Hey Descendants!
Sorry about yesterday. What is time? And days of the week?
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.
Who else is ready to let out 2020 and ring in 2021?
Back to the story though...
Life has to continue on, and so we find the Core 4 integrating back into school life...
Thanks for reading, and please let us know what you think in the comments.
Lots of love everyone!
-Dark-
He frowns as he shares a look with Doug and Lonnie.
Were they going to come down for breakfast today?
He bites his lip as he looks at the food they'd gathered to the center of the table.
All three of them had agreed it would be better than them having to stand in line with the others.
They'd all heard the rumors.
Rumors about what Mal had done to Jane.
About the way her eyes had flickered before she took back her spell, turning the newly snotty Jane back to plain haired Jane.
But then-
He frowns.
Ignorant pricks.
He couldn't count the times the girl's eyes burned acid green around him, and not once had she been casting a spell while doing it.
She just- His eyes narrow before he snorts.
Had no control over her emotions.
Namely her anger.
He absently taps his spoon rhythmically
"Stop." Doug orders as he lets out a tense breath.
He lets out a heavy sigh, "Sorry."
It was fucking weird.
It was like all three of them had lost their appetite.
They hadn't even touched the food they'd gathered for the four last night either.
Even Ben hadn't shown up for dinner.
They'd been cleared damn it.
Not that the facts seemed to matter to anyone anymore.
Not when someone like Queen Leah could throw around whatever wild accusations she wanted.
Stupid old people.
Fuck that whole generation. He makes a lewd gesture.
Lonnie tilts her head to the side, "That seemed, well, appropriately inappropriate for the situation at hand."
"Yeah, well." He shrugs. "If the shoe fits or whatever."
Doug rolls his eyes, "You know-"
He's interrupted as a sudden lull falls over the cafeteria.
All three of them instantly perk up. He's up and on top of his chair before he can think about it, already letting out a shrill whistle before Doug can pull him back down. "Yo," He calls out with a stupid grin.
"Dude-" Doug yanks at his pant leg.
"They're gonna stare any-gaak-"
He would have been proud of the fact Doug was able to yank him off the chair if he wasn't distracted by the fact Lonnie had been strong and quick enough to catch him before he hit the floor.
He blinks up at Lonnie, "Why thank you, my lady." He grins at her when he finds himself staring into her amused brown eyes, "At least someone here doesn't wish injury on me."
Lonnie shakes her head, "Loud ass." She helps him to his feet anyway.
He chuckles as he wipes his hands over his pants before he feels himself surrounded.
"My dudes," He turns and instantly pounces on Carlos. "One oh one!" He nuzzles against the shorter boy's hair. "I missed you!"
"Roy, come on man, letmego."
He could feel the heat of the kid's blush.
He lets out a resigned sigh, "If I must."
"Consider it a must." Mal glares as she steps closer.
"Right. Right. Right." He chuckles as he releases Carlos, "Put up the claws."
He grimaces as he feels someone cuff him off the back of the head before he's yanked back into his chair.
"Sorry about him." Doug breathes out, "But, um, it's nice to see you guys." He pulls out a seat for Evie, who smiles up at him shyly before she slips into it.
He lifts his brow as the others shift, their eyes glancing around the too silent cafeteria.
"Are you guys sure-"
"Duh." Lonnie pffts before he even gets a chance to counter the stupid coming out of the pup's mouth as she pats the table. "C'mon, we grabbed you guys some food."
Jay's shoulders drop slightly before he takes Carlos by the shoulder and escorts him to the seat next to him. "Play nice." He warns with a glare before he slips into the seat next to Lonnie.
Mal clucks her tongue as she studies the table.
He lifts a brow curiously, before he shrugs, leans forward, and takes her arm pulling her into the seat next to him. "Fuck 'em." He shrugs. "Losers."
Mal blinks up at him, a ghost of a smile on her lips before she shakes her head and glares at him, her hand jerking as if to pop him before she stops herself. "Jack ass."
Damn.
What kind of number did the douches and bitches of this school do to her?
