BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AU 1

[enigmaster]

Comments

[agoodname]

[huh.

this whole thing is getting curiouser and curiouser.

All he seemed to want was that he left the other day, and now look at him. Courtesy and cuddles. Oswald has to supress a smirk, which he turns into a genuine smile. It doesn't take too much effort to do so, honestly]

Thank you. This will help me make it to the stairs, at least.

[enigmaster]

Oh... Sure. [He'll leave Oswald to that, then. Edward can help him down once he gets there.]

[agoodname]

[he'll gingerly make his way out of the room, then, but it's more slow-going than he'd like. Also he has to stop and sneeze at least twice, wiping his nose on his sleeve. Finally he makes it to the top of the stairs--and he eyes them with no small amount of trepidation.]

...you know, there seem to be even more of them from up here.

[enigmaster]

[Edward turns, looking at Oswald curiously. Looking down. Ah.]

...I usually just fly up or down.

[agoodname]

[Oswald just...arches an eyebrow at that] ...somehow, I don't think that's an option for me. [a bit dryly]

[enigmaster]

Right... Yeah. [Yeah, that.] ...I could just pick you up. [Listen, it's. Faster that way.]

[agoodname]

[Oswald licks his lips at that, hesitating for the briefest of seconds] ....well, you've done it once already. If it's alright with you.

[enigmaster]

It's a lot faster that way. It's no problem. [One advantage of being a beast is it makes you pretty dang strong. And Oswald is a smol. So Edward's gonna walk over and just... casually... pick Oswald up. Sup, buddy.]

[agoodname]

[alsdkhfsl well this sure is happening. Oswald sucks in a breath, curling his fingers in the fur at Edward's chest, holding on as he presses close. Listen. Edward is...soft. And the more he's used to Oswald's touch the better, anyway.]

[enigmaster]

[Edward blinks a little, at that. Ah... Well, he'll just... leave Oswald to that. Sure. The important thing is, it's easy enough to carry Oswald down the stairs. It sure is a lot faster than letting Oswald go down them himself now, in any case.]

[agoodname]

[it's not exactly a smooth ride, but it doesn't jostle his ankle, so that's a small mercy. He hums a bit in thought, relaxing a bit against Edward, maybe even curling a bit closer. He doesn't want to fall, after all. ] I think my arm should be checked, also. And I should probably put ice on my ankle again, but I can do that while I'm working with the rabbit from last night.

[enigmaster]

You're still going to do that?

[agoodname]

Of course I am. [he huffs a bit, almost petulant] I can't let it go bad--and it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible if I'm going to get it canned and salted properly. [wait--] Speaking of salting--there was a hide, wasn't there?

[enigmaster]

Yes. [They're almost down.] I took care of it.

[agoodname]

You took care of it? [Oswald blinks, fingers tightening a bit in his fur] What...did you do, exactly? [because depending, it's either saved or utterly ruined]

[enigmaster]

I just did what you said needed to be done. About washing it and drying it and all of that. ...It was a little difficult, but I did my best. [He glances down at his arms for a second. He's not really... built for being careful or precise.]

[agoodname]

[.....welp. He'll just have to see what condition it's in. But for now, he nods.]

Thank you. It's best not to let it soak longer than normal, so it's good that you took care of it.

[enigmaster]

I've never done it before. I don't know if I did it right. [But they're down, now. Edward takes a few extra steps, before he'll set Oswald down. ...Maybe... just a little reluctantly.]

[agoodname]

[Edward is incredibly gentle with him. It's rather encouraging, honestly. And Oswald leans against him, still, while he's getting his bearings and making sure he's balanced enough that he can step back.]

Well. We won't know until we have a look, will we? [the corner of his mouth quirks upwards in amusement]

[enigmaster]

Right. [Yes, right. Edward will just... wait for Oswald to start going so he can follow.]

[agoodname]

[right. In that case, he'll lead the way to the kitchen to see what the damage is on that pelt]

[enigmaster]

[It's... Well, it's a clumsy job, there's no way around that. It's maybe not totally ruined, but it's clearly done by someone with no experience who was maybe a little rougher than is ideal. Edward's... a little nervous.] Is it still okay?

[agoodname]

[Oswald brushes away the salt from the hide so can take a look at it, checking the stretched pelt over, humming a bit. There's one or two spots where the fur is missing and a couple nicks in the hide but...it's not ruined. Not ideal, of course, but...could be a lot worse.

He glances back at Edward]

This was your first time doing this, wasn't it?

[enigmaster]

[He just. Nods. That obvious, huh?]

[agoodname]

[Oswald gives him a smile, then.]

Then you did very well with it, considering there wasn't anyone there to instruct you.