portalhopping | video; (before Halloween

video; (before Halloween - week before)

[The scene that plays out happens incredibly quick - supernaturally so - Kenneth moving forward only to be knocked to the floor with ease and annoyance from the startled blonde, causing his partner to move forward only to stop as she speaks, doing exactly as she says.]

Ah - why don't you go stand in the corner and keep your hands where I can see them, love - and while you're at it tell me where in the seven hells I am, what is all of this?

[The camera goes black and begins with the feed shortly thereafter. When it picks back up instead of being unaware of the device she's looking directly into the camera now.]

Is this bloody thing working - can anybody see this? Hayley? Elijah? Nik? Are any of you here?

[There's hope on her face, but it's not burning bright and there's a darkness to her eyes, she doesn't actually think any of them are here and that's clear as she sighs and reaches up to brush her hair back.]

I don't understand all of this scientific gobbledygook, but is this real? [Rebekah looks around and holds her key up as if examining it.] Surely not, this is all... fantastical and nobody just hands out keys and devices and welcomes whoever steps through a portal to town...

And if it is so where the bloody hell do I go to get a stiff drink?

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[ Pietro is laughing a little when his video feed comes up. ]

Vynikající. You are in America. Florida, specifically. I couldn't tell you which of the seven hells that is, but I hear it is certainly one of them.

[ The laughter fades out and he's left grinning. ]

It is real, believe it or not. As for stiff drink, I am too new here to know, but we maybe find out together, eh?

*Outstanding.

[Bekah's eyebrow quirks upward, and perhaps the tenseness to her face is pinching a little less tightly given the laughter isn't cruel, but seems...good natured.]

Líbilo se ti to? [She fires back in the familiar language - one she hasn't used in some time, actually.] Florida, well, that does track so far as hellscapes, I suppose. Certainly not where I'm supposed to bloody be.

[She reaches up and scrubs a hand over her face.]

I do suppose it is a bit better to drink in company - how long exactly have you been here?

*You liked that?

[ Pietro looks pleasantly surprised and he barks out another laugh, this one a little fuller-bellied. ]

No, do prdele...jak teď budu hrát stydlivě, když se nemůžu schovat za svůj mateřský jazyk? I did, yes. I will have to take your word for it. I haven't been here long enough to decide on my own just yet. It certainly beats being dead, that I can say with certainty.

[ He lifts an eyebrow and grins flirtatiously at her. ]

You want I come get you and take you there? You are fast, Krásná, but not as fast as I am. Couple of weeks, I think?

*Well, shit...now how will I play coy if I cannot hide behind my first language?

[The smile that pulls at Rebekah's face is real and perhaps a little less sad and a little more amused.]

Předpokládám, že budete muset být kreativní. [Rebekah manages an actual smirk.] I've been all over the world, back home, at least, and Florida is hardly anything to write home about.

[She tilts her head.]

You seem very confident about that - how fast are you, exactly, then? Lets see it. A couple of weeks likely gives you a better sense of direction than I might have anyway.

*I suppose you will have to get creative then.

[ He drops a wink and nods. ]

Předpokládám, že máš pravdu. Being here is my first time leaving my country. Though, my country was destroyed, it is no more. I have to admit Florida has some very beautiful people in it, but I am largely indifferent to the rest of it.

[ The smugness settles into his grin. ]

You won't see it if I show you, that is how fast. I don't know exact speed. Mach something or other, they thought, at HYDRA. Wait outside building. I will give you sixty seconds. Then I come get you and take you downtown in less than three. Fast enough?

*I suppose you're right.

Edited 2022-10-31 13:26 (UTC)

I think you'll find I'm almost always right. [Rebekah winks. It does feel good to try and distract - take her mind off of things with something as stupid as this, though, and lightening the mood.]

Pity that it was destroyed - perhaps you'll have more luck than I have in finding a new home with it gone eventually - whether it's due to the pretty people or some other factor.

[Rebekah moves to head outside - ignoring the workers about her - taking a much more leisurely pace.]

Interesting - I'm certainly not that fast, so by all means, I'm on my way out now. It's certainly fast enough for me.

( Darcy winces sympathetically. )

Poor Kenny... Hi, hey...we can see you, but I don't know that I've heard any of those names on the network since I got back here.

( For that, she looks apologetic. )

It's real and because the city's portal is the reason we're here, they do set us up pretty nicely as sort of a consolation prize, or something. I like you already, though, if you're looking for a stiff drink.

I'm Darcy. I don't know that Lando's is the best place to get one, but it's certainly a place to get one.

[Rebekah looks toward the welcome crew and gives a small shrug of apology.]

He should be fine... if a bit sore. [The comment turns into a sigh.] Damn, I should have known.

[Rebekah moves to lean against the edge of the table, deflating every so slightly.]

I'm afraid I'm going to need it to wrap my brain around all of this - and I think you might be the first person to decide you've liked me in such a short amount of time, Darcy - I'm Rebekah.

Ehh, serves him right for not getting better at his job by now, or at least admitting defeat and asking for help.

