Belle was surprised how quickly she adjusted to a new life. Though she was a little afraid to venture outside just yet, she spent each 日 instead helping Tiana and Naveen to cook and clean and keeping an eye on the younger children whenever ジャスミン または Facilier または Jack were out. The girls came to 愛 her; especially when she read to them. Amongst the few things she had taken with her, she had carted all the 本 she actually owned along with her, and a few of these were fairytales または ファンタジー tales from her childhood, perfect for the younger children. Sometimes Clopin took it into his head to act out a story from her 本 with his puppets, または even make a puppet step out of character and talk to the children about their experiences; like he did when she told them the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, and Clopin had a “Jack” puppet talk to the children afterwards about how he and his mother became very wealthy and he met a nice girl, got married and lived happily ever after, “and that mean old giant just stamped around up in the clouds.”
“Read us another,” Lilo begged.
Belle laughed. “Alright, but just one もっと見る and then あなた need to go to bed.”
Jack watched, smiling, as she started to read another story. Boo was drawing on a sheet of paper with some wax crayons; probably trying to draw out Belle’s story. He could remember their mother 読書 to them like that back when she was still alive. Belle would make a great mother someday, he decided.
“And the Fairy Godmother waved her wand and all was forgiven. シンデレラ married her Prince and together they lived Happily Ever After,” Belle finished.
“Yay!” Lilo chirped, clapping her hands together.
“Yeay!” Boo imitated.
“Alright, come on,” Dr Facilier 発言しました to his daughter, kneeling beside her. “Time for bed.”
“Alright,” sighed Lilo, and then yawned. “Goodnight, Belle; thank あなた for the story.”
Belle smiled. “You’re very welcome. Goodnight, Lilo.”
Jack bent down によって his sister. “Whatcha drawing? Let me see.”
Boo held up the piece of paper she had been drawing on. Jack grinned. “Hey, that’s great.” He pointed to a figure in blue. “Is that me?”
“Cha!”
“And that one’s you, in pink?”
“Ga!” Nodding, Boo pointed to Belle and babbled happily.
“And that’s you,” Jack added, holding up the picture for Belle to see.
Belle smiled. “Well, I think it’s excellent.”
Boo rubbed her eyes and began to yawn. “Come on, then,” Jack said, picking her up. “Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Belle.”
“It’s no trouble,” Belle insisted. Boo gave her a little wave and Belle returned it.
“You’re really good with them,” Pocahontas observed, coming up to her.
Belle smiled and got to her feet. “They’re very sweet kids. I shudder to think what hardships they’ve been through.”
“We’ve all suffered hardships here,” Pocahontas sighed. “That’s kind of why we’ve all drifted here; even you.”
Belle repressed a physical shudder at the memory of Frollo’s abuse. “What about you? It can’t have been easy for you, being torn from your homeland like that.”
“It was terrifying,” Pocahontas agreed. “I was only twelve years old. We were shipped over in these tiny, squalid ボート hold, and back then I had no idea what anyone was saying to me, because it all sounded like gobbledegook. They had us in chains and fed us on scraps. It was awful. Sometimes people got sick and no one came down to clean it up. It was disgusting.”
“Oh, my God,” Belle murmured, sympathetically.
“When I got here, I was sold to a man named Maurice. または rather, he took pity on me because I was so young and paid to take me in. He was a nice man; he was an inventor. He taught me French and how to read and write and later I used to help him invent stuff, and run errands and do chores and things for him.”
“What happened to him?”
“He died. Fever.”
“Oh.”
“I miss him.” Pocahontas sighed. “He was like a father to me. After he died, his house got repossessed and I was left on the streets. I was sixteen, that was four years ago; and then I met Esmeralda and she brought me here. I’ve been with her ever since.” Pocahontas hesitated. “People think we’re strange. I mean people out there, not in here. あなた don’t think that, do you?”
“No, of course not.” Belle remembered something. “You know, I once read a book where a character 発言しました “Any 愛 is better than no love.”
Pocahontas smiled. “Thanks, Belle.”
It was like that most days, but Belle found herself growing to 愛 her new life, and her new friends. Dr Facilier seemed a little sinister on the surface, and his magic tricks sometimes had her shrieking in fight, but deep down anyone could see that he was a devoted father who loved his daughter very much. Belle resolved to try and find a book to do with voodoo, especially for Lilo, since she seemed fascinated によって the subject.
Jack, for his part, though fiercely protective of his little sister, and sometimes with an attitude problem (Belle had been the accidental witness to an argument he had had with アラジン over something silly) was very sensible and kind hearted, and Boo was clearly the most important person in his life.
ジャスミン was very feisty, but also kind, and loved to make her sister laugh. Belle had often caught them in the middle of teasing banter, または a tickling match. Naveen could be like that, with Tiana, Belle reflected, with a smile. They made a cute couple. As for Aladdin, nice as he was, she sometimes couldn’t help wondering if he had really kicked the habbit of stealing. 食 was one thing, after all they had to eat, but it worried her that one 日 he might be caught pickpocketing and get arrested.
