"It began five years ago," Robin said. "I remember it was very stormy that night, and our Dame was in a particularly bad mood. A visitor came calling at our door; I answered and found a peasant woman begging for shelter for the night. I was inclined to let her stay, but our Dame refused her, saying she obviously had no money to pay for a night's room."
"How cruel," Vivi murmured.
Robin bent in a sort of nod. "The woman became angry with our Dame's lack of hospitality and cast away her rags to reveal her true form as an enchantress. She declared that for this unkindness, our Dame and everyone else in the castle would be placed under a curse. Before we could do anything, the curse was cast, and we found ourselves in the forms of furniture, while our Dame was transformed into the Beast."
"Why, that's awful," Vivi exclaimed, looking around at Robin, Chopper, and Franky.
Chopper hopped in place. "We're still getting used to it," he said in his high voice. "But we're doing okay, right, mama?"
Robin smiled in response and glanced up at Franky. "It's too bad you can't get around as easily as the rest of us," she remarked.
Franky scowled. "Yeah, I'd probably trip somewhere," he muttered.
"Oh!" Vivi exclaimed. "I just realized—does this mean all of you used to be human?!"
Franky, Robin, and Chopper stared at her.
"What did you think was going on?" Franky demanded. "How else would Robin and I have a kid, for Pete's sake?"
"I—yes, of course, forgive me—" Vivi said, bowing her head for a moment. "It didn't sink in until just now, you see."
Robin giggled. "To answer your question, Madame Vivi: Yes, we all used to have human forms—well, more or less all of us, and more or less human."
"What did you all do here?" Vivi asked, trying to keep the conversation going to take her mind off of other things.
Robin glanced upwards in thought. "I was the butler; Franky took care of general maintenance around the mansion; Chopper was training to be a doctor . . ."
"Papa's helped me a lot," Chopper piped up with shining eyes.
Franky grinned. "I'm no doctor, but I have a little know-how from my modern American years!"
"Sanji was the cook, and still does the best he can with our cookware," Robin continued. "Usopp was the maid; Luffy was the gardener; Brook was the musician, and Zoro was the chimney sweep."
"I see," Vivi said. "I can see how all of those things would be hard in your current forms."
"Indeed," Robin agreed. "Our Dame has fallen into an eternal slump since the curse was cast, and of course she is never willing to do the housework herself."
"Is there any way for the curse to be lifted?" Vivi asked.
Robin and Franky glanced at each other. Chopper looked as if he was about to blurt something out, but his parents hushed him with gentle glares.
"We shall tell you another time," Robin said at last. "But we believe your presence may be the key to breaking the spell."
"How so?"
"Another time," Robin insisted.
Vivi smiled. "Oh, just wait until I tell my father abo—"
She abruptly cut herself off and her smile vanished like the moon in the daytime.
"Father?" Chopper asked curiously.
"My father," Vivi repeated softly, bowing her head. "The Beast has taken me away from him. He is my only family in the world."
The servants said nothing. Vivi went to her new bed and lay on it, barely noticing the luxurious mattress underneath her.
"Madame Vivi?"
Vivi lifted her head. "Yes?"
Robin hopped in place. "If you plan to rest, we can wake you when it's time to prepare for dinner."
Vivi frowned warily. "And if I don't feel up to dining?"
"I would advise you to show up anyway," Robin said. "It would not do to anger our Dame on your first day here. And besides . . ." she smiled. "Sanji's food may not be as good as when he was human, but it is still something you would regret missing out on."
Vivi nodded. "Then you may wake me when the time comes," she said softly. "Thank you."
She curled up on the bed like a cat and was asleep within minutes.
"YO! TIME TO GET UP! HEY! RISE AND SHINE!"
Vivi awoke with a jolt, sitting bolt upright and looking around wildly. Franky was cackling in the corner as Robin looked at him in disapproval.
"Really, Franky, I told you not to scare her," Robin scolded.
"Hey, she's up, isn't she?" Franky said, grinning.
"Goodness, that was some wake-up call," Vivi said, catching her breath and swinging her legs around to get up.
"Did you sleep well?" Chopper asked.
"More or less," Vivi said, stretching. That melancholic look was still upon her face as she turned to the servants and said, "The Beast told me to dress semi-formal, but I'm not sure what that means. Could you help?"
"Of course, of course," Franky said. His doors flew open and the clothes flew out, shuffling themselves around in the air like a deck of playing cards.
"Y'know, come to think of it, what the hell is semi-formal?" Franky asked, glancing at Robin. "Formal's easy, and casual's even easier, but what's in between that?"
Robin sighed. "Before that, Madame Vivi, I believe you should wash up. I mean no offense, but our Dame is insistent upon clean hands and face at dinnertime."
"Very well," Vivi agreed. She stood and quietly hurried out to the washroom down the hall. When she returned, her hands and face clean, Robin was watching as the outfits slowly sorted themselves.
"Stop," she said. The clothes stopped moving and a light pink dress floated forwards. The others floated back into Franky, who closed his doors. Robin examined the dress as it slowly turned in midair.
"Yes, this will do," she said at last. "Madame Vivi, if you would?"
