This fanfic is heavily inspired by the video game "Catherine" I highly suggest you check it out, it's a great game.
To say Beauty was not having a good day would be an understatement; she was having one of the worst days of her life!
The blonde woman briskly walked through the crowded street, her hands cupping a large hot coffee she splurged on. Even with it being the dead of night she needed the caffeine to calm her nerves. Clad in her red jacket she walked, she just needed to get away from the Open arms and her husband for a few hours, both of which were putting a rather large amount of unwanted stress onto Beauty. She ran a hand though her thick blonde hair taking a note on how greasy it felt. She was in need of a shower soon.
She let out a sigh and sipped daintily at the coffee, she wished she remembered to add cream and sugar to it- maybe even a flavor shot of vanilla. But no, she was too stressed out and angered to remember to add those things to her drink…so here she was drinking at far to bitter coffee. But bitter or not she needed something to calm her nerves. She shivered remembering the sight before her at Open arms. A bed filled with flower petals and scarlet blood… and worst of all perverted pictures of Crane with some woman in glamor to look like Snow White, a dear friend of hers. As if that wasn't enough to cause her to feel like she wasn't enough on edge she recently learned about her husband's drinking.
The horror of it all cause her hands to shake, she was too busy thinking back on the bloody scene to look where she was going. She bumped into a stranger and the coffee spilled all over her red jacket. She yet out a yelp feeling the coffee drenched her in extreme hotness.
"Shit!" she swore looking at the mess before her. That was her favorite jacket, and the stranger didn't even have enough decently to say sorry or help her clean up. She stuck out her lower lip in a pout
'Mundies these days…' she though taking her jacket off so that she was now clad in a black tank top. It was hardly suitable for the cold night time weather but it was at least somewhat better then walking around all sticky. She tossed the jacket over her shoulders and counted the left over change in her pants pocket She mentally cursed herself for not having enough for another large coffee. All she had was an old five dollar bill and four pennies. Large coffees weren't cheap nowadays. Her taste buds still longed for a drink; it could be hot, cold or frizzy. She couldn't care less! She just needed SOMETHING!
Her blue eyes glanced upwards to a bar. No it wasn't the Trip trap where Beast recently started going. She couldn't even make out the sign with it's fading writing. Beauty though it might be shut down or closed but a own sign that had specks of mildew would argue otherwise.
Did she drink
Yes, but she wasn't hooked on alcohol. She only ever really drank when she and Beast saved up to go out for dinner. She doubt she had enough for a small whiskey-
'No!' Her mind screamed at her. 'Don't you dare stooped to his level!
No, she wasn't going to drink alcohol to cope with yet another little fight she and Beast had. She was better then that! She looked at her sticky jacket; she and Beast could barely afford the basic things they needed. Food, electricity, heat, it was just sheer luck this jacket was on sale at a store she could never afford to go to. She sighed again. Right now she just wanted to get herself cleaned up. Her hair was a mess, her jacket was stained and her eye liner was smeared.
"Just go in and ask to use the bathroom." she said to herself as she entered the bar. She only ever been to the Trip trap once but it was no different then this bar. No one was there expect for a tall clean shaven black man polishing glasses. His eyes lit up seeing Beauty entering
"What can I get you?" He asked a friendly smile on his face as he set the dishrag aside.
"I just need to use your washroom." Beauty explained as the bartender's face turned to disappointment.
"It's right down the hall to your left." He instructed as the blonde haired woman nodded.
"Thank you..." She made her walk down the hall and entered the cramped rather dirty looking bathroom.
She turned on the tap for cold water and sure enough it flown from the rather rusty looking silver taps cupping her hands together she splashed the cold water onto her face, feeling her makeup being washed off. Her blue eyes caught sight of herself in the washroom's cracked mirror.
Her blonde hair was greasy and tangled, the makeup that wasn't washed off smeared her face, she had big bags that hung under her eyes making her look more like a raccoon than a human, and she was clad in nothing more then a old dingy black tank top and pants that were worn out. She looked miserable, she couldn't even remember the last time she genuinely smiled. Beauty blinked back tears, fighting the urge to break down sobbing in a bar's restroom. As if she wasn't pathetic enough. To think she even used to be rich and lived happily without a care in the world along side her beloved husband.
