Storybrooke is a huge contrast to Manhattan. There is barely anyone on the street this time of night, and cars are few and far between. It's been a long time since Olivia, Casey and Alex have walked down a street this quiet.
You could almost call it odd...even creepy.
"Doubt we are going to find any repair shops open," Olivia points out. "But here's a diner; looks like they're open. Maybe someone can call a tow for us."
The diner is called Granny's, and looks like something straight out of an 80's movie. A typical mom and pop restaurant, one you wouldn't find anywhere in Manhattan.
They enter and as soon as they step into the diner, all the patrons turn to look at them. They can hear whispering, and are receiving strange looks. Small town folks all know each other and it's clear these three don't belong.
Emma Swan greets them with a smile from her seat at the counter. She gets up and approaches them, extending her hand. "Hi. You guys look like you might be lost. I'm Emma."
Alex is the first to shake her hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Alex and this is Olivia and Casey. We got into an accident outside of town and couldn't get any cell service. We need a tow."
Emma looks the three of them over. "You three all right?" Her eyes land on Casey and she notices the wound on her forehead. "You need medical attention?"
Casey shakes her head. "I'm fine. Just a restroom to get cleaned up."
Emma points her in the direction of the restroom and returns her attention to Alex and Olivia. "I'm the sheriff; I'll call and get you guys a tow. If you guys need a place to stay for a few nights, Granny runs an inn within walking distance of the diner."
Granny waves from behind the counter. "You girls like something to eat? On the house for our visitors."
Alex and Olivia exchange glances and Olivia shrugs. They may as well sit down and have a bite to eat; they won't be going anywhere else tonight anyway. May as well get some food and check into the inn, at least for the night.
They take a seat at the counter and Emma introduces them to the other guests seated nearby. She slides an arm around Hook. "This is my fiancee, Killian. My son, Henry. And Regina Mills, the mayor of Storybrook."
Alex is very secure in her sexuality and hasn't had eyes for anyone since Olivia. But she can't help but be intrigued by Killian. He is insanely attractive and speaks with an accent that is extremely charming. His whole manner of dress is different but unique. He's dressed all in black, his black leather jacket hanging off his frame. He's wearing...eyeliner? Very unusual and normally Alex would find it odd. But it works for him. She doesn't mean to stare, but as she goes to look away she notices he has a hook for a hand. An actual hook.
Olivia is a bit uncomfortable. Her instincts are usually correct, and she can't help but think something is a bit strange with this place. The way everyone looked at them when they entered, as if outsiders in this town were unheard of. The way the sheriff seems almost overly friendly and felt it necessary to introduce everyone to them.
But she pushes those thoughts aside. Alex doesn't give any indication that she's uneasy, and really, what choice do they have but to stay here? They don't have a driveable car and they are already here.
Alex and Olivia look over the menu while Emma phones for a tow for their car. Alex gives her its location and Emma makes all the arrangements for it to be towed in to the nearest repair shop. Alex is grateful for this; maybe it can be made at least driveable tomorrow so they can be on their way.
Casey joins them at the counter, sitting between Olivia and Regina. The wound on her forehead has stopped bleeding and she was able to clean it up nicely. Regina turns and smiles at her warmly, and Casey nearly loses her composure. Regina is beautiful. Stunningly beautiful. It's been a long time since a woman has elicited those feelings in her, and she has to turn her head away so Regina doesn't see the flush that has come across her cheeks.
Granny takes their orders and and leans on the counter to talk to them. "Accident, huh? What caused that?"
Alex leans past Olivia and looks at Casey. "Want to tell her what you claimed to have seen?"
Casey takes a drink of the Coke that was just sat in front of her. She doesn't even look up as she says, "Forget it." She knows Alex doesn't believe her. Olivia probably doesn't either but at least she's nice about it.
Granny seems particularly interested but it isn't until Regina locks eyes with Casey and asks, "What happened?" that she spills it.
"I saw a wolf in the road."
Silence befalls everyone at the counter. Emma and Granny exchange glances, and Regina makes it a point to spin her stool around and look at Emma.
"And crashed a brand new car into one of your very nice trees outside of town," Alex adds bitterly.
Casey has had enough. She's tired of the self-righteous attorney always belittling her. She spins her stool around and glares at Alex. "Why are you always so mean to me? What the hell did I ever do to you?"
Olivia senses an argument is about to break out between her girlfriend and Casey and knows she has to squash it before it goes any further. Sensing an argument, Emma clears her throat and she, Henry and Killian get up and leave the counter.
Alex spins her stool around so she's facing Casey. "You want to have this conversation right here, right now?"
Casey gets up, throwing her hands up in frustration. "No, I don't - I really don't. I'm out of here."
"Okay you two, knock it off," Olivia scolds. "Is this the first impression you want to give people?"
Casey storms out the door, and Olivia spins back around to look at her girlfriend. "You need to be nicer to her. It's really not her fault about the crash."
Alex is about to respond when Regina pipes in. "Looks like there is some friction there, ladies. Do you want some advice?"
Alex looks at her incredulously. She doesn't even know this woman; is she seriously offering to give her advice? Alex doesn't take advice, least of all not from a stranger.
But that doesn't stop Regina from trying. She nods toward Emma, who is now seated at a booth with Killian and Henry. "When Emma first came to town, we hated each other. Our fights were pretty epic and I'm pretty sure are still talked about. Without boring you with all the details, if I'm honest with myself it's because she intimidated me. I was never faced with someone so stubborn and so much like myself. And now, Emma is one of my best friends. The moral of the story is not to judge too harshly. I used to be a terrible person. It's taken a lot to get past it." Regina puts money on the counter and stands. "Life is too short, ladies. Be nice."
