Beauty and the Beast AND more Cups

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

I know we have talked about this before, but I was reading Beauty and the Beast the other day and was struck again by how similar QoA is, but with various things inverted.  Even up to the point where Beauty only realizes her love for the Beast when she thinks he's died, and she agrees to marry him then.  Just as Attolia realized her love for Gen when she thinks he's died... Although In the Gen/Attolia relationship, I usually see the Beast as Irene and Gen as Beauty, it's just occurred to me that it really goes both ways, doesn't it?

ANYWAY, my question is this: Beauty agreed to marry the Beast when she realized that she loved him despite his exterior.  It was before his transformation, though.  But does Irene realize she loves Gen despite his exterior?  She has agreed to marry him earlier than this. Now she knows she loves him.  But his transformation still hasn't taken place, if we're following the progression of Beauty and the Beast.  So, so, so. What transformation does he go through?  I have ideas, but I want to hear yours.  :-)

Also, is there a similar moment from Gen's perspective, where he worries Attolia might have died and decides to marry her then?  Or is that looking for things too literally?

p.s.
ALSO, She thinks her new bridegroom has been poisoned unintentionally, just as she poisoned her first...  AND OMG WHAT IS IT it's another cup.  Which has tipped over.  And cracked on the floor.  In the cups=countries symbolism that elvenjaneite brought up a while ago, that's another instance, maybe?