WHO:Atlas and Lisa Braeden WHERE: The general store WHEN: Backdated slightly to mid-day on July 10th WHAT: Bonding over a legit missing kid and a fake missing kid? WARNINGS: Probably a bit of language
The last few days had seen Atlas wandering the town, familiarising himself with the lay of the land. He didn't like this place or the people here, and if he'd had a choice between striking off on his own and staying here with the threat of goddamn Elizabeth and her pet Booker looming over his head--let's just say Atlas would be gone. But that wasn't an option and he'd been stuck clinging hard to the Enchanted Forest psychos. That Jefferson was going to be the death of him.
But Emma Swan was buying just about every word Allastair MacMurray was selling, right down to the missing daughter. That, he had to admit, was his most masterful touch. A missing friend was bad, a missing love concerning, but a missing child would always incite the most sympathy. Especially if you were a single father and that little girl only had you to rely on.
Yeah, Atlas had her eating out of the palm of his hand.
But he couldn't just sit by and do nothing. He wasn't that kind of man, the kind who sat on his ass and did nothing. Extended periods of planning, yes. Waiting for shit to happen, no.
He strolled by store after store, face fixed in a vaguely interested expression. He had to go back to having a business. Had to. Had to get out of the hotel, had to find something. Had to look like an upstanding citizen so he could start gathering power again.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Atlas made his way into a general store, eyes scanning from floor to ceiling as he went. At least there was retail to be had here. He caught sight of a woman, and he turned to smile at her. For a man who didn't care, Atlas had a killer (no pun intended) smile.
"'lo there," he said, careful to pour the accent on thick. Scottish was a hell of a jump from his own native New York voice, but it was kind of important to fake it as much as he could. "Don't suppose you work here, do you?"