#𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆. » beware the apple

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❛ listen , i'm just here to help.   ❜ emma's lips purse as she eyes @havenforged. ❛   i know regina &* i haven't always been on good terms , but ---- you've never done anything to me. so i'm here to help. ❜

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❛   can i help you ? ❜ there's a mix of hesitation , concern , &* confusion there on the sheriff's face as emma eyes the newcomer from the safety of her desk. there's just something about the way @floripire looks at her now that gives her the inkling something is off. ❛   i'm , uhm ━━━━ i'm emma. is there a reason you're here , or . . . ? ❜

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❛ so , are we talking about it , or . . . ? ❜ emma's not one for heart-to-heart's. it's not something she has much experience with , &* frankly , she's not good at it. she's never been able to talk freely about her own issues , much less buckle down &* listen to someone else. BUT RUBY'S SLEEPING ON HER SOFA ! well , mary margaret's sofa. it wasn't like she could just avoid her being here. or at work , it seemed. thankfully , she likes @ashesrebirthed. reminds her vaguely of lily , if she's honest. ❛ YOU DON'T HAVE TO. i just figured ---- you know. you had a . . . cozy setup at granny's. why slum it on a sofa ? ❜

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@spllcat ▐ ❛ can you help him ? ❜ there's pure concern in the sherrif's face as she stands beside the exam table , hands holding on to the metal edge until her knuckles are white. THE DOG HAD COME OUT OF NO WHERE ; she had time to react , much less swerve. the only thing she could think to do was bring him to the shelter where david worked -- see if the vet could help. she's never taken care of an animal before ; never had time or stability or even the chance to have a pet , so it's her first time in a shelter all together -------- the whining animals were really unnerving. ❛ please say you can. it doesn't matter what it costs --- ❜

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❛ i bounced around foster homes for most of my childhood. sometimes found something more substantial , but then that would fall through. i'd get to sent to a new orphanage , or i'd run away -- try a different state. NEW PEOPLE. none of them stuck around. then when i grew up , i fell for a guy. we were on the streets -- had to move around to avoid getting arrested since we stole everything we had. i wound up in jail , so i guess that was actually my longest stay anywhere. ❜ a sigh escapes the blonde as she smoothes her hands on her thighs , palms clammy from talking about her past.

as she listens &* notes ruby's glossy eyes , that uncomfortable feeling rises up in her stomach. she can empathize with her -- share her story like some cautionary tale against being alone. BUT GENUINE , RAW EMOTION ? that was not her field. so she clears her throat &* looks away , mouth opening , then closing as she fails to think of anything particularly poignant to say. ❛ ----------- you know what we need ? something to drink. wait , are you old enough to drink ? ❜

"Only two years?" Easily distracted from heavier matters at hand, Ruby's interest - as well as her demeanor - perks up at that. "I can't imagine that. I've never even been out of town." Which was half of the cause of this rift to begin with. Every time she'd tried, something always seemed to get into the way. Granny's fault or not, it had Ruby nearly clawing at the walls to get out on her worst days.

Unfortunately, she's just as quick to deflate again. "I didn't start it." The answer is a petulant one, she knows - but she's so tired. Of being labeled a troublemaker, irresponsible, a slut; whatever else everyone thinks of her, Granny included. Of always being the one in the wrong, no matter what she tries. Still...

"Maybe you're right. Maybe she doesn't mean anything by it, not really. But, living with her - it's different than just knowing her, Emma. I've never had parents, only Granny, and she's harder on me than she is with anyone else. And I don't - I don't know what to do with that." Her voice trembles as she chances a glance back up, blinking back tears threatening to spill out. At least if they fall, she's already washed her makeup away - not that the thought is really all that much of a comfort. "I don't know what I ever did so wrong to make her like that."

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❛ i could have sworn granny said you were working a double today.   ❜ an amused , pointed look is given towards the other from over the rim of emma's drink. this bar was the only place outside of granny's diner that felt sort of normal in this little town. but , at least she's started to feel like she has some friends here. @redsfur was definitely on the top of that short list. ❛ how'd you get outta that one ?   ❜

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' hey ! what’d you do that for ? ' / @covertegotism

❛   TALK SHIT , GET HIT.   oldest rule in the book. ❜ annoyance is plain on emma's face as she cuts a glare towards the off-duty bartender. she hadn't really hit him -- more of a smack to the arm. ❛   seriously , why are you being a prick ?   ❜

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❛ you know , whenever you enter a room , I GET A PANG OF A HEADACHE. right behind my temple. it's like h.arry p.otter's fucking scar ----- ❜ a scowl curves the blonde's lips as she closes her eyes &* presses a few fingers to the temple in question. the other hand raises her coffee cup to her lips , allowing her to sip at the hot chocolate masquerading as a normal morning beverage for adults. once she's sure @thenightmareofyourdrems is sitting across the booth from her , jade eyes open &* bore holes into her. ❛ so , vol.demort , what can i do for you this morning ? ❜

