resort_link | 03 - Public / Video

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03 - Public / Video

[Linda is sitting on a bench in the garden when she activates the feed. she's dressed casually in a coat and jeans, though her right hand visibly has a bandage around it. she looks tired, and she's obviously fallen in some mud at some point today as well]

Anybody else having trouble learning to ride their animals? [there's weariness in her tone. but a thought occurs to her then, and she adds:] Are many people going to be in the race? I know it's optional.

[while the mud is a result of her rocky attempts to learn to ride a "yoshi," her burned hand isn't. it's been a busy day, starting with testing forcefields with Agent K to try to find one like the dome followed by her riding session on the farm. needless to say, relaxing for a bit chatting with friends strikes her as a good way to end an exhausting day]

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Yeah, Belle didn't understand the curse at the time. But it didn't matter much when she was surrounded by wolves. [Linda finds that she's getting into the story now, encouraged by Grainne's interest, and she continues eagerly] You're right--her father did try to bring a rescue, but no one back in the village would believe his story about what had happened. They thought he was crazy. And so he tried to go after her alone, but he got lost in the woods on his way.

Belle did get rescued, though. The Beast went after her himself, fending off the wolves even though they scratched and injured him in the process. He brought her safely back to his castle, and after that display, Belle started to feel like the Beast might not be as beastly as he'd first seemed. She took care of his wounds, and knowing her love for books, he promised her the castle library as a gift. Belle found that, for that moment at least, she didn't mind being the Beast's prisoner so much. The staff even set up a romantic dinner for them to share together, and after they ate dinner, they danced together. It was like the Beast was a gentleman rather than a monster.

But Belle missed her father. She desperately wanted to see him, so the Beast used a magic mirror to let her--and to her horror, she saw him lost in the woods, dying as he tried to find her again. Belle was desperate to save him, and the Beast let her go, giving her the mirror as a gift to remember him by.

Because what Belle didn't know was that the curse on the whole castle was because of the Beast himself. Once he'd been a prince, but he'd been selfish. An enchantress dressed as an old beggar had come to his castle looking for shelter with only a rose to offer him in return, and he'd sent her away. She'd transformed the whole castle, including the Beast, and he had only until his 21st birthday--10 years--to love someone and be loved in return, or he would be trapped as a Beast forever. And this very night was his last night to break the curse. If Belle left now, he'd never be human again. But he didn't say so, and he let her go. [she pauses, watching Grainne for her reaction]

Oh no! [Grainne sits up straighter, eyes growing slightly shiny. The Beast must have loved her, or at least cared for her more than his own well being... It strikes a very deep chord in what was left of Grainne's heart.] Oh, poor Beast... was she falling in love with him?

[she considers that] I think she was, but I don't know what she would have said if you'd asked her then. But believe it or not, everyone's problems were about to get even worse. After her father's wild declarations about the Beast's castle, Gaston decided there was a way to make Belle marry him. He paid off an official--if Belle refused him again, he would have her father committed to an asylum for the rest of his life.

So when Belle did rescue her father and return home with him, Gaston confronted her with his ultimatum. But Belle had other ideas. She used the magic mirror to show the Beast to the people of the village, proving that he was real. Only to Belle's shock, Gaston used the Beast's appearance to stir up a lynch mob. Now the villagers wanted to kill him--and Gaston locked Belle and her father in their basement so they couldn't help. Then he led the mob into the woods to go after the Beast.

[she pauses for breath, having been speaking quickly in her excitement as the events of the story picked up. she doesn't stop for long, though, too eager to share more with Grainne. she's enjoying this now, which is both surprising to her and thrilling, even as the story itself grows more serious]

The villagers made it easily to the Beast's castle, but the staff rallied to protect their home. They used their strange, cursed forms to their advantage and kept most of the mob busy with tricks. But Gaston managed to get past them and made his way to the Beast. And the Beast, thinking he had already lost the only person he had ever cared about, didn't fight back.

[she pauses again here, fully into the story and enjoying seeing Grainne's reactions to the suspense. after all, this is a story that she first heard--saw, really--when she was very young. it's exciting to see someone's reactions who is hearing it for the very first time]

No! [Thoroughly distressed, Grainne places her hands over her face.] Poor Beast... Poor Belle... being treated like property... all to suit someone's vanity!

[Linda falters at Grainne's words--and the emotions behind them. it's easy to get used to a children's story and no longer think about the meaning of it, but she knows that Grainne is absolutely right. not to mention the way the villagers quickly take Gaston's side is nothing short of sick to her, as well]

Yeah, they were being treated like that... But no matter how bad things are, there are always good people out there who will do their best to help. [her tone is firm; she truly believes that] In this case, Chip, the little teacup, had stowed away with Belle when she left the castle. And he was small enough to get out of their prison and smart enough to find a way to free them. So with Chip in tow, Belle and her father rushed back to the castle.

Meanwhile the Beast and Gaston were fighting on the roof. And at the sight of Belle coming to help him, the Beast got his resolve back and easily fended off Gaston. But the Beast had changed since he'd met Belle, and he wasn't a selfish man anymore. He spared Gaston's life, ordering him to leave, and went to meet Belle. Gaston, though, was too awful of a man to let that be the end of it. He came up behind the Beast, stabbing him--a move that cost Gaston his life. [her expression is dark] He slipped and fell from the castle to his death.

But the Beast's wound was bad, and he was dying in Belle's arms. By then, Belle knew exactly how much she loved him. She cried over him, telling him so--at the very last second before the curse became permanent. [Linda breaks out in a smile as she comes to the happy end of the story at last] And then it was broken, restoring the Beast's life and turning him back into a human prince. Overjoyed, Belle kissed him, and everyone and everything in the castle transformed, too, turning back into what--and who--they'd been originally. And from that day forward, Belle and the former Beast were able to live together happily ever after. And... [she pauses, smiling widely] That's the end.

