Another Pretty Face [Belle]

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Henry was really starting to hate the library.

He'd been here five times this year, and every time he managed to get himself more hopelessly lost. And every time it seemed to end in some sort of incredibly awkward conversation. He was almost ready to starve in here rather than ask for help again and risk looking like an idiot.

Somehow, though, his sense got the better of him. He grabbed the single book he'd managed to find (with help of a librarian, who had promptly walked off) and began looking for someone to help him find the rest of the texts on his list and the way out.

He spotted someone, a young woman, from behind. "Excuse me," he said, walking up to her. "I'm sorry, but could you help me? I'm looking for something called 'The Annals of Rome,' and if you knew how to get out of here that would be great, too. Just some quick directions, really."

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Belle had been sitting in the library for nearly three hours, and didn't really intend on leaving soon. Particularly engrossed in a rather hefty and aged book, Belle had nearly missed the voice behind her.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry, but could you help me? I'm looking for something called 'The Annals of Rome,' and if you knew how to get out of here that would be great, too. Just some quick directions, really."

Belle turned and smiled. the voice came from a boy, royal looking and fairly handsome, but also very bored looking. Bored...in a library. Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous.

She looked through the stacks and piles of books near her. She had grabbed random handfuls off the shelves and could swear she had seen the title he was looking for.

"Ah, 'The Annals of Rome'. Here you are. I grabbed it on a whim, but it wasn't all that captivating, I must admit." She replied lackadaisically, handing him the large book. "Why on earth would you want to leave if you've just gotten here? You've got a book, and libraries are for reading." She explained, gesturing widely to the libraries interior.

"Unless of course you have some pressing matter that needs attention. In which case, you'll be looking to go up the fantasy isle, left, left, straight, continue past biographies and theres the door." She said rather boredly. She couldn't understand some of these people. Here she was in this vast and grand library, with row upon rows of thrilling stories, and yet, she heard people complain of being 'bored'.

Absolute nonsense.

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Oh dear. She was very pretty, wasn't she? Henry forced himself to stop staring after he felt his mouth drop open slightly. And yet she didn't even seem the least bit interested in him. What kind of a response was that?

"On a...you just grabbed it?" He was completely baffled by this. He had to read it for a history class--why would anyone read books for fun? He took the book and added it to his other, then glanced down at his list. "Well I do still need two more books," he murmured. "But then I want to leave. Libraries are for getting books, not for staying. Otherwise they wouldn't make it so hard to breathe in here." Even just standing there he imagined the books would fall down on him and make it impossible to get away.

"I...I'm sorry, could you repeat those directions? And uh, where's the fantasy aisle?" These people and their books. Next time he would just bring a marker and draw arrows everywhere to know where he was. "So I don't really know this place very well, so maybe it would be better if you could show me? Is there a map or something?"

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He was staring an awful lot wasn't he? Belle wondered vaguely if she had something on her face. She smiled awkwardly.

"Well I do still need two more books, But then I want to leave. Libraries are for getting books, not for staying. Otherwise they wouldn't make it so hard to breathe in here."

Belle scoffed audibly at his comment. 'Not for staying.' Really? "Actually, staying and reading kind of is the point of them." She commented somewhat pointedly. "What other books are you looking for? " She asked, standing up, and looking at him. He was handsome..

"I...I'm sorry, could you repeat those directions? And uh, where's the fantasy aisle? So I don't really know this place very well, so maybe it would be better if you could show me? Is there a map or something?"

Belle rolled her eyes smirking. "tell you what, I'll help you find the other books, and then if you still want to leave I'll take you to the door, alright?"

Pushing her chair in she laughed quietly. He must be a prince. Bad with directions, itching to get out of the library. He had that save the day kind of demeanor. Yeah, a Prince indeed. Hunting, riding, swordfighting. Those were probably his things. Reading apparently, was not. Belle thought it quite the pity.

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"Uh, Lives of the Caesars and The Rise of Rome. What do you mean you're supposed to stay in a library? Then why would they let you take home books? This is like...a storage place. You get what you need and leave." And as quickly as possible. He was confused by her attitude toward books, but then what else was new? It seemed like all the girls here enjoyed a good book, or at least most of the ones he seemed to meet.

