[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

[piqued]

And that Supervision? Had indeed been incredibly Strict. It was entirely possible that, after all was said and done, a few of the Twos would need to schedule a bit of time with on a therapist's couch. Knowing that the Five had killed before and feeling for a moment that one might be the Five's next victim for setting a fork wrong preparing for a wedding reception were two Very Different things, after all.

But it was over. It had been Accomplished. They were coming to the part where it was less Planned and more a matter of keeping things Smooth, which almost--Almost--meant a person could relax.

Or, at the very least, allow oneself to Smile. Victor and Zoë Fox. Wasn't that just the most Perfect thing in the world. Absolutely something to be grinning noticeably about while checking that the bride's hair hadn't fallen out of place.

[eucre]

Piper is technically crashing the party. But surely Chives won't mind this one uninvited visitor. Especially since her only aim seems to be to slip between his arm and his side. "Isn't it pretty?"

[headfollowheart]

She dutifully holds still as he fixes the very few loose strands of hair that have come out of the braid after she took off her veil, her eyes sparkling far beyond the more calm sort of happiness she's usually exhibiting.

"Thank you, Chives," she says softly. She's not thanking him specifically for the braiding, of course.

[oneirophiliac]

Nothing had happened to stress him out, thankfully, but she'd been prepared to get him alone and calm him down if it had come down to it. So it's with a bright pleased grin that she tugs him away for a dance. "C'mon. Can't just wallflower all day to celebrate."

So they should have been working together yet never threaded

[onlytolerable]

Sophie feels a little awkward speaking to Chives even knowing how close Zoe feels to him and even after the times they'd had to meet to go over wedding details together. She doesn't know him well and there'd been something between him and Isaac, something they'd both regretted, she thinks. So her natural reserve often came into play when they did speak.

That reserve doesn't prevent her from working her way around the room to where he silently stands.

"Everything's beautiful. I'm so glad Zoe had you to depend on." She smiles just a little. "Thank you. I was able to concentrate more on the bride knowing you were there."

[bluntforces]

There's never, of course, any reason to ruin a wedding. Why would anyone who wasn't truly malevolent? Because even if one didn't quite approve, and even if there might always be a tiny bit of doubt lodged in the back of the brain, by the time you get to a wedding, it's clearly too late to turn back.

And really, no matter his lingering reservations, seeing the smile on Zoë's face as she became Mrs Victor Fox was the sort of thing that absolutely cleared away even the most stubborn of doubts.

So there's absolutely a bright, properly pleased smile on Evan's lips when he seeks out the bride at the reception. Someone owes her a dance. And a hug. A squishy big-brother hug.

[headfollowheart]

The hug comes first, of course. A big bear hug in which he twirls her around and sends all that chiffon soaring around both of them. But then he has to relinquish her to her husband, and then to Hadyn.

She has to dig through the records to find the Latin music Elisha had slipped in on the sly, and start up a tango.

"Hey," she says. "I promised."

[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?"

[grrranimals]

"I demand my dance, Evanstar." Tess gives him a friendly nudge just in case he failed to notice how she gave the nickname the familiar Lord of the Rings twist. "I demand it and I'll rassle Riley in order to get it."

[hamelinic]

Cyrnic's not so crass as to crash a wedding, particularly not when he doesn't not like at least half the couple--and particularly when the groom isn't the sort of Spade a man wants to cross on an emotionally high day.

But the reception? Well. Free food--even in this horrible castle--is clearly an open invitation for the hungry to slip in, avoid butlers, and get themselves away from the brink of hunger.

Maybe he'll even think to congratulate the bride.

[headfollowheart]

It would be nice to congratulate the bride, especially since she's the only way he's going to trick one of the Spade Twos into cutting a slice of cake for him. He's here for the cake, isn't he?

"It's a good thing I calculated for Jokers," she says a little dryly. The tulle and lace veil has been put away, and her hair is tumbling mostly loose down her back, covering the lace back of her gown. "You're the second so far. Are Juliette and David coming too?"

She probably just jinxed herself.

[oneirophiliac]

Being engaged doesn't prevent her from trying for the bouquet, though she sadly fails. Still, she's grinning as the wedding ends, not least because it's all gone off without a hitch. One less thing for any of them to freak out about.

So of course she'll bounce up to the happy couple and spend nearly half a minute squeeing congratulating them. Well, mostly Zoe and being a bit more calm for Victor.

And, naturally, whirling about the dancefloor.

[intotherough]

At least once, she ought to whirl around the dancefloor with a Scotsman in a kilt. Every lass ought to do it at least once, and he can's spend his entire night dancing with the bridesmaid and his date.

Eden's too much of a social butterfly for that sort of thing, really.

"Enjoying it, then?" He asks as they twirl around the floor to an instrumental Celtic song (he'd slipped a few things in). "I'm thinking it's worth Mrs. Fox's headaches."

[sirforawhile]

He still has his reservations about Victor. He still has reservations about Zoe's age. He still has reservations about how long this will last.

