Just When We Thought Everything Would Be Okay...

[Marinette Roquefort]

Marinette stood with her back ramrod straight, her lips pressed into a thin line and her eyes blazing with disgust and fury until she heard the front door of the home open and close. As soon as that dull thunk echoed through the walls of the house, her knees went straight out from under her and she collapsed like a falling curtain of silk. Her hands rose to cover her face as she struggled to slow her already gasping breath.

She barely listened to Helene--she already knew that her sister would try to reassure her, and that she was thinking the same thing Marinette was--that they had to do something, anything, to stop that from happening. It hadn't even crossed her mind that Helene could ever marry Clarence; she could practically feel the trail of slime he left behind his every step, even after meeting him only once. The only comment that did make it into her head was "please don't refer to Stephen as my dear husband ever again" and she dropped her hands to cover her mouth for a moment before she couldn't handle it anymore and she burst into a fit of hysterical giggles.

"Frankly, I haven't the faintest idea what came out of my mouth that entire time. I just wanted them to leave!" Her giggles descended abruptly into sobs. "Those horrible disgusting people and their greedy eyes. I hope their carriage drives into the sea."

[Helene Hewitt]

Mari's giggles drew Helene out of her current head space, and she sat up more to see Mari was on the ground, giggling hysterically before she burst into tears. A chill went down Helene's spine before the rage filled her. How dare they. How dare they bring this news to her! How dare they stick to a law that was ridiculous! She had been married to Stephen Hewitt she should be able to keep her home and not have to marry another man if she wanted to keep it. It wasn't fair. Nothing was fair.

Helene hurried off the couch, dropping onto the ground next to Marinette. Her arms went around her sisters shoulders, and Helene urged her head to rest on her shoulder as she tried to hush her. "Mari..." Helene said in a gentle scolding tone though she couldn't help but agree with her. "For what it's worth I'm very proud of you." Helene mused. Resting her head against her sisters. "Lady Dimwitted didn't know what say for once, and Lord Pompous couldn't of waddled out of here faster." She giggled, even though the humor didn't reach her eyes. She rubbed her sisters arm gently for a couple moments before she spoke again.

"I promise you Marinette. I promised you when you came to stay with me, and I will promise you again. You will never step foot in that house again." Helene said with desperate determination. "I will marry. I will marry again, and it won't be to that man. This time...This time it will be a man of my choosing." She told her, hugging her tightly. At least it seemed Helene could choose this husband. Her father had picked for her last time in an arranged marriage, and it hadn't gone to plan. This time? This time Helene would do the picking. "And if I don't find a husband in time, then I say we finally pack our things, board Elliots ship, and let him take us far far away." She whispered. Helene had always dreamed of sailing away. Seeing the world and experiencing it with new eyes. The only thing that had always kept her here was Marinette. Otherwise she was sure she would have stowed away on a boat by now. Maybe now Helene could convince Mari to run away with her. Away from their wretched father. He couldn't chase them forever, and if they boarded a ship, there was no telling where they would go. They could truly be free...

[Marinette Roquefort]

Marinette sighed and sniffled as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I know I shouldn't wish them harm, but I can't seem to help myself. They're so awful to you, and it makes my skin crawl." She shook her head and tugged a handkerchief from her dress's inner pocket, glad for once that her strange anxious habits made her put one in every dress. She wiped her nose as Helene continued, swearing that she would marry again, and someone of her own choosing. It was oddly convincing, coming from her--Marinette fully believed that her sister could do whatever she put her mind to.

As for herself...she felt awful relying on Helene for her wellbeing. Perhaps she needed to find a husband of her own, although she couldn't imagine there would be one that wanted her. Perhaps an older widower, who just wanted someone to run things and laugh at his boring jokes? Surely not all men were as terrible as her father or Stephen. Helene had never told Marinette exactly what went on in this house...but she could guess well enough. She had lived much the same, with their father.

The idea of sailing away to freedom was clearly a pipe dream, but she couldn't help sighing wistfully as she imagined the wind in her hair, standing on the deck of a ship and watching Tresteria vanish into the distance and their father along with it. Sometimes it seemed that leaving the country entirely really would be the only way to make it out of his clutches.

"You know I'd follow you to the ends of the earth, dearest Helene," she assured her, tucking away the handkerchief and leaning her head back slightly so she could look up at her sister's face. "But, truly, please let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I hate to be a burden on you."

