#ashmarie220

[emospritelet]

Any chance for A Key to the Cell snippet?😀

Belle wriggled a little, folding her arms across his chest and resting her chin on her forearms.

“It feels strange to be married,” she said. “I’ve had people telling me my whole life that this is what I was raised for, that this was my duty. And now that I am, it doesn’t feel like duty at all.”

“What does it feel like?” he asked, and she frowned thoughtfully.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “It feels right. It feels as though this is where I was always supposed to be. And it’s not about duty, it’s - it’s about us. It feels right to be with you.”

“I’m sure your parents would have sent you away to live with the fairies, if they’d seen this coming,” he remarked, and she giggled.

“My father, perhaps,” she conceded. “I hope I can convince him that I’m content. That I’m happy.”

“Are you happy?” Amber eyes watched her, a hint of anxiety in them. “I want you to be happy, Belle.”

“I am,” she assured him. “And I intend to make you happy, too.”

He smiled.

“I am,” he said. “Happier than I’ve been in centuries.”

[abovethemists]

En Pointe.. Eli’s cursed father can go away! Rumples gonna have a fit!

Rumple isn’t going to be too happy about it, but he has no reason to think anything too bad of Nick/Jack yet. All he knows is he was Henry’s friend in the New Enchanted Forest. Of course, we know better. 

[scribbles-by-kate]

Yeah! Rumple was wrong to do what he did. Understandable for sure but at same time he should have gone to Regina! Brilliantly showed his acknowledging of "I screwed up" with the scene at troll stature and when Regina confronts him over it though! I am def intrigued to see how they play it out with Regina and rumple mending things as a result which I am def sure they will

Yes, he should have gone to Regina for help. She was clear that she would have helped him. He knew it was wrong too: that’s why he waited till she left to steal it.

He definitely feels remorse, yes. We saw that in Bobby’s acting - the ‘What have I done? expression at the statue, and then his tears later. We couldn’t see the tears, but the way he was blinking, we were meant to realise he was crying.

I think they’ll definitely mend things. I think Rumple will prove that he cares for her and Henry and they’ll end in a good place :)

[betsypaige22]

For @ashmarie220

Here you go!

Danny Boyle, I’m 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 at you!!! This was made for Bobby and Em!!

........................

Robert Carlyle has dampened rumours of a Trainspotting spin-off movie based on Begbie, Irvine Welsh’s most notorious character.

The Scot, who played the psychotic hardman in the era-defining 1996 Trainspotting film and its acclaimed 2017 sequel, said it will remain “on the back shelf” unless franchise director Danny Boyle changes his mind and gets involved.

In Welsh’s 2016 novel The Blade Artist, Francis Begbie returns to Scotland from a life in California for the funeral of his murdered son.

Rumours of a third film from the Trainspotting canon have circulated for several years, and some the cast have confirmed they would be open to another film featuring the chaotic lives of Sick Boy, Spud, Renton and Begbie.

However, in an interview with The Sunday Times, Carlyle said: “As far as I know from talking to Danny, he sees another Trainspotting film as being the four main characters.

“The Blade Artist is about Begbie and, while that might be fine for me, it’s not Trainspotting any more; it becomes something else, a spin-off, and I don’t know how successful that would be.

“I know Irvine is very interested in it and from what I understand he wants that to go. It is a fantastic book, an unputdownable story, and the narrative is perhaps the most readable of his novels.

“I’d be happy to talk about it, but it would have to be with Danny, and if he’s not interested, then it’s something that would have to go back on the shelf again.”

Carlyle is currently appearing in the BBC adaptation of the sci-fi classic The War of The Worlds. He stars as a Scottish Conservative prime minister in the Sky drama Cobra, which starts in January.

Sad news for those of us who’d kill to see the Blade Artist made, thereby hopefully reuniting Bobby and Em...It’s nothing new, I guess, but it seems like Danny Boyle isn’t interested in making a solo Begbie film...

