#but we were all kneeling on the ground around them omg wait was it adam. maybe it was meant to be adam yeah it was adam | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

codyssfern · 5 years

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college!shawn where his roommates let y/n stay with them because she used to live with her bf but not anymore cuz they broke up and shawn dosent want to let her stay, he’s annoyed with her cuz she’s always happy and giddy and he’s like isn’t she supposed to be sad??she sleeps in the living room and one day when shawn goes to grab a water or something he hears her crying. and he hates it so much. and slowly he starts softening up to her. omg this is so specific im crying 🥺🥺🥺🥺

a/n | warnings: this may be a bit long + lots of swearing

“wait what?!”

brian raises his eyebrows at the boy, not really understanding his confusion or anger. he’d just told shawn that y/n would be staying with them at their dorm. see y/n was previously dating their best friend, adam, and when they broke up shawn was rather relieved, assuming she was gonna stop coming over, finally. let’s just say her perky attitude almost made his blood boil in annoyance.

“dude, she and adam are over! why the fuck does she have to keep living here?” shawn growled as he walked to the kitchen.

brian couldn’t believe his shitty attitude, “because she’s our friend, shawn! she’s mine and connor’s too. by now i thought you two would’ve been friends too.”

shawn chuckles under his breath.

“y/n is nothing but nice to you. to all of us! and adam was an asshole for leaving her like he did and i’m not about to send her out in the streets okay?!”

“the streets? brian you’re talking about the girl who’s dad owns like half of toronto!” shawn defends, “i am sure one phone call is all it takes for her daddy to buy her a brand new condo.”

shawn couldn’t put it to words exactly what was his problem with y/n. all he knew was that every time he saw her or heard her he’d find himself rolling his eyes so far back they could come out the back of his head.

“bro you’re such an asshole! you know how difficult her relationship with her dad is,” shawn shrugs his shoulders while taking a sip of his beer, “just keep your mouth shut if you’re not going to be nice okay? she isn’t really the person you wanna be shitty too right now.”

y/n’s hands trembled as she walked up to the dorm. she wasn’t exactly thrilled to greet her ex boyfriend’s roommates, well just one especifically. shawn. she had no idea why he despised her so much. she had tried so hard to get to know him and give him a chance- of course only on brian’s behalf because if it had been for her, she would’ve given up the second she met him.

“did you ever plan on knocking?”

y/n snaps out of her thoughts and realized she’d been standing on the doorstep for god knows how long.

“oh god how long have i been standing here?” y/n asks in embarrassment.

“dunno’ actually,” brian says letting her in, “shawn’s the one who saw you standing there from outside his window.”

y/n gave him a wry smile, “oh goody, he knows i’m here. do i hide now or later?”

her sarcasm was almost sad to brian. brian hated the way shawn made y/n feel.

“Y/N?!”

brian and y/n turn around and there was connor at the top of the stairs

“well come down here, blue eyes!” y/n said making him giggle and rush down the stairs.

once connor comes down the stairs, he wraps his arms around y/n almost lifting her feet up the ground in the hug, “we’ve missed you much.”

“we?”

the sound of his voice almost made y/n feel tightness in her throat. brian kept looking at y/n waiting to see if she was gonna say something but y/n just stood there.

“sorry. was told to be nice but guess i couldn’t resist,” shawn said walking past her.

y/n scoffs, “yeah, you never miss a chance to be an asshole do you?”

this was going to be one hell of a year. y/n thought to herself. first adam. he’d gotten a job offer at one of the most pristine law firms in london and when he asked y/n to go with him, she said couldn’t. that resulted in a big fight and ended in a breakup. now with him gone and she not wanting to ask her dad for money to rent a place to live, she had to stay with a guy who despised her for a whole year. y/n didn’t know how she was going to do it.

“wait so your dad married a girl half our age?!”

y/n lets out a breathy chuckle, “wouldn’t be the first time.”

