Sup Descendants,

A couple of quick things.

Firstly to FC, Dobby, & Nicole thank you so much for your insights into the last chapter. Dark and I were delighted to hear that you found Frollo creepy AF. It's a hard headspace to be in.

Also to FC, yes that girl was T.

Sorry, we couldn't post another chapter sooner. Looks like Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are going to be our posting days for any of you keeping track... Before we start writing.

That being said, we hope you guys enjoy our newest chapter!

-Twisted


A week later...

Mal frowns as she leaned back in her chair, listening to the conversation between T and Deez with feigned disinterest. She wasn't sure why D even wanted updates on the people she could no longer see. It's not like good news ever existed on the isle. And didn't D see Gil enough without having to talk about his whereabouts? She frowns. Unless she wasn't seeing the guppy's retarded giant?

That would be news to her. And T was surprisingly unupset about it for someone who had sacrificed his secrets for the revival of their stupid 'club'. She rolls her eyes, still annoyed with the questions she'd asked him. Whatever. She continues to sketch the picture of the two of them, absently. Wasn't her problem if the book club ended. She'd kept to her end of the bargain.

"So, ya know," T scratches the back of his head, "Don't freak if I go missing now and then. I'm tryin' ta help out, but the bitch keeps changing her mind on what the layout's gonna be." He finishes sternly.

D frowns as she watches T, "So, they have absolutely no free time, at all?"

Mal can't help her smirk, good. Now she wouldn't have to worry about Uma, and could focus her attention where it mattered. Cora and Atilla.

"Not a fuckin' minute," T affirms with a frown. "Which means Jay and I are gonna have to take over the smithing. Ya know, like when I can't cover for him." He shrugs. "Not that I won't try, but it's difficult to replace Gil on a construction site, he kinda stands out."

"Oh." D plops down onto her bed.

Mal's eyes narrow at the defeated expression on Hyades' lips. Gross. Why the fuck did she even care? It's not like she could even fucking see them. Seriously? How fucking sensitive was her most recent member? Honestly, she should just be happy Ursula wasn't doing something worse than she was. Then again, she frowns, they should all be happy that their parents weren't doing something worse than they were.

It was like the unspoken rule on the isle. It could always be worse.

"So… Yeah." T pats D's shoulder.

Mal can't help her snort at the awkward attempt at comfort on T's part. Disgusted he'd even try to comfort someone in front of her. She wasn't an idiot, she knew her gang comforted each other, but never so brazenly.

Not that it mattered with such a piss poor attempt. It was more like a pity pat than an actual form of comfort. She smirks. At least she had one up on T there. She'd tried to be a comfort, at least for Evie.

D furrows her brow as she looks between the folding screen towards Mal. She purses her lips before she looks back to T, "I'll let Jay know, but we might just be working the metals into basic shapes until Gil can come back, or working on the formulas with Carlos."

"Speaking of Carlos, any idea where he is?" T asks curiously, "I got a new project for us to work on."

Mal's eyes widen, "What?" The last time those two worked on a project Evie had torn up their hangout with scraps of fabric.

"It's not more fabric is it?" Hyades asks, strangely on the same wavelength.

"Nah," T shakes his head. "Just found something for us to tinker with and fix." He shrugs.

Mal narrows her eyes, sure she wasn't suspicious of T's motives, but she still hated being left in the dark. "As I stated before, what? As in what are you commandeering my pup's time on now?"

T frowns as he shifts and pulls a small machine out of his bag, and shows it to Mal. "A machine?" He shrugs, "Not much more to it than that… Just figured it would be fun ta fix something with him."

Bor-fuckin-ring. Mal's face twists in distaste. "Seriously?" She questions, "You do that shit too?"

"I mean, kinda, I try, but there's a reason I'm looking for C."

"You hit a wall with it?" D asks as she looks the machine over curiously.