"Aw, Mal, missed you too." He grins at her.
Jay snorts as a small, pretty smile tilts Evie's painted lips.
"Yeah, missed you too Robbin'ya." Carlos ducks his head painfully close to the table, "It's just, everyone still like- blames us, and-"
"Well fuck everyone." He states loudly.
"Dude," Jay shakes his head, "What I say."
He pouts, "I-" He blows out. "Fine. Fuck most of them then."
Lonnie snorts. "Smooth."
"Learn to read a table, Roy." Doug rolls his eyes, as he pushes a plate towards Evie. He rolls his bottom lip between his teeth, "But seriously, we were worried about the four of you last night."
"Sorry man," Jay rubs the back of his head. "We had some shit we needed to work out."
"And seriously, ya'll are all idiots for sticking to this table." Mal huffs as she folds her arms.
"Idiots huh? Weird, even after that I still can't say I've ever felt more wanted and ya know, accepted anywhere else-" Lonnie shrugs, "So, there's that, I guess."
Jay bites his lip as his gaze lingers on Lonnie before he sighs and looks away.
"Can't argue that I'm an idiot." He shrugs, "But not for bein' round you four." He starts piling food on his plate, his appetite suddenly back with a vengeance.
"And he only really started passing once Carlos and I started guilting him together." Doug adds, "Besides, would you guys walk away from each other over something as stupid as public opinion?"
Mal's mouth snaps shut, "Well, no but-"
"Then stop trying to make us." Lonnie shrugs casually as she loads a plate with food and passes it to Jay, "Eat, you have gym next, and Roar practice after lunch." She orders as she points to the plate.
He chuckles as he finishes making Carlos his own plate.
"And you have art," Doug passes a plate to Mal. "So, you know… Eat for inspiration?"
He blinks when the four share a look before they silently turn to their plates.
Jay sighs as he takes a bite.
He nods in approval, glad to see they could have an impact.
And just like that, the table falls into silence as they all eat.
"Shit," Lonnie whispers a few moments later.
He turns to find Audrey and Chad making their way over with their posses in tow.
Including Jane.
He'd never wished for Ben to be close by before, but now felt like a good time to start.
For whatever reason, Ben was able to stand the stuck up pair without looking like he smelled something disgusting.
"Um, excuse me." Chad clears his throat. "Doug, Lonnie. Do you really think it's a good idea? Hmm? Sitting with them? It's bad enough you associate with the resident thief," He gestures to him, "But the rest of these criminals too?" He crosses his arms.
His hand fists tightly at the taunt, noting that the VK's weren't in much better straits as they tensed and winced at the open assault.
Fucking asshole.
"I'm sorry Chad, I have no idea how I possibly ever gave you the idea that I care about your opinion. I assure you though, I don't."
"But, Lonnie." Audrey whines, "This is going to just absolutely tarnish your reputation."
"If my mother cared about her reputation being tarnished we would have lost the war," Lonnie shakes her head before she crosses her arms over her chest. "I'm good here, with my friends."
Chad scoffs before he turns his attention to Doug. "Doug, c'mon. Get up."
"No." Doug shakes Chad's arm off, "I- I don't want to leave either Chad."
"And, I'd appreciate it if you didn't touch him," Lonnie adds with a scathing look.
"So would I," Evie whispers as her knuckles turn white from her grip on the table.
"I'm sorry, what was that gold digger? I couldn't hear you over your search for a castle with mirrors on every flat surface." Chad antagonizes.
"I said, Chad, I would appreciate it if you would leave Doug alone."
Despite the pained look in Evie's eyes, the rest of her face gave nothing away.
Was that a talent she and Ben shared? Or was it some kind of skill royalty had to figure out to prevent wars?
History class had him going with the second one.
"What so you can get your claws in his family's jewels?"
He snorts. "I mean, he wouldn't compl-'
"Roy." Audrey and Evie both admonish him at the same time.
And creepily enough, in the same tone.
"Audrey," He tsks, with amusement. "Princess, how'd you know where that was going?"
