Written in the Stars April 12th, 1912. 6:05pm by Adréa
Disclaimer: The song is from Aida, so credit to Disney. The Scarlet Pimpernel... I don't know who it belongs to now, but it was written by the Baroness Orczy. Well, everyone else seems to own the X-Men. Marvel, Fox, Warner Brothers, Universal, etc. etc. Why can't I? Look! They'll work for twinkies and beer! It's true! They did this fic for twinkies and beer. Although I had to throw in a few steaks and peeps somewhere...
Author's Notes: I tried to make it not exactly like Cameron's movie! But some things kinda snuck in there and stuck. Be prepared for suckiness! (that even a word?) Big shout out and thanks to my best friend JenN who unknowingly gave be ideas and knowingly gave me every ounce of support she could.
Author's Notes2: I don't even own Amy and Jenn for they are based on people I know. I'm currently working on another fic involving them that would go much farther into their personalities, so sorry if you don't understand things or what not because they aren't well developed in this one. Now, on with the show!
Going down the Grand Staircase made Marie wish her mother could see. She would have loved to see such beauty as this, for one could only stare in awe at the magnificently hand-carved wood with gold trimmings all around. The clock and the angel holding the lamp were the centerpieces of divine artwork. The skylight brilliantly lit up the room as much as if one were outside in the sun.
As they slowly descended the stairs, they stopped now and then to chat with some of the other rich and famous people on board. The Countess of Roths, Mr. Astor, Mr. Andrews, etc. etc. They were all very courteous and polite, except for Astor's wife. The little snot was rather rude to Irene and Marie. But she just shrugged it off as being a mood swing.
Seventeen, married, and pregnant. Marie was lucky she lasted until twenty before being courted away.
Speaking of the courting, Marie spotted her father exchanging small chitchat with an older bald man who walked with a special cane. The cane was different than her mothers, it had a loop at the top for his arm to go through and a handle for his hand to grasp. For him, it was his trouble with walking. Marie had never met the man with the bald head and the kind features before, but her father looked nervous speaking with him.
"Yes, I am often mistaken for the great Senator Kelly," her father explained. It was true, everywhere they went someone mistook him for the famous American Senator.
"Father?"
"Aaaaah," he plastered a smile on his face. "Marie, Irene. I would like you to meet Professor Charles Xavier. He runs a school over in New York."
"Pleasure," both Marie and her mother said at the same time. However, her mother's voice changed quite a bit. Something was going on that Marie didn't know about, and at least her parents did. Something involving this man.
"So, what type of school do you run, Professor Xavier?" Marie asked, curious about this man. Why would her parents be nervous around him? She sensed nothing but warmth and kindness from him. A type of person to be the world's greatest father figure, and compassionate friend.
"A school for gifted people."
"Gifted? How so?"
"People with gifts unlike that of any-"
Robert interrupted him abruptly. "Yes, well, I am very sorry, Professor, but we have an appointment to keep." He bowed and exchanged good-byes, then ushered his family away.
Marie had never been so confused and intrigued over something in a long time. What was it about that man that made her want to know more? And why were her parents afraid of him? He seemed like a very nice man, one that probably ran Help the Poor shelters or something. He just had that air around him.
Her father lead them into the actual dinning room, no one was seated yet. It was stand up and chat with people you hardly know time. She was led to a table with a bunch of people standing around it, one of the men turned and smiled down at her. He was dashing, young, and so very handsome. Like he was made from the finest genetics on earth. His perfect smile should have made her melt into a puddle on the floor, and it did, until she saw his eyes. There was something about his eyes that she didn't like, something that frightened her to her very core.
But he was beautiful, in a manly sort of way. His brown hair trimmed perfectly in a modern style, his face shaven so not a speck of hair was shown, which made him look all the more younger than he seemed. Marie guessed he was in his middle or late twenties, even though he looked far younger. Yet his eyes... an involuntary shudder ran up and down her spine.
Robert smiled at her. "Marie, darling. This is Graydon Creed," he said, gesturing to the man before her.
Somehow, Marie knew that this would turn out to be Creed. If he wasn't ugly, than he was evil. That was it! He was evil, it was in his eyes. Marie always believed the eyes were the windows of the soul, and she had gotten quite good at reading them in people.
But for her family, she plastered on a smile and bowed slightly towards him. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Creed."
Graydon's eyes searched her up and down, devouring her into their black mists. "Please, call me Graydon. I am your fiancé after all."
"Of course... Graydon." Graydon Creed... it even sounded like an evil name now that she had a face to go with it.
"That reminds me, we need to make it more official." Digging into his pocket, Graydon produced a small box which he opened. The most beautiful and expensive looking diamond ring stared back at her. Calling to her... it was a female thing. Graydon took the ring out and placed on her correct finger, over her thin glove. After, he kissed her hand briefly.
