January 20, 2023

[hughville]

In a deleted scene from Heroes and Villains, Belle pours the Dark One a cup of tea and says that she figured out why he collects so many magical objects, like the gauntlet from Camelot. Sipping the tea, Rumpelstiltskin remarks that he really needs to find more tasks for her. She believes that he has a hole in his heart, but he denies it, saying that he only has one in his stomach because she forgot the tea cakes. Snapping his fingers, a plate of cakes manifests. "Must I really do everything?" he asks her. As he helps himself to the cakes, Belle states that he is a lonely man and no matter how many things he requires, that's all they'll ever be: things, and an awful way to fill a heart. However, Rumpelstiltskin says that the only thing missing from his life right now is clean clothes and with a snap of his fingers, a laundry basket full of clothes manifests on the dining table. Belle protests, saying that she scrubbed these clothes yesterday. The Dark One shoots back, "Well, scrub them again, dearie. You're getting a bit too big for your britches. You should remember your place. Cleaning mine." She gives him an angry look and grabs the clothes from the basket as she gets ready to go to work.