Summary: The wedding bells have just chimed and the new couple is 'ecstatic' to go to the marriage bed.
Number of years married: A few hours
~:~ As an equal ~:~
"Ah, blissful married life!" Gaston breathed confidently as he and her stepped from the church. "Belle, what do you think? Shall we head back to the tavern where we can begin making sons that will be stuffed with every Gaston gene?"
"Not quite how I would have imagined it," she opposed.
He let out a hearty chuckle as if she would soon come to her senses about his suggestion. "Oh, Belle, come now. You don't want to start our first argument now, do you?"
She gave him a pointed look. "I prefer we talk and catch up on our lives before we do... that."
"What sort of talk do we need to do?" he asked terribly obnoxiously. "We have our whole lives for this talk-"
"And we have our whole lives for your activity," she interrupted. She smoothed out her dress to keep her hands busy. "Besides, I told you I would not simply be your little wife. Gaston, I wish to be treated as your equal-"
He grunted. "And you will!" Then he changed his voice from boastful to proud. "My Belle, my equal. Yes, that sounds about right!"
She glared at him. "I am quite serious about this, Gaston."
"To the tavern!" someone shouted behind them.
Though the ceremony had been small - hardly anyone aside from Maurice and Lefou showed up - the town was a little bit bigger and filled with eager men and women looking for free drinks and food. The celebration of Gaston's marriage just happened to be a bonus.
Before Belle had time to process and protest, Gaston lifted her onto his shoulder and joined in the group heading for the tavern. Men hollered and hooted around her while women cheered and the three silly girls cried and pleaded after Gaston, nearly grabbing hold of his red coat. He shrugged them off - still uninterested in their affection for him.
The great hunter had succeeded in making Belle his wife and that was all for him.
"To the newlyweds!" the tavern keeper shouted once all piled into the establishment, raising his pint. "I'm sure they're eager to escape away!"
Belle managed not to look disgusted as Gaston slung an arm around her shoulders. He raised his tankard in agreement before loudly announcing that they would be leaving the hall to do just that.
Her face did not appear scandalized. "Gaston!" she argued as he led her up to his room. She believed him to be drunk already.
His hand had a hold over hers, mostly to keep her from running away. He opened the door and she huffed inside, turning to him with a cold fire burning in her eyes.
"Gaston, I understand that you are a man and you have… needs… but I would…" She trailed off as she noticed he was not making any advancements towards her.
He shrugged off his army jacket and stepped forward to light the dark fireplace. Then to her surprise, he sat himself in the armchair in front of the fire.
Not that she was in the slightest complaining about the turn of events, but it did have her asking, "What are you doing?"
He gestured the empty seat across from him. "So talk."
"You're not going to try to bed me?" she dared in questioning.
He gave a shrug. "I maybe be self-centered but if you are to be my wife, I suppose I shall… what was it you called it the night I saved you?"
"Compromise?" she filled in.
"Ah, yes," he grinned. "That. Now sit and talk so we can get going on what I want to do."
She exhaled somewhat. Well, it was a start.