T snorts, "I don't touch until Carlos can look shit over anymore. I've found I'm good at de-assembly only." He admits with a shrug.

"Disassembly." D absently corrects before she flops back on her bed to stare at the ceiling.

"Yeah, that one." T nods, "I'm only good at that part."

Huh. Mal frowns at the sudden realization T was better at utilizing her people than she was. She scowls, "Well what does the machine do?"

T shrugs, "Hopefully start." He states as he tucks it into his messenger bag.

Mal rolls her eyes, "You would want to tinker with a machine without knowing what it does."

"Oh." T blinks at her. "That kinda do," He grins, "With any luck tattoos."

Mal arcs one eyebrow, "You want to fix a tattoo machine? Why?"

"Huh. Wasn't expecting you to care so much about something you care so little about- Do you want a tattoo, too?"

"No." Mal snorts, "Whatever, just seems stupid to try to fix something you can't use."

T shrugs, "You could though." He gestures to the wall covered in her art, "Just didn't know if you wanted one."

"I'd have to like people to want to put my art on them."

T studies her for a moment before he shrugs, "Suit yourself, was just offering since you'd probably kick ass at it."

Mal furrows her brow again as she drops her eyes from T to D. "And don't you dare leave before you fix what you fucking broke."

T blinks at her in confusion. "What did I break?"

Mal gestures to Hyades, "Her, obviously. You broke it, you fix it. I don't want her to mess with my vibes here."

"I'm right here assholes," D grumbles.

"And?" Mal rolls her eyes, "What's that got to do with it? You weren't like this before the freak got here." She scoffs, as she starts shading the sketch.

"This," D draws a circle over herself in the air with a finger, "is called thoughtful. And it's not gonna fuck with vibes."

"Think she only gets brooding ta be honest D." T shrugs.

"I get angry too." Mal snaps.

"Ya mean cunty right?" T corrects her without batting an eyelash. "Which is just, ya know, a branch of broody." He smirks. "For you at least."

"So you were wanting to fix that stupid machine without Carlos right?"

T's smirk falters for the briefest moment before it's replaced with his shit-eating grin, he turns to Hyades, "Point and case." He gestures to Mal, "A prime example of cunt in its natural environment."

Mal scowls at him. This little fucking shit. He'd always had balls, she'd give him that. But apparently, he was too close and knew she wouldn't ban Carlos from anything that could take him out of Hell Hall. Damn it. He didn't even take her threats seriously anymore. When the fuck did that happen. She whips her pencil at him, the broadside bouncing off his head. It was annoying that he hadn't even bothered to try and dodge, "Stupid prick."

"Usually, yeah." T agrees as he picks the pencil up and brings it back. "But the difference is I can admit it."

"Get the fuck out." Mal snaps, as she snatches her pencil back. Asshole, always made her look fucking worse. At least it was just Hyades. And the girl was still 'thoughtfully' limp on her bed. "He's probably at home if he ain't here. Now piss off before ya make shit worse."

"Heard." T salutes her, "Later Deez." He adds before walking out, closing the door behind him.

What the fuck was it with these two? When the fuck did they get so disobedient? She used to say jump and T would jump at the threat of losing Carlos.

Now? Now he fucking knew the damn truth and was using it to his advantage. Like the dickhead he was. Deez though? She looks over at the girl laid out on her bed. Deez had always been a different beast altogether. She hated having the demi-gods complete obedience. That had been awful for fucking everyone for the few weeks it had lasted. But she at least wasn't so open about it… Or, Mal's scowl darkens, maybe D had and she just didn't notice cause they weren't forced to be together so often.

Either way, what a pain in the fucking ass.


How was it fair that she had nothing but free time on her hands, and neither of her families had any between school, the gang, and work?

Hyades huffs and punches the pillow above her head before she sits up, "Hey Mal?"

"Yeah?" Mal asks, already studying her. "Gonna admit your sulkin' yet? Or are you still sticking with 'thoughtful'?"

