once upon a dream

The amount of times Rose passed through Phillip's mind became less frequent, and though it pained him to let her go, he had to. His days were now concerned with his father, business deals, and his upcoming marriage, they didn't leave much room for pining, especially not for pining girls who were also engaged to someone else. It was a unique torment to think of her that much anyway, the feelings that never seemed to diminish didn't have any place in his life. So Phillip went on with his routines, hoping that there could be a day when his longing wouldn't plague him, that day certainly didn't feel like it was coming up anytime soon but he believed it was possible.

It was a certain acceptance for him to even want that to happen when just a year ago he clung onto every minute he could share with Rose like his life depended on it. However, the resignation to an easier life did already make a difference to the sight of the familiar blonde. It was bittersweet seeing her just as it had been for the past year but with some sense that both their futures could be alright, it wasn't as unbearable. Phillip gave her arm a light nudge as he inched closer and gave his usual polite greeting. "It's good to see you again," his words were genuine as was the smile on his face. "You look much better than you were in the hospital, I'm glad you recovered alright."

As she filled her empty glass with a colored beverage from an array across a table, Aurora felt a small tap on her arm, coming from none other than the boy whom she'd been both hoping and dreading to see. "Good evening," she greeted politely, a natural smile coming to her lips as she caught sight of him. He looked painfully handsome, an exact picture of the kind of husband she'd dreamt for herself as a girl. "Thank you, I'm glad I did, too. Luckily, I had my aunts to help nurse me back to health." She paused, not wanting to come to the sad conclusion they had to so soon, but knowing it might be easier to begin with the stipulation that this might be their last conversation. "I was hoping I'd see you here, actually. There's something I wanted to talk to you about." Aurora paused, only taking a small sip of her drink to give her a moment and gather the courage to speak. "I believe I'm meeting my fiance soon."

Her positivity was something Mal admired in her, wondering how long she could have that outlook on life until the harsh realities of the world soured it. The fae herself had once experienced a life where she saw the world as her oyster and that everything had a reasonable purpose. That mindset was ripped from her as was her mother's wings. While it was Aurora's father that Maleficent had to thank for that, this wasn't the time to start revealing her own tragic backstory. "Doesn't mean they shouldn't also be making sure you're alright." It was a job she'd taken on herself, plotting herself beside the bed with her eggroll still in hand. "Of course, my treat." There was a lot more coming but she reserved her thoughts for after the blonde had eaten something. Instead, the conversation shifted to the very thing that had brought Aurora into harm's way which the raven-haired woman knew more about than she let on at first. It was time she knew the truth or at least, that part of it and the reality many of the Isle residences faced. "Not the individuals but the group behind it is that of hunters," she began, finishing the snack she'd snagged. "This isn't the first time and it won't be the last. They usually only want those who are different, who are... magically inclined, if you will." That was one way of putting it but from the very same curse she'd placed, she knew Aurora would understand. "This is the first time I've seen them take so many risks by opening fire with so many humans around but it shows promise for the borders opening. Something good to come of this unnecessary slaughter, I suppose." Though Mal didn't see it as quite an even trade, they needed the breakthrough.

Had he not been worrying over his own father's health, perhaps he would have gone to the festival. Instead, his efforts over the last few days had been towards begging a sick man to change the plans for his marriage. Phillip had been hoping that with his father's illness worsening, perhaps there would be some compassion could come about. That just maybe, by some miracle, his father would gain some sense into seeing how forcing his only son into marriage might be foolish. But rather than postponing the wedding for his own wishes, it had been for not wanting to have the festival's attacks to overshadow the wedding. His thoughts had been too set on his father when they should be dedicated towards his present company, "I do hope your injuries weren't targeted by anyone in particular. But If you do not wish to talk about that night, I understand completely."

