The next day...
Mal frowns as she continues to slouch forward on the old couch, glaring at her latest blank canvas in frustration. Nothing was coming to her. She'd done Long LiveEvil since she figured out live spelled backward was evil, but she just wasn't feeling it lately. She'd already made one for each of her members, at least the three she let in her sanctuary.
Her nose twitches in annoyance. That was before Hyades and T started hanging out here. She frowns as she looks at her latest addition of Hyades' mural. She had added it on a whim- But mostly because she had an excess of blue and gray paint due to Evie. She groans. Or at least that's what she'd told the others.
"I don't understand why you have to put this on before you get dressed." Hyades pouts as Evie forces a sports bra-ish garment over her head.
"To keep people from seeing your nipples." Mal bluntly comments. "Well, what little of it ya've got in the chest department."
Hyades looks down at her chest before she looks back over at Mal, "You couldn't see through my toga."
"Oh sweetie, no. No. Just no." Evie shakes her head. "You could see plenty with that toga. How do you think I figured out you didn't have any hunny."
"Because you're Evie?" Hyades huffs as she steps into the underwear and pulls them up.
"Usually, I'd agree with you." Evie bats her eyelashes prettily. "But there's a reason everyone blushes and looks away when you sit."
Mal snorts, "That's a nice way to put it, E."
Hyades shrugs, "I didn't know people cared about that."
"I think, and hear me out, everyone would appreciate you putting more care into covering your developing body. Jay and T have enough on their plate don't you think?" Evie offers gently.
Hyades shrugs, "I guess if it makes everyone else feel better."
"It really fucking does." Mal informs her bluntly.
"Do I need to tell Pain and Panic to wear clothes?" Hyades grumbles as her cheeks flush slightly.
Evie sits up, "Oh my prince, do you think they would? I already have some ideas. Think they would wear hats-"
"E, chill." Mal shakes her head. "You can't clothe the entire isle." She rolls her eyes. "We're supposed to be mean and nasty, remember?" Why did it seem like everyone kept forgetting that lately?
"I can dream." Evie huffs.
"Dream all you want." Mal scoffs, "It ain't happenin'." She slouches backward on the couch with a thump. "Do you know how much it would affect our rep if you went around dressing up the imps or any other stray- Which you better not make shit for the tard by the way- I only agreed to this because her vag was in everyone's face." She finishes crudely.
Hyades tilts her head to the side before she crouches down on the crate Evie had her standing on, "Am I in trouble with Mal again?" She whispers, her voice concerned.
"Oh no, Evie assures her quietly. "Ya know how Mal gets- She just doesn't know how to show-"
"Finish that E, I dare you." Mal's eyes flash in warning before she stands up with a huff and starts stretching out. She wasn't going to come up with anything with those two yacking. Besides she wanted to see what paint she even had left to start this next project.
"Okay Deez, try this on." Evie takes Hyades by the hand and helps her slide into a pair of blue and grey palazzo pants. She turns back and grabs a cute little halter top and assists sliding that over her, as well. "Aww… I'm not even finished yet and you already look so great."
Mal turns with a lifted brow. "Wow-" She leans a hip against the couches' armrest, "You don't look like shit for once."
Hyades smiles, "Thanks." She twists and turns, trying to look down at herself, "These are comfortable."
Evie grins, "I know. I tried to keep in mind that all you've ever worn are those ratty little togas,
So I wanted to make sure your new clothes breathed and flowed right." She looks back over the neatly folded stacks with a smile, "I know you're going to love all the outfits I've made. I slipped a few dresses in there for you, but I also made you some leggings to wear under them. I even made you some PJs."
"Thanks Evie," Hyades says as she runs her hands over the smooth blue fabric.
"Oh, it's not a problem." Evie beams at her. "I've been dreaming of the day I could finally give you the makeover you deserved."
"More like desperately needed." Mal snorts. "Good job E." She crosses her arms over her chest.
"So no more togas?" Hyades frowns.
"Ew." Evie shakes her head. "No. Those were so- Never actually."
"But that's what my father wears."
"Because he doesn't have me, obviously." Evie responds haughtily, "Not that I would ever make him clothes. With those teeth," She shudders, "Nothing is looking good with those yellow fangs."
Hyades frowns as she presses a finger to her own teeth.
Mal snorts, as she pushes off the wall.
"Oh, I'm not talking about your's sweetie. Your teeth are almost as perfect as mine. Almost."
"Oh."
"S'not like you have fangs D." Mal continues into the small kitchenette. She was gonna get sick if they had to spend all afternoon assuaging Hyades fears. She groans as she crouches to open a cabinet.
Hyades frowns, "I guess I forget how not like my father I am sometimes."
