Searching for Gargoyles

[Detective Elisa Maza]

Detective Elisa Maza brought the rental car to a halt on the road. She glanced at the dangling vial on her rearview mirror. It's enchanted swaying had come to a complete dead halt at the unseen entrance she was looking for, signaling for her to stop. Maza unfastened the charm from it's perch and stepped out of the car. She could still feel the tension of the cord, relentlessly pulling her forward. 

She held it in front of her, wary of it's power. After all she had seen, she thought she would be used to magical objects by now... but she never had to use them herself. Until now.

It pulled her and then hung limp. Following the instructions she had been given by Puck, yes... that Puck, she uncorked the charm and sprinkled it's fae contents to the earth. Elisa stood for a moment, frustration building when nothing appeared to be happening. Was it all a trick? Was Xanatos once again sending her on a wild goose chase-

Suddenly, a shimmering wall of energy wavered into existence. Elisa's brown eyes widened. Well, at least Puck had made good on his promise. She took a breath and stepped through the shimmering matter.

The detective opened her eyes on the other side. Which pretty much looked like the side she had just come from... except that there was a town sign: "Welcome to Storybrook."


Elisa put her hands on her hips. "All this to hide some rain-washed signage?" She muttered. She was getting cranky, as dawn was quickly approaching, and she was accustomed to the night shift at the precinct...

That's when a massive dragon flew overhead with a shrill screech. Maza ducked, hand instinctively at her gun holster. She released her breath as soon as it was out of sight. She looked around, seeing tiny figures of light, weaving in and out of the surrounding forrest. 

"Okay..." She finally admitted. "Definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto."

But with determination she zipped up her red leather jacket and jogged toward the unknown.

[Granny]

The bell to the diner flitted to life as a young woman came in. It was hard to keep track of everyone that passed in and out of the joint, especially with the influx of exotic visitors form neighboring realms, but this woman stuck out like a sore thumb.

Because the surroundings and local creatures seemed to put her edge. She seemed, not new to Storybrook's new existence, but like an outsider that didn't belong.

Granny narrowed her eyes while she toweled a glass dry, but put a grin on her face as she approached the stranger. "Can I get you something, sweetheart? Maybe some water?" she asked, noticing how over-heated the woman seemed. Possibly from a long walk?

The old woman made eye contact with Leroy, by the corner booth, signaling him that something might be up.

[Detective Elisa Maza]

Years of undercover work honed Elisa's intuition on when she was being assessed as an unwanted guest. Guess 'Granny's' got more to hide then the secret recipe in her Pancake Surprise...

"Yes, gacias!." Elisa said cheerfully, taking off her coat to cool down. "Just getting my steps in. That morning heat came out of nowhere."

The older woman placed a waterbottle in front of her.

"Again, Gracias..." Elisa took a sip, scoping out the complete menagerie of customers of different race, culture, species...AND time period. She had to remind herself not to stare. Perhaps finding one Gargoyle was going to be like tracking a needle in a haystack in a place like this...

[Granny]

Granny feigned nonchalance. "Most of us Storybrook residents are used to the predictable weather." She handed a menu to Elisa. "You new to town?"

[Detective Elisa Maza]

Elsa smiled back. Clever granny, disguising an interrogation with small talk. But the detective had been briefed by the fae as to the... uniqueness of Storybrook.

"Yes... well, by new, I mean since the realms convergence. Just making my way around." She pretended to peruse the menu before her. "I'm from one of the infinite outer-realms..." Time to sprinkle in some truth to sell the lie. "I'm actually looking for a friend. we got separated during the convergence. I'm really worried about him. He has a rather rare... condition... that makes it hard for him to travel during the day."

[Granny]

"Ah, the outer realms you say." Granny mopped down the counter top. "Didn't know that those realms had New York Cities..." The woman before her looked confused. "You're wearing an NYPD badge, Detective."

"But if you're looking for someone, you might want to try the Missing Persons resources at the Sheriff's office. You're friend got a name? I could ask around."

[Detective Elisa Maza]

Oh... nice one, Detective Maza!

Elisa mentally face-plamed herself, as she hid the badge around her neck further into her tank-top. Her carelessness blew her cover. And she blamed the sun... because she usually wasn't awake to see it. Not for long. She rubbed her tired face.

"Yeah, who knew, right?" She closed the menu in front of her and pushed it back towards the old woman. "You know what, I think I'll just take two tall coffees, to go, black and strong, and I'll make my way to the Sheriff's."

When the coffees came Elisa put down a ten dollar bill and paused. If anything, dealing with the fae had taught her that any bit of personal information could be weaponized... but on this challenging venture, she was reluctant to admit that she needed all the help she could get.

"Goliath." She finally answered. "His name is Goliath. And I'm Detective Elisa Maza. Gracias, for the coffee." She put on her aviator sunglasses and headed outside.

[goliath]

Goliath was lost probably more so then he had ever been in his life. He couldn't get very far at night flying took a lot out of him. He missed his friends and his family and he had no idea where they were or where Elisa was. He was most worried about her, not that she couldn't handle herself of course she could but.. what if she needed him. Plus he missed her a lot. 

It was taking him forever to get though this forest since he could only travel at night. Turning to stone every sunrise was annoying and it made traveling way more difficult. Plus he was apparently scary since anytime he asked for directions people ran away screaming. He sighed, when would he get out of the woods and find a city.. any city where he could begin his search for Elisa. 

[Nova/ Sister Astrid]

"Well... this isn't the way to the fireflies either!" Nova huffed above the darkening clouds. Ever since the realms merged, fairy dust had become more of a easily-obtained commodity; Nova was a nun no more and she had her fairy wings back to boot. But she wasn't going to stick around in Storybrook if there was a whole world... well, WORLDS... to explore! Leroy had declined traveling with her, feeling the need to help Snow and Regina get the Realms in harmony with each other.

