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Post by scarlett on Nov 23, 2012 3:54:19 GMT
This was the very definition of a bad idea. It wasn't bad enough that she had left her kingdom only a matter of weeks after they had made her their queen --albeit only for a short time-- or that she wanted something she couldn't tell anyone about, but she was also lying to her husband. The husband she'd only married a few weeks ago, no less. What a great start this relationship was getting off to, she thought to herself, rolling her eyes as she made her way through the back alleys of the bustling trade towns. They said this was where the imp could be found, if one wanted to make a deal; the imp being Rumplestiltskin. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. He was infamous for his deals, especially ones that were always to his advantage, they said, and often left the other party wanting.
She didn't have to strike a deal, she reminded herself. She could always walk away. He had powerful magic, sure, but she'd fought powerful magic before. She could handle herself in a fight, if it came to that. Getting out of here alive didn't worry her. Getting herself into more trouble than she could handle with one of these deals... well, that thought did leave her stomach twisting. The nightmares were getting worse, though, and she knew they wouldn't go away until she had dealt with the source. Maybe Rumplestiltskin could help with that. If not, she could walk away. And if he could, and he asked too much, she could walk away too. But there was the niggling hope that maybe, just maybe, he could offer her a deal she could stomach. She almost hoped he wouldn't, though.
She'd gone through this all a million times in her head, along with all the stories she'd heard of his deals going bad. But here she was despite it all, having told her husband she was going hunting for a few days to unwind, she'd come to the Third Kingdom instead to seek out the imp. She took a deep breath, stilling her thoughts. She would find out what Rumplestiltskin could offer her, and if she didn't like it, she wouldn't take the deal. As simple as that. Or so she hoped. Just like she hoped she'd reach the place that she was supposed to find him sometime soon. She paused, frowning, she looked back over her shoulder. Was she supposed to have taken that left back there, or maybe she should have gone the other way...? She was out of her element here, she did so much better in the woods. setting;; the past
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 23, 2012 4:08:15 GMT
Rumplestiltskin was at his loom, a string of gold chain piling up behind him. He stopped when he heard foot steps. He did not get visitors often anymore so this was certainly a surprise. Whether or not it was pleasant, well... he'd just have to see.
He stepped away from the loom and exited his little shack. Despite being as wealthy as he was, he decided to live in a more humble manner. It did well to keep potential assassins off his trail. He stepped out from behind a corner to see the backside of one he never expected to see. "Queen Red," the Imp cackled. "I'd say it's lovely to see you... but I guess that's to be decided, isn't it, dearie..."
He had to wonder what she was doing so far away from her home. So far away from her new husband. "Shouldn't you be on your honeymoon? Or has the newlywed glow worn off so soon?" his voice altered between a low tone, belonging to a man, and a higher tone that oozed insanity. He looked up at the Queen, eager to hear her response.
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Post by scarlett on Nov 23, 2012 4:32:33 GMT
Her hand twitched over the dagger secured at her hip as she felt more than heard someone behind her, and she was already turning toward the source by the time the imp spoke. Just the sound of his voice sent a shudder of revulsion through her, visible on her face for just a few seconds before she focused on why she was here. She should leave now, every instinct she had screamed at her to go, but she steeled herself and took a step towards the imp instead.
"You know who I am." It wasn't a question, but a statement. It still surprised her, although she knew it shouldn't, that people recognized her. She wasn't used to people knowing her face; in the past, they just knew of her, rumours and the like. Now she had her face on coins and things, she supposed she'd never be able to go unnoticed again. A part of her regretted it. "Rumplestiltskin." She inclined her chin downwards to meet his gaze.
It bothered her when he mentioned her husband, and it showed on her face. Red never really had been good at concealing her emotions, she'd never seen the point. She took a deep breath. "Do you really want to talk about that? Wouldn't you rather find out why I came looking for you?" She didn't want to admit how closely related the two topics were, although she knew she would have to. She ought to walk away now, before things got out of hand. But she stayed, staring down the imp instead like she had something to prove.
