Judging a Book by the Cover [Active/Open]

[beautiful_tale]

Character(s): Belle, Zexion, Beast, anyone else who'd like to join
Content: Belle runs into "Ian" on her way to the library and comes across Beast for the first time.
Setting: Starting around H4 and ending at Os Dias Sao a Noite.
Time: Morning.
Warnings: None. SUBTERFUGE?

Comments

[sceadu_gemynd]

'I'm heading to the library now,' she'd said. That left him more than enough time to arrange an 'accidental' meeting. It was one of the advantages of the portals that he'd long since grown used to moving through. Of course, he wasn't going to be going as he was. Not by a long shot. By the time he left, he'd already changed from the coat of the Organization to something far more mundane (a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt); by the time the portal dropped him out in one of the alleys along what he hoped was the right path, the disguise had picked up another layer - a careful placed illusion of medium length brown hair to hide his far-too-recognizable silvery hair, which had been carefully pinned out of the way for the occasion.

Now all he needed to do was head in the general direction of the library and hope that he'd picked the right direction. But if not, well, nothing saying they couldn't 'accidentally' meet at the library.

[beautiful_tale]

It was some time before she came across another person on the roads, so when she saw a masculine but short figure ahead, Belle felt an odd sense of relief. For whatever reason, being alone on these ancient-looking streets made her nervous.

She quickened her steps slightly until she was a few feet behind the man. "Bonjour!" she called, her tone friendly and polite.

[sceadu_gemynd]

Ah, so he hadn't guessed wrong. Good to know. That she had decided to speak with him first, even better. No one could accuse him of looking for her that way. Not that he really expected anyone would, but better safe than sorry, as far as he was concerned.

"Good morning," he answered, offering a polite smile and a nod in return.

[beautiful_tale]

Belle matched her pace with his, glancing sidelong at him. "Ah, forgive me if this is rude, but...you don't seem like an average townsfolk." His clothing was odd and his hair wasn't blonde, so perhaps he was another visitor. She smiled, brushing a lock of hair from her eyes. "I'm just interested in people who aren't from around here, like I am."

[sceadu_gemynd]

He certainly hoped he didn't look like a native of the place. He might have considering expanding his repertoire to include that among the possibilities but that was for another day.

"I'm not," he answered simply. "And it's not rude in the least; I don't mind answering questions."

...Most questions anyway, but the questions he'd rather not answer would most likely be answered with lies and half-truths anyway.

[beautiful_tale]

Relieved that the man seemed receptive to conversation, Belle relaxed visibly and faced the road ahead of them as they walked. "Where are you heading, sir? I'm going to the library." Her eyebrows suddenly rose and she nearly stopped in her tracks. "Oh! My name is Belle, by the way."

[sceadu_gemynd]

"Really?" Zexion asked, letting a note of curiosity creep into his voice. Facades, lies, curtains drawn over the truth to hide all but what he wanted to show, whispers to guide the conversation along. In this case, to hide that he wasn't in the least but surprised to meet her here, not that you'd know it by looking at him.

"In that case, we spoke earlier. I'm Ian."

[beautiful_tale]

Belle did stop in her tracks now, lips parted in surprise. "...oh!" As she resumed her walk, she unabashedly observed Ian in obvious curiosity. "My, I didn't expect to see you so soon. I have to admit, I had expected you to look different."

[sceadu_gemynd]

"Nor did I," he answered. Again, this was little more than a lie. He had intended to run into her sooner or later. She'd given him all he needed with her comment, and it never hurt to know more people in the city. Hopefully she wouldn't go the way that most of his contacts seemed to go. It was rather detrimental when your potential allies had a habit of disappearing.

"May I ask what you had imagined me to look like?"

[beautiful_tale]

"Well, I guess...older?" Belle colored slightly as she struggled to find a way to express what her expectations had been without sounding insulting. "The way you spoke, well, wrote, I had the impression of a dignified, severe older gentleman." She absently smoothed a non-existant wrinkle in her apron. "I'm sorry..."