#beast also wanted belle just to break a spell although he did try to show her humanity to show that there was an emotional complex human

[coll2mitts]

#65 Beauty and the Beast (2017)

I’m burning through my Disney+ subscription, and instead of this forever cursing my drafts section until I work my way through the other lower movies on this list, you’re getting this one now.

Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney movie as a child.  Belle was smart, she read a lot, and she was a bit of an outcast, which were my only identifiers as a wee lass (other than being obnoxious and constantly having tangled hair).  I'm going to bet that this movie is the reason so many girls my age went through a Paris phase in their tween years.  I did take 3 years of high school French that I have almost no memory of.  

The original's animation is gorgeous, the songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are iconic, and the romance between two people who learn how to trust and support each other... it's probably the reason why I've stayed in terrible relationships for way too long.  My father took me to see this movie in theaters when I was 6, and it is the first movie I remember crying during out of sadness.  There I was, while the Beast was dying, trying to hide the fact tears were streaming down my face because I didn't want my dad to see I was crying and not take me to see another movie again.  When they adapted it for Broadway, I listened to that soundtrack over and over...  "Home" was my favorite song, and the end still makes me cry like a 6-year-old.  It's perfect.

I had attempted to watch this remake once before.  I hated it so much I started drinking, and then peaced out so hard when Lumiere started moving that I had to watch Moana to normalize myself.  Visually, this movie is what happens when the Uncanny Valley turns into the fucking Grand Canyon.  Little did I know that this movie gets worse... much worse... as it goes on, and that Stephen Chbosky, the author and director of The Perks of Being a Wallflower made it this way.  A man who wrote one of my most beloved novels and movie adaptations helped in creating this narrative monstrosity, and that, out of all of this, was the deepest cut of all.

I'm not rehashing the plot, because I have too much to say about why this remake shouldn't exist, and I’m going to guess you’ve either seen the movie or are familiar with this almost 300-year-old story.  It took the source material and just murdered it in its attempts to update it.  I'm going to start positive and work toward the biggest issue I had with it, because I'm currently writing angry and that never turns out well for me.

Things I liked:

This may be controversial, but I did like Josh Gad's performance as LeFou.  I'm not saying what LeFou did made any sense (he suddenly was upset Gaston was making things up again?), but as an actor, Josh Gad was working with what he had, and I think he owned it.

Chip's introduction to Maurice - I actually paused the movie because I was laughing so hard.

The piano playing the funeral march when it tackled LeFou.

When Mrs. Potts said Chip smelled good when he turned back into a little boy.  It was a cute little detail.

The guillotine joke in "Be Our Guest" and the Les Miserables barricade reference.

I actually thought Cogsworth was adorable for being a CGI nightmare.  I don't know how much of my opinion of this was influenced by the voice of Ian McKellan.

I really liked the costumes, except for Belle's gown, which was definitely a downgrade.  Micarah articulated the issues with it perfectly.

Celine Dion singing the credits song was a nice homage to her cover of "Beauty and the Beast", although it sucks she's associated with this nightmare of a remake.

Little quibbles:

Whatever they did to Emma Watson’s voice made her sound like a robot.

Almost all the CGI, especially the Beast, was completely unsettling.  The wardrobe was the worst of it, holy shit.

They went out of their way to explain plot holes like "Why don't the villagers remember the castle?" or “Why is it snowing when it looks like the middle of summer in the village?” or "How did Belle get the Beast up on that horse?" when none of that really matters to the overall narrative.

The reaction to Belle teaching a little girl how to read was unbelievably eye-roll inducing.  Lindsay Ellis' video on this is so fucking good, watch it now - You don't have to read the rest of my ramblings if you do. #beastforshe

Ariana Grande slurring her way through "Beauty and the Beast".

It was nice to see Maurice updated from a manic inventor to a level-headed, sweet, competent, reserved man who treats his daughter like an equal.  Clock-maker Maurice that actually takes care of Belle reads better to me, and I like how they had him wander into the garden to get a rose for her - it's a nice callback to the original story.  The problem with doing this, however, is it negates the "crazy old Maurice" narrative that plays heavily into why the villagers don't believe his tale of the Beast in the first place.  If Kevin Kline, a put-together man (up until this point), wandered into the tavern looking disheveled and conveying a story about his daughter being kidnapped, I'd be like, "Shit, Maurice, what did you see?!".  But instead, the story goes out of its way to put him at the mercy of Gaston, and shoehorn in an attempted murder plot to really turn everyone against him - it's bizarre.

Medium quibbles:

Gaston went from being a well-liked, athletically inclined dude to a literal predator and murderer.  Belle was a beautiful status symbol in the original movie, but she becomes literal game to Gaston in the remake, as he refers to her as prey, or something to be hunted.  When Maurice gets in-between him and Belle, Gaston punches him in the face and leaves him out in the forest to be eaten by wolves?!  What does this add to the story?!  Gaston wasn't right for Belle because he wasn't kind and didn't intellectually stimulate her, but that nuance is wasted on the remake, turning him into a full-blown vengeful villain that will literally kill Belle's family to get what he wants.

The first time Belle is brought to her room, there is this long panning shot showing off how nice it is, and she comments, in wonder, how she thinks its beautiful.  They had the fucking nerve to play “Home” in the background of this scene, completely ignoring the original context of the song is sadness and despair.  But go off, I guess...

The Big Enchilada:

This is where my notes went from eh????? to WHAT THE FUCK, so be prepared.  How someone with enough emotional maturity to write Perks can make the Beast into such an abusive asshole is so fucking beyond me, I'm still trying to process it.

Beauty and the Beast is a romance at heart, which you would never know by watching this movie, as Belle and the Beast have so little chemistry it's painful.  This might be because the Beast is abusive to Belle at every turn in the beginning, making the pivot from enemies to lovers so completely unbelievable it's shocking.  The remake is already at a deficit as the CGI Beast is terrifying, in contrast with the cartoon, which has the ability to make the Beast cuddly with big eyes and an expressive face.  But they still decide to take all of the Beast's inner conflict out of the remake, remove his agency completely out of the relationship with Belle, and make him supremely unlikable in every interaction they have together.

There are a few scenes that illustrate this, starting with the dinner invitation scene:

In the original, the Beast sees the pain he's inflicted by pulling Belle away from her father, and offers her a tour of the castle and a bedroom instead of a prison cell.  He also invites her to dine with him, although he could have gone about it wayyyy better.  He confides in his staff that she is beautiful, and he realizes she can break the spell, but he doesn't know how to appeal to her.  His staff give him tips on how to be charming and not so intimidating.  He is receptive, but overwhelmed, because he hasn't had to interact with any other human in years.  When he discovers she doesn't plan on eating with him, his anger takes over because she refused his hospitality, and he's a king, so how dare she?  The staff try to help him appear genteel, cause again, HE expressed interest in being appealing to her.  When this doesn't immediately work, he throws a massive tantrum and tells them not to feed her.  When he looks at Belle later in the mirror, he hears the direct result of his actions as Belle is ranting to the wardrobe.  He laments she'll never see him as a human because his actions have pushed her away.

