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

[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."

[fiery_ring]

Will hesitates. Is this a trap to find out if he has a hair of the dog?

"Don't worry about it, she's seen it, I'll just keep my back to the crowd when I put the ring on."

Beat.

"Er, you can't see a jacket in here anywhere, can you?"

[gavin62truck]

Tommy honestly isn't looking for any hair of the dog...

But it seems that Will's jacket is now covered in it, as the puppy has decided to use it as a bed.

"Uh, is that it?" he asks, pointing.

[fiery_ring]

"...Uh oh. Yeah."

Beat.

"You know, it's a hot day, maybe I can manage without."

[gavin62truck]

"Nah, I'm sure we can salvage it. Awesome dog, by the way. What's his name?"

Tommy has a soft spot for dogs (especially the huge breeds) and so he crouches down and holds a hand out for him to sniff. "Hey, boy, c'mere. Let Will have his jacket back and you can have a big ol' chunk of wedding cake."

[fiery_ring]

"Wolf. He's Fred's, he's our bouncer so we got him the dog to help him guard the camp. About as fierce as a bunny." Will says.

Wolf licks and slobbers over Tommy's hand and sleeve, but doesn't budge.

[gavin62truck]

"Heh, yeah, these guys are usually just big sweethearts." Tommy grimaces at the slobber on his sleeve, but he's undaunted as he gives the dog hearty scratches behind the ears and belly rubs. "I've dealt with more crazy lapdogs who'd eat your face off if you get within five feet."

He then abruptly stops paying the dog attention and takes a few steps back. "C'mon, Wolf, c'mere, boy. C'mere, already."

[fiery_ring]

"Well, Fred reckons he'll grow to the size of a pony." Will says. "Which given we have a very small pony in our entourage, is looking likely."

He yoinks his jacket as Wolf gets up... and stares in dismay at the stain in the middle.

"Oh no, he's not housebroken."

[gavin62truck]

He looks at the jacket. "Ahh, crap. Looks like you're gonna end up with a small pony that enjoys slobbering on people and peeing all over the place."

He bends down and holds Wolf's head in his hands. "No wedding cake for you," he says, solemnly and sternly, but the dog probably doesn't care.

Giving Will's predicament some thought, he then suggests, "D'you maybe have a-- a vest? A waistcoat, or something? Just so's you can still look a little formal."