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[dishearten]

username: HUNTSMAN

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action; backdated to... sometime before christmas??

[winces]

[ the downside to a small living space? it's hard to be the earlier riser. though it's certainly not nearly as hard as the later one, especially if the earlier riser has a habit of wearing hanging metal discs along her hip that jingle and chime as she bustles about the space, trying to make breakfast for three as quietly as possible. it seems that after so many years of wearing it, olivia has all but forgotten them by now.

but, by now, it should be a familiar sound for graham. a familiar sight, too, to see the pink-haired woman moving around the little kitchen area, somehow always managing to whip something up with the small amount of food she purchases from the market every week. their arrangement has only been going on for a few weeks now, but it's been a fairly successful one, as far as olivia is concerned. at the very least, they don't want to kill each other. that's always nice.

but olivia already realizes there isn't much that she knows about her almost-roommate (the permanence of their arrangement is still up in the air) and while she normally wouldn't pry... a few weeks' worth of shared living space has probably earned her a pass for her curiosity, right? so she's putting a bit of an extra touch to today's breakfast, hoping it might entice the other to open up a bit more around the table. it certainly can't hurt! ]

sounds good to me!! and sorry for slow!

[dishearten]

( it wasn't often that someone could wake sooner than he did. he'd always been one to wake at sunrise and sleep a little after the sun set. perhaps the lack of sun was what left him out of order, there was nothing to remind his head to wake without sunlight filtering over a shadowed world. he has gotten accustomed to the slight ring of the charms on her clothes, the wolf less so. when he's spent the night indoors it always wakes him, and the animal watches her move around with quiet eyes from his spot half on the human still resting on the floor.

it had made his host feel a little guilty, though he hopes it has abated a little now. he'd slept in a lacking bed back in storybrooke but now that he has his memories he prefers what he knows, and he only ever slept on the ground in Misthaven. the floor isn't so different than that, and he's not without his comforts. he sleeps pretty well, though that might have something to do with what he doesn't have, more than what he does.

when he finally forces himself to rouse, the wolf loses his pillow and skitters up, padding toward the kitchen with curious and forward perked-ears. the former sheriff rubs at his eyes and tries to stretch the stiffness he can't quite feel from limbs before he heads toward Olivia, looking a little lost and a bit sheepish. he always seems to feel a little badly about existing in her space, even if it was offered. ) Good morning... I think. ( the eternal darkness made it perilously hard to tell if they'd actually found morning. )

[boneafide]

[On the morning of the 25th, wherever the hell Graham's staying, there is a nicely wrapped package, with a written letter tucked in at the top, next to a large ribbon.

Inside his present is a container of (now cold) spaghetti, a knit hat in black, and several bones.

Opening the letter reveals a maybe somewhat familiar font, which says:]

GRAHAM,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE BONES ARE FOR YOUR DOG FRIEND. I WANTED TO GET YOU TWO MATCHING PRESENTS, BUT IT'S AWFUL, THEY DON'T SELL HATS FOR DOGS HERE?? UNBELIEVABLE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT ABOUT THIS.

NYEHFULLY YOURS,
PAPYRUS

aww Papyrus!

[dishearten]

( it couldn't have been easy to pin down the fugitive, but Graham does get his gift and he's rather bemused by it. it may be Christmas but he wasn't expecting anything. the hat is warm (which is good) and his wolf greatly enjoys the bones, and it's very thoughtful for a skeleton, really. )

I got your gift, that was quite kind of you.
and I think the wolf is all right without a hat, you should see what he did to the bow they gave him.

( it was ugly. speaking of ugly... actually maybe they shouldn't speak of the spaghetti. )

text @ happybirthday

[adoube]

Hi-hi....! How is Him?

Rested? Well-fed? Safe? Cuddly? Still fluffy? ー( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ ✩◝(◍⌣̎◍)◜✩

[dishearten]

they say a picture says 1000 words.

image attached.

( safe to say the wolf looks a great deal better than he had in the simulation. who knew wolves even liked watermelon? )

early oska arrival, idk

[strictdiscipline]

[The message is weeks overdue, but Riza's learned over the course of a lifetime better late than never.]

I wanted to say thank you to your furry friend for keeping an eye out for me on Nalawi. [In case there's any doubt as to which friend she's referring to.] You're very lucking to have him as a companion.

[dishearten]

( no such thing as too late in his experience. maybe from dying once; if there is still time then it's never too late. )

sounds to me like I owe you the thanks. knowing he had people to trust is a relief I can't explain. ( he has never had anyone else he could trust that way. knowing his brother hadn't been alone had made those days a little more bearable. )

I am lucky. and if he was keeping an eye out for you, that means you've found yourself a lifelong friend yourself. has he checked in yet since we got back? He's been making the rounds since we got back from Nalawi, three months is a long time for him not to check in on his friends.

text; un: shuyi

[gunah]

[ She saw his message to the entire Audentes, but finds that she has no fitting words of comfort to offer. And so, it has taken her days to finally knock on his door, in a way, opting to give consolation in another form. ]

Does your brother have a taste for lizards?

I am ready.

[dishearten]

( there are some things that cannot be consoled. there's no amount of sympathy or understanding that can make it go away, and once said the thing he wants most is to not speak of it.

distractions are a far better offering than words, at least for him. )

he does. a wolf will eat nearly anything.

( especially when hungry, and graham suspects he is. Brother hasn't been doing much hunting, on his own or at the huntsman's side, thanks to an injury that keeps him from moving too far from camp.

