Painting Layers of Love (Chapter Eight)

rowofstars:

still-searching47:

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Synopsis: Belle French lives alone and she likes it that way. She’s lived alone ever since the terrible car accident which killed her mother and claimed her eyesight. Belle spends her days painting, in complete solitude, until one day she wakes up and hears movement outside. Somebody has moved into the cottage next door. She had grown comfortable in her solitary existence until Mr Gold crashes into her life. Now her future is uncertain, like a blank canvas, waiting for her to apply the paint and decide what kind of story she is creating.

Note: Banner by the awesomely amazing @rowofstars who has very kindly and patiently beta read this chapter. Thank you so much!

Warning: Deals with depression and anxiety.

On Tumblr: Chapters One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven

AO3 Link

When Gold woke
up, it was to the disturbing fact that he didn’t remember falling asleep. His
head was pounding, and his mouth tasted like something had died in it. That
would be the whiskey on all counts. It took him a moment to realize that the
noise reverberating around his skull, wasn’t just his headache, the phone was
ringing. Wincing, Gold pulled himself up from where he had been drooling into
his pillow, his hand grasping for the phone on the side table.

“What?” Gold
barked.

He regretted it
a second later, as his head throbbed anew and his gut churned. He hated
hangovers, this was why he usually never had more than a couple of drinks. He
couldn’t understand paying for the privilege of feeling this awful. However,
last night had been a special case. He’d tossed back the expensive whiskey like
water, wanting to block out Belle calling for him, and to stop the ache in his
heart. He’d just wanted to forget.

Keep reading

MY BABIES! I think this is the most they have talked things out yet and it feels so good. This was a joy to read and I’m excited for where they go from here even though I know it’s a long road. They’ve already changed each other just by their existence. Gold’s understanding towards Belle seems to have renewed her faith in people being decent and maybe accepting her. Belle’s sweetness and vulnerability calls to Gold in a way that makes him curious about her but also want to protect her. I know that can be shaky ground to start a relationship on, but they have so much potential to further help and change each other if they are brave enough to pursue it.

Heh well it is slow burn. Jumping into a relationship would be a mistake, of course Belle does like to run before she can walk. Anyway, yeah they talked over recent events, which will put them in a much better place to move forward. They are both now ready to try and move forward, which is a huge step and a turning point for them. Thank you so much for all your support! I’m really glad you are enjoying the fic 🙂

the1ultimatefan:

*basically almost trips self trying to get to comments*
OHHHHHH MYYYYYY GAAAAAAAAWWWWWWDDDDDDDD
*SCREAMING*

DUDE.
DUDE.
THE BABIES ARE TAAAAAAAAAAAALKIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGG <3 <3 <3 <3

OHHHHHH THEY’RE MAKING SO MUCH PROGRESS!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

(in other news, i gave you props on one of your other fics here, and i’m writing it about it on this post cause Tumblr’s being a shitlord and won’t let me properly link you, and thought you’d like to see it <3)

I-CAN’T-EVEN-WITH-THESE-FEELS-MAN OUT OF TEN

Hehe I love your gifs. Thank you so much! Your enthusiasm always puts a smile on my face. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Yup they are talking, communication is good. Thanks again! 🙂

worryinglyinnocent:

I knew there was something I’d forgotten to read last night. I’m so glad that they’re back on the same page now. But oh my word, all through their conversation I was practically screaming at them to stop getting the wrong end of the stick and just let the other talk! I think that’s a flaw of Belle’s that carries through into this AU very well, that she will always jump in with both feet and start making assumptions, and Rumple/Gold’s appalling timing has again carried across well.

I’m sincerely hoping that this is the start of an upward swing for them!

Heh yeah they deserve a bit of peace, before the inevitable over-reach and ensuing crisis. Yeah they were so wrapped up in blaming themselves, it was a wonder that they managed to actually talk it out. Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙂

bookwormchocaholic:

So happy to see this updated! I missed it. Some of Belle’s struggles really resonate with me; the anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia.

Things might still be a little rocky between them, but they’ve talked at least, figured somethings out. And they were hugging in the end, so ::whew::! They are perfect for one another; he is so driven that he can help her work through some of her issues; and she can help him mellow out and get a few hobbies. And Neal, bless him, such a good guy!

