February 20, 2012 Continued
Emma sighed as she sat at a kitchen table talking with Heather Knight, who insisted she knew nothing and hadn't talked with Robyn in "ages."
"Do you know anywhere she might go to hide out if things got too much at home?" Emma asked, "Even if it was some place she only mentioned once, anything you remember."
Heather shrugged a bit, chewing on her lip, "She sometimes talked about the library- it's closed down, you know. Said maybe she'd open it back up someday when we were done with school. Last year she planned this whole campaign to get it opened again- said how a public library is a civic right."
Emma smiled, "Thank you, you've been really helpful. And I promise, I'm going to find Robyn and make sure she's OK."
Emma texted Mary Margaret that she'd be late again for dinner, hoping the schoolteacher wouldn't worry after Emma's strange mood last night.
Ada had mentioned she'd broken into the abandoned library already in her quest for answers, back before they knew the curse was real. She'd picked the lock and, presumably, forgotten to lock it back up when she left- Emma was constantly reminding Ada to relock any lock she had picked, but, never having picked locks to survive, Ada didn't have the habits Emma had established out of desperation.
Which meant Ada would pick a lock and then leave without ever relocking it, giving herself away.
Emma eventually resigned herself to just being grateful Ada remembered to lock their apartment whenever she'd leave.
So, the library lock being undone was expected, but Emma hoped perhaps it was still an indication of Robyn being inside. Henry warned her "bad things" happened when people tried to leave town, and Emma didn't want to see whatever that was happen to a 15 year old.
Slowly opening the library's front door, Emma looked around for an indications of someone else being there. Books were stacked and left on desks and carts, almost like the library staff had worked half a day and then suddenly left, never to return. Dust had settled everywhere, disturbed in a few places. Emma couldn't tell if that was from Ada or potentially Robyn.
Emma spotted some blankets tucked away in a corner and carefully moved closer.
Sitting amongst a nest of dirty blankets was a teenage girl, staring at a necklace she had clutched in one hand.
"Robyn?"
Emma had thought she might startle the girl, but she turned to look at the Sheriff with surprisingly calm eyes and said "This was mine."
All Emma could think to say was "What?"
Robyn turned back to look at the necklace, her brow furrowing in concentration, "This was mine. I remember...the room was cold, and dark, and I was scared. But I had...I had others with me. Girls. And a man. I think I gave him the necklace?"
Emma took a deep breath. Then two.
Was this girl remembering?
"Do you remember what happened next?"
Robyn shook her head, "No. Just that room."
"Robyn?" Emma called the teen's attention back to her, "What happened that made you run away?"
"I was in the Pawnshop. I have to go every week now, to pawn stuff so we can have money for the baby. Mom gives me stuff and we hide it in my backpack, so Dad doesn't find out. But we've sold all of Mom's old jewelry and all of mine and soon he's going to notice. But last Thursday I was selling the last of the special dish plates to Mr. Gold when I saw it. I'd never seen it before, and I knew it was mine. I...I used some of the pawn money to buy it," she confessed. "And I kept it with me. But that night, I dreamed about the room, and I wrote it all down," she indicated a composition notebook, "I thought...maybe this isn't my life? Maybe that's my real life and...and I have amnesia or something? Maybe my parents aren't really my parents? Maybe...I mean, maybe someone who would give me this necklace is really my parent?"
Emma stared.
"Do you think it's possible?"
"Here you go," Emma handed a mug of hot cocoa to Robyn, "It's the powdered stuff- not as good as what you can get at Granny's, but it's hot."
"Thanks," the teen took a long sip.
"I want to ask you about this," Emma slid the photo strip across the desk, Robyn flushed as soon as she saw it, "Found it in your room when I was looking for clues." Robyn kept her eyes on the photos, not looking up, "You're not in these photos," Emma continued, "And these girls didn't come up as your friends when I talked with your parents or teachers." The photo strip showed two girls mugging for the camera, a blonde and a brunette.
