paixaorpg | The Way to a Man's Heart [Completed]

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The Way to a Man's Heart [Completed]

Character(s): Belle, Beast, Lumière!
Content: Belle invites Beast to a picnic.
Setting: Starting in Iriela Apartments and ending up in Jogo da Crianca
Time: Noon-ish, Week 21
Warnings: None.

Belle finished tucking in the blue and white checked cloth over the food in the basket, checking off a list in her head. Since Beast was French as she was, she'd decided to prepare something wholly French for the outing -- pan bagnat, a sort of seafood sandwich; crudites with lemon oil; gougeres, a light, delicate cheese pastry; and the pride of her picnic basket, the item that she'd stayed up late to create, meringue calissons. With a satisfied nod, she reached up to tuck an errant strand of chestnut hair behind her ear, ignoring the surge of nervousness that lurked just below the surface.

Yes, she mused as she gathered up a bottle of wine to round out the meal, she was surprising Beast with this and he was clearly not a fan of surprises. It was very possible he'd turn her away the door, growling and snarling like an animal. But Belle had missed him more each day she couldn't find him and a good meal was the best way to deepen any bond.

She exited her apartment and quickly headed towards Beast's, thankful she didn't have to carry the big basket too far. When Belle drew up to his door, she hesitated for the barest moment...then, ducking her head and inhaling a steady, deep breath, she knocked.

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A knock at the door roused Beast from his thoughts. He quietly rose, watching Lumiere freeze in place. The last person at the door had been very kind to him, though also very confusing. The servant had arrived only a week or so after the visit from Genie, and the maitre d' had been welcome to a rare sight: Beast's room was clean. Nothing was damaged, nothing was out of place, the apartment was in great repair. And now that Lumiere was here, Beast was a little more confident he could keep it that way.

"Who is it?" Beast asked at the door. He was nervous, he couldn't help it, but he didn't let himself sound cross.

At the sound of his voice, Belle smiled at the door. Even with the growl that always seemed to lurk in his deep voice, the quiet insecurity and nervousness in that soft question made tenderness swell in her heart. "It's Belle," she replied, raising her voice a bit so she could be heard inside his apartment.

"May I come in?"

At the voice, Lumiere immediately broke from his lifeless pose and looked up from his spot on the table. “Mon Dieu, it’s a girl!” he exclaimed in surprise, incapable of restraining himself from comment. As far as he knew the prince had not been expecting company, much less from a girl. This had certainly turned out to be quite the surprise. And that was without even touching the fact that Lumiere was certain he had spoken with this ‘Belle’ over the journals as well. He wondered what she was doing here and most of all hoped the master would not scare her. If she was anything like her picture she was far too beautiful to lose. He would have to see to it that the prince made a good first impression to the woman. The candelabra turned his attention away from the door and to his master.

“What are you waiting for?” He asked, sure to keep his voice down while he gestured for Beast to answer the door. “Let her in!” After all, it was rude to keep a woman waiting.

It took Beast a moment to work up the courage to open the door, but when he did he was quick to give Belle a smile--one that couldn't hide his surprise. "Belle? What are you doing here?"

He was trying to at least hide a little of how happy he was to see her, even though she had come unannounced. He spared a brief glance down at Lumiere, his expression pleading the candlestick to help handle the situation. This had never, ever happened before, and Beast had no idea where to start.

He even forgot to say "hello."

Belle grinned -- she couldn't help it. "It's been awhile since we've spent time together. I thought..." She paused, looking down at the basket hanging from her hands before glancing up at him from under her eyelashes. "I'd like to invite you to a picnic, Beast. I made what I hope is some delicious food and the weather is just beautiful lately!"

She hesitated again for a moment, shifting her weight a bit. "...may I come in?"

Well, well, well! What was this? The two were already acquainted were they? Odd, the prince had never mentioned this. Of course, Lumiere had never asked either but that was far from the point. For the prince to have met a girl that actually liked him? Well, this was very assuring! Wonderful news! Why, it was just what he needed to see. This explained a lot about the master’s behaviour, not to mention the hope it sparked in Lumiere. Somehow, even without his guidance, the prince had managed to find a girl to fall in love with him. This little picnic said a lot more then Beast probably realized. As far as Lumiere was concerned, when a woman decided to cook for a man it was an expression of love. The only question was if the prince loved her in return. Only then could he break the spell and have them both human again, possibly even by the end of the night!