As she stood, Henry shifted from foot to foot. On the one hand, spending more time with a pretty girl. On the other, potentially being further made to look stupid by said pretty girl. Ah, when was he someone to care about pride, anyway?

"Sounds good to me. I have the titles here, and these numbers and letters that the librarian wrote down." He showed her the card he was reading off of. "I'm guessing these mean something, but I still haven't figured out what."

If they were going to be talking to each other for more than a quick chat..."I'm Henry, by the way." He stuck out his hand, unsure if she would actually take it. "Henry Charming. I've been here for a couple months now. What about you? I don't really remember seeing you before."

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"Uh, Lives of the Caesars and The Rise of Rome. What do you mean you're supposed to stay in a library? Then why would they let you take home books? This is like...a storage place. You get what you need and leave." And as quickly as possible. "Oh yes. This is just a fancy book hotel. The chairs and sofas and tables are merely here for decoration." She argued sarcastically. She meant it as a joke of course, and hoped he didn't take it too seriously. Upsetting people was not on her list of things to do. She preferred friends as to enemies or people who were cross with her.


"Sounds good to me. I have the titles here, and these numbers and letters that the librarian wrote down." He showed her the card he was reading off of. "I'm guessing these mean something, but I still haven't figured out what."

She laughed a little. "Think of those as....the books addresses." She said glancing at the card. She knew where those were. She knew where a lot of the books were, actually.

"I'm Henry, by the way." He stuck out his hand. "Henry Charming. I've been here for a couple months now. What about you? I don't really remember seeing you before."

Belle took his hand "I'm Belle. I've only been here...oh about a week? I haven't met too many people just yet. And Charming, huh? We'll see about that." She smiled.

Still having hold of his hand she proceeded to pull him down the isles in search for his books. she would've let him follow her instead, but the chances of him getting lost by not keeping up, seemed rather likely.

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Henry looked around at the chairs, really seeing them for the first time. "I guess I figured people just got tired of walking around all the time," he said, trying to explain himself. "I didn't really think anyone would want to spend extra time here." He looked around at some of the people who were sitting and reading. Didn't they have anywhere better to go?

"Address?" he asked, confused. "Oh. Like where they live? I've heard about that." He shrugged. "We just have different castles and villages at home. You just say their name and what town they're from. Then you send it to the church, since basically it's just the priests who can read anyway." He looked over her shoulder at the card, trying to understand how little numbers and letters could say where something was. "And when you need directions, you just say things like 'over the hill over there and past the big rock.' I don't really understand the rest of this stuff."

He was grateful that she was willing to shake hands with him instead of just basically ignoring him. He didn't really appreciate being ignored. "The Charming is a name, not a description," he said, using the same monotone with which he had been delivering that line for almost a year now. "So, Belle, you're new?That's great, you have lots of chances to meet new people. I'll bet you find people in your classes to talk to...you are taking classes, right?"

He followed her around the library, hand still in hers. It felt a bit strange being led around like this, but he decided to go with it. At least it wasn't him doing the hand-holding and having the girl try to pull out of it this time. "Belle?" he said after a moment. "Doesn't that mean 'beauty' or something?" And his eyes began to widen as he remembered all of the fairy tales he had researched. "Um, you wouldn't happen to have met some big hairy guy recently?"

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"I guess I figured people just got tired of walking around all the time, I didn't really think anyone would want to spend extra time here." He looked around .

"People sit and read here because its peaceful. It makes it easier to...fall into the story, let yourself build that world around you a you read."She explained whimsically. "It's kind of like daydreaming. If you have all this noise around you, it's harder to do. But in the quiet you can make an entire world in your head."

"Address?" he asked, confused. "Oh. Like where they live? I've heard about that. We just have different castles and villages at home. You just say their name and what town they're from. Then you send it to the church, since basically it's just the priests who can read anyway." He looked over her shoulder "And when you need directions, you just say things like 'over the hill over there and past the big rock.' I don't really understand the rest of this stuff."

