Conditioning (Thursday Night, July 12th)
"Thank you for coming, Lucinda," Belle says after opening the door.
Fairy Godmother steps inside, "It's no issue. Really."
"I just know if anyone can get through to him, it's you," she says.
She holds up a hand, "You don't need to explain. It's important that he's separated from Ben while he's got this line of thinking."
"Me?" Jay disbelieves. "Ben's the problem here."
Fairy Godmother turns to him and smiles, "Nice to see you too. How are things?"
"You're not going to get me to change my mind," he asserts.
"For your sake," her eyebrows raise, "I hope you're wrong."
Fairy Godmother glances at Jay crossing his arms, before she faces the road again, "Would you like to tell me what your plan was?"
"Last year Ben was avoiding garlic like the plague," Jay irritably responds. "Turns out it's just too spicy. The fuck? I thought he was allergic."
"So, you were going to kill him through anaphylactic shock," she assumes.
"Through what?" Jay gives her a confused look.
"Through his presumed allergy," she elaborates. "You thought he would die from eating the garlic."
"I guess," he mumbles.
"And then what?"
"And then… what?" he questions.
"What were you going to do after you killed him?" she inquires. "Surely, you know the police would thoroughly investigate the death of a royal—the country's king, no less."
"Nothing," Jay evenly responds. "I'd let them do their job."
"And if they figured out it was you?" she questions.
He continues to stare out the window, "People are stupid. They'd probably just think it was the cook."
"But if they did find it was you?" she asks again, but he's unable to answer.
A minute passes, and Jay says, "Wouldn't it be easier to take me back to the Isle?"
"We're not giving up on you that easily," Fairy Godmother immediately answers. "You're a victim of your circumstances—circumstances we may very well have made in the first place. We at least have to try to get you better."
He cautiously narrows his eyes at her, "Get me better?"
"When was the first time you thought about killing?"
He takes a long moment, arms settling into his lap, "I don't know."
She nods, "And have you ever killed before?"
Jay sighs, "No."
"Good. Let's keep it that way."
"I really want to do it, though," he informs.
Fairy Godmother takes a moment, "Jay. This isn't the Isle. I'll forgive anything any of you had to do there, but this is a good place with decent people. All you have to do is put your concerns forward, and people will take the effort to understand." She suggests, "I'm sure Ben would have been willing to talk this through with you. He's very diplomatic—like his mother."
"He's a monster," Jay voices.
"You wouldn't call Mal that," she points out.
"That's different."
"How?"
"It just," he frustrates, before he trails off. "I really just need to kill him."
"To keep Mal safe," she comments.
He thinks, "To keep everyone safe."
"You're safe here," she reassures.
"Safe?" Jay disbelieves. "Mal almost killed herself, because Ben attacked her."
"He didn't mean to do that," she reminds him.
"And Carlos," Jay rages. "You know what he did to him? He drank his blood, until he was practically dead. And I don't care that that masochist asked for it."
"You need to stop calling him that," she frowns.
"But he is," Jay insists.
"I know," Fairy Godmother sternly says, before she parks the car and faces him. "Carlos and you have been very forthright with everything—as you should—but you need to stop calling him that, especially in front of others. He cannot control his sexuality any more than you can change your skin color." Jay keeps silent, and she takes a deep breath, "Sorry. I shouldn't have yelled." She faces him, "All I'm saying is you can't sex shame him every time he makes some mistake. He's just a kid, Jay, even younger than you are."
Jay frowns, "It gets him in trouble."
"Maybe it does," Fairy Godmother accepts, "but just as Carlos needs to figure out how to keep himself safe, you need to figure out how to keep others safe."
He glances down, "You think… it's a part of me."
"You saw your father kill your mother," she says, "and you had to see him every day thereafter. I'm sure—"
"I want him dead," Jay interrupts.
She nods, "Being raised in that kind of environment can prompt certain conditioning. My hope is that conditioning is all it is."
Jay takes a breath, "What if it's not?"