“Don’t worry about him, Belle,” Clopin replied, wisely, when she voiced her fears to him. “Aladdin’s got 通り, ストリート smarts; he won’t get caught.”
Belle smiled. “I suppose you’re right, but still, I think he should be careful.”
Clopin hesitated. It had been almost a week and he felt the need to ask. “Belle, are you...happy here, with us?” He had to stop himself from saying “With me?”
“Well, yes,” Belle replied. She didn’t need to give it a 秒 thought. “Everyone’s very nice, and, well, for the first time in years, I feel like I’m part of a family.”
“Pretty dysfunctional family, if あなた ask me,” squawked Iago, landing on Clopin’s shoulder. That was something else that Belle had learned; whilst Iago was pleasant enough, he had a bit of an attitude problem too, and sometimes came across as rather pessimistic.
“I’ve never heard あなた complain before, Iago,” Clopin replied, coolly.
“Awk!” Iago ruffled his feathers. “Sheesh, a guy can’t voice an opinion around here, can he?”
He flew off again. Belle smiled. He wasn’t really offended, Iago, that much she had come to know too, and the 次 morning he would act as if their little spat, if あなた could call it that, hadn’t even happened. “Well, I like dysfunctional families, anyway,” she added, nervously.
Clopin smiled. “Well, I’m glad. I mean, I wouldn’t want あなた to feel out of place または anything here.”
“Are あなた joking?” Belle turned to look over at ジャスミン catching hold of Shanti to get her ready for bed. “I’ve felt more...in place here than I ever have out there.”
Clopin nodded. “Maybe あなた should risk venturing outside soon. It’s not really healthy to be indoors so much.”
“I couldn’t.” Panic rose within her. “What if Frollo saw me?”
“You could go in disguise.” Clopin grinned. “Esme could help あなた there; she’s the best at disguises. There’s no way he’d recognise you.” Sensing Belle’s unease, he added “And あなた wouldn’t be alone; I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
Belle managed a small smile. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Clopin.”
“Don’t mention it.” He turned to go, but Belle stopped him with her words.
“I mean, thank あなた for all that you’ve done for me.”
Clopin turned. “I haven’t done that much. You’ve done もっと見る for me.”
Belle shook her head. “You’ve been a great friend, just when I needed one. And now I’m here, I don’t feel scared または alone. So, thank you.”
Clopin looked her up and down, feeling a stirring within his heart. “Well, you’re welcome, Belle.”
Although, Belle reflected later, it didn’t matter how at ホーム she felt with everyone else, how unafraid and un-alone she felt in the Court of Miracles, because each night, without fail, she found that she couldn’t fall asleep alone in her own bed. Whether it was just because it was a new place, または because she was terrified of having nightmares about Frollo abusing her again, she never found out. But each night, once she had changed for bed, her feet would automatically lead her to Clopin’s room. And, every night, without fail, Clopin would draw back the blanket, without saying a word, and she could clamber into ベッド beside him. And then she would sleep, nestled in the comfort of Clopin’s embrace.
“Read us another,” Lilo begged.
Belle laughed. “Alright, but just one もっと見る and then あなた need to go to bed.”
Jack watched, smiling, as she started to read another story. Boo was drawing on a sheet of paper with some wax crayons; probably trying to draw out Belle’s story. He could remember their mother 読書 to them like that back when she was still alive. Belle would make a great mother someday, he decided.
“And the Fairy Godmother waved her wand and all was forgiven. シンデレラ married her Prince and together they lived Happily Ever After,” Belle finished.
“Yay!” Lilo chirped, clapping her hands together.
“Yeay!” Boo imitated.
“Alright, come on,” Dr Facilier 発言しました to his daughter, kneeling beside her. “Time for bed.”
“Alright,” sighed Lilo, and then yawned. “Goodnight, Belle; thank あなた for the story.”
Belle smiled. “You’re very welcome. Goodnight, Lilo.”
Jack bent down によって his sister. “Whatcha drawing? Let me see.”
Boo held up the piece of paper she had been drawing on. Jack grinned. “Hey, that’s great.” He pointed to a figure in blue. “Is that me?”
“Cha!”
“And that one’s you, in pink?”
“Ga!” Nodding, Boo pointed to Belle and babbled happily.
“And that’s you,” Jack added, holding up the picture for Belle to see.
Belle smiled. “Well, I think it’s excellent.”
Boo rubbed her eyes and began to yawn. “Come on, then,” Jack said, picking her up. “Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Belle.”
“It’s no trouble,” Belle insisted. Boo gave her a little wave and Belle returned it.
“You’re really good with them,” Pocahontas observed, coming up to her.
Belle smiled and got to her feet. “They’re very sweet kids. I shudder to think what hardships they’ve been through.”
“We’ve all suffered hardships here,” Pocahontas sighed. “That’s kind of why we’ve all drifted here; even you.”
Belle repressed a physical shudder at the memory of Frollo’s abuse. “What about you? It can’t have been easy for you, being torn from your homeland like that.”
