{UNCLE} Knows Best, TAGGED: M. D'Arque {AU}

[Belle]

It had been tough in the beginning, but as a young child, the loss of her father, mother, and baby brother had been too much to handle, and young Belle was left with the problem of who she would be in the care of...and her uncle, by God knows what reason took her in. Now, it must be known that her uncle was not the most well liked of people, but he did seem to care for Belle, if even a little.
Years of course went on, and Belle was a young, bright eyed and intelligent woman, passing her time with reading and dreaming of adventure in far off places; somewhere more exciting then this! Books had been her greatest passion since she was a child, and her uncle was more then willing to get her any of the books she desired, since he could not stand people who were...as he so many a times put it; stupid or dimwitted.

Leaving the little house they lived in early that morning, Belle intended to pick up another set of books she requested on hold, when she had gotten distracted, and not on purpose, or of her own accord by Gaston. She had to endure listening to him brag about his latest kill, and how many he skinned the very next day. That did not impress her, and he was taking up her time when she needed to return back to her uncle! Excusing herself and knowing that she was going to be late, Belle returned home without her books in hand, and began to make dinner, since he would be hungry when he returned...of he was not home already of course....

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Of course, D'Arque almost never left until dusk, sunset at the earliest. He didn't want to be caught up in too much daily traffic in the streets, especially since he wasn't exactly everyone's favorite person in town. Even though the streets would be cleared anyway to make way for him (in fear of getting within three feet of the man), D'Arque liked to travel by night, anyway. Of course, it didn't exactly benefit his niece, who had to wait at home by herself for a few hours before he came. Nonetheless...

The streets were mostly clear at about sunset, so D'Arque had no problem whatsoever getting to the small house on the hill in a quick manner. For the few people that still dared to remain on the streets, he gave icy glares, for no one could be within the range of Monsieur D'Arque without even the threat of being locked up. The rumors had spread throughout the town about how D'Arque tortured his inmates and made them die long, agonizing deaths, and none of them could ever possibly believe how a beautiful young woman such as Belle could be related to him, however indirectly.

However, when D'Arque entered the house, the coldness of his features melted away and a neutral, tired expression appeared on his face instead, like that of a tired actor finally breaking character.

"Belle?" he called out, before spotting her in the kitchen. "Oh, there you are. I'm sorry I'm late tonight. It's just that there's more folks out in the streets past dark than I remembered." He hung his coat up on the rack before returning to his niece. "You're making dinner? Well, you didn't have to. I could have made it myself, although it'd be barely more than simply edible." He paused for a moment, taking a glance over at Belle. "Something's on your mind," he commented, raising an eyebrow at Belle's seemingly distant expression.

[Belle]

The young woman had begun to peel away the skin on the potatoes she had bought, intending to make her uncle a very fine meal of steak, potatoes, carrots and salad...all in the hopes of getting him on his good side; since, only she herself had ever seen his good side! Well, if one could ever call it that...Belle had been so wrapped up in her thoughts of what she wanted to ask of her uncle, that when she heard him enter from the kitchen door, Belle turned quickly to see that he appeared to be quite tired from his day.
Belle of course was not a fool when it came to the rumors which circulated around the village of her living arrangement with someone like her uncle..true, it had not been her first choice, but it was the fact that he chose her, as if he truly wanted her, that made Belle forever grateful to him. "Evening Uncle, I hope your not too tired. Come and sit, I have some tea already prepared." Belle motioned to the table, and brought the hot tea over.

Pouring her uncle a cup, and allowing the food to cook on the stove and within the oven, Belle gingerly sat down, and made sure he was comfortable before beginning. "Uncle, you know that I am to be twenty two soon, since my birthday is a week away...and, well, I was wondering if perhaps, since I am an adult now, that the curfew could perhaps be lifted?" Belle inquired of him as she looked slightly nervous. Her uncle ran his house, home, asylum and her curfew within an iron grip, so she was slightly fearful that he might fly off the handle at such a request, but Belle felt not harm in asking, since asking was of course always free...she just hoped he would comply.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

"Evening Uncle, I hope your not too tired. Come and sit, I have some tea already prepared."

D'Arque smiled.

"Why, thank you, Belle... so polite, so reasonable... No one's reasonable, anymore. I raised you right," he added with a calm smirk. He then added, "I'm sorry, it's just that, with the people I have to deal with on a daily basis... You don't know how relieved I am to come home and find you here, as beautiful and intelligent as always... although I am pretty sure you didn't inherit my looks." He chortled, obviously in an attempt to make himself feel jovial. "But I digress... thank you for the tea, by the way... what was it on your mind?"