She frowns, "Then we send you back to the Isle, where you will have the freedom to be yourself and do whatever it is you need to do."
Jay eyes down, "But Mal would still be here. Everyone would still be here."
"If things go well," she solemnly says, "yes."
"I want to be here for her," he proclaims.
"Then you need to get better," Fairy Godmother instructs, but he doesn't respond. "Have you had dinner yet?"
Jay shakes his head, "That kind of got interrupted when Belle told me to pack." and he crosses his arms again. "Evie got to eat. She wasn't even allowed to talk to me."
"Evie's unwell," she reminds him. "I'm sure Belle just wanted to make sure she didn't get distracted."
Jay glares out the window, "Nice crib."
"Crib?" she questions.
"House." He turns back to her, "How long am I staying here?"
"That depends on you."
He narrows his eyes, "Depends on me? The fuck kind of answer is that?"
"A fairly common one," she reasons. "Now, come on." They step out of the small, blue car, and when they make it to the sidewalk, she continues, "I'm sure Jane has been anxiously waiting for us."
Jay places a hand on her shoulder and puts up a hand, "Wait. How much does she know?"
"Jay," Fairy Godmother calmly responds. "It's fine."
"It's not fine." He whispers through gritted teeth, "She squeals to you about everything."
"But I already know," she counters, "so what are you worried about?"
"Mother?"
Jay turns to see Jane at the doorway, fear in her expression, and he lets go of the old woman. Fairy Godmother sighs, "Right. Now, then, follow me." She walks past him, and Jay frowns as he follows her, eyeing Jane over as he walks past her and into the house. The entrance area is an office, and a fish tank sits near the wall. Jay walks over to it, and Fairy Godmother inquires, "Do you like fish?"
He eyes over the array of colors, "Only if I'm eating them." before he taps the glass.
"Don't do that," Jane worries. "You will hurt their ears." Jay smirks at her, tapping the glass twice more, and she complains, "Mother."
"Don't antagonize him," she warns, and Jane carefully observes Jay. "Let's go upstairs, now, shall we?" Jay follows her, and when they reach the top, it opens to living room connected to a small dining area. Jay looks through the columns of the half wall and notices the spotless kitchen. "Something wrong?"
"No." He cautiously turns back to the blue and white living room, "It's just really clean."
"A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind," Jane chimes in, and Jay gives her a look.
"It is true," Fairy Godmother calmly defends, and Jay faces her again. "Perhaps staying here will offer you some clarity." He looks over the area again, and she nods him over, "Now, for the hallway." Jay walks behind her, as she moves past the kitchen. "Door on the right is the bathroom. Door on the left is Jane's." She moves forward, "On the left down here is mine, and you can stay in the guestroom on the right." She turns back to him and smiles, hands folded in front of her, "Any questions?"
Jay notices the string hanging from the ceiling, "And that?"
Fairy Godmother looks over her shoulder, "Ah, yes." before she turns back to him. "That would be the attic."
"It's nothing but personal files from the school," Jane informs, and Jay gives Fairy Godmother a look.
"Just lesson plans, that kind of thing," she reassures, before she looks between them. "Why don't we sit for dinner? You can share any concerns you may have."
"I already found something," Jane informs.
"I'll still make something," she says, before she remembers. "Oh. Right." She smiles at Jay, "You should know that I did put a barrier around the house, so you won't be able to leave."
Jay gives her a look, "I thought you needed a wand to do barriers."
"A wand is used to pinpoint and enhance powers someone already has," Fairy Godmother explains. "All the wand did was allow me to make them bigger. The house is small enough, where I can put a barrier around it without a wand."
Jay takes a deep breath, and she sympathizes. "I know this must be hard."
"You don't know anything," Jay yells at her. "He's still out there. Hurting people."
"Let's say Ben does kill someone—which he has not yet," Fairy Godmother entertains. "Would you be any better than him, once you do kill him?"
"Yes," Jay immediately answers.
There's a long silence as Fairy Godmother falters, and Jane interrupts, "How about dinner?"
