paixaorpg | In My Sight [Active]

Entry tags:

In My Sight [Active]

Character(s): Xaldin and Belle
Content: Xaldin ~~interrogates~~ has a lovely, pleasant chat with Belle.
Setting: A hotel room in central Actua Are
Time: Early evening
Warnings: None
Note: This post was written through AIM, and will be continued the normal way.

Xaldin pulled Belle through the darkness. It lasted only a moment and then it was over. It faded abruptly into a normal-looking hotel room. There were two full beds, a table with two chairs, a large curtained window, and all the normal things one expected in a hotel room. The room had a blue color scheme and was about the farthest thing from threatening. It was just what Xaldin promised: a room in the central Actua Are. Xaldin immediately put some distance between him and Belle, and walked towards the room’s window. “See? There's nothing to be afraid of,” he said placidly. 'Well, maybe there's the little fact that she won't be able to leave the room that is frightening. It wouldn't scare me, but she's just some tiny woman. She might have an unusual heart, but she's hardly remarkable otherwise.' “Make yourself comfortable. You're waiting out the attacks here.” His tone let her know there was no compromising this fact.

Belle looked around the room. 'Nothing out of the ordinary here,' she thought. She relaxed a bit and went to sit at the table. “Thank you for helping me.” She smiled at Xaldin. “I hope these attacks end soon.” 'He doesn't seem very friendly, but I'll give him a chance.'

‘“You're welcome” doesn't seem like a fitting reply.’ He nodded at her once. “Yes. As do I. I'm certain those... creatures will get bored soon and be off to visit other sections of the city soon enough.”

“I hope there are people in those sections that can deal with them,” Belle said. 'He's very stiff,’ she noted mentally.

Xaldin glanced at her sideways. “Maybe, maybe not. It's not our concern either way.”

“Oh…well, yes, I suppose it's not.” She looked at him, unsure. She then changed the subject. “I didn't catch your name when you came up to us. What is it?”

'Ah, so friendly already.' He looked amused and turned towards Belle. “I am Xaldin. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

'Well, that's a much better expression!' She smiled. “I'm Belle, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well.” 'He seemed to know who I was before...but maybe I was wrong.'

“Of course. So what were you doing with that man, hmm?” He raised an eyebrow. 'I'd love to hear her answer to this.'

“We just had lunch,” Belle replied. “He was very hungry, and nice enough to escort me through this place.”

“So you met up with him when you entered through a gate?” 'So they tend to stay close with those fellow outsiders they meet at the gates. Good to know.' “It makes sense. Do you remember what gate you came through?”

“Yes,” Belle said. “It was called the Niflheim gate.”

'Ah, what a shame.' He nodded thoughtfully and walked towards her. He pulled out the other chair at the table and sat where he could look at her intently. 'It proves that the name is something they choose to remember.' “Ah, yes. That gate. What did you think of it?”

“It was very interesting. Like something out of a book.” Belle smiled a bit.

“I take it you read a lot, then,” Xaldin said with a thin smile.

“Oh yes, of course. At home there is a marvelous library. I hope to be able to read every book in it.”

Belle’s enthusiasm was obvious. 'How ambitious!' Xaldin thought. “Is it a very big library?”

“It's huge.” Belle smiled fondly. “The shelves are packed with books!”

“I'm not sure that it's comparable, but this city has a well-stocked library,” Xaldin offered. “You might want to see it when the attacks stop. There are all sorts of books there.” He folded his hands on the table.

“I was planning on stopping there, actually,” Belle said. “We were going to go meet some of Subaru's friends first, and then I was going to go to the library.” 'Well, that was mostly the plan, anyhow.'

“How nice of you to go out of your way for this man,” Xaldin said blandly, “this Subaru that you just met at the gates. Why didn't you go your own way, where you could do as you please?”

“I wasn't in any rush, so I didn't mind. And it's always better to travel with a friend.”

“How could you consider him a friend? You hardly know him if you just met him at the gate.” He raised an eyebrow.

“All friendships start with a meeting somewhere,” Belle pointed out. “Besides that, this is a strange place. And judging by these attacks, it doesn't seem wise to wander around alone.”

“He might not have been able to protect you. He might have just been another person like you, wandering lost and alone and very much powerless.” Xaldin eyed her with a hint of disdain. “What would you have done then? Two helpless people are simply a bigger target.”

