"Crazy" Beauty and the "Hunter" Beast

[sugaronthecream]

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a cruel Prince lived in a shining castle surrounded by rich hunting lands.
Although he had everything his heart desired, the Prince was paranoid, selfish, and cruel.

But then, one winter's night, an old beggar-woman came to the castle, and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold.

None know for sure what happened that night. Some say the Prince turned her away for her appearance, and others claim he attempted to harm her... the beggar-woman melted away her disguise to reveal a beautiful Enchantress.

As punishment for his loveless heart and vicious cruelty, the Enchantress transformed him into a hideous Beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there.

Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 30th year. If he could learn to love another, and earn their love in return, by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.

As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a Beast?

Comments

[sugaronthecream]

"Oh, yes, I'm sure I've made a deal with a beastly, cursed sorcerer will bode well~! Hoh hoh!"

Silly, silly little madman.

"Still! Bring her here, if her fair heart can take it, you silly man. Far be it from me to underestimate family loyalty."

[youknowwhothisis]

"...Well, when you explain it in those exact words, yes!!"

He brought his hands together and started to pace.

"You're... an investor who is interested in seeing my project through, come Hell or high water! Probably wants to see me break my neck. Kinda hairy. Makes weird crackling noises."

[sugaronthecream]

"Oh yes indeed! Why, I'm even being quite economical- hiring an artist and a Jester all in one man!"

[youknowwhothisis]

"...S'gonna be awkward when I pull it all off. You'll have to eat your own antlers, Your Highness."

[sugaronthecream]

"I have before, but they lack any of the pleasure of crunching on proper bones. No marrow, no joined flesh, just a messy velvet and hollow vessels."

[youknowwhothisis]

H u h?

"...Wwwwhy did you unironically munch on your own antl- no. You know what? Please keep that mystery." He raised his hands in surrender.

Then he went to roll up his schematic again, keep it safe from any damage.

"I'm signing out on being your 'Jester' for now. I'm gonna go check on Gershwin, and then probably work on this a little while. Try and tire myself out for shut-eye."

[sugaronthecream]

"I'll go hunt, then, and bring something in for dinner that's more fresh. Have your fun with your work, Lucifer," the beast chuckled, dramatically taking a cape from an uneasy coatrack nearby and flinging the coat over his massive shoulders, barely hiding away his visage as he made for the front gate to disappear into the night.

[youknowwhothisis]

He watched him go, and waited until he disappeared out the door to go on his hunt.

Lucifer's face flattened after. "...Gods, what a show-offy weirdo."

He cast his eyes around at the furniture. "Is he always like this??"

[sugaronthecream]

"Worse," the liquor hutch grumbled. "He usually eats the sorry sacks that get stuck in the woods."

[youknowwhothisis]

"...Oh."

...

"Soooo, I should make sure this prototype can at least be up to snuff. I'm gonna... check... on that."

He'll go hustle on his plans. He didn't need to be a midnight snack.