Struggling to catch a glimpse of Belle from behind Beast’s large frame, the candelabrum gave a small huff in frustration. However, he was sure he would see her soon enough. “Oui, invite her inside.” He whispered before returning to the lifeless pose he had struck earlier. This way he appeared as any ordinary candlestick – almost. “And you accept her invitation.” Worst come to worse the prince got too nervous and accidentally rejected her invitation.

"A picnic?" Beast was taken aback. His ears perked, and his jaw dropped for a second, but then Belle repeated her earlier request to enter. However, the unfamiliar situation made him suddenly go bolt straight. It took Lumiere's whispering to make Beast realize what was supposed to happen, and a few twitchy steps later he'd gotten out of her way. He waved at Lumiere to get out of sight, or at least pretend to be a real candle, instead of a person transformed into one--though the servant had already done so. A wave with his other paw, accompanied by a stiff bow, was meant to invite her in.

"Come in," he tried to say, though his weak volume probably made the words almost inaudible. But he waited patiently for her to walk inside, swelling with pride at how nice the apartment looked--and ignoring that it hadn't been his own doing, nor even his own wish. Then he remembered the other part of Lumiere's hurried whispering.

"I...would love...to go with you." The words alternated between hesitant and rushed. If Belle could understand any of them, it would be a quite a feat.

Belle nodded at his initial question, bemused. Perhaps he didn't know what a picnic was? Did people...or beasts, actually...who lived in castles go on picnics? She watched him with a slightly raised eyebrow as he moved aside and seemed to make some sporadic movements behind his broad back. "Thank you," she replied slowly, one corner of her mouth lifted up in amusement.

She walked to the center of the room, absent-mindedly placing the basket on the nearby table. "Oh, my...Beast! Your apartment looks wonderful!" She turned around slowly to take it all in before walked to his side and beaming up at him. His rushed, quiet words were unfortunately unnoticed by Belle. "I'm really quite impressed. I think it even looks better than my room!"

Well, the prince was undoubtedly on the right path now. Charming, dashing, and why he was even polite! Oh, the very sight was enough to warm Lumiere’s heart alone. It took much restraint to hide his smile and remain as neutral as possible in the girl’s presence. He had always known his master had it in him to act in such a favourable fashion but there had been many times back in the castle where he had come to question it with the other servants. If only they could be there with him and watch as their greatest hope unravelled before his eyes. … Well, almost, anyway. They prince may not have broken the spell just yet but he was well on his way.

Watching Belle place her basket down on the table, the candelabrum fully opened his eyes as she passed him and allowed his gaze to follow her to the middle to the room. From there he continued to observe her, taking in every ounce of her beauty. There was no denying, the prince certainly knew how to pick them. This girl, she was heaven sent with looks of an angle. No wonder the master had taken an interest in her. Admittedly, Lumiere had as well and if not for this particular meeting he would not have known how grave a mistake it would have been to pursue her. Had the Beast found out he had had his eye on the same girl, well! Things would be uglier than the prince himself.

As the girl had mentioned, the apartment was in unimaginable great shape. Maybe the prince would learn something from this, the foremost being how to appreciate his property better. The mere sight of his bedroom at home brought discomfort to all who set foot in it - or at least those who still had feet. But here? Lumiere could honestly admit he enjoyed spending time in these well kept rooms, even if the wallpaper was a little questionable. A bright and cheery atmosphere was exactly what they all needed.

Lumiere gave a silent sigh and casually leaned against the picnic basket while he watched the two speak with one another. It was a shame they would be leaving so soon. He wanted to see how this picnic played out and knew the prince would be in need of his guidance at some point. This was when it mattered most, when the girl was surly about to let go of all her fears and fall hopelessly in love for the master. If only there were some way he could possibly join them. He looked over Belle’s basket thoughtfully then shrugged. It looked as though the prince would have to tell him all about it when he got back – not! Extinguishing his flames, the candlestick turned to look over at the pair to insure they were not watching before jumping into the basket.

