Alright… Here we get to see things start to blossom out. AND I'M EXCITED!

I LOVE this chapter so super much! I can't even begin to explain it.

I guess I don't have much to say today… Uhm, enjoy?

March 14, 1922

Well, now I've gone and done it. Everything is a complete mess. I don't know what the hell compelled me to do so, but I've effectively complicated my life tenfold. Something occurred with Demyx, something rather humiliating to recount. Thinking about it simply makes me shiver. And yet, I enjoyed it. That is what I hate the most.

He was so gentle, so kind. Damn him. It can only be just that once. I can't let it happen again but I know he'll want it to. I might even want it to. Damn it, how can I even admit that?

Thankfully he fell asleep directly after. I don't think I would have been able to make my escape otherwise. And what if he would have wanted to talk? The thought is frightening.

When I got home, all I wanted to do was drown myself in booze and go to sleep. Unfortunately I never get what I want…

--

"Well, my dear. Don't you look like death warmed over?" Luxord grinned at Larxene as she entered the home. "Where've you been all day?"

Larxene scowled at Luxord as she hung up her coat. "Out."

"Quite obviously." Luxord closed the small distance between them and began examining her more closely. "You didn't tell me you were going out. Where did you go?"

"I wasn't aware I had to check in with you every time I wanted to do something." Larxene scoffed and brushed past Luxord but was stopped when he captured her wrist in his hand. She shot him a glare and growled. "Unhand me!"

"You reek of booze and it isn't coming from your mouth." Luxord tugged Larxene from the entryway, upstairs and into the room he'd been staying in. "What were you doing, bathing in it? Or is it that boy?"

Larxene's face paled before she huffed and tugged her wrist from her husband's grip. "What are you trying to imply!?"

"You know damn well!" Luxord hissed. He grabbed Larxene's arms and pulled her against him. "I am your husband now, and although you do not have to like me, you will respect me. You will not humiliate me by…"

"I didn't! Now release me!" Larxene tugged away from Luxord but it proved futile. "I went to a speakeasy today, that's all. I probably reek of cigarette smoke as well but that doesn't mean a damn thing!" She grumbled as Luxord released her, letting her fly backward to land on the floor. Anger flooded her and she quickly stood to attack him. "How dare you get rough with me!"

Luxord crossed his arms. "Why would you have to go to a speakeasy? There are plenty of places around this mansion that your father has stashed alcohol, and I'm sure you know most of them."

Larxene countered his stance and stared hard at him. One thing she had learned was to always make eye contact. You could lie through your teeth but you better be damn sure you make eye contact or it doesn't matter how good of a liar you are. In a small way, she didn't want to lie. She wanted to admit she'd slept with Demyx and have Luxord leave in fury, but she knew she couldn't. So she would lie. "I still have my mother to worry about. She's the biggest prude in the world, and I can't just lounge around the house drunk all day. She'll know, and I'd rather just do it elsewhere. So I went to the speakeasy to relax but before I could even get a bit to my lips there was a panic, and I spilled alcohol all over myself. Turns out there were no authorities, but you can never be too careful."

Luxord stared at Larxene a moment before uncrossing his arms and placing his hands on his hips. "Suppose I believe you, what now?"

"What do you mean? There is nothing more to discuss! And I could care less if you believe me, it makes no difference. I know I'm not lying, and that's all that matters." Larxene started to exit the room but Luxord stepped in her way. "Let me pass!"

"We have more we need to discuss. Your father said that your mother will be leaving tomorrow to visit relatives in Georgia for the next couple of weeks and that he may be joining her. That means we will be here, alone." Luxord looked to his wife nervously. "This leaves me unsettled and we need to discuss what will be done."

Larxene furrowed her brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I have to be here! Alone! With you!" Luxord looked to Larxene before he began pacing in front of the door. "Your father and I get along. I can handle being around him, but just knowing you're the only company I'll be having for the next few weeks…"

"To hell with you." Larxene planted her hands on her hips and smirked. "Who said I was going to keep you company anyhow? I have a life of my own and just because I married you, that doesn't mean I have to let it slow me down!"

"So what, you'll leave me to roam about while you run off to the devil knows where!?" Luxord shook his head. "Oh no, wherever you go, I go."

--

My parents haven't even been gone for a full day, and already I spent a good portion of my morning listening to his feet pacing back and forth outside my room. I'm almost certain he even tried the door a few times but thankfully I had the foresight to lock it. Still, I couldn't stay in my room all day. My own personal stash of booze was running low and Naminé had the day off.

I decided to brave it, if only for the sake of alcohol. But when I exited my room I saw no sign of him.

I started down the stairs, silently praying he had just decided to go to sleep. It was then that I heard a rather unexpected sound.

Laughter. Horrible laughter. The laughter of men…

--

Larxene rounded the corner into the parlor, only for her heart to drop into her stomach. She was caught off guard by the sound of laughter coming from the room, especially that it was the laughter of two different people. When she stepped into the room, she was certainly not expecting what she saw. "Wh-what the hell?"

"Ah, lovely for you to join us, dear." Luxord smiled at Larxene from the table at which he sat. "We were just talking about you."

Larxene's face turned pale white. She could feel it. Her gaze flew from her husband to the man sitting across from him, hardly able to believe she'd heard laughter coming from the room only moments earlier. "D-demyx! What are you doing here!?"