“I didn't know that he could protect me when I first met him. So, I would have done the same thing, clearly. We would have run like all the other citizens.”

“That would have been something to see.” Xaldin grinned. “Running people are always amusing.” He moved swiftly to the next topic. “So what about Subaru made you want to be friends with him?”

“I could tell he was new too,” Belle responded. “He was quite friendly to me as well. I still don't know him too well, but from what I do know, I like him.”

“How nice,” Xaldin said flatly. That was a topic he was hardly interested in, as it was far too sentimental. He changed the subject yet again. “Do you have any idea how you got here, or why you're in this city?”

“No.” Belle shook her head. “I just appeared here. I was walking in the forest and I slipped down a hill. And when I looked up, I was here and home was far from sight.”

“Have you heard anyone talk about why they're here? Any rumors at all?”

“No. But I'm guessing there is a reason we're all here. How did you get here?”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Xaldin had been waiting for that question. He had shown he was curious about Belle, and now she was reciprocating. It was easy to answer, though. “I had been walking down a corridor in my home, and chose a door to enter. When I opened it, the room I had intended to see was simply not there. Instead, this strange land appeared in front of me. It had grass, some trees, and a large domed structure. The wall behind me vanished as soon as I stepped through the door. There was no going back.” He paused. “From what I have read on the network, this does not seem to be an isolated occurrence. People have been arriving here steadily, for reasons they cannot discern.” That should satisfy her for the moment, anyway.

“Do you live in a large home?” Belle asked. She was curious about him too. In such a strange place, Belle thought, it would be good to learn as much about the people around her as she could. She remembered her thought about where Xaldin might be from. It wouldn’t have hurt to ask. “Are you from France?” Belle half hoped he was from her country. He might actually know her and have good intentions for his princess. On the other hand he could be sneaky and keep her for ransom. Of course if he had done that it wouldn’t do him much good in such a place. Belle decided that, that kind of thinking was pointless. What reason would this man have to kidnap her? He had just met her. He was nothing but kind to her.

Why did she have to care so much? Xaldin frowned from beneath his hood. ’What a nosy girl,’ he commented mentally. ’But this is all for a grander purpose. I will respond anyway.’ “Yes, Belle. I came from a lovely large home. And I assure you it was not in this France place. I doubt you’ll find anyone else in this entire city from France.” The only hint of emotion he showed was a certain tenseness in his hands. Small talk was not his specialty.

But he himself was the only one skilled enough to pick up a Princess of Heart without exchanging blows. He himself would take care of this matter. Maybe he’d best get her some sort of book and then he’d have an easy, though boring, job of guarding her until the group figured out what to do.

He pushed aside these thoughts and focused on the important matter at hand. “So what is France like? It must be pretty special.”

“I live outside a small town.” Belle decided to stick to her original plan of keeping the fact that she was a princess a secret. ‘He isn’t from home, so he doesn’t need to know. I don’t want him any more tense than he already is’ She thought to herself. “It’s very nice there, though there’s not much to see. My father and I never traveled much.”

Belle looked at Xaldin curiously. He hadn’t taken off his hood yet. Belle didn’t mind very much. When she had first met the Beast he tried to stay in the shadows too. She wondered if Xaldin too was trying to stay hidden so he didn’t scare her. She didn’t comment on it though. Since she noticed he was already tense, she had figured mentioning the hood would only make it worse.

“Did you have a family in your large home?” Belle would much rather hear of his home. She was determined to remember it all so that if she ever did get home she would have had good stories to tell her friends.

Belle must not be all that enamored with her home. She only gave a brief description of it before she turned the subject back on him yet again. That was slightly annoying. But every bit of conversation was invaluable. He would remember these things and use them to help further their cause.

“No,” Xaldin said sharply. Family? The closest thing he had to a family was the Organization, and most of the members did not deserve the right to be called family. Taking a page from Belle’s book, he yet again turned the conversation back to focus on her. “Now, Belle, you mentioned you have a father. Do you have any other important people in your life? People you are currently missing by being here? People who might be looking for you as soon as they realize you’re gone?”

“My husband will be very worried.” Belle hoped he didn’t lose his temper. She could just picture him sending the entire palace out looking for her. Mrs. Potts would have organized everyone to go out in groups. What would they think? Belle looked a little sad. “I’ve only been here for a little while. I wonder if time is different here though.”

