The Challenge
(Thursday Afternoon, July 19th)
"That's something I never understood," Jane says, as she scoops the mac and cheese onto her plate. "What's up with you and your friends waking up so late?"
Jay raises an eyebrow, "Why do you wake up so early?"
"Well," she looks off, laughing. "It really started after magic was banned."
"Banned?" Jay notes.
"Retired," Jane nervously smiles, before she hurries, "Um. The, you know, farmers—We had to do things the human way, you know. We wake up with the sun, so we can see better." She frowns, "But that was back when all we had were lanterns and gas lamps, but now we have flashlights and floodlights. And farms are more factory based now."
Fairy Godmother notices Jay wrap a fist around his fork, "Jane." She stops and faces her, frowning. "A little early for a history lesson, isn't it?"
Jane gapes at Jay, "I'm so sorry."
"No," he takes a deep breath, straining a smile. "It's okay." Jay sighs, letting go of the fork and hiding his hands beneath the table, before he faces Fairy Godmother. "I need to go back to the castle."
"Jay," she starts.
"I need to be there when Mal gets out," he reinforces. "You can't just expect me to sit here and do nothing, when she's staying one room away from that monster."
"She's not out yet," Fairy Godmother tries to reassure.
"I need to be there," he asserts.
She hesitates, "Just to look after Mal, right?"
"He's not ready, yet," Jane protests.
"I'll behave if he behaves," Jay grits his teeth.
Fairy Godmother folds her hands in front of her, "You realize, His and Her Majesty sent you to me out of respect for Mal. And because of King Ben's faith in his declaration to bring you all here." Jay rolls his eyes, and she sternly says, "If your rehabilitation fails, then Ben will not be allowed to bring any more villain children to Auradon."
He crosses his arms, "Why should I care so long as the people I care about are safe?"
Fairy Godmother pauses, "What if someone else was chosen to come to Auradon instead of you? Wouldn't you want a chance to be reunited with those you care about?"
"But we are all here," Jay frustrates. "Your point makes no sense."
"Maybe," she nods, "but what about Evie's friend, Dizzy. Don't you think that little girl deserves a chance to come stay with her aunt and cousin in Charmington?" Jay's eyes lower. "I bet that if you had come here that young…"
He tilts his head, "You're saying there's something wrong with me?"
"No," she takes a deep breath. "I'm merely saying that your, uh, condition will not help you here." He darts his eyes from the table to her. "It will only cause you trouble here."
"Like this?" He tosses his fork into the kitchen sink, "Being trapped here, when my sister is about to get killed by that beast?"
Jane goes to grab him a new fork, "Here." and he furrows his brows. "Maybe… Hmm, just eat. Please."
"Shut up," Jay shouts at her, and she back away.
"Jay," Fairy Godmother stands from her seat.
"Look," he stresses. "I know I can't kill Ben, not if I want to be there for Mal." She doesn't speak. "Isn't that what you wanted to hear? That I won't kill him?"
"I need more than to hear it," she calmly comments. "I need to believe it." She nods down to him, "I need you to mean it."
"I won't kill him," Jay yells, before he gulps, tearing intruding the corners of his eyes. "I just need to be there for her. Please."
Her eyebrows raise, "Are you saying you no longer believe killing Ben will solve this specific problem?"
Jay takes a moment, "Like you said, I would get caught, and then the next person who hurts Mal… I won't be there for her." He sees her frown. "You still don't believe me."
"I want to," she unsurely answers. "I just know people like you will sometimes say anything that benefits you, and when it comes to Mal—"
"If it's not Ben, it will be Adam. Or someone else," Jay interrupts.
"Adam?" Jane inquires.
"And not just Adam," Jay's eyes widen. "Both of Ben's parents are worse than any of ours ever were." He narrows his eyes at Fairy Godmother, "But you already knew that, don't you? How could you put us there, knowing what you know?"
"Mother?" Jane questions.
"Belle is a victim of her circumstances," Fairy Godmother meets Jay's dark brown eyes. "Same as you. You can't—"
"Blame her?" Jay shakes his head, "Oh. I do. Ben has two parents." He points up the number of fingers, "Two. And they still fucked him up more than any of us single parent villain kids." He leans forward, "He gets hurt by his father and then gets emotionally assaulted by his mother. That's the kind of house you put us in. That's the kind of place Mal's returning to after her suicide attempt."