The dress floated to Vivi and she caught it. It went limp in her arms.
She glanced around and looked at Franky oddly.
"What's up, Madame Vivi?" he asked.
"You won't be watching as I change?" she asked warily.
"Oh! Oh, sorry, right—you can use the changing screen," Franky said quickly.
"I'm sure he wouldn't look, but if you're more comfortable using the screen, by all means do so," Robin said reassuringly. "The corset will tie itself once you have the dress on."
Vivi set up the changing screen and ducked behind it. The servants waited patiently as her ordinary clothes were hung over the side of the screen. There came the familiar sounds of cloth on skin as she changed, and the "Hh!" when the corset ties were knotted.
Finally she came out from behind the screen. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and let out a soft, "Oh!"
She looked lovely. The dress was a full-length a-line design, with a wide scoop for the chest and neck and long, flowing sleeves hanging just above her wrists. Tied off perfectly, the corset let the dress below billow out, giving the impression of wide hips just below the waist. Layers of petticoat beneath let the cloth puff out nearly half a meter from her legs without the need for panniers.
"Nice," Franky said appreciatively.
"You look wonderful," Robin said, smiling. "Would you sit for a moment?"
Vivi nervously sat at the vanity with Robin and Chopper.
"Let down your hair," Robin said. "It should be brushed."
Vivi took out her ponytail and let her blue hair fall about halfway down her back. After checking the drawers of the vanity, she found a brush and carefully ran it through the strands, wincing whenever she caught a knot.
When she'd finished, her hair was soft and shiny. She set down the brush and checked herself in the mirror.
"Let us braid it," Robin said.
Vivi hesitated.
"It's only proper," Robin insisted.
"No, it's just . . . I'm not sure how to braid hair," Vivi said, feeling rather foolish.
The servants were silent.
"I do wish I could help, but I have no hands," Robin said, sounding troubled yet slightly amused.
"Maybe there are some magic pins in the vanity," Franky suggested.
"Oh, perhaps," Robin agreed. "Madame Vivi?"
Vivi checked the drawers and pulled out a small handful of bobby pins.
"Er . . ." she said nervously. "Braid."
The pins quivered and flew up to her hair. Vivi sat very still as her hair flew this way and that, tying and tightening itself as the pins inserted themselves. When it was over, her hair had been sorted into three braids, all bunched up into flower-like buns on the back of her neck.
"You look so pretty," Chopper piped up, hopping in place.
"Thank you," Vivi murmured.
"It's about time to go down," Robin said. "Madame Vivi, would you bring us down with you? We sleep in the kitchen, you see . . ."
"Of course, Madame Robin, Chopper," Vivi said, standing and picking them up gently.
"Bye, papa!" Chopper called as they left.
"See you guys later!" Franky exclaimed.
Vivi slowly made her way down the stairs, being careful not to trip over her dress, and went to the kitchen, noticing that Sanji and Usopp had vanished from the table they'd rested upon before.
She dropped off Robin and Chopper at their cabinet, noticing that Zoro was already asleep. He hadn't moved from his spot since his earlier introduction.
She slowly made her way to the dining room, where Usopp was helping Sanji bring platters of food to the long table. The orange-haired Beast was seated at the head of the table with an expression of angry impatience (her fur had been combed, likely with many enchanted hairbrushes, and she was wearing a nice shawl-like dress). She looked up at Vivi upon the maiden's entrance and growled faintly, causing Usopp and Sanji to look up as well.
"You're late," she snarled.
"Manners, Madame," Usopp stage-whispered as he shakily brought the last platter to the table. It floated down to the surface gently and the clock-man sighed with relief.
The Beast took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Please, sit," she said, attempting a smile, but with all those teeth it looked more like a snarl.
Vivi pulled out a chair two seats away from her captor and sat, adjusting her dress with some nervousness.
"Oh, goodness," she murmured, looking at the assorted silverware. On the left of the plate were three forks of varying sizes, while the right side held a knife and a spoon.
"Is something the matter?" the Beast asked quickly.
Vivi glanced up, almost afraid to answer in fear of backlash. Usopp quickly covered for her. "Perhaps, coming from a poor home, Madame Vivi is not used to the cutlery . . ."
Vivi nodded gratefully.
"Allow me," Sanji said. Vivi picked him up and set him on the table. Pointing at the items in turn, he said, "This fork is for the salad, this for the main meal, and this for the dessert. The spoon and knife, of course, are for the soup and for cutting foods."
"Thank you," Vivi murmured. Sanji hopped to the center of the table to provide some light.
"We should have brought Luffy in here," Usopp said thoughtfully. "He would've helped light up the room."
"Please," Sanji said disdainfully. "A candelabra like myself is much more suited for a proper dinner atmosphere than a gaslig—"
The Beast cleared her throat loudly and Sanji and Usopp quickly went silent.
"Well, Madame Beast, I'll be going back to my table," Usopp said nervously. "Unless there was something else—?"
"Go on," the Beast growled. Usopp hopped away as quickly as possible.
Awkward silence hung in the air for a moment. Then the Beast cleared her throat again.
"Guests should serve themselves first," she said. "Would you care for some bouillabaisse?"
