I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I have nothing, sorry love 🙁
I was prompted this once and the best I could do was fake dating.
I don’t know how these stack up as possibilities. For canon-ish there’s a visa scam, or an inheritance thing, must be married to inherit. Then there’s canon-ish (not on Earth) of Rush surviving to go to Novus, everyone had to hook up to make kids if they wanted to have a sustainable population.
Or if Rush somehow wound up on an alien planet (not on Destiny) that had arranged marriages, a bit like how Daniel wound up married to Sha’re, now that’s not strictly teacher/student, but maybe he would be revered on this world and be given an apprentice, who he then had to marry.
Then go wild with the AU’s. Rush is a scientist in the past when arranged marriages were a thing, I mean math has been around forever, and he agrees to marry his student Belle for whatever reason you like, avoiding another arranged marriage/her reputation/to keep her in school (perhaps her father wanted to pull her out because it’s not proper for women to be smarter than the men they are supposed to marry).
I mean sure strictly speaking aside from maybe the alien planet stuff, nothing requires Rush specifically, but everything is better with Rush. Maybe the alien world pulls a Firefly (Our Mrs Reynolds) and Rush doesn’t even realize what happened at first. He thought he was agreeing to teach her, not marry her.
I can see Rush agreeing to a wife who was a student because she would be smart, maybe able to help him, or at least know enough to leave him alone to work. He thinks it’s just a beneficial arrangement then bam surprise, he falls in love with her.
@nynaeve88inspiration You are killing me with these – so gorgeous! Although, I’m sensing a bit of a theme haha 🙂 This will make my third one of these in a row, that starts with “Belle French always wanted to see the world …”
Belle had been travelling around America for some time. She was driving and could go anywhere, that she pointed her car towards. She wasn’t restricted by timetables, bus routes or train lines. In the back of her car she had a board, with a map stuck to it, full of pins and tags about everywhere she had been.
Before she had driven around America, she had backpacked around Europe and South America for a few months, hitting places like Rio, Milan and Paris. It had been a magical experience and one she wasn’t keen on ending. She spoke with her father every couple of weeks, and without fail he asked when she was coming home. However, she didn’t have a final destination in mind, she was just enjoying the journey while it lasted.
She was driving along a quiet country road in Maine, when it started to rain. A few minutes later, she spotted a hitchhiker bedraggled on the side of the road. Belle bit her lip, picking up hitchhikers was dangerous, it wasn’t something she had done yet and now didn’t seem like a good time to start. However, they were at least a couple of miles from anywhere and her heart went out to the man.
Thanks, I’m glad you like it! However, I don’t know if I can oblige this time. If I knew what happened next then sure. Once I start getting background for a fic I know I’m in trouble and I’ve spawned another WIP heh 🙂 Right now I have no clue what Gold’s story is beyond that he’s bitter about it.
Sorry, I know that sucks. When I do these inspiration prompts I write what comes into my head. Sometimes that’s a summary of a complete fic (yay no cliffhangers) and sometimes it’s a scene. With this ficlet there’s nothing left in my head. I’m sure if I thought about it long enough I could come up with something but I think I have enough to write to be honest.
If anyone likes this setup, feel free to adopt it 🙂
Belle French always wanted to see the world. After high school she planned on taking a year out to go travelling but her father had a heart attack, so Belle spent her year out working at the flower shop until Maurice recovered.
She then went to university, studying literature, because she loved books and because it’s what was expected. When you are intelligent, you get put on an academic track, going from school, to college, without really being able to object and say that you want something different.
After graduating university, top of her class, she moved back home to Storybrooke. The library was re-opening and by living at home for a few months she could save up funds easier to get her own place. It was the logical move but Belle felt trapped, like she would now never leave her home town and see the world, that her dreams would only ever just be dreams. Everyday she read books of far off places but she was tired of reading about them, she wanted to experience them for herself.
Love it! It kind of reminds me of the “traveller” story I wrote a while ago- also for one of these aesthetics- except much fluffier and less angsty. They both have this feeling of “I’m not where I wanted to be, but I’m with you, and that’s where I’d rather be” , which is an element I love for Rumbelle fics as it fits to their story. I’ll just put a link here in case you’re interested 😉 Love what you’ve done with aesthetic, the whole thing together makes me feel like taking a vacation somewhere warm and hooking up with Mr. Gold
Definitely want to see more of their shenanigans in Italy now 😉
Yeah I want to see more of their shenanigan’s in Italy too. I’m dead curious as to who the other ex-pats are and how Gold wound up in Italy in the first place. However, while I really want to read it, I have very little desire to write this one myself.
