Ennui de Famille - REVIEW THIS STORY

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

Chapter 6

Talia, btw is TJ (nocturne). In our game she’s the daughter of Christine Palmer and Kurt Wagner, but was raised by her ‘father’ John Redhorn.

He moved through the room, unpacking his bag as his uncle had bid him to do. He was filled with nervous energy. He wanted to find out more about his family, yet he also missed Talia badly. He was worried about how she was faring at the school without him, unsure if she may still be facing repercussions for his actions. He’d had to go – it was his father’s funeral, for Christ’s sake, but now that was done, so he felt guilty for wanting to stay. They’d barely had time to start to figure stuff out before he’d gone and left her again.

Jesus, she must be worried sick about him. He’d have to find a way to reach her. Maybe ask his uncle if he could use the phone. Snorting at himself, he shook his head. Even as simple as a thing as making a long distance call on his uncle’s dollar made him uncomfortable – it all still felt like he was taking charity. He didn’t want that. He already owed Xavier for helping him with the flight and hotel.

Still…it wasn’t practical for him to walk to the nearest payphone, considering the kind of the neighborhood he was in. It wasn’t like there was a convenience store just down the street.

He walked back over to his bag that he’d placed on the dresser and dug to the bottom of it pulling out a plain envelope. He slid a picture out of it, smiling fondly at the image. It was one of the two of them, her snuggled into his chest as he looped one arm casually around her, his hand resting on her hip. It was a very chaste, yet it forcibly brought to mind exactly all the things that he was missing about her.

“All unpacked?” The unexpected voice made Remy flinch, reflexively pressing the picture to his chest to hide it. His uncle entered the room, smiling warmly at him.

“Didn’t mean t’ startle y’ like dat.” He cocked his head as he looked at the photo clutched in Remy’s hand. “What’s dat?”

He felt his stomach twist. He wasn’t sure how his uncle would react. Their bond was so fragile and new, and Remy knew that if his uncle reacted adversely to Talia that it would be destroyed. Talia was his love, his focus, and she came before anyone else. Was it too much to ask to have both?

“It’s…my girlfriend an’ me.”

Jean-Luc smiled wider. “Talia right? May I see?”

Sucking in a deep breath and taking a step back, he passed the photo over, looking somewhat challenging at his uncle, who was by now looking at him with more of a question on his face due to his odd behavior.

His uncle took the picture from him and blinked at the picture for a minute, eyebrows rising. He found himself scowling at his uncle’s reaction. “Y’ know dat Remy said dat we’re mutants, neh?”

“Oh, oui, just didn’t quite know what t’ expect.” His uncle studied the picture intently. “Didn’t quite expect blue somehow, but she’s a very pretty girl. Y’ two look very happy in dis picture.” He looked back at Remy, the smile slipping from his face a bit as he noticed the way Remy was looking at him. “What’s d’ matter?”

He paused a minute before answering “It’s just…Talia is a lovely woman. Too many people don’t see dat – dey just look at her an’ think ‘freak’. Remy would do anything t’ protect her from dat – but people are still gonna do it.” He crossed his arms over his chest, and looked his uncle in the eye. “An’, I love her. She’s d’ most important thing in d’ world t’ me.”

Jean-Luc just smiled at him for a minute, taking one last look at the picture before he passed it back. “Glad dat y’ found someone t’ share dat with. It’s a precious thing.”

He cupped the photo in his hands for a minute before sliding it back in the envelope and putting it away in a drawer.

“Why didn’t she come down with y’?”

He found himself frowning again. “Cause it wasn’t safe for her. Didn’t know what Remy was gettin’ into down here.” He sighed and shrugged. “We came down here with some of the other students for Mardi Gras. Bumped into Papa an’ Maman – y’ can’t imagine how surprised dat Remy t’ see dem. It was how Maman knew how t’ reach me at d’ school. Dey didn’t treat Talia so nice. Remy didn’t want her t’ be exposed t’ dat again.”

Jean-Luc grimaced. “Dey were rude t’ y’ two den? Is dat why y’ were worried about showin’ me d’ picture?”

“Supposed dat was part of it, oui. But dere’s lots of people dat treat ‘er like dat. It’s just such a crock of shit.” Remy leaned one hip on the dresser. “As for Maman an’ Papa, shouldn’t really be surprised about dat. Dey even thought dat dere own kid was a freak.”

