Chapter Text
a/n: this is a dip into some old notes and spare scenes (canon or non-canon) that i had sitting in my drafts :)
ACT 1:
the original character descriptions!:
Minho is basically a wall of ice, stubborn and quiet. He's also unaware of the power he has inherited from his parents, due to no magic on the Isle. However, he's still the front runner to the majority of gangs on the Isle and tries his best to be cruel and evil as his mother intends. He's stuck between what he feels may be what he desires and making his mother proud, but in the end, always sticks to trying to impress her. He's not much of a team player, in fact, he'd rather spend his time alone, fight alone, do everything alone.
Chan is a flirty and bubbly person, but his mother programmed him to be this way as she's convinced him that beauty is the only important thing about him. So ofcourse, he uses that to his advantage. Chan particularly flirts with boys, but he's not one to discriminate and flirts with anything that breathes. Whether it's out of genuine interest in someone or because he has something to gain, he's become an expert at swooning hearts! Known as Minho's right hand man, but also the Isle's very own heartbreaker. Chan cares very openly for his friends, Minho, Changbin, and Felix. Say what you will about him, but his only objectives are to look good and have fun!
Changbin is your average con-man and world-class thief. He prides himself on finding and stealing wares for his father's shop. He's quiet when it's just him and his friends, but put him out anywhere else and he's got a big, straight-forward mouth. He's constantly getting into fights and always wins them, he also prides himself in his muscles. He's quick on his feet, strong, and confident. Something to the envy of many others. He cares deeply for his three friends, but emotions are never his forte. It's fists first and thinking later, how else could he survive?
Felix is an anxious and jumpy person. An unfortunate mama's boy, since he's forced to take care of her because of her blatant resistance to do so herself. He's very used to her psychotic tendencies and grew up being fed lies about dogs to the point where he has an intense fear of them. Despite his mother's hot and cold parenting, Felix is a very loving kid and cares a lot for his friends. Felix is a very fast learner and reads whenever he can. There's not much that people say about him, besides that he's a coward and the weakest of the main four. Felix tries his best to be invisible, but often ends up as someone's target practice or punching bag.
Jisung is very ambitious and knowledgeable, as his mother inspires him to be. Jisung is next in line for the kingdom of Auradon's throne and though his parents are overall supportive, his first ambition is to create peace between Auradon and The Isle of the Lost. Which they aren't too fond of. His heart is that of gold and he truly wants to see the best in everyone, even when those people may create caution in others. Jisung also struggles with social anxiety, despite his status and being exposed to adoring crowds since he was very young.
Seungmin takes well after both his very charming parents, but often feels constricted to being known as just a pretty face. Seungmin excels at school, is top of his class with Jisung right on his tail. He is the image of sass and tells people things as they are. Seungmin is someone who works beside Jisung for reform of the Isle, in hopes for peace. He plans to abdicate from his own throne to be a top official and advisor for Jisung, which his parents are more than proud of him for. On top of his skills in school work and politics, Seungmin is an athlete and co-captains for the Auradon Prep Tourney team!
Jeongin is known to hold high to his families virtues as he is loyal, brave, and true. Jeongin is tough and soft, smooth, yet clumsy. His mother finds him ever endearing as he is like the embodiment of Yin & Yang. Jeongin, like his friends, is the definition of what a man written by a woman is. He is kind and gentlemanly, taking care to give voices to those who are unable to find their own sound. He does excellently in school and participates in fencing when the season comes around, but otherwise, he plays in the band and acts as the school mascot for pep rallies and other games when he can. Jeongin may seem like a sweetheart, but he is not one to be trifled with and he makes his mom proud every day.
Jihyo, being the daughter of THE sleeping beauty, takes a lot of pride in her image! She's sweet and kind, but humble isn't really in her vocabulary! Jihyo is head cheerleader, student body secretary, and overall the most popular girl in school. Her parents and Jisung's parents set them up on a date way back when and now they are together romantically. Again, she's not very humble, so having Jisung as her lover creates even more of a chance for her to go on a bragging spree. Jihyo, despite being very spoiled and mean at times, is a very bubbly person who just wants to be ... the fairest of them all.
a/n: just re-reading these, it makes my heart feel all fuzzy knowing how far these characters have come TT (hyunjins actually got deleted, i remember being so devastated back then *sobs*)
fun fact! #1: did you know jeongin was originally meant to show the VKs to their rooms in chapter two?
jeongin was originally meant to be flustered like dopey's son in the movie, but .. then i realized having seungmin in that place made more sense!
a chapter 5 out-take, back when the vks are in the forest with Helena:
"I'd have to say designing clothes! And modeling ofcourse, but it's been my dream for forever to design clothes for all kinds of people."
