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Belle studies. She really doesn't get as lonely as Beast - and maybe he and Chelise can fall in love if she stays out of their way, and then the curse will break and Belle can ransack the library and go home, that would be fine. She works.
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deslandes
He giggles.
"It's mostly not like that. It's a little like that."
But it's like losing a layer of skin in a nice way. Fur was nice, being fluffy was nice, but it meant he couldn't feel things the same way he does as a human, and he missed that even more than he knew.
And there was always the worry he might hurt her, as a Beast. To hurt her as a man he'd have to try, and he won't.
"It's mostly not like that. It's a little like that."
But it's like losing a layer of skin in a nice way. Fur was nice, being fluffy was nice, but it meant he couldn't feel things the same way he does as a human, and he missed that even more than he knew.
And there was always the worry he might hurt her, as a Beast. To hurt her as a man he'd have to try, and he won't.
beheld_beauty
Belle likes being able to read his mind.
And he continues to be pettable, that's also nice!
And he continues to be pettable, that's also nice!
deslandes
He is extremely pettable! He lacks most of the fluff, but still gives a creditable purr when cuddled.
beheld_beauty
After a while, Belle says:
"The castle is not likely to feed us anymore. We should see what there is left to eat, and come up with something for you to wear, and I should find a spell to pack up all the books, and we should get out of the forest."
"The castle is not likely to feed us anymore. We should see what there is left to eat, and come up with something for you to wear, and I should find a spell to pack up all the books, and we should get out of the forest."
deslandes
He snorts. "Where am I to get clothes? Your wardrobe? Fun, but I doubt you've much that will fit me."
beheld_beauty
"Well, it will presumably be necessary to wind up tearing something into a serviceable shape, but it will be better than walking out of the forest in your altogether, won't it? And then we can find Charlie and he can loan you something."
beheld_beauty
Belle hunts through the closet, and finds something that snugs up with enough laces that Beast can get into it if all of these laces are unsnugged as far as they go.
"Silly," she pronounces, "but not indecent." And then she fetches her original traveling bag, rolls up two of the dresses she likes best, and heads to evaluate the state of the kitchen.
"Silly," she pronounces, "but not indecent." And then she fetches her original traveling bag, rolls up two of the dresses she likes best, and heads to evaluate the state of the kitchen.
deslandes
Beast follows after her, looking terribly entertained by his attire.
The kitchen is... unliving. But all of the food that was previously in the pantry still is, and in its previous condition. They could probably drown themselves in fruit preserves if they so chose.
The kitchen is... unliving. But all of the food that was previously in the pantry still is, and in its previous condition. They could probably drown themselves in fruit preserves if they so chose.
beheld_beauty
"I'll go see what I have in the way of packing spells," Belle says. "I want all of those books."
It turns out that she can make a bag bottomless. This will not be ideal for including everything in the same bag, as the spell comes with nothing to let her retrieve a specific item first but she can pack the entirety of her intelligently refined wardrobe selection, and also the whole library.
Packing up the library takes a long time. There is a break for eating some of the fruit preserves in the middle.
She fills another bottomless bag with assorted nonperishable food. They may not have control over their exact diets over the next few days, but they will not starve.
"Is there anything else we should take?" Belle asks when the pantry has been raided.
It turns out that she can make a bag bottomless. This will not be ideal for including everything in the same bag, as the spell comes with nothing to let her retrieve a specific item first but she can pack the entirety of her intelligently refined wardrobe selection, and also the whole library.
Packing up the library takes a long time. There is a break for eating some of the fruit preserves in the middle.
She fills another bottomless bag with assorted nonperishable food. They may not have control over their exact diets over the next few days, but they will not starve.
"Is there anything else we should take?" Belle asks when the pantry has been raided.
beheld_beauty
According to her mindreading he does not mind walking barefoot through the woods. Very well then. It's coming up on dark, but there's a full moon up and she still has her original firestarting equipment and they can build a campfire before stopping for the night, there's enough unburnt wood left.
Off they go into the woods!
"And this time it won't turn us around," Belle murmurs, pulling out her original notebook with the mapping in it and directing them west while there's still a sun to go by.
Off they go into the woods!
"And this time it won't turn us around," Belle murmurs, pulling out her original notebook with the mapping in it and directing them west while there's still a sun to go by.
deslandes
Beast takes charge of hauling the bottomless bags, which are not nearly as heavy as they should be but are still pretty heavy.
beheld_beauty
Belle doesn't argue; she has enough work to do simply not falling over.
They go about two hours before it is time to stop for the night.
Why yes, even in the absence of a bed it is possible to sleep cuddling.
They go about two hours before it is time to stop for the night.
Why yes, even in the absence of a bed it is possible to sleep cuddling.
beheld_beauty
The night is uneventful.
Up until all the growling from the pack of wolves that has them surrounded and is debating how frightened to be of the dimming campfire, anyway.
Up until all the growling from the pack of wolves that has them surrounded and is debating how frightened to be of the dimming campfire, anyway.
deslandes
The Beast wakes up, and for a moment he forgets his new-old body with its new-old limitations.
He growls right back.
Something feels wrong about that, but in his half-asleep state he doesn't think about it, he just - adjusts - and tries again.
Much better.
He growls right back.
Something feels wrong about that, but in his half-asleep state he doesn't think about it, he just - adjusts - and tries again.
Much better.
beheld_beauty
Belle wakes up.
"Beast?" she murmurs. "You're doubled ag-"
She sees the wolves.
She stops distracting him and tries to make herself look very small.
"Beast?" she murmurs. "You're doubled ag-"
She sees the wolves.
She stops distracting him and tries to make herself look very small.
beheld_beauty
One of the wolves backs up a bit.
Two of them come a bit father forward.
Two of them come a bit father forward.
beheld_beauty
Timid Wolf turns tail and flees.
One other wolf backs up a bit.
One of the bolder ones comes one - step - forward.
Belle cringes.
One other wolf backs up a bit.
One of the bolder ones comes one - step - forward.
Belle cringes.
beheld_beauty
It's not much of a contest; the Beast outweighs the wolf and as soon as it's clear that the pack has a fight on its hands, none of the others stay around to help. But the wolf does get one solid bite in on the Beast's forearm.
deslandes
He stands watch for a few more moments, making sure they're gone.
Then he returns to Belle's side and curls up next to her.
Then he returns to Belle's side and curls up next to her.