funnygirl | 005 | Action/Voice

[On Saturday night Belle had been mallynapped on her walk home from the library. One moment everything had been completely normal, she'd been walking along the outskirts of the village with a book her hand. She hadn't noticed the figure following her until it was too late.

After that everything became fuzzy and nonsensical. She woke up once and couldn't move any of her limbs. Blurry, people shaped figures moved in and out of her line of sight, murmuring in soft voices she didn't understand. She didn't know how long it lasted, that state of zoning in and out of consciousness, for the next thing she gains sense she's lying on the ground.

She lays there for a long time, trying to remember what happened to her and how she came to be so far from the village. Had she wandered off path and fallen? Had the memories of cold hands touching her and low voices talking been a think of dreams? Her mind playing a cruel trick on her?

But no, she's heard about these occurrences happening around the village. Of people being kidnapped and disappearing for days-sometimes weeks. Her heart thumps loudly in her chest. How long has she been gone?

Very slowly, she pushes herself into a sitting position and smooths the creases out of her New Feather dress. Looking around, she finally spots her journal laying a few feet away and grabs it up. She has a message to send.]

Private to Beast

I'm afraid my absence must have frightened you a great deal. For that I apologize, it wasn't my doing. I believe the Malnosso have held me for...I don't even know how long. But the important thing is I am here still. And I will be home soon.

/End

[Done with that, Belle closes the journal without looking at any of the other entries. Once she's home and can relax she will take the time to catch up on what she has missed.

You may find her wandering through the forest, going in the direction of the village. Or perhaps you may spot her walking through the village, heading towards home. Anyone likely to remember her from the library might notice that she has not been there for the past few days and is only making a reappearance in the village now.]

((ooc: So Belle has been mallynapped for the past few days. Upon returning she has lost the ability to read. Any words she sees will turn to blurry spots that she can't make out.))

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Belle nods against her shoulder.]

...Yes. I believe so.

I felt you gone. I was worried.

[She pulls back, inspecting her]

You don't seem the worse for wear. Maybe a little cold. Shall we get you home, dear?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you.

[She allows Saori to inspect her, only now reacting to the slight chill of the air.]

Yes. I would like that.

It's not your fault, it was the Malnosso.

[She gives a reassuring shoulder squeeze]

Come on then. I'll keep the wind off you.

[She attempts to smile, a little quirk at the side of her mouth. But her eyes shine with appreciation.]

Thank you. I had not realized how cold it is until now.

[The wind around them stills, as if by magic...]

It may be spring but winter is still upon us. And the Malnosso are rather cruel.

I would not mind it so much if I was wearing warmer clothing. It is cruel that they leave us out in the forest in this weather without so much as a coat.

Oh, it's not the cruelest thing that I've seen them do. But it is definitely a bit of casual cruelty that I cannot fathom. Why do that? Particularly in this winter. It's dragged far too long.

[While it didn't actually look like something was wrong with her now, not knowing what had just been done to her would've certainly been at least somewhat scary. At least Ai would have been, in her position, so Belle's reaction to the girl's question was not unexpected.]

...Maybe going through the guide in your journal would be a good idea, Belle-san. It mentions most of the possible experiments that the Malnosso can do to people here. You may find out that way.

[That way Belle may check whether she has the symptoms of a given experiment if she couldn't tell what had been done to her right away. At the very least, she apparently hadn't lost a lot of time away from Luceti. If Ai were to be abducted and experimented on, she wouldn't want to be gone for long either.]

[It is rude to tell a woman she looks like she's walking around in pajamas.]

If you're sure. Aren't those the clothes you get when you first arrive here, though..?

[Now that is a good idea. One she surely would have thought of eventually. As much as she doesn't want to think about what happened, it would be best for her to at least figure out what's been done to her.]

Yes, I think I will do just that. Thank you, Ai.

[She quickly opens her journal and flips immediately to where she knows the guide is. Her eyes scan the page and...stop. Brows furrowed she stares down at the page in confusion and increasing worry. None of the words make any sense, and appear to her as black scribbles.]

But spring should be upon us soon, should it not? They could not possibly keep us in an eternal winter?

[She spares a glance at the her new feather dress and lifts her shoulders in a small shrug.]

It is. I have had a...recent encounter with the Malnosso.

I don't think they will, no.

[Off she starts towards home]

Did they do anything to you? Changes you know of yet?

[Being called by her first name did not surprise Ai as much anymore, seeing as she had already gotten used to the fact that she was not in Japan anymore. Instead, she merely smiled at the girl in response and waited patiently for her to find out what the Malnosso had done to her.

Then, she curiously watched Belle's reaction and the way she seemed to squint at the page of her opened guide, her worried expression obvious - and from what Ai noticed, she hadn't even really started reading. She waited a few seconds before she eventually spoke up.]

What is wrong, Belle-san? [Ai furrowed her brows a bit herself. Could it be...] ...You cannot read it?

[That would explain things. Maiza nods to her answer, though he frowns slightly, seeming concerned.]

I see. I'm glad to see you've been returned, then. Do you need any help?

[She continues to stare at the page, mind reeling. This cannot be. They couldn't have...But then why could she not make out the letters on the page. Clutching the journal tightly, she tries to swallow back a lump that has grown in her throat. Her eyes begin to grow wet and sting as she fights to hold back tears.

This cannot be.]

I-I'm terribly sorry but I really must be getting home.

[Despite he attempts to keep her voice steady it comes out unsteady and course. But she can't stand out here any longer. Any moment now she's afraid she might break down into tears or faint. Neither things she wishes to do in public.]

[Belle shakes her head.]

No. I feel fine. As of yet, nothing seems strange or unusual.

[She smiles again, this time a little more naturally.]

Oh no. I don't wish to impose on you. I was simply on my way home.

Hm. [He takes a moment, but he nods with a smile at her. He is concerned, but if she says she's all right, then it isn't his place to insist and trouble her.]

All right then, Miss Belle. Then I shouldn't hold you up; it'd probably be best for you to get home and get rested.

Yes. Thank you, Maiza. I'm sorry to have concerned you.

That, at least, is good. Are you feeling sick at all? Or would you rather go straight home?

[And it was then when Ai's gaze widened in surprise upon seeing the other girl clearly becoming even more distraught than before, noticing the sight of Belle's eyes noticeably reddening.

And if that wasn't any indication of what she felt, then her voice certainly was. Seemingly, the inability to read really distressed her, and Ai could only sympathize at this point - being a victim to such an experiment would make her feel bad herself... But maybe being alone at at a time like this, after a revelation of this sort, would only make Belle feel worse.]

W-wait! I-is there anything I can do to help?

[And it was why Ai tried to offer help then... she could guess that she'd feel better in Belle's position if there was somebody there with her, despite what she may say to them.]

[She wipes hurriedly at her eyes to keep her un-shed tears from clouding her sight. All she wants at this moment is to crawl into her bed and curl up. Maybe when she wakes this will all have been an awful dream.]

N-no, no, I'll be fine. There's no need to concern yourself.

No, I don't feel sick at all. But I really should go home first. Beast is probably terribly worried by now, and I would like to change clothes.

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