In the remake, it's not the Beast’s idea to give Belle a room, or to invite her to dinner - it is his staff's intervening that puts him in that situation in the first place.  He doesn't even want to get to know her because she's a daughter of a thief, and that's somehow below his current social status of recluse animal/human hybrid.  His staff persuade him to give Belle a chance as they're all invested in breaking the spell because they'll turn into furniture if they don't!  They give him tips to manipulate her into opening the door, he tries it, it fails spectacularly, he gets angry and he leaves - but not before calling his staff idiots...  I appreciate he's not as physically violent in this version, but he just acts like he couldn’t be bothered with Belle.  He does spy on her from the mirror, but she looks bewildered.  He doesn't know if she's lonely, or missing her father, or what...  There's no indication that how he treated her in that moment has pushed her further away.  Then he just stares at the rose like, "Well, shit, this ticking time bomb is still ticking!".  It's completely self-focused.

Oh, and then Mrs. Potts tries to handwave the Beast’s behavior away with, "People say a lot of things in anger.  It is our choice whether or not to listen," which, excuse me, WHAT THE EVERLOVING FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?!  You are in charge of how to interpret someone's actions, and you could just choose to ignore when they are being abusive??  I CAN'T.  She also tries to gaslight Belle into seeing how great the Beast is when Belle has had zero positive interactions with the dude since she's been there.  The wardrobe brings it up in the original, but this is after he's offered Belle a room and invited her to dinner himself, not by his staff...

The west wing scene and the Beast turning into less of a dick:

In the original, the Beast himself tells Belle not to go to the west wing.  Her curiosity brings her there, because she wants to understand more about him and what he is hiding.  She's invading his space knowing full well that she is invading his space.  When she is discovered, she's about to fuck around with something that is literally tied with the Beast's livelihood.  His anger is disproportionate, but justified, and you see that he immediately regrets his reaction after she runs away from him.  That’s why he goes after her.  Belle watches him risk his life to save her even though she broke a promise to him, so she decides to repay the favor by bringing him back.  They fight while she's trying to clean his wound, and they're both right in their perspectives, but the Beast acknowledges that yes, his temper got the best of him - he realized that the moment she bolted.  Belle then rewards his selfless act by thanking him, which sets his entire transformation in motion.  

He gives her the library because he expresses interest in doing something to make her happy, and he vocalizes he's falling in love with her.  He's delighted by her reaction.  During the ballroom scene, the way he looks at her, you can see he absolutely adores her.  He asks, "Are you happy here with me?" because he loves her, and her well-being is the most important thing.

In the remake, the staff tell Belle not to got to the west wing because it's a storage area.  She wanders over there anyway, for whatever fucking reason, and takes a glance at the rose behind the glass.  The Beast finds her looking at it and gets mad at her, even though he never told her not to visit him in the west wing, and she didn't fuck around with the rose.  When she runs away, he doesn't even look like he cares.  There is no reason for him to go after her, and there is no reason for her to help him back to the castle other than the plot told them to do it.  She doesn't help him with his wounds, and the staff are the ones to thank her for returning him.  She even asks the staff why the fuck they care about him, because he's such an asshole.  They justify his behavior because he had a cruel father, and damn themselves to his fate because they didn't stop a literal monarch from raising his son.  Belle continues to take care of him because she pities him?  He repays her kindness by insulting her taste in literature.

He doesn't even show her the library because he knows she likes books, he does it because he wants her to read "better" books.  Then he makes one joke about not reading Greek and THAT IS WHAT MAKES BELLE SWOON.  THE FUCKING GREEK BOOK JOKE.  I mean, I sort of get it, I fell in love with my ex because he made a bread pun, but he hadn't been continually abusive to me up until that point.  Belle starts to read out loud to him, and that's supposed to be the event that incentives the Beast to be better?  Even while Belle is singing about how much he's changed (he hasn't), he throws a boulder of snow in her face. The cherry on top of this sundae is his stoic question after they dance, "It's foolish, I suppose, for a creature like me to hope that one day he might earn your affection?" which not only sounds like complement fishing, it is primarily motivated by breaking the curse!  Only after she gives an indifferent answer does he ask if she'd be happy at the castle.

Oh god, and the death scene is cut off in the middle because we have to watch 2 minutes of the staff members permanently turning into furniture, which, like, I wouldn't think they'd want to castrate the emotional climax of the movie, but this whole thing is an exercise on how to fuck something already good up.

This movie fails so spectacularly at this basic love story, I can't begin to justify its existence.  I wouldn't recommend this to anybody.  If you want to watch new Alan Menkin content, watch Galavant, because this movie just pissed me off.

It was bold of Disney to end it with a beastiality joke, though.

#unwarranted opinion #100 best musical movies of all time rotten tomatoes

[treatian]

The Chronicles of the Dark One:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 108:  Not According to Plan

With a snap of his fingers he covered himself in his cloak and moved toward the door. There wasn't time to waste, the thief already had enough of a head start and that man, much like his maid, had enough determination in him that he could be impossibly far by now if he really wanted to be. But he was determined to; determined to get that wand back, determined to kill the thief for good, determined to get his pretty little maid to learn her lesson so that she might think twice about defying him in the future. Using his magic, he summoned forth a carriage and a couple of horses to pull it, not unlike what he'd used to fetch the Princess. He didn't regret his decision to bring her along, but at the same time, he recognized it would probably be easier to leave her behind. For starters, he'd be able to travel by magic on his own which would be more helpful in finding the thief, but not as satisfying.

Although, if he went on his own, he wouldn't have to deal with her time-wasting!

While he'd taken to leave the castle at a quick pace, she'd fallen behind, dragging her feet like it would save her friend. Unlikely.

He reached forward, pulled the door of the carriage open, and made a motion for her to get in. Instead, she just stood there at the threshold of his castle. She crossed her arms over herself and looked with her wide eyes at the carriage and then the property around her. It was as if she expected the thief to be hiding in the front lawn.

"Come dearie!" he shrieked, drawing her gaze back to him. "You've given the thief enough of a head start already."

He hadn't known it was possible, but her gaze narrowed in his direction. He nearly shivered as he felt her anger wash over him. He'd had to become the Dark One to master a look like that, but in his experience women appeared to have that gaze built in. Still, angry stare aside, she stood up tall and let out a huff as she made her way down to him.

"You do know this is madness, don't you?" she growled at him, refusing the helping hand he offered and choosing to climb up inside on her own.

He used his magic to be sure that the front door closed and locked, they couldn't have another thief getting in, then turned to get in opposite her.

"You'd be surprised how often justice is mistaken for madness," he commented as he closed the door and settled in.

"Or madness for justice."

He tried not to roll his eyes at the Princess. Trained to be a Queen and negotiate trade deals, wars, and diplomacy…sometimes it showed. And he would have none of it.

"Make yourself comfortable, dearie, we've got a long journey ahead of us."

And then he shut her out. He closed his eyes as the horses began to pull them and focused on the sway of the carriage, the clip-clop of hooves, the breeze that came in and out of the carriage. He tried to engage the Seer, tried to get a hint from her about where the man was going or where they would meet. Only one face came to mind. It was the Sheriff from Nottingham, the one he'd seen taunting Robin Hood in his vision. Nottingham. He was going to make it that far? That was days away how was he going to-

"Easy to say when you at least have the courtesy of a jacket."

Her words were muttered, spoken so softly he knew that she thought he couldn't hear them. But he did. He opened his eyes and could tell that she was surprised just by the breath she drew and the way she straightened her shoulders. Bare shoulders. There was a breeze coming through the carriage, to him it was nice, but she was right, he was wearing a cloak. And he was the Dark One! He used magic constantly to help his body temperature, to warm him when he was cold and chill him when he was hot. She didn't have those considerations. He wasn't about to loan her his magic, he wasn't even sure how he would manage something like that. But the girl hadn't changed dresses since she'd come to live with him. She still wore an off the shoulder dress that exposed her chest and shoulders and arms to the elements. She wouldn't freeze in what she was wearing, especially once they were off the mountain, but he also wasn't about to deal with her muttering complaints every five minutes or constantly rubbing her arms when he was trying to concentrate. This was a simple problem with a simple solution. And, now that he thought about it, it might come in handy.