"Uncle, you know that I am to be twenty two soon, since my birthday is a week away...and, well, I was wondering if perhaps, since I am an adult now, that the curfew could perhaps be lifted?"

Contrary to Belle's prediction, however, D'Arque remained calm. He sipped his tea while contemplating what to do, before he decided to toy with her a little bit.

"Well, funny you should mention that... since I have been taking some time to think about that as well. Seeing as though I trust you enough... You appear to have matured quite a bit... Didn't go running off with anyone too recklessly... Hmm... I considered it, but then... Ah..." D'Arque pretended to be deep in thought. "Well, there was that one time... Didn't quite turn out as I had expected... Although... No. That couldn't possibly..." He kept her in suspense for a little while longer, until he finally said, "It would all depend on... how good the dinner is," he teased. "As you can tell, I'm in quite a fairly good mood tonight, despite the long day. You picked a good day to try and persuade me, Belle." He tapped her softly on the nose with a rare warm smile.

[Belle]

Belle sat down, a little nervous. She was always complaint and listened to what he would ask of her...didnt she deserve a little more freedom? Her eyes turned a little sad as she knew he was going to say no. He wasnt going to let her have more freedom or lift the curfew. She was a woman, but was treated like a child, and yes it did bother her from time to time, and of course his answer was...what!? Belle lifted her gaze and stared at him. Was he serious? Depending on her dinner, he would allow it!

Bell rose quickly from her chair and prepared a plate for him, before setting it down eagerly in his direction, before regaining her spot on the chair once more. Never had she ever hoped for a dinner to taste better then the rest! It wasnt like her meals were never that good, but when it came to the choice of freedom, Belle was praying harder then ever that nothing was going to be wrong with her meal. Chewing her bottom lip slightly, Belle was nervous as she tried to eat her own small portion, but was finding it hard to stomach it without worry, so she decided to talk instead. "How was your day Uncle? What did you get up to? Any more mischief?" Belle teased from looking over her fork and gave him a playful wink. They both knew that out of them both, that she was the most mischief! But, well, not too mischief to cause her Uncle any worry of course.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

D'Arque's normally stoic face twitched into a smile as he saw Belle's surprised expression.

"Oh, Belle! I guessed that's how you were going to react. You really did think I would still say no?" he chortled. "Yes, I've done some thinking up at the office, and I really do think you've..." He trailed off, realizing Belle had already left to get him his plate. D'Arque chuckled to himself until she had returned, setting the plate in front of him.

Playing along with her game, he eyed the food curiously, before taking a small bite, intentionally taking a particularly long time (to create suspense), to poor Belle's dismay. Finally, after about thirty seconds, he ate the bit of food off the fork, chewing it for a few moments before eying Belle again. Swallowing, he asked her, "Why do you look so nervous? I was only joking. Of course you can. All you had to do was say please," he teased, giving Belle a rare warm smile (of course, she was the only one he had ever smiled at - rumors would swirl if he smiled in public) as he dug into the rest of his food.

"How was your day Uncle? What did you get up to? Any more mischief?"

"Aha! Mischief! Such a loosely thrown-about word!" he laughed after he had swallowed several more bites of his dinner. "But... the usual. Captures, inmates, cleaning out the pens... something I do NOT do, by the way..." He winked at her. "And, when it's all done... paying the bills and throwing the garbage in the sewer. Very boring, if you think about it, but it has to be done, you know? Of course, who am I to talk? I just pay the bills!"

[Belle]

Honestly, in all truth, she did expect him to say no, and that she was only permitted to remain in the house as she had done so for years on end. But Belle was pleasantly surprised by her uncle's change of heart, and was more then grateful that he would allow her such a treat. "Thank you Uncle, you know I will still obey your word. But this is such a treat!" Belle smiled warmly, as she gingerly began to eat her own hot meal as well.

Her uncle was old and frail, and she always had it in her mind that he should have the most food, the warmer blankets, and the most rest he could achieve out of a day...without him, Belle had no one and she was most grateful to him for all he had done for her when she was a small child. Although his reputation was quite cold and hard, Belle knew better then that, and knew of the soft, warm man that lay underneath his cold shell. After all, didnt this little gift of kindness prove such a heart in him existed?

Belle laughed at his day and commented, "Well dear Uncle, we could trade our days; you can remain here, puttering away little house hold chores, cook meals and make the beds, and I can take care of your inmates, cleaning their pens and paying the bills." She teased him, since Belle knew very well that her uncle would have her locked away in a tower before he would ever let her do such a dirty job.

But, Belle did love to tease him about it.