#gonna soar; gonna fly; gonna show them what i'm made of: ben / interactions

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

“Well, you know... starting somewhere now is a lot better than starting somewhere later.”

He smiles softly, but pauses, frowning, blinking and holding up a hand. “Wow, Auradon really is just a living cheesy advice poster, isn’t it, that was bad even to me, I’m sorry--”

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

Flashback Solo Para: Fault (Ben)

“This isn’t their fault!” “No, son. It’s yours.”

It’s always his fault.

Ben knows his parents won’t approve of his decision for his first proclamation, looking out the window at the Isle during his fitting. But he thinks back to his dream, to that girl with the purple hair and... and he knows it’s the right move when he turns and addresses them.

“Mom, dad--”

“Ah, mm,” and Ben’s stopped from stepping down off the platform.

He steps back. “I’ve chosen my first official proclamation.” And I already know how you’re going to feel about it... spit it out.

“I’ve decided that the children on the Isle of the Lost be given a chance... to live here in Auradon.” And he braces himself as they all freeze, but continues, taking the opportunity of the panic to step down and motion to the window. “Every time I look out to the island, I feel like they’ve been abandoned.”

And his father pauses, slowly pointing to the Isle himself. “The children of our sworn enemies? Living among us?” The doubt written in his face is almost painful, and clearly barely masking what his father really feels-- rage. Betrayal.

Backpedaling, Ben explains, “We’d start out with... a few, at first. Only the ones who need our help the most.” He can see his mother coming around to it, which is a major relief and there’s a small smile on his face from his relief. “I’ve already chosen them.”

But then his father looks offended as he turns to him more, “Have you?”

He feels his face fall a bit as his father’s tone. That barely-masked anger is growing. But his mother reaches out and grabs his father’s arm. “I gave you a second chance.” His father does back down when Belle turns to him and asks, “Who are their parents?”

Ease them into it. “Cruella de Vil,” he takes a moment to see their faces at each one. “Jafar, Evil Queen...”

His father cocks his head. He can tell Ben’s holding it back. He straightens his shoulders, stands up for himself... “And Maleficent.”

He hardly notices the small scream, too preoccupied by his father’s snapped, “MALEFICENT?! SHE IS THE WORST VILLAIN IN THE LAND--!”

“Dad, just hear me out here--” De-escalate, bring it down, backpedal, don’t let him get upset, don’t make him doubt--

“I won’t hear of it,” Adam interrupts. “They are guilty of unspeakable crimes--”

“Dad, their children are innocent!” Ben feels himself choking up, forces back the tears rising to his face at his father’s tone, his anger... “Don’t you think they deserve a shot at a normal life?!”

He barely hears the door closing. The servants had left the room, like they always do. No one sees how they are when those doors close. “Dad...”

The silence hangs as Adam looks between his wife and son, the silent pleas for him to remain calm, to try something new evident in both of their faces. He’s outnumbered and he can clearly see it. He slowly nods. “...I suppose the children are innocent.”

But he walks away without anything else. It’s Belle who walks over, straightens his coat and squeezes his hands with a small smile, a so-soft, “Well done,” before walking out with Adam.

Ben finds himself looking back out to the Isle again, wondering what would come of this.

The proclamation is taken with... mixed reactions, he notes of the crowd. But he has some supporters. Audrey... she doesn’t say it, but he can tell she’s unsure of what to think and a little nervous. And he can say she has the right-- after all, he’d chosen the daughter of Maleficent, of everyone he could have, to be one of the first four to come. Chad follows their lead so he’s quiet about it. Doug backs him up completely, the way he always has.

Then the museum unveils a new exhibit, calling attention to the history of four particular villains, showing them at their true worst, forcing him and the citizens of Auradon to face that part of history again.

And he’s sick to his stomach when he sees the posters alone. He knows what four villains were chosen without having to go in, so he doesn’t going to a bench outside the museum and dropping into it. He’s dizzy. The heat, maybe?

Through the blur in his head, he just thinks about how the final vote on what goes into a new museum exhibit comes from the king. Adam had the final say on what was to be seen in there.

It couldn’t have been... could it?

Surely his father hadn’t...

When he splashes into the Enchanted Lake, there’s frozen moment of time where Ben registers everything that’s happened. The enchantment ebbs away and he realizes exactly what’s been done to him.

