paixaorpg | Barely Even Friends [Completed]

Entry tags:

Barely Even Friends [Completed]

Character(s): Belle and Beast
Content: Belle helps Beast settle into his new home.
Setting: Iriela Apartments
Time: Backlogging to Week 5, late afternoon
Warnings: None

Belle discreetly glanced at her companion, wondering not for the first time if she was crazy for being alone with him. After his outburst at the library, she was even more hesitant around him, never sure when she'd experience his terrifying temper yet again. Still, he seemed so...alone. She was sure he'd be able to take care of himself (just look at him!), but for reasons she couldn't explain, she wanted to help him. So when he mentioned he didn't have a place to stay, she found herself offering to get him a place at her apartment building.

As the building in question came into view, Belle turned around and walked backwards, smiling at Beast. "Look, it's close! It's not very elegant, but it's pretty quiet...usually. I'll talk to the woman at the office and get you settled!" She paused, shyly glancing down and brushing a lock of hair from her eyes. "...that is, if you feel you'd like to stay here."

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To say the least, Beast wasn't very impressed by the building. The entire place was smaller than his castle, and it was in terrible shape. Though the inside was probably the same as the inside of the castle was...

"I..." It almost sounded like a question as he first spoke, his voice losing volume quickly. "...I do." Beast felt strange, having to live somewhere outside the castle, with none of his servants. Belle would be nearby to help him, but...could he really ask her if he needed anything?

He seemed so uncertain, so unsure. She couldn't help but feel protectiveness for him now, that quiet, nervous note in his voice so echoing her own. "I know it isn't much to look at, but it's warm and we can make it home...somehow." She turned back around to skip up the few steps to the entrance and opened the door.

There was a bored looking gypsy woman reading a book in the "lobby" (which was really little more than an empty room with a counter). Belle inhaled quietly and stepped up to the desk. Far enough that Beast wouldn't be able to hear them, she spoke with the woman softly. At some point in their conversation, the woman looked at Beast in alarm, but Belle spoke rapidly, her tone of voice seemingly assuring. After a few more words, Belle reached into her apron pocket and withdrew some money and turned to walk back to Beast.

"There's a room on the third floor," she said quietly, gazing up at Beast with concern. "We can look at it and if it's satisfactory, you're welcome to stay. There's already the basic furniture, though we'll have to buy some things if you want it to look better."

She almost reached out to take his paw but stopped and turned quickly, thinking better of it. He didn't really seem the type to enjoy being touched and...those claws were so sharp looking. Clearing her throat, Belle smiled at Beast over her shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you the way."

They headed up the stairs.

Beast stood well back while Belle talked with the gypsy behind the counter, not wanting to draw any attention to the way he looked. He'd scared more people in this city than he cared to already.

Even though Belle wasn't actually touching him, Beast had the sensation of being pulled along by her, as if she was tugging his wrist. He followed her, clawed footsteps rasping against the wooden staircase. It was a much different sound from the stone floors he was used to in the castle, less harsh.

The hallways were dusty, sparse, and cramped, almost completely empty save for small pots of flowers outside the doors to the steps. The third floor was no different, and Beast let Belle lead him to the room that he would be staying in.

They stopped in front of a non-descript door identical to all the ones they'd already passed. "I think this is it," Belle murmured, taking a key from her apron and unlocking the door. She stepped into the room, looking around curiously.

It was dusty and as shabby as everything else in the building, but sunlight poured in from the undecorated windows and Belle felt it was a cozy, comfortable looking place. Then again, she was a mere peasant, her own cottage back in her world only being moderately nicer than this. As she stepped further into the room, she glanced behind her at Beast, hands clasped in front of her apron in attempt to appear more casual than she felt. "W-well, what do you think?"

It felt like a servant's room in the castle. It was small, decrepit...the few pieces of furniture were already falling over. A far cry from the opulence Beast had been used to...but it was probably the only place in the city a monster like him would be able to stay.

"It's...not bad," he lied, horribly. His true opinion showed clear as day on his face, the retracted jaw, the furrowed brow, the flared nostrils; everything was only enhanced by his bestial features.

Oh, dear. He hated it, didn't he? She lowered her head, disappointment writ clearly on her own features. "I'm sorry, Beast. I'd wanted you to live close to me so I could visit you easily. I didn't consider that you wouldn't like it..." She smiled in a vain attempt to appear unconcerned and quickly walked toward the door.

