InsaneJournal

Who: Laurence and Marguerite, plus NPC!Marissa and NPC!Jeff
What: Wellness check turned to recruitment
When: Recently
Where: Outside Marissa’s home
Warnings: Violence, references to domestic violence
Status: Log | Complete

It had been some time since the days when Laurence would judge someone based on their living conditions - he still could not abide by untidiness, but some repairs required money to fix, and not everyone could afford what could be done. And so, he did not judge Marissa’s house by the peeling paint or the curled shingles. Instead, he looked at the flower garden, which looked well-cared for, though some new weeds seemed to be sprouting up, and the lawn which wasn’t quite overgrown, but apparently had not seen a mower in a couple of weeks.

Maybe, Marissa had simply grown busy at work and when she came home she simply did not have the time or the energy to concern herself with yard care or her GED. It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility, and it would certainly explain why her yard seemed to have fallen into disrepair at roughly the same time that she had stopped showing up to her tutoring sessions. He glanced at Marguerite to see her reaction. She certainly had more experience in this regard than Laurence did; this was, after all, his first wellness check.

Marguerite had really hoped that when Laurence had come to her that there had been a simple explanation for Marissa missing her tutoring sessions and not calling. Deep down she had known it wouldn’t have been that simple - it rarely was, after all - but she had still hoped. But when she had spoken to Ilia, the young woman had seemed confused before muttering a curse. So clearly there hadn’t been any communication and now Ilia was worried as well.

So as promised, the actress set time aside when Laurence would be in for a wellness check. There were plenty of reasons that the garden might seem in disrepair. But one, she knew that gardening was a refuge of sorts for Marissa. And two, it looked like some of the damage was caused from someone getting angry. Needles to say, she wasn’t liking the signs at present.

Still, they wouldn’t know until they spoke with Marissa, assuming she was even home. That was the other concern, of course. That she wouldn’t be but they would deal with that when they got there. For now, it was going to the door and knocking.

The knock was greeted by a raised male voice, and though the words were indistinct, Laurence’s brow furrowed. A moment passed, where Laurence was nearly tempted to knock again, but then the door opened a crack, wide enough to reveal only half of Marissa’s face.

Her eyes widened. “Will!” she exclaimed, opening the door a little more and turning her gaze to Marguerite. Her lip was a little swollen, Laurence noticed, the skin around it a slight tinge of green, and she was wearing a knitted jumper despite the warm weather. She dropped her voice, speaking slightly above a whisper. “Marguerite! What are you two doing here?”

That was definitely not a good sign and it increased Marguerite’s concern. She knew that Marissa had supposedly gotten out of the home she’d been living in to escape her partner but well, she also knew that depending on how determined someone was to find a person… It could be hard, and support was important. But she was beginning to piece things together in regards to the timeline.

Especially as Marissa dropped her voice to a whisper.

“We were concerned when you missed your tutoring sessions without alerting anyone or canceling. Is everything okay?”

It was clear that it wasn’t, however she wasn’t about to just say as much. Not when she heard the voice in the background earlier. These were always such delicate situations and while Marguerite had a cover story in place for such instances where she might meet someone she wasn’t intending, she wasn’t sure how Laurence would respond if she had to slip into that mode.

Marissa cast a furtive glance over her shoulder, and nodded. “Everything’s fine,” Marissa said. “I just decided that maybe getting a GED wasn’t for me after all. I mean, I probably would’ve failed the tests anyway, and then I would have just wasted all that money.”

Laurence swallowed. “I don’t think you would have failed, Marissa,” he said kindly, wondering who exactly it was who had planted such thoughts into her mind. “Your studies were coming along quite well, and I’m certain that even if you took them now you would have scored a passing grade.”

Marissa gave Laurence a hesitant look, and then looked again at Marguerite, and then from behind her emerged a man. He was handsome enough, Laurence thought, with a well-formed jaw and wavy black hair, but he had a cruel glint in his eyes and he looked annoyed when he saw Laurence and Marguerite standing in the door.