She got a roll of brown paper towel that rested on top of the toilet. She pulled off a piece and dabbed away at her coffee stained jacket. A tear rolled down her cheek as she though about her situation in the used to be happy once, never in a thousand years would she be living her life like this, in a city, in a cheap apartment that she and Beast were barely able to afford and having marriage troubles...
Couples fought all the time and that wasn't anything new of course for her and Beast. But lately its been happening more and more... there were the oldest couple that ever existed in the history of Fables. She loved Beast, she loved him with all her heart but living in this city with such low amounts of money was putting a strain on there marriage and Beauty's own personal happiness. She looked over at her jacket after she tossed the clump of paper towel in a garbage bin. No doubt it needed more then a little dabbing and water to fully get the stain out. She tuck her blonde hair behind her ears and made a mental note to stop by the laundry mat if it was still open that this ungodly hour.
She rubbed the rest of her makeup off on her arm, she was in no mood to been seen looking like some raccoon clown. Licking her lips she then decided she would get a drink here- not alcohol of course but a glass of ice water. She wasn't going to drink her troubles and her money away like a certain Fable she knew. The tank top clad women left the bathroom and plopped herself onto a bar stool. The bartender looked up at her and smiled again warmly.
"What can I get you?" he asked again in a friendly manner.
Beauty straighten her back, resisting the urge to slump while she sat. It wasn't ladylike to sit like that...not like it mattered; she would never go to this bar again in her life. She guessed some princess habits and thoughts were hard to break.
"Just some water, please."
The bartender gave a nod and soon enough there was a small glass of water with plenty of ice cubes and a lemon wedge on the rim. "Thank you..." she barely managed to say and sipped daintily from the glass. Her thirst was quenched within the first few sips but she didn't feel like leaving...at least not yet. To stall time she stared deeply at the glass, once in awhile poking at the ice cubes or squeezing the lemon in the liquid to stall her boredom. From what she could tell the bartender didn't mind and was glad to have at least someone inside his bar.
A small creek echoed though the bar, from the door with its rusty hinges not doubt but she couldn't care any less of who it was. She wasn't drinking booze so she had nothing more to be ashamed of other then how she looked right now. She didn't look like the high class royal princess she once was anymore, she just looked like any other person down on their luck. She sipped her lemony water and reflected on her life now some more.
She loved Beast more than anything in the world…but his protected grasped on her was a habit of his she strongly disliked, and then there lack of income was another problem. They were just barely getting by and barely able to afford the things they needed. Money couldn't buy happiness of course, she knew that from a very young age but money sure did make your life easier. Beast wasn't around as much due to him working multiple jobs and those times he was around he was too tired for an night, it was so rare they did anything together besides share the same bed.
The soft sound of glasses clinking together as the bartender started to prepare a drink. On Beauty's guess it was something the other person ordered but she couldn't remember, she was too busy dealing with her thoughts and her water. Resting her chin in her palm she continued to stare at the glass. On the topic of them sharing the same bed too that was another issue in itself, they slept in the same bed but they never "did" anything. Beauty could understand why Beast was so tired with working many vast amounts of jobs but she wished it didn't affect there sex life. When was the last time they had a romantic, lustful and passionate night anyway? She couldn't even remember. Although she herself wasn't in the mood for sexual pleasure after just seeing the room of a dirty and run downed hotel where a woman was murdered she wished when things calmed down in Fable town and between her and Beast she and him could spend some time together.
Her blue eyes averted from her glass of water when she saw a large red drink with a stick of celery in it. It was some short of booze, no doubt about it. What was this drink called again? She wouldn't have known. She was no drinker.
And she planned to keep it that way.
"I…uhh didn't order this." She told the bartender as she smiled at her as he washed glasses.
"The customer over there ordered it for you, said you look a little down on your luck and need some cheering up." He spoke chuckling. "Rare to find kind folks these days, everyone's to caught up in there own lives."
Beauty turned around but saw no one there, maybe the person went to the bathroom? She looked at the drink. She didn't plan on drinking any form of alcohol tonight… but if it was this clear she seemed upset she supposed she could just have one drink.
She brought the red liquid to her lips; it tasted a bit like salty tomato juice with a touch of vodka. She let the drink sit in her mouth for awhile and soon enough she tasted a peppery kick with lots of spice. Dare to say she enjoyed it more then the other kinds of drinks she had.
