[M] IC - La Belle et la Bête - Dark pigeon / Scottishgal

[Dark Pigeon]

Etiquette, how to treat ones guests He flipped through the pages of the book, his bum softly supported by his favorite chair in his room. He really did not want to read this book, but he was to be a host today.. and he wanted to do it right for a change! He would not read in the library. That was something he had not been doing for ages, or so it seemed. The entire library felt so empty now it was just his, he missed the sound of pages being flipped as he would be reading himself, surrounded by a few other readers. Be polite.. humm... be polite? As if he needed to do that! He was king you know, he was to be polite to! He started reading this particular chapter... shit.. he might be wrong, even he needed to be polite. He flipped back to the first line in this chapter and started reading it all over again. Only so that he would not make any mistakes, he was to do perfect today. Giving compliments, treat them with respect, ask them how their day was and how they are doing, offer food and drink, treat them like you wish to be treated yourself. He scratched the back of his neck, he really should be reading every single page of this book that was to help him getting through a dinner meal like a normal human being. He wanted to make Melia smile after what he had done, make her happy dining with him.. or something close enough to that emotion.

He wanted to see if he could still be that person he had been so very long ago. He remembered it just faintly and wondered if he could ever be like that again. He hated the idea that Melia, through her eyes, could show the soul of his wife who he had become. She would be so angry, he just knew that she would skin him alive if she could. He knew that he had been nice once, good, calm and collected.. but he did not know how to do so anymore. dinner conversations He read this chapter a couple of times, but the more he read it.. the more he knew that they could not possibly talk about these things. He let out a long sigh as he looked over the book again, damn book.. he had read this as a child and even then he found it utterly stupid! He went over every single chapter a second time before he placed the book away and have his servants dress him for the Dinner he would be having with Melia. He had asked for her to sit close by so they could talk, but far enough so she would feel safe. He wanted cakes made with white sugar as that would be more expansive, fresh vegetables and the best meats that they had in stock. It needed to be perfect!

It took his servants a while to get him cleaned and dressed. He wore robe that was made up out of multiple layers of green silks with golden accents and a lovely long trail. His hair was combed back and put into a low ponytail. After he checked himself in the mirror to make sure that everything was perfect, he picked up a small book that was to come with him. A.. present.. something he hoped that Melia would like as she had so clearly showed how she wished to know how it would end. But with that in his hand, and his staff no longer being entirely black as Salvador had been, he walked off to the dining room.... where he knew that Melia would be waiting for him.

[Scottie]

The fine tip of the pencil was slowly growing dull. She had a green one between her teeth as she rubbed the lines to make them fade gently. The green was plucked from her mouth and used to shade the eyes perfectly. When it was finished, she beamed at it. It was carefully placed to the side and she let her pencil drag over the cream paper as she hummed. It was another one of those songs that was stuck in her mind. It didn't make her prickle with sadness or sigh with anger. It made her feel rather content with her drawings. Green was replaced with blue, a dark blue...one that held specks of green. A face that was rounder and held a smile that could fill a room. Melia smiled back at that curved smile and put down her pencils. Pencil would not do this face justice, it required paint. She glanced at the door and sneakily pulled her paints closer to herself. She was careful not to let the paint touch her dress. Not to stain the blue with yellows or oranges. Melia continued to hum until she started to sing subconsciously. Something about black birds. As red swirled onto the page, her voice grew. She didn't even hear the door being knocked, she just continued. She didn't have that bad a singing voice, it was no where near those that were required to sing for the King. But the training they had....spanned decades.

Vermin peered around the door, his hand over his eyes just incase she was still getting dressed. When he heard her singing, he peaked through his fingers and saw her dressed and painting. Melia continued, patting areas dry with her fingers to get the desired effect. Oh that got a response from Vermin. The Imp squealed and rushed into the room. "No touch dress. No touch. Bad. Fingers up." He said scrambling to find a cloth to clean her hands with. Melia jumped and watched the imp rush around the room. She stood slowly and gave him her hands when he started to scrub her fingers. He removed every trace of colour and even the smudges that came from the pencils. "Hm. No paint when in dress. No orange." He chastised her gently until he was certain her hands were clean and she had not dropped paint on her dress. He took her hand and started to tug her out the room. "Dinner now. Be good." Melia nodded as she remembered the last proper meal she had with Salvador. How it ended in blood and pain. "Broken body not good. No broke bones." He asked her as she squeezed his hand gently. "I promise. I'll do as I'm told." Vermin nodded before pushing the door open gently. Peering into the darkness and letting her enter.

