#go to Uma anyway and hope she gets you to Harriet

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

Love how in the 1920 au, everyone's problem solving skills are essentially just "get Uma".

[descendantsramblings]

Fic idea where it’s reader x Harry hook, but reader is like gils protective older sister

I swear, every request I've gotten was for Harry, do you guys actually like the way that I write him or I am just one of the few active blogs because I swear my writing of him is so OOC? Anyway, I hope this is what you meant.

Flirting Pirate

Harry Hook x Older Fem Reader, Gil x Older sister Reader

She only hangs around the Fish and Chips shop to keep an eye on her favorite brother, it would be a lot easier if she didn't have to deal with the flirty first mate.

The fish and chips shop is the last place (Y/n) wanted to be. It was loud and the smell of burnt fish fry filled the air in a near nauseating way. And yet, Gaston's daughter sat perched on the slightly sticky bar, legs balanced on the bar stool that she was supposed to be sitting in. "Ursula would hate that you're up there," Gil looks up to her with his mouth half full, eyebrow raised. "Well," she leans forward, wiping a smudge off his cheek which made the high schooler grumble, "Ursula isn't here, just Uma." He hums, "What if Uma gets mad at you?" "Well, then she gets mad at me." "What if Uma get mad at me because she's mad at you?" She scoffs, staring down at him, "If Uma is mad at you because she's mad at me, then she needs a hobby."

Her words are punctuated with something landing on her head. The brim of the hat is tapped, causing it to fall forward, slightly covering her eyes. "Uma has plenty of hobby's, Flounder." (Y/n) throws her head forward, sending the old pirate hat crashing to the ground below her, "Hello Harold." "Not my name, never has been," he picks up the hat, turning to wink at her, "But if you need a nickname for me that badly I'll answer to it." The girl scoffs, upper lip pulling up into a slight snarl as her eyes roll. "Hook, you wish I referred to you enough to need a pet name for you." The boy smirks, pulling himself up on the counter, "Oh you will, one day." Harry's arms are crossed as he leans on them, looking up to her with a cheesy smirk.

"Gilly, are you about ready to go?" The blond shakes his head, watching the exchange before him, "Still eating." "Oh, seems you're stuck with me then, how sad," Harry flashes her a grin, "If only there was something you could do to pass the time." "Watch it," Gil warns his friend, sending him a slight glare. "This isn't about you. Gil." "Watch it, Hook. If you really need something to do you could tell me about your geometry homework," the grin on her face made him falter.

"Actually Harry is in Algebra one because he failed it last year, Dad just about killed him for it," the voice of Harriet Hook fills the space, making (Y/n) look up to her with a genuine smile, one of the first ones since she walked into the building. He turns, ears near turning red as he turns to face his older sister, "Harriet, you didn't have to tell her that!" "Oh, come on kid, the moment you tried telling her about class she'd see right through you." "I was going to change the subject!"

The exchange makes the siblings at the bar laugh to themselves. "You ready to go now? Harriet hates to wait and otherwise all the good fabric will be gone." He nods, pushing the tray forward as he stands up, offering (Y/n) a hand for her to jump down. "Ready Harriet?" She nods, locking arms with Gaston's daughter. "See you at home Harry!" "Yeah, see you around Hooky," (Y/n) turns to give him a wink before the group left, giggling to herself when Harry smiles back. Maybe he's good entertainment.

[dragoneyes618]

Who do you think each of the de vil cousins would be closest to? Including each other and out of the adults?

In my headcanon, they were all born on the Isle, and are all close in age.

First is Ivy; then Hunter is a year younger than her; then Diego is Hunter's younger brother, a year younger than him; and then Carlos is seven months younger than Diego.

They're all very, very close to each other equally. But in different ways. For instance, Ivy is the oldest, so they all listen to her and do whatever she says. Sort of like Uma's crew with Uma. They automatically look to her for authority, for advice, for the answer to their problems.

Ivy is also the only girl. This is a factor. My headcanon is that it is rare for girls to be born in the de Vil family. Of the canonical members of the de Vil family, the only females are Ivy, Cruella, and Malevola, and Malevola may have married into the family. It is far more common for boys to be born into the family than girls. There is only ever one girl a generation, perhaps less. The female de Vils, therefore, are prized and treasured and almost revered.

And this is why all the de Vils still go along with whatever Cruella says, even though at this point she's gotten them all on the Isle. (Because they all did whatever she said.) Cruella is the only female of her generation; therefore her generation revolves around her. It's the same with Ivy and the de Vil boys, except Ivy has plans to get herself and her cousins into a better life. Even if Ivy wasn't the oldest, if she was in the middle or the youngest, they would still pay extra attention to her and take her opinions into account more so than the rest of each other.

The other three of them are all very protective of Carlos, too, because he's the youngest (even if Diego is less than a year older than him) and because he's the only one with Cruella for a mother.

They are all de Vils, yes. Cruella is their aunt, yes. Diego's and Hunter's mother and Ivy's mother both died young, so in a weird way, Cruella was almost like a mother figure to them. But they remember their actual mothers. Cruella isn't their actual mother. But she's Carlos's actual mother, and they know what she puts him through.

So they all come over when Cruella's out of the house and help Carlos finish his chores, and they make sure no one bothers Carlos in school (after Ivy burned down part of their house, even the Gaston twins leave him alone) and they check in on him randomly just in case.

The four of them could conceivably have formed their own gang on the Isle. Four is big enough. It would be a small number, but it would be big enough. And they would have had the addition of the Badun cousins, too.

But they didn't. They would have liked to. But they would need a leader, and none of them, not even Ivy, the natural choice, was willing to be the leader. Because all of them were afraid of ending up like Cruella.

So they split up. Carlos joined up with Mal, Evie, and Jay. Diego formed his band. Hunter joined Harriet Hook's pirate crew. And Ivy...

Ivy joined Uma's pirate crew.

Which would have made things somewhat awkward between her and Carlos. So they made an agreement between each other that if their respective groups were ever in a fight, they would not let it get between them. It was nothing to do with them personally. And they would not harm each other.

Carlos wasn't usually on the front lines during a fight, anyway. Carlos is the one fiddling with some wires in the back, hoping no one will notice him and trying to get his booby trap to activate already. Unlike Ivy, who is charging full speed ahead of everyone else with a dagger in one hand and a flaming torch in the other.

The fact that they're all in different groups makes them each an asset to their respective groups. Whenever one needs to negotiate with another, it's very helpful if a member of your crew is related to a member of a rival crew. The two of them have a better chance of talking to the other group and at least getting them to listen, because the relatives vouch for each other.

Everyone on the Isle knows that if you harm just one de Vil cousin, all of them will be your enemy, and either several valued possessions of yours will mysteriously go missing and be found in a bonfire - or if you're really unlucky, it'll be your hideout on fire - (Ivy); or very loud off-key horrible-sounding music will play outside your window all night long (Diego); a lot of the pirates will be on your bad side (Hunter); or you will stumble upon a mysterious contraption with wires and and springs that-well, it won't explode in a fiery sense. It'll explode in a "some mysterious potion from the witches" sense, and you better go wash it off in the sea before you start growing warts or something. Or, depending on the location, it will explode in a fiery sense. Or it'll just destroy your locker. Or your bedroom door. (Carlos)

Or all of the above.

[xempasuchil-love-blog]

Hope (Harry x Uma) one-shot

Summary:  Sometimes the VK’s cannot believe that true love exists. It is something so alien that it sounds like a farce, a story that parents make up to scare. Mal proclaims from the rooftops that she has found it, but her false smile is fooling no one. But when the VK’s see Harry and Uma, they can't help it. They feel hope. They do not know what it is love, no one has taught them, so they cannot name what they see between those two, they only know that it is a bit similar (and so different) to what Auradon calls love.

HOPE

10 years

Uma, daughter of Ursula; and Harry Hook are two of the most unusual children on the Isle of the Lost. The adults know it, and they try not to run into them, because the monsters know no limits. No one respects a good villain anymore these days (most are just old and pretty tired, though the evil hasn't left their dreams and bones), and if you run into the pair of bored kids, you're more than likely to end up being the target of some particularly painful joke. No, thank you very much.

A villain, on one of his good days, can put either of the two children in their place; drag Uma by the braids to her mother's shop (though it would surely end with a good handful of scratches and bites) or lead Hook's son by the ear to the docks (who gives a real hook to a ten-year-old boy, anyway?), but it happens that they are never separated. And together… together they are a true force to fear.

They ravage the isle like a tornado, robbing stores, painting walls and emptying pockets. They spend every stolen penny as innocent as they should be at their age, buying sweets and trinkets, and enjoying them on the deck of the Jolly Roger. (They always share their loot.)

The girls on the isle want to be like Uma (until Mal has a fit of envy, throws a bucket of shrimp at Uma's head and, since everyone is afraid of her mother, they decide they want to be like her), and kids envy Harry's hook.

11 years

A year has passed since the incident, and Uma has not been able to get the shrimp smell out of her braids. Every day for the past year she has gotten up earlier than everyone to earn some soap in the daily supply shipments, but even when she gets it, the smell never goes away. Uma screams and curses Mal in all her rage, because during that year in which Uma's life has taken a nosedive, Mal seems to win everything. She is considered one of the meanest girls on the isle and Maleficent has given her a bit of territory to terrorize; all Uma gets are screams from her mother, the beginning of a severe case of anemia, and the nickname Shrimpy.

But Harry is there for her, her faithful friend. He holds her when her legs buckle from exhaustion, lets her hit him when she's so mad at the smell of her hair that she wants to burn it, and threatens to hook on anyone who dares to call her Shrimpy.

Maybe Uma has gained something: a best friend.

12 years

Harry is about the perfect age to look like Peter Pan, and his sly, cheeky personality causes his father to throw him off the ship for a few months. He won't admit it, but he's scared. The only consolation he has is his hook, and suddenly a wonderful idea occurs to him. His father will want him back when he sees that he has a real hook hand, right? So, he leans over the water and waits for hours for Tick tack to show up. When the crocodile finally starts to close his mouth over his hand, Harry panics, somehow manages to get a punch at him and runs all the way down the dock towards Ursula's shop, his hand dripping with blood because anyway, the crocodile's teeth ripped a bit.

Uma yells at him more than she has ever yelled in her life, even more than with the shrimp, and she is not at all soft when heals his wound. She is beyond angry, she is so furious that she cannot see him in the eye without starting to insult him; she looks so exhausted, and Harry notices that sometimes it is hard for her to breathe, but she gives him a place in her bed (even though they fight at night over the only blanket she has) and steals some of the food from the store for him.

When his father finally lets him go back to the Jolly Roger, Harry promises himself that he will find a way to make Uma's heart beat slower, to erase the daze from her face; so, he struggles and every food he steals, if it is edible, he gives it to her. Uma giggles in his face, cheeky, but in the end, she ends up eating so hungry that it hurts Harry to watch. Still, he looks.

(He can't deny that he cares about her).

13 years.

Uma's heart beats at a normal rate, she has regained her strength and demands that Harry teach her to fight with swords. She's tired of feeling weak and small, so she runs in the morning, she trains with Harry every night, and her arms start to get muscle. Like, real muscle.

She wants to be a pirate, the sea in her blood calls her to have adventures and be free, take whatever she wants and live each day as if it were her last. Harry is not only satisfied with teaching her, he pushes her to the limit until one night she seems to forget everything and the only thing that can be heard on the beach is the thunder of metal colliding with metal, furious, and suddenly Harry is no longer giving blows but stopping them, until he realizes that his sword is lying on the ground and Uma smiles triumphantly, screams with joy and turns on the beach laughing, her arms outstretched and her braids moving in the suffocating sea breeze. Harry could only stare at her in a daze; because he suddenly notices that there is a delicate curve in her waist and her features are more delicate.

Two months later, when Harry walks into the Chip Shoppe one morning, as usual, he can't find Uma anywhere. Without daring to ask Ursula, he sneaks into the tavern and runs up the stairs to where Uma's room is. He worries that she's gotten sick again and hasn't told him, or something like that; he remembers seeing her grumpy for the past week, but what he doesn't expect is to find her curled up in her bed, scared.

"Uma? Are you okay?” Harry asks, and she looks up at him. He is her best friend, she should trust him (even when everything on the Isle is about mistrust, they like to break the rules), right?

But she seems torn between shame and fright. Harry approaches her bed, and she looks away from him as she forces the words out of her lips, even a few angry tears escape because she is not used to being afraid.

"I'm bleeding."

But no matter how hard Harry looks for a wound on her face or arms, he can't find it. So, she seems to want to die of embarrassment and it all fits into Harry's mind, because he remembers Harriet crying the first time it happened. He is relieved to know that Uma is fine, but he is still a thirteen-year-old boy, so his face turns red. He swallows his pride to place a braid behind her ear with his hook, in a gesture that pretends to be affectionate (but he does not know affection, so he does not know if he achieves it very well).

“Don't worry, it's normal. I'll go find Harriet to ask for her help and I'll come back. Right?"

Uma nods without looking him in the eye, and when Harry is about to walk out her bedroom door, he hears her say thank you. Uma has never said thank you or please, so he can't stop a smile from spreading across his face.

That year, no one attends her birthday party (The Sinister Thirteen) because Mal has decided to have her birthday party on the same day. Harry and Gil, Gaston's youngest son, take her to steal some alcohol and get drunk for the first time in their lives.

Uma doesn't want to know why alcohol makes her want to be closer to Harry or what is this strange feeling in her belly that she can only name as needing. She never says anything about it, anyway.

14 years

Harry is upset. He has had to listen to several guys say how hot Uma is, how much they want to kiss her face and that her waist is so provocative. He has been wanting to break faces all week, but he can't do anything, because he reminds himself that he lives on the Isle and that any little weakness he shows can be twisted in the worst way. He reminds himself that he would be putting Uma in danger, because the Isle has a motto: "if you can't have it, break it." They would break her just to amuse themselves with his anger. So, he grits his teeth, squeezes his hook until his fist turns white, and goes on his way.

There is a part of him that doesn't understand why he gets so upset. Uma is one of the most beautiful girls on the Isle, so she is more exposed. But he has heard the same comments about Harriet, Mal, and other girls. He realizes that what bothers him about that is the way they talk about her, as if she were just another girl, when Harry knows that Uma has divine heritage running through her veins.

They should have more respect for goddesses.

For what else could she be, whose laughter sounds like the tempest, whose blue-green braids are like the tide, whose voice can be as sweet as foam and as cruel as a typhoon?

The next time he says her name, he can't help it sounding like a prayer.

15 years

Sometimes Uma wishes Harry would stop flirting with everything that moves. (She's not jealous at all!) But there is something about it that irritates her. It seems like a lie, and although everyone on the isle lies, she doesn't like to see him lying to himself. She can't help but wonder why he does it if his eyes fill with pain as he smiles (and the girls swoon at his feet).

