Waking a Muse.

[beau_sest_leve]

I've made so many dear friends in the castle. What will they do in my absence? {She left them once before and that isn't something she wants to repeat.} I'd hate to make them worry. Enough has happened to them already.

I'm sure it was hard for them to fight off the villagers. I never meant for that to happen. Papa needed me and I couldn't leave him like that. {There is a clear "yet" in her tone, however.} I shouldn't have told them about Beast or shown them the mirror. I just wanted them to see. I wanted them to love him like I do.

Comments

[always_north]

Do not be worried. The mundanes work strange magic. When they do return you to your own world you will return as if you never left.

[beau_sest_leve]

Strange magic? How are they able to do such a thing?

[always_north]

I am not sure. In my world we need a large machine to even see the flow of time and even then we can change nothing.

[beau_sest_leve]

I've never seen a machine that can do that. Your world must be remarkable.

[always_north]

I think any world can be just as remarkable, but I admit the relics from the old civilization are very interesting.

I also learned magic from someone who became a very good friend of mine.

[beau_sest_leve]

Old civilization? Which one? {He has her full attention and then some.} Who would that be? Are they here too?

[always_north]

The Golden Age. It was a time well before humans. Travel between the stars was common then and there was much peace and prosperity from what I've been told. They made such fantastic things, but it regrettably came to an end because of a great evil.

He is my friend Ombric, I have not seen him here. I would very much like to see him, but I know he will be there when I am returned home.

If you do meet him though I'm sure he would be happy to have another student.

[North could tell she was interested in all this. He could see it in her eyes.]

[demisse]

... People do some crazy things when they want to protect others, right?

[ There's a small smile here, trying to be reassuring. ]

You didn't mean to, I'm sure they'll understand. Especially as your friends.

[beau_sest_leve]

I didn't mean to do anything "crazy". They were calling him a monster and I wanted to show them the Beast I know.

{The kind, caring person who she has come to love.}

I put their lives in jeopardy. Can they forgive me so easily?

[dhil]

[Aw, that sounds... really difficult. They're sorry. They look very sorry too, or about as sorry as one can look when most of their face is veiled. They don't whip out the paper and charcoal yet, but they do try to gently pat her shoulder as reassuringly as possible.

... Probably should have asked permission though]

[beau_sest_leve]

{She smiles faintly, sensing his empathy.}

Hello...

[dhil]

[They wave happily at her, before it finally occurs to them that they might want to have a conversation. Well out comes the charcoal and paper, and they scratch something out quickly]

Hello.

Sorry for sad.

Did best. Very sure!

[noshoesnoshirtnoproblem]

[ Either the ketamine hit harder than I thought or you just popped out of a Disney ride, lady. ]
If your friends are of the household item variety, I don't think there's a lot you need to worry about.

[beau_sest_leve]

{Disney ride ftw.}

What do you mean?

[noshoesnoshirtnoproblem]

Even tried fighting with a dresser?

[no_prince_charming]

None of us blame you for that, Belle. And besides, it all worked out in the end, I think.

[beau_sest_leve]

{Sorry if she stares at you a lot, Adam. Your eyes.}

...B-Beast?

[no_prince_charming]

[ Oh. Different times. It's hard to keep track of all the rules around here, especially without Belle here to remind him. ]

Um -- yes. [ He can't mess up anything too badly by just telling the truth, right? ] Sorry I, uh, forgot that people can come from different times here. [ Which is a shame, because he's really missed Belle. ]

[beau_sest_leve]

{Tentatively, she steps forward and slowly brushes her fingertips against his cheek.}

The spell is broken? {It must have been a spell. This is...} I never thought about you changing. But you're...

{As long as he's alive.}

Oh Beast, I'm sorry for leading them to you.

[no_prince_charming]

[ He smiles a bit when she touches his face, remembering when this had happened the first time. Like then, he patiently waits for her response, not wanting to scare her away, ruin the moment. ]

I know it's...a lot. I'm sorry, I thought you knew. [ And now he's mad at the mun because it's basically her fault Belle is upset now. ] And it's okay, really! See, good as new! [ He pats his chest and gives her a toothy grin, hoping it'll get a smile out of her. ]

[beau_sest_leve]

{Tears shine in her eyes and she makes a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh. Then he'll find himself being hugged. Her relief is palpable.}

It's not your fault. {None of it had been his fault. He had been so kind to let her go.} I wanted to come back to you. I needed to see you.

But they trapped me. I was so afraid I would find you -

{Dead.}

[la_bete_de_la_belle]

It's alright, Belle. You did what you had to.

[ And then he's stopped short because did he just hear the l-word. ] Uh -- you're okay now, right? No one's bothering you here? [ Y e a h totally gonna ignore that l-word as he rubs his scruff awkwardly. ]

[beau_sest_leve]

{That l-word is shining brightly in her eyes when she looks at him.}

I shouldn't have. {She tries to keep her voice steady, but it shakes.} N-No, I'm fine. I was more worried about you and...everyone else.

THE L-WORD IS STRONG

[la_bete_de_la_belle]

[ That look -- he sometimes thinks he's imaging it when he sees it, and it's staggering to him. No one has ever cared about him before, not like this. And he's never cared for anyone else like this, either.

Oh no, she's upset. She's upset, and that's completely unacceptable. Before he can stop himself, he wraps her up in his massive furry arms. Hugging was something she taught him, and he's rather fond of them. ] I'm fine here, Belle, really. Especially now that you are here.

I worry about the castle servants, too. But if they survived me for so long, I'm sure they are fine without me. Better, probably. [ Kind of a joke. Also, kind of not. ]

ACCEPT THE L-WORD.

[beau_sest_leve]

{A small sigh escapes her when she is wrapped in his warmth. Her arms slip around him easily, offering him what comfort she can give. All of her fears seem to recede; she knows she is safe here. There are no angry villagers or a Gaston hellbent on seeing him die by his hands.}

If you're happy, I am too. {She wrinkles her nose and tips her head back.} They miss you.

[onebadapple]

Oh Belle, you really couldn't have predicted something like that would have happened. If you didn't mean for it to happen, then you shouldn't be so hard on yourself!