Once Upon A Time (Tv series) TEA TIME! I CAN'T BE LATE FOR TEA! ~PAFP~ Jump In!

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    "Anytime..." Jefferson answered in a relaxed, yet friendly tone. He didn't really need to think twice about here Dylan was going to stay, after all, she had become like a friend to him. Then again, anybody that was willing to beileve him, let alone help him, was considered a friend in his eyes, a very good friend at that. And Dylan, to Jefferson, was the best person he had to be his friend at this point. He smiled faintly, not speaking what he thought out loud, but simply keeping his thoughts to himself. He once again didn't want to scare her away.


    Jefferson watched as his lonely mansion in the forest came into view. He waited in the car for a moment, as if going back there was a punishment, an entrapment. He bit his lip, but got out of the car. He glanced at Dylan, spotting her smirk. "I'll get a smile out of you if it's the last thing I do.." He grinned, hurrying ahead of her to unlock the door. Well..it was already unlocked, but he still felt some importance of getting there first, like he was the man of the house.


    He silently opened the door, holding it for Dylan. He was assured that he would win in this little game they were playing of "getting Dylan to crack a smile". He would be the proud winner. He had to be. He wanted to see what her smile was like. There he went again, fascinated over creep small things that other people could care less about.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]As she exited the vehicle, Dylan let her gaze flicker to Jefferson from over the roof of the car just as his voice reached her ears. "Oh, will you now?" She inquired, blinking in surprise for an instant. She couldn't say anyone had ever proposed a challenge of making or smile - nor did many people move out of their way to make genuine attempts. It was just a grin, a little show of happiness just like that of laughter. So why was it that Jefferson was making it a point to get one out of her. Either way, now that it was out there, Dylan knew that there was indeed a challenge, a game; and she did not intend to lose so easily. "Challenge accepted." She responded casually, leaning against the car as she spoke only to push herself back.


    Following Jefferson up the stairs to his house, he easily reached the door long before her. After all, he had made it a point to hurry ahead of her; and with his longer legs that was an easy to accomplish goal. However, she hadn't expected him to hold the door open for her, as this little action differentiated from the last time she had entered his home. However, she could only assume this was a signal, he was really going to go through with the trying to get her to smile act. With that in mind, Dylan arched a brow with an expression that just as clear as day stated that she was on to him before entering Jeffersons house.


    It seemed like she should have had things to worry about. As of now she'd been missing for well over 24 hours, and yet Dylan didn't seem to show the faintest signs of caring. Just like she had informed Jefferson, no one would be out searching for her. It was the middle of the month, so it wasn't like her landlord would speak to her yet. As for acquaintances, no one would bother to call unless she was gone for a more extensive amount of time. Besides, her car, bag, wallet, and any necessities were already missing from her locked apartment, meaning it was easy to determine she had left of free will. Because of this, she could really help Jefferson for all the time that was needed. That was... unless she truly did wake up from this utterly strange experience.

    [align=center]As they entered the house, Jefferson could see that Dylan took his action of kindness as another advance towards getting on her good side, getting closer enough to her to make her smile. In his mind, it was just polite to hold the door for a lady, but then again, how did his manners survive the horrors he had been through? It was like he had been brainwashed, forced into seclusion and insanity. He frowned, wondering if maybe he was doing things wrong. But then again, what harm could holding a door open cause? He decided he had done the correct thing, and simply smiled at Dylan's suspicious look she shot him. He knew her, more than she thought he did. He was the type to be able to see past the brick walls people tended to build up around their inner most selves.


    With a spring in his step, Jefferson strolled to the kitchen. He knew that after a long day, Dylan would be hungry. Or at least, in his mind she had to be. He hurriedly checked the fridge, realizing he didn't have much food. It was always just enough for him, mainly just lunch and dinner, sometimes not even that much. He frowned, not knowing how to cook very well either. He always had his wife..at least he used to. He would work, she would cook and clean. He glanced about the large kitchen, not wanting to seem like he was at a loss, but he was.


