Ho boy do I have a chapter for you guys!
Let's get to the reviews shall we so you can jump right in. As always, don't skip my notes!
Call Me Random: *me, cackling madly behind the screen at all the secrets soon to be revealed* But yes, Ben sadly doesn't seem to have much self-preservation instinct. I'm head-canoning that he gets it from Belle, since she was so stubborn to insist on loving a Beast regardless of the cost, lol. ;)
But agreed, so much shit has to happen until they can start getting towards ok. Luckily (probably not the right word) for them/you, that shit is starting. And I'm not going to neglect the other Isle kids- I've got backstories and head-canons for days!
I hope you'll continue to follow along and enjoy! (Btw, I don't think you're an idiot, haha. :))
ceara1888: Aw, I'm glad I've got you that hooked! Although sleep is valuable. I'm more than ok if you wait for a more reasonable time to read this. (Says me, who's notoriously stayed up till 2 am multiple time writing this thing because I'm so excited to tell the story, including this chapter as it it's what, 1 am now and I'm updating even though I also have to get up at 6?) ;)
It was strange not writing Carlos stuttering, lol. I had to keep reminding myself that he'd taken the potion and that I could write typical dialogue for him. As for Archive, I also keep forgetting I resposted and need to keep a consistent update schedule, haha. *sheepish laughter* It also probably doesn't help that I couldn't sign in because I forgot the password, and couldn't find the book I wrote it down in. Ah, yeah….anyway I hope you will continue to read and enjoy on both sites, and I will get my act together to continue to edits on Archive. :)
ChordOverstreetFan: While I'd be sad to see you go, I'd certainly understand if Bal is what you came to this story looking for. For my story, while I will still be following the plot of the movie and thus, Bal will be included as part of the love potion arc, outside of that no, I'm sorry to say that Bal is not going to be the final pairing/endgame when it's all said and done. While I love the ship and think that it's great, I don't like how the movie sets it up to be a fix it relationship, as if everyone's problems will be solved with this one true pairing, that is, again great, but not what was actually needed. (In my humble, writer obsessed opinion.)
However, I don't intend to just leave the characters hanging in the dust, I do have other ships and pairings planned (which I can't say because, spoilers) so if you would consider staying, I'd appreciate it, but again, would understand if you wanted to leave if Bal is the main ship you came for.
I hope you'll have enjoyed my story, whichever you decide! :)
Nyehhhh: Haha, thanks for the kind words! I'm glad to have you so excited and obsessed about the crazy stuff that comes out of my head, lol. Hopefully I didn't keep you waiting too long, and that you'll continue to follow along and enjoy (and obsess. ;))
Guest: A previous reviewer also expressed similar concerns about my plans for the Bal ship. Please see my response to ChordOverstreetFan for the explanation and answer I gave them.
Or, for the too long/short version; yes Bal will be a thing for this story as the movie makes it a thing with the love potion, but for this story, I do not see Bal as endgame. Meaning, no love potion, no ship. Again, refer to my previous response for the reasons I gave there.
I'm really sorry if that disappoints you, but I hope you will continue to enjoy the story that I've written regardless.
Guest 2.0: Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed the chapter, even though it was just a feels trip of angst, haha. I agree, as with most bad things in the world (including all the issues I'm bringing up in this story), everyone knows it's a problem, but they don't need to anything...until they're forced to, either through sudden added awareness, or when the issue is brought right to their door, and that's definitely something I'm trying to explore (as carefully/sensitively as I can) with this story.
I hope you'll continue to follow along and enjoy!
BlueMoon007: Thank you for reviewing, haha. I'm glad you thought it was so amazing. And yes, everything's unraveling for sure now, but unraveling so it can be put back together. At least that's the plan anyway. Funny you should ask, cuz I've got answers. ;)
Hope the suspense didn't wear you out too much, and that you'll enjoy this chapter just as much as the last!
Preciouslittletoonette: Welcome and thank you for the review! I'm glad you think my characters are interesting. We'll definitely be getting info and revelations about them both soon (very soon winkwink). I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
Robby the Cyber Warrior: Thank you for the kind words, it really means a lot to hear! I'm really glad you think I'm doing such a good job, and I hope that you will continue to be just as ravenous for chapters as I am to put them out there for you! Enjoy! :)
A: (sudden flashback to Pretty little liars)
Haha, sorry, really wanted to make the reference. ;) But thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter. As for who ends up with who, well, we'll have to wait and see won't we? *wink*
Magiclover222: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! Oh yes, don't you worry there will be final judgement for Kropp. As for Ben and Audrey and Mal, well the triangle/pentagram/love figurine of indeterminate shape is definitely taking form, lol. And therapy is definitely going to be a mess. But you'll just have to keep reading to find out exactly what goes down. :) Hope you'll continue to enjoy!
EvietoyourMal: Aw, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter so much! Yes, some of the conflict is definitely resolving, while others are only just getting started. Evie and Mal's conflict in particular is kind of just on that borderline, like, they've been through too much for this to ruin their relationship, but it's definitely straining. Add in both of their stubborn natures and unwillingness to talk about the issue well...something's gotta give. As for Audrey, she's afraid of so many things or rather, concerned/worried about so many things, but her main source of anxiety is the relentless need for perfection, since that's all that Auradon (seemingly) demands, so she's struggling a lot now with the sudden knowledge that everything 'perfect' is built on something decidedly less so, and she's scared of what will come when she loses that one support for good; as you'll see in moments to come. :)
I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
Narutogirl103: Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much and I hope you'll continue to read and Enjoy!
Fire and Ice 01: Lol, I can't apologize for the cliffhanger as I just love writing them so much. But I'm glad you love my story so much and I hope you will continue to do so! :)
Guest 3: Aw, thank you so much for the kind words! Don't you worry I don't have any plans to abandon this story, I just don't really have a set update schedule, haha... I usually try for 2-3 weeks, but it varies with my muse (and my work schedule and homework/college stuff.) Yeah, adulting is hard and annoying and I'd love to write fan fiction all day but alas, I can not.
But don't you worry, I'll try and be a little more consistent for you and in the mean time I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
Time Turner: I know I had so much writing that! Finally getting his say, and his revenge! ;) I hope you'll keep reading and enjoying.
Guest 4: No need to fear the cliffhanger, a new chapter is here!
Guest 5: Thank you so much for the review and the kind words! I'm super happy that you like this story so much and I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
Misuky7: I suppose there are worse things to be addicted to. ;) Thank you for the review and welcome to the story! I'm glad you're enjoying everything so far and I hope you'll continue to follow along and enjoy.
Whew I'm guys, important note time!
Note 1: We are in the movie, I repeat, we are officially getting into the movie plot lines! And it only took me thirty one chapters. *cries*
I only act like I know what I'm doing.
Kidding, kidding. But in all seriousness we are actually making progress, it just took forever to set up the things that I wanted to set up. But now that we've established those things, hopefully now we can get into the more familiar territory of the movie, as you'll soon see. Might just recognize a few lines/scenes. ;)
We also get more sign language, more backstory and letters, as well as Important Plot and Character Development so keep an eye out for that.
Note 2: My standard **WARNINGS** for this chapter are ANGST (note the caps) violence, language, mentions/brief descriptions of child abuse and neglect (nothing too graphic but it's there). Mentions and references/implications of assault/abuse, again, nothing graphic but heavily implied. Mental health issues such as depression/anxiety, as well as undefined issues (ie. Cruella), brief mentions/implications of homophobia, and mentions and discussions of death/loss of a child.
As this story has progressed I've done my best to toe the line and try not to be overly graphic or explicit in dealing with certain subject matters. How ever it has been drawn to my attention that while I might not explicitly describe a certain thing, the situations and issues presented are still intense and still disturbing in nature.
It is for that reason that I've decided to change the rating of this story to M, in order to both accurately reflect the themes of the story, and to better protect any viewers who may be sensitive to such things, or otherwise too young.
Moving forward, this story will deal and has dealt heavily with issues such as mental health, child abuse and neglect, and far more triggering/jarring things such as rape and assault. It is not my intention to offend in any way with this story or how I'm presenting these situations. I am however a firm believer in not covering over anything; and by that I mean, these are serious issues and problems, and the only way I feel something can truly be done to solve them and make a difference is by telling the stories and getting them out there.
