New Disney Question! Do you guys prefer the darker remakes of the old Disney movies or the lighthearted, closer to the animation movies?
Hélène looked out of the stable window, the rain coming down to a drizzle. Of course. If she'd only waited a few more minutes they could have escaped the worst of the rainfall but no, she had to listen to Gaston. Now they were both drenched from head to toe when it could have been avoided.
"Oh come on, don't look at me like that," Gaston commented.
"Look at you like what? Like you're a complete moron?" Hélène sassed back, making Gaston laugh.
"Yes, like that," He added.
The mood was still dark from the events of the morning but Hélène appreciated that Gaston was at least trying. She curiously wondered where his lack of care for what others wanted went to. He had tried to be amicable with the Prince, after a while of brooding, and he had tried to bring Hélène's spirits up. And what surprised her the most was the lack of insults flying out of his mouth. After this morning he seemed to shut up with those.
Together they mounted their horses, Gaston actually riding Jax, the one with the horrid feces smell. He was a good steed, but no matter what Hélène fed him he just left such an unbearable smell when he pooped. It was the main conversation as they made their way to the village, either of them not wanting to discuss heavy matters. Going through the woods, Hélène noticed Gaston become tense when they came across a split in the road.
"Which way, Gaston?" She asked.
Gaston cleared his throat. "Left."
Hélène nodded and they went off in the left direction. The conversation had stalled when they got to that intersection, and Hélène eyed Gaston for his odd behavior. "Are you alright Gaston?" She inquired.
The man nodded. "I'm fine. Just, unpleasant memories from being back here," He explained.
"Care to share?" Hélène asked, and almost wished she hadn't. Gaston opened up, revealing he had gone with Maurice, Belle's father, to try and find her when he was came into the tavern raving about a beast. Becoming furious with him, he'd left him out here to die from the wolves. Hélène could tell it wasn't the entire story, but didn't press it.
"Would you do it again?" Hélène questioned.
"No. Never," Gaston replied in earnest. Hélène nodded and they continued on their journey, small conversations here and there.
Once they got out of the woods and onto some fields, Hélène grew a bit excited. She hadn't been to village since her family had first moved to the chateau. Her mother found it full of untrustworthy people, so she had taken her daughter away and never brought her back. But she knew her brothers used to come out this way for a day or two when they were older teenagers to associate themselves with people their own age, much to their mother's chagrin. She hoped their reputation here wouldn't precede her.
They arrived into town and Hélène saw Gaston look as though he were holding his breath. The villagers looked on in shock and began to whisper to one another when they had passed. Hélène could tell the villagers didn't think too highly of Gaston. The next stop was at the boarding stables in the townsquare, and Hélène was shocked she had to pay a pretty penny to board Kimora and Jax. Gaston refused to speak to the owner of the stables. In fact, he wasn't speaking at all now.
"Come, let's get some food from the market," Hélène led the way once the horses had been put away. Gaston followed wordlessly, which unsettled her. Typically it was hard to get him to shut up. More villagers were whispering behind their backs, and when Hélène bought some fresh fruit for them to share, she noticed that practically everyone was staring. She handed Gaston majority of the food and took a bite out of the apple.
"I take it they don't like you?" She asked, and Gaston nodded. "Well, let's just go eat somewhere else," She said, leading the way once more away from townsquare. She found some benches in a large patch of grass where it was far less crowded and sat down.
Gaston sat down with a loud sigh, but scoffed when he examined the food bag in his hand. "Did you only have to get fruits?" He asked, trying not to let it come out too rude.
Hélène shrugged. "Well, I have limited money to what I left the chateau with yesterday, and it was rather expensive to board Jax and Kimora for just one night, and this was the freshest, cheapest food I saw."
"I'm sorry, I should have payed the board," Gaston apologized, moving the pear around in his hand.
"That's alright. Hey, I have a question, maybe get your mind off the villagers," Hélène pondered.
"Anything would be better than to talk about those people."
