knightsoflegend | LONDON ♔ i'm trapped alive and i've been burned | there's nothing left and nothing learned.

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LONDON ♔ i'm trapped alive and i've been burned | there's nothing left and nothing learned.

♬ when i first met him- julia murney

WHO || Belle and Gold [closed]
WHAT || Belle gets a message in a dream.
WHERE || Inside Belle's brain ????
WHEN || an explosion goes off in the distance
HOW || actionspam

It's been several months since anyone has heard from Auric Gold. Rumors have flown, and given the man's display of pyrotechnics on Andres, it's no wonder he's been given a wide berth, so long as he's not lighting up people for fun, and as the incidents on Andres were found to be related to a mysterious dagger and a son that Gold knows nothing about, the matter has since been laid aside, as other concerns crop up and take attention from the Knights.

It probably isn't the first time a knight has fled and it won't be the last, and there's nothing in his flight that suggests the matter need be pursued, assuming Gold will either come back on his own to face his demons or resurface whether for good or for ill. In the meantime, Gaston remains (surprisingly if you know anything about the Dark One, which even Gold doesn't) unharmed, which probably goes the farthest for pointing out that his self-imposed exile doesn't make him a threat, regardless of the truths that came out that fateful October afternoon.

He has not made contact with anyone, not even his familiar, who has been left at the castle to be taken care of by anyone who will take pity on a crocodile. In six months, no one has so much as heard a whisper of a suggestion of where he might be or when he might be coming back, or if he'll come back at all.

And then one evening, Belle goes to sleep in her bed, and as she drifts into a dream, there's Gold, a bit shabbier than he may have been when she last left him, but smiling all the same. There's a strangeness in his gaze- how he doesn't quite see her or meet her eyes, but it's unmistakably him.

"Belle," he begins, softly, addressing a point slightly to the left of her.

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[There's no indication he heard her, given that it's just a magical recording, but there's still a lengthy pause before he speaks again, as if he's trying to gather what he needs to say.]

I don't know if you ever want to see me again. In a way... I imagine that's what's kept me gone for so long. I don't know what's hidden in my past, and you told me once that it was dangerous to dig into it.

And now I fear if I ever want to return to the castle, I need to face it. The truth.

I know you're capable of finding me if you put your heart to it, and though I've taken precautions to prevent that... Part of me hopes that you haven't. That perhaps you've moved on. Because if I am a monster, then you deserve so much more than someone who can only give you darkness.

I imagine the same goes for Faye, as well, but I can't contact her like this. She's a young girl- fragile in ways she doesn't wish to talk about, and I don't dare break her heart. But you, Belle... You've always been strong, which is why I'm trusting you with this message.

[ even in the darkness, in the nothing of her dream, she keeps turning, trying to find him.

her heart hammers in her chest, the words difficult to even process above the thundering roar they leave in her ears. part of her swells with the faith he's placed in her, with the selflessness that lies at the center of his hope that she's moved on. how could she be wrong with him, when this was what he wished for - an escape from whatever pain having him in her life might bring her.

it could all be a lie. a continued ruse, and therein lies the rub, there lies the argument that anyone will make if she tries to tell them about this. that every word he says is calculated to make her think he's a person that he isn't, to show her exactly what she hopes to see.

but she still can't believe it, not entirely, not enough to dismiss what he's saying.

her heart sinks further when she realizes that even if he's not lying, that he's determined to find out the truth about his past, a road she'd urged him not go down. one she can't imagine will end well for him. ] Auric, please. [ she whispers the words, shaking her head. ] Please don't do this.

[The pause is longer this time and his eyes drop to the floor- who knows what he was looking at down there when he made this message. The grass in the park where they had their date in Valentine's Day? The ugly carpeting in some motel off the beaten path? A quiet beach? It could be anywhere in the world, because he's had the time and the means to get there, but it's oceans away from her, and that seems to settle into his expression.]

When we first met, we talked at great length about uncovering memories taken from us when we crossed through the Veil. I know now there's no returning what has been lost, but I know what your fiance called me, and that's as best a place to start as any.

So if anyone wonders- if anyone cares to ask- I'm hunting for the Dark One. If I can't remember that side of myself, then perhaps someone else out here is aware of the title and the power that comes with it.

And that's all I can give you now, Belle. I can't promise I didn't do everything that everyone has said I've done, but I can assure you I don't remember it, and since I can't be left in peace to start over... [there's a slight bitterness in his tone and he carefully dials it back] Since my word can't be trusted, I will do whatever I can to prove my innocence or condemn myself to whatever fate I allegedly deserve.

I remain yours, regardless of all else.

[a beat as he looks up, and, just for a second, the illusion seems to meet her eyes.] Goodbye, Belle.