Yeah, sorry for the wait. That wasn’t intentional and every time I post a chapter I swear I’m going to do better, and then it’s another month again. I’m glad you still liked the chapter! Yup them talking was a turning point. I agree that Neal means well. He has his biases, and made some mistakes, and he can be quite unreasonable where his dad is concerned, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a decent guy. He’s just human. Anyway, thank you so much! 🙂

For Your Consideration

Hey everyone *waves* I joined the fandom in May, so this is my first TEA experience. I’ve really enjoyed writing fanfic for Rumbelle and being part of this community. Thank you all for being so welcoming! I’m not really very comfortable with self-promo but I’m going to give this a whirl.

If anyone feels like nominating any of my fics, here are my suggestions, along with my best guesses as to the categories. As I’m new all my fics are eligible and you can nominate in whatever categories you feel best.

Anyway here goes 🙂

Fluff: Family

I Love the Way – Following directly on from All Hallow’s Fall. Due to the events of Halloween, Storybrooke finally becomes aware of Gold and Belle’s relationship and small towns can be vicious places. Gold fears it will tear them apart, but adversity can lead to strength not just ruin, and maybe even one day – a happy ending. [Tumblr, AO3]

Fluff: Comfort / Character: Best Woobie!Rum

In Your Arms – Retired soldier and single father Gold works at a coffee shop library. Plagued by nightmares of the war he’s quiet, only interacting with customers when necessary. His favorite customer is Belle, who comes in a couple of times a week. Her smile is as bright as the sun. One day she comes in upset and for a moment he is brave enough to ask her what is wrong. [Tumblr, AO3]

Smut: Comedy

Once Upon a Lifetime – Belle French’s life revolves around books. During the day she works as a librarian, and in the evenings she writes stories of her own. Everyday she watches Mr. Gold lock up his shop and everyday she swears that she’ll wave or do something, but she never does. If this were one of her stories then Mr. Gold would have noticed her watching him, and one day their eyes would meet and he would confess that he liked her as well. The problem was, life wasn’t a story. If it was, then Belle would have written herself a happy ending a long time ago. [Tumblr, AO3]

General: Best Post-Ep Fic

Right Kind of Wrong – Following on from the events of 6.07 – Heartless. Hope can be found in even the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. Storybrooke has faced many challenges, with good always beating evil but they did that together, and now they are split apart. The story must play out but the ending might not be what anyone expects. [Tumblr, AO3]

General: Best Holiday Fic

All Hallow’s Fall – Belle and Gold have been together for a few months when Halloween approaches. After some pumpkin carving goes wrong, and Gold is injured, they work together to ensure that Bae’s spooky sleepover goes ahead as planned. [Tumblr, AO3]

Special: Best Drama

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Painting Layers of Love – Belle French lives alone and she likes it that way. She’s lived alone ever since the terrible car accident which killed her mother and claimed her eyesight. Belle spends her days painting, in complete solitude, until one day she wakes up and hears movement outside. Somebody has moved into the cottage next door. She had grown comfortable in her solitary existence until Mr Gold crashes into her life. Now her future is uncertain, like a blank canvas, waiting for her to apply the paint and decide what kind of story she is creating. [Tumblr, AO3]

Special: Best Season Rewrite

The War Within – Alternate Season Six. Storybrooke is visibly under threat once more from Hyde and the Evil Queen. However, not all threats are visible as an old forgotten foe has been manipulating events from behind the scenes. The very nature of darkness is revealed as everyone struggles with the most difficult beast of all – acceptance. [Tumblr, AO3]

Events: Rumbelle Revelry

The Beauty and the Tragedy – When Mr. Gold calls in Lord French’s marker, bankrupting his estate, it leaves Lady Belle with nowhere to go until Mr. Gold offers her a deal. She enters his service as a maid and true love blossoms between them. Belle dreams of forever but there is a room, which is permanently locked, that stands in the way. [NSFW] [Tumblr, AO3]

Events: Rumbelle Secret Santa

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Conspiracy Afloat – When Mr. Gold buys Storybrooke marina, one of the marina’s few permanent residents, Belle French, swears he won’t get away with it. She sets sail and anchors in a remote cove and that night Belle witnesses a murder. At first light she returns to the marina to report it … but nobody believes her. Gold’s purchase of the marina now takes on even more sinister implications, and her growing attraction towards him only complicates matters. Vowing to investigate herself, if the sheriffs won’t, Belle soon starts to unravel a town-wide conspiracy. [Tumblr, AO3]

Character: Best Lacey

Fall All Over Again – Before the first Dark Curse the Evil Queen had a paranoid moment, which meant in cursed Storybrooke, Gold and Lacey were married. Therefore when Belle falls over the town line – Lacey returns. Everyone is shouting at her, and everything is wrong, so Lacey does something she never did once in 28 years of marriage, she turns to Gold for protection. In turn Rumplestiltskin does something that Gold never did in 28 years of marriage – he tells Lacey that he loves her. Belle loved him, so can Lacey fall for him all over again or will the curse mask true love forever? [NSFW] [Tumblr, AO3]

If you feel like it, you could also nominate me for the Newbie Spotlight. Thank you for your time 🙂

Once Upon a Lifetime – stillsearching47 – Once Upon a Time (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

Link

Once Upon a Lifetime – stillsearching47 – Once Upon a Time (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

Don’t mind me I’m just laughing at myself.