"Pfft, still thoughtful." Hyades rolls her eyes, "But not the point. I was going to ask if you're still interested in uh… Well, I'm learning something new with my fire and I wanted to know if you still wanted to see it, maybe give me some pointers or something."

Mal looks down at her sketch before looking to Deez and back again before she huffs and lowers her book. "Let's go." She stands up. "We're doin' this at the pool though. Fuck the beach."

"Cool." Hyades springs out of her bed, "I'll have to grab some wood or something along the way." If she couldn't be with the rats as they worked on the shop, she'd spend her time getting better at her abilities. She could control that at least.

"I'm sure you'll find something," Mal shrugs. "You can practice on T, fuck knows he'd let you-"

"Ugh." Hyades shakes her head. "Not funny, he already offered."

Mal snorts, "Of fuckin' course he did." She grumbles as she opens the door for them. "Fuckin' freak." She rolls her eyes.

"I mean, I'm hoping to eventually work up to trying it on him-"

"Good." Mal agrees, "That's who you should try it on."

"But my goal is to control my fire so well that I don't burn everything."

"Huh." Mal pauses, as she looks Hyades over with something akin to respect. "And how's that going for you?" She asks with genuine curiosity.

"Well, Carlos pointed out that if I can burn hot enough to melt rock into lava I shouldn't be able to get near anyone while I'm on fire. But I've never really hurt anyone I was afraid of hurting, except T at the well, anyway… He thinks that now that I can control the temperature better, maybe I can make it so it doesn't burn."

Mal's head tilts in thought before she snorts. "Of course he would be the one to notice that," She rolls her eyes, but Hyades catches the pride underlying her tone. "This is going to either be really interesting or boring isn't it." She states bluntly.

"Well, I know that you struggle with your own abilities sometimes, so I was hoping you could tell me if it looks like I'm making a stupid mistake."

Mal lifts a single brow, "Ability? You mean the way my eyes flash neon when I'm pissed?" She asks in confusion. A smirk tilts her lips as the crowd parts from them. Some were even cowering in fear as they made their way to the pool.

"It used to happen more often," Hyades shrugs, "but now it only happens when you're battling for control of a situation, or… with your mom."

Mal's silent for a moment. "Huh." She frowns, "I ain't calling it an ability till it can be useful, but I've never thought of looking into it either." She admits.

"Working on my abilities is one of the ways I stay sane."

"You should work on them more then." Mal runs a hand through her hair. "Or come back to school or something."

"I go on the days I have Yensid's class." Hyades points out.

Mal rolls her eyes, "Yeah, everyone noticed." She snorts, "And the other OV's aren't thrilled about your taste in teachers. Mother Gothel lost her shit when you came back but didn't show up to selfie class."

"Why is that even a class?" Hyades rolls her eyes.

"Vanity and pride go hand and hand," Mal snorts, "And watch that tone around Evie. Girl has claws. And that's her favorite subject."

"Right." Hyades sighs.

Mal snickers. "Damn straight, right." Her lips twitching into a smirk, "For as much as T thinks I'm a cunt, he should see E on a bad day."

"I think he has," Hyades frowns, "he knows not to piss her off at least."

"Does he though?" Mal questions, her tone high-pitched with skepticism. "Or does he just have that bad of a hard-on for her that he goes out of his way to avoid it?"

Hyades scrunches her nose, "That seems like a weird question."

"Just sayin'," Mal shrugs, "T might not have seen that side of E, yet." Her smirk deepens, "But I'd pay to be a fly on the wall when he does."

Hyades chuckles, "I bet you would. But, if T pisses you off that much, why do you let him hang around?"

Mal's smirk shifts to a real smile for the briefest moment at Hyades' small laugh, before her question registers. Her face twisting into annoyance. "Why do you think?" She asks with a roll of her eyes. She studies Hyades when she doesn't speak. "But seriously though, why do you think? I'm curious to know what the resident mind reader knows."

