Although Cyan was dealing with trying to put on her favorite outfit before anyone came in; the rest of the castle bustled around outside her room. The enchanted staff of the castle had heard of the guests as they haven't had a soul step foot in the castle for several years. Unfortunately, they were disappointed to learn how their master treated the first two guests they had. Then hope grew when Lumiere told everyone that a girl was in the castle. For the first time in years, the kitchen was bustling with activity as the enchanted staff quickly prepped the feast for their master and their guest. Lumiere had everything planned for the dinner and the chief completely ignored it so he could make a exquisite meal to impress the guest.
Lumiere was planning a light onion soup with a salad to start off the meal. The chef was now cooking with a hearty potato soup that had different pieces of vegetables such as broccoli, celery, a bit of squash, and some spinach. Oh, how he missed being able to sample his food before he could serve it to his guests. Since he was nothing but a fancy brass oven, he had to rely on his memory on how to make the perfect or adequate taste to a meal if his master ate. Everyone except the Beast wasn't able to taste food or a drink so the chef had to be precise about his measurements or risk making the master mad at the horrible taste in his mouth.
Nevertheless, everyone was excited to see this girl. The only ones who saw the girl were Plumette, Cogsworth, and Lumiere. The cocky candelabra didn't want to give out any hints on what she looked like as he wanted to show off what she looked like when it was time for dinner. The more matured feather-duster didn't want to tell anyone because her beloved told her to not tell a soul. Meanwhile the stout clock was shaking his gears away in fear. He didn't agree to this and here he was being dragged into a plan that could make their master have a nasty temper. But there was someone in the kitchen who was more enthusiastic about the new guest. His name was Chip, a little white teacup with a little chip on his left side. He was skating around the kitchen counters on his white plate with his mother, Mrs. Potts, watching over him while her trolley wheeled around trying to keep up with him. She was both worried he would fall and break himself while also excited to see who their guest looked like.
"Mama! There's a girl in the castle!" Chip called down to his mother.
"Yes, Chip, we know!" Mrs. Potts chuckled.
"What kind of tea does she like? Herbal, oolang, chamomile..I'm too excited!" The little cup was balancing on the rim of the plate as it skated across from the counters, between Cogsworth and Lumiere on the table, then finally going up in the air heading straight for the chef!
"Slow down before you break your handle." His mother warned him when her trolley landed right in front of him so he could land safely by her.
"Heads up Mrs. Potts." The chief called while he took her lid off and poured in hot water.
"What does she look like, Mama?"
"I'm not sure, dear. We'll find out very soon."
"If she even comes down for dinner.." Cogsworth muttered.
"Nonsense, you rusted clock." Lumiere patted his head. "She will come down."
Meanwhile, the Beast opened the dining room doors quite loudly. All the laughter and commotion died in the kitchen nearby. His footsteps echoed through the dining room as he made his way to his seat on the other side of the room. The dining room was a warm place; a nice fire was there to help keep its occupants toasty while they dined. The table was polished, twelve candelabras were lit to help light up the room, and the food was kept warm in pots and lids so it was still delicious to eat. Beast sat down in his seat on the side where it was the darkest so no one could see his face but he was still able to see the food in front of him. Two medium sized porcelain pots to keep the soup and appetizers warm, a small tiny pot for either the sugar for the tea or salt, a glass for his drink, his silver plate ready to receive his dinner, and a small box like pot that held the main course: a tenderloin in a hearty broth. Although he was hungry, he was grumpy over the last few days from the 'intruders' he's met. He pulled his head up to look and see what he should start off first. Then something caught his attention: on the other side of the table was an identical set of pots and plate for someone else to eat. No one else could eat food except...
"LUMIERRREEE!" The Beast roared and shoved his plate and glass off the table.
Lumiere and Cogsworth jumped at the loud sound of their master's voice and the sound of the plate and glass shattering on the hard floor. They were grateful the plates were normal plates and not the other staff members or else it would have been a sad night and a heavy load on the men's conscience. They could hear their master getting up because his chair fell to the ground and the heavy thumping of his footsteps coming toward the kitchen.
