001 | Voice

[funnygirl]

Excuse me? [The voice is feminine and starts off uncertain before continuing with a little more confidence.] Do you know the way back to the castle? I don't know how it happened, but I seem to be lost in the forest. [Her voice falls silent, as if she's listening for some kind of response. When nothing does she continues on talking, but with less certainty.]

I really need to go back. Everyone is probably worrying about me by now. I don't want to give any of them a fright if I don't return soon. [Again, she gets no response. What good is a talking book if it won't talk back?] You seemed to have no trouble speaking a few moments ago. Now isn't a good time to lose your ability to speak.

[Finally the journal's silence seems to be too much for her and she sighs loudly.] Fine. If you don't want to help me, I'll find the castle myself. I'm sure Beast is already out looking for me. [Which...might not be such a good thing if he's angry about her sudden disappearance.]

[For anyone who happens to be walking in the forest near the river, you might stumble across a young woman wondering around aimlessly and clearly lost. And a few lucky ones might come across her seemingly engaging in a one-sided argument with her journal. Who knew a magical book could be so stubborn?]

Comments

voice;

[gleamed]

[Hold the magic journal, did she just say...

Could this possibly be...

STAY CALM, RAPUNZEL. Investigate first. No use in getting overly excited just yet. Only mildly excited.]

Beast? You're a friend of Beast's?

[Looking for a castle...it has to be her, right?]

voice;

[funnygirl]

[Oh sure, now the magic journal wants to talk to her. But still, that's a strange question. Isn't this a book from Beast's castle?]

Yes, I am. I'm Belle. What's your name?

[relictusdeus]

There is no going back… [A man calls lowly from behind her, close - - but not close enough that she would feel his breath tingling along the nape of her neck. For all he knew, she could be carrying a weapon on her person, and if his greeting were to startle her, it was to his benefit to keep just a bit of a distance.] …when you will it.

[The owner of the voice belongs to certain Forgemaster on the prowl, plunging through the woods to hunt for meat as he would on a weekly basis.]

[funnygirl]

[The voice does startle her, causing her to spin around, clutching the journal close to her chest. The owner of the voice is...an odd looking man, but Belle is much too polite to say that. Instead she gives him a friendly smile.]

Oh, hello, Monsieur. I'm...not quite sure I understand what you mean.

[Voice] Lots of tl;dr introspective, apologies in advance!

[tailasoldastime]

[Another day... in Luceti. Sigh. Beast has had about enough of Luceti. He gets friends and then loses them... people get kidnapped by the Malnosso and come back different... he only just got back into his house after it was taken over by the Kin'Corran visitors. He only ends up opening his journal because he doesn't know what else to do. He never thought he would think this, but he's actually wishing it was more like home right now...

Wait. That voice. He knows that voice.

But it... it couldn't be. He must be too tired, not thinking right... it must be a new person who just sounds like her, it can't really be her, can it...? But then... but then...

"I'm sure Beast is already out looking for me."

It's her. Oh mon Dieu it's her!]

Belle? Belle, i-is that you?

[Voice] it's fine!

[funnygirl]

[It's startling at first, hearing his voice. She can't help but look around, expecting him to appear. But then she realizes his voice is coming from the journal.]

Beast? Of course it's me, silly. But don't worry, I'm on my way back to the castle. [If she can figure out which way to go, that is.]

[video because panda]

[bamboozler]

Ehhh...there's a castle here? No one ever told me that.

[Maybe they have Royal Bamboo. Something he just made up in his head. He can see it now, bamboo served on gold plates, the most succulent stalks brought to you by a butler...]

Is it yours?

[video|always a great reason]

[funnygirl]

[Oh...well then. Talking animals...that's mostly new.]

Well, it's hidden deep in the forest. Most travelers go right on past it without noticing.

No. It belongs to a friend of mine.

[Voice]

[cynicism]

Not sure if you've been told already, but there's no castle here, no you can't go home, and it's probably not a good idea to go around looking for beasts. Dying's an idiot move.

[This is Hisoka's New Feather speech. Don't you feel informed and welcomed, Belle?]

[Voice] hisoka that was beautiful t_t

[funnygirl]

Thank you for your concern, but I'm not trying to die. Beast is my friend, that's his name. [Or...at least she thinks it is. She's never heard him be called anything else. Except 'Master' and that's...a big no.]

voice;

[consultsdetective]

If he's out looking, it might be a long search party. My name's Greg Lestrade; welcome to Luceti. I hope this lot's been giving you answers that make any sort of sense so far.

voice;

[funnygirl]

Hello, Monsieur Lestrade. I'm Belle. And everyone I've met so far has been very kind.

[Okay, maybe not everyone. And not all of them have been all that helpful. But she's far too polite to say that.]

[voice]

[perplexme]

[...hey, he recognizes you, either from his memories or someone else's. Still, Roxas just looks into the journal for a moment before his voice comes through the line.]

I think he's been looking for you since he first got here, actually.

[voice]

[funnygirl]

Has he? [Her tone is that of fond exasperation.] I'm not really surprised.

But, I'm sorry. I nearly forgot to introduce myself. I'm Belle.

[voice]

[devourthemfirst]

I'm terribly sorry to say this, Miss, but there are no castles here. [He can only wonder what century she's from]

Who's this "Beast" person? If I may ask. They don't sound too pleasant...

[voice]

[funnygirl]

I see. [Yes, everyone has made that quite clear to her already.]

He's my friend. And he's very kind once you give him a chance. [And look past the fangs and the claws and the fur.]

action;

[statice]

[He's heard of people reading aloud but this is probably the first time he's seen someone arguing with a book. Aloud.

It doesn't help that he's not expecting company in the middle of the forest as he tries to retrace the route to the farmlands.]

Interesting book?

[No one said he couldn't be smart now.]

action;

[funnygirl]

[She startles and nearly drops her journal as she turns around to face him.]

Oh, pardon me, monsieur. You startled me. [His question finally registers and she gives the journal in her hand a look of frustration.]

You could say that. [Who would believe she was talking it in hopes that it would respond?]

[stilldontgotit]

Belle?

[Well, this is... mildly awkward. Mildly, since it's been long enough since his time with Maleficent that he's at least gotten over any guilt.

Plus, she was kinda comatose when he last saw her. And she might not even recognize him, period.]

Looks like Beast's already gotten in touch. Hope this place hasn't been too overwhelming, though.

[funnygirl]

[Oh, hello young man she's never met before. But...]

You know Beast? [She sounds stunned. Beast has difficulty befriending people; she of all people knows this.]

Well, it has been quite a surprise.

[Voice]

[averybadfeeling]

[Beast, you say?]

"... I'm afraid the castle isn't here, friend, but I might know your Beast."

[Voice]

[funnygirl]

[Someone else who knows Beast. She's still frankly surprised that he's apparently made so many friends in her absence.]

You do?

[Action!]

[windandrain]

[For the first time in several days, Saori is out in the forest. She's recovered from her ordeal and is feeling rather interested in just getting out and doing things. She likes her friends, but its important that she's out and about.

Its then that the rather odd woman just happens to spot a much younger woman wearing a New Feather dress and fussing with her journal. Clearly, the right thing to do is to say hello!]

Hello there! Are you alright?

[Action!]

[funnygirl]

[Belle looks up from the journal that she's been frowning at. Since when were magical items supposed to be so frustrating?]

Oh, hello, madame! I'm fine. Just a bit lost.

[Voice]

[of_sablier]

I'm afraid you won't find any castles here, but I can help you find your way out of the forest.

[Voice]

[funnygirl]

Oh can you monsieur? That would be a great help.