#peacehopeandrats
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The Sweetest Dream
Merry Christmas, @peacehopeandrats! I’m your Secret Santa! I hope you like your fic and that you will forgive me for taking at least part of your prompt in a way that I’m sure you didn’t intend!
Prompt: Coco, fire, fresh snow, bakery
Summary: Ever since Belle French opened her bakery in Storybrooke, Frank Gold has looked forward to the days she brings free samples to the townsfolk. Her kind heart always includes him in her rounds and he cherishes the moments they spend together, bonding over cookies and cake.
Title from Muppet Christmas Carol
Read on AO3
“Good morning, Mr Gold!”
The tinkle of the bell above his shop door accompanied the lilting voice of the woman who had just stepped through. Frank Gold looked up from his ledger to greet his visitor, noting the covered tray in her hands and the wide smile on her face.
“Miss French, a pleasure as always.” He placed his pen down to give her his full attention. “What gastronomic delights bring you to my shop today?”
“It's Christmas!” She held up the tray as if that explained everything.
“It's November.”
“Exactly, I'm already behind!” She practically bounced over to set her tray down on the counter and lift the lid. “I'm about to start on our seasonal menu and wanted to get your opinion on which flavours you like best.”
This was not an unusual occurrence. Belle French owned and ran the local bakery, Storybrookies, which she'd opened earlier that year, and often went around town handing out samples to drum up business. His shop must have been on her route as she came in most days to give him a taste of her latest creations.
He moved his gaze down towards the counter top and eyed the various confections there. “So this is market research?”
“Exactly! Got to give the public what they want!” She pointed to each cookie in turn as she rattled their names off. “We have mint choc chip, chocolate orange shortbread, and cinnamon and basil.”
Try as he might, Gold couldn't stop his lips curling in distaste at that last one. “Whatever happened to good old-fashioned gingerbread?”
“We'll have that as well, of course, but this is my bakery's first Christmas and I wanted to offer something different, maybe be a bit adventurous. All I will say is don't knock it till you've tried it.”
“Hmm.” Tentatively Gold picked up each cookie, carefully tasting them one at a time as Belle looked on eagerly. He could see how important this was to her, so he closed his eyes and opened his mind to better savour the different flavours, wanting to give each a fair chance.
“Well?” Her patience had apparently run out as she prompted him for his opinion, her voice strangely breathless. He opened his eyes to find her own fixated on his face, her pupils blown wide with her eagerness for his answer.
He carefully placed down the remains of the final cookie that was still in his hand. “I'm afraid you haven't convinced me that cinnamon and basil is in any way a reasonable flavour combination. However I am fond of the first two, the shortbread in particular."
Belle beamed. “I hoped you'd like that one. I know that shortbread is Scottish and chocolate orange is more of a popular flavour over there so combining them seemed like a good idea...” she trailed off with a blush that Gold didn't understand.
“It was,” he agreed. “But as you say, it's a flavour that's more popular over there than here. How has it gone down with the other people you've asked?”
“Oh. Um, you're actually the first person I've shown these to.” Belle looked down and began fiddling with the tray, picking up the half-eaten cookie that he'd left. “I value your opinion, you see. And I know you'll give me honest feedback.”
Gold felt a strange warmth in his chest at her words. “Well, I'm glad you feel you can rely on me. However, as I'm sure you're aware, a sample size should be as large as possible to most accurately reflect public opinion.”
“Of course.” She put the cookie down again before replacing the lid on the tray and lifting it into her arms. “That's why I'm on my way now to canvass the town. Who knows, maybe cinnamon and basil will reign supreme.”
“Knowing some of the inhabitants of this town as I do, that wouldn't surprise me.”
Belle laughed as she carried the tray to the door, walking backwards until the last possible moment and throwing a parting glance over her shoulder as she left. “See you around, Mr Gold.”
~*~
“Good morning, Mr Gold!”
“Miss French,” Gold felt himself smiling as the bell chimed and the familiar voice met his ears. It had been a few days since she had graced his shop and he found himself missing her presence.
“I'm sorry I haven't been around for a while, but the bakery has been so busy. We started selling the chocolate orange shortbread last week and it's been a huge hit.”
“I'm glad to hear it.”
“And to thank you for your invaluable input I thought I'd bring over some of my festive hot cocoa.” She reached into her bag to produce a thermos. “It's spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise.”
He watched as she brought out two mugs, pouring an equal share into each before handing him one.
“Thank you.” He gave the concoction a cautious sip, relishing in the initial taste before taking another longer one. The perfectly spiced chocolate slipped over his tongue like velvet and he had to use all his willpower to prevent a rather unseemly moan from escaping his lips. He took a few seconds to compose himself before speaking. “Another triumph, I would say. I imagine this must be one of your best sellers too.”
Belle took a sip from her own mug before shaking her head. “I don't sell this at the bakery. It's my own personal recipe.”
“Oh.” Gold looked into his mug and felt his heart flutter at the thought she would have made something personal especially for him. He ruthlessly tamped that idea down before he could get any fanciful notions in his head. She was thanking him for his help, that was all. She probably made the same thing for everyone else in town whose opinion she had sought out.
“Well I thank you for sharing it with me. Do you mind if I ask how you came up with the recipe?”
“It was my mother's.” Her voice took on a melancholy twinge and he instantly regretted the question. “We used to make it together every Christmas. It was our holiday tradition, no matter how hot the weather was. Dad thought we were mad having cocoa in summer but I loved it.”
Her eyes had taken on a faraway look as she cradled her mug carefully and he thought he knew the answer to his next question but felt compelled to ask anyway. “Is your mother...?” he trailed off, unsure how to finish.
“She died.” Belle brought her eyes back to him and smiled sadly. “A few years ago now. I still make the same recipe every Christmas though. It's a lot more seasonally appropriate now I've moved here, but I must admit that sometimes I miss the incongruity of sitting in the bright sunshine with my hot cocoa. That probably sounds silly, I know.”
“Not at all. I used to...” he trailed off, unsure whether he wanted to go where he'd been about to. His fingers twitched and he put his mug down before he dropped it.
“You used to?” She looked at him with such an open and honest expression he felt almost helpless in the face of it. Something about her compelled him to speak about things that he'd kept locked up inside of himself for years.
“I used to make paper snowflakes with my son. My ex-wife hated them, said that they looked cheap and tacky, but we had fun. It was the time spent together that was special.”
“You have a son!” Belle's face brightened, then quickly fell as something seemed to occur to her. “Is he...?”
“Oh, no, nothing like that,” he was quick to reassure her. “He's alive. He lives in New York with his wife and a son of his own now. But we did have a falling out a few years ago. It was a bad one and all my fault, of course. I didn't hear from him in so long I feared the worst so many times.”
“I'm sorry.” She placed her mug down and reached out to cover his hand with hers where it rested on the counter. His breath caught at her touch and he kept perfectly still for fear of losing it. “But it sounds like you've heard from him since?”
“Yes. He got in contact with me not long after Henry was born. Said he finally understood how terrifying it was to be a father. We had a long talk, I apologised and he forgave me. I didn't deserve it, but then he's always been a better person than me in every way.”
