Chapter One

Vex Meets Mr. Gold

When he first arrived at Storybrooke, Vex was optimistic. This would be a fresh start for him- no Una Mens, no Morrigan, no Fae at all. No longer would he have to serve another. No longer would he have to constantly look over his shoulder for the Una Mens. The world was his oyster… well, the whole tiny town in Maine was his oyster. Things could be a lot worse. After a week or two, he was still optimistic, yet he had hoped to have gotten his own place. Granny's wasn't the worst place he had stayed-not by far- but the whole cheeriness of the place was starting to get to him. He had his eyes on a couple of properties, one to live and one for work, but he had yet to seal the deal on either of them. He was sure he could get the realtor to lower the price for him, especially given that new residents were rare so the market for real estate was… slow…. to say the least. In addition to his quest for property, he had also taken to patronizing the local haunt, learning a bit about the town. He heard the name Mr. Gold quite a few times while eavesdropping, along with some other well-known residents, and the next time he passed near Mr. Gold Pawnbroker and Antique Dealer, he stopped in his tracks. It couldn't hurt to look around.

Vex didn't look like your average antiquer, but maybe someone wanting to get some quick cash through pawning stolen goods. He was wearing black jeans with studs down the side of the legs, an expensive-looking black button-down, a dark red leather jacket, and a pair of studded combat boots. His dark brown hair was allowed to curl slightly around his temples, and his eyes were accented by subtle eyeliner and mascara. The man walked into the cluttered shop with a casual air, tracing his finger along the shelves as he passed, perusing the contents.

The shop was small with a distinct historic atmosphere. It felt a little bit like stepping into the past. Old fashion electric lights, hung beside unused oil lanterns. The wall paper was old, 1940s style, and the old register at the counter looked to be about the same era. The floor was smooth and worn, but polished to a bright sheen on the cherry wood surface. There was the smell of oil, furniture polish, and dusky antiques. There were too many items to even take in at one time, things hanging from the ceiling, on the walls, in display cases, piled on upon shelves. It was cluttered and slightly chaotic, no sense of order or organization in the arrangement of the items. Pawn shops usually sported quite an unusual assortment, but this was even more remarkable than your average pawn shop. Different surfaces glinted in the low light, some were a bit dusty, others yellowed with age, so many colors, so many textures. It was intriguing, curious, and quaint, yet for some reason a dark presence lingered over the entire shop. Something uneasy, something slightly ominous. Perhaps it was the dim lighting, or maybe the silence, or the absence of anyone behind the counter. Maybe it was the strange collection of items people had given up or given away in exchange for some cash. Either way, the pair of puppets staring at Vex through empty wooden eyes, and the faint tinkling of the blue glass baby carousel hanging by the door, were quite off-putting.

Vex carried himself in a way that utterly broadcasted an air of disrespect. Instead of making his way through the store, just looking at the items, he sauntered through the place, brushing the dust off his finger that he gained from a particularly strange-looking object. The scar that ringed his wrist was nasty and clear as day whenever his sleeve rode up from his touching of nearly everything, but there was nobody else there to see it. As Vex glanced around, his only company came in the form of a couple of extremely creepy dolls. For the most part, what he saw held no interest to him, but there were a few items that reminded him of centuries past and a few items that he didn't recognize in the slightest that caught his fancy. He stopped dead in his tracks when something silver and familiar caught his eye. No, he thought. It couldn't be. The mesmer picked up the Siracon with disbelief, running his finger along the metal. The twin Siracon had been lost centuries ago, and yet…. somehow it had apparently made its way into Storybrooke of all places. Vex inspected the thing, watching the gauntlet part slide out along with the broadsword blade of the thing in response to his mental command to the weapon. Telepathy and all. This was certainly a Siracon.

"All the things... in this shop...", a voice commented from the back, "...and you pick up..." A short, slim man stood in the doorway to the backroom, holding back the curtain draped over the door frame with one hand, while lifting a hand to gesture vaguely at Vex and his chosen item, "...that." The man appeared to be about fifty years old, greying brown hair almost touching his shoulders. He was wearing a black suit, minus the jacket. His shirt was a dark purple, his vest black with a gold fob watch chain dangling from one pocket. He reached back inside the room for a moment, withdrawing a gold tipped cane that he apparently required as an aid to walk. He was the proprietor and owner of the shop for which it was named, Mr. Gold. Everything in this town was so curious, so quaint and picturesque. Even their names sounded unusually unique and coincidental almost like... a fairy tale. The man limped over to the counter in front of Vex and surveyed him with curious dark eyes. The heavy atmosphere that had been hanging over the shop, seemed to form in a cloud over its owner. "What exactly about that...", he pointed deliberately to the Siracon, "...would spark such interest?" It had laid in the shop for years untouched. No one had ever been interested in it before, no one had ever hardly noticed it before. Mr. Gold tilted his head to the side, watching Vex with a sly, yet faintly eager expression.

