Sometimes the best cup is chipped

{Semi-Selective} Indie Once Upon A Time: Belle blog. 11+ years of rp experience, accepts anon rp's, wall threads, meme threads, and M!A's (Magic!Anons) Mun: Over 20

[secondtrumphet]

;; Thinking "but this" or "but that" when you've celebrated the murder of someone? NO! Disgusting! You're demonic, a freaking psychopath and sick!!! There is no reason to celebrate a man who was a father and husband losing his life! In front of his WIFE and CHILD! YOU ARE disgusting and demonic and never EVER filth I wanted to ever follow me! PLEASE BLOCK ME! I don't want to see you, I don't want to speak with you, PERIOD! That goes for anyone on either side of the political aisle! Are you even HUMAN?? That's what I want to know, because if you have a single iota of humanity how could you celebrate a life snuffed out forever??!!!!

[secondtrumphet]

PSA

;; If you're the filth that celebrates someone being murdered. UNFOLLOW NOW! I'm just going to say it. If you're one of them, you're disgusting, you're demonic, and you're cruel and I DON'T WANT YOU FOLLOWING! PERIOD!!!

[chippedxteacup]

My lady! I am Sir Gareth and I have come to liberate you from the beast of this castle!

Ugh.. Not this again..

Blue eyes turned skyward in an impatient roll. It was rare for these knights to show up, but not nearly rare enough for her liking. You'd think the other knights would have already spread word that "the fair maiden" didn't need or want to be saved. But alas, even if they were, it seemed the word hadn't spread far enough yet. That or they thought she was enthralled in some spell courtesy of the big bad Dark One.

Belle had once been patient enough to inquire as to their real reasons for being there. Was it for glory, was it because of pride, did they think they had something to prove? Did they somehow think that in spite of all of the other failures, they'd be the ones who were successful? How exactly, did they think they could defeat the Dark One even if they managed to abduct her? Not that many were successful in even that.

That was when she was patient though. Now she just sighed and held out her hand. The castle, - already anticipating her needs - had her sword in her hand the next second. Thank goodness she and Rumple sparred at times to keep themselves from becoming rusty in their skills.

"I'm really tired of saying this," she sighed again as she swung her sword in a circle. Not to harm, but to work her arm loose. "I don't need saving. I don't want saving. I'm not under a spell. Now please, go home. Or the Dark One will be the least of your worries. If you still try, I can't be held responsible for what I do next." With that, the sword was held out, point at the knight's throat, blue eyes frosty cold. "So what will it be? I'm a busy woman, I have things to do and you're wasting my time."

[chippedxteacup]

"Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you."

[golden-dxrkness]

The confusion on Rumplestiltskin’s face melted, giving to a more familiar wicked grin as she ran away. If there was one thing The Dark One knew, it was how to spot a desperate soul, and there are few more desperate than those on the run. He giggled to himself, surely this would be fun. Rumplestiltskin disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, reappearing casually leaning against a wall at the entrance to an alleyway ahead of the kingdom-less stranger, “Lost your home, eh? I think I might be able to help with that.” He offered with a smile.

[chippedxteacup]

It wasn’t exertion that made Belle pant and her heart race as she ran even while trying to keep as quiet as a mouse. Her accent was very telling and so was her face. That was why she tried to keep her voice low in a whisper or talking at all to a minimum.

 That was also why she had exchanged her more fine cloak and dress for a more ragged brown cloak and a simple paupers dress. She had gotten a little money too to cover the rest since the exchange of the clothes wouldn’t have been fair. That came right from the shop owner too, not her. The material of the cloak made her skin itch and there were holes in it, but at least it did the job of covering her.

 Even so, Belle had been on the go for days now, barely stopping to eat, much less rest. So she was quite a bit slower and was doing her level best to think with a clear mind that was deprived of sleep. She blamed that for the fact that she hadn’t noticed the man there at the entry of the alley until she was nearly right up on him. But was lucid enough to realize he was the same man she had asked to lie for her before.

 She gave a soft frown of confusion as she looked at him, but then she heard one of the men ask about her from a little further away. No time to waste! She quickly darted past the man and behind some crates she spotted close to the entryway of the alley.

