bakerstreet | When is a monster not a monster? (oh, when you love it.)

When is a monster not a monster? (oh, when you love it.)

the monster & the maiden fair meme

There's a long precedent in folklore and myth of beautiful young people - both men and women - being kidnapped by monsters: dragons, beasts, goblins, demons, elves, vampires, wolves, or even evil humans. In the end, however, these prisoners are almost always rescued and brought back to civilization to live a normal and happy life.

But what if they didn't want to leave their jailor?

They've seen behind the surface and have begun to sympathize with this "monster;" no, more than that, they've fallen for them. Will this story have a happy ending? Will the monster believe that anyone could love them? Most importantly, though, can the two of them be left alone without any attempts at a "rescue?"

how to play

Comment with your character, your preference, and what role they'll play. Feel free to AU characters to your desire role.
Reply to others.
Thread anything that could remotely fit under the umbrella theme. Was the kidnapping just that, or did both parties know (and care) for each other before, making it a collaborative, mutual effort? Perhaps you'd prefer to play the actual Beauty and The Beast-style getting to know each other or seeing behind the grizzly facade. What about an attempted "rescue?" Or maybe you could thread out a scene where the prisoner runs away from the society they were forced back into and returns to their beloved beast! It's all up to you. You could even do smut if you wanted to, but this isn't a smut meme.

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He was still considering it, and that was a good sign that what she offered was worth the consideration. He was careful, which made this kind of deal that much more thrilling. Not as careful as those who understood the fae from the past, likely because after the time of iron people began to have less and less interaction with fae and because there were more people in general. A few going missing here and there was hardly a drop in the bucket. When one considered the amount of people who disappeared every year and were never again found, the numbers were staggering. But no one ever did. Not all of that was the fae of course, there were many predators that picked off humans but in Winter alone there were enough predators to make one take a step back and reconsider. And Lea had no plans on making a meal of this human. He was indeed lucky.

"Very well." She replied, "You have three days and three nights on midday of the fourth, we will meet back here and you will give me your decision."

Three days. That's really not a lot of time to decide if he was willing to give everything for the chance to win. No, he just wouldn't take the deal. There was no reason to accept such a high cost. Light was intelligent, he would win on his own.

"Four days then."

As he says he the words, as he returns back home, he's already made up his mind. It's not worth it. If he was willing to pay such ridiculous costs, he would have the eyes. It would be good to pretend he's considering it, but he's not.

Not right away, but a lot can happen in three days. Misa can get taken into custody, the Shinigami can disagree to work with his plans, and everything can come crashing down. Hours have been spent in his room, staring at the wall and computer as he works for some other kind of way out. There's nothing. Will he even be able to remain out of custody for four days?

When he does return, midday on the fourth as promised, he has no choice. If he doesn't take her deal, his entire life is over. It's with anger that he says her name. While Light does his best to contain his mood, he's ready to snap.

When Lea appears this time it is like a bubble of water bursting, she has a hound sitting on either side next to her as the water drips away, settling back into the earth and disappearing as though it had never been. The hounds are huge, they come nearly to her chest while seated, and they gaze impassively at Light with eerily intelligent eyes. Lea rests a hand on the head of the brindle coated hound to her right and looks at Light intently through completely inhuman eyes. Golden with pupils like a cat, her coppery hair falling to her hips in waves.

She steps forward letting her hand fall to her side and stops directly in front of him, her expression curious but self assured. He is here, he is all but hers she can see it in the ire that flashes in his eyes.

"Light. Three days an more gone by, you have had time to consider my offer. What decision do you make?"

Her newest appearance is quite formidable, isn't it? Is this her way of letting him know she wouldn't be happy with refusal or the request for more time? Light wishes that was why he called her, he wishes he had the luxury of more time. He doesn't. It was only by reckless chances that he was even free to call her tonight.

Anger rushes through him. L would die for this. It was a cost he would never pay otherwise, but Light would make sure L paid for making him give up so much. Misa would be next. If it wasn't for her idiocy, this wouldn't be necessary.

"I'll accept your deal." There's no small talk because Light isn't sure his brain can think of anything but the detective's death. "Provide me with the way to kill him without being caught, and I will give you what you want."