I have the picture in my head of theater actress Cruella being all sassy, maybe Regina running a nightclub, David and Mary Margaret renting out bikes and operating biking tours. Sort of Storybrooke but in the Italian sunshine and surrounding tourism.
Idea is up for adoption if anyone wants to give it a good home.
“How do I get into these things?” Nicholas Gold muttered to himself.
He caught sight of his son, beaming from ear to ear, practically dancing as he walked around the small stall area in front of the Knights quarters. Ah – that was why.
He looked down at his costume, butter soft light brown leather jerkin, darker leather pants. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be a knight of old or a rockstar. All he knew is he felt ridiculous.
“Neal!” Gold called.
Neal ran over. “It’s Baelfire today dad! Remember?”
“Yes of course,” Gold agreed with a soft smile. “Now Bae ….”
“Can I go up to the castle?” Neal asked excitedly, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Gold eyed the nearby cliff edge. “Not until I can take you.”
Neal pouted but nodded in agreement. “This is so cool!”
Gold was glad none of his business associates were here to see him. He couldn’t help but smile at his son’s obvious happiness. For the last year Neal had become obsessed with fairytales, Knights, anything medieval. When he had heard a renaissance faire was coming to Storybrooke, a nearby coastal town just a couple of hours from their home in Boston, Neal had been begging to go. When Gold had inquired, he’d found that there were no sightseers welcome, just participants in the fun. If anything that had made Neal even more ecstatic and Gold had never been able to deny his boy anything.
“You’re going to be great dad!” Neal enthused. “You are so going to win.”
Gold hissed in alarm. He didn’t want to disappoint Neal and his fencing days at university were more years than he cared to remember behind him.
“I’ll do my best but I might not win,” Gold cautioned.
“Hey do you think my dad will win?” Neal suddenly asked.
Gold looked up in horror. One of the passing ladies, dressed in traditional gown and corset had been passing. She was young and very beautiful. She smiled warmly at Neal.
“Oh I think he looks like a winner to me,” she teased. “I am Lady Belle.”
She curtseyed and laughing Neal bowed in front of her. She pulled a ribbon from her gown.
“A knight can’t fail to win with a ladies favour.” She tied the ribbon around his arm.
Gold’s arm tingled with her soft touch. He smiled hesitantly at her. Belle leant over and lightly kissed his cheek. Gold felt himself blush. There was an announcement from the herald but Gold didn’t make out the words. Belle nudged him.
“It sounds like your bout is next.”
Oh my god, I love this – it’s absolutely adorable! Might we get more?
Heh I’m going to have to stop doing these inspiration pictures. They are starting so many fics for me and I can’t keep up 🙂 However, if I get an idea when I see the picture, I just have to write it down. I actually had to write this one on my phone as I was away for a couple of days, just got back.
Anyway, yeah I was hoping somebody would like it and ask for more because I would love to write more. However, like I said with the Rushbelle student/teacher one the other day – not this month. Next month yes but I need to clear the deck a little first.
Enchanted Forest AU:After returning from Neverland, Bae meets the princess in his secret hideaway that he has made in the forest to keep his father from finding him. Over the years, they fall in love in hidden, secret places and vow to find a way to be together without the cover of the trees and the night sky to shield them.
#a fic that I would like to write one day#I actually have this in Rule Number Three#only it’s incredibly angsty for swanfire#Snow and Charming are very disapproving
What were Emma and everyone terrified about when Greg smashed into town? That he would see magic and the secret of Storybrooke would be revealed to the world. After all, magic being real is kinda a big deal. The revelation that fairytale characters aren’t just in books, I’m thinking it would be like discovering aliens are real for instance.
However, make something fictional and even if people hear rumors about it, they will just laugh. They’ll say “that’s a TV show, not real life.” and they won’t believe whatever the crazy story is. On SG1 they had Wormhole Xtreme, to help provide cover for the Stargate program.
What if, we have Once Upon a Time to provide cover for the real Storybrooke? Obviously, I know we don’t, I’m talking a fic idea.
Someone, sold the idea to the networks and they ran with it. They changed some things, basically pick whatever storyline went in a direction you didn’t like, because they knew better what viewers would want.
Now, no-one on SG1 was offended by how their alter egos were portrayed. There was a lot of eye rolling at how unrealistic it was, but they took it in the spirit it was intended. Plus, it was the show within a show concept, which enabled them to joke about some missteps the show had made in the past, or make fun of sci-fi tropes etc. It was quite funny.
