I Don't Wanna Waste My Time

Affiliated with AskStoryKidsHQ. Eldest daughter of Aurora & Phillip. (Written by Destini.)

[askstorykids-hq]

Welcome to the idyllic town of Addersfield, located on History Island in Auradon, home of Illedale University.

Students here are children of some rather famous faces. And some have made fame in their own right, like King Ben or the Lady Mal. We’re proud to boast a diverse student culture and a rich history–

[–and that’s enough of THAT broadcast! Is this thing on? Hello? Can you hear me?

Good. I’ll warn ya right now, everybody– if you thought Auradon Prep was wild, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Illedale is bigger, meaner, and with the past not so distant to us, tensions can run pretty high around here.

‘Course, you probably know the story by now. When preparing for his coronation, King Ben declared his first royal proclamation to allow over 4 VKs from the Isle of the Lost to come to the city. After a whole showdown about good and evil, the four integrated into Auradon society pretty well, and then after drama at Cotillion, Mowgli rallied the Auradon people to fight for the disbandment of the Isle, sending the villains to rehab and their kids to Auradon Prep.

Catching you up since graduation, pretty much all of us ended up moving to Addersfield for higher education in Auradon’s system– cuz man, I gotta tell ya, it’s a lot better in Auradon than it is anywhere else. Well, ‘cept for all the evil takeovers, I guess.

But not everyone’s cut out for college itself. The nice thing about Addersfield is that it’s all a pretty tight-knit community based around the school itself. More of a college township, as it were. So some of AP’s graduates moved to town to work with a crowd they know well.

I can’t stay much longer, but don’t let the stuffy advertising fool ya about this place, folks! We’re a lot more than what the surface wants to pretend. I’d drop your application while you can if I were in your shoes! This is P. Warner, sending you right back to your regularly scheduled programming!]

–and enroll in your future today at Illedale University, where the story starts anew.

[ima-queenbee]

asktheparanoidone​:

Par would never admit to being afraid. Especially not of pretty pink princess she could take in a fight no questions asked. But this was different, and Pity had begged her to at least try to get along with Taylor.

She really did want to, but the name Costa still left a sour taste in her mouth after what Audrey had done. Par wasn’t even sure Taylor knew what happened because of their forced return to the Isle.

Her mind snapped back to the present as the other girl noticed her, “Oh, I’m Paranoia. I’m finally back and thought I should introduce myself.” She held out a hand for a firm handshake. This would go well even if it killed her.

Paranoia.

FUCK!

Taylor jumps up and shakes her hand quickly, smiling brightly. “It’s so good to finally meet you. Taylor, but-- but I’m sure you probably knew that, and-- and that’s not meant to be an ego thing, it’s just a, it’s, uh... yeah, you probably get it.”

Oh this is going swimmingly. She was not ready for this. Oh boy. “I’ve heard good things about you and I have been looking forward to meeting you, really.”

[ima-queenbee]

Open Starter: Just Own It

Taylor checks her makeup in a compact and frowns, getting into her bag and grabbing her lipstick to touch it up. Satisfied with that, she puts up both the lipstick and the compact, her attention returning to her notes as she picks up a highlighter and goes back to annotating them.

While she is, though, she becomes aware that someone’s eyes are on her. That’s nothing too unusual to her, but she looks up to find the source quickly and smiles sweetly. “Can I help you?”

[ima-queenbee]

ofstcriestold​:

“I can’t help but feel like you have more than just a ‘general idea’ of this school,” Malik replies. His expression slides easily into a smile at the end, crooked on his face but no less bright for it. He hefts his backpack and moves to follow her, taking note of the winding corridors as they pass through them. 

“After all, one learns a place after YEARS of it–in and out or otherwise. You’re not the sort of person to pretend to know less than they actually do, are you? I thought you would be more honest than that, all things considered.”

Taylor clears her throat. “Actually, there’s an explanation for that. Pretty sure you’re right... or, at least, that I used to.”

She looks back at him. “When my sister cast her curse, well... Merryweather explained it like this: my family doesn’t have natural magic, but what Audrey did was aided by Maleficent’s scepter, and she’s never wielded any kind of magic before. Because of that, the spell had more chances to go awry, especially when more variables came into play.”

She shrugs. “For some students here, all she did was erase their general memories of the VKs. But then for kids like me... I was close with a VK when she cast it, so it took more effort and had more chances to screw me up. I know I’ve spent years here and I should know it like the back of my own hand. But some of my memories of this place are... hazy, or sometimes all I see is dark pink, like her magic was when she did what she did. With time, Merryweather thinks it’ll clear up. But until then, while I have a general idea of things, I don’t know this place the way I should.”

She wrinkles her nose a bit. “Does that make sense?”

[ima-queenbee]

ofstcriestold​:

“Ah…oh, now that you mention it, it does kind of ring a bell.”

