"Why did you get the crowd so worked up, Valjean? We aren't ready for a show!" Cyan angrily shouts into Valjean's ear.
"I know, I know. I forgot about it, dearie." Valjean told her, holding onto the horse. His head started to hurt from her loud voice.
Valjean and Cyan was making their way toward the outskirts of Villeneuve and to regroup with the rest of the circus. Valjean's horse Poppy was tired from the long journey they had before they reached the town. His riders noticed and disembarked off him to let him regain his strength. Valjean stroked Poppy's mane and got hold of the rope attached to his mouth piece. Cyan groaned in pain because of her sore feet, but she knew Poppy had been on his hoofs since they left Germany. She knew the horse needed a well-deserved rest. So the two continued their walk on foot across the grassy fields outside of the small town.
"So are you going to explain why you went ahead and lied to the crowd?" Cyan looked around the path to make sure they going the right way to their temporary home.
"I just couldn't wait to tell them. It's the anticipation and the thrill of the crowd cheering for our shows that drive my fiery passion. I can't deprive the public from the excitement." The ring leader replied and clenched his free hand, smiling. He loved his circus and he was always excited to put on a show and dazzle the crowds. However, it grew annoying to Cyan since Valjean knew their animals and staff would be tired from a long journey.
"You have a big mouth when it comes to the circus. You forget a lot of things and I would be surprised you haven't lost your head if God had not attached it to your body." Cyan crossed her arms and huffed.
"I have to thank you for my forgetfulness. Your nagging makes me want to forget and so far, all you have given me is a splitting headache." Valjean retaliated and gave her a devious smirk. He dramatically fell to his knees and looked up at the sky. "Oh God who art in heaven, why have you cursed me with a loud mouth of an adopted daughter?! Her cooking will be the death of me and her horrid dancing will cripple my feet!"
"Oh, shut up, you craven fool!" Cyan glared at him and kicked him hard on the back while he laughed through the pain.
This was a regular moment for the two every time they came into a new town. If Valjean messed up and told a crowd the wrong idea, Cyan had to correct his mistake and punish him for that mistake. Her punishments were never severe since all she did was scold him like a mother would scold a child. It was ironic considering Valjean is her adopted father ever since the day her mother sold her to him, but he knew Cyan was just looking out for him. He often wondered how unfortunate Cyan was when she first started living with him. It took him four months to earn her trust and an additional five months to help her break apart from the nightmares Cyan's mother inflicted on her. Valjean was just happy to see her open up more to people since her abandonment.
The journey toward their temporary home was taxing on them and Cyan could not wait to see the rest of the troop and relax. She couldn't wait to eat Satin Sally's famous potato and beef stew, drink up freshly squeezed fruit juice, and watch Grandpa Apple and Jacques get drunk. Sometimes, Cyan would see if the two could still sing songs without slurring the lyrics. It was funny to see them try even though the circus loses two or three barrels of wine from Jacque and Grandpa Apple's drinking. They try not to escalate into a fight because Valjean and Satin Sally's seven year old son Cole would always be nearby. And it was a death wish to hurt that precious little boy since he had a protective mother and adopted older sister Cyan. However, it was fun to see Grandpa Apple attempt to flee from Satin Sally.
"Are we almost there, Valjean? My feet are starting to kill me." Cyan started to lag behind Valjean and Poppy. She was wearing boots with heavy heels in the back and she was going to rip out the heels once they finally stop.
"We are almost there. Just over the hill and we will see the campsite and the temporary house we will be staying." Valjean informed her. He chuckled to himself watching Cyan take off her boots and rip out the heels. Cyan put the heels in Poppy's satchel bag for safe keeping until they reached the troop. She let out a sigh of relief now that her soles didn't have much pressure under them.
Valjean and Poppy stopped on a small hill so Cyan could catch up to them. Poppy let out a huff and the hair of his tail smacks her in the face. It was like he was telling her, 'you are too slow. You need to be faster." Cyan had her mouth open when he did that and she was currently trying to spit out horse hair out of her mouth. Valjean couldn't help but laugh from his horse's arrogance and Cyan's reaction to being smacked by a horse's tail. It was normal for his horse to tease Cyan despite Poppy was cranky to the other members of the circus. Poppy had a reputation of being more cranky than Grandpa Apple and he once used his rear legs to kick Grandpa Apple into a barrel of water because Poppy didn't get an apple from Grandpa Apple after a show. However, Poppy was gentle toward Cyan, even though Cyan was the one who had to wash him and he hated it when she dug the dirt out from his hooves.
