Her feet were sore from a long day of walking, and she hungry too. A late night call from one of nearby friends had lead to the two drinking at said friend's apartment, though she herself hadn't even touched the two and half bottles of wine.
Usually, she detested alcohol. The sheer smell of it was enough to unsettle her stomach. However, years of having a best friend who continuously turn to the substance every time she was dumped had helped younger woman to somewhat gain a resistance to it. She had even found that she had a small (that is, utterly minuscule) flavor for weaker drinks that had been heavily combined with other, non-alcoholic drinks.
But enough of that. She had long since tucked in her good (and passed out) friend in her bedroom apartment, and now wanted nothing more than to rest her feet and grab a quick bite at a cheap, local restaurant. She had spent what little cash she had on her on the cab ride to her friend's place, after she called late crying down the phone about how her "horrid boyfriend" who had done such and such was apparently "deeply emotionally wounded" from the whole ordeal.
Honestly, the things she does for friendship!
By the time she rounded yet another street corner, she could have sworn her feet were starting to bleed. The curb was starting to look like a very comfortable seat.
However, to her relief, she immediately noticed the bright lights of some hot-spot entertainment area with people swarming to get inside. Raising an eyebrow, She went to investigate. Whatever it was, she hoped they had seats and food. She hadn't eaten all day.
As she neared the large building, she suddenly noticed how tall and bright it was.
'How could I have not noticed this?' she gaped. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you see it for miles!'
It was an oddly shaped building, built to look a giant pint with a red and white stripped straw being pulled down the side, till it stretched to form a rather impressive lighted outside roof leading into the building. From the main entranceway, was a long red carpet with fabric barriers on either side. It was enough to make anyone walking down it feel important.
Yet, she noticed none of these things. What had immediately drawn and kept her attention (after recovering from the sheer size and brightness of it all) was the name emblazed with glowing blue lights on the front. To her absolute astonishment, it read : "House of Mouse"
She shook her head slightly to help regain her thoughts. She had seen the show from time to time when she was a child staying a friend's house, and they couldn't think of anything better to do, but she herself had never watched the series on a regular basis. Though, the important fact was, she knew what the place in front of her was, and she also knew that is wasn't truly meant to be in front her, because it wasn't even meant to be REAL!
'This is utterly ridiculous!' she thought angrily fo r some unknown reason. Who would spend money to build something based off of a cartoon? Then again, the characters entering were starting to become startlingly familiar….
Hunching up her shoulders, she plowed on. At the end of the end, whether she was dreaming or not (and she sincerely hoped she was) she tired and hungry, and if this place provided food and accepted a debit card, than why the hell not try it out? She might as go along with the dream while she had the chance.
Recalling what little information she could on short trip down and across the street, she nearly cursed herself for not having paid more attention to Disney movies in the past. What she did know, though, was to try and not be surprised by anything. Having seen "The Jungle Book" and "Peter Pan" alone she knew she about to bear witness to some rather other-worldly sights.
Surely enough, the moment she stepped through the double doors, she greeted by the sight of a duck in clothing sitting behind the front desk.
"Hel-lo there! How can I help you?" the duck, which she knew to be called Daisy, smiled widely at her. She returned the gesture with her own ghost of a smirk.
"Table for one," she replied curtly, but tone polite enough.
"Sure thing! Hey, I don't thin I've seen here before. Are you new?" Daisy asked. The young woman gave a small shake of the head.
"No."
Daisy eyed her skeptically before turning to view the list of available table.
"If you say so. Oh!" she exclaimed.
"Is there a problem?"
"Oh no just uh…the seating arrangements is all," Daisy smiled nervously at her while hurriedly flicking through random papers on her clipboard. The young woman in front of her raised an eyebrow. Her feet ached more than ever and she eager to just sit down.
"Are there no tables available?"
"What? OH yes! Yes there it's that um…the tables nearby…." Daisy's voice trailed off, an increasingly panicked expression growing on her odd facial feature. The woman sighed heavily.
"I have no concerns about any neighboring tables. I simply wish to sit down, enjoy a good meal, and leave."
At this news, Daisy no longer looked panicked, but instead rather taken aback. "You don't wanna stay and watch the show?" she asked.
"I have an early morning."
Not going into any further detail, Daisy simply nodded and rattled off the number of her table. With a brisk nod and courteous "Thank you," she walked onwards.
The inside of the building was very different to what she had expected it to be. Yes, she expected loud noise from the entertainment, be she had at leas t expected for the patrons to remain seated! People, animals, and mythological creatures alike were walking to and fro, greeting those they knew well and avoiding those they did not. Everyone was dressed in vivid colors almost as bright as their smiles.
She shuffled slightly, feeling out of place in her dark brown skinny jeans, burgundy heeled pumps and light brown overcoat. Underneath her coat, she wore a simple white turtleneck and black waistcoat. For jewelry, she had nothing but a simple gold ring on her left middle finger, and a pair of dangly silver earrings. Compared to some of the others in the huge building, her outfit was very dark.
Searching the room for her table number, she quickly spotted it near the back, surrounded by tables of even more darkly dressed …individuals. Some she immediately recognized as typical Disney villains from the few movies she had seen in her early days. The rest appeared familiar but could not recall their names.
Gathering up her wits, she strode over to where her table was, with the number clearly displayed on a simple wire stand. She could feel the eyes settling on her as she walked past several tables seating numerous less-than-courteous fellow customers.
At one such table, three well-know villains watched the new girl walked by with interest.
"Whadda ya reckon? Hero or Villain?" one of them asked.