He felt his uncle’s warm hand on his shoulder again. “Did y’ ever think dat maybe some of dat was because dey felt guilty?”

He jerked his gaze to his uncle’s face again. “Guilty? Porquoi?”

“Well, y’ know dat dey took drugs an’ stuff, oui? I know dat dey cut down on it quite a bit while y’re Mere was pregnant with y’…but I doubt very much dat she never took anything d’ whole time. Maybe dey blamed demselves for d’ fact y’ were different?”

He’d never thought of it that way before. It had always been his fault. The thought that maybe his parents blamed themselves never had even crossed his mind. “Maybe…”

“Guilt can make people do funny things Remy.” He hesitated for a minute, looking thoughtfully at him. “D’ y’ think dat she’d want t’ come down and stay here with y’ for a few days? Y’ obviously miss her, an’ it would be good t’ meet her. I’d be happy t’ fly her down, if y’ think dat she’d agree.”

He didn’t quite know what to make of that offer – he wanted to give this thing with his family a few more days, and the temptation of having Talia by his side while he worked through it all was intoxicating, but he was still a bit nervous at the thought of it. He wanted her to be safe. He’d screwed that up for her enough lately, taking her to the fringes. He never wanted to put her in that sort of situation again – where she was choosing to do something she didn’t want to do just to be with him. But – this wasn’t quite the same either. Ultimately he guessed it all came down to if he trusted his uncle.

The thing was, he had a hard time really trusting people…especially cause it kept coming back to bite him in the ass. He’d partially trusted Jono after all…and look where that had got Talia and him? But then – part of this was because he’d been the one making decisions for Talia – maybe it was time that he backed off and just let her decide.

“Remy’ll ask. Is dere a phone dat I can use?”

He was rewarded with another large smile from his uncle, who also clapped him on the shoulder. “Bein! An’ of course – y’ don’t have t’ ask – just call whomever y’ want, whenever y’ want. Dere are phones scattered all through dis place.”

“Merci.” Remy smiled back. The man’s enthusiasm was catching.

Jean-Luc dramatically slapped himself on the forehead. “Why didn’t I think of dis sooner! Do y’ think d’ two of y’ could stay till next Friday? I know dat’s nearly a week – mais I am throwin’ a bit of a party, an’ it would be great if y’ could be dere.”

“A party?” Remy squirmed at that. While the term was usually something he’d be all over in a minute, he didn’t think that his uncle meant that type of party. On top of it there was Talia – how would she feel about all that? “Dunno…Talia an’ crowds – it don’t always work so well.”

His uncle frowned, considering that for a minute. “Can see y’re point, oui. But y’ are my nephew, and she is y’re companion. Dat is enough. We’re d’ LeBeau’s, an’ we don’t bend t’ others opinions.” He nodded. “Y’ ask her, an’ if she’ll come, den dat’s all y’ have t’ worry about. Let y’re Uncle take care of d’ rest.”

“D’ LeBeau’s?” His uncle had said it so matter of fact – like he should know what he meant.

“Mais, oui.” His uncle chuckled. “Y’ have a lot t’ learn about d’ family Remy, but trust y’re uncle Jean-Luc when he tells y’ dat no one is gonna say anythin’ about my nephew or his guest.”

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

He was on time for dinner at least, ducking in just before Mercy and Henri, taking the same spot as he had earlier. His uncle was already sitting at the head of the table to the left of him, reading the top page of something that looked like a report. He folded it up, tossing it to the buffet behind him as Mercy and Henri came in.

“So did y’ get a chance t’ talk t’ Talia den?” His uncle asked, raising one eyebrow at him.

“Oui.” Remy chuckled in memory. “She tore a strip off of Remy for leavin’ her t’ worry like dat again.” Not that he blamed her really. He been giving her enough grief lately and he supposed that he’d do the same in her shoes.

“Talia?” Mercy asked looking between Jean-Luc and himself.

“Oui. She’s Remy’s girlfriend. I’ve asked if they’d care t’ stay an’ join us for our little Fais Do Do.”

Mercy looked rapt at that. “Oh, perfect! I’ve got most of it planned out, but I could always use a hand with the last minute things that come up. And it would be the perfect time for you to meet the rest of the circle Remy.”

