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

[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.">

[sticktomybooks]

Belle manages a watery "Thank you" and a smile for Lynn, and starts dabbing at her eyes.

[made_not_born]

"Oh, do try not to snivel so much," Regina snaps at Belle. "All curses can be broken, remember?"

She turns back to Gold. "You," she says tiredly. "Even when you're not causing trouble, you cause trouble. And your idea of 'clothing' is clearly a few centuries out of date."

She wants to just... use magic. See what happened. But Henry wants her to be one of the good guys. And she refuses to let down her son. Much though she loathes the idea of calling in the cavalry, that may have to be the next step.

[sticktomybooks]

"Broken- of course!" Belle says, brightening. "True love's kiss-"

And she heads towards Rumple.

[darkest_evening]

"What."

[mask_of_the_monster]

And who should appear but the man of the house.

"Belle?" he asks, confused. "What on earth is going on?"

[sticktomybooks]

Belle- stops. And looks at Adarin. And then at Rumple.

And then she throws herself on Rumple, half crying, gasping, "Rumple, it's you, you're okay."

[mask_of_the_monster]

"Indeed I am," Rumple says, bemused but hugging her back. "But Belle, what-"

And then he sees Adarin, and hisses.

"Who are you and why do you look like me?!"

[made_not_born]

"As though one of you wasn't more than enough," Regina grumbles.

[darkest_evening]

"Your guess," sighs Adarin, "is literally as good as mine. Probably better, actually, I am so confused, why do I apparently have a doppleganger named either Rumple or Gold or whatever on another plane? Why will no one explain what's going on?"

[blooded_poet]

His red eyed companion looks at the actual Rumple, and tilts her head. Without explanation, she walks over to him, and pokes him in the shoulder.

In another, different, foreign language she says quite conversationally, <"I am Lynnari Corvalias, and I have slaughtered the likes of demons for centuries - and yet have not died. I challenge you.">

[darkest_evening]

<"How is that an appropriate reaction?!">