"That is an excellent point!" he stated. With a whirl of his hand, he summoned forth a long thick cloak and some warm leather gloves to cover her. When the smoke cleared and he saw her, he hated himself for not thinking of doing it sooner. Now her chest wasn't staring so tauntingly at him.

She gasped and looked herself over with shock, but he could almost immediately see her body shudder in relief from the cold. He could see how conflicted the poor girl was. She wanted so badly to come up with some kind of snappy retort. But she was comfortable, his magic had made her warm. And she was so soft that he knew she couldn't be upset with him for it if she tried.

"Thank you," she muttered in a huff, sitting back in her seat and looking out the window. Ah yes, it was hard to think of a person as a beast when they did something so kind. But just how kind was it?

"Oh, don't thank me quite yet, dearie," he added quickly. "The fastener on your cloak is as much for me as it is for you." Her hands suddenly smoothed down over the material on front as her eyes gazed down at the fastener he'd mentioned. Why she was looking was silly, of course. What made it so special wasn't written on it. The magic was deeper. "That fastener has a tracking spell on it, dearie. Try to run away on our little outing, and I will always know where to find you!"

Just as her brow furrowed and her jaw dropped open, and he expected her to complain, he closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the seat as he focused once more on the Seer. But once more the only face that came to mind was the Sheriff of Nottingham dressed in black and surrounded by green. And a feeling from the Seer. Intense hate? Anger? What was that supposed to mean? He had no quarrel with the Sheriff. He took a breath, cleared his mind, tried to picture the thief once more, and suddenly the vision that he'd been provoking came through. But it wasn't what he thought it would be.

A cane coming down on the Sheriff dressed in odd clothes on a strange black road with white lines. He was cowing beside something metallic he'd never seen before.

"A car," the Seer whispered.

He was confused. He needed information on the thief, why was the Sheriff what the Seer showed him?

Why couldn't he get a vision of the thief? He didn't give up easily, not by any stretch of the imagination. He tried. And tried and tried and tried. For what felt like hours he tried to get a vision of the man…but couldn't. He wanted his crystal ball. He wanted a hint other than Nottingham so he didn't have to go so far! Nottingham was nearly as far as Regina's Kingdom. It would take them days to get there. Days in this carriage alone with Belle. But summoning that crystal ball and giving her a hint about such a precious valuable he had in his possession…how was it that he'd gone so long doing things so well and now that she was around he'd never had so many regrets in his life?! Perhaps getting rid of her after all this was the best thing he could do. But until then, she could do her best to do her part.

"He's difficult to find," he muttered a few hours later, finally opening his eyes. "The wand could be doing that." Perhaps that was why it was so difficult. Perhaps the wand was protecting itself from him. There was something that could potentially help him break through that magic.

"Then maybe we shouldn't bother to go after him," she responded with her eyebrows up expectantly. Spoiled girl.

"Not necessary," he smiled back. "Finding him just requires a bit more information…from you!" he pointed with a high laugh that made her squirm a bit.

"Me?"

"You had a conversation with him," he stated with a grin even as he watched her own face fall. She knew what he was talking about. He could tell that just by the look on her face. How nice it was to finally have the truth all out in the open between the two of them!

"You knew?!" she muttered with shock and disgust.

"Well, of course, I knew!" he blanched. "It is my castle! Nothing happens in it without my knowledge!" he bluffed. It had been a complete accident that he'd heard the pair of them talking. But she didn't need to know that. She needed to think that he was watching her constantly. Perhaps that would curb her behavior, even if she was sent away when they returned. "Now…" he sat forward and waved her to come closer, a request she did not abide by. "Tell me the name of the thief."

Something was wrong. The moment that he'd made his request, her face began to morph and change from disgust and indignity, to happiness. A grin was slow to spread over her face as she relaxed. She leaned forward, just as he'd initially wanted her to.

"He didn't give me one," she stated clearly before sitting back in her seat with a proud smile like she'd just beaten him in a game.

He hadn't felt his stomach turn over at a piece of news in a long time. But it did now. For a moment, he just sat there. Anger rolled through him, paralyzing his muscles, forcing him to clench his jaw together painfully. She hadn't known his name, and yet she'd let him go?!

"That's a lie," he hissed through a clenched jaw, though he could see the truth of it in her eyes. How could she be so stupid?! How could he have been so stupid?

"It's not," she answered with her haughty smile in place.

"It can't be," he argued. "You spoke-"

"As he ate dinner, yes, we spoke," she inserted quickly. "But he told me nothing of importance. No name, no home, no reason for wanting your wand." Lies! All of it! How could she not ask or be just as curious as he was?! "It's not a lie!" she spat out as he opened his mouth again.

It wasn't a lie. He wanted her to be lying to him so badly. But he knew that it wasn't. She hadn't gotten anything. No important information whatsoever. No name, no place of origin, no motive! And she'd just…let him go?! What the hell was wrong with her? How could she be so smart, so well educated, and yet so stupid?!

He sat back in his seat and tried to calm down. He could feel magic spark between his fingers. He wanted to destroy something. He wanted the satisfaction of watching something whole splinter and break in a powerful explosion that would shake her to the core and make her see his anger and her stupidity all at once. He wanted to watch her shiver and grow fearful and wipe that arrogant, conceited smile off her pretty face! He wanted these days to Nottingham to feel just as long for her as they were going to feel for him.

"Is-is that why you brought me with you?" she asked with a curious gleam in her eye. "Because you thought I'd help you catch him after I'd set him free?"

"You are here because you set him free!" he shouted at her. He felt his knuckles pop as his hand made a fist. The last person in the world he wanted to speak with right now was his maid. "Of course, I'd hoped you'd learned something useful…but it's no matter. A name is something easy enough to collect-if I need it. For now…I can track the wand's magic, that should lead us straight to the thief."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you cared more for the thief than getting your wand back," she stated. He ignored her and instead turned to look out the window and imagined each tree they passed exploding just as he'd wanted it to.

When they got back, he was definitely going to get rid of her.

#Rumbelle #Rumple #Rumpelstiltskin #Dark One #Belle #Robin Wood #ouat #ouat fanfiction #fanfic

[pixie-skull]

AU Disney # 5 Heroines: How your cutie asks you out

Before I go, yes I am going to attempt to make this open to anyone, but this creator wants more LGBTQ+ AUs, so this one just if you and x character went and the character’s thoughts. Please share your thoughts if this good or not in my ask box? :D Here are the rules too. I am not going to use gifs every time, but this felt fitting.

