POV Narrator:
Tuesday 23 June 2020, Bordeaux, France
Hellene was recovering more each day, she had already taken the stitches out of her arms since the wound had healed, besides that her relationship with Marianne was improving a lot, since they had started dating, both of them were getting closer to each other, more than they already were, besides being very close, it was what they needed to give a step forward in that friendship that was already very close. In the meantime they were having fun with each other, also enjoying the time with Akko, Diana and Laura who were present at the house. After the stitches were taken out of Hellene's arm, she decided to go to France, to pay a visit to the Leclerc family, and to tell them the news about the beginning of her relationship with their daughter, even in the middle of the pandemic.
On the way they both decide to go for a walk too, stopping first in London, where they take pictures in the attractions of the place, also taking the chance to take a night off in a hotel, going then towards France, where they stayed all day long in the Du Nord family residence, After this day in Loperèc, they go finally to Bordeaux, where Leclerc family lives.
POV Marianne:
We are arriving, finally, at home, I was looking forward to it, we spent so much time travelling, stopping right in England before crossing here in France, it was even fun, spending some time at the Du Nord's house, before arriving here, it was a great trip, the first time I met Chariot's family and they are all so similar to her, it must have been a huge blow for them, they lost their matriarch and they can't even get close to Chariot because she is hiding.
We arrive home, the yard is already recognizable, it is not a huge house like the Cavendish or the McLaren's, but it is our little house, that is the most important thing, we land together and I even look with a smile at my house.
"Welcome to the Leclerc house" I say to Hellene.
"What a cute little house, by de way I dddn't even ask you properly, what are your parents' names" I'm even scratching my head.
"My mother is Genevieve and my father is Gilles, I'm an only child, wait and I'll see if they are not... You know, in the middle of summer my parents love to get too liberal and kinda exotic and peculiar... I don't know how o describe" I say rubbing the back of my neck and see that Hellene shrug and send me a signal with her thumb.
I walk into the house, I use the key to open the door, Hellene is waiting outside, I can already smell the smell of incense in the house, ah they will be at that kind of moment, I really hope they are not doing that in the living room.
"Mum! Dad!" I call out to them and they both appear in the doorway, as I suspected, they were both naked.
"Marianne! You finally came here to the house" My mum comes all happy hugging me naked and I go feeling a bit embarrassed, and my dad comes too, which I can smell weed coming from them.
"And where is your girlfriend?" asks my father.
"Dad, Mom, please put something on, I asked her to wait outside because you are fine... You two are naked and stoned to boot" I tell them and they shrug.
"Ah yes that's true, but is there a problem with that? It's only natural, could you join us in this?" Said my mum and I'm left with the most puzzled look on my face.
"Genn, let's not make the visit uncomfortable, we've been at it since the beginning of the month, we'll put on clothes, for our daughter who we haven't seen for a long time and we also want to get to know your girlfriend better" Said my father stroking my head.
"In fact, leave the kitchen to me, I'm not letting you two the way you are stoned make lunch" I tell them who then walk to the bedroom.
It was expected from these two, I honestly have been feeling like a mother to my parents since adolescence, I miss grandma to give a little order, since she left this house became a mess, well at least, they are
attentive, even if they are a little... Too exotic, at least they never forced me to do their crazy thing.
My parents soon come back dressed, and that's less bad, now I'll go call Hellene here, it will be quieter, I open the door and signal to my girlfriend to get more inside the house, she comes coming and I keep an eye if my parents are not going to take off their clothes too, the way they are crazy.
"Hi, I'm Hellene McLaren, nice to meet you, I'm your daughter's girlfriend" How cute, my McLaren is all flushed with embarrassment.
"Welcome to the Leclerc family home, you are the Hellene that my daughter spoke so much about, I knew that one day you would be together, the stars united for you to be together, you can feel at ease here, I am Genevieve and this is my husband Gilles" My mom present herself to Hellene.
"It's a pleasure girl, you are stronger than our daughter had told us, I'm really surprised, those muscles are more defined than mine when I was your age" said my father, who after shaking my girlfriend's hand began to see the muscles in Hellene's arm.
"Ah dat's the only arm I have, when I used to have two I could do it like dat, I've always trained since I was very young" McLaren said.
"Woah! You are wonderful!" My parents said, impressed by my girlfriend's beauty hope they didn't came to nothing so exotic and peculiar about that.
