#ɪᴛ'ꜱ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʸᵒᵘ'ˡˡ ˢᵉᵉ ( threads. )

[strangcbeauty]

who: @beastlyadam where: main st.

It was late for a weeknight. Almost everything on the street had closed for the evening, though there was still a light on at Rose's Books as Belle was reorganizing the shelves as she usually did once every few months. That's the thing, her store was ever-changing so no one ever got too comfortable in their niche and were able to see new books they'd never considered before. So far it has worked well and allowed people to truly 'explore' a bookstore again. Tonight she finished a little later than usual. There had been a small mishap with the science fiction section that she had to clear up, having realized after she switched it that it was the same place they'd been the last rotation. Finally, she was finished for the night which meant she'd be able to go home and enjoy a warm cup of tea while finishing her own read. Belle locked the front door before pulling her coat close to her figure as she started to walk down the street to where she'd parked her car. That was until she got stalled by a figure going in the opposite direction, seeing familiar curls poking out from beneath the hood of their jacket. "Adam? Is that you?" Belle questioned as she instinctively reached out to stop him. "What're you doing out here at this hour? Were you organizing books too?"

[pastprovincial]

who: tiya ( @faiirytalcs​ where: grind your gears 

What was supposed to be a quick stop for a cup of tea turned sideways when she took a sip and immediately tasted black coffee. It wasn’t that she didn’t like coffee but this must have been someone else’s that they put her name on by mistake. There was only one other woman standing there as she went back to make sure she hadn’t grabbed the wrong one and they just messed up her order. “Did you happen to get a dark roast?” Belle held up the cup in her hand with a small smile. “Just making sure I didn’t make yours by accident.” 

[strangcbeauty]

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There was something comforting about the library to Belle. Of course, she loved her bookstore, it was like a child to her after years of getting it off the ground. That didn't mean that she didn't enjoy a trip to the library. This was where she was able to roam the aisles without knowing what she'd find and got to explore different sections before picking something new. She liked to read a variety to make sure that her own collection in the store was filled with a book for everyone. Belle prided herself on getting people to read who might not otherwise find a book they enjoyed, taking time to help anyone who needed some guidance on what suited them. Today she'd found a science fiction novel that one of the teenage boys that came in kept raving about and she wanted to see what all the hype was about. The only thing that pulled her from the world it created was the familiar voice of Adam. "Ah, yes," she chuckled. "It wouldn't be my usual choice but I must admit it's captivated me and I haven't been able to put it down. One of my regulars kept telling me I had to read it so I figured it was about time." Belle gave him a warm smile and glanced over the book he'd brought. "What world are you exploring today?" She asked, nodding towards the paperback in his hands.

closed starter for @strangcbeauty​ location: echo isle library

With a personal collection as extensive as the one he had in his estate, there really was no need for someone like Adam to spend any time at all within the local library. But yet, at least once a week he could be found roaming throughout the aisles, seemingly aimless as he only stopped every few minutes to look at the books. No, instead his attention was always drawn to the passing byers walking around the shelves themselves, almost as if he were waiting for a specific someone to come by. Which, well, he was. Some trips were less successful than others - he’d lap the entire building a few times before heading out, not a single book borrowed. But other times, like today, his luck won out and he’d find the brunette he was so unsubtly looking for. Removing the bunched up paperback he’d stuffed in his back pocket, one of her own personal copies, Adam slowly approached the woman as he glanced down at the book in her own hands. “Hmm. I would have taken you for more of a romantic than that,” he comments, smiling softly as her head snaps up to face him. It was never easy, seeing her again and knowing that she still has no recollection of their time and lives together before the curse. But it was as if he couldn’t simply just stay away. Being without her was worse than any pain simple small talk may cause. “It’s a good book, don’t get me wrong. You’ll probably love it. But you just struck me as more of a, well, a romance kind of girl.”

[strangcbeauty]

who: @blaiselumi where: les trois compères

A sliver of truth had been revealed in the last conversation she had with Adam. Something was being hidden from her, Belle was certain of it now after only going off a hunch prior to that. Now the harder piece of the puzzle would be finding out what it was. The brunette headed to the person she thought would be the easiest to crack, not to mention the one who'd become her close friend. They went to each other for just about everything which gave her all the more reason to come to him for help. Nothing would be going on with Adam, who had gone without Blaise knowing; he was always the center of things at the Bete estate. She came in with a fresh cup of coffee and a smile. "Bonjour," the brunette greeted him while pushing the cup of Joe across the bar. After a long shift, she certainly needed one and hoped he did as well. "Busy day today? Need a hand cleaning up? There's something I wanted to pick your brain about."

