inscrutable.

Toto’s tail wagged wildly under the attention, and Dorothy’s smile widened when Mac said she had a dog of her own. She was prone to making snap decisions about whether she liked people or not, and owning a dog was a foolproof way of swaying her toward the former. “Thank Clark Gable,” she agreed. She hoped they were never going back to Kansas. She was familiar with her story and the fact that it was a story here, so the conversation didn’t seem weird to her. Then again, Dorothy’s scale for weird was pretty skewed. “Dorothy Gale.” She nodded. “What’s your name?”

It took Mac a second to process (but she was getting better at it, okay?) that she was actually sitting across from the Dorothy Gale of the stories she’d grown up with. She wanted to pop back in time to the little girl she’d been once, curled up around a book and dreaming of what it would be like to disappear into the world inside the pages like the Neverending Story, that one day, the opposite would be true. One day, she’d be banging the prince that slayed the dragon in Sleeping Beauty and she’d be friends with a character from a video game that held a special place in her heart and she’d run into Dorothy and Toto on the freaking sidewalk for god’s sake! It was fantastical and still incredibly hard to accept when she actually stopped to think about it.

“I’m Mac,” she answered with a dorky smile. “I’m not from a story or anything. Just a boring town in the middle of nowhere with annoyingly Christian parents.” She wondered briefly what they’d think about all of this. If she was honest with herself, they’d probably think she’d lost her damn mind. Sometimes, she thought she might agree with them on that front. “Have you seen your movie or read your book? How close to accurate are they?” She paused and then shook her head. “Is that too personal of a question? I don’t know what the etiquette for this kind of situation would be.”

Dorothy huffed an irritated breath when the shop-keeper took the opportunity to close the door on her. He didn’t go so far as to lock her out, but the message was pretty clear. Toto was trotting eagerly toward the girl, and she turned at the tug on the leash. “Oh, sure. His name is Toto. He’s really nice. But I would keep your bagel out of reach,” she warned her, shooting a glare at the guy through the window.

The moment permission had been granted, Mac patted the dog on the head. She’d probably seen miniature horses that were smaller and she looked at him in awe for a moment before she laughed with a nod of understanding. “I have a little monster of my own, I know the drill.” She returned her attention back to Toto and had to smile at the name. “You’re definitely not in Kansas anymore, huh, Toto?” she cooed to the dog.

A thought struck her then and she paused. Slowly she looked back up at the girl on the other end of the leash. “Wait. Your name wouldn’t happen to be Dorothy, would it?”

quillantheyounger·:

Philip shook his head, his mouth open to tell Rian to put his wallet away, but he couldn’t get words out before the conversation with Mac and Rian was taking over anyway.  The heir to the throne threatened to make him protest, but Mac had it handled in her subtle mocking.  Instead of getting into it with his brother, even as a friendly sibling squabble, he just laughed at her, his head still shaking.  She was something else. 

“Hey, now, to be fair, those stories leave out some of the details,” he pointed out.  “You would be better off as a Netflix Original or something.  I seem to remember us discussing a documentary, but I think we were both very intoxicated and the details are gone.”  

All he could do as the conversation progressed was laugh, a short and high-pitched sound of amusement that wasn’t altogether flattering.  “Seven?” He asked.  “You didn’t disclose those details.  I thought I’d only knocked you up three times over.”  He shrugged and looked back toward Rian.  “Guess I should have said we’re buying a duplex.  One for the baby bunnies and one for our love shack.  You should come see it before we put the shag carpet up on the walls.” 

@quillantheelder·

“Disney movies?  Are you telling me there is an animated version of myself out there somewhere?  I only just learned a story existed with me in it,” he admitted, rubbing his forehead.  He made a mental note to do some research and see if there was more out there about him that he wasn’t aware of.  “Be grateful.  From what I have heard, whatever version of my story that’s out there is far from what really happened,” he stated, shaking his head.

Rian’s eyes widened slightly, his jaw going slack as the pair joked about having seven children, as if it was a normal occurrence for two people who were moving in together.  “Your lucky mother is not here to hear this talk.  She would take your seriously or, at the very least, hold what you say as a promise,” he joked, chuckling at them.  “Honestly, you two, I cannot tell which parts of this conversation is fact and which is just buffoonery.  Have either of you been serious a day in your lives?” he teased, sighing in bewilderment.