He was perhaps one of the only people with whom she did feel safe to discuss the events of the night. Aurora had always felt that way around Phillip, never stopping to worry about his intentions with her. "No, I was simply trying to leave, and I wound up sustaining a terrible fall, and ... there were people everywhere, trying to go out this small exit, which turned out to be a rather large hazard," she explained. It was simply a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, unfortunately for the blonde. "But, otherwise, everything is well. My parents did come by, briefly, though really only to tell me that we'll be discussing my engagement once I'm released, and home," Aurora admitted; despite the prior knowledge from Mal that she would be married soon, it was the first she'd heard it confirmed from her parents themselves.

༝༝༝ ⚰ ༝༝༝

Things had changed. Maleficent's motives were shifting and her plan to manipulate the blonde had now taken a different form. While what initially were preparations to learn everything she could about the girl to destroy the very ground she walked on had become quite the opposite. When Mal caught word that she'd been hurt in the attack not a moment was spared, coming to her room once the sun had vanished from the sky and the waiting room had faded to only a few stragglers. There had been no sign of Stephen himself, not to anyone's surprise that he hadn't come by to visit his only child, the man not giving his time for even her. Now it was the very woman who wanted him dead that stood at his daughter's bedside. "The food here is abysmal," the raven-haired woman said while setting a sack of Chinese Takeout on the overbed table. "How are you feeling? I hear it was quite the fireworks show today." A mild way of putting the tragedy that had actually occurred; Mal still unsurprised by the evergoing war between those like her and the hunters who wanted to mount them. "Just goes to show that the hunters are the real monsters out there if you ask me," she quipped while snagging a vegetable eggroll from the bag.

He'd sped up enough that he'd been able to catch up in her path before she could, finally under the cold hospital lights he'd been able to see her in the close proximity he'd been missing for the months now. "I apologize, I am aware we agreed that we wouldn't see each other again but I had to know if you were alright. I've gone to every clinic searching for you but none of them had your name in their system. This one didn't either..." He knew it didn't help that he didn't have her last name but certainly the system had to have something under 'Rose'. But Phillip didn't let this confusion take away his focus from the fact that she had been injured. "Are you alright? Shouldn't you be resting? Why are you out of your room?"

"You came to find me," she stated the obvious, the gesture one that she was wrapping her head around. He still thought of her as she did of him--perhaps she would've taken the same mission had she not been stuck in her own hospital room. "I'm alright, I just needed to get out of there--my room, I mean. It's terribly lonely, and I'd just finished my book," Aurora explained, peering over her shoulder to be sure that none of her nurses were looking for her after she'd managed to slip out. "You certainly don't have to stay on my account, though, I--I should probably be getting back to my room, before I'm in trouble with the nurse."

༝༝༝ ⚰ ༝༝༝

Perhaps it was risky bringing her enemy's daughter into her place of business but other things were at play. She'd been peeling back layers of understanding to see if Aurora possessed the same vicious nature as her father. That's how she determined the girl was a victim all the same, having not suffered a loss of physical wings but her ability to fly. Maleficent had determined now that she wished to open an opportunity up to the blonde. What future might await them after this meeting was unknown but she knew this would act as a starting point. Many of her employees had gone home for the night besides those guarding the entry points, including escorting her guest into the office. The raven-haired woman got to her feet, moving around her desk like a snake in the grass so that she could formally greet her. "Welcome to Chaneque Oil. Please, make yourself comfortable," she said while gesturing for her to take a seat. "Thank you for coming by. What do you want to drink? I usually finish my day off with a brandy myself." Mal had already made her way to the bar cart to prepare a glass for herself along with whatever her guest requested. "I make sure it's always stocked, you never know what kind of drink the day calls for."

Gaston had his usual flowers at hand, ones LeFou had picked because he couldn't be bothered to drop by a flower shop to buy such delicate items of waste anyway. He didn't understand why flowers had to be something women considered romantic, but perhaps he'd play the game as long as Belle found it charming. Despite his antics with many women, he was still set on marrying Belle, and he didn't care how long it took. After all, he was also taking his time enjoying his experience as a bachelor anyway.

