The sisters just looked at her for a moment.

"Negotiating," Maria said. "With Mr. Gold."

"That's..." Anne trailed off. "Have you met the guy?"

"What my sisters mean is that we'd probably be better off just asking what he wants in exchange for us having a building," Violet said.

"Is that not a form of negotiation?" Dahlia asked with a faint smile. "Besides, would you rather not be able to bargain for a price if you do not approve of the one he sets?" Because she was well-aware of his reputation, even if she'd never met him before.

"Not necessarily," Violet said slowly, thinking. "But possibly, if we're very lucky."

Dahlia nodded. "Well, then, I do believe he is still holed up in his shop."

Violet looked at her older sisters, and all three of them nodded.

"I'll go," Maria said. "Violet, you come with me, Gillian, Anne, look after the others."

The named sisters all nodded, and Violet stepped over to Maria.

"Let's see what we can get done," she said.

Dahlia waited for them to be ready to go before she started towards Gold's shop, unhurried and unworried.

Maria and Violet kept pace with her, heading for the pawn shop.

Gold glanced up from his most recent restoration when he heard the bell over the door go off. Ahh, yes. He had been waiting for the townsfolk to start barging in.

"Good afternoon," he greeted. "What brings you to my little shop?"

"I believe the ladies wished to negotiate with you," Dahlia said, her voice quiet. "For living arrangements." She would guide negotiations a little, make sure everything went well and Gold didn't steamroll them, but otherwise she was trying to just be there.

"Indeed?" Gold asked, setting down his project. He looked at the ladies standing in his shop. "I was under the impression that living arrangements had already been established. Have been for quite some time, in fact."

"The way I understand it, the sisters do not live all together," Dahlia said, thinking over her words carefully. "I also understand that they wish to all live together again. However, there are no open single residences big enough to house them all. I believe they wish to find a building where they can all live comfortably."

"I see," Gold said. He looked at Dahlia. "And how, exactly, do you fit into this? As I recall, you are not one of them."

"I am not," Dahlia agreed. "I'm just here to make sure things go smoothly." She smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes.

"I see," Gold said evenly. "And why should I indulge a set of rebellious princesses?"

Violet bristled a bit but didn't say anything.

"I suppose that depends on what you want in return." Dahlia kept her tone even, watching him.

"Well, now, I don't think that concerns you, now does it?" Gold said, looking at Dahlia. "Considering you're not the one asking for a favor."

"I'm not," Dahlia agreed. "But they did ask me to be present, as they have little experience with bargaining and do not wish to be too badly taken advantage of." She raised an eyebrow at him.

Gold couldn't really fault them for that; it was smart to have someone more experienced in bargaining on hand. It was no secret that he would take everything he could get away with, if the other party wasn't careful.

"Indeed," he murmured. He turned to the pair of sisters next to her. "So tell me, what exactly is it you want?"

"We want a building where all of us can stay together," Maria said after a moment. "An apartment building so we can all have apartments together, I guess."

"An entire building, just to house twelve girls?" Gold asked. "An interesting request." He looked at her. "And I assume you know, of course, that there will be a price."

"I never said we needed the whole building," Maria said. "We just all need to be in it." Because she knew that the apartment buildings housed more than twelve. "But yes, we know."

"I see." Gold considered for a moment. "I might have just the place. But first: price."

"What do you want?" Maria asked rather warily. She wanted to know his price first.

"Your dancing shoes," Gold replied evenly. "One from each girl. Of course, you will still owe rent and such, no getting around that, but in exchange for the apartments... Your favorite dancing shoes should suffice."

"Our dancing shoes?" Maria blinked, glancing at Dahlia.

Dahlia thought that over for a moment. Something with that much personal connection could be used in various ways. "One shoe or one pair?" she asked, just to be sure. She was fairly sure one pair, but she liked details.

"A pair," Gold replied, grudgingly impressed that Dahlia was pressing for details. "One pair from each princess."

Violet's hand touched her bag, where her favorite pointe shoes were carried. She didn't want to part with them, but if she had to for her family, she would.