TEST DRIVE #6 - The Bridge and Ten Forward

[ten_fwd_mods]

Option 01. Ten Forward: The first thing you see is a bar. A large, lively bar filled with many different faces and many different smells, sights and sounds. This is Ten Forward, the Enterprise's off-duty lounge; feel free to get acquainted with your fellow travelers and try to find somebody who's in charge: this is your new home now, after all...





Option 02. The Bridge: Well, aren't you a lucky duck? You've found yourself in hallowed quarters. Wherever you were before, you're not there anymore. Now you're in a room that could be some kind of command center or control room; there's a captain's chair flanked by seats for his chief officers, computer panels and stations at each interior wall, and before you a broad viewscreen that shows the wide expanse of space rushing towards you. Have you ever wanted to be a starship captain for a day? Well, here's your chance. Feel free to roam around, but try not to touch anything shiny.


[OOC: The Bridge isn't usually available for in-game posts, so if you've ever wanted to play there, here's your chance!]

Comments

[chippedvaliance]

The fact that he would hug her, or touch her at all, is what ultimately had her wrapping her arms around him. Belle leaned her head into his shoulder taking in the ever familiar warmth and smell that his her husband until her smile drops. She was just being cautious. She doesn't let go just yet, somewhat confused by that answer. No, they were just in a cave together and it made sense that he found her here as soon as she appeared. She was using this dagger on him and it wasn't to be cautious. Belle purses her lips and feels the guilt wash over her again. Does he not know or is he choosing to ignore what happened? "No, I meant I was sorry for using the dagger." She murmurs, unsure what to say or how to say it. "I didn't think I had any other choice."

[magicsprice]

He suppresses the first instinct to pull back and away at that confession, though his hands do tremble some regardless of the effort to not show how that simple set of statements has effectively turned his world upside down. Pulling away however would just undo the good he has managed to accomplish here in calming Belle down from her earlier distraught state.

"If you had no choice..." He can't help but wonder if those words are true or a justification of her actions. It could be possible she had been in danger and thus had used the dagger to summon him and protect her, or it could be something more unjustified...he couldn't really believe she'd maliciously use his dagger against him, but if he'd denied her something she wanted badly enough...was it possible she'd use it against him to get it?

"What happened, Belle? How...did you get my dagger?" He hated to ask, hated how his voice trembled as he asked that awkward question. He's staring beyond her towards the wall she'd appeared by, afraid for once of what might be seen in his eyes. His uncertainty and the quiet lurking fear that the answer won't be something he cares to hear.

[chippedvaliance]

She holds onto him tighter knowing that she's wronged him and how terrible that is. How is he supposed to trust anyone if even she can't turn away from the idea of using the dagger as a source of control and achieving her own ends? What she said was more justification than anything. She knew she was weak and she needed him as protection. That just made the situation far worse that she chose to force him to come along. To his question she gives pause, pulling back to look properly at him. "Rumpel, you gave it to me. As a present." Her eyes search his for a moment. "Don't you remember that?" She will get to explaining why she used it after they've talked through a few other things-- Such as him not remembering the wedding gift that she thought was a bad idea in the first place. It turns out she was right in the worst way possible.

[magicsprice]

He had to wonder if he was going to have to have a 'time means nothing to Q' talk to every person whom the creature brought onto this ship. So far it seemed everyone who had been brought had been from points all in his past. This was the first from his future it would appear. He sighed softly as he looked at her.

"Belle. I was in Neverland before I was brought here. The last thing I remember? It was being trapped inside Pandora's Box by Pan."

So no, he had no memory of ever gifting her his dagger. He wasn't even certain as to why he'd even think of doing such a thing. Every time he could think of a possible reason, some other part of his mind shot it down. Perhaps it was due to a situation that had yet to occur? It was the only explanation he could actually hold onto right now without his mind shooting the thing full of holes. He hated the fact that he was still wondering now if that obvious trust he'd placed in her was misplaced, if she'd betrayed it purposely or not.