For all Belle knew these few hours could have been days at home. She didn’t like the thought of her husband that upset over her disappearance. He would go out after her. What if he went along the path that she did. Would he end up here too? Maybe she should go back towards the gate and wait for him. What if he was already here? He might be fighting with those creatures. Belle’s face became one of worry. “I hope he’s ok.” She said more to herself than to Xaldin.

“Ah. Your husband.” That must be the one Xigbar mentioned as having a magnificent specimen of heart. “I’m sure he’s fine, Belle. He may be along in due time. I wouldn’t worry about him. He’s likely more concerned about you than you are about him. And if he has any worth as a man, he’ll be able to take care of himself just fine.”

Xaldin decided the time for dramatics was over, so he lowered his hood and shook his braids out. He could now converse properly with Belle. She knew his name already, so why shouldn’t she know what he looked like as well? She was going to be spending a lot of time with him in the near future, so she’d best get used to him.

“You mentioned time flowing differently,” he said, looking amused. “Let me assure you that this is no science fiction novel. This is reality. This is how things are in the here and now. You are here, so your concern should remain here as well. Your friends and family will just have to get along without you for the duration of your stay.” He paused, fixing her with a sharp look. “Besides, I’d say this place is much better than your France. Learn to enjoy it.”

“It certainly doesn’t feel much like reality.” She responded. Belle didn’t like the look Xaldin gave her. But she chose to ignore it. She decided that, that was simply Xadin’s personality. Ah, and he had finally taken off that hood. She could look at him properly now. She studied his face.

She couldn’t see any particular reason that he felt the need to keep his hood on for so long. He had a nice face. The sideburns were a bit much but Belle supposed that was the style where he came from. The loss of the hood though did not take away from how huge he was. He was even bigger than Gaston. Either way Xaldin had seemed more at ease once the hood was removed. She wondered if he was trying to hide from someone.

“This place is not better than home. There aren’t any plants or trees here. And where exactly is this place. You said this wasn’t a novel but I’ve never seen any Paixao on any map. It’s certainly not near France. So how did we get here?”

Belle hoped those things would disappear soon. She wanted to go to the library. There had to be information there. Although she voiced her questions she hadn’t really expected Xaldin to know the answers to her questions anymore than Subaru had. Now, if she were to worry about the “here and now” as Xaldin had said, she’d worry more about Subaru. What if something had happened to him. But Xaldin didn’t seem to be the type to listen to others worries. So she decided those thoughts were best kept to herself. “Do you really think my husband will come soon?” She asked with a more hopeful tone.

This was shaping up to be an amusing conversation already. Belle seemed little more than a simple woman with simple concerns. Of course her home world was the best. Beyond compare, obviously. Why was she such an important person? Why was she a Princess of Heart when others much more noble than she could do just as fine of a job? He’d expected someone of a much grander personality. She was selfless, yes, but like anyone and everyone else, she had the same want to return to her home. No one could see that this city was much better than their home worlds. Not yet, anyway. Once things were put into motion, then everyone would see just how magnificent a city this was. Too much hard work had gone into it for it to be merely brushed aside.

And now Belle was asking about her husband. “Of course he’ll come,” he assured her. “You’re very important to him, aren’t you? Your importance to him will be measured by the amount of time it takes for him to come. If he shows up tonight, then you’re the shining star in his sky that he simply cannot exist without. If he takes longer to arrive, perhaps there is something, or someone, more important to him. A man can’t be expected to wait forever.” Xaldin smiled thinly. “I’m sure there are other women in that small little France you mentioned. He might forget you and move on.”

He waited a moment to let the seeds of doubt take root in her. “Anyhow, we shall wait in here until the attacks stop. Perhaps tomorrow morning those white creatures will be gone and I can show you the library.” He’d rather she focused on that instead of her husband. She could moon over him the entire time, and that would be far too boring for his taste.

Belle looked at Xaldin shocked. “You can measure the importance of someone to another by how long it takes them to be found. That’s not even logical” Belle was annoyed. Who was this man to judge others feelings? Belle doubted this was a place that one could easily find. She certainly hadn’t seen it before, and she would have.