“I think the kind of person he is is a reflection of the man who raised him.” She squeezed his hand gently. “Is he coming for the holidays?”
“No.” He sighed. “He said they want a quiet Christmas at home this year. I don't think he's ready to completely trust me yet and I can understand that. I just wish we hadn't lost all those years we could have spent together due to my stupidity.”
“I think you need to stop beating yourself up about it. The past is the past and all you can do now is move forward. Your son is alive, he's forgiven you and you'll have many Christmasses in the future to spend together, I'm sure.” She leaned towards him, her eyes locked on his while he stared at her dumbly. Apparently he was silent too long because she blushed and pulled away from him, lifting her hand from his. “Sorry, I'm probably overstepping here. Please tell me to shut up and go away.”
“Never,” he breathed, before clearing his throat. “No, I mean, you're right. As usual.”
He reached for his cocoa once again and brought the mug to his lips, grateful for both the shield it provided and the warmth it brought back after the loss of her touch.
They finished their drinks in a companionable silence, as though any further words would break the spell that had fallen over them. Sooner than Gold would have liked, Belle began packing their empty mugs into her bag and made to leave.
Walking to the door, she turned and looked as though she wanted to say something else but thought better of it, deciding to go with her usual parting instead.
“See you around, Mr Gold.”
~*~
“Good morning, Mr Gold!” Belle's cheery voice betrayed none of the heaviness of their previous conversation and Gold was glad for it. He had been half afraid she would be put off visiting him again after the revelations of the other day.
“Good morning, Miss French.” Gold looked up and felt his eyes widen. “What on earth do you have on your head?”
“They're reindeer antlers!” She shook her head to make the attached bell jingle, and he was momentarily mesmerised by the way her curls bounced around her shoulders. “Do you like them? I could get you a pair if you like.”
He shuddered. “That's very thoughtful but I think I'll pass, thank you.”
“Are you sure? I think you'd look very dashing.”
“I highly doubt that. They look far better on you than they ever would on me.”
Belle's radiant smile nearly blinded him and it took him a second to realise she had moved forward and was now holding a paper bag out to him. “Here.”
“What's this?” He took it from her outstretched hand.
“It's a 'good old-fashioned gingerbread man.'”
He peeked into the paper bag and raised an eyebrow. “Since when do gingerbread men wear suits?”
“That's what makes him so old-fashioned.” Belle laughed, tilting her head and leaning forward on the counter almost conspiratorially. She looked out the window and sighed wistfully before turning back to him. “Do you think it's going to snow soon?”
“Probably,” he grumbled. “We've been lucky so far but I can feel a chill in the air. At least we're spared the worst of it being this close to the sea.”
She lightly slapped his arm and he looked at her hand in surprise as she admonished him. “Oh humbug Mr Gold, don't tell me you're a snow-hater.”
“Live in Maine long enough and you will be too,” he responded drily.
“Well, I love it. We never had snow when I was growing up in Melbourne. Then I moved here and I can still remember the first morning I woke up to a snowy day. It was like the world was covered in a pure white blanket, glittering in the sun. I thought it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.”
“And did you still think that when you had to shovel three feet of the stuff off your driveway? Or when it felt like your fingers were going to fall off from frostbite? Or when you slipped on hidden ice and nearly broke your neck?”
She eyed him suspiciously. “How do you know about that?”
“Lucky guess,” he deadpanned.
“Well, it was just the one time and I learned my lesson.” She held up a finger accusingly. “High heeled ankle boots may look cute but are not practical for icy weather.”
With deliberate slowness Gold peered over the counter. He was not at all surprised to see a pair of red heels at the end of her shapely legs.
Before his brain could go in a dangerous direction he forced his eyes back up to hers and raised his brow in silence.
She blushed. “Hey, it's not icy yet. I have a pair of snow boots at the bakery just in case though.”
“As long as you're prepared.”
“I am.” She gave him a wide smile which dimmed slightly as she caught sight of the clock behind him. “Oh, shoot. I have to head off now. I told Ariel I'd be there by ten, so this has to be a flying visit.”
Gold felt heart sink in response, but kept his face neutral to hide his disappointment. “In that case don't let me keep you. And thank you once again for the gingerbread man.”
“You're very welcome and I hope you enjoy it.” She walked to the door and turned back to him with a twinkle in her eye. “Maybe I'll bring you a matching gingerbread lady tomorrow. See you around, Mr Gold!”
~*~
The implied promise in Miss French's words meant that Gold started the next day in an uncharacteristically good mood, hopeful that he wouldn't have to wait too long before another visit from his favourite baker.
That good mood soon faded upon his arrival into town and the sight that greeted him there. The entrance to one of the roads was blocked off and he was just about able to catch a glimpse of flashing lights through the crowd of people gathered by the roadside. Spying David Nolan among their number, he quickly parked his car and grabbed his cane, walking over to the group as quickly as he could.
“Mr Nolan.” He waited for the other man to turn and acknowledge his presence. “What's going on?”
David looked surprised. “You haven't heard? No, I suppose you wouldn't have since the bakery isn't one of your buildings.”
“The bakery?” Gold's stomach twisted as his eyes moved from scanning the scene to focus all his attention on the man next to him. “What about the bakery?”
“There was a fire. Last night. Looks like the whole place has been completely destroyed.”
Gold felt as though a cold vice had gripped his heart. He could barely breathe except to stutter out a single word. “Belle?”
“Oh, don't worry. Belle's fine.” David waved his hand, apparently unaware of the magnitude of his words. “I mean she's devastated, obviously, but no one was inside the building at the time.”
David's gaze moved from Gold's face to somewhere over his shoulder, leading Gold to turn his head to follow his line of sight. Belle stood near the edge of the crowd, her arms wrapped around herself as though for protection against the world.
Barely aware that David was still speaking to him, Gold turned the rest of his body and set out in her direction. One of her friends, the grumpy one, was standing nearby and appeared to be attempting to provide support but Gold paid him no mind as he approached Belle.
“Miss French.” The greeting felt woefully inadequate, but it was all he could think of in the moment.
“Oh, Mr Gold, hi.” Belle turned to him, lifting a hand to wipe away the tears that were still clearly visible on her face. “I'm sorry, I don't think I'm going to have any gingerbread for you today.”
He watched as the corners of her mouth turned up in a weak approximation of a smile before her entire face crumbled again.
“Don't worry about it.” Gold flinched, mentally kicking himself for such an inane response. He scrambled for something better to say before settling on what he should have started with in the first place. “Are you all right?”
“No,” she huffed quietly before visibly steeling herself and meeting his eyes, “but I will be. Nobody was hurt, which is the main thing. It's just... hard. To see everything I've worked for, everything I've put my heart and soul into, be destroyed so completely.”
“I'm sorry.” His fingers itched to comfort her but he wasn't sure he'd be welcome, so instead he just continued to stand ineffectually at her side, wishing he had something better to say. “You have insurance, I assume?”
“Of course.” She nodded. “But it's going to take weeks to sort it all out and then even longer to rebuild. There's no way I'm going to have a bakery in time for Christmas.”
“Perhaps you could use one of the empty properties in town as a temporary base. I happen to know there are a few available.”