I am also aware however, of those who may have experience in any way with the issues that I'm presenting here. Again, it is not my intention to harm or offend anyone, and it is my hope that my changing of the rating will also serve to further warn of potential upsetting content. And I will continue to tread carefully and respectfully, and warn of any triggering content as they arrive.
That being said, I hope you all will continue to read, and enjoy, the latest chapter of It's Only True in the Stories.
- Raven
For those interested, the songs that inspired this chapter are 'All that I'm living for' by Evanescence,(title) 'Emergency' by Paramore, 'Get Well' by Icon for Hire, and 'Sorry about your parents' also by Icon for Hire.
Alternative titles for this chapter included 'Till everyone knows we're sick' and 'If you thought I'd bleed then you were wrong.'
Carlos
He had been in the dark for so long that when the door finally opened, the light scared him. He pressed his face into the corner and whimpered in place of words. She always hated it when he talked- it was why he'd been put in time out to begin with. He hadn't even meant to say anything either, but she'd been acting funny- acting scary- and she kept calling him the wrong names and he just wanted to be Carlos.
"Carlos?!"
The voice that rang out wasn't her, it was him! It took barely two steps before the man was there, scooping him up in his arms and it hurt where he squeezed because she had squeezed him first; but it didn't stop Carlos from squeezing back when he could finally catch his breath. The man's face was scratchy; fuzzy around his chin. But it was still the same face; same dark wavy hair; same sharp eyes; same funny spots on his cheeks. And it didn't matter that everything hurt and that he was still sticky and wet from when he'd made a mess of himself. He was here and squeezing him like he was never going to let go and everything was going to be ok and
"Carlos, what on earth- Ella?"
Carlos squirmed and whimpered again as the man carried him out into the room where she was; hiding his face in the man's shoulder and pretending that she wasn't real. Not real if he can't see her; not hurting him, not screaming not….
"Ella, what have you done to him?"
He wasn't yelling, but there something almost like it in the man's voice, his hands- big and strong but never hurting- squeezed Carlos just a bit tighter to his chest.
"Hm? Oh, I see you found the puppy at last. I wondered where he'd gotten off to."
"Ella...Ella you know C- He is not a puppy, Ella. You know this."
"Of course he is darling, what do you mean? He's got such pretty spots, you know…but he makes too much noise…."
"Is that what you think? Cruella, he is not a puppy, he is a child!"
Carlos flinched and ducked as much of his body under the man's arms as he could, whining at the mean sound in his voice.
"See now you've just gone and set him off," the lady whined just like him, but even that was just wrong because she couldn't be like him. She wasn't allowed to be like him. "Put him back darling, so he can learn to behave."
"Cruella," the man said again, and Carlos squirmed hard enough that he slid down his chest and spilled onto the floor at his feet. "Cruella look at me. Look at him. That is Carlos. That is your son, damn it. I know you know this!"
"Do-d-don't," Carlos cried, pressing himself into the crook of the man's knees and trying to get as small as he could. "Don't be-don't be- don't be mmean."
"Now you've don't it!" The lady screeched, and Carlos sobbed, shaking as she boomed her way closer. "Oh don't just let him bark like that! Give him a kick- shuts him right up."
The man flinched, and the sudden movement was enough to startle Carlos out of his terror of the woman, a sharp hissing sound coming from between the man's teeth.
"Cruella- Why don't I take him for a walk? Alright? I'll get him all cleaned up and bring him back in a little while, and this way you get some time to yourself."
Not all of the words made sense to Carlos, but it made sense to the lady. She was making the 'not-happy' noise, and Carlos shivered and wished he could climb back into the man's arms, or at least warn him of that noise. That noise always meant bad things; meant hot on his skin, smoke in his face; meant dark rooms and too tight squeezes and "Why aren't you him? Where is my baby, what have you done? Where is Ceran, why aren't you him?"
But then the noise stopped, and the lady was smiling, but somehow that was even worse.
"Alright then darling; if you think you can handle him. He puts up such a fuss sometimes- it might be nice to have him out from under my feet all day."
"Exactly," the man said, his voice low and scary, his eyes strange. "It's settled then. Come on Carlos."
And then he was in the man's arms again, and the lady was shouting, but then a door was in the way and they were free…free…free…
When he finally dared to open his eyes again, they were just as far away as he hadn't dared to hope, the man locking a door and shutting out the noise from the people outside. The place they were in now was cool, and it felt weird not having her anywhere nearby, but the man was here and Carlos wouldn't have traded that for the world.
[Where?] He signed when the man turned around; his brow furrowed in question as he shook his wrist back and forth; index finger extended.
"Safe," the man said with a breathy sigh, his hands shaking at his sides. "For now. Not off the Isle though…I'm sorry."
Carlos blinked, and the man shook his head and smiled. But Carlos was old enough now at four to know when a smile was fake. (All of her smiles were.)
[Why?] Carlos signed; touching his hand to the side of his head before pulling them away; closing his fingers into a loose 'Y' shape as he furrowed his brows again.
"I should have done more to…if I had known …your mother never should have been treating you like that. I'm so-"
Carlos made a face and signed quickly; closing his index and middle finger over his thumb like a tiny mouth; shaking his head once sharply in negative. [No!]
"No what?" the man murmured, finally crossing and sitting on the floor in front of him.
[Not mother.] He didn't quite have enough words to articulate it, but he decided that those signs were plain enough; closing his hand into a fist shape and brushing his thumb along the underside of his chin; before making a 'five' handshape and tapping his thumb twice against his chin.
"Carlos," the man sighed, and he sounded sad and hurting, his eyes echoing his voice. "I know she doesn't act like it, but Cruella is your mother."
[No.] He signed again, pouting fiercely as he shook his head, and the man made a laughing sound which made Carlos pout harder because it wasn't funny!
"No, ok? Well then if Cruella's not your mother, who is?"
[You.] It was a simple pointing of his index finger and a petulant glare, but his gesture made the man's eyes flicker suddenly.
[No.] The man signed slowly, his hands still shaking. [Not your mother.]
And then, he made a different sign; the same 'five' shape that Carlos had, but instead of tapping his chin with his thumb, he tapped his forehead.
[What?] Carlos signed, spreading his hands almost as if in a shrug; brow furrowed with more than just question.
[Nothing.] The man signed in place of answering; both hands making 'O' handshapes as he shook his head once dismissively.
"N-not noththing!" Carlos stumbled over the words like he usually did, but this time he was too frustrated to worry about being hit for it. "What what what does it mmmean?"
"I'm sorry," the man mumbled, his hands shaking harder as he tugged them through curls as dark as Carlos.' "I shouldn't have…Carlos, forget that sign, ok? She doesn't like that one."
Understanding dawned in the funny feeling in his stomach, and Carlos bit his lips nervously as he signed; bringing his hands in front of him with palms facing his body, he spread his fingers in a sharp gesture, bringing his hands further inwards with the movement; plastering a shocked look on his face.
[Scared.]
"Yes," the man said, his hand signing in agreement; a closed fist 'nodding up' and down like a tiny head. "Not for me…for you."
Carlos frowned at that, but he recognized that the flicker in the man's eyes really was fear, and he wasn't as unafraid for himself as he claimed.
"Whu-whu-why?" Carlos asked. Challenged, almost.
The man made a 'hmph' sort of sound, his face scrunching up tight before he answered. When he did, his voice was slow, and heavy, and Carlos found himself leaning in slightly to hear.
"Cruella…your mother- she had another baby."
[Me?] Carlos questioned, pointing to himself.
"No, not you. Before you. A long time ago."
Before him? A baby? Oh…Baby. The other him.
"Cer-ran," Carlos said, hating the name, hating saying it. But he didn't know how it was spelled to sign it.
"It was a long time ago," the man said again, his eyes strange. "And Ceran's not here now, but your mother still misses him. Sometimes…sometimes she misses him so much she forgets that he's not here. Do you…do you understand?"
Carlos nodded solemnly, his own voice turning heavy as he answered. "Dead."
The man jumped slightly, and Carlos' dark expression lightened at his surprise. "How did you know that?" he gasped, and Carlos wondered briefly if he wasn't supposed to know that. But then if that were the case, why did she always….
