#likely and far more uncertain than is assumed - and Henry's own involvement is certainly very overlooked throughout it all)

[wonder-worker]

I wanted to make a more detailed post on Henry VI, but going by my record of unfinished posts, that's probably not going to happen anytime soon :( So here's another small excerpt from a contemporary letter which I think is very revealing, and which I personally haven't ever seen historians quote before.

From Ghent, on the 4th of April 1461 (CSPM):

"The king here [Henry VI] ordered King Edward as a traitor and rebel to the crown to return to his obedience. King Edward replied that he was no traitor, but the rightful king, and if he came to show obedience he would leave something to be remembered. For this the king here [Henry] had the messenger beheaded. The new king, enraged at this act, promised to have the noblest head from among the king's followers."

...This is a very different image of Henry VI and his role in the Wars than what we're used to seeing, both in general histories of the period and in pop culture-esque media. What is presented here is a power play between two kings, and Henry was clearly the one in charge of his own side: he declared his rival king a traitor, ordered him to return to obedience, and beheaded the royal messenger as a symbolic and literal punishment. While the Yorkists may have framed Henry as, in the words of George Neville, "a puppet of a king", trying to downplay his role for their own political benefit, reports like this give us the clear impression that their claims seem to have been very different from reality.

We don't objectively know if this incident actually happened, though it most likely did. But as I mentioned earlier, what's more important is what it tells us about the impression contemporaries actually had of Henry VI's role. It's a far cry from the popular idea of a "role-reversal" between him and Queen Margaret: the image of her as a figure of superior authority taking charge of a passive and incapable Henry is non-existent in this letter, which instead shows Henry as the decision-maker. Again, if Margaret was truly believed to be the one in charge, contemporaries would have surely drawn attention to her: they had no problem emphasizing her role during Henry's capture in 1460, or when they were separated in the decade after. When they were specifically together, however, sources like these give us a different impression. This matches the letters I quoted earlier about Berwick and indicates that contemporaries reporting ongoing events clearly regarded Henry as the active leader of his side. (What you think of his actual capabilities or the wisdom of his decisions is not relevant).

Here's another example that shows us that Henry was perceived as being clearly involved in resistance to Yorkist rule. It's about the conspiracy backed by the Earl of Oxford in 1464, which was quickly foiled by the Yorkists and led to a bunch of people getting their heads chopped off. It's written by Antonio Della Torre, Edward IV and Warwick's own envoy:

"Their plan was as follows : to follow the king [Edward] as his servants towards the North, as his Majesty was not going to take more than a thousand horse and their two thousand or more, and once among the enemy they were to attack the king and murder him and all his followers . In the mean time the Duke of Somerset, who was at Bruges and is still there, was to descend upon England, and King Henry was also to come with the Scots, and the Earl of Pembroke from Britanny."

We get a similar impression as the ones above. The idea that Henry was sitting passively and doing nothing while his queen and allies tried to win back his throne for him just doesn't hold up: Edward IV's own envoy tells us that he, Somerset and Jasper Tudor were working together to try and take down the Yorkists and were coordinating an attack that they would all (including Henry in his own right) be involved in. Again, away from Yorkist propaganda which de-emphasized his role for their own political purposes, Henry's role and involvement as King (or deposed King trying to win back his throne) was demonstrably recognized by most contemporaries.

In general, I think historians tend to gloss over primary sources like this because they're more "standard". Henry's doing what he (by the requirements of his time period) "should" be doing, and so it's not viewed as provocative or worthy of mention. But that's exactly why it should be highlighted more. When we speak of Henry's illnesses, of his capture in 1460 and post 1465, of his role after he was technically released in 1470-71 (I say technically because he was under the Nevilles' control during that time), we're speaking of very unique situations which cannot be used to extrapolate his role and actions, or Margaret of Anjou's role and actions, or their political dynamic with each other (ie: a "role-reversal"), under more "ordinary" circumstances. Sources like these are the ones that matter far more in that aspect.

*Two other things to point out:

Re the idea of Henry being a "puppet of a king": the fact of the matter is that his enemies had very real political reasons such framing him in such a manner; their claims can't necessarily be taken at face-value and viewed as the default "truth" about Henry's actual role and involvement in politics at the time. This applies for 1461-65 and also for the late 1450s (where government records prove without a doubt that Henry VI was involved in ruling the country, while being heavily advised/handheld by his council and advisors. Things like Loveday, and the Yorkist trial referenced in the 1459 attainder, also make it clear that he was ultimately the one deciding policies towards the Yorkists. I do think Margaret became more active in asserting royal interests - their letters in support of John Hals make it clear - and she was involved in running the crown prince's lands, but I'm not sure we can unquestionably claim that there was some kind of "role-reversal" between them, or that Margaret was actually the one ruling England and deciding policies, during that time. Ultimately, it's a lot more speculative and uncertain than that - and Henry was nowhere near as inactive as is often assumed. Evidence is clear that he did make decisions and involve himself in administration and military. And if this is the case - which it is - then the question arises: what was the point of a role reversal in the first place? Margaret is usually credited with assuming leadership because of a passive and ineot Henry, but we now know that he was not passive. So we can and should question the idea of her needing to take charge at all.

