[video]

[nevar]

[Jefferson toys with the idea of publicly announcing his arrival for a long while. He had lived too long a hermit outside the fringes of Storybrooke society, and the idea of rejoining the thriving masses does not sound very appealing to him. Besides, there are other dangers to consider. Would the Queen of Hearts still be looking for him? Is the same Queen even in regency? He knows full well that nothing ever remains the same in Wonderland, and to expect the same as when he was here before would be absurd. He finally decides it is worth the risk.

How could he flush out his target without causing some sort of stir?

The video begins with Jefferson facing the camera directly, hands folded calmly in front of him and a darkened room behind him. He smiles easily, but there's something a little nervous in his demeanor. As far as anyone knows, he is new to Wonderland after all. A certain amount of uncertainty is to be expected. Little does anyone suspect how much time this man has spent in this nonsensical place. Or, at least, a fair facsimile thereof.]

Greetings, residents of Wonderland. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Jefferson, and I am a merchant by trade. Mostly rare fungi, but occasionally I dabble in trinkets... and hats. [He pulls a black silk hat into view of the camera briefly to illustrate his point.] I seem to have lost something of mine, and I wonder if any of you have seen it. It's about the size a breadbox. Cylindrical. Soft. Shabby-looking, I'm afraid, but very sturdy. If you feel you have found it, please contact me. I would hate for my something to cause a problem for anyone, so the sooner it can be back in my hands, the better.

[The smiles comes back, a little wider and more confident.]

And now Wonderland, I must ask you a very important question....

How do you take your tea?

Comments

[madehervows]

[Oh, but we're just getting started, Hatter.]

Why, [And she laughs.] memories, of course. Granted, the curse is long since broken and you're hardly alone in having two lives in your head...

[She clearly has to be going somewhere with this.]

But you have more reason than most to clear a few out, don't you?

[nevar]

[The worst part about it is how tempting the offer sounds. That never, ever boded well. Especially coming from Regina. Especially with the tone of that laugh.

While it is true that ever since the curse was broken, everyone had the burden of two lives worth of conflicting memories... but he had quite the head start on the other residents of Storybrooke. A head start that had taken a heavy toll. He shifts uncomfortably.]

If it won't help, why would I risk it? [risk losing a memory he can't afford to be without. Of Grace. Of his family. If you're trying to make a point, your highness, you're losing him. Tricked one too many times, and he suspects this time is no different.]

[madehervows]

Because we both know Wonderland has its own rules that it change whenever it wants.

[It's true for both versions, but Regina has far more experience with this one. It's also slightly more true, not that their Wonderland is free of shenanigans.]

It might not help today, it might not help tomorrow, but there's always a chance it will.

[And she's probably being the most honest she's ever been in all their interactions.]

Do you really want to risk not having it?

[nevar]

[Honestly? He really doesn't. Jefferson is willing to risk anything and everything for just the chance to return to Grace. He knows his own fear and hesitation would cost him everything yet again, but the alternative is... what? Do what Regina's suggesting? He doesn't want to give her the satisfaction. She could tell him the sky was blue and the grass was green, and he still would have trouble believing she was being honest with him.

On the other hand, if he actually can get his hat back ...and by a stoke of luck, get it to work even once, it would be worth whatever price he'd have to pay. Jefferson had to find hope somewhere in his desperation.

He just had to find a way to keep the news of his attempts to procure the hat from Regina somehow. Which would be tricky since she is the one telling him how to do it.

Unfortunately for Jefferson, this mental debate resulted in silence across the line and a moment of visible uncertainty before he finds his voice again]

I'll find a way.