What Xaldin said next really got to Belle. “And how dare you! You don’t even know my husband. He would never simply move on. He’s very loyal and faithful.” She stood up and looked at him angrily. “What kind of person are you? You have no right to put those sorts of doubts in anyone’s head. It may have worked on someone else but not me. I know my husband better than I know anyone else and he would never forget me so quickly.”

The never of this guy! He may have had a hard life and no family but there was no need to make others feel as unhappy as he was. It’s no wonder he was so stiff. He must not have had many friends, if this was how he treated people. Belle felt sorry for him. Maybe he was just shy and afraid to get close to people. Or maybe he liked her. Well she couldn’t have him thinking she would ever forget her husband. She loved him very much.

It also bothered Belle to think that she might actually be in Paixao long enough that she shouldn’t expect her husband to wait. That would be awful. She was so happy with him and her life that she couldn’t take the thought of having to give it up. But Xaldin was right on one thing. She shouldn’t expect her husband to do all the work. She should be trying to get back to him as much as he was trying to find her. Belle decided that as soon as these attacks were over she would concentrate on finding a way home. “My husband will find me. No matter what you think.” She walked over to the window and looked outside.

Xaldin must have known what he said would have bothered her. That must be why he mentioned the library. There had to be information in there. “Seeing the library would be lovely” She smiled some. She didn’t like Xaldin much. But everyone deserved a chance. Besides that, for the time being she was stuck with him. She had to be friendly. It was always best to be optimistic anyhow. She would be seeing her husband soon. She just knew it.

Pushing Belle towards her breaking point was entertaining. He finally got her to show a strong emotion! She felt something for that husband of hers. He would get her to give up on the man altogether soon. To be able to crush the spirit of a Princess of Heart would be a feat to boast about to the Organization!

“Oh, Belle,” Xaldin said, not bothering to hide the amusement from his voice. “I see in you the idealism of a young woman who has just been married. You believe you’re the only important woman in your husband’s life, and you think you know your husband well enough to believe that he reciprocates. You think his world revolves around you. Truth be told, men are just as complex creatures as women, and they have their secrets as well. Don’t you think that if your husband missed you, he’d be here already?” He kept his eyes on Belle as she stood by the window. “If he was as passionate as you claim he is, I believe neither Hell or high water would stop him. And yet, the hours slip by, as will the days, and then the weeks, and months. I thought I would be here only for a short few hours. Instead, I find myself here yet.” He shook his head sadly. “Your husband should be here soon if he is a man of any worth. I only hope he is delayed and not… distracted.”

Belle became very tense as she heard these words. She didn’t know what Xaldin’s problem was. But he had no right to say such things about people he didn’t know. Belle did not like to be around people that were this mean. In fact what he had said about men reminded her of Gaston, and he annoyed her more than anyone.

“I’m sorry you think that way. I don’t know why you would want to make me feel bad...perhaps you were betrayed by a woman and think no relationship can work. I don’t know. But you have no right to say those things about my husband. He is kind and trustworthy. He would never betray me like that.” She fixed Xaldin with a stern look. “And as for him finding me; he will. I have no doubt of that.”

And she didn’t. She was in the middle of one of her walks when she found herself there. If she hadn’t tripped down that hill she would have found a pleasant place to read and she would have been gone for hours. Her husband wouldn’t worry until it started to get dark, and then he would go look for her. Only this time instead of leading her back to the palace he would only find her book. She felt her pocket, where she had put her book earlier. But it had fallen out when she fell. Now it only held the journal they gave her at the gate. At least her husband would have some sort of trail.

“And the only distraction he would have are those horrible things attacking the city. And for all I know, whoever is controlling them is keeping my husband from coming here. But he will find a way. He loves me and he will come. And I’m sorry you have never felt that kind of love. But I hope for your sake you experience it one day.”

Belle did her best to not let herself get angry. She might get stuck with him for a few hours depending on how long the attacks lasted. She didn’t want to sit in uncomfortable silence the entire time. “Either way you can stop trying to make me doubt him. Nothing you say will make me doubt him. He’s my best friend.” Belle looked at Xaldin with a very serious expression.

If Xaldin had simply given Belle a book, as he’d wanted to just earlier, he wouldn’t be getting this kind of quality entertainment. He kept a holier-than-thou smirk on his face as he leaned back, relaxed in his chair, hands draped over the chair’s arms. He’d found a weakness in the Princess, and he would exploit it. It was already shaping up to be great fun.