    Jefferson was clueless what to do, and he knew he couldn't present her with yet another sandwich. He wanted to make her a more filling meal, but other than tea and sandwiches, he had no idea what to make. That was always his meal, but now...He bit his lip, reappearing in the living room again. "I um...what would you like to eat..?" He questioned, frowning. He didn't mean to seem bold, so he kept his voice low and gentle.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]While Jefferson sprung off to the kitchen, Dylan lingered in the living room for a few moments longer as her gaze slowly began to scan her surroundings. Her first time entering the home she had been paying more mind the Jefferson and his feigned injury - which she had deemed real at the time. Now she had a moment to really take it all in. Only, the more she looked, the lonelier the feeling grew. This place was beautiful, but in a way it was almost like a house that had been put on display, with no one meant to live inside of it. Maybe it was because Jeffersons curse had rubbed off on the place, placing itself into the walls, the floors, the cushions, and right into the keys of the piano she gently allowed her hand to brush the top of. It seemed as though the place suffered alongside him, only really existing as a void that needed to be filled.


    Her attention was quickly snatched away from those thoughts as Jefferson spoke up, causing her attention to snap back to him as he re-entered the living room to pose a question. One he seemed almost awkward about asking. That was an understandable feature, as she couldn't imagine he had guests often. If anything for the past few years the only person he potentially had to take care of was himself. However, it made her rather curious, to ponder exactly how well he did that.


    "What do you usually eat?" She asked as she moved around the living room to approach Jefferson only to then stop a few feet away. Surely he didn't just live off a steady diet of sandwiches and tea... right? She would have asked for confirmation on this, but her questioning expression said enough that words were not needed to express this. Instead, what she decided to propose next wasn't an answer, but an entirely different question. "Do you need some help in there?" She inquired as she folded her arms. Now, Dylan wasn't much for cooking. In fact, she was quite pitiful at it for someone who lived on her own - which was probably why she had grown to not be a picky eater. Had Jefferson only had an endless supply of turkey sandwiches in this house - she would survive. However, despite having not eaten in awhile, it was still somewhat a surprise to her that he had intended to go make her something. In fact, it was probably just as odd to her as having someone additional in the house was to him.

    [align=center]Jefferson silently glanced into the living room, watching as Dylan's hands trailed over his piano. He wasn't one for playing, at least he wasn't until he was deemed to live alone for eternity. With that thought having been hanging over him for a couple years with no sign of changing, he had eventually taught himself to play a few songs. He wondered if Dylan would like to hear, or if she could play herself. It wouldn't surprise him if she had musical talent on top of being witty and beatuiful. He reminded himself that she was only here to help, if not out of pure pity.


    "What do...I eat?" Jefferson asked, seeming slightly worried, maybe even embarrassed. "I eat..sandwiches for lunch..and sometimes canned soup for dinner.." It was obvious that Jefferson didn't take very good care of himself. With his menu and his lack of breakfast, it seemed he didn't take notice, or even take care of his own body. He noticed the hunger, but nothing amounted to the pain he felt inside, all that emptiness. He glanced down, not speaking.


    It took a while, but eventually he spoke again, lifting his head as if to brighten the mood a little. He didn't want anymore pity. "I doubt you could do any better.." He challenged Dylan, knowing she seemed to be the daring type, one to always take control of a situation and always accept a challenge. Thus, to spice things up, he threw in yet another challenge, a dare almost. His grin proved he knew what he was doing with his sly tongue and slick words.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]She wasn't surprised to hear what a pitiful diet Jefferson happened to live on. She had noted earlier in the day that he didn't appear to have a great respect for his own wellbeing. Had she been forced to live on in the same situation as his, she wouldn't have much of an appetite either. Still, to think that for a countless number of years he had lived off of soup, tea, and sandwiches was both phenomenal, and worrying. Did he never grow sick of eating the same thing repetitively? Day after day, month after month, or did food simply start to lose its flavor after such endless torment?


    Even she noticed the long pause set between Jeffersons sentence, followed by the drop of his head. The pain wasn't terribly difficult to sense. Had it been, and she had overlooked it earlier in the day, then she might not have succumbed to her belief of magic if even only momentarily. So perhaps it was good that his emotions were a little more readable. Or maybe he just didn't feel the need to conceal them so much anymore.


    "Oh?" As he spoke up once more, he happened to catch her off guard with a rather sly set of words. It may have seemed innocent enough - but to be followed up by such a grin - well, it was safe to say Dylan knew a challenge when she saw one. But had Jefferson already figured out how she ticked? "Is that so?" She replied, arching a brow as a cunning smirk danced over her features just as she passed by him to enter the kitchen. There was a fair chance she didn't know what she was doing. But she didn't need to know any five-star meals to surpass a lifestyle of soups and sandwiches. "I'm about to prove you wrong." She announced as she looked back over her shoulder at Jefferson with that same mischievous look in her eyes she had sported before. If anything, it seemed like she was actually coming to be a little more comfortable around him than before.

