but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[backtaxes]

( It did, and wouldn't have the signal he needed anyway. He doesn't know what to do with this, though, and he sets the phone back down. )

Well, there is. I'm from there.

( Even if there's not here and he's not about to try and work that out with two FBI agents.

"Why are you lying, Mr. Crocker?" Sierra says, perching on the side of the desk. )

Why would I lie? About one of your own?

[tearhiseyesout]

Maybe you're not. Maybe she lied to you.

[Jaqueline offers a small shrug as she takes her phone back.]

You wouldn't be the first guy to fall for a fake FBI agent. Especially if she had convincing identification.

[backtaxes]

Is that what you're trying to tell me? My lying friend is a fake FBI agent?

( To be fair, she was law enforcement in Haven and - on and off FBI at times. Depending on who she was at the time. )

[tearhiseyesout]

I'm just saying that Haven, Maine doesn't exist so for all we know you may be lying and Audrey Parker might be your accomplice.

[She offers a small shrug.]

A lot of what you're saying isn't really adding up.

[backtaxes]

The only thing that isn't adding up is Haven, Maine, which is the only thing I've said and the only thing I'm gonna say. If Audrey's not coming, then I got a phone call. Something.

( A second and then he calls out, yelling, )

Nathan!

( Unfortunately, these rooms are good for sound and he does not hear him next door. )

[stupetballs]

[Nathan cannot hear him, no.

In other news, Waverly has arrived in her best FBI agent, flashing her Black Badge badge and offering a smile to the guards.]

Agent Waverly Earp. Here about your surprise swimmers?

["How many agents are they going to send before this Audrey Parker lady shows up?" One of the guards grumbles, and Waverly frowns.]

Agent Parker is on a plane from DC. What other agents are here?

["Harper and Melroux, I think their names were?"

Waverly nods, moving to the window to glance in and see what's happening with Duke. They seem to be just talking, so Waverly's not going to act without more information.]

I'll check in and see. I'm gonna go talk to the other guy.

[The guard points to the room where Nathan is waiting, and she nods, before making her way over. On the way, she updates the group chat, but after that, moves in and closing the door behind her.]

Hi. I'm Waverly. Audrey Parker sent me. Are you Nathan or Duke?

[hypoesthesia]

( Nathan, having not been bothered, is just sitting. Waiting. He knows Audrey is coming. It's undeniable. He sits up straighter when Waverly arrives. )

Nathan. Duke's cooling off next door.

( Duke is probably the reason they're being held under lock and agent and not at a hospital or somewhere else. )

[stupetballs]

Nice to meet you, Nathan.

[She smiles as she makes her way closer to sit across from him.]

Sorry for the wait, but you two will just have to sit tight a little bit longer. Audrey's coming up from DC so she had to wrangle a flight, but she is on her way. But while we wait, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

[hypoesthesia]

( he flips his hands up, like what can they do. she's on her way. from D.C., that means a plane ride. )

Sure. I'll do my best to answer them.

[stupetballs]

What do you remember from right before you wound up in the dolphin tank?

[Because that's what they're trying to figure out. Especially for the people coming from other places.]

A flash of light? Any kind of sensation?

[hypoesthesia]

( Setting aside he wouldn't feel a sensation. )

I don't remember a flash of light. Duke and I were entering the diner. In Haven, Maine. ( He held the door open for him. and he got a look for it ) And then - ( Something about her makes him trust that what he says won't get him thrown into a padded cell. He weighs his options. But she asks about sensations or flashes of light. Sounds like a Trouble to him. ) We - fell into the dolphin tank at the Boston Aquarium.

[stupetballs]

That must have been really disorienting, moving from one thing to the other like that.

[And there is Haven, Maine again, thought they've hashed it out some. She doesn't know if she's really the one who should break the alternate universe news, but for now she just wants to keep everyone calm.]

Did you see anyone there? Other than the dolphins? And security?

[hypoesthesia]

It's not our first time experiencing something that sudden.

( He's trying, here. )

Just the dolphins. They really wanted to play and Duke and I really didn't want to drown. The dolphins got loud and security came.

[stupetballs]

[She nods, making a note as she does.]

In the interest of full disclosure, you're not the only one who's found themselves in a brand new place lately. There's a handful of you, so we're just trying to find out whatever information we can.

[hypoesthesia]

In the interest of full disclosure, what do you mean, brand new place?

( He does wish he had more information. Duke might, though. )

[stupetballs]

It depends on the person in question. Some of them were brought back from the dead, and others were brought from other timelines or other worlds.

[Both of those things are a lot of information so she will give him some time to process.]

[hypoesthesia]

Duke and I are alive. There's nothing to bring us back from, and, I don't know enough about this world to know if it's not ours. What does Audrey say?

( If she has anything to say. Now he is a little more worried about Duke being on his own, though, especially if they ended up in another world.

It makes sense their identities couldn't be verified. )

[stupetballs]

Audrey says that you're most likely here from a different world. Partially because she says she is too.

[Which Waverly doesn't know enough to confirm or deny, especially since Audrey hasn't said it but she has heavily implied it.]

And partially because Haven isn't a town in Maine here.

[hypoesthesia]

Is it a town anywhere?

( It feels like the wrong question to ask, but it's what he has. At least Audrey knows who they are. That is half the battle. )

[stupetballs]

[She shakes her head.]

Not just Haven, at least. There's a New Haven, I think? In Connecticut?

[hypoesthesia]

Same as ours.

( Good they have that in common, anyway. )

How many others are like Duke and I? And, who were the two women. Are they with Duke?

[stupetballs]

You and Duke are thirteen and fourteen.

[So not a minimal number.]

The other two women are witches with some interest in Audrey. They are with Duke, but for right now they seem to just be talking. They're probably fishing for information on her. But Audrey has landed so she should be here soon.

[hypoesthesia]

( That's not a small number, though. Is Audrey number one? )

Witches.

( Witches? Yeah. Okay. )

Why would witches be interested in Audrey?

( He knows, he knows all about her and why a witch might take an interest, but he needs to know what Waverly knows. )

[stupetballs]

According to Audrey, they're annoyed that their particular brand of magic doesn't work on her. But I don't really have any more context than that. Audrey and I are new friends.

[So she's still getting to know her, for better or worse.]

Her partner is a friend of a friend.

[hypoesthesia]

Why is her partner not here?

( All these mysteries. Hearing that a form of magic or magical effect doesn't work on Audrey? That, he follows, and secretly loves that that is the case. )