Challenge #4: Let's Write Together
Title: A Special Gift
Pairing: Rumbelle (Rumplestilskin/Belle)
Words: 1270
Authors: annievh and melpomenethemis
Rumplestilskin wasn't usually one for remembering or celebrating his anniversaries. He would remember his son's birthday, with copious amounts of alcohol or brooding in a dark room, but that was the only thing that he would remember. This all changed with the re-introduction of Belle into his life. She shone with the fire of a thousand suns, and truly made his life so much better. She brought out the best side of him, and he liked to think that be was blessed that she chose him over anyone else.
Belle also liked to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries. This would be their first anniversary together as a married couple, and she wanted to do something special for one another. She decided a few weeks before that they should get an innovative gift for one another and give it at an anniversary dinner. She felt proud of this idea, and immediately picked up the phone to book a table at one of the restaurants in the main part of town. She decided against Granny's, as even though she enjoyed the food there - she knew that Rumplestilskin would prefer food of a different sort. After being together this long, she had learned all of his little quirks.
She then sat down with Rumplestilskin for their evening meal, roast beef casserole with vegetables, and proposed the idea to him, hoping that he would say yes.
**
“Flowers and chocolates are always a good option.”
Rumplestilskin stared at the Prince, immediately regretting his decision of asking for his help.
“My, my,” he sneered. “With such a creative mind, I wonder how did you convince your wife to make a child. Let alone two.”
David huffed. “You asked for my opinion. I gave it to you.”
“What part of ‘innovative gift’ didn’t you understand?”
“What does that even mean, innovative gift?” David asked. “Trust me, she’s probably just as lost as you are. By the time your anniversary comes around, she’ll have given up and settled for something just as lame.”
“She won’t. It’s Belle. She’s probably researching the subject as we speak, highlighting the relevant parts in yellow and taking notes.”
“Maybe you should just make the flowers dance for her. Oh!” David snapped his fingers. “I got it! Recreate the dinner scene from Beauty and the Beast. Can you enchant cutlery and make it sing?”
Again, Rumplestilskin stared. David looked very proud of himself. “Trust me,” he said. “She’ll love it.”
“Not that I am considering it,” Rumple said, slowly, to see if David followed his trail of thought. “Because we don’t even have a television, let alone a VHS-”
David scoffed. “VHS? How old are you?”
“Regardless!” Rumple proceeded through gritted teeth. “I don’t believe we have the time to enchant cutlery and teach it to sing and dance. Do you know anything about enchanting inanimate objects?”
“I take it it’s not so easy.”
“No. Far from it. Unless, you’re volunteering to be turned into a singing candlestick. In that case, it’s much, much easier.”
Rumple got ready to snap his fingers. David raised his hands and cried out, “Okay! Okay! I see your point! But you asked my help to come up with a good anniversary gift for your wife. It’s not my fault you disliked all my suggestions. Snow would’ve loved something like that.”
“Well, clearly putting my trust in you was a bad decision. But it so happens that I am desperate.” Rumple sank on his cot. “Three months I’ve been going over this and getting nowhere. Look at that!” He pointed to the other side of the room, even more cluttered with random objects than ever. “I’ve made her three dresses, got her so many rare editions she’ll need a bigger library, spun enough gold to start a jewelery shop, and gathered so many magical objects Belle could wake up tomorrow with enough power to be the next savior. Or Evil Queen.”
“For safety reasons, lets not give her the option.”
“I might have to, because my anniversary is tomorrow and that is all I got. A magic shell that allows you to take the form of whoever you want is innovative, right?”
“You’re not thinking outside the box,” David said.
“Said the man who suggested flowers.”
“What does Belle like?”
“Books.”
“Other than books. What is the thing that moves her the most, you know, something that is... you guys?”
Rumple thought about it. “She likes big romantic gestures.”
“There you go!” David said, though Rumple still looked confused. “Do something big and romantic. Such as... writing her name on the night sky with stars.”
Rumple nodded slowly. “Alright, I think we’re on to something here.”
