Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-25823557-20161107113425/@comment-24674051-20161118184924

As you point out, Rumple is a spinner by trade, which is a decent and respectable profession. And before he got called up to the Ogre War, he was only tarnished by his Family reputation, but he was himself living an honorable life, and really did want to do right by Milah. He may not have been exactly the most handsome man, but there is something to be said for a man that can earn his keep, and that is probably why Milah was with Rumple. (and why she eventually dumped him, since his reputation made it harder for him to make an honest living).

The Mills women (any who knows, there might have even been others) were drawn by his power and charisma as the Dark One.

Belle, Is probably the first person to really look at the person under all the trappings and see the small glimmer of a man that was decent. (It is there, it just gets covered up by all the trash). And that is what Belle fell in love with. but, like Milah before her, she was ultimately replulsed by all the trash, and his unwillingness to clean up the trash (since Rumple really just chooses to wallow in it).

As for Robert himself, I'll leave the ultimate judgement to the ladies, but he strikes me as a reasonably handsome man for his age (he ain't young), and seems to be quite personable. (of course, I don't actually know him, so I'm just basing from Tweets and media portrayal).