    [align=center]Jefferson could have sworn he saw a look of worry cross Lillian's features. Was she really concerned about his well being? That would be a new experience..nobody in Storybrooke truly cared about him, not that he had seen or experienced. Nobody brought him food, nobody bought his lunch if he was down at Granny's, nobody really even looked at him with a higher stance than a gutter child. He bit his lip, glancing away, trying to conceal a smile. So somebody really did care, at least he hoped he had read that look correctly, then again, he most of the time did.


    It worked, his little challenge to get her to cook for them had worked. He silently flashed a grin, trailing after Dylan as she entered the kitchen. It was an open cabinet design, revealing that the kitchen was mostly empty, but there were pots and pans, cups as well. It was not as stocked as somebody would expect it to be when it is located in such a house as Jefferson had.


    "Really now?" Jefferson sat down on one of the bar stools that rested by the island in the middle of the kitchen. He tilted his head, watching her with a sly grin "I'd like to see that.." He teased lightly, obviously wanting yet another challenge. Maybe, just maybe everything would be okay. Dylan made him happy, and he liked to see that challenging, determined face of hers. It made him feel like he really wasn't alone, like he really had hope for getting his beloved Grace back.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]She was so accustom to being alone in her apartment, living off whatever she managed to muster up from the cupboards and the fridge when she forgot to do her own groceries. Now here she was in an open space, and empty house, with someone to actually challenge her. Even despite how small the challenge was, something about it comforted her, amused her even to an extent. "Well I only have to outdo soup and sandwiches, right?" Dylan responded in a lighter manner, moving to stand in front of the cupboards as she studied each individual one before moving to the fridge to assess what ingredients she had to work with.


    "One thing is for sure... you really need to do some grocery shopping." She stated a little sternly as she leaned into the fridge and arched a brow. She couldn't help but be genuinely concerned about his health. Whether he had kidnapped and drugged her or not - he could have even been a complete psychopath - and she still wouldn't have been able to help batting an eyelash at his selection. "But I can work with this." She added positively as she pulled out a rather small carton of eggs and what was left of the milk. There wasn't a lot, that was true, but there was just enough for Dylan.


    It didn't take long until she was moving around the kitchen, a little more slowly than she usually would as she was unfamiliar with the space despite being able to see where everything was. In the end, she ended up setting everything she needed right up on the counter beside the stovetop with her back turned to Jeffeson as she began working away, keeping her attention well focused of her task. Really, despite the simplicity of her meal, it would have sucked if she ended this challenge with frying everything to a crisp.

    [align=center]Jefferson was truly curious to see what Dylan had planned as he watched her move about his rather large kitchen. Size didn't seem to matter to him. He honestly wouldn't mind living in a trailer as long as he had his loved ones with him, which at the moment we're only his daughter. If he thought too hard about it, it was rather saddening how alone he was. The only family he had was his daughter. He wondered if that would ever change, or maybe he would lose that as well. He couldn't, he knew he would not be able to bear the fact of losing the only person he had. At least Dylan was helping him feel like he had somebody to trust, to turn to. To count on.


    "I..I know.." He admitted as she commented on his selection of food, or lack of it. He honestly didn't have enough to feed himself sometimes, but even that didn't stop him from leaving his bed some days. No, he worked hard, most days he didn't even sleep. He would work and work, making new hats, repairing his old one, or attempting to. It was an endless job that he struggled with. A need to succeed if you will. "I don't like the looks I get.." He admitted, knowing that where people were, staring was to follow. Who wouldn't want to stare at the town psycho getting groceries for his lonesome self?


    Jefferson shifted in his seat, watching her move from the fridge to the stove. He squinted at what she held in her hands, wondering what she was making. He wondered if he could help, but then again, this was her challenge, helping her would be cheating. He smiled a little, seeming just as amused as she was. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table "You haven't really told me a lot about yourself..." He said carefully, not wanting to see, like he was forcing anything out of her. That was the last thing he wanted to make her feel, uncomfortable. "Tell me more about yourself..."