“so what you’re saying is,” y/n raises her eyebrow at connor while taking a sip of her beer, “vicky from biology can easily be your next step-mom?”

y/n gasps, nudging connor’s leg with her’s, “oh fuck you, conn!”

the laughs coming from the back patio almost made shawn’s blood boil. he couldn’t understand how she could be so happy and perky after what adam had done. he didn’t understand why she was always so nice even in the most shittiest situations with people. he didn’t understand how she was so positive about things even when they were negative. he envied her. that was it. he wanted to be like her in that sense. not hate the world every time something bad happened to him, he wanted to be understanding like her. sweet like her. but he would never admit it.

“if he starts being a dick you know what to do.” brian motions to shawn who was sitting on the couch watching tv.

y/n nods her head, letting out a weak sigh, “if i had known you two weren’t gonna be here tonight i would’ve come tomorrow.” she admits

“i know, we’re sorry. you know how study groups are,” by then connor started honking, letting brian know they had to go. “you’ll be fine. if you have to lock yourself in mine or connor’s room, just do it.”

brian gives y/n a quick kiss on the cheek before making his way down to the car. and just like that, there were just two. y/n took a deep breath before closing the door and turning around to face shawn. the tension in the air was thick and almost dry in a way. if it hadn’t been for the loud screams coming from the tv, y/n could’ve sworn you could drop a clothing pin and it would echo between the walls.

“i’m gonna go make myself something to eat,” y/n starts, “would you like something?”

shawn sighs, pausing the tv, “yeah maybe a sandwich with a little bit of that perky attitude of yours on the side.” he snaps sarcastically.

“sometimes i can’t believe you’re almost a whole 21 year old, in uni,” shawn’s eyes meet her’s, not letting her out of his gaze, “you know because i don’t think i’ve ever met someone so immature at this day and age in uni.”

shawn chuckled. even when she’s trying to sound mean, she somehow sounds like she’s complimenting him. it filled him with rage. soon enough, y/n gave up and just made her way into the kitchen. her goal? to avoid the boy for the rest of the night.

“you’re the one who left!”

shawn’s eyes flutter. he groans as he hears loud whispers coming from downstairs, shaking his head, running his fingers through his tired eyes. he stretches his legs before pulling the sheets off his exposed skin and rolling out of bed. he’d left his door half opened, that’s why he could hear the noise coming from downstairs.

“you don’t get to call me when you’re drunk and make me feel even shittier for not going with you,” the soft sobs echoing the the whole house almost made shawn’s heart ache. “goodbye, adam. don’t call me again unless you’ve figured out your shit!”

y/n throws her phone across the couch and lets her head fall in her hands. she was a mess but she’d never let anyone see it. her whole body trembling as she sobbed her pain away.

“you okay?”

y/n didn’t answer or even turn to look at him. shawn scratched the back of his head not knowing what to do. in all the years he’d known y/n, he had never seen her break down. she always kept herself in place, in check... something he’d let her believe annoyed him but in reality, he admired it.

“look,” he walks over to her, kneeling down and placing his hands on her knees. they were shaking. “adam’s a dick okay? an absolute dick and you know that black eye he had before he left?”

y/n finally looked up, her red teary eyes, meeting his. “what? now you’re gonna tell me that was you? that you gave him that black eye?” she scoffed in disbelief.

“when brian told me what happened, i felt this sudden rage and in that moment i wanted nothing more but for him to pay for what he did,” shawn explains, “and so that night i went to his room and i punched him.”

y/n looked at him. not quite sure if he believed him but she was way too tired and weak to question him.

“well no more giving out free punches for me, mendes.”

shawn grabbed y/n’s hands from her face and softly brushed his thumb over her warm skin, “i’d go on a punching spree for you.”

y/n chuckled pushing his hand away, “that’s weirdly romantic.”

shawn smiles and gets back on his feet. extending his hand out, “cmon, i’ll make us some tea, we can watch a movie after and cuddle or whatever you need to feel better.”

“brian and connor walking in on us cuddling... that’s definitely gonna make them feel like the world’s coming to an end.” y/n says grabbing shawn’s hand.

“no better way to spend the last day on earth than by cuddling you.”

y/n rolls her eyes, “mendes,” he looks at her, “you’re about the cheesiest guy i’ve ever met.”