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❛ BIG CITIES ? i guess. they're full of people skipping on bail , so that helps. but they're also expensive &* never quiet -------- ❜ she takes another sip of her hot chocolate , tongue brushing the sweet liquid away from her lips. ❛ i was a bailbonds-woman. you know --- you skip bail , i come find you so you can get arrested. DIDN'T MAKE MANY FRIENDS THAT WAY , but --- ❜ she's never had good experiences with friends or lovers or family ; whatever paid , paid. who knows , maybe one day it would lead her back to neal so she could give him an earful. ❛ a job's a job. ❜

               ˜”*°•.     It  was  impressive  in  its  own  frustrating  way  -  how  miss  Swann  would  rejoice  in  ruining  her  mood  every  single  day.  Her  presence  no  different  from  a  pest’s ;  useless ,  harming ,  impossible  to  do  away  with .  So ,  when  that  comment  escaped  her  lips ,  an  eyebrow  was   firmly  arched  in  response .  ❝Well  ,  as  a  mayor,  it’s  my  duty  to  make  you  feel  welcome  . ❞    Sarcasm  answered  sarcasm .   ❝But  I  can  imagine  that  you  miss  the  life  in  a  big  city . ❞    

Mary  Margaret .  The  name  itself  triggering  the  worst  of  furies .  Funny  how  one way  or  another,  Snowhite never  failed  to  bring  her  life  upside  down.  Emma  couldn’t  stay  in  this  town  any  longer ;  not  when  Henry  was  set  on  sticking  with  her .   ❝ Mary  Margaret  is  known  for  her  kindness  indeed . ❞  Oh  she  wanted  to  vomit  at  her  own  words .    ❝ Really  ,  hat  kind  of  job  did  you  have  back  in  your  city  ? ❞ 

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❤︎ , @mendinggashes

❛ GRAHAM MENTIONED YOU NEEDED SOME HELP. ❜ what , exactly , emma was supposed to do for her was beyond emma's current comprehension. the sheriff had just sounded so ... desperate. ❛ something about clearing your name ? i assume it relates back to regina , right ? ❜ the mayor had a knack for blackmail &* frame jobs -- plenty of time for that , but none for doing her actual job. ❛ can you explain what's going on ? graham just sounded ... well. frazzled. ❜

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❛ maybe it's the beard. what would you look like with a beard ? might change his mind.   ❜ her hands continue up their path from his chest , along his neck , then there to rest against his jawline so her thumbs can brush against the stubble. ❛ she's something , but i don't think she's some storybook villain. it's just . . . how henry's coping. kids do that all the time , right ? i used to make up stories about how i was like rapunzel , just waiting for someone to come save me.   ❜

"scruffier? hm, interesting. . . very interesting observations from a 10 year old boy." the smirk curving her lips tempting him to steal a kiss. the urge fought off by the appearance of a playful smirk of his own. then his head gives a little nod. "she really leans into that evil villain role henry's assigned her with, doesn't she. and from what you've told me, it fits her really well." 

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❛   oh , henry loves him. way more than you. thinks he's more handsome &* funnier &* scruffier. ❜ a teasing smirk curves the blonde's lips. her hands smooth from his shoulders to his chest , gentle &* soothing. ❛   he likes him. likes anyone more than regina , really. i might feel bad for her if she weren't awful. ❜

"five-star gourmet? since i have to up my standards." he teases with a light smirk. thumb brushing at her bottom lip. he didn't care what he ate or how it was acquired, what he cared about was being here with her. "if he's crushing hard enough, oh yeah. he'll want to impress you, risking his job to cover for you might do the trick." his nose then scrunches up a bit. "but you're right, regina could use something stupid like that to ruin your reputation, or get the ball rolling on exposing whatever else she may have on you. and i don't want to have any part in that." he pauses for a beat, his eyebrow quirking a bit. "so what does henry think of sheriff graham?"

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❛   you really need to up your standards , eric. ❜ emma smiles up at him , her head leaning into his hand so that she can turn her face &* press a kiss to his thumb. ❛ i'll treat you to some actual food later.   i haven't had to steal in a while , so i might be rusty. ❜ imagine , getting caught stealing while trying to be a good influence on your newly found kid. oh , regina would tear her to shreds. ❛ you think graham will hide it if we get caught ? is a crush strong enough ? i really don't need regina on my ass about a burrito theft. as if that's the worst thing i've done ------   ❜

"never thought there could be such a thing as too much freedom, but i can see it now." his hand remains at her cheek, cupping it. thumb caressing over the apple of her cheek. "oh, does he?" an eyebrow quirking playfully, yet curiously. "then i think that settles it, we're gonna test your theory by doing stolen pop-tarts and gas station burritos for dinner tonight. because i would love to experience a taste of your daily meals, nothing would make me feel more special." 