I’m just picturing movie night in Storybrooke, where the new season is about to start. They crowd around the TV and fight over the popcorn. They are all bickering over what has happened in the past, and their pet theories about what happens next. Teasing one another about how their alter egos do stuff (either because it’s accurate, or because it’s not). Basically just pure lighthearted family banter and bonding time.
Family fluff basically. No roasting of the writers for their choices, just showing the ‘reality’ vs the show, and everyone having fun with it.
I have read some fics with this sort of concept. However, they all had the characters taking offense to how they were portrayed on the show because it had gotten out of hand when they weren’t looking etc. I’m thinking something a lot more fun than that. Nobody takes offense, it’s all very positive and happy. I like fluff heh.
I am so tempted to write this but – so many fic ideas, so little time!
“We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the Earth.”
Nicholas Gold was a successful real estate mogul, he owned half of Manhattan but success came at a price. He put up a mask for the world to see, played a role in public, so he could have a semblance of a private life. For a man worth billions, it was hard to ever trust anyone. Did they like him or his bank account? He grew hard, cold, life was a perpetual winter.
When Mr Gold, went out in public, he was chauffeured in fancy cars, he wore thousand dollar tailored suits and went to the best places.
When Nick went out, he wore off the rack clothes from normal stores like Sears. He took the subway and ate in hole in the wall diners. It was like being Clark Kent and Superman. He stepped outside people’s expectations and was granted a measure of invisibility.
What Gold liked best to do, on the rare occasion he could get away, was go to the train station, or the marina. They were places that normal people went, people with normal jobs and normal lives. He would sit at the coffee shop in the station and pretend for a moment he was one of them.
He didn’t regret his success. He was just lonely, without connection.
Until one day, the coffee shop was full and Belle French sat down at his table with a smile. She had a book in her hand and promised not to bother him. However, she kept chatting anyway, about her book, about the city, all the places she wanted to go and the things she wanted to see.
Gold was out of practice making such conversation. The usual ‘small talk’ he participated in was always entirely tainted by business, where he had to consider every word carefully because making the right impression mattered. He did his best and after half an hour, he had to regretfully excuse himself, he had a business meeting downtown and he had to be ‘Mr Gold’ once more.
He never expected to see Belle again.
However, a couple of weeks later, she was back at the station. She waved at him and expressed surprise that they were both there again.
“Are you busy this afternoon?” Belle asked.
“No,” Gold replied. He wasn’t for a change, it was friday and he had the afternoon to do as he pleased.
“I have this train tour.” Belle handed him the flyer. A bunch of subway stops were marked, along with places of interest nearby. “Want to join me? It’s always more fun with company.”
Gold smiled and nodded. “I’d like that.”
What would it hurt? One afternoon to forget the world. It was a cold winters day, the day to be inside and not traipsing over the city. However, in Belle’s company, he had never felt warmer or more alive. Her joy was infectious. At a flower stall he gave her a rose, which was speckled in snow.
They got a birds eye view of the city at the glass dome and Belle grabbed Gold’s hand so tightly for comfort, as it was scary, like they were about to fall to the city beneath them.
He never wanted the day to end but a man can’t live a double life. Belle knew him, she didn’t know his mask, but his mask was what he had to live with most of the time.
At the end of the day, Gold plucked up his courage and kissed Belle on the cheek. “Goodbye Belle.”
He walked away.
Um, there needs to be more of this – this is perfect ! **But is that supposed to be a permanent goodbye ?!
Oh wow thank you 🙂 I’m glad you liked it. The goodbye was less permanent, more I couldn’t decide what happened next. Let’s think, ok I got it.
Gold didn’t go back to the train station that week, or the next. He was worried about somehow running into Belle for a third time and he didn’t know what he would say to her. He liked her, but all it could ever be was one perfect afternoon.
He was probably fooling himself. In fact Gold decided that Belle had likely not given him a second thought. He had been a convenient companion for her sightseeing trip, nothing more. She would never think of him, the way he had started to think about her.
It had been three weeks since that Friday afternoon where he forgot the world. His Mr Gold mask was firmly in place, entertaining business associates from out of town. It was something he hated doing but people were more amenable to signing contracts after they had spent the evening drinking. It was just part of doing business.
To make things easier on himself, Gold either bought outright, or a sizable stake, in all the places that he used to schmooze clients. He could stop people from bothering him if he owned the place. It was a lot less hassle.
He was at the nightclub in the VIP area, easily his least favorite of all the places he was forced to take clients. The loud music gave him a headache, the fake smoke gave him a sore throat, the bright lights hurt his eyes. The whole place was a nightmare.
