#will most likely stick to my newest tarot deck

[witchcraftingboop]

Upcoming Tarot Free Readings

So I thought about it, and I haven't done free readings in a hot ass minute on here. Later this week, either Thurs/Fri or the weekend, I feel like doing a few. I'll pick randomly which ones to do, so feel free to submit requests/asks starting now

[dent-de-leon]

Mollymauk, 4, 5, 11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22 :D (feel free to trim down if this is too many)

asksjkdf I'm sorry in advance because I got a little carried away so this got a little long, but thanks for the ask! I love any and every excuse to talk about Mollymauk...

4.) Best places to kiss on their body

I think Molly is actually very partial to forehead kisses! I feel like he uses that to ground Caleb in part because it’s something that’s always been very comforting to him--for instance, when Yasha finally gets to embrace him again, she also kisses his forehead. I think I remember Molly doing this for the twins back at the carnival too, so I feel like it’s a habit he picked up from the circus? Just the kind of little thing you do for someone to show you love them.

Aside from that, I think he would really appreciate a kiss on the neck, where most of his blood hunter scars--and that haunting red Eye--are. A bit of loving tenderness to soothe the pain.

5.) Guilty pleasures

Oh I love this pick for Molly cause boY does he have a lot of these!! He builds a life off joy and hedonism, so he’s got this in spades. I forget where, but I’ve definitely seen someone theorize before that the reason base pleasures are so appealing to Molly is because he started out just feeling like an “Empty” body, so anything that’s very stimulating on a physical level is very grounding for him? I really like the idea of that. I think wanting to feel like he was really “alive” and “whole” is part of why he gravitated towards decadence and indulgence, anything that made his heart beat faster.

The episode where we get the famous “Long may I reign” scene definitely covers a lot of his favorite indulgences. But as much as he loves being spoiled, I think he also likes making sure the people he cares about are pampered like royalty too. Taliesin mentioned before that the reason Molly likes gold so much is because he’s got this very childish perception that money is Good because you can use it to get Nice Things that make other people Happy. Since Molly’s been alive for only two years, I feel like a lot of his guilty pleasures actually stem from this sort of sentiment. The fact that he’s still so young and everything in the world is very new and exciting and he just wants to be as happy as possible--and make his loved ones happy too. It’s a very endearingly innocent sort of view.

11.) Bad or petty habits

Hmmm I feel like the one thing that makes Molly the pettiest is when someone tries to tell him his tarot readings are bullshit lmao. Even if he mostly thinks so himself, he adamantly refuses to hear it from anyone else.

13.) What gets them flustered

I think whenever someone is being very genuine and having a real heart to heart with him. Molly is perfectly at ease talking bullshit or telling pretty lies. He’s also very comfortable being very sincere and compassionate when it comes to comforting others, like the little ways he’s always trying to cheer up Jester, the forehead kiss for Caleb, promising Fjord the Nein won’t let him die, bringing Yasha a four-leaf-clover with the wish that one day she’ll feel happier.

But whenever people are openly affectionate and trying to have an honest conversation with him? I think that makes him tense up and panic a bit. He’s not good with letting himself be vulnerable, dropping his showman’s performance. We actually see a lot of this when Molly is resurrected and starts going by Kingsley. He knows he has feelings for the Nein, but he’s definitely a little nervous and overwhelmed when he confronts that.

Several times, Caleb assures King he’s still welcome in the Nein, and that always makes Kingsley either defensive or very quiet, keeps catching him off-guard. “Well for starters, you are with friends.” “Perhaps this is your first time meeting us. It's our second time...Stick with us.” “We have a habit of taking in strays.” “This is the newest member of the band.” Being accepted just like that, loved by all the Nein so unconditionally, just like that? I think it leaves him a little shaken, because he doesn’t feel like he’s done anything to earn it. Like he doesn’t deserve to be this missed and wanted and loved.

