Pre-wedding

[fiery_ring]

The arrangement was that Will would spend the night in Fred's caravan. What with the whole bad luck to see your bride before the wedding thing. The reality was that when he stumbled in at four in the morning, he fell over Wolf, Fred's guard dog, and nearly ended up with a broken arm.

Carlotta, unaware of this particular development, is getting ready in her caravan. Will is still in his boxers, in Fred's caravan, nursing a hangover.

Comments

[fiery_ring]

"Hi Kate, you look lovely." Carlotta says, grinning. She's in her dress now, and is busy getting Little William into a clean shirt.

"I'm doing fine, but might be worth checking Will is, er, up."

[ikissdhimbck]

"You, my darlin', look absolutely radiant."

She beams, stepping inside and tenderly brushing her hand over William's hair.

"Is there anyone I can fetch, or ... ?"

[fiery_ring]

"Thank you." Carlotta grins.

"Well, Fred was with him earlier, but he should have gone on his Security round. Could you and or Tommy bang on the door of the red caravan?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"The red caravan? Of course."

She's never met Will, and there's always the fear of walking in on him in a state of undress. But she'd be happy to check, for Carlotta.

She smiles.

"Everythin' will be fine. I'll see you later."

[fiery_ring]

"Thanks Kate."

At least if she finds him less than sober, she knows about his little problem...

[ikissdhimbck]

"You're welcome."

With one last reassuring smile, she steps back outside. Closing the door to the caravan, she looks for where Tommy got off to while he was waiting.

"Carlotta asked if we wouldn't mind checkin' on the groom," she says, once she's found him. "Red caravan. Shouldn't be more'n a minute, with any luck."

[gavin62truck]

Tommy had been leaning against the side of the caravan, watching the surrounding activity while having a smoke. When Kate finds him, he straightens up, self-consciously adjusting the knot of his tie.

"Sure. Everything going okay so far?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She watches him for a moment before taking over. It's a nice tie. She's not accustomed to tying them, but she's familiar with the knot.

"So far. There's some question as t'whether the groom will be, ah, alert."

There. He looks smart.

"Sober."

[gavin62truck]

He doesn't mind too much if she fusses with him. Because cleavage view!

"Sober, huh?" he says as they go off in search of the red caravan. "I've heard of going on a bender before your wedding day, but not before a vow renewal. That's kinda hardcore. Have you met 'im before?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She grimaces.

"This'll be the first time."

Clearly not the best way to meet, but with any luck he'll be dressed and ready to go.

She sees the red caravan. Marching up to the door, she knocks softly.

"Mr. Francis? Ah, hello?"

[fiery_ring]

A bleary head sticks out of the caravan, grimacing at the light.

"What time is it?"

[gavin62truck]

"Time to put some pants on, pal, that's what time it is," says the guy in the suit who looks like he's doing a bad James Cagney impression, except that's how he really talks.

Tact: how does it work?

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate genuinely linefaces at Tommy.

"Ah, I'm one of Carlotta's friends, Kate Barlow. She asked me t'come 'round an' check on you. It's nearly time for the ceremony."

[fiery_ring]

"...Oh man, I overslept, thanks."

Will disappears momentarily, then reappears avec pants in the doorway.

"Just a sec, I got to put on a shirt." he says, stumbling blearily back into the caravan.

[gavin62truck]

"A shirt would be great, too. Jacket. Tie. Shoes, maybe..."

A few beats pass. He turns to Kate.

"Think he needs a hand?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate now has her back to the door, only slightly scandalized and just a touch red.

"Would you mind?"

[fiery_ring]

Hm... okay, the tie has... some sort of damp stain on. Maybe steal one of Fred's ties for the moment.

There is a crash as he trips over the puppy, who starts barking.

[gavin62truck]

"...Right."

Tommy knocks firmly on the door before opening it a crack and calling inside.

"Hey, uh, Will? Hi. I'm Tommy. Thought you might need a little help. Just to speed up the process. And to make sure you don't look like shit when your wife and all your guests see you. Y'know, all that. Mind if I come in?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She watches Tommy with a slight, sympathetic twist of the lips.

He really is a good man.


She'll stay out here while Will is in a state of undress, and let the men talk.

[fiery_ring]

"Oh, er, hey Tommy." Will looks kind of embarrassed, especially as the dog is licking his nipples.

"I got a bit of wedding nerves."

[gavin62truck]

...Yeeeeah, Kate doesn't need to see this.

...And honestly, he doesn't need to see this either.

"Uh huh. I figured."

He holds out a hand to help him up.

"Had anything to drink last night?"

[fiery_ring]

"Just a couple." Will says.

Damnit, did he lose the hip flask last night? He was counting on that to get through talking to Carlotta's grandma.

He accepts the hand. Tommy might notice when he reaches out, he's got a slight tremor. Once he's up, he looks embarrassed again and shoves his hand in his pocket.

[gavin62truck]

Looks like more than just a couple. But Tommy's the last person who's going to judge him.

"As long as you can walk in a straight line down the aisle and stay upright at the altar, that's what matters at this point. Think you can you at least do that?"

[fiery_ring]

"Yeah, I can." Will says.

He hesitates, then adds.

"Look, I'm not that hung over, I just had a shake in that hand since the war. It only goes away if I had a drink. I kind of hoped it would be sorted for the wedding."

[gavin62truck]

He pauses, eying him with a more concerned frown.

"Oh. Jeezus. Sorry to hear that."

Glancing around the room, he says, "Guess there ain't nothin' here that you can take a sip of? ...Okay, bad idea, yeah, I know. Hell, if I still drank, I'd slip you a shot, but the last thing your wife probably wants is to smell booze on your breath."