"Excuse me." She called to the bartender. "What kind of drink is this? I never had one quite like this before."
The man behind the counter opened his mouth to speak but was cut off when a person behind her replied with.
"It's a bloody Mary."
The fallowing morning…
Beauty's eyes slowly cracked open, a beam of sunlight crept into the seemingly dark room. She shut her eyes tightly; her head was pounding, as if someone was using a jackhammer on her head. The stale brown bed sheets weren't helping her much either when it came to comfort. She had sensitive skin and was allergic to certain kinds of laundry soaps. Her skin felt itchy and greasy…she just wanted a long hot shower to wash her cares along, maybe even a hot bubble bath. Light up a few scented candles, a glass of champagne and some classical music to ease the stressful nerves… But that would be impossible even with her and Beast's combine income, best she could get was a quick shower with scentless and cheap shampoo and soap.
Then it hit her.
Although this looked very similar to where she and her husband lived it wasn't at all. The brown paint was instead pink rose wallpaper that looked like it came straight from the 80's time era, the hard wooden floor was a beige carpet and this bed wasn't the king size she and Beast shared… and she felt bodily fluids she never felt in a long time in between her thighs.
Despite her aching head she slowly sat up in horror. This wasn't where she lived at all, was she eve in the right part of town?
'What the hell happen last night?'
Her question was answered when a low groan filled the room. Beauty turned her head to the left side of the bed, her eyes widen in horror as she looked next to her.
There she was…
Another woman rested her head against her arms, gently gripping it like a child with its treasured and beloved stuff animal; she was slowly awaking and soon enough a pair of big amber eyes open.
Beauty felt her heart racing with anxiety and fear. Who was this woman? Just what happened last night? Why was she here? Endless questions raced though her mind as well as her pulse, her heart felt like it might beat so hard and fast it would pop out of her chest. She was speechless as she stared at the other woman in shock.
The heart shape lips of the woman turned into a smiled as she looked up at Beauty.
"Morning…" she greeted slowly sitting up.
Beauty's pale cheeks turned flustered with a pastel shade of rosy pink upon seeing the black haired lady's nude body, she quickly took a second to glance at herself as well, like the mystery woman she was stripped of her clothes as well.
It all added up in Beauty's mind.
She was drinking last night, the bodily fluids that caressed her thighs, her clothing tossed aside in a messy manner, her nude body and the odd light freckled face woman in bed with her. It all added up…
"Not much of a morning person?" The odd lady asked again. Her voice was although sweet and breathless sounding contains traces of seduction and danger. It was like one of those people who you DON'T bring home to meet your parents.
"Uhh…" She was speechless; too many thoughts were running though her mind right now as well as too many questions to as this lady.
She never recalled seeing a Fable or Mundy quite like her, she had short black hair, big and bright amber eyes, a few freckled that decorated her face and the most noticeable thing about this woman was the single bright scarlet streak in her hair.
The woman smiled in a sly manner and used her long boney finger to stroke Beauty's pale blushing cheek.
Goosebumps trailed down her arms, with the slightest touch of this person's fingers the blonde woman felt like she might turn into a puddle of mush at any given moment.
"Have fun last night?" She asked her as Beauty found herself able to say nothing as she fell into spell of her touch, it was like a drug and left her dazed and confused.
The woman lower her eyes lids as Beauty open her mouth to speak but her boney finger trailed down to her lips, shushing her.
"I get it." She spoke. "You're not the type to do this sort of thing." The mystery lady then pulled herself closer to Beauty, her humble sized breast pressed against her side. "I did this because I like you…so far at least." She added. A pair of lips brush upon her ear then her teeth within her mouth nibbled away at her ear playfully.
"Who..." Beauty couldn't find the right words to say, and the fact she woman was nibbling her ear (A major weakness she had) wasn't helping as she fell a victim to her alluring gestures.
"I had fun last night." She purred kissing down at a pink hickey that was left on Beauty's swan like neck.
She couldn't even remember what had happened last night. How did she end up in bed with someone, and much to her surprise a woman.