"The country felt comfortable knowing you were under the care of the king."
"And you want to leave her there alone," he persists.
"She's not alone."
"Yeah," Jay scoffs. "Because a skeleton and a mas—"
"Stop it," Fairy Godmother hollers over him. "This kind of thing might work where you come from, but it won't get you anywhere here."
"They're not going to be able to protect Mal," he persists.
"But you think you can?" she calmly questions.
"Yeah." Jay nods, "I think I stand a chance."
Fairy Godmother quiets, "Jay. I really want to help you."
"You don't need to," he argues. "I know I can't kill Ben if I want to stay here with Mal, and I meant it when I said I would behave if Ben does."
Fairy Godmother sits back down, clasping her hands in front of her, "Once you are no longer in my care, anything you do is under discretion of the royal family. Are you sure you're ready to return to what you describe as a hostile environment and still behave your best?"
Jay smirks, "I can promise I'll do my best."
"You're not really going to let him leave?" Jane worries.
She continues to look at him, "If Jay feels he's up for the challenge, then I am obligated to offer it to him."
"I'm always up for a challenge," he agrees.
Fairy Godmother sighs, "In that case, I will speak with Belle."
"I don't feel right about this," Adam discloses. "He's only been gone a week, and we're supposed to think he's better now?"
Belle gives him a look, "Personality disorders can't be cured. You know that."
She strides towards the door, and he furiously whispers from behind her, "Then what's the point in this?" Belle faces him, and he comments, "We're letting him back into our home."
She frowns, "Fairy Godmother said so long as we put ourselves in his shoes and appeal to his rational mindset, then there shouldn't be any issues."
"And you believe that?"
There's another knock on the door, and Belle sighs before reaching for the handle, "Jay says he'll behave so long as Ben does."
Adam grumbles, "Our son's always causing trouble."
Belle forces a smile as she opens the door, "Fairy Godmother." before she notices the Arabian boy. "Jay. How are you feeling?"
"Feeling?" he slowly inquires.
"Are you hungry?" she puts forth. "Dinner should be ready."
"Oh," he smiles. "Yeah. I could go for something."
"Carlos and Evie should already be up there." Belle tilts her head, "Do me a favor and find her, if she isn't. Alright?"
"Yeah," he agrees, before he slides past Adam.
He watches him jot up the stairs, "We're really letting him wander around?"
"Ben's down here in his office," Belle reminds him. "What's the harm?"
Fairy Godmother concerns, "I do hope he's as ready as he thinks he is. He was just so persistent to be here for Mal, you know."
"Of course," she understands. "We'll do our best to make him comfortable." She looks at her husband, "Won't we Adam?"
"I'll definitely be watching out for any straying behavior," he agrees.
Jay notices Carlos at the table, "Hey."
Carlos stares, as Jay sits down across from him, "Aren't you supposed to be, you know, getting help or something?"
"Feels weird, doesn't it," Jay taunts, "knowing that you felt so hard for a sociopath?"
Carlos narrows his eyes, "Fuck you."
Jay sighs, "So, I'm supposed to find Evie if she doesn't show up."
"Try Ben," he irritably responds.
"Yeah," Jay seethes. "I'm staying away from that."
"No," Carlos counters. "I mean, try looking for Evie where Ben is." Jay gives him a look, and Carlos shakes his head. "She's been spending a lot of time with him."
"What?" Jay spats.
"Well, when I say a lot," Carlos backtracks, "I mean a lot, as in Ben likes spending a lot of time alone but he makes exceptions for Evie."
His jaw drops, "What do they even talk about?"
"Food," Carlos evenly answers. "And Mal. Food and Mal."
He stares Carlos down, "Do they ever talk about Mal as food?"
"You know," Carlos uncomfortably scratches the back of his neck. "I'm not really a part of their conversations, so…"
Jay rolls his eyes, before Belle and Adam reach the dining room, and Belle asks, "Where's Evie?"
"Carlos thinks she's with Ben," Jay angrily answers.
"Right," Belle frowns. "Adam, get her. Please."
He eyes Jay and grumbles, "Alright." before he heads back down the stairs.
Belle sits next to Jay, before she gathers some steamed vegetables, potatoes, and roast beef, "You know, if there's something bothering you, I'd like you to tell me."
"Ben encourages Evie's eating," Jay informs. "She shouldn't be left alone with him."
Belle takes a moment, "Ben tries to get Evie to eat, but I do agree that the way he goes about it may do more harm in the long run."
