Beauty and the Beast AU 1
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 2:18 PM
If being homeless in modern time was shit, being homeless in some not specific 18th century fairytale setting is not so well too.
Sometimes the boy could manage, finding some work at some farm in excange of sleeping in the barn and a bit of food; but sadly as winter comes and the crops dry, people dont really need another mouth to feed; So the other option Narancia had was just sneak in the villages around Naples, grabbing, stealing and pickpocketing everything he could before people would notice him and then dissapear for some months, going to the next town and so on so on till spring came.
He grew old enough to know he should avoid Naples if not for sell the shit he stole, the competion was a bit too much and full of smaller gangs of delinquents or older man using kids quick hands to pickpocket for them only to keep most of the money and paying the kids with cents and a slap on the face; another thing the boy lived on his skin and swore to never act like that. He may be a thief but not a monster.
Speaking of thief, there are times he could get a bit too greedy. But could they really blame him? The coat he tried to stole looked so nice and warm, while his own was old and full of holes, he just wanted something nice to wear!!
Too bad the guards chasing him didnt really agreed, as Narancia runned for his life in the woods nearby the town.
He knows how it goes, if you go to jail you will get sick and if you get sick in jail you will die and he sure dosent want to die!
So he runned as fast he could; luckly he got his mother strong legs, the same legs that would run with him in her arms.
But after the relief when he outranned the men; he also got the rellization to be complete lost in the woods in the middle of the winter.
"Well shit-" he murmured, taking time to breath and then walking around, trying to find maybe some river or a street.
None of those was found, but not even 30 minutes later he found himself in front of what seemed like an abbandoned villa
"Well shit!"
God blessed him? Probabily even if he found a single silver fork he could sell it for enough money to eat for days! And maybe even some nice nee gloves and a scarf or!
The boy grinned and with some hassle he crawled down the fence, getting inside, opening his tatter leather bag, ready to filled it.
Now, where he could find the most fancy stuff?? Probabily the kitchen? Or the masteroom? Living room?
As he thinked his quick hands started to grab everything he saw sparkle, squinting his eyes as the sun from the windows was his only source of light
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 3:34 PM
The amount of silverware was abundant, he couldn't possibly carry it in one go. but a large amount of them were bend out of shape or even broken. The interior of the house aswell, seemed like it was run down. Furniture was broken, the plants were dead, it was eerily quiet.
And yet, it looked like someone was still living here. The house was warm and candles burned as he checked further down the hallway. and most of all: it felt like someone or something was watching him.
The guards had seized their pursuit long before Narancia had reached the gate. But it wasn't because they had lost the boy. they had simply......halted at some point. As if they were afraid of what lay beyond.
A pleasant scent tempted Narancia to look further into the house. The smell of fresh bread and roasted chicken and juicy fruits.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 3:46 PM
Aw shit. Of course he wasnt the only one that found that place- how dumb of him thinking about that!
Yeah the house was abbandoned, but if someone lived there probabily it was some other gang of homeless that stuck gold and found a nice place before him to pass the winter.
"Ughh" he sighed, he knew how it worked, the best would be grab the most he could and ran away before being noticed.
He sneaked in the dining hall, a bit quized about why the hell someone would bend good silverwear like this; and grabbed the best looking ones.
He then finally set his eyes on the table, feeling his stomatch grumble.
...Cmon no one is gonna notice if some loaf of breads are missing-
He shoved one in his mouth and sighed, sure was a while till he had something that was not stale or moldy
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:00 PM
The table didn't even remotely look like how some random tramp would eat his meal. everything was served according to etiquette, candle holders lit, arranged to look inviting and classy. But despite being served to be eaten, there wasn't a single soul to do so, save for Narancia.
The house was too quiet. Even though it was during the day, there wasn't a single sound. Not the sound of gang members talking or walking around. Not the sound of someone pillaging the place.
The only other sign of living was a note, neatly folded on top of the plate.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:05 PM
To be fair; Narancia is a bit dumb and dosent really belive in ghosts, so some people living here was the only option he had in mind
He looked at the pice of paper, curious, opening it and squinting his eyes, reading was not really his forte; he knew how to write his name and kinda knew how put letters together but it took him a while
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:07 PM
the note was simple and short:
'Take what you wish, I care not.
But don't wander the halls after nightfall.'
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:12 PM
"Umh..."
Ok maybe there was a ghost in the house.
But jesus, if getting cursed was the price for eating a whole meal after years then hello demons its ya boy!
After another second of hesitation he sat down and started to eat, now even following an order
Fruit sliced on bread? Eating an apple and a chicken leg at the same time? Flilling the bread with the meat? Yeah to all.
