At any rate, I have an important question that I need answered with regards to a story I've been writing. No plots will be revealed, but I may post it here sooner or later.

Question:

Part 1: In Beauty and the Beast, if the Beast had not been able to turn into a human at the end, is the love between Belle and the Beast still valid?

Part 2: If the Beast cannot transform but they stay together anyhow, does that make Belle some kind of a sicko?

Part 3: If the love story is no longer valid simply because he doesn't transform then why, in the original version, is the the love story valid before he transforms?

Part 1: In Beauty and the Beast, if the Beast had not been able to turn into a human at the end, is the love between Belle and the Beast still valid?

Now, I may be a total moron or something, but I'm not quite sure what you mean by "valid". xD Like, is their love still true? If that's what you mean, then I believe YES, their love is still valid. I mean, Belle didn't love the Beast for what he was...but because of WHO he was. Once the Beast finally learned to cope with himself, and Belle got through all that fur, muscle, and gruffness, they finally saw the trueness of each other's hearts. And in a way, it kind of shows that it shouldn't really matter what you look like on the outside. It truly is the inside that counts!

Part 2: If the Beast cannot transform but they stay together anyhow, does that make Belle some kind of a sicko?

I think that would probably break some social boundaries, but...who are we to decide each other's morals? :D If they love each other, then it shouldn't matter! (Plus, I don't think any of the villagers would see anyway, with them being secluded in the Beast's private castle. :D But again, it all depends on YOUR story and the world that YOU created!! People's views and ways don't have to be the same there as it is here in Earth. If you want, you could make it totally acceptable for people to love..., er..., beasts. Or you could make beasts an anathema. It all depends on how YOU want YOUR story to go, and which direction you want it to turn!)

Part 3: If the love story is no longer valid simply because he doesn't transform then why, in the original version, is the the love story valid before he transforms?

Well, since I thought that even if wasn't valid, Belle's love would be true, I guess maybe if it wasn't valid either way, she would only love him because she's a golddigger or something? xDD I have no idea. But that doesn't seem like Belle to be that kind of person. I think their love would be true, whether the Beast remained a beast or not! ^-^

Would you believe that in all the people I've been talking to about this (msn, phone conversations, face-to-face with friends) you're only the second person to suggest that? Hit me like a hammer when I first started to think about it.

Still, that's not the point of the story. In the story, the other characters will not have a very understanding view of the situation. In the story, the point is that the two characters would die to save the other despite their outside differences.

The main point I'm trying to get at is this: I'm trying to decide whether these characters should have an inseparable friendship or something more intimate. I already know exactly how the characters would feel about it. What I need to know is, if I chose to go a more intimate rout, would anyone read it? Would anyone agree with it? Would I be branded as some sort of sicko myself?

I'm starting to think the preparation for this story alone is getting to be more stress than it's worth ._. Methink's I'm not cut out for writing romance.

In the end I think it's how you deliver it that will determine whether it's sick or not.

Not everything has to be a romance, Q.

Girlbrainiac

Heh, believe it or not this is the first story I've tried to write that has come even close to romance...

The beast had an animal guise, but he is an adult male within. He is fully capable of making an informed decision.

Of course, some people might not think that way and might just be grossed out by the whole kissing-something-with-a-wet-nose-and-fangs thing.

**... That's just... Ewwww....

Girlbrainiac

I mentioned the whole ** thing to give my opinion on why some people might be grossed out by the concept. That is all.

I agree with Cornucopia of Love, I think it will depend on the world/characters you create, and how you handle the intimacy between them. If it is really explicit then you might gross people out, but then I have found some really weird stuff lately that hasn't had beasts in it at all.

I think you should just write it how you want to first, and if that involves a romantic relationship between Belle and the Beast, go for it and then make your decision about whether you like it or not. Then let a friend you can trust read it and see what they think.

Not sure if this is a good idea or not, but if you come across Angela Carter's short story collection 'The Bloody Chamber' there are some stories in there where she has human girls fall in love with beasts and they weren't repulsive. Might be helpful, or might influence your own ideas a bit too much.

Let me know what happens anyway, I'm curious now.

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