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 23, 2012 4:44:36 GMT
The imp cackled, jumping up on a nearby barrel to become closer in height to the Queen. He looked her over carefully before speaking. "Well, people only come to me for a very limited number of reasons, your royal cardinallyness..." He smiled broadly because an opportunity was presenting itself that he had waited far too long for.
"Since you're a queen," he said, now appearing behind her. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you aren't looking for money. And if that's true it means... [/color]" he moved back to the barrel again and leaned close to the Queen. " You want magic." He giggled madly. " Now, you have quite a few sources of magic at your disposal. That lends me to believe that secrecy might be a part of our bargain? Hmmm?" Rumplestiltskin did an odd dance and hopped down onto the ground again. " It's quite alright, though, Your Majesty. Secrecy is my middle name." He paused for a moment. " It isn't really... I thought it might make you feel better, though. Tehehehe." He giggled in an unsettling way and did a slight dance again, barely able to contain the excitement he had brewing within him right now.[/blockquote]
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Post by scarlett on Nov 23, 2012 5:15:23 GMT
She didn't like the way he smiled, and that cackle of his was doing little to help her resist her impulses to flee. She stood her ground, her eyes following him as he made himself taller, and she fidgeted while he guessed at what it was she wanted, unnerved at his words. When he disappeared and reappeared behind her, she twirled around, hand grasping her dagger instinctively, it took her a wild-eyed moment to unclench her fingers from the hilt, straightening up, she glared at him, feeling more vulnerable than she'd like.
Her eyes followed him as he returned to the barrel, holding her ground as he leaned near, waving what she wanted right under her nose. It would take no great deductive skills to figure out what she wanted, she knew, and she told herself as much, but it made her uncomfortable nonetheless. He put her off balance, and she didn't like that. Magic, and secrecy. Exactly what she wanted. But at what cost?
She nodded, her lip curling up at his dance, but she wouldn't step back, already feeling like she had appeared weaker than she liked, she didn't want to give that impression. She was no scared little girl. "Your silence would be an integral part of the bargain...if there were to be one." She agreed, still hesitating to reveal what she wanted from him. Still debating. Even getting the words out was difficult. "If you can provide what I need."
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 23, 2012 5:27:57 GMT
Rumplestiltskin's nostrils flared slightly. "GET ON WITH IT!" he shouted. His magic wasn't the only thing he was reputed for. His temper was legendary. "I'm a very busy Imp. I can't make a deal until I know what it is you're after!" His eyes changed from luminescent green to a brilliant red.
There was little he hated more than people who wasted his time. Time was straw he could be spinning into gold. "What exactly is it that you need, Your Majesty?"
He noticed the number of times she'd reached for something. Given her reputation, it was probably a weapon. Queen Red was about as dainty as an Ogre when it came to combat. He wanted nothing more than to magic that weapon away from her, but he knew that it would be the last thing he ever did. He did eye it curiously, though, as if to let her know it did not go unnoticed.
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Post by scarlett on Nov 23, 2012 5:59:39 GMT
Surprisingly, his anger was a lot less unnerving to her than his creepy dancing had been, and she bristled when he shouted at her, tilting her head to the side slightly, she pursed her lips and raised a brow critically. When he turned red, she blinked, watching his gaze flicker to the dagger she wore on her hip subtly. It was hardly the only weapon she carried, but it was the most obvious, and the easiest for her to reach. He didn't do anything about it, though, so she let the matter slide. They were each a threat to the other, in their own way, but they could also give one another something they wanted. Maybe.
"I need something that will...prevent me from getting with child." She admitted, trying to sound detached and failing. She wasn't a good liar, and a little bit of the desperation came through in her voice. A little bit of the fear, the uncertainty, the sadness. It wasn't as though she didn't want children, no, she loved them, and she loved her husband, but there was a part of him that was monstrous. A part of him that she couldn't control. And much as she had forgiven him for his past, the thought that she could bring a monster into the world terrified her. And she couldn't share that with her husband, so she was here instead.
"It can't be permanent. I have to be able to remove the spell at any time I choose." She added, she couldn't bear the thought that she'd never be able to have children, not when she didn't know what else the future would hold. Maybe she could come to terms with this, eventually...just not right now. "What would...something like that cost?"
