Shiro growled lowly as he paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. The dining table had been decorated with many dishes for dinner. Lance and Hunk were standing on top of the mantle, watching Shiro pace on all fours.
"What's taking so long? I told him to come down. Why isn't he here yet?!" Lance and Hunk jumped back in surprise at the outburst.
"Oh, try to be patient, sir. The boy has lost his father and his freedom all in one day," Hunk said as Shiro resumed his pacing.
"Uh, master. Have you thought that, perhaps, this boy could be the one to break the spell?" Lance asked, to which Shiro stopped pacing.
"Of course I have," Shiro snapped at the candlestick. "I'm not a fool," Shiro said softly.
"Good," Lance said as Shiro returned to pacing once again. "You fall in love with him, he falls in love with you, and-Poof!-the spell is broken! We'll be human again by Midnight."
"It's just not that easy, Lance. These things take time," Hunk explained with a soft smile. Though he understood where Lance was coming from. He to, was eager to become human again.
"But the rose has already begun to wilt," Lance protested with a frown.
"It's no use. He's so handsome, and I'm so...well, look at me!" Shiro said as he turned to the pair on the mantle and gestured at himself.
"Oh, you must help him to see past all that," Hunk said with a gentle smile.
"I don't know how," Shiro answered as he slumped in front of the fireplace.
"Well, you can start by making yourself more presentable," Hunk said as he jumped off the mantle and hopped up to the table. Shiro turned and watched the teapot in curiosity. "Straighten up, try to act like a gentleman," realizing the teapot was not kidding around, Shiro straightened himself and made his face all serious.
"Ah yes, when he comes in, give him a dashing, debonair smile," Lance said as he shot Shiro a smile to show what he meant. "Come on, show me the smile," Shiro smiled as he did, all his sharp fangs were present.
"But don't frighten the poor guy," Hunk said with a soft smile.
"Impress him with your rapier wit."
"But be gentle."
"Shower him with compliments."
"But be sincere."
"And above all…"
"You must control your temper!" as the pair spoke in unison, the group turned at the door slowly opening.
"Here he is!" Lance said as an expectant smile grew on Shiro's face.
"Uh, good evening," Kolivan said as he entered the room. A little confused on why his master was smiling like he was.
"Well, where is he?" Shiro growled out, smiling fading from his face. Kolivan suddenly remembered why he had headed down to the dining room in the first place.
"Who? Oh! The boy. Yes, the, ah, boy. Well, actually, he's in the process of, ah, um, circumstances being what they are, ah... he's not coming."
"WHAT!" Shiro yelled out angrily and stormed out of the dining room. He headed straight for the room where Keith was staying. Behind him followed Lance, Hunk, and Kolivan.
"Your grace! Your Eminence! Let's not be hasty!" Kolivan yelled out as the trio raced after their angry master.
"I thought I told you to come down to dinner!" Shiro yelled as he banged on the door, though he had enough sense in him to not enter without being allowed to.
"I'm not hungry," Keith answered from behind the door, his voice slightly muffled.
"You'll come out or I'll...I'll break down the door!" Shiro snapped but was stopped by Lance.
"Master, I could be wrong, but that may not be the best way to win the guy's affections."
"Please! Attempt to be a gentleman, you're father didn't make you take etiquette lessons with me for nothing you know," Kolivan said with a soft sigh.
"But he is being so...difficult!" Shiro said as he glared at the door.
"Gently, gently," Hunk said trying to calm his master down.
"Will you come down to dinner?" Shiro asked in a dejected tone.
"No!" Keith snapped back. Shiro turned to the trio with a very frustrated look on his face.
"Remember your etiquette lessons," Kolivan reminded with a serious look on his face.
"It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for dinner," Shiro gritted out through his teeth as he bowed before the door.
"Ahem, ahem, we say 'please'," Kolivan said as he avoided eye contact with Shiro.
"...please," Shiro said once again in a dejected tone of voice.
"No, thank you," Keith said firmly with an angry tone of voice.
"You can't stay in there forever!" Shiro yelled with a glare.
"Yes I can!" Keith said back, as if challenging Shiro to do something about the situation.
"Fine! Then go ahead and Starve!" Shiro yelled, he then turned to the trio. "If he doesn't eat with me, then he doesn't eat at all!" Shiro snapped and ran down the hall and slammed a door shut behind him.
"Well that didn't go very well at all, did it?" Hunk asked with a shake of his "head".
"Lance, stand watch at the door and inform me at once if there is the slightest change," Kolivan said, going into his serious mode.
"You can count on me Captain," Lance said as he stood in front of the door and started pacing back and forth.
"Well, I guess we better go downstairs and start cleaning up," Kolivan said as he started to walk away.
"I'll come help," Hunk said as he followed after the clock.
