on arrival at scorched and last night's episode.

[disheartening]

Do not even think about making this common knowledge.

I will only warn you once.

Comments

[dealsforaprice]

Everyone has a story, Your Majesty. How else would we have gotten to our endings, happy or otherwise? You should know this more than anyone!

[What follows is one of Rumplestiltskin's eerie little giggles. He knows perfectly well what's in store for him when the next episode airs. His mun won't stop rubbing it in. He's gloating while he still can.]

[disheartening]

[ You. She's beginning to think her happily ever after would be to end you -

Smiling. ]

And you were always one for stories, Rumple.

[dealsforaprice]

[His grin falters, but only for a brief second. Then he's back to his 'charming' self.]

That's Rumplestiltskin if you please, Your Majesty. And yes, one cannot deny that stories are relevant to my interests. There's simply so much to gain from them, if you know what I mean. It makes me wonder what I could've gotten from yours.

[disheartening]

My story is long and in the past and involves nothing but a lesson learned.

[dealsforaprice]

Of course. You would not be who you are if it were not for your 'lesson learned', and if you were not who you are, then where would that leave me?

[Living happily with Belle? No, because if it were not for the Evil Queen, Belle would not have returned to him at all. And if it were not for the Evil Queen, then there would be no one to enact his curse. He'd still be trapped in his little cage.

Regina's story played out very well for him, really.]

And in turn, if it were not for me, how would you have gotten your revenge? Funny how these things all... click, isn't it? Like a very complicated puzzle.

[disheartening]

Trust me, associating myself with the likes of you was the downside of it all.

[ Half a lie, really. Rumplestiltskin was not a friend but he was not quite an enemy, either. They had their good times in their own ploys. It wasn't dull. ]

[dealsforaprice]

[Oh, Rumplestiltskin would quite agree that this little 'venture' they've undertaken together has been amusing. Things seem to be drawing to a close soon enough, though.]

You wound me, Your Majesty. You came to seek my aid more than once before, after all. ... Though, I suppose that's the downside of power, isn't it? It draws all sorts of people towards you, including those who don't care for you at all!

[Is he implying that he is, even now, more powerful than Regina? Why, yes he is. That's why he's giggling again.]

[disheartening]

[ Huffing. He is right and she hates it when that happens. ]

What is it that you want, Rumple?

[dealsforaprice]

Me? Oh, I'm just here to exchange a friendly greeting.

[And because his mun insisted that he be here. Is it what Regina's question was referring to? Likely not, but he's always been prone to avoiding the point.

He's not even going to touch upon the "Rumple", this time.]

[disheartening]

I question anything friendly coming from you, you realize.

[ small smirk but then. ]

I have to admit I'm not used seeing you like this.

[ The last 28 years she had to deal with him in his less flamboyant Mr.Gold self, this is almost refreshing. ]

[dealsforaprice]

[He would try to be more discreet, but... Well. Who needs to keep up appearances in a place like this? And there's nothing to connect him to Mr. Gold. Nothing concrete, in any case.]

And yet you seem exactly as ruthless as you always were. It's nice to know the curse hasn't affected your personality in the least. Your hair looks dashing, by the way.

[disheartening]

Sweet of you, really.

[ roll. eyes. ]

[dealsforaprice]

You know me. I always aim to keep my clients close.

[Especially when he can still make use of them.]

[disheartening]

And your interests closer.

[dealsforaprice]

Precisely!

[The daughter of a miller's daughter, who ultimately earned herself the title of Queen? How can he not be interested?]

That said, I shall wish you luck with your Mundane. If they are anything like my own, I fear your warning may have fallen on deaf ears, dearie.

[disheartening]

[ She never wanted the Queen part, Rumple :( ]

I hope that she knows what's good for her, that's all. And I hope that your mundane does as well, it is not an easy task she chose for herself.

[dealsforaprice]

[She plays the Queen part out very nicely, all the same.]

Oh, she's already painfully aware of that fact- It's the reason she doesn't let me play out in public too often. Once the puppet becomes too daunting for the puppet master, one has to wonder who's ultimately pulling the strings.

[disheartening]

You mean to tell me she thinks she can control you?

[ almost as funny as her own thinking the same. ]

[dealsforaprice]

She's certainly making a valiant attempt. It's interesting to watch, really.

[And, as Rumple's tone of voice betrays, it is also highly amusing to him.]

[disheartening]

Tell her I wish her the best of look in this...endeavor.

[dealsforaprice]

Regardless of your intentions, your well wishes have been received with a note of gratitude. I would wish your mun the same, but it would be a waste of breath as she seems to be doing just fine on her own.