tale as old as time

I'm Belle de Fleur, and my story is just beginning. I want so much more than this provincial life. 19 years old. Commoner in Aldora.

[bellledefleur-blog1]

gastonnbouchard:

“Would you really? I’ll add it to the list with the others then. I’m not quite sure how I feel about mysteries yet, but it sounds different from that Sherlock Holmes character and his doctor friend. Yes, I would like to see how Zorro’s story ends before we start the other ones. How have you ever managed to keep up with all of these novels? It seems like the ‘to-be-read’ list just keeps growing longer.”

“Yet the governor is clearly an evil man who doing terrible things to the people. What use is reputation if you can’t protect the ones you care for head on? Army be damned, I wouldn’t let that just slide by. The other dons should have done something too.” Gaston’s frown deepened, but his tune reversed as soon as he heard Belle’s request. “If my lady insists.” A grin broke across his stern expression as he tugged the mask up, lowering his head to claim her petal-soft lips in a tender kiss.

"It's quite different from Sherlock Holmes, yes! It's more of a romance, albeit a rather dark one, but I think you'd like it a great deal. And yes, yes, we'll continue with Zorro first! You just have to see how it ends, Gaston - you just have to. I - hmm. I suppose I've just always been a fan of reading and literature in general, and...it's become something of a second nature to me, is all. Either way, I'm very glad that you're allowing me to share my passion with you...it's nice not to enjoy it alone."

Belle couldn't help but giggle softly when Gaston spoke so animatedly about the latest in the series of books she had introduced to him - it was wonderful to see him so invested, and endearing as well, and she was glad that he seemed to enjoy her reading to him every bit as much as she did. By the time he was pulling up his mask and bending his head down to her, Belle was already parting her lips, and she let out a pleased little sigh as he claimed her mouth with his own. "Mmm..." She twined upwards against him, sliding one of her small hands up to cradle his jaw and stroke lightly at the slight-stubble that lined it, and she nuzzled her nose once against his before breaking their kiss, albeit just barely. Then, with a playful little smile, she readjusted his mask, tucking it neatly back over his eyes yet again. "There! That's not so bad, is it?"

[adamsbeast-blog]

The Music of the Night || Adam & Belle

[adamsbeast-blog]

Adam should’ve never come to the costume ball; he knew next to none of the guests who were milling about the place, had very little desire to insert himself into a conversation or ask a lady he had minimal interest in to dance, and worried the entire evening about Celine and the curse she held over his head and over his servants. It was a dreadful way to live, fretting over your existence and damnation from one minute to the next, but it was all that Adam had lived with for many years now. He supposed that, when you spent so many years adapting to a specific lifestyle, it was difficult to try anything new. And the costume ball in Maldonia was as far away from Adam’s comfort zone as he could possibly get. So, despite Mrs. Potts’ urgency that Adam appear this evening and attempt to have the night of his life, the werewolf was very much so content to isolate himself by the beverage and food table. The less he had to interact with people he didn’t feel like feigning kindness to, the better for all involved.

Or, at least, it would have been one hell of a plan…had it not been for her.

She was a great deal shorter than him, perhaps by an entire foot or so, and donning a flowing white dress the color of freshly-fallen snow. Paired with a scarlet cape and a red flower in her dark chestnut hair to match, she was overwhelmingly so a reference to the female protagonist of the very same novel which Adam had stolen inspiration from for himself. He gazed at her in wonder for a few moments, beside himself with fascination that at least someone at this event surely understood the context of his outfit when she blurted out something so similar to Adam’s train of thought.

You’re my phantom.

It was strange, being referred to as an absolute stranger’s possession; as if he were something to be treasured. Spending so much of his time locked away in isolation and despair, Adam had grown used to living in solitary confinement. He wasn’t used to someone speaking to him so frankly; to someone claiming him as their own. For decades now, the master of Dubois Manor had lived in shame and silence, destined forever to be the sort of monsters that princes slayed and heroes vanquished in fairy tales. He was a beast, inside and out, and to be shown such affection and direct attention was…strange. Unusual. Completely unlike anything the nobleman was used to. And to think, it all came from a young woman who was talking a mile a minute, all about Gaston Leroux’s famous novel and her costume’s reference to it. Each time Adam opened his mouth to offer up some sort of retaliation, the girl got swept away by the power of her own speech. It seemed as though she could not be moved to silence until she’d finished her rambling tirade, and by the time she was begging his forgiveness and imploring for him to pick up the book at his earliest convenience, even Adam felt a bit winded. The problem now, however, was that he’d listened to her speak for so very long that he didn’t…know how to carry the conversation from here. So, he went with his instincts.

“’If I am the phantom, it is because man’s hatred has made me so’,” Adam began, quoting one piece of the text he knew by heart. “’If I am to be saved it is because your love redeems me.’”

He stepped closer to the woman, praying she wasn’t a phantom of his own imagination; praying that for once, for one night, he could have the human contact he had craved so much for years on end.

“I have read the book, Christine Daae. I own the first edition in my library.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle couldn't even begin to believe her eyes - so far, absolutely no one at the Halloween ball had been able to make heads or tails of her costume, but standings before her was a man dressed to the nines as her literary counterpart. He made an utterly fantastic phantom, the stranger did, with his dark curly hair and his piercing eyes, and though Belle had come to Mirindra accompanied with another man entirely as her date, it was impossible for her to avoid being struck breathless by the one she was interacting with now. So rarely did anyone ever share her great love of books, and realizing that she wasn't alone in her awe and admiration of the Phantom of the Opera had her feeling as if her heart was threatening to beat its way right out of her chest. She just hoped that she hadn't been mistaken in her assumption that he was indeed her beloved Eric, that he wasn't dressed up as some strange sort of vampire or ghost instead, because that would have been horribly embarrassing, and...disappointing as well. She felt as if she and the stranger shared a strange sort of kinship with one another, one that, as she gazed up at him with wide and hope-filled eyes, surely could have been felt halfway across the ballroom. Belle waited with bated breath for him to reply, and when he did, it was in a voice that was every bit as dark and mysterious as he had appeared to her so far - smoky, low, and velvet-smooth, he utilized it to quote to her a passage from the very novel that she had just referenced...one of her all-time favorites, one that she knew by heart.

If Belle's heart had been pounding before, it was positively racing now, and as the man stepped closer towards her and inclined his head down to her before admitting that, yes, he was very much so her dearly-coveted phantom of the night, she very nearly swooned where she was standing. It was just - coming face to face with a character from a book she held so near and dear to her heart, one who just so happened to embody everything about the man who lived among the shadows, was far too much for Belle to even comprehend. She felt giddy and excited, breathless and flushed and swept up and overwhelmed, and in that moment, she forgot that she had been escorted to the ball by another man - in that moment, everything else ceased to exist. "You - you own the first edition?!" Her eyes widened impossibly, and her voice was a breathy gasp as she responded to the phantom's startling admittance - to Belle, books were every bit as good as currency to her, and while she could only ever afford the used and run-down copies of the ones she cherished so deeply, she had always dreamed of owning things like first and limited editions, and so the knowledge that the stranger before her had his own library to pick and choose from was unlike anything else she had ever so much as fantasized about before.

