Speaking of losses was something Rumplestiltskin did not like to do. He kept those memories and emotions extremely close. Belle had seen parts of them, knew enough to know he had lost before, but that was an entirely different situation. Belle was the only person he wanted to see his vulnerability, to know more about him and why he'd done the things he'd done. She deserved that much from him after everything. It was something he would give to her with time, but he needed to work up to speaking of it. So he was appreciative that Jacen did not press him on the tone he'd taken or the words he'd spoken. It was not something he would delve into the details of on a first encounter. "They do keep us grounded and focused. Sometimes one needs that person who can pull them back from the edge of the abyss at the last moment. Providing such a gesture is one we accept and do not reject."
Now the dagger was an interesting topic. It certainly wasn't one he would discuss so lightly, but he didn't have it here. He hadn't been carrying it with him when he'd taken Belle to the well so he could bring magic into the world. So he felt more secure discussing some details. "The details may be a bit sketchy. The average person would not know of what it could do. Most, I think, would happen upon unleashing that effect accidentally." That had been his own experience, having just wanted to control the Dark One to save his son from being taken to fight in the Ogre Wars. "If those details were common knowledge, I am fairly certain there were be fewer people who would even seek out the power. But it is a power that seems to call out to those who possess a desperate soul, and those who become the Dark One can pick out the desperate souls fairly easily." He had seen a few of those in his tenure as the Dark One, and he'd seen it quite strongly in Emma.
"Ah, now that is an interesting topic." Rumplestiltskin smiled, for a brief moment the smile seemed to be more reminiscent of the one he tended to wear when the Dark One was controlling him, though it was not controlling him currently. "Yes, I told them of the price. An apprentice of mine is here, Regina. I taught her magic, but I saw a desperate soul within her and a predisposition to wanting power. Let us say I gave her a nudge, and she took to it like a moth to a flame." But he'd needed someone to cast the curse that would take them all to a land without magic. He himself could not cast it because he had nothing left that he loved the most to sacrifice. But Regina, oh Regina had something she could sacrifice, and he knew she would do it. She was desperate enough to get the outcome she wanted. No doubt she hated him for pushing her towards it, but in truth she'd made the choice to keep learning. He had only given her a nudge down the path, and the rest she did on her own and of her own choice.
"Though your work with your apprentice is an intriguing one. Breaking someone and rebuilding them, having them depend on and trust you unconditionally. It does have its appeal, I have to say, though I myself operate on a more subtle level and planting suggestions I know would entice someone to do what I want them to." It was a difference between them. Rumplestiltskin had never cared about having anyone on his side, someone believing in him. He just needed people to sometimes do what he wanted them to, and he was exceedingly careful in choosing the people he did such things with.
"A mix of both, actually. I am more careful with my power here because it is different. Technically the Dark One should be controlling me at all times, and when it is in control, I do not need this cane. But something about this world still keeps it bound within me, yet I can still use magic." He shrugged one should slightly. "It is something I am still exploring. Though your power, you show it often. Is your motivation behind that because you can simply do such things?"