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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 8, 2011 16:16:48 GMT -5
Blustery days were always a nuisance...today was particularly bad, however, and Basil wished he hadn't had to leave his rooms. He glanced up in alarm as a hefty blast of wind came towards him, bringing with it a barrage of leaves- thinking quickly, he dived behind the iron leg of a bench, taking cover up against it. His fur was ruffled, and he whipped his tail up to ensure it didn't get battered against the brick wall.
''Charming weather...'' He muttered to himself, though he couldn't help a mild little smile. As unpredictable as the British weather was, he was always fond of it.
The mouse relaxed a little, easing off in bracing against the wind now he was certain he was protected enough. If a carriage were to pass, he would hail it, but for now, he could afford to linger and wait for the wind to die down before carrying on his way home. He allowed his eyes to close against the next gust, however, enjoying it rather more now that he was expecting it, and not at risk of being barrelled backwards along the pavement.
There was something enjoyable about the sound of heavy wind- but more so when he was indoors, seated diligently at his lab table, or lounging in the arm chair with his pipe. Soon enough of course he would be doing both of those things, but there was no reason he could not take advantage of this opportunity to think.
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Post by Belle on Feb 9, 2011 16:00:29 GMT -5
"Oh!"
Belle stumbled a little as she suddenly appeared out of what could only be described as a portal. She glanced back at it, hardly believing her eyes. She had only heard of portals in the many glorious adventure books she had come across, but had no idea that they did or could exist. She continued to stare at it carefully, about to extend her hand when a gust of wind caused her cloak to blow around violently and pull her hood off.
The beauty cast her eyes around to find herself in unfamiliar territory. Where was she? As the leaves continued to flow around her on this blustery day, she noticed a small mouse defending himself against the breeze by hiding behind the leg of a bench. However, it was a peculiar thing that the mouse was wearing clothes, and what was more, was smoking a pipe! She let out a giggle, wondering whether she was dreaming or not.
Not that this encounter was entirely out of the ordinary. After all, being in an enchanted castle was always full of, well... Enchantment. Plus her Papa had always taught her that all things are possible. Belle caustiously edged her way closer, not wanting to startle him. He appeared to be deep in thought.
"Excuse me, monsieur, would you be able to tell me where I am?" She asked, fully aware of her silly she sounded but not knowing how else to say it.
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 9, 2011 17:04:10 GMT -5
A shadow suddenly loomed over him, blocking out the dull sunlight, but where she had come from, he didn't know. He was not so much startled, as completely taken aback, and his pipe, which had just been preparing to light, now hung slightly from his open mouth. Somehow he found the ability to move his paw an grab it, staring up at the woman who had addressed him. Humans never noticed him...
They had certainly never spoken to him, he now realised, as the words sank in to his brain, which was now kick started.
Calm, Basil, logical- think...she had not only noticed and addressed him, but had done so in a friendly manner. She had done it somewhat confidently, as though it were something she did everyday...her accent was apparent. And what was more, as he observed her through the pounding of his heart against his rib cage, she was certainly not dressed like any woman of this day and age...from what he could tell, it was at the very least one or two centuries different...country attire, certainly- perhaps of the peasantry?
''I...I...'' He stammered, still dubious about speaking to a human, but she was looking down on him in a kindly way, and looked quite lost herself. There would be time for questions later, perhaps...he cleared his throat, slipping the pipe safely away into his coat.
''You...are in London, Madam...''
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Post by Belle on Feb 9, 2011 17:19:00 GMT -5
"London? Are - Are you sure?" She exclaimed, raising a hand to her chest as she stared around, completely in awe. How could she be in London? Now Belle had never been there of course, but judging from the pictures she had seen, this looked like a London she had never known. It was much more full of buildings and a lot less countryside. In the distant she could just make out the figures of people; their clothing was nothing like the ones in France. Glancing down at the mouse again she noticed him still gaping at her, looking rather wrong-footed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she added apologetically, immediately crouching down to his level to not look so intimidating, "I didn't mean to startle you. You see, I came here through a... Well some kind of doorway and I'm not sure how it happened." Belle blushed a little, realising how little sense she must have been making. The poor mouse probably thought she was mad... Well, perhaps she was. She was talking to a mouse after all.
