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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Emma
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 7, 2015 18:08:23 GMT -5
Set in between return from Neverland and the return to the ForestSince coming back to Storybrooke after that second trip to Neverland, Neal was surprised by how much his thoughts changed about people, people who once hurt him so much. He realised that maybe Hook is a good guy after all and his father, his father did care about him and had come back for him. Of course he'd also learnt that Pan was his grandfather, but, he wasn't going to focus on that.
His feelings about Storybrooke had started to change, while he was still getting used to it, his sense of belonging had started to grow here. A sense of belonging he hadn't felt in years and it was stronger then most of the other places he'd lived. Well, except for, as much as he hated to admit, Neverland. That was an island for Lost Boys who weren't wanted by anyone else and for so many years since going through that portal that was what he was.
That trip had allowed him to reunite with two people he hadn't seen in years, not since his childhood. Wendy Darling, someone who he loved so much and Tink, one of the only allies he'd had while on the island of Neverland. While he had watched Wendy and her brothers go home to London, he still had Tink here as well as Henry and his father.
Neal got himself dressed and made his way down from his room at the Bed and Breakfast and headed into the Diner, a place he had been spending a lot of time in. Since when he first got here, a diner was the only thing he had to connect him to his real home New York, but, now he just loved the food and the company of Ruby, Granny and the other regulars there.
As he entered the Diner, he placed his order with Granny and then looked around the Diner, suddenly spotting Tink sitting in a booth in the far corner. He smiled and headed over to her, he knew that she was struggling to get used to this town and this whole new world and he'd try to help her as best he could.“Hey Tink” Neal said, looking at her as he smiled and sat down in the booth. @rose |
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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 7, 2015 19:02:25 GMT -5
Neal smiled at her as she stood up and hugged him, wrapping his arms around her too. He'd missed the hugs that Tink used to give him back when they were both living on Neverland, he'd never had a hug from a female figure in his life, so he had always loved the feeling when they came from her.“It's good to see you too” Neal said. Looking at her, he smiled as she pulled out of the hug and gripped onto his shoulders.
Tink was one of the kindest souls he'd ever met since being abandoned. The most kindest will always the Darlings, but, Tink was definitely up there. Neal knew that most of the people on Neverland ended up going dark, and while Tink may have had her moments, he knew that she meant well on the island. Besides if he could handle the Dark One for a father and Peter Pan for a grandfather, then nothing else could be that bad. “Well, I did order something yes” Neal said, looking at her. Hearing her next words, he let out a soft chuckle and turned towards Granny before looking back at Tink “Tell you what, why don't I make it a to-go order and we can go for a walk together. There's some stuff I need to wrap my head around as well” Neal said, knowing that Tink may want some company at the moment while she was still getting used to Storybrooke.
@rose
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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 7, 2015 20:47:35 GMT -5
It wasn't like he hadn't eaten and walked at the same time before, in fact it was most of his life in New York, before that, he'd struggled to find a lot to eat anyway. An on the run thief always had to run after finding food. Neal smiled softly at Tink's response “Alright then” Neal then turned towards Granny and nodded “Can you make mine a to-go order please then Granny?” Neal asked, as he turned back to face Tink. Neal chuckled as she commented on that, he shook his head “It's not an inconvience” Neal said, smiling as she pulled out her wallet, watching her try to figure out how much she needed. Neal watched and waited to see whether he'd have to help her with it, but, if she was going to learn about this land then she should figure it out herself. Neal would have course help her if it was needed. Watching Tink hand the money to the waitress, he leaned forward to check and was surprised that she had figured it out. If it was wrong, he could always fix it up later.
Placing his hands in his pockets, he turned to face Tink and smiled softly, leaning against the counter waiting for his order. Neal knew that he'd been through a lot since they last saw each other, stuff that he didn't want to talk about, but, would never be able to forget about. This was a new start in his life and he was taking it as best he could. “Yeah, well, when you've been in this world since you're 14 and grew up in it. You kind of catch on” Neal said, smiling softly. It just hadn't been long since he'd been able to afford the clothes, not since New York. Neal felt himself blush slightly as she complimented him on his look “Thanks, you're not looking so bad yourself” Neal said, smiling softly. “Is that a good or a bad thing? Because that could go either way” Neal knew that she probably meant just, grown up and was no longer 14. “It's strange though.”
