Seeds of Promise

[Belle]

"Thank you, monsieur." Belle's smile beamed forth as she slid her technological child back to a single whole before producing a small case from the desk drawer for the weapon to be rested within. Properly stowed and closed away the young woman turned back to the man standing beside her chair. Brown eyes sparked with amusement, and she reached to slip her hand into the gloved grip of the cloak-clad man.

"Don't worry yourself, I understand getting lost in the--" Belle blinked.

Wait.
Double-take.

"I am King Clopin Trouillefou of France, and the leader of the Rogues. And you are?"

Maybe even a triple-take as Belle froze, a deer in headlights, her hand still held in Clopin's.

"King Clopin Trouillefou of France,"

Belle tried to surge to her feet suddenly with a flushed face and a startled "Oh!!", knocking her chair backwards with a clumsy clatter in her haste. Wasn't she meant to, to curtsy? Embarrassment rose in a hot flash to her cheeks. Her attire, a plain white blouse and high-waisted black skirt, had been entirely appropriate for simply working but surely was woefully inadequate for her current introduction. Nevermind the familiarity with which she'd addressed him!!

Grip unrelinquished Belle bobbed in a curtsy, her freehand knocking against the wood as she lifted a corner of her skirt.

"Oh, I-I, my name is Belle Lefebvre, Your Majesty!! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize who you were!"

[Clopin]

Clopin reeled back just a little bit in surprise, causing his hat to almost fall off. He grabbed it with his free hand, and then turned his attention back to Belle, as he found the entire scene amusing. He was still getting used to the fact that as familiar as he was with most of his subjects, not all of them would greet him as if he was just anybody walking down the street.

"Mademoiselle! I mean...Belle! It's quite alright, there's no need to curtsy, that's far too formal." Clopin said, as laughter escaped from somewhere deep within his chest.

"I might be the King, but do know that this is a contest for a weapon! There is no need for stiff formalities or powdered wigs. Please, call me Clopin." he said, with a small bow.

"It's a wonderful pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle Lefebvre." he said. He then held his hand out once more, gesturing towards her hand that had knocked against the wooden table as she had curtsied.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

[Solomon]

The tufted deer was never really an expert on weaponry, but since he was used to the engineering of musical instruments, it couldn't have been too much harder, right? Well... unfortunately for Solomon, it was. He'd heard of the contest proposed by the king, and was immediately interested. He was a bit new to the whole "army" scene, and he figured it would be a good use of his time to see what kind of weaponry he would come to use. Even though he hadn't been able to craft his own, he still wanted to come to the cathedral to see what others had to offer. Besides, maybe he could learn a thing or two from these inventors!

With his guitar bag slung over his back like always, he made his way to the grand cathedral of Notre Dame. The scene was bustling with various inventors and all sorts of tech experts, and the deer stopped at a few points to just observe the kind of weaponry that was being presented. Lots of guns, some really intricate swords, he saw Varian had some detail automatons, Belle had her pistol-like weapon... the stag was impressed.

Of course, being the music junkie he was, he immediately spotted Jelly and his giant cello in the crowd. Another musician, he thought to himself excitedly! He found himself grinning as he made his way to the mortician, hooves clicking against the stone below him. "That's a gorgeous cello," he commented after a bit of silent standing around awkwardly, approaching Jelly a bit anxiously, still not used to talking to strangers. "It's cool to see another musician here... uh, is it... supposed to be a weapon?"

[Belle]

Light brown eyes lifted a bit to Clopin's face as he bid her to stand. Hesitance radiated from the maiden as she slowly straightened, gaze traveling from face to hand in a moment of apparent befuddlement. Belle's time as a noblewoman (or, technically, a peasant girl merely engaged to a nobleman) had not yet given her enough experience to really gather on what the expected etiquette was or was not when meeting others. Thus far her grasp had been to assume that most of the blue-blodded families she met were uptight regarding proper protocol.

To put it mildly.

Belle's grip was gentle as the hand she'd knocked rose and slipped into Clopin's offered greeting. Aside from a few scraped knuckles she was unhurt, merely a bit starstruck. "I'm fine, Your-- Clopin. The pleasure is all mine, truly!"

