Ok, I actually do have a massive soft spot for dance sequences (probably because no one has ever taken me dancing in my life) but it seems like every Beauty and the Beast adaptation post-Disney has felt obliged to have one -- I mean, look -- Pathe's La Belle et La Bete, Golden Film's Beauty and the Beast, Alex Flinn's Beastly, dozens of plays and picture books, and that friggin' Disney AU fic of a show, Once Upon a Time. If it weren't a cliche I probably would have tried to shoehorn one in, but the poor Beast, he's already got enough sore spots. Let's let him off the hook this once.
I love how much of an effort he makes to act human, even when it's hard for him. (I think skipping the obligatory dance scene, at least here, was a good call. Dude needs a break.)
No dance scene for you, Beauty, though I bet you could join him for his early morning run (or for an early morning ride if you ask nicely).
But what else of interest would be in the ballroom? Actually, he didn't affirm that they were going there at all...
(And Beast's wardrobe continues to lighten up, I'd say pretty much to where protoBeast's was. I'm still holding out for that beachcomber outfit by The End...)
I suppose it is the dog aspect of the menagerie that is Beast. His tail has gotten away from him and is doing what he will not give his other limbs permission to.
I don't mind there being no dance sequence in this version. Prior to Disney, most retellings didn't have one (the 1987 film version starring Rebecca de Mornay and John Savage is the rare exception, and even then the main characters don't dance together--they have a musical sequence where each imagines they're dancing with the other.), and now it's just kind of expected. Disney in part had the ballroom scene to show off what they could do with early CGI, having hand drawn characters exist in a digitally created environment. Unfortunately now it's overdone and it's occasionally refreshing to see retellings without one just for a change of pace.
I don't mind no dance scene. Besides at the back of my mind I've wondered how Beast could dance in the movies with those legs of his. Your reasoning gives a good reason not to dance.
Flabbergasted at Beast's instant clothes here!
Any one else?!
Ms. Megan, where did he change into a set of clothes? And I do hope it wasn't in front of Beauty…
Hi! yes, we've had a scene change with some time passing between the last page and now. If that's coming across unclear, I'll make a note to expand a bit in the print edition.
It's likely Implied that some time has passed because he and Beauty are in a completely different room? I'd think them mentioning the room they were in might key in to that. I could be wrong though. It seems far too large for the room they were sleeping in though- even if it does share large windows and even flooring.
The room they were in seemed more like a smaller emptier study for the Beast. And besides- there's always magic to bring clothes and stuff!
I'm betting beast got dressed, and then just decided to walk through the ballroom on the way to some other place he wished to Show her.or could be in the ballroom itself.
No. He was trained for being at the court. There is no way he does not know how to Dance. I think it was even mentioned him taking Dance lessons between the other education things.
I'm caught up. I'm caught up, god dammit. Why did I stay up much too late reading this from the beginning for the first time instead of taking my time going through it? Why does my heart still hurt? Why do my eyes want to cry more? WHY DID I GET CAUGHT UP?! :'(
The love! The love and the magic and the chase and the questions and the absolute lack of reality. Why can't this be reality? Why do magic and love such as this not exist? And why does my heart want this when I've worked so hard to be emotionally healthy and they are clearly NOT in an emotionally healthy situation?!?!
I just got to the party and you're killing me, Megan! KILLING ME!!!!
Sorry. Dramatic. I love this comic. You're an amazing artist and writer. Thank you.
At a calmer glance...I absolutely love how Beast's tail is positioned behind Beauty as a man would have his hand on a woman's lower back while he guides her somewhere. I'm not sure if that's your intention or if I'm even explaining that right with how tired I am but that's how it makes me feel and I love it.
I also love how much of a gentleman Beast is. I've yet to meet a man with enough gentleness within him to be called Beast. <3
As, so no dance scene in this version. That's alright, though! This answers the question of what his preferred mode of walking is. I wasn't sure if he could just switch at will, or if there was some magic involved that made his shape reflect whichever mind (the beast or the man) was most dominant at the time. The fact that he trained himself to walk upright, though it hurts him to do so for long periods of time, works well, though. Also, as a random note, I like his tail curling towards her in the last panel.
