Princess had left Raven's with butterflies and dread in her gut. She could've gone back to Mari's; that was her initial plan, but after the realization she had, she needed space to process. She wasn't ready to go over the details of her solo thing with her just yet.
She slipped her heels off and padded down the hall past her father's study. It was a Saturday, and there was usually paperwork and tasks to delegate today. She was careful not to disturb him and was almost past the cracked door when she heard it.
"Princess," Basilio's voice thundered. "A word."
Her shoulders shrunk to her neck and her back instantly tensed. "Yes, Daddy. May I use the bathroom first?"
A heavy pause took up the hall. She needed to change before she saw him. Whatever the issue was, she didn't want her attire to be the cherry on top. "I'll see you back here in 10 minutes."
"Yes, sir," she relaxed slightly and quickly scuffled to her bedroom. She took her hair down, scrubbed off her makeup, and slipped into her nightgown in record time. She took another final look in the mirror before heading out. Making sure her septum was tucked away and her bonnet secured. A perfect princess, ready for bed. She slipped on her slippers and made her way down the hall with a minute to spare.
She creaked the door open. His lights were dim and his glass of scotch with orange peel was empty. His cigar box was put away, and the butt of his last smoke eased out the last of the ember in the ashtray. He meant business.
"Sit," he commanded.
Princess hastily made her way to the front of his desk and into the chair. The grandiose, antique wooden seat still engulfed her at 17, his frame looming down on her. She wished he'd get on with it.
"You have a dance club?" A question that was more of a statement.
"Yes, since last year," the remember was implied.
"I hear the Kings and Mahones' daughters are in," another statement.
"Yes, they auditioned. They're good dancers." There were only so many details her father actually cared about. He should just skip to the demands.
"Hmmm," he pressed his meaty fingers against his chin. "What are you hoping to gain out of their involvement?"
Gain? "Dancers, Daddy. I just want good dancers."
"That won't do." He quickly rejected her wants, and Princess's Louisiana temper was beginning to rear its ugly head.
"What do you want me to do?" She sneered.
"What do you want to be involved in? Because of your distance from people in the industry, I've been able to keep you away from these kinds of things, but since you wandered so carelessly into the lion's den I must prepare you."
"Lion's den," she scoffed. "We're teenagers not everything has to be about—"
"You're not normal teenagers. You're not spoiled rich brats, legacy alums, or old money. You belong to the Princes and Princesses of crime. You are born into the game, and you have to be prepared to fight to stay in it." He interrupted.
"Tell me what's going on," Princess decided. Better to not be in the dark if danger is on the horizon.
"The Freedman's and Banks are closing in on a strong alliance. Because of your auditions, the two boys started to get to know each other. Some commonalities arose and a long-kept secret is not a secret anymore. You chose King and Mahones, a good choice given their loyalty but we may have needed a Banks or Freedman on our side. In their eyes, the two families have fallen in rank." Basilio poured himself another glass.
"It's a dance company!" Princess protested.
"Everything we do is an act of power! From the friends we keep, to where we buy our eggs. The Banks steal, and the Freedman gets them out. It's worked for us. Everyone gets what they want and gets a cut. They need my connections for lawyers, judges, and guards to turn blind eyes, but money talks. Why not cut out the middleman?"
"They want to run the system on their own?" Princess inquired.
"Yes, and they just need the capital to do it… They've begun stealing diamonds," Bas informed.
"They're targeting the Kings?" Princess cocked her head.
"Yes, and it's putting the Mahones' on edge. They've got Adriana's half-brother following Dom Louis. Losing the ability to steal and get out of jail is one thing, we can always buy muscle and bribes. But losing the support of our armory… it's bringing plastic knives to a gunfight." He took a long drag from his cup.
Princess let her father's words sink in. She was just trying to be normal for once. Trying to grant other kids like her an opportunity to be someone outside of her family role. It bit her in the ass. Hard. They were on the brink of war. It could be Baton Rouge all over again.
"What do you need me to do?" She asked with more determination than the first time.
