[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.

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[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."

[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."

[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.

[bluntforces]

It's not the sort of dance once expects in a wedding dress, really. Thank goodness they're both so incredibly fabulous that it will absolutely be the easiest thing in the world.

"I am." He's at his friend's wedding dancing a tango. How can he not be? "Y' know why?"

[headfollowheart]

Thank goodness he's strong enough to pick her up if she trips on tulle. Thank goodness she didn't wear stilettos. Thank goodness for a lot of things, really.

"Not in the least," Zoe says, and giggles as he tugs her close. "Maybe you should tell me?"

[bluntforces]

"Because I ain't never seen you look happier, Zo. Honest t' God." And even being a grown-up married lady isn't going to stop him giving her a firm kiss on the cheek. "Seriously. All that bull about brides glowin' on their special day-- 's true."

Which is, at the end of the day, all anyone who loves her really wants, isn't it?

[headfollowheart]

"Really, never?" She says, and tilts her head as she gives that due consideration it deserves before she smiles. "Well, I don't know if I've ever been happier. You wouldn't think the day would mean so much."

But it does. Truly, it does.

[bluntforces]

"Does if you do it right. An' I don't mean all this... thisness."

One hand has to leave her for a moment to gesture around the room expansively before the next twirl.

"I mean, 's perfect an' all that, but... It's the people. It's the makin' the right choice t' marry. That sorta thing."

[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]

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."

[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?"

[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."

[standlikestone]

"Y'think I will? I'll have actual brown 'nd not black hair by then, I think." She smiles up at him through the lace, looping her arms around him.

[bluntforces]

"Might have blue hair, for all we know." Unlikely, but possible. His nose nudges contentedly at her temple. "And any which way, you'll be absolutely stunning."

[standlikestone]

She has to giggle a little. "You think Gran would allow that? Like, ever?" And then her eyes turn a bit mischievous. "Maybe we'll have a kid by then."

[bluntforces]

--wait, back a step or five. Hopefully the camera will have caught the instant shooting up of brows. "Gonna do my best t' marry you before gettin' you knocked up, Ri."

[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."

[bluntforces]

"Horrible." Yes, woman, he heard that punny moniker. And he finds it horrible.

But not so horrible he isn't taking her hands and tugging her in for a waltz.

"You get Riley and I'll get Dillon. We'll meet in the middle for a victory shimmy."

[grrranimals]

Careful, or she'll start calling him Arwen. "You're on. Zoe will hide her head in shame and wonder why she ever invited any of us. Poor kid. I'm not sure Dillon approves of the match. His entire family shot him looks during the, 'speak now or forever hold your peace," bit."

She twirls easily. It takes more than a waltz to faze this Deck kid.

[bluntforces]

"Seems like it's way better t' avoid this whole shebang and just run off with that special someone. We expect you and Dillon t' be dodging the 'grandbabies now' bullet by followin' this wedding up anytime soon?"

Waltzing isn't difficult. Wedding chicken? Slightly more so.

[grrranimals]

There are Spades here. If he starts the chicken dance, there could well be bodies.

"I'm so blaming you," she hisses. "Macarena next?"

[bluntforces]

"Hell're you blamin' me for? I'm just dancin' like a gentleman." The gentlest of gentlemen.

Who will absolutely do the Macarena with her. Even if the song doesn't match.

[grrranimals]

"Like an instigator, you mean." She sees another couple and then another copy them and starts to laugh. "Who'd a thunk we'd be trend-setters?"

[bluntforces]

"Everyone, hopefully. We're pretty dang fabulous."

They can even do the macarena and maintain a real conversation. How fabulous is that?

"You holdin' up good, by the way? Everything turin' up Tess in your life?"