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Author's note: These are letters from Gaston to Drizella Trémaine (I have chosen to use Drizzie's French name, Javotte, here.)
Ma chère Mademoiselle de Trémaine,
I hope this letter finds you well! We have had our first snow down here, but the cold hasn’t quite set in yet. How is the weather in Paris this time of year?
I have been able to write a little more each day, and my hands are getting stronger. Mrs Potts lets me walk all the way to the garden now. Of course, I’ll always have a limp, but it really is a miracle that I can walk again anyway, after that fall. Chip has kept up with our lessons, and says he will make a decent calligrapher out of me yet. (I am not so sure.) Please excuse the wobbliness of my handwriting. I have gotten sadly out of practice.
We are halfway through Androcles and the Lion now, Chip and I. I think you would love the story, Javotte. It does have a lion in it, of course, but he’s as gentle as a lamb and a great friend to this Androcles fellow, so I’m sure you wouldn’t mind him at all.
We just finished a book I know you’ll love, so I have wrapped it with the letter so that you may keep and enjoy it. It is called Bambi. I must admit the storyline was terribly sad and I cried, but it was well worth it.
I hope your mother has recovered. Mrs Potts wanted to send some of her herbal infusions with my letter and the book. She says they will do your mother a world of good. At any rate, nothing could be as vile as the tinctures the physician prepared for her, I’m sure. Mrs Potts’ infusions are starting to grow on me, I think.
When I think of how I swore at her when she first took me in! Oh, Javotte, I am so ashamed. When she has done nothing but care for me all these months as if I were her son—the memory of my foul temper and ingratitude toward her stings worse than all the pain of cracked ribs or twisted limbs. She has the kindest heart in all of France, and I don’t deserve a drop of it.
But, do you know, Chip has begun calling me his big brother now? Imagine that! He says that if he is a little teacup, then I am a whopping great mug of hot cider. I must admit I am fond of cider, once in a while—ah, don’t scold me, I know you like it too!
When your mother is well enough, Javotte, we would love to welcome you to the country again. Mrs Potts says the guest chambers are always dusted, and she always has a pot of tea ready on the stovetop—you know how she is. Your company is sorely missed, and I’m sure the weather must be miserable in Paris. But I hope this letter brings you a smile. I like to imagine you smiling.
Give your family my fondest regards,
Cher Monsieur LeGume,
Thank you kindly for your letter! Paris is indeed rainy and miserable, and Maman and I would love the clean air of the country, but we cannot travel at the moment. Unfortunately Maman’s cough has not subsided, but Mrs Potts’ tea has helped her sleep. Please thank her on our behalf.
Bambi is proving quite enjoyable indeed! I read it in the evenings when the light becomes too dim for my needlework. Maman pretends not to listen, but she scolded me the other day for reading ahead without her, so I know she enjoys it too. Would you send us Androcles when you have finished with him? I should not be afraid of a lion if you sent him.
Oh, and I have good news! You would remember I told you of my sister Anastasie, of course? She has been living at the palace as one of her highness’s ladies-in-waiting for nearly a year now, but it’s soon to end—she’s to be married in the spring, to an adorable local baker as fat as old Maurice. Of course he hasn’t a sou in his coffers and Maman is not too pleased, but I think it’s a romantic notion. They’ll have bread, and his little cottage, and each other—and that’s really all that matters, isn’t it?
Perhaps after the wedding we can pay Mrs Potts a visit. It would be wonderful to see you all again.
Ah, Gaston, I share your pain. Her highness has been more than kind to us here, after we treated her so cruelly. She even offered me a position at the palace, along with Anastasie, but Maman is still so proud. She would never accept her highness’s charity and I cannot leave my own mother to pine away alone in this old house. So I declined her offer. We do not see each other often, sometimes we bump into each other at market, but she is always gracious. I only wish I had come to my senses earlier, when we were still young, when there was still a chance to be sisters, to be friends...
But I’m proud of your writing efforts, Monsieur Gaston—and yes, you bring me so many smiles. Please, do continue. I look forward to your letters, wobbly words and all. I should be so much lonelier here without them.
I wish you all well. Maman would too, but she is in a temper of gloom this morning and doesn’t want to be disturbed. Ah, and before I forget—if Chip is tea and you are cider, then I am a glass of chilled lime cordial—though in this weather, I would find a whopping great mug of hot cider ten times more welcome. The rain is cold enough as it is!
Ma chère Mademoiselle de Trémaine,
I hope this letter finds you well! We have had our first snow down here, but the cold hasn’t quite set in yet. How is the weather in Paris this time of year?
I have been able to write a little more each day, and my hands are getting stronger. Mrs Potts lets me walk all the way to the garden now. Of course, I’ll always have a limp, but it really is a miracle that I can walk again anyway, after that fall. Chip has kept up with our lessons, and says he will make a decent calligrapher out of me yet. (I am not so sure.) Please excuse the wobbliness of my handwriting. I have gotten sadly out of practice.
