Long Ago, and Faraway...

[stillsmallvoice]

Jiminy works his way through the crowd unnoticed, as always, his fleet fingers finding a fat man's purse strings and liberating the coin as he barely brushes against the man. "Oh, excuse me, sir..." He mutters under his breath, his shoulders sloped heavy with guilt and not the pride his father and mother will have when he delivers the prize.

It's a slim crowd, not many easy baubles to pocket, and trying hard only made him feel worse about his deception - some part of him able to justify the theft when it's obvious.

"Pardon me, sorry..." He pushes through another clutch of hearty farmer's wives - his fingers liberating a small loaf of bread from one of their unnoticed baskets and an apple from another.

Disgusted, but hungry, he finds his way to the edges of the crowd watching his parents' hawk Elf Tonic to cure all that ails them - slipping past the edges toward a slowly running creek. Finally alone, he sits at the edge and doffs his worn shoes to cool his feet in the water as he eats.

Comments

[makeadeal]

It's really such a tiresome fable that he has to be called to a place. And quite untrue, yes, in fact, quite the opposite indeed.

He goes where he will.

Isn't that the point of freedom?

He leans close over the man's shoulder.

(He's really so very quiet when he wants to be.)

Suddenly: "Spare a crust for a beggar, dearie?"

[stillsmallvoice]

Lost in his own thoughts, the man starts with a loud cry; "Oh!"

As he turns, the crusty bread clutched tight in his hand, the fear wraps around his heart. "You startled me," he barely whispers, holding out the barely nibbled bread as though it might protect him from an unknown terror.

[makeadeal]

"Did I, now?"

That's wonderful. But this awkward, myopic man-child is small fry -- or so he seems.

Rumpelstilskin grins, a wicked, impish baring of stained and horrible teeth.

"How rude. But it's not as though I'm known for my manners, is it?" His voice raises higher at the question before he squints a knowing smile at his companion.

"I was just so happening to be taking a casual little stroll," the r rolls luxuriously as he gestures grandly towards the streambed, "and though I'd pop by to say...hello!"

[stillsmallvoice]

No, Rumpelstilskin is known for many thing, but manners are not among them... Nor the tendency to take a leisurely stroll or make social calls. Jiminy holds his ground despite his obvious fear, his fingers clamping tighter on the crusty loaf - all thought of his hunger abandoned.

"I haven't got your payment, you'll have to talk to my father." His voice comes out a small, shaking sound. "I can't help you."

[makeadeal]

He tilts his head to the side, a swift jerk of a motion, nearly birdlike.

"Did I ask for payment?" Rolling his eyes, he taps a long, spindly finger at Jiminy.

"I have no interest in discussing business with your father. But now that you mention it...I could do with a few more items for my collection."

He smiles, wide.

"Which I have no doubt you'll bring along just as soon as possible."

[stillsmallvoice]

Jiminy sets his jaw, letting out a soft breath he hadn't realized he was holding - daring himself not to flinch away from the gaze burning holes in him.

After a moment he finds his breath again and softly whispers; "I... I can't, I won't."

[makeadeal]

"Can't?"

He tips his head further, looking a little alarmingly disjointed.

"Won't, now. Well, that won't do, dearie. Not at all."

His eyes narrow and there's nothing of amusement in his smile: it's like a predator baring its teeth.

"Why this sudden burst of confidence, I wonder? This sudden conscience, hm?"

[stillsmallvoice]

A soft, frightened sound catches in his throat when the source of his terror seems to lean even closer to him. He's always feared Rumpelstiltskin, so much more so since his parents came under his thumb - like a child's nightmare come to life.

"It's not right," he manages in a dull whine, swallowing back the lump in his throat. "These are country folk, they've got nothin' worth taking and need what they do have."

[makeadeal]

"Ah, you see, that's simply too bad." His face contorts in an exaggeratedly apologetic moue, and he steps back, lifting his hands.

"The deal is struck. The terms cannot be...renegotiated. That would be cheating. Too easy! Otherwise everyone would try to wriggle their way out of contracts with me. And I can't have that."

[stillsmallvoice]

It's not fair, he had no say in the deal - he was only a child when it was written and yet it's bound him as long as he can remember.

"It's not cheating!" His voice rises to a more adamant timbre, the slight distance giving him enough courage to force back the desire to run. From him, there is no running. No place safe, only the chance of reason...

"You've no contract with me, I'm a free man." Oh, if only it were true... to be free, to have the right he's even attempting to claim.

[makeadeal]

It's hard to tell whether the way he bares his teeth is a smile or a snarl; either way, his tone is short and sharp.

"Are you?"

Lacing his fingers together before his face, he paces slowly, considering the trembling man before him, each step measured, precise, a controlled sway to the motion.

"You may not work for me, but free?" He gives a short bark of a laugh, tipping his face briefly to the sky.

There's almost something anguished in it.

"I think you may be suffering from some...minor...delusion."

[stillsmallvoice]

Smile or no, it strikes terror into his heart no less. The young man stumbles to his feet in the creek, fixing his skewed spectacles as he stares at the man... the monster. He'd not it admitted it but to himself in the darkest hours, but the chain around his throat was more than filial duty - it was a noose.

"Leave me, you've no use for me." His shaking voice still holds some small amount of power.