Magic is Back [Site Wide Event]

[attr="class","ninety"]

While Gold was a bit busy, he found himself at the town meeting in search of information. After all, he had discovered he couldn't leave town - something he had been planning on doing for quite some time. He had even planned a whole trip, booked flights, and even a hotel to stay at while he was away. Alas, that was not an option now. The money he lost was nothing compared to the hopelessness he was feeling when it came to finding Baelfire again. He knew he would do it, he just had to find a way. 

Of course, no one else remembered who they were from the other land, other than, of course, Regina. However, she was not currently on his list of 'allies'. He always had worked perpendicular to her, and this was almost a time for a parallel relationship. So long as he got what he wanted, he didn't care what she did. As long as she didn't get in his way. 

Bickering. The town was bickering over what to do. They didn't even know how magic worked, which was probably the worst part. He heard someone had accidentally caught themselves on fire. The fairies were small and had no idea how to use their wands and he even got the joy of seeing one fly right into a wall having lost control of their wings. 

No, none of them seemed even remotely interested in leaving now. This was a waste of time. 

[attr="class","ninety"]

Gold had just turned to leave, finding this meeting to have been a waste of his time. And that was when he turned right towards a certain familiar woman looking quite disheveled not far outside the town hall doors, the clocktower just behind her. Some of the townspeople quieted, mostly the ones looking in that general direction and soon there were more eyes looking towards her. Damn it. They were in public, and this was going to raise more problems than solutions, but he couldn't stop himself.

He started at a slow limp before speeding up into the fastest limp he could muster with his screwed-up leg. The sound of the townspeople asking questions ("Who's that?" asked one, "What is she wearing?" asked another. And finally, a "Is she okay?") faded behind the beating of his heart in his chest, his eyes wide like a gecko. Once he was close enough, he reached out placing a hand on her shoulder. Yes. She was real. Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug.

"What's he doing to her?" The words of the townspeople barely reached his ears, his mind ringing with questions and his temper beginning to flare before the feeling of her in his arms causing him to calm once more. "Should someone do something?"

Gold pulled out of the hug as quickly as he had pulled her into it. "Belle. I –" He could imagine the questions if he just left right now with her in tow. Something about him kidnapping a girl or knowing more than he let on. To be fair, both were technically true. Then, at least most people would leave him be when it came to this, except for the current situation causing a mob that might cause problems later.

"Forgive me," Gold said quickly clearing his throat, "You… remind me of someone I knew. Are you… alright?"

[attr="class","ninety"]

When she responded, his eyes turned from one of hope to one of complete loathing – not at her, of course. In fact, his eyes almost glazed over and it was as if he was looking past her. Yeah, he was going to kill her. He had figured out magic mostly over here, though it was a few basic things. There was an amulet he brought over… yes, that would be wonderful. That would be the perfect punishment. After all, he couldn't take someone she loved and trap her away, treating her who knew how.

Then his eyes focused back on her. He cleared his throat, his eyes softening once more. Damn it. He couldn’t just show everyone he knew magic. Then he'd never hear the end of them. His shop would be just one after another, if not an angry mob. Right now, he needed quiet in order to work on the current problem of leaving town being impossible. Memories weren't erased by crossing over – one couldn't even cross over; there was just an invisible wall for everyone except Emma and Henry. There was always a way to break anything. And he assumed it was likely going to be Emma breaking the curse. This wasn't a problem, but he had brought magic back for his own benefit. Maybe she'd finally believe and break it. Win win.

"Let me see… I know a thing or two," He pulled out a bottle of simple water and poured it on a small cloth, before then raising it to her head where he found the pain was coming from. Water would do nothing, but he channeled his magic to heal her through it. This way, it looked like he was doing something instead of magically whisking her pain away.

"Here, sit." He gestured to a nearby bench. He couldn't help her ankle while she stood as easily. Plus, bending down in front of a girl wearing a dress was not very gentlemanly. While it wasn't like he was going to be such a terrible brute and take advantage of this, there were those in town who would assume this of him and he rather not deal with it even if he didn't care what they thought.