+ Wanted to get it real home-like... +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: EVERYONE!
Where: EVERYWHERE!
When: ANYT-- Friday, February 20 to Monday, February 23
Rating: An average PG-13? (Consider warning for explicit sexual or violent content in your thread's subject line)
Summary:
For the duration of this event each character will discover that their room has been replaced with one of their own memories, one that they find themselves particularly happy or "at home" in. More information can be found here.

This log is an opportunity for your characters to describe the memory playing in their room, so that other characters might visit, and watch the scene unfold. To help browse the collection better, please include your character's name, and their room number in the subject line (e.g. Seta Souji - 100, 6th floor) of your top-level comment.

Rooms/Comments may be locked to certain people, or be available for all to see & visit. Log participation is completely and entirely voluntary.

Have fun!

Comments

Robin Hood | 8th Floor, room 26 | OTA

[alionsheart]

It's been months now since Robin returned home for a week, and then ended up back in Wonderland. Months since he last saw his son, and there's an ache inside of him every single day they're apart. He knows for himself now that Roland is safe, at least, he's seen it with his own eyes, and knows Roland won't even realize that he's not there, which is a small comfort. It's hard, though, to not have the routine of telling him a bedtime story and tucking him in, playing games with him in the forest, teaching him about arrows - dull ones to start, so his boy doesn't get hurt - and fashioning him his own little bow and quiver. He misses him so much.

And that's why this memory is both a blessing a curse. He remembers it, every moment of this day with his son. The moment his boy came into the world was one of the happiest days of his life, but losing Marian soon after taints the memory a bit; he hates that Roland has only now gotten to know his mother, and vice versa.

But this memory, this is pure and good:

They're in the forest at Robin's camp, and dawn is just breaking, the sky a beautiful sight with its vibrant orange and yellow streaks as the sun makes it ascent. He has to be a part of it the first time, has to sit there near the campfire and cradle his baby boy in his arms. Roland has just turned one, but he always loved being held by his papa as he awoke. In this memory, as his eyes blink open, he grabs for Robin's free hand, a dimpled grin on his face as he smiles up at his papa. And then, then comes one of the happiest moments of Robin's life: "Papa."

Roland has been making all sorts of sounds for months now, making attempts at forming words, and he's come so close, but this is the first time he finally calls him papa, looking right at him. And Robin blinks back happy tears as he smiles right back at Roland. "I'm papa, and you're my sweet boy," he confirms, kissing his son's head.

He can only bear to be part of the memory once. Just once.

For a few hours, though, he sits near his open door just watching, sometimes standing up and leaning against the doorframe. He should leave; nothing changes, it's the same loop over and over, but he can't. He needs this for as long as he can have it today. Eventually, he'll step back and get something to eat, give himself a moment to collect his thoughts.

[henrydaniel]

Henry's memory has been good, though there's confusion too because he knows it didn't really happen the way he remembers. He never played with Emma in Central Park, because he didn't actually grow up in New York. He played with Regina in the park, she chased him while he was laughing and happy. It was them, in Storybrooke, and Regina who actually wrapped her arms around him when she caught up to him, kissing his face all over to make him shriek. But Henry has both memories and his room decided to give him Emma doing all of that. It's so confusing that at first, it's all he feels, but then he's sad because he never did this with Emma, not really, and he's sad because he somehow lost sight of how Regina really was with him before curses and magic and storybooks.

But then something washes over him that feels like the most intense longing he's ever felt, and it hits him so hard that tears begin rolling down his face. It's missing a child, he feels like a part of him isn't connected anymore, and Henry goes to the one person he knows for a fact is missing their child, walking through the open door. He sees the camp, sees a baby being held by invisible arms, but he knows, and he sinks down next to Robin on the ground.

"I think...I think I can feel what you feel. I can feel how much you miss him but also how happy you were when Roland could say who you were."

[alionsheart]

He's been feeling other emotions as well, a mixture of confusion, sadness, regret, happiness, and when Henry approaches, Robin realizes it's him. Those emotions are coming off of him in waves. It seems sadness is the predominant emotion for both of them at the moment, and Robin wishes he could help Henry to feel better.

"It was one of the greatest joys of my life," Robin sighs wistfully. But he looks over at Henry, resting a hand on his head. "I can feel...your emotions as well. You're sad, what's wrong?"