P.s. Like mentioned are the 1st AU and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th I can not promise all featured like in the first one, but I try to list the ones that are fan favorites and please feel free to give kindly-worded feedback. Lastly, I do edits with (non)Disney hand-drawn characters, so feel free to request. :D 

P.p.s. Compared to my other Alternative Universe, these can be shorter, yet I do like to write Disney AUs slightly more, but I am sorry for shorter. I am also so tired and I am sorry if unclear. I attempted to make kinda like movies, yet mostly creative ideas. I also feel this my weakest Disney AU. XD

Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs):

Snow White asked her friends to help her, so you got a hint. Doc asked if you liked the outdoors or indoors. Happy asked what makes you happiest of Snow White, especially in her cooking. Grumpy asked what foods you do not like. Sleepy asks if what kind of blanket you likes. Sneezy asked if you were allergic to flowers. Bashful asked what colors you like or thought looked flattering on Snow White. Even Dopey helped, he led you to a little part of the forest and you found Snow White with a basket of food you liked, with a blanket you, pretty flowers, and a dress that she looked beautiful in. On top of that, she squeaked when she saw you “I hope that my little clues were not too much, I wanted to ask you out, but I was shy” and her pale face turned pink when you said yes.

Cinderella (Cinderella):

When one day just goofing together and dancing, you leave the house, only you realized you left your jacket in her house. When coming back you caught her humming and rubbing her dog’s stomach and it warmed your heart in hearing all these kind things. Even “I want to ask Y/N out, yet I am probably just a friend in their eyes” and you sneaked up and hugged her from the back and she gave a mini yelp. Both you laugh and she then realized you overheard her and she went quiet. Only she gave your jacket with a hole patched up and she grinned. “I did not want you to risk getting cold or something”.

“Cinderella, Ella, we both know I heard you, and I be happy to have you as my significant other” and she smiled so widely and hugged you.

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty):

She did ask you out yet after a clutter fest of aunts getting too involved with a cute date night and her parents did little to limit the magic of the imaginative minds of her aunts. Even got Aurora three different outfits, a long-sleeved off-shoulder pink blouse or a cute blue top (a size up was accidental). She ended up wearing a shirt and make the blue top on top of the blouse. Also, she just wanted a nice day out in the garden and funny enough you planned to ask her out, yet seeing so much happened, yet did not want stress her out. It was a happy surprise when she asked out.

Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit):

Jessica was busy preparing for her next performance night. After helping her practice and just general support with being there for her. Of course, spending more time together and just general hangouts, you two grew closer. When her big night finally happened she tended looked at you, sure she was quick to look at others, yet go back to you. By the end she went up to you and asked “I own you so much, so what about a meal on me and I can pick you up” and she smirked at you blushing. “So is that a yes” and you mouthed ‘yup’ and she kissed your forehead.

Ariel (The Little Mermaid):

Ariel asked when you are free and thought of going to a fun aquarium. Only, she was so silent, you at first thought was a hangout, but after nervous breathing steamed up the glass, and write ‘I like you’ and you understandably felt uncomfortable. However her tongue-tied has been always an impact in her life, like asking to order food, she points to the picture. Not she is shy, yet Ariel is so excitable. However back on topic eventually you look at her and smile.

“Ariel, I like you too” and she smiles widely and the hall of the aquarium played some music, which she danced with you.

Belle (Beauty and the Beast):

You one day after work met her up in a library and after helping with books clicked. Sure you two only liked you as friends, yet once you felt comfortable and started to open up to her, she was starting to be attracted to you, as you in return. So another day after meeting up she wanted to list her and your favorite romantic scenes in what you both read. She took mental notes and asked “so if I made this scene come to life, will you be *Character A* to my *Character B* ” and you jokingly replied;

“Sounds like a date”.

Jasmine (Aladdin):

You asked her to a dance night at a local event and even though barely knew each other, she happily agreed. When taking a break from the dance, she and you played truth or dare version of “spin the bottle”. So whoever spinned it asked the person the bottle landed. She spun and asked you truth or dare.

“Truth” you spoke nervously.

“Was this a date or a friend hangout?” and you mumbled.

“I am happy for either or both”. Jasmine smirked and replied.

“Why not a date then?”

(this loosely inspired by how my first significant other and I started dated in high school at a school dance)

Pocahontas (Pocahontas):

After both of your friends gushing over how cute you two are, Pocahontas eventually caved in and asked you out. She felt bad for her father thought for sure she liked a childhood friend of hers, although he did like you and how kind you were to her and everyone. So one day when on a walk with your dogs she asked;

“Y/N I would be more romantic about it, yet my heart too blunt, would you go out with me this upcoming night show”? Even though you stood in shock, yet you understood she may have felt she lost the genuine comfort to ask you out, but glad she still asked you out and you agreed.

(inspired by a couple friends who got the extra push to date for everyone thought they were so cute and a good match)

Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame):

Esmeralda was helping hanging out one day after helping her friends, so nothing too special. Just after a watching movie and she offered to read your palm or tarot cards. You took the tarot cards and when reading she “did a new reading” and her new six cards. After asking what you hope for in the world of romance and more, she flipped a card slowly. Eventually spelled out “will you go out with me” and you blushed but said yes.

Megara (Hercules):

Meg was hoping you make the first move for she felt it be cliche if she did something. Only after a while, she grew more and more antsy, so when alone after a performance, she joked how gross the couple in the show was. Hinted how much she likes what you and her act. Eventually, she became sincere in how much she appreciated you. In the end she huffed “I guess I am just saying, I am asking you out”. You grabbed her hand and smiled.

Mulan (Mulan): 

Even though you been friends for a couple years, she formed happy daydreams of what it be like to date you. So she asked you to meet up alone one day and when you did she gave you a poem. It was simple, yet it was a cute flattering poem and ended “will you go out with me” and you agreed. Of course, right away all your friends found out and her friends too, and they were happy.

Jane Porter (Tarzan):

Jane always liked to invite you to art events if both could go and afford. One day was extra special and she needed a plus one for this rare event, her dad helped fond. She attempted to be causal, yet her shy smile and blushing gave away.

“Y/N, you mean so much to me, like supporting my passions, and wanted to ask you want to be a plus one?”

“So a date?” you grinned.

“Yes, I mean err, yes” and she and you laugh.

Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire):

Kida too forward so when she started to like you, she asked her friends for advice. Her dad eventually got word and told you the next time he warmed up to you. Sure, it made me uncomfortable, but you understand different customs can be why he can act differently. After bonding more and finding more to enjoy together, you felt close. Kida was unsure how to ask out, yet just simply asked you if she could kiss you and you knew her culture kissing and any form of affection like a hug was huge step. Additionally, Kida being demisexual added this level of how it felt to be asked. You checked in and Kida said yes, and you two started dating.

(I headcanon Kida as demisexual)

Audrey (Atlantis: The Lost Empire):

Audrey funny enough tends to act tough and confident, yet when slowly started to crush on you, she was more unsure and you checked in often. Even though her feelings became more transparent and you were flattered this intelligent and strong woman, so of course, you liked her too. One day you reassured her;

“Audrey, you know you can share what is on your mind?”

“Y/N I like you, but...” and you see her smile in relief “but I was worried you did not like me back”.

“I do like you”.

“So, want to go out?” and you both laugh.

Helga (Atlantis: The Lost Empire):

Helga always so busy, but you liked her so much, and she notices and tries to tell you it not work. Only your ambition to keep in contact when she away, warmed her distant heart. So one call she asked you out and when you came back, you rushed with a sign “yes I date you”.

Nani (Lilo and Stich):

Nani so busy, yet Lilo was trying to be your little wingman or wingperson, so she helps in her special Lilo way, to make Nani more free in time. Nani even wondered how she asks you out, so one day when having a movie night, she sleepily asks you out. The next morning at her job and you ran over to talk to her quickly

“What Y/N?” she asks worried if Lilo or the dog Sitch were hurt.

“You asked me out, right, or did I dream that?” and Nani froze.

“Yes, I did”. 