[strangcbeauty]

who: @bigdaddieg where: rose's bookshop

She tried to find a smile when he walked in but it was always a little difficult when she already knew what was coming. One of her most frequent visitors was someone who didn't even read and that was Gaston. It wasn't a secret that he had been trying to win her over and Belle was having nothing of the sort. All she'd ever gotten from him was a sense of cockiness with a side of douchebaggery. Both of which she wasn't at all interested in getting to know further. Still, he never seemed to take the hint and continued to come back, though she couldn't understand why since he never seemed to actually read any of the books here in the first place. Belle always smiled when customers came in and then gave a warm greeting but when she saw it was him she turned back to the shelf to keep stocking books. "Hello Gaston," she said with a sigh. "Have you actually come to purchase something or just loiter as usual?"

[strangcbeauty]

who: @blaiselumi where: belle's apartment

The brunette turned around with a freshly brewed cup of tea in each hand, setting one on the counter for Blaise who sat on one of her barstools. Belle preferred to stand, her eyes moving from his cup up to him, and followed with a smile. "English breakfast, just the way you like it." Something was usually afoot when it came to Blaise, as he had a way about him that enticed trouble, though it was typically in the form of a blonde or brunette. He certainly had a way with women and in turn, he would get tangled in all sorts of things. That's when Belle came in, making sure he didn't get too twisted up in his own head. Whether it was a woman, the restaurant, or something involving a mixture of the two she was happy to listen. She gave a gentle blow to the top of her mug before taking her first sip, looking across at him as she did. "So, now that we have our tea, explain to me what happened."

[strangcbeauty]

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Her attempt to escape Gaston's gaze was futile. Even though she'd hoped he caught her hint it was unlike as he seemed to live in a world of his own delusions. There was a brief time when she thought he was charming but that lasted all of ten seconds on their first meeting. His desire to swoon her was never specific to Belle, in fact, he didn't know the first thing about her or what she liked. Of course, there were opportunities to find out and even when she did, it wasn't like he listened. That is the thing about Gaston he didn't care about anyone besides himself enough to pay attention.

The brunette looked over her shoulder at him while she continued to replace books to their proper place on the shelf. If it was her choice that wouldn't have been the book she'd give anyone she liked but it wasn't like he'd read it anyway. Perhaps that was the sort of novel that deserved to become a doorstop which she assumed would be its only purpose to him. "Is that so? How strange." She said offhandedly, knowing he wouldn't notice the difference. It was his next comment that actually grabbed her attention. That was an offer she felt overstepped the limitations of their relationship thus far but she couldn't deny her curiosity. "You want me to be your date to a wedding? Gaston... I'm flattered but are you sure that's a good idea? You don't know the first thing about me. Wouldn't you prefer to take a girl you know better? One you might have something in common with so that you could actually enjoy the evening?"

Gaston flipped the book around, noting that he didn't recognize the author. Shrugging his shoulders, he accepted the book as it was. If it was a gift from Belle, he wasn't about to decline. In his mind, this was his victory – a successful attempt at pretending to have read the book. He imagined Belle might even believe he enjoyed it. Gaston's self-assuredness soared; after all, he was Gaston. Handsome and smart, that he sure is.

As Belle shifted to another aisle, Gaston naturally followed, taking the opportunity to flaunt his muscular physique while continuing their conversation. "I'll take this gift from you, darling. It's the first time you've ever given me something," he declared with confidence, fully convinced that Belle was finally showing genuine interest. He interpreted her actions as a sign of growing affection. There was no other conclusion than that. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he proposed another idea, his grin widening. "Or how about something different? Would you like to come with me to a wedding? I assure you, it'll be a grand event."