One night, Harry steals his father's alcohol, and they hide on the beach, staring at the sea and cursing Auradon (because they realize their future is having no future) and making fun of Mal and her entire gang, and Uma feels so good to be there with him that she forgets to be cautious and gets drunk.

She is tired. She hates working for her mother, she hates the Isle and she hates lies. She hates secrets. So she, emboldened by alcohol, decides to be honest with herself. She looks at Harry, who seems happy and relaxed, staring up at the sky, always trying to find the Neverland star, and she tells herself that she's sick of this shit: she accepts that she's in love with him.

Uma doesn't try to deny it. She has no patience for such nonsense.

"I want you to be mine," she tells him (it's the closest she can dare to say her feelings), and Harry is so shocked that he accidentally drops the rum bottle, spilling its contents all over the beach. She is claiming him, more or less, and Harry feels incredible satisfaction from that fact.

"I already am," he tells her, all dangerous serenity.

Uma kneels on the sand, impatient, and then sits on Harry's lap with her legs on either side of his hips. Her sense of need returns, but she finds that she feels a little sated if she rubs against him. She likes the way his lips moan and his eyes blur, for her.

Harry kisses her, his lips taste of rum and adventure, just like a pirate should. Just like she always imagined Harry would taste. Afterwards, they look for any excuse to lock themselves in closets and rooms. Lust is common on the isle, but Harry's touch is reverent, and Uma finds the most tender side of her, which is like the sea breeze and calm waves, to caress his lips.

And he does not make her his as a prize, an easy conquest, an object that is used or a simple means to satisfy his needs. When he makes her his, he makes sure Uma knows that he loves her. (He can no longer deny it).

16 years.

Harry and Uma are unusual on the isle. Sure, everyone fears Mal and her gang, so when they are sent to Auradon, basically betray the villains and forget about them, the fear easily turns to hatred and desire of revenge. Uma and her new crew take over Mal’s old territory and, although it is impossible to believe, things improve a bit, because Uma doles out the supplies and the fear that Harry instills keeps the territory, to some extent, safe. The safest thing that can be being the Isle of the Lost.

It is not a secret that Uma hates Mal, it is not a secret that she wants revenge on her. Everyone on the isle knows that now the queen of the place is not a queen part fairy, but a Pirate Queen, everyone knows that she is dangerous, deadly, and that she would not hesitate to cut a neck with her sword.

Sometimes the VK’s cannot believe that true love exists. It is something so alien that it sounds like a farce, a story that parents make up to scare. Mal proclaims from the rooftops that she has found it, but her false smile is fooling no one.

But when the VK’s see Harry and Uma, they can't help it. They feel hope. They do not know what it is love, no one has taught them, so they cannot name what they see between those two, they only know that it is a bit similar (and so different) to what Auradon calls love.

And not even the cruellest dare to break it. It is like seeing a single flower being born in the middle of a field where nothing has ever sprouted, it is like finding an oasis in a desert that stretches across the entire horizon.

Uma smiles at Harry, and he looks at her like she is the world.

Although the swords hang from their hips.

[descendantofthesparrow]

Remember your past life - Prince! Harry Hook x Chosen Knight! Reader - part 8

=

Ben called for a gathering in the front yard of the dorm castle. Uma, Harry, Gil, and (y/n) arrived to see Mal, Jay, Carlos, Evie, and Dude had already arrived.

“so wha’s all this” you turned to see Harriet and CJ walking up, CJ looking curious while Harriet looked bored.

“well,” Ben clapped his hands together, smiling at all of you. “every year the seniors take a trip to a selected kingdom for two weeks to explore it, and this year-”

“hold up” Uma interrupted “CJ ain't a senior” Ben shrugged “she would have stowed away in the car anyway, might as well avoid that” CJ grinned at that, puffing her chest.

continuing Ben said; “so we leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn” Mal's jaw dropped, she hated waking up early.

“Why so early” she whined, pouting at ben, ‘honestly, same’ you thought, dreading getting up that early. even though you did so regularly now.

“where are we even going?” Uma yelled out, Ben smiled.

“Saorsa”

you felt Harry stiffen next to you, Uma asking if he was okay. you...you had heard that name before.

and protect our land of Saorsa, from the dark one

a faint voice echoed in the back of your head, a man, the one you had been hearing for weeks now. ...king...king....the voice faded away, leaving you with another bout of deja vu. sighing you shrugged it off, focusing back on Ben, who was detailing the trip. but it was hard to pay attention, the only thing going through your mind was how familiar that kingdoms name was.

=

That name haunted you, making your insomnia rear its ugly head. Looking back at your clock, which read 3:04 am. Sighing you got up, careful not to wake up Jane.

Maybe a walk will help clear your head.

Walking around the gardens you spotted a figure sitting on a bench staring down at the pond. Walking closer, their head snapped up, whipping around to you. it was Harry, his ocean blue eyes staring right into yours.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, voice raspy with tiredness.

You nodded and carefully took a seat next to him. “meh too” he looked back at the pond, staring at his reflection in the water. “odd question but….did the name of that kingdom...Saorsa...seem” he hesitated, slightly curling in on himself, you leaned forward, staring at the side of his face. “familiar ta yeh?”

You nodded, looking up at the clear sky.

"So it ain't jus’ me?” Harry muttered, smiling slightly at the water.

You lifted an eyebrow at him. 'What about the name felt familiar to him?' you lifted your hands up, Harry glancing over as you did so.

why was it familiar to you? you signed, Harry shrugged.

“Ah dinnae ken,” Harry said, slipping into a thick Scottish tongue “it jus’ seemed so...I don’ know” Harry let his head fall between his shoulders.

“I really don’ know”

You understood what he was trying to say, oddly enough, that itch of familiarity at the back of your head, he must have had it too.

You felt compelled to tell Harry what had been happening to you. so you did.

"dreams-." You spoke softly, startling Harry. He looked up, surprise in his ocean orbs. he hadn't expected you to talk at that moment, but he urged you to go on.

you breathed deeply, hoping your voice would last long enough to get everything out. “i-i keep having...dreams...that seem like..m-mem-memories” you stuttered, willing yourself to continue, your throat was already becoming sore. “as if, I had lived them, and am only just now remembering them,” you muttered, looking at Harry, who was staring at you with wide eyes. “is...have you felt anything similar?” your voice died, out, but Harry heard every single word. he stared at you, silent.

you felt heat rush up your face, brushing a hair behind your ear. nevermind you signed, moving to stand and go back inside and sleep your embarrassment away its stupid

 “no!” Harry yelped, latching onto your arm as you went to walk away. you whipped back around, Ocean blue once more meeting with (e/c), Harry blushed, releasing your arm “i-i know wha’ yeh mean, I’ve been...experiencing that too” he bit his lip, glancing up at you through his lashes. “it-it happened when yeh were fighting with Lonnie, you-you were in this...armor, and you were really, really good at fighting, ending the battle within a minute”

you nodded slowly, letting Harry babble away about this...memory like dream “then...then my dad?” Harry made it sound like a question as if he wasn’t sure “came up and, and said” Harry paused, his eyes shining “that I could stand to be a little more like you, that you had accomplished so much more than me, that you were impressive, that I needed to be better” he spat out bitterly.

you sat down beside him once more, scooting closer and letting your side press into his. you slowly reached out, gripping his grey hoodie. Harry took a shaky breath, smiling slightly at you “thank yeh (y/n)”

You smiled, You're welcome you signed, letting Harry’s hand slide up and slowly intertwine with yours.

The two of you just sat in silence, looking at your reflections in the pond "Wha bout ya?" Harry asked softly after a long silence, turning to look at you, tilting his head. you took a deep breath, you had a couple of memories like dreams but...you felt most comfortable sharing this. releasing Harry's hand, you started to tell harry about what had happened a couple weeks ago.

okay so remember when you were going on about that frog? Harry nodded “aye, the hot-footed one?” you nodded, well, as you were talking all of a sudden I thought please don’t make me eat another frog Harry blinked, “wha’?”

I know you hurriedly signed, let me get to the good part, anyway, so you were looking at flowers and taking pictures of them, I think you were doing research or something, and then you found the frog...and tried to make me eat it Harry burst out laughing, leaning forward.

“oh my god really?! what the fuck!?” you tapped Harry’s shoulders, a grin blooming on your face wait, it gets better Harry, still giggling, wiped his eyes and gestured for you to continue.

then you offered to buy me gourmet meat...and I agreed to eat the damn frog Harry burst out laughing once more, leaning back as he did so.You let out a yelp of surprise as Harry lost his balance and fell back into the grass. looking down, you saw Harry still giggling, his face red.

“oh-oh my god, that’s fucking funny” you slid off the bench, landing on your knees next to Harry “so” Harry snickered, finally catching his breath, looking up into your eyes. “it seems we’re havin’ dreams about each other huh? think it means somthin’?”

you shrugged, looking down at your hands in your lap. “Hey (y/n)?” Harry whispered, you looked at him, he was looking at the stars in the night sky “do yeh think...because that kingdom's name was familiar ta both of us...do yeh think that the answers to what’s been happening to us will be there?”

You stayed silent, unsure to the answer “I don’t know” you finally whispered, voice still horse from under use “I really don’t know harry”

he nodded, slowly sitting up, turning to look at you “it’s fine, well… I’m gonna go ta bed, night”

“night” you watched as Harry walked away, soon blending with the shadows around the dorm building. sitting in silence, looking at the stars, you thought to yourself, about Harry, about the dreams, about the kingdom. and about how each day...Harry was becoming something more than a friend. you sighed, brushing away those thoughts. you stood and made your way back to your room, after all, the class was leaving for the kingdom at dawn.

=

morning came way to fucking quickly, you were packing the little travel bag you had, moving quickly as the bus was leaving in 15 minutes.

Jane started to push you out of the room, you huffed, spinning around her and going at your own pace. stepping out into the hall, you bumped into a tall figure, Harry steadied you, giving you a sleepy smile.

“tired lass?” he asked, giving you his arm and leading you outside to the bus, you nodded, leaning your head on his shoulder “usually I don't wake up till 5” you muttered, your throat already getting used to talking slightly, you glanced at your watch which said 4:30 am

Harry snorted “well that’s half an hour isn’t it?” you shrugged, yawning as Harry led you out to the front yard, where a large limo bus was waiting. Ben had yet to arrive, along with everybody else, so you and Harry stood there for a little while, inching closer to the other for warmth on the chilly fall morning. moments later, Mal arrived being dragged by Evie. Jay, Carlos and Dude following soon after. Ben emerged a minute later, Fairy godmother trotting after him, speaking Frantically.

Ben smiled at you and Harry, nodding and mouthing ‘the bus will be heated’ you sagged into Harry in relief. Harriet and CJ came rushing out of the school, the usual grumpy look on the eldest Hook’s face. and finally. Jane, Audrey, Chad, and King Phillip, arrived, allowing Ben to official start the trip.

“Alright,” Ben said loudly, clapping his hands together to gather everyone's attention “now were gonna be on the bus for about an hour, once we get to the airport, we will be boarding the private jet, which we will be flying for 5 hours. okay?” you nodded, feeling Harry shift his shoulders as he shrugged, longer flight meant more sleep.

“Alright, everyone on board!” ben turned, hopping up the limo bus’ steps, mal going in right after him. soon enough, you all were packed in the bus, you and harry huddled in the back, two seconds away from falling asleep.

Fairy godmother stepped into the bus, talking with ben for a moment before doing a roll call. you sluggishly rose your hand as she called for you, flopping it back down onto Harry's torso. he let out a slight cough, side-eyeing you, you shrugged, burying deeper into his side.

Once everyone was accounted for, FG nodded at ben and the driver, leaving the bus and waving you all goodbye. Jane darling watched from the window, smiling.

a land of memories, waiting to be explored

---end of part 8---

@dpaccione​

thx @marichat4lyf​ for beta reading

[hitchell-mope]

(Third film. After “I’ve gotta be me”. Uma looks around nervously)

Uma: I really hope nobody in there heard that

Ben: nah, don’t worry, I shielded and soundproofed is from them

Uma: surprisingly thoughtful, uhhhh, aheh, at this point I usually call you derogatorily by your last name

Ben: Le Roi. Well legally it’s Bach. But officially it’s Le Roi

Uma: Benjamin. Florian. Le Roi. Do you have any idea how fucking ridiculous that sounds?

Ben: and your last name would be

Uma: Facillier. She doesn’t have a last name

Ben: ah.

Uma: oh. Oh my.

Ben: what’s up? Oh. Yeah he does that.

Uma: s’clever.

Ben: that’s Doug for you

Uma: why am I interested by that

Ben: we’re eighteen. And therefore weak to his power.

(They’re watching Doug eat a bowl of peanuts with just his tongue. Ben snaps out of the stupor first)

Ben: moving swiftly onwards. Hit me

Uma: heh?

Ben: hit me, sock me one, deck me, gimme a knuckle sandwich. Any variations the phrase retains the same meaning. Punch me in the face.

Uma: why?

Ben: I’ve got a theory I wanna test out.

Uma: but aren’t you...

Ben: ...more powerful then you? Yes. So make sure to give it you’re all then. C’mon, cahmon. C’mon, cahmon. HitmehitmehitmehitmehitmeWOOOO

(Uma slogs him around the face do hard he flips horizontally in midair and lands flat on his back right next to where the gazebo was. A full three feet away)

Uma: Z’that what you wanted?

Ben (utterly jubilant): as a matter of fact. Yes

Uma: so now what? Gonna Tell the missus?

Ben: nope. I’m gonna offer you a job.

Uma: ahahah that’s funny. I thought you said you were offering me a job?

Ben: I figure. If you put that much effort punching me. You’ll put the same effort into protecting me.

Uma: n-no, no, you’re not supposed to do that. You’re supposed to hate me. I had you kidnapped. I almost had you thrown to sharks. I hypnotised you. I almost capsized your stinking yacht. And you wanna give me the job of protecting you? Who the fuck does that?!?! For all you know I could do that again?

Ben: now why would you do that when our interests align? Besides the fact that I forgive you. I want to get kids off the island. You want to get kids off the island. What better way to do that then by working together? And yeah. You could probably do that again. But I’m willing to take that chance.

Uma (as Ben’s saying all this, and devolving into tears): no, no, shut up I your forgiveness that’s not how it’s supposed to go you’re supposed to hate just like I hate her will you SHUT UP

Ben: ooh. (Through a Cheshire Cat grin) Finally

(She’s skewered Ben in the stomach with her sword. He smiles, bends the blade in half, pulls it out of him and throws it upwards. He leaps up ten foot in the air and gives it a flying kick, shattering it into a chunky powder. He lands next to Uma, conjures an umbrella, pulls her close and lifts the umbrella over them just as the powder lands on their heads. In response she blasts him away with magic. What follows is a very violent, very acrobatic duel that trashes the garden, obliterates what’s left of the gazebo and Harry, gives Uma a broken arm, Ben a broken nose and leaves both of them missing a foot each. As a form of foreshadowing, throughout the entire fight the instrumental for “superhero” plays)

Uma: god I hope you’re happy

Ben: I am actually. Cause now I know I’m right

Uma: what?