“Got it” and she rolled her eyes laughing.

“So I talk to you about this after work?”

“Sounds good”. You leave smiling so widely.

Tiana (The Princess and the Frog):

Tiana and you been friends since ever and when realizing she liked more than a friend, she asked Lottie or Charlotte, if she asks you out.

“Oh, Tiana, this like a fairy tale, plus if Y/N says no, at least you can be friends, for how close you two are. I advise ask them out by writing on your famous benyas”. So Tiana sat down waiting for you one day and when you came she had an honest chat and you saw the banyas and happily said yes to dating her.

Charlotte (The Princess and the Frog):

Charlotte meant you through Tiana and she could not hide her attraction you to Tiana. So when going to one of her dad’s parties, she rushed up and asked you to dance and Tiana hinted slow dance be a fun idea. So when dancing it clicked and Lottie asked you;

“Y/N can we do more fun cute moments like this together? In other words, I like to date you”.

Rapunzel (Tangled):

Rapunzel meant you through a festival in the kingdom and even though she liked you as friends, you slowly grew to like her and given her compliments and tiny gifts. After a few days of hanging out, she was getting the hints. So one busy fun day, she and you leaned in to kiss, and when done with that day she half-joked, “was that date” and when you nodded she was so happy.

Merida (Brave):

Merida hated being gushy and traditional romantic dates, so when her brothers were making fun of her liking you, she owned up to it and said she liked you. Her parents were happy she liked someone, her dad thought you were awesome, her mom was a bit more unsure, yet after you let Merida choose the date, she said archery and said as long she comfortable, you were happy, her mom liked you.

Anna (Frozen):

Anna asked you out on your birthday, well the day after, because she did not want to ruin your celebration. Even though she got you so many gifts and a huge card on how she thinks you are the best friend she could have had. The next day her last “gift” was part two in how what traits she liked about in you.

Elsa (Frozen):

Elsa wanted to deny she liked you, but once Olaf saw how happy she was around you, he told Anna, and Anna told her she had to ask you out. Even though Elsa felt like romance was not her thing, she had to ask you out, because Anna would have asked you all these embarrassing questions; at least Anna claimed they would be embarrassing. So Elsa when alone with you half-mumbled and half-said how she would like to spend more time with just you, she was happy you said you like to too.

Moana (Moana):

Moana and Maui did a fun game of questions and somehow the topic of crushes came up. Maui bragged how many deities liked him, yet his powers could tell you and Moana liked each other. So he asked Moana all these questions that subtly built up to confessing her liking you. Moana was able to laugh it off, yet when both alone, you shared your feelings and thoughts of her. Eventually, she asked if you wanted to go out and when you agreed, Maui yells “YOU’RE WELCOME!”

#AU #alternative universe #Disney #Disney crossover #Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs #Cinderella #Sleeping Beauty #Who Framed Roger Rabbit #The Little Mermaid #Pocahontas #the hunchback of notre dame #hercules #Mulan #tarzan #Atlantis: The Lost Empire #atlantis #Lilo and Stich #The Princess and the Frog #Tangled #brave #frozen #Moana

[buttercup-of-kaer-morhen]

Of Thorns and Buttercups

~Ch 6/?~

(Beauty and the Beast AU, Kiiiinda. It has definite elements of the original story cause I’m a sap for Fairytale AUs. I hope you enjoy. Also shout out to @sophiakuso1 for being my beta. Here you can find Beginning or Previous) Jaskier makes more progress into unraveling secrets and chipping away at Geralt's heart. Please enjoy this chaotic bard's adventures!

Note: Lew is still pronounced Lef because it is polish just as a heads up.

Primary Tags: Beast! Geralt, Belle! Jaskier, Memory Alteration Via Curse, It really only affects Jaskier right now Also on AO3!

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Jaskier awoke with a start. His dream was... odd. Straight out of a fairy tale or romantic ballad if he were to describe it. His heart so desperate for a knight, metaphorical or literal, to come into his life to love him like in every sappy poem and song he ever dealt read or sang, it went to the extent of affecting his dreams. He could feel a flush of embarrassment rushing to his face as he remembered his own mind even put him in the place of a maiden who met a dashing silver haired knight in a picturesque autumn forest. The traitor! Jaskier couldn't help thrashing his arms and legs about in the bed before finally sitting back up with a huff. He would have liked to scream in embarrassment but thought better of it seeing as it would be rude and potentially more humiliating if the Beast were to hear him and come check what was wrong. But now that he paused and thought about the hair color of his knight in shining armor in his dream, it looked very similar to the Beast’s fur. It was a wintery soft looking white that appeared as striking and fluffy as fresh fallen snow. Focusing more on it made his heart ache pitifully while also making him yearn for the company of the Beast simultaneously. He decided then that it would be better to shrug off the odd painful emotion, however, and latch onto his desire for fluffy company instead. Whatever had occurred in the past had happened, and he doubted he could change that right then, so he might as well focus on helping his hopefully new found friend... or, well, he would dearly love to make friends with the Beast. They could both really use a friend right about now. Invigorated by his new goal, Jaskier climbed out of bed ready to face the day. Whether it meant getting to spend quality time with the fellow or him filling his day dutifully studying the flowers for any hint of a connection to the curse… all by himself... He would be completely fine either way, at least he would be helping! Honestly, he didn’t mind the idea of being completely and utterly alone all day again! It’ll be great, just like his days just after Oxenfurt, except he wasn’t on the road obviously. 

He stretched in the warmth of his room, thanking whatever gods were above for granting him the luxury of having a magical fireplace to keep him warm in this cursed winter as he was setting about readying himself to face the day. Before he could even think about what to wear, he spotted another set of clothes on the trunk in front of his bed. It was almost scary how the great Beast could sneak into his room to leave gifts without disturbing Jaskier’s sleep with how big he appeared to be. The bard also couldn’t decide if it was sweet or creepy that he kept doing it, but he settled on sweet for now since he found all that fur rather endearing compared to a regular human stranger. The doublet and trousers, which were more bloomers this time, were a rich amber with burgundy accents which reminded him of the forest from his dream. The delicate embroidery on it even had a leaf motif as well. It may have been a coincidence, but he couldn’t help but smile nonetheless. The soft gauzy chemise and stockings to match the ensemble were a lovely cream color which seemed to tie it all together with soft dark brown boots that were set to the side. He gently put the garments on after he finished his usual morning routine--the importance of moisturizing, children--and when he turned to make the bed everything was already done just like the day prior. “You know you don’t have to be shy. You can do things in front of me just as you do with the Beast.” He spoke aloud into the empty room, not expecting any form of answer, but the curtains on the bed fluttered slightly. He took that as a yes and enjoyed another small victory. 

For a moment, he considered going in search of the Beast, but that hadn’t worked out well yesterday, so he decided to just finish what he had started last night. After a short whole of skimming through his select few books that he had collected, he decided the Herbarium and Antidotarium were far too academically written for him to really understand. Besides, they both seemed to not really focus on flora at all. Plants in general, yes, flowers not so much. He set them aside to put back later, but the small stool he placed them on trotted out of the room with the books. “...Thank you!” He called after the silly thing, after his initial shock, realizing that the stool had most likely gone to return them for him. How kind! The Botanist's Companion to the Identification of Flora had proved quite useful for, well, identifying the flowers he didn’t know of course, but it didn’t go much further then that. So he then turned his sights on the homemade Alchemy text and the Assasination guide book. If the flowers had any use for magic or medicine, Jaskier was sure these would have it all there for him in black and white… Except after searching through the neat penmanship for a couple of hours-- pity these didn’t have an index--and jotting down notes as he went, he found there was no correlation. Some were poisonous, some were medicinal, some were magical, some were a combination of the three, and although he assumed magic and alchemy were practically the same thing, none of the four flowers had any use in the same potions or spells he found. Bottom line was that the flowers and their associated parts had no practical use as a whole together. 

