[melancholybouchard]

After having company that accepted him as he was, Adam had a hard time retreating back entirely into his solitude. Though every venture he had made out since his arrival in Fableton was enough to remind him, he had decided to try again. It had been quite some time, after all, and he refused to be a coward. He could normally only manage one place if he left his home, and that place was normally only just outside, but sometimes there was also the library. 

Stepping into the library, he took a deep breath and tried to ignore the pang he felt. He slipped into the stacks, his eyes slowly reading over the signs that hang in convenient locations. “Something I don’t have at home,” he mused, pausing for a moment to consider what he wanted to read over the next few days. 

[melancholybouchard]

attietude·:

She noticed the pink tinge to him, and though it made her smile, she did not comment.  She didn’t know what to say to it anyway.  While she appreciated his next sentiment even more, it had her shrugging off his words or, more accurately, squirming a little at the force of the feeling it created within her.  “I have six sisters and our mother died when the youngest was quite young.  I think, to my father and our kingdom in their grief, I was exactly that.  It feels good to leave it behind, at least a little, when I’m here with you.” 

Adam frowned lightly when she simply shrugged the sentiment aside, not from any feeling of affront, but more out of concern for her. “Then I will give you an escape when you may require, if that is what you would like,” he offered, quiet and gruff. He began to scuff his foot against the floor out of embarrassment but quickly caught himself.

[melancholybouchard]

attietude·:

Attie nodded.  “I like the book a great deal – but I love the thought and the effort behind it.  No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”  She knew it was laying it all out there in a way that might be too much disclosure for someone who barely knew her.  She had a feeling he just might know her better than just the details they’d exchanged.  “I’m used to being one of the many – not the one someone notices or leaves thoughtful gifts for.” 

Adam frowned lightly at her words before giving his head a small shake, “Then others did not pay enough attention.” The words were quiet and a little gruff, ending in the tips of his ears turning pink before he cleared his throat. It had been a nearly instinctual gesture for him to do for her, simply from their few interactions. “It is very hard to imagine you simply being one of the many, Attina,” his lips quirked at the corner in something vaguely resembling a smile.

[melancholybouchard]

attietude·:

She was already smiling when she saw him.  Whatever this was was so quiet and so warm, it was hard to imagine it being risky.  And yet she knew, if she told her father she was going to the home of a man she barely knew, he would probably caution her against it.  Then again, maybe not, because she wasn’t Ariel.  For some reason, though, the bit of rebellion just made it that much sweeter. 

“You asked so nicely,” she explained as she entered.  “I’m glad you did.” 

Closing the door quietly behind her, he turned carefully to study her. Even though she had been in his home before, it still surprised him to see her there. It delighted him more, however. He gave her his own slightly shy smile and inclined his head to her.

“Did you like it, then?” He inclined his head toward the book he had left for her earlier in the afternoon.

[melancholybouchard]

That Would Be Enough || Adam & Attie

Trying desperately hard to ignore Belle’s all too knowing smile, Adam left a carefully wrapped gift in her care with a few gruff words. “Next time she’s here… Make sure she gets this,” punctuated with an afterthought of, “…please.” Scrawled in strangely elegant handwriting, the package simply read ‘Attina’, and the sight of it threatened to put a silly smile on his face, so he stalked away before it could take hold. As he had things to take care of in case she appeared soon, it was probably a good thing.

@attietude

[attietude]

It was probably boring of her to revel in her simple, quiet life.  She had been writing a lot and getting nowhere with it, and the change of scenery now she thought might do her a bit of good.  She saw Belle at the desk and went there to check out her selections, but ended up with more than she’d bargained for.  Books forgotten, especially once Belle notified her she’d only missed him by an hour, she admired his handwriting for a long beat before she opened the envelope.  Nerves bloomed in the pit of her stomach when she glanced back and saw Belle’s smile.  The one that said I thought so, and I want more information later.  Instead of providing, she did as he requested, going straight to his nearby house, book still in her hand and grin still on her face as she used the knocker on his front door rather than the doorbell.      

[melancholybouchard]

Adam had busied himself with food he had picked up, as he was far from useful in a kitchen but the woman at the diner had always made sure he had reheating instructions when he placed large orders. While things cooked, enough made for two just in case, he had tidied and cleaned, only occasionally getting distracted by looking out of the window. Shaking his head at himself, he had just gone to put on tea when he heard the knocker on his door. He couldn’t quite process the tight feeling in his throat and the quickening in his chest. So to distract himself, he smoothed his rather unruly, curly hair and made sure his shirt was properly tucked into his slacks just in case it really was her. Opening the door slowly, his lips lifted at a corner at the sight of her. “You came,” the words were quiet and hopeful as he looked at her, stepping back to allow her back into his home.

[melancholybouchard]

That Would Be Enough || Adam & Attie

Trying desperately hard to ignore Belle’s all too knowing smile, Adam left a carefully wrapped gift in her care with a few gruff words. “Next time she’s here... Make sure she gets this,” punctuated with an afterthought of, “...please.” Scrawled in strangely elegant handwriting, the package simply read ‘Attina’, and the sight of it threatened to put a silly smile on his face, so he stalked away before it could take hold. As he had things to take care of in case she appeared soon, it was probably a good thing.