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❛   i had too much freedom. it's how i ended up with henry. ❜ she smiles sheepishly , a quiet laugh bubbling up as a half scoff. he moves her hair , so emma leans towards the touch , her hand raising to catch his wrist so that she can press her cheek into his palm. ❛   i think the sheriff has a crush on me. can probably get away with stealing some pop-tarts. ❜ a playful little grin , mischief in her gaze. ❛   we can grab some gas station burritos while we're at it --- really give you a taste of my daily meals. ❜

"doesn't everyone?" he laughs, "the last year before you finally gain some freedom. that last year was like torture waiting for eighteen." more than just a number, it meant independence. opening up his world. finally seeing what was beyond the little bubble he was kept in. 

"you sound just like one of the kids at school." a grin, happy to hear the wit back. the thought crosses his mind that she wouldn't have liked being where he was either. too many rules and restrictions— all of which she probably would have broken and ignored. another laugh escapes him. "you're just trying to get us run out of town, aren't you?" he teases, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "but honestly, neither of those are bad ideas. especially the pop-tarts, i could really go for one of those right now. i wasn't allowed to eat them as a kid— too much processed sugar." 

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❛ thank god. i hated being seventeen.   ❜ a tired little laugh leaves her as her hands smooth against his shoulders. she offers a little smile at his appreciation , hands squeezing the upper part of his biceps. it's strange to her , how someone could grow up with everything she'd ever wanted &* still feel so out of place. family. a home. food. the money would have just been an added bonus.

❛   that tracks. you're really bad at being a snobby rich person. ❜ there's the wit. she hums &* raises a hand , index finger gently tracing the curve of one dimple. ❛   i was going to say i wish you'd been where i was , but . . . i don't wish that on anyone. i didn't really go to school , but i did get really good at shoplifting pop-tarts. i could show you , if you want ? probably be the first shoplifters in this town. ------------- also , we should definitely implement trivia night at the bar here. pretend we're really bad at trivia , then bam , you come in with jellyfish &* starfish facts &* suddenly we're rich. well , i'd be rich. you're just . . . richer. ❜

eric's eyes soften. her response so vulnerable and honest. this wasn't the push heavy feelings away with a dry, witty remark emma. no, this was the emma that eric knew tried to stay as hidden and protected as she could keep her. the emma that few people got to see or even knew existed. he was privileged to be one of the few who did. of course, he could tell her it's honest, his feelings for her but she would still have those doubts. understandable. "you don't have to worry about what happened last time, you're not seventeen anymore." unhelpful, but true. 

"you're going to regret those words when jellyfish organs save you during bar trivia night someday." a dimpled grin taking over his expression, warmth rising in his cheeks. "you never once made me feel like an annoyance for talking about stuff like that, i really appreciate that." his nose scrunches, head giving a little shake. memories he never wanted to relive resurfacing. "i tried that, hated it— i didn't fit in with those people and it was very obvious. didn't matter that i had money, i was not one of them."

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a soft , breathy laugh bubbles up as hands give the sides of his neck a gentle squeeze. ❛   it's not bad. just . . . scary. i don't know how to accept it. to . . . TRUST IT'S HONEST. the last time someone liked me , i ended up giving a kid away at seventeen. ❜ his little shrug is mimicked. she had gone so long (mostly) not thinking of neal ------ having eric &* henry exist at the same is just springing up those feelings of . . . well , none of them are good feelings. confusing road to walk. everything with neal had been so easy &* perfect until it was the worst mistake of her life. it's hard to not look at how simple &* effortless things with eric are &* worry it's doomed for the same fate.

❛   for the record --------- i love hearing you talk about things you're passionate about. you always get so . . . ANIMATED. plus , you're kind of fun to learn from. you don't make me feel stupid. you're a good teacher. even if i literally never need to know how few organs a jellyfish has. ❜ wry grin , then she's kissed him once more with a soft hum. ❛   where were you ten years ago ? rich boy private school ? ❜

eric can't help but let out a little laugh too. even if it is at his own expense. "you love my weird jellyfish facts— pretty sure you told me." playful smile taking a place upon his lips. "and by the end of this, this whole weird town will love my weird facts. about jellyfish and everything else." 

as she pulls away from his lips, a soft, smitten smile settles onto them. "me, like you? is that the impression i'm giving off?" his nose scrunching up playfully. "though you might be right, maybe i shouldn't stay? but then who would i share all my useless but interesting facts with? max has heard them all, he's tired of them. hmm. . ." shoulders give a little shrug. "i guess i can live with you thinking i like you. i mean, it can't be that bad. right?"