INSIDE MY DNA

sterling: yo...that whole nice guy persona shit i pulled was garbage dude

sterling: got me NO WHERE

sterling: wanna get fucked up tonight or are you tied down?

val: who or what would i possibly be tied down to?

val: as fucking if i’d get attached here

val: let’s do it. haven’t had a good night out in a while

For girls, Tati’s got to come in number one. Don’t really know who all else is here, but Jungle Chick is hot, I guess. Clara, too. 

For dudes, Sterling, Manu, and Nate. 

He sped up his pace, practically running down the sidewalk. It was late, the sun having dipped below the horizon quite some time ago. He shouldn’t be up at this time - finals were just around the bend and he had classes in the early morning, not to mention plans to get to the range for his last couple shooting sessions before winter conditions postponed outdoor archery for a bit. If it hadn’t been for the deadlines fast approaching on his freelance work, Callum would be tucked in bed back at his dorm, dead to the world. Instead here he was, rushing through Auradon City with a large portfolio bag slung over his shoulder and several A1 sheets rolled up in his arms. He had to go over these proofs for the graphic design work he’d promised for a local start up after they had decided they wanted something completely different than what was originally discussed - and all needed to be finished and altered before tomorrow evening. This job could set him up for a bit - sure it was a start up, but it was a meaty project for his portfolio and he had been lacking in some graphic work beyond the occasional menu design he’d done for local eateries. He couldn’t mess this up, which meant forgoing sleep and studying for finals in favor of completing this job. “This could really help ye with future endeavors,” he’d told himself when he first accepted it, and he couldn’t lose this opportunity now.

It was with this special task in mind that Callum found himself entering a diner, a practically empty one as he’d noted from the sidewalk. That meant it would be peaceful and quiet, just the kind of atmosphere he needed to get work done - and with the added bonus of getting a warm meal. He hadn’t even listened to the waiter who directed him to sit wherever he wanted - he’d been her enough to know he could seat himself. Taking a booth in the farthest corner, Cal was quick to unload his papers and pull out a sketchbook from his portfolio bag. He’d come here to work and that’s what he intended to do. Pulling out a graphite stick, he found an empty page in his sketchbook and began sketching and jotting down notes, using a red pen to circle and highlight things on the printed proofs he wanted to alter before the meeting tomorrow. He had almost forgotten he wasn’t alone until there was a looming presence over his shoulder and the slap of a laminated menu being dropped onto the table. Callum soared the menu a quick glance, reaching out to push it off of the papers it was covering. He’d barely registered the question, but knew instantly what he wanted. Almost as soon as the other male stopped speaking, he said, “Just get me a cuppa coffee. Quickly if ye can.” He spoke so swiftly and brusquely, he must have sounded as demanding as most other princely residents in Auradon City. Truth be told, Callum was feeling stressed, running his free hand through his curls and messing them up as he stared down at the papers before him. He really shouldn’t have taken on this type of client at the same time as finals - he still had his portrait final to finish as well as the final project for another art class - and it was slowly starting to weigh on him.

His brown eyes narrowed as the other kept their gaze so focused on the papers in front of them, seemingly not deeming Val worth looking up for, and when he riddled off his order, it took his utmost all not to grab him by his collar and force him to try and say that again. “Right away,” he muttered, fist clenching to his side as he turned away from him and went to get him that ‘cuppa coffee’ he had wanted. What was with it with all these princes who acted like they were so above common fucking decency? Cast away to pay the price for their parents’ sins didn’t mean they deserved to be treated as scum, and though the other man’s terse tone was mild in comparison to others that had crossed his path, it didn’t mean he was any less livid. Maybe if he had caught him on another day, during another time he would have just let it go, but as he walked back towards the table with the piping hot cup of coffee and a small bowl of creamers, he suddenly had an idea too tempting to pass up. 

Just when he reached his table, he purposely faltered in his step, and the contents of the cup spilled all over his papers, not a single one spared. Val was quick to act, pulling a rag from his apron in an effort to appear like he’d try to mop it up, but he only managed to make it worse. It took everything in him not to smile in unadulterated satisfaction at the mess he made, though he knew he alone would have to be the one to clean it up. It was well fuckin’ worth it in his opinion. “Shit, man, I hope none of that was important,” Val said as he met his eyes, though his words lacked even an ounce of sympathy, making it abundantly clear that it wasn’t a mere accident. Served him right for being such a dick. “Would hate for you to have lost everything.”