Graham would like a little freedom, though, and to be out in the wild is too tempting to ignore. so his agreement is thoughtless. )

I can meet you at the edge of camp.

text | un; sieglindesullivan

[grunehexe]

[jazz hands assume she texted him before she left for her hiatus mission so Graham wouldn't worry NOW...]

Graham? It is I, Sieglinde Sullivan.

I see the inn has burned down in my absence. ... Where might I find everyone?

[You.]

[dishearten]

it does not surprise me that they did not keep you abreast of the situation here.

( low key shading ALASTAIR, #alldayeveryday

...as for where the group is, that's fairly easy to answer. )

most have set up camp nearby. some have found housing with the Qorral, you might be more comfortable that way. would you like me to inquire?

12/25 | package

[winces]

[ in the morning, graham will find a small package waiting for him just outside his quarters. inside, he'll find a white, pouch, holding an assortment of individually-wrapped cookies, both of which were clearly handmade. beneath the pouch is the familiar alastair symbol in its traditional purple.

along with the package comes a simple card that reads:

To: Graham
From: Olivia

Happy Holidays! ]

woodhurst, wk 1

[strictdiscipline]

[It's later at night when she messages, after dinner's been made and the dishes have been done and the rest of her "family" is busy puttering around the house with their own tasks. She's curled up on the couch with a book, but she hasn't paid the words on the page much mind for the past fifteen minutes, mind elsewhere.]

Can I ask you something, if you're not busy?

[dishearten]

( graham is a man that likes to keep busy, yet some hours of the night are harder to fill than others, unless he's working. he's at home, with his "partner" — an odd and familiar concept at the same time. it is almost uncomfortably normal to have dinner and watch dates television when he knows there is a mission to worry about.

he welcomes a slight distraction when Emma disappears for a shower. )

no, not too busy. I know it won't last, but so far it is eerily quiet here.
what is it?

text during the riots;

[conqueress]

[ Meanwhile, back in a treehouse: ]

I know the police's strength is engaged in the fighting near City Hall. I only wished to say that I hope you fare well, and that the hordes cannot reach you.

Bring me your tidings the moment you can spare them.

[ Translation: She is worried about you, buddy. ]

VIDEO RESPONSE

[dishearten]

( it cannot be surprising that his answer comes a bit delayed. she's not wrong, he's involved in the police response to the madness. even detectives are put on crowd control, it's all hands on deck and he is expected to do his part.

it's a bit of a lull when he finds time to answer. it's dark and quiet in the fast food establishment he's pulled away in, a few hushed voices of others tucked away along with him.

he looks drawn and worried until Dany manages an answer. he doesn't suspect their conversation will be long, yet he's glad for the luxury of seeing her face and that she is well. he's well, too; a run of purple along a cheekbone, but nothing worse than that. considering the violence, he's lucky. )

I am glad to see your face, ( and he manages that even with a ghost of a smile. ) I am as good as can be expected. And you?

probably backdated, unless real time makes more sense.

[sheriffing]

I won't be at the apartment when you get out of work today, Graham.

[ as for why, well - three guesses, and the first two don't count. they both know she's been ... off, now Emma knows why.]

Look after Sunny for me?

[dishearten]

and why not?

( it's not that he does not understand her condition. he's heartless, but he's still got his wits about him. he's noticed a difference. he just doesn't entirely comprehend why that means she needs to leave. )

( voice ) un: achilles | the day before Leramzen

[heelies]

Far-shooting Graham, it is your friend Achilles, son of Peleus, who calls upon you. Where might I have your audience, that I may share with you this news I have just lately received.

rip my heart

[dishearten]

( Graham doesn't assume the worst of the request, not at first. what is a visit from a friend, really? )

My brother and I are in the stables, if it suits you. Else we could meet you at the castle, my friend.

un: swan

[sheriffing]

It's official, even the fruit around here sucks.

[dishearten]

are you all right?

( that doesn't sound promising. )

text. un; harmonia. shortly after arriving in labyrinth 3: the labyrinthing

[digiorno]

graham!!! did you see the beetles

they're HUGE (´ ꒳ ` ✿) ♥

[dishearten]

I have, yes.
they're a bit hard to miss, I'd say.

un: swan

[sheriffing]

Hey, I've been thinking. Is there anything you want to do now that you have a heart again?

[dishearten]

( it takes him a little while to respond — Graham has been keeping himself rather busy, lately. though not always a bad sort of busy. )

What sort of things do you mean?

SIEG -- GOODBYES

[dishearten]

( FROM HERE.

no, photographs weren't the same. in that Graham is just about as old fashioned as Sieglinde is. a photograph is never as strong as the memory, the lingering ghosts of senses that never seemed to entirely fade. in the end that wasn't exactly foolproof, either. time faded most things. maybe it wouldn't take it away, maybe there would always be a few reminders left behind, yet they were bound to fade with time and distance until there was almost nothing left.

he can't tell if that makes this better or not. that she will forget mostly everything about him sooner, or later. it may be better for Sieglinde, it is just that nobody wants to be forgotten. )

I won't ever forget you, ( is his promise, and he knows how difficult that will be to achieve. to hold someone in your heart even after time corrodes and distance disappoints. he will keep her in his thoughts; it's the only way he will be able to hold onto her after this. ) I hope you can forgive me, one day. ( for leaving, because he knows how much it hurts. the mother that abandoned him had never been a strong concern when his heart was gone, yet he remembers that ache now. wondering why he hadn't been enough, why it happened. at least Sieglinde will know why, and he hopes she understands that it is not a matter of not being enough.

it is just that their worlds are separate, and sooner or later, this day was bound to come. )