[henrydaniel]

Henry swallows a little. "My memory is me with Emma, as a really little kid. But I know it's fake. It never really happened. I never got to do that with her. We didn't get any of that, because she gave me up." And he gets why, but still, sometimes it hurts and then the guilt settles.

"If she hadn't given me up, I wouldn't have all of those memories with Regina. So I feel bad for wanting it to be Emma sometimes, for real." He's so sad and confused, and he hates having both memories because it makes him so conflicted.

[alionsheart]

He can't even begin to imagine how difficult that must be, not only for Henry, but for Emma. He witnessed firsthand how difficult it was for Regina, so he doesn't even need to ask. But in the end, he thinks, perhaps it all worked out for the best, the way it had to. And he gets the sense that Henry would agree, hearing him talk about it now.

Resting a hand on his shoulder, Robin speaks softly. "I'd feel the same way you do if I were in your place."

[henrydaniel]

"I just don't want anyone's feelings to be hurt. I love them both. It's not that I ever want one over the other."

At least not now, not anymore.

"And my dad too, I...I don't know how to make sure they all know I love them when I have a lot of different memories, and so much has happened."

[alionsheart]

Robin thinks about that for a moment, just giving it some thought, because he can understand the turmoil Henry must be in. And then, thoughtfully, he says, "How do you feel loved? What is it that people do that makes you feel loved by them?"

[henrydaniel]

Henry's quiet as he thinks about that, chewing on the inside of his cheek a little. "They're just...here for me. I know they love me, because they always want me to be okay. Regina gets me comics even when I didn't ask for them, and Emma stays up late to just play video games with me, and my dad takes me out all the time. All of those things are just so we can be together."

[belovedson]

For the first eleven years of his son's life, Neal hadn't known Henry even existed. There'd been no chance to hear his first words or see his first steps, or feel tiny fingers wrapping around his hand. And for the rest of Henry's life after Wonderland, Neal's just going to be a memory; he's already dead for his son, with no chance of seeing him go off to college or get married, or have kids of his own one day.

No, there'd only been a painfully short time in their world, and Wonderland now. So as much as Neal hates this place, what it is and what it does, there are things he's also forever thankful for.

But Robin? Robin's got the opposite problem. At home he has a son who he loves more than anything, who he would protect above all else. Yet while they're all trapped in Wonderland, the guy has to go through the pain of that separation, comforting himself only with the screwed up way this world works--and Neal doubts that's much comfort at all. So when the whole mess starts with the rooms he isn't exactly surprised to look into that open door and see Roland. A younger version, sure, but the kid's eyes are the same, the way he smiles.

He also isn't surprised to find Robin there, watching, unable to tear himself away.

"Hey man." Neal walks up beside him, clasps a hand on his shoulder. He can't imagine all the thoughts that have got to be going through the guy's head, to have this memory on display and yet know it isn't real. Wonderland's the sort of place people don't wish on anyone, especially not their own kids. But Neal wouldn't blame Robin at all for wanting to hold his son, to have him be real and there and calling him Papa with that bright smile of his.

[alionsheart]

The comfort here is knowing that Roland is safe back home, and he knows now that Marian is safe as well, and she's with Roland in some other timeline, which makes him feel even better. Whenever he returns home, he'll be with his boy again; he'll lose Regina, but he'll be with his son, and that's a comfort. Yet it doesn't make up for missing out on those hugs and kisses these many long months, doesn't quite ease that ache.

When he hears Neal and looks over, though, he offers him a wan smile. Robin knows he has it lucky, compared to what Neal's left with.

"You always seem to know when I need the company most," Robin says gratefully. "Have you got one of these rooms, too? I imagine we all have."

[belovedson]

Neal grins, small and brief, glad that at least he's got his timing right. Luck is a tricky thing, kind of like magic; he'd be hard pressed to call either of them fortunate right now, given just where they are and what's playing out for them.

"Yeah; from when I was a kid." Part of him almost offers to walk Robin over just then, but it'd be a cheap distraction at best. If the guy wants to know Neal will definitely tell him; it's the least he can do given what he's just seen. "I think they're supposed to be happy memories. Leave it to Wonderland to screw with the good ones."