However, in an interview with The Sunday Times, Carlyle said: “As far as I know from talking to Danny, he sees another Trainspotting film as being the four main characters.

The Blade Artist is about Begbie and, while that might be fine for me, it’s not Trainspotting any more; it becomes something else, a spin-off, and I don’t know how successful that would be.

“I know Irvine is very interested in it and from what I understand he wants that to go. It is a fantastic book, an unputdownable story, and the narrative is perhaps the most readable of his novels.

“I’d be happy to talk about it, but it would have to be with Danny, and if he’s not interested, then it’s something that would have to go back on the shelf again.”

[emospritelet]

Hey😊 any chance of a little snippet for twisted fate? And the update for homecoming is having me both 😍😍😍😍😍😍 and 😳😳😳😳😳😳!!!!!

“How’s she doing?” asked Emma, and Gold pulled a face.

“She was up around five, but went back to bed again once I’d made her some tea,” he said. “Still in a lot of pain, obviously.”

“I bet.”

Gold gestured towards the kitchen, and Emma walked ahead of him, shrugging out of her coat. She draped it over the back of one of the kitchen chairs, and he poured the coffee, setting a cup down for her and receiving a nod of thanks

“It’s good of you to come over,” he said. “I’m sure Belle will be pleased to see you.”

“I figured she could use a hand, if you’ll excuse the obvious pun,” she said, reaching for the jug of cream. “Didn’t realise you’d be here.”

“Yes.” He poured coffee for himself, and leaned back against the counter. “She’s asked me to move in to help her out.”

“That right?” Emma took a slow sip of her coffee, eyeing him. “Well. I guess she’ll need all hands on deck when the baby gets here.”

“Precisely.”

There was silence for a moment. Gold could sense that she had something to say, and suspected that she wasn’t the sort of woman to hold onto her opinions. He was proved correct when Emma put down her coffee cup and put her fists on her hips, raising her chin. 

“You know she’s my best friend, right?” she said.

“I know,” he said dryly. “Is this where you make some subtle threat to my physical safety if I ever hurt her?”

“Pretty much,” she said. “Except for the subtle part. Break her heart and I’ll punch you so hard in the dick you’ll need scaffolding to get it up again.”

Gold’s eyebrows shot up, and he could feel amusement bubble up within him, his mouth twitching as he tried not to smile.

“That’s very - visual.”

“You think I’m kidding?”

“Oh, I believe you,” he said.

“Good.”

“Belle is fortunate to have such good friends,” he added. “I assure you I have no intention of hurting her.”

“Intentions don’t mean shit, excuse my French.” 

She tossed back her hair, looking at him defiantly, and Gold nodded.

“You’re right,” he said. “I’m aware that I’ve behaved appallingly where Belle is concerned, and you have every right not to trust me.”

“But?”

“But,” he went on. “We’re to have a child together, and I want us to have a good relationship. I promise you that I’ll do what I can to make that work.”

[emospritelet]

Okay prompt request for dark heart remix! 26) “How can I go forward when I don’t know which way I’m facing?“

[Ch 1] [Ch 2] [Ch 3] [AO3]

Last time, Gold gave Belle a swanky apartment to move into and they agreed it was probably best they took a day to calm down before speaking again.

Please send me a prompt from this list or this list to fuel the angst and smut

x

Gold had booked a hotel suite for the week, but no matter how comfortable the bed was, or how dark the room, he was restless, and by four o’clock he had given up on the idea of sleeping, and got up to make some coffee. He drank it looking out on the darkened park, waiting for the sun to rise and listening to the news with half an ear. Rain was falling, lashing the windows in streaking trails limned in silver. He wondered if Belle was sleeping well. Whether she got enough rest. It didn’t look like it to him, and he hoped her stubbornness and righteous anger wouldn’t prevent her from accepting his help.

