The Roof: Sunday night, well after dark

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The Beast was crouched on the corner of the roof, looking out over Fandom.

Half hidden in the shadows and the night, he was brooding - dramatically - and also for some reason humming under his breath.

Two days, and his life had changed dramatically -- because of Samantha.

It was unexpected. It was inexplicable.

Without really noticing, his humming segued into song. (Because the power of Disney narrative can not be denied.)

She glanced this way, I thought I saw
And when we touched
She didn't shudder at my paw
No it can't be, I'll just ignore
But no one's ever looked at me that way before.

If he'd realised what he was singing, he'd likely be horrified.

[ooc: open, as roofs are, but you'll probably need to get his attention. Lyrics twisted slightly. ]

Comments

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba crossed his paws as he was embarrassingly picked up by the scruff of his neck. He was never going to get this pouncing thing right.

" 'Cause I've been all around the grounds here, and I haven't been able to find any herds of gazelles or other stuff. My Dad said that I should practice my pouncing skills on something." He looked away sheepishly. "So I did."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Ahhh. No, there's not much to hunt on this island. Practice is important, though. Have you tried the ducks in the park?" He uncurled his tail and let it dangle behind him. Perhaps being pounced by a small lion was not so bad. "Do you have a name?"

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba tried to resist his inner cat instincts to pounce on the Beast's tail again. If he tried attacking the bigger creature a second time, he'd probably fail again. Ducks, on the other hand were something he might have a chance with, being the same size and all.

"I'm Simba!" He puffed out his chest a little. "The future King of the Pridelands!"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"The future king of the Pridelands? So I am in the presence of royalty." He turned completely to look down at Simba and folded both hand in front of him, claws touching. "It's an honour to meet you, Simba. I am called the Beast."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba did the best lion equivalent of a bow he could for his furry admirer.

"Just the Beast? You don't have a real name or anything?" he asked.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The bow made him smile, revealing a gleam of sharp white teeth.

"Just the Beast. I used to have a name, but I've forgotten it."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Aww, that's too bad," said Simba sympathetically. "Everyone needs a name. I'l call you ... Mnyama! How about that?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Mnyama?" That possibly rather disturbing sound was the Beast laughing. "I like that, Simba. Mnyama will suit me very well. Thank you. I think you will be a good king."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba was thrown off guard by the weird noise, but decided to take it as a good sign anyway. He grinned.

"You're Welcome! I still have a long way to go if I want to be as good as my Dad, though. He's the best."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The Beast grinned back, showing a very impressive set of teeth.

"There was a large lion in the park yesterday morning. Was that your father? He had a very impressive roar."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba grinned even wider at that. He'd only seen one other lion around these parts, so he knew who it had to be.

"That was my Dad! He's the greatest lion in the whole world!" he said. "Hey, what's your Dad like? Is he as hairy as you?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"He appeared very great." As far as it was possible for a brooding Beast to be charmed, he was utterly charmed by Simba. "I don't believe so. He was human, as I was once. Humans tend to be far less hairy than this."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba's eyes widened. "You used to be human? Oh, wo~~w. Where's you pick up all the extra fur from, then?"

He tried to bite his tongue on the second thing that came to mind, as it was probably rude to make comments about somebody's Mom.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It's a curse," he explained gruffly. "I did something that an enchanter didn't like, and he turned me into this."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Simba reached over to sympathetically pat-pat the other creature's paw. "That sounds awful. Can you break it?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He was ridiculously touched by the gesture. "It's complicated, Simba. I have to find someone who will love me in this shape, and who I can love in return." He smiled. "Which is not likely to occur before time runs out. But now I have a name, thanks to you."

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

He nodded. That did sound difficult to do. Simba already had a bethrothed, but he didn't know how he could fall in love with a girl. Wouldn't you need to take something for the cooties.

"I hope you have good luck with that. If it doesn't work out, you can always try shaving a lot, right?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps I'll give that a try." He laughed again. "And I hope you have good luck finding things to hunt. I do believe there are deer in the woods. Maybe your father and you could try and find them?"

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"Oh, so that's where the deer are!" Simba said joyfully. "I bet I could take one of those down."

Simba rubbed his head against the Beast's leg in thanks for all his advice, and then trotted off to go hunt for something tastier.