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center](( Sorry about the little wait, I wrote a reply last night but I just realized it didn't post ))


    It was troublesome to think that for a large portion of his life, Jefferson had been stripped of his rights as a human being. This big mansion only reminded Dylan of how lonely he was, and she had only been here for a very measly amount of time when placed in comparison to the twenty-eight years he had spent. Now she was aware that he couldn't even go to the grocery store, let alone just go out, without being stared at. As far as the rest of the town was concerned, he belonged in a psychiatric ward more so than on the streets. The only reason she could confirm this - was because she had originally thought this herself when faced with the darker side of him. Now she was granted knowledge of the fact that not only was Jefferson just about one of the sanest people here, but the loneliest. Besides, he didn't appear to mean any genuine harm.


    The entire situation to her was just as insane as she had priorly deemed it. But fortunately, cooking, talking, just this faint sense of normality was allowing her to gradually settle into it a little better. Then again, she had always prided herself in being just a little more open-minded than most people. "Well...what do you want to know?" She inquired as she looked back over her shoulder to cast him a glance for a moment before turning back to the stove. Cracking two eggs into the pan as she carried on while continuing to speak with her back turned to him. "There's not really a lot to talk about. My full name is Dylan Alice Everest, I live in an apartment in the city, and I write stories for a living." She stated what she thought to be the most defining facts about herself bluntly. Much like Jefferson, speaking of the past was painful, while the present didn't seem to hold a lot for her right now. If anything, she had to say that she lived a life of simplicity. At least she had up until yesterday.


    Reaching for something on the counter once more, Dylan kept her hands busy. Namely because she wasn't quite so confident in what she was doing, at least not enough to turn away and risk messing up. "The same can't be said for you though, huh?" She added she tilted her head a little thoughtfully. "You're not even from this world." It was a fact that she thought Jefferson would have far more to speak of. His profession, his hat, his world. In comparison to herself, there was just far more to learn. Or perhaps she was so accustomed to her own story that it had grown dull, dreadful in her mind.

    [align=center](That's okay! I was gone for a while as well, I apologize)


    Jefferson could see the look in Dylan's eyes. She knew why he couldn't just go to the store, why he couldn't just go out and live life to the fullest. In fact, he had been deprived of life, of normal living. But that didn't bother him, normal was an understatement to say the least. In fact, his life was known as a fairytale to most. Who would have thought that even existed? A life like his? He tilted his head as he considered all this, realizing that his story did sound a little...crazy to people who simply lived in this town without knowledge or access to their past memories. Lucky them..


    "Come now..." He spoke up as Dylan cracked the eggs into the pan. He moved beside her, tilting his head as he looked at her. "That's like saying 'My name is Jefferson and I make hats'...there is more to you than just your name, your location and your occupation..." He spoke almost wisely as he watched her with those all seeing eyes of his. His head stayed slightly cocked to one side as he seeemd to be studying Dylan almost. He finally straightened and looked ahead for a moment, scanning the living room. He squinted, as if trying to see something.


    Jefferson's focus was locked on Dylan once again, back on the person that had made his life bright again. He had been so alone, and now here he was in his mansion with somebody who cared about his well being, so much so that right now, she was cooking for him. Nobody had ever done that for him before. It made his heart flutter. "If you don't want to tell me...that's fine.." He commented, glancing aside, then back at Dylan. He guessed he wasn't the only one with a dark past.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center](( It's all good, welcome back~ ))


    Jefferson did make a very valid point in just how vague Dylan was being. None of the things she had listed defined who Dylan Everest was and why, in fact they were hardly answers so much as they were insignificant details. It was with this that she couldn't help but wonder if Jefferson knew. Was he aware of how coaxing yet gentle his voice was; as well as just how wise he appeared for a man deemed totally mad? The thought of it almost made Dylan snicker, but instead, she dragged out a long sigh before glancing at Jefferson out of the corner of her eye, only meeting his gaze for an instant before she dropped her attention back onto the pan. She had never been one for hiding her past. Surely she was reluctant to speak about it, but when it came down to it the entire series of events wasn't something she tried to bury beneath the surface as most people might. After all, she had been so blunt towards Jefferson about her families fate before, that it should have been obvious enough by now. The only thing she did conceal was what it all made of her. What she had become through her past.


    She already knew details here and there about Jeffersons dark past. The horrors that stained his life up until now, whereas she had been left a blank slate. Perhaps it was only fair that she told her story, even if it was just a portion of it. "When I was... a little girl-" For an instant she was hesitant as though she weren't quite sure what she was doing. She had thrown herself into it so abruptly that it actually took a moment for her to adjust before carrying on. "There was a fire... my house burnt to the ground with both my big sister and my mom inside of it." Despite the sorrow in her story, she seemed to continue working, her expression of focus having fallen to one that was impossible to read."I managed to make it out through the window, and my dad was away on business, he was supposed to come back the next day." She added as she reached over to shut off the stovetop. "I spent weeks after that recovering in the hospital, but my father never once showed up." That night, she had shattered her ankle bone and suffered from third-degree burns. But fortunately, only scars remained from the accident that night - both inside - and out.


