IMO, this is one of the best rec weeks we've ever had at ER, and I wanted to contribute something extra-fabulous to the mix. I've been saving this rec for a special occasion, as it's one of the best stories I've ever read. Enjoy!

Title: A Man of Stature
Fandom: Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Pairing: Gaston/OFC
Categories: angst, romance, Harlequin, drama, AU
Length: epic
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: n/a?
Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/289469/TrudiRose

Review:
In Just Rewards, the prequel to A Man of Stature, the story of Disney's Beauty and the Beast veers in a very different direction than what happened in the movie and in the end, thanks to a return appearance of the Enchantress, Gaston is not the man he once was. Now he has ten years to learn to love a woman and earn her love in return or...well, you know how the story goes.

If you read my review of TrudiRose's Picture This, you already know that she has a real gift for finding the human side of Gaston. Plus, you know, she's a fabulous writer (one of my favorite fanfic authors) with an impressive knowledge of her canon and a brilliant eye for clever parallels between the original story and her own works.

A Man of Stature highlights all of these talents, as a transformed Gaston sets off into the world, determined to find that woman who loves him and can change him back. Even if he has to chat up a hundred women a day! Every day! For years! Which is just one of the many things I love about this story -- Gaston is not the Beast, and he's not going to react to the curse in the same way. None of this hiding in a castle, waiting to die nonsense. Why, you almost never meet girls that way! Instead, Gaston makes a plan and sticks to it, through thick and thin and myriad disappointments and setbacks. Even after he meets the girl of his dreams, things don't go smoothly, which is my favorite aspect of the story. After all, even a changed Gaston is still Gaston, and there is no way his path to true love could ever run smoothly.

A unique, wonderful fairy tale adventure, perfect for anyone who has loved any version of Beauty and the Beast.

(Note: I've linked to Just Rewards, but I'm not reccing it because, while it is well written and interesting, it's also really, really unpleasant as it explores all of Gaston's worst sides. If you choose not to read it, it will not impact your ability to enjoy A Man of Stature.)

Just Rewards (ff.net)
A Man of Stature (ff.net)