#shawn mendes #shawn mendes rec #shawn mendes blurb #shawn mendes angst #request #shawn mendes fic #shawn mendes fluff #fic rec #shawn mendes imagines #shawn mendes imagine

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twistedsimblr · 6 years

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Another story!

Here it is under the cut.... Inspired yet again by @omg-puddingpie They just keep coming these damn ideas XD Once again I know my grammar I’M TRYING!

"It's okay, it's okay your safe now he's not going to bother you anymore I promise you that ." Adam hushed the whimpers of his battered love. But their moment would be short lived. But long enough that he calmed him enough that his sobbing subsided a bit.

" Adam! come quick! " Adam looked up from his embrace with Armand to see Amber standing in front of them barely able to catch her breath. "Amber?" Armand turned to look as well. "Oh my god what happened?"

It was Thompshit wasn't it? Adam gave Amber a nod, being careful not to upset Armand again. Amber put her hand on Armand's shoulder.

“ I took care of it though. He said with a gentle peck to he top of his head head. "

“ Where's your friend Meg...?" That's the thing...She sighed...her eyes were rather wide like she’d sort of seen a ghost.

"IT'S MAL." At least I think it's Mal it's hard to say I've NEVER seen him like.... this before...He's practically swinging Chester around by the horns."

"WHAT?!" Adam felt sick. " Goddammit M.K... “Now you've taken things too far.”

Adam ran on ahead as Amber took Armand by the hand Amber Adam and Armand ran to toward the back It was lunch hour and it had barely started and already so much shit had gone down,

Now Adam had to deal with his half brother . M.K and Adam had been friends for some time and even shared a brief bro mance before Vlad opened a can of one hell of a twist . And told M.K that he was his son Which was the reason why M.K pushed Adam away and toward the one he was truly destined to be with.. Malikor his friend was the result of a an alien succubus seduction. His father never talked about until now.

... When they turned the corner of the building already where they greeted with a fairly large crowd egging both involved on. Pushing through the crowd as they got closer. Adam could see that M.K was fiddling with something flipping it about in his hand.

He brought his butterfly knife.... Great... personally I like his switch blade better but whatever...

“ Pussy you can’t even use your fists?” Chester scoffed spitting to the side

“I suppose kicking your sorry ass that way would be more fun..” M.K said with a shrug.

M.K closed his knife and threw it in Meg's direction which she caught.

“Hold this.”

Meg couldn't help but stare.. He looked so unfamiliar right now. But she was also fascinated by his power.

His eyes were red and he was seeing red. He almost looked totally demonic.

“Show me what you've got big cat.” Chester taunted. .. Unless you still wanna wait til after school..” I mean you still have all day to think about this..

“ What’s the matter You pussy? Are you just realizing that fucking hitting a chick is wrong M.K growled confidently

“She’s fat she can take a hit or two... That girls got a fucking mouth you don’t know man.. Speaking of hits. ”

“Ladies first..” M.K smirked.

There was silence... Chester threw the first punch and landed one on the side of the face. M.K regained his composure as if he were judging what just happened.

“I’ve been slapped harder by girls.” Go a head throw another one.

M.K threw a punch that landed him square in the face and nose amd got him in a head lock and threw him onto the ground a few feet infront of Meg Megs direction. And with a grunt said .

“I love me a good thick chick, they suck the best dick...” But that over there is everything a woman should be soft and cuddly.. I know more about her than you know...right down to her favorite candy. Sour Watermelons. “

M.Ks grip around his neck tightened even more so as he continued.

“I wanted that! I wanted her!”

“I dunno why you would..” Chester coughed.

“Shut the fuck up... “M.K interrupted.

You took her from me. I was happy for her you made her happy she talked about you sat with you in our fucking study group I hated that!

“ I barely knew her but I wanted her.. And you treated her like trash and you fucking cheated on her ...”

.. . Meg’s face flushed beet red as everyone looked over in her direction. She turned her music up louder. There were giggles amongst the crowd. Meg allowed the hair to hang in her face...

“With my fucking ex.”

“I’ve been following you two for a month. Because I wanted to prove to everyone what a piece of fucking shit you are. Especially to Meg. I remember that fucking hand print around her neck.”

