Arida's POV
"So then Felix screamed. Just like a little girl!" Tinkerbelle exclaims, in the middle of telling me a story about her time here in Neverland. I laugh at the thought of Felix screaming like a girl. While the others took Henry to Hook's ship, Tink had stayed behind to keep me company. I am glad she had stayed. Skull Rock would be a creep-tastic place if I were here all alone.
Tinkerbelle is opening her mouth to continue the tale when Violet sort of floats back into Skull Rock, dropping down a few inches at a time until she lands next to the hourglass, taking a few stumbling steps to regain her balance. She definitely does not land as gracefully as Pan, and I make a mental note to tease her about it later. Violet looks dazed, her mouth hanging open very slightly, her eyes unfocused.
"You know, Tink," I say conversationally. "Maybe you should go. I think it is high time me and Violet had a BFF girl chat." Tink hesitates, looking between me and Violet.
"I'm a girl," she says. "I can do girl chat."
"No, you're a fairy," I reply seriously. "Hearing our twenty-first-century girly girl talk would drive you out of your mind."
"Alright," Tink agrees reluctantly, rising to her feet and striding towards the staircase. "Have a nice... girl chat." I watch as her blond head disappears down the winding stone staircase, listening to her footsteps.
"Okay, so—" Violet starts. I hold up a hand to stop her.
"No, not yet. Tink's footsteps stopped. She's eavesdropping," I say. "Mind your own beeswax, Tink!" I hear Tink curse and her footsteps as she trudges away.
"I hate you, Arida!" she calls out. I chuckle.
"No, you don't," I shout back.
"Yeah, she does," Violet says playfully. "A little bird told me so."
"A little bird?" I ask, raising both eyebrows. "I didn't know Pan was a little bird." Violet punches me in the shoulder lightly, and I pretend to fall over dead.
"Oh, you've killed me," I gasp. "Is Pan a touchy subject?" Violet nods, telling me 'duh' telepathically. Still laying sprawled next to the hourglass, I smirk at her.
"Was it something he said? Or was it something... physical?" I suggest innocently. Violet glares at me murderously, and I hold up both hands in defeat.
"What? What did I say?" I ask.
"Why would you even imply that?" Violet exclaims. I shrug, sitting up and propping my elbows up on my knees, resting my chin on my hands.
"Come on, I know that look," I say coaxingly. "My boy drama sense is tingling." Violet takes a deep breath.
"You're right... it is boy drama," she says. "I think I'm in love... with Felix."
"What?" I shriek, and Violet grins, laughing, half-halfheartedly.
"Just kidding," she says, oddly calm.
"Not funny," I glare at her mutinously. "Seriously, though, you can't have feelings for Pan. It's way too dangerous, not to mention stupid."
"I don't have feelings for him," Violet insists.
"Uh-huh, sure," I say disbelievingly. "You're a really bad liar, Vi."
"I don't even like him!" Violet says.
"You don't have to like him to think he's cute," I say persistently.
"He is not cute," Violet says firmly, "He's uglier than Felix, which is really saying something."
"Oh, come on. I saw you checking out those eyebrows," I tease. Violet huffs, sitting down on the other side of the hourglass, blatantly turning her back and sulking.
"We need to make a plan," I call to her. Violet doesn't respond, just ignores me.
"Look. I'm sorry about what I said about your liking his eyebrows," I apologize. "But we need to put our plan into action. The sooner we can take down Pan, the sooner we get back to Storybrooke."
"What exactly is the plan? Do we even have one?" Violet asks, finally speaking, but still not turning around to face me. "Is it one of those crazy diagrams in that heavy book you always carry around?"
"What? No. Those diagrams are just for show. They make me look smart," I say, chuckling. "The plan was originally to kill Pan and get out. But we realized your magic isn't nearly strong enough to take down Pan just like that, so I came up with a new plan."
"Fantastic," Violet mutters under her breath.
"Pantastic," I correct. "I call it Operation Fudge Cookie."
"Why?" Violet says, bewildered. "That has nothing to do with defeating Pan."
"It's a code name. Duh," I say. "So Pan won't suspect anything if you talk in your sleep or something."
"Why would Pan be listening to me talking in my sleep?" Violet asks. I just raise my eyebrows at her, and instantly she blushes scarlet.
"Oh, shut up and keep your dirty mind to yourself," Violet complains, burying her face in her knees.
"Aw, come on. you walked right into that one," I counter with mock innocence.
"No. You twisted my words," Violet accuses.
"Anyway," I grin. "The only way left to get to Pan is to infiltrate his camp, just like an old-fashioned spy."
"You can call me Bond... James Bond," Violet says with a straight face, "Now I just need a theme song."
"You should wait a while and then show up and steal his heart, playing the role of his beloved female equivalent," I pause, "So you'll be learning to be a Lost Girl," I say. "You know, pretend to become one of them and gather information so the rest of Operation Fudge Cookie can swoop in while you take out Pan."
"So you want me to stay in Neverland with a psychotic, conceited boy and his parade of bloodthirsty followers. And you want me to learn how to become one of his aforementioned crazed band of followers," Violet says in disbelief.
"Yeah, sounds about right," I smile at her. "Me and the rest of OFC will prepare at the base in Storybrooke."
"So I guess that means I'll have to say yes," Violet mumbles to herself.
"What?" I say, confused. "Yes to what?"
"Ah... nothing," Violet says hastily, looking decidedly guilty. I just shake my head.
"We have to meet Emma and the rest at Hook's ship," I say.
"Okay," she says, "Let's blow this popsicle stand."