[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

[onlytolerable]

Sophie is the worst of Diamonds. He shouldn't use her as measuring gauge. "That sounds nice, doesn't it? 'Mrs. Fox.' Will you and Annie orchestrate yours together, or--?"

[piqued]

It Does sound nice. It Does sound like exactly the right thing to call Zoë. He's been Waiting for ages to start calling her that.

It does not, however, overshadow the need to arch his brow just slightly at the question. "...there's not much to orchestrate. We're not-- half so important as all this."

[onlytolerable]

Sophie waves a negligent hand. She's had enough champagne to not be as particular with her words, not tipsy, but certainly relaxed.

"You know what I mean. Every wedding is important to the people getting married. I suppose grooms don't often get involved in the the nuts and bolts planning."

[piqued]

"We don't exactly have the same scope of choice, Miss Eight."

Surely she understands that Old Families could be incredibly Restrictive. That particularly a strict old Spade family like the Chives would hardly leave much up to the Choice of the couple in question.

That, really, the fact he had Chosen Annie at all was already something of a Liberty on his part.

[onlytolerable]

"Sometimes not even in spouses," she murmurs, thinking of the Berthier alliance that had saddled her with Irene's Peter. "But even within those parameters, one has discretion. Weddings are always important to those involved, be they Twos or Royals."

She spreads her hands. "Please forgive me. It's none of my business. I recognized that bride-to-be glaze in Annie's eyes this weekend--Zoe had the same look from time to time." Probably wanted everything to go off perfectly, particularly since she was marrying into an old family that expected nothing less. Wedding discussions with someone soon to be married had seemed a safe enough topic.

[piqued]

It is, really, a Safe topic. Thinking about Annie--and in Particular, thinking about the fact Annie would soon be his own Bride--absolutely Softens the corners of his lips.

"We've still quite some time, Miss Eight."

[onlytolerable]

"It'll be here before you know it." A vision of the wedding party (complete with lace-wearing pythons and a tiny garter snake bearing the ring round its middle) pops into her head and she bites down hard on her cheek. This should probably be her last drink unless they have more toasts.

"Sophie's fine," she adds knowing from her experience with Isaac it will never fly, but the attempt must be made.

[piqued]

She's surely used to the quiet Staring, then. That had been, in their youth, a completely Shared trait between the then butlers-in-training when confronted with the Inexplicable.

"...as you say, Mistress."

[onlytolerable]

The stare is all too familiar. A pang of sadness washes over her. She still remembers convincing Isaac to become a reader at the Children's Library to help overcome his nervousness over upcoming fatherhood.

She gives herself a little shake and finds her smile. "At any rate, I don't believe I congratulated you. I'm certain you and Annie will be very happy." She still rather likes the idea of serpent wedding attendants. No doubt they'd be against the stuffy old family rules.

[piqued]

Rather Against the Rules. The bulk of genuinely Pleasing people not already members of the Chives Clan would have to be reserved for the Reception, clearly.

"...thank you, Miss Berthier." Not quite her Given Name like she requested, but absolutely a sort of Softening. "I'm... quite certain we can't help but be happy."