Irene Hart

“No, not really… maybe one or two, but it doesn’t happen often. I think most of them are scared rather than rude, you know. It’s a big change and you have no idea what or who they really are.” As she knew it wasn’t that hard to fake your own identity, since thet had happened before and probably would happen again too. It didn’t matter how much security there was, it was too easily to slip by. “I didn’t connect well with them, I guess. I was a woman with knowledge beyond my beauty, people didn’t like that they thought it was abnormal and tried to shame me for it.” It didn’t bother her much, women were mere props back in her time and she wouldn’t have had much in common with anyone anyway. Her smile grew wider at Irene’s fit and it dn’t take long for her to fill in with her own, knowing this was something she could discuss for hours. “I take that as you have met a few men like it? Ouch. Hm, I’m still living in that day dream a bit, I blame books for that they always have that nice fairy tale ending I love so much. I would do fine without it but I wouldn’t decline it happening either. I can stay away from being a damsel though, bleh.” Belle wrinkled her nose a bit, feeling her shoulders drop. “That part hasn’t changed much. Something is always going to be weird or out of place and people are always quick to judge the things they don’t understand. That’s all it is, people not understanding.” Her cheeks became somewhat hotter at Irene’s hint, knowing who she was referring to. How foolish she had been. Though, she held up her hand in the air at Irene’s sudden pity. “Don’t worry, it’s all fine. I am happy about it but… we went into a fight and my temper took over, nothing too big. He’s just being stupid, which isn’t that uncommon if you ask me. We will sort it out I’m sure.” That, or it was to end badly. What she wouldn’t do for an update of some sort from him.

“I hadn’t really thought of it that way. That gives you a bit of a thinker.” Irene pulled a hand through her hair, knowing that fear a bit. She had adjusted quite quickly, but mostly because she was already familiar with this era. If she had been from another time, like Belle, things probably ended up being twice as scary and mind blowing. At least she still had her home town, even if that was about it. “Feels like their system is a bit flawed, shouldn’t they be working on that?” She nodded casually, feeling a sting in her chest from hearing Belle’s story. She had seen her animated movie when younger, everyone in France knew Beauty and the Beast, no escape from it, but Irene could never picture growing up without friends. “What a good thing you came here then, it’s like a second try in life and you do fit in just perfectly. Today it’s all about women taking a stand for what they believe in, I like it.” Oh if she had, she had even been dating one once during her teenage years before realising women were a much nicer company. “It’s hard to avoid them. It’s all fine having a day dream, it gets us through those long hours of the day, I’m sure you will have no problems finding one sooner or later too. But no, don’t play a damsel thank you -- unless I’m the one saving you from danger.” Irene put on her full focus once Belle started to discuss Oliver, seeing a tint of both shame and sorrow in her face. She tried her best to play it off in a neautral way, but Irene just knew better. “People are never fine, I have come to learn that part. Maybe I can help? I sound like a broken record but I really do care about you and I want you to be happy. Can you at least tell me what he did?”

“Thank you, that’s very kind. I almost wish you had poked your head in here sooner, we need more open and helpful ones around here.” Irene was indeed kind, if not a bit easy going. It was almost like she went through her own troubles with way too much ease, making Belle wonder if it was her way of coping with it or if she was genually this happy and upbeat. “Yes, I didn’t speak to a lot of people back home so I’m glad I got a chance to start over here. I like reading too, but talking is more effective.” Just the thought of men with a a god complex made her shiver, she could still remember their gross hands move across her body like they owned her and was free to do anything their drunked heads told them to. You had to cherish the better ones, take care of them and use them as a mentor for the lesser ones. “I don’t think women knows how much power we actually got over men, and that’s why they’re so scared of us. A wink here and there, offer them a few kisses and you basically have a meal.” She didn’t know Irene enough to be able to tell that, but she trusted her enough - just not with this. Mostly because this was more about Oliver than her, it didn’t feel right to spread those news. Belle gave her a warm smile, hoping that was enough. “I see, that’s very interesting. I wish people were more open about sharing stuff like these, I think it makes for good topics… as long as you don’t ask the wrong questions. I almost wonder in case I’m not pansexual now”, she said with a laugh, yet being a tad more serious. That until she suddenly got a bit stiffer, as Irene had walked right into that same corner again. “We’re not… um… we broke up”, she said and looked away, hugging her arm a bit. It still hurt to admit that, how she had been so clumsy. 

