Very, very vaguely suggestive, where I probably don't have to up the rating, and I doubt it will get any worse but just in case this story is now teen.

The prince's room looks very...interesting (it's the kindest word she can come up with). Belle counts 5 different shades of vibrant green as well as fluorescent orange along the walls and bedding. The wood furniture is an unattractive burnt umber color that clashes with the rust red of the carpet. She strokes one of the glowing spots on the wall and appreciates the prince's annoyed expression. His eyes fix on her hand. He brushes his own against the wall and yelps as She zaps him. Removing his paw he glares at the stonework. Belle smiles. Serves him right for forcing immobility on the poor castle.

"Have you tried asking the castle?" Tommy inquires, eyebrows raised in barley-concealed amusement, and there is an undertone to his words that Belle doesn't quite recognize.

"Yes and she refuses to talk to me." He sounds almost sulky, and Belle smothers a laugh.

"Good job, Old Girl." She whispers. The castle hums back her agreement. The prince's eyes snap back to Belle, but she pointedly ignores him and continues cooing to the castle who seems decidedly smug.

Tom distracts the prince by asking the basic information gathering questions (even if he knows the answers) and the prince turns his attention back to the magician.

Belle flops on the bed and watches the two men converse. She absently sketches equations across the duvet with her finger, detailing possible solutions to the castle's revenge. She catches herself and stops when the prince's eyes flicker back to her, and interests herself in the tea the castle has placed on the bedside table instead. His eyes linger on the teacup in her hands for a moment with well-concealed surprise before he returns to the mage waiting impatiently beside him.

Tom starts a lecture on the speed of light and refractive indexes and wavelengths, and Belle settles back to listen as he explains physics concepts that have no real effect on his decision not to fix the room colors. The prince looks utterly confused, even if he is nodding his head along as thought he understands.

A bowl of popcorn casually appears beside the tea tray from the castle. Belle laughs at the offering and considers it, before shaking her head. "Thank you dear, but as entertaining as this is, I think I'll stop it before we end up with an hour long lecture on the properties of light and vision. She stands up moving between the two. Tom winks and she rolls her eyes at him. "If you are quite done with the Opthalmology lesson Tom, I believe you owe me a tour."

"What?" The prince inquires, "he is supposed to be fixing my room."

"Yes. And he just spent the last few minutes explaining why that would be difficult. Unless you wanted a lecture on the physics of color?"

The prince gapes.

She curtsies only slightly mocking and offers her arm to Tom. "Shall we go?"

!

"As brilliant to watch as that was, you probably shouldn't have spoken to the prince like that." Tom chastises as they explore one of the small solariums. He abruptly pulls her away from one of the more dangerous potted plants she was studying, warning her about the protective enchantments from a lower level Earth magician employed at the castle.

"Don't worry so much Tom. I was fine for another few seconds. As for the prince..." She groans. "We're in a castle with 20 beautiful women throwing themselves at him on a regular basis. How long do you think he'll remember me?"

He relents, "you're most likely going to be fine." Then he runs a hand through his hair exasperatedly, "Aren't you normally the cautious one?"

"Well, it's been awhile since I've needed to play court politics."

"There go all your chances of marrying the prince." He smirks at her.

She scoffs in return. "If famous and powerful was my type Tom, I'd be married to you by now"

"Ignoring the fact the Level 13 mages don't get married of course."

"Obviously."

"Actually, we probably could get married if we really wanted. All the Level 13s know you and respect you, and you have access to the fire temple as well as connections with the dragons."

"Really Tom?" Acid tone coated with disdain, "And how many marriages with Level 13s have turned out well? Because I was under the impression that all partners to Level 13s end up going crazy and attempting to take over the world. Isn't that why it's not accepted?"

"Well, yes as it stands presently, but-" She cuts him off with a hand.

"Answer's no Tom."

"It's not like you've ever followed the rules before."

"Yes, well I've never had a guarantee I'd become evil before."

"I'm sure it's not 100%."

"Do you want me to do the calculations?"

"Would you marry me if it wasn't a 100% chance?"

She pauses, watching him. "Do you actually want to marry me?"

"Well the thing is," he rubs the back of his neck, "because my magic is so volatile I wouldn't be able to, um, unless I was married I wouldn't be able to," he makes a slightly obscene hand gesture, "have-"

She cuts him off again. "No," her voice squeaks slightly, "the answer is definitely no, and I really didn't need to know that."

They both go silent for an uncomfortable few minutes before she tentatively speaks. "Um, on a different note."

"Yes." He huffs.

"I'm, uh, not going to the feast tonight."

"What?"

!

They are still arguing about her dinner plans as they drag Casey up the stairs to her room several hours later.

"Oh, stop pouting Tom. You have to be there because you're the court magician, but no one will notice if I'm not. You can come whine about it after, but we both know I'd be bored to death and it's not like anyone would let us sit together without some sort of fight." She holds up a hand to stop him before he can argue. "No matter our friendship Tom, my sisters did not invite me to come, I'm here as a worker not a guest, and there's a good chance you'll overreact to anything deprecating said about me. We'll have dinner together tomorrow, when you don't have a celebration to attend."

"What is it with you today. You wont marry me, you wont sleep with me, now you wont eat with me, what's next?" He attempts to glare at her but his lips twitch. She loses the struggle with her expression first and they both collapse against the wall in laughter. The awkward tension from their conversation earlier dissolves, and they smile at each other.

"Alright," he holds up his hands in surrender. "I'll suffer through the feast without you, but," he points a finger at her mock sternly, "I am dropping by your rooms after to complain." He pats Casey on the head and opens the door. Stopping in the threshold he turns back to her with a serious look. "We are also going to spend tonight discussing a more permanent fireproofing for you."

She nods in reluctant acceptance. "Bring your mirror so we can talk to Kazul." and he leaves.