    "When I got out of the hospital, I ended up in foster care. My dad never did come back and I wasn't allowed to contact him... after a few years, I finally managed to track him down through the internet." She explained as she moved around to Jeffersons other side, but just as she set everything on the counter, she instead finally turned to face him. "It turns out he started a new family... a new wife, a new daughter." Oddly enough, there didn't seem to be sorrow there as she spoke. Instead, something a little more vicious sparked for only an instant in her eyes before whatever Dylan was feeling was buried once more. "Due to the accident, I developed a severe case of PTSD and couldn't be around the other kids very often, so I became the outcast. After that I spent my childhood moving from house to house." Right there she was leaving out a few more important details. However, now she was doing so purposefully. After all, telling Jefferson eveything right here and now would take far too long, and their food would be cold by the time she had finished her story. "About two years ago I was able to leave my last one and I started living on my own in the city." The rest was fairly self-explanatory. She had discovered she was a decently talented writer, began making a living off of her work, and now here she was in Storybrooke of all places. Just one more twist in the plot.


    "So... are you hungry?" Dylan inquired rather bluntly, suddenly reaching towards the counter only to hold a plate out to Jefferson. What she'd managed to muster up with what little he had was ironically enough, the one meal he skipped every single day. An omelette with what looked to be a side of French toast which would have made a perfect enough breakfast. As supper, it was a little odd, but there were stranger things in this kitchen alone. Besides, she had accomplished her goal of outdoing turkey sandwiches.

    Jefferson could tell she was about to open up to him, at least a little. And that was fine with him. As long as he got to see the real Dylan, not some wall she put up. It didn't matter if it was just a single glimpse. Everything would be okay for her, he was sure of it. He would even help if it was nessecary. He smiled to himself, finding it funny how trusting he was of Dylan. Then it struck him. He had trusted the evil queen too. He had trusted her with his life, with his daughter's life, and she had screwed him over. She broke his trust and trapped him in a world far worse than death itself. Because suffering alone, knowing you'll never reach your daughter again no matter how hard you worked..that was a fate worse than death.


    As Dylan began her story, Jefferson immediately blocked out his own thoughts and decided to focus completely on Dylan's story. It was the only nice thing to do, right? Normal people didn't sit and loath over their own thoughts...did they? He tilted his head, showing that he was focused on her words. A fire..? He bit his lip, knowing this wouldn't be good. Pity flashed in his eyes for a split second, but he quickly hid it. No..this woman was strong, she wasn't just a little girl any more, she was grown, at least in his eyes. "I'm...so sorry.." He whispered after she mentioned the deaths and her father never coming back. Is this how Grace felt..? Did she think that Jefferson was never coming back for her? That her father doesn't love her? His eyes got a misty look and he quickly glanced away "Nobody deserves that...but that's HIS loss..not yours..because you are an amazing girl.." Jefferson spoke surprisingly soft, his words having so much meaning to them.


    The subject was quickly changed, and he was glad for it. He quickly took his plate and hurried back to the island. He sat down on the stool, looking down at his plate. His eyes got slightly wide, a look of pure joy on his face. This was food that he hadn't had in years. This was like heaven to him. "....thank you Dylan..!" He suddenly exploded, a large grin plastered across his face. It was obvious that this simple meal was very pleasing to him.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]She had opened up her mind to expect a lot from Jefferson. He had been dark, menacing, cruel, insane - then he had been gentle, attentive, lost, sad, childish, and a little more open. But with all of this, she still hadn't expected the genuine softness to his tone. In fact, it caught her off guard enough so that the unreadable expression she had been trying to uphold instantly succumbed to surprise. Her brown eyes widened, and she blinked before seeming to finally register his tone as honest. That wasn't something she was used to at all and it showed quite clearly that his kind words were quite new to her. Enough so, that she actually seemed a little flustered for an instant in terms of how to respond.