"But that - I - oh my goodness, you must have had to give up an arm and a leg for it! That...I...oh monsieur!"  Tittering, and all but trembling from head to toe like an excited little puppy, Belle took an eager step closer towards the much-taller man, drinking in each and every single one of the details of his costume with bright and observant eyes. She just couldn't believe how accurately he depicted the phantom she had grown to love and care for - he was perfect. “'Why do you condemn a man who you have never seen, whom no one knows about and whom you yourself know nothing?'” Her voice was soft and breathless still, and her words tumbled past her rosy lips faster than her mind could comprehend them - she was quoting the book right back at him, with all the ease that came from having read it dozens of times in the past, and she didn't doubt that the stranger would immediately be able to guess at which passage the text had come from. "It - it's a pleasure to meet you, monsieur fantôme. Christine Daae at your service." She gave him a delicate little curtsy, pulling lightly at the sides of her dress and ducking her head before looking up at him eagerly, a sweet and welcoming smile warmly encompassing her dainty features. "It's a shame I wasn't able to find you in the crowds earlier on in the evening! Though I suppose that, given your dedication to your character, you've been remaining hidden for the majority of the night?"

[adamsbeast-blog]

The Music of the Night || Adam & Belle

“Go on, Adam, enjoy yourself,” Mrs. Potts had assured him, her voice low and desperate. The curse wove through her flesh and bones day in and day out, and Adam knew that he owed it to her and the rest of Dubois Manor to find a way to lift Celine’s curse. They were bound to serve him in silence; chained to the estate that had once been their livelihood, Adam was forced to watch as the closest remnants of a family he had left withered away before his very eyes. And Mrs. Potts, with her watery smile and sorrowful eyes, had been insistent upon Adam attending the costume ball that was to be held in Maldonia under Prince Naveen Lazarov’s orders. And the part that struck a chord deep within Adam’s bitter, blackened heart was the realization that Mrs. Potts was not urgently sending him off to a distant land in hopes of breaking the curse that Maleficent held over them all, but…for his own good. For his own happiness and well-being.

It was that, above all else, that had the Dubois heir pacing the length of the Lazarov’s lush, ornately-decorated ballroom with a faint scowl on his face. It hadn’t taken much effort on his behalf to procure an outfit for this evening’s events; a crisp black tux with matching loafers and a finely-woven silver silk tie were all within his budget and reach. Lumiere, the excellent servant and companion he was, had rushed to have Adam’s clothing and exact measurements tailored for him while Mrs. Potts and Babette worked together to create a mask unlike anything Adam had ever seen before. Brilliant and white, the mask was carved to cover only a portion of his face, and was gilded with golden and silver designs that glittered if you held it directly up to the candlelight. In short, Adam Dubois looked every bit the Phantom from the classic tale and novel, The Phantom of the Opera. What was disappointing, of course, was the knowledge that no one had recognized his ensemble thus far into the evening. Situating himself in the corner of the room, Adam went about serving himself a goblet of some sort of strange punch titled “Witches Brew”, sniffing the concoction tentatively before taking a sip and glancing around the crowded room.

Was it time to go home yet?

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle, wide-eyed with excitement, had somehow managed to find herself separated from Gaston - one moment, she had been admiring what was clearly a costume of Juliet Capulet from Shakespeare's famed play, and the next, she had wandered off into the crowd, through the dance floor and over towards the long tables filled to the brim with food surrounding it. She hadn't meant to abandon him, of course, but her inherently curious nature had gotten the best of her, as well as her desire to explore a world that had previously been unknown to her. She still couldn't believe that she had attended two royal balls in less than a month...it wouldn't have been possible if not for Gaston, and though she really did want to dedicate the next few weeks to taking care of her father and ensuring that his health hadn't taken a turn for the worse in her absence, she was still wonderfully grateful to have been escorted to not just Corona but Maldonia as well. She had been given numerous nights that she would never forget, ones that had left her breathless and flushed and with a heart racing faster than ever, and tonight certainly didn't seem to be an exception to that. Promising herself that she would seek Gaston out as soon as possible - it wouldn't as if he'd be difficult to find, after all - Belle daintily held onto the hem of her lacy white skirt as she drifted towards the refreshments' table in hopes of learning more about Maldonia's traditional cuisines. With a soft, awed little coo, she examined the cornucopia of food laid out before her, the spread of delicacies unlike anything she had ever seen back home in her tiny village, and she was fully prepared to perhaps choose a pastry to nibble on or sample one of the numerous punches, but it was when she went to reach for the ladle that Belle realized that she wasn't the first one to do so. "Oh, I - my apologies, monsieur!" she instantly breathed, pulling her hand back hastily as she looked up at the stranger she had nearly accosted, and just like that, her eyes were widening even more than before, because...oh! 

She recognized him!

Dressed in all-black and donning a sleek mask of white and silver and gold, there was no questioning the costume of the man standing before her - at the very least, Belle hoped that she wasn't mistaken in her assumption that he was portraying the dark and mysterious phantom from the very same book that had inspired her own outfit. He...he suited the role exceptionally well, she realized, as tall and muscular as he was, and from behind his mask, the man's vivid blue eyes glinted just as she had always imagined her beloved Erik's would. Truth be told, Belle couldn't help but be rather flustered, embarrassingly so, and she clutched a trembling hand to her now-flushed chest, her eyes very wide as she gazed up at the man who undoubtedly thought her mad due to the fact that all she had done was gape at him for the last thirty or so seconds. "You're - you're my phantom!" she exclaimed breathlessly, though she quickly backtracked when she realized how utterly ridiculous she sounded, the apples of her cheeks flushing with the very same heat that had risen up along her decollete and the elegant curve of her neck. "I mean - pardon me, monsieur, but...you are dressed as Erik from Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, aren't you? With the mask and everything, I could only assume..." She trailed off, and unconsciously reached up to pat at the crimson-red blossom she had tucked away within her glossy chestnut curls, a classic reference to Christine Daae that she hoped the stranger would pick up on. "Forgive me, it's just - even if you aren't intending to appear as the Phantom, you're...you're doing a wonderful job nevertheless, monsieur, and I highly suggest that you pick up the book as soon as you possibly can."

[gastonnbouchard]

“…Maybe a little. I still think you look far better as that opera singer. That’s what she was, right? From that book with the ghost who wasn’t actually a ghost?”

“Fine, I’ll keep it on. I don’t really understand the need for a mask though. If Zorro’s the hero, wouldn’t it make sense for him to show his face?”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"Yes, exactly! Christine Daae from The Phantom of the Opera. I could read it to you sometime, if you'd like. It's really quite interesting - a supposedly haunted opera hall whose ghost isn't what it appears to be! You'd enjoy it a little bit, I think - but perhaps we'll continue with The Legend of Zorro first and work our way up from there."

"Zorro concealed his identity in order to keep it a secret - if everyone knew who he was, he wouldn't have been able to do half the things that he did! He didn't want anyone to reveal him for the vigilante that he was...not when he had so much riding on his reputation. But - why don't you pull up the mask for just a moment, hmm? That way I can give you a proper kiss on the lips."

[gastonnbouchard]

“This cape keeps getting in the way, and this mask itches something fierce. Was it really necessary to go all out like this for the ball? Wouldn’t my regular hunting garb look like a costume enough?”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"Does it help that I think you look rather handsome dressed as Zorro?"

"Really, I think it suits you quite well - especially the mask and the cape. You're very dashing indeed."