He was still angry over the fact that she had waited so long to tell him, still furious about the conditions she had chosen to live in rather than ask for his assistance. She and the baby could have burned to death in a fire and he would never have known. He focused on that anger rather than pick apart and study the desperate tangle of emotions that had burst into life in the deepest recesses of his brain upon learning that he was about to be a father again. There was too much fear and regret there for him to handle, and so he did what he had been doing for decades with unwanted thoughts and feelings, which was to shove them aside and ignore them.

The sun rose, a fact discernible only by the lightening of the sky. It was heavy with dark clouds, those at the horizon glowing red as embers. It seemed as though the rain would continue. Gold put on more coffee, and took a shower while he waited for it to brew. His usual morning routine of a wash and shave made him feel a little better, and he pulled a robe around himself and checked the time. Still reasonably early, but the city was coming to life, and so he poured the coffee and placed a call to his lawyer, Ella Deville.

“Alexander Gold,” she drawled, when he was put through. “It’s been too long, darling. How are you?”

“Fucking livid,” he said sourly. “I need some advice.”

“Whenever you need advice it makes me money, so do go on.”

He rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help grinning.

“I presume everything’s going well on the Misthaven building deal?” she added.

“Very well,” he said. “Except for the top floor corner unit. Looks like I’m going to lose money on that one.”

“Why? It’s a perfect location, and the market’s in reasonable shape, all things considered.”

“Nothing to do with the property,” he said quickly. “It’s actually why I’m calling. I - I’m kind of letting someone stay there. Rent free.”

“You’re not usually known for your soft heart, darling,” she remarked. “It’s one of the things I admire about you. What’s caused this sudden crisis of conscience, and how is my excellent advice going to help?”

“This isn’t the usual real estate deal,” he said. “You may need to refer me to someone else. It’s a family matter.”

“Well, now I’m going to keep the case just to be nosy.”

Gold took a sip of his coffee, wincing at the heat of it on his tongue.

“It’s my - well, my ex, for want of a better word.”

“Your ex?” She whistled. “My my, this is a first. The reclusive Mr Gold lets slip hints at a social life. Tell Auntie Ella all the sordid details, you bad boy.”

“Certainly not,” he said dryly. “It was a bad break-up and I wasn’t expecting to see her again.”

“And now?”

He hesitated.

“She’s pregnant.”

There was a moment of silence at the other end of the line.

“Well,” said Ella. “That must have been quite a shock.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” he muttered.

“I suppose congratulations are in order,” she added. “I presume she says it’s yours?”

“Yes.”

“And you have doubts?”

“I - I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’m not saying I think she’s lying, but - well, we hadn’t spoken since the break-up. I have no idea what she’s been up to.”

“Of course.” He could hear her scribbling. “She could be playing you, and we certainly can’t discount it. You’re a very rich man, after all, and that has to be a better prospect than whatever lumbering college boy caught her fancy one drunken night, hmm?“

Gold closed his eyes as he remembered what Belle’s boyfriend looked like. Was he the father? Had he abandoned Belle over the baby, leaving her no choice but to come to him? Would she really be that cruel, to make him responsible for another man’s child? To get his hopes up only to crush them? Could you blame her if she did? You did it to her after all. You led her on, then broke her heart, and destroyed the both of you in the process.

“Alexander?”

He blinked, clearing his throat.

“She must know it’s the sort of thing that can be tested,” he managed.

“Oh yes,” said Ella. “But desperate people do stupid things, I find.”

“Yes,” he whispered. “Yes, they do.”

“Well, I suggest a paternity test,” she said briskly. “Easy enough, and quick. A simple blood test should do it, and then you’ll know. One way or the other.”

Gold felt a momentary chill at the thought of the result being negative.

“Right,” he said. “Yes.”

“If the test is positive, we can talk about next steps,” she said. “Any initial thoughts on what you want to do?”

“I want to exercise my rights to the child, of course,” he said curtly.

“Yes, but there’s a myriad of options in that field,” she said. “If you think things are likely to get nasty, I may need to get one of my colleagues to handle the case. Ursula is a fantastic family lawyer, as well as being an excellent kisser.”