Upon opening the door, the front desk was empty, so he looked around for the brunette beauty until he stumbled upon someone familiar instead. With his flower in hand, he figured he'd mess with her. She was too gullible for her own good, and he wanted to have some fun.

"Hey, fiancée," he teased, offering the flowers to Aurora. Though she wasn't the one he was going to marry, Gaston assumed she would believe it if he said she was. Was it a sick prank? Definitely. Did he enjoy it? More than ever. "What's that look on your face? Aren't you happy to see me?" he chuckled slightly.

“I’m sorry?” Aurora asked, praying this wasn’t truly him. She’d hoped for someone more kind looking, perhaps like Phillip. Someone who could take care of her through the years, and wouldn’t approach her out of the blue to ruin her parents’ plan. “No, you—I’m sorry, you can’t be. Did my parents send you? Nor that … if you’re telling the truth, I’m so sorry, but I just have to verify, that you know who I am, and you're telling the truth."

Morie had been unusually upbeat lately. Suffice to say, he was infatuated—delighted—and it felt as if his heart was now truly alive, even after all these years. While tasked with checking up on Aurora, he figured he wouldn’t bother hiding this time. Morie set out to greet her during her random walks, completely unbothered by his spontaneous presence.

"Hi, Aurora," he greeted, nonchalant yet still exuding positivity. Aurora, as usual, returned his greeting and began to ask questions. "You know what? I heard there’s a festival in town. They’re talking about magic stones and tarot cards," Morie said, sounding oddly excited, but he was simply trying to make his job easier for himself. If he was to watch over her, he might as well spend some time with her. "I've always been curious. Do you want to know your make-believe fate with me?" he asked, smiling slightly.

“Morie,” she greeted with a grin, her walk barely taking her out of the forest before he could suggest that they find their way somewhere else. Aurora had read quite a few books in her time in the cottage, including some things about the stars, though she hadn’t found enough significant to warrant needing someone examining her own readings. “I could come with you to see your readings,” she offered. “I’d love to know your make-believe, yes. Sounds rather exciting to me.” With little control over her future to begin with, Aurora didn't know if she wanted to meddle with someone who could predict it for her. "Where's this festival being held?"

Maleficent wished it was so easy to open one's eyes to the truth but after years of being told one version of the story, it becomes difficult to believe another. She knew the unveiling of what lay behind the curtain could bring about chaos but their daughter deserved to know. There was blood on her parents' hands and she could see clearly now that even Aurora wasn't safe from them. In fact, the blonde had her wings clipped too as she was forced to participate in their narrative for her instead of her own. Mal gave a deep exhale at the words she couldn't agree with. "I think that's not for anyone else to decide but what do I know?" A tight smile formed to keep the true thoughts to herself.

She nodded in understanding at the explanation of what brought forth this marriage. There was motive in everything even making your child marry someone they didn't love. "Interesting that they think that marriage was a business arrangement of that sort." She figured any relationship with only that basis wouldn't end well. Still, it wasn't her place to say her opinions so outright, there would be time for that later. "And that's what you want, I assume? To take over and grow the company? You don't really need a man to do that though, do you?" Just because it was their dream for Aurora didn't mean she needed to agree. Mal had experienced something similar but she had been able to take over on her own and expand where her father couldn't. "It's quite alright," she assured her with a more genuine smile than the one she had on before. "I have been, yes. Only once but now that seems like forever ago. Since then I've only been comitted to my work." That was something that she never had to worry about leaving her.

It was admirable, for her to have committed so much to her work instead of a personal life. Aurora felt like she had the exact opposite issue, never having kept a job and her entire future riding on who she was going to marry. "Well, I think the best life would probably have a balance of the two. But, I don't think you need romantic love to be happy--I just mean something else that fills your soul. That's what I thought marriage might do for me, but, if I'll have to grow to love him, then, perhaps, I'll fill my time with other interests, or passions." At least, that's what she'd been telling herself, in the time since she and Phillip had to part.