"Shall we sit?" he pulled a chair out for her and she elegantly sat her body down on it. A quick glance around confirmed others were just starting to get seated. Graydon sat to the left of her, while her father and mother sat to the right. There were others at their table, yet always a new bunch of people.
This time it was a group of two men and one woman. They all seemed acquainted with each other. Two even looked related with their facial features. Perhaps twins. The boy had white hair, while the girl had an auburn mane. There was a much older man with grey hair and eyes that were wise with age. Maybe they were all related... there were some features that at least the man and boy shared.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Erik Lensherr," the old man began. Marie stared into his eyes and didn't like what she found there either. Pain, suffering, hatred. That man had been through a lot in his time. But that just seemed to make him stronger, even if the intense flame was just starting to burn out. "These are my associates, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. Twins."
A round of introductions from her side was conducted by her father. She smiled and looked all pretty, rather like what Wanda was doing. She looked to be about as happy to be there as Marie did. In fact, Pietro didn't even look happy to be there. Pushing the white hair out of his eyes, he looked bored to death.
Dinner was ordered and one of the beginning 'meals' was brought. Marie couldn't help but notice two men standing off to one side, their attention always on Marie's table. One was a huge man with long blonde hair and a mean looking face. He had all the appearance and attitude of a bodyguard. The other man was much smaller, short for men's standards, and looked like he was seasick. With the way he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes every time food passed by, that was probably what he was. It gave his skin a pale green tinge to it, even turning his black hair to a very dark green. The two of the men were both clad mainly in black, and both looked like business. Even if the smaller one looked like he would sooner be sick than kick someone's butt.
Mealtime was a time for Marie to half-listen to the boring conversation at the table, not like she ever really participated in it, and look at the world around her. It was the only way she ever really saw anything of it. Just by standing back in the shadows and watching during meals or parties. That was her life, and she hated it. But it was supposed to be proper and right.
Even if it didn't feel like it.
The band played in the background, providing music for when there was silence at the table. Marie looked around, wanting to find that kind man from before. It didn't take long, they were only one table over. He was looking at Marie's table... yet not at her. His gaze was directed at the old man, Lensherr. Looking back at him, she could tell every now and then he would grant side-glances at the bald man. It seemed everyone knew everyone else for reasons unknown to anyone but them, but obvious to everyone else that something was there.
She looked back at the table with Professor Xavier and viewed his company. A gorgeous black woman with white hair... something Marie had never see before. She looked like a Goddess from one of those tribes of another country. Beautiful and elegant and so pure. Next to her was an older couple. A man with red glasses, and a woman with red hair. They were every bit in love, which made Marie stare longingly at them.
She would never know love like that. But at least she knew it truly existed, and it was no longer a figment of her overactive imagination. Her pained eyes closed against the tears that threatened to well and spill over onto her cheek.
When she opened them again, she just wanted to cry even more. Her eyes fixed on another couple there. A young girl and boy. They held hands. Bare hands above the table, staring deeply into each others eyes. Apparently, some of the others were trying to address them. They called out "Robert" and "Jennifer" but the two didn't respond, too lost in each other to care about anything else.
Her eyes diverted again and found themselves staring directly into another pair of hazel eyes. Embarrassed and flustered at being caught, she looked away from those eyes. But feminine curiosity made her glance shyly over again at those eyes.
The man they belonged to didn't look away. He had no shame or fear of being caught staring, unlike her. He sat with his chair positioned more towards her, his arms folded across his chest, and an unlit cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth, chewing ever so slightly on the end. His face was covered with sideburns only seen on Javert wannabe's. His eyes bore into hers, capturing them and holding them as if it were a physical force.
She wanted to look away, yet she didn't. She wanted to go over to him, yet she wanted to stay right there. So many conflicting emotions were pulling her in two different directions. It would be improper for her to go over there. But she wanted to... something about him made her drawn to him. Like that invisible force she always read about in books that binds two people together for all eternity.
The arrival of another part of the meal brought her out of the stare. She could still feel his eyes upon her, and it made her blush. "Marie, dear, are you alright?"
Once again, her mother had defied the laws of physics. "Yes, mother. I guess... I'm just a bit hot... May I be excuse for a few minutes, go outside for some fresh air?"
Her father replied bluntly, "No."
"Oh, come now Robert. She hasn't been allowed up on deck, and perhaps some fresh air will do her good. Go along, dear. Your food will still be here waiting."
Graydon got to his feet and helped his wife-to-be up. "Would you like me to escort you?"
"No, thank you." She quickly walked out before he could persist the option more.
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