I wanted my name to stand for life

      “My stethoscope?” Whale honestly sounded befuddled by the simple question. “It helps me listen to people heart beats or their breathing.”

“I’m not a wizard and certainly not magical.” He was a little to quick to press that point. “Science. It’s much more reliable and safe than magic actually.” That was arguable.

“That depends on what you consider interesting,” she mused. “I just found out my parents are Snow White and Prince Charming. I think I’ve surpassed interesting and gone straight to downright crazy. Am I the only one who thinks all of this is insane?”

      “Well I think that could be considered interesting.” It was certainly surprising to remember everything after the curse had broken. “Insane doesn’t begin to describe this town at this point. Or the people in it.” Himself included.

“No,” she admitted. Red was many things, but callous was not one of them. Their first encounter had made her assume the same of him, but much had changed since that chance meeting and Red was no longer as naive as she had been then. Still, it would be wrong not to give him the benefit of the doubt, and the look that caused his gaze to fall, his lips to turn into a worried line, were enough to convince her that he was, at the very least, sorry. “Regina has killed indiscriminately. Entire villages of innocent people murdered because she suspected them of harboring or helping Snow White. She’s a monster.” More so than I am, she thought, but she quickly bit back the words. The man before her still didn’t know of her secret and if he found out, there was a good chance he’d call her a hypocrite for being so malicious towards the Queen. “It’s not much consolation, but I also assume she didn’t divulge enough information for you to have made an educated decision in regard to whatever plan she put forward.” It was very much like Regina to eliminate key points, to ensnare someone in her trap, leaving them little choice but to bend to her will. “I can’t really fault you for that, I suppose.”

      Of course he knew what she was talking about yet he still found it hard to believe. The things she’d done seemed nothing like the almost too innocent girl he’d met the first time. He probably had a hand to play in that outcome too. It took a moment for Victor to say something. The guilt kept reminding him that not only had he failed in his realm but he’d possibly helped cause the problems that plagued this one too. He never could manage to do the right thing.       There were things she could fault him for but at that point it wouldn’t be wise to remind her of it at that point or any point. “I’m sure it’s safe out there now.” He wanted to change the conversation to avoid admitting any wrong doing that would inevitably get him into trouble. “Thank you for the help, I’m in your debt.” He quickly started to scoot towards the opening in hopes of making a clean get away. As clean as it could’ve been at that point.

“No that’s okay.” Emma smiled. “You’re probably better company than I am. My internal conversations are gettin’ pretty dull over here.”

   “I think I’ll take that as a compliment.” Whale finally made himself comfortable in the seat across from her. “Anything interesting happening lately, sheriff?”

“Ogres,” she said simply, as though it were a common occurrence. Truthfully, it didn’t happen every day, but it did happen; knowing he wasn’t from this realm, she allowed him a moment to digest the information. “You’re lucky I crossed your path when I did.” Still, that begged the question: why was he back here? And why on earth did she save him? Word of his endeavors regarding the Evil Queen’s dead lover hadn’t spread throughout the kingdom, but Snow had learned to keep eyes - usually those of the feathered creatures who took a liking to her - on Regina at all times. It was the birds who told Snow of the doctor’s deeds and Snow who’d eventually told Red. “Though I probably should have let them trample you, after what you did last time you were here,” she sneered. “I should kill you for having helped her.” Though she made the threat, she didn’t move from her spot.

He shouldn’t be surprised to think of ogres in that land. It made sense. Still he hadn’t run into them until that moment. Curiosity told him to see what was so frightening about the creatures but her quick words kept him in the dank cave a little while longer. “Would’ve you really have left me out there had you known who I was before?” She didn’t remind him of someone who’d do something like that cruel but he’d only talked to her for a short while when they first met. He caught himself thinking about her more than once when he’d returned to his realm. That was something he’d keep to himself but seeing her face again was sort of comforting. The accusations weren’t necessarily surprising. His work there had weighed heavily on his mind just as much as she had. However it came with guilt and a knotting sensation in his stomach that caused him to look away from her intense gaze finally. “So you hate her too then? I seem to run into quite a few people who feel that way.” Maybe he played a hand in that but again he didn’t feel that he needed to share that either. “I didn’t help her much if that’s any consolation in this situation.”

“Not at all. In fact, I’d love some.” She smiled from behind the coffee cup she held, always eager for someone to talk to.  Especially after the loneliness she endured under the curse.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around town before.” He made himself comfortable in the seat across from her. “Are you visiting or…?” Just to be careful he left the question up to interpretation.

“I have a feeling you’re going to give it whether I want it or not,” she mused. 

“You say that as if I’d force my company on you.” He fiend a pout. “I’d gladly leave you to whatever you’re doing if you’d like.”

                                                    pale light.

                                               I should have been more careful–

Red all but dragged the man behind her, pausing only once to consider that she might have been running too fast for him to keep up. Luckily, the cave wasn’t far; when they approached the entrance, keen eyes scanned their surroundings, making sure the ogres were no where in sight before entering the little hideaway. It was dark, but she didn’t dare start a fire for his convenience, it was far too dangerous to risk. “You,” she said finally, her voice still quiet lest the ogres hear her. “You don’t recognize me, do you?” It had been a while since they’d crossed paths - how long, Red couldn’t say with any certainty - but she most certainly remembered the man who hadn’t recognized color.

Victor hadn't spent enough time in that land to really expect such things to happen like that but there he was, hiding in a cave from who knows what with a girl he didn't really ever expect to run into again. It didn't take long to recognize her though. The red cloak was what gave it away. That was something he'd always remembered even when he went back to his own land. Back in his land everything looked different. There were no colors like he'd seen in the forest. He wouldn't admit it but the girl in the red cloak often crossed his mind. "Of course I recognize you." He sat across from her. "I don't know why you grabbed me like that though."