[alionsheart]

Robin's been given a good memory here, and he's thankful for that. But he'd wish the same for everyone, and that appears not to be the case for his friend this time around. It seems quite unfair, to deny him even a temporary bit of happiness, but then again, he imagines much of Neal's childhood wasn't terribly pleasant, at least not when his father became the Dark One. And his life after that certainly involved many trials and tribulations.

"What's the memory, if you don't mind my asking?"

[belovedson]

“Nah, I don’t mind.” And contrary to Robin’s belief, Neal’s concern had been for his friend rather than himself. But he’s right to think that the good in Neal’s life had been limited growing up. There had been times he’d been happy, sure. He’d had homes, families along the way, all of them seeming to last just long enough for him to ache after they were gone.

Still, he grins as he thinks back on the scene replaying in his room. Even though it hadn’t ended well, it’s one of the few pure times he’s experienced. Something not tainted by someone’s longing for power or revenge.

“Back when I left the Enchanted Forest, I ended up in London a few hundred years ago.” He gives Robin a second to let that sink in, just in case he hadn’t already made the connection. “First few months of it were really hard; I was living on the streets, begging and stealing for what I could. I ended up sneaking into this one home, and I got caught. They didn’t kick me out though, or send me to a work house. They accepted me into their family. After what happened with my dad, it was the first time I’d had a home.”

[madehervows]

In the aftermath of her confrontation with Zelena, Regina is just furious. In an attempt to bring herself down without setting something on fire, or possibly even murdering someone, she seeks out Robin. So naturally, her first stop is his room. She doesn't stop to think that maybe his memory is something personal; the fact there's going to be a memory in there doesn't even cross her mind, honestly. She doesn't find Robin, but she does find something that shocks her out of her rage.

She watches the memory through several times, eventually sinking to the floor to and watching it a final time. For all their status as fairy tales, stories, legends, whatever, it's the little pieces that never get told that matter the most. It's weird watching it without the star player, but it gets to her all the same. She's sure she's about to get a surge of anger from Zelena for making her feel this way, but she doesn't care. The scene is halfway through when she finally stands and leaves.

Regina finds him in the diner, sliding into the seat beside him without a word.

[alionsheart]

Robin's just nursing a cup of coffee when Regina joins him. He'd thought about tea, but it's a bit too soothing, which is probably what he should have now, and yet he quite prefers a drink that better matches his mood. Coffee seemed the best choice. On the one hand, he's grateful for the chance he got to see his boy again, on the other hand, it's a reminder of what he's missing here. And yet returning to Storybrooke means he'll lose Regina again.

He's come to his own sort of peace about it for the moment, simply because he'd rather hold onto his optimism the best he can. But it still makes him troubled.

He has a soft smile for his love, though, and he sets his cup down, reaching for Regina's hand. "I had to collect my thoughts for a moment before I came to see you. How are you faring?"

[madehervows]

"Not very well," she admits, leaning into him and resting her head on his shoulder. "Every few minutes Zelena gets angry about something new, and since we're connected thanks to Wonderland..." she trails off, feeling the telltale spike of anger in her veins. Right on cue. Sitting here with Robin, though, helps her keep in control of it. If she happens to feel a little joy at making Zelena feel incredibly awkward because of her brand new feelings for Robin Hood, that's her business.

"I saw your room," she admits again. Regina knows the pain of being separated from your child all too well, but she had been lucky in that Wonderland didn't feel the need to dredge up memories for all to see when Henry hadn't been here. "Are you okay?"

She doesn't expect him to be.

[alionsheart]

When her head comes to rest on his shoulder, he turns to kiss her forehead softly, his arm shifting to wrap around her and hold her close. It's strange not to be connected to her emotionally, and to Henry instead, but perhaps Wonderland thought it would be good for Regina and Zelena, in a strange and twisted way he can't begin to understand. "That sounds unreasonably complicated and unpleasant," he sighs softly on her behalf.

At the mention of his room, though, Robin tenses a little, pondering her question. "Not particularly. I suppose it was a mercy of sorts to be able to see him again, but it's not real. He's not...here, I can't hold him." He kisses her forehead again. "I know you can understand better than anyone."