“That's very kind of you, Mr Gold, but until the insurance pays out I'm not going to be able to afford to rent anywhere, let alone buy the equipment I'm going to need.”
“I could pay for anything you...”
“No.” Her face was resolute as she cut him off. “I mean, I appreciate the offer, I really do. It's just that I don't want...”
“It's all right, Miss French. I completely understand.” It was his turn to cut her off and he tried not to let the sting of rejection hurt too much. “Perhaps a fundraiser then.”
“What, like charity?”
“I prefer to think of it as community. The bakery is such a beloved part of this town, I'm sure the townsfolk would be more than happy to help you get back on your feet. It would be in everyone's best interest to have you back in business as soon as possible.”
“Really? My bakery is beloved?” Belle had the first real smile he'd seen on her face all day.
“Of course. You've said yourself how busy you've been.”
“True, I guess. But I'm not sure, I wouldn't feel right taking people's money when I'll be getting the insurance payout eventually.”
“As you said, that could take weeks. Would you really deprive Storybrooke of your baked delights for all that time?” He could see she was still unsure, so went for an angle that he knew would appeal to her. “And when you do receive the insurance money you could take whatever amount the town raised for you and donate it to another worthwhile cause. Pay it forward, as they say. I know the library is always struggling with their budget and would be very appreciative of funds to purchase new books.”
That caught her attention, just as he'd suspected it would, so he continued, “and if you're worried about the appearance of impropriety you can always ask the town council to organise it. Keep everything above board.”
“Thank you for the suggestion, Mr Gold,” she said, and he was pleased to see a thoughtful expression on her face. “I'll definitely think about it.”
Gold nodded his farewells and took his leave. He felt confident that Belle would be all right in the company of her friends. The grumpy one was still hovering protectively, and he'd seen the Lucas girl pushing her way through the crowd heading in their direction.
He made his way straight to his shop but didn't open for business right away, opting to retreat to the back room while he made some calls. He had arrangements to make.
~*~
A few days later Gold stood at the side of the road, watching as Belle and her friends set up her new premises.
He hadn't talked to her in a while, but she looked happy and he was glad for that. He was so focused on watching her that he didn't notice David Nolan approaching him until it was too late.
“Hey, Gold”
“Mr Nolan.” Gold inclined his head and made to move away, but David refused to let him go.
“You know, this was a good thing you did.”
Gold blinked. “I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“Making this place available for Belle. Marco told me that it was an empty shell last week, yet somehow it's been brought up to code and ready to rent in just a few days. I can't imagine how much that would have cost you.”
“I don't know how it goes in your line of work, Mr Nolan, but in the landlord business it's always better to have an income than to not. Investing money into a property in order to rent it out is what I do.”
“Uh huh.” The man had a smug look on his face that Gold didn't like one bit. “And, where is this rental income coming from exactly? The money the town raised with the fundraiser?”
“How should I know?” Gold flicked his hand dismissively. “All that matters to me is being paid the money I'm owed. The source of the funds is not my concern.”
“Really? You don't care at all? Because, you know, there's a funny thing about that fundraiser.” David looked around and lowered his voice conspiratorially, “Mary Margaret told me that while a lot of people were willing to donate, they weren't able to give all that much. Certainly nowhere near the amount necessary. Apparently almost all of the money raised came from one, extremely generous, anonymous donor.”
“What exactly is your point?” Gold snarled, baring his teeth.
“Why don't you just tell her that you like her?”
“Excuse me?”
“Belle. Tell her that you like her.”
“You're being ridiculous.” Gold tried again to move away, but David refused to let up.
“Am I? Because I've known you for years and in all that time I've never seen you do anything without some ulterior motive.”
Gold's mouth twisted. He knew what people thought of him, of course, but to have it laid out so baldly, and from someone he almost considered a friend, still stung. “I see. And you think if I tell Miss French that I donated the money to help her bakery then she will feel so grateful she'll have sex with me.”
“What? No!” David seemed flustered. “Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that this is the first time I've seen you do something nice for someone just because you wanted to help them. She must be pretty special.”
“Yes, well. It doesn't matter.” Gold felt his fingers twitch remembering their previous conversation. “Miss French made it very clear that she wants nothing to do with me.”
“Are you sure about that?” David looked over his shoulder in confusion. “Because she talks about you a lot. And it sure doesn't seem like she wants nothing to do with you.”
“Perhaps you don't know her as well as you think you do. Good day, Mr Nolan.” Gold finally managed to make his escape, barely resisting the urge to look back and attempt to catch another glimpse of Belle as he did so.
~*~
One of the advantages of a reputation such as his was that people didn't generally seek him out if they didn't have to, which meant that his evenings at home usually went undisturbed.
That's why the knock on his door, coming not long after his return, was such a surprise to him.
The sight of the very woman who had occupied his thoughts most of the day stood on his front porch was yet another surprise.
“Good evening, Mr Gold,” she greeted him with a soft smile on her face.
“Miss French.” Gold stared at her dumbly. “What are you doing here?”
Her smile faltered at his rather unwelcoming response, but she pressed on. “I wanted to talk to you. Can I come in?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” He stood back to allow her entry before closing the door behind her. “May I take your coat?”
She seemed relieved at this indication that he wasn't going to kick her out immediately and smiled again, placing her bag down as she removed her overcoat, passing it into his outstretched hand for him to hang up.
When he turned back around he saw her reaching into her bag and pulling out a small box, which she handed to him.
“Here. I, um, I brought some cookies. The first batch made in my new bakery. I wanted to say thank you. For everything”
“It's no matter.” He shrugged, trying to downplay his involvement, as he led her into the kitchen, placing the cookies down on the counter. “The place was sitting empty. This way we both get something out of it.”
“Right.” She bit her lip before taking a deep breath. “See, the thing is... David told me. That you donated the money too.”
Gold made a mental note to have words with Mr Nolan about the consequences of gossip. “He shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry. I know you didn't want me involved and I hope you're not too upset...”
He was cut off by the sudden pressure of her small body crashing into his. Her arms wound around his back and he could feel her breath on his neck. Gold felt his heart stutter in his chest at the contact and he almost missed the words she whispered into his skin.
“I'm not upset.” The quaver in her voice gave him pause, and he pulled back slightly. Belle mirrored his actions, but instead of letting him go she tilted her head, bringing her lips close to his. Ice ran through his veins as he understood her intention and he pushed her away more roughly than he meant to, taking a step back and planting his cane in front of his feet like a shield.
“Miss French, please. I don't know what Nolan told you, but you don't owe me anything. And even if you did I am most certainly not the kind of monster who would expect...that.” The fact that she thought him capable of such things hurt more than he could express and he hoped she would leave soon so he could drown his sorrows in scotch.
“You're not a monster at all,” she cried, moving forward to close the distance between them again and placing her hands over his on his cane. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I shouldn't have done that. And I shouldn't have refused your kind offer the way I did. I hope you know it was never because I was afraid you would hold it over me. I know you wouldn't. I just didn't want you to think I was only interested in you for your money.”
“You... what?” It was an inarticulate response, but his mind had gone blank and he couldn't quite comprehend the meaning of her words.