"Oh!" Cogsworth shook.
"B-Be calm. Let me do the talking." Lumiere stuttered while he tried to calm down his friend.
Kitchen door swung open when Beast came stomping in. Lumiere and Cogsworth were tiny compared to their master and if he wanted to, they could be thrown across the room. The two servants were on a small circular table with white, simple plates and glasses like the staff would have feasted on if they were still human. It was a bit of a cruel irony to have the placement as it is.
"You're making her dinner!" Beast yelled at them.
"Well, we thought you might appreciate the company." Lumiere tried to explain.
"Master, I just want to assure you that I had no part in this hopeless plan. Preparing a dinner, designing a gown for her, giving her a suite in the east wing!" Cogsworth blathered the whole plan to Beast. Of course, he went too far by telling him that Cyan was in a room and not in her cell.
"You gave her a bedroom?!" Beast gave them a glare.
"No, no no. HE gave her a bedroom." Cogsworth pointed at Lumiere.
"Th-This is true. But if this girl is the one who can break the spell, then maybe you could start by using dinner to charm her." Lumiere stated before he tapped his clock friend on the head. "Good thinking, Cogsworth!"
"What?!" The poor clock can't handle this much stress.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Charm the prisoner!" Beast raised his right arm and let it fall to his side. Throughout this this argument, he was circling around the table and was spooked by sudden flames coming from the chief oven.
"But you must try, Master. With every passing day we become less human."
"She's the daughter of a common thief and a granddaughter of a hermit. What kind of person do you think that makes her?" Beast asked. He didn't like Valjean or Grandpa Apple for 'invading' his home, eating his food, and trying to take a rose from his garden.
"Oh, you can't judge people by who their father is, now can you?" Mrs. Potts told him.
Their master scrunched up his face as he remembered his own father. The only difference he saw in Valjean and Grandpa Apple was they were willing to stay behind when Cyan offered to take their place. His father wasn't so nice to him. In the end, he resigned himself to walking toward the east wing. Of course he was angry at his servants for even giving her a room. The east wing was only for guests and he made sure they were filled with the finest furniture. Now his prisoner was being housed in one of his luxurious rooms and he was wondering if she had fleas. Maybe not since she looked cleaner than his last two prisoners. The old man did smell horribly, so much so that Beast was actually glad to have thrown him out of the castle. Although it was very cold in the dungeon when Beast saved her from falling, even if she did try to escape. The dungeon can be very cold since the castle was stuck in an everlasting winter; however, it wasn't enough to change his mind on this. His dinner was ruined just because he has to 'charm' her. Beast wasn't alone; Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and Plumette were behind him as he knocked very loudly on Cyan's door.
"You'll join me for dinner. That's not a request." Beast ordered harshly.
"Gently, Master." Mrs. Potts said. "The girl lost her father, her grandfather, and her freedom all in one day."
Yes, the poor thing is probably in there, scared to death." Lumiere agreed.
"Exactly!"
They did not know Cyan very well. Yes, she was scared. But it was for if she had enough fabric for a long rope. After finding and putting on her favorite outfit, Cyan was finally fashioning the gaudy dress into makeshift rope. Whoever made the ribbons made sure they were strong enough to stretched out of proportion for any girl's waist. Thank goodness because they would act as rope to keep the rest of the fabric from falling apart. The blue and pink under-ground was hidden in the massive pink fabric that was once the cover for the entire dress; it was big enough for Cyan to hold it around while she makes her escape out the window if the 'rope' was long enough for Cyan and the peacock chick to make their daring escape. She would have been done sooner if she wasn't so careful when Garderobe stopped snoring because she feared the massive piece of furniture would call for help to stop her. Luckily, she would return to her snoring and Cyan could finish her weaving. The brave girl tossed part of the 'rope' out the window and to her amazement, it was long enough for her to climb down to the garden. She was going to start packing when Beast knocked gently on the door. It wasn't gently as a human would on a door; nevertheless, it was a lot better than when he was banging on the door a moment ago.
