Thoughts/Telepathic Communication between characters

Animals/Animal Spirits Speaking Human Tongue

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Marie helped Belle gather up the linens and laundry to be washed while Louata got an invention Maurice and Belle had been tinkering with that would hopefully help with the laundry. It was an old broken cask from the tavern that Louata had found and cleaned up. Maurice added a gear system at the top to make it spin while Belle and Louata cut small spaces into the planks and old brushes along the inside of the cask. The girls hoped it help them with the cleaning or at least better ring out the clothes. While her sisters gathered the washing, Louata looked over the cask before they set it to do their first major test.

Louata rolled the cask out of the cellar into the front yard as her sisters came out of the house with the washing.

"All set for our first test," Belle asked, holding a basket of laundry against her hip. Louata gave a nod as she lifted the cask over her shoulder, "Ready."

Marie gave a chuckle as she carried the linen in a bag against her chest. The girls went to the towns washing fountain, luckily everyone else preferred to do their laundry earlier in the morning so the three of them had the fountain to themselves.

"Perfect all alone," Louata said as she set the cask into the water.

"Let's do the linen first," Belle said to Marie who nodded back setting before loading them in and tossing in a few soap flakes. Belle then noticed that donkey had gotten out of his stall again so she brought him over to help them. Louata gave him an apple as Belle tied him the the cask so it could be turned around the rim of the fountain.

"A few rounds should be could please and thank you,'' Belle encouraged to the donkey.

"Keep the apples coming and I'll do whatever you need done," he replied as he walked around the fountain. Belle and Louata observed as the water in the cask became soapy as it spun. When the two were satisfied with how their contraption was working they sat down by the fountain.

"Now what," Marie asked her sisters as she sat don beside them.

"Now we let that spin till the water is clear," Belle replied, taking out a small book from her apron pocket, "While we wait on that we'll work on your reading."

Marie gave a nod to her as she opened the book. Louata watched the machine as she began mending a tear on Marie's shirt.

"The…blue bird…flies through the woods," Marie read the page aloud to her sisters.

"Good job," Belle praised her sister, "You're getting a lot better."

"Soon you'll be able to read to us while we work," Louata smiled as she finished her sewing. Marie gave them a big smile at their compliments.

"What are you doing," the school master's angry voice yelled at them, startling the three from their peaceful time.

"Hello school master," Belle greeted him, not lifting her head to him as Marie moved closer to her sisters. Louata just rolled her eyes.

"You didn't answer me," he glared at them.

"Laundry, is it not obvious," Louata glared back as she stood up, putting her sewing away.

"This is not proper washing," the head master spat, "It is supposed to be done by hand to ensure it is done well and to teach you youths the value of hard work."

"What do you care," Louata countered with her hand on her hips, "This is our laundry and we shall do as we please to see it cleaned."

"As a school master aren't you supposed to encourage ingenuity and exploration," Belle added.

The schoolmaster became flustered at the two's comebacks, "D-don't try to confuse me with your foreign words."

"Foreign," Belle and Louata gapped at him in confusion, "You're the schoolmaster!"

A crowd began too gather around them, to see what was going on. Some rolling there eyes at the bitter schoolmaster, others looking distastefully at the three girls, while others just came to get in on the upcoming gossip.

"Foreign to that dusty cavern you call a brain," Louata rolled her eyes at him, making Marie giggle as well as some the crowd.

"Nothing but troublemakers those three," Beatric bitterly spat at them, railing up some of the crowd. Some started arguing among themselves before someone tried to grab the cask and dump it onto the dirt. Louata managed to stop them shoving them to the side, and readied to fight if she had to. Belle held Marie closer as the crowd became more agitated around them. Till a shot rang out from the back of the crowd, silencing everyone.

"What is the meaning of this," Gaston called out standing at the back of the crowd. His rifle pointed in the air, smoke rising from the muzzle. Belle and Louata held back groans as he parted the crowd walking up to the front. Though Belle was happy that he stopped things from escalating more.

"This is not how good people behave to their neighbor. Everyone, go back home!"

The crowd disbanded, murmuring to themselves as they did. Mr. Potts came and retrieved his donkey, "Sorry about all of them, girls."

Louata gave him a small smile in return as she pulled the cask from the water and drained it before spinning it to get the last of the water out. Mr. Potts watched curiously as she did. With the extra water rung out Maire gathered them back into the basket as Louata picked up the cask over her shoulder.

"I'm not sure what's going on here," Gaston smirked down at Belle and Louata, Marie hid behind her sisters, "But I'm very sure I just fixed it."

"I guess," Belle sighed getting the other laundry before the girls turned and left the fountain. Gaston fell into step behind them coming to walk beside Belle. Marie stayed close to Louata as they walked home.

Gaston began to yammer on about something, though neither of the girls were listening to him.

You could power a mill with all that hot air.

Louata...don't be mean you know Marie can't keep a straight face.

Louata had to hold back her own smirk as she saw Marie trying to hide her laughter in the laundry basket. Belle had to hold back her own chuckle at the two before Gaston unknowingly snapped them from their minds.

"It probably seems like I have everything, but you know something's missing from my life."

Now what's he talking about?

"A wife."

"Well good luck with that," Louata said as they crossed the bridge home, "I'm sure that won't be hard for you."

Gaston gave a laugh as he stepped in front of them, "I doubt as well."

"Gaston, we have things to do," Belle gave a less friendly tone to him as she guided Marie around him. Louata didn't hide her distaste as she all but shoved Gaston out of the way, making him stumble a step. They walked a bit faster to the house, urging Marie back inside but Gaston followed them inside the house.

"Come now Louata, Belle," Gaston leaned over the two, "You know what happens to spinsters when their father dies. And what about your mother, and Marie. Surely you want better for them."

Louata glared at Gaston shoving him back several steps, surprising him at her strength, "One you can't even pick which of us you fancy other than a contingency if you're rejected by the other."

"And simply put Gaston, I will never marry you," Belle added pushing him out of the doorway.

"Nor I," Louata glared at him slamming the door shut, "Nor would I allow you to be the one to marry my sister. And I can assure you our parents would agree."

Belle sighed as she went over to the kitchen table sitting down with a heavy sigh. Marie went over to her sister climbing onto her lap, "Belle, are you okay?"

Belle gave her little sister a small smile, "I'm okay Marie. It's just been a tough afternoon is all."

"I'm sorry," Marie frowned.

"Don't be little sis," Louata came over to them, patting her sister's head, "None of that was your fault. You did very well, staying close to me and Belle, and your lessons are going well."

"You're very smart, Marie just like us," Belle smiled kissing her forehead. Marie smiled at her sisters giving a small giggle, "The headmaster is really mean."

"He is," Belle nodded making Louata laugh at that, "Here how about we get the other chores done and then meet up with the pack to finish the washing."

"And you and me can get the sheets hung up while the sun is still out," Louata smiled. Marie cheered at that hoping down from Belle's lap and going to get the wet laundry.

"Hopefully that will keep him away from us," Belle sighed.

Louata wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders hugging her close, "It should. If not well than I have 28 friends that would love to meet him."

Louata gave a toothy smile, snapping her jaw a few times, making Belle chuckled shoving her sister away, making her laugh as well.