 “Listen sir.. I just want to get away. I don’t care about anything else right now,” she loud whispered, then ducked behind the crates again when she heard running steps get closer. Thankfully they passed by and she allowed herself a breath of relief, but didn’t dare think that she was in the clear yet. 

[chippedxteacup]

“Shh!” she quietly hissed, putting a finger to her lips for further emphasis.

 She worriedly peeked around the corner of the building she hid behind. Only to quickly jerk back around when she saw her pursuers turning in her direction. They hadn’t seemed to have heard, but they’d be sure to spot her if she stayed where she was. But first she had to cover her tracks and hopefully, the truth was enough to quiet the stranger’s tongue.

 “Listen, I don’t have a lot of time to explain.. But those people after me are men of a tyrant who overthrew my kingdom. I’m the only survivor of my family. If they come asking if you saw me, please, lie.”

 With that, the former princess darted away, looking around for a place to hide as she quickly pulled the hood of the cloak she wore back over her head. The hood which had fallen off when she’d accidentally bumped into him before.

@golden-dxrkness​

continued from here

[chippedxteacup]

golden-dxrkness:

In truth, he hadn't even been looking for her. Rumplestiltskin had no idea Belle was even missing. Which is why it didn't occur to him when he stumbled across her unconscious in the woods, that it could ever be his beloved Belle. "What the hell are you-" The realization hit him before he could finish his question. His eyes blew wide as he knelt down beside her, one hand landed on her back, the other on her upper arm. "Belle? Are you alright? Belle?!"

 Belle wasn’t sure how long she had been running, looking over her shoulder, evading and escaping when she had to. All she knew at the time was the minutes felt like hours even while contrarily days felt like minutes. She only knew the passage of time from nights setting in and days breaking and only stopped when her body was too weak to go any further.

 She must have eventually collapsed from how hard she was pushing herself. She’d had only one, singular goal in her mind, get to Rumplestiltskin. She knew, somehow she just knew that in spite of how things had been left between them, he’d keep her safe. But her body weak from hunger, thirst, and lack of sleep finally made her collapse.

 She only barely came to when she heard his voice and felt the reassuring weight and warmth of his hand on her back.

 “Rumple..” she whispered, her voice cracking in a whisper from disuse. Her eyes opened, just enough to see him as she turned her head, muddying her cheek in the process. “Thank goodness..”

 Then she was out again, too tired to stay awake.

x

@golden-dxrkness​

[endlesslydetermined]

chippedxteacup​:

Belle glanced up at him from her book before turning her eyes back to it, her smile growing. He reminded her a lot of a spitting cat in a fit of temper at that moment. He was trying so hard to seem as if he was a monster and while she had no way of knowing if it were true or not, if he’d really do as he said if he had the chance, she still didn’t believe he would.

“People usually tend to have reasons to threaten people other than that they just feel like it, you know,” she answered. “Are you bored or something?”

She genuinely wanted to know. He was a famed sorcerer after all and now, even though they were out and about in the palace gardens, he still didn’t have his freedom. That was something she had to remember. He wasn’t there by his own free will.

“You know what, I have an idea..” she said, setting her book aside as inspiration struck her and she looked up at him. “Before you were bound to my family, you were a deal maker right? So how about, you and I make a deal? And just so its fair, I’ll command you only this one time with this. We make a deal that beneficial for both of us, neither of us having more than the other. Sound fair? I still can’t give your full freedom with the threats you’ve made hanging over my head, but I can grant more than you have now.”

She asked if he was threatening her just because he was bored and he scowled at her. He wasn’t bored. He got to be outside, in the gardens. Seeing the sky, feeling the wind, smelling the grass and flowers, those were things he’d gone centuries without. So naturally he wasn’t bored, being outside. He just was waiting for her to realize she’d allowed him outside and take it all back. It was better that it happened sooner rather than later, before he got used to having a modicum of freedom.

But then she said she had an idea, going as far as to put her book down so her full attention was on him. He had to resist the urge to flinch. This was what he’d wanted so he wasn’t going to act afraid now.

Only… she didn’t punish him. Unless this was all some elaborate mental torture. Because asking to make a deal, one that benefited both of them… it was confusing. Why in all the realms would she do that when she could just command him to do anything she wanted?