[strangcbeauty]

who: @attaant​ where: lucky cat cafe

Regardless of what anyone said Belle would argue that Lucky Cat had the best cup of black tea on the whole Isle, making for an even better London Fog. When it came to the baked goods she was a longtime fan of the apple fritter and frequented the cafe for her lunch break. Whether she got a sandwich or a pastry she knew it would be good. Today she had more time than usual and found a table outside for her to enjoy her meal. While she stared at the menu she scooted in her chair for the blonde woman to sit at the table beside her. After giving her a small courteous smile she thought nothing of it until she was deciding between something savory or sweet. “Excuse me, so sorry to bother you but may I ask for your help on the strangest thing,” she said with a soft laugh, turning in her chair. “I simply can’t decide: savory or sweet?”

[strangcbeauty]

who: @angelangeliques where: les deux compères

She had been spending more time at the hotel than she had expected when Adam first came through the doors of her bookstore. Even she was surprised by the things that had changed and the people she had met through him. One of them was Angelique who had quickly become her closest friend. Belle had never expected to meet people like her through the man who she was paying for a debt. There was also nothing more needed after a long week than sitting with her friend, drinking wine, and talking about what had happened the past few days. "How did your blind date end up going?" She asked while lifting her wine glass to her lips to take a sip. It always seemed that the more interesting romantic events happened to Angelique. Belle preferred to listen than anything like that, feeling quite content on her own. "And before you ask no, nothing interesting happened. Kit is lovely company. He's well-read and has wonderful taste in tea. That is all."

[pastprovincial]

who: @angeliquealexandre​ where: aile ouest

After staying late at the bookstore to finish sorting some new arrivals Belle’s first stop was the bar once arriving home to her complex. It wasn’t that she needed a glass of wine but it would be the best way to unwind after a long day at work. Perhaps after she’d even treat herself to a face mask while watching a rerun of Bewitched since it was always on late anyway. She wasn’t expecting anyone to join her at the bar but seeing the blonde sitting a seat away from her caught her attention. Angelique was more poise than Belle, holding herself with a certain pride that she couldn’t help but admire. “The party for New Years was nothing short of amazing, you really outdid yourself.”

[strangcbeauty]

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Belle was happy that the woman was joining her, pleased to have someone to talk to. "Apple is my favorite, can't go wrong with the classics, but sometimes their seasonal flavors win me over. Especially in the fall, don't get me started," she said with a soft laugh, throwing some of her hair over her shoulder. It wasn't unusual for her to meet someone who had come by the store. Belle remembered many of the faces but not all. Those who came more than once always caught her eye, especially if they had a specific taste in literature. She liked to keep note of what people were buying so that she could order new things in that genre for people to try. "I hope now you'll come by again, next book you get is on me." Belle enjoyed giving them to people who loved to read as she did. She thought something like that should be shared. Although she was caught off guard at the mention of Gaston. "Oh, uh, yes, I know Gaston. He comes in from time to time to loiter. I don't think he's ever actually purchased a single book there," she said trying to bite her tongue but unable to hold back the annoyance in her voice.

Atta pushed her chair over per her new friend's suggestion with a smile, leaning over the menu to see the flavors for herself. "That's a fantastic idea," she agreed, "I typically go for the classic apple, but I can't say I've tried every flavor here, if you have any suggestions." Her brow raised, unknowing that the brunette she was sitting beside actually was the owner of her favorite bookstore. Atta felt a little silly that she hadn't known all along, given how many times she'd set foot in her shop. "Oh, not strange at all. I can't believe I had no idea--I feel like I must've had you as a cashier so many times, but I'm glad I finally had the guts to say hi to you." Atta paused, unsure how to bring up the Gaston-sized elephant that she knew was between them, but didn't know if the brunette was aware of. "Do you happen to know aa guy named Gaston, by any chance? I kind of ran into him in the store the other day, but he doesn't seem like he's the biggest of readers," she joked, letting out a laugh as she attempted to plant the smallest seed.

[pastprovincial]

who: @abeastwithin  where: the rose apartments 

Belle was hiding in her favorite place in the whole town. It was a small corner of her apartment building that had a window and a seat that was perfect for reading. She would bring her favorite book, a blanket, and a cup of tea to sit there and watch the flow of the street. This was where life was simple. It was perfect though because it just so happened it was someone else’s before she found it. After a little bit of convincing he agreed to let her use it too and had a chair brought for him to sit nearby. They never spoke many words there but today she could tell something was on his mind. “Are you going to keep sighing to yourself or do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?” She asked with a gentle laugh, looking up from her book.