Her heart races faster as the strangers cold lips kissed upwards to her neck to the side of her face. The stranger smiled slyly and used her fingers to steer Beauty's chin so she was forced to look at her. Her amber eyes stared daggers into hers.
'Fuck.' Beauty cursed in her head as soon as it hit her. She cheated on her husband... It made her feel sick to her stomach as the though sunk in. She and Beast were the longest couple in the history of Fables... And she threw that away in one night with a few bloody marries.
The guilt made her want to vomit (Ir it could be the booze she drank the night before.) Beast though she was having an affair with Bigby Wolf! Then hours later she goes and gets drunk and wakes up with a stranger in the bed... Now this morning was the worst day of her life.
"I hope you had fun too, I sure did." Whispered the stranger into her hear, her alcohol scented breath sent shivers down her spine. "I like you a lot..." She purred again, her hot breath whispering into the married women's ear. "So far." She reminded.
Unknowingly a drop of sweat dripped down from Beauty's forehead. She had to find a way out if this situation. She caught sight of a old clock that hung on the wall with a single weak looking rusty nail. It read eleven A.M
'That's it!' She though and pushed the woman aside.
"I...I have to go to work now!" She lied and quickly got her clothes which rested on the ground all wrinkled, put them on as fast she could and as fast as she could dash out of the filthy motel.
And she though the Open arms were bad... She briskly walked through the streets, very thankful they were fairly empty and she didn't see a familiar face at all. She felt nothing but guilt for what she had done.
She threw her marriage down the drain in only a few shirt hours with a couple of drinks and a stranger...
She was so ashamed of herself, she rarely ever drank and it just so happens the one times she drinks since she lived in this goddamn city she ends up having a one night stand.
Beauty was thankful that Beast was working early this morning, it gave her a little time to clean herself up. She entered the apartment and was about to take off her jacket when she then noticed...
She forgot her jacket.
"Aggggh!" She groaned loudly. That was her favorite jacket! She spend ages waiting for it to be on sale since she set eyes on it. Oh well it was long gone, just like everything else she ever loved since she and Beast left there kingdom.
"I can't worry about that..." She muttered grumpily to herself. "Gotta get cleaned up." She entered there bathroom and took a good long look at herself in the mirror.
Her reflection was no different from the one she saw last night at the bar. She still had bags, her hair was a greasy mess, she was still wearing a gross tank top...
But she was different. And it wasn't the scent alcohol that lingered on her breath, the hickeys and bruises that decorated her body or the soreness that she felt in the skin of her scalp (From a lot of hair pulling that must had happen during the drunken sex) the woman in the mirror was the same as the one she seen in the bar mirror, ugly...but somehow she seemed... Happier, a bit more at ease...
She sighed, yeah she clearly drank too much. She could easily smell the scent of booze on her breath without even trying. Turning the tap on the shower hot water poured out of the shower head. She steeped inside and instantly felt the hot water wash away the greasy feeling. Admittedly it felt nice but the lingering feeling if guilt and shame was still there...
Her cheating? That seemed so unlike her but as much as she wanted to deny it she couldn't, it did happen to her. She betrayed the one she held dearest to her... She then pondered on the thought of why she had sex with a woman.
Beauty never saw anything wrong with it. Love was love in the end after all no one could deny that. But she couldn't be into girls...right? There was no denying that the stranger who brought her those drinks was attractive and would certainly have no trouble finding a lover with her looks and suave like charm. And Beauty did have sexual inner course with her, she just couldn't explain it, she was married to a kind and loving man.
But yet she slept with a member of the same sex. She furrowed her brown in frustration as she scrubbed away at her hair. There were a few other identities out there to identity as well aside from heterosexual and lesbian. There was bisexual and pansexual and many others...
A sigh escaped her mouth as she rinsed her hair. It was all too confusion, she didn't even recall what the sex was like with her...
But it must had been amazing.
Beauty always had such a weakness for getting her haired pulled. Beast would never do such a thing to her, sex always had to be overly romantic with him, candle lights, rose petals he would always go the whole nine yards for her. But there were times Beauty longed for Beast to just pull her by the hair and kissed her like a hungry animal.
"I must be having a midlife crisis..."
After the soap and shampoo had been rinsed off from her and the shower was turned off she pulled on a white bathrobe. Reaching over for her makeup she applied a thick layer of foundation to any hickeys, bruises and bite marks that were left over from the drunken night of sex.