( Another apologetic look comes across Darcy's expression, tilting in the direction of sympathetic. )

Take your time; it's a lot. Between the desire for a drink and the way you knocked Kenny over like a bowling pin, what's not to like? Nice to meet you, Rebekah. Where and when was it before you got here?

You make it sound so simple - I think I prefer your logic over some others I've seen.

[Rebekah gives Darcy a small smile.]

It's nice to meet you as well. I was in New Orleans in 2015, which is a sentence that I never thought that I would say, truth be told.

As far as I'm concerned, it is simple. He's been doing that job for as long as I've been here, both times (I was sent home at some point a short while back and about a week ago, my kids and I got dragged back through the portal again), so you'd think he'd have either figured out how to better approach his explanations of what's going on for new people, or at least asked for someone who's been through the portal to assist and sit in on these things, by now. So, you know, he's made his bed and now he has to lay in it.

( She shrugs a little and her attention turns away from the screen briefly at the sound of a shrill cry from behind her. It's followed almost immediately by a peal of giggles, so she turns back to the screen. )

Tell me about it. For me, I was in Lawrence, Kansas, 2020. Here, it's nearly 2023. I don't care how many times I get shunted around the multiverse, the time travel part is always going to fuck with me.

[Bekah grins at the other woman.]

I can tell I'm going to like you already as well.

[The blonde cocks her head a bit, an eyebrow moving upward at the cry behind her followed by the peal of laughter and her face softens.]

How old are they?

[She can't help it, and she nods toward the background - to give a bit more context to the question.]

I've never been shunted, but I've... missed time before and had it taken from me and I can't say I love the idea of this much more than I do the idea of that.

Hmm?

( Darcy smiles a little, belatedly processing the question amidst the sound of the boys playing in the background. )

Oh. They're five. Twin boys.

( She taps the screen and it flips to her back-facing camera, showing two little blond boys roughhousing on the couch, their feet pressed to one another's in the air and each trying to force the other to bend his knees enough so that he can straighten his own and declare victory. The cries come sporadically when one or both feet slips and inevitably kicks the other twin in the head. The subsequent laughter comes once the kicked twin registers a lack of pain.

Darcy taps the screen again to switch back to her front-facing camera. She's grinning a little, rolling her eyes. )

Little monsters, I tell ya. Do you have any kids back home? I think mine kind of only come with me because when I first started getting dragged through the multiverse, I was still pregnant with them. I've sort of gotten used to all the involuntary travel at this point, but I know how jarring and upsetting it can be the first time it happens. On the plus side, though, you're not really losing time, technically. When you go back, the people back home won't even have noticed you were gone. It's like time stops or something. It doesn't, not really, it's just all the wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey whatever the fuck.

( The Doctor always explained it better than Darcy ever can when she tries. Somehow, it makes sense when he says "wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey" and Darcy just sounds like an idiot. )

[The smile on Rebekah's face is soft as she watches the boys.]

They're adorable.

[The shake of her head is accompanied by Rebekah forcing the soft smile not to slip away sadly.]

I'm afraid not - I can't have them, but I had the pleasure of raising my niece for a little while and I already miss her, she's still quite small, though - just a toddler really. I'll probably miss her much more than any of the rest, truth be told. And I'm not going to pretend that I understand any of that, but I suppose that is some consolation to this entire situation.

[It's too bad she has a sleep spell to look forward to, but at least it should be one shared with her family - just not the one that she knows she will miss the most.]

Edited (I can html...) 2022-11-05 02:41 (UTC)

Thank you.

( Darcy's own smile falters a little because she can see clearly the way that the smile on the other woman's lips has fallen away from her eyes. Figures Darcy'd hit a nerve asking what she thinks is an innocent question. What else is new? )

Oh, I'm sorry... I mean, at least you won't miss her growing up, even if you'll miss her while you're stuck here. It'll feel like a long time to us, but you won't miss a single second of her and when they're little, you have to soak up every minute because they don't stay that small and adorable forever.

( As if on cue, there's another commotion but it's followed by a shrill MOOOOOOOOOOMMY! instead of a peal of laughter. Darcy turns again and both of the boys are in tears, Clark with a bright red mark on his eye and forehead; Conner with remorse all but dripping from his every pore. )

Sorry, hang on...

( She shifts slightly off camera, talking softly to the boys. )

Okay, all right...come here. Ooohh, you're getting too big for mama's lap. What happened?

Conner kicked me!

I didn't mean to, mama. Clark, I said I was sorry!

Okay, okay, look, you wanna say hi to the new lady? Come say hi, let's take a break from the game okay?

( There's another shift of the camera and when Darcy's on-screen again, it's with one twin curled up in her lap hiding his face against her chest, and the other climbing onto the couch beside her and waving cheerfully — in spite of the drying tear tracks on his face — at the woman on the screen. )

That's Conner, and this one hiding is Clark. Boys, say hi to Rebekah.

( Conner does. Clark grunts indignantly against his mother's chest. )

[Rebekah waves off the apology.]

