bakerstreet | Monster and the Maiden Fair

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Carefully, Christian makes himself push up from the floor, relieved when fresh pain doesn't shoot up from his wrists with the motion, and by some miracle he hasn't broken an ankle or both. A wary hand going to his head and pushing through his hair comes away decidedly blood-free. This is good; bruises and a bad headache he can deal with. The next few days will be sore, but at least he'll be upright.

What feels like only a few moments later, and he's on his feet whether he likes it or not. And while once upon a time having someone grab him and haul him about would have had him shrinking back, now he's more anxious about the dizziness washing over him. Valryn isn't really a source of fear anymore. He's clearly angry, but even now with his hand gripped in Christian's collar, the prince just takes it in stride.

Even he can admit this was slightly idiotic, albeit for an utterly different reason.

"No, I was just reading, and the,uh...the banister, I think? My hand slipped, or it was the step...I think the book's probably seen better days, wherever it is now."

This is all said surprisingly calmly, as though Valryn's just gently helped him up and has just asked if he's alright. "I think I need to sit down a minute...You weren't lying about the state of this place.."

Valryn waits for a clamor, a struggle, a sputtering response -- instead, the captive is compliant in his grasp. The drow's expression is sharp, angled in fury as he stares down the soft and idiotic human as he explains that he was --

Reading.

His expression doesn't change, but freezes uncannily. On impeccable ears, Valryn hears every word, perplexed at how absolutely reposeful Christian is about having crashed down a deteriorating stairwell. He's virtually unfazed aside for his damned book.

"And you nearly saw the last of your 'better days.'" Valryn growls as he drops the prince onto the crumbling rock that still tries to resemble a step at the bottom of this stairwell, before turning back into the swallowing darkness. Reading. Of all things, Christian was wandering senselessly about, his ignorance playing predator to his vulnerable lack of attention. Valryn is fuming with an eerie quiet, and really, it's part at himself; he can't figure out why that wasn't his first assumption.

He lets a few paces fall between them, scooping down to the floor in a brief and rigid movement, soft pages sliding against the dusty brick of the floor.

"You might have died, and really it's a wonder how you're still alive." At this moment, as well as in general, in life.

For the most part, Valryn's annoyance with him goes unnoticed. Or perhaps a better word is 'ignored' - Christian could fall from the highest turret of the castle and be considered brain dead and still be aware that Valryn was angry with him - but now he's simply choosing not to acknowledge it. He's used to it by now, so instead of cowering in it's shadow, he turns his attention to himself instead.

Gingerly massaging his fingertips into the side of his neck, Christian watches as Valryn stoops to pick up his book.

"I suppose being raised surrounded by armed guards had something to do with it up until this point; really now I'm relying on blind luck."

Despite himself and his current circumstance, he laughs to himself. "Blind luck, and sturdier banisters. That one hasn't quite come through for me, but I'm optimistic."

Monster and the Maiden Fair

pffftttt ♥

(crawling on floor, wheezing, lays tag at your feet)

(leaves a coffee and blanket for u)