“I’m sorry but just what do you expect to gain from such a deal?” he questioned with a sneer. “Surely you know by now anything you want you can just command of me, so I fail to see how we can make a deal where neither of us benefits more than the other.” And why would she want to grant him more that he had now? And if she truly did, why hadn’t she just done so already? It couldn’t be because she wanted to make sure he actually wanted whatever she decided to give him. That would be ridiculous.

[chippedxteacup]

 “The way I see it, trust is a two way street,” she explained as she pulled the cursed blade from the little sheath at her waist. Rather than pointing it at him or holding it up like she was giving him a command, she held it loosely in her hands. She really detested this thing and the power over him she had because of it.

 “I want to trust you, Rumplestiltskin. And I want you to trust me in return. I want to eventually give this back to you so you’ll be free again. But if that trust is only under the power of a command, its false.”

 Blue eyes searched his face and eyes, trying to see if he understood what she was getting at. He seemed so guarded and jaded against the world though and it made her wonder all over again about the hardships he had faced while chained to her family line. She didn’t want to think little of her ancestors, but simply put, there was always a reason that someone became so guarded. They weren’t just born that way.

 “So what I propose, is that you get your freedom for the next twenty-four hours to start with. The only stipulation is that you bring harm to no one in that time, you can even bring things back with you. In return, what I want is simple. Stories. Either books or stories of the things you’ve seen and places you’ve been before chained to my family. Stories may seem a small thing to you, but its the only look I have into the world outside the castle which makes it near priceless. I want to keep this arrangement going until the two of us have built trust in each other, real genuine trust. When that day comes is when I give you back your freedom. So what do you think? Is that fair?”

[chippedxteacup]

 Belle could only blink up at Rumplestiltskin in surprise when he answered her with a simple word and a gesture. "Go" he had said as he pointed toward the doorway. She knew what he meant, he didn't mean the cell. He meant leave completely, leave the castle and leave him. It was a clear dismissal and a clear rejection.

 But in the hours that Belle had been kept in that cell she'd had a lot of time to think. She had never planned to break his curse at all, she'd just really wanted to kiss him regardless of what that woman said. She'd come back not really believing what that woman had said.

 Okay, maybe she did try to.. But not to "kill the beast" like Rumple seemed so sure were her motives. She'd tried to be his hero. A hero he didn't want, clearly. Even so, even while her heart was breaking as she stood up and wiped off her dress, anger rose up too. He was facing away from her, he didn't want to watch her go in her mind. So instead of leaving the cell, she just glared up at the back of his head.

 "No."

 That one, simple word was all she said to him before she left the cell to return to the castle properly. She'd heard the ruckus he'd made upstairs earlier and imagined she had quite a bit to clean up after him now.

@endlesslydetermined​

[everdetermined]

Sad Birthday

[everdetermined]

chippedxteacup‌:

 Hearing a creaking in the floorboards, Belle quickly turned to where it had come from, expecting to see someone trying to either sneak in or away from the room. What she wasn’t expecting was to see Rumplestiltskin standing there instead and she frowned in confusion when he turned to face her and acted as if he hadn’t just been about to leave as he clearly had been. But then, that made sense, he probably felt awkward now after their little tiff and didn’t want to talk to her now. That awkwardness showed too when he began acting as if he hadn’t noticed her there before.

 That was enough for the guilt to hit her for how she had behaved and what she’d said to him before. He had gotten her angry by taking his anger for what ever was on his mind out on her sure, but she had known that he was already in a mood. She hadn’t had to say anything to him at all when she had come in and let him stew in silence until he decided to apologize or explain what was wrong. And if he didn’t? Well it was no business of hers what was on his mind.

 She had felt they were slowly becoming friends sure, but now seeing him so awkward and clearly trying to find a way to leave the room told her that the bond if there was one, was damaged. A comment he made about not being listened to confused her even more though, did the magic that was holding up the suit of armor stop listening to him? He must be worse off than she had first thought and that made the guilt in her heart grow.

 “Rumple wait,” she said, a heavy sigh leaving her after. “I’m sorry for what I said and how I behaved earlier. I’m usually not so quick to anger. I don’t know what came over me, but I feel bad for it. I don’t know why you’re so angry, I know its not about me, not really, but I also know that what ever it is, its none of my concern. I’m sorry.”