"Take a look at our new home. These fields of green are our borders from all of France and Villeneuve. It's a short walk towards the town, so we can wash our clothes and buy some food." Valjean told her.
When Cyan finally caught a glimpse of the view, she was almost speechless. The fields were lush with grass, wild flowers, small trees, and bushes scattered across the field. The small hills looked like green waves when the wind blew gently across the grass, and she could smell the sweet wild flowers when the wind blew at her direction. It smelled like heaven to her since she was used to camping out in fields and forests during the circus' travels. She hates the bugs that came out at night, but it was only a small price to pay to be able to smell the wild flowers and feel the cool breeze on her skin in the morning.
"It's beautiful." Cyan breathed and smiles at the view.
"Indeed." Valjean replied and turned to her. He looked at her boots in her hands and began to wonder if circus life was taking a toll on her despite she insisted she was alright after the boots came off. He noticed the bottom of her stockings was beginning to tear apart from walking on the ground. "Circus life isn't always easy for you, Cadence. You know, you could find a husband and leave the circus if you want."
"I wouldn't leave the circus. Why would I want to leave?" Cyan turned to him.
"Well, one day you will find a man who can take good care of you. He can give you a home, cook delicious meals, and treat you like a woman. You wouldn't have to suffer like the rest of us. We hunt for our food, we sleep in tents, or the wagons if the animals will let us. But, of course, you know the tigers only let Rebecca in their wagon."
"And the peacocks hate me with every feather on their body." Cyan added. She always had trouble dealing with their lovely peacocks. For whatever reason, the peacocks did not like her and would peck at her if she got close to their wagon. The poor young lady made sure she was far away from the beautiful birds when they were allowed out of their wagon to stretch out their legs. She learned the hard way that despite male peacocks' heavy tail feathers: they could still fly. This lesson was learned after she came too close to the wagon and the bars weren't very close and the birds went after her.
"Exactly. We are always on the road, we earn our riches from our performances, and we are are outcasts. Cadence, this isn't a life for a young lady like yourself. If you can a find a man that will treat you right, you can leave the circus." Valjean explained, taking his hat off somberly. It was sad to think about because he loved his adopted daughter dearly, but he wanted the best for her.
"I.." Cyan tried to think of the right words. "I highly doubt I'll find the one."
"This is something to think about in the future, dearie. You don't have to rush into love." Valjean patted her head.
They heard the sound of horses galloping toward them and looked behind them when the sound got closer. They spotted two men riding on their horses across the fields until they reached Cyan and Valjean and they stopped in front of them. Cyan noticed one of the horses was black and the other was brown with a white line going down its forehead and onto its nose. Their riders were definitely different from each other as well. One of them was a tall, muscular, and strapping man with greasy black hair that was slicked back into a ponytail. He wore a brown vest, a puffy white shirt that hung between the closed vest, brown pants, a brown coat with red cuffs and red lapels, ten gold buttons on each side, and he wore heavy black boots. He had a stubble beard and he was very handsome to say the least. He noticed Cyan and gave her a cocky smirk and she looked away from him. Oh dear lord, who is this man? He's making my spine shiver and not in a good way. She thought to herself.
The other man was the opposite of the muscular one. He was short in height, obese, and his hair was styled the same as his friend only he had sideburns. The short man wore a pale shirt, a cream colored vest, cream pants, a dark cream jacket with ten buttons on each side of the folds, heavy brown boots, and wore a red bow around the collar of his shirt. He was staring at his friend admiringly and his eyes never let the tall man as he jumped off his horse. Looks like someone has a fan.
"We finally meet, miss Cyan. It's an honor to meet you." The tall man said, taking her right hand and kissed the back of her hand. "I was admiring you in the crowd when you arrived into town."
