Searching for a Home

[Neal Cassidy]

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Neal deep down knew that Snow and Charming were right, that a complete reset was all they had now. But, he didn't want to accept that, no he would find a way back to them. He'd done it once gotten from the Forest back to Emma and Henry in Neverland, Neal was confident he would do it again now.

Watching Hook ride off on that horse hearing him talk about finding the Jolly Roger gave Neal an idea. It could also probably give him a distraction for the time being. The Jolly Roger was once a home to him as well, even if it was only for a short time. Maybe, he could allow him to find a way back to the real world, since it was one of the only vessels that could travel realms, and Hook had managed to do it before. And even if it didn't, he would have been able to help Hook find the place he considered home.

Neal adjusted the shawl around his shoulders, and then hopped onto one of the horses that were standing around. He hadn't ridden horses in a while, but, hopefully he remembered what he was doing. Setting off on a low gallop, Neal glanced back to make sure no-one was following him, before heading off after Hook.

He didn't know how far he'd travelled, but, it must've been a bit far since Snow and Charming were no longer in sight, and, neither were the rest of them. Soon enough, he spotted Hook up ahead, and he slowed the horse down slightly. "Hey Hook wait up." Neal said, as his horse reached Hook's.

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tag: Killian Jones
notes: anything else?
credit: template is made by xxdawnxx from caution. Other credits.

[Killian Jones]

Note: proper gif coming soon!

It's Always Nice

TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION

There was no way in hell that Hook was staying in the company of the others. They had returned to this realm and were going to focus on finding their lives here once again . . . and Killian was no exception to this. But his life in the Enchanted Forest was not one that had him living in a castle or grounded on land. No. His home was the Jolly Roger, and he had every intention of finding it. Besides, the fact that Emma was not here made it far easier to revisit his life of piracy.

He would forever be a pirate, but here it was easier to embrace it. He could see the bit of disappointment in the Charming's expressions but Hook didn't exactly care. His life was not with them. He'd once hoped his life could be one with Emma's but conidering that was no longer an option either . . . he had to rely on the one lass who had never let him down: his ship. He rode on and on through the woods, until he eventually slowed his horse. It would be dark soon and despite the pirate's desperation to reach the town, he wouldn't be able to do so without some rest. He brought his horse to a slowed pace, nearing a clearing where he could set up camp. A voice in the distance caught his attention and he turned his head to see Neal not far behind him.

Curiosity filled the pirate as he raised an eyebrow at the unexpected presence. Though never an unwelcome one. He had always cared deeply for Baelfire, but he had certainly not expected to see him having followed him. Killian brought his horse to a halt and waited so that Neal could catch up to him. "Don't tell me this horse is yours," he said in a bit of sacastic teasing. "He's served me well thus far. I don't think I can give him up so easily," he added in a continued joking manner. It was his way of indirectly voicing what reason Neal had come to him for. "Everything alright, mate?" He added, a slight concern in his voice for he knew that whatever reason Bae had come, it was for a good one.

template by isabella

[Neal Cassidy]

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Continuing to ride the horse towards Hook, Neal waited for him to slow down, after he turned around. Neal was surprised he knew how to ride a horse, since he'd never actually been on one before. He was out of the Forest long before he'd gotten the chance to learn, but, now here he was riding it like he'd done it so many times. Looking up at the sky, Neal could tell it was getting dark soon, but, thanks to his short time with Hook, Neal knew how to use the stars to help him find his way around the Forest if he ever needed to. Things may have ended badly with Hook, but, he had taught him some pretty useful stuff during that short time together.

Neal jolted his horse to a halt as he caught up with Hook and his horse. Neal shook his head at his question before stroking the horse's mane “No, of course it's not. I borrowed one of the spare ones that Snow and Charming had.” Neal said, smiling softly. Neal hadn't actually owned a horse before, he knew that with his early life here his papa would've bought him one, or rather made a deal that led him to receive one. He wouldn't have wanted that, besides it didn't matter anyway. He was out of the Forest before it ever came into play. “It doesn't surprise me. You seemed to have a strange connection to him. One that I don't quite understand, and, that I'm sure I'm not meant to.” Neal said, knowing that he was emphasising that he was talking about the Jolly Roger, and, not the horse. At Hook's question, he lowered his head slightly. Was everything alright? Well, let's see he'd lost his whole family again, and, he once again had to watch it. He had to watch his papa die and watch the rest of the people he loved, Emma and Henry drive out of his life, possibly for good. Neal sighed as he raised his head “It really depends on your definition of alright” Neal wondered whether Hook would know what he meant by that. “But, if you mean in the sense of why I'm here. Then I just want to try and help you find the Jolly Roger. Because it was my home once too.”

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tag: Killian Jones
notes: anything else?
credit: template is made by xxdawnxx from caution. Other credits.