She offered up the tureen, which Vivi cautiously accepted. She ladled a spoonful of the fishy stew into her bowl and, as manners dictated, passed the soup to her host. The Beast carefully spooned some into her bowl and they began eating.
"This is delicious," Vivi exclaimed. She smiled at Sanji. "My compliments to the chef."
Sanji happily spun in place. It was a wonder the tablecloth didn't catch fire with the sparks sent down by this action. "Nothing makes me happier than to hear those words from you, Madame Vivi," he said happily.
Vivi was practically full after the soup, as she was used to small meals, but of course she did not wish to anger the Beast, and so she served herself a small helping of greens for the salad. She hesitantly selected the salad fork for this.
When this course was over, the main meal came. This was something extravagant, at least to Vivi, who had never seen so much food on one plate in her lifetime. There was boiled ham, roasted pheasant, Ember Day pie, and even rich mutton chops with a delicate sauce.
As Vivi served herself a little bit of everything, the Beast said quietly, "Are you enjoying your stay?"
Vivi bit her lip and did not look up when she responded, "Your servants are wonderful, Madame Beast. The food is exquisite and my room is wonderful."
The Beast looked at her curiously, waiting for the rest of it as she served herself plentiful helpings of everything.
"Yet still," Vivi said, gathering up her courage and looking the Beast square in the eye, dark blue to brown, "you are forcing me to stay here. You have taken me away from my only family in the world: my dear father, all because of my wish to have an orange for dessert just for one day. I'm not sure I care for you at all, Madame."
The Beast's lips curled back and she slowly stood, snarling—but Sanji stopped her.
"Madame, please," he whispered. "You must understand what Madame Vivi is feeling."
Slowly the Beast calmed down. She took deep breaths, her fur flattened, and she closed her mouth as she sat back down calmly.
"I apologize for taking you away from your father," she said quietly. "I know you must miss him, and he you, but the circumstances must remain as they are."
"May I ask why?" Vivi demanded boldly. "If I am to be held here, I would like to know the reason."
The Beast hesitated. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you exactly why," she admitted. "But I have a feeling . . . you may be the one to break this curse upon us." She glanced up. "Did the servants tell you?"
"Madame Robin told me of the curse," Vivi said. "But she did not specify what could be done to lift it."
"I see," the Beast said softly. Vivi did not see this, but the Beast was looking at her oddly, her eyes travelling up the pretty dress to rest on Vivi's face.
"And certainly I would like to help you all, if only to return home sooner," Vivi said. "But if I have no idea of what to do . . ."
"Your presence is enough for now," the Beast said reassuringly. "Do not worry yourself."
And then there was silence as Vivi and her host ate their food.
Dessert came afterwards, but Vivi could not eat another bite, despite the tantalizing smell of the puddings and crèmes on the table.
"May I excuse myself?" she inquired, pushing back her chair.
"So soon?" the Beast asked, sounding disappointed.
Sanji cleared his throat.
". . . Yes, you may," the Beast said. "Er—thank you for coming down."
"Thank you for the wonderful food," Vivi said, curtsying briefly. "Monsieur Sanji, Madame Beast. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," the Beast and Sanji echoed. Vivi quietly left, passing by Usopp, who by some miracle had hopped back up to the table and was snoring peacefully. She went upstairs and hurried back into her room, where Franky was waiting in the corner, whistling some unfamiliar energetic tune.
"Hey, Madame Vivi!" he exclaimed. "How was dinner?"
"The food was lovely," Vivi responded shortly, sitting at the vanity to take out her braids for the night.
"And our Dame?" Franky prompted.
Vivi sighed through her nose. "She was fairly polite, but I'm not sure I'm ready to forgive her for all this."
"Right, I see," Franky said. "Oh, by the way, you'll be needing a nightgown—unless you sleep nude? I don't judge."
Vivi stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"Nightgown it is," he said. His doors flew open and a satin gown flew out. Vivi caught it and went behind the screen to change.
"Y'know, I thought this whole situation seemed familiar," Franky remarked as she slipped out of her dress. "When I'm from, we've got a fairytale almost exactly like this, called Beauty and the Beast."
"Oh?" Vivi said curiously, pulling on the gown over her head and bringing out her hair from the back.
"Yeah," Franky said as she came out from behind the screen. "Kinda the same thing—servants cursed to be furniture, master of the house cursed to be a horrible beast, and then a beautiful lady comes along, and . . ."
Vivi's cheeks turned pink. "I'm hardly beautiful," she murmured.
Franky chuckled. "Our Dame seems to think otherwise!"
"Sorry?"
"Nothing," he said quickly.
"How does the story end?" Vivi asked, closing the curtains.
Franky grinned. "'Fraid I can't tell you that."
Vivi sighed and lay on her bed, climbing underneath the comforter and resting her head on the downy pillow.
"Goodnight," she said sleepily.
"Night," Franky murmured.
I am not making any claims whatsoever that this fic is historically accurate. Fair warning, if anyone feels like pointing out historical inaccuracies, I'm probably going to pull the AU card. HOWEVER, if you'd like to have an idea of the fashion of this period, I recommend looking up "rococo period."