 True enough, Rumplestiltskin had pushed all of the wrong buttons and set her off right back. But that was still no way for her to behave, people tended to let off steam in different ways if they were upset enough and clearly he had been. And she had likely only made him more so. The anger seemed to be gone from him now as far as she could tell, but she did catch sight of what she thought was pain in his eyes, not physical but emotional. And she still wanted to ask about it, to help him, but she knew better. She had known better before too, but hadn’t minded herself anyway. She would be now.

His eyes widened a bit when she actually apologized to him. His own guilt mounted at that. She hadn’t done anything wrong. She’d only been doing her chores and he’d come in and accused her of being lazy. And now she was apologizing? He felt almost sick at the thought, perhaps because he remembered apologizing over and over to his wife for things that he wasn’t sure he could have changed, even if they’d been his fault. And this wasn’t even Belle’s fault, and yet she was apologizing the way he always had. And he suddenly felt he couldn’t let her do that, not for this.

“Not your fault,” he told her with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I have a knack for bringing out the worst in people.” And that was true. His father, Milah, those he made deals with. They all seemed to suffer more around him, be angrier, more upset. Yes, he brought out the worst in others, Belle most defiantly included. Even if her worst was better than most, it was still his fault that she’d gotten angry when she hadn’t wanted to.

He wasn’t going to address the fact that she knew something was up with him though. It was hard enough just thinking about what today was. He wasn’t about to go on talking about it. “I should be back to my normal, only slightly irritated, self tomorrow,” he told her. “So until then, probably best for me to get back to work.” If he wasn’t in the same room as her, he couldn’t hurt her anymore. It sounded like good logic to him.

“I’ll skip dinner tonight,” he added, since staying away from her was imperative. Not like it mattered much. He wasn’t actually very hungry. Never was, not on his birthday. “You can do whatever you like this evening, just don’t come to the potions room. Like I said, I have some things to make and I don’t want to be disturbed.”

[chippedxteacup]

Well this was unexpected.. While he didn’t outright apologize, she heard the hidden apology in what he did say. In saying what he did, he had also confirmed that it wasn’t her that his ire was directed at but something else, something he didn’t want to share with her. And that was his prerogative, if he didn’t want to tell her or feel comfortable enough to, that was his business and his alone. Though she wished she could do something for him.

It didn’t escape her notice either when he claimed he brought out the worst in people. While it was true that he had riled her up that day, it was mostly because she couldn’t leave well enough alone and poked her nose where it didn’t belong. She had basically provoked him into going off on her which had then set her off in turn. But other than today, she felt that they got along fine. Sure things had been bumpy in the beginning, but things were much easier between them now.

She had no illusions that she could just leave the grounds if she felt like it, but as far as their arrangement went, they got along. She’d even dare venture and say they were friends. Or at least beginning to be. And as his friend, she knew that in spite of what he said, she’d still make a meal and leave it for him at his workroom door.

For the moment though, she found herself smiling a little and walked over to him and didn’t stop to second guess or hesitate before hugging him.

 “Thank you. Whatever it is, I hope you feel better Rumple. And in spite of what you said, I’m still sorry. I already knew you were upset and I provoked you. So I’m sorry,” she said, then she pulled back to smile at him. “I like to think we’re starting to be friends. I don’t want to do or say something that’ll damage it. I like your company.”

 With that said, she recalled that he’d clearly wanted to be out of her company, so she stepped back and with one more smile, made her way back toward the kitchen.

[endlesslydetermined]

chippedxteacup​:

 Belle only blinked at him at first, but then in spite of herself, a snicker escaped her mouth. It wasn’t to degrade or anything, she just found his sarcastic wit to be a bit funny despite the obvious threat to her he had made. Perhaps she had a bit of a dark side of her own if she found such a thing amusing, but rather than let it bother her, she just returned her focus to her book.

 “And what, may I ask, did I do to warrant that?” she replied as she flipped a page.

@endlesslydetermined​

x

She laughed. She just laughed as though he  hadn’t threatened her at all, and he supposed he wasn’t much of a threat since she had his dagger, but he hadn’t expected that. Especially since it didn’t even sound like she was laughing at him. More like he’d just said a joke she found amusing. She even had the gall to ask what she did to warrant his threat, as if everything wasn’t his fault like it always was.