"Ssshe wants me to b-b-b-be." He mumbled the admission shakily. "Sometimes when…when…when she forgets. She ssays it."
The man made a choked sobbing noise in his throat, his hands shaking again as he slowly combed his fingers through Carlos' hair, just avoiding the gash from she had flung her shoe at him.
"Is that what...is that what all this is?" He asked, and his voice sounded funny. Like it was barely there.
Carlos squirmed uncomfortably in place of answering, suddenly unsure. Yes, she was mean to him sometimes, and it always hurt when she was mad at him. But it wasn't bad, he didnt think. He made her mad, so she hurt him, but then he'd know not to the thing that made her mad again. That was how it worked, right?
The man didn't seem to think so, though, which just made Carlos squirm more because it made sense to him...but if it wasn't how it was supposed to work then...then...
"Never mind Carlos, you don't have to answer, it's ok." The man's voice was all choking again, his hands still gently combing through Carlos' hair. "It's ok. I'm going to get you away from her, I promise. I can't now, but I will. Soon, ok?"
[Ok] he signed, his fingers forming the letters easily. He didn't quite understand what the man meant, but his answer made him relax, and Carlos took the chance to ask what he'd wanted for a while, but was never able with the lady always present.
He signed again; bringing both hands parallel to each other in 'H' handshapes, he tapped his middle finger against the index finger of his right hand. [Name.]
"Hm?" the man hummed, not quite understanding, and Carlos would have stomped his foot except he was sitting, so he settled for repeating the sign again, a bit more insistently, before pointing at the man, just to be sure it was clear.
[Your name.]
The man's face made a lifting expression like 'oh!' before clouding over again with something like his earlier fear. But finally, slowly, he signed, his hands not shaking anymore as he finger spelled for Carlos.
A fist shape first, palm facing Carlos and pinky finger extended. [I.]
Then another fist shape, all fingers tucked in with his thumb in front. [S]
Another fist shape; fingers folded loosely over his palm, with his thumb pressed against the side. [A.]
Then he repeated that same shape. Another [A.]
And finally, a simple shape, making a 'C' with all his fingers. [C.]
"Isaac," Carlos whispered out loud, working his fingers slowly through the letters just as he had done. Then he continued, making the new sign, the forbidden one, tapping the 'five' shape against his forehead daringly.
"Yes," Isaac whispered back. "I am."
His voice shook, and Carlos started to see his eyes were shining again, dark and sad. Then he blinked, and the dark was gone, but not all of the sad.
"Come on," he said softly, standing and lifting Carlos up with him, holding him close once more. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Later, when the sky was completely dark and Carlos lay on his back on the mat next to his Isaac, he practiced making the letters of Isaac's name, along with the new sign; over and over again until he could do it fast and fluid. It made him feel secure, knowing his name. Connecting them, somehow. Cruella couldn't reach them here. Not even her words, screeched at their backs as they'd run far away, could truly affect them.
"Where are you taking my baby? Isaac, where is he? Where are you taking my baby?"
Not your baby, Carlos vowed, pressing his back tightly against Isaac's and flickering his fingers through the signs one more time. Not ever. His now.
Mal
It turns out that there was a lot about her group that Mal needed to be concerned about.
"We know about what happened to Jay."
The letter opener hadn't been enough to change the words that had been said, and it hadn't been enough to contain the rage that boiled inside, her magic quite literally lighting her veins on fire with the force of it.
"We have records…"
Which means that they'll have pried into every last one, will have turned each of them inside out and if they could find Jay…they could find….
"Carlos, who is Ceran?"
And suddenly it wasn't about them anymore; was no longer the four of them; was no longer Mal keeping them all alive; was no longer about any opportunity they might have once had a chance at.
It was the choking sobs Jay was making in the back his throat, his body frozen and trembling as he tried to shield himself from something that he never should have needed shielding from.
It was the helpless look on Evie's face, the words that would never be said, that Mal could never let be said; not again not anymore she wasn't going to end up like her.
It was the taste of copper, the acrid stench of her own skin burning, iron chains melting into her bones, cutting into her throat against the throb of her screams, her promises to do better, to be better, to earn her right to each and every day alive.
It was Carlos, pale and shaken to the core by the simple name that ushered itself out of Ben's mouth; his fingers snapping sharply between the various odd urges to tear out his hair, to fiddle with his dog tail, to slip between his teeth as a gag, a desperate attempt to keep this one demon at bay.
"Ceran w…is…my brother."
Jay's sobs muffle slightly; Evie's unspoken pleas settle to a distant buzz; and the chains around her neck loosen just enough for Mal to choke out:
"I didn't…you never said you had a brother."
And then they tighten again because how was she supposed to protect them when she didn't know?
"It's cuz I don't," Carlos whispers, his hands settling for tearing at the worn fabric of his shorts, wearing further holes, deeper wounds. "Not really. He…he died. Before I was born. I never knew him. So how…."
"Wait, he died?"
It's horror in Ben's voice- confusion and grief for…what? Who was Ben to claim to have any feelings for what they had lived through?
"Well he's not here in Auradon with us, is he?" Carlos snaps, and Mal can only just register the anger- there is no semblance of grief or sorrow from the younger boy- only pain and resentment.
"But…but no one is supposed to be able to die on the Isle," Ben mutters, and Mal isn't quite sure if it's her magic or just genuine shock that sparks chills down her spine.
"What did you say?"
It's Evie who dares to question it, though Mal is partially grateful because she doesn't trust that anything she would try to say wouldn't come without physical repercussions.
"The barrier is supposed to…" Ben starts, then freezes, paling as he seems to realize whatever he'd been about to say.
"Keep going," Mal prompts softly, her finger reaching on instinct to tug Carlos and Evie closer, shifting minutely closer to a still catatonic Jay.
"The barrier keeps people from dying," Ben jerkily continues. "It was…it was supposed to be part of the punishment for the villains."
And Mal knows she should be saying something, should be doing something, but all she can taste is salt and the sharp stench of copper fills her nose, and gold eyes sparkle with mischief even with the blood that flecks them with horrid spots of brown and "You'd better not cry over me, little dragon. That would completely ruin the point" and-
"And yet, he died," Carlos finishes icily, but his fingers shake where they tangle with Mal's, his dark eyes shining. "And you still didn't say how you knew, Ben."
Ben's shakes his head mutely, his fingers seeming to unravel themselves of their own accord. If Jay had been aware, he would have wrestled his way past Carlos to steal the paper from Ben's hand. But he wasn't, and so it's Carlos who triumphs by default, darting forward and all but yanking the slip of parchment from an unresisting Ben.
"It…it's just his name," Carlos mutters, when he'd smoothed the paper flat again. "I don't…it's just…." He trails off, something odd passing across his face before he snaps his head up again. "Who even gave you this?"
"Some official from Arandelle," Ben rasps. "I don't know him. He just pulled me aside and said that I should…ask about it. Him. Ask about him."
"No, it's about right," Carlos growls lowly. "He was nothing to me- just a nightmare that Cruella always wished was true."
"I-I'm sorry," Ben stammers shakily, blinking hard and staggering back a few steps. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…shouldn't have brought it up. Any of it. I just…."
"Oh but don't back out now, Ben," Mal croons darkly, recognizing his retreat for what it was. "Didn't you want to dig into more of our secrets and traumatic experiences?"
"That was never what this was about!" Ben cries, and it's with a start that Mal realizes he actually was. "It's not…exploiting your weaknesses or whatever you might think. I was only-"
"What do you want me to say, Ben?" She cuts him off, not wanting to even think the dreaded sentence. "What words do you want me to put together to make you feel better about this? Because this-" she gestures vaguely to her group, their bodies tight against hers, heaving unshed sobs in time with her own- "This is not ok."
"I…I know," he whispers hoarsely, grey eyes dark with tears.
Mal cocks her head back, a bitter noise that was equal parts laugh and cry sticking in her throat.
"No, you don't," she says quietly, shaking her head to hide her own tears. "And that's the problem, Ben. You don't know- and you never will."