While this narrative of passivity has stuck the most with Henry VI, it's important to remember that he was far from the only King to be framed in such a manner. Mang others were as well, in different-yet-ultimately-similar ways. Like I said, it was a very convenient narrative to use by political enemies to downplay and diminish the position and authority of the king when they were trying to oppose him. For Henry, he's also affected by the fact that 1) he ultimately lost his throne twice, 2) he was constrained and controlled by York on different occasions in the late 1450s and by the Nevilles in 1470-71, 3), he was out of action from late 1460 to early 1461 and from 1465-70, which made Margaret take the leading role in the Lancastrian cause, and 4) Tudor efforts to promote his piety and canonize him as a saint relied on narratives of passivity rather than action. Put together, the way Henry viewed in general histories, though frustrating, is not especially surprising. However, to get a better picture of his actions when he actually was capable of making them, and to understand how his role was actually perceived by contemporaries away from Yorkist propaganda, these few excerpts I've posted are probably some of the most reliable sources we have.

...This was supposed to be just a few paragraphs long, rip. But either way - this is just my own analysis & opinion, feel free to agree or disagree (or both!). But I thought these few things were worth pointing out - at least, they definitely gave me a very different impression of Henry's - and by extension Margaret's - role in the early 1460s, which can perhaps also be considered when analyzing them in the late 1450s as well :)

Friendly reminder that Francesco Coppino and Prospero di Camulio, contemporaries who were literally getting their information from predominantly Yorkist circles, were both explicitly clear that it was Henry VI who decided to surrender Berwick to Scotland.

Camulio: "King Henry has given away a castle [town] called Berwick, which is one of the keys of the frontier between England and Scotland." Coppino: "[Scotland has] received from the same Henry the town of Berwick, on the frontiers of Scotland, which the Scots have long claimed as their right from the English, as the excellently well furnished guardian of their frontiers, and the place to which King Henry repaired as an asylum after the battle."

The idea that Margaret of Anjou was principally involved in the surrender, or that she was the one who actually made the decision, is based on nothing but assumption. Two direct contemporaries, both speaking of ongoing events as they unfolded, who were both getting information from Yorkist-held England, both clearly believed it was Henry who was responsible for this course of action. Neither of them mention Margaret. Sure, you can argue that it was merely rhetorical, and that they were simply automatically attributing such an important decision to the King rather than the queen - but rhetoric is nonetheless extremely important and helps us understand how historical figures were perceived at the time. Margaret's enemies would surely not have hesitated to broadcast her involvement had it actually been true, and Coppino in particular had shown no qualms about criticizing her in favor of the Yorkists before. If she was genuinely believed to have been responsible, and if the Yorkists were actually claiming that she was at the time, I see no reason why Coppino or Camulio would not have emphasized her role in their letters. What these samples instead indicate is literally the opposite: that their contemporaries - probably including the Yorkists who were putting out the information that Coppino and Camulio reported - actually believed that Henry was the one making the decision. I think it's a very large and very unnecessary stretch to go against actual evidence and claim otherwise by placing the responsibility on Margaret instead.

Additionally, these small samples may also reveal what people at the time - once again including the Yorkists - actually thought of Henry's role in the war on a broader level, away from direct Yorkist propaganda which would obviously and perhaps understandably seek to de-emphasize it: namely, that Henry was perceived as the one making decisions and deciding the courses of action for his own side.

Source: Excerpts from the Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts, Existing in the Archives and Collections of Milan

[myselfinserts]

“You have been particularly nasty on this one.”

“And just where the hell are you going?”

“Back to play pretend. Dinner’s in the fucking fridge.”

“And that’s what happened,” Étienne concluded. “After that, he went back to the SF, and since then I’ve been staying later at the Atelier just so we don’t aggravate things further. He’s usually asleep by the time I get back, and in the mornings we usually alternate between who leaves first based on his cafe menu and how long I need to work on a project on site, so avoiding him in the morning has been easier”

“I see…” 

Grégory had just gotten off a session with Ceri at the Secret Felines the day before, having heard the entire story from his perspective. He didn’t want to end up telling either side if they were right or wrong, but he wanted to get both sides of the story to find out for sure if there was a right or wrong. In the meantime, he simply told Ceri what he felt would be most helpful; be honest about his feelings and apologize for the hurtful actions he took. 

