video.

[beltet]

Um. [ there's a girl in the video, in what looks like some kind of hospital gown, sweater, and coat. her brown hair is long and tangled, and she looks.. a little freaked out. (who can blame her?) she crosses her arms a little defensively across her chest, shifting from foot to foot and leaning down slightly to peer uncertainly in the mirror. ] I-- I guess this is a way to communicate? [ a short, slightly hoarse laugh. ] It's-- nostalgic, I guess. It makes me homesick-- magic, I mean. Not that I always.. approve, but..

[ she trails off, taking a ragged breath and leaning back, glancing away. ]

This is-- Canada? I-- I was in Storybrooke just a few minutes ago. [ a shudder, and she presses the heels of her palms to her eyes, shoulders hunching inward slightly, before offering another laugh, this one just a touch hysterical. ] I swear I'm going to start screaming if that was all some kind of-- hallucination. It's not-- It's not fair.

Comments

[ video ]

[hostage]

Whoa, hey... It's okay. You ain't hallucinating.

[ video ]

[beltet]

[ she allows her palms to slide down, fingers parting to peer between them. ]

.. Are you sure?

[ video ]

[hostage]

[He gives her a little smile of reassurance.]

I think I'd know if I was a hallucination, right? I promise, you're okay.

[ video ]

[beltet]

Well, if you were a hallucination, you'd say that, right?

[ still, she seems willing to accept his reassurance for the moment. ]

--It was magic, then?

[ video ]

[hostage]

Something like that. You ain't seen a greeter yet or nothing? They can explain it all a whole lot better than I can.

[bondsoflove]

It's not a hallucination.

[beltet]

It certainly seems like one.

[bondsoflove]

[His eyes flash red.]

I'd know if it were.

[beltet]

[ she startles a little, blinking. ]

--Are you a dragon?

[worldhaditsway]

Definitely not a hallucination, but it might look like it sometimes. There's some bad stuff here. Are you okay?

[beltet]

I-- I think so, yes. I am now, anyway, though it's very kind of you to ask. [ a slightly helpless smile. ] It's-- been a long day.

[worldhaditsway]

It'll be an even longer night too. Did someone tell you about the newcomer apartments?

[beltet]

Someone.. started to, I suppose, but I've not remembered much of what was said, I'm afraid.

[faustianism]

[Should he switch to video? Stay on voice? She's on video, so it would only be right to show his face. Right, and proper, and the polite thing to do. He didn't expect her to ever show up. The possibility of people he knew showing up had crossed his mind, but never her.

Never her. She was dead. She was dead and she was gone and yet here she was, looking like he remembered. Except a few things. She's not wearing the dress that she was before; not any dress. No dress, hair not up, scared with something she hadn't been before.

And Storybrooke. If she knew that she was in Storybrooke, the what was really going on here? She couldn't be Belle, then. But she knew about magic, and none of this made sense. None of it made any sense. He waits a few more minutes before switching to video]

Not a hallucination, dearie. I can understand why you might think that, though.

[beltet]

[ for a second or two, she stares, as if she hadn't quite expected her luck to go this well. at last, though, her expression dissolves into a smile, helplessly grateful and relieved. ]

Rumpelstiltskin. Oh, thank goodness. I-- [ her breath hiccups, a palm lifting to dash at her eyes, blinking away silly tears. ] I was so afraid you wouldn't be here, and after all the time we spent apart--

[ she picks the glass up, brushing a finger over his face in the feed. ]

You ought to feel just awful for making me worry like that, you know. Where-- [ a brief, faltering pause, because no matter their reunion, she still feels off, and she's no longer quite sure of where they stand together. ] Where are you?

[faustianism]

[It's on an open network, and he should chastise her for this, but she's so... she's so much like how he remembers her. It makes his heart beat wildly in his chest, a tight feeling. She's so lovely. A stupid thought to have right now, but he needs a few more minutes to handle all of this.]

It's... Mr. Gold. Belle. Just Mr. Gold. [Cover blown before he could even get to it. He'll have to fix that, and soon.]

I'm...on my way. Have they shown you the way to the community center, yet? I'll have my associate close the shop for the day, I can meet you there.

[beltet]

Oh! Oh, God, I'm-- I'm sorry, I just-- [ she looks flustered for a few seconds, blushing. ] Mr. Gold. Goodness, of course it is.

[ though the blush remains, she can't help but smile again, bright despite her somewhat haggard appearance. she'd missed him so much. even in her false life in storybrooke, somehow she'd always known something was missing. ]

I'm certain I can ask someone directions. I even promise not to talk to any strange women in black on the way.

[Video]

[integrity]

Fascinating that your first thought jumped to hallucination, now, isn't it?

[Curious.]

Why would you think that?

[Video]

[beltet]

[ she offers a mild blink, head tilting slightly. ]

Well, it's that or magic, isn't it? How else would one find oneself in Canada so suddenly?

[Video]

[integrity]

And hallucinations are easier to believe than magic?

[Video]

[beltet]

[ a shake of her head. ]

I think they're about equally believable. [ she lifts a hand, wiggling it from side to side to indicate 50/50. ] But I had to pick one for the moment, and I was a little distraught.

[canfindrope]

You think it's magic?

...Everyone keeps saying it's not.

[beltet]

I can't imagine what else it could be. It doesn't seem particularly electronic, after all.

[canfindrope]

I don't really know what electronics are...

[beltet]

Oh. I-- [ a pause, squinting thoughtfully. ] They're.. like the lights that you see on the streets here. And the.. boxes that have pictures in them. Have you seen them? They're like magic mirrors, but.. not.