3rd Contract [Wandering from room, holodeck, ten-forward, halls]

[magicsprice]

For the most part Gold has been keeping to his room, occasionally reading actual books, occasionally finally deigning to poke at the PADD to figure out how it worked and learning what he could from it. When he wasn't reading, he would spin on the wheel. Of course, the latter activity typically left him with a byproduct that he should perhaps looking into a means of using. Unfortunately, given the confined area and the lack of any obvious need of wealth, he was at a small loss at how to go about bartering the gold away.

When he wasn't in his room, he could likely be found either wandering the limited area of halls he was allowed to roam, debating on if he should even bother continuing the program he'd begun crafting within the Holodeck, or seated within Ten Forward (more for the chance to see his son, or failing that, to observe the 'natives', than any desire for other company).

During one of his trips to the lounge, he'd discovered what had first seemed to bear some relationship to a chess set. How one actually played on the strange board was something he was still working on fully figuring out. When he's not paying much mind to the crowd around him in the lounge, he's studying the set up and trying to figure out its rules and strategies. His first few attempts at actually playing versus the computer had ended in abject failure, perhaps if he had someone who knew the game to play against and question, he might actually learn how to at least give the damn computer a decent challenge the next time he bothered to play against it.


(ooc: feel free to talk with the man anywhere in the areas mentioned, just tell me where either in subject header or your tag!)

Comments

[kepthimhuman]

"One of those?" He has no idea what his father's been up to. He doesn't know what sort of people he might have in his life now.

[magicsprice]

"Yes. You, Belle, Henry..." He paused at the base of the stairway, turning partly to face Bae as he continued, a small sad smile coming to his lips as he spoke again.

"Belle...loves me. In ways...that your mother never did. She believes in me, that I can be a better man than I am."

[kepthimhuman]

He has no response for that one for a moment. He's glad to hear that his father's making an effort, or at least claims to be, for his sake. But that comment about his mother, that gets his attention in a different way.

"Well that explains a few things."

[magicsprice]

That reply catches him off-guard a bit and he turns more to face his son in response to it. Head tilting slightly to the side as he tries to decide how to best to respond to the statement.

"Oh? How so?"

[kepthimhuman]

This wasn't something he ever imagined he'd discuss with his father, but now they're here and apparently it's happening. He mentioned it, now he has to follow through. He sticks his hands in the pockets of his hoodie and doesn't look directly at his father.

"My mother wasn't killed by pirates, was she? It's more like she became one."

[magicsprice]

He had never expected those words to come from Bae. They caused his mind to race and work at piecing together just how his son had come by that particular knowledge. In the end, it all came down to one man.

"He told you about that did he? I don't imagine he stopped with just that either."

If his voice has gained a subtle bitterness, well, given the current subject matter, it should be no surprise. He should have realized that Hook would have tried to turn his boy against him with that bit of knowledge.

[kepthimhuman]

He crosses his arms and this time he does look right at his father. "What else might there have been for him to tell me?"

He wonders if his father will be able to admit it to him.

[magicsprice]

Despite the question, he's certain his son already knows what he's asking him for. The question is no doubt more of a test directed at him than any desire for answers. There's a subtle hardness that mars his body language, his expression. It's obvious he doesn't want to speak in depth on the subject they've landed on.

He can keep his silence and fail the test hidden within the question, or he can answer it and yet still fail due to the matter of the subject. How does one really tell one's son they killed their mother in a fit of anger. The only regret he has concerning that little fiasco is that his actions cost him the bean that could have gotten him to Bae sooner.

".....That I killed her."

[kepthimhuman]

He doesn't quite know how to answer that. It was the answer he'd been expecting, almost hoping for, in fact, because it would have meant that his father wasn't lying or avoiding the truth about something, but up until now he could pretend that Hook had been lying in an attempt to get him to stay. Not anymore.

He wonders what else Hook might not have been lying about.

"I see." It's a fairly safe answer. For now.

[magicsprice]

He'd apologize for the lie told to a child, for the murder of Milah, but such an apology would help nothing and beyond it, it was quite possible that given the chance to do those situations over again, he would possibly end up repeating the actions taken the first time. Neither did he attempt to justify his actions aloud as he'd justified them to himself silently in the past upon thinking back on the subject.

They had both abandoned Bae, it was just that Milah had done so first.

"....shall we continue?" He asked after a silent minute, one hand half gesturing toward the stair behind him. He'd understand if Bae chose to cut their little tour short due to the turn the conversation had taken here, but he hoped for more time, since he no assurance that he'd be able to spend such time with his son again once they parted ways. With how Bae had been avoiding him previously, the prospect wasn't promising.

[kepthimhuman]

He doesn't move, not yet anyway. "I know she left, but she was still my mother." He might not be on the best of terms with his father right now, but he wouldn't want him to die. It's the same way with his mother, and it's worse having to come to terms with the fact that it was his father who killed her.

[magicsprice]

A soft sigh escaped him. "I know." He could try to explain his anger at her for having deceived him all those years, letting him believe it was his fault that Bae had lost his mother. To find out that Milah had abandoned him had struck too close to his own abandonment, too close to the fact that he'd let go of their son as well.

Hearing that their marriage was just as much a lie, that she'd never actually cared or loved him during it, well, he'd lost reason, let his anger dictate his actions. The unfortunate result being her death. Part of him, deep down, still claimed the woman had brought her demise upon herself, though he'd never state such a claim aloud to be heard by anyone.

[kepthimhuman]

"I think...the rest of the tour should wait." The last time they spoke, he left with a lot to take in. This time they spoke, there's even more to take in. On top of everything else, what Hook told him had turned out to be true.

Somehow, standing here in this simulated town, with evidence of a new woman in his father's life, is reminding him of everything he never had. Everything he wants now but still can't have because he's stuck here, and because Henry won't talk to him.

[magicsprice]

Gold gave a brief nod of his acknowledgment of that statement. He had suspected their tour would be cut short by this little revelation. "Computer. End Program."

The words were spoken to no one seemingly, but seconds after they'd been spoken, the library they had been standing in abruptly vanished around them to reveal them standing within a reasonably sized dark walled room bearing a yellow grid like pattern covering it's floor and walls, door visible just a few feet away off to one side.

[kepthimhuman]

It's a bit startling how everything can disappear so suddenly like that. A bit disorienting. He's already decided that he'll be back later to try this place out himself when his father's not here. But right now he has other things on his mind.

He starts for the door, having nothing else to say.

[magicsprice]

He watched his son start for the door and though a number of things go through his mind, attempts to think of some way to keep his company; he keeps his silence. He has his doubts that Bae wants to be anywhere around him currently after their recent topic of conversation. There's no sense in desperately grasping any excuse to stay with him when doing so might further strain things between them.

Perhaps with time and space given to think on his own, his son will come to terms with this new revelation and be willing to at least tolerate his presence more, if not forgive him.

The result of the conversation has also currently soured any desire to further work on the 'program' containing his Storybrooke. Thus he also sets out for the door to depart the holodeck himself.

[kepthimhuman]

Thinking is one thing he'll have plenty of time to do. Especially since Henry's made it clear he wants nothing to do with him.

Once he reaches the hallway, he heads in the direction of the turbolifts and his living quarters, not looking back.