[strangcbeauty]

who: @ccogsworth where: les trois compères

Gaston had come into the shop today and driven her up as wall as usual which meant a glass of wine once she got off was necessary. In fact, she might even have two. No one quite bothered her like him as he never seemed to take a hint and continued to pursue something she'd told him was never going to happen. Still, he would come in, talk about how boring books were, and she'd rebuff his advances until he called it a day. Belle released a heavy sigh as she sat at the bar, swirling her wine in the glass as she tried to slough-off the weight of the day. They were starting to clean up when she saw Claude approach her and assumed it was to let her know it was time to leave. "I'll finish this up and get out of your way, I know you are closing soon," she said giving him a small smile. "Unless I could convince you to sit and have a drink with me?"

[strangcbeauty]

@undeadbutcherson cont. from here

Belle nodded, feeling stupid she'd even done this in the first place. The fact she hadn't even noticed was showing how disorganized her mind had felt lately. She'd been so caught up in trying to find answers about the curse, feeling distracted and disconnected from her daily routine at the bookshop. The female started to wrap another towel around her hand and used the other to scan the book on the table. "Of course, I know blood can even make people a little queasy," she said as she tried to continue checking him out. "Again, I am so sorry." Belle could tell he was acting strange but assumed he was one of those people who didn't like the sight of blood or didn't want his time to be wasted. Either way, she was doing her best with one hand to get him out the door. "It'll be $15.08," she said pushing the book across the table with her good hand.

[strangcbeauty]

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Belle shook her head at his comment, though her smile stayed apparent as she continued to listen. He always had a comeback for something and she expected nothing less. By now, she'd be more concerned if he didn't have some witty remark to say. "Sure, you can be the next Covergirl, Blaise," she joked with a slight roll of her eyes. His next question caused her head to tilt at the very complexity of it. To her, it felt out of the blue but to him she knew it made perfect sense as it normally did. "Yes, I've been to a few drag shows myself and watched every season of RuPaul's Drag Race." She paused for a moment, leaning in as her curiosity peaked. "Why do you ask?" Even though she knew it wasn't his purpose for asking, she would love to see him in drag.

She nodded, placing her other hand on her heart, giving a sniffle as if to hold back tears. Of course, once he started to dive deeper into the situation she began to realize how slow they would need to take this. He wasn't seeming to understand the point which meant she'd need to break it down into simpler terms, spelling it out seemed like the best option at this point. "No, I mean, if you want to upset her sure, tell her that. But I meant more in the sense of, does she know you regret it? Does she know that you felt bad about it? Does she know that you cared about her as well as your ex?" Belle took another sip before returning to her point. "Quite a mess that they're friendly. They must not know, I assume?" Another web he'd gotten himself tangled in and she would do her best to help him find a way out. His words made her want to place a palm to her forehead at the simple mind of a man but instead, she continued to flesh it out for him. "Not quite, more in the sense of... A woman needs to know they are a priority in your life, and that if you do have an emergency you need to run off to that you aren't returning to it isn't an ex-girlfriend. I can imagine it made her feel quite uncomfortable and uncertain about where your loyalty lay. Do you see what I'm saying?"

"Pink is fine. I think Claude likes pink," he said casually, taking another sip of his tea. Moments like this with Belle felt therapeutic, like a leisurely walk through a counseling session, even though he had never experienced one. But if he were to imagine it, this might be close. Blaise chuckled as Belle continued discussing self-worth. "Sounds like a Maybelline commercial, but alright," he teased. "I've been trying to expose myself to culture. Are you familiar with drag queens?" This concept was new to Blaise, but ever since Claude came out to them, Blaise felt a personal responsibility to educate themselves, to bridge any perceived differences. And honestly, Blaise enjoyed the process of learning—it was expanding his worldview more than anything else.

"I understand it must be difficult for you," he briefly touched her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before pulling back and leaning back in his chair, sharing a laugh. "Know what? That my ex called needing me? I don’t think that will help my case, and besides, they’re being friendly now, it gets worse every day.” He let out a frustrated sigh, disappointed in his own actions. "What did Fifi need from me? I spent the entire day with her. And the call felt like an emergency. Should I have declined? Was I wrong for not saying no?"

[strangcbeauty]

tag dump.