star_kingdom | Deal 002 ❖ [Video]

If you find them odd, I'd hate to see what I'm going to think of them...

( she raises her brows ) Sebastian Michaelis? ( her lips tug into a warm smile ) I met him the day I arrived, he was kind enough to offer me a room then as well, actually.

[That earns a thoroughly amused laugh.] I wonder that myself!

[He nods.] Yes, that is him. He's quite charming, really. [They have that in common, of course, lots of charm. Right? RIGHT?]

So soon you'll see, I suppose. ( she chuckles )

Very charming indeed, yes. ( she agrees with a nod of her own. he can charm the bloomers right off of her ~~waitno~~ )

That I will.

[...wait a minute now. How is involved in Belle's bloomers and this charming? He has opinions about this.]

I didn't know you often made friends. ( she side-glances to him with a small smile, clearly happy that he's even using the word 'friend' — although she assumes it's with the loosest definition of the term.

he gets no opinions, none. )

I don't make a habit of it, but sometimes one comes across a kindred sort of spirit. [...he found a partner in crime, Belle. It's probably going to end poorly for many people.]

Then again, back home I had something of... [A manic little giggle interrupts here.] ...a reputation.

( kindred spirit? She could only imagine what he might mean. she had met Sebastian, shared tea with him and politely decline the offer to stay with him. she couldn't fathom why Rumpelstiltskin would think him 'kindred' — considering all the imp does is tell her how bad he is and Sebastian certain didn't seem bad ~~but she's terrible at judgement anyway, now, isn't she?~~

damn it. don't you dare try all the bad things. )

Oh goodness, ( she shakes her head ) yes and that reputation wasn't really all that exact, if I have anything to say about it. ( which she does, clearly. )

[...yeah figure that one out, Belle. It doesn't bode well. But he finds himself surprised all over again by her continued defense of him.]

Well, I expect you may have some credibility in that, putting up with me and my mess as long as you did.

It wasn't all that terribly messy. ( so modest, this one. ) And it wasn't so much as 'put up with' as it was enjoying your company, you know.

[He reaches a hand over, finding and toying with a single auburn curl, twisting it around his almost-clawed fingers.] Was it really? Such a strange girl.

( her eyes follow his hand as it comes near and for a brief moment, she forgets to breathe. ) Yes... ( the word isn't so much as said as it is breathed from her lips when she recalls to do so. ) I... Suppose I am.

[He notices that change in her voice, and it is interesting, isn't it? His fingers linger, toying with that lock of hair before he lets it fall and offers her a grin.] You are. But it's a good thing. In your case at least, you're too interesting not to be a little strange, deary.

( recomposing herself once he's let go of her hair, that goosebumping sensation lost with his drop of his arm, she flushes red and smiles. ) I'm going to take that as an interesting form of compliment, I think.

Edited 2012-05-04 04:53 (UTC)

Good! That was how it was meant, of course. [A little laugh here.] After all, one must be truthful!

Ah, truthful. Really? ( him? truthful? really? him? truthful? she's trying to process that one, actually. give her a moment. )

Really! [....yeah he can't not laugh at that either.] Though you do wound me, deary. I have always kept my word, my end of my bargains. I've only ever broken one deal in my life. [And that one informs every decision he's ever made, drives him, to try to make up for it.]

( she shakes her head ) Your deals and bargains are one thing, but you've remained more than mysterious on mostly every other aspect of your life. ( although, she had to admit that getting him to talk about himself even a little was something she was proud of and she did hope that it was all in truth. actually, he hadn't given her reason to think it was not and she had never thought it might not be. she still assumes it was all truth.

but she slows her pace, surprised. ) You... broke a deal?

I'm just enigmatic by nature, Belle. [A little giggle, and perhaps he's about to brush it off. But at her question he's quiet.

If anyone deserves answers, it's Belle. He knows that. Maybe he should explain the reason behind his fear of losing his powers, the vow he made that he can't break, the mistake he has to undo.] I did. Only once. The most important deal I ever made I broke.

I think you're just hiding. ( it's said nonchalantly, but there's a deeper meaning to her words that she's certain he can grasp. there's a reason he hides behind his powers, she just doesn't know what it might be.

honestly, she's surprised at his response to her question. she expected him to brush it off, joke about a deal with her for some answers. that he tells her so easily is interesting. a frown knits on her brow, though. ) The most important one? What deal did... ( she trails off, almost too worried to ask. )

Perhaps that too. [He admits with a bit of a giggle.

He's ready to deflect, let the matter drop, make some off handed comment about heaven only knows what. But well.. instead he nods.] Do you remember when you asked me about the boy's clothes in my manor?

( briefly her eyes widen. he's going to tell her about the boy? slowing her pace a bit more, she quietly walks at his side, giving a soft nod to him ) Of course I do... ( a deal with the boy? or the mother, perhaps? )

[This isn't his nature. He's secretive. He keeps this secret in particular close to the chest, for fear of it being used against him. And it has him a little on edge. But it's Belle. He holds up a finger.] Understand, deary, that I am not turning over a new leaf in telling you this. I won't be sharing or discussing or making friends over it.

I will tell you because I believe I should. I believe it's owed. And you will keep this information to yourself! Or I'll turn you into a canary and keep you in a cage for the rest of your days! [Don't mind that he's on the verge of a temper tantrum here. He knows that the threat is idle; he could never hurt Belle, no more than he's already done. He's actually, well, shaken up by the idea of divulging this particular secret.

But here he goes anyway.] The boy's name was Baelfire. He was... is my son. I made a deal with... a promise to him that I was too cowardly to keep. And I lost him. But I will find him again, make no mistake about that.

( more than well aware the threat was an empty one, Belle simply chose to remain quiet while he spoke for fear of anything that she might say to him may cause him to lose his nerve. Baelfire — a son, of course, it made sense that way. )

Oh no...

( she frowned. had he been anyone else, she might have reached her hand to touch at his arm in some form of comfort, but she wasn't entirely sure how Rumpelstiltskin might take something like that. Belle lowered her gaze, though. his unwillingness to let her break his curse seemed to come together in that moment. there would be no way she could ever try to get close to the man again if that were the case, Belle could never forgive herself if he lost his magic now. if that were the case, then he might not be able to look for his son. )

And... You need your magic to find him, don't you?

( cautiously, she moved to set her hand to his forearm anyway. comfort is comfort )

You'll find him... You have the most powerful magic I've ever seen. ( she smiles rather small ) ...can I help somehow?

[Well, now that is out. And he glances over her, strange almost reptilian eyes a bit wide at her question. But it shouldn't be a surprise. It's Belle. She's a clever girl, sharp and quick and far too smart for her own good.]

That's right. I need my magic. And I will find him, yes. [And then there's that moment of surprise once more.] Perhaps you can, deary. Perhaps you can at that.

( with it confirmed, she knows: that's why he didn't let her attempt to finish breaking the curse. she gives a soft nod and glancing off into the distance, frowns. )

So, then. We have to get you out of here. ( she's saying this almost in affirmation to herself ) Back home, so that you can keep looking.

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