Luxord looked from his wife to Demyx, who shrugged, and then back again. "He came to apologize for his atrocious behavior the other day. He explained that he was heavily intoxicated and only playing off an old school boy crush. He meant no harm, and we've been in here chattering about you ever since. Care to join us in a game of poker? I'll pour you a drink…"

Larxene steadied herself against the wall and looked desperately at an open bottle of her father's old Chardonnay. "M-maybe later. Would you actually excuse us? I need to speak to Demyx privately."

Luxord stood slowly. "Fair enough, I'll be back soon."

Larxene watched as Luxord exited the parlor and closed the doors behind him. She then turned her gaze to Demyx and hissed furiously. "What the hell do you think you are doing here!?"

Demyx smiled softly and advanced on Larxene quickly. "Come now, how could you expect me to stay away after yesterday?" He cupped the blonde woman's face in his hands and pulled her into a passionate kiss. When he pulled away he nuzzled her neck and chuckled. "As for your husband, I told him what he wanted to hear. I know you don't love him Larxene, and he doesn't love you. So what harm is there in this? I'll be friendly to him, and he has no cause for suspicion. And whenever we get the chance…" He laughed lightly and pressed his lips to her ear. "Well, what do you think?"

Larxene snarled and pulled away from Demyx despite her body ready to give in to him. "I think that right now was a highly inappropriate time for you to show up! You need to leave Demyx."

Demyx pouted and kissed a small trail along Larxene's cheek. "When can I see you again?"

"When I tell you, and not a moment sooner!" Larxene huffed as a blush crawled onto her face. She stamped her foot and pointed toward the door. "See yourself out Demyx. For my sake, please."

"Alright, I'll take my leave." Demyx leaned in and pressed his lips to Larxene's quickly before pulling away. "I'll be waiting to hear from you."

"Out!" Larxene stamped her foot again and refused to make eye contact. She listened impatiently as Demyx made his way out of the room and out of the mansion and once he was gone she rushed over to the table and grabbed up the bottle of Chardonnay, chugging it as fast as she could. By the time she reached the bottom of the bottle she heard footsteps entering the room.

"Where'd Demyx go?" Luxord looked around the room curiously as he tossed an apple into the air and caught it back in his hand.

Larxene spun around to face Luxord and forced a smile. "Well, I told him I didn't think it was appropriate for him to be here, given the way he acted the other day and your obvious concerns about him so I asked him to leave."

"Oh." Luxord looked at Larxene queerly before smiling. "Ah well, all water under the bridge now my dear. Care for an apple?"

Larxene curled her nose in disgust at the thought of the fruit and shook her head. "No, thank you. I should actually leave you be." She started past Luxord but stopped when he caught her hand in his. Not her wrist, but her hand. Caught off guard twice in one night…

"Won't you stay in here with me?" Luxord looked to the girl hopefully and smiled. "I'd love for you to play a game of poker with me."

Larxene looked at the table timidly before turning her eyes to her husband. "I actually don't know how to play."

"Well, come on. I'll teach you." Luxord pulled her slowly over to the table and pulled out a seat for her. When she took the seat he quickly sat beside her and grabbed up the cards on the table. He looked at the hand Demyx had been holding and chuckled. "Ah, good thing your friend left when he did. What a humiliating hand."

Larxene nodded, pretending she knew what he was talking about when he displayed the cards to her. She looked down at them, a ten, a pair of twos, a three and a four. She didn't see what was so wrong about it, but she supposed she'd be learning soon enough. "So, what all exactly where you two talking about? You said you were talking about me…"

Luxord cocked an eyebrow and grinned at Larxene. "Concerned?"

Larxene scoffed and crossed her arms. "Hardly. I'm just curious to know what bull crap lie that jerk is spreading about me now."

"I doubt this story is a lie. Actually, it sounds just like you. He was telling me a story about one time when you were five years old and he was seven, and you were climbing up in a pecan tree. He said you pushed him out and he fell and broke his arm and you wouldn't let him go home because you said he was acting like a baby." Luxord chuckled and grabbed up all the cards, beginning to shuffle them. "Somehow I can imagine that as though I were there myself."

Larxene snickered. "Yeah well, he was making fun of my dress so he deserved it, and it wasn't broken. It was only sprained. He dramatizes everything. He always has and he probably always will. Just take everything he says with a grain of salt."

Luxord smiled and leaned on the table, setting the cards down a good distance away. "You know, you're really pretty when you smile sincerely. And when you're not being a viper."

Larxene snorted and rolled her eyes. "Yeah well, you're pretty charming when you're not manhandling me and scolding me like a child."

"I'm sorry…" Luxord reached out and grabbed Larxene's hand delicately. "Look, I know neither one of us wanted to be forced into this, and neither one of us has been helping with our attitudes. I think we should make the best of this, given what it is. And although I don't expect you to grow to love me, perhaps you can grow to respect me at the very least."

"Well, the fact that you accepted Demyx's apology at least shows me that you're not a completely ridiculous jerk, so maybe there's hope yet." Larxene smiled and turned her attention back to the cards. "Anyhow, how do we play?"

"Ah, yes. The very most basic version of poker." Luxord pulled his hand away from Larxene's and grabbed up the cards. "You'll be good at this, I can tell…"