"They say I'm trouble, they say I'm bad, they say I'm evil and that makes me glad." Benjamin Beast sang to himself as he roughed up one of the people in his territory for not paying their weekly safety tax. It is a tax that you pay to not get the snot kicked out of you. You pay it with anything worth it, money, items, food, and whatever else is worth it. Ben shoved the beaten guy to the ground and smirked. "Don't forget your taxes next time." His voice is cold but mocking and almost joyful in the tragic look of the guy on the ground. He swaggered off to collect his next tax with a content sigh. This was the life, as good as it gets on the isle. Making mischief and causing trouble.
"A dirty no-good down to the bone, your worst nightmare Can't take me home," Lonnie called out after roughing up a guy for not moving out of her way. She was hungry damn it. She walked through the market stall stealing an apple, some bread, and whatever else she could without getting caught. She stepped down into an alley to look over everything she stole. She took a big bite of the apple and some of the bread. She didn't care about looking pretty or if someone saw her. The girl was hungry and she had no patience. She rarely had the patience to begin with. Someone moved through the alley making her drop her apple. She turned them around and socked them in the face before shoving them off. She looked down at the dirtied apple and groaned before heading back to the market for a second apple.
"So I've got some mischief In my blood, Can you blame me? I never got no love." Audrey sang into the mirror while doing her makeup. Her signature blue and pink eyeshadow to match her pink and blue hair. She always liked everything in pink or blue. She finished her makeup and slipped on her pink and black leather dress and boots. She smirked at herself in the mirror, blowing herself a kiss and giggled wickedly heading out the door toward the Beast Gang's hideout. On the way, she flirted with a couple of market boys in exchange for a muffin and a coffee. She blew them kisses before making her way to the hideout finally. She was always the first to arrive. She threw the stone at the sign to let herself in before heading up, empty as usual. She took the time to fix her nail polish that had chipped while finishing her breakfast.
"They think I'm callous a low-life hood I feel so useless, misunderstood!" Chad said into the neck of the girl he had just woken up with, peppering it with kisses as he adored her naked frame. He rolled over and did the same to the guy on the other side of him, sprinkling kisses along his neck enjoying the look of his morning wood poking at the sheets before he saw the time. Chad groaned and got out from between the two and started dressing. He threw his clothes on haphazardly before climbing out the window and down to the street level expertly. This wasn't his first time sneaking out like that and it wouldn't be the last if he had anything to say about it. Chad charmed a small fruit vendor stealing some ripe grapes as they talked before sauntering away with the pride of a lion.
They all ended up converging at the hideout with the remains of their breakfasts. Ben had displayed his haul from collecting taxes to the impressed reactions of the group. Ben put his hand in for the group. "Rotten.." He started and the others followed putting their hands in all of the joining in together. "… to the core!" They howled like beasts afterward and broke into wicked laughed before a real roar shook the hideout. All of them stopped laughing and turned to the entrance. The beast in his intimidating aura stood by the doorway arms folded behind his back gracefully with the elegance of a prince or king. All four of them bowed their heads respectfully and this seemed to please him.
"My rotten son. Have you collected taxes already?" He asked and Ben nodded showing him what he collected wordlessly. The beast appraised it finding it sufficient, taking anything that interested him in the slightest. He left everyone silent and intimidated. Ben went to speak but found a large hand slapping him into silence. "I did not ask you anything therefore you have no reason to speak. You disappoint me. But… there is news that I should share with you and time is of the essence as you all leave today." The beast growled lowly making everyone feel it in their bones. It brought them all confusion. Leaving? Leaving how? Leaving to where? They were all completely taken with questions to the point that they almost forgot to listen. The beast cleared his throat regaining their full attention. "By decree of Queen Maleficent and King Hades, four sons and daughters of the isle will be given a chance to go to school in Auradon." Almost everyone looked some form of horrified or intrigued. Audrey seemed smitten with the idea, Lonnie looked less than pleased, Chad was on the verge of a temper tantrum and Ben stood coolly, expressionless and unmoved. Inside, however, Ben was elated. A Chance to leave this dump and make a name for himself, one far better than his father ever did. This was his chance and while he looked as cool and smolderingly devilish as usual he was excited. His father watched his face hard, looking for signs of weakness but seemed proud to find none.
"Good. You will all go and pack. You leave shortly and there isn't much time. We meet the limousine outside in about a half-hour sharp. You're dismissed. Except for Ben." He quickly corrected himself. Everyone practically ran out of the hideout in separate directions to quickly go pack. There was no arguing with the beast unless you wanted a broken nose or worse. Ben stood as his father circled him like prey.
"Your mother is in Auradon Benjamin. Don't speak to her or acknowledge her. Do you understand? She isn't your mother any longer. You are mine and mine alone. No one else may have you son. If you find a way to get me off this island, you will do so. Am I making myself clear?" He growled demandingly.
"Crystal, father," Ben said confidently. Upon his father's dismissal, he headed back to his shabby castle-like abode to collect his things. It wouldn't be long before the limo arrived, and he had more to pack than the others. He had to look good and present nicely. He took a big wad of cash he had stored up and stuffed it into his bag. This was it. This was his chance.
