"Even if you did, it's only a matter of time til you abandon me again." His voice was plain, no malice in it, just stating the fact about his father that he had learned to accept.
Rumple looked genuinely confused for a moment, until Hikaru's perspective clicked into place.
"Oh dearie dear," his impish cackle filled the room. "What an interesting thing to assume. I admit, I draw quite an attraction, but that is far from the offer I'm giving."
"Why, your mission of course. After all..." he paused on his feet, regardless if she stopped beside him or kept going, "...the Dark One likes to know who he's up against." With this, his lips curve into a sinister smile.
⠀
Brows furrowed as she looked
onward.
“What are you curious about?”
She senses he knows a little much
for someone whose she’s never met.
It strikes her as odd.
⠀
"Why not?" He folded his hands together. "The Dark One is very capable of things that history books would not desire to be written."
Rumple studied Lan curiously, hoping to unravel his desires and use them to his advantage.
He was slightly surprised the old man already knew who he was, but did not show it except for a small raise of his brows.
“ What youʼre saying. . . That—— doesnʼt really make sense, in all honesty. ”