Ben: we are both almost perfectly evenly matched. My twelve months of sheer power with your eighteen years of practice and look what we managed to do?

Uma: give your future sister in law a coronary?

Ben: fight to a stalemate. Please? For six months. You’ll get paid to yell at people and beat them up if necessary

Uma:...no

(This is when “superhero” happens. After the song Ben starts fixing the garden)

Uma: ok then. Let’s say I did take the job? Wouldn’t one of your own be more trustworthy?

Ben: Jane’s still in school. Lonnie’s going off to college with Gil next year and she was only filling in for the summer anyway. And Doug’s my major-domo. So can’t choose them even if I wanted to.

Uma: and the other three?

Ben: conflict of interest. Carlos is legally my son and he’s also still in school. Mals my fiancé and Evie’s her sister. So again. No go.

Uma: couldn’t you...

Ben: duplicate myself and have him as my bodyguard? I could. But then I’d be breaking my promise to my mother

Uma: huh?

Ben: she was ok with me having magic so long as I legitimately practiced it, didn’t use it for schoolwork, didn’t use it for paperwork, didn’t use it for personal gain, and it didn’t give my subjects cause to worry. For a year at least

Uma: personal gains the best part of magic though

Ben: last time a king used the power he’d been afforded for personal gain...well. You grew up in the result so telling you wouldn’t achieve anything

Uma: oh. But...

Ben: I could use my magic to quicken the relocation? Like I said. Paperwork, personal gain, worrying the subjects. It’s definitely something that needs to happen. But I’m not taking shortcuts because it needs to be done properly and through the correct channels.

Uma: well that’s bullshit. Wait. What was all that fighting singy thing for then?

Ben: loophole

Uma (snickering): oh beasty boy you are perfect

Ben: why thank you kindly captain

Uma (flatly): Don’t push it

Ben: ok, ok

Uma: I’m serious though. The best part about magic is that you can do anything you want

(This is when “everything is not what it seems” happens. After the song they go back into the house to find it in chaos. Doug has Cj in a full Nelson with her head near the lit stove. Elsa’s downing an entire bottle of sambuca. Evie’s preventing Harriet and Hades from trying to patch up Harry. Mal has stuck Hadie to the sofa so he can’t help Harry. Jane’s drunkenly yelling about how much she loves her friends. Carlos is on Jay’s back, Celia and Dizzy are hanging off Jay’s arms and all four are chanting “kill her” at Doug. Lonnie’s eating a sloppy joe omelette and watching the events unfold intently. Gil is swirling round a smoothie. He notices them first)

Gil: oh you’re back. Finally. D’you wanna...?

Ben: yeah. Um...ooh. Yes that’s it. Uma. Take half of this sceptre and follow my lead

(He snaps his own, collapsible sceptre in half, hands one of those halves to Uma, jumps onto the kitchen island, helps Uma up and together they spin each half until they make a high pitched screeching sound that makes the chaos stop)

Ben: could all my friends please come over to my side

Uma: alright you useless fuckers, SIDDOWN!!!!

Ben: now, what happened

Uma: yeah ceej, what did you do?

Cj: why do you assume I did anything when it was clearly this heterosexual imbecile

Uma: cause I know you kid, since you were five in fact, so I know it was probably your doing

Ben: what happened Doug?

Doug: she insulted Evie and I in our own house, belittled our relationship and tried to stab me in the head with a rotisserie blade. And I f that wasn’t bad enough

Evie: she called me a traitor and slapped me around the face

Doug: and that is how the situation you walked in on transpired.

Cj: bald faced lies

Uma: eh I believe it. What about you beasty boy?

Ben: sounds airtight

Cj: I cannot and refuse to believe that

Uma: that I believe him over you? Well get used to kiddo. Ya just like Harry, no matter how much ya try to deny it

Ben: one question tbough. How are you a traitor

Mal: oooh yeah, you dunno do you? It’s ugly. Just like every Hook in existence

Evie: if everyone must know. When I was fourteen she flirted with me. And I turned her down

Cj: her mother braINWASHED HER

Everyone except for her siblings: shut up!

Evie: I turned her down. Because. A. I’m straight. And. B. Even if I wasn’t, I have higher standards then filthy pirates

Ben: were you rude?

Evie: pardon?

Ben: were you rude? Sometimes you can be a little bit rude.

Evie: if I remember correctly my exact words were “I’m very sorry but my gang sent me on a mission so I must go”

Ben: that was very polite

Evie: thank you. Plus. I even withheld the information from Grimhilde cause I know she wouldn’t take it well.

Cj: What has that got to do with anything?

Evie: Quinn Harts

(The room seems to grow colder as hades and the Vks, including the hooks, all look at each other uneasily)

Cj: oh. So it’s not because you’re

Evie: homophobic? God no. It was incompatible orientation pure and simple.

Cj (chuckling nervously now because the eggs on her face): but you see I thought

Doug: all straight people are jackasses? Quite a few are. But Evie and I aren’t. If we’re being wholly honest. Your sexuality is literally the only thing I respect about you. If you weren’t a pirate I might’ve even introduced you to my cousin Sadie. But you’re an asshole. So I won’t

Ben: good to hear that’s all cleared up

Evie: we are as well. Now. You three. Get the fuck out of my house. You stray bitches have been here too long. I’m sure there’s a nice posture ruining rock outside for you to sleep on

Harriet: we’re family

Hadie: actually. No. You and straw girl aren’t our family. Harry is. But not you.

Evie: nah. He can piss off too. I’m still waiting for a dna test. Until then. He can rot from the inside for all I care.

Mal: even when the test is confirmed he can still rot. (Uma scowls at her) What? It’ll be funny

Elsa: Jay. C’mere. Would it be completely out of the question for you to replicate your previous spell.

Jay: uhhhh....No. But I’d need a living conduit. Like a performer.

Hadie: I’ll do it. The party’s dying and that won’t do. What? I’m a disciple of Dionysus. Partying is literally my job description.

Elsa: as well as loose morals.

Hadie: harsh much?

Jay: she means you sleeping around with any dude that looks at you nicely. Ready

Hadie: fire away

Jay: To get rid of these ants in their pants/I command thee all to get up and dance. Again

(This is when “shut up and raise your glass” happens. After the song everyone but Hadie, Jayand Elsa looks very disgruntled)

Mal: seriously? Again? That’s like twice in one hour

Jay: had to be done. And it’s of my professional opinion that every time you guys get uppity I’m gonna help instigate an impromptu rave

Ben: well it worked. And it was funny. So two birds one stone. Now. I believe Doug and Evie asked you three to leave

Harriet: ya cannae do that man. Ya don’t have the authority

Doug: ok then. Get out of our house. NOW!

Harry: no I. I don’t think we will.

Celia: get out. Or I’ll throw you out.

Cj: you and what army?

Celia: this one

(Here is glow fuchsia and the wall is washed down in shadows)

Harriet: d’ya really think I’m scared of a little girl like you?

Ben: to hell with this. May I?

Doug: please

Ben: thank you. (He jumps off the kitchen island, lifts Harriet off the ground by her coat collar with one hand, morphs his face into that of a beast and screams in her face) GET OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!

(There’s a moment of deathly quiet. Harriet whimpers. There’s a sound like a leaky faucet. And Ben morphs back to his human face which now bears a look of disgust)

Ben: did you just...?

Harriet: it’s been a really stressful day with no let up

Ben: uh-huh. (He drops Harriet on the floor and turns to his brother) Gil, buddy, uh

Gil (stony faced): burn the shoes then burn them again then throw them out.

Ben: on it

(He poofs out. Celia turn to Doug and Evie)

Celia: my turn?

Evie: yup. But don’t break the glass

Celia: perfect (she grabs Harriet by the back of her coat) out ya go rummy. (She throws her towards the window making her dissipate into shadow before contact). I’ve wanted to do this for years (she slaps Harry around the face, he too turns into shadow) buh bye you fatuous egotist (she pulls Cj’s hair and the final pirate disappears into smoke) that felt good

Uma: where did you put them?

Celia: eh don’t worry. I put them in the nautilus. Now. Shall we crack on with the party?

Everyone but Uma: HEAR HEAR

(Mal inches over to Jane and Lonnie)

Mal: what do you say we get some air for a while

(They nod and two minutes later they’re all on the bench laughing their asses off about certain unsavoury topics)

Lonnie (crying due to laughter but still trying to speak): all I’m saying is going to my grans seventieth in my ROAR uniform is nothing compared to you and Ben and his you know what

Mal (in the same state as Lonnie): its still pretty damn funny though

Jane: my mother should be here

(The other two stop laughing)

Mal: I know hon

Jane: but if she were here she’d complain. “Leave room for Jesus”. “Time for the lobster quadrille”. “I know you can now but you shouldn’t drink when you have guests”. The only ones I wanted to invite are here. Plus the four stooges. And she didn’t even show up to the party she made me have!

Lonnie: oooh please can I call the squid a stooge M? Pretty please with merlot on top?

Mal: you shouldn’t really be calling her a squid or a stooge. But if you do. Ok not responsible for what happens to ya.

Lonnie: fine.

Mal: now Janey. What say you we try and get all these annoyances out huh?

Jane: errrr...I’m game if you are.

Mal: perfect. (She gets up, goes to the midpoint between the bench and the gazebo and magically constructs a model version of Verna) now. What do you wanna say to her?

Jane: I ha...I can’t. I can’t. I’m sorry.

Mal: it’s ok bud.

Lonnie: could uh could music help? Possibly?

Jane: it might. I dunno.

Mal: shall we try it?

Jane: yes. And uh. You can vent too, I mean, if you want.

Lonnie and Mal: well alright then

(Mal clicks her fingers, a copy of Maleficent and Fa Li appear and music starts up. This is when “you don’t own me happens”. After the song they look and feel better. That’s when they hear Evie scream a profanity and a slap rings out from the kitchen)

Mal (heaving a heavy sigh): and once again. Chaos reigns supreme.

Lonnie: I’ll stay with Jane. You go.

Mal: I’ll send Hadie out to keep you company

(She goes back inside just in time for Evie to stalk past her. Hades is on the floor with a slightly shocked expression, a handprint on his face and he’s apologising profusely to Doug)

Mal: you got it down here? (Doug nods). Good. I’ll go kick her head into gear.

(She heads upstairs. Doug turns to back to Hades)

Hades: I’m so sorry my boy, I was just trying to help, if I caused——

Doug: yeah, no, my opinion of you doesn’t matter. Only Evie’s does. I want to ask you a question.

Ben: uh. Doug. Can I eat what’s left in the freezer? Only I can smell somethings about to go out of date

Doug: yeah sure. There only meat products in it. Go crazy. But please please mute the chewing.

Ben (brightly): thank you!

Hades: what is it you want to know

Doug: Maleficent

(Up in the guest room. Evie enters in a huff and slams the door to show Mal hiding behind it)

Mal (sardonically imitating a British accent): hello Harold (Evie screams in surprise) we need to talk

Evie (fed up): what? What now? What could we possibly have to talk about?

Mal: what I thought you got over earlier toady

Evie (cackles hollowly): THAT? That! Was a fluke. And then he tried to “help” me by getting in my way

Mal: has it maybe occurred to you that he actually WAS trying to help?

Evie: if he really wanted to help then he wouldn’t have abandoned me with Grimhilde sixteen years ago

Mal: oh Christ. You know why he did that

Evie: I know why he did it but it still hurt though. He could’ve taken me with him. He could’ve taken us with him

Mal: they wouldve hunted us down and made him watch as they killed us. Or worse

Evie: that doesn’t make me feel any better

Mal (in what she hopes is a comforting voice): look on the bright side. You got me as a sister. That’s gotta count for something, right?

Evie: no, not really.

Mal: urrrrgh. Would me making a fool of myself help you feel less of a loser?

Evie:...mayhaps

Mal: fine. Remember back before graduation we got paired up for the senior class showcase because verna wouldn’t let you and Doug dirty dance?

Evie: yeah

Mal: Bea Arthur or Bette Midler?

Evie (chuckling slightly): surprise me

(Mal clicks her fingers, they’re transported to a music hall stage with an invisible audience and the song starts up. This is when “sisters” happens. After the song Evie looks briefly empowered. Then deflates and flops onto the bed face first. Mal chuckles at this)

Mal: uh. Sis. Your remember that apart from being the guest room, this is Lonnie and Gil’s room as well, right?

Evie (in a muffled tone of voice): what’s your point?

Mal: well besides both being very sweet they’re also a pair of incorrigible gym rats who always forget to clean up the bed before they leave for home. So it wouldn’t be entirely out of the realm of possibility that there’s still a certain amount of used up gym wear under the covers you’re currently laying on...

(Evie’s eyes snap open cartoonishly, she screams, jumps up from the bed, makes claw hands at Mal in an attempt to throttle her, flails at the window, then looks down at her clothes and screams again. Throughout all this Mal is calmly amused, silently watching her sister crisis. When she’s had enough she grabs Evie by the arm and hurls her into the en-suite. Evie re-emerges two seconds later in new clothes and a cloudy expression)

Mal: lemme guess. Doug make that sweater?.

Evie: of course. I can sew. Doug can knit.

Mal: mmkay. Now are you going to get over yourself and let go of this ridiculous grudge you have against our father?

Evie: you just don’t get it do you?

Mal: probably not so enlighten me

Evie: this isn’t something I’m gonna get over in a day. This isn’t mamma Mia. I found out who my father was in the middle of a crappy day with even more crappy events piled on it. The man I love was put in a coma. My daughter was missing for most of the day. Ive had to fight for my life at least twice. I’ve had no time to process any of this. And you’re expecting me to get over this massive family reveal instantaneously? No. Something like this will take a lot longer then a day to get over. He abandoned me. I understand why he did it. But it still hurts. And as much as you say that you’re not like me. You have to understand that I’m not like you either. I’m angry. I’m angry he could’ve been there for me and wasn’t. And that anger’s not gonna go away any time soon. Either accept that or get out of my face

Mal: ahhhh. Ok. Now I understand. Katara

Evie: what?

Mal: you’re acting like katara. She was mad that her dad went off to war because she was a kid who needed him but felt like she couldn’t be because the reason for him leaving was noble. Dad let us go to save our lives. So you feel pissed that he left us. But you also feel like you can’t be cause of the REASON he left. It’s ahh, it’s a dilemma for sure

Evie: that’s not a dilemma. A dilemma is deciding between chicken and fish at your wedding. This is an impasse

Mal: mhmm, mhmm, uh huh. You know what would help.

Evie: what?

Mal: talking to him. And I mean not just calling him a rat bastard abandoner. Actually talk to him.

Evie: it’s not that easy M. Not when you were raised by Grimhilde. Not when every time you try to talk something out your met with scorn.

Mal: ohhhh. So that’s where “when in doubt, don’t” came from.

Evie: yup.

