I have begun watching Beauty and the Beast the old television series with Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. Let me tell you, that is quite the experience. First there's the hair and the fantastic late 80's clothing styles--Linda Hamilton has shoulder pads so big she looks like a linebacker. Then there is the over the top "fairy tale-esque" writing. And yet, despite all of that I think I'll probably watch them all. I do have to say though, the drama, and by drama I mean extreme melodrama, is so over the top that I can't even stand it sometimes. And I've only gotten through two episodes. I'm hoping it is like Smallville where it gets better with time instead of Charmed where is just pretty much sucks the whole time.

But that's not actually the point of this. My point, rather, is that I'm in a quandary over whether sleeping with Vincent would be bestiality or not. You see, he is supposed to be a romantic figure and I know that in later seasons they totally have a kid together, so if it is bestiality then Linda Hamilton's Catherine just got a whole lot sketchier. I myself have an inappropriate attraction to all things Ron Perlman, but I find that I am discomfited at certain moments by the sheer animalism of him. Not animalism hot I rip your clothes in my passion, or I lose control protecting you, but I growl and have fangs, and kill people with my claws. You see what it's disturbing?

In the long run I don't suppose any attraction I feel towards Vincent is any more disturbing then, oh the Devil in Legend, but that was a clear-cut case. I am wrong to be attracted to the Lord of Darkness, Tim Curry or not. I know this; I've accepted it. I have inappropriate urges--it's my cross to bear. But Vincent is educated and gentle, and angel not a devil. Does that justify bestiality? If you're born of humans (so we are led to believe) and, despite your animalistic qualities, are human--perhaps just a mutated human--am I allowed to sleep with you? He walks upright; that's an improvement over the werewolf scene in Dracula with Lucy. And he isn't evil, see aforementioned Lord of Darkness comment. He won't lock me in an attic so we're ahead of Mr. Rochester who is all human on the outside and probably he won't strangle me so we're one up on both the Phantom and Darth Vader. Vincent in so many ways is such a better decision than I could (and have) make (made).

And so I propose this question: is it considered bestiality if I sleep with a furry humaniod? This is a modification on my previous positing which asked only if I married a werewolf, but I feel this new phrasing is more all inclusive.

I leave that issue now for another one. This one perhaps less disturbing, perhaps more so--depends on your own comfort level. Vincent is empathic which means he feels everything Catherine does as soon as she does. This makes him great for knowing when she's in danger and coming to help her fight off the bad guys (on a digression he always helps her, but she is kicking ass on her own too which is so awesome) but I'm not sure I want someone who can feel what I can all the time. I mean, perhaps it would be fantastic if he could catch on when I just needed to be [fill in the verb] but aside from that--do I want you to know when I'm moody? Do I want you to know when I'm irrationally angry? I don't think so. I'm very protective of my emotions that way. And Vincent has an incredibly annoying way of always saying "I know" or some variation thereof when talking about her feelings. On the one hand you want to slap him for not knowing, but because he's empathic he really does! Do I still have to talk about my feelings then? It would be really quite exciting not to have to, but can an empath really know all the variations of the emotion? Does he feel it as I feel it? Is he me for just a second? Or does he just get the general sensation with none of the baggage? These are all things that need to be clarified.

For better or worse I doubt I'll be sleeping/marrying/dating a hairy, empathic humaniod anytime soon so probably I'm safe not having an answer to these questions. But I do feel the answers are out there. And they should be found.

What will you do when the beast comes for you?