“That was your sister? Interesting….” And by interesting, he means CONTEMPTIBLE, not that the sentiment is anywhere to be found in his face or voice. The incident had happened, sure–but he had still been one of the many trapped on the Isle, so it hadn’t really meant much to him at the time, if it had meant anything.

But it’s only so many empty words: recounting a tale, not reliving it. He smiles at Taylor and glances over her shoulder, raising his eyebrows and looking back at her.

“Perhaps we should move this conversation elsewhere–like the courtyard? I haven’t gotten to see as much of the campus as I would like, and you seem like the sort of princess who would know her way around it pretty well.” He trades empty words for empty words, hollow flattery that still bubbles bright as the truth when it passes his lips.

Taylor nods with a soft sigh. “That was my sister.”

And she still is. Audrey always had her back, and she always had Audrey’s back, growing up. Everything that happened... she doesn’t want to blame Audrey. She can’t. She needs to protect her.

At his mention of moving their conversation elsewhere, she nods, taking the flattery at face value and smiling sweetly. “I would love to. I mean, I’ve been in and out of here for years-- I alternate a lot between castle-schooling for diplomatic lessons and regular schooling for everything else-- but I’ve been around enough to know the general idea.”

[askthepitifulone]

❝ I could have died! ❞ -ima-queenbee

"I had everything under control." He smiled as he put the car in park. Pity officially got his license and wanted to take Taylor out on an actual date to celebrate. He wasn't sure what about his driving particularly scared her, but he thought he did okay. "I'm sorry I scared you; I'm trying my best."

@ima-queenbee

[ima-queenbee]

askthepitifulone​:

“You’re not an idiot.” He beams at the kiss. “You’re not used to it; you’re allowed to be a little scared. I know when I first got behind the wheel I was terrified, but it’s fun once you get the hang of it.” He pats her hand and then rushes to get out of the car so he can open her door for her.

“M'lady,” he does a little bow as he gets her door.

“Oh, now you’re just getting even,” Taylor teases, giggling at him as she climbs out. “But I’d deserve it, and I’m going to take this at face value and call you a gentleman.”

She smiles softly and looks around curiously, wondering what exactly it was Pity had in mind for this date.

[askthepitifulone]

❝ I could have died! ❞ -ima-queenbee

"I had everything under control." He smiled as he put the car in park. Pity officially got his license and wanted to take Taylor out on an actual date to celebrate. He wasn't sure what about his driving particularly scared her, but he thought he did okay. "I'm sorry I scared you; I'm trying my best."

@ima-queenbee

[ima-queenbee]

“I... am an idiot,” Taylor admits, leaning over and kissing his cheek. “Usually, cars I’m in don’t actually do speed limit, in part to allow the old-fashioned ‘waved out the window’ thing, in part just to give my family space to breathe. The speed terrified me and I slipped back to my dramatics. You’re doing amazing, I promise you. I really should learn to drive, too. Maybe it’ll get me used to that.”

[ima-queenbee]

“I’m done being a damsel in distress. You can’t make fire afraid.”

[ima-queenbee]

ofstcriestold​:

“Oh? A misbehaving sister? I can relate.” Malik smiles, sly and cocky and somehow self-depreciating all at once–an expression which, more than once, made Haroud wonder if he wasn’t really the son of the streetrat-turned-prince. A charming expression, or so he’s heard said.

“What did yours do?”

Taylor looks at him, a bit taken aback that he’d even asked. Most people just... knew.

“Audrey... snapped, and uh, stole Maleficent’s scepter from the museum and used it to send the villains and the VKs back to the Isle, re-established the barrier, and erased the memories of everyone in Auradon that the Isle was taken down and everything. She was angry... her life was planned out for her since she was born, so when Mal came in and changed all of that... I guess she felt directionless and lost and angry that she’d been usurped. Our grandmother wasn’t very helpful with the whole thing, honestly. In any case, the VKs stopped her, and broke her various spells and got everything back on track.”

She’s careful not to talk about how she feels about things herself. It’s not that she agrees with Audrey-- not at all, and she’ll never condone what happened, but Audrey is her sister. Audrey has always had her back, she’d always had Audrey’s back. And saying that isn’t popular for other VKs. So she doesn’t say it.

[askstorykidshqnews]

Hello again, my lovely little friends. I come bearing more news. Taylor Costa has admitted to outright pitying the VK's - and to using that pity to deal with them. Kind of insulting, don't you think?

... She's not pitying VK's, she's dating a VK named Pity

- Pity

[ima-queenbee]

You’re damn right I am!

[ima-queenbee]

ofstcriestold​:

“Ah–well. I apologize for making assumptions, then.”

“I didn’t have much contact with Pity, but anyone who can teach a Princess of Auradon to look more kindly upon the children of her parents’ enemies is someone noble indeed. You must be very proud of him.”

Taylor giggles. “It’s all right. I’ll admit it didn’t really sound right initially.”

Smiling, though, she shrugs and nods. “He’s been amazing. I’m incredibly grateful to him for everything he’s taught me, and I’m lucky he’s been there while I’m figuring this out. Especially after what my sister did.”