Mal: you were the good child. The golden daughter. You never misbehaved and you never spoke up for yourself. And now it come back to use your posterior as an entree.

Evie: yup. So you understand why it’s difficult for me. I can’t. I just can’t. Not after how my upbringing went.

(This is when “here I am” happens. After the song Evie confronts Hades in the kitchen just as he’s finishing his talk with Doug)

Hade:...I’m sorry my boy that’s all I know. Hello dear

Evie: I’m mad at you. I’m always gonna be mad at you. But. I don’t hate you. If I’m being honest, to protect Dizzy, I would’ve done the same. But it’s going to take time for me to...accept you.

Hades: I understand

Hadie: per...perhaps it would help if she saw it. The uh...incident in question, pops, maybe she’d understand a bit more if she saw what happened?

Evie: what, what incident

Mal (who’s been listening in): when he made the decision to stop contacting us.

Hades: I’m going to need a wand. And...A hat.

(Mal takes the sceptre, shrinks it down so it resembles a wand, ignores Uma’s incensed expression and hands it to her father while Hadie hands him his top hat. Hades sticks the wand handle in his right ear up to the emitter, to the teenagers collective disgust, roots around for a minute, then pulls out what looks like ash grey smoke tinged with midnight blue and pours it all into the top hat)

Hades: there you go. Just put the hat on the floor and spin

Doug (taking the hat): thanks. I think.

Mal: that looks worse then the hair ball Dude coughed up at his birthday party last month

Doug: how can...

Mal: don’t ask

Doug: ready

Evie: I guess

(In devies room. They’re sitting in the footlocker at the bottom of they’re bed)

Doug: now remember. No ones pressuring you into anything. You can stop any time

Evie: you’re very sweet. But I need to do this.

Doug: well ok then

(He sets the hat on the floor and spins. It goes faster and faster until it’s a blur. Light fills the room and replaces it with an alleyway on the island. They see Hades in his John Barrowman guise arguing with Grimhilde. He obviously loses since he gets a horrified expression on his face and leaves as Grimhilde smirks. There’s no sign of Evie. In Hades’s lair)

Anastasia: it couldn’t have been that bad

Hades (now Sebastian Stan): they both said the same thing. Iris and Hestia will be imperilled if I remain in contact. I have no choice. Please Antoine. For me

Facilier (wearily): only if you’re sure

Hades: yes. It doesn’t matter about me. Do it. Now.

(In the foyer)

Doug: are you ok?

Evie: no. But I want to keep watching

Doug: as you wish

(Anastasia pours Hades a drink and Facillier gets started. This is when “losing your memory” happens)

[atasteforsuicidal]

wip wednesday #9

and another descendants one, because why not?

When she finally dares to touch his face, cupping his cheek in her palm and guiding him up to face her properly, he flinches away from her touch, then flinches again as he seems to force himself back into it, his eyes squeezed shut in anticipation she doesn’t quite comprehend.

Rather, that she doesn’t want to comprehend. If she lets herself think about it, it’s easy to remember the violence she bore witness to on the Isle. She knew better than to hope her children would have survived the Isle unscathed.

“Harry,” she says, “Please open your eyes. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Slowly, he does just that, and Zarina can’t help but gasp. This close, there’s no mistaking that Harry has his father’s eyes, and her heart aches with longing. For all their problems, for all the lies and betrayal at the start of their story, she truly had loved James, even more the second time around, when he came back to her on that damn island and vowed to protect her, to love her - and meant it.

“I want tae hate yeh,” Harry admits all of a sudden, eyes boring into hers, and Zarina can feel tears welling up in her own. She knows she wouldn’t blame him if he decided to feel that way, but she doesn’t want him to. “Harriet said he wasn’ as angry when ya were there,” he continues, and the look in his eyes shifts, goes distant and blank, and she shivers as a chill runs down her spine, “Always thought she was jus’ too young t’ see it. He ain’t never loved nothin’ else in his miserable life, so why would he’a loved you?”

With the wall still at his back, Harry has to push her away to get free, but he’s relieved when she relents without much force. As angry as he is, there’s still a part of him that doesn’t want to hurt her, that wants to make her want him the way his father never did, but that part can’t seem to get control of his mouth.

“Yeh obviously never loved ‘im,” he spits, “‘Cos even if yeh coulda brought me an’ Harriet over, he never woulda been able t’ leave the Isle. Yeh left anyway.” He frowns, and Zarina feels her cheeks burning with shame because he isn’t wrong. “I coulda never left if Uma was still there. Or Gil. Or any’a the others. The only reason I’m ‘ere without Harriet is ‘cos she forced me int’ the damn car herself.”

[askauradonprep]

For the wrestling AU - who would you all say is the greatest wrestler of all time?

* Obligatory disclaimed that any mentions of a wrestler refer to their in-character personas and should not be read as an endorsement of anything they’ve said or done IRL.

Mal: Oh, wow - that’s a good question. I’m going to say The Undertaker. He’s done so much and been in so many iconic moments over the years, it’s gotta be him right? I mean, he’s been wrestling for like 30 years so. He’s gotta be good at something, right?

Uma: I’m gonna say Chyna. First woman in the rumble, first to win men’s championships in the WWE, and all of that when she was in the strip match filled wasteland that was the Attitude Era? Respect. Chyna was an OG.

Freddie: I was gonna say ‘Taker too. He’s been there for a long time and he’s one of the scariest men to ever step foot in that ring. I definitely loved watching him whenever we could get WWE on the Auradon News Network. 

Celia: I think it was Undertaker too. He’s always been my favourite wrestler and he’s won like a million championships. And he always comes back! I was so sad when I thought he wouldn’t after Mania 33, but he did. 

Jay: Wow, that’s a tough one. I’m gonna say either Stone Cold Steve Austin or Bret Hart. They kinda made wrestling in the 90s y’know? And Bret Hart’s a good leader. I love watching Stone Cold do something dumb that you know he’s gonna get arrested for, but I also love watching Bret Hart. He retired without injuring anybody you know? I wish I could do that. Best there was, best there is, best there ever will be, right? I think I have to give it to Bret Hart just for that one.

Evie: Who IS the greatest or can I say who WILL BE the greatest when her career is over? Because I definitely think it WILL be Charlotte Flair when she’s done. She’s only just started a few years ago and she’s already done so much! Matches of the Year, a pay per view win streak, 10 championships - what more could a girl want? Until she finishes though, I’m going to say it’s Ric Flair. He’s one of the most iconic wrestlers in the world and he was crucial in building our industry. I don’t think wrestling would be as big as it is without him. Yeah, I know, big Flair fan here. Woo! *giggles*

Carlos: Mark Henry! Man, c’mon. He’s the World’s Strongest Man. He might not have a bunch of titles, but you know when he walks in whoever he fights is in trouble. He’s funny too! Every time he starts making jokes, I crack up. I love Mark Henry.

Harry: Besides me? Tch! It’s Shawn Michaels. Everybody knows that. He’s one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and probably the biggest from forever ago.

Jay: Why am I not surprised that when I say Bret Hart, you say Shawn Michaels?

Harry: Because I have good taste?

Jay: Sure. That’s it.

Gil: Um, I’m gonna say Mark Henry, because he’s one of my favourites. He’s really strong and he’s really funny. 

Ben: I’m going to say Bret Hart too. Not just because he’s one of my favourites, but because he worked really hard at being a wrestler his entire career. He only missed one show he was booked for, he never hurt anybody, and he just cares a lot about the business. Which, I guess is why he’s one of my favourites. What can I say? I like the Harts. Bruno Sanmartino would be a great case too.

Chad: Uh, Triple H? Hello? Nothing else would have happened without him. He was the leader of D-Generation-X, he created NXT which is where everyone else came from. We’re all just waiting for him to take over, admit it.

Lonnie: I was going to say ‘I hope we haven’t met them yet’ because, really, wrestling would be pretty boring if we’d already seen the greatest wrestler who’ll ever exist. But...I think I know who I want to pick now. Her ring name was Minerva, and she was the first World Women’s Champion back in the 1890s. That was before there was even a MEN’S world championship. We didn’t get that until 1905! I can’t imagine a wrestling industry without world championships, can you? And she really hasn’t gotten the credit she deserves for that. Everyone thinks it started with Mildred Burke, but that’s not true. Every wrestler out there should know Minerva’s name but we don’t. We really don’t and I think that’s sad. She deserves so much better for her legacy. If I had my way, we’d have her name and her face everywhere - like the Minerva Memorial Battle Royale at Wrestlemania? We should know her. So that’s who I’m voting for.

Jane: Oh! Uh, I don’t know who I’d pick really. Maybe Sara Del Ray?

Chad: Who, the trainer lady?

Jane: Yeah! ‘Cause she trained most of the new wrestlers at WWE and stuff. I think she deserves credit for that. That’s lots of good wrestlers she helped forward. That’s a lot for the industry, y’know?

Audrey: I think it’s The Rock. Everybody knows who he is, even outside of wrestling. Everything he ever said made money for the industry and got attention for it. It’s definitely The Rock.

Jordan: The Miz. I mean, come on, that guy’s great. He’s been a solid main event level talent for 10 years, set records for his title numbers, he’s just a really solid wrestler all around and he’s done it for forever. I’m a Shawn Michaels girl too though so if he wins, I wouldn’t complain.

Ally: Lita. She was the coolest woman on tv for the Attitude Era and I think she’s still been incredible. She’s important for every girl who watches wrestling. And she’s a lot of fun to watch.

CJ: Kairi Sane. ...What? Oh was I supposed to say more? Well, she’s one of the only two wrestlers I care about watching so I guess that says it all, huh? 

Aziz: I mean, Kurt Angle’s an Olympian? And he came back from breaking his neck twice. You gotta give him props for that. And he’s one of the most decorated and he’s in TWO halls of fame. WWE and TNA. So, I’m gonna say Kurt Angle.

Herkie: Kurt Angle is great, but I’m gonna say Shinsuke Nakamura. That guy is so talented and I can’t understand why anyone would waste him. His stuff in New Japan? In NXT even? Absolute legend. 

Maddy: Ric Flair. He’s one of the most talented heels ever. The dirtiest player in the game. I respect that. 

Ginny: Well, I’d say it’s Randy Savage. He was a savage in the ring and on the mic. What more can you ask for? 

Harriet: I’d argue it’s Batista. He’s one of the most decorated champs and the longest reigning World Champ. And what can I say? I can relate to living somewhere rough when you were younger and the ego kind of reminds me of certain children I know.

Harry: Who?

Harriet: ...You’ll figure it out. 

Ruby: Well, I think it’s Rey Mysterio. He’s definitely one of the greatest wrestlers of all time anyways. If not for everything he’s done in the ring, then for all the great wrestlers he’s inspired - both as lucha wrestlers and as aerialists. He’s the greatest high flyer in the world. 

Anxelin: I want to say Eddie Guerrero. He was incredibly talented and would do anything it took. He was resourceful and crafty and I’ve always tried to be like that in the ring. I’m generally so straight laced that I know how hard it can be to act like that, so I have a lot of respect for Mr. Guerrero. And, well...him and Rey Mysterio were friends. Ruby is my sister. I would be lying if I said I didn’t see something in that connection. 

Yi-Min: I am not familiar with most of the wrestlers my colleagues on the roster have mentioned. From the promotions I am familiar with, I believe it is Ho Ho Lun. He is extremely talented and if he ever comes to America for a longer period of time, I believe he would become extremely popular and successful. 

Arabella: Jeff Hardy. He’s always been the cooler Hardy brother, wrestling wise in my opinion. He’s not afraid of anything. He’ll mess everybody up. So I’ve gotta say Jeff Hardy. 

Vote Tally

Undertaker: 3 (Mal, Freddie, Celia)

Chyna: 1 (Uma)

Bret Hart: 2 (Jay and Ben)

Ric Flair: 2 (Evie and Maddy)

Mark Henry: 2 (Carlos and Gil)

Shawn Michaels: 1 (Harry)

Triple H: 1 (Chad)

Minerva: 1 (Lonnie)

Sara Del Ray: 1 (Jane)

The Miz: 1 (Jordan)

Lita: 1 (Ally)

The Rock: 1 (Audrey)

Kairi: 1 (CJ). 

Kurt Angle: 1 (Aziz)

Shinsuke Nakamura: 1 (Herkie)

Randy Savage: 1 (Ginny)

Batista: 1 (Harriet)

Rey Mysterio: 1 (Ruby)

Eddie Guerrero: 1 (Anxelin)

Ho Ho Lun: 1 (Yi-Min)

Jeff Hardy: 1 (Arabella)

Mal: Ha! Told you guys it was Taker. 

Freddie: We didn’t need to be told, but yeah. Yeah, it is.

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Winner’s Curse Ch. 8

CJ stalked the cold, gloomy alleyways that lined the street to the docks with a brazen whistle and jaunty step. A proverbial sore thumb compared to the adults and small Vks who scurried about with shuffling steps using the shadows as cover from the watchful eyes of the Coven.

“As if they would care about the doings of cowards and sidekicks.” CJ thought to herself. She had only been back in the Isle for a few days, possibly weeks, time was never a sure thing for CJ, and she had pieced together a little of what had happened when she was gone.

Some big name villains had gotten their magic back and were ruling the Isle with an iron fist, no one was allowed to do anything without their permission, children and sidekicks were punching bags for others, some sort of new hierarchy, etc.

CJ didn’t particularly care. She wasn’t going to stay here for long anyway. She was meant to live on the high seas and after seeing all the booty that she could plunder from places like Camelot Heights and Charmington, she had a growing desire to return to Auradon. A land filled with gold and magic and all sorts of princess to scare and seduce unlike this island of delusional madpeople.

And she was going to plunder and steal on the Seven Seas on the Jolly Roger. Her birthright.

Just as the golden compass that she took from its’ hidden, crocodile-ridden vault on Neverland that used to belong to the once glorious Captain James Hook, that Jolly Roger was another piece of her great legacy. It would aid her in her acts of treachery and it would be a sign to all her future enemies that her scourge was coming. iT would strike fear into their hearts even before they saw a glimpse of her.

She wanted to be the most vile, bloodiest pirate that ever lived. More dangerous than her father, more wanted than Calico Jack, people would say Blackbeard was the male CJ Hook. She was dangerous in her own right despite what these idiots on the Isle thought. She was always third. Behind Harriet even though Harriet hardly did anything but keep up the Jolly Roger and occasionally entered a bar brawl, and behind Harry who was practically Uma’s whipping boy.

Voluntarily Uma’s whipping boy and first mate. It was disgusting.

When she was young she had envied and idolized her brother for his fierceness and the hook he used to slash people’s throats for daring to not follow his orders. But ever since he fell for Uma and pledged his life to serve her, she lost her respect for him. Why be a first mate when you could be a leader and take the best share of booty for yourself.

