ma bête

[beheld_beauty]

Beast seems to be sleeping in a bit this morning. Perhaps he has had a good dream. Belle can study on her own, anyway.

Comments

[deslandes]

"I love you," says the Beast.

[beheld_beauty]

Belle laughs. "This is an odd time to mention it, why just then?"

[deslandes]

"It's not odd at all, why is it odd?"

[beheld_beauty]

"It's not - topical. Is it?"

[deslandes]

"The castle lets you out. The castle let me out, with you."

[beheld_beauty]

"...And?"

[deslandes]

"...And I love you."

[beheld_beauty]

"I don't see how the things are related," laughs Belle.

[deslandes]

"Well, I don't know how to explain," snorts the Beast.

[beheld_beauty]

"All right then."

Stroll-stroll-stroll, there's the castle again, turn, stroll-stroll-there is a strange glow in that direction, a strange crackling sound -

[deslandes]

"Fire," says the Beast.

[beheld_beauty]

"Yes - has this happened before - is the castle safe? -"

[deslandes]

"Yes - yes - safer than here. But we have to hurry."

And he scoops her into his arms and bounds off toward the gate.

[beheld_beauty]

She doesn't protest. She certainly can't run.

But the fire is very swift. It hasn't rained in a while, now...

[deslandes]

And when they reach the walls, there's not much they can do to shut out the fire, and the way across the yard to the castle is thick with rosebushes.

He puts her down to claw his way through them. Going around would take even longer.

[beheld_beauty]

Belle doesn't know a spell for this, she's been so focused on disenchantment that she knows nothing about managing the elements, she is certainly not yet advanced enough to invent something on the fly -

"Beast," she murmurs when the fire is close enough that she feels sunburnt and he's only halfway through the bushes.

[deslandes]

He growls.

[beheld_beauty]

"Maybe if you tossed me over them - I might break something but I might not -"

[deslandes]

He shakes his head.

"Climb on my back," he says, "and hold on."

[beheld_beauty]

She holds on and scrunches her eyes shut.

[deslandes]

The Beast takes the distance to the castle door in a series of jarring leaps.

[beheld_beauty]

Belle's ability to hold on is sorely taxed. He may be missing a few tufts of fur at the end of this.

Outside, the fire swirls through the garden, but is stymied - both its temperature and its actual burning - by the walls of the building.

Belle doesn't let go even after it's clear they're safe.

[deslandes]

The roses did far worse; his arms and hands are scratched bloody.

Softly: "Belle?"

[beheld_beauty]

"I'm okay," she murmurs. "Just - just a few scratches."

[deslandes]

"The same," he says, turning his head to nuzzle her hand where it is still clenched in his fur.