welcome this change of subject, even if he's wrinkling his nose. ]

They offered me a job at a casino. [ Which, of course, would've been perfect for the Jefferson that Victor knew. BUT TIME'S PASSED AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED. He's not so sure if he should be in the business of conning anymore. ]

[jolting]

[he shook his head. He can take care of that himself.

Victor's lip twitches] Sounds about right. I'm still a doctor, but this hospital is staffed more, so I just fill in where I'm needed. It's a nice change of pace.

[royalpassport]

[ He lets out a snort. IS HE REALLY THAT SHADY, VICTOR?

(Yes.) ]

I don't know if I'm gonna take it. [ It's much too, uh. Sociable. For his tastes. ] Must be nice, to not be the only doctor anymore. Leaves more time for personal projects. All your... [ VAGUE HANDWAVE. ] science.

[jolting]

Mostly teaching Lucy science and math, but yes. Some personal projects as well.

[he gets up to pour them both a cup of tea] You didn't specify what kind you wanted, so I hope you like black tea.

[royalpassport]

Black's fine, thanks.

[ Jefferson twists in his seat to watch Victor, his expression thoughtful. ]

I never would've taken you for a fatherly type. But then, I suppose we were both quite young the last time we really saw each other.

[jolting]

We were. Just teenagers, really. [he shakes his head, as if marveling over how young they were]

So time's a little weird here. Emma here, but she's from a point in my past. I'm curious: what was going on in Storybrooke, last you knew?

[royalpassport]

[ Jefferson lifts his brows, though it's not... totally surprising that they're from different points in time, given how people arrive here. ]

For me, it's... The curse broke, and then a wraith was brought to Storybrooke. Somebody used my hat to banish it, and it took Emma and her mom to our-- well. [ Not our world, for Victor. ] The Enchanted Forest.

People are still trying to find their loved ones in the fallout.

[jolting]

[he lets out a sigh, running his hand over his face]

That was years ago. A lot happened since then. Most recently, there's finally another scientist in town named Doctor Jekyll.

[royalpassport]

Great. [ Now it's Jefferson's turn to sigh. ] More magic? [ And Dr. Jekyll, huh... ] Did he bring Mr. Hyde with him?

[jolting]

Of course more magic. [he shrugs. Kind of goes with the territory, bro]

No. They’re trying to get rid of him. It’s a long story, and I was honestly just happy having another scientist around.

[royalpassport]

[ UGHHHhhhhhhhhh ]

Yeah, I guess they're in short supply back in Storybrooke.

[jolting]

Painfully so. But of course I was brought here just when I met him, so I couldn’t even enjoy it.

At least there are some scientific minds here.

[royalpassport]

[ Jefferson makes a thoughtful noise and nods. It's true, there's definitely some science afoot here. And magic, too. It's strange to see them coexisting, really. Every other land he's ever been to was always heavily weighted in favor of one or the other.

After a moment, he speaks up again. ]

Do you think you're going to stay here? Or return to Storybrooke one day?

[jolting]

[he thinks about that for a moment, sipping his tea]

I'm not sure if it makes a difference one way or another.

[truthfully he likes it more here. The Prometheus Lab, hanging out with Lucy, the fact that magic isn't crashing through his lab and he's not being attacked... But then he can't help but think of the hospital in Storybrooke, and all the citizens who need him as a doctor]