[Mun saw 'Beauty and the Beast' in 3D last night and this guy is now in her head]

[trappedwithin]

[a low, threatening growl]

Why have you brought me here?

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[not_the_philistine]

[He answers with clear pride.]

I am.

[Another might ask if the Beast has a given name to go with that, but Goliath just nods sagely.]

It was the custom for most of our history for my kind not to take names, either. Though it seems in modern times that we have adopted the human tradition.

[Oh well. There are worse human traditions to adopt.]

What do your people call themselves?

[trappedwithin]

[He cants his head a little, pondering the other.]

Have you always been as you are?

[The Beast's expression grows dark when Goliath refers to 'your people'. Though his body is an obvious combination of many animals his eyes, the eyes he now levels on the gargoyle, are clearly human.]

There is only one of me that I am aware of.

[not_the_philistine]

[His natural frown deepens. He has been asked that question before, by a human who had been made other than human, and even as then the insinuation that he is not a natural creature grates on his pride. He suppresses his indignation with a long exhalation.]

I was never human, if that is what you are asking.

[There's a brief technicality that makes this answer a little bit untrue - and considering it makes him consider the Beast a little more thoughtfully in turn.]

Why? Were you not always as you are?

[trappedwithin]

[The Beast is quiet for a long time. He doesn't go around telling others what he is - heck, he never leaves the castle so as to avoid anyone asking.]

No. I was not.

[not_the_philistine]

[Fortunately - or unfortunately, depending on your perspective - Goliath has some experience with this.]

You are not alone, my friend.

[Aside from being without clan. Poor guy.]

Was it human scientists or one of the Third Race who caused you to be as you are?

[Scientists and fairies, always messing other people up.]

[trappedwithin]

[Scientists? Third Race? For a few moments all Goliath gets is a blank expression. Being cut off from the world for ten years and never learning how to read puts Beast at a disadvantage in this conversation.]

An enchantress put a spell on me.

[not_the_philistine]

[Oh right, those too.]

I have friends in your position. I regret that I cannot do more to help you.

[Of course, if the Beast's transformation is magical in nature, that means there's likely to be a complicated but quick fix for his condition, unlike the mutates of Manhattan with which Goliath is familiar.]

I have been under spells myself. Do you know the condition that will break yourS?

[trappedwithin]

Yes, I know the condition and it's an impossible one to meet.

[not_the_philistine]

You'd be surprised what conditions can be met. What is it?

[trappedwithin]

[Another long silence and then - ]

I have to learn to love another and earn her love in return before I turn 21.

[Leaving out the enchanted rose bit for now]

[not_the_philistine]

[Wait that's difficult?]

That is far from impossible.

[The "learn to love another" bit is striking Goliath as weirder - and maybe more difficult - than the part about earning another's love. Bestial appearance or otherwise.]

Were you cursed for callousness?

[trappedwithin]

[He stares at Goliath.]

Look at me! How could anyone love me?

[Beast scowls as he remembers the night the enchantress showed up at his castle.]

I was ten and punished for spoiled, selfish, and unkind - having no love in my heart. How can I be expected find love when I look like something that will eat any living creature it encounters?

[not_the_philistine]

[Goliath stares back for a moment just to give the Beast a chance to remember who he's talking to.]

Love is blind. I challenge you to believe this for yourself, as well as for any woman who may inspire your affections.

[It would be too easy to mention Elisa and their courtship this early in the conversation, especially considering that the factors preventing the Beast from finding love are different from those which kept him and Elisa from acting on their feelings as long as they did.]

This enchantress sounds an unreasonable person. There are less severe ways to punish a child for childishness.

[Could this enchantress pose a threat to his protectorate one day? She might be good to watch out for.]

[trappedwithin]

I've been like this for ten years. I'm not exactly optimistic about my chances at this point.

[He gave the other a nod and a grunt.]

She put a spell on my castle as well as all my servants in addition to what she did to me.

[not_the_philistine]

[That does seem pretty hopeless. But saying so would be cruel.]

Are there no humans who will keep your company?

[At least one should not be completely without friends. Perhaps his servants count, but the master-servant dynamic is not, as far as Goliath knows, one equivalent to friendship.]

I will watch for her should she approach my protectorate. Were your servants similarly callous, or did she simply include them because they were present?

[trappedwithin]

Rarely does one make its way to my castle and I don't venture outside.

[The Beast has gotten better with how he treats his servants over the years but they are still not so much friends as fellow victims of the enchantress's spell.]

No, they weren't callous. They just happened to be there at the time. I guess they may have also been punished for allowing me to become the way I was.

[He shrugs]

[not_the_philistine]

For fear of persecution?

[That is probably the most understandable part.

Enchantresses. What can you do?]

[trappedwithin]

I suppose she figured since she was there any ways...

[not_the_philistine]

[Well anyway.]

Perhaps there is a counter-spell.

[Not that he has access to one.]

[trappedwithin]

[That makes the Beast's ears perk up.]

I've never thought of that before.

[not_the_philistine]

Books of magic are hard to come by. If you have none already, I doubt you'll find one without leaving your castle.

[trappedwithin]

You might be surprised. I have a very large library.

[Never mind the fact that he can't really read all that well...]

My writer wants me to tell you that you've inspired her to go back and watch Gargoyles again.

[not_the_philistine]

Have you checked it yet?

[Being from an age of ignorance, Goliath hasn't ruled out illiteracy as a preventative.]

Mine wants me to respond that she's happy - very happy to hear that.

[trappedwithin]

I - well - see -

[huff of frustration]

I never really learned to read. I mean, I can read - a little but not enough to make use of my library. But, Belle - she can read! [Why he has never thought of this before is a small wonder.] Maybe if she helps me we can look.

[not_the_philistine]

[There's no shame in not knowing how to read - just in not learning.]

One of your servants?