14.) Ingrained habits/forces of habit

I think there are some nights where he keeps looking over his shoulder and feels like he’s being watched--when the Eyes of Nine start to itch and burn, when it feels like something’s crawling under his skin--and he looks at the mirror and swears he sees a face that looks just the same but somehow isn’t his. And for a while after he first wakes--and again when he’s resurrected--I think there are still moments when he’s scared or panicked and he’ll just keep repeating Empty over and over.

I also really like how Taliesin used to just pick a random card from his tarot deck to decide what Molly should do. I can definitely see Mollymauk doing something similar--just pulling a random card from his deck on a whim, trusting it’ll lead him in the right direction.

15.) What it takes to make them cry

I feel like Molly rarely cries, mainly because he hates feeling sorry for himself or ruminating on any bad memories. He’s kinda funny that way; he refuses to let himself be unhappy, especially when he feels like he’s always living on borrowed time. The one thing I can see really making him break down is seeing his loved ones hurting--he literally spits at the face of his own death, but I think he’s really terrified of losing someone else.

If there’s one scene where I can really see Molly crying, it’s when Jester falls in that final battle. When Caleb makes this desperate plea that breaks through to Molly for a single heart-wrenching moment, “You’re killing her, you’re killing her! You love her. You’re killing her!” The absolute horror of that shakes Lucien’s control for just a moment, and Molly claws at his own face in retaliation. You can just tell how much his heart is breaking just then, how scared he is, how much he must hate himself. I could definitely imagine Molly shedding a few tears right then, if he had enough control of the body to do it.

Having to watch Lucien use his body to kill Jester and Caleb, the amount of pain Lucien caused Yasha and all the others, the nightmares of his death and black chains that forever haunt him after--I think those are the kinds of things that would bring Molly to tears in his lowest moments. And when he finally reads Beau’s book and finds out about how Yasha suffered a similar fate under Obann? Yeah, I think he’d get choked up over that too.

21.) Turning points in their life

Oh, there’s so many interesting twists and turns Molly’s life takes in just a few short years. Undoubtably, I think every life, death, and rebirth left the biggest impact. The fact that he woke all alone that first time--and then found himself surrounded by so many loved ones a lifetime later--I think that had a profound impact on his sense of self worth and his attachment to others.

That first life, Molly convinces himself that he must have been someone awful before, to have been left alone in an unmarked grave on the side of the road. With no one who missed or mourned him. He believes he somehow deserves that fate. And when he’s taken in by the circus? Taliesin mentions he never spends more than 24 hours alone. He’s...very lonely, I think. Someone who can’t bear to be isolated again. So when he wakes up again to a whole family of people who love him? Who welcome him wholeheartedly and insist they’ll love him unconditionally, no matter who he is? It’s beautiful, and it means the world to someone like Mollymauk/Kingsley. “I’m looking forward to the future. And I hope to deserve to have woken up surrounded by such people.”

Molly’s also mentioned that it was the Moonweaver who helped guide him when he first woke, who gave him comfort in having a new start in life. “Can you imagine what it would feel like to not feel anything about anything that had happened to you so far?...It’s very freeing. It’s the best thing--It’s the thing that happened to me. It’s not the best thing that happened to me, it’s the thing that happened to me. I found peace in building a new person. The Moonweaver--” However he came to worship the Moonweaver, I think it was definitely one of the most formative experiences in all his lives. I also like to headcanon the woman in a red coat Molly/King met in his dream was another visit from the Moonweaver, and she was either trying to return his memories or offer him another chance at a fresh start.

22.) People who’ve influenced them greatly

Oh, pre-campaign I think Molly modeled a lot of his behaviors and mannerisms after others in the circus, especially Gustav. He’s the one who named Mollymauk and presumably the one who spent the most time raising him and caring for him in that Empty period.

Molly has his own set of morals he feels very strongly about, and it’s entirely learned from the circus, “Things came back quick, and the circus helped. They were good people. They did a lot for me, and joy can fill an awful lot of a person’s life.” “I may be a liar, but I’m never a betrayer. I’m honest in my work and I believe in doing a good turn...I stayed with that circus for two years, and I know how people treat each other. It’s important.” When Molly is resurrected again, I think all of the Mighty Nein have very much the same effect on him.