"I need you to keep the Kings and Mahones close. Show your loyalty and keep their daughters safe and secure by any means necessary. Who will they be around most in your dance company?" Now these were the details he cared about.
"Me and Kamari. Opal is Kamari's Little, and Adriana is mine."
"Perfect, the Martins are sanctioned. Spend as much time there as needed. You need these girls to trust you, Princess, to follow you. You're already their captain; it's time to show them you're a Morbucks."
Silence filled the study soon after Bas set his glass on the coaster. The dread that was once in her gut had settled in her back, rooted her to the seat, and pulled down on her shoulders. Heavy is the crown, the gravity of the situation.
"Have a good night's rest," he dismissed her.
Princess numbly rose from her seat and slowly made her way down the hall. She gingerly got into bed and stared at the ceiling of her bedposts. Then she felt them. On the left, down her cheek, and onto the pillow, then the right before a sob wracked her body. She was a Morbucks. It wasn't the requirement that shook her to her core. It was the fact that once he gave her all the information, she slipped into her role like custom-made shoes. She fell in line with no hesitation. She asked what to do, and she knew exactly how to accomplish the task. She was certain that she could get Adriana and Opal under her thumb. Power was second nature to her, and when threatened, the dormant beast within her rose to the occasion. This was the beginning of the makings of a monster.
Then she thought of Buttercup, her newly recognized love interest. She wasn't afraid of being queer. God, if only that was the only layer in the smelly onion. It was the fact that she liked Buttercup, a Powerpuff girl, and she was a Morbucks, and they were on opposite sides of the law, now business partners, and there was no way in hell she could get her involved in the greatest feud Townsville will ever see. Or at least on her side. Once shit starts hitting the fan, no doubt PPG will be called in. It was going to get ugly. Everyone she was growing to care about will be in danger.
Her phone lit up on her nightstand.
Adriana : just a heads up, my informant showed me this. It hasn't hit the media yet, but I just thought you should know.
Attached is a clip from Raven's of her and BC's performance. On the one hand, it was good publicity. On the other, it was a direct complication, showing how close she was to the Puff. They could view it as the Princess being a traitor spurring the war, or this could show the threat of compliance. If Princess had a puff in her corner, an enemy of hers would also be the enemy of the law. Adriana was smart, moving this chess piece and leaving the ball in Princess's court. She hasn't made the video public, though it was her team that got it. She's giving Princess a chance to get control over the narrative. Princess had seen something in Adriana when she danced. She was sensual, subtly captivating, and mindful. A cat, like Princess, and she knew how a cat moved. She sent two messages.
TO: DL Tail: See that this attachment only reaches a handful of people in the media, then kill it. Got it from Mahones.
DL Tail: Done, I'll run it tomorrow morning, then kill it by noon, that should be enough buzz. Anything I should know?
TO: DL Tail: Daddy told me everything. I'm in the game now. Don't be surprised how I play along.
DL Tail: Does it involve a green puff?
TO: DL Tail: It might, but I've got it handled. We're good at putting on a show.
DL Tail: I can see that. Be careful, Princess. There's no backing out once you're in.
TO: DL Tail: I was born in.
Princess pursed her lips before deciding it was best to get ahead of the situation while she could. All eyes are on her now. They've been watching since the beginning of the year. She's known for the attention she grabs; she's shown her ruthlessness against Heather and Blossom, and she commands the room with her energy She's Princess fucking Royalty Morbucks, dammit, and she wasn't going to let anyone or anything punk her out of her spot.
TO: BC: How do you feel about publicity stunts?
*.*.*.*.*
Sunday, she and BC talked about details. As expected, the video went viral in the morning and then couldn't be found by noon. OK, and RF's socials were being tagged left and right. Everyone was on the hunt for the video, and speculation began to run wild. They couldn't pin anything down. Sexualities and moral compasses were brought into question. Were they together, did BC support Morbucks crime, were she and Princess messing around when BC was with Butch? Too many hashtags, too many tweets, and too many reels all leading to nowhere. Come Monday the teasing would begin.
