Chapter Four: Mysterious Stranger
By Silky Black
Disclaimer: I don't own X-men, Marvel does.
"Mah Gawd!!" exclaimed Marie as she tightly held onto one of the bedpost. Her maid – Orroro - was slowly and painfully tying up her corset, "Not so taght! Gawd, Ah don't undahstand what masochistic person that invented corsets. They're simply pointless!"
"Oh shush Rogue! Stop it with all your fussing," said Orroro in a stern voice, using the nickname that had been given to Marie since she had been five years old, and was caught trying to steel more pastries, "I'm sure your mother would not approve of your thoughts on corsets. You know very well it's unheard of for a lady to even think of not wearing a corset let alone leaving the house without one. You are part of the high society and it would simply be unacceptable for you to not wear a corset. Now shush and left me finish, child!"
Rogue was about to protest but decided against it since she knew ho determined and strict Orroro was concerning these matters. Instead, Rogue silently submitted to the torture, biting hard into her lower lip to suppress a cry of pain.
After Orroro was done dressing her, with the most care in the world, Rogue walked towards the full-length mirror to inspect her look. As she surveyed herself in the mirror, Rogue was surprised at what looked back at her. She had never really considered herself to be beautiful like other girls or special in any way, but tonight, even she had to admit that she looked fabulous.
The idea of her costume came to her one night, while looking out the window. While deep in thought, Rogue had found herself gazing at the moon as it bathed the city in pale silver light, giving it an almost otherworldly appearance. At that moment, she had decided to dress as the mistress of the moon or as some might call her the Greek goddess Artemis. Her dress however, wasn't really tailored in a Greek like manner; instead it was like any fashionable ball gown of the time – tailored in the Savannah style - with a tight bodice and long, hoop skirt.
The gown that she wore was made out of silver and white silk. The upper part of the dress was silver and fell of her shoulders, revealing milky white skin. White sapphires were studded into the bodice that was held up by thin white ribbon. As was the fashion, only a hint of cleavage could be seen as not to be vulgar in any way. The bottom part of the dress was also silver, and puffed out around her gracefully falling to the floor.
Diamond earrings hung elegantly from Marie's ears. Her mass of auburn curls were pinned up in an elegant hair style, while strands of powdered white hair hung loosely around her face, framing it in a most becoming manner.
The only thing left to top off her enchanting look was a silver mask that only covered the upper half of her face. The mask was silver with white crystals around her emerald eyes to enhance them. It extended upwards into a beautifully carved, quarter moon that was also lined with sparkling crystals
Orroro pinned three small white roses in her hair, to match the strands of powdered white curls that hung loosely from the small headdress placed within the mass of auburn. She then proceeded to pin on the mask so that it would not fall within the course of the night.
"There. You look stunning, child," said Orroro with a voice filled with gentleness, "As beautiful as the moon goddess herself."
"Thank yah. But yah do realize that it's only because o' yah, Orroro. Without yah Ah'd probable go tah tha ball lookin' lahke a boy." Said Rogue laughing at the mental image. She had no experience or desire with making herself look presentable and often got scolded due to her disorderly appearance.
Orroro tried not to smile, but here blue eyes gave away what she thought. Due to the fact that her mother had been a woman of color while her father had been Dutch, with platinum locks of hair and icy blue eyes, Orroro had inherited the most enchanting and otherworldly look. Her hair was almost the color of silver but not due to age since she was in her early thirties, but due to genes. Her eyes were stunningly blue sapphires whielk her skin was flawless caramel.
"Now off with you, childm, or else you shall be late. And may the goddess have you in her view." Said Orroro.
Marie sat in the carriage, looking out the window at the setting sun. It had still been light outside when they left, but by the time they were to arrive at the LeBeau plantation, it would probable be early evening. The trip to the plantation wasn't too long; about half an hour or so.
The horizon was colored in beautiful shades or red and pink as the Sun almost set. Marie loved to look out the window at the lovely countryside, especially at that time of day since the last rays of sun shone over everything and seemed to sprinkle it with golden light.