“Do you meet rudes ones?” Irene asked while she raised an eyebrow. She didn’t mind the compliment, but thus far she hadn’t met any real bad people inside this place. Some were open about whom they were and where they came from, others were a bit more stiff but never unkind in any way. “And why didn’t you speak to people?” She knew she was starting to become nosy, but it was simply in her nature to wish to know people and their stories. She had always been like that and Belle had her full attention and interest. A heart of gold and a mind of platina, if anything this place needed more people like her. Her comment however made Irene fall into a fit of laughter, placing a hand over her chest while she tried to calm herself down. “Right? Tell a guy you know how to fight and they start to feel useless almost right away since they don’t have much else to brag with. They want to do that damsel in distress fantasy so badly and then they have the nerve to call women cheap for dreaming about meeting our prince. At least our day dreams are more harmless. I like guys who can stand equal to you and not feel any less or more for doing so.” Belle seemed eager to drop that topic, so she allowed it to slip for now, knowing better than to push too far. “We live in a world were you’re shamed for everything, of course people aren’t going to be open. I wish though, I really do. I was almost going to ask you why but then... well maybe you are?” It wasn’t long after that until Irene suddenly dropped her shoulders a bit, staring over at her now heartbroken friend. “Oh.” Irene said carefully. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. That’s a shame, you seemed very happy about your relationship before.” It was true, Belle had never spoken a bad word about her now ex boyfriend and they had seemed happy together so why break up? “What happened?”

“Thank you, I’ll keep doing my best to adapt though – I’m not fully there yet.” Belle let out a sigh at Irene’s word, understanding exactly where she came from. The difference between men and women would never cease to exist, it felt like. It was even worse during her time, as she had openly mentioned before. Do this, behave like that, your only duty is to give us children. Everything she had been in no hurry off when younger. She was still in no hurry and hopefully wouldn’t be either. “It took me ages, actually, almost a full six months before I started to grasp grammar and were able to split them from French to English. Due to the fact that they speak both I was allowed to understand and translate quicker than normal. Hm, there’s a reason I barely spoke to men unless I had to before. Most seem to have some type of god complex, makes me laugh.” She was hoping Irene would have the decency to change subject, but alas was that in vain. “It’s really tricky and I don’t want to say too much in case the information ends up elsewhere. It’s probably better if you stay out of it, trust me.” Instead she forced her head into going through the labels she had read about months back, knowing she had indeed read those words but never connected with them. “I didn’t know that at all! Things surely were different during my time, this is all new to me – you’re free to explain, maybe that’ll help. I don’t see a problem, with that, As long as you’re happy, right? Do you think Kevin is waiting for you?”

“You have lots of time to do so! If you ever get stuck just poke me and I’ll help you out. At least I can be helpful in some way.” She rolled her eyes a bit, but more in a amused way rather than serious. She had always been unable to talk down at herself, which was sometimes good and sometimes bad -- depending on the reason and time. “Oh! That’s still good though, but yes thank you for landing me in such a French ridden place. Very happy about that, phew. Talking to people is more effectful than simply reading from a book, helps you understand the words instead of just trying to translate them and then never use them. I had a couple of guy friend growing up and at home, some had that god complex you just had to deal with, while some were more decent. But they have the power and you need to play them to get around, isn’t that so?” Irene placed a hand on her hips, taking a step away from Belle. So she was hiding something from her, once again her senses had been right. “It’s all fine, it’s not as if I’ll go write an article about that. I got more interesting things to dig into, but I’d love to help in case I can.” Soon she changed her posture again, clapping her hands together. “Pansexual means that you’re more attracted to what a person has to offer, rather than their gender. Personality is what drags you in and makes you either fall in love or get a desire. It’s not just because they’re handsome or beautiful. Demisexual means you need to form a steady bond with a person before feeling attraction towards them, often happens between friends and so since you know them and feel more safe with them. A bit tougher and no one night stands, I’m afraid. Then there are a few more, like asexual, which means you feel almost to none, or no, sexual attraction at all. It’s super interesting!” Irene let out a sigh, sinking a bit at the thought. “Maybe, I don’t know, it’s been a while. How are things going for you? I haven’t seen that blond man of yours since he stopped teaching.”

“I don’t?” she asked, smiling. If that was true then she must have done a great job adapting, it had been her biggest worry after Adam when arriving here. Sometimes stuff made her scratch her head and some words were just out of the loop, but she did her best. “I’m just thankful this city relies so much on French, otherwise I would have been doomed. It’s close enough, development maybe? Yes, I like it actually. Women aren’t all around free, but we’re fighting for it.” True as it was Belle couldn’t find a single reason to say against Irene. She was the only one holding herself back and it started to go on her nerves. Most of the time she had held back because of men, afraid that they would shield away from a mind like hers as most didn’t seem open to change. It was all about finding the right people, those to boost you instead of keeping you down like… oh no, shut up, not now. “We should!” Belle added to get her mind on another matter. “It’s summer now so we can’t do much but once things… I’ll look for something later. No I haven’t really dwelled on mine but I’m glad you found yours. Maybe I’m just straight? I haven’t really glanced at women or the like but at the same time… Oh there’s just too many. So you have dated both?”