He reels away then, as though her letter opener had actually struck true, fumbling blindly for the door and practically slamming it behind him. It's only once he's gone that they let go, collapsing into each other as fresh waves of misery and grief wash over them. Mal's sick of crying, so she lets the others cry for her, threading her fingers through Evie's; brushing her lips against Carlos' curls; leaning her shoulder against Jay's and absorbing the brunt of his shaking.
"What are we going to do?" Evie whimpers, and Mal can't say anything because it's not an answer the other girl is looking for- it's comfort, and she has no place to try and provide it.
Not when there's a voice nagging inside that she's going to have to apologize to Ben, and it burns far worse than any iron chains because that's what it's all about.
It was them, and what they could do to make the heroes feel better.
Doug
Dinner was an interesting affair, if for the sole reason that the VKs were at their table.
All four of them.
It was a shame Ben wasn't here; he'd have been thrilled no doubt at the show of 'positive interaction.' He'd been growing steadily distant as things with the VKs had continued to escalate, and was absent from his usual seat at the head of the table, Audrey's seat standing in empty counterpoint.
As is was, it was hard for Doug to fully decide where he should focus; on his food -which felt far too guiltily extravagant now- or on Carlos, who fiddled nervously with his puzzle box, matching the colors in no particular order or awareness; just subconsciously a genius; or on Evie (granted, most of his distraction stemmed from focusing on Evie in particular), who sat anxiously between Mal and Jay, all but one breath away from fleeing the table. He was definitely aware of Mal; he couldn't not be, not with the way her fingers snapped sparks under the table, her eyes as unnaturally green as the flashes of half-fire, examining each of their faces as if waiting for a reason to spark a bigger blaze.
"Ok, so I have a question."
And of course, he couldn't forget Jay. He didn't know where they stood now; certainly the other boy didn't mean anything to him, not in anything outside the sense of his now irremovable presence in Auradon. Doug didn't have anything against the VKs, not really. They were just…hard to figure out. Well- people in general were hard to figure out, but they more or less all had the same core patterns. The VKs though…they didn't have any of those patterns, and the ones they did have….
"I, potentially, have an answer."
It had become almost a game now, though Doug could only guess as to when it had started. A VK would ask a question, and one of them would try to answer (and try not to be too horrified at what the questions implied; at those patterns the VKs had learned). It was mostly Jay asking the questions, and mostly Nikhil and Aziz who answered. Doug didn't want to think about what that meant, but he was far from 'dopey' and he'd overheard enough to know at least one pattern.
"So what happens when you get tired of each other?" Jay asks it through a mouthful of crust, a stray veggie from the pot pie spilling from his lips onto his tray. "Like, do you just go off and manipulate other people into liking you or is sort of being on standby if there's no other options?"
Aziz blinks, his mouth open and his cautious smirk falling from the edges of his mouth. Nikhil, for his part, just looks sad, if not equally stunned.
"Ok…well. First off, there's no manipulating involved," he says, quite tactfully, if Doug's being honest. He's impressed, certain he wouldn't have managed to be half that calm or discreet if it were him. "It's just a relationship, as boring as that might seem."
"Uh…excuse me?"
"Not you specifically, love," Nikhil scolds easily, and Aziz preens just a tad, while a brief, uncomfortable ripple passes through the VKs before subsiding.
"I should hope you don't find me boring," Aziz drags out just because he can. Or rather, Doug realizes as Jay squirms slightly in his chair, to push the boundaries of what he can. "I mean it's only been what? A few years?"
"So like…you're actually…something?" Jay mumbles slowly, crunching his way through the crust and shoving his spoon through the broth.
"A defined something," Aziz confirms, if just as slowly. "Not getting rid of each other that easy."
"Yeah but like…when you do eventually get rid of each other, or like…want to find a girl or something…I don't know….what…what then?"
"Ooooooh," Aziz gasps obnoxiously, grinning much more easily as he settles back in his chair. "Oh is that really what you were confused about? That…that's adorable to be honest."
"Shut up Aziz," Nikhil deadpans instantly, elbowing the boy sharply and causing his chair to stumble underneath him. "What he means is, we don't really have to worry about any girls coming along because we're -or at least I am- pretty exclusively attracted to guys. And outside of that, exclusively attracted to each other."
"Awww!"
"Lonnie I swear-"
"Babe that was so sweet!"
"I hate both of you right now."
"Really, because it sounded like you were going to say you lo-"
"I still can't believe that's allowed here."
Mal's barely disguised disdain cuts across their antics, and Jane looks up sharply from her pie, worry and concern flitting across her features.
"Um…."
"Mal!" Carlos glares, and Evie flits that much closer to the edge of her chair but remains silent.
"Dare I ask…?" Aziz begins testily, but Mal's already daring to continue.
"This…you…." she shakes her head, and Doug starts as he sees that while it might be disdain in her voice, it's forced. Because her eyes are bright with more than just fire, and it's grief and regret if anything that twist her features before being hidden beneath a curtain of purple hair.
"It's a good thing," Carlos argues sharply. "They are a good thing." His eyes glancing over to where Aziz and Nikhil had joined hands under the table as if to say 'right?'
The corner of Aziz's mouth lifts in a brief smile, and even Nikhil manages a grin before returning to his previous sobriety.
"A very good thing," he confirms. "If I do say so myself."
"You are," Mal snaps, her fork stabbing brutally through the crust of her own pie, vegetables and broth spilling out like gore. "'Relationships' like that are dangerous on the Isle."
"Is that because of people like you who apparently think that it's not acceptable, or a different kind of danger?"
Chad pipes up for the first time, though Doug honestly wishes he'd have kept his sullen silence.
"Both," Mal answers just as bluntly, her eyes flashing a dangerous shade of green as she glares across the table at him. "But mostly the latter. People like that are dangerous, never mind any supposed 'love.'"
"Yeah?" Chad challenges, his lips curling viciously. "In what way exactly?"
"Chad," Doug mutters lowly. "You're pushing." He frowns his disapproval over the rim of his glasses, but that's as far as he'll go. He doesn't want to be the one to point out the way Mal's voice broke over the word 'love.'
"Well somebody fucking has to!" the other boy bursts out, crossing his arms sharply in an awkward gesture, as if he'd wanted to fling them outwards but decided against it at the last second. "Everybody else is just sitting back and letting them walk all over us- it's not like they'll shatter if we say something 'wrong.'"
"That's so funny," Mal says, her mouth smiling but her eyes cold. "I would have thought you of all people would be more empathetic. I mean…how is Cinderella doing these days?"
Chad's rapid paling and sharp intake of breath is interrupted by Lonnie's incredulous: "Oho shit!" and another, equally sudden intake of breath that echoes across the table and makes Mal go instantly pale.
When Doug finally sorts through it enough to actually look over, he has to stop and sort through again because he can't quite interpret what's happening.
Jay is choking.
Or, he's trying to choke. His body shakes with silent coughs, his mouth clenched shut and mercifully preventing any of the broth from spraying out. Because it's definitely the broth that he's choking on, Doug notes; his spoon half full where it dripped, abandoned on the tray.
"Jay, just spit it out!" Carlos yelps, his own tray clattering as it's shoved aside by his elbow when he turns to face the older boy.
"Jay…" Mal starts slowly, like she was diffusing a bomb instead of aiding a…friend?
Just what were the VKs to each other? It's something Doug resorts to puzzling over later because Jay was definitely going to explode if he didn't get a breath soon. And Evie…Evie had apparently finally taken flight as she was nowhere to be seen (and he'd clearly not been as attuned to her as he'd thought.)
"Jay," Mal says again, drawing him back into the current dilemma (though he'd argue that Evie's absence was also a dilemma of itself) "It's soup. It's ok to spit it out."
Jay says nothing, but the look he shoots her seems to convey enough, and it's then that Doug realizes that Jay is not, in fact, choking. He's shaking, his mouth working like he wants to spit the broth out, but physically can not for some reason. It's solidified when Jay signs; both hands in index finger shapes, he brings his right hand down sharply onto the left; whacking the fingernail of left hand.
[Can't.]
Carlos exchanges a confused, if slightly panicked look with Mal at that, though Mal for her part, only looks weary and resigned, like Jay's behavior was nothing new. Maybe it wasn't, but it was definitely just adding to the list of the various strange and disturbing occurrences that had taken place since the VKs had arrived.