He looks sulky when she sees him, his eyes moving almost absently over her pets before settling on her. His voice barely holds back a rage she hadn't yet realized him capable of and it intrigues her. It isn't particularly surprising that he accepts her offer. The fae knew how to bargain, they'd had epochs to learn. One human had told her it was like being among cutthroat lawyers.

She let her head dip forward once, her smile small but pleased. The hounds never moved though their eyes tracked Light with silent intensity. Light has no magic so she cannot help him lean to veil which is essentially what he requested of her. "I have promised to provide the means by which you will achieve your goal." And she took four steps forward, lifting a delicate hand to press it against his chest, fingers smoothing the fabric of his shirt. A moment later his clothes seem to writhe, shifting against his body as they change color and settle against him just enough modification for his needs. Whatever it was he wore before he now wore a perfectly tailored grey suit. Seemingly innocuous, it feels lighter and easier to move in than a normal suit, and just inside the jacket in a sheath that he could feel but not see hung a long bowie knife. This would always be hidden even when he was visible. If he shifted he would notice he made no noise at all. Even if he walked on concrete his shoes would make no sound and the sounds of his breath were muted.

She took her hand from his chest and below it was a single tie clip, shaped like a primrose in copper that matched her hair, just a flat outline with engraved petals, a splash of color against the grey and white of his suit.

"These will last three days and three nights. At noon on the fourth they will revert to your standard clothes." She waited for his reaction. She hadn't, of course, told him the best parts yet. She might want to see him indignant first.

Light, despite his outward appearance and usually cordial natural, is capable of quite the rage, and L is the inspiration. The idea of losing so much just to win is enough to have his blood boiling.

The hand on his chest feels so small, so delicate compared to his broader, more masculine chest, but that doesn't fool him. She's the one with the real power, the power that will hopefully give him what he needs. Otherwise, this was hardly a deal worth the price he was paying.

Before Light speaks, he examines his suit, he notices the various changes. For now, he was more curious than indignant. "Will this change his ability to see me? I can follow one of the other members inside, but there's no way to get him away from cameras." This is too important to mess up, he needs to know what he's now capable of.

A man who has rage is a man she can work with. It is nice to see he is having difficulty holding it back.

Even still he takes his time to look at the new clothes, to take in what he can but they look mostly innocuous if well fitted. She smiles beatifically at him lifts a hand to tap her chest where his tie clip is. "Brush your thumb across the primrose and your clothes will veil you. Tap it with a forefinger and the veil will fall."

Her head shifts but not her body and she lets her gaze travel over him appreciatively. "The clothes naturally mute sound but if you yell you will be heard. I recommend you remain quiet when possible. The veil is visual and will work with cameras." It wasn't mental where only people would miss him.

He laughs. It's something that comes from deep within his chest, but if he was going to give up everything for this, it was good it would work so well. It was never supposed to be by Light's own hands, never anything so carnal, but without L, they would never find him. It will only seem like Kira had somehow gotten to him, something Light couldn't possibly so right now. After all, no one knew his name.

"With this, L will die. He'll fall by my hand!" He laughs again, but soon, he sobers up and eyes her. There was something to be said about the price.

"When do you plan to collect then?"

He relishes it and she relishes him, laughing in his victory. One human is no matter to her. If this L needs to die, then L will die. But she will have gained someone interesting and that is worthwhile. Her eyes dance a little at his joy and she claps her hands together in delight.

"One month and one day should give you time to put your affairs in order. You will stay with me for a year then we can discuss your return to your world should that interest you." He wouldn't be free but he would be able to return.

A month and a day. Disappearing would make things difficult, but he could probably come up with some kind of excuse, and a year was nothing compared to the life that would have been taken from him if he had been convicted of being Kira. Misa could probably make herself useful in that year and continue his work until he can come back.

But he's too intelligent to notice that she's agreeing to let him return, not saying the contract would end. He had agreed to give his life in exchange, a life he would at least be allowed to live. What of that year? What did she plan to do?

"What use do you have a human? What should I expect for that year?"

The time before would also give him time to celebrate L's death. The two emotions - worry and joy - battle one another for dominance.

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When is a monster not a monster? (oh, when you love it.)

I am so sorry the week ate me and I almost lost the email reminder

No worries! Welcome back! If the time skip isn't okay, let me know and I can edit!

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