"I don't think she's either. Perhaps just a simple civilian with no real important role," suggest the second.
The third party shook his head. "Nah. Too pretty to be just any ol' person, but definitely NOT a princess."
"So a villain then?"
"Tch. I don't see how it matters."
"'ow bout someone goes over there and finds out eh? Hould be easy enough to talk to."
"Splendid idea! You go."
"Heh! Alright then, I will!" With that, the tall man rose from his seat and slinked over to where the new girl had now seated herself.
She had been snapped out of reading the -rather surprising- menu by a hand banging on her table. Her head jolted up from it former position to look, wide-eyed, at one of the strangest-looking individuals she had ever seen. The man in front of her was very skinny, and wore a ludicrously long black top hat with red sash and ….picture of a skull and crossbones? She certainly had never seen him before any Disney movies.
"Hey there princess-" She narrowed her eyes at the assumed insult.
"-Facilier's the name. Might I get yours?"
She blinked. 'Well that was unexpected,' she mused. She wasn't to give out her name to such a stereotypically evil person. That would just be unwise.
"My what exactly?" she asked back. She didn't fail to hide her amusement at his sudden fallen expression. However, his smirk quickly returned, much to her dismay.
"Why, your name of course! Do ya see any other pretty little faces round here?"
'Yes, actually. Go bother them!' she wanted to say, yet she couldn't. Too many years of good mannerisms had been pushed into her to say anything even along those lines.
Sighing heavily, she set the menu flat on the table. "You may call me Ms. Bernnet."
His smirk only widened. "Awww, I dun get a full name? Fraid I might do something'?"
She shot him a withering glare. "Hardly." With that, she picked the menu back up and began scanning it once more, ending all chances for further conversation.
Facilier frowned. He wasn't used to being so blatantly dismissed - no-one here was. You always acknowledged when a conversation was over, even if you were annoyed or angry (in which cases you would most likely make up some excuse to leave).
Before he could say anything however, that pathetic excuse for a waiter slipped and stumbled his way over.
"Hyuck! Howdy there! Can I get cha anything?" Goofy hiccupped. Ms. Bernnet nodded and quickly gave him her order. Handing back the menu, Goofy turned to Facilier with a surprised expression.
"Sa-ay, what are you doin' here? Aren't cha supposed at be at table thirteen with Hook and Hades?"
Facilier just waved a dismissive hand and stalked off, leaving behind a very bewildered Goofy.
"So? Verdict?" Hades asked eagerly. Facilier just scowled.
"She's like Maleficent or Grimhilde, but without the nice."
Hades and Hook winced. "Youch"
"So should we do anything?" Hook suggested. Facilier just shook his head.
"Nah, not worth it."
Just a few tables away, were yet more villains watching the entire spectacle with bemusement.
One of them gave a twitch of a smile, not unlike the one Ms. Bernnet herself had given to Daisy.
"Such idiocy," the other clucked disapprovingly. "They simply can't leave a new face alone, can they? She doesn't even look like anything special." Her fellow companion nodded slightly.
"Hmm, yes. Though there does seem something… interesting about this one. I wouldn't be one to dismiss her so quickly Grimhilde."
The scorned queen let out the ghost of a sigh. "Maybe," she agreed. "Though I must confess, it certainly was entertaining to see Facilier rebuked in such an indirect manner."
The fellow witch thought to herself for a moment, before coming up with an idea.
"Perhaps we should… pardon his rude behaviour," she smirked evilly. Grimhilde mirrored the look.
"What a splendid idea, Maleficent, so we should."
Ms. Bernnet saw the two women before she heard them, and much to her despair, they were heading straight for her table.
'I suppose a little a peace is too much to ask in a place such as this,' she sighed.
Once the two had reached the table, the did nothing to catch her attention. Ms. Bernnet was already looking at the pair with an emotionless face.
"Good evening, may we join you?" Maleficent asked politely. However, the devious glint in her eye betrayed her.
"If you wish, though I won't be staying long," Ms. Bernnet replied curtly. The two witches sat down automatically but elegantly. Grimhilde cleared her throat.
"So," she started. "My name is name is Queen Grimhilde."
"And I am Maleficent, " Maleficent introduced herself.
"Ms. Bernnet." She stuck out a hand for the two to shake, which they did.
Surprisingly enough, Ms. Bernnet had found the nearly pleasant to talk to. Unlike the obnoxious Facilier, they held themselves with the dignity and refinement most people she came across lacked. It was refreshing, talking to people and not feeling as though she being regarded as a snob. For once, she could socialize in a way that pleased everyone.
They were just getting off of the topic of the two being witchs with different areas of specialty (Maleficent was advanced in spell casting, particularly dark spells and curses. Grimhilde, of course, had a much broader knowledge of potions and enchantments), when the food arrived.
Well, "arrive" was the only the dignified way to put it. In all actuality, Goofy, had tripped over his own feet, sending Ms. Bernmet's dinner flying through the air. Miraculously, he managed to jump up a catch everything on the plate, looking as perfectly placed as it did before.
Once the food was (safely) on the table, the two villainesses excused themselves. Ms. Bernnet ate her dinner in peace, not paying much attention to the show or the curious glances her way. She simply ate, paid her check, and left. Her feet were still sore, but walking was nowhere near as painful as it had been when she fist arrived.
Walking out the door, she contemplated the night's happenings. Yes, she had a surprisingly pleasant time talking to two of Disney's most notorious female villains, but she doubted she would return to the restaurant if given the chance. There had been more than enough strange occurrences that night to last a long time.