Last Resort (Open)

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

There was a heavy rhythmic thud as Karen hobbled among the trees, clutching her crutches tightly.
Suddenly she stopped, looking before her at the large estate.
This had to be it, she’d heard many rumours about this Rumpelstiltskin and now she was certain she’d finally found his residence. She’d had fairies and sorcerers try to help before, as well as every kind of normal destruction she could manage, but nothing had worked. However she’d heard so many rumours about this dark creature and how powerful he was that she felt sure that this time it would work. The only issue was that she had very little of value with her, one thing her mother had taught her was that everything in this world had a price.
Karen didn’t care what it took, she had to destroy them… before they sent her any more insane than she already was.
Tap tap tap tap t-tap tap tap.
She closed her eyes and gulped in some air, trying to ignore the tapping from the box on her back as she pressed forward. She couldn't quite see where she could get in, how was she supposed to get to him?

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

"Hello there," came a voice from nowhere.

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

Karen froze at the sound of the voice, her eyes wide with fear... and slight hope.
"I need your help." She said aloud, forcing her voice to be calm and not turning around quite yet.

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

"Do you now dearie?" the voice was louder now, and definitely coming from behind her.

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

"I heard that you were powerful... powerful enough to help me." Karen murmured, tightening her grip on her crutches as she slowly turned her head to look at the being behind her. "You are Rumpelstiltskin aren't you?"

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

The odd man gave an elegant bow. "I am."

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

Karen let go of a breath she didn't realise she had been holding, awkwardly turning herself around to face him properly.
"Name your price. I'm willing to do anything..." She said, a touch of desperation in her voice now. "... if you can destroy my curse."

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

The man looked almost... gleeful at that. "Cursed, are you?" he asked

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

Karen nodded gently, involuntarily shuddering at the way he said that. Adjusting her crutches slightly, she undid the strap across her torso and held out the box to him.
"Can you destroy these?" She said, feeling the shoes tapping even harder at her words. Her grip tightened on her crutches to help her balance.

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

He took the box from her and opened it, looking inside.

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

Karen looked away with her eyes clenched tightly shut, not wanting to see the sight of her own dismembered feet still encased in the constantly dancing red shoes. They continued to tap away even in the small space they had, causing her to put her hands over her ears.

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

He closed the box again. "Well, you've gotten yourself into a mess, haven't you dearie?"

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

Karen opened her eyes again, looking first at him and then at the box.
"It was a punishment I neither expected nor prepared for." She murmured, looking back at him. "Will you help me?"

[Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold]

"Who did you anger?" he asked

[Karen/Vanessa Saltare]

Karen was slightly annoyed he had avoided her question but then she stopped, realising she still didn't know who had done this to her.
"I don't know... I never found out who cursed the shoes. All I know is that it was a punishment for my vanity."