“Do I need a reason to threaten you?” he drawled, rather annoyed. What would it take to get her to show her true colors? “I am, after all, the Dark One. Threatening people is in my nature.”

[chippedxteacup]

Belle glanced up at him from her book before turning her eyes back to it, her smile growing. He reminded her a lot of a spitting cat in a fit of temper at that moment. He was trying so hard to seem as if he was a monster and while she had no way of knowing if it were true or not, if he’d really do as he said if he had the chance, she still didn’t believe he would.

“People usually tend to have reasons to threaten people other than that they just feel like it, you know,” she answered. “Are you bored or something?”

She genuinely wanted to know. He was a famed sorcerer after all and now, even though they were out and about in the palace gardens, he still didn’t have his freedom. That was something she had to remember. He wasn’t there by his own free will.

“You know what, I have an idea..” she said, setting her book aside as inspiration struck her and she looked up at him. “Before you were bound to my family, you were a deal maker right? So how about, you and I make a deal? And just so its fair, I’ll command you only this one time with this. We make a deal that beneficial for both of us, neither of us having more than the other. Sound fair? I still can’t give your full freedom with the threats you’ve made hanging over my head, but I can grant more than you have now.”

[chippedxteacup]

endlesslydetermined:

"What do you think?" he retorted instantly. Because yes, of course he was threatening Lady Belle, and it wasn't the first time he'd done so either. Eventually, he knew, she'd punish him for it. He just had to find where her tipping point was. "Unless you particularly enjoy being burned alive, I'd say it's a threat."

 Belle only blinked at him at first, but then in spite of herself, a snicker escaped her mouth. It wasn’t to degrade or anything, she just found his sarcastic wit to be a bit funny despite the obvious threat to her he had made. Perhaps she had a bit of a dark side of her own if she found such a thing amusing, but rather than let it bother her, she just returned her focus to her book.

 “And what, may I ask, did I do to warrant that?” she replied as she flipped a page.

@endlesslydetermined​

x

[thecursedspinner]

Uninterrupted at Last

@chippedxteacup plotted for a starter

Rumple smiled to himself as he got out of the bath, wrapping himself in a fluffy towel. They’d finally finished moving their stuff from Storybrooke back into the dark castle, and cleaning the place up a bit. It had been utterly ransacked, not that he’d expected anything else, and they were far from done cleaning it up. But they were done for today, hence why he’d taken a bath.

It was weird for him, being all golden and scaly again, but Belle had made it very clear that she enjoyed the way he looked, like she always had. So he didn’t really mind it. In fact, he was happier than he’d been in years. He hadn’t realized how toxic Storybrooke had been for him and Belle, but being away from it made it feel like he could finally breath again after having been held under water for too long. It was glorious.

He was humming as he made his way into his old bedroom, now their bedroom. It had been one of the first places they’d cleaned, naturally, and he knew Belle would be waiting for him there. He just hadn’t expected to see her like this.

His eyes widened, and the towel dropped to the floor without him really realizing it. He stared at Belle in shock, unable to form words for a moment. When he could finally speak, he asked probably the dumbest thing he could ask, given the situation. “How in all the realms did you manage to tie yourself up?”

[chippedxteacup]

everdetermined:

He smirked ever so slightly when she called him master, realizing what she was doing. She was wanted to roleplay. He did enjoy the idea of that, though a part of him was hesitant. He didn’t want to go too far and hurt Belle. But he did trust her to tell him to stop if she needed him too, and he’d be lying if he said this idea wasn’t arousing. Just like the idea of him being the servant of a powerful princess was arousing. So he was more than happy to play along.

“Mmm, trapped and naked? That seems like a problem,” he hummed, stepping closer and touching his hand lightly to her leg. He was still rather curious about how she’d actually managed it, but he could safely bet on the castle having pitched in. And he could ask about that more later, after they had their fun.

“Ah yes, I see now. These ropes are cursed,” he made up, taping the nearest one hard enough to make her leg jerk. “How unfortunate for you. There’s only one way to get out of them.” He walked up towards her head, letting his hand trail along her side as he moved upward. When he got to her head, he stopped to bend over, whispering into her ear. “You have to be fucked.”

