Was it the When or was it the Where that Belle met the Beasr

Squire Posts : 537 Join date : 2021-01-03

{{Late November 2000 AkA twenty years ago}}

She could hate them for this.

She'd never been a fan of the United States and Chicago of all places was where she'd been sent ? Her nose crinkled in distaste at the thought of it. At least it had a passably decent modeling scene that would work well enough for her mortal face. Visits to Europe were still going to be a thing whether the rest of the Council liked it or not.

There was apparently some trifecta that had been on their radar for a while now that was in the Council's eyes 'problematically' unique. While her debts to them had been paid, they weren't an entirely bad crew to run with if you wanted anonymity and security. While she'd paid off her debts, she'd also managed to work her way up in the ranks and when a seat on the inner circle had opened up under the caveat that the current possessor of it needed removing ? She'd been all too willing. The contract she'd written up before hand made sure to cover any loopholes that they might try fucking her with either then or down the road. Prior planning prevents piss poor performance and all.

So there she was. Wandering the city after nightfall, wondering what a girl had to do to get some attention. Not the kind of attention of the catcalls of the clearly human pimps a block back either. Not right now at least. While they were supposed to make the best Dreamers outside of rare instances, too many of them had a tendency to break too easily. Giving a roll of her neck, she decided to say fuck it and just let her feet carry her where they would. Do a survey of the land and all. Maybe meeting one of the 'big bads' on her first night was a little much to ask for.

Which one of them was the Cleopatra ? Or would it be a Gwhenyfar in this case ? It was a sound question as from the dossier it seemed to be a bit of a sausage fest. Not that she was complaining as she was the last to turn down watching some guy on guy on guy action. Also if rumors were true, all three were distressingly pretty. Le sigh. Poor Sephy, no mixing business with pleasure, at least not this business. Not to difficult a thing as those that lessers of the Council got too entangled with tended to just miraculously up and disappear. Granted, she was now true inner circle but old habits just made life easier. Besides, one night stands or three could be fun.

Parks. Dreaming confound it all, what in the blazes was she doing in a park ? A park mind you that now as she actually looked around seemed to be at the heart of a city. Oh well. She'd found herself in stranger places. Trudging forward into the darkness, her feet did seem to have a very set path they were following. Scrubbing a hand back through the ginger colored tendrils that she'd left falling free tonight, she came to a very sudden stop. Such a sudden stop that were it not for her inherent Sidhe grace, she would have went ass over tea kettle. Damnit. Now she wanted tea. It was most unlikely she was going to find a good pot of it anywhere in this land of Godless Heathens.

More importantly however Alyce following down her rabbit hole had just become Belle as there was an honest to the Dreaming castle looming in all of it's ruinous yet majestic glory just ahead. Doing a full look about, it appeared that at least from this side, she'd been the first here in quite sometime. Now there was suddenly a very Gothic sleeping beauty vibe going on. Did that mean she was the knightess in shining armor ? Disturbing, but she could make it work. Make it work damn well actually. If it had to be a castle, it was pretty bitchin as castles went, even in it's forgotten state. Wait.

What if it was unclaimed ?

Throwing all caution to the wind, she made her way to the walls. Letting her magics ripple over her, that was now a raven flying towards one of the uncovered windows. Every good villain needed their lair, and she'd never seen herself as too much the hero type, so this going to be hers, come Hell or Highwater.

High Monarch Posts : 613 Join date : 2012-03-29

The castle she happened upon was massive at first glance, but if one were to step back and look at it, it's mass came from the enormous Oak Tree that seemed to grow from its center. The Giant wooden doors were shut tight, and the grounds stood silent, not even the chirp of a field rat. Once she approaches, however, one of the doors creaks inwards with a 'huff' opening the way. Once inside she would quickly find herself in a grand hall, the roots of the tree stretching downward along the walls, making structural spines in the circular room, reaching inward to a throne that sat on a raised platform further in. Upon the throne sat a stoic statue, one with horns flowing backward along his scalp. His chin rested upon the knuckles of his hand, so if he were simply resting from a long day. His attire spoke of one worthy to sit on a throne. Before the throne sat a single large brazier, lifeless of flame or warmth, the Balefire that belonged was all but extinguished within. The Freehold was indeed all but derelict, and lifeless.

Squire Posts : 537 Join date : 2021-01-03

Well that was down right rude.

So it had looked like there was a window unti she'd reached it and attempted to fly through it. Oh she'd flown through it allright, only to be immediately ejected. Damn Bastards spoiling all the fun. Thus she'd ended up back down below in time to see the heavy entryway creak open. Okay, she'd been jesting with her thoughts, but maybe it had really been sometime since anyone had been here.

So inside she'd flown. If the castle was going to be so polite as to open itself to her, why not take the offer ? Hmm. What appeared to be the throne room had come up more quickly than she'd expected. Magic. She was Fae and wise enough to blame it on the likely truth of the matter. But that tree. The tree was massive and appeared to be part of the actual structure. It caught her attention quite a bit and she got extracted quite a bit studying it. That's when she saw the statue.

At first it caught her off guard enough that she thought it might have been another living person. Dropping out of her chosen form of the moment in a flurry of feathers, she strode towards the throne and unabashedly up to it. Circling around it to get a proper view from all angles, it was quite clear then to be just a statue. Exceptionally, exquisitely well crafted, but statue none the less. That and it was fucking massive. HE was fucking massive. She couldn't remember ever being towered over by a male like this and Dreaming have mercy he was still seated. Of course he'd be a statue. A troll statue at that. It was rumored that a troll male's... Anatomy was proportionate to the size of his horns. Or was it his wings ? Now she couldn't remember to save her life.

Stepping close enough that she could climb up to straddle the statue's lap, she let her fingers play over the statue that was so life like. She was really just waiting for him to wake up and send her flying. Especially considering that at the moment ? Well outside of being hotness made flesh, she looked quite human. There was another rumor... It was said that their horns were as sensitive as lower parts of their body. Arching up. Reaching up, she wrapped long, delicate fingers around one of them as best as she could and gave it a graceful, albeit firm stroke. Yes. She was incorrigible. Audacius. And someday touching something that she shouldn't was going to be the death of her. Finally dropping her hand away she settled back to just cant her head to look up at him.

"As much a shame as it is that you're just a statue, the castle seems abandoned around you. Fear not. I've laid claim to it and I'll make it as homey as I make anything. That and you'll be the perfect confidant and sounding board."