"You two behave with my girlfriend, I am going to make lunch now, I hope we have food and not the culinary atrocities you do" I say to them who shrug and I see my girlfriend all confused, I really hope my parents behave with her.
POV Hellene:
Wow, Mari's parents are very different, dey look like two teenagers, dey are very receptive too, I go with dem to de living room, I see dat my girlfriend went to de kitchen on de other side of de counter to make de food, I could smell incense and I also saw dat dere was a bong on de coffee table, which Mr. Leclerc was taking out of dere.
"I am really happy that you two are together, we can see that Mari has been getting happier lately with your presence" Mrs Leclerc said.
"I was scared admittedly, because it's not something you accept very well, a girl dating your daughter, most people don't accept dat" I say to both of dem who shrug.
"Everyone in this house is not like that, we are all bisexual, we see no problem in our daughter dating a girl, here we preach love and solidarity, and most of all freedom, you have to really enjoy life" said Gilles.
"Oh how incredible, I dedn't know you guys were so wonderful like dis" I say delighted.
"Our daughter has told us a lot about you, about how strong you've been, your fight for the Witches' Revolution, I'm so happy to see that you're giving your all for it, I'm just a little worried for her well being, after we found out about the arm incident, we're thinking of taking her away from Luna Nova, for Marianne's sake and protection" Genevieve said.
"What? Are they going to take me out of Luna Nova? But I can study at a distance now, I don't need to go there" Said my girlfriend in the background listening to everything.
"Marianne, it's for your own good and protection, we've already asked Holbrook to cancel your enrolment and give you a transfer, your last year will be at another witch school, you can even choose, but it won't be Luna Nova" I was even a lettle bit amused by all dis, but I understand what 'er mother wants, I dink I had an idea.
"She can study at the Victoria McLaren Witchcraft Academy in Dublin, it's de best witchcraft school in de world, I studied dere before I went to Luna Nova" I make a good suggestion to dem.
"But how would we do that? This school will accept a foreign student?" I nod.
"Dey accept foreign students, I'm practically one, even though I have papers from both places, I was born in Scotland, I'm considered British in my papers, even though I've been living in Dublin since I was very young, dere are students dere from everywhere, I guarantee it's a better choice dan Luna Nova, except dat maybe I'll do it" I say more about de academy of witchcraft and seedat Mari came close to me,
"Love will you give up Luna Nova?" I nod my head.
"I honestly get PTSD just remembering de place, I don't want to get close to it, only if it's for de future missions we were going to do regarding de witches' revolution, I dink it's better to finish my studies in a real good witchcraft school and also because it's very likely dat de boss is de director, I don't doubt it's 'er, if my theory is right I might lose my registration and lose de chance to graduate, 'ave you ever stopped to dink about dat?" She is shocked, but den she strokes my head.
"I totally understand you, finally I'm going back to the kitchen" said my girlfriend.
And she goes off to de kitchen, I really don't want to go back to Luna Nova as a student, I can't wait for de time to come when de identity of de boss will be revealed and all dis will be over, I'm really waiting a lot for de mask to fall, 'er parents even get very thoughtful and look at me afterwards, wanting to know a bit more by de looks of it.
"One might wonder about this witchcraft academy in Ireland, but anyway, just so it doesn't get too cliched, what do you like to do, Hellene?" Genevieve asks.
"I like to play video games, watch anime, draw, train my body, but my biggest dream and passion is to fly a broomstick, I wish dere was a broomstick racing event like Formula 1, a championship to see who is de fastest witch in de world - I reply to Mari's mother just to get 'er attached more.
"Oh that's interesting, but how do you draw? You don't have a right arm and Marianne told us that you didn't have a hand before you lost your arm" Oh dey have no idea.
"I am left-handed" I answer dem.
"By the way I believe that you can do it, this dream of yours can come true, I have heard that in the past there was the Broom Gran Prix, maybe you can revive it if you do the witches' revolution"- I nod my head in agreement with Gilles, surprising dat Mari's father knows about de witches' history.
"Exactly, she is our ancestor" I even say full of pride.
"My name is in homage to one of my ancestors who fought for Terre Sapphique, Genevieve Leclerc I, she was one of the many and many who fought with Victoria for the witches' freedom, no doubt we feel honoured to have someone with such a historical ancestry for us, thanks to Victoria we can have the freedom to be who we are" I even get a big smile on my face.
"I am happy to see dat dere are more people outside Ireland who recognise de greatness of Victoria, not only in Loperèc by de way, 'ere too" Dis is great finally people dat knows about great Vic.
