The Great Wide Somewhere [Active]

[beautiful-tale.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Belle, Jenny, whoever else would like to come across our fair bookworm.
Content: Belle arrives in Paixao.
Setting: Muspelheim gate and surrounding areas.
Time: Early evening.
Warnings: None so far.

Belle glanced over her shoulder, clutching the comforting fabric of her blue cloak to her throat. The amazing entrance surrounded by gilded flames was still there, and this was her third time checking to see if she'd really just gone through. The line of blonde, blue-eyed people didn't seem to have moved at all. It was if she'd passed through a portal, untouched and unnoticed except for the bland man who shoved papers and some strange device in her hands.

Not for the first time, she went through the past moments in her mind, trying to make sense of something that clearly, obviously could not be real. The last thing she remembered, she was in the woods outside her small village home, searching for Phillipe. He'd escaped his stall again -- not especially difficult, as Belle could never find it in her heart to truly imprison such a kind animal in a mockery of her own helpless state -- and she'd spent hours looking for him, worry gnawing at the edges of her mind. It was getting colder as the sky darkened and she'd found herself in a section of the forest that she'd never seen. Hungry and tired, she wasn't looking where she was stepping and she'd tripped, fallen into one of the many treacherous ravines...or so she'd thought.

Waking up outside the massive golden gate was certainly a shock.

This is more amazing than anything I could have dreamed up, Belle thought, walking with slow, hesitant steps further into the city. The weight of the slim device she was given rested in the pocket of her apron, strangely reassuring. With each step, she felt a bolstering thrill run through her. This was certainly an adventure! As hard as it was to believe, this was all real! Well...technically. She glanced sidelong at some foliage, noting the texture of fabric and beaded flowers.

As she walked further from the gate and clusters of people, she saw more of the city expanded before her. Impressive, palatial buildings, intricately carved and painted statues, a domed ceiling that seemed almost like a real sky...

Belle's vision suddenly darkened around the edges and she gasped softly, blindly reaching out with her hand to find something to steady herself with before she fainted.

Comments

[lovestherunning.livejournal.com]

"It's not problem at all, and you're quite welcome, Belle." She said as she began to walk in the direction of the cafe; making sure to keep supporting Belle as they walked. Of course, walking, let alone walking at a slower pace was not an easy task for the girl that just loved to run, and she found herself constantly clashing with herself. She wanted to move at a faster pace, but she wanted to help Belle out too. However, her want to aid the brunette always won out.

"You're a newcomer here, right?" She asked, trying to concentrate her mind in a new direction.

[beautiful-tale.livejournal.com]

"I...suppose I am," Belle replied, as if not quite certain of the fact herself. As they made their way to the cafe, she slowly began to regain her focus; perhaps the thought of sitting down and resting gave her temporary strength. She glanced sidelong at Jenny, noting for the first time her strange, revealing clothing. She blushed in maidenly modesty at the very idea of wearing men's trousers and then immediately admonished herself. This was a new world where customs were obviously different from what she was used to. If she was going to stay here for awhile, she'd have to get used to things.

"To be honest, I'm still not entirely convinced this isn't one big fever dream," Belle continued, relieving Jenny of her weight. "The last thing I remember was falling into a ravine in the woods behind my home." Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she gazed ahead. "To think all my daydreaming had any basis in reality..."