Reception

[fiery_ring]

The reception takes place in the Big Top, which is more than large enough to accommodate the crowd. Outside, a large hog roast is taking place, with food and drinks aplenty.

It's a good time for Carlotta to catch up with her friends from school, most of whom she hasn't seen since the start of the war. A few of them have married in that time and brought husbands, some are in work or still at university. A petite, pretty woman, Alison, has brought a daughter of about two; finally a distraction from an incessant need to worry what her hair looks like. A tall, strapping woman, Mirabel, is sporting a burn scar on her face; rumour has it, she has been serving in combat.

The circus folk mingle among the guests, bringing food and occasionally breaking out into acrobatics. At the front of the tent, Fred the Bouncer sits with Wolf, his large guard dog.

Comments

[fiery_ring]

"You're from the bar, and you're the reason I have to stand at the edge of the camp to smoke?"

[52_dropoff]

"Er, yes." He takes a certain pride in that. But this isn't the time to gloat. "So you understand that how you see things isn't how I see them. Just wanted to be sure about that."

[fiery_ring]

"Well so long as you remember that the future isn't here yet, and some things are the way they are, we should get on fine." Will says.

"Carlotta's got a lot of modern ideas that are causing her a lot of pain. Especially with gender roles. I can't fix them, even if I back her ideas."

[52_dropoff]

This is getting more complicated. Anything Charlie says is only going to make things worse for Carlotta.

"You and she will have to work it out for yourselves."

[fiery_ring]

"I don't mean between the two of us." Will says. "She's been wearing... trousers and a tall hat in public. It's not that I mind, but some of the public have been very harsh. She's being watched and judged. The other day, the greengrocer in a village wouldn't serve her."

[52_dropoff]

Apparently some modern ideas are too modern. But are they too modern for Will as well? Charlie doesn't know.

"And you think such criticism will stop your wife? She's headstrong, as you well know."

[fiery_ring]

"No, but I worry that she expects too much to happen too fast. From what she's told me, women won't get the same rights for decades." Will says.

"I guess what I also meant was, please don't judge me. I'm not trying to hold her back, just things are different here."

[52_dropoff]

That sounds fair. Or self-serving.

"Don't worry. If Carlotta married you, that says something for you."