To try and reassure him of her sanity, she said after a moment, "I'm Belle. I live in Paris, have you heard of it?"
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 9, 2011 17:40:17 GMT -5
''It's quite alright...'' He ventured, slowly. ''I have never spoken with...one of you, before...''
Despite the peculiarity of the situation, and the fact that this was his first ever conversation with a person, he heard her ask him the question and couldn't help but to laugh briefly, before stopping himself. With a slight smile, remaining just a little wary of her, for it would be foolish not to, he nodded, edging forward a touch closer to be polite when she lowered herself down to speak to him.
''Yes, I have indeed heard of Paris, Miss Belle...'' He replied, half dryly. Heard of it? Well of course...he could only have been an uncultured rodent living in the depths of London's sewers not to know about the capital city of France...however, he frowned at himself, and backtracked on her words.
She was a very funny girl, that was a given, and did not belong here...but then, where did she belong, other than Paris..?
''A doorway, you say...? What exactly do you mean?''
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Post by Belle on Feb 9, 2011 18:01:37 GMT -5
Belle raised her eyebrows at his comment for a moment, quite surprised at his bafflement.
"One of me?" She repeated, puzzled. Then realised what he meant, and added, "Oh I see! You mean a human?" She let out another laugh and put a strand of hair behind her ear as she began to explain. "Well, I live in a Castle filled with enchanted objects at the moment, and forgive me, I have become quite used to them - And well... A mouse in a suit is usually a signal that they are not the average mouse."
She gave him an amused smile before responding to his question. He seemed almost perplexed that she would think he wouldn't have heard of France and immeditately felt a surge of shame, before becoming quite interested in the doorway she described.
"Yes, it's right over there," Belle replied, pointing toward the strange looking portal some distance behind her. It was dark and cloudy and stood out quite strongly against the London surroundings. However, no one seemed to take much notice of it. "I've never come across one in my life. It's rather odd, isn't it?"
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 9, 2011 18:17:10 GMT -5
''Enchanted objects...?'' Basil queried curiously, before looking over to stare at the thing she had described and pointed out, and even the next gust of wind threatening to throw him backwards as he stepped out from behind the bench leg did not deter him from peering towards it with great interest.
''Well, it's- good heavens...''
What was it...?
A doorway which could transport a person from one place to another...he had heard of such things in fanciful novels, works of fiction...but in reality? The facts could not be ignored, however, in regards to her dress, her style of speaking which was only just that more refined than his own, and the fact she was so comfortable in speaking to him...a human child had caught him and Dawson scurrying through their playroom, once, and when the good Doctor had attempted to speak to them to pass unharmed, they shrieked in fright and rushed out of the room, leaving them to make their swift escape.
''It's incredibly odd...'' He agreed, and began to move forward to take a closer inspection, letting out a small 'oof' sound as he was knocked momentarily back against the bench leg.
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Post by Belle on Feb 10, 2011 14:33:19 GMT -5
"It is, isn't it?" Agreed Belle, her tone as curious as the formally dressed mouse. She raised a hand to her chin and fell deep in thought; her eyebrow fish netting in to a slight crook. After a moment, she looked back at the rodent to see his reaction, to find him gaping at it in disbelief. He had even moved away from the leg he was leaning against to get a proper view of the portal.
"I've only read about them in story books," Belle continued to explain, "In adventure books of the future, science-fiction and mystery! But to see one in real life..." She trailed off, straightening up and taking a curious step towards it. When she heard a faint 'oof' behind her however, she looked round to find the poor mouse being pushed back against the leg of the bench by another gust of wind.
"Here," Belle said kindly, crouching down to his level again and holding out her hand for him to sit on. "Let me help you." As she gave him one of her beautiful smiles, her warmth, innocence and purity instantly shone through.
Belle never did realise this of course, only hoping this friendly expression would reassure him of her trust. But then, if she could detect just how different she was in comparison to most, she would not be Belle at all.
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 10, 2011 17:28:22 GMT -5
''Oh- well, if you insist- thank you very much...''
With hesitation he accepted her invitation and jumped up into her hand, crouching slightly just to steady himself as she stood. He also wished to dearly avoid both of them getting attention drawn to them, and, indeed, towards the doorway....it could be dangerous, after all, if anyone else approached it and was pulled in...