Gold was leaning on the railing, overlooking the rest of the club when he saw Belle. How could he not see her? He would know her anywhere. He was surprised, he didn’t think this would be a place that she would go and she was hardly dressed for the occasion either. Her clothing was far more conservative than was expected in a place like this. However, he wasn’t surprised that the bouncer had waved her in. Belle’s beauty was clear for all to see, it didn’t need to be displayed like a vulgar piece of meat.
To his surprise she headed directly for the bouncer manning the rope cord, protecting the stairs that led to the VIP level. She spoke with him, animatedly waving her hands. The bouncer waved her away and she crossed her arms, staring him down. The bouncer clicked his fingers, summoning a nearby waitress, he whispered in her ear. The waitress nodded and came up the stairs to the VIP lounge.
“Mr Gold. There’s a Belle French asking for you downstairs,” the waitress told him respectfully.
Gold choked in surprise. That couldn’t be right. How could that be possible? He had been Nick with Belle, not Mr Gold. He was invisible as Nick, it was his escape, how could she know?
“Send her up,” Gold ordered hoarsely.
A few minutes later Belle appeared. “You are a hard man to find Nick.”
“You weren’t supposed to find me,” Gold said automatically.
Belle bit her lip and looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry, I thought .. never mind.” She turned to leave.
“No Belle wait,” Gold called out after her. “How did you know who I was?”
“I didn’t, not until a few days ago when I saw your picture in the paper,” Belle explained. “I thought about going to your office but I didn’t think I would get past the front door, then tonight twitter said you were here. I took a chance.”
“You saw my picture in the paper?” Gold repeated dumbly.
She’d recognized him? Nobody had ever recognized him before. He was Clark Kent and Superman. A clothing change and a different location and nobody suspected a thing. He had seen people read an article with his picture on the cover right in front of him, and they hadn’t even said ‘do you realize you look like that billionaire Mr Gold?’
Belle’s eyes narrowed before understanding blossomed on her face. “You didn’t think I would recognize you,” she softly. She moved back over and touched his arm gently. “Oh Nick, I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”
“No, please don’t,” Gold said instinctively. “I was surprised, that’s not happened before but I don’t mind, not with you.”
Belle smiled. “You never gave me your phone number.”
“I didn’t think you’d want it and then ..” Gold gestured around him, meaning this, his other life – his real life.
Belle reached into her pocket and withdrew a slip of paper. She held it out to him. “Well here’s my number. What happens next is up to you.”
I rewatched The Princess Diaries 2 tonight and it made me wonder something. Has anyone ever read a fic where there is an arranged marriage and a suitor but the people who were arranged fall in love instead?
I don’t know it just seemed like turning the trope on it’s head. Go into an arranged marriage for ‘reasons’ and think love is impossible, love supposedly comes along but then find out it was under nose entire time.
Oh and by fic I mean Rumbelle fic obviously. I don’t know what the setup would be or why it would happen but Rumple and Belle are arranged to marry, some guy comes along to sweep Belle off her feet (perhaps Will, maybe Gaston) and instead naturally Belle falls in love with Rumple, her intended.
Arranged marriage is a good idea for once.
It could bring the quote “It was an arranged marriage, I was doing you a favour.” Into a whole new context which is always fun with AU’s.
I like!
Please someone write this! I never liked the guy Mia ended up with in Princess Diaries 2. He was a smug jerk who never would have looked at Mia twice if she hadn’t had her makeover in Princess Diaries 1. I loved her “intended.” He was sweet, decent and thoughtful. I’d love it if someone Rumbelled this and Princess Belle ended up with her woobie intended.
I hated the second movie and I’m pissed that they strayed so far from the book series tbh.
I find the Princess Diaries movies are best enjoyed if I don’t think too deeply about them. Much like all the things I like most it’s the potential I see in it, that sets my imagination afire. The potential/unanswered questions/unexplored avenues/twists etc.
Personally I like the SwanFire twist I thought of this morning better. I might be tempted to write that in some form.
However, if I was to Rumbelle it then Rumple wouldn’t be the dark one, maybe I would do a light one AU. Yeah Sir Rumple, Knight of the realm, hero and ogre slayer etc.
Sticking with the movie plot sort of, Princess Belle must marry and produce an heir in order to inherit the kingdom from her ailing father King Maurice. He arranges the marriage with Sir Rumple and Belle isn’t impressed. She doesn’t want to marry a brute of a knight – she dreams of love.
When Rumple arrives Belle is surprised “you aren’t who I thought you were and I’m glad” as he possesses a keen mind and he isn’t a hulking brute.
