ofbclle-blog

[ofbclle-blog]

wasabissweatervest‌:

Wasabi turned the book around on the table and pointed out to Belle the line he was reading. “See, how can this be a comprehensive book on gardening when it only has two lines on composting? I mean, that’s madness. Negligence!”

@ofbclle

Belle glanced up at Wasabi, her lips quirking into a smile. She snorted, leaning forward to glance at the book quickly. “What an absolute travesty,” she told him, teasing in equal parts to showing her support for his compost quandary. “I have a much better book for composting needs,” she added. “One of my father’s he leaned me when I moved to the Ashman home. In case I ever found myself gardening,” she giggled at the idea of that. Her father hadn’t quite grasped the responsibilities that her job entailed. “I can bring it over for you next time?” she offered.

[ofbclle-blog]

Belle nodded her head, her features soft and contemplative. “God, you’re right. Gabriel is the best of both. Unpredictable, passionate, caring, safe--” she trailed off, snorting to herself. “Quite literally-- the perfect literary man. But entirely literary.” she said. “God, how cruel is that? Letting us fall in love with ideals that are almost impossible to find in real men?” she asked, joking for the most part, but knowing it rang true somewhat. “I knew Bronte was a mastermind but--” she grinned. ‘Bathsheba never liked or did anything that she didn’t figure out for herself. Stubborness, explains her wandering eyes,”

[ofbclle-blog]

headcanons and para sample

You got to dig a little deeper, find out who you are!

sometimes the world gets too much. even for belle. even for the resilient force of nature, she is. sometimes everything just gets…too much. she stayed strong for her father when her mother passed; afraid that he would fall apart and she wouldn’t be able to put him back together if she too fell apart. but sometimes, life fell heavy on her shoulders, and like atlas she had the struggle of holding it up. but she never truly rationalized or processed her mother’s death, and instead of doing so; she focused her energies into her father, and her books. but when her books weren’t enough, belle took to the floor. dancing was her only solace. she could spin and twirl and pirouette, and jump and stomp and tap all her energy and worry and frustrations away. dancing still is. now after a particularly difficult argument with adam, or a day where her adventures between the pages can’t quell her worries, when she feels like she is just existing and not actually living her life, she still takes to the floor, on pointe and ready to sweat it out.

you’re pretty for a bookworm. god it’s the most annoying sentence to her. it generally spikes annoyance within her. pretty for a bookworm. what did that even mean? a person was a person, regardless of the way they looked or what they enjoyed doing. why did her love of literature have anything to do with how she looked? and why was she judged a particular way? you’d get more boys attention if you put down the tolstoy. what an insipid thing to say, to think. who gave a rats ass? who cared if she got men? she didn’t. so why did people find it necessary to comment? why did people try to remove the book from her fingers and replace it with lipstick? why were books and beauty, not companions? the quickest way to anger belle; to insight something other than a collected and thoughtful response from her; is to insult her intelligence by bringing up her fair features; to pit those two aspects against one another. she will turn from pristine to provoked faster than you can say jack robinson. with such a sharp mind, belle can have a sharp tongue when needed.

belle loves greek mythology. so much so her guilty pleasure is reading YA novels involving greek mythology as there doesn’t seem to be any adult books addressing the vast possibility. granted she’s read american gods, which was excellent – she loves neil gaiman – and she’s dabbled in other authors who tackle more adult version of mythology in general – but greek mythology seemed to be an adolescent excitement. there are some outliers, margaret attwood’s novel the penelopiad being one; but…still she finds herself drawn, embarrassingly (but why they’re great) to rick riordan’s novels. she has also read a lot of old texts; including the odyssey which although fascinating do not provide the drama she enjoys. belle, somewhat, lives vicariously through the books she reads and the people she meets; and the adventures of percy jackson and his friends are thrilling. fighting against an evil for the good of others. belle often thinks she would do also. she likes annabeth and believes she’d also be a daughter of athena.