Belle pointed at one set of numbers, and then pointed to a small plaque on one of the shelves, and explained briefly how the system worked. Belle never really cared for the system anyhow, all she needed was the genre and she preferred to hunt for it.


"The Charming is a name, not a description," he said, in a very monotonous voice. She smirked. She had thought it was obvious it was his last name, unless he was absurdly cocky and wanted to tell people he was charming each time he met someone. She chose to think better of him and went with, apparently, the corect choice."I assumed as much, else you wouldn't have said it. I was moreso saying that as a 'we'll see if you live up to your name' kind of thing."

"So, Belle, you're new?That's great, you have lots of chances to meet new people. I'll bet you find people in your classes to talk to...you are taking classes, right?"

"I am. English,Literature,Science..and a few others. Mine haven't started just yet, though. I suppose since I've only just gotten here... You?"She replied absently, looking up and down the shelves.

He followed her without much resistance. Thankfully. "Belle?" he said after a moment. "Doesn't that mean 'beauty' or something?.....Um, you wouldn't happen to have met some big hairy guy recently?"

"My full name is Belle La Beauté,and I suppose it does mean 'beauty'. But so far as big hairy guys..." She giggled at the thought."I can't say I've met any yet."

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Henry's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of this imagery. Building worlds? What was she talking about? "O...kay..." he said. "So you study better when it's quiet." That made more sense. He could understand needing quiet to study his lessons and work on his training.

He glanced at the numbers on the card and the numbers on the shelves. They made no sense. J452.34-JE361? What did that even mean? Belle tried to explain it to him, but it just wasn't clear. He decided it wasn't important for the time being. He might learn it later, if he had to.

Henry winced. "Yeah, we'll see," he said. Personally, he didn't think he had much chance of living up to the Charming name, at least not as it was at home. Here, though, they might have different standards. "I guess it depends on what people want from a charming guy." He could probably fake it, if push came to shove. It might even be fun.

"I'm in an English class, and this is for Ancient World History." He sighed and shifted the books to his other arm. "Then there's maths and psychology, plus fencing and riding, though I guess those aren't really classes. Basically I'm supposed to be taking everything and learning how to be a good prince. All those things you're already supposed to know, right?"

He nodded. She hadn't run into some beast yet. "Well maybe I was wrong, then. I just thought...never mind. So, 'Beauty.' I guess it's good that you already live up to your name, right? I mean, how awkward would it be if...well, but you don't, so that's fine. Anyway. Are we almost there?" Quickly, before his neck goes any more red.

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"O...kay...So you study better when it's quiet." Belle was taken aback...Stud...no. Well, yes, but no. You do dream right? It's all in the mind, the imagination. Okay... Belle released his hand, and stood next to him. her arms gesturing out in front of her. "Imagine all of the books on those shelves, jumping out and twirling around! Or picture yourself in that isle there, dueling against some dark knight, climbing the shelves to steal the advantage! Picture it in your mind, and let yourself see it... that's what some stories can be like. It's like a dream, but the playbill and the script are right in front of you." She explained enthusiastically. She had never had to explain it before...She felt almost sad for Henry. She imagined things constantly, but it was like he had been denied it.

"Yeah, we'll see," he said. He seemed uncomfortable. She guessed the Charming name had high standards. "I guess it depends on what people want from a charming guy."

"Well, I suppose it depends on your definition of charming, really..." She mused.

"I'm in an English class, and this is for Ancient World History." He sighed and shifted the books to his other arm. "Then there's maths and psychology, plus fencing and riding, though I guess those aren't really classes. Basically I'm supposed to be taking everything and learning how to be a good prince. All those things you're already supposed to know, right?"

That certainly was a courseload..but then being a prince can't be easy.

"I've got riding as well. My horse is in the stables somewhere come to think of it. He's not hard to miss though, He's rather large, even for a Clydesdale...I would've taken fencing as well, but...I don't quite know what it is." She admitted, slightly embarrassed. She had looked up books on it and even watched people fence a few times, but the concept of it was lost on her.