“Y’ didn’t even let d’ boy tell us if dey can make it Mercy, an’ y’re already puttin’ him t’ work.” Jean-Luc chuckled.

Henri slid him a conspiratorial look. “Y’ better run while y’ can, Remy. Let my wife get her claws into y’ an’ she’ll have y’ wonderin’ which way is up before y’ know it.” He mock whispered to him. He jerked suddenly and rubbed his shin. “What was dat for?”

“Never you mind him.” Mercy ignored her husband’s complaints. “So? Are you able to come?

“Taila said she’d come, oui.” After he’d managed to convince her that this wasn’t some elaborate joke. He barely believed all this himself, so he couldn’t fault her reaction. He’d broken the news to her after reassuring her that he was, in fact, just fine. She had been fairly angry at him for leaving her to worry again. How did she think that he’d managed all these years anyway?

Jean-Luc had floored her though. He had a rich uncle? The concept had seemed so incongruous. At first she’s been angry – thinking that he’d hidden such a huge part of his life from her – before he’d explained it all. His fears, his own confusion and mixed emotions about the whole situation just came tumbling out. Then she’d been sweet and tried to reassure him that of course his uncle would want to get to know him better. He’d gotten the distinct impression that she would have vastly preferred him to get his ass back on a plane and home to her, but she’d understood his need to find his place here.

And so she’d agreed to come. She’d had a million questions, but she agreed in the end. His uncle had given him the name of his travel agent in case, and the lady who had answered had obviously received some sort of previous instructions, because she didn’t even pause when he explained what he’d wanted – just given him the flight time and number, and refused to answer his questions on the cost of it. ‘Mr. LeBeau has left instructions that he will take care of it’ his ass. He’d find out and pay his uncle back…somehow.

So – Talia would be here by tomorrow. It was great because he wanted to see her so badly, but he was also terrified of her having to fly out here on her own and all. The past couple of months had been so hard for her, and here he was asking her to do more for him. It hardly seemed fair. At least it was a direct flight, and she’d promised that someone from the school would drop her off.

The cook brought them each their plates and Remy dug into his without another word. Every time he returned to New Orleans it just served to remind him of how much he missed the spices and flavors of home. The people in New York seemed entirely too fixated on ‘saturated fats’ and all that to just kick back and enjoy the finer things in life.

“So y’ already arrange for the flight wit’ Louise?” His uncle asked him in between bites.

“Oui, but she wouldn’t tell Remy what it cost. Gonna pay y’ back for all dis.”

His uncle made a noise of dismissal. “Don’ y’ start all dat again. Told y’ once already, it my gift t’ y’ Remy.”

Remy just focused on his food for a minute, lips stubbornly pressed together.

Sighing his uncle put his fork down. “How about I try phrasin’ it dis way Remy. If my Pere had been alive when y’ were born, he would have seen to it dat y’ received an’ inheritance and an’ allowance. I’d be doin’ him a huge dishonor by not followin’ what my Pere would have wanted, oui?”

Remy just sipped his water in silence, letting his uncle’s words wash over him.

“Damnit, Remy y’re not listenin’ t’ a word I’m sayin’ are y?” his uncle said in a mix of exasperation and humor.

Remy put his glass down and smiled sweetly at his uncle. “Non.”

Jean-Luc just laughed. “Y’re just as stubborn as I was at dat age.” He waved his fork at him. “But just y’ mind me boy…I’ve gotten a lot stubborner with age. Y’ll learn dat y’re uncle always gets his way sooner or later.”

He fought the surge of rebellion for now and shrugged again - going back to eating his dinner, which made his uncle snort loudly again. Mercy and Henri had been watching the play by play with barely constrained mirth.

“Y’ got y’re hands full wit’ dis one papa.” Henri winked at him while saying it to take the edge off his words. “He might wear y’ down yet.”

Mercy just leaned back into her chair, pushing her empty plate to the side while she sipped at her glass of wine. “If there is one thing I’ve learned about you two over the years…” she gestured at his uncle and his cousin. “it’s that LeBeau’s are as stubborn as the day is long. The only difference is that Papa here has more experience at it.” She flashed a smile at him. “Honey, you don’t stand a chance in hell.”