    "It's nothing I haven't accepted." She responded after a long moment of hesitation, regaining her composure enough to speak her mind. Her dad hadn't wanted her back. She could only imagine he didn't want a constant reminder of the accident that had taken his eldest daughter and wife. So now, it was no longer something she even questioned. At least, not out loud. Fortunately, she was able to dismiss whatever thoughts came to her mind soon enough as Jefferson reacted to his food with great enthusiasm. The joy on his face completely obliterating any menace she might have remembered from earlier. Right then and there - she almost lost after feeling a grin try to spread across her features in response to his own. But in the end, only her eyes shone brightly as a warm smile danced across her lips. "You mean it's better than turkey sandwiches and soup?" She responded jokingly, unhesitant to seat herself next to Jefferson.


    She had to admit that it was strange to be in someone else's company. Throughout this entire day, she had been warming up inch by inch to this individual who - complications aside - had started off as a complete stranger. Now she still wasn't quite sure whether or not to place her trust in him. That was something she remained undecided on. But all the while she continued to stick by his side for a reason that she wasn't even entirely certain of. One thing was for certain though, and that was the fact that her time with Jefferson would easily be memorable. No matter what happened from this point forward, the man she sat beside was one she would never forget. "So what about you? There's more to your story than what you've told me." She spoke up after a moment where she was silent in thought. Naturally though, she didn't wish to ruin his mood or his meal, so she quickly shook her head only to add on after a second. "That is, if there's anything else I should know about."

    [align=center]Jefferson could see the look on Dylan's face. She looked shocked almost..what had he said that was so shocking to her? Maybe it was his ever changing personality. He couldn't help it, it was just how he was, always had been. He bit his lip. Well, not always. He HAD been perfectly normal until the queen had trapped him for years. Add the years he was stuck on a loop in this town, it was a long time of him going insane over a long period. He frowned, wondering if his daughter would even accept him anymore. Would she..? Would she still love her father? Even with a broken mind? He worried constantly over matters such as this, wondering if she would deny him in the end. It was a scary thought, and he didn't like thinking about it.


    Thoughts aside, he knew he was going to enjoy tonight. The supper before him, the plate of delicious food before him proved that. He grinned, his eyes lighting up as Dylan actually smiled! It was a genuine smile too! "That counts..." Jefferson commented, smirking at her as he pointed at himself "Which means one point for me!" He was getting childish again, excited with the promise of tasty food and the beatuiful smile on Dylan's face. She even sat beside him! He really wasn't alone anymore. He finally had somebody for him, somebody to care and look after him, to keep him company. Somebody he honestly didn't mind staying for as long as she wanted.


    Jefferson poked his omelet with his fork, putting it under his nose. He smelled it softly before eating it. He looked shocked, surprised that Dylan could make such delicious food "This is great...!" He commented, his eyes bright with satisfaction. He happily continued eating, licking his lips occasionally. He could hug Dylan right now! His thoughts were stopped when she spoke up about his past. It was optional..but she had opened up to him, it would only be fair if he did the same for her..wouldn't it? He took a deep breath, simply stabbing at his food now. "I know you've been wondering...and the answer is no.." He glanced at Dylan "I'm not with anybody..I had a wife...but.." Jefferson claimed, speaking nothing but the truth. His eyes proved that, as they got a sad look to them "It was my fault..but you can't change the past.." He shrugged softly, resuming his eating. He didn't want to ruin the moment, so he forced a little smile towards Dylan.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]Everything about Jefferson was so utterly confusing. It was like the man contradicted himself. But with each passing moment spent with him, she felt a little more as though she were seeing his true colors. Then again, humans could be incredibly deceiving creatures, so she left that to be considered more a thought than it was a fact. At least, for the time being. All she knew for sure was that regardless of what she thought, it did feel good to make him happy. Really it felt good to make people happy in general. But the fact that he seemed to have spent so long suffering - well - there was no harm in giving him the night off from doing so. It even eased Dylan's mind too.


    She was surprised at how effortlessly he seemed to keep in tune with her thoughts. Was he truly able to see past her? No matter how high she built up her walls, shut out her thoughts, concealed her emotions - was Jefferson actually capable of merely glancing through all that? If so, that was his truest ability. Even when portal jumping was taken into consideration. The way he seemed to respond without her needing to say anything was something she deemed near magical. However, that didn't take away from the fact that she felt a pang of sorrow in hearing about his own loss. Much like herself, he was without a family. That was probably one of the reasons she had settled around him more so than she could even fathom a normal person. "Jefferson... I ... well, I'm sorry to hear that." She managed after a moment. Clearly he wasn't quite accustomed to speaking with someone else so personally. Because of this, she came off awkward, but at least it was in a fashion that was sincere.