"You can," she tells him firmly, if not with a slight sigh. "It might be a bit rude for Auradon, but you can spit it out, Jay."
There was something going on here, Doug finally realizes. He isn't sure if it's the utter panic on Jay's face, or the way Mal seemed to reinforce the idea that Jay spit out the broth instead of the far more obvious solution. That she emphasized that it was soup, specifically….
"I can't be the only one who think this is weird, right?" Chad mutters, though there's something cautious in his tone now. "I mean, why doesn't he just sw-"
"Finish that sentence and I will slaughter you right now, I don't care if it gets me sent back to the Isle."
Mal's voice is so ruthless as she cuts across him, and so completely genuine that it's not just Chad who flinches. There's a heavy beat of horrifying silence where the only sound is ragged breathing, punctuated by Carlos' whispering to Jay. Chad doesn't take his eyes off of Mal's, though Doug honestly can't blame him. He's certain no one is breathing right now with the way the sparks Mal had been snapping suddenly ignite, and though the blaze is small, it's still a blaze and very much a threat.
"Ok so…I'm going to regret this I know I am…but…I have a question."
"I have an answer. You don't want the answer."
And Doug is kind of glad that Ben's not there because he's sure the other boy would be less than thrilled at the distinct lack of positive interaction going on.
Evie
Somehow, the Cricket wasn't at all as nightmarish as she'd been expecting him to be.
"I know this probably feels awkward for you, so I'll just sit here and give you a second- do what I can to make it easier."
He's worse.
"We've already been introduced but I'll do it again just to be polite, you know…so it's coming from me directly; I'm Jeremiah, but you can call me Jiminy if it's easier."
He doesn't yell. Doesn't raise his voice. Doesn't make a single move from the soft looking chair he's sitting in -it's not all that different from the couch she sat on now. And yet he's so much worse for all those things because he doesn't threaten or leer or even hint at anything sinister. No, the Cricket is entirely unassuming and almost gentle, but that does nothing to soothe Evie's anxiety.
He talks.
"I think I'll stick with Cricket," she blurts without truly meaning to, her voice at least, as cold as she had wanted it to be. Distant. Safety in that distance, don't you forget that.
"If that's easier for you," he says lightly, and Evie sets her jaw and tries not to scream. "Now, since this is the first time we're meeting like this I just wanted to know if there was anything you thought I should know about you? Any interests, or hobbies?"
"Is there anything you think I should know about you?" She counters, ignoring the part of her that wanted to mention her sewing.
"True, you don't really know that much about me so I guess it's only fair you'd be curious."
"Cautious."
He pauses, and she stiffens on instinct, waiting for his feet to cross to her; waiting for the blow for daring to interrupt- to correct or contradict.
"Well, my favorite color is red," he says, and a small part of Evie chuckles ruefully.
(So it Carlos,' that part whispers. I'm sure he'll get a kick out of that when you corner him.)
"I've lived in Auradon my whole life…well, I lived in a tiny town that later became a bigger town when Auradon became a thing. Uh, and I've been following in my Uncle's steps for about fifteen years now- give or take."
He doesn't look that old, Evie muses idly, eyeing him subtly through her lashes. Not to mention of course, that fifteen years is a long time to be a 'conscience' or whatever he claimed to be these days- and of course, this was Auradon, so why would he even be needed in the first place? What was the goal here?
"And what about you?" Cricket asks, starting her out of her scrutiny. "I take it your favorite color must be blue, given-" he nods pointedly towards her blue stained curls, though he does it with a smile and not a sneer.
She blushes in spite of herself and self-consciously combs her fingers through the strands hanging over her shoulder. She would have to braid it again, it wouldn't do to have it hanging freely like that. Too easy to tangle or fray. Too easy to grab. Still, it was nice that he noticed, that he didn't think it garish or make her look too much like a wanton whore, as her mother had screeched when Evie'd first come home, red faced and ecstatic; pleased and proud to display the color, the blue dye burgeoning proof that she wasn't useless, wasn't just another whore. Not when the blue spark of magic was woven into her hair, the added dye only enhancing what was already there.
"What else should I know about you?" Cricket presses, leaning forward and she glares sharply as she notices the pad of paper in his hand.
"What are you digging for?" She snaps, grimacing inwardly at her audacity but reveling in it because she could. "What do you want? More grisly stories about how terrible life on the Isle was? So you can scramble and coo and try to put everything together to look pretty; like you haven't been the root cause of it all in the first place?"
It's something Mal would do, she thinks with a small hint of pride as he blinks at her silently. Call him out on his unspoken words, grab him tight and not let go until he gave in. And normally she'd be wary of things like that, preferring to lay careful traps or spill honeyed words to figure out what he wanted; but she doesn't know how to do that here, doesn't know how to combat him or see through him because he talked too and she doesn't know what he wants!
"What do you want?" she whispers, all too aware of the way her words fill the space, the way her body cringes inwards. The submission itches something raw and painful inside because the last time she'd submitted like this it had been to Mal, and it was the other girl's fault that she was in this position to begin with and the anger wells up hot and cold at once but it's submission that she stays in because right that's what's safe.
"I want to know how you're doing," Cricket says, and his voice is equally soft, no trace of dominance or scorn. She's starting to wonder if he's even capable of it. "I know it's been a confusing and hectic week since the meeting, and we're all still getting this sorted. I'm just here to make sure the four of you are doing ok, and to help you get there, if you're feeling that you're not."
"The help is what we're not ok with," she mutters, and she sounds almost spiteful now. "We can take care of each other. You'll only get in the way."
Out in the hallway, the bell rings, and twenty minutes had never seemed so long, and Evie had never thought she'd be more excited to go to class.
"My job isn't to get in the way-" (And it of course it was only fitting that she'd forget and let him have the final word, give him the final control. She was building up a streak- submit a few more times and she'd get a prize.) "And I'm not denying that you can take care of each other, in fact I find it admirable how deeply you do. But sometimes a little help can be nice, I think."
"You think," she agrees from the doorway.
And it would be considered a victory except she'd somehow conceded once again, and it's the first time she's wished to be back on the Isle but she's wishing anyway because at least there she knows what she is. At least on the Isle she didn't have to be weak.
Mal
According to all the myths and legends, iron was supposed to repel faeries. Disrupted their magic, made it harder to reach infant children. What they didn't mention, or rather, what Mal hadn't known but was finding out, it burned. Granted, the spoon that was currently searing the back of her hand was technically only 98% iron, but Mal figured she was probably only 98% faerie, and that it evened out. She didn't dare scream, though if her breath stuttered a bit in her throat when she inhaled, who could blame her?
"You're a terrible liar, you know that, Mal."
Apparently, her mother could.
"What makes you think I'm lying about anything?" Mal found it in her to ask, somehow managing to maintain a somewhat coy tone despite the position she was in. She'd learned the trick from Evie; the other girl saying that it was all a matter of aligning your voice with your face- if you wore a calm face, have a calm voice. It was pretty neat to see her do it, fooling everyone as to what she was actually feeling.
"You're hiding the Jafar boy," her mother spat, and neat tricks were doing nothing to help her here as the steel shifted to her neck, prying a hoarse gasp from her lips.
"Y-you mean Jay?" Mal forced out, if only to cover the way her hands trembled where they gripped the sides of her chair.
"Why do you insist on being so stubborn?" Maleficent sighed, and Mal grit her teeth to try and steel herself before answering, but she still choked on her words halfway through.
"I'm gath-gathering allies," she managed somewhat steadily, gritting her teeth against the whimper in her throat.
"Allies?!" Maleficent shrieked, and Mal couldn't tell if it was amusement or rage that colored her mother's tone, only that the steel had been lifted and she could breathe again. "With Jafar's bastard?! He's no better than the Evil Queen's little whore now- and here I am thinking you were smarter than this."
Mal jerks sharply in protest at this because while she may not yet know just how she felt about Evie, to hear her mother disgrace Jay like that rankles inside because Jay was hers and she didn't know. That he was finally getting better- or at least, as better as the Isle would allow- that he didn't scream anymore at night or jerk away from her every touch. That he'd finally gone back to Jafar (and Evie had found him half dead a few days later, back torn open and skin blazing with fever for his efforts. He'd been staying in the hide out since then, only returning to his 'father' when he had goods to stock the shelves with). Jay was hers, officially now, and while Mal couldn't do anything to keep Maleficent from hating him, she wasn't about to stay silent while she talked about him as if he weren't worth anything.