@mackenzie-hunter·

Mac had enough grace to attempt to look abashed at Rian’s obvious annoyance, but if she was being honest, she kind of enjoyed it. A lot. She leaned into Philip’s side, a silent show of solidarity. She was nodding her head in affirmation pointing first at Rian, “Snow White,” and turned her pointing finger to Philip, “Sleeping Beauty. Although, neither of you were in your respective movies very much.” She watched Rian carefully, wondering how that kind of information might damage his ego. She couldn’t say much, though. It wasn’t like good ole Walt Disney would ever make a movie out of her life.

“You’re probably better off assuming it’s all ‘buffoonery’.” She enunciated the word, feeling it out in her mouth. It was such a Rian word that it made her smile. “Except the whole buying a house thing. That’s... whatever would be the fun opposite equivalent of buffoonery. Trufoonery?”

quillantheyounger·:

Philip rolled his eyes at his brother as he peeled himself away and he took a step back to open up his embrace with Mac.  That way, the three of them could talk but he didn’t have to entirely stop touching her.  The mild, playful annoyance dissipated when Mac manhandled the conversation, and he watched her closely as she talked.  He felt his lips curl as soon as they made eye contact, a reflexive smile to go with the way he felt it on the inside, too. He was pretty well smitten with her, as it turned out.

He licked his lips, hoping maybe they’d stop tingling (and hoping they wouldn’t), and snapped back to look at Rian instead.  “Hush, we were just saying hello.  But we do have something to tell you.  Get your stein ready for some cheers.  We’re buying a house together.” 

@quillantheelder

“If you so wish it, I think I could afford it,” he retorted.  He doubted Philip would take him up on the offer, but he had enough money that he wouldn’t mind letting go of some if it meant allowing them some private time.  His brows shot up a bit when Mac began asking him of his past, his eyes darting to Philip for explanation only to find his brother looking absolutely smitten with the petite brunette.  “I haven’t exactly tried to hide my lineage, but I gather you didn’t come to Fableton the way we did,” he mused.  “To answer your question, yes, I was a prince as well.  The heir to the throne, in fact, but that has little to do with my station in life now.  This world doesn’t seem to care as much for titles as our previous one did,” he shrugged.  It didn’t bother him too much these days.  He still wished he could know what became of his people back in their old world, but he had to hope that they were okay.  Going down the path of possibilities where they weren’t would surely drive him mad.

For the second time in the conversation, his brows rose in surprise.  “I’m sorry, what?” he asked, shaking his head in confusion.  “You’re buying a house together?  For the two of you?  I had no idea you two were so far along in your relationship,” he admitted.  “But I’m happy for you both, of course.  Do you plan on staying in Ever After or will you be moving elsewhere?”

@mackenzie-hunter·

Mac was shaking her head before he was even finished speaking. It was still fantastical and kind of ridiculous to think that they were storybook characters, the kind that tended to end in ‘happily ever after’, but she was accepting it. She puffed out her chest in playful mockery when Rian had to clarify that he was the heir to the throne and then laughed. He wasn’t wrong. No one cared about the kings and queens and princes from times long forgotten. “Trust me, there will never be a Disney movie made after my life. 

As Philip broke the news, she watched Rian’s reaction carefully. She was skilled in scrutinizing body language and she wondered how something like this might settle within him. “No, for the seven of us,” she said, running a hand purposefully over her flat stomach and shrugged, blinking up adoringly at Philip before cutting her focus back to Rian. “Quints run in the family.” Her smile spread quickly across her face. “Yes, for the two of us. And Angel if she wants. And the Dodo too. But that’s a big nope on Ever After. An heir to the throne I am not, so Sherwood Forest seems to be a little more in my price range. It’s a quirky little house, you definitely need to come see it.”

quillantheyounger·:

He wrinkled his nose.  “Is she still doing that?”  He sighed and reached his free hand out to rub at her shoulder.  “I think your say is the right one.  Let’s do it.  We just have to find Rian and tell him about the moving thing before we’re too shit-faced.  Deal?  He won’t take us seriously otherwise.” 

His eyes closed on their own volition and he sank into her kiss easily enough.  That didn’t mean he didn’t absorb everything about her touch as he went. She made it so easy to forget crap and focus on great.  Or, at least, focus on nearly dirty.  (Both.)  

He pressed his lips together in a ‘trying to keep it cool’ smile and nodded before he moved in for another one. 

@quillantheelder·

Rian had known that Philip and Mac were involved for quite some time now, but knowing that and seeing it with his own eyes were two very difference experiences.  For one, he did an actual double take when he noticed the pair cozied up together.  Then, as they kissed, he had to look away because he felt like watching was intruding on something private between the couple.  However, because his brother had promised to fill him in on whatever changes were going on in his life once Mac showed up, he made his way over to the two of them and cleared his throat.  “You know, you’re in a hotel.  I’d be happy to splurge for a room for you two if it’ll mean you stop doing that here,” he joked, smirking over at them.  “Nice to see you again, Mac.  I hope my brother’s been treating you well.”