“Who the hell are these guys?” he asked, and before Marissa could answer, he turned to them. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

It always broke her heart when someone didn’t see their worth because of what they were told. And from what she had been told from others who worked with Marissa more than she got to, she’d been coming a long way in that. And here she was, doubting her abilities and worrying about wasting money. This was definitely the work of someone who had managed to get into Marissa’s head.

Marguerite really hated the statistics of how hard it was to get out of such relationships. The risks for even attempting and how often the most dangerous time was once someone left an abusive relationship.

And there was the cause of this situation if the actress had to hazard a guess. But right, time for the cover story.

“We’re collecting signatures to get a local proposition on the ballot in November to protest the so called beautification of 101 that will just instead create more traffic and congestion on our streets,” And of course she had a clipboard with ‘signatures’ for the made up proposition. One must always be prepared.

Marissa was lucky that her back was to the man, since the surprise showed clearly on her face. Laurence hoped that he had kept his own more schooled; he never had been especially good at lying, but so long as he didn’t say anything to contradict what Marguerite said. It didn’t feel right to leave Marissa here as she were, but Laurence had very little experience in matters such as these and he didn’t know the best way to proceed. It was best to follow Marguerite’s lead, and if she didn’t think to force Marissa away from the situation then there was nothing Laurence could do right now.

“Yeah, we’re not interested. Come on babe, let’s go,” the man said, grabbing onto Marissa’s arm to pull her away from the door.

She flinched. “Ow, Jeff, you’re hurt-” Marissa started, but Laurence had moved before he was even aware of what he was doing.

He stepped in past Marissa, grabbing hold of Jeff’s wrist. “You would do to release the lady,” Laurence said coldly, quite unaware of the wrothful look on his face, and squeezed until Jeff cried out and let go of her. Marissa quickly moved closer to Marguerite, covering her mouth as she turned toward the two men.

“What the fuck, dude?” Jeff asked, and took a clumsy swing with his free hand, and Laurence leaned backward, easily avoiding the blow.

Despite the fact that it didn’t connect, it was enough to make Laurence lose the rest of his control, and with his right hand he gripped Jeff by the throat and slammed him against the wall - a nearby picture frame fell from its nail on the wall - and struck him once across the jaw.

As much as Marguerite would love to be able to get Marissa to safety and far away from this man, there wasn’t much they could do. They didn’t have the legal recourse to be able to do so. And using a bland cover story was less likely to lead to repercussions for Marissa for seeking help or speaking about things she shouldn’t be. There were options if they became necessary, if Marissa sought them out - the underground work that a select few at Pimpernel Outreach took part of to help those who the law couldn’t help, to help them disappear and start their lives over elsewhere. But Marissa hadn’t reached that point, there had been no attempts at legal action and the law failing. No requests. She had been trying to just build her life normally without the stress moving and assuming a new name would entail.

Or….Laurence could punch Jeff. Another reason she didn’t give their actual organization. Since that could lead to legal repercussions and while they had lawyers who volunteered and on standby…. Even so, she quickly pulled Marissa behind her to protect her from the fight going on.

As much as she wanted to yell at Laurence to stop, she wasn’t about to give his name for him to face legal repercussions. No, she would just...focus on keeping Marissa calm and safe.

Jeff kicked at Laurence, his foot striking Laurence’s shin, though all the effect it had on Laurence was to cause him to snarl and strike Jeff once again, a bit of warm blood splattering on his knuckles. He lifted Jeff by the throat, just a little, so that Jeff was forced to stand on the tips of his toes and claw ineffectually at Laurence’s arm, and Laurence was about to demand that he apologize immediately to Marissa, when Marissa cried out, “Will, stop!” clinging onto the back of Marguerite’s shoulders.