“All right, Belle,” he said, unable to keep the amusement from his voice, “I see your faith in your husband is unshakable. I’m impressed.” Which was a flat-out lie. “I have to disagree with you, though. Anyone can let you down. And at any time. This could be your husband’s time of failure. It’s possible, especially as he’s only human. Humans are flawed.” It was great to not be human anymore. It allowed him a much more powerful manner of speech.

“Anyway, I don’t think this emotion, love, is all it’s cracked up to be. Everyone makes such a big deal about it, though. I’d love to know what about your husband makes you love him so much.” Her explanation would be gold. It’d be silly and overly romantic and sentimental rubbish.

He pressed onward. “As for me, I can’t say I’ve had any positive experiences with the finer sex. The woman I am best acquainted with would sooner stab me than speak civilly, even as we are doing now. I think she is probably the most honest member of your sex. The rest of you cover your true feelings up with pretty words. Can’t you admit that you are angry with your husband for taking so long to retrieve you? Aren’t you frustrated that he’s leaving you here, all alone, with every opportunity to come fetch you? He wouldn’t let those creatures stop him, I’m sure, so where is he? Why isn’t he here with you? Show me the value of your marriage.” That should provoke a wonderful reaction from the woman. He couldn’t hide the smirk now.

Belle sighed. “Well of course people can let you down. But it’s not fair to just expect them to fail.” Xaldin was starting to remind her of one of the young teens from the village. One who thought they were too good for anyone and would ask questions they knew would annoy you. But Belle would answer his questions. He was male, after all. They tended to be childish.

“And he is just human.” She paused. That was it. Her husband was just human. He couldn’t magically teleport here to bring her home. There was no way of knowing where she was. “He’s not just going to appear suddenly and take me home. He has to look. And I’ve hardly been gone long enough for him to have searched throughly. And for that matter, my not being home at this very moment is just as much my fault as his, if you need to place the blame somewhere. There is nothing stopping me from looking for my own way back. Well there wasn’t until those things anyhow. But once they are gone I will start finding my own way back.” Belle looked determined.

“Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I have to wait around for a man to find me. I have my own brain.” Xaldin’s views on women came as no surprise. Gaston probably felt the same way. Him and the rest of the villagers. Belle shook her head with a look of pity. “It’s unfortunate that you feel you can’t trust women. Perhaps the anger you think I should be feeling will come in a few more days. But what I do find frustrating is your need to plant doubt in my head. It’s pathetic. You’ll find I am much stronger than that, even if I am just a woman.” Belle rolled her eyes.

“As for love” Belle smiled at the thought. “It’s different for everyone. I could go on and tell you that I love my husband because we have a special connection or that he is so handsome or that he just makes me feel good. All of that is true, but they’re all rather weak and insubstantial reasons.” In fact how could Belle explain love? She knew he would scoff whatever she said. What could she say that would limit the sneering on his part?

“I love my husband because he is foremost my friend. We have things in common, and we can talk late into the night. When I get up in the morning I actually look forward to seeing him. But he isn’t perfect. He has a short fuse and he can be quite stubborn. We have our fights like anyone else. And that right there is a major component of love. How quickly you are willing to get over the petty fights. Love isn’t just some silly idea of a little girl. It exists. It’s wanting to spend everyday with one person, and putting up with their flaws. As you said, we all have them.”

Belle waited. She knew he would have choice words for her answer on love. He would say something annoying and she’d want to throw something at him. But she wouldn’t. And if she did he would probably say something stupid, like most men would, and ask if it was her “monthly time”. That would only make her angry and he would want that. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Xaldin had asked his questions to plant doubt, yes. But he did not expect Belle to launch into a near-diatribe on her feelings. Xaldin leaned his cheek against his palm, looking bored as Belle spoke passionately. She was describing love and how she was a strong person, regardless of her gender. This was all well and good. Xaldin could note her reactions, but he certainly couldn’t relate to them. Not in the least. That would require a heart, and if having a heart meant knowing what all this lovey-dovey mushy crap felt like, perhaps he was better without one.

Blah blah love blah blah husband blah blah heart. How very nice. Xaldin stifled a yawn midway through Belle’s grandest speech yet. Perhaps he should have been taking notes.