He wasn't here yet. That surprised her but she wandered into the room and laid her hands down on her dress. The table was different, she wasn't as far away now. In fact she was close enough that she had only to stand to touch him. She tilted her head and moved around the room. The movements of her dress the only noise in the room, aside for the occasional crackle by the fire.Vermin stayed by the door, he had to be sent away but oh how he wanted to run now. Melia started to hum again, the same song that was embedded in her mind. Vermin let her hum as he snapped his eyes back and forth between the door and her. She wandered around the room, her fingers reaching out to the heat and then letting her eyes pass over every object in that room. Something so familiar about the place, yet it shouldn't be this dark. "Blackbird singing in the dead of night" Her voice carried around the room as she sang sweetly. Vermin threw a small smile her way before hearing that far off clinking. The noise of guards moving, the noise of guards coming to attention when he passed them. Vermin scurried forward so that Melia would stop singing. "Stop now. He near. He coming now." Melia nodded violently so that Vermin felt a little more at ease and let him scurry back to his spot by the door. She wanted to keep Vermin safe this night, so when the doors swung open...she didn't even look up to him. She could tell he was in the room, his presence added a new layer to the room. So she dropped herself into a deep curtsy. Allowing her fingertips to touch the ground. "Good Evening Sire."

[Dark Pigeon]

He always entered the dining room with his guards present, just to make sure that he was not to be attacked by this girl that he just had spend hours with flying around. But dinner, it had knifes, it had forks.. one could even kill with a spoon! He was not taking his changes, not even when he was almost certain that Melia would not fly to his throat and kill him today... or tomorrow. "Good evening Melia" he forced himself to say, trying to smile pleasantly, but failing miserably as his smiles always made you think doom was to come your way. But he tried, dear lord.. the gods knew he was trying! He stopped and looked behind him, the guards standing there, ready to defend their king if Melia was to try anything. She could hardly move without their eyes following her, watching her like damn hawks. She could not possibly feel comfortable with them there, even he did not on occasion. "leave us" he told them sternly. Every single guard looked shocked, the surprise on their faces clear. "Leave.. us.. NOW" Salvador said, not so patient with the guards this time. They all seemed to be confused as they turned around and slowly started to walk away. They looked behind them, not sure if Salvador truly wanted them to leave. But as they got the look of doom, they all quickly scurried out and closed the door behind them, leaving Salvador alone with Melia, some of the household staff.. and of course Vermin. "You to Vermin, out.." Salvador said, this time not using his feet or the staff to make the small imp fly across the room. Vermin was surprised, but he nodded and left right away. Not wanting to test the patients of his lord and master. He bowed deep and wished Melia well as he quickly closed the door behind him.

"You..." Salvador looked at Melia as he walked closer to her, not walking around her as he normally would. Instead he stopped when he stood close to her, but not close enough that he would frighten her in any way. "... look lovely. That dress.. " He thought after saying that.. but what should follow? DAMNED! He did not remember what the book had said about these things. He looked frustrated, cursing at himself as he was already getting tired of being normal as he wanted to be just his evil self again.. so much easier! Why was this feeling like walking through a mountain of shit? He looked up at her again, all his hospitality fading away as he rose his eyebrow as he gave her a quick lookover before he walked away to his chair and just stat down. "SIT!" he told her, if she had not already done so than she better be quick about it.

[Scottie]

Melia heard him speak and slowly rose back up to standing. She saw his smile and tried to respond with one of her own. But it was terrifying to watch him force a smile on his face. She knew he could smile naturally...but when he forced one on his face he looked like he was in pain. As she stood upright, the guards watched her carefully. She took a small step back and they followed her every movement. She felt like she was being scrutinised every step she took, her eyes dropped to the ground until she heard him speak. Leave us. She was as confused as the guards when she heard that request. She stopped herself from flinching when he shouted at them. Melia gave Vermin a small wave goodbye, happy that he was walking away from the room and not hobbling. She gave Vermin a small smile and then snapped her eyes back to Salvador. He came close but he wasn't stalking her like a tiger does it's prey. She blinked rapidly when he said...that she looked lovely.

She could almost see the cogs turning in his head, his forehead creasing as he was getting angry about something. She opened her mouth to respond but he stormed away. She stayed still, staring at the door until he barked at her. She slowly turned around and cast him a look before moving to the table. She sank into her chair and folded her hands over her lap. She dragged her eyes up to look at him and let her eyes flick over him. "You look rather handsome tonight Sire. The colours suit you." She said with a small polite nod. She had said it so easily that it would surely surprise him. With a click of his fingers, the doors opened and the first course was brought. An elegant soup was placed before them each and a small plate filled with freshly baked crusty rolls. Melia waited for him to start eating before taking a small mouthful of her soup. It was of something that she had never had before, but it was pleasant. Wine was poured as was a glass of water. Melia reached for the wine glass before pausing and moving her fingers to wrap around the glass of water. She took a small sip and did as he had done their first night together in opening the bead roll. She was careful and did as she had been instructed all those weeks ago. "Thank you for letting me join you." Melia flicked her eyes back to him and let a sweet smile pass her lips before popping a piece of bread into her mouth.

