truerlifebegin

[truerlifebegin]

Belle has moved to my multi

She can now be found @moretreasurewithin

[truerlifebegin]

[truerlifebegin]

Belle has moved to my multi

She can now be found @moretreasurewithin

[truerlifebegin]

“I want you to give yourself more credit.” Belle answered firmly. “I need help, Vince. I can’t do everything on my own. The house and chores I can handle to an extent, especially since I’m not working anymore. As long as they sleep I have time to do that. But I need a hand with the girls. I know you’re tired from work and you need to rest. I’m not saying anything about that. But so do I. I haven’t slept a wink in days. I’m on the verge of collapsing. It might seem like I have it easy being a stay at home mom, but it isn’t. You do realize that I’m doing the work of a childcare provider, a maid, a cook, a banker, and a therapist all at once, right? And without pay or a trace of thanks?”

Sighing deeply, hazel eyes closed tight. “I know you love being at the hospital. And I know we need the money. Do I think it would be good for the girls and I if you cut your hours back a little, yes. But only because I hate seeing you pull double and triple shifts. But I know we need the money. It’s not my place to tell you what to do about work. That’s your decision. But could you please, please, take them for a few hours at least, so I can sleep? Right now, that’s all I want. The rest we can talk about later when I’m actually cognizant.”

"Your whole life is there, right in front of you." Belle to Vince

“I know.” This was far too common of a conversation for him, “I just have to stop being such a coward, and live it.”

[truerlifebegin]

Belle wanted to be hopeful. She wanted to believe that she had a chance to escape. But Mary’s agreement at her observation did drain it from her significantly. “We may have to find someone from outside the area to help. I know Gaston holds a lot of sway here. Perhaps not as much as you and Chris, but still a great deal. If he gets word, or an inclination, of what we’re doing, he’ll pull strings to make it impossible.

Looking down at her own cup, the girl’s heart grew despondent once more. “I never wanted this.” She whispered. “My sisters and Tristan have already made good matches. That should have been enough… Henri and I should have been able to decide for ourselves. Adam was the better choice. He had a higher standing and more money. I don’t know how this happened.”

Mary’s sudden outburst drew Belle from her grief with a jolt, and she looked up confused for a moment. “How will that prove anything? Any blood found on sheet could just as easily have come from a monthly cycle. Especially if it was early or an accidental leak.”

Still, if it was her only hope… Belle looked down at her clammy, clenched hands and sighed. “What do we have to do?”

The Complexities of Marriage--Truerlifebegin

[truerlifebegin]

“I’m a little hurt he didn’t let me help with this. Genius or not.” She chuckled good naturedly. While she was thrilled that JT had been able to find a way to make it work, she would have- in all honesty- liked to have been able to try and assist him, as the three of them had before.  “But it’ll be safe? Have you tested them yet?”

[truerlifebegin]

Belle’s jaw dropped, and her heart began to race so hard, she could feel it in her ears. And as her fiance’s smile only grew, she let out an ecstatic squeal. 

“Oh my god! Vince! Are you joking?! We’re going to Italy! Italy!”

Charging forward, she wrapped her arms tightly around him and squeezed as hard as she could. Belle couldn’t believe it. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d dreamed of going to Italy. She wanted to see Verona, and Padua. Genoa and Siena. Lake Garda, Lake Como. Everything. She wanted to see it all. And now, she’d finally get the chance! And with the love of her life at her side!

"I promised I would never leave you." Belle to Vince

“I know but, I’m just saying, this is your chance to make a run for it.” 

[truerlifebegin]

“You’re positively insufferable sometimes.” Belle laughed, shaking her head and giving him a playful shove. “You know that? They better canonize me after I die, because I have the patience of a saint.”

Making a face at Vince, she stuck her tongue out. “Who are you calling stubborn? I’m a saint, remember?”

"You wonder if we made a mistake. It's written all over your face." Belle to Vince

“Not a mistake.” Vincent shook his head, eyes fixed on her, “More like, I’m wondering how I’ve gotten so lucky. Why, after all the things I’ve done, I’ve been so… blessed, with you… our life…Babies on the way… I don’t know if I deserve all of that.” 

[truerlifebegin]

“Oh...” Belle answered, biting her lip and looking away. “Oh, I’m sorry... That must have been terrible. I remember all the attacks back home... There were 3 of them in 2015 alone, and that’s just in Paris. I remember being so frightened. My father was reluctant to let me go to University back in the city because of it all. Now, I’m nervous about him being there alone. He doesn’t live in Paris, thankfully, but it could happen even in a small village like Ribeauvillé too.”

She looked up at him with a new admiration in her eyes. “I’m sorry for all you must have gone through. I can’t even begin to imagine what you must have seen, or what you had to do. No one should ever have to go through that. But I think you’re very brave for making that sacrifice and taking that chance. Not everyone would. I certainly couldn’t.”

[truerlifebegin]

It was sad, but it was true. One couldn’t remain the same person they were as a child. Even those that had some level of similarity were changed somehow. Change was just a fact of life, and people had to grow to adapt to it. Besides, who really did want to remain the exact same as they were when they were small? 

“Oh yes!.” Belle smiled kindly. “But maybe it isn’t meant to. We grow, and we change. But we learn too. Some things we learn may not be easy or things we wanted to know. But I’ve found it’s usually things that we need to know. But that doesn’t mean that we should lose faith, or that we can’t be young at heart and still believe.”

“I’m Belle, by the way. Belle Sauveterre.”

@truerlifebegin continued from here

He smiled at the French girl. She appeared rather excited over the topic of fairy tales. He nodded his head. “Well, that is understandable. We are very different from the children we used to be. Some magic just doesn’t stay as we grow older.” He nodded his head yet again as she continued on. “Yes, I agree, fairy tales can help with all of that.” Aladdin frowned lightly. “It is just a shame some kids are unable to hold on to the faith and MAGIC that comes from fairytales.”