Chester glared at M.K as he pulled him out of the head lock and into a choke hold. His nose was oozing green blood He grinned.

“Your ex was way hotter.” M.K curled his lip back ignoring the cheers amongst the crowd as the fight continued. M.K managed to score a few more hits before M.K got too cocky and Chester managed to get a kick in hitting M.K square in the stomach. Managing to get the upper hand for a brief period of time. Thinking he had won. M.K sat on the ground. feeling rather defeated he begun to shake.

Now he’d done it... He took a moment to breathe but it was no use it was coming and there was no stopping it. We all have inner demons right? just...

Not actually demons.

Chester tried hyping up the crowd even more. As he stood thinking he was victorious.

Seeming out of no where M.K lept at him Pinning him to the ground Letting out a screech that sounded anything but human. Some people even plugged thier ears. Meg was so content with her music she made a face as if she were curious when this would end.

It was time Adam knew he had to act.

“My ex had fucking Chlamydia.”

M.K took his clawed thumbs and pressed them into the corners of Chester’s eyes. He had the most crazed look on his face as he pressed harder Chester screamed in agony finally a voice put an end to it all. The crowd was going wild. And it all came to an abrupt end.

When a dark cloud seemed to have overwhelmed the area getting everyones attention.

“ STOP..” M.K knew that voice.. and immediately he halted his actions.

“M.K you don’t wanna do this...” Adam himself had gone into his dark form not something he wanted to do but if he had to fight his brother which is something he didn't want to do he would.

“FUCK YOU ADAM! ” Maybe if you weren't so busy fantasizing about having your dick up Armand's ass you’d see what else is going on!!”

All eyes were on Adam... including Armand who was practically his boyfriend at this point anyway.It was his turn to offer comfort. But Adam didn't want it.

“That was a cheap shot bro and you know it!”

“ You didn't believe me!” But there’s your proof! M.K whipped his arm around to point in Megs direction. “It’s okay for you to fuck up Armands bully but I can’t fucking beat your so called dipshit friend to bloody pulp?

“Look what he did to her!”

Meg seeming to observe the problem removed her head phones obviously drowning it out with music got her no where.

“It’s not that bad..” She uttered

“NOT THAT BAD?” He’s conditioned her to tolerate it.

M.K grabbed Chester again preparing himself for the blow that could very well kill him a bite tot the throat.

Adam spoke calmly despite being stung by his words . I see that... Now... I was wrong “Don’t do it M.K!”

Things started to get a little physical. Adam tried to pull M.K away. “He’s not worth it!

“ BACK OFF ME MAN!” “Don’t touch me asshole..” M.Ks eyes flashed dangerously as he pushed Adam off.

Adam had to act. He wasn't himself and he had to bring back the Mal he knew and loved Mal may be physically stronger but when it came to abilities he was not as strong as his half brother using his abilities he restrained him. Forcing him onto his knees What are you doing?” Armand asked. Shyly.

My brother doesn't know how to control his abilities yet he needs help. So he’s not.. Armand began

“No...he’s my half brother not my lover... I actually would like to get to know you better.” The sentiment was broken by Ambers voice.

“Get the hell out of here Chester! “

Amber shouted.

Chester rose to his feet and fled nearly blindly and into the crowd.

Meg pushed her self toward the action. And pressed her cd player furiously until she hit the song that she knew would best fit the situation.

She had to do something Or both were going to do something they regret...She begun humming first something that bewildered everybody that was still sticking around.

Then she randomly started singing...Not that she thought it would do anything but maybe. JUST MAYBE it would? To everyones surprise

Almost immediately did it have a calming effect on M.K and everyone around her...

“Oh my baby how beautiful you are Oh my darling completely torn apart..” “You´re gone with the sin my baby and beautiful you are..” “So gone with the sin my darling..”

MUSIC

It took a moment... Meg sat on the ground in front of him and continued to sing until finally the moment Adam had been waiting for...

“Meg?” ...M.Ks voice shook as he looked up to see Meg first.

“ Welcome back big guy.” He then looked up to see Adam Amber and Armand.. standing behind Meg who was kneeling still..