[Helene Hewitt]

Helene couldn't help but chuckle lightly, as she ran her hand up and down her sisters arm. "I've experienced far worse Mari." She whispered. They both knew what that meant. They'd both experienced it. They knew what worse was, and it was not the Hewitts. The Hewitts were a unpleasant, but they were sunshine and rainbows compared what could happen to them should they ever be forced to return to the home their father owned. 

Helene's dark eyes looked down at Mari and grinned, giving her a kiss to her brow. "I know you would sweetheart." She hugged her tight. "One of these day's I'll get the courage to actually do it, rather then just talk about it. Dream of it." She sighed. If Helene truly was brave, she'd march upstairs, back their bags, and go down to the docks and find an inn so the moment Elliots boat came into port, they could board and be on their way. Gone forever, together. But there would always be that fear. That constant looking over her shoulder. Knowing their father would probably stop at nothing to bring them back or to really kill them this time. Just like he had their mother. 


"Stop those thoughts right now Marinette. You are never a burden." She told her fiercely. "J-just continue being your wonderful sweet self and be here for me when I fall into the darkness." She said. She could feel her throat constricting and the burning of tears, but she refused to let fall. Helene did not cry. She refused to cry. To let anyone see her cry, even Mari. She was the strong one. She had to be. She hugged her sister tight then. Afraid she'd disappear into the ether or that their father would come and drag her away. Her precious sister. Her best friend. She couldn't lose her.  Helene would do anything for her. To Keep her safe, just like she'd promised maman.

She let a shuddering breath out then. "I'm afraid Mari. I really am." She said softly. "Marrying Clarence is the easiest option. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if father insisted on it so he can continue the connection to the Hewitts funds, but-" She was whispering. Afraid if she spoke any louder she'd fall apart. "I can't marry that man." She said more firmly.  "So we have to find someone. And quickly." Her body trembled against Marinette's. "Maybe he'll even have a brother for you." She said softly, a small chuckle followed but it didn't reach her eyes. 

[Marinette Roquefort]

Marinette hugged her sister even tighter as she mentioned marrying Clarence. "Lini, don't even think of it. We'll make sure that doesn't happen. Even I know he's a poisonous snake, and I barely talked to him." She grimaced, feeling a little nauseous just talking about the man.

"We'll just have to get ourselves together and start spending more time at court. The king and queen should be back any day now, after that trip to Aralore, and there will be parties and things." She realized even as she said it that she hadn't the faintest idea what 'parties and things' were, or whether or not she'd be welcome there, but she assumed a wealthy widowed countess would be a perfectly pleasing addition to any party. Especially one as lovely and spirited as Helene.

Her quip about whomever she found having a brother that would be interested in her made Marinette roll her eyes. "Ah yes, and we'll live in a fairytale castle by the sea." She responded, giving her sister a look that clearly said "you're full of beans." She reluctantly pulled herself free and stood up, offering her hand to Helene to get her off the floor as well. "Come now, let's have a decent cup of tea and shake off the leftover slime trail from those two. I bet we have ingredients for a decent batch of cookies, too."

[Helene Hewitt]

Helene found herself nodding her head as she rested it against Mari's. "Yule is coming as well, I'm sure I can at least find someone...tolerable..." Helene murmured before she sighed. She started to giggle then at Mari's response. "One of us will have that castle by the sea Mari. Away from the evil clutches of Father and Hewitts alike. Live like a princess...and it will be you, because you deserve it." Helene told her. Poking her sister in the nose despite the look that told her she was full of it. Helene was adamant one of them would get their happily ever after, and it would be Mari. "Just think of the late night walks on the beach with your beloved! Star gazing, warm hot chocolate by the fire, running through the halls barefoot...." Helene let a wistful sigh out and then grinned widely at her sister. 

Mari stood up and Helene took her hand, climbing to her own feet. She squeezed her sisters hand. Warmth and love for her filled her heart. Calming the panic that wanted to take her. Those dark thoughts she constantly had about just ending things once and for all, so she didn't have to suffer another day. Mari kept her there. Away from the darkest part of her mind, and she would always be thankful to her for it. "Thank you Marinette." Helene said softly, a small smile on her face as she looked at her. The look Helene gave Mari spoke louder than words, for what she had done, and continued to do for her. "Let us go annoy Gretchen then shall we?" She said, linking arms with her. Her body trembled slightly still from the Hewitts news, and despite the smile on her face, Helene could feel herself one step closer to her breaking point. 

[End Thread]