Jay lays on his back and runs through the contacts on his phone, before he picks a number and a picture of a blond guy pops up, "Hey, William. You up?"
"I can take a few minutes," he yawns. "What's up?"
"Not much," he frowns. "I'm on lockdown at Fairy Godmother's."
He raises an eyebrow, "Fairy Godmother's?"
"Yeah," Jay places an arm behind his head. "I'm not getting along with Ben, so they're separating me from him."
"Must be serious."
"Well, I did try to kill him," he evenly answers. "So, yeah."
"You tried to kill him?" William's voice raises, before he looks around and cautiously comments, "Can I ask why?"
"Well, you heard he assaulted Mal," Jay reminds him, but his blue eyes look away. Jay's brows furrow, "What? You don't believe it?"
He sighs, "It's not that I don't believe. It's just that Ben's family gets a lot of bad publicity. I'd like to wait to hear a statement from him, before I decide what I think."
"It happened," he asserts.
"Or maybe she misinterpreted it," he counters.
Jay's jaw drops, "Fuck you."
"Look, man," he sighs. "I—"
"Shut up."
"Jay," he tries to reason.
"Not you," he makes a face. "Ruby's trying to call."
"Jay," he continues, "I'm not saying Mal didn't feel violated. I'm just saying maybe there's another side."
"You know what?" Jay points out, "There is another side. Ben's entire family is fucked up. That's the other side."
"Jay," he frowns.
"Adam slapped Belle," he informs, "just because she was defending Mal."
He takes a moment, "I don't know the context of that situation."
"Since when is slapping someone okay here?" Jay yells.
"Since when is killing someone okay?" William counters.
His eyes widen, "Would you stop calling?"
"Do you need to get that?"
"No." He irritably responds. "I'm not dealing with my fucking girlfriend right now." before he rejects her call again. "You know, Ben didn't just hurt Mal. He's hurt Carlos too. He needs to be punished."
William takes a minute, "Look. I'd rather save this discussion for when Ben gives his statement and I have all the details."
"He's not going to give a statement."
"Yes, he will," William reassures, "and if he doesn't, I'll get my mother on it."
"Your mother?" Jay questions.
"Snow White. She's a reporter."
He narrows his eyes, "Isn't she like twenty?"
"No," he counters. "She's like… She doesn't like to say her age. How old is Queen Belle again? I remember reading that my mother's three years younger."
Jay's eyebrows raise, "Your mother's in her forties?"
"Is she?" William questions.
"How the fuck don't you know that?"
"She's aged well," he reasons.
"No kidding," Jay disbelieves. "What is she, a vampire?"
William's frown deepens, "Nice guess." and when Jay gives a look, he looks away. "You know, she never actually died. The dwarves just thought she was dead, because she tends to breathe shallowly."
"So, the apple wasn't poisoned?" he questions.
His blue eyes face him again, "Just your everyday sleeping potion."
"Wait," Jay thinks. "What's a vampire doing eating an apple?"
He smirks, "Well, red's just an appetizing color."
Jay eyes over him, "Are you a vampire?"
William shrugs, "I like meat. I can see in the dark." before he laughs. "I'm more than athletic. If that makes me a vampire… then, maybe." He suddenly frowns, "You know, just don't tell anyone. I don't want to get kicked off the tourney team."
Jay grits his teeth, "Stop calling. I'm saying no. Take a hint."
"You look like you want to kill her," he observes him.
Jay takes a deep breath, "I swear, if she doesn't leave me alone, I'm going to break up with her." His eyes shift, "Anyway. My point is Carlos can't defend himself."
"That's it?" he inquires. "You're just going to hang up on your girlfriend, so you can talk about your ex-boyfriend?"
"He wasn't my boyfriend," Jay denies.
"Either way," William reminds him, "what are you doing trying to kill the king? I thought you liked it here. You've made a life for yourself here."
"I know," Jay irritably interrupts.
"If you kill the king, you will be sent back to the Isle of the Lost," William warns him. "And if that happens, you won't be given another chance."