"The blonde girl, she's Laila- she's two grades above me," Robyn whispered, "But...I know her. I mean, not really. But I saw her in the hallway, and I thought...I really thought I knew her. I swiped the pictures out of her bag- she was using them as a bookmark so I noticed them. I just...I showed them to my mom and asked her if she knew who they were, but she didn't. But I swear, I know her, and not- not from school." Robyn sniffled a little, "Do you think I'm going crazy?"
Emma struggled for a moment- this girl was not going crazy, she seemed to be remembering. But how could Emma explain that to her while the curse was still going? But she couldn't let this teenager think she was losing her mind.
"No," Emma shook her head, "I don't think you're going crazy," because she'd be damned if she let this fifteen year old think she was going insane. "What I think is you need to go home," Emma made sure to make eye contact, "And give this back to Laila. Maybe then you could try talking to her? And I'll keep an eye on you and see if I can't find out something."
"You will?" Robyn asked, her eyes slightly distrustful.
"I will."
The bell to the pawnshop rang, announcing Emma's arrival.
"Gold?" she called out, "Hello?"
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Swan?" Rumpelstiltskin asked as he came out from the back. "Normally it's your sister who comes charging in here to deal with me," he grinned widely, "She's getting quite good at chess now."
"What can you tell me about this?" Emma asked, showing him a photo of the gold necklace.
Rumpelstiltskin shrugged, "I believe I sold that necklace last week to a teenage girl. Robyn Archer. Quite a sad case- not enough money since they've had the baby, two years old now; Robyn comes and pawns things nearly every week nowadays. She picked that up last time she was here. I suspect she couldn't resist something for herself since most of her personal items have been sold by now."
"And in your world?"
The pawnbroker sighed expansively, "Contrary to popular belief, I do not actually know everything. There are many things in my shop that may have come from the Enchanted Forest or may have been plunked in here as window dressing for the curse. I do not know the story of everyone in this town, merely the key players," he pointed at Emma to emphasize that, "Who all was on my former student's list by time the curse was enacted would be pure guesswork on my part."
"I think I've got a teenager remembering her past life, who I just had to drop off at a home with people who I'm pretty sure aren't her actual parents after promising I'd find out about this necklace. Guesswork is not good enough," Emma growled.
"There's no magic here," 'Stiltskin reminded her, "And even if there was, the future is my wheelhouse, not the past."
Emma was rapidly losing her temper, "So how do I find out who this girl really is?"
The dealmaker seemed to think for a long moment, "Perhaps I can be of help after all," he motioned for Emma to follow him and lead her to the back of his shop. It was cluttered and filled with things of every description, including a cot and what appeared to be a small set up for a kitchen/break room. Gold waved at the piles and piles and shelves of books around him.
"I know some of these are from my personal collection back home," he told Emma, "But others, I am unfamiliar with. Those are the ones you'll want to look at," he told her, "And I'd be careful of your reading. Back home, some books bite," with a chilling smile, he headed back towards the front of the shop, "I'll leave you to it. Feel free to make use of the kettle, but leave the mint tea, that's my favorite and it's very hard to find."
Emma stared, "You have got to be kidding me," she muttered.
February 21, 2012
Ada had just taken her first sip of coffee when she was startled by Emma thunking down several thick books on the table.
"Doing some light reading?" the redhead questioned, grabbing her napkin to catch the liquid now dripping down her chin, "Thanks for nearly startling me out of my skin, by the way."
"Please tell me you don't start your new job until next Monday?"
"I, in fact, start next Monday. Why?"
Emma pushed the books towards Ada, who frowned, "And what am I doing with these?"
"I'm pretty sure Robyn Archer is remembering her real life," Emma told her, "Only problem is, we don't know who she really is. So," she gestured to the books. "Gold was kind enough to give us access to all the books in his shop. I'll text you a picture of the necklace."
"Woh," Ada shook her head, "Necklace?"
"Yeah, yesterday was interesting."
Ada groaned, "You know, when I texted you last night to meet me for breakfast at Granny's, I did not expect you to assign me homework."
"Yeah, sucks to be you," Emma unsympathetically replied, "Why don't we swap- you break the curse and I'll read the dusty old books?"
Ada looked at the stack, "I think I'll call in reinforcements."
Ada made sure to save and close her laptop lid before answering the knock at her door. She opened the door cautiously, but, seeing only August, opened it fully to allow him to step in.