    "I've never seen someone enjoy eating breakfast for dinner as much as you seem to right now." She murmured suddenly. Her decision to drive the subject onto a lighter tone was obvious. But the reason she did it was namely for Jeffersons sake. Now seemed like an awful time to ruin the mood, so there would be a time and place where they may both gradually come out about the truth about their pasts. Piece by piece until the entire story unfolded. But here and now wasn't the time for that. Now was the time to give him a break. "Oh... hey" She uttered suddenly, raising her head and pausing in the center of her meal as a sudden thought occurred to her. "Is the food in your land the same as here?" She inquired suddenly, considering the fact that it really must have been quite different. After all, everything else was, and it was easy to tell that these otherworldly differences were quite intriguing to someone such as Dylan.

    [align=center]After he had mentioned losing his wife, he almost regretted it. He was young when he married, young when Grace came along, but he was ready for it all. He had worked hard and tried his best to support his little family in their strange land. But he had failed them all the same. He had continued his dangerous work, ending up in his wife's death, and allowed himself to be fooled by the queen, resulting in losing his daughter. He lowered his head and bit his lip, wished he didn't have to bring up such painful memories. Why did he even have them? Why couldn't he be like everybody else in this town and just forget? Then again, if he had forgotten, he would definitely not see Grace again, and he would NOT allow that to happen, not for all the money in the entire world.


    Jefferson simply nudged Dylan softly as she apologized, shaking his head at her "Don't be..it's okay.." He smiled faintly, reassuring her that it was, in fact, okay. At least for now. He wanted this happy moment to last, and he was glad Dylan didn't linger on the sadness that had been brought into the conversation momentarily. He was glad to hear the subject change once again. His world..something he could be familiar with, could reason with. Anybody else looking at their world..? It would be insane. He hoped Dylan would like it when he finally got enough magic to take her there and break the spell. Truth be told, he didn't know how to break the spell, even with magic.


    Dismissing the thought, Jefferson turned his attention to the question she had presented him with. "It wasn't much different from this world..though we didn't have gas burning stoves and electricity.." He commented, seeming amused that it was like living in the olden days. "Camp fires for cooking..stuff like that.." He seemed fond of this world as he spoke with a small smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes "But Wonderland...! That place is a different story! You never want to eat anything there..you never know what it might do to you" He warned, seeming to refer to the mushrooms that were mentioned in the story, along with the potions. He smiled at Dylan, finishing up his plate a little quicker than he usually would.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]If Dylan was ever granted the chance to one day not travel the world - but travel to other worlds - she would take it in a heartbeat. Vast lands, different forms of life, stories, ways of living, it all intrigued her greatly. To think Jefferson was actually someone who had once lived that out was phenomenal, but fortunately as her time with him carried on she found her mind opening up to new ideas as concepts. It was as though for the first time in a long while she was able to believe in stories again. Only this time, they were a little too dangerously real. Or at least, they were considered to be. After all, so far all she had witnessed was a hat trick and a mayor who seemed to have a secret. Still, that was enough to get her to open her mind to Jeffersons concepts, but for now, she could only hope she had made the right decision in standing by him. Because in the end, what had truly made her believe just long enough to get that hat to work, was Jeffersons raw emotion and desire to retrieve his daughter.


    "Really? So I guess there is some truth to the stories then..." Dylan murmured thoughtfully as she took a moment to continue eating. The books written in this world seemed to be the real twisted fairytales, leaving only happy endings rather than what had actually happened. But some of the details still seemed to stand strong. Taking that into consideration, she couldn't imagine living in a world where your food could make you shrink, grow, and do all sorts of other questionable things. Actually, it only made her ponder how many times Jefferson himself had eaten the wrong sort of food. "That might have been quite an interesting place to live." She concluded after a moment, seeming to get carried away in her thoughts once more. But with such a conversation, she couldn't help but get a little caught up in it all. "Jefferson - did you actually like living in Wonderland?" She asked after a moment, pushing her plate away as she too finished, only she was done some time after him seeing as he had completely devoured his food.


    With a talent such as his, and with all the lands he could have visited including the world he was trapped in now, was Wonderland the place he still thought of as home? She herself had lived in the same world, the same country, her entire life. Regardless of moving from place to place, she couldn't say she had ever settled down and found "home" just yet. Yet through the years she had been given so many options for a home she simply couldn't seem to find. Was it the same way for him? Or did he believe that that was where he truthfully belonged? Then again, when she took into consideration his goals, perhaps all he really wanted was his daughter, and then anywhere could become home again.