[hcrystals24h]

These Healing Crystal Jewelry Retailers Wish to Help You Rock Crystals Each Day

Healing crystals aren’t just decor in your home highlights (e.g. agate coasters) or Instagram nail artwork #inspo. Somewhat, to truly enlist their abilities wherever, every time, consider actually using some metaphysical minerals or gemstones by means of some super-pretty expensive jewelry. (If you’re in need of crystal 101, read this information which matches gemstones for your astrological signal.) Besides this eases the requirement to bring the unique rocks around along within a pouch (or perhaps your bra), additionally, it offers your thing a numinous feel for an effortlessly amazing but totally higher-vibe seem.

Furthermore, wearing healing crystals against or near to the chakra it may initialize can improve their energies, leading them to be a lot more highly effective, based on some woo-woo specialists. By way of example, an increased quartz necklace that is placed against your breastbone can help strengthen and mend the center chakra.

But, obviously, you can use your chosen rocks anyplace. Like at the moment, I have got an arm party loaded with jade, citrine, clear quartz, amethyst, moonstone, and rose quartz—because every one of these is my, go-to healing crystals. Skim through these extraordinary creative designers for sections that line up with your finances and your chakras, way too.

 Under, 7 expensive healing crystal jewelry retailers to find your chosen high-vibe pieces.

1. Jemma Sands

Structured out of La, designer brand Jemma Sands stocks and shares her namesake precious jewelry shop with many different beaded bracelets and evil-eye talismans, in addition to beads and stones that array in substance from wooden to diamond with pieces both fragile or full-on statement. Sands also mixes her own natural oils and candles in their “Alchemy” e-tail area and helps to create curated bins (not unlike these membership ones). Everyone features a sizeable slice of universally healing clear quartz, white-colored howlite mala beads to aid in meditating, a crystal bracelet of choice (right now, Sands has increased quartz, amazonite, and moonstone iterations offered), along with a supporting, traveling-size candlestick that’s fragrant with aligning natural oils.

 2. Alex and Ani

Made with the underlying concept of power, anything from jewelers Alex and Ani aim to talk about intelligence and beneficial electricity, plus numerous purchases have another feel-good level in the form of charity contributions, as well. What’s particularly great concerning the brand name, even though, is the fact that meaning each item is carefully revealed with the covered explanatory put that happens to appearance pretty great pinned on to your eyesight table.

 3. Power Muse

Consider this retail outlet the unofficial Costco of online healing crystal jewelry merchants. The website exhibits countless parts for individuals, along with a selection of frequent and exceptional stones (unprocessed and tumbled), in addition, a selection of shiny gemstones handpicked through the owners from your recognized and current Tucson Gem Show. The knowledgable duo behind the e-tailer, Heather Askinoise, and Timmi Jandro, also recently penned a magazine, Crystal Muse, loaded with rituals, explanations, smudging tricks, and bath recipes—that transpires with look fantastic as design in a great-vibe house, way too.

 4. Anna Michielan

An avid meditator and healing crystal collector, Michielan gives a number of pieces—including more uncommon discoveries like anklets and belts—along with meditation malas, wedding rings, beaded bracelets, pendants, and the like. It is possible to store by one or all the seven chakras (which can be particularly valuable if you’re pondering any are blocked), and even though charges are somewhat steep, everything’s palm-privileged and crafted by Michielan herself, which means you know there’s been some significant TLC behind the curtain.

 5. Jacquie Aiche

Great crystal jewelry hobbyists and celebs are becoming obsessed with Jacquie Aiche’s spiritually motivated parts, using a devoted “JA Tribe” segment onsite showcasing the loves of Blake Vibrant, Selena Gomez, and yes, even Kylie Jenner, using her styles. The expensive parts are edgy but amazing. Think precious stone abdomen chains, sapphire-encrusted Hamsa hand or wicked vision single stud earrings, and faith-transcending amulets (a tiny trinket meant to offer the beholder defense) in the BlessLev series, which will come including an appreciation checklist to the proprietor to help keep accessible.