"Doth my ears deceive me? There is a sound at the door. Hold thy tongue until my presence is decent and my breathe isn't rapidly depleting from thy horrid knocking!" Cyan called out toward the door before pulling the 'rope' back into the room and tucked it under the bed fast.
"Why is she talking like that?" Beast asked and looked back at his servants.
"She sounds funny." Chip chimed.
"But you see? There is she. Now, remember, be gentle." Lumiere instructed.
"Kind!" Mrs. Potts added.
"Charming!" Plumette swooned.
"Sweet!" Cogsworth added.
"And when she opens the door," Lumiere gave one of his flirtatious smiles. "give her a dashing, debonair smile. Come, come. Show me the smile."
It was one of those things Lumiere regretted immediately. Beast struggled to smile. His mind had a odd sense of what a smile was since it has been years since he actually smiled for real. He could muster a smirk even though that wasn't exactly what Lumiere wants. A smirk and a smile had different meanings; a smirk could be flirty or cocky and a smile could be warm or show happiness. There was no way he would want to show he was cocky toward his prisoner or any happiness because so far Cyan had only been a headache ever since yesterday. His lips twitched as he forced himself a 'smile'. Unfortunately, the servants didn't count this as a smile because it looked like a horrid showing of his fangs and teeth like he was a rabid beast. "Oh, mon dieu!" and "Oh, no" were all they could say in response while Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Chip backed away from their master. Beast let his 'debonair smile' drop and spun back toward Cyan's door.
"Will you join me for dinner?" Beast asked in a feigned happy tone.
"...Hmmm. You don't sound like you mean it." Cyan replied.
"I mean what I asked. Will you join me for dinner?" He asked again only this time it was strained. He was losing his patience.
"Are you out of your mind?! First you imprison my father and grandfather just because of a single rose and then you imprison me and take my blanket from me after I clearly learned my lesson, and now you want to me join you for dinner!? I kindly, and most defiantly, refuse to eat with you!"
Of course, this was a blow to his already shortened temper. Beast began to huff and puff in anger and glaring at no one in particular, but the servants were starting to cower away from their master. It wasn't a pretty sight when he got angry.
"Uh-oh. He's losing it." Plumette shuttered and quickly flew behind Lumiere for cover.
"Oh, dear!" Cogsworth hid behind the small table in the hallway as Beast banged his fist multiple times on the door.
"I TOLD YOU TO JOIN ME FOR DINNER!" Beast bellowed in anger.
"AND I REFUSE YOUR 'INVITATION'!" Cyan shouted back.
"I COMMAND IT!"
"AND I SAID NO!"
"YOU COME OUT HERE OR I'LL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!"
"GO AHEAD! IT'S NOT MY DOOR ANYWAY! YOU'LL SAVE ME THE TROUBLE OF GATHERING FIREWOOD FOR THE COLD NIGHT!"
"YOU WILL NOT USE MY DOOR AS FIREWOOD!"
"THEN DON'T BREAK DOWN THE STUPID DOOR!"
"Ooh! What time is it? What's happening?" Garderobe woke up from their loud voices.
"It's a half past eight and I have this lunatic banging on the door!" Cyan shouted at the giant furniture. Her voice was toned down more for Gardrobe before she returned to her loud tone. "I WILL NOT EAT WITH YOU AND THAT'S MY FINAL WORD!"
"WELL BE MY GUEST! GO AHEAD AND STARVE!" Beast roared at the door.
He turned around toward what few servants that were brave enough to not hide during this argument. Lumiere looked heartbroken to see how this turned out, but his feelings were not taken into consideration as Beast gave him a very harsh glare.
"If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all. IDIOTS!" Beast stormed out of the hall and vanished into the castle.
One chapter added! I have another six to go!
Both Cyan and Beast have short tempers. I bet we know who won this argument.
Special thanks to my beta reader RabbitonSteroids
Beauty and the Beast belongs to Disney.
I only own Cyan, the circus, and the peacock chick.
No mean comments or flames please!
If anyone sees a spelling or grammar error, please PM me and I will fix it.