He nodded."Well maybe I was wrong, then. I just thought...never mind. So, 'Beauty.' I guess it's good that you already live up to your name, right? I mean, how awkward would it be if...well, but you don't, so that's fine. Anyway. Are we almost there?"
Belle looked away, smirking as he tripped over his words, and blushing at the compliment. He was...awkwardly charming. A little rough around the edges, but it suited him. If he was regal and snooty as most princes were made out to be, Belle would've been walking in silence.

Belle walked ahead of him, stopped, and turned to face him. She gave a small(albeit dramatic) bow. "Welcome, to the Roman Empire. Everything you need to know about Rome, The Romans, their hierarchy, and other bits and pieces." She had spent a good day and a half looking through the library, and familiarizing herself with the different sections and genres. So far she had about a third memorized.

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Henry was very confused as to where this conversation was going. What did dreaming have to do with books? He looked around at all the books on the shelves and glanced around to see if there was some knight coming up to fight him, then turned to Belle. "Why?" he asked finally. "Why would I want to read something about dancing books or fighting knights? I have to fight enough knights in real life, and it's not fun. And I don't like it when things move around me. Magic is never good. Is all reading so...useless?" As soon as the word was out of his mouth he suspected it might be a bad idea, but it was too late to withdraw now.

"Yeah? And what's your definition of charming?" Likely not him. Some short guy who managed to stick his foot in his mouth more often than not? Yeah, not the best. And someone who managed to get lost in the library. Three times. Probably not an ideal character.

Henry shrugged. "Fencing is just swords. Light ones, not those big heavy things you see the knights carrying around. Or the Vikings." He shuddered. "I use a rapier. And I pretend to ride a horse. If you've seen a really cranky black one in the stables, that's mine." Black Charming and Henry were not exactly on the best of terms.

Henry looked at the stack of books Belle had led him to, frowning. "Okay, great. I just need, like, two of these." He looked at the numbers and letters on his card, then looked at the faded type on the books in front of him. "Uh, yeah," he said, "I still don't know how this works."

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"Why?" he asked finally. "Why would I want to read something about dancing books or fighting knights? I have to fight enough knights in real life, and it's not fun. And I don't like it when things move around me. Magic is never good. Is all reading so...useless?"

Belles mouth opened slightly in disbelief. He really didn't get it, and it was absolutely shocking to her. He was more task and duty than dream and imagination. His whole outlook was completely foreign territory to Belle, and she didn't know how to proceed.

Looking around for something, anything that could open Henry up to he idea of finding reading less...'useless'.

Of course! Julius Caesar! Assassination, honour, betrayal. At the very least it was based on true events, so even if he didn't get some spark of interest, perhaps it could help him with his Ancient World History class...Belle plucked it from the shelf, and placed it in his hands, looking almost hopeful.

"Here. Just read it, when you have a chance. It will either make you see things a little differently so far as reading, or it won't change a thing." Smiling, she thought she would have much rathered find him a different work of Shakespeare, but that would have to do.

"Yeah? And what's your definition of charming?"

"Good conversation is always nice. Adventurous, charismatic. Decent manners at the very least, and a sweet sense of humor." That sounded right, atleast, that was Belles version of charming.

Henry shrugged. "Fencing is just swords. Light ones, not those big heavy things you see the knights carrying around. Or the Vikings....I use a rapier. And I pretend to ride a horse. If you've seen a really cranky black one in the stables, that's mine." Belle still didn't get it. She had watched, and admired how the fencers held themselves, all very determined and graceful. Like a ballet..with long pointy rods...
And a cranky horse? Generally horses didn't have anything to be cranky about...Unless they didn't like what was going on. Belle decided she might pay a visit to the stables to go see Phillipe (her horse) and see why his was so 'cranky'

Henry looked around at the books and frowned.
"Okay, great. I just need, like, two of these."
"Well I didn't imagine you'd want the whole Roman section, given your opinion on reading."

He looked at the numbers and letters on his card, then looked in front of him.
"Uh, yeah, I still don't know how this works."