[Clopin]

Clopin smiled gently as she placed her hand into his. Her grip was so light, unlike most of the upperclassmen he'd had the unfortunate opportunity to meet.

"I'm pleased that you decided to join the contest, it turned out much better than I originally thought it would." Clopin said, as he released her hand.

"Tell me, how long have you been in Paris? I can't recall seeing you before, although that may just be because I haven't had much time to mingle with our newcomers." Clopin said, with a sheepish grin. His recent duties as the absolute monarch had kept him absent from the Rogues for a few weeks, save for those who were close to him, such as Hades, Jenn, and Taylor.

It was then that the gypsy king realized that his two dogs had suddenly disappeared from under his nose. But he figured they had gone off to see other projects, and he knew it was high time to give notice of the final 30 minutes left to finish any final tune-ups.

Meanwhile, the King's dogs excitedly poked their heads into the machinery, looking at the various metal and wires that Varian had carefully assembled within. Dante pulled back first, nodding his head in approval as he came back around the front of the automaton, where Varian was adjusting the final screws.

"It all looks like a successful project to me. And if I'm not mistaken, it looks like we're down to the final thirty minutes." Dante said, nodding towards the sundial that was placed just outside the tent.

"I wonder why Clopin hasn't made any announcement." Virgil said, trotting to Dante's side.

[Varian]

Varian couldn't help but cross his arms proudly over his chest. It was high time people(or dogs) recognize what he was capable of. Sure the people of Corona hadn't appreciated his talents, but he was wanted here, his skills were desired, and it felt good to just be accepted for once in what felt like his lifetime.

"Thank you, it's nice to finally be appreciated," he said with a nonchalant scoff, rolling his eyes, "where I came from no one appreciated science, no one appreciated me." The words came out maybe a little more bitter than he'd meant for them too, lingering anger towards the kingdom that had taken so much from him. He'd never forgot them for it, but he also didn't need them anymore.

He looked curious when they mentioned the king, going to poke his head out of his tent to see if he could see him anywhere, "I dunno, perhaps he was distracted by something?" He glanced back at them with a well meaning smirk, "perhaps you should find him while I finish up?" He only had a few more tweaks left before he could wake this big boy up, and he could feel his heart hammering in his chest in excitement already.

[Belle]

The touch of leather on her hand was a pleasant one, soft with use but with the slickness of fine hide. Like velvet over steel they clung to hands that gripped with strength and purpose. The hand that held hers for that brief moment felt... Confident. Not arrogant, though Belle could see a shadow of humored vanity over those dark eyes, but self-confidence. Not the hand of one unused to doing their own work -- Belle was accustomed to the hands of those who worked for a living, who never shirked their duties no matter how distasteful.

Like this man, her evident king.

It was food for thought.

Belle's dark gaze was screened by a veil of lashes as she glanced down at their still-joined hands. Had the custom for greetings in Paris changed compared to those in the countryside? Maybe she was just being silly. "Only a few days. I received my conscription notice along with the news of this contest and proceeded to bring my own haul," Belle nodded towards the interior of the tent, though it held only the materials necessary for tinkering on her little pistol. "for your consideration."

[Clopin]

"I'll find him!" Virgil barked, a little too eagerly. He was sure that Clopin hadn't moved far, he'd been far too engrossed speaking to that woman with the magical pistol. Dante remained with Varian, turning his head towards the boy once Virgil left. He rested a reassuring paw on Varian's leg.

"Well here, I know for certain that King Clopin appreciates science and you." Dante said, with a grin. He hadn't the slightest idea what Varian had gone through, but he knew what it felt like to be underappreciated.

Meanwhile, Clopin's gaze shifted away from Belle for a brief moment, as Virgil came trotting into the tent. He then slowly realized that perhaps he'd been speaking a little too long to Belle, and that now was the time to call the end of the contest and line up the inventions to be judged. And secondly...he was still holding her hands. His face turned the slightest shade of red as he released Belle's hands.