[chippedvaliance]

Upon mention of Neverland her eyes fall to the floor. Well, he doesn't have a shadow which means they are most certainly not from the same point in time. He doesn't know of how Pan was killed, what happened to Neal--oh god what happened to Neal-- Belle realizes that she has already made a mistake in telling him what occurred with her from the point she's at. What does she say? Her eyes flicker toward her wedding ring before coming to back up to his face. "I, uh." How does she say this without lying? She's a horrible liar. Leaving out details, by omission, is so much easier. Her heart twists inside her chest. No, she's standing where she is because she couldn't share everything with him. "From my point in time I was trying right a wrong I made a very long time ago. There is a woman that comes to Storybrooke and she is very dangerous. She had a magical item, a hat, and I wanted to get it back from her. You refused to follow me and I--" Her voice wavers again but she steels herself. "and I made you." Belle wishes she could just sink to a corner away from everyone. Don't cry. "Because I knew what she intended to do with that hat." Belle swallows back the lump in her throat. She still can't bring herself to mention Anna. "That's all I can tell you, and I know this will sound cruel, but you have to trust that's all you need to know." She can't tell him about the worst year of his life, the death of his own son, their oddly place marriage in the mix. It was one thing after another when he came back from Neverland and she can't bring herself to let him become aware of those troubles if there is a chance they're stuck here permanently.

[magicsprice]

Gold let his eyes fall with hers, knowing what she was looking for and not finding it. He kept his eyes away from the hand which held the dagger, instead looking at the other hand. Her words though distracted him from asking about what he'd seen on that hand. He pulled his eyes from the ring back to her face.

He knew what she was talking about when it came to that hat, he also recalled just who had had it last. "You were just trying to protect people, Belle. Like I was trying to no doubt protect you in that refusal, especially if she was as dangerous as you say. It would...devastate me to lose you completely again Belle. I never want to go through that again, especially when this time there wouldn't be any second chances."

He looked back down at the ring again, one of his hands taking the hand that it was on. "Did we.. get married?" Because if they had, then he could understand even more why he'd possibly given her the dagger, even though he still thought it was a foolish move to have made, he didn't entirely blame Belle for falling to the temptation of using it. He shouldn't have ever put such temptation in her path to begin with.

[chippedvaliance]

"Rumpel no." She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter what I was trying to do because I never should have forced you to--" She bites back the quiver of her voice. "To do what you didn't want to." This isn't his fault this is her fault. She's clearly upset still but she can't explain it. There is nothing to explain. She chose wrong, like everyone else. She's weak. . .like everyone else. "Surprise." She tries to smile but it's only half there. "We did elope from my point in time." She curls her hand into his. Maybe she shouldn't because she feels like it's the last time she'll ever get to. It's only a matter of time until she has to face what she did in it's entirety either by telling him all the details, or being dropped back into Storybrooke. "But I don't expect you to acknowledge that now." She rushes the sentence out. "That's in the future, or a version of it, and you don't have to feel obligated to act any different because of that." Now she's just rambling to cover up for it. "I can tell people I'm Belle French here. I'm just happy to be with you."

[magicsprice]

It's sadly obvious they're not going to agree who's fault it really comes down to being when it comes to the dagger. He doesn't know how to convince her that he's the one ultimately to blame for laying the temptation before her. The fact that she failed to resist it may still sting given he'd hoped she could, but really, that is apt to be too much to expect of anyone.

Who could avoid such a great temptation? Even he in the very beginning gave into it. It's part of the reason he's where he is now because he'd been weak and desperate enough to reach for the power the dagger offered to get what he'd wanted.

"It's alright, Belle. You're not the first to get hold of the dagger and compel me with it." Unless he's capable of either somehow separating himself from the dagger or finally letting go of this curse, it won't be the last time either he's afraid.

He covers the hand in his with his second hand and pulls it closer to him, to his chest. "If you're willing to put up with me, I'd be...honored to acknowledge it here. I don't want to go down any path that doesn't have you in it, Belle. I'll be glad to refer to you as my wife."

[chippedvaliance]

She should be the one to resist using it for ill will. That responsibility is on her and her alone. Belle wishes she could convey that but she is more than willing to let the topic slide for now. She's so disoriented by this displacement. She just wants something constant, something familiar, to help her through this. "I never wanted to be a part of that group. You are my true love. I can't imagine how much I've hurt you." She admits, in a quieter tone. "I know you don't fully understand but I'll be making up for that mistake the rest of my life." When he brings her hand close, she smiles warmly, just happy in that moment. "Put up with you?" She chuckles herself, and leans over to kiss him on the cheek. "I don't put up with you. I love you and I am glad you would have my hand. I want to be with you always." Even if she feels as if she doesn't deserve that right anymore. "We can have a ceremony here, later, so that it isn't so strange."