Far ahead, in the distance, she seemed to spot the roof of a large house, which she expected to be their destination. Marie asked her mother to help her secure on her mask, in preparation for the ball. By the time they reached the road that lead to the house, night had fallen. The full moon was set in the ink blue sky, watching over everything.
Marie looked out the window at the long gallery of tall oaks that they passed through as the approached the house. It was a majestic sight. The house itself was large, in the Greek revival style as was the fashion of the time. Doric marble columns stood toll, holding up a magnificent terrace that was lit up and decorated beautifully. The three-story house was partially shaded by a wisteria tree and a willow, whose branches spilled over side of the house.
As the carriage made its way around the avenue and stopped in front of the double doors, two servants dressed in crisp black uniforms made their way towards the carriage, opening the doors.
The two ladies stepped out of the carriage and into the cool evening air, walking gracefully up the steps that lead inside the house. Raven lead the way, walking with her head held up high, like a queen just like what her costume was meant to represent.
Marie was astonished at the magnificent that surrounded her as the entered the house. A sea of silks, laces, muslin, moiré and valuable stones of different colors engulfed her. She felt like she had walked in a completely new universe, that of the prestigious New Orleans aristocracy. Never in her life had she been to such an extravagant ball.
Marie soon noticed her mother was in the company of Lady Pride. She made her way towards them, expecting to see Kitty along the way. She walked towards her mother's side and once there, her prediction came true. The talkative Kitty seemed to appear out of nowhere, and after paying her civilities to Lady Darkholme, she nearly dragged Marie away.
"Oh my God! You look fabulous, Marie!" exclaimed an ecstatic Kitty.
"Thank yah. Yah also look great!" was Marie's reply, trying to sound as eager as Kitty, yet failing miserably. Fortunately, Kitty didn't seem to notice as she dragged her towards a crowd of people.
"Come, I want to introduce you!" said Kitty with a smile upon her cherry lips.
"Everyone, I'd like to introduce to you Marie Darkholme." Said Kitty once in the presence of her group of friends. Kitty then proceeded to introduce each and everyone to Marie, even though they were all wearing masks and she could not quite make out their faces.
"This is Wanda Maximoff, daughter of the Earl of Leasher. You'll probable meet Pietro - her brother – soon." Explained Kitty with a giggle, talking about a girl that Marie presumed to be dressed as a gipsy. She had a cascade of raven black curls that fell over her shoulders. Her gown consisted of different shades of red and magenta silk, studded with valuable jewels.
Kitty then turned towards a girl with fiery red hair that was pined up in a rather interesting hairstyle. The girl wore a modest violet silk dress, tailored in the style of Queen Elizabeth the first. She had olive colored eyes that weren't quite as stunning as Marie's and fair, rosy skin.
"This is Jean Grey." Said Kitty. Jean smiled warmly at Marie, her olive eyes lighting up with warmth.
"This is Elizabeth Braddock, otherwise known as Betsy," continued Kitty. The girl she spoke about was dressed in a traditional purple kimono. She had the most intriguing hair Marie had ever seen. It was black, yet it seemed to be purple when light was cast upon it.
Kitty continued going around the circle of girls introducing her to the incredibly stuck-up Amara and the fun loving Tabitha. After introductions were over with and all the girls had greeted her, they all formed even smaller groups, talking about the latest gossip to one another.
Marie found herself in the presence of the one they called Wanda and Kitty who were chatting animatedly. She glanced about the room and saw someone entering whose costume stole her attention. Marie couldn't stop herself from commenting about it.
"What's she s'pposed tah beh? A low end prostitute?" she asked Wanda who only chuckled while Kitty gasped at her vulgar comment.
"Well I'm glad someone isn't afraid to admit it and agrees with me," replied Wanda, "That right there is Belladonna Bordeaux and yes, she is nothing ore than a two cent whore from a rich family."
"You two shouldn't be so rude. Her costume is very…interesting," said Kitty, finishing off her comment lamely. The person who the three girls were referring to wore a bright red gown whose bodice seemed to be so tight on her that her breasts would burst out. The dress was a horrible shade of orange-red, that didn't seem to compliment her skin a single bit. Even though a mask covered half her face, it was incredibly noticeable that she had layers of rouge piled on her face.
