[Either Raikov isn't affected or barely any time has passed because he looks exactly the same. Truthfully though he's aged quite a bit. He's at the mansion as usual, sitting on one of the windowsills in his bedroom. The device is set on a nearby desk as it records]

How many years has it been now? Ever since... well... you know... , time feels like it goes by so much more differently than I remember. And to think, I don't look a day over 30...

[He smiles, brushing some of his hair behind his ear]

While it isn't exactly how I imagined my life would go, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm quite the lucky bastard if I do say so myself.

[The smile grows into a grin and while it's difficult to see clearly, his canine teeth seem a bit pointier than normal]

And the City is equally as lucky, having the two most handsome beings to ever exist watching over it.

[He and Nathan don't actually watch over anything, they just live in it and keep to themselves. But they're still fabulous nonetheless.]

So. That door that they're working on.

My brother says that it's likely actually going to work. I think he meant that it was actually going to work, but was hedging his bets. I tend to believe him since he knows about this kind of thing.

And I'm just wondering... who here would actually stay if they had the choice? Or wouldn't go back to their own home.

I'd rather stay, personally.

Wow, City...it's been ages...

[Rapunzel is older, her hair significantly shorter and browner than it was only a few days previously.]

I'd say I've been thinking of this place, but...well, that's not how this place works, is it. Still, now that I'm back I can safely say I really have missed this place and everybody here.

[She grins, running her fingers through her short hair.]

So, what have I missed?

Rosella, when you see this, come up to the nursery as quietly as you can.

He's sleeping in his cape--again. He's completely besotted with the thing. He absolutely refuses to take it off.

I don't know if we were foolish to call him 'Kit' or if we were foolish to have the cape made for him.

~C.

[ooc: In this future AU, Cain is only a very few years older. And he and Rosella have married and been married for a few years. And they have a son. And their son is named Christopher, called "Kit." And Kit is perhaps three years old here. And Kit has apparently taken to wearing his red woolen wintertime cape and hood to sleep. Probably because the hood has fox ears on it. Baby foxes are sometimes called kits, you know...]

[ VIDEO ]

[Frankie looks a little older; a little paler, his hair longer than he usually wears it. When he talks, there's a funny lilt to his voice-- not quite an accent, but it's like he's been living elsewhere, has started to pick up the inflections and expressions of another place, layered over his more familiar tones.]

Never noticed, 'fore I left, I made it four years in this place. Stopped counting after a while. The time I had was all I had... didn't see a reason to think about after.

[He huffs a little sigh, half a laugh.]

I come back, turns out I still own that fuckin' bar.

[With his usual half-grin, he just shakes his head and turns off the feed.]



[ooc; replies might come from transposition but might not cos I'm lazy. He believes he's been back for about a week.]