"You had a very crass grin on your lips, Roy," Audrey sputters out with a blush, "and, and things that come from your crassly grinning lips are never appropriate."
"Uh-huh." He grins.
"Last chance." Chad glares at Doug as he crosses his arms. "Them or us."
Doug looks down as his fists tighten around his fork.
He frowns.
Chad had always been a special type of dick when it came to Doug.
Friends one second. Bullying him the next.
He'd watched it for years, had stood up for him more times than he could count.
He'd even gotten more than a few sucker punches for his efforts.
But this time?
It didn't seem like his place to speak up, and judging by the silence, it didn't seem like he was the only one with the thought.
"Really? Last chance?" Doug asks as he looks back up.
"Yeah man," Chad smiles as he holds his hand out for Doug, "I mean, I get it. They're new and exciting and make you feel better about yourself, but come on man, you're better than them."
Doug takes a deep breath as he stares at Chad's hand.
"Come on buddy, don't got all day."
"Then listen really well Chad, because I'm only saying this to you once." Doug looks up, "They're not asking me to choose anything, they're not forcing me to be here, they're not criminals. No one at this table is."
Finally! He makes a victory fist as he silently cheers Doug on.
"And another thing." Doug continues as he stands from his seat, "Evie is not a gold digger, no matter how many times you try to convince people, or yourself, that she is. You missed out on something special by trying to use her the way you did. Evie is a fucking Princess, no matter what either of you says. And if she's happy to have me around, then I'm exactly where I've wanted to be since she first stepped out of the limo. Carlos is nothing like his mother, and if you actually spent three seconds talking to him, even you could have figured that out. He's kind, and smart, and fun to hang out with. Which again, is something you could have seen for yourself if you weren't so blinded by whatever this uptight shit is."
Damn! Doug was out for blood!
"Jay isn't a thief or a brute, he's just better than you at a lot-" Doug holds a finger up as he continues, "-and I mean a lot of things. It's not his fault if your pride can't handle it. That's on you, not him. I'd rather have him at my back any day. At least if he has things to say he'll say it to my face. And Mal-" He glances at her for a moment, "You know what, Mal is a badass bitch, but she's not a bitch, and you better start getting that right. Not because she can easily spell you, but because she deserves better. She's more a leader than either of you could ever hope to be. Your pettiness and games are beneath me, and I would appreciate it if this 'last chance' was the last time you got in my face."
The entire table watches in silence as Doug sits back in his seat and picks up his fork, continuing to eat as if nothing had happened.
"Ha! Suck on that Chadwick." He grins up at the other boy. "Now do us all a favor and fuck off."
"Fine." Chad crosses his arms over his chest, "Fine, you know what-"
"No Chad, but I am curious to know what you seem to want us to know."
Chad whips his head to Ben, "I'm telling Fairy Godmother about this. So much foul language. And in front of the whole cafeteria no less. How far the good have fallen, and you say that these four aren't-"
"Don't forget to add that you're harassing them," Ben shrugs as he takes a seat at the table, "And I definitely saw you grabbing Doug, so make sure you mention that as well."
"But, Ben-" Audrey's voice trails off before she sighs. "Come on Chad, leave them alone. They've made their choice."
"It never should have come to a choice." Ben adds, "There shouldn't be an us and them, and if that's all you care about, then, like Doug said, that's on you."
"Well, we'll know who to blame when the kingdoms fall to evil." Chad sniffs indignantly before he turns and walks away.
"Yeah, my money's on the bigots." He snorts.
Ben grins at him as he flicks his napkin out, "Mine as well."
"Hey brah," David greets as he bumps his shoulder against his.
"Hey." He sighs as he blinks down at the bright picture on the TV.
David's silent for a moment as he watches the screen with him, "Hiro's nearly done with the new security system."
"Great, another new thing for these people here in Auradon." He rolls his eyes as he turns his back to the TV, "And we all know how well most of them deal with 'new' and 'different'."