he had been working on that shop since he had only been on the mainland for two months. even though he was a vk, he knew his shit and they needed people. people willing to work ungodly hours and into the night. what option did they have? a full year having to deal with the idiots. the people he worked within the shop weren’t the worst. the clients, however… absolute dipshits. cleaning up much of the muck of the day, the citrus smell clinging to him, he left the shop behind. rolling into the city quietly Manu figured he could head home. eat whatever he had left in the fridge and call it a night. but there was a jittery feeling to his limbs. something he didn’t want to bring home with him, so instead he caught sight of the diner he was looking for and pulled in.

walking into the diner, he sighed a sigh of relief noting the amazing lack of people. still, he did what the voice calling out to him said. before something client in Manu’s mind of why the voice sounded familiar. looking at him at the one working the diner, he didn’t stop the tug of his lips when he noted it was Valentino. watching him, as he came over, he didn’t stop the scoff at the obvious attitude being thrown. he also couldn’t blame him. instead of giving him shit he shrugged, categorizing the tired look to his eyes behind the general ‘fed up’ vibe. “water’s good.” he wasn’t really in the mood for anything else. fuck he wasn’t in the mood for anything. “i thought you worked at the duckling. not here.” his hand gestured to the place around them with a lazy flick of the wrist. “needed a change of scenery?”

The lack of sleep fogged his brain, taking a moment longer than it should’ve to register that it was Manu sat in front of him. 

He blinked before he gave quick glance down to the apron he wore, suddenly all too self-conscious when reason settled in then and soothed his embarrassment, thinking, ‘As if he’d care. It isn’t like he’s looking at me any sort of way, anyway.’ “Water, yeah, got it,” he reiterated his order with a nod just as the other man spoke. “Duckling’s my day job,” Val answered with a half-hearted shrug. “Been workin’ here for the last month on the night shift, and it ain’t all bad.” If he didn’t include the fact that he hardly ever slept these days, emphasized by the dark circles under his eyes. “Got to make ends meet somehow, man,” he said, “guess King Jerk-Off didn’t think of how us VKs would be fucked once we got here, but what the hell’s new?”

He gestured for the other man to give him a second while he went to get him his water, bringing it back and setting it in front of him with a straw. “What're you doing out so late?” he asked. “And better yet,” Val remembered their run-in wasn’t as casual as he would’ve liked, pulling the notepad and pen from his apron, “what am I getting you to eat? Just a heads-up that the fish isn’t fresh, so I’d steer clear, unless you want a wicked case of food poisoning. Can’t fuckin’ sue my ass if I warned you.” The slightest upward tick of his lips formed his features as he uttered the last part, his tone teasing. 

Still, Val made it a point to find Mimi throughout parts of the night to see how she was -- undoubtedly was she enjoying the unparalleled glamour of the Roux castle in full-swing for a ball this size, but it was one of their first big events like this since they had arrived in Auradon. He wanted to ensure she’d be alright and that no one would try anything with her just because she was a VK, though Mimi had proven time and time again that she was more than capable of defending herself. 

Halfway through his glass of champagne -- he had lost count of how many he had had at this point, but still had his wits about him -- he found himself at her side and sparing only a glance at the surrounding royals, he turned to her and said, “You know, of all the princesses here, you’re the most beautiful tonight, Meems.” And he meant it. Every word. “It’s only a matter of time before you’re out here stylin’ all of ‘em. Gods know they’d need the help,” he muttered while watching a princess walk past them in a dress so unflattering, it had to be a joke. Val knew shit when it came to fashion, but even he knew one shouldn’t get dressed with their eyes closed. 

Tati had obviously been stuck in a rut since what went down during fight night, and frankly, Val didn’t see the big fuckin’ deal. Far worse had happened to those who dared to enter the ring on the isle, so some little fae with a torn wing was mild in comparison to what he had witnessed. But it weighed on Tati for more than he pretended to understand, so he took it upon himself to force her out to try to enjoy herself -- and if not, there would surely be an endless supply of top-shelf liquor at their disposal for the evening, so it’d be a win-win either way. When he finally got to her apartment, he gave a few quick rasps to her door and waited for her to answer, looking down the hallway as he tucked his hands into the pocket of his dress pants. He heard some shuffling behind the door before it swung open to reveal a terribly under-dressed Tatiana. He didn’t bother to mask the way he scrutinized what she wore, eyes doing a once-over of her appearance before his brow ticked upwards in question. “You’re wearing that?” 

Gods, he sounded like Cruella just then.

valentino de vil’s closet:

Manu: enough to be bored.

