Ennui de Famille - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Paws
Last updated: 01/26/2007 02:19:59 AM

Chapter 10

He grimaced realizing that the simple backyard fais do do that he’d been imagining was going to be a lot bigger than he thought. Merde – even if there were two chairs for every person they’d invited there was still going to be a hell of a lot more people at this thing than what he originally expected.

Shoving his glasses back up higher on his face as one of the caterers rushed past him, he couldn’t help but to feel a rise of irritation. He’d gotten spoiled walking around the school, commune and now here without his glasses. He found that now it irked him more and more each time he had to don them. It was too bad that Jono had been such a crackpot. None of them should have to hide who they were.

Mercy spotted him sitting off in the corner and smiled at him, waving him over. Hoping that he could finally be of some use he walked over to her, dodging a lady carrying a rack of wine glasses.

“Oui? What can I do for y’?”

Mercy looped her arm in his. “You can keep me company for a while. This thing always gives me a headache. Not to mention nearly losing my voice.” She looked around the patio. “Where’s Talia?”

“She’s havin’ a bit of a nap…she wanted t’ enjoy herself tonight an’ we didn’t get much…” He trailed off, a trifle embarrassed. “She’s not used t’ d’ humidity. So y’ want Remy t’ shout for y’? Y’ don’t need any boxes or anythin’ moved?”

She laughed. “There are already a dozen people working on moving stuff around, Remy. What we need to do is to keep it all happening.”

“OK den…” she explained what she wanted to happen, leaving him to shout out the instructions. At first he felt very uncomfortable with commanding the groups of people around like he knew better than them what to do, but it became easier after a while. Soon enough, everything was set up as it should be, Mercy sighing in contentment.

“Perfect! Thank you for giving me a break there. Henri helps with these things when he can, but he and Papa had that meeting today.” She released him and poured him a glass of water from the pitcher that had been left out for them all. “Here, you’ll need this after all that.”

He took a sip of the ice water, following her to the chairs where he was originally sitting. “So why d’ y’ do all dis anyway? Why all d’ fuss?”

“Why? Well, for the fun of it partly. And also a bit because it is expected – everyone takes turns hosting these social events. We throw one this time every year. It’s not like I don’t enjoy helping organize it all – its just the ‘day of’ can get pretty insane. Talia was a big help this week though. I’m glad you convinced her to come down.”

He plucked at the knee of his jeans, looking around at the yard. “Dere’s going to be a lot of people here, neh? Lot more dan Remy thought.”

“There should be probably around a hundred. Papa is very popular.”

He frowned at that. A hundred? Even with all the chairs it hadn’t seemed like it would be that many. All of them no doubt with more money than they knew what to do with. He rubbed his temples with one hand. Without a doubt he’d stolen from some of them. How the hell was he supposed to fit in with this crowd? And Talia – how would they react to her? He didn’t want to expose her to anything unpleasant.

“Remy, what’s the matter?” Mercy’s gentle voice broke into his train of thought and he turned to her, looking at her wryly.

“Just don’t know if dis is such a good idea no more. Wouldn’t want t’ embarrass y’all, and Talia – it’s just.” He snorted, raising one eyebrow. “How are all dese people gonna take us? A couple of nobodies from nowhere dat look like we do? Don’t want Talia gettin’ hurt.”

“You’re worried.” She leaned forward looking at him seriously. “Remy, I thought that papa explained all this to you. No one’s going to treat you or Talia poorly.”

“Y’ can’t promise dat. People are gonna do what dey will. Y’all have been great – but most people don’t just accept us like dat.”

“Remy, I can promise you that.” She looked at him seriously. “Papa won’t tolerate anything against his family from anyone, and everyone that is coming tonight knows that. To top it off, he’s been bragging for days now to everyone about you. So they all know what to expect – and no one will be surprised.”

“What d’ y’ mean?” Remy looked at her suspiciously.

“What do I mean? Remy, you do know how powerful that papa is, right?” At his shrug she shook her head and sighed. “There are two families that basically control New Orleans. While it’s nothing official, everyone knows that. The LeBeau’s are one.”

“So y’re sayin’ dat my uncle is a mob overlord?”

“Non!” She swatted at him, which he easily ducked. “Haven’t y’ been listening to a word papa has said? He doesn’t rub people’s noses in it, or lord it over them, but when he wants something, he just expects it to be done. It’s as simple as that really. No one that is coming here will cross him, and therefore no one here will cross Henri, me or you. He’s made it very clear to everyone that you are just as much a part of this family as we are.” She grinned at him. “So the biggest thing you may have to worry about is keeping peoples’ noses out of your ass.”