Adam helped M.K to his feet. And wrapped his arms around him tightly.. With out hesitation . I will NEVER mis judge you again..” Ive been so selfish. and I’m sorry.”

M.K returned the gesture. “You’re the last person I ever want to fight with...I will tell you that.”..

The bell finally rang it seemed like it took forever and they all made their way inside.. They weren't in their seats for long in different classes when the principals voice crackled over the PA system. Calling Adam ,Chester, M.K, Meg, The guy who beat up Armand to the office.

Oohs and Ahhs echoed throughout each of their respectable class rooms.

The teacher babbled trying to restore order as the students begun to talk as they all left their classrooms...

Adam and Armand made their way from thier class which was down stairs and M.K made his way from his... But... He was grabbed and pulled into the girls washroom...

“Meg?”..... His jaw nearly dropped shed worn make up before but this .. She had to have been in here for the last 20 minutes or so.

It was obvious her heart was racing. She was licking her lips + as she spoke “I want to uh... thank you for what you did...”She cleared her throat.

“Can it wait? I mean this isn't the time or place.. “ Meg reached up her hand to hush him he was being too loud.

Meg stood a little closer to M.K her hand now teasing the crotch of his pants...

“No..”

#AU story #@omgpuddingpie

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lumiereswig · 7 years

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can i please have a crack-shippy fic where everybody is in love with the wrong people.

OMG. OMG. THIS PERSON. THIS PERSON GETS IT. Fuck yes you may have your fic and all my money besides

Lumiere’s legs ache, but it’s a fantastic ache—the ache of being out in summer, hiking through the woods, air on his face when for just a second there he thought he’d never have a face again. He breathes, deeply, almost too deeply—and oh, his muscles hurt.

“You might have thought not to wear heels,” teases Plumette, gently, just behind him.

“Cherie, you yourself are wearing heels,” says Lumiere. She laughs and raises her skirts so he can see them. Truly scandalous! And oh so pretty. Their laughter can be heard through the forest as he chases her off the path.

Behind them by a few yards, Cogsworth sighs and raises his eyes to the heavens. Lovers in summer, eh? He cannot remember ever having been this way himself: annoying, grasping for physical attention, all flirt and kiss and nonsense, utter nonsense. He groans and puffs and leans against a tree.

“They all do it, Mr. Cogsworth,” says Mrs. Potts, walking just behind him. “Let them have their fun. Summer was made for lovers such as them.”

“And normal people such as us?” says Cogsworth. “What of us? You have Mr. Potts, I have…..hmph, I have Clothilde. Summer should belong to us, too.”

Mrs. Potts smiles. Far down the path—lagging far behind the older members of the party—Cadenza and Garderobe cling to each other, arm in arm, taking their time and hiking only in between the kisses and hugs. Cogsworth groans again and keeps on walking.

“Mon ami! Cogsworth! Down here!”

The party follow the sound of Lumiere’s voice, off the beaten trail and down into a hollow. Cogsworth waves as he sees his friend and Plumette practically dancing in front of a fallen tree.

“Don’t you see?” yells Plumette. “It’s a tree-house! Someone has made a home beneath the tree!”

It’s true: the upturned roots of the tree form the roof of a home, a charming one strewed with blankets and baskets of herbs. Just outside the shelter stands a cauldron, bubbling over flame; this last intrigues Lumiere very much, who stands over it with a spoon.

“You must come try this at once,” he insists. “Marjoram! I haven’t tasted it in years. Ooh, and something else as well—” He sips from the cauldron and concentrates. Plumette, beside him, laughs and eats as well.

“Lumiere! We are trespassing, we cannot just help ourselves to someone’s dinner—”

“Relax, mon ami,” and Lumiere cuts Cogsworth off by forcing a spoonful to his lips. “When our enchanting host returns, we will share our picnic with him. The master will be along with it shortly, no? Cadenza—you are a man of taste—taste marjoram and see what you think.”

While the musicians smile and sup, Mrs. Potts feels an ache deep within her. This is no muscle spasm—though she certainly had enough of those while hiking this deep into the woods—no, this is unease. She looks into the hovel of the tree, and sees roses pinned against the roots, and an owl perched upon a chair; magic, she thinks, magic, and her stomach turns over.