He didn’t often use words like that, but he knew how arousing they could be in intimate situations, and he was more than happy to say them at times like these. He pulled back then, turning his back to his ‘maid’ as if in thought. After all, part of the fun was being able to tease Belle, and he was going to take full advantage of that.

“Now I could do it myself, but I’m not sure you can handle my… rather large estate.” He turned around then, gesturing to his already hardening cock as he referenced the first time they’d met. His cock wasn’t actually that large, he didn’t think. He hadn’t exactly seen many, but he thought his was about average in size. Still, it was a fun line that he thought his wife would appreciate.

“But I don’t suppose you’d want anyone else to see you like this either,” he said, tilting his head as he moved in close again. “So what do you think? Do you want to see if you can handle your master’s cock?”

 Belle broke character ever so slightly when she could suppress a big smile as he began to play along. Rumplestiltskin had always been quick on the uptake and indeed it seemed as if they had developed their own little secret code to speak in back in Storybrooke. Or that could have just been from the two of them growing closer than ever and learning how to communicate without words too. One look at times and they seemed to know what the other would say before they said it.

 Now she attempted to get her smiling under control and pursed her lips in her attempt. If she couldn’t control herself, the role she was playing wouldn’t last long. She had to act like a confused and surprised, innocent maid. She had to remember and act like the person she used to be before their first night of intimacy together so long ago.

 She used to be a princess and as such she had to act prim and proper and not expose her real thoughts and feelings under a regal guise. If she could do that most of her life, then this should be easy. With that reminder in mind, she made her features become confused again. Her cheeks flushed from the feather like touch at her leg, which would assist in her looking embarrassed, but in fact had her craving him more.

 It probably showed as her legs tried in vain to rub together and so her hips shimmied a little instead. Even as an innocent maiden, she’d likely have had a reaction like that as her core started to flutter. But even so, she quickly put a stop to her movements in favor of trying to seem shocked.

 “Indeed not..” she answered, biting her lip.

 No way would she ever want anyone else to see her like this no matter how many times she was intimate with her husband. The very idea was mortifying to her. So she drew on that feeling to show it on her face.

 “I’d rather it be you, master. It looks as if you’ve become a bit interested in me anyway,” she added, her eyes going to his length. “Perhaps we can help each other.”

 The sight of him, hardening and standing in his arousal had more heat going into her cheeks as her own arousal grew hotter. It served to make her look even more innocent though as she looked back up into his eyes.

@endlesslydetermined

[roleplaymemesforyou]

Tumblr seems to have made a good update, but let's hope it works well for those that have trauma switches needing things hidden from blogs that don't tag things.

[classsymemes]

starter call ,     feel  free  to  combine  multiple  prompts !

send  😊  for  a  happy  starter .

send  🙁  for  a  sad  starter .

send  🙌  for  an  excited  starter .

send  💢  for  an  angry  starter .

send  🌷  for  a  soft  starter .

send  😝  for  a  silly  starter .

send  💬  for  an  angsty  starter .

send  💀  for  a  violent  starter .

send  🌹  for  a  romantic  starter .

send  🔞  for  a  sexual  starter .

send  👼  for  a  comforting  starter .

send  👿  for  a  threatening  starter .

send  💥  for  an  argumentative  starter .

send  ⚔️  for  an  action  starter .

send  💋  for  a  flirty  starter .

send  ❤️  for  a  loving  starter .

send  🔪  for  a  hostile  starter .

send  👁️  for  an  envious  starter .

send  ❗  for  a  frightened  starter .

send  🩹  for  an  injured  /  sick  starter .

send  ⚠️  for  an  urgent  starter .

send  🥂  for  a  celebratory  starter .

send  👫  for  a  reunion  starter .

send  💤  for  a  lazy  starter .

send  🛡️  for  a  protective  starter .

send  🏠  for  a  domestic  starter .

send  🔥  for  an  intimate  starter .

send  ☂️  for  a  weather  based  starter .

[chippedxteacup]

endlesslydetermined​:

Rumple sat at his spinning wheel, carding some wool that he would soon be turning into thread, as his boy woke. He’d already set out his son’s breakfast, just some bread and cheese. And the last of the jam that woman staying with Morgan and Lucien had given them. He smiled softly at the thought. Normally he’d refuse such a gift, but it had been given to his son, not him. And he knew the woman had been around long enough to know of his reputation, so he couldn’t imagine she’d regret him benefitting from it. It warmed his heart to see someone treating his son so nicely.