“Because it was never about that and I wouldn't want you to think it was. I should have known better, I see that now, but I was so afraid of ruining what we have. I'd just lost my bakery and I couldn't bear to lose you too.”
“You're... interested in me?” He felt like his world had been turned upside down in just a few seconds and he never wanted it to right itself. Could she really be saying what he thought she was?
“Of course,” she laughed. “Why do you think I was always at your shop bringing you baked goods?”
“I just thought you were giving out free samples to everyone.”
“Mr Gold, if I gave out as many samples to everyone else as I gave to you I'd have gone out of business months ago.”
“But... why?”
“Because I like you. I like spending time with you. I like talking to you. And I thought...” Here her expression flickered. “I thought maybe you felt the same.”
“I do,” he was quick to reassure her. The last thing he wanted was yet another misunderstanding between them. “Your visits are the highlight of my days. I just never imagined it was possible that you could reciprocate my feelings.”
“Well I do.” She smiled shyly. “You don’t know how many times I wanted to reach across that counter and kiss you. Speaking of which… may I now?”
“By all means,” he breathed.
This time when she moved closer to him he didn't resist, instead bringing his hand up to stroke the side of her face, sliding it around to cup the back of her head as their lips met.
Gold felt tempted to pinch himself, half-convinced that he was having the most wonderful dream. Belle's lips were soft and sweet, moving gently against his as he responded in kind. The kiss was undemanding and delicate, but he could feel the potential for more passionate ones in the future bubbling under the surface.
When they pulled apart he rested his forehead against hers, delighting in sharing her breath as they smiled at each other.
“Would you...” he broke the silence. “Would you like to stay for dinner, Miss French?”
“I would love to.” Her smile widened even further. “And I think it's about time you call me Belle.”
“Belle.” He spoke her name like a caress. “You can call me Frank.”
She pulled back a little and raised an eyebrow. “Your name is Frank Gold?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “And yes, I was called 'Incense and Myrrh' every Christmas throughout all my school years.”
She giggled slightly, “I'm sorry. But that's adorable.”
“I'm glad you think so.”
“If it makes you feel any better, the kids at my school called me Jingle Belle.”
“Actually, it does.” He blinked, wondering what to say next when movement in the darkness outside caught his eye. “Huh.”
“What?” She turned and he could see the moment she noticed what he had as she pulled away in excitement. “Oh wow, it's snowing!”
“Apparently so.” They moved closer to the window to better see the thick white flakes. “And it looks like there's going to be a lot of it.”
“It's so beautiful,” she sighed, leaning into his side. For once he didn't feel like disagreeing. “But I should probably mention that I didn't bring any snow boots with me.”
She looked up at him with a mischievous grin that he returned, before glancing down at her heels. “I suppose you'll just have to stay here then. Those shoes are definitely not appropriate for this weather.”
“I suppose so.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “I did bring the ingredients for my festive cocoa though. I thought we could make it together.”
His breath caught as he comprehended the magnitude of what she was offering. “I'd like that.”
~*~
Christmas Eve, Five Years Later
“Good morning, Mr Gold!” Belle's cheerful voice rang out through his shop as she stepped through the door. Gold smiled at the familiar sound as he raised his head from his ledger to greet her in return.
“Good morning, Mrs Gold.” He put his pen down as she skipped over to give him a quick kiss. “What brings you here?”
“I wanted to remind you that we both need to get home by four at the latest if we're going to have the festive cocoa ready by the time Bae and Emma arrive. You know as soon as they get here Henry's going to be having you make paper snowflakes with him all evening.”
“I remember.” Warmth spread through him as he thought about having all his family together for Christmas again this year. “You didn't have to leave the bakery to come and tell me that, I'm sure this must be a busy morning for you.”
“It is,” Belle admitted, “but Ariel and Astrid have it under control. And... I wanted to give you this.”
He took the paper bag she held out to him and reached inside, pulling out two gingerbread figures. One was clearly a man, decorated with a suit that matched the one he was currently wearing. The other was a woman wearing a dress the same colour as Belle's, but with a far more prominent waistline than his wife had.
He looked up at her, watching the way she bit her lip as the meaning of the gift dawned on him. “Are you...?”
“I am,” she confirmed, placing a gentle hand over her stomach. “It's still early days so I don't want to announce it yet, but I wanted you to know. Of course this does mean we'll have to come up with a reason why I'm not drinking any of the eggnog tonight.”
Gold laughed in delight, hurrying around the side of the counter as quickly as he could to throw his arms around his wife. Just when he'd thought his life was as happy as it could possibly be, she went and proved him wrong. She'd always been good at that.
Belle returned his hug, her own arms tight around his back, before pulling away and looking into his eyes, tears in her own. “Merry Christmas, Frank,” she whispered, her face moving towards his.
“Merry Christmas, Belle,” he replied, closing the distance between them and capturing her lips with his own.
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What is the one thing from Lover's Leap that you are looking forward to writing the most?
Only one? That's a tough choice, since there are three stories that I'm looking forward to writing. So now you make me choose, hmm?
I think I have to say it's the one that's going to be set in 19th Century London, in the times of the "Big Stink."
(The other two choices were the one in North Carolina and one modeled after The Night Circus.)