Feeling the weight and the power that came from the Siracon was an interesting experience. Despite not using it against anyone, there was a noticeable buzz of magic coming from the thing. The Siracon had been outlawed and seized by the Council for being too powerful and dangerous, a deadly threat to all of Faekind in the wrong hands. Vex had experienced being on the other side of one of these weapons, and he certainly understood their power. Suddenly, he was aware of the sound of a man's voice, both from behind the counter. He looked up towards the sound, his dark brown eyes alighting on the small, middle-aged man that stood at the doorway. The stranger was respectably dressed, though a little on the boring side as Vex saw it. The mesmer watched the man make his way out of the back room and to the counter, using a cane to aid his walking. From some of the worst things he had heard about the man, he didn't expect the powerful Rumplestiltskin to look quite like that. Vex waited for him to finish his question, knowing full well that he did not want this man knowing where he hailed from if he could help it. "Just fancied it." he shrugged, letting the blade slide back in along with the metal plating over his hand and wrist, revealing the scar. "Where'd you ge' it?" Vex questioned the man with a casual air, hoping to mask the urgency he felt about it.

Rumplestiltskin leaned against the corner, resting one elbow on the surface, and holding his cane with his free hand. He made a face, and shrugged his shoulders, "So many things come into my possession in a number of ways...", he dismissed it with a shake of his head, "Eh-eh... I can't remember them all." The pawnbroker continued to study Vex, taking in his appearance and attire. "You know I don't believe we've met...", he placed a hand to his chest, indicating himself, "...I am Mr. Gold...", he said with a not very comforting smile. "From the way I first saw you handling that piece... I would have thought you were familiar with it... Must just be a...", he lifted an idle hand in the air for a moment, "...natural knack." The light glinted on the large aqua ring he wore on his little finger, as Vex released the blade into the glove once more. Something caught the ex-Dark One's eye, and he lifted his cane, reaching across the counter and tugging down the cuff of Vex's jacket sleeve to expose the scar on his wrist. Rumplestiltskin clicked his tongue and shook his head, "...That is a nasty, nasty scar..." Surveying the fresh cut, noting it wrapped around the wrist, indicating it was severed or nearly severed. Rumplestiltskin glanced down at his own hand for a moment, remembering an incident of magic-restricting cuffs that resulted in suicide mixed with patricide. He removed his cane from Vex's arm, "So what is it?", he asked, pointing to the Siracon.

Vex was less than enthused at the man's response to his question. He didn't buy that the information he sought just happened to slip the man's mind. No, Mr. Gold was more than likely intentionally leaving Vex in the dark. Any pawnbroker with his wares would keep a record of his transactions, and, at the very least, remember getting an extremely powerful Fae weapon from another realm. Yet, of course, Vex could not admit that he knew it was an extremely powerful Fae weapon without admitting he was Fae. The mesmer was used to stares, given the way he presented himself, but somehow this man's eyes seemed to go deeper. It was kind of creepy. "Vex." he replied simply. He could do without the smalltalk or letting this man finding out any more about him. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the man didn't believe the bullshit Vex was feeding him and wasn't content to just let him keep his secrets. "I'm a talented man." he agreed, flashing a smile. Now that it was clear that Mr. Gold knew he was lying no matter what, he might as well have fun with the lies. His fun was interrupted when Mr. Gold used his cane to push back Vex's sleeve and get a better look. Vex had been covering the thing with his sleeves for a reason, and he really didn't appreciate a stranger invading his space like that, even with a cane. "Yeah. Well, I've always been bollocks with a kitchen knife." he replied, as if that was a sufficient answer, as if a simple kitchen accident could rend his hand from his arm and reattaching it was a breeze. He pulled back his hand and rubbed at the scar thoughtfully. "How much for it?" he asked after a moment, holding up the Siracon.

"Oooh... Kitchen cutlery can be quite hazardous.", he said with an amused chuckle, "Well...Vex...", he repeated thoughtfully, his eyes cutting to the side momentarily. "Well... it's just been sitting there on that shelf for...", he furrowed his brow, "...years.", he finished with a slight shrug. He laid his cane down on top of the counter, "Tell you what..", he said, placing both elbows atop the counter and leaning forward on it. "I'll make you a deal...", he said, his dark eyes glittering a bit. He only appeared to be in his mid-fifties, yet his dark brown eyes seemed to hold an ancient look not too different from those of elder Fae. "If you can tell me... where it's from... and what that place is like...", he said with a whimsical smile, "...you can have it.", he finished holding up an open palm in an invitation or offer. "What do you say? Do we have a deal...?", he lowered his head a bit, giving him a sideways glance.