Of course, he still tried to make sure that his son was the one who had most of the jam. Bae had insisted that Rumple have some as well, but he was able to make sure the majority of it went to his growing boy. Along with the majority of the rest of their food.

Which was another problem. They had run out, or they would be out once Bae finished breakfast, and market day wasn’t until tomorrow. He’d have to go scavenging in the forest to see if he couldn’t find some berries or nuts for his boy to have for dinner, until they could get paid tomorrow and buy food. At least he was almost done paying back the bar the debt he owed. Or… well he hadn’t caused the debt but the person who had must be dead by now, and as her husband it was his responsibility.

He shook his head slightly, unwilling to think of that. “Bae,” he said as his son finished eating, coming over to talk to him. “I’m going to need you to go play with Morraine today, okay?” He hadn’t done this in awhile, too afraid to let Bae out of his sight after Milah had been taken. But he thought Morgan’s offer of watching Bae while he helped distract her daughter still stood, and he didn’t want his son going into the forest with him. “I have to go somewhere.”

“You’ll be back, right?” Bae asked. His poor boy had been just as anxious as he had, worrying about losing his father like he’d lost his mother.

“I’ll be back in time for dinner,” he assured his son, snagging some spools of thread from his market day basket, which was already half prepared. “And here, you can give these to Morgan,” he said, handing some of them to his son. It was his way of thanking her for watching Bae. “And these,” he said, holding the rest out to his boy “are for her guest. A thank you for the jam.”

Bae grinned at that, taking the spools and stuffing the groups into separate pockets. “Okay Papa. I love you.” And then he was up and hugging him before Rumple could even blink. He chuckled slightly, returning the hug.

“Alright, time to go,” he said after a moment. If he had his way he’d stay here hugging his boy all day, but he had to feed the lad too. “Off you go.” He walked his boy to the door, parting ways with him almost immediately, but only after seeing Morgan give him a nod, signaling that she didn’t mind watching Bae.

Soon he was walking through the forest, looking for mushrooms and roots and anything edible. The woods weren’t that dangerous per se. Most people in town supplemented their diet with food found here, but that was what worried him. Some of the people in town weren’t exactly friendly with him. So when he nearly tripped over someone who was half buried in a bush, he might have panicked just a bit.

“I’m so sorry ma’am,” he was quick to apologize. He couldn’t see just who it was but he knew it was one of the woman because she was wearing a dress. Wait, that color blue…. Was that Morgan and Lucien’s guest? “I didn’t see there I swear. I’ll just… keep moving. If you’re not hurt?” He didn’t think he’d hurt her. It had been a rather small bump actually, and it had been with his bad leg so he’d be feeling it if it had been worse. But he wanted to make sure before he walked away, the state of her health being more important than his desire to go away so he wouldn’t bother her.

 It hadn't been hard for Belle to find a bush full of berries and she quickly set to work on picking some of the succulent looking fruit. They were sure to make a delicious jam once it was done. Maybe she could even make a mixed berry jam one of these days if she ever dared venture outside of routine.

 If there was one thing she had learned about life in the Frontlands though, it was that nothing was promised in day to day life. Times were hard on everyone in the little village and could get harder by the day.

 That was why when she wandered into the woods she tried to only take as much as she'd need for jams and no more than that. She knew the other villagers relied on what they found out here for food too. Normally she was the only one who came out here at this time of day though. So she wasn't worried when she went for the berries more toward the back of the bush.

 Until she felt the light tap against her that is, causing a jump and gasp of surprise to leave her. Surprise that grew when she heard the voice that quickly apologized to her.

 Oh Gods she could have tripped someone! And the banks out here could be steep. One mis-step could send someone tumbling if they weren't careful. She couldn't remember now how close to the embankment she was either.

 "No, no need to apologize," she quickly answered as she crawled out from the bush and started brushing the dirt off herself. A lifetime of manners and being presentable to others still made her somewhat self conscious around others. "If anything I should be the one t-"

 Her words cut off when she finally looked up at who she could have tripped and came face to face with the man she wanted so badly to approach and talk to. It seemed that the Gods heard her secret wishes and made it happen. Now if she could just unglue her tongue from the top of her mouth..

