gocirclegogo | THERE BE A POST HERE

[His writing is perfectly fine, she's the one who puts down words in the style of a soulless typewriter. The day he mimics her handwriting perfectly is the day all writers lose their faith in humanity. Also, English is way nicer.

Anyway, no need to pester her about helping or not. What's overworking? Sounds like something that doesn't exist. Besides, if Lion asked for his help, he'd agree in an instant. Even if paperwork about family names does sound ridiculous to him. But eh. Some angels were like that too. Must be the giant rich egos.

And Lion gets a beat or two of silence to enjoy her blush-tinted happiness, before that last sentence registers. Signing. Which means it's legal. Which means a last name change needs to be filed before that.] Does that mean I need to marry you by April 15th?

[This is very important Lion, you do not miss filing deadlines.]

[Happiness is not gone so much as confused now. It's Lion, Will. When has 'long term planning' been in her vocabulary? Something will happen in the future at some point is the extent of thinking there. They will get married at some point or other after Will proposes, which itself will be at some point, that has generally been enough.

Thus blinking a few times at sudden neurotic turn. Pause as Lion tries to remember what happens then. Another pause remembering why that would matter.]

...Ah, I suppose it would, wouldn't it? [Said in a casual, unsure way that is sure to help Will's deadline fever.]

[See, normally some point is a good thing. Some point means there's time to plan things out, make sure there's no mistakes and go over details at a leisurely pace. Tax filing and forms mean that if you don't get things done by the deadline, that sadistic bitch Dorothy breaks into your office and screeches bloody murder and smashes windows with a hatchet until you do.

Lion, your tone is completely unacceptable for this situation. This is something perfectly logical to be concerned with. In his own mind. To everyone else, it's just another nothing he's flipping out over. How sad. His track record for single stretch of time spent apathetic was at an all-time high.]

And of course you're not concerned in the slightest. Why would you ever be?

[Lion is still just confused. Really, Will, she knows about your odd little neurotic issues but sometimes they really are just weird to her. But she is trying. He indulges her quirks and she indulges his, even when he's giving her this 'you are so stupid it hurts' tone.]

It seems that is a detail best left for you to handle. I haven't a clue why it would be difficult.

[Lion can be sure it's true love, because true love means accepting each fault in grace, and still loving the person anyway. Possibly even loving the faults themselves. But in all due honestly, this is the one that even made a good 98% of his coworkers think he went off on too brutal a mission one day and came back nuts.

For the record, the remaining 2% took Lion's mindset. Smile, nod, pretend you understand.]

It's not that it's difficult! You shouldn't leave things lying around and procrastinating when something needs to be finished by a certain time! It's irresponsible, and you're making lives harder for everyone who's ever answered to a superior. Don't make light of deadlines!

[Your boyfriend, Lion. Freaking out and he doesn't even have a decent point.]

[In a way she finds it endearing? Everyone has those odd little things that set them off. Of course, Will's tend to be even odder and end up with some sort of weird angel traits or that's what she assumes is the explanation for the...very strict and enthusiastic behaviour.

And she does want to try to understand to do so she needs to explain this to Will clearly.]

I hadn't realised anything was being left laying around in the first place. April is still months away. It isn't anything that needs to be worried about yet. It was only an idea I had.

[Really, Will. There's so much time, why worry so much right now, right?]

[It's less even weird angel traits here, because even angels thought he was weird. And the best thing is, he's not even worried. He's taken years worth of backlog and finished it within a day. What's a single name change? Not even worth the effort taken to sign it. But driving this point feels important, and that's all that matters.

Or it would matter if there was a point, but it feels like there's a point! That's good enough.] That's not the point! Months can pass in an instant if you let them! That kind of dismissive attitude can drive people to tears! You shouldn't be that heartless.

[There is probably a point, yes. That point being that her boyfriend/future husband is a bit insane and snaps over the dumbest stuff. Like calling her heartless over...not immediately finishing paperwork not due for months? Sigh.

And through all this, Lion's tone is as mild as ever.] I think you're overreacting but if it will make you feel better, we can look up the papers we need to file tonight. But even if we missed the deadline, we can just file next year, can't we?

[It is possible she is just being this way on purpose now because he's ridiculous.]