"Nice place," Pinocchio told her, looking at her living space. "Like the stained glass," he nodded to a hanging stained glass suncatcher in the window.
"Thanks, picked it up in South Carolina when Emma and I lived there," Ada grinned, "Every time we move Emma swears it's going to end up broken, but it's survived them all so far."
"So, what, exactly, am I helping with?" August asked, turning to face the redhead, who gestured to her kitchen table.
"Research, very dull research," she sighed. There was another knock at the door, softer this time.
Ada opened it to Jefferson, who seemed to scurry inside.
"It's a bad idea," he said without greeting her, "Me being here. Very suspicious if the Queen is watching."
"She's busy at a meeting right now," Ada told him, "I have a man on the inside."
"She has spies. Spies who don't even know they're spies," Jefferson reminded her.
"Yes, yes, it's all very dire, but you're here anyways so might as well chip in," Ada led them all to her kitchen table. "So, we need to break the curse. Problem- no one really knows what exactly Emma needs to do to break the curse. We know she's supposed to bring back all the happy endings, so we've been setting people up left and right like yentas, but Storybrooke is a whole town, and we don't know everyone who came over with the curse.
"Boys, our goals are simple: identify people, identify their happy endings, and leave Emma, Henry, and I to make them happen. Bonus: find out how, exactly, Emma is meant to break this curse. An illustrated manual would be ideal."
Jefferson sighed, immediately sitting down and pulling a book towards him.
August eyed the remaining pile and turned to Ada, "I was never great with the homework thing. No chance you need anything built or refurbished or-?" he stopped when he saw her expression, then sighed, "Homework it is."
Ada opened her laptop, "I'm compiling a list of everyone's cursed identities- at least everyone we've met. We'll keep updating the list with people's true identities as we discover them."
"That's a short list," Jefferson commented, looking at her laptop screen almost disdainfully.
Ada glared, "We've only known the curse is real for about a month."
"I can add a few," he told her, slowly typing it out.
"So, Rumpelstiltskin..." August began, looking at Ada.
"Wants the curse broken, though why I'm not entirely sure. I owe him a favor," she grimaced when August made a face, "I didn't know the curse was real at the time!" she justified. "But so far he works with us to weaken the curse but doesn't seem to know any better than we do how to actually break it. Or he does, and he's waiting for something to reveal that particular tidbit."
"I," August swallowed harshly, "I know why he wants the curse broken."
The room went totally silent. Ada and Jefferson stared.
"You know?" Ada asked, "How? Something you remember?"
August shook his head, "Something I learned."
"Well, cards on the table, puppet boy," Jefferson shouted after the silence dragged for too long. Ada placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to help him simmer down.
"Why don't you tell us what happened to you after you left Emma?" she prodded.
August shrugged, "I bounced around with different other kids, children no one was looking for, or children who the wrong people were looking for. When I was younger it was ok, kids close to my age would believe who I was. Older kids didn't, so I picked up the name August Booth. When I got older, a teenager, I-" his jaw tightened, clearly struggling with his emotions, "You have to know I've always felt guilty about how I've acted with Emma. I know, I know I should've done better for her. But I'm a coward, and the only way I can seem to get myself to help is by coming at things sideways. I didn't have...no one told me what this world was like, I've been making it all up as I go! So I sought out magic. People who came her from other realms, magical objects left behind, people who knew someone from elsewhere. This world doesn't have magic, but there's plenty of others who do, and sometimes people...move worlds," he shrugged, "But they always bring some traces of magic with them. I spent a lot of time trying to find out something, anything. I went into every library I could and studied the fairytales, looking for the truth."
"And eventually you found something," Jefferson mused. "About Rumpelstiltskin?"
"I can't say for sure," August shrugged, "But I think he's here for his son."
Ada's jaw actually dropped.
"He has a son?" Jefferson questioned. "Surely the kid would be dead by now- I mean, 'Stiltskin has been the Dark One for...over a hundred years."
Ada went over to her messenger bag, pulling out the book. She turned the pages, looking for clues.
"He's technically over a hundred years old himself," Jefferson shrugged, "What I found suggests he had to spend some time in Neverland."