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle & Gaston | Something There

[gastonnbouchard]

Gaston was worried, if he was honest with himself. He had put in a painstaking amount of effort, time and resources into making Belle’s night one of the best of her life but it was still no guarantee that she would like or appreciate any of it. As far as he could recall, she would steadfastly reject whatever extravagant gift that he had purchased while they were back in Aldora. She would steer clear of him if she saw any woman in his vicinity, and she hated being coddled. While Gaston knew his efforts were sometimes over the top, he had high hopes for this one. It was straight out of a fairytale after all- a romantic night for two in the heart of the lantern festival, surrounded by symbols of good faith and fortune. Why, he had even heard it mentioned in passing that the very scenario had been a part of princess Rapunzel’s return to the kingdom. If there was anything that Belle would love beyond seeing the places she read about, it would be to live those stories out. At least, that had been part of his thinking during the planning stage. Now with her at his side and everything to lose, he was having second thoughts on the matter. Maybe it had been too much? Would she even accept to ride in a boat with him?

Gods above, he loved her so much it hurt. But at the same time he wouldn’t have had it any other way, not when she gave him feelings too deep for him to describe, or urges to become someone better than who he was. If she accepted him, he knew to the very core of himself that it would change him irrevocably, and he would never look at another again. But it would be worth it all, to have her smiling beside him for the rest of his days.

Before he could register it, Belle flew into his arms with all the strength she could muster. Instinctively, Gaston caught her at the waist, pressing her against his firm chest. He had to refrain from pinching himself to prove that he wasn’t back at the inn dreaming. Yet her warm breath against his cheek, the faint scent of books and roses, and her racing heartbeat were unmistakable. The hunter swallowed the lump in his throat as she showered him with thanks, trying not to let the bubbling happiness in his chest boil over. Instead, he embraced her back, relishing whatever affection that she had deigned to give him. “I wanted to do this for you, Belle. You don’t deserve anything less. Don’t even consider this as something you have to pay back.” No, the woman who dedicated her life towards supporting her last living relative deserved the moon on a string, though she would have never accepted it. It wouldn’t have stopped Gaston from fetching it for her anyway, if only to see that look of wonder and utter happiness once more.

Gaston loosened his grip with great reluctance as she came to her senses. He missed her warmth immediately, but he tried to be as understanding as he could. This was by far the closest they had even been with one another in years and he knew a part of her was still wary of him. So he wouldn’t comment on her flushed cheeks or her lingering touch, and he wouldn’t be forceful in his intentions towards her. For Belle, he could wait for her to come to him, and if her actions were any indication, the gap between them was closing fast. Gaston could be patient until then.

When she asked about helping with the boat, his first instinct was to decline. However, he thought better of it. “I would appreciate the extra hand.” He replied, placing his basket of goods and their lanterns into the boat carefully before walking around to push it into the water. Really, he was more than strong enough to lift it on his own, but there was an extent to which that Belle would allow him to spoil her. At least this way, she would feel less indebted. Without moving too quickly, the hunter helped her get the boat onto the water, keeping a firm hand on its side to keep it from moving about too much. “Go ahead and hop on. I’ll kick us off from shore.” Gaston said, offering a hand to help her balance, though not entirely expecting her to take it.

As soon as they were settled in the modest boat, Gaston started to steer them closer to the middle of the lake. By the time they had found an unobstructed place on the water, the sky had turned from a melange of pinks, yellows and oranges into a beautiful, clear twilight. The remnants of the day’s warmth still lingered, though the gentle breeze would grow chilly soon enough. “It’s…really something, isn’t it? Corona?” Gaston asked, locking eyes with Belle intently. “They haven’t even started launching the lanterns in the air, but it’s enough to take your breath away.” The ambiance calmed him, and the quiet was comforting after days of constant noise and chatter. With only the two of them out there on the water, the setting was intimate and comfortable. “We’re still a bit early, but I brought along a few things that I thought you might like. I picked them up on my way here, but it isn’t anything too special.” Gaston reached down for the basket, flipping over the lid to reveal all that he had bought along the way. Nestled on the very top were the flowers he had helped pick that morning. “There’s, uh, gladiolus, yarrow, protea, asiatic lily- that’s the orange one I think…” He listed off, frowning as he tried to recall their names. “…And roses, well, obviously. I was thinking sunflowers or red carnations too, but that might have been a bit excessive.” Considering the beautiful yellow sundress that Belle had donned, Gaston almost regretted not buying the others. On the other hand, he wanted to keep it at least a little simple, for remembrance’s sake. “Apparently flowers hold different meanings when you give them to someone. I’m not much of an expert on that, but I gave it a shot anyway. I hope it makes some sense.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle was almost trembling by the time she drew herself away from the warmth of Gaston's embrace - with excitement, with surprise, and with something else that she wasn't quite able to identify just yet...something that had her heart racing and her cheeks alight with rosy heat and seemed to be heightened tenfold by Gaston himself. She still couldn't believe that he had gone to such lengths to ensure that the three days they had spent together at the Festival of Joy had been nothing short of absolutely perfect - merely escorting her there had been more than enough as it was, but the fact that he had done everything in his power to spoil her was something else entirely. This was nothing like the oft-overwhelming flirtations he had bombarded her with in the past - no, this time around, it seemed as if he truly cared about her and her feelings, and that instead of a prize to be won, he...he saw her as a woman to be cherished. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, that Belle de Fleur felt herself falling head-over-heels for the one man she had always sworn would be nothing more than a dear friend, and with each moment that passed, with each moment that she spent with Gaston, she felt her heart beat faster and faster still. She tried to compose herself as she asked him if he needed any help with the boat he had procured for the both of them, more of an attempt to distract herself than anything else, and she nodded eagerly when he agreed and provided her with instructions to assist him. Together, they pushed the boat away from the shore, and at the last moment, Belle was able to gracefully hop inside of it, looking over her shoulder at Gaston with a warm smile to urge him to follow suit - now, the inviting smiles and the beaming grins just came so naturally, and each and every one of them was entirely due to him.

They settled comfortably into the small boat, seated across from one another as Gaston brought them further out into the water, and in the light of the setting sun, Belle couldn't deny that her companion was...more handsome than ever. The dim light enveloping his sculpted features enhanced and defined them, and as he rowed the boat away from the shore, the strong muscles in his corded arms flexed and pulled taut - a sight that would have been more than enough to have his admirers back home in the village swooning. He was a beautiful man, that much was for certain, and not for the first time, Belle wondered why it was he had grown to be so fixated upon her. Casting her gaze upwards to the darkening sky, she let out a soft sound of awe, clutching one dainty hand to her bare chest as the utter serenity of the sun falling into the water beneath it and allowing the stars to flutter upwards took her completely by storm...it was most certainly a sight to behold, and Belle was so unbelievably grateful that Gaston had taken it upon himself to show it to her. It was the sound of his voice that broke her out of her awe-inspired reverie, and she gave the twilight sky one last look of pure longing before meeting Gaston's gaze once more, startled to find him staring intently into her widened eyes. There was something smoldering in the way that he looked at her, a burgeoning fire on the verge of being stoked, and it took Belle's breath away more than anything before this ever had. "It - it's just like you said, Gaston, a thousand times better than any of my books could have described." It was something that Belle never would have said before now, but the proof was in the beauty all around them - for once, it was the real world she was engrossed in instead of the worn pages of a well-loved novel, and Gaston was a part of it as well. Gaston was the reason for it.

