i’m very curious about what caused the cataclysm between blupjeans in reJeancy au! what went down between them :0?
@annadalee said: So with the Rejeanency AU, how do Barry and Lup break up; misunderstanding, class difference, does Lydia pull some shit....?
@toooceanblue said: Idk if this is spoiler-y territory or if you are cool with answering now, but if you are taking questions about the rejeancy au- WHAT did Taako mean when he wrote that Barry broke Lup's heart? I am DYING to know the drama!
I wrote this in the airport and it’s not edited aaaaaaaaaaa
“There’s a Miss Lydia Wonder to see you sir.”
“Thank you, Samson,” Barry said, quickly gathering the many papers strewn across his writing desk into a haphazard pile, and cursing himself for not using the perfectly good study that lay just across the hall, “please see her in.”
What could Miss Wonder have to see him about today, of all days? And before noon? Barry was already expected to call upon Miss Taaco that afternoon, he wasn’t expecting company, and suppose she did stay for longer than a few moments, Barry could hardly ask her to leave –
There’s was a rustling behind him and Barry from his chair and turned to see her standing in the doorway, her fine head held high, as always –
“Mister Bluejeans,” she greets him, with a small inclination of her head.
“Miss Wonder,” he replies, bowing slightly, “please, be seated.” And she glided to and alighted on the settee, Barry sitting opposite her in the armchair.
“To what do I owe this pleasure, Miss Wonder?” He said. The words sounded strange in his mouth. Barry did not know Lydia Wonder, only knew her as one of the young women about town this season, knew her as an acquaintance of Lup’s – Miss Taaco’s – and no more than that. It seemed to him exceedingly odd that she should call upon him, alone, so early in the day.
She seemed to hesistate in her answer, her delciately gloved hands smoothing her gown before coming to rest in her lap. She seemed to look everywhere but him, her eyes downcast, before she took a deep breath.
“Mister Bluejeans,” she started slowly, “I know that my coming here may seem something of an… imposition. I know that I am not a close acquaintance. But I look fondly upon our previous interactions, and I hope that you will not begrudge my coming.”
“Not at all, Miss Wonder,” he assured her. She nodded again, seemed to fidget.
“I… there is no delicate way I know to say it, sir. There is a rumor circulating of a most distressing nature regarding yourself and Miss Taaco. I felt I must come to you directly to hear it contradicted.”
“What is it?” he asked, his stomach twisting.
“It has been said in polite circles that you… there are some who believe that you intend to establish an arrangement with miss Taaco. To propose marriage to her, even as soon as within the week,” she said. “I do not mean to pry into your personal matters, sir, but I felt that if this rumor bore any truth I had to intervene on your behalf.”
“Intervene?” Barry interjected. “On what grounds?” She seemed to start at his tone and Barry found himself seated upon the very edge of his chair. He withdrew slightly, ashamed at his brash tone. He was on the verge of an apology when Miss Wonder seemed to melt where she sat, and a look of such pity as Barry had never seen on her overtaking her face.
“Then it is true,” she said. Barry shifted in his seat, intending to… perhaps to make an excuse, to defend himself somehow before her, but she continued on without his being able to. “Mister Bluejeans,” she said, “I regret that I must bear this message to you, but I beg of you; if you plan to propose to Miss Taaco, please reconsider.”
“Why?” Barry asked, feeling his stomach drop. “For what reason?”
“Miss Taaco is a very clever woman, Mister Bluejeans. No one would assign you any blame for being taken in by her.”
“Whatever can you mean?” Barry was growing frantic at her words, at the allusions in them.
“Only that… I do not believe Miss Taaco holds the same esteem for you that you do for her, Mister Bluejeans. I am, and have been, a close acquaintance of hers this season. We have spent a great deal of time in each other’s company and I… I have heard her speak of you in such a way that I cannot imagine that you have not been taken in by some scheme of hers if you are seriously considering a proposal of marriage.”
Barry felt as though his head was disconnected from his body. He felt light, too light, from head to toe.
“Speak in what way, Miss Wonder?” he asked, his voice seeming to come from somewhere outside himself.
“I will not injure you by relating every instance to you, Mister Bluejeans,” she said, “but I have heard say of you that you are a boorish person, inelegant and dull… again, I will not go into every instance, for fear of further wounding you, but I will tell you that… her feelings are no secret among society. I would have told you sooner, but I never thought… I did not think your connection would develop as much as it has. Had I known she was continuing to pursue you I would have brought the truth to you sooner.”
Barry couldn’t breathe. “And how do you know her feelings, Miss Wonder, without a shadow of a doubt?”
“Mister Bluejeans,” she said, remorse dripping from her tone. “I was her confidant.”
And Barry could not find it in himself to respond. His stomach twisted with something heavy and oily. A weight pressed upon his chest such as he had never felt, and yet he felt empty, somehow, hollow. He could not understand. Miss Taaco had seemed so earnest. And yet he had seen her, in corners of balls and parties, giggling with Miss Wonder, time and again. Now, it seemed that every instance had been an example of her, turning her words against him.
“If you propose to her, she will accept you,” Miss Wonder said, “she is not so foolish as to deny a suitor, with her circumstances. She cannot afford to. But Mister Bluejeans,” and at his name Barry looked to her, and her face was soft and gentle as she leaned toward him from her seated place. “You are a kind and gentle person. An admirable man. I would beg of you not to marry for mere companionship rather than affection. Miss Taaco is a wily woman. She will accept you for your wealth if nothing else. But I would think it a tragedy to see a man of your character enter into a marriage devoid of love.”
Barry did not know what to think. There was nothing more to think. There was nothing at all. Only Miss Wonder, sitting there like a bird about to take flight, regret painted across her lovely face, and Barry Bluejeans, the boorish imposition upon society he had always been, in his dull, drab sitting room, papers gathered in piles all around, evidence of his idiosyncrasies, his eccentricities. And Barry could hardly breathe. It was like the sun had been blotted out, all his hopes dashed in an instant.
“Thank you, Miss Wonder,” he said, the words seeming to come not from him but from far away, “for your visit. I… I appreciate you relating these… developments to me. If you would be so kind, I believe I have some business to attend to -”
“Of course,” Miss Wonder said, rising with Barry from her seat. “I shall not keep you. Let me only offer my sincerest apologies. I know that you cared for her.”
“Thank you,” Barry said, not hearing her. “Samson will see you out. Good day, Miss Wonder.”
She must have wished him good day in return, but before he knew it she was gone. And he was alone.
Barry took off his glasses and ran a tired hand over his face, exhaling deeply. And then he picked up his head, walked out of the sitting room and into the study across the hall, and closed the door behind him.