She and Buttercup agreed that it would be best to drag them along with speculation. Give them just enough but never a clear picture. The band would eat lunch with OK, and she and Princess would walk together to classes. When asked about one another, the response was to be professional but coy. It was clear that the two are a unit but united as what will be left unlabeled. The group needed another performance to maintain the ruse, and fast. Luckily, Kamari's birthday was around the corner.
Princess had her back pressed against the lockers while BC stood in front of her. She fished a Double Bubble out of her bag just as BC passed her a spearmint Orbit. Swapping gum, the perfect metaphor for swapping spit.
"You've got practice tomorrow, right?" She asked, unwrapping the gum.
"Yeah, gonna try to perform for Mari's birthday next Saturday." She said before popping the spearmint into her mouth, fighting a grimace. "How the fuck do you chew this?"
"You tell me," she smirked. "I'm chomping on a sugar blob that's going to lose flavor in 30 seconds." She blew a bubble in Princess's face, which she promptly bit. An audible gasp from the on-lookers caused the two to hold back an eye roll.
"Nice touch. I've got a song I wanna run by you. I think it might be good for Mari's party."
"Same one you've been working on since Raven's?" Princess fought the excitement pooling in her chest. She'd been waiting on this.
"That's the one." She blew another bubble. "I'll send it to you, and you and Mari can listen to it. I figured she'd do a solo or be in charge of the vibe for the event."
"A solo, yes. Planning, no, that's all Mitch. Kamari is a libra, she struggles to decide which side of the pillow she wants to sleep on." Princess joked.
"Ow, bitch brutal," Kamari turned the corner on the cozy not-couple. "But true. Y'all wanna stay late and listen to it in a classroom today? That way, we can get something down to present to the squad tomorrow."
"That's perfect, we can use the music room's speakers. Bring Mitch since he'll probably confirm or deny it if it doesn't fit the vibe." BC advised strolling away before spitting the gum into a nearby can.
"That definitely still had flavor!" Princess called after.
"Not with the way my tongue works!" BC called back, not bothering to turn around. Another audible gasp filled the hall, and Princess could barely hold back her blush.
Kamari whirled on her friend, finally catching her at the prime time. "Okay bitch, spill. You've been radio silent about the solo thing, and I saw that video, and your acting does not look like an act, so what. The fuck. Is up?" She whisper-screamed.
Just as Princess was about to fabricate an answer the bell rang. She waggled her brows and gave Mari a smug smile.
"You can't run from me in study hall," Kamari threatened, backing away with two fingers pointed at Princess. "Two bells away, I'm on your ass!" Another audible gasp in the hall.
"Shut the fuck up, ho!" Both Kamari and Princess scorned the student simultaneously.
In the study hall library, Princess casually recapped the details, leaving out her revelations, and chalked the sultry nature of the night to the heat of the moment. The call of the dance. Kamari finally got off her once she told her the performance was a test of a new sound she wanted to bring out on her birthday.
"Oh, so we're doing sexy?" Kamari inquired.
"Honey, we're always doing sexy," Mitch magically appeared at their table.
"Where the hell did you come from?" Princess smiled at one of her dearest friends. She loved it when all three of them were together. She and Mari were sisters, but Mitch was just irreplaceable and essential to the trio.
"Al was returning a book, and I just so happened to be checking out," he bit his lip. "Long story short, Draco and Harry ran into each other in the restricted section." He cracked open his notebook of Kamari's birthday plans.
"Word on the street is Hermione and Ginny are not far behind?" He shot a glance at Princess.
"Speaking of Hermione—" Princess began.
"Who said she was Hermione?" Kamari interrupted.
"Yeah, she's definitely Ginny," Mitch agreed.
"Buttercup," Princess enunciated over her friends. "Wants to show us some new material after school today in the music room for Kamari's party."
"Oh, thank goodness," Mitch began scribbling in his notebook. "Freak Fantasy just wasn't fitting the theme and as long as the song is sexy slutty we should be alright."
