Storybrooke, Maine

Kaext swirled his tea around as he thought over everything Amber had told him. There wasn't much information to go off; Amber had only started keeping track of events after the curse had broken, and hadn't been able to drudge much up about the twenty-eight years prior or how exactly they had been pulled from their world in the first place.

He had some idea about the latter. The remnants of magic he could feel were familiar, and there was really only one explanation for that. The knife was in this world. He had been to nearly every dimension imaginable in search of the weapon he'd used to remove the coldness of Amber's heart.

"Have you seen my boys?" he asked suddenly. "Did they come through?"

His host set her cup down on the desk. "I believe I've seen Lucas," she replied. "I haven't seen the other one yet." Amber looked to the window and back to the man. His elaborate brocade coat and breeches were a clear giveaway that he had just arrived in this world. "You need to change your outfit, Majesty."

"I suppose you're right," he agreed. His gaze drifted around the room until it landed on a poster of a man clad in leather chaps and a harness. Kaext tried to suppress his grin when he pointed at it and asked in no manner of seriousness, "Should I base my clothes off that?"

It was surprising how fast Amber could pick up a clipboard and chuck it at his head. He burst out laughing as he just managed to dodge the plastic square. "Don't you dare!" she snarled at him. "I've seen far too many naked men in the past twenty-eight years. I don't need to see your disgusting body too!"

Kaext rolled his eyes and chided her. "Oh come now, that hurt my feelings." She glared at him. He beamed, content to know that he could still get under her skin. "So, what kind of clothing do men in this world wear?" He watched Amber as she pulled out a catalogue from the wall cabinet and threw it down before of him.

He stared at it before flipping through it. "What an interesting texture," he mused as he flipped through the pages. He came to the men's section of the book. The clothes were amazing in their simple elegance. Even on the pages they looked far more comfortable than what he was accustomed to. With a snap of his fingers his homelands garb was replaced with a simple outfit right from the magazine. "How's this?"

Amber looked him over. The grey slacks, black sports coat, and orange cardigan were rather fetching on him, not that she would admit that. "It'll do," she grumbled instead. With a disgruntled sigh she looked to the door. "If we are going to find your boys," she continued, "we'd better start at the Sheriff's office."

"Very well," Kaext responded. "Where is—wait a tick, you're intending to help me?" He was taken aback by the revelation. After what had gone down between them he had expected her to kick him out before lending a helping hand.

The woman shrugged. "Offering my services is more appealing than watching you try to manipulate me into it. Besides, if your precious boys have been separated, how much longer can Durante remain with his sanity intact?"

"Touché, dear woman," he drawled out, aware that it was her way of thanking him. If Durante lost control of his inner rage, the town would be in severe danger and no one would know how to stop him. Kaext certainly didn't want that. Adjusting his coat, he placed his hand on the door and motioned for her to lead the way.

Feryal's nose was stuck in a children's picture book as she manned the front desk. Amber had chased her out of the office so 'the adults could talk'. She glanced at them as they passed. "Can Fery come?" she quipped, "or does she have to stay here and tend the store for stupid Amberly?"

"Shut up Fery!" Amber spat as she opened the front door. "Stay here; we might get customers."

Kaext chuckled at the two, amused by the similarities in their dynamic in this world and their own. He gave Fery a pat on the head. "I'll need your help later," he told her with a wink. She grinned after him deviously.