Belle

[Early in the morning Belle picks up her journal, ready to make an announcement she's been planning to give for awhile.]

Good morning Luceti. I hope everyone is well. I would also like to welcome all of the New Feathers. I know things may seem overwhelming at the moment, but I'm sure you'll settle in just fine. It was actually a year ago today that I arrived in Luceti myself and I couldn't let the day pass without expressing my appreciation for everyone here. We've all been through so much over the past year. Things I don't believe I would have been able to get through without the help and support of my friends. So I just wanted to let you all know how thankful I am.

[She pauses here for a brief moment, trying to figure out how to best say the next part.]

Last month, in particular, was hard on all of us. We all needed time afterward to feel like ourselves again. But now I believe it's time to truly put all of that behind us. And what better way to do that than with a party? A slumber party to be exact.

A good friend of mine told me about them not too long ago and it sounded so exciting. I have never experienced a slumber party for myself, but I would really like to correct that. For those who don't know what it is, it's a party that takes place overnight in someones home. And I would love it if everyone would come. I simply can't do it without everyone's help.

If you would like to come it would be wonderful if you could bring your own pillows and blankets and snacks of your choice. I will do my best to supply people who don't have these things, but I simply don't have enough for everyone.

And...oh my! I haven't told you where the party is being held, have I? It will take place in House 17. My home for those unaware. There's plenty of space. So please come. [With that said she closes her journal.]

[Belle goes about her normal day as usual. She does chores around town a little bit earlier than normal. Anyone who runs into her at the bakery or grocery shop is free to notice that she's picking up a lot of food. Clearly it can't all be for her. And somehow she'll get all of this food home, either by herself or with some help.

Later in the afternoon can find her in the library, working her shift. It's been a slow day so far, so anyone who comes in can find Belle leaning on the counter, engrossed in her latest book.]

((ooc: if you would like me to put up a long for this sometime over the weekend let me know! I won't do it if there's not enough interest to tag it.))

[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.))

[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.