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

[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]]

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[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?

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.

[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?

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.]

[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.

[She grits her teeth.]

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

It was your description.

[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.

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

Karl's excited for Diva and the twins, and I'm excited for him. He gets something happy with her, I can understand that, even if it's vicarious.

[She says that without looking up, eyes fixed on the window with a blank expression, flat tone. He'd dismissed it once, why not another round.]

You could be happy for him without the flamenco wedding. [No, that's not dismissive, even if it is mildly teasing - and begs the question of why Karl isn't setting this arrangement up with Diva but - curse.] You want to be a part of it?

Yes.

[That is the most straightforward answer. It doesn't really need further qualifying.]

Then be there. That's all it takes. [Whether the curse is making her mean this, or just admit to it, the rationale still holds. His fingers brush upwards, along the concave rail of her spine, and he's looking out to whether the sun hangs over the city, too.] Aren't you going to be late?

Edited 2012-07-24 05:34 (UTC)

They can't start without me.

[She would go and she would enjoy herself. Karl had planned the party with her in mind, lots of good food, lots of slutty guests. They'll tell her she's pretty until she's sick of hearing and give her a pile of jewelry she'll never wear. She'll enjoy knowing some of them came, even though the premise was ridiculous from the start. She'd have liked it if she'd gotten Chase there, but she's not asking again. Instead she just shifts into his side, looking up.]

You're still an ass.

[His shoulders lift at the accusation.]

I still put some stock in the value of marriage. [But he pulls her just a little closer.] And for the record, I keep my pet projects in petri dishes, where they can't crack me on the jaw.

[She reaches up to touch his face, pressing her thumb lightly along the jawbone.]

I don't trust you.

[It's sore, but he pushes into rather than away from the touch.]

Asking you to wouldn't work. Trying to force you would defeat the object. [He looks across, without turning his head.] I'll wait.

[She does press a little harder before replacing her hand with her mouth. It's never going to be a healing kiss from her, nor is it a thank you this time around, but it might at least approximate assent.]

[But he pulls back from that, hands firmly on her shoulders.]

Not on your wedding day. [And he nods to the door.] Enjoy the party.

[Her expression is dark, not quite to the right side of amused. He's taking her wedding more seriously than she is. She brushes his hands off her shoulders in a businesslike flick before heading off.]

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

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