“I’ll rely on whatever you advise,” he said. “I - I hope we can come to an agreement without the need for that, but she’s stubborn.”

“I suppose it’s early days,” she said. “What are your initial thoughts on the ideal outcome?”

Gold ran a hand through his hair, short, damp strands licking against his fingers.

“I - I want to make sure she can’t take it from me,” he said. “I need to ensure that. I want to be named as its father, to be equally involved in raising it, to have equal say in any decisions about its life, education and welfare.”

“Hmm,” she said. “I see you’ve given this quite a bit of thought.”

“Well, it’s not like I spent the night sleeping, or anything,” he said sourly.

“Why don’t we make sure there’s a right there to be exercised, first,” she said. “Let’s do the test. We can worry about the complications afterwards. Is she seeing anyone?”

“I - I don’t know,” he said. “She lives alone.”

“I see. Well, once we get the results, you can start planning your future,” she said. “Should take about a week. When is the baby due?”

“May fifth.”

She made a strangled sort of noise.

“And you’re only calling me now?”

“I only just fucking found out!” he snapped. “Hence me saying I was livid!”

Ella tutted slowly.

“Just how much of a giant arsehole were you to make her not talk to you until she was seven months pregnant?”

His mouth twisted.

“I believe you can guess the answer to that.”

“Hmm. That bad?”

He winced.

“Probably worse.”

“Surprised she called you at all, in that case.”

“Can we leave the character assassination for another day?” he said shortly. “Will you arrange this test?”

“You’ll need her consent.”

“Oh, I’ll get that, I assure you,” he said grimly.

“Let me make a few enquiries, and I’ll get back to you.”

“Thank you,” he said. “I’m staying in Boston, by the way. Just call me on this number.”

He hung up, slipping the phone into his pocket and turning back to his coffee. Just under twelve hours before he could see Belle. Just under twelve hours that he had to fill to keep his mind from concentrating on the worst that his imagination could produce. At least she was unlikely to run away, in her current condition. At least there was that.

x

After Gold had gone, Belle went to run herself a bath, and explored the apartment properly. It really was beautiful, the furniture sleek and expensive, the rugs soft and thick beneath her feet. She looked in the kitchen cupboards, finding a multitude of cans and dried goods, and the fridge, which contained a wide variety of vegetables, fresh milk, cheese and butter, eggs and cream and fresh juice. There was a sliced loaf of bread on the kitchen counter, one of those artisan loaves with seeds in the crust. She was hungry, but exhausted, so she made herself a sandwich and ate it at the kitchen table, washed down with a glass of milk.

Taking a bath felt like true luxury, and she stayed there until the water was tepid, wrapping herself in a thick towel when she was done. The bed was king-size, ready made with heavy cotton sheets and a dark grey eiderdown, and Belle curled up in it, a cup of tea steaming on the nightstand. The apartment was beautiful, but a part of her worried that she had moved into a gilded cage, from which she would find it hard to escape. A cage where Gold could swoop in and take their baby if she ever displeased him.

She was anxious, and her sleep was restless because of it. Waking up to pouring rain didn’t help, but she made herself scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast and ate it at the kitchen table, looking out over the city as it started to come to life. She had a view of the park and tree-lined streets, and she had to admit that it was a much better start to the day than in her old apartment, where she would have been listening to the couple next door yelling at each other. She would have to make the best of losing some of her freedom, for the sake of the baby.

The rain had eased a little by the time she got to the university, and she headed straight for the coffee shop, where she found Emma juggling a pile of books in one arm and a large coffee and Danish in the other. Belle took the coffee from her before she could drop anything.

“Thanks,” said Emma, nodding to a free table. “How are you? You look kinda beat.”

“Yeah, didn’t sleep well,” said Belle, and hesitated. “Alex tracked me down.”

Emma’s eyes widened, and she shoved her books onto the table.