Vex appreciated that even though the man clearly didn't believe his falsehoods, he knew better than to call him out on them. When Vex told him lies about his wrist, it meant that Vex didn't want to say the real reason and wasn't going to even if Gold pressed him for it. The mesmer also really hoped that the man would play nice as far as the price for the Siracon. Vex was desperate to have the weapon in his possession, more to keep it from being used against him than to use it himself. The mesmer watched the man, carefully, noticing the gleam that entered the man's eye the moment he started proposing a deal. Rumplestiltskin, he remembered, was the fairytale character that would trick women into trading away their firstborns. It made sense that the guy got a kick out of this kind of thing. He wondered just what he'd have to be offered to sell Tally off to such a man. This price was significantly less steep, but Vex felt as if he had been backed into the corner nevertheless. He didn't want to reveal his homeland or his kind, yet he would have to if he wanted to get this weapon somewhere safe. Well played on Rumple's part. He weighed his options for a moment before sighing "Yeah, we go' a deal. You're bloody nosy, ya know that?" he remarked. "This beau'y is from the Land of the Fae, a world very similar to this one, actually, other than the existence of its namesake, the Fae." he explained. "Though you already knew that, didn' ya? Just wanted to make me say it."

Rumplestiltskin gave a little shrug, a smile on his face that revealed nothing but smugness. "I know this land...", he looked down at the handle of his cane, turning the handle in a circle. He looked up for a brief moment, "I've been there.", he said again with a sly and smug smile that was most definitely hiding something significant. "I don't believe I've ever seen one of your kind leave your realm... You are the first I have met outside the Land of the Fae.", he commented with a slight nod. "What brings you to Storybrooke? What makes one of...", he raised an eyebrow, "...your kind venture out of your cozy little realm?", he asked, a slight coldness creeping into his voice. Fae were often a little too close to fairies for his taste. For all he knew, the one before him was some kind of fairy. "A deal is a deal...", he said straightening up a bit. "You may have the uh...", he inhaled softly, "...Sirrrracon...", he said with a flourish, "..but I don't suppose you would be so inclined to tell me what type of Fae you are?"

Vex was a bit irritated at having to reveal his knowledge of the Fae world, and by extension, reveal himself as Fae, yet he supposed they had both gotten what they wanted from the transaction. The Siracon was not something he could afford in hands other than his own, especially after all he had done to antagonize the Fae world before he left. No, he was safest with the Siracon-possibly the most dangerous weapon known to Fae-in his possession, even if it meant that this man knew of his origins. "Oh, you have. Don't suppose you came back with any souvenirs." he replied sarcastically, glancing at the Siracon meaningfully. Vex didn't like whatever was lurking behind that smug smile, nor did he like the smugness for that matter. Initially, ignoring Rumple's comments about Vex's kind, he nodded at the man as he told him the weapon was his, then he turned on his heel and started making his way out. He paused at the question about just what kind of Fae he was. Normally he was more than proud to say he was a mesmer. The Mesmer. The last and only. "You're assuming I'm Fae just because I know a bit about it." he pointed out, as if it was a risky assumption. "Could accuse you of the same."

The man behind the counter reached up and straightened his tie a bit, a half smile gracing his face. "...Maybe I am.", he said with a chuckle rising in his throat. "...Have no fear, Fae... You can keep your precious secrets...", he said, averting his eyes to the gold handled cane once more. "Just keep in mind... you're not in your realm anymore...", he looked up with a steady gaze, "...you're in mine." The ex-Dark One spoke cordially, but with enough threat in his voice to get the point across. "And hopefully... all our interactions can be...", he spread out both his hands, "...as pleasant as this one."

Vex hadn't missed the tone in which Rumple talked about the Fae. He clearly had ill-feelings towards them, though he couldn't imagine why. Vex thought he would have heard about someone like Rumple entering the Fae world like he claimed to have done, especially to seal such a valuable object. But he supposed that no other Fae had managed to pinpoint a culprit for the weapon's disappearance, so who was Vex to solve the crime of the century where others couldn't? Vex smirked at the threat, clearly not intimidated by it. "I'll jus' have to make it mine, then, won' I?" he shot back easily. "And I am expectin' we'll be seein' more of each other in the future, Gold." he told him, tucking the Siracon into his inside pocket and starting to walk out. "Till next time." he said, raising his left hand and waving casually as he opened the door and exited, Rumple's own hand following in a jerky replication. The mesmer didn't give up control as he passed from the store windows and out of sight on the sidewalk outside.

Rumplestiltskin flinched for a moment, his eyes darting in confusion to his own hand, before he finally realized what had happened. His hand had flown up, palm out, fingers a bit limp. He frowned for a moment, and started to raise his other hand to seize the wrist of the raised hand. As Vex left the store, Mr. Gold continued to study his raised hand, grimacing for a moment. When he regained the use of it, he rubbed and massaged the wrist, eyes trailing back to the man walking outside. The bell above the door rang out softly, as the ex-Dark One pondered this new revelation with suspicious, yet intensely intrigued. This... required some thought. The possibilities, the potential. This was quite.. remarkable. It would prove useful to look into this visitor from the Land of the Fae. This Vex... Yes, he needed to think about this... Rumplestiltskin walked away from the counter, perfectly fine on two feet, leaving his cane behind. He walked to the back, looking down at a spinning wheel, and a basket full of spun gold. He always did do his best thinking while spinning.