I'm kinda sad. Nobody seems to have read this story yet (Braco aside) and I've got a feeling that not a lot of people will.

What, is it not GAY ENOUGH FOR YOU PEOPLE!?

XD Just kidding. I didn't plan on a big audience for this story. LuxLar is sadly not a popular pairing and although I hope to change that, I'm sure I'll have maybe three readers, five readers tops.

Anyhow, updating today cause I have a busy weekend ahead. Baby shower and house/dog sitting on Saturday and then a day trip to good old Disneyland on Sunday. (Yes, we've clarified that I'm a d-fag.)

Anyway, a bit more about this story, it isn't going to get too terribly exciting until at least a few more chapters. Sorry. And as for the actual LuxLar, well, you can expect that to take a bit longer.

And as for the mention of LarDem, ha ha! Don't expect it to go away soon. Or, well, AT ALL. I mean, YES this is a LuxLar story but that just means it is a story about them meeting, falling in love and "getting jiggy wit it." That is all that means. There may or may not be mentions of other couples and the like, but it is still firstly and foremost a LuxLar and anything is possible.

Oh, also! I should mention that there will be a few Cajun French terms slung around. This DOES take place in New Orleans afterall. (For now… Ku ku ku…) So please keep that in mind and I'm sorry if it bugs you. It won't be too terribly often.

I think that's all. Enjoy!

March 06, 1922

Funny, I find myself writing in here again though it does little to help calm me. Let me tell you diary, the evening of that damned cotillion was a nightmare. I've spent the past couple of days in a constant drunken stupor, trying to forget. I don't think my father has realized I've raided his private stash yet, Lord save me when he does. After that atrocious night the only thing on my mind has been that bastard of a suitor of mine.

What's more is that I realize I truly have no choice but to marry him. Should the truth come out about my family's misfortune, well, let's just say that nobody can ever know the truth. There have been families in the past that have fallen from grace, and it was never a very pleasant situation. Black lists and constant mockery…

No, not for me. For my parents? Fine. But not me. And this means keeping our financial troubles private from anyone within the US, especially here in Louisiana. I guess I am supposed to believe my suitor's family will just hand over cash without so much as a fuss. It is honestly hard to swallow, but my father believes this so it is the only thing driving me to agree with this arrangement.

And then there's Demyx. Good Lord, I've never met a man so persistent in my life! Endearing though it is, I still find it hard to treat him as anything more than an annoyance. That has always been our relationship and he's starting to see through it. Or maybe he always has.

All I knew today was that I had to get out of this house. I had to talk to somebody…

--

"It is so good to see you out and about Larxene!" Demyx said as he approached the blonde woman that was weaving her way through the crowd of people. "Although, I wouldn't normally expect to see you in this area. What are you doing in Vieux Carré?"

Larxene didn't slow her pace as Demyx rushed across the street to greet her. To be honest and say that she had come to the French Quarter in hopes of finding him would be too bold, so instead she lied. "I had to get out of that hell hole I call home. Father and Mother are driving me nearly insane and that man is beginning to infuriate me. It feels like every room I walk into, he's already sitting there waiting for me." Well, at least that much was true. "So I've come to get away, maybe find a restaurant in this little slum of a neighborhood you seem to adore so much."

"Well, there's a great one on Bourbon Street! Its called Galatoire's. Have you ever had Creole food?" Demyx presented an arm to Larxene. "I'll accompany you."

"Oh, what a gentleman." Larxene said sarcastically before taking Demyx's arm. She let him lead her to this restaurant and once they were inside and seated she let out a hefty sigh and groaned. "Honestly, I can't take this anymore. I'm going out of my mind."

Demyx smiled widely. He had a sneaking suspicion that the woman had come here in search of someone to vent to. That meant him. She admittedly had no friends, outside of himself and her servant girl, and either one of them were scarcely gossip companions. Still, he was as close to a friend as she could get so he would listen happily to her ailments and even help where he could. "Your father is still determined that you marry that man?"

"Yes!" Larxene gripped the edge of the table they sat at, practically fuming from the ears. "And I'm going nearly insane. He and Mother are already making arrangements for the damned wedding with a wretched wedding planner and I can't take it!"

Demyx smiled and motioned the waiter over. When the man approached he handed him a five dollar bill. "Two iced teas, and see to it that you make the young woman's strong. Very, very strong."

Larxene smiled gratefully at Demyx. "You always did know just how to treat a lady."

"Well…" Demyx shrugged. "I know nothing helps calm your nerves like a good hard drink. So tell me, what else can I do for you darling?"

Larxene sighed and shook her head. "Unless you can convince my father that I don't need to marry that creature then I suppose there's nothing that you can do."

"Well, how lucky for you then, because I happen to have a solution." Demyx leaned forward on the table between them and smiled brightly. "You'll just have to marry me instead."

Larxene scoffed and shook her head in annoyance. "Now is not the time for jokes Demyx. Don't make light of my situation!"

"I'm being entirely serious. Its high time you stopped playing this game of cat and mouse with me. I can't chase you forever." Demyx reached across the table and captured Larxene's hand in his own, bringing it to his lips. "Tell your father you choose to marry me instead. We'll honeymoon in Europe. It'll be lovely."