Changing his line of thought, he kept his notes, but turned to his final book and opened it. Symbolism was always the way to a bard’s heart, but he hadn’t expected a sorceress or sorcerer to pay much heed to it. Although, perhaps whoever it was to cast the spell was just adding insult to injury. It was like adding some kind of reminder or petty jab to taunt the Beast in his magical prison in the form of flowers. Odd, but not outside the realm of possibility really. He had once gone to such petty lengths as to bribe the laundress at Oxenfurt to “accidentally” dye all of Valdo Marx’s white linens and bed dressings to a color Jaskier knew he particularly hated for weeks just to drive the insufferable prat up the wall. Then to top it all off with a bow, he convinced the lady Valdo was courting at the time, that said color was his favorite and really got him going in the bedroom. He graciously assisted the fine lady to decorate her room in it, as well as oh-so-helpfully assisted her with picking out a stunning outfit to surprise and delight the odious weasel. It all proved to be worth it when the other man had been suspended for a week after he hollered at and practically mauled everyone who crossed his path. Now, many would think Jaskier was being unduly cruel, but in his defense, it was well and truly deserved. He only committed the act of vengeance after the vile piece of shit had stolen one of Jaskier’s early compositions which he had slaved over for months to complete and proceeded to present it as his own for the final examinations. It was butchered and Jaskier couldn’t bring himself to sing it ever again. So if whoever really disliked this Beast was petty enough, Jaskier wouldn’t put it past them to add a small detail of insulting foliage to the whole shabang. 

Upon opening the small journal filled with a ladies delicate crisp script, he set to work. To his confusion, they didn’t all come together as a whole that meant fuck you or something as equally aggressive. It was more mournful and sad. Thistle carried the heavy tones of pain, anger, and pride, which was not at all surprising of the devilish little thing, from what the text said. The Zinnia spoke of an absence while the cyclamens implied a separation that led to the absence. The worst and most heart wrenching of them all were the little purple hyacinths that pleadingly asked for forgiveness. Jaskier didn’t really get the whole picture yet, but he did understand that, as beautiful as the back garden was, it was a reminder. It was a symbol of regret, and something was undoubtedly hidden in the center of the maze. Hopefully a major clue or, if he was lucky enough, the key to breaking the curse. Regardless, the bard was even more determined to unravel what it all meant now than ever. First, however, he needed to gather more flowers and try to pick his way through the maze to its center. 

He set the sad blossoms to the side with the other materials and the journal before pulling on his bright cloak, ready to press on now that he had more stable footing underneath him. A glance to the windows showed that it was practically midday and he had skipped breakfast… again. Whoopsies. Not wanting to take too long though, he popped into the dining room and tucked some apples into his cloak pockets, also managing to remember to grab a couple for the mare--as he promised to do--from the table that was slowly clearing itself for dinner later in the evening. He left through the front entrance and made his way to the stables so he wouldn’t forget to give the lady her treat. 

He stopped short upon entering, however, because the horse was not alone this time. It seemed he was her second visitor of the day. Standing at her side was the Beast, brush in hand, lovingly grooming her while whispering words Jaskier sadly could not hear. The bard couldn’t help but feel elated that he had such good fortune that day. He did, however, war with himself on whether or not he should disturb the tranquil, domestic scene, but the decision was made for him as the lady huffed in Jaskier’s direction, which had the Beast’s gaze snapping up to him. The troubadour’s bright smile was met with an annoyed scowl however, and had Jaskier regretting his mistake of accidentally interrupting. Before he could think of an excuse to quickly get out of the Beast’s hair, the rough baritone called out, halting his thoughts. “What?” It was demanding and clipped but not angry at least.

Jaskier licked his lips nervously as he stepped forward, trying to remember what he had come to do all of a sudden. Thankfully, the gentle knock of the apples against his knee, concealed in his cape, jolted his memory . “Ah! Oh, I just came to bring a treat to the lady. She helped me in a way yesterday and I wanted to thank her.” He could feel his cheeks warm with embarrassment as the words left his mouth. He realized how ridiculous it sounded, but at least it was the truth. 

He expected a scoff or a growl to follow his ridiculous statement, but he was met with wide surprised eyes before the Beast’s face was back to its usual flat stare in the blink of an eye. The Beast said nothing further, but he did hum in acceptance, or at least that’s what Jaskier was going to assume it meant. When the Beast turned back to tending to the horse, Jaskier felt some of the tension leave him. He could do this, he could talk to the intriguing fellow and possibly convince the other to spend time with Jaskier in the day, not just at dinner. 

Jaskier quietly moved towards the two in the stall and cautiously caught the horse’s attention, not wanting to startle her.  “Hello, Madam! It’s lovely to see you again!” His mouth moved of its own accord, prattling on at the horse rather than the Beast to hopefully disperse his sudden onset nerves. “I have brought you a treat, as promised.” He continued as he stepped into the stall, putting him rather close to the great mass of fur. The space felt smaller than the other day with all three of them in it, and the bard felt his heart hammering in his throat, ready to run away with itself. He didn’t quite understand his own reaction, but he was tempted to blame it on the strange dream and how the Beast’s fur reminded him of the knight’s hair. He supposed he was needier for companionship then he thought, a matter he usually dealt with by finding some one night stand that gave him the physical if not emotional comfort he longed for. As he tried to quell his racing heart, the Beast shifted further away. The troubadour almost felt like an idiot as he realized the Beast could most likely hear the offending organ and it made him uncomfortable. Hell, if Jaskier could hear someone’s heartbeat race just by stepping into a horse stall which put them in close proximity to one another, he would think them strange too. All in all he was not making a good impression on the other who had already wanted to get rid of him. Mentally shoving down all the weird feelings, he fed the darling mare her treat. 

He needed to act as charming and likable as he usually was, but he couldn’t understand why none of his usual demeanor came out around the other man. He cleared his throat, glancing over at the other. “I apologise for if I offended you in some way last night during dinner. I thought things were going well, but I suppose I must have crossed a line somewhere that upset you, and for that I am remorseful. I didn’t intend to be rude.” He began speaking to fill the silence. It was not anywhere near what he had intended to say, but it also wasn’t the worst way to start. Besides, it was the truth. He felt like it had been his fault that everything was abruptly cut short. An apology was far better than glossing over what had happened, acting like it hadn’t occurred, and talking about the weather. The Beast only hummed in response to Jaskier’s apology, so the bard continued on. “By the way, whose horse is this? She’s an absolute peach! Did she get trapped here as well?”

The Beast grunted slightly in reply, very articulate, and Jaskier assumed that was all he was going to get out of him until finally the low rumbling tone graced the bard’s ears again. “She’s mine. Had her for years, and yes, she is most likely trapped here by the same curse that traps us.” The stoic individual explained, and it was so very sweet how fond he sounded when speaking of his horse.

