{ open } all my troubles on a burning pile

[gleans]

Who: Galen Howard and YOU!
What: Wandering on the beach, smoking, throwing rocks!
When: Day 30, afternoon.
Where: The edge of the water, near houses 20, 9, and the lighthouse.

It's easy for Galen to feel like he's trapped in a movie, when he's alone. After arriving in a strange place, encountering all kinds of impossible things, and to top it all off, being told that he may end up going insane at the hands of a living nightmare, it's hard to feel like this is real life. But there's really a God here, there's really a sweet doctor who turns into an angry green monster, and he's really become good friends with a woman who works regularly with the supernatural. It's almost strange to think that just a few weeks ago, he was working early radio, spending long hours in writing sessions, going on dates with his non-traumatized boyfriend -- it all seems so damn normal, in comparison.

He doesn't like being alone, but sometimes he needs it. He isn't far, at least; Galen has nicked one of Jesse's remaining cigarettes and has wandered out to the beach, not too close to the lighthouse -- and not too close to the water's edge, either. After the boxes, he really doesn't trust this open expanse between land and God-knows-where, no matter how soothing and home-like it sounds.

Galen crouches, digging where the sand and the snow meet for a rock of the right size and shape. When he finds it, he rolls it over in his hand a few times, then winds back and throws it -- he freezes for a second, arm midair, one foot kicking slightly up off the sand, as he watches the rock go; it drops with a deep plunk several yards off-shore, swallowed by the roll of the waves. He repeats this action with another rock, cigarette pinched firmly between his lips, humming something unrecognizable quietly under his breath.

Comments

[hark_and_hush]

Ruby doesn't make a habit of approaching men lately. It's not that she's scared of them. She's scared for them. It's the men in her life who seem to get hurt and why add to that? Other women seem to make safer friends. Still, there's something in that flirty demeanor she'd built up around herself that she misses.

Maybe she can start slow by just talking to more people. At least, that's what she tells herself when she notices Galen throwing rocks.

"Hi." She smiles at him.

[gleans]

Galen only jolts a little when he hears the voice behind him, but it's hardly noticeable; it just gives him a little bit of a start as he sends the rock in his hand out into the water. He doesn't wait for it to splash before he turns around, and seeing that it's someone friendly, he smiles back.

"Hey! I'm not -- bothering anyone's beach, am I?"

[hark_and_hush]

"Well, it's not my beach, so don't let me stop you." She sits on a large rock, grin growing wider. "I'm Ruby, by the way."

It's just a new person. Nothing to be worried about. She tells herself that over and over again. She's got her cloak now. She's not going to hurt anyone.

[gleans]

Galen reaches over to pick up another rock, still facing her, and lightly tosses it from hand to hand. "Galen, nice to meet you. Out for a walk?"

[hark_and_hush]

"Exploring my new home away from home away from home." She hadn't realized how much she'd miss Storybrook until it was gone. Or maybe she just misses the people. "How long have you been here?"

[gleans]

"Uhh... shit. A month, almost?" Jesus, where did the time go? He pauses in his rock-tossing. "It's... I can think of worse places to be stuck, I guess. Did you just get here?"

[hark_and_hush]

"About a week ago, but it's not the first time I've been in a... strange situation." Though the last time, she hadn't remembered what had been happening for most of it. This is still pretty weird and she can't help feeling alone here without any of her friends.

"If there's a way out, I'll find it eventually."

[gleans]

"I hope somebody does," he says as he turns around again to throw the rock out into the waves. "It's almost weird knowing I have a normal life back home, y'know? And shit, do I miss it."

[hark_and_hush]

"Me, too." Not that her life is normal anymore, but it's hers. "I miss Granny and my friends." And Granny's Diner. She misses seeing everyone in the town come in. It hasn't even been that long, but it had been such a staple of her every day. This is jarring.

[gleans]

"Maybe you'll get some company," he offers, not that it's the most cheery option available. Galen sniffs, nudges his glasses up. "I was here for about a week or two before my boyfriend showed up. But -- y'know, luckily there's a lot of great people here, too. You'll make some friends." He smiles.

[hark_and_hush]

"You know, I'd really like to just go home." She doesn't want her friends stuck here, too. What does that accomplish? "I'm glad you're not alone, though. That must help. You can try to get out together."