[truerlifebegin]

Belle snorted before her slurred voice answered. “What’s it look like? ‘M drunk.” 

Shaking her head, and making herself dizzy, the young woman returned to her packing. “If ‘rvryone else can... can too.” 

“Everything will be fine.” Vince insisted and, though he knew it was a stupid question to ask, concern was evident in his features. “What happened to you?” Vincent had never seen Belle drink to this extent, perhaps become a bit tipsy yes, but not ever so sloppy.

[truerlifebegin]

Eyeing the stranger up, Belle sighed. Her hazel eyes shifted their gaze straight on as her head shook. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. But I can’t say I’m not disappointed. I had hoped that there was somewhere I could really belong…”

It wasn’t that she was looking for some world where there were no problems. Belle was well read, and knew that even the most picturesque of places had their issues. It was why literature existed. One couldn’t have a story without some outside force to drive it onward.

What she wanted was a place that was fair. That wouldn’t try to hold half of its population back just to make the other half feel more secure in the power that no one ever tried to take away.

For as long as she could remember, people treated her differently. They seemed to fear her, even before she could truly read. They thought her a freak even as little more than a toddler. Before she could properly speak!

Her face falling, Belle bit her lip, and fiddled with her fingers. “I shouldn’t have to change who I am to belong. Nor should you. No one should have to. I can’t help who I am. Even when I tried to act more like them, they just kept on doing it. They’re bound and determined to hate me no matter what I do or don’t do. So I won’t change what makes me me again. Why should I when they’ll be just as cruel, if not worse? I’m no threat to people’s souls just because I read and invent! I just want to be accepted like everyone else. I’m starting to feel as if there’s nowhere in this world that will see value in me. Like I don’t belong anywhere…. Like I shouldn’t be here.”

It was a feeling she couldn’t quite explain. But Belle had felt it all her life. It was a sort of restlessness, a sense of unease and disturbance. “Do you ever feel like maybe there’s somewhere else you’re supposed to be?” She asked the man. “I know there has to be somewhere for me, but… It’s preposterous, but I feel like I belong in a fairy tale more than real life. Like this world is too small for me…”

A Curse Over the Village--Truerlifebegin

[truerlifebegin]

Sitting up in bed, Belle’s brow furrowed. That didn’t sound like their father at all. She certainly hadn’t noticed any changes in him. What could be the problem?

“Are you saying Papa did all that? But why?” She asked. “Sure, he gets frustrated, but he usually always calms down whenever any of us encourage him. He’s never actually destroyed anything before...” 

And worse, Belle felt terrible. Poor Sophie seemed to be carrying so much. She needed to start picking up her share of the work instead of running to the hills all the time. 

“What are we going to do? Maybe he just needs a break? What if all of us take a trip to the next village? Maybe that would calm him down?”

“I’m so tired.” (wisdomofahomeruler, Sophie)

I’m traaaash I’m sorry

@wisdomofahomeruler

Givingher sister a sympathetic look, Belle sighed. “Here, come and crawl into bedwith me, Sophie. It’ll be like when we were little. When you used to keep thenightmares from haunting me. Now I can protect you.” Lifting her sheets up, shenodded. “Come. Soph, come on.”

[truerlifebegin]

Was Tristan right? Did Belle alienate her sister as much as Brigette did her? Was she just as guilty of being awful? Biting her lip and looking away, she sighed. “Well, I can’t get it if no one bothers to tell me. How am I supposed to know things that no one thinks I deserve to know? I’m not a mind reader, Tristan.”

Brow furrowing and jaw dropping, Belle froze. She had to have misheard. She couldn’t have heard what she thought she heard. There was no way... There just couldn’t be. 

“Brig... Brigette’s been pregnant?” She gasped. “What? When?”

This was a stunning revelation. For so long, Belle had thought that only Sophie, and now she, had ever been preparing to give birth. But Brigette had never had a baby! Did that mean... Had she lost it too? Like Sophie had? 

“Tristan, you need to tell me.”

[truerlifebegin]

Holding her silence as he spoke, Belle closed her eyes and sighed. This was so fucked up... All of it. They were children, children being asked to kill for the sport of people who didn’t give a damn about any of them in the first place. The Capitol didn’t care who won. They didn’t care about what would become of the families of the fallen, or the trauma done to the victor when all was said and done. So long as they got their bloodbath, they didn’t have any other cares. 

“There has to be a way... A way to survive without killing.” 

Was that just wishful thinking? Was she never going to walk out of here? Katniss had Peeta fighting for her. She had no one. No one but herself. And the girl doubted she’d be strong enough. 

Glancing up at him with a small smile, Belle nodded. “I can tell. I think anyone watching your interview could tell that you care for her deeply. And she’s a lucky girl. I’ve... I’ve never had anyone care about me like that. What’s it like? Being in love?”

[truerlifebegin]

“Darling, I could probably end your life if I really wanted to.” Belle answered, rolling her eyes. “So could anyone else. That’s my point. You’re giving Grace these hypothetical urges she doesn’t have. Just be glad you’re French and not English.” 

“Collecting swords doesn’t mean someone’s violent! That’s beyond absurd! I collect keys. Does that mean I’m a cat burglar?”

Laughing loudly, she shook her head in return. “Sometimes I wonder about you. You’re the most dramatic person I’ve ever met in my life.”

[truerlifebegin]

Trying to keep her face hard, Sophie gave a small scoff and held her head high. In that instant, she looked remarkably like her mother when Belle’s temper struck. The princess kept her silence, trying to seem like she wasn’t going to dignify the question with an answer.

The truth, though, was that she was trying to decide who she would have chosen. 

“Maman.”