Unfortunately, Maleficent caught her stifled reaction, and Mal found herself sprawled on the floor, cringing away from the blows aimed at her midsection. She only caught a few words of her mother's rant (worthless, an embarrassment, if I'd known this was what you'd become I'd have let you drown when I had the chance) - which brings back a horrific flash that she doesn't want to focus on but there's the weight of water in her lungs and her mother sneering above her and she wasn't quite sure which was real anymore but there's pain…pain…pain.
When she could finally focus again she was somehow not as alarmed as she knew she should have been at the sight of her own blood staining the floor. Just resigned with the knowledge that she would have to clean it up, and at least grateful that nothing felt broken. She still flinched when her mother spoke, however, and earned another blow across her face that had her head spinning.
"Pathetic," her mother spat, her voice cold and unforgiving. "How could you have stooped so low?"
And Mal didn't know if she was talking to herself or not, but she somehow found it in herself to dare an answer anyway.
"Stepping stones," she choked out, copper sharp on her tongue, salt stinging in the corners of her eyes.
"No, my little Mal," Maleficent crooned softly, and Mal froze because there was nothing comforting in that croon. "No, a stepping stone should be useful, should hold weight. If it doesn't, well…"
Fear cut off her breath as something cold and heavy pressed into the back of her neck, the sudden and intense knowledge that she was about to die sinking its way to the pit of her stomach.
"Then you let it crumble, and go and find another stone."
Even after her mother had finally gone, it still took Mal an hour to move from that spot on the floor. She half expected to hear the roar of her fury as she forced herself to her knees, but the only sound was the creak of the boards beneath her. That…and the unmistakable sound of the gargoyles groaning a warning from the arches further below. Which meant that Jay was here.
She winced sharply at the pain lancing through her body, but forced herself to remain upright- to bear the pain that she so rightly deserved. After all, her mother was right; what kind of ruler of the Isle would she be if she tolerated such weakness? Her mother certainly didn't: it was what she was doing right now. The Isle had been suffering a food problem (but really, when was there not a food problem?) as the barges were gradually bringing less and less food, the best of which was immediately stolen by the pirates, while whatever remained was left to filter to the rest of the Isle as the Isle saw fit.
So Maleficent was off to solve the problem by doing what she did best- torching the outlying villages. There was no room for pity or doubt as to if it was 'the right thing.' It was the only thing that would be accepted, and the only thing that Mal could accept.
Which was why, when she finally does make her way down the basement, stealthily avoiding the chains on the walls, the sight of the boy cowering behind Jay fills her with nothing but fear.
"He's not the new kid," she was quick to emphasize.
He can't be the new kid. Because Evie was bad enough, the other girl's presence alone stirring up all the animosity Mal held towards her mother but never dared unleash. Because Cruella's whelp was cowering his eyes all big and fearful and the sight of him alone drew out the small part of Mal that wanted to care. And she couldn't risk bringing someone like that into the group; not when she has Jay. Not with Evie to worry about. She couldn't afford having someone to care about, to care for. Not when her life depended on it.
Audrey
Her worst fear was coming true.
"H-hey! It's um…Aubrey, right?"
"Audrey, actually."
"Oh sorry, yeah…Audrey. Ben's-"
"Sleeping Beauty's daughter," she blurts before she can think it through. "And you're Maleficent's daughter."
She feels the need to be vindictive, for some reason. To take control of the damage in whatever way she could. No, not even that. What was the word?
"You know, I so don't blame you for your mother trying to kill my parents or anything."
Scapegoat, right. That was the word. The other girl blinks, and Audrey wishes she could take back the words, take back the entire moment, just walk away and start again. Or better yet, just walk away. She almost thinks she's completely stunned the girl, but then she watches green eyes flash and narrow, and a chill goes down her spine.
"I'm just Mal, actually," she says, and Audrey's breath catches in her throat, unable to form the whimper it wants to be. "And you know, I totally don't blame your grandparents for inviting everyone. In the whole world. Except for my mother. To their stupid christening."
Something ugly curls in Audrey's gut at the words, and she wonders briefly if it had always been there, or if it was just this girl's presence bringing it out.
"As if they would have let a dark faery attend an honored and sacred event!" she scoffs sharply, and something dark and feral crosses Mal's face for a moment.
"Honored and sacred, huh?" she mutters, and though she lifts a brow, it does nothing to lift her expression, or lift the dread from Audrey's stomach. "You know, dark or not, my mother is still a Fae, and it's just polite, if nothing else, to include such an honored and sacred being in special events. Might just have had a blessing to give- or at least not a horrific curse."
"But who's really keeping track, right?" Audrey simpered, grimacing more than smiling, certain the other girl could tell that she was being fake, would strike her down right there for daring to be so insulting.
"Right?" Mal hums right back, her eyes sharp despite the way they crinkle upwards. "Static in the barrier."
The fake laugh that bubbles in her chest stops abruptly at the strange idiom, and she finds herself cocking her head, her brow furrowing slightly.
"I…what?"
"What?" Mal repeats, blinking, and just like that all the hostility is gone from her body, her expression no longer feral.
"That thing you said?" Audrey says, frowning. It occurs to her just how quickly the situation had changed, but she doesn't have space to dwell on it with her confusion.
"Static in the barrier," Mal repeats, both brows raised skeptically. Then she laughs, and it's a genuine sound that might be almost nice if Audrey forgot who she was referring to. "Oh I've never gotten to do this before! Aziz is always the one teasing us for not knowing words the little f-shit."
Audrey starts, and Mal makes a face, shifting her bag up on her shoulder awkwardly.
"Can't say that," she mutters, almost apologetically, before her smirk comes back and her eyes twinkle darkly. "But still, this is fun. Static in the barrier's something we say on the Isle to mean it's whatever. Like, it's there and it's a situation, but it's not worth being concerned about anymore."
"Oh, you mean water under the bridge," Audrey drawls as she makes the connection, and Mal nods, shrugging a shoulder.
"Sure," she says sportingly. "If we had water or bridges, anyway."
Audrey winces, unable to hide it, and Mal bites her lip, eyes darting away self-consciously.
"I didn't mean-"Audrey begins, but Mal growls softly in frustration and she trails off immediately.
"It's fine," she says quickly. "You don't have to apologize. If anything, I'm the one who..." She stops, lips pressing thin in a line as her eyes draw closed as if pained. "This is what she meant…this is what she always meant...always so quick to...fucking hell..."
"What?" Audrey questions despite feeling like she shouldn't. Mal's eyes flutter open instantly, flickering with something like vulnerability for all of one second before they sharpen and narrow.
"Nothing," she snaps, all brusque again. "What are you still doing here? What do you want?"
It occurs to Audrey then that it's slowly approaching curfew, and they've somehow managed to intersect right at the staircase leading to the dorms. It wouldn't be entirely amiss if she took her chance and fled now, and yet instead she finds herself taking the chance to really take in the girl before her. And she's surprised by what she sees because she sees…a girl. And while the knowledge of the horror and power that this girl possesses still rings clearly in her mind; knows exactly who this girl is a product of…it's hard for Audrey to see Maleficent in that moment. It's really just…Mal.
"I...I'm sorry."
Mal blinks, then shifts her weight to the side. "For?" she drawls, and Audrey worries at her lip before plunging ahead.
"I misjudged you. All of you, really, ever since you first got here. I kept thinking I'd see your parents' shadows and was just waiting for whatever evil you chose to inflict on us for keeping you locked away for so long."
Mal lifts a brow, but says nothing, and Audrey takes it as a good enough sign to continue.
"But I was wrong- you're not them." It takes her a second to really let it sink in, and she finds that the hesitant smile she gives is actually genuine as she acknowledges what she should have long ago. "You're not Maleficent."
Mal makes a sharp noise in her throat, and Audrey's caught off guard by the bitterness sparking darkly in her eyes as her lips curl hatefully. "Yeah, no. I'm not, thanks…thanks for that. As if she didn't remind me of that fifty times a day; less if she decided to save her breath and just beat me instead."
