Taming of the Shoe
BIGGER Summary:
While the french aristocrats are in peril with a revolutionary movement striking up, it is Mrs. Potts and Belle's idea to distract the head insurgent, Marquis Jacques Darcell with a romantic love affair. The only problem is that there is no one worthy enough to catch his eye, and no one willing to spy for them. When Lumiere comes across a certain female shoe maker, he is persuaded he has found the perfect candidate even though she is capable of showing attitude and showing off her extensive amount of knowledge. Agreeing to be trained and taught the proper ways of the aristocratic people, Guiliaine finds herself being tamed by Lumiere, yet that just leads to bigger and more horrible problems.
Authors Notes: Personally, I find Lumiere the most appealing character in the movie. Yet when I write about him, I don't think of just the movie's interpretation of him. I think of a combination of the broadway versions (played by Gary Beach, Bryan Batt and all the other handsome men who played Lumiere out there) and the movie version. So when I write about him (in his human form), I think of the silver haired, overly optimistic, handsome faced, courting enthusiast; however, somehow he's a cartoon version of that...weird... Though that leads me to my point. You can picture Lumiere and all the characters in whatever way you want, because I'm not writing specific features!
A thing I noticed that I think is important to mention, is that in the movie/musical the prince is living in a castle, yet he's not a king, therefore I could assume that he was the prince of a princedom, and somewhere else in france is a kingdom. So he is one of the many princes/dukes who have princedoms and dukedoms in France
The Prologue: Like Versialles
"No, no, no! Not on my watch, Lumiere!" Cogsworth growled, holding onto Lumiere's leg so that he could somehow stop his companion from getting away. Cogsworth's attempt to hold him back failed miserably, for the strength of Lumiere's leg dragged him effortlessly across the sun-lit, red carpeted halls. "You'll not suggest it if I'm around! If you even mention it, we'll all be facing our ends! Our futures will all lead a fate in poverty; scrabbling for food on the streets, eating the remains of waste! Perhaps even looking for raw rat meat as a last resort!"
"Raw rat meat? Have you no imagination Cogsworth? We could at least prepare it with a little.. basil." Lumiere mused, glancing down at the chubby man clutching his ankle.
"Preposterous!" Cogsworth scowled, "And no imagination, you say? NO imagination?" heclenched harder around his ankles, sinking his nails deeper through the gold coloured, leather boot Lumiere had around his foot, "For your information, I have too much of an imagination! Which is why I am able to think of the consequences unlike you!"
"Please, Cogsworth." Lumiere said bending down to meet eye level with his anxious friend. Patting Cogsworth on the head he said, "Spare me the trivial drama of your fatuous envisions. This is Belle we're talking about! The master won't have to know until after we have consulted with Belle."
Appearing vexed about the way the maitre d' was treating him, Cogsworth shook his head conceitedly and said, "You may think it is safe to suggest anything to Belle, but words spread, you know! I wouldn't be surprised if the master finds out soon afterwards!"
Lumiere chuckled, "So the master will find out! Where's the harm in that? He has changed you know," He tried to glide once more across the carpeted floors but seemed to stagger with Cogsworth holding on to him so tight. "And I wouldn't be surprised if he even considered pursuing our proposal."
"It's not our proposal." Cogsworth corrected, "It was between you and Mrs. Potts, and I refused to take part in it! I had nothing to do with it! Absolutely nothing! And, Lumiere, you haven't seemed to realize that the master is stressed enough! He already has too much on his hands. Asking him to do this would be like asking a hare to invite his neighbourly friends the wolves to have a nice cup of tea. It can't be done!"
"Anything is possible." Lumiere said coming to a halt in front of two very finely carved, large mahogany doors.
As Lumiere peered at the doors, Cogsworth took the chance to brush himself off and wag a finger. "If you put one hand-
Ignoring Cogsworth entirely, Lumiere knocked on the doors. Cogsworth exhaled a sigh of exasperation. Beyond the doors a male voice called, "Enter," and Lumiere gently pushed the doors open, revealing a rather exquisite, large, sun-lit bedroom. Though the walls were magnificently decorated and the ceilings were coated with murals, the floor seemed out of character for it was cluttered with a number of papers and letters. In front of Lumiere and Cogsworth stood a blond man facing away from them and towering over a desk, with a quill in one hand. The way he leaned over his desk, oddly reminded them of those long retched days of when the man had taken the form of a beast. Cogsworth gave Lumiere a deceitful look when he noticed there was no Belle to be seen. Instead of appearing flustered, Lumiere smiled a wide sly smile to his counterpart and faced the man again.
