Good Morning, Miss Australia [Rumbelle]

In Search Of Golden Wattle

                    Early Monday morning under a cloudy sky, Gold climbed the steps to the stately white house where the Mayor of Storybrooke held office. It was all he could manage not to charge straight into the mayor's home on Sunday afternoon, brandishing the piece of paper that burned in his pocket. In Storybrooke he was known for his calm demeanor, so cool and collected he would be. Inwardly, he was anything but.

His finger had barely left the doorbell before a slightly breathless secretary flung open the door. Even the mayor didn't dare let Mr. Gold wait on her doorstep.

The mayor's office was an extravaganza of black and white, meant to intimidate every visitor who dared infringe upon the mayor's precious time. Shining marble floors and expensive wallpaper with black bare trees reaching upward on a white background imposed a sense of foreboding that lingered long after the unfortunate visitor had closed the double doors behind them. The mayor herself was as clinical and intimidating as her office; beautiful but frightening. The only person in Storybrooke unaffected by her blatant display of power was Gold; he'd known the ambitious woman from long before he settled down in Storybrooke and seemed to be the only person to be able to see behind the intimidating façade.

It had been rather unfortunate that he'd chosen to settle down in the one town where one year later Regina Mills arrived and became mayor soon afterwards. It hadn't taken him long to realize that Regina was the daughter of Cora Mills, a woman thirteen years his senior and a fellow associate at the Boston based law office 'Leopold, Xavier and George' where Gold had worked his magic before deciding to snuff city life and move to Storybrooke. The older woman had taken an interest in him, recognizing the Scot's grim determination to make something of himself in his new home country. After Milah's resentment of him he'd been susceptible to Cora's attention. Ultimately, Cora had become one of the reasons why he'd turned his back on Boston.

When Regina came to Storybrooke, she had delighted in the hope that this past association would grant her some leverage over the former lawyer, and complete domination over the small town. But Gold carefully established boundaries and made it clear he had no intention of encroaching on her territory, so long as she steered clear of his.

While she maintained administrative authority as mayor, Regina had been left with no choice but to quietly grind her teeth and simply ignore him while he gained proprietary ownership over practically the entire town, which feared the both of them in almost equal measure. Contrary to Gold however, Regina Mills didn't bother to hide her intentions behind a pleasantly calm demeanor, but blatantly threatened those who were in her way. Subtlety wasn't her greatest asset.

"Mr. Gold, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

The mayor didn't look up from the memorandum she'd been reading when the pawnbroker stepped inside her office. As always she looked as neat as a new pin in her clinging black dress and with a silk Hermès scarf resting tastefully against her delicate neck.

"The library, Dearie. I want you to reopen it. Here's the job description for the new librarian, which is to be placed in all major regional newspapers in the country."

Gold limped up to her desk and pushed a piece of paper toward the mayor. Regina avoided looking at him for a moment, delighting in feigning disinterest at every opportunity just to needle him. When the slender, ringed hand didn't leave her view, she lifted her gaze upwards.

Immediately, she established that he wasn't asking. Her brows furrowed.

"And why would I do that?"

Her eyes were cold as she opened combat – every inch an ice queen. She was irritated, which was good. It would make it easier for him to manoeuvre her in the desired direction.