"Yes, I'm sure Remy would be ever so mad if he heard we were talking badly about his little play thing." Replied Wanda with a laugh. There was that name again, was the only thought going through Marie's mind, though. She didn't quite understand why everyone she talked to was so interested in this Remy LeBeau who she had yet to meet. She turned her attention back towards the conversation.
"It's too bad, though, that little Miss Belle is the only one that seems to not realize her and Remy have no future together. Everyone, including Remy knows for a fact that they're not going to get married and live happily after." Wanda was saying.
"Oh yes, definitely," cut in Betsy, "Plus, you will never guess what rumor's been going around! Apparently, the Bordeaux's are in a bit of a tight financial situation. What with Monsieur Bordeaux's little…gambling problem and half their field burning down last summer, Belle's got no chance with Remy."
"Really! Well there's some scandalous news I didn't know. I don't really like Belle that much, anyway." Said Kitty with a slight giggle. Marie had never really seen this side of the petite brunette, and she had to admit that she quite liked it. Apparently the beautiful people of New Orleans had quite a few skeletons in their closets. Marie then noticed Jean's sudden disappearance. She soon saw her in the middle of the ballroom, dancing with someone, with a warm smile plastered on her lips, so she just dismissed it, once again turning her concentration upon the ongoing tête-à-tête.
"So then, he asked me to dance, and I had the most enthralling time. Every waltz after that, I had promised to him!" Kitty was saying, in enthusiasm, but she immediately stopped upon the intrusion of a young man.
"May I have this dance, pretty Miss Kitty?" he asked, kissing her hand. A rosy blush, spread over Kitty's face and she immediately accepted. Before tacking leave of her friends though, she introduced the young man to Marie.
"I'd like to introduce you to Miss Marie Darkholme," said Kitty.
"Enchanted to make your acquaintance, m'lady. May I introduce myself, I'm sir Lancelot Alvers." He said. After the two exchanged pleasantries, Kitty and Sir Lance left the group to join the next waltz.
"Aren't those two so delightful together." observed Tabitha to no one in particular, "Can't you just imagine the glitter in Kitty's eyes. Too bad the mask blocks it. It's so romantic that no one has to take off his or her mask till twelve. You don't even know whom you're dancing with. I can't wait till the clock strikes twelve, though, so that everyone can take off their mask."
"Oh please. You and Kitty are just such complete romantics," said Wanda with a roll of her eyes.
"Your just mad that John hasn't asked you to dance with him, yet." Replied Tabitha just as icily. But at that moment, a handsome man with platinum hair and icy blue eyes approached Marie.
"May I have this dance, m'lady?" he asked of Marie picking up her gloved hand and kissing it.
"Oh Pietro, please don't scare the poor girl away. She has just arrived here, in New Orleans and this is her first ball, so don't be a complete cad and ruin it!" said Wanda harshly to her twin brother, Pietro Maximoff.
"Now Wanda you know I'm the perfect gentleman," replied Pietro with his usual arrogant smirk that Wanda had grown ever so accustomed to. She was about to say something to him before she stopped herself. From the little time she had conversed with Marie, she had came upon the decision that she was quite in the position to handle her brother perfectly. Wanda was furthermore shore that Pietro would most certainly not have his way with this one.
"Well than, you never answered my query pretty Miss…?"
"Marie, Miss Marie Darkholme. And tha answer is yes. Ah am most delighted tah accept yah're offer, good sir," said Marie placing her gloved hand in his extended palm and not missing a beat of his silly game.
Pietro gently took her hand, leading her towards the dance floor where he twirled her around once before taking her hands and starting to dance at the beat of the waltz, with the beautiful Miss Marie.
Marie found that she was quite enjoying herself. Everything from the small talk with Pietro and the tête-à-tête with the ladies had been most enjoyable. For once, she had not stayed with the old matrons like a wallflower while the rest of the girls danced with their suitors. That's how it had been before, back in Mississippi. Most boys had kept away due to her careless manner of dressing and her fiery attitude. She had been known as the ill tempered Miss Marie due to her cynical manner and sarcastic answers, therefore at most balls, she was barely asked to dance by any of the young men.