As soon as Regina is gone, Olivia places a hand on Alex's arm. "She's right you know. Just try to be a little nicer. I know the person you really are. Be that person, Alex."
Alex knows that Olivia is right. She is capable of being of a nice person. It's just so hard to do sometimes.
She reaches into her purse just as their food arrives and fingers the engagement ring box inside. She doesn't know why she brought it with her. She has the perfect proposal all planned out.
But Olivia is always telling her she needs to be more spontaneous. She had visions of staying in a beautiful hotel overlooking a harbor while in Maine. Going for a walk hand in hand and spontaneously proposing to Olivia so they both came home with a very nice story to tell.
Being here in this strange town with people who seem unusually curious about the three of them wasn't part of the plan.
.2
Casey has no idea where she's going. She just had to get out of that diner, away from Alex and the mayor who was making her feel things she would rather not feel.
It's getting cold and she zips up her jacket, walking with her hands in her pockets. It's after eight and most of the shops she is walking past are closed.
But one place has an OPEN sign lit in the window. The business sign reads Mr. Gold - Pawnbroker and Antiquities Dealer.
She has always liked second hand stores. Without hesitation she opens the door and goes inside.
Mr. Gold is the only one in the shop. He doesn't even glance up from the object he is polishing as she approaches the counter. "We are closed, dearie. I just haven't flipped the sign."
"Oh," Casey says with a hint of disappointment. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to avoid someone. Would it be okay if I just looked around until you're ready to leave?"
He finally looks up. He gives her a long stare as if deciding if he knows her or not. Then he smiles and says, "By all means. Look around."
She tries to act casual and walks around a little bit, but she's inexplicably keeps wandering back to the counter, filled with curiosity about the object he has obstructed by rags.
"See something you like, dearie?" Mr. Gold asks behind the counter.
He has a lot of odd and unique items in his shop, but Casey is drawn to one item in particular. He is still polishing, watching her the whole time with an odd smile.
As Casey gets closer she realizes he is polishing some kind of dagger. She has no idea why she feels so drawn to it. She has never been interested in swords or daggers, or anything of the type. But she can't stop looking at the blade that is so shiny it reflects the lights and the intricate carvings on the handle. It has a word engraved that she can't quite make out.
Mr. Gold eyes her curiously and sets the dagger down. Without even asking permission she picks it up. It's heavier than she expected. She can't stop staring at it, and it appears to glow in her hands. The word scrolled across it lights up and then fades.
She shakes her head. She must have imagined it. Maybe she hit her head harder than she thought. There's no way it could have glowed.
"Is this real?" she asks.
Mr. Gold smiles. "Very much so."
She looks at the word on the handle again and this time she makes it out. "Rumplestiltskin." Her eyes shoot up to meet Mr. Gold's. "Like the fairytale character? Interesting. How much is it?"
He just smiles in response. "It's not for sale, dearie. At least not cheap. It comes with a steep price."
Casey wanders around and looks at some of his other items but nothing catches her eye like that dagger.
"You're not from around here," Mr. Gold observes. "How did you find your way to our quaint little town?"
"We were just driving through, on our way to a conference. I saw a wolf in the road and lost control and crashed the car into a tree. We are staying at Granny's until we're able to get back on the road."
"A wolf? What did this wolf look like?" Mr. Gold asks with a smile.
"Big and black. It was just standing in the middle of the road."
His smile widens. "Her name is Ruby."
Casey smiles back, amused. "It has a name? Other people have seen it?"
"Oh yes. She's our resident werewolf, dearie."
Casey knows he is joking but part of her can't help but think that expression on his face is pure seriousness. He isn't smiling. He is standing there looking at her as if he just stated a fact. She shakes it off and continues looking around the shop.
"You're here with your friends?" Mr. Gold suddenly asks.
Casey snorts at that; friends? What are those?
"Not really my friends. The brunette, Olivia...we are friendly. She's civil to me. But the blonde, Alex. She can't stand me. She thinks she is so much better. We have been on the road almost six hours and you can imagine how pleasant the trip has been."
A smile creeps across Mr. Gold's face and Casey think it's pretty odd to be smiling in spite of what she just said. But she lets it go.
"Well I'm glad you wandered into my shop." He pauses. "What was your name, dearie?"
Casey is looking at the dagger again. He's placed it on the counter, as if daring her to pick it up again. "Casey. My name is Casey."
He smiles again. "Casey. I'm glad you found your way here."
"Yeah, why is that? Tourists usually buy something?" She's staring at the dagger again. It makes her feel something she can't quite describe but that something is a feeling she wants more of.
"Because I know how to recognize a desperate soul," Mr. Gold says.
Casey puts the dagger back on the counter and frowns at him. Something has snapped her out of the hold it seemed to have on her.
"Well insults aren't a good way to get business. I'll see you."
He says nothing further as he watches Casey leave his shop. He makes his way to the window and looks out, watching her cross the street and head towards Granny's.
"Oh, you will, dearie. You will."
The strange smile is still on his face as he flips his sign to CLOSED. He hobbles his way to his back room and turns on his light, opening his leather bound book to the page marked by his bookmark.
Rumplestiltskin has been looking for a way to cleave himself of the dagger for years. To sever himself from the darkness that's kept him from his happy ending.
He hasn't seen the dagger glow for anyone in years. Centuries, to be exact. He knows what it means when the dagger has chosen someone.
As his eyes fall upon the ancient pages, a sense of hope he hasn't felt in a long time begins to fill him.
so what do you think?