In the name of amour, he had to attend this picnic!

"You...think so?" Beast asked, still barely containing his excitement. Belle...liked it! He half-bit his lip to keep himself from making some unsightly sort of noise, he had to maintain his composure. And he really was having a hard time of it. For a few moments, he was quiet after asking that question. It...wasn't him, who had cleaned everything...

It...wouldn't be right, to lie to Belle. She...wouldn't lie to him, right? "Someone..." he started to admit hesitantly, before she thought he had done everything himself, "...did it for me."

She gave him an understanding smile, moving to his side to place her hand on his forearm. "That's perfectly alright." She was actually more pleased that he'd accepted help from someone than the cleanliness of his apartment. "I'm glad you were able to accept help from someone who was it?"

Belle completely missed the movement by her picnic basket going on behind her.

The guilty look melted away, but it was replaced by one that was a little flustered. How could Beast describe Genie to her? It was hard enough to even think about Genie without becoming confused, so would Beast be able to explain what the apartment's savior was like? Belle was so much better with words...if she had to say it to Beast, he was sure she'd have no trouble at all.

Beast rubbed the fur on his collar. "I'd...never met him before." Beast had to repeat over and over in his mind that he could do this, that he could tell Belle about Genie. That repetition left him silent for a long while. "He...told me his name was...Genie. He was..."

Now this was the hard part. He'd never told Belle about the enchantress. "He was...a creature of magic." He grimaced, and let out a pitiful rumble.

At the mention of Genie, Belle's face lit up with excitement. "Oh! I know him! Isn't he amazing?" His discomfort at the subject of magic went unnoticed in her excitement. "He saved my life, you know. A friend of mine was teaching me how to swim and..." She looked sheepish and a little embarrassed at the admission of her lack of swimming skills but rushed on. "Well, if Genie hadn't been there, I'm sure I would have drowned. He's a very kind person."

Still watching Beast, she picked up the basket once more. It felt a bit different somehow, but she figured something inside must have shifted. "I'm glad you're making more friends, Beast."

Belle's enthusiasm pulled Beast's thoughts away from the enchantress, and for some time off the subject of magic as well.

"He...hardly even asked. I may not have even had a choice." Beast sounded surprised by it, but that was to be expected from a man who was accustomed to ordering servants about on a whim.

"Where will we be going?" he asked, curious if it was a place he had seen. Since he'd hardly left the apartment since coming here, save for a few blocks in any direction, there was a very good chance that Belle would be leading him somewhere he had never been.

"Jogo da Crianca," she replied, grinning. So he wanted to go! "It's a beautiful little section further inside the city with fountains and little treat vendors and lovely landscaping." As she spoke, Belle headed out the door again. "I think I even saw some real plant life at one point!" She laughed, turning on the spot and swinging the basket in front of her.

"I hope you're hungry. I made a lot of food!"

Jogo da Crianca...Beast didn't recognize that name. The inner city...Beast had not visited there often, though such news would come as no surprise to most who had met him, or who knew him. The fact he was leaving his apartment now might be more surprising to them, in fact. He thought of this with some derision, chiding himself for not being the...no. How could someone who looked like a monster ever hope to be...something...for anyone?

His excitement was sobered by those somber thoughts, and he rubbed at the fur of his collar for a moment. "That sounds...wonderful," he said, finding the heart for a smile, even though part of him was still very...afraid. He sounded almost hopeful.

Even in her enthusiasm, Belle could sense his hesitation. She reached out and took his paw, her hand dwarfed considerably by his. She looked up at him with an encouraging smile but said nothing, instead opting to silently lead him out of the apartment.

Out on the street, as they made their way to the park, Belle didn't say much outside of requesting his help in carrying the basket for a little while so that her arms could rest. Through out the journey, she stole the occasional glance his way, a hundred questions brimming inside her about who he was and the life he had before Paixao. Experience had taught her it was better to keep silent about such things, though. She didn't want to ruin their first outing together in a long time.

