http://tolove-inreturn.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] tolove-inreturn.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] paixaorpg2009-07-14 01:17 pm
Entry tags:

One Step At a Time [Complete]

Character(s): Belle and Beast
Content: Shopping trip :3
Setting: Around the city
Time: midday, during week 6ish
Warnings: None needed...maybe Beast's temper?


To claim Beast's nerves were wound up would be to claim too little. He was more anxious now, he thought, than he had ever been before. Last time he had talked to Belle, he had sent her away in a hurry, when she asked him a question he wasn't ready to answer. After a week of being wracked with guilt over it, though, he was about to go try to talk with her. He was giddy again, but at the same time he was a mess of worry. What if she didn't want to speak with him anymore?

He wanted to dress up a little, but he had nothing to wear. He had no shirt with him, even, and hadn't gone to purchase any new clothing. To make him look even worse, his fur was starting to look a tousled mess, as he had no servants here to groom him. Appearing now every bit the monster he thought he was, save for the look on his face, he left his room, walking down to knock on Belle's door.

Except...he couldn't. He pulled back his arm to knock, and didn't put it forward to strike the wooden door. He huffed, and turned around, back toward his own apartment. He steeled himself, and tried again, only to fail the same way. This time, he almost got all the way back to his room before, yet again, walking over the Belle's door to try to knock one last time.

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle was sitting by the window in her bedroom, feet curled up underneath. She leaned her head against the faded, chipped windowframe and sighed. Ever since the disasterous attempt at getting Beast to open up, she'd been so discouraged that she hadn't tried to see him again. Now she was feeling a little bit guilty about neglecting him -- was he okay? How was he eating? Maybe it was best that she'd been resisting the urge to check up on him...maybe he didn't want to see her ever again...

Frowning deeply at that particular thought, she stood up suddenly. Moping about wasn't productive in the slightest! So walked with a determined stride to the beat-up looking vanity, adjusted her appearance slightly and nodded to herself. It was time to go out and get some fresh air. If she happened to run into Beast while she was out, then...then..

She hesitated for the barest moment and sighed, shaking her head. Who cared about him anyway? He was moody, rough and not worth her time! Even if he sometimes had the most vulnerable, gentle expression on his face...even if the mystery surrounding him fascinated her so much...

Lost in these thoughts, Belle walked to the door of her and Yuna's apartment and opened it, eyes on the ground, just as Beast lifted his arm to knock again. The wistful, thoughtful expression on her face turned shocked as her eyes shot up from his furry feet to his face.

"Beast...!" she gasped, blushing at being confronted by the very person she had just been thinking about so much.

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The silence dragged on. Belle, struggling to find something to say, watched his face carefully. He didn't seem to be angry. Why was he here? Did he come to apologize? That didn't seem very likely. And he couldn't have missed her, surely.

Fingers twisting absently in her apron, betraying her nervousness, she decided to do what she always did in uncertain social situations: rely on polite niceties and etiquette. "...h-have you been well?"

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-14 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
The mask of formal civility slipped and Belle's expression turned to hopeful wonder. "Really?" she asked softly, smiling slowly. That was a step up from the last time he saw her, certainly. She smiled wider, warmly and tilted her head a bit. "I wanted to see you too," she admitted. "I was hoping you weren't mad at me." She trailed off, breaking eye contact, suddenly worried that she had misunderstood...maybe he only wanted to see her to tell her to leave him alone for good?

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Clothes? For the first time, Belle noticed how little he actually wore. Tattered trousers and a large, equally worn cape. That was it? Her gaze fell to his bare chest and she found herself, ridiculously, suddenly shy, the blush over her cheeks deepening. He wasn't human...what did it matter if he was half naked?

"A-alright. Um, would you like to go shopping, then?" she asked, lifting her gaze to his eyes again.

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-15 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle's eyebrows rose slightly at the briefest glimmer of a smile she saw...surely it was only her imagination, though. Nodding, she held up a finger. "Okay...just a moment, please." Turning from the door, she dashed back into the apartment. From the doorway, one could see the shabby but clean-looking living room she and Yuna had decorated with various feminine touches -- a floral patterned rug, some plain but pastel-colored couches, blue curtains on the one visible curtain. Even a small vase of real daises were set upon the tiny end table by the door.

Belle came back into view, carrying a medium-sized basket and small drawstring bag she quickly pocketed. Smiling brightly, she stepped close to Beast and turned around to shut the door behind her, locking it. "There! I'm ready to go now." Turning back around, she gave him a quizzical look.

"What sort of style of clothes did you have in mind?"

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-16 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmmm..." Belle tapped her finger to her chin and paused in the hallway to consider for a moment. While the Beast did have a vaguely humanoid stature, there was some decidedly non-human features to take into consideration. A button-up shirt, new pants...a new cloak? Shoes were out of the question, of course.