Evie's eyes widen. "Oh no hunny, you look nothing like your father." She walks around to the tri-fold screen she'd put between them and Mal before she wheels it around. "See? Much prettier. Almost as pretty as me even. It's actually kind of annoying because I know you put no effort into it." She pouts. "Being half god must do the same for your skin as being half fairy." Evie lets out an exasperated sigh before she grins, "Must be nice."
Hyades tilts her head to the side, her eyes wide as she looks from Evie to Mal. "I guess I never thought about that."
Mal snorts, Evie was so jealous, her eyes were probably flashing green with it. "Don't be mad at us. Not our fault we got the better genetics."
"I'm not sure mine are better... " Hyades says before she shakes her head, "And you really are the fairest of them all Evie."
"Yeah, seriously E." Mal rolls her eyes.
"Well of course," Evie blinks, "but that doesn't mean you both don't come with your own beauty- It just pales compared to mine."
Hyades smiles at Evie before she goes back to staring at herself in the mirror, searching it as if she was staring at a stranger.
Mal takes a deep breath. She'd been meaning to talk to Hyades for a while about them being halflings together. She just didn't know how to bring it up, but now that Evie's blaise comment had opened the door, who was she not to slide in behind her? She sighs. There went the idea of painting. She stands up and walks back into the shared space. "Speaking of being a halfer…" She coughs into her hand as Evie has the wisdom to look away. "I uh, just want you to know I get it…You know, so if, like you ever want to talk about it or whatever," She waves her hand dismissively, "Ya know..." She shrugs as she looks away. Well that wasn't awkward as shit. She rolls her eyes.
But there, she'd at least done the thing.
"I appreciate the offer Mal." Hyades says as she stares at her feet, "Sometimes it's hard to know if you're okay with, talking, or not."
"Well, I mean it's boss. My mother is the Mistress of fucking Evil. Of course I don't mind talking about it- I just know it's my human half she hates about me. So I get not fitting in." Mal shrugs nonchalantly, as she leans against the wall again. "I just wanted you to know I get it." She rolls her eyes. "Or something."
"My father says it's what makes me less than..." Hyades admits softly, her eyes still down cast as she runs her fingers over her new clothes. "But the pickings were slim."
"Same." Mal frowns. "Constantly. Just reminding me, that even though she expects me too, that I'll never be as fucking powerful as she was at her pique." She rolls her eyes. "It's a fucking paradox." She grumbles. How the fuck could she ever live up to her mother when she was only half as powerful? And had no magic?
"Does she talk about your powers?" Hyades chews on her bottom lip, "Or anything?"
"We have fights of will." Mal shrugs, as she looks around the room like it was her first time seeing it. "Where our innate beasts fight it out." They really needed to pick up after themselves better. Evie's corner was the only clean one.
"Oh." Hyades frowns, "And she's disappointed that you're not strong enough?"
"Actually, usually pretty gleeful about it. It shows she's still dominant." Mal mumbles, just loud enough for Hyades to hear her. She hated talking about shit like this, but she felt like she had to offer. Her and her big fucking mouth. She clenches a jaw to one side. This was uncomfortable. Being this vulnerable. Even if it was for the betterment of their gang. It. Was. Awkward. AF.
"That sounds awful too." Hyades wraps her hands behind her back.
"Don't get me wrong, I so get disappointing a parent."
"I think we all do." Evie adds in softly, looking at neither of the other girls. "We all disappoint our parents constantly. It's why I sew, why you go off and destroy stuff, and why D disappears back to her catacombs so often. There's not one of us that has earned their approval yet- But I think I'm the closest to getting my mother's. All I have to do is lose another couple of pounds and fix up my hair and makeup so I don't look so much like a squatter."
"You don't need to lose weight." Mal and Hyades both growl at the same time.
Mal scowls. Evie better be fucking joking. If she lost any more weight she'd look sick. It was tough enough balancing her eating already. She'd actually been happy that the girl had put some meat on her bones lately. She wasn't sure what had changed. But maybe Evie was right? Maybe her mother was closer to approving her daughter than the other OV's were... Though something didn't sit right about that conclusion either.
Evie drops her eyes. "Well, still…" She bites her lip. "We all disappoint our parents."
Hyades blinks down at Evie before she sits and hugs her. "I think you're beautiful, just like this. You're beautiful when you get excited about clothes and when you find a perfect color to match your eyes. You're beautiful when you mother Dizzy. You don't need your mother to approve that, you've just got it. And no one can take it from you, not even her."
Evie blushes prettily, as her hands start playing with a scrap of fabric and her eyes water. "That's so…"
"Disgusting?" Mal supplies dryly. "Well, disgustingly put anyways." She mumbles looking away. "Sentiment was spot on though." She grumbles even lower. She was glad Hyades had said something like that though. She never knew what the fuck to say to get to Evie, or make her feel better. So it was… nice, that someone knew how to articulate it for their princess to understand how they all felt.