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2024 Chipped Cup Awards - Masterlist
Here, once again, are the winners of the 2024 Chipped Cup Awards
FLUFF:
Family: Tea and Roses by @thatravenclawbitch
Comfort: Struck By a Golden Arrow by @avatoh
Fix-it: Ritual by @peacehopeandrats
Reunion: A Dream is a Wish by @rowofstars
SMUT:
Kink/BDSM: On The House by @kelyon
Romance: Brandy, Apples, and Spice by @rufeepeach
Comedy: Accidents by @peacehopeandrats
Threesome: Fulfilling a Fantasy by @thescholarlystrumpet
First Time: Queen Takes Knight by @emospritelet
PWP: In the Dark and Wicked Hours by @rowofstars
ANGST:
Death: Strong for Belle by @desperatemurph
Hurts So Good: To Have and To Hold by @thatravenclawbitch
Misunderstanding: Unexpected But Not Unwelcome by @tickletorso
ROMANCE:
Date (overall) Lost and Found by @peacehopeandrats
Courtship: The Sweetest Dream by @threepwoodmarley
First Meeting: Portrait of the Heart by @chippedcupwrites
GENERAL:
One Shot: Pages of Reverie by @chippedcupwrites
Series: Lover’s Leap by @eirian-houpe
Novel Length: Mountains, Streams, and Magical Things by @peacehopeandrats
Short Fic: Babysitting by @timelordthirteen
Holiday Centric: Brandy, Apples, and Spice by @rufeepeach
Remix: Our Masks by @lotus0kid
Crossover: A Blade for Belfrey by @eirian-houpe
Dark Castle: Marble by @peacehopeandrats
Storybrooke: Leaving Storybrooke by @peacehopeandrats
"Missing Years": The Tent of Infinite Adventure by @peacehopeandrats
Wish!Verse: Deception by @eirian-houpe
SPECIAL CATEGORIES:
Golden Lace: The Storybrooke Whisky Appreciation Society by @threepwoodmarley
Woven Beauty: Undefined Desires by @worryinglyinnocent
Background Swanfire: To Have and to Hold by @thatravenclawbitch
Afterlife: Granted by @peacehopeandrats
Drama: Love Me Before the Last Petal Falls by @deliriumsdelight7
Supernatural/Sci-fi/Horror: The Cunning by @mareyshelley
Comedy: Lacey and the Tramp by @chippedcupwrites
AU-Original: Wretched Beginnings by @poorobscureplainandlittle
AU- OUAT: Tales of Gold by @JurisLadyAnna
AU-Other Media: The Black Swan by @deliriumsdelight7
Creature: The Finfolk’s Bride by @chippedcupwrites
Unexpected Twist: Contract by @kelyon
Bobby Squared: A Blade for Belfrey by @eirian-houpe
Trope: Love Me Before the Last Petal Falls by @deliriumsdelight7
English Language: To Nurse by @charon53
EVENTS
RSS: If You Will Be My Queen by @eirian-houpe
Fluffapalooza (Fic): The Tea Shop by @peacehopeandrats
Fluffapalooza (Art): Kiss Me Again, It’s Working by @milaeryn
Monthly Rumbelling: The Landlord and the Princess by @Rumplerose (AO3)
CHARACTER AWARDS
Belle: The Not So Dark One by @charlotteashmore13
Dark One!Belle: Rags to Riches by @alphashley14
Lacey: Sore Hearted Souls by @nerdrumple
Spinner!Rumple: Witch and Spinner by @Strummer_Pinks
Dark One!Rumple: Gilded by @eirian-houpe
Wish!Rumple: Once There Was a Wish by @peacehopeandrats
Mr. Gold: The Caretaker by @thestraggletag
Detective Weaver: Forgery by @peacehopeandrats
Baelfire/Neal: A House Built With Love by @of-princes-and-savages
Gideon: Finding You by @clarahue
OC Rumbelle Child: The Zoo by @peacehopeandrats
Villain: Cora in On the House by @kelyon
BFF/Wingman: Mountains, Streams, and Magical Things by @peacehopeandrats
ART
Fan Art: Kiss Me Again, It’s Working by @milaeryn
Graphic Art: And Love is When Someone Who Even KNows Your Scars Stays To Kiss You by @chippedcupwrites
AU In Art: Belle Isn’t Fascinated by the Idea of Marrying Gaston by @notonlymice
Fluff Art: Belle French and the Dork One by @chippedcupwrites
Angsty Art: In My Memory It Doesn’t End by @ace-cf-cups
Comic/Graphic Novel: Wearing Each Other’s Clothes by @angelqueen13art
Use of Color: Kiss Me Again, It’s Working by @milaeryn
Video: Your Beauty Never Ever Scared Me by @chippedcupwrites
SUPERLATIVES:
Best Artist: @chippedcupwrites
Best Author: @kelyon
Best New Author: @ace-cf-cups
Best Rumbelle Fic: The Language of Flowers by @deliriumsdelight7
Best Anyelle Fic: Let’s Spend the Night Together by @ifishouldvanish
Best Anyem Fic: Tyger Tyger by @shakespeareanhoneybadgers
Rumbelle Lifetime Achievement: @jackabelle73
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AMR Reboot: December Prompts
We're back! It's been a minute, but I have missed having these prompts for people to use, and I've definitely missed reading the fun fics that folks submit.
Please try not to post until it’s the correct month has started somewhere in the world. This helps to avoid confusion - for a time this isn't going to matter too much, because we'll be posting month by month anyway.
As is tradition, prompt reminders will appear at the halfway point and one week out reminders will also appear. So, without further ado…
Moodboard:
(Many thanks to @peacehopeandrats for help with this month's moodboard).
Non-smut: A character reacts to an unexpected question
Smut: well, potential, spend, burst
Random: (movie quote) "Our survival instinct is our greatest source of inspiration." - Interstellar (2014)
gif:
A reminder for all:
If the prompts are 3-5 words you don’t have to include all of them. Imaginary bonus points if you do :) but zero stress they just have to include a couple in some fashion so it fits the prompt.
If the prompt is a quote you can include it at any point, it doesn’t have to be the opening line.
If the prompt is the image moodboard (multiple images) you can be inspired by one of them, be inspired by two, be inspired by the lot, get a feeling from the thing and not one of the images specifically - it’s all good. There is no wrong way to approach this.
If the images on the moodboard are of Robert or Emilie’s non-rumbelle characters (eg Rush, Macavoy, Claire, Heiro…), don’t feel you have to use that character. They’re just there for a bit of variety.
Anyelle and anyem are welcome if you do want to use them, though!
if you are inspired by the gif prompt, similarly, your creativity is your only limit. It’ll be a real treat to see you might come up with.
Happy Rumbelling!
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exit_stage_left is @eirian-houpe
Tangerine Monkeytoes is @peacehopeandrats
Thumper is @itschippedcup
Boss Weasel is @comradegiddybiscuit
Snax is @tickletorso
ThinMint is @thisgirlshouldbestudying
Seiren is @deliriumsdelight7
The_Wonderous_Trianne is @kelyon
sleeve garters is @beastlycheese
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OUaT: The Best of the Season
AO3 link. Belle has a suspicion that something is magically amiss in a region of her former homeland. On midwinter's night, can she sneak out of the Dark Castle and discover the truth about the blighted land of Montriond? And will that truth be far more than what a lady-turned-caretaker can handle? ((For the 2022 Rumbelle Secret Santa, using @peacehopeandrats’s prompt “ snow, fire, lights/stars, warmth, outdoors”. Hope you like it!))
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WIP Title Game
Thanks @astorytotellyourfriends for tagging me!
RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.
I am NOT tagging all those people. I’ll tag @eirian-houpe @peacehopeandrats @aicosu @ensrensage @phoenixwrites and anyone else who wants to join!
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Copy and paste an excerpt from a fic of your choice that you are particularly fond of. Explain why or what elements of it you particularly like.
I was torn between two: Marble, or Mountains, Streams, and Magical Things. I went with Marble because it was easier to find a short bit I liked and why.
“Here it says, ‘The dog first caught sight of his own shadow and believing it to be a rival after his meal, snarled and snapped at the dark shape of himself, dropping the meat onto the bank. He did this over and over again until he noticed his reflection at his other side, in the water. There the meat looked even tastier than what he carried, so he dropped it again, but this time his prized dinner disappeared into the pool, and the dog went hungry.’”
The Dark One rolled his eyes. “Magic and a moral. I’d be impressed if I could prove that this quaint little story is connected to the item I brought home,” he huffed.
“These words bordering the illustration here...” Belle lifted the candle further so that she could better point at them with her smallest finger. She indicated a line of unusual text, one that appeared similar to the carvings on the wood. “They’re ancient. If I’m reading them correctly, it says, ‘Beware the shadow and reflection coveting what you seek.’”
I picked this one because I was especially happy with how the image of the marble statue in the Rumbelling prompt got me to this fable and connected everything to magic. I am usually crap at magical stuff. I hate it. This exercise in writing it was something I really enjoyed.
