The Idiot Box: Interludes
Three ficlets I wrote after being prompted on Tumblr. I will have another full chapter up soon!
Prompt by tinuviel-undomiel: A crew member starts harassing Belle, cue Gold introducing him to his cane.
Belle's day started too her early for her liking. Today they were rehearsing the big fight scene between David and a CGI dragon. Grace was sick, so Jefferson called Belle in to oversee the scene.
Normally Belle wouldn't mind covering for her friend (especially when it came to little Gracie) but when there is a fight scene, even with a computerized dragon, it meant that the stunt coordinator, Keith Nottingham, was on set. And Belle was not very fond of him.
Nottingham was a tall, gorgeous guy who also happened to be the biggest douche-bag Belle had ever met (and she worked with Whale and August). He was like a Robin Thicke song come to life. Nottingham had an annoying habit of constantly asking her out. Last time he did, he asked her as he was checking out Regina from across the room and Belle couldn't help but burst out into laughter, he didn't seem to like that.
She hoped after her fifth negative response, he would get the picture and they could have a professional relationship. However, the second Belle stepped on set she could feel someone's eyes on her. She tried to cover her face with script as she sat down on the director chair with her name on it, attempting to look busy.
"Hello there beautiful," said the douche-bag invading her personal bubble.
She automatically rolled her eyes.
"Hello Nottingham, are you done choreographing?"
"The fight yes, but I was thinking we could do some choreographing of our own…" he trailed off before adding, "In the bedroom."
"Like I've said every time before, no."
"And every time your eyes say something else."
She didn't even look at him, she was going report him, or at the very least talk to Jeffereson. She got up to talk to Whale, who was directing this episode and passed Mr. Gold who looked furious about something. Were they over budget again?
Before she got to Whale she heard a loud curse and when she turned around Nottingham was on the floor.
"You should be more careful, dearie, wires and such," Mr. Gold warned, towering over a frightened Nottingham.
When she looked at the ground there was nothing for Nottingham to trip on. Belle stared as her boss walked away grasping his cane with a smirk on his face.
Gold has Milah found out about Belle? Or Cora?
Milah was a better ex-wife than she was ever a wife or mother. She was always traveling with her lover Killian and they rarely heard from her. Gold preferred it that way. The less she was in their lives, the less of a chance she could hurt Bae.
Cora was a different story. It was amazing in a city of eight million you could still run into an ex. He would occasionally see her at a party or charity event. He didn't ignore her, he just was too busy talking with more important people than her.
It wasn't until after the King's party that he had any direct contact from Cora.
She sent him a single text message: 'I met your Belle last night. You certainly have a type.'
He frowned at the screen, Belle was nothing like Cora or Milah. Yes, the three ladies were beautiful, brunette and petite. Milah was passionate and so was Belle, but she was also warm and loyal. While Cora was cunning and direct, Belle was witty and kind.
Gold may have had a "type" in the past, but now he knew his only type was 'Belle French.'
Crew and Staff - basically Jefferson, Ruby, and whoever else would like to weigh in - have Belle and Gold been acting any stranger than usual? Any new developments in all that unresolved tension?
It was going to be another late night at Storytime in Storybrooke, since the writers weren't done with the next episode. Jefferson sighed as he looked at his watch again, carrying clipboard and large cup of coffee. It was his turn to oversee the creative little bastards. Belle had taken Grace out on a girl's night to see Cinderella. Even though Jefferson despised musicals, he would have given nearly anything to trade places with his friend.
Trying to get the writers to concentrate on a deadline was worst than herding cats, especially with August and Whale.
And when he opened the door the the writer's room, he found the writers weren't writing. In fact, August, Whale and Rory were joined by Ashley the makeup artist,Thomas the intern, David and Mary Margaret all whispering around the table.
"What the hell is going on?" Jefferson barked.
The group scattered away looking guilty.
"Oh Belle isn't with you?" Whale asked, glancing around the room, like Belle would pop out all of sudden.
"No, she is at a show with Gracie."
"Well… we are just setting up this pool," said August lounging on his desk chair. "Do you want a piece of it?"
"What on?"
"When Belle and Gold are going to get together," Rory said quickly.
"Seriously?" Jefferson said. "We have to get this episode finalized for production tomorrow and you are gossiping about your bosses' love lives?"
"So there is something going on!" Ashley squealed.
"No, no, not that I know of," Jefferson said shaking his head. Belle vehemently denied anything whenever he brought up the subject, however he didn't believe her and apparently so didn't their cast and crew.
"Relax Jeff, we were just taking a break, we are nearly done with the episode," Whale told him, holding up a piece of paper with dates and wages on it. "So what do you say?"
Jefferson shrugged and said, "Two hundred on a month."