Heya Descendants! We're back together for another quick Monday sesh, apparently SCHOOLS BACK IN SESSION! So sorry for you students that are going back! But we hope you do your best and kick it's ass!
FC, thank you so much on your perspective on Gil! It was a real challenge for me to work what Disney gave us, versus how much more I wanted him to be. It didn't seem fair that they made him so one dimensional when the rest of the Sea Three got such dynamic personalities. I know Dark is amazing with her mains, she makes Harry and Carlos specifically shine like gold. So to hear people like my rendition of Gil really touches my esteem as a writer, so thank you so much for this particular feedback. And for your deep introspection on T and his reasons of course!
As for the tattoo's, we'll try to draw them, but we were not blessed with that type of creative talent. *cough* Someone please step up and help some sisters out *cough* We'll write you any Oneshot/imagine you request with any characters you want and throw it into the Appendix for you, fuck we'll even cross over our SPNL characters for any of you reading both if that's what you want! ( For anyone who is curious) *cough*! Multiple entries just mean multiple imagines/ one-shots of your choosing. And this way they don't have to be cannon, well our cannon, congruent. Think about it! Imagines written by us, for just you yourself and Thou! We do know exactly what he's going to add to each of his family and crew's tattoos, so if you're up to the challenge hit us up. We'll seriously write one for one with art for imagine/Oneshot.
Dobby, sup homes! Absolutely loved your opinion on nature versus nurture and how in-depth you ended up taking those questions. We absolutely love when you share your introspection with us! It helps us make sure you guys can smell what we're stepping in. Jay trying to comfort Deez is always something we enjoy writing even if it's challenging to navigate. We like pushing these characters to their limits, so thanks for that shout out! We're excited to see the third movie too, but it's just so hard to find the time and sit down to enjoy something that isn't busting this bitch out ;) Glad to know it met some high expectations though.
To the both of you, thank you so much for being such boss bitches and always posting like beasts! It takes a lot of work to be this committed to posting reviews and it is super appreciated. We live, well mostly live, on these comments and you two always serve delicious ones.
And to Devin, we're so glad we were able to manifest an addiction! Writing the secret meetings and it's crasher is one of my fave's to write. I love the dynamic she has with the two. As for T's transition… It's going to be complicated as many things with her are. I hope everything clicks when the big reveal happens! We know this story ain't no joke when it comes to reading and retention- Which, yo, sometimes we need you guys to point out continuity errors do to the number of renditions we've done for this bitch- And you're not wrong, like everything else with T, it's going to be a difficult transition.
Sorry, this intro is almost longer than the chapter! Remember it's bigger font and bolded, please... But just had time today to go full tilt into some of the reviews.
-Twisted
A few days later...
T beams as he makes his way to the docks. It had taken a few trips to the barge but he had finally rummaged through enough of the barges to find what he had spent a couple of weeks hunting for. You'd think he'd been searching for a damn sword, with how hard these books had been to find. He thought about going to Yensid, but he'd easily discarded the idea. He wanted Gil to be able to keep what he found, and this didn't seem like the kind of learning the old man talked about, anyways.
He wasn't sure they'd all be useful, but he was pretty sure it wouldn't hurt either.
When he finally reaches the ship he bounces up the plank as if he owned the ship, as usual.
He ignores the adult sidekicks mulling around the ship, finding himself annoyed with Uma for even letting them join her crew. It was one thing if she'd only let one or two join over the last few months. But now the ship was nearly crawling with the fucks.
He couldn't quite put together the why, besides the fact that he didn't find any of them worth his interest. Then again there weren't many on the isle that he found worth in.
He scans the deck for Gil, grinning when he finds him tucked into a nook near the captain's wheel.
"Sup T?" Gil asks as T's shadow falls over him.
T frowns. It seemed his stealth still needed work. Should have come from the side away from the light. Oh well, there was always next time, "Not much." He shrugs as he walks over and plops close enough to Gil that they could reach each other.
The back of Gil's head thuds into the wall behind him before he turns to T with a small, forced grin, "Come ta keep me company while Uma and Harry run the shop?"
"Usually," T smirks as he pulls his messenger bag to his lap, "But not today." He flips his bag open.
Gil furrows his brow as he sits forward, abandoning his woodcarving to his side for the moment.
T starts pulling out one book after another from his bag, each of them ranging in size. It's not long before a small pile is stacked on his lap. "Here." He passes the books to Gil.
"Another reading lesson?" Gil asks eagerly as he looks over the books. He picks up the first one hand squints at the faded title, "Le… Le-gen-ds… oh, legends of the sea. Oh cool!"