So casual is she in her bitterness, in her loathing, that it takes Audrey a moment to realize just what she'd said. But then she does realize, and her intake of breath comes as a sharp hiss between her teeth.
"What?" she whispers, hardly daring to believe….
If anything, her shock only further aggravates Mal, revulsion in the tight stiffening of her shoulders as her weight shifts backwards sharply.
"Oh fuck you, don't you do that! Don't you fucking dare."
Audrey gapes, speechless, and Mal grimaces fiercely, distorting her expression further.
"Don't sit there and act like it's some 'thing.' Not you." That vulnerability creeps back in for a moment, and Audrey feels her stomach sink at the way Mal emphasized her specifically, wondering- and hating the wondering- what sort of vendetta seemed to be on the other girl's mind that she didn't know about. (But of course, deep down she knows and it tears at her all the more that she's somehow played a part, however small, in the other girl's suffering.)
"I'm sorry," she whispers again, the words like ash on her tongue for all the good they do now.
"Shut up," Mal snaps immediately, wry and unaffected once again. "It doesn't mean anything. Doesn't change…it's nothing. Really. Just forget it. "
Audrey thinks that the explicit act of an adult (specifically a parent) beating a child (specifically their child) is far from nothing, but she recognizes Mal's attempt to change the subject; registers that while the word was 'really,' she'd meant 'please.'
"It's just…static in the barrier?" She tries, hating herself for the trying but vowing to do something about it when she could.
Mal snorts, and her mouth flickers upwards with genuine amusement. "No don't say that. You're not edgy enough to say that."
"I have edges," Audrey protests dutifully, letting herself get swept further along.
"Yeah, sure you do," Mal mutters, rolling her eyes, but there's definitely something softer about her as well. Less foreboding. "Aziz'll get a kick out of it though. I can't wait to see his face; he's not the only one who knows words."
"Well I'm glad at least at how quickly you've finally gotten past the hostility phase," Audrey murmurs, shifting to cross her arms casually. "But maybe I shouldn't be so surprised…."
"What?" Mal hums, and it's just as casual, but Audrey recognizes the alertness in her eyes.
"Nothing," she says quickly, understanding the need to tread carefully. "I just…remembered thinking it was funny how against it even you VKs were."
Crap.
"Why, cuz we're supposed to be a bunch of villains and miscreants with deviant behaviors and sexualities?"
Don't you answer that.
"Uh…huh well…" Audrey fumbles, but then she notices the smirk playing at the corner of Mal's mouth, and sighs her relief in a nervous chuckle. "Well, yes," she continues, playing along with an easier tease. "Of course. But also-"
She stops abruptly because it occurs to her that while Mal might be amused now at her train of thought, there's an underlying edge of warning that reminds her that things still weren't as clear cut as she thought they were.
"Also?" Mal repeats, cocking her head, but it's not offense or anger furrowing her brow. If anything, it's introspection, as if trying to analyze Audrey's train of thought and match it with potential signals she might have given off.
"Nothing, never mind," she blusters quickly, and Mal's eyes flicker over but don't quite lose their thoughtful gaze. "Just…more misjudging, I guess."
She didn't quite think so; she'd seen the looks after al, but better to be safe than sorry. Or set ablaze.
"Yeah," Mal murmurs back. "Here too, I think."
And before Audrey gets a chance to question just what that meant, Mal turns and dashes up the stairs. Audrey starts, stunned at the sudden and abrupt display of rudeness, but just before she reaches the crest, Mal stops and turns back.
"Well are you coming or what?"
"Or what," Audrey mutters, not quite to be cheeky but because she didn't know what was happening here.
"Meeting the other ones that you misjudged," Mal states, as if it's obvious, and continues up and into the dorms beyond.
"Duh," Audrey says to open air, one hand dazedly reaching for the railing. "Silly me, what else would I be doing?"
Jay
"Ah! Ow stop! Jay, get off!" Carlos yelps from the floor beneath him.
"Not until you give it!" Jay growls back, twisting Carlos' arm further and making a grab for the fabric tangled in the other boy's hand.
"You got everything else, why do you want…wh-whatever this thing is?" Carlos whimpers, resolutely refusing to yield.
"Because you want it!" Jay states obviously, just barely dodging the kick aimed at his chest.
"No!" Carlos protests, baring his teeth and kicking out again.
Jay laughs and ducks his shoulder under the flailing limb, reaching through Carlos' guard and wrestling his way further upwards. Carlos kicks again and yelps when Jay shoves his shoulder to the left, causing his leg to twist sideways painfully. His fingers slip where they grip the soft fabric, and Jay takes the opening, steadying himself with a knee on Carlos' chest and grabbing for it with the provided leverage.
"Ow!" Carlos cries again, but his eyes flash darkly when Jay gets his hands on the thing (it's soft, and red like he'd never seen before). "Stop, no! Give it ba-ba-back!"
His stutter rarely slipped out thanks to Evie's potion, but apparently, there was a time limit. Jay had pretended not to notice when the other boy had tumbled haphazardly into their shared room; out of breath and terrified at finding out the potion was already losing its effect. He'd simply let Carlos with the space to freak out as he saw fit, and was careful to be just a little more gentle when dealing with the other boy.
There was none of that gentleness now, however. Not when he was this close to getting the soft thing out of Carlos' hands. Jay wasn't holding back, but neither was Carlos, the smaller boy somehow just managing to keep his defense in place of attacking Jay in return. It felt good, wrestling like this. Not good like Auradon good, but…there was a part of Jay relished the physicality of the conflict; of no restraints or inhibitions. Of being able to fight back.
He flinches away from that train of thought but it's there nonetheless, crawling under skin that doesn't belong to him anymore. That other part of him that craves touch but doesn't dare to act on it because it'll just be turned against him. The part that acknowledges his need to remain on top; that says that at least he's dominating and being aggressive like he always should have been. That he's in control of the pain that he receives (none, though, because it's his job to inflict pain, not succumb to it).
"Ow ow ow! Jay, let go!"
There's a soft, rhythmic thumping against his ribs, and he realizes that he'd somehow gotten Carlos' head locked between his arms; the pounding being Carlos trying to punch his way free again. It wouldn't have been a problem except Jay was almost certain Carlos couldn't breathe, and he jerks sharply, unlocking his muscles and scrambling back instantly.
It takes a few seconds for the buzzing in his ears to subside (but not the guilt what the fuck what was that did you really almost do that?)
"Dude," Carlos pants, red faced but not as traumatized as Jay had feared. "Not. Cool."
"Sorry," he mutters awkwardly, eyes snapping to the now unguarded scrap of red on the floor. Grab it grab it grab it grab it!
"Guys," Evie says suddenly, and Jay tenses at her tone; strangely subdued and formal. "We have an audience."
As if on cue, Carlos snaps a final sharp kick at Evie's words, and Jay doesn't have the space to blink let alone dodge. The kick catches just under his ribs and suddenly he's on his back and he can't catch his breath and he's on his back...
And the panic sets in because he's aware of his triggers now and he doesn't want to do this he doesn't want to do this again he doesn't want to know!
"We were ju-just cleaning up."
Carlos. Right. Auradon, yeah. And company?
Jay blinks and lifts his chin to peer upwards, and in the doorway he can just make out the familiar purple outline of Mal, and beside her...
He's on his feet in an instant, blinking away the dizzying rush of blood to his feet and twisting his lips into a smirk because instincts were saying 'pretty girl!' and protocol dictated that he flirt with her.
"Hel-loo foxy," Jay rumbles as smoothly as he can with the hands teasing at the back of his neck. "The name's Jay."
Pretty girl (not as pretty as Lonnie, though) blinks, entirely stunned, and Mal rolls her eyes and into the room, nudging her way pointedly past his shoulder to pick Carlos up off the floor.
"I apologize for...him," she says over her shoulder to Pretty Girl, who's still just standing in the doorway.
"Um..."
"You can come in," Mal continues, only vague sarcasm in her tone as she flings herself down to sit on the edge of Jay's bed. "We don't bite. Well, not all of us."
Carlos growls and flips Mal off, but she only laughs boldly in his face, and Jay is certain he's not the only one that notices how she'd completely avoided Evie. The other girl purses her lips slightly but doesn't protest Mal's ignoring of her, simply sliding down on the bed and leaving an only slightly obvious gap.
