All She Could Ask For solo

Leblanc Estates.
Rioux-Martin, France.
20 December.

Rosalie Cèline Leblanc. The name fit the only maternal figure in Koko's life so perfectly. Rosalie, to signify her thorns. Cèline, signifying how she thought she was the sky - bigger and more important than anyone else. And then there was the family surname, a pureblood name that went back years and years. White, or in some cases just pale. Rosalie's entire appearance matched her surname.

Koko had no idea why she was pondering this, nor did she care. She was stuck in a moderately large black car with a child roughly three years younger than her, her father in the seat in front of her. A chauffeur was driving them. The twelve-year-old girl hoped that she was wrong about where they were heading, but she knew the route too well. She would see Vienna again. And she would see Rosalie.

No money had been spent to finalise the divorce; in fact, Koko was unsure if the two had even split up. But she had heard Rosalie be referred to as "Madam Leblanc", and she knew that even if they had not divorced, Victor and Rosalie were no longer together. She should have felt glad that a woman she had not wanted in her life was now gone, but she could not bring herself to feel such emotions. No, she was trapped. She would never get rid of the woman who had loomed over her, who had cast a shadow over her.

Because, really, that was all Koko did. All she ever did was walk in the shadows cast by another. First her biological mother. Then her biological father. And then, despite all she had done to prevent against it, Rosalie.

Koko was a Slytherin. More specifically, a prefect of Slytherin. Oh, how proud the Leblancs would be. Their perfect prefect offspring, however distant in the family line she might have been. They were a large family, but they were family even if they did not act as if they were. Even if she did not want to accept them as family.

"Koko?"

A voice, clear as an angel's, interrupted her brooding. "What do you need, Holmes?" Koko asked, turning to face her brother.

He, for one, could not instantly be pegged as someone distantly related to her through blood. Holmes took after his father more than anything, from his monolids to his tanned skin to his dark, tousled hair. He, like his father, fidgeted in his seat. Clad in a white Polo shirt and black pants, he would appear to be going to a nice school or perhaps even work. That was not the case. Holmes Lei Wreath seemed unable to meet his sister's eyes as he fidgeted with his clasped hands. "Are you worried?"

Koko sighed, leaning back against the leather car seat. Her pale blonde hair, which she had worn down for the day, flopped over her shoulder in straight golden tresses. The girl did not look as professional as her brother did, but she was also dressed up. Silver hoop earrings dangled from her ears, matched with a silver necklace around her neck. A green sweater-dress went from her neck to right above her knees, accentuated with a thick black belt which happened to be a little tight. It didn't matter. She would be able to change out of it later. "What about?" Koko asked, raising an eyebrow as the heel of her over-the-knee black boot tapped the floor of the car. It wasn't out of anxiety. Koko had a lot of energy that she had not been able to get out during the train ride from England to France. She could see the same energy buzzing around in her brother.

"I dunno. Seeing Mum? S-She left us." Koko kept a straight face although her upper lip was threatening to curl back. And for your twin, I might add, she thought. To the younger child, however, she said, "No. She only wanted to stay with her sister. I shouldn't be nervous about that, and quite frankly, neither should you."

After those words, Holmes ceased his fidgeting. The rolling countryside was alluring, and Koko's amber gaze would drift between her window and her brother. Her small fidgets did not cease. Not even as the French chateau soon loomed in front of their car, and the vehicle rolled to a stop. They had not used Floo Powder because, as Victor put it, he had wished to use a way of travel that would allow them to bring more of their belongings. The chauffeur got out of the car and opened the doors for Victor first, and then the children. The dark-clothed man gave a nod to the family before walking to the trunk of the car to take care of their suitcases.

"Vic?" A figure was walking down the long drive, the click of eight-centimetre heels apparent even in this setting. She wore a tan coat over a black dress. Her perfect blonde locks were as bouncy and vibrant as ever, but the woman lacked something in her ice-blue eyes. She lacked the coldness that had always been there.

Victor's dark eyes brightened when he saw his (ex-?) wife walking to him, and he gestured for the children to follow. Holmes was biting his lip, making a feeling bloom in Koko's chest. It was unfamiliar, yes, but it was not in any way unwelcome. Something like... protection? Koko put an arm around Holmes' shoulders, pulling him in close. He would be fine. He was scared. And for once, she was not.

"Rosalie. Hello."

A twelve-year-old girl's voice should not have been so cold. It should not have been so uncaring. But here she was, staring down someone who claimed to be a mother to her with unfeeling eyes. She did feel. She felt an urge to protect a confused kid who was barely ten years old. And Rosalie wasn't doing anything, not yet, but...

And then she saw him. Flaming red hair and icy blue eyes. The other twin. Charles Longwei Wreath, also known as Charlie. "Why bonjour, Charles," Koko said quietly. "It is... Certainly a pleasure."

"Why no," said a voice, a voice that was exuberant and sweet. "The pleasure, Lin, is all mine."

The only person who called her that was Vienna Madeleine Leblanc, her young aunt who had welcomed them all to Leblanc Estates for the holidays. Vienna, who ushered them all inside, and who led everyone to a room. Vienna, who took it upon herself to maintain order in a household where no one got along, a household where a storm was brewing.

A household where some might take it upon themselves to stir up a dollop of chaos.