Laurence glanced over at them, a savage look on his face for half a moment,, Marguerite looking determined and Marissa looking terrified, and Laurence came back to himself, his expression clearing in a moment. He released Jeff and stepped back from him, feeling all the sudden a brute. While he’d always struggled with something of a temper, he was usually much better at keeping it in check. His only excuse, perhaps, was that his Dreams had been especially difficult lately - he could still see poor young Digby falling from Temeraire’s back and his body shattering on the ground below, surrounded by the broken egg he’d tried to save whenever he closed his eyes, and it had been making his sleep troubled and disturbed, even on the nights when he didn’t Dream. But that was a poor excuse, and he would not use it to justify his barbarous behaviour.

“My apologies,” Laurence said, first to Marissa, and then again to Jeff. He offered his hand, still blood specked, to Jeff to help him to his feet, but the man recoiled from his hand and Laurence quickly withdrew it.

“What you must-” Laurence started, and then stopped himself, and then stood awkwardly in Marissa’s front entryway, shooting Marguerite an entreating look - she no doubt thought him inhuman after that display, though hopefully she would still know what to do in this situation despite it.

So much for not giving a name. But Marguerite could understand Marissa’s concern and truthfully, the actress was rather stunned herself at this side of Laurence. She was just much better at hiding it thanks to years of practice as an actress. No. What was needed in this moment was her not to have any sort of reaction beyond her determination to keep Marissa safe, all the while terrified for her wellbeing knowing how this could easily blow back on her.

First things first, she looked over her shoulder to make sure that Marissa was okay. Or as okay as she could be in that moment. She needed to find a way to get the offer to her if she needed to disappear and start over somewhere else. Normally it was only reserved for those who the law had failed but Marguerite was afraid they wouldn’t get to that point, that the blow back would be fatal if action was taken. But with Jeff there… it wasn’t like she could just offer and no matter Laurence’s intent, he just made it that much more difficult because he could be seen as a potential suspect.

And for the moment, she couldn’t think of a way out of this. Marissa had given a name, so while it could have been just from them introducing themselves, it could also reveal she knew them. She had to act quickly though. While finding a way to get Marissa to safety. Ilia. She would reach out to Ilia. The young woman’s chameleon abilities would help them disappear and not be seen, and she would protect Marissa if the need arose.

All these thoughts happened in a split second as she came up with a way to get them out of this situation.

“Terribly sorry, he’s rather passionate about the cause.” Turned her attention to Laurence, “I told you that that’s not a way to get signatures.” Turned and looked at Marissa, making sure only she would see her, mouthing Ilia’s name to let her know that the younger woman would be coming by, shaking her hand, “Again, terribly sorry about this. We’ll be going now.”

Marissa looked a little uncertain, but she nodded at Marguerite’s unspoken words, her eyes half-filled with tears, and then once she let go of Marguerite’s hand she rushed to Jeff’s side.

“Sorry, I keep forgetting that I’m no longer in London,” Laurence said, well aware that that was a ridiculous response, not least because Laurence had a Northern accent, but perhaps not any more unbelievable than the fact that he would beat a man to a great bloody pulp over a beautification project. “I’m terribly sorry again,” he said, dipping his head slightly toward Jeff as he quickly vacated the house and made his way back toward the car.

“I am very sorry, Marguerite,” Laurence said once they were out of earshot, though he was less sorry about the damage he had done to Jeff than what else his actions might have cost them. “I’m afraid I may have made things more complicated. Do you suppose Marissa will be alright with us leaving her there?” he asked, afraid of the answer but knowing that he must hear it.

Luckily for Laurence, she doubted that Jeff would really know the difference between a London accent and a Northern accent. Not that it mattered in that moment. What did was making sure that Marissa would be okay and they couldn’t really do much about that now. So as they walked away, the actress pulled out her phone and sent a text to Ilia informing her of the situation so that she could help get Marissa to safety.

“Just a bit.”

Well, Marguerite had a temper of her own, though she managed to keep her frustration mostly under check. She understood Laurence’s reaction, of course she did. But it definitely made things more complicated.

“We don’t have much of a choice right now. I’ve let Ilia know, she’ll be by to check on Marissa and get her somewhere safe.” Sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

Hopefully Ilia wouldn’t make as much of a cock-up of the situation as Laurence had. Of course, she would have to be trying to if she did. There was no use in continuing to harp on about his mistakes, however. There was nothing productive in any of that, and all it would only serve, at this point, to look as though he was attempting to garner sympathy for his inadmissible actions. Really, there was only one thing he could do now.

“Well, I suppose you’ll be driving me to the police now.”

They were now in a new phase. Marguerite wasn’t really thrilled about having to escalate things and it would also be up to Marissa if she wanted them to help her disappear. But right now, her focus was on the younger woman’s safety. Though she was startled by the comment.

“Why would I do that?”

Laurence looked at Marguerite in confusion. Surely, it was obvious why he should go to the police station. “Because I assaulted that man,” Laurence said. It did not matter if he had thought the man deserved it -- which he most assuredly did -- the fact of the matter was that Laurence had taken the law into his own hands when he’d had no right to, and he had to face the punishment that was due him.

Marguerite sighed as they walked down the sidewalk - she had made sure they parked walking distance away to help with the potential cover story but also to make sure their license plate wasn’t noted and written down. Things that had to be considered in such situations. But right. How to deal with Laurence’s guilt on assaulting someone who deserved it.

“And?” She was used to bending the rules, she had to be really. “He’s not going to press charges. Punishing yourself won’t solve anything. Or help anyone.”

Laurence frowned to himself. It was true that if the man wasn’t going to press charges, then there was no point in turning himself in to the authorities, but it wasn’t as though Laurence had given him much of a chance to press charges if he so wished. He did not know Laurence’s name, or where to find him - unless, of course, Marissa told him. But it wasn’t as if he could turn around and give the man his business card; doing so would undoubtedly reflect back negatively on Marguerite and the Pimpernel Outreach Centre. He felt as though he should have given the man a chance to answer for Laurence’s attack - a duel would have been the easy answer in his dreams - but it wasn’t as though Jeff hadn’t likewise swung, he just wasn’t an especially adept fighter.

“You’re right, of course,” Laurence said after a moment. “I just feel wretched for all the trouble I must have caused for you and Marissa. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to either of you…”

While Laurence not giving Jeff his name certainly would have made it more difficult for him to press charges, that didn’t change the fact that if he really wanted to, he could. He had a description after all and there were plenty of ways information might be picked up. But the fact remained, he wouldn’t want to open himself up to his own behavior being uncovered. And duels were quite old fashioned, as in Marguerite’s dreams old fashioned but given they dreamt of a similar time period - Laurence just a few decades after her, it made sense.

As for the trouble he caused them?

“You didn’t cause me any trouble,” She couldn’t speak for Marissa but it was the reason she hadn’t used their actual identities, or one of them. Confronting and accusing someone of abusive behavior without the ability to protect the person the accused was abusing would just lead to the fallout being on the one abused, in this case Marissa. And it was why she was sending Ilia in.

“Nothing I can think of, though you clearly want to be able to do more than just tutoring.” She was good at reading people and there was a drive in Laurence she recognized.

Laurence pursed his lips together, and nodded. “I think what some of these people must deal with is truly awful,” he admitted as they reached the car. He reached for the passenger side handle, and only then did he notice his bloody knuckles; he pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and began to wipe them clean so as to not get blood on Marguerite’s car. “I’m not quite sure what else I can do, however. It seems tutoring is the only way that I can make a difference, though…”

Though, sometimes that wasn’t enough. Not when the people he was tutoring were so downtrodden that they could see no point in continuing.

Nodded some. After all, wasn’t the reason Freya had come to Percy about finding ways to start new lives for those who needed it because of not being able to do enough? At least in legal terms because oftentimes the law failed in cases like this? So instead she just waited until they were both in the car, starting the engine and nodding.

“How comfortable are you in….bending the rules so to say? When it’s clear that there are no other options available and the rules and law have failed?”

Laurence looked at Marguerite, aghast. Rules were meant to be followed, not broken, or bent, despite what the sayings said. He prided himself on following orders unquestionably. But then he thought of Marissa, and how little he was able to do. Hadn’t he broken the rules by laying his hands on Jeff in the first place, and his expression softened a little. “I beg your pardon?” Laurence asked, with no horror present in his tone.

“How familiar are you with American history, specifically the Underground Railroad?” It was the closest example she could think of at the moment. Nowhere near exact, but the act of getting people out and with new identities even though it might not be considered ‘legal’. Yet the actions remained needed.

“I understand the concept, if not the details,” Laurence answered slowly. Most of the history he had studied as a boy - mostly at his father’s behest, unless it was naval history - had been British history, though his father had taken care to be sure that Laurence and his brothers knew at least a general history of slavery in the United States. At the time, Laurence had thought it strange, though now that he dreamed of his father fighting so hard to end slavery in the UK, he thought he might understand him a little better.

“You’re proposing something similar to that?”

Okay, so he understood the concept, which really was the important thing. So she nodded some at Laurence’s answer.

“That’s fine, you don’t need to know the specifics.”

And then he was asking if she was proposing something similar. Well, she’d opened the door, might as well go through it.

“We actually have a system in place already. A couple years ago, Freya had been working on an asylum case to help a woman escape her abusive husband, her claim was denied, she was sent back to her home country and then murdered. And it was hardly the first case where that happened or the last. It happens all the time….The law fails, women fall through the cracks. So, she and Percy put together a network essentially, to help those who come to us escape, start new lives somewhere else, new identities, the works.”

“I see,” said Laurence, frowning thoughtfully to himself, pulling open the passenger side door and slipping into the car. The right thing to do would be, of course, to help the Blakeneys with this endeavour, but the thought of flying in the face of authority and the courts, especially in a country where he didn’t so much as hold citizenship, made him feel a touch queasy.

He stared ahead through the windshield. The question of what was right was of no doubt, but the question of what was proper... well, that was a little more complicated. What would Temeraire do, in this situation?

Well, the answer to that was obvious. “If you think you could use my help, I would be happy to offer it,” he said after a moment, and turned toward Marguerite. “Just tell me what needs doing.”

What was right and what was proper didn’t always line up. Just like what was right and what was legal didn’t always line up. Life was much more complicated than that. For her and Percy, getting people out of dangerous situations was normal thanks to their Dreams. The disguises and false papers. But she knew how it could seem.

Still, sometimes it was the only option that was left. Now it was just seeing if Laurence would be able to see past proper. It was clear he wanted to do more but if it went against who he was...well, she wouldn’t blame him and it would only be a matter of hoping he would keep their secret.

But it seemed he was on board and she nodded, “Obviously this will need to be kept quiet outside of those already involved. But I imagine for now, you would help when we move someone to a safehouse, stay with them until we move them again, that sort of thing.”

There were many moving pieces after all.

“Naturally,” Laurence said. He would have been unlikely to speak of it even had he not agreed - though that, too, had the chance to put him in an awkward position if he were to be questioned about such a thing, as unlikely as it would have been. But as he was now a willing participant, to speak of it was unthinkable. “I think I can manage that, Mrs. Blakeney. Thank you for your confidence.”

Marguerite gave a small smile, “Of course…” It would never be enough, she knew that. All of them involved knew that. But it was still something. “So. Tea or coffee before we head back?” She had a feeling it was needed.

“Coffee would be lovely,” Laurence said, wrapping his knuckles with his handkerchief and buckling in. Coffee was definitely needed.