Socialized

(Saturday-Sunday Afternoon, July 28th-29th)

"Why did you do that?" Lonnie questions, when she catches up with Ace. "You couldn't give them just one chance to trust you, could you?"

"It's better to be feared first," Ace reasons. "If they're afraid, they'll submit, and then they'll learn to trust you when they realize you're doing what's best for them."

She shakes her head, "Why can't you just skip the whole fear thing? This is the twenty-first century, and you're not real wolves."

Ace halts and then turns towards her with wide eyes, "First things first, never say that wolves are not real wolves."

"I just meant you're socialized," Lonnie explains.

"Wild wolves are social too," he reminds her. "And, secondly, I'm not about to have my first introduction to a valkyrie from the Isle of the Lost raised by one of the most powerful women in history be some friendly gesture she'd perceive as weakness."

"Wait," Lonnie commands. "What?"

Ace takes a moment, "Never mind." before he continues down the sidewalk.

"I thought you said valkyrie," Lonnie pinpoints.

"Did I?"

"You did," she asserts.

"Well, winged people with magic," he excuses. "It's all the same."

"Mal doesn't have wings," she slowly asserts.

"But she's a dragon," Ace evenly replies.

"That doesn't mean she has wings," Lonnie fumes. "I mean, have you ever actually seen her with wings?"

"Sorry," Ace apologizes. "I just assumed that if all of Maleficent's other kids had wings, that Mal would to."

"Other kids?" She grabs his arm, and he turns.

"Ow." She lets go, and he presses his hand hard against the inflamed skin.

"What do you mean, other kids?"

Ace frowns at her, "Maleficent's been alive for hundreds of years. You don't think she had any other children?"

"How do you know she did," Lonnie dismisses, "and how do you know they had wings?"

He raises an eyebrow, "If you had someone nice enough to take you in when you were in danger and had no one else, wouldn't you stay in contact with them?" Lonnie settles, and he answers, "I know, because the Van Dykes know."

Lonnie sighs, "So, who's Mal's father?"

Ace hesitates, "That, I'm not sure."

"Come on," Lonnie encourages. "You have to know something."

He takes a deep breath, "I know that Maleficent has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Hades for the last couple hundred years, but if Mal doesn't have wings…"

"Blue eyes are recessive," she reminds him. "Just because two parents with brown hair and brown eyes have a blue eyed, blond hair child, doesn't mean it's not theirs."

"If Mal doesn't have wings," he continues, "she's not flying souls to the underworld. All of Mal's sisters were valkyries. Without wings she's just some fairy with a heat issue."

"She can breathe fire," Lonnie inputs.

Ace continues to frown, "Good for her." before he turns back around and moves forward.

"Someone's quiet," Mal notices.

"Me?" Lonnie denies, "No."

"I can hold you tighter," she playfully threatens.

"I can leave," Lonnie reminds her.

"Uh, uh," she disagrees. "You're mine, so tell me. What's on your mind?"

"Just something that Ace said," she admits.

Mal lets go of her and sits up, "What did he say?"

Lonnie hesitates, "Well, he said that the Van Dykes told him you're not an only child and that their father was Hades."

"Did he actually say my father was Hades?" Mal frowns.

"No," she admits. "He doesn't think he is."

"Good." Mal's eyebrows raise, "Then he's more reliable than I thought he was."

"You agree with him?"

"Hades isn't my father," she asserts. "I know who my father is."

"You do?" Lonnie's eyes widen.

"Yeah," Mal rolls her eyes. "Some human my mother grew weak for."

"So, you don't know," Lonnie confirms.

"Look." Mal holds Lonnie's arms. "My mom had a really bad break up with Hades before I was even born." She holds up a finger, "And before you even say they could have hooked up afterwards, they did. But that was still three years before I was born, and she hates him so much now. That's why I wasn't even allowed to talk to him. She thought he was going to corrupt me with some sense of morality."

"Morality?" Lonnie unsurely asks. "Isn't Hades like the Greek equivalent of the devil in the Bible?"

"A lot of people think Hades is evil," Mal thoughtfully expresses, "just because his job is to gather souls, but he really isn't. The Underworld isn't Hell. From what I understand, all souls go there, whether they're technically a good or bad person."

"And your mother thinks Hades is a good guy?" Lonnie doubts.

"Hades isn't good or bad." Mal reasons, "He does what needs to be done." She takes a deep breath, "My point is Hades is not my father. For him to be my father, I'd have to be three years older than I am."

"Who else would your dad be?" Lonnie inquires.

Mal shakes her head, as she grins in stress, "Maybe it was Jafar. Or maybe it was the guy Jafar killed, when he decided my mother wasn't allowed to have more than one human." Lonnie gives a look, and Mal explains, "In his head, they were married. I mean, why do you think every outfit of hers covers her hair? In his culture, a woman showing her hair is like showing her body. She wasn't allowed to show it to anyone but her family." Mal eyes off, "And him."