''Miss Belle, approach as carefully as you can- we mustn't draw any on lookers, if we can help it...'' He asked her, rummaging in his pocket for his magnifying glass and looking up and down at the strange mass in the air, examining it before they drew closer. Basil rested a paw against one of her curled fingers gently so he could lean forward to peer at the thing, feeling far safer against the wind now that she was carrying him.
What a kind gesture...but he had already ascertained she was of that ilk by now, with her tendency to show manners towards mice simply because they were dressed.
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Post by Belle on Feb 10, 2011 19:31:43 GMT -5
As he accepted her offer, Belle curled her fingers around him more securely and following his orders, cautiously made her way toward the mystical and perhaps, dangerous doorway of the unknown.
How strange it must be to sit in someone's hand Belle thought after a moment, smiling down at the mouse as she quickly checked that he was still OK perched on her palm.
He was crouched a little now, his small paw resting gently on her index finger and from his pocket, had retrieved what could only be described as what seem to resemble a very tiny magnifying glass.
"Is that - are you a detective, monsieur?" She asked curiously, leaning in a little closer to get a better look at the object. After a moment it was clear that it was indeed what she had thought; a very tiny magnifying glass. It was clutched tightly in the mouse's hand as he continued observe the portal with great concentration.
Even by the Castle's standards, this was something Belle had not yet come across. Was he really a mouse detective?
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 13, 2011 8:06:50 GMT -5
He paused for a moment to glance back up at her, noticing a little surprise in both her tone and her expression. It amused him, and he allowed himself a half smile, nodding in reply before turning keen observation skills back upon the portal.
''Indeed I am...there is as much crime in our society as there is in yours, Miss Belle.''
Basil frowned, narrowing one eye as he squinted through the magnifying glass, noticing just the tiniest offset from the portal, rather like dust swirling in the air- but it would be practically invisible without the aid of the eye glass...indeed, from a distance, he doubted anyone would see it at all, and passing by, it may just be luck that would cause a glimpse to be caught.
''Pray- tell me exactly what happened to you when you ended up here and away from your home...? Did you see this- doorway- before it pulled you in? Did it pull you?''
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Post by Belle on Feb 17, 2011 16:51:25 GMT -5
((Eee, I'm so sorry about the late reply, my dear! Been so busy these past few days!  ))Belle did not reply at first, nodding absentmindedly as her attention remained focused on the strange doorway now mere feet away from them. She shook her head after a moment, casting an apologetic expression down at the mouse. "I'm sorry, what did you say? I'm afraid I got a little.. Mesmerized." She said the last word slowly, as if an idea had suddenly struck her thought pattern. "You don't suppose..." The beauty looked a little embarrassed as she continued; how silly she must sound in the presence of a detective! Mouse or not. "You don't suppose there's some kind of physic force pulling your attention in to it, do you?" As soon as the words fell from her lips, Belle immediately felt ashamed for saying such a thing. Things like that only happened in stories, didn't they? "Well I noticed it on my daily stroll around the countryside, not far from my house," she went on quickly, hoping to cover up her stupid comment. "On the outskirts of the village. It was just.. Sitting there, near the opening on the forest." She frowned a little as she raised her other hand to her chin. "It's strange, you know. There were a few passersby, but they didn't seem to find it strange, or pay any attention to it at all." After a few moments of silence, Belle added suddenly, "I'm so sorry, monsieur - I still don't know your name! What is your name?"
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Feb 18, 2011 13:19:29 GMT -5
{It's OK XD I've been really slow myself recently, too much Uni work!}
''It's Basil, my dear. And...you were walking by your home..? I thought you lived in a...castle, didn't you say...?''
An enchanted castle, to his recollection, but he held off any suspicions, waiting for her to answer. She would explain herself soon enough, because- well, they were talking, first of all, that was strange enough. And examining what could be a portal to another time period, which may have drawn her in....
''And that very well might be the case...'' He pondered aloud, reaching up to rub his chin as he continued to peer through the magnifying glass, and he mumbled to himself just a little as he tried to make some sense of it. This was not his forte, not at all...
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))