But he's not the one standing up when the priest asks if anyone will speak, and he's not the one who's going to ruin this wedding. Happy days should be kept happy.

And at least he's certain that Victor will endeavour to keep Zoe happy too.

[unsungheart]

That's what Dillon's telling himself. It's one of the reasons he also stayed seated during that part of the wedding ceremony, though it didn't stop a couple members of his family from giving him looks. But she wants this, and him.

Dillon will keep quiet about what he thinks.

"She looks happy," he says to Iggy as he yanks off his pomona green tie off and tucks it in his pocket. "She doesn't all that much."

[intotherough]

As best man, he'd been imbued with more than a few responsibilities. The bachelor party, for one, and getting Victor to one had required both his and Elisha's considerable skills in subterfuge. Holding the ring for the groom, as the bride had already been wearing hers, and locking the church doors behind them. And the toast, of course. That one had been a bit of a trick, since it wasn't like he could tell the gathered just how he and Victor had met.

He caught Victor's eye as he headed towards the dais, and his lips curled up as he picked out a record. "I had such plans," he said out loud, in a voice that carried to the back of the room and stopped the murmurs. "Alas, the piper called out, so the lot of you are stuck with me." And with that, he motioned Victor to pull his lady onto the floor before he set the needle in a particular spot and began to sing.

Victor owed him for this one, truthfully.

[morallydefunct]

Victor's brow arched as he listened to Ben from where he stood with Zoe, watching the Scotsman carefully before a rare laugh (more of a chuckle really) escaped his lips. He even smiled, appreciating the music as Ben sang before he lifted his glass and bowed his head to his best man before approaching him slowly.

"I almost have to wonder if you are ill," he commented, offering Ben a glass and then a rather unusually sporting hug.

[onlytolerable]

She hates the thought of being on display in front of all those people. She hates more the idea of tripping on her too-high heels and crashing head first down the aisle. But she loves Zoe more than she fears embarrassment, and Sophie's determined not to scream and run away, trip head over tail or do anything else ridiculous that would ruin her best friend's wedding.

By the time she gives her friend her final hug as Zoe Kattalakis and steps through the arch and onto the aisle, she's thinking only of Zoe and doing her part to make this day perfect for her. She manages the long walk with nary a wobble, head high, huge smile lighting her face and heart near to bursting with joy.

Later she'll take a moment to deadpan to Victor that it's Spade tradition for the man to take the woman's last name and ask him if he's ordered new stationery.

For now, it's all about hugs and congratulations and whispering to the Best Man that he hadn't needed to catch her after all.

[denythyfather]

It's also all about attending to those other duties she has that aren't necessarily Maid-Of-Honor-related. Namely not screaming when Adrien slumps on her from behind, burying his face in her shoulder. "Miss Berthier, I need your help."

[standlikestone]

It's perfect. It really is. And even though she would have scoffed at the planning and the fretting had this happened a couple months ago... not now.

Now she's just looking at all the decorations a little dreamily as she eats cake.

[hamelinic]

Well, he was going to just sneak along out having given his congratulations and stolen his cake, but this? This is just pastoral.

"And which is the lucky sop you'll be dragging into this mess of fabric and flowers, then, Lady Heart?"

[gardenplots]

Not long ago, Zoe had taken her aside and whispered a request in her ear. Maggie, surprised and pleased, had hugged her and murmured, "Of course, Dearest. Just try to keep me away."

Charlotte Huntly might be missing one of the most important moments in her daughter's life, but Victoria Mary Margaret St. John would always be there with the smiles and hugs and love only a mother of the heart can give. She sits in pride of place, in the mother of the bride's seat, wearing a dress picked specially for the occasion.

Besides, she adores dancing nearly as much as she adores Zoe.

[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."

[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.

[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."

[the_songbird]

Everything is beautiful and Elani's so happy for them both. And between the yellow dress and the signature McCartney beaming smile...that happiness is almost blinding.

The question is...does she want cake or dancing first? (after congratulating the happy couple, of course)

[dreamsofwords]

Alasdair is a more muted sort of happy for them both. He's in a spring suit, and his dimples are showing as he smiles at Zoe and Victor (though he has to say, it was strange sitting on the Fox side of the aisle). He's grabbed a couple of glasses of champagne while Elani's deciding between dance and dessert.

"If we eat cake first, we're guaranteed to get cake," he points out as he nudges her arm. "The dance floor isn't going away."

[old_dog]

There's been too much doom and gloom of late that the wedding was a refreshingly happy event to attend and forget about everything else that troubles them, at least for a little while.

Michael dug out a suit for the occasion and although he wasn't particularly religious, he did manage to sit through the church component - after all, they were all there to celebrate with the bride and groom rather than to strictly observe antiquated traditions.

He wasn't seen much at the reception after congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Fox, and complementing the latter on her dress and hair. But he pops up occasionally talking to other guests when he isn't outside grabbing a quick smoke.