As the night progressed, Marie found herself surrounded by many eager suitors, asking for a dace. After dancing with Pietro twice, she had danced with eighteen-year-old Bobby, Sir Warren who owned a prestigious company up north in New York, and Scott Summers, the young man that Miss Jean had been dancing with.
Now, Marie sat down on the terrace one tone bench, fanning herself with a lace fan and sipping water from a crystal glass, which Pietro had been ever so eager to bring for her. She desperately tried to catch her breath, but to no avail since the corset was tied so very firmly.
"Now why's a belle fille, like y'rself, sittin' here all alone?" asked a voice from behind her. Mary let out a startled cry before being able to stop herself. She turned around to face the mysterious stranger, feeling herself blush furiously which was something that was not very common to her.
"Désolé cherie, did I startle y'?" asked the stranger in a heavily Cajun accented voice.
"Yes, Ah'm terribly sorry, Ah didn't see yah there, sir." She said, regaining her composure. The stranger was dressed in a black and red costume with a black mask shielding him from her. Strands of auburn hair fell in his eyes that were a chocolate brown tinted with red.
"Now y' never told me, chère. Why y' all alone here?" he asked, taking note of how beautiful she looked in the moonlight, her magnolia colored skin almost looking like albaster.
"Oh Ah-ah was just tryin' tah regain mah breath aftah all that dancin'. And it's so pleasant and cool out heah, compared to tha hot ballroom." she said, not being able to look away from his mesmerizing eyes.
"Well I do hope y' breath 'as returned t' y' since I won't be able t' continue livin' if y' deny me de last dance, belle." He said, dramatically placing a hand against his heart to express how wounded he felt.
"Wahy Ah'd nevah dream tah not accept yah're offer, sir." Replied Mary with a small giggle, surprising herself.
"Parfait, now le'me escort y' back inside, chère, b'fore y' catch a chill." He said, gently taking her hand into his and leading her back in. Once in, Mary didn't seem to realize all the curious glances people shot towards her as to the identity of the one that was in the company of the man who's name we shall learn later on in the story.
"Je suis désolé chereie, but I have t' go an' take care o' somethin'. But don't fret dear lady, for I shall return to have the last dance of the night with the most beautiful girl in the room." He said, trying to imitate a British accent yet failing horribly. Marie giggled at his actions and he gave a gallant bow before leaving her.
After the mysterious stranger left her side, Marie was immediately asked to dance by Sir John Allerdyce while Wanda sat down to regain her breath. After the dance ended, Marie found herself once again in the company of her exhausted friends who eagerly waited for the last dance and for the clock to strike twelve so that everyone would take off their masks.
Kitty engaged Marie in an animated conversation, giving her an account of the events that had passed during the evening but Marie's thought belonged only to the stranger that she had met on the terrace. A sort of excitement build up in the pit of her stomach as she awaited the last dance because she was deadly curious to see who he was and to find out his name. The rules of the ball were that if you danced with a stranger, when the clock struck twelve, only then was he allowed to introduce himself, though the rules had been bent a bit for Marie since she didn't now anyone.
Pardonez moi, mademoiselle," said a voice from behind her. Marie immediately turned around, in hopes that it was her mysterious stranger, but was disappointed when casting her eyes upon the speaker. He was dressed as a musketeer, and had a leather mask hiding the upper part of his face. The man had hazel eyes and dark blonde hair, tied in a slack ponytail at the back of his head.
"Would you do me de 'onor of promising me de last dance of de evening, mademoiselle?" he asked. Marie took note that the music of the last waltz started, and noticed people advancing towards the dance floor. Her mystifying visitor was no where in sight, though so with a heavy heart se decided to accept.
"Ah'd beh…"
"Now Julien, don' y' know better den tryin t' steal dis lovely fille from moi?" interrupted a voice from behind Marie. She immediately turned round finding the man with the Cajun accent behind her. His eyes seemed to almost glow red with rage.
