[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?

Comments

[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?

[trappedwithin]

Um. No. A young lady who... lives here.

[Why, no, he doesn't want to come right out and say that Belle is technically his prisoner.]

[not_the_philistine]

[And Goliath nods, getting exactly the wrong idea.]

A castle is meant to offer sanctuary. How did she come to seek shelter with you?

[trappedwithin]

[Long, long pause]

She - well - that's not exactly why she's here.

[not_the_philistine]

[Goliath's frown deepens.]

She is not your servant, and yet she is not your guest?

I love your Goliath so much - did you ever play him in an RPG on LJ?

[trappedwithin]

[That leaves one option, dear Goliath]

She - she traded herself for her father who was my prisoner after I caught him trespassing.

I've got him in Trans_9 here and on LJ, and I used to play him over at disney_academy. Thanks!

[not_the_philistine]

[okay, well, trespassing is in his opinion a pretty serious crime. Just not serious enough to warrant imprisonment. Just think if he'd tried to pull those shenanigans with Elisa when first they'd met.]

If you harbor any hopes of winning this woman's love, you must release her immediately.

I think I played opposite you for a short while at Academy - played Bernard there

[trappedwithin]

[GRUNT]

She's my prisoner.

[Pause]

I mean - well, she's - she's - nice to me. I don't know.