[madehervows]

Sitting here like this, it's almost like nothing has happened. Like they both don't know what's coming for Robin, should Wonderland choose to send him home. It's been weighing on her ever since she told him, but now, at least, she can use that to help him. "It's not the same, but he's okay. He's safe. No matter what happens in Storybrooke, that much will always be true." She puts a hand on his arm to ground him, remind him that he's not alone in this.

"I know it won't stop you from worrying. We all know how much I worry about Henry and he's here. But I hope it makes things easier."

[intelligently]

Although the door is open when Lydia gets there she gives a little knock on it anyway, gently grabbing Robin's attention instead of shocking him by just speaking. By now Lydia has assumed that there would be a memory in his room - she's seen other people's by now on top of her own.

Her eyes flicker briefly to the forest scene in the room, not spending enough time looking - prying - to discern what was going on. She'd gone to his room to check on him and to make sure that he was okay. They'd spoken since their chat about the attacks in the diner, having a campfire picnic since. Lydia knew that he was doing okay but she had felt better having someone check on her - making sure that she was okay, happy and not dwelling. She wanted to make sure that he had the same?

"The camp looks nice." A little cosy, and definitely like it could be home. Spending enough time there he'd have made sure it was homey.

[alionsheart]

Her instincts are right; he does appreciate the company. He's taken some time to hold his boy again, and now just sitting there watching it play out, he's grateful for a friend to speak with. Lydia gets a warm smile from him as he looks over at her, making a slight gesture to her to sit and join him.

"It was," he nods. "Well, I tried to make sure it was. We couldn't always stay in one place, but I tried to give Roland some stability." He takes a breath. "How are you faring through all of this? Your room...you had a good memory?"

[intelligently]

Lydia steps slowly into the room, sitting herself onto the grass near to Robin.I t's now that she takes in more of the memory, feeling as if he's given her permission to pry a little. It's home, and he has his family. Lydia assumes that the baby that he's holding is the son that he mentioned worrying for at home, at that the others around him are his friends. She was right - it was a nice scene.

There's a slow nod at Robin's question. The end of Lydia's memory was a happy one. Jackson being cured of being a kanima, and not being dead at the end of it all. That was happy, even if it had been a little painful getting there first.

"I got to see some people I haven't seen in a while." Or would never see again. Stiles, Jackson and Derek had left Wonderland. Allison had died. They'd had a second chance here but it was gone now.

[alionsheart]

He feels terribly, thinking it, but he's almost glad his memory hadn't been of Marian. It would have been too painful to see her giving birth to their boy, and then remembering what happened to her not long after that. It's a selfish though, he knows, but one he can't help for just a moment. But this memory with just his son, this is a good one. Wonderland, it seems, is oddly merciful at times.

"I'm glad," he says warmly, reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder. "It's a bit hard to walk away from that room, isn't it?"

[intelligently]

There's a gentle nod, and Lydia can't help but linger on the thought. Some of the time that she'd been in her room she'd focused on the other people in it, wishing she could interact with them. But it as a memory and not anything else - nothing would be different.

"It can be hard. Being separated from people you care about." For the people tthat were simply at home Lydia missed them but ahe kknew they were ssafe, uunless anyone came from her future. But for people that she could never see again? Whilst she hadn't seen Allison's death she'd felt it - the oncoming moments, the pain of it happening. That was something no one else could understand even if they all shared the loss and love for her. It hurt worse knowing that Allison had been here and had gone home to die, and she didn't know if she could return.

[alionsheart]

He remembers Lydia telling him about her friend, the one she'd lost, and so his thoughts naturally drift there. Her eyes seem slightly troubled, enough for him to wonder if her friend was in that room. He doesn't even need to ask really, it's there in her eyes. She's lost people, regardless, and they understand each other.

"I wouldn't wish it on anyone," Robin says truthfully. Even his worst enemy.

"But this glimpse at them again for a moment...some might think it cruel, I think it's...a rare mercy from this place."

[intelligently]

"Why a mercy?"

Rather than simply disagreeing with his opinion she was interested in what he thought about it. Originally Lydia had always wanted to go home - she'd not seen any good in the place, or hadn't tried to. Now she was mixed, and she'd been in Wonderland long enough that it felt like home. It brought people back from the dead, gave them second chances and it was a break from the madness that happened in Beacon Hills. If there weren't any events it would be like a nice break. She still did want to go home but for now she didn't mind being stuck there.