Everyone Needs a Broom!

[cantwalkwithoutit]

WHO: Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold, and you!
WHERE: The one place you're most likely to find Mr. Gold is in his shop in Heropa, where he sells handmade brooms -- as assigned to him by the government on arrival.
WHEN: Anytime late June/Early July before the Independence Day celebrations. Hours in the shop are from 9 am to 6 pm.
WHAT: Anyone is free to tag in and start their own thread! Threads may move to other locations as the scene requires.
WARNINGS: None as yet, will update when necessary.

The store space is modest in comparison to his establishment back in Storybrooke, admitted, but the inventory is much more focused. In the large window in the front, various pieces are displayed, brooms with unique handles, some hand-carved, with bristles of many colors, some even that appear to have strands of gold in them. All hand-woven, even braided in some instances. Inside, it smells faintly of cinnamon, and still more examples hang on the walls. A counter with a small cash register stands at about the center of the room, and behind that counter is a worktable where Mr. Gold works on new projects with meticulous care, his cane set aside but within reach. There is a door leading to a back room that is always closed and locked. There's an aura of comfort in the place, of home and hearth.

Comments

Locked to Pan

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ On this particular day, as with any other day, Gold had no real expectation for anyone in particular to waltz into his workspace. Lacking the gift of sight since his death, he's come to resent being surprised perhaps a little less, but it's no less jarring to see that face in particular darken his doorstep. ]

[dreamshades]

Hello, laddie.

[ The voice is cool but sounding impish as Pan just materializes in the room. He sits on one of the work tables, looking over one of the brooms that lay unfinished. He twirls it in his fingertips, appraising it. Rather dull, in his mind but he wonders why Rumple hasn't just set up a magical shop to do deals.

Questions for later. ]

You plan on running off on me again? Or do we have to play a forced game of hide and seek? You were never good at it or even feigning interest if I recall.

[4thdimensional]

Doc was quite grateful to Max for the introduction. This Mr. Gold was quite the interesting character...and, perhaps, a new ally. For a week, he considered stopping by again. It would be nice to socialize with someone not so entwined in the sciences. There was the chance to learn something new!

The opportunity finally presented itself one late afternoon. Doc strode up to the shop with a purpose and leaned in the doorway.

"Mr. Gold! Excellent, I was hoping to find you here."

[cantwalkwithoutit]

Shop stays open for some hours yet.

[ Almost resigned, that sigh. And no use of his name yet. He'll only do it if he calls him Rumple. ]

So not much chance for a game right this moment. If there was something else you needed, however?

[dreamshades]

Actually there is.

[ A smile drifts towards Rumple, still twirling the broom in his fingers. ]

I wanted to discuss, Baelfire.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

Gold glanced up from his work, holding his fingers down on the latest pass in his weaving to keep it in place. His face lit with a slow smile. Doctor Brown was familiar in that unsettling way that so many people were, for him: as 'characters' in one world and quite real in others, and it was strange to meet one after becoming aware of their fictional selves.

"Mondays through Saturdays," he quipped. "How can I help you?"

[cantwalkwithoutit]

Not interested. [ He finishes jotting a note in a ledger at the counter before closing and locking it, turning at last to face him. ] And set that down, if you please, unless you want varnish all over your hands.

[dreamshades]

Hm. No. [ Clearly he didn't care if his hands got a little dirty. The Stilskins or Golds, whatever they go by don't ever seem to care about that.

Pan's smile still remains cool. ]

But, I am so very interested. I mean, after all you gave up...

What's it like knowing he died?

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ He knew it was coming, carrying with it the same nauseous quality that hearing the manchild talk of his true love's fertility brought with it, but something more. He hasn't given himself time to address it, and never having to see that gave or walk past it every day -- it helps to stuff it down. The work helps.

It doesn't sting any less to hear it now. ]

The same as knowing anything else that's incontrovertible.

[4thdimensional]

"Not that kind of help," Doc shook his head. "I'm not in the market for a broom, but I wondered if you'd be amenable to a cup of coffee? My treat."

It was a silly thing, an attempted bribe for the opportunity to get to know him a little...but it was the only plan he had at the moment. If this failed, he'd have to resort to broom shopping, and his room was hurting for space as it was.

[dreamshades]

Yet he sacrificed his life to save you so he could make it back to his own child.

[ There's something of a chuckle that escapes his throat. ]

What irony. [ He turns his head and gives a tilt towards Rumple. ]

I suppose you wallowed when you couldn't take the Witch's life.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

That's an astute, if flawed summation of what happened.

[ Tone tight, terse. He is right; it's an injustice they didn't wait to steal him, give him a chance to deal with her -- without Regina dictating how the story should end. ]

Little time for that, really. As if you wasted a moment thinking of what you left behind, with all this new world had to immediately offer?