T lifts an eyebrow as he looks around the ship. And here he thought Gil didn't want anyone to know about the lessons before he shakes his head. He doubted Gil did, he was just probably excited and didn't think about it. A small smile pulls at his lips as he hears Gil sound out the title of the book. "That ones got shit about Krakens." He shrugs. "But more importantly look through it."
Gil didn't have to be told twice, he quickly lets the book fall open in his lap before he carefully turns each page. He eyes each one, marveling at the beautifully rendered illustrations until T stops him, and points at a word.
"Can you figure out that word?" T looks at him with a smile.
"K-ra-k-en. Kraken!" Gil eagerly flips to the next page, his eyes widening at the two full-page illustration of a Kraken tearing apart a fleet of ships, "Wow."
"Yep. That's what we've been calling Uma." T grins.
"Well, Uma's beautiful… I wonder if Harry knew how ugly a Kraken was when he first started calling her that…" Gil rubs a hand over his lips as he continues to stare at the horrific image.
T snorts, "I hope not." He shakes his head as he glances at the pile of books on Gil's lap before he leans over and picks up another book labeled 'How to Draw Sea Monsters.' "They're a lot cooler looking in this one. Apparently, even in Auradon, they have no idea what one looks like." He flips through the book, before handing it back to Gil.
Gil lets out a sigh and sets the legends of the sea aside and opens the next book in his lap.
T chuckles at Gil's relief of the new picture. "Yeah, figured you might like that one better… The other one just has a cool description of what they are, and do." He was glad Gil seemed so happy for the pile. It was so worth the effort. It usually was when he found something to give one of the people he adored. The feeling it gave him was addictive. It was so rare that anyone on the Isle was given shit. Even by their assigned gangs. With the core four- Well five now, Mal would rather eat razor blades than have her gang show that level of devotion to one and another. And the Sea Three rarely had time to do anything outside the shop and keeping their territory.
"Yeah, this looks good, and this one too-" Gil begins laying the opened books out in front of him as he goes through each one to find an image of the Kraken, "Yeah, man, this is great. Thanks, T."
T grins at his excitement. The warmth in his gut exciting him in a way he couldn't explain, but always enjoyed. He knew he wasn't the best at telling others about how he felt about them. Usually finding it too hard to articulate. However showing them, that was a fuck ton easier. It's not like he could explain what the feeling was anyways, or even what to name it.
Gil pulls a small, whittled down pencil from one pocket and folded sheets of paper from another, "So yeah, I think something kind of like these three, but in a style a little more like the tentacle on my tattoo, so it looks like it's an extension, like part of her." He lays on his stomach with the books spread around him as he smooths the pages out and starts to hurriedly sketch.
T beams at him. "Cool. That sounds right up Uma's ally. And I'm sure Hook's too." He points to the other books Gil had abandoned. "The other books are all about how to build skills at drawing. I know none of them have Krakens, but figured they might be useful. Since ya know the shits pretty permanent."
"Wha-" Gil looks up at T in surprise before he pulls one of the books over, "Really?" He starts looking through it, "Wow, I've been trying to figure out how to add something besides shading." He grins as he drops the stubby pencil and fully concentrates on the drawing help book.
T chuckles as he goes to stand, "Have fun man." He looks down at the boy already absorbed in his task. He was thrilled Gil enjoyed them. He had been hoping he would. And it would give him something to focus on besides being kicked out of the shop. He still felt responsible for getting him pretty much permanently banned from it. His eyes sweep over Gil one last time, his smile fading when he sees the bandage poking out from under Gil's shirt sleeve. His eyes linger for a moment, anger and curiosity swirling in his gut. At the lack of other signs of a confrontation, he lets it drop.
He needed fucking sleep anyways. So without another word he makes his way over to the tallest mast, looking around for anyone paying attention to him before he climbs. Once he reaches the top he curls around the pole over the entrance, his eyes closing. He didn't remember when he started, or even why it was so comfortable on the ship. Though if he had to guess it was probably the light rocking.
Content with his day, it's not long until he slips into the sweet oblivion of sleep.
Gil was bent over the books by lantern light. His pencil scratching out something on his lap. His eyes were tired from his intense focus on the words. He wasn't even sure who'd dropped off the light, but he had a feeling it was James. He couldn't think of anyone else on the crew that would have bothered with him anyways.
"What ya be ah doin' out here laddy?" Harry asks with a sly grin as he comes up beside Gil in an attempt to wrestle one of the books away.
"How the hell do you still have so much energy Harry?" Uma groans as she leans up against the wheel, "I'd think it would take all your energy just to keep your mouth shut all day."
Gil chuckles at Harry's pout, offering Harry one of the books about drawing. "Was just practicin'."
"Practicin' what though?" Uma frowns as she picks up the lantern to shine the light onto the book.