When they entered the park, Belle took a few quick steps ahead, spreading her arms out to either side and spinning a few times. "I know the sky isn't real, but the sunlight feels so wonderful!" She looked at her companion over her shoulder, dimples flashing as she smiled brightly.

During his time inside the picnic basket Lumiere listened quietly to Belle and Beasts conversation. It was full of all sorts of surprises, including how that the prince had apparently made friends in his absents. The fact that his master had befriended anyone was simply astounding. Even at a young age the prince had proved to have trouble connecting with others. Lumiere could remember the prince’s efforts to avoid others during countless parties that had been held at the castle. Although, there were also numerous occasions where he could recall the young prince’s behaviour had forced others to avoid him as well. There had been times the prince had been so rude to their guests… It had been all too embarrassing. However, all this was merely the past. Things had changed, notably for the better. Well, at least in that aspect.

He wished the prince had mentioned this genie earlier. Although things were going remarkably well with the girl, if anything were to happen between them this Genie the master had befriended could certainly be of help to them. Why, perhaps he could even break the spell! He would have to speak with him later in regards to it. What an eventful afternoon this was turning out to be and they still hadn’t even made it out to… Wherever it had it was that Belle had mentioned. The candelabrum knew even less about the city than his master though he had full intention in changing that soon. To reside inside such a beautiful place and not take in its beauty was practically crime!

The silence that followed them as they walked through the streets proved not only vexatious to Belle but Lumiere as well. Now was the prince’s chance to really sweep the girl off her feet and he was spending it probably staring down at his own feet avoiding eye contact with her all together. The candlestick silently sighed, incredibly tempted to urge the prince to say something, anything to the girl, even if it risked blowing his cover.

Once they arrived at the park, the disillusioned prince couldn't help but smile back at Belle, after such a long walk in silence. He'd taken the basket with only a growl for complaint, but after her glare he'd fallen quiet, lost in his thoughts, as he was quickly doing again now. She...was still afraid of him, he could tell. Why else would she have held her tongue, when she was so...outspoken. Beast couldn't help but admit to how different Belle was from him. She always seemed so confident, so...bright. She wasn't always cheerful, but she was only rarely very upset. He wished...he wished so much he could be just a little more like Belle. He looked down at his monstrous paw, then back at the girl.

"It's...nice," he finally answered her, after a long moment of deliberation as to how she would want him to respond. That smile of hers made him feel so good inside, he couldn't understand it. Seeing Belle happy made Beast...it almost made him happy too, he thought. He'd never...he couldn't remember anyone who was like Belle to him. No one before could make him happy just by smiling at him, no one could make him so keen to keep his temper under control.

Belle was...she was...

Beast was in love with the girl. But how could he show her?

There he was again, lost in the workings of his mind, hiding behind the wall he erected around himself. She longed to just...burst that wall open and pull him out into life! Even Belle herself couldn't explain why she felt the need to connect to him as strongly as she did, but she didn't question it. Beast did enough brooding for the both of them.

Determined to coax him out of his shell and get him to enjoy himself, she took the basket from his hands and headed a short distance to a shady area nearby. Placing the basket on the ground, she opened it to retrieve the checkered blanket but froze, staring down at the candlestick she was certain she didn't pack. She knelt slowly, casting Beast an amused glance as he joined her. "I appreciate the effort, Beast, but I don't think we'll need any candlelight in the middle of the day," she said as she pulled the candelabra out.

Since she didn't bring it, she assumed Beast had.

Lumiere hasn’t through much about when he was finally discovered by the pair. There had been so many things going on around him he had easily overlooked the outcome of his actions. He was doubtful the prince would say anything, at least while Belle was around. That was if he wasn’t angry with Lumiere for following them. If so, then the candelabra certainly had his share of explaining to do. Hopefully the prince would see that his intentions were good and that he had only followed them to help Beast win the girls heart… And maybe eavesdrop on them a little too but mostly assist his master.