"An' why not?" asked the man that had been called by the name of Julien. His green eyes glared at the other man, and a hint of rage could be hard in his voice.
"B'cause de belle o' de ball already promised de last dance t' moi. Y' don' except me t' give up de 'onor o' dancin' wit de most beautiful girl in de room, now do y'?" Said her mysterious suitor. Julien glared for a few more seconds before icily paying his respects to Marie and walking away.
"Now den, cherie, shall we dance?" said the man, with an amused smile plastered on his lips. He extended a hand towards Marie and she placed her own gloved one into his, allowing him to lead her towards the dance floor. He was a divine dancer, and held her in a way that was not one bit vulgar, but still sent chills down her spine.
"Don' worry belle, I'll make sure Julien won't bot'er y' ever again," he said. She could only nod at the comment, not being able to stop gazing into his compelling eyes. She didn't know why this was happening. She had never felt like this in anyone else's companionship. Not the charming Pietro, or the entertaining Robert or even the courteous Warren.
"But y' have t' tell me one t'ing, petite. How is it dat I never saw y' b'fore. Especially since y're like une ange, lightin' up de room wit' y're beauty." He said, making her blush.
"Ah just came tah N'Awlins foh tha first tahme about two weeks ago." she replied.
"I see, but dat accent. Y're frm Mississippi, non?"
"Yes, Ah am,' said Marie, with a hint of pride in her voice.
"A true sout'ern belle," declared he. Marie once again felt a crimson blush speeding across her face, for the hundredth time since she had met him. But there was a reason for that, since no one before had ever paid this much attention to her, and most certainly no one had called her a southern belle before.
The waltz gently started coming to an end, and everyone in the room started clapping and cheering. Once she turned her attention back to the stranger, Marie noticed he was taking of his mask, so she didn't waste any time with her own. Once she turned her attention back to him Marie realized that eh was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on.
"May I introduce m'self, chère? Je m'appele Remy LeBeau." He said, making Marie gasp. So this was the oh so talked about Remy. She now understood why.
"Ah-ah'm Rogue, ah mean Marie Darkholme," she said, completely losing her composure.
"Enchanté," he said as he took her shaky hand and barely brushed his lips against her fingertips, like a true gentleman. During this whole exchange, he never took his eyes away from hers. The whole time though, Marie was too caught up in the elusive Remy to realize that two piercing blue eyes belonging to a blonde woman, glared at her in complete spite.
Hello! Here are the reviews I promised, and thanks for everyone else who reviewed I love you all!!!! Anywyz sorry it took long to post them but I'm still sick, and now on the road to recovery…anywayz next chapter will come sometime next week! I'm gunna go finish another box of Kleenex now…
Silver vulpine: Yeah, I tend to do that… a lot….it's just because after I'm done typing and reading over so many times, I almost know it by heart so even if there is a wrong word I don't realize it. Sorry, and thank you for telling me, I'll try to be more careful from now on.
SickmindedSucker: Yay, you guessed it. Yes it is Julien, I just think those two are such great enemies, and I wouldn't make it Scott cuz that's just so wrong. I can never picture him and Rogue together, it's scaring…LOL.
Kitty-Lou-who: I watch the Discover civilization channel… heh. So don't worry, I'm weird too, but hell they have great documentaries on people like Jack the Ripper….yes I'm weird, but at least they have an audience.
ishandahalf: Ohhhh I loved the phantom of the opera, so intense even though musicals have never really been my strong point. Non-the less, I felt like singing afterwards which isn't a very good idea in my case. As for Rogue, I did write it all as her being the queen of hearts but then I redid it because in my fic she's more insecure so queen of hearts wouldn't really fit her that well. I hope you like her costume though…!
Pyro Lady: I'm happy to hear that, well then British John it is!…sorry there wasn't really any John in this chapter but there will be in future chapters...
Lady Godiva: No worries, I'm a loyal follower of the Romy cult…plus Scott or Pietro for Rogue are just so wrongggg, I can't imagine it, it hurts my brain!!!! Ahhhhhhh. I'm hyper lol….all the pills I guess…Oh and I do hope you like Rogue's costume!!!
Review!!!