David sighs as he puts a hand on his shoulder, "No one likes change, but the world would be boring without it, brah. They'll adjust, just like you an' your pack are adjusting."
"We always had to adjust on the Isle, it was that or-" He closes his eyes.
David squeezes his shoulder, "Come sit with me brah, this shit ain't helpin' ya any." He shakes his head as he lets his shoulder go and walks over to flip the TV off. "That's what a phone is for. Some of these news stations can be toxic, brah."
"I just," He pushes off the table and collapses into the couch, "It's all anyone is talking about. Gun powder at the house in Charmington. The fact that Ben is moving forward with bringing another four VKs over for summer break, us not being innocent-"
Which was just weird in its own way. Or maybe was just new.
On the Isle, if someone accused you of wronging them, you stayed silent if you hadn't, and claimed it if you had.
Boldly, so no one else would mess with you.
Here it was the opposite. They hadn't done it, but they were having to speak up.
David plops down and leans against the couch. "It is quite the swell." He frowns, as he pulls one knee up to his chest."But what matters is the right people know the truth. Rumors an' gossip exist no matter what ocean you surf in. It's just a human trait. It'll pass." He turns to look at him. "Ain't gonna say it ain't scary. I don't like that there are lolos out there this scared by four awesome brahs, but cowards also exist in every sea."
"They're not scared of us." He shakes his head.
"Oh?" David lifts his brow.
It had taken him a while to figure it out. A while and a long conversation at the lunch table, but after Chad's behavior this morning it had really bugged him.
"Yeah, they're not scared of us. They're scared of our parents. And they're scared that if we get out, we'll free our parents out of some kind of fucked up loyalty to them. Or, they're scared of the change we represent or something. Carlos and Doug kind of went deep on that theory. It got, really boring."
David chuckles, "They do like to get deep." He agrees easily. "But you can't grow without change. You an' your pack know that. You learn, you adapt, you grow. It's part of nature. Stagnancy and ignorance breed toxic behavior. Festers it. When you face challenges, you work to rise above them. Unfortunately, Auradon has had years to fester." He shakes his head.
"Yeah, I know." He shifts to lay with his head resting against the couch arm, "And fuck if there's not a shit ton of ignorance here. I'm not sure about stagnancy because everyone always seems to be doing shit, but-" He whistles, "that ignorance."
Mostly Chad and company, sure, and Queen whatever, the mother of Sleeping Beauty.
Enough ignorance for the entire school.
"But it's the same shit brah." David shakes his head, "And ignorance-" He sighs, "Can be taught, sure. But it can also be rectified by those willin' ta take the time to learn."
Like Doug.
He wasn't sure what it was he felt at Doug's defense of him and his pack, but whatever it was, it felt kind of nice
"Take you for example," David smiles, "You walked into this blind, specifically counseling, but you came with an open mind and a willingness to learn. You were ignorant. But now, brah, it's only been a few months and you've come so far with it. You've taken what I've offered and run with it. Learned. Adapted. Grew. That was your choice brah. I couldn't force that on ya. No one could."
He chuckles, "It sounds great when you say it. Like I wasn't freaking out and latching on to anything would help the, whatever the hell it is that happens when the room spins and I feel sick." He sighs.
"In your case, I'd say it's an overwhelming amount of responsibility you've put on your shoulders. Honestly, with everything you've been through, it speaks volumes that the most you get are anxiety attacks. An' freakin' out or not brah, you dove right in. Maybe not for yourself at first, but you've picked up a lot of tools to help not only yourself but your pack too. That's really admirable." David reaches up and lightly ruffle his hair.
"Most people would've wiped out, but you kept with the swell. Are keepin' up with it no matter how much spray ends up under your feet. You ain't given' yourself enough credit brah." David shifts to kneel next to the couch.
"You're all doing so much better than me and Nani would've ever expected and it's a skill not many in this place possess. But," David grins, "Ya keep makin' progress. And little by little, no matter how minuscule it may seem, you four," He chuckles, "Eight are makin' waves in the best kinda way. It takes major kahuna's to do what all of ya are doin'. Most would fall under the level of scrutiny you've been shoved into. But you're all rising above it. You're not retaliating. You're not rolling over. You're facin' each swell as it comes, an' comin' out of it more skilled than you were before."