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 23, 2012 15:13:34 GMT
Rumplestiltskin was expecting lots of things. NOT this. His eyes widened and he gave an excited chirp. "Well," he said, pondering the price he could charge for this. "Magic like this can't be just performed for free. If you wanted it to be permanent, well... that could be another story. But now I need to know... how much is this worth to you?"
He knew exactly why she was asking, and to be frankly honest, he didn't blame her. He cocked his head and looked up at her in earnest. The thoughts swirled in his head, the things he wanted from her. Most importantly, the idea of having her in his debt. "But you know, if you can't think of anything at the moment, you can just owe me... If you want, you can lycan it to magic on credit. We'll just need to what happens if you renege on your end of the bargain."
He did his best to hide the malice in his smile, though he wasn't entirely successful. His eyes, now back to their green glow, gave an eerie effect in the alleyway.
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Post by scarlett on Nov 24, 2012 4:50:53 GMT
'How much is this worth to you?' She bit her lip, what was this magic worth to her? Just coming to see him, lying to Bigby about where she was going, already it seemed to be worth more than she'd like, how much more could she put on the line for it? She knew that gold would have no draw for him, she'd heard that people came to him when they needed money. What else could she offer him of value? "I can offer you jewels, or land...perhaps a manor where you can get away?" An estate in the Second Kingdom certainly would be out of the way, if he wanted to get away from his business at all.
Her eyes narrowed when he suggested that she could owe him. That was exactly what people warned against; becoming indebted to the imp never seemed to work out as you wanted. "I will not owe you anything. Either we agree to a price here and now, or we part ways empty-handed." To owe Rumplestiltskin an unnamed price, to be named at his convenience, seemed to be a terrible idea. If they were going to make a deal, she wanted to know the details in advance.
"So the question, then, is what do you want?" There was much she could offer him, the resources of a kingdom at her disposal. There was a limit to what she was willing to give him, however; but he would have to name a price before she could decide whether or not she would pay it.
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 24, 2012 17:51:38 GMT
"Your majesty," he cackled. "Where is your sense of adventure? Where is your trust?" In a blink he was behind the Queen again. He rather enjoyed keeping the Queen on edge. He used his magic to pop around all over the place. To be honest, there were so many things he wanted, that to narrow it down to one was extremely difficult. He knew too many demands and she'd walk away.
"I'd ask for your first-born son, but I think the terms of the agreement make that a somewhat moot point, don't they?" he said. Then it hit him and using magic, he got very close again to the Queen's face. "Is there any form of magic you have access to? Be it yours or someone else? Maybe a spell book?" He wanted to get an answer without revealing the fact he has no control over his own magic. Power means nothing if you can't use it.
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Post by scarlett on Nov 25, 2012 5:39:58 GMT
She raised her eyebrows at him when he asked about her 'sense of adventure', and even scoffed when he asked about her trust. Speaking to him was enough of an adventure, and trusting Rumplestiltskin? Nothing about his reputation indicated that would be a good idea. She twirled around defensively when he appeared behind her, her hand going automatically to her dagger again, flicking off the strap that held it in place as he popped around erratically, making her nervous. She didn't want to be caught off guard if he decided to strike, even though she doubted he would.
She bristled when he mentioned her first-born son, her lip curling slightly at the very thought. Even if that weren't a moot point, as he put it, she would never agree to such a thing. What he would even want with a child? She shuddered to think. It made her stomach twist all the more, musing on such thoughts, made her reconsider coming to him at all. Would she be able to live with granting him whatever he requested?
When he appeared close in front of her face, her eyes widened, but instead of jumping back, her hand rose instinctively, pulling her dagger from its sheath, she held the blade at his throat, glaring at him. She didn't lower it when he spoke. "What could you need magic for, when you already have so much of your own?" She might be able to get a hold of such a thing, but giving the imp more power than he already held hardly seemed wise...none of this seemed wise, she was quickly coming to realize.
