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

[sticktomybooks]

Belle is too busy clinging to Rumple in relief to contribute to this conversation. Carry on without her.

[made_not_born]

"Useless, both of you," Regina sighs. "I can't explain the doppelganger, but-" she points. "Rumplestiltskin, Rumple, Mr. Gold, or all-around pain in my ass." Points again. "Belle, his girlfriend, resident goody two shoes. And I'm Regina Mills."

[sticktomybooks]

"The Evil Queen," mutters Belle.

Apparently she's not quite incapable of contributing.

[made_not_born]

"Was that necessary," Regina asks testily.

[darkest_evening]

"... Right. Well. I'm Adarin Sorelas, that's Lynnari Corvalias, I brought us here with magic because things were blowing up and I would rather stave off death for a century longer. I did not mean to land near my apparent doppelganger, or in your shop, my aim was terrible, I was in a bit of a rush."

[blooded_poet]

<"He is not a demon,"> declares Lynn, and that seems to be the end of her caring about the mysterious doppelganger problem.

She turns and walks away, to find a place to sit down and watch whatever's going on.

[darkest_evening]

Adarin sighs heavily.

"And she," he explains, "just apparently tested to see if you were a demon. Which, you are not. Congratulations, you must be quite proud."

[blooded_poet]

Lynn looks around.

<"This is their shop, correct?">

[darkest_evening]

<"Apparently. The man that looks like me and his girlfriend's, not the other one.">

[blooded_poet]

<"Then,"> she muses, <"I won't break anything in here.">

[darkest_evening]

<"How very kind of y-"

He is interrupted by Lynn snatching him by the collar.

[blooded_poet]

<"Excuse me,"> she says, politely, to the assembled strangers as she forcibly drags him to the door.

[made_not_born]

Regina promptly moves out of the way.

[mask_of_the_monster]

"I'm the Dark One, not a demon," Rumple says. "It's not the same at al-"

And then, off they go. He stares. "What, you just let them go?" he demands of Regina, following his impromptu visitors outside.

[made_not_born]

"I'm enjoying the view," she tells him dryly. "It's not every day I get to watch you dragged around by a woman the size of your pinkie."

[blooded_poet]

The woman the size of his pinky calmly picks Adarin up and tosses him once they're outside. Quite easily. Her red eyes are glowing, and she does not look like a happy camper.

[darkest_evening]

Adarin rolls for a bit from where he was tossed, and drawls, "Ow."

[blooded_poet]

And that is when Lynn draws a sword that's black as pitch and etched in runes that are glowing a faint red. She storms over to the prone mage, and points it neatly at his throat.

<"So,"> she purrs. <"How about taking me home?">

[darkest_evening]

Adarin... Looks at the sword.

<"Would. Will, in fact, but. Alas, can't. Yet.">

[blooded_poet]

<"Aha. Of course,"> agrees Lynn. <"Well. If it seems like you're delaying...">

She smiles. It is not a nice smile. The sword at Adarin's throat becomes a teensy bit more acquainted with it, and a thin trail of blood slowly drips down his neck.

<"I will not be happy.">

[mask_of_the_monster]

Rumple stares at the sword, and is deeply glad that Belle stayed inside.

"Ah. Regina?"

[made_not_born]

"Oh, give me some credit. Of course I texted Charming. She has a sword." She eyes the scene in front of her. "I like her style, though."

[darkest_evening]

<"And far be it for me to make you unhappy,"> drawls Adarin. He is - pretty sure there isn't a way he can fight his way out of this. Not with her resistance to magic and his low mana stores. How - nice.

[blooded_poet]

<"See, there you are, you're getting the idea.">

Her point made, she sheathes the sword without further incident.

[darkest_evening]

<"Hurray for me.">

Adarin gets up, brushing himself off and wiping away the blood from his neck. It was just a nick, but - yes, thank you, Lynn, point made.