By the looks of things, Grégory was on the right track. 

Étienne let out a sigh, taking another sip of his coffee. “Did you really call me out here just to hear about a fight I had with Ceri? I’d have thought he told you everything.”

“As a therapist to your lover, Ceri is my main concern, and his focus and point of view is important during our sessions.” Grégory smiled fondly. “But as both his friend and your old college pal, it hurts to hear when my friends are fighting. So I wanted to make sure I had all the details before I settled on anything concrete.”

“Last I checked, we weren’t exactly ‘pals’ back then,” Allard grumbled. “And what exactly have you concluded, dare I ask?”

Grégory shook his head. “You’re not gonna like it.”

“Just spit it out.”

“Alright.” He leaned forward slightly. “To be completely frank, Étienne, you have been particularly nasty on this one.”

Étienne glared at him. “Excuse me?”

“I just never expected you of all people to insult someone’s work. At least, not the work of someone you care about, I mean. Especially considering how often I’ve heard you praise Ceri’s cooking and customer service skills before.”

“I…hmph.” He glanced away, focusing on the last few drops of his drink. “Perhaps I did go a tad too far…”

Grégory cautiously reached out, lightly giving his friend a pat on the head and letting his quirk work its magic as he lightly ran his fingers through his hair. “You weren’t the only one in the wrong here, however. Ceri also pushed to far and crossed too many boundaries this time.” When he was certain Étienne was fully relaxed, he removed his hand from the blond curls. “By the looks of things, it seems like this goes beyond household chores. What it’s really about is communication and boundaries.”

“Seriously?”

“You remember what you told me? You told me Ceri wanted you to actually talk through the issue. He wants you to open up to him about things. And based on what I’ve heard of this little incident, you have been pretty closed off as of late.” He took another sip of his drink, motioning politely for a refill when the waitress walked past. “At the same time, there’s something you feel you can’t communicate to him. As for what that could be, I don’t know. I’m not your therapist, so you’re not under any pressure or obligation to tell me as a medical professional. But as your friend, I can only assume it has something to do with the Atelier. Maybe something to do with level of involvement? Too much perhaps?” He raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe…not quite enough?” 

“…You always were annoyingly perceptive,” Étienne said coldly. “Hours spent stalking the support students paid off, I suppose?”

“Very much so.”

“Fuck off, Laplace.”

Grégory let out a chuckle. “Look, how long has it been since you two actually talked? Or hell, even looked each other in the face?”

Étienne paused mid sip. “I suppose four days. Five if you count today.”

“Then just start small. Apologize for calling Ceri’s work a game. And maybe give him a hug. Then the two of you can work it out from there at your own pace.”

“…I didn’t ask you for a therapy session, Laplace.”

“This isn’t a therapy session,” Grégory assured. “This is just two friends talking about love life troubles over coffee.” He smirked playfully. “Want me to tell you about my recent heartbreak? It’s quite the tearjerker.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely not.”

“Was worth a shot.” He finished another cup quickly. “And though I’m not your therapist, I appreciate it that you felt that you could talk to me about this.”

Étienne let out a soft ‘tch’, setting his cup down and pulling out his wallet. “I had already talked to someone else before you. A few others in fact.”

This is new. A total departure from college. “And what did they say?”

“Nothing to concern yourself with.”

They told him something similar, I’m assuming. “Well, it’s nice to know you have a support circle. Having friends you can talk to about these sort of things is nothing short of a gift.” Grégory swiped the tab. “And coffee’s on me, today.”

“You know, I liked you better when you barely talked in school.”

“I get that a lot.” 

Grégory stood at the door, trying to mentally prepare himself for whoever it was that answered. It’d been nearly three weeks since he’d heard from Ceri, and he had to go down to the SF and speak with the staff to find out what exactly had happened. While he was glad to hear his patient and friend was safe and sound, he was irritated that no one thought to call him. 

Still, given Ceri’s past history with disappearing unexpectedly, Grégory didn’t feel confident enough to leave it there. He had to see with his own eyes that he was okay. No one was answering his calls either, which only added to his paranoia. 

And so, that brought him to the Allard residence on that very rainy day. If it turned out that Ceri wasn’t even home, and no one could confirm it, he’d call on the nearest hero to find out the truth. If it turned out Ceri was fine, he’d work with him to continue their sessions as before the best he could. 

