The Idiot Box: She Said
Here are two little ficlets, both requested by readers. I hope you guys enjoy them and thank you to all who have reviewed, it means so much to me!
Disclaimer: Still do not own Once Upon a Time.
The Mind of Ruby
Ruby Lucas was born to be a babysitter, she had a gift with children. Her Granny said she should go into education, however all Ruby wanted to do was go into fashion. She really couldn't be blamed, her grandmother was a seamstress in television and Broadway shows her entire life. She grew up surrounded by fabric and sewing machines. Maybe eventually she could teach sewing and fashion to young ones, but right now she wanted her own fashion line.
However, Parson, the New School of Design wasn't cheap, so she went to school part time while babysitting the children of the wealthy. She had gotten her first nanny gig when a family friend Archie Hopper suggested her (being a shrink must give him extra kudos when it comes to judgment).
She eventually came to be the nanny of the adorable Baden Gold. It was an easy job, pick up Bae everyday from his fancy private school and then take him to his karate class or home, give him a healthy snake and make sure he did homework. Mr. Gold, unlike some parents she had worked for in the past, made an effort to spend time with his child, so there were usually no odd hours.
When Ruby first met Bae, she thought her gift was running out. He was quiet, responding only with nods and the shake of his curly haired head. She talked to Archie about her young's charge behavior and he assured her that Bae was just getting use to his parents' recent divorce and the move to another city.
It wasn't until the scariest moment of her life that things started to change. She was going to drop off Bae at his father's office, however she was told by his assistant that his meeting ran late. It was the perfect time to show the boy around Storytime in Storybrooke, she had promised to show him around if he continued to be good.
They first checked in with Granny who was all smiles for the shy boy. All of sudden Regina Mills, one of the newest regulars on the show came storming in, complaining about a rip in her regal gown. Ruby tried to help Granny pacify the enraged starlit before a situation incurred. When they were done fixing the dress, Bae was no where in sight.
Ruby, Granny and Ella the makeup and hairstylist started searching the entire floor. Luckily it was only minutes later that she found Bae, unluckily it was with his father. Belle, the wonderful human being she was injected, telling him all about Regina, how most children are terrified of her, and that the floor was a very child safe place.
Mr. Gold surprisingly gave her another chance. The man scared her, but when she saw him with Bae (and Belle), it made her believe he there must be some good inside the businessman.
And after their trip to the set, Bae was never quiet again. First all he would talk about was the show and Belle, but then he started opening up to her about school and the new friends he made. He started letting her help with his homework. They had a blast making a diorama of The Cat in the Hat and he even started to hug when they said goodbye.
However little Bae would still talk about Belle every now and then, a topic Ruby bet his father had a lot to say about.
Books & Ladders
Belle was working on an edit of the latest episode of Storytime in Storybrooke, when Gold came into her office and jumped into a conversation with her.
"I think you should write a book," he said sitting down across from her.
"I'm sorry, a book? Of what?" she asked confused.
"A book of untold stories from the show. Please don't tell me your notebook isn't full of ideas of tales you don't have the budget to tell."
She instantly looked at the a thick binder on her shelf. She thought of story of the Little Mermaid she would love to tell on the show, however their CGI budget just couldn't handle all the underwater scenes. Belle wanted to tell the whole story of the mermaid, not just the parts where she falls in loves and trades her life and whole family for a prince.
"It would be a great way to convince certain people of the show marketability," Gold said interrupting her thoughts. "We need to get more merchandise out there, this needs to be more than a weekly show, it's need to be a cultural phenomenon."
She raised her eyebrows the speech, however as Jefferson had said, she was the creative brain behind the show and maybe should let someone else be concerned with the business aspect.
"But I don't know how to write a book…."
"Didn't you say Mr. Booth had?" he asked.
Yes she had and she remembered the day she told him very clearly. It was an hour before a scene in the library was to be shot and Rory had told her August was hanging out there. She suspiciously looked around the set, but there was no sign of the writer. However she did notice something difference about the set. In the shelves instead of the usually classic books, there were three new volumes that just did not belong.
She grabbed the set ladder and began to pick out the new books as she heard the familiar sound of a cane hitting the floor.
" What are you doing?" asked a bewildered Mr. Gold.
"August once again has decided to put his own books in the shelves," she said, extremely annoyed at her co-worker. "He has written this young adult series with stupid vampires and werewolves, it was on the bestseller list for a half a minute and he won't stop talking about it or trying to get it on the show."
"Are you allowed to be up there dear?"
"Probably not, just don't tell the union."
She fought with the third book in August's trilogy, what did he do super glue to the shelf? She tugged until she won, but so did gravity. She fell from the ladder, however before she could hit the floor, a pair of surprisingly strong arms caught her. Gold slammed himself the adjacent wall to keep them falling completely. One arm was wrapped around her shoulders and the other around her legs, her body completely against his, he was warm, of course he was warm. Just because Jefferson and the others liked to call executives cold blooded lizards, didn't make them actual ones.
Gold and Belle started at each for the longest time, her still in his arm. She couldn't help but eye his lips for a split second. She really shouldn't be looking at her boss lips. She shouldn't be staring at any part of him.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. Gold as if he had been awakened put her down quickly. She immediately missed his closeness.
"It's no matter," he told her, brushing her off. As as he walked off set she couldn't help but watch him as he left.
"So get Mr. Booth to help, he'll get a portion of the profits," said Gold, bringing Belle back to the present. "But it will be your book, your name on the cover."
"I guess so, but again I'm not an author."
"No you are a storyteller and according to my son, the best one in the entire world. And he and I have read quite a few books, so he is an expert in the field."
Belle smiled at the thought of little Bae, she knew he would love the book. She imagined his father reading it to him before bed.
"I'll try," she said and he beamed at her for a second, his face had gone serious.
"Also there is a charity dinner party thrown by the president of the company tomorrow and I think it would be good if you attended it with me," he said not meeting her eyes.
"Okay," she said quietly.
"Great, we'll leave from here at seven." And as quickly as he had come in, he was gone. Belle just stared at the door. Did Gold, her boss just ask her out? And did she just say yes?