"The other night, I found you rather drunk in the kitchen," Hélène started. Oh no, Gaston's mind was running. Did he do something to put her off? Is that why she'd been acting cold to him until just now? "You were singing a song, and you explained where it came from, and then I put you to bed because, frankly, I was worried you'd fall on your face by dawn. But when I did, you asked me to stay, and you called me Belle. Are you sure you still have no interest in her?" Hélène finished, registering the shock on Gaston's face.
"I am quite sure. I don't know why I would have ever said that. I was too drunk. I believe I raided your heavy liquor cabinet. Besides, I think falling a few hundred meters to your certain death changes your mind about a girl who never liked you in the first place," Gaston heavily explained, looking Hélène in the eye once or twice. It was more eye contact than she'd received from him at all while in the village. Hélène was a bit surprised by his answer. She had anticipated his telling of how he was going to win her back from Adam. For some reason, hearing the opposite made her intensely happy. She supposed it was because she believed heavily in Belle and Adam as a couple. That must have been it.
"And speaking of liquor, there's a tavern right near here we could go to later, if you're up for it," Gaston offered.
Hélène laughed. "Sure, why not? I don't really drink that much though," She explained.
"Well, the tavern's named after me, so maybe you could enjoy a drink," Gaston said cheekily.
Hélène looked at Gaston, not believing him. "Yeah right," She replied sarcastically.
"No, honestly. Last I check it was named 'Gaston the Hunter'. I've got some of my biggest game mounted on the walls there if they haven't taken it down," Gaston defended himself, slightly saddened at the idea the villagers took one of his proudest accomplishments away.
The next few hours passed easily after they ate. Gaston gave her a tour of the town, ignoring the villagers much more successfully now.
"Oh don't you see, this great town,
It's a grand old sight
Don't mind that the water's brown"
Gaston spoke ironically, showing Hélène the rusted well. She laughed as he pulled her along.
"There are so many things to do
I count at least two
Come, let us see the market
Come, let us see this great town
As though we were on the red carpet"
The villagers stared as Hélène followed Gaston through the crowds.
"Now don't be confused
This isn't Paris, despite its grandeur
Let's make your day improved
In this great town,
where the young are dumb and the old fat
It may be a village,
But don't tell the locals that
For in this great town
Fun is certainly around
In the tavern, in the townsquare
Certainly in the fields, and the…
Whatever, in this great town"
Hélène was having a hard time not laughing at Gaston's overreactions to the mundane things in the village. She chimed in now.
"Oh my, this great town
So many sights, such beauty
I am humbled by it all
To me, they don't seem snooty
With their kind stares
And whispering affairs"
"Let's not forget their glares"
"But of course!
This provincial town,
This great town
I'd be proud to call it home, truly,
For the rumors seem unruly
As they look at us with disdain
I wonder if they've got a brain"
"A brain they do not need
As they treat each other as you would a weed"
"I quite agree
Though, benefit of the doubt
Should be allowed to sprout
Perhaps they aren't all that bad
In this great town
I see some beautiful gowns
I see some families
And ornate trees
So even though it's not all a great
Maybe your opinion should look around
This great town"
Gaston sighed.
"You are right
Ignore my spite
I see children playing
A home people find worth staying
Perhaps this is a great town
But now, we should go to the tavern
To give you a little rundown
On why the water's brown"
Gaston twirled Hélène around too quickly and they both stumbled a bit. Hélène and Gaston laughed as they ended up right in front of the doors to the tavern. It took them a moment to recover. The conversation had gotten a little sadder when she tried to point out the town wasn't too bad, but she was happy it ended on an even better note.
They tried to quietly open the doors, and Hélène was surprised how well-kept it was. The taverns in Paris, which she shouldn't have seen but she did because she snuck out, always liked to joke about how dingy village taverns were. She could see how wrong they now. This was quite quaint, and the people hadn't noticed Gaston yet.
They sat at a small table in the back, and Gaston gave her money to buy two beers; one, whatever size she wanted, and one in the largest cup they had. Hélène went up and timidly ordered them. The bartender asked her where she was from and she just said nearby before making her way back to the seat. She enjoyed the peacefulness the tavern offered and Gaston gave in conversation. It was a good way to forget the morning she had.
What did you guys think of the song? I thought it was okay. I didn't really like it. I may come back and change it up a bit. Leave a review telling me what you think!