It was a universal rule not to fall for anyone on the Isle. It made you dependent and weak. Yet Harry was clearly hook over his head devoted to Uma and that seemed to make him stronger. Harry fought like an untamed animal with Uma by his side whenever someone treaded on their turf or insulted their gang. People feared him more now than ever, not daring to speak a bad word about Uma or him. They said he was insane. They said he killed for fun, a true sadist.

She hijacked her way to Auradon, she stole a whole roomful of treasure, she’s been living the good life on the seas without a tie to anyone, a leader unto herself. And she was still second-place to Harry, a pirate who was no leader, just a first mate.

It was just like that when they were kids. Her father treated Harriet more or less with respect or left her alone since she took care of things when he was off drinking until he could see and defeat his hallucinations of Peter Pan. He more or less ignored Harry seeing too much of himself in the boy, seeing his failure in the future. Her, she was his favorite, she knew that. Sure, he didn’t like it when she talked to him, he wasn’t a fan of kids talking or kids in general, but he would treat her mildly better like teaching her the proper way to stab someone. But it was clear that he had no hopes for her to grow into her pirate legacy or any of her capabilities. 

Apparently, he thought her siblings had more raw skill and she had too much of his obsessiveness.

Fine, he was right she was obsessed. Obsessed with treasure, with being a pirate, with being great. She was going to get her own treasure. Steal it from her own father. Like a true treacherous pirate.

He would hate her.

Good, she hated him.

Hook was a greedy man. Wouldn’t be such a fearsome pirate otherwise. He refused to give up any of his possessions to his children. They hadn’t “earned” it. Or as he usually yelled at them, “You’re supposed to be fucking pirates! Get your own treasure!” That declaration led to the bitterest resentment in her piled near the times he forgot her existence in favor of talking to her siblings, doubting her, agreeing with the rest of the Isle. Placing her fourth behind the rest of the family.

She would prove them all wrong, and make them pay.

Her angry thoughts echoed with her pounding footsteps as she kicked the hollow wooden wall behind Madame Medusa’s casino that had formerly been the diamond plunder’s basement, now Lady Caine’s lair.

CJ would have liked to make a dramatic entrance, much like the one she did at the Auradonians silly Neon Lights Ball  but she sadly didn’t not see any vines or ropes to swing from so she settled for bounding down the stairs and brandishing a sword.

Brandishing her sword in a dark, empty room apparently, the only light coming from a small window.

The basement was much larger than she thought basements were supposed to be until she realized she was in a small entrance room and she had to go through another door. The door led through a stone hallways, it’s only light coming from the cracks of the wooden ceiling which CJ figured must be the floor of the casino. Some stones had been chipped and the place reeked with mildew and dust but it was also decorated to intimidate.

There were blood splatters and spare limb joints wedged in corners of the walls, rusty swords bent with decay that had been stuck to the wall and unable to be removed. Posters buxom female pirates and males with broad chests holding knives in their mouths were crudely tacked up alongside “Wanted” signs of Lady Caine’s gang.

CJ recognized some of the pirates from the stories Harriet used to tell. The heartless Blackbeard, the infamous Davy Jones, and CJ’s favorites, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, Grace O’Malley, Ching Shih..

“Hmmm I like her too.” A female voice purred, sidling up to her side. It took most of CJ’s composure not to jump at the sudden presence of whom she instinctively knew to be Lady Caine and forced herself to smooth her face into a wicked grin as she faced the self-proclaimed “Queen of Thieves.” 

The older pirate was a bit shorter than her, reaching to her nose but that didn’t lessen her intimidating presence. In fact it just made CJ even more on guard knowing that it was likely Lady Caine would find a sneaky advantage like hitting her in the crotch or some other unprecedented move using the dagger at her belt. 

The rest of her body was less intimidating since toll of the Isle showed. She was skinnier than CJ so it made her corset look like it was hanging limply from her body rather than pushing up ‘the goods.’ Her hair was limp too, and straggly from lack of clean water and constant sea mist.There was an uneven spread of muscles on her arms tempered with some new and healed-over scars, one that even went through her skull and roses tattoo on her right shoulder. Her left leg was clearly injured since she favored to lean on her right and CJ could see the spread of blood seeping through her tent-canvas pants. The one piece of jewelry, a skull necklace was cracked and rusting over making it look more like a demented clown. 

What really brought the scare factor was Lady Caine’s face. Her mouth was set into an unnerving casual smirk. The kind that implied she was the type of person to arrange for someone ‘to swim with the fishes’ simply because she needed something to do to fill her time. Yet her smile didn’t reach to her eyes. No, her eyes were too guarded, menacing, immediately telling CJ that if she tried to double cross her, than Lady Caine would return the favor. Ten-fold. 

“Yes, she has quite the treasure chest.” CJ commented. 

“Heh, I meant I wouldn’t mind taking over her nine hundred squadron fleet to raise a little hell,” Lady Caine raised an eyebrow, her brown and shoddily red-dyed bangs brushed against CJ’s cheek as the older women got into her personal space. “But I can share your admiration for her figure too. Would she be any competition for that voodoo sorceress you’ve been with?”

CJ forced herself to breath normally through her mouth despite her sudden wildly thumping heart. Unexpected and unwelcome memories filled her mind, pushing the faded poster of Ching Shih away. 

Freddie’s dark lips, stained with purple berries that brought out the highlights of her kelp green eyes. Those same lips who created enticing and persuasive arguments with her ‘velvety’ voice coaxing new sounds out of her as they glided across her body. 

Her nimble hands easily able to pickpocket and grope with none the wiser than she, but CJ always knew because she knew that girl. Her tricks of trade, her facial tics, what sent her over the edge in the most pleasurable sense of the world.

That was until CJ had been totally blindsided when Freddie decided to become independent. She knew Freddie had a stubborn streak, which Freddie would retort that she wasn’t stubborn, she was practical, not carrying the obsessive Hook madness. But for Freddie to abruptly tear away from her to have her own dreams was something CJ never thought would happen. Freddie had always seemed to content in helping her with her own schemes, she said she found keeping CJ under control to be entertaining which would be followed by a night of dark magic and ecstasy.

“Of course not.” CJ barked out a hearty laugh and tried to move the conversation to safer, less complicated, emotional areas as well as keep her mind off the stunning spawn of Facilier.

“The girl is my sidekick. My pet. My Auradon pet since she insists on becoming a famous singing star for those goody goodies. She’s not at all like Ching Shih. What I would give for a nine hundred boat squadron which brings me to the important thing. How am I getting the Jolly Roger?”

“We’re getting the Jolly Roger.” Lady Caine corrected leading her toward a bigger room which CJ could tell had used to be used for storage due to the familiar musty smell of aged alcohol. The large boxes had been shifted and carved to form makeshift chairs, weapons were hung or stabbed haphazardly around the place and in the center was a wooden throne which Lady Caine lazily slouched upon, looking at CJ up and down with amusement.

CJ pulled out her sword again, glaring at Caine threw slitted eyes. “Not the deal. The Jolly Rogers mine.”

“Relax. I don’t want that ship, I have my own. I just have my own plans for your father once we steal it in front of bloodshot eyes.” Lady Caine smirked malevolently, “He still drinks, doesn’t he?”

CJ faltered a little when she realized that wasn’t a rhetorical question, “Uh maybe. I don’t associate with him. I’ve been Auradon.”

“I’ve heard about that. Now that is something people should talk about more. You got into Auradon on your own. No pitying help from Prince Furrball. No ‘turning good,’ turning their backs on us so we could rot in hell while their mushy goodhearted brains sleep on pillows. You lived up to your wickedness, CJ.” Lady Caine cocked her head, looking oddly at CJ. Her eyes glinted with a strange happiness and her mouth curved in a genuine smile like when Captain Hook envisioned himself killing that dratted green boy. So proud of his imaginary accomplishment.

Proud. That was what Lady Caine looked like. Not proud of herself but proud for CJ.

CJ’s staggering realization that someone was actually proud of her was tempered by the words sinking in, “No one talks about me and my accomplishments? I have stolen loot from Merlin!”

“Exactly. They still speak of your brother and his violence, but not your greatness. It’s ridiculous. Descended from two great pirates..well I’m a great pirate, your dad-” Lady Caine waved her hand as if she couldn’t quite describe the numerous fatal flaws of Captain Hook in words.

“Yeah…” CJ wasn’t sure how to continue, another odd feeling, she had always remained sure and in control most of her life, “How did-How are you my mother? Dad despises you. He has dreamed of you and Pan being crushed under his stern.”

“And I despise him as well. It’s complicated. I wasn’t in the right mind when I did it. I was drunk, we were fighting, his Hook slipped and instead of scratching me it kind of went the hot and sexy route..huh? That actually wasn’t very complicated now that I say it out loud.” Lady Caine shrugged, wiping a hand over eye and smudging her heavy eyeliner. It sort of reminded her of Harry. 

Truthfully as she looked longer at Lady Caine she found it difficult to see the resemblance between her and her supposed mother. Lady Caine’s brown hair matched more with Harriet and the eye-liner, totally a trademark of her brother. Maybe..just maybe if Lady Caine ate more and filled out, CJ would be able to see if they have the same slender figure, and if she wiped away the magenta lipstick, maybe they had the same lips.... 

“And you’re not Harriet’s or Harry’s-” “No.” Lady Caine vehemently denied, “I would remember if I slept with that son of a bitch more than once, especially if I was pregnant afterwards. Just once is enough for me. What else do you think the C in your name means?”

CJ hadn’t meant to look so shocked but she lost her control, her eyes bugged out and her jaw dropped, “The C is for Caine?!”

Lady Caine burst out laughing, getting off her chair and back to CJ’s side, “No again. Your dad named you and he would never choose something that referenced me. You should have seen the look on your face though. Ha!”

Once CJ’s heart resumed its normal rhythm, she managed a weak laugh, “Okay great. But seriously, the Jolly Roger. What’s the plan? I want that boat.”

Lady Caine looked like she was about to laugh again, but she refrained seeing the seriousness in CJ’s eyes. “There’s no official plan...yet. But you will be in charge of it since you know Hook’s turf better than I do.” A part of CJ’s gut pinged at Caine’s words. It felt wrong somehow. Too easy that the “Queen of Thieves,” known for her hard will and controlling way would just hand over the plan to CJ, even if she was her child. Yet CJ swelled with ambitious excitement. She was finally getting the respect her reputation deserved. She could totally plan and execute a way to take the Jolly Roger.

“What do you want with all this?” CJ questioned, giving in a little to her gut feeling and eyeing Lady Caine warily.

“Like I said, I have my own score to settle with Hook. And a small favor. I want to use the Jolly Roger to storm Corona.” “You see, CJ, long before you were born. Before Auradon or the Isle or any of this existed. I lived in Corona. My father was a petty thief that King Fredric jailed because he couldn’t stand any sort of criminal. Murderers in cells with domestic abusers and first time offenders. It was Corona’s own version of the Isle. The first one. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Beast took the idea from him.

My father died in that prison since he couldn’t compete with the big guns. I grew up on the streets which was for the best I suppose ‘cause look at me now.  

But that self-righteous King Fredric has the balls to send me with common criminals and louses all over again. Off with his head along all the rest of those do-good bastards.”

“Off with their heads?” CJ laughed, giving the moment some levity, “You sound like the Queen of Hearts.”

Lady Caine glared at her, visions of anger and blood quite evident on her face, “Tie them to the rack, firing squad, crucifixion. Whatever you want. The point is those Auradonians will suffer, and they will not live.” 

———————————————————————————————————

Jordan inhaled deeply before knocking on Ben’s office door.

This was it, today was the day, no turning back.

After getting those cliches out of her head, Jordan paused to make sure that the rumbling of her stomach was just hunger from being too nervous to eat dinner and not impending throw up out of nervousness.

Yet before Jordan could knock on the door, Ben flung it wide open. She was starting to wonder if Ben was some door opening psychic for the past five times she visited this week to go over Operation: Defeat the Coven (official more badass title still in progress), he always opened the door before she knocked. Either she was a very loud presence or Ben was always waiting for someone to bother him.

She had a feeling it was the latter since he was King of Auradon and all, which seemed sad. She knew she would go crazy if she had people constantly knocking on her lamp all the time asking to fix some crisis or other.

Well, people used to do that to her lamp, but after sending those people off in a sandstorm, almost everyone learned to leave her alone. Just how she liked it.

"Hi, Jordan! Are you ready to beat some baddies?" Ben enthused, sounding unusually chirpy and breathless.

"Baddies? Really? No wonder you got caught so quickly on the Isle." Jordan shook her head with amusement.

"Yep, that's me." Ben said, pushing her back so he could close the door behind him, smiling way too brightly and nervously swishing his bangs out of his face as if that would make him look more casual.

Yeah, he was hiding a girl, or he was watching porn. She had seen Aziz act with this sort of bad nonchalantless plenty of times whenever she popped by his room unannounced. And since Ben was way too innocent to even know of the dark side of the internet and he did possess a girlfriend, she could bet he and Mal were having some alone time.

Ben leaned firmly against the door in a move that would prevent anyone from being able to open the door without getting through him, "Do you need any last minute supplies?"

As he said this, Jordan finally spotted the tell-tale bite mark on his neck that confirmed her suspicions.

Jordan was tempted to make a comment about how it looked like a certain purple dragon had marked him as part of her hoard, but refrained. Auradonians were still on edge about Vks even though they had been around for a year, and even more were up in arms about Ben promoting Mal to be his future queen. 

If anyone had gotten wind that Mal was in Ben's room, alone, giving him love bites and who knows what else when he was supposed to be doing kingly duties, the scrutiny would be worse than ever on Ben. She might as well let them have their private moment.

Even though that private moment just showed how relaxed Ben was about Operation Defeat the Coven while she still wanted to throw up.

And that's exactly why she needed to talk to Ben. It was clear he had too much faith in her and her abilities and so he needed to be given a reality check of how they could all die and the world that they know it would be taken over by every villain on the Isle imaginable.

"Ben, I promise I'm not backing out. I mean, it is really too late for me to back out anyway so I can't. But I don't feel prepared for this at all. I'm a genie. I'm a sidekick. I don't really make tough decisions, I just entertain people with my magic powers, not fight them. The Coven have a millennium of experience over me and in dark magic which a completely different sort of power, and-"

"I understand how you feel." Ben put a comforting hand on her shoulder while her mouth dropped rather unattractively.

"You do?"

"Hey, I turned king when I was 16. I read a lot about politics and policy making, but it is completely different when I was thrown into ruling. It was like everything I studied and read meant nothing at all when it came to dealing with people and trying to listen to all their problems and think of plausible solutions on a deadline. I can't say I know what I'm doing most of the time."

Well that was very reassuring knowledge.

"But one major thing I have learned when it comes to leadership is that we all develop our own style. You can't prepare for it, you can't learn it. It just comes to you as you learn and grow. You just have to take your time."

"But I CAN'T take my time!" Jordan retorted, "This mission has a short deadline with snap decisions. I can't grow from this."

"It's adventure. People always grow and develop during an adventure like all our parents in their stories." Ben answered back with irritating calmness.