The young man spoke without turning around, "Well, Cogsworth…Lumiere," He sighed, "It's no use, I think I'm just going to have to wait for something to happen." It was normal for the man to know who walked into the room without glancing at the arrivals. Lumiere had grown used to the idea, whereas Cogsworth did not. Cogsworth always looked to see if there were any mirrors placed on the walls. There were none, but he just couldn't except the idea that the man had taken his powerful beast senses with him to his human form. It was just so unusual. Finally the man turned around to show his tired, yet handsome face. It was apparent that he didn't sleep for days for two very large circles formed under his eyes. Lumiere and Cogsworth bowed slightly.
"Master," Lumiere began in a comforting manner, moving toward the handsome man and supporting him with an arm so that he wouldn't somehow fall to the ground out of tiredness. "You haven't been outside your room for days and judging from the way you look, you haven't slept either. Imagine what damage you are dealing to yourself. Why, you may be increasing your risk of falling ill."
"I'm always ill! Or at least I always feel ill." The man complained, putting an arm around his maitre d' and tripping slightly, "It's just that no one in their right minds knows what they are doing. I think I am also in need of moral support!"
While Lumiere helped the man to his bed, Cogsworth brought up the courage to ask, "Er…um Prince Richard? How is it coming along?"
The prince stared at Cogsworth, then grunted, "Terrible," he said, now sitting on the bed, and shaking his head, "It's getting worse as the days go on. Now rumours are spreading that numerous groups of revolutionists are consolidating and the that they're planning to form a militia. The king's generals predict that the rebels will be able to overthrow the dukedoms and princedoms within four years time if they proceed with their plans. It's only a matter of time before they get to the kingdom, and the king himself has been asking me to round up soldiers for war. He expects they'll be asking for one. I just hope that if the rumour is true, we are not one of the first princedoms to fall."
"Very unlikely," Lumiere assured him in a somewhat sarcastic manner. "Don't forget that we were victorious as furniture, on the day that angry mob raided this castle. A couple of rebellions may be as harmless as a mosquito bite."
"Ah, Lumiere," Prince Richard sighed as his back side hit the bed, "I wish it were so, but you know just as well as I that it will get violent."
"Well, it doesn't have to get violent…" Lumiere leered at what appeared to be nothing. It was evident that he was thinking of bringing up the suggestion he and Mrs. Potts schemed together. The prince looked up at Lumiere questioningly, eager to take any proposal, but Cogsworth took notion of this and interrupted the spiteful moment.
"Ahem, And what news of the marquis? Marquis Jacques Darcell?"
The prince put his hands over his forehead, obviously frustrated about something. "Soldiers have investigated his house, yet they had not yet found evidence. He is a very sly one, being able to slip through accusations of treason. No one knows for sure whether he is really the one devising war plans for the insurgents and is really scheming against the monarchy. We are so sure that he's their leader, along with Sir Millard, Colonel Raymundo and Sir Olivier Verddun, though it's hard to accuse those who are already of noble decent…Because Marquis Darcell and I have some ties, he might already be plotting against me. He must already know my weak spots."
"Nonsense," Lumiere glanced around the room in search of Belle's travelling garnets. He noticed they were gone. "Where did Belle go off to?" He asked, changing the subject and eyeing Cogsworth who had just put on one of the most sour expressions he had ever seen.
Prince Richard shrugged, "She wanted to go into town. I told her that errands were done by servants, that messages were sent by messengers and everything else I could possibly blunder, yet she insisted on going anyway. I suppose, I'll never understand women." But then the prince looked up at Lumiere and raised an eyebrow, "…why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing." Lumiere said in the most perfidious tone he could muster, "There was just a small bit of information I had to give her. It would have no importance to you…really"
The prince sat up, his long hair all frizzy now. He piked his attention. "What? What were you going to say to her?"
Cogsworth ran to Lumiere anxiously and poked him hard on the chest, "You sly mangey buffoon, you! You planned this all along, didn't you? Made it seem as if you'd only tell the idea to Belle so that I would let you close enough to the master! You little-
"Wait!" The prince said, "Why would you keep Lumiere away from me? What are you two talking about? Is there something you are keeping from me?"
If there had been such a term as spilling the beans, Cogsworth would have realized he spilt them. So with a prolonged sigh, and a bit of running fingers through the hair, Cogsworth composed himself. "Um…Master Richard" he swallowed in defeat, "Lumiere here was…er…going to tell Belle…er…I mean you…"
The prince crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "Spit it out."
Cogsworth yelped, "He-was-going-to-tell-you-an-idea-of-how-you-might-solve-this-rebel-problem!" The prince looked surprised, yet Cogsworth carried on, "But first I thought he was going to tell Belle...I'd just like to say…I was against this from the start! It was all his idea. He and Mrs. Potts were the ones who discussed this, not me."
"Very well," the prince uncrossed his arms, "If you insist Cogsworth…Anyhow, what is this idea you hold then, Lumiere?"