If you are asking because you would like to read it, the fic is here:
Thabks for the ask. Sorry the other one took a week.
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WIP ask game
Rules: post the names of all* the files in your WIP folder regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! And then tag some people. (You can make your own post or reblog this one!) I have deemed that this isn’t just for writing either. Sketch titles? Comics? DnD campaigns? If you have an unfinished project, it counts!!
*okay you don’t have to do all of them if, like me, you have a truly obscene number of fics cause aintnobodygottimeforthat
___
Tagged by @ishtarelisheba in this post. My WIPs (the term is used extremely loosely in respect of some of these) are titled as follows:
Closing the Circle
Desperation sequel
Manifesto
new rumbelle fic
Homecoming latest
Crystal Tears
DTF 13
Small World verse
Original Sin 4
Sparks
The Watcher
SQ fic
BFAE2
I tag @abovethemists, @peacehopeandrats and @mrs-stiltskin
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Rumbelle Secret Santa
gifted for @peacehopeandrats! i finally made it back to my laptop! how funny that we got each other!
i tried to make this as canon as i possibly could while still filling in some stuff the writers could have explored a little more.
i hope you enjoy it!
Winter Solstice
Summary: Belle tries to have a first (normal) holiday away from her papa.
Prompt: enjoying winter and drinking tea.
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The Festival - Rumbelle Secret Santa Gift
Title: The Festival
By: boushh2187
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Rumbelle :)
Rumbelle Secret Santa 2020 Gift for @peacehopeandrats
Prompt: winter, fire, stroll in the snow
Word Count: 2220
Rated: PG
Author’s Note: @peacehopeandrats it was a pleasure being your santa! I hope you enjoy this little story. I really liked the prompt and tried going for something wintery and heartwarming. :)
Summary: A visit to a nearby winter festival continues the unusual relationship between the master of the castle and the caretaker.
“There you are!” Belle stood indoors at the top of one of the castle towers. The wind whipped through the open window where Rumplestiltskin stood. She had been looking for him for quite some time. It wasn’t terribly unusual for him to up and disappear occasionally, but overall he would let her know if he would be leaving the castle. Belle suspected that he knew she would get frustrated if she was alone in the castle and didn’t know it, especially if she expected to have a dinner companion.
He stood by the window, and the wind blew at his frayed cloak and his hair. He looked quite human when he was silhouetted, and Belle knew that he must have been a man once. Even through his unusual sparkling, scaly skin, and odd eyes, one could see the man that was once behind the beast. He turned slightly so that she could see his profile more clearly and he nodded to acknowledge her presence.
She moved forward and stood next to him, trying to get a peek out the window. Something had caught his attention, and as usual, Belle was curious. “What has your attention at such an hour? Your dinner is going to get cold.” He stood aside slightly, so that she could stand next to him and have a look out of the narrow window. She shivered and rubbed at her arms. Her peasant dress was not for this weather, at least not without a warm cloak.
Belle looked into the distance and she assumed she saw what had interested Rumplestiltskin. The nearby town was brightly lit, much more so than usual. There seemed to be much more activity. She could even make out more pillars of smoke when the moonlight shone through the clouds. She squinted her eyes and asked, “Is it… is it a winter festival?”
“Indeed.”
“Have you ever been? What am I saying, of course you must have gone. It’s so close…”
“It’s been many, many years since I’ve been to such a thing. I don’t have time, nor interest in festivals unless they serve to close a deal.”
“You’ve been to a winter festival in the past though?”
“Of course. I am hundreds of years old, and my… and I knew someone who enjoyed these festivals very much.”
Once again, an allusion to his life before. Belle would get glimpses into his past, and even though she found his magic and his adventures interesting, she was even more curious about his life before… when he was an ordinary person.
“Come along now. You said our dinner was getting cold!” His cloak billowed behind him as he walked by. He took the stairs swiftly, and Belle followed with a final shiver from the cold. She found it worth noting that even with all of his magic, Rumplestiltskin rarely used it in the castle for mundane things such as traveling within the large estate. She supposed that’s why he needed or wanted a caretaker… well except for the obvious fact that he was lonely.
*****
Belle sat near the fireplace of the great room in the castle. It had gone out while she and Rumplestiltskin were finishing their meal. She set about arranging the logs and lighting the fire. It wasn’t a moment too soon as there was a chill in the air already. She watched as the kindling started to catch and the flame lifted upwards into a nice warm fire. She held her hands out to warm them. Perfect.
Rumplestiltskin was nearby spinning, deep in thought as usual. This was around the time where she would bring out some tea and read for a while before it was time to turn in for the night. She walked up to Rumplestiltskin and watched him spin for a few moments. She enjoyed watching him spin. It was soothing somehow. “What is it, dearie?” His voice startled her out of her quiet reverie. He seemed to reproach himself immediately when he saw her reaction.
Belle shook herself and replied, “Oh, I wanted to ask you what type of tea you would like this evening? The Greenleaf, perhaps?”
“Fine.” He glanced at her briefly before continuing with his spinning.
Belle watched the gold string fall softly into the basket below. Something was clearly on his mind. She smiled softly and set off to prepare their tea.
A short while later, she sat reading her latest discovery from the castle library, which was also her bedroom. She tried not to chuckle at that. If she was going to be stuck in this castle for the rest of her life, she couldn’t think of a better spot to call her own.
She closed the book with a satisfied sigh. The ending of this one was perfect, unlike the last one she read, which left her wanting to toss the book into the fire… not that she would ever really toss any book into a fire. Sometimes though, she wondered what the author was thinking with an ending like that! So many loose ends… but this one was wrapped up neatly and it was just perfect.
“Enjoy the book?” Rumplestiltskin asked. He was standing quite close to her and she had been so wrapped up in the story that she hadn’t noticed.
“Oh yes.” She held the book out to him. “Would you like to read it?”
Rumplestiltskin smiled. “I’ve read every book in that library.”
Belle raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t considered that possibility.
“We need to get you some new books!”
Rumplestiltskin laughed softly. She enjoyed when he was so amiable.
“Perhaps you can do so tomorrow.”
“What do you mean?”
“How would you like to accompany me to the winter festival in town?”
Belle stood up. “Oh, I would love to! I haven’t been to one since I was a child! My mother used to take me and then the ogres began to act up and my father forbade us to go out of the castle walls without an armed guard. It just wouldn’t have been the same to visit with a group of soldiers following us around.”
“Then we shall go tomorrow. No need for an armed guard. I shall protect you from any foe,” he said it with a silly tone in his voice, but his expression betrayed him and she sensed that he was truly quite serious.
*****
They took the carriage late that afternoon. Belle convinced Rumplestiltskin to take the horses out for the evening and not rely on his magic to propel the carriage. In truth she did find the horseless carriage fascinating, but she also knew the horses needed a good work out and she loved helping get them ready. It was also something that the two of them could do together in companionable silence. She enjoyed moments like those. It was as if they were almost friends.
At the moment, they sat together in the carriage. He had draped a blanket over the two of them, as he had done on a few occasions where they had gone out. He still directed the horses using his magic, but at least the poor beasts weren’t idling in the castle all day. It was cold out, but the horses could handle it, especially since they were moving at a nice pace.