"Should I...should I sit?" Pretty Girls asks warily, and Jay jumps, not having noticed her come in, let alone pull out the chair she was referring to.
"If you want to," Mal says with a shrug, but her eyes are dark and calculating, so Jay crosses his arms to subtly back her up.
The girl sits, and Mal's eyes lose some of their darkness.
"Cool, ok. Guys this is Audrey. Audrey, this is everyone else."
"Hi," Audrey offers meekly, waving a hand before clasping it tightly in her other hand and fidgeting nervously in her chair.
"Hi…I'm Carlos," Carlos broaches first, surprisingly, though he's just as subdued just as unsure.
"Evie."
"Sup," Jay says, lifting his chin and winking at Audrey, pleased when she flushes and looks away.
"Audrey is Ben's girlfriend," Mal enunciates slowly, glaring at him with bright green eyes, but Jay just shrugs.
"For now."
Audrey hisses sharply, and genuine offense and hurt darkens her already rich brown eyes before disappearing with anger.
"Is that supposed to mean something?"
"Way to go, Jay," Evie scowls, and Jay narrows his eyes at her but that doesn't quite hide his slight chagrin.
"No, it's not," Mal sighs impatiently; or at least, the part that is impatient is directed at him and not Audrey. "Just Jay being an asshole."
"Flirting!" he corrects, feigning hurt as he spreads his hands innocently.
"Same thing."
"I take it that's not a misjudgment then?" Audrey says stiffly, and Mal's lips twitch with a barely concealed laugh.
"Oh shit, you do have edges!" she snorts, and Audrey smiles, but it almost looks like a wince, and Jay is bored with yet another conversation at his expense.
"Ok so what's she doing here?" he snaps bluntly, and Mal's eyes flash warning, her lips curling dangerously at the corners.
"Well I'm here to…apologize, I guess," Audrey answers in her stead, eyes low as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I misjudged you guys pretty harshly when you first arrived, and I'm starting to realize that I was wrong."
"And I thought it'd be a good idea for her to meet everyone in person, so we could maybe prove all our first impressions wrong," Mal continues slowly, and out of the corner of his eyes, he can see Evie straighten, her eyes sharp and excited, and he understands suddenly. She was here to give them an 'in.'
"Right," Audrey says, much more relaxed in her smile, and Jay almost feels sorry for her; that she hadn't caught on to the intent in Mal's voice. "So I guess, um…what are some things you guys think I should know about…the real you?"
Evie bristles sharply, and Jay frowns at her questioningly. She shakes her head and sets her jaw, so he drops it. He knew better than to try and pry; if Evie didn't want to talk, she wasn't going to and that was that.
"First things first, though," Mal says, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she clasps her hands together. "Sleeping Beauty's daughter." She nods her head in Audrey's direction, and the other girl sinks slightly, something almost like betrayal crossing her face before disappearing instantly behind an unaffected expression. The shift is so easy that Jay just about misses it.
"Ooh, you can do faces too?" Carlos gasps eagerly, leaning forward with nothing but openness and sincerity on his face.
Jay wants to laugh, because he can see that while Carlos' eyes are bright and his brows lifted to convey the youth and happiness; his jaw was locked, his smile fake.
"I do…faces?" Audrey asks, mystified, and Jay takes the chance to stroll over and lean on the wall to her left.
"Yeah, yeah," he continues, and Jay's glad she's got her eyes on Carlos because he can't stifle his laugh this time, though he turns it into a cough expertly. "Like masks and stuff. No one knows what you're thinking."
"I-" Audrey stammers, and Jay shares a look with Mal over her shoulder. Got her. "I guess I just didn't realize I was doing it."
"Force of habit?" Evie probes softly, and Jay doesn't need to look to know she's doing that 'understanding' face; the one that hides the sneer in her eyes.
"Yeah, I uh…guess you could say we've got some experience with that," Mal mumbles, tilting her chin to drop her eyes self-consciously. "It's just funny that a princess from Auradon of all places would feel the need to do something like that."
"Yeah well," Audrey says, her own eyes also downcast, something bitter and pained twisting her lips. "I guess we've all misjudged how Auradon's supposed to be, huh?"
Even Jay knew there was something in that sentence, but he lets Mal take the lead on it, slipping further to the left, so he was almost behind Audrey without being obvious. Disappointment meets him, however, when he sees that she didn't have a bag or anything with her, no obvious wrinkles in the sleek looking outfit she wore belying where a hidden item of value might be.
He grimaces his negative to Mal, who twitches her jaw in acknowledgement, and then he lets the grimace turn more pitiful, shuffling his feet as he makes his way back into Audrey's line of vision.
"Yeah, I guess so," he croaks out. "Still, it's better than anything we had before."
Audrey's eyes flicker further before lifting in forced cheer. She wasn't as good at masks as they were, certainly; even he could still see the sorrow in the lines of her eyes. But it wasn't bad for those who weren't looking…like the rest of Auradon.
"I'm glad for that, at least," she manages, before letting the cheer drip away again. Like she'd known it wasn't working? "Still, I just wish…it could be better…for you guys."
"Ben said the same thing," Mal says, and her voice carries some of the same sharpness as her eyes.
"Did he?" Audrey asks, and Jay had misjudged her ability because he couldn't begin to interpret the sudden expression on her face. Closed off was as close as he could describe, but even that didn't seem accurate because there was definitely a feeling there. He just didn't know it.
"Yeah, he was here earlier," Mal continues, nonchalant but there's an edge of vindictive underneath. "Apologizing for some ghosts he dredged up without realizing."
"He has that uncanny habit, yeah," Audrey mutters, and her expression -and her voice- cracks minutely.
"But you seem to have…what is it? A good head on your shoulders?" Mal says, and Jay slowly wanders back towards the bed, letting the atmosphere shift and relax. "I mean, you came here, right? Met us all?"
"Yeah," Audrey replies slowly, but with a much more genuine cheer, rising from her chair with certainty.
"Yeah, I think you'll be just fine," Mal murmurs, and it's good that Audrey turns for the door when she does, just missing the dark gleam of green in Mal's eyes.
"And you guys will be too," Audrey says, in true Auradon form, before grinning in such a way it drown out whatever is in her own eyes. "I'm glad I was able to meet you all."
"Yeah, us too!" Carlos calls cheerfully, waving again from the bed. His mood sours the second the door is closed (and locked) on Audrey, glaring at Mal. "Why am I always the-the little kid?" he complains.
"Because you are a little kid," Mal quips easily, ignoring the silent snarl he shoots her and turning to Jay.
"Anything?"
"Nope," he reports briskly, folding his arms. "She's tougher than she looks, I think."
"Yeah, for sure," Mal mutters, but it's already being dismissed, he knows. "E, tell me I'm right and she cracked."
"Oh she cracked," Evie crows darkly, her eyes as bright and vicious as her smile. "Right about…"
"When I mentioned Ben?" Mal finishes eagerly, her own smirk all cruelty and no mirth. "Ha ha, trouble in paradise."
"How much trouble?" Jay can't resist getting caught up in it, all too eager to finally be getting somewhere.
"Enough," Evie promises coyly, but her eyes give it all away.
"Guys," Mal says, and Jay has the distinct feeling they're hovering over the edge of something that says 'no going back.'
"I think it's time Ben got himself a new girlfriend."
[Unaddressed letter to Mr. Oscar, Isle of the Lost]
Carlos.
This might be my last letter for a while, and I don't have near enough paper to explain. I'd need a whole book for that, and my experience with writing books never really ended well for me. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Forget about that, though, that's not important. I managed to get a couple more sign language books onto the barges, enough to really get you going, if you can find them. You were always so smart, though, I bet you can do it.
Auradon isn't working. I can't stay in a kingdom that would let…you'll have heard. There's no avoiding it, not there. I can't do anything more to help you, not while I'm here, not with all the kingdoms still coming together. Well, not all. Arendelle is refusing to join. The queen there is offering her kingdom as a sort of 'safe place' for anyone else who doesn't want to be part of Auradon and what they stand for.
With any luck, I'll be able to do there what I couldn't before. Find a happier ending for you.
Love,
Isaac