[Video]

[chippedmind]

[ Hair down, in neatly kept curls, Belle switches on her mobile device. She's clearly nervous. The idea of adjusting to American life properly isn't one she's taking well.

Perhaps it has much to do with the loss of her mother and being kept so far away from home. The best Belle can manage is a soft smile, her accent still evident in her speech, but her english is proficient enough. ]

Bonjour, my name is Belle and I just transferred. [ She gives a small, nervous wave. ] I was wondering what types of clubs you have here. I'm interested in any book clubs or maybe language ones. I am still learning english.

[ She bites at her lip. ]

I would appreciate it if someone could show me around properly? Also, [ Shuffles for a paper from her pocket. ] Meulin Leijon? I would like to meet you as it seems we're roomed together. How about coffee?

[ Does she sound too proper? She can't tell. ]

Thank you for your time.

Comments

[chippedmind]

[ Oh she recognized that tone to a certain extent. It lacked the musicality she was used to and the man that presented himself, while he had the same manners, didn't exactly have the same looks. Belle is just staring for a good part of a minute before she remembers her manners. ] Excusez-moi. [ She rattles off quickly putting on a smile but she is confused. Is that Gold? The one she remembers has a visible mutation covering all of his skin. ] Thank you but. . .[ She frowns. ] Have we met before? [ There that's a good place to start. It wouldn't do well to poke at how or why he rid himself of his mutation. No sense in scolding a man who is being kind at the moment. ]

[mutationsprice]

Il est tout droit.

[The reassurance rolled off before he could think better of it. Her question however had him hesitating.]

I...don't believe so. I'm Royce Gold. [And as he answers the question and introduces himself, that telling Scottish accent escapes his control finally and makes itself known.

He could tell her that he did once know a woman who looked so similar to her and her name even could fit as a shortened form of his wife's own name. No sense in possibly making this any more awkward than it was already though.]

[chippedmind]

[ She dips her head a touch, the movement of a mannered lady accepting his condolences but. . .what are the chances he has the same last name. Granted the only name she knows for the man she know is Gold. Who knows if that's his real name or not. ] Gold. . .[ She repeats then chews at her bottom lip. She caught the hint of his accent that does differ from the man she knows. Maybe she is being too suspicious. ] Belladonna French is my full name. I may be in one of your classes once I've gotten my schedule. [ She offers, veering away from her curiosity for a moment. ] If you're a teacher. [ Yes right this is a school. She probably shouldn't think a teacher is her fiancé from a world away. ] Would you like to get tea? [ Belle. Belle didn't we just go over how he's probably faculty? Don't ask him to tea. However that isn't so strange a custom to her. She grew up in aristocracy. ] So I can apologize. [ Yes right come up with excuses. She nervous tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, eyes glancing down for just a moment. ] For being rude that is. [ On the plus side she hasn't blushed yet she's just making a fool of herself. ]

[mutationsprice]

A pleasure, Ms French.

[Apparently fate has it's sense of humor and irony, given the fact that his wife's name so closely mirrors this lady's name. Belladona French, Isabella de Freyne. He has a nagging feeling however, he's not the only one to be dealing with a similarity issue, given how she's reacted to his name. He may be wrong however and he quietly hope's he is.]

I am, yes. Alchemy actually. A bit of an eccentric subject, but one I know well.

[The offer of tea has him hesitating a bit once again. The meeting that had led to dating his late wife had begun with an offer of sharing tea, though at least they weren't in a library. That would be one coincidence too many for him.]

Yes. That would be nice of you. Perhaps we can manage to get to know the layout of this place together? Or would that be too much like the blind leading the blind?

[Okay, he's shutting himself up now before he makes a bigger fool of himself than he already has. A pity thinking of age differences to dissuade himself from foolishness did nothing for him anymore, especially given the fact he had been fifty years older than his Isabella when he'd married her.]

[chippedmind]

Call me Belle. [ Alchemy huh? A subject she is only sparingly familiar with but she suspects she will have time to branch out. It would be nice to have a familiar face around even if this was purpose chaos of the universe at work. She does chuckle, shaking her head. ] Ah, by two heads are better than one. If we get lost at least we’ll have company. [ She tries not to let him slip into nervousness. This is already awkward enough. All those years taking finishing school lessons may actually pay off now. She always hated them but they have their uses. ] I’m in short supply of that at the moment. If you can find your way to the main entrance I can meet you there.

[mutationsprice]

[He let's a small brief chuckle escape at her own amusement and the words that followed it. He'd no doubt regret this after, but for now, he would let himself enjoy her company. He'd just have to remind himself to live in the present, not the past.]

You're right.

[He gave her a brief nod and a small smile.]

I believe I can do that much. I'll be there shortly.