“Wait right there!” she ordered, wagging a finger before hurrying back to the counter. Belle took a seat, watching listlessly as Emma ordered a tea and another Danish and hurried back, shoving them across the table at her. She shrugged out of her heavy coat, pulling the woollen hat from her head.

“Right,” she said. “What happened?”

Belle launched into an explanation of everything that had happened between them the previous evening, and Emma listened, only interrupting to snort loudly or curse Gold out. By the time Belle had finished, though, she was looking thoughtful.

“He seriously said he’d take the baby if you didn’t do what he wanted?”

“Pretty much.”

“You think he was serious?”

“Oh yes,” said Belle dryly. “I think he meant every word.”

“What an asshole.”

“That’s one word for him.”

“Well, we just have to make sure he can’t follow through on the threat,” said Emma.

“So - do as he says?”

“If what he wants means the baby’s safe and you get to keep it, then yeah.”

“Ugh.” Belle sat back, pulling a face.

“Just saying.”

“I know,” sighed Belle. “I know it’s the sensible thing to do, I just - I hate that I don’t have options, you know?”

“I know, honey.”

“He just - he just waltzes back into my life with his perfect suit and his stupid perfect haircut and looks down his nose at me and I have to dance to his bloody tune!” groused Belle. “I was already well aware that I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, I didn’t need a reminder!”

“You’re doing fine!” said Emma soothingly, reaching for her hand and squeezing.

“I’m not, I’m - I’m a mess!” said Belle, feeling tears sting her eyes. “I have zero control over my life and I’m just - just winging it every bloody day! How can I get through life like that? How can I go forward when I don’t know which way I’m facing?”

“Honey…”

“You think I don’t know what he saw the moment I opened that door to him?” Belle went on, gesturing with a hand. “I’m pathetic!”

“Belle,” said Emma sternly. “Stop. Breathe. You’re one of the least pathetic people I’ve ever met. You’re just going through some pretty serious life events right now, okay? It’s enough to throw anyone off their game.”

Belle huffed air out in a long breath, slumping in her chair a little, but nodded. Emma squeezed her hand again, and reached for her coffee.

“How’s that paper going?” she asked. “You get all those resources you were looking for?”

“Most of them,” said Belle, tearing a piece off her Danish and popping it into her mouth. “Professor South gave me some good feedback on my last piece, so I’m hoping I can build on that. You?”

“I have about fifteen hundred words of my criminology paper, and most of that’s crap,” said Emma bluntly.

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“Okay, maybe only thirteen hundred words is crap.”

Belle giggled.

“You want to get together for a study session this weekend?” she asked. “Turns out I suddenly have a lot of space to work in.”

“Sure. If you let Neal and Henry bring dinner over when they pick me up.”

“It’s a date.”

Belle reached for her tea, taking a sip, and Emma took a bite of her Danish. She watched Belle as she chewed and swallowed, reaching for her coffee again.

“So,” she said. “Baby daddy’s given you a new apartment?”

“He hasn’t given me anything, he’s letting me stay there,” said Belle morosely.

“Still.” Emma took another bite. “Gotta be better than the old place. I kept telling you it was a fire hazard.”

“Yeah, well, beggars can’t be choosers, right?” said Belle. “And now I’m dependent on him.”

“Not forever,” said Emma reasonably. “When you finish college you’ll be in a way better position. And at least it seems like he wants to help out, right?”

“I guess,” she said despondently. “I just - I hate feeling powerless.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Emma took a slurp of her coffee. “But you need to think about what’s best for the baby. And sometimes that means swallowing your pride. Believe me, I know.”

“Yeah.”

Belle picked up her Danish and took a bite, and Emma tilted her head.

“You said he’s coming over tonight,” she said. “You want some backup?”

Belle shook her head as she chewed and swallowed.

“I’ll be okay,” she said. “We need to talk about what we’re gonna do, I know that. I just hope we can do it without me wanting to strangle him with his own tie.”

