Heterosexual Life Partners
I really could not find the female equivalent of the term bromance. This week's Once Upon a Time has convinced me that I just want a show based on Mulan, Belle and Prince Philip as a Power Trio. If necessary, I'll take Belle, Mulan and Aurora (she hasn't quite grown on me just yet). I've only found one fic that does cover this but not in the AU I'm imagining. Another for the writing board after my current bromance project. "The Outsider" pretty much displayed to me why I love Belle and in my opinion is not in an abusive relationship as of this moment.
One, Rumple gives her her space, her privacy. He has more than enough magic to force Belle against her will. He didn't. In fact, he let her go of her own free will back to the library, not knowing if she'd follow his words to the letter, which yeah she didn't but it's the thought that counts that he trusted her. I am not Dearie fan in thinking he is completely innocent or his circumstances defined him. His choices did. In a roundabout way, I use this as an exercise for forgiveness because as M will tell you, I'm one of the most relentless and vengeful people he knows. I need to work on that; this show along with others are good mental exercises for that.
Two, it's not so much she believes she can change him but that she believes he is capable of change and deserving of it. We've seen in earlier episodes that he can be good. There was an image a while ago on Tumblr where we saw Hitler flirting with his lover. The creepiest thing of that was we saw him as a human being, an ordinary person who has caused the world grief. Those who are defined as evil don't set out to be evil. Look at Regina, who I fear we might have pushed right into Cora's arms. We are all gray area beings than black and white. As I will quote again from K. L. Morgan, who has written one of the best Jareth/Sarah fanfics of all time, "but believing someone is capable of change - and believing they are worthy of it, that they are worthy of better standards - is an undeniable facet of real love."
Words to live by.
Also bear in the words Gandalf stated about Bilbo's mercy, "true courage is about not knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one." Belle chose to save a life rather than charge in and kill. That is her strength to be a hero. She states that she dreamed of being a hero and I think this was her own personal standard, to save as many lives as she could, good or ill. It is for this same reason she defeated the yaoguai the way she did and part of what drives her to help Rumple in his own redemption journey.
Also, if there are any fics out there of Grumpy and Belle being platonic life partners, I will also be happy. Mulan and Belle works out so well especially if they're similar to their Disney versions because Mulan was quite book smart in that version. Badass Bookworm BFFs...brain just broke in happiness.
One, Rumple gives her her space, her privacy. He has more than enough magic to force Belle against her will. He didn't. In fact, he let her go of her own free will back to the library, not knowing if she'd follow his words to the letter, which yeah she didn't but it's the thought that counts that he trusted her. I am not Dearie fan in thinking he is completely innocent or his circumstances defined him. His choices did. In a roundabout way, I use this as an exercise for forgiveness because as M will tell you, I'm one of the most relentless and vengeful people he knows. I need to work on that; this show along with others are good mental exercises for that.
Two, it's not so much she believes she can change him but that she believes he is capable of change and deserving of it. We've seen in earlier episodes that he can be good. There was an image a while ago on Tumblr where we saw Hitler flirting with his lover. The creepiest thing of that was we saw him as a human being, an ordinary person who has caused the world grief. Those who are defined as evil don't set out to be evil. Look at Regina, who I fear we might have pushed right into Cora's arms. We are all gray area beings than black and white. As I will quote again from K. L. Morgan, who has written one of the best Jareth/Sarah fanfics of all time, "but believing someone is capable of change - and believing they are worthy of it, that they are worthy of better standards - is an undeniable facet of real love."
Words to live by.
Also bear in the words Gandalf stated about Bilbo's mercy, "true courage is about not knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one." Belle chose to save a life rather than charge in and kill. That is her strength to be a hero. She states that she dreamed of being a hero and I think this was her own personal standard, to save as many lives as she could, good or ill. It is for this same reason she defeated the yaoguai the way she did and part of what drives her to help Rumple in his own redemption journey.
Also, if there are any fics out there of Grumpy and Belle being platonic life partners, I will also be happy. Mulan and Belle works out so well especially if they're similar to their Disney versions because Mulan was quite book smart in that version. Badass Bookworm BFFs...brain just broke in happiness.