"Maybe growing up Isle ain't bad then." His brow furrows, "Cause I do those things cause it's all I know. You don't have time to feel sorry for yourself or worry if you make a mistake. You don't have time to be weak. You only have time to get strong, find everyone else's weaknesses, and hunt." He frowns.
"Eh," David lifts an eyebrow, "So, you never worried when the rest of your pack made a mistake? Never felt sympathy for them? Never helped them improve when they were weak in an area you were strong?"
"That's different."
"I think growing up on the Isle… Was a double-edged sword. No matter what way you hold it you're all sharp. You've learned to keep on your toes, however, you also have never had the opportunity to do anything short of survival. That sounds exhausting. And especially after that long-distance chat, it's clear to me that your pack wasn't the only ones you were worried about. I don't think that makes you weak, just the opposite in fact. You faced adversity, an' ya spit in its face, brah. You had an open mind in a place that must've also bred ignorance. I can't imagine any of your parents appreciating the amount of care and energy ya put into each other. Can't imagine how hard it was ta keep it from them either. That takes guts. Fortitude. Resilience."
Jay sighs as he sits up, "Everyone, every gang had its own way of doing things on the Isle. Its own reason for gathering people. Mal wanted smart and varied talent. So, boom, my pack. And Deez. Maleficent didn't care about how it got done, fuck, she told Mal when Deez was a baby to make friends with her. Because of her fire and shit. Power. Her fire showed she had powers even as a baby. Seriously, that's all the Isle is about. Power to keep a group together, the power to defend yourself with a weapon, the power to free the Isle from the barrier, the power to burn things to the ground because she's pissed." He shakes his head, "The Isle is easier to understand sometimes."
"For you, I'm sure it is." David plops down, using his arms to rest his weight on as he looks to the ceiling. "Same wave, different shores." He continues when he looks back to Jay, "Auradon is all about power and prestige. It looks different, but in the end, it's the same principle. You guys just haven't learned the game yet. Hopefully, you never have ta play it. But you'll get the hang of it. See it. I'm sure you've already gotten glimpses." He narrows his eyes, "Shake it up for a moment with me. How many of these people do you think would survive if they were suddenly thrust onto the isle?"
"None." He answers immediately before he blinks, "I mean-"
"Nah, yer probably right brah." David chuckles, "I certainly wouldn't survive-"
"You don't have to." He bristles, "Cause you're never going to have to."
The very idea of David ever setting foot on the Isle makes him tense. Makes the back of his throat burn.
David grins at him, "But think about that. You guys might be fightin' the waves, but you're all still here. All still treadin' the water."
"Cause of you an' Nani." He points out.
Well, them, and Ben, Doug, Lonnie, Roy.
Hell, even Queen Belle had made this easier.
"Nah brah," David shakes his head, "We may have given ya some boards an' wax, but you guys are survivors, through an' through. Each of ya would've adapted in your own ways. Of that, I've no doubt." He shrugs, "We just made the water warmer."
"Fine, ya made it easier." He grins, "There, that a compliment and ah thanks you can take?"
David chuckles, "It's a start, brah."
His grin slowly fades before he shakes his head, "You and Nani still think I'd be a good fit, even after the call and everything else?"
David frowns before he pushes himself to his feet and turns to plop onto the couch to wrap an arm around his shoulder and pull him closer, "Don't be lolo, of course we do. After everything, how could we not? You're an amazing fit for our ohana. And before ya ask, Hiro's already deckin' out Carlos' room." He snorts, "We figured we'd let you do you- But we do have a room we're gettin' ready for you. I don't know why you think that call would change that- If anything it just made me more sure of it- Or why anything else would change it for that matter. You might not be able to see it yet, how awesome of a brah you are, but we can. And eventually, if we don't fuck it up, you will too." His eyes light up, "Speakin' of, I think we may have found a great match for Mal."
