Prompt: His father had said he’d only be gone a few days. And yet, a week had since passed and there was no word. Niles said not to worry. Said he would be fine, he was probably just delayed by the weather. Niles told him to wait, stay at home, tend to the farm.
Connor does not care to listen to Niles.
He sets out early before his brother awakens and made for the road his father had taken. The forest it leads through is treacherous, twisting and winding, the path much changed since Connor had travelled it as a boy. And much more dangerous, too. The weather turns foul, the snow and wind batter him and eventually he loses his bearings completely. He thinks back to his brother’s words, considers that he should have heeded his advice. He thinks of his father and despairs of never seeing him again. He doesn’t want to die, wandering lost and alone in this winter landscape. But as he begins to succumb to the cold, as the numbness takes hold and he resigns himself to his fate, a gate comes into view. An lavish, ornate construct, clearly man-made, clearly belonging to someone of means. And to his great wonder, it opens for him when he approaches. The house beyond is grander than anything he had ever seen, a towering edifice of iron and stone on sprawling, well-kept grounds. The snow coats it all giving it a bleak, monochrome look. Connor hesitated for a moment, intimidated by the size and foreboding aura of the place. But he is lost and cold and tired from his wandering and so approaches the monolithic entrance, determination in his steps.
His knocking yields no answer but the door gives way when he pushes against it. Immediately, a blessed warmth assaults him and without thought he steps inside, relieved to have found refuge against the storm. “Hello?” he calls to the empty entrance hall. But there is no answer. The wall sconces are lit, there is definitely someone here. And yet, they were nowhere to be found. And then he sees it, his father’s cloak, hung there beside the entrance.
Connor searches, calling out for the occupant of this manor — castle? — calling out for his father, calling out to anybody. At times, he swears he hears movement behind him but no one is ever there when he turns. Eventually, he climbs up to a darker wing, the air here cold and dry. And faintly, there is the sound of coughing in the distance. He rushes ahead, still calling out and finally, a response! “Connor?!”
His father’s voice!
“I’m here! I’m here, father!” And there he is, his aged face looking wan in the low light, his shivering apparent and his hands ice cold. And what’s more, he is locked away behind iron bars. A prisoner. “Hold on, I’ll find a way to get you out of there!”
“No, Connor, you have to get out of here! Run, now!”
“You think I would leave you here? No! I’ve been searching for you! I’ll find a way to release you!”
But a raspy voice comes from behind them. “It’s seems to me as if you have no authority here, trespasser.” Connor turns, startled, and beholds...
Beholds...
A monster.
Or! The Beauty and the Beast inspired AU with Connor as as the village outcast, Hank as his eccentric father, Gavin as a horrifying beast and Nines as the one leading the charge against him to get his brother back. (Plus other assorted furniture characters.)