@mackenzie-hunter·

Mac didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed as she pulled away at the sound of someone else clearing their throat and demanding their attention. Her eyes landed on Rian and her smile came easy. She didn’t know him that well, but she had met him before she ever knew Philip and for some reason that struck her as a little funny and she chuckled as she pulled away a little to face him. 

“Promise?” she asked with a teasing smile and a raise of her brow at the mention of a hotel room. The teasing smile was quickly replaced by a friendly one and she tilted her head. “It’s good to see you too. It’s been a long time.” A thought struck her suddenly and her eyes lit up. “Hey, wait a minute. Really quick: are you a prince too? I mean, you have to be, right? Sorry, this is all just really new to me and I have this need to know. I look at everyone like I’m trying to figure out what story or video game or whatever they come from now and I’m still not entirely sure I haven’t lost my mind.”

She was rambling. She looked back to Philip as if she suddenly remembered the reason why their sexy kissing session had been interrupted. “Oh, right. Sorry. We’ve got a thing to tell you.”

While it was probably true he felt torn, somehow, with the events of late – he wasn’t exactly uncertain.  He didn’t want to mistreat Maleficent on the off chance Aurora was somehow alive in her, but he didn’t really believe in reincarnation or anything.  He was working out the specifics.  That didn’t mean he was inclined to change anything about his present life. 

Mac’s sharp retort and prompt acceptance of the beer he’d bought her made him relax and smile at the same time.  “Well, that stein is refillable, so drink up,” he said.  “My way of saying sorry for the mess.  And… wait.  How do you know?”  

He tilted his head to look at her, his eyes darting to her lips for just a moment.  Never let it be said that he was subtle. “I’m almost okay.  I think you can get me the rest of the way there easily enough.” 

“Oh thank god,” she said dramatically, looking down at her cup as if it were water and she was dehydrated. She smiled up at him, though, because she was mostly kidding. At his question, she just shook her head. “She gave me a smoothie. It was a whole thing. We should talk about it later though. For now, I say we get drunk and inappropriate.”

She didn’t miss the way his eyes trailed to her lips and she saw the challenge and accepted it. “We could get a head start,” she said with a one shouldered shrug and a smirk on her face. She closed the very small distance and snaked her free hand up along his neck to the base of his skull and pulled him down towards her, capturing his lips in a kiss that wasn’t chaste but couldn’t really be classified as dirty. At least not yet. 

After a moment, she pulled back with a grin. “How’s that? Am I on the right track?”

P: To be fair, I don't know what her dragon-ing abilities hear entail. But unfortunately, I mean the one and only.

P: Aurora was her captive, and I believed it was my duty to best the dragon. That is how I technically won Aurora's hand in marriage.

P: Maybe we could start with ale instead?

M: Okay, hold on, wait, back up.

M: Aurora. Like... Sleeping Beauty Aurora?

M: Holy shit.

M: Philip.

M: You're Prince Philip.

M: Okay, wow, sorry give me a minute to process this. My best friend is a video game character and my boyfriend is a prince.

M: This is blowing my mind a little but I'm going to play it cool. This is FINE.

M: Honestly, it's a little sexy??? Like, I've boned a prince. And now I really wanna do it again.

M: So explain this to me again, please? Maleficent the dragon lady thinks she's your wife and you're having ice cream?

P: Shoot.

P: Um. I don't know. Wine is a good start and we'll see what we can find next time we're at the store.

P: Didn't absinthe significantly mess me up last time?

M: So when you say Maleficent. You mean someone who was obsessed with the Disney movie and named their child after the fire breathing dragon lady and not the ACTUAL fire breathing dragon lady, right?

P: This is not a drill. Maleficent thinks she's my wife and we're going for ice cream.

P: From you, I'm going to need alcohol when I get home.

M: I have a LOT of questions about this entire message. Is now the time to ask them, or should I wait?

Despite Felix’s own love-life having gone to the pits, he couldn’t dismiss the fluttery excited feeling as soon as Mac had used the word ‘actually’ with a tone that basically spelt out to him, ‘I got me a honey that’s funny and makes me go runny’. He beamed, bouncing slightly as she said it and then bouncing a little more as she spilt the beans. “Ma’am, this may be the most adorable romance that my ears have ever heard about in their whole existence!” He let out a happy sigh and lightly nudged her shoulder. “Wait-a go you! You got yourself a real somethin’ there by the sound of it. And a puppy! You got a fella and a puppy! Could you even ask for anything better? Look at you, you’re smiling so much that I’m bein’ blinded by them pearly whites.” The man let out a loud laugh, honestly just incredibly happy that the woman was happy. In his deepest of hearts, he knew that she deserved the happiest happiness that could ever happy.