she’s not into gossip. she doesn’t like the vicious nature that is associated with it. but she loves to hear about people and their lives. she loves the ins and outs and twists and turns; the nuances of their speech and movement. body language and behavior was all part of the storytelling process. people are fascinating, and the way they live their lives/the decisions they make are also fascinating. and telling. belle will happily sit and listen to someone talk for hours; even about the most mundane things. if it’s told with enough passion or bravado, it’s not boring. it’s why sometimes she finds herself captivated by adam, even in the middle of an argument between the two. his passion rolls over him like a wave, and despite the fact he frustrates her with his stubbornness and provokes her with his temper, sometimes, he is captivating. she doesn’t necessarily enjoy this; that he can still have such a different effect on her. she likes knowing her mind, and around him, she doesn’t. 

madam gaston, his little wife, ugh. gaston legume, belle’s shadow. whenever a moment stretches by and she’s not looking over her shoulder, he appears, hot on her heels. she left her phone sat on a coffee counter for a few minutes once, and he’d managed to put his number in her phone. of course, with a stretch of his grin, he explained away. you may be in trouble one day and need me. perhaps a heavy box needs lifting. perhaps you twist your ankle out in town and need someone to carry you home. blah blah blah blah blah. but he’s harmless. at least she thinks he is. and keeping his number in her phone saves him from nagging or pouring more attention onto her. belle’s not stupid. she knows he’s handsome, very much so. but he’s also dull and vapid and porous and a caveman. and completely not worthy of belle. belle has imagined a world in which she gave into gaston’s constant pining; she’d be bored out of her mind, insulted daily by his misogyny, tired of his vanity, but she’d be financially stable and her father would be looked after because of this. but even still. even as she works tirelessly to support her father and his inventions, she has far too much respect for herself and woman-kind to ever lower herself to that.

Think of a wonderful thought, any merry little thought!

She exhaled, rolling her eyes, keeping up her pace. Footsteps, larger than her own, sounded behind her. She clutched books to her chest, ones she’d decided to return to the local library; ones she’d kept in her person longer than necessary, re-reading them for their crafted words and beautiful escapism. Ones she no longer needed because, the Ashman home had a library in it, and Adam had allowed her to use it. God, that sounded pathetic. That, someone, had allowed her to use a room. Or, a wing– But she didn’t own a single thing in the house she resided in. Only the objects she’d brought with her from home, and those she’d acquired whilst staying there. So, in reality, she did need permission. And she was proper enough to wait for it. Yes, she was curious, and she’d certainly wandered into forbidden areas of the Ashman home before, but with something as precious as a library? She needed permission. She wouldn’t trespass and ruin its integrity, nor any chance to access it. Adam’s mood changed as often as the tide, and he could take his word back at any moment, and Belle’s happiness could often be found between the pages of books. She didn’t want to risk not being to access the vast collection.

Bella snorted. She sounded so dramatic. Footsteps became louder, reminding her why she moved quickly. To scurry away from Gaston as fast as she could. If she let him catch her up, she’d be stuck with his presence for however long he felt the need to annoy her.

“Belle!” his voice boomed. You could hear the charisma in it. She couldn’t deny that Gaston did hold charisma, and she could understand why some women bent over backward to get his attention. She could understand from an entirely vain and carnal point of view. If you ignored all the godawful personality traits he possessed, the neanderthal-like toxicity he irradiated. If you ignored that all. He was a handsome man. But Belle couldn’t ignore that. She couldn’t even side-step it enough to have a simple conversation with him.

“Belle, my love,”

He jogged to catch up with her.

Sweet lord give me strength, she thought.

“Gaston,” she replied tightly, but calmly.

“I was calling for you,” he told her, a brow prominently raised.

She feigned surprise. “You were? I must have been in my own world. I didn’t hear you at all,” she murmured. A likely excuse, as she so easily daydreamed through conversations and situations. Her mind wandered easily, exploring worlds she’d read or dreamed about.

“What am I going to do about you and your little daydreams?” he asked with a chuckle, a grin stretching across his face.

“What indeed,” Belle replied simply. She parted her lips. “Gaston, if you don’t mind, I’m in the middle of something and I–” she was cut off by Gaston.

“Belle, I’d like you to go to dinner with me this evening” he said in a thespian like manner.