To break up the marriage and absorb Avonlea into his domain (and gain control of it’s profitable trading ports) King George dispatches Sir Gaston to Avonlea to romance Princess Belle.
That obviously doesn’t work out. I suppose for there to be any plot Gaston would have to be suitably charming for a short time and maybe Rumple is irritating in some fashion. However, ultimately no contest. Belle falls in love with her betrothed – Sir Rumple, leaving Gaston and King George disappointed and assuring the safety of Avonlea.
Hmm ok I quite like this now. It’s basically a variation of the SwanFire version I thought of this morning.
I sent a stripped down version of this prompt last night to @endangeredslug as they were requesting prompts. I don’t know if they like it or will do anything with it though.
To be honest I don’t have the time to write it anytime soon. If I say I will write something then I am planning on doing so within the next month, or two on the outside. I have too much in the pipeline to get to this before November probably, maybe even later.
I do like this plot scenario, especially the details I came up with today. I might do something with it eventually but yeah it won’t be anytime soon. I got my current WIP to finish and I’ve already picked and started work on my next two WIPs.
I rewatched The Princess Diaries 2 tonight and it made me wonder something. Has anyone ever read a fic where there is an arranged marriage and a suitor but the people who were arranged fall in love instead?
I don’t know it just seemed like turning the trope on it’s head. Go into an arranged marriage for ‘reasons’ and think love is impossible, love supposedly comes along but then find out it was under nose entire time.
Oh and by fic I mean Rumbelle fic obviously. I don’t know what the setup would be or why it would happen but Rumple and Belle are arranged to marry, some guy comes along to sweep Belle off her feet (perhaps Will, maybe Gaston) and instead naturally Belle falls in love with Rumple, her intended.
Arranged marriage is a good idea for once.
It could bring the quote “It was an arranged marriage, I was doing you a favour.” Into a whole new context which is always fun with AU’s.
I like!
It was late when I wrote this last night. The essence of the prompt is “surprisingly arranged marriage turns to love” as opposed to “person in arranged marriage has a love affair with someone else.”
However, if we’re getting into specifics I think it might work even better with SwanFire.
King David and Queen Snow arrange a marriage for their daughter Princess Emma, to Lord Baelfire, adopted son of Princess Belle of Avonlea, courtesy of her consort Rumplestiltkins previous marriage. The marriage between Princess Belle and a spinner (a commoner) caused quite the scandal but a kiss of true love blessed the union.
Emma dreams of love and adventure, like her parents courtship but the future of the kingdom needs to be secured. Dowager Queen Cora, Snow’s stepmother is a sinister presence in the background. She contracts a young pirate Killian Jones aka Captain Hook, to romance Princess Emma, to breakup the arranged marriage and cause a scandal. The scandal would pave the way for Cora’s daughter Regina to one day take the crown.
However, the plot doesn’t go Cora’s way because Princess Emma does fall in love – with Baelfire and not Hook. There is a last minute attempt to force a scandal, thwarted by Regina, who reveals what her mother did and says she doesn’t want to be Queen, that her best friend Princess Emma should have the crown. Instead Regina finds love and happiness with Daniel/Robin (I love my happy endings) and yeah that’s it.
Anonymous requested a Swanfire Miss Congeniality AU.
Emma Ruth Nolan is an FBI agent, but her unconventional methods hold her back in the bureau. Emma’s personal life also leaves something to be desired- her dedication to the job doesn’t allow much time for friendships, dating, or an excessive amount of grooming. A bomb threat to the prestigious Miss Fairytale USA changes all that forcing Emma to go undercover as available contestant. With the help of stylist Mr Caine Gold Emma achieves the look the pageant officials demand. Her friend and colleague Neal worries about how the enforced glamour will affect Emma’s comfort and well-being, and nearly blows cover sneaking her grilled cheese sandwiches and donuts. Female friendships and tentative coworker romances develop as Emma and her team try to stop pageant founder Cora Mills from turning the crowning of the new Miss Fairytale USA into an explosion no one will forget.
Oh wow! This a freaking incredible idea!!! Somebody write this please because this has awesome written all over it.
Cora’s assistant “creepy Frank” would that be played by Hook?
Then there is the other pageant girls, presumably just a who’s who list of female characters so Ruby, Ariel, Snow, Ashley etc. Who would be Rhode Island/Sheryl? Snow I guess.
I know AU’s don’t and can’t fit in everyone but I’m sure we could find something for Regina and Belle maybe. Not sure what unless they are just in the pageant. Depends whether you put any twists on the movie plot, add subplots etc.
Eeeeek I love this idea! Somebody please write it, anyone?
