002 ♚ audio

[boyhood]

_{[Whodunnits aren't really Peter's leisure activity of choice. Who's committed a crime and why aren't as interesting as what a person will do to overcome a challenge. Slapdash, violent, gleeful murder… it's a bit much. And rather hard to ignore after the first few bodies start appearing and the horrified reactions start buzzing amongst the people.]}

Lock your doors and shutter your windows, it looks like we're in for a nasty storm.

_{[Only Peter's boyish voice can be heard; there's no indication of where he might be, or what he might be doing. Maybe he's taking his own advice on this one.]}

If you don't, be careful who you come across in the halls. Or what you might find.


| private message to Emma Swan and Regina Mills |

I expect you'll be keeping a better eye on Henry this time. Don't wander off and lose your hearts. Someone taking them without magic makes an impressive mess.

Comments

audio

[grewuphuman]

[So that rather cryptic warning? Yeah, it's sort of having the opposite affect on Adam. Instead of being wary, or in any way like he might be heeding the advice, he instead sounds ridiculously curious and a touch thoughtful.]

Oh? S'that so?

voice;

[boyhood]

<sub>[All young boys should be curious, it's practically a requirement for the job, and Peter is neither surprised nor disappointed to hear it. He recognizes the voice from an earlier video, but he hasn't been making many in-person visits as of late--the youth who owns the unpolished accent remains a mystery.

"Protector of children" and "collector of children" are two different things; he's only got one boy in mind when he thinks about who he might need to step in and defend. However, he doesn't count himself a heartless person. A child with power might not have anything to fear, but if he's wrong and this is a child without it, then he's better off stemming that curiosity for the time being.

Wouldn't want to meet a gruesome end for no reason.]</sub>

Yes, I'd say so. You never know what kind of undesirables are about.

_{[Pot calling the kettle black...]}

Fair warning that we should all mind our step a bit more carefully.

voice;

[grewuphuman]

[Adam's tone turns bemused.] I reckon there's undesirables about everywhere, though. This place 'snot any different when it comes to that. No, I don't suppose it'd be much fun if things weren't intr'esting once in a while.

[And by interesting, he of course means dangerous. Because really, what's the point otherwise? Though he does seem to recognize, and respect, the attempt at a warning and, after a second, decides to at least acknowledge as much in his own way.]

I'm sure'll it'll all sort itself out besides, us minding our steps or not. Most things do.

[boyhood]

Once in a while.

<sub>[Peter supposes the boy isn't referring to the kind of undesirables that break open people's chest cavities by hand to remove their internal organs and draw messages in their blood. Hmm, one would hope different worlds only had so many of those...

But a child ignorant of such things should remain ignorant. It's not a sight even Peter Pan is all that thrilled with witnessing.]</sub>

That would depend on if people value their lives.

[grewuphuman]

Ah. That. [Okay, so Adam's decided to cheat a little and took a quick glance at what's going on. What can he say? He's curious and no one is very forthcoming with any real information.

His tone switches from knowing to reasonable.]

Well, yeah. I reckon not goin' out right now would be best if folks don't want to die. [A slight pause.] If'n you gotta worry 'bout things like that, 'course.

[boyhood]

_{[Yes, now you are cheating, Adam. It's not nice to pretend you don't know and then go about figuring out the answer to your own question... though it is amusing. Peter doesn't have a problem with magical, precocious children, probably because he is one and that would lead down a confusing avenue of self-loathing.]}

That, indeed. I was trying to treat the matter gently, but it seems I needn't have bothered.

_{[And a child talking about people dying without a speck of self-consciousness, no less! Adorable. Peter wants to wrap it up and take it home right away.]}

I assume you don't?

[grewuphuman]

Nope. I reckon it'd take a whole lot more than what's goin' on right now to really do me in. [A pause.] 'Least not unless everybody's normal like that time Aziraphale told me 'bout. [He doesn't seem all that concerned about that happening. More like curious as to what it will be like before he refocuses on his point.] But even then, seems I'd come right back soon enough, and now's not one of those times, 'sides.

[He pauses again and the full force of his curiosity focuses right back onto Peter.]

So why were you tryin' to warn me without really warnin' me, anyhow?

[boyhood]

Big words. More boys should know how to use them.

<sub>[Which is to say, he likes the cut of your jib. And not only because he's curious of any kind of power that can rival his own, though that helps.

Peter Pan approved!]</sub>

No need to cause panic. You already said it perfectly, some people need to worry about dying a little more than others. _{[Read: everyone who isn't immortal.]} You caught me. I see now I don't have to worry about scaring you.

[grewuphuman]

[Adam isn't sure he agrees with Peter's reasoning but, to his credit, he tries not to focus on that fact. Instead he just grins, the expression coming across clearly in his voice.]

Nah. I don't get scared. Way I see it, there's no point in it and likely wouldn't end so great for everyone else, 'sides.

[He pauses and quickly loses his internal struggle with not pointing out the flaw in Peter's logic.]

And I reckon I understand why not just sayin' there was a killer out there seems like an okay idea but, if you want my opinion, it's kind of dumb too. You can't just tell a kid not t'do somethin' and then not tell 'em why. That's only gonna make 'em want t'do it even more. [His tone becomes rather pointed although he's not quite lecturing. It's a close call, though.] Seems to me, you oughta know somethin' like that.

[boyhood]

_{[He never asked for someone else's opinion, it's true, but in the end Peter rarely ever says or does anything without a reason. His message has served his purpose, and that's what matters.]}

Oh, the message wasn't for you. For other people. And it was only advice, not a command.