It always surprised him how much he wanted attention from David. How much he wanted the hugs that had been so uncomfortable at first.
He wasn't even sure why he was scared of the call changing David's mind, but he was.
He didn't want them to change their minds.
So, maybe that was why he was scared it would.
He takes a deep breath before he relaxes against David, "Wait, for Mal? Who? Or can you not talk about it because of rules?"
"Actually brah, me an' Nani were hopin' ya could help. Ya seem to be pretty familiar with a lot of the kids, especially your pack, so we were hopin' ta get some of your input since we don't know most've these kids personally."
"Oh, yeah, I can help," He sits up, propping his elbow against his knee as he faces David, "I mean, I'll do my best to help anyway. Ben and that library of letters from Deez might be better though." He sighs, "Or Deez herself if she's one of the four that comes for summer."
David nods, "Tablets can only get ya so far brah. You know what their energy is like."
"Not as well as she does, but again, I'll do my best."
"Which I'm sure will be more than enough. We want these kids placed pretty quickly after they come over, and if you could help with the transition, that'll make things smoother." David grins. "We already have a pool. It seems like Esmeralda and Megara weren't joking. They demanded to be put on the list." He snorts. "Them and a few others, when they saw what Queen Leah was trying to do, and heard what Hiro said."
"Seriously?" He blinks, "Hiro wasn't just T-ing all over the fucking place? It actually worked?" His eyes narrow, "Huh, actually, that's fair, for whatever reason it usually works out for T too."
"T," David snorts, "Might be more calculated than people think."
"Oh," He rolls his eyes, "I am sure we all hope that."
David chuckles. "But yeah brah," He reaches over to ruffle his hair again. "it worked. Might've not been the way we wanted to get some good an' willin' people, but-" He shrugs. "It definitely got the swell goin'. Even I'm surprised by some o' the names that showed up on the lists already. It's not often I've actually heard of an Auradonian."
"Wicked." He jumps to his feet, "Wait, who are you surprised to see on the list?"
"Definitely the Shangs."
"Like Lonnie's parents?"
David nods with a grin, "The very same."
"Cool."
If David and Nani, Hiro and Lilo, and the Shangs were willing to adopt VKs, maybe there was a chance they'd be able to eventually get everyone off the Isle.
"The King and Queen put their hat in too."
His eyes widen, "I bet that won't go over well." He chuckles, "Though it would be funny for Ben to get a VK…" He frowns, did adopting someone make you related to everyone in the family? "Sibling?"
"Yes," David chuckles. "Just like you and Carlos will be cousins."
"Like Deez and Uma?"
David grins, "Uh, maybe? I didn't realize they were related."
"Daughter of Hades, the great-great-granddaughter of Poseidon or something?"
"Huh, then yeah, except first cousins." David waves his hand, "But that's a genealogy best left to your uncle." He chuckles.
"Just curious." He shrugs.
David chuckles, "Always best to defer to people who actually know what they're talkin' bout." He winks.
"I'll try to remember that." He chuckles before he shakes his head, "So uh, you're not hungry are you?"
"Pizza?" David pulls out his keys.
"Twist my arm man." He calls back over his shoulder as he rushes for the door.
Dudez, sup?
So, what did you think?
Doug actually standing up for the VKs instead of ditching them?
Roy making a spectacle of himself to stand up for the VKs?
Mal actually smiling about it?
Lonnie supporting them?
How well the HKs know the VKs?
And Ben, quietly brushing of the C-5 and Audrey's crew?
Jane being with them?
And we can't forget about that Conversation between Jay and David, what did you think about David's perception of the VKs?
Did it Jay's quick agreeance to all of Auradon dying on the isle make you laugh? Or just upset you?
What about Deez? Do you agree she would've been best for the job of assigning VKs to Familys?
Speaking of, are you surprised by the names that got thrown in the hat so to speak?
What about David's assessment that both Hiro and T are more calculating than the others think?
Just some things to chew on, and that we're curious about.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Much love and appreciation
-Twisted