"Mitch," Kamari began cautiously. "What's the theme of my party?"
"You're 18, Mari," Mitch said flippantly. "Obviously, your theme is adult activities."
Princess opened her mouth to speak then ultimately shut it and her eyes. There was nothing to be said about it.
"Well, fuck." Mari said. Could've said that. Earning a shush from the librarian.
The two argued back and forth behind Princess as they made their way to the music room.
"It is not a lingerie party! We aren't Euphoria!"
"You're taking the sexy out of being 18."
"Not everyone will be 18! What's wrong with sexy pajamas?"
"An 18 year old pajama party? Who the fuck— no wait, that's kinda good."
"See, and easy costumes for the squad."
"I see it now, black and red lace silk, button-ups, push-up bras…"
"A spicey, firey, and sexy pajama party," Kamari concluded. "Adult Activities."
"Ohhhh, bitch, I'm INSPIRED!" God help us.
Princess walked through the music room doors, and BC was seated behind the console. "I could hear you guys all the way down the hall," she stated, coming around to move music stands out of the way. "And why not add feathers? You know, maid, cleaning house, adult activities?"
"YESS!" Mitch hollered from his seat.
"Do not inspire him any further!" Kamari countered.
Each member lined up a chair and sat to listen to the new song. "Alright, I've got the Bluetooth hooked up. Kamari I don't know if you want to listen first or get right into it, this is your show after all."
"We'll see how it moves me. I'm gonna move the chair to the middle, though. Something tells me this is gonna give lap dance." She plopped back into her seat in front of everyone. "What's it called?"
"Uhh," BC began a slight blush creeping on her face. "Wildfire, (Growing on me). The song title might not be on theme though…" She trailed off.
"Eh, smoking is an adult activity," Mitch chimed in. "We'll make it work."
BC hit play on her phone. Her bass notes mixed with Leslie's guitar started the song, and then the quiet snap of a snare took up the rear. Mari rolled her head back in the chair, moving her arms in a fluid motion. The song was good. It was hot but gave the essence of yearning for someone you knew was bad for you. A burning sensation that no matter how far away you got from the fire, the desire would always call you back to the flame. And that hook…
My obsession, the confession is / It's not just a heat wave
I think you're growing on me…
It was perfect for the performance. As we get older, we all grow into whatever or whoever we want. Then, we let it consume us.
Princess shifted her attention to BC. Her eyes were closed, and her head was tilted back, bobbing ever so slightly to the beat. Her toned arms were crossed, and her left leg bounced slightly. Looking closely, Princess could see her jaw working and the deep rise and fall of her chest. She was here, but also deep in thought. Lost in a whole different dimension far from this music room, back to wherever the source of the song was. She almost looked tense. Restrained.
Just as she finished the thought, Buttercup's eyes flew open and met hers with wide pupils, her nostrils flared in a long exhale. Her gaze brought a shiver down Princess's spine, she felt her cheeks burn. She was caught, and she quickly averted her eyes back to Kamari as the song ended. She could still feel her green eyes baring into the side of her face.
Kamari shot the three a look over her shoulder as the song ended, breathing heavily. "I hope one of you recorded that because I couldn't even begin to tell you what I did!"
"I got it!" Mitch shoved his phone back in his pocket. "You've got a hit there BC, we can count on Rotten Flowers to match the dress code, right?"
"Uhmmm," BC's eyes flitted to Mitch, then back to Princess, who was now attentive to the conversation. "Sure, but we'll be in black, no promises on the red."
"Works for me, just make it sexy, tell Al to come in nothing," Mitch cheeked while rewatching Kamari's video.
"Wait, where are we having the party?" My voice was breathier than intended. A long beat passed between the four as Mitch nervously chuckled. Seriously, Mitch? All that planning and nowhere to host? The basement wasn't big enough for a full OK performance, Raven's was compromised, and Morbucks manor was a no-go with the war starting. The trio started to sweat just as BC cleared her throat.
"I know a spot."
Thank you all for reading! The plot thickens for the Morbucks'