entranceway | [ text ] No more carols to sing

I. ACTION

[ Well, this is Wonderland. This, specifically, is Wonderland's beach, and, more specifically its ocean, which reaches up to Philip's knees. So much for a smooth landing, huh? He lets the icy water lap at his feet for a bit, because it makes a nice change from-- uh, hours? Days? Weeks? It makes a nice change from burning in hell, period.

He wades onto semi-dry land, eventually. So this was... what? An event? Another magical accident from the corner of unsupervised Storybrooke maniacs? Or, third. Christ, third. Neither the water nor the offensively picturesque snow landscape run down his back as coldly as that thought. That he might've actually gone home.

He lets that sink in, and sink down, until it doesn't paralyse him anymore. Then he takes out his phone, and heads back into the mansion. ]

[[ PRIVATE TEXT, TO EVELYN O'CONNELL ]] Hey, can you spare a second? Because I'm a bit weirded out, and not entirely sure what just happened to me. [ He waits. Gets impatient. Types the second part right away: ] Was I gone?

II. TEXT

[ First, he wants to pretend that the last few- days? did not just happen. Second, he picked up the words "sleep deprivation" and "other Wonderland", and still doesn't get the whole picture from the network. Which, all in all, leads to third, a controlled mess in the kitchen, and the following message: ]

Apparently I just blinked and missed Christmas, so I'm stooping to bakery to make up for it.

[ A helpful visual of some crunchy chocolate toffee squares with macadamia nuts comes attached. ]

First three batches ready for pick-up in the kitchen. Fourth batch in the works, I'll trade you for some good stories about the event I missed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bribery with baked goods is always pretty effective.
You're better off for having missed it this year, I think, but I'm glad you're back.

You say that, but when did we ever have the opposite with an event? "Gosh, Philip, we had such a blast! The zombies were especially rotten this time around, can't believe you weren't there to get in a few good headshots!"

On that note, I could probably whip up something special for the bar. Rum balls? Rum sugar biscuits? Rum-Soaked Chocolate Chip Cookies? Rum comma several bottles of?

I don't know, some of them have been kind of fun.
I never minded the musical ones. Hogwarts wasn't so bad, either, although that one is a matter of opinion.
For the record, I would pick you for my zombie-killing team any day of the week.

How about E, all of the above? Too much?

You know, ever since one of the musical ones showed up days after I lost my voice I sort of suspect Wonderland is trying to rub it in. Not that I haven't gotten incredibly good at playing guitar since, but still. Jesus.

[ No kidding. ]

So you could get used to the convenient witchcraft too, huh? We should pay their study room a visit, see if they'll let us take classes together.

[ Only half kidding with that, too. ]

Not too much. I've been out of commission for the better part of the season, so that probably means I owe a debt. Couldn't say of what, specifically, but I'll pay in rum pastries and call it even.

Hey, maybe you can't sing anymore, but that doesn't stop you from dancing, right?
Bet you can pull off a mean jazz square.

[Consider seeing that a new addition to her bucket list.]

Not sure if I could be taught, but it would be nice to have that kind of convenience all the time.
Magic made life a lot more fun, and flying was pretty awesome. I think I miss that part the most.

I wish everyone paid their debts with such delicious currency. I could really get used to that.

I'll give you good odds for that. And wouldn't you know, I think somebody's got an anniversary coming up. So if you're celebrating large, then you can pencil me in for a dance.

See, now I just feel bad that I missed Christmas. Could've gotten you a jetpack from the vendors.

Make up for it by bringing an edible economy to Wonderland next year?

[ text ] No more carols to sing

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