Hyades shrugs, 'Writer." She gently pulls her fingers through the tips of Evie's hair, "I call it as I see it."
Evie's hand comes up to lay over Hyades' with a tenderness that hurt Mal to her core, as she looked away from the sight. Evie had never looked at her like that, she pouts. Oh mother help her. What the fuck was that? Jealousy? Over a fucking look of all things. Her lips curls in disgust with herself as she looks away. "Whatever. I'm gonna paint." She pushes off the wall to get away from the two of them. And the feelings they were eliciting.
"I thought I saw some of your paint cans in one of the drawers you told me I could use." Hyades frowns.
Mal doesn't respond as she walks over and opens the drawer, "What the fuck?" She asks as the drawer sticks. She frowns as she pops open her knife and wedges it in.
"I was going to ask if you guys were stockpiling for an emergency or something, but I figured it wasn't my place to ask." Hyades smiles at Evie as she stands.
"Stockpiling?" Mal asks as she finally pops open the drawer. Her brow lifting when she spots all the different types of paints and paintbrushes overflowing from the drawer.
"Yeah, I found all kinds of stuff in the cabinet next to it." Hyades adds as she walks over to the door next to Mal and slowly opens it, "Who needs that many candles?"
"What?" Mal stands up and walks over to where Hyades was pointing and opens it. Her brows rising as her eyes scan over the cabinet. Candles, to containers and vials, and dried herbs and fresh ones hanging from the back of the door. What the fuck was this shit? No better question, who the fuck had done this shit? And how hadn't she fucking noticed?
She frowns as she starts opening all the cabinets wildly. Spare pillows. Spare blankets. Jerky for days. A fuck ton of water. A box full of crap that had Carlos 'written' all over it, spilling over it. A shower of random sized balls. Several bolts of fabric tucked under the sink, with a bunch of random sewing supplies. Medical supplies out the ass. Canvas and cloth for days. Pens, pencils, and paper and notebooks tucked between any empty space. And wedged in the back was a small busted tv as well as a radio.
"Not yours?" Hyades asks hesitantly when Mal backs away from the last cabinet. "I thought it was weird there was so much paper and pens." She sighs as her lips slowly curve into a smile.
"What the-" Mal growls, before a certain freak flashes to mind. "Fucking T!" She seethes.
"Yeah." Hyades nods, "If it means anything, he did the same thing to the ship."
Mal's growl deepens. "Why?" She demands. As in why the fuck did the kid think it was okay to utilize her space. And why the fuck would he bother in the first place? Why store such random, not-so-random shit? That was so clearly selected for her and her gang. And why the fuck did it piss her off so much?
"I think he likes to be prepared."
"For what though?!" Mal exclaims in frustration. Seriously did the kid know something she didn't. She scoffs. Probably. So what the fuck was he keeping from them that he went out of his way to collect so much emergency supplies. And, she guessed, ways for them to entertain themselves?
"I think he likes making sure we're prepared for anything because he's never felt like he was prepared for whatever, before." Hyades shrugs, "And now he can, so he does, and he makes sure no one else ever feels like he used to."
Mal tilts her head. "Interesting." She shakes her head. "Still when the fuck did he have time to fucking do this? And how the hell did he do it under five fucking noses?" Seriously how? It fucking annoyed her. She wasn't sure why but it did. But it did. Didn't that kid ever fucking sleep? Her eye twitched. Since when the fuck did she care so much about the freaks health? Ugh. Fucking wonderful.
Hyades smiles, her gaze catching Evie's as she stands a little taller.
Evie smiles back encouragingly before she clears her throat. "Mal… I think it was ki-"
"Cool," Hyades interrupts, "It was cool of him..."
"Of course, cool of him to bother enough to fill our very empty cabinets. I mean, if he left it here it had to be with the intention for us, to use it."
Hyades blinks, "Doesn't that mean it's a tribute?"
Mal's eyes narrow, as she lets out a sigh. "Yeah… It fucking would be…" But this much shit? She groans. What the fuck was this kid trying to prove? Or fucking earn? It didn't make a fucking lick of sense and it annoyed her. She slams the cabinet closest to her shut. Not even smirking when the other girls jump. "I'm going for a walk." She states before she walks to the door. "If that tard shows up here tell him I'm looking for him." She demands before slamming it shut behind her.
Hyades lets out a deep sigh, unsure of how long she'd been holding her breath.
Evie walks over and places a comforting hand on Hyades' shoulder. "When Mal can't understand someone's motives she gets a bit… Zealous. It's not personal, I promise."
"I know." Hyades smiles as she lets Evie lead her back over to the box. "It's something I actually like about her. She's very analytical."