 6. Crystal Cactus

Although wellness “it girl” Audrey Kitching’s online-only retailer carries a litany of metaphysical products, together with a number of smudge sticks, tarot credit card decks, and blossom essences, her handcrafted crystal jewelry is arguably one of the most irresistible of these all. All her pieces are one of a kind, as no two stones are identical, and each and everyone has an unmistakable, property-manufactured top quality that’ll abandon every person asking the place you obtained that pink agate Aphrodite diamond necklace or this bad-vibes-banishing design, created from much less-commonly-seen rainbow tourmaline.

 7. Gorjana

Even though this design jewelry line is predominantly noted for its skinny, delicate stacks and tiers of pendants, bands, and charms, its Energy Gemstone collection is perfect for channeling your inside goddess. Based on the manufacturer, “each gemstone item symbolizes that greater that means, that further component of on your own, whether it is a struggle you’re going through or possibly a target you have, it’s the additional boost of potential you need to allow you to get by your day time.” Prices are cost-effective, with personal things generally priced at under $100.

 Never realize how to start with healing crystals? Try one of those woo-woo membership boxes or learn to detox the electricity at your residence using them.

 Premium Crystal Jewelry at Blingvine

 Practically nothing exudes luxury like Crystal Jewelry. Each crystal jewelry conveys an enchanting story in regards to the person. Be it a wedding, a party, bday bash, a supper day or perhaps a hangout together with your good friends, your pursuit for trendy pieces of jewelry models ends at Blingvine. Check out through our over-whelming collection of crystal pendants, ear-rings, bracelets, and crystal pieces of jewelry sets on-line.

  Crystals will be the most ravishing and chic jewelry parts for many women. From making it glamourous to including grace on the moonlit meal get together, it really is a go-to piece of crystal jewelry for special events. At Blingvine we provide you with a huge variety of designer crystal jewelry series that will go perfectly with outfits and situations.

 Crystal Jewelry for females

 It is necessary for many females to travel beyond the ordinary. Each lady requires something added and different to stand outside in a group at the bash or any event. The crystal jewelry collection at Blingvine is encouraged by the newest styles in Vogue. Fashion jewelry with crystals can be something that provides an instant gleam and making you sparkle just the best sum. Magnificently crafted with good-top quality crystals like Swarovski crystals, Austrian Crystals, or American Diamonds – CZ/AD Jewelry is available in various designs and delicate habits.

 Pieces of Crystal jewelry for all Clothes

 Whether you’re sporting a pretty saree or strong hot gown, crystal pieces of jewelry can be your much-necessary fashion accessory to set with all of your outfits. Obtainable in vivid hues and unique designs, Blingvine offers an enormous variety of crystal-studded fashion jewelry selection that perfectly combines with costumes and colors. From traditional Indian clothes to modern-day traditional western outfits, coordinating crystal pieces of crystal jewelry will be here to help make every single event vivacious.

 Designer brand Crystal Pendants and Little Pendants

 Crystal pendants and pendant sets are the type of design pieces of jewelry parts making the primary component of each woman’s jewelry box. Sparkling little crystals inside a pendant or even a piece of jewelry establish is a lot-adored adornment of most pieces of crystal jewelry fanatics. Although small crystal pendants for females are ideal for a professional look or even a conventional supper date, big and chunky crystal diamond necklace sets go perfectly over a wedding ceremony, cocktail party, or even a reddish colored carpets and rugs celebration with all of the dress varieties.

