Heading Out For A family Gathering

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I had to admit Julie and I had not quarreled in many months. Indeed we had not even spoken to one another. Not out of any anger or grudge but because I had simply not cared during my time of mourning. After having spent some time in Auri’s company and accepting her touch that was as healing as any of Balm House my mind was starting to clear. I was still much thinner than I really should be but at least I was eating and going out regularly and sunlight no longer hurt my eyes.

I had cleaned up and dressed up when the invitation to a family gathering showed up though my clothes no longer fit me quite properly. I was not buying anything new though as I had high hopes of actually putting some weight back on. As for life I had no clue what it had in store for me but I intended to start living again. So I waited for the shrew and smiled at my internal name for her, but I for once had no intention of actually quarrelling with her. I was done fighting, feeling sorry for myself, and being difficult.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I came downstairs, surprised to see Matti waiting for me. He had been moping over Coretta so much of late that I had assumed he would have bowed out of the dinner party we had been invited to. "I didn't think you'd be coming tonight," I said to him as I fetched my jacket from the hall closet. It was still cold enough in the evenings to warrant one. "You look good though." Or at least, better than he had been.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I did not respond immediately but instead I took her jacket and held it for her to put on. “I ran into Aurianne, it had been so long and anyway she helped convince me to start trying to live again. Doubt I will ever be the same person again, but we shall see.” After helping her I gathered up my own jacket and slid it on. With my weight loss I had to struggle a moment to get my clothes situated again as the loose folds tended to bunch up.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

He... helped me put my jacket on. He had been doing things like that lately, things that might have been considered helpful coming from anyone else. And then... then he opened up, actually spoke to me and shared his feelings. This was beginning to scare me.

"Thank you," I said, then watched him struggle into his jacket, knowing he would probably snap at me if I tried to help. "She really broke your heart, didn't she?"

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I nodded and grimaced "yes she did. I probably should have expected it we were both so out of control but it does nothing to lessen the sting. Shit I am not even sure what she left me for. One minute things were fine the next" I held my hands palm up and shrugged "who knows. And now I hear tell she is being maneuvered into a political wedding. I should probably be thankful to be out of it, but I am not. I honestly liked her and her standing had nothing to do with it. If anything it was a complication. Of course the whole parting with Auri was well odd as well. At least on that side I get that her marquee was not complete so I have something to make sense of."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

One of the few days Mathieu and I had spent together civilly was through the grace of Aurianne nó Camellia. It was a shame when he stopped seeing her, even if I didn't need to know who my brother was spending intimate time with. It was bad enough that the entire City knew that he had been shacking up with Coretta.

"We don't always make sense. I've been told that it's part of our charm," I said, trying to be comforting as we made our way outside to the carriage.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I held out my hand and helped her into the carriage "I have had about enough charm to last a life time at this point thank you very much. I just want things to make sense and be sensible for a while." After she was in I followed and took a seat waiting for the footman who had opened the door to close it. "I'm just tired and do not really want to fight or deal with drama anymore."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I sat there, a bit at a loss as the carriage jolted into motion. My brother was actually acting like a human being. Not an annoying spoilt child out to make my life unpleasant.

"You, Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue, are tired of fighting and drama?" I asked before I could stop myself. "I'm sorry, it's just..."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

Her response irritated me for a moment but then I simply let it pass. "I know hard to believe but it is true. I suppose it takes being made a fool of one time in a nice and grand public manner to sour one on all the games."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

If I had known it was that easy, I would have made a scene years ago, I thought to myself sourly, then stopped myself. Matti was clearly making an effort to change, the least I could do was give him the benefit of the doubt. No matter how much I found it difficult to believe some days, I did still love him and wanted the best for him. And it seemed that he was finally willing to grow up.

"Aye, it would sour most people I know," I agreed, knowing where he was coming from.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I decided a bit of levity was in order considering how strained things always were between the shrew and I, but at least she was not being overtly shrewish though I suspected it was a strain for her. She was my sister after all so for the countless time I was going to try. “Well for any who think courting someone in line for the throne is a good idea I would make the gentle suggestion that it is not. Especially when that someone turns out to be not the most stable person in the world or at least a victim of a near criminally short attention span.”

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I laughed shortly. I liked Coretta, would even say sometimes that she was a friend, but she did happen to be rather flighty. "I don't think it had anything to do with her royal blood, I think that was just her."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I smiled a bit “may hap, but I would suggest for any who might court her in the future that they should wave something shiny. I have noted she likes shiny objects and that they tend to capture her attention for a longer period of time.”

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I shook my head with a rueful smile. Even if he was making fun of his ex-love, at least he was talking to me. "I'll keep that in mind if I ever need to distract her in the future."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I nodded “get yourself a real shinny pendant and wear it around your neck. If you ever need her attention just take it off and let it swing back and forth in front of her with you holding the chain. Just take care that you do not gain complete mind control as that might be disturbing.” Can we say bitter class? I knew we could!

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I shook my head again with a smile. "That is certainly not something that I want. To be honest I don't know why anyone would."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

"It could have it uses I wish I had thought of it sooner. But alas I was just being silly. So what have you been keeping yourself busy with?"

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

His words made me squirm a little. "Well, Reese mostly," I replied, looking down at my gloved hands.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I quirked a brow at that and teased "well I did not quite mean in the literal sense but alright. I suppose I should know who you are seeing."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"No, really. I've been making the decisions that Mama needs for the estate, and spending time with Reese. I haven't been to court in months, and it's been wonderful," I said, perhaps a little too honestly. Mathieu had a habit of throwing everything back in my face, and even if he said that he had grown up, I was probably going to hear about it later in yet another attempt to prove that he was the more capable courtier.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I just smiled a bit “neither have I. I am starting to realize just how childish the whole place is. It is like all the taunting games we played as children were never outgrown. Gods you see people on their death beds hanging onto petty grievances like obstinate children. It is rather amazing the government functions as well as it does, but that is probably more a function of skilled career bureaucrats than competent leaders.”

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"I asked Papa about that once. He said something along much the same lines," I said with a soft smile. It didn't surprise me really that Matti reminded me of my father, but I was surprise that the great welling of grief didn't arrive as it had for a long time after his death.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

I smiled a bit "well who do you suppose taught me such things?" I settled back into my seat a bit more feeling more comfortable than I had in a while "and that is really why the games of nobles do so little damage. They are not the ones who really run things. I mean major decisions and the like have an affect, but the mundane day to day not so much."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I smiled. "You know, sometimes its good to know how small we are in some matters."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

“I do not find it particularly good to know, but after being sharply reminded recently I plan on taking it more in stride.” I gave her a self depreciating smile “it seems the gods have conspired to teach me humility and manners even if I did not want the lesson.”

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"I know that it's a hard pill to swallow," I said softly, looking down at my gloved hands so that he couldn't see the emotion in my eyes. It was difficult to think of that time when I had tried to take my own life. "But you'll find someone else. If I can, you'll have no problem."

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

“We will see. If I do not that is not a real issue either because I have found I am not utterly uncomfortable alone.” I smiled a bit “I am probably prickly enough that I am the only one who can stand to be around me for extended periods of time.” I was joking but well there was certainly more than a kernel of truth in the statement.

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

"Should I be agreeing, or just keeping my mouth shut?" I asked, trying to tease him. Perhaps it was a feeble attempt, but it was a start.

[Mathieu L'Envers de Montegue]

"Probably agreeing, it is the truth after all."

[Juliette L'Envers de Montegue]

I shrugged at his rather bitter words. "Sometimes a person doesn't want to here the truth though."