Except it was as clear as mud. The Beast hadn’t really given him anything but sparse details that told him nothing except for some reason, a Beast in a cursed castle required a horse that he most likely couldn’t ride with his size being what it was. Jaskier would just have to take solace in the fact that he had gotten more words to come out of him than the short, clipped responses… Also that did confirm he was most likely a man before all this if he had had a horse, but it still didn’t tell him anything of the Beast’s status, class, or profession. Anyone could have a horse as long as they could make enough coin to care for it. “Well she’s a darling. May I- Is there any way I can help?” He tried to offer but the Beast shook his head with a happy huff. Jaskier sighed softly in disappointment. Well this wasn’t going very far… Jaskier decided to try another angle. “So, Beast, I really do mean it when I say-”

“Don’t” The deep growl cut him off and Jaskier’s confusion was met with a deep glower before the Beast’s eyes looked anywhere but at him. He didn’t look just annoyed this time but outright angry.

“What?” Jaskier could only ask dumbly because  he didn’t know where he had yet again misstepped. 

“Don’t call me that.” He growled, looking genuinely distressed and the bard felt rather bad for it… “Beast..” He spit out the word like it tasted foul on his tongue, muttering mostly to himself. 

“Well…” Jaskier started gently, taking a tentative step forward and laying a hand lightly on the Beast’s arm. He counted it as a win when it was not shaken off. “What should I call you? I--You have yet to give a name, but I apologize for the callous insensitivity I have displayed…” He asked, deciding that he should’ve at least apologized for putting his foot in his mouth again. Just because the Beast knew who he was didn’t mean he shouldn’t have asked the other for his. 

The Beast seemed to consider him critically for a moment while deciding whether or not to answer. “Geralt.”

Jaskier couldn’t help but smile, finally knowing the Beast’s name. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Geralt.” He spoke with a flourish and a bow, smiling playfully at the Beast, who rolled his eyes at the bard’s antics, but it felt fond in a way. “Now, as I was trying to say, I really do wish to help break the curse… If you’ll allow, that is.” He offered and amended, fully planning to continue helping regardless but it’d be easier if Geralt consented and provided information. 

The Beast sighed in annoyance, but Jaskier could tell that he was considering whether or not to trust the bard to help, so Jaskier waited patiently. “...The curse changes and shifts according to the person apparently.”  He relented vaguely.  

Jaskier was starting to think he and Geralt were going to need a little sit down to have a nice long chat about a thing called details. Really! It was a familiar exasperation that he felt, but didn’t dwell on it since the conversation seemed more pressing. “Sounds rather annoying and rather unfair of the caster to not even give you a hint on how to break it.” 

Geralt nodded stoically, a word that was rather fitting of the cursed man, as he ushered the bard out of the stall. Both said goodbye to the mare before stepping out into the crisp winter scene. It almost felt like the Beast didn’t want the horse to hear their discussion and the thought nearly had him giggling, but he refrained. Must maintain a serious professional demeanor and all that to get any details. “Don’t know much else yet except that the spell provides anything I need to break the curse… And there’s a time limit.” His tone was grave and the notion sent chills up the troubadour’s spine. 

“What happens if time runs out…” He couldn’t help asking as fear creeped into his mind. He may not know the Beast well, but he got a good feeling from him, and he didn’t want to lose yet another companion if he could help it. There was also the matter of what would happen to him if the curse’s time limit ran out since he was now stuck there. It was just as likely that he’d be freed as it was that he’d die with the Beast. 

Geralt didn’t respond however. He shrugged and shook his head, not meeting Jaskier’s eye, telling the bard that even he didn’t know what fate awaited him, but it was most likely very grim. Jaskier didn’t like the somber air that had enveloped them after the conversation lapsed, so he tried to reassure them both with false bravado he didn’t quite feel in the moment. “Well, nothing to fear really. I’m sure with my help, we’ll be able to break this curse in no time.”

The Beast, however, snorted at his cheerful tone. “Oh?  What could some bard do that I couldn’t already?” Now Jaskier could tell he was teasing, especially since there was an amused glint in the star like eyes, but he still wound up sputtering indignantly. 

“Some bard!?” He nearly shrieked as the other openly openly chuckled at his flustered state. “How dare you!” Jaskier quickly stooped down, gathering snow into a ball and threw it at the highly amused Beast. He had been mistaken, the Beast had a lack of refinement and taste! “I’ll show you!” He threw another ball of snow to punctuate his sentence before continuing his rant. “I’ll break the damned curse just so I can shove it in your furry handsome face!” 

He continued to pelt Geralt with snow, but now the other was returning fire, and Jaskier was scrambling to dodge while giving little shrieks of delight because as upset as he was, it was rather fun. “If your curse breaking is as bad as your aim bard, I shall fear for my life!” The other called out as they exchanged blows, his tone open and friendly. The man was apparently finding humor in ruffling Jaskier’s feathers, the insufferably gruff, intriguing bastard!

“In fact, I bet the curse brought me here because you were too busy brooding to figure it out!” His shrieks slowly morphed into delighted little laughs as they traded powdery blows. “An answer to your prayers!”

He ducked and ran through the front garden boasting as he tried to hit the agile Beast as the Beast chased after him. “More likely an added punishment brought to torment me.” The Beast countered, which rustled the bard more, most likely an attempt to get Jaskier to falter, which he almost gave into. 

After a little while of cat and mouse in their little snowball game, he was tackled into the fluffy snow by his pursuer. He giggled looking up at the Beast. Jaskier was pulling in deep breaths to sate his burning lungs while Geralt seemed unperturbed by the exercise, but they were both unmistakably smiling in their own ways, Jaskier grinning broadly while Geralt smirked. “The solution to all your woes…” He breathed out softly between them which Geralt rolled his eyes at fondly at before standing up, breaking whatever small moment that had appeared between them. He was kind enough to help the smaller man up, however, so chivalrous he was. 

Jaskier couldn’t help the soft, giddy giggles that sporadically slipped out from his lips, but as fun as everything had been, Geralt turned towards the castle. “I’ll, uh… I’ll see you at dinner.” Geralt offered before quickly going off and disappearing. 

Jaskier was left standing outside once again, damp, but genuinely happy for the first time in a while. He would have felt like he had scared the Beast off again had Geralt not just confirmed they’d be dining together. A part of him wanted to hop around in victory, but instead he buried his blushing face in his hands and squealed softly in delight. Things may have started off rocky but now things were finally looking up. Wanting to press his good fortune, Jaskier quickly made his way to the back gardens to collect a few more flowers to look up. He may or may not have been skipping, but he was too happy to care. He collected three more, wanting to take his time and not misidentify anything, since they dried slightly in the time he looked each one up. This time he collected a small, delicate little flower, a larger yellow flower that looked like the ruffled layers of a ladies petticoats, and a vivid purple flower with lots of long thin petals and a bright yellow center. Spending time searching for and picking buds had left him feeling rather chilled, however, so he hurried around the keep and went back inside.

By the time Jaskier was back in his chamber, he realized just how frigidly cold he actually was. Frost has actually stiffened the damper part of his clothes.  He shivered from the snow-dampened clothes, and a part of him knew it would be best to go take a nice hot bath, but he was suddenly very tired. So he stripped off his wet clothing, setting them to thaw and dry by the fire, and he set his newly collected blossoms with the others on his desk before dressing in the shirt he had slept in. Thankfully, from the position of the sun in the sky, Jaskier could tell he had a couple of hours until dinner. Which was just perfect! He’d take a nap for a little while, warm up, and then get all nice and freshened up for dinner. As he settled into bed, he wondered if Geralt would sneak him another outfit that he’d wish Jaskier to wear for dinner or not. The idea made him smile and laugh slightly before sleep pulled him into its sweet embrace. 

