Title: Bittersweet and Strange
Author: fujiidom/Maura
Rating: R for violence/death/kissing. (Yeah, IDEK.)
Word Count: ~9,200
Disclaimer: It's a rental.
Summary: she_burns1's prompt was for a semi-cracky fic retelling of Beauty and the Beast but with Sheldon/Penny.

A/N: The Holiday Swap has turned juniperlane into Batman and she saved me along with everyone else. Holy first-born child, I owe you. As for the story, just suspend your disbelief and know that this was done somewhat tongue-in-cheek, since the drama is heightened to crazy levels for effect, as any good Disney movie knows is key. The style this was written also jumps around, mostly on purpose, since I tried to melt the concept of a fairy tale down (somewhat literally) to become a bit more realistic over the course of the story. And as for the plot, just pretend like the apartment complex is ten stories (which is unverified, but likely untrue) and the guys have never met Penny because a year and a half earlier than planned (or achieved), Sheldon met his one of his idols, setting this AU into motion. Sorry it's a bit belated (it's still the 26th somewhere, right?) but this just kept getting longer and longer! I hope you enjoy it, regardless.

( Once upon a time, in the not too distant land of Southern California, a young man lived in a fairly adequate apartment complex and cared only for the ingenious thoughts that raced through his brilliant mind. )