Helena's smile brightened at that, "That makes sense! Your sense of style is one to admire! What inspired all this ambition?"
Chan's bubbly energy stuttered a moment. He'd thought saying it was his dream was good enough reason, but quickly realized that's not really answering the question. Ofcourse Chan knew why, but it was such a .. uncomfortable reason that he rarely talked about.
"You ... You promise that's what is said here won't be said .. anywhere else?" Chan mumbled nervously.
Helena's face grew serious before she nodded her head. "Of course, it's confidential here and we're miles away from campus. Speak whatever is on your mind."
Chan sighed, looking at Minho and the others. Hoping they wouldn't be disappointed in his answer. "Children on the Isle have nothing. Barely anything on their cold backs or shoes to keep their feet protected. When you live on the Isle.."
"You steal to survive, you learn things to keep yourself and sometimes your parent at ease. I learned housework to help my mother around the house and I learned to sew .. so that I could, maybe, someday, help those children. My mother hates me for that part of me so .. I try not to talk about it."
"I just want her to be proud of me."
Chan looked around, suddenly very aware of what he said. "I-I mean- Ofcourse she's proud. I'm beautiful, second to her, so why would I need to care for anything .. else..."
Chan trailed off when he noticed the looks he was getting. Minho put a hand on Chan's shoulder gently, but when Chan turned to look at him his hand was immediately gone. His eyes were unreadable, like that look that Seungmin had when talking about Jisung.
"Don't look at me like that, i-it's fine."
Minho wasn't sure what to say, he's not good with emotions, but he hated hearing his best friend insulting himself like this. "Chan, I don't really know what to say to you, but screw your mom. Grimhilde shouldn't dictate your personality just for her praise."
"I think it's pretty badass to want to clothe the ones the whole world has deemed as evil."
Felix appeared then, hugging Chan from behind tightly. "Agreed! I think it's an amazing idea!" Felix beamed.
Changbin was a bit more skeptical though. "Right, but how would we even be able to make that happen? Plenty of those children are young enough to just take whatever you hand to them, but you know how parents would react."
"They'd think you were planning something, which is a fair assumption. Plus, our parents would shut it down as soon as possible." He said, his face staying blank as ever, his dark eyes made even Helena feel nervous.
"Well.. that may be a good thing to talk to Prince Jisung about!"
a/n: im not sure if it's obvious why i cut this scene out, but it just felt too soon for this conversation when dizzy hasn't even entered the story yet. besides, i was able to get a better grasp on how to describe chan's dream in act 2 and i like it better :)
scene without a place! (was orginally in chapter 6/CW: MENTIONS OF ABUSIVE MENTAL ILLNESSS/PSYCHOLOGICAL BEHAVIORS):
"-But now mum is super anxious to get the coronation over and done with. The council has been on her about trying to change Jisung's ruling and she's become agitated with trying to keep their opinions under control and-"
Felix stopped in his tracks, looking out to empty garden they now found themselves in. In turn, Hyunjin paused his ramblings to look at Felix. "Wh- Why is King Adam trying to change Jisung's ruling? And what ruling exactly?"
Felix still didn't really meet Hyunjin's eyes, but this was something Hyunjin was used to.
"Well .. Jisung's first and only ruling has had a first few rough drafts that were shot down pretty quickly, but he's still pushing for his original idea. I'm not entirely sure what the original one was, but it did lead to pulling five of you VK's from the Isle."
Hyunjin takes a seat on a bench nearby and gestures for Felix to join him, which he did. "And King Adam is .. against that ruling? He's against us being here, isn't he." Felix wasn't dumb, he knew what Hyunjin was saying now.
"Well, not exactly. Adam himself has always been following the words of the council. His father had been advised by the same people, which if you didn't know.. he was an awful, abusive, power hungry bastard. They are the one's who convinced him to trap 'evil' on an island."
"And the ones who determined the 'magic laws.'"
Felix stares, unsure, "Why let himself be ruled by such awful people?"
The raven sighs, looking down at the loose yellow rose petals layered on the ground, "Adam lost his mother when he was young, his father had been everything he had. Despite his abuse, he still cares for him in a way."
Felix looks down, "I understand that feeling.."
Hyunjin give him a look, but continues. "So.. they're old fashioned. The council believes that evil is only born from evil, some I dare say, believe that the root to all evil is magic,"
It was silent for a moment as Felix processed that. Ofcourse elder men, without any real experience of what evil truly is, has a say in the lives of others. Felix could see this from so many others, so reasonably so, but for the king and his crew... All Felix saw was ignorance.