When she was finally finished, Xaldin clapped politely. “My dear, that was beautiful. You gave me the impression you were speaking at a banquet, where everyone in attendance was dressed in their finest, and we all held champagne, ready to toast to your ideas of love.” He couldn’t help but smirk just a little. He did try to sound serious, anyway. “I don’t know if all that came from my questions, the fact that you’re a lost and lonely woman, or straight from your heart, but it was stirring.” It stirred the need for Belle to quietly bury her nose in a book, that’s what it stirred. Now that he’d pressed her buttons, he wanted her to shut up. What a foolish, rambling woman! He could see why no other members of the Organization envied him his current post.

“After such a speech,” Xaldin continued, “you might like to rest. I’m sure it tired you out. Maybe tomorrow we will take a little walk to the library, regardless of the creatures. You’ll find that I am just as good as your friend Subaru, if not better, at keeping them at bay.”

Belle couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his response. He was right though. She had gone on a bit long. But it didn’t help that he was annoying. And he had asked her. The remark he made though about the banquet was almost a joke. She gave a small smile to show that she wasn’t angry.

“I would like to go to the library very much, thank you” She replied politely. “I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job of keeping those things away.” Belle couldn’t wait to go to the library. Perhaps he would leave her there and she could find a new friend. She didn’t like to think that way but she didn’t really like Xaldin so much. But he was nice enough to help her get out of danger. And he was going to take her to the library. She would enjoy that. But what would he do while she read?

“Do you enjoy the library too?” Belle only partially cared. She wanted to be nice, but she didn’t want to bring up another subject he might jump on to annoy her. Belle moved over to the bed and sat. She was a little tired, but she didn’t really trust him enough to sleep. She knew that was ridiculous and that she would have t to sleep at some point. But if she napped she wouldn’t have to talk to him much more. Again, she was being mean. Xaldin was annoying and said things to purposely get her angry, but even he deserved a friend. “I would hate for you to be completely bored just for me.”

He already looked bored though. Maybe he was tired. It would explain his bad attitude. Belle hoped that after he rested he would be in a better mood. But maybe he had been here too long. He was losing hope. Belle decided that she was not going to ever let that happen to her. And maybe if she continued to be friendly with Xaldin he would regain his hope too.

Yet more small talk. At least this time it was not about love. It had been a mistake to ask so much about it. Now that he understood it, he wanted little to do with it.

“I enjoy the library as much as anyone else,” Xaldin said casually. He didn’t particularly care for it. People like Vexen had much more use for libraries than he did. Besides, the city’s library was rather skewed, to put it lightly, and it was three times more boring than any other library.

Xaldin silently willed Belle to become tired and fall asleep. She was already sitting on the bed. That was a good start! Now she needed to lay down and pass out like a good girl. Then when she woke up, he could take her to the library. He decided the journal would be a good enough babysitter then, and he could leave her there to fend for herself. It seemed that among the others, there was no particular demand for this one. That meant he had been wasting his time. Maybe the Superior had something in mind, but he wouldn’t hold his breath about that.

“Rest up, Belle. It’s a good hike to the library,” Xaldin said. Go to sleep, he urged mentally.

Belle could tell Xaldin was done talking for the night. But she didn’t want to sleep just yet. She wasn’t a child. But she also didn’t think they’d be able to talk about anything else. She propped up some pillows and leaned against them. Then she remembered the journal Subaru had and that she had one too. She pulled it out.

“Do you know how to work this thing?” She asked. She didn’t have any idea of how to use it, all she knew was that it had a map on it and that it was called a journal. And it would be a relatively safe conversation. And once she knew how to use the thing she would be able to figure out how to get back home. “I got it when I came in the city. I know there’s a map on here somehow. But we don’t have anything like this at home”

Maybe she could use it to send a message. She had no clue how that might work but perhaps it was magic. Belle wondered how Subaru was doing. He only had a few more of those things to get rid of when she left him. Maybe when she woke up the next morning he would meet her in the lobby. She would be very happy to see her new friend again.

Belle wasn’t tired yet, Xaldin noted as he rubbed his temples wearily. He was, though. Tired of her yapping. At least she was asking him questions of a more practical nature now. He could answer questions about the journals. And it would give him the upper hand in conversation yet again.