"Neverland?" Ada questioned, "Like...Peter Pan Neverland?" August and Jefferson's faces showed their skepticism that this is the part she was struggling with. "So..." Ada stared at an illustration of Rumpelstiltskin, offering to teach Regina magic. "Gold created the curse, to bring him here, so it could be broken, so he could find his son? But how will the curse breaking help him find his son?"
"Because his son is in this world."
Jefferson's face was skeptical, "How do you know that for sure?"
"I've met him."
"You've met Rumpelstiltskin's son?"
"I'm guessing he's why we're all here," August shrugged, "He didn't seem very willing to meet up with his old man, so I'd be willing to bet the curse is just the Dark One's first move to getting in touch. After all, it's not easy to get to a Land Without Magic."
"I need some coffee," Ada muttered, heading for her machine. Obligingly, August stopped dropping bombs long enough for her to make herself a cup. She sipped it slowly, trying to let her mind fit the pieces together.
"OK," she sighed, "We know from the book that Rumpelstiltskin is the one who created this curse. We also know he can see the future a bit. The curse requires you to sacrifice the thing you love most to cast it. So obviously, Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't want to cast it himself."
"Especially if the point of the curse was to get him to where the thing he loves most is- his son," Jefferson added.
Ada nodded, "So, he waited around for Regina to get angry enough that she'd do the dirty work for him. No matter what she was going to go after Snow White, so it was just a matter of making sure she had access to the curse and the means to cast it."
August nodded, "She's hated Snow White for a long time, and just keeps escalating her attacks."
"So, the curse brought them all here, Rumpelstiltskin got his memories back, why hasn't he gone for his son?"
"Because he still can't leave Storybrooke," Jefferson pointed out, "Only you two, Emma, Henry, and Regina herself can come and go from the town. Everyone else is stuck within the borders."
Ada grimaced, "I somehow doubt he didn't plan for that. So his goal isn't really to break the curse, I'm guessing- it's to help Emma weaken it enough that he can leave town."
"And find his son," August concluded.
"We're making a big assumption here," Jefferson pointed out, "That the Dark One actually wants to find his son after all this time."
"We could test that," August suggested.
"How?"
August shrugged, "He doesn't know who I am. I'm just a stranger who has come to town and seems to know a bit more than I should about the curse."
Ada stared, "That sounds a bit dangerous. If he is looking for his son, and realizes you aren't him, he'll be furious."
"Well, that'll be my problem, won't it?" August smirked, "Besides, at least he doesn't have any magic right now. He's just as human as the rest of us."
Ada shook her head, "I need to think on this more. Maybe there's a way I can get some information from him without having to put you at risk. This is...this is a lot to absorb."
"A few suspicious behaviors thrown his way, he's sure to look around about me, figure out I know about magic, and jump to the conclusion that I'm his long lost son," August argued, "Easy."
"Listen- right now, let's focus on the teenage girl who is possibly remembering," Ada gestured to the table, "We'll deal with Rumpelstiltskin once we've all had some time to digest this. Plus, I want to talk to Emma about it."
August simmered down at the mention of Emma's name, nodding and sitting down at the table, pulling a book towards himself and opening it up.
Regina's fingers tapped rhythmically against her desk as she eyed the pile of paperwork before her. She had been quite bored with the repetitive nature of the curse for many years. Always signing the same papers and approving the same budget day after day lost its appeal very quickly. Now, though, she longed for the monotony. Not only would it have been a sign of the strength of her curse, but the damn town was so needy with time moving now. New proposals, new meetings, newly stubborn cursed citizens coming to her with complaints, complaints, and more complaints.
A knock sounded at her door and her secretary poked her head in, "Mayor Mills?" she called nervously, clearly wary of Regina's continuing bad mood. "I've finished my work for the day, I was wondering if you needed anything before I left."
Regina scowled. "Yes, I do need something," she took about half the papers and thrust them in the insipid girl's direction, "Finish these for me."
Aderyn's eyes widened, "But, Madame Mayor- I don't have the authority-"
"I'm telling you to, so you do," Regina cut her off. She gave a shark-like smile, "I'm sure you can manage it. I need to head home to Henry after all, you understand, don't you? Since you don't have any children to get home to, I'm sure you don't mind helping a parent out."