She nodded to herself. "Some generic clothes would be fine, then." She headed down the hallway, basket over one arm while she flipped open her journal to access the map. "There are several boutiques in Paixao."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-16 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Oblivious to the thoughts in Beast's head, Belle chattered on as they walked down the stairs and out the apartment. "There's a small shop close by. The clothing is pretty plain, but from what I've seen in the windows, it looks like good material. There may not be many colors available, which is a shame. Blue would go with your eyes so well! If they don't have any blue, a white shirt would be okay, I think." She paused for a moment and glanced over at Beast, smiling sheepishly. "Oh, my, I'm sorry...I'm hardly giving you a moment to talk at all. I'm just..." She trailed off, looking away again. She couldn't tell him that she missed talking to him, could she?

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-18 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle glanced shyly at him as he replied before turning the full force of her warm smile on him once again. "Wonderful! You know, we're pretty lucky Paixao has so many amnenities," she sighed, glancing up at the row of buildings they passed as they walked. "The little village I lived in before I was brought here only had one clothing boutique and that was pretty amazing. Most small villages in my world only have a general store, where they'd sell everything else one might need in addition to clothes." She pursed her lips slightly, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Of course, that was just in France...it may have been different in other countries."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-19 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
There! An actual smile! What an amazing affect it had on his features, on his eyes especially. The sudden desire to make him smile even more was replaced by utter shock at his statement. She stopped in the middle of the road, gaping at him. "Oh! Oh, my goodness!" She laughed, one hand hovering over her mouth. "That's amazing!" To imagine something as fantastical as the Beast, in her own world. But, did that mean magic really existed in her world? Oh, but, wait!

"What time are you from?" she asked excitedly, tilting her head up to watch his face. "The year I was taken, it was 1658."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-19 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle grinned, unable to stop herself from reaching out and lightly touching his arm. "This is wonderful. To think I had an ally from my own world so close all this time!" She turned and started walking again, the basket swinging merrily now as she continued, "Now that I think of it, Ian-- you remember Ian, right? He was with me when we first met? He mentioned it was more likely to have been brought here if someone else from your world was here."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-20 02:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"He did," Belle said, nodding. "And it makes sense...somehow. There's still so much mystery surrounding this world. And I know the majority of the people brought here are desperate for a way to leave..." She trailed off, glancing up at Beast. "You..." she began hesitantly, stopping the gently bite her lip before continuing, "...do you miss your home?" She knew he didn't like to talk about himself, but if she could only find out why...

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-21 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle looked down at the road as they walked, a hundred responses running through her mind. It was still so hard to understand his thoughts and feelings, difficult to gauge how he might react to any number of things. Finally, she said quietly, "You aren't worthless, Beast...if you've had servants to do for you all your life, then of course you wouldn't know how to those menial tasks." She looked back up at him, giving him a cautious smile. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-21 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle watched his reaction sadly, a small sigh escaping from her lips. Though there was still so much about him that confused her, one thing was certain -- he had a lot of pain inside and more than a little self-hatred. She was spared from having to think up a suitable response, however, as the first shop came into view. There were vague colors and shapes visible inside the open windows under a colorful awning with an intricately painted but faded sign.

"Well," she said, slowing their pace as they approached. "Are you ready?" She smiled at him with an expression somewhere between support and concern. If one of the shopkeepers said something untoward or even if some innocuous thing happened to upset him, who knew what the aftermath would bring?

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-24 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle smiled gently. "I would be honored," she replied softly, resting her hand on his furry forearm once more. "If you don't mind a peasant like me being around that is!" she added, chuckling. She really was touched at his offer, though...it showed he trusted her enough to let her into his world.

"Alright...let's see what clothes they have," she said, looking to the shop front with a determined set to her expression. Leading the way, she opened the door and entered, a bell chiming their entrance.

The shop, though shabby perhaps by Beast's standards, seemed cozy and warm to Belle. Like many establishments in this section of the city, it was run by gypsies. There were odds and ends for sale everywhere -- a gilded candelabra, a dressmaker mannequin that was oddly realistic, a wooden pirate ship the size of a small dog. Fabrics and clothes were hung and draped like curtains on walls and blankets over other items, all with tiny white price tags.

An elderly gypsy woman hobbled into view, a toothless smile splitting her wizened face. The smile faded only a slight notch as Beast joined Belle, but the shopkeeper had seen her share of creatures in this city and was hardly screaming in terror at the sight of him.

"Welcome, welcome," she boomed, jewelery twinkling with her exaggerated gestures of welcome. "Come for a reason or are you just lookin'?"

Belle relaxed visibly, relieved that she wouldn't have to calm another townsfolk. "Thank you, madame...we're here for some clothes for my companion here?"

