@Hunter of Dreams
Madame Fae's Bar and Diner -) The Library 4:00 pm.
She was listening very intently to the conversation being held between Philip and Jessamine. Sipping away at her poorly sweetened cup of tar, Beauty continued to steal glances towards the fallen prince and the diner wench. It was at his last comment that really got her attention. Dorothy, dead and gone? Just like that? She eased the cold mug back onto the table and took a shaky breath. Maybe somebody was truly after them. They would learn more in the meeting. This wasn't the first time one of their own had disappeared; surely the leaders of this forsaken place knew something by now?
Adam watched her and leaned back against his seat. He swore he could see the wheels turning in her head, the frown lines developing in the corners of her mouth. Was Beauty actually worried? It wasn't an emotion he was used to seeing on his bride. Clearing his throat to drag her attention back to him, he forced a small grin of sympathy. He had also heard Phillip's comment.
"She isn't dead, Beauty. Just taken. Lancelot or Merlin will find her. Maybe we're all just disappearing back to our homes?"Blinking, she rose a brow and looked over at him. She tilted her head and scrunched her nose, looking him over.
"You really are an idiot, aren't you? Of course she's dead. They're all dead. And you're probably next. Pity." She shook her head and quickly rose to her feet.
"Cover the bill, dear? I have to go grab some papers from work. See you at the meeting." With a quick grin, she leaned over and gave him a slight kiss on the cheek as she hurried off, taking the car with her.
He narrowed his eyes at his mug, his chest starting to heave as he felt his temper rise. Damn woman. Shaking his head, he grabbed some bills from his back pocket and tossed them on the table before hurrying out.
At four sharp, Beauty sauntered into the library. Didn't take long for her to realize she was one of the very few people who were actually on time to this thing. People seriously lacked discipline in this town. She found a seat towards the front and dutifully saved a seat for her husband. After all, what type of wife would she be to make her husband stand in the back? She didn't have long to find out when Adam came walking through the door a few moments later.
He knew he was filthy. Working in the construction business did that to you. However, he hardly had time to stop by the apartment and change. He knew he wouldn't hear the end of it if he were to show up late. Would embarrass his punctual wife. Sliding into the seat next to her with muddy boots and a mud-caked shirt, he folded his arms across his chest and waited. Soon Lucy arrived to the meeting and quickly got to the point at hand. He hid an eye roll at the sound of Beauty hissing beside him.
"See? They aren't returning home," she muttered under her breath. Straightening in her chair, she took a breath and was about to offer a suggestion when two voices broke the silence. She raised a brow and looked over her shoulder at the girl. How rude of her to question a person in power. But it was the man who intrigued her. Beauty looked him over, earning a shoulder nudge from Adam.
"Staring is rude, you know." Beauty quickly plastered on a small smile and faced the front once more. She cleared her throat and smoothed out her dress, trying to keep the annoyance from showing in her voice as she spoke out.
"Of course she isn't dead. Who would want to kill sweet, innocent Dorothy?"
Madame Fae's Bar and Diner -) The Library 4:15 pm
Ariel was about to respond to the bubbles comment when her friend's expression quickly saddened. The realization of Dorothy having gone missing finally hit her. With a small nod of her head, her hands tightened slightly on the mug of hot cocoa. She scrunched her nose as she continued to watch the girl. She didn't like it when her friends were upset. Her left hand released the cup and she was about to reach out to comfort the girl when a grin replaced the frown. Raising a brow, she gave a small grin of her own.
"Everything will work out, Rapunzel. I'm sure she just went on that trip. I mean, she could have just left the shoes behind. They really didn't look that comfortable. Maybe she went someplace without all this weather? That would make sense. I'm sure that's it."She blinked as the girl reached for her nose, her hand coming away with the whipped cream hiding atop it. Ariel couldn't help a laugh as she quickly finished the remainder of her warm beverage. Her next words reminded her of the earlier conversation she had had with Lucy. Her eyes widened.
"Oh, that! Right, right. Yes. There's a meeting today in the library at four. Sorry, totally forgot about that." The young redhead pulled out a bank note and placed it on the counter, her grin brightening.
"You, get there first? Did you hit your head outside too?" With a small giggle and a wave, she headed off for a day at the aquarium.
Sure enough, she was late to the meeting. She just ended up having too much fun hanging out with her dolphin friends. It made her miss home so badly. There once was a time that she was able to communicate with the creatures; would sure make her job a heck of a lot easier now. But, this place was a temporary home and she was confident her father and sisters, not to mention all her friends, would be waiting for her when she finally returned home.
Hurrying inside the lobby, she almost bumped into the man standing in the back. Her eyes widened slightly and she grinned, a blush quickly spreading across her cheeks.
"Sorry! So sorry. Um. Hi. I'm-". Noticing Rapunzel, she gave another small laugh in embarrassment before heading over to the empty chair next to her. Ariel had obviously missed something. The tension in the room was thick. Raising a brow, she shifted in her chair and raised her hand.
"Uh, hello. Um. Can't we just get that Merlin fellow to help us out? Isn't he like a wizard of some sort? He could help find Dorothy and the others."