@attietude

[tragiquemaisbelle]

melancholybouchard:

Adam slowly raised an eyebrow at her and looked down into her face, a clearly incredulous look on his own. “In your opinion, perhaps, but I believe most would call you biased.”

“No, I just know you better than most,” she corrected, giving him a stern look.  “I know the man you truly are, not the man you portray in public to keep others away.  The man you truly are, the one that I have had the privilege of getting to know, deserves nothing but love and happiness.”

[melancholybouchard]

Clearing his throat, he shook his head and simply looked away. Belle was simply far too stubborn to continue to argue with.

[tragiquemaisbelle]

melancholybouchard:

The pang in his chest that used to come with being called one of her ‘dearest friends’ didn’t come this time and he wasn’t entirely sure how to process that. “I have less to offer than I had at home, Belle,” he protested in a rumbling murmur.

“And what on earth would make you believe that?  You are still the same man you were back home, and you are a better man than you were when we met.  No offense, of course,” she added.  It was no secret he had been rough around the edges when she had initially met him, but he was a far kinder, gentler man now.  “Any woman would be lucky to earn your affection.”

[melancholybouchard]

Adam slowly raised an eyebrow at her and looked down into her face, a clearly incredulous look on his own. “In your opinion, perhaps, but I believe most would call you biased.”

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

“Just as you believed you had nothing to offer me?” she inquired, her expression softening a bit.  “Before I met you, I had no friends.  I believed I was strange for being well-read and having opinions of my own, but you helped me realize that it was the town that was wrong, and that there was more to the world than the village I had called home.  You gave me more than I could ever pay you back for, and you have become one of my dearest friends.  Now, I may be biased, but I believe you have far more to offer than you would ever give yourself credit for.”

The pang in his chest that used to come with being called one of her ‘dearest friends’ didn’t come this time and he wasn’t entirely sure how to process that. “I have less to offer than I had at home, Belle,” he protested in a rumbling murmur.

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

“Don’t you dare,” she started, looking at him seriously.  “You are not an imposition, especially not on her, from our conversation.  She intentionally asked me about you, Adam.  Clearly she is interested in spending more time with you.  Are you trying to tell me you are not also interested?”

His eyes widened and his gaze shot down to her as he walked. “I...” He cleared his throat gruffly and shook his head. “I cannot say that. However, I also must recognize that I have nothing to offer her.”

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

Belle watched him curiously as his eyes widened, her smile fighting even harder to appear as he spoke their mutual friend’s name.  “Would you like her phone number?” she asked.  “You could plan to meet her more intentionally, or perhaps ask her to lunch.  Maybe even dinner?”

“I...” He broke off to shake his head carefully. “I would not wish to impose upon her any more than I already have.” The idea was entirely too appealing to him, after all.

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

Regardless of the pair of shoes she wore to work, she knew there was a good chance her feet would end up hurting her if she wore heels all day.  Keeping a pair of flats she could change into at the library was a necessity.  “Her name is Attina.  Apparently you two spent some time together and you forgot your manners and forgot to introduce yourself.  I amended that for you,” she told him, her tone playfully teasing as she tried to keep the smile off her lips.

Adam’s eyes widened in realization and his arms tightened lightly around her. “Attina,” he said roughly, more a quiet reminder to himself so he could burn the name into his brain along with her visage. “I... appreciate it,” he said carefully.

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

She offered a small smile as he moved closer, looking up at him before placing her arms around his shoulders when he finally scooped her up.  “Thank you,” she muttered, leaning her head against his shoulder more out of comfort than anything else.  “I just need to get to work.  I have a spare pair of flats there,” she told him.  She would give him directions, but she knew he knew how to get there.  “So I hear you met a friend of mine.”

He gave her one quick, sharp nod of understanding, glad she was by far one of the more sensible women that he had ever met. As Adam began to make his way towards the library, her statement made him blink and look down at her. “Have I?”

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

“As someone who has to carry many of them at one time, I do not,” she admitted with a soft laugh.  “How do you wish to carry me?  I would offer to climb onto your back, but I’m not sure that would be smart considering the skirt I’m wearing.”

He sighed quietly at her question and simply stepped closer to her. A quick dip and he curled his arm under her legs, careful to tuck her skirt into place as he did, the other arm moving to support her back. Straightening, he simply gave her a pointed look that said he wouldn’t listen to any arguments.

[melancholybouchard]

Spill it!

“Sometimes…I hate being alone.”

[tragiquemaisbelle]

melancholybouchard:

“I beg to differ,” he shook his head at her, keeping his face carefully blank.

“You know, books are a lot smaller then they were back home,” she insisted, shaking her head at him as she laughed softly.  “It would take a much larger pile to compare to me,” she added.  “Now about carrying me…”

[melancholybouchard]

“I have noticed. I prefer the ones from home,” they felt far less destructible than the ones here did. He quietly simply held his hand out for her in reply.

[melancholybouchard]

tragiquemaisbelle:

Belle feigned a gasp, her hand covering her heart in faux-shock before she retorted, “I am not that small.”

“I beg to differ,” he shook his head at her, keeping his face carefully blank.