Shrugging, she sighs. “He doesn’t really see it as a big deal, but, I digress.”

[ima-queenbee]

ofstcriestold​:

Pity. He gives a stunned half-laugh when the word slips through Taylor’s lips, somewhat…incredulous that, even if it is truth, it should slip out in front of him. It’s a cruel thing to say, after all–and cruelty, for all that it seemed the way of Auradon, hadn’t struck him as being Taylor’s way.

“Pity is…a most unusual tutor, but I fear not a rare one,” he says slowly, gathering his wits back about him following the abrasiveness of her answer.

“I must confess, though, it’s…–hurtful, to hear your only instructor in unlearning bias is pity. Compassion is an excellent quality, but used this way it sounds…condescending. I would advise you not to inform any other VK’s about your disposition towards us. We’re not all so ready to return insults with kindness.”

"...not to derail." Taylor bites her lip, trying to keep her amusement together. "But I'm talking about the son of Pain and Panic. Pity. My boyfriend."

Her eyes betray the amusement she's trying to keep buried. "You put that really eloquently, and I don't at all mean to discount it just because of the misunderstanding. But I felt like you should know."

[ima-queenbee]

Open Starter: Over It

Taylor touches up her lipstick in the mirror she’d hung in her locker, rolling her lips and nodding as she puts it back up, closing the locker to find someone standing there. She rests her weight on one foot, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow slowly at them and very slowly asks, “Yes? Is there something you want?”

Okay, so she’s got a lot to learn still, and she’ll work on it. Taylor shakes her head and briefly corrects, “Sorry, it’s just, you look like you’ve been standing there waiting for the opening.”

[ima-queenbee]

Tag Dump 2.0

[ima-queenbee]

ofstcriestold​:

“Ah–my apologies. My intention wasn’t to flirt with you, only to pay my respects to you.”

And it’s true enough, in its own way. He hadn’t directly intended to flirt–but he has certainly left the floor open to such an interpretation, should the opportunity arise. It needn’t always be taken.

Taylor draws attention to the choker but it means as little to Malik as Auroria does: it is nothing to hold his interest, even slightly, even obscurely, save the small, secret, scholarly side of him. He smiles pleasantly for Taylor and extends his hand.

“Malik Mal, son of a thief. Though I fear my title is far less grand than yours,” he says, smile sliding into a self-debasing smirk in faux-embarrassment. “I’ve only just arrived here, and already you have been among the kindest in greeting me. I thought Auradon was meant to be fair in its dealings with us now, yet you are the first and so far only proof that it will be.”

She notices the smooth cover, chuckling lightly. “Smooth,” as she shakes his hand, shaking it politely.

“We’ve had an uptick in that,” Taylor admits carefully, trying to remember and check her childhood bias. “But it was always an issue here, even, or perhaps most especially, with other princesses. It comes with the raising, we want to believe we’re fair, but our parents raised us not only with an implicit bias, but in a lot of cases, to ‘live a better life than they ever had’. My own mother, Aurora, held that belief strongly with my sister and I-- we wanted for absolutely nothing growing up, and our lives were practically planned out for us, so the changes haven’t always been easy. I’m learning to work through my own biases. Pity helps greatly in that respect, but I still have a lot to learn.”

[askthepitifulone]

Taylor runs in without barely bothering to knock, tackling him in a hug. "...hi. I missed you." -hxw-tobea-hcartbrcakcr

Pity stumbles back, but does his best to catch her. "I missed you too." He hugs her tightly. "How'd you even know I was back?"

@hxw-tobea-hcartbrcakcr

[ima-queenbee]

askthepitifulone​:

“I am back.” He can’t help but just beam at her for a second. Her smile and her excitement just add to how absolutely wonderful and beautiful he sees her. “Tell me everything, what’ve I missed?”

“Well... I don’t really know what to say, but something went horribly wrong, some kid went bad or something, all I know is a lot of students left over it. Audrey and I were starting to make up, but... then our parents’ whole ‘disowned’ thing caught up to her and she had to go because she’s not paying tuition. So. I’m just... making through, day-to-day stuff at this point. There hasn’t been a lot going on lately.”

Taylor bites her lip, looking downcast, but then she cheers back up. “Oh! But I’m finally figuring out how to... stand up, about things. Like with the other students wanting to bug me about what Audrey did.”

[askthepitifulone]

Taylor runs in without barely bothering to knock, tackling him in a hug. "...hi. I missed you." -hxw-tobea-hcartbrcakcr

Pity stumbles back, but does his best to catch her. "I missed you too." He hugs her tightly. "How'd you even know I was back?"

@hxw-tobea-hcartbrcakcr

[ima-queenbee]

“I may or may not have kept tabs weekly on the incoming students, that’s not the point, the point is you’re back!” Taylor smiles happily at him, pulling back and reflexively reaching up to adjust the foam rose on the end of the needle she’s wearing around her neck. “I’m so glad you’re back, things have been... hard, around here.”