028 x 820 // video // (becoming a) family day

[dignity_misery]

[Good morning, fair city. On this fine day the device has been given prime seating upon a nearby vanity table while the final dress-fitting of a long-planned wedding is underway. Carla seems a bit exasperated with the Vietnamese woman's chatter as she checks all the seams, doing last minute stitches and generally complaining that she only wishes she could be half so skinny. Carla is not a traditional bride, by far, and when she looks at the camera it's to wonder dryly,]

Do you think this skirt is large enough? Or should I add another several pounds worth of tulle underneath.

[The woman buttoning up her dress starts to answer and Carla turns to hold up her hand for silence.]

Don't answer that. [Her attention returns to the camera.] I assume Karl sent out invitations weeks ago. If he didn't, you're summarily invited. Bring gifts. That's the only reason anyone gets married anyway.

[Such a romantic at heart, this lady. Once she's been buttoned in, she steps back to get the full dress in shot. She gives it a critical eye, toying her hair up briefly before letting it fall back down around her shoulders.]

It'll do.

[If you're watching closely, you may catch only the barest hint of a smile.]



[[ooc; later will be a joint post by Karl for the wedding/party. You know you want to come o3o]]

Comments

[intheblanks]

If i told you this was a curse, would it make a difference?

[dignity_misery]

[Snatching up the phone, she starts stalking off.]

A difference to what.

[intheblanks]

Whether you go for traditional cake toppers or something more unique. What do you think?

You're cursed. This time yesterday your plans for today probably included taking the dog out and hustling a couple of babies for their candy.

[dignity_misery]

Fine. I'm cursed.

[She pauses for a moment, jogging across an intersection quickly.]

Half the city is cursed, they'll be cursed tomorrow too.

[intheblanks]

And?

[dignity_misery]

[Cursed and seriously on the crow's path to your hospital you ridiculous blonde.]

And you don't waste your time harping over all of them.

[intheblanks]

[Just a shrug. He honestly hasn't noticed where she's headed just yet - from the angle of his monitor it's clearly propped against the side of the computer in his office.]

None of them asked me to comment on their dress.

[dignity_misery]

I always ask.

[He'll know all about it when she stomps into his office, no worries.]

[intheblanks]

[And she's always cursed.]

You do, don't you.

[As if it's a new and interesting revelation - for all of five seconds before he turns back to working on something else.]

[dignity_misery]

[She needs to stop growling at her phone long enough to make it through the hospital lobby. She's been here before and remembers the way, although she does not have the manners to knock before stepping inside and shutting the door behind her.]

So the problem is, what, exactly.

[intheblanks]

[He's actually startled to see her, although the space of seconds lets him cover up the widened eyes with an expression more confused by her question than her appearance. He does, however instinctively, note the tension she's carried in with her, and responds by getting to his feet.]

As long as I'm not the one cursed into marrying a deranged vampire this afternoon, I don't think I'm the person to ask.

[dignity_misery]

[Well that certainly saves her the trouble of yanking him up. The tension is there because she came here with full intent to punch him in the face and that really does seem to be her immediate priority in circling around the side of his desk.]

[intheblanks]

[He raises his hands, more questioning than defensive.]

I'm sure he'll think the dress is great.

[dignity_misery]

[No, really, she knocks his hands aside and swings.]

[intheblanks]

[She doesn't build up to these things lightly, then. For once he's not quick enough to avoid the crack to his jaw, one hand immediately up to guard the damage.]

Ah- fuck - what was that for?

[dignity_misery]

At least he isn't a jealous ass.

[She doesn't swing again but she does shove.]

Nothing will be different tomorrow, and you know it. It's not about Karl or the fucking dress.

[intheblanks]

[He's familiar enough with her style to be ready for that, and comes out of the exchange with the fingers of his free hand twisted with hers.]

Then what is it about, Carla? Because if nothing changes then I don't think I'm seeing the point. If it's nothing, what am I supposed to be jealous of?

[dignity_misery]

I don't know.

[That is, perhaps, why she is so frustrated by the entire conversation they have had this morning, because she doesn't understand.]

You didn't sound any different bitching about Blonde or what doctor I see, like it has any bearing on you. It doesn't. I don't know what you want from me. And if you don't, then I'm done being your pet project and you can fuck yourself.

[She's tensing up for another swing, but he's already got one of her hands, there's not much room for success.]

[intheblanks]

[The pull and catch of sinew along the arm he's gripping at least makes him try to reach out and stop the other before it starts.]

I don't want you to keep doing things that mean nothing to you. [There's some forward motion from him in the attempt, the space she's backed him into alongside his desk not leaving much room for it.] Because I don't think it's doing you any good. If that makes me an arse, I reckon I can live with it.

[dignity_misery]

[She grits her teeth.]

You don't know what's nothing and what isn't.

[intheblanks]

It was your description.

[dignity_misery]

[The twitch is frustration, anxiousness and regret eating at her, but she says slowly,]

I will care about Karl regardless of today. I cared about Blonde and I care about you. Don't tell me it's such a surprise for me to show it when you've seen it more than anyone.

[intheblanks]

[Forget Blonde, forget him. For the moment.]

Care about Karl enough to want to spend the rest of your life with him, forsaking all others, putting him above all selfish wants? [He lets go of her wrists on a sigh - even to him it feels ridiculous to be lending this kind of credence to a curse.] That's why I got married. It's what I'd want anyone I cared about to have. I'm not about to be jealous of anything less. If you just want a party, go and have one. I doubt it'll be considered legally binding.

[dignity_misery]

[She gives him an incredibly irritated look while he's laying out the tenets of marriage. She doesn't want that with anyone, let alone Karl. When her hands are released, she moves back to relocate herself at the far corner of the window, looking outside to approximate the time.]

Not if you don't sign a license.

[Which had never been in the cards.]

[intheblanks]

[He watches for a minute, putting his hand up again to test the movement in his jaw - which is fine, though past experience decrees he'll bruise prettily.

And then he walks over to stand beside her.]

I'm trying to make you rationalise a curse, which probably makes me the one indulging in a pointless exercise. [If she doesn't pull away, he'll rest a hand against her lower back and - it's just an earnest question this time.] Does it mean anything?

[He'd dismissed what she'd said about family, but it plays on his mind.]