Part 3A
Jill and Pippi walked around Storybrooke, curious of the land around them. Jill still had the various golden items on her. They passed by a bakery and smelled the food. Pippi pushed Jill along, as she said "We don't have money."
"We have gold," Jill said.
"We just ate," Pippi argued.
"Last night," Jill stated. It was the next morning now.
Several townsfolk gave them a glance, not recognizing them before in the small town.
The two girls walked into Granny's diner and sat at a booth. Everyone in the diner stared at them.
"They know!" Pippi whispered to her fearfully.
"Just relax. This place isn't that small." Jill assured her.
"What exactly is the plan?" Pippi asked.
"Plan?" Jill asked. "Oh yeah. So I was thinking we could keep a low profile and observe. You know, look for clues."
Pippi head desked the table. "Ugh." She lifted her head. "How about we just ask is anyone knows who he is?"
"That's not as fun." Jill commented.
"Can I get you ladies anything?" I waitress with a name tag that read 'Ruby' asked them.
"Uh, we're still thinking." Pippi replied.
Jill grabbed a menu and squinted her eyes. "What are pancakes?"
"And what's are soft drinks?" Pippi asked.
Jill looked up at the ceiling, noticing the music playing. "Is someone singing on the roof?"
"What is this land?" Pippi wondered.
"Look at their clothes," Jill noted. The woman were all wearing these navy blue pants and short sleeved shirts.
The two ordered pancakes, and Jill commented, "This is how it should be. People waiting on us."
"Jill," Pippi eyed her and shook her head.
After they ate, they paid with a gold coin and left. They went to a clothing store and each bought a pair of jeans, cotton shirts, a nightgown, and a dress. "I feel so naked," Pippi said while trying on a dress.
When they walked out of the clothing store, having paid with three gold coins, Jill recognized a girl walking by. "Grace?"
Grace turned around and gasped. "Jill." She ran up and hugged her. "I haven't seen you in years. Decades actually."
"I just arrived to this land actually," Jill blurted.
"How?" Grace wondered.
"How else? Magic. Uh, I'm very unfamiliar with…everything here. Can you tell me what pizza is, and why everyone has it with soda?"
Grace giggle and nodded. "Sure thing."
Jill left Pippi alone, with three bags of clothes. "So much for keeping a low profile." Pippi huffed and walked in the opposite direction.
When she crossed the street, she heard a dog barking. A Dalmatian was trotting towards her. The dog jumped on her and she caught him. Then, the dog was licking her arms and face.
"Pongo," a man with curly orange hair followed. "I'm so sorry," he spoke humbly.
"It's alright." Pippi forgave him.
"He's not usually like this." He said.
"No worries." She replied.
"My name is Archie," he introduced himself. "Archie Hopper."
Pippi responded, "You can call me Pippi."
They shook hands as Pongo whined and looked at Archie.
"I don't recall seeing you around the town. Are you visiting?" Archie asked.
"No, I uh. Yes. Actually, I don't know. I came her with my friend and we're uh…" Pippi wasn't sure what to tell him. Everyone came from their land, so anyone new could be a threat. She didn't want anyone to think that of her. "We came from the curse."
"Oh," Archie merely said.
"We-my friend Jill and I-lived in this shoe back in the enchanted forest. We were nobodies." After a pause, Pippi asked, "Do you know a good place for my and a friend to stay?"
"Well, they're Granny's bed and breakfast," he pointed her in the direction of where they ate breakfast.
Jill and Grace talked for a few hours. During that time, they passed by Mr. Gold's pawn shop. He knew who she was as she walked by.
Pippi paid Granny for a room. She paid for her and Jill to stay for two weeks. When Pippi gave her gold, Granny asked, "We aren't used to using gold as currency."
"What do you used then?"
Granny displayed a $20 bill. You could probably sell your gold to Mr. Gold at his pawn shop at the corner down there," she pointed.
"Mr. Gold?" Pippi asked. "Sell gold to Mr. Gold. That's funny."
"I'll accept this, but I would prefer cash for future payments. Granny stated.
Pippi received the room key and went up. She dropped the bags and looked at this modern room. "Whoa."
Pippi watched out the window for Jill to come by while setting up their new 'house.' She folded the clothes and put them in separate drawers. She smelled the odd creams in the bathroom and tried to figure out what they all are. "Shampoo?" She looked at all the unfamiarity of the room. The sturdy walls, soft carpet, thick sheets, and the warm atmosphere. She sat on the sofa and found a rectangular object with 30 little buttons on it. She pressed the on button and the thin screen on the television came on. Pippi was fascinated.
Pippi went downstairs, into the diner, and out the door to meet up with Jill.
"Pippi," Jill smiled. "I've got so much to tell you. They're these tiny machines that can call people. And you can type to them instead of writing."
Pippi smiled, angry at Jill. "You discovered all this while you were gallivanting with your friend, leaving me alone, as always."
Jill's smile faded. "I'm sorry, but I was excited to see her. Someone I knew before my parents died and I had to live in a shoe."
"Had to?" Pippi remarked.
"Did you find a place for us to stay?" Jill asked.
"Yeah," Pippi turned and entered the diner.
"This is a nice place," Jill said as they walked into their room.
"Uh huh. Tomorrow I'll go to Mr. Gold's shop to trade our gold for whatever the paper currency is here."
"I had a nice tour of the town. There's a shoe store and a theater. I'm still not sure exactly what an animated feature is. Grace said to check something called Netflix on a tv."
Pippi pointed to a TV set. Jill turned on the TV and tried to figure it out. She played with the volume and channel flipped. Meanwhile, Pippi went in the closet to arrange the items, such as clothes and blankets. Then, she got changed into her nightgown.
There was a knock at the door. Jill had just sat on the couch. She sighed as she got up and was surprised at the visitor.
"Hello, dearie," Mr. Gold greeted her. "Haven't seen you in long time."
Jill replied boldly, "indeed. I see your skin has cleared."
"I see you friend is still alive," he said as Pippi came by.
"Dark one," Pippi feared.
"You're supposed to be dead," Rumpelstiltskin growled.
Jill blocked Pippi and said, "You're mistaken then...is there any real reason you're here?"
"I should ask you the same question." He replied. Jill smirked at him and he responded, "You better not cause any trouble, because the next time you try to cross me, I will make sure you're dead."
He turned and left them after making his threat.
Jill closed the door and turned to Pippi.
"You need to hold your tongue around holy," Pippi warned.
"I'm not afraid of stiltskin." Jill shrugged.
Pippi signed fearfully and looked down, as Jill sat on the couch and watched a comedy show on the TV.