When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing before the same lake he had been at in his dream before. This time however, most of the trees were waning in the late autumn fashion, and the sun was slowly setting on the horizon behind him. However, he was not filled with awe and the delight of meeting a handsome mysterious stranger in the woods this time. In fact, he felt rather heart broken, a feeling he knew all too well at this point, and was not thrilled to be feeling it again. Worst of all, he felt like he could do nothing to remedy the situation which brought the sting of hot tears welling up and overflowing. He tried brushing them away, but the fat tears continued to flow. His soft hiccuping sobs that had forced their way passed his lips were halted by Lew emerging out of the trees. His sharp features were softened by the solemn concern that he wore openly on his face. His piercing yellow eyes held Jasekier captive as the man-- no, Knight apparently-- approached slowly.

“I should’ve told you…” His voice was full of regret and Jaskier knew he had already forgiven him. 

“It shouldn’t matter... “ Jaskier tried to offer, fully believing in what he said. It shouldn't have, whatever the drama was that his brain concocted, but it did. 

“But she’s your only family and it made me appear to be dishonest.” The silver haired knight finished for him. “...I think she just needed an excuse to deny the proposal. You only have one another and I understand her fear of losing you.” He added, a deep misery settled in his topaz gaze. It seemed to be one of his overly dramatic nights where he put too much poetic flare on his observations.

“I know…” Was all Jaskier could offer pitifully, feeling more tears welling up and burning the back of his throat. He couldn’t hide his little hitched sobs in the silent evening that veiled them from the world they would eventually have to go back to. Lew stepped closer, taking Jaskier’s hand in his, tentatively checking if the touch was welcome. The bard couldn’t help himself as he buried himself in the larger man’s arms, modesty be damned. Lew instinctively tightened the embrace as he ran his gloved hand through his hair and down his back soothingly. The knight’s thick cloak shielded them from the rest of the night and kept the chill at bay. It was only when the other’s heat seeped into his bones that Jaskier realized how cold he had become. Jaskier had forgotten that he had run out into the night without his own cloak, and the long trailing jacket he wore was not enough to buffer the late autumn weather.

“I promise, I will fix this, dear heart. I will do anything to prove to her that my feelings are genuine and that I only wish to care and provide for you. I do not mean to whisk you away or disappear with you.” His voice was even as he murmured to the bard. Jaskier pressed further into the other, not caring about the cool armor between them. He knew his heart already belonged to this man, and it was terrifying, but it brought him comfort to hear the other’s feelings. “I must tell you that the only reason I kept my title from you was because I wanted to know you without any status or title coming between us… It was selfish, I know, but I wanted to be free by your side, even if only for as long as you’d let me. I should have told you sooner.” Lew’s voice was remorseful as he cradled Jaskier so gently in his hold. 

The bard couldn’t help the small wet laugh that bubbled up in him as he looked up into his knight’s startled gaze. “I know, my dear. I know and I wouldn’t change even a second of the time we stole together.” Jaskier found himself declaring before he could second guess himself, but once the words were out, he knew they were true in his heart. Although his chest ached pleasantly compared to the heartache he had been feeling, something still felt false. This was all just a beautiful dream that he’d never have, and it made him want to weep, but he didn’t. He knew he was a cad and a flirt who played with one to many skirts, drawing the ire of husbands and other men. He knew with all his dishonesty, gallivanting, and cowardice he didn’t deserve such a sweet, faithful lover. He would not have such a fulfilling love unless the gods took pity and gifted him one last chance, but if he ever had a love in the waking world that felt like this, he’d follow them to the ends of the earth and back. He would faithfully love them and only them if he were just given a chance… But hadn’t he already had that chance? Wasn’t that why he felt as though there was a hole where his heart was that threatened to swallow him whole if he wasn’t distracting himself with other thoughts? It was why he felt jagged around the edges, something had been broken inside and hadn’t fit back together just right. He had wasted his one shot. 

“I will make this right.” The knights rumbled softly, like a summer storm, and Jaskier was pulled back into the present of the dream even though the realization lingered in his thoughts. As much as the gentle treatment broke his already fragile heart more, the bard found himself smiling lightly as the man stepped away. A strong hand wiped away the last of his tears before bidding him farewell. 

As Jaskier watched the knight disappear into the dark woods, he felt lighter and heavier at the same time. As he closed his eyes to savor the fleeting moment, he found himself blinking awake in his too warm bed. He tried to push down the regret welling up inside, but soon it was spilling out as he cried mutedly into his pillow. He felt so upset, and angry, and overwhelmed at the realization that he had somehow lost his love. To add salt to the gaping wound, he couldn’t even remember why or how! He couldn’t remember their face! Or their voice! All he wanted to do now was find them and fix everything, but he was here. He supposed the memory loss was also most likely his fault… An ill conceived memory spell undoubtedly procured from a backwater hag, presumably in an attempt to forget the pain after he got roaringly drunk. It definitely sounded on par with the foolish shit he had done in his lifetime, but it only served to wipe the man from his world, not the pain. The mind may forget, but the heart will always remember. As he felt entirely too warm and morose, as though this was the bed he would die in, he spotted a bundle of clothes left on the side table by his side of the bed. The thought of the Beast leaving them there after creeping carefully in to surprise him with the gift managed to quell his tears and bring a tiny hint of a smile to his lips. Although he had messed his life up somehow and he felt lost, adrift in a sea he no longer knew how to navigate, he was at least not alone. He had his dreams filled with lovely views and a darling knight, but more importantly, he had the company of his Beast. He very much preferred his Beast to imaginary knights if he was to get through this whole comedy of tragedies that was his life. 

So regardless of how his body protested and how his head swam with sleep, he hauled himself up and out of the bed that remade itself. The light outside was almost completely gone which meant he had slept longer than he had intended. He’d have to hurry if he wanted to be on time. Jaskier found himself quickly freshening up in the wash basin to rid himself of the sweat he somehow drenched himself in as he slept while chiding the fireplace for stoking itself so high… and then he consoled the poor thing because he felt bad for being too harsh with it as he put on kohl to match the dark garments still neatly folded and waiting. When he picked them up, however, he finally noticed they were a deep purple velvet that brightened as the fabric shifted. The long doublet was trimmed with emerald braiding, and near the collar, emeralds were studded in a way to appear as though he were wearing an extravagant necklace. The simple velvet trousers were well fitted and clung to him like a second skin. His new chemise that went with the ensemble was lilac, and so delicate in his hands that it could only be made of silk. This outfit seemed terribly grand compared to the past outfits he had been given, and for the first time in his life, he was nervous to put on such finery, but it would be rude not to. So he dressed carefully, realizing then just how warm velvet was to wear, but he’d just bare it for the sake of his Beast. He also decided to wear the few silver rings he had to add a little touch of his own. As the bard was pulling on his new over the knee black boots, a knock came at his door and he realized with a small smile that Geralt had come to fetch him again. Muzzy headed with excitement, he quickly finished and strode to the door, pulling it open with a flourish and a big delighted smile. As he suspected, the Beast was truly there, hunched over to look less threatening, and he had changed out of his usual armor into clothes that seemed dressier, which had Jaskier’s woefully soft heart bubbling happily in his chest. Geralt had made an effort this time and, if Jaskier may be so bold as to wish, it was for his sake. “Geralt! Shall we?” He asked cheerily, looping his arm around the crook of the other’s elbow and waited for the other to lead the way. 

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