Manu: oh, i am a gentleman.

Manu: i don't have to like the people to make it through. they're fucking idiots.

Manu: let me ask you a question..

Manu: outside of being forced to stay somewhere, have you left the city?

Val: gentleman? i call bullshit.

Val: out of the city as in to the other kingdoms?

Val: no i haven't. i'm sure mimi would eat that shit up, but i haven't had the chance to. wouldn't even know where to start.

Mimi could immediately see him deflate when she started asking about him. Her brother was like that sometimes, always so focused on her that he always forgot about himself. it was sweet even if it did make her worry nearly all the time. She moved closer so she could rest her head on his shoulder. Looking down at his shoes, she frowned.

“I’m buying you a new pair. Those are terrible and I know you pulled them out of a dump aeons ago. I got my first order through my shop and I’m going to get you something! Anything you’ve been eying? Anything you need? Your little sister is here to help!”

She saluted him in the same way she had when she was little, following him around like he was the captain of her ship. Sometimes make believe was the only thing that got them through the days. Her favorite game had been any of the ones she was allowed to be picked up or tossed around like a small sack of potatoes. 

Well, to be fair that was still her favorite kind of game.

It was her turn to freeze when he mentioned The Isle. That place…that place was nothing to her anymore. It was hell and misery and trigger after trigger. That was not the kind of life she had ever wanted to live and now they didn’t have to. It broke her heart to know her brother couldn’t see that, couldn’t see that they could both be so much more than they had been there. He could go on to be the biggest chef that Auradon had ever known and they could live together in a house they bought, happy, healthy, content with no one to answer to but each other. They would show anyone, everyone, who had ever thought they were less by living the greatest lives anyone could imagine. Maybe Elle could be in a little house out back just for herself where she could blossom in the sunshine. That was the life she wanted, but it could not happen if he wasn’t part of it. A life without her brother would be misery in it’s truest form.

“I don’t…think I ever want to go back,” Mimi admitted softly. “I don’t want to see any of those people again. We’re past that. We’ve moved on. Val we’re both so much bigger than that place! What’s there to go back to? I’m here, you’re here, and Elle’s here. That’s enough, right?”

The thought that she was failing him was nearly heart breaking. He had given her to world and yet she could tell she was disappointing him.

No one had ever been as soft with him as his sister. He didn’t know if he even had it in him to ever let anyone but her so gently rest their head against his shoulder; he never liked anyone to get too close if he could help it. “Damn,” he said, clicking his tongue, “I make you a nice meal, and this is how you repay me? By saying my shoes look like shit?” He feigned hurt for a mere moment before he laughed, breaking from character to reassure her, “Nah, I don’t need anything.” Even if he did, it wasn’t as if he’d tell her. It wasn’t Mimi’s responsibility to worry over him. He’d bear what he could on his own shoulders to ensure hers were as light as could be. 

However, his smile dipped the moment he felt her tense at his side -- shit. Shit, shit, shit. While his mind raced on how he could reel her back from wherever she went when she went so quiet, he could feel his grip on the fork in his hand tighten. If he wasn’t careful, he knew it’d bend in half, which he had, admittedly, done one too many times back at home, when his anger teemed just under the surface as Cruella unleashed her maelstrom of insults upon him dipped in malice, fueled by her unrelenting disgust. That tended to end with plates crashing to the floor or a punch through the drywall, though, so he was doing well to keep himself in check considering.

“You’re enough,” he said, and that much was true. Had it not been for her, he wouldn’t have even considered leaving the isle for even a second, but he couldn’t bear the thought of being anywhere she wasn’t. “I’ll head back for just the weekend. Gotta bring over some stuff I forgot back there, but I’ll be here all week leading up to it, so you, me, and Elle can celebrate by doing whatever the fuck we’re supposed to do on Thanksgiving.” Sit around and talk about what they’re thankful for? Lame as fuck, but he kept that part to himself. “I can cook something. Or if you really want to give me a gift, maybe you’ll show me what you got in the kitchen. Been cravin’ something sweet. Maybe a pie? I don’t know. Surprise me -- that is, if you’re up for it, princess,” he taunted her only mildly, nudging her shoulder with his while he donned a grin he hoped appeared easygoing. 