I just bought The Last Enemy, The Tournament and To End All Wars. If I’m not mistaken, then I think I’ll have accumulated £4 video credit through various offers. Summer is available to rent for 99p, and then I’ll have £3.07 of credit left. I can definitely get at least one more movie out of that, maybe two.

Best of all – this has all been free. Well I had a £10 gift card but I’ll have got basically 6 movies out of that. Not going to lie, I’m kinda pleased with myself, I like getting a good deal.

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I had £2 of Amazon Video credit that was expiring today, so for an additional 49p I rented the original Trainspotting because I’ve never seen it. I’m just laughing at myself now because I never would have considered watching it, if it weren’t for a certain actor.

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I guess I’m going to have to see the sequel now as well when I can heh 🙂

I considered watching them both just for RC, but tbh they don’t seem like my type of movies at all. I’ll probably be skipping them, unless someone can convince me they’re about something more than drug addicts behaving badly.

To be honest from reading the descriptions on IMDB, I think 95% of Robert Carlyle’s filmography isn’t my type of thing. When I saw the Legend of Barney Thomson, the whole way through I was going “Why am I watching this? This is so weird!” but for some reason every now and then I decide to watch one of his credits anyway. There are some things that I will never watch like 28 Weeks Later. I would have nightmares for weeks, no thank you.

Maybe it’s the anyelle fic, but I do have a few more on the list that I will somehow watch one day. I got a £10 amazon gift voucher for Christmas, which isn’t really enough to buy anything specific but there’s a fair few movies on the marketplace I might be able to snap up for cheap e.g. Plunkett and Macleane is 19p, The Tournament is 48p etc. I’ll have to check what postage does to the prices and see how I can best maximize what I can get but I’m considering it.

It’s the anyelle, seriously I’m blaming the fic 🙂

Reflection by Christina Aguilera
Regina Mills Song…

If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart

So many layers to her, so much depth. Seriously if I still made fanvids, I would totally make a fanvid with this.

worryinglyinnocent:

still-searching47:

I should be doing lots of things but I’m looking out my window at the swirling falling snow. All I can think, is I’d be enjoying this sight a lot more if I didn’t have to go out later.

Half of me thinks it’s pretty, and is amazed that it’s settling as usually it’s too wet to do that. The other half is worrying about visibility, and the increased risk of black ice if the sludge freezes under a layer of snow. Heh, snow is a bit of a rarity in England 🙂

LOL we were lucky, no snow here. I mean, it was snowing horizontally when I left work last night, but it’s all melted and dried up this morning and you’d never know it had been raining, let alone snowing. 

I have a very antagonistic relationship with snow…

I don’t blame you. Snow is more trouble than it’s worth. Much better on a TV screen than real life. I’m hoping it won’t last here. It’s not snowing quite as heavily now and to be honest it is probably just a ‘light dusting’. It looks most impressive on top of stationary cars, which are obviously smooth surfaces.

I tried to take a picture out my window but it didn’t really capture the sight that well. I think my phone can take like photo gifs, which would probably be better but I don’t know how to do that. My back yard isn’t very picturesque anyway 🙂 The most interesting bit is how the snow is clinging to the chimney of the house in front, where the wind has buffeted it – looks just like icing sugar.

One fic comes off the list!

… and another goes onto the list!

Oh wait, that wasn’t supposed to happen …

#seriously i was trying to clear my list not add to it#why am i like this?

little-inkstone replied to your post:
One fic comes off the list! … and another goes…

Is it selfish of me that I’m happy to hear more fic is going on the list? Either way I know you can do it!!! *waves pompoms*

Haha, well this comment made me happy, so no I don’t think that’s selfish at all. Thank you *hugs* I have 15 active works in progress, though thankfully I’ve only been reckless enough to start posting 5 of them. so I’m not in danger of running out of things to write anytime soon 🙂