Xaldin gave Belle a pitying smile. “They don’t have these in France? How sad. From what you said, I thought France was at the forefront of cultural progress. Apparently I was mistaken. No wonder you’re so unwise to this city’s ways.” He shook his head sympathetically. “Even my own home had similar devices, and it is not a place known for its technical advances. Ah, poor France.”

Done insulting Belle’s homeland, Xaldin pressed on. “What you hold in your hand is called a journal. It’s a small device that keeps you linked with every inhabitant of the city. You can talk instantly to others either by using the little pen device to write on the screen, or by hitting the letters in the tray to form words. You can also write journal entries, noting the happenings of your everyday life. If you press that blue button, you can read what others write in their journals.” He felt like he was giving a lecture. That suited him just fine. “There’s a small square in one corner of the lit screen. With one press of that, it brings up a map. It’s quite easy to use, really. The glowing dot is where you are in the city. You can even chart a route to, say, the library if you wanted. Convenient, no? Try it out. Play with it.” And get tired and fall asleep already!

Belle wasn’t sure how she had implied that her home was the ‘forefront of cultural progress’. She supposed elsewhere in France they might be more ahead than her little town. But they didn’t have a need for such things. If you had needed to get a message to someone all you had to do was walk down the road a piece. It seemed like these things would only cause laziness in people if they had them where she was from.

But she knew he meant it as an insult. She didn’t see a need to reply to it. It would only egg him on to say more mean things. But she also thought that her not saying anything would provoke him to continue on about how France was behind the times. But he had moved on relatively quickly after his insult. He must have been apologetic for speaking without thinking. That was his biggest problem. He didn’t think before speaking. That was why he mostly said insults.

Belle listened to his lesson on the journals. She was amazed at how they worked. She did play with it some, and began to read some entries. After awhile she said “Not many people seem very happy about being here. And no one knows how to leave.” She looked at Xaldin curiously. “You must not know how to get back either, since you’re still here. What have you tried to get back?”

Xaldin could see hours passing by before Belle settled down to rest. The thing was, he’d told the others that he would keep her in this place until they could decide what to do. He was already tiring of the job. He would escort her to the library tomorrow, yes. And then he would keep an eye on her as she read book after book. That would be easier than answering every question that came to her head.

“I have tried several things to leave, though I do find this place comfortable and more than a little accommodating,” Xaldin replied. “It does sap some of the willpower when the place one is trying to leave is more comfortable than home. I digress. I have tried simply exiting through the gate I entered. Unfortunately, there are people there who would not let me pass. They say there are untold dangers outside the domes. Wild things roam out there. They caused the destruction of the civilization that once existed outside. I don’t know if you noticed the ruins, but those people who once lived there decided they needed fortification, and thus, Paixao was born.” It was a stupid story, and he made it up on the spot. He didn’t know what the official literature in the library said about it and he didn’t care.

“I have also tried looking for secret passages outside. I have asked restaurant owners where they receive their shipments from, thinking they were brought in covertly and that I could use their routes to escape, and they were all tight-lipped on the topic. I have also tried to forcibly break through the domes, but the walls are too thick and the citizens grouped around me and stopped me before too much damage could be done. The dent I made was repaired within the hour, sadly.” Making up stories was rather fun, actually. Though it would have been just as amusing to tell Belle the truth. I have done absolutely nothing to escape from the city. He imagined her reaction and laughed.

“You mean you like it here better than you like home?” She tilted her head. That was very sad. Not that the city wasn’t a nice city, but to be lost and stuck in a place and actually be glad about it, well that was very sad. He really must have had it bad if he liked it there better. There weren’t even any trees around, at least none that Belle could see.

And why weren’t they allowed to leave? That didn’t seem right at all. Was she really trapped in the city? There must be some way out. She couldn’t imagine any reason for the restaurant owners to be so tight lipped. They must have thought that he was going to try and steal their business. Although she couldn’t exactly imagine Xaldin being in the food service business. Perhaps he was polite enough sometimes but she couldn’t picture him bringing food to people. Or cooking food. She could barely see him drinking at the bar.

“If they won’t let us out...well does that mean we are trapped here?” She didn’t really want to think about that answer. But Xaldin didn’t seem like the type of person to like being stuck anywhere. But she was curious as to how he might reply. But then again, he didn’t seem to mind being stuck here. Belle supposed she wouldn’t mind as much if her husband were with her. And she was still worried about Subaru. She would have to try to find him through these journal things.