"She is certainly that." Evie agrees before she claps her hands together. "So, let's try on the next outfit shall we." Evie beams at her. "I really think you'll love this one."
Hyades quickly grabs Evie by the hands, "Thank you, for this… You really didn't have to, and I don't really know what to say, other than thank you."
"No problem, it's literally my pleasure. I'd burn your old togas if I could. So help me if I ever see another bag on you." She tutts her tongue. "Now, let's try on this peasant top and Bahama shorts."
"I don't know what any of that means, but okay." Hyades grins as she starts working on getting out of the clothes.
"Ooh, when you've got your last outfit on, Imma do your makeup!"
"Sounds fun." Hyades rolls her lips together for a moment before she tilts her head, "Hey Evie…"
"Yes D?" Evie asks curiously looking up.
"I uh, I know one of the last times we all hung out together was kind of, scary…" She looks away.
"Oh- Do you wanna hang at the pool again? I can bring a picnic this time. It was fun fighting T. And watching how he kept getting back up."
Hyades smiles, grateful that Evie's first response hadn't been fear or terror, "That does sound fun, and yes… But um, I wanted to show you something… That I've been working on…"
Evie's eyes narrow curiously. "Oh? Is it a new eye shadow?" She guesses.
"No…" She frowns before she continues, "But I'm hoping it will make you feel more comfortable with me."
Evie tilts her head to the side. "I'm already comfortable with you, silly." She shakes her head. "I wouldn't have made you clothes otherwise."
Hyades brings her hand up slowly between them, holding it steady until she slowly lights up the tip of one finger with a soft orange flame, "But now you know I would never want to hurt you, and actually have control of it so I won't."
Evie's eyes brighten in amazement as she looks between Hyades' hands and her eyes several times her mouth forming a perfect 'O'. "D!" She cheers out. "That's so wicked!" She jumps up and down, clapping in her excitement. "I'm so proud of you! That must've been so hard!" She claps again, her expression nothing short of gleeful.
Hyades blinks as she lets the flame die, wiping at her eyes with the back of her other hand. She couldn't get over how good it felt to prove to her friends that she was taking responsibility for her powers, and how good it felt to know they were proud of her. She had a reputation for not caring about anything around the isle, but she knew it wasn't true. She cared too much about what her friends thought of her.
"But sweetie," Evie frowns as she walks over and hugs Hyades close to her. "I was comfortable with you before too." She whispers softly as she steps back. "Sure I have to worry about my pretty face, but can you blame me? Look at it?" She turns her face to different sides. "Perfect, right?" She smiles before she adds. "But I was never uncomfortable around you. How could I be with how sweet and kind you always are to everyone. With how much work you put into your writing in the hopes of getting us off the isle-" She holds up her hands. "Please don't be upset with T for telling me. I kinda charmed it out of him. I mean, who tries to write to the king?"
"I'm not upset."Hyades shrugs, "I never tried to hide it. Carlos knows, I'm sure Jay does too."
Evie sighs in relief. "Oh good." She nods, "I just wanted you to know, I respect your choices and though I don't completely understand them, I do respect them."
"I just hope, with the right perspective, maybe the king will change his mind about punishing us for our parent's mistakes."
"Can you just imagine?" Evie asks in a dreamy tone, her eyes glazing over as she clearly spaced out at the thought.
"You don't belong here…" Hyades sighs, "You deserve to be in Auradon, away from your mother and living the way you want to. Making dresses or living in a castle."
Evie blinks before she shakes her head. "So do you D. We all kinda do. It's not fair we're expected to live in these conditions." She states with conviction. "I hate seeing my friends hurting and I'm sick of not being able to do anything to help them." She clears her throat daintily. "What I mean is, thank you." She smiles prettily. "Thank you for being brave enough to try."
"Yensid is right, what's the worst that can happen?" Hyades shrugs, "The king never reads them? I'm still no worse off than I was before I tried."
Evie giggles as she leans forward and hugs Hyades close again. "At least someone is trying to give us a real chance." She whispers.
And there we have it people,
Another chapter posted!
So what did you think of Deez' new wardrobe? Were you happy that Evie finally got to give her the new outfits? Were you as excited as our blue princess? Was Hyades reaction everything you'd hoped it be? Was watching Mal struggle with her words and emotions as painful to read as they were to write? And how did you like the way Deez and E navigated those dangerous waters? We know it's rare to have a chapter from her pov, so how do you think we did? Do you like our version of Mal and Evie? Are we doing a better job with them? And what do you think about Mal's reaction compared to Uma's when it comes to T supplying their hangouts? Did you like Hyades insight on it? Any one else ever think about the fact that Hyades didn't have undergarments?
Let us know in the comments below!
With much love and appreciation,
Dark and Twisted.
