[OTA] We Are Gathered Here | The Fox-Kattalakis Wedding

[headfollowheart]

A few things had gone wrong, honestly. There had been some confusion in the morning when they’d arrived to decorate the church - a few bouquets on the altar, some green and blue ribbons twined around a few of the posts - and it’d been locked. She’d managed to leave Spade Castle with her dress, veil, the coin from his mother strung on a thin leather thong, the emerald silk sash and Victor’s ring - but of all things, she’d managed to leave her shoes in their box in the closet, and Chives had had to go back for that. Hadyn looked a little green from his adventure shanghaiing Victor with Ben and Elisha, her cousin Sara had in usual Sara fashion managed to break the heel on her left shoe. Nerves finally hit as Chives was braiding her hair, and by the time the veil was settled over the smooth curls, her nails had left indents in her palms.

In the end, though, it was pretty much perfect. Two of her closest friends preceded her down the aisle in soft blue dresses with forget-me-nots in their braided hair and small posies in their hands. She’d walked towards her fiance on her brother’s arm with her hands full of spring flowers, and after the words were said and Victor lifted the veil, they were married. It only felt a little different than before, Zoe thought as their brief kiss ended. But it was different; she was Zoe Fox.

Zoe Fox knew, of course, that Victor Fox would have preferred them to just slip back to their apartment - no big party, no flowing wine and hors d'oeuvres - but she’d wanted something. And he’d given her carte blanche in the end, really; she’d chosen the small reception room that opened out into the Castle gardens, she’d picked the combination of hyacinths, hydragea, and lily of the valley for the table arrangements, the Greek-flavored menu of spanakopita, wild green and strawberry salad, linguine primavera and herb-encrusted lamb. She’d pored over cake designs until she finally picked a vanilla bean cake with strawberry puree filling, decorated in vanilla buttercream. She’d pruned the list of friends, family and acquaintances who might be expected to be invited to the wedding reception until they numbered barely fifty.

Under the strict supervision of Chives, of course the reception looked perfect, she thought as they arrived, and she smiled as she slipped her hand into Victor’s arm and the full skirt of her dress swirled against both of their legs. Perfect, though perfect didn’t matter quite so much to her right now.

Comments

[sans_coeur]

It's... quaint. And by quaint, she means terribly boring. She'd been hoping that there would be a few more people to mask her showing up, but then again, this was her daughter. Charlotte couldn't really expect the turnout at the reception to be more than pathetic.

The dress is pretty, she supposes, though neither outstanding, nor memorable. She barely notices Reginald coming back, unconsciously takes the plate he thrusts under her nose. "How boring," she murmurs, taking a bite as her sharp eyes cast around the decorations.

Good lord. Even the cake is vanilla.

[eucre]

"Big Brother did a good job. You made everyone really happy." She smiles up at him, leaning to press a kiss to his cheek. "'Specially Zoe and Victor." First names galore.

[denythyfather]

"Sitara asked for a bag, which made me ecstatic, until I found out why. You're corrupting her, Miss Berthier. She's in the corner reading books she smuggled in." Pout pout pout. "When is she ever going to learn how to have fun if you keep teaching her otherwise?" He punctuates a sentence with a kiss to her cheek to make sure she knows he's absolutely teasing.

[headfollowheart]

Charlotte had initially been on the list; everyone had initially been on the list, but she'd also been the first to be crossed off. It's a better day without her in it.

It's a far better day with her real mother in the place of honor.

She links an arm with Maggie's as she comes up behind her. "It's turned out well," she says. "Everyone's having fun."

[gardenplots]

Weddings always garner their share of crashers. Pity, thinks Maggie, when she spots an all too familiar blonde head. Her eyes narrow briefly before she's smiles once more and makes her way to the uninvited guest. Time to deadhead this bud before Zoe notices.

"Charlotte Huntly!" she greets sweetly. "What an extraordinarily youthful dress." Her voice lowers to add, "Dearest, at our age, one really ought not forgo the brassiere."

[hamelinic]

Damn. He is 95% here for the cake. And 4% for the spanakopita. And 1% because, as Spades go, the bride's quite... amusing? Interesting?

Has a pretty horse. Yes. That's the ticket.

"I did invite them. Was that not my prerogative, Missus?"

[cipherspeak]

The cake is likely his fault. Exciting, crowd-pleasing flavors are difficult to find when you also need to keep kosher for the second groomsman. And King of Clubs.

"Is it so terribly tedious, Mrs. Kattalakis?" He said as he wandered up. He'd never spoken to Zoe's mother before.

Somehow, he hadn't expected someone so...short. Mrs. Fox must have gotten her height from her father.

[sans_coeur]

Her eyes narrow as St. John approaches. The disappointing wedding party wasn't worth having to deal with that woman. "Margaret St. John," she greets, in a cool voice. "Some of us have pride in what we have. Instead of, I don't know... having to take what others have." She sneers, setting her plate down. The next words are in a bitter whisper. "You already took my husband. Was it really necessary to take my chair today as well?"

[piqued]

Of course those Particular names pull his lips half up into a smile again.