There was a light snow falling, just enough to look pretty. It would be nice to take a stroll in the snow at the winter festival. As they neared the village, Belle could make out the abundant candles lit throughout the village. She could smell the fresh bread and pastries that were being made in the kitchens too.
Rumplestiltskin stopped the carriage just outside the village and helped her down. She shivered a bit as she stepped into the slightly snow covered ground. Perhaps this peasant dress and this floral patterned cloak that she wore weren’t enough to keep her warm outside of the carriage. She picked up the pace towards the village, and Rumplestiltskin followed. He was dressed more warmly than she was, in a heavy cloak and boots. “Hurry!” she called out to him. I think it would be nice to get some warm bread!”
They walked through the village pathways that were lined with cottages, smoke billowing through the chimneys. Both she and Rumplestiltskin had their hoods up, though Belle suspected that Rumplestiltskin did this so that he would not get any attention. She wondered if the villagers knew him at all? They stopped at the baker’s shop and Rumplestiltskin purchased a nice warm loaf of cinnamon bread. The village was now dark except for the moonlight that filtered in through the trees and rooftops, and of course the candles and crackling fire pits. They shared the warm bread as they browsed the shops selling trinkets, clothes, books, and supplies of all kinds. They purchased candles to celebrate the occasion and walked along the light crowds just like the regular townspeople were doing.
They went in and out of the shops. The snow had coated the ground and frosted up the windows. It was perfect timing for such a festival. Belle browsed the dresses in one of the shops and stopped to look at a red velvet dress that looked to be much warmer than what she was wearing now. Of course, it was something that was meant for a party, and not maid attire at all.
“Go try it on,” Rumplestiltskin said from behind her. She jumped slightly. She had been so engrossed in running her fingers through the fabric that she had forgotten that he’d come in the shop along with her.
The shopkeeper was all too happy to usher her into a dressing room, and was chatting about coming in for fittings as Belle stepped into the room. The shopkeeper drew the curtains behind her, and she was alone there for a moment and about to hold up the dress to see how to loosen the fastenings, when it glowed and disappeared from her hands. She was suddenly wearing the very dress that she had held in her hands, and it fit perfectly. The garb that she wore from the castle was in a satchel at her feet. Rumplestiltskin, she muttered under her breath. How am I going to explain this? She couldn’t help but smile subtly as she stepped back into the shop.
Rumplestiltskin stood there. His hood was down, and the shopkeeper looked taken aback. He held up a heavy, red velvet cloak with white fur trim. “To complete the look,” he said, and twirled his fingers for her to turn around. She turned her back towards him, trying to keep her small smile from turning into a full fledged silly grin. He placed the cloak on her shoulders and drew the clasps closed in front of her. “There,” he said. “Now your attire suits the occasion, and the weather.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Belle said as she turned to face him.
“Think nothing of it. I grew tired of seeing you dressed in the same old thing!” he threw a hand up in the air and stepped away from her. She watched as he emptied a bag of gold onto the shopkeeper’s counter. “Please, let my maid choose whatever else she likes. I will be waiting outside.” He glanced at Belle and smiled softly. Sometimes, he was something else, and certainly not the monster he appeared to be. She wished those moments were more frequent.
When she met him outside the shop a short while later she had something for him. She held out a package wrapped in brown paper and a red ribbon.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Just a little gift. You said that I could get anything else I liked in the shop. Well, I thought you could use this.”
The snow had stopped falling and they both had their hoods down. The cold air had turned Belle’s cheeks rosy. She could feel it. Rumplestiltskin placed their large candles down onto a nearby table, and opened the gift. As he unwrapped it, he looked surprised and touched that she had thought to give him something, even though he had brought up that very thing last night. His hands ran along the leather-bound book that Belle had chosen for him. It was a dark brown color and the title was stamped in gold foil. “The Unusual Affair”
“The shopkeeper said it’s brand new! The ink is barely dry, she said. I’m sure you haven’t read this one.”
Rumplestiltskin looked at her with a gentle expression. “I have not. Thank you, Belle.” He chuckled as he added, “I must say that it sounds rather scandalous.”
Belle laughed. “It does… And thank you for the new dress and cloak.” She looked down, suddenly feeling her cheeks grow warm. Hopefully, he would think it was just from the cold.
He reached down and took the satchel that held her everyday clothes. “Come along now. It’s getting late and I want to start reading my new book!” he exclaimed, as if she was holding him back. He held his arm out with a flourish for her to step ahead of him. She chuckled at his antics and took the candles from the table, lighting their way back to their carriage and their way home.
#rumbelle secret santa#peacehopeandrats#rumbelle#rumbelle fic#rumbelle fanfic#my stuff#my fics#rss 2020
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@peacehopeandrats @jackabelle73 I want to continue our Star Trek discussion but thought it might be better if we move it away from that gifset so we don't clutter it up!
If pushed to name my absolute favourite Trek I think I'd have to go with TNG cos that's the one I grew up with. (And that's probably why I'm willing to overlook its terrible early seasons!) Having said that though, Voyager is such a close second they may as well be tied. It meant so much to me as a teenager.
I did enjoy DS9 but it took me a bit longer to get into. And then it broke my heard cos I loved Jadzia and the Jadzia/Worf ship! I was absolutely devastated when she died and it took me a long time to forgive the show for that!
I'm also currently loving Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds. They both feel like love letters to older Treks and are amazing shows in their own rights as well.
I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I haven't actually watched much TOS. I remember catching an episode when I was a kid, and from what I can recall it was Spock's Brain, so perhaps not the best introduction to the series, lol!
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Since I try not to read fic and write it at the same time, I'm way behind on reading. Is there a fic that you haven't been asked about lately that you are really into and want to share some info on? Happy to hear anything about it from the planning and plotting process to your frustrations for a scene you are stuck on. Anything will do, just happy to hear from you.
Hey! Thank you for the ask!
Oh, so many to choose from - how about I give you two, one book AU and one TV show crossover AU? (And I think these are both ones that you put me on the path to, so... appropriate.)
The book AU - Time's Curse is an AU of How To Stop Time by Matt Haig. I have an outline (f I can still find it) of the first twelve or so chapters. I'm going to need to read the book again before I can plan any further than that. The thing that's been the biggest issue in this whole thing is 'casting' as it were - you know, which Once character is going to be which character from the book, I mean, Bae is obvious - although as I'm tying this I'm having a moment of 'what if...' - to be the person Rumple is searching for before he runs into French teacher Belle at the school where he starts working. The one I am having the hardest time with is Jefferson, surprisingly enough, but as a 'portal jumper' I think I know what might work well given some of Jefferson's backstory (Once) and this mysterious person who Tom's (Rumple) character tries to stop being hurt at the end, where he also 'finds' the one he's been looking for. Which is as much as I can say really without giving massive spoilers for the whole story. But it's been a lot of fun working through each of the moments in the book, and adapting them so that our beloved Once characters can fit and it can also make sense in terms of the story that I'm using for the AU.