@rose
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user is offline ●
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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 7, 2015 23:16:05 GMT -5
Neal leant against the counter and was glad that they could talk like they used to, but, at least this time they didn't have to whisper to avoid being heard by the Shadow or any of the Lost Boys. Neal found it easier to have a conversation with Tink, then he did most other people, since he felt comfortable with and trusted her. It also felt nice to be able to breathe for the first time in a while, without having to worry about things. A small smile was on his face as the smile grew on Tink's as well. “No problem and hey, watch it. I got a few years left.” Neal said, letting out a soft chuckle. At her question, he nodded “I'd say so.” Neal knew that, if anyone asked it may be easier to just think of the age that you could look. Those years on Neverland, screwed up his knowing how old he actually was and went by the age he looked. “I don't think it's 10 years, more like 3 or 4.” Neal said. He had tried the whole 'dating' thing growing up, but, before Emma, he didn't have the best luck with it. After Emma, he didn't have the best luck with it.
“Very strange” Neal said. Neal knew that Tink didn't have to, exactly deal with the harshness of the real world. Having to grow up inside of it, at a time when you had no-one to look out for you. Neal had dealt with all the hard-ships. From the foster system to the streets and then becoming a run away thief. Yes, the last one was his choice, but, none of the others were really. Raising his eyebrows at her oh my gosh, he let out a soft chuckle. Neal realised she must've just really realised the adult thing, would this lead to an awkward conversation. He hoped not. “Yeah, I have drunk it quite a bit” Neal said, smiling softly. Ruffling his hand through his hair nervously, he smiled at Tink “Yeah, that I have. I've grown up.” Neal said, remembering he admitted that to Felix, before punching him in the face and going to find his family. Growing up was hard in his situation, but, he had done it.
@rose
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user is offline ●
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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 8, 2015 4:46:20 GMT -5
Neal noticed that Tink had been giving him the same look for a while, he guessed it was just a shock for her to see him now grown up. He was a lost boy for so many years, even after leaving Neverland. Before meeting Emma all those years ago, he never thought that this feeling would go away. Speaking of him not doing things that a 14 year old kid would've done must've made things awkward with someone who was supposed to be one of his closest friends. “Yeah, it. It is. Can help remove some of these memories we didn't want to remember or think about.” Neal remembered the amount of times that he'd swiped a few bottles of the stuff when he was still just a foster kid who no-one wanted. While he knew he may have gotten into trouble, he didn't care at that point, his life couldn't have gotten much worse. “Yeah, I could use one” Neal said, smiling softly. Neal continued tapping his fingers on the counter, which he usually did out of nervous habit, of course he didn't even realise he was doing it. “Exactly where is that food?” Neal looked around, wondering, sort of hoping that someone else would come in to interrupt or at least make this less awkward. He knew that she knew about his son, Henry, since she had helped take on Pan and get him back. He was wondering whether she'd ask about his life since Neverland, but, was hoping she didn't. There wasn't much he wanted to talk about.
Looking back at Tink, he smiled as she ordered an ice-cream cone to go and tried, once again to sort out the money for it. Neal leant against the counter as Tink turned back towards him and smiled. “You know, I don't quite understand that either. I think it's something to do with legality rights or something like that. I may ask my father about that part of it, since he worked as an attorney part time in this world.” Neal said, glad of the change of subject, but, kind of confused as to why it ended up back towards his father instead. Hearing those words, Neal couldn't help, but, smile. Proud of him. He hadn't heard that from anyone, whether as Bae or Neal, he never had someone proud of him before. “Thank you” Neal said, looking down at his hands to avoid the emotion that he was feeling from those few words. As Tink spoke again, he felt himself squinting at the awkwardness of where this conversation had gone “Oh god. I know that” Neal chuckled softly. He looked down suddenly feeling very awkward, so this was how this conversation sounded from a mother type figure in his life, or anyone really. Neal let out a soft chuckle “It's ok, it's ok. Please just stop that. I know what you meant Tink, don't worry about it. Please” Neal said, just wanting to change the topic of conversation as soon as he could. "I do appreciate that though Tink."
