[Fabled Countryside] - Be Our Guest, Chapter 2

[Kat]

Chelela stared in wonder as the little teapot on the cart came dashing into the room, immediately beginning to offer them tea and towels. All quite charming indeed, but the fact of the matter was...this was a TEAPOT. A TALKING teapot! And the candlabra, and the clock..how on earth...? Managing to find her voice so she could at least be polite and offer a response for all of them, she forced out, "Uh, thank you...ma'am. We HAVE been through quite a bit this afternoon, and we appreciate the hospitality..."

"Iz eet true?" Next through the door fluttered an ornate little feather duster, speaking in an excited thick french accent as she hopped over to where Mrs. Potts cart stood. As she reached it, she took a look around and realized it WAS true -- there were guests in the castle! "Ooh, eet iz! And look, men!"

"...ahem."

The little feather duster paused, then turned to where Lumiere was watching her from the table, 'arms' folded. "Oh, Lumiere! I..did not know you were 'ere!" Putting on a flirtaious smile, she siddled over to the table, and then just seemingly noticed Epsei standing there. "...oh. And...who iz dis?"

Clearing his throat, the candlabra introduced again. "Mademoiselle Epsei, my dear little plumette, Babette. Babette, Mademoiselle Epsei."

Smiling, Epsei curtsied just slightly, figuring it was the right thing to do. "Hello...a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, I'm sure." was the featherduster's reply as she tossed Lumiere a look, before sashaying off to where Jian was resting in the chair. "And whom do we have 'ere?" she asked flirtatiously, hopping up onto the footrest.

Oh boy, here they go again.

[Nova]

There was someone...something talking to him. It...she...was near floor level, judging from her voice, and due to her closeness, he got the feeling the question was directed towards HIM. But...what was it...she? Jian just wanted to bring his legs to his chest and curl up, to wait for the day to be over.

Towel hanging over Kiku's head, and her whip and dagger dangling from one of the shelves (to dry), she noticed Jian's, um, predicament and hurried over to rescue him. For some reason the talking objects hadn't fazed her much, just a few confused blinks and she was ok. Hey, she'd seen what magic can do. Of course she was just ITCHING to get out and explore, but with the storm still going on outside and the Beast's warning echoing in her ears, she remained put - for now. Fooooor now. >>
"Um, excuse me," she said to the feather duster, kneeling down to eye-level. "His name is Jian and, well, he's blind."

Ok, not that Jian had any problem with people knowing (well, duh, they'd figure out sooner or later) but it always made him frown when he heard people say it outloud. But it was true, so he never said anything. It was just a quirk.

"So uh, be courteous around him please? Just give him a good amount of space and he'll be fine." oo; Had her back not been facing Jian, she would have seen his blind eyes roll towards the ceiling then back down, his eyebrows furrowed.

Felix was already lost, sitting at an empty table and tinkering with his arm. Lucky for him it didn't get that wet, otherwise he'd be cussing up another storm. But it was ok, thank goodness. Once he had checked everything, he popped out a small cylinder object from his lower leg, then pushed a button on it, making it flip into a dryer. And he started blow-drying his arm, concentrating mostly on the core, where it would be vital to keep dry.

[Starlight]

"Yes, thank you very much, Mrs. Potts," she said as took the towel the teapot was offering; her face was completely aglow with amusement. While the others were in awe or shock over the spectacle that was the talking objects, Mirai was just delighted to be witness to such enchantment. Before she began using the towel on herself, Mirai kneeled down to where Meeko was curled up on the carpet and gently stroked his fur, which was all ready dry from his time in front of the fireplace. Knowing now that her furry friend was comfortable, she set to ringing out her ponytail and drying off her clothes with the towel before finally draping the warm cloth around her shoulders.

"You are quite welcome, my dears," responded the motherly teapot when she finished passing out the towels. Upon the feather dusters arrival, Mrs. Potts turned to watch Babette's and Lumiere's conversation with a slightly annoyed look on her china face. She deplored squabbling and she did find Babette's conduct in front of the guests not at all appropriate. It was a few seconds before she answered Chelela's final comment. "Think nothing of it Miss. It is our duty as the servants of this castle to make our guests feel right at home," she said with a smile before looking pointedly at Babette who just sauntered over to a young man who all ready looked in low spirits, "and completely comfortable at ALL times!" Mrs. Potts then returned to passing out plates of food and cups of tea. "There you go, loves. A cuppa tea will be just the think to warm you up."

