Wanderings of Notre Dame (Open)

[belle]

A young woman in a blue dress stepped out in to the clearing, looking around with great curiosity. She had been walking all day, trying to find her way around this town. It was an awfully big place and Belle was yet to find anyone else she recongise yet. As she gazed around, she found things vaguely familiar. It seemed she had visited this town before but hadn't really been paying attention to where she was going; there had been a particularly good book she was reading at the time.

"Is anyone here?" She called, but nothing could be heard apart from the rustle of the branches on the tree's and the twittering of the birds as they flew overhead. As she stopped to look at her current location she came across a beautiful looking Cathedral.

I know this place.. Thought Belle, a slight frown on her face. She had read about it before, her eyes full of wonderment as they rested upon the large building. Deciding to take a closer look, she slowly made her way towards the building, hesitating for a moment before running her hands along the wall edge and leaning towards the door, wondering whether to go in.

[Lumiere]

<I’ll leave it up to you to decide if Lumiere and Belle have met or not. ^^>

Belle wasn’t the only one out and about, wandering the streets of Paris! Former home to the formerly human Lumiere, the candelabrum had found an excuse to return to the bustling town. While all of the Beast’s former servants had been turned into enchanted objects, the food did not. When the supply in the pantries was getting low, the coachman (now in the form of a creepy carriage) would travel to Paris to acquire new items. The Coachman was a familiar figure on the early morning streets, considered a phantom among the town residents. Merchants readily handed over food in a sacrificial manner, hoping that this would appease this poltergeist and spare them from unknown harm. It would have been an easier journey had the Coachman ventured into the village close to the castle, but the Beast could not risk being discovered by the villagers.

On this particular morning, Lumiere had joined the Coachman on his trip with a shopping list tucked under his tealight candles. Cogsworth had drawn it up the night before because it was easiest for him to do the writing. Mrs Potts had dictated what was needed after they checked the cupboards, pantries, and spoke with the head chef. The trio drew straws to see who travel into Paris, for they rarely had the opportunity to leave the forest that engulfed their home. Lumiere had won fair and square and he promised to bring the others back some type of souvenir. He was dropped off in front of the Notre Dame cathedral, left to wander around, while the Coachman tended to his duties.

“Ah, Paris, how I’ve missed you,” he mused as he hopped up the stone steps.

[belle]

((Okey dokey. )

Belle, half lent on the stone walls of the Cathedral as she hesitated to reach out and go inside, glanced over her shoulder and had to do a double take as to her horror, the coachman that normally resided outside the Castle was traveling right at her! Had the Beast realised she was out of the castle and come to find her?

Taking one last look at the building, she hurried towards the coach as it stopped outside and to her utter astonishment, Lumiere got out of it. He hadn't seemed to have noticed her and was gazing around the town in fondness. As Belle came closer, she couldn't help but sense great nostalgia in the air. She had never known any of the castle staff to venture outside the grounds before; perhaps this had been the first time Lumiere had seen Paris in a very long time.

"I'm so sorry, Lumiere - I know I'm not meant to go outside the Castle gates - " She began in a rush, panting slightly from the running, "I just had to come back here, please tell me The Beast isn't too angry?" She added, feeling a little nervous. If the Beast was angry with them it would be all her fault.

[Lumiere]

Of all people, Lumiere had not expected to see Belle here, for he thought she was back in the castle. As she stared at him through her doe-like eyes, her enchanting voice filled with hints of apprehension, he suddenly felt sorry for her and hopped right up to the girl.

“No, no, chère, it’s nozhing like zhat at all! In fact, ah had no idea you were out here. Did you tell anyone else by chance that you were leaving?” This could lead to big problems if she hadn’t. Once the others knew Belle was missing, they’d be in a frantic panic looking all over for her and if they could not find her they’d have to inform the Beast. Lumiere knew that no one wanted to perform that awful task and with luck they’d just keep quiet and keep searching until the Beast pressed them for answers.

Putting on a brave face, he said as reassuringly as he could, “Don’t worry, Madame. Of course you need some time away from the castle!” He placed a tealight against his chest. “Why do you zhink I have come with the Coachman zhis morning?” His own tone becoming somewhat nervous now, he asked, “But tell me, you were- ahh- planning on coming back, right?”

He knew the Beast could be horrible to live with at times and he and Belle did not exactly start off on the right foot. Lumiere would not blame her for an instant if she had taken this opportunity to break her promise and run away.