Not again.

“I’ve booked an excellent French restaurant in downtown Carthay,” he continued.

She wondered when he’d give up. How many rejections would it take for him to move onto his next victim? No, that wasn’t fair on other women. But when would he give up? She wasn’t sure how long she could go through the motions they often went through.

“I’m busy, Gaston,” she replied finally. “I’m always busy,” she added. “I’m a live-in caretaker,” she reminded him. “I’m always working,” she said.

“You’re allowed time off, Belle. Do you want me to talk to him? I can arrange time off for you. Come to your rescue. I’m your knight in shining armor, babe,” he replied with a grin.

Belle stopped walking, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to gather some patience. “Even if I was free, I wouldn’t be spending my time with you. I’d see my father, or my friends. Or read a book. I wouldn’t be eating at a French restaurant with a man I’ve said no to, one hundred times before,” she finished curtly. “Good day, Gaston.”

With that, Belle continued to walk, happy to hear no footsteps following her. Once out of earshot she exhaled with somewhat of a growl. “God,” she muttered.

“Go on a date with me, babe,” she mimicked him.

“I’m your knight in shining armor, babe,”

“I don’t bite, babe, much,”

“Where does he get off?” she muttered to herself. She cast her gaze upwards, the library coming into sight. She exhaled, trying to dispell the anger and annoyance she felt. He always left her so riled up. And that in itself irked her more. Because she didn’t want to feel anything about it, let alone disdain. She pushed a small smile to her lips. Part of the process was faking it until it became real. The placebo effect. Smile, and sooner or later you’ll be smiling for real. And with the labyrinth of literature a few feet from her; that was cause for a smile. That was always cause for a smile.

[ofbclle-blog]

“Part of me wants to throw caution to the wind and leave them both in my wake, but part of me wants the beguiling love of Heathcliff. But then I’m touched by Edgar’s effort and tenderness.” She admitted with a laugh. “We know whose the least problematic... but does that ever come into the decision?”

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

[ofbclle-blog]

Honesty hour!

Ask @ofbclle and @ofarendelle-a anything

[ofbclle-blog]

“Uh— Edgar Linton and Heathcliff? From Wuthering Heights? Emily Bronte novel...Tom Hardy played him?” she said, offering additional information.

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

[ofbclle-blog]

Belle smiled simply. “Exactly,” she replied. “I like that a lot,” she added. “They’re both so flawed that it’s like picking which flaw you could deal with better, no? Obviously they’re redeemable which makes them desireable but... I suppose it’s food for thought,”

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

  "Who says it’s not the most important? Any question could be viewed as important if you ask me. Honestly I’m not even sure I could pick between the two.“

[ofbclle-blog]

There was no denying the irritated quirk of her brow. It was as clear as the sky, obviously placed on her face. “Hence, why I said it may not be,” she muttered to herself. She regarded him for a moment, allowing herself to settle slightly in his company after he spoke. She nods her head. “An utterly raw deal,” she agreed. “All the effort and love he pours into his relationship with Cathy, to be...just endured by her.” she exhaled slightly. She always felt sympathetic for the character, his -most likely- turmoil dealing with loving and caring for a woman whose heart and mind were always with another.

ofbclle‌:

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

‘‘You’re right it’s not.’‘ Adam remarked curtly, before letting out a long sigh. ‘‘But Linton gets a rough deal don’t you think. All the work that he puts in only to never truly be loved?’‘

[ofbclle-blog]

“I didn’t even think of Gabriel!” Belle realised, somewhat disappointed in herself. “But Mr. Darcy, yes, brooding and surprising,” she nodded in approval. “God, now I’m not even thinking of the Linton/Heathcliff decision,” she murmured with a chuckle. “Although I’ve always struggled with that. Heathcliff is your desire. The man who waited and loved, always. And Linton is safety. He is patient and kind and devoted. And he’s also not obsessed.” she trailed off. “I think Gabriel is probably the best of the bunch,” she admitted however, waving her hand as if dismissing her previous musings.

ofbclle‌:

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

“ i’m gonna go for… heathcliff ? though if mr darcy was in the mix that’d be who i’d go for. or, no wait, gabriel from far from the madding crowd. gabriel is one of the best romantic figures in literature and so underrated ! ”

[ofbclle-blog]

“But what good is frightening that man going to do?” She asked. “Will he help find this...person? Or are you just pushing your anger into other people?” Belle marked her place in her book, closing it. “If they know how to help, well fair enough, but maybe try reasoning with them before screaming at them?” she offered. Belle blinked, thinking for a moment. She pressed her lips together. “No,” she admitted. “Never,” she said. “But people experience things in different ways,” she noted, more a thought out loud. She sympathised with him however. She knew what feeling dejected and hopeless was like. And she knew loss. It had settled within her bones when her mother died. “I’m...sorry you feel that way,” she finally added. “You’ve exhausted every avenue to find...this person?”

ofbclle‌:

Belle glanced over the top of her book, arching a brow as the man on the table beside her slammed his fists onto it. She’d have flinched if she hadn’t been so used to bursts of anger. She’d have flinched maybe not even a year ago, but now? A burst of anger was met with a roll of her eyes. Only Adam’s truly angry moments could rouse any fear from her. She watched as the gentleman on the receiving end of the fists, squirmed and mumbled and sharply ran off.

“That was a little dramatic, don’t you think?” she commented finally, dipping her book to look at the angry man. “Have you tried find my iPhone?” she added.

“Nothing is dramatic when someone you care about has disappeared,” he whispered angrily. cared about was saying a lot, zarina was a means to an end that hadn’t ended yet. the small absence had allowed the control he had over her to  feel like it was slipping away, something that wasn’t okay to him. “have you never cared about someone so much that you’ve tried anything, so now all you have is the anger at feeling so useless?”

[ofbclle-blog]

Belle’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?” she asked. She arched a brow, slight disbelief upon her features. “I could spent every day with a book in my hands,” Belle replied. “What’s the last book you remember reading?” she challenged her to remember.

ofbclle‌:

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

“I don’t think I really have a favorite either way. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I read a proper book.” 

[ofbclle-blog]

“What is it about Linton? The stability? Do you see him like a safe choice or the right choice?” She enquired. It was often that Linton’s character was categorised as safe. Belle’s lips quirked into a smile. “He was, but I’ll always have a soft spot for Ralph Fiennes,”

belle‌:

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but…Heathcliff or Linton?”

“I think both of them have their flaws. But if I had to choose, I think it would be Linton. Tom Hardy was a great Heathcliff, though“.

[ofbclle-blog]

“I know it’s not the most important conversation in literature, but...Heathcliff or Linton?”

[ofbclle-blog]

littlemermcid‌:

arvndelle‌:

andromedes‌:

ballets or musicals? art or literature? reader or writer? cafe or library? poetry or prose? art galleries or history museums? silk or velvet? regency or victorian? piano or violin? hardcover or paperback?

[ofbclle-blog]

cpjameshook‌:

hook had been looking for zarina since her return and subsequent kicking out. just because he was angry that she’d left without telling him didn’t mean he didn’t want to know exactly where it was she was hiding at. “just answer the question. do you or do you not know where zarina is at? that’s all i want,” he sneered, slamming his fists onto the table. “i don’t care if you know who she is or not. i want her found.”

Belle glanced over the top of her book, arching a brow as the man on the table beside her slammed his fists onto it. She’d have flinched if she hadn’t been so used to bursts of anger. She’d have flinched maybe not even a year ago, but now? A burst of anger was met with a roll of her eyes. Only Adam’s truly angry moments could rouse any fear from her. She watched as the gentleman on the receiving end of the fists, squirmed and mumbled and sharply ran off.

“That was a little dramatic, don’t you think?” she commented finally, dipping her book to look at the angry man. “Have you tried find my iPhone?” she added.

