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

[stoptheviolence]

Hey, don't answer for me!

I've totally written my own song before. It was pretty good too, if you ask me.

[boyhood]

<sub>[What else is he supposed to do besides answer for her? She obviously can't do it for herself. There are so many things about her person that need improving upon, but he has to admit, the nimbleness required to flounce around like she had is a desirable quality for Lost Boys.

Such a shame she's... well, she's this. Peter squints, looking for a second like he's considering saying something, but decides against it.]</sub>

It takes creativity to do a thing like that. _{[His smile borders on teasing.]} Maybe you can. Much nicer to believe, isn't it?

[stoptheviolence]

[She can answer. It's just a matter of how one choose to interpret her words.]

I believe. I totally believe. In lots of things.

It's the strongest thing somebody can do, you know.

[boyhood]

_{[Brittany, please. Does she even have the barest idea of who she's talking to? Even the barest?]}

Oh, I do know.

_{[His smile is a mischievous thing.]}

Didn't you know that's what Neverland is built on?

[stoptheviolence]

...I thought we were in Wonderland.

[boyhood]

Only think?

_{[If he had time and a real reason to twist this one up in knots, she'd be almost too easy. Like feeding a young child lies and watching them accept them as truth.]}

Two different places. An imitation of one, we're in. The other, where I live. Your stories get that much right, don't they?

[stoptheviolence]

Well, sometimes it's hard to tell, okay?

I mean, when magic things happen, this place can change. Like, really change, It's kind of weird, but kind of cool.

[boyhood]

_{["Unfamiliar and strange, but interesting" characterizes a good deal of this encounter with a teenage girl as well.]}

Ah, yes...

_{[He accepts this answer with a knowing nod, as if sympathetic to what she's trying to get at.]}

It must be difficult, coming to a land with magic. And one where not everyone is so friendly.

[stoptheviolence]

Actually, most of the people I've talked to here are nicer than High School.

And I don't mind the magic so much. So long as it's not hurting people.

[boyhood]

<sub>[His eyebrows rise slowly at the familiar term.

Oh, yes, this high school thing... Lena, the other girl, had expressed the same sort of sentiment despite having magic of her own. Rather amazing that these children could still cling to their ideas of what real hardship is even here when all is not peace and happy endings.]</sub>

Honestly, I had no idea your schools were so dangerous. If you've found more friendly sorts here, I can't imagine the kind of villains you share a classroom with.

_{[If high school students routinely live each other's memories and die on account of serial killers hidden in amongst their ranks, then that really would be interesting. Interesting enough to warrant even Peter's attention.]}

Maybe in exchange for what you're teaching me, one day you'll get to see some of Neverland's magic.

[stoptheviolence]

Oh, it wasn't the schools that were dangerous. ...well, not always.

There was the time Coach tried to shoot me out of a canon, but that didn't happen all the time.

[boyhood]

_{[Peter folds his arms loosely, expression dubious. Given how she's behaved so far, he's not entirely convinced he can trust her accounting of the facts, but he must admit, it adds to the peculiarity of the tale in a rather quaint way.]}

How interesting you and your world are, I will say that. In all my time, I've never come across anyone quite like you.

_{[For that one, Britney may indeed be one of a kind as she so wishes.]}

[stoptheviolence]

Thanks!

[She accepts the compliment at face value, because of course she does, and smiles brightly at him.]

[...there's a very chance Pan's assumption of her could be true.]