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]

He snorts derisively.

[beheld_beauty]

"What?" asks Chelise. "I don't think you'd be so hard to love. I don't think I am. I don't know about Belle."

[deslandes]

"Never mind," he sighs.

[beheld_beauty]

"Oh, won't you tell me? I suppose you needn't."

[deslandes]

"It seems to me," he says, "that after a hundred and fifty years of this, I can be in whatever mood I please."

[beheld_beauty]

"Of course you can," says Chelise. "I didn't mean that you had to - I'm sorry, my Callian isn't perfect even now, some of my little siblings speak it like natives but I was already twelve when we moved."

[deslandes]

He snorts again, but snuggles his head into her lap.

[beheld_beauty]

Pet pet pet pet. They can agree on pettings, can't they? Chelise wants to get along, look how hopeful she is.

[deslandes]

They can agree on pettings! The Beast is still soft and fluffy and pettable, and he likes the way her hands feel in his fur.

[beheld_beauty]

Hurray!

"So Belle called you beast, but is that what you'd really most like to be called?"

[deslandes]

"Do you have a better idea?"

[beheld_beauty]

"I - just doubt that's your name? It doesn't seem very polite of her to call you that, does it?"

[deslandes]

"I told her to," he says. "You don't like her very much, do you."

[beheld_beauty]

"I hardly know her - and I like most everyone! I don't think she likes me," says Chelise sadly.

[deslandes]

"What gave you that impression?"

[beheld_beauty]

"Oh, mostly how she looked at me when she talked to me in the front hall," says Chelise.

[deslandes]

"I'll ask her," says the Beast.

[beheld_beauty]

"Do you think she'd know? Or tell you?" asks Chelise dubiously.

[deslandes]

He laughs. "Of course she will."

[beheld_beauty]

"What do you mean of course? Sometimes people don't know. I can usually tell who likes who else, but everyone else winds up asking me."

[deslandes]

"Belle knows her own mind."

[beheld_beauty]

"Isn't that usually a euphemism for stubborn?"

[deslandes]

"Well, that's as may be," he laughs. "But I meant she understands it."

[beheld_beauty]

"Maybe," says Chelise dubiously. "I suppose if she says she likes me then whether she really does or not that means she's willing to try."

[deslandes]

"Why do you doubt her so?" he asks dryly.