funnygirl | 002 | Video/Action

[To say the past couple of weeks have been strange would be an understatement. Even though Belle had been forewarned about the kinds of things that happen around the time of new arrivals, nothing could quite prepare her for losing all her memories so suddenly, or getting them back just as fast. At least during that week she hadn't been aware of the mistakes she made and now that it was all over she felt too embarrassed to talk to anyone...besides Beast. But in that she really had no choice since she lived with him. But even so she's been careful to keep the subject of that strange week out of their conversations and-hopefully-out of Beast's thoughts as well.

So in the following week she takes to cleaning up there house, just as she told Beast she would. She wipes down every inch of it, clearing away the dust and the grime. And one day in the middle of the week she leaves the house to pick up some food to stock the kitchen. And she also makes a quick trip to the library to pick out a few new books to read and to return the others.

But this afternoon finds Belle once again at the library. She's standing in front of one of many bookshelves, scanning the spines of the books. There's just so many to choose from, she doesn't know where to start. She's mostly been reading stories she recognized from her own world, but she can only re-read those so many times before she's in the for something new. Finally she flips open her journal for the first time since the Shift and addresses the network.]

Good afternoon Luceti. For those who don't know, my name is Belle. And I was just wondering if any of you would be so kind as to recommend some books to me. There are so many I'm unfamiliar with in the library and it's a little bit daunting. I really would appreciate your recommendations. I enjoy reading fairy tales, if that helps. But really, I'm sure I would enjoy anything.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[While Beast is in a better state than when they last had a big conversation, Beast has still, for the most part, remained in the house, not seeing many. Thoughts gathered in his mind again last night, and he found himself not getting to sleep until much later than usual. So when he wakes up, sometime in the late morning, the first thing he hears is the sound of Belle hard at work. What is he hearing, a mop? A bucket? Whatever it is, he opens his door and trudges out before he has had time to properly wake up... and promptly slips on a wet floor. Ow.]

[Belle startles at the sound and looks up from the floor she was currently scrubbing. Seeing him sprawled across the floor, she dumps the scrub brush into the bucket of water and crawls towards him.]

Oh Beast. I'm terribly sorry. I thought I could get this down before you woke up.

[Groggily, he sits up and rubs his head... what a morning. At least he's more awake now. He responds with a grumble.] It's alright.

[No, really, it is. He just kind of hurts at the moment.]

Do you need help getting up?

[She takes hold of one of his arms and tries to pull him up. But of course he's far bigger than she is. She can't do much without a little help from his end.]

[Thankfully, the support on his arm does indeed help, urging him to hoist himself up with his other arm, instinctively holding onto Belle with it to make sure the weight doesn't falter her balance... oh, he's... holding onto her. Um. He is now definitely awake.]

Ih... th-thank you. [He'll just... slowly move his arms away now.]

[And Belle seems blissfully unaware of his hold; far more concerned about making sure she's alright.]

You're not hurt anywhere are you?

N-n-no. I-I'm alright. [It's almost an excuse to make her not worry, but besides the bruising soreness on his... his... s-somewhere, he really is alright.]

[She sits back, not looking completely convinced, but willing to let him be.]

Well alright. If you're sure...

[He nods in an attempt to be assuring, then remembers why the floor was wet.]

Do... d-do you need any help?

[She shakes her head.]

No. I was just finishing up. I saved the floor for last.

O... oh. [Well now he really feels bad for sleeping in.] W-well I... uh...

But I suppose I can finish cleaning it later. I don't want it to cause any more accidents.

[She smiles as she says this so he knows she's kidding.]

Th-that's alright. [The slightest sheepish grin appears on his face for a few seconds.] I... I could, uh... get, out of... I-I mean, I-I could l-leave you to... d-do that.

Well, I don't want to put you out. And this can wait. Really.

B-but ih... y-you... I-I could help!

[She tilts her head in consideration.]

That's true. Do you know how to do it?

D-do it? I... i-ih, uh... [He reaches back to awkwardly scratch himself.] I... I-I can, uh... l-learn...

[She smiles and takes pity on his poor, awkward self. Turning around, she goes to the discarded mop and bucket and grips the mop handle.]

It's fairly simple. Here, watch me.

[She pulls the mop out of bucket, squeeze out some of the water, and then sets it down on the floor, sweeping it back and forth in neat lines, leaving a shiny trail of water behind.]

[He shyly but intently watches. That's right, he's seen his servants do this at home. It looks easy enough, right?]

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