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

[made_not_born]

"I promised my son," Regina says testily. "No more magic. That includes hearts."

[mask_of_the_monster]

Rumple tsks. "Poor form, dearie," he tells her. Then, to Adarin, "Haven't you ever seen a heart? Glowing red stone? You don't need it, really, they come right out."

[darkest_evening]

"Do they," says Adarin, like he is learning an interesting trivia fact and not something that horrifies him. "How interesting."

(Internally, there is screaming.)

[blooded_poet]

"Ordinarily," supplies Lynn, with a raised eyebrow, "that kills someone."

[mask_of_the_monster]

"Does it?" Rumple says, surprised. "Strange world you've got. No, no, pulling out someone's heart just makes them rather nasty. And you can control them with it, if you know how. But taking it out doesn't kill you. Crushing it, now, that would do it."

[blooded_poet]

"Also, they look nothing like a glowing red stone at all. I've seen several. None of them glowed. Bloody things, though."

[darkest_evening]

Isn't Adarin glad he's have five hundred years to perfect his power face. Turning a person 'nasty' and giving the holder of the heart control over the person and the everlasting threat of death? Hello, new material for his nightmares, always nice to keep things interesting.

"It sounds like it's simply magic that does it," he muses. "But will surgical removal do the same?"

[made_not_born]

"Do feel free to inquire of the good doctor," Regina says. "I'm given to understand he experimented, before we arrived in this world. Now that we're here it... hasn't been necessary."

Explaining the entire frozen in time, heart-surgery-free cycle that was their past twenty-eight years is not exactly what she had planned for her afternoon.

[darkest_evening]

Experimented. Experimented.

He is going to start getting up to funny business, threat from Lynn or no.

"I see. Well, it seems like important information to know."

[my_own_savior]

"Whether or not your heart can be ripped out of your chest? Pfyeah, a bit."

[done_reading]

At this point, a small boy, about ten, comes trotting down the street. "Hi Mom!" he says brightly to Emma, and, "hi Mom," he says rather less brightly to Regina. "David's on his way here, I ran ahead, whatcha up to? Who's this?" He waves at Lynn. "I'm Henry! And-" he turns to Adarin, stops, and stares. "Whoa."

[darkest_evening]

"Lynnari," supplies Adarin, motioning to Lynn. "And I'm Adarin. Hello. I've never met Rumplestiltskin in my life, it's bizarre for me, too."

[my_own_savior]

"Hi, Henry," sighs Emma, exasperated. "They're - visitors. From far away, apparently."

[blooded_poet]

"Excessively far away, actually."

Pointed glare at Adarin. No, she is not going to let it go.

[darkest_evening]

Adarin sighs.

[done_reading]

"Oh! Are they from the Enchanted Forest too?" He peers at Adarin dubiously. "Are you sure you're not the Dark One?"

[made_not_born]

"Your grandfather isn't very good at keeping track of you, is he," Regina says disapprovingly. "And no. They're from a different world entirely. Adarin will be staying with us for a few days until he has enough magic to leave, all right?"

[done_reading]

"...all right," Henry says, sounding unconvinced. "What about you?" he asks Lynnari. "Are you staying with us too?"

[blooded_poet]

"I'm actually going on a - trip. With Emma. I'll be back eventually, though."

[done_reading]

"Cool! Where are you going? Hey, Mom, can I come too?"

[made_not_born]

"No, you have school," Regina says irritably.*

*Irritation 100% probably maybe not related to her son calling Emma Mom, again.

[my_own_savior]

"Yeah. And it's not like it'll be very interesting, it's just sitting in a car for a while. You won't be missing anything."

Emma is going to play nice with Regina about her answering to 'mom,' for now. She's willing to let Henry and Regina continue to have some kind of relationship.

[done_reading]

"But, Mom-"

[made_not_born]

"I said no, Henry," Regina says firmly, pretending this 'Mom' was directed at her. And then, to Lynn, "Let's get you clothes, so you," and Emma, "can be on your way. Henry, will you help Mr... Sorlas, was it? Help Adarin find something to wear in your grandfather's things, please."

She heads into the house. Clothing hunting time.

[my_own_savior]

Emma gives Regina a look and then sighs, again. She kneels down to Henry's level.

"Hey, kiddo. You can keep an eye on 'Definitely not the Dark One' over there, while I'm gone? Someone's got to. He might be in your book."