Belle laughed, not in a mocking way mind you. She tilted the card down, ignoring the numbers and looked at the books.

"You don't really need that for this part. Everything is in alphabetical order. Once you find what isle you need to be in, you just look to the titles, find the beginning letter you need....et voila!" She explained as she scanned through the titles. 'Lives of the Caesers' was right near them, so she grabbed it and passed it to Henry.
"What's the next one you need?"

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Henry accepted the book with a small frown. It wasn't on his reading list, but Belle seemed sure that he should look it over. Since she understood books, he decided to trust that she knew what she was doing. "Er, thanks. I guess."

He nodded through her list and them put a hand on his chin in mock thought. "Hmm, yes, I understand what you're saying. Would you settle for three out of five?" Conversationalist, perhaps, adventurous to an extent. Charismatic...maybe? Decent manners down (for the middle ages) and a...sarcastic sense of humor. That might cut it. "Or maybe just variations on those?"

He wasn't sure he'd explained his swordfighting very well, so he decided to tack on. "If you want you can come by the yards and watch. They'll show you what to do and what's going on. People there are usually pretty welcoming."

Henry accepted The Lives of the Caesars and added it to his growing stack. "The Rise of Rome, he said, looking over the books. "M...N...O...P..." He scanned the shelves. "I'm glad I figured out the alphabet here pretty quickly. I hate to think how little sense this would make without that. Ah, R!" He crouched down to look at the bottom shelves where he figured the book would be hiding.

"How do you even know where all of this is? Do you just live in the library or something?"

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"Hmm, yes, I understand what you're saying. Would you settle for three out of five? Or maybe just variations on those?"

"Hmmm. Three out of five isn't bad, neither are variations..So, I suppose that works. " Belle replied.

"If you want you can come by the yards and watch. They'll show you what to do and what's going on. People there are usually pretty welcoming."
Belle thought about it briefly. She was intrigued by it all, even though it didn't make sense to her. She supposed watching them and asking some questions may help her figure it out a little better. She nodded to him, deciding that she would wander down there sometime. If anything it would give her a chance to be somewhere other than the library, though she was perfectly happy staying there.

"The Rise of Rome," he said, looking over the books. "M...N...O...P...I'm glad I figured out the alphabet here pretty quickly. I hate to think how little sense this would make without that. Ah, R!" He exclaimed, bending down.
"How do you even know where all of this is? Do you just live in the library or something?"

Belle laughed. Live in the library. As entertaining a thought it was, she would never sleep if she actually lived there. Too many books to read and not enough time.

"Of course I don't silly. I just like to come here and read. I don't really know what else to do, I haven't met very many people yet." She replied, laughing. It would probably be a good idea for her to get out of the library and out and about. Meet some people, make some friends. Sometimes she couldn't help it though, and reading took over the best of her.

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Hey, he wasn't a complete failure at being charming! At least by Belle's standards. Henry kept from congratulating himself too much by reminding himself that he was talking to a girl who believed that books could come to life and dance around the room. Since when did inanimate objects move? "I'm glad I pass muster, then," he said, finally settling on the comment as a small compliment. It made him feel better.

He found the book he was looking for and pulled it out, blowing some dust off the top of the pages. Funny that; he'd expected everything here to be spotless, taken care of by some invisible hand. Maybe books just attracted dust too quickly to be cleaned? He coughed on the cloud of dust and blinked as his eyes began to water.

"Well you're not going to find a lot of people by just sitting and reading. From what I've seen that's kind of a solitary sport." Henry tucked the stack of books under his arm. "Why don't you try getting out of the library and actually hanging out in the commons area for a while? All sorts of crazies walk through there, and even some of the normal people."

As they made their way out of the library, he remembered a blaringly obvious point. "At least you've met me. And I know a lot of people around the school. So that's at least a step if you want to get to know people. You'd probably get along well with Hermia. She's a friend of an acquaintance-slash-flower-picking-buddy of mine."

He craned his neck to look around. "How are you supposed to find your way around here when all the shelves are so tall?" he muttered. "They could at least post signs."