Larxene opened her mouth to protest but was stopped when their waiter returned with two iced teas, the smell of alcohol practically wafting off of hers as he sat it before her. She grabbed the glass in her hand and began to chug it quickly. The warm burn of the fluid hitting her stomach helped to calm her nerves, if only slightly. She looked away from Demyx and tugged her hand from his. "Look, Demyx, I can't…"

"You don't like the idea of Europe?" Demyx smiled and leaned on his elbows to look at Larxene. "Fine, I'll buy a yacht and we'll sail the Caribbean. Or wherever you want to go. You name the place and I'll take you there. Just say you'll marry me."

"Its more than that Demyx!" Larxene crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. "The whole plot is just a horrid idea!" Actually, the thought sounded wonderful. Being anywhere but New Orleans sounded heavenly at this point and she'd jump the next ship out in a heartbeat. However, things had always been complicated where Demyx was concerned and she preferred to keep things as simple as possible. "Am I to escape marrying one man I don't love by marrying yet another?"

"Ah, you break my heart." Demyx pulled his hands against his chest and sighed. "Malignity, thy name is woman."

"Oh stop it. You'll be over it in a few minutes and ready to pursue me again." Larxene sucked down the rest of her tea and sighed. "You know, I'm not really hungry. I could go for another drink though."

"Sorry, they have a policy. One per customer during the day time. You know, so as not to alert any authorities." Demyx smiled and reached across the table to caress Larxene's hand. "If you'd like to come back home with me though, we could always…"

"See? What did I just say? You're already over it." Larxene stood and grabbed up her pocketbook. "One would think that you'd learn to give up by now."

Demyx stood and covered Larxene's hand with his own as she began fishing around in her pocketbook for money. "A gentleman never lets a lady pay for a drink. And I apologize, I'll stop being so forward if that's really what you want."

"It would be helpful given the current situation, yes." Larxene scowled at Demyx as he left money on the table and offered her an arm. "I think it would be best if I just returned home. And I don't need an escort."

"Back into that nightmare awaiting you? Come now, I apologized. I won't behave that way anymore." Demyx wiggled his arm insistently. "Besides, I've been longing to introduce you to Jazz."

Larxene cocked an eyebrow. Jazz, the name sounded familiar. Demyx mentioned it often whenever he would call upon her but she only ever half listened to him when he came over buzzing with excitement about anything. "Who is Jazz, again?"

Demyx laughed and shook his head. "Not who. What. Its music! And it is amazing Larxene! You haven't heard anything until you've heard the heart and soul that is Jazz music!"

Larxene curled her nose. "I'll pass. I'm not a music fan."

"Well, perhaps some other time." Demyx shrugged. "Would you like an escort home?"

"No. The car is waiting for me. Thank you for the tea." Larxene turned away from Demyx and started toward the exit of the restaurant but paused. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through her veins or the complete disarray her life was in that had her brain entirely frazzled, but a prodding urge got the better of her. She whirled back around and marched over to Demyx, slapping her lips to his cheek. As quickly as she had planted the kiss she pulled away. "And thank you for listening to me rant, and for everything else."

--

I honestly don't know what came over me. Despite all my better judgment I just couldn't help myself in the end. If he ever had any doubts before, they are all out the window now, and that is terrible. Because despite everything, he is still a grand annoyance in my life. It just so happens that right now he is the smallest of those grand annoyances. And damn him for being so remarkably handsome and charming. Damn him for it until the end of his days!

But right now, the little occurrence today is the least thing to concern myself with. Something worse occurred when I arrived home…

--

Larxene sighed in irritation as she stepped into the entryway of her home and met with her father's stern gaze. She rolled her eyes and pulled her coat off her shoulders. "What is it now?"

Vexen crossed his arms and stared hard at Larxene. "Have fun out and about while your mother and I toiled over wedding plans?"

"Don't try acting like you were at all interested. I know Mother took the reigns when it came to talking to the wedding planner and you just sat there trying to sneak whiskey into whatever drink you had while nobody was looking." Larxene countered her father's stance with one as equally determined and scoffed. "So, what terribly important but oh so minute details did I miss while I was out?"

"Everything has changed." Vexen stepped closer to his daughter and sighed. "Firstly, we agreed it would not be beneficial to have an extravagant wedding. Knowing full well how that fool boy Demyx feels about you, we realized it would be in our best interests to keep it small and private. Especially after that fiasco of a cotillion that you had, nobody is going to believe you married Luxord for love. Thusly, there will be no elaborate gown, no mile high wedding cake, no large reception. Just a marriage legally binding you to your husband."

Larxene rolled her eyes. "And that is a bad thing? Honestly it is just one big relief to me. I never wanted all of that anyhow."

"Oh, and there is one more thing…" Vexen reached his hand into his vest pocket and pulled out the flask he knew his daughter would be needing after the next bit of information. "The wedding is no longer six weeks away. It is in six days, and I hope you are prepared."

Larxene paled and stared at her father dumbfounded. She reached out and snatched the flask from his hand and took a big gulp of the corn whiskey before throwing a glare right to him. "I hate you for putting me through this!"