"I ask nicely, but he refuses," Shiro said as he entered his "lair" and tossed a chair out of his way. "What a...what does she want me to do-beg?" Shiro asked as he passed a table. On top of the table was a silver mirror that was face down. "Show me the boy," Shiro growled out. The mirror shined bright before glowing green. On the mirror was Keith, who was sitting on his bed with Allura beside him.
"Why the master's not so bad once you get to know him," Allura said with a kind smile. "Why don't you give him a chance?"
"I don't want to get to know him," Keith snapped, still slightly disturbed by the argument he and Shiro just had. "I don't want to have anything to do with him! "
"I'm just fooling myself," Shiro said as he gently set the mirror down on the table. "He'll never see me as anything...but a monster," Shiro said as he turned away from the rose that taunted him every day. The rose was a simple red rose with a green stem, that floated in a glass covering. Four petals had already fallen. As Shiro turned, a new petal fell off the rose.
"It's hopeless."
An hour or two later, the door to Keith's room slowly creaked open. Keith peaked his head out and glanced around for any sign of Shiro. Upon seeing no sign of the beast, Keith stepped out of his room and into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
"Oh, no!" a female voice called out from behind a curtain. Keith, however, was on a mission to find something to eat and walked past.
"Oh come on Romelle," Lance whined as the pair emerged from behind the curtain.
"No Lance I've been burnt by you before," Romelle said with a shake of her head. "I don't intend to be burned again."
Lance sighed and watched as Romelle quickly left to finish her dusting for the evening. Lance turned to go back to guard duty when he caught movement out of the corner of his eyes. He turned and gasped seeing Keith heading down the hall to the main staircase.
"He has emerged!" Lance exclaimed and quickly started to follow after Keith. "Kolivan's going to have my head for this one."
"Come on Matt, into the cupboard with your sister," Colleen said as Matt hopped into the cupboard and yawned. Colleen was a white sugar bowl with orange detailing, as well as Matt and Pidge's mother.
"But I'm not sleepy," Matt protested quietly, seeing as Pidge was already asleep.
"Yes you are," Colleen said as she hopped into the cupboard beside Matt and Hunk closed the cupboard as Matt finally fell asleep.
"I work and I slave all day, and for what?" Hunk turned as the stove, known as Chef Sal began complaining. "A culinary masterpiece, gone to waste."
"Oh, stop your grousing," Hunk said with a roll of his eyes. "It's been a long night for all of us."
"Well, if you ask me, he was just being stubborn," Kolivan said from the ground as he tossed the damp towel he was drying his hands off with into the cupboard and the door slammed shut. "After all, the master did say 'please' didn't he?"
Unknown to Hunk and Kolivan, Keith entered the kitchen. Sal turned his head and was confused about who the boy was, before realization hit him.
"But if the master doesn't learn to control that temper, he'll never break the-" Hunk was interrupted by Sal purposely clearing his throat and their attention was turned to the doorway.
"Splendid to see you out and about finally," Kolivan said as Keith came closer. Lance following after. "I am Kolivan, head of the household," Lance ran up beside Kolivan and stood by his side. "This is Lance," Kolivan said giving Lance a dirty look.
"Anything we can do for you?" Hunk asked from on top of the counter.
"I am a little hungry," Keith said with a sheepish smile.
"You are? Hear that? He's hungry," Hunk said as he bounced over to the other pieces of the tea set. "Stoke the fire," upon command, Sal turned on his burners and a fire rose up, heating up the food. "Break out the silver," the silver drawer opened and out popped a bunch of silverware. "Wake the china."
"Remember what the master said," Kolivan gritted out to Hunk who rolled his eyes and opened the cupboard, waking up the china inside up. Including, Matt, Pidge, and Colleen.
"Oh shush. I'm not going to let the poor guy go hungry," Hunk said with a soft glare towards Kolivan.
"Oh, all right," Kolivan said with a sigh. "Glass of water, a crust of bread, and then-"
"Kolivan, I am surprised at you," Lance said as he wrapped an arm around Kolivan's shoulders. "He's not our prisoner. He's our guest," Kolivan rolled his eyes and pushed Lance's arm off. "We must make him feel welcome here, even if he has a mullet," Keith rolled his eyes hearing the hair comment. "This way, Keith."
"Well keep it down. If the master finds out about this, it will be our necks!" Kolivan called after Lance who was leading Keith towards the dining room.
"Of course, of course," Lance said as Kolivan approached him by the doorway. The clock was unsure about the route Lance was going to take this. "But what is dinner without a little music?"
"MUSIC!?" Kolivan exclaimed as Lance let go out the swinging door and the door hit him in the face. Kolivan ended up landing in a dish that was filled with some sort of dough. Hunk, Matt, Pidge, Colleen, and Sal all trying not to let the clock hear them as they laughed.
"Welcome, welcome," Lance said as he jumped up onto the table. Keith stood in front of the table and was surprised when he was knocked backwards and landed in a chair. "It is with deepest pleasure and greatest pride that I welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents...your dinner."