Belle didn't mind that they were early in the slightest - in fact, she could have gladly continued to admire her surroundings right up until the first lantern was set alight in the darkening twilight, and it was only Gaston's announcement that he had stowed away a few things for her that took Belle by surprise once more. "Oh, you - Gaston, you didn't have to..."  She trailed off, the apples of her cheeks already beginning to flood with warmth as her attention was directed towards the basket he had brought along with him - it simply wasn't fair, he had done so much for her as it was, and yet...here he was, giving her more and more reasons to allow him to sweep her right off of her feet. Belle wasn't the sort of girl who needed to be spoiled and doted upon, or one who even liked it to begin with, but...this was different. Gaston wasn't boasting or bragging about the number of animals he had shot in the woods that week, or closing her book of choice right when she was in the middle of it - he was being sweet and thoughtful and wonderfully kind, and so when he opened up the flap of the basket to reveal its contents, she really shouldn't have been as surprised as she was. Of course he had done this for her, too. Inside of the basket were a number of things - Corona's famed honeyed wine as well as fresh fruit to snack on - but it was the bouquet of flowers presented on top with a bit of ribbon holding them together that captivated her the most. An avid gardener herself, and a lover of all things floral to boot, Belle recognized each flower on sight, as well as the meanings behind them, and by the time she had finished identifying each and every one of the ones that Gaston had so painstakingly arranged for her, she felt as if she could no longer draw a single breath, because he had stolen every last one of them from her.

Gingerly, and with hands that shook and trembled due to how utterly overwhelmed she was, Belle carefully accepted the bouquet of flowers with her small hands, bringing them towards her and lowering her head to sniff gently at their petals - the roses, of course, didn't go unnoticed, and the heat that had risen in her cheeks quickly spread down to her decollete in response to them. She knew Gaston well enough to understand that the art of flower arranging wasn't the sort of skill that came naturally to him, and probably not one that he enjoyed either, and so the efforts he must have gone to to ensure that each bloom had a meaning behind it affected Belle deeply. Expecting absolutely nothing in return, he had done every possible thing to ensure that this weekend was perfected for her, spending time and money and exhausting all of the resources that he could, and...for the first time in her entire life, Belle envisioned a future with Gaston - a future by his side, a future as his wife. "These are - they're lovely, Gaston. Truly." Her voice was soft and a little shaky, and she looked up from the bouquet of flowers to gaze deeply into his vibrant blue eyes, hoping that the extent of her gratitude and appreciation was evident in her own pair of warm chestnut ones. She set the flowers down gently in her lap, and then tentatively reached across the scant distance between them to rest one of her dainty hands on top of his arm, the pad of her thumb stroking softly along one of the rippling muscles as he continued to row the boat across the lake. "And everything that you've used them to convey to me tonight, I...I'd like you to know that it's reciprocated. Tenfold, in fact." 

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"I'm Christine Daae! Haven't you ever read Phantom of the Opera?"

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle & Gaston | Something There

[gastonnbouchard]

Inviting Belle to the Festival of Light had been one of Gaston’s greatest ideas, though not one of the easiest. Since he had seen her excitement with the arrival of the Corona merchant to their small village in Aldora, he had been planning out their trip to the neighbouring kingdom to see the lanterns in their full glory. Of course, his intended date had made it difficult to say the least, rebuffing him with excuses around her financial stability, and her feeble father. Yet the hunter was not to be deterred this time, shooting down each and every argument that left her lips. He had reassured her that her father would be fine, and that he would be well looked after by their kind neighbours. Eventually, Gaston had to approach her father directly, if not to formally announce his intentions for the trip. While the older man had hesitated, he agreed after seeing the lengths at which the Bouchard boy was willing to go for his only daughter. For her old man’s support, Gaston was eternally grateful, and the pair took off for the grand kingdom of Corona.

The days had gone by far faster than he would have liked with Belle by his side. Even for Gaston, who had been to many places beyond Aldora, the festival was a true sight to behold. Yet all of that paled in comparison with the sheer wonder and awe with which Belle took it all in. He had kept up with her, barely, as she darted from stall to stall, chattering enthusiastically about all the things she had read. They had done a little bit of everything, from face-painting to dancing, and Gaston could hardly find himself happier. This was the Belle that he had remembered growing up; the inquisitive, excitable woman who would dive headfirst into the things that she was passionate about. That was the woman whom he had fallen so hard for all those years ago, and the only one who persisted in his thoughts even then.

It had been a dream by her side, for those few days. But it was the night of the lanterns that he was looking forward to the most.

Gaston had let no detail escape him. In the rare moments when he was not by Belle’s side, he had been working to give her a surprise far better than a trip to Corona. He picked out a few of the local delicacies, as well as a bottle of their finest honeyed wine. With the aid of some encouraging merchants, he bought beautiful autumn flowers- not ones that would flaunt his wealth, but held messages in their meaning. Lastly, on the morning of the grand festival finale, he managed to secure a boat for the both of them from a fishermen for a small fortune. With the last of his preparations complete, he donned what he hoped was a modest outfit; a crimson tunic with tailored pants and his usual hunting boots. So, with the carefully-packed basket of gifts nestled in the crook of his arm, he called upon the object of his heart’s desire.

When he had seen her leave the inn, the very sight nearly took his breath away. Belle truly lived up to her name, though in far more ways than just her appearance. Gaston hardly saw anyone else, even as they strolled through the crowded streets down to the lake where the event was to take place. An inkling, more instinctual than anything else, was aware of the fact that they were being watched. However, Gaston could not bring himself to care about what he looked like or who it was that stared, not when the petite brunette was nestled so comfortably by his side. Belle’s trust in him brought out so much more than he had expected, but above all he wanted to keep it, that vulnerable part of her, and protect it as fiercely as he could.

As they made their way to the shore, Belle exhilarated by the beauty of the scene before them, Gaston felt the first twinge of nervousness. Tonight had to go well. He had known that Belle was the only woman for him, and the past few days had all but confirmed that for him. If all went well, those dreams, those fantasies of a life with her might not be so far off. Licking his lips, he craned his head down so that she could better hear him. “Look Belle, I um…” He frowned slightly, unnerved that he of all people was stuttering. “I have something that I’d like to show you.” Gaston took her small hand with his large one, savoring its warmth before leading her away from the crowds. He ducked under the branch of a low-hanging willow, parting away the branches so that he could show Belle the boat he had bought earlier in the day. “I know how much you were looking forward to this night. I just figured that you’d enjoy it more with the best seats in Corona.” The hunter smiled at her, hopeful that she would respond well to his gift. “I heard the locals say how spectacular the lanterns are on the water. Since this is your first trip away from home, I thought I’d make it a bit…special.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

If someone had told Belle de Fleur a week ago that, in less than a few day's time, she would be escorted by none other than Gaston Bouchard to attend Corona's famed Festival of Light, she would have simply given them the most incredulous glance that she could muster before promptly burying her head in the nearest book. After all, it wasn't as if she could simply abandon all of her responsibilities and travel across Verden whenever she pleased, not when her father relied on her as heavily as he did - no, this was most certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the young woman, and despite the fact that she was still so startled that she had made it to Corona in the first place, she was bound and determined to make the most out of it. The most shocking aspect of it all, however, might have been that Gaston had been the one to ensure that her dreams came true to begin with. If not for him, she would still be back home in Aldora, in the quaint little village that they had grown up in, but the hunter had been firm in convincing her that there was absolutely nothing wrong with allowing herself a vacation that would last a few days at the absolute must, and eventually, Belle had agreed. And the more time she spent with Gaston, the more of the side of him she had thought she had lost when he grew into adulthood she saw - he was still a prideful man, of course, with an ego as large as his head, but he was also kind, thoughtful, and so remarkably sweet that it had swept Belle right off of her feet to recognize it. She realized now that she spent so much time pushing him away and shutting him out, and in the process, she had forgotten just how good of a man he really was.