"Look as a mundane person I have no idea of this woman's history but when I found out I was delighted, this witch has fought for us, even the mundanes have benefited and she is so little talked about here in France too" Gilles said and I am loving Mari's parents.
"We are quite sure that our daughter is in good hands with you" Genevieve said.
"Here we are very much at liberty, you can rest assured that you can feel at home, like really at ease, free to leave your body..." Said my father-in-law and I only see a bread flying in his mouth, thrown by Mari.
"Oh Marianne doesn't like it when we talk about it, but it's something we have to talk about, we are naturists around here, only our daughter doesn't like to do it, but we both usually stay at home, let the freedom and nature of our bodies breathe, we go to beaches and resorts, sometimes even on bike campaigns too..." It seems dat de bread has flown to my mother-in-law too.
"You two don't talk about this with my girlfriend" Mari said very angry and I just laughed.
"You are de naked parents Mari is always talking about, I know it well, she gets very angry when she talks about dese dings, she is very embarrassed, even to take a shower with me she started to be ashamed, I was never dat embarrassed, I even changed near 'er when we were still friends, but being naked all de time is not my thing, I like to be dressed, I'm ashamed too, I only take my clothes off near people I really have a lot of friendship with and people close to my family, like my sister and mother, but otherwise I really don't like it" I explain to both of dem.
"It's always like that at the beginning, you're already on the way to becoming one, Gilles himself was like that at the beginning, I remember he didn't control himself in the first days, but he controlled himself more and more, until it became natural, that was well before Marianne was born, it's a question of getting used to the natural..." Another bread was in Genevieve's mouth.
"You two behave yourselves, is it that every friend or girlfriend that I bring here, you want to bring into your madness?" Mari said and I was laughing.
"Lillian became a big fan when she came here, remember" She even roll 'er eyes who is dis Lillian? I'm pretty curious.
"Lillian was crazy in the head, the food will be ready here soon, try to keep my wife dressed here at home at least" Said my girlfriend and I am reassured I won't end up like dem I'm not into it.
"I'm fine with it, I'm not a fan of de practice, I don't really like it" I tell dem being very clear.
"It's okay Hellene, let's not talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable" 'er father said and whew, it really was getting.
"And what is your family like?" dey ask and I would love to answer dat.
"I am de middle sister, I live in Dublin since I was very young, but I was born in Edinburgh, so I say I am Irish, but with a little foot in Scotland, since my late mother was Scottish, I am part Cavendish too, not only McLaren, my older sister is called Diana, she is one year older dan me and got all de Cavendish appearance, but with some traces of my mother who is a McLaren like freckles, My dead mother's name was Bernadette, she died when I was going to be 4 years old, I remember 'er very little, but I remember 'er with affection, my younger sister Holly is de result of another relationship dat happened with my mother Laura, she is not Bernadette's daughter, but de result of another kind of relationship, dat was not consented, Holly's other mother unfortunately is not with us either, she was arrested and died in jail... Anyway apart from the heavy stuff, in my house live me, my sister Holly, my mother Laura and my grandparents Mark and Joanne, my older sister Diana lives in Scotland and today is living with my daughter-in-lawAtsuko" I will be very brief with dem.
"Oh Mark and Joanne? Are you talking about Mark Irvine? He was a hell of an Endurance driver in the 70's" I agree with de head, sounds like Mr Leclerc knows him well.
"Yes it's my grandfather's surname, he wanted my mother Laura to be a racing driver too and she has a lot of talent, but my mother wanted to be a broomstick racer, she wanted to recreate BGP, in fact she wants it to dis day" I tell him who is loving listening.
"Wow, that's really good to know, tell me more about it, I'd love to know" I nod my head in agreement getting a huge smile on my face.
Mari's parents are not as peculiar as Mari had told me, dey are people like any other, dey just have some exotic habits, but nothing dat I dink is a bother, dey even adapted to my coming, I'm really honored, I liked Mari's parents, now I'll love to talk to dem about my mother's achievements in Kart and how she could be a high level race driver as my father was.
After a good chat lunch was ready...
I am loving Genevieve and Gilles, dey are a nice couple, the best ding about it is dat I feel as if I am talking to two teenagers, it's very different from talking to my mum Laura, even though mum is loose and even in 'er own way, I can tell I am talking to an adult, but with dem I honestly wouldn't be surprised if dey were 25.
"Oh and how old are you? Because it amazes me how you look 25, both in appearance and manner" I tell dem, getting very curious.