“Try sleeping with him,” suggested Emma cheerfully. “I’m willing to bet you could bang your way to a better deal.”

Belle shot her a flat look.

“Okay, that’s a piece of advice I definitely won’t be taking.”

“Really.” Emma’s voice was flat. “How does he look?”

Belle groaned, slumping in her chair.

“He cut his hair,” she said gloomily.

“So?”

She sat forward again.

“He used to have this long hair,” she said. “It sort of came to his jaw and it was really soft and it used to brush my face when—” She pulled a face. "Well, you know.”

“And now?”

“He’s cut it all off.”

“So that’s good, then,” said Emma. “He looks like shit?”

“No! That’s the problem!”

Belle slumped forward, letting her head thump onto her folded arms.

“So, getting back to my sleeping with him idea,” said Emma, and she raised her head.

“I’m not doing that!”

Emma winked at her, popping the last piece of Danish into her mouth and licking crumbs from her fingers.

“We’ll see,” she said. “I give it a week.”

[emospritelet]

Excuse me while I am going 😍😍😍😍 over Gold feeling baby kick in Twisted Fate! And he and Belle are WAY OVERDUE for talking. Gold saying to her I have to talk to you made me 😭 cause I am like FINALLY. He getting there!

*hugs you* YES! He’s gonna tell her everything! Or he’s gonna try, certainly. I’m proud of this idiot :)

[emospritelet]

Any chance of a snippet for next Things Left Unsaid chapter?😊

She closed her eyes, wanting to break down and throw herself into his arms. Wanting so, so badly for him to hold her and tell her everything was going to be fine. She didn’t deserve it, but she wanted it anyway. 

“Did you just adapt the original plan, or what?” he went on. “Whatever that was. Not sure it matters now, but you know me. I’m a sucker for solving mysteries.”

Lacey’s mouth twisted, two tears tracking down her cheeks.

“So you knew the code was a password,” he said. “You said that at the time, of course. Was it the location of the safe you didn’t know? Was that the missing piece?”

“It’s not what you think,” she said.

“What I think,” he said coldly. “What I think is that you’ve been lying to me for years.”

[emospritelet]

CTC UPDATE HOT DANG! But also 😂😂😂😂 with the whole ending scene

LOL 

Yeah, I figured it was time to update it. I got some festive prompts for that verse, so I couldn’t leave them stuck in November XD

[emospritelet]

It’s cute seeing Gold get giddy over getting baby stuff😍but poor belle doesn’t know how to handle the cuteness 😂 #TwistedFate

Yeah, she’s very suspicious! These poor idiots :D

[emospritelet]

Just read through the snippets for Twisted Fate and Things Left Unsaid..OH BOY.. looks like things are coming to a BIG HEAD in both but at the same time...BRING IT ON

YUP. TLU!Lacey and Weaver are overdue a session of truth-telling and I’m pleased to say they have one.

TF!Rumbelle - well, they shout, and stuff most certainly gets said. Does it fix anything? Er...

[emospritelet]

Thanks for the update to dark heart remix! Hopefully Emma is right with you know what😉 but boy our babies have things to sort out and talk through first! On edge for their convo!

I’ve written most of that convo and - uh - yeah...

Neither one of them has a future in the diplomatic corps, let’s say

[emospritelet]

“Only the Dark One had promised her a way out, and by the gods she was going to take it!” YES☺️☺️☺️☺️ And oh boy do I want rumple to throw the book at shady fairy and Gaston too

I’m hoping everyone will get what they deserve in the end :)

[emospritelet]

TLU: WEAVER WAS CLOSE! Dang it! Two “annoying lesbians” to the rescue! And I am anticipating the weaver and Lacey discussion/confrontation!

That confrontation will be coming very soon! I’ve written a fair bit of it, I’m pleased to say :)

[abovethemists]

The recent update to Ceasefire....OH BOY

THEY ARE A MESS!

And it gets worse before it gets better.

But I will make it better, I promise!