“I had no idea!” Adam and Belle have found the rest of the party; Mrs. Potts turns and hurries toward her prince, who is wrestling with a large picnic basket. “I’ve never been this far into the woods. Who do you think lives here?”

“You mean you don’t know?” Belle’s eyebrows raise. She’s intrigued by this hidden house in the wood, made from roots and bound with roses. “I figured you knew everything about your estate.”

“Darling, the only thing I know about the estate is that I love it and you. What’s that you’re eating, Lumiere?”

“Marjoram! And hearts-ease, I think. Most unusual. Never tasted it in a soup before—master, try it, truly délicieux—”

Adam eats while Belle looks at the hovel. Her eyes flit over it, turning it upside down, calculating out which story-book she knows it from.

This place is known to me, she thinks. I’ve never been here before, and neither has Adam—but I know it, I know it.

Behind her, Mrs. Potts copies Adam and eats from the cauldron, a worried look on her face.

Roses—and herbs—and a tree in the woods— “Hold on,” calls Belle, “my father told me about this. Isn’t this where the Enchantress lives?”

Silence from her friends. And then a BANG.

Belle whips around in time to see the cauldron belching yellow smoke. There is a hiss of scent—herbs and magic and magic and herbs—and seven bodies hit the ground.

There. It had taken her a while, but Belle had managed. The first thing she had done was to get them away from the hovel; a little ways away now, they lay in a glen, the bodies of Adam and the staff pulled where she could get them. No one dead, thank goodness; but all unconscious, and—phew, thinks Belle—heavier than she would have guessed.

She takes a moment to admire her handiwork. Plumette, Cadenza, and Mrs. Potts all are safely stowed beneath a weeping willow, their heads supported by roots and veiled with branches. Madame de Garderobe she has managed to pull beside a log. Lumiere and Cogsworth—heavy, you’d think they were still made of metal—she couldn’t get very far, so they lay just beyond, side by side, not far from where they fell. Adam she props onto a stump beside her—and I cannot wait, thinks Belle, to tease him for the number of times I’ve had to carry his body through this wood.

It was disturbing to have them all unconscious, though. Oh well; she’d done capably—I always do capably, thinks Belle—and now she just had to wait for them to wake up.

Adam moans beside her, and Belle smiles and nudges him. “Come on, wake up, Adam,” she says. “I know you’re strong enough to.”

He moans again. Sissy, thinks Belle, he’s going to pretend he can’t so I’ll help him. Just to tease, she escapes his groggy reach and saunters off toward the willow. He’ll follow me in a second, and then he can help me, and then we can decide what to do with Cadenza and—

Oh.

When Belle propped the staff up against the willow moments ago, Plumette, Cadenza, and Mrs. Potts had all been quite unconscious. Not so now. Plumette still slept, but—and here Belle’s mind flipped over in her head—Cadenza and Mrs. Potts were up and snogging.

“Uhh—pardon me?”

Cadenza’s hands are locked onto Mrs. Potts’ face; that good lady’s arms are thrown across his shoulders in the most casual, intimate way imaginable. There is definitely some tongue happening. Belle’s mind does a cartwheel and tries to find its bearings.

“Uh—Mrs. Potts? Maestro?” All right, all right, maybe they were having an affair all this time, somehow, that they kept concealed from everybody, including their spouses…spouses who they are both utterly devoted to and would never, ever stray from, yes, definitely, good going, Belle. “What are you doing?”

“Just a little tea and music,” coos Maestro Cadenza. Mrs. Potts giggles—giggles—and lodges her foot halfway up Cadenza’s thigh. Belle’s ears burn and her eyes wish they could fall out of her head.

“Okay,” says Belle. “Okay. I am too clever for this. Did you—are you—I mean of course it’s none of my business but—”

“Darling,” say Adam, just behind her, and Belle breathes and whips around to see her love coming through the bower of the weeping willow branches.

“Adam! Thank goodness you’re here, I—” But his eyes aren’t looking at her, and he is walking right past her, and he is kneeling beside the slowly waking Plumette.