Mirai looked around the room as she waited patiently for Mrs. Potts to come to here. Though she would not admit it, Mirai was quite famished and thirsty. It seemed days rather than hours ago that she had sat in the grass and shared that glass of water with the others in Trinity City. As she gazed around she was happy to see that the students seemed to be enjoying themselves, even Kiku looked at ease now. Just then, Mirai noticed Jian sitting in a chair not far from where she was standing, looking quite upset, and the..."woman" known as Babette sitting on the footstool in front of him. When Mrs. Potts did reach her, Mirai took one teacup and plate and placed it in front Meeko, who she knew would eat all the sweets (which she didn't really care for anyway) and leave the sandwiches and tea for her, and then took a second cup and plate and walked over to Jian.

"Here you are, Jian," she said gently placing the teacup and plate of food in his hands. "Mrs. Potts brought us tea and sandwiches, and I thought you might be hungry." Mirai then turned to the servant on the footstool, giving her a kind smile. "It is Babette, correct? Jian this is Babette." Mirai began to slowly walking away at this point, but figuring Jian would most definitely need some sort of an explanation, she paused. Whispering ever so quietly and barely moving her lips she uttered, "Umm...she is a talking feather duster. I will, uh, explain it later." Mirai then returned to Meeko's side and took a sip of her own tea. Judging what she had gleaned from Babette's manner, she feared there would have been a confrontation had she lingered. However, Mirai remained close by just in case she was needed.

[Kat]

Babette glanced at Kiku in slight annoyance, though her demenor changed slightly at the news of the boy's condition. "Blind! How terribly unforunate for you, monsieur. Why, I-" She paused upon hearing Mrs. Potts and her little warning, then sighed, flustered. "What I mean iz..." It was then that Mirai came over to offer Jian some food, and introduce them. Rolling her eyes, the featherduster gave up. "Yes, well. If you need anything, sir, I am only a call away!" And with that, she hopped down onto the floor to dutifully return to Lumiere. "Ah, the light of my life. Why are these...children...in zee castle? Does the master know?"

He had known full well that she would return to him eventually...she always did. Rubbing a 'hand' against his chest to polish it, he replied, "Oui, Babette. The master knows. He almost sent them back out into the cold, but luckily our cherie changed his mind."

Cogsworth sighed. "Perhaps he's not learned his lesson after all."

Epsei, who had been flipping through a book she had found on the shelf near the table, glanced up at the three objects curiously. "What lesson?" she found herself asking.

Blinking, Cogsworth turned to her, then waved his 'hands' wildly, as if brushing off the subject. "Ooooh, nothing, nothing at all. Eheheh. Just...discussing, uh...matters of the household. Strictly need to know basis, you know."

She lifted an eyebrow curiously, but shrugged it off. "Right..."

[Nova]

(Ahhh! Sorry, I didn't know it was my turn! *bowbow*)

Kiku narrowed her eyes right back at Babette, instantly not liking the little feather duster. Kiku watched her closely as she walked away then stuck her tongue out at the duster's back. Pleh. Kiku stood up and patted Jian absentmindedly on the head then went back to her belongings, taking another towel with her. They were warm and fluffy. :3

Jian gently took the plate and smiled for Mirai, though still tense. He nodded at where he thought this Babette was, muttering a nice to meet you, but he had the feeling she'd already wandered off. Upon hearing the news that she was a -feather duster-...Jian almost lost the plate. Good grief, where WERE they? The only place he'd heard about enchanted objects from was...
Oh wait.
An unwelcoming owner.
A charming and kind lady.
A large castle.
Enchanted objects.
And a curse.
Leaning closer to Mirai, he whispered, "Are we in the Beast's castle?"

Felix's ears took in all conversations, though the one he focused on while still tinkering with his arm was the little one Epsei just had with the objects. She must not know the story, as he could tell with a couple other students. Only the older students knew, it seemed, and Mirai. Well, now wasn't the time for storytelling.

Just then, while everything seemed to reach a comfortable silence, a crash exploded from somewhere upstairs and a furiated roar. The crash echoed out before silence befell the castle again, then it sounded as if the Beast was yelling at someone. Which meant the Beast was angry. Which meant uh-oh.

[Starlight]

(No worries! Btw, LOVE your new avvie and sig! )

Before Babette had even left the footstool, Mirai had eaten every bit of her sandwich (quite politely, of course!) and had drained the contents of her teacup. True to form, Meeko had already fallen asleep by the grand fireplace after consuming all the sweets on his plate. Mirai gently scooped up the plate, placed both items on Mrs. Potts cart, and wandered back to Jian and Kiku in time to see Kiku stick her tongue out at Babette and return to were she had left her weapons. Mirai pressed a hand to her lips, stiffling the giggle that threatened to brake forth. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise as Jian suddenly asked, 'Are we in the Beast's castle?" Then she smiled warmly. But of course, she mustn't be the only one who knew well the adventures of Sora. "As a matter of fact, we are," she breathed. "So you know the tale as well!" Her eyes began to twinkle merrily and she began to gazed around the room at her fellow students and the castle servants as a thought entered her mind. It's like being part of the story... All of us here,together... Yet now we're forming our own story!