“Somethin’ good with me?” Felix paused. He hesitated, and then he thought for a good few seconds. There had to be something going well in Felix’s life at the moment. Even if it was something small. “I’m one stamp away from getting a free cocoa,” he offered with a soft shrug. “That’s always something good, ain’t it. I s’pose there ain’t too much really happenin’ right now ma’am. I might look into gettin’ a critter or a cat in my place to make more happenin’ happen.”

Mac smiled brightly, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. She didn’t realize how much she missed having a confidant until she was spilling her guts to the guy she’d considered her best friend before she’d ruined it. “It’s... it’s pretty great,” she said, almost dreamily. The puppy is a big mess, but she’s good. You should meet her sometime. I think you’d love her!” 

Her smile fell a little when he had to pause to think of something good in his life. She was wholly unsatisfied with what he came back with. “I’d be happy to go to the shelter with you if you want to just go and look. Or we could just go get coffee sometime or something. Then maybe I can help you get more... happenin’ happenin’.” 

“Oh I’ve been okay! Well, not okay, really, I s’pose, actually. Hm. Been less okay than what’s normally okay actually.” Felix rubbed his chin, the excitement of seeing an old friend having briefly made him forget the various ‘not okay’ things that had been happening over the recent month or so and therefore going with the default, chipper, ‘I’m okay!’. “Well, see, I guess, apparently I went missin’ for about a year. Fell off the face of Fableton. Though, I don’t really know where I went. I know that I came back all sorta spooked, but I ain’t sure where it was at all. Sorta like you know when you have a dream, and you know that it scared ya, but the only part of it you can remember is someone was butterin’ bread or somethin’ sorta weird? Yeah, it’s kinda like that I s’pose.”

His lips pressed together in slight concern. Everytime he started speaking about the situation with others, it made him feel fairly uncomfortable. Not because he was sharing it with others. Heck, Felix loved sharing things with others. But rather the fact that talking about it reminded it that it had happened, and remembering it had all been out of his control. It left him feeling vulnerable and stupid for forgetting it. It made him wonder how much danger he had been in, or if he was still in said danger.

Felix decided to change it to slightly better news, however, as those were topics far too dark for the happy-go-lucky man to focus on. “On a plus side, I got my hammer back! It’s back home right now, but after it went missin’ for all that time, it’s good to know exactly where it is. And, now, I’m gonna be keepin’ an eye on that thing. See it don’t go wanderin’ off into the wrong hands again.” He gave another bright grin to Mac and then nudged her playfully in the arm. “What about you, Macbook pro? What have you been up to?”

Mac’s smile fell a little as his usual bright and happy energy faded into something duller, heavier. She did her best to follow his train of thought, which was admittedly a little harder than she’d remembered, but she did pretty okay. She even came out of the end of it nodding her head along in some variation of her own understanding. She’d been plagued by bits and pieces of a foggy dream she could almost but could never quite remember for well over a year now. “I know what you mean,” she heard herself say in a quiet voice. “I’m glad you’re back now, though. And that you’re okay.”

He switched gears seamlessly, though, and Mac followed suit with ease. She laughed a little uneasily as she thought about her own time with the hammer. “That’s probably for the best,” she agreed with a hollow sounding laugh that she hoped sound genuine. Looking at him now, she was pretty sure she was going to feel guilty about that for her entire life. There was no use dwelling on it right now though. Especially not when he was asking her questions she actually had exciting answers to.

Her smile was immediate and maybe even a little shy. She didn’t have many friends-- she’d considered Felix to be her best friend until she’d ruined that and he disappeared-- so she hadn’t been able to talk about Philip much. She found that she was kind of bursting at the seams to share it now. “Actually,” she said, drawing out the word a little. “I’ve been seeing someone for a little while now. We met and decided to get a dog. With a complete stranger! I can’t tell you what I was thinking. Actually, no. I wasn’t thinking. But we started spending a lot of time together, taking care of the dog. He’d sleep on my couch sometimes during the worst parts of puppyhood. And things just sort of happened. It’s been pretty great, honestly.” She knew she was cheesing, could feel it in her cheeks, but she had a good thing in her life for maybe the first time, and she was happy to share it. “Now tell me something good that’s going on with you!”