I just said that wasn't the point! [Oh, to hell with it. Looking away and throwing one hand up in a dismissal, like she's the stupid one here. But whatever. Not worth trying to get things through the head of dense people. Even when said things aren't even that relevant and he'll forget in an hour. Either way, still important. Yes.]

Forget it.

[And Lion just takes it in stride because it's like the boyfriend spazzing over where the spoons belong and he'll forget soon enough and not care about it. Well, he doesn't really care in the first place but sigh.]

Very well. Though if it is a concern to you later, feel free to choose a date. I've never thought about this much so I don't have any preferences.

[Come on Lion, spazzing over where spoons belong is just stupid. His logic is totally better than that. It's her fault that she can't put together the mental capacity to get it.]

It's your wedding too. You should have a preference.

[No Will, this is exactly as logical as an argument over the placement of spoons. But whatever, Lion doesn't mind indulging his dumb logic. It's endearing and annoying but the endearing means tolerable.]

Hm... [Frowning. Yeah Lion never put any thought at all into this. Just that it would happen eventually as Successor.] I suppose most 'churches' are out, though there are acceptable ones if you would like to make our vows in one. We do have to invite people, by the way. I know most of my friends annoy you but they deserve invitations. Ah, though I think we both agree it would be preferable if all of this wasn't too much of a hassle. ...I'd like it if it was a nice day out, though, so we could walk home.

[The entire time he stands, arms folded and idly listening to her as that burnt out feeling comes back. Putting too much energy out over something, so all that's left afterward is pure hollowed listlessness. But Lion's voice makes a good distraction from getting lost in the usual wordless apathy that follows.

Oddly enough, instead she even gets an answer.] ...Somewhat, but that's not what I meant. Weddings are important to people. In some cases, it might even be their dream. I'd like to hear every last detail that would make it perfect in your mind. That way I could make it a reality.

[And here is someone who has never even thought much about it, because it would probably be arranged and planned as everything was and would simply be. To hear that, though, put so bluntly in Will's way and without meaning to sound like a complete romantic sap, just has Lion frozen, heat pooling on her cheeks. Those words remind her that this does, in fact, matter to her and isn't another thing that requires some practical work.

And part of her just wants to hide back in the scarf.] Will...I, ah...

[Swallowing and trying to find words. Right. Except Lion still has never thought about this and that itself feels a little embarrassing.]

...I want it to feel like home. [A little surprised but Lion simply said the first thing that came to her heart.] ...That is, I think...when I pictured getting married...I thought of the rose garden. It was my favourite part of Rokkenjima. I can't imagine anything nicer than exchanging vows in an arbour with a lovely garden. I'm sorry, you asked for details but I'm a little unhelpful. It is very important to me, though.

[For once, she doesn't get teased for the crimson that floods her face, or her blocked off reflex to bury her face behind something to hide it. Instead choosing to stay silent as she speaks, falling over her own words as she digs them up for the first time. And the only reaction she gets at the end is a short sigh. And not because of her request.]

Kinzo's been working on one, I think. He seems that type of fanatic. [It's the sigh of having to deal with oddball grandfatherfather-in-laws who do nothing but drink absinthe, creep on your girlfriend, and go about Winning.] I'm sure he won't mind renting out his front yard for the day. If not, I'll throw him in the river.

[He would do it, too.]

And don't worry if that's the only detail. You still have time to think about it. Could always try one of those concentration exercises if you hit a road block.

[An almost shy smile peeks out. It would be like getting married on Rokkenjima. Or at least as close to it as possible. Though imagining Will and Kinzo planning that whole part together is fairly amusing. Kinzo would probably be quite happy for being asked. Lion sighs as well then but her smile doesn't fade.]

I suppose he'll insist on a dress.

[Not that Lion particularly cares what she wears as long as it looks nice and is comfortable but most dresses she can think of don't fall under the latter. And now wondering what Will is going to wear and before she knows it, she's chuckling under her breath. Really, he always has a charm that Lion loves but trying to picture him especially formal is ridiculous.]

Ah...What about you, though? What you want matters to me, too.

Wear whatever you want. It's your wedding after all. I'll punch out your grandfather if he says anything about it.

[He would.

Especially since he also knows that if Kinzo had any say in the dress, Lion would end up in a rehash of the Beatrice dress. And that means he'd need to be kicked into hell again. Better to just give her free reign over it, whether she chooses a suit or a dress. Whatever does he care.