Now a new question popped into Felix's mind, "Do you share that same sentiment, Hyunjin?"
Hyunjin choked out a laugh. "The sentiment of fear behind magic and that 'evil is born from evil'? Absolutely not! My mother is a being of magic for goodness sake and she's always taught me that fear of magic, is the worst evil in the world."
"King Adam is ignorant, advised by ignorant people, but not all of his people or even most royals completely agree with his ideas." Hyunjin snapped his fingers and the tiniest of sparks flew from his finger tips.
"I myself am a magical being. Unfortunately, my magic isn't as strong as my mothers and never will be. Magic is unpredictable like that." Hyunjin turned back to Felix, who looked away immediately.
"Just as unpredictable as people. You can find good and bad people everywhere, nothing is just black and white."
Felix frowned to himself, he'd never met someone that talked like this. Hyunjin sounded so sincere, it was hard to believe someone made of goodness could find the world good and bad. Felix had only ever seen the bad parts..
"You talk so openly, like you understand both sides." Felix spoke quietly, fiddling with his thumbs. "All I've ever know was darkness. The world has only ever been cruel it seems, because of good people who put me in that darkness. Put us all in that darkness."
Hyunjin was surprised, mostly because this is the most he's heard Felix say in one sitting, and a little bit because he's speaking so honestly about how he feels. Hyunjin let out a soft laugh, startling Felix.
"But you see, I don't understand. I was raised by a very protective mom and then raised in a place where everyone is equal, where everyone is viewed as good. I can't possibly claim to understand the dark side of the world when I've never experienced it."
"However, what I can have is empathy and compassion. Anyone can see how awful life in on the Isle and how unfair it is, but it's the ones that really open their eyes who decide to make a change."
"Jisung inspires me to be this way, he'll be a great king."
Felix finally looked over Hyunjin's expression, trying to read this strange boy. The raven is so ... different from others in the world. Not to mention how he made Felix feel, especially when he flashed his usual warm smile.
Hyunjin stared back for a moment, recognizing the look of jumbled thought behind Felix's eyes. He's such an odd guy.. "How about you tell me more about you? I know it's not all sunshine and rainbows, but I don't want to hear anything untrue like that. I want to learn who you are."
"M-Me? Who I am?" Hyunjin nodded and smiled encouragingly. "Oh. Well .. You're right about one thing, it's definitely not all sunshine and rainbows."
Hyunjin gestures for Felix to continue and he takes a deep breath. "My mom obviously lost her mind a long time ago, hell that's why she committed all the crimes she did. Just because she's confined though, doesn't mean she's any less crazy."
"Like I said before, Cruella needed psychiatric help, not a prison. She talks to herself a lot, yells at invisible people, and sometimes can't recognize me. She has normal days too, but since I was born, I've only seen one or two of those normal days."
"She needs constant supervision somedays and on her more functional days, she still refuses to take care of herself. Somedays, I'm actually seen as her son in her eyes, but most of the time, she views me as a lackey or a caretaker."
"If I wasn't always worried about her, maybe I'd be able to be angry with her, but instead I stay silently resenting her."
"I hate what the world has done to her, but I hate her for her negligence and for not seeing she needed help, not revenge." Felix pulled off his jacket, showing a tag on the inside that read 'To: Felix De Vil, made with love, your mama.'
Then he flipped over the same tag to reveal Cruella's signature, except it was very sloppy. "As you may also know, she used to be a designer. A renowned one at that, but due to her incidents of making dog coats, she was renounced."
"This was the last thing she ever made and she always wanted to pass the skill to me, but ... I couldn't. I never had the connection to it all like she used to. I .. never wanted to have that connection, to turn into her."
Felix smiled sadly at the coat, tracing the horribly done stitches with his fingers. Hyunjin observed the odd article as well, it was quite fitting for the complicated and oddly charming one that is Felix.
"Due to all this, I've had to focus on being a wholehearted mama's boy. I had to learn to understand her and those around me to protect myself. The way she'd walk different when she's mid-breakdown, the way her eyes would bug out when she was seeing something that wasn't real, and the rise in her voice whenever she was feeling fearful."
"You learn a lot about humans when they are in distress." Felix pulled his jacket on protectively, tucking his fingers under his arms.
"So, you learned empathy through safety and distress. You learned to understand, because you had to." Hyunjin asked gently.
Felix was rather calm talking about all these stressful things and it made Hyunjin view him in a very different light. Felix was not as blunt or abrasive as the others, but he had to grow up faster just like them and live in a world where his silence was out of survival.