Hyades hides her amusement. Mal would kill her if she ever found out how human she thought she was when she was unsure about her thoughts or feelings on something. But it was. Endearingly so. Still..."Do you really want to know, or is this one of those things where you think your fake reason is so obvious that I should be able to parrot it back?"

Mal's eyes narrow, before she shrugs, "Humor me, ya got an answer for both? What I present and what you know." She adds curiously.

"Okay, well, I think you want me to parrot back that T can be useful, or keep your acquaintances close and enemies closer." Hyades shrugs, "Something like that anyway."

Mal nods, "Pretty much, yeah." She agrees easily enough.

"But…" She purses her lips to the side and looks back at Mal, "You sure you want to know? I'm not actually a mind reader or anything, and I don't know how I make the connections I make, but I know they can freak people out."

Mal gives a simple shrug, "Yeah, 'cause if you can make the jump, I wanna know if other people can too…And honestly..." She looks around, content when no one dared come within hearing distance, "I don't fuckin' know why I tolerate his ass… So if you know, fuck it, I wanna know too."

Hyades sighs, "Well, I think part of you is fascinated with him. Like the big puzzle that he is, how did he get so good at making his image, that kind of surface stuff. But under all that, I think you keep him around and tolerate him because you're sure he could take people away from you if he wanted too. Which you shouldn't believe for too many reasons to count. The first of which being that T would never do that to you. He might poke fun, but at the end of the day he-" She bites her lip, "Cares about you. Just like he cares about everyone he started stalking." She holds up her hand to stop Mal before she could interrupt, "And before you jump to the book club, think about it." She smiles softly, "T can't even join a gang, let alone lead one. He probably doesn't even realize that most of his relationships aren't one-sided. And sure, he's great at knowing our strengths," She admits, "But he doesn't lead anyone there. He just borrows people for projects and dumps them together. He's never questioned our loyalties, and I don't think it's ever even crossed his mind. He's just not that type of person. Secondly, I know you doubt them, but your gang really does adore you."

Mal's steps falter, as her cool facade slips for the briefest of moments. "But that's because he doesn't have any interest in it right now though… What if he eventually gets bored or suddenly realizes being close to people isn't worse than being set on fire?"

"T's too much of a loner to ever want that kind of responsibility Mal. I promise. He got book club started, and within the first week started ducking out from time to time."

The sigh that escapes Mal's lips is one of pure relief.

"If you want me to continue this I can," Hyades shrugs, "or not."

Mal studies her for a moment before she nods, "Well if there's another reason you're thinkin' I'd like to hear it."

"I think you also keep T around because you find him interesting. You study him. Watch him with everyone in your gang. I just don't think you know what to do with all your findings. I think he makes you uncomfortable at times, and then it's harder for you to kick him out because you can't help but wonder where he got the idea from. And I think you keep him around because he has proven useful, and at times even loyal. You also get a kick out of the fact that he doesn't back down when the rest of us do. You admire something in him, but I don't know what it is that you specifically admire, just that you've seen something that you do admire."

Mal's silent as she mulls over her thoughts quietly as if trying to attach her words to her scrambled thoughts on the subject.

It's not until their out of town that she responds. "Huh." She finally mumbles before she looks over to study D. "I mean…. I guess that all feels right…" She admits. "Besides the admiration thing." She frowns, "I don't think that's quite the word I'd use with a sword to my throat…"

Hyades snorts, "There hasn't been anything about him that has impressed you?"

Mal rolls her eyes, "It impresses me every time he shows up alive at this point." She scoffs.

"I thought you were harder to impress." Hyades shrugs.

"Tch." Mal snorts, "Is it that surprising when the kid has a fucking death wish?" Her steps falter slightly, at the realization that it probably wasn't a joke.

"He used to have a death wish." Hyades continues walking, scouring the ground for sticks or other debris she could practice on, "But I don't think he does anymore."