[dreamshades]

[ Pan clearly doesn't care for the tone, clearly smiling all the while. He owns the room in his mind. He's still more powerful than Rumple, he knows that. If the immortal boy was willing to gamble, which he was, he figured the dark one had his dagger that bound him.

Pan was free and light of any sort of burden. No price of immortality, a small but easily worked around price of magic, things were good for him. But could always be better. ]

Actually it's given me time to think, Laddie. Being here.

Whether you like it or not this place is transient. Our stay? Unlikely to last forever. But, I've heard others tales of how they were brought here, how some were about to die.

I just wonder...

What would you do to save your son? [ Maybe there's a deal there.

But, he wants to see if Rumple will take it. ]

[cantwalkwithoutit]

"Coffee?"

There were several dimensions of alien in that one invitation. Beyond dates with Belle, he was not the least bit accustomed to anything like this -- people who wanted to make deals tended to stink of their motives early on and didn't bother trying to butter him up. And when the people of Storybrooke needed an expert -- well, they tended to get right to the point and assume his cooperation without even asking.

Since he'd been careful to keep his magic concealed, he couldn't imagine Doctor Brown was here looking for the sorts of favors he was used to selling, but it had to be some sort of business. Perhaps it had to do with Max -- more had happened to the boy before his arrival than he realized, and the doctor's concern did not go unnoticed.

Gold pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. A decent hour to take a lunch break.

"I suppose there's no harm in it."

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ Rumpelstiltskin scoffs. As if he would ever -- his son's demise is a matter of past tense, now, no matter what the Wicked Witch of the West had hoped to accomplish. ]

...Transient means someday you'll be on your way back to whatever oblivion I aimed to send the both of us to. Perhaps you ought to be exploring your options to see about making your stay here a little less temporary.

[dreamshades]

Like I told you before, Rumple. I made safeguards [ lies, but, whatever. Rumple can believe them or not. But, Pan is betting Rumple will overestimate even Pan. ]

The price I paid was one of unknowing. However, I'd prefer for a place that wasn't so fickle...

but...if people can be brought here, so could your son.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

[ It's a possibility he's considered, himself. It's something to put in front of him, in fact, makes him feel a little more like himself before he crossed the town line for the first time. But his chest feels tight. ]

If it can bring dead men like you here, Malcolm, then I have no doubt the same could be true of him as well. I still have no interest in discussing that with you.

[dreamshades]

You would if you want to know what I have to offer.

[ A single deal. One simple, stupid little deal is all he needed from Rumple. As a dark one he couldn't resist to hear the terms, Pan knows this. He just hopes that little amount of courage Rumple had somewhere didn't come into play here.

He didn't need another dumb move from his idiot child. ]

[cantwalkwithoutit]

And I suppose you don't intend to leave until you've said it.

[ He leans back against the counter, watching him with a look of familiar exasperation. Why is he protecting any of his secrets? What the Hell does he really owe him? ]

[4thdimensional]

"I know the perfect place. Come on, then." Doc was still feeling strangely nervous---this wasn't the way he tended to attempt befriending people---but he kept going. The chance was worth it.

"There's also tea, if you'd prefer that. It's a quiet place, as scenic as anything can be in this town. The Dragonfly, have you ever been?"

[dreamshades]

No, I certainly don't.

[ Pan now leaves all of this to chance. For all he knows Rumple will just go public with this knowledge, but, also would question the stupidity of that move. They each have secrets on one another and Pan would be all but willing to spill Rumple's if Pan ever found out.

So, he decides that he will. Pan has put the pieces together and while those who have attempted to keep it as vague as possible, Pan could clearly guess.]

There have been attempts at securing a way out of here. A way to save the lives of those who died back where they're from. I believe these people intended to make a portal or a gateway to bypass this world's law on imPorts returning.

But, all have been attempted with "science." However...I believe that it is possible with magic and this science.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

And I'm sure it's not that simple either way; never is.

[ While he listens, he knows from what he's gleaned in other conversations that this imPort malarkey is more complicated than any of them has so far been allowed to know. ]

[dreamshades]

No, it clearly isn't. The failed attempts are proof enough.

All it requires is more power and while this land is limited on magic...I believe there's a way to amplify it.

[cantwalkwithoutit]

"I don't believe I have." He hadn't dined out much at all since coming here, just takeaway when it was convenient (and available).

Gold grabbed his jacket off its nearby hook, replacing it with the work apron he had been wearing. Yes, it was warm out, but magic had its advantages, even the unseen kinds.

He came to the door and held it open.

"After you."

[cantwalkwithoutit]

Amplification generally means less control, especially with regard to magic. Part of the price up front.

[ He crosses his arms. ]

What is it that you think you know?