***
It was their anniversary and Rumplestilskin was putting the finishing touches to his masterpiece to Belle. He had drawn his inspiration from several of Belle's favourite novels - rain was apparently the most romantic of weather conditions. It gave life to plants, and apparently romance to budding couples - not that Rumplestilskin began to understand the logic behind such novels.
His gift was to create a rain-cloud that was controlled by a stone. When the stone activated, it would spell out Belle's name in each raindrop - showing that his love for her was as infinite as the raindrops coming from the cloud.
Rumplestilskin was adding the three drops of the potion to the stone when the door to his shop was flung open. Several objects within the store rattled precariously and out of the corner of his eye, he could see a vial fall and crash open, adding its contents to the stone.
The stone glowed blue, before settling down. Rumplestilskin turned angrily to look at the Regina, about to berate her for her careless actions when the table began to shake uncontrollably. A jet of light went up to the roof of the shop, and appeared to go through it. Rumplestilskin turned to look at the vial that had broken and paled considerably - those were Regina's tears that he had collected a long time ago. He shuddered to think the ramifications of it being added to the rain potion.
He ran out of the shop to view the damage, and was immediately caught up in a rain-cloud that had spread all over Storybrooke. It was raining heavily and there appeared to be panic on the streets - so much for good intentions with this gift. Regina was shouting in his ear, but he paid her no attention. The Sheriff father-daughter team also appeared, with Emma gesturing wildly at the rain-cloud and David standing there, arms crossed with an amused expression on his face.
Rumplestilskin sighed, knowing that his work was ruined. He also didn't know how to stop the rain-cloud, give it was having such an extreme reaction to the tears. Then, he thought of it. He ran back to his safe, the entourage of people following him as he went, and brought out his most precious vial.
Rumplestilskin poured it onto the stone, and watched it glow pink. This seemed to have neutralised the cloud, as it appeared to shrink back on itself and settled into the stone - the gift was saved. He glared at everyone until they left his shop, and all he wanted to do was have some peace and quiet. The shop bell rang again, and he was about to tell the person that their shop was closed when his breath caught.
The most beautiful figure he'd ever seen came through the door, her hair damp and a smile on her face. His Belle.
Rumplestilskin now knew what the novels meant - the rain was a gift indeed.
Pairing: Rumbelle (Rumplestilskin/Belle)
Words: 1270
Authors: annievh and melpomenethemis
Rumplestilskin wasn't usually one for remembering or celebrating his anniversaries. He would remember his son's birthday, with copious amounts of alcohol or brooding in a dark room, but that was the only thing that he would remember. This all changed with the re-introduction of Belle into his life. She shone with the fire of a thousand suns, and truly made his life so much better. She brought out the best side of him, and he liked to think that be was blessed that she chose him over anyone else.
Belle also liked to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries. This would be their first anniversary together as a married couple, and she wanted to do something special for one another. She decided a few weeks before that they should get an innovative gift for one another and give it at an anniversary dinner. She felt proud of this idea, and immediately picked up the phone to book a table at one of the restaurants in the main part of town. She decided against Granny's, as even though she enjoyed the food there - she knew that Rumplestilskin would prefer food of a different sort. After being together this long, she had learned all of his little quirks.
She then sat down with Rumplestilskin for their evening meal, roast beef casserole with vegetables, and proposed the idea to him, hoping that he would say yes.
**
“Flowers and chocolates are always a good option.”
Rumplestilskin stared at the Prince, immediately regretting his decision of asking for his help.
“My, my,” he sneered. “With such a creative mind, I wonder how did you convince your wife to make a child. Let alone two.”
David huffed. “You asked for my opinion. I gave it to you.”
“What part of ‘innovative gift’ didn’t you understand?”
“What does that even mean, innovative gift?” David asked. “Trust me, she’s probably just as lost as you are. By the time your anniversary comes around, she’ll have given up and settled for something just as lame.”
“She won’t. It’s Belle. She’s probably researching the subject as we speak, highlighting the relevant parts in yellow and taking notes.”
“Maybe you should just make the flowers dance for her. Oh!” David snapped his fingers. “I got it! Recreate the dinner scene from Beauty and the Beast. Can you enchant cutlery and make it sing?”
Again, Rumplestilskin stared. David looked very proud of himself. “Trust me,” he said. “She’ll love it.”
