The going was slow once Gendo got on his way to the village fair. He could have walked there faster, true, but then he wouldn't have Lillith with him when he arrived. At last, when his home was out of sight, Gendo began to feel that most dangerous of emotions: boredom. As his mind raced ahead to the village, all the turns began to look alike, and reasoning that since he had been gone from his home for hours, the next turn was the right one. Gendo made the turn a little early, and the cart ran over the way sign, snapping it off level with the ground, making a deep scratching sound as the rest of the cart ran over it.
And so, the afternoon passed into evening, with storm clouds gathering overhead. Gendo barely noticed the change at first, but all at once it seemed the light had dimmed and night was soon on its way. "That the one…?" Gendo said to himself, squinting. He was looking at a fork in the road, one similar to the one that led home from the village. It was not the same split, however, and Phillipe knew this. "C'mon, let's go," Gendo said as he urged Phillipe to the right. But seeing the distant patch of sunlight Gendo missed in the other direction, Phillipe tried to go that way. "Dammit Phillipe I am the one driving you! Go to the right!" Gendo made the turn a little late this time, the wheel of the wagon bumping the way sign hard enough to knock one of the loose pointer planks off.
The clouds grew darker, and the light dimmer, and Gendo had to get out a lantern and light it. And, as he did so, it began to lightly rain. Gendo shook his head and spat out a curse, flicking the rains and hoping he would at least find somewhere out of the rain he could stop. Soon, he began to notice Phillipe growing jittery, and amid the gentle pitter-patter of the rain he could hear rustling footsteps. He finally took off his sunglasses, and out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed a wolf threading through the trees. One of the wolves leapt out of the undergrowth onto the path behind them, and Gendo swore again and jabbed Phillipe with his heel. Miraculously, Phillipe started to go faster. Unfortunately it wasn't fast enough to leave the wolves behind, and they circled the wagon. Gendo took a deep breath, and when the wolf leaped for Phillipe's neck, he kicked it in the face. But with his foot out of the stirrup, he fell off when Phillipe came to a sudden halt at the edge of a cliff. The fall broke the strap on Phillipe's harness, and pulled the bit out of his mouth as well when Gendo reached for something to hold on to.
Phillipe reared up, kicking a wolf in the mouth. "Get them! Show them sonsofbitches who's b- oh, fu-" Gendo got his hands up to defend himself, but was still knocked backwards by the wolf, stumbling over the edge of the cliff. He twisted around in mid-air, accidentally landing on top of the wolf before rolling the rest of the way down the cliff. He scrambled forwards through the bushes before coming onto a path. As he wiped his face and scrambled forwards he saw a metal gate looming out of the trees. As he ran towards it he heard the wolves coming after him, and with a burst of speed he got to the gate. "Come on, open up…!" With a rattle and clang they did so, and Gendo slipped through before the wolves got to him. He rested with his hands on his knees before flipping off the wolves. Looking up, Gendo could see he was at the castle outside of the village. And, reasoning that he might as well see what it was like, walked forwards. The front door was also unlocked, and Gendo took in the grandeur. The hall was dimly lit, and after Gendo's eyes adjusted to the light, he noticed faint whispers coming from his left. "What? This place looks empty…"
"Oh, you've done it now…"
"Well excuse me for being surprised at us having a visitor!"
"Not now, not while he's so close!"
"Definitely heard something…" Gendo looked over at the candle and clock on the table beside him, and picked up the candle. "Hello?"
"Over here!" Gendo turned to look, but didn't see anyone. "No, over here." Gendo looked to his left again, and out of the corner of his eye saw the candle waving at him.
"...Are you serious."
"Very rarely, mon ami. You look in a bad way, sir. We must get you by the fire."
"Oh Lumiere, you are impossible…"
"And the clock, too…" Gendo said, dropping Lumiere, and picking up the miniature grandfather clock. "Somehow they've developed A.T. fields…" Gendo whispered to himself.
"A what field? H- hey! Would you mind not touching my pendulum you dolt?" Gendo shrugged, and set down the clock.
"You'll have to forgive Cogsworth, good sir. He's a bit stuffy."
"It is called being proper," Cogsworth retorted. After his initial shock had worn off, Gendo was quite fascinated by Lumiere and Cogsworth. He'd attempted to create automatons before, but hadn't come close to something on their level. "And Lumiere, he should be headed towards the servant's quarters."
"Relax, he'll be fine here. It's only for a moment," Lumiere said as they entered the room.
"Not the master's chair!" Squeaked Cogsworth as Gendo took a seat in a exquisitely detailed highbacked chair that seemed as if it were made for a giant. A footstool zoomed over, wiggling one end like a dog wagging its tail before Gendo set his feet on it. 'Not the footstool!" As Gendo had just begun to relax and lean against the armrest, a cart with a teapot rolled over.
"Perhaps you'd like a spot to drink?" Asked the teapot.
"You got any scotch?"
"Ooh! Just tea, I'm afraid." Gendo shrugged, and the teapot poured him a cup.
"Oh, not tea, too…" Lamented Cogsworth.
"Ahaha! His mustache tickles, mommy!"
Shouldn't be surprised, Gendo thought to himself. He set the cup down, and when it turned around, Gendo saw that it had eyes, much like the other household items that had greeted him.
"And while you're warming up, is there anything else we can-" At that point the doors blasted open, and there was a heavy, metallic clanking sound that drew nearer.
"What are you doing here?!" The voice demanded. Gendo looked up, and couldn't believe his eyes. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome here!"
Gendo took in the form, the lines and angles that reminded him so much of his own creation, Lillith. "You're… an angel…"
"Have you come to gawk at the- what? Did you say angel?"
Cogsworth cleared his throat. "I just want to say that I was against this from the start!"
"I told you guys I'm not gay, and then here you bring in this old dude and he calls me a freakin' angel-"
"Master Shinji, that was only a jest on my part, I thought-"
"That doesn't matter!" Shinji said to Lumiere. He turned back to Gendo. "You don't belong here, you need to leave."
"Relax, I didn't mean that kind of angel. And I got lost in the woods being chased by wolves, at least you could let me stay the night."
"Fine then! I know where you can stay…" Shinji said threateningly, picking Gendo up by his shoulders...