"I had Marianne very young, at 19, I will be 36 and Gilles is a little older at 38, we had to take a lot of responsibility when we were parents, who helped us was my mother Julia, she who really gave us advice and even took care of Marianne, we were two teenagers without any idea of how to act at that time, I met Gilles when I was 15, we started dating and then we are together until today" Genevieve said and wow, I am surprised, dey were very young parents.
"So you 'ave a younger look, but you really don't look your age" I tell dem.
"My parents are not out of their teens, that's what my grandma used to say, by the way lunch is ready, let's eat - Mari said and I get all excited.
"Let's see what our Marianne has prepared for us, by the way and your mother, doesn't she have that way? -they ask and I go on shaking my head in denial at them.
"Both my mother Laura and my mother Bernadette only became mothers when dey were 30 years old, my mother Laura is now 48 years old, she even has a looser and jovial way, but it is remarkable dat she is already an adult woman, almost a lady, with 'er looks not so much, but 'er way shows it, I only don't say dat because she gets angry with me, she doesn't like de idea that she is reaching 50 years old, now let's eat" I say getting up from the sofa.
Wow, it was wonderful to talk to dem, dey are such mature people and with such a nice way, wow, and dey were parents so early too, dey are more dan 10 years apart from my mother, you can see how Mari is deir mother a little hahaha.
We get to de table and I see some giant shrimp, or it must be a small lobster, I also see some weird orange dings, rice as usual, everything smells like fish, it looks good, I don't know for sure, I've never eaten it.
"Enjoy the seafood, I made langoustines, mussels, rice, mashed potatoes and I know you both love them, I also have oysters, if you want you can try them too, love, it's not bad, the appearance is not inviting, but it's worth it, there is also cheese and a baguette, to drink I made a freshly squeezed lemonade, you can help yourselves" Mari said and I am soon getting curious to see.
I'm taking everything from a little to taste, I see dat de oysters are really kind of disgusting inside, it seems dat dey move I don't know, I see dat Mari's parents eat as if it were something else, I'm with de back foot, but good for who already drank raw egg, dis is nothing, let's see how it tastes... It's not bad, but it's like a raw egg, I prefer not to drink it sincerely, de consistency is not appealing, better try other things, I see dat Mari is another who likes it.
"It can stay for you, I dink I'll eat de other things" I say taking a crayfish in my hand and wow it looks like a lobster only smaller.
"It's very good, it's just not for your taste buds love" she said and I agreed.
"And these lettle lads 'ere, are dey tough, like me like dem?" I say as I look around all confused.
"Put your mouth in it, you can bite its little ass without mercy, you can also eat its little legs, we kind of have a tank with these crayfish, so it's fresh, since it has to be left alive when it's done, otherwise it spoils" Mari said and I start biting its hard skin and wow, it tastes good inside.
I'm loving de food even, de crayfish is really good, its ass was delicious, I want to see de mussels, I'm going to eat dem with de rice dat has peas and corn inside too, it must be really good, I've never had a rice like dat, it's strange, I always see a white rice, anyway it gave a little more flavor, hmmm, de food 'ere is really good, I never thought Mari would be a full hand cook, she really leaves 'er parents in good hands making a food like that.
I'm enjoying my girlfriend's food, I just didn't really like de oysters, de consistency doesn't suit me, and dis speaking of a lassie who usually drinks raw egg every day, but now I'm even stopping, since I lost de arm I stopped training and doing crazy diets full of protein, I've been eating a lot of junk food.
"Wow baby, you cook extremely well" I say impressed.
"My grandma taught me everything, she said I needed to learn, because she wouldn't be here at home all the time to help me with de food, that I should learn, not to depend on my parents who are not a reliable source of cooking" said my girlfriend.
"Oh, you say dat because we make some food dat is too peculiar for your taste," said my mother.
"Yes, sardines with noodles, barbecue sauce, corn, nuggets and marshmallow is nothing abnormal, right? You get stoned and I have to eat the atrocities you make, good thing I was the cook today" Mari said and I was laughing, what a bizarre mixture.
"That one was really good, everything is delicious in the starving" said Genevieve and I 'ave no idea what she is talking about.
POV Marianne:
My parents love to invent these crazy recipes, I love to see Hellene's confused face, well I would say she would love my parents at least, I thought it would be one of those discomforts, but the two kids are behaving well, who would have thought.
"Wow it is impressive that your girlfriend has so many table manners, she is very polite" said my mother.