[Dark Pigeon]

His eyebrow rose up when she stated that those colors suited him, why did she say that? These were the royal colors, he had green eyes.. of course they fucking suited him!! He wanted to tel her that, tell her how utterly stupid she was for stating that those color suited him! But then he remembered something from the book he had read before and how he had read that giving a compliment was a way to break the ice and get conversations started. Ooohh.... she was being nice, damn.. he hardly recognized it for what it was. He really should be reading all those other books about this subject. She could see how he was puffing up his chest to scream at her, asking what she meant.. if she even knew why he always wore those colors! But as he finally seemed to realize what she did, he un-puffed and relaxed in his seat while snapping his finger so the first course could be brought in. He did not thank her for the compliment, he even seemed to ignore it while their plates were put on the table, revealing what they were to eat that evening. Ah yes, soup.. one always would start with a soup.

He took the first bite and approved if its taste, after that Melia was free to eat as well. He took another bite when she thanked him for inviting her for dinner. He gently placed down his spoon and dapped his lips clean "You are welcome" he said as he forced himself to say those word and speak them in such a manner that almost sounded pleasant. "I.. hope you like the soup" He said as he gestured to the plate in front of her before he picked up his spoon again. They sat their silently, eating their soup while Salvador was trying his best to come up with a subject. Only after a few minutes he came up with something, why he had thought of it so long he did not know.. he might be slowly going insane, it was a possibility.

"I hope you had a pleasant afternoon today. I had not thought us to spend our time int he library quite the way we had." He took bite from his crusty roll. He had enjoyed himself, or for as far as he was able to enjoy himself with something that felt so mundane as flying around a library for him. But he could not say that he had hated it, that he had not once felt a smile creep up his face. "It can feel quite liberating to fly, to be a bird. I quite like it myself. If you liked seeing the library from a birds eyes view... think what would happen you were to fly outside?" He tried that smiling thing again, a smile that would even make the devil run away in fear.

[Scottie]

It was as if every one of his thoughts could be read by his facial expressions. She watched the confusion, the anger and then surprisingly the reservation from insulting her. His whole body had swelled up with anger for it as he snapped his fingers. She kept watching him as the maids left the room. She heard his speak but merely took another spoonful of soup until he spoke again. She snapped her eyes up to him and nodded. "It is very nice." She responded with a small smile. She returned to her soup and enjoyed the bread roll that came with it. She was very much pleased to have such a meal, she just hoped that their meal together would end better than it had before. She cut off another piece of her roll and flicked her eyes from the food before her to him. She nodded happily, "I did. The library is beautiful." She tried to ignore how their afternoon had ended and just concentrated on the flying. Oh goodness his smile was terrifying. Even when it seemed like he was enjoying the topic of conversation.

Her eyes went wide and her spoon froze in mid air. "Outside?" He nodded and she placed the spoon back into the soup. "Seeing the library from that point of view was glorious. It was like I was cloud in the sky. But outside...Having that much to explore..." Her smile slowly shrunk as she thought about what it was like outside. The grey and death that would be underneath her. Hovering over her familys house and watching them starve. Watching the beggars as they tried to keep themselves floating. The dead animals that seemed to litter every corner, the dying fields. Watching her brother try and fail to get food for his new family. Watching her sister from above as she struggled to hobble along the street. It was like a glaze of film went over her eyes. Like she was lost in her thoughts. She had been stuck here for what felt so long...only feeling someone elses memories...that she forgot her own. She had forgotten how her mother kissed her forehead every night. How her father always tried to bring back a pretty rock for her mother every week. They would never get soup like this, they would never truly feel as warm as she did...and she had spent her time here resenting everything. "I am sure it would be wonderful." Her words faint as she returned her gaze to her soup. Finishing what was in the bowl and placing her cutlery down. Her hands returned to her lap as she realised she had to keep the conversation going.

It was like she had this inkling in her head. If she left him to think for too long, his anger would build up and up until he exploded. So she let out a small sigh as she raised her eyes to him. Pulling a smile back on her face but it did not reach her eyes. "Where would you fly to?" She asked him politely. Doing as Vermin had pleaded, keep him happy. Don't annoy him or give him reason to hurt anyone.