Lumiere beamed, gave an excited laugh and rubbed his hands together, "Well," he began, taking a seat beside the prince on the bed and leaning closer to make sure not one word was missed by the prince, "You do realize that rumours materialize from what we know as the obscure. You also know that hate can be from generalizations and not just from particular instances. No?"
"Yes…" said the prince.
"So then why do you think these rebels hate all aristocracy?"
"Because…they are prejudice?"
"And why do you think they think they know everything there is about 'selfish, boorish, monarchs' like you?"
The prince thought about it for a moment, "Because… they listen to rumours, and don't really know us." He looked down, a little ashamed of himself, "And I will admit, we don't know them a great deal either."
"Exactly," Lumiere pointed out, "You don't know anything about them except that they don't know anything about you."
"So then…what are you suggesting?" The prince asked.
"Well," Lumiere sighed and smiled puckishly, "I can only say that the time spent getting to know one restricts you from time spent scheming."
The prince contemplated, "So you are saying that I should invite their leaders to come to dinner?"
Lumiere shook his head, "Better, you invite them to stay forever!"
The prince's eyes widened and he quickly rose from where he sat, "What? Are you mad! Invite them to live in this castle? Invite rebels to walk and sleep in my castle? You've got to be kidding me." He growled, somewhat disgusted. Cogsworth gave Lumiere a satisfying, 'I told you so' look.
"Yes well," Lumiere interjected rather calmly, "You can't say it hasn't worked before. The very Sun King himself built the palace of Versailles to keep enemies close at hand. Overall, it had worked for him."
"Well, I'm not the sun king! I'm no king at all!" The prince stated, miserably. "What if something terrible happens? What if they want to kill us now? What if they dislike me?" He started pacing back and forth, holding a finger to his chin.
"That's the point isn't it? While they are here, you will teach them to like you! You will show them how to have a good time and how to run a princedom in an orderly, sufficient fashion. Impress them with your rapier wit and kindness and they will have no time and no means for plotting against you and the monarchy."
"You have a point, Lumiere," Prince Richard sighed, "I just wish there was a better way. And to think of converting this castle into a place like Versailles…" He stopped in his tracks and looked down sadly.
"Master, we have the accommodations. We have an appropriate number of rooms… Why, there's no harm in trying. And think of the number of lives you could be saving if this plan worked. Besides, it'd be nice to be busy for a change, rather than just serving you, Belle and her father." Lumiere stood, and looked at Cogsworth, "Anyhow, I suppose we should leave you to your work. Cogsworth and I have a little work of our own that needs tending to." Lumiere headed towards the door, pinching Cogsworth's coat and dragging him along beside him. Cogsworth didn't take his eyes off the prince.
But before they were out the door the prince shouted, "Wait!" and both Lumiere and Cogsworth turned around.
"Yes?" Lumiere asked, raising both eyebrows yet keeping his eyelids still slightly closed, to make it look like he had little need for what the prince was about to say next.
"I'll do it!" The prince said through clenched teeth, "Just don't give the revolutionists rooms close to ours, and I want better service from all of you! None of those pish posh attitudes. I want messengers and writers ready with a quill. Do you understand?"
"Ah, it's good to know you've come to a conclusion." Lumiere said smugly, clapping his hands. "I assure you, the preparations will be done in no time. You will have Marquis Jacques Darcell and the others here within the blink of an eye. Nothing to worry about."
"Don't push it, Lumiere, or I'll change my mind." The prince growled. Lumiere was glad to see Richard hadn't lost his beastly edge. It kept him authoritative.
"Absolutely, your majesty." With that last note he bowed and began strolling through the door. Cogsworth remained where he was, "Wait, so…you're actually-
Before he could finish what he was going to say Lumiere grabbed onto Cogsworth's ear and pulled him quickly outside, where he then closed the doors. Within seconds Cogsworth's voice could no longer be heard by the prince. After letting go of Cogsworth's ear, he set off for the direction of his chores. Cogsworth glowered and crossed his arms. Unsure of whether he should try knocking on the prince's doors again and convince him otherwise, or whether he should be confronting his friend right about now, he choose to follow his friend. But first there was one thing he wanted answered.
"How in the world do you do it, Lumiere? What do you have that I don't?"
Lumiere stopped in his tracks and sighed. Turning his head slightly to face Cogsworth he smiled and answered,
"Sparkly teeth."
Authors Notes: So how'd you like it? This was only the prologue so you won't be introduced to Guiliaine until the next chapter. Sorry for those of you who wanted more of certain characters in this chapter or less of others. I promise you, I will have pretty much have all of the castle characters in the next chapter.
Please Review! I'm not going to lie, but they are my favourite part to this site and my number one reason why I come onto . in the first place. Please Review!