It was no secret that a majority of the kids from the Isle had barely an ounce of sympathy in their bones, there were a select few he had seen switching up since they had gotten to Auradon, but he always knew Val wouldn’t be one of them. That’s why that got along, both of the boys were cold and heartless, strong in their own ways, and he pretty much expected the response he’d gotten back from his best friend the minute it came out of his mouth, “Ah, don’t flatter yourself man. Just tired of all these pussies around here crying over everything.” He explained with a smirk, tossing his bag to the side of the bench as he eyed Val. Least he kept himself in shape, he’d always respected his dedication to his fitness, showed a lot of promise that if he put his mind to something he’d chase after it. “Ah, well, the only prince I saw out in the ring was that Baron kid. Poor bastards first round was with Manu, he didn’t stand a chance.” Sterling informed him easily, leaning against the closest machine with a smirk, “But man was it nice to see King Mitch get his shit rocked. Where the hell were you anyways?” He questioned with a raise of his brow, head falling to the side as he tried to figure out what kept Val from something that was right up his ally.

The topic of Beatrice was one that he saw coming as well, and he chuckled a bit under his breath as he looked around, making sure no one else was here to disturb them. it seemed empty, no one to pop in and listen, “Ah, well, I wouldn’t say trying as much as succeeding. She finally let me hit on Halloween night. I’m telling you man, I never had to be this patient with a chick, it was damn near impossible.” He huffed out, shaking his head before shrugging, “But it’ll pay off once she drops that sweet little L word, which should be any day now. Trust me, I’m not getting soft.” At least, that’s what he was telling himself, even if every time he was with her she rendered him a little bit more weak than he’d care to admit. “Plan is simple, get her to fall for me, marry her, and be set with more royal connections than I could ever imagine.” He explained as if it was obvious before flashing him a devious grin, “Don’t worry though, you won’t lose me, I know you’re probably so worried, huh?” He was poking him now with a smirk, pushing off the machine before motioning to the weights, “Wanna spot me for old times sake?”

The name ‘Baron’ rang only the slightest of bells, but all the princes and princesses did little to differentiate themselves from one another, making it abundantly difficult to choose any one of them out of a line-up. However, he definitely knew of Manu, but made it a point to keep his features passive so as to not appear particularly too interested in what he had to say about him -- the last thing he wanted was for Sterling to shit all over him for the inconveniencing crush, for lack of better word, that he had on him, especially when it’d all amount to nothing at the end of the day. “Was workin’, man,” he said, arms crossing over his shoulders as he said, “not all of us can screw a princess and get a castle out of it.” While seemingly harsh, his rough words were smoothed with the slightest of smirks he donned, extending his arm to give a punch to Sterling’s shoulder. Atta-fuckin’-boy. “I knew it. I knew you had a plan you were working on, you asshole.” 

Because when didn’t Sterling have something up his sleeve? He was the brains of their entire operation back on the isle, though it wasn’t as if Val was stupid -- just not as patient enough to see things through to the end. But that’s where Sterling came in as his voice of reason, the one to warn him when it was time to pull back and when was the perfect moment to strike. “Are you kidding? I’ve been hoping to shake your dumbass off me for years now,” he said with a laugh, both knowing it was far from the truth. Val didn’t have many people he liked, but Sterling? Sterling had proven to be one of the few people he could tolerate long enough to form a feasible friendship with; on occasion, it was more than just that, but it still stood: Sterling was someone he’d look out for, and while his trust in the other man wavered on occasion, it didn’t deter his loyalty in the slightest. 

“Do you really gotta ask?” he said before gesturing to the bench. “Just shut up and get on your back, Christensen.” Not the first time he had said that to him, but he digressed. “Let’s see if you still got it. You’re lookin’ a little flabby there, man. No wonder your pasty ass didn’t get in that ring on Fight Night, you wouldn’t have stood a chance.” Most definitely was he only kidding around, but damn, did he get a kick out of riling Sterling up. 

She had been entirely focused on her work, being away from the Isle and not being able to let out her anger and destruction in the proper ways, meant she had to do things like this. An abandoned building, and if she got caught, she would use a simple distraction spell from her mother’s spell book and slip out the side before anyone was the wiser. There was a looming feeling though that someone was watching her and as she finished up the B in her mark, she gripped the spray paint can, all but ready to chuck it with full force at whoever had been spying on her. However, the voice that echoed through the empty space, now littered with broken glass and cracked wooden panels in her fit of rage, was a very familiar one. “Val.” She said smoothly, turning on her heel to point her body in his direction, one hand still occupied with the can, the other planting firmly on her hip as she raised a brow at him. “You can take the girl from the Isle but you can’t take the Isle from the girl, I suppose.” Tatiana explained, tossing the basically empty can to the ground with a shrug, long blonde locks moving over her shoulder as she sighed. 