 Fashionable Crystal Charms and Bangles

 Bracelets and Bangles are an issue that may go with just about every apparel - classic or western, short sleeves or long. With the optimal sort of bracelet, you can add grace to your appearance instantly. A simple crystal bracelet or bangle elevates your look without making you look over the table. A Crystal bracelet can be a go-to accent for any kind of appearance. Search for fashionable crystal bracelets and bangles at Blingvine studded with lively and colourful gemstones like crystals from Swarovski, Austrian crystals, and American Gemstones

 Designer Crystal Jewelry for females

 Crystals Ear-rings really are a must-have adornment for those girls. No matter if you’re heading little or building a statement, jewelry is a crucial jewelry part to finish the look. Statement earrings can single-handedly raise your appearance with the ideal level of bling. Blingvine Crystal Earrings on the web is a crucial addition to your crystal jewelry box. Get crystal stud earrings, danglers, and Jhumka jewelry for many events and clothes. Blingvine delivers a variety of Fake gemstone ear-rings made out of high-good quality crystals to offer an opulent look.

 Crystal Jewelry – The best gift on her behalf

 Somebody rightly mentioned, “Diamonds really are a girl’s closest friend.” It not just wraps up a style but adds a lot more to it. Considering that diamonds could be pricey, substantial-high-quality crystal jewelry can remedy the point in the price range. High-class searching and stylish crystal jewelry looking for ladies from Blingvine can be the greatest gift idea for your unique lady in your daily life. Search for present ideas to your partner, mother, sister, or lover for functions like birthdays, weddings, Valentine’s Working day, or perhaps an ordinary day when you seem like an unexpected her with something treasured.

Visit Our Official Site

Additional Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarovski_crystal

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Jewelry

https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/22/news/crystal-jewelry-unlike-its-forerunners.html

Location: https://g.page/ShopCrystalis?share

[breaktimewritings]

Palm Reading II SpunLace Oneshot

In which Lacey is a gypsy and gets attached to a spinner.

(( This was a plot bunny I got and had to write down. I kind of fell in love with this verse??? I'm opening it for prompts and...kinda begging for them so please feel free to throw prompts at me!! I’d love to explore every member of the caravan~! ))

AO3

The Festival Caravan was no longer welcome in Longbourne. However, that suited them fine. They much preferred The Frontlands. They had much livelier celebrations.

The caravan had never been to The Frontlands before their first visit. However, at the time they didn't have much of a choice. Longbourne was no longer on their route, and a stop before Avonlea was necessary. The Frontlands would simply have to do. They arrived while the kingdom was in the midst of its Summer Solstice celebration, and had decided it was meant to be.

Somehow, the band of gypsies had become a staple of the Summer Solstice without incident. The guards had grumbled a little about the new additions, but they were always present when the dancing started.

“Come one, come all!” Called Jefferson from his perch atop his makeshift stage, waving his signature top hat above his head. “Come see the finest show of magic in all the lands!”

Lacey couldn’t help but giggle. Jefferson’s show was probably one of the only things in their caravan that WAS true magic, which was ironic. The usual crowd gathered, and Lacey relaxed for a moment, straightening the many wares of her stall. Charms, potions, fortune reads. Jefferson was the life of their Caravan, drawing in crowds with his boundless energy that bordered on madness, but it was Lacey that was the heart of it.

She'd been hailing customers all day. The people of The Frontlands were sometimes quite wary of her stall, but for every person who passed her with a sideways glance, there seemed to be two more than happy to indulge themselves.

“Simply hold that over your wife’s hand and watch the way it swings. It hasn’t been wrong yet.”

The man thanked Lacey happily, dropping a few coins into her hand. The brunette didn’t have time to turn away before more coins dropped on her counter. A boy bade her no mind, looking over her wares, eyes filled with determination. Lacey grinned at the boy. Children were easy customers. Their naïveté meant that they would believe just about anything they were told about what the gypsies sold, and Lacey was nothing if not skilled at storytelling.

“What can I get you, lad?” Lacey asked. “Would you like your fortune told? Or do ya see something that catches your eye?”

The boy didn't look at her. “Something for my papa. Something to make him brave.”