Perhaps...perhaps he wasn't so different from the boy she had befriended as a little girl, then. 

With that being said, however - Gaston was oddly quiet as they neared the crowded shore that led to Corona's lake, and by the time that finally was leaning down to speak to her, Belle was already looking up at him with a delicately furrowed brow and concern clearly evident in her warm brown eyes. She wasn't the only one looking at him, either - in his deep-red shirt and hunting boots, Gaston was undeniably striking, and for the first time...for the first time, Belle almost found herself hoping that the plethora of women eyeing him appreciatively assumed that the two of them were romantically involved. She told herself, of course, that it was only because she didn't want their fawning to distract from the ceremony about to begin in front of them, but she couldn't help but wonder if...if it was something else entirely. Thankfully, Gaston distracted her from her internal musings, because when he spoke, his voice was uncharacteristically shaky, and perhaps even a little uncertain - something that she wouldn't have ever expected from someone as confident as the famed archer. The crease between her brows only deepened as she watched a small frown encompass his chiseled features, but before she could question him on his very strange behavior, he was telling her that he had something to show her before...reaching down and gently taking her small hand in his much larger one. In the past, Belle would have gingerly disentangled her fingers from his before giving him an arched brow and a glance full of warning, but now, with the stars shimmering brightly in the nighttime sky up above them, and entire days spent with Gaston where she had found herself growing more and more fond of him with each day that passed still replaying themselves so vividly in her mind...she merely allowed her slim fingers to curl intimately around his own, soft skin pressing into hard-earned callouses, and with that, Belle - headstrong Belle, independent Belle, strange Belle - let Gaston take the lead.

He brought them both away from the growing crowd surrounding the shore, guiding her instead to a clearing a way's away from the numerous people that had flocked to the lake as soon as they could. She ducked her head beneath the branches he held out of the way for her, and once they had been moved aside, she realized just what it was that he had been wanting to show her: a boat made just for two, sitting at the shore of the lake and waiting to be pushed into the glimmering water leading off of it. Immediately, Belle felt her eyes widen, and she drew in a startled little gasp...she couldn't believe that he had done this for her. "Oh - oh, Gaston..." she breathed his name with no small amount of awe and reverence, letting go of his hand only so that she could tentatively approach the boat that would take them across the lake for the best view of the lanterns about to be set free, and already she could imagine the sheer wonder of them floating up into the night sky, a view unlike any other that they could have gotten standing at the edge of the water. Belle wasn't so naive as to think that this was something Gaston had done with ease - no, he would have had to pay a small fortune for the privilege of renting a boat to use on the busiest night of the year, and he...he had done it all for her. She listened, her heart pounding in her ears and threatening to beat its way out of her chest, when he explained - and almost nervously, at that - that he had wanted to make this night special for her...that he had wanted to make it perfect. Gaston might have been a simple man of simple truths and simple thoughts, but with this, he had given her a gift unlike anything else she had ever received. 

Suddenly overwhelmed, Belle gingerly set her lantern down on the cool green grass before turning to face Gaston, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed with rosy heat that spread all the way down to her decolletage and the tops of her breasts. Her hands were trembling, and in that moment, she acted recklessly - because she could, and because she wanted to. "I - Gaston!" His name was a delighted and breathless little gasp as it spilled past her lips and into the cool nighttime air, and just like that, she was flinging herself at him, tossing her arms around his neck and lifting herself up and off of the tips of her toes so that she could embrace him as tightly as she could possibly manage given their vast difference in size. "This is - it's more special than anything I've ever even dreamed of, Gaston, it's - it's everything that I wanted from tonight and so much more. It's...it's wonderful. I - you're wonderful. Thank you so much, I - I'm not sure if I can even - " She trailed off with a shaky breath, looking up at him and knowing that her rapidly-beating heart was easily felt through the thin cotton of her dress, reverberating out of her chest and into his. They were closer now than they had ever been, and - with hands that trembled and a voice that quivered - she gingerly drew away from him, though there was no helping or hiding the way her fingertips lingered on his broad shoulders, as if to caress them, as if to feel them. 

Suddenly flustered beyond belief, she tucked an errant chestnut curl behind her ear, and let out another deep breath before turning to look up at him again, hoping that the deepening twilight would hide the flush of her cheeks, if not the hummingbird-fast pace of her heart.

"This - this is perfect, Gaston. Shall I help you push it into the water?"

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle & Gaston | Something There

Despite how fascinated she had been with Corona and its Festival of Light, Belle had been almost certain that she wasn't going to be able to attend - after all, it wasn't as if her father was in any fit state to make the journey to the far-off kingdom, and she had never left him alone long enough to feel as if it were something she was comfortable with. She was envious, of course, of all the people in her village who did plan on attending, but she told herself that it was no matter - that she could just as easily celebrate the return of the lost princess with a book detailing her escape from her tower and be done with it. But then, a merchant from Corona had come to visit her town, with the kingdom's trademark lanterns in tow, and...Belle hadn't been able to resist, especially not after hearing Gaston's tales of travelling across Verden and exploring the world and all that it had to offer. It had taken a great deal of convincing on his part, but eventually, Gaston had persuaded Belle to accompany him to Corona...something that hadn't been easy in the slightest. She had fought him, of course, as she was prone to doing, making as many excuses as she possibly could to explain why it was that there was no way she was leaving their little village, but after been reassured numerous times that her father would be alright, that they would be able to find someone to look out for him, and after her father himself had insisted that his shut-in of a daughter live just the tiniest bit...Belle had reluctantly agreed to leave Aldora for the very first time. That didn't change the fact that she was nervous, of course, but there was also no hiding the fact that she was excited as well...Corona was a kingdom that she had read so much about, that she had traveled through via as many informative books as she had been able to get her hands on, and now, she would be attending the event of a lifetime - the celebration of their princess' homecoming.

The first day of the fair had gone by in an absolute blur - after having left their belongings at the little in they would be staying at for the duration of the festival, Belle and Gaston had made their way to the busy town square, and it soon became clear that this was an event unlike anything that their tiny hometown would have been able to accomplish. Everywhere they looked, there was something new to see - especially for Belle who knew nothing of Aldora and the small cottage she had grown up in. It had been a little overwhelming at first, but...strangely enough, having Gaston by her side eased her worries and put her fretful heart at rest far more than she had expected him to. In a kingdom full of strangers, he was her only constant - a familiar presence that was startlingly easy for her to rely on. He wasn't exactly bad company, either - no, when he wasn't boasting or doing his absolute best to impress her, Gaston was...not just tolerable, but enjoyable to be around. In fact, he had been nothing but kind to her ever since the day that he had shown her the merchant and his lanterns, and it was all thanks to the strapping hunter that she was here to begin with. More and more, she was beginning to see the Gaston that she had grown up with - the Gaston she had known ever since she was a little girl, the Gaston that had struggled so valiantly to take care of her in the wake of her mother's death, even when she protested and insisted that she was fine. More and more, she found herself...looking forward to the time that they would be spending together.