"I thought she was just trying to look intimidating," Lonnie informs.

"No," Mal evenly denies. "She just wore that to keep him happy."

"Didn't I hear someone say Jay's father was bipolar?" she contemplates.

"Yeah," she answers. "When I say happy, I just mean he wasn't killing the guys she was talking to if she was wearing it."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Mal seethes, as she eyes away. "Anyway." She looks back, and a set of lips meet hers. "Lonnie," Mal jumps back.

"You're still with Evie," she realizes.

"I'm pretty sure we talked about that," Mal cautiously comments.

"I'm sorry," Lonnie apologizes.

Mal sees Lonnie's eyes glow, and she relaxes, "It's okay." She hugs her, and Lonnie cries. "It's okay, Lons. I'm not mad." Lonnie cries harder, and Mal feels her skin become hotter. She runs a hand down her long, black hair and feels it as liquid metal, "Lonnie."

"My life isn't going anywhere," she sobs. "It's the same thing every year. I work hard, and I accomplish what I set out to do. It's never enough, and now I might not even be able to do that much." Mal feels herself become uncomfortably warm, and she lets go. "Why should my father want to come home? It's not like I'm the daughter he wanted." She huffs, "He didn't even want a daughter. He wanted a son, but now it's all about how I need to behave like a girl and mind my place. I just need to stay silent and pretty, and some guy will marry me."

"You are pretty," Mal wipes the tears from Lonnie's face.

"But I'm more than that," she shakily breathes.

"You are," Mal agrees, before she brushes the ash from Lonnie's shoulders. Lonnie covers her breasts with her arms, and Mal inquires, "Do you like cold or hot showers?"

"Warm," she settles.

"How did I know you would be here?" Mal says, as she enters the kitchen. Evie turns around, and Mal notices the several flavors of cookies on the island counter. "That's a lot."

"Why are you covered in dust?" she questions in disgust.

"Lonnie," Mal answers. "She's having a tiny bit of a heat issue too, and I was wondering if you could help her for me."

"Help with what?" Evie inquires.

Mal steps forward, "Well, maybe you could make her some clothes won't get holes burned through them?"

"Do you even know how much that would cost?" she disbelieves.

"I'm just asking you to draw up the details," Mal reassures. "You can show it to Lonnie when you have the price and material figured out."

Evie sighs, "Does she even know you're asking me?"

"I just don't want to have to see her get upset this school year and have her clothes start to fall apart in front of everyone," Mal explains. "If she gets mad or upset about something, the last thing she needs is people seeing her half naked."

"Alright," she gives in. "I'll look some things up."

"Oh, good," Mal says, when she walks back into her room. "You found them."

Lonnie frowns, "I hope you don't like these clothes. I can't promise they won't disappear, before I can get them back to you."

"Those," Mal points from the oversized t-shirt to the black sweatpants, "are my painting clothes. "I can get another pair for seven dollars."

"Thank you."

"It's really not a problem," Mal walks towards her and moves Lonnie's hair over a shoulder. "This is, though. Your hair problems are even worse than mine."

"What's wrong with my hair?" Lonnie worries.

"It's going to burn whatever it touches." Mal hums, "I'll have to get Evie to come up with a ponytail for you to use too."

"But ponytails cause hair to break," Lonnie complains. "I just grew this out."

"Don't you mean, I grew it out?" Mal points out, and Lonnie quiets. "It's your choice, but I asked Evie to come up with some clothing ideas that won't turn to ash when you wear it."

"And how much is that going to cost?" Lonnie's frown deepens.

"I don't know," Mal's eyes shift. "Do you have a hundred dollars?"

She counters, "I was saving it—"

"For an emergency," Mal finishes. "I agree. Making sure guys aren't taking pictures of you and passing them around is an emergency."

"Alright," Lonnie takes a deep breath. "I see your point."

"I thought you would." Mal continues, "Anyway, I can't say how much it will be, but it can't be any more expensive than a dress from the mall." She raises an eyebrow, "Seriously. The prices here are insane. I'm sure you'll see Evie's offer as very normal in comparison."

"I'll be getting some back-to-school clothing allowance soon," Lonnie thinks, "but I can't spend all of it on one outfit. My family normally just refurbishes what we already have, and my mom knows I didn't change sizes this year."

"Cool it," Mal sets her hands on Lonnie's shoulders. "Evie said she'll do the research. You can tell her any concerns you might have afterwards."

Lonnie murmurs, "Okay." and Mal smiles.

"You might think your life hasn't changed," she inputs, "but I can see the power and strength you've gained since I got here."

- Posted: 01/27/2020