Lacey’s brows furrowed as she glanced to the row of feathers hanging from a hook, wrapped on a twine band and adorned with a bit of beading for good measure. Charms of daring were most popular among the young boys, but something about the way this little boy with his unruly mess of black curls asked gave her pause.

“I see.” Lacey said, leaning over the counter of her booth to be at eye-level with the boy. “And where is your papa, lad?”

The boy turned and pointed to the back of the crowd that had formed around Jefferson’s disappearing display. At first, her brow furrowed as she couldn’t quite tell which man he was pointing to, until she realized she’d missed a man entirely. The lad’s father was thin, and leaned heavily on a walking stick. It was obvious he’d perfected the art of invisibility. His eyes were low, barely looking up at anyone as he hobbled along, clutching onto his walking stick. When he spotted the lad his eyes went alight.

“Baelfire.” He said. “I told you not to wander off.”

“I didn’t mean to Papa I…”

“I was the one who called him over.” Lacey said, giving the boy a wink. “Didn’t mean to worry you, sir. Just wanted to show the lad my newest trinket.”

The boy’s father nodded. “Come along, Bae. We need to get home.”

“I'm gonna stay right here, papa. Honest. I'll come straight home when I'm done!”

The boy’s father looked wary, but his eyes softened when he spotted the coins on the counter. Lacey cleared her throat.

“I could bring him home.” She blurted. The boy’s eyes filled with hope, but his father faltered, torn between pleasing his son and his own cautions. She had no idea why it was so important that he trust her, but somehow it was.

“Alright, Bae. Straight home.”

The boy nodded vigorously, and Lacey gave him a wave as he started back up the path, towards the outskirts of town. His eyes kept low. Once again invisible.

“He's gotta be made brave!” Baelfire was insisting again. “You have to have something.”

Lacey watched as the man hobbled down the road, glancing back now and then as if to verify that his son was still alive. He kept his gaze low, not even fighting as a group of guards passed, nearly knocking him over with a jostle. Something in her heart ached for him. There was a story behind his tired eyes, and she'd never wanted to hear something more.

“I don't have anything to make your father brave, lad.” Lacey said.

Baelfire’s face fell. “I thought you had courage charms.”

She did. But none that would do any good for a weathered man who didn't seem to see himself good enough for anything in the world.

“I do have this, though.” Lacey reached under the stall, pulling out a jar of salve. “Once a week, rub this on his bad ankle. It'll help with the pain.”

The boy blinked at the jar and the odd containments. “Is it magic?”

“If you want it to be.” Lacey said. “Magic is...funny that way.”

The boy gave a focused nod, and Lacey couldn't help but giggle at the contrast between father and son. There was a chorus of cheers beside them as Jefferson popped out of his own hat. Yes. Lacey was fairly certain she could grow to like The Frontlands.

~

Lacey frowned as she scanned the crowd. Sometimes, The Frontlands were unforgivably tedious.

“Haven’t gotten a whiff of him huh?”

Lacey gave a glare to the brunette that had appeared behind her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ruby.”

Ruby only hummed, sliding behind Lacey’s stall to retrieve a deck of Tarot cards. “He’s somewhere around, I’m sure.”

“Better be. He owes me thread.”

“Is that all he owes you?” Ruby only gave a smirk at Lacey’s grimace, giving the other woman a wink as she skittered off to whatever fortune she’d read.

Lacey busied herself with straightening the wares of her stall, trying not to show how the absence of one spinner and his son could bother her so. Truly, she had no idea why it bothered her. It couldn’t have bothered her. It didn’t bother her.

Still, they never missed coming by her cart when they appeared. He’d always made it a point to come by every year, even if Baelfire didn’t always drag them over. Perhaps it had something to do with them being late this year. Yes, that was it. He probably just didn’t know they were there yet. Or perhaps he’d left to do some selling of his own in another town and missed them.