Felix nodded after a moment, "Yes, although I wish I spent more time trying to learn how to defend myself better.." Felix mumbled, but Hyunjin heard it all the same.
"Why's that?"
Maybe it wasn't the right question, but after Felix tensed he also took a deep breath. "How much do you really know about the Isle, Hyunjin?" Felix asked.
"Honestly, not a lot. I hear whatever Jisung and Seungmin are willing to say. I know it's not good, practically like living in a slum." Felix briefly wondered how much Jisung and Seungmin actually knew, and how they knew it, but pushed that away for now.
"Well.. On the Isle, I may be close to Minho and Changbin, but I'm still an easy target. I mean thanks to who I know, at least I'm not dead yet. Some villains get along with other villains just fine, it's how villain kids are born, but others .. Not so much."
"There's a lot of divide, Maleficent and Ursula have the largest chunks of territory. Villain kids take up those territories for their parents and join up to make gangs. Minho is a major leader, therefore he's very disliked."
"Fights break out over resources, fights break out just for some kids to show off why they are the strongest. Then there's kids like me.." Felix gestures to himself, "Who are caught in the crossfire. It's better to hide and stay out of the radar then get involved."
"Changbin and Minho have always been my greatest protectors."
a/n: this scene is half cut, half .. a scene i wanted to put somewhere, but couldn't figure out how or where! just some felix lore that explains a lot more about him. this book was mainly focused on minho and minsung so i felt it would've been misplaced!
ACT 2:
fun fact! #2: did you know Hanni in the first draft had started running an activism club? and i quote: "Jeongin's sister was Hanni, a very cute, yet tough freshman. Hanni was a lot like her brother, but there was the clear intent that she wanted to be just like her mom. The first semester went by and Hanni already established an activism club. Jeongin was reasonably upset, since he'd tried to his freshman year and failed, but he's also her biggest supporter."
the line was cut simply because i thought it might've been too much information, but it's definitely a headcanon of mine ... oh, wait- i'm the author.. im making it canon >:)
chapter 28 outtake, aka it's goin' down pt.2:
Hongjoong had sought out Minho specifically and in no time he found him. "Minho! You disgusting liar!" He shouted angrily, charging for the other who barely had enough time to block Hongjoong's blade with his own.
"I got you a wand! How does that make me a liar?" Minho said through gritted teeth, trying his best not to let Hongjoong's strength over take him. It still surprises him how Hongjoong can be much smaller in stature compared to him and yet so incredibly strong.
"Are you joking right now??" Hongjoong snarled, "Why can't you take anything seriously!" Hongjoong pushed more, bringing Minho down on one knee. Minho grunted, taking a second before using the ground as leverage to push up with more force.
In doing so, their swords separated with a loud scrape, Hongjoong sword swinging down and getting stuck in the dock for a moment. Minho backed away with a breathless laugh, "What can I say? Living life with laughter makes it much easier to live, wouldn't you think?"
Hongjoong huffed, "Not like I would know.. You never gave me the chance."
Minho shrugged, "I think you blame too many of your problems on me."
"I have only one big problem." Hongjoong sneered, pulling his sword out of the dock and swinging full force at Minho who just barely dodged. "It's you! You're my problem!" Hongjoong screeched.
Minho dodged as much as he could until his back met the barrier of the dock. Thinking fast, he side stepped out of the way of the sword and trapped Hongjoong's arm under his. Hongjoong struggled while Minho tried to disarm him.
This was until Hongjoong abruptly headbutted Minho in the head, causing the other to stumble. Minho hissed and rubbed his head where they collided. Hongjoong smirked when he finally saw the last hints of amusement leave Minho's eyes.
"Did you just headbutt me?"
"Hmm.. I dunno, are you going to start treating me like a real opponent?" Hongjoong inquired sarcastically.
Minho inhaled deeply, raising his sword again. "Come at me and we'll see."
a/n: okay so .. re-reading this now, i do like this- HOWEVER, the reason i re-wrote it is because i wanted to portray minho to be more serious, to have more respect for Hongjoong, bc despite their squabbles in the past, he really does respect the pirate.
i wanted to make it more serious, BUT i regret not making their clash in the actual chapter.. longer lol
fun fact! #3: did you know.. it took four, FOUR drafts of chapter 20 for me to feel satisfied with it. all drafts leading to the actual published chapter are all basically the same, except some parts are worded different or i changed character dynamics a bit
(that's the chp where the pirates were introduced and i wanted to do it WELL, okay?)
