IC: CONTACT (EUDIO)

[royalpassport]

❝ I'm not here. Leave a message. ❞

[ And now, thanks to Emma: ]

❝ Send me a message, and I'll respond when I get around to it. ❞

Comments

[cantwalkwithoutit]

I haven't.

[ He's been waiting for his own tea to cool a bit, and he stirs it distractedly. ]

I mean, I went to that event at the start of the month. Mostly, I've been keeping to myself.

[ That has nothing to do with the message he got from Hook. ]

[royalpassport]

[ He watches Gold for a moment, unsure of what to say. Should he press, or...? ]

Well, I suppose there's no rush.

[ Nice and neutral. ]

How was the event? I decided to stay home, myself.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ He took a sip finally. ]

It involved a little more nudity than I was planning for or comfortable with. But beyond that? Pleasant. Reminded me of home.

[royalpassport]

[ Home? He assumes Gold means the Enchanted Forest. Jefferson's quiet for a moment, then nods. ]

Glad I missed it, then.

[ He doesn't particularly want any reminders of home. ]

[cantwalkwithoutit]

It didn't seem like your sort of party.

[royalpassport]

Why's that?

[cantwalkwithoutit]

You always struck me as one more for dancing.

[Half smile]

It was more a 'stand around and eat and stay warm' affair.

[royalpassport]

[ There's a little twitch in his jaw as Jefferson tries not to frown. It's just that he hadn't danced in a good long time, and his last dance partner was, well. Priscilla.

Not that Gold would know, he supposes. It's not like they really kept in touch after he left the Dark One's employ. ]

I haven't danced in years. Even when I went to a party here that was geared toward that sort of thing.

I don't think any kind of party is my kind, these days.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

I don't really blame you.

[ Not that he expected him to dance; he just saw him more in those sorts of atmospheres, even if he just lingered in a corner. ]

...It was not my intention to bring up unhappy matters, when we first spoke. I was not aware there would be many of us here, much less from different timelines.

[royalpassport]

It's never anyone's intention. [ Jefferson lets out a short sigh, regretting spitting the words out just as soon as he says them. ]

It's... fine. I know you didn't mean anything by it. [ There, that's a little better. ] Our conversation was simply the last straw, not the first.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

But it leaves no question as to why you're here -- which is admirable. [ And knowing spared him at least part of the shock in all of Hook's blathering. He winces a little. ] ...And you're going to have to let me know when I'm out of line; I'm so very out of practice when it comes to socializing without a clear agenda.

[royalpassport]

I don't think anything I do is admirable. [ His voice is soft, almost as if he's a child admitting to doing some wrong, like he thinks Gold is about to chide him for the admission.

And then he stirs his tea, if only to have something to do, and clears his throat awkwardly. ]

I can imagine. Even the Mr. Gold of Storybrooke always seemed to have one.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

You came here with the right intentions. It's a start.

[ He bit his lip at the remark -- well, when you're everyone's landlord it's no surprise when the first thing out of their mouths is usually "But I already paid rent" or "it's not due until next week is it?" ]

Is it any wonder he tried internet dating, bearing that in mind?

[royalpassport]

[ Oh, there we go. A subject he can quickly latch onto. Jefferson's expression seems to brighten. ]

And how did that endeavor go?

[cantwalkwithoutit]

About as well as it could with a curse in place meant to keep us in one place.

[ Which he realizes is being very vague. ]

Not that there were no outside influences in his decision to stop.

[royalpassport]

Of course. But I have to admit, I'm curious about the types of people your counterpart attracted.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

Exactly the sort of people you'd expect when you mention you're a business owner and landlord.

[royalpassport]

I'm afraid I don't really know. [ Seeing as he lived as a shut-in for decades. ] Opportunists?

[cantwalkwithoutit]

That's a kind word to use. Thankfully, bad a dresser as he was he had taste enough to sever contact with the ones that threw around phrases like "sugar daddy."

[royalpassport]

Ah. [ Jefferson wrinkles his nose in distaste and picks up his tea. ] Glad I never tried it, then.

[ As if there were any circumstances, back in Storybrooke, that would have led him to give online dating a try. ]

[cantwalkwithoutit]

And then of course there's this place.

[ He has never been the best equipped to just...put himself out there. Not for things like this. Lacey had been a literal trial by fire. ]

You've fared well?

[royalpassport]

[ He takes a sip of his, thinking on how he wants to answer that question. ]

Well enough. [ Which makes sense. For all his personality flaws, he's young, handsome, and well-dressed. Catching others' attention has always come easily to him-- at least before the curse.

The problem, however, is that he tends to draw in people looking for a pretty face and a fuck. Not always, of course. He's had some friendly conversations with no sexual motives, but they didn't blossom into much else. Though in Curtis, at least, he's found a friend that he holds dear to his heart (and who he happens to find incredibly attractive).

He actually finds himself smiling a little at the thought. ]

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ Yes, he's sure it's come easily for Jefferson. In his old line of work, being charming could do half a job for him if he played his cards right.

But rather than volunteer that he's been having a hard go of it and would like some advice, he shifts a little to keep the subject on Jefferson. ]

How long have you been here?

[royalpassport]

[ He hums in thought. ] Only two and a half months.

[ Funny, sometimes it feels longer. But perhaps that's because he has a tendency to lock himself in his apartment and wallow for days on end, the monotony making time feel as if it stretches out endlessly. ]

I don't know how long I'll be here

[cantwalkwithoutit]

That was the only thing that felt vague about making a contract with these people. It's uncertain how long it really takes.