[Grainne gives Linda a slightly astonished look.]

That is the end? They lived together, happily? Everything was all right and they were for the rest of their days? It seems like a miracle they were not killed by Gaston...

[It's hard to wrap her head around. She knows love stories could end happily, at least on an intellectual level, but most of the ones she heard personally ended... well, realistically.]

They must have had a godling or very good luck watching over them. I know mine did not end that way at all. That is amazing, wonderful even. It gives hope...

[Linda frowns at Grainne's surprise] Yeah. I mean...it's a children's story. Don't you know other stories like that?

[she pauses, struggling for words. she's never thought about why this is a normal part of so many children's stories before, so it's not easy for her to come up with a way to describe that reason. after a moment, she says:] It is about hope. Hope is--important. I mean... [she makes a face, not quite sure how to say what she's thinking] What would we do if we stopped believing there was any way for things to turn out okay? We'd just...stop when things got hard. Wouldn't we?

[Grainne looks away for a moment, then down at her hands.]

No, not until I came here. Our stories tend to be based in real events, which do not always have a happy ending, or one that favors any particular person and very often speak of tragedy on all sides. They speak of hope, too. I would even dare to say Belle's story did not turn out a happy one for Gaston.

But then, those who persist in foolishness bring about their own ruin, too. Gaston may have been selfish, and barbaric in some ways, though he also must have been an important member of the community to rally and lead the others so, and feared for the safety of the village. Ignorance and fear are not permanent afflictions, except it was not his ignorance and fear that ended his life, but his lack of mercy.

I have always believed it is important for my children to be prepared for the harsh realities of life that they will face on their own. They would not always win just because they felt themselves just. It has always been my duty as a parent. That does not mean I did not teach them to hope or to stop believing in other people to do the right thing.

Oft, it is believing in others that brings out the best in them. Sometimes that is all that they need.

[She sighs, and drops her hands to grasp the seat on each side of her.]

I suppose when it comes down to it, I could not tell my children stories that were not true, not when their father's ended so badly.

[Linda stares at Grainne for a long moment. she hadn't expected that reaction--hadn't been thinking about this exercise in storytelling nearly so seriously. and she'd had no idea what Grainne might have come from before she came to Blackway, but just that short allusion to her life strikes a chord with Linda. finally she asks, quietly:] You're a mother?

A mother, a grandmother. Great-grandmother... my descendants number thousands. My surviving children founded a clan and spread across the world. Not a one claims me as their founding mother.

[she still doesn't understand how Grainne could be who and what she claims to be--so old and also dead but not. but there's one question that hits Linda before anything else] But...why wouldn't they?

As I said before, not all stories end happily.

[She sighs heavily, discontent.]

You can try to save someone, do something that you absolutely hate to succeed, and be hated by that someone for it.

[Linda moves closer to Grainne on the bench, putting her bandaged hand over one of Grainne's. her voice is quiet when she asks her next question] What happened?

[Grainne looks down, wondering. What did happen? Sometimes, thinking back to those times she wonders if her memory is still remembering things right. Or is she speaking about the more recent happenings? Her words could apply to so many things, she doesn't know how to answer Linda's question right away.]

What always happens when you betray someone, Linda. You can spend the rest of your life trying to make up for it, and still it will not be enough.

[Linda's voice gains strength as she probes further, determined not to let Grainne just sit here and talk ill of herself] But you said whatever you did, you did it to save them. Don't they realize that?

[She shakes her head, frowning a little.]

No. It was necessary to keep the reasons to myself, otherwise it would not work. They stayed true to their father.

That's so sad... [the response is a kneejerk reaction. after that, she's quiet for a moment, taking in what she's been told and struggling to make sense of it]

[when she speaks again, her words start out hesitant but gain strength as she goes] But...even if they'll never know, that doesn't change what you sacrificed for them. You saved them. Right?

I wonder. The path I set them on may have led to their death, but when I averted it, it only set them on another that definitely led them to it. It took a bit longer, but the end, still the same. They died and that time there was nothing I could do about it, because it was a matter of politics and several clans going to war.

[at Grainne's response, she's quick to add:] But intentions are important. We can't know what our actions will bring, not really. You did what you did to save them--no matter what happened after.

[but she frowns, not really sure what else to say without a better understanding of what happened to Grainne and her family] Could you...tell me about it? If it's not...you know, too much to talk about.

[The words linger in her ears for a moment or two, stirring memories she would rather have buried and forgotten again. When is the last time she spoke about it?

Back there, with him?

She sighs, feeling that emptiness again.]

Wait here.

[Standing without waiting for an answer, she leaves swiftly, heading into the resort. After what seems like far too short a time, she is back, holding a thin pamphlet that might have been a book once, labeled The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne.

Grainne sits in her place again, and holds out the book for her to take.]

Here. This tells the entire story. It is not one I will tell myself.

[Linda isn't expecting Grainne to leave suddenly, but she stays where she is, waiting as instructed. and when Grainne returns, she's surprised to be offered a written version of her story. she takes the pamphlet carefully, her words earnest:] I'll read and give it back soon.

[after a pause, she adds:] Thank you. I'm sorry, Grainne.

[Grainne smiles sadly, but thankfully Ian't tearing up.] You have done no wrong, Linda. There is only one person that owes an apology for what happened, and he is long dead.

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03 - Public / Video

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Do you want to finish this out? I think we're close.

yeah

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just gonna use this account

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