Mal's eyes harden as she lets out a scoff, "Guessin' ya've never seen his back then." She mutters darkly.

"I didn't have too. He always smells like herbs and flinches more often when he's hurt. It was hard to see at first because he flinches when people get close anyway, but yeah."

Mal eyes her over before she shrugs. "If you ever saw it, you'd understand why I was impressed every time he shows up alive if you did... It's one thing to notice shit, but another to see it. And he isn't like a demi-god or anything…." Her eyes soften for the briefest moment before she rolls them. "Just a fucking tard."

"It has to be pretty bad." Hyades frowns before she darts over to grab a fallen branch, "But it doesn't change that I don't think he has a death wish anymore. Also, I get yelled at if I even hint at him being human fragile, so I stopped a long time ago."

Mal snorts, "I could believe him not being human." She waits for Hyades to come back to her side, "Barely functions as one. I mean I know one of the things I tolerate the shitiot is the fact he makes me look better when it comes to being social."

"He's human. I punched his shoulder out of place when he showed back up after disappearing for two weeks. I don't think that punch would have dislocated Gil's shoulder, but Gil's definitely human."

Mal lifts a brow. "You dislocated…. Huh." She shakes her head. "And I don't think the guppy's muscle is wholly human either…" She sighs, "Just kind of glad he's in Shrimpy's group." She admits.

"Why?"

Mal looks around for any other prying eyes, "Seriously, guesses all that, and can't guess that?"

"Because you wouldn't want to deal with his kindness?" Hyades guesses.

Mal rolls her eyes, "Weakness, you mean?" She corrects haughtily. "But something along those lines, I guess." She shrugs.

"Kindness isn't a weakness you know." Hyades frowns, "I think it takes a lot more strength to be kind in our situation than it takes to be mean."

"Yeah, and when you're built like a brick house you get to make that choice." Mal blurts out before she could stop herself.

"I guess that's fair." Hyades reluctantly admits, "No one messes with him much anymore, and no one messes with me, so we can get away with being kind."

"Which brings me back to T." Mal scowl dissipates the heat from her cheeks. "Who doesn't have either of your abilities. Just balls. Brass fucking balls."

"He does back his shit up with blades to people's throats."

Mal scoffs, "I've held blades to people's throats." She rolls her eyes.

"And people don't fuck with you."

"As well they shouldn't, I'm their better." Mal responds haughtily, "T though? T's a literal no one."

"I'm just saying I think you guys built different reputations with a similar tactic."

"Ugh." Mal rolls her eyes, "Don't compare me to that."

"Heard." Hyades smiles.


So,

What ya guys think of this chapter, huh, huh, huh? Was it a good way to spend your free time? It's rare we do chapters with just D and Mal, so what did you think of their dynamics?

Do you like how Mal used Hyades pretty much like a psychic? Or that Deez asked Mal to help her with her fire instead of just ruminating over the loss of the Sea Three, again?

Were you surprised Mal jumped at the offer?

Are you surprised D offered in the first place?

Like most chapters we write, this one kinda got away from us and came to life on its own. We weren't expecting that conversation to pop up- but then it did. And we thought it was a good way to explore what Mal actually feels about T since she's so bad at self-reflection. So, we kept it.

-Twisted

And as requested, we picture a teal tentacle with a lighter teal underside and purple suckers coming that wraps around their arms, to hold whatever each person is represented by.

Gil's is an anchor.

Hyades tat would be a quill.

Harry's will be wrapped around a hook, obvi.

Jame's will be a tentacle holding up the Jolly Roger. Black flag with a simple squid silhouette

If T ever gets one, it'll be a shield.

The rest of the crew either clutching a dagger or sword.

Ending with Uma will be the whole kraken around a compass holding the same objects towards it or at least incorporated into it. Almost like it's clutching onto the people she won't let go.

The picture of Uma's minus symbolism is in a link on our profile page.