We are halfway through Androcles and the Lion now, Chip and I. I think you would love the story, Javotte. It does have a lion in it, of course, but he’s as gentle as a lamb and a great friend to this Androcles fellow, so I’m sure you wouldn’t mind him at all.
We just finished a book I know you’ll love, so I have wrapped it with the letter so that you may keep and enjoy it. It is called Bambi. I must admit the storyline was terribly sad and I cried, but it was well worth it.
I hope your mother has recovered. Mrs Potts wanted to send some of her herbal infusions with my letter and the book. She says they will do your mother a world of good. At any rate, nothing could be as vile as the tinctures the physician prepared for her, I’m sure. Mrs Potts’ infusions are starting to grow on me, I think.
When I think of how I swore at her when she first took me in! Oh, Javotte, I am so ashamed. When she has done nothing but care for me all these months as if I were her son—the memory of my foul temper and ingratitude toward her stings worse than all the pain of cracked ribs or twisted limbs. She has the kindest heart in all of France, and I don’t deserve a drop of it.
But, do you know, Chip has begun calling me his big brother now? Imagine that! He says that if he is a little teacup, then I am a whopping great mug of hot cider. I must admit I am fond of cider, once in a while—ah, don’t scold me, I know you like it too!
When your mother is well enough, Javotte, we would love to welcome you to the country again. Mrs Potts says the guest chambers are always dusted, and she always has a pot of tea ready on the stovetop—you know how she is. Your company is sorely missed, and I’m sure the weather must be miserable in Paris. But I hope this letter brings you a smile. I like to imagine you smiling.
Give your family my fondest regards,
Cher Monsieur LeGume,
Thank you kindly for your letter! Paris is indeed rainy and miserable, and Maman and I would love the clean air of the country, but we cannot travel at the moment. Unfortunately Maman’s cough has not subsided, but Mrs Potts’ tea has helped her sleep. Please thank her on our behalf.
Bambi is proving quite enjoyable indeed! I read it in the evenings when the light becomes too dim for my needlework. Maman pretends not to listen, but she scolded me the other day for reading ahead without her, so I know she enjoys it too. Would you send us Androcles when you have finished with him? I should not be afraid of a lion if you sent him.
Oh, and I have good news! You would remember I told you of my sister Anastasie, of course? She has been living at the palace as one of her highness’s ladies-in-waiting for nearly a year now, but it’s soon to end—she’s to be married in the spring, to an adorable local baker as fat as old Maurice. Of course he hasn’t a sou in his coffers and Maman is not too pleased, but I think it’s a romantic notion. They’ll have bread, and his little cottage, and each other—and that’s really all that matters, isn’t it?
Perhaps after the wedding we can pay Mrs Potts a visit. It would be wonderful to see you all again.
Ah, Gaston, I share your pain. Her highness has been more than kind to us here, after we treated her so cruelly. She even offered me a position at the palace, along with Anastasie, but Maman is still so proud. She would never accept her highness’s charity and I cannot leave my own mother to pine away alone in this old house. So I declined her offer. We do not see each other often, sometimes we bump into each other at market, but she is always gracious. I only wish I had come to my senses earlier, when we were still young, when there was still a chance to be sisters, to be friends...
But I’m proud of your writing efforts, Monsieur Gaston—and yes, you bring me so many smiles. Please, do continue. I look forward to your letters, wobbly words and all. I should be so much lonelier here without them.
I wish you all well. Maman would too, but she is in a temper of gloom this morning and doesn’t want to be disturbed. Ah, and before I forget—if Chip is tea and you are cider, then I am a glass of chilled lime cordial—though in this weather, I would find a whopping great mug of hot cider ten times more welcome. The rain is cold enough as it is!
Tell your "little brother" Chip I send him a kiss!
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This is my entry for Disney-club's Disney Villains Gone Good contest! I know others have submitted entries with Gaston, but Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Disney movie and I've had this idea since the contest was announced (originally it was going to be a picture but I just can't draw fast XD) and thought it was too good to go to waste. Plus, Chip is so sweet, how could I not write something with him in it? 
All comments, questions, critiques, confused emoticons, etc., are very welcome! I promise I will reply to all eventually.
Backstory: Takes place after events of BatB and Cinderella (sequels don't count). A wounded Gaston was taken in by Mrs Potts, and Madame Trémaine fell ill and had to be tended by her eldest daughter. The physician advised a trip to the countryside--this is how the Potts, LeGumes and Trémaines all met each other.
I have used Drizella's French name here, Javotte de Trémaine, because honestly, who would name their daughter something that sounds like melted sleet? Especially someone as posh as her mother.
Super-Mini French-English dictionary: sou = penny, Maman = Mother, ma chère/mon cher = my dear, mademoiselle = miss, Javotte = Drizella, Anastasie = Anastasia
I do have an idea for their next letters. So should I continue? What do you think?
© 2014 - 2024 Riorlyne
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I was going thru my faves and ran across this again. It is so cool, you ought to do more! 