"Hellene has always been like that, it is something from her mothers, a habit that ends up sticking, I am surprised when you find out that Mrs. McLaren is quite different from that" I say laughing.
"Ah my mother talks with 'er mouth full, she eats quickly, she fills 'er hands and cheeks with food, and when she doesn't eat with 'er hand, she looks like an ogre eating, but it's 'er way, even though she took a few spoonfuls on de head dat my grandma Joanne kept hitting, even today she does it, it's too funny" Hellene said.
"Oh and has your mother ever hit you?" My parents ask because they have never raised their hands to me.
"No, my mothers were always against dis, my mother Laura at most talks to me and gives me a scolding, my grandparents also never raised a hand to me, de last person in the family to still receive a spanking is my mother, but it is only a few spoonfuls on the head when she eats without manners, in front of everyone, otherwise de history of hitting children in de family died dere" said my girlfriend.
"At most, it is just a few knocks when they are training, but then it is training, even when this happens McLaren lady is always careful not to hurt us and teach us not to get hurt" I tell my parents.
"That's good to hear, we can't stand this kind of thing, it's terrible that there are still parents who beat their children, violence was never a form of education, well enjoy the house, we are already satisfied eating here" said my mother getting up.
The next morning...
It was a wonderful day, seeing that my parents behaved and didn't walk naked around the house for the rest of the day we stayed was wonderful, Hellene and I go and get our bags, we have a very important appointment for tomorrow and it's good to leave today so we can arrive in time to celebrate the day.
We get to the door and my parents are already waiting for us, giving me and my girlfriend a hug, she must have loved meeting my parents.
"you're leaving, aren't you?" asks my father and yeah we just stay there for a while.
"Tomorrow is my sister-in-law's birthday, she turns 18, it's an important date, otherwise we would stay a few extra days" I tell dem.
"A pity, we could introduce Hellene to naturism, she would love it" said my mother while I'm all red.
"Mum!" I tell her blushing with embarrassment and she's just laughing.
"I'm joking, go and enjoy your birthday and come back more often, we will miss you Marianne" Said Lady Genevieve being as always the one to go for the joke, but I don't doubt that coming from her it could be true.
"Be well and happy birthday to this girl" said my father.
We hugged them and left in the direction of Loperec, stopping at the Du Nord family house, I think we could get the relics to make the fertility stone, it could be a good thing, since I intend to be a mother someday, it would be wonderful to see my children with Hellene, I see she was just laughing beside me.
"Your parents are quite different from normal really, I felt like we were close to friends, even my mother isn't dat young way of view and act" Hellene said, Laura looks quite young too.
"Your mother also looks young, even though her age is a bit apparent, she has a teenage way about her, at least as far as I can tell, she's a lot of fun and all that" I tell her and she laughs.
"Ah, dat's because you haven't lived your whole life with Mrs Laura, she knows how to be a strict mother too, she knows how to be serious and dere are dings that 'er way of being denounces 'er 48 years of age" said my girlfriend but I don't think so.
"Look, if you told me I wouldn't even notice, even my parents have these moments when their age is apparent, but no doubt they are much more like teenagers than Mrs. McLaren, well anyway I'm relieved that you didn't meet them naked around" I tell her, who laughs.
"Dey wanted me to be naked, I dink they were in awe of my body somehow" McLaren said and I don't doubt it.
"But who could resist too? Your body is irresistible love, besides that my father loves muscular bodies, he loves doing paintings like that, I even thought he was gay, but in reality he is bi, just like my mother, both of them have a fascination for muscular bodies, luckily you haven't seen any of their paintings of artistic nudes" I say relieved.
"I only saw a few paintings in the living room, but none of this kind, did they do it?" Hellene asks and I nod.
"My father is a visual artist, my mother is a music teacher, you've seen that they have a little foot in art" I tell her that she'll be delighted to know.
I just hope that Victoria McLaren's witch academy thing can come true, I don't want to have to go back to France and be away from Hellene, now I really don't know how I would stay away from her, after seeing that she lost her arm it shakes me up until now.
POV Narrator:
Hellene meets the peculiar Leclerc family, which has a very different behaviour, where the daughter is the most responsible of the family, but despite everything, they are a very inviting family and welcomed McLaren with open arms, talking about everyday things and the family itself, in a way that the Irish girl felt comfortable in that environment, but it did not last long due to the event that is coming soon, the birthday of Atsuko Kagari.
See you, exotic witches...