"So long as Mr and Mrs Fox are content, we ought be as well, aye?" And, because he Does realize she's not Entirely meant to be there, fingers go briefly to neatening her hair. "You're behaving?"

[piqued]

There. Back to Absolute Perfection. As she Should Be on the day of her Wedding.

He should let her go again Instantly. There are people of more Importance for her to be greeting. There are Details for him to be attending to.

But first. "Thank you, Missus."

[piqued]

It has been more than a Comfort to have Annie where his eyes could always find her in the moments of Close Calls. It is absolutely Wonderful to even just know she's There if the world falls apart.

Somehow, it doesn't properly Forewarn him that, as at the Last Wedding he had attended, she'll be pulling him out onto the dance floor. "That-- 've no' th' time, Annie-- there's--"

There must be Something he has to go See To, right?

[standlikestone]

He'll be dragged into a back room by one of Zoe's cousins later, without any explanation. The same cousin might whip out her phone to take a video, though it's uncertain if he'll notice. After all, Riley's in the room, twirling around in front of the mirror in her dress.

And Zoe's veil. She'll stop with a giggle when she catches sight of him. "Do you like it?"

[bluntforces]

Wedding dresses were entirely designed to have the ladies in them picked up and spun around in fraternal bear-hugs. It's the way of the world. 100% and entirely.

And, when the tango comes on, it's also absolutely the way of the world to take calm hold of one's old, now married friend's hand and start things off with a dramatic sort of spin.

"You did."

[bluntforces]

It's absolutely the sort of sight that will shut up instantly the complaints and questions and confusion bubbling from him. Because, well, how in the hell is he supposed to do anything but be completely focused on the woman he loves in a wedding veil.

"...yeah. I do."

[onlytolerable]

"Maybe after there's been a few toasts." She laughs. She's not quite the lightweight she'd been when they'd first met, but it still didn't take much. "I've set myself a challenge to last half the party at least." See? Nary a wobble (well, maybe a little one).

"Did you hear that Blythe helped with the hen party planning?" Her color heightens just thinking about their unintended guests.

[intotherough]

"Oh, a small venue?" A really small venue if there wasn't room for a couch. But there were odd traditions all over, really, so it's not like he could say anything.

One of his own cousins actually, literally, jumped over the broom.

"I never made it there myself, but I always told myself it was just a few minutes to get through to be married good and proper."

[standlikestone]

She'll place the veil back over her face properly, then reach out one arm to him. "I thought you would. Didn't Zoe look beautiful today?"

[gardenplots]

Maggie raises an eyebrow. Charlotte's not flat by any means, but certainly not as well endowed. Gravity had not been kind to her. "Odd. I've never known you to be one to take pride in what she has. You've always shown a woeful tendency to throw away anything of real value. I'm sure it's made you so very happy over the years."

She smiles pleasantly. "How nice for you that I spotted you and Reggie dearest before Mister Fox."

[bluntforces]

This is the future, isn't it? This is a few years forward. This is absolutely pulling a smile over his lips as he pulls an arm around her waist. "'course she did. Brides do that."

[intotherough]

"Aye, I've got to come up with something in short order." Of course he hadn't actually prepared anything. Like as not, he'd focus on the day when he met the bride instead of the day when he met the groom. A mischievous lass dressed as a black swan was more palatable than a pair of Celts on a police boat.

Or make up something about he and Victor meeting in the Deck. Either way, it wasn't worth worrying over.

"They look happy, don't they?"

[onlytolerable]

"Did she?" She doesn't bother to hide her smile. "That's my girl! What else is there to do in a room full of boring grown-ups?" She turns gracefully in his arms so they're facing. "I'm sure she'll dance with you if you ask nicely. You should introduce her to Ben. He's good with kids. He'll tell her all about kilts and Scottish princesses."

[headfollowheart]

Anything less would be unacceptable, and probably not even noticed, with as happy as everyone seems to be today. Especially her, and she was fairly sure she'd heard Victor actually laughing.

She'd absolutely seen him smile.

She reaches up to adjust the sapphire and diamond earring that the Queen had lent her and beams at Chives. "Why are you thanking me?"

[headfollowheart]

She giggles as they're surrounded again by swirling fabric and ribbon, her hair flying about as she settles into the steps. It's not the sort of dance one expects at a wedding, but she doesn't want this wedding to be expected.

Even if it's looked mostly typical on the surface.

"Are you having fun?" She asks. She needs to ask. She knows he doesn't like Victor - that there are a few men in attendance with that particular opinion - but she loves him. She loves all of them, but in different ways.

[headfollowheart]

Sirona didn't come. She's not a fan of ribbons and curled manes, but she probably would have felt the need to submit to it for the occasion. She's that sort of girl.

She beams at him, too happy today to care about the idea that there might be two more. "Of course it was," she says blithely. "I believe lamb is a particular favorite of his former Majesty."

She's mostly just making shit up, actually. Which might be another reason Cynric likes her.

[gardenplots]

"Of course it's turned out well. Declan Chives helped organize it, the groom is terribly handsome and the bride sweet and glowing." She squeezes Zoe's arm. "Everyone here loves you, dearest. Am I supposed to give you motherly advice?"