"Drawing." Gil shrugs nonchalantly, not wanting to give away the surprise. "It gets lonely without being with the two of you, so I picked up another hobby." He admits looking away with a slight blush at the admission.
Uma chuckles lightly as she bends down to tweak Gil's nose, "You know why you can't go to the shop anymo-" Her eyes narrow and she thrusts the lantern towards Harry, "What is that?" She hisses as she grabs Gil's arm.
Gil grins up at his captain. "I was hopin' to surprise ya," He sighs, "But shoulda known you'd notice…"
"What ya be wantin' ta surprise us with? Did yer twin brothers end up worse than you?" Harry grumbles as he stands.
Gil looks between the two, unable to help the warmth that pooled in his stomach at their concern. Not for the first time appreciating his chosen family. It was just so refreshingly different than the treatment his blood family showed him.
"Not the twins then?" Uma glares and crosses her arms over her chest. She sighs as she stands next to Harry, sharing a look of concern with her.
"Yer dad did'nah be comin' here ta be haulin' ya back to that tavern he calls home did he?"
Gil shakes his head as he stands up, his bones cracking and groaning along with the dull ache he'd gotten from sitting in the same position for so long. He reaches up to remove the bandage and turns his arm towards them.
"Ya be gettin' ah tattoo?" Harry's eye gleam as he gingerly takes Gil by the arm to admire the work.
"Ya." Gil agrees with a stupidly happy grin. "I thought it would be cool to have an extension of Uma…" He looks away from his captain. He'd thought hard about what to get. It had taken him nearly a week to come up with the idea. He was still very pleased with his decision to get the singular tentacle wrapped around his bicep, the backside of it the color of Uma's braids.
"Bro, this be wicked cool!" Harry traces the tentacle from where it appeared around Gil's inner upper bicep, following it as it twists and grips an anchor in its grip. "It be ah beauty."
Uma continues to study his arm with a curiosity he'd never seen before. "What made you what to get this tattoo though?" She asks calmly.
Gil shrugs. "Well, I'm your second. And I got this to remind me that even when I'm alone, I'm never really by myself. I've got you," he grins, "And Harry."
Uma's eyes soften before she pulls Gil's arm closer to the light so she can see the details, "I like it." She nods and traces her colors in the tentacle, "Is it because I'm the Kracken?"
"Was hopin' ya would." Gil's eyes brighten as a giant grin lights up his face as he looks down at her with adoration. "And ya, kinda…" He looks away. "I wasn't sure if ya'd like it or be offended but… I spent a week thinkin' bout it. And I liked the idea of being a part of this, a part of you and your crew. That's why it's only one tentacle."
"And you are the anchor here." Uma chuckles as she releases his arm.
"T actually helped me with that part." Gil chuckles, "Originally I was gonna do a shield, but he told me I was more like an anchor…" He didn't want to add the explanation though. T had said it was cause he was like the glue of their crew. Well at least to Uma and Harry. The level head who kept them from going full tilt. He couldn't remember all of it honestly, but it had left him feeling warm. And had made him change his mind. It didn't hurt that it was more pirate-y too.
"Both work," Uma agrees with a small frown, "But I like the anchor."
"I be ah wantin' one!" Harry eagerly points out, "just like yer tentacle, but with something more me."
Gil chuckles, "That's why I've been working on my drawing… I was hoping to surprise the two of you," He rubs the back of his head. "But I shoulda known I couldn't get nothin' past Uma." He grins sheepishly.
Uma purses her lips, "I was worried you'd been hurt." She sighs and crosses her arms over her chest again, "I didn't mean to ruin your surprise."
The warmth pools in his gut again. "Nah." He shrugs, "Better this way. Now you can give me ideas about the design… I mean if ya want one." He shifts his weight feeling uncomfortable. "And it's okay Uma, I 'preciate ya carin'." He grins at her.
"You got ideas for one for me?" Uma grins.
"Can we be ah talkin' 'bout this inside?" Harry asks as he looks around, "It be colder than witch tits out here."
Gil can't help his chuckle. Now that Harry mentioned it, he could feel the biting wind coming off the sea.
Uma nods and takes the lantern back from Harry, "Yeah, and our boy's been out here Poseidon only knows how long."
Gil walks over to collect the rest of the books T had given him. "I didn't notice…" He shrugs.
"Aye, I bet." Harry chuckles and pats Gil's back affectionately.
"Aye, but colds don't care." Uma reminds him as she shoos them towards the room.
Gil looks down sheepishly. "I wasn't payin' attention." He admits. "Sorry, Uma." It wasn't the first time she'd reprimanded him for completely zoning out while working on something. And it probably wouldn't be the last either. He sighs. He didn't know what to do about it. It wasn't his fault he lost track of time when he was focused on something, at least he hoped not.