"T-Thank you? Excuse me, but who are you?" Cyan asked, looking at him. His eyes never left her and she didn't feel so good around him. She could smell heavy cologne that didn't hide his horrible musk. He smelled like he just came back from hunting.
"You don't know who this guy is?!" The short man asked, surprised at her. "This is Gaston! He is everyone's favorite guy in the village! He's the greatest hunter in the whole world!"
"That's enough, LeFou!" Gaston yelled back at LeFou. He was irritated that he didn't introduce himself to her but perhaps it was enough to impress her. He knows women loves a man who is popular and could hunt. "I have come to take you to the tavern to dine with me."
"To eat with you?" Cyan asked. She would like something to eat and if he was willing to pay for the meal then she might go with him.
"Yes, but I think you should get dressed before we can go back to town."
"I'm already dressed. What is wrong with my outfit?" Cyan looked at herself. Sure, she could switch stockings and put on her boots again, but there was nothing wrong with her outfit. It was still clean and it was the only outfit she had with her at the moment. The rest of her clothes was in a trunk with the troop.
"It's not exactly decent to wear. Surely you must have a longer dress than this. You're hiding your corset well in this dress. But I think you would look more beautiful in a longer dress. You cannot show anyone else your legs until you're married. Unless, are you married?" Gaston informed her. However, it sounded like he was demanding her to change into something he wants her to wear. Cyan felt her face turn hot as her anger started to show. She glared at Gaston and slapped him hard on his face.
"I'm not wearing a damn corset! And I will wear as I see fit!" Cyan yelled at him. "And I am not married nor am I trying to find a husband now! And I refuse to eat with you if I think I will throw myself to you!"
"I think it's time we head home, dearie." Valjean gently pulled Cyan toward Poppy before he helped her climb onto his back. He climbed onto Poppy's back and they rode away from Gaston and LeFou.
"Who does she think she is?! Are you alright, Gaston?!" LeFou jumped off of his horse to check on him. He looked over the cheek Cyan slapped Gaston at and it seemed it was red from the impact.
"LeFou, I am more than alright. She is what I've been looking for." Gaston breathed, and watched Cyan riding away from them.
"I beg your pardon?"
"She refuses to change herself when I asked her. Cyan is as stubborn as she is beautiful." Gaston rubbed his chin and slowly climbed back onto his horse. "I will have her."
LeFou was not only surprised a circus girl slapped his hero, but now he was flabbergasted that his hero wants her! In LeFou's opinion, Cyan was defiantly different from the other young ladies in town, but Gaston deserved better. Unfortunately, it meant Cyan was best and LeFou would have to help Gaston in whatever it is that he will do to impress her. LeFou was only thankful that Cyan wasn't one of those women that easily flock to Gaston. But there was going to be trouble in the future.
Meanwhile, Cyan looked back at the men as they rode off back into Villeneuve and she finally let out a sigh of relief. She didn't want to deal with Gaston at all and she was hoping she can avoid him if she goes back into town. He seemed charming but he imposed himself to make discussions for her and change her appearance. It was surprising how fast Valjean was to get her out of the men's sight. Cyan knew Valjean was protective when it came to suitors coming after Cyan and his female performers but Cyan has never seen him restrain himself without pulling something from his hat. However, this gave her an opportunity to tease her adopted father.
"So, how about that Gaston? Will you let me marry him if he asks for my hand?" Cyan asked and tugs on the brim of his hat.
"Do you want to?" Valjean glanced behind at her.
"God, no." Cyan shook her head and scrunched her nose a little. "He's too self-centered for my tastes."
"Good, please do not take his proposal. I don't like him." Valjean said without hesitation.
"What happened to 'if you want to find a man'?"
"Cadence, I rather deal with your terrible cooking than let you go out with that pompous baboon and let him change you."
I want to give a HUGE thanks to my beta reader: RabbitonSteroids for helping me fix my mistakes. This is one of the longest chapters I have written for this story so far!
So, now we get into Cyan's interaction with Gaston. No one gets slapped like Gaston ;)
I want to give a fair warning for those who have not seen the live action movie. There will be some spoilers to the movie and I want to apologize for anyone who hasn't seen it yet! So read at your own risk!
Once again I only own Cyan, Valjean, and the circus!
Beauty and the Beast belongs to Disney.