    [align=center]Jefferson silently took Dylan's plate and his own. He walked over to the kitchen sink and placed them in it with a certain gentleness. By the way he did certain things, it proved that he was probably good with children, meaning Grace would have been his world. That was obvious just by the way he got emotional when her name was mentioned or brought up. And it was true, his daughter was his world. Traveling everywhere? He didn't care. He would trade it all for one day with his precious daughter. He just wished his wife was there to be with her, maybe then she wouldn't be so lost, so far from him. He felt like they were miles apart, over seas, never again to see each other. The thought broke his heart each time it popped into his mind the thought of losing Grace forever.


    "They are all true..." Jefferson said softly as he washed the dishes, pouring the water into the sink and putting the stopper over the drain so the water wouldn't drain out. "They simply morphed the endings into better things...to give kids hope of a happy ending I guess.." He shrugged softly as he poured the dish soap into the water, creating bubbles. He wasn't a main character, in fact, he was barely mentioned, but his existance still mattered...didn't it? Did side characters get happy endings too? By the looks of his life, no, no they did not. Jefferson didn't mind, he was given a second chance when Dylan showed up, and he was determined to make things right again.


    Jefferson started to scrub the dishes with a rag, cleaning them off in the soapy water, then washing the suds off in the opposite sink, rinsing them with warm water. He then just left them in the sink, decided he would put them back in the morning. Then again, that's how most of his dishes got piled up and never taken care of. But now he had Dylan here, so he had to watch and make sure to keep a clean house for his guest, his friend. When Wonderland was brought up, he tensed slightly. Jefferson slowly turned to face Dylan "Wonderland was horrible...I didn't live there because I wanted to..I was trapped there when the evil queen promised me she could give my daughter everything she would ever need..." His voice was now cold with the betrayal that still hung heavy on his heart. "I lived with the other fairy tale characters..off in the woods somewhere..before I was trapped in Wonderland.." He glanced down.

    [fancypost borderwidth= 0px; background: url(https://45.media.tumblr.com/f0…eyl617v91qfyjoto1_500.gif); width: 465px; height: 200px; background-position: center;][/fancypost][fancypost borderwidth= 0px; width: 465px; margin-top: -23px; margin-bottom: -23px; text-shadow: 2px 2px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black, -1px -1px black;]I've been broken but I'm better everyday [/fancypost]


    [align=center]Easing herself off the stool, Dylan approached Jefferson side by the sink after a long moment. During which she had taken all of what he had said into consideration. She was hesitant at times in getting too involved with the world she was being introduced to. That was obvious. Still her curiosity shone through as brightly as a flashlight causing that feeling to be undeniable. It was only because of this that she continued to question Jefferson. But it was more than that too. She genuinely enjoyed talking to him, or at least, finally having somebody to speak to. She hadn't noticed it before, but she had never really had anyone there for her. All these years without a soul to share with. Then again, the length of time Jefferson had been alone surpassed her greatly.


    So Wonderland had just been another prison for Jefferson. Much like he was confined to this world, to this house. How many years had it been that he's been forced to suffer through all of this? "So...out of all the worlds you've ever seen... which one do your prefer?" She already knew Jefferson would leap at the chance to go anywhere so long as he was with his daughter. But if he could choose both. If somehow, someway, he managed to get his happy ending... just where would it be? As she thought about this, she subconsciously grabbed hold of a dishcloth only to begin drying the plates Jefferson has washed, not seeming to mind at all as she moved to put them away as though such a thing were a habit. "And while we're on the topic... well, sort of." Dylan began, pausing as she turned to press her back against the counter, only turning her head to rest her gaze upon Jefferson. "Sorry to address the elephant in the room but do you have any idea how we're going to break this curse?" She inquired.


    Growing up, she had read countless fairtale's. But to break a real life curse, here, in this world. Just how would that be done? Magic wasn't exactly plentiful here. In fact, up until a few hours ago Dylan would have never hesitated to say this world was one without magic. But even if there was a tad, something that existed inside her, how would that help them one bit? Now she was determined to believe that just like every person had a weakness, every curse could be broken. Just how on earth they would go about doing that baffled her though.Unfortunately, she wasn't quite aware that Jefferson wasn't certain how they would do this either, as it wasn't something they had exactly spoken about just yet.