And that was why, after they finished with dinner and he had reassured her for the nth time that her father was more than fine back home in Aldora, Belle hadn't felt the slightest bit hesitant upon accepting Gaston's request to accompany her to the grand finale of the festival: the floating lights themselves. After all, she wouldn't have even been here if not for him, and it would have been a crying shame for the lantern that she had so carefully carried along with her to go to waste...she wanted to fully celebrate Princess Rapunzel's safe return home, and after everything she had heard and read about the lantern ceremony, she couldn't wait to see it for herself. When they returned to their inn briefly to pick up their lanterns, Belle changed into a dress she had never worn before - it was one of her mother's, a dainty little sundress spun from clean white cotton that fluttered across the tops of her thighs and left the delicate curves of her shoulders bare and exposed. Corona was warmed than Aldora, thankfully, and so even though it would be chilly now that night had fallen, Belle was certain that it wouldn't be too bad, and the prospect of being able to pay homage to her mother at one of the most beautiful celebrations in all of Verden was something that she wasn't able to pass up.

Lantern in hand and the top half of her rich chestnut hair tied back with a glimmering blue ribbon, Belle met Gaston outside of the inn, and when he offered her his arm in the dim light of the setting sun...she didn't regret taking it. She tucked her small hand within the curve of his strong and muscular arm, and - for once, she didn't feel as if she were one of his many admirers, hanging off of him as if they couldn't stand on their own...no, she merely felt as if there was almost something right about the way she fit so intimately against his side, how easy it had become for her to relax against him as he led them through the still-busy streets of Corona. She wasn't relying on him to take care of her, to watch out for her, because she was still more than capable of doing all of that for herself, she was just...enjoying the warmth of his body pressed up against her own. More than one woman looked their way as they navigated through the crowded town square, the majority of them envious of Belle and in awe of Gaston, and Belle was startled to realize that he paid them little to no mind - they would have gladly fawned all over and adored him, but instead...he focused solely on her. 

"We're almost there, I think!" Belle breathed as they neared the edge of the lake where the lanterns would be released; indeed, the large body of water was already surrounded with people, and the young brunette immediately begin to fear that they wouldn't be able to find a good enough spot. She wasn't very tall, after all, and there was no way she was going to sit up on Gaston's shoulders, however strong and capable they might have been. "Oh, look, it's...it's already so beautiful with the sun shining down on the water..."  With wide and curious eyes, she drank in her surroundings as they were forced to slow down as a result of the crowd they were caught up in - the castle balcony overlooking the lake was filled to the brim with people as well, and out in the water were several boats and their passengers...something that Belle inwardly chastised herself due to the fact that she hadn't thought of it herself. Still, she was undaunted by their poor view of the upcoming ceremony, and she fluttered her gaze upwards to lock eyes with Gaston, offering him the bright and beaming smile that had been present on her face all day long. "It's just as wonderful as I had hoped it would be," she informed him softly, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. Looking up at him like this, she was taken aback by just how...handsome he really was. It wasn't a secret, of course, and it was something she had known even when they were children, but...for the first time ever, it was as if she found him attractive, and not just because the rest of their village was telling her to do so. "I just hope that I'm able to see from back here - you don't think it'll be too much of a problem, do you?"

[aladdinkarim-blog]

“Okay, so basically I have to pay for it, that’s what I’m getting here. That’s… that’s going to be a little problematic. Not that I don’t think people should pay for things, of course. I’m just not used to doing it myself.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"Well, I might be willing to accept a trade depending on what it is that you have. Books, for instance, are every bit as good as currency as far as I'm concerned. Even more so if they're ones that I haven't read before."

[jaxxlaurent-blog]

     “I do not believe it so,” Phillip knelt to gently handler her ankle, keeping it still after watching the girl try and brush the incident off. He knew all too well from his men, what ignoring a simple injury could develop into, and he was all for avoiding that at any cost. “Perhaps it’s only a sprain, either way I insist you let me accompany you back to a proper physician.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle tried very hard not to wince or flinch when the stranger before her began to examine her ankle - truth be told, it was more of a mess than she was willing to admit to, and the man seemed to be even more aware of it than she was. She wondered if he had a medical background, then, or perhaps something else entirely - he looked very strong, with sculpted muscles and a broad frame, as if he could have sprained the ankles of more than a dozen men with practiced ease. "I - I really don't think that's necessary," she insisted hastily when he suggested accompanying her to a physician; it wasn't his presence that she was opposed to, but rather the costs that would come with such a decision - costs that her and her ailing father couldn't afford. Instead, she drew in a little breath, and attempted to steady herself, fighting back a small sound of pain as she managed to somewhat stand upright. "Perhaps you could just - show me the way back to the village instead? I've lived here all my life, and yet these woods are still an absolute maze to me," she said with a breathy laugh, shifting unsteadily and biting down on her lower lip in an attempt to keep from crying out. "And then I can give you something to show my thanks for helping me in the first place - something that I'm very appreciative for."

[janeopheliaporter-blog]

“You’d be surprised how many people are finally starting to see the good in staying inside with just a book and silence. It’s one of the fastest ways I can relax and it lets me escape to a new world, something that’s always been a desire of mine. Add in the cocoa, and it’s the perfect day!”

“I’m Jane. What a pleasure it is to meet you, Belle. You seem to understand the type of person I am more than most others. My father and I are just here for a few days. He needed to retrieve a few things from an old friend’s manor and I decided to pop out and explore the kingdom. Are you from around here?”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"Would I be surprised because the number is so shockingly low? In my town, it isn't at all common to enjoy staying inside and enjoying a good book by the fire...though I'm not exactly sure why that is. You're precisely right, miss - reading is the perfect way to immerse yourself in a world unlike any other one you've ever explored before, and it's just - it's magical is what it is. And I have to agree with you on that as well - adding a mug of hot cocoa to any sort of experience is enough to heighten it tenfold."

"The pleasure is all mine, Jane! I'm so glad that I was able to meet you during your travels. If you're only here for a few days, then you absolutely must stop by and visit the marketplace before you leave - I can even take you if you'd like! The bookseller there has the most incredible collection, and he refreshes it every week! He's also not at all opposed to accepting trades in lieu of gold - something that I personally appreciate a great deal. With that being said, yes, I've lived here my entire life! Where are you from, Jane?"

[gastonnbouchard]

When Gaston saw Belle’s face light up with unabashed curiosity and longing while he spoke of the other kingdoms, he knew that he had come across something good. “Dunbroch was similar to Aldora, although their wildlife is nothing to joke about. I spent a few months there to learn archery. In Naeron, there were these large processions of knights who would go through the town. A bit showy if you ask me, but they were undoubtedly well-trained. Kestea, on the other hand, was another beast entirely.” He shortened his stride to match hers, trying to recall the things that had left the best impression on him. The hunter almost wished that he had read more, only due to the lack of ways to describe all that he had seen and heard. “There are tropical jungles which are completely unlike the forests in these parts, where something as seemingly harmless as a brightly-coloured flower could be fatal. At the same time, they have these wide, open savannahs where the largest creatures you could imagine roam about.”

Belle’s tone made it clear that he was straying into unwanted territory, so he gladly took the bait and switched topics. “Le Fou?” He asked, puzzled when his best friend was brought up. Gaston thought about it for a moment if only to entertain Belle, eventually shrugging. “I don’t know whether or not he would like one of these things, but if they really are lucky, they might do him some good.” It was true that he could have fought her on it, but she was far too proud to be anything but insulted if he insisted further. Staying in Belle’s good graces was like trying to hold onto a fish that kept slipping between his fingers with even the slightest wrongdoing. While it was tiring at times, it made for a dreadfully engaging challenge. Besides, Le Fou really could use some sort of lucky charm, with his string of misfortunes.