She pushed the thoughts away, focusing on hailing customers. Fortunes. Forecasts. Palm readings. Lucky charms. That she could do. That was easy. A little girl, Moraine as Lacey knew, cheered as her mother allowed her to buy one of their dream catchers, and it was only then that Lacey realized how late it had gotten. The sun was setting. The caravan was packing up. And yet still no spinner was found.

“Jefferson!” Lacey called as the performer beside her began to disassemble his stage. “Watch my booth?”

Jefferson grinned, and Lacey groaned, knowing that look. “Why Lacey what ever could be so important to pull you away?”

“A delivery.” Lacey said simply, grabbing the first thing her hand touched. She held up the dream catcher to Jefferson. “And a meeting with Ruby about tonight’s prospects.”

Jefferson hummed. “I heard something about thread earlier.”

“Leave it Jefferson.”

He didn’t, only giggling at her. “Come now, Lacey can you blame us? We’ve never seen you so attached to someone!”

“Just watch the booth you mad hatter.”

Jefferson gave her a bow and Lacey was off. Part of her, the part of her that was terrified because they were right, wished that she’d get lost. Yes. She’d get lost on the outskirts of The Frontlands and then have to bat her eyes at a guard and come back on his arm. Instead, her feet carried her exactly where she needed to go. She’d only walked the way to Rumpelstiltskin’s once, but somehow she’d never forgotten it.

She found him outside, spinning. His eyes were focused as his clever fingers ran over the wheel and pulled away at the thread. His wheel was the grandest thing he owned, and Lacey frowned as she noticed one of the legs was propped up by a log of firewood.

Baelfire was the first to spot her. “Lacey!”

The boy ran to her, throwing her arms around her middle. Lacey blinked. Wasn’t it only last year that he was at her skirts? Rumpelstiltskin didn’t look up.

“We were going to come by.” Baelfire said earnestly. “Tomorrow, before you’d left…”

“It’s alright.” Lacey said, handing Baelfire the dreamcatcher. “I brought you something.”

Baelfire’s brows furrowed. “What is it?”

“It’s called a dreamcatcher.”

“Is it magic?”

“If you want it to be.” Lacey said, her usual answer for the boy. “See this circle? It catches bad dreams so they don’t come to you.”

Baelfire’s eyes filled with wonder, and Lacey’s heart ached for a moment. He was already getting older. Soon, he’d be too old for her wares. She glanced to Rumpelstiltskin. His wheel had stopped, and his eyes were a storm of emotion as he looked between her and his son.

“Where should I hang it?”

“Close to a bed, but not too far away. It helps if it’s by a window too. Or the opening of a door.”

Baelfire nodded, rushing inside. Lacey swallowed, wondering why she felt so nervous as she moved to sit by Rumpelstiltskin as he spun. She watched for a moment, having never learned the skill herself.

“We truly were coming tomorrow.” The spinner said by way of apology, only glancing at her.

Lacey nodded, mesmerized by the turning of the wheel and how his hands worked the thread. Then, she blinked. The wheel wobbled, as if no longer as sturdy as it had once been. Lacey got a look at his arm under his hempen shirt, the makings of a nasty bruise there.

“What happened?” She asked. The wheel stop, but he didn’t answer. She huffed, pulling his sleeve aside to reveal not only a bruise, but several cuts, as if he’d been pushed down and landed along a slope. “What happened?”

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“No it’s not.” Lacey’s tone gave no room for argument.

The spinner sighed, deflating. His hands dripped from the spinning wheel altogether. “It’s nothing more than what they usually do.”

“The guards.”

He nodded. “Your thread got ruined when I fell across the dirt. I had to make a new batch.”

“I don’t care about the thread.” She slowly ran her hand over the bruise, gauging his reaction. He flinched, but didn’t pull away. “Why do you let them treat you like that?”

Rumpelstiltskin didn’t answer right away. “I deserve it.”

Lacey’s brows furrowed. She couldn’t have heard him right. Rumpelstiltskin might not have thought much of himself, but he had one of the biggest hearts she’d ever seen. It was apparent simply by how much he cared for his son. “No you don’t.”