"That's okay sweet boy, just gives us a reason ta warm ya up." Uma grins, "Just don't make a habit of staying out in the cold."
"Aye Captain." Gil grins.
Harry stands up straighter and salutes her cheekily.
Uma half grins and shoves the taller boy towards the door, "Ya both are being cheeky tonight ain't ya."
Gil smiles as he holds his pile of books close as if he were protecting a treasure.
Harry bows low to Uma as he opens the door, "After you oh cap'in me cap'in."
T can't help the small smile pulling at his lips as the three disappear into the cabin. He had lived for these moments when he first started sneaking out. It's how she'd picked the people he'd chosen to follow after all. It was like a ripple in the nothingness that had been his life in the cathedral.
And nothing rippled through him quite like, or more often, than the Sea Three.
Sure it was nice being able to interact with more than Faustina and her father, but he'd missed this. Missed just quietly observing them. He loved chilling with everyone… It just took so much energy sometimes. It was nice to be back in his element. It was nice just watching these candid, and more importantly, rare shows of affection and caring… They had been the only real highlights of his childhood.
It was the first time he didn't want to kill Hook for waking him up. Sure, he'd been pissed at first but after hearing that conversation, who could be mad? His smile widens slightly.
Not that he still wasn't annoyed by it. Just, ya know, not ragingly pissed like normal. It was pretty rare that he got to sleep in the first place. And, sure he knew it was probably his fault for sleeping here. But also fuck Hook for being so damn loud. No one else ever fucking woke him.
He was genuinely glad for it though. He wasn't sure how the two would react to Gil's decision. Personally, the idea of putting a permanent claim or even mark in general made him want to vomit, and question why anyone would ever willingly brand themselves like that. But it's what Gil had wanted, and he was his own person. And even if he was repulsed by the idea, he couldn't not help. Not judge. Not question. Just help.
He was sure the gentle giant had noticed his distaste though. That's what he adored so much about the other kids he'd decided to follow. They noticed and cared about shit. And yeah, it made him uncomfortable and squirrelly as shit like all the time. But still… It meant a lot to him that they would bother enough to give a shit about him. Even fucking Mal. She didn't need to keep his answers to herself, but she had. His smile lights up his face.
When he'd first started, or on some occasions was forced into, talking with them… It had been exhilarating. And nearly fucking dying? He wouldn't make it to heaven any other way than being a martyr. So why not die protecting one of them?
And even if that wasn't his fate, what better way for him to spend what freedom he had than by providing for the ones who helped him find the freedom in the first place. Them. The ones he cherished from afar for so long. His most valuable treasure on this shit heap.
So, why not just say fuck it and do what he wanted? Do what she wanted. If her father ever found out it would be the end of all of this anyways. The end of him anyways.
He smirks. That's what made all the burns and scars worth it. Well that, and the things Faustina never wanted to share with him. He sighs, checking the deck for any stragglers before he makes his way down from the crow's nest. He needed something to do now. Before those thoughts had the chance to fuck up his night.
Stealing ink seemed like a great place to start. It sounded like both Harry and Uma were down for getting Gil's hard work inked into their skin. Good for Gil.
So, any realizations of your own?
We're excited to hear what you guys think of this chapter! What did you think of Uma and Harry's reactions to Gil's first tattoo? Did you enjoy their responses? Did they meet your expectations? Exceed them? We know there was a lot of head-hopping in this one, which we know is a pet peeve of most of you... But we didn't want to post these as itty bitty chapters... So did the line break help? Did T's book delivery give you feels? Did Gil's reaction to this latest T drop make your heart hurt? Or did we fall short? As you guys have probably figured out by now, T's a huge supporter of actions speak louder than anything he could ever hope to articulate. If he ever makes it to Auradon, he'll definitely be the type of teen that makes their friends listen to certain songs to convey how he feels about something. And how about that closing T introspection? Unnecessary? Or did you like seeing him in his element?
With much love and anticipation,
-Twisted
And as requested so enthusiastically by FC, here's our Uma playlist!
What's my Name- Chyna Anne Mclaine (OBVI!)
Safe and sound- Tayler Swift
I love the broken ones- Dia Frampton
I'm a Lover- Merideth Brooks
Hips don't lie- Shakira
We are Giants- Dia Frampton
Shake it out- Florence and the Machine
Scars to your beautiful- Alessia Cara
Learn to let it Go- Kesha
Stand by you - Rachel Platton
Wanna see you be Brave- Sara Bareilles
One Girl Revolution- Superchick
Rock what you Got- Superchick
Nerves- Icon for Hire
I choose you- Sara Bareilles
Sum of your Parts- Mary Lambert
PSS- We listen to like all these songs in night core to make them a bit more gritty and edgy while writing.