He pulls to the surface, choosing to disappear behind some rocks and process it. And for a moment, he swears he can hear his father, yelling about the crimes committed by the parents, can hear how so sure of himself his father would be about this.

And Ben loses himself in thought for a minute, picking up a crystal from the water, turning it in his hands. Was his father right all along? Had it been a mistake? Maybe he should have stayed in line, been the king his father expected--

“BEN?!”

He hears Mal’s scream and looks up, startled from his thoughts, swimming back out and seeing her struggling in the water. He swims out quickly and scoops her up, helping her back up onto the ground, sitting her down gently.

He shakes his head and hair out, and she hits his arm. “YOU SCARED ME!”

But it’s different, somehow, her screaming at him, than it ever has been when his father yells. He’s just worried about her in all of this. “Y-you can’t swim?!”

“NO!”

He’s taken aback. “You live on an island!”

“Yeah, with a barrier around it, remember?!”

...she has a point. He watches her shaking off the water with a groan, cocking his head slightly, softening up. “And you still tried to save me.”

Because... she’d spelled him, hadn’t she? He wasn’t anything to her. She shouldn’t have even cared enough to bother. And yet... she did.

Maybe he was more on-track than his father gave him credit for.

She laughs sarcastically. “Yeah. And do you thank me? No! All I get is soaking wet!”

He jumps a bit, remembering he’s still holding the crystal. “And, uh... this... fancy rock?” As she snatches it, still looking highly offended, he decides to make up a reason to give it to her on the spot. “It’s yours. Make a wish and throw it back in the lake.” He offers her an awkward smile that he prays she doesn’t see through.

She throws it back in the lake right beside him and gets up. He climbs up with her and follows after her, pulling his jacket around her shoulders to help warm her up and dry her off a bit.

When she sits down at their picnic again, he dries his face and hair a bit before dropping down his towel and sitting with her, playing softly with her hair, looking at her, trying to look into her eyes a bit. Trying to see what’s really going on there, not sure if he can discern any of it.

She’s upset, but... her anger isn’t a familiar one, not to him. There’s something else to it, something sweeter, and he wonders...

“Uh, Mal?” He summons all his courage, somehow feeling stranger about this than he ever did about telling his father anything. He was terrified, but... not in a bad way. Not this time. “I told you that I loved you...” He holds her gaze softly for a moment, “But what about you?” Spit it out. “Do you love me?”

And she doesn’t break eye contact, not completely, as she holds his gaze for a long minute. And he knows. Even as she looks down, looks away and answers with that shrug, “I don’t know what love feels like.”

So he gently reaches out, resting a finger softly under her chin, rubbing her cheek with his thumb as he turns her back to him. “Maybe I can teach you.”

And he’s never felt more certain of anything until this, this moment, no matter what his father has to say.

When the fight breaks out, Ben freezes. So much yelling, so much is happening all at once and-- and then his father says it.

“I knew something like this would happen,” Adam’s saying, his disappointment, his disapproval painfully evident.

“Dad, this isn’t their fault!”

“No, son. It’s yours,” his father answers, pulling Belle along away from the courtyard.

“Mom,” Ben says, but she leaves with him, and Ben’s crushed by his doubts again. Nobody in Auradon wanted the four of them here, nobody saw them the way he did anymore.

Even Doug backed down from supporting them. And... he doesn’t blame the other. He’s known Doug all their lives, knows how painful it’s been for him to not be accepted by the others. What hurts him is Chad, and Audrey. The bond they’d had as kids was long severed.

He didn’t know if it could be fixed, or if he wanted it to be fixed.

He tries his best to talk to them, but they don’t want to hear it from him, and he knows it. All his fault.

Always all his fault.

It’s not Mal who grabs the wand at his coronation.

It’s all he can think about in the moment, with everything happening. It’s not Mal, it’s Jane, and he doesn’t even know what’s going through her head but it’s not Mal--

Mal wrestles it away from Jane, though... and freezes. He looks at her and he can read the look on her face. He gets between her and his parents. “Mal... give me the wand.”

“Stand back,” she says, but he can tell how hard she’s trying to convince herself of what she’s saying.

