A Party (Set Before Belle Goes With Rumple)

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

The air was filled with joy & laughter, of course the war had yet to spread this far, so the people had no reason to fear or worried about such trouble. Also it was rumored that the Dark One stopped the war, so perhaps more reason to celebrated even if this man did not show, not that anyone asked him to it, was nice to think that the war was over that they would not have to worry about having to go to war & losing there loved ones.

Of course as the party got under way, it was mid afternoon, likely to give children a chance to celebrated as well, before they would have to go to bed. There was all kinds of things to eat, to try & drink, anyone that came was sure to have a good time, some said that even some high up royals might show up, but who knew until the party was over.

Some people came in mask why others did not it was choose, since it was just a party to celebrated the rumor of war being over for now any way.

Though it was hard to keep Rumple away from such an event, he showed up in black leather pants & boots, with a golden color shirt, with a red vest that had a high caller to it, something he was not know for wearing the reason he did it to help threw people form knowing it was him for sure. He choose to wear a mask, to make it even more fun for him, for who knows perhaps deal was to be found & made here. The mask was black leather, though it looked like feathers, though it had 3 layers to it & it only showed the face from the lips down.

He watched form a shadowed spot as people came & went, though he mostly listened for you never knew what you would hear, that you could use later or he could at least for his own gain.

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

Belle was not really looking forward to the party. She was more of a simple woman that enjoyed sitting in the garden and reading a good book. That was what made her happy. But her father and Gaston had insisted she attend and to save an argument, her she was.

Belle was dressed in a deep maroon gown. It was off the shoulder and full sleeved. The dress trailed off almost a foot behind her. Nice and one of her favorites. On her face was a black jeweled half face mask. It left her nose and pretty mouth uncovered. Belle's hair was down around her shoulders. Her arm was linked with Gaston's. It was hard to be proper when actually she would rather enter on her own but she was smart enough to know that it would not be permitted.

Once they entered the ball room, Belle spotted a number of people she knew and she excused herself from Gaston to mingle and talk with her friends. As she crossed the large room, her eyes fell on the man near the wall. She nodded out of curiosity and gave a soft smile. There was soft music playing in the background and Belle almost wanted to dance.

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

Rumple had watched form his spot to those that came by, he heard a few talking & he was sure form it that it would end in a deal soon, he smirked at the idea, as his eyes sparked how fun it would be at that. He watched as a lady passed he did not think of it much, though she nodded his way not something really anyone else did & until she did it, he though none had even noticed him, so of course this got his interest into who the lady was, for the moment she was alone though he could not say she had not come with someone.

At the though he smirked as he moved from his place to learn who she was, after all he could say it was his business to know those close to his own kingdom & besides he knew well that those of the royal class where more likely to want for a deal, something he was to happy to give out for a price of course.

So he moved threw the crowds listening to those around him & watching the lady as she headed for her friends, he had no need to ask for her name not yet, for he was sure her friends would tell him that much & from there he could learn all he wanted. How ever he did well to see to it that he stayed as much to the shadows as she could & also to not appear he was really fallowing Belle to start with.

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

Belle smiled as she neared her female friends. They had spotted her and stepped forward to great her. Kisses on the cheek were exchanged and Belle hugged one friend as the girl purred. "You look beautiful, Belle." Belle smiled in response and then replied. "Thank you." The group of talking and laughing girls moved now towards the refreshment table. Abi looked over her shoulder as they walked.

She was originally looking for her father but her eyes fell on the man she had spotted before. He had moved. But surely he was just enjoying himself. She had no reason to think any different. Thought she had seen him glance her way maybe and Belle gave another soft smile. She moved to the tables now and was handed a wine glass of red wine. Belle sipped at it danitly.

Before long, the music and the conversations bored her and Belle slipped out a side door and into the large garden where she moved to the gazebo and to a stone bench under the shelter.

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

Rumple heard Belles friends & sure enough he learned what he wanted, though to keep form looking like he was watching her he left shortly after to another area, he could learn about much on Belle by just asking though if he did so he would have to ask more then one person, so it was not so noticed he was asking more then anyone should.

How ever he soon found him self away form people, he could deal with them only so long, but so many hear where worried form them self's not others, something he should of been use to, but was not. It still annoyed him that people could be so shallow, people should think to put people a head of them self's when it came to they ruled, yet for the most part he heard that people where most likely to save them self's then think of others before them.

He found him self out side in the guarder, his mind think on much enough that he did not hear Belle when she came out, something he should have & yet did not, he was not that far away form her, but yet he had taken to looking into the waters of the water fountain as his mind wondered.

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

Belle had not noticed that there as anyone else out here until after she had sat. He was not actually that far away from her. Belle not know how it was that she had missed him. But then again, she had not exactly been thinking hen she had come out her. She had just wanted to get away from the festivities. She looked at him now however. He had his back to her and she let her eyes move over his hair. She liked his hair actually. It was different from the style the men she knew wore.

After a moment, she looked away again. She was just a little shy. Belle opened her mouth to spoke and then closed it again. She hesitated and took a sip of her wine before trying again. "Are you not enjoying the party?" She asked softly. She was still not looking at him. Instead she looked at the wine glass in her hands. Abi sat in shadow as there ere no lights out here.

(I thought he could be mean to her kind of. Maybe they could have a little spat or something later in the thread. I see him a slightly forceful man when angry. Maybe she would get made and slap him or something and he grabs her arm or something to stop her from leaving... idk. Just suggestions.)

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

Rumple heard her words he jumped, it was enough of a startle that it sent him jumping up of course though it also was a bit forward making him land in the water of the fountain before he even got the chance to turn around & face her, all ready to do something to who ever startled him so, even if he was here to so called mingle.