Aderyn's face spasmed with pain, "No, of course not, Madame Mayor. If you say so." She stepped fully into the office and carefully took the paperwork from Regina's outstretched hand.
"Oh, wait one moment," Regina called as Aderyn opened the door to leave. Watching the cursed Princess Minna turn back to her, Regina smiled again, "Could you handle these while you're at it?" she waved another chunk of papers.
"Of course, Madame Mayor." Regina watched as Aderyn walked back to the desk, took the second sheaf of papers, and finally exited the office.
The door closed, Regina's fingers resumed drumming against the desk. She needed a plan. Leveraging her old teacher was out as an option- 'Stiltskin never did anything without a reason, and he was spending quite a lot of time with Miss Ward. Perhaps she could turn him to her way of thinking. What would he want? More power, usually.
So what could she give the Dark One without sacrificing some of her own power?
Jefferson turned the pages of Henry's storybook as Ada poured herself another cup of coffee.
"Could we use the book somehow?" he mused.
Ada turned to look at the two men sitting at the table, documents spread before them. "What do you mean?"
"This book...it must have some magic, or be a part of magic. How else would it be here? And show up for Henry specifically to show to Emma? How else would it have the full, true stories?" Jefferson mused, staring at his own illustration.
"Curses always have a loophole or two- it's the rules of magic," August shrugged. "There has to be balance- every curse must have a way to be broken."
"Well," Ada muttered into her coffee, just loud enough to be heard, "I'm looking at a man who used to be made of wood and a man who makes magic hats, so I'll take your word for it."
Jefferson rolled his eyes.
Emma walked in at that moment, thankfully carrying take out.
"This is what you mean by reinforcements?" she asked Ada, who shrugged.
"Who else would it be? Henry? Couldn't very well ask Mary Margaret."
"Ready to learn some millinery?" Jefferson asked Emma pointedly.
Ada didn't give her opportunity to answer, "Yes, you two work on that, and August and I will keep researching."
"Have you found anything?" Emma asked, ignoring how Jefferson was standing, waiting for her.
August shrugged a bit, "Well, the hatter knew some of the other faces in town, so we've been able to put those labels on. You've already met Prince Thomas and Princess Cinderella. The others we know are King Walther, who owns the Fish Shoppe, his daughter Princess Nicola is working as a waitress at Granny's, and her husband Prince Finn teaches 2nd Grade."
"How many Kingdoms are there?" Emma frowned.
Ada gave her a small smile, "Well, the town won't have royals from every Kingdom, right? Just the ones Regina knew and hated."
"Sure," August shrugged, "And she's so well known for her magnanimity, that's sure to be a small number," he sarcastically added.
Ada made a face at him.
"Shall we?" Jefferson asked Emma, gesturing towards the door. She sent a suffering look towards Ada, who shrugged.
"Have fun with arts & crafts, thanks for the takeout!" the redhead cheered as she slipped the bag out of Emma's hands. Emma quickly stole it back and removed one container, presumably her own dinner, and stomped after Jefferson, whose eyes were darting every which way as he entered the hall outside Ada's apartment.
Guess who found herself Googling "small town population" in order to find out roughly what the population of Storybrooke would be?
Yes. It was I. Will that information ever come up in the actual story? Honestly, I doubt it. But now I know what the US Census considers a small town AND what it considers a big city. It's anyone's guess how long my brain will choose to retain that.
August is making things so interesting- I'm realizing that, had he not been turned back to wood/a child, he would've had a lot of valuable information. And his testing of Gold? Totally trying to confirm his theories on the curse. So now he's got Ada and Emma and Jefferson to bounce ideas off of and share information with, he's doing a bit of a tightrope walk. He wants to help break the curse, but he doesn't quite want to admit all his secrets (and mistakes). Plus he's spent a long time now with only himself to keep his council, he's not used to being truthful with people anymore. Hence admitting that Rumple's son is in the world, but not admitting he's Neal. Does August know Henry is Neal's son? I don't know. I'm not sure he's put it together yet. Might be interesting when he does figure it out.