Okay. Okay then. He is just concerned about the maid. That is good and kind and very Adam-like. Belle follows him.

“Mon amour,” breathes Plumette, staring up at Adam.

“Oh, no, sorry, you’ve got the wrong tall, overdressed white man,” says Belle. “Lumiere will be along in just a moment, I’m sure—”

“I have never beheld anything so beautiful as you,” says Adam, staring at Plumette’s face. “How could I have lived and not seen you?”

“Mon amour,” says Plumette again, and uses Adam’s cravat to yank his lips to hers.

Oooookay. Belle needs to take a break. She exits the willow—Mrs. Potts’ giggle of “tea for two!” unfortunately not escaping her burning ears—and stands outside to take stock.

Adam, she thinks, would never, ever do this. Not my Adam, not ever, and slowly Belle’s faith picks itself back up and pushes her brain back to working. Mrs. Potts, Cadenza—they would never do that, either. And neither would Plumette. Magic, then: magic, clearly, to cause this madness.

She glances at the log where Garderobe is—thank goodness, she remain asleep. She glances at the meadow where she left Lumiere and Cogsworth. It sits empty.

She tracks their heavy footprints to the bank of a brook. The meadow dips down and she cannot see them, but she knows that they are there, together and alone.

Fearless, she thinks. Be fearless. And walks down to the bank.

“You old fool!” flusters Cogsworth, yelling at Lumiere. “Poppycock, utter poppycock! Balderdash.”

“You jester,” says Lumiere, “all talk and no action, as usual.”

“Lumiere? Cogsworth? Everything all right? Nothing….different?”

“Same old madness,” grumbles Cogsworth. “This idiot thinks he can beat me in a competition!”

“Mon beau,” says Lumiere, “you know how competitive I get when the stakes are high.”

Thank goodness, they’re just the same. Belle breathes in, out. In, out.

“You’re not winning any kissing contest,” says Cogsworth, “not on my watch.”

“You are playing with so much fire,” says Lumiere, and leaps into a kiss.

Out, out, out, out. Belle cannot catch breath. The kiss keeps going.

Okay, Belle, you’re clever. Come on.

“Gentlemen, uh? I can see you’re into this, but could we do this some other time?”

“Oh, it’s not ‘we,’ you’re not invited,” says Cogsworth. “It’s just us.”

Lumiere, Belle sees, is the master of multitasking: he is somehow taking off Cogsworth’s coat for him while maintaining an exquisite French kiss. Incredible.

“Ok, fine, keep—keep doing that,” and Belle’s mind flinches back to the sight of Adam returning Plumette’s kisses but no, no, “just—um—I think there might have been something in what you ate. Lumiere, what were you saying was in that cauldron?”

Even in the most ecstatic passion Lumiere has a soft spot for food. “Hearts-ease,” he says, his teeth half buried in Cogsworth’s cravat. “Most unusual. Never seen hearts-ease in cooking before—”

Cogsworth is a walking botany textbook even as he takes Lumiere’s shirt off. “Mostly used for medicinal purposes, not culinary. ‘Meh’ taste. Related to the pansy—”

“Pansy? Those are in one of Adam’s favorite plays—Hamlet,” says Belle. “‘There’s pansies, that’s for thoughts.’ Ophelia says it.”

Cogsworth does not respond. He is sidetracked by something distracting Lumiere is doing at his neck.

“Everyone is having such strange thoughts,” says Belle, “Cadenza with Mrs. Potts, Plumette kissing my Adam. All these strange thoughts, if only I could have more of—oh! SHAKESPEARE!”

“What on earth is she on about,” mumbles Cogsworth.

“If I follow her chain of thought, mon petit choux, I believe Cadenza is kissing Beatrice, the Master is kissing Plumette, and Belle wishes to be kissing Monsieur Shakespeare.”

“That does not explain why you are not currently kissing me.”

“Good point. At this rate, I am fit to lose the contest,” and Lumiere turns back to kissing.

Belle is talking out loud now. “Of course! It’s in a A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare calls it ‘love-in-idleness’ there, but it’s the same flower, the same pansy! And in the play, it makes people fall in love with whoever they see first!”

