mr. gold pawnbroker & antiquities dealer

[sticktomybooks]

Belle is dusting the shop. Rumple has such a lovely collection but he only occasionally remembers to clean it. Having started, she can see why he avoids the task- there's all sorts of small, delicate pieces that accumulate just horrific amounts of dust- but she refuses to let that stop her. The shop is entirely too dusty, and she is going to fix it.

It's something to do, at least. She doesn't need to be in the library for another hour or so, and Rumple's gone off somewhere again. She suspects he's getting her a present again. She keeps telling him he doesn't need to buy her things, she loves him just the same, but the fact that he thinks to buy her gifts makes her so happy she hasn't really made him stop.

She's free, she's found Rumple, he loves her, she loves him. Life is good. And right now, at this second- this shop is going to be spotless.

She moves onto the next piece, humming to herself in contentment.

Comments

[darkest_evening]

And that is when there is a loud and resounding crash.

[blooded_poet]

Followed by a female voice, from a newly-appeared woman behind a shelf over there. Whatever language she's speaking, it's extremely foreign.

<"You - son of a - where did you take us, is this - this is another plane, you took us to another plane!">

[darkest_evening]

And, oh look, Rumple is next to her. He must have appeared suddenly, too. With - strangely lighter hair and bizarre clothes. He speaks in the same language.

<"No, really? I would never have guessed. You're welcome, it's not as if I saved our lives or anything.">

[blooded_poet]

<"I would have been fine, you sanctimonious bastard. My husband is back there, put me back!">

[darkest_evening]

<"Yes, because your husband was definitely as close to the explosion as we were. He's fine, we're fine, which, by the way, wasn't easy to pull off, do you know how hard it is to pull off a extraplanar teleportation under pressure? Very difficult!">

[sticktomybooks]

Belle takes this all in with dismay and no small confusion. "What did you do? You said you weren't going to use magic any more!" she accuses Rumple. "You promised."

[darkest_evening]

'Rumple' turns and looks at her with utter confusion.

"... Pardon?" he says, in accented English. "I haven't promised anything?"

[blooded_poet]

<"You have a translation spell on you, don't you. Guess who doesn't, pretty boy! You've stranded me on a foreign plane without any ability to speak the local dialect-">

[darkest_evening]

<"Which I will fix at my earliest convenience, shush please I am speaking to the local, I'm extremely confused by something she said!">

[sticktomybooks]

"Yes you did, you said you'd give up your vengeance on Regina and stop using magic as a crutch, and-" she's distracted by the lady with the red eyes. "Rumple, who is this, what is she doing in our shop?"

[darkest_evening]

"Vengeance on - whom? That was a name, wasn't it? I don't have any particular reason to be vindictive against anyone, let alone someone I've never met before. This is Lynnari," he motions to Lynn, "I'm Adarin, we arrived here by magic because our other option was 'fry in a horrific explosion' and I am exceptionally confused at how you're acting like you know me and calling me - Rumple?"

[blooded_poet]

<"Hey! Pretty boy! I would like very much to know what's going on.">

[darkest_evening]

<"When I find out,"> sighs, apparently, Adarin, <"I will let you know.">

[sticktomybooks]

"Oh no," Belle says, sounding panicked. "Rumple, don't you remember me...?"

She approaches him, hands out. "Remember me? I'm Belle, your Belle."

[darkest_evening]

He raises an eyebrow at her.

"My name isn't Rumple. But - hello, Belle?"

[sticktomybooks]

"Oh no, oh no, what do I do," Belle moans, mostly to herself. "It's- how did you get cursed- who did-"

[made_not_born]

Outside the shop, someone walks past the window.

[sticktomybooks]

Belle storms to the door. "Regina!" she shouts. "If this was you-"

[made_not_born]

"If what was me?" sighs, apparently, Regina.

[sticktomybooks]

"Rumple doesn't recognize me! Or his shop! And, and- he's using magic and he's here with some strange woman and I t-think he's c-cursed again and I only just f-found him-"

At this point Belle bursts into tears.

[made_not_born]

"Ugh, honestly," Regina mutters, walking into the shop. "I promised Henry, remember? No more magic." She eyes Rumple. "Really, Gold, what are you wearing."

[darkest_evening]

"I think," says 'Gold,' "that I am very much not the person you both seem to think I am. At - all. I'm from very far away, we came here because our other option was horrific death by fire, and I am wearing clothes, thank you."

He looks at Belle, awkwardly.

[blooded_poet]

<"What did you say?!"> hisses Lynn. <"Pretty boy, you're supposed to be the nice one of the two of us.">

She walks over, and pulls out a strip of cloth and offers it to Belle. Also, shoulder-pat.

<"There, there,"> she says, gently, if unintelligibly. <"If he says something mean again I will rip out his intestines.">

[darkest_evening]

<"I didn't say anything mean!"> he defends. <"Also, how is that comforting?!">

[blooded_poet]

<"It wasn't for her, she can't understand me,"> hisses Lynn to Adarin. Then, back to shoulder patting. <"Don't make her cry again.">