Then the last question comes up and, for the most fleeting of moments, barely the length of a heartbeat, he simply looks lost. But it's only for that instant before he leans over enough to rest his head on hers, smiling enough to show that it's fine that way.] I only want two things. One is impossible, and the other one I already have. That's good enough.

[The quiet laugh grows a little louder. Will is already threatening to hit Kinzo over everything. It should be an...interesting time. Memorable. Well, it would be either way but whatever happens, it will probably be appropriate enough, one way or another.

Lion's lingering blush stays at the closeness. Blinking up at him and wondering if it's all right to ask. The second one...she presumes is herself, which just promises that the red tint isn't going away.

Well, he knows her curiosity and that it would be likely she'd ask.] Ah, what's the other one...?

[Hey, he has manners. He'd only hit Kinzo if he tries stepping on Lion's free will too far. Things like ruining her wedding dressing her up as Beatrice or trying to kiss her at the altar are things that will get him tossed in a furnace. Again.

The question doesn't get so much as a pause of hesitation. Just a single shrug with that kind of dismissive attitude where he'll respond to her question, but answer nothing at the same time.] Something stupid. I'd rather you turn into a witch than waste your time.

[He knows it's her curiosity and he won't refute her for it, but the translation is another one-star difficulty. It's either something impossible, or something so improbable through either effort or belief that it may as well be impossible. And that she shouldn't worry herself sick trying to unravel its mystery then try and make it happen.]

[Translation understood and rejected with a slight pouting frown. There are many things unusual about Lion's priorities and attention span. One of them is that, most of the time, being told 'don't think about it' actually works. The other is that when it doesn't work, it means curiosity wins until she finds out.]

I won't waste my time. I'm just curious. [The second part to make sure the translation isn't lost as simply some determination. If Will really thinks it's that impossible, well, all right but still curious. And a beat passes before adding more in case he still wants to be stubborn.] I've told you impossibilities before. It's all right if they're forgotten but nice to be heard.

[Ugh, of all the things she chooses to get stubborn over. It even gets a short, annoyed huff of an exhale, rolling his eyes a bit from the absurdity. The stubborn response comes up easily, and only barely caged back in response. She has a point, even if he doesn't want to admit it, because he indulges in her impossibilities all the time. Telling her not to do the same is practically an insult to her.

But that doesn't mean he'll make it easy. Hopping from one star to ten, without even the context of an expression or a vocal tone to make it obvious it's not a non sequitur.] How many people would you be inviting?

[How unfair. Topic whiplash makes it rather difficult to imagine it as anything other than a horrible dodge. So horrible in fact that it goes right back to suspicious. Even Will isn't usually that obvious in his non-answers.

Still Lion answers a bit automatically, taken by surprise enough at the jump to just go with it for the moment at least.] O-Oh, I haven't thought about it yet. I'd like to invite my friends. Erika-san is allowed if you can promise she'll behave.

[Lion should know already how horrible he can be if he feels like it. This is one of those times. At least she gets points for recognizing that such an obvious failure of a dodge means it wasn't one at all. Plus five.

Then minus three for not acting on it. Better than nothing. Take down the difficulty one rank as a reward.] I promise that I'll try to keep her behaved. She won't even listen to me sometimes... But you should try and make a list. It's important for the planning. Maybe try thinking on who your bridesmaids would be as well.

[Recovering from the sudden switch and taking that reward hint. It does occur to her she needs more female friends but then she's pretty sure her male ones won't care if they have to be bridesmaids. Ange probably won't mind and it is usually a family member...

But still pondering what he means.] ...Someone you want to invite...? [She hazards.] The only person I can think of is Dlanor-san.

[Because you have no friends, Will.]

[Close enough to be correct, so it gets a pass. Dlanor's the largest thing, but it's everything. That in a conventional church, her side would have her family and her friends, and his would have no one, because they don't exist. That type of stupid impossibility that breeds from homesickness and your closest confidante lost in a fragment an infinity away and your best man being a human in his fifties who lost the will to live.

Unfortunately for Lion, it's one of the cases where everything is kept perfectly masked. And all she gets is a shrug.] Pretty much.

Maybe I'll make Erika the ring-bearer instead. [It would be horrible and hilarious at the same time. He'll never do it, but just imagining it could spawn Natsuhi-strength migraines in little blonde girls.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject