Written in the Stars April 12th, 1912. 5:38pm 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!
Cold wind whipped at her auburn hair with the white streak. Sun shown upon her young, childlike face, warming it against the cool breath of air. It was beautiful.
So she had imagined.
But as usual, she was cooped up in her room. Not allowed to leave except for meals. She was used to those sort of restrictions. Her poor blind mother needed her after all, while her father disappeared on business. She hardly knew her father. He would disappear for weeks or months at a time, then show for a day, perhaps two. Now on board the R.M.S. Titanic, he still found ways to disappear for hours at a time.
Marie Darkholme stood with her back to one of their maids while her corset was laced up. It was almost time for dinner, so she had to get ready. In another room, she knew her mother was getting suited with help from other maids.
Her family was rich, that was how they could afford one of the most expensive suites on the most luxurious ship in the world. A small smile spread across her lips as Marie heard her mother arguing with the maids.
"I told you I wanted the dark blue dress, not the green." The astounded voices of the maids only proved to Marie that, once again, her mother had somehow known.
Irene Alder Darkholme was blind from birth, and could sometimes be mentally unstable. It was a wonder why her father, Robert, ever married her. Irene wasn't her true mother, but she was the only mother she had known. Her father told her that her real mother had died giving birth to her.
"Marie?" Irene called from another room.
"Yes, mother?" Marie showed at the doorway, peeking in. Not seeming to care they both were only dressed in their underwear and corsets.
"Why don't you wear that nice Victorian rose and burgundy outfit we bought before the trip? Graydon loves burgundy."
No matter how hard she tried to hide it, her mother heard the groan that escaped Marie's lips. "Now, now, child. Graydon is a nice man, and will take good care of you. Your father and I cannot keep you forever."
Graydon and her were the whole reason they were taking this trip to America in the first place. Marriage. Marie had prayed she would never hear that word unless she wanted to, but alas, it had happened. Her father came home one day with a huge grin on his face, making him seem younger than he was. The reason for that grin was the news that he had closed a deal for his little Marie to be wed to Graydon Creed.
This was the dinner where she would first meet the man she was supposed to spend her life with. Marie had an overactive imagination, and had already conjured up a picture of the man. Old, ugly, teeth stained from too much brandy and smoking and not enough brushing. Short, stocky, but believing himself to be the only thing that mattered in life because he was rich.
It was so unfair. She guessed it was her fault, really. Reading all those romance novels and actually believing in true love. They corrupted her, according to her father. But to make them happy, she was like she was supposed to be. Ditzy, sweet, beautiful, available, and willing to do anything for her husband.
An uncontrollable snicker arose. It was a given that Marie could end the wedding plans at any moment if she acted like her true self around Graydon. But then that would greatly disappoint her parents, and she couldn't do that. They had given her everything, this was her payment in return. A life of complete misery.
Her dress was put on and her hair and makeup done perfectly. The last thing she donned were her gloves. For some odd reason, her father had forbid her to have physical contact with another human being. He said it was to keep her pure for the man she would marry, that it was the way things were done. Yet at parties, or at gatherings of some sort, Marie had always had reason to furrow her brow in confusion at seeing single proper girls go without gloves. Maybe it was because their parents just didn't know better.
"Dearie, are you ready?" her mother called.
"Yes, mother." Marie answered as she left her room. Her mother smile at her. Despite the black glasses and cane, her mother was still beautiful and looked perfectly normal. The smile she would give always caused Marie to smile in return, and somehow, Marie thought she knew that.
As usual, Marie took one of her mother's arms, to help lead her throughout the ship to the Reception Area. Hooking both of their trains to their gloved hands, they were ready to leave. "I imagine you look breathtaking, my dear."
"Thank you, mother. And you look beautiful too."
With an exchange of smiles, they set forth for dinner.
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