It's really old news at this point, love - and I more than makeup for it with being a great auntie Bex - so hopefully I won't miss Hope growing and I'll get back to New Orleans sooner rather than later.

[She shakes off the heaviness - putting on a good face and listening to the other end of the video with interest - a look of pity crossing her face along with a nod of acknowledgement to Darcy needing to deal with her children as she realizes one of the little poppets has been hurt in the roughhousing.]

Hello boys. [Rebekah waves at Conner, at the very least, her smile genuine.] You can call me Bex or Bekah if you'd like.

I used to get a little rough in play with my brothers too, it's always fun until someone gets hurt.

[Rebekah notes sympathetically.]

Edited 2022-11-05 03:18 (UTC)

( Darcy watches the way the woman on the other side of the camera interacts with the twins and it tugs on her heartstrings a little. Darcy always gets a little bit emotional the first time she sees someone interacting with her kids in a positive way, though she's not really sure why that is, especially when it's coming from a stranger.

Clark doesn't really respond, but Conner waves back at her and grins at the fact that she's giving him a choice between two things instead of just telling him what he has to call her. He always seems to light up at the empowerment to get to be independent from his brother, Darcy's noticed in the last couple of years. ]

Yeah, she's right you know...that's why we have to be careful when we're playing, right, boys?

[ They echo her dutifully, though Clark's is still sullen. ]

You get hurted sometimes when you play with your brother, too?

You didn't get hurt.

I said I was sorry, Clark, I didn't mean it!

Ooookay, boys, you know what I think? I think we haven't had to take a nap in a long time but I think maybe we should today, huh?

( Her attention turns back to Rebekah, then, a little apologetic. )

I'm going to go handle this, but it was nice to meet you, in spite of the circumstances. I'm no expert, but I know enough to answer some basic questions, so if you need anything, give me a call or send me a text, okay? Hopefully, I'll talk to you again soon.

Well, that was impressive.

[ Derek looks back at the woman on the screen with impressed surprise. ]

We can see you. I'm Derek. I haven't heard those names, yet, and I've been here for a long time, so I don't think your friends are here.

[ Giving her a sympathetic smile, Derek nods. ]

It's real. There's a building on the other side of town, about ten minutes drive from there, where they've got apartments for those of us pulled through the portals until they can get you back home, if you'd prefer to be there. You've never been here before that I can recall, so they don't have your Earth logged or whatever...so I don't know how soon that'll be.

Perfect Spot is on Main Street. They've got the good stuff. If you want some privacy to process, tell the bartender that Derek said to take you to his and Diego's booth. It's got the most private spot in the bar, most people won't even notice you're there.

I'm Rebekah - I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up that they'd be here.

[The blonde admits with a small, albeit sad, smile before she reaches for the key on the table and holds it up, dangling.]

I take it that's what this is for, then. I suppose an apartment building does sound a bit more palatable than this place. [She stands a little taller before pausing.] Been here before - is that something that can happen? Someone coming through and somehow not remembering?

[Bekah's brow works it's way upward as she moves to begin walking out of this place - taking the key and leaving Kenny and partner behind.]

I appreciate the suggestion - and the name to drop, love.

Nice to meet you. There's nothing wrong with being hopeful. There's also nothing saying you won't see them sooner than later. It seems like that portal tends toward bringing clumps of people from the same or very similar timelines and earths, so it's entirely possible that it's just a matter of time before they join you. Hopefully, the tech teams can get everything ironed out before then, but...

[ He gives her an apologetic look and a one-shouldered shrug. Then, he nods to her question. ]

Yep, that's what that's for. You might or might not have a roommate when you get there.

[ Derek lets a short pause pass, his expression wrinkling slightly with consideration. He's not entirely sure how to explain the answer to her question; this isn't really his forte. ]

Yes and no? For us, it feels like someone coming through and not remembering, but in reality, it's probably just the same person either from earlier in their timeline or, more likely, a parallel Earth's version of the person. It's more complicated than I can actually understand, let alone try to explain, but that's the gist.

[ With a small smile, Derek gives her another nod. ]

Happy to help. Normally, I would offer to come with, but you seem like the type who would rather give it a go on her own.

I don't know that I have that sort of luck, unfortunately, Derek. But perhaps this'll be the exception not the rule for me, hm?

[The vampire shrugs a bit, soft smile on her face.]

Lovely, I'm sure that won't be awkward in the least.

[There are so many things that seem like it could go poorly with a roommate, but... then again Rebekah has been tired of being alone for how long now?]

I think if you tried to explain anything more complicated than that you might have lost me, love, that'll suffice.

[Rebekah nods and offers an appreciative smile.]

Perhaps another time, I clearly owe you a drink for the help.

Maybe not. Maybe their luck is bad, in that sense, though.

[ He laughs a little and shrugs. ]

Maybe, but you might not have one. I didn't until pretty recently and I've been here for a long time. Years.

[ A look of sympathy crosses his expression. ]

Yeah...this place is a lot. I know.

[ Derek waves off her obligation with a smile. ]

You don't owe me anything, but I certainly wouldn't turn it down.

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video; (before Halloween - week before)

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