 Say something, Belle! Anything! Quickly too before he thinks you're judging him!

 "Oh hi.." she finally managed, internally wincing from how awkward she sounded. So she cleared her throat, glanced back at the bush and got inspiration. "Sorry I almost tripped you.. I'm usually the only one out here at this time of day. Oh n-not that you have to explain..! I just.."

 Keep digging Belle! You're digging your grave nicely..

 A sigh and attempts to gather her dignity around herself later and she tried again. But was she blushing? Because it felt like her face was on fire!

 "Anyway, hi, I'm Belle. Did you and your son like the jam?"

 She only hoped that she hadn't managed to make him think she was judging him like the rest of the village did.. Aside from Morgan and Lucien that is.

[chippedxteacup]

endlesslydetermined​:

She stayed silent for a bit after he spoke, and he wondered if this was the calm before the storm. Was she about to yell at him, or command him back to his cell? Or maybe it would be worse. No one had tortured him in a long time, but he knew he would be just as powerless to stop it now as he had in the past. He didn’t want to think that Belle was capable of that, but he just didn’t know. So he watched her, waiting to see what she’d do.

She sighed, looked at him, and then spoke without so much as raising her voice. Which was much better than what he’d expected. But what she said…. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. She wanted him to be free? Because he was a person? People hadn’t even thought that before he became the Dark One, let alone after. He narrowed his eyes at her, not believing that his threat was the only thing keeping her from giving him his dagger.

“You either think me a fool or you are too young and naïve to see the way the world works,” he told her with a hiss, taking a step back from her. “Titles have always decreed what freedoms people have. Go ask a peasant if he feels free. Go ask a noble woman in an arranged marriage, or a child who’s been apprenticed to a master of a trade they don’t want to learn. No one is free, least of all the poorest and those with the fewest means. Even if people were free, look at me!”

He gestured to himself, trusting her to see the way the candle light bounced off his scaley looking skin, the way his claw-like nails curled, the way his fangs were rotting in his mouth. “I’m not a person. And I don’t want your lies or your pity.” He was probably going to pay dearly for this, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He’d worked himself up too much. “You may not be like your ancestors, but that doesn’t matter, because when the Dark One is free, he can control whatever and whoever he likes. He owns the world, and can do with it, and you, as he pleases.”

 “I can’t speak for everyone, of course, but I know there is still a sense of slavery in the world. Even without actual slavery. The act of owning another is wrong, but those you mentioned still have a freedom those in forced servitude don’t..” she explained, though she watched him curiously.

 “The freedom of choice. Paupers can change their lives, its not easy, but it can be done. Nobility can abandon their seats of power, will they? Likely not, but they still have the choice. As for children learning a trade they don’t want-”

 She paused there, her heart growing heavy and her eyes stinging with the threat of tears she tried to blink away.

 “Those little ones, we can agree on. Their only choices are to go along with it or run. And a child out there on their own is terrifying..” 

 The topic of freedom seemed a touchy one to him and moreso than she’d expect from him even given his servitude to her family. He spoke of other nobility, of children, of paupers, quite empathetic of him for a man who in the next breath tried to convince her that he could and would control what he pleased of the world.

 “I hope that those living here in Avonlea are as happy in their lives as they seem. And while its true, I wish that all people of the world could be free and happy, I’m not so naïve as you said, to not know that such a utopia is impossible to achieve in real life. All we can really do is change what we can and hope that others follow by example. Slavery for example was outlawed here in Avonlea by my father.. I’d hope other nations would follow that example, but I also know greed and evil probably will not let it be so.”

 The abolishment of slavery was what made it all the more surprising for her when she found out that the Dark One was tied to her family. But after the threat he made to her, she understood why a little better. If her father also received such a threat, then she understood why he was still chained to their line.

 Either way, she’d said her piece as he had spoken his own, a choice she wouldn’t take from him. Instead, she distanced herself, moving toward her balcony instead of the room that suddenly seemed so stifling. This time of evening a breeze would be coming in from the ocean, warm and sweet as well as salty. That was exactly what she needed.