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[alias_savant]

[At a little before eight PM, castle time, one of the statues in the lobby came to life.

Though life may be overstating it.

What really happened was that Neal's legs, that had formerly been stone and frozen in a position that was just slightly pitched forward, became normal human legs again, along with the rest of them. It's just that little bit of momentum he needs to go tumbling to the ground, hitting the floor hard and rolling to a stop. The pain disorients him for a moment, and blinks up into the bright light of the lobby, his eyes falling on the Christmas tree.]

What the --

[the journal is still sitting on the pedestal he fell off of, and it takes him a moment to realize where he is. That this is not the plane that he and Mozzie were boarding to Cape Verdi. That this is a castle in a land far far away that he never thought he'd leave. Now he's apparently left and come back.

There's some colorful swearing to accompany that. He doesn't normally, but right now it seems appropriate. He reaches down, tugs at his pant leg, and there is his old tracking anklet in all it's glory.]

Welcome back, Neal. Welcome back.

[Feel free to catch him for Christmas kisses as he wanders back to his room to read his journal and catch up on life in general. Eventually a few filters will pop up to catch up with certain people.]

[dictated - Phoebe Halliwell]

I know it's a little belated, but I'm sorry about Paige, again.

[/Phoebe]

[dictated - friends]

If anyone was looking for me, I was unavoidably detained. I'm sorry for that. Did I miss anything interesting?

Comments

[righttrack]

[Kurt is wandering about the castle and when he sees Neal, he can't help but stopping and staring. He looks like Cooper... But not like Cooper...

It's really weird.]

[alias_savant]

[Neal notices the eyes on him, and glances over. When he sees the kid, he frowns.]

Is everything alright?

[a beat]

Is there something in my teeth?

[righttrack]

No, you're [gorgeous] all right. It's just... You look kind of [a lot] like someone I know.

[alias_savant]

Really?

[this is a first. It's happened to other people he knows, but not to him. It's enough to distract him from the terrible day he's having so far.]

In a good way or a bad way?

[righttrack]

Yeah, it's... I don't know. It's not bad exactly.

[alias_savant]

But it's not good either?

[righttrack]

It's just... Weird.

[i_got_this]

[South's walking through the halls with a nutcracker filled backpack, looking for hapless victims she can add to her kiss-count.]

Hey, Neal! Long time no see!

[alias_savant]

[Neal turns at the sound of the familiar voice and gives her a half smile.]

Hey. How long has it been ,exactly?

[i_got_this]

Geez, I don't know, was I supposed to be keeping count?

[She smiles back.]

[alias_savant]

[He shrugs.]

I've just been a little ... out of it for a while.

[i_got_this]

Well, no better time to get used to the castle again, huh? All the ... Christmas decorations and everything.

[alias_savant]

It's true. It has a way of ... helping people catch up.

[nihilo]

[ Alice decides the castle has a thing for cute guys and statues. She hovers around as the man scrambles about after turning back into flesh, seeing no reason to announce her presence as of yet. ]

That's my line.

[alias_savant]

[He glances over in the direction of the voice, before smirking.]

Sorry. Would you like me to start over? We can do it again.

[nihilo]

[ She grins, stepping closer with hands behind her back, before clasping her hands together in front of her. ]

Welcome back, Neal.

[alias_savant]

That was good. Very convincing. I feel warmer and more welcome already.

[nihilo]

Are you my drama teacher now?

[alias_savant]

Are you telling me that wasn't a performance?

[Because that's definitely how it read.]

Neal (sorry for the late. Lack of internet...)

[kungfuwitch]

[She takes a slow breath before replying.]

Thank you. It's been strange being here alone again. [pause] Well, without anyone from my family here.

Are you alright? It's been a while.

phoebe } { no worries! late is a-okay with me

[alias_savant]

I'm fine. I just ... need to learn how to catch the curve balls.

[Which is never easy, by the way. A pause.]

Did I ever tell you I sculpted her once?

Neal forever

[kungfuwitch]

What kind of curve ball did it throw you this time?

You did? No, you never told me that.

phoebe forever }

[alias_savant]

It ... sent me home. For a little while anyway. And then it yanked me back in again.

[then his voice turns a bit of a smirk.]

It's in the gallery in town. She was a good subject.

[kungfuwitch]

With new memories thanks to the trip?

[She smiles.] I'll have to check it out. I've heard of the gallery but I've never been.

[alias_savant]

A few, yes.

[and his voice brightens a bit when he talks about the gallery]

It's got a great collection of work. And I don't just say that because some of it is mine.