The gypsy woman gave Beast a quick once over and pursed her lips. "Hnn...not sure if we have anything big enough. Lemme look in back."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-25 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Carrying a heap of fabric, the old woman deposited it all in Belle's arms. "You're in luck, girl," she whispered conspiratorally, winking. Loudly enough so that Beast could hear, she went on, "We've had some big burly fellows around here who just up and vanish now and again. My daughters collect the leavings, so to speak." As she was talking, she withdrew a piece of clothing from the pile in Belle's arms one at a time, holding them up to Beast and clucking her tongue. It was hard to get an accurate measurement, being several feet shorter than Beast.

"Tch...take off your cloak, boy, and put this on." To illustrate this demand, the gypsy held up a long sleeved cream-colored shirt that seemed big enough to be worn as a short dress by Belle.

As for Belle, she focused on keeping the clothing in her arms together...but she was able to cast an apologetic, bemused smile to her friend.

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-28 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Despite the snug fit of the shirt, Belle conceded that it gave a much more human impression to Beast. Which was odd, as she had secretly expected him to look more like a great bear wearing tiny clothes. At the mention of his "bare bottom," a giggle escaped her lips which she quickly muffled to a quiet snort.

As the old gypsy woman toddled off to find some pants, Belle placed the rejected shirts on a nearby faded chaise. She smiled up at Beast, reaching up to adjust the collar of the new shirt. "I'm sorry about this," she said quietly, smile turning wry. "I'm sure she means well. How does the shirt feel?"

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-29 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
Belle chuckled softly. "No, actually...most peasants make their own." Eyebrow arched, the glint in her eyes betraying some secret pain, she said teasingly, "After all, it's a woman's duty to know such things to support her husband and children." Turning away from Beast, she walked over to a standing globe of a world she'd never known.

"If you like, we don't have to buy that shirt," she said softly, fingers tracing the stippled contours of land masses on the globe. "There are other shops we've yet to see, after all. Perhaps they'll have some clothing that fits better."

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-07-31 10:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Said shop owner bustled in once more, this time carrying a much smaller load. "Ah ah!" she clucked, scowling up at Beast as she neared. "Stop fussing with that shirt, boy. It's delicate." Without looking at Belle, she tossed the few pairs of trousers she brought with her in the girl's general direction. As Belle struggled to catch them, the old woman began unbuttoning Beast's shirt, muttering to herself. "...too small...fur...need a shirt for anyway?"

Her customer shirtless once more, the gypsy cast her gaze downwards meaningfully. "You'll have to take those off if you're wanting to put those on," she said, grinning as she jerked a thumb towards Belle.

Blinking owlishly over at Beast, Belle blushed slightly, pressing the pile of pants back towards the old woman. "I...I'll just wait over..."

"No place to wait!" the gyspsy chirped merrily, eyes glittering with life. "Just turn around if you're feeling bashful, girly."
Edited 2009-07-31 22:49 (UTC)

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-08-06 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Y-you know," Belle told the wall, eyes wide, "my companion and I were just talking of visiting some other shops as well." She turned, gathering up her basket and Beast's cloak and smiled politely at the old woman even as she was circling her arms around Beast's and guiding him away, towards the door. "Thank you very much for your assistance, madame," she continued when the gypsy seemed offended, even pouting. "We may return for that shirt if we have no other luck today." When they reached the door, Belle curtsied at the miffed merchant and quickly ducked out into the street once more.

Still holding on to Beast's arm, Belle sighed. "...my, I forgot how forceful some merchants can be..." She froze, gazing up at Beast, waiting for a surge of temper she was sure was coming.

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
Relieved that Beast's temper was still in check, Belle relaxed...then started as she realized she was still holding his great furry arm. She let it go gently, backing up a few steps. "Oh...well, there was one place I bought a nightgown," she said thoughtfully, absently brushing back a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail. "A tailor...I'm certain he doesn't have anything in your size in stock, but perhaps we can commission him to make you some clothes."

She exhaled in a rush of air to calm her own frazzled nerves and lifted the great bundle of Beast's cloak up to him. "Would you like to go there?"

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-08-12 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Belle smiled brightly, more pleased with the thanks than she could explain. "You're welcome," she said softly, reaching up to briefly adjust the clasp that needed no adjusting. Suddenly feeling a bit shy, she turned away and started walking ahead, ponytail bouncing. Not wanting to ruin the moment, she fell into comfortable, thoughtful silence.

[identity profile] beautiful-tale.livejournal.com 2009-08-18 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
As she walked, Belle hummed softly to herself. The melody of an old French lullaby filled the air and she seemed absentminded, lost in memories but still content. The more time she spent with Beast, she found, the more relaxed she felt around him. It was almost as if she didn't see the beastly appearance he had, the fangs and fur and claws.