[Dark Pigeon]

She had liked it, that was good. It meant that his entire afternoon had not been a waste of time. He had better things to do, and his counsel men had been quite frustrated that their king had given so little attention to the problems his kingdom had. Instead he had been flying around with this girl, this damn girl that they were not happy with in the first place. He smiled, a smile that dropped as he saw that see seemed to be lost in her thoughts. He could only guess what it was she was thinking of. Maybe she had realized that spending time outside flying, wasn't as wonderful rigth now. To fly over these dying lands wasn't all that wonderful, it was rather depressing. But he did not ask, instead he kept eating his soup as he wondered what the girl was thinking about.

But then she asked him such a surprising question where did he want to go. Nobody had ever asked him this question. Well, not in a very long time that is. He kept in his castle ever since his wife had died, he feared being murdered by his own subjects or spies that walked those city streets. He was just that paranoid. "I..." he placed his spoon down, he liked this question. He truly seemed to love the very idea of answering it! He thought for a moment, and then nodded as he knew where he would go. "The abandoned elven-woods. I would soar between the giant trees. Trees so big that one could fit this entire castle into them. To see the Chrystal lakes, the old architecture of the elves. I want to visit the tree peaked mountains." He smiled, the very idea of these magical places, so far away from his kingdom brought him some peace of mind. Salvador shifted in his seat and thought of more wonderful places. "Everywhere but here to be honest. To never see these dying lands ever again, not to hear the pleads of my people that they wish for me to restore life back into it." He frowned, yes.. he hated it. He hated it that he was the king of a land that was dying, he was a king of nothing... and he hated the fact that this wonderful magical place wasn't what it used to be. He looked at his soup, this .. wonderful soup that brought some warmth back into his bones. He knew that his people had nothing to eat.. he knew that he did not give them any of his.. and still he cared to little to truly did something about it. He looked back at her "Then I ask you Melia... what is it that you would change in this.. wonderful (he said with such sarcasm) kingdom, anything.. what would it be??"

[Scottie]

She had thrown him off with her question. She didn't know if that was a problem or not, but if he started screaming she would know shortly. She blinked rapidly with his answer, elven woods. Her forehead creased gently, she had never heard of it before. She couldn't even imagine it. Trees big enough to fill the entire castle. That can't be true. But she smiled as he answered. It made his eyes light up to talk about it and the smile that tugged onto his face was genuine. She wanted to keep it there, let others see that he wasn't a monster. But then he frowned. He aired her thoughts, the dying lands, the pleads of the people that lived here. She was one of those a mere month ago, pleading for change. Even if it came from leaving this god damn place. Melia heard his question and brought herself back to reality. Change. She felt like if she spoke, 20 odd years of hatred would come spilling out at once. She would scold him and throw the soup in his face. She would tear the wallpaper down and burn this place to the ground.

But she blinked slowly and let out a long sigh. "I do not know where to start....I would wish to change the land...paint it with life again. The land is where many people struggle to find a livelihood." She let her eyes drift back to the centre piece on the table. It was intricate, bejewelled and gold laden. It would be enough to feed her entire village for easily a month. "I would change the sky. Bring back the sun. I would change everything I could...but..." She trailed off before dragging her eyes back to him. "I think I'd want only one thing to change." She tilted her head gently. "I'd want you to be happy." She couldn't even smile at him. It was like Melia and another person inside her skull were saying that. "I'd want you to smile like you did a moment ago again. Not leave us but just be happy.. I...I feel like it all links together. " She chewed at her bottom lip and let out a small sigh. "I don't know. Maybe all I want to change is that forest. It reeks of death." She played with her spoon and put it back beside her plate. She took a sip of her wine, refusing to touch the water now. She felt like it would be a wine night.

[Dark Pigeon]

He already knew what she would be telling him, it was not rocket science (even though rockets were not invented yet), everyone always wanted to same damn thing. He almost mouthed every single word she said while she did, he had heard to so fucking many times that it had become boring. Not that he had asked for his counsel-mans opinion on the matter, but they were right.. and he agreed.. yes something needed to be done. Well, find someone who can stop it then! He carefully rolled his eyes, he would not do so loudly as he did not want this girl to think he was angry. Then you got the whining again, the begging, the soft cries for him to stop. He already had a headache, he did not need her to add more to it. If he did not need something today, it would be someone begging for its life, it always became so stressful at the end.

