Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

[stillsmallvoice]

There's significance in the wisdom of a child, even more in one like Henry. It's no small matter that Archie Hopper's moment of illumination came at the bottom of a mine shaft where they both could have died.

And above all, there's the very real significance that he's stood up to the one person in Storybrooke, outside of perhaps Mr. Gold whom he only associates with when absolutely necessary, that could crush him like a bug.

Yet, once Marco has bid him goodnight he and Pongo return to the office and a stack of files. And mostly full bottle of scotch, leading to a tumbler of scotch... and quite naturally a belly of scotch as he considers the decisions he's made.

[ooc: Episode tag to 1x05, finding my feet so to speak. Feel free to tag in.]

Comments

[ahuntsman]

It'll be some time later when there comes a knock on Archie's office door.

It's Sheriff Graham, though he hasn't come here on official business as Sheriff, exactly.

[stillsmallvoice]

Graham always knows when his light is on, and Archie's no stranger to opening his door at off hours.

"Sheriff," he smiles, opening the office door to him; "come in, you know my door's always open."

His cheeks have gone ruddy with a couple stiff drinks and he leads the way to his desk to retrieve another tumbler and the bottle; "Drink?"

[ahuntsman]

Graham raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.

In fact, he nods.

"Thank you," he says, idly looking about the small space.

[stillsmallvoice]

"It's been a long day," he pours out a heavy double for each of them and hands over the other man's without hesitation.

"I would hope you're not here on official business."

He'd also hope that were Regina going to make a retaliatory move against him she'd do it herself in broad daylight - but he knows all too well that's not how she operates$

[ahuntsman]

"No," the Sheriff assures him, accepting the drink with a polite nod and raising of his glass. "I'm not on any sort of official business, I assure you."

He takes a sip of his drink, relishing in the taste of fire traveling down his throat and burying itself somewhere in his gut.

He hasn't felt much for as long as he can remember, but the effects of a good scotch remind him that he can feel. Somewhere. Even if only temporarily.

"Are you all right, Doctor?"

[stillsmallvoice]

Archie drinks more slowly, sipping the warm scotch as he settles into his large chair. He scoffs slightly at his first thought, rather than the question itself - no, not fine. Not quite. "That depends, are you asking me as your friend, your therapist, or someone that was rescued from a mine shaft?"

[ahuntsman]

"As your friend, mostly," Graham says, moving to join the other man by the seats.

He takes the couch usually reserved for patients, putting his glass down on the table before him.

"But if it's a matter more serious than that ..."

[stillsmallvoice]

"Serious?" A faint smile lights on his lips, could it be considered serious? The words of a child, the fantasy of a child.

"No, not serious... just a bit on my mind."

He chuckles into his tumbler; "And you, sheriff?"

[ahuntsman]

Graham shakes his head.

"We can talk about it later," he assures the other man.

Possibly when they're not drinking themselves numb.

And now hardly seems like the right time to bring up the strange unsettling feeling he's been having.

[stillsmallvoice]

Archie can accept that answer, though he's all too aware that something is weighing on Graham's mind. There's a time for everything, and it's not always the present.

After a short pause, he asks; "How's Henry?"

[ahuntsman]

"Henry?" the Sheriff repeats, taking another sip of his drink.

He nods.

"Good. Better, now that Emma's here - as much as Regina doesn't want to admit it."

[stillsmallvoice]

A slightly chuckle crosses his lips again and he mutters; "Yeah, well... there's a lot of things that Regina won't ever understand about him." And in a way, he's pretty sure that's a good thing.

"Emma's good for him."

[ahuntsman]

Graham nods in agreement.

"I think Emma's had a good effect on most of the town, really," he admits.

With the very obvious exception of Regina.

[stillsmallvoice]

The doctor hesitates a moment, shifting slightly more towards the sheriff as he takes a sip of his drink.

"She certainly has a way of doing that," a small smile tugs at his lips; "I think it's fair to say she's affected you, sheriff."

[ahuntsman]

Graham swills the contents of his glass, his gaze fixated.

But he doesn't deny that Emma's affected him as well. In fact, that's part of the reason he's here tonight, part of why he wanted to talk to Archie - before he was offered a drink.

When he glances in the good doctor's direction, he shrugs.

The slightest of frowns appears.

"I think she has."

[stillsmallvoice]

He's mostly sober despite the pink tinge on his cheeks, but it makes it easier to think a bit more open minded.

Not that it's required with Graham.

"I think, in good ways."

[ahuntsman]

Graham downs the rest of his drink, taking that space of time to gather his thoughts and gather his courage.

He isn't sure how this is going to sound, but he's been wanting to say something about it for days now.

"Emma's - different somehow," he starts.

And yes, it sounds just as ridiculous as it does in his head - but he goes on.

"I've never met anyone like her before."

(Even if he did, he wouldn't remember.)

"I don't even know how to explain it."

[stillsmallvoice]

Doctor Hopper nodded slowly, tracing his fingers over the smooth rim of his glass. Graham has a point, though with clearly a different perspective.

"You don't have to explain, I understand."

It's a simple sentiment, but true.

[ahuntsman]

"Do you?" Graham asks.

Archie's words are almost like a balm, allowing him to exhale with relief.

It isn't even just the attraction to her, though there is that. (And to deny it would make him even more ridiculous than he already is.) It's something else too, something he can't even begin to understand but it thrums beneath his skin, like an itch he can never reach.

"What is it about Emma? It's -"

He rubs his face.

[stillsmallvoice]

Another small, awkward laugh catches his throat and Archie finishes the thought; "Different from the rest of us."

Maybe it's because of the life she had prior to Storybrooke, what little he knows of it, but she's not on the same wheel that they are - spinning between keeping things operating on an even keep and bowing to the Mayor's strong fist.

[ahuntsman]

"Yes."

Graham shakes his head.

"I'm sorry if this wasn't exactly what you had in mind to do tonight," he says. "It's been a long day for all of us."

[stillsmallvoice]

What he had in mind was entirely too self destructive for a respectable person, and it's a good thing that he's got something to keep his mind off of it - but couldn't dream of mentioning that.

Instead he quietly nods agreement and says; "No need to apologize, I'm quite glad things worked out for the best and everyone is safe."