A laugh escaped him at Belle’s sudden excitement, following along as she all but dragged him to the merchant’s lineup. It was one of those moments when it paid to be who he was, as the townsfolk parted easily for them. As they settled in line, he shot them a warning look as they started to shuffle in their places. The last thing he wanted was for them to shorten his time with the village beauty. “It certainly wouldn’t have been my first method to try and seek out a princess, but it did work, I’ll admit. Who would have guessed it, really?” It was rare to see Belle so enthusiastic, and Gaston thought that it suited her very well. His expression softened in the wake of it, his fondness for the young woman clear. “The princess’ story really is extraoridinary. Her family must have been desperate to find her, after waiting all those years. I can’t think of anything worse than being snatched away from your friends and family, never to see them again.” Gaston couldn’t think of how something like that would affect him. If it had been Belle, he might very well have been driven mad. “Thankfully, she was all right. Though I hope nothing like that would happen here.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle would never truly understand what it was that Gaston saw in her - he could have easily, and without any trouble whatsoever, claimed any and all of the women in the village for himself, and yet instead he chose to pursue her instead. Belle might have been naive, but not so much as to fail to recognize the way the townspeople spoke of her at times - they thought her different and strange, an oddity of a girl with her head constantly buried in a book, and they couldn't quite wrap their minds around the fact that she had yet to accept Gaston's numerous attempts to entice her into a romantic relationship. It wasn't that she didn't like Gaston, because she did, it was just...they were so different, and she knew that she wasn't anything like the girl he undoubtedly wanted her to be. And...besides. She couldn't focus on things like courting and intimacy - not with the state of her father. Still, as Gaston gave in and bestowed her with a little more information about the kingdoms he had visited, Belle couldn't help but allow her eyes to flutter shut, a soft, awed little sound slipping past her lips as she envisioned the tropical jungles of Kestea, as well as the savannas it had to offer as well. "Oh, all three of them sound so wonderful," she expressed breathlessly as she opened her eyes once more, looking up at Gaston with no small amount of curiosity. "And to think, there's still so many more! I'd love to see more of Verden for myself...especially Atlantica and Agrabah. From what I've read, they might as well be entirely different worlds. Of course I wouldn't be able to properly visit the former, but...so long as I'm daydreaming, I can imagine it nevertheless." With a small laugh, she fell silent and allowed Gaston to lead her through the crowded marketplace - the throngs of people parted for him almost instantly, despite Belle's numerous attempts to insist that it wasn't necessary for them to do so, but at least the floating lanterns were finally within reach.

Pleased to leave the conversation surrounding her financial instability in the dust trailing behind them, Belle merely laughed and shook her head when Gaston spoke of Le Fou - it was well-known throughout the village that the two of them were as thick as thieves, and well Belle certainly didn't think that Gaston needed any of the constant ego-stroking from his shorter friend...it was sometimes sweet all the same, and easier to appreciate when Gaston was behaving the way that he was currently. He wasn't showing off or trying to impress her - they were merely conversing, and Belle found herself enjoying their back-and-forth rapport a great deal. He...he could be rather thoughtful and well-spoken when he wasn't trying so hard to boast or make a name for himself, and just like that, it was almost easy for Belle to allow her delicate weight to rest tentatively against his bulkier frame. It really was a beautiful autumn day, and for once, she didn't mind the fact that she wasn't spending it inside of her home and curled up with a food book. "Oh, as if you'd have any trouble wooing a princess, Gaston. She'd probably come looking for you," she teased absent-mindedly as she stood on the tips of her toes to catch another glimpse of the merchant from Corona - thankfully, the line was moving swifter by the minute, and Belle was so excited that she was all but bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. She spoke the truth, though - even as they stood in line, more than one woman had caught sight of them and either glared at Belle or gazed at Gaston in sheer and undiluted awe. She supposed that she couldn't blame them, not really - Gaston, in all of his handsome, strong, and muscular glory, was the exact sort of man that any sensible village woman could have ever wanted to marry, a natural hunter gatherer who would never have any issue providing for a wife and children.

 Distracted by her own thoughts, she looked up at her much-taller friend just in time to see the way that his face softened as he gazed down at her, chiseled features melting into something she couldn't quite decipher. "I'm just so glad that she was finally found. She must be so thrilled to be back with her family - don't you think, Gaston?" Just then, the line was moving forward once more, and it was finally their time. Belle's entire face lit up at the sight of the glowing lanterns for sale - they weren't yet aflame, but they seemed to glow from within, and she could only imagine just how beautiful dozens and dozens of them would look floating up into the star-strewn sky. "A lantern for you and your husband, miss? They're Corona's finest, you know," the merchant offered kindly, and Belle was so distracted by his wares that she couldn't be bothered to correct him - instead, she merely nodded eagerly, the smile on her face bright and beaming and undeniably excited. "I - I'll take two, please. Or - wait. How much is it that they cost, if you don't mind me asking?" The merchant told her, and a crease immediately formed between Belle's delicate brows as a result. They were pricey, of course, given that they were foreign goods, and so...perhaps she had her father would just have to share. She didn't think he would mind. "I think I'll just take one instead then, if that's alright. Thank you very much!" Having counted out the correct amount of gold - all the while calculating in her head to ensure that she'd still have enough for tomorrow's dinner - Belle handed it over to the travelling salesman, and in return, he gifted her with one of the lanterns she had been admiring with such awe and adoration. It was feather-light in her hand, graceful and elegant and adorned with Corona's insignia, and Belle couldn't help but let out a soft little coo because of it. Oh, she was so excited to return home and show her papa. "It's just as lovely as I read it would be!" She fluttered her gaze upwards to Gaston, and for all intents and purposes, she very well could have been his wife in that moment - flushed and glowing with all the simple pleasure that came from the floating lantern she was now able to call her own. "I just don't know where it is that I'm going to hang it - outside, perhaps, but I wouldn't want it to end up ruined due to a sudden rainstorm!"

[jaxxlaurent-blog]

     “I do not quite understand how, but you managed to break it…”

     “Incredible.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"It's - ah - I'm hoping it's not broken," Belle said with a small wince, cautiously rotating her ankle in an attempt to see if she could safely move it. The skin around the bone was flushed, swollen and mottled with bruises that were soon to come - the result of her having had her head buried in her newest book during her morning walk through the forest. One gnarled branch she hadn't seen coming, and here she was - with one  dainty hand resting on a tree for support as a perfect stranger examined her self-inflicted injury.

"Is it really as bad as it seems? Surely I'll be able to make it home without much fuss - a warm compress and a bit of rest should be all it needs, yes?"

[janeopheliaporter-blog]

“That sounds like absolute heaven. I could go for a nice hot chocolate and a great book to read in a tiny little nook.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"I'm so glad that someone agrees with me for once! There's nothing quite as lovely as making yourself a little nest and curling up with one of your favorite books, now is there? And the mug of hot cocoa on the side is just the cherry on top!"

"And - my name is Belle, by the way. Before I forget, which occasionally does happen when I begin a conversation talking about much-loved literature. I don't believe I've seen you around before, miss...?"

[gastonnbouchard]

Gaston sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. Every time she told him not to worry, he only worried more. “You know that’s not true, Belle. I wouldn’t ever lose sight of you, not ever.” His voice softened, opting to let her say what they both knew wasn’t true. She was always putting up fronts with him, even though everyone in town knew what was going on with the beautiful woman and her aging father living along near the outskirts. “If you say so, but know that I’m here to help where I can. I may be a busy man, but I always have time for you and your father.”