“Yeah, I think that doing anything near what I did here to anyone around here would result in a one track ticket back to the Isle.” Pausing, she pursed her lips together and laughed a little under her breath, “Although, right now, that wouldn’t be the worst thing. Auradon fucking sucks.” She huffed out with a shake of her head, watching him near her now. Of course she knew Val, he was her best friend’s older brother obviously, not that him and Cleo were exactly close. But she’d seen him around, he’d seen her around, and they had an unspoken mutual respect towards one another. “What are you doing out here though, huh? Better yet, where were you on fight night?” It was a sensitive subject, that very night being the reason why there was a strain on her relationship with Cleo now, and also the very reason she was falling into a deep self loathing for damaging a fae’s wings….even if that very fae had made her blood boil time and time again.

His mouth parted to rebuke her words, but she had beat him to it with a similar sentiment -- what was so fuckin’ great about Auradon that was worth sticking around for, anyway? Frankly, the appeal was lost on him, and to an extent, it was a bout of relief that he wasn’t alone in his way of thinking given that seemingly every other VK he encountered was all too willing to bend over backwards to fit in. As if fitting in with these pompous assholes was what anyone in their right frame of mind should’ve striven for. “This place feels the closest to the isle I’ll get while I’m here,” he admitted, gesturing to the cracked, dilapidated walls, the shards of glass strewn about the floor. “Didn’t think you’d come and redecorate, but--” He affixed his gaze to the mark she had left on the wall behind her, the very one that’d come to be a staple around the isle that very clearly spelt out that this place was hers; no one had dared to argue her back then, and Val surely wouldn’t start now, especially given that she had earned what little respect he had to give after proving on more than one occasion that she was as much bark as she was bite. “--love what you did with the place,” he finished with the smallest tug of a grin on his lips. “I was... around.” His response was vague, punctuated with a shrug that indicated he wouldn’t elaborate. Val much more preferred she fill in the blanks on her own than have to admit aloud that he had spent fight night in the kitchen of the dingy diner he worked in during the evenings. He wanted to still appear every bit as intimidating, even if his fall from grace since arriving to Auradon had forced him to keep his head down, so as to not draw attention to how utterly pathetic he felt. “Heard what happened, though,” he said. “You won, didn’t you? So, why does it seem like you’ve been fuckin’ moping since then?"

Seriously, how the hell would he, or any of the VKs, make it in Auradon when everything was so damn expensive? They weren’t born with a silver spoon up their asses like the rest of the royal inbreds, so Val felt the pressure to work twice as hard to be only half as comfortable. He had gotten off his first shift at the Duckling and was well into his shift at the diner now when he heard a familiar chime over the door that signaled to him that someone had come in. The place was relatively empty now after a loud, drunken crowd of AU students had stumbled out after ordering an exasperatedly large amount of food that they only barely touched, topping the whole shitty interaction off with a tip so small he had half the nerve to throw it back in their faces. He didn’t, though. He had to scrounge what he could if he’d ever buy anything his sister would like for the holidays, so if it meant swallowing back the urge to throttle a couple of asshole customers, then so fucking be it. 

“Sit wherever you want,” he said as he kept his eyes downcast, finishing up with what he was doing. Once he was done and cleaned up, he grabbed the menu and approached the customer, wondering just where he could find a couple of pills to pop that’d ease his headache when he settled in front of the table and, in lieu of a greeting, handed them the laminated menu and said, “What do you want?” raising his gaze only then to finally look to see who he was talking to. Okay, perhaps he could’ve said it a little nicer, but he was tired and his head hurt. Sue him. Besides, it was way past an appropriate time to expect to get the cheery, ass-kissing waiter who still somehow had the will to live, so it’s not like they didn’t know what they were getting. “To drink,” he clarified, “what do you want to drink?”

Manu: see you would think that but these kids got a weird thing for villain kids.

Manu: a kink if you will.

Manu: look at all the main princes and princesses snagging them all up. had to try a flavor or two. i was practically compelled.

Manu: but on the real, how you been? you holding up okay in this overly bright and glittery place?

Val: oh? and what flavors have you tried, eh?

Val: or are you more of a 'don't fuck and tell'?

Val: on the real, i fucking hate this place and all who inhabit it.

Val: if not for mimi, i would be back on the isle, happy as a gods damn clam. or as happy as you can be there, i guess.

Val: i had to head back home during break just to keep my head on straight.