Jordan felt her eye twitch. She should have known that knocking some reality into the eternal optimist wouldn't work.

At least the eternal optimist had eyes so he could see her clear annoyance and distress because Ben said something else, "Besides Jordan, you may be the leader of the mission, but you have your friends to help you. That's why I have a Council. I don't know everything, but I surround myself with people who do and who will help guide me to making the right choices. You're not alone in this."

Jordan exhaled, surprised by how that little nugget of advice actually eased some of her nerves. She did feel pretty confident about her team. Aziz and Jay were excellent with parkour and other athletics so they could be counted on in the case of an attack, and Calix had the magical skills to go up against the sorcerers with her. Plus she had adventured with Aziz and Calix enough times to insticively know when to act in sync. It was too bad Jay was left in the cold in that respect, but he knew his way around the Isle so he had an advantage over all of them.

Additionally, Ben, Carlos Jane and Evie volunteered to alternate in keeping contact with them via magically-enhanced ear chip so they could research useful information in the library if needed.

She trusted them to know what they were doing, and she supposed with so much back-up if she did make a mistake then they could resolve it quickly before any real damage ensued.

"Thanks, Ben. I think I'm ready to go." Jordan said, brushing his hand off her shoulder.

"Right. I'll meet you there. I should go get Mal." Ben said, fixing his collar and rushed into his room.

Jordan sing-songed to the door before leaving, "Ben, I'm pretty sure Mal's room is on the other side of the castle."

She walked quickly to the front of Auradon Prep by the Beast statue where Evie, Aziz, Jay and Calix were already waiting and the moon was high above them all.

Since Ben had arranged the excuse to FG that she, Jay and Aziz were taking a field trip to Agrabah for a week to research illusions in connection with desert mirages so the two boys were dressed in loose pants and shirts that concealed the thick leather body armor underneath as well as the shafrah and scimitar strapped to their legs.

She had copied that look in a flowing black sundress with a two straps filled to the teeth with daggers criss-crossing her chest.

Truthfully, she never used a dagger before, but like with leadership, she hoped she would catch on. How hard could it be to stab someone?

Calix, on the other hand, was looking far too casual with a one shouldered toga that showed off most of his chest and no way to hide weapons anywhere on his body. Apparently he ignored her lecture that you can’t flirt someone to death in mortal combat. 

"Good luck." Evie hugged Jay once she saw Jordan arrive. "Avoid Harry and the Gastons. And any of your exes."

"I don't have exes. We didn't date on the Isle, remember." Jay said, mock punching Evie on the shoulder, "I just have enemies that I slept with and never talked to again."

Ben and Mal joined the group before anyone could comment on that topic, not that Jordan knew exactly what to make of that piece of information, and they started their official goodbyes.

"We're only an ear chip away." Evie said handing each of them a small metallic chip that Carlos had made to place in their ear drum, "All you have to do is press and it turns on and off, and since Mal spelled it. It is guaranteed to work even when you close the barrier."

"Alright. Now where are we going first? Maleficent's castle? Ursula's fish and chips?” Jay clapped his hands together, clenching his fists for the undoubtedly upcoming fights.

"The jungle." Aziz, Calix and Jordan said in unison.

What?" Jay, and Mal looked utterly confused by the answer.

"Do you not check the group messages?" Jordan snorted derisively, "Anyway, we are going to the jungle first to fix some of the holes in the barrier. Since Evie said the jungle is unoccupied by humans, we won't be noticed and attacked by the Vks immediately. Calix and I will fix the holes so the Coven won't be able to have an escape route. Then we'll work our way inland to the Coven's laier and do battle."

"Oh, okay. But you’re wrong though on the jungle being unoccupied. Some people live in the jungle. Mainly hunters who wanted some fresh meat rather than the leftovers you give us." Jay corrected.

All the Aks tensed at that and Ben looked shamefaced to the floor.

Jay hadn't said the comment in a bitter or accusatory way, but matter of factly. Which made it sound worse. It was simply a fact of the Isle that if one got tired of rotten and disgusted food from the overprivilged that you had to face the dangerous wild jungle and kill for raw meat.

"You’ll fight those VKs off we meet them." Jordan instructed after an awkward silence. Then nodded to the others. "We're going now."

Aziz took the cue and rubbed her lamp that was snugly strapped to his hip. She hated the fact that she had to bring it to the Isle, but she had no choice. While she could do magic to in transporting herself places, when it came to performing magic on others it required a wish.

"I wish to transport to the jungle of the Isle."

Shimmery pink smoke enveloped them, wind rushing past their ears and moving their bodies even though it felt like their feet were still firmly on the ground. Once the smoke cleared, all they could see was shades of green and brown.

The green came from the leafy canopy and thickets of thorns that blocked the view of the sea while the brown was the dead grass that crumpled underfoot, the dead trees that fallen over to their left in a small pile and the holes of dirt.

Jay crouched by one of the holes, studying the edges. Standing up he informed them a hyena probably created it.

"Are hyenas nocturnal?" Calix eyed the hole nervously, looking around as if to find some sort of protective cave even though there was nothing but trees.

"Yes, but I wouldn't worry. Usually the leapords take care of them." Jay said ignoring Calix’s more distressed look and motioned for them to follow him into the trees. "Since we are near the coast, the cliffs should be close by here."

And so their journey began. 

[edream93]

WLTF Chapter 18 Sneak Peek

Haven’t really had any time to write because of school and stuff but I have one more big essay to finish and then I’ll be done with my first year of PhD (3 more to go). Anyway, here’s another sneak peek just because you all are awesome.

Harriet gasped suddenly, nearly cutting off a finger on the knife she had been sharpening. A few wary patrons glanced at her strangely before pretending like she wasn’t there lounging next to Uma’s throne in Ursula’s Chip Shoppe.

(Her brother’s little Wharf Rats had nearly drawn their knives and shivs and other assorted weapons that they had failed to leave in the weapon check when she had first attempted to sit in their precious Captain’s chair. Le Foux Deux, her current first mate with Sammy Smee gone, had almost had an aneurysm at the action but Harriet had merely rolled her eyes, dragging a plain but sturdy chair over to sit next to the throne before glaring at them all silently until they returned to whatever they were doing before.)

Harriet sucked thoughtfully on the cut she had made on her thumb. What she had just experienced felt like a sharp pull on her belly button before a restless thrum of energy filled her, buzzing beneath her her skin with a vague familiarity that caused dread to settle deep within her. She tapped her foot impatiently, her senses on high alert for a threat that she recognized but also didn’t. Like an itch she couldn’t reach, she almost felt consumed by it.

“You alright there, Harriet?” Jonas frowned, dirty pink frilly apron tied to his waist as he haphazardly slid dirty dishes from table into a bin to take back to the kitchen.

The Chip Shoppe was mostly empty at this point in the day, the majority of the shop’s customers preferring to sleep through the day. He could hear Gonzo gruffly grunting something undoubtedly snide under his breath to one of the younger crew members as they did something within the depths of the kitchen that would undoubtedly get them all a lashing from Ursula’s tentacles if they disturbed her from her damn soap opera. Bonnie and Desiree sat in a corner, counting the gold and jewels and other shiny bits and bobs they collected with the latest foods and supplies from Auradon. Jonas, somehow had gotten the short end of the stick and had been forced to deal with duties relating to the kitchen and apparently, as it seemed, keeping an eye on their substitute captain.

Harriet was close to snapping at him, restless energy building beneath her skin like a balloon about to pop. Perhaps Uma allowed her crew the freedom to question her decisions but Harriet refused to lead with anything other than one-hundred percent complete obedience, whether out of fear or loyalty was their only choice. However, Jonas was an idiot and had repeatedly dared to question her every command, even to the point of somehow persuading the remaining members of Harriet’s own crew sign up for shifts at the Chip Shop.

(Of course her brother’s crew would be just as much of a headache as he was.)

Ignoring Harriet’s glare, Jonas took a step closer to the fearsome pirate captain, head tilted to the side as he observed her.

“It ain’t your…uh...it isn’t your newest passenger, is it?” he said lowly, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one else was listening. When he turned back to Harriet, he only got to see her eyes quickly widen before she grabbed him by the back of his neck in a tight grip that caused him to drop the bin he was holding.

Already chipped dishes broke and scattered across the dusty floor, loud in the sudden silence of the room.

“Listen ye yellow bellied sack of shit,” Harriet hissed into his ears, her usually well hidden brogue making an appearance, the only clue that she was losing her cool. “I don’t know what the fucking seven seas ye think ye know but let’s make it one-hundred percent fucking clear, okay pet? Yer captain and first mate, the strongest and baddest of the bads that had been on this rotten rock in months, are gone. Ye understand what that means?”

Desiree and Bonnie had already gotten up from their seats, a butter knife in Desiree’s hand and a broken bottle probably from the brawl the night before in Bonnie’s. Gonzo was now leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, drying one of kitchen butcher knives against his pants legs. Jonas waved them off though. Like hell he was going to start a turf war the one time Uma put him in charge, especially not with Harriet fucking Hook. Harry may be crazy and unpredictable but Harriet was just plain ruthless. And scarily hot.

(Jonas hoped desperately no one could see how the pain of Harriet digging her nails into the back of his neck was so turning him on right now...The others would never let him live it down.)

Jonas nodded, form hunched over as he raised his hands up placatingly. “That the fearsome and cunning Captain Harriet Hook is the only thing keeping a turf war from happening,” he grunted out.

Harriet shoved him away, tugging up the collar of her Hook signature jacket, before placing her captain’s hat on her head. “And don’t ye forget that,” she hissed before stomping out of the shop.

The four senior members of Uma’s crew looked at each other.

“You think Harry knew?” Jonas asked, hissing when he touched one of the small crescent shaped marks on the back of his neck before Bonnie and Gonzo tugged him back onto his feet.

Desiree snorted, running her hand through her long hair. “Ya see a certain pompous bastard hanging from the ceiling, hooked by his toes with his goods cut off in here?”

Jonas glanced up.

Gonzo rolled his eyes before returning back to the kitchen and Bonnie pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re an idiot, Jonas.”

“Hey!”

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

Hunger Games & Descendants crossover

Aka me showing Descendants characters into vaguely hunger games setting because it sparks joy. Keeping one (1) Hunger Games character: Ceasar Flickerman, for the reason that Descendants Verse moderator (Snow White) would faint within a minute of having to share a stage with exhibitionistic pirates.

Also. Haymitch. I feel like he and Harriet & James Hook should meet.

Anyway.

(I hope you don't expect any plot)

The Hooks are the Fourth District. The sea side one. Uma, too, and the Smees.

James Hook is a Victor long past, and he lost a hand in his games. He had it replaced by a hook, because he's committing to the bit. Drama queen. He's a Capitol favourite and still very much haunted by the children he fought in his arena. (He's so perfect for this au, I can't)

Harriet is also a Victor, from two years prior.

She volunteered and didn't have a good time ever since. (Didn't have a good time ever ✨)

She didn't lose a hand. This does not stop the Capitol from styling her with a hook.

Both of them are rather heavy alcoholics by this point.

Harriet was a difficult Victor. Stubborn and way too happy to speak her mind. It took Capitol pointing at her siblings and going „If you don't shut up, they'll be next“ to get her to cooperate.

She shut up. She was not happy about it but she's not letting her siblings die in the arena – or otherwise.

Either way, after her, the Capitol needed a Good Victor (tm). They found their Victor in Claudine Frollo, a brainwashed career from District One.

She was ready to lie on her knife for her (District) people rebelling against the Capitol, but her Games were pretty heavily rigged. She was not allowed near sharp things by the gamemakers.

Her trauma from the arena is unsurprisingly not helping. Claudine gets unresponsive for huge amounts of time, and she's still not allowed near sharp things.

„You were raised in a fucking cult!“ „...oh.“ This conversation between Harriet and Claudine definitely happens. Harriet is this close to snapping at Claudine at live TV.

Either way, deal somewhat holds, right? Younger Hook siblings are not reaped.

... wouldn't be the Hooks if there wasn't more chaos, okay?

Next year, Uma is reaped, and there is no way Harry is letting her go alone. He volunteers before the boys are even reaped, threatening murder to career girls who didn't take Uma's place and career boys who would take his in the same breath.

This flies, because Capitol lives for drama.

Also, surprisingly, Uma's reaping wasn't rigged. And even if it was, she was not a part of any deal.

Ursula was an actress, a singer, dragged to Capitol from District four and tossed back when they got bored; when she got too old or otherwise unsuitable. She blames Uma for this. Her most famous role was that of a Sea Witch because Why Not.

Uma wasn't a career, but Harry was. He didn't graduate yet, and his older sister insisted he doesn't volunteer.

Anyway. Since this is AU, I feel like it should be possible for the Games to have multiple Victors if the people like them enough.

It's not something common, but it can happen. It has happened before.

Mulan and Shang pulled it off. Mulan while posing as her brother or male cousin all the while. It was one of the earlier games, but people loved it. (Consequently, their son got reaped the year before Harriet. Pure coincidence, you see. He survived, though.)

The other people winning together were Raya and Namaari, because I said so. They had no children for reasons called "they're lesbians, your honour."

And Uma and Harry are gonna win together too because this is MY self-indulgent AU with zero actual plot.

They're having way too much fun on the stage. Survival instinct (the bit that Uma has) gets overshadowed by the need to a) shock as much people as possible and b) drama✨

They end up making out at the tribute interview. Ceasar is having the time of his life. He hasn't had this interesting tributes since Harriet Hook and Ivy de Vil.

(they obviously make out at the Victors interview too)

De Vils now, yeah?

Third district. Technology, for Carlos. They're inovators, the driving force.

Cruella, much like Hook, is a victor of long past. She went mad in her Games. Her victor talent is fashion, obviously, and Capitol has no problems with the more unethical aspects of her designs.

Her reaping-age relatives have the unfortunate tendency to, well, get reaped. She lost a brother, two nephews and a niece this way.

You see, de Vils are rebels. They need to stand out, they need to be heard. (Much like Hooks, but in better clothes, thank you for asking.)

Ivy was the last one reaped. Now, she knew her odds – one in twenty four and worse yet. The Capitol is not letting a de Vil win again.

Consequently, she might have started riot on her tribute interview. I mean, what are they gonna do? Kill her?

Yeah, I thought so.

I'm getting lost, aren't I.

Tremaines. Officers family from District Eight that thinks themselves way too important (they really aren't). All accusations of Anthony's reaping being rigged will be denied.

Anthony is in the same games as Uma and Harry because Drama.

His stylist is Audrey Rose who got caught high in public one too many times. But hey. They're vibing. Also, this conversation:

Anthony, talking about Harriet: "... she's just so pretty-“

Audrey, an aro ace, just trying to do her job: „...I suppose? She could use to wear something different than the red, and a bit less eyeliner...“

(Ginny, barging in: „YES SHE IS.“)

(I'm projecting on Audrey and you cannot stop me.) (She isn't being mean, she's just struggling to see it.) (Struggling in general. Girl is dissociating more than not, but actually trying her best as a tribute stylist.) (She and Claudine should meet. Attend some therapy together.)