[ she holds his gaze, even if it's just an illusion, even if he can't really see her, with all the force she can, as if she can send a message to him through pure force of will, void of any actual magic herself as she is.

her eyes flick open abruptly, as she sits up in bed, into the sudden overwhelming silence of her room, expelling a breath that she was somehow holding even in her sleep. she feels flushed, too warm, and she flings the covers aside, glancing beside her at the empty side of the bed, dread sinking into her gut. ] No... [ she doesn't dissolve into tears, rather with her 26 will save, she's surprisingly put together, determined rather than despondent. she slings her legs out of the bed, still unable to think straight, however, to formulate another plan.

getting to her feet, a little unsteadily, she goes to grab a robe, pulling it on, pausing for a moment, before slipping out.

it's cora's door that she winds up knocking on gently in the middle of the night. ]

[Cora's a light sleeper, a side effect of all the years on her own and being able to hear everything so when she hears a knock on the door, it doesn't take her long to get out of bed and make her way to the door. When she sees that it's Belle, she's surprised to say the least, but she doesn't hesitate either.]

Hey.

[She steps back to let her in.]

C'mon in.

[ the way she doesn't ask any questions, just invites her in, comforts belle a little, in that she clearly made the right choice on where to turn. she glances down the hall, as if expecting someone to have followed her, before stepping inside, hands wrapped around her arms. ] Thank you. I'm sorry, I know it's late.

It's fine. I'm just glad I was here.

[She figures Belle probably wouldn't have come if it wasn't important, and that worried glance over her shoulder as Cora scanning the hallway (spot 28) before she closes the door behind them.

Her room isn't really her style, which is part of the reason why more often than not she's probably crashing in Abigail's, but they're still trying to get the two dogs to get used to each other so they have nights off every now and then. She moves back to her bed, sitting back by the head of the bed and crossing her legs under her while gesturing for Belle to do the same. The dog in question stays plopped next to her, but is openly curious about their surprise middle of the night visitor.]

Is everything okay?

[ belle sits on the edge of the bed instead, burying one hand in the dog's fur, a simple reassurance (handle animal 18 lmao disney princess rolls) . she takes in a breath, trying to decide what she can say, how she feels. it's all too complicated to consider good or bad news yet. but it's news. ] Auric... he's alive. [ it's impossible to miss the relief there. a lot could have happened, and no matter what else, she couldn't stand the thought that he wasn't out there somewhere. ]

[The dog is good for that and she'll just curl into Belle's side more, able to sense that the woman needs the comfort in that uncanny way that dogs usually do.

Cora, however, straightens a little more at the declaration and her eyes widen.]

You heard from him?

In a sense. It was... it was a dream. But I know it was real. I know he sent it to me.

[That sounds ... weird, but at the same time, Cora is fairly certain she's heard weirder things. She takes a moment to process that and then nods. Okay. Belle got dream-mail.]

What did he say?

That he... still feels h-he has to find the truth. About who he was.

Do you think he can?

[If he came through the Veil, the answers may not be in this world. And even if they are, finding them might do more harm than good. What people are looking for isn't always what they find along the way.]

If anyone can, it's him. Gaston came from our world... so did others here, apparently. I'm afraid of what he'll do to himself looking.

[She nods, because that's an understandable fear. Especially if it's someone who will act no matter the cost.]

So we need to find him.

[Because that seems to be the appropriate course of action, so long as they can figure out how.]

Except he didn't give any more indication this time of where he went than before.

[She pauses for a moment, considering.]

What did you see in the dream? Was it just him or just his voice?

I could see him. But not where he was. Or if I could, it didn't stay with me when I woke.

[She nods for a moment, drumming her fingers against the side of her leg for a moment.]

What do you know about the Dark One? Or is there someone here who might remember more about what it means? Maybe if we can figure out what kind of magic or instincts it would have, we might be able to narrow down where he went to look for answers.

Only... only what Emma and Gaston have told me. [ she flinches a bit at that ] That he's very powerful, and can use dark magic to accomplish almost anything he desires, if someone is willing to pay the price.

Emma said that Henry Mills might know more. Apparently he's... he's her son.

[!!!!!!!!

She straightens a bit because hey!!! Someone she knows.]

I know Henry! He's ...

[She trails off for a moment due to backtag land reasons and because she always has a weird time putting a label on Henry, so she's just going to reiterate.]

I know Henry.

[There we go. She shifts and goes to reach for her phone.]

I can call him if you want?

[ her breath catches a bit. it's all too much of a coincidence, everyone in her life connected so easily.

maybe there's a reason for it. ] Alright.

[Maybe it is too much of a coincidence. Cora doesn't really have a lot of experience in being lucky, but if Henry has the information that will help Belle, she doesn't want to keep it from her. Besides, she trusts Henry. He wouldn't lie to her.

She pulls up Henry's number quickly, pressing her phone to her ear and waiting for him to pick up. She knows it's late, but hopefully he'll still answer.]

[ Given that it is later, when Henry sees the call from Cora, he's a little worried, assuming something could be wrong. ]

Cora - is everything okay?

Yeah, sort of.

[Not really but it's not life or death (probably). They just need to find ~~your grandfather~~ Belle's wayward boyfriend.]

I know it's late but Belle and I need your help with something. Can you come to my room?

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