"If it keeps people safe," Jay reasons, "then it's worth it."
"But Ben isn't the only bad apple in the barrel," he counters. "You won't be able to keep Carlos or Mal safe if you're not here for the next poisoned apple—if this apple is even the poisoned one in the first place."
"He is," Jay confidently answers.
"Just think about this," William pleads. "You have it good here. Do you really want to give it up, because Ben's made some mistakes?"
"Walking down the wrong alley is a mistake," Jay evenly responds, before his eyes narrow. "Almost killing Carlos and forcing himself on Mal means war."
"You're not going to win this battle." He explains, "Even if you do manage to kill Ben, you will get sent back to the Isle of the Lost and everyone you care about will be here."
Jay glances down, "If I get sent back to the Isle, then I get to kill my father."
William sighs, "Look. I'm not giving any suggestions, but… you don't need to be banished to the Isle to kill your father. I know Ben well enough to know he would let any of you visit your parents." He falters, "You would just need him for it."
"I don't want anything from Ben," Jay sternly replies.
He yawns, "Sorry, but I'm too tired to think of any other way to help you."
"I don't need help," Jay rejects.
"Alright, then." He partly smiles, "Gute Nacht."
"Good Night," Jay repeats, before he ends the call and looks at the clock. It's three in the morning. He should be feeling tired now too, but he doesn't. It's hard to after everything that's happened, and— most importantly— that beast's still alive. He could be killing Carlos right now. Jay hurries for his number and calls. He doesn't pick up. Jay tries again, and this time the platinum blond shows on the screen, "Hey. How's it going?"
"Um," Carlos eyes around. "Fine."
"Who's there?" Jay accuses.
"What?" his face scrunches. "No one."
"You were looking around."
"Yeah," Carlos eyes off again, "because it's what I do." His blue eyes meet him again, "I'm nervous and submissive as hell. You know that."
"Right," Jay recalls.
"So, why are you calling?" Carlos asks.
"Have you talked to Ben?" Jay questions.
"Uh, no?"
"Don't," he commands. "I don't want you to."
Carlos gives a look, "You can't keep me from talking to people."
"He's dangerous," Jay asserts.
"I don't care," Carlos yells. "I'll talk to Ben if I want to talk to Ben, and you're not my boyfriend. So, just fuck off."
"Carlos," Jay shouts as the call ends, and he throws the phone at the wall, watching the phone break down the middle before he hurries over to it.
The door opens, and Fairy Godmother looks around, "Jay?" He kneels to pick up the pieces, and his breathing shakes. "Jay?" Fairy Godmother sits beside him, "Are you okay?"
"He's not staying safe," Jay grits his teeth, as he fumbles with the phone pieces.
"Here. Let me," she offers, taking the pieces from him and putting them back together.
He faces her, tears in his eyes, "You need to let me out of here."
When the phone lights up, she hands it back to him, "You know I can't do that."
"Carlos is in danger," his eyes widen.
"I understand," she places a hand to his shoulder. "I'll speak with Belle. She can keep them apart."
"Like that'll work," Jay doubts. "Ben doesn't sleep."
"They can lock the doors between the East and West wings," she lets him know.
"You think a door's going to hold him," he cries. "Ben's a fucking beast."
"We can come up with something."
"Come up," Jay huffs. "No." He shakes his head, "We need to end this now. I'm not waiting for Ben to find the right time to kill him."
"He's not," she counters.
"He almost did it before," Jay informs, "and Carlos isn't staying away and—"
"I'll take care of it," she calmly comments. "You just need to stay here and—"
"I can't just stay here and do nothing," he shouts. "Please," he holds onto her arms. "You just… You need to let me kill him."
She frowns, "I'm sorry. I can't do that."
Jay shakes, tears filling his face, before he leans onto her shoulder and sobs, "Please." He let's out a long breath and whispers, "Just… please."
Fairy Godmother places a hand over the back of his head, "There, there. It's okay."