It was a hard split, but not completely goodbye forever. It was just complicated! It made Nova's head spin to think about the mysteries of men.

So she tried not to.

She took out her map, and unfolded it... until it was basically larger than her. The new Realms guide was NOT user friendly. "Oh dear..." she breathed, biting a nail nervously. But a gust of wind whisked the map out of her grasp. "Oh no!" she squeaked. She dove after it as it spiraled, slicing through the clouds and down through the trees upon the ground below.

"Great... just great!" She landed on the ground, shook her shoulders to glamor her wings back into herself. "Of course I took a map instead of Realm Transit... cause I'm a complete DOPE!"

She grimaced and gasped as she stumbled through thick tree roots to find her guide map...branches snagging at her sheer pink skirt. And then she backed into something solid. She slowly turned around to see the largest... most... utterly intimidating stone gargoyle crouched on the ground. "Oh dear..." She glanced around. No shelter in sight. "Well, you're an awful long way from your castle... or wherever it is you are supposed to protect." Dusk was a small sliver upon the statue's face, quickly fading.

She huffed, looking out at the dark woods around them. "You didn't happen to see a map flutter by, did you?" She asked mournfully, knowing the futility of talking to a stone. About as futile as her navigational skills.

But slowly... and then with more intensity, the stone gargoyle started to crack. Nova jumped back, afraid she had done something to cause this... but watched in astonishment... and increasing terror... as the creature slowly uncurled, and stood, arching it's back, stretching it's arms... roar crackling through the fresh night. The stone had completely cracked and exploded off to reveal lavender rippling muscle. It... or he... closed his mouth, set his square jaw, and looked down at the trembling fairy waif. His eyes flashed, glowing white before returning to their usual dark nature.

Nova was stunned in fear, but after a beat let out a curdling scream. She fled away, taking a clumsy running start before jumping and letting her wings spring from her back and beat against the air to carry her away.

But the forest was too dense, and her skirt, her arms, even a leg got entrapped among the black branches. She squealed bloody murder when she realized she wasn't getting anywhere!

She was going to die here! Tonight! And... and Leroy would never know how she truly felt about him! No no no, this wasn't happening!!!!

[goliath]

Goliath awoke for the night when he saw a little figure running away from him again but she got caught half way and couldn't seem to move he came toward her very slowly. "I know I'm scary.. but please don't fear me I mean you no harm." he said softly. "I am very lost.. I have been looking for a way out of the forest.. perhaps we can help each other?" He asked. Knowing she would probably run off screaming like everyone seemed to. 

"I can help you.. please.. don't be scared," he moved slowly helping her untangle herself from the branches. "There.. now its okay.. My names Goliath.. I'm looking for someone.." 

[Nova/ Sister Astrid]

Nova hardly heard a word of what that bloodthirsty creature was saying! She struggled against her entanglement, rear facing his direction, and she braced herself for an attack...

...that never came.

Instead, the gargoyle picked apart the branches entrapping her, helped steady her on her feet. Well he was the most polite bloodthirsty creature that Nova had ever encountered! Though, to be fair, she hadn't encountered many.

The deep timber of gargoyle's voice was intimidating, but also very soothing. Nova's initial white-hot panic was subsiding. She nervously brushed some wayward curls behind her ear.

"H-hello Goliath." Nova huffed at her memories of sister Astrid, who knew all about the story of David and Goliath. Ooo was that THIS Goliath??? "Pleased to meet you. Thank you!" She reflexively put her hand out for a shake... only to see his talon-like hand completely engulf hers. "Oh wow." But he shook gently before releasing. VERY well-mannered.

"I'm, uh, Nova. Who are you looking for, Goliath?"

[goliath]

He breathed a huge sigh of relief when she didn't run from him, Elisa Maza.. I need to find her.. I haven't seen her since the world blending and well its important I do." he said he didn't want to say it was because he was in love with her but it was. 

"I need to find my clan to, others like me we have been scattered to the realms.. and I can only travel at night and its very slow. Do you have a map or anything?" He asked looking at her and trying not to totally freak her out it was hard he was massive and she was so tiny. 

[Nova/ Sister Astrid]

"Elisa Maza... can't say it rings a bell...but Storybrook is a big, big... BIG place." Nova gave her usual wilted, nervous laugh, hoping it didn't sound fearful, but she stopped when she noticed Goliath's expression. "Goliath, you do know you're in Storybrook... right? Or at least, one of the numerous worlds that composes it. I'm sure Regina, the Ev-... er... GOOD Queen got the word out to every world within Storybrook's borders? Which land are you from?"

She started looking around, but it was pretty dark.

"I had a map, but it just flew away!" She squeaked when she heard a distant howl in the distance, turning and bumping into Goliath's muscular arm. "M-maybe we could be traveling companions for the time being? The Good Queen has set up Realm Transit in every land. We'll be able to locate Miss Maza."

She pulled her cardigan closer around herself, looking through the woods. "We should head west.... NO. East... I think.. YES! East. But we'll have to make camp soon. We'll just have to continue once the sun comes up..."

[goliath]

He shook his massive head, "I cannot continue when the sun comes up as I am cursed and turn to stone in the daytime. That is why its taking me so long to reach the end of this land." he said. "I don't know where I am and I am from New york.. that is all I can tell you. But I would like to travel with you. If that is alright, but you would have to travel at night with me." he added he didn't want to scare her but he honestly had no choice. 

"I would very much like to find Elisa." He said. He wasn't a man of many words but he was a man of speaking the truth.