As tempted as he was to open an eye and peer at the beast, the candlestick remained as lifeless and ordinary as any other in Belle’s grasp. Clever as Belle was, he was doubtful she had realized he was the same candelabra she had spoken with earlier over the journals. Although in more than one way he was also thankful. If she were to try striking up a conversation with every candlestick she found people would think she was out of her tree, especially during an outing such as this. One would hope to hold up a conversation with their guest not their décor. He repressed a laugh at the thought, as well as Belle's comment, and listened carefully for Beast’s response.

Beast jumped a little when Belle took the basket, but he smiled softly and followed her. He didn't know what do say, though, when he saw Lumiere had stowed away inside. He rubbed at the fur on his collar, trying to think of what to do. Should he tell Belle the truth, that this was one of his servants?

...No, what would she think then? Was it not bad enough that she could see he was a monster, without her knowing what he had done to all the others in the castle? He couldn't let her know about that, at least...not yet. It would ruin the picnic, and he wanted nothing more than for Belle to enjoy herself. Learning that Beast had caused something even more horrible than she had imagined would spoil it for her, he was certain.

He straightened up for a moment, but then deflated. That didn't help him to think of something to say to her to explain how Lumiere had gotten into the basket. The servant must have jumped inside while Beast and Belle weren't looking.

As Belle watched Beast, her smile faded -- he seemed upset. She'd only been joking a little with him, but for some reason, he seemed guilty. "It's okay," she was quick to reassure him. She looked back at the candlestick in her hand. "It's a very nice candelabra," she added, lifting it closer to her face for a better inspection. "Somehow it seems familiar..." This last bit was said more to herself, a quizzical tone entering her voice.

She sighed and set it aside on the grass and proceeded to spread out the picnic blanket. "I'm sure you're used to much better food than what I've prepared, but I hope you like it anyway." She sat back down on the blanket, demurely adjusting the skirt of her dress and pulled the basket towards her. "Come sit with me, Beast."

[*hadn't thought much about... Oi.]

If only he could have thanked her for her flattery. Lumiere knew he wasn’t truly a candelabra or took any particular liking to it (other than his ability to easily burn Cogsworth), but he could not help but feel a sense of pride at Belle’s compliment. Even after all the long years he had gone without a good polishing he still looked as extravagant as ever. He cracked the faintest of a smile, even while the girl held him closer for further inspection. Now more than ever did he long to speak up, thank the girl, and confirm her quiet thoughts. Perhaps even steal a kiss in the process. Although Lumiere was more than sure the prince would not approve. Still, he could not help but find the girl curious. Maybe he had underestimated her… He would find out soon enough.

Once she placed him onto the ground he immediately returned back to life and smiled apologetically at the beast while Belle turned had her back. He really hadn’t meant to go behind his masters back in such a manner but it could not have been helped. It was the only way he could think of at the time to assure his assistance when it was needed. He opened his mouth to try and explain but quickly closed it when the girl’s voice rose from behind him. If he had any hope of properly coaching the prince through this date he would have to do so both silently and out of Belle’s sight. Lumiere turned his attention back to Beast and shared a pleading look with him, silently hoping he remembered at least some manners before he gestured for him to join Belle.

‘Oui, oui. Go on, master.’ He thought. ‘Should you need my assistance, I am here as I always have. Pas de soucis.’

It was a few moments before Beast was ready sit down. He rubbed at the fur on his collar, and glanced at Lumiere. When he saw the servant's pleading look, Beast steeled himself, and gave Belle a small smile as he took a seat.

"I'm sure the food will be wonderful, Belle," he said, looking into the basket. After so long eating food that he'd tried to cook himself, or mediocre food from those restaurants that were close to his apartment, he was glad to have a chance to eat something Belle had made instead. He had always had the servants to cook for him in the castle, so knew nothing himself about how to make food that tasted any good. Lumiere, unfortunately, was only a little better. The smells wafting up from the basket were fresh and didn't seem burnt, which was much more than the spoiled prince had ever accomplished on his own.

He started to reach into the basket to pull something out, but stopped. It was supposed to be good manners to be patient, right? He would wait until Belle took out the food.

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The Way to a Man's Heart [Completed]

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