Then his ears perked, he looked up and frowned. Wh.. what did she say? Now... that he did not believe, he did not believe for a second that this .. girl, this... Melia.. wanted him to be happy. How the fuck, why? She knew what made him smile now right, she knew what brought him some sense of peace ; The pain of others. Did she even think of that when she said this stupid damn thing? Now this was even getting even richer! It was all connected, did she.. did she just say that his happiness would make the land go better again. He could not help but to laugh. First a chuckle, then.. louder. He wiped the tears from his eyes and shook his head. "You dumb girl, you think like so many others that I can take the life out of a land.. all by myself? Can't your small head not even comprehend the amount of power that is needed to do so?" He chuckled again and snapped his fingers. He was done with the soup, he wanted the smoked ribs right now. His plate, as well that of Melia was taken away by his staff and new plates were added on the table moments later. "I tell you now girl, and you properly will not believe it when I say this. No matter how strong I am, how well I handle my magic... I can not do that, nor will I ever be able to do so." He looked down at his plate and frowned. This was not the way he wanted to plates to be made up! It was all wrong! He snapped his fingers again, the girl that had brought their food came running back and held her head low as Salvador pointed at the plates. "Tell Benjamin that I do not wish for his wife to make up the plates. This looks like a fucking mess, have him do it over" He told the poor young lady before she ran off with both plates.

Salvador calmly looked over at Melia again. He was not yet done telling her how things worked, and how very wrong she had been. "All I can do is to keep this city safe, for one place in this entire land that we can grow crops, where we can raise cattle and keep those who are loyal to me safe from the death you are so very used to. That is what I can do, and I do not need to be fucking happy for it." He shook his head, why the fuck had she insulted him by telling him he should be happy. He did not WANT to be happy, he wanted to be angry! Because if he was happy, than he had forgotten about what been done to him by those monsters that had taken is family away from him. "Happy.. how insulting" he muttered.

[Scottie]

She had expected screams. Expected anger. Infact, she would have preferred it. To hear him laugh, it made her hands curls into fists. She shook her head gently and moved her eyes back to staring at the centre piece. She was so very done with him now. She wanted to go back to her room and paint. She wanted to go see the few people in this castle who made her smile, who made her chuckle...not sit there uncomfortable while they mocked her. Her plate was taken from before her. New plates were placed before them and Melia didn't know how to eat such a thing. She thought they looked alright and then he demanded that they go away...all because of the layout that Becky had given them. There was nothing wrong with them...nothing. Her jaw tensed and she snapped her eyes up to him. A new sense of rage filled her veins. "It's because you took away her eyes...She can't see what she is doing." Her words like poison that she spat at him. When he muttered at her, oh her anger reached new peaks. She shook her head gently, her words barely escaping from her clenched teeth. "You don't understand do you?" The grey in her eyes was like the beginning of a storm. Only thunder and lightening would follow. "She wants you happy. That's what she wants." Melia tilted her head as she watched him.

"I...I want whatever fuck wits are causing that death on this land....to experience it for themselves. To feel the rot enter their skin. To watch their family crushed by famine, by illness, by slow and painful death. No release. Nothing. Death is the only thing we can count on in that world." She let out a sharp breath before turning her glares back to the centre piece. "You say that you keep those loyal to you safe....I know many a man who has gone off to war...loyal to their king...and..n.." She trailed off and dropped her eyes to the empty space on the table where her plate should be. "I know mothers who tell their children that we must be loyal to our king. For he is our king. You think that loyalty is restricted to only this castle....that it does not exist on your battle fields or the field that bring up nothing but ash." She shook her head softly, her eyes still on her hands. Thinking about that war always stopped her anger in it's tracks, harshly forcing sadness into her heart. She knew so many young men who had gone off to fight, to keep their village safe, to show their loyalty to the king in hopes that when they succeeded they could get better land...or even leave. But they never returned home. She clasped her hands before her stomach and let out a shaky breath.

"I apologise for suggesting something so insulting." Her voice snapped back to that neutral tone. But her eyes remained on the table. All she could see was Alex, who had left a young wife and child behind. Thomason, who left elderly parents with no one to help them. Johnson, Norbert, Alistair, Smith, Junior, Mervin, Maxwell....their faces just kept coming up. Knowing what they left behind. The last face made her smile, it was a small sad smile but it was a smile. He had wanted so badly to prove his loyalty. The guards had taunted him about it when they picked on his sister. That such a large lad would do well on the battlefield...was he too chicken to enlist? But Melia knew the real reason. He could barely hurt a fly. He stood before his sisters and his mother to protect them. But he was the last one to throw a punch. Melia was often the one throwing them on his behalf. Sweet Samuel. With bright blue eyes, with soft curly blonde hair and perfect dimples when he smiled. Such a gentle giant that was probably brought to his knees by some blood thirsty enemy. Melia dragged her eyes back up to Salvador, removing the smile from her face but tears twinkled in her eyes.