[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

[gamey]

[Have someone who's far from threatened, Prince.]

I think that's the question we all would like to know, sir.

[trappedwithin]

[scowl and then a snarl]

Who are you?

[gamey]

[Beast knows what birds are, surely!]

Me? I'm Zazu, Majordomo to the kings of the Pride Lands.

[not_the_philistine]

[that is not a bad growl but Goliath is well accustomed to growling as a means of communication.]

Most likely to be a participant in someone else's entertainment.

If that entertainment is not in your best interests, I wish you luck.

[there_must_be_more]

Is it really so bad, being here? It's like an adventure.

[trappedwithin]

[Oh, he knows what birds are - he's just not used to them talking to him.]

Major-what?

[He never was very cultured, this one - or literate.]

[trappedwithin]

[Beast studies Goliath a moment before answering. He looked like one of the stone gargoyles that stood watch over the Beast's castle. But - he is talking to Beast and he probably knows how it feels to be judged by his appearance.]

I don't know what she intends to do with me - she doesn't seem to know, either.

[trappedwithin]

[....Belle!]

I just... don't like being dragged out for no reason.

[gamey]

[Zazu would be confused and yet honored to be the first!]

Majordomo. The royal adviser, if you will.

And you are, sir?

[there_must_be_more]

[Always here for you.]

Adventures don't always need a reason. Looks like you've met a few new people already, too!

[trappedwithin]

You? An adviser? To what?

[Beast glares at Zazu, wondering if he might make a better snack than company.]

I am the Beast.

[trappedwithin]

[Have a grumpy 'huff', Belle]

I don't like leaving the castle.

[You, Belle, of all people, should understand his feelings of being out where people can see him.]

[there_must_be_more]

[Oh, don't be such a grump. Have an arm hug.]

If you hadn't left though, I wouldn't be here with you.

[Totally grasping for reasons.]

[not_the_philistine]

[And so he does. He just doesn't know what it's like to agree with that judgement.]

Have you a clan to miss?

[He has to study the Beast for a moment to be certain he's not a gargoyle too. But, no, there do not appear to be wings beneath that cloak.]

[trappedwithin]

[There is a very good reason why the young prince was turned into a beast - judging others by appearance.]

A clan? No. I mean, my parents died a long time ago. I suppose I miss my servants.

[The Beast catches that studying and mistakes it for something insulting.]

What are you staring at?

[trappedwithin]

[Eep! He's still not used to someone not being afraid to touch him.]

But if I weren't here then you might not be stuck here either.

[there_must_be_more]

[He's going to have to get used to it eventually. Because she's got a loose, yet persistent, hold around his arm.]

I don't mind it too much. My mun gave me a lot of books. It doesn't compare to the library in the castle, but these are books we can't get there.

[trappedwithin]

What kinds of books?

[gamey]

[So huffy!]

To the kings of the Pride Lands. Lions, that is.

[He ruffles his feathers slightly.]

That's a bit unfortunate.

[not_the_philistine]

You're not a gargoyle.

[Especially not, if they're talking about servants. Gargoyles tend not to have those.]

Are you one of the New Olympians? I had the -

[Well, it wasn't really a pleasure to have visited New Olympus, considering the time he'd spent there involved in thwarting a villain and shielding Elisa from the sort of persecution she usually shielded him from.]

- opportunity to visit that land once.

[trappedwithin]

No, I am not. I am the Beast.

[Beast listens to what the gargoyle says, obviously puzzled.]

I haven't even heard of them. [He pauses]

Are you a gargoyle?

[trappedwithin]

Never heard of them.

[Beast glares at Zazu, giving a low growl before replying.]

Yes. Very unfortunate.

[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?