[Killian Jones]

Note: proper gif coming soon!

It's Always Nice

TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION

So Neal had borrowed their horse then. Leave it to Snow and Charming to have a spare horse just lying around . . . typical royalty. And yet, it was incredibly wise to do so. His mind briefly went to the presumed disappointment he had seen in their faces when he told them he was leaving. But he could not overly concern himself with that right now. Besides, they had enough of an army to regain their castle. Hook smiled when Neal went on to speak of the bond he had -- one that was not understood and quite aware that Baelfire was referring to Hook's bond with the Jolly Roger. "Not many do," he told him, pertaining to others lack of understading his connection with the ship.

"When you have been through as much as she and I have, then perhaps you will understand." His voice held a light, teasing tone to it. He had heard many say to him 'it's just a ship' . . . but not to Killian. The Jolly Roger was so much more than that, hence the reason he was determined to find it, somehow. Neal's answer to his question was understandable. Hardly anyone here was alright. Snow and Charming had to leave Emma. Regina had to leave Henry. Neal had to leave them both. And Hook . . . well, leaving them was far more difficult than some may sssume. For he knew what his feelings for Emma were. Hell, he had even developed a bond with the young lad. But he also knew that this wasn't about him. "Understandable mate," he assured him.

"Seems there is a great deal of heartache in everyone's return to the Enchanted Forest. "You know how I alleviate it?" He asked, at which point he reached into his pocket and pulled out his flask, screwing off the top and offering it to Neal with a smile. Neal's next statement however caused Hook to pause as he revealed his reason for coming. It was not that he doubted the man's selfless and caring nature . . . it was just that, he hadn't expected him to wish to help Hook, after their rather rocky past. "You'd do that?" He asked with a softness in his voice. "I don't wish to take you off the cuorse of your own path," he said, but realizing that he didn't quite know what Neal intended to do over here. "But if you are indeed up for an adventure, then I would welcome the company, and be honored for it." Especially Bae's, for despite everything, he truly, genuinely, cared for him.

[Neal Cassidy]

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Neal was sure that Snow and Charming wouldn't mind that he borrowed one of the horses. He was sure they may not even notice, since they had so many of them there. It was typical royalty and richer type people. Also having too many of something, and, not really even caring about it. Neal had seen the looks on their faces, as they crushed his hopes of finding a way back to Emma and Henry again. It wasn't like he'd asked them to do anything, just take a detour to his papa's castle. They got to go to their family's castle, and, he couldn't go to his. Neal wasn't concerned with any of them right now, the only real people he cared about were in another world, either that or dead. The two of them had enough support to help them take back their castle, and, he was sure he wouldn't be needed. And he may not have a place there anyway. Just like everywhere else in his life. They had their whole castle feel even before the curse, so they wouldn't be settling into something all that new. Unlike Neal, who'd never set foot in a castle, except for the brief time that he'd been to his fathers. Neal was speaking of the bond the two of them had, knowing of course that Hook had been talking about the Jolly Roger and what the two of them had been through together. “That doesn't surprise me.” Neal said, smiling softly at Hook. A pirate's bond with his ship is something that most people might never understand or get.

“I stopped trying to understand it a long time ago” Neal said, with a small smirk. Even with the small amount of time he'd spent aboard the ship, there was a connection that Hook had with the ship that Neal still didn't understand, even if it was one that Neal had felt for a short time when he was a pirate on that ship for a while. When Neal answered that question, he knew that it was an understatement. Some people here in the Forest, had to only say goodbye to Emma or Henry seperately, but, Neal had to say goodbye to them both. And he had to say goodbye to his papa, but, never got the proper chance to say it before he was gone. Again. He would've thought it was going to be easier to say goodbye to his father, but, it wasn't. He'd only just started to have a piece of his heart healed around him, before losing him all over again. “You're one of the only people who actually thinks that Hook.” Neal said, sighing softly.

“Heartache is nothing new for me. I've dealt with a lot of it my whole life. How?” Neal asked, even though he already knew the answer. Seeing it confirmed when he pulled out the flask, Neal smirked and shook his head “No thanks Hook” Neal then confirmed why he had followed him out here, to help him find the ship. Neal kept his hands in the pockets of these pants, Neal was sure it was unexpected, given the past the two of them had. But, he was a selfless person, and, he always had been. Neal shrugged softly “Of course. Everyone deserves to find their home” Neal said, knowing he'd looked for it for a long time. “Don't worry about it, I don't have a path yet. I'm still getting used to being in this land before figuring out the path.” Neal looked at Hook, and, smiled softly glancing up at him. “You know me. I'm always up for an adventure. And I'm not the best at staying put for too long. Well, I'm glad you won't be too disappointed by my company.” Neal said, with a soft smirk on his face.

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tag: Killian Jones
notes: anything else?
credit: template is made by xxdawnxx from caution. Other credits.