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

[mask_of_the_monster]

"I find myself rather disturbed by the turn the conversation has taken," Gold remarks.

[sticktomybooks]

Belle grins. "I'm sure you were very pretty when you were young too," she half-soothes, half-laughs.

[mask_of_the_monster]

"And that's why you were throwing yourself at him when I arrived, is it?"

[sticktomybooks]

"I thought you were cursed! True love's kiss breaks curses!" She cuddles up to him. "I love you, Rumple, you know that."

"...also. Sorry," she adds in an embarrassed aside to Adarin.

[mask_of_the_monster]

"Just teasing, love."

[made_not_born]

"Nauseating," Regina remarks to no one in particular. "So, your magic is finite. You said you're from another plane. Do you need a place to stay until you're renewed?"

Regina would much prefer to keep an eye on these newcomers. Strangers in Storybrooke? Not her favorite.

[darkest_evening]

"Completely fine," replies Adarin, to Belle. "Please don't do it again, but I can understand the confusion. Considering."

[blooded_poet]

"A place to stay would be excellent," agrees Lynn. "I am quite sure we can find a way to pay for it if it's a problem - Adarin's not allowed to use any, but I have a small amount of it myself. I specialize in finding things."

[mask_of_the_monster]

Rumplestiltskin's gaze immediately gets very, very focused. "Baelfire," he whispers. "Can you- my son."

[made_not_born]

Regina- does not comment. If it was Henry (ugh, don't think it), she would be no better. "Don't be silly, I have plenty of space," she says. "It's the least a mayor can do."

[blooded_poet]

"... Adarin, congratulations, you are staying with Regina. Rumplestiltskin, finding things includes people."

She was a mother, once. A mother never really forgets. She might as well be useful, while she's here.

[mask_of_the_monster]

"He's here," Rumple says, sounding like he's not really addressing anyone. "On this plane. That's why I gave Regina the curse, I wanted- I wanted to come here, to find him. But we're trapped, we lose our minds if we leave the town, he's somewhere here and I can't see him. It's been centuries..."

[made_not_born]

"That's why you gave me the curse?" Regina asks, startled. "I thought you said he was in Neverland, how many magic beans did you have?"

[sticktomybooks]

"Not the time, Regina!"

[blooded_poet]

"Does the - mind losing portion include if I were to leave the town? I am rather attached to my mind, if that's the case it's not unsolvable, you just need pretty boy instead of me and need to wait a bit. Bringing him here instead of me going out to find him."

[made_not_born]

Regina glares at Belle, looks at Gold, determines him to be a little too hope-struck to be coherent, and sighs and answers instead. "Henry can come and go. And has, precocious child that he is." This gets a fond smile, at least. "It's only those of us from the Enchanted Forest, who were brought here by the curse. You'll be fine."

[blooded_poet]

"Then, I can go and personally look for him. Are there papers I need to cross borders, identification, anything? I will be going by ordinary means, not by teleportation."

[mask_of_the_monster]

"You could bring Emma," Gold suggests, sounding thoughtful. And a little like he's trying very, very hard not to get his hopes up. "She owes me a favor, and she used to find people for a living."

[blooded_poet]

"I could. I have no idea who Emma is, ordinarily I'd think that someone tagging along would slow me down, but - not my plane. No papers or identification required, then?"

[made_not_born]

"Depends where he is. But if it's not across the ocean, Emma does have the papers to drive you."

In the internal battle between 'never help Gold' and 'have Henry to myself', Henry is winning.

[blooded_poet]

"Well, then. Do you have a globe, or map of the world at hand?"

[made_not_born]

"Gold? Do you have anything useful in that store of yours?"

[sticktomybooks]

"There's a globe on the counter in the back left," Belle supplies helpfully.

It's much less dusty today, even.

[blooded_poet]

"Show me, please?"

[sticktomybooks]

Into the shop Belle goes. The globe is on the back counter as promised.