I don't need magic.

Aaron felt his anger boil at the frail man and his insults. He had never taken an interest in the dark arts before and he sure as heck had no desire to take an interest in them now but his pride was certainly his greatest asset... strange as some may see that. As Gold spoke to him he looked at the man and those eyes seemed to flash. It wasn't an indicator of his memories but there was something in him dangerous.

Keeping a calm demeanor he stepped over to the counter and stood on the opposite side of the glass display and looked down at some of the items. He looked over each item with an almost bemused smirk appearing on his lips. Raising his eyes he looked at Gold once more and popped his fingers by crossing one finger with the other.

"You best be careful who you insult... It would take The Sheriff several minutes to get here and if I am truly as poor as you believe then I would have nothing to lose." Turning around he looked at the store again, he viewed most of the contents as trinkets without much of a need or value to him. "I have no need for silly trinkets and bobbles such as these but I do want some information."

Gilgamesh was glad to see that the threat had gotten a reaction. It meant that somewhere deep down he was still a threat. He didn't know if it was because of maybe his latent divinity, or just because he knew things but Gold and he would just have to put their differences aside for the time being. Aaron turned back around to face him, his smirk having become a more painted feature as he put a hand on the cash register that was sitting on the counter and caressed it. It wasn't a fondness or a longing but almost one of examination, an expression worn by someone who was shopping for produce at the grocery store.

"And you best be mindful of who you insult." He looked back at Gold and removed his hand to place them on the counter before him. "I want wealth and admiration. You seem to have these people in terror of you and you seem to be doing well. Wealth and fear is a close enough start."

The laugh was enough to cause Aaron to quickly reach across the table and grabbed Gold by the collar of his coat and pull him over nearer to him. He brought him in close and gave him a warning gaze as his other hand clasped the edge off the glass and the sound of cracking was heard as his grip threatened to shatter the edge of it.

"Do-not-mock me." After being sure that the message was received he released him and the glass counter as his calmness returned. "You have clearly done something to get wealth in this... place. You are nothing more than a salesman, a salesman who purveys antiques and yet somehow live in luxury. I am here to learn just what unholy arrangement it is that you made."

He had his own desires but given that this world had different laws he was going to need Gold to help him if he wanted to regain wealth in any sort of efficient way but he would sooner be a wild man in the forest before he ever let Gold think that he "needed" him. "I don't need you in the same way that you do not need me. I am giving you the opportunity to serve and I reward those who serve me."

Now they were being able to talk a bit more. The ancient figure adjusted himself as he was now willing to speak more on equal terms with Gold. He knew that Gold would feel he had nothing to offer but it was increasing Aaron's concern that he must have known more than he let on. He began to walk around the pawn shop and look at the assorted little knick knacks. He picked up a small jewelry box and examined it while feeling a small sense of familiarity but not really having enough of an attachment.

"The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes." He had recalled hearing that before and though at the time he had thought of the Gods of his creation now long gone from this world, he also thought it was a fitting analogy for himself and Gold at this point. Even if he saw Gold as less than himself he knew that the Dark One was indeed something beyond the normal. After several long moments he turned back to face him. "I am no fool. Emma has broken the curse that this town was under but you are the one who recently restored magic."

There it was. The use of his name and even hearing someone speak it gave him a thrill, even if Gold was being antagonistic it was a start. It was his turn to laugh at the display of power that Gold put on. He placed his hands on his hips while watching him as the two were more engaged than they had been since walking in. Gilgamesh had put the small box back down on the shelf he had raised it from and inhaled. The scent of the store was archaic and it took Gilgamesh back in time. If it was to be a fight then so be it. It had been some time since he had stretched his legs in combat. It did catch him by surprise for Gold to tell him that the curse was not broken. That must have been pertaining to the memories that had not come back.

"The clock began moving upon her return. You know in ancient text there is only two phrases used for the truly divine and that is in the past tense and present. Things are happening or they have happened. The curse will be broken in due time and everyone will have their memories. How many people will be out for your head then?" Watching Gold he kept his stance before breaking into a fit of laughter as he put one hand to his head. "It just now dawns on me how much hubris you have to think that I need you. I do not grovel to anyone and I do not need you for power." He rolled his neck and his shoulders as he raised his gaze again.

"You're right though to say that you are no mortal." His eyes turned to slits. "You're simply a conjurer. A spineless figure who hides behind magic. I don't know what entity would decide to make -you- their avatar but they must have been desperate and you must have been even more desperate to agree. As for me I am proud to be no God. I am something far greater."


Adam Gold

Here was a situation that Gilgamesh had not been quite expecting but there was excitement in it. If Gold was this confident it meant that he had retained much of his reputation and power as he had back in the past. Gilgamesh didn’t have any fear of the matter but his brain was beginning to piece some things together. If Gold knew this much about the curse that had brought them here then it meant that perhaps he knew more about the curse’s enactment than most would have thought. Gilgamesh had just been unfortunate enough to be in the region when the curse swept everyone away. Had he been back in his home kingdom he probably would have taken the long way around, he would have still had his treasures, and he would have still been worshiped. Here he was some sort of… figure of history. A legend and a myth.

While being immortalized in story was to his liking, he would have rather people sought him out about it, not thought him a figment of someone’s imagination. He was still waiting for Gold to make a move but for now it was a stand-off. The great hero had no reason to fear monsters and threats of any kind. He did know that here things were different and he could not instill himself as King with things as they were. It was the only reason he’d deemed to come here in the first place.

“I could care less about your goals. They’re nothing to me the same as this world is nothing. Do not misconstrue my command for information as seeking help.” It was Rumplesiltskins comment of seeing him as a weak shell that made his eyes flash and his stature strengthen with a smile that seemed to be one of the first genuine ones he had recalled having since arriving here. “I merely wanted to investigate what you had done and give you the opportunity to pay proper tribute to me. In ancient times a God was considered the owner of a land and the King of it was the vice regent. I was willing to be gracious since if you had no memory of who you were or more importantly who –I- was, then I can hardly blame you for not cooperating.”

Gilgamesh had always viewed himself as a household name. The greatest insult was being in a world where he had to take on a false identity. How he yearned to proclaim his greatness to everyone but he had to wait, he had to be patient, and though patience was a virtue, it was one that the hero was tired of embracing. He had been waiting long enough and it was time to exercise his sovereign rights.

“But then you went and insulted me even while knowing my real name and that is an impermissible crime. You call -me- boy? I have been a paragon since before you were a gleam in your mothers eye and even without my treasures here I am more than a match for you and your magic. So if you wish to test the limits of your immortality then give me your worst. A hero does not run away from a barking dog.”


Adam Gold