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

[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."

[darkest_evening]

"I'm not the Dark One," drawls Adarin. "Black isn't even my color."

[blooded_poet]

Lynn follows Regina inside for clothing hunting. Hurray, clothing.

[done_reading]

"I don't know what you're going to wear then," Henry tells him frankly, "I think Grandpa Henry mostly work black." But he leads him inside to the section of the attic where Regina stored her father's things. It's dusty, but otherwise surprisingly clean. He starts taking things out and dumping them on a nearby trunk to act as a table; they're all regular, servicable outfits, but they do (as promised) include quite a bit of black, and some extremely high collars.

[made_not_born]

Meanwhile, Regina has dug out some of her older, less mayor-y outfits. She mostly wears them for gardening- she is particularly fond of her apple tree- but there's enough of them that she can spare a few for a couple days. (It means getting Henry to herself...)

She lays them out on her bed. "Any of these should be fine. Any thoughts?"

[sticktomybooks]

Belle remains outside with Rumple, being quietly soothing. Rumple appears to be in what looks like 'moderate shock'. She doesn't think he knows what to do; he'd always expected that he would be there to go find his son, but he still can't leave town, and now he has to just- wait. So, she'll be here, hugging him, until this is settled.

[darkest_evening]

Adarin - looks through the clothes. He does not look pleased.

"I'm tempted to continue wearing my ordinary clothes," he says. "And politely decline wearing - these."

[blooded_poet]

"These will do fine," shrugs Lynn. "Thank you."

[done_reading]

"You're not leaving town, it probably don't matter much," Henry shrugs, clearly not really caring. "Maybe just if you want something to change into. So, hey, do you know where they're going? Why's my mom going too?"

[made_not_born]

"Well then, you're all set," Regina says, smiling. It's an actual real smile this time- Henry!- as she leads Lynn back to Emma. Henry Henry Henry.

[darkest_evening]

"Lynn is good at finding things," explains Adarin. "She is finding something for Rumplestiltskin, and Emma's helping because she owes Rumplestiltskin a favor and Lynn would be utterly lost in a foreign plane on her own."