A few of you pointed out that Luffy's backstory in this is similar to Natsu's from Fairy Tail. I'm sorry about that. They are similar, but it was unintentional, I assure you. I just wanted to do something off of Lu's dad being named "Dragon" and only realized the similarities partway through.
Vivi was getting a start on dusting the library (after admiring the many books) when she heard behind her, "Madame Vivi?"
She turned to see Usopp peeking in. "Lunch is on the table," he announced.
Vivi blinked. "Lunch?"
"Er . . . yes," Usopp said. "It is midday, after all . . ."
"Goodness," Vivi said in surprise. "Back home we had breakfast and dinner for daily meals. We did not eat in the afternoon."
Usopp stared at her. "Well, then," he said, "you'd best get used to having three meals a day, Madame Vivi. Come along."
Vivi set down the duster and headed out to the dining hall after placing Usopp back on his table.
She seated herself quietly at the table, where the Beast already sat. Her host looked up and growled faintly.
"You were cleaning, weren't you?"
"Yes," Vivi said, scooting her chair ever-so-slightly back.
"Then why didn't you wash up?"
Vivi looked down at her hands, which were grimy from the dust and dirt of the house.
"Oh, I—"
"Wash up now."
Vivi quickly stood and hurried upstairs. Sanji, resting on the table, gave the Beast a slightly reproachful look.
"What now?" the Beast snarled.
"Forgive me, Madame Beast, but you will never win her over with that attitude," Sanji murmured.
"And what was I supposed to do?" the Beast growled.
"Remind her gently," Sanji advised. "She recently came from a poor home, and is not yet used to our mansion. Simply ask her politely if she's washed up, and if she hasn't, allow her a minute to do so—preferably without the growling."
The Beast scowled at him.
"N-Not to say that your growling isn't lovely," Sanji said quickly and nervously.
"I know it is not," the Beast growled. "Don't patronize me."
Vivi returned and quietly seated herself, holding out her palms for inspection.
"Good," the Beast said quietly. Upon the table for the meal were small pheasant sandwiches and what was left of the bouillabaisse from the previous night.
"I despise wasting food," Sanji explained when Vivi gave it a questioning look. "I hope you'll forgive me if it has lost some of its flavor, Madame Vivi."
"Though I assure you it has not," the Beast said. "My chef is the best in the land."
Sanji smiled and spun in place. This time the flying sparks actually did set fire to the tablecloth, but Vivi reacted quickly and threw a spoonful of soup onto the flame, soaking Sanji in the process and leaving an interesting stain on the tablecloth.
She froze and slowly turned to the Beast, whose expression showed anger. But then she took a deep breath and seemed to calm down.
"That was quick thinking," she said. "Honestly now, Sanji, I have told you to stop spinning when your flames are lit."
"Forgive me, Madame Beast," Sanji said quickly. "Madame Vivi, though you did use that soup, we appreciate your cleverness."
"Oh, it was no trouble," Vivi murmured, looking worriedly at the obvious stain on the otherwise nice tablecloth. "Should I . . . ?"
"I will take care of it myself later," the Beast said. "Worry not. Please, enjoy lunch."
Vivi took a sandwich and began eating slowly. She complimented Sanji on the flavor and he had to stop himself from spinning in place again, instead settling for a bow and a smile.
"Your servants are quite the interesting bunch, Madame Beast," Vivi said.
"Aren't they?" the Beast said with something that looked like an attempt at a smile, though it came out as more of a grimace with those sharp teeth and all that fur.
"Did the others share how they came here?" Sanji asked curiously.
Vivi nodded. "Like I said, they're all very interesting. Some of those stories are a tad hard to believe—like Monsieur Franky being from the future, or Monsieur Luffy being raised by a dragon—but they seem perfectly honest."
The Beast sighed. "Oh, those two know no end to trouble. Franky is always tinkering away, trying to build strange futuristic things, and Luffy keeps setting things on fire; not to mention Zoro, who's excellent at chopping firewood but tends to chop down a bit too much."
She hesitated. "Well, they used to do those things."
"Before the curse hit, Franky talked of building something called a 'refrigerator,'" Sanji said wistfully. "A magical box which would save food from spoiling . . ."
"That sounds wonderful," Vivi remarked. "The future sounds very interesting, with such things as 'refrigerators' and 'toasters.'"
"Speaking of toasters, it's too bad Zoro was transformed into that," the Beast said. "We haven't had firewood in years, and of course if we ask Luffy to turn up his light, he would set the whole room on fire."
Vivi hid her laughter behind her hand. "After talking to Monsieur Luffy, I don't doubt it."
Unnoticed by her, the Beast looked at her and seemed to smile shyly at Vivi's laughter.
After the meal, Vivi excused herself and returned to her task.
Dinnertime was upon her soon, and she changed into a sea-green dress, the style not unlike that of the previous night. She made sure to wash up and once she was seated, she quickly displayed her palms. Sanji and Usopp, resting on the table, glanced between her and the Beast.
"There's no need for that," the Beast said. "I will trust you to wash up before every meal from now on."
Vivi nodded and withdrew her hands.
"Your library is impressive, Madame," she said as she began eating.
The Beast puffed out her chest slightly. "The result of years of collecting," she said proudly. "Not to mention that Robin will buy books for herself and Chopper, and Luffy will purchase children's stories to practice reading . . ."
"That would explain it."
The Beast looked at her. "Do you enjoy reading?"
Vivi smiled. "Very much. If we ever had money left over, my father would buy me a book or two as a present."
"I'm surprised you can read, coming from such a poor family," Usopp remarked. Sanji and the Beast glared at him with such ferocity that he squeaked and hopped backwards.
"Don't be so rude!" Sanji exclaimed, winding up Usopp's clock with his candle arms and making the bird pop out. Usopp shrieked and stuffed it back inside.
"Vivi is our guest here and I will not have you make such remarks," the Beast snarled.
"Y-Yes, of course, Madame Beast—Madame Vivi, forgive me, it slipped out—"
"No, it's quite alright, I understand," Vivi said reassuringly. "My mother taught me when I was young."
Sanji frowned. "Your mother?"
"She is no longer with us, but I am sure her spirit watches kindly on from above," Vivi said softly.
The Beast cleared her throat after a moment of silence passed.
"As I was saying, you do like to read," she said, steering back the conversation.
Vivi nodded.
"Then, er . . ." the Beast coughed. "You may . . . you may use the library."
Vivi's eyes widened. "Pardon?"
"So long as you put back the books where you found them, you may read whatever you like in there," the Beast said, looking at her.
"Oh, thank you very much," Vivi cried, a smile bursting out on her face. "How very generous!"
"No, no, it's fine," the Beast stammered. "Use it at your leisure, but . . . do try not to stay up too late."
"Of course," Vivi said. "Thank you!"
After dinner she excused herself and hurried off to the library.