“It was terrifying,” Pocahontas agreed. “I was only twelve years old. We were shipped over in these tiny, squalid ボート hold, and back then I had no idea what anyone was saying to me, because it all sounded like gobbledegook. They had us in chains and fed us on scraps. It was awful. Sometimes people got sick and no one came down to clean it up. It was disgusting.”
“Oh, my God,” Belle murmured, sympathetically.
“When I got here, I was sold to a man named Maurice. または rather, he took pity on me because I was so young and paid to take me in. He was a nice man; he was an inventor. He taught me French and how to read and write and later I used to help him invent stuff, and run errands and do chores and things for him.”
“What happened to him?”
“He died. Fever.”
“Oh.”
“I miss him.” Pocahontas sighed. “He was like a father to me. After he died, his house got repossessed and I was left on the streets. I was sixteen, that was four years ago; and then I met Esmeralda and she brought me here. I’ve been with her ever since.” Pocahontas hesitated. “People think we’re strange. I mean people out there, not in here. あなた don’t think that, do you?”
“No, of course not.” Belle remembered something. “You know, I once read a book where a character 発言しました “Any 愛 is better than no love.”
Pocahontas smiled. “Thanks, Belle.”
It was like that most days, but Belle found herself growing to 愛 her new life, and her new friends. Dr Facilier seemed a little sinister on the surface, and his magic tricks sometimes had her shrieking in fight, but deep down anyone could see that he was a devoted father who loved his daughter very much. Belle resolved to try and find a book to do with voodoo, especially for Lilo, since she seemed fascinated によって the subject.
Jack, for his part, though fiercely protective of his little sister, and sometimes with an attitude problem (Belle had been the accidental witness to an argument he had had with アラジン over something silly) was very sensible and kind hearted, and Boo was clearly the most important person in his life.
ジャスミン was very feisty, but also kind, and loved to make her sister laugh. Belle had often caught them in the middle of teasing banter, または a tickling match. Naveen could be like that, with Tiana, Belle reflected, with a smile. They made a cute couple. As for Aladdin, nice as he was, she sometimes couldn’t help wondering if he had really kicked the habbit of stealing. 食 was one thing, after all they had to eat, but it worried her that one 日 he might be caught pickpocketing and get arrested.
“Don’t worry about him, Belle,” Clopin replied, wisely, when she voiced her fears to him. “Aladdin’s got 通り, ストリート smarts; he won’t get caught.”
Belle smiled. “I suppose you’re right, but still, I think he should be careful.”
Clopin hesitated. It had been almost a week and he felt the need to ask. “Belle, are you...happy here, with us?” He had to stop himself from saying “With me?”
“Well, yes,” Belle replied. She didn’t need to give it a 秒 thought. “Everyone’s very nice, and, well, for the first time in years, I feel like I’m part of a family.”
“Pretty dysfunctional family, if あなた ask me,” squawked Iago, landing on Clopin’s shoulder. That was something else that Belle had learned; whilst Iago was pleasant enough, he had a bit of an attitude problem too, and sometimes came across as rather pessimistic.
“I’ve never heard あなた complain before, Iago,” Clopin replied, coolly.
“Awk!” Iago ruffled his feathers. “Sheesh, a guy can’t voice an opinion around here, can he?”
He flew off again. Belle smiled. He wasn’t really offended, Iago, that much she had come to know too, and the 次 morning he would act as if their little spat, if あなた could call it that, hadn’t even happened. “Well, I like dysfunctional families, anyway,” she added, nervously.
Clopin smiled. “Well, I’m glad. I mean, I wouldn’t want あなた to feel out of place または anything here.”
“Are あなた joking?” Belle turned to look over at ジャスミン catching hold of Shanti to get her ready for bed. “I’ve felt more...in place here than I ever have out there.”
Clopin nodded. “Maybe あなた should risk venturing outside soon. It’s not really healthy to be indoors so much.”
“I couldn’t.” Panic rose within her. “What if Frollo saw me?”
“You could go in disguise.” Clopin grinned. “Esme could help あなた there; she’s the best at disguises. There’s no way he’d recognise you.” Sensing Belle’s unease, he added “And あなた wouldn’t be alone; I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
Belle managed a small smile. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Clopin.”
“Don’t mention it.” He turned to go, but Belle stopped him with her words.
“I mean, thank あなた for all that you’ve done for me.”
Clopin turned. “I haven’t done that much. You’ve done もっと見る for me.”
Belle shook her head. “You’ve been a great friend, just when I needed one. And now I’m here, I don’t feel scared または alone. So, thank you.”
Clopin looked her up and down, feeling a stirring within his heart. “Well, you’re welcome, Belle.”
Although, Belle reflected later, it didn’t matter how at ホーム she felt with everyone else, how unafraid and un-alone she felt in the Court of Miracles, because each night, without fail, she found that she couldn’t fall asleep alone in her own bed. Whether it was just because it was a new place, または because she was terrified of having nightmares about Frollo abusing her again, she never found out. But each night, once she had changed for bed, her feet would automatically lead her to Clopin’s room. And, every night, without fail, Clopin would draw back the blanket, without saying a word, and she could clamber into ベッド beside him. And then she would sleep, nestled in the comfort of Clopin’s embrace.