He pays attention to nothing else, not hearing the doors open or seeing the other three running to join her. “It’s okay--”

“Ben, I said stand back!” She interrupts him.

Audrey says something. He barely even registers who’s speaking. His attention is focused entirely on Mal. Carlos and Jay speak, too, but he doesn’t acknowledge them either.

“You really wanna do this?” He keeps himself set, braces himself against his own fear, trusting his instincts. She doesn’t sound sold on it and he knows it.

“WE HAVE NO CHOICE, BEN,” Mal answers, and there it is. He knew it. She didn’t say yes. She didn’t answer his question directly. That was his in. He was right. He’d been right all along. “Our parents--”

“Your parents made their choice,” he interrupts, standing up for her, for what he knows is there in her, shaking his head and lowering his arms, straightening his shoulders. “Now you make yours.”

He holds her gaze, in spite of her obvious fears, in spite of everything in the room. Watches her glance around them, behind him. She barely answers him, but while the rest of the coronation doesn’t hear it... he does. And he relaxes at the words, “I think I wanna be good.”

“You are good,” he meets, maybe the wrong move.

“How do you know that?!”

“Because...” And his father’s not going to like this answer but he does not care, “Because I’m listening to my heart.”

His undivided attention stays on Mal, watching her breathe, calm down. “I wanna listen to my heart, too.” She meets his eyes again and he smiles, taking deep breaths himself, watching her. She lowers the wand as she turns back to her friends and addresses them instead. He looks up when she says, “I wanna go to school... and be with Ben.”

His heart freezes for a moment, as she turns back to him, holding up her hand with his ring on her finger still and continues, “Because Ben makes me really happy.”

He manages to breathe, watching her turn back to her friends again, but smiling to himself.

He’d been right. He knew it, deep down, in spite of what his father had put him through. And... somehow, he gets the feeling Adam sees it too.

Maybe he had a lot to learn, but maybe, just maybe, Adam could figure it out.

The one thing Ben knew was... Mal made him less afraid to stand up to his father.

He had to trust that.

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

“If someone asked for selfish stuff every day, it’d piss me off. But in your case… It’s okay to complain, or be selfish, or get discouraged every once in a while.“ - Willa to Ben

Ben sighs, looking up at her for a moment form his desk and then breaking down just a bit. “I made you a promise, that I’d find out what happened to you guys’ stuff, and I meant it, but no one else seems to give a damn when I ask, and it’s-- it’s driving me up a wall, Willa, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry it’s taking me to this long.”

He sighs, closing his eyes, running his hands through his hair before resting his head against them, elbows on his desk. “I know why they’re putting such a holdup on it when I ask, and it pisses me off that this is how people treat you after what my father did to you.”

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

Double Solo Para: It’s a Pirate’s Life Every Single Day (Renee/Ben)

"You're... Renée Hook, right?"

Her head turns. Well, lookie here. A very smug look crosses the little pirate's face.

"Yer majesty," she wrinkles her nose, her hand resting on her father's hook on the table. Harry asked her to watch it since she'd gotten out before him. "T'what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I wanted to see how you were settling in here at Auradon Prep," Ben answers. Mal would so kill him if she knew he did this with her like this.

"Mm, well, yer hospitality is much appreciated," she answers, kicking back and resting her boots on the table she'd been at, looking up at him, picking up and holding the hook almost carelessly.

...almost.

"Sure yer not just checkin' to see the kind of person I am? Ye've had some..." She runs her tongue over her teeth a moment, clicking her tongue, carefully resting the point of the hook on her chin like she's thinking of the word. "...interestin', run-ins with my twin CJ and my big brother, haven't ya?"

Damn, she was maybe a touch more clever than he'd given her credit for. He laughs awkwardly and clears his throat. "I check in with every VK I can when they get out of rehab. I want to make sure I offer a helping hand wherever I can."

"Mm," Renée giggles. "Sure. I'll bite." She shrugs and motions around her. "Pretty place. Like'n it just fine so far."

Ben nods. "Good, that's... that's good. I hope you know, if there's anything I can do to help..."

"Aye? There's one thing I could stand fer," the pirate smirks. "My big brother."

"That," Ben sighs, "Is not up to me. I can't sign off on paperwork I haven't gotten, so until Iris and the doctors at the rehab send that over..."