“Yes I do.” He said simply, as if he’d said it to himself many times before. “I’m a coward. I ran from The Ogres War. My wife left me. Bae is all I have. I deserve it.”

Lacey ignored the way his voice trembled. Rage coiled in her belly. She wasn’t sure if it was for the woman who left him like this, feeling as if he were worthless, or the guards that only sought to push him down further.

Well. That was enough of that.

“Give me your palm.” Lacey said firmly.

Rumpelstiltskin blinked at her. “What?”

“Just let me see it.”

He hesitated, though his eyes weren’t as wary of her as they’d been before. She considered that a victory. She took his hand gently in hers, turning it over so that she could see his palm.

“Hmm” She hummed, tracing her finger softly over the line running from the base of his thumb to his wrist. “A long life line.”

Rumpelstiltskin’s brows furrowed, but he soon began examining his own palm as she did. She couldn’t help but smile, wondering if he knew how alike he and his son were.

“This one.” She said, caressing a short line running perpendicular to his life line. “Means you’re shy. This one.” She caressed the line running from the middle of his first finger to the side of his hand. “Means you have alot of care in your heart.”

Rumpelstiltskin nodded, and she couldn’t resist running her fingers over his palm. It was caloused and felt like sand-paper. But that too was appropriate. It was just as worn as he was.

“Hm.” Lacey said, furrowing her brow and biting her lip in faux confusion. “ Hmmm hmm hm. That’s funny…”

“What?” Rumpelstiltskin said, looking to her. His hand began to tremble, but Lacey only held it tighter. “What?”

“No coward lines.” She said simply, locking their gazes. His eyes searched her, as if trying to find a lie. Lacey only gave him a single, triumphant smile. “Not a single one.”

He brought his palm away, looking to it, searching for something that he couldn’t find. By the door, she heard a small chuckle from behind her and turned to see Baelfire scurry back into the house. His original words echoed in Lacey’s mind. Something to make his father brave…

“Come with me.” Lacey blurted.

Rumpelstiltskin blinked at her. “What?”

“With the caravan. Leave this place.”

“I...I don’t…”

“You could spin and sell your wares all over the land. See the festivals of every town. That’s all we follow.” She took his hand in hers again. “You could be free of all this.”

“I...But Bae--”

“Would come to, of course. Jefferson’s daughter, Grace, would love to have someone her own age. And Snow White’s kingdom is our next stop. Their princess always sneaks away. She’s Bae’s age too. He won’t be without friends.”

Rumpelstiltskin still hesitated. “I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

“Never.”

His eyes fell to his hands resting in hers. He opened his palm, still searching for some kind of proof of what he’d told himself for years. Lacey covered his palm with hers. “That’s what they look like.”

“What?”

“Coward lines.” She said, taking his other hand and guiding him to trace a short line at her wrist and one just below her pinky. Two he didn’t have. “Twice where I wasn’t brave.”

He shook his head, looking at her “You’re not.”

“I am. But I learned. I learned that if you do the brave thing, bravery would follow.”

The sun was set now, the night lit only by the moon and the candle in the window that Baelfire had lit.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.” Lacey said, choking back the odd lump that formed in her throat at the prospect that he didn’t want to come with her. “But do think of leaving, Rumple. You can’t be brave here. This place won’t let you.”

Rumpelstiltskin covered her palm with his hand, looking away. His eyes fell to his spinning wheel, then the small hovel he called home. He swallowed as he looked back to Lacey, smiling at him in the moonlight. Offering him something more valuable than she could have realized. Something that made his heart stutter.

“Would you...would this make you happy?”

Lacey blinked at him. “Would it make you happy?”

“I don’t know. But I want it to.”

Lacey smiled. Warmth filled her chest. She stood, moving to retrieve his walking stick from where he’s placed it. “Then we should get you and Bae packed.”

“Aye.” He said. “I suppose we should.”