(no subject)

[fiery_ring]

There's a lot to do for the wedding renewal. Aside from getting in a rather disturbing amount of alcohol, Will's side of the arrangements have been looking a little thin, and Carlotta is doing her best to get it done ready for next weekend.

Nothing ever seems to turn out how she imagines, at the moment. But at very least, it will be nice to get everyone together, even if two of the most important people will probably be standing at opposite ends of the event.

She comes across a letter in her pile of paperwork and grimaces.

Comments

[wheatencrown]

Since getting and writing a note from Teja, Demeter has wanted to leave, but she also hasn't seen Carlotta.

When she spots Carlotta she comes over and sits down, "Hello, its been too long."

[fiery_ring]

"Hallo Demeter." Carlotta smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She looks pretty stressed, all things considered.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter's smile is small and she hugs Carlotta,

"Is there anything I can do to help? I will be there and not cause trouble, but I don't think things with Teja will be easily mended. He wrote me this."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta hugs her back, a little clingy.

"Is there no chance you two can make up?"

I need you two.

[wheatencrown]

"I don't know at this point. The last time I spoke to him I don't think he heard what I said. This note seems to prove it. He has made his choice and he's unhappy that I'm angry at him but not enough to consider reconsidering. I thought better of him and perhaps in time, he will be willing to allow another point of view. Until he does, I will be civil to him,"

Demeter hugs her back tightly and wishes she had something more reassuring to say.

[fiery_ring]

"He is heartbroken and doesn't know how to fix it." Carlotta says. "Is whatever he did really so bad that you cannot forgive the man set in his ways?"

She releases Demeter and slips the letter she was holding under the pile of paperwork.

[wheatencrown]

"His first try at fixing it seems to involve not truly apologizing and saying that he might be willing to change if I could possibly forgive him. Yes, it is, he acted for others but without consideration of them and has proceeded to disregard any other points of view. Please read the note, this isn't an apology, Carlotta. If it was then it would be a step forward, instead nothing has changed."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta looks at the note, and sighs.

"It may be my fault." she says quietly. "I told him that he should at very least apologise for hurting you, if he couldn't agree on the subject in which you fell out."

She passes it back. "It nevertheless sounds apologetic to me. But I have so little information that this is very difficult to decipher."

[wheatencrown]

"It's a beginning but not much of one. I'm sorry that this has happened near your wedding."

[fiery_ring]

"Well if you cannot sort it out, it makes no difference whether I postpone or not." Carlotta says, sighing.

She suddenly feels terribly miserable. Is this how Molly feels when she fights with Will?

[wheatencrown]

"I promise that I will make sure our disagreement doesn't end up bothering your day. I have done that for my daughter many a time,"

Though she never thought she'd have to do it for Carlotta.

[fiery_ring]

"It's not my day I'm worried about." Carlotta says. "I'm worried about you two."

Then suddenly, something clicks. Or not.

"You got together, at the apocalypse, and now he has picked the woman with the piercings?"

[wheatencrown]

"No, Carlotta, we've never been together and probably never will be. I have never cared who he was with as long as he was happy."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Howdy, Carlotta."

Kate approaches with a smile on her face. But, as soon as she sees that grimace, her expression turns somber.

"Is this a bad time?"

[fiery_ring]

"Hallo Kate." Carlotta smiles and tucks the letter away.

"Not at all, come and join me. Did you get your invitation?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"I certainly did."

Kate knows how to follow a cue. The smile slides back in place, albeit a touch softer, and she takes the invitation to have a seat.

"Thank you so much of thinkin' of me. I'd be delighted to attend."

[fiery_ring]

"I'd be glad to have you. I want all our family and friends to be able to see us marry, since they didn't get to see us the first time."

Carlotta smiles. "I've invited all of my old school friends, which was a good opportunity to find out that everyone I was close to is, well, still alive. There's a few I'm less close to who I haven't heard from yet; Kitty for example, but she's in Ireland and may have moved, so I won't worry too quickly if I don't hear from her."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her brow creases, and she nods.

"Times of war are truly horrible, an' not jus' for those fightin' 'em. I'm pleased so many of your companions are well."

Now is certainly not a time for fretting.

"An' I'm happy you an' your beloved are also well. I was worried for a good long while."

[fiery_ring]

"Thank you." Carlotta says, quietly. Will is well in his body, but she's not so sure about his mind right now.

"I think our war was actually shorter than in most universes, not that it felt it. But we both grew up a lot while we were apart."

[ikissdhimbck]

She nods slowly.

She's quiet for a moment.



"S'everythin' all right, sweetheart? Honestly?"

[fiery_ring]

"... No, not really." Carlotta says quietly.

She gets out the letter and passes it to Kate.

"Ringmaster,
As a member of the circus council I feel duty bound to warn you of a growing unrest regarding your husband's behavior. As you yourself imposed, drunkenness is not allowed in the camp for well-grounded safety reasons, yet he continues to flout your orders. I advise you to take him in hand swiftly if you wish to retain your authority.
Humphrey"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate takes the letter and quietly reads.



"S'this about Will?"

She asks gently, though she can't keep the surprise out of her voice. The information is startling enough, but the veiled threat at the close of the letter is downright alarming.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta nods.

"Humphrey is intimating that any other member of the cast would have been sacked. It is hard enough to be recognised as Ringmaster when you are a woman when all is well. They are watching for my judgement. As Ringmaster I have authority over Will, which he finds hard to accept, and when he did, has just become more secretive about drinking."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Clearly not secretive enough."

Brow creased, she hands the letter back.

"How long's this been goin' on for?"

[fiery_ring]

"Couple times a week since he came back from the war." Carlotta says. "He won't talk about whether anything happened but... Fred, who's our bouncer, thinks he's got shell shock, so I've been trying to go easy on him. But it's hard laying awake at night waiting for him to come back, and when he does come home, he's hammered."