The TV show AU is Modern Wonders, which is a Once/Alice (2009) crossover. I'm having great fun with this one, though, I'm /still/ not 100% sure how I'm going to have Storybrooke fit into this version of Wonderland. Without too big of a spoiler - I'm very excited over the twist I have for Archie, our dear sweet cricket, and psychiatrist of Storybrooke. Alice as well... beyond the obvious, but... when I get to outline a little bit more of this, I think I'll be more comfortable about mixing Once timelines and events from all of the seasons into one big mess. Maybe that's the 'magic'/'curse' of Wonderland after all. I do know that our friend the portal jumper will be instrumental in this story as well... and we're playing to his dark side in this one, and that's a whole heck of a lot of fun.
Have I sufficiently muddied the waters? LOL. I could be more specific if I were sitting with the outlines themselves. I loved this ask though, especially as I was thinking of implementing a "behind the scenes" kind of post for the fics I'm writing, like I used to do.
Thanks again for the ask.
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2024 Nominees Part 2
Here we continue to celebrate our wonderful writers and artist and share the next list of nominees under the cut
Best Dark Castle
Spy by @peacehopeandrats
Tea by @peacehopeandrats
Marble by @peacehopeandrats
Pages of Reverie by @chippedcupwrites
Shades of Blue by @ReyloAreHairGoals
His Little Wife by @Lady_Janes_Fics
The Weakness Inside Him by @Tickletorso
Best Storybrooke
Golden Thread by @enchantedflower
Symmetrical Simulations by @peacehopeandrats
War In Pieces by @peacehopeandrats
The Meeting by @peacehopeandrats
Leaving Storybrooke by @peacehopeandrats
Best Missing Years
Leaving Storybrooke by @peacehopeandrats
The Tent Of Infinite Adventure by @peacehopeandrats
Balloon by @peacehopeandrats
Unconventional by @Peacehopeandrats
Sacred Promise by @ace_cf_cups
The Storybrooke Whisky Appreciation Society by @threepwoodmarley
Best Wish!Verse
Once There Was A Wish by @peacehopeandrats
Deception by @eirian_houpe
Special Categories
Best Golden Lace
One Lover, Many Dreams by @peacehopeandrats
War In Pieces by @peacehopeandrats
Wax by @peacehopeandrats
The Storybrooke Whisky Appreciation Society by @ThreepwoodMarley
Weakness by @ThreepwoodMarley
Best Woven Beauty
Gift by Peacehopeandrats
Undefined Desires, by @worryinglyinnocent
Best Background Swanfire
To Have and to Hold - @ThatRavenclawBitch
Fragments of the Past, Glimpses of Tomorrow, by @wierdogal
Best Afterlife fic
Granted by @peacehopeandrats
Belle's Promise by @bellerina98
Awakening by @eirian_houpe
Best Drama
Time’s Curse by @eirian_houpe
Love Me Before The Last Petal Falls by deliriumsdelight7
Ad Luceum by @reolf
Best Supernatural/Sci-fi/horror
No Light Over London by @lotus0kid
The Cunning by @mareyshelley
Mortuus Loqueris Ad by @Jackabelle73
Best Comedy
The Third Wheel by @tickletorso
Lacey and the Tramp by @chippedcupwrites
Best AU (Original)
Wretched Beginnings by @poorobscureplainandlittle
Wild by @Peacehopeandrats
Two Could by @eirian_houpe
Secret of the Seas by @eirian_houpe
Scattered by @eirian_houpe
Best AU (Based on Once Upon a Time)
Tales of Gold by @JurisLadyAnna
A Knack for Losing Everything by @AntiKryptonite
Best AU (Based on Other Media)
Rumbelle’s ‘The Princess Bride’ by @Trash_000
Modern Wonders by @eirian_houpe
The Black Swan by @DeliriumsDelight7
Time’s Curse by @eirian_houpe
Best Creature
The Finfolk’s Bride by @chippedcupwrites
The Cunning by @mareyshelley
Fallen by @eirian_houpe
Before the Storm by @reolf
Best Unexpected Twist
Contract by @Kelyon
His Little Wife by @Lady_Janes_Fics
The Price by eirian_houpe
Best Bobby Squared
The Gold Motel by mrgoldsdearie
A Blade For Belfrey by eirian_houpe
Best Trope
Love Me Before The Last Petal Falls by @DeliriumsDelight7
Wounds and Scars by @Peacehopeandrats
Beauty Compelled by @eirian_houpe
Premonition by @ace_cf_cups
Before the Storm by @reolf
Best English Language
To Nurse by @Charon53
His Ray of Light by @ace_cf_cups
Events
Best Rumbelle Secret Santa
Wrapping Up Her Christmas Gift by @Kelyon
Gluttony, a RSS Fic by @thestraggletag
The Sweetest Dream by @threepwoodmarley
Christmas Secrets by @peacehopeandrats
If You Will Be My Queen by @eirian_houpe
Make Me Feel Alive Again by @cartoonjessie
Finding the Fun by @tickletorso
They Said it Was a Party by @of-princes-and-savages
There Can Only Ever Be by @notalwayslate
Mysterious by @reolf
Portrait of the Heart by @chippedcupwrites
Rumbelle Secret Santa by @99goosebumps
Already There by @Jackabelle73
Best Fluffapalooza Fic
The Tea Shop by @peacehopeandrats
Dragon Day by @importantgalaxyrimaway
Content Rumbelle #1 through #8 by @Jackabelle73
Best Fluffapalooza Art
Kiss Me Again, It's Working by @milaeryn
Rumbelle (Something There) by @personinthepalace
Best Monthly Rumbelling
Encounter - Rumplerose (AO3)
The Landlord and the Princess - Rumplerose (AO3)
Honorable - Rumplerose (AO3)
Character Awards
Best Belle
The Not So Dark One by @CharlotteAshmore
Lady of the Lake by @rumplestiltskinsbulge
Beauty Enlightened by @eirian_houpe
Ingredients by @peacehopeandrats
Delivery by @peacehopeandratsThe Oldest Door by @peacehopeandrats
Best Dark One!Belle
Rags to Riches by @alphashley14
Fallen by @eirian_houpe
And onward to part 3!
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March Prompts
Thank you to @peacehopeandrats for this month’s moodboard.
Moodboard
Non-smut: Don’t look down
Smut: punch, powder
Random: “Whoops. Broke your 350 year old doorknob.” (Random line from The Social Network.
gif:
A reminder for all:
If the prompts are 3-5 words you don’t have to include all of them. Imaginary bonus points if you do :) but zero stress they just have to include a couple in some fashion so it fits the prompt.
If the prompt is a quote you can include it at any point, it doesn’t have to be the opening line.
If the prompt is the image moodboard (multiple images) you can be inspired by one of them, be inspired by two, be inspired by the lot, get a feeling from the thing and not one of the images specifically - it’s all good. There is no wrong way to approach this.
If the images on the moodboard are of Robert or Emilie’s non-rumbelle characters (eg Rush, Macavoy, Claire, Heiro…), don’t feel you have to use that character. They’re just there for a bit of variety.
Anyelle and anyem are welcome if you do want to use them, though!
if you are inspired by the gif prompt, similarly, your creativity is your only limit. It’ll be a real treat to see you might come up with.
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My guess is Seiren is peacehopeandrats.
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