Ginny is Capitol, too. She's a medical student, a medic apprentice, whatever you want to call it. Aesthetics and cosmetics surgery specifically. She's shadowing some doctors at tribute-victor-centre.

Which, let's be honest, mainly means that she, Anthony and Harriet can meet ✨

Like Anthony, she thinks that Harriet is gorgeous. She thinks the same about Anthony.

She flatlines Anthony's medical tracker while he's sleeping but still very much alive in the arena. This goes unnoticed because Harry and Uma are kicking up too much drama. And Ginny and Anthony are pretty good at disguises.

Faciliers. They live in Capitol. With documents that are certainly both legal and theirs.

But hey. No one is gping to kick them out. They smuggle in expensive drugs and absinth and other interesting stuff.

They also know way too much blackmail.

Celia and Freddie have accidentally befriended the gamemakers while making deliveries and now the gamemakers let them play a bit and design new fun mutts!

(Stuff of nightmares, I tell you)

Mal is a way too Capitol-propaganda enthusiastic Victor from one of the poor Districts.

Jay is from District Two, a secret rebel. Jade died in the Games.

Oh! CJ sneaked into the Capitol with her older siblings despite being specifically forbidden to do so, and is now setting something on fire. Ceasar practically gave her a permission by calling her "a little firecracker" in the interview with Harry.

The Smees were supposed to watch her, but the Smees couldn't be paid enough for that.

I'm almost certain I forgot someone. Please, ask if I did or if you find something interesting and want me to elaborate?

[heartsunholy-a]

‘You nearly died’ kiss (oh no perciett post Battle of Hogwarts)

Another Kiss Meme // @voiceofmany // accepting

She’s kept up, a little. How could she not? Her life these days is nothing but running drills with the Harpies during the day and curled up with the radio at night, wondering if Harry, CJ, and Bridget are safe. But she hasn’t seen the extent of the tragedy. No, not until the Battle of Hogwarts itself does she see how truly how horrific things have become. Harriet isn’t really sure how word gets to them, what sort underground information networks exist through the Isles to reach Harriet all the way in Wales. Merlin knows Harry and her sisters couldn’t contact her directly with anything important, without risking their own necks.

The “how” doesn’t matter. Because Harriet’s there with Angelina at her side - a friend, a teammate for the last few years - and Oliver at her other - once an enemy but they’re too old for Quidditch rivalries now, aren’t they? And they’re fighting, watching their school crumble around them as they throw hexes and curses and hope that they have enough fight left in them to make a difference.

Voldemort grants them an hour’s reprieve to rest and gather their dead. And wandering through ruins, searching for her siblings, Harriet catches wind of a fallen Weasley amongst the casualties. Her mind immediately sees a deep-set frown, cheeks as red as his hair and her heart aches at the idea that he could just be…gone. She wants so badly to find him, in this mass of bodies, but…but no. No, she…she needs to find her siblings, to make sure they’re okay…

It’s not until the dust settles - when the battle is won, when Harry’s limped off to check on Uma and Gil, when CJ’s curled up in a blanket with EJ Andersen, when Bridget and Cynthia sit close and bask in each other’s warmth - not until then that Harriet goes off in search of Percy Weasley and hopes to every goddamn deity in the world that she finds him breathing.

And she does. 

But she hangs back when the picture widens to more than just Percy’s heavy shoulders and tired face across the hall from where Harriet stands. She only sees one of the twins. Ginny’s curled against their mother, who has a hand on George’s knee - she’s pretty sure it’s George, anyway. He’s always had the softer eyes. Percy sitting next to his father with the same weary, grieving expression on their faces.

Oh. Oh Merlin…Poor Fred…

She…She can’t bother him like this. Her worries mean…nothing, compared to what Percy must be going through. So Harriet ducks her head, takes a deep breath, and prepares to leave. To go back to her siblings, to Angelina or Oliver, just…anywhere but here.

But when she looks up, Percy’s noticed her. He always has, hasn’t he? People noticed Hook - the trouble maker, the halfbreed freak, the siren flirting her way through life. But they’ve never seen her the way he has. And it leaves her rooted to the spot because the way he looks at her, like he’s seen some sort of ghost as he pats his father’s shoulder and stands up…He looks at her and he sees-

“Harriet?”

And then he’s right in front of her and her blood runs hot with a thousand different emotions. She’s…scared and relieved and nervous and elated and she…can’t say any of that. So she doesn’t try. With tears building in her eyes, Harriet Hook reaches up, takes hold of Percy Weasley’s face and pulls him in for a kiss. There’s years of unspoken tension, unspoken kinship, unspoken desire and worry all rolled into the single act of pressing her lips to Percy’s.

When she pulls back, with a quiet rush of air, Harriet still can’t find the words but she tries. “Fuck. Merlin’s fucking beard, Percy, I’m so…you’re okay, you’re…fuck, I was so scared, they, they said…” No. No, this isn’t about her. Percy’s safe and her worries are assuaged. So now, Harriet needs to shift her focus away from herself and her thoughts and fears. Her thumb stroke against his cheek, ignoring the tears that finally fall from her own eyes. “’m here, okay? ‘m here. Tell me what I can do, Percy. Tell me whatcha need right now.”

[evieshook]

run with me

pairing: harry/evie rating: pg-13 words: ~2300 a/n: aka the five times they ran away together, and the one time they couldn’t. it’s supposed to be a songfic, but there’s only one real mention of the lyrics. it’s still very inspired by the song anyway. on a side note, it’s been almost a month since i last posted a fic. i’m so sorry! prompt: Can you do a hevie fic based on the song Paris by the chainsmokers? Maybe something about them running away? Thank you! read on: [ao3] [ffn.net]

v.

He had found her sitting alone on the steps in front of the Tremaine’s Curl and Dye shop, lost in thought as she fiddled with the hem of her dress. He was curious; she had never exited the shop looking so gloomy and down in the dumps, nevertheless sitting alone in front of it like she had nowhere else to go. It irked him, more than he liked.

Without hesitation, he trudged up to her, hand outstretched for her to take it. She looked up at him curiously; it would be wrong to say that they were friends, yet it would be even more wrong to say they were strangers. While they had spoken only a few times before, those few moments had built a strange connection neither had thought possible. However they had never openly sought each other out, both too busy with their own messes of lives to think of doing anything else.

So she just stared at him, never saying anything else as he looked down at her expectantly. “Run away with me,” he had told her so seriously, she didn’t think he was joking. She went silent for a few moments before lifting her hand up, placing it gently in his.

“Okay,” she muttered in reply, letting the pirate lead her off to wherever he wished. He pulled her through the dark alleys of the Isle, swiftly turning to avoid the crowds as he ventured further and further out, until he reached the edges of the forest near the sea. She followed him obediently, allowing herself to relish in the feel of his touch as he gently tugged her along to a creek hidden behind the trees.

Evie raised a brow when the view finally came in sight, never having visited the place before. He led her near the rocks where there was a small canoe tucked away inside a small crevice. Evie followed him inside the boat, holding onto him for balance before taking a seat on the wooden plank. He took an oar, handing her one before showing her the correct way to paddle, the girl following along quickly.

When the preparations were finally done, Harry untied the string anchoring the boat to the edge of the creek before beginning to paddle away, Evie following his lead. They paddled in complete silence for a good ten minutes, before the pirate finally looked at her, ready to speak.

“Yer mum?” he had asked her, the girl nodding in reply.

“She got angry at me again for using up her makeup, lecturing me for not having the ‘decency’ to refill it. Then she called me ugly and that she didn’t want to see my face again, so I went to find Dizzy but she’s out,” she explained softly, twirling a strand of blue hair with her fingers.

Harry watched her as she let out a small sigh, biting her lip hard. He reached out a gloved hand, gently caressing her face as she paused, staring at him curiously. His hand moved to the strand of hair she was twirling, twirling it with his own before letting go.

“Yer not ugly Princess,” he said to her, “far from it.”

Evie bit her lip, trying to hide the small smile as he pulled away, paddling once more. It was one thing to be called pretty from her friends, but it was another to be called pretty from someone like Harry. It had meant more to her than he would ever know.

iv.

His fingers travelled along the length of his hook, lightly gliding across the cool surface before it reached the sharp point at its edge. If he added a little pressure, he would prick himself and draw blood, and the temptation was growing a little stronger.

However he was stopped by a hand that had gripped the edges of his hook, Harry looking up to see a bemused blue haired princess who flashed him a knowing look as he removed his finger from the edge. He grinned a sheepish grin but she shook her head, tugging the hook harder in retaliation.

“Run away with me,” she said to him, a single nod of the head giving her his answer. She pulled him by the hook, knowing he wouldn’t ever let it go as she led him through the familiar passages and along the sides of the forest until they reached the creek. Instead of heading inside the boat, she tugged him across the rocks at the edge, lightly jumping across to avoid the water.

He followed her obediently, until she stopped and bent down to grab two stones at the bottom of the shallow waters. When she got up, she handed him a stone, waving it to him before swiftly skipping it across the water, his eyes watching as it skipped five times before sinking into the bottom of the water. Evie turned to him expectantly as he copied her movement, shifting himself to the side before throwing it across the water. They both watched as it sunk to the bottom of the water without a single jump, Evie unable to stop the small giggle escaping her lips as Harry eyed her in irritation.

“It was me first time Princess,” he protested as Evie tried halting her giggles.

“I got it the first time,” she told him smugly, the pirate rolling his eyes.

“Beginner’s luck.”

She poked her tongue out at him before bending down to grab two more rocks, handing him one and getting ready to throw. “Your dad?”

They watched as her rock skipped seven times before sinking, Harry letting out a small whistle in appreciation before humming. “CJ and Harriet too.”

Evie turned to him with a raised brow. “What happened?”

Harry didn’t turn to look at her, instead focusing all his energy on the rock as he threw it as hard as he could, watching it sink just like before. “Same old, same old. Disappointed I hadn’t topped me classes like those two did, and even more so when they found out I was Uma’s first mate.”

She nodded in understanding, before bending down to reach for another rock. This time she grabbed one that was larger than the others, turning to give it to him without a word. He took it without question, knowing what she meant before he threw it with all his might.

iii.

He took her hand without asking, leading her down the familiar route to the creek before finding a good place on the rocks for them to sit. No paddling or skipping rocks this time, just plain sitting and enjoying each other’s company as they let the troubles around them fade away.

“Run away with me,” he had told her once they were settled on the dry rocks, Evie rolling her eyes at the lateness of it.

“I already have,” she retorted, the pirate grinning in reply. He let out a sigh as he shifted himself to look at her more comfortably, the girl turning to stare at him with curious eyes.

“It’s been a while,” she remarked, Harry nodding. “It has.”

Evie bit her lip as she locked gazes with him, the blue in his eyes only now becoming more present. “I’ve missed you,” she said softly, the pirate raising a brow in surprise. He sat up more straight this time as he kept his eyes locked on hers, not daring to make a single move.

“And why would the princess be missin’ a pirate like lil’ auld me?”

Her eyes narrowed at his teasing, reaching out to lightly punch him in the shoulder. “You know why.”

His eyes twinkled. “Aye, but I wanted to hear ye say it first.”

Her nose crinkled, Harry finding it the most adorable thing he’d ever seen before she let out a small harrumph. “They won’t like it you know.”

The male shrugged, not bothered by the opinions of the others. He loved his friends, he really did, and he had unquestionable loyalty to them but they didn’t control his life then and they wouldn’t control his life now. No matter the problem Uma had with the rest of her group, her bitterness lied with Mal and not Evie, so he didn’t see why she would need to be unnecessarily affected.

“I don’t care,” he told her, reaching out to rest a hand against her cheek. “They can hate it all they want, but they can’t tell me what to do.”

Evie placed a hand over his, leaning into his touch with a small smile. She didn’t doubt that he didn’t care, but she couldn’t deny that she did. Her friendship with Mal was still a little rocky and fragile, but she didn’t want to sacrifice one relationship for another. Harry was right in his thinking, but it didn’t mean that it wouldn’t cause problems for everyone involved.

But they had run away together, so that shouldn’t matter now.

ii.

“Harry, run away with me,” she pleaded, taking his hand and trying to pull him away. But he didn’t budge, looking at her for a long moment before pulling her away himself. He moved so fast that she was stumbling right after him, but she did her best to catch up, refusing to slow him down.

He only let her hand go when they had finally arrived, standing on the rocks instead of merely sitting on them. Evie stared at his back worriedly, hesitant to approach him in case he would brush her off.

“Ye trashed me ship,” he said coldly, withdrawn of emotion that it had Evie’s heart pounding in her ears in guilt.

“I did,” she admitted, staying rooted to her spot as she forced herself to keep her head high.

“And ye did it with the others,” he continued, the girl lowering her head in shame. “I know,” she all but whispered, flinching when she heard him turn.

“Why?”

“You know why.”

The male sighed before walking toward her, the sound of grass crunching becoming deafening in her ears. She heard him pause in front of her, her eyes trained on his rugged black boots before she felt his hand reach beneath her chin, gently tilting her head up to face him. His eyes were unreadable but that made her feel all the more guilty as she bit her lip, shaking her head.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered sincerely, hoping he would listen to her.

“It’s not my place to forgive ye Princess. Ye weren’t the one who wanted te do it,” he replied softly.

“Let’s not fight here,” she instead said to him, eyes pleading. He knew what she meant, nodding in agreement.

“We won’t.”

i.

She gazed up at him with cheeky eyes, hand gripping the small object tightly as he eyed it skeptically. “Why?”

Evie shrugged. “Can’t I at least take one picture of us?”

“Why take a picture when ye can have the real thing,” he retorted, flashing her a cocky grin. The girl rolled her eyes before pulling him by the jacket toward her. “Pictures last longer.”

He tipped his hat in agreement before she handed the camera to him, Harry raising a brow. “I’m takin’ it?”

“Of course. You’re taller than me,” she reasoned before she grabbed his face in her hands, smiling at him. “Run away with me?”

The pirate smiled back at her, lifting the camera with one arm as he turned it to face the both of them. With the right angle, he kept his finger on the button as she leaned up to seal the kiss, Harry clicking at the right moment. When they pulled away, Evie’s lips spread out into the widest grin. “Always.”

He brought the camera down, turning it to see the screen for the preview of their photo. Evie hummed in approval at his photography skills, liking the way he had captured their kiss in their own little paradise.

If we go down then we go down together.

+i

His hands gripped the edges of the scroll tightly, applying so much pressure that it was bound to rip. He sucked in a breath as he read the words over and over again, until he was sure that it had been engrained in his mind for good and that he wasn’t just reading it wrong.

Evie watched him worriedly, noting the whiteness in his knuckles as he gripped the scroll tightly. She already knew that by coming here, it would be bad news for the both of them. No one would walk away from here with an unbroken heart, that much was certain.

