houseofcards_rp | [for Declán, but ota]

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[for Declán, but ota]

Annie's been pacing about all week. If there's a reason why, she hasn't told many people. It's unusual enough to inspire comment; she's actually not been doing her usual napping in odd out-of-the-way places. Curious. Speculation points to either her brother or her boyfriend as the cause.

Today, at least, her walk seems a sight more purposeful. Wherever it is she's going in Spade Castle, she knows what she needs to do.

Of course, she doesn't mind stopping for a chat. It might help calm her down.

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Contrary to Popular Belief, Declán Chives does take breaks. He does carve small Moments of the day for Himself, to become more Focused, to Reset. To, on rare occasions like today, sit on the edge of his bed and undo his cuff links and run his hands through his hair so it will look like His again rather than a Useless Object's.

But she can let herself in. He'll even have a confused sort of Smile for her.

Not that he hasn't been Counting the days.

Her own smile is going to be bright and bolstered mostly by the flock of butterflies in her stomach. By now it feels more like a whole meadowful, really. But she's certain.

He won't mind her leaning against the dresser instead of sitting next to him, right? It just feels easier that way. "Hey."

"...hey."

So long as the door's closed, she can do whatever feels Right. Clutching together at night hadn't given him any Hints, but he Knew instinctively that he wanted her to Feel Right about... everything. Everything about Them.

So she can stand. He'll sit. They'll Be together.

Deep breath. She knows exactly what she's going to say. She's been planning it all out since yesterday, down to the very last word.

"Declán, before you brought it up, I-I'd never even thought about it. Married. It's just not a word I'd apply to myself- and-" Her face scrunches up as she cuts herself off. "Um. Wow. This is harder than I thought."

There are probably Better starts to this sort of Response. He's been, of course, Prepared more for things going Badly than them actually going Well.

"It's... fine."

What else is there to say?

Her smile crumples a bit, annoyed. "It's not- can I finish first? I worked really hard on this and you're making me forget it." Huff. Huff and crossing the room to stand in front of him and take his hands in hers. Clearly this is the only way she's going to get through her speech.

"Dinna say anything," he murmurs, although his fingers--for once ungloved--are rather tight on hers.

His shoulders, however, do loosen. Honest is... good. Important, even. This is going to be Honest.

"'m listening."

It's good to feel his fingers on hers. It lets her work up the strength to remember the remainder of what she's got to say. "Right, so. It's not a word I'd apply to myself. Some days I wouldn't even use 'adult' to refer to me. But that doesn't mean I'm not, or that I can't be in future. So I- I'd like to try that. With you." Breathe out. "Okay, I'm done."

Now please let her press foreheads together before she crushes his fingers.

He sucks in a breath and finds he can't exhale, not until her forehead comes against his and her fingers squeeze back tight. Then it comes back in a sharp rush, sounds almost like a laugh.

That's a Yes.

He can't kiss her. He can't say the Right Words. Maybe sliding carefully off the bed, clutching her hands against his lips and not minding the creasing of his pants, Counts as a 'thank you thank you thank you.'

If her heart wasn't already beating fast enough, it's hummingbird-pace by now. Her smile's back in full force, thousand-watt bright enough to blind. It's a moment or two before her knees cooperate, let her down so she can kneel as well. Tug one hand away to wrap her arm properly around him as she leans her head next to his.

'I love you' might still be a way away verbally, but physically? It's there.

Ah. That's much Better. So much Better to pull his arms tight around her, keep her crushed against his chest for a few minutes of getting his breath back.

He'll be Married. So much, So Much more, he'll be Married to Annie. He'll actually Care.

"'ve na' got-- a ring, or--"

She keeps the laugh from bubbling out fully. Egos are fragile right now. "I- suppose it was prudent not to get one in case I said no. Doesn't matter. It's- we both know." And if anyone didn't they could hear it from either of them. That saved it for people they cared about.

"An' you won't--" It's silly. He realizes it's silly before it's out of his mouth. But it feels good to choke on a laugh. Feels good to cling to her like this and actually Experience the positive emotion welling inside him. "--forget 'f you're na wearing one?"

"Won't. Not that easily. I promise." Kiss to seal it? Oh yes.

The panic about parents can start up once they've broken apart to breathe.

Kiss to seal it Absolutely Works.

Particularly because it stops the Babbling that starts up again when she pulls away. "Canna be-- a big wedding; it's-- we've t' keep to tradition, an'--"

"--just you and me and my- oh, wow, it's been years since Daddy was in the Deck." She buries her face in his shoulder, thinking about the inevitable. "And Mom, and- your parents, and- and-"

She almost doesn't want to say the next few names.

"...or just us."

It would be a bit of a Shame, really, not to have the few people that Mattered there. But it might make the day run more Smoothly.

"Just us," she echoes. It's not the ideal prospect. In a world of happy endings there are several people she'd love to have there. Would they love to be there for her, even disregarding how they'd feel about other attendees? She's not sure the answer would be yes.

It requires a little wrinkling of his shirt as her hands clench tight. "Practically sounds like we're eloping, y'know."

They can't. It defeats the Purpose, really, if their Families aren't there as silent (or not) witness.

His lips find her forehead briefly. "I just... want you t' be happy when we do."

"We can take time to figure it out. I mean-" She chews her lip nervously. "That is- we're not getting married right away. We can figure out the big details first." Dress, cake and the rest notwithstanding.

Besides, she has a suspicion that he has Plans already.

He Does, of course. In the General sense, because of his family, and in the Specific sense, because he's not let her Disappearance ruin childhood Promises.

"...sorry. Jus'-- y've said yes."

And a piece of him is Panicked that not making things Perfect will let her change her mind.

"Right. I think that's important step one. Important step two is us saying 'I do'." Kiss on the nose? Kiss on the nose. "Everything else in between is just- little details. It's okay if it's not all the same."

Yes, she's aware she's saying this to someone for whom the Little Details are Everything.

But. It's Not.

There's absolutely an edge of panic to his breath in, but he forces it out slow and even. She thinks it's Okay. She's not Worried.

This is what Marriage will be. Compromise. Him allowing Chaos and her allowing Compulsion. He's actually Pleased to think about that Balance. "...it is?"

"We'll get married whether the cake's red velvet or chocolate, or whether I wear my hair up or down, or whether my dress is short or long." The nerves will work themselves out with time. The words are still shaky. But this?

This is what they're going to be. And what they'll be is Fine, if not Happy.

Mostly she'd prefer Happy.

"Will-- you let me braid it?"

It's silly, Focusing in on that. He knows it is. He needs to, just for the moment.

That's how they'll get to Happy. That and the butterfly feeling of kissing her again.

She absolutely can't help the giggle that comes out of her now. "You'd have to do it blind, you know? Not to see me before everything's in place."

They can flit in and out of Happy for the moment. Clearly marriage is going to be the work of being Stable in it.

"So I'll practice." Silly. It feels Good to make her giggle like that. "An' if it's not-- perfect, it'll... still be us."

They wouldn't be Perfect. That was slowly shaping up to be Exactly what he needed.

That's good. She wouldn't know where to start with Perfect, anyway.

Just them.

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[for Declán, but ota]

Or right now before I pass out whatever I'm an adult.

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