[ofbclle-blog]

[ofbclle-blog]

the stats:

Meet Belle O’Hara, the twenty-eight year old that is often mistaken for Laura Harrier. Born in 1990, Belle has had a lot of time to figure out who she is. Known by most as sensible, compassionate, and headstrong, some are starting to see a resemblance to Disney’s Belle. In Carthay, Belle can usually be found in Hundred Acre Wood. If she’s not at home, she can be found at Woodland Valley Library, where she gets her nose stuck in a book.

THE backstory:

✧  Hailing from the little town of Carthay, Belle has always found herself in a storybook life, that is if you just happen to pass by. In reality, she’s rather erratic, and smart, and quite adventurous. Growing up, Belle’s mother would read to her while her father worked on what he would call “the next greatest invention”. The inventions always came back to another day at the drawing board, but it was the hope that made the O’Hara family so spirited. It was when her mother passed away, that her father found the one thing he couldn’t fix. Belle has been known to stay headstrong through even the toughest of situations. Growing up without her mom just gave her an excuse to become closer with her father. Together, they became a team. She’s always been one to find a solution to a problem being one with a thirst for knowledge and new opportunities.

✧   Of course, things haven’t  always been easy. With her father struggling to even cover rent, Belle knew it was time to quit her library job and try to find a new adventure. Despite her immense effort looking around, options were sparse. It wasn’t until she bumped into Lumiere Menken, that she found a job as a caretaker and companion. She was now to watch over Adam Ashman, a social pariah who had a temper like no other. The job required a year long contract, which meant moving into his mansion on the edge of New Holland and Hundred Acre Wood, helping out his already heavy staff in their daily duties. Belle has only been in her job for a month, but each night has ended with some sort of crying fit of frustration (whether from her or someone else). Never has she ever dealt with someone so difficult. If it weren’t for the high paying salary, she would leave in a heartbeat to go back to her old life. She wanted an adventure, and this is what she got? Dealing with a depressed man who loves to yell for no reason?

✧   Despite helping out Adam most of the time, Belle is still allowed time to herself. Every morning, while he is still fast asleep, she goes out into town. Typically she brings a book and a shopping list. She’ll pick a cozy spot to read in peace, and when she’s done, she’ll pick up some fresh food for the day’s meals, stopping to talk to those out and about. Belle thoroughly enjoys hearing about people’s lives, seeing what they’ve been up to. She might be preoccupied with a bit going on, but she loves to live vicariously through others. When she’s usually done with her work day? She retreats to her room and spends time on her laptop. The internet reception is terrible where she is, but she loves being able to write about her days, seeing her very own story in the making open up before her eyes.

the connections:

✧ Adam Ashman- Belle has found herself tangling with the wrong man, or was he the right one? Adam Ashman. She thought she knew him. After spending some time with him though, whether it was her choice or not, she has seen another side of him than what she previously thought. Her curiosity has gotten herself into a bit of trouble with this character, but she seems to be pulling through the fights and heated arguments to find out that maybe this was a perfect accident and that maybe she has finally found someone else more like her…and maybe she has finally found a story of her own worthy for the books.

✧ Gaston LeGume- Gaston has always sought out Belle as a prize, even though Belle has brushed off the man several times. The two simply have nothing in common. To Gaston, she is just a pretty face to have around, while Gaston is simply primeval in her eyes. Still, even with her constantly rejecting his advances, he won’t quit. Belle knows Gaston has plenty of money to spare, and he could’ve easily been an easy way out of working in her current job, but Belle’s morals have always been above what he stands for.

✧ Lumiere Menken- When Lumiere first met Belle, he knew there was something special about her. Even talking for a brief moment sealed the idea that she would be the one to get Adam Ashman to experience life again. Lumiere was the one to tell Belle about a potential caretaker job, and ever since Belle accepted the offer, he has been her support system for when things go awry at the Ashman Mansion. The two get along, with Lumiere being so charming and full of life, the two are constantly thinking up ideas of how to make Adam smile.

the social network:

✧  INCOMING MESSAGE from GASTON: Baby, just one date. I promise I don’t bite too hard.

✧  (10) MISSED CALLS from GASTON.

✧ RECENTLY  READ: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

✧  NOW PLAYING: Another Story by The Head and The Heart.

Interested in Belle? She is currently TAKEN.