Sorry for the bad manners but he was starving
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:14 PM
above the sounds of his own eating, he could hear a very soft sound ring around the hall. It was like a breath, like a whisper of the wind.
......But it sounded like a short chuckle. Mocking, but gentle.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:18 PM
"Uhh- umh- Look mr ghost, sir- Im just gonna stay for the night ok? So dont worry about too much- i promise i will not leave too much mess and leave you to your umh...ghost things??" He murmured, pocketing the bread he didnt ate.
"And umh-- Thanks for the meal?? Uh..Jesus im talking with ghosts now. Bet my ass i hitted my head while i was climbing the fence-" he murmured, more to himself
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:23 PM
Well, if he had indeed hit his head, he was now not only hearing things, but also seeing:
On top of the candleholder sat a bird. it was red and orange, shining dimly as if made out of flames.
it flew up and circled around the dining hall before sitting on top of a different candle holder that led to a different hallway.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:25 PM
He rubbed his eye
"What the--"
It was weird ok- but...also cute? He always liked birds after all
"Uh..." he crumbed some of the bread
"Want some? Just dont burn my hand"
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:26 PM
the bird tilted its head, fluttering over and perched on his hand.
The flames didn't hurt him. if anything, it felt cool to the touch.
From up close, Narancia could see it was a swallow.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:29 PM
"Cute..." He smiled and since it didnt burned he gently petted its head with his free hand
"So its you that keep the lights on? This house its so big...you do that all your own little one?"
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:31 PM
it flew up, circling around once more. For a short moment, there were not one, but 3 of them.
The little thing flew back and sat on the edge of his plate, pecking at the note.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:32 PM
"Oh!!" He smiled
"Ah, yes i read that dont worry" he said but he grabbed it again
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:34 PM
It took to the sky once more, flying back to the hallway it had pointed to the first time. it fluttered stationary on its spot, waiting for him to follow.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:36 PM
"Oook"
He murmured following the bird.
Yes Narancia, follow the fire bird in the magic house, nothing wrong will happend!
To be fair; if that was a ghost, a fairy or a demon, whatever the house was, it would still better than sleeping on the ground right?
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:41 PM
Honestly, even if the place had a dungeon, that would still be more comfortable.
But the room he was led to was not even close to a dungeon.
A huge, soft bed. the room smelled freshly cleaned and warm. Adjunct to the room, there was even a bathroom.
And this is the part where it gets creepy: there was steamy water in the bathtub.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:47 PM
"Oh--" its been ages since he sleept in a bed!
He peaked in the bathroom
"Uh? The people that made dinner are the same that prepared the tub?" He asked to the bird
"I-It wasnt necessary really- i know how to fill a tub" he murmured, a bit creept out; a bit not wanting to be annoying
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:48 PM
The bird sat down on the handle of the door of the bedroom, pecking at the key within the lock.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 4:48 PM
"Umh want me to lock the door?"
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 4:49 PM
it fluttered for a second, pecking at it again.
orange-plane-boy — 08/26/2021 5:03 PM
"Ok ok!" He nodded and locked the door
"So umh, im gonna take a bath! Gonna take a bit so dont wait for me if you dont want to!"
He said, leaving the bad on the bed and rushed in the bathroom.
He sighed. God what the hell was going on? Magic house with fire birds and some ghost making meals and baths! He really wanted to understand; but after that meal he felt sleepy
But first! A bath! Would be rude dirty the sheets of the bed.
He got inside the tub, closing his eyes... nh... felt so good. Pretty sure his last 'bath'was a lady trowing him a bucket of cold water because he smelled bad.
He giggled to himself and then started to wash himslef, making sure to scrub the filth away from head to toe. When he was done the water was an unhealty brown
"Yuck-!"
He rinsed himsled and let the water go; before exploring the bathroom. He found a fuffy towlel and dried himslef and then curious he cheked the cabinets and closets.
"Oh!-"
He grabbed a clean nightgown, wearing it; it was a bit big for him but still felt way better than his filty clothes.
He then clipped his nails, combed his hair and brushed his teeth. Because c'mon he probabily woulnt have this occasion again!
...He then grabbed some profume bottles and other precious stuff.
He left the bathroom and jumped on the bed
"Soft...."
purplecraze — 08/26/2021 5:08 PM
you dirty sneak~
Well, whoever owned the place said he could take what he wanted, so no harm done.
And perhaps, in a way, it was compensation for the unearthly sounds that terrorized through the house as the night fell.
It sounded chaotic, destructive. If Narancia was still awake or it woke him up, it surely was a rampant like nothing he had heard before.
Not like gangs making havoc. Not like guards searching the place high and low. Not like a heavy thunderstorm.
Really, it could only be described as one thing: A monster....