“Not at all, no”, she assured Belle with a smile. It seemed to have brighten her mood quite a lot and she was happy to see her friend so cheerful. To think that all of them were a mix of different stories... she still couldn’t get over that part and yet, knowing she was only a human among the many witches and magical creatures that were stuck here too, left her gloomy. “Oui, feel you on that. English is really hard, but not as hard as French heh. How quickly did you learn English? It’s an endless struggle and some men likes to make it worse for us. I don’t see why, it’s a silly concept.” Irene clicked with her tongue, letting her opinions rest inside her head. She wasn’t someone to get stuck on arguments or debates regarding subjects like these. Surely she could share, but her mind always moved elsewhere and that was how she liked it. Instead she narrowed her eyebrows a bit, still getting the feeling that Belle wasn’t telling her about something. It played off her nerves and she got an urge to push her on information, but what would that lead to? “Once things have calmed down? From what?” she asked before thinking twice, Belle didn’t even need to finish her sentance. “Report back to me with results later! And well... that’s the tricky part, seeing as you can still be totally only, or mostly, into men and yet not be fully straight or heteroromantic/sexual. There’s demisexual and pansexual, for one, have you read up on those?” She felt a smug arrive on her lips. “I have, I prefer women, actually but sometimes a man catches my attention -- like Kevin did.”

Belle raised an eyebrow. Irene was surely putting her thoughts into a new perspective and she had a feeling it would leave her thinking for quite some time. This was about her, after all and maybe she was actually fit for a job like that? “I guess I’m not used to all these career options you have today. Back in my time all you could pick from was home wife so… it doesn’t sound so bad, thank you. I still have my book shop in mind but…” She pulled a thoughtful hand through her hair, letting out a hum. “Oh, you do come off as someone who does. That sounds highly interesting and I’m sure you can still pull it off if you want to. Maybe call around a bit?” Belle let out a laugh, feeling her cheeks grow a bit hotter. “I’ll hold you to that in case I ever need you to catch me. Now I’m curious… what sexuality do you have? Sorry if it sounds rude but I have been reading up on a few and they’re interesting to discuss.”

“It feels weird when you say ‘back in my time’, you don’t feel like someone who’s from a different time. It’s kind of cool.” Irene put a hand over her cheek, analysing Belle up and down. No, unless she openly reminded Irene about that fact there were nothing that said that she wasn’t from this modern era. “The beauty of evolution, right? Is that the word? I can’t remember. You are still super young, there’s time for both as long as we don’t poof back home. Study, get a better job and move from there -- easy as that!” Irene felt herself hesitate during the next part, her foot dragging across the ground while she tried to come up with a good reply. “I guess I could but... it’s tough to get inside, but maybe like you I will regret everything unless I actually try. Should we add that to our bucket lists? Both of us try different jobs before we die.” Surprised by Belle’s next question, Irene found herself staring at the other female. She was the first to ask her about that since arriving her and she let out a soft snicker. “Sure, I don’t mind at all. I’m bisexual, meaning I feel attracted to both genders in case you need a reminder. Have you found yours?” 

“That’s a good idea, I mean it can’t hurt to just glance around a bit. I have been thinking about enrolling for a course or something but… I don’t know.” Oliver had spoken about that and tried to push her on, but she had always pushed back. Perhaps she was just being silly staying away from school in case she could get a firm education. “You think that? I do like trying to understand others, I’ll give it some thought, so thank you. A stunt woman sounds dangerous though, but maybe that’s your cup of tea? It’s an interesting career choice, I have to admit. What things do they do?” Irene surely didn’t look the part of someone to put her life on the line, but that just made her all more appealing. She was like a heroine taken straight out of a book, really, someone to rely on. “Oh really now? What if you miss?”

“I don’t see why not?” Irene chimed in, clapping her hands together. “If you like to understand people, maybe you should become a social worker? They help families and people in the need of extra support and I think that would fit you fine. I’m no one to speak highly of school, but if something speaks to you: do it. Otherwise you will walk around and regret everything within the next five years.” She tilted her head, giving Belle’s question a thought. After a while she calmly shrugged as she made herself ready to deliver her answer. “It’s my cup of tea, yes, I like the rush of being in danger you could say. A bit of everything, mostly parts normal actors and actresses can’t do. Some do stunts outside movies and TV too just because they can. Fall down things, jump over, attempt a car chase.... you name it!” Her lips formed a light grin. “I’m no one to drop a fine lady who needs me, miss.”