InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "He's cluing g for looks."

xavier delamere {the count of monte cristo} (whatbefell) wrote in bellumlogs,
@ 2010-07-30 10:36:00

Entry tags:

count of monte cristo, mercedes mondego

Who: Xavier and Gina
What: It's a surprise! ~~AKA, Gina's coming downstairs and we have no idea what's going to happen~~ ...Or it's the great reveal.
Where: 1003
When: August 1, Afternoon
Warnings: No clue. Xavier's thoughts tend to be dark.

After not hearing from the Renauds from several days left him antsy, hearing from Gina didn't help matters. Before he knew it his newest vase was in smithereens on the floor and Gina was set to come down. He didn't know where that idea came from - especially per the Count's suggestion he should be avoiding her. It didn't sit well with him that the man he was supposed to be disapproved of him. But what could he do? How was Edmond able to push Mercedes in the end? Was it a matter of time?

Xavier got out the broom, cleaning up in short time. The apartment was given a once over and decided as clean enough before he paced. Returning to the computer would only agitate him more. There was too much to think about now and to figure out what he was going to do if Gina pieced things together. But if she did, like Mercedes had then she needed to hear the truth from him - even if the last thing he wanted was for her to know.

The knock at the door came at last and he took a deep breath, before putting his Xavier illusion in place. He opened it with a small smile that stayed firm despite how she looked. "Come on in."

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whatbefell
2010-07-31 09:20 pm UTC (link)

Xavier had his fingers hovering over the call buttong when her order came. Something drove his finger away and to hang up. He shut his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself before pushing himself up from the desk. "There are some safe people here I can refer you to stay with." Helena or Iris came to mind, though he'd owe them favors if they would agree. He didn't trust Hannah enough nor Sam - besides, Gina would more than likely need someone who knew his whole story.

"Or if you want..." He stepped into the room then, looking at how she was curled up. He trailed off, unsure of the offer that he'd already not felt comfortable with offering. Another deep breath before he went on. "I do have a spare room here."

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justonefish
2010-07-31 09:30 pm UTC (link)

And there she was, thirty-two years old, a successful nurse, and a burden to everyone around her. She was dead weight. Useless. All her money was joined with Lucas', and since he was going down, she was going with him. Even though they would be divorcing soon - she was sure of this - she'd lose a lot of money in lawyers' fees. And really, she wasn't sure how interested she was in fighting over assets. At the moment, she just wanted to be gone. She wanted to disappear, become a little speck on the horizon, and just stop existing.

Sadly, life didn't work that way.

As Xavier returned, she looked up with a sniffle. "I-I don't want to be a burden," she said, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

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whatbefell
2010-07-31 09:41 pm UTC (link)

In a way, she was. He'd have to take care of her now as he fought to take down Lucas quietly. Having her stay with him - especially if others heard of it - would lead to gossip and people being suspicious. He liked being Xavier in his own way and hadn't planned on abandoning the identity. It was his most fleshed out after his Evan one. He couldn't return to being Evan thanks to fleeing the states and he couldn't be Edward again either as he was dead.

But he wasn't about to leave her to fend for herself. He was better than that - she'd suffered enough for her mistakes. "You won't be," he lied.

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	justonefish 2010-07-31 09:53 pm UTC (link)
	"You're just saying that," she replied glumly. Burying her face in her knees, she fell silent for a few moments before finally looking up at him. "I'll cook," she said finally. "And stay out of your way." She paused, looking down. "But I'll need your phone...to call a lawyer." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	whatbefell 2010-07-31 11:05 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm not," he said. He was slippig back to Xavier, the lies coming more easily again. This was for her protection - for the greater cause. Just like all of his other lies. It hurt less. An eyebrow rose at cooking, but he nodded. It wasn't until she asked for a lawyer though that he truly looked confused. "A lawyer?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	justonefish 2010-07-31 11:10 pm UTC (link)
	At his question, she sighed. "Yes, a lawyer," she repeated numbly. "Can't get divorced without one." Leaning her cheek against her knee, she looked up at him. "You...wouldn't happen to know any good ones, would you? Nearby?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

whatbefell
2010-07-31 11:16 pm UTC (link)

It took him a second for it to register and he bent over double, laughing. Arms crossing about himself, he honestly laughed for one of the first time in years - this was one of hte worst kicks in the face to Lucas possible and here he was, benefiting from it too. And Gina knew and for however short of a time it was, they were together again.

Somehow awkwardly.

He recovered several minutes later, wiping at his eyes. "My usual recommendation wouldn't work here. William isn't precisely...legal." A hand went to his face, changing to the red-headed, rough-featured man. "I'd rather not fuck this up in any way possible." A hand passed again, before he added, "I'll tell you what I can find."

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justonefish
2010-07-31 11:21 pm UTC (link)

As he laughed, she whimpered. What was so funny? Did he honestly think she would stay married to Lucas after this? Their marriage had been crumbling for a while, even before it started. She had never been over Edward, not even a little. Most of her still loved him, and she had never loved Lucas. He was her friend, and she liked him quite a bit, but there was never love. And she had always felt like he hadn't ever loved her, either. The financial crisis that he blatantly hid from her was the straw that brought the camel to its knees, but its back only broke after today.

Did Edward/Xavier - were they even the same person? - honestly think that she could stay with that sort of monster?

At his response, she frowned. "Okay," she replied meekly. "But...why was that funny?" Straightening up just slightly, she looked to him directly. "Did you...did you really think I could stay married to him? I can't even think about him now without wanting to puke."

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	whatbefell 2010-07-31 11:24 pm UTC (link)
	It brought another smile to his face, smirking despite himself. Good. She should be revolted by him - the whole world should be. If he could, he'd let them and then oh how the might would have fallen. He shook his head. "Mercedes did. And I'm not sure how you tolerated him for two years." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

justonefish
2010-07-31 11:29 pm UTC (link)

At his comparison, she stiffened. "I'm not Mercedes!" she snapped, a show of backbone that she seemed to have lost over the last hour or so. Pressing her palms to her knees, she sighed. "I...don't know either...he helped my family a lot..." He didn't need to hear this. Anybody that was even remotely close to Gina knew that her family was one giant Dysfunction Junction. Between her father's love of booze and her mother's golddigging values, it was a wonder that her sisters weren't worse. Though really, they weren't exactly good. Gina was the one that made something of herself - the other two had stagnated. Once Lucas came into the picture, it was game over. With a lake of money to draw from, the Berry family was fat and happy.

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	whatbefell 2010-08-01 02:08 am UTC (link)
	Xavier filed the information away, frowning slightly. His family, at least in comparison to hers, had never depended on him. They were all too eager to cut ties. "I'll do some research," he promised once more. His hands went to his pockets, before he asked, "Can I do anything else for you?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

justonefish
2010-08-01 02:11 am UTC (link)

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that his formal mannerisms should have hurt. But she honestly didn't care anymore. She felt like she had been split open, her insides scooped out and replaced with cotton stuffing. At his question, she shook her head numbly. "No, thank you," she said dismally. "I'll get a bag with some clothes in a little while...I usually take a duffel to the hospital, Lucas won't be suspicious at all."

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	whatbefell 2010-08-01 02:32 am UTC (link)
	He nodded, unsure of what else he could do for her. "Alright," he said softly. His hands shoved further into his pockets, trying to ignore the feeling of awkwardness now. There was a long pause before he managed, "I'll just...will you let me know if there's anything else?" He needed to hide in his office. Grab a vase and smash it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	justonefish 2010-08-01 02:51 am UTC (link)
	Just like the hurt, Gina knew she should have felt awkward. But she didn't. Instead she just sat in the silence, appreciating it, until he spoke. Glancing up at him, she nodded. "I will," she lied. "Go to sleep, Ed-" She cut herself off, unsure of what to call him. She settled on just sighing. "It's been a long day." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

whatbefell
2010-08-01 02:57 am UTC (link)

He raised an eyebrow at her. Even though this visit had dragged on, it was still the afternoon. "I have work to attend to," he said simply. He gestured to the guest bedroom. "That's yours...whenever you want to head off. I showered this morning so there's no need to worry on that."

With a final glance, he headed to his office. A moment later a crash could be heard, but fortunately his door was locked behind him.

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