[headfollowheart]

He probably doesn't expect the bride to be sitting alone on a bench during one of those smoke breaks, but it's been a long day, and even happiness gets wearying after a little while. Zoe had needed some air, and she'd taken the moment for it after Ben had dragged Victor up on the dais to join him in singing Irish and Scottish songs for a fairly fascinated crowd.

She'd listened to one or two before slipping out herself.

She'd already said her thank-you-for-comings, so she just gives Michael a wide grin and scoots to one side of the bench. "Is it bad to say that I'm sort of glad that today's almost over?"

[grrranimals]

Somewhere along the line, Tess became the go-to date whenever someone needed to drag along a buddy to get the family off their case. She doesn't mind (much). There's free food, fun and--so long as it's reciprocal for when Mum gets too crazy with her "when are you giving me grandbabies" schtick--harmless.

And that's how the day finds her here on Dillon Huntly's arm, wearing her standard I-am-attending-a-wedding-and-wearing-what-will-not-offend-anyone dress. She can't help teasing him a bit (and a little harmless flirting). Zoe'd been worried about him the last time they'd spoken. So, she might as well see if there's anything to that.

But first, cake.

[unsungheart]

He hadn't had to beg so much as promise to tell Mrs. Bowen that he likes Tess very much, and of course he'd love to come to dinner. When he and Tess had time.

Which would likely be never.

"I think I owe you a drink on top of the cake," he says. "I mean, I didn't buy the cake."

[heartvestment]

She's been there since the wee hours of the morning, helping Zoe with everything she needs. She's been there when Zoe was walking down the aisle, playing her heart out on violin. She's been there when Zoe and Victor kissed. And now she's there - just a little differently.

She hasn't changed out of her dress. But she has, well. Added something.

It's a fashion statement. Really.

[maskofhearts]

"Why...are you sprouting wings, if I can ask?" He, well...asked. Entirely because it was an amusing sort of get up she had on.

"Careful, Henry might try to cast you as a fairy in Midsummer's Night's Dream or something."

[somuchheart]

It's beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful. Blythe is one of the guests who gets a little teary when Zoe and Victor stand at the altar. And it's absolutely lovely to hear the music come on and watch them dance with each other, with such obvious adoration in their eyes, their movements.

She's happy to be sitting and watching for now.

[bluntforces]

What. No. Absolutely not. None of this sitting and watching. That makes the opposite of sense. Not once the first dance has been danced and it is clearly time for everyone to be upright.

"Oi. Fancy lady. C'mon."

[morallydefunct]

The thing about weddings, really, was that they were often long uncomfortable affairs. Particularly Irish Catholic ones. And while a kilt was not a particularly common Irish tradition for a wedding, he'd opted for it all the same. Some of it, admittedly, was thanks to Ben's encouragement in joshing Elisha over the idea of having to don a kilt for the wedding.

All the same, he was comfortable in kilt and more than happy to not merely addressing his bride as 'My Lady' any longer, but as 'My wife'. And that, in and of itself, was enough to please him. But not before Ben and convinced him to give his own rendition of a Sinatra song for his wife.

[headfollowheart]

It had been a long day. Hers had started with her waking up sprawled in bed with Sophie at five, and the running herself off her feet with the last minute preparations. Then the wedding itself, and the reception, and - well, she'd seen Charlotte, even if she hadn't...engaged.

It was best not to, really.

It was better to lean against her husband as they danced, her head on his shoulder with a smile on her lips.

"I should make you sing to me everyday," she says as she looks up at him, with a twinkle in her eyes.

[hey_sexy_latte]

Teresa had been entirely unashamed to shed a tear or two (or more) at the ceremony itself. It was beautiful, after all, and she couldn't be happier.

Really, the whole day is just a slow build of glee. She got to wear a nice outfit, and she got to see her good friend get married to a man she clearly loves. It gets better when an entirely bemused Hadyn ends up foisting the bouquet on her. She wonders if it counts if she technically didn't catch it. She'll think on that later.

For now, she's happily settled in a corner, enjoying a piece of the cake and watching the guests with a contented air.

[headfollowheart]

"So, you're next, I see," Zoe says when she comes up during a lull and sinks down next to Teresa. The shoes surreptitiously are slipped off, and she flexes her toes under the acres of tulle. "It's too bad, I was looking forward to Hadyn's wedding dress."

Though maybe Elisha would wear the skirt. Hmm.

[unsungheart]

He'd had too much beer. Also too much wine. And also a horrible, horrible older sister who lamented that there wasn't a single Celine Dion song in the catalog. And who also pointed out that they were supposed to be musicians but only the groom's side was singing.

Really, everything was all Jess's fault. He was going to happily blame her for the rest of his days.

But there was, nonetheless, Celine Dion, belted out in his best baritone.

In case someone was missing that.

[hamelinic]

So now is the time for loud, disruptive whistling, right?

That can only make this moment better. That and all the applause.

He swears he'll slink off any minute now.