Whoever that stranger was she sure did a number on her, it would be awhile until these love marks faded. Walking to her and her husband's bedroom she retrieve a fresh new pair of clothing. She got change and redid her make. There, now the night before was completely erased from her appearance at least. Checking the time on a clock that rested on a night stand, reading it she made a note that she had nine whole hours to spare until her shift at the Open arms.
There was no housework that needed to be done so she just plopped herself down on the coach and turned on the TV. With nothing else to do she might as well past time until her dreadful shift came.
During those hours of watching bad TV a small "Bing" like sound echoed from her purse which rested peacefully beside her on the couch. Reaching inside she pulled out her red cellphone.
'Probably Beast.'
But much to her surprise it wasn't a text from him, but an unknown number. Curiosity got the better of her as she read it.
Subject : is this getting to you?
Is this Beauty?
Who was this person? She rarely ever got texts unless they were from Beast. She send a text back.
Yes
Who is this?
And in an instant there was a reply, but not with words but with a picture. Without thinking she pressed "open" to reveal the picture.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment. The picture was the mystery woman from last night, only this time she was clothed...but not fully dressed. She wore nothing but Beauty's red jacket. Her palms became sweaty as she stated at the racy picture in her possession.
"Oh god..." She spoke breathlessly looking at the picture. This was the same emanates from the night before, how did she even get her cellphone number?
There was a long pause until another text was sent from the short black haired woman.
Well?
Her long fingers shook nervously as she tried to type a reply back.
Please don't sent me this, I'm at work.
Who are you?
She sent the message.
Yes, she was lying about being at work but what if Beast got home and saw the picture? The worried woman did plan to tell her husband about her mistake, but...not yet. There was go much going on right now, Women getting murdered, Crane being a killer, Beast discovered she worked a desk just at Open arms, and most recently Beast's drinking. She would tell him...just not now.
She gotten another text from the stranger.
Do u want ur jacket back?
Beauty did favor that jacket a lot...but the red streaked woman didn't answer her question.
Yes
She sent it and waited, but no reply.
A sigh escaped her mouth as she then returned to watching TV, she supposed that was the last she would ever see of her beloved jacket.
Eventually night fell, it was time for her dreaded shift at the Open arms. It was a well known place for Fables and even Mundies to go too with a women they paid from, mainly from the Pudding and Pie.
She hailed down a taxi and soon reached her work. She sat in a chair behind the counter. In the exchange for money she gave various couples a key to a room. She didn't get paid that much but every little bit that paid the bills made it worth the efforts, jobs were hard to come by anyway nowadays.
Surprisingly there were less couples then usual, it was far to quiet. But it was better then hearing the muffled moans and screams in pleasure from the people above her. Her fingers drummed against her thigh as she when over the check on list.
As usual it was full of "Smiths", Carl Smith, Tom Smith, Ryan Smith and every other Smith in the world. She kept her eye out for anything unusual, just in case. If Crane really did have a sick and twisted obsession with Snow who's to say he wouldn't try to enjoy his fetish of her again? Even with a fake name she had too keep a lookout for the elderly man .
The former wealthy woman was too caught up in her own thoughts to notice the door open again.
"I though I'll find you here."Purred a familiar alluring voice. Beauty quickly recognize the sticky sweet tone. Averting her gaze from the seemingly endless check in list of Smiths. Her heart started racing as the stranger from last night. The mystery woman lower her eye lids as her lips curved into a sly smile at Beauty's speechlessness. How did she even know she worked at the Open arms? She didn't recall mentioning anything about work...well sober at least. She wondered what she said to her when she was drunk?
"Miss me?" she asked leaning closer to Beauty,reaching over to her with her finger to guide her head upward. "I sure miss you already."
The pale skin of Beauty's cheeks was soon replaced with a shad of rosy pink. She cleared her throat.
"Who are you?" she finally asked as the stranger's finger trailed up on down her cheek, tracing the areas that contain her unavoidable blush.
"They call me Bloody Mary."