“I’ve been to a few of the other kingdoms. Kestea, DunBroch, and Naeron specifically. They’re very exotic places with a wide array of dangerous beasts and wildlife. On the other hand, they really were far more stunning than words could describe, so I’m not sure how a book could do the same thing.” Gaston shrugged, a suggestion on the tip of his tongue, but unspoken. He was in Belle’s good graces for the time being and he didn’t want to mess things up with a careless word. So, he offered her his arm and a warm grin. “After you then, Mademoiselle Belle. We don’t need to waste time waiting for the grass to grow.”

The pair took off towards the market, Gaston scowling a little at the thought of Belle spending money on him rather than the other way around. “Don’t think of it as assistance. It’s more of a…gift to celebrate the start of fall. Lanterns fit the season after all, don’t you agree?” It certainly seemed that way, as they turned onto the main shopping district and were greeted by the hustle and bustle of merchants and buyers. There were farmers bringing in an early fall harvest, and bakers with fresh loaves of bread. There were craftsman and booksellers and apothecaries of all kinds. Gaston couldn’t help but feel a little giddy when the odd villager glanced their way approvingly. “The lantern seller is a little further down, is there anything you wanted to see before we got there?”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

Belle purposely avoided responding to Gaston's words of concern - he knew very well that the state of her father and their income (or...lack of, unfortunately) wasn't something that she liked discussing, and what she disliked even more was just how worried it seemed to make the elder man. Gaston had known her for her entire life - they had grown up together, and he had been there for the loss of her mother as well as the decline of her father's health, and she knew that, because of it, he saw her as a woman in need of a man to take care of her. His concern was sweet, but entirely unneeded in her opinion, even if...even if her and her father were struggling more than she ever let on. "Tell me more about your travels, Gaston," Belle urged gently, pointedly, and then lit up so fast that it was almost comical when he began to do just that. For as long as she was capable of remembering, she longed to explore the world and all that it had to offer...it wasn't possible, of course, not with her father the way that he was, but it was something she dreamed of nevertheless, and she savored Gaston's brief explanation of the kingdoms he had been to as if they were the words on a page of a much-loved book.

She couldn't help but be filled with longing and the slightest hint of jealousy by the time he finished speaking. Even Gaston, a very practical man who thought of his own reflection as beauty above all, expressed that the kingdoms he had traveled to had been wonderful beyond belief, and she could tell just by the way he looked at her that he was fighting back the urge to say something else. Thankfully - surprisingly - he refrained, and instead...he offered her both his arm and an inviting grin. At first, Belle felt her brows arch high on her delicate brow - they both knew that she wasn't the sort of woman to rely on a man to escort her through the marketplace, and what was more, she did her best not to...well...lead him on in any way, shape, or form. However, he had been nothing but kind to her today - nothing but sweet - and for as much as Gaston could get on her nerves at times, there was still no doubting the fact that she enjoyed his company when he wasn't. So, after a moment's hesitation, she tucked one of her small hands around the strong and muscular curve of one of his very bulky arms, and fell into step alongside him. He dwarfed her with ease - he was at least a head taller than she was, and easily twice her size.

"Lanterns do fit the season, yes, but you're still not buying them for me, Gaston. Buy one for Le Fou instead," she insisted with an encouraging smile, giving his arm a soft squeeze as if to convince him not to attempt fighting her on this any longer. As they walked through the crowded marketplace, they received glances and stares from every which way - it was no secret that Gaston was adored throughout the village, and even idolized, and every single person who had come to hear of her constant attempts to rebuff his affections had did everything in their power to convince her otherwise. There was a reason Gaston practically had his own fanclub, after all - there wasn't a single girl in all of the kingdom who wasn't in love with him...aside from Belle. It was one of the reasons she refused to fall for him in the first place; she had heard all the rumors about him and the village women, and the last thing she wanted was to be just another notch on his belt. "Oh, no no no! I did all my shopping earlier on in the day. Unless there was something you needed? Or - we could always stop at the bookseller's stand. I've been trading him strawberries from the garden for his newest arrivals." Because money, of course, or what little of it she had, was not to be wasted - it was to be spent on her father's medicine, and now, a lantern or two to light up their home. "But - oh! Is that him? Is that the merchant?" Even from a distance, Belle could see the long line of people gathered in the middle of the townsquare, and at the head of it, a man in unfamiliar clothing - and a hat embossed with a golden sun - was offering strings of luminescent lanterns to passerbys. Instantly, Belle's eyes widened, and she let out a delighted gasp; oh, they were just as pretty as she had read they would be!

 "We should get in line, Gaston, quick!" she urged him breathlessly, far more excited than she could even begin to help, and she tugged gingerly on his arm to lead him closer to the merchant, momentarily grateful for the fact that he was broad enough to ease them through the crowd in moments. "Can you believe that this is what eventually lead the lost princess back home? The floating lanterns?" She looked up at Gaston as they settled in line, her cheeks flushed with pleasure and her warm brown eyes bright with anticipation. "It's something right out of a fairytale - to think, that poor girl spent her entire life locked away in a tower before finally finding a way out. It's - I can't imagine what it must have been like to be trapped like that. I can't imagine why someone would ever steal someone away like that to begin with." 

[gastonnbouchard]

“At least you’ve spent some time out in the sun. Sometimes I worry that all of this reading will turn you into a shut-in. Regardless of how much you enjoy it, you still need to live in reality, Belle. With real people and not just with words written on a page. I’m not asking you to give it up, just…show your face around the village every now and again, won’t you? Otherwise the only way we know you’re still alive is when I visit like this.”

“You sure know a lot about these kinds of things. Yeah, since they’re sort of a specialty product, you normally can’t get them around these parts. Not unless you go to Corona for the festival. It’s not an easy thing for most commoners to get to, so it’s great that there’s a seller passing through. Do my ears deceive me, or have I found something other than a book that Belle De Fleur is interested in? I almost thought that such a thing didn’t exist. I would be thrilled to escort you there- I’ll even buy the lanterns if you like. I know it’s tough sometimes with just you and your father.”

[bellledefleur-blog1]

"Oh, Gaston, you worry too much when it comes to me. I'm out and about all the time, running errands and fetching things that my papa and I need at home, but more often than not, you've surrounded yourself with so many swooning ladies that I slip right beneath your radar! And that's perfectly fine, you know - I take care of myself very well, and so there's no need for you to fret over my well-being in any way, shape, or form. It's very sweet of you to check up on me like this, but I promise you that it isn't necessary. And - I know how busy you are, Gaston. I hear about your latest exploits nearly every time I make it out to the marketplace!"

"Well - I've always been fascinated about the other kingdoms. Have you ever been, Gaston? I'd love to travel out to see them at some point, but...I don't think I could ever bear to leave my father alone for that long. I've heard so much about them, though - Arendelle, and its beautiful mountains and fjords, and Atlantica, an entire kingdom hidden beneath the ocean...there's just so much out there, and if the only way I'm able to explore them right now is through my books, then so be it. Yes, yes, we can go right now! Thank you so much for telling me about the lanterns, Gaston - I would have been devastated if I had somehow missed out on them! But - non, Gaston, there's no need for you go about purchasing them for me! My papa and I are doing just fine, the two of us, and so I don't want you to feel as if you have to offer us any sort of assistance, especially when it comes to money. In fact, I'll buy you a lantern if it convinces you that there really isn't anything for you to worry about."