"What do you plan on doing about it?"
She thinks, "What would you like me to do about it?"
"Keep them apart," Jay asserts. "Keep him away from everyone."
Belle sighs, "I've already told Carlos and Ben that they can't spend time alone, but Ben hasn't done anything to Evie."
"I don't care if he never attacked her," Jay protests. "All he has to do is talk to her, and suddenly she will stop drinking juice."
"Jay," Evie softly speaks, when she enters the room. Adam passes her, sitting next to his wife, before Evie paces to her seat across from Belle, "What are you doing here?"
"That's what I was asking," Carlos comments.
"Evie," Belle interrupts. "Has Ben ever told you not to drink juice?"
"Just that sugar water athletes drink," Evie says in disgust, before she gives Jay a look. "Don't tell me you're still upset about that?"
"You already don't eat," he mentions. "You don't need to stop drinking stuff too."
"He's worried Ben might be enabling your eating disorder," Belle explains.
"What? No," Evie exasperates, before she faces Jay. "Ben makes me feel like, like I'm not alone. And he knows what just to say to make things okay."
"He tells you normal things aren't safe to eat," Jay debates.
"For me," she stresses. "But he also suggests things that are easier for me to have."
"Like lemon water with honey," Jay finishes. "Yeah. I heard about that."
"Enough," Belle shouts, before everyone turns to her and she breathes, "Evie."
"No," she fears.
Belle hesitates, "If you want to continue spending time with Ben, I'm going to have to insist that you have something for every meal."
"But no one's even awake for breakfast," she nervously protests, "and people make their own lunch around here."
"Which is why I'll be eating lunch with you," Belle solves, "and if you can't be awake for breakfast, I want you to have a late-night snack of which you can have in the library while I read before bed."
"Okay," Evie's voice raises. "And what counts as a snack?"
"Cubes of cheese," she suggests. "Or some strawberries." She smiles, "Something that will fill one of those tiny plates we have."
Carlos sees her tear up and faces Belle, "I'm not saying Ben's the best influence on her, but does she really need three meals?"
"I don't like strong-arming anyone," Belle explains, "but it's important Jay feels that this is a safe place for everyone."
"I lived on one and a half meals for most of my life," Carlos sadly counters. "Can't she just do that? There's no way she's going to be able to stomach three meals after what she's been getting by on."
"Jay?" Belle inquires.
"No tricks," he sternly eyes her. "I want you to actually eat it."
"Evie?" she asks.
"Yeah," she unsurely smiles. "That's so much better."
"Okay, then," Belle agrees. "You can have dinner with us."
"And then snack with me," Carlos bumps her arm, and Evie laughs.
"I said no tricks," Jay emphasizes.
"She'll have her snack with me," Belle reassures, before she frowns at Evie and Carlos. "If you want to join her, that's up to you."
Carlos turns to Evie, promising, "I'll be there."
Posted: 09/18/2019
- Guest I feel like some of the files are self-explanatory from the reader's point of view. Some of the files and characters may be mentioned again, but I can't promise it will be in this fic. I'm thinking (spoiler) that in an upcoming fic Chad's drug use will be revealed to Fairy Godmother and she'll merely say she's suspected it. Point is, the characters who are listed as high risk will be mentioned again, and they may get a personal talk with Fairy Godmother... I was thinking Jane might have a file, but it would obviously be hidden extra carefully if she did.
- Megan I don't know about specific examples, but if you're talking about Hans from Frozen, then there's a theory that he reflects the emotions of everyone around him. So, maybe a name related to that would suite well? Otherwise, Hans's name is of Germanic and Danish origin, so something from that area could be suiting as well.
-Alley1762 Yeah. The characters aren't what you would particularly expect from their Disney counterparts, but hopefully I've been able to keep them half-decently consistent within the fanfiction.
- So, I got some really weird private messages, and I don't know if it was robots, police, or an actual person who's been reading my stuff, but I'm not accepting any hookups people offer from this website. These people didn't even say their gender, sexuality, state of residence, or what they're into, so even if I was the kind of person to accept these kind of messages, they're out of luck. PS: I'm pretty confident that through all the personal stuff I've posted, I never disclosed my own gender identity or sexual orientation. So, I shouldn't even be getting messages like this in the first place. Seriously, though. I got two of these messages in one week. I don't know how or why, but it's messed up.