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 25, 2012 15:35:56 GMT
Rumplestiltskin backed up slightly, furious that she pulled the dagger on him, and even more angry that she dared to ask why he wanted more magic. His eyes turned red again. "That's not for you to know!" he barked. It took him a few moments to regain his composure. He hated royals. They always asked too many questions.
"A spellbook. That is my price. Take it or leave it," he growled, his eyes still hadn't turned back to green. "It's quite a small price to pay in exchange for not having to police a litter every full moon. From what I hear, you've already got your hands full with the king. Now stop trying my patience! Do we have a deal?" He waved his hand and a scroll of parchment appeared. The terms of the contract were written in scarlet. At the bottom was a blank line, awaiting the Queen's signature.
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Post by scarlett on Nov 25, 2012 23:54:48 GMT
Her eyes narrowed when he refused to answer her question, only putting her less at ease with giving into his demands. When he backed up, she lowered the dagger slightly, twirling it expertly in her hand to hold it at a more defensive angle, ready to protect herself in case his temper got the best of him. Her mind was still racing, her fears about bearing a monster into the world now rivalling her fears of turning Rumplestiltskin into an even more dangerous monster than he already was.
By the time he calmed down enough to speak, she was still ambivalent. She glared at him for his attempts to persuade her, preying on the fears she had already unintentionally revealed. He wasn't wrong, but...at least she knew what to expect with werewolves. Who knew what Rumplestiltskin could do with a book of spells? He demanded an answer, and Red decided to go with what she'd always trusted. Her gut.
"No." She took a step back, glancing over the document he held out for a few seconds before she looked up to meet his still enraged eyes. "My apologies for wasting your time." She added, but she didn't sound very sincere. This whole thing had been a terrible idea, and if she gave Rumplestiltskin what he wanted, whatever nightmares she eased would only be replaced by others.
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Post by twistedlittleimp on Nov 26, 2012 1:53:30 GMT
Rumplestiltskin was, indeed, livid. But not for the reason Queen Red might have thought. He responded to her. His eyes were now luminescent red, and his voice was a deadly hiss. "The era of the royals is going to come to an end, Queen Red. You're weak. The entire group of you. Many of you fought hard to get where you are and are content to do nothing else. I despise you all for that. You're unwilling to seek more power and that makes you weaker than even the lowliest peasants. You're unfit for the crowns upon your heads, and the benefits your titles bestow. Take it all away and what do you have then? Tell me. Without that crown, that castle... what else are you? A scared little girl too weak to kill the monster that changed her life forever. True love... Ha! There's the myth of all myths and the legend to end all legends. It's made slaves of all of you, and the funniest part is... none of you can even see it. You're too blinded by your fancy balls and the riches in your treasuries."
He scoffed and turned around. "What separates us isn't magic. It isn't love. It's the fact that I'm not too cowardly to see that love the great impediment to everyone's inner dreams. And I'm not afraid to admit it."
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Post by scarlett on Nov 26, 2012 5:27:18 GMT
Red's eyes narrowed and she raised her blade again, her other hand reaching around behind her to close her finger around the rounded wooden shaft of the hatchet she kept tucked into her belt. She didn't pull it free yet, one weapon was enough until he made a move, but she wanted to be ready to attack the second he did. If he did. The way he was ranting, she was no longer sure that he wouldn't.
She backed away from him, glancing over her shoulder quickly to make sure she was moving towards the way she had come in. He was right; she had fought hard for her throne, but she had never wanted it, or any other power. "I never wanted power. I took it because someone tried to take what is mine." She raised her eyebrows at him, her words an implied threat. But for all her bluster, his words did make her wonder...would she really grow old and complacent now that she had a throne?
No. She wouldn't let that happen. She wasn't the scared little girl who had screamed when she found a wolf in her granny's bed, she had fought her way to a point where she didn't let anyone take the people she loved away from her. And she loved her kingdom. Love wasn't an impediment to her dreams; love would be the motivator that kept her fighting for them. For her people, her husband...and maybe, one day, her children. "For someone who claims that love is an impediment...you certainly do seem obsessed with it."
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