“Well dat isn’t a very lady thing t’ say.” He made a small snort of amusement at her wry look. “So y’ don’t think dat people will be rude den? Talia’s not gonna feel bad?”

“Non. They won’t. Besides which, you should see the way that you two look together, especially when you are relaxed. All you need to do is come out and act like you two normally do and you’ll do just fine. You are more exotic than anything.”

“Exotic?” Remy snorted. “Now dere’s an interestin’ way t’ put it.”

“I’m serious. It doesn’t take long to just look beyond your differences.” She sighed. “You are just going to have to trust me and Papa. And enjoy yourself. It will be fun.”

He grinned at that. “Well, Remy’s never been one t’ pass up a party.”

********************

Sighing with relief as he hit the air-conditioned interior of the house, he was startled by his uncle’s low chuckle.

“Hot one today, neh?”

Turning to find his uncle sitting in a chair to the far right of him, he grinned in response. “Oui. Guess dat Remy forgot what it was like down here a bit. Not used t’ it no more. Though I’ll take dis over snow any day.”

“Y’ and Mercy looked like y’ had fun with each other.” Jean-Luc got up from the chair he’d been sitting in that allowed him a view out to the backyard where they’d been working. “Y’ like it here?”

“Oui. It’s been nice stayin’ with y’all…merci Nonc.”

Jean-Luc beamed at the less formal term. He was glad that he could bring his uncle joy as well, though it seemed like all he had to do to make his uncle happy was to be happy himself. It was a unique relationship for him.

“Have y’ thought of what y’ll do dis summer?” his uncle was watching him carefully. “Made any plans yet?”

He shrugged. “Not really. Gonna be back here – kinda just fly by the seat of my pants, suppose. It’ll work out.”

“Y’ mean go back t’ d’ streets?” His uncle asked with a frown.

“Well…suppose so. Maybe even try an’ get a real job.” He found himself feeling uncertain again. What did his uncle expect him to do?

“Would y’ consider maybe livin’ here? Not just for a visit I mean – but permanently?”

“Live here?” he shook his head. “Merci, but I ain’t gonna sponge off of y’ dat way. I’ll come an’ stop by fairly regular like. Visit y’all.”

“Remy.” His uncle put a hand on his shoulder, holding tightly. “Y’ just don’ get it do you? I don’t want y’ out on d’ streets – or livin’ in some hotel or somethin’. It ain’t pity. It’s cause I care about y’…an’ what happens t’ y’. I can’t imagine leavin’ y’ t’ live out dere like dat.” He looked at him sadly. “It’s y’re own life, an’ y’ can choose what t’ do with it – but…”

His shoulder was released suddenly, his uncle spinning to pace the room. “Maudit! I ain’t gonna sit here an’ tell y’ its ok for y’ t’ go live in some alley somewhere.” Jean-luc stopped and faced him with a look. “Cause its not. Y’ have a home here Remy; y’ have family. Please don’ turn your back on us to salve your pride.”

Damnit…why did his uncle have the ability to take what was a perfectly logical course of action, and turn it on its ear for him? “Remy can’t jus’ stay here an’ not do anythin’ t’ help.”

“I can understand dat. I’ll find someway t’ put y’ to work, if y’ll stay.”

He thought about it. He knew Talia’d be busting his balls by now if she was present for this conversation. But how could he explain it? He never had needed anyone. He liked that independence – not to be beholden to anyone. Agreeing to stay almost seemed like a step backwards. But on the other hand – what prospects did he have on the streets? Even if he could get a job he doubted it would pay much. Barely enough to afford some crappy apartment and certainly not enough to support two people on.

“What d’ y’ want me t’ do?”

His uncle looked relieved – probably because he was at least not rejecting it outright. “Well – I dunno. What sort of thing are y’ interested in? What would y’ like t’ do?”

He pulled a face. “I’m not really qualified for much, less y’ want me t’ get y’ somethin’.” His uncle made a face. “Oui, so not that. Willin’ t’ learn though. Work hard at whatever y’ ask…earn my keep.”

Jean-Luc beamed at that. “Bein - agreed. Den y’ll move in when schools done?”

He blinked. Wait…when did he agree to it? He opened his mouth to argue, then shut it. His uncle wanted this so badly. It was apparent in every move the man made. On top of that, if he was honest – he wanted this too. He just didn’t want to use him as his parents had done. So he wouldn’t. “Deal.”

Finis. Hope that you enjoyed. ? If you are interested in the actual ‘party’ we instanced it (role played it) . You can find it at http://nightscrawlers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=6593