"Aw, well, that's just fine," Renée smirks, giggling, "I'm sure I can find my own fun in th' meantime."

He. Doesn't like that look on her face. But Renée shrugs and leans her chair back a little. "Then if that's all, don't let me keep ye."

"Well..."

"Hmm, let me rephrase tha', actually," the pirate drops her chair back, pulling back and standing up, one hand hitting the table and holding the hook to his throat menacingly. "Move along, yer majesty, before I finish wha' Harry started fer 'im."

"Message received, get it, got it, got it," Ben answers, backing up, surprised. Okay, yes, the report had noted her volatility, but that was...

...well, actually, thinking about his interaction with Harry, maybe that should have been exactly what he expected.

Renée smirks as the other scurries off, dropping back to her chair, leaning back and putting her feet back up on the table. This would be fun.

This would be a lot of fun.

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

Double Solo Para: Warm Welcome (Ben/Dahlia)

"Dahlia," a voice greets, and she sighs, setting her shoulders and smiling before looking up properly to meet Ben's eyes.

And she sees it, sees the same look she sees in everyone, as for a moment he registers her as something to stare in awe at, but he quickly shakes his head and blinks, clearing his throat. And then she sees the shame in his eyes, on his face, because he of everyone knows how she feels, and immediately clears his throat. "I'm sorry."

"Ben, it's beyond your control," she answers with a small sigh. Shaking her head and picking at her palms, she continues, "It was part of the curse's terms. I understand, really." And she does, as much as she hates it, as much as it hurts, she's always understood why it happens when it happens.

He sighs, nodding. "Okay. Okay. Welcome to Auradon Prep, Dahlia."

"Thank you, and thanks for basically dragging me out here in the first place," she laughs, shouldering her bag and looking around. "I don't think I warrant a grand tour from our local king, though."

"No?" He laughs and wrinkles his nose. "Well, what about the mediocre tour from an old friend?"

"That," she sighs, laughing softly, "That, I think I can accept."

"Well then, right this way," he motions with a laugh, "And I'll get you to your dorm so you can set your stuff down. I do think you're gonna like it here."

"It's people, and here, it's people who don't know about my curse. Didn't use to be, but it is now." Dahlia sighs, shrugging. "It's only gonna be so good."

"Yeah, it's that, but kids here are understanding," Ben shrugs, nudging her. "They'll get over it. You know that. It is possible for you to just make friends."

"Whatever," Dahlia shrugs, sighing softly and nodding. "Yeah."

Ben sighs, shaking his head as they reach a door. "And, here you are. Dahlia White, room 239."

"Thanks, Ben," Dahlia smiles weakly, setting a hand on his shoulder. "Really. It means a lot. You're trying to make it normal and I do really appreciate it."

"Well, someone has to try," Ben shrugs. "Do you want me to show you around, for real? A lot of new students get lost pretty easily."

"No, no, it's fine," Dahlia shrugs. "Don't want someone to get the wrong impression."

"Dahlia--"

"I know, you say that it won't, you think people won't see it that way, but people get jealous if they perceive me with someone, Ben, it happens. Let the school get used to my existence first, okay?"

He sighs, frowning but nodding. "Okay. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything, okay?"

She sighs, smiling softly and hugging him. "Okay."

Pulling back, she heads into her room and closes the door, sighing and throwing her things onto a bed. Welcome to hell, Dahlia Edaline White, enjoy your stay.

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

“I… am still processing the events that took place in my office. And you shouldn’t be asking questions of everyone who was there right now. What happened recently was a lot to process and if everyone’s choosing to keep it private it’s not your business to be asking.” He’s firm, but kind, and means well. At least. “Look, when I’ve had time to work everything out with the important parties surrounding this and everyone involved, I’m sure I’ll be making an official speech. In the meantime, let’s stick with just about anything else.”

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

Open Starter: Free Time (Ben)

At least it’s not all homework, diplomacy, meetings, laws, and proclamations. Ben walks along the grounds of Auradon Prep with some genuine free time on his hands, a chance to do something he wanted, anything he actually wanted instead of something he had to do…

…and he had no idea what to do with it. He looks around as he walks, hoping the inspiration might strike him.

[nxttheendxfthestxryarch2]

Tag Dump - Ben