“Belle,” Xaldin replied, shifting the way he sat in the chair, “we are not trapped here. We are only trapped by the limits of the mind and body. Otherwise, we are free to behave as we will. Perhaps I simply wasn’t trying hard enough to leave. I’m not quite done exploring this city, after all, and I’d like to find out more about this place before I cowardly turn tail and try to leave. After all, what would I be running from? Some aggressive white creatures? Now that’s a stupid reason, not when they go down so easily.”

He enjoyed the game again now. They were trapped, but they weren’t. They could try to escape, but why bother when the prison was so interesting? Soon he’d have Belle convinced, husband or no, that this city was superior to anywhere she’d come from. He would squash her desire to ever leave. And who knew. Perhaps her husband would be drawn in yet. That would be magnificent!

“And yes, I do like this city better than home. Home was boring and limited, with the same limited encounters with the same people again and again. In this place, you never know who you’ll run into. There are surprises day in and day out. It’s like constantly turning the pages in a story instead of stagnating on a single chapter for eternity. I think even someone like you will have things to discover here. Maybe about the city.” He then turned his head some to give her a knowing sideways look. “Maybe about yourself.”

Belle thought about what Xaldin was saying. ‘We’re only trapped my the limits of the mind and body’ he had said. Belle couldn’t help but be a little amused at how poetic he sounded. Maybe he was a poet underneath it all. That idea didn’t seem any more fitting than the idea of him being a chef. But looks could be deceiving. Belle thought that if he did actually write poetry it would be the sad kind. Certainly nothing about frolicking in the flowers with a lover.

Xaldin was making the city sound wonderful. And although she hadn’t been there for very long, Belle knew he was right. You could run into thousands of different people. Listening to him go on about the city made her want to explore it. Maybe that was what she should do. The more she learned about the place, the more she’d be able to locate a way home. Maybe she’d bring her husband back here.

Belle smiled at him. “You sound like a guide to the city. You make it sound like a wonderful vacation.” Xaldin’s words made her feel a little better about being there. Perhaps there was a lesson here that she was supposed to learn. Maybe that’s why she was sent here. It made perfect sense. She wondered how much time she had to learn what she was supposed to learn before she was trapped here forever. She couldn’t let her self be trapped forever. She would do her best to get home. She would never forget that goal. “But even after the best of vacations people want to go home.”

Xaldin made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “There’s time enough to return home. Why not enjoy this while you can? Perhaps you’ll never find a way back here, and you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering about it, regretting what you’ve missed. After all, there’s so much to see and do here. Every basic need is provided for here. It’s rather lovely.”

Belle was smiling. He was slowly winning her over. She would enjoy being here so much that she’d forget all about wanting to go home soon. Everyone would. They would all be content within the domes, patiently spending their lives here with no complaints. Her smile made him smile more. Progress. As always, progress.

“I’ve been here long enough that I could play at being a city guide,” Xaldin continued. “I do know the best locations in the city, the best places to experience and explore. You could spend a lifetime here without seeing all there is to see. Some of the best experiences come from meeting others in a similar situation. There are people like you and me, and Subaru, who have come a long way to get here, knowingly or unknowingly. They have their own experiences to share. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t want to meet any of them.”

Belle hated to admit it but he was right. She did want to meet them. If their stories were anything like Subaru’s how could she not want to hear about it. But then again, if they were all overly secretive like Xaldin was, then it would be a waste. She still didn’t know where he was from. All she knew was that he liked it here better. But Belle doubted she would grow to like this city better than home. She lived in a palace, and there was just as much to explore and learn there. Except the new people. But Belle knew that before long she would miss her husband and friends.

“You’re right. It would be nice to talk with new people and hear their stories. But that won’t make me miss home any less. It would be different if my family and friends were here.” She knew they would worry. No matter what Xaldin said, they would definitely worry. “But it can’t hurt to look around the city more. Maybe you can prove yourself as a tour guide.” she smiled.

Xaldin may not have been much of a friend, but he was the only person she knew at the moment. And he seemed to really love talking about the city. So instead of silence, or him trying to make her angry, he could talk about the city as they walked. She would learn a lot that way. And maybe they would meet some new friends along the way.

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