ACT 3:
LOL so i actually found the character sheet i made for the pirates, i think i ended up tossing it because i wanted to keep the mystery, but here you go now TT
fun fact! #4: for the seongjoong confession scene... i had orginally written a kiss (I KNOW SUE ME) i just .. didn't like the scene for the actual book, but here's the original scene .. for fun!:
"Hongjoong, you look ridiculous-"
"Good." He says, "I would do anything for you to know how sorry I am, even if I am practically groveling at your feet."
Seonghwa feels conflicted, but he'd hate to admit he wasn't enjoying this. Even though it felt like Hongjoong was joking, it also felt real. There was genuine thought behind his words and it was melting Seonghwa's cold front.
The first mate brings himself down onto the ground too, reaching down to cup Hongjoong's face. The action causes Hongjoong to sit up again, leaning back on his ankles, with wide eyes. "We are equals, love, there's no need to make yourself smaller."
"It's necessary. I am nothing without you." Hongjoong says earnestly, holding Seonghwa's hand closer and kissing his palm. "I could discover the seven seas, but nothing would be a treasure as precious as you."
"Not even another man?" Seonghwa can't help asking.
The pirate captain looked surprised, but then his eyes soften with understanding. "There is only you, sweetheart. Gods, I'm so sorry, Seonghwa, I'm such an idiot. I should've said that so much sooner.."
"Y-You should've." Seonghwa's cold demeanor was completely gone, leaving the soft hearted person only Hongjoong had the pleasure of knowing. "It was one thing, being without you, but then seeing you profess your love to that- that king?"
"Nothing had ever hurt like that."
"Let me fix it, or at least try to." Hongjoong murmurs.
Seonghwa stared into his eyes, unsure what he meant. "How?"
Hongjoong leans forward, pulling Seonghwa in by his nape, but stops just before their lips could touch. It was as if he was asking permission, his eyes searching for any alarm or fear, but all he was met with was curiosity and anticipation.
With that reassurance, he closes the gap, kissing the older sweetly. It was almost humorous, how Hongjoong is known for his sharp tongue, with the threat to bite if you even get close. How could it be true when his lips move against Seonghwa's with sweetness and care.
When he pulls away, he's smiling unsurely. "You are the only man I will ever love. The only one who holds my heart and turns my life to gold. There will never be anyone else."
Seonghwa smiles dopily, still a little dazed from that kiss, "You promise?"
"I promise."
In an instant the older deflated, melting into Hongjoong's arms as he lay his head on his shoulder. "Okay." He says softly.
a/n: you're .. welcome?
a line that never made it into chapter 54, aka the planning chapter:
"I met Maleficent almost immediately when I landed."
"Landed?" Seungmin inquires.
"Yeah, the, uh.. the chromer spawned me in the sky?? I thought I was going to die, but anyway-" Minho sits heavily on the arm chair in front of the fire place.
a/n: i just think it's giving silly old man energy TT
fun fact! #5: i actually text myself ideas and this is the text i sent myself when i was trying to sleep and couldn't stop thinking about MANIACS TT
"MANIACS ENDING : minho turns to permanent stone after destroying the staff, one year later we have an epilogue where he's brought back when the barrier is finally taken down and hades brings him back." (March 2nd at 8:50pm)
so .. yall i could've made his death so much worse, i was considered having him be dead for a YEAR but then i was like .. wait, but then he'd miss felix's graduation and that felt waaaay too wrong so.. you're welcome, again? LMAO
obviously his death has gone through much more brain storming than this silly instagram message so he didn't turn to stone, but the turning to dust part kinda makes me giggle so im wondering if i should edit that in the final edit or.. leave it...
fun fact! #6: did you know.. i have a massive note on my notes app with some of my original notes from act 1 on until act three. theres SO MUCH WRITING, like: names of characters, who their parents were, mapping out the movie scenes
(more specifically descendants 2 OMGS WHAT A MESS, but it was v helpful too TT)
in a notebook i think i mapped out the school schedule too, like hour by hour, how classes worked TT im ngl it's been so long I FORGOT ABOUT THE NOTEBOOK ?? (it's been so long that im not even sure where that notebook is rn TT)
heres some screenshots from that note :)
i think these are a good glimpse into how i need to organize my thoughts and maybe it'll be helpful for any other neurodivergent authors who are looking to figure out how to write notes! just write out every thought, it really helps (me at least haha)
also as a bonus .. heres the first ever draft of the cast list that i made :)
annnnnnd i think that's all for bloopers and extras!!
thanks again for reading, it took a lot of work haha, more than i ever thought :) editing is going to be fun ... TT