She hated herself to be so helpless to her touch, it was like a drug...and she was all already addicted to it. Without warning Bloody Mary leaned in closer- no she wasn't going kiss her, a least not yet anyway. The sudden weakness in her legs cause her to be unable to move. The blonde woman found herself unable to avoid the hypnotizing gaze of the pair of amber eyes Bloody Mary had, the sharp look they had in them made her feel so weak. It was like a cat stalking her prey, ready to pounce on destroy it at any given moment. Any moment by now she would be Bloody Mary's prey...
It was at the moment Bloody Mary finally made her move. Her heart shape lips pressed against Beauty's plump ones. The feeling of her tender kiss made her feel like she was about turn into a puddle of mush. Bloody Mary's hungrily kissed at her, biting at her lower lip to the point of almost breaking the flesh as well as drawing blood.
Her lips tasted like...blood, there was no other word to describe it. It had a metallic salty taste that lingered with each smooch. It was like she was drunk...drunk on love. Her eyes snapped open, she couldn't do this! She had a husband! They been together forever, she couldn't just throw that all away. She grabbed the leather jacket clad woman and gently pushed her away. A string of saliva connected from their lips that shortly broke.
"I can't!" Beauty bluntly declared worriedly. "I-I'm at work!"
Bloody Mary rested her chin in her hands. "No ones here." she reminded. "And I doubt those horny bastards up stairs will care."
"Someone could walk in on us!"
"True enough I guess." She licked her lips. "Guess I'll have to hold off until next time we meet, Beauty..."
'How does she know my name?'
"How do you-"
"Your quite a well known Fable." Bloody Mary mused. "Its almost impossible not to know you."
'Well she's not a mundy.'
Tucking a lock of her golden blonde hair behind her ear she looked at the woman. "Why are you here?"
Bloody Mary snapped her fingers. "Oh yeah I almost forgot." She handed the front desk worker a neatly folded and freshly washed red jacket. "You forgot your jacket."
The former wealthy woman grinned as she eagerly took her much beloved jacket. "Oh thank god!" She exclaimed. That jacket was such a rare find to find on sale. It was the only high class and designer piece of clothing she owned. "Thank you so much!"
Bloody Mary's smiled slyly as usual. The very look on her eyes made Beauty feel uncomfortable. It felt like the black clad woman would pounce at any given moment.
"So dinner at my place then?"
Once again she was rendered speechless at the woman, it was just the way she talked... So slick and sleek, like velvet... It was like she was in a trance. Of course the red streaked woman picked up on this and leaned over again, using the nail on her index finger she traced the outline if Beauty's lips.
"Well?" She purred. "I'm waiting."
"I-I can't." Beauty managed to say. But by the looks of it Bloody wasn't falling for it.
"Look," she started. "I know we met under some... rather not so classy circumstances." Running a hand through her short hair. "And by that I mean getting beyond shit faced and having sex in a cheap motel that makes this one look like a castle." For once since she met this wild and untamed woman the wild and free look she always seem to have in her eyes had changed to a more softer gaze. " Let me make it up for you. Dinner tonight, my place."
Now Beauty was caught up in a crossroad. Was this a date? Would it still count as cheating ? Maybe it was dinner was just a way of saying sorry of the unexpected turn of events from the night before? Yeah, it had to be! Chances were she knew Beauty wasn't into girls and had a husband. Yeah that was it, this was just an "I'm sorry" dinner. No harm no foul if she agreed, chances they would just laugh the night from before off well they chatted about there lives, hobbies and jobs...well maybe not that last one, her job was something she didn't feel like discussing.
Taking a breath breath she spoke. "Sure..."
Her amber eyes lit up in delight. "Great, see you there." She was about to leave the Open arms but paused and looked back at Beauty. "Wear something pretty." She added and grinned. "I know how to have a real fun time."
Then she left.
'What does she mean a real fun time?' Beauty wondered then turned her attention back into her jacket. "Thank goodness." She exclaimed as a small black box wrapped in gold ribbon fell from inside the red material. She picked it up and opened it. Inside was a silver necklace with a modest diamond hanging off of it.
No doubt in her mind it was real, She knew her jewels even to this day. A real diamond necklace from a stranger she met after a drunken night...
Why did she get the feeling this was going to get complicated for her...
And there we go! First chapter and for all you BeastXBeauty fans this is not anti BeastXBeauty, like I said before this based off the game Catherine! Check it out and your understand.