<sub>[When had he ever told the boy to do something? He hadn't. He does know all about a healthy young lad's curiosity, and the curiosity of other, more foolish people who may test their limits and find themselves wanting down the line if they choose to bait a madman.

Perhaps it runs counterinuitive, but who is he to stifle curiosity even in offering a benevolent warning?]</sub>

Quite the opposite! Boys like us might enjoy the danger of a risk or two, but it's your own good judgement that'll keep you alive, not what anyone else has to say. Do what you want, but do it smart. That's all I would say.

voice

[grewuphuman]

[Boys like us. Boys like us. The comment very nearly makes Adam snort softly. He doesn't - he reckons that'd be a touch on the rude side - but now that he's sneaked a peak he can't just let the comment slide. There wouldn't be any fun in that.

So he just lets his tone continue to sound pointed, albeit laced in bemusement as well.]

I reckon that's true enough. [A pause.] But boys like us don't have to worry much 'bout a guy running about, killin' folks in such a plain, kinda borin' way, neither. [He doesn't point out that's because, technically speaking, neither of them are boys. Not when talking things like this, at least. Adam figures Peter already knows that much himself and there's no point in wasting his breath making a comment on it.]

[boyhood]

_{[Yes, boys like them, the adventurous ones at heart, the ones who like a little fun. What else could he have possibly meant, Adam?]}

Maybe not. Though "boring" might be in the eye of the beholder.

_{[His tone doesn't rise above a kind of solemn agreement. No matter who he is or what he's done, he won't rejoice at this kind of wanton destruction.]}

What's your name, then? It wasn't so long ago that people insisted there were hardly any young faces here.

[grewuphuman]

[To Adam, whose imagination really does know no true bounds outside of the limits he sets for himself, this current series of murders is extremely boring. Tragic, yes, but still rather dull in the grand scheme of things.

He's fine with that, though. People are on edge enough without adding his idea of excitement to the mix. He'll just keep on focusing on other things, thanks.

Like Peter. Peter seems interesting, at least.]

I'm Adam Young. [He grins broadly.] I just got here a couple of days ago. [Give him some time, Peter, and he's pretty sure folks will be more than aware he's in Wonderland. There isn't a soul in all of Lower Tadfield who doesn't know who he is, after all. He doesn't see why here would be any different.

He also doesn't see the point in asking the guy's name when he's already cheated and knows it, so instead he moves the conversation along with another question entirely.]

So how long have you been stuck here, Peter?

[boyhood]

Ah.

_{[He makes an acknowledging sound before going on to blithely correct Adam.]}

I go by Pan. And not all that much longer than you, actually.

_{[If he had to ask how everyone came to know him or the name Peter Pan, he'd be at the task for years, which is why he doesn't inquire as to how Adam uncovers his identity so quickly. He has the gift and the curse of notoriety. Eventually these things will get around no matter what.]}

[grewuphuman]

[Adam shrugs and, even though the action isn't an audible one, it's clear from his tone that he's fine calling the guy whatever he wants to be called.] Sure thing. [A pause.] So if you're fairly new too, does that mean you haven't been through one of those event things others were tellin' me about? 'Cause I'm bettin' those are loads more int'restin' than just a plain old killer runnin' about. [Adam Young, folks. Interesting doesn't mean to him what it means to other people.]

[boyhood]

<sub>[Ha, quite the confident little know-it-all they have on their hands. Rather than find this exasperating as some might, Peter finds himself more and more amused. That's twice now his new friend has used the word "plain" in regards to their (not terribly) clandestine killer.

It's one thing for Peter to think something, but another to have someone else say it out loud, especially another young boy, and a powerful entity at that. "Boys like us" might be apt, after all. Birds of a certain feather.]</sub>

Why don't we skip the phones and talk? I think I'd much rather meet you in person than whoever might be stalking the halls today.

_{[Be my friend on Valentine's Day, yes/no?]}

[grewuphuman]

[He doesn't even have to consider the suggestion. In fact, if Peter hadn't made it, Adam likely would have. And why not? He's here, without Dog or the rest of the Them, and there's a killer wandering about which guarantees if he goes exploring, he's either going to have to get involved or deal with well-intentioned adults fussing and fretting.

Yeah. He'll take a face to face meeting with some weird version of Peter Pan over that any day, thanks.]

Sure! Sounds good. [And now there's a pause, if only a slight one.] Are you comin' here or should I come t'you or are we meetin' someplace else? [Patience. Adam clearly lacks it.]

[boyhood]

<sub>[He is not weird, thank you very much! He's normal, perfectly normal. Talking about murder and setting up play dates with others of extreme power might as well be an incredibly average thing to do on a Wednesday.

For a Wonderland that isn't really Wonderland, it probably is.]</sub>

You pick.

_{[This would normally fall under dealer's choice, but Peter is flexible.]}

[grewuphuman]

[It takes Adam roughly two seconds to make his decision because seriously, just sitting around in his room, or Peter's, versus hanging out together and giving him a chance to really explore his new surroundings? There's no real question there at all.]

Let's meet up someplace. There's no real point in just sittin' around in a room. 'Snot like the killer's gonna get us.

[When he says the last bit, there's something more in his tone. He isn't speaking in possibilities this time. Sure, it's technically cheating for him to manipulate things so that they won't run into the guy but, well, just because he considers fair to be fair doesn't mean he won't use what he can do to his advantage when it suits him.]

[boyhood]

That's fair.

<sub>[And true enough. Alone or together, no harm will come to him. Peter believes in this fact, too, not because he sees using his gifts underhandedly as cheating, but because he knows no one can beat him, playing fairly or otherwise.

Rumple had gotten close, once. A mistake on his part and Peter's. Not one that will be made again.]</sub>

And where would you like to meet?