As the thunderous crash erupted, Meeko leapt to his feet, his fur stood on end and his bushy ringed tail was held erect. He was no longer sleepy, his mind was racing. What just happened?

Mirai's head whipped toward the large entrance to the library as the crash rang out and the Beast bellowed. Without a moment's hesitation, she remove the sword from the sash around her waist. With the flick of her wrist, the stubby, diagonal-striped pole protruding from the end of the ornate handle stretched into a long blade. She had to be prepared for anything.

The lid atop Mrs. Potts's head chattered as she shivered with fear. "The Master!" she mummered. She shot a frighted look at Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Babette. She didn't dare allow her thoughts to fathom what had just occurred.

[Kat]

All the objects seemed to freeze before turning towards the door at the sound of their Master's bellowing. They were still for a moment, not daring to breathe, before slowly turning their glances towards each other. "Oh m-m-my." sputtered Cogsworth. "That doesn't sound like a good thing at all." He glanced around the room, then started to get wound up. "Oh, I knew it. I kneeew it. Strangers in the castle is never a good idea, it makes the master so tense-"

"Cogsworth, the only one who is tense here is you." Lumiere tried to sooth, glancing up at the students. "Pardon my..ahem...friend's manners, madams and monsieurs. He gets...how you say...a little...wound up?" He shrugged, winking at Epsei.

The girl managed a small polite giggle, but her attention was more-so focused on the noise they had just heard. What was going on? Why was the Beast angry? Was it because they were here...? Was he mad at Belle? Where WAS Belle? It would feel safer if she was here...

Chelela sighed, rubbing her forehead. "That really didn't sound good...maybe we should leave. If we're causing so much trouble..." She too, had figured where they were, now...she knew of how the Beast liked to be left alone. If they could just prove themselves...or even somehow mention that they were friends of Donald and Goofy...perhaps that would get him to trust them. But it seemed like he wanted nothing to do with them...

[Nova]

Kiku couldn't help it - she jumped. Very slightly though, so no one could have noticed! oo; Ok, she'd admit it, the Beast kinda freaked her out. He was cool 'n all...But he was big. Kiku had fought her share of beasts while living in the wilderness...But nothing compared to a human-like beast. D: Yet what was his problem now? Was he always stuck on PMS mode? Her ears perked and eyes roaming the ceiling (just in case he popped in from above), Kiku slapped a hand around till it hit the rambling clock, either shutting him up or knocking him over. Either was fine.

A clank and clunk came from Felix's direction, and he huffed angrily, now starting to dig the screwdriver out of his harm. Blast it, what was he yelling about now? >>; And from the sounds of it, he was coming downstairs and no doubt to this library...

And, no surprise, Felix was right. A few moments later, the library doors flew open with a hinge-breaking smash. There in the entryway heaved a furious Beast - holding up a sheepish looking thief. "I knew letting you kids into my castle was a stupid idea! Not FIVE minutes afterwards, I find this THIEF," he gave the offender a rough shake, "snooping around my castle!" A growl followed the Beast's arm as he tossed the young teen forward and onto the floor, who easily caught himself, and though looked a little guilty, was grinning like the Cheshire. "I want you all OUT. Out now!!!"

Ahhh...Crap. Taking a big breath, Kiku hurriedly explained, "But we don't KNOW this kid! He's not with us!" Which was true...On Kiku's part. She'd never seen him before.

Shit. Kiku may not recognize him, but Felix did. Crapcrapcrap. He was the little brat the gummi ship mechanics and Felix had found a few months ago with a stolen ship. He'd managed to slip away, but Felix had seen him a few more times after that, causing mischief. But no way was Felix going to admit that he knew the kid, a thief. The Beast wasn't very generous. >>;

[Starlight]

(SOOOO sorry for the delay! School junk as usual. Anywho, here's my post and Happy Halloween! )

Mirai breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her weapon. Was that what all the fuss was about? Though a thief wasn't exactly good news, it assuredly could have been worse. Gently, she hitched her sword hilt into her belt and turned to face the Beast.

Maybe Chelela was right, maybe they should leave. The Beast definitely didn't seem to want them there, and she surely didn't want to be a bother to anyone. But...Mirai dearly wanted to stay a little longer; there was so much more she wanted to see of this place.

Mirai took a good look at the thief in question. No, she certain would have remembered this boy if she had seen him before. (Though this was a serious situation, she simply couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from turning up slightly at his infectious grin.) So, she nodded along with Kiku's plight that the boy hadn't been with the group when they arrived. Who was he? He seemed oddly out of place here, meaning he couldn't be from this world. Hmm... Well, hopefully the Beast would reconsider kicking them out, and if not, well at least she would get a chance to discover who this boy was...when all of them were sent back into the forest.