"I'll tell the lady downstairs that you aren't interested."

"Belle, no!" Beast reached out a hand as if to grab her, but thought better of it. Concern marred his face, eyebrows drooping down with the corners of his mouth. He didn't want to try to search for somewhere else to live, and Belle had already gotten the mistress to agree to let him stay there. "It's...it's fine..."

His words were soft and careful, and for once unaccompanied by any inhuman noises.

His quiet voice, so human sounding now, made Belle pause at the door. With her back to him, she completely missed his attempt to reach her. She slowly turned, a hopeful smile replacing the earlier disappointment. "Really...?" She stepped toward him cautiously, gazing curiously at him before lowering her gaze, again beset by a surge of shyness. "That's wonderful to hear," Belle said softly.

Suddenly, her head shot back up and she grinned. "We should get some decorations! That would make it look better." She walked around the room, making a mental list that she spoke of aloud. "We'll need curtains, certainly. A tablecloth, some kitchen ware, cushions, rugs..." She paused, looking back at Beast, eyes drawn to his cloak.

"...that rose," Belle said carefully. She knew better now than to even attempt to touch it. Would even mentioning it spark his anger again? "Do you...need a vase? Something secure to put it in?" It was obviously a magical rose of some kind. Did it even need water?

Edited 2009-07-09 19:50 (UTC)

"N-no. The rose is fine." Beast couldn't make eye contact with her as he said it. If he had it his way, she never would have seen it in the first place...he certainly wanted her to have nothing more to do with it. Looking back toward her, he spoke slowly. "Decorations..." he repeated. Then her mention of kitchenware reminded him of something.

"I...don't know how to cook."

He seemed to shrink into himself when the rose was mentioned. Belle bit her bottom lip gently, immediately regretting asking about it. Well, now she knew to avoid the topic entirely, at least.

At his confession, she parted her lips in a silent "O." Perhaps she shouldn't have been so surprised. By his appearance alone, he could take down a dear and devour it raw, for all she knew. But she was determined not to judge him based solely on his looks.

"O-oh! Well, if you don't mind, I can cook for you." She placed her hands on her hips proudly. "I'm not a gourmet, but I can make some decent meals!" She hesitated, eyeing Beast warily. "...what do you normally eat?"

"The servants in the castle cooked all my meals for me..." Beast answered quietly. He was sure that an army of servants who were themselves the cookware were much better than Belle could hope to be on her own. As such, his menu was different every night, often very grand and far in excess of what he needed. He didn't want to say this to a girl who looked like she was just a peasant.

Castle? Oh, my... "You lived in a castle?" Belle asked in wonder, eyes wide and fairly sparkling with admiration and excitement. "What kind of castle was it? Are you nobility? Are there kings and queens in your world?" The rush of questions poured out of her in her excitement. She'd only ever seen castles in books, after all. There was supposedly a royal family a day's ride away from her village in France, but mystery shrouded them and no one seemed to know what had happened.

Beast's mouth opened to answer Belle's first question, but closed again as she went on. He kept his eyes on hers for just long enough to notice how sad he must have appeared, then quickly broke eye contact in favor of looking at the floor behind his feet.

Nobility...he had been, once. But not since...then. The rose shone brightly in his monstrous paws, reminding him all too well of his dreadful mistake, and the terrible fate it had wrought upon him. The former prince clutched it tightly, as if he were a trembling child clinging to his mother.

"You should...you should go." Beast's voice was low and rumbling, speaking worlds of his sadness. "I'll see you tomorrow." That was more confident, and sounded more of a barked order--his attempt to get her to want to leave, rather than pry any further.

She could see the transformation of his mood, see the willingness to talk fade. Seeing him withdraw into himself even further, Belle felt her own heart sink a little. Had she really asked something so offensive?

She sighed quietly, shoulders slumping slightly. "I-if that's what you'd like." A pause and then, softly but sincerely, she added, "I'm sorry if I asked something I shouldn't. I didn't mean to upset you." With nothing left to say, she turned and walked quickly out the door, feeling once again discouraged.

Edited 2009-07-10 00:40 (UTC)

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Barely Even Friends [Completed]

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