“Not that I am considering it,” Rumple said, slowly, to see if David followed his trail of thought. “Because we don’t even have a television, let alone a VHS-”
David scoffed. “VHS? How old are you?”
“Regardless!” Rumple proceeded through gritted teeth. “I don’t believe we have the time to enchant cutlery and teach it to sing and dance. Do you know anything about enchanting inanimate objects?”
“I take it it’s not so easy.”
“No. Far from it. Unless, you’re volunteering to be turned into a singing candlestick. In that case, it’s much, much easier.”
Rumple got ready to snap his fingers. David raised his hands and cried out, “Okay! Okay! I see your point! But you asked my help to come up with a good anniversary gift for your wife. It’s not my fault you disliked all my suggestions. Snow would’ve loved something like that.”
“Well, clearly putting my trust in you was a bad decision. But it so happens that I am desperate.” Rumple sank on his cot. “Three months I’ve been going over this and getting nowhere. Look at that!” He pointed to the other side of the room, even more cluttered with random objects than ever. “I’ve made her three dresses, got her so many rare editions she’ll need a bigger library, spun enough gold to start a jewelery shop, and gathered so many magical objects Belle could wake up tomorrow with enough power to be the next savior. Or Evil Queen.”
“For safety reasons, lets not give her the option.”
“I might have to, because my anniversary is tomorrow and that is all I got. A magic shell that allows you to take the form of whoever you want is innovative, right?”
“You’re not thinking outside the box,” David said.
“Said the man who suggested flowers.”
“What does Belle like?”
“Books.”
“Other than books. What is the thing that moves her the most, you know, something that is... you guys?”
Rumple thought about it. “She likes big romantic gestures.”
“There you go!” David said, though Rumple still looked confused. “Do something big and romantic. Such as... writing her name on the night sky with stars.”
Rumple nodded slowly. “Alright, I think we’re on to something here.”
***
It was their anniversary and Rumplestilskin was putting the finishing touches to his masterpiece to Belle. He had drawn his inspiration from several of Belle's favourite novels - rain was apparently the most romantic of weather conditions. It gave life to plants, and apparently romance to budding couples - not that Rumplestilskin began to understand the logic behind such novels.
His gift was to create a rain-cloud that was controlled by a stone. When the stone activated, it would spell out Belle's name in each raindrop - showing that his love for her was as infinite as the raindrops coming from the cloud.
Rumplestilskin was adding the three drops of the potion to the stone when the door to his shop was flung open. Several objects within the store rattled precariously and out of the corner of his eye, he could see a vial fall and crash open, adding its contents to the stone.
The stone glowed blue, before settling down. Rumplestilskin turned angrily to look at the Regina, about to berate her for her careless actions when the table began to shake uncontrollably. A jet of light went up to the roof of the shop, and appeared to go through it. Rumplestilskin turned to look at the vial that had broken and paled considerably - those were Regina's tears that he had collected a long time ago. He shuddered to think the ramifications of it being added to the rain potion.
He ran out of the shop to view the damage, and was immediately caught up in a rain-cloud that had spread all over Storybrooke. It was raining heavily and there appeared to be panic on the streets - so much for good intentions with this gift. Regina was shouting in his ear, but he paid her no attention. The Sheriff father-daughter team also appeared, with Emma gesturing wildly at the rain-cloud and David standing there, arms crossed with an amused expression on his face.
Rumplestilskin sighed, knowing that his work was ruined. He also didn't know how to stop the rain-cloud, give it was having such an extreme reaction to the tears. Then, he thought of it. He ran back to his safe, the entourage of people following him as he went, and brought out his most precious vial.
Rumplestilskin poured it onto the stone, and watched it glow pink. This seemed to have neutralised the cloud, as it appeared to shrink back on itself and settled into the stone - the gift was saved. He glared at everyone until they left his shop, and all he wanted to do was have some peace and quiet. The shop bell rang again, and he was about to tell the person that their shop was closed when his breath caught.
The most beautiful figure he'd ever seen came through the door, her hair damp and a smile on her face. His Belle.
Rumplestilskin now knew what the novels meant - the rain was a gift indeed.