Evie sank further into the warm, scented water. Baths were a luxury back on the Isle, hot water even more so, and were one of her favorite things even then. On the mainland, they were even better and she took full advantage of them every morning. Sometimes she took them at night if she needed to relax after a long day and none of her pack were available to help her relieve stress.

"What do you think it'll be like?" Carlos's voice was soft, almost silent, in front of her.

"The lunch?" Her pup hummed. Opening her eyes, Evie guided him closer, his back against her chest as she wrapped her arms around him. "Probably still a little formal," she began, resting her chin on his shoulder, smiling to herself when he relaxed. "They're still royalty and we are eating with the Queen. We'll need to be careful when we talk. Queen Belle…" She trailed off. Queen Belle was an unknown. An adult. Someone they couldn't trust. Not only that but-

"She's part of the reason we grew up on the Isle," Carlos whispered, finishing her thought.

"Yes."

They both fell silent, Carlos chewing his lip and poking bubbles as she glanced towards the mirror even though she wasn't at the right angle to check her appearance. While they couldn't exactly trust Ben, at least he was closer to their age, easier to manipulate and read. And they'd had time to interact with him, get to know his patterns. They'd only met the Queen once and that was weeks ago. And all that had been was a quick half introduction. If they did anything to upset her…Unconsciously, she traced the curse wrapping around her wrist.

They could be sent back. Sent back to the Isle and fail their mission and Maleficent.

In her arms, Carlos shuddered, grabbing her hand and tangling their fingers together. Pulling him even closer, Evie pressed a kiss to his cheek. She hated this, hated seeing him so scared so often. Most of his life was spent terrified and if she could ease that even a little she would. She'd take it all on just to give him a break.

"There's one benefit to eating with royalty," she said, lightening her voice with a smile. When her pup glanced at her over his shoulder, she kissed his nose. "The food will be delicious." For a second he just stared at her. Then he rolled his eyes. But she could feel him relax, just a little, and she took advantage of it. "The cafeteria is great, but this will be even better. Just leave the talking to us and enjoy the food. Maybe there'll even be chocolate for dessert."

Immediately, Carlos blushed and she laughed.

In the main room, she heard Jay and Mal moving, and she sighed. "Come on, Los. We need to help those two get ready."

Only minutes later, wrapped in a towel, Evie coaxed a brush through Jay's hair, unable to resist admiring how soft it had gotten since arriving on the mainland. "Stop squirming," she scolded.

"I can't move right in this," he said, tugging at his collar. Thank the gods he was already dressed. The rich, dark red vest fit him properly now compared to when they first arrived, maybe even a little tight, but it was perfect. Accenting his form in all the right ways. It'd be better without the shirt under it, but they were playing by Auradon rules today and Evie had been forced to insist. "I still don't understand why we can't just wear the outfits you made for our first day of classes."

"Those aren't proper for meeting royalty," she informed him.

"Ben said this was going to be casual," Mal pointed out from where she was sprawled out on the bed. Still wearing nothing but her undergarments. Evie fought back a frown, forcing herself to take a deep breath.

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to make a good impression," she retorted as she flicked Jay's ear when he shifted again. "Hold still. Los, can you get me the hair ribbon?"

"Sure."

Hair disheveled from the towel, Carlos grabbed the ribbon from her dresser and handed it over before doing the last few buttons on his vest. Good. That was both boys dressed. That left all of their hair–though Jay's was almost done and Carlos's would be easy–getting Mal dressed, herself dressed, and doing hers and Mal's makeup. She glanced out the window. If she was efficient, they'd still be on time to meet Ben at the campus entrance.

"I'll help Mal," Carlos whispered as she began to twist Jay's hair into place.

Grateful, she nodded. Mal wouldn't give Carlos nearly the same amount of shit she'd give Evie, and Carlos at least knew enough about clothes to make sure Mal was presentable. A result of growing up with Cruella as a "mother" and Evie as a best friend. Jay's clothes were simple enough that even Jay couldn't mess it up on his own, on and off the Isle. And Mal could handle her usual aesthetic just fine. Mal's Auradon clothes however…

As Carlos gathered Mal's shirt, pants, and corset, Evie glanced at her pack. Were they really ready for this? "What are we allowed to talk about?" she asked, earning a groan even from Carlos.

"E, we've been over this a million times," Mal protested as Carlos began tightening her corset over the purple shirt.

"And we need to go over it again," Evie insisted, tying Jay's hair into a bun. "Now, what are we allowed to talk about?"

"Campus," Jay said as she stepped back to assess her work. "But not about how easy it is to hide things or steal food. Just how nice it is."

Satisfied with Jay's hair, she rifled through her's and Mal's wardrobe to get out the green dress and its matching corset.

"The classes we do like," Carlos added. Mal snorted.

"Mal?" Evie prompted, slipping into the dress, hating how well it fit now. She shouldn't be able to fill it out like this.

"Things like the weather," their leader replied.

"And what are we not going to talk about?"

"The fact that Philosophy belongs in Tartarus or the Isle," Mal spat, eyes flashing green.

"The Isle in general," Jay said.

"Anything about our parents or how we feel about other students," Carlos finished, tying Mal's corset and handing the fae a brush.

Good. Her lessons stuck. For the rest of the time as she got dressed and applied hers and Mal's makeup, Evie quizzed her pack on the right utensils to use, how to bow and curtsey, how to sit properly. By the time she was herding them out the door, she felt at least a little better. They weren't perfect, but they should be passable. As long as she kept an eye on them during lunch, they might actually get through it alright.