@rose
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user is offline ●
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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 9, 2015 6:50:28 GMT -5
Neal couldn't believe he was this nervous around someone who had a special place in his heart. Someone who he had always felt comfortable with. Of course, maybe this was why. Tink had missed so much of his life, so it was awkward trying to act as if everything was normal between them, like nothing had changed. The awkwardness of this conversation was one that he wasn't expecting from someone who was supposed to be one of his best friends, but, he hadn't not seen it coming either, since he was no longer that 14 year old boy that he was all those years ago. Neal was acting normal at the same time, so as just to let it pass as quickly as possible. Neal smiled at her, realising that he had had a mother, well rather a mother figure for two centuries without even knowing it at the time.
As he continued to lean against the counter on one elbow, he examined Tink carefully. She hadn't really changed all that much, unlike him. That unaging magic on the island made it so that she stayed the exact same. Neal had so much wished that he could've taken Tink with him when he finally left the island, the two of them could've looked out for each other in this world. If Neal had been able to re-adapt to it, then he could've helped Tink do it too. Of course, if he had then he wouldn't have met Emma and he wouldn't have Henry now. Neal knew that this was a two way street, if he wasn't alone then he wouldn't have his son now, but, he would've actually had someone there with him. At Tink's words, he smiled softly “Yeah, I did.” Neal said, looking at her. “You're right, Casey is a lovely girl. Storybrooke is a great time for everyone to change.” Neal took a pause and knew that his father was one of these people who had changed, he knew that now. Or was starting to anyway.“I wasn't sure who I was either for so long, wasn't sure where I belonged or anything like that. I became a different person and while I still struggled with that, I was able to get past it by becoming Neal, instead of Baelfire. You know what, I think she's right about the name.” Neal said, smiling back at her.
As he saw the tears coming to her eyes, he raised his eyebrows wondering why or what he had possibly done. When she started talking to him again, he looked down at the counter as he ran his hand along the counter. It was still weird hearing people complimenting him or being proud of him, but, he was getting used to it. “Heard brilliant things from who?” Neal asked, wondering who she heard them from as he didn't know many people in this town right now. “I thought about you constantly too. I had to be strong, it was the only way to deal with everything without breaking completely. I struggled to believe in myself for a while, but, it was more a belief in being able to know who I should be anymore.” Neal said, running the tip of his fingers along the counter. As Tink reached out to hug him again, he wrapped his arms around her as well. Neal rested his chin gently on her head as she rested into his chest.“It is no wonder, but, I'm still getting used to the 'being a father' thing, since I haven't had a chance to do it very long yet. I will always be noble though.”
@rose
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I grew up alone. I grew up without a father. You can make up for that?
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Post by Neal Cassidy on Feb 14, 2015 23:15:26 GMT -5
Neal knew that at this moment in time, it was obvious just how much time had passed since they were last able to see each other. He was once 14 when they first met and now suddenly he was standing in front of one of his oldest friends and, now suddenly he was older then her. Or looked it anyway. Neal stayed in the hug as he kept his arms around her, he was still not used to having people actually hug him to hug him, rather then for other reasons. Neal smiled as she released him from the hug, and turned towards the counter as his food finally arrived. Neal thanked Granny and Ruby as he picked up his order and walked with Tink out of the Diner, chuckling softly at her question “Yeah, I've had quite a few of them before” Neal said,“Yes they are.” Neal was surprised that Tink had experienced a cheeseburger in the short time she'd been here in this town. Neal opened the container and started to eat his food as he walked next to Tink.
Following Tink out of the Diner, he stayed walking next to her as their conversation continued. At Tink's comments, he smiled and looked at her. “Well, I'm used to stares. Being the Dark One's son kind of makes it a given, even back in the Forest” Neal said, taking a bite of his food and looking at Tink.“Sometimes being a supporting character can be a good thing. But, you're more then that.” Neal looked at Tink, a small smile growing on his face. Continuing his walk with Tink, he realised how much different his life was here compared to anywhere else he was. This was the first place that he could relax in a long time, without having to worry about running before being caught in the old buildings or alleys or without having to check whether Pan wasn't around the corner or his shadow or the other lost boys weren't spying on him and it was definitely easier then his life in the foster system. He could finally have a conversation with one of his best friends, without having to worry about never being able to see her again if Pan caught them together.
@rose
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