“Do you remember what the first thing I saw once I turned human was?” murmurs Cogsworth.

“Me, obviously. It’s always me. Amazing foreshadowing,” and Lumiere rolls back on top of the major domo.

“So if there was hearts-ease in that cauldron, when it blew up in everyone’s faces, everyone near it would be affected. And then I laid Cadenza by Mrs. Potts—and Adam would have seen me but he saw Plumette first—and then I laid you two blunderers aside over here—”

“Brava! Brava! Brilliant reasoning,” says a beautiful voice just behind her, and Belle turns to see Madame de Garderobe, looking straight at her.

“Madame,” gulps Belle, and then it’s too late and she’s being swallowed by a kiss.

Garderobe’s perfume is intoxicating, and Belle lingers for a moment. Wowza. Hot damn. If she can kiss like this all the time, Cadenza is a lucky man. Wait a minute—

Belle pulls away, trips over the men, regains her balance, gasping. “You have a husband.”

“We do not take monogamy so seriously in Italy,” says Garderobe.

This is insane. “Yes! Just, um,” Belle skirts the embrace, “I need to gather some flowers.”

“Un mazzolino di fiori? For me? Cara, you are so sweet to think of me so!”

“…right. Why don’t I go get some roses this way, and you go get some for me that way?”

“It breaks my heart to leave you,” says Madame de Garderobe, and for a minute Belle can see why the courts of Europe threw diamonds and gems at this woman’s feet. But Garderobe turns away, and sets to picking flowers, and Belle sprints back to the Enchantress’s hovel.

Her hands fly through the bundles of roses and marjoram. Surely what she needs is in here somewhere. Please, oh please, let it not all have been in the cauldron—

Agathe places small white blooms into Belle’s hands.

She has been so used to romance for the last hour that it takes her a moment to see that Agathe is not here to swear eternal devotion or fall at her feet or pull out her hair. Once she knows:

“What the hell are you doing with this stuff?”

“It’s for another story, later on,” says Agathe. “I did not think to see your party coming so close.”

“Oh, trust me, it’s moved way beyond close and definitely into intimate,” says Belle.

“I will help them sleep,” says Agathe.

“Darn it,” says Belle, “I was really looking forward to knocking them all out with a saucepan.”

“Leave that for the hero of another story,” says the Enchantress, and waves her hands.

Belle lugs each person back to the glen, and takes out the small white blooms of hearts-ease to brush on each person’s eyes. I’ve always wanted to play Puck, she thinks, as she puts Plumette beside Lumiere, their faces almost touching. Shakespeare would be proud, I’m solving this just as he did. She fetches out the portrait of Mr. Potts from Mrs. Potts’ handbag, and sets it just before her face, so it will be the first thing she sees as she wakes with the hearts-ease on her eyes. The musicians she tucks together beneath the willow, and Cogsworth she leaves by himself, throwing water on his face and hoping the Enchantress will cover the rest. Adam’s head she gently, gently, rests in her lap. All is quiet as they sleep.

“If we shadows have offended,” says Belle, and she thinks of lovers in midsummer, lovers in the forest and lovers in her dreams, and she strokes Adam’s hair and speaks from memory.

“If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended,That you have but slumber’d hereWhile these visions did appear.And this weak and idle theme,No more yielding but a dream….Give me your hands, if we be friends—”

“I hope we are a good deal more than friends,” says Adam, from her lap, and his blue eyes are bright upon her face. “And I hope that’s not Midsummer you’re reciting from. You know I hate how unrealistic it is.”

“Says the man whose favorite play is about a Danish king terrified of live theatre,” says Belle.

“Says the woman who read it aloud and emphasized all the good parts,” says Adam, and reaches up to kiss her.

Around the glen, the others wake up. Garderobe and Cadenza kiss and touch, no memory remaining of the last hour of their lives; Mrs. Potts stretches, tsk-tsking at the grass stains on her dress. Lumiere and Plumette appear from around a tree, laughing, each orbiting the other, catching kisses. Cogsworth asks if anybody has seen his coat.

And I, thought Belle, restore amends.

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