" Be our guest "
As if on cue, a spotlight shined on the other kitchenware as they joined Lance up on the table.
" Be our guest
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin round your neck, mister
And we provide the rest "
The chair that Keith sat on pulled out a napkin and went to tie it around Keith's neck. Keith shook his head and laid the napkin on his lap instead.
" Soupe du jour
Hot hors d'oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve "
Lance opened a tray and held it out to Keith, on it were several tasty looking foods.
" Try the grey stuff, it's delicious
Don't believe me, ask the dishes "
Keith dipped his finger in the grey moose like food and tried a bit of it. The flavour bursting in his mouth.
" They can sing
They can dance
After all, mullet, this is Altea
And a dinner here is never second best "
From the cupboard behind Lance, dishes and glasses rolled out and began to perform as Lance sang.
" Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then
You'll be our guest
Yes, our guest
Be our guest "
Lance handed Keith a menu which listed several different dishes. Keith glanced it over before Lance pulled it away and tossed it to the side. Dishes that were on that menu began to trot past Keith, to which Keith couldn't help but try a little bit of some.
" Beef ragout
Cheese soufflé
Pie and pudding en flambé
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret "
Keith lifted the lid to a pie pan and found Kolivan inside. Lance, without knowing Kolivan was in there, used one of his candles to light the pie up. Kolivan ended up being covered in soot as a result.
" You're alone
And you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining "
Keith looked up as the spoons dove into what looked like pink nunvill and began to perform a swimming routine. Lance ended up being elevated on a plate as a nunvill geyser formed.
" We tell jokes
I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks "
Keith watched in awe as Lance juggled his candles around.
" But it's all in perfect taste, that you can bet "
Keith jumped in surprise as several mugs filled with nunvill popped up around him.
" Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be our guest "
Keith watched as the nunvill mugs performed several gymnastics jumps while dumping nunvill into each other.
"If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest "
Kolivan had climbed out of the pie pan finally and had just finished wiping the soot off from a cloth. His eyes widened when he realized how loud the singing was.
" Be our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest "
Kolivan tried to shush the kitchenware but was stopped when a blue spotlight landed on him, the room going dark.
" Life is so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon "
Lance appeared beside Kolivan and as the clock tried to escape, he pulled him back and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Get off!" Kolivan whispered harshly and blew out Lance's candles, but the candlestick just reignited them.
" Ah, those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly, those good old days are gone "
Kolivan glanced up as white specs fell down on top of the pair. He was annoyed to find it was only the salt shakers.
" Ten years we've been rusting
Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills "
Lance held onto Kolivan's leg as the clock tried to walk away. Lance eventually let go and both him and Keith winced as Kolivan landed head first into a serving of gelatin on a spoon.
" Most days we just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat and lazy
You walked in and oops-a-daisy! "
Lance hopped up and watched with a hidden smile as Kolian struggled to free himself. Lance hopped onto the spoon and Kolivan ended up being launched across the table.
" It's a guest!
It's a guest!
Sakes alive, well, I'll be blessed "
Hunk hopped around the kitchen, bouncing with happiness as the rest of the dishes and cups were washing up. Bubbles floating everywhere.
" Wine's been poured, and thank the lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed "
Matt and Pidge watched with amusement as Hunk bounced around as the napkins spun around him.
" With dessert
He'll want tea
And, my lord, that's fine with me
While the cups do their soft-shoeing
I'll be bubbling
I'll be brewing "
Colleen shushed her kids away to the cart as Hunk headed to the stove to warm up the tea that had been freshly poured.
" I'll get warm
Piping hot
Oh quiznak, is that a spot?
Clean it up, we want the company impressed "
Hunk had noticed a spot on his side and called over a napkin to wipe it clean. After all, it wasn't every day that you had a dinner guest besides Shiro.
" We've got a lot to do
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guest "
Keith turned as the tea cart pulled up and Hunk poured his tea into Matt and sugar cubes were added as Keith wanted them.
" He's our guest "
Matt hopped up onto the table and Keith took a gentle sip of the hot tea.
" He's our guest "
Pidge and Colleen could tell that Hunk was overjoyed at having a guest. They had to admit, they were also happy to have someone else besides Shiro.
" He's our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Put our service to the test
It's ten years since we've had anybody here
And we're obsessed "
A flower vase hopped up and handed Keith a simple red flower. Kolivan had once again tried to get everyone to be quiet, but as seen before, he failed.
" With your meal
With your ease
Yes, indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going "
Keith glanced back to the show and watched as the candlesticks parted to reveal Lance, who joined in the song once more.
" Course by course
One by one
Till you shout, "Enough, I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest "
Keith gasped with wide eyes as a chandelier lowered and Keith managed to see the forks doing a choreographed dance on the rings.
" Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest
Be our guest
Kolivan had given up on trying to get everyone to be quiet, knowing it was futile. He eventually ended up joining everyone else in dance and song.
" Be our guest
Please be our guest! "