With a deep breath, he rang the doorbell. 

Please be okay. Please be okay.

Slowly, the door opened. 

“Um…hello?” Ceri looked the man over in confusion. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

Grégory smiled, finally relaxing. “I’m Grégory Laplace. I’m a friend of Étienne‘s. Is he home?”

“Just a moment.” Ceri looked over his shoulder, just in time for Grégory to see Étienne come into view. “Love, this person says he knows you. Do I use my quirk on him or the knife? He doesn’t seem hostile, despite the scary face.”

This is certainly a more blunt Ceri than before, Grégory thought. Still, progress has happened even without me. Never heard him ask to use his quirk before.

Étienne immediately let out a groan. “Yes, we know Grégory. Let him in.”

“Alright,” he said. Ceri stepped aside, letting him in with a smile. “Come on in and have a seat in the living room. We’re about to have some coffee. I made sachertorte too if you want some.”

“That sounds lovely, thanks.” Grégory stepped in quickly, hanging his coat up and following Étienne to the living room, watching as Ceri hurried into the kitchen again. “So how much does he remember?”

“Enough that he knows we’re married, not enough to remember you, apparently.” Étienne pinched the bridge of his nose, relaxing only a little when the little blonde cat started climbing up to his shoulders. “With everything going on, calling you completely slipped my mind. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m just glad Ceri’s okay.” He smiled fondly. “Is it just the two of you?”

Étienne shook his head. “No, his father is also here, but he’s out with L at the moment picking up a few things. They’ll be back soon. And Chris is keeping me posted on things at the Atelier, so I’ll be able to make arrangements if I have to go in suddenly.” He gave the cat a few scritches under her chin, smiling at the softness of her fur. “It’s been exhausting. I don’t know how we’d have managed without them all.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Grégory said. “Still, try to at least have your assistant shoot me an email next time. I was half-ready to call a search party for Ceri when he stopped showing up at the SF.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.” He looked him over carefully. “I’m guessing that’s why you’re here at my house, soaking wet.”

Grégory looked at himself, finally taking notice of how damp his shoulders and ankles had become. Thankfully, his shoes prevented further leaks. “I suppose I did get a little splashed.”

“Honestly, you’re hopeless.” 

“Not as much as Henri.”

“Oh god, don’t remind me.”

Ceri came back not too long after, carrying a tray with three cups of coffee and a cake ready to be shared. As he started to serve, he stared at Laplace with a curious gleam in his eye. As though he were waiting to ask something. 

“So…uh…” Ceri mumbled. “How do I know you?”

Grégory smiled. “You can check if you’re uncertain, but I’m your therapist.”

“No way. I couldn’t-” he paused, looking slightly confused, before turning bright red, his face looking guilty. “Oh. Oh goodness.”

Étienne rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t have let him in otherwise.” He shot their guest a warning glare. “Please don’t make showing up here unexpectedly a regular thing. Or at all.”

“Noted.” Grégory took a bite of the cake. “Hmh. It’s good.” He noticed Ceri was staring at his husband. “Ceri? Something wrong?”

“Was the fight really that bad?” Ceri asked hesitantly. 

The room went silent. Grégory silently cursed himself for this. He hadn’t realized Ceri didn’t remember that yet. 

Étienne, however, didn’t waste a second. “It was. But we worked through it.” He smiled softly, lightly taking his hand in his. “You needn’t worry. It’ll come back in time. Just know that whatever amount you remember initially, it doesn’t change the outcome. We got through it together, and it doesn’t change how I feel about you. Okay?”

Ceri nodded, lightly leaning against him. “Okay.”

Grégory watched them quietly in awe. He honestly didn’t know what to expect when he got there, but this? This was certainly not at all near even the middle of the list. To see Étienne Allard so…gentle? Soft? Almost tender? He didn’t quite know the word for it. None of those seem to fit what he saw before him. Never did he ever think that the guarded support designer would show such a side of himself so openly. Perhaps it was just because his husband was scared, or that they were alone in their own home and that they knew Laplace wouldn’t gossip about it. Whatever the reason, he couldn’t be sure.

But one thing he knew for certain, was that Ceri was in good hands. 

I guess I got worried for nothing. 

Grégory ended up staying later than expected. Right through dinner time. The conversations were pleasant, and the atmosphere was relaxing, despite the amnesiac elephant in the room. After a brief discussion, it was agreed that Ceri would continue his sessions with Laplace, though they’d be held at the office until he got his whole memory back. 

The rain had cleared up by the time Grégory left them, and as he walked away from the house, he felt a strong calming sensation in his heart. 

Without a doubt, it’s going to be okay.

[bleakvisuals]

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