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

[undealt]

♬ 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.

Comments

[impetere]

[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.

[untethered]

[ 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.

[impetere]

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?

[untethered]

[ 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. ]

[impetere]

[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?

[untethered]

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

[impetere]

[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?

[untethered]

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

[impetere]

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.]

[untethered]

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.

[impetere]

[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.]

[untethered]

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

[impetere]

[She pauses for a moment, considering.]

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

[untethered]

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

[impetere]

[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.

[untethered]

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.

[impetere]

[!!!!!!!!

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?

[untethered]

[ 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.

[impetere]

[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.]

[wanttobeahero]

[ 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?

[impetere]

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?

[wanttobeahero]

[ Belle? Ok, that piques his curiosity. And at least it doesn't sound...bad. ]

Yeah, of course. I'll be there soon.

[ By "soon," really, he just means less than five minutes while he pulls on his jeans and shoes, and then he knocks on her door softly. ]

Hey, it's me.

[ Not that she'd probably be expecting anyone else... ]

[impetere]

[Cora pushes up and goes to answer the door, flashing him a smile before gesturing for him to come inside.]

Belle, this is Henry Mills. Henry, this is Belle.

[wanttobeahero]

[ He smiles back at her, and he'd probably be more conversational at the moment, but there's something going on that's more pressing. And he knows Belle, but he smiles and gives her a little wave. ]

Nice to see you, both of you. So...what can I help with?

[impetere]

[She closes the door and moves around him to sit on the bed again, one hand idly wandering back to the dog that's resting there.]

We were wondering what you could tell us about the Dark One.

[Which she knows might be a sensitive topic, but she's always been one who thinks it's better to just jump into it.]