deal 005 ❖ [video]

[intogold]

[Rumpelstiltskin is smiling. This in and of itself is probably not at all surprising. In fact, it's genuinely par for the course.

The video shows that he's not in his shop for once, instead out and about and in motion. And even more surprising, perhaps, is what he decides to ask about.]

Where I'm from, love is a very powerful magic. Well, the right kind of love is.

So tell me, dearies, what is your experience with love? Have you been in love? Does love conquer all where you're from? Has it ever saved someone you know?

I can't help my curiosity, after all. [Here he giggles, high pitched, the sound sudden and then ending just as abruptly.] So perhaps you wouldn't mind indulging an old man's wondering.

Comments

[Video]

[intogold]

Why? [His turn to laugh.] Not many pretty young ladies ask that sort of question. Aren't you waiting for your prince to come, deary? Isn't that the way of it usually?

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

[She's just smiling. You talk about the strangest things, Rumpelstiltskin~]

I don't really know what you're talking about, but... Why should I be waiting for a... "prince"? And besides, I'm not "pretty" and I... don't think I'm a "lady."

[Mother Gothel never seemed to think so, anyway. Therefore, she couldn't possibly be either of those things.]

[Video]

[intogold]

[You have no idea, Rapunzel. No idea.]

You've got me, deary. Just seems to be the popular dream. [A pause at that and he dissolves into laughter.] Now now, I may not look it, but I am a man if nothing else. And you are quite lovely, child. As for a lady, well, that can be overrated.

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

[Rapunzel shakes her head a little.] Sounds like a silly dream to me.

Oh... That's really sweet of you to say. [She still doesn't believe him, but it's nice to hear.]

[Video]

[intogold]

Yes, well, I've never understood the appeal myself. Princes can be so... stuffy.

[Another high pitched little giggle.] Polite child too.

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

Oh- um, thank you?

What's... "Stuffy"? [She's never heard this adjective before.]

[Video]

[intogold]

Too pleased with themselves. Not willing to just have fun. Preoccupied with proper this and proper that. [He smiles, toothy and lacking much warmth.] Princes can be charming but they can also be terribly terribly boring.

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

[She pauses while she considers this. She hasn't met anybody boring yet. So clearly she hasn't met any princes.]

Are all princes boring?

[Video]

[intogold]

[A little shrug of his shoulders.] No, I'm certainly some are just plain Charming.

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

Hmm... I haven't met anyone "charming" around here yet, so I guess I've never seen a prince before.

[Video]

[intogold]

Well, if I see any, I'll let you know. So you can make the judgment for yourself.

I've known my share of princes and princesses and kings and queens. Some are dreadful.

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

Oh! Um... Thank you?

[And now she's got that wide-eyed "Is it story time?" look on her face.] Why are they dreadful...?

[Video]

[intogold]

You're very welcome, deary.

[He's amused. It's probably pretty obvious. And his grin widens at the question.] Why? Oh many reasons. Shall I give you an example of an evil queen I know?

[Video]

[letdownmyhair]

[She nods slightly.] What made her evil?

[Video]

[intogold]

Ah! Perhaps a broken heart. Jealousy. A thirst for revenge.

Whatever it is, I think it drove her mad. She's willing to destroy a world and the dreams of everyone in it to exact her revenge.

[And he's helping. Kind of. TO FIND HIS SON OK.]

Re: [Video]

[letdownmyhair]

[Blink.

That was the worst story ever, Rumpelstiltskin. In more ways than one.]

That's... terrible. And to destroy a whole world because of that... [She has no comprehension of what that kind of pain must be like. She's trying, but she has basically no experience to drawn on.]

[Video]

[intogold]

It is, deary. But pain and loss drives people to desperate things. Very desperate.

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It is, deary. But pain and loss drives people to desperate things. Very desperate.

<small.[But since he's trying to be "nice" in this place, he adds.]</small> Of course, there are other things that drive people fight against that sort of darkness. Or, so I've heard.