“Harry,” she began softly, reaching out toward him but he flinched away, still holding the scroll tightly before turning to look up at her. He was frowning, face looking angry but she knew him well enough to note that he wasn’t just angry, he was also in disbelief and shock, but if anything in pain. She had caused him pain, the last thing she had ever wanted to do, especially in their paradise.

“Yer going,” he said bluntly, the girl slowly nodding. He sucked in another breath before throwing the scroll at her, Evie not bothering to catch it as she watched him.

“Harry,” she tried again but he shook his head vehemently.

“Yer gonna leave me,” it wasn’t a question but she nodded anyway.

“I’m s—“

“Don’t say it,” he snapped, “Don’t apologise.”

“Harry—“

Harry shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair before turning to her. She was looking at him guiltily and sadly, but what could he do? She was the one who had hurt him more, yet even now he couldn’t find the heart to hate her. He could never hate her, never.

“Run away with me,” he pleaded to her, hands gripping her shoulders tightly. He didn’t want to lose her, not now, not ever. But the reality was coming more and more real. She was leaving him, and he couldn’t follow.

Evie gazed up at him, trying to reign back the tears but it was no use. Her eyes were watery as he gripped her shoulders, but all she could do was place her hands on his chest, lightly pushing him away. “I can’t.”

Not this time. Not anymore.

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

Dinner at the Hooks

Part one of ??; cca 1k words.

Mostly just disaster threesome and Huma flirting, ngl. They didn’t even get to the Jolly Roger yet.

For future reference: Hook kids’ mother is a siren and she’s very much trying to kill James Hook. Everyone but James Hook knows this. Hooks might or might not have adopted Claudine Frollo, I’ve got yet to decide. Also, Uma has a godly father because if Mal can, so can Uma. (It’s not Hades.)

I hope you enjoy!

Harriet slams open the door to the Tremaine salon: Seems like she’s in luck today. Anthony’s in the corner, combing through Ginny’s wet hair. How convenient.

She lets her eyes linger on them for just a heartbeat before glaring around the salon and barking a sharp „Out!“

Anthony glares at her, all disapproving, as if to say, „Don’t kick the customers out of my salon, Harriet.“

Well, too bad. She doesn’t care for his customers at all, and she’s prepared to show him so – the mirror on the wall looks a little too uncracked for her taste.

She narrows her eyes at him. Little effect, really, except for Ginny’s intrigued expression and her hand reaching out to his, as if to stop him from arguing, at which he huffs and turns up his eyes. Excellent, fucking finally.

„I said, out,“ Harriet snarls at the customers that unwisely didn’t take their leave yet and at the Tremaines she doesn’t care about.

Just as the doors click, she stalks closer to Anthony and Ginny, and slams her hand into the chair behind her shoulder; Ginny straightens just a little bit.

„My parents are organising a dinner, a family get together,“ she says, „You’re both invited.“

She looks Anthony into the eyes – he’s crossed his arms over his chest and is still glaring, that bastard, – and then tilts up Ginny’s face with her pointer finger to get her attention more surely.

„Meet me by the Jolly Roger at eight.“

That should about do it.

„Did you really just kick out everyone out of the salon just to ask us out?“ Anthony asks with a hint of disbelief. She scoffs at him: The fact that she did exactly that doesn’t mean that she’ll admit to it, obviously.

„I’m trying to be nice here,“ she says instead, „Would you prefer it if I kidnapped you?“

„I would,“ pipes up Ginny.

„We know, Sunflower,“ sighs Anthony as he slides his hand onto her shoulder and curls his fingers in just slightly. Harriet smirks at the sight a bit.

„Come,“ she says, „At eight to the Jolly Roger, my whole family will be there.“ She herself isn’t sure if that’s a threat or not. „I’ll be waiting for you.“

She decides it probably is a threat.

She shows off her teeth in a smile before leaning down and kissing Ginny – she lets the kiss linger for once as she drags her fingertips over her jaw. Eventually, she tilts Ginny’s head back again and straightens up to face Anthony.

She steps closer and kisses him too, sliding her hand over the back of his neck. „Don’t you dare stand me up, Tremaine,“ she breathes into his lips.

„How could I, Captain?“ he asks, as he pulls back „With such convincing arguments that you give.“

She cackles, and as she walks away, she shows him the middle finger.

She hopes they come.

………

„Harry,“ Uma opens the door to his rarely-used cabin and leans on the frame. She smirks as he turns to her, make-up half-done and a gold chain dangling down his chest. „The dinner at your parents’ starts soon.“

In about quarter an hour, really, but the Hooks consider time a suggestion at best and showing up late is more fashionable, anyway.

„Thank you, love,“ he tells her, twirling the eyeliner pen in between his fingers, „Give me few moments to finish getting ready?“

The best part is, she could say no and he’d drop everything and go as he is now, just because she said it. She smirks at the thought. But:

„Of course,“ she says instead, „We want you to look your best, don’t we?“ (And if by „we“ she means mostly herself, well, who can blame her? It’s only her right.)

„Of course, Uma,“ he smirks too and saunters closer, „Thank you.“ With that, he draws her closer by the waist and kisses her lips. She sinks into the kiss for just a moment before lightly pushing him off her.

„Now, don’t get handsy, Hook.“

„My apologies, my Captain,“ he puts his hands up in mock surrender, „But I needed some of your lipstick, you see, to finish off the look.“ His eyes shine as he winks at her.

„You could’ve just asked to borrow it.“

„Mmm, but it’s more fun this way, Captain, don’t you think?“

Instead of an answer, she steps closer to him again, and, grabbing him by his shirt, brings him in for another kiss. There’s his answer.

„Good Gods, they’re at it again!“ sounds through the ship and Uma suddenly remembers she didn’t close the door. Well, too late now.

„There’s children around!“ protests Bonny from down the hall with exasperated scandalisation.

„There are none!“

„There are none yet, Captain,“ sing-songs Bonny, „Now, if you two keep at it…,“

„Bonny!“ Uma’s time to be scandalised – this is what her own medic is doing! The audacity! And meanwhile, Harry just laughs, pulling her closer to him yet.

„This ship needs thicker fucking walls,“ she mutters only for him to hear.

He laughs again: „I think our crew would pay a decent treasure for thicker walls, love.“

Too bad they live on a cast-off island, isn’t it? She pouts and crosses her arms and isn‘t all that much surprised when Harry kisses her hair and leads her to his shelf where some jewellery and trinkets lay carelessly scattered. Most of these pieces she has never seen, which means he just got it (stole it) recently – he tends to just give the jewels to her and borrow it later when he’s in the mood for anything other than his usual assembly of rings and earrings.

And really: „Paid a little visit to the Westergaards this morning,“ he says, „Most of their stuff was gaudy, but these looked passable. Anything caught your fancy, darling?“

„Hmm, I don’t know yet,“ she says, picking up a necklace and letting it fall back down in between her fingers, „I think I need to look at these first. Examine it. Go finish getting ready in the meantime.“

„As you command.“

In the end, Uma picks a new ring, a bracelet and a decorative comb that Harry weaves into her hair immediately; sure, they might have left five minutes after the dinner was supposed to start, but their entrance is going to be showstopping.

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

CJ & Cerberos

The Isle kids think that death is a social construct, and Hades is not really helping. And CJ Hook in particular treats the Underworld like bus station.

CJ Hook is dead. Again. But look, that’s nothing new, and Harriet didn’t even see this time around, so where’s the problem, really?

Death doesn’t want her. He told her so herself, just last week. And the week before that. And about a month ago. Basically at least once a month since she was, like, seven. Maybe five. Whatever. Time is a social construct.

Wait. He death – that’s not entirely correct. He’s the god of the dead, not of the death. That guy is a fucking killjoy – easily outranked and surprisingly flammable killjoy, if CJ says so herself.

CJ shakes her head, getting her hair out of her eyes, and jumps up. Nothing hurts much, and she isn’t actually sure how she went this time, but hey. Someone’s sure to tell her soon, she just hopes it was dramatic enough. She has bigger problems now.

„Spot!“ she cries out and runs to hug the Guardian of the Underworld around one of his necks. Her hands disappear in the thick fur, and as three wet muzzles sniff at her, CJ Hook laughs.

And they say hell hounds are supposed to be terrifying!

…Clearly, they’ve never seen angry Harriet.

Something wet and icky falls on CJ’s neck; her hair; under her cloak. „Hey now, Spot!“ she cries out, „What did we say about your spit on my clothes?!“

The dog’s left head nuzzles her forehead in apology,and the right head licks her all over her neck and jaw and cheek and eye.

„EW!“ CJ laughs, pushing the right head away, and then bringing it close again; her giggles melt fluently into sobs.

That’s, of course, how the Lord of Underworld finds her.

„Again?“ he sighs instead of greeting, and CJ lifts her head from the now-wet fur. „Hi, Uncle Hades!“ she sniffs. The Lord of the Dead does not correct her. Instead, he ask: „Why are you crying, child?“

CJ sniffs again, and then replies, as dramatically as she can muster: „I can’t pet all three of his heads at once!“

„Yes, that is truly horrible,“ facepalms the god, „Now get upland go away, before your siblings learn you’re here. I’m not in the mood today.“

Fun fact: He is never in the mood for the Hook siblings. Which is a fact that none of them are abusing at all.

„Sure thing, Uncle Hades,“ CJ fake-sniffs again,and pets Cerberos’ middle head, „But–“

The god rubs his temple: „What do you mean but, you insolent child?“

„How did I die this time? Was it impressive?“

„How am I supposed to know?“

What a stupid question. CJ glares a bit, and so does Cerberos. Good boy! „You’re a god,duh,,“ she answers. It should be pretty obvious.

„And you should remember how you die–“

CJ giggles. Why should she bother? Death doesn’t want her. And being careful would be no fun at all.

The god sighs again,and tells her she died trying to raid Evil Queens vaults, again. And that they should finally stop fucking trying, and that her brother died for the same thing last week, which scandalises CJ a bit: He didn’t even tell her! Then again, he didn’t succeed, and maybe that’s a good thing. If he got some of Evil Queens gold (for Uma), the docks would never hear the end of it. Yeah, small mercies. Anyway, there is only one thing that matters: „Well, did I succeed this time?“

„Just check your pockets, you little magpie.“

CJ makes a long face, as Uncle Hades is being entirely unhelpful today. Then she makes a long face again, when she check her pockets and realises that while they’re full of interesting and shiny things, there is nothing new in them. But oh– she thought that she lost that butterfly knife. And she wanted to give these earrings to Freddie weeks ago!

„You can go now,“ says the almighty Lord of the Dead, Ruler of Underworld, God of Riches under the Earth, „You know where the doors are.“

She perks up, and he facepalms again,muttering something like „What did I ever do to deserve this kind of suffering?“ and CJ has no idea what he’s talking about, really. She just wants to take Spot here for a little walk! She’s supposed to go back to the Isle anyway, and walks are good for dogs, really, Sammy said that once! (She thinks.)

She tells him so.

„Absolutely not–“ comes the swift reply.

CJ tries (and fails) to hug all Spot’s necks again, and makes doe eyes at the unmovable god. Then she gets an idea: She leans away from the dog and looks at him sadly, as if preparing to say goodbye. Then she perks up and in faux-surprise exclaims: „Oh, look! Spot has red eyes! Like Ettie when she’s angry!“

Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees the god’s flame-hair flicker, and finally, the answer comes: „Take spot for the walk, then.“

Just as she wanted! Yes! „Yes! Thank you, Uncle Hades!“ She jumps up on her feet and runs up to hug the god, who, interestingly enough, rapidly retreats with some interesting curses on his lips. Well, at least CJ thinks those are curses: She can’t speak Greek yet. She should ask Uma to teach her. Surely she would, for her future favourite sister-in-law…

„Come now, Spot!“ CJ exclaims, clapping her hands, „We have places to be! People to scare! Shadow witches to impress!“

Spot obediently gets up, and in a moment, they’re on the Isle again.

And in the moment, the air in the docks fills up with screams of horror as the pirates see little CJ Hook grinning like a madwoman and riding on a three-headed hell hound.

CJ grins just a little bit more, hoping her eyes are burning just as Spot’s are, too, and scratches the middle head behind the ears.

This is awesome.

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

CJ Hook being a disaster narrator:

So, yeah, there are the Badun cousins in the Hell Hall, helping Carlos de Vil prepare it for the party, which my siblings won’t let me attend for some unfathomable reason. I mean, come on! It has a chandelier swing! 

Come on, Harriet! Harry! Say something!

…And they are too busy to even notice. Rude, if you ask, but fair. At least they won’t notice me sneaking away.

Wow, they don’t even notice me saying this. But hey, Harriet is too preoccupied daydreaming about Anthony, and Harry is too busy on Lost Revenge, as Uma comes home soon. The ship is almost prepared, anyway, and the fairy lights shine in the night. Speaking of which – fairy lights!

„Shut up, CJ,“ Harry says distractedly, looking out into the port for Uma as if he didn’t know full well she is still closing up. Washing the dishes now, isn’t she?

„Shut up.“

Tell me more about the fairy lights, though.

„Oh, don’t you have a plot to narrate? As you volunteered?“ Harry snaps at me and snags a bottle of alcohol from Gonzo: I make a face at him, as he doesn’t even have the decency to wait for Uma to start drinking. 

„The bloody plot?“ he makes a face at the cheap rum.

Well, I would be way more interested in narrating that if I were allowed to go to that party, wouldn’t I now?

„Shut up, CJ.“

That was Harriet, for a change. She has finished her hair and makeup and is wearing half-a-treasurly worth  of jewellery. Good for her, and I hope Anthony notices. 

„Well he better,“ she murmurs, and don’t worry, Ettie, if he doesn’t appreciate you, we can always just kill him! Which would be way easier if I were already at the party, you know?

She tells me to shut up again and to watch my mouth and that she isn’t changing her mind and Harry just cackles. Bummer.

Make sure to take some photos for me, Ettie, since, you know, the Baduns just put up a photo booth? 

And hey, Carlos is calling Diego right now, and how did the de Vils get working phones?!

It’s all so unfair!

„Don’t know and don’t want to know,“ answers Harry, despite the fact that no one was asking him, and, oh, they are radios. That would make more sense. I still want one though! So I could call Freddie any time I want!

„I’m sure she’d appreciate that,“ notes Harriet dryly, and, why, yes, she would!

And hey, Harry, did you decide if the de Vil cousins are going to the Hell Hall party yet or nah?

„Well, that depends on all kind of things, doesn’t it now?“ he says, and allow me to translate that for you: He means that it depends on Uma and Uma only.

„If you don’t stop right now, I will come over at Hope and tie you up to the mast for the rest of the night.“

Yeah, I’d like to see you try that. You’d never catch me. 

Anyway, Carlos is, like, calling Diego if the Rotten Apples wanna play tonight?

Harriet notes that they better, since they make the only passable dance music on the Isle, which, fair enough. We want her date with Anthony to go well, don’t we?