"Let me be the first to say that I am very happy that you joined the Rogues, and that you brought your incredible mind along." Clopin said, bowing his head to Belle.

He then turned his attention to Virgil, who bowed his head in respect to the king.

"Mon roi, it's time to announce the end of the contest for judging." Virgil said quietly.

Clopin nodded, and gave a small wave to Belle as he followed the golden shepherd out of her tent, and towards the very front of the row of tents lining the plaza of Notre Dame, where an elaborate wooden stage was set up to showcase the inventors and their inventions. The king leapt up onto the stage with relative ease, turning to address the contest-goers before him.

"Mes amis, as your king, I thank you all for taking your time to join the contest and offer up a new weapon for us to use against those who oppose us. And now, for the pièce de résistance, the judging round, done by yours truly!" Clopin said, with a deep bow.

"Please bring yourself and your inventions up here on the stage, and we shall see just who is crowned the winner!"

[Belle]

Belle's gaze had begun to trail south to her hands the moment Clopin looked away, still clasped between his own. The moment of customary greeting had passed within a few breaths and had now left them in a moment of unexpectedly intimate contact. Belle's gaze flicked back up to Clopin's face just prior to his own realization, a bit of good-natured humor showing in the quirk of her lips right before he pulled away.

Belle wasn't ignorant of the effect she had on men. In the country town she'd called home she had been considered a great beauty, turning heads and attracting wandering eyes no matter how little attention she attempted to draw. Though she'd mostly ignored the lingering gazes it hadn't been something that she'd been able to dismiss entirely.

Simply put; Belle knew she was pretty. If she was reading the flush along the ridge of those cheekbones right enough, Clopin thought the same. That one moment -- the sheepishness in the speed with which he released her -- immediately endeared him to her again as a human rather than the lofty title of king.

Allowing herself only a quick exhale of a chuckle Belle returned Clopin's bow with a half-curtsy. Even kings could blush. Who knew?

Perhaps Belle should have felt guilty for not making a mention of her engagement, even casually. The thought had occurred to her as she'd returned her attention to the desk, gathering up the case for her infantile weapon with a pursed lip. She hadn't been wearing her ring while working with her tools, but introducing herself as an unmarried woman...

Belle shook her head. She was dwelling too much on a momentary lapse of thought. It wasn't as though she had intentionally deceived Clopin.

Besides, he probably wouldn't have dared if she'd been wearing a ring.

... His hands were warm.

Shaking her head with a frown Belle hefted her little case and turned out of her tent. The flaps whipped like wings taking flight, following the gust of her exit for a moment before easing shut. Turning herself away from that strange flight of fancy Belle trotted her way to the stage, following dog and man. She took the stairs, however.

She wasn't quite that extra.

[Varian]

Varian gave a lingering smile to Dante and his reassuring words, then laughed and ran a hand over the back of his neck, "I never thought I would be receiving such reassurance from a canine, animals didn't often talk where I'm from!" He looked amused, but his expression softened in the next moment, "still though, it means a lot, no matter who it comes from." He pulled back before rounding the corner to flip open the control panel, "lets see how this guy works, then!" He grinned, snapping his goggles down over his face.

He didn't miss Clopin's call, and flicked the switches, which sparked the machine starting to rumble to life. Maybe it wasn't quite as massive as the ones he'd made before, only a little bit taller than himself, but prototypes were never supposed to be the actual size. He wasn't terribly fussed about winning anyway, it was more another chance to show off what he could do, if he won or not was secondary to that.

He stood back as he watched the automaton stand straight, looking giddy before he cleared his throat and waved a hand, the machine seemed to pick up on the motion and waved back, "amazing! Now, if you would please follow me?" He could barely keep the giddy excitement out of his voice as he led the machine out of the tent, guiding it up towards the stairs and the stage.

"Easy does it, take your time, there we are! Nice!" He chuckled, coming to stand at the end of the assembled line, eyeing up the other inventions with a genuine curiosity. Maybe he was a bit competitive, but there looked to be a lot of genuinely brilliant people here, and it was a comfort to be so surrounded by like-minded people, he was more than a little eager to see what had been brought to the table.

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