The sound of his boots hitting the water was likely heard though, he turned with grace to face her even if he was ready to use his magic on who ever had startled him so, how ever it died some when he saw who it was, he moved out of the water before he spoke "Well enough, how ever it would appear that, there are few here that are below a noble state & your self?" He watched her true he knew her name, but not every thing & he knew well to bower his head to her in respected, after all even a lower royal could call for his head not that he cared, but why leave just yet.

(We can do that, though I see you just want to slap him again. But, it will be fun to see how it goes. who knows you might get to slap him twice once before he grabs you arm & then after he does.)

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

Belle did not see him jump but she did hear his feet hit the water. She looked up quickly. And then back at her glass. At least he had landed on his feet. She assumed that she had startled him but really the outcome had not been her fault. When he spoke, Abi glanced at him again. "Well enough, how ever it would appear that, there are few here that are below a noble state & your self?" He told her and when he bowed his head, she nodded.

"Well," She replied in a soft voice. "My father needs to invite a variety of people to these parties." She looked back towards the castle. "And I would have much more fun without people falling over themselves to make a good impression." She shrugged now. Belle tossed hair behind her shoulder.

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

Rumple heard her words well as nice a though as it was, it would never be he was a bit to quick to speak the truth then thinking, it could upset her. "Dearie, people will always be falling over theme selves, royals do it, because they want to empress each other some how & if you have anyone of lower class with royals, it will not go well because those of lower class will fall over themselves because, those that are royal & those working for them, make sure they know there place all to well

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

"Dearie, people will always be falling over theme selves, royals do it, because they want to empress each other some how & if you have anyone of lower class with royals, it will not go well because those of lower class will fall over themselves because, those that are royal & those working for them, make sure they know there place all to well" He told her and Belle frowned lightly.

"I assure you, sir." She told him now. "I do not nor will I ever bother to empress anyone else. I am myself and I do not worry what others think of me. You clearly know nothing about what it is to be royal." She finished her wine and then stood. "If you'll excuse me." She stood and then stepped down from the gazebo and began walking one of the paths of the garden. She just wanted a few moments before she reentered the castle.

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

He heard her words he watched her closely, he could felt his anger flicker, he knew nothing of what it it is to be royal perhaps not, but he lived long enough under such kinds to know, how they threaded people of less class. "Running away are we dearie?" His tone was a taunt, perhaps he should of though of his words after all she was not clearly exactly like the rest, but it was hard for him to think that anyone could be anything different then how they where raised & royals had it better then others, they always would, they lived high why others of lower class died in some form to service them. He smirked "Your actions speak loader then your words dearie, you might not want to empress others, but you are affected by what others think"

(I can have him grab her if you still want or I can do it after you slap him)

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

"Running away are we dearie?" He asked her. Belle had walked a little distance. She liked it out here among the flowers. It made her feel peaceful and relaxed. She paused now. Belle was not your typical woman. She was not silent and sweet. Belle was not one to bite her tongue when something bothered her.

"Your actions speak loader then your words dearie, you might not want to empress others, but you are affected by what others think" He continued. She turned back to him now and Belle marched back boldly to the man. She stopped right in front of him.

"How dare you presume that you know anything about me?" She spat at him. Belle reached up suddenly and she jerked his mask from his face. She wanted to see the face of this ignorant man. Her glimmering brown eyes met his black ones. "You know nothing about me, or my life, or what affects me.' Belle tossed the mask back at him and then moved to push him out of the way. She was going back inside.

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

Of course Rumple did not expect her to come back, he could not help smirk as she came back, with clearly a look of fire in her eyes. How ever she got the upper hand as she pulled the mask form his face, leaving him, mask-less to face her his eyes locked with hers as he heard her speak on, as she threw his mask back at him instinctively he caught it. Though as she pushed him, he felt his anger flicker more who was she to think she could get away with such actions, of one taking his mask off & two pushing him, he might over look the mask, but none got to push him around, not any more. He moved to grab her arm to keep her from leaving, though it was not overly hard to really hurt her more, just to keep her there. "Dearie I would be careful, who you pick your fights with & as for not knothing that effects you, are you so sure?"

[Belle/Lacey Gold]

Abi turned back to him with a surprised look on her face when he had taken her arm in his hand. Ok, so she knew that she had pushed her attitude a bit. Abi's free hand moved to his wrist. "How dare you?" She asked now and Abi tried to sound brave. When she could not pry his hand from her arm, Abi's hand moved to his chest.

She tried to push him back. 'Let me go!" She snapped at him now. "Dearie I would be careful, who you pick your fights with & as for not nothing that effects you, are you so sure?" He told her and Abi frowned. "Perhaps you should take your own advise." She spat back at him. She shoved at him now.

[Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold]

Rumple felt Belle hand on his wrist, he felt her try to break his hold though she did not, how ever he would do wise to not be to harmful to her after all, she was bound to need him for a deal later so he would not harm her greatly since, that would only drive her to want to make a deal with the Queen. He soon felt Belle hand on his chest as she moved her hand to his chest

"How dare I what dearie?" His voice was once more a challenge though at hearing her telling him to head his own words he giggled at the though, it was not that he did not think women could fight, he knew they could, but for the fact he was not going to back down so he could lose face in this matter with her. "Take my own advise & what part where you so wanting me to take the advise form, not that it would really matter to me, but though it could be amusing to hear"

He knew he was pressing his luck, he should know well nothing was bad like a women's scorn, but since this well what ever it was happened, he could not break the need to find some ground, that she was like all the rest & so he was out to find it & prove to himself he was right, as always. He smirked "Ask my nicely & I will let you go"